| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09274805B2 |
System and method for thermally aware device booting
Various embodiments of methods and systems for thermally aware booting in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. Because bringing high power consumption processing components online when a PCD is booted under less than ideal thermal conditions can be detrimental to the health of the PCD, embodiments leverage a low power processing component early in a boot sequence to authorize, delay or modify the boot sequence based on measured thermal indicators. One exemplary method is essentially a “go/no go” method that delays or authorizes completion of a boot sequence based on the thermal indicator measurements. Another exemplary method modifies a boot sequence of a PCD based on a thermal boot policy associated with a thermal boot state. A thermal boot policy may include allowing the boot sequence to complete by modifying the power frequency to which one or more high power consumption components will be booted. |
| US09274800B2 |
Dynamic evaluation and adaption of hardware hash functions
Creating hash values based on bit values of an input vector. An apparatus includes a first and a second hash table, a first and second hash function generator adapted to configure a respective hash function for a creation of a first and second hash value based on the bit values of the input vector. The hash values are stored in the respective hash tables. An evaluation unit includes a comparison unit to compare a respective effectiveness of the first hash function and the second hash function, and an exchanging unit responsive to the comparison unit adapted to replace the first hash function by the second hash function. |
| US09274798B2 |
Multi-threaded logging
A data slot may be reserved for a first thread selected from a plurality of threads executed by a computer system. A memory of the computer system may comprise a plurality of log files and a next free data slot pointer. Each log file may comprise a plurality of data slots and each of the data slots may be of a common size. Reserving the data slot for the first thread may comprise attempting to perform a first atomic operation to write to a first data slot pointed to by a current value of the next free data slot pointer an indication that the first data slot is filled. If the first atomic operation is successful, the computer system may update the next free data slot pointer to point to a second data slot positioned sequentially after the first data slot. If the first atomic operation is unsuccessful, the computer system may analyze the second data slot. |
| US09274791B2 |
Verification of a vector execution unit design
A method for verification of a vector execution unit design. The method includes issuing an instruction into a first instance and a second instance of a vector execution unit. The method includes issuing a random operand into a first lane of the first instance of the vector execution unit and into a second lane of the second instance of the vector execution unit. The method further includes receiving results from execution of the instruction and the random operand in both the first and the second instance of the vector execution unit and comparing the received results. |
| US09274788B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
As methods for updating firmware, an information processing apparatus executes a first update method of acquiring update firmware from an external apparatus via a network, storing the acquired update firmware in a volatile memory, and updating the firmware of the information processing apparatus based on the stored update firmware, and a second update method of updating the firmware of the information processing apparatus using a method that is different from the first update method. Furthermore, based on the remaining amount of a battery, the information processing apparatus decides whether to permit both the update of the firmware using the first update method and the update of the firmware using the second update method, or to permit the update of the firmware using the second update method and not to permit the update of the firmware using the first update method. |
| US09274781B2 |
Display device capable of upgrading smart functions and method for controlling the same
A display device capable of upgrading smart functions as broadly described herein may include a multi-functional display device capable of upgrading smart functions, including a broadcast receiver for receiving a broadcast signal, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the received broadcast signal, a decoder for decoding the demultiplexed broadcast signal, a display for displaying the decoded broadcast signal, an external device interface configured to connect to a smart card for receiving upgrade data, a memory for storing the upgrade data and version information of the smart card, and a controller configured to process and display the received broadcast signal on the display, determine whether the smart card is connected to the display device, and communicate with the smart card to operate the multi-functional display device, wherein the smart card includes at least one smart function for execution on the multi-functional display device. |
| US09274779B2 |
Method for installing application in portable terminal
A method for installing an application in a portable terminal includes acquiring a screen image of another portable terminal and acquiring information about at least one applications from the acquired screen image, displaying a list of the at least one applications whose information is acquired, and requesting and receiving an installation file of an application selected by a user from the displayed list, and installing the selected application by using the received installation file. |
| US09274778B2 |
Software signature discovery
In a method for determining and scoring a signature for a software package. A processor determines a signature of a first software package, wherein the signature comprises an indication of a first set of files on a computer system after installation of the first software package that were not present on the computer system before the installation, and an indication of a second set of files not remaining on the computer system after an uninstall of the first software package. A processor compares the first and the second set of files indicated in the signature of the first software package to files indicated in one or more other signatures of other software packages. A processor determines a score for the signature of the first software package based on the comparison. |
| US09274777B2 |
Method and apparatus for universal control of networked devices
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for communicating a command to a networked device that requires a driver via an endpoint device that does not have the driver installed are disclosed. For example, the method establishes a first connection with virtual device server, establishes a second connection with a universal device driver API server, transmits a command to the universal device driver API server, receives a translated command compatible with the driver of the networked device from the virtual device server, wherein the translated command is received by the virtual device server from the driver that is called by the universal device driver API server, establishes a third connection with the networked device using identical connection information associated with the second connection with the virtual device server and transmits the translated command to the networked device over the third connection. |
| US09274771B1 |
Automated adaptive compiler optimization
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for automatically and adaptively optimizing compilation of application code using a rule-based optimization analyzer (RUBOA) that can command a compiler to apply and adapt optimizations at the code segment level according to gathered performance data. For example, source code can be canonically compiled, and annotations can associate compiled code sections with source code sections. The generated binary can then be executed and monitored to gather performance characteristics. The RUBOA can apply the gathered performance characteristics and annotations to a pre-defined rule set to generate compiler optimizations, each associated with and parametrically tailored to respective source code segments. The RUBOA can automatically generate optimization control data from the generated compiler optimizations, and the source application code can be re-compiled according to the set of optimization control data to generate executable code that is adaptively optimized at the code segment level. |
| US09274769B1 |
Table of contents pointer value save and restore placeholder positioning
Embodiments describe a computer implemented method of compiling application source code into application object code. A compiler generates application object code having a plurality of table of contents TOC placeholder locations for a potential TOC pointer value command within a calling function. A first function call site of the calling function is corresponded to a first TOC placeholder location. A second function call site of the calling function is corresponded to a second TOC placeholder location. |
| US09274765B2 |
Spatial graphical user interface and method for using the same
A spatial graphical user interface for interfacing with a plurality of data sources to create a layered image includes a content acquisition module configured to acquire a first primary image from any one of the data sources where the primary image has at least an image of one object thereon. A transparent layer generating module generates a transparent layer to be overlaid over the primary image which spatially corresponds to the primary image. A link generating module generates an icon on the transparent layer over the at least one object such that the icon represents a link to data contained in the data sources related to the object on the primary image. The layered image is the combined view of the primary image, the transparent layer and icons on the transparent layer. |
| US09274763B2 |
System and method for creating a development and operational platform for mobile applications
The present invention provides a system and method for constructing a complete definition of a backend requirements model that can be automatically accessed and interpreted, and generated into a mobile consumable API for creation of, and use with, mobile applications. The mobile consumable API can be provided and made available to mobile app developers on a separate, stand-alone platform, and may act as an intermediary between the mobile app and the primary mainframe/enterprise/back end system. The method may include identification and definition of one or more of information providers, integration providers, and system behaviors, and creating a domain model. The domain model may be automatically codified into an API based solution as the app/mainframe interface, and stored on a development and operational platform for use. |
| US09274761B1 |
Dual programming interface
A computer-implemented method for providing an informal interface and a formal interface to a computing application using a computer is provided. The informal interface includes first routines, the first routines using an informal input format. The method also includes providing a formal interface using the computer, where the formal interface includes second routines. The second routines support developer functionality, and the second routines using a formal input format. The method includes receiving a first input having a first routine input format, the first routine input format complying with the informal input format, or a second input having a second routine input format, the second routine input format complying with the formal input format. The method includes processing the received first input or the received second input and performing a computing operation based on the processing. |
| US09274759B2 |
Module management apparatus, module management system and module management method
There is provided a module management apparatus, that coordinates, in a time of start of a module management infrastructure carrying out integrated management of: a bundle having a module formed by a program described by an object oriented language and definition information including an attribute of the module; and a module group including a plurality of pieces of the bundle, when the bundle is loaded from a folder, and, if the definition information collides between different bundles, a reference relationship of the bundle by changing the definition information dynamically. |
| US09274753B1 |
Application diagram tool
A system for an application diagram is provided. The system includes a technology roadmap database, an application database, a project database, a processor, an analysis module, and a user interface. The technology roadmap database contains technology roadmap information defining a technology roadmap. The application database contains configuration information about applications. The configuration information identifies the technology resources allocated to each application. The project database contains project information, which identifies any project impact on each application. The processor executes the analysis module to analyze the technology roadmap information, the configuration information, and the project information and to create the application diagram for a selected project. The application diagram organizes applications within enterprise functional areas and presents any changes planned for the selected project. The user interface, responsive to user input, promotes selection of projects and displays the application diagram for selected projects. |
| US09274752B2 |
Leading change anticipator logic
In one embodiment, a processor includes at least one floating point unit. The at least one floating point unit may include an adder, leading change anticipator (LCA) logic, and a shifter. The adder may be to add a first operand X and a second operand Y to obtain an output operand having a bit length n. The LCA logic may be to: for each bit position i from n−1 to 1, obtain a set of propagation values and a set of bit values based on the first operand X and the second operand Y; and generate a LCA mask based on the set of propagation values and the set of bit values. The shifter may be to normalize the output operand based on the LCA mask. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09274751B2 |
Fused booth encoder multiplexer
A multiplier circuit comprises a fused Booth encoder multiplexer which produces partial product bits, a tree which uses the partial product bits to generate partial products, and an adder which uses the partial products to generate intermediate sum and carry results for a multiplication operation. The fused Booth encoder multiplexer utilizes encoder-selector cells having a logic tree which carries out a Boolean function according to a Booth encoding and selection algorithm to produce one of the partial product bits at a dynamic node, and a latch connected to the dynamic node which maintains the value at an output node. The encoder-selector cells operate in parallel to produce the partial product bits generally simultaneously. A given one of the encoder-selector cells has a unique set of both multiplier operand inputs and multiplicand operand inputs, and produces a single partial product bit. |
| US09274750B2 |
System and method for signal processing in digital signal processors
An embodiment of a method and a related apparatus for digital computation of a floating point complex multiply-add is provided. The method includes receiving an input addend, a first product, and a second product. The input addend, the first product and the second product each respectively has a mantissa and an exponent. The method includes shifting the mantissas of the two with smaller exponents of the input addend, the first product, and the second product to align together with the mantissa of the one with largest exponent of the input addend, the first product and the second product, and adding the aligned input addend, the aligned first product and the aligned second product. |
| US09274749B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes saving a first memo sheet including at least one memo object and at least one audio memo object for the first memo sheet, displaying the first memo sheet to be displayed on a touchscreen, and when a prescribed memo object is selected from the at least one memo object displayed on the first memo sheet, controlling an audio memo object corresponding to the selected memo object to be outputted via an audio output unit. Accordingly, a voice memo content and other memo contents can be efficiently recorded and read. |
| US09274747B2 |
Natural user input for driving interactive stories
A system and method are disclosed for combining interactive gaming aspects into a linear story. A user may interact with the linear story via a NUI system to alter the story and the images that are presented to the user. In an example, a user may alter the story by performing a predefined exploration gesture. This gesture brings the user into the 3-D world of the displayed image. In particular, the image displayed on the screen changes to create the impression that a user is stepping into the 3-D virtual world to allow a user to examine virtual objects from different perspectives or to peer around virtual objects. |
| US09274744B2 |
Relative position-inclusive device interfaces
A computing device can analyze image or video information to determine a relative position of an active user. The computing device can optimize audio or video data capture based at least in part upon the relative location. The device can capture audio using one or more microphones pointing toward the relative location of the active user, and can use other microphones to determine audio from other sources to be removed from the captured audio. If video data is being captured, a video capture element can be adjusted to focus primarily on the active user. The position of the user can be monitored so the audio and video data capture can be adjusted accordingly. |
| US09274741B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal capable of carrying out time counting to execute a control function, and a control method thereof. The mobile terminal includes a display unit, and a controller configured to continuously display counting information for guiding the time counting on at least a part of an edge area of a display unit for a predetermined time when the time counting is executed in association with a terminal operation, and execute a control function associated with the terminal operation after a lapse of the predetermined time. |
| US09274740B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus enabling a user to recognize positions and boundaries of light source blocks, method for controlling the same, and image display system
A liquid crystal display apparatus which enables a user to recognize positions and boundaries of light source blocks, a method for controlling the same, and an image display system are provided. The apparatus comprises a liquid crystal panel; a backlight which has a plurality of light source blocks and which radiates light onto the liquid crystal panel; a generating unit which generates boundary image data which indicates a light source block area as an area corresponding to each of the light source blocks on the liquid crystal panel; a combining unit which combines image data to be inputted and the boundary image data; and a display control unit which displays composite image data combined by the combining unit on the liquid crystal panel. |
| US09274738B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method and storage medium storing program for short distance wireless communication
In an information processing apparatus capable of performing communication using each of a plurality of communication methods, information used to communicate with an external apparatus of the information processing apparatus by a second communication method among the plurality of communication methods is received from the external apparatus by a first communication method among the plurality of communication methods. The external apparatus is notified, by the second communication method based on the received information, of information about execution of predetermined processing in accordance with a result obtained by determining the status of the communication with the external apparatus by the first communication method. |
| US09274735B2 |
Communication apparatus comprising integrated circuit tag interface
A first communication apparatus may comprise a first type of interface configured to function as an IC tag, a second type of interface, and a controller. The controller may cause the first type of interface to execute a sending operation. The sending operation may be executed by using a first wireless connection established between the first and second communication apparatuses. The sending operation may include an operation of the first type of interface to send network identification information to the second communication apparatus. The network identification information may be information to be used in a first wireless network to which both the first and second communication apparatuses belong. The controller may execute, after the first type of interface has executed the sending operation, a wireless communication of target data with the second communication apparatus via the second type of interface by using the first wireless network. |
| US09274731B2 |
System and method for controlling a print job
A system and method for controlling a print job receive a request to print a print job; record, in the print job, a first time at which the request is received; obtain a second time at which the print job is sent to a printing device; calculate an elapsed time between the first time recorded in the print job and the second time obtained; determine whether the elapsed time is larger than a predetermined time period, and generate a notification based on the determination. |
| US09274727B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium for performing connection to a processing target apparatus
It is determined whether a relay apparatus connected via a network is an external apparatus having a function of executing predetermined processing. In accordance with a determination result, the relay apparatus is registered as the external apparatus having the function of executing the predetermined processing. |
| US09274725B2 |
Image forming system and setting screen manipulating method for allowing terminal apparatus to manipulate setting screen
Provided is an image forming system that allows a user to quickly reach a desired setting item so as to resume alteration of the setting of the image forming apparatus and a job manipulation between a mobile terminal and an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus starts an operation of changing the setting when an operation panel part is operated. Then, a terminal apparatus displays setting items of the image forming apparatus on a display panel in the form of a menu map. When an operation for determining a setting item is performed on a menu-map screen on the terminal apparatus, the image forming apparatus changes a setting screen to be displayed on the display panel to a setting screen for the setting item indicated by transmitted information. |
| US09274721B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and data management method thereof
A data management method of a nonvolatile memory device which includes a data cell area and a reference cell area includes selecting shared data from write data input to the memory device; generating reference data based on the shared data; and storing the write data in the data cell area and a first reference area of the reference cell area; and storing the reference data in a second reference area of the reference cell area. |
| US09274718B1 |
Migration in replication system
In one aspect, a method includes replicating a first volume of a first storage array to a second volume of a second storage array and notifying a first splitter of a start of migration. The first splitter is configured to send I/Os sent from an application to the first volume to a first data replication appliance (DPA) to be replicated at the second volume and configured to send the I/Os to the first volume. The method also includes configuring a second splitter of a third storage array to: ignore data migrating from the first volume to the third volume and send the I/Os sent from the application to the third volume to the first DPA to be replicated at the second volume and to send the I/Os to the third volume; and migrating data from the first volume to the third volume. |
| US09274717B2 |
Deduplication of data blocks on storage devices
A storage system comprises a cache for caching data blocks and storage devices for storing blocks. A storage operating system may deduplicate sets of redundant blocks on the storage devices based on a deduplication requirement. Blocks in cache are typically deduplicated based on the deduplication on the storage devices. Sets of redundant blocks that have not met the deduplication requirement for storage devices and have not been deduplicated on the storage devices and cache are targeted for further deduplication processing. Sets of redundant blocks may be further deduplicated based on their popularity (number of accesses) in cache. If a set of redundant blocks in cache is determined to have a combined number of accesses being greater than a predetermined threshold number of accesses, the set of redundant blocks is determined to be “popular.” Popular sets of redundant blocks are selected for deduplication in cache and the storage devices. |
| US09274715B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for in-system field repair and recovery from memory failures
In a particular embodiment, a device includes memory address remapping circuitry and a remapping engine. The memory address remapping circuitry includes a comparison circuit to compare a received memory address to one or more remapped addresses. The memory address remapping circuitry also includes a selection circuit responsive to the comparison circuit to output a physical address. The physical address corresponds to a location in a random-access memory (RAM). The remapping engine is configured to update the one or more remapped addresses to include a particular address in response to detecting that a number of occurrences of errors at a particular location satisfies a threshold. |
| US09274714B2 |
Method and system for managing storage capacity in a storage network
A system for managing configuration of a storage network having multiple storage resources is disclosed. The system uses a storage management policy to set parameters for detecting storage resource problems in the storage network. The system monitors the storage resources in the storage network based on the storage management policy. Based on the monitoring, the system detects limited storage resource conditions, and identifies one or more potential solutions to the condition. After identifying potential solutions, the system simulates effects on the storage resources of implementing individual solutions. Based on the simulations, the system then implements one or more selected solutions. These solutions may be selected automatically or by a user. |
| US09274711B2 |
Skewing expected wearout times of memory devices
Aspects of the present invention include a system, method, and computer program product for skewing expected wearout times of memory devices in an array are provided according to some embodiments of the present invention. In general, the method includes determining or receiving an amount of spare space to provide in an array of memory devices, allocating the spare space non-uniformly to the memory devices in the array, and skewing expected wearout times of the memory devices by controlling writing of data to the array according to the allocation of the spare space. |
| US09274708B2 |
Thick and thin data volume management
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring one or more storage devices as a plurality of physical storage units, each of the physical storage units having a storage granularity, and configuring, on the one or more storage devices, a thin provisioned storage pool having a physical number of the physical storage units and a logical number of logical storage units. Upon receiving a request to create a thick data volume having a requested number of the physical storage units, an available number of the physical storage units that are available in the thin provisioned pool can be identified. A certain number of physical storage units are then allocated based upon a determination of the identifying. |
| US09274705B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
Disclosed are a terminal in which a shape or configuration of a virtual keypad is transformable by considering user's convenience and a method for controlling the same, the terminal including: a display module configured to display a virtual keypad; a user input unit configured to receive a touch or drag input from a user; and a controller configured to transform the shape of the virtual keypad according to a dragged direction or dragged length when a spot of the virtual keypad is touched to be dragged in a specific direction. |
| US09274701B2 |
Method and system for a creased paper effect on page limits
In a touchscreen viewing device, a method for implementing a crease effect. The method includes receiving a swipe input related to an image displayed on a touch screen of a viewing device, upon determination that the swipe input will generate an item end effect, causing a crease effect to appear on the image in response to the swipe input, and subsequent to the end of the swipe input, undoing the crease effect on the image to return the image to an original effect. |
| US09274695B2 |
Parallax scrolling of multiple information panels in a graphical user interface
A method and a device are disclosed including a parallax Graphical User Interface (GUI) software component configured to allow automatic, parallax-type, smooth movement of multiple information panels out of user's view when focus is placed on one of the multiple information panels and the focus information panel is scrolled. When the user scrolls in the opposite direction, the non-focus panels reappear smoothly and automatically and the original user view before scrolling is restored. In various embodiments, search results may be categorized and organized into separate windows, each independently scrollable, which may be viewed using the parallax GUI. In various embodiments, a number of documents and/or software applications used to open such documents, may be registered in a parallax list to allow navigation using the parallax GUI. |
| US09274678B2 |
Identifying a thumbnail image to represent a video
Techniques are shown for generating image frames from a media presentation, selecting candidate thumbnails from the generated image frames using a selection process, and testing each selected candidate thumbnail for a success ranking relative to a target metric. The probability of choosing a selected candidate thumbnail with a success ranking higher than all other selected thumbnails as an optimum thumbnail for presentation to a user is based, at least in part, on the ratio of the success ranking of the selected candidate thumbnail with the highest success ranking to the sum of the success rankings of all of the selected candidate thumbnails. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09274672B1 |
Monitoring overtime of tasks
A computer system monitors the execution time of each of a plurality of tasks over a plurality of time periods. The system receives a first input that selects a particular time period from the plurality of time periods, and further monitors the execution time of the plurality of tasks in the selected time period. The system receives a second input that selects a particular task from the particular time period, and monitors the execution time of the particular task in the particular time period. |
| US09274671B2 |
Managing a user interface for an application program
A method, apparatus and computer program is disclosed for managing a user interface (UI) for an application program in which a plurality of user interface methods are provided for a given application program function, one or more of the more frequently used UI options being maintained in the UI while one or more of the less frequently used UI options are removed. |
| US09274668B2 |
Guided page navigation
Configuring a set of guided documents for operation of a business activity based on a workflow for the activity, industry expertise, and a plurality of models of source data that is relevant to the business activity, wherein points of entry to access the guided documents are organized around one or more industry-specific data dimensions. |
| US09274647B2 |
Embedded authentication systems in an electronic device
This invention is directed to an electronic device with an embedded authentication system for restricting access to device resources. The authentication system may include one or more sensors operative to detect biometric information of a user. The sensors may be positioned in the device such that the sensors may detect appropriate biometric information as the user operates the device, without requiring the user to perform a step for providing the biometric information (e.g., embedding a fingerprint sensor in an input mechanism instead of providing a fingerprint sensor in a separate part of the device housing). In some embodiments, the authentication system may be operative to detect a visual or temporal pattern of inputs to authenticate a user. In response to authenticating, a user may access restricted files, applications (e.g., applications purchased by the user), or settings (e.g., application settings such as contacts or saved game profile). |
| US09274645B2 |
Touch determination with signal enhancement
Multi-touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch-sensitive apparatus comprising a panel for conducting signals from a plurality of incoupling points to a plurality of outcoupling points, thereby defining detection lines between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points. Signal generators coupled to the incoupling points generate the signals, and signal detectors coupled to the outcoupling points generate an output signal indicative of one or more touches on the surface portion. A signal processor obtains the output signal which, if converted into a set of data samples of a given input format, enables a predetermined reconstruction algorithm to determine an interaction pattern on the surface portion. The signal processor generates, based on the output signal, a modified set of data samples in the given input format; and operates the predetermined reconstruction algorithm on the modified set of data samples so as to determine a modified interaction pattern on the surface portion. |
| US09274644B2 |
Synchronization of active stylus and touch sensor
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a synchronization signal from a computing device and determining a first time associated with detection of a first edge of the synchronization signal. The method also includes determining a second time associated with detection of a second edge of the synchronization signal and determining whether the second time occurs within a first predetermined window of time from the first time. The method further includes, if the second time occurs within the first predetermined window of time from the first time, then determining that the synchronization signal is valid. |
| US09274642B2 |
Acceleration-based interaction for multi-pointer indirect input devices
An indirect interaction input device, such as but not limited to a touch sensor, can provide multiple points of input. These multiple points are in turn mapped to multiple positions on an output device such as a display. The multiple points of input, however, make the application of pointer ballistics and resolution differences between the input sensor and target display more difficult to manage. Thus, a characteristic of the set of points is identified and used to adjust the mapping of each of the points. For example, one way to solve this problem is to identify the input point with the least displacement from a prior frame, whether from its prior point or from a reference point. This displacement is used to adjust the mapping of the set of input points from the input device to their corresponding display coordinates. |
| US09274640B2 |
Panel control device, panel control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A panel control device includes a processor. The processor is configured to perform processes including acquiring a plurality of pressed cells and a plurality of cell coordinates, the plurality of pressed cells being a plurality of cells, among pluralities of cells that divide a panel into a plurality of regions, to which pressing forces are applied simultaneously, and each of the plurality of cell coordinates being coordinate information that indicates a position within one of the pressed cells to which the pressing forces have been applied, specifying, as at least one candidate cell, at least one of the plurality of pressed cells based on positional relationships among the plurality of cell coordinates included in an adjacency group, and specifying designation coordinates based on cell coordinates, among the plurality of cell coordinates, that indicates a position within the at least one candidate cell. |
| US09274638B2 |
Touch panel
A touch panel includes a substrate, a light-shielding layer, a patterned transparent layer, a reflecting layer, at least one first sensing series, and at least one second sensing series. The substrate has a touch sensing region and a peripheral region. The light-shielding layer is disposed in the periphery region. The light-shielding layer has a patterned opening and a sidewall adjacent to the patterned opening. The patterned opening is configured to provide a mark identifiable by human eyes. The patterned transparent layer is disposed in the peripheral region, and the patterned transparent layer covers a portion of the patterned opening. The patterned transparent layer has an inclined sidewall positioned in the patterned opening. The reflecting layer covers the inclined sidewall and the patterned opening. The first sensing series and the second sensing series are arranged in the touch sensing region to detect a position of a touch point. |
| US09274636B2 |
Embedded touch array substrate and liquid crystal display panel
The present invention discloses an embedded touch array substrate, which comprises: multiple pairs of gate scanning lines and data lines arranged alternately; a pixel switch electrically connected with the gate scanning lines and the data lines; a pixel electrode electrically connected with the pixel switch; a touch emission line provided between two pairs of the gate scanning lines adjacent to each other; a touch receiving line provided between two pairs of the data lines adjacent to each other and intersecting the touch emission line; and a touch unit electrically connected with the intersection of the touch emission line and the touch receiving line. The gate scanning line and the data line according to the present invention utilize double lines, which provide individual trace area for the touch emission line and the touch receiving line. It further decreases the interference between the panel driving signal and the touch signal. |
| US09274634B2 |
Touch panel
Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel includes a substrate including a view area and a dead area; a bridge electrode on the view area of the substrate; a print part on the dead area of the substrate; a wire electrode formed on the printed part to make direct contact with the print part; and an insulation pattern on the bridge electrode and the wire electrode. |
| US09274631B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a light shielding plate having an opening, a protective plate, and a coordinate input device having a transparent substrate, and a first flexible interconnect substrate. The coordinate input device is disposed on the display panel at the side of a display screen, and each of the light shielding plate and the protective plate is arranged on the coordinate input device on the opposite side of the display panel. The coordinate input device has first signal interconnects and a second signal interconnect disposed outside the first signal interconnects but near a peripheral edge of the transparent substrate. The second signal interconnect is formed of a thin conductive film disposed along a peripheral edge portion of the transparent substrate, and is disposed along the peripheral edge of three sides of the transparent substrate. |
| US09274629B2 |
Two-way touch-screen based communication system
Embodiments of the disclosure generally set forth a two-way touch screen based communication system. One example method may include receiving an order for an item from a first touch screen device via a first network, wherein the order is associated with a first identification for a merchant, a second identification for the customer, and a negotiable parameter reflective of a preference of the customer. The method may also include making available the order for a second touch screen device of the merchant to retrieve via a second network and to display and prior to completing processing of the order, transmitting a first response to the preference of the customer to the first touch screen device via the first network. |
| US09274625B2 |
Touch screen shield
A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen. |
| US09274615B2 |
Interactive input system and method
An interactive input system comprises at least two imaging assemblies capturing image frames of a region of interest from different vantages, each imaging assembly comprising an image sensor and signal processing circuitry implemented on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), image data acquired by the image sensor being pre-processed by the signal processing circuitry; and processing structure processing pre-processed image data output by the imaging assemblies to determine the location of at least one pointer within the region of interest. |
| US09274614B2 |
Optical mouse apparatus based on image variation and related method thereof
An optical mouse apparatus includes a light source unit, a sensing unit, and a processing unit. The light source unit is arranged for generating and emitting an optical signal, wherein the optical signal is emitted upon a surface, and then reflected to form an optical reflected signal. The sensing unit is arranged for generating a sensed image output according to the optical reflected signal, wherein the sensed image output is utilized for estimating an image displacement of the optical mouse apparatus. The processing unit is coupled to the light source unit and the sensing unit, and arranged for controlling the light source unit to emit the optical signal and determining a operation status of the optical mouse apparatus according to an image variation of at least a partial region of each of consecutive images of the sensed image output. |
| US09274613B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to dynamically determining entered telephone numbers
As keys of the keyboard of a portable communication device are asserted, the device dynamically determines at least a portion of a corresponding telephone number to present on the device's display by, at least in part, considering likelihoods of differing explicit and implicit interpretations of these key assertions. By one approach this can comprise according a likelihood advantage to an explicit interpretation of one or more of the key assertions and/or implicit interpretations of such key assertions. These likelihood advantages need not be necessarily dispositive with respect to the resultant interpretation. |
| US09274612B2 |
User interface system
The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner. |
| US09274611B2 |
Electronic apparatus, input control program, and input control method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a touch panel, a display, a key detection module, a keyboard display module and a transmission module. The key detection module is configured to detect a touch and a release of a key of a software keyboard, based on touch detection on the touch panel. The transmission module is configured to transmit data indicative of key-down of a first key in accordance with touch detection of the first key, to transmit data indicative of key-down of a second key in accordance with touch detection of the second key in a state in which the first key is touched, and then to transmit data indicative of key-up of the first key and the second key in accordance with release detection of the first key and the second key. |
| US09274609B2 |
Inputting radical on touch screen device
Example apparatus and methods concern improved input of radicals. Example apparatus and methods facilitate more efficiently inputting Chinese radicals using a touch screen. One example method includes displaying a labeled soft key on a touch screen device. The label may represent all or a portion of a radical. The example method includes accepting a touch input associated with the soft key and then taking an action based on the label and the touch input. The action may include inputting a radical or updating the display on the touch screen. Updating the display may facilitate iterative and intuitive progress through radical construction leading to radical selection and input. |
| US09274603B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters
The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback. |
| US09274601B2 |
System and method for generating a feedback signal in response to an input signal provided to an electronic device
The disclosure relates to a system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: a display; an input device; an input module to detect activation of the input device; and a input module to generate a feedback signal for the electronic device based on signals from the input module. In system, the input device is a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element and the input module may cause the transducer to vibrate upon receiving an activation signal from the input module. |
| US09274600B2 |
System and method for providing passive haptic feedback
