| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09417746B2 |
Touch-panel substrate
On a resin substrate (2) there are laminated, in the stated order, a conductive layer in which a bridge electrode (3b) and leads are formed, a first interlayer insulating layer (4), and an electrode layer that allows through visible light forming a unit electrode (5XU) of a drive electrode line (5X) and a unit electrode (5YU) of a sensing electrode line (5Y). It is accordingly possible to realize a touch panel substrate (1) capable of minimizing any increases in thickness, decreases in transmittance, complexity of terminal portions, and deterioration in optical characteristics. |
| US09417743B2 |
Touch control device, touch control display device, display device and control method thereof
A touch control device includes a touch area, a border area, a inductive coil, a proximity sensing unit, a near field communication unit, and a switch module. The touch area is for sensing touch input. The border area is located at periphery of the touch area. The inductive coil is located on the border area. The proximity sensing unit is for transmitting a driving signal to the inductive coil when being coupled to a first end of the inductive coil, and determining whether the inductive coil is close to an object according to a sensing signal generated by the inductive coil. The near field communication unit is for performing near field communication when being coupled to the first end and a second end of the inductive coil. The switch module is for controlling coupling statuses of the proximity sensing unit and the near field communication unit to the inductive coil. |
| US09417741B2 |
Capacitance sensing apparatus and touchscreen apparatus
A capacitance sensing apparatus includes: a driving circuit unit applying a driving signal of a first period to a node capacitor; a first integrating circuit unit integrating voltage charged in the node capacitor to generate output voltage of which a voltage level is changed twice during a second period; a buffer capacitor charged or discharged by the output voltage of the first integrating circuit unit; a second integrating circuit unit integrating voltage charged in the buffer capacitor to generate output voltage of which a voltage level is changed twice during the first period; and an amplifying unit differentially amplifying non-inverted output voltage and inverted output voltage of the second integrating circuit unit, wherein the amplifying unit amplifies voltage corresponding to a difference between the non-inverted output voltage and the inverted output voltage during a reset section of the second integrating circuit unit to generate offset information. |
| US09417740B2 |
Capacitive sensing apparatus with a shield electrode
An apparatus including a plurality of capacitive sensing cells distributed over a sensing area, wherein each capacitive sensing cell includes a capacitive sensor electrode and at least one switch; a plurality of output conductive traces, wherein each output conductive trace is configured to provide an output from multiple capacitive sensing cells; a plurality of control conductive traces, wherein each control conductive trace is configured to provide a control input to multiple capacitive sensing cells, wherein the switch of a capacitive sensing cell is configured to be controlled by one of the plurality of control conductive traces to enable a conductive path between the capacitive sensor electrode of the capacitive sensing cell and one of the plurality of output conductive traces; and a shield electrode overlying at least portions of the output conductive traces or the control conductive traces while exposing at least portions of the capacitive sensor electrodes. |
| US09417739B2 |
High speed multi-touch touch device and controller therefor
A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that includes a differentiated representation of the drive signal. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node. |
| US09417732B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a backlight unit, a backlight control circuit, sensors, a read-out circuit and a sensor auxiliary circuit. The display panel includes pixels and displays an image. The backlight unit includes a first light source which emits a first light in a infrared light range. The backlight control circuit controls a brightness of the first light source. The sensors sense an external signal and outputs first sensing signals. The read-out circuit outputs the first sensing signals as second sensing signals. The sensor auxiliary circuit compares a maximum value and a minimum value of the second sensing signals and provides a brightness control signal to the backlight control circuit based on the compared difference to control the brightness of the first light source. |
| US09417726B2 |
Supporting keyboard and mouse over embedded displayport without using a universal serial bus
A human interface sink device may be selectively enabled with at least one of an embedded keyboard, embedded mouse, touch-based keyboard, a touch-based mouse function in addition to a multi-touch function. |
| US09417721B2 |
TFT touch display device and driving method thereof
A TFT touch display device includes a plurality of mutually vertical control lines and sensor lines and a plurality of TFTs. Each TFT is disposed at an intersection of one of the plurality of control line and one of the plurality of sensor line. The TFT is connected to a corresponding control line, a corresponding sensor line, and a power source. When there is an object approaching to the TFT, the TFT is turned on and a back-channel current is generated. A control unit is connected to the plurality of control lines to respectively provide a control signal to the plurality of control lines. A current sensing unit is connected to the plurality of sensor lines to respectively sense a current generated by the TFTs. |
| US09417720B2 |
Fast virtual media KVM system
A keyboard-mouse-video (KVM) system. The system includes a KVM switch having a first controller; a ROC unit having a second controller; and a cable which connects the ROC unit to the KVM switch, the cable having four pairs of wires. The first controller is configured to transmit and the second controller is configured to receive an Ethernet signal using a first pair of wires. The second controller is configured to transmit and the first controller is configured to receive a serial signal using a second pair of wires. |
| US09417717B2 |
Methods for interacting with an electronic device by using a stylus comprising body having conductive portion and systems utilizing the same
A system includes a stylus including a body having an elongated portion, a tapered portion coupled to the elongated portion, and a conductive layer disposed on the elongated portion, an electronic device, a touch controller and a processing unit. The electronic device comprises a touch sensor generating a sensing signal when the touch sensor senses the conductive layer. The touch controller is coupled to the touch sensor, receives the sensing signal and generates a first signal based on the received sensing signal. The processing unit is coupled to the touch controller, receives the first signal and triggers a function of the electronic device based on the first signal. |
| US09417716B2 |
Mouse-based user interface device employing user-removable modules
The functionality of a conventional mouse is extended to provide an extended number of simultaneously adjustable user interface parameters employing one or more user-removable modules. In an embodiment, a user interface for controlling an external device, such as a computer, includes a first user interface sensor configured with a housing. This first sensor generates a first plurality of signals responsive to movement of the housing relative to two orthogonal axes. A compartment is configured with the housing and is sized to receive the user-removable module. This user-removable module contains a second user interface sensor, which generates a second plurality of signals responsive to user manipulation. Output is provided responsive to signals generated by the first and second user interface sensors. In another embodiment, the housing of an extended functionality mouse itself serves as a module removable from a compartment provided in another physical device. |
| US09417715B2 |
Smart mouse device having an optical sensor and a pressure sensor
A smart mouse device having an optical sensor and a pressure sensor is provided. The smart mouse device includes the optical sensor for outputting position data by using light emitted from and reflected off a light-emitting element, and the pressure sensor for outputting a pressure signal according to a pressing of the sensor. The smart mouse device also includes a controller for transmitting the position data and the pressure signal to a user terminal, and a user terminal connection unit which connects to the user terminal, and which transmits and receives data. |
| US09417714B2 |
RFID-based input device
A method includes steps of: receiving a first energy and a second energy emitted from within close proximity to a computer; powering a portable unit using the first energy; determining a position and status of the portable unit using the second energy; and transmitting a user identifier from the portable unit to the computer for verification. |
| US09417713B2 |
Image-capturing device for optical pointing apparatus having large and small area image-sensing units
An image-capturing device configured for an optical pointing apparatus includes a plurality of image-sensing units arranged adjacently. The plurality of image-sensing units are configured to sense images of a surface and generate sensing signals that are used for evaluating the velocity of the optical pointing apparatus. The image-capturing device is configured to use different image-sensing units arranged differently to sense the surface according to the velocity of the optical pointing apparatus. When the optical pointing apparatus moves at a first velocity, the image-capturing device uses the image-sensing units configured to occupy a smaller area to sense the surface. When the optical pointing apparatus moves at a second velocity, the image-capturing device uses the image-sensing units configured to occupy a larger area to sense the surface. The first velocity is lower than the second velocity. |
| US09417710B2 |
System and method for implementing sliding input of text based upon on-screen soft keyboard on electronic equipment
A system for implementing the sliding input of a text based upon an on-screen soft keyboard on an electronic equipment is provided. The system comprises a feature lexicon module, a feature lexicon establishment module, a user interface module, a sliding trajectory feature extraction module, a rough classifying and filtering module, a rough matching and filtering module and an accurate matching and sorting module. A method for implementing the sliding input using the system is also provided. The system and the method can input a word according to the preorder trajectory of the input portion, and cleverly use a forecasting-between-slidings input, decrease a sliding distance, effectively improve the input speed and accuracy of words, and simplify the operation for the users. |
| US09417707B2 |
System and method for key function switching
Personal computer (PC) and online gaming are gaining popularity around the world. Typically players use PC input devices such as keyboards and mice for playing PC games. Many of the modern PC games use a control scheme commonly known as the “WASD/Mouse”, which is a combination of the “WASD” keys of the keyboard and the mouse as means for interacting with the PC games. Additionally, to further expand on game control functions, modifier keys are used in conjunction with other keyboard keys to serve as shortcut keys for activating such game control functions. However, due to the non-ergonomic positioning of the shortcut keys, players often suffer from wrist discomfort after PC game playing sessions due to increased strain placed on their wrists when using the shortcut keys frequently. An embodiment of the invention describes a system and method for switching processes selectable by keys on human interface devices. |
| US09417702B2 |
Method and apparatus for launching activities
A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated. |
| US09417699B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a mobile device using a camera
A method and system for using an image sensor to control applications on a mobile device is disclosed. The system uses image processing to detect control gestures by the user. Control gestures may include, for example, moving a hand laterally, moving the hand closer or farther away from the camera, or opening and closing a hand. These control motions are linked to user commands to be executed by the application being controlled. The system initializes by storing a background image showing the field of view of the image sensor before any objects are present. It then detects new objects in the field of view by comparing new images to the background image. If a new object is detected, the system waits until the object is stationary in the field of view. After the object is stationary, the system detects if there is a change in the object indicating a control gesture. After detecting a change in the stationary object, the system determines a set of parameters defining the change and matches the parameters to a user command. The parameters may include the object's change in position or size or change in hand state (e.g. open or closed). The system then passes the command to an application to be executed. |
| US09417693B2 |
Wearable wireless HMI device
A wearable gesture control interface apparatus is used to control a controllable device based on gestures provided by a user. The wearable gesture control interface apparatus includes (i) sensors configured to detect user orientation and movement and generate corresponding sensor data and (ii) a microcontroller configured to: sample the sensor data from the sensors, determine whether the sensor data from one of the sensors meets transmission criteria; and if the sensor data meets the transmission criteria, transmitting control data corresponding to all of the sensors to the controllable device. |
| US09417687B2 |
Dynamically changing data access bandwidth by selectively enabling and disabling data links
Bandwidth for information transfers between devices is dynamically changed to accommodate transitions between power modes employed in a system. The bandwidth is changed by selectively enabling and disabling individual control links and data links that carry the information. During a highest bandwidth mode for the system, all of the data and control links are enabled to provide maximum information throughout. During one or more lower bandwidth modes for the system, at least one data link and/or at least one control link is disabled to reduce the power consumption of the devices. At least one data link and at least one control link remain enabled during each low bandwidth mode. For these links, the same signaling rate is used for both bandwidth modes to reduce latency that would otherwise be caused by changing signaling rates. Also, calibration information is generated for disabled links so that these links may be quickly brought back into service. |
| US09417686B2 |
Method for controlling power on a computer system having a network device and a wakeup function
A method for controlling power in a computer system having a network device and a wakeup function is disclosed. A determination is made whether or not the network device is in an associated state at the time when the computer system moves into a power saving mode. In response to a determination that the network device is not in the associated state, power supply is turned off from a power source to the network device. In response to a determination that the network device is in the associated state, power supply is continually provided from the power source to the network device. |
| US09417684B2 |
Mechanism for facilitating power and performance management of non-volatile memory in computing devices
A mechanism is described for facilitating power governance of non-volatile memory devices using a power governing mechanism employed at a computing device according to one embodiment of the invention. A method of embodiments of the invention includes maintaining a credit pool having a plurality of credits to be released to a plurality of memory channels associated with a plurality of non-volatile memory devices. The plurality of credits may be used to provide sufficient power to perform memory operations associated with a computing device. The method may further include receiving a credit request having a petition to obtain one or more credits for a memory channel of the plurality of memory channels to facilitate performance of a memory operation, determining whether the one or more credits are available in the credit pool, and retrieving the one or more credits from the credit pool, if the one or more credits are available in the credit pool. The method may further include releasing the one or more credits to the memory channel. The one or more released credits are used to perform the memory operation. |
| US09417679B2 |
Adaptive connected standby for a computing device
Various computing devices and methods of managing the power consumption thereby are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of managing power consumption of a computing device that has a battery is provided. The method includes cycling the computing device between a connected standby active state and a connected standby idle state. The duration of the connected standby idle state is set based at least in part on a charge level of the battery. |
| US09417676B2 |
Individual core voltage margining
Example embodiments of core voltage margining apparatus include a plurality of voltage offset blocks disposed on a multi-core processor with each voltage offset block having a voltage input coupled to receive a supply voltage level, a control input coupled to receive an offset code, and a voltage output coupled to a respective core processor in the multi-core processor, with each voltage offset block configured to offset the supply voltage level by an voltage offset value programmed by an offset code received at the control input of the voltage offset block and a voltage offset register having a like plurality of control outputs each coupled to a corresponding control input of a voltage offset block, where the voltage output register is configured to hold an offset code for each voltage offset block and to provide the offset code, programming the voltage level of a selected voltage offset block, at the control output port coupled to the selected voltage offset block. |
| US09417673B2 |
Method, apparatus and graphical user interface for controlling power
A method of controlling power to a device which consumes energy from an energy network. The network has a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected thereto to supply energy to the network. The method includes determining energy requirements of the device, and determining a renewable energy component of the supplied energy generated by the renewable energy generator. The method compares the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy, and controls the energy to the device in accordance with the comparison between the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy. |
| US09417670B2 |
High power dissipation mezzanine card cooling frame
Some embodiments are directed to cooling frames for mezzanine cards, mezzanine card assemblies and circuit card assemblies. A recessed cooling frame may be used to dissipate heat generated by components of a mezzanine card. The cooling frame may be directly coupled to a host card or host card cooling frame, thereby reducing the number of interfaces and reducing the thermal resistance of the heat dissipation pathway. The cooling frames of some embodiments may provide more efficient heat dissipation and thereby allow higher performance mezzanine cards to be used. Some embodiments provide a mezzanine card assembly that conforms to the mechanical envelope dimensions of the VITA 20, VITA 42 or VITA 61 specifications. |
| US09417666B2 |
User and device movement based display compensation
A direction and distance of movement of a display device as well as of a user of the display device are determined. Based on these determined directions and distances of movement, compensation to apply to content displayed on the display device to compensate for movement of the user with respect to the device is determined and applied to the content. A portion of the display device at which the user is looking can also be detected. The compensation is applied to the content only if applying the compensation would not result in the portion being positioned beyond the display device. If applying the compensation would result in the portion being positioned beyond the display device then appropriate corrective action is taken, such as not applying the compensation to the content. |
| US09417665B2 |
Providing an alternative human interface
Providing an alternative human interface for an electronic device when a current human interface is made ineffective by at least an environmental factor is described herein. By ineffective it is meant that the current human interface cannot maintain a minimum level of interactivity between a user and the electronic device in the current or anticipated environment. In addition to maintaining at least a threshold level of interactivity, the configuration of the alternative human interface can take into consideration other factors such as an expected operating state of the electronic device affected by the choice of alternative human interface. |
| US09417661B2 |
Display module
A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing using mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing. |
| US09417659B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first member, a second member, and a supporting member. The second member includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is spaced apart from the first member. The second portion inclines in a direction approaching the first member and includes an end adjacent to the first member. The supporting member is attached to an inner surface of the second portion of the second member by an adhesive agent. The supporting member includes a projection contacting with the inner surface of the second portion between the end of the second portion and the adhesive agent. |
| US09417658B2 |
All-in-one computer and supporting device
An all-in-one computer includes a shell, a stand, and a plate. The stand and the plate are engaged with the shell. The stand includes at least one first supporting pole and a second supporting pole. The second supporting pole is configured to move relative to the at least one first supporting pole. The plate defines a plurality of grooves. An extending direction of the plurality of grooves is substantially parallel to each other. An end of the second supporting pole can engage with one of the plurality of grooves to support the shell. |
| US09417655B2 |
Frequency division clock alignment
Generating a clock signal includes: at a root node of a clock distribution network, receiving a first clock signal; at a first leaf node of the clock distribution network, detecting a reference event and generating a synchronizing signal based on the detection of the reference event; passing the synchronizing signal along a synchronizing signal path from the first leaf node to the root node via one or more clocked storage cells, each storage cell being clocked from a corresponding point within the clock distribution network; at the root node, generating a second clock signal from the first clock signal synchronized to the synchronizing signal received at the root node, and distributing the second clock signal to the leaf nodes of the clock distribution network, the generating of the second clock signal resulting in the second clock signal received at the first leaf node being synchronized to the detected reference event. |
| US09417652B2 |
Beverage dispensing apparatus with lever assembly
A beverage dispensing apparatus including a lever assembly where the lever assembly has a base and a at least one elongated arm. The base has a bottom configured to mate with a beverage dispensing device, a top side opposite the bottom and apertures penetrating the base from top to bottom configured to align with buttons on the beverage dispensing apparatus. The at least one elongated lever has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end configured to extend away from the centerline of the beverage dispensing apparatus. When the lever assembly is installed on a beverage dispensing device, buttons extending from the top of the beverage dispensing device extend up through the apertures and pressed against the bottom surface of the at least one elongated lever, biasing the at least one lever upward and the when the lever is pressed, it pushes against the button of the beverage dispensing apparatus to dispense a beverage. |
| US09417644B2 |
Apparatus for and method of controlling power supply system
There are provided an apparatus for and a method of controlling a power supply system. The apparatus for controlling a power supply system includes an offset correction circuit equally dividing an input voltage into n (n is a natural number larger than 2) and outputting n divided voltages, and a control unit using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to detect the n divided voltages output from the offset correction circuit, and determining a difference in levels between a value of the detected n divided voltages and a value calculated by dividing the input voltage by n, as an offset correction value. |
| US09417642B2 |
Bootstrap DC-DC converter
The present invention discloses a bootstrap DC-DC converter. The bootstrap DC-DC converter includes a lower gate driver, for generating a lower gate control signal according to a control signal; a lower gate, for turning on and turning off according to a lower gate control signal; and a bootstrap voltage maintaining circuit, for generating the control signal, such that the lower gate turns on at least a minimum off time each time. |
| US09417640B2 |
Input pin control
An integrated circuit device includes a pad adapted to receive a signal from an external driver. A state register is programmed with a state that indicates a voltage level to set for the pad during initialization of circuitry on the integrated circuit device responsive to the state for the pad. The voltage level may correspond to a logic low level or a logic high level. A voltage holding circuit is coupled to the pad and the state register, and is configured to force the pad to the voltage level in response to an event that causes the initialization. |
| US09417638B2 |
Intelligent thermostatic control method and device for an air conditioner blowing cold and hot air
An intelligent thermostatic method for an air conditioner blowing cold and hot air has steps of calculating an estimated thermal load according to an indoor temperature, an outdoor temperature, a configured temperature, a sunlight intensity, and a cooling/heating capacity corresponding to the estimated thermal load; adjusting the air conditioner according to the estimated thermal load and providing an estimated cooling/heating capacity; and determining a difference value between an actual cooling/heating capacity and the estimated cooling/heating capacity and adjusting the air conditioner according to the difference value for thermostatic control. Accordingly, the air conditioner of the present invention has enhanced power utilization efficiency of the air conditioner without having to repeatedly turn on and off the electric compressor of the air conditioner. |
| US09417636B2 |
Pressure control assembly for a fluid regulator
A pressure control assembly is provided that is coupled to a fluid regulator having a regulator body, an actuator, and an exhaust vent. The actuator includes an actuator housing, a diaphragm disposed within the actuator housing, a first chamber defined adjacent a first side of the diaphragm, and second chamber defined adjacent a second side of the diaphragm. The exhaust vent is formed in the actuator housing to fluidly couple the first chamber to the atmosphere. The pressure control assembly includes a flexible element positioned within an orifice of the exhaust vent. The flexible element is movable within the orifice in response to changes in the pressure in the second chamber. |
| US09417628B2 |
Production failure analysis system
A production failure analysis system including a factory quality control unit configured to transmit a trigger signal when a production failure is detected, and an analytics unit. The analytics unit is configured to determine a root cause of the production failure by at least receiving the trigger signal from a factory quality control unit, extracting production data from a database when the trigger signal is received, wherein the production data includes process input variables, and identifying one or more potential root causes of the production failure based in part on an analysis of the process input variables. |
| US09417621B2 |
Control of medical robotic system manipulator about kinematic singularities
A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide relative to a remote center, and a controller configured to manage operation of the entry guide manipulator in response to operator manipulation of one or more input devices. As the entry guide manipulator approaches a yaw/roll singularity, the controller modifies its operation to allow continued movement of the entry guide manipulator without commanding excessive joint velocities while maintaining proper orientation of the entry guide. |
| US09417618B2 |
Process for preparation of quadrangle unit
A method of cutting one or more kinds of quadrangular unit pieces having a relatively small size from a quadrangular base material having a relatively large size uses a cutter frame including a plurality of cutters to manufacture the quadrangular unit pieces. The method includes (a) scanning a quadrangular base material in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction to check positions of defects on the quadrangular base material, (b) calculating a yield when cutting the quadrangular base material using two or more kinds of cutting frames, (c) selecting one of the cutting frames in which the yield calculated at the calculation step (b) is within a range of upper 30%, and (d) cutting the quadrangular base material using the cutting frame selected at the selection step (c) to manufacture quadrangular unit pieces. |
| US09417617B2 |
Control apparatus and shift-by-wire system having the same
A control apparatus controlling a motor for driving an object includes: switching devices in multiple phases, each of which allows and interrupts energization to a corresponding winding of the motor; a controller for the switching devices; a current detecting circuit for a current flowing through each winding and each switching device; a current limit circuit limiting the current to match to a current limiting value; a standard position learning device learning a standard position of the motor such that the current limit circuit limits the current, and the motor rotates until the object stops at a limit position of a movable range; a rotation angle change amount detecting device detecting a change amount of a rotation angle of the object; and an error determination device determining that the current detecting circuit malfunctions when the change amount is out of a predetermined range, and the object changes between first and second states. |
| US09417616B2 |
Electric product for effectively managing energy sources
A network system is provided. The network includes: at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit. The energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives energy rate related information; an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least the energy rate related information is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least energy rate related information; and if the energy rate related information is high cost information, a function of one component constituting the energy receiving unit is limited and a function of another component constituting the energy receiving unit is performed. |
| US09417615B2 |
Demand response adaptor for connecting a device to a demand response system or home automation system
Demand response adaptor provided such that, depending on the device connected to the demand response adapter, the demand response control system can be provided with the second constraints corresponding to the device connected to the demand response adapter, wherein the demand response control system comprises software components for making the decision based on the first constraints, the second constraints and the third constraints, wherein the controller comprises software components for detecting the start of a program by analyzing the amount of electrical power used by the device in function of time detected by the sensor and wherein the controller of the adaptor comprises software components for switching the relay to the nonconductive state when the start of the program is detected until, based on the decision of the demand response control system, the controller switches the relay switch to the conductive state. |
| US09417614B2 |
System for the central control of devices used during an operation
The present invention relates to a system for the central control of devices used during an operation, including a first control unit for control of the devices. The system is characterized in that a second control unit is provided which is connected to the first control unit for exchange of information. The first control unit may be embodied as closed system for control of at least those devices which carry out safety-related functions (safety-related devices), and the second control unit may be embodied as open system for control of the remaining devices which carry out non safety-related functions (non safety-related devices). The invention further relates to a method for the central control of devices. |
| US09417613B2 |
Activation mode of an electronic watch
A portable object is provided including a case closed by a back cover and by a display, an electronic module arranged inside the case providing at least a first piece of information and a second piece of information, and a controller controlling the electronic module, the portable object being configured to operate in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. |
| US09417612B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for processing time zone identifiers
According to some aspects, methods and apparatuses for processing time zone IDs are provided. A time zone ID may be received at a client device. After determining that the time zone ID is unknown to the client device, the client device may transmit a request for time zone rules for the received time zone ID. The request may be transmitted to a network component such as a server. If time zone rules for the received time zone ID are available, the network component may transmit the rules to the client device. |
| US09417606B2 |
Image forming apparatus having control means to reduce an amount of the water vapor produced in a main assembly thereof or detecting unit configured to detect a value relating to an amount of water vapor in the main assembly
An image forming apparatus includes: a main assembly; an image bearing member; a transfer member cooperative with the image bearing member to form a transfer portion; a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member; a heater for heating the sheet having a transferred toner image; a detector for detecting a value relating to an amount of water vapor in the main assembly; and a control unit for executing a moisture removing control for reducing an amount of water vapor produced in the main assembly, by heating the sheet by the heater on the basis of the amount of change, caused by passage of the sheet in an image forming operation, of the value detected by the detector. |
| US09417605B2 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
A cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a process unit configured to perform image formation, a frame configured to support the process unit, and a conductive member injection-molded integrally with the frame using a conductive resin, configured contact with a main body electrode portion provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and to be electrically connected with the process unit, and a contact surface of the conductive member configured to contact with the main body electrode portion, includes a plurality of protruded portions. |
| US09417604B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is removably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus, including: a containing member configured to contain the process cartridge, movable between an outside position outside the main body and an inside position inside the main body, and provided with a guided portion to be guided from an outside; and a guiding portion provided in the main body and configured to guide the guided portion, wherein the guiding portion includes: a first guiding part configured to guide the guided portion when the containing member is moved from the outside position to the inside position by being inserted into the main body; and a second guiding part having a shape to return the guided portion toward the inside position when the containing member is further moved downstream of the inside position in an inserting direction of the containing member. |
| US09417602B2 |
Image forming apparatus
There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body and a process cartridge including a photosensitive body cartridge and a developing cartridge. The photosensitive body cartridge includes a photosensitive body and a waste developing agent storage container. The developing cartridge includes a developing agent carrier. The photosensitive body cartridge is configured to receive the developing cartridge such that the developing cartridge is attached to and detached from the photosensitive body cartridge through a particular space defined in the main body. The process cartridge is configured to pivot, with respect to the main body, between a first position, in which the waste developing agent storage container is positioned outside the particular space entirely, and a second position, in which the waste developing agent storage container at least partially occupies the particular space. |
| US09417601B1 |
Image forming apparatus and structural member
An image forming apparatus includes a structural member that is attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body. The structural member includes a portion having a developer transport path for transporting developer to a developing device and a reinforcing member that reinforces the structural member. The reinforcing member has an opening that opens towards the developer transport path. |
| US09417594B2 |
Voltage generating apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
Until an output voltage of a converter reaches a threshold value, a control part performs switching control, and after the output voltage reaches the threshold value, the control part performs supply voltage control while the state of a switching control signal at the time when the output voltage reaches the threshold value is maintained. Switching control is a control method in which the output voltage is adjusted by adjusting the frequency or duty ratio of the switching control signal that drives a driving part. Supply voltage control is a control method in which the output voltage is adjusted by adjusting the supply voltage that is applied to the primary side of the converter. |
| US09417593B2 |
Image forming apparatus configured to switch between supplying and shutting-off of power to a portion of the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a first power supply unit to output first output power, a first device to which the first output power is supplied, a second power supply unit to output second output power, a second device to which the second output power is supplied, a detection unit to detect an overcurrent of the second power supply unit, a power source control unit to which the first output power is supplied and to switch between supplying and shutting-off of the second output power to the second device, and a control unit to which the first output power is supplied and to control an operation of the power source control unit. When the detection unit detects an overcurrent of the second output power, the power source control unit shuts off the second output power to the second device, and the control unit executes finish processing for the first device. |
