| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09389802B2 |
Hint instruction for managing transactional aborts in transactional memory computing environments
When executed, a transaction-hint instruction specifies a transaction-count-to-completion (CTC) value for a transaction. The CTC value indicates how far a transaction is from completion. The CTC may be a number of instructions to completion or an amount of time to completion. The CTC value is adjusted as the transaction progresses. When a disruptive event associated with inducing transactional aborts, such as an interrupt or a conflicting memory access, is identified while processing the transaction, processing of the disruptive event is deferred if the adjusted CTC value satisfies deferral criteria. If the adjusted CTC value does not satisfy deferral criteria, the transaction is aborted and the disruptive event is processed. |
| US09389798B2 |
Dynamic reconfiguration of storage system
A storage system is dynamically reconfigured. The storage system includes storage pools that each include one or more storage disks. Storage pools to be expanded are determined as target storage pools. For the target storage pools, source storage disks to be moved into the target storage pools are determined from other storage pools than the target storage pools in the storage system. The source storage disks are migrated to the respective target storage pools. |
| US09389797B2 |
System and method for providing arbitrary protection topologies in a computing cluster
Methods and systems for a computing cluster are provided. An application programming interface (API) at a manager application is exposed. The API specifies input identifying nodes and connections between the nodes to implement storage protection policies in the computing cluster. A user input that includes instructions to implement multiple destination nodes and respective connections between a source node and the destination nodes is received. A topology that includes the source node, the destination nodes, and the connections between the source node and the destination nodes is traversed. Based on traversing the topology, commands are sent to a storage system of the cluster to implement a destination volume corresponding to the destination node and multiple protection configurations. Each of the protection configurations corresponds to a respective one of the connections. |
| US09389796B1 |
Efficient register preservation on processors
In an approach for locating, preserving, and receiving registers, a register located within a central processing unit is modified a preservation bit, wherein the preservation bit designates when the register is to be preserved. The preservation bit of the register is activated. A preservation bit requests a subroutine to access content held on the register. A register is pushed to a memory source. The bitmask is pushed to a memory source, wherein the bitmask contains information regarding the content pushed to the memory source. The bitmask is popped, at the request of the subroutine, to determine that that content is to be popped. The content is popped from the memory source to the register. The content is returned from the subroutine. |
| US09389790B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining redundant array of independent disks
According to the method for determining a redundant array of independent disks provided in the present invention, for an actual physical disk including n disk groups in which each disk group includes m disks, the n disk groups include m2*(m*n) logical blocks, and a logical block matrix corresponding to m distributed RAIDs can be generated. Therefore, a correspondence between the actual physical disk and the distributed RAIDs can be obtained. In a scenario of data storage or the like, a mapping relationship table of the physical disk and the RAIDs does not need to be stored. |
| US09389784B2 |
Digital device having side touch region and control method for the same
Disclosed are a digital device and a control method for the same. The digital device may set a device grip mode upon detecting that a user grips the digital device and maintains the multiple touch inputs to a first region set in a side of the digital device. The processor may set a portion of the first region to a first touch enable region upon detecting that a first touch input, among the multiple touch inputs maintained in the device grip mode, is released at a first position, the first touch enable region containing the first position. The processor may execute a first function in response to a touch input of touching the first touch enable region. |
| US09389782B2 |
Electronic device and control method thereof
Disclosed herein are an electronic device and a control method thereof. The electronic device includes a touch device and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the touch device. When at least one continuous back-and-forth moving touch trace is formed on the touch device during a predetermined period, the processor switches one of a plurality of modes of the electronic device to another. |
| US09389776B2 |
Switching complex, flexible display apparatus having the same and method of generating input signal using the same
A switching complex including first and second switches is disclosed. The first switch is formed on a display part of the overall display so as to generate a first switching signal based on a grip position. The second switch is formed on a corner of the display part to generate a second switching signal based on bending of the corner of the display part while the first switching signal is generated. Therefore, input is simplified, and switching errors are reduced. |
| US09389775B2 |
Display control device and display control method
A list of a plurality of objects to be displayed, which corresponds to page images to be operated, respectively, is displayed; it is determined which object is selected as an object to be moved among the plurality of displayed objects to be displayed; it is determined which object is selected as a movement destination object among the plurality of displayed objects to be displayed; and allocation page images are displayed in a state where a page image corresponding to the object determined as the object to be moved and a page image corresponding to the object determined as the movement destination object are allocated to a single page. |
| US09389774B2 |
Display processing apparatus for performing image magnification based on face detection
An image processing apparatus that displays an image at a touch panel display, detects whether a face image is included in the displayed image, sets a point of the displayed image as a center point for a magnification ratio change based on the detected face image, and controls the touch panel display to change a magnification ratio of the displayed image centered at the center point based on a touch input received at the touch panel display. |
| US09389773B2 |
Cloud OS and virtualized browser with user presence management
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, disclosed hereunder, is a web-browsed/cloud-based portal for users and businesses that allows them manage their full online presence. Users can organize and personalize their favorite websites, communities, and applications. The interface of the system is a live tile-based online platform. Hence, the user becomes the center of the Internet and no longer has to adapt to content. |
| US09389769B1 |
Smart illuminated electrical switch with touch control
Internet connected electrical switches can benefit from an electronic rather than mechanical means to indicate their output power level. In one embodiment a touch-controlled dimmer switch is disclosed, including an interactive, uniformly illuminated bar of light, indicating the output power state of a dimmer switch. In response to a user moving their finger on a touch-sensitive front cover the dimmer switch illuminates corresponding regions with well-defined edges on a touch sensitive cover. The illuminated regions can be elongated, wider than a typical finger and encompass the most recently touched location, thereby providing improved feedback between the finger position on a touch sensitive surface and the operating point of an electrical switch. In several embodiments a segmented backlight is used to implement the interactive illuminated bar of light by uniformly illuminating the bounds of a touch region on the front surface of the switch corresponding to a particular output power state of the dimmer switch. Means are provided to produce closely spaced elongated illuminated regions with substantially uniform intensity and well-defined perimeters, well suited for internet connected smart light switches. In another aspect a translucent layer behind the touch sensitive surface can contain decorative and interchangeable artwork, illuminated by the segmented backlight. |
| US09389764B2 |
Target disambiguation and correction
Various embodiments enable target disambiguation and correction. In one or more embodiments, target disambiguation includes an entry mode in which attempts are made to disambiguate one or more targets that have been selected by a user, and an exit mode which exits target disambiguation. Entry mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, acquisition of multiple targets, selection latency, a combination of multiple target acquisition and selection latency, and the like. Exit mode can be triggered in a number of different ways including, by way of example and not limitation, movement of a target selection mechanism outside of a defined geometry, speed of movement of the target selection mechanism, and the like. |
| US09389762B2 |
Method for unlocking touch screen, electronic device thereof, and recording medium thereof
A method for unlocking touch screen, electronic device thereof, and recording medium thereof are disclosed. A graph with a boundary is displayed on a touch screen. Then two fingers touch the outside, the inside or the boundary of the graph and move outward or inward separately. Whether the touch screen of the electronic device is unlocked is determined based on whether the distance between the moved two fingers is larger or smaller than a default value, or whether the distance difference between the two fingers before and after moving is larger than a default value. |
| US09389756B2 |
Displaying a selectable item over a blurred user interface
Techniques and systems for centralized access to multimedia content stored on or available to a computing device are disclosed. The centralized access can be provided by a media control interface that receives user inputs and interacts with media programs resident on the computing device to produce graphical user interfaces that can be presented on a display device. |
| US09389755B2 |
Input apparatus, input method, and input program
An operation input unit detects an operation position corresponding to an operation input; a display processing unit changes a display item to be displayed on a display unit of a plurality of items, depending on a change of the operation position; a processing control unit continues a process of changing the display item to be displayed on the display unit until a predetermined input is received, while a vehicle is moving, and when an operation speed of moving the operation position is higher than a preset threshold of the operation speed, or an operation acceleration at which the operation speed changes is higher than a preset threshold of the operation acceleration; and an item selecting unit selects any of the plurality of items based on the predetermined input. |
| US09389754B2 |
Generating a playlist based on content meta data and user parameters
Systems and methods to generate a playlist based on content meta data. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving user-defined parameters; generating a playlist comprising a plurality of content portions, the generating comprising selecting the plurality of content portions from a data repository based on the user-defined parameters and further based on meta data for content stored in the data repository; and providing the playlist for display on a user device. |
| US09389748B2 |
Visual domain navigation
A method, a system and a computer program product for visually navigating contextual semantic data in a graphical overlay. The method includes overlaying a first lens, corresponding to a first domain and oriented in a first position, on the graphical overlay. A set of semantic data is displayed within the first lens. Rotation of the first lens to a second position reconfigures the semantic data such that a modified set of semantic data is displayed within the first lens. The modified semantic data and a ghosted image of the set of semantic data may be simultaneously displayed. A rotational position of the first lens is associated with various context aspects. A second lens, corresponding to a second domain, fully overlaps the first lens. Responsive to separating the first and second lenses, a circumscribed region is preserved within each of the first and second lenses while concealing a non-circumscribed region. |
| US09389747B2 |
Quick close button
A method, computer program product, and computer system for a quick close button for web browsers. A computing device determines a second web browser window was launched by a first web browser window. The computing device determines a location of a cursor. The computing device generates a close button associated with the second web browser window. The computing device displays the close button at the location of the cursor. Other methods and systems are described. |
| US09389740B2 |
Touch sensing apparatus and method capable of supporting hover sensing
Disclosed herein is a touch sensing apparatus capable of supporting hover sensing, including: a plurality of capacitance-voltage converters (C-V converters) outputting different voltage values depending on a change in capacitance of each of the sensing electrodes; a plurality of integrators integrating output voltages of each of the C-V converters; a first multiplexer multiplexing outputs of the plurality of integrators; a second multiplexer multiplexing the outputs of the plurality of integrators; a first differential amplification unit for touch sensing receiving an output of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer; a second differential amplification unit for hover sensing receiving the output of the first multiplexer and the output of the second multiplexer; and a control unit sensing a touch event or a hover event, thereby removing a common noise to accurately sense both the touch event and the hover event. |
| US09389736B2 |
Touch screen panel
A touch screen panel is disclosed. In one aspect, the touch screen panel includes a substrate divided into a display area and a non-display area positioned outside the display area, sensing lines in the display area and wiring lines in the non-display area. Each wiring line is connected to two or more sensing lines. The switching units are connected to the sensing lines and the wiring lines so as to selectively connect one of each of the sensing lines to each of the wiring lines. |
| US09389732B2 |
Light coupling structures for optical touch panels
A coupling element (14) for use in a touch-sensitive apparatus is arranged to transfer light between an electro-optical device (2) and a panel (4) for light transmission. The electro-optical device (2) is an emitter or a detector and has an operative solid angle given by orthogonal device divergence angles. The coupling element (14) is an optical component with a first light transmission surface (21) for facing the electro-optical device (2), and a second light transmission surface (22) for mounting on the panel (4). The coupling element (14) has an optical structure (23) that directs the light between the first and second light transmission surfaces (21, 22) by one or more reflections while expanding one device divergence angle (αx) into a component divergence angle at the second light transmission surface (22). Thereby, the component divergence angle defines a divergence (φp) in the plane of the panel (4) with respect to light propagating by internal reflections inside the light transmissive panel (4). |
| US09389731B2 |
Optical touch system having an image sensing module for generating a two-dimensional image and converting to a one-dimensional feature
There is provided an optical touch system including at least one lighting unit, at least one image sensing module and a processing unit. The image sensing module is configured to capture light of a pointer and the lighting unit to generate a two-dimensional image and to convert entire of the two-dimensional image to a one-dimensional feature. The processing unit positions the pointer according to the one-dimensional feature. |
| US09389727B2 |
Method and system to determine when a device is being held
In one embodiment, a touch-sensitive device includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of electrodes. The controller is operable to access data from a motion sensor of the touch-sensitive device. The controller is further operable to access a plurality of signals from the plurality of electrodes. The signals are indicative of an amount of capacitance between the touch sensor and one or more fingers of a user. The controller is further operable to determine, based on the data from the motion sensor and the plurality of signals from the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor, a particular hand of the user that is holding the touch-sensitive device. |
| US09389725B2 |
Detecting a touch event using a first touch interface and a second touch interface
An apparatus for detecting a touch event using a first touch interface and a second touch interface includes one or more touch-sensitive sensors, a first touch interface, and a second touch interface. The first touch interface includes an optical touch interface. The second touch interface is of a different type than the first touch interface. The apparatus also includes a storage device storing machine-readable code and a processor executing the machine-readable code. The machine-readable code includes a first interface module determining a touch position on the one or more touch-sensitive sensors using the first touch interface. The machine-readable code further includes a second interface module detecting a touch contact on the one or more touch-sensitive sensors using the second touch interface. |
| US09389724B2 |
Touch sensitive device with stylus support
A touch-sensitive device with stylus includes a touch panel, a stylus drive unit, a touch panel sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch by a stylus proximate to a touch panel electrode changes a capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and a stylus electrode. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the touch panel electrode and the stylus electrode, and is measured to provide an indication of the position of the stylus electrode relative to the touch panel. |
| US09389723B2 |
Mobile device and method for providing user interface (UI) thereof
A mobile device and a method for providing a User Interface (UI) thereof are provided. The mobile device includes a pressure detecting unit configured to detect a pressure, a user interface unit configured to perform a user interface, and a control unit configured to control the user interface unit to activate when the pressure detecting unit detects pressure and determine a function being performed by a user interface input through the user interface unit and the pressure detected at the pressure detecting unit. |
| US09389717B2 |
Reducing latency in ink rendering
A reduced-latency ink rendering system and method that reduces latency in rendering ink on a display by bypassing at least some layers of the operating system. “Ink” is any input from a user through a touchscreen device using the user's finger or a pen. Moreover, some embodiments of the system and method avoid the operating system and each central-processing unit (CPU) on a computing device when initially rendering the ink by going directly from the digitizer to the display controller. Any correction or additional processing of the rendered ink is performed after the initial rendering of the ink. Embodiments of the system and method address ink-rendering latency in software embodiments, which include techniques to bypass the typical rendering pipeline and quickly render ink on the display, and hardware embodiments, which use hardware and techniques that locally change display pixels. These embodiments can be mixed and matched in any manner. |
| US09389713B2 |
Piecewise-linear and piecewise-affine subspace transformations for high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) output decoupling and corrections
Methods for piecewise-linear and piecewise-affine transformations parameter decoupling in High Dimensional Touchpad (HDTP) user touch interfaces including those with multitouch capabilities are described. A calculation chain provides a first-order calculation of a subset of a collection of touch parameters (including for example left-right, front-back, downward pressure, roll angle, pitch angle, yaw angle) responsive in real-time to user touch on a touch-responsive sensor array. A piecewise-affine transformation is applied to these first-order calculations to produce parameter decoupling. The piecewise-affine transformation can be structured to depend only on current numerical values from the first-order calculation. Alternatively, the piecewise-affine transformation can be structured to additionally depend on the positive or negative direction of change over time of at least one numerical value from the first-order calculation, thereby providing a correction for hysteresis effects. |
| US09389711B2 |
Architecture for variable pressure mouse
User input devices with variable pressure buttons are configured. A user may specify a range of pressure to be associated with a pressure level. In some embodiments, a user may also associate a command or other instruction to an application with an identity of a variable pressure button and a pressure level of the button. In some embodiments, the associations may be represented in a configuration profile. In further embodiments, a microcontroller for a mouse may translate signals from variable pressure buttons into pressure levels based upon the configuration file. In many embodiments, a user may associate a reporting rate with a variable pressure button. A legacy application may receive reports of the state of the variable pressure button at the associated reporting rate. |
| US09389705B2 |
Mouse user interface with configurable components
Features of a mouse configured to be used as an user interface with a computing device are described. The mouse may include an arm component, a body component coupled to a first part of the arm component, and a wheel component coupled to a second part of the arm component. |
| US09389702B2 |
Input association
A plurality of substantially simultaneous inputs are associated with one or more applications, wherein it is determined if the plurality of inputs includes unacceptable inputs and wherein unacceptable inputs are ignored. |
| US09389696B2 |
Multimedia playing device
A multimedia playing device includes a central processing unit, a plurality of sensors electrically coupled to the central processing unit, and an output unit electrically coupled to the central processing unit. The plurality of sensors are operated together with the central processing unit, such that after the sensors detect different hand movements of a user, the central processing unit reads and determines the hand movement and transmits related control signals to the output unit according to different hand movements to achieve the effects of using a hand posture to control related functional movements and enhancing the convenience of using the multimedia playing device. |
| US09389693B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing motion by using an event-based vision sensor
An apparatus and method for recognizing motion by using an event-based vision sensor is provided. An apparatus for recognizing motion using an event-based vision sensor includes: a vision sensor to sense a movement-occurring part and output events; a movement type determiner configured to determine a type of movement using a frequency of occurrence of the events outputted through the vision sensor; a first motion determiner configured to track a movement trajectory of the movement-occurring part and determine a motion pattern based on the movement trajectory in response to a result of the movement type determination unit indicating a small movement; a second motion determiner configured to determine a direction of movement direction in which an object moves based on the events in response to a result of the movement type determination indicating a large movement; and a motion controller configured to output a control instruction to control a device. |
| US09389690B2 |
Gesture detection based on information from multiple types of sensors
A method includes receiving a first output from a first sensor of an electronic device and receiving a second output from a second sensor of the electronic device. The first sensor has a first sensor type and the second sensor has a second sensor type that is different from the first sensor type. The method also includes detecting a gesture based on the first output and the second output according to a complementary voting scheme that is at least partially based on gesture complexity. |
| US09389686B2 |
Operating device
An operating device having an operating element with haptic feedback. The operating element can be actuated by an operator by means of an input member, the operating device includes two ferromagnetic planar components and a flat coil. The largest surfaces of the ferromagnetic planar components are oriented toward each other and the components can be moved relative to each other. The flat coil is disposed between the ferromagnetic components and the ferromagnetic planar components can be moved toward each other by energizing the flat coil. The movement of one of the ferromagnetic planar components can be perceptible to the tactile sense of the operator on the operating element either directly or by a coupling device. |
| US09389682B2 |
Methods and systems for interaction with an expanded information space
A method for presenting content on a display screen is provided. The method initiates with presenting first content on the display screen, the first content being associated with a first detected viewing position of a user that is identified in a region in front of the display screen. At least part of second content is presented on the display screen along with the first content, the second content being progressively displayed along a side of the display screen in proportional response to a movement of the user from the first detected viewing position to a second detected viewing position of the user. |
| US09389677B2 |
Smart helmet
In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for a smart helmet includes a camera, a communication subsystem, and a control subsystem. The control subsystem processes the video data from the camera and the communication subsystem transmits this video data from the smart helmet to a destination device. |
| US09389676B2 |
Serial advanced technology attachment interfaces and methods for power management thereof
At least one example embodiment discloses a method of managing a power between a host serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface and a device SATA interface. The method includes first requesting to enter one of power saving states, defined by a SATA protocol, and second requesting to enter a deep power saving state if one of the host SATA interface and the device SATA interface operates at the first requested power saving state. The first requesting to enter one of power saving states and the second requesting to enter a deep power saving state are performed by one of the host SATA interface and the device SATA interface. |
| US09389675B2 |
Power management for in-memory computer systems
According to one embodiment, a method for power management of a compute node including at least two power-consuming components is provided. A power capping control system compares power consumption level of the compute node to a power cap. Based on determining that the power consumption level is greater than the power cap, actions are performed including: reducing power provided to a first power-consuming component based on determining that it has an activity level below a first threshold and that power can be reduced to the first power-consuming component. Power provided to a second power-consuming component is reduced based on determining that it has an activity level below a second threshold and that power can be reduced to the second power-consuming component. Power reduction is forced in the compute node based on determining that power cannot be reduced in either of the first or second power-consuming component. |
| US09389670B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus and power management method
A portable electronic apparatus and a power management method are disclosed. The portable electronic apparatus comprises a processor and an embedded controller (EC). The EC determines whether the processor starts a throttling mechanism according to a current power consumption, a proportional term, a last power consumption, a lower bound, a delta power and a derivative term. The EC determines whether the processor cancels the throttling mechanism according to the current power consumption, the lower bound, a count that the power consumption is lower than the lower bound, and an integral term. |
| US09389667B2 |
Shortening resume time from a power-saving state
A computer implemented method resumes a computer from a power-saving state in a short time. Prior to shifting to a power-saving state, a drive sets a status flag indicating a loading state of a disk at a flash memory. For resumption from the power-saving state, the BIOS requests a ready notification from the drive. When it is determined that the status flag indicates not-loading of a disk, the drive skips the detection processing of the disk including initialization of a read/write circuit and a servo mechanism such as a spindle motor and sends a ready notification indicating not-loading of the disk to the BIOS. Receiving the ready notification, the BIOS can continue the resume processing. |
| US09389661B2 |
Electronic device and method of controlling electronic device
An electronic device includes a first supply target unit that accepts supply of power from an external power supply, a second supply target unit that accepts supply of power from a battery, a main body, and a controller, wherein the controller starts to accept supply of power from both the external power supply and the battery and starts to output, to the main body, a voltage of the power supplied from both the external power supply and the battery in a case where a predetermined time has elapsed since start of a predetermined operation of the main body while a voltage of power accepted from the external power supply has been output to the main body. |
| US09389656B2 |
Heat dissipation structure applied to mobile device
A heat dissipation structure applied to mobile device includes a heat conduction main body. The heat conduction main body has a heat dissipation side and a heat absorption side. A radiation heat dissipation layer is formed on the heat dissipation side. The heat dissipation structure is disposed in the mobile device to provide a very good heat dissipation effect for the closed space of the mobile device by way of natural convection and radiation. Therefore, the heat dissipation performance of the entire mobile device is greatly enhanced. |
| US09389653B2 |
Mounting apparatus for storage device
A mounting apparatus for selectively mounting a first storage device or a second storage device in a storage rack includes a supporting frame made of a resilient material. The supporting frame includes two side brackets. Each side bracket includes a sidewall, an upper wall, a lower wall opposite to the upper wall, and a deformable abutting member formed at the upper wall. The lower walls and the upper walls of the side brackets are capable of sandwiching two opposite portions of the first storage device. When the abutting members are bent below the corresponding upper walls, the lower walls and the abutting members of the side brackets are capable of sandwiching two opposite portions of the second storage device. |
| US09389651B2 |
Modular electronics chassis
An apparatus for removing a modular electronic device from a chassis and a method for assembling thereof are provided. The apparatus for removing the modular electronic device from the chassis comprises a door pivotally coupled to the chassis, a sliding element in slidable engagement with the door, a first ejection actuator coupled to the door and configured to move simultaneously with the door, a second ejection actuator including a spring member connected to the second ejection actuator and to the rear of the chassis, and a linkage element connecting the sliding element with the second ejection actuator. Additionally, the apparatus for removing the modular electronic device from the chassis comprises a guide rail disposed in the chassis enclosure to guide the modular electronic device and to guide the second ejection actuator along the chassis enclosure. |
| US09389647B2 |
Electronic device having hinge structure and operating method thereof
An electronic device is provided, which includes a first case frame, a second case frame, a hinge portion, and a processor. The first case frame includes a keypad. The second case frame is installed to be rotatable from the first case frame, and includes a touchscreen. The hinge portion couples the first case frame with the second case frame, and is rotatably installed to rotate the second case frame. The processor controls to determine an operation mode of the electronic device depending on rotation of the hinge portion. |
| US09389646B2 |
Keyboard protection mechanism
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of the electronic device includes a keyboard that includes a plurality of keys and an inter cap spacer. The inter cap spacer can be transitioned from a first position, in which a first portion of the plurality of keys are functional or operational and gaps exist between individual keys of the first portion of the plurality of keys, to a second position in which the first portion of the plurality of keys are not functional or operational and the inter cap spacer substantially fills in the gaps. |
| US09389645B2 |
Tablet personal computer with detachable auxiliary device
Disclosed is a tablet PC. The tablet PC includes a pad main body which includes an input portion for inputting predetermined data, and an output portion for outputting results corresponding to input data; a detachable auxiliary device which is detachably coupled to one side of the pad main body to assist functions of the pad main body; and a fastening unit which is provided in the pad main body and fastens the detachable auxiliary device to the pad main body. With this, it is possible to use various auxiliary functions such as convenience in mobility, physical distribution management, inventory control, payment, personal authentication, etc. |
| US09389642B2 |
Docking connector
Examples provide mechanisms, methods, and systems for coupling a docking port of a computing device to a docking connector. In various examples, the docking connector includes a magnetic material to provide a mating force. The mating force may be utilized to extend the docking connector. Once extended, a release mechanism may be utilized to retract the docking connector. |
| US09389637B2 |
Methods and systems for recovering intermittent timing-reference signals
A source-synchronous communication system in which a first integrated circuit (IC) conveys a data signal and concomitant strobe signal to a second IC. One or both ICs support hysteresis for the strobe channel that allows the second IC to distinguish between strobe preambles and noise, and thus prevent the false triggering of data capture. Hysteresis may also be employed to quickly settle the strobe channel to an inactive level after receipt of a strobe postamble. |
| US09389636B2 |
Clock generating device, electronic apparatus, moving object, clock generating method
A clock generating device measures a frequency ratio between a clock signal (32.768 kHz+α) and a reference frequency value based on a clock signal (25 MHz); generates a clock signal obtained by masking a portion of clocks of the clock signal based on a measurement result of the frequency ratio; and updates a compensation value of a frequency temperature characteristic of the clock signal when a difference between the measurement result of the frequency ratio and an average value of N (N is a natural number) measurement results is greater than a reference value of the frequency ratio. |
| US09389635B2 |
Selectable phase or cycle jitter detector
Embodiments of a jitter detection circuit are disclosed that may allow for detecting both cycle and phase jitter in a clock distribution network. The jitter detection circuit may include a phase selector, a data generator, a delay chain, a logic circuit, and clocked storage elements. The phase selector may be operable to select a clock phase to be used for the launch clock, and the data generator may be operable to generate a data signal responsive to the launch clock. The delay chain may generate a plurality of outputs dependent upon the data signal, and the clocked storage elements may be operable to capture the plurality of outputs from the delay chain, which may be compared to expected data by the logic circuit. |
| US09389624B2 |
Control circuitry for stabilising a DC voltage outputted by an external DC power supply against changes in ambient temperature
Control circuitry for stabilizing a DC voltage outputted by a DC power supply against changes in ambient temperature. The control circuitry includes: measurement circuitry configured to output a measurement voltage representative of a DC voltage outputted by a DC power supply; reference circuitry configured to output a reference voltage; and comparison circuitry configured to compare the measurement voltage with the reference voltage and, based on the comparison, output a control signal for controlling the DC voltage outputted by the DC power supply. At least one temperature-sensitive component of the control circuitry is located in an enclosure configured to maintain a substantially constant temperature within the enclosure. |
| US09389621B2 |
Compensation circuit for common voltage according to gate voltage
Disclosed is a compensation circuit for a common voltage according to a gate voltage, which compensates the common voltage in accordance with variation in gate high voltage, to obtain an optimal common voltage. The compensation circuit includes a divider to divide a gate high voltage, an adder to add a fed-back common voltage to a voltage output from the divider, and a differential amplifier to differentially amplify a voltage output from the adder, and to output the amplified voltage as a compensated common voltage. |
| US09389618B2 |
Line drop compensation methods and systems
This disclosure is directed to regulating electric power at a node of a system for distribution of electricity. A voltage controller can identify properties of branch structures in a system that includes a voltage regulation device that controls a voltage source supplying electricity to nodes via the branch structures. The voltage controller can receive information on voltage and current associated with electricity provided by the voltage source. The voltage controller can receive, from a metering devices at nodes in the system, primary voltage information. The voltage controller can select one of the nodes based on the primary voltage information. The voltage controller can determine, based on the properties, an impedance for a branch structure corresponding to the selected node. The voltage controller can control the voltage regulation device based on the impedance for the branch structure corresponding to the selected node and the information on the voltage and the current. |
| US09389615B2 |
GNSS and optical guidance and machine control
A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) and gyroscope control system for vehicle steering control comprising a GNSS receiver and antennas at a fixed spacing to determine a vehicle position, velocity and at least one of a heading angle, a pitch angle and a roll angle based on carrier phase position differences. The system also includes a control system configured to receive the vehicle position, heading, and at least one of roll and pitch, and configured to generate a steering command to a vehicle steering system. The system includes gyroscopes for determining system attitude change with respect to multiple axes for integrating with GNSS-derived positioning information to determine vehicle position, velocity, rate-of-turn, attitude and other operating characteristics. Relative orientations and attitudes between motive and working components can be determined using optical sensors and cameras. The system can also be used to guide multiple vehicles in relation to each other. |
| US09389610B2 |
Wireless transmission module, diagnostic system of an industrial machine and method of supplying the transmission module
A wireless signal transmission module for a diagnostic system of an industrial machine is provided including a case, an independent power source, a sensor arranged to take measurements, in particular vibration measurements, a connector having a first end connected to the case and a second end connected to the sensor, a fixing system connected to the sensor and arranged so as to fix the wireless signal transmission module to the industrial machine, an electronic card provided with means of control arranged so as to control the supply cycle of the sensor in a sleep phase, a first stabilisation phase and an operating phase. |
| US09389607B2 |
Method for setting substrate-treatment time, and storage medium
In a method for setting substrate-treatment time, substrate-treatment time is set by the following method. A predicted supply time of wafers of a following lot to a substrate processing apparatus is calculated based on a predicted plasma-treatment completion time of another substrate processing apparatus. A predicted plasma-treatment completion time of all of wafers of a present lot is calculated. A predicted idle time after the completion of the plasma treatment of all of the wafers of the present lot is calculated based on the predicted supply time of the following lot and the predicted plasma-treatment completion time of the present lot. If the predicted idle time is equal to or longer than the idle time required for dummy treatment, supplementary idle time is added between the plasma treatments of unprocessed wafers of the present lot. |
| US09389605B2 |
Method of generating a numerical control program, apparatus for the same, and program for causing a computer to execute the method
In a method of generating a numerical control program in which, based on sectional shape data of a product to which a relief processing is to be performed, a numerical control program for turning-processing the product is generated in order to recognize a groove shape data existing in the vicinity of a corner as a relief sectional shape, wherein groove shape data is extracted from the sectional shape data, an intersection of a line segment parallel to a turning axis and a line segment that is not parallel to the line segment is calculated as a corner of the sectional shape data, and the groove shape data is recognized as a relief sectional shape in a case where dimensions of a frame which includes from the corner to the groove shape data are within predetermined dimensions. |
| US09389604B2 |
Method and system for the dynamic allocation of program functions in distributed control systems
A method and a system are disclosed for allocating program components to distributed control devices of a control system, comprising the following steps: a) creating at least two program modules, which each comprise program components, data interfaces and performance parameters for the definition of a performance requirement; b) linking the program modules via data connections between the data interfaces to form a control program; c) ascertaining available control devices and the performance capability thereof in the control system; d) ascertaining possible allocations of the program modules and verification by a comparison between the requirement and performance capability; c) selecting and allocating a verified allocation; and f) configuring data exchange channels between the distributed control devices. |
| US09389600B2 |
Central control system and method for setting control point thereof
Disclosed are a central control system and a method for setting a control point thereof. A central controller or a control point generator generates a control map in which control points are indicated, and the control points and attribute data of devices such as indoor units on the spot in actuality are automatically matched through a mobile terminal. Also, attribute data required for setting a control point is made into a database by using a dedicated tool such as the central controller or the control point generator, thus automatically setting control points. Also, the central control system can be installed by setting attribute data of the respective control points by using a wireless solution such as a mobile terminal, without having technical knowledge. |
| US09389597B2 |
Motor control device
This disclosure discloses a motor control device including a main circuit, a voltage detector, and a controller. The controller includes a position controller and a speed controller, The position controller generates a speed command. The speed controller generates a torque command and controls a inverter based on the torque command. Further, the controller includes a torque limiter, and a speed matching instruction part. The torque limiter starts torque limiting by the torque command to a predetermined torque or less and cancels the torque limiting. The speed matching instruction part matches the speed command with a first position command speed after the cancellation of the torque limiting. The holding part calculates and holds an accumulated position deviation. |