Systems and methods for providing passive haptic feedback are described. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an actuator for bringing a manipulandum and braking surface into contact and thereby providing a resistance. The manipulandum includes scroll wheels, scroll drums, linear sliders and similar user input devices. The actuator may be, for example, electromagnetic or piezo-electric. An embodiment of the present invention may include a processor in communication with the actuator for providing the haptic effects. |
| US09274597B1 |
Tracking head position for rendering content
Content displayed on a display element of a computing device can be rendered from a viewpoint that updates with changes in the relative position of a user's head, or other such feature, with respect to the device. At least one camera of the device can attempt to track the relative position in order to determine the proper viewpoint. When the user's head can no longer be seen, or when confidence in the determined relative position drops below an acceptable value, for example, the device can utilize information from another source, such as a motion or rotation sensor, to attempt to estimate the current position of the user's head. Physical limitations of the user with respect to the device also can be used to improve the accuracy of the determination. |
| US09274587B2 |
Power state adjustment
A system and method for selecting devices for which power states and/or mode of operation may be adjusted can be implemented based on power supply availability, cost of power consumption at certain periods of the day or year, environmental conditions, priority of applications, and business objectives are disclosed. |
| US09274586B2 |
Intelligent memory interface
Many computer processing tasks require large numbers of memory intensive operations to be performed very rapidly. For example, computer network requires that packets be placed into and removed from First-In First-Out (FIFO) queues, numerous counters to be maintained and routing table look-ups to be performed. All of these operations must be performed at very high-speeds in order to keep up with today's high-speed computer network traffic. To help perform these high-speed memory tasks, a high-speed intelligent memory subsystem has been developed. The high-speed intelligent memory subsystem handles the intricacies of these memory operations such that a main process is relieved of some of its duties. Various different high-level memory interfaces for interfacing with the intelligent memory subsystem. The memory interfaces may be hardware-based or software-based. In one embodiment, two layers of interfaces are implemented such that an internal interface may evolve over successive generations without affecting an externally visible interface. |
| US09274583B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a central processing unit 21 the operation of which is stopped or slowed down in a sleep mode; an edge detection unit 23 detecting an edge of an interrupt signal supplied from the outside and generating an edge detection signal; and a data holding unit 22 holding data supplied from the outside when the edge detection signal is received. The central processing unit 21 reads the data held by the data holding unit 22 after returning from the sleep mode to an active mode in response to the interrupt signal. |
| US09274582B2 |
Power consumption management
Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. A system includes a power module operable to determine respective indicia of power consumed in executing at least one instruction by a first subcircuit and by a second subcircuit of a synchronous circuit. The system also includes a scheduler module operable to direct an execution task to a subcircuit selected from the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit. The subcircuit selection is responsive to the determined respective indicia of power consumption by the first subcircuit and by the second subcircuit. |
| US09274581B2 |
Date adjusted power budgeting for an information handling system
An information handling system determines a system configuration including a hardware module, and determines an adjusted power budget for the hardware module. The adjusted power budget is based on a calculation including a difference between a date code read from the hardware module and a baseline date, a baseline power budget, a power reduction period and a power reduction interval. The calculation may optionally include a risk factor. In alternate embodiments, an adjusted power budget for a hardware module may be calculated by an order processing system for information handling systems, or by a planning tool for a data center which contains information handling systems. |
| US09274580B2 |
Voltage regulator supplying power exclusively to a non-core region of a processor having a supply capability threshold
Systems and methods may provide for monitoring a current provided from a voltage regulator to a non-core region of a processor, and asserting a throttle signal to the non-core region of the processor if the current exceeds a supply capability threshold of the voltage regulator. In one example, a specified current supply capability of the non-core region is greater than a current supply capability of the voltage regulator, and the supply capability threshold is less than the specified current supply capability of the non-core region and an over current protection threshold of the non-core region. |
| US09274579B2 |
Circuitry for active cable
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode. |
| US09274576B2 |
System and method for activation of portable and mobile media player devices for wireless LAN services
A system and a method for activation of portable and mobile media player devices for wireless LAN services have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a server computer, a wireless transmitter to transmit a signal, and a portable device comprising a wireless receiver to receive the signal and a wireless transceiver to transition from a first state to a second state to perform content synchronization with the server computer in response to the signal, wherein the wireless transceiver consumes less power in the first state than in the second state. Other embodiments have been claimed and described. |
| US09274572B2 |
High capacity power distribution panel for a modular data center
A power distribution network includes a first busway, a second busway situated between the first busway and a load, a first bus plug, and a second bus plug. The first and second bus plugs are configured to span across the first busway and the second busway. The first bus plug is further configured to provide power from the first busway to the load via an exit from the first bus plug that is adjacent to the load. The second bus plug is further configured to provide power from the second busway to the load via an exit from the second bus plug that is adjacent to the first load. |
| US09274567B2 |
Portable electronic device and control method thereof
A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a display module, a speed sensor and a control module. The display module is for displaying an image. The speed sensor is for determining a moving speed of the portable electronic device. The control module, coupled to the speed sensor and the display module, is for determining a rotation sensitivity for the control module to rotate the displayed image according to the moving speed of the portable electronic device. A control method of the aforementioned portable electronic device is also provided. |
| US09274562B2 |
Flexible electronic devices
Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery. A flexible printed circuit may include flexible and rigid portions or openings that allow some rigid portions to flex with respect to other rigid portions. |
| US09274555B2 |
Wearable electronic device
A wearable electronic device according to the present disclosure includes a first belt, front surface of the first belt being provided with a displaying unit having a curved display face; a second belt; a hinge that connects a first end of the first belt to a first end of the second belt. A shape of a space formed by the first and second belts is an elliptical shape when the device worn around a subject is viewed from a side. The hinge has higher flexibility than the first and second belts. The device has a first engagement unit provided at a second end and a rear surface of the first belt, and in a region where the elliptical shape has smaller curvature than other regions. The device has a second engagement unit provided at an outer side of the second belt and engaging with the first engagement unit. |
| US09274550B2 |
Hinge, supporting module having the hinge, and display device having the supporting module
A hinge for pivotally interconnecting first and second brackets includes a shaft having a shaft body extending through the first and second brackets and formed with an engaging end portion proximate to the second bracket, a fixing member connected to the engaging end portion, a ratchet sleeved rotatably on the shaft body between the fixing member and the second bracket, a friction mechanism having an urging unit sleeved on the shaft body between the ratchet and the fixing member and pressing the ratchet toward the second bracket, and a brake mechanism disposed on the second bracket and having a pawl member releasably engaged to the ratchet. |
| US09274548B2 |
Electronic apparatus comprising backplane and methods of assembling and disassembling
The present disclosure relates to an electronic apparatus (100) comprising a backplane (120) and methods of assembling and disassembling such an apparatus. The electronic apparatus (100) comprises a chassis (101) having plural walls and a circuit board (140) fastened to a wall of the chassis, a surface of the circuit board having a plurality of conductive pads (146). A backplane (120) is fastened in a received position in the chassis substantially perpendicular to the circuit board. The backplane has a connector (130) at an edge of the backplane, the connector comprising a plurality of sprung conductive elements (132,134) which extend outwards beyond the edge of the backplane to make electrical contact with respective conductive pads (146) on the circuit board. |
| US09274546B2 |
Apparatus and method to recover a data signal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an apparatus and method for recovering a data signal in a digital transmission. A computer processor receives a data signal from a data signal input wire. The computer processor receives an external clock signal. The computer processor samples a binary bit of the data signal multiple times per clock cycle. The computer processor determines, for each sampling group, a sample and a quality measurement. The computer processor stores, for each sampling group, the sample and the quality measurement into a set of memory elements. The computer processor stores the sample from each sampling group into a first and a second delay chain. The computer processor determines a current sampling point. The computer processor transmits output corresponding to a content of the current sampling point to a data signal output wire. |
| US09274545B2 |
Apparatus and method to recover a data signal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an apparatus and method for recovering a data signal in a digital transmission. A computer processor receives a data signal from a data signal input wire. The computer processor receives an external clock signal. The computer processor samples a binary bit of the data signal multiple times per clock cycle. The computer processor determines, for each sampling group, a sample and a quality measurement. The computer processor stores, for each sampling group, the sample and the quality measurement into a set of memory elements. The computer processor stores the sample from each sampling group into a first and a second delay chain. The computer processor determines a current sampling point. The computer processor transmits output corresponding to a content of the current sampling point to a data signal output wire. |
| US09274543B2 |
Estimation apparatus and method for estimating clock skew
A method for estimating a clock skew between a first clock and a second clock. The method includes the steps of detecting the clock skew to generate a detection resultant signal representing the clock skew; and determining time unit of a signal processing process, and estimating the clock skew according to the time unit of the signal processing process and the detection resultant signal. |
| US09274541B1 |
Adjustable motor vehicle pedal
An adjustable vehicle control pedal comprises a first arm having a first end rotatable along a plane between first and second positions. The first end defines a first through opening extending nonparallel to the plane. A second arm has a first end defining a second through opening extending nonparallel to a long dimension of the second arm. The second arm is repositionable in relation to the first arm among a plurality of positions in which the first and second through openings are in substantially coaxial adjacent registration with one another. An insert is receivable through the first and second through openings in each of the plurality of positions to lock the second arm against rotation in relation to the first arm along the plane. A position sensor is responsive to movement of the first arm between the first and second positions. |
| US09274540B2 |
Recharging of battery electric vehicles on a smart electrical grid system
Some example embodiments include a method for recharging a number of battery electric vehicles. The method include receiving (by a control module configured to control an electrical grid system that include a number of recharging stations that are configured to recharge the number of battery electric vehicles and from the number of battery electric vehicles) usage data that comprises a current charge level, a current location, and a planned itinerary that includes a destination. The method includes determining anticipated electrical loads in the number of sectors of the electrical grid system based on the usage data of the number of battery electric vehicles. The method also includes redistributing the electrical supply on the electrical grid system to at least one recharging station of the number of recharging stations based on the anticipated electrical loads, prior to actual usage defined by the usage data by the number of battery electrical vehicles. |
| US09274538B2 |
Voltage scaling system
A circuit for downscaling voltage comprising: a voltage regulator; a voltage reference register configured to provide a voltage reference value; a voltage comparator configured to output a logical one if a supply voltage of the voltage regulator is greater than the voltage reference value, wherein a first input of the voltage comparator is coupled to output of the voltage regulator and a second input of the voltage comparator is coupled to output of the voltage reference register; an AND gate, where a first input of the AND gate is coupled to output of the voltage comparator and a second input of the AND gate is coupled to a voltage reference ready signal; a switch configured to close based on output of logical one from the AND gate; and a pull-down resistor configured to couple to the output of the voltage regulator only if the switch is closed. |
| US09274533B2 |
Radio frequency identification devices
Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices are provided including a contactless internal voltage generator configured to generate a rectification voltage responsive to a radio frequency (RF) input signal and an internal voltage responsive to the generated rectification voltage and a reference voltage; a clock generator configured to sense an amount of current to a sink path of the contactless internal voltage generator and to generate a clock signal using a variable resistance value, the variable resistance value based on the amount of current sensed; and an internal circuit driven by the internal voltage and the clock signal. |
| US09274529B2 |
Safe emergency landing of a UAV
Method for autonomous safe emergency landing of a powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the event of an engine failure. A landing approach trajectory is generated, including a downwind leg, initiating at an initiation point of the trajectory, an upwind leg, terminating at a selected touchdown point, and a U-turn leg, joining between the downwind leg and the upwind leg. The UAV is directed to the initiation point to follow the downwind leg. A glide ratio of the UAV is repeatedly determined based on current flight conditions. A current turning point is repeatedly determined along the downwind leg based on the determined glide ratio, the U-turn leg initiating at the current turning point. When the UAV arrives at the current turning point, the UAV is directed to follow the U-turn leg and the upwind leg, for landing the UAV at the selected touchdown point. |
| US09274525B1 |
Detecting sensor degradation by actively controlling an autonomous vehicle
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining sensor degradation by actively controlling an autonomous vehicle. Determining sensor degradation may include obtaining sensor readings from a sensor of an autonomous vehicle, and determining baseline state information from the obtained sensor readings. A movement characteristic of the autonomous vehicle, such as speed or position, may then be changed. The sensor may then obtain additional sensor readings, and second state information may be determined from these additional sensor readings. Expected state information may be determined from the baseline state information and the change in the movement characteristic of the autonomous vehicle. A comparison of the expected state information and the second state information may then be performed. Based on this comparison, a determination may be made as to whether the sensor has degraded. |
| US09274521B1 |
Employing local, opportunistic automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) information processed by an unmanned aerial vehicle ground control station to augment other source “knowledge” of local aircraft position information for improving situational awareness
A system and method are provided for employing local, opportunistic Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) information to augment other source “knowledge” of local aircraft position information for improving situational awareness in areas lacking ADS-B coverage provided by other aircraft control agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), other Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs), and/or other Air Traffic Control (ATC) entities. Locally-received, e.g., in a vicinity of a UAV or sUAS, ADS-B positional information is received by a UAV, sUAS or associated ground control station and integrated on a display component of the ground control station, e.g., a pilot display, for the UAV or sUAS. Received positional information is forwarded to other interested users/systems, including those associated with agencies or entities in overall tactical, operational or surveillance control of a particular area of operations, as appropriate as an integrated situational awareness map display picture. |
| US09274519B2 |
Methods and apparatus for monitoring operation of a system asset
A device for monitoring operation of a plurality of system assets includes a storage device configured to store a model of a plurality of system assets, wherein the model includes a plurality of asset images associated with the system assets, and a plurality of component connections representative of a plurality of conduits coupled to the system assets. The device also includes a processor coupled to the storage device. The processor is configured to display the plurality of asset images and to display the plurality of component connections. The processor is also configured to select an asset image, display a status of a system asset associated with the selected asset image, and automatically display a representation of at least one of a process flow entering the system asset and a process flow exiting the system asset when the asset image is selected. |
| US09274516B2 |
Collision detection method for a drive unit
A collision detection method for a drive unit including an electric drive motor and a movable component which is driven thereby, wherein an actual torque and an actual acceleration of the electric drive motor are sensed and a collision of the movable component is detected on the basis of an evaluation of a predefinable mathematical combination of the actual torque and the actual acceleration. |
| US09274513B2 |
Electric power control system and process
A method and apparatus for controlling electric power supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Measurements of the supplied electricity are detected. Estimated deviant voltage levels that the supplied electricity will not drop below or exceed as a result of varying electrical consumption by the one or more electrical devices is computed based on a predetermined confidence level and the detected measurements. A voltage level output of the electricity supplied to the electrical device is adjusted based on the computed deviant voltage level. |
| US09274511B2 |
Failsafe operation of vehicle electronic control unit
In the present invention, on the basis of the results of determining whether or not a constituent element of a vehicle control device is malfunctioning, the malfunction determination logic for determining whether or not the vehicle control device as a whole is malfunctioning is caused to be easily reusable. This vehicle control device determines the level of functional malfunction of the vehicle control device on the basis of what combination of hardware configuring the vehicle control device is malfunctioning, and executes a failsafe function that is in accordance with the level of functional malfunction (see FIG. 5). |
| US09274507B2 |
Smart watch and control method thereof
A smart watch and a control method thereof are disclosed. The smart watch includes a first sensor unit configured to detect whether the smart watch is worn, a display unit configured to display visual information, a second sensor unit configured to detect movement of the smart watch, and a processor configured to control the first sensor unit, the display unit, and the second sensor unit. If first movement of the smart watch is detected on an arm of a user while the smart watch is being worn, the processor obtains direction and distance of the first movement of the smart watch. If the direction of the first movement is a first direction and the distance of the first movement is equal to or more than a first threshold distance, the processor performs a first function corresponding to the first direction. |
| US09274503B2 |
Sound absorber and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A sound absorber includes a duct member constituting a resonance pathway, the duct member including a pathway portion communicating ends of the duct member; a base member including a concave portion; and a cover member including a neck in which to insert the duct member. The cover member covers the concave portion of the base member, and the cover member combined with the base member forms a resonance space having a volume V. The resonance pathway has dimensions of a length LH and a cross-sectional area SH and communicates the resonance space and an exterior of the sound absorber. The sound absorber has a resonance frequency fH determined by fH=(c/2π)·(SH/V·LH)1/2 and absorbs sound having the resonance frequency fH, where c represents sound velocity. |
| US09274502B2 |
Image forming apparatus with air supply device for blocking infiltration of outside air
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image reader that is disposed on an upper side of an image forming apparatus body and is provided with an opening portion through which wiring connected to the image forming apparatus body side passes, and an air supply device that is provided in the image forming apparatus body or in the image reader, and forms an air flow that blocks infiltration of outside air into the image reader on an outer side of the opening portion. |
| US09274500B2 |
Torque receiving assembly, photosensitive drum and process cartridge
A torque receiving assembly, a photosensitive drum and a process cartridge having such torque receiving assembly. The torque receiving assembly having a body having an axis and having an accommodating chamber; a driven shaft disposed coaxially with the body, the driven shaft including a guide stem and a coupling head provided at one axial end of the guide stem, the guide stem having a pair of output arms which extend outwardly in a radial direction, the coupling head having a plurality of projections; wherein a pair of input arms are provided at an inner wall of the accommodating chamber and configured for abutting with the output arms; the guide stem is movable in the axial direction relative to the body, the torque receiving assembly further has a distance-limiting mechanism that defines a maximum distance the driven shaft is able to move relative to the body in the axis direction. The photosensitive drum and process cartridge according to the present invention both include the torque receiving assembly. |
| US09274494B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, including a main body and a cartridge configured to be detachably attached to the main body, is provided. The cartridge includes a photosensitive member configured to carry an image formed in a developer agent thereon, a movable mechanism, and a developer roller configured to supply the developer agent to the photosensitive member. The movable mechanism is configured to shift between a first state, in which the developer roller is placed in a contact position to contact the photosensitive member, and a second state, in which the developer roller is placed in a separated position to be separated from the photosensitive member. The main body includes a detectable member configured to detect a state of the movable mechanism between the first state and the second state. |
| US09274492B2 |
Cleaning mechanism, transfer belt, and image forming apparatus comprising the same
In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a belt to which a toner image formed with toner added with lubricant is transferred; a blade configured to be arranged in a belt width direction of the belt to scrape against the belt surface; a case configured to include room for housing waste toner scraped off by the blade; a conveyance section configured to convey the waste toner towards two end parts in the belt width direction in the room of the case; and an elastic section configured to flick the waste toner conveyed to the two end parts by the conveyance section towards the blade through elastic force. |
| US09274490B2 |
Power supply apparatus and image forming apparatus
A power supply apparatus includes a transformer and a switching unit that causes two switching elements connected in series to drive the primary winding of the transformer. A detection unit detects current flowing on the primary side of the transformer and outputs a voltage corresponding to the detected current. A correction unit corrects the voltage output from the detection unit into a voltage proportional to a variation of an input voltage input into the primary side of the transformer A nonlinear correction unit corrects the corrected voltage corrected by the correction unit to be nonlinear independently of variation in the input voltage. |
| US09274489B2 |
Cartridge with electrode member constituting a conducting path
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a member to be supplied with electric energy; a frame molded with a resin material; and an electrode member formed on the frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material. The electrode member includes a supporting portion for supporting the member to be supplied with electric energy and a contact portion to be contacted to a main assembly electric contact, provided in the main assembly, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. |
| US09274487B2 |
Image forming apparatus
To prevent a flap of an envelope from sticking to an envelope main body, an image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion forming a toner image on the envelope; a fixing device fixing the toner image onto the envelope by heating the envelope while conveying the envelope on which the toner image is formed by the image forming portion; and a conveying roller pair that rotates while nipping the envelope, onto which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device, to convey the envelope. A driven roller of the conveying roller pair includes driven runners divided in a rotary shaft center direction, and one driven runner located at one end is inclined in a direction separating from another driven runner so that an outer peripheral surface of the one driven runner is brought into contact with a corner portion of a rubber roller. |
| US09274485B2 |
Image forming apparatus having media cassette with grounding
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section and a media cassette. The media cassette includes a loading plate, a pushing up member, a projecting portion and a plate holding portion that engages the loading plate. A release portion engages the plate holding portion. The cassette attaching section has a media supplying roller that supplies media to the image forming apparatus body. The plate holding portion engages the loading plate and holds the loading plate against a pushing up force of the pushing up member. The plate holding portion holds the loading plate when the support section of the media cassette is located outside the cassette attaching section. The media cassette may be inserted into the cassette attaching section. |
| US09274482B2 |
Image forming apparatus with developing contrast control
A toner image for measurement of an area coverage modulation of 90% or more is formed on a photosensitive drum in a non-image formation, and a setting condition for defining a developability of a toner image in an image formation is set so that a detection result of an optical sensor detecting the toner image for measurement becomes a preset target value. The target value is set to be lower as a value of the setting condition increases from a lower side to a higher side of the developability. The target value is set so that a color difference ΔE of an image having half the maximum image density obtained after the setting condition is set with respect to an image having half the maximum image density obtained after the setting condition is set in a setting mode with use of unused developer is 6.5 or less. |
| US09274481B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member by using developer, a temperature detecting portion that detects information regarding the temperature of the developer in the developing device, and a density detecting portion that detects the density of a control image formed on the image bearing member. In addition, a controller controls the amount of the developer supplied to the developing device based on the detection result of the density of the control image, and a change portion changes an electric potential difference between an electric potential of the electrostatic latent image of the control image and a DC bias applied to the developing device so as to compensate for changing developing efficiency caused by temperature, based on the detection result acquired by the temperature detecting portion. |
| US09274479B2 |
Optical sensor and image forming apparatus configured to detect light reflected from sheet
An optical sensor includes an irradiation system including a semiconductor laser having plural light-emitting parts; and at least one photodetector that detects an amount of light which is emitted from the irradiation system and reflected on a sheet-like object. |
| US09274478B1 |
Image forming apparatus and message display method for presenting multiple status conditions of the image forming apparatus
In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a paper pickup section configured to pick up paper from a cassette; a calculating section configured to measure the time from the moment the paper is picked up to the moment the conveyance of the paper is detected by a sensor arranged at a given distance away from the paper pickup section, to calculate a delay time with respect to a specified time; and a control section configured to count the number of times the calculated delay time exceeds a delay time stored in a storage section in which a plurality of delay times different in length are stored, and output message information different from each other according to the length of the calculated delay time and the counted times when a plurality of paper is fed. |
| US09274477B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In a constitution of primary-transfer-high-voltage-less in which a power source dedicated to primary-transfer, in the case where voltage applications for determining primary-transfer and secondary-transfer voltages are carried out concurrently, there is a possibility of improper primary-transfer. The possibility is decreased by controlling a power source so that a voltage drop of a Zener diode maintains a Zener breakdown voltage. |
| US09274474B2 |
Fixing device
The fixing device includes a rotary member for contacting the unfixed toner image, a pressure member for forming the nip portion by contacting the rotary member, and a cover for covering the rotary member with a space between the rotary member and the cover. In a cross section of the fixing device, the cross section being orthogonal to a generatrix direction of the rotary member, the shortest distance (H) between the nip portion and a farthest surface portion of the rotary member farthest away from a surface portion forming the nip portion of the rotary member, the maximum width (W) of the rotary member in the conveyance direction of the recording member, and an area (S) of the space in a range of the maximum width W in the cross section satisfy with a relationship of S/W≧0.7×H. |
| US09274471B2 |
Rotatable heating member and image heating apparatus
A rotatable heating member incorporating a heat source configured to heat a toner image on a sheet includes an elastic layer and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer. When thermal effusivity of the surface layer is Bs and thermal effusivity of the elastic layer is Be, the following relationship is satisfied: −0.04<(Be−Bs)/Be<0.04. |
| US09274467B2 |
Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a coil; a belt member; a first core and a second core which are provided inside the belt member; a contact member contacting an inner surface of the belt member along a widthwise direction of the belt member; a pressing member configured to press the belt member against the contact member; a core supporting member configured to support the first and second cores; a pressing mechanism configured to generate pressure for forming a nip; and an adjusting portion, provided on the core supporting member, configured to adjust the height of each of the first core and the second core so that the height of a supporting surface configured to support the first core and the height of a supporting surface for supporting the second core are different from each other with respect to a direction perpendicular to the supporting surfaces. |
| US09274461B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A transfer device includes a transfer member and a bias applicator. The transfer member contacts a surface, on which a toner image is borne, of an image bearing body, to form a transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage and an AC voltage as transfer bias to transfer the toner image on the image bearing body to a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage having a same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias and an AC voltage having an amplitude smaller than the AC voltage of the transfer bias or applies the DC voltage having the same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias without applying an AC voltage, when an inter-sheet area that exists on the image bearing body passes through the transfer nip during a continuous image formation period. |
| US09274454B2 |
Chip contact mechanism and developer cartridge
Disclosed is a chip contact mechanism for a developer cartridge. The chip contact mechanism comprises a chip holder movably provided on the developer cartridge and a lever for enabling the chip holder to move. The chip holder is provided with a chip installation position. A return member is provided between the chip holder and the cartridge body. Disclosed is also a developer cartridge which comprises the chip contact mechanism. |
| US09274453B2 |
Developing roller, developing device, and image forming apparatus including developing device
A developing roller includes a roller main body disposed to face, without contact, an outer circumferential surface of an image carrier. In the roller main body, a boehmite layer has been formed on an outer circumferential surface of a base body that is made of a metal including aluminum, by a surface treatment by a boehmite method, and a resin coat layer has been formed on a surface of the boehmite layer, the resin coat layer being made of a resin material having electric conductivity. |
| US09274452B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device are provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developer carrier which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which carries developer on a circumferential surface thereof, a layer thickness regulating member which includes, a blade contacting the circumferential surface of the developer carrier along a rotational axial direction of the developer carrier, and a support member supporting the blade, the layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface of the developer carrier. The support member includes: a contact part which contacts the blade; and a pair of attachment parts which are attached to the housing. The attachment parts are provide at both sides of the contact part in the rotational axial direction and are further protruded than the contact part in a direction away from the developer carrier. |
| US09274451B2 |
Image forming apparatus and cartridge therefor
An image forming apparatus and a cartridge are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a CPU as a judgment unit, and a main electrode. The cartridge accommodating a toner is attachable to and detachable from the main casing, and has a cartridge electrode electrically connectable to the main electrode. The CPU is configured to judge assembly or non-assembly of the cartridge with respect to the main casing and to judge whether or not the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. The cartridge electrode is movable by a predetermined moving amount to permit the main electrode to be movable. As a result of a movement of the main electrode in accordance with the movement of the cartridge electrode, the CPU determines that the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. |
| US09274448B2 |
Image forming apparatus, positional deviation detection apparatus, and positional deviation detection method
An image forming apparatus includes a first detection unit including a first light receiving element arranged in a direction of normal reflected light reflected from a first positional deviation correction pattern, a second detection unit including a second light receiving element arranged in a different direction of normal reflected light reflected from a second positional deviation correction pattern, and a control unit configured to correct a positional deviation based on a value calculated from a first detection result detected by the first detection unit and a second detection result detected by the second detection unit. |
| US09274443B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a laminated body including a conductive support, a first intermediate layer on the conductive support, and a second intermediate layer on the first intermediate layer, the first intermediate layer containing a binder resin and a metal oxide particle whose surface have been treated with an organic compound, and the second intermediate layer containing a cured product having electron transportability, in which the laminated body satisfies the following expression (1): R—nV/R_0V≦0.80 (1). |
| US09274438B1 |
Method and system for exposing photoresist in a microelectric device
A method and system provide microelectric devices on fields on a substrate. Each field includes at least one microelectric device having a critical device feature and remaining device feature(s) distal from the critical device feature. The method and system include providing a photoresist layer for fabricating the microelectric devices and exposing the photoresist layer using a dark field mask. The dark field mask is for defining a critical mask feature corresponding to the critical device feature and exposing a first portion of the fields. The first portion includes not more than five percent of each field. The method and system further include exposing the photoresist layer using a clear field mask. The clear field mask is for defining remaining mask feature(s) corresponding to the remaining device feature(s). The clear field mask exposes a second portion of the fields that is different from the first portion. |
| US09274434B2 |
Light modulator and illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a light modulator which includes a modulator substrate and an array of mirrors that are supported by the modulator substrate. At least some adjacent mirrors partly overlap. The light modulator further comprises a plurality of actuators that are supported by the modulator substrate and are configured to tilt the mirrors individually. |
| US09274431B2 |
Alignment structure for registering patterns on a substrate
A system for determining an alignment location associated with a pattern formed on a substrate is disclosed. Electrical measurements are made as the substrate is moved along an advancement direction. An alignment structure is formed on the substrate. The alignment structure has a first member extending along a first direction that is not parallel to the advancement direction and a second member extending along a second direction that is not parallel to either the advancement direction or to the first member. The first member and the second member are electrically conductive and substantially transparent. One or more probes are used to identify portions of the first and second members of the alignment structure and produce signals in response to relative motion between the substrate and the probes. A controller, responsive to signals produced by the probe, determines an alignment location associated with the pattern formed on the substrate. |
| US09274422B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition, method for forming pattern-cured film using photosensitive resin composition, and electronic component
A photosensitive resin composition including: (a) a polybenzoxazole precursor; (b) a photosensitizer; (c) a solvent; (d) a cross-linking agent; and (e) a heterocyclic compound including a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group or a carboxyl group within a molecule. |
| US09274421B2 |
Salt and photoresist composition comprising the same
A salt represented by formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 independently in each occurrence represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group where a methylene group can be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group; Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent a C6-C36 aromatic hydrocarbon group which can have a substituent or a C6-C36 heteroaromatic hydrocarbon group which can have a substituent; A− and A′− each independently represent an organic anion; and “m” and “n” independently each represent an integer of 1 to 2. |
| US09274418B2 |
Imprint lithography apparatus and method
An imprint lithography apparatus is disclosed that includes a first imprint template provided with pattern recesses and a second imprint template provided with pattern recesses, wherein the pattern recesses of the first imprint template are configured to form features on a substrate which interconnect laterally with features formed by the pattern recesses of the second imprint template, and wherein the pattern recesses of the second imprint template have a critical dimension which is three or more times greater than the critical dimension of the pattern recesses of the first imprint template. |
| US09274415B2 |
Photomask, photomask set, exposure apparatus and exposure method
An exposure apparatus may include a first moving mechanism moving by driving a first drive source a first photomask; a second moving mechanism moving by driving a second drive source a second photomask; an imaging means for imaging a first alignment mark formed on the first photomask and a substrate side mark formed on the substrate and imaging a second alignment mark formed on the first photomask and a third alignment mark formed on the second photomask; and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the first drive source so that alignment between the first alignment mark and the substrate side mark is performed based on results of imaging these marks, and the control unit controls the second drive source so that alignment between the second alignment mark and the third alignment mark is performed based on results of imaging these marks. |
| US09274412B2 |
Method and system for design of a reticle to be manufactured using variable shaped beam lithography
A method for optical proximity correction (OPC) is disclosed, in which a set of VSB shots is determined, where the set of shots can approximately form a target reticle pattern that is an OPC-compensated version of an input pattern. The set of shots is simulated to create a simulated reticle pattern. A substrate image is calculated, based on using the simulated reticle pattern in an optical lithographic process to form the substrate image. A system for OPC is also disclosed. |
| US09274408B2 |
Projection display device
A projection display device having a plurality of light sources and including a plurality of light sensors installed in association with the light sources, respectively, and a controller for controlling amounts of lights emitted from the light sources depending on corresponding output signals from the light sensors to keep constant a ratio of the amount of light emitted from the light sources. The controller controls each light sources used in control signals whose frequencies are different from each other. |
| US09274407B2 |
Phosphor device and illumination system and projection apparatus with the same