| US09417592B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus may includes a central processing device, a first switching regulator and a second switching regulator. The central processing device may perform information processing associated with image formation. The first switching regulator may receive an input of a first voltage and output a second voltage which is lower than the first voltage. The second switching regulator may receive an input of the second voltage and output a third voltage which is lower than the second voltage. The third voltage may be input to the central processing device. A first switching frequency which is a switching frequency of the first switching regulator may be lower than a second switching frequency which is a switching frequency of the second switching regulator. |
| US09417589B2 |
Sheet punching device, sheet processing device provided with the same, and image forming device
This sheet punching device includes a placement table 53 on which the sheet is placed, a hollow punching member 60 that punches the sheet placed on the placement table 53, a punching moving member 66 that moves the punching member between a punching position where the sheet is punched and a retreat position retreated from the punching position, a punching drive section 70 that drives the punching moving member 66, a waste pushing member 80 that is disposed in the hollow portion of the punching member 60 and pushes punching waste remaining in the hollow portion, a pushing moving member 85 that moves the waste pushing member 80 between a pushing position protruding from the hollow portion of the punching member and a housing position in the hollow portion, and a pushing drive section 70 that drives the pushing moving member 85. |
| US09417582B1 |
Image forming apparatus including a controller that controls superposition of a correction toner image
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a controller. The image forming section transfers a toner image to a transfer target and includes plural developing units. The plural developing units include a first developing unit and at least one second developing unit. The plural developing units each include an image holding body and a developing roller. The image holding body has an outer circumferential surface and is rotated. The controller controls the image forming section so that, when a low-area-coverage portion and a high-area-coverage portion are disposed adjacent to each other and are formed by the first developing unit, a correction toner image is superposed on a boundary portion, where the low-area-coverage portion and the high-area-coverage portion are adjacent to each other, by the at least one second developing unit. |
| US09417578B1 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An object of the present invention is intended to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method through which an effect of granting flavor to a printing object is excellent. In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a developing device and a fixing device. A toner is housed in the developing device. The fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller. The toner contains binder resin and a microcapsule in which perfume is encapsulated. A glass transition temperature of the toner is below 60 degrees centigrade. A nip part is formed by the fixing roller and the pressure roller. A pressure applied to an image receiving medium passing through the nip part is below 0.19 N/mm2. |
| US09417574B2 |
Heater and method of forming a heater
A heater includes a heater unit and a holder. The heater unit includes a flat and smooth substrate, a linear heat generator provided on a first surface of the substrate, a plurality of electrodes that supply power to the heat generator, and a protective layer disposed to cover a part of each of the electrodes and the heat generator. A second surface of the substrate is bonded to the holder. The substrate is formed of a transparent material. A plurality of positioning marks for determining the relative positions of the heater unit and the holder are disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The holder has through-holes formed at positions opposite to the positioning marks. |
| US09417573B2 |
Fixing device
Disclosed is a cylindrical rotary member including a conductive layer; a coil disposed inside the rotary member, the coil including a helical portion having a helical axis that is substantially parallel to a generatrix direction of the rotary member, the coil forming an alternating magnetic field to generate heat in the conductive layer by electromagnetic induction; a core disposed inside the helical portion, the core inducing a line of magnetic force of the alternating magnetic field; a roller coming in contact with an outer surface of the rotary member to form a fixing nip portion; and a metal stay disposed inside the rotary member, in which an image on a recording material is fixed to the recording material by being heated at the fixing nip portion and the stay is disposed outside the coil and has a shape that does not form an electrical loop around the coil. |
| US09417572B2 |
Fuser heating element for an electrophotographic imaging device
A heating element for the fuser for an electrophotographic imaging device. The heating element includes a panel of positive temperature coefficient material having electrodes coupled to opposed surfaces thereof. The positive temperature coefficient material serves to stabilize the temperature of the heating element so as to prevent damage due to overheating. |
| US09417569B2 |
Fuser and image forming apparatus
A fuser for thermally fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes: an endless fusing belt configured to transfer heat to the toner image; a heat source configured to heat the fusing belt; a detection unit configured to detect peripheral inward deformation of the fusing belt; and a power cut-off unit configured to cut off power supplied to the heat source upon detection of the peripheral inward deformation of the fusing belt by the detection unit. |
| US09417564B2 |
Image forming apparatus having rollers, belt and a tension applying unit
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of rollers including a first roller rotated by receiving rotation from a drive unit and a second roller rotated with the rotation of the first roller; a belt stretched around the plurality of rollers, the belt having an inner surface; and a tension applying unit that applies tension to the belt. The inner surface of the belt has an uneven shape. Each of at least one roller of the plurality of rollers satisfies conditions expressed by μkmax≦0.73 and Δμk=(μkmax−μkmin)≦0.51, where μkmax is a maximum dynamic friction coefficient between the inner surface of the belt and the roller, and μkmin is a minimum dynamic friction coefficient between the inner surface of the belt and the roller. |
| US09417563B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Relationships of LB1>LR1 and LN1 |
| US09417560B2 |
Cartridge unit and electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same
A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction. |
| US09417556B2 |
Cartridge and image forming apparatus
A cartridge includes a rotating body, a blade that extends in an axial direction of the rotating body and is disposed on the rotating body, a supporting member that is fixed to the blade and configured to support the blade in such a manner that the blade protrudes toward the rotating body in a shorter direction crossing the axial direction, a frame body including a placing surface that supports the supporting member, and a fixed portion that is disposed on the placing surface via the supporting member and fixed to the frame body. The supporting member includes a cut portion extending in the axial direction. The fixed portion includes a deformed portion deformed by given energy, and the deformed portion engages with the cut portion so that movement of the supporting member with respect to the frame body is restricted. |
| US09417555B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units. A first image forming unit includes a first image carrier, a first developer carrier that is applied with a first developing voltage, and a first layer-forming member that is applied with a first layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the first developing voltage. The second image forming unit includes a second image carrier, a second developer carrier that is applied with a second developing voltage, and a second layer-forming member that is applied with a second layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the second developing voltage. An absolute value of the first layer-forming voltage is smaller than an absolute value of the first developing voltage. An absolute value of the second layer-forming voltage is greater than an absolute value of the second developing voltage. |
| US09417554B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image formation method that perform smoothing
Provided is an image forming apparatus that performs smoothing in conversion of pseudo high resolution without using a large translation table. A smoothing process part performs smoothing based on a density of a peripheral pixel that adjoins a target pixel on edge. When a density change between both sides of the target pixel in a sub scanning direction is larger than a density change between both sides of the target pixel in a main scanning direction, a density of a plurality of pixels after conversion of pseudo high resolution of a sub scanning direction corresponding to the target pixel is mutually changed. Also, when a density change between both sides of target pixel in the sub scanning direction is not larger than a density change between both sides of the target pixel in the main scanning direction, the density set to the same. |
| US09417551B2 |
Image forming apparatus for density evenness in a vertical scanning direction
An image forming apparatus includes the following. An image forming unit forms an image. An image magnification changing unit changes a rotating speed of a polygon motor to change magnification of the image. A reference position detecting unit detects a reference position of a predetermined target component in a vertical scanning direction. A target component position calculating unit calculates a position of the target component based on a detecting result and a signal of a predetermined cycle according to the rotating speed of the polygon motor. A storage unit stores a correction table to correct density unevenness. An image data correcting unit obtains correction data based on the position of the target component and corrects the image data. A parameter correcting unit corrects a parameter according to a timing that the rotating speed of the polygon motor is changed. |
| US09417550B2 |
Image forming apparatus that indicates operating status using luminous body
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a body housing, a protruding housing, a light diffusing portion, a light source, a light guide path, and a control unit. The image forming section performs image formation on a sheet. The body housing is formed by a box body with a top surface, and contains the image forming section. The protruding housing is located on the top surface, and has a top portion protruding upwardly above the top surface. The light diffusing portion is located in or near the top portion of the protruding housing. The light source is located inside the body housing or the protruding housing, and emits light. The light guide path guides light emitted by the light source to the light diffusing portion. The control unit controls illumination of the light source based on the information related to the image formation. |
| US09417548B2 |
Image forming apparatus in which charging current changes corresponding to voltage rise during transfer voltage determination
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer member, a transfer voltage source, a voltage detecting portion, a current detecting portion, and an executing portion. In a test mode, the executing portion gradually changes a value of a current caused to flow through the transfer member from zero to a predetermined target transfer current and sets the current caused to flow through the transfer member as the predetermined target transfer current, and then gradually changes a current caused to flow through the charging member from zero to an obtained charging current when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion and sets the current caused to flow through the charging member when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion as the obtained charging current. |
| US09417543B2 |
Toner
A toner includes toner particles each including a core and a shell layer disposed over a surface thereof. The shell layers contain a unit derived from a thermoplastic resin and a unit derived from a monomer or prepolymer of a thermosetting resin. Young's moduli of the shell layers and the cores, as measured using an SPM while raising cantilever temperature thereof, satisfy conditions: X2/X1 is at least 2.0 and no greater than 5.0; and Y2/Y1 is at least 4.0 and no greater than 7.0. X1 denotes a proportion of change of the Young's modulus of the shell layers and X2 denotes a proportion of change of the Young's modulus of the cores from 30° C. to 50° C. Y1 denotes a proportion of change of the Young's modulus of the shell layers and Y2 denotes a proportion of change of the Young's modulus of the cores from 50° C. to 70° C. |
| US09417535B2 |
Lithographic apparatus
A lithographic apparatus includes a first table to support a substrate; a second table, not being configured to support a substrate, including a sensor unit to sense a property of a patterned beam of radiation from a projection system, the second table to move under the projection system when the first table is moved out from under the projection system during a substrate exchange, the first and second tables being independently movable from each other; and a liquid supply system to supply a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate, the first table, and/or the second table, wherein the second table is configured to provide a confining surface at a bottom of a liquid confinement structure when the first table is removed from under the projection system so as to prevent the liquid from leaking out into the remainder of the lithographic apparatus. |
| US09417534B2 |
Lithography method and structure for resolution enhancement with a two-state mask
A lithography process in a lithography system includes loading a mask that includes two mask states defining an integrated circuit (IC) pattern. The IC pattern includes a plurality of main polygons, wherein adjacent main polygons are assigned to different mask states; and a background includes a field in one of the mask states and a plurality of sub-resolution polygons in another of the two mask states. The lithography process further includes configuring an illuminator to generate an illuminating pattern on an illumination pupil plane of the lithography system; configuring a pupil filter on a projection pupil plane of the lithography system with a filtering pattern determined according to the illumination pattern; and performing an exposure process to a target with the illuminator, the mask, and the pupil filter. The exposure process produces diffracted light and non-diffracted light behind the mask and the pupil filter removes most of the non-diffracted light. |
| US09417533B2 |
Method of operating a patterning device and lithographic apparatus
A lithographic reticle is illuminated to transfer a pattern to a substrate, inducing distortions due to heating. The distortions are calculated using reference marks in a peripheral portion of the reticle and measuring changes in their relative positions over time. A plurality of cells are defined for which a system of equations can be solved to calculate a dilation of each cell. In an embodiment, each equation relates positions of pairs of marks to dilations of the cells along a line (s, s1, s2) connecting each pair. Local positional deviations can be calculated for a position by combining calculated dilations for cells between at least one measured peripheral mark and the position. Corrections can be applied in accordance with the result of the calculation. Energy may be applied to the patterning device (for example by thermal input or mechanical actuators) to modify a distribution of the local positional deviations. |
| US09417526B2 |
Photoresist composition
A photoresist composition includes an acid-labile polymer that is decomposable by reaction with an acid, a photoacid generator, an organic base having a pKa value of 9 or less and a solvent. Based on 100 parts by weight of the acid-labile polymer, the photoacid generator is about 1 to about 30 parts by weight, and the organic base is about 0.1 to about 5 parts by weight. The solvent is about 50 to about 90 wt % based on the total weight of the composition. |
| US09417523B2 |
Pattern forming method, actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive composition used therein, resist film, manufacturing method of electronic device using the same, and electronic device
There is provided a pattern forming method comprising (i) a step of forming a film by using an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive composition containing (A) a non-polymeric acid-decomposable compound having an aromatic ring and a molecular weight of 500 to 5,000 and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; (ii) a step of exposing the film, and (iii) a step of performing development by using an organic solvent-containing developer to form a negative pattern. |
| US09417522B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition and method for producing resist pattern
The present invention provides a photosensitive resin composition comprising: an alkali-soluble resin (A); a compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond per molecule (B); a photo radical polymerization initiator having a keto oxime ester structure (C); and a compound represented by the Formula (1) or (2) below (D); wherein the content of the photo radical polymerization initiator (C) is 0.5 to 5 times the content of the compound (D), and the content of the photo radical polymerization initiator (C) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the compound (B) is 3 to 20 parts by mass. In Formula (1), the six R1s each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an electron-donating group, and n represents 0 or 1. In Formula (2), the six R2s each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an electron-donating group, and m represents 0 or 1. By use of the photosensitive resin composition of the present invention, formation of a resist pattern having excellent resolution is possible even without using an oxygen inhibition layer. By the method for producing a resist pattern of the present invention, formation of a resist pattern having excellent resolution is possible even without using an oxygen inhibition layer. |
| US09417520B2 |
Methods of patterning block copolymer layers and patterned structures
A method of patterning a block copolymer layer, the method including: providing a substrate including a topographic pattern on a surface of the substrate, wherein the topographic pattern includes a trench and a mesa; forming, on the surface of the substrate, an underlayer including a polymer, wherein the polymer includes a repeating unit derived from a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic vinyl monomer and has an anchoring group; heat-treating the underlayer to anchor the underlayer to the surface of the substrate via the anchoring group; irradiating the heat-treated underlayer with light to form a crosslinked polymer with a crosslink between carbon atoms of main chains of the polymer; forming a block copolymer layer on the underlayer including the crosslinked polymer; and heat-treating the block copolymer layer to form a self-assembled structure of the block copolymer directed by the topographic pattern. |
| US09417518B2 |
Photomask and method of manufacturing the same
A photomask includes a transparent substrate, a mask pattern formed on the substrate, and a protective layer pattern covering side walls of the mask pattern, wherein a top of the protective layer pattern is exposed. |
| US09417516B2 |
Phase shift mask and method of manufacturing display apparatus using the same
Provided is a method of manufacturing a display apparatus, the method including forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; changing amorphous silicon in the amorphous silicon layer into crystalline silicon by irradiating the amorphous silicon with a laser beam emitted through a phase shift mask; and forming a display device, the phase shift mask including a base substrate; a barrier layer on the base substrate and including a plurality of transmissive portions which are spaced apart from each other in a first direction; and phase shift portions which alternately fill the plurality of transmissive portions in the first direction. |
| US09417514B2 |
Polarization preserving 3D screen
Projection 3D systems and polarization preserving 3D screens are described that substantially increase polarization contrast ratio and viewing angle. The screen comprises a structured surface having a certain slope distribution, formed by a plurality of beads 120 with a layer 115 disposed thereon, which is coated by a reflective layer 110. |
| US09417510B2 |
Image projection device and method of controlling image projection device
An image projection device includes: a centrifugal fan that sends air circulating through a casing to a light source; a heat generator that generates heat with supply of power and that is provided in the vicinity of an ejection port of the centrifugal fan; a temperature sensor that is provided to be adjacent to the heat generator; and a controller that monitors lowering of the velocity of the air, which is sent from the centrifugal fan, on the basis of the value of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. |
| US09417508B2 |
Inversely foldable camera tripod being rapidly assembled
An inversely foldable camera tripod being rapidly assembled, comprising legs assemblies being rapidly assembled and being refracted by a first switch, a main body assembly capable of controlling the legs assemblies to rotate 180° around a shaft by a second switch, a central shaft assembly supporting a tripod head or a camera, and a tripod head assembly assembled with the tripod; the tripod is provided with legs being rapidly assembled; and the assembly and refraction of the legs are controlled by a simple-to-operate switch. The tripod can be inversely folded by 180° under the control of the switch, thus reducing the length of the tripod. When the tripod is positioned non-horizontally due to the factor of environment, an adjustable tripod head sphere can stay level during turning, so that the camera installed on the turntable is ensured to be horizontal and can rotate 360° horizontally via operating a locking device. |
| US09417507B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a base member, a switch, an operation member, a movable member, and a pressing member, wherein the pressing member has a pressing portion configured to press the switch and a sliding portion which slides on the movable member being formed on the pressing member, wherein in a case where the operation member is linearly operated in a first or second direction, the pressing member moves in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions by sliding of the sliding portion of the pressing member on the movable member, and the pressing portion presses the switch. |
| US09417506B1 |
Universal adapter for light-modifying devices
An adapter that secures a light-modifying device and unites it with the light reflector and strobe light source that is readily adjustable and protected by a shroud. The adapter is comprised of an adapter body that is provided with a central aperture, a hinged connecting arm that is connected to the adapter body and is constructed with a through hole, a covering shroud that is constructed of opaque material and a plurality of arms that project outward from the adapter body. In an embodiment, the adapter is provided with three arms. Each adapter arm is provided with a moveable bolt and retaining nut that resides with a lateral slot therein. The connecting arm supports an engaged light-modifying device. The shroud is supported by a ring that engages the outer surface of each arm. |
| US09417505B2 |
Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus with a mechanism for absorbing an external impact
A lens barrel includes an extendable barrel unit, a drive unit configured to drive the barrel unit so as to extend the barrel unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a drive force of the drive unit to the barrel unit, the transmission unit includes a first gear and a second gear coaxially disposed and a biasing member configured to bias at least one of the first gear and the second gear such that the drive force is transmitted between the first gear and the second gear, and the transmission unit is configured to block transmission of the drive force between the first gear and the second gear depending on a rotational force applied to at least one of the first gear and the second gear. |
| US09417504B2 |
Variable magnification finder and imaging apparatus
The magnification of the variable magnification finder is switchable, and the finder includes a positive lens group, a negative lens group, and an eyepiece lens group in this order from an object side in a high magnification state. The positive lens group is retracted from an optical path of the variable magnification finder to the outside of the optical path and the negative lens group moves toward the object side when magnification is changed from the high magnification state to a low magnification state. The following conditional formula is satisfied when the focal length of the negative lens group is fN: −15 mm |
| US09417498B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: gate and data lines; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, including first and second sub-pixel electrodes; a shielding electrode member on the data line, including first and second shielding electrodes respectively at opposing sides of the pixel electrode, each shielding electrode including: an expanded part between the first and second sub-pixel electrodes, and a vertical part elongated from the expanded part in a first direction parallel to the data line; and a light blocking member elongated in a second direction crossing the first direction, overlapping the thin film transistor A second direction width of the expanded part is larger than that of the vertical part, and opposing edges of the expanded part overlap the elongated light blocking member overlapping the thin film transistor. |
| US09417497B1 |
TFT array substrate structure
The present invention provides a TFT array substrate structure, which includes first and second gates (11, 13), a semiconductor layer (20), first and second sources (31, 33), and first and second drains (42, 44). The first gate (11) and the first drain (42) are arranged to overlap in space so as to form a first overlapping zone (D). The second gate (13) and the second drain (44) are arranged to overlap in space so as to form a second overlapping zone (E). The first gate (11) has a first edge (113) corresponding to the first overlapping zone (D). The second gate (13) has a second edge (133) corresponding to the second overlapping zone (E). The first edge (113) and the first drain (42) intersect in space in an inclined manner. The second edge (133) and the second drain (44) intersect in space in an inclined manner. When the first and second drains (42, 44) are moved relative to the first and second gates (11, 13), areas of the first overlapping zone (D) and the second overlapping zone (E) undergo identical change. |
| US09417486B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Provided is a liquid crystal display device having excellent display characteristics in a display mode that uses a vertical electric field and a horizontal electric field. This liquid crystal display device is provided with a first substrate and a second substrate provided facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy. The first substrate is provided with a plate shaped first common electrode, an insulating film, and pixel electrodes, which are provided in a layer different from the first common electrode via the insulating film, and the pixel electrodes have a comb shaped structure. The second substrate is provided with a plate shaped second common electrode and a film formed by having an alignment treatment applied to a vertical alignment film that aligns the initial orientation of the liquid crystal molecules vertically. During the highest gradation, the difference in electric potential between the first common electrode and second common electrode is set to be larger than the difference in potential between the first common electrode and the pixel electrodes. |
| US09417484B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes; a first substrate, a second substrate disposed facing the first substrate, an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the alignment layer comprises a major alignment material and a vertical photo-alignment material, and the vertical photo-alignment material comprises a first vertical functional group, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US09417483B2 |
Composition for alignment layer and liquid crystal display panel
A composition for an alignment layer includes about 1% by weight to about 30% by weight of a polyphosphazene-based compound and a remainder of a solvent. The polyphosphazene-based compound includes a polyphosphazene backbone, a reactive mesogen element linked to the polyphosphazene backbone, and a vertical alignment element linked to the polyphosphazene backbone. |
| US09417480B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device has at least: a first and a second polarizing layers arranged so that respective absorption axes thereof are orthogonal to each other; a first and a second substrates arranged opposite to each other between the first and second polarizing layers, at least either one of which has a transparent electrode; a twisted alignment mode liquid crystal cell arranged between the first and the second substrates; a first optical compensation film arranged between the first polarizing layer and the liquid crystal cell, including a first transparent support and a layer formed by curing a composition containing a first liquid crystal compound; and a second optical compensation film arranged between the second polarizing layer and the liquid crystal cell, including a second transparent support and a layer formed by curing a composition containing a second liquid crystal compound, as defined herein. |
| US09417478B2 |
Lighting device and lighting method
A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having peak wavelength in ranges of from 430 nm to 480 nm and from 600 nm to 630 nm, respectively, and a first group of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm. In some embodiments, if current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of lumiphors would, in an absence of any additional light, produce a sub-mixture of light having x, y color coordinates within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having coordinates (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.48), (0.43, 0.45), (0.42, 0.42), (0.36, 0.38). Also provided is a method of lighting. |
| US09417474B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display includes: providing a thin film transistor on a substrate; providing a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; providing a microcavity layer including a liquid crystal material on the pixel electrode; providing a supporting member layer on the microcavity layer; patterning the supporting member layer to form a plurality of recess portions therein; and providing a plurality of touch signal lines for transmitting a touch signal in the plurality of recess portions. |
| US09417471B2 |
Method and device for protecting objects from degradation by light with suspended particle device light valves
A display device comprising a Suspended Particle Device film or other material for controlling the amount of illumination transmitted to an object from one or more light sources to protect the object from degradation by light is described. The display is capable of being dark when the object is not being viewed and being highly transmissive when the object is to be viewed. If desired, the display device may be controlled so as to provide a substantially constant amount of illumination when the object is viewed or intended to be viewed. A method of protecting an object using the display device is also provided. |
| US09417468B2 |
Transmission type high-absorption optical modulator and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a transmission type high-absorption optical modulator and a method of manufacturing the transmission type high-absorption optical modulator. The optical modulator includes: a substrate; a lower distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer on the substrate; a lower clad layer on the lower DBR layer; an active layer that is formed on the lower clad layer and includes a quantum well layer and a quantum barrier layer; an upper clad layer on the active layer; an upper DBR layer on the upper clad layer; and a doping layer that supplies carriers to the quantum well layer. In the optical modulator, the doping layer may be included in the quantum barrier layer or in at least one of the upper and lower clad layers. |
| US09417464B2 |
Method and apparatus of forming a translating multifocal contact lens having a lower-lid contact surface
The present invention discloses a translating multifocal contact lens including one or both of multiple Optic Zones and a lower-lid contact surface, and method steps and apparatus for implementing the same. In preferred embodiments, a translating multifocal lens may be Free-formed comprising a lower-lid contact surface capable of limiting the amount of translation of a lens across a surface of an eye when an eye changes from one Optic Zone to another. |
| US09417463B2 |
Lens design and method for minimizing visual acuity variation experienced by myopia progressors
Contact lenses incorporate power profiles that minimize visual acuity variation for progressing myopes based upon minimization of the variation of neural sharpness image quality over a specific time period. The contact lens includes a center and at least one peripheral zone surrounding the center and having a different dioptric power than at the center. The lens has power profile selected from the group consisting of a power profile with spherical aberration, a multifocal power profile, a freeform power profile, and a segmented freeform power profile. The power profile is based on an initial paraxial power of a myopia progressor and a defined myopia progression rate over a specific time period, resulting in controlled change of the neural sharpness, thereby minimizing changes in changes in visual acuity at a beginning of the time period and at an end of the time period. |
| US09417461B2 |
Optical lens, in particular for use as a spectacle lens
An optical lens (10), in particular for use as a spectacle lens, comprises a first lens element (18) and at least one second lens element (20), wherein the first lens element (18) and the second lens element (20) at least partly act together in an achromatic fashion. The second lens element (20) is configured as at least one lens segment (26) that is only arranged in a margin region (28) of the first lens element (18). Furthermore, a method for producing the optical lens (10) is described. |
| US09417460B2 |
Eyewear for reducing symptoms of computer vision syndrome
Computer eyewear for reducing the effects of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). In one embodiment, the eyewear comprises a frame and two lenses. In some embodiments, the frame and lenses have a wrap-around design to reduce air flow in the vicinity of the eyes. The lenses can have optical power in the range of approximately +0.5 to +2.5 diopters for reducing accommodation demands on a user's eyes when using a computer. The lenses can also include prismatic power for reducing convergence demand on a user's eyes when sitting at a computer. The lenses can also include a partially transmissive mirror coating, tinting, and anti-reflective coatings. In one embodiment, a partially transmissive mirror coating or tinting spectrally filters light to remove spectral peaks in fluorescent or incandescent lighting. |
| US09417458B2 |
Image stabilizing device and system for telescopic optical instruments
An image stabilizing device and system for a binocular telescope having a pair of telescopic optical systems each comprising an objective lens, a gimbal mounted erecting prism and an eyepiece lens which is capable of compensating for deterioration in quality of an observed image due to user hand shake or other external vibrations. |
| US09417457B2 |
Optical eigenmode imaging
A method of optimising at least one measure that is a quadratic function of a wavefunction, such as the spot size of a laser, the method comprising: superimposing a plurality of wavefunctions; determining a relationship between the superimposed wavefunctions and the quadratic measure, and using the determined relationship to identify the superimposed wavefunctions that provide a desired or optimised quadratic measure. |
| US09417456B2 |
Three dimensional display device and manufacturing method for the same
A three dimensional (3D) display device and manufacturing method for the same are provided. The 3D display device includes a 3D display module; a back light module disposed behind the 3D display module; and a main frame. The back light module is installed inside of a rear side of the main frame, and the 3D display module is installed inside of a front side of the main frame. |
| US09417450B2 |
Projection apparatus using telecentric optics
The present invention provides a projection system (10), preferably for a head-up display e.g. on board a vehicle, comprising a laser source (1), a diffuser (3) and telecentric optics (2) disposed between the laser and the diffuser so that the telecentric optics outputs parallel rays to the diffuser, the diffused light being thus independent from the incidence angle; each pixel of the projected image has the same brightness, regardless of the angle or of the position from which it is viewed. |
| US09417447B2 |
Rod lens array and image sensor
A rod lens array includes a plurality of columnar rod lenses each having a refractive index distribution in which a refractive index continuously decreases from a central axis thereof to an outer periphery, and arranged in at least one row to align the central axes in parallel to each other. Each of the plurality of columnar rod lenses includes an emission-side end portion region, an incident-side end portion region, and an intermediate region between the emission-side end portion region and the incident-side end portion region, each having a central refractive index. The central refractive index of the incident-side end portion is equal to that of the emission-side end portion region in an optical axis direction, and the central refractive index at the intermediate region is higher than those of the emission-side and incident-side end portion regions. |
| US09417444B2 |
User-friendly wireless fiber optic endface inspector
A wireless fiber optic endface inspector includes a video microscope capable of wirelessly transmitting video streaming signal of endface image in real-time to a display device. The video microscope includes a microscope optical system, an adapting tip for interfacing an endface, an LED light source, a camera module for receiving and converting the endface image into video streaming signal, a Wi-Fi AP board, and a battery for supplying power. The video microscope may be constructed by adding a Wi-Fi AP board and a battery to a conventional inspector microscope. The display device has software for detecting when the endface is focused. Once the endface is focused, the display device emits an audio signal to alert the operator, who may then trigger the display device to analyze the endface image using an endface analysis software or save it to a folder, or transmit the image to a remote server. |
| US09417442B1 |
Aperture-fold imaging system
A folded optical system includes a powered optical element, at least one folding mirror and an aperture and defines an optical path through the optical system. The powered optical element, the at least one folding mirror and the aperture are configured to fold the optical path at the aperture, thereby providing a compact optical system. The optical system may include an optical block that totally internally reflects the optical signal at the aperture. Optionally or alternatively, discrete optical components may be used, such as an aperture made of a conventional material or a metamaterial, an off-axis parabolic mirror or lens and one or more folding mirrors. Some embodiments include a wavelength dispersive element, so as to implement a spectrometer. |
| US09417441B2 |
Projection optical system and projection apparatus
A projection optical system, in order from a magnification side to a demagnification side, comprising a negative first lens unit, a positive second lens unit, a positive third lens unit, a fourth lens unit, a fifth lens unit, and a sixth lens unit, wherein the second and third lens units move along an optical axis in zooming, the first lens unit moves along the optical axis in focusing, and the conditions: −0.55 |