| US09389596B2 |
Systems and methods for field device feedback
The embodiments described herein include a system and a method. In one embodiment, a system includes an industrial controller configured to control a first field device. The first field device includes an actuator and a positioner coupled to the actuator. The positioner is configured to position the actuator. The first field device is configured to detect an undesired condition and to communicate the undesired condition to the industrial controller by using a ReadBack facility of the first field device. |
| US09389593B2 |
Methods and devices for operating mobile terminal alarm clock under shutdown state
A mobile terminal may comprise an executing unit being configured to activate an alarm clock when the mobile terminal is off. The mobile terminal may be configured to receive a target alarm clock activation time; determine a time difference between a current time and the target alarm clock activation time; and compare the time difference with a first reference time period. Upon determining that time difference is less than the first reference time period, the mobile terminal may start up. Upon determining that the time that the mobile terminal completes the startup is less than a second reference time period, the mobile terminal may activate the alarm clock. |
| US09389590B2 |
Timepiece
A timepiece includes a dial, a day dial disposed on the rear side of the dial, and a movement that rotates the day dial by a predetermined angle every day. Seven openings corresponding to the seven days of the week are formed in the order thereof in the dial, and a mark is formed on a surface of the day dial on the side facing the dial. Whenever the day dial rotates by the predetermined angle, the mark sequentially appears in the order of the days of the week through one of the seven openings when the dial is viewed from the front side. |
| US09389588B2 |
Method for adjusting the chronometry of a timepiece movement intended to operate in a low-pressure atmosphere
A method for regulating time-keeping of a mechanical timepiece movement intended to operate in a low-pressure atmosphere, includes the successive steps of: placing the movement in a low-pressure atmosphere pre-established for normal operation of the movement; measuring the gain or recoil (typically a gain +ΔP) of the time-keeping precision of the movement at this low pressure; returning the movement to ambient atmospheric pressure; at the ambient atmospheric pressure, regulating the movement to compensate for the previously measured gain or recoil; and returning the movement to the low-pressure atmosphere pre-established for normal operation of the movement. |
| US09389586B2 |
Displaying method, apparatus and system for providing holographic images to a plurality of viewers simultaneously
A displaying method, a displaying apparatus and a displaying system for providing holographic images to a plurality of viewers simultaneously are provided. The displaying method comprises: tracking motions of M viewers and eye positions thereof, adjusting rotation angles of programmable mirrors allocated to each of the viewers according to the motions of the eye positions of the viewer, it is predefined that each pixel position of the projection screen corresponds to N adjacent ones of the programmable mirrors; modulating a corresponding left-eye 3D image and a corresponding right-eye 3D image according to the tracked motions of the eye positions of each of the viewers and the rotation angles of the programmable mirrors allocated to the viewer, and projecting the left-eye 3D image and the right-eye 3D image onto the projection screen to control optical projections incident to the left eyes and the right eyes of different viewers. |
| US09389582B2 |
Replaceable unit for an image forming device having magnets of varying angular offset for toner level sensing
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet pass near at least a portion of an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir during rotation of the first and second magnets. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir. |
| US09389577B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a cover, a conveying unit, and a sheet feeding unit. The cover is provided to be able to open and close an opening of a housing. The conveying unit is disposed adjacent to an inner side of the cover. The sheet feeding unit is disposed in an inner side of the conveying unit. The cover is rotatably supported to a pair of first bearings between an opened position and a closed position of the opening. The conveying unit is rotatably supported to a pair of second bearings, which are provided inward from the first bearings, in the same direction as an opening and closing direction of the cover and is detachably provided with respect to the housing at a position at which the conveying unit has rotated in the opening direction of the cover by a predetermined angle. |
| US09389570B1 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing device including a pressing member that applies pressure to a toner image
An image forming apparatus includes a toner-image-forming device that forms a toner image on a recording material with a toner having a volume-mean particle size of about 6 μm or smaller; and a fixing device that includes a fixing member that fixes the toner image, a pressing member that applies pressure to the toner image, and a heating member that heats the fixing member. The pressing member applies a first pressure to the toner image while the recording material carrying the toner image passes through a pressing portion by taking a first passing time period in a first state. The pressing member applies a second pressure lower than the first pressure to the toner image while the recording material carrying the toner image passes through the pressing portion by taking a second passing time period longer than the first passing time period in a second state. |
| US09389561B2 |
Image forming apparatus utilizing a plurality of image formation velocities
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of latent image bearers, a latent image writer, a plurality of developing units, a primary transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, an adjuster, a pattern image formation controller, a color deviation detector, a color deviation correction controller, and an image-formation-mode setting unit. The color deviation correction controller executes color deviation correction control in the separated state. The image-formation-mode setting unit sets a normal linear-velocity image formation mode in which an image is formed at a normal linear velocity and at least one non-normal linear-velocity image formation mode including a low linear-velocity image formation mode in which an image is formed at a low linear velocity slower than the normal linear velocity. A plurality of image formation velocities including the normal linear velocity and the low linear velocity is set, and an execution timing of the color deviation correction control in image formation at the normal linear velocity and an execution timing of the color deviation correction control in image formation at the low linear velocity are set independently from each other. |
| US09389560B2 |
Fixing device including a separator to separate a recording medium from a pressure rotator and image forming apparatus including the fixing device
A fixing device includes a guide disposed downstream from a fixing nip formed between a fixing rotator and a pressure rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A pressure rotator side separator, disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction, includes an opposed tip disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the pressure rotator and a separation-conveyance face that separates the recording medium from the pressure rotator. The opposed tip and the separation-conveyance face define a hypothetical circle having a curvature not smaller than 1/20 that intersects a guide face of the guide at an intersection at which a hypothetical tangent is tangent to the hypothetical circle. The hypothetical tangent and the guide face define a downstream intersection angle that is downstream from the hypothetical tangent in the recording medium conveyance direction and is greater than 90 degrees. |
| US09389559B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a heating roller and a pressuring roller, a first holding member, a supporting member and a temperature detecting part. The heating roller and pressuring roller sandwiches and heats a sheet to fix a toner image formed on the sheet onto the sheet. The first holding member has a facing part facing to a circumference face of the heating roller to hold the heating roller. The supporting member is made of material with high heat resisting property as compared with the first holding member, arranged between the facing part of the first holding member and the circumference face of the heating roller so as to face to the circumference face of the heating roller, and formed in an elongated shape along an axial direction of the heating roller. The temperature detecting part is arranged in the supporting member to detect temperature of the heating roller. |
| US09389557B1 |
Fixing device
A fixing device of an exemplary embodiment includes a fixing belt, an induced current generation section, a first auxiliary heat generation section, and a second auxiliary heat generation section. The fixing belt includes a conductive layer. The induced current generation section opposes the fixing belt in a thickness direction. The induced current generation section performs electromagnetic induction heating on the conductive layer. The first auxiliary heat generation section opposes the induced current generation section with the fixing belt interposed therebetween. The first auxiliary heat generation section opposes a sheet passing region of the fixing belt in a width direction and contains ferrite. The second auxiliary heat generation section opposes the induced current generation section with the fixing belt interposed therebetween. The second auxiliary heat generation section opposes a sheet non-passing region of the fixing belt in the width direction and contains a magnetic material. |
| US09389550B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body with releasable pressure therebetween to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body between a home position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater indirectly and a shield position where the heat shield is disposed opposite the heater directly to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A controller is operatively connected to the heat shield to move the heat shield to the home position when a print job is finished. |
| US09389549B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has a patch forming unit, a reversing unit, a patch detecting unit, and a fixing condition correcting unit. The patch forming unit forms a patch for fixability test on conveyed paper by a fixing roller having a fixing condition set corresponding to the execution of a print job. The reversing unit reverses the paper on which the patch for fixability test is formed from the front surface to the back surface through a reversing and conveying path. The patch forming unit detects a characteristic value of the patch for fixability test of the reversed paper using a medium sensor which detects the characteristic value of the back surface of the paper. The fixing condition correcting unit corrects the fixing condition based on the detected characteristic value of the patch for fixability test. |
| US09389548B2 |
Image forming apparatus having photosensitive drums
An image forming apparatus includes a first photosensitive member, having a first outer diameter, a toner image being formed on the first photosensitive member, and a second photosensitive member, having a second outer diameter, a toner image being formed on the second photosensitive member, the second outer diameter being greater than the first outer diameter. A second transfer roller in relation to the second photosensitive member is disposed on a downstream side of a first transfer roller in relation to the first photosensitive member in a conveyance direction of an intermediate transfer belt. A pressing force of the second transfer roller applied to the second photosensitive member is set to be greater than a pressing force of the first transfer roller applied to the first photosensitive member. |
| US09389546B2 |
Image forming apparatus with intermediate toner transfer medium, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing velocity fluctuation due to variation of friction torque between an image bearing member and an intermediate transfer medium depending on a toner image. An exposure unit forms a latent image on the image bearing member rotated by a first drive unit. A development unit develops the latent image to form a toner image. A primary transfer unit transfers the toner image to an intermediate transfer medium rotated by a second drive unit. A secondary transfer unit transfers the toner image to a sheet. A control unit controls the drive units so that a peripheral velocity difference between the image bearing member and the intermediate transfer medium becomes a first value at starting, and controls so that the peripheral velocity difference becomes a second value larger than the first value when minute toner reaches the position of the primary transfer unit. |
| US09389543B2 |
Image forming apparatus having transfer and fixing parts with different widths
An image forming apparatus includes a toner-image forming part that forms a toner image; a first transfer part that transfers the toner image to an intermediate transfer body; a second transfer part that contacts a back surface of a recording medium to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer body to the recording medium; and a fixing part including a fixing member that is heated to fix the toner image to the recording medium and a pressure member that transports the recording medium in cooperation with the fixing member by pinching the recording medium therebetween. The maximum width, in the axial direction, of the second transfer part in which it is capable of transferring the toner image to the recording medium is larger than the maximum width, in the axial direction, of the fixing member in which it is capable of fixing the toner image to the recording medium. |
| US09389542B2 |
Unit assembly and image forming apparatus
A unit assembly (10) includes an image forming unit (20) and an intermediate transfer unit (40), and is configured insertably/removably with respect to an apparatus main body. The image forming unit (20) includes a plurality of process units (200A to 200D) and a joint member (80) that joints the plurality of process units (200A to 200D). The intermediate transfer unit (40) is held by the image forming unit (20). The intermediate transfer unit (40) and the joint member (80) have a first positioning section (611, 612) for mutually relative positioning. |
| US09389536B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A control portion of this image forming apparatus can selectively execute first and second modes. The first mode is a mode of forming a controlling toner image in an inter-image period until when a succeeding electrostatic latent image is developed after when a preceding electrostatic latent image is developed. The second mode is executed with priority over the first mode in a case when the integrated value of the values related to the toner replenishing amount is greater than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09389530B2 |
Liquid developer
A liquid developer includes an insulating liquid and toner particles which are dispersed in the insulating liquid and contain a resin and a coloring agent. The resin contains a first resin which is a crystalline urethane-modified polyester resin resulting from increase in chain length of a component derived from a polyester resin by a compound containing an isocyanate group. The toner particles have a peak in a DSC curve in temperature increase at 55° C. or higher, have a peak in the DSC curve in temperature decrease at 30° C. or higher, and have a storage elastic modulus at 80° C., not lower than 1×105 Pa and not higher than 1×107 Pa. |
| US09389528B2 |
Toner for developing electrostatic images and developer
A toner includes an amorphous resin; and a crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the amorphous resin. The crystalline polyester resin has a volume-average particle diameter (Dv) of from 0.07 to 0.20 μm, and a ratio (Dv/Dn) of the volume-average particle diameter (Dv) to a number-average particle diameter (Dn) thereof of from 1.00 to 2.25. |
| US09389526B2 |
Electrostatic latent image developing toner
An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a toner core and a shell layer. The shell layer contains a resin including a unit derived from a monomer of a thermosetting resin and a unit derived from a thermoplastic resin. The thermosetting resin is one or more resins selected from the group of amino resins consisting of a melamine resin, a urea resin, and a glyoxal resin. When heat and pressure are applied to a toner layer formed on a polyester film under conditions of a temperature of 140° C. and a pressure of 7 MPa so that the toner particles are not superimposed, the toner particles of the toner layer are broken in a manner that a melt of a component of the toner core flows out from a plurality of points in an outer surface of the shell layer. |
| US09389525B2 |
Fluorine-containing resin particle dispersion, method for preparing fluorine-containing resin particle dispersion, coating liquid which contains fluorine-containing resin particles, method for preparing coating film which contains fluorine-containing resin particles, coating film which contains fluorine-containing resin particles, molded body, electrophotographic photoreceptor, method for preparing electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
Provided is a fluorine-containing resin particle dispersion including: fluorine-containing resin particles, a resin which is not dissolved in at least one solvent in a group of hydroxyl group-containing solvents including an alcohol-based solvent having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, containing no aromatic ring in the molecule structure, and a water-based medium, and which is adhered on the surface of the fluorine-containing resin particles, and at least one solvent, in which the resin is not dissolved, in the group of hydroxyl group-containing solvents, in which the fluorine-containing resin particles having the resin adhered on the surface thereof are dispersed. |
| US09389524B2 |
Polycarbonate copolymer, coating liquid using same, and electrophotographic photoreceptor
A polycarbonate copolymer includes a repeating unit A represented by a formula (1) below and a repeating unit B represented by a formula (2) below, in which an abundance ratio represented by Ar1/(Ar1+Ar2) is in a range of 35 mol % to 75 mol % and an abundance ratio represented by Ar2/(Ar1+Ar2) is in a range of 25 mol % to 65 mol %, |
| US09389521B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has: a plurality of specific depressed portions; and a plurality of specific line grooves formed at portions other than the specific depressed portions, and in which when a square region 500 μm on a side is arranged at an arbitrary position of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an area of the plurality of depressed portions in the square region 500 μm on a side is 95,000 μm2 or more and 180,000 μm2 or less. |
| US09389520B2 |
System and method for lithography with leveling sensor
Disclosed is a lithography system. The lithography system includes a radiation source for providing radiation energy; a reticle stage configured to hold a reticle; an imaging lens module configured to direct the radiation energy onto a substrate to form an image of the reticle; and a leveling sensor configured to receive a leveling signal from an exposure field of the reticle secured on the reticle stage. |
| US09389519B2 |
Measuring method and measuring apparatus of pupil transmittance distribution, exposure method and exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A measuring apparatus for measuring a pupil transmittance distribution of an optical system to be examined has a diffraction grating mounted on a first surface in an optical Fourier transform relation with a pupil of the optical system, an illumination optical system which makes a beam inclined relative to the optical axis, incident to a predetermined position on the first surface so that a +first-order diffracted beam, generated through the diffraction grating, passes through a first pupil partial region in an effective region of the pupil and so that a −first-order diffracted beam, generated through the diffraction grating, passes through a second pupil partial region, and a measuring unit which measures an intensity of the +first-order diffracted beam, and an intensity of the −first-order diffracted beam, and determines a ratio of a pupil transmittance in the first and second pupil partial region regions. |
| US09389518B2 |
Stage system and a lithographic apparatus
A movable stage system is configured to support an object. The stage system comprises an object table configured to support the object and an object table support defining an object table support surface configured to support the object table. The object table support comprises at least one first actuator to drive the object table support in a first driving direction substantially parallel to the object table support surface. In a projection on a plane parallel to the object table support surface the at least one actuator is spaced with respect to the object table in a direction perpendicular to the first driving direction such that the risk on slip between the object table support and the object table supported thereon is decreased. |
| US09389509B2 |
Photosensitive polysiloxane composition, protecting film and element having the protecting film
A photosensitive polysiloxane composition, a protecting film and an element having the protecting film are provided. The photosensitive polysiloxane composition includes a polysiloxane (A), an o-naphthoquinonediazidesulfonate (B), a silane compound (C) containing an amic acid group and a solvent (D). When the photosensitive polysiloxane composition is used for forming a protecting film, the protecting film shows favorable cross-section shape and heat resistance. |
| US09389507B2 |
Polymerizable composition, and photosensitive layer, permanent pattern, wafer-level lens, solid-state imaging device and pattern forming method each using the composition
A polymerizable composition contains (A) a polymerization initiator that is an acetophenone-based compound or an acylphosphine oxide-based compound, (B) a polymerizable compound, (C) at least either a tungsten compound or a metal boride, and (D) an alkali-soluble binder. |
| US09389506B2 |
Photoresist having improved extreme-ultraviolet lithography imaging performance
Provided herein is a photoresist compound with improved extreme-ultraviolet lithography image performance. The photoresist includes a polymer that is free of an aromatic group and a photo acid generator (PAG) free of aromatic groups. The PAG includes an anion component and a cation component, wherein the anion component has one of the several specified chemical formulas and the cation component also has a specified chemical formula. The anion component includes a material selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl and the cation component includes a material selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, and an oxoalkyl group. |
| US09389504B2 |
Photo-curable and thermo-curable resin composition, and dry film solder resist
The present invention relates to a photo-curable and thermo-curable resin composition that can provide a dry film solder resist having a higher glass transition temperature and improved heat resistance reliability, and the dry film solder resist. Said resin composition may include an acid-modified oligomer including an iminocarbonate-based compound having a carboxy group (—COOH) and a photo-curable unsaturated functional group, a photo-polymerizable monomer having two or more photo-curable unsaturated functional groups, a thermo-curable binder having a thermo-curable functional group, and a photo-initiator. |
| US09389503B2 |
Manufacturing method of conductive sheet and conductive sheet
A manufacturing method of a conductive sheet includes: a step A of forming a silver halide-containing photosensitive layer, which contains silver halide, gelatin, and a polymer different from the gelatin and in which a mass ratio (Y/X) of a mass Y of the polymer to a mass X of the gelatin is equal to or greater than 0.1, on a support; a step B of forming conductive portions containing metal silver by performing exposure and then development treatment on the silver halide-containing photosensitive layer; and a step C of treating the support having the conductive portions with an oxidant which has a standard electrode potential of equal to or greater than +1.5 V and decomposes the gelatin. |
| US09389502B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition for color filter and color filter using the same
Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter that includes (A) a colorant including a cyanine dye represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, (B) an acrylic-based binder resin, (C) a photopolymerizable monomer, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) a solvent, and a color filter using the same. In the above Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as described in the detailed description. |
| US09389499B2 |
Pellicle and an assembly of photomask plus pellicle
A pellicle was well as an assembly of photomask plus pellicle is proposed in which the conventional agglutinant layer which bonds the pellicle to photomask is replaced by male and female screws and elastic body layer; in particular the pellicle frame is screwed to the photomask while the sealing of the space within the pellicle frame is secured by the elastic body layer. |
| US09389495B2 |
Projection apparatus and elevating mechanism thereof
An elevating mechanism of a projection apparatus includes a housing, a guide slot, an adjustable foot mount, at least one resilient member, and a sliding arm. The guide slot is formed on a surface of the housing and having multiple sections to form a sliding path. At least one section has multiple teeth, and a recess is formed between each two adjacent teeth. The sliding arm has a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end is fixed on the adjustable foot mount, and the free end is slidably coupled to the guide slot. When the sliding arm slides on the section having the teeth, the free end of the sliding arm engages with any of the recesses to hold the adjustable foot mount at a selected position. |
| US09389493B2 |
Projector and display control method for projector with orientation correction
A projector, that projects an image, includes a light source, a liquid crystal panel that modulates light output from the light source and forms an image in response to input image data, a projection optical device that projects the image formed by the liquid crystal panel, a control device that controls the liquid crystal panel, and an acceleration sensor that detects a position of the projector. The control device includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the position detected by the acceleration sensor is a predetermined position, and a correction unit that corrects an orientation of the image data so that a longer side of the image data may coincide with a longer side of an image formation area of the liquid crystal panel if the determination unit determines that the detected position is the predetermined position. |
| US09389490B2 |
Mounting device
A mounting device typically used for mounting line-of-site equipment, the mounting device including leg members that can fold into a trough like body of the mounting device, and further including a strap spool connected to an end portion of the mounting device. A strap on the strap spool can be unspooled and used to attach the mounting device to a surface. |
| US09389489B2 |
Photographing apparatus for recognizing type of external device, method of controlling the photographing apparatus, and the external device
A photographing apparatus is provided that includes: a connector including a first terminal that is electrically connected to an external device; a first resistor that is electrically connected to the first terminal via a first node; and an external device recognizing unit that recognizes a type of the external device according to a voltage level of the first node, wherein a voltage level of the first node is determined according to a voltage distribution of the first resistor and a second resistor included in the external device. |
| US09389481B2 |
Electrophoretic slurry composition and electrophoretic display device comprising the same
The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic slurry composition and an electrophoretic display device comprising the same, where the electrophoretic slurry comprises charged particles; polymer beads comprising an acryl- or vinyl-based repeating unit; and a fluid medium. Accordingly, the present invention has a high reactivity to a driving voltage, sustains images or text for a predetermined period of time or longer even when the driving voltage is switched off, and provides a high contrast ratio and enhanced visibility to implement high-quality text or images. |
| US09389479B2 |
Electrochromic device
Disclosed herein is an electrochromic device having a structure in which atoms of an electrolytic layer and an ion storage layer are mixed with each other. The electrochromic device includes an active layer configured to provide a transparent state by a protonation and a reflective state by a deprotonation, an ion storage layer which stores a proton, an electrolytic layer which is provided between the active layer and the ion storage layer and used a medium through which the proton is moved, and a mixed layer having constituent elements of the ion storage layer and the electrolytic layer. |
| US09389478B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes: a substrate, a thin film transistor on the substrate, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, a common electrode on the pixel electrode to be spaced apart from the pixel electrode while a plurality of microcavities are interposed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode, a roof layer on the common electrode, an alignment layer on the pixel electrode and beneath the common electrode and including a photosensitive material, a liquid crystal layer filling the microcavities, and an encapsulation layer on the roof layer to seal the microcavities. |
| US09389472B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a transparent substrate having a display region with a plurality of scanning signal lines and video signal lines intersecting thereon, a first terminal formed outside the display region connecting to a first terminal wiring and a second terminal wiring connected to a semiconductor chip, and an inverted staggered thin film transistor. The first terminal includes a first portion, a second portion on the first portion, a third portion having an exposed planar terminal plate on the second portion, a plurality of first vias between the first portion and the second portion, and a plurality of second vias between the second portion and the third portion. The first portion is connected to the first and second terminal wirings, and each of the plurality of first vias is not overlapped with each of the plurality of second vias in plan view. |
| US09389470B1 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure includes a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in an array. Each of the sub-pixels includes an active device and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the active device. A disclination area and a plurality of domains separated by the disclination area are defined in each of the pixel electrodes, respectively. Here, only a portion of the sub-pixels further includes a light-shielding pattern arranged corresponding to the disclination area. |
| US09389460B2 |
Display device including supporting member having corner reflective surface
A display device includes a backlight unit which generates light, a display panel which receives the light to display an image, a containing member in which the display panel is accommodated, and a supporting member coupled to the containing member and configured to support an edge portion of the display panel. The supporting member includes first and second supporting part and a coupling part. The first and second supporting parts extend in first and second directions, respectively, along the edge portion of the display panel. The coupling part is coupled to the first and second supporting parts and is configured to connect the first supporting parts to the second supporting parts. The coupling part includes a reflection surface facing a direction different from the first and second directions in a plan view. |
| US09389459B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a light source, and a reflective sheet. The reflective sheet includes a four-sided bottom face part with two pairs of mutually opposing sides, a first peripheral portion extending from one of the sides, and a second peripheral portion with a first section extending from adjacent one of the sides and a second section extending from the first section. The first peripheral portion and the second section of the second peripheral portion partially overlap with each other at a location between ends of the one of the sides to form one of side face parts of the reflective sheet. The second peripheral portion forms adjacent one of the side face parts of the reflective sheet that is adjacent to the one of the side face parts of the reflective sheet. |
| US09389457B2 |
Light source apparatus
A light source apparatus includes a plurality of light emission clusters arranged in a matrix pattern, wherein the light emission cluster has four sub light emission clusters of two rows and two columns, the sub light emission cluster has a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources having a first light source that emits light of a first color and a second light source that emits light of a second color, a difference in brightness of the second color being more easily perceived than a difference in brightness of the first color, and an interval between a center of the light emission cluster and the second light source of the light emission cluster is greater than or equal to an interval between the center of the light emission cluster and the first light source of the light emission cluster. |
| US09389456B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display which is a reflective liquid crystal display displaying an image by controlling reflectance of ambient light includes: a front substrate; a rear substrate; and a liquid crystal material layer disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate, wherein the rear substrate is provided with a plurality of reflective electrodes formed on a surface side opposite to the liquid crystal material layer, and a specular light reflecting member reflecting ambient light which is directed to a rear surface side of the rear substrate through a gap between the adjacent reflective electrodes toward the front substrate side. |
| US09389449B2 |
Flat panel type image display device and assembly method thereof
Disclosed are a flat panel type image display device and an assembly method thereof which improve a coupling structure between a panel guide and a bottom case in a clear borderless design and thus increase coupling force therebetween and durability of the panel guide and the bottom case and enhance product reliability. The flat panel type image display device includes an image display panel, a panel guide having a loading part to which the image display panel is attached, and a side surface part bent from the loading part such that a plurality of first fixing holes and a plurality of second fixing holes are alternately disposed on the side surface part, and a bottom case having a plurality of first protruding fixing parts and a plurality of second protruding fixing parts alternately disposed on side surfaces thereof, and fixed to the inside of the panel guide. |
| US09389445B2 |
Electro-optic device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optic device includes an electro-optic panel, a transparent protective member disposed at a viewer side of the electro-optic panel, an adhesive provided between the electro-optic panel and the transparent protective member, and a gas barrier film provided on a surface of the transparent protective member at a side opposite to the viewer side. |
| US09389441B2 |
Interconnect bridge assembly for photonic integrated circuits
A photonic transmitter, comprises a modulator driver having a first and second output ports, a photonic integrated transmitter circuit having a modulator having a first and a second input line, and a first input port electrically coupled with the first input line and a second input port electrically coupled with the second input line, and an interconnect bridge assembly, including a first termination resistor, a second termination resistor, and a substrate. An impedance-controlled transmission structure is formed in the substrate, and has: (a) an impedance control section including a first and a second signal lines electrically insulated from one another; and (b) a transmission section including a third and a fourth signal line coupled with termination resistor. The interconnect bridge assembly transmits an impedance controlled differential electrical signal from the modulator driver to the modulator, and transmits the electrical signal from the modulator to the first and second termination resistors. |
| US09389438B2 |
Method for determining eye and head movement of an individual
Method for determining the relative amplitude of eye and head movements of an individual, comprising: —a target providing step during which a list of visual targets comprising at least two different visual targets is provided; —a reference positioning step; —a reference target providing step during which a reference target comprising a visual and auditory target is provided; —a reference target gazing step during which the individual gazes at the reference target; —a peripheral target providing step during which a peripheral target comprising a visual and auditory target is provided; —a peripheral target gazing step during which the individual gazes at the peripheral target; and, —a rotation measurement step during which the angle of rotation of the individual's head and the angle or rotation of the individual's eyes are measured. |
| US09389437B1 |
Removable clip-on lens
A clip-on lens assembly for removable disposition and/or mounting to existing eyeglasses is presented. The clip-on lens assembly include at least one clip-on lens selectively positionable in a removably coupled relation to a pair of eyeglasses, and disposed in an at least partially overlying relation to the eyeglass lens. The clip-on lens includes at least two mounting clips disposed at an upper portion thereof, the mounting clips being structured to removably engage or contact the eyeglasses. Particularly, the mounting clips of certain embodiments include a base fixedly secured to the clip-on lens, and a flexible mounting portion extending outwardly therefrom. The flexible mounting portion may be flexed or moved outwardly to expose or enlarge an opening through which a portion of the eyeglasses are positioned. The flexible mounting portion will then engage or contact the eyeglasses for mounting the clip-on lenses thereto. |
| US09389432B2 |
Cosmetic contact lens with vivid sparkling color over the iris
A cosmetic contact lens includes a first polymerized diffractive film of predetermined shape that is polymerized within a second polymer that supports the first polymerized diffractive film at a desired position and forms the contact lens. |
| US09389430B2 |
Light deflection element and image display apparatus using the same
A light deflection element is capable of deflecting incident light so as to follow a position of an observer and suppressing reduction in intensity of light that reaches eyes of the observer regardless of their position. The light deflection element includes: a first optical element configured to deflect incident light; a second optical element configured to change a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a third optical element; and a control section configured to control the voltage applied to the second optical element. At least one of interfaces between the first and second optical elements and the second and third optical elements is an aspheric surface. The aspheric surface has an optical power that compensates enlargement of the emitted light which is caused by refractive index distribution caused when a voltage is applied to the second optical element. |
| US09389425B2 |
Viewer with display overlay
A real-world viewer can include viewing optics positioned along a viewing optical axis for viewing a field of view of the real-world. An active display overlay unit can be optically coupled to the viewing optical axis of the viewing optics, for generating images and directing the images along the viewing optical axis of the viewing optics for simultaneous overlaid viewing of the images in the real-world scene as viewed in the field of view through the viewing optics. The active display overlay unit can be capable of providing full-color luminance of at least t 1200 fL to the ocular of the host system with a luminance to power fL:mW ratio of at least 6:1 or greater or providing monochrome luminance from the active display overlay unit of at least 5000 fL to the ocular of the host system with a luminance to power fL:mW ratio of at least 15:1 or greater. |
| US09389423B2 |
Head wearable display with adjustable transparency
An apparatus for providing adjustable transparency to an optical element of a head wearable display includes an electro-chromic film disposed across the optical element to adjust a transparency of the optical element to ambient light and a transparency controller coupled to control the electro-chromic film with a drive signal to decrease the transparency of the optical element as the brightness of the ambient light increases. The transparency controller includes a scaling circuit coupled to receive a power signal from a power source and coupled to output the driving signal to the electro-chromic film to control the transparency of the optical element. The scaling circuit scales the power signal to generate the driving signal. The transparency controller further includes a control circuit coupled to the scaling circuit to control the scaling applied by the scaling circuit. |
| US09389422B1 |
Eyepiece for head wearable display using partial and total internal reflections
An eyepiece for a head wearable display includes a light guide component for guiding display light received at a peripheral location offset from a viewing region and emitting the display light in the viewing region. The light guide component includes an input surface oriented to receive the display light into the light guide component, an eye-ward facing side having a first curvature, a world facing side having a second curvature, a total internal reflection (“TIR”) portion disposed proximal to the input surface to guide the display light using TIR, and a partially reflective portion disposed distal to the input surface to receive the display light from the TIR portion and guide the display light to the viewing region using partial reflections. The first and second curvatures of the eye-ward and world facing sides together operate to adjust the vergence of the display light to virtually displace an image. |
| US09389420B2 |
User interface interaction for transparent head-mounted displays
Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward enabling a user to quickly interact with a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed by the HMD. Utilizing techniques provided herein, a hand or other object can be used to select visual elements displayed by the HMD. The visual elements can be located within larger active regions, allowing the user to more easily select a visual element by selecting the active region in which the visual element is disposed. |
| US09389413B2 |
Optomechanical oscillator network, control and synchronization methods, and applications
A synchronizable optomechanical oscillator (OMO) network including at least two dissimilar silicon nitride (Si3N4) optomechanical resonators that can be excited to evolve into self-sustaining optomechanical oscillators (OMOs) coupled only through an optical radiation field. The tunability of the optical coupling between the oscillators enables one to externally control the dynamics and switch between coupled and individual oscillation states. |
| US09389412B2 |
Variable-wavelength interference filter, optical filter device, optical module and electronic apparatus
A variable-wavelength interference filter includes: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first reflection layer provided on a surface facing the second substrate, of the first substrate; a second reflection layer which is provided on a surface facing the first substrate, of the second substrate, and faces the first reflection layer via an inter-layer gap; and an electrostatic actuator which flexes the second substrate in a direction toward the first substrate and thus changes the inter-layer gap. The first reflection layer and the second reflection layer have a reflectance characteristic showing a higher reflectance to light with a second wavelength that is shorter than a first wavelength, than a reflectance to light with the first wavelength. |
| US09389409B2 |
Imaging system for digital stereo microscope