A phosphor device of an illumination system is provided. The illumination system emits a first waveband light and has an optical path. The phosphor device includes a first section and a first phosphor agent. The first phosphor agent is coated on the first section. After the first waveband light is received by the first phosphor agent, the first waveband light is converted into a third waveband light, and the third waveband light is directed to the optical path, so that the third waveband light is separated into at least two color lights along the optical path. |
| US09274406B2 |
Projector
A projector can prevent a flicker from being caused by rotation of a rotating phosphor plate. The projector includes a solid-state light source that emits excitation light, a rotating phosphor plate that converts the excitation light into phosphor light, a liquid-crystal light modulating device that modulates the light from the rotating phosphor plate, a projection optical system that projects the modulated light onto a screen, and a control device that controls the solid-state light source and the rotating phosphor plate so as to satisfy any one of a conditional expression A=B, a conditional expression A=2B, and a conditional expression |A−B| is greater than or equal to 20 and |A−2B| is greater than or equal to 20, where A represents a pulse width modulation control frequency in hertz of the solid-state light source and B represents a rotation frequency in hertz of the rotating phosphor plate. |
| US09274404B2 |
Dual function projector
A projector includes a light source; a spatial light modulation device which modulates light from the light source according to an image that is written; a light diffusion device which adjusts a degree of diffusion of the light incident on the spatial light modulation device or the light emitted from the spatial light modulation device; and a light diffusion controller which controls the light diffusion device so that the light diffusion device diffuses the light when the light source starts to light up. |
| US09274399B2 |
Optical modulator
A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator includes a join-and-branch portion; two light wave guides connected with the join-and-branch portion; an output light waveguide connected with the join-and-branch portion; arm electrodes respectively provided on the two light waveguides; and a ground electrode that is provided at an edge of at least one of the arm electrodes along the light waveguide, is spaced from the arm electrode and is grounded. |
| US09274398B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and method of fabricating the same
An electrophoretic display device includes a switching element on a substrate including a display area having a pixel region and a non-display area at a periphery of the display area, a passivation layer covering the switching element, a pixel electrode on the passivation layer and connected to the switching element, an electrophoresis film on the pixel electrode and including an ink layer and a base film, wherein the ink layer includes a plurality of charged particles, and the base film is formed of polyethylene terephthalate, a common electrode for generating an electric field with the pixel electrode to drive the electrophoresis film, and a color filter layer directly on the electrophoresis film, wherein the color filter layer is formed under temperatures of less than 100 degrees of Celsius. |
| US09274395B2 |
Complimentary polymer electrochromic device
A complimentary polymer or “dual-polymer” electrochromic device and methods of preparing the same are provided. |
| US09274388B2 |
Array substrate having common electrode driving interface pattern with slits, and manufacturing method thereof, and liquid crystal display
The embodiments of the disclosed technology provide an array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and liquid crystal display. The array substrate comprises a base substrate comprising a pixel region and a driving circuit region. The driving circuit region formed on the base substrate comprises a common electrode driving interface pattern, and a gate driving interface pattern and a data line driving interface pattern, which are connected with the common electrode driving interface pattern, and the common electrode driving interface pattern comprises slits therein and the portions of the common electrode driving interface pattern divided by the slits are connected with one another. |
| US09274385B2 |
Pixel structures having a scan line passes through the edges of a first-pixel row and through an area of a second sub-pixel row
In an embodiment of the disclosure, a pixel structure is provided. The pixel structure includes a first sub-pixel row including a plurality of sub-pixels electrically connecting to a first scan line, and a second sub-pixel row including a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein the first scan line passes through an area of the sub-pixels of the second sub-pixel row. |
| US09274383B2 |
Liquid crystal lens and liquid crystal lens module
A liquid crystal lens includes a liquid crystal layer and at least two driving electrode plates. The liquid crystal layer is arranged between the driving electrode plates. Each of the driving electrode plates includes a transparent substrate, a circuit layer, an insulating layer, an electrode layer, at least a conducting pillar and an alignment layer. The transparent substrate has a surface, and the circuit layer is atop the surface. The conducting pillar is arranged in the insulating layer and connected to the electrode layer and the circuit layer. The alignment layer contacts the liquid layer. The electrode layer is interposed between the alignment layer and the insulating layer. The electrode layer in at least one of the driving electrode plates includes at least two ring-shaped electrodes. |
| US09274378B2 |
Alignment film, a method of fabricating the same, and a liquid crystal display using the same
The present invention relates a technique of liquid crystal display, especially to an alignment film applied to a substrate of a liquid crystal display. The alignment film includes a plurality of alignment molecules formed by polymerizing monomers having at least a photosensitive group, and has formula e as wherein the component A and/or the component B in formula e comprise(s) terphenyl. The present invention further provides a method of fabricating the alignment film and a liquid crystal display using the same. Due to the photosensitive group of the monomers, the plurality of alignment molecules can be formed with an appropriated rate, and the alignment film formed thereby has homogeneity. Therefore, the optic quality and overall performance of the liquid crystal display are enhanced. |
| US09274375B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display panel includes a metal electrode, a transparent electrode, an interlayer insulating film, and a comb-shaped electrode. Distorted horizontal electric fields are generated in order to distort the orientation of liquid crystal molecules. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a transflective liquid crystal display device that has high transmittance, reflectance, and yield, and that can suppress display defects such as screen burn-in without using a panel gap adjusting structure, a driving method that respectively applies different electric fields to the reflective region and the transmissive region, or a multi-L/S structure. |
| US09274374B2 |
Display device
A receiving container for a display device includes a bottom plate, a sidewall and a grounding unit. The sidewall is extended from the bottom plate to define a receiving space. The grounding unit is integrally formed with the bottom plate. The grounding unit includes a grounding member that grounds a circuit board received in the receiving space. The circuit board includes a grounding electrode and the grounding member corresponds to the grounding electrode. The grounding member is formed on a rear surface of the bottom plate. The grounding member may include a protrusion or a projected portion having an elastic structure. |
| US09274367B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method for same
Display device, including: substrates, color filters having first and second color filters, drain and gate signal lines (of light blocking material), wherein, an overlapping portion adjacent the first and second color filter overlap, is formed on a region with one of the drain or gate signal lines, a first color filter edge is a first taper and a second color filter edge is a second taper, in the overlapping portion, the first taper is closer to the drain or gate signal line than the second taper in the overlapping portion, the first taper angle is 45° or more and 90° or less corresponding to a surface of the drain or gate signal line, the second taper angle is 45° or more and 90° or less corresponding to a surface of the first taper and, the first taper angle is larger than the second taper angle. |
| US09274365B2 |
Display device and anisotropic scatterer
An anisotropic scatterer is configured to allow a scattering characteristic of light in a display region of a display device to have an angle dependence, and is configured to change the scattering characteristic of the light continuously in an in-plane direction. |
| US09274362B2 |
Curved liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a curved liquid crystal display device, which includes: a backlight module (2), a mold frame (4), a liquid crystal display panel (6), and a front bezel (8). The backlight module (2) includes a backplane (22), a curved light guide plate (24) arranged in the backplane (22), a backlight source (26) arranged in the backplane (22), and a heat dissipation board (28) receiving the backlight source (26) mounted thereto. The heat dissipation board (28) includes a bracket section (282) and a mount section (284) connected, in an inclined manner, to the bracket section (282). The bracket section (282) is mounted to the backplane (22). The backlight source (26) is mounted to the mount section (284). The front bezel (8) includes a front plate (82) and a side plate (84) connected to the front plate (82). The side plate (84) includes a coupling section (842) projecting toward the mount section (284). The coupling section (842) is coupled to the mount section (284) so as to couple the front bezel (8) and the heat dissipation board (28) together. |
| US09274361B2 |
Display
A display includes: a display panel; a front-face member being provided on a front face of the display panel, the front-face member covering a surrounding section, or the surrounding section and other part of the display panel; a back-face member being provided on a back face of the display panel, the back-face member covering the back face, or the back face and other part of the display panel; and an adhesion section adhering the back-face member and the front-face member to each other, the adhesion section covering a circumference section of the display panel. |
| US09274356B2 |
Parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device
A parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device comprises: an image panel that display a left-eye image and a right-eye image; a barrier panel that has a switchable barrier comprising a liquid crystal layer, a reference electrode positioned above the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of driving electrode channels positioned below the liquid crystal layer, each of which is controlled independently, and selectively blocks light from the image panel; and a driver that supplies a reference voltage to the reference electrode and applies a channel driving voltage to the driving electrode channels to form a barrier area and an open area in the switchable barrier. |
| US09274346B2 |
Multi-view auto-stereoscopic display
A multi-view auto-stereoscopic display is provided. The multi-view auto-stereoscopic display includes a light source, a first lenticular lens, a display module, and a second lenticular lens. The light source sequentially provides a plurality of light according to a plurality of timings in a cycle. The first lenticular lens is disposed in front of the light source and respectively directs the light from the light source to travel in a plurality of directions. The display module is disposed in front of the first lenticular lens and transforms the light from the first lenticular lens into a plurality of pixel light. The second lenticular lens is disposed in front of the display module and respectively directs the pixel light toward a plurality of views. |
| US09274340B2 |
Soft head mounted display goggles for use with mobile computing devices
A head mounted display system for use with a mobile computing device, comprises a soft main body made entirely of a soft and compressible material, the main body has a retention pocket entirely formed by the material and configured to accept and secure the mobile computing device and a lens assembly comprising two lenses configured to focus vision on respective areas of a display screen of the mobile computing device, the lens assembly held within one or more apertures formed in the main body entirely by the material, the two lenses mounted for independent movement with respect to each other, such that a split screen image may be viewed through the two lenses on the display screen. |
| US09274337B2 |
Methods and apparatus for configuring and using an enhanced driver visual display
A method for using a head-mounted display (HMD) associated with a computer system onboard an automobile is provided. The method connects to the HMD over a vehicle-based network; configures a plurality of graphical elements for presentation via the HMD, wherein each of the plurality of graphical elements illustrates detail associated with functionality of the automobile; and presents a display on the HMD comprising the configured plurality of graphical elements. |
| US09274336B2 |
Display with a virtual representation in a plurality of planes
A display device can have at least one imaging unit and at least one combiner. The location of the imaging unit and/or of the combiner can be provided to be locationally variable. The display device can be used such that information can be represented on a plurality of planes. |
| US09274332B2 |
Display apparatus having a micro-electro-mechanical system
The present invention relates to a display apparatus with pixels, wherein each pixel includes a switching device, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), and a gray scale control device. The switching device can be connected to a gate line and a data line to output a corresponding data signal in response to a gate signal. The MEMS may be connected to an output electrode of the switching device to transmit or block light in response to the corresponding data signal. The gray scale control device may be coupled to the output electrode of the switching device to control a time interval during which the corresponding data signal is applied to the MEMS. Accordingly, each pixel may display a desired gray scale. |
| US09274327B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective comprising deflection mirrors and projection exposure method
A catadioptric projection objective has a multiplicity of lenses and at least one concave mirror, and also two deflection mirrors in order to separate a partial beam path running from the object field to the concave mirror from the partial beam path running from the concave mirror to the image field. The deflection mirrors are tilted relative to the optical axis of the projection objective about tilting axes running parallel to a first direction (x-direction). The first deflection mirror is arranged in optical proximity to a first field plane and the second deflection mirror is arranged in optical proximity to a second field plane, which is optically conjugate with respect to the first field plane. A displacement device for the synchronous displacement of the deflection mirrors is provided. The deflection mirrors have different local distributions of their reflection properties in first and second reflection regions, respectively. |
| US09274326B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having negative optical power; a second lens unit having positive optical power; a third lens unit having negative optical power; and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the third lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, the fourth lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, the first lens unit has at least one air space between lens elements constituting the first lens unit, and the condition: Dair/fW>0.75 (Dair: an air space located on the most object side in the first lens unit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided. |
| US09274325B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup device provided with the same
A zoom lens includes: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; and a rear unit having two or more lens units, in the order from an object side to an image side, an interval between the adjacent lens units being changed in order to carry out at least one of zooming and focusing, wherein the rear unit includes a focus lens unit that has a negative refractive power and that moves during the focusing, and wherein, when the zoom lens focuses on a specific object distance, the focus lens unit moves integral with the other lens unit during zooming. |
| US09274324B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having positive optical power; a fourth lens unit; and at least one subsequent lens unit, wherein the subsequent lens unit(s) includes a lens unit having negative optical power, the first lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, the third lens unit is composed of four or more lens elements, the first lens unit and the second lens unit move along an optical axis in zooming, and the condition: 0<|fW/fe<2 (fe: a focal length of a lens unit having negative optical power and located closest to the image side in the entire system, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied. |
| US09274317B2 |
Optical imaging lens and electronic device comprising the same
An optical imaging lens includes: first through sixth lens elements, the first lens element has a positive refracting power, an object-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, and a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery, the second lens element has a negative refracting power and an object-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery, the third lens element and the fourth lens element each have an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, the fifth lens element has an object-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, the sixth lens element has an image-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis, and the optical imaging lens set includes no lens element with refractive power other than said first through sixth lens elements. |
| US09274315B2 |
Photographing lens and electronic apparatus including the same
Provided are a photographing lens and an electronic apparatus including the same. The photographing lens includes: a first lens that includes a convex object-side surface and has a positive refractive power; a second lens that includes a convex image-side surface and has a positive or negative refractive power; a third lens that has a negative refractive power; a fourth lens that has a positive or negative refractive power; a fifth lens that includes a convex image-side surface and has a positive refractive power; and a sixth lens that includes an image-side surface that is concave near an optical axis, and has a negative refractive power, wherein the first through sixth lenses are sequentially arranged from an object side. |
| US09274311B2 |
Compact narrow field of view lenses for mobile devices
A compact optical imaging lens can include a front lens group, a rear lens group, and a reflective element to redirect light passing through the system. The reflective element can be placed in front of the front lens group or between the front and rear lens group. In some cases, multiple reflective elements can be used. The use of reflective elements can reduce the depth of the imaging system, allowing for more compact designs. |
| US09274306B2 |
Method for manufacturing a reflector, preferably for the solar energy field
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a reflector (6) including a mirror (16) supported by a support structure (18), where the said method includes a step of positioning the mirror relative to the said support structure by moving a mold (30) supporting the mirror relative to the said structure, According to the invention, the method also includes a step of adjustment of multiple links (20) between the mirror and the structure, implemented during the step of positioning of the mirror, and/or after this step, and causing at least a proportion of the links to be moved relative to the structure (18). |
| US09274302B2 |
Fiber optic cables with extruded access features for access to a cable cavity
Cables are constructed with embedded discontinuities in the cable jacket that allow the jacket to be torn to provide access to the cable core. The discontinuities can be longitudinally extending strips of polymer material coextruded in the cable jacket. |
| US09274301B2 |
Wire holder
A wire holder used to safely receive optical fiber cables. The wire holder includes a main body and a plurality of collection arms. The main body defines a rotation axis and includes a first cylindrical outer surface. The plurality of collection arms extends from the first cylindrical outer surface encircling the cylindrical outer surface. Each collection arm includes a first fixing poles extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis. Each first fixing pole defines two openings passing through the first fixing poles. The openings of the first fixing poles form a first circular space to receive the optical fiber cables. |
| US09274297B2 |
Photonic waveguide
The system (200) provides a photonic waveguide (210) formed on a substrate (220) and a plurality of steering mirrors (230) within the photonic waveguide. The steering mirrors can be configured to direct a light beam (240) between two or more computing components (260). A plurality of steering mirror supports (250) are located within the waveguide having preset locations. The steering mirror supports are configured to enable the steering mirrors to be selectively repositioned at the preset steering mirror supports within the photonic waveguide to create varying configurations. The steering mirrors in the varying configurations direct one or more optical beams to form multiple connectivity channels between computing components within the photonic waveguide. |
| US09274291B2 |
Optical fiber connector assembly with printed circuit board stabilization features
A plug connector for connecting a cable to a receptacle connector includes a housing (209) comprising an upper housing portion (212) assembled to a lower housing portion (211), the assembled portions defining a cavity (280) within the housing. One or more printed circuit boards (201, 202) are disposed in the housing cavity and a cable (100) is disposed in the housing cavity and connected to printed circuit boards. The assembled upper and lower housing portions define a first housing sidewall comprising an upper sidewall portion (221u) at the upper housing portion and a lower sidewall portion (221b) at the lower housing portion. The upper and lower sidewall portions define a gap (220-1) in the first housing sidewall at an interface between the upper and lower sidewall portions of the first housing sidewall. The gap extends only partially or at least partially along a length of the first housing sidewall. |
| US09274290B2 |
Coupling light from a waveguide array to single mode fiber array
Techniques for coupling light from a waveguide array to a single mode fiber array are described. In an embodiment, lateral misalignment of an array of focusing lenses and an array of optical fiber ferrules held into alignment by a lens holder sub-assembly is compensated by tilting the lens holder sub-assembly with respect to the propagation axis of the light being coupled by the lens holder-subassembly. Since the amount of tilt can be adjusted according to the degree of lateral misalignment, lens holder sub-assemblies manufactured with varying degrees of misalignment may be utilized to couple light into single mode fiber-optic cable. In addition, the same technique can also be used to compensate for other defects as well, such as angular errors in manufacturing or placement of a turning mirror or prism used to direct light into the lens holder sub-assembly. |
| US09274289B2 |
Fabricating an optical assembly
Embodiments provide a horizontally movable stage, with an opening, of a flip-chip bonder, a substrate including at least one flexible portion and a waveguide, the waveguide exposed at one end edge of the substrate positioned upon the stage with the end edge over the opening, a vertically upwardly movable clamp sized to penetrate the stage opening and positioned underneath the stage, a vertically downwardly movable bond head above the stage opening, an optical component positioned in the head, a glue dispenser positioned to provide glue to either a mating surface of the substrate exposed end edge or a mating surface of the optical component, and a controller connected to the stage, clamp, head and dispenser, including a control circuit for positioning the substrate waveguide exposed end edge underneath the optical component while dispensing glue for fixably bonding the mating surfaces of the optical component and the substrate exposed end edge. |
| US09274287B2 |
Optical fiber connector and ferrule
Multi-fiber ferrules may be produced with tapered bodies and guide pin holes that have fluted internal surfaces with projections for engaging the guide pins, and channels for capturing any foreign material that may accumulate on or around the guide pins, thereby providing improved consistency in fiber connections during mating of the ferrules. |
| US09274286B2 |
Reversible fiber optic stub clamping mechanism
A fiber optic stub fiber connector for reversibly and nondestructively terminating an inserted field fiber having a buffer over at least a portion thereof. The connector includes a housing and a ferrule including a stub fiber disposed within and extending from a bore through the ferrule. The ferrule is generally at least partially disposed within and supported by the housing. The connector further includes a reversible actuator for reversibly and nondestructively terminating the inserted field fiber to the stub fiber. The reversible actuator includes a buffer clamp for engaging with the buffer to simultaneously provide reversible and nondestructive strain relief to the terminated field fiber. |
| US09274285B2 |
Optical fiber distribution cabinet for outdoor use
A fiber distribution cabinet comprises an outer shell having at least one door for accessing an interior thereof. A module support frame is located inside the outer shell. At least one input distribution module, having a plurality of input distribution connector adapters, is attached to the module support frame. The cabinet further includes at least one optical splitter module attached to the support frame. The optical splitter module has a plurality of splitter connector adapters. Also provided is a connector holder support frame carrying a plurality of removable connector holders for maintaining a multiplicity of output connectors. |
| US09274278B2 |
Optical waveguide element
An optical waveguide element includes a waveguide core formed of silicon, and a cladding layer formed of a material identical to the waveguide core for enveloping the waveguide core. The optical waveguide element comprising: a high-order propagation mode waveguide; a single input tapered waveguide that is provided on an input terminal of the high-order propagation mode waveguide; a plurality of output tapered waveguides that are provided on an output terminal of the high-order propagation mode waveguide; and an optical feedback elimination waveguide that is provided on the input terminal and disposed alongside the input tapered waveguide. In the optical waveguide element, the input tapered waveguide and the output tapered waveguides are tapered waveguides in which a waveguide width becomes gradually narrower the greater the separation from a terminal of connection to the high-order propagation mode waveguide, and the optical feedback elimination waveguide eliminates reflected light into the cladding layer. |
| US09274276B2 |
Light confining devices using all-dielectric metamaterial cladding
An all-dielectric metamaterial cladding is provided that can strongly confine light inside conventional low-index dielectric waveguides for use with photonic integrated circuits and nano-photonic devices. A class of metamaterials with dual electric and magnetic anisotropy along with giant birefringence can provide the ideal quasi-transverse electromagnetic mode propagation inside a glass core. A Transformed Cladding Waveguide can show an order of magnitude decreased cross-talk as compared to conventional waveguides. |
| US09274268B2 |
Lighting device, display device, and television device
A back light unit (lighting device) 12 includes an LED (light source) 17, a light guide plate 16 including a light entrance surface 16b and a light exit surface 16a, LED boards 18 each including a plate surface facing the light entrance surface 16b and board relay terminals 22 configured to relay power to the LED 17, and a relay wiring member (relay member) 28 electrically connecting between the board relay terminals 22 and a power source board (power) PWB. The light entrance surface 16b faces the LED 17. The light from the LED 17 enters the light guide plate 16 through the light entrance surface 16b and exits through the light exit surface 16a. The LED 17 is mounted on the plate surface of the LED board 18. The board relay terminals 22 are arranged such that the relay wiring member 28 that is orientated to either one of sides in the thickness direction of the light guide plate 18 is allowed to be connected to the board relay terminals 22. |
| US09274266B2 |
System and method for solar energy capture and related method of manufacturing
A system and method of capturing solar energy, and related method of manufacturing, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a first lens array having a plurality of lenses, and a first waveguide component adjacent to the lens array, where the waveguide component receives light, and where the waveguide component includes an array of prism/mirrored facets arranged along at least one surface of the waveguide component. The system further includes at least one photovoltaic cell positioned so as to receive at least a portion of the light that is directed out of the waveguide. A least some of the light passing into the waveguide component is restricted from leaving the waveguide component upon being reflected by at least one of the prism/mirrored facets, hereby the at least some light restricted from leaving the waveguide component is directed by the waveguide toward the at least one photovoltaic cell. |
| US09274265B2 |
Surface light source apparatus and display apparatus using same
A surface light source apparatus capable of keeping a high in-plane brightness uniformity and a high light utilization efficiency without increasing the size of a frame, and also to provide a display apparatus including the surface light source apparatus. The surface light source apparatus includes a point light source, and a light guide plate having a hole formed near first side surface that is one side surface thereof, the hole being formed at a position where the point light source is to be arranged. The first side surface of the light guide plate has, in a portion thereof near the hole, a prism having a saw-toothed shape in a cross-section thereof parallel to a front surface of the light guide plate. |
| US09274262B2 |
Light guiding plate, backlight module and display device
A light guiding plate includes a light guiding main body, a first light guiding unit and a second light guiding unit. The light guiding main body has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a light inlet face connecting between the first and second surfaces. The first light guiding unit includes first and second light guiding structures disposed on the first surface. The first and second light guiding structures are parallel aligned, each second light guiding structure has a plurality of first light guiding bodies that is individually separating and connecting the immediately abreast first light structures, and the arrangement density of the plurality of first light guiding bodies decreases toward the light inlet face. The second light guiding unit includes a plurality of third light guiding structures disposed on the second surface. The third light guiding structures are parallel arranged. |
| US09274261B2 |
Light emitting device, flat light and flat panel display
A light emitting device comprising a first frame, a light bar and a light guide plate is provided. The first frame has a groove which has a bottom plane, two inner walls, and an opening. The light bar disposed in the groove comprises a substrate having a lower surface attached to the bottom plane and an upper surface having several light sources. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface and a light incident surface. The light incident surface perpendicular and adjoining to the light emitting surface has several abutting portions. The light guide plate is inserted to the groove via the opening. The emitting light of the light source entering the light guide plate is guided by the light guide plate to be emitted off the light emitting surface. The abutting portions abut to the upper surface, so that the light bar is fixed in the groove. |
| US09274260B2 |
Display device, electronic apparatus and lighting device
In a lighting device of a display device, a plurality of light emitting elements are mounted on a surface of a light source substrate, and the light source substrate is supported by a light source support member by means of a positioning (fixing) structure such as a metal screw. The plurality of light emitting elements are divided into a plurality of blocks, and the emission light amount can be controlled with respect to each of the blocks. Although the head of the screw is exposed on the surface of the light source substrate, the screw is located between adjacent ones of the blocks. Therefore, even though the illuminating light intensity becomes partially discontinuous owing to the presence of the screw, degradation of display quality originating from such discontinuity can be suppressed. |
| US09274259B2 |
Display device
Embodiments relate to a display device for enhancing image quality. The disclosed display device includes: a display panel configured to display an image; a Poly-Vinyl Acetate (PVA) layer configured to linearly polarize external light; and a Quarter Wave Plate (QWP) configured to circularly polarize light where the QWP has an in-plane retardation value of below 140 nm. |
| US09274256B2 |
Systems for aligning an optical element and method for same
A hexapod system is provided for aligning an optical element in semiconductor clean rooms or in a vacuum, particularly in an illumination device for a microlithographic EUV projection exposure apparatus. The system includes six hexapod supporting structures. Using a set of at least two replaceable spacer elements having a different extent in at least one direction, at least one of the six supporting structures can be adjusted. The latter is adapted so that a spacer element can be removed or a spacer element can be added while the coupling of the first coupling end to the carrying structure and the coupling of the second coupling end to the optical element are maintained. A method for aligning an optical element in semiconductor clean rooms or in a vacuum including using a hexapod system is provided. |
| US09274255B2 |
Light-diffusion member, manufacturing method thereof, and display device
A light-diffusion member includes a substrate having light transparency, a plurality of light-diffusion parts formed on one surface of the substrate, and a light-absorbing layer formed in a region other than a region where the light-diffusion parts are formed, among the one surface of the substrate. Each light-diffusion part includes a light-emission end surface on the side of the substrate and a light-incident end surface of an area larger than an area of the light-emission end surface on a side opposite to the side of the substrate. The height from the light-incident end surface of the light-diffusion part to the light-emission end surface thereof is larger than the thickness of the light-absorbing layer. The plurality of light-diffusion parts are randomly arranged on the one surface of the substrate. |
| US09274253B2 |
Process of drilling organic glasses
The present invention is drawn to a process of drilling organic glasses. The process comprises (a) providing an organic glass substrate; (b) providing onto at least one surface of said organic glass substrate optionally via an adhesive layer selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melt adhesives, a polymer film having an elastic modulus of equal to or less than 3 GPa in at least one direction and a E*h2 equal to or more than 3.5 N in at least one direction, E and h being respectively the elastic modulus and the thickness of the thermoplastic polymer film; and (c) drilling a hole through the organic glass substrate and polymer film by means of a drill. |
| US09274250B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing environmental predictive indicators to emergency response managers
A method of predicting weather-exacerbated threats, said method comprising inputting localized weather measurement data into a weather threat prediction system; predicting future localized weather conditions based on said localized weather measurement data combined with modeling from National Weather Service Data; inputting natural environment and infrastructure data into said weather threat prediction system; correlating said infrastructure data with said predicted future localized weather conditions; and determining a threat level index over a region, a threat level indicating an area having a certain probabilistic likelihood of being harmed by said future weather conditions. |
| US09274249B2 |
System and method for facies classification
A method of automatically interpreting well log data indicative of physical attributes of a portion of a subterranean formation which include some portion of samples with known facies classification to be used as training data, dividing the training data into two subsets, a calibration set and a cross-validation set, using an automated supervised learning facies identification method to determine a preliminary identification of facies in the subterranean formation based on the calibration set, calculating a confusion matrix for the supervised learning facies identification method by comparing predicted and observed facies for the cross-validation set, calculating a facies transition matrix characterizing changes between contiguous facies, and using the preliminary identification, the facies transition matrix, and the confusion matrix, iteratively calculating updated facies identifications. |
| US09274245B2 |
Measurement technique utilizing novel radiation detectors in and near pulsed neutron generator tubes for well logging applications using solid state materials
An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation includes a pulsed neutron generator configured to emit a pulse of neutrons, a formation radiation detector configured to detect radiation emitted from the formation due to interactions with the pulse of neutrons, and a neutron generator radiation detector having a crystal structure and configured to detect a radiation particle emitted from the pulsed neutron generator and to provide a location within the neutron radiation detector at which the particle was detected. The crystal structure includes a plurality of detection cells, each detection cell having at least two electrically conducting columns with an applied potential difference such that electrons generated in the crystal structure by interaction with the radiation particle are collected by at least one of the electrically conducting columns to provide detection locations. A processor estimates the property using the detected formation radiation and the detection locations. |
| US09274237B2 |
Lithium-containing scintillators for thermal neutron, fast neutron, and gamma detection
In one embodiment, a scintillator includes a scintillator material; a primary fluor, and a Li-containing compound, where the Li-containing compound is soluble in the primary fluor, and where the scintillator exhibits an optical response signature for thermal neutrons that is different than an optical response signature for fast neutrons and gamma rays. |
| US09274232B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing meshed GPS network
An apparatus and method for determining real time location of assets by calculating the relative position of a plurality of GPS enabled devices transported together, taking advantage of multiple GPS enable devices being transported together including dual band GPS and averaging location data between US and European GPS data. Additionally, an IMB acts to receive GPS data from multiple devices in a shipment and IMB combines and averages data from both GPS systems to create more liable location determination. |
| US09274229B2 |
GNSS architecture
Disclosed are various embodiments of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chipsets or architecture. Based upon a requested accuracy and/or update of a host application, embodiments of the disclosure can calculate position data points on-board the GNSS chipset or allow a host processor to calculate position data points, which can allow the host processor to enter a low power mode if the requested update rate and/or accuracy allow. |
| US09274227B2 |
GNSS radio signal with an improved navigation message
A global navigation satellite system (“GNSS”) positioning method is provided, based upon a GNSS radio signal that includes a navigation message transmitted as a sequence of frames, each frame being composed of a plurality of subframes, each of which contains a first set of ephemeris and clock correction data (DECH) sufficient for computing a satellite position and a satellite clock error. Each subframe furthermore contains a second set of DECH, more compact than the first set of DECH, but sufficient for computing satellite position and satellite clock error to a lesser degree of accuracy, at least two copies of the second set of DECH being present in each subframe, such that the timing difference between two consecutive copies does not exceed 70% of the subframe duration. |
| US09274225B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating and distributing satellite tracking information
A method and apparatus for generating and distributing satellite tracking data to a remote receiver is disclosed. The method for includes extracting from satellite-tracking data initial model parameters representing a current orbit of at least one satellite-positioning-system satellite, computing an orbit model using the initial model parameters, wherein a duration of the orbit model is longer than a duration of the satellite-tracking data, comparing, for an overlapping period of time, the orbit model to the satellite-tracking data; and adjusting the orbit model to match the satellite tracking data for the overlapping period of time so as to form an adjusted orbit model. The adjusted orbit model comprises the long-term-satellite-tracking data. |
| US09274214B2 |
Apparatus for controlling driving of lighting-emitting diode and method of providing control signal thereof
The control apparatus of the present invention determines a motion state of an object and provides an IRLED switching control signal suitable for the motion state in an apparatus for sensing/recognizing a motion of the object by using an infrared light-emitting diode (IRLED) and a photodiode (PD). Such a control apparatus is an LED driving control apparatus, and includes a motion velocity generating unit, a previous section average value generating unit, a state value generating unit, a control unit, and an LED switching control signal generating unit. |
| US09274213B2 |
Method for calibrating a plurality of environment sensors in a vehicle
A method and a device are provided for calibrating a plurality of environment sensors in a vehicle. Traffic light signals are detected and identified from the data of at least one environment sensor or from data received by a car-2-X communication unit. A calibration of the plurality of environment sensors is activated and performed in response to a determination that a traffic light signal pertaining to the vehicle has turned red. |
| US09274211B2 |
Target object detecting device and echo signal processing method
A target object detection device is provided. The device includes a transmitter for transmitting at least one transmission wave in a predetermined azimuth, an echo signal receiver for receiving echo signals of the transmission waves, an echo signal suppressor for suppressing levels of the echo signals corresponding to sampling positions, a target object detector for detecting the target object(s) based on the level-suppressed echo signals, a first updater for comparing amplitude level(s) of echo signals of sampling positions, with the threshold that is set in association with the first distance, and determining to update the values with a new threshold and a new suppression value, and a second updater for comparing amplitude level(s) of echo signals of sampling positions, with the threshold that is set in association with the second distance, and determining to update the values with a new threshold and a new suppression value. |
| US09274209B2 |
Positioning
A positioning method comprising: solving a geometric algebraic expression that relates: position vectors for a plurality of antennas relative to a shared origin, a putative position vector for the shared origin and phase information measured at each of the plurality of antennas, to determine a position vector for the shared origin; and positioning an apparatus using the determined position vector for the shared origin. |
| US09274204B2 |
Camera tracing and surveillance system and method for security using thermal image coordinate
A camera tracing and surveillance system and method for security using a thermal image coordinate, whereby an image having high resolution for identification in which a person can be accurately identified within a surveillance area and identity of the person can be accurately checked, can be obtained using a simple algorithm.To this end, the person within the surveillance area is identified and a position coordinate of the person is extracted from a thermal image captured by a thermal image camera, and a tracing and surveillance camera traces the person, enlarges an image of the person, and captures the enlarged image based on the extracted position coordinate so that an image having high resolution for identification can be obtained. |