| US09417437B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
The imaging lens consists essentially of a negative first lens having a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the object side; a negative second lens, a positive third lens; and a positive lens. When the focal length of the entire system is f, a half angle of view is ω, and the distance from the object-side surface of the first lens to the imaging plane along the optical axis is L, conditional formula (1) below is satisfied: 0.78<2*f*tan(ω/2)/L+0.005*ω<1.00 (1). |
| US09417432B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes, in order from an object side, a first positive lens having a convex object-side surface, a second negative lens having a concave image-side surface, a third positive double-sided aspheric lens, a fourth positive lens having a convex image-side surface, and a fifth negative double-sided aspheric lens having a concave image-side surface, wherein the fifth lens image-side surface has pole-change points off an optical axis; and conditional expressions below are satisfied: 0.80 |
| US09417426B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes: a fixed frame; a zoom ring rotatably held around an outer periphery of the fixed frame; a contact member; and a biasing member. The zoom ring has a first sliding surface to a fourth sliding surface. When the contact member moves on the first sliding surface, a first load is applied to the biasing member; when the contact member moves on the second sliding surface, a second load greater than the first load is applied to the biasing member; and when the contact member moves on the third sliding surface, a load which varies in a range from the first load to the second load is applied to the biasing member. |
| US09417422B2 |
Rigid adaptor ring for CTE mismatched optical device components
A rigid adaptor ring for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatched optical device components is disclosed. In one embodiment, either side of the rigid adaptor ring includes one or more mounting pads that are configured to interface between the CTE mismatched optical device components. |
| US09417420B2 |
Field installable high strength breakout kit
A fanout kit or assembly for holding furcation tubes may comprise a multifiber inlet screw on strain relief, a fanout housing, a plurality of furcation tubes, and a plurality of furcation assemblies for holding the plurality of furcation tubes. The fanout housing may have a fanout cover, a fanout base, a multifiber retention block for receiving the multifiber inlet screw on strain relief, and a furcation block for receiving the plurality of furcation tubes and the plurality of furcation assemblies. |
| US09417414B2 |
Optical connector for a card including concave and convex guide portions
An optical connector is disclosed. The optical connector includes a cable having formed therein an optical waveguide, a plug having the cable connected thereto, and a connector housing configured to mount thereon the plug. The cable is provided with a cable-side guide portion. The plug is provided with a plug housing which has a plug-side guide portion and is attached to the cable. The connector housing is provided with a connector-side guide portion. The plug-side guide portion is configured to be engaged with the cable-side guide portion to achieve a positioning of the cable and the plug housing and be engaged with the connector-side guide portion to achieve a positioning of the connector housing and the plug. |
| US09417410B2 |
Method and system for grating couplers incorporating perturbed waveguides
A system for grating couplers incorporating perturbed waveguides is disclosed and may include, in a semiconductor photonics die, communicating optical signals into and/or out of said semiconductor die utilizing a grating coupler on the semiconductor photonics die, where the grating coupler includes perturbed waveguides as scattering elements, and the perturbed waveguides comprise rows of continuous waveguides defined by non-discrete scatterers. The perturbed waveguides may include a variable width along a length of the perturbed waveguides. The grating coupler may include a single polarization grating coupler comprising perturbed waveguides and a non-perturbed grating, or a polarization splitting grating coupler including two sets of rows of perturbed waveguides at a non-zero angle from each other. The polarization splitting grating coupler may include discrete scatterers at an intersection of the two sets of rows of perturbed waveguides and/or may include non-linear rows of discrete shapes at an intersection of the perturbed waveguides. |
| US09417402B2 |
Dust cap and connector engagement body
A connector engagement body (1) comprises: a housing (3) from which a lead frame (9) of an electronic component (7) projects; and a heat-resistant dust cap (5) resistant to the heat generated when soldering the lead frame (9) and disposed in the housing (3) to prevent foreign substances from entering the inside of the housing (3), the center of gravity of the housing (3) and the electronic component (7) is located closer to the lead frame (9) than to a support (11) for the housing (3). |
| US09417398B2 |
Plastic optical fibres
The invention relates to methods and devices for shaping plastic optical fibers (POFs), more specifically for optically modifying and yet more specifically for rapidly joining two portions of the plastic optical fibers to create a new optical connection.The plastic optical fibers may be heated under controlled conditions, to soften them and lens, sensor or patterns may be imprinted on portions of the fiber. Methods are provide to optical joints, and combined physical and optical joints. |
| US09417397B2 |
Conductive assemblies securing optical fibers to ferrules by thermally securing bonding agents within fiber optic connector housings, and related methods and assemblies
Conductive assemblies are disclosed for bonding an optical fiber in a ferrule by mounting the ferrule of a fiber optic connector in the conductive assembly and using the conductive assembly to convert laser beam energy to heat and apply the heat to a portion of a fiber optic ferrule sufficient to bond the optical fiber in the ferrule. In an exemplary method, an optical fiber is disposed in a bore of a ferrule. A portion of the ferrule is disposed in a conductive assembly, such that a conductive element contacts a portion of the length of the ferrule. A laser beam absorber absorbs light energy from a laser beam, and converts the energy to heat. The conductive element transfers the heat energy from the laser beam absorber to the ferrule, thereby heating the bonding agent and bonding the optical fiber in the bore of the ferrule. |
| US09417386B2 |
Plasmonic optical waveguide using plasmonic coupling between nano-aperture and nano-particle
The present invention relates to a plasmonic optical waveguide using plasmonic coupling between a nano-aperture and a nano-particle. The plasmonic optical waveguide includes the nano-aperture formed with an opening of a nano-scale through which light enters; and a single metal nano-particle arranged at the focal point of the nano-aperture to generate plasmon coupling in association with the light output from the nano-aperture. The plasmonic optical waveguide has an effect of forming a small and strong high-intensity high-density light spot of a sub-wavelength size, in which an amplification rate is increased at the output surface of the nano-particle more than a few hundred times compared with the incident light, since the light is transmitted by plasmon coupling generated between the nano-aperture and the nano-particle. |
| US09417380B2 |
Light emitting device array and backlight unit
A light emitting device array includes a substrate including a first region and a second region that is inclined with respect to the first region, a first light emitting device package arranged on the first region, and a second light emitting device package that is arranged on the second region and is inclined with respect to the first light emitting device package at an inclination angle between 90° and 160°. |
| US09417379B2 |
Image display device and television reception device
A liquid crystal display device (10) is provided with the following: an LED (17); a liquid crystal panel (11); a light guide plate (16) disposed so as to overlap the liquid crystal panel (11); an optical member (15) disposed between the liquid crystal panel (11) and the light guide plate (16); a holding member (HM) having a frame (13) and a chassis (14) for holding in a sandwiched manner the liquid crystal panel (11), the optical member (15) and the light guide plate (16); a first object of positioning determination unit (33) disposed at the edge of the light guide plate (16); a positioning determination unit (31) disposed on the frame (13) and for determining the position of the light guide plate (16) in a direction following the plate surface by causing uneven engagement of the light guide plate with respect to the first object of positioning determination unit (33); and a light-shielding sheet (35) for blocking direct incidence of light from the first object of positioning determination unit (33) on the liquid crystal panel (11) by covering at least a portion of a gap (C1) formed between the positioning determination unit (31) and the first object of positioning determination unit (33) and by being provided between the light guide plate (16) and the liquid crystal panel (11). |
| US09417375B2 |
Apparatus of light source for display and apparatus of display using the same
An apparatus of light source for display for display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a light source module configured to generate and emit a light, a light transmission member configured to decrease a luminous flux per unit area and emit the light, by receiving the light from the light source module, a first wavelength conversion part arranged on a light path from the light source module to an emitting surface of the light transmission member to convert a portion of the received light to a light of a predetermined wavelength and emit the light, and a second wavelength conversion part discretely arranged from the first wavelength conversion part on the light path to convert a portion of the received light to a light of a wavelength different from the wavelength of the first wavelength conversion part and emit the light. |
| US09417374B2 |
Backlight module
The present disclosure relates to a backlight module, including a backlight frame and a light guide plate placed inside the backlight frame, wherein a light-emitting element is provided at the inner side of a side wall of the backlight frame, a first reflective sheet is provided at a lower location under the light guide plate along the vertical direction, and a second reflective sheet is provided at a lower location under the light-emitting element along the vertical direction, the second reflective sheet being extended towards the inside of the backlight frame to a lower location under the light guide plate along the vertical direction. Through providing the second reflective sheet located under the light-emitting element and extending to a lower location under the light guide plate, the light scattered out under the light-emitting element can be guided into the light guide plate, thus effectively enhancing the efficiency of incident light guided into the light guide plate from the light-emitting element. |
| US09417372B2 |
Lens sheet including lens with variable curvature and display device including the same
A lighting unit for a display device includes: a plurality of light sources which emits light; a wedge-shaped light guide having an incident surface disposed close to the light sources and an opposing surface disposed opposite the incident surface; and a lens sheet disposed on the light guide, where the lens sheet includes a plurality of lenses, each having an axis in a direction from the incident surface to the opposing surface, where the light guide is thinner at the incident surface than at the opposing surface, and a radius of curvature of each of the lenses is larger at the incident surface than the opposing surface. |
| US09417359B2 |
Ocean bottom seismic node system
The invention relates to a seismic node (100), comprising at least one seismic sensor with associated electronics, a primary oscillator (106) for timing sensor signals, a reference oscillator (104), a memory, a power source, a switch (102) for turning the reference oscillator on and off, and a processor (112) for digitizing sensor signals and storing them in the memory, calibrating a frequency of the primary oscillator (106) based on the frequency of the reference oscillator (104), and turning the reference oscillator on and off. |
| US09417357B2 |
Method for hydrocarbon recovery with change detection and related apparatus
A method for predicting hydrocarbon recovery in a subterranean formation may include generating pre-heating data associated with fracturing in a sample from the subterranean formation, heating the sample with RF power to cause additional fracturing in the sample, and generating post-heating data associated with additional fracturing in the sample after heating with RF power. The method may also include detecting change between the pre-heating data and post-heating data, and predicting hydrocarbon recovery from the subterranean formation based upon the detected change. |
| US09417354B2 |
Log inversion method for nuclear log data of earth formations
Inverting nuclear log data for a geological formation surrounding a borehole involves acquiring nuclear log data for a borehole portion using a moveable nuclear logging tool and acquiring additional log data for the borehole portion using another logging device with superior resolution. Boundaries between adjacent zones are identified that exhibit an attribute of the geological formation to a detectably contrasting degree. From pre-acquired data describing one or more characteristics of the nuclear logging tool, a modeled log of the attributes is generated over the borehole portion, and a zone response is calculated from the pre-acquired data for each zone by using the boundaries to define an initial measure of the depth of each zone and ascribing a value of the attribute in dependence on the depth of each zone. The attribute of each zone is then calculated by deconvolving the nuclear log data using the zone response to minimize the difference between the nuclear log data and the convolution of the zone response and the attribute. |
| US09417353B2 |
Remote processing of well tool sensor data and correction of sensor data on data acquisition systems
For some embodiments, a software application for correcting sensor data in a remote database (114, 118) according to magnetic correction parameters obtained from a geophysical survey service, the sensor data obtained from directional instruments on a well tool (107, 108, 110). The remote database resides in a field computer (112) at a well site, and a copy of the remote database may also reside in a real time operations computer system. For some embodiments, the sensor data for particular depths and measurement times are stored as rows in a table (FIG. 3). The correction software may write new rows in the remote database with the corrected sensor data, or may write new rows in a second database for storing corrected sensor data (FIG. 1). |
| US09417352B2 |
Multi-frequency inversion of modal dispersions for estimating formation anisotropy constants
Systems and methods for the estimating a plurality of anisotropic elastic constants (Cij) using borehole dispersions and refracted compressional headwave velocity at a single logging depth in a vertical, deviated, or horizontal wellbore in a transversely-isotropic with a vertical axis of symmetry (“TIV”) formation. The estimated elastic constants can then be used to calculate near-wellbore stress distributions in the wellbore, which aids in an optimal completion design, such as for shale-gas production in the presence of shale heterogeneity. |
| US09417351B2 |
Marine seismic surveys using clusters of autonomous underwater vehicles
A seismic survey system records seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The system includes first and second clusters, each including a set of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs); each cluster being associated with a corresponding first or second unmanned surface vehicle (USV); and a central control unit located on a floating platform and configured to control the first and second USVs. The first USV follows its own path and the first cluster follows the first USV independent of the second USV or the second cluster. |
| US09417349B1 |
Picking faults in a seismic volume using a cost function
Picking a fault in seismic data samples is described. In one example, a minimum spanning tree is used. In another example, input seismic attribute data is determined based on the seismic data samples. Seeds are selected that represent locations in the seismic volume using the attribute data. A principle grid is generated using the seeds. A fault is picked in the seismic volume by applying a least costs process, for example a minimum spanning tree, to the principle grid. The fault is then interpolated to generate a fault surface of the seismic volume. |
| US09417348B2 |
Updating microseismic histogram data
Systems, methods and software can be used for analyzing microseismic data collected from a fracturing treatment of a subterranean zone. In some aspects, a plurality of basic planes are each defined from a subset of the microseismic data and each have an orientation relative to a common axis. Clusters of orientations of the basic planes previously identified adaptively based on the extent of variation in the orientations can be updated with new data. The number of orientations associated with each of the clusters is then identified. |
| US09417346B2 |
Seismic vibrator device and method with rotation sensor
A seismic land vibrator, comprising a baseplate comprising a substantially flat, rigid member; at least one driven member that is connected with the baseplate and extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to baseplate; a rotation sensor that is coupled to the baseplate and adapted to provide a signal that is indicative of rotational movement of at least a portion of the baseplate. |
| US09417345B2 |
Method for calibrating a counting digital X-ray detector, X-ray system for performing such a method and method for acquiring an X-ray image
A method for calibrating a counting digital X-ray detector includes performing a threshold value scan in at least one defined X-ray spectrum for irradiating the X-ray detector, which includes a matrix composed of pixel elements, storing count rates of the pixel elements as a function of respective applied threshold values, and from results of a measurement of count rates of the pixel elements, determining or calculating individual correction threshold values for the individual pixel elements. The individual correction threshold values correct a threshold value that is to be applied to the pixel elements for the defined X-ray spectrum such that threshold value noise is reduced. |
| US09417335B2 |
Shock mounted sensor package with thermal isolation
A logging while drilling (LWD) tool can include a shock mounted sensor package with thermal isolation. For example, a LWD tool can include a pressure housing surrounding a cavity. A sensor package that includes at least one end connection can be coupled within the cavity. The LWD tool can also include a support structure coupled to the pressure housing and supporting the end connection of the sensor package. The support structure is configured to provide damping along at least one of the axial, radial, and azimuthal axes. The end connection is configured to inhibit thermal conductivity between the support structure and the sensor package. |
| US09417330B2 |
Receiver of satellite signals serving for location
A receiver of satellite signals serving for location (GNSS) adapted to be fixed on a support having at least one antenna able to receive the satellite signals serving for location. The antenna includes at least two mobile phase centers for determining a location on the basis of the satellite signals received, and a displacement device adapted for displacing the phase centers, for selecting one of the phase centers and for determining a position of the selected phase center with respect to the support. |
| US09417328B2 |
Global navigation satellite antenna systems and methods
A method for reducing multipath when determining a location of a stationary or near stationary position, includes receiving a signal from an antenna moving continuously with respect to the stationary or near stationary position, the signal including a multipath component, processing the received signal including the multipath component, wherein multipath error in the received signal is reduced during the processing and determining a location of the stationary or near stationary position based on the processed received signal with the multipath error reduced. |
| US09417326B2 |
Pulsed light optical rangefinder
An optical rangefinder based on time-of-flight measurement, radiates pulsed light toward an object (70), and receives reflected light from the object, the receiver operating in a photon counting mode, so as to generate a pulse for a detected photon. There is a variable probability of a photon detection on the receiver, and a controller (370, 380, 390; 365, 470, 475, 380, 390; 570, 580, 590, 390) controls the photon detection probability of the receiver, based on a light level. By controlling the detection probability according to a light level, the receiver can have an increased dynamic range, and without the expense of using optical components. This can apply even while detecting very weak signals since the receiver can still be in a photon counting mode while the detection probability is controlled. The light level can be indicated by an output of the receiver itself, or by another detector external to the receiver. |
| US09417325B1 |
Interface for accessing radar data
A process is described that includes the generation and transmission of collision avoidance data and/or collision avoidance instructions based on data from 3-D radar scans of an airspace. The transmitted data and/or instructions could facilitate collision avoidance by aerial vehicles operating in the airspace. The transmitted data could be limited to protect the security, privacy, and/or safety of other aerial vehicles, airborne objects, and/or individuals within the airspace. The transmitted data could be limited such that only information pertaining to a region of the airspace proximate to a particular aerial vehicle was transmitted. The transmitted data could be limited such that it included instructions that could be executed by a particular aerial vehicle to avoid collisions and such that the transmitted data did not include location or other data associated with other aerial vehicles or airborne objects in the airspace. |
| US09417321B2 |
Measurement of charge bank level in a metallurgical furnace
Various systems and methods for monitoring the level of a feed material layer in a metallurgical furnace are described. At least one non-contact sensor is used to sense a distance between the feed layer and a reference position. A process controller linked to the sensor provides a control signal based upon the sensed distance. The control signal may be used to control various factors in the operation of the metallurgical furnace. |
| US09417317B2 |
Three-dimensional measurement device having three-dimensional overview camera
A device is provided that includes a housing and a first motor. The first motor rotates about a first axis. A second motor is coupled to rotate the housing, the second motor rotating about a second axis. A device frame of reference is defined by the first and second axis. A mirror is rotated about the first axis by the first motor. A first and second angle measuring devices measure a first and second angle of rotation. A 3D time-of-flight camera is arranged within the housing coaxially with the first axis. The camera acquires an image of an object reflected from the mirror. A processor determines at least one first 3D coordinate of at least one point on the object, the first 3D coordinate based at least in part on the image acquired by the camera, the first angle of rotation, and the second angle of rotation. |
| US09417316B2 |
Device for optically scanning and measuring an environment
In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which device is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which, by means of a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines at least the distance to the object, the rotary mirror is part of a rotor, which is configured as a hybrid structure. |
| US09417314B2 |
Server management system and server management method
A server management system disposes two wave generators on a rack and disposes a wave sensor on a server, wherein each of the wave generators is capable of emitting an omni-directional wave and a directional wave. When the wave sensor senses the omni-directional wave and the directional wave at different time points, one of the server and a host device is capable of determining two angles of the wave sensor relative to the two wave generators according to time differences and then calculating a position of the server located in the rack according to the two angles. |
| US09417309B1 |
Test structure and method for calibrating three-dimensional thermography fault isolation tool
An apparatus for calibrating a three-dimensional thermography fault isolation tool, includes: a substrate having two or more pins; a first semiconductor die coupled to the substrate; a first heat generating test component at the first semiconductor die; and a second heat generating test component, wherein the first heat generating test component and the second heat generating test component are located at different respective heights; wherein the first heat generating test component is configured to produce a first temperature change in response to a voltage applied by the three-dimensional thermography fault isolation tool to the two or more pins; and wherein the second heat generating test component is configured to produce a second temperature change in response to the voltage or another voltage applied by the three-dimensional thermography fault isolation tool. |
| US09417308B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting pins on a probe card
Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and apparatuses for ensuring the integrity of probe card assemblies and verifying that probe cards are ready for testing. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a stage that allows stable and precise movement of a sensor. The stage includes a first support, a second support, and a sensor carrier. A plurality of lifting devices is coupled to the second support and the sensor carrier, providing a more stable and precise movement for the sensor carrier. Methods for identifying objects other than the probes disposed on a surface of a probe card and to determine whether the probe card is ready for use are disclosed. |
| US09417301B2 |
RF shield for MRI comprising conductive coating as shielding material
The invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system (1) comprising: a main magnet (2) for generating a uniform, steady magnetic field within an examination volume, at least one RF antenna (9) for transmitting RF pulses to the examination volume for magnetic resonance spin excitation, a gradient coil unit comprising gradient coils (4, 5, 6) for generating gradient magnetic fields in the examination volume (100), an RF shield (104) disposed between said RF antenna (9) and said gradient coils (4, 5, 6), said RF shield (104) comprising a shielding material adapted for suppressing Eddy currents induced in the shield by said gradient magnetic fields and for screening RF fields towards the gradient coils (4, 5, 6), said RF fields being generated by the RF antenna (9), wherein the RF shield comprises a conductive coating (104, 110) as shielding material. |
| US09417299B2 |
Using memristor devices as switches for MRI RF coils
A radiofrequency (RF) coil assembly (18,18′) for use in a magnetic resonance system (10) includes a radiofrequency coil (42) and a plurality of memory resistive elements (46,56,62,72) which each retains a selected resistive state after a control signal is removed. A detune circuit (44), part of the radiofrequency coil assembly, includes a memory resistive element (46) which switches the radiofrequency coil between a tuned and detuned state. Connected between the radiofrequency coil and a pre-amplifier (52), a blanking circuit (54) includes a memory resistive element (56) to short circuit an input of the pre-amplifier. A multiplexing circuit (60) includes a plurality of memory resistive elements (62) to selectively couple the selected outputs of the radiofrequency coils to a receiver (26). A biasing circuit (27) generates the control signal to set the memory resistive elements (46,56) to a first resistive state during a transmit mode and to a second resistive state during a receive mode magnetic resonance system. |
| US09417298B2 |
Local SAR reduction in multi-slice pTx via SAR-hopping between excitations
Described here are a system and method for designing radio frequency (“RF”) pulses for parallel transmission (“pTx”) applications, and particularly pTx applications in multislice magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”). The concept of “SAR hopping” is implemented by framing the concept between slice-selective excitations as a constrained optimization problem that attempts designing multiple pulses simultaneously subject to an overall local SAR constraint. This results in the set of RF waveforms that yield the best excitation profiles for all pulses while ensuring that the local SAR of the average of all pulses is below the regulatory limit imposed by the FDA. Pulses are designed simultaneously while constraining local SAR, global SAR, and peak power, and average power explicitly. |
| US09417296B2 |
Magnetic sensor and manufacturing method thereof
For each of electric current path units each including series-connected resistor elements, one end is electrically connected with power supply terminal Vcc, the other end is electrically connected with ground terminal GND, and connection portion between the resistor elements is electrically connected with output terminals Vo1-Vo4. Resistor element constituting each of the electric current path units is a magnetoresistance effect element formed of magnetoresistance effect film, the power supply terminal and ground terminal are each shared among all the electric current path units. All the electric current path units are formed to contact one surface of insulating film; and with use of conductive film disposed to contact the other surface of the insulating film, power supply connection wiring for sharing the power supply terminal and ground connection wiring for sharing the ground terminal are formed. |
| US09417295B2 |
Circuits and methods for processing signals generated by a circular vertical hall (CVH) sensing element in the presence of a multi-pole magnet
A magnetic field sensor has a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element with a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed over a common implant region in a substrate. The plurality of vertical Hall elements is disposed in an x-y plane. The magnetic field sensor is responsive to a magnetic field generated by a multi-pole magnet having a plurality of north poles and also a plurality of south poles arranged in a plane parallel to the x-y plane, and, in some embodiments, arranged in the x-y plane. A corresponding method is also described. |
| US09417294B2 |
Current sensors using magnetostrictive material
A current sensor device. The current sensor device includes a strain distribution converter; an optical fiber coupled with the strain distribution converter; and a magnetostrictive material associated with the strain distribution converter such that a change in shape of the magnetostrictive material causes a change in length of the optical fiber. |
| US09417291B2 |
Lighting maintenance, testing and repair kit and method of use thereof
The present invention is directed, in part, to an apparatus and methods thereof that effectively allow the testing, detection and identification of non-functioning light bulbs used in typical string lighting assemblies set up in series. The invention creates a circuit that determines whether there is a damaged bulb in holiday or occasion lighting assemblies by employing use of a power source, such as for example, a 9-volt battery, two wire leads and two terminals that create an electrical circuit when the terminals are attached to the lighting assembly wiring by means of the terminals. When the test kit is attached and the bulbs fail to illuminate, a user is thereby informed that a bulb within that series is damaged or otherwise non-functional. By further narrowing the number of bulbs tested, the kit allows the user to identify the damaged bulb and replace the bulb quickly and easily. |
| US09417289B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting voltage differential parameters of individual battery cells in battery pack
The invention belongs to the technical field of battery management, and in particular relates to a method and apparatus for collecting voltage differential parameters of individual battery cells in a battery pack. In the invention, a reference voltage is provided, the reference voltage is compared with an actual voltage of each individual battery cell at a same moment to obtain a relative voltage difference value between the actual voltage of each individual battery cell and the common reference voltage at the current moment; and an actual voltage difference value between the actual voltage of each individual battery cell and an actual average voltage value of the actual voltages of all individual battery cells is determined according to the relative voltage difference value, and each actual voltage difference value is used for representing the voltage differential parameter of the individual battery cell relative to a battery system. |
| US09417287B2 |
Scheme for masking output of scan chains in test circuit
Operating a scan chain of a test circuit of an integrated circuit to have either a single fanout or multiple fanout to a compressor. The test circuit receives a fanout control signal for configuring the fanout of the scan chain. If the fanout control signal indicates configuring of the scan chain with a single fanout, the output of the scan chain is sent to one input of a compressor. If the fanout control signal indicates configuring of the scan chain with multiple fanout, the output of the scan chain is sent to multiple inputs of the compressor. |
| US09417285B2 |
Integrated fan-out package-on-package testing
A device for testing a bottom package of an integrated fan-out (InFO) Package-on-Package (PoP) comprises a bottom fixture having a space to accommodate the bottom package during testing and a detachable top cover, configured for conducting at least one test of the bottom package, wherein one or both of the bottom fixture and the top cover have a plurality of probing contacts for testing of the bottom package and wherein the device can be opened for placement of the bottom package under testing, and the cover is attachable to the bottom fixture for conducting the testing. |
| US09417283B2 |
Semiconductor test system and method
A test controller applies test stimulus signals to the input pads of plural die on a wafer in parallel. The test controller also applies encoded test response signals to the output pads of the plural die in parallel. The encoded test response signals are decoded on the die and compared to core test response signals produced from applying the test stimulus signals to core circuits on the die. The comparison produces pass/fail signals that are loaded in to scan cells of an IEEE 1149.1 scan path. The pass/fail signals then may be scanned out of the die to determine the results of the test. |
| US09417282B2 |
Method for managing the operation of a circuit with triple modular redundancy and associated device
A method for managing operation of a logic component is provided, with the logic component including a majority vote circuit and an odd number of flip-flops equal to at least three. The method includes, following a normal operating mode of the logic component, placing a flip-flop in a test mode, and injecting a test signal into a test input of the flip-flop being tested while a logic state of the other flip-flops is frozen. A test signal output is analyzed. At the end of the test, the logic component is placed back in the normal operating mode. The majority vote circuit restores a value of the output signal from the logic component that existed prior to initiation of the test. |
| US09417279B2 |
Method and system for diagnosing a cable by distributed reflectometry with self-selective average
A method of testing a cable by distributed reflectometry, comprises: injecting into the cable a first periodic signal and a second periodic signal having the same number N of periods and the same number M of samples per period as the first signal; acquiring a measurement of the reflection, from impedance discontinuities of the cable, of each of said first and second signals; taking the average of said measurements of the reflection of at least one of said first or second signals over all of its periods to produce at least one reflectogram; determining the positions of faults in the cable on the basis of at least the reflectogram; the method being wherein each period of the second signal is injected into the cable with a delay or an advance which has an increasing predetermined absolute value for each successively injected period. |
| US09417276B1 |
Method of locating a fault in a power distribution system comprising at least one cogeneration distributed resource
The present invention provides a method 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 cogeneration resource. |
| US09417275B2 |
Cable measuring device and method
A cable measuring device for measuring a cable of a predetermined LAN cable category wherein the cable has at least one twisted conductive pair and jacket covering the same includes a computer based device which removes tail up effect on the impedance/return loss measurement and which addresses the effects of jacket removed on the reflection test results of LAN cables. |
| US09417271B2 |
Voltage detection device
A voltage detection device that detects a decrease in an output voltage of a power supply device, includes a first voltage-dividing circuit that divides the output voltage of the power supply device, a first constant-voltage circuit that converts the output voltage of the power supply device into a predetermined voltage, a second constant-voltage circuit that converts the output voltage of the power supply device into a predetermined voltage lower than an output voltage of the first constant-voltage circuit, a comparator that receives output voltages of the first voltage-dividing circuit and the second constant-voltage circuit, and a detection circuit that detects the decrease in the output voltage of the power supply device. The detection circuit detects a decrease in the output voltage in a higher-voltage region, and detects a decrease in the output voltage in a lower-voltage region. |
| US09417270B2 |
Systems and methods to capture and utilize temperature information in a battery system
Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for capturing and utilizing temperature information in a battery pack. An electrical measurement system may be configured to determine a subdivision electrical parameter associated with one or more subdivisions, and a thermal measurement system configured to determine and track a thermal parameter associated with one or more subdivisions. A battery model may utilize the thermal parameter and the electrical parameter to estimate a characteristic of one or more battery subdivisions. In some embodiments, the battery model may further estimate a second thermal parameter of a second subdivision based upon a location of the second subdivision within the battery pack and based on the estimated characteristic of a first subdivision. Some embodiments may further estimate a life assessment of one or more subdivisions based at least in part on the subdivision electrical parameter and the thermal parameter. |
| US09417268B2 |
Earth/ground clamp for measuring earth resistance of electrical installations
An earth clamp for testing contact voltage, comprising a measuring circuit formed of a voltage inducing transformer and a current measuring transformer, adapted to be mutually coupled by an earth conductor whose earth impedance is to be measured, a microcontroller to deliver an alternating voltage to the voltage inducing transformer and, in response, to receive a reference voltage generated in the earth conductor and an earth current iB+iF induced in the current measuring transformer, the microcontroller being configured to extract an amplitude E of the reference voltage, an amplitude IB and an amplitude IF of the earth current and a phase shift φ between the reference voltage and the loop current iB and to calculate the earth impedance Zb at a determined frequency, the microcontroller also computing the contact voltage Uc at said determined frequency by the product of the earth impedance times the amplitude IF. |