An imaging system for digital stereo microscope is disclosed, wherein the system comprising two camera units with each camera unit comprises a lens and the two lenses of the two camera units are focused below the respective lens and optical axes of both lenses are arranged to focus at a same point; a main controller configured to provide both sensors with a common trigger signal for outputting image data and a common pixel reference clock signal for each sensor to generate its own pixel clock signal; a synchronous synthesizer for generating synthesized image data with left eye image data located on the left side and the right eye image data located on right side by synchronizing and synthesizing the left eye data and the right eye image data output by the respective sensor; the synthesized image data is compresses and encoded in the main controller to generate RGB image data corresponding to parallel image data; a stereoscopic display convertor for receiving the RGB image data and converting the received RGB image data into a format that is recognizable by a stereo display. |
| US09389407B2 |
Microscope system and microscope frame
A microscope system includes a microscope frame on which a stage is placed; and a camera head, in which an objective lens is attachable, for capturing an image of a specimen, the camera head being attached to the microscope frame by being fitted, and being slidable with respect to the microscope frame in a direction that is parallel with a surface of the stage placed on the microscope frame and orthogonal to an optical axis of the attached objective lens. |
| US09389406B2 |
Changing apparatus for a microscope
A changing apparatus for a microscope (10) comprises a carrying body (50, 150, 250, 350) supported rotatably around a rotation axis (R), having a first coupling part (52), and at least one optical element (100, 200, 300, 400) having a second coupling part (102) that is couplable to the first coupling part (52) for releasable mounting of the optical element (100, 200, 300, 400) on the carrying body (50, 150, 250, 350). The first coupling part (52) comprises a first mechanical coding structure (56) and the second coupling part (102) comprises a second mechanical coding structure (104) that, in a predetermined installation alignment toward the first coding structure (56), is complementary thereto and, in that installation alignment, is placeable onto the first coding structure (56) perpendicularly to the rotation axis (R) of the carrying body (50, 150, 250, 350). |
| US09389404B2 |
Method and light microscopy apparatus for producing an image of a sample
A sequence of individual images is acquired by imaging the sample through imaging optics onto an image sensor. For the acquisition of each individual image, the sample is provided with a marker pattern, in which individual markers can be imaged in the form of spatially separable light distributions through the imaging onto the image sensor. The centroid positions of the light distributions are determined and superimposed to form a complete image of the sample. According to the present invention, an image-drift-inducing temperature value (ΔT1, ΔT2, . . . , ΔTn) is measured during the acquisition of the sequence of individual images. A temperature-dependent drift value (ΔX1, ΔX2, . . . , ΔXn; ΔY1, ΔY2, . . . , ΔYn) is correlated to the image-drift-inducing temperature value (ΔT1, ΔT2, . . . , ΔTn) based on predetermined correlation data. The determined centroid positions are corrected based on the drift value (ΔX1, ΔX2, . . . , ΔXn; ΔY1, ΔY2, . . . , ΔYn). |
| US09389403B2 |
Microscope and method for operating a microscope
The invention relates to a method for operating a microscope in which excitation light is focused on, or beamed to, different points of a specimen, in which an intensity of the excitation light is point-specifically varied and in which an intensity of the light reflected by said specimen in at least one spectral range is measured point-specifically and quantitatively. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the intensity and/or a spectral composition of the excitation light beamed to a specific point of said specimen is automatically adjusted by a regulating device on the basis of information previously gained from measured data of said specimen concerning an estimated or actual intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by said point such that an integral of the intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by this point during a pixel dwell time is within a predefined value interval. The invention also relates to a microscope. |
| US09389400B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens consists of, in order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, one or two middle lens groups including a mp lens group having a positive refractive power, and a rearmost lens group disposed at the most image side position of the entire system and having a positive refractive power, wherein magnification change is effected by changing all distances between the adjacent lens groups, and focusing from an object at infinity to a closest object is effected by moving only the entire mp lens group or only a part of lens groups forming the mp lens group along the optical axis, the lens group moved during focusing includes a positive lens and a negative lens and has a positive refractive power as a whole, and given condition expressions are satisfied. |
| US09389395B2 |
Imaging lens
A compact, small F-value imaging lens with a wide field of view which corrects aberrations properly. Its elements are arranged in order from an object side to an image side: an aperture stop, a positive first lens having convex surfaces on the object and image sides, a negative second lens having a concave image-side surface, a meniscus positive third lens having a convex image-side surface, and a negative double-sided aspheric fourth lens having a concave image-side surface. With an F-value smaller than 2.4, it satisfies conditional expressions (1) to (3): 0.8 |
| US09389394B2 |
Lens module
There is provided a lens module including: a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having positive refractive power; a third lens having refractive power; a fourth lens having negative refractive power; a fifth lens of which an object-side surface is convex; and a sixth lens having an inflection point formed on an image-side surface or an object-side surface thereof. |
| US09389385B2 |
Splitter modules and optical component module mounting assemblies
A splitter module includes an optical splitter configured for splitting an input optical signal into two or more output optical signals. The splitter module also includes a housing that encloses the optical splitter. The housing has a first end and a second end, and defines a first opening facing the first end and a second opening at the second end. The splitter module includes an input boot configured to receive one or more input fiber cables and an input fan-out mounted at the first opening and coupled to the input boot. The splitter module further includes an output fan-out mounted at the second opening, and an output boot coupled to the output fan-out. |
| US09389384B2 |
Slidable fiber optic connection module with cable slack management
A telecommunications device includes a rack defining right, left, front, rear, top, and bottom sides, the rack defining mounting locations in a stacked arrangement from the bottom to the top, the mounting locations for receiving modules defining connection locations. A cable storage bay is located at one of the right and left sides of the rack and defines front and rear cable storage areas. Both the front and rear cable storage areas include cable management structures for managing and guiding cables toward and away from the connection locations. A trough is defined at the top of the rack, the trough configured for extending cables to other racks in a front to rear direction, the trough also defining a cable drop-off communicating with the cable storage bay for extending cables to either of the front or rear cable storage areas for further connection to the connection locations. |
| US09389383B2 |
Hybrid optical fiber cable
A hybrid optical fiber cable is disclosed for supplying both signals and power. The hybrid optical fiber cable includes an inner jacket and an outer jacket. Multiple power supply lines and optical fiber signal lines are disposed within the inner jacket. The optical fiber signal lines are used only for transmitting video, data, voice, and/or control signals through the hybrid optical fiber cable. A grounding portion is also provided between the inner jacket and the outer jacket in order to provide a return current path for the hybrid optical fiber cable. |
| US09389382B2 |
Fiber optic ribbon cable and ribbon
A fiber optic ribbon cable includes a jacket having a cavity and a stack of fiber optic ribbons in the cavity. Each of the fiber optic ribbons includes optical fibers arranged side-by-side with one another and bound to one another with a common matrix in bound sections of the respective fiber optic ribbon. Each fiber optic ribbon additionally has loose sections thereof where the optical fibers of the respective fiber optic ribbon are loose and unbound. The bound sections are spaced apart from one another and separated from one another by the loose sections, while matrix of each of the bound sections contiguously extends across each of the optical fibers of the fiber optic ribbon. Bound sections of adjoining fiber optic ribbons of the stack are at least partially non-overlapping one another as arranged in the stack, which facilitates flexibility and compactness of the stack. |
| US09389380B2 |
Optical fiber assembly, optical probe, and method for manufacturing optical fiber assembly
Provided is an optical fiber assembly with which flexibility in the vicinity of an alignment member can be maintained, as well as a method for manufacturing this optical fiber assembly, and an optical probe which uses this optical fiber assembly. This optical fiber assembly is equipped with: multiple optical fibers (11, 12); an alignment member (10) that aligns and holds these multiple optical fibers (11, 12); a first adhesion part (20) where the alignment member (10) and the multiple optical fibers (11, 12) are adhered by means of a first adhesive agent having curability; and a second adhesion part (21) where the multiple optical fibers (11, 12) are adhered to each other within a prescribed distance from the rear end of the alignment member (10) by means of a second adhesive agent that cures while having greater flexibility than the first adhesive agent. |
| US09389379B1 |
Dual optical and electrical LGA contact
A method and structure are provided for implementing a dual optical and electrical land grid array (LGA) contact. A contact for electrical and optical connection between a module and a printed circuit board (PCB) includes material providing electrical connection and an integrated material providing an optical connection; and the contact is used in a land grid array (LGA) arrangement. |
| US09389369B2 |
Optical port having minimalist footprint
Disclosed are optical ports and devices having a minimalist footprint. Specifically, the optical ports and devices have a footprint where the optical elements are exposed at a frame of the device. Additionally, a frame of the device provides a portion of the mating surface for engaging a complimentary optical plug during mating with the optical port on the device. This minimalist footprint advantageously allows for a smaller portion of the optical port to be exposed to the environment and subject to damage and/or wear. Further, the optical port provides a clean and sleek optical port on the device with a relatively small surface that may be cleaned or wiped by the user as necessary. |
| US09389367B2 |
Optical waveguide and luminaire incorporating same
An optical waveguide includes a body of optically transmissive material having a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof. The body of material has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a plurality of interior bores extending between the first and second sides each adapted to receive a light emitting diode. Extraction features are disposed on the second side and the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and at least one extraction feature forms a taper disposed at an outer portion of the body. |
| US09389365B2 |
Single laser multi-frequency transmitter
A single laser multi-frequency transmitter is provided, comprising: a laser generating given modes; an optical input bus; a common optical output bus; coupling optics coupling the laser to the optical input bus; a plurality of ring resonator filters: arranged in series along the optical input bus in a one-to-one relationship with a sub-band of the given modes; optically coupled to both the optical input bus and the common optical output bus; and each configured to couple one respective frequency from the sub-band to the common optical output bus; and, a plurality of ring resonator modulators: arranged in series along the common optical output bus in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of ring resonator filters; and each configured to modulate one given respective frequency from the sub-band so that all modes in the sub-band are modulated on the common optical output bus. |
| US09389364B1 |
Optical splitter with absorptive core and reflective grating
An optical splitter has a main branch coupled to a number of tributary branches. The main branch includes a light-absorptive core and a light-reflective grating. The absorptive core can absorb light arriving from the tributary branches and transmit light arriving from the main branch to the reflective grating. The reflective grating can reflect light from the main branch back through the absorptive core to the main branch. Light arriving from the tributary branches exchanges mode with light reflected by the reflective grating. |
| US09389359B2 |
Backlight module of curved liquid crystal display device and curved liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a backlight module of a curved liquid crystal display device, which includes a light-guiding plate, having an upper curved surface, a lower curved surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein the upper curved surface and the lower curved surface being connected to the first side surface and the second side surface at both ends respectively; a first light source unit, fixedly disposed near the first side surface, a back frame, having a back plate comprising a plurality of steps, wherein the step surface of the steps contacting to support the lower curved surface. The present invention simplifies the back frame structure and reduces manufacturing cost. The present invention also discloses a curved liquid crystal display device with the above backlight module. |
| US09389350B2 |
Optical module, electronic device, food analyzer, spectroscopic camera, driving method of wavelength variable interference filter
A optical module includes, a wavelength variable interference filter which include reflection films opposite to each other and an electrostatic actuator portion including a first electrostatic actuator and a second electrostatic actuator and changing a gap between the reflection films, and a voltage control portion which controls voltage which is applied to the electrostatic actuator portion, the voltage control portion includes, a bias driving portion which applies bias voltage to the first electrostatic actuator, a gap detector, and a feedback control portion which applies feedback voltage corresponding to a detected gap amount to the second electrostatic actuator. |
| US09389342B2 |
Variable focus lens system
A variable-focus lens system that includes a lens assembly having an electrowetting liquid lens that can be wrapped onto a curved surface such as a lens without distorting a chamber holding the electrowetting liquid lens is provided. The lens assembly includes a container body having a cup, in which the chamber is defined, and supports that extend in different directions from the cup. A flexible base substrate is arranged under the container body. Both the container body and flexible base substrate may be made from a soft polymer material and made using low-temperature fabrication processes. The flexible base substrate may be thinner than the container body and provide a relatively large surface area that engages the curved surface such that the stresses associated with wrapping a micro lens assembly onto the curved surface may be primarily absorbed by the flexible base substrate. |
| US09389340B2 |
Optical film, method for producing same, and method for controlling optical characteristics of same
Disclosed are: an optical film which has a moth eye structure; a method for producing the optical film; and a method for controlling the optical characteristics of the optical film. An embodiment discloses an optical film having a moth eye structure that includes a plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of projections include a plurality of slanted projections that are inclined to a film surface and the plurality of slanted projections are inclined in a generally same direction when the film surface is viewed in plan. Also disclosed is a method for producing an optical film having a moth eye structure, including applying a physical force to the moth eye structure. Further specifically disclosed is a method for controlling the optical characteristics of an optical film having a moth eye structure that includes a plurality of projections, the method including applying a physical force to the moth eye structure. |
| US09389338B2 |
Optical member comprising anisotropic conductive film
An optical member includes an anisotropic conductive film that has a multilayer structure having a bonding layer containing an epoxy resin as a curing part and a bonding layer containing a (meth)acrylate resin as a curing part. |
| US09389337B1 |
Selective coating of a component using a potting process
Methods and systems involving a potting process for selectively coating a target surface of a component. An example method may include: (1) dispensing a masking agent into a cavity, wherein the cavity is within a holder; (2) immersing a portion of a component that has a plurality of surfaces into the masking agent, such that at least one portion of a target surface from the plurality of surfaces is not immersed; (3) curing the masking agent such that the masking agent hardens on the portion of the plurality of surfaces of the component immersed in the masking agent; (4) coating the target surface with a coating agent; and (5) separating the masking agent from the portion of the plurality of surfaces of the component immersed in the masking agent. |
| US09389333B2 |
Radiation generator and power supply configuration for well logging instruments
A well logging instrument includes a radiation generator and a high voltage power supply functionally coupled to the generator. The generator and the supply are longitudinally separated by a distance sufficient for emplacement of a radiation detector. At least a first radiation detector is disposed in a space between the generator and the supply. The instrument includes an electrical connection between the supply and the generator. |
| US09389329B2 |
Acoustic source with piezoelectric actuator array and stroke amplification for broad frequency range acoustic output
An acoustic energy source that amplifies the stroke of electrically reactive elements having a body with an elastomer filled first cavity, a highly incompressible fluid filling a second cavity, and bores intersecting the second cavity that extend radially outward from second cavity. Quill assemblies in the bores each include an electrically reactive element and a tip projecting radially into the second cavity. A dynamic yoke having a lower portion projecting into the second cavity, and a pressure disk projects into the first cavity. A diaphragm on the body and on a side of the dynamic yoke opposite its lower portion. A fluid forms a film between the dynamic yoke, static yoke and quill tips. Applying alternating electricity reciprocates the tips into and out of the second cavity; reciprocates the dynamic yoke and diaphragm to generate the acoustic energy. |
| US09389326B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for near-well fracture monitoring using tomographic fracture imaging techniques
Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software configured to permit the vicinity around and/or near a well to be imaged, where the well is being subjected to, or has been subjected to, fracking operations. The methods and corresponding hardware and software permit the generation of images of near-well fractures or faults resulting from the fracking. |
| US09389325B2 |
Method of exploring a region below a surface of the earth
A passive method for exploring a region below the surface of the earth. The method comprises using a plurality of sensors to obtain seismic data obtained by recording ambient seismic interface waves in a frequency range whose lower limit is greater than 0 Hz, and whose upper limit is less than or equal to substantially 1 Hz. The sensors may be sensitive to three orthogonal components. Recordings may be made simultaneously by all sensors and normalization of data is unnecessary. The sensors may be moved and clean data may be selected. Local dispersion curves may be determined to improve vertical resolution. The data are processed so as to obtain a measure of the energy in a frequency band within the frequency range. The energy measure may be calculated by integrating the spectrum in the frequency domain over a desired frequency range. The resulting calculated energy provides information about the region of the earth being explored. |
| US09389321B2 |
Crystalline scintillator body and radiation detector
A crystalline scintillator body includes a plurality of first crystalline phases and a second crystalline phase in which the plurality of first crystalline phases are present. Each first crystalline phase is a columnar crystal made of a material containing at least one of CsI and RbI, and the second crystalline phase is made of a material containing NaNO3. |
| US09389317B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining position in a global navigation satellite system
A system for determining a position of a device, the system including a receiver module, a communication module, and a location determining module. The receiver module respectively acquires signals from a plurality of satellites totaling in number less than five. The communication module obtains, from a server, via a cellular network or a wireless network, ephemeris data corresponding to one or more of the plurality of satellites. The location determining module determines the position of the device based, at least in part, on (i) the signals acquired from the plurality of satellites, and (ii) the ephemeris data corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of satellites obtained from the server. The position of the device is further determined without a priori knowledge regarding the position of the device. |
| US09389313B2 |
Parking assistance device
Provided is a parking assistance device that can obtain information regarding the height from a parking road surface of an object without acquiring height information of an object in advance. The parking assistance device includes: an emission unit configured to emit ultrasonic waves in at least an outward lateral direction of a vehicle; a reception unit configured to receive reflection waves from an object reflecting the emitted ultrasonic waves; and an object determination unit configured to receive the reflection waves from an object existing on a far side of a target parking region as the vehicle enters the target parking region, and determine a feature relating to the height of the object based on a change in a detection state of the object, which was specified based on the obtained reflection wave data. |
| US09389312B2 |
Radar sensor for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and communication method
A radar sensor for a motor vehicle has at least one antenna arrangement for transmitting and receiving radar signals and a controller for controlling the operation of the antenna arrangement. The controller evaluates the received radar signals. The controller also operates the antenna arrangement to transmit and/or receive messages in a car-to-car communication. |
| US09389308B1 |
Proximity detection via audio
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting ambient audio, generating audio data based on the ambient audio, generating a first audio fingerprint based on the audio data, providing the first audio fingerprint to a fingerprint comparison engine, the fingerprint comparison engine providing a comparison between the first audio fingerprint and a second audio fingerprint, and receiving a proximity signal based on the comparison. |
| US09389307B2 |
Panoramic scan radar and panoramic laser scanning method
A panoramic scan radar is provided. The panoramic scan radar includes: a fixed base; a rotary base which is rotatably combined with the fixed base; a reflector which is disposed on the rotary base to rotate with the rotary base and includes a reflective surface; a laser emitter which is disposed on the rotary base to rotate with the rotary base and selectively irradiate laser beams onto a plurality of points on the reflective surface of the reflector; and a laser receiver. The reflector reflects the laser beams toward an object and reflects at least one of the laser beams reflected by the object toward the laser receiver and the laser receiver senses the at least one of the laser beams reflected toward the laser receiver. |
| US09389299B2 |
Mobile communication device maintaining lifetrails in a battery efficient manner
A method is used to develop and maintain a user's lifetrail, which is a historical record specifying the location of the user while in possession of a mobile communication device. A mobile device determines its current location by extracting a beacon ID from a signal source and transmitting it to a remotely-located server, which accesses a look-up table to find the corresponding location of the signal source represented by the beacon ID. The location may be specified in accordance with a spatial compression technique. The server transmits the signal source location back to the mobile device so that the mobile device knows that it is located within the coverage area of the signal source. Battery power is conserved by collecting the beacon IDs when it is receiving the beacon signals for some other purpose and not necessarily solely for the purpose of determining its current location. Battery power can be further conserved by deferring the resolution of the beacon IDs so that they are not necessarily associated with their corresponding location when they are received, but only at some later convenient time. In some cases resolution of the beacon IDs may be performed using social graph data received from a social network. |
| US09389297B2 |
System and method for locating items and places
A locator includes a base unit and a handheld unit. The base unit, which is typically stationary, includes an FSK transceiver and printed circuit antennas. The handheld unit, which is typically mobile, also includes an FSK transceiver and printed circuit antennas. The handheld unit computes at least one bearing to the base unit over multiple frequencies and transmitting antennas, processes statistics of bearing results, determines a cyclic average of the bearing results, calculates an overall variance, assesses quality of a computed bearing result based on the overall variance, and upon assessing, either displays the computed bearing result or disqualifies the computed bearing. The handheld unit computes a height difference between the base unit and the handheld unit. The height difference is calculated using altimeters within the units. Alternatively, the height difference is calculated using GPS. |
| US09389295B2 |
Hall effect sensor system with diagnostic capabilities
In a method for verifying measurements obtained from a hall effect sensor in a hall effect sensor system, the hall effect sensor is excited with an excitation current having a first value. A first measurement corresponding to a voltage output of the hall effect sensor when the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having the first value is obtained. Additionally, the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having a second value, the second value different than the first value. A second measurement corresponding to a voltage output of the hall effect sensor when the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having the second value is obtained. Operation of the hall effect sensor is then verified based at least on the first measurement and the second measurement. |
| US09389294B2 |
Distortion-free magnetic resonance imaging near metallic implants
A method for 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with slice-direction distortion correction is provided. One or more selective cross-sections with a thickness along a first axis are excited using a RF pulse with a bandwidth, wherein a selective cross-section is either a selective slice or selective slab. A refocusing pulse is applied to form a spin echo. One or more 2D encoded image signals are acquired with readout along a second axis and phase encoding along a third axis, wherein the data long the phase encoded first and third axes is acquired with an under sampling scheme. Slice-direction distortion is corrected by resolving the position by using phase encoding. |
| US09389293B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance tomography system to generate magnetic resonance image data of an examination subject
A method and magnetic resonance tomography system to generate magnetic resonance image data of an examination subject, raw imaging data are acquired from multiple slices of a predetermined volume region of the examination subject using local coils during a table feed in the magnetic resonance scanner. Image data of the slices are reconstructed on the basis of the raw imaging data. A normalization of the image data is subsequently implemented on the basis of measured coil sensitivity data of the local coils that are used. |
| US09389292B2 |
Efficient method for performing K-space channel combination for non-cartesian MRI acquisitions
A system and method for combining k-space data acquired on multiple different receiver channels in a multichannel receiver is provided. One or more convolution kernels are used to combine the k-space data. Each convolution kernel is designed as the combination of one or more channel combination kernels and an alias-suppressing kernel. The channel combination kernels are designed to have a smaller sample spacing than the acquired data, and the alias-suppressing kernel is designed to suppress aliasing artifacts in stopbands defined by the sample spacing of the channel combination kernels. |
| US09389291B2 |
Gradient coil, magnetic resonance imaging device, and method for designing coil pattern
A method for designing a coil pattern, whereby the production of an error magnetic field and further an eddy current can be suppressed to improve the quality of a cross-sectional image irrespective of cylindrical cross-sectional shape of the main coil and the shield coil. The difference between the initial values of the target magnetic field and the magnetic field vector is set as a difference target magnetic field. An approximate value of the current potential vector that produces the difference target magnetic field is represented by a polynomial of an eigenvector group of the current potential. The coefficient of each of the terms of the polynomial is determined on the basis of the singular value and the eigenvector group of the magnetic field distribution. |
| US09389287B2 |
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and method of magnetic field correction
In a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, a sample spins about an axis tilted at a magic angle, a corrective magnetic field generating portion produces a corrective magnetic field, and a control portion controls the operation of the corrective magnetic field generating portion. An arithmetic unit included in the control portion uses at least one of BZ(1), B1(1)e, and B1(1)o or the linear sum of at least two of them as the first-order magnetic field component of the corrective magnetic field, uses at least one of B2(2)e, B2(2)o, B2(1)e, and B2(1)o or the linear sum of at least two of them as the second-order magnetic field component of the corrective magnetic field, and uses at least one of BZ(3), B3(1)e, B3(1)o, B3(2)e, B3(2)o, B3(3)e, and B3(3)o or the linear sum of at least two of them as the third-order magnetic field component of the corrective magnetic field. |
| US09389286B2 |
Magnetic sensor with reduced effect of interlayer coupling magnetic field
A magnetic sensor includes an MR element and a bias field generation unit. The MR element includes a magnetization pinned layer having a magnetization pinned in a direction parallel to an X direction, a free layer having a magnetization that varies depending on an X-direction component of an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the magnetization pinned layer and the free layer. The magnetization pinned layer, the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer are stacked to be adjacent in a Y direction. The free layer receives an interlayer coupling magnetic field in a direction parallel to the X direction resulting from the magnetization pinned layer. The bias field generation unit applies a bias magnetic field to the free layer. The bias magnetic field includes a first component in a direction opposite to that of the interlayer coupling magnetic field and a second component in a Z direction. |
| US09389285B2 |
Micromagnetometry detection system and method for detecting magnetic signatures of magnetic materials
A micromagnetometry system for detecting the presence of very small quantities of magnetic particles comprises a first magnetic hybrid AMR/PHR multiring sensor using a Wheastone bridge electrical configuration, a first current source, a first voltage measurement device, a set of at least one magnetic particles deposited on the first magnetic sensor and a processing unit for detecting from a set of different measured differential voltages a magnetic flux shift representative of the presence of a least one deposited magnetic particle.The micromagnetometry system comprises means for creating a magnetic excitation field HAC to make produce by each motionless magnetic particle a stray magnetic field oscillating along the time at a constant frequency ω ranging from 10 Hz to 3 KHz. |
| US09389284B2 |
Spinning current hall sensor with residual offset calibration signal
A spinning current Hall sensor configured to provide a sequence of input signals in response to a bias current being applied to a sequence of terminals of Hall sensing elements of the Hall sensor, the terminals of the Halls sensing elements configured to be interconnected in a sequence of configurations between a bias current supply and ground, with the bias current supply being connected to and applying the bias current to a different one of the terminals of each configuration. A chopping circuit demodulates the sequence of input signals to provide a corresponding sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals, with a residual offset calibration signal for the spinning current Hall sensor being based on the sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals. |
| US09389281B2 |
Magnetic compensation circuit and method for compensating the output of a magnetic sensor, responding to changes in a first magnetic field
A solution for compensating a magnetic field sensor to permit detection of a small magnetic field in the presence of a large magnetic field is disclosed. A magnetic field sensor detects the magnetic field which produces an analog signal then encoded by an analog to digital converter (ADC) into a digital stream. A controller operating on the digital stream incorporates additional sensor data to create a compensation signal which is sent to a digital to analog (DAC) converter. This compensation signal then modifies the output of the magnetic field sensor before entering the ADC. Compensation is software controlled, and is thus adaptable to numerous conditions requiring compensation. Apart from being easily tunable, the compensation may respond dynamically to changing conditions. The invention has particular application to airborne electromagnetic surveying where small fields scattered from the Earth are measured in the presence of a large transmitted field. |
| US09389280B2 |
Device for measuring voltage in a fuel cell with an improved arrangement of measurement modules
A device for measuring voltages of N cells in a fuel cell includes plural voltage measurement modules and a communication bus connecting in series the plural measurement devices to a computer. The N cells are separated by bipolar plates. Each module can measure M voltages on a group of adjoining cells of the fuel cell, with M being a natural number, and with M≦N/2. A group of cells measured by a first module is adjacent to group of cells measured by a second module. Each module includes a mechanism for fixing the module onto the fuel cell, a voltage measurement device, a connector for connecting bipolar plates of the module to the voltage measurement device, and a connector for connecting the voltage measurement device to the communication bus. A last bipolar plate connected to the first module also is connected to the second module. |
| US09389275B2 |
Techniques for calibrating measurement systems
Techniques to provide calibration of a measurement system in conjunction with measurement operations. The techniques may include providing a reference device in a signal processing chain within the measurement system. An excitation signal may be driven through the reference device while it may be connected to the signal processing chain within the measurement system and a calibration response may be captured. During a measurement operation, the reference device connection may be complemented with a sensor connection in the signal processing chain and the excitation signal may be driven through the signal processing chain. A measurement response may be captured from the system. The measurement system may generate a calibrated measurement signal that accounts for phase and/or amplitude errors within the system from the calibration response and the measurement response. |
| US09389272B2 |
Method for detecting an electric arc in a photovoltaic installation
Method for detecting an electric are in a photovoltaic device by ultrasound, comprising measuring at least one parameter among the amplitude, the duration and the central frequency, of an electrical signal received by an ultrasound sensor; and comparing the measurement of this at least one parameter of the electrical signal with predefined values in order to determine whether the measurement corresponds to that of an electric arc. |
| US09389269B1 |
System for locating a fault in a power distribution system using a direct current signal of a distributed resource modulated by an alternating current signal
The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject a direct current (DC) signal from the controllable voltage source converter of at least one DC voltage distributed resource into the distribution system and modulating an alternating current (AC) signal on top of the direct current (DC) signal. |
| US09389268B1 |
System for locating a fault in a power distribution system comprising at least one DC voltage distributed resource having a controllable voltage source converter
The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resources is a DC voltage distributed resource comprising a controllable voltage source converter. |
| US09389266B1 |
System for locating a fault in a power distribution system comprising at least one microturbine distributed resource
The present invention provides a system to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resources is a microturbine. |
| US09389264B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing erroneous detection of jack
An apparatus and method for preventing erroneous detection of a jack is provided. The apparatus includes a detection terminal configured to detect whether a jack plug of an earphone is inserted into the jack, a comparator configured to compare a voltage input from the detection terminal with a predetermined reference voltage and provide a comparison result signal to a baseband module, a resistor with a certain resistance value, being interposed between the detection terminal and the comparator to keep a voltage of a high signal not to be lowered than the predetermined reference voltage when the jack is conducted due to conductive particles flowed into the jack. |
| US09389262B2 |
Fault detection device, electrical instrument and fault detection method
A fault detection device includes an interface electrically connected to an electrical instrument to transfer commercial power to the electrical instrument, transmit a command for driving one of a plurality of loads included in the electrical instrument to the electrical instrument, and detect current flowing in one of the plurality of loads of the electrical instrument; and a terminal configured to receive a current signal corresponding to the current flowing in one of the plurality of loads from the interface, determine whether the one load has a fault on the basis of the received current signal and display whether the load has a fault. A faulty load is determined by detecting current of only a load suspected to have a fault when a fault is generated in the electrical instrument so as to improve fault detection accuracy. |
| US09389255B2 |
Millimeter-wave band spectrum analysis device and analysis method
An input signal Sx in a first millimeter-wave frequency band higher than 100 GHz is input to a millimeter-wave band filter 20 in which a pair of radio wave half mirrors 30A and 30B so as to opposite to each other and which performs a resonance operation. A signal component Sa corresponding to the resonance frequency of the filter is extracted, is mixed with a first local signal L1 with a fixed frequency, and is converted into a signal in a second frequency band. The converted signal component Sb is mixed with a second local signal L2 whose frequency is swept and is converted into a signal in a predetermined intermediate frequency band. Then, the level of the signal is detected. The millimeter-wave filter 20 has high selectivity characteristics in a frequency domain higher than 100 GHz and can change its passband center frequency. |
| US09389253B2 |
System and method for real time detection and correlation of devices and power outlets
A system for monitoring and detecting identities of electronic devices, where each of the electronic devices generates unique power up signature during its power up sequence. The system may make use of a plurality of power outlets that each has a specific identification designation, with each one of the electronic devices being assigned to a specific one of the power outlets. A processor may be used which is configured to read the power up signature of a given one of the electronic devices during its power up sequence, when the given electronic device is plugged into a given one of the power outlets and is powering up. The processor may use a stored power up signature for the given power outlet, together with the power up signature read for the given electronic device, to determine if the given electronic device is using its assigned power outlet. |
| US09389252B2 |
Sampling circuitry and sampling method for a plurality of electrodes
A sampling circuitry for a plurality of electrodes the circuitry comprising a plurality of charge amplifiers and a plurality of modulators, wherein each charge amplifier and each modulator, comprised in the plurality of charge amplifiers and the plurality of modulators, respectively, corresponds to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each modulator is capable of generating a residue signal and a rough code corresponding to each sampled electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a multiplexer capable of receiving a plurality of residue signals generated by the plurality of modulators, a residue analog to digital converter capable of receiving a multiplexed residue signal from the multiplexer and outputting a digitized multiplexed residue signal, and a digital summation circuitry capable of receiving the digitized multiplexed residue signal and a plurality of rough codes, comprising each rough code corresponding to each sample electrode, and outputting a plurality of output codes. |
| US09389250B2 |
Load testing apparatus
A load testing apparatus includes a resistive unit that includes one or more resistor groups having a plurality of resistors and is connected with a power source to be tested for a load test. A cooling fan cools the resistors in the resistive unit. The resistive unit includes a current/voltage detection part that detects a current flowing through or a voltage applied to the resistors, the resistor groups, or the resistive unit and a temperature detection part that detects an exhaust temperature at a downstream of the resistive unit. A rotation state detection part detects a rotation state of the cooling fan. A control unit performs off control that stops power supply from the power source to be tested to the resistive unit based on information from the current/voltage detection part, information from the temperature detection part, and information from the rotation state detection part. |
| US09389249B2 |
Current detector
A current detector that detects, based on output signals of N coreless current sensors, where N is a natural number of 3 or more, currents flowing in N conductors in a circuit connected so that the sum of the currents flowing in the N conductors becomes zero. The current detector has a signal-current correlation acquiring section that acquires a signal-current correlation representing a correlation between the output signals of the N coreless current sensors and the currents flowing in the N conductors. Furthermore, a current calculating section that calculates the currents flowing in the N conductors based on the output signals of all the N coreless current sensors by using the signal-current correlation. |
| US09389248B2 |
Sagnac interferometer-type fiber-optic current sensor