| US09274201B2 |
Automatic calibration method for active and reactive power measurement
A system is provided for calibrating a device. The system includes a reference component, a sampling component, a calibration component, a comparing component and a proportional integral component. The reference component provides a reference power signal based on a voltage instruction and a current instruction. The sampling component samples a voltage signal to obtain a sampled voltage value and samples a current signal to obtain a sampled current value. The calibration component generates a calibrated power signal based on the sampled voltage value and the sampled current. The comparing component generates an error signal based on the reference power signal and the calibrated power signal. The proportional integral component and the calibration component are a feedback system that is operable to calibrate the gain of the sampled voltage and the sample current based on the error signal. |
| US09274198B2 |
Method of reconstructing a signal in medical imaging on the basis of perturbed experimental measurements, and medical imaging device implementing this method
A method is provided of reconstructing imaging signals in a biological medium on the basis of experimental measurements perturbed by movements, implementing measurements representative of the movements, at least one model of movement including movement parameters, and an imaging sampling grid, which method furthermore includes steps of (i) constructing a movement sampling grid by selecting a restricted set of points on the basis of the imaging sampling grid, and (ii) calculation of movement parameters by inverting a linear system at the points of the movement sampling grid. Devices implementing the method are also disclosed. |
| US09274196B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance system to generate angiography images
In the generation of MR angiography images of a predetermined three-dimensional volume segment of a living examination subject using means a magnetic resonance system, MR data in the volume segment are acquired by radial acquisition of k-space. The MR data are analyzed in order to subdivide the MR data into groups, with each group including only the MR data that correspond to a specific heart beat phase of the heat of the examination subject. MR angiography images are generated based only on the MR data of one of these groups. |
| US09274195B2 |
Determination of a magnetic resonance system control sequence
In method and a control sequence determination device to determine a magnetic resonance system control sequence that includes at least one radio-frequency pulse train to be emitted by a magnetic resonance system, a target magnetization (m) is initially detected, and an energy distribution function in k-space is determined on the basis of the target magnetization. A k-space trajectory is then determined under consideration of the energy distribution function in k-space, for which the radio-frequency pulse train is then determined in an RF pulse optimization method. The method is suitable for operation of a magnetic resonance system, and a magnetic resonance system includes such a control sequence determination device. |
| US09274194B2 |
Method and apparatus for simultaneously generating multi-type magnetic resonance images
An electromagnetic wave signal, having a pulse train in which pulses having a plurality of frequencies corresponding to multi-type atomic nuclei are arranged in a line, is applied to a target object located in a magnetic field by using a radio frequency (RF) coil in the magnetic field. Data of magnetic resonance signals corresponding to the multi-type atomic nuclei is collected from the RF coil, and multi-type magnetic resonance images corresponding to the multi-type atomic nuclei are generated by using the data of the magnetic resonance signals. |
| US09274189B2 |
High-frequency coil unit and magnetic resonance imaging device
There is provided a technique for securing a large examination space in a tunnel type MRI device without inviting increase of manufacturing cost and without significantly reducing irradiation efficiency or uniformity of the irradiation intensity distribution in an imaging region. Between rungs of a partially cylindrical RF coil, which coil corresponds to a cylindrical RF coil of which part is removed, there are disposed half-loops generating magnetic fields, which are synthesized with magnetic fields generated by loops constituted by adjacent rungs of the partially cylindrical RF coil and rings connecting the rungs to generate a circularly polarized or elliptically polarized magnetic field. Further, high-frequency signals of the same reference frequency having a desired amplitude ratio and phase difference are supplied to the partially cylindrical RF coils and half-loops. |
| US09274186B2 |
Gas cell semiconductor chip assembly
A gas cell semiconductor chip assembly includes a gas cell including an alkali gas stored therein and a first semiconductor chip including a first resistive heating loop at a location corresponding to the gas cell to heat the gas cell and a second resistive heating loop around an outer perimeter of the first resistive heating loop. The second resistive heating loop is configured to cancel a magnetic field of the first resistive heating loop based on a current flowing through the first and second resistive heating loops. |
| US09274183B2 |
Vertical hall device comprising first and second contact interconnections
A vertical Hall device includes a Hall effect region formed in a substrate and a sequence of at least six contacts arranged in or at a surface of the Hall effect region between a first contact and a last contact. The vertical Hall device also includes a first contact interconnection connecting the first contact with a third to the last contact. A vertical Hall device further includes a second contact interconnection connecting a third contact with the last contact. Further embodiments made to a sensing method for sensing a magnetic field parallel to a surface of a substrate. |
| US09274176B2 |
Solenoid transient variable resistance feedback for effecter position detection
Feedback from a solenoid is achieved by adding at least one variable resistance in parallel with the solenoid current feedback circuit for position detection. The resistance has current flowing therethrough when a switching device actuated by the solenoid is in one position or transitions from one position to at least one other position. A feedback current may be measured in the current feedback circuit and the position of the switching device in response to actuation thereof by the solenoid may be determined from the measured feedback current. |
| US09274175B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing a device-under-test
A method for testing a device-under-test includes receiving, from at least one test channel circuit dedicated to communicate with an input/output pin of the device-under-test by means of at least one hardware resource, at least one logical control command describing a desired operation of the at least one hardware resource, and converting, by means of a resource controller, the at least one logical control command into at least one dedicated control command for the at least one hardware resource, wherein the at least one dedicated control command is adapted to be received by a physical implementation of the at least one hardware resource. |
| US09274169B2 |
Asynchronous programmable JTAG-based interface to debug any system-on-chip states, power modes, resets, clocks, and complex digital logic
An asynchronous debug interface is disclosed that allows TAG agents, JTAG-based debuggers, firmware, and software to debug, access, and override any functional registers, interrupt registers, power/clock gating enables, etc., of core logic being tested. The asynchronous debug interface works at a wide range of clock frequencies and allows read and write transactions to take place on a side channel, as well as within the on chip processor fabric without switching into a debug or test mode. The asynchronous debug interface works with two-wire and four-wire JTAG controller configurations, and is compliant with IEEE standards, such as 1149.1, 1149.7, etc., and provides an efficient and seamless way to debug complex system-on-chip states and system-on-chip products. |
| US09274168B2 |
Multiple-capture DFT system for detecting or locating crossing clock-domain faults during scan-test
A method for providing ordered capture clocks to detect or locate faults within N clock domains and faults crossing any two clock domains in an integrated circuit or circuit assembly in scan-test or self-test mode, where N>1, each clock domain having one capture clock and a plurality of scan cells, each capture clock comprising a plurality of capture clock pulses; said method comprising: (a) generating and shifting-in N test stimuli to all said scan cells within said N clock domains in said integrated circuit or circuit assembly during a shift-in operation; (b) applying an ordered sequence of capture clocks to all said scan cells within said N clock domains, the ordered sequence of capture clocks comprising at least a plurality of capture clock pulses from two or more selected capture clocks placed in a sequential order such that all clock domains are never triggered simultaneously during a capture operation; and (c) analyzing output responses of all said scan cells to locate any faults therein. |
| US09274157B2 |
Battery tester for electric vehicle
Testing or diagnostics are performed on an electric vehicle. The vehicle is operated and current flow through a system of the vehicle is monitored. A voltage related to the system is also monitored. Diagnostics are provided based upon the monitored voltage and the monitored current. |
| US09274156B2 |
Antenna mast detection methods and systems
An antenna is provided. The antenna includes an antenna base; and a detection mechanism removably coupled to the antenna base that generates a detection signal for detecting whether an antenna mast is coupled to the antenna base. |
| US09274154B2 |
Electrostatic capacitance sensor and method for determining failure of electrostatic capacitance sensor
The disclosure has: a detection electrode (2) that detects an electrostatic capacitance; a shield electrode (3); a shield drive circuit (31) that switches between a first electric potential and a second electric potential to apply the first or second electric potential to the shield electrode; a detection circuit (21) that outputs a detection signal depending on the electrostatic capacitance detected; and a determination circuit (6) that obtains a first detection signal and a second detection signal as the basis to determine whether an abnormality of the detection electrode (2) or the shield electrode is present or absent. The first detection signal depends on the electrostatic capacitance detected when the shield drive means (31) applies the first electric potential to the shield electrode (3). The second detection signal depends on the electrostatic capacitance detected when the shield drive means (31) applies the second electric potential to the shield electrode. |
| US09274152B2 |
Current-based charge compensation in a touch sensor
In one embodiment, a method comprises generating a first current at a current source having a magnitude based on the magnitude of a second current flowing from a capacitive node of a touch sensor in the absence of a touch with respect to the capacitive node. The method further includes generating a third current from the capacitive node of the touch sensor in the presence of a touch with respect to the capacitive node. The first current and the third current are summed to cancel out at least a portion of the third current. The method further includes integrating, by an integrator, the sum of the first current and the third current to generate an output voltage. |
| US09274151B2 |
Fast wideband frequency comparator
A frequency comparator outputs an input reference signal and a comparison target signal as pulse-form signals, and is charged or discharged with a voltage corresponding to the reference signal to output a reference voltage having a variable first frequency range, and charged or discharged with a voltage corresponding to the comparison target signal to output a comparison target voltage having a variable second frequency range. The frequency comparator compares the reference voltage having the first frequency range and the comparison output voltage having the second frequency range. |
| US09274144B2 |
Multifunction test instrument probe
A multifunction test instrument probe includes a housing having a hollow bore with an open end. A clamp plunger is carried in the hollow bore, with a first end including a thumb press, and a second end including an alligator clamp having a pair of jaws, with a compression spring normally biasing the thumb press away from the housing, and normally biasing the alligator clamp substantially within the hollow bore proximate the open end. A point plunger is also carried in the bore, with a first end including a thumb press, and a second end terminating in a point, with a second compression spring normally biasing the thumb press away from the housing, and biasing the point within the hollow bore proximate the open end. When the clamp plunger is depressed, the alligator clamp is extended from the open end and the jaws are urged open by a jaw spring, and when the clamp plunger is released, the compression spring acts to retract the alligator clamp back towards the hollow bore and the jaws are urged closed by contact with the open end. When the point plunger is depressed, the point is extended from the open end. When the clamp plunger is again depressed, the point retracts into the housing. |
| US09274141B1 |
Low resistance low wear test pin for test contactor
A contact for use in a test set which can be mounted to a load board of a tester apparatus. The contact, which serves to electrically connect at least one lead of a device being tested with a corresponding metallic trace on the load board, has a first end defining multiple contact points. As the test pin is rotated about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the contact, successive contact points are sequentially engaged by a lead of the device being tested. The test pin has a hard stop edge which engages a hard stop wall which limits its rotation movement. The bottom of the pin has a shallow convex curvature preferably with a flat region and the tip of the test pin has a chisel edge. |
| US09274138B2 |
High throughput scanning probe microscopy device
A scanning probe microscopy device for mapping nanostructures on a sample surface of a sample is provided. The device may comprise a plurality probes for scanning the sample surface, and one or more motion actuators for enabling motion of the probes relative to the sample, wherein each of the plurality of probes comprises a probing tip mounted on a cantilever arranged for bringing the probing tip in contact with the sampling surface for enabling the scanning. The device may further comprise a plurality of Z-position detectors for determining a position of each probing tip along a Z-direction when the probing tip is in contact with the sample surface, wherein the Z-direction is a direction transverse to the sample surface, for enabling mapping of the nanostructures. |
| US09274137B2 |
Anti-stiction method in an inertial MEMS, corresponding computer program product, storage means and device
An anti-stiction method is proposed in an inertial micro-electro-mechanical device. The device includes: a mobile mass, suspended to an armature via a spring, and having at least one mobile electrode; and at least one fixed electrode rigidly attached to the armature, each fixed electrode cooperating with one of the at least one mobile electrode to form a pair of electrodes. The anti-stiction method carries out a step of detecting, for at least one stuck pair of electrodes, a stiction associated to a stiction force and a step of applying, during a predetermined time period, a predetermined voltage between the electrodes of at least one of the pair or pairs of electrodes, so as to create an electrostatic force which generates a displacement of the mobile mass according to the direction of the stiction force. |
| US09274135B2 |
Method and system for conformal imaging vibrometry
Systems and methods for conformal imaging vibrometry capable of real-time measurements of the dynamic motions of any arbitrary two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure. The disclosed systems and methods are able to fully characterize the dynamic behavior of an object of any arbitrary geometry. The test object is illuminated with multiple laser beams whose directions conform to the local normal axis of the surface. The approach enables high-speed vibration imaging of whole-body dynamics of arbitrarily shaped structures in real-time, with no multiplexed data capture or synthesized motion reconstruction, as is currently practiced. By measuring the object's vibrations simultaneously at multiple points, the disclosed systems and methods are able to reproduce the structural behavior under operational conditions, which can then be spectrally decomposed to determine the modal, complex modal and transient nature of the true structural dynamics. |
| US09274134B2 |
Coupler for smart electrical wheel for electrical bikes
A wheel assembly having a motor attached to a hub within the wheel assembly such that the motor powers the wheel assembly to rotate about an axle once the motor receives a predetermined amount of power. A battery system is configured to deliver power to said motor, the battery system is arranged to rotate with the wheel assembly. A sensor system within the wheel assembly that provides data to a control system related to velocity and angle of orientation of the assembly. A load transferring quick-release mechanism is also disclosed for coupling the wheel assembly to a vehicle wheel attachment frame member and a method is provided for calibrating the same. |
| US09274133B2 |
Automatic analyzer
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality. |
| US09274131B2 |
Droplet manipulating device and method for manipulating droplet
The disclosure relates to a droplet manipulating device and a method for manipulating a droplet. The droplets manipulating device includes a first magnetic field generator, a second magnetic field generator, and a flow channel. The first magnetic field generator produces a first magnetic field on the droplet, so that the droplet has the direction of magnetic field corresponding to the first magnetic field. Further, the second magnetic field generator produces a second magnetic field on the droplet so as to drive the droplet to be in motion in the flow channel. |
| US09274130B2 |
Prevention and treatment of pain using antibodies to lysophosphatidic acid
Methods for preventing or treating pain are provided. Such methods comprise administering to a subject (e.g., a human subject) an antibody or antibody fragment that binds LPA. The antibody may be a humanized monoclonal antibody. |
| US09274124B2 |
Mass spectrometric assays for peptides
Methods for interpretation of mass spectrometric tests for clinical biomarkers in which the amounts of internal standards are set to equal clinical evaluation thresholds, and preparations for adding stable isotope labeled peptide species to sample digests while minimizing losses and alterations in peptide stoichiometry. |
| US09274122B2 |
Methods for determining active ingredients in pro-drug PEG protein conjugates with releasable PEG reagents (in vitro de-pegylation)
The invention relates to the development of in vitro assay systems that force the release of a water-soluble polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polysialic acid (PSA), from proteins modified with a reversibly-linked water-soluble polymer. The invention includes methods for analyzing the release of the water-soluble polymer and measuring regained protein activity. The invention further includes methods appropriate for the quality control of proteins modified with releasable water-soluble polymers, including polymers like PEG and PSA. |
| US09274121B2 |
Non-FRET botulinum assay
A composition includes an artificial construct having (a) a reporter-containing portion chemically coupled to (b) a cleavage site. The cleavage site interacts with an investigational substance in a manner that cleaves the reporter-containing portion from a remainder of the construct. The cleaved portion is destroyed or otherwise degraded by the local environment, and presence of an investigational substance is evidenced by reduction in signal from the reporter. The investigational substance is preferably a Botulinum toxin (BoTN), and the cleavage sequence is all or part of a SNARE protein. The cleavable reporter-containing portion is preferably Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP), Citrine, Venus, or a YPet protein. |
| US09274120B2 |
Stratification of pancreatic and ovarian cancer patients for susceptibility to therapy with PTK2 inhibitors
The present invention relates to a method for determining whether a cancer patient is susceptible to treatment with a protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) inhibitor, comprising detecting the expression of the E-cadherin protein in a cancer sample of said cancer patient, wherein an E-cadherin protein immunoreactivity score (IRS) of 0-2 indicates that the cancer patient is susceptible to treatment with a PTK2 inhibitor. Said detection of the expression of the E-cadherin protein in a cancer sample of a cancer patient is preferably conducted by way of an immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. Said IHC method preferably employs a primary antibody which is specific for E-cadherin and a secondary antibody which specifically reacts with the primary antibody. The present invention also relates to a method of treating a cancer patient whose cancer is characterized by an E-cadherin protein immunoreactivity score (IRS) of 0-2, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a PTK2 inhibitor. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a PTK2 inhibitor for use in the treatment of a cancer patient whose cancer is characterized by an E-cadherin protein immunoreactivity score (IRS) of 0-2. The present invention also provides a method of screening for a therapeutically effective PTK2 inhibitor comprising the steps of (a) providing cancer cells or a cancer cell line which are characterized by an E-cadherin protein immunoreactivity score of 2, 1, or 0 (1 being preferred and 0 being even more preferred); (b) contacting the cancer cell or the cancer cell line of (a) with a PTK2 inhibitor; and (c) evaluating whether the PTK2 inhibitor negatively affects the cancer cell/cancer cell lines. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for stratifying cancer patients that are susceptible to treatment with a PTK2 inhibitor, comprising determining the E-cadherin IRS score in a cancer sample of said patient, wherein an E-cadherin protein immunoreactivity score (IRS) of 0-2 (i.e. 2, 1, or 0) indicates that the cancer patient is susceptible to treatment with a PTK2 inhibitor. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical package comprising a PTK2 inhibitor, and (a) instructions and/or an imprint indicating that said PTK2 inhibitor is to be used for the treatment of patients which suffer from a cancer which is characterized by an E-cadherin protein immunoreactivity score of 2, 1, or 0 (1 being preferred and 0 being more preferred); and/or (b) instructions and/or an imprint indicating that said patient is to be stratified by a method of the present invention; and/or (c) means to carry out a method as defined herein. |
| US09274119B2 |
Anti-CLDN6 antibody
The present invention relates to an antibody binding to Claudin6 (CLDN6) expressed on a cell membrane. The antibody of the present invention recognizes human CLDN6 present in a native form on cell membrane surface and exhibits cytotoxicity through ADCC and/or CDC activities against cancer cell lines highly expressing human CLDN6. Moreover, the antibody of the present invention has cell growth inhibitory effect through conjugation with toxin on cancer cell lines highly expressing human CLDN6. The human CLDN6 is overexpressed in tumor tissues (lung adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, and ovarian cancer), although its expression is not observed in normal tissues. Thus, the anti-CLDN6 antibody is expected to highly accumulate in tumors highly expressing human CLDN6 and can serve as a very effective antitumor agent. |
| US09274118B2 |
Predictive markers for ovarian cancer
Methods are provided for predicting the presence, subtype and stage of ovarian cancer, as well as for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of a cancer treatment and determining whether a subject potentially is developing cancer. Associated test kits, computer and analytical systems as well as software and diagnostic models are also provided. |
| US09274117B2 |
Use of SIRT7 as novel cancer therapy target and method for treating cancer using the same
The use of SIRT7 (sirtuin 7) as a marker for diagnosis of liver cancer is described. The disclosure variously relates to a liver cancer diagnostic marker including SIRT7 gene, a liver cancer diagnostic composition, a kit and microarray including the same, and a method of diagnosing liver cancer using the same. Also described is a method for screening a substance capable of treating liver cancer by inhibiting the expression of SIRT7 gene or protein, and a composition for preventing or treating liver cancer, which includes such substance. The disclosure further relates to the use of SIRT7 gene as a cancer diagnostic marker and the anticancer use of inhibition of SIRT7 expression, as well as the use of the specific miRNA to regulate the cell cycle and inhibit tumor growth by the expression of SIRT7 gene. |
| US09274116B2 |
Drug selection for breast cancer therapy using antibody-based arrays
The present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting the activation states of components of signal transduction pathways in tumor cells. Information on the activation states of components of signal transduction pathways derived from use of the invention can be used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and in the design of cancer treatments. |
| US09274110B2 |
Diagnosis method of active tuberculosis
The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro diagnosis of active tuberculosis, comprising a step of contacting lymphocytes of a patient suspected to have active tuberculosis with at least one protein of mycobacteria, said protein being an enzyme having a lipolytic activity, and a step of detecting the presence of specific activated lymphocytes. |
| US09274108B2 |
Self-assembly of macromolecules on multilayered polymer surfaces
The invention is directed toward systems and methods for the formation of two dimensional monolayer structures of ordered biomacromolecules, such as viruses, atop cohesive polyelectrolyte multilayers to create functional thin films. Methods for the formation of such thin films are disclosed that involve an interdiffusion-induced assembly process of the biomacromolecules. The inventive systems provide a general platform for the systematic incorporation and assembly of organic, biological and inorganic materials and will enable many potential technological applications such as, for example, chemical and biological sensors, power devices and catalytic membranes. |
| US09274105B2 |
Analyzing chemical and biological substances using nano-structure based spectral sensing
An integrated chromatography-immunoassay system for integrated chromatography-immunoassay system includes a chromatographic unit that receives labeled nano-structured probes comprising nano particles and antibodies attached to the nano particles, and a test membrane comprising coating antigens. The chromatographic unit allows the labeled nano-structured probes to diffuse there through and into the test membrane, wherein the antibodies on the nano particles are bound to the coating antigens. A laser device emits a laser light to illuminate the labeled nano-structured probes having the antibodies bound to the coating antigens on the test membrane. A spectral analyzer obtains a Raman spectrum from light scattered from the labeled nano-structured probes having the antibodies bound to the coating antigens on the test membrane, and to identify a spectral signature in the Raman spectrum associated with the antibody-antigen pair, which enables detection and identification of the antibody. |
| US09274101B2 |
Methods and kits for obtaining a metabolic profile of living animal cells
The present invention relates to growing and testing eukaryotic cells (e.g., animal or plant cells) in a multi-test format. In particular, the present invention provides methods and kits for obtaining a complex metabolic profile of animal cells. In addition, the present invention provides tools for assaying the effects of candidate compounds (e.g., hormones) on substrate utilization by mammalian cells. |
| US09274100B2 |
Method for optical measuring variations of cell membrane conductance
The instant invention refers to an optical method to extrapolate cell membrane conductance by indirect measurement of changes in transmembrane voltage, upon exposure of a cell sample to electric current pulses. The method is advantageously used for evaluating the activity of molecules able to alter, directly or indirectly, membrane permeability. A specific field of application is the screening of candidate compounds putatively acting on ion channel activity. In particular, it is open to the study of all ion channels with no limitations on the mechanisms of activation or to the ion species involved. The method is also advantageously used for evaluating a cell status, namely a differentiative or a pathologic status. |
| US09274099B2 |
Screening test drugs to identify their effects on cell membrane voltage-gated ion channel
A variety of applications, systems, methods and constructs are implemented for use in connection with screening of ion-channel modulators. Consistent with one such system, drug candidates are screened to identify their effects on cell membrane ion channels and pumps. The system includes screening cells having light responsive membrane ion switches, voltage-gated ion switches and fluorescence producing voltage sensors. A chemical delivery device introduces the drug candidates to be screened. An optical delivery device activates the light responsive ion switches. An optical sensor monitors fluorescence produced by the voltage sensors. A processor processes data received from the optical sensor. A memory stores the data received from the optical sensor. |
| US09274097B2 |
Molecular characterization with molecular speed control
Provided is a first reservoir for containing a liquid solution including a molecule to be characterized and a second reservoir for containing a liquid solution. A solid state support includes a nanopore having a molecular inlet providing a fluidic connection to the first reservoir and a molecular outlet providing a fluidic connection to the second reservoir. An electrical connection is disposed between the first and second reservoirs to apply a molecular translocation voltage across the nanopore between the molecular inlet entrance and outlet exit. At least one electrical probe is disposed at the nanopore to apply a first voltage bias with respect to translocation voltage to slow progression of a molecule through the nanopore between the molecular inlet and outlet and to apply a second voltage bias with respect to translocation voltage to cause the molecule to proceed through the nanopore between the molecular inlet and outlet. |
| US09274093B2 |
Method for characterization of the rate of movement of an oxidation front in cementitious materials
Disclosed are methods for determining the redox condition of cementitious materials. The methods are leaching methods that utilize a redox active transition metal indicator that is present in the cementitious material and exhibits variable solubility depending upon the oxidation state of the indicator. When the leaching process is carried out under anaerobic conditions, the presence or absence of the indicator in the leachate can be utilized to determine the redox condition of and location of the oxidation front in the material that has been subjected to the leaching process. |
| US09274083B2 |
Leak detector
In a fluid leak detector, a sensor film is utilized, which includes a central support film having on its top surface a first patterned, conductive electrode film and on its bottom surface a second patterned, conductive electrode film. Substantially round openings are patterned in the first conductive electrode film. The diameter of the openings is chosen on the basis of the droplet size ensued from the surface tension of the fluid to be measured, such that the forming drop of fluid fits completely into the opening. In the support film and in the second conductive electrode film, openings have been punched, whose center points are the same as the center points of the openings in the first electrode film. The diameter of the openings made in the support film and in the second electrode film is smaller than the diameter of the openings made in the first electrode film. |
| US09274078B2 |
Systems and methods of discriminating control solution from a physiological sample
Described herein are systems and methods for distinguishing between a control solution and a blood sample. In one aspect, the methods include using a test strip in which multiple current transients are measured by a meter electrically connected to an electrochemical test strip. The current transients are used to determine if a sample is a blood sample or a control solution based on at least two characteristics. Further described herein are methods for calculating a discrimination criteria based upon at least two characteristics. Still further described herein are system for distinguishing between blood samples and control solutions. |
| US09274076B2 |
Low slope pH electrode with charge transfer component
An aspect includes a low slope electrode device, including: at least one electrode; at least one container at least partially enclosing the at least one electrode and having at least one ion sensitive region; an external buffer container having at least one separating element that separates said at least one ion sensitive region into: a first ion sensitive area separating an internal buffer solution bathing the at least one electrode and an external sample solution; and a second ion sensitive area separating the internal buffer solution bathing the at least one electrode and an external buffer solution; wherein the at least one separating element, the first ion sensitive area, and the second ion sensitive area establish a charge flow circuit. Other aspects are described and claimed. |
| US09274070B2 |
System and process for measuring strain in materials at high spatial resolution
A process for measuring strain is provided that includes placing a sample of a material into a TEM as a sample. The TEM is energized to create a small electron beam with an incident angle to the sample. Electrical signals are generated that control multiple beam deflection coils and image deflection coils of the TEM. The beam deflection control signals cause the angle of the incident beam to change in a cyclic time-dependent manner. A first diffraction pattern from the sample material that shows dynamical diffraction effects is observed and then one or more of the beam deflection coil control signals are adjusted to reduce the dynamical diffraction effects. One or more of the image deflection coil control signals are then adjusted to remove any motion of the diffraction pattern. A diffraction pattern is then collected from a strained area of the material after the adjusting step, and the strain is then determined from a numerical analysis of the strained diffraction pattern compared to a reference diffraction pattern from an unstained area of the material. |
| US09274057B2 |
Method and apparatus for investigating a sample with regard to the lifetime of an excited state
The invention relates to a method for investigating a sample with regard to the lifetime of an excited state, in particular a fluorescence lifetime, and/or with regard to a property of a sample which is correlated with a lifetime of an excited state, in particular with a fluorescence lifetime, a sample region being illuminated with a sequence of excitation light pulses. The method is characterized in that the light quantity and/or number of photons of the detected light, in particular fluorescent light, proceeding from the sample region is measured temporally between the excitation light pulses exclusively within a detection time window in each case, at least two detection time windows having different temporal lengths. |
| US09274056B2 |
Use of non-chelated fluorochromes in rapid test systems
The present invention includes an assay method for detecting an analyte in a sample. The assay includes a solid surface such as a nitrocellulose membrane. It also includes providing a sample is applied to the solid surface and detecting the presence or absence of the analyte using a fluorescent label from a lanthanide label. The invention also includes a device for detecting the fluorescence in or on an assay test strip. The device includes a housing, a solid surface and an ultraviolet radiation emitting LED. |
| US09274055B2 |
Submersible fluorometer
A submersible fluorometer (10), includes: an excitation module (40) for exciting the fluorophore; and a detection module (42) for detecting the light emitted by the excited fluorophore, wherein the excitation module (40) includes a first light source (44) including a first UV LED and having a first wavelength lower than 300 nm, the excitation module (40) includes a second light source (46) including a second UV LED and having a second wavelength lower than 300 nm, the first and second wavelengths being different from each other, and the fluorometer includes an electronic circuit having a plurality of printed circuits positioned one below the other. |
| US09274052B2 |
Feature vector for classifying specular objects based on material type
Material classification for a sample fabricated from an unknown material, particularly a specular sample such as a metallic sample fabricated from an unknown metal. A measurement is obtained of a specular reflection of the sample at at least one observation angle and in at least two spectral bands including first and second spectral bands; a feature vector is calculated using a homogeneous function that combines the measured specular reflections in the first and second spectral bands; and the sample is classified based on the feature vector. The homogeneous function may include a ratio of values of the first and second spectral bands of the measured specular reflections, and the feature vector may be based on a histogram of such ratio values. Classification may include determining a distance between the feature vector of the sample and a feature vector of a reference sample in a predetermined database of labeled samples. |
| US09274048B2 |
Gas concentration calculation device and gas concentration measurement module
A device includes a gas cell (10X) configured to form an introduction space (11X) into which a target gas is introduced, an infrared light source (20X) disposed at one end of the gas cell (10X), a modulation mirror (70X) disposed at one end of the gas cell (10X) and configured to reflect or transmit light emitted from the infrared light source (20X), a reflecting mirror (60X) configured to reflect light transmitted through the modulation mirror (70X), a saturated gas chamber (40X), in which a predetermined comparison gas is hermetically enclosed, disposed on an optical path of light transmitted through the modulation mirror (70X), a light receiving unit (30X) disposed at the other end of the gas cell (10X) and configured to receive light reflected by the modulation mirror (70X) and light transmitted through the modulation mirror (70X) and reflected by the reflecting mirror (60X) through the saturated gas chamber (40X), and a calculation circuit (3X) configured to calculate the concentration of the target gas based on received light energy values of the light receiving unit (30X) in each case in which light is reflected or transmitted by the modulation mirror (70X). |
| US09274047B2 |
Methods and apparatus for imaging of occluded objects
An active imaging system, which includes a light source and light sensor, generates structured illumination. The light sensor captures transient light response data regarding reflections of light emitted by the light source. The transient light response data is wavelength-resolved. One or more processors process the transient light response data and data regarding the structured illumination to calculate a reflectance spectra map of an occluded surface. The processors also compute a 3D geometry of the occluded surface. |
| US09274046B2 |
System and method for gross anatomic pathology using hyperspectral imaging
A method for analyzing organ samples using hyperspectral imaging comprising illuminating an organ sample to generate interacted photons, collecting the interacted photons and passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter. The filtered interacted photons are detected to generate a hyperspectral image. A brightfield image is generated and associated with the hyperspectral image. Spectra from locations of interest are extracted and analyzed to assess a characteristic of the organ sample. A system may comprise an illumination source to illuminate an organ sample and generate interacted photons, a collection optics for collecting the interacted photons and a tunable filter to filter the interacted photons. A detector is configured to detect the filtered photons and generate at least one hyperspectral image. The detector may also be configured to generate at least one brightfield image representative of the organ sample. |
| US09274038B2 |
Apparatus and method for constant shear rate and oscillatory rheology measurements
A rheometer instrument including a stationary frame, a sleeve suspended from the frame, a bob suspended within the sleeve, a cross-spring pivot suspending the bob from the stationary frame, and a force rebalance system for effecting the rotational displacement of the bob with a torque. The force rebalance system includes an arm attached to the movable portion of the cross-spring pivot, a rotational position sensor in close proximity to the arm for measuring the rotational displacement and angular frequency of the arm, and a force actuator positioned to apply force to the arm. The rheometer instrument may be used to calculate the rheological properties of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. |
| US09274037B2 |
Method and computerized tomography system for determining bone mineral density values
A method is disclosed for determining bone mineral density values of an object. In an embodiment, the method includes acquisition of first two-dimensional projection overview image data of the object to be examined in an image detail with a first X-ray energy; acquisition of at least second two-dimensional projection overview image data of the object to be examined in an image detail with at least one different second X-ray energy; determining a bone overview image data record using the first and second projection overview image data; determining at least one specific evaluation region of the image detail using the bone overview image data record; and determining a bone mineral density value for the specific evaluation region of the image detail using the image data of the bone overview image data record in the specific evaluation region. A computerized tomography system for implementing a method is also disclosed. |
| US09274033B2 |
Substrate-sheet fabricating method
A group of small pieces of divided base substrate is arrayed on a sheet without gaps therebetween by means of a simple method. Provided is a substrate-sheet fabricating method including cutting into a group of small pieces a base substrate whose first-side surface is attached to a first sheet member; transferring the group of small pieces to a second sheet member by attaching the second sheet member, which can be contracted in the direction along a surface thereof, to second-side surfaces of the group of small pieces and by peeling off the first sheet member from the first-side surfaces of the group of small pieces; and making the second sheet member contract in the direction along the surface thereof. |
| US09274029B2 |
Collection device and material
Swabs, and materials of the present disclosure, and methods of making same, include randomly arranged sea-island bicomponent fibers. |
| US09274027B2 |
Apparatus and process for measuring the depth of a groove in a rotor of a gas turbine engine
An apparatus is provided for measuring a depth of a groove defined between adjacent steeples of a rotor of a turbine. The groove is adapted to receive a root of a blade. The apparatus may comprise: a measuring tool comprising: a fixture; and first and second depth measuring devices associated with the fixture for measuring the depth of the groove at two spaced apart locations. |
| US09274025B2 |
Triboluminescent optical fiber sensor
A sensor that can be used for in-situ structural health monitoring with a triboluminescent material provided on a portion of an optical fiber that may be embedded in materials to be structurally monitored. Damage to the monitored material may result in a triboluminescent emission from the triboluminescent material that can be guided via the optical fiber. Analysis of the triboluminescent emission may provide information on the occurrence, severity and location of damage in a structure. |
| US09274023B2 |
Flexible lid seal integrity sensor
In various embodiments, a flexible lid seal detector is disclosed. The flexible lid seal detector comprises a compression body. A compression rim extends from a distal end of the compression body. The compression rim comprises an outer perimeter and inner perimeter. The inner perimeter defines a recessed lid deflection area. The compression rim is configured to apply a force to a flexible lid coupled to a container. A sensor is coupled to the compression body and positioned to detect the deflection of the flexible lid in response to the force applied to the flexible lid. The sensor is configured to detect an amount of deflection of the flexible lid within the recessed lid deflection area. |