| US09417267B2 |
Integrated optical circuit and method for measuring current as well as sensor module and measuring device
In an integrated optical circuit, light from a light source is polarized and coupled to a first and second strip waveguide. A waveguide coupling element couples the two optical signals from the two strip waveguides to different polarization modes of an optical fiber line. The optical fiber line is connected to a measuring head, which reflects the optical signal and in which a phase difference between the two optical partial signals is modulated in a magnetic field. In the waveguide coupling element, the reflected signal is split into two optical partial signals having the same polarization and the phase difference between the two partial signals is determined. A phase modulator device provides for closed-loop operation. Compared to fiber-optical concepts, the number of splices is reduced. |
| US09417261B2 |
Atomic referenced optical accelerometer
In some examples, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical accelerometer includes a housing comprising an internal chamber that includes a Fabry-Perot cavity and a proof mass affixed to the housing via one or more elastic elements, a light source configured to emit radiation, a first detector configured to receive radiation transmitted through the Fabry-Perot cavity and configured to generate one or more signals that indicate a position of the proof mass. The MEMS optical accelerometer further comprises an atomic wavelength reference and a second detector configured to detect radiation transmitted through the atomic wavelength reference and configured to generate one or more signals that indicate a wavelength of the radiation emitted by the light source, and a servomechanism electrically coupled to the second photo detector and the light source, configured to adjust the light source to maintain the radiation emitted by the light source at approximately a selected wavelength. |
| US09417258B2 |
Sensor and tooth arrangement for shaft speed detection
A non-ferrous shaft includes multiple non-integral ferrous tooth components, thereby allowing a sensor to detect the shaft speed. |
| US09417256B2 |
System, method and program product for automatically matching new members of a population with analogous members
A population comparison system, method and a computer program product therefor. A stored list of population members, e.g., hydrocarbon reservoirs, characteristics and analogous members is partitioned into lists for each member. A weighting system automatically uses the partitions to determine a weight set (w*) for population member characteristic and a similarity function. The weighting system may include an objective model that iteratively, blindly identifies analogous members for each population member until the identified analogous members match the listed analogous members. An analogous member selector uses the weights set (w*) and similarity function to automatically select analogous listed members for each new population member. |
| US09417255B2 |
Cap closure with cannula
An analyzer for use with in vitro diagnostics includes one or more containers. Each container includes a container body configured to hold one or more fluids, a closure device disposed on the container body and housing a movable cannula, and a sealing portion configured to seal off the one or more fluids in the container body from matter outside the container body when the sealing portion is closed. The system also includes one or more pick and place devices configured to move the one or more containers between different locations. The movable cannula is configured to move downward responsive to a force from the one or more pick and place devices and cause an opening in the sealing portion. |
| US09417248B2 |
Surrogates of post-translationally modified proteins and uses thereof
The present invention provides compounds that are surrogates of post-translationally modified proteins and uses thereof. Numerous diseases are associated with post-translationally modified proteins that are difficult to obtain in homogenous form and in quantities needed for immunization and use as convenient standards, calibrators, and/or reference compounds that facilitate the detection and analysis of endogenous post-translationally modified proteins. The surrogate compounds of the invention typically comprise antigenic epitopes (one of which carries a post-translational modification) that are tethered by a flexible and hydrophilic linker. The resulting compound behaves like a surrogate of the post-translationally modified protein because it preserves the character of the included antigens and allows recognition by specific antibodies targeting the individual antigens. The surrogate compounds may be prepared by covalently joining two or more polypeptide epitopes using one or more linkers, wherein at least one of the epitopes comprises a post-translational modification. In one aspect, the surrogate compounds of the invention comprise a C-terminal epitope and a glycated epitope of human CD59. The inventive methods allow quantification of the levels of glycated CD59 in the serum in human subjects, particularly those with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This technological platform of post-translationally modified protein surrogates can be applied to other diseases associated with post-translationally modified proteins (e.g., autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus). In another aspect, the invention provides antibodies that bind specifically to the compounds of the invention and methods for producing such antibodies. |
| US09417246B2 |
Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) protein SRM/MRM assay
The current disclosure provides for specific peptides from the Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1) protein and the derived ionization characteristics of those peptides that are advantageous for quantifying IRS1 directly in formalin fixed biological samples by the method of Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry. Such fixed biological samples include: formalin-fixed tissue/cells, formalin-fixed/paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue/cells, FFPE tissue blocks and cells from those blocks, and formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue culture cells. IRS1 protein is quantitated in biological samples by the method of SRM/MRM mass spectrometry by quantitating one or more of the peptides described herein. The peptides can be quantitated if they reside in a modified or an unmodified form. Examples of potentially modified forms of IRS1 peptides include those bearing phosphorylation of a tyrosine, threonine, serine, and/or other amino acid residues within the peptide sequence. |
| US09417245B2 |
Porphyrinic compounds for use in flow cytometry
The present invention provides a method of detecting (e.g., by flow cytometry) a target compound, cell or particle, wherein the target is labelled with a detectable luminescent compound. The method comprises utilizing as the detectable luminescent compound a compound comprising a porphyrinic macrocycle such as a porphyrin, chlorin, bacteriochlorin, or isobacteriochlorin. In particular embodiments, the detectable luminescent compound comprises a compound of the formula A-A′-Z—B′—B, wherein: A is a targeting group or member of a specific binding pair that specifically binds the detectable luminescent compound to the target compound, cell or particle; A′ is a linker group or covalent bond; B′ is a linker group or covalent bond; B is a water-soluble group; and Z is the porphyrinic macrocycle. |
| US09417243B2 |
Systems and methods for anti-PAX8 antibodies
The present invention is related to the anti-PAX8 antibodies, kits, cocktails, and use of anti-PAX8 antibodies for detection of cancer. |
| US09417242B2 |
Method and system for detecting and differentiating cancer and sepsis in mammals using biomarkers
The invention provides a method and system for developing and using diagnoses of cancer and sepsis in canine subjects using thymidine kinase (TK), c-reactive protein (CRP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) as biomarkers. The level of each biomarker may be measured and an index may be computed using a two- or a three-biomarker method. The invention provides a predefined scale for the index where each range of the index matches a health condition. The latter allows a practitioner, through computing an index value of a patient, to determine the health status of the patient by comparing the index value to the predefined scale. |
| US09417240B2 |
Capped and conjugated quantum dots
One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue. |
| US09417238B2 |
Posterior segment drug delivery
A therapeutic device to release a therapeutic agent comprises a porous structure coupled to a container comprising a reservoir. The reservoir comprises a volume sized to release therapeutic amounts of the therapeutic agent for an extended time when coupled to the porous structure and implanted in the patient. The porous structure may comprise a first side coupled to the reservoir and a second side to couple to the patient to release the therapeutic agent. A plurality of interconnecting channels can extend from the first side to the second side so as to connect a first a plurality of openings on the first side with a second plurality of openings on the second side. |
| US09417234B2 |
Methods and devices for detection and measurement of analytes
Sensors for target entities having functionalized thereon, at least one aptamer specific to the target entity, and methods of making and using the same are described for use in glycated protein monitoring and/or biomarkers. |
| US09417233B2 |
Magnetic beads having surface glycoconjugates and use thereof
Magnetic beads that include polyvalent ligands comprising various carbohydrates are described. Methods for fabricating such magnetic beads are also provided as well as methods of their use to capture and enrich pathogen cell population for subsequent culture, lysis and identification. |
| US09417232B2 |
Sobriety monitoring system
A system and method of monitoring sobriety using a hand-held breath testing device that, on receipt of a user's breath, generates a breath test signal comprising substance content data and user identification data, and wirelessly transmits the breath test signal to a breath test signal receiving station. |
| US09417229B2 |
Linear, cartridge-based glucose measurement system
A test sensor container (400) is designed for use with an analyte measuring system (40). The test sensor container (100) may include a cartridge (200) including a plurality of stacked individual compartments (202) connected to one another in an accordion-style fashion. Each individual compartment (202) is collapsible from an expanded to a collapsed condition and is dimensioned to hold a test sensor (6) when in the expanded condition. The test sensor container further includes at least one foil cover (116) sealing the plurality of compartments (102, 202). |
| US09417226B2 |
Reagent, method and kit for the detection of nitro aliphatic compounds
A method for the detection of explosives using a single sample. The explosives include nitro aliphatic and nitro aromatic-based explosives. The method includes steps which require different pHs to discriminate between these types of explosives and at least in the detection step of the nitro aliphatic explosive requires the presence of a nitro aromatic compound. A kit for detecting explosives which includes a medium for collecting a sample, a base optionally impregnated on the medium; and a nitro aromatic solution for detecting a nitro aliphatic explosive by contacting the solution with the sample on the medium. A reagent including a nitro aromatic compound, having one or more additional electron withdrawing groups, in the presence of a basic compound usable for detecting nitro aliphatic explosives. |
| US09417225B2 |
Test systems and processes for equipment vis-a-vis contaminated fuel
A test system for equipment using fuel, including a closed supply circuit of the equipment configured to supply contaminated fuel to the equipment is provided. The circuit includes at least one tank including fuel, and a pollution module including on or more vats including fuel contaminated by solid contaminants. The module is configured to introduce contaminated fuel to a section of the supply circuit in which the fuel extracted from the tank circulates towards the equipment. The module also includes an agitating tool configured to take contaminated fuel from the vat and return it to the vat, so as to agitate the contaminated fuel in the vat. |
| US09417224B1 |
Mobile application for gardening
A system and method using a native mobile application for gardening is disclosed herein. An image of a plant or plant disease is uploaded and sent to a site for identification and advise from an expert or expert database. A response is provided to the gardener, along with helpful information. |
| US09417215B2 |
Vibration monitoring system and method
Methods and systems for monitoring vibrations introduce baseline vibrations into a fiber optic cable with one or more of a designated frequency or a designated amplitude. Changes in the baseline vibrations are monitored using the fiber optic cable. Information about environmental conditions outside of the fiber optic cable and/or moving objects can be determined based at least in part on the changes in the baseline vibrations that are monitored. The information that is determined about the objects, such as vehicles, can be modified based on the changes in the baseline vibrations. |
| US09417214B2 |
Apparatus for determining the texture of food material
The present application relates to an apparatus for determining the texture of food material, wherein the apparatus comprises a device for generating a vibrational impact, such as a piezo actuator, a device for measuring vibrations, such as a vibrometer, a holding mechanism, comprising a container body for containing the food material therein or a string to attach the food material thereto, and an analyzer for comparing measured vibrations with at least one reference value, determined prior to the measurement. |
| US09417213B1 |
Non-destructive evaluation system for aircraft
A method and apparatus comprises a transducer and an array of transducers. The transducer is associated with an object. The transducer has an elongate shape. The array of transducers is associated with the object. The array of transducers is substantially parallel to the transducer. |
| US09417212B2 |
Defect inspection device of steel plate
Provided is a defect inspection device of a steel plate. The defect inspection device according to the present invention includes a plurality of inspection units arranged in a width direction of the steel plate, wherein each of the plurality of inspection units includes a first magnetized pole and a second magnetized pole corresponding to each other. Also, the inspection unit includes: a magnetizing part generating a magnetic flux for magnetizing the steel plate in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a rolling direction through the first magnetized pole and the second magnetized pole; and a detection part detecting a leakage flux that leaks due to defects existing in or on the steel plate by using the flux generated by the magnetizing part. Thus, the defects may be correctly detected through the defect inspection device. |
| US09417201B2 |
Methods and devices for determining sensing device usability
Methods and devices for determining sensing device usability, e.g., for self-monitoring and point of care devices. In one embodiment, the invention is to a method of determining device usability, comprising the steps of providing a device comprising a first electrical pad; a second electrical pad; and a humidity-responsive polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the first and second electrical pads; applying a potential across the first and second electrical pads; measuring an electrical property associated with the humidity-responsive polymer layer; and determining whether the measured electrical property associated with the humidity-responsive polymer layer has exceeded a humidity threshold level associated with the device usability. |
| US09417195B2 |
Method and its apparatus for x-ray diffraction
In order to realize a compact and lightweight X-ray diffraction apparatus not requiring a goniometer, an apparatus for X-ray diffraction includes a first X-ray irradiating unit and a second X-ray irradiating unit that irradiate shaped X-rays on a same region of the surface of the sample from respective directions; an X-ray detecting unit that detects a first diffracted X-ray emanated from the region of the sample where the X-ray is irradiated by the first X-ray irradiating unit and a second diffracted X-ray emanated from the region of the sample where the X-ray is irradiated from the second X-ray irradiating unit; and an X-ray diffraction signal processing unit that processes a signal acquired by detecting the first diffracted X-ray and the second diffracted X-ray emanated from the same region of the sample with the X-ray detecting unit. |
| US09417193B2 |
Terahertz spectroscopy characterization with high spectral and spatial resolution for biological and chemical sensing and method of use
Biological cells or spores are analyzed by using enhanced THz coupling to molecules by depositing a test material in a channel of a microfluidic chip using near field sensing of sub-THz radiation from the molecules. The THz radiation is enhanced by transmitting THz radiation through slots in the chip, illuminating molecules of the test material with the enhanced THz radiation transmitted through the slots. A spectroscopic signature of the test material is generated, and a database of signatures of materials is generated. The test material is identified by comparing the signature of the test material with signatures of materials in the database. |
| US09417192B2 |
Optical device for detecting quality of welding gun electrodes
An optical device for detecting quality of welding gun electrodes An optical sensor device comprises a housing (10) with a pair of openings (11, 11a) communicating with a pair first (14) and a second (15) seat for accommodating a respective one of a pair of electrodes (E1, E2). A first set of lights (16, 17) emit a first (L1) and a second (L2) light beam in an intermediate geometric plane (p1) between the seats (14, 15). Two oblique reflecting elements (25, 26), interposed between the two seats (14, 15), to reflect the first (L1) and second (L2) light beams in two opposite directions perpendicular to the geometric plane (p1) toward the first and the second seats. Other lights (47, 32) emit third (L3) and fourth (L4) light beams on opposite sides of the geometric plane (p1) to illuminate the first and the second seat (14, 15). Cameras (31, 131, 33, 44) capture images (I1, I2) reflected by the two oblique reflecting elements (25, 26) and at least part of the third and fourth light beams (L3, L4) downstream of the first and second seats (14, 15) along paths of the third and fourth light beams. |
| US09417191B2 |
Using reflected and transmission maps to detect reticle degradation
An optical reticle inspection tool is used during an inspection to obtain, for each local area, an average of multiple reflected intensity values corresponding to light reflected from a plurality of sub-areas of each local area of the reticle. The optical reticle inspection tool is also used during the inspection to obtain, for each local area, an average of multiple transmitted intensity values corresponding to light transmitted through the sub-areas of each local area of the reticle. A combined intensity map is generated by combining, for each local area, the average of multiple reflected intensity values and the average of multiple transmitted intensity values such that a reticle pattern of the reticle is cancelled from the combined intensity map if the reticle has not degraded and such that the reticle pattern of the reticle is not cancelled out of the combined intensity map if the reticle has degraded. |
| US09417189B2 |
Fluorescing gel formulations and their applications
Fluorescing gel formulations are disclosed for monitoring cleaning of a surface. The fluorescing gel formulations are stable, fluoresce under UV light, and do not leave a mark after drying and removal. The compositions include an oppositely charged complexing agent which is used in combination with an anionic or cationic optical brightener. In some embodiments, the compositions include a cationic optical brightener with no complexing agent. |
| US09417188B2 |
Fluorescence observation device
Provided is a fluorescence observation device including: a processor configured to: extract, as a candidate region of interest, a region in a corrected fluorescence image that has a gradation value larger than a gradation-value threshold, the gradation-value threshold being set based on an average of gradiation values, a standard deviation, a first coefficient, and a second coefficient; receive a result, inputted by an observer, as to whether a candidate region of interest displayed on a display is a result of right indicating a determination by the observer that the candidate region of interest is a region of interest or a result of wrong indicating a determination by the observer that the candidate region of interest is not a region of interest; and set at least one of the first coefficient and the second coefficient so as to reflect the result inputted by the observer. |
| US09417186B2 |
Opto-electronic sensor
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an infrared (IR) opto-electronic sensor having a silicon waveguide implemented on a single silicon integrated chip. The IR sensor has a semiconductor substrate having a silicon waveguide extends along a length between a radiation input conduit and a radiation output conduit. The radiation input conduit couples radiation into the silicon waveguide, while the radiation output conduit couples radiation out from the silicon waveguide. The silicon waveguide conveys the IR radiation from the radiation input conduit to the radiation output conduit at a single mode. As the radiation is conveyed by the silicon waveguide, an evanescent field is formed that extends outward from the silicon waveguide to interact with a sample positioned between the radiation input conduit and the radiation output conduit. |
| US09417185B1 |
Controlling light arrays to determine properties of an object
Methods and systems for controlling light arrays to determine properties of an object are described. An example method includes causing illumination of a surface of an object from multiple illumination positions using a programmable array of lights, and receiving images from an image-capture device while the surface of the object is illuminated. For example, the programmable array of lights may be modulated to cause illumination of a portion of the surface of the object from first and second illumination positions, and a first and second image of the surface of the object captured during illumination from the first and second illumination positions respectively may be received. Subsequently, a processor may determine material information for the object based on an amount of specular reflectivity for the surface of the object and reference to a database of known amounts of specular reflectivity for a plurality of materials. |
| US09417184B2 |
Apparatus for the calibration of optical measuring instruments
An apparatus for the calibration of optical measuring instruments with a carrier includes a calibration body having a glass body which has at least one scattering element, wherein the scattering element is completely surrounded by the glass body, and wherein a degree of transmission of the scattering element and of the glass body differ from one another. |
| US09417178B2 |
Microchip
A microchip including a fluid circuit therein and a specimen inlet for introducing a specimen containing a first component and a second component different in specific gravity from each other into the fluid circuit is provided, in which the fluid circuit includes a specimen measurement unit connected to the specimen inlet and having a prescribed volume for measuring the specimen introduced through the specimen inlet and a separation unit which is a site connected to the specimen measurement unit and having a capacity capable of storing the total amount of the measured specimen, for storing the total amount of the measured specimen and separating the first component and the second component in the stored specimen from each other. |
| US09417173B2 |
Fine particle measurement device, and laminar flow monitoring method and fine particle analysis method in fine particle measurement device
There is provided a laminar flow monitoring method in a fine particle measurement device, the method including a radiation step of radiating light to a laminar flow, a position detection step of receiving, by a detector, an S polarized component which is separated from scattered light produced from the laminar flow and to which astigmatism is given and acquiring light reception position information of the S polarized component in the detector, and a determination step of determining a state of the laminar flow based on the light reception position information. |
| US09417171B2 |
Hardness tester
A hardness tester capable of facilitating positioning of a sample even when the hardness tester includes a manual XY stage. The hardness tester includes an XY stage displacing a sample stage in a horizontal direction; a CCD camera capturing an image of a sample surface via an objective lens; a monitor displaying the image of the sample surface captured by the CCD camera; an operator specifying a test position at which an indentation is to be formed, the test position being specified on the image displayed on the display; and a CPU calculating, in conjunction with displacement of the XY stage, an amount of offset in the XY direction between the test position and a center position of the indenter when forming the indentation, then displaying the calculated amount of offset on the display. |
| US09417170B2 |
High resolution, high speed multi-frequency dynamic study of visco-elastic properites
The present invention provides an apparatus and method including hardware and software, which allows collecting and analyzing of data to obtain information about mechanical properties of soft materials. This allows surface mapping of viscoelastic properties in a high-resolution and fast manner. It also allows finding the degree of nonlinearity of the material response of the sample during the measurements. The apparatus can be used as a stand-alone device, or an add-on to either the existing atomic force microscope or nanoindenter device. |
| US09417168B2 |
Fatigue testing
Apparatus and methods related to fatigue testing are described. For example, some embodiments may contain a terminal fixer, a terminal support, a bending machine, and a stress-strain collector, and may be used for testing fatigue properties of offshore pipes, risers and their connectors. Some embodiments may be used to apply extruding, twisting and high frequency bending to the testing sample during one testing period, so that the various fatigue properties of the testing sample can be obtained. |
| US09417164B2 |
Microfluidic element for thoroughly mixing a liquid with a reagent
A microfluidic element for thoroughly mixing a liquid with a reagent used for the analysis of the liquid for an analyte contained therein and a method thereof are disclosed. The microfluidic element has a substrate and a channel structure. The channel structure includes an elongate mixing channel and an output channel. The mixing channel has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and is implemented to mix the reagent contained therein with the liquid flowing through the inlet opening into the mixing channel. The outlet opening of the mixing channel is in fluid communication to the output channel. The outlet opening is positioned closer to the middle of the length of the mixing channel than the inlet opening. |
| US09417162B2 |
Gas trap expansion chamber
The invention allows for the collection of formation gases by placement of an agitating pipe directly in the drilling fluid flow line; the pipe's opening cut at an angle so gas in the top half of the drilling fluid flow line will be collected and also analyzed, along with the gas agitated from the drilling fluid. An expansion chamber is disclosed which encourages the drilling fluid flow line to release the gas held within it, so sample testing of the gases is more accurate than it would be in the prior art. |
| US09417154B2 |
Monitoring a response of a bridge based on a position of a vehicle crossing the bridge
A method for performing a dynamic load test on a bridge includes providing a vehicle with an imaging device coupled to the vehicle and moving the vehicle across the bridge. While moving the vehicle across the bridge, a series of images is obtained using the imaging device. A position of the vehicle on the bridge is determined as a function of time using the series of images, and a response of the bridge is determined as a function of time as the vehicle crosses the bridge. The position of the vehicle on the bridge is associated with the response of the bridge. |
| US09417151B2 |
Center of gravity determination
In one embodiment a method to determine a center of gravity of a three dimensional object comprises positioning the object on a test platform in a first orientation, determining a position of the center of gravity along a first axis and a second axis when the object is in the first orientation, rotating the object with respect to a third axis which is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis, determining a position of the center of gravity along at least one of the first axis or the second axis when the object is in the second orientation, and using a change in the position of the center of gravity along the at least one of the first axis or the second axis when the object is in the second orientation to determine a position of the center of gravity along the third axis. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US09417143B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring bending of an object, by using an optical waveguide
An apparatus and method for measuring bending of an object, a position of an item touching the object, and a shearing force of the item using an optical waveguide may include a frequency measurer to measure a frequency of light reflected from a grating of an optical waveguide, and a bending measurer to determine bending of an object to which the optical waveguide is attached using the frequency. |
| US09417142B2 |
Axial force sensor
A low-cost, compact, high-precision axial force sensor is provided. The axial force sensor includes a pair of parallel pressing plates and a strain gauge sandwiched therebetween. The strain gauge includes a plurality of strain-sensitive resistive elements around its periphery, and is provided with a spacer that transmits a pressing force from the pressing plates to some of the strain-sensitive elements but blocks the pressing force to the rest of the strain-sensitive elements. The output signal of the strain-sensitive elements blocked from the pressing force provide an accurate baseline to compare the output signal of the strain-elements subjected to the pressing force. The spacer has a uniform pattern of open and closed portions. On the strain gauge, the strain-sensitive elements are provided at both the open and closed portions of the spacer. |
| US09417135B2 |
Temperature sensor
The temperature sensor includes a thermo-sensitive element, first and second electrode wires electrically connected to the thermo-sensitive element, first and second signal wires partially overlapped with and connected to the first and second electrode wires, respectively. The first and second electrode wires are made of a first metal material consisting primarily of Pt. The first and second signal wires are made of a second metal material containing Al and having a linear thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the first metal material. Each of an overlap portion of the first electrode wire and the first signal wire and an overlap portion of the second electrode wire and the second signal wire includes a junction part formed by melting and thereafter coagulating the first or second electrode wire and the first or second signal wire. The junction part includes an oxidation film containing Al formed on a surface thereof. |
| US09417134B2 |
Microbolometer array with improved performance
According to one aspect, the invention relates to a microbolometer array for thermal detection of light radiation in a given spectral band, comprising a supporting substrate and an array of microbolometers (300) of given dimensions, arranged in an array. Each of said microbolometers comprises a membrane (301) suspended above said supporting substrate, said membrane consisting of an element (305) for absorbing the incident radiation and a thermometric element (304) in thermal contact with the absorber, electrically insulated from said absorber element. The absorber element comprises at least one first metal/insulator/metal (MIM) structure comprising a multilayer of three superposed films of submicron-order thickness i.e. a first metallic film (311), a dielectric film (310), and a second metallic film (309), said MIM structure being able to have a resonant absorption of said incident radiation at at least one wavelength in said spectral band. The area of the microbolometer pixel covered by said membrane (301) is less than or equal to half of the total area of the microbolometer pixel. |
| US09417131B2 |
Colorimeter calibration system and methods
A toy playset with a colorimeter and method of calibration is provided. The colorimeter may include the combination of a microcontroller with multiple switchable output ports, a light source connected to three of the output ports, and a photo transistor for sensing reflected light. The colorimeter may include four different resistors, each of the resistors connected to a corresponding additional one of the output ports, with the four different resistors connected in parallel to the photo transistor. The colorimeter may be programmed to cycle through the resistors and select a calibration based on a low predefined voltage target for reflection from a black surface and a higher predefined voltage target for reflection from a white surface. The light source is a RGB light source having a tri-band wavelength light. |
| US09417130B2 |
Interference spectrophotometer that corrects light intensity information using mirror velocity information
An interference spectrophotometer including a movable mirror unit having a movable mirror capable of reciprocating movement; a stationary mirror; an infrared light source unit which emits an infrared light; a beam splitter; an interference light detection unit which detects light intensity information of light transmitted or reflected by a sample; a movable mirror velocity information detection unit which detects movable mirror velocity information for movable mirror; and a control unit which acquires the light intensity information and movable mirror velocity information and computes the absorption or transmission spectrum of the sample; wherein the interference spectrophotometer further comprises a storage unit which stores a target movable mirror velocity range, and control unit does not employ light intensity information obtained when the movable mirror velocity of movable mirror was outside the target movable mirror velocity range for computing the absorption or transmission spectrum of the sample. |
| US09417126B2 |
Spectrometer insert for measuring temperature-dependent optical properties
In one aspect, a spectrometer insert is provided. The spectrometer insert includes: an enclosed housing; a first transparent window on a first side of the enclosed housing; a second transparent window on a second side of the enclosed housing, wherein the first side and the second side are opposing sides of the enclosed housing; and a sample mounting and heating assembly positioned within an interior cavity of the enclosed housing in between, and in line of sight of, the first transparent window and the second transparent window. A method for using the spectrometer insert to locally heat a sample so as to measure temperature-dependent optical properties of the sample is also provided. |
| US09417125B2 |
IR spectrometry cell with temperature control means
A sample cell for IR spectrophotometric analysis of a liquid sample is provided. The sample cell comprises two substantially parallel transparent plates enclosing a cavity for holding the liquid sample, and a temperature control loop for controlling a temperature of the liquid sample in the cavity. The temperature control loop comprises at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in or close to the cavity, at least one heating element for increasing a temperature of the liquid sample, and control means, coupled to the temperature sensor and the heating element for controlling the heating element in dependence of the temperature in or close to the cavity. The heating element comprises at least one heating foil which is attached to or thermally coupled to a first one of the transparent plates in such a way to allow an IR light beam to pass through the transparent plates and the cavity without being hindered by the heating foil. |
| US09417123B2 |
Illumination setting method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for a brightness tool of an image measuring apparatus
A value of a current corresponding to a relationship between an illumination intensity instruction value and illumination intensity is calculated based on a previously obtained relationship between a current flowing through a light emitting device and the illumination intensity. A calibration table including the illumination intensity instruction value, the calculated value of the current, and the illumination intensity is created. A required illumination intensity is calculated based on exposure time per frame during autofocusing. An illumination intensity instruction value corresponding to the required illumination intensity is calculated using the calibration table. The calculated illumination intensity instruction value is set using the calibration table such that brightness of a measured image remains consistent even when a frame rate is changed. |
| US09417121B1 |
Methods and apparatuses using optics with aperture for passing optical signals between input and output stages
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to processing optical signals. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an aperture receives a plurality of optical signals and passes the signals to one or more optical processing stages. Each stage includes a plurality of optical detectors and an optical element that operates with the aperture to provide optical signals from inputs of the stage to at least one of an output of the stage and respective ones of the plurality of optical detectors. |
| US09417117B2 |
Two stage overload protection device for a weighing hopper
A weighing device is equipped with a first overload protection mechanism and a second overload protection mechanism. The first overload protection mechanism includes a first support portion disposed on a fixing member and a first section disposed on a connecting member. The second overload protection mechanism includes a second support portion disposed on the fixing member and a second section disposed on the connecting member. When a first load acts on a weigh hopper, the first support portion supports the first section from below. When a second load greater than the first load acts on the weigh hopper, the second support portion supports the second section from above at the same time that the first support portion supports the first section. |
| US09417112B2 |
Liquid consumption device having holder and detecting section
A liquid consumption device of the present invention has a holder in which an opening section is provided in a position to face a prism of an ink cartridge, a light emitting section, and a light receiving section. The holder has a region that changes a light amount of the reflected light emitted from the light emitting section and received by the light receiving section in a position spaced apart from the opening section at a predetermined distance in a main scanning direction. |
| US09417111B2 |
Parabolic antenna with an integrated sub reflector
A sensor for a fill level measuring device for determining the fill level in a container by determining the delay time of high-frequency signals, comprising a main reflector having an edge region and an inner region, a sub reflector, which is connected to the edge region of the main reflector via a radome, an inner space, which is encompassed by the radome and the main reflector, and a hollow waveguide which is connected to the main reflector and has a front end, which is oriented toward the sub reflector for coupling electromagnetic waves in and/or out, wherein the radome and the sub reflector are embodied as integral or unitary in formation. |