In one embodiment, a Sagnac interferometer-type fiber-optic sensor includes a synchronous detection circuit to carry out synchronous detection of detected light signal with a phase modulation angular frequency of a phase modulator. A signal processing circuit calculates and outputs the magnitude of current to be measured using the signal detected in the synchronous detection circuit. A phase modulator driving circuit controls the driving of the phase modulator. The phase modulator driving circuit controls a phase modulation depth of the phase modulator so that the amplitude of the second-order harmonics and the fourth-order harmonics obtained by carrying out the synchronous detection of the detected light signal with the phase modulation angular frequency becomes the same. |
| US09389246B2 |
Multiple layer capacitor divider voltage sensors suitable for circuit breakers and related circuit breakers
Multi-layer capacitor divider voltage sensors include a plurality of voltage sensor conductive layers having sensor to ground interface surfaces. Respective voltage sensor conductive layers are connected to each other and sensor output voltage Vs by continuations of material forming the interface surfaces extending therebetween. The voltage sensors also include a plurality of conductive ground layers connected to electrical ground, the ground layers interleaved with the voltage sensor conductive layers so that a conductive ground layer resides between adjacent conductive voltage sensor layers. A first voltage sensor conductive layer (closest to a line conductor) is electrically connected to the other conductive voltage sensor layers and output voltage Vs and has a sensor to conductor interface surface with a corresponding interface area. The interface areas and the gap distances are configured to provide desired capacitance for attenuation of conductor voltage Vc for a suitably sized Vs in a compact sensor package. |
| US09389244B2 |
Vertical embedded sensor and process of manufacturing thereof
A scanning probe assembly having a nanometer sensor element defined at a tip apex and its method of fabrication using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) processing techniques. The assembly comprises a probe body, a cantilever extending outward, and a hollow tip at the end of the cantilever. A first conductive material is disposed on the hollow tip, followed by a dielectric layer thus embedding the conductive layer. A nanometer hole is milled through the tip, first conductor and dielectric materials. A metal sensor element is deposited by means of electrochemical deposition in the through-hole. A second conductor is deposited on a lower layer. The first and second conductors form electrical connections to the sensor element in the tip. The intra-tip metal, in combination with other layers, may form a thermocouple, thermistor, Schottky diode, ultramicroelectrode, or Hall Effect sensor, and used as a precursor to grow spikes such a nanotubes. |
| US09389243B2 |
Multiple probe actuation
A method of actuating a plurality of probes. Each probe may be made of two or more materials with different thermal expansion coefficients which are arranged such that when the probe is illuminated by an actuation beam it deforms to move the probe relative to a sample. Energy is delivered to the probes by sequentially illuminating them with an actuation beam via an objective lens in a series of scan sequences. Two or more of the probes are illuminated by the actuation beam in each scan sequence and the actuation beam enters the objective lens at a different angle to an optical axis of the objective lens for each probe which is illuminated in a scan sequence. The actuation beam is controlled so that different amounts of energy are delivered to at least two of the probes by the actuation beam during at least one of the scan sequences. |
| US09389242B2 |
Method for obtaining data of substrate processing apparatus and sensor substrate
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data obtainment method for obtaining data on gas flow directions in a plurality of measurement regions in a surface of a substrate loaded onto a loading unit of a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The method includes loading a sensor substrate onto the loading unit in a first direction, and changing the first direction into a second direction. Further, it is obtained a vector data of a gas flow in a first straight direction and a vector data of a gas flow in a second straight direction from each first sensor of the sensor substrate loaded in the first and second directions. Also, the method includes calculating a gas flow direction at each starting point in the first and second measurement regions by combining the vector data. |
| US09389236B2 |
Isolating cells expressing secreted proteins
A method of detecting and isolating cells that produce a secreted protein of interest (POI) that has a T cell receptor variable domain, comprising: a) constructing a cell line transiently or stably expressing a cell surface capture molecule, which binds the POI, by transfecting the cell line with a nucleic acid that encodes such cell surface capture molecule; b) transfecting said cell simultaneously or subsequently with a second nucleic acid that encodes a POI wherein such POI is secreted; c) detecting the surface-displayed POI by contacting the cells with a detection molecule, which binds the POI; and d) isolating cells based on the detection molecule. |
| US09389233B2 |
TET2 as a diagnostic and pronostic marker in hematopoietic neoplasms
The present invention concerns an in vitro method for diagnosing a myeloid tumor or a lymphoid tumor in a subject, which comprises the step of analyzing a biological sample from said subject by (i) detecting the presence of a mutation in the Ten Eleven Translocation protein family member 2 gene (TET2) coding for the polypeptide having the sequence SEQ ID NO:2, and/or (ii) analyzing the expression of the TET2 gene; wherein the detection of such a TET2 mutation, of the absence of expression of TET2 or of the expression of a truncated TET2 is indicative of a subject developing or predisposed to develop a myeloid tumor or a lymphoid tumor. |
| US09389231B2 |
Apparatus comprising magnetically actuated valves and uses thereof
The present invention, in part, relates to an apparatus having a single-use, normally-closed fluidic valve that is initially maintained in the closed position by a valve element bonded to an adhesive coating. The valve is opened using a magnetic force. The valve element includes a magnetic material or metal. In some examples, the valve is opened by bringing a magnet in proximity to the valve element to provide a magnetic force that delaminates the valve element from the adhesive coating. In particular, the apparatus can be useful for on-chip amplification and/or detection of various targets, including biological targets and any amplifiable targets. Such apparatuses and methods are useful for in-field or real-time detection of targets, especially in limited resource settings. |
| US09389230B2 |
Identification of secreted proteins as detection markers for citrus disease
Secreted proteins as detection markers for insect vector and graft transmitted citrus disease are described. Method and kits for detecting the secreted proteins are provided. |
| US09389227B2 |
Solid substrate comprising array of dendrons and methods for using the same
The present invention provides solid supports comprising a surface bound array of dendrons and methods for using the same. |
| US09389224B2 |
Coated beads
The invention relates to a method of coating beads with a biological molecule comprising: (i) coating a plurality of beads with the biological molecule; (ii) mixing the coated beads with a liquid stabilizing and/or blocking agent (iii) dispersing the coated beads still substantially surrounded by a liquid phase comprising the liquid stabilizing and/or blocking agent across a surface that is at least partially liquid permeable; (iv) drying the beads on the surface to substantially remove the liquid phase; and (v) removing the dried beads from the surface. |
| US09389221B2 |
Apparatus for processing biological samples
The present disclosure provides an automated bioprocessing device, which may comprises a processing machine, one or more removable washing cartridges. The removable washing cartridge may comprise a shell, a sample holder, a washing basin, a waste container, a reagent container, a rotation mechanism, and a poking mechanism. The processing machine may comprise a motor, which may provide power to the inserted removable washing cartridge. |
| US09389220B2 |
In vitro assay systems and methods for identifying anti-cancer agents
The present disclosure relates generally to drug discovery and development and, more particularly, to in vitro assay systems and methods for selecting lead anti-cancer agents for subsequent testing in human and non-human subjects. The present disclosure allows filtering for candidate anti-cancer agents that are not inactivated by liver enzymes, are able to diffuse through cell layers, are not toxic to bone marrow cells, retain anti-cancer activity in the context of stromal support, and are effective after time-limited exposure mimicking non-hepatic clearance by kidneys and other mechanisms. |
| US09389219B2 |
Methods for screening inhibitors of tumor associated protein aggregation
The disclosure relates to the fields of protein aggregation diseases including cancer. More specifically, it concerns a screening method for identifying compounds that inhibit or disrupt co-aggregation of one or more member proteins of a disease-related protein aggregome, in particular, a tumor-associated protein aggregome. Further, disclosed are agents and compounds identified by the screening method that can be applied to prevent or to treat protein aggregation diseases, such as cancer. |
| US09389213B2 |
Tablet test station
The invention relates to a tablet test station, including at least one receptacle for the transfer of tablets from an outlet of a feed device and at least one test means for inspecting, testing and/or measuring the tablets. A lifting device (20) is provided for moving the receptacle (15) relative to the feed device (13). |
| US09389211B2 |
Device for detecting properties of chemical and/or biological fluids
The present invention relates to a device for investigating, measuring and/or detecting properties of chemical and/or biological fluids as well as to a device for performing these procedures and a system comprising a holder for holding at least one of said devices. A device for detecting properties of chemical and/or biological fluids may comprise a tubular structure with a cavity for accommodating the fluid, the tubular structure comprising a magnetizable and/or magnetic material, wherein the tubular structure comprises a segment that is transparent to light of wavelength 200 nm to 2000 nm. |
| US09389209B2 |
Oxoanion concentration determination using aluminum reagents
To determine the concentration of an oxoanion in an aqueous solution, an aluminum reagent is added to the aqueous solution to form an optical analysis solution. Addition of the aluminum reagent may or may not form an alumino-oxoanion hydroxide hydrate precipitate. Light is directed into the optical analysis solution to determine an optical response of the optical analysis solution. Thereafter, the concentration of the oxoanion in the aqueous solution is determined based on the optical response of the optical analysis solution. For example, the concentration of the oxoanion may be calculated using a molar ratio relating oxoanion concentration to aluminum reagent concentration, when the aluminum reagent concentration corresponds to an inflection point of the optical response of the optical analysis solution. |
| US09389204B2 |
Method and system of ultrasound scatterer characterization
A method for characterizing ultrasound scatterers in a medium comprising providing ultrasound data representing a region of interest comprising a plurality of scatterers in a medium, the plurality of scatterers including clusters of scatterer sub-units, the scatterers having a physical property value to be estimated and the scatterer sub-units having at least one known physical parameter value; modelling the ultrasound data using an at least second order function of a spatial organization parameter defining the spatial organization of the scatterers; and estimating the physical property value of the scatterers from the modelled ultrasound data and the at least one known physical parameter of the sub-units by a regression of the spatial organization parameter as a function of frequency. A system for characterizing ultrasound scatterers is also included. |
| US09389201B2 |
Adaptive electromagnetic probe for twisted tube heat exchanger
An electromagnetic probe for non-destructive inspection of a twisted tube of a twisted tube heat exchanger comprising a probe body having a sensing section being configured to allow circulation of the probe body within the length of circular tube and the length of helical oval tube and to allow displacement of the electromagnetic sensor(s) from a radially inward contracted position to a radially outward expanded position in close proximity to an interior surface of a crest of the oval tube; a conduit attached to a proximal end of the probe body, the at least one conductor extending within the conduit to a remote end of the electromagnetic probe. |
| US09389193B1 |
Spatially resolved magnetic resonance spin-spin relaxation distribution measurement methods
A slice-selective CPMG pulse sequence with a DANTE-Z selective scheme for measuring spatially-resolved T2 distributions. |
| US09389188B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing optical films
A structure for testing a luminescent film includes a Lambertian light source, an integrating sphere having an input port, and a measuring device. The Lambertian light source includes a mixing chamber having an input port and an output port, and a light emitter coupled to the input port. During testing the luminescent film is positioned between the output port of the mixing chamber and the input port of the integrating sphere. The measuring device is optically coupled to the integrating sphere. |
| US09389186B2 |
Scattering spectroscopy nano sensor
A scattering spectroscopy nanosensor includes a nanoscale-patterned sensing substrate to produce an optical scattering response signal indicative of a presence of an analyte when interrogated by an optical stimulus. The scattering spectroscopy nanosensor further includes a protective covering to cover and protect the nanoscale-patterned sensing substrate. The protective covering is to be selectably removed by exposure to an optical beam incident on the protective covering. The protective covering is to prevent the analyte from interacting with the nanoscale-patterned sensing substrate prior to being removed. |
| US09389184B2 |
Two-photon endoscopic scanning assembly for inflammatory disease detection
An endscopic imaging device is described that achieves longitudinal axis (z-axis) scanning into a tissue or sample, using a piezoelectric microactuator. In some configurations, additional lateral (xy-plane) scanning is also achieved, to allow for the creation of full three-dimensional imaging, ex vivo or in vivo. The techniques may be used to image and diagnosis allergic rhinitis and eosinophilic esophagitis in tissue. |
| US09389179B2 |
Analysis apparatus and electronic device
An analysis apparatus includes an electric field enhancing element including a metallic layer, a transmissive layer on the metallic layer and transmitting excitation light, and metallic particles on the transmissive layer with first and second pitches in first and second directions; a light source irradiating the element with first direction linearly polarized light, second direction linearly polarized light, and/or circularly polarized light as the excitation light; and a detector detecting light from the element. The pitches are selected relative to the pitch of a diffraction grating. The thickness of the transmissive layer is selected relative to the wavelength of the excitation light. |
| US09389177B2 |
Method and device for analysis of a fluid by means of evanescence field spectroscopy and dielectrophoresis
A device for analyzing a fluid by evanescence field spectroscopy. The device includes a waveguide, a source of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the waveguide on the entry side, and a detector coupled to the waveguide on the exit side for detecting electromagnetic radiation, wherein the waveguide is arranged in contact with the fluid in at least certain sections between its entry side and its exit side. An electrode arrangement is also provided, which is designed to generate an inhomogeneous electric field in the direct environment of the waveguide, said field exerting a dielectrophoretic force on polarisable particles in the fluid, which moves these particles towards or away from the waveguide. A corresponding method is presented. |
| US09389176B2 |
Device for predicting amount of coarse flakes in coating compositions by wet color measurement
The present invention is directed to a device for predicting amount of coarse flakes, such as metallic aluminum flakes present in a coating composition, such as automotive OEM or refinish paint. The device includes measuring flop of a layer of the coating composition applied over a test substrate by using flop prediction device of the present invention. The process is repeated with varying amounts of one or more different types of coarse flakes added to the composition and the flop vs. amount of coarse flakes present in the coating composition is plotted on a graph and then by using a curve fitting equation, a flake amount prediction curve is obtained. By measuring the flop of a wet layer of a target coating composition, the amount of coarse flakes present in the target coating composition can then be predicted by using the flake amount prediction curve. The device is most useful during the manufacture of coating compositions, such as automotive OEM and refinishes paints. |
| US09389175B2 |
Device and process to approximate somatic cell count of untreated mammalian milk
Device and process to approximate somatic cell count (SCC) of untreated mammalian milk by the two variable equation SCC=f (FSL, FAT) with a forward scattered light factor (FSL) being obtained by detecting light scattered by the milk into an angular range within, and less than, the angular range 0.0 to 0.5 degrees away from the central axis of incident light, with a proxy (FAT) for the fat content of the milk, which may be obtained by detecting light attenuation of the milk sample, and with the function (f) being obtained by calibration of the device using reference milk samples. |
| US09389172B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the non-destructive measurement of diffusion in non-uniform substrates
Non-invasive THz spectroscopic apparatus and methods are provided for measuring the average diffusion coefficients for a structure such as cork. The methods may be used to image the localized presence of water in the structure to produce time-dependent images of liquid propagation in the structure. |
| US09389163B2 |
Soot sensor system
A soot sensor includes a soot sensor including a first element on a first surface of the soot sensor. A soot sensing system may include a soot sensor and circuitry electrically coupled to the first element of the soot sensor. The circuitry is configured to determine an amount of soot accumulated on the first element and to control heating of the first element in response to the soot accumulation. |
| US09389161B2 |
On-line FT-NIR method to determine particle size and distribution
This invention relates to a method for the determination of the average particle size or particle size distribution of a material in a gas phase reactor comprising: 1) analyzing the average particle size and particle size distribution of a baseline composition using the method described in ASTM D1921; 2) analyzing the average particle size and particle size distribution of said baseline composition using an FT-NIR analysis technique; 3) preparing a calibration matrix by comparing results from said reference analytical technique to the results from said FT-NIR analysis technique; 4) analyzing the material using an FT-NIR technique; and 5) identifying and quantifying the type and content of particles present in the material by comparing spectral data obtained from said FT-NIR technique of the material to said calibration matrix.This invention also relates to a process for determining polymer properties in a polymerization reactor system using such techniques. |
| US09389156B2 |
Method for determining the stiffness and/or damping of an area of a physicalness
The invention relates to a method for determining the soil stiffness (kB) of a soil area (2). For this purpose, a vibration-excited contact body (6, 8) of a soil compacting device (1) acts upon the soil surface (9) in such a way that during the acting upon an unsteady loss of contact (jumping) between the soil surface (9) and the contact body (6, 8) occurs. While acting upon the soil surface, parameters (f) of the oscillation excitation and parameters ({umlaut over (x)}d) of the oscillation response (xd) of the contact body (6, 8) are determined and from these in combination with known parameters (mu, ru, md) of the soil compacting device (1) the soil stiffness (kB) is computed. |
| US09389155B1 |
Fatigue test specimen
A metallic test specimen (20) extends along a central longitudinal axis (500) between a first end (22) and a second end (24). The specimen has a first mounting section (30) and a section mounting section (32). A narrowed gauge section (34) is between the first mounting section and the second mounting section. The first mounting section and the second mounting section each have a blind compartment (44) extending longitudinally inward to a closed end (46). |
| US09389154B2 |
Tissue cassette with biasing element
An apparatus for holding a tissue sample including a retaining member having a first tissue engaging surface and at least one biasing element, the first tissue engaging surface being moveably attached to the retaining member by said biasing element; and a base having a second tissue engaging surface and configured to engage the retaining member to form an interior area with the first and second tissue engaging surfaces facing each other, wherein the at least one biasing element urges the first tissue engaging surface toward the second tissue engaging surface to retain the tissue sample therebetween in the interior area. |
| US09389153B2 |
Container system for tissue stabilization for molecular and histopathology diagnostics
A system for storing a biological sample for transfer between two different environments is provided. The system includes a first container defining a first container interior, and a second container defining a second container interior. A first closure is provided for enclosing the open end of the first container, with the first closure adapted to receive a sample holder. A second closure is also provided for enclosing the open end of the second container. The first container is adapted to removably receive the sample holder therein when the first closure encloses the open end of the first container, and the second container is adapted to subsequently receive the same sample holder therein when the first closure encloses the open end of the second container. |
| US09389151B2 |
Fixed volume aseptic sampling valve for sampling from enclosed containers
A sample can be collected from an enclosed container by opening a sample collection valve and drawing the sample from the enclosed container. After delivery of the sample out of a fluid flow path, a sanitizing fluid can be directed along the fluid flow path to sanitize the fluid flow path. |
| US09389150B2 |
Pipe outer surface inspection apparatus
A pipe outer surface inspection apparatus. The apparatus may include a carriage adapted for turning on a pipe to be inspected and includes a pipe inspection head. The apparatus may include at least one of a surface profile gauge, coating thickness gauge, and coating holiday detector. The apparatus may include a pendulum encoder, a cable guard, and/or a magnetic fastener. Associated methods are also disclosed. |
| US09389145B2 |
Hybrid diesel electric powertrains and emissions testing thereof
Diesel electric hybrid powertrains and methods of operating and testing such powertrains are disclosed. Certain exemplary embodiments comprise test and certification methods in which a controller operates a diesel engine alone, an integrated motor/generator alone, or both the diesel engine and the motor/generator to provide brake torque at a common output shaft according to predetermined duty cycle criteria. Emissions are measured based upon criteria accounting for the effects of regenerative braking, engine shut off, and other operational modes unique to hybrid powertrains. Further exemplary embodiments comprise hybrid powertrain systems and methods of operating the same meeting performance and emissions requirements including respective limits on NOx, hydrocarbon, particulate matter, CO, and CO2 without reliance conventional emissions reduction devices or techniques. |
| US09389143B2 |
Test system
One or more testing devices used for a test, a device management apparatus that is communicably connected to the testing devices to manage the testing devices, and an automatic test management apparatus that sets a schedule of the test, and on the basis of the schedule, issues a command to the device management apparatus are provided. The device management apparatus is provided with a disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part that senses that a disconnecting/connecting operation for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices has been performed; and a management main body part that, in the case where the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects a connecting operation, starts a predetermined connecting protocol for establishing a connecting state and starts management of the testing device, as well as in the case where the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects a disconnecting operation, canceling the connection to terminate the management of the testing device. |
| US09389141B2 |
Cylinder intake air amount estimation apparatus for internal combustion engine
An estimation device for a cylinder intake air amount in an internal combustion engine can make calculations in real time with a high accuracy in a small number of adaptation constants. The device includes an AFS, a volumetric efficiency corresponding value calculation unit that calculates a volumetric efficiency correction factor which is an index indicating an amount of air entering a cylinder, a physical model that models a response delay of an intake system, and a unit that calculates a cylinder intake air amount actually sucked into the cylinder by using the amount of intake air, the volumetric efficiency correction factor and the physical model. The volumetric efficiency correction factor required for calculating the amount of air sucked into the cylinder by a response delay model of the intake system is calculated by using the intake air amount, an intake manifold density, and an intake manifold density change amount. |
| US09389140B1 |
Systems and methods for testing optical fiber
Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring a characteristic parameter of an optical fiber are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for testing an optical fiber comprises: a light source enclosed within a housing and configured to couple to a first end of the optical fiber; a detector enclosed within the housing and configured to couple to a second end of the optical fiber; and a non-planar table defining a curved path, the non-planar table attached to the housing and configured to guide the optical fiber along the curved path in three dimensions. In this way, an optical fiber may be deployed for testing with minimal manual manipulation of the optical fiber. |
| US09389138B2 |
Apparatus and method to detect damage of a component of a system
An apparatus and method detect damage of a component of a system. The damage detection apparatus includes a first grid of sensors arranged in a first orientation on a surface of the component and configured to generate a first set of signals. The apparatus also includes a second grid of sensors, independent from the first grid of sensors, arranged in a second orientation on an insulating layer on the surface of the component and configured to generate a second set of signals, the second orientation overlapping with the first orientation. A processor detects the damage based on a change in at least one signal of the first set of signals or the second set of signals. |
| US09389135B2 |
Systems and methods for calibrating a load cell of a disk burnishing machine
Systems and methods for performing in situ testing of a load cell disposed within a disk burnishing machine are provided. One such system includes a load cell bracket attached to a component of the disk burnishing machine, where the load cell is mounted within the load cell bracket and has a force measuring surface. The load cell bracket can be oriented such that the force measuring surface faces a direction that is about opposite to a direction of gravity. The system can further include a preselected weight and a weight holder configured to receive the preselected weight, to be mounted to the load cell bracket, and to be aligned with the load cell. The preselected weight can be positioned within the weight holder and on the force measuring surface of the load cell. The load cell can then be tested, calibrated, and/or replaced if necessary. |
| US09389134B2 |
Synthetic resin based pressure sensor with a three-dimensional circuit
A sensor includes: a housing with a terminal; a joint including a projecting portion; a sensor module provided to the projecting portion and including a strain gauge; a conductive member connecting the terminal and the strain gauge; a cap-shaped synthetic resin base provided to the projecting portion, including a top with an opening in which the strain gauge is exposed and lateral portions intersecting the top, and having an inner circumferential surface slidable along an outer circumferential surface of the projecting portion; and an electronic component mounted on the lateral portions. The conductive member includes: a flexible circuit board having a first end connected to the terminal and a second end connected to the base; and a three-dimensional circuit connected to the electronic component, three-dimensionally arranged continuously along the top and the lateral portions of the base, and having one end connected to the flexible circuit board. |
| US09389130B2 |
Assembly, system and method for cable tension measurement
A tension measurement assembly, for measuring and monitoring a tension force in a cable being deployed from a spooling device on which the cable is spooled, comprises at least one force sensor disposed adjacent the spooling device for sensing a force applied to the spooling device and generating a force signal representing the sensed force, and a processor responsive to the force signal for calculating and monitoring a tension force present in the cable. A cable sensor engages the deployed cable for sensing a spooling/unspooling rate and a length of the cable moving past the cable sensor in a pre-determined time period and generating a spooling signal representing the sensed rate and length to the processor for use in the calculating and monitoring of the tension force. |
| US09389129B2 |
Device feedback sensor testing methodology for humidity and temperature probes
An embodiment of the present invention is an algorithmic method for testing performance characteristics of humidity and temperature probes, i.e., accuracy, stability, and repeatability of humidity and temperature sensor probes over a user selected dynamic range, which is programmable by an end user. Further, the testing is accomplished and completed by using a specially designed humidity and temperature test chamber that is traceable to NIST (National Institute of Science and Technology). Ongoing, and final, testing results are made visible for study by the end user via a computer display, and there is printout availability. Further, testing in the chamber utilizes a method for probe attachment to the chamber and control thereof. |
| US09389128B2 |
Temperature detection device
A temperature detection device is connected to a temperature sensor, and includes two resistors, a transistor and a microcomputer. The temperature sensor is connected to ground. The resistors are connected in series between the temperature sensor and a power supply line. The transistor is connected to the resistor, which is at the power supply line side. The microcomputer switches over a characteristic of a sensor voltage, which is developed at a junction between the resistor and the temperature sensor, to a first characteristic and a second characteristic by switching over the transistor to an on-state and an off-state. The microcomputer calculates a temperature based on the sensor voltage. When the transistor is in the on-state, the microcomputer detects a voltage developed at a low-potential side output terminal of the transistor and calculates the temperature based on the transistor output voltage and the sensor voltage. |
| US09389125B2 |
Method for making an infrared detection device
An infrared detection device including an infrared heat detector and a connection pad each spaced apart from an etching stop layer by a non-zero distance substantially equal relatively to each other, wherein first and second electrically conducting vias are respectively electrically connected to first and second portions of a metal line of a penultimate level of electrical interconnections, and wherein an empty space formed in a first inter-metal dielectric layer surrounds the first electrically conducting via and extends under the infrared heat detector. |
| US09389122B1 |
Determining color at an object point from multple images providing conflicting color information
A set of images of an object are captured from a set of lenses positioned at different angles. A common point is determined, which has a color value that differs among the images. Color at the point is mathematically expressed as a set of equations. The equations comprise a recorded color value for the point, an ambient contribution, a diffuse contribution, and a specular contribution. The ambient and diffuse contributions are set as equal across the equations. The specular contribution is determined, such as by quantifying the light sources and solving for the specular contribution using a Phong lighting model equation. True color for the point, which is based on the ambient and diffuse contribution, is determined by solving a set of simultaneous equations once the specular contribution is known. An image is created where the point has the true color as determined above. |
| US09389120B2 |
Spectral detector or laser scanning microscope having variable filtration using spatial color separation
Laser scanning microscope or spectral detector having a detection beam path and first imaging optics which image spectrally dispersed sample light in a Fourier plane such that the individual spectral components of the sample light are spatially separated from one another therein. A micromirror arrangement is provided in this plane, and a spectrally selective change in direction of the detection beam is carried out by controlling the micromirrors, where a useful light component of the detection beam arrives on a detector. At least one second micromirror arrangement and a 1:1 imaging of the first micromirror arrangement in the second micromirror arrangement is provided. Alternatively, the same micromirror arrangement is passed at least twice, where, in the light path between the first pass and second pass, a spatial offset of the light beam of at least the first pass and second pass is generated on the micromirror arrangement by optical means. |
| US09389111B2 |
Dynamic-adaptive vapor reduction system and method
A system and method for improved flow measurements for LCG, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), is disclosed. Embodiments of the present technology detect the presence of a vapor in a fluid flowing in a mass flow meter. A control valve is then adjusted to provide enough back pressure to prevent the measured liquid from flashing and to reduce the presence of vapor in the fluid flowing in the mass flow meter. By keeping the fluid in liquid form, the present technology reduces the vapor flowing in the mass flow meter, increasing the accuracy of mass flow and other measurements. Utilizing a similar principle of vapor detection, embodiments of the present technology provide for improved average parameter value calculation, such as average density calculations and equivalent liquid volume calculations. |
| US09389106B2 |
Remote seal pressure measurement system for subsea use
A remote seal assembly for subsea applications is provided. The assembly includes an upper housing having a fluid coupling for coupling the remote seal to a process fluid pressure measurement device. A lower housing is coupled to the upper housing and has an interface that is configured to mount to a pressure vessel. The lower housing also has a process fluid inlet. An isolation diaphragm is disposed between the upper and lower housings. At least one of the upper housing, lower housing and isolation diaphragm are constructed from a material suitable for immersion in saltwater. In some embodiments, the lower housing has a shoulder disposed about the process fluid inlet and a plurality of self-energizing seals configured to couple the assembly to a venturi flow meter body. A subsea process fluid flow measurement system is also provided that includes a pressure transmitter and at least one subsea remote seal assembly. |
| US09389105B2 |
Distributed sensor grid, surface, and skin systems and methods
The present disclosure provides distributed sensor grid, surface, and skin systems and methods that utilize compressive sampling systems and methods for reading and processing the outputs of sensor arrays (serial and/or parallel) such that increased speed can be achieved. These sensor arrays can be functionalized or sensitized in any desired manner and functions are derived from the outputs, as opposed to individual data points. The sensor arrays can be made in the form of a textile, a fiber optic network, a MEMS network, or a CMOS camera, for example. In general, in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure, a Code is applied to a distributed sensor as part of the compressive sampling technique and derives the functions. |
| US09389103B1 |
Sensor array packaging solution
A gigahertz sensor array packaging solution for harsh operating environments is disclosed. The sensor array packaging system includes a structural core body comprising sensor mounting features on a surface thereof and an alignment through hole extending from the surface to a backside thereof which incorporates finned features providing cooling and stiffness. The sensor array packaging system further includes one or more electro-optical components mounted to the backside of the structural core body. The sensor array packaging system further includes a wiring board comprising a plurality of sensor array elements contacting walls of the spiral ribbon configuration, each having a cable extending through the through hole to at least one of the one or more electro-optical components. |
| US09389099B2 |
Multi-turn absolute magnetic encoder
A multi-turn absolute magnetic encoder, comprising (M+1) counting units, a single-turn signal processing unit, and a multi-turn signal processing unit. Each counting unit comprises counting wheels with a cylindrical ring permanent magnet fixed thereon, and a tunneling magnetoresistive angular displacement sensor. The magnetoresistive angular displacement sensor is located within a region in a detection plane of the permanent magnet at within a specific radius range from the axis of the cylindrical ring permanent magnet, within the detection plane the angle of a component of a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet is linearly proportional to the rotation angle of the cylindrical ring permanent magnet. The single-turn signal processing unit calculates and outputs a code characterizing the absolute angular position of the input shaft based on the sensor signal of the first counting unit; and the multi-turn signal processing unit calculates and outputs the integer number of turns of the input shaft based on the sensor signals of the second counting unit to (M+1) counting units. |
| US09389096B2 |
Determining location information using a location data point provided by a computing device
A system and method for determining location information using a location data point provided by a computing device is described. A location data point is received by a system from a client computing device. The system determines whether the location data point is within a predefined region from a plurality of predefined regions configured by a user of the system. If the location data point is within a predefined region, location information corresponding to the predefined region is transmitted to the client device. If the location data point is not within a predefined region, one or more third-party reverse geocoding services can be used that translates the location data point to a street address. |
| US09389094B2 |
Methods and systems for determining routing
Systems and methods are presented for sequencing locations and events and determining routing and itineraries for the sequence. In some embodiments the system may receive a starting location, a first location, and a second location in a default order. The system may determine a sequence from the starting location for the first location and the second location. The system may generate a route for the sequence with the route having transportation directions between the starting location, the second location, and the first location indicative of the sequence. The system may display the route in a graphical user interface of an application. |
| US09389091B2 |
Methods and apparatus for attribute-based navigation
Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for attribute-based navigation are disclosed. In one embodiment, responsive to a request for a location having a variable attribute, a destination is selected based at least in part upon a value of the variable attribute. Navigation instructions from a current location are provided. |
| US09389087B2 |
Navigating with a camera device
A navigation system and method are described. A destination may be determined for a user. A starting location may be determined for the user using data obtained via a mobile device of the user. The user may be enabled to establish a route from the starting location to the destination using the mobile device. Route information that details the established route may be stored in a database for subsequent display to other users. In some embodiments, a value total for each user may be stored, and value may be added to the user's value total in response to the user establishing the route from the starting location to the destination. |
| US09389085B2 |
Map handling for location based services in conjunction with localized environments
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, apparatuses, devices, articles, and means for map handling for location based services in conjunction with localized environments. For certain example implementations, a method may comprise storing map information corresponding to a particular localized environment that is associated with a particular location context identifier, with the particular localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure; receiving update information applicable to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment, with the update information being associated with the particular location context identifier; updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the update information so as to produce updated map information; and providing the updated map information to one or more mobile devices that are located at the particular localized environment. Other example implementations are described herein. |
| US09389078B2 |
Gyro sensor and electronic apparatus
A gyro sensor includes a first detection mass unit provided with a drive mass unit, a drive unit, a first detection unit and a first vibrating body; and a second detection mass unit provided with a second detection unit and a second vibrating body, the first vibrating body extends in the direction of the first axis and one end thereof is connected to the first detection mass unit, the second vibrating body extends in a direction that is opposite to an extension direction of the first vibrating body, and one end thereof is connected to the second detection mass unit, and the vibrating bodies vibrate in the direction of a third axis, along with the vibration in the direction of the first axis. |
| US09389075B2 |
Conduit-bending level
A conduit-bending level has a pair of bubble levels oriented in such a manner as to facilitate the bending of conduit in a first plane and a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. This bending operation is preferably conducted without having to detach the conduit-bending level from the conduit in order to make the second bend. |
| US09389073B2 |
Rotation laser having lens which is deformable in a targeted manner by actuators
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a rotation laser and a method for operating a rotation laser. The rotation laser may be provided with a laser light source for generating a laser beam, a deflection means rotatable about a rotation axis and serving for the directional emission of the laser beam, and an optical system comprising one or more lenses for manipulating the laser beam. In some embodiments, at least one of the lenses is a lens which is deformable in a targeted manner by actuators. In some embodiments, a control unit is included for manipulating the at least one lens. In some embodiments, the at least one lens has at least four actuators which are drivable by the control unit and/or which are arranged in a manner distributed along a circumference of the lens. |
| US09389072B1 |
Embedded wireless failure detection in composite material