| US09274018B2 |
Remote seal process pressure measuring system
A process pressure measuring system includes a transmitter having a first sealed system in which a first outlet couples to a pressure sensor, a first isolator diaphragm assembly, a first capillary passage, and a first isolation fluid. The first isolation fluid couples a first pressure from the first isolator diaphragm to the first outlet and the pressure sensor. A second sealed system includes a second pressure outlet that is coupled to the first isolator diaphragm assembly, a second isolator diaphragm assembly, a second capillary passage and a second isolation fluid. The second isolation fluid is adapted for use in a first temperature range and couples a pressure from the second isolator diaphragm assembly to the second pressure outlet. A third sealed system includes a third pressure outlet that is coupled to the second isolator diaphragm assembly, a third isolator diaphragm assembly, a third capillary passage and a third isolation fluid. The third isolator fluid is adapted for use in a second temperature range and couples a process pressure to the third pressure outlet. |
| US09274014B2 |
Sensor assembly and method for measuring forces and torques
A sensor assembly comprises a base plate and a sensor member displaceable relative to the base plate. A spring arrangement operates in first and second stages in response to displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate. Different resolutions of force and torque measurements are associated with the first and second stages. A light sensitive transducer senses displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate and generates corresponding output signals. A collimator directs a plurality of light beams onto the light sensitive transducer so that the light beams strike different pixels of the light sensitive transducer to sense displacement of the sensor member relative to the base plate. |
| US09274013B2 |
Tension monitoring arrangement and method
Tension monitoring is described using a sensor which may exhibit an offset for which compensation may be provided to produce a zero voltage amplified output or to increase dynamic range. An arrangement determines whether a power reset is responsive to a battery bounce such that an initially-measured system start-up parameter can be retained. The start-up parameter is automatically saved at start-up if the power reset is responsive to a start-up from a shut-down condition. The start-up parameter may be a zero tension amplified output responsive to the sensor offset at zero tension. Protection of a tension data set is provided such that no opportunity for altering the data set is presented prior to transfer of the data set. A housing configuration forms part of an electrical power circuit for providing electrical power to an electronics package from a battery. |
| US09274010B2 |
Capacitance type sensor
A capacitance type sensor includes: a dielectric layer made of a polymer; an elongated front-side electrode placed on a front side of the dielectric layer; an elongated back-side electrode placed on a back side of the dielectric layer; a front-side wiring connected to the front-side electrode; a back-side wiring connected to the back-side electrode; and a plurality of detection portions formed between the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode. Each of the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode has an elongated electrode body containing a binder and a conductive material, and an extended wiring portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the electrode body and having lower volume resistivity than the electrode body, and the front-side wiring and the back-side wiring have lower volume resistivity than the electrode body. |
| US09274006B2 |
Infrared sensor
An infrared sensor includes a circuit board, at least two support portions, a FET element and a pyroelectric element. The circuit board has an upper principal surface formed with plural electrodes. Each of the support portions has an upper surface, a lower surface, an upper conductive pattern formed on the upper surface and a lower conductive pattern formed on the lower surface. The upper conductive pattern is electrically connected with the lower conductive pattern. The lower conductive pattern is connected to an electrode of the upper principal surface of the circuit board. The FET element is located between the at least two support portions and arranged on the upper principal surface of the circuit board. The pyroelectric element is electrically connected with the upper conductive patterns of the support portions, and is supported by the support portions so as to be located above the FET element. |
| US09274004B2 |
Infrared sensor and heat sensing element
An infrared sensor includes a heat sensing element, the heat sensing element includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a dielectric film formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The heat sensing element senses heat based on a change of a resistance value. The dielectric film includes at least Bi and Fe. |
| US09273999B2 |
Spectroscopic sensor
A spectroscopic sensor 1A comprises an interference filter unit 20A having a cavity layer 21 and first and second mirror layers 22, 23 and a light detection substrate 30 having a light-receiving surface 32a for receiving light transmitted through the interference filter unit 20A. The interference filter unit 20A has a first filter region 24 corresponding to the light-receiving surface 32a and a ring-shaped second filter region 25 surrounding the first filter region 24. The distance between the first and second mirror layers 22, 23 varies in the first filter region 24 and is fixed in the second filter region 25. |
| US09273997B2 |
Spectrometer, assembling method thereof, and assembling system
A spectrometer comprising a waveguide module, a diffractive component, and a light sensor is provided. The waveguide module has a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface opposite to the first reflective surface, and a light channel between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface. The diffractive component has a diffractive surface and a plurality of strip-shaped diffractive structures located on the diffractive surface. The sharpness of the profile of the strip-shaped diffractive structures on a first side of the diffractive surface is greater than that on a second side of the diffractive surface. When viewed along a direction perpendicular to the second reflective surface, the first side of the diffractive surface is positioned between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface with a distance away from the second reflective surface. A method for assembling the spectrometer and an assembling system are also provided. |
| US09273996B2 |
Optical receptacle and optical module provided with same
An optical receptacle includes a light dividing surface that divides light from a light-emitting element into monitor light and coupling light to be coupled with an optical transmission body using total reflection. The light dividing surface includes a first curved surface that protrudes to the side opposite to a first surface from a first virtual reference surface having a slope angle of angle α[°] in relation to the first surface on a photoelectric conversion device side of an optical receptacle main body and a second curved surface that is connected to the first curved surface and protrudes to the side opposite to the first surface from a second virtual reference surface having a slope angle of angle β[°] in relation to the first surface, in which α and β satisfy α>β>critical angle. |
| US09273995B2 |
Light emitting diode output power control
A method of reducing variation in optical power levels across a group of light emitting diodes includes testing each respective one of the light emitting diodes to determine an optical power level produced by that light emitting diode when connected to an electrical power source. During testing, the electrical power source delivers a substantially identical amount of electrical current to each respective one of the light emitting diodes. The optical power levels from the test all fall within a first range of values. The method includes connecting an electrical resistance in parallel with at least some of the light emitting diodes to reduce an amount of optical power produced by those light emitting diodes. After the electrical resistances are connected, all of the optical power levels produced by the light emitting diodes fall within a second range that is narrower than the first range. |
| US09273991B1 |
Device to assist in cutting accurate portions of meat
A device to assist in cutting accurate portions of meat will measure the height of a loin of meat of known density and width while being wrapped around the loin, and will instruct the user how thick to slice a portion from the loin so that the portion weighs the desired weight. |
| US09273988B2 |
Precision hydrostatic level and flatness measuring device, system and method
A hydrostatic level-measuring system and related apparatus and method for measuring with precision, a level normal to gravitation of a physical surface, comprising: a plurality of N water-holding cups containing water and fluidically interconnected with one another and resting upon the physical surface, where N is greater than or equal to 2; each of the water-holding cups of comprising a cup height hn thereof from a bottom to a top of the cup which cup height hn is known a priori within acceptable measurement errors; and a micrometer system for measuring on an absolute or relative scale, a distance dn between the top of each the cup and the top surface of the water wherein a meniscus visible to a user is formed when the contact occurs and the meniscus is used to guide the measurement precision. |
| US09273985B2 |
Apparatus for automated positioning of eddy current test probe
An apparatus for automated inspection and repair of a tube sheet. The apparatus has a rotating gripper pod, comprising at least one tube gripper, a sliding body portion containing the gripper pod; a housing portion comprising at least one tube gripper and a tool head coupling. The tool head coupling swapably attaches to a eddy current test probe and at least one kind of tube repair tool. Novel, auto-locking tube grippers are also disclosed. A serial bus connects electronic modules within the apparatus and also connects the apparatus to an external controller. |
| US09273982B2 |
Hybrid location test system and method
The technology disclosed relates to testing hybrid positioning systems, including systems that rely on MEMS sensors. In particular, it relates to methods and devices for configuring and running tests of hybrid positioning systems. |
| US09273977B2 |
Method of setting via-point in navigation system
The present disclosure relates to a method of setting a via-point in a navigation system. The method includes: inputting a plurality of starting places including a starting place of a driver and a starting place of a fellow passenger; when the starting place of the fellow passenger is selected as a via-point, searching for a route from the starting place of the driver to the destination of the driver and including the via-point; and when the starting place of the fellow passenger is not selected as the via-point, inputting various preferred traffic information about the fellow passenger, and calculating an optimum via-point for the fellow passenger to be included within a travelling route from the starting place of the driver to the destination of the driver. |
| US09273974B1 |
Trip planning method by using an automotive product
A trip planning method by using an automotive product includes: connecting, by an application program, a mobile device to a network server; editing a destination file on the mobile device, skipping to a step 2 after sending out a transfer instruction by a user; the step 2 of detecting, by the application program, whether the mobile device is connected to an automotive product; if yes, sending the destination file to the automotive product, and skipping to a step 4; if not, sending and saving the destination file in the mobile device account, then skipping to a step 3 which includes connecting the mobile device and the automotive product, by the user, to the automotive product and the network server, respectively, and acquiring the destination file from the network server, then skipping to the step 4 which includes carrying out navigation by the automotive product based on the destination file. |
| US09273971B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting traffic lane using wireless communication
An apparatus and a method for detecting a traffic lane using wireless communication is provided and includes a sensor unit including an image recognition sensor and a radar sensor. In addition, a controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of a plurality of other vehicles and generate road driving information regarding a traveling vehicle after confirming a reliability of the at least one other vehicle using traffic lane recognition information received from the at least other vehicle. The controller is configured to confirm a traffic lane of the traveling vehicle based on the reliability and output the road driving information. |
| US09273962B2 |
Physical quantity sensor and electronic device
A physical quantity sensor includes: a substrate; first and second displacement members in a spatial plane on the substrate and having rotation shafts; fixed electrodes on the substrate opposed to the first and second displacement members; a support member supporting the rotation shafts; fixing members supporting the support member via a spring unit; and a driving unit oscillating the support member in an oscillation direction. Each of the first and second displacement members shifts perpendicularly to the spatial plane around an axis of the corresponding rotation shaft. Each rotation shaft is shifted in an opposite direction from the center of gravity of the corresponding displacement member. |
| US09273956B2 |
Method for determining a distance by X-ray imaging, and X-ray device
A method for determining a distance between a first point and a second point on an object under examination inside the body of a person under examination by way of x-ray imaging by an x-ray device. The method includes the recording of x-ray images at different relative positionings of the x-ray device, which contain the first and the second point respectively. The relative positionings are substantially shifted in relation to one another in parallel to a central beam. Stereo reconstruction is carried out to define a 3D position of the first point and of the second point. The distance between the first point and the second point is determined from the 3D position of the first point and the 3D position of the second point. |
| US09273955B2 |
Three-dimensional data acquisition
A projector illuminates an object, within the field of view of a camera, with a sequence of code patterns. The camera captures the illuminated object and provides object images to a decoder to convert the code patterns into code. A transition locator locates discontinuities in the code pattern images. A dequantizer reconstructs a range image from those discontinuities and said code. |
| US09273952B2 |
Grazing and normal incidence interferometer having common reference surface
A system for inspecting specimens such as semiconductor wafers is provided. The system provides scanning of dual-sided specimens using a diffraction grating that widens and passes nth order (n>0) wave fronts to the specimen surface and a reflective surface for each channel of the light beam. Two channels and two reflective surfaces are preferably employed, and the wavefronts are combined using a second diffraction grating and passed to a camera system having a desired aspect ratio. The system preferably comprises a damping arrangement which filters unwanted acoustic and seismic vibration, including an optics arrangement which scans a first portion of the specimen and a translation or rotation arrangement for translating or rotating the specimen to a position where the optics arrangement can scan the remaining portion(s) of the specimen. The system further includes means for stitching scans together, providing for smaller and less expensive optical elements. |
| US09273950B2 |
System and method for auto-ranging in optical coherence tomography
A system, in one embodiment, includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system having a light source configured to emit light. The OCT imaging system further includes a beam splitter configured to receive the light from the light source, split the light into a first light portion directed along a sample arm comprising a sample and a second light portion directed along a reference arm comprising a reference mirror, receive a first reflected light portion from the sample arm and a second reflected light portion from the reference arm, combine the first and second reflected light portions to obtain an interference signal. Further, the OCT imaging system includes a controller having logic configured to perform an auto-ranging process to match the reference arm with the sample arm. |
| US09273947B2 |
Sensing magnet apparatus for motor
Disclosed is a sensing magnet apparatus for an motor, the apparatus including a disk-shaped plate centrally inserted by a rotation shaft, a ring-shaped sensing magnet so installed as to surface-contact an upper surface of the plate, formed at a position near to a periphery with a main magnet, and formed at a position near to a through hole with a sub magnet, and a separation inhibition unit physically coupling the plate and the sensing magnet to maintain the coupled state between the plate and the sensing magnet. |
| US09273946B2 |
Location determination apparatus with an inertial measurement unit
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a location determination apparatus for determining a location of two components relative to one another. The apparatus may comprise at least one location encoder having a read head in cooperation with a code for generating first position determination data at a first measurement frequency. According to some embodiments of the invention, at least one inertial measurement unit is arranged for additionally determining translational and/or rotational accelerations of at least one of the two components and, moreover, for generating second position determination data with respect to the location at a second measurement rate. |
| US09273945B2 |
Inspection device for measuring pipe size
A disclosed measurement head includes a sensor body attached to a camera by a resilient member. The sensor body includes a sensor that measures linear distance and is actuated by arms pivoting outward from the sensor body into contact with an interior surface of pipe for measurement. Each of the arms includes a catch engageable to a latch sleeve to hold each of the arms in a compact folded position for insertion into a pipe. The latch sleeve is movable to release the catch and the arms to provide for measurement of the interior profile of the pipe. Another measurement head includes guide wires attached to an end of each of the arms. The guide wires provide for movement of the arms to provide for insertion of the measurement head into and through a pipe. |
| US09273943B1 |
Multifunction aerodynamic housing for ballistic launch of a payload
A projectile comprises a payload and an aerodynamic outer housing. The outer housing is arranged, in launch and flight configurations, to surround the payload. The outer housing is further arranged, in the launch configuration, to be launched from a barrel of a launching gun or cannon. The outer housing is further arranged, in the flight configuration, to have a bi-tapered shape that is elongated along a fore-and-aft direction and has a longitudinal profile that tapers in both fore and aft directions. The outer housing is arranged to assume an exoatmospheric configuration upon reaching a target distance-from-launch, a target time-from-launch, a target altitude, or a target velocity. In the exoatmospheric configuration, either (i) the outer housing is arranged to release the payload or (ii) the outer housing and payload are arranged in a propulsion configuration. The projectile can include various additional components or adaptations to enable or achieve specific launch objectives. |
| US09273928B1 |
Device for cyclically operating a firearm trigger
A device for cyclically operating a trigger of a firearm includes biasing means for biasing a finger applied to a trigger away from the trigger, and a contact switch coupled to the biasing means and configured to be disposed between the finger and the trigger. In response to the contact switch detecting contact between the finger and the trigger, the biasing means actuates to cyclically bias the finger away from the trigger. |
| US09273926B2 |
Conversion kit with a rail system for a paintball marker
A convertible projectile launching device includes a projectile launching device, such as a paint ball marker, a less than lethal launcher or an airsoft gun, to which a user can secure at least one shell that changes the outer configuration or appearance of a projectile launching device on which it is secured into a MILSIM style projectile launching device. Any type of fasteners may be used to secure the shells to the device. The surface of at least one shell provides a rail system for mounting objects to the projectile launching device. The shell has a mating surface that engages a corresponding mating surface on the projectile launching device in order to increase stability of the shell. A blanking plug or a butt stock can be inserted into the rear of the shell, secured by a latch or other mechanism on at least one shell. |
| US09273924B2 |
Bowfishing reel seat
A reel seat for attaching a reel foot of a reel to a bow includes a shaft, a rear bushing, a cap, a first threaded fastener, and a second threaded fastener. The shaft has a first end and a second end, an outer surface, a first bore formed into the first end of the shaft, and a second bore formed into the second end of the shaft. The rear bushing includes a limiter portion and a receiver portion, the limiter portion being secured to the shaft and defining an increased diameter relative to the shaft to form a stop surface the receiver portion having a bore and being coaxially received over the shaft such that the receiver portion is abutted against the stop surface and rotatable about the shaft. |
| US09273922B2 |
Crossbow with rotating limb pockets
A crossbow with rotating limb pockets has a rifle-like frame with forward, outward limb arch supports which support pivot pins at their distal ends. Rotating limb pockets are pivotally and rearwardly secured to the arch support pivot pins. Limbs with distal cams supporting cables and bow string are suitably fixed to the limb pockets such as by screws. Forwardly the limb pockets are pivotally secured to links which are pivotally joined to a forward and rearward moving actuator controlled by a crank mechanism. Extending the actuator rotates the limb pockets outwardly and the limb cams inwardly to a low poundage state for easy cocking of the string and loading a bolt or arrow. Retracting the actuator rotates the limb pockets inwardly and the limb cams outwardly to a high poundage state ready for shooting. |
| US09273921B2 |
Archery bow, floating limb compound (FLC)
An Archery Bow, Floating Limb Compound; consists of a riser, giving relative fixed geometric rotational references to a plurality of counter rotating members, each rotating free of relative linier motion and consisting each of a bow string wheel, or eccentric, in common moment with two each, or two pairs each, of control cable wheels, or eccentrics, on each all the same respective axis. Assigned pivotal geometric riser references are a plurality of limbs, or individual limb assemblies, each having each a flexural focus, near the respective pivotal axis, and between two control cable inputs, or pairs of control mounts, one being linked to an adjacent rotating member control, and the other linked to the opposite rotating member's stabilizing cross-feedback control; where together, under draw, the limbs store energy in flexural response to control disproportions; and also pivot, in opposite directions, about each individual limb's, or limb assembly's, pivotal axis, in response to the stabilizing cross feedback. |
| US09273920B2 |
Integral multi-chambered valved suppressor
A suppression system adapted to receive gas from a gas operated system and route the gas through a series of multiple chambers having baffles and/or valves as well as expansion chambers where the chambers are formed around a gas projectile barrel and adapted to route the gas in a first route along the barrel in a first direction then routing the gas along the barrel in a second direction. An embodiment of the invention couples the chambers to a gas block adapted to route gas between the chambers in the first and second route as well as receive gas from the projectile barrel and route it to the gas operated system. Methods of manufacturing and methods of use are also provided. |
| US09273919B2 |
Drive assembly of a firearm
A drive assembly of a firearm includes a hammer, a firing pin, a trigger and drive means for driving the firing pin. The hammer includes a main body having at least a first tooth, a first seat engaged by the firing pin and a second seat engaged by the drive means that intercepts the first seat. The firing pin and the drive means are movable in the respective seats between a first rest portion, distal one from another, and a second firing position, respectively, proximal one to another. The trigger includes a first portion that, when the trigger is pivoted, it is movable between the first and second positions, respectively. The trigger includes a second portion configured to engage/disengage the first tooth and a third portion configured to counter the drive means when the first portion of the trigger is in the second position and the first tooth is disengaged. |
| US09273913B2 |
Heat exchanger with central pipe and ring channel
The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) having a tube bundle (10) with a large number of tubes wound around a central pipe (100), a shell (20) enclosing the tube bundle (10) and defining a shell space (200) surrounding the tube bundle (10), and a liquid distributor (30) having distributor arms (300) for distributing a liquid (F) into the shell space (200) and onto the tube bundle (10), and drain pipes (340) for supplying the distributor arms with liquid (F). The distributor arms (300) are connected in a flow-guiding manner to a ring channel (400) positioned along the periphery of the shell (20). For degassing liquid (F), central pipe (100) is connected in a flow-guiding manner to the distributor arms (300). |
| US09273902B2 |
Dehumidifying curing oven with rotating trays
A curing oven includes a set of pivoting, rotating trays within a curing chamber. The trays are attached to a mechanism that rotates the trays through a curing cycle, and the speed and timing of the rotation may be set by an operator, as desired. In a preferred embodiment, the oven includes a plurality of heating elements, a commercial dehumidifier, a recirculating fan and system, temperature and humidity sensors, and a series of pivoting trays attached to a motorized rotational assembly. The oven is controlled by a various controllers, which may be programmed to set the temperature, humidity levels, rotation speed and cycle time, and other aspects of oven operation. A loading and unloading chamber is effectively sealed off from the curing chamber within the oven, preventing or reducing a transfer of air between the curing chamber and the ambient air outside of the oven. |
| US09273900B2 |
Exhaust gas treatment system for oxyfuel combustion device
Provided are a front impurity-removing device with a compressor for compression of the exhaust gas from an oxyfuel combustion device to make impurities in the exhaust gas water-soluble and with a cooler for cooling of the exhaust gas compressed by the compressor to condense moisture in the exhaust gas to discharge drainage with the impurities dissolved, and at least a single rear impurity-removing device with a rear compressor for compression of the exhaust gas to a pressure higher than that of the compressor and a rear cooler to discharge drainage. A water sprayer for humidifying the exhaust gas from the oxyfuel combustion device and a front cooler are provided for producing and discharging drainage with impurities dissolved therein upstream of the compressor in the front impurity-removing device. |
| US09273899B2 |
Method and apparatus for cooling a hydrocarbon stream
A hydrocarbon stream (30), such as natural gas, is commonly cooled together with a first refrigerant stream (140), against an evaporating refrigerant (24) in a series of one or more consecutively arranged common heat exchangers (2), which comprises a first common heat exchanger, upstream of which first common heat exchanger the hydrocarbon stream (10) and the first refrigerant stream (130) are not commonly cooled (4, 3). The hydrocarbon stream to be cooled is fed into the first common heat exchanger at a hydrocarbon feeding temperature, while the first refrigerant stream is fed into the first common heat exchanger at a refrigerant feeding temperature. The temperature difference between the hydrocarbon feeding temperature and the refrigerant feeding temperature is lower than 60 C. |
| US09273896B2 |
Outdoor unit of refrigerating apparatus
In an outdoor unit, an electric component unit includes an inlet part which communicates with an outlet side of an air blower and through which air on the outlet side flows into the electric component unit, and an outlet part which communicates with an inlet side of the air blower and through which air flows out from the electric component unit. |
| US09273895B2 |
Outdoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus
[Object] To prevent a fastening member such as a bolt from being exposed from a bottom plate when a heater is fixed to the bottom plate using a heater fixture.[Solution] An outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a bottom plate 4, a heat exchanger 10 mounted on the bottom plate 4, and a fan 11 sending air to the heat exchanger 10. The outdoor unit 100 includes a heater 12 provided on the bottom plate 4; a fan retaining portion 20, mounted on the bottom plate 4, for retaining the fan 11; and a heater fixture 40, mounted on the fan retaining portion 20, for fixing the heater 12 by pressing the heater 12 against the bottom plate 4 from above. |
| US09273894B1 |
Auxiliary water reservoir for ice makers
An auxiliary water reservoir system is disclosed for coupling with an ice making apparatus. The auxiliary water reservoir system comprises an auxiliary water reservoir. An auxiliary water supply conduit supplies water to the auxiliary water reservoir. A return conduit couples with the ice making apparatus and positions an excess water within the auxiliary water reservoir. An auxiliary water pump and auxiliary pump conduit positions the water and the excess water from the auxiliary water reservoir to the ice making apparatus. An auxiliary system controller is electronically coupled to a water inlet regulator and a water level sensor for maintaining a water level within the auxiliary water reservoir. The auxiliary water pump propels the water to the ice making apparatus for utilizing the water and the excess water. |
| US09273891B2 |
Rotational ice maker
An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece. |
| US09273889B2 |
Monitoring and control system for a heat pump
Disclosed is a monitoring and control system for an air source heat pump apparatus having a controller to control at least one operation of the heat pump apparatus, a temperature sensor to detect the temperature in a specified area at, near, and/or around the controller, and an operable component, the system including a control program to: determine the temperature based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor; determine whether a first condition exists, the first condition including a determination that the controller is powered, but the operable component is not operating; determine whether a second condition exists, the second condition including a determination that the controller is powered, and the operable component is operating; and based at least partially on determinations (a)-(c), determine the ambient temperature at or around the heat pump apparatus. |
| US09273888B2 |
Refrigerant recovery device and method
A refrigerant recovery unit includes a refrigerant storage unit, a refrigerant circuit, a processor, and a memory. The refrigerant storage unit is configured to store a refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit is in fluid connection with refrigeration system. The refrigerant circuit is configured to recover refrigerant from the refrigeration system and recharge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant. The processor is configured to control the refrigerant recovery unit and the processor is configured to control a fan. The fan is configured to provide a flow of air to the refrigeration system. The memory is to store diagnostic software and operating software to operate the refrigerant recovery unit. |
| US09273887B2 |
Evaporators for heat transfer systems
A heat transfer system includes an evaporator having a heated wall, a liquid barrier wall containing working fluid, a primary wick positioned between the heated wall and an inner side of the liquid barrier wall, a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, and a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick. Methods of transferring heat include applying heat energy to a vapor barrier wall, flowing liquid through a liquid flow channel, pumping the liquid from the liquid flow channel through a primary wick, and evaporating at least some of the liquid at a vapor removal channel. |
| US09273881B2 |
Connecting piece and a method and tool for its manufacture
A connecting piece for a duct such as a ventilation duct is provided and includes an inner flow space in communication with the interior of the duct, the connecting piece having at least one joining portion on which an end region of the duct is slidable and fixable. The connecting piece includes a compressed fiber material and a binder. The connecting piece displays a substantially configurationally stable portion in association with the joining portion, and the connecting piece displays, at least interiorly, a layer which is impervious to a fluid, in particular a gas, this layer being adjacent the inner flow space of the connecting piece. |
| US09273880B2 |
Heating device with condensing counter-flow heat exchanger
A heating device includes a heating chamber, a heating element for heating air in the heating chamber, and a condensing counter-flow heat exchanger including a first flow path that receives outgoing air from the heating chamber and a second flow path for providing incoming air to the heating chamber. The first flow path and the second flow path are configured in a counter-flow heat exchange relationship such that the outgoing air flows in a direction opposite the incoming air and the latent heat of evaporated water in the outgoing air is transferred to the incoming air thereby condensing liquid water from the outgoing air. |
| US09273878B2 |
Device interface for a building appliance
A smart phone or a tablet may execute an application program code to identify a diagnostic status associated with a time-coded signal emitted by a low-cost user interface of a building appliance such as a furnace or water heater and suggest a recommended action to the user. The signal emitted by the low-cost user interface may be audio or a visual signal. |
| US09273874B2 |
Air conditioning and venting system
An air conditioning and ventilating system for a two-story building with a water tank disposed on the roof includes a first condenser unit and a first air handling unit for cooling a first set of primary cooled rooms and a first set of secondarily cooled rooms on an upper floor of the building. The system also includes a second condenser unit and a second air handling unit for cooling a second set of primarily cooled rooms and a second set of secondarily rooms on a lower floor and wherein the second condenser unit and second air handling unit are independent of the first condenser unit and first air handling unit. On both floors cool air from the first set of rooms is partially returned to the air handling units and partially recirculated into the primary cooled rooms. |
| US09273873B1 |
Hollow draft inducers (draft inducers or hollow inducers)
Draft inducers (50,40) having hollow axis (73a,73b), folding impellers (37a) or retractable propellers (37b) having limited presence in the flue path, external motor (47a, 47b) with sensors (33a, 33b), male connection (63a, 63b) and female connection (65a, 65b) ends for connecting with flue stack and other tandem modules. |
| US09273871B2 |
Combined compact hot and ozonated cold water unit
A combined compact hot and ozonated cold water unit which comprises a framework that accommodates a hot water heater device, a ozone generator device and a combined temporary storage tank having both a hot water compartment and a separate cold water compartment. The hot water heater device is connected with the hot water compartment of the combined temporary storage tank for heating the water contained therein. The ozone generator device is connected with only the water compartment of the combined temporary storage tank for supplying ozone to the water contained therein. |
| US09273870B2 |
Room enclosure assembly, method for producing same and element therefor
A room enclosure assembly on a base of a concrete ceiling or wall is disclosed. In an embodiment, it includes metal sheet material having contact surfaces toward the base and web faces leading away from the base and heat exchange surfaces. Folding regions are formed between the sub-faces of the sheet material. The contact surfaces are fastened to the base area via a heat conducting connection layer. The heat-exchange faces are provided with a coating layer. The heat flow between the base and the heat exchange surfaces is especially efficient because it takes place in the continuous metal sheet material. Through-openings in the heat exchange surfaces, together with the use of a suitable coating layer on the heat exchange surfaces, allow for the acoustic insulating effect and optical appearance to be optimized. |
| US09273869B1 |
Wood burning furnace
A wood burning furnace providing, in sequential connection, an air box, a fire box with a wood storage box/primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber separated by an ash grate, a heat exchanger, an exhaust manifold, and a smoke stack. The air box has an input port attached to an intake air blower. The air box also has two dampers, a first damper providing controlled access to an updraft exhaust pipe connected to the smoke stack. The second damper provides controlled access from the intake blower through the air box to the wood storage box/primary combustion chamber. |
| US09273868B2 |
System for supporting bundled tube segments within a combustor
A system for supporting bundled tube segments within a combustor includes an annular sleeve that extends circumferentially and axially within the combustor, a support lug that extends radially inward from the annular sleeve and an annular support frame that is disposed within the annular sleeve. The annular support frame includes an inner ring portion, an outer ring portion and a plurality of spokes that extend radially between the inner and outer ring portions. The inner ring portion, the outer ring portion and the plurality of spokes define an annular array of openings for receiving a respective bundled tube segment. The inner ring portion is connected to each bundled tube segment and the outer ring portion is coupled to the support lug. |
| US09273864B2 |
Emitting device using smart mobile electronic device as operation interface
An emitting device using smart mobile electronic device as operation interface comprises a connector having a circuit board, the circuit board having an electrical connection portion at a front end, and the electrical connection portion set to match specifications of a transmission port of a smart mobile electronic device for being inserted into the transmission port to get the power and signal; a light emitting module installed at a side of the circuit board; a drive circuit couple between the circuit board and light emitting module. Whereby when the connector of the emitting device is electrically connected to the transmission port, the power module provides the power to the emitting device to turn on or off the light emitting module of the emitting device through the user's operation interface on the touch screen. |
| US09273862B2 |
LED light dedusting/cooling system
An LED light dedusting/cooling system includes a housing receiving therein a control member, a fan, a heat sink and an LED module. The fan and the LED module are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the heat sink. The LED light dedusting/cooling system further includes a vibrator received in the housing and disposed on one side of the heat sink proximal to the fan and positioned between the heat sink and the fan. In operation, the vibrator can vibrate between the heat sink and the fan to shake (or shock) off the dust or alien articles attaching to the fan and the heat sink. Then, the fan operates to blow out the dust from the housing. |
| US09273861B2 |
Thermosyphon light engine and luminaire including same
A thermosyphon light engine and luminaire including the same are provided. The light engine includes a condenser, an evaporation chamber, and a connecting element therebetween. The condenser returns a gaseous substance located therein to a liquid substance. The evaporation chamber includes a solid state light source, a working liquid, and an optical element that beam shapes light emitted by the at least one solid state light source. The solid state light source is immersed in the working liquid, such that heat generated by the solid state light source changes the working liquid into a gaseous substance. The gaseous substance travels through the connecting element to the condenser, which returns the gaseous substance to a liquid substance. The liquid substance then travels through the connecting element back to the evaporation chamber. |
| US09273858B2 |
Systems and methods for low-power lamp compatibility with a leading-edge dimmer and an electronic transformer
Methods and systems to provide compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer may include: (a) responsive to determining that energy is available from the electronic transformer, drawing a requested amount of power from the electronic transformer thus transferring energy from the electronic transformer to an energy storage device in accordance with the requested amount of power; and (b) transferring energy from the energy storage device to the load at a rate such that a voltage of the energy storage device is regulated within a predetermined voltage range. |
| US09273854B2 |
Wireless transmission device
A wireless transmission device, arranged inside a display object or connected with the display object, includes a power supply interface, an initialization setting button, a wireless transmission unit, a processing unit, and a storage unit. The input end of the power supply interface is connected with the power supply end of the display object, the output end of the power supply interface is connected with the wireless transmission unit and the processing unit respectively, and the initialization setting button and the storage unit are connected with the processing unit respectively. A unique identification assigned to the display object is stored in the storage unit. Initialization setting of the wireless transmission device is implemented by pressing the initialization setting button, and the processing unit transmits out the identification, orientation, and/or predetermined viewable angle of the display object constantly or regularly via the wireless transmission unit. |
| US09273853B2 |
LED-based assembly with fixating optical boards
The invention refers to a LED-based assembly (100) comprising: —an electrical device comprising circuit boards (110-1,110-2) arranged to drive and/or supply arrays of LEDs (111-1,111-2) electrically and mechanically connected thereto; —an optical device provided onto the electrical device and comprising optical boards (120) partly mounted onto the circuit boards (110-1,110-2). |
| US09273851B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a backlight module and liquid crystal display device. The backlight module includes diffuser plate, substrate, fluorescent layer and light-emitting chip. The fluorescent layer is disposed on a light-entering surface of diffuser plate, and the fluorescent layer includes quantum dot (QD). The light-emitting chip is disposed on the substrate and the light-emitting chip is between substrate and fluorescent layer for irradiating on the fluorescent layer to excite the quantum dots to emit light to form white backlight source. The present invention uses quantum dots to effectively increase luminance, color saturation and avoid chroma offset. The quantum dots can emit uniform light and reduce thickness of the backlight module. |
| US09273849B2 |
Illumination apparatus, use of the illumination apparatus, method for dazzle-free illumination and arrangement comprising the illumination apparatus
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved illumination apparatus for the comfortable illumination of a region monitored by a night vision instrument.To this end, an illumination apparatus 1 having an illumination device 8 is provided, the illumination device 8 comprising at least one LED 9a,b,c and the illumination device 8 being formed in order to emit mixed light with light components in the visible range, and having an optical filter device 10 for filtering the mixed light emitted by the illumination device 8, the optical filter device 10 being formed in order to block light with a cutoff wavelength of more than 610 nm, wherein the illumination device 8 comprises a white LED 9a, a green LED 9b and a red LED 9c, which together produce the mixed light. |
| US09273846B1 |
Apparatus for producing patterned illumination including at least one array of light sources and at least one array of microlenses