| US09417109B2 |
Chassis assembly
Disclosed is a rotary valve and rotary disk fluid dispensing system that sanitizes valve ports using UV radiation during non-use. Steam and ozinated water can also be used for stripping and disinfecting portions of the dispenser that can be accessed by the public. The system also uses detectors including hall detectors and a camera to inspect for blockage of valve ports, tampering or improper operation of the rotary valve disc. |
| US09417106B2 |
Wearable computing device
Wearable computing device, comprising a wig that is adapted to cover at least a part of a head of a user, at least one sensor for providing input data, a processing unit that is coupled to the at least one sensor for processing said input data, and a communication interface that is coupled to the processing unit for communicating with a second computing device. The at least one sensor, the processing unit and the communication interface are arranged in the wig and at least partly covered by the wig in order to be visually hidden during use. |
| US09417104B2 |
Electronic gastrointestinal screening
Gastrointestinal screening includes disposing a self-contained electronic capsule in a gastrointestinal tract. The electronic capsule is adapted to acquire data that is responsive to one or more physical conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and to compare the acquired data with stored threshold data to generate a discrete output relating to the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. |
| US09417101B2 |
Optical encoder with a scale that has fine and coarse pitch patterns
An optical encoder includes a light source, a scale which is irradiated by the light source and has a fine pitch pattern and a coarse pitch pattern in a measuring direction in one track, a high resolution detection sensor array which receives light from the scale and detects the fine pitch pattern, and a low resolution detection sensor array which receives light from the scale and detects the coarse pitch pattern. A transmittance distribution or a reflectivity distribution of the scale is a distribution obtained by summing up a modulation component which corresponds to the fine pitch pattern and in which integrated values in a direction perpendicular to the measuring direction form modulation amplitude uniform in the measuring direction and a modulation component which corresponds to the coarse pitch pattern and in which modulation amplitude is uniform in the measuring direction. |
| US09417094B2 |
Displacement sensor for force indicating caliper
A caliper including a scale member, a slider, a slider displacement sensor and a force sensing arrangement. The force sensing arrangement is configured to provide a signal indicative of a measurement force, and includes elements fabricated on the same circuit board as the slider displacement sensor. In one implementation, the force sensing arrangement includes drive and sense coils that are fabricated in one or more metal layers of the circuit board. A signal modulating element (e.g., a metal core) is also included which is attached to a force actuator which moves in accordance with the amount of measurement force that is being applied. The force actuator moves relative to the linearly displaced coils and the attached signal modulating element affects the inductive coupling between the coils. The resulting signals from the coils may be utilized to determine the position of the signal modulating element and the corresponding measurement force. |
| US09417093B2 |
AMR transmitter and method using multiple radio messages
The invention provides a method and several types of devices for converting meter reading signals into data messages including a first message (40) having meter data (44) representing consumption of a utility, and meter diagnostic status data (43), and a second message (60) having meter reverse flow data (63-65) and meter diagnostic data (66) particular to an electronic flow meter, and receiving, said first message (40) and said second message (60) and converting first message and said second message to radio frequency signals (25) and transmitting said radio frequency signals (25) to a receiver (22, 24). |
| US09417092B2 |
Automatic fixture monitoring using mobile location and sensor data with smart meter data
A method and system for monitoring resource information and user activity. The method includes acquiring one or more data streams from one or more resource meters and one or more electronic device sensors. Discrete events are computed from each data stream. A sequence of discrete sensor-meter event itemsets are extracted based on the events. Frequent sensor-meter event itemsets are discovered from the sequence of discrete event itemsets that occur together, and a frequency of occurrence of each frequent co-occurrence itemset is discovered. Rising sensor-meter event itemsets and falling sensor-meter event itemsets are matched based on appliance state models and the frequency of occurrence of each sensor-meter event itemset. Each individual fixture is identified. Each fixture cluster is classified to a fixture category. Based on the matched fixture events, fixture clusters, and categories, resource usage information and user activities are determined for each fixture usage event identified. |
| US09417091B2 |
System and method for determining and correcting field sensors errors
A system and method for determining errors and calibrating to correct errors associated with field sensors, including bias, scale, and orthogonality, includes receiving and providing to a processor angular rate data and a first field vector relative to a first reference directional field and a second field vector relative to a second reference field from at least one field sensor. The processor is configured to relate the first field vector and the second field vector to the angular rate data to determine an error of the at least one field sensor. The processor is also configured to identify a compensation for the error of the at lease one field sensor needed to correct the first field vector and the second field vector and repeat the preceding to identify changes in the error over time and compensate for the changes in the error over time. |
| US09417090B2 |
System to offer coupons to fans along routes to game
The systems and methods are directed towards embodiments for planning a travel route for a user (i.e. fan) who is planning to attend a sports game. The systems and methods will plan/map a route for the user from a start position (e.g., home) to the location of the sports game (e.g., stadium). Alongside the planned/mapped route, the systems and methods will also obtain various related deals (e.g., coupons) for one or more business (i.e. retail stores, fast-food) along the planned/mapped route. The various related deals can then be displayed for the user to view or use. |
| US09417089B2 |
Method for managing schedule using user's location information and system thereof
A method for managing a schedule based on a user's location information by a system for managing a schedule. The method comprises receiving a schedule including at least one of an appointment location, appointment contents an appointment time, and appointment target person's phone number from the user; registering the schedule which includes the user's location information by a schedule registration unit of the system; detecting the user's location by a location detection unit of the system; and sending a message related to the schedule or the user's location by a sending unit of the system. The sending of the message related to the schedule or the user's location by the sending unit of the system sends information of a changed appointment time and place to the appointment target person when the user changes the appointment schedule. |
| US09417088B2 |
Navigation system and method to scroll to user selected point of interests (POIs)
A navigation system has at least one processor. A memory is coupled to the processor. The memory stores program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: display a map; display a cursor showing a present location of a vehicle on the map; display a menu screen to enter user selected point of interest (POI) search criteria; display markings on the map, wherein each marking corresponds to a POI matching the user selected POI search criteria; move the map to a user selected marking; and center the map on the user selected marking. |
| US09417081B2 |
Device for predicting energy consumption and method for predicting energy consumption
A device for predicting energy consumption includes an obtaining unit (110), an air resistance calculating unit (140, 150), and an energy consumption predicting unit (150). The obtaining unit (110) is configured to obtain road information including traveling speed information set for each route. The air resistance calculating unit (140, 150) is configured to calculate air resistance as a calculated air resistance value by an air resistance calculation formula on the basis of the traveling speed information of the scheduled traveling route and to correct the calculated air resistance value so that the air resistance is higher according as the traveling speed along the scheduled traveling route is lower. The air resistance is caused when a vehicle travels along a scheduled traveling route. The energy consumption predicting unit (150) is configured to predict an energy consumption of the scheduled traveling route on the basis of the corrected air resistance value. |
| US09417074B2 |
Providing route recommendations
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining travel information that indicates travel patterns for a mobile computing device that is associated with a user; identifying a current context for the mobile computing device and the user; identifying one or more destination locations that the user has at least a threshold likelihood of travelling to with the mobile computing device based on the current context and the obtained travel information; generating a prediction that one or more events have at least a threshold probability of occurring along one or more of a plurality of routes for travelling to the identified one or more destination locations; selecting a particular route from the plurality of routes to recommend to the user based on the current context and the prediction of the one or more events; and providing route information that identifies the selected particular route. |
| US09417071B2 |
Method and system for sensing the position of a vehicle
The invention concerns a method and a system for purposes of registering the position of a vehicle (1) in a defined region (3), wherein a digital map of the defined region (3) is created, having a defined coordinates system, wherein the digital map includes stationary reference features (T1) with a unique identifying feature, before digital images are recorded of at least a sub-region of the defined region (3), preferably of the whole defined region (3), for purposes of registering and detecting further reference features (T1, T2, T3), wherein stationary and/or temporary reference features (T2, T3) without unique identifying features are also registered and detected, and are added to the digital map and/or an associated buffer store, so that the absolute position of the vehicle (1) in the defined region (3) can subsequently be determined, in that a digital image of a portion of the defined region (3) is recorded by the vehicle (1), and in the digital image reference features (T1, T2, T3) are detected and optionally identified, wherein the determination of absolute position is undertaken on the basis of the stationary and/or temporary reference features (T1, T2, T3) that have been detected and optionally identified. |
| US09417069B2 |
Familiarity modeling
One or more embodiments of techniques or systems for modeling familiarity for a traveler are provided herein. Familiarity evidence can be received, indicative of how familiar a traveler is with an area or road segment, and based on a number of visits the traveler has made to that area. The familiarity evidence can be used to generate one or more familiarity models indicative of a predicted familiarity of locations around the area. Familiarity models can be based on kernels, graph distances, Markov random fields (MRFs), etc. When route directions are generated from an origin location to a destination location, one or more of the directions can be provided based on one or more of the familiarity models. For example, if a familiarity model indicates that a traveler is familiar with a route, driving directions of the route can be adapted to be more succinct. |
| US09417067B1 |
Electronic bias compensation for a gyroscope
A method for simultaneously identifying an inertial rate of a gyroscope and a bias for a gyroscope. A set of equations for an output of the gyroscope is identified using a model for motion of the gyroscope. The set of equations includes a set of parameters for the bias of the gyroscope. The inertial rate of the gyroscope and a set of values for the set of parameters for the bias of the gyroscope are identified using the set of equations and measurements generated by the gyroscope for a plurality of drive angles. |
| US09417062B2 |
Forensic mapping instrument
A device relating to a standalone laser target system which has the capacity to employ gravity to achieve a position plumb with the ground and to be easily operated at night or in low light conditions. The laser target is retro-reflective and is self-plumbing from the target frame. The target frame also has a detachable handle, which is used for positioning the target. The target frame further has an internal power source to illuminate the target. The device is designed to be easily packed in a protective carrying case to facilitate transport of the device. |
| US09417054B2 |
Digital measurement unit for fish tape device or duct rodding device
An assembly includes a fish tape device or a duct rodding device having digital measurement unit attached thereto. A tape is housed in the fish tape device or a duct rodding device and is paid out of the device. The digital measurement unit includes an optical sensor which is positioned proximate to the tape. As the tape is passed by the optical sensor, the optical sensor uses digital image correlation to take successive images of the tape to determine a length measurement of tape that has passed by the optical sensor. |
| US09417052B2 |
Optical coherence tomography control systems and methods
In part, the invention relates to methods, devices, and systems suitable for controlling a light source. The light source is configured for use in a data collection system such as an optical coherence tomography system. The light source can be controlled with a drive waveform. Linearizing and symmetrizing parameters of the light source such as forward and backward scan durations is achieved using a suitable drive waveform. Phase, amplitude, and other parameters for different harmonics of a fundamental wave can be identified that improve operating parameters such as the duty cycle and peak frequency matching between scans. The fundamental wave and one or more of such harmonics can be combined to generate the suitable drive wave form. The light source can include a tunable light source that includes or is in optical communication with a tunable filter. |
| US09417050B2 |
Tracking type laser interferometer for objects with rotational degrees of freedom
A laser interferometer and a method for operating a laser interferometer perform a differential position measurement by laser interferometry of two elements while offering a rotational degree of freedom to one of the elements using a reflecting sphere as a mirror for the laser beam. The laser interferometer and method do not require the object to be aligned with the rotation axis, but instead can track the object in off-centered geometries. This is achieved by employing the pointing of the reflected beam from the sphere as a feedback signal to realign the interferometer which then has a constant beam pointing to the center of the sphere in all cases. The laser interferometer and method keep the direction of the measurement constant. The laser interferometer and method are suitable for homodyne and heterodyne types of laser interferometer technology. |
| US09417048B2 |
Capacitive sensor device and method of manufacture
A capacitive sensor device and a method of manufacture are provided. The capacitive sensor device includes at least one sensor tip that includes an electrode positioned at a first end of the sensor tip, and a stem member coupled to the electrode and extending toward a second end of the sensor tip. The device also includes a coaxial cable including a center conductor, the center conductor coupled to the sensor tip at the second end, and an insulation layer supporting the sensor tip between the first and second ends. The insulation layer includes a metallization on a portion surrounding the second end of the sensor tip. The device further includes a casing surrounding a portion of the coaxial cable, the metallization, and the coupling of the center conductor and the sensor tip, wherein a braze joint is formed between the casing and the metallization to form a hollow, hermetic cavity. |
| US09417046B2 |
Tape measure
A tape measure includes a housing arranged to substantially enclose an internal cavity, the housing defining a tape port, and a tape positioned partially within the housing, the tape including an end portion that extends through the tape port and out of the housing. A hook is coupled to the end portion and a finger guard assembly is coupled to the housing and spaced apart from the tape port. The end portion extends through an aperture in the finger guard assembly and is movable between a retracted position in which the hook abuts the finger guard assembly and an extended position in which the hook is spaced apart from the finger guard assembly. |
| US09417045B2 |
Scale holding device and encoder
Provided is a scale holding device including a scale and an attachment plate holding the scale. The scale holding device includes the attachment plate configured to have a first surface abutting on a first lateral side of the scale and a second surface facing a rear side of the scale, a first adhesive material configured to removably adhere the second surface of the attachment plate and the rear side of the scale to each other, and a second adhesive material configured to adhere the scale and the attachment plate to each other on a second lateral side of the scale. |
| US09417043B2 |
Thermal destruction arrangement
A system for thermal destruction of munitions has a rotatable kiln with a duct opening. A gate pivotally connected to the duct is arranged to open and close the duct. A loading tray is pivotally connected to the duct such that with the kiln in a first position with the gate open, the loading tray may be pivoted to load the kiln. After a thermal destruction process, rotation of the kiln to a second position facilitates emptying of the kiln via the duct. |
| US09417038B2 |
Energy absorber for high-performance blast barrier system
The present invention provides an energy absorber for a blast barrier system comprising a substantially tubular member extending longitudinally along an axis from a first end portion to a second end portion, each of the first end portion and the second end portion having a substantially similar geometric profile, wherein the energy absorber collapses under a predetermined load when compressed by a residual blast force. The energy absorber of the present invention may help minimize damage to people and structures by further dissipating force from a blast in a blast barrier system. |
| US09417033B2 |
Adjustable firearm stock adapter assembly
An adjustable butt stock adapter assembly may provide for vertical and rotational adjustment. A serrated plate may be positioned between an adapter with grooves for establishing a rotational position with the serrated plate, and a butt plate having serrations for establishing a vertical relationship with the serrated plate. The serrated plate may be operatively attached to a spring collar mounted in the adapter, such that pulling the serrated plate away from the collar and adapter overcomes the spring force and allows for adjustment of the rotational position. The butt plate may connect to the serrated plate through an engagement mechanism, such that disengaging the engagement mechanism allows for adjustment of the vertical position. |
| US09417031B2 |
Device for controlling the impulsive feeding of a pressurized fluid and an air weapon comprising such device
A device for controlling fluid delivery includes a hollow body closed by opposed end walls having an inlet and an outlet for a pressurized fluid and defining a first variable-volume chamber, between the inlet and the outlet for containing a first volume of pressurized fluid, an obturating member interacting with the downstream end wall of the hollow body for selectively closing the outlet, a guide member associated with the obturating member guiding it between a first end closing position and a second end opening position of the outlet; and an operating system acting upon the closure member to promote sliding thereof in the hollow body. The obturating member is movable relative to the guide member and is internally hollow to enclose the first chamber, and the guide member has a passage allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the first chamber. An air weapon incorporating the device. |
| US09417029B1 |
Arrow shaft pressing device for crossbow
An arrow shaft pressing device for a crossbow includes a sleeve connected to one end of the aiming device and has a passage with an aperture defined through the lower end of the sleeve. A shoulder is formed at the connection portion between the passage and the aperture. A pressing member has a flange and a shank extending from the underside of the flange. The pressing member is located in the passage of the sleeve and the distal end of the shank extends beyond the aperture. A restriction member is connected to the top end of the sleeve. A resilient member is biased between the flange of the pressing member and the restriction member. The distal end of the shank of the pressing member resiliently presses the arrow shaft. |
| US09417028B2 |
Adjustable pulley assembly for a compound archery bow
A pulley assembly for a compound bow comprises a draw cable pulley and a power module attached to the draw cable pulley and adjustable among one or more positions and two orientations. Changing the power module orientation at a given power module position alters the bow's draw force curve and stored energy without altering the bow's draw length or draw weight. |
| US09417027B2 |
Archery torque reduction grip apparatus, system and method
An archery bow system apparatus and related methods for reducing bow torque, comprising: an outer bow grip; an inner bow handle enclosed by the outer bow grip; wherein: when the bow system is in an undrawn state, the outer bow grip is prevented from rotating relative to the inner bow handle; and when the bow system is drawn into in a drawn state, the outer bow grip is enabled to rotate over a limited angular range relative to the inner bow handle. |
| US09417026B2 |
Projectile launching system
A projectile launcher having a pair of band securement elements each configured to secure the ends of a band and a pair of members disposed a distance from the pair of securement elements and located to permit the band to wrap about each of the pair of members passing the medial portion of the band between the pair of members to stretch the band toward the drawn condition of the projectile launcher. |
| US09417025B1 |
Apparatus having clamp device and forestock-support member for firearm
An apparatus is for use with a firearm having any one of a forestock and a barrel section and for use with an elongated stationary object. The apparatus includes a clamp device having a clamp portion. A forestock-support member is configured to make contact with any one of a forestock and a barrel section once the firearm is spatially positioned to do just so. A swivel connector is configured to extend from the clamp portion. The swivel connector is configured to rotatably couple the forestock-support member to the clamp portion. This is done in such a way that the forestock-support member, in use, pivotally swivels at will relative to the clamp portion once any one of a forestock and a barrel section (in use) contacts the swivel connector. |
| US09417024B2 |
Asymmetric muzzle compensator for firearm
Disclosed is a muzzle device for use with a muzzle end of a firearm barrel. The muzzle device includes a body having a central passageway extending along a central axis and being mountable to the muzzle end of the firearm barrel. A plurality of circumferentially spaced ports are provided on the body and extend generally radially outward from the central axis and open to the central passageway to provide fluid communication between the central passageway and an ambient environment external of the body. The ports are configured to direct propulsion gases generally radially outward therethrough when the firearm is discharged. The body includes a right-side portion and a left-side portion defined by a vertically-oriented imaginary plane, the ports being provided on the body such that the right-side portion directs a greater volume of propulsion gases therethrough than the left-side portion when the firearm is discharged. |
| US09417021B2 |
Firearm suppressor
A firearm suppressor (1) has a suppressor housing (10) defining the outer surface of the suppressor (1), a mounting member (2) for fastening/detaching the suppressor (1) with a barrel (70) of the firearm (7) and having an aperture (20) for a projectile (8) and propellant gases of the firearm (7) to enter the suppressor (1), an interior arranged to form a number of compartments (30), which are separated by conical baffles (3) having an aperture (32) for the projectile to pass through, an exit aperture (60) for the projectile (8) and the propellant gases to exit the suppressor (1), the compartments (30) formed by the conical baffles (3) are different in volume so that in the order of advancing projectile path (PP) the largest compartment (30) is followed by number of smaller compartments (30). |
| US09417019B2 |
Fire control for auto-loading shotgun
An auto-loading firearm includes a bolt assembly that is both automatically operable and manually operable between a forward position closing the chamber of the firearm and a rearward position opening the chamber, and a fire control mechanism. The fire control mechanism comprises a trigger plate assembly operably located between the chamber and a magazine that is capable of housing one or more additional rounds of ammunition. The trigger plate assembly includes a latch release and a carrier that is operable to lift a round from the magazine to the chamber. The fire control mechanism further includes a feed latch that is operable to release of a round from the magazine onto the carrier when disengaged by the latch release. The trigger plate assembly and the feed latch are configurable to control the release of rounds of ammunition from the magazine during manual operation of the fire control. |
| US09417016B2 |
Laminated heat exchanger
A laminated heat exchanger includes at least one heat exchange layer that includes a plurality of side members that define a frame having an interior portion. A plurality of heat exchange members extend between at least two of the plurality of side members across the interior portion. The plurality of heat exchange members are linked by a ligament member to form a heat exchange member chain. |
| US09417014B2 |
Refrigerant guiding pipe and heat exchanger having refrigerant guiding pipe
A refrigerant guiding pipe has a pipe wall in which an inner chamber is formed; an opening formed in the pipe wall; and a refrigerant guiding wall portion, at least a part of an edge of the refrigerant guiding wall portion being separated from the pipe wall, thereby forming the opening. The refrigerant guiding pipe can help alleviate generation of non-uniform distribution of refrigerant due to layering of gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant. |
| US09417011B2 |
Heat exchanger with self-aligning fittings
A heat exchanger has inlet and outlet fittings, each having a base portion and a top portion, and having a circumferential groove provided with a resilient sealing element for sealing within a bore of a coolant manifold. Each fitting also has a base fitting with an annular sealing surface sealed to a surface of the heat exchanger. In an embodiment, the base portion has a larger diameter than the top portion, and the groove and sealing element are provided in the bottom portion, with a chamfer or sloped surface separating the base and top portions. In another embodiment, the top portion has a larger diameter than the base portion, and the groove and sealing element are provided in the top portion. |
| US09417010B2 |
Direct contact condenser
An apparatus for condensing steam is described including at least two chambers with a first chamber operated as co-current flow condensing chamber and a second chamber operated as counter-current flow condensing chamber with the co-current flow condensing chamber including a cooling liquid distribution system with a plurality of channels arranged above a plurality of film carriers having flat surface areas to carry films of cooling liquid. |
| US09417009B2 |
Controlling method for a washing machine
A control method for a drying machine according to one exemplary embodiment is applied to a drying machine which selects at least one of a heat pump system and a heater to use as a heat source for heating air to be supplied into the drum. The control method includes activating the heat pump system when both of the heat pump system and the heater are selected as the heat source, and determining whether or not a compressor included in the heat pump system normally operates. Whether or not to use the heater as the heat source is decided according to whether or not the compressor normally operates. |
| US09417008B2 |
Production method and production system for natural gas
A production method for natural gas according to the invention includes a step of adiabatically compressing a raw natural gas containing helium gas, a step of separating the helium gas from the raw natural gas by passing the adiabatically-compressed raw natural gas through a separation membrane unit, a step of conveying the raw natural gas from which the helium gas has been separated to a terminal through a pipe line, and a step of pressing the helium gas separated from the raw natural gas into an underground storage formation. |
| US09417003B2 |
Single infrared emitter vessel detector
Provided is a single infrared emitter dispenser monitor for refrigeration appliance that includes a dispenser that dispenses at least one of water and ice. A vessel detector includes an infrared emitter, a first infrared detector, and a second infrared detector. The infrared emitter emits radiation having an angle of dispersion such that both of the first and second infrared detectors receive the radiation emitted by the infrared emitter. The first infrared detector is arranged more frontward than the second infrared detector. In further examples, an elapsed time between detection signals is compared to a minimum elapsed time, and a dispensing signal is only sent if the elapsed time is greater than the minimum elapsed time. By this configuration, the number of input/output lines running into a control device is reduced, and it is possible to detect a failed emitter if both detector signals fall to zero at the same time. |
| US09417000B1 |
Cost-effective remote monitoring, diagnostic and system health prediction system and method for vapor compression and heat pump units based on compressor discharge line temperature sampling
A diagnostic monitoring system and method is employed for one or more vapor compression systems such as air conditioners and heat pumps having a compressor, an indoor air handler fan coil and an outdoor condensor. Temperature, voltage and current sensors are provided at the outdoor condensor to determine that at least one vapor compression system is operating properly. Data obtained from the sensors is wirelessly transmitted to a receiving-device for use by the systems' custodian or repair service provider and includes information concerning an occurrence of periods when one or more of the vapor compression systems are operating at an abnormal state. |
| US09416997B1 |
Method for providing positive pressure to an interior of a positive pressure facility
A method for providing positive pressure to an interior of a positive pressure facility can use an HVAC system. The method can include securing an enclosure to an exterior of the positive pressure facility, pulling fresh air from outside of the enclosure into an evaporator compartment to form conditioned air, transferring the conditioned air from the enclosure to an enclosure extension attached to the interior, and flowing the conditioned air into the interior. The method can include receiving air from the interior into the enclosure extension, determining a differential pressure between a pressure outside and a pressure of the interior, and maintaining positive pressure in the interior using the differential pressure, a process control unit, the conditioned air, and a human machine interface. The human machine interface can determine present various real-time values, control buttons, and screens for operating the HVAC system. |
| US09416995B2 |
Heating and cooling unit with semiconductor device and heat pipe
Aspects of the invention support simultaneous operation of a cooling side and a heating side of an apparatus to change the temperatures of a cooling serving surface and a heating serving surface, respectively. A cooling semiconductor device (which may comprise one or more Peltier devices) transfers heat from its top to its bottom while a heating semiconductor device (which may similarly comprise one or more Peltier devices) transfers heat from its bottom to its top. A heat pipe transfers waste heat from the cooling semiconductor device's bottom to the heating semiconductor device's bottom and waste cold from the heating semiconductor device's bottom to the cooling semiconductor device's bottom. |
| US09416991B2 |
Solar heat collector
In a solar heat collector, a bottom plate and a side plate of a case which is opened in an upper surface are formed of a vacuum thermal insulation material in which a core material is enveloped by a skin and a vacuum is created in an interior of the skin, the skin is formed by welding together circumferential edges of two metal panels which are disposed to face each other with the core material sandwiched therebetween, a plurality of line grooves are formed in the metal panels, and the two metal panels are disposed so that sides thereof from which bottoms of the line grooves protrude are oriented inwards with the core material sandwiched therebetween. |
| US09416990B2 |
Hot water supply apparatus associated with heat pump
A hot water supply apparatus associated with a heat pump is provided. The hot water supply apparatus performs a hot water supply operation using a high temperature refrigerant that has been discharged from a compressor, and simultaneously performs an indoor heating operation using a two-stage refrigerant cycle. This allows the apparatus to supply hot water while simultaneously providing heating/cooling to an indoor space. |
| US09416989B1 |
80/90 CFM bath fan with telescoping side extension brackets and side by side motor and blower wheel
Apparatus, systems and methods of 80/90 CFM ventilation exhaust fans for bathrooms with telescoping side extension brackets and side by side electric driven motor and blower wheel, and being used with or without lights. The exhaust fans can include a single main housing, that allows for a blower housing to support the motor and a blower wheel in a side by side arrangement. The exhaust fans can further include an outside wiring box that is externally located to the main housing. The wiring box can have support male plugs and female receptacles for supplying an electrical power supply to the electric motor and light. The side extension brackets can include telescoping members that allow the exhaust fans to be easily attached to structural members inside of a ceiling so that the exhaust fan has a vent cover attached to the ceiling. Inside of the exhaust fans can be light box with closed sides and bottom which prevents incoming air from passing directly onto the lights. Instead incoming air is drawn to pass around the outside of the light box so that the light box functions as a heat sink reducing the heat generated from the light. |
| US09416986B2 |
Valve for roof vent
A valve allows for drainage of gases while preventing backflow of gases from a drainage system through the valve. A drain can have a first, sealed position in which a component of the valve seals an opening through the valve and a second, open position in which the component of the valve is separated from the opening to allow a fluid to drain through the valve. When the fluid has drained through, the component of the valve can return to the closed position. The valve can include a pressure relief conduit to help equalize pressure across the valve and permit unrestrained draining of fluid through the valve. The valve can be positioned in a roof vent and can include a guard. |
| US09416980B2 |
Economically-operated, dual-energy hot water supply system and method of operating the same
An economically operated, dual-energy hot water supply system. The system includes a first heat source of a first type and a second heat source of a second type different than the first type. The system also includes a controller. The controller determines a first energy consumption of the first heat source to generate a unit heat, determines a second energy consumption of the second heat source to generate the unit heat, compares a first power cost of the first heat source with a second power cost of the second heat source, the first power cost being based on the first energy consumption and the first price, the second power cost being based on the second energy consumption and the second price. |
| US09416978B2 |
Cooker and burner assembly thereof
A burner assembly for a cooking appliance is provided. The burner assembly includes a first port to which a gas mixture of gas and air is supplied and a second port which is separate from the first port and to which a gas mixture of gas and air is supplied, a combustion mat at which the gas mixture supplied to the first port or the second port is burned, and a tube assembly that guides the gas and air to the first and second ports. |
| US09416975B2 |
Dual fuel combustor for a gas turbine engine including a toroidal injection manifold with inner and outer sleeves
The present application and the resultant patent provide a dual fuel combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a primary premixer positioned within a head end plenum of the combustor, and a dual fuel injection system positioned within the head end plenum and upstream of the premixer. The injection system may be configured to inject a gas fuel about an inlet end of the premixer when the combustor operates on the gas fuel. The injection system also may be configured to vaporize and inject a liquid fuel about the inlet end of the premixer when the combustor operates on the liquid fuel. The present application and the resultant patent also provide a related method of operating a dual fuel combustor. |
| US09416969B2 |
Gas turbine transition inlet ring adapter
A combustion system for a gas turbine engine including a combustor assembly comprising a combustor basket having a downstream terminal end, and a transition duct extending downstream from the combustor basket and having an upstream end located adjacent to the downstream terminal end of the combustor basket. A coupling is provided comprising an inlet ring adapter including a cylindrical sleeve extending downstream of the upstream end of the transition duct in overlapping relation to an inner surface of the transition duct. A spring clip assembly is mounted to the terminal end of the combustor basket. The spring clip assembly extends into engagement with and forms a seal on the cylindrical sleeve. |
| US09416968B2 |
Energy-saving electrostatic dust collector
An energy-saving dust collector includes a dust collection device (8) connected to a flue (1) and a fume afterheat recycling device (2) installed in the flue in the front of the dust collection device. The fume afterheat recycling device includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a heat suction section (7) and a heat radiating section (3) connected with the heat suction section. The heat suction section is installed at a smoke inlet of the dust collection device, and the radiating section is connected with a condensation water tube. The energy-saving dust collector can reduce temperature of the smoke, improve dust collection efficiency, prevent the collector from corrosion of acid dew and prolong the service life of the collector. |
| US09416966B2 |
Venturi nozzle for a gas combustor