A method for embedded failure detection includes embedding radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at varying depths within a composite material comprising a polymer, an epoxy or an aggregate bonded with a fluid. Each RFID tag is attached with an insulated wire loop and configured to communicate tag identification and resistance on each insulated wire loop upon being energized by an RFID reader. The RFID tags are read with an RFID reader after initial curing of the composite material for reference information. The RFID reader reads the RFID tags after a particular time period for current information. The current information is compared to the reference information. It is determined whether a change information has occurred for any of the RFID tags to detect a possible failure of the composite material. |
| US09389071B2 |
Estimating thickness of a material layer on an aircraft
In some aspects, a wireless system is configured for estimating a thickness of a material layer on a surface of an aircraft. The wireless system includes a tag device located beneath a material layer. The tag device is capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal in response to an electromagnetic signal. In some aspects, a transceiver device is configured to estimate the thickness of a material layer on a surface of an aircraft. The transceiver can be configured to communicate with a tag using electromagnetic signals. The transceiver can include one or more processors configured to measure signal strength and correlate the signal strength to the thickness of a material layer. |
| US09389069B2 |
Compact 3D depth capture systems
Compact 3D depth capture systems are based on a 3D system driver/interface, a 3D system camera, and a 3D system projector. The systems are compatible with integration in to mobile electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet computers. |
| US09389067B2 |
Three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus, three-dimensional shape measuring method, program, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a projection unit configured to project a projection pattern onto an object, an imaging unit configured to capture an image of the object on which the projection pattern is projected, and a derivation unit configured to derive a three-dimensional shape of the object based on the image captured by the imaging unit. The projection pattern projected on the object by the projection unit includes a first pattern including a continuous luminance variation repetitively arranged at certain distances in a predetermined direction, and a second pattern having information for identifying the position of the measurement pattern in the captured image in an area between peaks in the measurement pattern. |
| US09389066B2 |
Lens position detecting circuit and method
A position of a lens is detected by detecting, using a phototransistor, light that is emitted from a photodiode and that varies depending on lens position. A control unit divides a moving range of the lens into a plurality of areas, approximates a relationship between lens positions and current of the phototransistor for each of the areas, corrects a current of the phototransistor using the approximated relationship so as to obtain a corrected detection current having a linear relationship with respect to lens positions, and detects the position of the lens using the obtained corrected detection current. |
| US09389063B2 |
Chip-scale interferometry for hyperentanglement processing
An interferometer module for quantum processing is described including a substrate having two or more input ports and two or more output ports; multiple photonic pathways embedded in the substrate for conveying photons from the two or more input ports and the two or more output ports; and one or more partial beam splitters embedded in the substrate in a photonic pathway for generating spatial and polarization entanglement. |
| US09389060B2 |
Magnetic field sensor and related techniques that provide an angle error correction module
A magnetic field sensor can include a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements; an angle processing circuit to generate an uncorrected x-y angle value representative of an angle of a magnetic field in an x-y plane, the uncorrected x-y angle value comprising a first angle error component; an angle error correction module to generate an x-y angle error value indicative of an error in the uncorrected x-y angle value, wherein the angle error correction module uses a sinusoidal error relationship, a sine look up table, and a coefficient table memory to determine the x-y angle error value; and a combining module to combine the uncorrected x-y angle value with the x-y angle error value. A similar method is used. |
| US09389059B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring length of pipe
An apparatus for detecting a pipe length in an air conditioning system includes a detector to detect a signal traveled through a pipe; and a processor to determine a pipe length based on the detected signal. |
| US09389051B2 |
Hollow tube projectiles and launch systems thereof
A hollow tube projectile is configured with a leading edge to first exit a firearm barrel and a trailing edge to follow there through, the hollow tube projectile comprising an annular airfoil slug. A longitudinal cross section of the annular airfoil slug resembles an airplane wing having a rounded leading edge and a sharp trailing edge and an outer lift surface there around and an inner cylindrical surface. Three or more fins are distributed equidistantly around the annular airfoil slug, each fin having an inner edge complementary to the outer lift surface and an outer edge parallel to a major axis through the annular airfoil slug. The hollow tube projectile further comprises a launch wafer comprising a metal insert adapted to contain combustion gases during launch of the annular airfoil slug. The launch wafer is adapted to receive the metal insert and concentrically position it within a hollow tube cartridge. |
| US09389047B2 |
Ballistic resistant armor article
This invention pertains to a ballistic resistant article comprising at least one first layer facing a projectile and at least one second layer adjacent to the at least one first layer and facing an object to be protected wherein, under a ballistic event, the at least one first layer is capable of undergoing a shock induced non-reversible phase transformation. |
| US09389046B2 |
Sight module for firearm
A sight module for a firearm having a barrel axis includes a base for detachably attaching onto the firearm, a first optic upwardly extended from the base to define a first sight axis parallel to the barrel axis of the firearm, and a second optic sidewardly extended from the first optic to define a second sight axis parallel to the barrel axis of the firearm and orientated at an offset angle with respect to the first sight axis, wherein a distance between the first sight axis and the barrel axis equals to a distance between the second sight axis and the barrel axis. Therefore, a user is able to maintain the same cheek weld on the firearm stock to view one of the first and second optics in order to quickly switch between the first and second optics by simply rotating the firearm. |
| US09389044B2 |
Firearm accessory
A device is convertible between a knife and a fore grip of a firearm. The device has a grip body operatively connected to a blade, and an attachment member connecting the grip body to a longitudinally extending rail of a firearm. The blade converts between an extended position when the device is disconnected from the firearm to a stored position when the device is connected the rail. The blade remains oriented along the longitudinal axis of the grip body when it is in both the stored position and the extended position. The grip body remains operatively connected to the blade when the device is disconnected from the firearm and the blade is in the extended position. |
| US09389043B1 |
Free floating rail for a firearm
A rail is mounted solely to a barrel nut so that the rail is free-floating and does not affect movement of the barrel when the firearm is fired. The rail may have first and second wedges that are drawn together and frictionally engage a smooth exterior surface of the barrel nut in order to frictionally engage the wedges and the barrel nut. The first and second wedges have contact surfaces defined by a radius which is equal to a radius of the exterior surface of the barrel nut. By forming the contact surfaces of the first and second wedges to have a radius equal to the radius of the barrel nut, the maximum area of the contact surfaces contact or engage the exterior surface of the barrel nut to maximize frictional engagement between the barrel nut and the wedges. |
| US09389042B1 |
Projectile launchers
Projectile launchers as disclosed herein comprise a reciprocating false barrel or other forward member to cock and air pump and/or to advance a projectile magazine. |
| US09389041B2 |
Spiral elastic element for a shooting device
The elastic shooting support device according to the present invention is made up of at least one spiral elastic element arranged on the body of a shooting support, the elastic element being fixed by one of its ends to said shooting support, while the other end is connected to a string that is brought from an idle position to a stretched position by winding and compressing the spiral elastic element. |
| US09389035B2 |
Retrofit for firearm having gas-operated reloading system
A retrofit apparatus is disclosed for a gas-operated reloading firearm having a pressure control unit to operate the firearm in either manual or semi-automatic operation. The pressure control unit is coupled to the reloading unit to reduce a gas flow to the reloading unit in a first configuration and allow the gas flow to the reloading unit in a second configuration. A controller is coupled to the pressure control unit to operate the firearm in the first or second configuration. The firearm operates in a first configuration requiring manual operation until it receives continuous manual actuation to enable the reloading unit in a second configuration. |
| US09389034B2 |
Gas regulator for a firearm and firearm with gas regulator
A gas regulator for a rifle is provided, the gas regulator having: an elongated member having a first end and a second end; a head portion located at the first end; a pair of openings passing through the elongated member, wherein one of the pair of openings is larger than the other one of the pair of openings; and a recessed area located at the second end. |
| US09389032B2 |
Upper receiver wear surface
A firearm receiver wear surface is disclosed. When inserted within a corresponding wear surface cavity in a firearm receiver, a wear surface pin contacts and engages with the hook of a charging handle latch. In one example, a wear surface cavity for receiving a wear surface pin may be machined within the upper receiver of a modular rifle. The positioning of the wear surface cavity and wear surface pin can prevent the charging handle latch from contacting and causing unwanted wear on the upper receiver. In some embodiments, the wear surface pin may be a replaceable pin-shaped object made from a more durable material than the material of the upper receiver. For example, the wear surface pin may be a steel coiled spring pin that is pressure-fit into a wear surface cavity in an aluminum alloy upper receiver. |
| US09389031B2 |
Removable pin with insertion aperture
A removable pin for securing two or more structures together, the pin including an insertion aperture for aiding in assembling the pin into at least one of said two or more structures. The insertion aperture is formed to receive and allow the passage of mechanical components that are necessary for proper functioning of the pin or overall mechanical device associated with the pin. A tool sized for insertion into the insertion aperture may be utilized to insert the mechanical components through the insertion aperture. The tool may also be utilized to manipulate the pin such that further assembly is possible. |
| US09389030B2 |
Splash grids for rain or spray zones
A splash grid is provided for installation in a rain zone of liquid gas contacting industrial equipment. The splash grid has a supporting frame assembly and multiple generally parallel elongate elements supported by the frame assembly. The elongate elements each has a transverse dimension, in plan view, not exceeding 3 mm, and a spacing in plan view not exceeding 10 mm. The elongate elements may be of a molded plastic material that is optionally integral with a surround that forms, or is attached to, the supporting frame assembly. Alternatively, the elongate elements may be separately manufactured flexible filament or cord supported by a surround that forms or is attached to the supporting frame assembly. The elongate elements may be staggered in the vertical direction and gaps may be provided for larger objects to pass through the splash grid. A liquid cooling installation having a rain zone fitted with a splash grid is also provided. |
| US09389027B2 |
Plate-type heat exchanger reactor and method for producing the same
The present invention relates to a plate-type heat exchange reactor and a method of manufacturing thereof, and there is provided a method of manufacturing a plate-type heat exchange reactor and a plate-type heat exchange reactor manufactured in the manufacturing method, the method including the steps of preparing side surface plates respectively provided with a plurality of slits formed in parallel along a longitudinal direction; arranging two side surface plates in a vertical direction to face each other with a space therebetween; forming a plurality of fluid passage channels by inserting a plurality of fluid passage partition walls into the slits provided on the two side surface plates in parallel in a horizontal direction; and bonding the side surface plates and the fluid passage partition walls. |
| US09389026B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger may include a shell; a first pipe that guides a first fluid into the shell; a plurality of spiral pipe portions, through which a second fluid, which exchanges heat with the first fluid, may pass, that have different distances from a central axis; and a second pipe that guides the first fluid outside of the shell, in which an inner spiral pipe portion of the plurality of spiral pipe portions, which is closest to a central axis, and an outer spiral pipe portion, which is farthest from the central axis, are connected by a first connection tube, and a plurality of intermediate spiral pipes, which is farther from the central axis than the inner spiral pipe portion and closer to the central axis than the outer spiral pipe portion, is connected by a second connection tube, such that the plurality of spiral pipe portions is connected while minimizing a number of connection tubes and a reduction in performance that may be generated when a difference in length of a plurality of paths is large, by minimizing a difference in length of the paths formed by the plurality of spiral pipe portions and the connection tubes. |
| US09389021B2 |
Cooling system and method for air cooled chillers
A cooling system connected to the air inlet of an air cooled chiller, having at least one frame, at least one net through which the air absorbed by the chiller is passed, at least one liquid spraying component performing spraying on the front part of said net's outer surface not facing the chiller, contrariwise to the chiller and to the incoming direction of air, at least one liquid supply kit sending liquid to said liquid spraying component and at least one liquid transmission instrument carrying the liquid from the liquid supply kit to the spraying component. A cooling method wherein this system is used is also provided. |
| US09389020B2 |
Device and method for monitoring a heating appliance
Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring a heating apparatus that includes a motion detector configured to determine whether a person is proximate the heating apparatus. The motion detector is default deactivated. Further disclosed is a heat sensor configured to determine whether the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold. The heat sensor is default deactivated. A processor is in operable communication with each of the motion detector and the heat sensor configured to cyclically repeat a first countdown. The heat sensor is temporarily activated once during each of the repeated first countdowns. The processor is configured to perform a second countdown when the activated heat sensor determines that the heating apparatus has the temperature that is above the threshold. The second countdown is reset each time the motion detector determines that a person is proximate the heating apparatus. Further disclosed is a transmitter configured to send data signals to an outside device when the processor reaches the end of the second countdown, and a receiver configured to receive data signals from the outside device. |
| US09389015B2 |
Method for separating C2+-hydrocarbons or C3+-hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction
Described herein is a method for separating C2+-hydrocarbons or C3+-hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction is described, whereby the separation is carried out in a rectification fractionation. The rectification fractionation is provided with at least three heating circuits via which intermediate fractions are drawn off from rectification fractionation, partially evaporated and fed back again to rectification fractionation. In the method, removal of the intermediate fraction circulating in the heating circuit located at the highest temperature level is at least temporarily interrupted. During this interruption, a partial stream of a bottom fraction from the rectification fractionation is partially evaporated against an external medium and is fed as a bottom heating to the rectification fractionation. Also during this interruption, the two additional intermediate fractions, in each case at the temperature level at which the intermediate fraction circulating in the heating circuit located at the next-higher temperature level was partially evaporated, are partially evaporated. |
| US09389006B2 |
Refrigeration method and apparatus with a pulsating load
A method for the pulsating load refrigeration of a component of a Tokamak using a refrigeration device subjecting a working fluid to a working cycle. At least one “periodic and symmetrical” operating mode of the Tokamak includes an operating mode in which plasmas of preset duration Dp are generated periodically with intervals of duration Dnp between two successive plasmas. Dnp=Dp±30%. The cooling device cooling power is increased to a relatively high level in a plasma generation phase and reduced to a relatively low level when the Tokamak is no longer in a plasma generation phase. The refrigerating power variation brings gradual increases and reductions in refrigerating power. The increase in the refrigeration device refrigerating power is triggered in advance, in response to a signal (S) generated during a plasma starting step before the thermal load on the component increases. |
| US09389005B2 |
Two-stage compression refrigeration cycle device
In a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle device, a low-pressure side compression mechanism and a high-pressure side compression mechanism are intermittently operated to control such that the temperature of air blown into a freezer approaches a target temperature. Under the control, the high-pressure side compression mechanism is first stopped, and then the low-pressure side compression mechanism is stopped. Further, when a reference time has elapsed after driving the high-pressure side compression mechanism, then the low-pressure side compression mechanism is driven. The refrigeration cycle device can reduce a high-pressure side pressure difference upon driving the high-pressure side compression mechanism, and can also reduce a low-pressure side pressure difference upon driving the low-pressure side compression mechanism. |
| US09389004B1 |
Cavitation heater system
Cylindrical interior and exterior drums, each drum has a cylindrical side wall with primary and secondary end caps. Fixed primary and secondary supports are provided. Each support has a primary shaft with an interior end fixedly supported by a primary end cap of an interior drum and an exterior end rotatably supported in a support plate. A drive disc is secured to the primary shaft for rotation therewith. The drive disc has an angled exterior surface. The primary end cap of the exterior drum has an angled interior surface. A plurality of cones are in contact with the interior and exterior surfaces whereby rotation of the drive disc and the primary shaft and the interior drum will translate into counter rotation of the exterior drum. A quantity of fluid is located between the drums for generating heat in response to the counter rotation of the drums. |
| US09389003B2 |
Solar collector
A solar collector has first and second manifolds and tubes that provide fluid communication between the manifolds. An enclosure of the collector extends between first and second ends thereof that are respectively proximal to the first and second manifolds, and the tubes extend out of the enclosure at the first and second ends passed a seal at each end to connect to the first and second manifolds. |
| US09389001B2 |
Boiler, and a silencer for a flue gas duct in a boiler
A boiler includes a flue gas duct and heat exchanger pipes in the flue gas duct. The boiler includes a planar silencer plate, which silencer plate includes sound absorbing material, and said first silencer plate being placed downstream of one of said heat exchanger pipes in the flow direction of flue gases in said flue gas duct. Furthermore, a silencer for a flue gas duct with a rectangular cross-section in a boiler, the silencer including at least a first and a second planar silencer plate substantially parallel to the flow direction of flue gases, the silencer plates including sound absorbing material. The first silencer plate is placed at an angle to the second silencer plate, wherein the width of the resonating area of the flue gas duct becomes narrower in two directions transverse to the flow direction of the flue gases. |
| US09388998B2 |
Battery holder for an electronic device
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controller may include a housing and a printed circuit board (PCB) situated within the housing. The PCB may include a battery seat region and electrical terminals for electrically connecting a battery to the PCB when the battery is positioned at the battery seat region. The housing may include an opening that may be configured to receive the battery. The battery seat region may be at least partially offset relative to the opening in the housing, but accessible via the opening. The housing may be configured to allow the battery to be inserted into the opening and then moved laterally to the battery seat region, where the battery may be at least partially covered and/or protected by the housing when at the battery seat region. In some cases, the battery may be inserted within the housing without adjusting any part of the housing. |
| US09388996B2 |
Air curtain HVAC system
An improved HVAC system is provided for the delivery of a temperature controlled air supply via one or more air curtains provided at windows, doors and walls. The air curtains create a double layer of insulation over the surface of a window, door or wall. The invention provides for the use of the temperature controlled air flow from the air curtain to directly affect the interior room temperature. The invention provides an improved system for continuous cleaning the recycled air through the use of a wet electrostatic precipitator in the HVAC air flow, as well as providing a higher speed mode for the air curtain to prevent the inflow of particles and contaminants from outside of the building, when windows or doors are open. The invention may be installed on existing construction, or incorporated as part of new construction. |
| US09388994B2 |
Dehumidification and humidification apparatus for vehicles
The present invention relates to a dehumidification and humidification apparatus for vehicles using an adsorbent which is capable of feeding a dehumidified air for preventing fogging of window glass and a humidified air for improvement in comfortableness, and is simplified in construction thereof and reduced in size thereof. The dehumidification and humidification apparatus for vehicles according to the present invention comprises a casing (1), and a blower (2), an adsorbent module (3) and an air passage switching device (4) which are accommodated in the casing. The adsorbent module (3) comprises a Peltier element (30), and a first adsorption component (31) and a second adsorption component (32) which are directly disposed on the respective surfaces of the Peltier element, and the air passage switching device (4) is arranged such that the air passing through the first adsorption component (31) and the air passing through the second adsorption component (32) are each turned toward either a first blowoff port (11) or a second blowoff port (12), and turning directions of the respective airs are switchable therebetween. An electric current flowing through the Peltier element (30) in the adsorbent module (3) is reversed to switch operations of the Peltier element between a heat-absorbing portion and a radiating portion, and switch the turning directions of the respective airs in the air passage switching device (4). |
| US09388990B2 |
Metal panel, manufacturing method thereof and cooking device using the metal panel
A metal panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a cooking device using the metal panel capable of improving an external appearance of edges, enhancing efficiency of a manufacturing process and reducing the manufacturing cost. The manufacturing method of a metal panel includes cutting a metal plate to form a cutaway portion at a specified area of a border, bending the border on opposite sides of the cutaway portion, and coupling a bracket to a cutaway groove formed at the border by the bending. |
| US09388980B2 |
Systems and methods for gasifying a hydrocarbon feedstock
Systems and methods for gasifying a hydrocarbon feedstock are provided. The hydrocarbon feedstock can be gasified in the presence of one or more particulates to produce a syngas and one or more carbon-containing particulates. At least a portion of the carbon of the one or more carbon-containing particulates can be combusted in a combustion process external to the gasifying of the hydrocarbon feedstock to produce a combustion gas. The combustion gas can be utilized in one or more processes external to the gasifying of the hydrocarbon feedstock. |
| US09388978B1 |
Methods and systems for controlling gas temperatures
Methods and systems for controlling the temperature of a heated flue gas stream downstream of a multi-part heat exchanger within a desired operating range through the use of a fluid bypass line which bypasses one or more sections, but not all sections, of the multi-part heat exchanger. In some but not necessarily all embodiments some fluid flow is maintained through the heat exchanger at all times. In one embodiment, the method includes sensing a temperature in said flue gas stream in proximity to an intermediate header of said multi-part heat exchanger and controlling a position of a bypass line control valve to control an amount of fluid passing through a fluid bypass line that bypasses the section of the multi-part heat exchanger between an inlet header and the intermediate header based on said temperature in said flue gas stream in proximity to the intermediate header of said multi-part heat exchanger. |
| US09388969B2 |
Lighting system for an architectural surface structure
Lighting fixtures for attachment to architectural surface structures are adapted to hold light sources. The lighting fixtures may include a base plate and mounting brackets. Clamps are provided that may bias the light source in either the forward or rearward direction. The clamps may include spring arms that center the light source within the fixture in addition to retaining the light source in place. The fixtures may further accommodate overlying structures, such as lenses. The lighting fixtures facilitate use with a variety of different architectural structures and formation in various shapes. |
| US09388968B2 |
Lighting device and method of making a bicycle light with increased visibility and flexible mounting system
A light device includes a light engine. A plurality of petals extends radially outward from the light engine. A trim is disposed over the petals and light engine. An installation card is disposed between the trim and the petals and includes an elongated opening. A strap extends through the elongated opening of the installation card. A light-emitting diode is connected to the light engine. A support component is formed on a surface of the petals. The strap includes a hook surface and a loop surface opposite the hook surface. The installation card includes a second elongated opening formed near an edge of the installation card and a third opening formed in a central region of the installation card. A plurality of straps includes a width of the straps being less than a width of the elongated opening. The plurality of straps includes a zip tie. |
| US09388967B2 |
Edge weighted spacing of LEDs for improved uniformity range
A light source may comprise a housing, a window mounted in a front plane of the housing, a window length spanning a front plane length, and a linear array of light-emitting elements within the housing. The linear array may be aligned with and emit light through the window, and the linear array may span the window length, wherein first and last light-emitting elements of the linear array are positioned adjacent to widthwise edges of the window, and wherein window sidewalls at the widthwise edges are aligned flush with housing sidewalls. |
| US09388966B2 |
Wavelength conversion through remote phosphor on a support wheel
A lighting device may include at least one phosphor region which can be irradiated by a primary light source, and at least one optical filter region which can be disposed downstream of the at least one phosphor region, wherein the at least one phosphor region and the at least one filter region are arranged at a different level on a common support wheel. |
| US09388959B2 |
White-light emitter having a molded phosphor sheet and method of making same
A white-light emitter is disclosed, in which a silicone sheet is laminated between a pair of optically clear plastic sheets. The silicone sheet lacks the ability to retain its shape, while the three sheets, when sealed together, can retain a shape. The silicone sheet includes at least one phosphor, with a phosphor concentration between two percent and ten percent. The silicone sheet may be produced by molding. Compared to comparable silicone parts made by extrusion, the molded parts may show less part-to-part variation in color temperature, may be run in significantly smaller batches or as one-offs, and may allow the silicone and phosphor material to be mixed by hand or with a relatively simple mixing machine. In some cases, the sheets are sealed together at their perimeters and include a margin around the phosphor sheet. In some cases, the phosphor sheet includes a mixture of different phosphors. |
| US09388957B2 |
Secondary optical element and light source module
A secondary optical element including a light incidence surface, a light emitting surface, and a connecting surface is provided. The light incidence surface includes a first and a second light incidence surfaces. The first light incidence surface is a curved surface recessed toward the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface is opposite to the light incidence surface and includes a first and a second light emitting surfaces. The first light emitting surface is a free-form surface recessed toward the light incidence surface or a flat surface. The second light emitting surface is a free-form surface. A diameter of the second light emitting surface is larger than a diameter of the second light incidence surface, and the connecting surface is connected between the second light incidence surface and the second light emitting surface. A light source module is also provided. |
| US09388956B2 |
Lighting device
According to one embodiment, a lighting device includes a light source, and at least one light distribution control member configured to control distribution of light from the light source. The light distribution control member includes a base member higher in refractive index than air, and two optical control layers located opposite each other with a predetermined space therebetween on either side of the base member. The two optical control layers each includes a first region and a second region formed in correlative patterns. The light distribution control member is configured to control the light distribution based on a change of an overlap between the first and second regions depending on a direction of transmitted light. |
| US09388953B2 |
Solar powered flashlight
A portable lighting device includes a housing, a battery, a lighting element coupled to the battery, and a solar panel. The housing includes a first wall coupled to a second wall and defines an internal volume. The battery is positioned within the internal volume. The solar panel is disposed along the first wall and coupled to the battery. The second wall of the housing is angled relative to the first wall of the housing such that the solar panel is positioned in a target orientation when the second wall is disposed along a support surface. |
| US09388949B2 |
LED device for wide beam generation
An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved. Alternatively, the lens shape is numerically or analytically determined by a functional relationship between the shape and the predetermined illuminated surface pattern and predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source as inputs. |
| US09388948B2 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp includes an elongated at least partially optically transmissive enclosure having a first end and a second end. LEDs are located in the enclosure and are operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path. A first pair of pins are mounted to the first end of the enclosure and a second pair of pins are mounted to the second end of the enclosure, the pins being in the electrical path. The LEDs are mounted on an LED board. A support structure for supporting the LED board is formed as one-piece with the enclosure and is formed of an optical material. |
| US09388946B1 |
Lighting device having a vertical portion and horizontal portion
Embodiments relate to a lighting device that includes a power connector base that includes a threaded electrical contact for connection to an Edison style socket and a pole that is attached to the power connector base that includes or retains a plurality of solid-state light emitters. |
| US09388945B2 |
System for emulsion aspiration
System, including apparatus and methods, for aspirating at least a portion of an emulsion from a well using a tip. In some embodiments, the tip may have a flat end and an inlet surrounded by the flat end. The well may have a floor with one or more surface features that prevent uninterrupted circumferential contact of the flat end of the tip with any region of the floor. In some embodiments, the tip may not have a flat end. In some embodiments, the well may have a port that guides the tip to the floor with the tip slanted with respect to the floor. Methods of making a device that includes the well are also disclosed. |
| US09388944B2 |
Controlled environment expander
Systems and methods are disclosed that expand environmental support for an HVAC system with an HVAC fluid circulating throughout by vaporizing a cryogen; and sparging the vaporized cryogen to dispense sparge bubbles to the HVAC fluid to cool the HVAC fluid. |
| US09388941B2 |
Compact lubricant injector and injector system
A compact lubricant injector is disclosed. The injector includes an injector body having an inlet for lubricant under pressure, an outlet, and a measuring chamber for receiving lubricant from the inlet. A piston is movable in the injector body along a first axis through a stroke in the measuring chamber for the discharge of a measured volume of lubricant from the measuring chamber and thence through the outlet. A valve is movable in the injector body along a second axis different from the first axis. The valve is responsive to pressure conditions in the inlet for operation of the injector in a cycles ending in a state for venting the injector to effect recharging of the measuring chamber involving the transmission of lubricant from the inlet to the measuring chamber. A combination of at least one such lubricant injector and a manifold is also disclosed. |
| US09388932B2 |
Automotive selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system sensor holder and assembly
An automotive selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system assembly includes a holder for receiving an SCR system sensor. The holder has a tube, a chamber, and a retainer. The tube receives incoming fluid from a first SCR line and leads exiting fluid to a second SCR line. A passage is located in the tube. The chamber has a interior for receiving the SCR system sensor, and has an opening. The retainer has a portion moveable in and out of the chamber's opening for holding and releasing the SCR system sensor in the chamber's interior. |
| US09388926B2 |
Connecting device of large-diameter compressed air conveying pipe
A connecting device of large-diameter compressed air conveying pipe comprises an outer hull and a sealing device. An annular mounting slot is set within the outer hull with two annular slopes on both sides, the sealing device includes an annular frame body, two pressing rings and two “O” sealing rings. The two pressing rings are set on both sides of the annular frame body. An internal annular slope and an external annular slope are set on inner corner and outer corner of the pressing ring respectively. Two second annular slopes are set at two tops of the pressing ring respectively. “O” sealing rings are respectively sat on the internal annular slopes of the pressing rings. Two ends of the annular frame body press the “O” sealing rings respectively. |
| US09388922B2 |
Pivoting pipe coupling having a movable gripping body
A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation has segments joined at one end by a pivot attachment and at an opposite end by an adjustable connection member. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. A gripping body is captured between the segments. The segments have angularly oriented reaction surfaces. The gripping body has angularly oriented contact surfaces which interface with the reaction surfaces. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping body radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping body engage and retain the pipe elements. A method of inserting pipe elements into the coupling while the segments and the gripping body are supported on a seal is also disclosed. |
| US09388919B2 |
A/R method and apparatus therefor
A method of abandoning a pipeline from an offshore vessel, wherein the method includes the steps of: providing a tubular member between a winch apparatus and the end of the pipeline being abandoned, the tubular member being received in a tensioning apparatus, and lowering the pipeline with the winch apparatus and the tensioning apparatus, the tensional load of the pipeline being held by the tensioning apparatus and the winch apparatus at the same time. |
| US09388914B2 |
Rotary switch type valve cap
A rotary switch type valve cap includes a casing including an accommodation space that is surrounded by the front, rear and top end walls and an air intake tube located at the rear end wall and kept in communication with the accommodation space, a rotating device pivotally mounted in the accommodation space and including two valve connectors respectively arranged at two opposite ends thereof in such a manner that when the second valve connector is disposed in a hidden position to face toward the top end wall, the first valve connector is disposed in an operating position to face toward a bottom side of the casing where the rotating device is disposed in its normal state, a lever pivotally mounted at the top end wall, a closure member mounted in the top end wall between the lever and the rotating device. |
| US09388913B2 |
Seal and control device having said seal
A dynamic seal for sealing radially two members that are displaceable relative to each other axially comprises a sealing body made of elastomeric material having two axially spaced, radially exterior sealing lips and two axially spaced, radially interior sealing lips, and a supporting body bearing the sealing body and consisting of a harder material than the sealing body, in particular of a plastic. The supporting body possesses a radially exposed guiding portion extending between two sealing lips in the axial direction for axially guiding the movable member, and an anchoring portion opposing the guiding portion for anchoring the seal in the other member. |
| US09388912B2 |
Proportional solenoid control valve
Provided is a configuration in which: a spool driven by an electromagnetic proportional solenoid is urged by a spool-returning spring configured to exert urging force in an opposite direction to a driving direction of the electromagnetic proportional solenoid; a mechanical stopper is disposed at the stroke end of the spool; current dither causes a control current to micro-vibrate, the control current driving the electromagnetic proportional solenoid; and the mechanical stopper includes a stopper-urging spring configured to allow the spool to vibrate owing to the current dither even when the spool is in contact with the mechanical stopper. A proportional solenoid control valve with this configuration is capable of reducing hysteresis at the stroke end of the spool by means of the current dither, and controlling the spool in a stable manner over the entire control range including the stroke end of the spool. |
| US09388907B2 |
Flap hinges system for a flap shaft in a motor vehicle
A flap bearing system for a flap shaft in a motor vehicle includes a first radial bearing within which is arranged a flap shaft comprising a flap shaft end. A ratable flap body is arranged on the flap shaft. A flow cross-section of a channel housing is controllable by rotating the flap shaft with the flap body. A first bearing housing surrounds the first radial bearing. A bearing housing cover comprises an opening through which the flap shaft end protrudes. The bearing housing cover closes the first bearing housing. A sleeve radially surrounds a section of the first bearing housing. A circumferential groove is formed at an outer circumference at the section of the first bearing housing surrounded by the sleeve. The flap shaft end protruding from the first bearing housing is arranged geodetically so as to be at a same height or above an opposite flap shaft end. |
| US09388905B2 |
Mechanical seal
A mechanical seal of an “outside type” for sealing a sealed fluid that may leak from an inside periphery of a sliding face towards an outside periphery is provided. The seal includes a rotating-side sealing element and a stationary-side sealing element disposed so as to be situated externally with respect to a stuffing box. The stationary-side sealing element, which accommodates a spring, is installed on a seal cover that is secured to the housing. The rotating-side sealing element is installed on a collar that is installed directly on the rotating shaft. The rotating side, which comprises the rotating-side sealing element and the collar, is positioned such that rotation takes place in the atmosphere on a machine-exterior side. A balance ratio A2/A1 is 1 or less, A1 being an axial-direction projection area of the sliding face of the stationary-side sealing element and A2 being an axial-direction projection area that is subjected to a seal fluid pressure acting as a motive force in the axial direction relative to the stationary-side sealing element. An annular cooling jacket is disposed between an inside periphery of the housing and an outside periphery of the rotating shaft. |
| US09388900B2 |
Method for producing a piston ring having embedded particles
A sliding element, in particular a piston ring or a cylinder liner, comprising at least one a-C:H:Me layer, where Me is germanium and silicon, having a layer thickness of 10-40 μm, is provided. |
| US09388899B2 |
Method and control device thereto for operating an automatic transmission
A method for operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, whereas the automatic transmission features several interlockable shifting elements, involves determining, from the data made available from the driving operation of the motor vehicle, a change to consumption of the motor vehicle expected to be caused by an activated interlocking of the shifting elements and a change to the shifting dynamics of the motor vehicle expected to be caused by an activated interlocking of the shifting elements. The changes are evaluated such that, depending on the change to consumption and depending on the change to shifting dynamics, an interlocking of the shifting elements is permitted or not permitted. |
| US09388897B2 |
Apparatus for electronically controllable transmission
Provided is an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, and more particularly, an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, the apparatus capable of shifting gears by moving a shift lever and sensing the magnetic flux density of a magnet, which moves in accordance with the rotation of the shift lever, by using a three-dimensional (3D) hall sensor. The apparatus includes: a shift lever including one end which is connected to a magnet and shifting gears by moving the shift lever; a shift lever body which is connected to the shift lever and is allowing the shift lever to move around shift axis or select axis; and a sensor unit including a 3D sensor which is mounted fixedly in the place intersecting the shift axis and select axis within the shift lever body and can sense the movement of the magnet around an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis as the magnet moves, wherein the 3D sensor is mounted at a tilted angle for providing at least two of three output signals with linearity. |