An apparatus for producing structured light comprises a first optical arrangement which comprises a microlens array comprising a multitude of transmissive or reflective microlenses which are regularly arranged at a lens pitch P and an illumination unit for illuminating the microlens array. The illumination unit comprises an array of light sources for emitting light of a wavelength L each and having an aperture each, wherein the apertures are located in a common emission plane which is located at a distance D from the microlens array. For the lens pitch P, the distance D and the wavelength L, the following equation applies P2=2LD/N, wherein N is an integer with N≧1. High-contrast high-intensity light patterns can be produced. |
| US09273844B2 |
Vehicular lamp
A vehicular lamp includes: a projection lens; a light source arranged to a rear of a rear side focal point of the projection lens; a reflector that reflects light from the light source toward the projection lens; a cut-off forming member arranged between the light source and the projection lens; a first sub-reflector that is arranged in front of the reflector and reflects the light from the light source rearward; and a second sub-reflector that is arranged to the rear of the rear side focal point and reflects reflected light from the first sub-reflector toward the projection lens. |
| US09273837B2 |
Luminaire with a length-variable supporting strut for a light-emitting means
The present invention relates to a luminaire 100 comprising a luminaire base 1, an elongate, length-adjustable supporting strut 2 held by means of the luminaire base 1, and a lighting means 3 arranged on the supporting strut 2. |
| US09273836B2 |
Medical/dental headlight system with interchangeable beam-forming optics
A head-mounted light source particularly suited to medical and dental applications includes a base unit with a source of illumination directed through a distal opening in the base unit, and a plurality of interchangeable beam-forming units, each separately attachable to the distal opening of the base unit to produce a different light spot size at a given distance. The preferred embodiment includes a wide-field beam-forming unit, an intermediate beam-forming unit and a high-intensity beam-forming unit, such that the diameter of the spot size progressively decreases from the wide-field to the intermediate to the high-intensity unit. The interchangeable beam-forming units are attached to the base unit through a threaded connection. Each interchangeable beam-forming unit may itself include a distal threaded connection for attachment of a UV or other filter. In the preferred embodiment, the base unit includes a clip adapted for attachment to an ocular mounting assembly. |
| US09273835B2 |
Linear LED lamp
A linear LED lamp is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention can provide an LED-based replacement lamp for a linear or “tube-type” bulb or a bulb with a linear filament or element. By filling the void within the lamp with an optically transmissive fluid to cool the LEDs without the use of a traditional heat sink, the light blocking effects of such a heat sink can be avoided. Thus, the LED replacement lamp can emit light in a substantially omnidirectional pattern. In some embodiments, the optically transmissive fluid medium is a liquid. In some embodiments, the optically transmissive fluid medium is a gel. An index matching medium can be used as the optically transmissive fluid medium. A color mixing treatment can optionally be included to eliminate color tints in cases where multiple LEDs of different colors are used to produce white light. |
| US09273831B2 |
Lighting fixture and light-emitting diode light source assembly
An improved LED light source assembly is described, suitable for use as a retrofit for prior lighting fixtures of a kind including a concave reflector, an incandescent lamp positioned with its filament(s) at or near a focal region of the reflector, and a lens assembly for projecting light reflected by the reflector to a distant location, e.g., a theater stage. The improved LED light source assembly includes a compact arrangement of three or more LED assemblies, which are mounted at the forward end of an elongated heat pipe. The heat pipe's rearward end attaches to a heat sink mountable on the back side of the lighting fixture's concave reflector, and the heat pipe extends through a central hole in the reflector to position the LED assemblies at or near the concave reflector's focal region. The concave reflector reflects light emitted by the LED assemblies forward to the lighting fixture's lens assembly, which in turn projects a beam of light to a distant location. The LED light engine's configuration allows a significant proportion of the prior lighting fixture to continue to be utilized, leading to substantial cost saving and simplified installation. |
| US09273830B2 |
Light source with near field mixing
A light emitting diode (LED) component comprising a submount with an array of LED chips and a lens over the array of LED chips. A diffuser is arranged so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the diffuser to mix the LED light in the near field. The light passing through the diffuser appears as a mixture of LED chip light when directly viewed. A lighting device is also disclosed comprising an LED component comprising an array of LED chips and a near field diffuser to mix at least some of the light from the LED chips in the near field. A remote reflector is included to reflect at least some the light from the LED component so that is emits from the lighting device in the desired direction. |
| US09273828B2 |
Auto flow steam trap
An auto flow steam trap has a hollow main casing having an inlet channel and an outlet channel, a float assembly mounted in the main casing, and a non-return valve assembly. With the non-return valve assembly mounted in the outlet channel of the main casing, the auto flow steam trap only needs one non-return valve assembly to control allowing the condensate to flow out of the main casing or not. Thus, the auto flow steam trap has advantages such as simple structure and low failure rate, easy assembling, and so on. |
| US09273824B1 |
Adjustable support structure
An adjustable support structure includes a mounting base, a support arm pivotally connected to the mounting base, two swivel arms respectively pivotally connected to opposing left and right sides of the support arm for hooking on a respective post, and two chucks respectively slidably coupled to respective shanks of the swivel arms and movable by respective locknuts for stopping one respective post in the hooks of the swivel arms to lock the swivel arms to the posts. |
| US09273819B2 |
Adjustable magnetic mount for metrology equipment
The present invention is directed to an adjustable mounting apparatus comprising: a base, a first and second magnet each pivotally connected to the bottom of the base and rotatable about a predefined axis. The first and second magnets are positioned at opposing ends of the base and parallel to each other. The present invention is also directed to a method of stabilizing an adjustable mounting apparatus comprising: placing the mount onto a surface; rotating a first and second electric magnet at angles along predefined axes; engaging a clamping lever to place each magnet into desired positions on the surface; electrifying the first and second electric magnets to attach them to the surface. |
| US09273811B1 |
Hose coupling with a separate sleeve and collar
The hose coupler has a sleeve defining a passageway between a first hose section and a second hose section, and includes a plurality of barbs each having an angled surface. In an embodiment, a collar can be fitted over the hose after it is pulled up onto the sleeve. The collar also has a plurality of barbs with angled surfaces corresponding to the angle of the barbs on the sleeve. The collar is adapted to substantially surround the first hose section disposed over the plurality of the barbs on the sleeve and the each barb on the sleeve generally aligns with the each barb on the collar. |
| US09273809B2 |
Hydrostatic unit and adapter piece
A hydrostatic unit includes a hydraulic machine that is connected mechanically and hydraulically to a pressure medium supply via an adapter piece and a rotary leadthrough. |
| US09273807B2 |
Sealing device of a level meter
A sealing device of a level meter is acid-and-alkali-resistant and pressure-resistant, and has a flexible outer tube, a plug, a female union connector and a male union connector. The flexible outer tube has an expansion neck formed on a bottom end thereof. The plug is mounted in the expansion neck. The female union connector is mounted around the expansion neck. The male union connector engages the female union connector by means of threaded engagement. The male union connector has a through hole for tying a weight such that the flexible outer tube is stretched along a force of a gravitational force of the weight. As being wholly and uniformly subjected to the gravitational force of the weight, the male union connector is less damage-prone. Accordingly, the tensile strength of the level meter is effectively increased, and a life duration of the level meter therefore prolongs. |
| US09273806B2 |
Flexible pipe having pressure armour layer and components thereof
An elongate metallic or polymeric or composite tape is disclosed along with a method of manufacturing such tape. The tape is of a type suitable for forming at least one helically wound layer of interlocked windings in a flexible pipe body for transporting production fluids. The tape is configured for interlocking of adjacent windings in the layer of tape by nesting a hooked region of a winding in a valley region of an adjacent winding. The tape comprises first and second elongate tape elements arranged in contacting relation. |
| US09273803B2 |
Eaves clip
A clip for hanging decorative lights from the eaves of a house has an elongated C-shaped body. This body has an intermediate curved section extending between two ends that curve inwardly. A hook is attached to the outside surface of the intermediate curved section. The elongated body is made of a flexible plastic having a memory such that the curved ends may be moved away from one another by a force acting on at least one of the distal ends. When the force is removed the memory will cause the distal ends of the clip to move together. The inward curvature enables the curved ends to unravel to some extent. The combination of the unraveling of the ends and the flexing of the curved intermediate portion enables this clip to fit onto eaves ranging in width from ⅝ inch to over two inches without breaking. |
| US09273801B1 |
Method of in-situ pipeline replacement
A method of in-situ pipeline replacement in which valves, fittings, and other obstructions are removed from an existing pipeline, a heat-fusible polymer pipeline having an initially deformed configuration less than the existing pipeline diameter is inserted into the remaining portions of the existing pipeline and reformed to substantially conform to the inside diameter of the existing pipeline, heat-fusible fittings are provided to replace removed portions of the existing pipeline and heat-fused to the polymer liner, and transition fittings provided to operably connect the replacement pipeline to those portions of the existing pipeline not within the replacement scope. The completed replacement polymer pipeline creates an operable wetted pressure boundary within the bounds of the replaced existing pipeline. |
| US09273800B2 |
Valve
A valve (1), in particular a vacuum valve, comprising a valve plate (2) for closing an opening (3), in particular of the valve (1), and comprising at least two piston cylinder units (4, 5) for pressing the valve plate (2) against a valve seat (6), in particular of the valve (1), said valve seat surrounding the opening (3), at least one of the piston cylinder units (5) having at least one cylinder (7) as a component and at least one piston (8) arranged displaceably in the cylinder (7) as a further component, one of the components of the piston cylinder unit (5) being fixed on the valve plate (2), in particular in a manner stationary relative to the valve plate (2), wherein at least one of the components, preferably the other component, of this piston cylinder unit (5) is mounted on at least one support (10, 11) of the valve (1) so as to be movable, preferably displaceable, at least in a direction (9) parallel to the spacing between two adjacent piston cylinders units (4, 5). (FIG 7) |
| US09273796B2 |
Valve actuator system
A sanitary valve system having a sanitary valve in a valve housing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the sanitary valve having at least one surface formed of a hygienic material that prevents growth of bacteria or fungus and is configured to control a flow from the inlet to the outlet by means of a valve regulating element. |
| US09273795B2 |
Reverse flow relief valve
A bleed valve system includes a bleed valve, a valve regulator, a valve actuator and a reverse flow relief valve. The bleed valve is opened and closed to control a flow of bleed air from an upstream inlet to a downstream outlet. The valve regulator provides a servo pressure used to regulate the position of the bleed valve, and the valve actuator is mechanically connected to open/close the bleed valve based on the servo pressure provided by the valve regulator. The reverse flow relief valve compares a pressure upstream of the bleed valve to a pressure downstream of the bleed valve and in response to the downstream pressure exceeding the upstream pressure creates a fluid communication path between the servo pressure and an ambient pressure to decrease the servo pressure such that the bleed valve is closed. |
| US09273794B2 |
Pneumatic valve actuator having integral status indication
A pneumatic valve actuator having integral status indication includes an actuator housing with a recessed bore and a visual indicator coupled to a piston within a cylinder. An actuating pressure chamber is located also within the cylinder. The piston reciprocates in the cylinder in response to fluid pressure build-up in the actuating pressure chamber, and the visual indicator reciprocates within the bore. The visual indicator coupled to the piston can be in a retracted configuration when actuating pressure is not present in the pressure chamber and can be in an extended configuration when actuating pressure is presented in the pressure chamber. The visual indicator, which can have a portion that extends outside the bore colored to provide an indication of the operating state of the valve. |
| US09273783B2 |
Diaphragm device and pressure regulating reservoir using the same
A diaphragm device comprising: a supporting member; a flexible membrane that is supported by the supporting member; and a housing that accommodates the flexible membrane and the supporting member, and wherein the flexible membrane air-tightly separates a first chamber and a second chamber connected to the outside through a through-hole formed in a membrane supporting portion of the supporting member, inside the housing, wherein an avoidance recessed portion to avoid interference with an opening edge of the through-hole is formed at a position corresponding to the through-hole in the flexible membrane, wherein the avoidance recessed portion is provided at a thick portion thicker than the other portion of the flexible membrane, and the thick portion protrudes toward the first chamber. |
| US09273781B2 |
Overmolded ECU device
A sealing device which is used to seal a leak test aperture in an ECU. The sealing device is selectively disposed in the leak test aperture, and an inner surface is formed as part of the leak test aperture. The sealing device has a first portion, and a second portion connected to the first portion. The sealing device is press-fitted into the leak aperture such that the first portion is in contact with the inner surface, securing the position of the sealing device in the leak test aperture, and the second portion is also in contact with the inner surface to prevent moisture and debris from passing through the leak test aperture. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter such that the second diameter of the second portion applies a pressure to the inner surface of the leak test aperture, forming a seal. |
| US09273780B2 |
Sliding block for a piston of a hydraulic piston machine
A sliding block for a piston of a hydraulic piston machine, includes a concave recess to receive a piston head and a sliding surface to support the piston. A lubricant channel passes through the sliding block from the concave recess to the sliding surface, and the concave recess transforms with a constant tangent i.e. without kinking into a transition segment of a constantly narrowing taper segment of the lubricant channel. The transition segment is convex. |
| US09273778B2 |
Method of controlling a transmission
A method of controlling a transmission includes selecting a target speed of a second shaft, and measuring a second speed of the second shaft and an output speed of an output shaft. The method includes detecting a rolling neutral condition wherein a first and second clutch are uncoupled from a torque generator and a synchronizer is mated to a predicted gear to apply a load in a direction, and one of a first condition wherein the output speed is decreasing and the target speed is less than the second speed and a second condition wherein the output speed is increasing and the target speed is less than the second speed. The method then includes translating the synchronizer away from the predicted gear, coupling and decoupling the second clutch to and from the torque generator, and mating the synchronizer to the predicted gear to again apply the load in the direction. |
| US09273777B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus
In a manual transmission mode, a downshift instruction signal is outputted by a position sensor, and a shift range is lowered by one gear, as a result of an operation of a shift lever by the driver. The driving force of the vehicle is increased through downshifting. The number of times of downshifting within a predefined time is limited to a predefined number of times. |
| US09273776B2 |
Range switching device
A range switching device for performing switching the range of a transmission includes first control valve, a second control valve having a characteristic opposite to the first control, and first, second, third and fourth switching valves for controlling the transmission of oil pressures. The first and second switching valves cooperatively control the transmission of the oil pressure from the first control valve to a forward or reverse driving element (R). The third and fourth switching valve cooperatively control the transmission of the oil pressure from the second control valve to the forward or reverse driving element (R). The third and fourth switching valves each perform a substantially same oil pressure transmission when the state of the second and third actuators is reversed with respect to the first switching and second switching valves, respectively. |
| US09273775B2 |
Shifter assembly with reduced lash
The subject invention provides for a shifter assembly for selecting one of a plurality of gears of a transmission of a vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a pin engaging a lever and one of a handle and a support and rotatable towards first and second ramps to define a first range of movement between the lever and one of the handle and the support. A first post and a second post extend from the lever. A first bushing is attached to the first post and a second bushing is attached to the second post. A pair of first and second engagement surfaces are disposed on the one of the handle and the support. The first bushing is sandwiched between the pair of first engagement surfaces and the second bushing is sandwiched between the pair of second engagement surfaces to define a second range of movement. |
| US09273771B2 |
Method for manufacturing multi-stage gear, and multi-stage gear
In a method for manufacturing a multi-stage gear in which no gap is formed between a small-diameter gear and a large-diameter gear, there are included a first step of forming the small-diameter gear on an outer peripheral surface of a workpiece, a second step of forming a large-diameter gear part by plastically deforming an end portion of the workpiece to increase the diameter thereof, and a third step of forming the large-diameter gear by cutting the large-diameter gear part. |
| US09273768B2 |
Multi-stage power-shift transmission
Power-shiftable multi-speed transmission in planetary design for a vehicle for an arrangement between an input shaft and an output shaft, characterized in that the multi-speed transmission features two parallel shaft trains, six shifting elements, at least two spur gear stages and three planetary gear sets, each with one sun gear, one ring gear and one planetary carrier with several planetary gears, whereas the planetary carrier is consolidated into one carrier, and that the two shaft trains are connectable to each other through at least two spur gear stages, whereas, through a selective intervening of the six shifting elements, different transmission ratio relationships can be brought out between the input shaft and output shaft, such that a multitude of forward gears, in particular nine forward gears, and at least one reverse gear, are able to be realized. |
| US09273767B2 |
Shaft having a journal
A threaded spindle (11), having a drive part (20), which has a longitudinal axis (A) and is mounted in a first journal (70), and having a threaded part (30), which has a longitudinal axis (B), and having a threaded nut (50), which is mounted in a second journal (80a; 80b) and in which the threaded part (30) is guided. The drive part (20) and the threaded part (30) are formed as separate parts and are each provided with at least one coupling element (25, 55), which are connected to each other in an articulated manner by plugging together. An offset of the longitudinal axes (A, B) can be compensated in this manner. The two-part threaded spindle (11) forms a threaded drive with the threaded nut (50) thereof, which can for example be used in a parking brake of a vehicle braking system. |
| US09273764B2 |
Drive of a seat adjusting device for motor vehicles
Drive of a seat adjusting device, especially for motor vehicles, with a spindle that is fastened on a first of two rails, which are adjustable with respect to each other by at least one mounting on one end of the spindle, and with a transmission driven by a motor that is mounted on the second rail, whereby the mounting is a single piece stamped bent part with a first area with at least one fastener opening and a second area that is offset upward relative to the first area for holding one end of the spindle, whereby the first area and the second area are connected to form a single piece by a transition area, whereby the second area is designed with a slot with legs lying opposite each other, at least in sections, and opposite a slot between which the end of the spindle can be fixed. |
| US09273763B2 |
Systems and methods for unlocking/locking and opening/closing windows
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for unlocking, opening, closing and locking a vent sash. The system may include a push arm configured to extend to open the vent sash and retract to close the vent sash. The system may include a guide arm configured to extend to unlock the vent sash and retract to lock the vent sash. The system may include a handle extension configured to radially rotate substantially one hundred eighty degrees in a first direction on a single plane to extend the push arm and the guide arm. The handle extension may be configured to radially rotate substantially one hundred eighty degrees in a second direction on the single plane to retract the push arm and the guide arm. |
| US09273762B1 |
Four-linkage backpack relocator
A device to help an individual with a disability carry his or her bag or storage unit on their wheelchair or other mobility device, without requiring a large space to deploy the storage and retrieval product. The invention consists of a set of arms, connected to a sliding mechanism along a track. When the user wishes to access his or her belongings, the bag slides from a storage position behind the wheelchair to a retrieval position perpendicular to the wheelchair's armrest. The deployment process is accomplished without rotating the entire mechanism around a central axis. Thus, the invention keeps the storage unit close to the wheelchair and therefore takes up less space during retrieval and increases stability during deployment. |
| US09273756B2 |
Power transmission belt
A power transmission belt with a body made from a first rubber composition in which at least one load carrying member is embedded. The body has a plurality of laterally spaced ribs with exposed surfaces on the inside of the body. The ribs are made from a second rubber composition in which: a) a plasticizer of 8.3 to 10.7 (cal/cm3)1/2 in solubility parameter; and b) solid lubricant are respectively blended in an amount: i) 5 to 25 pts.wt.; and ii) 5 to 50 pts.wt. per 100 pts.wt. ethylene-α-olefin elastomer. The body further has short fibers fixed at the exposed, pulley engaging rib surfaces. |
| US09273753B2 |
Torque rod apparatus for vehicle
A torque rod apparatus for a vehicle may include a damper supported at an outer circumference thereof by a lower frame of the vehicle, with a first hollow portion being axially formed in the damper, an inner core inserted into the first hollow portion of the damper, with a second hollow portion being axially formed in the inner core, an insert opening formed partially through the damper and the inner core in a radial direction to allow an interior of the inner core and an exterior of the damper to be bored through, and a linkage connected at a first end thereof to a drive unit, with a through hole formed in a second end thereof, the second end being inserted into the insert opening to allow the linkage to be integrally coupled to the lower frame of the vehicle and the inner core. |
| US09273751B2 |
Double pumper magneto-rheological hydraulic tie bar assembly
A tie bar assembly includes front and rear units each including inner inserts interconnected with outer inserts with webs of elastomeric material. A pole sub-assembly is disposed between the units. The pole sub-assembly and the units define front and rear fluid chambers containing a magneto-rheological fluid. Fluid orifices are disposed through the pole sub-assembly for flow of the magneto-rheological fluid between fluid chambers. An electromagnet coil generates an electromagnetic field to affect viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid. A connecting rod connects inner inserts and is slidably disposed through the pole sub-assembly for causing movement of the magneto-rheological fluid between fluid chambers. A displacement sensor detects movement to generate a signal to the electromagnet coil. Front and rear travel cushions are each disposed on the inner inserts for limiting the movement of the inner inserts toward the pole sub-assembly. |
| US09273750B2 |
Hydraulic damper including hingedly connected plug elements for quick return to starting position
A hydraulic damper (100) comprises a cylinder (10) with a bottom wall (11), a head wall (12) and side walls (13) that define a damping chamber (15) containing a damping fluid (17); in the damping chamber (15) a piston (20) slides with a first face (20a) and a second face (20b) opposite to each other. In particular, the piston (20) defines a first chamber (21) and a second chamber (22) separate from each other and is integral to a shaft (25) with an external connection end (36). The piston (20) is suitable for carrying out a forward stroke (A), between a first dead point (BDP), towards a second dead point (TDP) and a back stroke (B) between the second dead point (TDP) and the first dead point (BDP). In particular, the piston (20) comprises a plurality of permanent holes (33) suitable for permanently connecting the first chamber (21) and second chamber (22) and a plurality of apertures (26) associated each to a plurality of plug elements (37) pivotally connected by connection means (40), on a face of the piston (20) at the apertures (26). The plug elements (37) are suitable to pass spontaneously from a closed configuration (C), in which they close the apertures (26) and allow the leakage of the damping fluid (17) through the plurality of permanent holes (33), in order to damp the movement of the piston (20), to an open configuration (D), in which they open the apertures (26) and allow the free passage of the damping fluid (17) between the first (21) and second chamber (22) allowing a substantial passage of the damping fluid (17) between the first (21) and second chamber (22), in order to reduce the time that takes the piston (20) in the return stroke to return to the starting position BDP. |
| US09273749B2 |
Low profile three parameter isolators and isolation systems employing the same
Embodiments of a low profile three parameter isolator are provided, as are embodiments of an isolation system employing one or more low profile three parameter isolators. In one embodiment, the three parameter isolator includes a first damper and a flat plate structure, which is coupled to the first damper and which extends substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the isolator. A main spring is formed in the flat plate structure and is coupled in series with the first damper, as taken along a first load path through the three parameter isolator. A tuning spring is also formed in the flat plate structure such that the tuning spring is coupled in parallel with the main spring and in series with the first damper, as taken along a second load path through the three parameter isolator. |
| US09273747B2 |
Suspension control apparatus for a bicycle and suspension control method
Suspension control and method for controlling a damper device of a bicycle that includes a damper device having a controllable damping valve. The damper device serves to dampen a relative motion between a first and a second component. A control device and a memory device are provided. The control device and the memory device define a characteristic damper curve which is characteristic of a correlation between a damping force and a characteristic parameter of the relative motion between the first and second components. At least one electric operating device is provided by means of which the defined characteristic damper curve can be modified in at least two sections of the characteristic damper curve while riding. |
| US09273746B2 |
Suspension damper device for a bicycle
A suspension damper device comprising a housing adapted to be affixed, on which a suspension means may be supported which may be tensed in a direction of suspension via a damper body of a damping means adapted to be connected to a component to be dampened, wherein in the damper body a damper piston fixedly connected to the housing is guided which physically separates two damper spaces in the damper body, characterized in that three valves are provided whereby a volume flow of a fluid between the damping spaces may be controlled in particular during tensing of the suspension means in the direction of suspension. |
| US09273742B2 |
Coil springs with complex coil configurations, assemblies with coil springs, and related methods
Coil springs with a plurality of interconnected coils each being defined by a wire path that results in a coil cross section that, when viewed along the coil axis, has at least two differentiated spaces each confined by the wire. Assemblies using such coil springs are also disclosed. |
| US09273741B1 |
Composite disc brake backing plate
A layered brake backing plate is provided made of stampings in which a softer, lighter metal core, such as aluminum, is sandwiched between skins of harder metal stampings, such as steel, to make a lightweight composite brake backing plate. The harder stampings are textured with integrally raised piercing barbs. By rolling or pressing, the barbs are made to embed in the core, locking the layers together. |
| US09273740B2 |
Brake pad assembly with releasable heat sink
A brake pad assembly for mounting on a caliper of a vehicle includes a backing plate, a brake lining disposed on a front side of the backing plate, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes a thermal conductive sheet and a set of cooling fins mounted on a rear side of the thermal conductive sheet. In particular, the thermal conductive sheet is overlapped and releasably fastened on the backing plate. |
| US09273735B2 |
Clutch disk
The invention relates to a clutch disk (1) having a ring-shaped base body (2) having at least one tooth (3) protruding beyond the base body (2) radially inward or radially outward, which tooth has at least one lateral face (9) formed from a lug (8) extending in axial direction and has a first surface (12) as seen in axial direction, and a second surface (13) lying opposite the latter in axial direction, characterized in that the lug (8) is embodied to protrude beyond the first as well as the second surface (9, 11) in axial direction. |
| US09273733B2 |
Main bearing cap with locating feature
A bearing cap (10) in which each foot includes an elongated protrusion (36) formed thereon positioned between the bolt hole and a side of said foot, with its major axis parallel to the axis of the bore partially defined by the bearing cap and includes ribs on its side surfaces that are perpendicular to its major axis. |
| US09273731B2 |
Idler roll ball bearing assembly and method of making
An idler roll bearing assembly, made by a method, includes a shaft having a non-grooved outer surface. A shell extends about the shaft and is rotatable relative to the shaft. A rolling bearing is secured to the shaft. A roll head is secured to the rolling bearing. The roll head includes a portion preventing axial displacement of the rolling bearing. The shell is supported for the relative rotation by the roll head. A retaining sleeve is located on the shaft to prevent axial displacement of the rolling bearing. The sleeve has an interior surface in engagement with the non-grooved outer surface of the shaft. An inner diameter of the sleeve and an outer diameter of the shaft are sized such that the sleeve is secured onto the shaft by frictional interference fit and the sleeve is maintained at a position on the shaft by the frictional interference. |
| US09273730B2 |
Non-contact split seal
A non-contact seal for rotatable shafts includes a stator ring and a rotor ring with internal pumping discs. Each of the, the stator ring pumping discs, and the rotor ring is split diametrically into two halves for mounting on a rotatable shaft at an intermediate station without having access to the end of the shaft or without having to remove other components. Various sealing components are employed between the split rings to prevent fluids within the seal from leaking out. |
| US09273729B2 |
Apparatuses and methods having a bearing shield arrangement
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus/method including rolling elements, an outer ring surrounding an inner ring and the inner and outer rings guiding rotation of the rolling elements in a rotation region therebetween, and a cap secured to the inner ring. The apparatus further includes a bearing shield arrangement secured to one of the outer and inner rings and configured with the other of the outer and inner rings to define a gap for the flow of vapor or lubricant from the rotation region through a vapor restricting pathway. |
| US09273710B1 |
Rapid mounting hollow wall anchor
A rapid mounting hallow wall anchor comprises a cleat with latching tooth and hanging flange, and a T-shaped anchor structure with latching cogs on its stem. The cleat comprises a tube with a flange near or at one end of the tube. There are latching teeth inside of the tube for engaging the latching cogs on the stem. The tube flange can be made to have a groove or hook on where objects can be hung. A cross bar joins one end of the stem with a cross bar hinge. The cross bar hinge allows the cross bar to be bended for insertion into a drilled hole in a plasterboard of a hallow wall. |
| US09273708B2 |
Holder for a profiled rail
A holder for a profiled rail comprising a holding edge and a for carrier component includes a base body, a clamping element, a screw connection, and a rotary joint. The base body comprises a supporting surface configured to have the profiled rail be placed thereon, a holding-down strip which holds down the holding edge against the supporting surface, and a first opening. The clamping element comprises a second opening. The screw connection passes through the first and second opening and is fixable on the carrier component. The rotary joint comprises an axis of rotation arranged parallel to the supporting surface and to the holding-down strip. The clamping element clamps the profiled rail against the base body with the screw connection. On the base body, the clamping element is guided radially with respect to the axis of rotation between an open and a closed pivot position with the rotary joint. |
| US09273707B2 |
Female-male combination type ornament
A female-male combination type ornament with easily coupled male and female members and a coupling state between the female and male member is more stably and firmly maintained. The female-male combination type ornament includes a female member having a plurality of insertion grooves formed at predetermined intervals in an inner circumferential surface of a hollow of a first tubular body. A first color is integrally formed on a lower rim of the first tubular body; and a male member correspondingly coupled to the female member is configured such that a plurality of insertion projections that are inserted into the plurality of insertion grooves in a crammed manner are formed at predetermined intervals on an outer circumferential surface of a second tubular body that is inserted into the hollow of the first tubular body and a second color is integrally formed on an upper rim of the second tubular body. |
| US09273706B2 |
Hinged clamping collar
Disclosed is a clamping collar which includes a belt made up of two belt portions, each of which has a first end provided with a tightening tab and a second end provided with an assembly member. The assembly members are suitable for co-operating to assemble the second ends together in a releasable manner. The collar also includes tightening means suitable for co-operating with the tightening tabs so as to move the tabs relative to each other once the second ends are assembled together, in such a manner as to tighten the collar. |
| US09273701B2 |
In-line water hammer arrester
An in-line water hammer arrester comprises a housing connectable at each end to a piping system, a fluid channel disposed within the housing to permit fluid to flow from the piping system through the housing and back into the piping system, a piston and a pressurized chamber. When a pressure spike occurs, the piston is pushed against the pressurized chamber allowing an expanded area for water flow until the pressure spike is dissipated and the piston returns to its resting position. When used with flexible hoses and tubing typically found with household appliance water supply lines, the in-line arrester is easily installed by a crimping or clamping type connector and takes up little space. |
| US09273698B2 |
Fan unit for a heat exchanger
A fan unit for a heat exchanger of a vehicle, has a plate-like support structure or shroud which has a main opening defining a passage for a flow of air for ventilation of the heat exchanger, and an electric fan arranged to cause the flow of air. The fan has a drive motor and an impeller connected to the motor. The support structure or shroud has a top side intended to extend at a small distance from a horizontal cross-member of the heat exchanger or the vehicle, so that an interspace is defined between them. This top side of the support structure or shroud has a flexible sealing gasket which has a configuration such that, in the assembled operating condition of the fan unit, the gasket is able to close off the interspace. |
| US09273697B2 |
Cooling a drum pump motor and/or battery
A power tool that includes a motor sub-assembly, one or more batteries, and a cooling fan. The motor sub-assembly includes a motor and a motor fan. The one or more batteries are configured to provide power to the motor. The cooling fan is disposed vertically above the motor sub-assembly and the one or more batteries during operation of the power tool, where the cooling fan is configured to draw air in an upwards direction through the cooling fan, thereby dissipating heat from the motor and/or the one or more batteries, and where the upwards direction is the same a free convection direction associated with a density difference between hot air radiating from the motor and/or one or more batteries and surrounding cooler air. |
| US09273695B2 |
Arrangement having a seal, seal, and turbocompressor
An arrangement having an annular seal extending about a machine axis, and a vessel for sealing an L-shaped gap extending along a circumferential direction between a main vessel body and a cover is provided. A radial section of the gap extends in the radial direction and circumferential direction, and an axial segment extends in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. A sealing chamber is provided in the region where the radial segment and the axial segment intersect, the chamber expanded radially and axially relative to the adjacent gap segments. A seal is disposed in the sealing chamber, and a greater pressure is present in the radial segment than in the axial segment, the pressure differential sealed by means of the seal. The seal includes a support ring disposed radially inward made of a first material, and a jacket element made of a second material. |
| US09273693B2 |
Compressor comprising a sensor arrangement
A compressor comprises a housing defining an inlet, a volute, an outlet, and a compressor chamber between the inlet and the outlet within which a compressor wheel is rotatably mounted. The housing has discrete attached first and second housing portions, the first housing portion defining at least part of the inlet and the second housing portion defining at least part of a volute of the outlet. The first housing portion has a conductive element for conducting an electric signal and a second sensor arrangement in sensing communication with the inlet. The compressor further comprises a first sensor arrangement, the first sensor arrangement being configured such that it is in sensing communication with the volute or outlet and such that it is electrically connected to the conductive element. |
| US09273685B2 |
High performance electronic stability control pump assembly
A piston pump assembly for pumping a fluid including a pump housing defining a bore. The pump housing further defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a fluid flow path extending therebetween for conveying the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. A piston is slidably disposed in the bore of the pump housing, and an eccentric engages the piston to propel the fluid through the fluid flow path. An inlet check valve and an outlet check valve body are disposed in the bore for only allowing the fluid to flow in one direction from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. A filter is disposed in the fluid flow path downstream of the inlet check valve and the outlet check valve body and adjacent to a damper orifice for filtering debris from the fluid before the fluid is conveyed to the fluid outlet. |
| US09273683B2 |
Motor-driven compressor
A motor-driven compressor to be mounted to an attachment section of a vehicle includes a fluid compression unit, an electric drive unit for the compression unit and a case. The case has a main body formed from a resin and covering at least the compression unit, and a mounting portion that is provided integrally with the main body and configured to be mounted to the attachment section. The mounting portion has a tubular body provided integrally with the main body and a fastening member inserted into the tubular body for mounting the tubular body to the attachment section. The main body is interposed between the compression unit and the tubular body. |
| US09273681B2 |
Gaseous fluid compression device
A gaseous fluid compression device includes: a first enclosure within which there is a movable first piston delimiting a first chamber and a second chamber; a second enclosure within which there is a movable second piston delimiting a third chamber and a fourth; a first exchange circuit connecting the first chamber and the fourth chamber, with a heat exchanger linked to a heat sink; a second exchange circuit connecting the second chamber and the third chamber, with a second heat exchanger linked to a heat source; and a transfer passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber with an anti-backflow device. A back-and-forth movement of the interconnected pistons results in a compression of the gaseous fluid in the direction of the outlet. |
| US09273675B2 |
Device and method for preparing liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel
A method for creating a supply of natural gas fuel for a combustion engine, comprising: obtaining boil-off gas from an LNG storage tank containing liquified natural gas, compressing the boil-off gas in a compression stage consisting of a labyrinth-sealed piston-compressor or a piston-compressor sealed by piston rings, and compressing the natural gas in a compression stage consisting of a piston-compressor sealed by piston rings or a labyrinth-sealed piston-compressor, compressing the natural gas to a pressure of between 100 Bar and 500 Bar, and making the natural gas available at an outlet, wherein at least one of the piston-compressors has a bypass, and that natural gas is returned via the at least one bypass such that the natural gas at the outlet is at a required target pressure (Psoll). |
| US09273672B2 |
Solar energy collector with XY or XYZ sun tracking table
A solar energy collector utilizes one or more Fresnel lenses supported above a prepared surface for focusing sunlight at one or more sun ray spots. One or more tracking tables sense and track, during the course of the day, the movement of associated ones of the sun ray spots. Curved Fresnel lenses produce sun ray spots focused an offset distance above associated ones of one or more tracking tables, depending upon the sun's position. The sun ray spots may be forced to lie on the one or more tracking tables by moving an associated tracking table upward a distance equal to the offset distance. One or more wheel-equipped Stirling engines are positioned on the prepared surface and are conventionally controlled for tracking movement in concert with an associated sun ray spot. |
| US09273669B2 |
Hydraulic brake with a polymer piston