A venturi nozzle for a gas combustor includes an orificed gas nozzle, a venturi tube and one or more support members. The orificed gas nozzle has a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet. The venturi tube is aligned with the longitudinal axis and has an entrance proximate to the outlet of the orificed gas nozzle and an exit. The support member(s) are attached between the orificed gas nozzle and the venturi tube to create a gap between the venturi tube and the orificed gas nozzle. In some embodiments, two or more venturi nozzles can be combined together in various configurations into a nozzle assembly or multi-nozzle gas combustor and attached, mounted or disposed within a stack, chimney or vented enclosure. The wall(s) of the stack, chimney or vented enclosure may include one or more openings, cut outs or vents to provide primary and secondary air to the venturi nozzles. |
| US09416965B2 |
Burner for uniformly heating a long furnace
The present invention relates to a burner for a furnace with the following features: a first feed for at least one fuel, preferably with a primary outlet for an oxidizing agent, preferably oxygen; a second feed, surrounding the first feed, with at least one secondary outlet for the oxidizing agent; a third feed, surrounding the second feed, with at least one enveloping jet outlet for the oxidizing agent, wherein the second feed and the third feed are designed such that a first velocity with which the oxidizing agent emerges from the at least one secondary outlet is greater than a second velocity with which the oxidizing agent emerges from the at least one enveloping jet outlet. The second feed thereby preferably enables a first volumetric flow of the oxidizing agent that is greater than or equal to a second volumetric flow of the oxidizing agent through the third feed. By surrounding the oxidizing agent that is fed into a combustion space with an enveloping jet likewise of oxidizing agent, a greater flame length and more uniform heating of a furnace are made possible, which is useful in particular when melting metals in elongated furnaces. |
| US09416950B2 |
Portable lighting devices
A flashlight has a lock out feature that prevents it from being turned on which is activated or deactivated by pointing the flashlight in a first direction (e.g., upward) prior to turning it on, depressing a switch to turn it on, tilting the flashlight in a second direction (e.g., downward) while continuously depressing the switch, and releasing the switch. |
| US09416945B2 |
Lighting apparatus
Provided is a lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus includes a base unit, a first rod-shaped member, a second rod-shaped member and a middle connection unit, wherein the middle connection unit includes a first frame fixed at the other end of the first rod-shaped member, a second frame fixed to the other end, having a form corresponding to the first frame, and coupled to the first frame to be rotatable with respect to the first frame, at least one guide elongate hole provided for any one of the first and second frames, extending along an arc, and penetratively formed, and a guide pin unit fixed to the remaining one of the first and second frames and fixed to be movable along the guide elongate hole. |
| US09416943B2 |
Light-emitting device and backlight module having the light-emitting device therein
A light-emitting device includes a base and a light source and a diverging unit placed on the base. The diverging unit has a divergent lens and a diverging ring. The divergent lens includes a light incident surface, a light exiting surface, and a side surface. The side surface is connected to the light incident surface and the light exiting surface. The divergent lens defines a receiving space and the receiving space extending into the divergent lens from the light incident surface towards the light exiting surface. The light source is received in the receiving space. The diverging ring is positioned on the light exiting surface and in-line with the light source so that the diverging ring reflects light from the light source transmitted through the divergent lens in multiple directions. |
| US09416942B2 |
Method for manufacturing light emitting knob
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a light emitting knob based on a novel process that is capable of preventing a letter that is separated from a light blocking metal plate at a display window forming step and a surface treatment step from being separated from a resin layer irrespective of the shape or the type of the letter, which constitutes a light emitting display window, thereby considerably reducing a defect rate. The method includes a metal plate processing step, a display groove forming step, a resin layer coupling step, and a display window forming step. |
| US09416938B2 |
Integrated optic and bezel for flashlight
Disclosed in various embodiments are integrated lens and bezel systems for a flashlight or other lighting unit. Various embodiments include a housing, including a bezel portion and a body portion, a lens, wherein the lens and the bezel together comprise a single, continuous component, and a light source disposed within the housing, wherein the light source is configured to interact with the lens to provide a light beam. Some embodiments provide a mechanism for adjusting the relative positions of the light source and lens, for example to allow for focusing of the light beam. In some embodiments, the lens is continuous with just the bezel portion, whereas in other embodiments, the lens, bezel, and all or part of the body portion are formed as a single, unitary component, for instance by injection-molding or co-molding. |
| US09416934B2 |
Light source module of lamp for vehicle
Disclosed is a light source module for a vehicle. The light source module includes an LED light source, a PCB that controls supply of current to the LED light source, a patterned film disposed on the PCB and provided with an optical pattern which enables a stereoscopic light-emission image of a desired pattern to be formed when light from the LED light source is emitted thereto, and optical resin that is disposed on the patterned film and uniformly transmits the light from the LED light source to the entire range of the patterned film. The light source module improves visibility of the LED light source and makes a lamp using the light source module look luxurious by using a hidden effect of a deposited film even when the LED light source is not turned on. |
| US09416932B2 |
System for projecting a simulated liquid surface
A projector apparatus that may include a first plurality of adjacent translucent lenses on at least one side of an inner lens, said inner lens configured to rotate and translate about an axis (A) of the inner lens; a second plurality of adjacent translucent lenses formed on at least one side of a concave outer lens; a light source configured to direct a portion of light through the rotatable and translatable inner lens and then through the concave outer lens; and a motor configured to rotatably and translatably drive the inner lens in an oscillating manner about and along the axis of the concave inner lens (A); so that the oscillating inner lens imparts a moving textured image for modification through the fixed concave outer lens for display upon a surface, such as a ceiling to simulate a moving liquid surface. |
| US09416927B2 |
Illumination device
Embodiments of the invention include a semiconductor light emitting device for emitting a first light at a first wavelength and a wavelength conversion medium arranged to convert at least part of the first light into a second light at a second wavelength. The wavelength conversion medium is disposed between a periodic antenna array and the semiconductor light emitting device. The periodic antenna array includes a plurality of antennas. The periodic antenna array supports surface lattice resonances arising from diffractive coupling of localized surface plasmon resonances in at least one of the antennas. |
| US09416926B2 |
Lens with inner-cavity surface shaped for controlled light refraction
A lens for distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The lens includes an inner surface defining an inner cavity and including a substantially cross-sectionally convex inner region along an open end of the inner cavity and a substantially cross-sectionally linear inner region joining the substantially cross-sectionally convex inner region and extending therefrom toward the emitter axis. The convex region is configured for refracting emitter light rays toward the emitter axis. The lens further includes an outer surface receiving the light from each of the inner regions. A lens flange surrounds the lens and has an outer flange surface extending radially outwardly from the lens outer surface at positions axially spaced from the light emitter. The convex inner region is configured to refract emitter light to the outer surface such that the outer flange surface is substantially free from receiving any emitter light. |
| US09416921B2 |
Vapor lamp assembly technique
An LED lamp that couples a heatsink with LEDs mounted on it to a glass envelope with a surface area equivalent to approximately that of a conventional light bulb, and by using a coolant vapor within the glass envelop, the lamp can be made much lighter and more cheaply. The heat generated by the LEDs is dissipated by the glass surface and not conducted into the heatsink. The heatsink can thus be mostly for the power supply. This allows for a reduced operating temperature for the power supply components that allows for a longer expected life for the power supply. In addition, the LED light bulb of the present invention can have nearly the same shape and appearance as a standard incandescent bulb. The invention can also have an advanced flyback power supply. |
| US09416919B2 |
Compact hazardous gas line distribution enabling system single point connections for multiple chambers
A system and method for safely enabling the delivery of at least one gas line to at least one point of use in a facility by using a vacuum system and a gas delivery system wherein the gas delivery system is housed within the vacuum system is disclosed herein. An interior volume of a conduit containing therein at least one gas line is maintained at reduced pressure as one end of the gas line connects to a gas source and another end of the gas line connects to a point of use. By using a conduit to enclose the individual gas lines and using a single feed line for each gas, the embodiments disclosed herein reduce the number of individual gas lines that need to be run through a facility. |
| US09416917B2 |
Small-scale metal tanks for high pressure storage of fluids
Small scale metal tanks for high-pressure storage of fluids having tank factors of more than 5000 meters and volumes of ten cubic inches or less featuring arrays of interconnected internal chambers having at least inner walls thinner than gage limitations allow. The chambers may be arranged as multiple internal independent vessels. Walls of chambers that are also portions of external tank walls may be arcuate on the internal and/or external surfaces, including domed. The tanks may be shaped adaptively and/or conformally to an application, including, for example, having one or more flat outer walls and/or having an annular shape. The tanks may have dual-purpose inlet/outlet conduits of may have separate inlet and outlet conduits. The tanks are made by fusion bonding etched metal foil layers patterned from slices of a CAD model of the tank. The fusion bonded foil stack may be further machined. |
| US09416905B2 |
Protective cover for drainage tube cable tie
A protective cover for a drainage tube cable tie protects a surgical patient from injury and/or infection. The protective cover includes a first fastener member having VELCRO® hooks on one side and pressure sensitive adhesive on the other side, a second fastener member having VELCRO® loops on one side and pressure sensitive adhesive on the other side, and an insert made of a flexible, relatively elastic material. An opening is formed through the first fastener member. The insert is placed over the opening and the pressure sensitive adhesive sides of the fastener members are pressed together in back-to-back relationship. The cable tie is positioned on the first fastener member over the opening and the insert, and the protective cover is wrapped around the cable tie and secured by engagement of the hooks with the loops to cover the cable tie and protect the patient's skin. |
| US09416902B2 |
Coupling for connecting fluid-conducting lines
The invention relates, in general, to couplings for the connection of lines, such as, in particular, flexible lines, to one another or for the coupling of flexible lines to fittings. For this purpose, a quick-action coupling (1) for coupling together fluid-conducting lines is described, which comprises a first coupling part (3) and a second coupling part (5), as well as a seal (7) for sealing the two coupling parts (3, 5) and a locking mechanism (9) in order to couple together the two coupling parts (3, 5) in a releasable manner. The two coupling parts (3, 5) are equipped with valve arrangements (11, 13). Each of the two valves (11, 13)* comprises an axially displaceable valve (15, 17), with the valve (15) of the first valve arrangement (11) having an opening (150), in which a plunger (152) is mounted so as to move axially. In the state in which the coupling parts (3, 5) are coupled together, the plunger (152) keeps the two valves (15, 17) apart from each other. The plunger (152) can be locked by means of a catch device (110). The locking mechanism (9) is operatively connected to the catch device (110), so that, when the locking mechanism (9) is actuated for decoupling the two coupling parts (3, 5) that are coupled to each other, before disconnection of the coupling parts, the catch of the plunger (152) is released and the two valves (15, 17) are brought together with the respective valve seat (19, 21). |
| US09416900B2 |
Input/output pipe reinforcing device for vehicle compressor
An inlet/outlet pipe reinforcing device for a compressor. The device includes a body unit having a first body configured to support an outer periphery of the inlet/outlet pipe and a second body having a shape corresponding to that of the first body. A hinge shaft is fixedly mounted at one longitudinal side of the body unit so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the body unit to cause the first body and the second body to be pivotally rotated with respect to each other. A flange of the device includes a first extension part and a second expanded part. |
| US09416896B1 |
Tube clip assembly
A tube clip assembly incorporating a base having at least one tube support cradle and a displaceable lid adapted to be secured in overlying relation to the base to retain a tube in substantially stationary relation within the tube support cradle. Flexible arms are disposed on either side of the tube support cradle. The flexible arms are adapted to compressively engage the tube when the lid is closed such that a portion of the arms may bite into the tube thereby resisting both axial and rotational movement of the tube. |
| US09416895B2 |
Attachment system for supporting a pipe
Attachment plates and systems for pipe support interfaces are disclosed. According to one embodiment, system for pipe-support interface, having a pipe, a pipe support, and a low-friction surface between the pipe and pipe support, includes an improvement comprising a plate in an interface between the low-friction surface and the pipe support, the plate constructed of a corrosion resistant material, the plate having a recessed area for receiving the low-friction surface. |
| US09416888B2 |
Gas regulating unit of modular construction and gas regulating valve
The invention relates to a gas regulating unit of modular construction, in particular for regulating the amount of gas to be supplied to a gas burner, and to a gas regulating valve which, as a whole, is in the form of a module and which can be used in an aforementioned gas regulating unit of modular construction. |
| US09416883B2 |
Valve device
The present invention relates to a valve device (10) comprising a substrate (12) and an elastic membrane (13), the membrane being joined at least around a valve area to the substrate. The substrate comprises a first channel (16) and a second channel (17), both ending in the valve area, the first channel having in the valve area a first channel end surface (19) and the second channel having in the valve area a second channel end surface (21), wherein the area of the first channel end surface is substantially larger than the area of the second channel end surface. |
| US09416879B2 |
Aseptic double seat valve
An aseptic double seat valve has a housing, which has connections for two pipe conduits. A first valve seat and a second valve seat are arranged spaced apart from one another in the direction of a longitudinal axis in the housing between the connections for the two pipe conduits. A first closing body interacts in a sealing manner with the first valve seat, and a second closing body interacts in a sealing manner with the second valve seat. A first elongate valve stem, which is of hollow design is connected to the first closing body, and a second elongate valve stem, which extends through the interior of the first valve stem, is connected to the second closing body. A diaphragm, which has a radially inner opening, serves to seal off a gap present between the first valve stem and the second valve stem. An outer rim of the diaphragm is fixed in a sealing manner on the second closing body, and the inner rim of the diaphragm is fixed in a sealing manner on the first valve stem. |
| US09416874B2 |
Transmission system with clutch bite point learning logic
A method for learning the bite point of a position-controlled clutch in a vehicle having an engine and a transmission includes commanding an engagement of a clutch fork via a controller when the transmission is in park and the engine is idling. The method also includes controlling an apply position of the clutch via the controller, calculating a clutch torque capacity of the clutch, and measuring the apply position via a position sensor. The apply position is recorded as the clutch bite point when the calculated clutch torque capacity equals a calibrated clutch torque capacity. The transmission is then controlled using the recorded clutch bite point. A system includes the transmission, input clutches, and a controller configured to execute the method. A vehicle includes an engine, the transmission, the position-controlled input clutch, and the controller, as well as a clutch position sensor. |
| US09416871B1 |
Flow divider assembly
A flow divider assembly for use with a hydraulic pump provides flow to separate drive motors for use in a vehicle or other application. Flow may be provided alternatively to a first fluid side and second fluid side. A first and a second flow divider motors are in hydraulic communication with an output of a shuttle valve. A first bypass valve is connected to the first fluid side and a second bypass valve is connected to the second fluid side, and both bypass valves have an open position and a closed position. A pilot operated valve is operably connected to both flow divider motors and to both bypass valves, and the pilot operated valve has three positions and is biased to a first position. One embodiment permits the output of the system to be driven in either forward or reverse directions. |
| US09416866B2 |
Vertical gear motor planetary gear lubrication system
A planetary gear train is lubricated via a distribution ring and a planet gear carrier oil supply passage in communication with the distribution ring. The gear train includes a sun pinion that engages a planet gear at a sun planet gear mesh. The planet gear is rotatably mounted to a planet gear carrier. The planet gear carrier is configured to drive an output shaft. The output shaft may be operatively connected to a load. The planet gear rotates within a ring gear at a planet gear ring mesh. The distribution ring surrounds a planet gear carrier and has a hollow interior that communicates with an oil supply. A planet gear carrier oil supply passage may extend through a planet gear carrier of the gear train and supply oil to a sun planet gear mesh and the planet ring gear mesh, and bearings of the planetary gear train. |
| US09416859B2 |
Hydrostatic stepless transmission
A hydrostatic stepless transmission (“HST”) includes a center casing into which a plunger block of a hydraulic pump and a plunger block of a hydraulic motor are inserted. Plunger ports are open and aligned peripherally on an outer peripheral surface of each plunger block. A pair of main fluid passages of a closed fluid circuit fluidly connecting the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor are formed in opposite side portions of the center casing. Each of the main fluid passage includes peripheral grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the center casing so as to face the plunger ports of the respective plunger blocks, and includes an axial fluid duct formed to be interposed between the peripheral grooves. A bearing gap is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the center casing and the outer peripheral surface of the plunger block so as to cause a dynamic pressure action of fluid. |
| US09416858B2 |
Ball type continuously variable transmission/infinitely variable transmission
A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged with various combinations of brakes and clutches to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable torque output ratios. |
| US09416856B2 |
Ball screw device
A ball screw device includes a cylinder that surrounds the outer periphery of a ball nut. Accommodation holes are formed in the ball nut at a rolling start position and a rolling end position in ball rolling paths. An outer periphery turning groove is formed in an outer peripheral face of the ball nut, and the outer periphery turning groove and an inner peripheral face of the cylinder constitute a turning rolling path. The turning rolling path and connection passages formed in deflectors constitute a circulation path through which balls are returned from the rolling end position to the rolling start position. |
| US09416850B2 |
Drive transmission mechanism that ensures extended service life in reduced size and image forming apparatus including the same
A drive transmission mechanism includes an electromagnetic clutch and a drive output gear. The electromagnetic clutch includes a clutch shaft, a clutch input gear, a clutch idler gear, and a clutch output gear. The drive transmission mechanism transmits driving power using a first drive transmission path or a second drive transmission path. The first drive transmission path includes the clutch idler gear, a first idler gear, and a first output gear unit to transmit driving power to a rotated member connected to a first output gear unit irrespective of the energizing or the non-energizing an electromagnetic clutch. The second drive transmission path includes the clutch output gear, a second idler gear, and a second output gear unit to transmit driving power to a rotated member connected to the second output gear unit only when the electromagnetic clutch is energized. |
| US09416847B2 |
Capture block assembly for retaining shackles
A capture block assembly prevents unauthorized removal, swapping, interchanging or replacement of shackle members used with conventional wire rope sling assemblies. A first half member is permanently joined with a second half member within a thimble member of a sling loop, after a wire rope sling has been manufactured or assembled, to prevent removal of a shackle from such loop. No welding or other operations permanently affecting strength properties of the thimble or sling member is required. |
| US09416846B2 |
Drive belt comprising different types of transverse members for a continuously variable transmission
A drive belt (3) includes an endless carrier (31) and a plurality of transverse members (32) of varying thickness, i.e. the dimension measured in the circumference direction of the belt (3). According to the invention, the design of such drive belt (3) can be improved, at least in terms of durability, by also varying the width, i.e. the dimension measured in the axial direction “W” of the drive belt (3), of the transverse members (32) in such a way that the thinner transverse members (32) of the drive belt (3) are of a larger width than the thicker transverse members (32) thereof. |
| US09416842B2 |
Isolators having damper-external thermal compensators and spacecraft isolation systems employing the same
Embodiments of an isolator are provided, as are embodiments of a spacecraft isolation system employing a number of three parameter isolators. In one embodiment, the isolator includes an externally-pressurized damper assembly and a thermal compensator, which is located external to the externally-pressurized damper assembly. The damper assembly includes, in turn, a damper assembly housing and a first hydraulic chamber configured to be filled with a damping fluid. The first hydraulic chamber is located within the damper assembly housing and is fluidly coupled to the thermal compensator. A first bellows is disposed within the damper assembly housing and bounds an inner circumference of the first hydraulic chamber such that the first bellows is externally pressurized when the first hydraulic chamber is filled with the damping fluid. |
| US09416839B2 |
Bushings and bumpers based upon NPR (negative poisson's ratio) structures
NPR (negative Poisson's ratio) components for vehicle and other applications generally assume a tubular structure defining an axis, a length and a cross section. The structure is composed of a plurality of nested, double-V unit cells, each unit cell comprising a pair of side points A and B defining a width, a first pair of tensile members interconnecting points A and B and intersecting at a point C forming a first V shape, a second pair of stuffer members interconnecting points A and B and intersecting at a point D forming a second V shape. The unit cells are connected in a first direction with the point B of one cell being connected to point A of an adjoining cell, and so on, until completing a continuous band. The unit cells are further connected in a second direction with the point D of one cell being connected to point C of an adjoining cell. In one embodiment, the bands are stacked radially outwardly from the axis to form a bushing. In accordance with a second embodiment, the bands are stacked lengthwise along the structure to form a joust bumper. |
| US09416838B2 |
Hydraulic tension spring
A hydraulic tension spring comprises a block comprising at least one liquid-impermeable cylinder and at least one piston disposed through an open end of the cylinder. The piston provides a piston guide within a liquid containment space within the cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid. A tensioning member moves the piston or the cylinder relative to the other to compress the hydraulic fluid and load the spring, while the piston guide keeps the piston axially aligned to prevent buckling. |
| US09416831B2 |
Systems and methods for alternating material brake disk stack
Dissimilar aircraft brake systems for use in, for example, an aircraft are provided herein. In this regard, a system is provided comprising a carbon/carbon (“C/C”) rotor disk adjacent to a ceramic matrix composite (“CMC”) stator disk. In various embodiments, a system is provided comprising a CMC rotor disk adjacent to a C/C stator disk. |
| US09416827B1 |
Clutch assembly with dual actuation piston
A clutch assembly includes a fluid-actuated piston that allows clutch usage in both high pressure and low pressure applications. The configuration of the clutch assembly is usable with both hydraulic and pneumatic pressure actuation. Seal configurations create differently sized internal piston surface areas against which inlet pressure applied at hydraulic or pneumatic fluid inlet ports act to move the piston. The utilization of differently sized piston surface areas allows the piston to apply essentially the same clutch engaging compression force in both high pressure hydraulic actuation and lower pressure pneumatic actuation applications. |
| US09416821B2 |
Cage for rolling bearing and rolling bearing
A cage for a rolling bearing having a film, formed on a surface thereof, which wears little over a long period of time from an initial stage of sliding contact between the film and rolling elements as well as other members and does not peel off the surface of a base material of the cage or dissolve in lubricating oil containing a sulfur-based additive and a rolling bearing having the cage. A cage (2) retains needle rollers (3) which are rolling elements of a needle rolling bearing (1). Of an entire outer surface of the cage (2), a tin alloy film consisting of tin and a metal other than the tin is formed on at least a sliding-contact surface of the cage (2) to be subjected to sliding contact with the needle rollers (3) and a sliding-contact surface thereof to be subjected to sliding contact with other members. |
| US09416819B2 |
Re-circulating ball sliding support assembly
A re-circulating ball sliding support comprises an elongate rail and a slide cassette. The slide cassette includes structure that interacts with the rail to seal the sliding support assembly such that the ingress of dirt into the slide cassette is prevented, and any lubricant for the balls is retained within the slide cassette. |
| US09416818B2 |
Dust cover for ball joint
An object of the invention is to provide a dust cover for a ball joint which can suppress generation of a so-called mouth opening phenomenon in a small-diameter opening portion even under a low-temperature atmosphere, can effectively inhibit a seal performance from being lowered in the small-diameter opening portion and inhibit the sedimentation or the garbage from entering into a dust cover from an external portion, and has a good sealing performance. For this purpose, in a dust cover for a ball joint having a spherical head portion, a shaft, one end large-diameter opening portion, the other end small-diameter portion, and a film portion, concavo-concave engagement is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the rigid ring and an outer peripheral surface of a retainer having a cylindrical portion which is fitted and retained to an outer peripheral surface of the shaft. |
| US09416815B2 |
Driveshaft with two-stage stiffness
A two-stage stiffness driveshaft includes a hollow cylinder defined by a longitudinal axis, a first end, a distal second end, and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The driveshaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first end, a distal second end, and an inner shaft stiffness. The first end of the inner shaft is engaged with the first end of the hollow cylinder via a rotational clearance fit. The second end of the inner shaft is rotationally fixed to the second end of the hollow cylinder such that the first end of the inner shaft can twist to a predetermined angle with respect to the second end of the inner shaft. The inner shaft stiffness defines a first-stage stiffness of the driveshaft, and the inner shaft stiffness and the hollow cylinder stiffness together define a second-stage stiffness of the driveshaft. |
| US09416814B2 |
Cradle for a portable device
A cradle has a base, a hinge joint coupled with the base, and a holder. The holder is connected to the base at the hinge joint. The holder has a first case, a second case coupled with the first case, and at least two gripper arms coupled with the first case so that the gripper arms configured to hold the portable device on the first case. The first case and the gripper arms are swivel together on the second case. |
| US09416813B2 |
Aircraft boarding bridge or stairs
An aircraft boarding bridge or stairs with a bellows attached to a head frame of the aircraft boarding bridge or stairs by a fastening device. The fastening device has a positive connection acting at least in to spatial directions, wherein the positive connection is fixable by an at least non-positive connection member. |
| US09416804B2 |
Flexible object holder employing the use of a plurality of diaphragms
An object holding device featuring multiple tabbed diaphragms in embodiments of the invention solves the lack of a previously existing elegant solution to store cleaning rags, cleaning implements and other flexible objects. The preferred embodiment of the present invention features a housing containing multiple tabbed diaphragms, which in the aggregate, when used as intended by the inventor, apply enough force to an object to hold an object within the tabbed diaphragms. Said embodiment also enables its user to easily remove objects from the plurality of tabbed diaphragms without causing damage to either the object or the tabbed diaphragms. |
| US09416801B2 |
Ventilated drainage system
A method and apparatus for draining fluid from a structure on an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a drainage tube, a housing, a number of inlet holes in the housing, and a number of outlet holes in the housing. The drainage tube has first end that connects to a structure on an aircraft and a second end opposite the first end. The housing connects to the structure. The drainage tube is located within the housing. Air flows into the housing during flight of the aircraft through the number of inlet holes in the housing. The air flows out of the housing during flight of the aircraft through the number of outlet holes. The air flowing into the housing through the number of inlet holes and out the housing through the number of outlet holes directs fluid out of the drainage tube and away from the structure during flight of the aircraft. |
| US09416800B2 |
Thermodynamic balancing of combined heat and mass exchange devices
A carrier-gas mixture is directed through a fluid flow path in a combined heat and mass transfer device, which can be operated at sub-atmospheric pressure. Heat and mass are transferred from or to the carrier-gas mixture via interaction with a liquid composition that includes a vaporizable component in a liquid state to substantially change the content of the vaporizable component in the carrier-gas mixture via evaporation or condensation. The mass flow rate of the carrier-gas mixture is varied by extracting or injecting the carrier-gas mixture from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path, and/or the mass flow rate of the liquid composition is varied by extracting or injecting the liquid composition from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path; and the flow of the carrier-gas mixture or the liquid composition is regulated to reduce the average local enthalpy pinch in the device. |
| US09416797B2 |
Capping stack and method for controlling a wellbore
The invention discloses a system and method for controlling a wellbore. The method comprises the steps of: providing a capping stack comprising a number of releasable modules, each module having a size and weight within predetermined limits, wherein said modules include at least one ram type blow out preventer module, and wherein said modules include a connector module for connecting the capping stack to an attachment point of the wellbore; transporting said modules by cargo airplane to a location near the wellbore; interconnecting the modules to provide the capping stack; and connecting the capping stack to the attachment point of the wellbore. |
| US09416796B2 |
Energy accumulation apparatus
Disclosed is an energy-accumulation apparatus including an accumulator body assembly defining a pneumatically-pressurizable chamber. The pneumatically-pressurizable chamber is configured to communicate with a pneumatic-pressure source. The pneumatic-pressure source is positioned on a shore and being located away from a body of water. The energy-accumulation apparatus also includes an outer surface extending from the accumulator body assembly. The outer surface is configured to securely contact a sloped floor zone of a body of water at a position being spaced apart from a shore. |
| US09416795B2 |
Reverse osmosis system
The invention concerns a reverse osmosis system (1) with a membrane unit (2) comprising an inlet (3), a permeate outlet (4) and a concentrate outlet (5), a high-pressure pump (8) that is connected to the inlet (3), a pressure exchanger (11) connected on its concentrate side (10) to the concentrate outlet (5), and a booster pump between the pressure exchanger (11) and the inlet (3). It is endeavored to make the energy consumption as small as possible. For this purpose, the booster pump is made as a displacement pump. |
| US09416794B2 |
Method of assembling a serial fan
A serial fan assembling method includes the steps of providing a first and a second fan; providing a union member having a bottom panel and two side panels, which together define a receiving space having a top forming a first open side and two axially opposite ends respectively forming a second open side; connecting the first fan to the side panels of the union member via the first open side; and connecting the second fan to the side panels of the union member via the first open side, or connecting the second fan to the bottom panel of the union member via one of the second open sides, so that the first and the second fan connected to the union member are serially located in the receiving space and connected to each other. |
| US09416792B2 |
Electrical machine having a fan wheel
The invention relates to an electrical machine having a fan wheel which comprises an injection-moulded blade carrier ring with fan blades as well as an annular insertion part which is integrated into the blade carrier ring and which comprises passage openings via which the blade carrier ring is connected to the fan blades. |
| US09416787B2 |
Method and arrangement for estimating flow rate of pump
A method and arrangement for determining the flow rate (Q) produced by a pump, when the pump is controlled with a frequency converter, which produces estimates for rotational speed and torque of the pump, and the characteristic curves of the pump are known. The method includes determining the shape of a QH curve of the pump, dividing the QH curve into two or more regions depending on the shape of the QH curve, determining on which region of the QH curve the pump is operating, and determining the flow rate (Q) of the pump using the determined operating region of the characteristic curve. |
| US09416786B2 |
Rotary pump exhibiting an adjustable delivery volume, in particular for adjusting a coolant pump
An adjustable delivery volume rotary pump, including: first and second housing structures; a delivery chamber comprising a first chamber wall formed by the first housing structure, a second chamber wall formed by the second housing structure, a fluid inlet in a low-pressure region and a fluid outlet in a high pressure region; a pump wheel rotatable about a rotational axis in the delivery chamber; and a pressing device for generating pressing force. The second housing structure can be moved relative to the first housing structure from a first to a second position, against the pressing force. In the second position, a gap exists between the first and the second chamber walls and fluid can escape from the delivery chamber by bypassing the inlet and the outlet, or a circulation of the fluid which reduces the delivery rate of the rotary pump arises in the gap within the delivery chamber. |
| US09416779B2 |
Variable pressure limiting for variable displacement pumps
Method of controlling multiple variable displacement hydraulic pumps determined relative to operator commands. If non-second-pump-dominated command, a respective adjusted displacement request is determined based upon the lesser of the operator requested torque limited displacement and an adjusted torque limited displacement that calculated based upon and the torque limited displacement of the respective pump and a scaling factor calculated based upon the first relief valve set pressure and respective pump pressure. If second-pump-dominated command, the set pressure of a relief valve associated with one of the pumps is instead utilized in calculating the scaling factor in the above strategy. |
| US09416775B2 |
Internal cam metering pump
A micropump according to the invention uses an eccentric cam member rotating within a pump housing to sequentially open and close valves in the pump housing to withdraw fluid from a reservoir and provide metered amounts of the fluid to a cannula port for administration to a patient. The micropump may be used in a disposable pump for continuous infusion of medication such as insulin. |
| US09416774B2 |
Hybrid energy harvesting
Systems and methods for harvesting energy including a chassis with a spinning barrel shaped turbine, solar energy collection devices mounted on the chassis, and a kinetic energy harvesting device, mounted on the chassis. |
| US09416770B2 |
Aerodynamic wind energy conversion device and method for controlling such a device