| US09388896B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission includes a shaft, first and second rotary members, a sun roller, a carrier, planetary balls, a gear shifter for changing a gear ratio between input and output by tilting each of the planetary balls, a casing for accommodating these elements, and a lubricating oil supply opening for supplying lubricating oil into the casing. The casing includes a discharge opening for discharging the lubricating oil to the outside of the casing. The discharge opening is provided in a wall of the casing in an axial direction of the shaft and radially outside the lubricating oil supply opening. As seen in the axial direction, the discharge opening is formed either at a position that crosses a contact section between the planetary ball and each of the first and second rotary members or an auxiliary contact section, or radially outside the contact section or the auxiliary contact section. |
| US09388889B2 |
Deflecting device for motion guide apparatus
A motion guide device includes a ball nut attached onto a shaft and having helical grooves and a returning channel for forming an endless ball guiding passage and for receiving a number of ball bearing elements, two deflecting devices are engaged with the ball nut and each include a deflecting pathway communicative with the helical groove and the returning channel of the ball nut and each include a protrusion engaged with a recess of the ball nut for anchoring the deflecting devices to the ball nut, and the deflecting devices each include a connecting surface directed toward the helical groove of the ball nut for guiding the ball bearing elements to smoothly move between the helical groove of the ball nut and the deflecting pathways of the deflecting devices. |
| US09388880B2 |
Simple planetary reduction gear
A simple planetary reduction gear includes a sun gear, a planetary gear which revolves around the sun gear and is supported by a carrier, and an internal gear with which the planetary gear internally meshes, and is used in a vertically installed state. The sun gear includes a shaft portion protruding to a load side (lower side) coaxially with a shaft center O1 of the sun gear, and the shaft portion is supported by a ball bearing which is disposed between the outer circumference of the shaft portion and the inner circumference of the carrier. Accordingly, high maintainability is secured and a problem of generation of heat is prevented. |
| US09388877B2 |
Pressure shock absorbing apparatus
A pressure shock absorbing apparatus includes: a first cylinder; a second cylinder that is placed outside the first cylinder to form a liquid storage unit; a partitioning member that is disposed in such a manner as to be movable in an axial direction inside the first cylinder to partition a space inside the first cylinder; a throttle mechanism that is disposed in a side portion of the second cylinder, and includes a throttle unit that throttles a flow path cross section of a liquid to discharge the liquid taken in from the first cylinder toward the liquid storage unit while passing the liquid through the throttle unit; and a suppression unit that is held by the throttle mechanism at a liquid discharge point between the throttle mechanism and the liquid storage unit to suppress air bubbles in the liquid in the liquid storage unit. |
| US09388875B2 |
Aeroelastic tuned mass damper
A method for damping aeroelastic modes, including limit cycle oscillations (LCO), is implemented by determining a mass for a tuned mass damper (TMD) based on an modal frequency for a mode having a potentially positive growth rate and attaching a TMD to at least one attachment point with significant motion such that a damping axis of the tuned mass damper is substantially oriented in a direction aligned with the local modal deflection. |
| US09388867B2 |
Brake dust collector for motor vehicles
A brake dust collector for a motor vehicle for collecting brake dust of a vehicle wheel brake has a dust collecting device that has at least one filter element and at least one filter element receptacle. The at least one filter element is secured in the at least one filter element receptacle. The at least one filter element receptacle is a through opening in a wheel rim; an intermediate space defined between the wheel rim and non-rotating vehicle parts; or a combination thereof. |
| US09388866B2 |
System and method for clutch pressure control
A clutch system comprises a hydraulic control circuit for controlling a hydraulic system. The hydraulic control circuit comprises processor-executable control instructions to perform a method for controlling hydraulic pressure. The method comprises receiving a target hydraulic pressure. The method generates and outputs pressure control valve commands based on a detected current hydraulic pressure, a detected temperature, and the target hydraulic pressure by implementing proportional integral derivative (PID) calculations and sliding mode calculations while carrying out a closed loop pressure control. The method converts the target hydraulic pressure into motor speed control commands and into motor direct current commands by implementing a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) calculation while carrying out a closed loop speed control. The method controls the electric motor using the motor direct current commands. And, the method controls the pressure control valve by using the pressure control valve commands. |
| US09388863B2 |
Shaft coupling mechanism
A shaft coupling mechanism 1 includes a coupling base body 3 coupled to a rotating shaft 2; a coupling base body 5 coupled to a rotating shaft 4; a pair of rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 interposed between both coupling base bodies 3 and 5 and adapted to transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 in an R direction to the rotating shaft 4 through both coupling base bodies 3 and 5; an intermediate interposed member 8 interposed between the pair of rotation transmitting members 6 and 7; and a coupling means 9 for coupling the pair of rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 to each other. |
| US09388862B2 |
Constant velocity universal joint for helicopter rotor
A constant velocity universal joint for helicopters with gimballed rotors, in which the hub of a rotor is supported on a transmission shaft by means of a cardan's suspension composed of a first inner ring with a revolute connection to two opposite pins of the carrier connected to transmission shaft and a second outer ring with a revolute connection to two opposite pins of the hub. The rings are also interconnected by swivel opposite pins, in quadrature with respect to the pins connected to the transmission shaft and to the pins of the hub, whose common axis is stably maintained in a plane, which bisects the angle between the axes of rotation of the hub and the transmission shaft, by at least one device, which is connected to the transmission shaft and to the hub, thus obtaining a homokinetic transmission of rotational motion between the transmission shaft and the hub. |
| US09388861B2 |
Inclined yoke universal joint
A universal joint of the present disclosure includes a first joint yoke and a second joint yoke. A first joint axis is formed at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a first shaft connected to the first joint yoke and a second joint axis is formed at a second angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a second shaft connected to the second joint yoke. At least one of the first and second angles of the first and second joint yokes may be an obtuse angle or an acute angle. A connection element is configured to couple the first joint yoke to the second joint yoke via the first and second joint axes. |
| US09388856B2 |
Thrust ball bearing cage and thrust ball bearing
An end in an axial direction of a cage includes a first end face located so as to surround a pocket, a plurality of claw-shaped protrusions that protrude from a periphery of the pocket in a first end face outward in an axial direction and toward a center of the pocket and extend along the periphery at intervals, and a second end face that is connected to an end of the first end face, which is located on the opposite side of the first end face from the pocket side, via a step and is located further outward in the axial direction than the first end face. A recess is defined by the claw-shaped protrusions, the first end face, and the step. |
| US09388850B2 |
Assembly of two concentric parts and a bearing between said parts
An assembly of two concentric parts and a bearing between the parts is provided with an inner bearing ring, an outer bearing ring, axial rollers and radial rollers. A first bearing ring is attached to a first concentric part in a manner for maximally limiting a radial distortion thereof and a second concentric part is connected to the second bearing ring at an engagement location. The second concentric part has a load support member which is connected to the second bearing ring such that the vertical load introduced into the second bearing ring by the load support member extends through the axial rollers without causing a moment around the axial rollers, and wherein the second concentric part indirectly or directly engages the second bearing ring in such a manner that only radial loads and substantially no axial loads are introduced at the at least one engagement position. |
| US09388839B2 |
Release latch
A release latch apparatus can include a locking mechanism coupled to a first position of a rocker and a spring mechanism coupled to a second position of the rocker. |
| US09388837B1 |
Telescoping tube assembly having twist lock
A twist-locking mechanism for two telescoping tubes, as may comprise a curtain rod, comprises a sleeve which expands outwardly as it moves along the screw of a screw body. A tapered or straight screw connects to a plain shaft portion upon which the sleeve rests when the device is in the unlock position. In another embodiment, the pitch or profile of the thread of a straight screw changes along the length of the screw, so the sleeve is forced radially outwardly as it moves from the unlock position. Split-sleeves useful in the locking mechanism have spring like features or an oblong shape, so the sleeve is biased outwardly to frictionally engage one the tube when the sleeve is at the unlock position. |
| US09388836B2 |
Slip fitting holding device and system
A device and system for holding materials above a created ribbing structure. The device has two unique and novel slip fittings connected together via a plastic pipe that has been cut to a useful length. The slip fittings have a cylindrical attachment port and two wings that serve as the anchor point for a surface. The wings are flat surfaces integrally formed with the cylindrical attachment port and have frictional material attached to the underside thereof. Optional holes are provided on either wing so as to permit a fastener attachment. |
| US09388833B2 |
Compact linear actuator with anti-rotation device
A linear actuator has a housing with a bore extending therethrough. A first portion of the bore extends into the housing from a first end, and a second portion of the bore extends into the housing from a second end of the housing. The second portion of the bore has a rectangular geometry with substantially rounded corners when viewed from the second end. A shaft is in sliding engagement with the first portion of the housing. A piston member is coupled to the shaft and has a rectangular geometry with substantially rounded corners. The piston member is in sliding engagement with a first interior surface of the second portion of the bore via one or more o-rings. An anti-rotation apparatus is associated with one or more of the piston member and the shaft, wherein the anti-rotation member generally prevents a rotation of the shaft with respect to the housing. |
| US09388830B2 |
Accumulator
An accumulator includes a bellows housed to freely expand and contract in a shell, a port part having a pressure fluid inflow port formed therein, and a self-sealing member arranged on a tip portion of the bellows to face the port part, in which when a pressure in the fluid chamber is lower than a predetermined pressure relative to an air chamber, the self-sealing member is allowed to abut onto a seal area of the port part to block the pressure fluid inflow port. The self-sealing member includes a resilient member arranged on a surface of a base material part, and an overhanging portion formed on the resilient member and allowed to abut onto the seal area for sealing. The port part includes a seal face having the seal area formed thereon, and a projecting portion arranged on a region other than the seal area on the seal face. |
| US09388828B2 |
Hydraulic control system having swing motor energy recovery
A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, a swing motor, and at least one control. The hydraulic control system may further have an accumulator configured to receive fluid from and supply fluid to the swing motor, a charge valve movable to allow fluid flow from the swing motor into the accumulator, and a discharge valve movable to allow fluid flow from the accumulator to the swing motor. The hydraulic control system may additionally have a controller in communication with the at least one control valve, the charge valve, and the discharge valve. The controller may be configured to detect an acceleration of the swing motor, selectively cause the discharge valve to assist the acceleration, and selectively move the charge valve to an open position to recover energy associated with pressure spikes occurring during the acceleration. |
| US09388825B1 |
Ventilation fan with automatic blade closure mechanism
The ventilation fan with automatic blade closure mechanism can include pivotable fan blades extending radially from a central hub. The fan blades pivot on their spars to allow the blades to assume positive pitch angles during operation. The fan blades are urged to a flat, substantially coplanar configuration when the fan is not in operation. A mechanism drives a motor shaft, the fan hub, and the blades axially outward for operation, and retracts the shaft, hub, and blades when the fan is not in operation. The tips of the blades seat in a groove of the surrounding rim when the fan is not in operation, with the outer surfaces of the blades, hub, and surrounding rim forming a substantially flat, continuous surface. This surface can be embellished with a decorative display, providing the fan with an attractive appearance when the fan is not in operation. |
| US09388823B2 |
Centrifugal fan, molding die, and fluid feeder
A centrifugal fan includes a plurality of fan blades circumferentially spaced apart from each other. The fan blade has a front edge portion to which air flows in a rear edge portion from which air flows out, and a blade surface extending between the front and rear edge portions. The blade surface includes a pressure surface on the rotation direction side of the centrifugal fan and a suction surface arranged on the back side of the pressure surface. The fan blade has a cross-sectional shape with concave portions formed at the pressure surface and the suction surface. Such a fan has an excellent blowing capacity. A molding die for use in production of the centrifugal fan, and a fluid feeder provided with the centrifugal fan are disclosed. |
| US09388820B2 |
Hydraulic motor-driven bearing lubrication system for a centrifugal pump
A bearing lubrication system for a centrifugal pump includes a hydraulic recirculating pump that is structured to provide recirculation of a fluid to and from the motor that drives the impeller of the centrifugal pump, and a system of efferent and afferent conduits that are connected to both the motor and the bearing housing of the centrifugal pump to direct lubricating fluid to or from the bearings, and to or from the motor for recirculation to the hydraulic recirculating pump, thereby utilizing the lubricating fluid used to lubricate the drive motor as a means of lubricating and cooling the bearings that support the rotating shaft of the pump. |
| US09388819B2 |
HVAC blower motor with speed sensor
An HVAC system includes a heating/cooling element; an electric motor; a speed sensor; and a control device. The heating/cooling element includes a heating element, a cooling element, and heat exchangers. The motor has a rotatable shaft coupled with a blower wheel. The speed sensor senses a rotational speed of the motor shaft and the blower wheel and includes a magnet coupled with the motor shaft for rotation therewith; and a coil assembly mounted concentrically over the magnet and operable to generate an alternating signal when the magnet rotates relative to the coil. The alternating signal has an electrical characteristic that is generally proportional to the rotational speed of the shaft. The control device determines a rotational speed of the motor shaft and disables operation of the heating/cooling element when the alternating signal indicates that the rotational speed of the shaft drops below a minimum threshold speed. |
| US09388818B2 |
Side channel blower for a vehicle heater
A side channel blower for a vehicle heater includes a blower housing area (14) with a delivery channel (18), which extends in a ring-shaped pattern around a central axis (A) and is open on an axial side (16). A motor housing area (26) integral with the blower housing area (14) accommodates an electric drive motor (30) with a drive shaft (36). A first delivery wheel covers the delivery channel on a first axial side of the blower housing area and is carried at a first end of the drive shaft. A control device housing area is integral with the blower housing area or/and the motor housing area and is provided with a circumferential wall and with a bottom wall and with an opening located opposite the bottom wall. A partial area of the bottom wall of the control device housing area is formed by the motor housing area. |
| US09388815B2 |
Multiple-capacity centrifugal compressor and control method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a multiple-capacity centrifugal compressor, which includes a plurality of capacity-control mechanisms. Each of the capacity-control mechanisms includes an inlet guide vane and an outlet diffuser, so that the multiple-capacity centrifugal compressor provides a flexible control strategy. In addition, the present disclosure further provides a method for controlling the multiple-capacity centrifugal compressor that effectively adjusts and controls the capacity-control mechanisms by coarsely adjusting the inlet guide vanes and combined with subsequently adjusting the outlet diffusers. |
| US09388811B2 |
Micropump structure
A micropump structure including a main body, at least one water room partitioning board, at least one fan propeller and at least one drive unit. The main body has at least one water room, an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are disposed on a circumference of the main body in communication with the water room. The water room partitioning board is disposed in the water room to divide the water room into at least one water incoming section and at least one water discharging section. The fan propeller is disposed in the water room. The drive unit is disposed in the main body. The water room partitioning board enhances the flow guiding efficiency of the micropump and reduces the axial height of the micropump so that the working efficiency is promoted and less room is occupied. |
| US09388810B2 |
Rotary vacuum pump with circumferential groove for a lubricating and sealing fluid
A rotary vacuum pump, for instance a vane pump, has at least one circumferential groove (6) between facing side surfaces of the rotor (2) and of the rotor guide (3) for receiving a lubricating and sealing fluid. The circumferential groove (6) is a partial annular groove, which has an angular extension of less than 360° and has at least one interruption enabling creating a hydrodynamic fluid bearing in a region opposite a discharge region of the pump (1; 101; 121; 201), over the whole axial extension of the facing surfaces. A method of lubricating a rotary vacuum pump is also provided. |
| US09388807B2 |
Vane compressor having a second discharge port that includes an opening portion to a compression space
A vane compressor includes a cylinder, a rotor portion, vanes, and a first discharge port allowing a refrigerant in a compression chamber to be discharged therethrough. The vanes are disposed inside the rotor portion and held rotatably about the center of a cylinder inner circumferential surface, partition a space between the cylinder inner circumferential surface and the rotor portion, and form the compression chamber. A second discharge port is disposed at a location having a phase angle smaller than that at the first discharge port, being open to the cylinder inner circumferential surface, and communicating with the compression chamber. The second discharge port includes an opening portion to the compression chamber, the opening portion having a width in the circumferential direction, the width being equal to or smaller than the width of the tip of each of the vanes. |
| US09388806B2 |
Reciprocating compressor
A reciprocating compressor is provided that may include an outer stator; an inner stator provided at an inner side of the outer stator with a predetermined gap therebetween; a mover configured to perform a reciprocating movement in the gap between the outer stator and the inner stator; a piston coupled to the mover to perform a reciprocating movement therewith; a cylinder, into which the piston may be inserted to form a compression space while performing a reciprocating movement; a frame coupled to the cylinder; a first support member coupled to the outer stator and the frame; and a second support member separated from the first support member, but coupled to the inner stator and the frame, thereby facilitating concentricity of the motor and compressor device, as well as simplifying an assembly process as the motor and compressor device are divided into several blocks for assembly. |
| US09388804B2 |
Oil pump with selectable outlet pressure
An oil pressure relief valve for use in the oil pump lubrication system of an internal combustion engine is controlled by both oil pump outlet pressure and by pilot pressure from a pilot valve which is selectively applied by a control member, preferably a two-way valve that is operated by the engine control module. The pilot valve selectively supplies one of the oil pump outlet pressure or the engine gallery pressure to the control member which selectively supplies pilot valve pressure to the oil pump pressure relief valve which has a single piston. The pilot valve includes first and second pistons for selectively controlling back pressure from the pressure relief valve and for managing changes in oil pressure due to changes in the engine gallery to maintain a virtually constant pressure even as oil pump speed increases when the control member connects the pilot valve to the pressure relief valve resulting in a fuel economy benefit and improved control of the oil pump pressure. |
| US09388803B2 |
Tube roller pump including a pivotable tube support and medical device for extracorporeal blood treatment
Medical devices for extracorporeal blood treatment including tube roller pumps. Tube roller pumps including a pump housing having a bent bearing surface and a rotor being rotatable inside the bearing surface, wherein a tubing segment can be introduced between the bearing surface and the rotor in the form of a loop. A stationary first receiving portion for accommodating one end of the loop-shaped tubing segment and a rocker arm including a second receiving portion for accommodating the other end of the loop-shaped tubing segment is located at the pump housing, wherein the rocker arm is rotatable about a pivoting axis so that the second receiving portion with the tubing segment can be brought into at least two different positions and that a first position represents a threading position and a second position represents an unthreading position for the tubing segment. |
| US09388793B2 |
Vehicle wind turbine system
The vehicle wind turbine system includes at least one wheel, the at least one wheel having at least one fan blade adapted to generate airflow from the rotation of the at least one wheel, at least one turbine blade coupled to a corresponding shaft, the at least one turbine blade receiving the generated airflow from the at least one fan blade to rotate the at least one turbine blade, the rotation of the at least one turbine blade rotating the corresponding shaft to generate mechanical energy, and at least one electrical generator respectively in communication with the corresponding shaft, the at least one electrical generator to generate electrical power from the mechanical energy generated by the rotation of the corresponding at least one turbine blade, the generated mechanical energy driving the at least one electrical generator to generate the electrical power for use by a vehicle or to be stored. |
| US09388791B2 |
Mounting arrangement for load compensating device
A mounting arrangement for a load compensating device is provided. The mounting arrangement includes a cover sheet connected to a housing via a plurality of protrusions. The cover sheet may form a portion of a surface of an airfoil rotor blade. The housing may include a plurality of clamps extending outward from the housing and configured to contact an inner surface of the airfoil rotor blade. By tightening the clamps onto the interior surface, the device is mounted to the blade and the cover sheet may deform to correspond to the airfoil geometry of the airfoil rotor blade. The mounting arrangement may further include a mounting plate configured to permit the housing to float within the aperture formed in the airfoil rotor blade, and a tab arranged on one end of the mounting plate to distribute centrifugal force to the surface of the airfoil rotor blade. |
| US09388788B2 |
Conveying device for producing energy
A conveying device for producing energy, including a circulating conveying member of containers, which have a load strand and a return strand, the conveying device being equipped in such a way that the conveying device slides or rolls downward by means of the load strand on a inclined plane having an angle (alpha), wherein the load strand moves the return strand, and a device for drawing power arranged on the conveying member and being moved by the circulating conveying member, the device including a means for removing energy from the device. The method for operating the device is characterized in that, while the conveying member is circulating, the first container running into the load strand (in the area of arrow A) is loaded with a burdening good and the good is discharged shortly before exiting the load strand (at arrow B). |
| US09388785B2 |
Automatic vehicle stop restart system
An electrical system for vehicles that connects multiple batteries in parallel during normal operation but isolates the cranking battery and the starter system from the other batteries and their loads when the engine is started. A common charging system simultaneously maintains all of the batteries. Efficiency and EMC considerations are addressed in the design. |
| US09388783B2 |
Fastening arrangement of a fuel supply device on an internal combustion engine
A fastening arrangement for a fuel supply device on an internal combustion engine includes a fuel distribution element which runs along a longitudinal direction and has at least two connection openings for connecting a fuel injection device. The arrangement is fastened to the internal combustion engine by a connecting element connected to the fuel distributing element via a receiving element having a seat which completely surrounds at least an outer circumferential region of the fuel distributing element. A location of the fuel distributing element lies on a straight line connecting the two connection openings in an elongation of the connecting element in an extension direction thereof. The extension direction and a surface normal of the supporting surface enclose with one another an angle different from zero degrees. |
| US09388777B2 |
Kidney loop filtration system for fuel delivery system
A fuel delivery system is described in the present disclosure. The fuel delivery system includes a kidney loop filtration system for filtering fuel stored in a tank. The kidney loop filtration system is fluidly connected to the tank and to a fuel transfer pump. The kidney loop filtration system includes a pump, at least one primary filter, and a swing-check valve. The swing-check valve allows flow of fuel in a first direction in a first mode of operation and in a second direction in a second mode of operation. The swing-check valve further includes a flow passage and a perforated flap. The perforated flap filters fuel during the flow of fuel, in the second direction. |
| US09388772B2 |
Needle sleeve for pivotably mounting the throttle valve shaft of a control device for recirculating exhaust gas in internal combustion engines
A needle sleeve, in particular for pivotably mounting the throttle valve shaft of a control device for recirculating exhaust gas in internal combustion engines. The needle sleeve provides a thin-walled outer ring formed without cutting. A needle roller and cage assembly is inserted in the outer ring. The needle cage carries the bearing needles at uniform spacings in the circumferential direction. The needle sleeve has, at its axial sides, two radially inward facing ribs holding the needle roller and cage assembly in the outer ring and has multiple seals that seal the sleeve to prevent exhaust gas condensates from flowing through. The outer ring of the needle sleeve is a rimless, cylindrical sleeve, and the seals are two lip sealing rings having an S-shaped cross-sectional profile. The seals are located at least partially outside the outer ring and are pressed onto its axial edges, and provide the radially inward facing ribs. |
| US09388769B2 |
Assembly for holding the interface of a front frame of a nacelle and a turbojet engine casing
The present disclosure relates to a holding assembly to hold a front frame of a thrust reverser to a turbojet engine casing. The assembly includes at least one connecting flange connecting the front frame to the turbojet engine casing, and also a system for locking the connecting flange. The system includes an actuating handle pivotally mounted on one of two facing ends of the connecting flange, and a connecting rod interposed between the other end of the two facing ends and a portion of the actuating handle. The system locks together the two facing ends, and the actuating handle includes a support provided with a groove and a screw for adjusting a free length of the groove. Furthermore, the connecting rod has, at its one end, an axis pivoting and sliding in the groove. |
| US09388767B2 |
Panel for the acoustic treatment comprising hot air ducts and at least one stabilization chamber
An aircraft nacelle comprising a lip extended by an inner conduit forming an air intake, a front frame delimiting with said lip an annular channel within which hot air flows and a panel for acoustic treatment having, from outside inwardly, an acoustic resistive layer, at least one honeycomb structure and a reflective layer as well as ducts for channeling hot air, each including one inlet communicating with the annular channel and one outlet communicating with the inner conduit, wherein the panel for acoustic treatment comprises at least a stabilization chamber in the form of an annular channel with a cross-section larger than that of the ducts which extends over at least a portion of the nacelle circumference and which communicates with a plurality of ducts, the inlets and outlets not being aligned in the longitudinal direction. |
| US09388766B2 |
Networks of cogeneration systems
The invention provides systems and methods for a network of cogenerations systems. In some cases, each system includes at least one cogeneration plant and at least one host facility, where the systems in the network are under the control of a common control system that optimizes a result for the network as a whole. In some cases, each cogeneration system in the network has an individual profile that is used by the control system for controlling that individual cogeneration system. In some cases, one or more of the cogeneration plants is assembled from a set of at least two modular transportable units where the modular units contain sensors that are configured to be ready for transmission of inputs to the common control system with little or no modification when the units are assembled into the final cogeneration plant and actuators or actuator systems that are configured to be ready for reception of outputs from the common control system with little or no modification when the units are assembled into the cogeneration plant. |
| US09388758B2 |
Model predictive control systems and methods for future torque changes
A prediction module, based on a set of possible target values for M future times and a model of an engine, determines predicted torques of the engine for the M future times, respectively. M is an integer greater than one. A cost module determines a cost for the set of possible target values based on comparisons of the predicted torques for the M future times with engine torque requests for the M future times, respectively. A selection module, based on the cost, selects the set of possible target values from a group including the set of possible target values and N other sets of possible target values, wherein N is an integer greater than zero, and sets target values based on the selected set of possible target values. An actuator module controls an engine actuator based on a first one of the target values. |
| US09388755B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders in homogeneous operation
A method is described for operating an internal combustion engine, having a plurality of cylinders in an homogeneous operation, in which an exhaust gas lambda value and an unsteady running of the internal combustion engine are recorded, a mixture composition being cyclically varied, at least intermittently. In a test operation, the mixture composition is cyclically varied, in a selected cylinder, about a determined lambda value, whereas meanwhile the mixture composition is held constant in the remaining cylinders. From the magnitude of a cyclical fluctuation of the unsteady running or of a variable characterizing this, one may conclude upon a trimming of the mixture composition in the selected cylinder. |
| US09388751B2 |
Engine speed determination by gear castellation
A speed-determining system in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft, a camshaft, and an engine control module (ECM). The system includes a first gear that rotates with the crankshaft and a second gear attached to the camshaft. At least one idler gear is operatively meshed with the first gear and the second gear. A fuel pump gear, meshed with the idler gear, is driven proportionally to the first gear and the second gear. The fuel pump gear includes a transversal face, a circumferential lip portion, and a number of notches along the circumferential lip portion. A proximity sensor, in communication with the ECM, is spaced from the second gear. A rotation of the fuel pump gear moves the notches relative to the proximity sensor, triggering the proximity sensor to register movement of the fuel pump gear and calculate at least a camshaft speed. |
| US09388739B2 |
Air cooler system for gas turbine engines
A buffer air cooler system for gas turbine engines disposed in a bypass duct of the engine, includes a housing for containing the buffer air cooler therein and an inlet portion attached to the housing. In one embodiment, the inlet portion has a double-skin configuration in at least one region of a top, bottom and sides of the inlet portion. |
| US09388735B2 |
Infrared-emitting ceramics for fuel activation
This invention relates to a ceramic composite that comprises of a mixture of infrared-emitting metal oxides having specific spectral luminance in 3-20 μm (micrometers) wavelength range and an effective amount of pyroelectric material that helps enhance infrared emissions of said oxides in said wavelength range. Said ceramic composite can be deviced to provide an effective means of improving hydrocarbon fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines for better engine performance with increased torque and power, improved fuel economy, and reduced exhaust emissions. Such ceramic composites can also be used in other applications that utilize infrared emissions in said wavelength range. |
| US09388730B2 |
Ventilation structure for engine compartment
A ventilation structure of an engine compartment that houses an engine and is adjacent to a cooling fan that supplies cooling air to a heat exchanger in a form of a radiator is provided. A ventilation structure of the engine compartment includes: an exterior cover with which the engine and the cooling fan are covered; and a ventilation duct that includes an inner surface of the exterior cover, in which a first end of the ventilation duct is open in the engine compartment while a second end of the ventilation duct intercommunicates with a surrounding area of the cooling fan. |
| US09388728B2 |
Systems and methods for NOx sensor diagnostics
Systems and methods are disclosed for diagnosing gain rationality of an NOx sensor that is downstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. Sensor diagnostics are performed while maintaining reductant dosing to the SCR catalyst. |
| US09388723B2 |
Reducing agent delivery device with compensation element, method for compensating freezing of a reducing agent in a delivery device and motor vehicle having a delivery device
A delivery device for delivering liquid reducing agent includes a reducing agent tank. At least a delivery unit, at least one first compensation element, a reducing agent line and a metering unit together have an overall volume to be filled with a reducing agent and are configured for delivering, conducting and metering the reducing agent from the reducing agent tank. The at least one first compensation element is configured for reducing the overall volume when a negative pressure occurs in the delivery device. A method for compensating freezing of a reducing agent in a delivery device and a motor vehicle having a delivery device, are also provided. |
| US09388719B2 |
Muffler
Provided is a muffler comprising: an outer shell; an outlet pipe, which is formed into a tubular shape containing a pair of open end-parts and is comprising an inlet port, wherein one of the open end-parts and the inlet port are arranged inside the outer shell; a valve body formed into a plate-like shape to cover the inlet port from the inside of the outlet pipe; an axis member that pivotally supports the valve body to the outlet pipe so that the valve body pivots inside the outlet pipe; and a biasing member that applies a biasing force in the radial direction of the outlet pipe to the valve body so as to occlude the inlet port. |
| US09388711B2 |
Cryogenic engine system
A cryogenic engine system and method for delivering cryogen to a cryogenic engine are provided. The cryogenic engine system comprises a tank for storing liquid cryogen, a cryogenic engine, a pump configured to pressurize cryogen from the tank, a first conduit for transporting cryogen between the pump and the cryogenic engine, a second conduit for transporting cryogen from the pump back to the tank, and a first valve disposed in the second conduit for controlling the flow of cryogen from the pump back to the tank. A pre-mixing system for a cryogenic engine and a method for mixing cryogen with a heat exchange fluid (HEF) are also provided. |
| US09388709B2 |
Gas turbine rotor and exhaust maintenance skid
A system and method for maintenance and inspection of a rotor and exhaust assembly that includes a maintenance skid. The maintenance skid includes an exhaust portion that holds an exhaust and a rotor portion that holds a rotor. A pair of movable stands are part of the exhaust portion, where the movable stands move along tracks. At least two stands are part of the rotor portion, where the stands include rollers that allow the rotor to be turned. |
| US09388707B2 |
Passively controlled turbocharger
A flow control device for a turbocharger, the flow control device comprising a variably restricting flow restrictor for restricting flow in a turbocharger inlet by a variable amount, the flow control device being arranged such that the flow restrictor position varies flow restriction in response to force acting on a surface of the flow restrictor caused by a pressure pulse in a flow direction, the flow restrictor being biased in a direction opposed to the flow direction. |
| US09388703B2 |
Gas turbine engine having a gap between an outlet guide vane and an inner wall surface of a diffuser
A gas turbine engine is provided, which comprises an outlet guide vane provided downstream of a compressor; an outer casing supporting a radially outward part of the outlet guide vane; and an inner diffuser supporting a radially inward part. The outlet guide vane includes a radially inward inner flange; a projecting part projecting radially inward from the inner flange; and an engagement part protruding to one side in an axial direction of the projecting part. The inner diffuser includes a smaller-diameter part having a smaller outer diameter than the other part located upstream. The inner diffuser is provided with an engagement groove extending to one side in the axial direction from an outer peripheral surface of the smaller-diameter part or a region in the vicinity thereof. The engagement part is inserted into the engagement groove with a gap between the engagement part and groove. |
| US09388702B2 |
Precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel, and steam turbine long blade, steam turbine, and power plant using the same
The problem to be solved of the present invention is to provide a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel having excellent tissue stability, strength, toughness, and corrosion-resistance, requiring no sub-zero treatment, and having excellent productivity; and also a steam turbine long blade using the same. The problem is solved by providing a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel containing, by mass, 0.1% or less of C; 0.1% or less of N; 9.0% or more and 14.0% or less of Cr; 9.0% or more and 14.0% or less of Ni; 0.5% or more and 2.5% or less of Mo; 0.5% or less of Si; 1.0% or less of Mn; 0.25% or more and 1.75% or less of Ti; 0.25% or more and 1.75% or less of Al, and the rest is Fe and inevitable impurities; and a steam turbine long blade using the precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel. |
| US09388701B2 |
Turbine
A turbine (1) of the present invention comprises that at one part of a tip part (51) of the blade (50) and an area (11a) of the structure (11) corresponding to the tip part (51) of the blade, a stepped part (52) is formed, a seal fin (15) is provided at the another part of the tip part (51) of the blade and the area (11 a) of the structure (11), a cavity (C) is formed between the tip part (51) of the blade and the area (11a) of the structure (11) and between the seal fin (15) and a partition wall (54, 15). The seal fin (15) comprises a fin main body part (16), and a space restriction part (17). Thus, the present invention provides a high performance turbine in which the leakage flow rate is reduced. |
| US09388694B2 |
Resonant mechanism for linear compressors
The present invention relates to a resonant mechanism for compressors which comprises a tubular body (1) containing at least two slot sets (12) that delimit an intermediate surface (13) which central portion has substantially ellipsoidal conformation (14) on which it is located a hole (15) through which the resonant spring will be affixed (2); a resounding spring (2) housed within the tubular body (1); at least two fastening sets (3) for fastening the resonant spring (2) to the tubular body (1), and leaf flat springs (4) alternately and successively mounted with spacers (not shown) along with the circular side faces (11) of the tubular body (1). The slot sets (12) have a specific configuration to allow rigidity and flexibility suitable for the mechanism operation in situations where the resulting axial force differs from zero. |
| US09388693B2 |
Conveyor system
A conveyor system including a track extending between a loading region and a discharge region, an endless belt bendable into a tubular shape, the endless belt having thickened edges, a number of carriages moveably mounted to the track, the carriages including belt rollers for engaging the edges of the belt to thereby support the belt, a loading carriage for allowing material to be loaded onto the belt, the loading station being moveable at least within the loading region, a discharge carriage for allowing material to be discharged from the belt, the discharge station being moveable at least within the discharge region and a number of intermediate carriages positioned between the loading and discharge carriages for supporting the belt along transport and return paths with the tubular shape. |
| US09388689B2 |
Multi-deck mining vehicle
A mining vehicle includes one or more crawlers, a first deck positioned above the crawlers, and a second deck positioned above the first deck. The first deck includes a first floor surface providing a walking surface, and one or more first deck maintenance components configured to allow a person to move among and access the first deck maintenance components. The second deck includes a second floor surface providing a walking surface, one or more second deck maintenance components, and one or more aisles configured to allow a person to move among and access the second deck maintenance components. The first and second decks are configured to provide maintenance access to the first and second deck maintenance components. |
| US09388688B2 |
Wet scrubber having a compact demister that requires reduced energy demand
A wet scrubber 1 with a low energy requirement, i.e. with reduced throughflow resistance has a demister 5, whose filter package 25 is shaped corrugated or folded. This makes a large surface available to ensure reliable soaking of the inflowing dust. Further advantages are a sloping bottom plate 15 in the demister part housing 4, specially positioned and designed moistening nozzles 6, 7 as well as above all a partitioning of the demister 5 into several complete packages 31, 33. |