The present invention relates in particular, but not limited to, a wind turbine hydraulic brake calliper. The brake calliper comprising a cylinder bore, a piston having a piston head and a piston skirt. The piston being received in the cylinder bore in an orientation where the piston head faces towards the brake pad. The calliper comprising a fluid connection connected to or connectable to a source of hydraulic fluid for leading hydraulic fluid into the void of the cylinder bore below the piston head (1b), so as to move the piston. The piston is formed at least partly and preferably solely from a polymeric material or from polymeric materials. |
| US09273664B2 |
Hydraulic control valve for a one-sided operating differential cylinder having five control edges
A hydraulic control valve to control a double-acting working cylinder having a piston with a piston rod on one side, at least four external connections, and a device to feed the fluid forced from the small stroke space of the working cylinder into the large stroke space while the piston rod is moving out, and further for independent switching of the working cylinder from the work stroke to slow movement with a subsequent holding state to release pressure from the small stroke space, and wherein a connection of the small stroke space to the tank can be switched on. The control valve has five control edges, with two separate line paths formed to feed the fluid forced out of the small stroke space back with a back-feed control edge and a pressure-release control edge is formed to release pressure from the small stroke space to the tank. |
| US09273663B2 |
Subsea power source, methods, and systems
Subsea power sources and related systems include a housing having at least one first magnetic member, an internal member having at least one second magnetic member, and at least one elastic member positioned in the housing. Movement of the one or more second magnetic members relative to the one or more first magnetic members, which can be obtained by positioning the power source in a subsea environment such that forces therein contact and move the housing or internal member, produces an electromagnetic output for powering a subsea object. Contact between the internal member and one or more elastic members causes the one or more elastic members to impart a force to the internal member to facilitate continued movement and power generation. Power generated in this manner or through other means is usable to operate a subsea kill plant, usable to kill a well or operate a subsea blowout preventer. |
| US09273657B2 |
Fuel injection control device for internal combustion engine
A fuel injection control device sets an injection sharing ratio of a quantity of a fuel injected in an intake stroke, and a quantity of a fuel injected in a compression stroke, based on an operating state or an environmental condition of the engine, and manipulates the cylinder fuel injection device so as to inject a part or all of a required fuel in the intake stroke and inject a remaining part in the compression stroke, in accordance with the set injection sharing ratio. The injection sharing ratio is set so as to make a proportion of the quantity of the fuel which is injected in the intake stroke larger when a temperature of air which is taken into a cylinder is higher than a fuel which is injected from the cylinder fuel injection device, as compared to when the temperature of the air is lower than the fuel. |
| US09273655B2 |
Sealing device
A sealing device (100) includes a resinous sealing ring (110) and an elastomeric elastic ring (120) in an annular groove 210. The sealing ring (110) has a cylindrical surface portion (112a) making intimate contact with a groove bottom of the annular groove (210) and an inclined surface portion (112b) expanding in diameter toward the atmosphere side (A). The elastic ring (120) is disposed such that at least its portion is compressed between the inclined surface portion (112b) and the groove bottom of the annular groove (210) so as to press a portion of the sealing ring (110) on the atmosphere side (A) toward the outer peripheral side. |
| US09273650B2 |
System for improving gas distribution in an intake manifold
A system for improving distribution of gases within an intake manifold of an engine is presented. The system may be used to improve engine air-fuel control. In one example, turbulence of gases entering an intake manifold is increased. |
| US09273649B2 |
System and method for controlling an electric aspirator of an air intake system for a work vehicle
In one aspect, a system for controlling an air intake system for a work vehicle may generally include a filter assembly having a pre-cleaner configured to separate particulates from air received by the filter assembly. The pre-cleaner may define a pre-cleaner outlet. The system may also include an electric aspirator in fluid communication with the pre-cleaner outlet. The electric aspirator may include a motor configured to rotate a fan so as to create a vacuum for scavenging the particulates separated from the air within the pre-cleaner. In addition, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the electric aspirator. The controller may be configured to vary a rotational speed of the motor based on changes in a load-based parameter of the work vehicle. |
| US09273646B2 |
Cyclone separation device
A separating device (3) for separating particles from an intake air (2) of an internal combustion engine, comprising two cyclone cells (5, 6) which are designed to cause two raw air streams (7, 8) containing the intake air (2) to rotate oppositely and a discharge device (49) which is designed to guide an exhaust air stream (35, 36) containing the particles tangentially away from a respective cyclone cell (5, 6) and to combine the exhaust air streams (35, 36) to a common exhaust air stream (53). |
| US09273644B2 |
Ionization by magnetic induction for diesel fueled engines
A magnetic ionization device is disclosed that reduces the toxic effects of diesel emissions. The magnetic ionization device comprises a pair of brackets secured together around a fuel line, and at least two permanent rare earth magnets secured to the pair of brackets. The pair of brackets each comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, and are generally V-grooved in shape. Furthermore, the brackets comprise a recess for receiving a portion of a fuel line. Once the permanent rare earth magnets are secured to the brackets, the brackets and magnets can be coated with plastic, powder metal, or any other suitable protective layer as is known in the art. The pair of brackets is then secured together around a fuel line via plastic ties, nuts, bolts, and/or washers, etc. |
| US09273643B2 |
Control of manifold vacuum in skip fire operation
A variety of methods and arrangements are described for selectively reducing intake manifold pressure in a skip fire engine control system. In some embodiments, a throttle is adjusted to generate a manifold vacuum, which is used for various applications, including but not limited to purging a fuel vapor canister, reducing pressure within a brake vacuum booster reservoir and/or venting gas from a crankcase interior. An engine firing fraction is increased to help maintain a desired torque level. Other techniques for reducing the intake manifold pressure are also described, such as applications involving a return to idle. |
| US09273641B2 |
Gas flow unit, a gas treatment device and a combustion engine provided therewith
A gas flow unit includes a gas flow inlet, a gas flow outlet and a gas flow chamber configured to convey a gas flow from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the gas flow inlet is configured to convey the gas flow in a first direction into the gas flow chamber and wherein the gas flow outlet is configured to convey the gas flow in a second direction from the gas flow chamber, wherein the second direction is angular in relation to the first direction, and wherein the gas flow inlet is an inlet into the gas flow chamber and the gas flow outlet is an outlet from the gas flow chamber. In the first gas flow direction, the gas flow chamber extends beyond a projection of an outer periphery of the gas flow outlet and defines a prolongation configured for conveying a first part of the gas flow such that it enters the gas flow outlet from a different direction than a second part of the gas flow entering the gas flow outlet without passing through the prolongation. |
| US09273637B2 |
Adjustment safeguard for a set screw on a carburetor
An adjustment safeguard for a set screw on a carburetor includes a cap held non-rotatably on the head of the set screw. The cap is surrounded by a coaxially positioned wall sleeve fixed to the housing. A rotation stop is fixed to the housing to limit the angle of rotation of the cap in the sleeve in the rotational direction of the set screw. A through-opening in the cap permits inserting a tool into an engagement opening in the head of the set screw to avoid destruction by introducing too much torque into the adjustment safeguard. The form and opening width of the through-opening is limited by the use of a metal material such that a tool larger than the adjustment tool is not able to be inserted through the through-opening into the head of the set screw. The engagement opening is flexible to limit a maximum allowable adjustment torque. |
| US09273636B2 |
Automatic control apparatus for carburetor choke valve
An automatic control apparatus for a carburetor choke valve includes a pull-rod, throttle control lever, choke block, and temperature control assembly which is arranged on a cylinder head through a bracket having a rotating shaft and coil spring. The rotating shaft is connected to the spring and one end of the pull-rod via a rotary arm. The other end of the pull-rod is located at a choke valve shaft. The block and valve shaft are connected to respective ends of the lever. During cold start, the block is opened driving the lever to pull the valve shaft. When rotated through a certain angle the valve shaft is blocked by part of the pull-rod, such that the valve and block cannot be fully opened. During warm start, the valve shaft when returning is blocked by another part of the pull-rod such that the valve cannot fully close. |
| US09273635B2 |
Hypergolic hybrid motor igniter
An apparatus for igniting a larger rocket motor is provided. The apparatus may be a smaller rocket motor that can be ignited hypergolically, when a pressurized oxidizer contacts hypergolic fuel grains of the smaller rocket motor. The hypergolic ignition causes the larger rocket motor to be ignited. The hypergolic ignition of the smaller rocket motor may be stopped after the larger rocket motor is ignited, and the remaining hypergolic fuel grains and the pressurized oxidizer can be reserved for reigniting the larger rocket motor at a later time. |
| US09273634B2 |
Rocket stage and method of improving an existing rocket stage
The present invention relates to an improved rocket stage and a method of improving an existing rocket stage. In an embodiment, the improved rocket stage is where one can take existing rocket stages and re-propellant them. In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of improving an existing rocket stage. |
| US09273633B2 |
Apparatus and method for a solid catalyst and fluid dynamic eruption reaction
An apparatus and method for use in conducting an eruption reaction are disclosed. The apparatus includes a catalytic solids container with a mouth and fluid egress opening and a trigger device or mechanism that allows for the controlled release of a catalytic solid into an eruptible fluid. The catalytic solids container may be adapted to be coupled to a container for an eruptible fluid. |
| US09273630B2 |
Device for compressing a gaseous fluid
A modular device for compressing gaseous fluid includes a first stage with a first hot chamber, a second cold chamber, a piston assembly separating the first and second chambers inside a main enclosure, a regenerative heat exchanger establishing a fluid communication between the first and second chambers by at least a first communication line, and optionally third and fourth chambers separated by a fixed divider separating the third and fourth chambers placed in communication by a second communication line. It thus includes a compressor with one, two, or four stages based on a modular architecture with common components. |
| US09273629B2 |
Piston ring for two-stroke engines
A piston ring system, having an internal diameter >400 mm, for a piston of a two-stroke internal combustion engine, includes at least a first and a second piston ring each having a convex running surface with a crest of the convexity in contact with a cylinder wall and each being inserted into a respective first and second piston ring groove in the piston, wherein the first piston ring faces a combustion chamber and the second piston ring is disposed axially beneath the first piston ring, and wherein the crest of the convexity of the first piston ring is disposed beneath a radial plane passing through a midpoint of axial height of the first piston ring, and the crest of the second piston ring is disposed above a radial plane passing through a midpoint of axial height of the second piston ring. |
| US09273626B2 |
Power switching system with control signal driven supply voltage
Generally, this disclosure provides systems and methods for a power switching system with a switching control circuit powered by a supply voltage derived from an input control signal. The system may include a power switch configured to electrically couple a device between a battery voltage and a ground, the device to be powered by the battery when the power switch is closed; a control circuit coupled to a gate port of the power switch, the control circuit configured to open and close the power switch by adjusting a gate driving signal provided to the gate port in response to a switching control signal provided to the control circuit; and a voltage conditioning circuit configured to generate a supply voltage based on the switching control signal, such that the supply voltage powers the control circuit. |
| US09273623B2 |
Drive system for an automobile and method for controlling a combustion engine
A drive system for an automobile includes a combustion engine, a friction clutch, a multistep gearbox, a controller for controlling the combustion engine based on load lever position, clutch position, gear input shaft rotation speed, gear output shaft rotation speed, engaged gear stage, vehicle speed and/or vehicle acceleration, with a sensor connected with the controller determining a position of the friction clutch. A method for controlling this combustion engine includes the steps of receiving or generating with the controller information about a gear stage change, a clutch position change, a predetermined minimum vehicle speed and-or a predetermined maximum vehicle acceleration, and adjusting the rotation speed of the combustion engine in response to the received or generated information. This approach provides a particularly smooth and comfortable gear stage change. |
| US09273621B2 |
Methods and systems for an oxygen sensor
Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor in varying ambient humidity conditions. The learned zero point is corrected based on an estimated ambient humidity to calibrate the reading for dry air conditions or standard humidity conditions. EGR control is performed by comparing the output of an intake oxygen sensor during EGR conditions relative to the humidity-corrected zero point. |
| US09273619B2 |
Supercharged engine and method of control
Methods and systems for minimizing the power consumed by a supercharger pump in an engine system. The methods and systems minimize the delta pressure across the pump with a control strategy for positioning the electronic throttle and supercharger bypass valve in a coordinated manner to deliver the required amount of fresh air flow into engine (i.e., the air flow associated with the driver's requested torque), while, at the same time, minimizing the power consumed by the supercharger pump for best fuel economy. |
| US09273616B2 |
Intake control system for internal combustion engine
An intake control system for an internal combustion engine is capable of ensuring a differential pressure across an EGR valve, and controlling an EGR amount with high accuracy. A target fresh air amount is set based on a demanded torque calculated according to operating conditions of the engine. A differential pressure across an EGR valve is set as a target differential pressure. When it is determined that the across-valve differential pressure is not in a state in which the target differential pressure can be ensured, an opening degree of the EGR valve is controlled to limit an EGR amount. An opening degree of a throttle valve is controlled based on the target fresh air amount, so as to ensure the target differential pressure. |
| US09273614B2 |
Determination of a signal indicative of shaft power
A gas turbine engine provides mechanical shaft power. Two parameters relating to engine operation are sensed that are representative of two different pressures, two different temperatures, or a pressure and a temperature associated with the engine. A value representative of the shaft power is determined during engine operation as a function of these two parameters. This value may be used for engine monitoring including making one or more adjustments to operational aspects of the engine, regulating/controlling engine function, and/or providing one or more power indicators. |
| US09273608B2 |
Gradual oxidation and autoignition temperature controls
Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber. |
| US09273606B2 |
Controls for multi-combustor turbine
A system for the gradual oxidation of fuel is disclosed. The system includes an oxidizer that has a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The reaction chamber is configured to receive a fluid comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet. The oxidizer is configured to maintain a flameless oxidation process. The system also includes a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the heating chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet of the reaction chamber. The heating chamber is configured to receive the fluid from the reaction chamber and selectably heat the fluid. |
| US09273603B2 |
Vehicle-mounted power supply system
A power supply system mounted in a vehicle. A rotary machine is connected to an output shaft of an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle, and has a power generation function, an engine start-up function, and an engine output assist function. A first secondary battery and a second secondary battery are each electrically connected in parallel with the rotary machine. A connection switch is provided along a connecting line electrically connecting the first and second secondary batteries, where the connection switch is configured to electrically connect and disconnect the second secondary battery and a parallel connection of the first secondary battery and the rotary machine. A switch controller is configured to disconnect the second secondary battery and the parallel connection by controlling the connection switch to a current cut-off state during the engine start-up and during engine output assist. |
| US09273601B2 |
Charging device
A charging device may include an actuating device for actuating a control device. The actuating device may be coupled to the control device via an actuating rod. The actuating rod may be coupled to the control device via a guide piece rotatably mounted at two points in an outer actuator lever. |
| US09273598B2 |
Electric supercharging device and multi-stage supercharging system
It is intended to provide: an electric supercharging apparatus wherein, with a simple structure, rotor windage loss in an electric motor for driving a compressor is reduced and good cooling performance is produced; and a multi-stage supercharging system using the electric supercharging device. This electric supercharging apparatus (1) is provided with: a first cooling passage (17) formed in a stator (9) along a motor coil (11) and communicating a gas supply port (13) with a gas discharge port (14) in a motor housing (8); and a first intake passage (15) connecting the gas discharge port to an intake port (5) of a compressor (2). This electric supercharging apparatus is configured to introduce outside air into the first cooling passage via the gas supply port by applying negative pressure to the first cooling passage via the first intake passage, thereby cooling the inside of the motor housing. |
| US09273595B2 |
Turbocharger system
A turbocharger system includes: an engine including a first cylinder head constituting a first bank and a second cylinder head constituting a second bank; a center turbocharger formed between the first bank and the second bank, and connected to exhaust and intake manifolds of the first and second banks; a first turbocharger connected to the other exhaust and intake manifolds of the first bank; and a second turbocharger connected to the other exhaust and intake manifolds of the second bank. |
| US09273594B2 |
Dual-fuel engine system with backpressure control
An engine system is disclosed. The engine system may have an engine with a plurality of cylinders, and at least one injector associated with each of the plurality of cylinders and configured to inject liquid fuel and gaseous fuel. The engine system may also have a turbocharger driven by exhaust from the plurality of cylinders to pressurize a flow of air directed into the plurality of cylinders, and a valve disposed inline with the turbocharger and configured to selectively increase an exhaust backpressure. The engine system may further have a controller configured to selectively cause movement of the valve toward a flow-restricting position only when the at least one injector is injecting gaseous fuel. |
| US09273592B2 |
Hybrid vehicle and method for controlling the same
A hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine having an in-cylinder injection valve directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber and a port injection valve injecting fuel into an intake port; and a motor generator, and causes a torque equal to a user required torque to act on a drive shaft by controlling output torques of the engine and motor generator. When a misfire is not detected, the hybrid vehicle operates the engine at an engine operation point at which an engine power satisfies an engine required power in a first engine operation line. When a misfire is detected, the hybrid vehicle operates the engine at an engine operation point at which the engine power satisfies the engine required power in a second engine operation line, causes one of the injection valves to inject an entire amount of fuel, and determines which one is abnormal. |
| US09273585B2 |
System and method for regenerating an auxiliary power unit exhaust filter
This disclosure relates to a method for controlling a system for regenerating a diesel particulate filter. The method includes monitoring an engine run time that has lapsed since a previous regeneration event. The method also includes monitoring backpressure behind the diesel particulate filter. The method further includes triggering a regeneration flag if the engine run time that lapsed since the previous regeneration event reaches a predetermined time limit and the backpressure exceeds a minimum value. |
| US09273583B2 |
Exhaust system for a vehicle having a “stop-start” compression ignition engine
A vehicle comprises a compression ignition engine provided with engine management means and having a catalyst for exhaust gas aftertreatment, wherein the engine management means is configured, when in use, to detect idle conditions and upon determining that idle conditions exist, stops the engine entirely, wherein the catalyst comprises a honeycomb substrate monolith coated with a catalytic washcoat comprising one or more precious metal, which catalytic washcoat being arranged between a first, upstream washcoat zone and a second, downstream washcoat zone, wherein a thermal mass in the first washcoat zone is different from a thermal mass in the second washcoat zone and wherein a washcoat layer in the first, upstream washcoat zone is substantially contiguous with a washcoat layer in the second, downstream washcoat zone. |
| US09273577B2 |
Multi-leg aftertreatment system
An apparatus is disclosed, including an exhaust conditions module structured to interpret a diesel particulate filter (DPF) delta pressure value, a flow balance correlation, a NOx input value, and an exhaust flow rate value. A flow determination module is structured to determine a flow imbalance value in response to the DPF delta pressure value, the flow balance correlation, and the exhaust flow rate value. A reductant determination module is structured to determine a first reductant injection command and a second reductant injection command in response to the flow imbalance value and the NOx input value. |
| US09273575B2 |
Porous material, honeycomb structure, and method of manufacturing porous material
There is disclosed a porous material which has an improved thermal shock resistance. The porous material contains aggregates and a composite binder. The composite binder includes glass as a binder and mullite particles as reinforcing particles, and the mullite particles are dispersed in the glass. The aggregates are connected to each other by the composite binder in a state where pores are formed in the porous material. Preferably, a lower limit of a percentage of a content of the composite binder to a total mass of the aggregates and composite binder is 12 mass %, and an upper limit of the percentage of the content of the composite binder to the total mass of the aggregates and composite binder is 50 mass %. Preferably, the glass contains MgO, Al2O3 and SiO2 and further contains at least one selected from a group consisting of Na2O, K2O and CaO. |
| US09273570B2 |
Methods for power generation from H2O, CO2, O2 and a carbon feed stock
In a first processing chamber, a feedstock may be combined with plasma from three plasma torches to form a first fluid mixture. Each torch may have a working gas including water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. The first fluid mixture may be cooled and may contact a first heat exchange device. Water in the first heat exchange device may be converted to steam to generate electric power. The output fluid from the first heat exchange device may be separated into one or more components. A syngas may be derived from the one or more components and have a ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen of about 1:2. The syngas may be heated in a second processing chamber and then cooled to form a second admixture. The second admixture may contact a second heat exchange device that may make steam to power a second electrical generator. |
| US09273566B2 |
Turbine engine variable area vane
A turbine engine stator vane is provided that rotates about an axis, and includes an airfoil, a flange and a shaft. The airfoil extends axially between a first airfoil end and a second airfoil end. The airfoil includes a concave side surface, a convex side surface and a cavity. The concave and the convex side surfaces extend between an airfoil leading edge and an airfoil trailing edge. The cavity extends axially into the airfoil from a cavity inlet in an end surface at the second airfoil end. The flange is connected to the second airfoil end. The flange extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the cavity inlet, and radially away from the concave and the convex side surfaces to a distal flange edge. The shaft extends along the axis, and is connected to the second airfoil end. |
| US09273564B2 |
Device for driving an auxiliary unit
A device for driving an auxiliary unit, in particular a high-pressure pump is provided. The device includes a rotatably supported drive shaft of an internal combustion engine coupled to a unit shaft of the auxiliary unit by a coupling. The unit shaft has a first bearing on the side facing away from the coupling, and a second bearing formed by the coupling. The device provides a coupling solution for connecting, for example, a high-pressure pump camshaft to an available intake or exhaust camshaft. |
| US09273562B2 |
Projection resistance welding of superalloys
Superalloy components are joined by mating a recess formed in one component with a corresponding projection formed in another component along a contact surface. The components are compressed along the contact surface and resistance heat welded to each other. Current is passed between the components at a selected flow rate and application time until localized melting occurs along the contact surface, and they are mutually affixed to each other. When repairing a damaged surface portion of a superalloy material component, the damaged portion is removed to form an excavated recess. A repair splice is formed, preferably of a same material with similar mechanical structural properties, having a mating projection with profile conforming to the corresponding recess profile. The splice and substrate are resistance heat welded under compression pressure until localized melting occurs along the contact surface, so that they are mutually affixed. |
| US09273560B2 |
Gas turbine engine component with multi-lobed cooling hole
A component for a gas turbine engine includes a wall and a cooling hole extending through the wall. The wall has a first surface and a second surface. The cooling hole includes a metering section extending downstream from an inlet in the first surface of the wall and a diffusion section extending from the metering section to an outlet in the second surface of the wall. The diffusion section includes a first plurality of lobes diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section on a first side of a centerline axis of the cooling hole and a second plurality of lobes diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section on a second side of the centerline axis. |
| US09273554B2 |
High efficiency energy conversion
A high efficiency energy conversion system disclosed herein incorporates a piston assembly including a sealed cylinder for storing a working fluid and an energy conversion element attached to the piston assembly. A kinematic mechanism such as a cam lobe or a scotch yoke may be used as the energy conversion element. In one implementation, the kinematic mechanism may be configured to provide rapid piston expansion in a manner so as not to allow the expanding working fluid inside the piston to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium. In an alternate implementation, the kinematic mechanism is further adapted to generate a compression stroke in a manner to provide the working fluid inside the piston to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium conditions throughout the compression stroke. |
| US09273553B2 |
Mining method for gassy and low permeability coal seams
A method of degassing a coal seam by directionally drilling a borehole in a rock formation that is adjacent the coal seam, or between two different coal seams. The borehole is then pressurized to fracture the adjacent coal seam(s) to enhance the permeability thereof and allow fluids to flow from the coal seam to the borehole and be extracted from the coal seam. |
| US09273548B2 |
Fiberoptic systems and methods detecting EM signals via resistive heating
Fiberoptics can be employed to detect downhole electromagnetic signals via resistive heating. A disclosed electromagnetic energy detector embodiment includes an optically-interrogated temperature sensor; and a conductive element thermally coupled to the sensor, the conductive element having a temperature response to incident electromagnetic energy. The optically-interrogated temperature sensor may be a length or coil of optical fiber to which a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) or distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system is attached. The conductive element may be a metal coating on the fiber that experiences resistive heating in response to electromagnetic energy and creates an optically-measurable thermal response in the sensor. |
| US09273545B2 |
Use of Lamb and SH attenuations to estimate cement Vp and Vs in cased borehole
A method of determining properties of a bonding material disposed outside of a casing in a borehole includes at least two of the following three pairs of operations: (1) inducing an acoustic wave in the casing, and measuring attenuation of the acoustic wave, by pulse-echo or other cement bond logging measurement; (2) inducing an SH wave in the casing, and measuring attenuation of the SH wave; and (3) inducing a Lamb wave in the casing, and measuring attenuation of the Lamb wave. (2) and/or (3) may be performed by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer. The method further includes determining the shear velocity or shear impedance and the compressional velocity or compressional impedance of the bonding material based on appropriate ones of the measurements. The bonding material may be cement. |
| US09273544B2 |
System, method, and program for monitoring and hierarchial displaying of data related to artificial lift systems
A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for surveillance of artificial lift systems. An Artificial Lift Surveillance Tool (ALST) is provided to identify artificial lift wells with production declines due to artificial lift well failures. Production well information is provided for a plurality of the production wells each being associated with an artificial lift system. Artificial lift system failure alerts for the plurality of production wells are received and processed on a computer. A signal indicative of the production well information for each of the plurality of production wells is received and processed on a computer. The plurality of production wells are displayed in a hierarchical ordering, such as a treemap, responsive to the signal. |
| US09273543B2 |
Automated relief valve control system and method
A pressure relief valve system for use in a downhole operation may include a pressure relief valve configured to relieve pressure from high pressure tubing extending between a pump and a wellhead, and may include a sensor operably disposed to detect pressure in the high pressure tubing. The pressure relief valve system also may include a controller having a pressure threshold stored therein. The controller may be configured to receive data from the sensor and compare the detected pressure to the stored pressure threshold. A valve actuation system may be in communication with the pressure relief valve and in communication with the controller. The valve actuation system may be configured to change the state of the pressure relief valve from a closed state to an open state in response to a command signal from the controller. |
| US09273540B2 |
Downhole slot cutter
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a downhole slot cutter. The downhole slot cutter a housing of the downhole slot cutter configured to be inserted into a tubular positioned within a wellbore, and a plurality of dies supported by the housing, wherein the plurality of dies is configured to extend radially outward from the housing. |
| US09273537B2 |
System and method for sand and inflow control
A system and methodology utilizes a technique for filtering sand. For example, a sand control system may be provided with a base pipe having a non-permeable section and a permeable section in which the permeable section is created via at least one opening formed laterally through a wall of the base pipe. The sand control system also comprises at least one drainage tube positioned along an exterior of the base pipe and coupled to the base pipe in fluid communication with the at least one opening. The drainage tube is permeable and enables the inflow of fluid while preventing the influx of sand. The inflowing fluid is delivered along an interior of the drainage tube and through the opening into an interior of the base pipe for production. |
| US09273536B2 |
Subsea intervention system
A subsea intervention system including at least one control station, at least one programmable logic controller system in each control station, at least one supervisory control and data acquisition system, at least one safety system capable of interacting with each control station, wherein the safety system is capable of controlling a process shutdown process, an emergency shutdown process, and an emergency quick-disconnect process. The system may also include subsea distribution units, safety manifold subsea control modules, system hydraulic power units, client hydraulic power units, grease skids, flushing and chemical injection units, or umbilical reelers. |
| US09273535B1 |
Hydraulic flow restriction tube time delay system and method
A hydraulic time delay system and method in a wellbore tool is disclosed. The system/method includes an actuation mechanism which allows pressure to act on a functional piston in the wellbore tool. The movement of the piston is restrained by a partially or filled reservoir which is allowed to exhaust through a flow restriction element. The restriction element comprises standard metal tubing with a known inner diameter and is cut to an exact length as predicted by fluid dynamic modeling. A time delay and rate of piston movement desired for the downhole tool, between a trigger event such as pressure and a functional event, can be tuned with parameters that include the length and diameter of the tubing, reservoir fluid viscosity and number of tubes in parallel. In another embodiment, a secondary plugging element added to the reservoir controls the rate of piston movement and time delay. |
| US09273527B2 |
Hard surfacing metallic slip components for downhole tools
A slip component for a downhole tool has a bearing surface hard surface treated. The slip component, which can be a slip or other component of a slip mechanism used on a packer, bridge plug, or other downhole tool, is composed of a metallic base material such as magnesium, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a magnesium alloy. To hard surface treat the slip component, at least the bearing surface is positioned relative to an electro sparking apparatus. Using the electrosparking apparatus, an external layer is bonded at least on the bearing. In a further embodiment, an intermediate layer can be first bonded onto at least the bearing surface by ion sputtering an intermediate material onto the metallic base material of the slip component. Then, an external layer can be bonded at least on the intermediate layer by electrospark deposition. |
| US09273523B2 |
Tubular running device and method
A method and apparatus for running tubular(s) into a well bore for use with a top drive or power swivel comprising a make-up assembly with inner and outer members, one of which has an array of ramped or inclined surface(s) while the other is an inner or outer cage with rolling support(s) with or without a central spindle and openings which may also be referred to as tubular engagement apparatus wherein relative movement of the members urges the rolling support(s) to protrude radially through the openings to engage a tubular internally or externally. Also provided is an elevator assembly with elevator links and transfer elevators to position tubular for engagement by the make-up assembly. |
| US09273521B2 |
Threaded connection
A threaded connection including first and second tubular components including respective male and female ends including a distal surface and a threaded zone. The threaded zone of the male end is threaded into the threaded zone of the female end. The threaded zones include respective male and female threads having increasing width from the distal surface and including load flanks having negative angles over at least a portion of their radial dimension, and stabbing flanks, with a radial clearance in the connected state between crests of the male threads and roots of the female threads and/or between crests of the female threads and roots of the male threads, with an axial clearance in the connected state between the stabbing flanks of the male and female threads. The distal surface of the male and/or female end is brought into axial abutting contact against a corresponding abutment surface. |
| US09273516B2 |
Fluid conveyed thruster
A fluid conveyed thruster for use in combination with a bottom hole assembly connected to a drill string during drilling operations. The fluid conveyed thruster comprises a continuous passage comprising a narrowed portion and an intersection. Fluid passing through the continuous passage of the fluid conveyed thruster accelerates as it passes through the narrowed portion and the intersection. The acceleration of fluid exiting the fluid conveyed thruster urges the tool forward and in turn urges the bottom hole assembly forward within a wellbore. The fluid conveyed thruster extends the reach of the bottom hole assembly and the drill string within the wellbore. |
| US09273514B2 |
Exterior mounted window treatment system and window assembly including the same
A window assembly includes a window frame and an exterior window treatment system mounted to the window frame. The exterior window treatment system has a treatment storage housing configured to receive an exterior window treatment movable between a stored position within the treatment storage housing and a deployed position extending from the treatment storage housing. The window system also includes at least one guide for guiding the window treatment between the stored position and the deployed position. The window assembly includes at least one interface frame coupled with each of the treatment storage housing and the at least one guide for engaging the window treatment system to the window frame. |
| US09273513B2 |
Vertical-lift door assembly and lintel sealing unit therefor
The invention relates to a lifting door assembly comprising a lifting door, in particular a fast-moving industrial door, having a door leaf which in the closed condition of the lifting door covers a door aperture, and a door lintel sealing device disposed in the area of a door lintel and mounted so as to produce a sealing effect between the door leaf and the door lintel in a sealing position when the lifting door is in the closed condition. The lifting door assembly is characterized in that the door leaf is guided laterally such that in the open position, it is wound free of contact in the area of a door lintel, and in that in the sealing position, the door lintel sealing device rests on a horizontal lateral edge surface of the door leaf adjacent the door lintel. The invention further relates to such a door lintel sealing device. The invention allows to improve a lifting door assembly such that particularly reliable sealing may be obtained with it in the area of the door lintel. |
| US09273509B2 |
Self-enhancement plastic profile and production method thereof
The present invention provides a self-enhancement plastic profile and a production method thereof. The self-enhancement plastic profile is made by co-extrusion a substrate resin and a PBT resin containing fiber glass. The production method of the self-enhancement plastic profile is that: melting and co-extrusion of the substrate resin and the PBT resin containing fiber glass. Infrastructures comprise a main engine and an auxiliary engine vertically arranged to the main engine. The main engine processes the PVC substrate (1), the auxiliary engine processes an enhancement bar (2) of the PBT resin containing fiberglass, the raw materials are extruded by the main engine and the auxiliary engine at the same and the extrudate is pre-profiled, and subjected to cold cutting and sized. The enhancement bar (2) is made by blending the fiberglass with the polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) plastic. The self-enhancement plastic profile has advantages of simple, convenient and quick installation and convenient to produce. |
| US09273508B2 |
Sensing mechanism for an assisted garage door
A garage door opening module is disclosed, the module comprises a power unit having a rotatable output drive, an endless transmission drive adapted to transfer movement from the rotatable output drive to a door drive, and a sensor mechanism positioned along the endless transmission drive and adapted to sense a transmission drive slack, the sensor mechanism adapted to stop the power unit when a transmission drive slack displacement threshold is reached. A method for actuating a garage door and a sensor module for preventing movements of an assisted garage door are also disclosed. |
| US09273506B1 |
Device for opening and closing the discharge door of a bulk seed box
A device is described for opening and closing the discharge door of a bulk seed box. The device comprises a portable lightweight structure which is attached to the box and which uses an electrically operated screw actuator or linear actuator to move the discharge door of the box from its closed position to its open position and vice versa. The device is preferably remotely controlled. |
| US09273504B2 |
Spring winding device for use with overhead doors
A spring winding device, a counterbalancing force adjustment device for a counterbalancing mechanism, and a method of adjusting an amount of force stored in a spring of a counterbalancing mechanism are provided. The spring winding device includes a support bracket, a worm gear, and a drive gear. The worm gear is rotatably coupled to the support bracket and includes a mount portion for coupling a first end cone thereto. The drive gear is rotatably disposed adjacent the support bracket and is drivingly engaged with the worm gear. A rotation of the drive gear causes the worm gear to rotate within the support bracket. The spring winding device does not require pretensioning using winding rods, maintains rigidity and alignment when a counterbalancing force is applied, and decreases a cost and a complexity of the counterbalancing mechanism. |
| US09273501B2 |
Triple-detection double-locking paddle
This invention concerns mainly a handle system with two locking latches (7, 8) called “self-locking”, independent one from the other for locking, but fitted with a single unlocking paddle (6). This system is fitted with indicators, which: detect the door's opening and closing and indicate separately the locking of the two latches (7, 8). |
| US09273496B2 |
Anti-theft devices and methods
An anti-theft device, for securing an electronic product during retail display, having a socket for the transmission of power and/or information during normal operation, and a plug for engagement with the socket. The plug has an insertable portion, for insertion into the socket, with a lock to prevent removal while locked. The insertable portion also has a release enabling for withdrawal of the insertable portion. The plug has a control mechanism for holding the lock when the plug is engaged with the socket, the lock can be changed from a locking to release configuration by operation of a security key. The device also includes a flexible attachment for attaching the plug to a fixture. In one case the insertable portion includes a pin with an expandable tip for locking the pin to the socket. The flexible attachment may include conductive wires and be joined to an additional electric connector. |