The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind energy conversion device and a method for controlling such a device. The aerodynamic wind energy conversion device comprises an aerodynamic wing; at least a first tractive line and a second tractive line; wherein ends of the tractive lines are connected to line connection points located at the aerodynamic wing; at least a first and a second reefing point located across the aerodynamic wing and is characterized in that the length of the second tractive line is shorter than the length of the first tractive line; and wherein the first reefing point is spaced from the first line connection point in a first reefing distance and the second reefing point is d spaced from the second line connection point in a second reefing distance, such that the second reefing distance is longer than the first reefing distance. |
| US09416768B2 |
Reinforced airfoil shaped body
The present invention relates to an airfoil shaped body with a leading edge and a trailing edge extending along the longitudinal extension of the body and defining a profile chord, the airfoil shaped body comprising an airfoil shaped facing that forms the outer surface of the airfoil shaped body and surrounds an internal volume of the body, a distance member that is connected to the facing inside the body and extends from the facing and into the internal volume of the body, and at least one reinforcing member that operates in tension for reinforcing the facing against inward deflections and that is connected to the facing inside the internal volume of the body at the same side of the profile chord as the connection of the distance member to the facing and to the distance member at a distance from the facing. |
| US09416765B2 |
Apparatus for converting wave motion on a body of water into electrical power
Apparatus for converting wave motion on a body of water into electrical power includes an electrical power generating system. The system includes a floatable housing. An electrical power generating unit is disposed within the floatable housing. The electrical power generating unit includes two spaced apart wheels which are connected by a drive element, and at least one generator for generating electrical power. A weight is connected to the drive element. When the system is tilted by wave motion, the weight moves toward the lower wheel, thereby turning the wheels and generator(s) and creating electrical power. In an embodiment, a plurality of systems are connected by connectors to form a power generating array. |
| US09416763B2 |
After-treatment apparatus for exhaust gas in a combustion chamber
An after-treatment apparatus for exhaust gas in a combustion chamber includes a discharge device with an electrode exposed to the combustion chamber and installed in at least one of members constituting the combustion chamber, an antenna installed in at least one of the members constituting the combustion chamber so as to radiate electromagnetic waves into the combustion chamber, an electromagnetic wave transmission line installed in at least one of the members constituting the combustion chamber and with one end connected to the antenna and the other end covered with an insulator or dielectric and extending to a portion, in at least one of the members constituting the combustion chamber, distant from the combustion chamber, and an electromagnetic wave generator for feeding electromagnetic waves to the electromagnetic wave transmission line. The after-treatment apparatus is configured such that discharge is generated with the electrode of the discharge device and the electromagnetic waves fed from the electromagnetic wave generator through the electromagnetic wave transmission line are radiated from the antenna, while the exhaust gas remains in the combustion chamber after the exhaust gas is produced during the explosion stroke. |
| US09416762B2 |
Remote start control system for a vehicle with a bus controllable window and associated methods
A remote start control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending through the vehicle, an engine, a window motor associated with a window and operating the window based upon a move window command on the data communications bus, and a vehicle climate control system operable based upon a climate control command on the data communications bus. The remote start control system may include a remote start transmitter to generate a remote start signal, and a vehicle remote start controller at the vehicle that may include a receiver to receive the remote start signal, and at least one processor cooperating with the receiver. The at least one processor, in response to the remote start signal, may generate the move window command on the data communications bus, generate the climate control command on the data communications bus, and start the engine. |
| US09416761B2 |
Nine phase induction motor starter/alternator
An electrical induction motor may include nine terminals configured to receive nine current inputs from nine output phases of a nine phase inverter. The motor may include nine windings connected to the nine terminals, and a plurality of contactors, wherein each of the plurality of contactors may be selectively opened or closed in a circuit including the nine windings to selectively connect the windings together in one of a mesh configuration or a star configuration. Each of the windings may be selectively connected between two of the nine current inputs, with a phase angle difference between the two current inputs of 40 degrees. Each of the contactors may be selectively opened or closed to establish a span value for the mesh configuration of two, with two being the number of inverter output phases between a terminal of one of the nine windings and a terminal of another of the nine windings connected to the one of the nine windings. The motor may selectively receive a first one of the harmonics of a drive waveform generated by the nine phase inverter and a second, different one of the harmonics of the drive waveform generated by the nine phase inverter. |
| US09416759B2 |
Fuel feed device with integrated vertical ejector pump
A fuel feed device (1) for a fuel tank (3) is presented. The fuel feed device (1) has a filter (9) with a filter housing (11). The fuel feed device (1) furthermore has a second ejector pump (21) with a second nozzle (23) and a second mixing tube (25). The second mixing tube (25) is arranged perpendicularly to a base of the fuel tank (3). The second ejector pump (21) is at least partially integrated into the filter housing (11). |
| US09416758B2 |
Fuel filter
Embodiments may provide a fuel filter that may include a plurality of return fuel conduits axially traversing a filter medium. Each conduit may include an inlet in fluidic communication with the fuel recirculation passage. Each conduit may have a return fuel line exit port adjacent to a distal end of the filter medium. |
| US09416756B2 |
Flow control valve and vapor fuel processing apparatus having the same
A valve element in a valve chamber is movable between an OFF position and an ON position to switch a flow quantity of fluid between a large flow quantity and a small flow quantity. The valve chamber has a fluid passage including an outer passage defined between an inner periphery of the valve chamber and an outer periphery of the valve element. The valve chamber has a throttle shape to decrease in inner diameter gradually from upstream toward downstream to decrease a minimum passage area of the fluid passage in a non-linear form. The valve chamber increases a differential pressure across the valve element in a linear form relative to a stroke of the valve element when the valve element moves from the OFF position toward the ON position. |
| US09416754B2 |
Module for supplying gas to a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a module (100) for supplying gas to a motor vehicle, comprising a double dispenser (108), a charge air cooler (107), and an intake box (119) connecting said double dispenser (108) to said cooler (107), the double dispenser (108) comprising a first outlet (136) intended to lead into the intake box (119) and a second outlet intended to lead toward the outside of said module (100). |
| US09416751B2 |
Actuation system
A system to provide differential movement between a first surface, a second surface and a fixed surface includes a first surface movable between a first position and a second position; a second surface movable with the first surface and further movable beyond the first surface; a shaft connected to the second surface to move the second surface; and a drive unit connected to the fixed surface to drive the shaft to move the second surface relative to the first surface and to allow the shaft to move through the drive unit when the second surface is being moved by the first surface. |
| US09416744B2 |
Exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine
An object is to prevent excessive temperature rise in a DPF during forced regeneration so that the DPF is prevented from being damaged by heat erosion or cracking and preventing a frequency of the forced regeneration from increasing so that degradation of fuel efficiency and oil dilution are reduced, in an exhaust gas purification device which removes PM in exhaust gas. A first determination unit (67) which determines whether an exhaust gas flowrate is smaller than a first threshold and is equal to or larger than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold, during forced regeneration processing by a forced regeneration control unit (65); an exhaust gas increasing control unit (69) which controls the intake throttle valve in such a manner that the exhaust gas flowrate is increased when the first determination unit (67) determines that the exhaust gas flowrate is smaller than the first threshold and is equal to or larger than the second threshold; a second determination unit (71) which determines an operation state of the exhaust gas flowrate smaller than the second threshold; and a forced regeneration interrupting unit (73) which interrupts the forced regeneration processing when the second determination unit (71) determines that the exhaust gas flowrate is smaller than the second threshold, are provided. |
| US09416739B2 |
Apparatus and method for learning an air control valve opening of a hybrid electric vehicle
A method for learning an opening of an air control valve of a hybrid electric vehicle includes detecting data for controlling the opening of the air control valve during engine starting, detecting a change of a flap closing of the air control valve, controlling the opening of the air control valve to reduce a vibration based on the data when the engine is turned off, calculating the opening of the air control valve according to the flap closing of the air control valve, setting a reference value based on the change of the flap closing of the air control valve, comparing the calculated value with the reference value and when the calculated value is greater than the reference value, learning the opening of the air control valve as the calculated value after an ignition switch is turned off. |
| US09416738B2 |
Internal combustion engine control device for carrying out injection amount feedback control
A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided, which can carry out favorable injection amount feedback control even when a fuel property changes. A cylinder internal pressure sensor (16) that detects a cylinder internal pressure is included. A cylinder internal fresh air amount is calculated based on the cylinder internal pressure detected by the cylinder internal pressure sensor (16) (100). Based on the cylinder internal pressure detected by the cylinder internal pressure sensor (16), an actual heating value is calculated (120). From the calculated cylinder internal fresh air amount, a target heating value in a predetermined excess air ratio is calculated (150). A comparison value of the actual heating value and the target heating value is fed back to a fuel injection amount so that the calculated actual heating value corresponds to the target heating value (160, 170). |
| US09416728B2 |
Apparatus and method for combusting a fuel at high pressure and high temperature, and associated system and device
A combustor apparatus is provided, comprising a mixing arrangement for mixing a carbonaceous fuel with enriched oxygen and a working fluid to form a fuel mixture. A combustion chamber is at least partially defined by a transpiration member. The transpiration member is at least partially surrounded by a pressure containment member. The combustion chamber has opposed inlet and outlet portions. The inlet portion of the combustion chamber is configured to receive the fuel mixture for the fuel mixture to be combusted at a combustion temperature. The combustion chamber is further configured to direct the resulting combustion product toward the outlet portion. The transpiration member directs a transpiration substance therethrough toward the combustion chamber for buffering interaction between the combustion product and the transpiration member. Associated systems, apparatuses, and methods are also provided. |
| US09416725B2 |
Turbocharging device of engine for vehicle
A turbocharging device of an engine for a vehicle is provided. The turbocharging device includes a turbocharger for turbocharging intake air, an introduction passage connected to an introducing section of a compressor of the turbocharger, a discharge passage connected to a discharging section of the compressor of the turbocharger, a bypass passage connecting the introduction passage to the discharge passage and bypassing the compressor, and a bypass valve for opening and closing the bypass passage. A throttle part throttling a flow passage area of the introduction passage is formed in an inner circumferential surface of a part of the introduction passage, upstream of a connection part of the introduction passage with the bypass passage. |
| US09416721B2 |
Charge air cooler water protection
A structure for separating condensate formed in a charge-air-cooler of a turbocharged engine system. The structure may include ribs that catch and direct condensate away from the outlet. The structure may also include a deflector and water dam that prevents condensation from exiting the charge-air-cooler outlet. The condensate maybe be collected and simply drained to outside of the vehicle. |
| US09416719B2 |
Exhaust manifold with insulation sleeve
An exhaust manifold for a combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a two-shell construction comprised of an outer system and an inner system. A flange is positioned at a side proximal to a cylinder head of the combustion engine for installation to the combustion engine, and an insulation sleeve connects the inner system with the flange and the outer system. The insulation sleeve is sized to extend through an opening of the flange and to project beyond the flange into the cylinder head of the combustion engine. |
| US09416717B2 |
Muffler
A muffler comprises an outer shell, an outlet pipe, and a restraining mechanism. A restraining mechanism restrains a height of spout of a liquid that flows inside the outlet pipe through a designated vent hole, the designated vent hole is at least one vent hole facing against a bottom surface of the outer shell among the at least one vent hole that the outlet pipe comprises. |
| US09416716B2 |
Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine
In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which an SCR catalyst is arranged in an exhaust passage, a dummy determination processing to determine whether the selective catalytic reduction catalyst is mounted at a location is carried out, based on a temperature difference between a temperature of exhaust gas flowing into the location where the selective catalytic reduction catalyst is to be arranged and a temperature of exhaust gas flowing out of the location, after starting of the internal combustion engine, wherein when a period of time for the temperature of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst to become equal to or less than a fixed temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined period of time, the dummy determination processing is carried out, whereas when the period of time is less than the predetermined period of time, the dummy determination processing is not carried out. |
| US09416712B2 |
Thermoelectric module with heat exchanger
A heat exchanger, for an exhaust gas system (5) of an internal combustion engine (1), includes a thermoelectric module (13), converting thermal energy into electrical energy, having a hot side (17) and a cold side (18). A cooling pipe (15), for a cooling fluid, is arranged on the cold side (18) and a heating pipe (16) for a heating fluid, is arranged on the hot side (17). The cooling pipe (15) and the heating pipe (16) are stacked with the thermoelectric module (13) in a stacking direction (19) and form a stack (20). The heat transfer within the stack (20) is improved with at least one of the pipes (15, 16) being curved toward the thermoelectric module (13) at an outer pipe face (26) and with the thermoelectric module (13) curved toward the pipe (15, 16) at an outer module face (27) facing the particular pipe (15, 16). |
| US09416707B2 |
Diesel engine
It is an object of the present invention to provide a diesel engine in which a DPF case and an SCR catalyst case can be placed compactly. The diesel engine includes an engine body, the DPF case and the SCR catalyst case, a DPF is accommodated in the DPF case, an SCR catalyst is accommodated in the SCR catalyst case, and the DPF case and the SCR catalyst case are mounted on the engine body. The SCR catalyst case is placed in a direction which extends along the DPF case. The DPF case is placed directly above a flywheel housing and right behind a cylinder head cover, and the SCR catalyst case is placed directly above the cylinder head cover. |
| US09416702B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses related to the use of gas clathrates
This disclosure relates generally to the use of gas clathrates. More particularly, this disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses related to the use of gas clathrates as a fuel source for automobiles. The gas clathrates may first be dissociated into at least one gas and the at least one gas delivered to the prime mover of a vehicle or the gas clathrates may be directly utilized by the prime mover as a fuel source. |
| US09416700B2 |
Sound generator for a system for influencing exhaust noise of a motor vehicle
A sound generator, for a system for influencing sound waves propagating through an exhaust system of a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, includes an enclosure comprised of an upper shell and a lower shell. A bell mouth, supported by the lower shell and penetrating the lower shell, is configured for a fluid communication with the exhaust system. A loudspeaker is disposed in the enclosure and supported by the bell mouth. The lower shell of the enclosure supports the upper shell of the enclosure. The bell mouth is solely supported by the lower shell of the enclosure. The lower shell may include at least one air-tight feed-through for a control wire connected to the loudspeaker and/or at least one pressure equalizing valve. An anti-sound system is provided that includes the sound generator and a vehicle is provided with the anti-sound system. |
| US09416695B2 |
Non-return valve for an oil return in the crankcase ventilation system of a combustion engine
A non-return valve for an oil return in the crankcase ventilation system of a combustion engine includes a valve housing, a valve body which is mounted in the valve housing so as to be displaceable as a whole between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body in the non-operating state of the combustion engine is maintained in the open position without preload and the valve body is configured to automatically move to the closed position in case of an overpressure at the crankcase side with respect to the oil separator chamber. The non-return valve is provided and configured to be inserted into a mounting of a cylinder head cover of the combustion engine. |
| US09416686B2 |
Heat recovery steam generator and power plant
A heat recovery steam generator has a plurality of heat exchangers, including superheaters 28, 30, an evaporator 32 and an economizer 34, disposed in a duct 27 along the flow direction of an exhaust gas 25 from a gas turbine 14, and generates steam by utilizing the exhaust gas 25 from the gas turbine 14. The heat recovery steam generator includes: auxiliary combustors 50, 52, each disposed upstream of one of the heat exchangers, for heating the exhaust gas by means of burners; and an air supply device for supplying air to the burners of the auxiliary combustor 52 from the outside of the duct. |
| US09416677B2 |
Gas turbine engine forward bearing compartment architecture
A gas turbine engine includes a front center body case structure. A geared architecture is at least partially supported by the front center body case structure. A bearing structure is mounted to the front center body case structure to rotationally support a shaft driven by the geared architecture, the shaft drive a fan. A bearing compartment passage structure is in communication with the bearing structure through the front center body case structure. A method is also disclosed. |
| US09416675B2 |
Sealing device for providing a seal in a turbomachine
Sealing device for providing seals between adjacent components, and turbomachines utilizing such sealing devices, are provided. A sealing device includes a seal plate insertable between the adjacent components, the seal plate comprising a first face and an opposing second face. The sealing device further includes a plurality of pins extending from one of the first face or the second face, the plurality of pins configured to space the one of the first face or the second face from contact surfaces of the adjacent components. |
| US09416674B1 |
Floating air riding seal for a turbine
A floating air riding seal for a gas turbine engine with a rotor and a stator, an annular piston chamber with an axial moveable annular piston assembly within the annular piston chamber formed in the stator, an annular cavity formed on the annular piston assembly that faces a seal surface on the rotor, where the axial moveable annular piston includes an inlet scoop on a side opposite to the annular cavity that scoops up the swirling cooling air and directs the cooling air to the annular cavity to form an air cushion with the seal surface of the rotor. |
| US09416669B2 |
Turbine airfoil and method for thermal barrier coating
A turbine airfoil including an airfoil body is disclosed. The airfoil includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, an exterior surface including a suction side extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a pressure side extending from the leading edge to a trailing end. The pressure side is located opposite to the suction side on the airfoil body. The complete pressure side of the exterior surface is coated by a thermal barrier coating with a thickness decreasing towards the trailing end. |
| US09416668B2 |
Hollow fan bladed with braided fabric tubes
A fan blade having a body with a dovetail and an airfoil extending radially outwardly. The airfoil includes a pair of skins spaced to form an internal core, which define a pressure side and a suction side, and extending from a radially inner end to a radially outer tip. The core receives a plurality of braided tubes, with the tubes extending with at least a component in a radially outward direction. A fan and an engine are also described. |
| US09416667B2 |
Modified turbine components with internally cooled supplemental elements and methods for making the same
Modified turbine components include an original turbine component comprising an outer wail enclosing an internal cavity, wherein the outer wall has an original portion removed therefrom to expose the internal cavity, and, an internally cooled supplemental element joined to the outer wall that replaces the original portion removed from the outer wall and re-encloses the internal cavity. The internally cooled supplemental element comprises one or more cooling channels that circulate air from the internal cavity through at least a portion of the internally cooled supplemental element. |
| US09416666B2 |
Turbine blade platform cooling systems
The present application provides a turbine blade cooling system. The turbine blade cooling system may include a first turbine blade with a first turbine blade platform having a cooling cavity in communication with a pressure side passage and a second turbine blade with a second turbine blade platform having a platform cooling cavity with a suction side passage. The pressure side passage of the first turbine blade platform is in communication with the suction side passage of the second turbine blade platform. |
| US09416662B2 |
Method and system for providing cooling for turbine components
A system for providing cooling for a turbine component that includes an outer surface exposed to combustion gases is provided. A component base includes at least one fluid supply passage coupleable to a source of cooling fluid. At least one feed passage communicates with the at least one fluid supply passage. At least one delivery channel communicates with the at least one feed passage. At least one cover layer covers the at least one feed passage and the at least one delivery channel, defining at least in part the component outer surface. At least one discharge passage extends to the outer surface. A diffuser section is defined in at least one of the at least one delivery channel and the at least one discharge passage, such that a fluid channeled through the system is diffused prior to discharge adjacent the outer surface. |
| US09416657B2 |
Dual flowline testing tool with pressure self-equalizer
Flowline pressure equalizer systems, methods and/or apparatuses for use on a downhole tool are provided. A pressure equalizer may be provided in communication with two flowlines. The pressure equalizer may use equalizing chambers and equalizing pistons to regulate pressure in one or both flowlines. Further, one or more flow routing modules may be interchangeable to further alter the flow scheme between the flowlines. Different plugs may house various flow routing configurations such that the plugs may be installed and/or removed in the tool string automatically or by a user. |
| US09416651B2 |
Surface confirmation for opening downhole ports using pockets for chemical tracer isolation
The invention provides an apparatus and method of using the apparatus for surface confirmation of opening of downhole ports in a downhole environment. The apparatus includes a tubular region that has an inner diameter. The tubular region includes at least two production ports and at least one non-production port. The non-production port includes a housing that has at least one chemical tracer. The apparatus also includes a cutter operable for opening the production ports and non-production port. The apparatus further includes a launcher for launching the cutter and a receiver for receiving the cutter. |
| US09416648B2 |
Pressure balanced flow through load measurement
A technique facilitates measuring loads while compensating for the effects of differential pressure. The technique utilizes a load cell comprising a chassis and a sensing element mounted on the chassis. A housing encloses the sensing element in a chamber formed between the chassis and the housing. The housing is connected to the chassis in a manner to transfer loading, e.g. compressive, tensile, and/or torque loading. A pressure compensating piston is positioned within an interior of the chassis and the housing. A plurality of seal points is located in a manner which isolates the sensing element from the effects of differential pressures between the interior and an exterior of the load cell. |
| US09416644B2 |
Fracture characterization
This application relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring hydraulic fracturing in well formation and fracture characterization using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). The method involves interrogating a optic fiber (102) arranged down the path of a bore hole (106) to provide a distributed acoustic sensor and also monitoring flow properties of fracturing fluid pumped (114) into the well. The acoustic data from the distributed acoustic sensor is processed together with the flow properties data to provide an indication of at least one fracture characteristic. |
| US09416643B2 |
Selective fracturing system
A method of fracturing a formation surrounding a wellbore comprises the steps of: (i) providing a tubular including at least two portions, each portion comprising an annulus isolation means, a selective flow path between the interior and the exterior of the tubular and a throughbore isolation means; (ii) running the tubular into the wellbore; (iii) isolating an annulus between the exterior of the tubular and the wellbore to thereby create at least two isolated zones; (iv) selecting any zone to be fractured; (v) remotely opening the flow path in the portion of tubular corresponding to the selected zone; (vi) remotely isolating the throughbore of the tubular by closing the throughbore isolation means in the portion of tubular corresponding to the selected zone; and (vii) fracturing at least part of the formation surrounding the well. |
| US09416642B2 |
Modeling subterranean rock blocks in an injection treatment simulation
Systems, methods, and software can be used to simulate a fracture treatment. In some aspects, physically separate rock blocks of a subterranean zone are modeled by separate block models. The block model for each physically separate rock block represents intra-block mechanics of the rock block, for example, as a group of discrete block elements. Interactions between adjacent pairs of the rock blocks are modeled by separate joint models. The joint model for each adjacent pair of rock blocks represents inter-block mechanics between the adjacent rock blocks, for example, as pre-defined joints. The block models and joint models are used to simulate an injection treatment of the subterranean zone. |
| US09416641B2 |
Borehole microseismic systems and methods
Devices and methods for borehole seismic investigation. The devices can include a first sensor for acquiring data relating to a microseismic event, a second sensor for detecting the start of a microseismic event and a command module for activating the first sensor to transmit data when the second sensor detects the start of the microseismic event. The methods can include activating a first sensor to transmit data relating to a microseismic event when a second sensor detects the start of the microseismic event. The method can also include deactivating the first sensor, or stopping data transmission substantially when the microseismic event ends. |
| US09416637B2 |
Integrated choke manifold system for use in a well application
A system and method enabling flow control with respect to a well related fluid. The system utilizes a choke manifold with a choke that can serve the function of both a fixed choke and an adjustable choke. The choke comprises components that are selectively adjusted to effectively provide differing calibrated flow paths along which the well related fluid flows when passing through the choke manifold. The choke manifold also may be combined with other system components in an efficient arrangement that facilitates handling of a variety of fluids, including multiphase fluids. |
| US09416633B2 |
Screen assembly
A screen assembly including one or more screen members that correspondingly form one or more flow paths. The one or more flow paths are discrete from a tubular with which the one or more screen members are associated, but in fluid communication with an axial passageway of the tubular. A method of using a screen assembly is also included. |
| US09416630B2 |
Grid calculation for fluid flow modeling
A method of estimating flow properties of an earth formation includes: selecting a grid block representing a region of the earth formation, the region including at least one of an area and a volume of the earth formation, the grid block including a plurality of grid cells and having an orientation defined by grid axes; and calculating a fluid flow model of the region. Calculating the model includes: estimating a principal flow direction for each grid cell; adjusting the orientation of the grid block based on the principal flow direction; and calculating fluid flow parameters in each grid cell to generate the fluid flow model. |
| US09416629B2 |
Downhole tool capable of withstanding high temperatures
The present invention relates to a downhole wireline tool for performing an operation in a well at a depth of up to 15 km downhole, the tool being powered by direct current at a predetermined voltage in a first end by a power supply unit which is configured to provide a specific steady-state voltage selected from a plurality of predetermined voltages, comprising an electrical motor being powered by alternating current, a frequency converter arranged between the first end and the motor, and a voltage peak reduction unit adapted to reduce the steady-state voltage of the selected power supplied to the frequency converter from the power supply, the voltage peak reduction unit comprising a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is a high temperature capacitor having a dielectric comprising a material capable of resisting a temperature above 150° C. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a downhole tool string and to a method of protecting a frequency converter from peaks of voltage in power supplied to the frequency converter in a downhole tool according to the present invention. |
| US09416627B2 |
Oil well cleaning compositions
A method for cleaning oil wells to increase the flow of oil thereof by use of a unique cleaning emulsion comprising of water, hydrocarbon solvent, terpene hydrocarbon material, demulsifier, detergent, and optionally an acid. This one step method provides for the simultaneously cleaning/removal of asphaltene and/or paraffin and scale at a wide range of temperatures. This method can be used alone or with the assistance of a wash tool which is a combination pressure and surge wash tool having a nipple assembly, or a hydro self-rotating nozzle wash tool. |
| US09416625B2 |
System and method for subsea structure obstruction remediation using an exothermic chemical reaction
Systems and methods comprise structures and methods for using a plurality of chemicals which are mixed subsea, resulting in a heated fluid which can be delivered by various means to an area about a subsea structure such as a pipe or other structure which has been compromised by a plug such as a solid gas hydrate or paraffinic plug. Various embodiments allow for selective use of insulated chambers and baffled conduits and the like, or combinations thereof, to aid in the mixing of the various chemicals and achieving a desired temperature. |
| US09416621B2 |
Coiled tubing surface operated downhole safety/back pressure/check valve
Systems and methods for allowing intervention into a wellbore with a valve assembly that can be selectively opened and closed. An intervention work string has a multi-cycle open/close valve assembly which can be selectively opened to perform intervention tasks in the wellbore. |
| US09416619B2 |
Cementing a wellbore using cementing material encapsulated in a shell
A system for cementing a wellbore penetrating an earth formation into which a pipe extends. A cement material is positioned in the space between the wellbore and the pipe by circulated capsules containing the cement material through the pipe into the space between the wellbore and the pipe. The capsules contain the cementing material encapsulated in a shell. The capsules are added to a fluid and the fluid with capsules is circulated through the pipe into the space between the wellbore and the pipe. The shell is breached once the capsules contain the cementing material are in position in the space between the wellbore and the pipe. |
| US09416617B2 |
Downhole tool having slip inserts composed of different materials
A downhole tool, such as a fracture plug used during a fracture operation, installs in a downhole tubular, such as casing. The tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereon between uphole and downhole ends. Slip assemblies on the mandrel can be moved to engage the downhole tubular. The uphole assembly has inserts composed of ceramic material, and the downhole assembly has inserts composed of a metallic material. When the tool is used as a bridge plug, the uphole assembly supports the sealing element compressed, and the downhole assembly supports fluid pressure downhole of the tool. In one particular embodiment, the metallic material is a powdered metal material, such as a sintered-hardened powdered metal steel having a balance of iron, an admixture of carbon, and alloy components of molybdenum, chromium, and manganese. |
| US09416614B2 |
Wellhead system with gasket seal
An offshore well system for a subsea well. The system includes a floating platform, an external riser and an internal riser nested within the external riser. A external riser tension device tensions the external riser. The drilling system also includes a surface wellhead system that includes a wellhead, a collet, and a flange assembly. The wellhead, collet, and flange assembly are assembled to establish a common bore for receiving the top of the internal riser. A gasket located between the top of the internal riser and an inner shoulder of the flange assembly seals between the wellhead system and the top of the internal riser. The surface wellhead system also retains the internal riser in tension with the wellhead, the internal riser extending above the wellhead into the collet. |
| US09416613B2 |
Theft-deterrence device
In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a theft-deterrence device, which can be used to deter theft of oil-and-gas equipment. For example, one such embodiment provides a nut-and-bolt assembly that includes an extended bolt and a standard the hexagonal nut. To deter theft, the exemplary assembly includes an outer sleeve that is disposed about the nut and extended bolt and that is free to rotate. Resultantly, the sleeve prevents the application of torque to the nut and also protects against shearing of the extended stud. The exemplary assembly also includes a tamper-resistant screw extending through the stud and cooperating with a retaining ring disposed above the nut, to prevent removal of the outer sleeve. |
| US09416607B2 |
Downhole guiding tool
The present invention relates to a downhole tool for guiding a device into a side track of a borehole, the tool having a tool axis and comprising a tool housing connected to an energy source. The invention further relates to a method for moving the downhole tool into a side track. |
| US09416604B2 |
In-line, high pressure well fluid injection blending
A mixing device has an elongate shell, an inlet, an outlet and at least one shear orifice between the inlet and the outlet. A hydration passage is located between the shear orifice and the outlet. The hydration passage has a flow area greater than a total shear flow area of the shear orifice, greater than an inlet flow area of the inlet and greater than an outlet flow area of the outlet. During operation, a polymer is mixed in a fluid flow flowing to the intake of a positive displacement pump, which pumps the fluid through the mixing device and into an injection conduit leading into a well. The shear orifice produces high shear separation of molecules of the polymer. The hydration passage causes hydration under pressure of the various polymer molecules in addition to blending the various chemicals and/or gases with other components of the fluid flow stream. |
| US09416602B2 |
Apparatus and methods for limiting movement of gripping members
An apparatus to limit movement of gripping members relative to an elevator includes a locking arm coupled to the gripping members and a first engagement arm. The locking arm includes a set of teeth disposed longitudinally thereon, and the first engagement arm includes a first set of complimentary teeth configured to engage with the set of teeth of the locking arm. The first engagement arm is moveable between a disengaged position, in which the first engagement arm and the locking arm are relatively moveable, and an engaged position, in which the first engagement arm allows the locking arm to move in a first direction but prevents the locking bar from moving in a second direction by more than a selected distance. The teeth of the locking arm engage the first set of complimentary teeth of the first engagement arm when the first engagement arm is in the engaged position. |
| US09416600B2 |
Conductor pipe support system for an off-shore platform
A conductor pipe support system for a bottom-supported offshore drilling rig, the conductor pipe support system including a guide member configured for supporting a conductor pipe against horizontal movement when the conductor pipe extends from a blow-out preventer downward towards the seabed; a support member configured for vertically supporting at least a part of the load of the conductor pipe; and an access platform for allowing personnel to access at least a bottom portion of the blow-out preventer system; wherein the support member is connectable to the conductor pipe below the access platform. |
| US09416599B2 |
Rotating continuous flow sub