| US09388686B2 |
Maximizing hydrocarbon production while controlling phase behavior or precipitation of reservoir impairing liquids or solids
A method of flowing fluid from a formation, the method comprising: sensing presence of a reservoir impairing substance in the fluid flowed from the formation; and automatically controlling operation of at least one flow control device in response to the sensing of the presence of the substance. A well system, comprising: at least one sensor which senses whether a reservoir impairing substance is present; and at least one flow control device which regulates flow of a fluid from a formation in response to indications provided by the sensor. |
| US09388682B2 |
Hazard avoidance analysis
A method, apparatus and program product utilize infeasible regions projected onto sets of substantially parallel feasibility planes extending through a subsurface region to perform anti-collision and other types of hazard avoidance analysis. Hazards, e.g., existing well trajectories, that intersect the feasibility planes, as well as any uncertainties associated therewith, may be represented as infeasible regions in the feasibility planes, such that an analysis of the feasibility of a proposed well trajectory may be determined in a computationally efficient manner through a comparison of the locations, within one or more feasibility planes, of the proposed well trajectory and any infeasible regions defined in such feasibility planes. |
| US09388680B2 |
System for optimizing drilling in real time
A method for providing assistance to a drilling site including receiving, by a remote system, an assistance request from a quick-link communication device, wherein the quick-link communication device is located at the drilling location. The method also including obtaining sensor data from the rig based on the assistance request, analyzing, by the remote system, the sensor data to identify a condition of the rig, and providing assistance to the drilling site for the condition of the rig. |
| US09388674B2 |
Casing perforating and erosion system for cavern erosion in a heavy oil formation and method of use
A system and method for forming a cavern in a formation beyond a cased wellbore utilizes a locator to position a perforating gun in the wellbore for forming axially aligned, spaced-apart perforations through the casing. The locator has a stationary portion, run in and anchored in the wellbore below a zone of interest. The perforating guns have a moveable portion of the locator at a downhole end and are run in and coupled with the stationary portion. Where two or more guns are used to form the perforations, the guns are indexed relative to one another for forming the offset perforations. The guns are tripped from the wellbore and a wash tool having a moveable portion of the locator at a downhole end is run in and coupled in the wellbore. The locator acts to delimit a reciprocation of the wash tool along the space-apart perforations for delivering a non-abrasive fluid therethrough for forming the cavern. |
| US09388673B2 |
Internally pressurized perforating gun
A technique facilitates a perforation operation. A perforating gun carrier is combined with a pressure enhancement mechanism. The pressure enhancement mechanism provides a controlled increase in pressure within the perforating gun carrier as the perforating gun carrier is delivered into a higher pressure environment. The increase in internal pressure counters the buildup of a pressure differential to the degree desired for a given perforating gun carrier. |
| US09388671B2 |
Swellable screen assembly with inflow control
Disclosed is a swellable screen assembly having inflow control capabilities. One swellable screen assembly includes a base pipe comprising a sidewall portion defining at least one opening therein, a rigid member disposed about a first portion of the base pipe and having a piston arranged therein. The piston has a telescoping portion movably arranged within a non-telescoping portion. An autonomous valve is arranged within the piston and provides fluid communication between a filter medium disposed about the base pipe and the opening in the base pipe, the filter medium being coupled to the telescoping portion of the piston. A swellable material is disposed about a second portion of the base pipe and the filter medium is disposed about the swellable material, wherein, as the swellable material expands, the filter medium is displaced toward an inner surface of the wellbore, thereby extending the telescoping portion. |
| US09388669B2 |
Well tools operable via thermal expansion resulting from reactive materials
Methods of actuating a well tool can include releasing chemical energy from at least one portion of a reactive material, thermally expanding a substance in response to the released chemical energy, and applying pressure to a piston as a result of thermally expanding the substance, thereby actuating the well tool, with these steps being repeated for each of multiple actuations of the well tool. A well tool actuator can include a substance contained in a chamber, one or more portions of a reactive material from which chemical energy is released, and a piston to which pressure is applied due to thermal expansion of the substance in response to each release of chemical energy. A well tool actuator which can be actuated multiple times may include multiple portions of a gas generating reactive material, and a piston to which pressure is applied due to generation of the gas. |
| US09388667B2 |
Heating production fluids in a wellbore
A method for heating a production fluid in a wellbore. The method can include heating, using a packer fluid, a working fluid flowing through a first medium disposed in a first section of the wellbore, where the first medium transfers heat from the packer fluid to the working fluid. The method can also include circulating the working fluid into a second section of the wellbore through a second medium, where the second medium transfers heat from the working fluid to the production fluid. The method can further include returning the working fluid to the first section of the wellbore through the first medium. |
| US09388665B2 |
Underbalance actuators and methods
An actuation method according to one or more embodiments includes axially translating an operator in a first direction in response to applying a tubing pressure to a first side in excess of an annulus pressure acting on a second side, axially translating the operator in a second direction to an actuation position in response to applying an underbalance pressure level to the operator and operating a tool element from a first position to a second position in response to translating the operator to the actuation position. |
| US09388658B2 |
Pipe cutting apparatuses and related methods
Some embodiments of the present subsea pipe cutting apparatuses use or include a frame, one or more water jet nozzles coupled to the frame and configured to apply pressurized fluid to a pipe to cut the pipe, and one or more of: a flange configured to secure the subsea pipe cutting apparatus relative to a blowout preventer stack, one or more water jet nozzles coupled to a rotating portion of the frame and configured to rotate about the pipe, one or more water jet nozzles movable between a retracted state and a deployed state in which the one or more water jet nozzles are radially closer to the pipe than when in the retracted state, one or more water jet nozzles pivotally coupled to the frame and configured to pivot while applying pressurized fluid to a surface of the pipe, and two or more water jet nozzles. |
| US09388654B2 |
High pressure mechanical seal for cables and power lines in oil wells
The present high pressure mechanical seal features a novel configuration capable of sealing from one up to simultaneously five power conduction lines, flow injection lines or control lines, in the same device. Adaptable to different configurations, types and size of conduction lines existing in the industry. The power conduction lines can be a cable of an electro-submersible pump or the cable in a down hole heater; the flow and control lines can be diluents injector capillaries or data and instrumentation cables or any other type of conduction line which can enter the inner atmosphere of the wellbore. Conduction lines are generally shaped as uniform cylindrical elements, which vary in diameter and material due to the cylindrical geometry, are adaptable to the sealing system of the present invention, such that the equipment can seal from only one line up to five lines depending on the requirement of the user. |
| US09388653B2 |
Method and apparatus for subsea well plug and abandonment operations
The invention provides a method and apparatus for performing a plug and abandonment operation on a subsea well. A wellhead interface module is located on a wellhead, which accommodates a volume of wellbore fluid in fluid communication with the wellbore. A system control module receives a signal from a sensor in the chamber and is configured to derive volume data relating to a change in volume of wellbore fluid in the chamber and compares the derived volume data with a volume change expected due to the removal of tubing from the wellbore. In embodiments of the invention, this enables a change in wellbore conditions to be characterized, for example a fluid influx or a fluid loss, from the volume data. The method may comprise providing wellbore fluid to the apparatus to replace fluid which enters the wellbore to occupy the volume vacated by the tubing, and/or removing or adding fluid in fluid influx/loss situations respectively. |
| US09388648B2 |
Drill pipe system and method for using same
A tubular threaded connection for coupling drill pipe segments to form a drill string is provided. Each of the segments has a tubular pipe body having a wall thickness of >0.5 inches (1.27 cm). The threaded connection comprises a pin end with an external thread, and a box end with an internal thread for threadable engagement with the external thread of the pin end. The pin shoulder extends between a pin base diameter and an outer pin bevel diameter; the box shoulder extends between a box base diameter and an outer box bevel diameter. The outer pin and box bevel diameters are between 7.75-8.688 inches (19.36-22.07 cm). The pin and box shoulders define a contact area such that, when the pin and box ends are threaded together with a make-up torque of >75,000 ft-lbs (10,369 kg-m), a load capacity of >2.0 million lbs (908,000 kg) is provided. |
| US09388647B2 |
Pipe handler
A pipe handler trailer assists with the handling of very large and heavy pipes that are regularly raised to and lowered from an elevated surfaces. A height adjustment assembly sets the maximum height that a skidway will reach when a lift cylinder is fully extended and lift arms are thereby rotated. Located within lift arms are toothed racks. An adjustment block couples the skidway to lift arms through the racks and also supports locking blocks that have teeth complementary to the teeth on the racks. A lock will vary from firm contact with the inner wall of lift arms to having a gap there between. When the lock engages the inner wall of the lift arm this drives the complementary teeth into secure engagement with the rack teeth, which can then rigidly support heavy load without motion. |
| US09388644B2 |
Drilling device and drilling method
A drilling device and method with a drill rod which can be driven in a rotating manner and has an internal line, a support rope, a rotary joint between the drill rod and the support rope and has a holding member which is in connection with the support rope and a rotary member which is in connection with the rotatable drill rod, a line and a rotary feed-through which is designed for the passage of fluid and/or data between the line and the internal line of the drill rod, wherein the rotary feed-through has a rotor connected to the drill rod and a non-rotating stator, to which the line is attached. Provision is made for the support rope to be designed in a torsion-proof manner and for a rigid connecting element to be arranged as a torque support between the stator of the rotary feed-through and the torsion-proof support rope. |
| US09388640B2 |
Polycrystalline compacts including nanoparticulate inclusions and methods of forming such compacts
Polycrystalline compacts include non-catalytic nanoparticles in interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline hard material. Cutting elements and earth-boring tools include such polycrystalline compacts. Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts include sintering hard particles and non-catalytic nanoparticles to faun a polycrystalline material. Methods of forming cutting elements include infiltrating interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline material with a plurality of non-catalytic nanoparticles. |
| US09388638B2 |
Expandable reamers having sliding and rotating expandable blades, and related methods
Expandable reamers for enlarging a borehole in a subterranean formation include a tubular body, at least one curved blade track carried by the tubular body, and at least one blade engaged with the at least one blade track and configured to slide along the curved blade track along a curved path between a first retracted blade position and a second expanded blade position. To form such an expandable reamer, a tubular body having at least one curved blade track carried by the tubular body may be formed, and at least one blade may be engaged with the blade track. The blade and blade track may be configured such that the blade slides along the blade track along a curved path between a retracted position and an expanded position. Such expandable reamers may be used to enlarge boreholes in subterranean formations. |
| US09388637B2 |
Underground reamer
A reamer for underground passageways made, for instance, for the installation of cables or pipelines to distribute services in a reticulated network. It includes a support housing having plural integral pairs of spaced-apart laterally extending support wings, wherein between each pair of support wing there is a longitudinally extending slot to receive a laterally extending cutting wing such that each cutting wing is captured between a respective pair of support wings. A stabilization ring comprising a circular sleeve supported by plural radial support pillars which extend from a central collar. Wherein, the cutting wings engage with the support housing to resist rearward longitudinal movement, with the support wings to resist torsional forces, and with the circular sleeve of the stabilization ring to resist radial movement. |
| US09388636B2 |
Apparatus and method for drilling a well
A method for forming a controllable bend angle in a drill string in a wellbore comprises attaching an upper housing to a drill string. At least, one drive motor is anchored in the upper housing. A middle housing is operably coupled to the at least one drive motor. A lower housing is operably coupled to the at least one drive motor. The at least one drive motor is controllably operated to rotate the middle housing by a first rotation angle with respect to the upper housing, and to rotate the lower housing by a second rotation angle with respect to the upper housing, to generate a desired bend angle between the middle housing and the lower housing at a target toolface orientation between the bend angle and the upper housing. |
| US09388630B1 |
Window blind protector
This invention relates generally to a window blind protector, and more specifically, to a device that is positionable on or in a window frame to stop or divert a window blind away from a window sill for allowing access to the window sill. In one embodiment, a device includes, but is not limited to, a first panel that is positionable on a first side of a window sill and that includes a first guide portion; a second panel that is positionable on a second side of the window sill and that includes a second guide portion; and a first cross-member that is configured to extend between the first panel and the second panel to brace the first and second panels against opposing walls of the window frame, wherein the first and second guide portions are configured to divert a window blind away from the window sill when the window blind is lowered. |
| US09388623B2 |
Closing device for a vehicle, and method for operating a closing device
A closing device includes an element which can be moved along a path, a drive, an operating element for detecting a closing request, and detector for detecting the position of an ID transmitter paired with the vehicle. The drive is designed to move the movable element along the path, and a closing movement of the movable element is started via the drive if the actuation of an operating element is detected, if an ID transmitter paired with the vehicle is detected in a first position region within a time window t following the actuation of the operating element, and if the ID transmitter paired with the vehicle is not detected in the first position region at least for a duration s, which begins at least within the time window t, after being detected in the first position region within the time window t. |
| US09388621B2 |
Decryption of access codes of diverse protocols in barrier operator systems
Disclosed are alternate embodiments of various components of a barrier operator system. and methods of operation, including of the mechanical drive subsystem with segmented and self-locking rail unit, rail mounting supports, belt and chain drive tensioning, and drive assembly carriage and interface; the electronics and software routines for controlled operation of the various barrier operator functions; wall console communications with the barrier operator; encryption and decryption of access codes; establishment and monitoring of travel limits and barrier speed and force profiles; thermal protection of barrier operator drive motors; and establishment and control of communications from the barrier operator to accessories by way of a wireless adapter. |
| US09388614B2 |
Parallelism fixing device applied to dual-shaft system
A parallelism fixing device applied to dual-shaft system for fixing the parallelism of the rotary shafts and facilitating the assembling process. The parallelism fixing device includes a first rotary shaft, a second rotary shaft and a fixing unit, which are assembled with each other. Each of the first and second rotary shafts has a fixed section mounted on an electronic apparatus, a pivoted section assembled with a torque module and a middle section positioned between the fixed section and the pivoted section. The fixing unit is assembled with the middle sections. The fixing unit has a substantially 8-shaped cross section and includes a first chamber, a second chamber and a belly section in connection with the first and second chambers. The middle sections of the first and second rotary shafts are respectively fixedly assembled in the first and second chambers. |
| US09388612B2 |
Casement window opening control device
A device may limit opening of a sash hingedly coupled to a master frame, and includes: a bracket attached to the sash; a first arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the bracket; a second arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the first arm's second end; means for biasing the second arm into a retracted position; and a release assembly. The release assembly is secured to the master frame and includes a hook pivotable between a first position and a second position, which, in the first position, may be releasably received in an opening in the second end of the second arm when the second arm is in the retracted position, as the sash is closed and received within the master window frame The second arm is disengaged from the hook, permitting fill opening of the sash, when the hook is pivoted into the second position. |
| US09388608B2 |
Window locking arrangements
A sash lock assembly comprises a window sash frame component, a sash lock having a sash body, and at least one fastener. The sash lock body is mounted on a top of the window sash frame component. The sash lock body includes at least one fastener passage. One exemplary sash lock assembly has the at least one fastener is installed from a rear of the sash lock body, through the at least one angled fastener passage, and into the top of the window sash frame component to secure the sash lock body to the window sash frame component and conceal the at least one fastener is from view without applying an additional cover. One exemplary sash lock assembly has at least one mounting projection that fits within at least one opening in the top of the window sash frame component. |
| US09388606B2 |
Cable locking system
A cable locking system comprises a housing, a cable whose one end is fastened or fastenable to the housing and whose other end can be introduced into a cable passage formed in the housing, a clamping device for clamping the cable in the cable passage and an actuation element which is adjustable between a closed position, in which the actuation element is fastenable to the housing by means of locking elements, in particular padlocks, and an open position in order selectively to adjust at least one clamp jaw of the clamping device between a holding position clamping the cable in the cable passage and a release position releasing the cable. The adjustment of the clamp jaw between the holding position and the release position comprises a pivot movement. |
| US09388599B2 |
Wind tower erection system
Tall wind towers can be erected using a mobile tilting frame comprising a major gin pole and a minor gin pole having a longitudinal axis. The tilting frame has a support cable connecting the major/minor gin poles. The minor gin pole can pivot relative to the major gin pole so that the longitudinal axis of the minor gin pole can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the major gin pole. |
| US09388597B2 |
Re-deployable mobile above ground shelter
A protective shelter including an enclosure having at least a floor, at least one sidewall coupled to the floor, a door, and a roof coupled to the at least one sidewall. The protective shelter further includes one or more members coupled to the enclosure that support the protective shelter on a substrate and a resilient grouser attached to at least one of the one or more members and in contact with the substrate. |
| US09388592B2 |
Methods of underwater seaming
A method of seaming together two fiberglass pool components can include providing a first fiberglass pool component having a first edge. The method can also include providing a second fiberglass pool component having a second edge. A first tongue can extend from the first edge. A second tongue can extend from the second edge. The method can also include applying a first adhesive to a top surface of the first tongue and positioning a bottom surface of the second tongue on the first adhesive. A second adhesive can be applied on a top surface of the second tongue. A tile or tiles can be positioned on the second adhesive. A silicone sealant or a silicone grout can be applied between the tile and the first edge; and between the tile and the second edge. |
| US09388591B2 |
Methods for tying, cleaning and re-cementing masonry using port anchors
A port anchor system and method for anchoring and cementing adjacent and often separated leaves (layered structures) of masonry. The method and various embodiments have the capability of being used for anchoring, cleaning and flushing of old mortar, and injecting grout into internal masonry voids, thereby tying and re-cementing or cementing the masonry mass back together. Various embodiments of anchor systems are provided for performing the various methods, more particularly, some of the embodiments describe port anchors which are used to clean and flush the old mortar and then grout fill the void between adjacent masonry leaves while other embodiments are used to grout fill the void. |
| US09388588B2 |
Scaffold and method
A scaffold includes a first end frame assembly. The scaffold includes a second end frame assembly. The scaffold includes a first side brace assembly supported by the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly. The scaffold includes a second side brace assembly supported by the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly. Each end frame assembly has a first rail with holes and a caster assembly and a second rail with holes and a caster assembly, and a horizontal that is attached to each rail. Each side brace assembly has a locking pin in proximity to each end which engages with a hole in a respective rail, and an associated guard disposed about each pin. Each locking pin has a handle which has a length that extends below the associated guard on an interior side of the guard. A method for a scaffold. |
| US09388587B2 |
Method of manufacturing architectural components
A method of forming architectural trim from cellular polyvinylchloride. The process employs manufacturing dimensionalized cellular PVC architectural components from sheet goods that can achieve both linear and radius shapes without using heat bending techniques. The process strengthens the cellular PVC giving it more structural integrity than other products made strictly of cellular PVC. These techniques enable the manufacture of components with tighter tolerances than traditional heat bending techniques which distort the size and shape of the material which make accurate and precise assembly difficult. |
| US09388583B2 |
Building board and method of mounting
A building board for mounting on a support structure including a set of studs. The building board comprising a framing element essentially shaped as a rectangular cuboid including two opposite main sides having relatively large delimitation surfaces and four edge sides having relatively small delimitation surfaces. A first type of snap-in means are arranged along a first edge side and a second type of snap-in means are arranged along a second edge sides opposite to said first edge side. The snap-in means of the first type is, after mounting of the building board against the support structure, configured to receive a snap-in means of the second type of another building board so that this building board is connected to the mounted building board. Either the snap-in means of said first or second type includes a groove for receiving at least one clamping element for fixing and holding the first and the second building boards against a stud of the support structure. |
| US09388582B1 |
Drywall corner trim material with adhesive
A re-moistenable adhesive-coated drywall corner trim piece having an elongated semi-rigid core piece with a right and left flange, where the semi-rigid core piece has a centerline along which the flanges meet forming a hinge that can be bent and re-bent to any angle any number of times. The piece can also include a step running longitudinally along each of the flanges that can be located between the centerline and the flange edges so that the flanges change from a thicker portion toward the centerline to a thinner portion toward the edges making the piece boxable (capable of being wet mudded simultaneously on both sides without an intermediate drying step). Flanges can be curved slightly inward for perfect bonding. |
| US09388581B2 |
Biodegradable panels
The present invention relates to panels. The panels include a panel layer and a printed layer formed on the panel layer. The panel layer includes a polylactic acid (PLA) resin. The panels are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. |
| US09388573B2 |
Steel lattice configuration
A prefabricated wall module is disclosed. The wall module includes a series or plurality of lattices. The series of lattices includes (a) defining at least one slot accommodating a panel, and (b) defining a grid along an outer surface of the wall module wherein at least one end-standing lattice of the wall module is structurally different from one or more of the other lattices in the wall module. |
| US09388570B2 |
Extendable sleeve for poured concrete deck
A tubular passage for poured concrete decks has an intumescent tube held in a two-part, clamshell base by a bottom clip. A first tube engages the base's top to clamp a funnel shaped, diaphragm seal to the base. The first tube has spaced, radially extending, parallel ridges at predetermined distances from the base. Longitudinal channels separate the ridges. An extension tube has inward extending lugs passing along the channels to engage various ridges when rotated to fix the passage length. The extension engages the base bottom for corrugated deck supports. A cap with repositionable, locating filaments closes either tube. |
| US09388566B2 |
Method of erecting a building with wooden panels
Method of building construction comprising the steps of: preparing a foundation for a building at a building site; providing an onsite mobile packaged production machine at the building site; providing part data relating to a building design to the onsite mobile packaged production machine; supplying wood to the onsite mobile packaged production machine; the onsite mobile packaged production machine providing building parts formed from the wood and based on the part data in the order of assembly; assembling the building parts on the foundation to form the building, wherein at least external walls including the said building parts include interior and exterior panels having a cavity therebetween; and providing foam insulation into the cavity between the interior and exterior panels. A building formed using the method of construction is also provided. Cutting apparatus and a liquid-laden foam filler for wall panels are also provided. |
| US09388565B2 |
Siding and roofing panels and method for mounting same
A wall or roof covering for mounting to a support surface, comprising: a plurality of panels securable to the support surface, each of the panels having a front surface comprising a covering section with simulated building elements, an opposed rear surface facing the support surface when secured thereto, a first marginal edge region and an opposed second marginal edge region, the first marginal edge region having an elongated receiving groove with an elongated aperture oriented one of substantially upwardly and substantially downwardly, the second marginal edge region being at least partially insertable in the first elongated receiving groove of a vertically-adjacent panel and being at least partially covered by a first section of the covering section of the vertically-adjacent panel when inserted therein. |
| US09388564B2 |
Modular adaptable housing architecture
A modular adaptable housing architecture for building temporary shelters and residential units in emergency situations is provided and includes an oval cross-section, which can be increased and extended in a flexible manner, involving the mechanically articulated assembly of successive structural modules formed by pairs of crosswise-arranged ovoid frames in order to support a panel-based inner floor slab, with the shell being formed by sheets, while providing a level floor solution in which the floor is elevated above the ground using the curvature of the elliptical supporting section of each frame or retractable supporting parts of the frames. The result is a self-tensioning geometry shelter, which can be adapted to suit the terrain and occupancy requirements, which is stable, strong and environmentally friendly, and which can be transported in disassembled parts and quickly assembled at any location without requiring any additional work and enabling a finish typical of the locality. |
| US09388563B1 |
Fastener guide and method for connecting structural members in building structures
A fastener guide for accurate spacing and aligning of fastening means in light wood frame construction, comprising a vertical leg comprising a generally flat rigid material and including a plurality of through-holes spaced according to a calculated matrix for driving fasteners therethrough to secure a first structural member to a second structural member, and a flange attached to or integral with the vertical leg and positioned approximately at a right angle thereto. The fastener guide is placed against a face of the first structural member such that the vertical leg plurality of through-holes are positioned to allow for transfer of thrust, tension and shear forces to the second structural member oriented adjacent thereto at a building frame joint. Fasteners are driven through the plurality of through-holes into the second structural member to secure the first structural member to the second structural member. |
| US09388562B2 |
Building system using modular precast concrete components
A building system with modular precast concrete components uses bulb tee beams to span between walls that are distributed within the building footprint to open up the structure. Shallow corrugated slabs span between the bulb tee beams to form the floor deck. Optionally, double tee beams can be used at the periphery of the structure for longer spans. |
| US09388560B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing debris from water management systems
The present invention is directed to a debris catching and removing apparatus and method. For example, bar screens or grids for collecting and removing trash or debris from storm, waste water, or sewage systems, and mounting systems and methods therefore are provided. These apparatus and method may provide a long-lasting, light-weight, and low-cost debris screen screening solutions for removing trash or debris from, for example, storm, waste water, or sewage systems. The invention may be particularly applicable to small lift stations that use submersible pumps or surface mounted pumps that suction waste water from a wet well. |
| US09388556B2 |
Micro-bubble generator of carbon dioxide
A first object of the present invention is to provide a micro-bubble generator of carbon dioxide which is arranged so as to enhance health promoting effects such as improvement of blood circulation due to carbon dioxide gas generated by dissolving a tablet, thereby exhibiting effects of taking a shower of bicarbonate with appropriate concentrations for a prolonged period of time. And, a second object thereof is to provide a micro-bubble generator of carbon dioxide which is arranged so that a rate of dissolution of a carbonated bath tablet is optimized, by which the tablet is kept longer, exchanged less frequently, resulting in reduction in running costs, and also the generator can be attached to a generally available shower unit, thus making it possible to exchange and load the tablet easily and in a short period of time, and the present invention is characterized that a micro-bubble generator of carbon dioxide which is installed at a water supply channel of hot water to eject carbon dioxide gas/micro-bubbles mixed water, and a micro-bubble generator of carbon dioxide which is disposed between a shower unit and a hose, having an opening/closing mechanism, in which there is installed a carbonated bath tablet accommodating portion for accommodating a carbonated bath tablet. |
| US09388553B2 |
Retainer systems for ground engaging tools
Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a lock for a ground engaging tool. In one exemplary embodiment, the lock may include an upper portion having a tool interface configured to receive a tool for applying torque about a lock rotation axis, a lower portion including a base located opposite the tool interface along the lock rotation axis, and an insert layer positioned between the upper portion and lower portion. The insert layer may be configured to allow the upper portion to move relative to the lower portion without shearing when torque is applied to the tool interface of the upper portion. |
| US09388552B2 |
Construction machine
A bar-like member includes a base end portion, a leading end portion opposite to the base end portion, and a fixed portion provided between the base end portion and the leading end portion and fixed to an upper frame. A binding band is adapted to bind the bar-like member and an arranging member together in order to fix the arranging member arranged along the bar-like member. The fixed portion of the bar-like member is formed by folding the bar-like member between the base end portion and the leading end portion, and has an outer peripheral surface fixed to the upper frame in abutting contact with the upper frame. The leading end portion of the bar-like member is positioned away from the upper frame by fixing the outer peripheral surface of the fixed portion to the upper frame. |
| US09388551B2 |
Shift logic for ground ripping machine
A control system for a machine equipped with a ripping tool. The control system includes a first operator input for generating a ripping control signal that initiates an auto-ripping mode. A second operator input is provided for generating a speed select signal for changing the transmission output speed of the machine to a selected transmission output speed. The system further includes a controller with a memory. The controller is linked to the first and second operator inputs. The controller is programmed to receive a ripping control signal from the first operator input and to activate the auto-ripping mode or auto-ripping mode and deactivate the auto-shift mode. The controller is also programmed to receive a speed select signal from the second operator input and to deactivate the auto-ripping mode and adjust the power source to the selected transmission output speed. |
| US09388550B2 |
System and method for controlling the operation of a machine
A system for autonomous control of a machine having a ground-engaging work implement includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to determine the position of a work surface based upon the position signals and select a work zone loading profile for a work zone cut location along a path within a work zone and the work zone loading profile has a work zone cut angle relative to a ground reference. The controller is further configured to select a final cut loading profile for a final cut location along the path adjacent the boundary zone with the final cut loading profile having a final cut angle relative to the ground reference. The final cut angle is steeper than the work zone cut angle. |
| US09388537B2 |
Swing over steering
A self-propelled construction machine includes a plurality of swing legs, each swing leg being supported from a ground surface by an associated crawler track steerably connected to an outer end of its associated swing leg. Pivotal movement of a swing leg may be accomplished by steering the associated crawler track through a non-zero steering angle until the lateral movement of the crawler track achieves the desired pivoting movement of the associated swing leg. |
| US09388533B2 |
Method for increasing the advantages of strength aids in the production of paper and paperboard
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing paper, paperboard or cardboard comprising the steps of (a) pulping an aqueous cellulosic material containing a starch; (b) preventing at least a portion of the starch from being microbially degraded by treating the aqueous cellulosic material containing the starch with one or more biocides; and (h) adding a dry and/or wet strength polymer to the cellulosic material. |
| US09388527B2 |
Spinfinish material applied on the fiber and a production method thereof
The present invention relates to a spinfinish material and a production method thereof which comprises the steps of synthesizing the active compound (11), heating polymer (111), adding initiator (112), adding catalyst (113), performing the reaction (114), preparing the improving material (12), adding the improving material into the active component (13), obtaining the spinfinish material (14); which is applied on fiber during production of polymer fibers used as reinforcing material in tire technology, both improves the physical properties of fiber and makes the cord-rubber adhesion easier. |
| US09388526B2 |
Grafted para-aramid fiber and method of making
A method of making a fiber comprised of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) having monomer groups grafted onto the fiber surface, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a fiber of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) that has been dried to remove adsorbed moisture, (ii) treating the fiber, in a non-polar solvent that will not dissolve the fiber, with a phosphazene base that exhibits a pKa in dimethylsulfoxide of at least 21 so as to generate anions at the amide sites on the surface of the poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fiber, (iii) washing the base-activated fiber with an aprotic solvent, (iv) grafting a monomer onto the anion sites so as to introduce reactive functional groups onto the surface of the poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fiber, and (v) washing the grafted fiber of step (iv) with a protic solvent to extract any residual base compounds and grafting agents that are unbound to the surface of the fibers. |
| US09388523B2 |
Laundry treating apparatus
An apparatus includes a first device to perform a first laundry treating operation and a second device to perform a second laundry treating operation. The first device has a first space to receive laundry through a first opening and the second device has a second space to receive laundry through a second opening. A controller controls the first and second devices to perform the first and second laundry treating operations respectively. The first device is coupled over the first device, and the first and second laundry treating operations are both washing operations or the first and second laundry treating operations are both drying operations. |
| US09388519B1 |
Needling fibrous webs
Methods for forming a touch fastening material are described as including: providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush; needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush; then, while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush; and then pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles. |
| US09388518B2 |
Method and device for strengthening a continuously fed material web
A method and device are provided for strengthening, in particular needling, a continuously fed material web (21), wherein the material web is strengthened in a strengthening zone and is drawn out of the strengthening zone by a drawing apparatus (24). At least one parameter, in particular the material speed, of the strengthened material web (21) is detected in a guiding zone arranged downstream of the fastening zone and before the drawing apparatus (24) by a measuring apparatus (22), preferably without contact, and is optionally used to control the strengthening apparatus. |
| US09388517B2 |
Atraumatic stent and method and apparatus for making the same
A method of braiding a stent and associated braided stent. The method includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends. The braided stent includes a plurality of filaments being inter-braided at a braiding angle formed at crossing filament locations. The braiding angle may be substantially constant for all of the filament crossing locations. |
| US09388516B2 |
Method for producing carbon-fiber-precursor acrylic fiber bundle
A steam-drawing apparatus has supply roll 1 that transfers carbon-fiber-precursor acrylic fiber bundle (T) in a transfer direction of fiber bundle (T); fiber-opening device 2 for opening fiber bundle (T); width control device 3 for controlling the width of fiber bundle (T); steam box 4 to provide steam for heating fiber bundle (T) to a temperature that allows fiber bundle (T) to be drawn; and haul-off roll 5 that transfers fiber bundle (T) at a speed faster than that of supply roll 1. Using width control device 3 provided at a position between supply roll 1 and steam box 4, the width of fiber bundle (T) after passing through width control device 3 is set to be 65˜110% of the width of fiber bundle (T) before entering the supply roll. The present invention proposes a method for producing a carbon-fiber-precursor acrylic fiber bundle using such a steam-drawing apparatus capable of conducting a high-speed drawing process of carbon-fiber-precursor acrylic fiber bundles at a high draw rate with stable results. |
| US09388515B2 |
Heat curable composite textile
A heat curable, circular knitted fabric includes reinforcing and meltable resin fibers that can be cured to form a more rigid material form. In one embodiment, the fabric includes a core spun yarn, wherein the core may be made from glass, carbon, basalt, aramid or metal. The wrap surrounding the core may include resin type fibers such as Poly(p-phenylene sulfide) PPS, Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), Polysulfone (PES), Polyphthalamide (PPA), nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. |
| US09388511B2 |
Spinneret for spinning threads and spinning device for spinning threads
The invention relates to a spinneret for spinning threads from a spinning mass—in the form of a melt or solution of natural or synthetic origin—comprising a rotationally symmetrical spinneret. The rotationally symmetrical spinneret inner part is surrounded at least partially by a rotationally symmetrical outer part, wherein in the longitudinal direction between the spinneret inner part and outer part an insulating chamber is formed, in which a gas, preferably air, is received in order to form an insulating gas layer. The invention further relates to a spinning device for spinning threads from a spinning mass, comprising a spinneret part and a gas nozzle part arranged at a distance from the spinneret part. A plurality of spinnerets according to the invention are inserted in the spinneret part and project from the spinneret part, facing the gas nozzle part, and the gas nozzle part comprises a plurality of gas nozzles associated with the spinnerets. The gas nozzles are designed as acceleration nozzles for a gas flow that is conducted through the respective gas nozzle and encompasses the monofilaments. Said spinnerets are used in a method for producing spunbonded materials or yarns from polymers of natural or synthetic origin, in order to build up said materials or yarns from extremely fine threads having an average thread diameter of less than 1 μm. The threads from the individual spinnerets can also be collected using conventional winding mechanisms to form yarns on bobbins. |