| US09273493B2 |
Key cylinder for electronic locking device
Provided is a key cylinder for an electronic locking device including a cylinder housing forming an appearance and a cylinder plug installed in the cylinder housing to lock and release the cylinder housing, wherein the cylinder plug includes a lock head including a key insertion hole into which a key head of a publicly known electronic key is removably inserted to a front side, a printed circuit board exchanging power and authentication data from the publicly known electronic key by installing key connection pins in a connection housing installed through the lock head, accessing to the key connection pins and equipping with a microprocessor and EEPROM, a driving motor performing normal rotation and reverse rotation drive in accordance with an input signal of the printed circuit board, a spur gear installed in an axis of the driving motor, a lock pin guider fixed in a rear direction of the cylinder plug, a direction conversion rotary ring rotating in accordance with drive of the driving motor by an internal gear rotatably installed through a fixing axis in the center of the lock pin guider and engaged with the spur gear in a front direction and a spiral groove formed in a rear direction, and a lock pin installed in the lock pin guider such that a pin hole formed in a direction perpendicular to an axis direction of the cylinder plug fluctuates, inserted into one side of a spiral groove formed in the direction conversion rotary ring, positioned through a straight guide wall intercommunicating with the pin hole, and appearing and disappearing in lock holes and formed in the cylinder housing by moving in a perpendicular direction to axis rotation of the direction conversion rotary ring through installation of a foot pin performing straight line motion to realized locking and release of the key cylinder. |
| US09273486B2 |
Continuous handle for window
A window assembly includes a first sash having a first rail having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and an opposite second end. A continuous handle extends along the length of the first rail and is pivotally connected to the first rail between a lowered first position and a second raised position. |
| US09273485B2 |
System and device for containing a dumpster
A dumpster enclosure having replaceable panels and a front gate designed with sockets positioned to allow access to a dumpster lift arm opening for removal of the dumpster front enclosure by a garbage truck without exiting the garbage truck. |
| US09273479B2 |
Methods and apparatus for restoring, repairing, reinforcing and/or protecting structures using concrete
Methods are provided for repairing an existing structure to cover at least a portion of the existing structure with a repair structure. Such methods comprise mounting one or more standoff retainers to the existing structure; coupling one or more standoffs to the standoff retainers such that the standoffs extend away from the existing structure; coupling one or more cladding panels to the standoffs such that the panels are spaced apart from the structure to provide a space therebetween; and introducing a curable material to the space between the panels and the existing structure, the panels acting as at least a portion of a formwork for containing the curable material until the curable material cures to provide a repair structure cladded, at least in part, by the panels. Corresponding apparatus for effecting such methods are also provided. |
| US09273478B2 |
Mobile lifting assembly
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile lifting assembly comprising a body frame with one or more wheels for transporting a structural member, and four individually controllable lifting devices connected to the body frame for repositioning (such as raising, lowering, tilting or rolling) of the structural member. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile lifting assembly comprising a body frame being adapted to locate on a supporting surface, a lifting device connected to the body frame for raising or lowering a structural member, and a skid resting on the supporting surface underneath the body frame and being arranged to contact the body frame to distribute forces imparted by the structural member on the body frame across the supporting surface. |
| US09273474B1 |
Apparatus and methods for ergonomic building tools
The present invention is directed generally to building tools with improved comfort in gripping and/or efficient control that may be used in various manners and orientations. A handle and work object (e.g., trowel blade) may be connected together by a connecting member (or connecting means) that may be a sloped, angled, and/or substantially curved member, so that a user has increased hand orientation options and/or control over the tool while gripping the handle and/or connecting member in various manners and orientations. In various embodiment(s), the connecting member (e.g., a tang for a trowel) may be a relatively gradually and/or notably sloped, angled, and/or curved structure that may reasonably provide a comfortable extension of the handle and augment the gripping of the tool. The various tools may include a handle connecting member having construction whereby a portion of the sides of the handle connecting member are removed. Magnesium may be used. |
| US09273469B2 |
Apparatus for remote operation on a rooftop
An apparatus for remotely performing an operation on a roof including a frame assembly configured to be positioned on the roof, a pivot assembly configured to couple to an external anchor point such that the frame assembly is positioned between the pivot assembly and an operating position, and a flexible control line including a first segment having a first end coupled to the frame assembly and extending in substantially a first direction to a second end disposed at the operating position, and a second segment having a first end coupled to the frame assembly and extending in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction through the pivot assembly, which redirects the second segment to the first direction, to a second end at the operating position, wherein pulling the second ends of the first and second segments controls movement of the frame assembly on the roof. |
| US09273468B2 |
Window system having flexible means for mounting
The window system has a substantially rectangular frame structure having four corner sections (1b) and being adapted to be installed in a roof structure and a bracket arrangement comprising a set of bracket units (6b), each bracket unit including a base element (10b) mounted at each corner section of the frame structure. Each bracket unit furthermore comprises at least one supplemental element (20b,40b) adapted to be detachably connected to said base element. One supplemental element comprises a leg element (20b) adapted to be detachably connected to the base element, preferably rotatably and detachably connected with the base element. |
| US09273466B2 |
Self supporting communication tower
A skeleton triangular tower frame structure comprising a series of vertical, horizontal and diagonal tubular members with flattened ends, joined together by means of threaded rods or studs, washers and nuts. Every three (3) vertical tubular members joined to three (3) horizontals and to three (3) diagonals, make a section which is connected to a similar section placed on a top level. There are as many sections as the tower require as per specific design. The length, diameter and thickness of the tubular members are determined by structural calculations for a given tower design loads and height. The three (3) horizontal tubular members conform an equilateral triangle of bigger section at the bottom portion of the tower and is reduced as the tower gets higher in a tapered manner. The first section of the tower is supported by a wider base formed by a tetrahedral frame for additional stability. The tubular tower members are delivered to the job site in separate short pre-manufactured members with studs, washers and nuts for easy transportation.In constructing the tower, a removable platform is placed on top of the three horizontal members that form the equilateral layer, where the erection crew can stand up to interconnect the upper sections. This procedure continues until the self-supporting tower reaches its total height, making the use of cranes or any other elevating equipment unnecessary. |
| US09273462B2 |
System and method of manufacture for building panels
The present disclosure relates to prefabricated building panels for use in structures, and walls external to structures, such as outdoor privacy walls and the like. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and system for providing building panels that provide improved structural integrity, distribute loads, thermal performance, among other attributes using conventional framing members fit into precision cut grooves. |
| US09273459B2 |
Foundation anchor for industrial-scale machines
A foundation anchor for forcefittingly anchoring an industrial-scale machine in a concrete foundation, comprising an anchor casing that has at least one lateral wall, and a plurality of anchor rods that are attached to the anchor casing, said anchor casing comprising a securing section for securing the industrial-scale machine by means of securing bolts, and the anchor rods being connected to the at least one lateral wall such that forces are introduced from the at least one wall into the plurality of anchor rods in a substantially linear manner along the longitudinal extension axis of said anchor rods is provided. |
| US09273458B2 |
Wide span static structure
A building structure includes an upper chord element, a lower chord element and web elements extending between the upper chord element and the lower chord element. The upper chord element forms part of an outer surface of a roof for the building structure. |
| US09273457B2 |
Partitioned separator water treatment system with multiple upflow filters
An improved system designed to control and filter runoff water in storm drains is presented. Drain water frequently carries trash, organic matter, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and bacteria collected from streets and parking lots into a storm drain inlet, which enters storm water drain pipe systems.The present invention supplies a series of baffle boxes inserted in the drain water stream with a final box possessing a selection from a collection of upflow filters, including a hydrocarbon-absorbing boom. The system can also support a storm flow bypass that directs high-flow storm runoff water directly to the outlet to protect the filter system. |
| US09273456B1 |
Leaching tube
One embodiment of a spiral tube base 10 that has an outer covering of a geogrid material 14 or a geotextile material. The spiral tube base 10 is typically made of a hard, durable material, such as PVC pipe, so that it can be buried within the earth and can be used in a variety of areas and soil conditions. Geogrid material 14 is wrapped around the outside of the spiral tube 10. The geogrid material 14 and the spiral ribs 11 allow liquids or effluent to gather within the tube, while the geogrid openings 16 and the spiral openings 12 of the tube allow effluent to move from within the tube into the surrounding soil. One opening of the spiral tube base 10 can be covered with an inlet plate 22 that holds an intake-pipe cap 24 and provides an entrance for a pipe from a septic tank. A distal opening of a leaching tube or the distal opening in a continuous line of leaching tubes that are connected together can be covered with an end plate 30. Other embodiments are described. |
| US09273455B2 |
Closet collar adaptations
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing a seal for a closet collar. A sealing assembly is positioned on a closet collar for a drain pipe. The sealing assembly may comprise a portion on which a sealing component is positioned. A toilet is positioned over the sealing assembly. The sealing assembly is compressed between the toilet and the closet collar, and a seal for the closet collar is formed. |
| US09273453B2 |
Drain clean-out assembly and method of using
Drain clean-out assemblies that can be used to drain the contents of a drain line prior to removing a clean-out plug mounted to the assembly or to which the assembly is mounted. The drain clean-out assembly includes clean-out plug and a device for selectively preventing and permitting drainage of a fluid through a drain port of the assembly. The assembly may include a housing having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, wherein the first end of the housing is configured to attach to a drain line, the second end of the housing is a clean-out port, the clean-out plug is removably attached to the clean-out port, and the drain port is defined by and through the clean-out plug and in fluidic communication with an interior of the housing. |
| US09273452B2 |
Shower bar system
A shower system and a handshower system. The system may include an adjustable supply assembly fluidly connectable to the water supply pipe, the supply assembly including an adapter defining an axis and having an inlet coupleable to the pipe outlet, a supply member having a supply outlet and coupled in fluid communication with the adapter, the supply member being coupled to the adapter for movement along the axis to adjust a distance between the pipe outlet and the supply outlet, and a seal positioned and operable to provide a sealed connection between the adapter and the supply member in adjusted positions the supply member relative to the adapter. The handshower system may include an angled connector between a shower bar assembly and a handshower hose. |
| US09273450B2 |
Plumbing fixture with heating elements
A plumbing component includes a valve provided within a portion of the plumbing component and configured to control the flow of water through the plumbing component. The valve includes a body and at least one waterway within the body. An electric heater extends through at least a portion of the body of the valve and is configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway. |
| US09273449B2 |
Aircraft galley water distribution manifold
A modular potable water distribution manifold for an aircraft water supply and drainage system includes a tubular element with a first manifold quick connector adapted to mate with a flexible hose connector and having a flow control poppet, a second manifold quick connector having a flow control poppet, the second manifold quick connector adapted mate with a terminating self-venting/self-draining device, and a rotating ferrule that mates the second manifold with the self-venting/self-draining device. |
| US09273448B2 |
Ground engaging tool assembly
A ground engaging tip comprising a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion. The coupling portion in opposing relationship to the ground engaging portion along a longitudinal axis. The coupling portion includes an interior surface defining a coupler pocket, and an interlock tab extending along the longitudinal axis in a direction away from the ground engaging portion. The interlock tab terminates at a proximal end and has an inner and outer lateral surface. The inner lateral surface has a proximal planar portion and a concave portion. The proximal end of the interlock tab has a proximal end width measured along a lateral axis measured between the outer lateral surface and the proximal planar portion. The concave portion has a radius of curvature greater than the proximal end width. |
| US09273447B2 |
Cab for construction machine and construction machine
A duct connected to an air-conditioning apparatus includes a portion positioned closer to a side window than a console when viewed from above. A tray is arranged on the console on a side close to the side window, and covers an area above the duct. A lower end of the side window is positioned lower than an upper end of the console positioned on the side close to the side window in terms of height from a floor surface. The tray is positioned on or below an imaginary straight line A-A connecting the upper end to the lower end of the side window, and is not positioned above imaginary straight line A-A. Accordingly, high visibility can be ensured in an obliquely downward direction lateral to an operator while a satisfactory aesthetic appearance of indoor space in a cab is maintained. |
| US09273445B2 |
Fluidified inert material spreading device for burying an underwater pipeline, and method of spreading fluidified inert material over an underwater pipeline
A fluidified inert material spreading device configured to bury a pipeline in a body of water is configured to travel in the body of water in a travelling direction along and over the pipeline, and has a hull, which extends along a longitudinal axis, houses at least one expansion chamber for fluidified inert material, is connected to at least one feed port to feed the fluidified inert material to the expansion chamber, and has a quantity or number of outlet ports configured to release the fluidified inert material from the expansion chamber, close to the pipeline, and which as a whole define a flow cross section greater than the flow cross section of the feed port. |
| US09273442B2 |
Composite self-drilling soil nail and method
A subsurface support comprises a soil nail having an outer member and an inner member placed within the outer member. By crimping the outer member or by use of an insert installed between the inner and outer members, a uniform spaced relationship can be maintained between the inner and outer members. In another embodiment, the support is made of composite construction materials, and the support has a self-drilling capability. The outer member may be made from fiberglass, and a metallic drill bit is secured to a distal end of the soil nail. The inner member is preferably steel. In yet another embodiment, the support includes a plurality of outer threaded members with adjacent outer members interconnected by a threaded coupler. A continuous inner member may be placed through the outer members. The inner member may be threaded for attachment to the outer members that also have internal matching threads. |
| US09273441B2 |
Tree nail
An improved anchor device that is capable of simultaneously securing a plurality of items while extended into the ground. The anchor device comprises a central cylindrical rod with a flanged nail head at the top for driving the apparatus into the ground and a tapered pointed end at the bottom for easy penetration into the ground. A plurality of cylindrical shaped barbs extending out from said cylindrical rod with a flanged half circle nail head at the end of each barb formed about the central cylindrical rod, extended outward and upward at an angle, oriented around the lower portion of the central cylindrical rod, spaced equally in circular, spiral, descending order for maximum extraction resistance. Cylindrical U shaped loops offset from each other and formed on opposite sides of central cylindrical rod placed under the flanged nail head for securing or anchoring objects attached to the anchor device. |
| US09273440B1 |
Fabricating a drainage unit having a quilted exterior surface
A substantially cylindrical drainage unit for use when buried in soil as part of a wastewater leach field comprises a first plastic bead aggregate mass, optionally with a central perforated pipe, surrounded by a segmented-quilt exterior surface. Quilts are captured around the drainage unit by straps, a circumscribing netting sleeve, or by being themselves in the form of tubular sleeves. Preferred rectangular quilt segments contain a second pebble aggregate that is smaller than the first aggregate. Quilts are fabricated by mating two layers of geotextile and inserting the second aggregate into channels or cavities that are defined by seams that join the layers to each other. |
| US09273436B1 |
Weed control devices and methods
A system for controlling unwanted foliage growth about a post extending in an upright orientation from the ground comprises a mat having a first edge, a second edge separated from the first edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The weed mat further comprises at least one pre-formed cut portion therein for accommodating the post, so that the mat can be secured about the post. A molded-in cut line extends parallel to the edges of the weed mat. The weed mat also includes a molded-in scale system, wherein the molded-in scale system comprises a plurality of additional score lines extending from the molded-in cut line to one of the weed mat edges at pre-determined, measured increments. |
| US09273432B2 |
Volatile debonder formulations for papermaking
Formulations and methods for papermaking use one or more volatile debonders, where the volatile debonder forms a solution or an emulsion with water in a paper precursor, and where the volatile debonder is evaporable from the paper precursor before the paper precursor is completely dried to form a paper sheet during papermaking. Two volatile debonders having different boiling points can be used, where they are miscible in water and in each other, and where one volatile debonder has a higher molecular weight and the other volatile debonder has a lower boiling point. |
| US09273431B2 |
Product and processes from an integrated forest biorefinery
An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes. The aqueous extract in embodiments including a water extract step is separated into acetic acid and hemicellulose sugar aqueous solutions. |
| US09273427B2 |
Freshening compositions comprising malodor binding polymers
Freshening compositions comprising a malodor binding polymer and an aqueous carrier, wherein the composition is essentially free of any material that would soil or stain fabric; and methods thereof are provided. In some embodiments, the malodor binding polymer comprises a homopolymeric polyethylenimine having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 2,000,000. In some embodiments, the freshening composition includes a buffering agent providing a pH of about 6 to about 8. Such freshening compositions may be used to reduce malodor and/or microbes on inanimate surfaces or in the air. |
| US09273426B2 |
Ironing system with iron provided with supplementary water tank
Ironing system comprising a machine body provided with means for producing and supplying steam and an iron comprising a heated soleplate and connected to this machine body by means of a tube for the passage of steam and an electrical cable; this iron comprises a supplementary water tank suitable to supply water to this heated soleplate and at least one control button suitable to cooperate with a switch for operating means for producing and supplying steam from the machine body and with means for pumping water from this supplementary tank to this heated soleplate, in a first active position of this button, these means for producing and supplying the steam from the machine body are operated and, in a second active position of this button these pumping means are operated so as to obtain a further production of steam by means of the passage of this water from this supplementary tank to this heated soleplate. |
| US09273425B2 |
Apparatus for treating laundry and method for controlling the same
Provided are an apparatus for treating laundry and a method for controlling the same. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a drum, a motor, a door, and a door switch. The cabinet defines an external appearance and has a laundry loading hole for laundry. The drum houses the laundry and is rotatably installed. The motor rotates the drum. The door is rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open and close the laundry loading hole. The door switch allows the door to be closed. Here, when close protection is set by manipulation of a close protection button, or the drum vibrates without rotation of the motor, the door switch allows the door not to be closed. |
| US09273423B2 |
Thread routing mechanism for needle-switchable type sewing machine
A thread routing mechanism for needle-switchable type sewing machine is installed on a needle bar switching mechanism of the sewing machine, and includes a thread take-up lever, a cylindrical needle bar case and a plurality of threads. The thread take-up lever includes a sway control end and a thread take-up end having thread holes. The cylindrical needle bar case has a rotation axis and a plurality of spaced needle bar holes, and internally defines a hollow space. The needle bar holes are equally distant from the rotation axis, and each receives a needle bar therein. The needle bars respectively carry a needle having an eye formed thereon. The threads are separately routed through a thread course defined by the thread holes, the hollow space and the needle eyes, such that the length of the threads in the thread course maintains same without being affected by a needle bar switching operation. |
| US09273422B2 |
Reed tooth of hosiery stitching machine
A reed tooth for a hosiery stitching machine, which includes a fixed reed, includes a positioning portion for positioning to the fixed reed, first and second sidewalls, and an intermediate wall cooperating with the first and second sidewalls to define a slide groove. The first sidewall has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost tip and an inclined edge. The second sidewall has a length shorter than that of the first side wall, and has a tapered bottom end that includes a bottommost end, and an inclined edge that extends upwardly from the bottommost end of the second sidewall. The inclined edge of the second sidewall and the inclined edge of the first sidewall cooperatively define a bottom opening of the slide groove. |
| US09273421B2 |
Sewing machine take-up rail assembly
A take-up rail assembly including a fixed idler rail and a longitudinally movable take-up rail. The fixed idler rail is attached to a quilting frame or other sewing frame and the position of the fixed idler rail may be longitudinally and vertically adjustable with respect to the sewing frame. The take-up rail is movably attached to the sewing frame and a take-up rail control mechanism moves the take up rail longitudinally forward and rearward with respect to the fixed idler rail as the sewing machine moves with respect to the sewing frame, thus providing full utilization of the throat length of the sewing machine. |
| US09273418B2 |
Hybrid fiber unidirectional tape and composite laminates
Ballistic resistant materials and articles formed from fiber/tape plies that incorporate multiple different fiber or tape types within a single ply. The different fiber or tape types are physically dissimilar but may be chemically different or substantially chemically similar. |
| US09273415B2 |
Methods for preparing carbon hybrid materials
A method of preparing a fiber including electro-spinning onto a substrate polymer solutions from a plurality of jets to form a network of filaments, wherein at least one jet sprays onto the substrate a first chemical mixture including a carbon fiber precursor compound, and at least one other jet sprays onto the substrate a second chemical mixture comprising a sacrificial polymer and a precursor compound of a functional material; and processing the filaments on the substrate, thereby forming an arrangement of carbon fibers having the functional material deposited thereon. |
| US09273413B2 |
Wafer carrier with temperature distribution control
Wafer carrier arranged to hold a plurality wafers and to inject a fill gas into gaps between the wafers and the wafer carrier for enhanced heat transfer and to promote uniform temperature of the wafers. The apparatus is arranged to vary the composition, flow rate, or both of the fill gas so as to counteract undesired patterns of temperature non-uniformity of the wafers. In various embodiments, the wafer carrier utilizes at least one plenum structure contained within the wafer carrier to source a plurality of weep holes for passing a fill gas into the wafer retention pockets of the wafer carrier. The plenum(s) promote the uniformity of the flow, thus providing efficient heat transfer and enhanced uniformity of wafer temperatures. |
| US09273412B2 |
Film-forming apparatus and film-forming method
A film-forming apparatus and method comprising a film-forming chamber for supplying a reaction gas into, a cylindrical shaped liner provided between an inner wall of the film-forming chamber and a space for performing a film-forming process, a main-heater for heating a substrate placed inside the liner, from the bottom side, a sub-heater cluster provided between the liner and the inner wall, for heating the substrate from the top side, wherein the main-heater and the sub-heater cluster are resistive heaters, wherein the sub-heater cluster has a first sub-heater provided at the closest position to the substrate, and a second sub-heater provided above the first sub-heater, wherein the first sub-heater heats the substrate in combination with the main-heater, the second sub-heater heats the liner at a lower output than the first sub-heater, wherein each temperature of the main-heater, the first sub-heater, and the second sub-heater is individually controlled. |
| US09273407B2 |
Additive for electrodeposition
This invention relates to a new compound represented by formula (I). Particularly, the new compound is used as an additive in copper electroplating. A chemical structure for the leveler, an electroplating bath containing the same, a method of preparing the additive and a method of electroplating a substrate with the electroplating bath containing the additive are disclosed. The additive compound/molecule of the present invention provides a branched structure at each ends, wherein each of the branches comprises a positively charged nitrogen moiety. The additive compound/molecule is formed by linking the branches having the positive charged nitrogen moieties to the backbone of the additive compound/molecule. This leads to a high charge density novel additive compound/molecule. |
| US09273400B2 |
Multilayered coating for improved erosion resistance
An erosion resistant coating for a substrate includes two or more coating layers affixed to the substrate having an increasing modulus of elasticity and hardness from an innermost layer of the coating adjacent to the substrate to an outermost layer of the coating furthest from the substrate. A method of applying a coating system to a substrate includes applying a first layer of a high hardness and high modulus of elasticity material combined with an added metal to the substrate. A second layer of the high hardness and high modulus of elasticity material combined with the added metal is applied to the first layer, resulting in a coating system wherein the second layer has a modulus of elasticity and hardness greater than the modulus of elasticity and hardness of the first layer. |
| US09273399B2 |
Pretreatment compositions and methods for coating a battery electrode
Disclosed is a cathode of a lithium-ion battery having a conductive substrate, a first layer covering at least a portion of the conductive substrate comprising a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IIIB and/or Group IVB metal, and a second layer covering at least a portion of the conductive substrate and first layer, the second layer comprising a coating composition comprising a lithium-containing compound. Also disclosed is method for treating a battery cathode and a battery having the treated cathode. |
| US09273397B2 |
Method for inspecting liquid droplet ejection apparatus
A method for inspecting a liquid droplet ejection apparatus that ejects a liquid droplet from an ejection port includes (a) ejecting the liquid droplet toward an ejection target at an inspection drive frequency that is higher than an operation drive frequency set during a normal operation; (b) measuring a characteristic of the liquid droplet deposited on a surface of the ejection target; and (c) determining that the ejection port the characteristic of which is outside a predetermined range is defective. |
| US09273389B2 |
Cu—In—Ga—Se quaternary alloy sputtering target
A quaternary alloy sputtering target composed of copper (Cu), indium (In), gallium (Ga) and selenium (Se), wherein a composition ratio of the respective elements is represented by a formula of CuxIn1-yGaySea (in the formula, 0.84≦x≦0.98, 0 |
| US09273386B2 |
Pair of guiding elements of which one is made of specific steel leading to improved anti-seizing performances
A pair of guiding elements is characterized in that at least one of its elements is made of a steel containing at least 0.15 to 0.3% by weight of carbon, 2 to 5% (preferably 2 to 3%) by weight of chromium, at least 0.45% (preferably no greater than 0.9%) by weight of molybdenum, and at least 0.01% by weight and no greater than 0.5% (preferably no greater than 0.3%) of vanadium. This steel is nitrided after being shaped whereby obtaining a compound layer consisting of iron and nitrogen atoms of a thickness ranging from 5 to 50 micrometers. The steel can also contain 0.4% to 1.5% by weight of manganese. |
| US09273385B2 |
Metal alloys for high impact applications
A casting of a white cast iron alloy and a method of producing the casting are disclosed. A white cast alloy is also disclosed. The casting has a solution treated microstructure that comprises a ferrous matrix of retained austenite and chromium carbides dispersed in the matrix, with the carbides comprising 15 to 60% volume fraction of the alloy. The matrix composition comprises: manganese: 8 to 20 wt %; carbon: 0.8 to 1.5 wt %; chromium: 5 to 15 wt %; and iron: balance (including incidental impurities). |
| US09273377B2 |
Method of metals recovery from refinery residues
A method of recovering vanadium, nickel and molybdenum from heavy crude oil refinery residues comprises pyrolysis and combustion of the residues at temperatures up to 900° C. to produce an ash, converting the ash to an aqueous slurry comprising sodium hydroxide as leading agent and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer, and extracting vanadium, nickel and molybdenum salts and oxides from the slurry. Extraction processes for the metals are disclosed. |
| US09273376B2 |
Flux injection assembly and method
A flux injector apparatus and method adapted to distribute a predetermined amount of flux to an associated pool of molten aluminum. The flux injector apparatus includes a pressurized tank adapted to store and feed the flux under pressure. A feed mechanism operative to discharge a predetermined amount of flux to an outlet and a controller for monitoring and operating the apparatus. The feed mechanism includes a housing having an inner wall defining a cavity with an inlet and an outlet. A feed wheel is positioned within the cavity and operative to receive a predetermined amount of flux from the inlet, translate the flux within the cavity and discharge the predetermined amount of flux through the outlet of the pressurized tank. |
| US09273372B2 |
Method for manufacturing stabilizer, and heating device
Provided are a method for manufacturing a stabilizer and a heating device, the method being able to suppress the occurrence of unevenness in the hardness of a curved portion of a semimanufactured product of the stabilizer and reduce the process time in a tempering process. In electric heating in a first heating step (step A), the temperature of an inside portion of a shoulder can be steeply increased to a temperature ( |
| US09273370B2 |
Hot-rolled steel sheet, cold-rolled steel sheet, galvanized steel sheet, and methods of manufacturing the same
A hot-rolled steel sheet has an average value of the X-ray random intensity ratio of a {100} <011> to {223} <110> orientation group at least in a sheet thickness central portion that is in a sheet thickness range of ⅝ to ⅜ from a steel sheet surface of 1.0 to 6.0, an X-ray random intensity ratio of a {332} <113> crystal orientation of 1.0 to 5.0, rC which is an r value in a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction of 0.70 to 1.10, and r30 which is an r value in a direction that forms an angle of 30° with respect to the rolling direction of 0.70 to 1.10. |
| US09273369B1 |
Thermomechanical methodology for stabilizing shape memory alloy (SMA) response
Methods and apparatuses for stabilizing the strain-temperature response for a shape memory alloy are provided. To perform stabilization of a second sample of the shape memory alloy, a first sample of the shape memory alloy is selected for isobaric treatment and the second sample is selected for isothermal treatment. When applying the isobaric treatment to the first sample, a constant stress is applied to the first sample. Temperature is also cycled from a minimum temperature to a maximum temperature until a strain on the first sample stabilizes. Once the strain on the first sample stabilizes, the isothermal treatment is performed on the second sample. During isothermal treatment, different levels of stress on the second sample are applied until a strain on the second sample matches the stabilized strain on the first sample. |
| US09273364B2 |
Transgenic reporter system that reveals expression profiles and regulation mechanisms of alternative splicing in mammalian organisms
An object of the present invention is to develop a new alternative splicing reporter system and to provide a method for detecting alternative splicing patterns in a mammalian multicellular organism more precisely, a method for identifying efficiently substances and gene regions that affect alternative splicing in a mammalian multicellular organism, and the like by utilizing the alternative splicing reporter system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for detecting alternative splicing in a mammalian multicellular organism, and a method for identifying substances and gene regions that affect alternative splicing in a mammalian multicellular organism, which use a DNA construct in which at least two different reporter genes are inserted into a specific gene that undergoes alternative splicing, or a combination of DNA constructs (a combination of at least two different DNA constructs) in which DNA construct a reporter gene is inserted into a specific gene that undergoes alternative splicing. |
| US09273363B2 |
Genetic loci associated with resistance of corn to fijivirus
The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and/or selecting maize plants that have newly conferred resistance or enhanced resistance to, or are susceptible to, a Fijivirus, particularly Mal de Rio Cuarto Virus (MRCV) and/or Maize Rough Dwarf Virus (MRDV). The methods use molecular genetic markers to identify, select, and/or construct resistant plants or to identify and counter-select susceptible plants. Maize plants that display newly conferred resistance or enhanced resistance to a Fijivirus (or an infection or disease caused by the virus) that are generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention. |
| US09273362B2 |
Method for detecting and quantifying wheat endogenous gene
Provided is a method of detecting or quantifying a wheat species-specific DNA in a test sample by polymerase chain reaction. The method comprises a step of amplifying a nucleic acid molecule having a partial sequence of a nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 1 using a nucleic acid molecule in the test sample or a nucleic acid molecule extracted from the test sample as the template and using a primer pair capable of amplifying the partial sequence and a step of detecting or quantifying the amplified nucleic acid molecule. |
| US09273361B2 |
Detection, identification and differentiation of eubacterial taxa using a hybridization assay
The present invention relates to a method for the specific detection and/or identification of Enterococcus species, in particular Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium, using new nucleic acid sequences derived from the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) region. The present invention relates also to said new nucleic acid sequences derived from the ITS region, between the 16S and 23S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) or rRNA genes, to be used for the specific detection and/or identification of Enterococcus species, in particular of Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium, in a biological sample. It relates also to nucleic acid primers to be used for the amplification of said spacer region of Enterococcus species in a sample. |
| US09273355B2 |
Rare cell analysis using sample splitting and DNA tags
The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample. |
| US09273354B2 |
System and apparatus for sequential processing of analytes
An apparatus and system are provided for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of analytes anchored to microparticles. Microparticles each having a uniform population of a single kind of analyte attached are disposed as a substantially immobilized planar array inside of a flow chamber where steps of an analytical process are carried out by delivering a sequence of processing reagents to the microparticles by a fluidic system under microprocessor control. In response to such process steps, an optical signal is generated at the surface of each microparticle which is characteristic of the interaction between the analyte carried by the microparticle and the delivered processing reagent. The plurality of analytes are simultaneously analyzed by collecting and recording images of the optical signals generated by all the microparticles in the planar array. A key feature of the invention is the correlation of the sequence of optical signals generated by each microparticle in the planar array during the analytical process. |
| US09273352B2 |
Polymerases
Modified DNA polymerases have an affinity for DNA such that the polymerase has an ability to incorporate one or more nucleotides into a plurality of separate DNA templates in each reaction cycle. The polymerases are capable of forming an increased number of productive polymerase-DNA complexes in each reaction cycle. The modified polymerases may be used in a number of DNA sequencing applications, especially in the context of clustered arrays. |
| US09273351B2 |
Device and method for conducting direct quantitative real time PCR
A method and device for performing direct quantitative real time PCR in a crude sample (200), wherein said sample is subjected to a centrifugal force sufficient to separate components of the sample into a supernatant and a pellet, and wherein at least one light source (204) and at least one detector (205) are positioned so that the excitation light impinges on the sample in a position above said pellet, and said detector detects light emitted from a position above said pellet. |
| US09273350B2 |
Methods and primers for detecting target nucleic acid sequences
A method for the detection of a target nucleic acid, which method comprises contacting template nucleic acid from a sample with (i) a signalling system and (ii) a tailed nucleic acid primer having a template binding region and the tail comprising a linker and a target binding region, in the presence of appropriate nucleoside triphosphates and an agent for polymerisation thereof, under conditions such that the template binding region of the primer will hybridise to a complementary sequence in the template nucleic acid and be extended to form a primer extension product, separating any such product from the template whereupon the target binding region in the tail of the primer will hybridise to a sequence in the primer extension product corresponding to the target nucleic acid, and wherein any such target specific hybridisation causes a detectable change in the signalling system, such that the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid in the sample is detected by reference to the presence or absence of a detectable change in the signalling system. |
| US09273349B2 |
Detection of nucleic acids
This invention provides compositions, methods, and systems for characterizing, resolving, and quantitating single stranded and double stranded DNA and RNA in-situ. Paired sense and anti-sense probes can signal the presence of double stranded nucleic acids. DNA and RNA can be distinguished in cell and tissue samples by hybridizing with probe sets adapted to highlight differences in these targets in-situ. |
| US09273343B2 |
Compounds and methods for assaying redox state of metabolically active cells and methods for measuring NAD(P)/NAD(P)H
The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying redox state of metabolically active cells and methods for assaying enzyme activity and/or metabolite level by coupling to redox defining co-factor NAD(P)/NAD(P)H measurement. |
| US09273342B2 |
Methods and systems for evaluating and predicting the reactivity of monooxygenase enzymes
Methods and systems for evaluating and predicting the reactivity of natural and engineered monooxygenase enzymes are provided. Methods are provided for acquiring a functional profile (fingerprint) of monooxygenases that encode information regarding the active site configuration of such monooxygenases. Methods are also provided for carrying out analysis of a monooxygenase fingerprint, to formulate predictions regarding the reactivity properties (e.g., substrate reactivity, chemo-, regio, and stereoselectivity properties) of the fingerprinted monooxygenases. |
| US09273338B2 |
Chimeric avian-based screening system containing mammalian grafts
The present invention relates to animal model systems comprising a chimera between an avian embryo and a mammalian organism. Specifically, chimeric model systems comprising normal, diseased or genetically transformed mammalian cells and tissues transplanted into avian embryos, and uses thereof for in vivo testing of drugs and therapeutic modalities are disclosed. |
| US09273336B2 |
Recombinant host cells having an increase in buoyant density
Methods are provided to obtain recombinant microbial cells having at least one genetic modification that increase the buoyant density of a recombinant microbial cell or the buoyant density of inclusion bodies produced within a recombinant microbial cell. Exemplified are genetic modifications that increase the buoyant density of a recombinant microbial cell expressing heterologous peptides and polypeptides. Increasing expression of the genes ysaB, glyQ, glyS or a combination thereof within the recombinant microbial cell produces cells or inclusion bodies having higher buoyant density. A similar effect was achieved by decreasing or disrupting expression of the endogenous gltA gene. Increases in buoyant density render peptide production more efficient with respect to time and costs. |