| US09388510B2 |
Libraries of genetic packages comprising novel HC CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 and novel LC CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 designs
Provided are compositions and methods for preparing and identifying antibodies having CDR3s that vary in sequence and in length from very short to very long which in certain embodiments may bind to a carbohydrate moiety or the active site of an enzyme. Libraries coding for antibodies with the CDR3s are also provided. The libraries can be provided by modifying a pre-existing nucleic acid library. |
| US09388506B2 |
Semiconductor crystal removal apparatus and production method for semiconductor crystal
The present invention provides a semiconductor crystal removal apparatus which realizes effective removal of a semiconductor crystal from a crucible through rapid melting of a solidified flux, and a method for producing a semiconductor crystal. The semiconductor crystal removal apparatus includes a crucible support for supporting a crucible so that the opening of the crucible is directed downward; a heater for heating the crucible supported on the crucible support; and a semiconductor crystal receiving net for receiving a semiconductor crystal falling from the opening of the crucible. The semiconductor crystal removal apparatus further includes a determination portion for determining removal of the semiconductor crystal on the basis of a change in weight through falling of the semiconductor crystal. |
| US09388494B2 |
Suppression of parasitic deposition in a substrate processing system by suppressing precursor flow and plasma outside of substrate region
A substrate processing system includes a showerhead that comprises a base portion and a stem portion and that delivers precursor gas to a chamber. A collar connects the showerhead to an upper surface of the chamber. The collar includes a plurality of slots, is arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead, and directs purge gas through the plurality of slots into a region between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the chamber. |
| US09388493B2 |
Self-cleaning shutter for CVD reactor
A chemical vapor deposition reactor and a method of wafer processing are provided. The reactor can include a reaction chamber having an interior and an entry port for insertion and removal of substrates, a gas inlet manifold communicating with the interior of the chamber for admitting process gasses to form a deposit on substrates held within the interior, a shutter mounted to the chamber, and one or more cleaning elements mounted within the chamber. The shutter can be movable between (i) a run position in which the cleaning elements are remote from the exhaust channel and (ii) a cleaning position in which the one or more cleaning elements engage with the shutter so that the cleaning elements remove deposited particles from the shutter upon movement of the shutter to the cleaning position. |
| US09388492B2 |
Vapor flow control apparatus for atomic layer deposition
A device for performing ALD includes a housing having a vacuum chamber that surrounds a horizontal flow reactor. The device further includes a gas distribution system for delivering gases to the reactor. The gas distribution system includes at least one of a high temperature valve and a high temperature filter disposed inside the vacuum chamber. The high temperature valve (and/or filter) controls (and/or filters) a supply of a precursor/reactant gas, inert gas, or precursor/reactant and inert gas mixture before it enters the horizontal flow reactor. |
| US09388491B2 |
Method for deposition of conformal films with catalysis assisted low temperature CVD
A method for depositing a film in a substrate processing system includes arranging a substrate on a pedestal in a processing chamber, heating the substrate to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range, and supplying a gas mixture to the processing chamber for a predetermined period to deposit the film on the substrate, wherein the gas mixture includes a first precursor gas, ammonia gas and diborane gas. |
| US09388486B2 |
Piston ring for internal combustion engine
The present invention refers to a piston ring for internal combustion engine, having an outer surface of a coating of Chromium Nitride (CrN and Cr2N) and Niobium Nitride (NbN and Nb4N3), capable of offering greater resistance to peeling of the coating, also maintaining an excellent level of resistance to wear and tear and scratches to the layer of Chromium Nitride deposited. |
| US09388484B2 |
Continuous annealing furnace for annealing steel strip, method for continuously annealing steel strip, continuous hot-dip galvanizing facility, and method for manufacturing hot-dip galvanized steel strip
A continuous annealing furnace for annealing steel strips that is a vertical-type annealing furnace is configured so that part of gas inside the furnace is drawn and introduced to a refiner disposed outside the furnace including an oxygen removing apparatus and a dehumidifying apparatus, oxygen and moisture contained in the gas are removed to lower the dew point of the gas, and the gas having a lowered dew point is put back into the furnace. At least one gas inlet through which gas is drawn from the furnace into the refiner is disposed in the vicinity of the entry side of the furnace at a distance of 6 m or less in the vertical direction and 3 m or less in the furnace-length direction from the steel-strip-introduction section located at the lower part of the heating zone. |
| US09388482B2 |
Functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide with engineered hard surface and the method for making the same
A functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide material produced via heat treating a sintered cemented tungsten carbide is disclosed and described. The heat treating process comprises at least a step that heats the sintered material to the multi-phase temperature range in which multiple phases including solid tungsten carbide, liquid metal binder, and solid metal binder coexist. Additionally, the material, after the heat treating process comprises a surface layer with lower metal binder content than the nominal value of metal binder content of the bulk of the material. The material is used to make tools for rock drilling, machining of metal alloys, and machining of non-metallic materials. The material can also be used to make engineered wear parts that are used in mechanical systems and applications where wear resistance is required or desired. |
| US09388481B2 |
High strength, oxidation and wear resistant titanium-silicon based alloy
The present invention relates to high strength, oxidation and wear resistant titanium-silicon base alloy containing: 2.5-12 wt % Si 0-5 wt % Al 0-0.5% B 0-2% Cr 0-1 wt % rare earth metals and/or scandium balance Ti with unavoidable impurities. |
| US09388475B2 |
Method of and system for producing oil and valuable byproducts from grains in dry milling systems with a back-end dewater milling unit
A method of and system for producing oil and valuable byproducts from grains, such as corn, in dry mills are disclosed. The method and system include dewater milling process after fermenting. Further, the method and system are able to produce oil without evaporating. Moreover, the method and system include one or more of the germ processing units, emulsion processing units, fiber processing units, high value protein producing units, and glycerol and inorganic salt producing units, such that high value byproducts are able to be generated. |
| US09388472B2 |
Methods and materials for assessing loss of heterozygosity
This document provides methods and materials involved in assessing samples (e.g., cancer cells) for the presence of a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) signature. For example, methods and materials for determining whether or not a cell (e.g., a cancer cell) contains an LOH signature are provided. Materials and methods for identifying cells (e.g., cancer cells) having a deficiency in homology directed repair (HDR) as well as materials and methods for identifying cancer patients likely to respond to a particular cancer treatment regimen also are provided. |
| US09388469B2 |
Sox11 expression in malignant lymphomas
The present invention provides a binding moiety which selectively binds to Sox11 protein and/or mRNA for imaging, diagnosis or prognosis of lymphomas, such as mantle cell lymphomas (MCL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Optionally, the moiety is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. Advantageously, moiety comprises a further, readily detectable moiety. The invention also provides methods of imaging lymphomas cells as well as methods of diagnosing or prognosing lymphomas in an individual. A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of identifying cells associated with lymphomas, the method comprising analyzing the pattern of gene expression in a sample of cells to be tested and comparing it to the pattern of gene expression in a sample of known lymphomas cells. Preferably, the cells to be tested are identified as lymphoma cells if the expression of Sox11 is upregulated compared to normal B-cells. |
| US09388465B2 |
Polynucleotide barcode generation
The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, systems, and devices for polynucleotide processing. Such polynucleotide processing may be useful for a variety of applications, including polynucleotide sequencing. In some cases, this disclosure provides methods for the generation of polynucleotide barcode libraries, and for the attachment of such polynucleotides to target polynucleotides. |
| US09388459B2 |
Methods for genotyping
The present invention provides for methods for discriminating between alleles at polymorphic positions in a genome. In general the methods employ allele specific extension of oligonucleotides that are complementary to one of the alleles at the 3′ end of the oligonucleotide. The allele specific oligonucleotides are resistant to proof reading activity from a polymerase and may be extended in an allele specific manner by a DNA polymerase with a functional 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity. The allele specific oligonucleotides may be attached to a solid support such as a chip or a bead. |
| US09388453B2 |
Non-replicative transduction particles and transduction particle-based reporter systems
Methods and systems are provided for packaging reporter nucleic acid molecules into non-replicative transduction particles for use as reporter molecules. The non-replicative transduction particles can be constructed from viruses and use viral transduction and replication systems. The reporter nucleic acid molecules include a reporter gene, such as a reporter molecule or selectable marker, for detecting target genes or cells. Methods and systems are provided for detection of cells and target nucleic acid molecules using the non-replicative transduction particles as reporter molecules. |
| US09388451B2 |
Medical device design, manufacture and testing systems
Described are methods and systems for testing lumens of cannulated delivery components or assemblies thereof that may be used to deliver cells to a patient. Test cells are contacted with walls of the lumens and/or liquids that contact walls of the lumens, potentially over an incubation period. The test cells are then assessed for an effect of the wall contact, or the liquid contact, on at least one and preferably multiple characteristics of the test cells such as innate immune response, metabolic activity, viability, cytotoxic response, and/or motility. Methods and systems as described can be used in the development and/or manufacture of cannulated delivery devices, for example providing specifications for design or process inputs or outputs, design or process validations, and/or device lot approvals. Also described are devices or products produced in accordance with such methods and systems. |
| US09388446B2 |
Methods of producing hybrid antibodies
A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification. |
| US09388433B2 |
Method for producing polymer, method for producing organic acid, and organic acid-producing microorganism
The present invention provides a method of producing a polymer, which comprises the step of performing a polymerization reaction using, as a starting material, an organic acid obtained by allowing a microorganism or a treated cell thereof to act on an organic raw material, wherein said microorganism has an ability to produce an organic acid and has been modified so as to produce less aromatic carboxylic acid as compared to an unmodified strain. |
| US09388424B2 |
Soybean variety DLL1335
The soybean variety DLL1335 is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and soybean lint as well as to hybrid soybean plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety DLL1335 with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of DLL1335 and to plants of DLL1335 reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from DLL1335. |
| US09388423B2 |
Plants having enhanced yield-related traits and a method for making the same
The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an importin or a yield-related polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an importin or a yield-related polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention. |
| US09388422B2 |
Cellulosic processing trait development using a thermoregulated, intein-modified xylanase
In planta consolidated bioprocessing has the advantages of decreasing biomass pretreatment costs, utilizing excess plant protein production capacity for enzyme production, and decreasing mass transfer resistance of enzyme diffusion to its substrate. However, in planta expression of cell wall degrading (CWD) enzymes often leads to detrimental plant phenotypes that impact crop yield. To provide in planta CWD enzyme activity without any adverse phenotype, a thermostable xylanase, XynB (EC 3.2.1.8), was engineered with a thermoregulated intein, Tth-HB27 DnaE-1 (Tth intein), that controls its hydrolytic activity through conditional intein splicing. Maize plants expressing the heat inducible Tth intein-modified XynB developed normally, yet possessed enhanced post harvest glucose production from dried corn stover. Expression of CWD enzymes as dormant, intein-modified proteins that can be activated by heat treatment after harvest provides the basis for developing a novel cellulosic processing trait in plants. |
| US09388421B2 |
Enhanced expression method
The present invention concerns a method of producing a desired heterologous gene product wherein said heterologous gene product is expressed from a strong promoter, said method comprising expressing said gene using a mutant mRNA leader which comprises one or more mutations which enhance transcription of the gene. The invention also provides a mutant Pm mRNA leader sequence, and a vector and a library comprising the leader sequence. Methods of obtaining an mRNA mutant leader and identifying an mRNA mutant leader are encompassed, along with a vector for selection or identification of an mRNA leader mutant and a use thereof for screening. |
| US09388417B2 |
Synthesis-regulating sRNA and method for preparing same
The present invention relates to a novel customized sRNA that reduces gene expression in prokaryotic cells, a preparation method thereof, and the use thereof, and more particularly to a synthetic sRNA comprising an Hfq binding site, derived from the sRNA of any one of MicC, SgrS and MicF, and a region that base-pairs with the target gene mRNA, and to a preparation method thereof and the use thereof. The synthetic sRNA according to the invention has an advantage in that the degree of inhibition of the target gene can be controlled by regulating the ability of the synthetic sRNA to bind to the mRNA of the target gene. The use of the synthetic sRNA that regulates the expression of the target gene makes it possible to effectively construct a recombinant microorganism without using a conventional gene deletion method and to reduce the expression of the target gene, and thus the synthetic sRNA is useful for the production of recombinant microorganisms. Also, the synthetic sRNA can be quickly applied to various strains, and thus is very suitable for the measurement of metabolic capabilities of strains and the selection of the most suitable strain. In addition, recombinant microorganisms, which are obtained by metabolic flux manipulation using the synthetic sRNA and produce tyrosine or cadaverine with high efficiency, are useful in the drug and industrial fields. In other words, the use of the sRNA according to the present invention can make it easy to select target genes whose expression is to be inhibited for the highly efficient production of metabolites. Accordingly, the synthetic sRNA can be used to construct recombinant strains for efficient production of various metabolites and to establish efficient methods for production of various metabolites, and thus is highly useful. |
| US09388416B2 |
Modified oligonucleotides for telomerase inhibition
Compounds comprising an oligonucleotide moiety covalently linked to a lipid moiety are disclosed. The oligonucleotide moiety comprises a sequence that is complementary to the RNA component of human telomerase. The compounds inhibit telomerase activity in cells with a high potency and have superior cellular uptake characteristics. |
| US09388414B2 |
Method for selectively inhibiting ACAT1 in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
The present invention features methods for stimulating clearance of misfolded or aggregated proteins or peptides in microglia or neurons, and treating neurodegenerative diseases associated with such pathology in brain by selectively inhibiting the expression or activity of Acyl-CoA:Cholesterol Acyltransferase 1, but not Acyl-CoA:Cholesterol Acyltransferase 2. |
| US09388411B2 |
miRNA-212/132 family as a therapeutic target
The present invention refers to inhibitors of microRNAs, particularly of microRNAs miR-212 and/or miR-132 for use in medicine, particularly in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of cardiac disorders, e.g. cardiac hypertrophy-associated or autophagic disorders, and further refers to isolated nucleic acid molecules, particularly microRNAs miR-212 and/or miR-132 and related sequences, for use in medicine, particularly human medicine, more particularly in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disorders involving cardiac atrophy and/or dysfunctional autophagy, e.g. cardiac cachexia. |
| US09388410B2 |
Alternative export pathways for vector expressed RNA interference
The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules containing a loop sequence designed to circumvent exportin-5 mediated export, and methods using these novel molecules. |
| US09388407B2 |
Methods and devices for nucleic acid synthesis
Disclosed are devices and methods to synthesize polynucleotides and libraries of polynucleotides such as libraries of oligonucleotides. In exemplary embodiments, the device includes a support having a plurality of features. Each feature contains a plurality of oligonucleotides. Within each feature, each of the plurality of oligonucleotides includes an identical predetermined subunit sequence of X nucleosides and a degenerate sequence of Y nucleosides. A predetermined combination of a subset of the features can be used to produce a polynucleotide having a predetermined sequence of Z nucleosides. |
| US09388400B2 |
Composition for use in mycobacteria diagnosis
The present invention relates to a composition having the activity of degrading the cell wall of a Mycobacterium species comprising: (a) a first fusion protein including (i) a domain with a first enzymatic activity, the enzymatic activity being at least one or more of the following: N-acetyl-b-D-muramidase (lysozyme, lytic transglycosylase), N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase, N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, L-alanoyl-D-glutamate (LD) endopeptidase, c-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (DL) peptidase, D-Ala-m-DAP (DD) endopeptidase, or m-DAP-m-DAP (LD) endopeptidase, (ii) at least one peptide stretch fused to the N- or C-terminus of the domain with the first enzymatic activity; and (iii) a protein transduction domain (PTD) being at the N- or C-terminus of the first fusion protein; and (b) a second fusion protein including (i) a domain with a second enzymatic activity, the enzymatic activity being at least one or more of the following: lipolytic activity, cutinase, mycolarabinogalactanesterase, or alpha/beta hydrolase; (ii) at least one peptide stretch fused to the N- or C-terminus of the domain of the second enzymatic activity; and (iii) a protein transduction domain (PTD) being at the N- or C-terminus of the second fusion protein for use as a diagnostic agent. Moreover, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding said fusion protein. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for the detection of a Mycobacterium species in a sample and a kit comprising the fusion proteins for conduction the methods for the detection. |
| US09388397B2 |
Deimmunized gelonin molecules and therapies
Recombinant gelonin polypeptides with decreased antigenicity are provided. Cell-targeted constructs comprising said recombinant gelonin polypeptides are also provided. Such constructs can be used in methods for targeted cell killing, such as for treatment of cell proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). |
| US09388396B2 |
Chimeric DNA polymerases
The present invention provides, among other things, chimeric DNA polymerases containing heterologous domains having sequences derived from at least two DNA polymerases that have at least one distinct functional characteristics (e.g., elongation rate, processivity, error rate or fidelity, salt tolerance or resistance) and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the present invention can combine desired functional characteristics (e.g., high processivity; high elongation rate; thermostability; resistance to salt, PCR additives (e.g., PCR enhancers) and other impurities; and high fidelity) of different DNA polymerases in a chimeric polymerase. |
| US09388395B2 |
Biocatalysts and methods for synthesizing derivatives of tryptamine and tryptamine analogs
The present disclosure provides engineered transaminase polypeptides for the production of amines, polynucleotides encoding the engineered transaminases, host cells capable of expressing the engineered transaminases, and methods of using the engineered transaminases to prepare compounds useful in the production of active pharmaceutical agents. |
| US09388394B2 |
Vaccines against clostridium difficile comprising recombinant toxins
The present invention relates to recombinant C. difficile toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) and binary toxin A (CDTa) proteins comprising specifically defined mutations relative to the native toxin sequence that substantially reduce or eliminate toxicity. The invention also relates to vaccines and immunogenic compositions comprising these recombinant toxins, as well as combinations of these toxins with binary toxin B (CDTb), which are capable of providing protection against C. difficile infection and/or the effects thereof. The invention also relates to methods of inducing an immune response to C. difficile comprising administering the vaccines and immunogenic compositions described herein to a patient. The invention also encompasses methods of expressing recombinant C. difficile toxin A and toxin B and CDTa mutants and CDTb in recombinant expression systems. In exemplary embodiments, TcdA, TcdB, and CDTa mutant toxins comprising sufficient mutations to substantially reduce or eliminate toxicity are expressed in the baculovirus/insect cell expression system. |
| US09388393B2 |
Mutant hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase polypeptides and methods of use
Compositions and methods for conferring hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicide resistance or tolerance to plants are provided. Compositions include amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for mutant HPPD polypeptides. Nucleic acids that encode the mutant HPPD polypeptides are also provided. Methods for conferring herbicide resistance or tolerance, particularly resistance or tolerance to certain classes of herbicides that inhibit HPPD, in plants are further provided. Methods are also provided for selectively controlling weeds in a field at a crop locus and for the assay, characterization, identification and selection of the mutant HPPDs of the current invention that provide herbicide tolerance. |
| US09388390B2 |
Method for preparing virus-like particle and recombinant baculovirus used therein
A recombinant baculovirus is provided for preparing picornavirus virus-like particles (VLP), wherein Chitinase A (ChiA) and Cathepsin V (v-cath) genes of the recombinant baculovirus are functionally disrupted and the recombinant baculovirus includes a picornavirus capsid protein gene under control of a strong promoter, and includes a protease gene configured for encoding a protease for hydrolyzing the capsid protein under control of a weak promoter. The recombinant baculovirus of the present invention may adopt High Five or Sf-9 cells for manufacturing enterovirus virus-like particles with improved stability and higher yields in comparison with the conventional arts. A method for preparing virus like particles is also herein provided. |
| US09388384B2 |
Mesenchymal stem cells produced from human pluripotent stem cells
Provided is a method for producing mesenchymal stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells, the method including: a) forming embryonic bodies from human pluripotent stem cells; b) attaching the embryonic bodies to a culture dish to induce natural differentiation of the embryonic bodies into mesenchymal stem cells; and c) performing continuous proliferative culturing of the mesenchymal stem cells while still maintaining the identity of the mesenchymal stem cells. Also, provided is a standardized method for inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, which can be broadly applied to all human pluripotent stem cells regardless of a difference in the genetic background thereof. Ultimately, the present invention can continuously mass-produces the mesenchymal stem cells necessary for regenerative medicine and cell therapy by using human pluripotent stem cells, thereby realizing practical uses of cell therapy products, and further the present invention is expected to highly contribute to treatments of incurable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. |
| US09388382B2 |
Isolation of CD14 negative, CD45 positive and CD117 positive embryonic-like stem cells free of monocytes from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells
The present invention is related generally to embryonic-like stem cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood, designated herein as cord blood-stem cells (CB-SC's), which display the characteristics of embryonic stem cells and hematopoietic cells. These cells have the capability of proliferation and are able to differentiate to multiple types of cells. In addition, the CB-SC display low immunogenicity and immune regulation. These cells are, therefore, suitable for use in stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord damage, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke and birth defects, and for preventing, treating and/or reducing an autoimmune disease in a mammalian subject. |
| US09388380B2 |
Method for producing continuous cell lines
The present invention relates to a method for production of continuous cell lines comprising providing living cells of an animal or a human, irradiating said cells with UV light, proliferating said cells and selecting multiplying cells as cells of a continuous cell line. |
| US09388378B2 |
Candida sake strain for producing long chain dicarboxylic acids
A strain of Candida sake, CAT H430, is provided. The methods of using CAT H430 for producing dicarboxylic acids are also provided. |
| US09388376B2 |
Method for counting subject matters to be counted in container
A method for counting counted targets disposed in a liquid enclosed in a container, includes adjusting a thickness of at least a part of the container; setting at least a part of the adjusted part as a measurement target region; and counting a number of counted targets in the measurement target region. |
| US09388370B2 |
Thermolysin-like protease for cleaning insect body stains
A substrate or coating is provided that includes a protease with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating. |
| US09388369B2 |
Wash water maintenance for sustainable practices
Methods for use of enzymes for sustainable wash water maintenance are disclosed. The invention relates to use of enzymes for removing soils from wash water sources in a variety of cleaning applications. The invention cleans wash water sources, prevents the re-deposition of soils on treated surfaces and enhances detergency. Methods of wash water maintenance according to the invention provide sustainable practices by improving water quality and minimizing water and energy consumption in wash systems. |
| US09388366B2 |
Solid concentrated fabric softener composition
A solid fabric softening composition is disclosed which includes a quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound which is stabilized to form a solid with a mixture of a water soluble organic salt and a medium to long chain carboxylic acid. This stabilizing combination has been shown to effectively form a solid quaternary ammonium based fabric softening composition with up to as much as 70% by weight of quaternary ammonium compound. The formulations are stable at typical storage temperatures of up to 110° F. and provide fabric softening similar to and even superior to other traditional liquid formulations. |
| US09388362B2 |
Friction modifiers and a method of making the same
A lubricating oil additive composition comprising the reaction product of an (a) an alkylated aromatic ether alcohol, (b) a source of boron, and (c) a hydrocarbyl polyol, having at least two hydroxyl groups. |
| US09388361B2 |
Lubricating oil additive composition and lubricating oil composition
A lubricating oil additive composition contains a borated succinimide derivative and an amino alcohol compound. A lubricating oil composition containing the lubricating oil additive composition is excellent in high-temperature detergency and base value retention (long-drain capabilities) even though a blended content of a metal detergent is low and an ash content is small. |
| US09388359B2 |
High octane unleaded aviation gasoline
High octane unleaded aviation gasoline having low aromatics content and a T10 of at most 75° C., T40 of at least 75° C., a T50 of at most 105° C., a T90 of at most 135° C., a final boiling point of less than 210° C., an adjusted heat of combustion of at least 43.5 MJ/kg, a vapor pressure in the range of 38 to 49 kPa and a freezing point of less than −58° C. is provided. |
| US09388355B2 |
Process for producing high-carbon biogenic reagents
This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives. |
| US09388350B2 |
Expansion of fuel streams using mixed hydrocarbons
Methods and systems for blending multiple batches of mixed hydrocarbons into fuel streams downstream of the refinery are provided that do not compromise the octane value of the fuel and do not cause the volatility of the fuel to exceed volatilities imposed by government regulation. |
| US09388346B2 |
Removal of heteroaromatic sulfides from hydrocarbons using polyoxometalates catalysts
The present invention relates to methods of removing heteroaromatic sulfides from hydrocarbons (e.g. petroleum products such as gasoline and fuel oils), using polyoxometalate catalysts such as H5PV2Mo10O40 or solvates thereof. |
| US09388344B2 |
Biofuels via hydrogenolysis and dehydrogenation-condensation
A method comprising providing a carbohydrate feed; contacting at least a portion of the carbohydrate feed directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a first reaction product comprising a stable hydroxyl intermediate; contacting at least a portion of the first reaction product comprising the stably hydroxyl intermediates with a dehydrogenation catalyst to form a second reaction product; and contacting at least a portion of the second reaction product with a condensation catalyst comprising a base functionality to form a fuel blend. |
| US09388343B2 |
Plant-based compositions and uses thereof
The present invention relates to compositions comprising a plant material and methods for using the same. The methods include extracting or removing a substance from a substrate, or remediating a substrate from a substance. The substance can comprise a hydrocarbon-containing substance, a protein, lipid, wax, fatty acid or fatty alcohol, or a combination thereof. |
| US09388342B2 |
Electric actuator for coke drum unheading valve
An electric actuator is provided for operating an unheading valve of a coke drum. The electric actuator includes a driving element comprising a planetary roller screw for actuating the unheading valve. By using a planetary roller screw, rather than hydraulics for the driving element, the electric actuator of the present invention can be used in place of hydraulic actuators while still providing sufficient power and reliability for use with an unheading valves of a coke drum. |
| US09388338B2 |
Liquid crystal mixture
Liquid crystal mixture comprising one or several compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, M1, M2, X, A, and m are defined herein. |
| US09388334B2 |
Delivery of particulate material below ground
A wellbore fluid comprises an aqueous carrier liquid, hydrophobic fibers suspended therein, hydrophobic particulate material also suspended in the carrier liquid, and a gas to wet the surfaces of the particles and fibers and bind them together as agglomerates. The wellbore fluid may be a slickwater fracturing fluid and may be used for fracturing a tight gas reservoir. Using a combination of hydrophobic particulate material, hydrophobic fibers and gas inhibits settling out of the particulate material from an aqueous liquid. Because the gas acts to wet the surfaces of both materials and agglomerates them, the particulate material is made to adhere to the fibers; the fibers form a network which hinders settling of the particulate material adhering to them, and the agglomerates contain gas and so have a bulk density which is less than the specific gravity of the solids contained in the agglomerates. |
| US09388329B2 |
Stretchable, hand-tearable, conformable, and cinchable reinforced adhesive tape articles
Reinforced articles particularly adapted for use in combination with an adhesive to form reinforced adhesive tape articles that are stretchable as well as hand-tearable along with being highly conformable and cinchable. |
| US09388327B2 |
Sprayable coating composition and method for asphalt surfaces
A sprayable coating composition, and method of application, for coating asphalt paving surfaces. In the coating composition, a low bulk density aggregate material of sprayable particle size is suspended in a sprayable asphalt emulsion in an amount sufficient to increase the micro-texture surface roughness of the cured coating. |
| US09388326B2 |
Compositions for controlled assembly and improved ordering of silicon-containing block copolymers
The invention provides compositions and methods for inducing and enhancing order and nanostructures in organosilicon block copolymers compositions by including certain organic additives in such compositions that include one or more moieties comprising a hydrogen bond acceptor or a hydrogen bond donor. Such block copolymer compositions may be used, for example, as a mask for lithographic patterning as is used, for example, during various stages of semiconductor device fabrication. |
| US09388324B2 |
Process for incorporating an ion-conducting polymer into a polymeric article to achieve anti-static behavior
A process for endowing a polymeric article with a surface layer of an ion-conducting polymer to yield electrical surface resistivity sufficiently low for electrostatic discharge applications is provided. The polymeric article contains one or more immobilized, polymeric components having amine functional groups. The presence of the ion-conducting polymer in the surface layer lowers the surface electrical resistivity into the range suitable for electrostatic discharge applications, between about 1×105 and about 1×1012 Ω/□. Plastic electrostatic dissipation materials produced by the inventive process may find use in the optical, electronics, automotive, entertainment, sporting goods, and medical sectors. |
| US09388322B2 |
Ink, ink cartridge and ink jet recording process
The invention provides an ink for use in an ink jet recording process in which an ink is ejected from a recording head by the action of thermal energy, the ink comprising a pigment, a water-soluble polyurethane polymer, a compound represented by a general formula (1) having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 or more and 8,500 or less, and a polyethylene oxide alkyl ether, the alkyl group of which has 12 or more carbon atoms, wherein, based on the total mass of the ink, the content (mass %) of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is 0.4 times or more and 10.0 times or less in terms of mass ratio with respect to the content (mass %) of the polyethylene oxide alkyl ether. |
| US09388317B2 |
Ink formulations for improving printhead lifetime
An inkjet ink includes: (i) a disazo dye of formula (I): (ii) sulfolane; (iii) a glycol compound selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol and pentaethylene glycol; and (iv) water. |
| US09388301B2 |
Cellulose-derived transparent substrate
The present invention provides a formed article, or more specifically a transparent substrate, which effectively utilizes a natural stuff and which has a low linear expansion coefficient, a high light transmittance and an appropriate level of moisture permeability. The transparent substrate includes at least an oxidized polysaccharide and has a linear expansion coefficient of 50 ppm/° C. or less at 30-150° C. and a light transmittance of 70% or more at 660 nm. Its manufacturing method includes an oxidation process in which cellulose reacts with TEMPO or its derivatives as a catalyst to be oxidized in water under the presence of a co-oxidant, along with a fiberizing process in which the oxidized cellulose is fiberized in water to form a cellulose fiber, and a substrate-forming process in which a transparent substrate is formed from a cellulose dispersion liquid containing the cellulose fiber. |
| US09388294B2 |
Epoxy-amine adduct, resin composition, sizing agent, carbon fiber coated with sizing agent, and fiber-reinforced composite material
Provided is an epoxy-amine adduct that offers high reactivity, contributes to better adhesion between a resin and a reinforcing fiber in a fiber-reinforced composite material, and can be easily blended with another component such as a resin. The epoxy-amine adduct has two or more amino groups per molecule and is obtained by a reaction of an epoxy compound (A) having two or more alicyclic epoxy groups per molecule with an amine compound (B) having two or more amino groups per molecule. The epoxy compound (A) is preferably a compound represented by Formula (a): |
| US09388291B2 |
Thin aluminum flakes
Described are thin plane-parallel aluminum flakes illustrated in FIG. 1 having a thickness of up to 200 nm and comprising an inner layer of oxidized aluminium having a thickness of 0.5-30 nm, a process for the manufacture thereof and the use thereof, e.g. in formulations, like paints, electrostatic coatings, printing inks, plastics materials, and cosmetics. Surprisingly, due to the inner layer of oxidized aluminum the aluminum flakes have an improved shear stability as evidenced e.g. by the difference in lightness before and after shear stress. |
| US09388289B2 |
Open-cell foam for the selective absorption of oil from water
Disclosed is a process for fabricating microporous, open-cell foam of a hierarchical structure from a composition comprising a foamable liquid polymer, a curing agent for the polymer, a blowing agent and a filler that functions as a viscosity modifier for the foam-forming composition. By appropriate selection of materials, microporous, open-cell polymer foam is producible which, due to its hydrophobic character, is capable of absorbing relatively low surface tension liquids, e.g., hydrocarbon oils, and reject high surface tension liquids, e.g., water. These foams may be applied in maritime oil spill clean-up operations. |
| US09388287B2 |
Polyimide film
The present invention provides a polyimide film having a good transparency and also an excellent thermal resistance so that it is useful in a transparent conductive film, TFT substrate, a flexible printing circuit substrate, and the like. |
| US09388283B2 |
Method of polyarylene sulfide crystallization
A method for formation of a semi-crystalline polyarylene sulfide is described. The method can include reaction of sulfur-containing monomer with a dihaloaromatic monomer in an organic amide solvent to form a polymer following by combination of the polymer with a crystallization solution. The crystallization solution is pre-heated and the mixture formed is slowly cooled to crystallize the polymer. |
| US09388279B2 |
Poly(imide-amide) copolymer, a method of preparing a poly(imide-amide) copolymer, and an article including a poly(imide-amide) copolymer
A poly(imide-amide) copolymer, which is a product of a reaction between a diamine and a dianhydride, wherein the diamine comprises a diamine represented by Chemical Formula 1 and the dianhydride comprises a dianhydride represented by Chemical Formula 5: wherein, the variables in Chemical Formulae 1 and 5 are described in the specification. |
| US09388278B2 |
Release layer, substrate structure, and method for manufacturing flexible electronic device
Disclosed is a substrate structure for manufacturing a flexible electronic device, including a supporting layer, a release layer covering the supporting layer with a first area, wherein the release layer is an aromatic polyimide, and a flexible layer covering the supporting layer and the release layer with a second area. The second area is greater than the first area. The adhesion force between the flexible layer and the supporting layer is stronger than the adhesion force between the release layer and the supporting layer. |
| US09388273B2 |
Multifunctional deoxybenzoin-based monomers and resins having reduced flammability
The invention provides a novel platform for minimal- or non-flammable polymers, which is based purely on hydrocarbon systems and does not need additives of any kind A key feature is that the hydrocarbons disclosed herein are characterized by degradation mechanisms that produce few flammable volatiles. For example, 2,4,4′,6-tetrahydroxydeoxybenzoin is employed as a multifunctional cross-linker in conjunction with bis-epoxydeoxybenzoin, affording new resins that combine excellent physical and mechanical properties with low flammability. |
| US09388272B2 |
Low temperature segmented copolymer compositions and methods
There is provided a method of synthesizing a segmented copolymer that includes mixing one or more α,ω (alpha, omega) amine or α,ω (alpha, omega) hydroxyl terminated polysiloxane first soft segments having an average molecular weight of between about 2500 grams per mole to about 10,000 grams per mole, and one or more diisocyanate species, together to form a first reaction product; mixing the first reaction product and one or more low molecular weight diol or diamine chain extenders each having an average molecular weight of less than 400 grams per mole, together in a solvent to form a segmented copolymer; and, removing the solvent. |
| US09388271B2 |
Polyoxyalkylene polyol or monool and polyurethane resin
There is provided a polyoxyalkylene polyol or monool (S) represented by formula (2). In the formula (2), R2 represents an m-valent group in which m active hydrogens are removed from the active hydrogen-containing compound (H); Z is an alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group, and these groups are unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen atom or an aryl group. A hydroxyl value x, total degree of unsaturation y and the content of ethylene oxide z satisfy mathematical expression (3). In mathematical expression (3), x represents 5 to 280 mgKOH/g, y represents total degree of unsaturation represented by a unit meq/g, and z is from 0 to 50. R2—[—(ZO)p-(AO)q-(CH2CH2O)r-H] (2) y≦18.9×x−2×(100−z)/100 (3) |
| US09388270B2 |
Fiber reinforced polymeric composites and methods of making the same
The present invention provides sizing compositions and methods of using the same for glass fibers used in reinforced polymeric composites produced by reactive processing techniques. |
| US09388267B2 |
Photocurable elastomer composition, seal material, gasket for hard disc drive, hard disc drive and apparatus
A photocurable elastomer composition comprising: (A) a liquid polymer having a number average molecular weight of 5,000 or more, and mainly containing —[CH2C(CH3)2]— units; (B) a (meth)acrylate monomer; and (C) a photo polymerization initiator, the mass ratio ((A):(B)) between the component (A) and the component (B) being 10:90 to 39:61. |
| US09388259B2 |
Photosensitive polymer and photoalignable phase difference film
To provide a photosensitive polymer, a phase difference film using the photosensitive polymer, and an optical film using the phase difference film. A solution is a photosensitive polymer having a constitutional unit represented by formula (1): wherein, in formula (1), for example, R1 is hydrogen or methyl; a is 2 or 3; p is an integer from 1 to 12; X1 is —O—, —COO— or —OCO—; b is an integer from 0 to 3; A1 is a divalent group selected from 1,4-phenylene or naphthalene-2,6-diyl, and in the divalent group, at least one of hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine or chlorine; Z1 is a single bond, —COO—, —CH═CH—COO—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —CH2O— or —CONH—; W1 and W2 are hydrogen, fluorine or 1-5C alkyl or alkoxy; Y1 is —O—; and R2 is 1-20C alkyl, and at least one of —CH2— in the alkyl may be replaced by —O—. |