A method for drilling a wellbore includes drilling the wellbore by advancing the tubular string longitudinally into the wellbore; stopping drilling by holding the tubular string longitudinally stationary; adding a tubular joint or stand of joints to the tubular string while injecting drilling fluid into a side port of the tubular string, rotating the tubular string, and holding the tubular string longitudinally stationary; and resuming drilling of the wellbore after adding the joint or stand. |
| US09416596B2 |
Installation of lines in high temperature wellbore environments
An annular restrictor for use in a well can include a body which extends circumferentially about a tubular mandrel, and a section which, in cooperation with the body, restricts fluid flow through an annulus, a line being secured between the body and the section. A method of completing a well can include installing a line in an annular restrictor, and restricting fluid flow through an annulus, with the restricting being performed by the annular restrictor interconnected between steam injection valves. A method of attaching a line to a tubular string for use in a well can include covering the line with a section of an annular restrictor, and securing the section to a body of the annular restrictor, each of the section and the body having a flow restricting surface formed thereon, and the covering and securing steps being performed without splicing or making a connection in the line. |
| US09416595B2 |
Self-elevating mast employing drive carriage
A method includes attaching a carriage support to a platform, the platform comprising a platform floor having an opening therein, with the carriage support located proximate the opening, attaching a drive carriage to the carriage support, and operably coupling to the drive carriage a first mast section of a mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and wherein the first mast section is located above the opening. The method also includes arranging a second mast section below the first mast section, lowering, using the drive carriage, the first mast section through the opening, attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, and raising, using the drive carriage, the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the platform floor is a rig floor. |
| US09416592B2 |
Generating fluid telemetry
A downhole tool includes a tool body, stator, and rotor. The tool body is aligned along a tool centerline and includes an aperture therethrough operable to pass a fluid to an exterior of the body. The stator is fixed relative to the tool body and includes a fluid flow restriction operable to pass at least a portion of the fluid from an interior of the stator to the exterior of the body at an adjustable flow rate. The rotor is disposed within the tool body and rotatable relative to the stator and includes an exhaust port selectively aligned with at least one aperture through the tool body by rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. The exhaust port is operable to pass at least a portion of the fluid from an interior of the rotor to the exterior of the body when aligned with the aperture. |
| US09416591B2 |
Telescoping ladder with stabilizers
A telescoping ladder includes a stabilizer connected to a stabilizer housing proximal to the floor surface on which the ladder is positioned. The first stabilizer can move between an extended position and a collapsed position. In the extended position, the first stabilizer extends out of a hollow body portion of the stabilizer housing and collapse into the hollow body portion of the rung in the collapsed position. The stabilizer comprises a locking button to lock the stabilizer in its extended position. The ladder comprises a flange that can release the locking button thereby unlocking the stabilizer from its extended position and move it into the collapsed position. |
| US09416587B2 |
Unitary assembly for an architectural fenestration, providing dynamic solar heat gain control
A unitary assembly for an architectural fenestration, providing dynamic solar heat gain control, which (1) provides a track-based frame structure/blind combination in which the blind is self-correcting should the blind material fall outside of the track; (2) provides directional shading, where the assembly provides for dynamically controlling the amount of light allowed to reach the heat storage unit; (3) provides a blind motor without limiter switches and with a quick-release slip-ring; and (4) provides a heat storage unit which is a thermally efficient, transparent and translucent structure, with which gain from sunny winter days is greater than nighttime loss, so as to provide supplemental heat. |
| US09416586B1 |
Triangular flange bracket for attaching corners of transparent plastic panels over windows and door openings
Systems, devices, apparatus, kits and methods of attaching transparent rigid plastic panels over door and window openings of vacant and/or damaged buildings and houses, that can include generally uniform thickness flange brackets which are attached to both the panels and both sides of the openings. |
| US09416583B2 |
Efficient assembly of multiple pane windows
This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled. |
| US09416581B2 |
Vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit including hybrid getter and making same
This relates to vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window units and methods for making VIG window units. Hybrid getter(s) are utilized. In certain example embodiments, a hybrid getter for use in a VIG window unit and/or a method making same includes both evaporable getter (EG) material and non-evaporable getter (NEG) material. In certain example embodiments, the NEG material may be covered (directly or indirectly) with EG material in the hybrid getter at least prior to getter activating/flashing. |
| US09416580B2 |
Door jamb for flush in-swing door
A door jamb configured to provide a flush in-swing door when viewed in the direction of door in-swing. |
| US09416579B2 |
Drive and control system for lifting gates
The present invention provides a drive unit for high-speed lifting gates in which a drive motor is provided for moving the gate leaf and can be down-regulated up to zero rotational speed. The drive motor is actuated via a control unit. Following the occurrence of an emergency stop condition, the drive motor is actuated such that its rotational speed is reduced to zero in a controlled manner and the gate leaf is thereby braked in a motor-driven manner. When the gate leaf is at a standstill, the gate leaf is held by the energized drive motor at zero rotational speed at the holding position. It is with an emergency power supply ensured that, also in the event of a power failure, motor-driven deceleration of the gate leaf and an emergency opening can occur. |
| US09416577B2 |
Carwash conveyor with a soft-drop, roller down conveyor door and conveyor door
A pivoting door is provided for a carwash vehicle conveyor. The pivoting door does not require counter weights or stops. The pivoting door has a top bar, a pair of arms each with a bottom end and extend from the top bar, and tensioning units. One of the tensioning units is disposed at the bottom end of each of the arms. Each of the tensioning units has a main pin and a spring unit. When a roller pushes the top bar to an open position the tensioning units produce a counter torque for automatically returning the pivoting door to a closed position after the roller passes by. |
| US09416575B2 |
Furniture hinge with plastic insert
A hinge is provided, including a hinge arm and a hinge cup connected to one another by a hinge pin at a joint in association with a spring, and an insert provided on the hinge arm at the joint and having an external surface which the spring slidably contacts. |
| US09416574B2 |
Lift-off type hinge
There is disclosed anti-sag hinge (10) which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The strap assembly includes a strap (31) extending from a cylinder portion (32). The cylindrical portion includes a coupling end (34) with a vertically extending octagonal channel (35) therethrough. The octagonal channel includes a vertically extending alignment ridge or tongue (36) and a centrally positioned, horizontally oriented, annular ridge (37). The hinge also includes an elongated cam follower (40) having a lower cam follower portion (41) with an octagonal exterior surface (43) terminating at a circumferential ledge or shoulder (44) positioned to abut and bear against the centrally positioned annular ridge of the coupling end. The lower cam follower portion also has a longitudinally extending groove (53) configured to receive the coupling end alignment tongue. |
| US09416573B2 |
Door hinge
A door hinge has a first hinge plate connected with a second hinge plate that is adjustably disposed in a hinge accommodation element, so as to pivot, with a pin on a hinge roll. The hinge accommodation element has a front part and a rear part, and the second hinge plate is guided in the hinge accommodation element so as to move in the vertical direction, and can be tilted in the horizontal direction, relative to the hinge accommodation element, with an adjustment screw. The front part and the rear part of the hinge accommodation element are connected by a connection screw, and the second hinge plate is clamped in place between the front part and the rear part, so that it cannot be displaced in the vertical direction, after the connection screw has been tightened. A hinge system can be formed by three of these door hinges. |
| US09416566B2 |
Door latch with fast unlock
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a closure latch for a vehicle door. The closure latch includes a ratchet movable between an open position and a closed position, a first door release lever operatively connected to the ratchet, a second door release lever, and a lock lever movable along a lock lever path including a first lock lever position wherein the second door release lever is operatively disconnected from the first door release lever, a second lock lever position wherein the lock lever operatively connects the second door release lever to the first door release lever, and a third lock lever position wherein the lock lever carries out an additional function. |
| US09416565B2 |
Piezo based energy harvesting for e-latch systems
A vehicle door includes an electrically-powered latch and a user input feature that can be actuated by a user to cause the electrically-powered latch to unlatch. An electrical energy storage device is operably connected to the electrically-powered latch, and a piezoelectric device is mounted to the door. The piezoelectric device can be manually actuated by a user to charge the electrical energy storage device, and electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device can be utilized to actuate the electrically-powered latch to thereby unlatch the latch. The user input feature may comprise a switch or sensor located adjacent a door handle/latch release on an inside and/or an outside of the vehicle door. The electrical energy storage device may comprise an emergency battery, capacitor, or other electrical device. |
| US09416564B2 |
Anti-relatch mechanism
A latch and a method for preventing a latch from failing to open while a connected handle is lifted are provided. The latch includes a primary pawl pivotally mounted to the latch. An end piece having a protrusion extending from it is fixed to the primary pawl. An inner lever is rotatably coupled to the end piece. The inner lever includes a tail adjacent the protrusion of the end piece. The inner lever is movable between a first position and a second position. A secondary pawl is pivotally mounted to the latch and is movable between a first position and a second position. A blocking lever is also coupled to the latch and movable between a first position and a second position. When the inner lever is in a second position, the tail abuts the protrusion and the blocking lever limits movement of the inner lever and the primary pawl. |
| US09416563B1 |
Combination lock with rotary latch
A combination lock is provided, the combination lock having a rotary latch configured for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, the rotary latch rotating in a first plane; and a bolt configured for movement between a first position and a second position along a second plane the second plane being oriented at a different location than the first plane, the bolt engaging the rotary latch in the first position such that rotation of the rotary latch from the locked position to the unlocked position is prevented. |
| US09416562B2 |
Electronic key
An electronic key for wireless operation of a lock with a housing shell for g circuit electronics, wherein the housing shell—has a battery compartment, a battery compartment cover, an emergency key which has a key stem insertable into the housing shell for mechanical operation of the lock, wherein the key stem is movable between an insertion position, in which the key stem is fitted on a key shaft of the housing shell, and an end position in which the key stem is securely accommodated in the key shaft, and a seal arranged between the housing shell and the battery compartment cover for protecting the battery against environmental influences, wherein the battery compartment cover has a bearing surface for direct contact on the key stem, and, in the end position, the key stem exerts a contact pressure force against the seal via the bearing surface of the battery compartment cover. |
| US09416561B2 |
Cylinder lock configured to be operated by a flat-bladed key
A cylinder lock with a rotating tumbler pin, a sidebar, and a slider has a keyway with a ward projection into the center of the bitting area of a key blade received by the keyway. The tip of each rotating tumbler pin seats on the bitting surfaces remaining to the sides of this center ward of the key, and the tumbler pins that are engaged by the bitting on the side of the key blade do not seat on more than half of the width of the blade. Half the pin width is removed from each tumbler pin near the tip thereof. The key has a bitted section at which one or more bittings are formed and a non-bitted section bitting that is devoid of bitting. The bittings extend at a constant depth to an edge of the key blade. |
| US09416557B2 |
Transport of a tower of a wind turbine
The disclosed concerns a method of transporting a tower of a wind turbine in an upright position to an assembly site of the wind turbine, whereby the tower is equipped with a strake set comprising a number of strakes positioned to lead from a top of the tower in the upright position down towards a bottom of the tower, at least one of the strakes being realized as a detachable strake. The invention also concerns a strake set and transport assembly. |
| US09416553B2 |
Cargo container for holding a storage box and method for transporting the storage box utilizing the cargo container
A cargo container is provided. The cargo container includes a cargo container housing that defines an interior region. The cargo container further includes a shelving unit disposed in the interior region. The shelving unit has first and second shelf members spaced apart from one another, and a shelf liner disposed on the first shelf member. The shelving unit further includes a shelf liner and an inflatable cushion. The inflatable cushion that is disposed in the storage region of the shelf liner and adapted to contact a storage box and a second shelf member when the inflatable cushion has an inflated state such that the inflatable cushion applies a downward force on the storage box to prevent movement of the storage box during movement of the cargo container housing. |
| US09416552B2 |
Erector scaffold deck fall arrest assembly
A system and method for a scaffold deck with a fall arrest assembly is disclosed. The fall arrest assembly comprises a deck structure (102) and a rail assembly (122) for permitting an individual to tie-off in a manner that permits the individual with a range of motion along the deck structure. The fall arrest assembly further includes an uplift hook mechanism (120) connected to or otherwise installed on the deck structure such that the uplift hook mechanism is employed for both securing the deck structure to and releasing the deck structure from at least one supporting member. A plurality of deck hooks (118) connectable to or otherwise installed on the decking structure for connecting the decking structure to the supporting member is additionally provided. A deck latch assembly located connected to the uplift hook mechanism additionally facilitates connection of the deck structure to a second deck structure. |
| US09416551B2 |
Preassembled display systems and methods of installation thereof
A preassembled display system is assembled at a first location by attaching a plurality of display panels to a frame. The preassembled display system is loaded onto a transportation vehicle. Next, the preassembled display system is moved to a second located in a transportation vehicle. The display unit is installed at the second location by attaching the preassembled display system to a mounting unit. A receiver box for providing media to display at the plurality of display panels is attached. The attaching of the receiver box may be performed at the first location and/or at the second location. The plurality of display panels are electrically connected to the receiver box. Again, the electrically connecting may be performed at the first location and/or at the second location. |
| US09416549B2 |
Baseboard
A baseboard having an installation section and a cover section. Included are a bottom shelf, a middle shelf, and a top shelf expanding from its surface in the same direction. The end of the bottom shelf is bent towards the middle shelf. The middle shelf is bent in a part of its width towards the top shelf and, in a larger part of its width, the middle shelf is bent towards the bottom shelf, while the top shelf is bent in a part of its width towards the middle shelf and, in a larger part of its width, the top shelf is bent out upwards. The external surfaces of the bent sections of the ends of the bottom shelf and of the top shelf form a flexible lock. The elements of the mounting part and the cover part form a top chamber and a bottom chamber. |
| US09416546B2 |
Deck installation track and method
A system and method for installing decking are described. One embodiment includes a method of installing decking. The method includes aligning a track for decking relative to a joist. The method further includes attaching the track to the joist, and snapping a decking board into a retaining portion of the track after attaching. In the system, the track has a base element with at least one attachment element for attaching the track to a joist, a first snap-fit element, and a second snap-fit element. The first snap-fit element is coupled to a first end portion of the base element, and the second snap-fit element is coupled to a second end portion of the base element. The snap-fit elements are configured to retain at least one decking board. |
| US09416545B1 |
Post mount with quick release locking mechanism
A post mount includes a base configured for attachment to a ramp door of a vehicle and a paddle pivotally connected to the base. The base and paddle cooperate to receive a shaft and flange of a post. The paddle may be pivoted and flexed with respect to the base to allow release of the post from the post mount. |
| US09416533B2 |
Damping device and vibration control apparatus for structure
A device for damping a transmitted vibration by the moment of inertia of a fly wheel and the adjustable resistance force of a viscous magnetic fluid to allow the viscous magnetic fluid exerts its property even under no external power source. A sleeve with an attached ball nut is disposed in a first cylinder so as to reciprocate. The reciprocating motion of the sleeve is converted into a rotational motion by a ball screw to rotate a fly wheel in a second cylinder and a generator rotating shaft. Between the fly wheel and the inner surface of the second cylinder, a sealed space is formed in which a viscous magnetic fluid is sealed. A magnetic field generating unit which generates a magnetic field running across the sealed space with the fly wheel serving as a part of a magnetic circuit is disposed on the inner circumference of the second cylinder. |
| US09416532B2 |
Interior sound absorption sheet and sound absorbing sound-proofing panel containing same
Provided is a sound absorption sheet comprising: a porous substrate; and a micro-resonance layer having a pattern of a plurality of sound-absorbing holes penetrating both surfaces thereof. Also provided is a sound absorbing soundproofing panel, the exterior surface of which is covered with the sound absorption sheet comprising: the porous substrate; and the micro-resonance layer having a pattern of a plurality of sound-absorbing holes penetrating both surfaces thereof. |
| US09416526B2 |
Sewer cleanout level indicator
A sewer cleanout level indicator for use with a retrofitted conventional sewer cleanout cap. The indicator provides a visual indication of whether a sewer lateral line is blocked on the residential or private side, or the government side. The indicator includes an elongated tubular member which is slidably received by the retrofitted conventional sewer cleanout cap. The tubular member has an upper end having a circular cap attached thereto. The circular cap has a flexibly-compressible annular flange contiguously carried therebelow. A bulbous float is fixedly attached to the lower end of the tubular member. The float is responsive to a change in a level of fluid or waste water present within the cleanout riser of a conventional sewer lateral line. |
| US09416519B2 |
Wheel loader
A wheel loader includes: a mechanical drive unit; a mechanical drive clutch controlling transmission/cutoff of a power in the mechanical drive unit; an HST pump driven by an engine; a hydraulic motor driven by a hydraulic oil delivered from the HST pump; a hydraulic drive unit; a hydraulic drive clutch controlling transmission/cutoff of a power in the hydraulic drive unit; a load detecting unit detecting an amount of a load; a vehicle speed sensor detecting a vehicle speed; a switching controlling unit setting a switching vehicle speed in accordance with the amount of the load; and a vehicle-body controller switching between mechanical drive state and hydraulic drive state based on the switching controlling unit. The switching controlling unit sets the switching vehicle speed at a high-speed side when the load becomes large and at a low-speed side when the load becomes small. |
| US09416517B2 |
Controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine
Systems, methods, devices, and computer readable media for controlling the operation of an industrial machine including one or more components. A method of controlling the industrial machine includes determining a position of at least one of the one or more components of the industrial machine during a digging operation, determining a hoist bail pull setting based on the position of the at least one of the one or more components and a relationship between component position and hoist bail pull, and setting a level of hoist bail pull to the hoist bail pull setting. The level of hoist bail pull early in the digging operation is greater than the level of hoist bail pull later in the digging operation. |
| US09416513B2 |
Helical screw pile and soil displacement device with curved blades
A helical screw pile having a soil displacement device (lead displacement plate) on its shaft above at least one helical plate, which pulls the pile into the ground when the shaft is rotated. The lead displacement plate has a disk that carries at least two curved, axially extending bottom blades, which preferably extend beyond the disk periphery. The axial height of the blades preferably is greater than the axial pitch of the helical plate(s) divided by the number of blades. The top of the disk has an axially extending adapter ring that defines an annular seat for centering a tubular casing. Extension displacement plates can be used between extension shafts for centering additional tubular casings. |
| US09416512B2 |
Apparatus and methods for the placement of pipe piling
Apparatus and methods for the installation of pipe pilings into the ground for use as structural building foundations, geothermal piles, or both, are disclosed. In addition to specialized fittings for pipe pile assemblies, the inventions include specialized drive mechanisms used in conjunction with rotary or vibratory motors. Methods of installing pipe pilings are further improved with the disclosure of methods of adding grout or similar materials during or after installation of the piles. |
| US09416499B2 |
System and method for sensing and managing pothole location and pothole characteristics
The present invention provides a system and method for sensing and managing pothole locations and pothole characteristics. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a system that may acquire, fuse, and analyze pothole sensing data from several sources to identify potholes in need of maintenance or repair. Further, the system may be configured to create and distribute recurring reports of pothole repair data for use by roadway officials. |
| US09416495B2 |
Printable sheet that is ultra-smooth and recyclable, and its method of fabrication
A method of fabricating a smooth or ultra-smooth printable sheet, the method comprising the steps consisting in: preparing a multilayer structure (12) having at least one bottom plastics film (14), one anti-adhesive intermediate layer (16), and one printable top layer (18), pasting one face (30) of a substrate (24) or the top face (28) of the printable layer, and applying the substrate onto the printable layer in order to laminate them together, then withdrawing the plastics film from the printable layer, the printable layer (18) defining a smooth or ultra-smooth face (22) on the sheet. |
| US09416493B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for processing fibril cellulose and fibril cellulose material
The invention relates to a method for processing chemically modified fibril cellulose. The method includes introducing chemically modified fibril cellulose material to a thermal drying device including a belt in such a way that the fibril cellulose material forms at least one bar onto the belt, and dewatering the chemically modified fibril cellulose material on the belt using heated air flow having a temperature of at least 40 ° C. in order to concentrate and/or dry the chemically modified fibril cellulose material in such a way that the dry solids content of the fibril cellulose material after the thermal drying device is at least 10%. In addition, this invention relates to a thermal drying device, a system for processing chemically modified fibril cellulose, a method and a system for redispersing the fibril cellulose, and a fibril cellulose material. |
| US09416490B2 |
Cross-linked glycerol based polymers as digestion aids for improving wood pulping processes
The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process. |
| US09416489B2 |
Braided rope, suitable to be used as a towing warp, comprising changing properties in the length direction thereof
Disclosed is a tow warp construction and a process for forming such tow warp construction where such tow warp construction has a longer life span, that is retains its useful dimensions and characteristics longer than known tow warp constructions and consequently has a longer useful life span than known tow warp constructions. Most broadly the construction of the tow warp construction of the present disclosure and process for forming such includes gradually and progressively introducing fibers from a second group of fibers (or “second group of linear elements”) into an otherwise conventional stranding process where fibers from a first group of fibers (or “first group of linear elements”) are being stranded to form strands (or “third group of linear elements”), so as to either or both increase the diameter of the strands and/or substitute the first group of fibers by fibers from the second group of fibers, so as to: a) in the first instance, increase the diameter of the formed strands and subsequently of a strength member formed of the strands, especially for increasing the diameter and strength of the tow warp's strength member in and about the splice braid zone where it connects to a towed object such as a paravane; and b) in the second instance, substitute in a predetermined region on the long dimension of the strands and subsequently in a predetermined region on a long dimension of a strength member formed of the strands fibers of higher creep and/or lower melting points by fibers of lower creep and/or higher melting points, especially for increasing the resistance of the tow warps strength member to bending fatigue. |
| US09416485B2 |
Process of making dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs
Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a multiplicity of continuous fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and polypropylene in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 10% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. A spunbond process may be used to produce substantially continuous fibers that exhibit molecular orientation. A meltblown process may be used to produce discontinuous fibers that do not exhibit molecular orientation. In some embodiments, the fibers comprise a viscosity modifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The webs may be used as articles for filtration, sound absorption, thermal insulation, surface cleaning, cellular growth support, drug delivery, personal hygiene, medical apparel, or wound dressing. |
| US09416482B2 |
Household appliances and methods of control
A household appliance having a treating chamber in which is received an article for treatment, a treating chemistry dispenser configured to receive a unit dose container for the treating chemistry, and a controller for executing at least one cycle of operation and a method of operating the household appliance to physically alter a unit dose container in conjunction with a at least one cycle of operation and sensing same. |
| US09416478B2 |
Washing machine and washing method
A washing machine and an associated washing method are provided. The method may include supplying washing fluid into a drum containing laundry, repeatedly dropping the laundry while rotating the drum in a predetermined direction, and drawing the laundry towards or separating the laundry from the inner circumferential surface of the drum by repeatedly accelerating and decelerating the drum. |
| US09416475B2 |
Air flow in a washing machine appliance
A washing machine appliance is provided having one or more features to improve the airflow in the washing machine appliance during a spin cycle and/or an overnight drying cycle. The appliance uses one or more one way valves in an inlet duct and/or an exhaust duct to direct the airflow through the washing machine appliance during spin cycles. Additionally, or alternatively, the appliance provides ambient air through an inlet port positioned proximate to an opening in a wash drum and exhausts the air to the ambient through an exhaust port positioned at a rear end of a wash tub. |
| US09416473B2 |
Upper feed device and sewing machine
An upper feed device includes a mounting portion, a feed mechanism, a drive portion, and a connecting portion. The mounting portion is configured to mount the upper feed device to a presser bar of a sewing machine. The feed mechanism is configured to feed a work cloth. The drive portion is configured to drive the feed mechanism. The connecting portion is configured to electrically connect the drive portion to a control portion of the sewing machine. |
| US09416463B2 |
Vitreous silica crucible
Provided is a vitreous silica crucible having a reference point, which is capable of accurately detecting the location of a defect in the vitreous silica crucible used for pulling silicon single crystal, determining a defect generating site of silicon single crystal, and investigating the cause of the defect. The reference point used for specifying the position relationship with respect to a particular part is formed in at least one site of an end portion, an inner wall and an outer wall of the crucible. |
| US09416461B2 |
Die and method for manufacturing die, and anti-reflection coating
A mold includes an anodized porous alumina layer over its surface. The anodized porous alumina layer has a plurality of first and second recessed portions. The plurality of second recessed portions have a two-dimensional size of not less than 190 nm and not more than 50 μm when viewed in a direction normal to the mold surface and have a plurality of minute recessed portions over its inner surface. The plurality of minute recessed portions have a two-dimensional size of not less than 10 nm and not more than 200 nm; and have a two-dimensional size of not less than 10 nm and not more than 200 nm. The plurality of first recessed portions are provided between the plurality of second recessed portions. The average value of the two-dimensional size of the plurality of second recessed portions is greater than that of the plurality of first recessed portions. |
| US09416460B2 |
Steel sheet for containers
Disclosed is a steel sheet for containers that maintains excellent corrosion resistance even when a surface treatment that replaces a chromate treatment has been conducted, and that has excellent film adhesion qualities and appearance. This steel plate for containers has, on at least one surface thereof, a chemical conversion coating including at least two coatings selected from a zirconium coating that contains zirconium and has a metal zirconium content of 0.1-9 mg/m2, a phosphate coating that contains phosphoric acid and has a phosphorous content of 0.1-8 mg/m2, and a phenolic resin coating that contains phenolic resin in an amount of 0.5-8 mg/m2 in terms of carbon, the percentage of the area of the surface of the chemical conversion coating layer having particles Of a prescribed size being 0.1-50%. |
| US09416459B2 |
Electrical chemical plating process
An electrical chemical plating process is provided. A semiconductor structure is provided in an electrical plating platform. A pre-electrical-plating step is performed wherein the pre-electrical-plating step is carried out under a fixed voltage environment and lasts for 0.2 to 0.5 seconds after the current is above the threshold current of the electrical plating platform. After the pre-electrical-plating step, a first electrical plating step is performed on the semiconductor structure. |
| US09416453B2 |
Electroless gold plating liquid
The present invention relates to an electroless gold plating liquid, which may form gold plating without corrosion of a base metal by performing substitution and reduction reactions in the same bath, and satisfy both weldability of lead-free soldering and wire bonding characteristics, and has excellent stability such that a gold deposition rate may be continuously maintained. |
| US09416449B2 |
Continuous patterned layer deposition
A method of manufacturing a substrate with a patterned layer of deposited material, the patterned layer being deposited from a processing head, the method comprising applying bearing gas from the processing head to keep the processing head hovering over the substrate on a gas bearing; moving the substrate and the hovering processing head relative to each other; applying a primer material for selective deposition of a deposition material to the substrate, the primer material being applied from a first area of a surface of the processing head that faces the substrate, and spatially patterning the primer on the substrate after or during application; applying the deposition material to the substrate from a second area of the surface of the processing head that faces the substrate, the second area lying downstream of the first area in a direction of the movement of the substrate relative to the processing head. |
| US09416445B2 |
Method for treating inner surface of chlorine trifluoride supply passage in apparatus using chlorine trifluoride
Provided is a method for treating the inner surface of a chlorine trifluoride supply passage that enables reliable prevention of the reduction in the concentration of ClF3 in a reaction chamber during process operation.The method includes: integrally connecting a gas supply passage (2) and a gas discharge passage (3) to a processing chamber (1) of a processing apparatus in which chlorine trifluoride is used as an etching gas; and applying chlorine trifluoride gas having a concentration equal to or higher than the concentration of chlorine trifluoride gas supplied during etching process operation on inner surfaces of at least the processing chamber (1) and the gas supply passage (2) among the processing chamber (1), the gas supply passage (2), and the gas discharge passage (3), which are integrally formed, to coat the inner surfaces of at least the processing chamber (1) and the gas supply passage (2) with a fluoride film. |
| US09416442B2 |
Sapphire property modification through ion implantation
Systems and methods for strengthening a sapphire part are described herein. One method may take the form of orienting a first surface of a sapphire member relative to an ion implantation device, selecting an ion implantation concentration and directing ions at the first surface of the sapphire member. The ions are embedded under the first surface to create compressive stress in the sapphire surface. |
| US09416441B2 |
HiPIMS layering
The present invention relates to a method for the vapor deposition of PVD layer systems by means of sputtering on at least one substrate, wherein the layer system comprises at least a first layer, characterized in that, at least in one step of the method, a HiPIMS method is used with a power density of at least 250 W/Cm2, wherein a pulse length with a duration of at least 5ms is used while a substrate bias is applied to the substrate. |
| US09416439B2 |
Sputtering target, method of fabricating the same, and method of fabricating an organic light emitting display apparatus
A method of fabricating a sputtering target is provided. The method includes preparing a first powder material, wherein the first powder material includes tin oxide; preparing a mixture by mixing the first powder material and a second powder material, wherein the second powder material includes carbon; and fabricating the sputtering target by compressing and sintering the mixture simultaneously in a reducing atmosphere. |
| US09416437B2 |
Evaporating device and vaccum evaporation device using the same
An evaporating device comprises a gas guiding element, an evaporating boat received in the gas guiding element to define a receiving space between the evaporation tray and the gas guiding element, and a gas channel. The evaporation tray comprises a bottom wall and two opposing first sidewalls and two opposing second sidewalls extending from the periphery of the first bottom wall. At least one of the first sidewalls and/or at least one of the second sidewalls defines a number of gas holes. The gas holes communicate with the receiving space. One end of the gas channel connects the gas guiding element and communicates with the receiving space to feed gas into the receiving space. A vacuum evaporation device using the evaporating device is also provided. |
| US09416435B1 |
Non-evaporable getter alloys particularly suitable for hydrogen and carbon monoxide sorption
Getter devices with improved sorption rate, based on powders of quaternary alloys particularly suitable for hydrogen and carbon monoxide sorption, are described. Quaternary alloys having a composition comprising zirconium, vanadium, titanium and aluminum as main constituent elements are also described. |
| US09416432B2 |
Leaching method of rare-earth metals using hydrochloric acid from manganese nodule
The present invention relates to a leaching method of rare-earth metals using a hydrochloric acid from a manganese nodule, and more particularly, to a leaching method of rare-earth metals using a hydrochloric acid from a manganese nodule, in which a manganese nodule is mixed with a hydrochloric acid, then stirred and heated to leach the rare-earth metal included in the manganese nodule. |
| US09416431B2 |
Treatment of minerals
A process for treating a feedstock is provided. The feedstock comprises a mineral and/or a metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral. The process comprises treating the feedstock by reacting, in a reaction step, the mineral and/or the metal oxide/silicate derived from or associated with a mineral, with an ammonium acid fluoride having the generic formula NH4F.xHF, wherein 1 |
| US09416430B2 |
Apparatus for inducing flow in a molten material
The apparatus includes a furnace having a furnace chamber (14), a port (16) in fluid communication with the furnace chamber having an inclined lower wall (18), and a bi-directional induction unit (24) mounted to the inclined lower wall for inducing flow in molten material in the port. A retractable channel plate assembly (26) is selectively positionable in the port to define an extraction flow channel (28) for the molten material between the channel plate assembly and the inclined lower wall. A drive arrangement (64) moves the channel plate assembly into and out of the port and the control of a control system (74) which includes a sensor system (78) for measuring the level of the molten material in the port and a feedback system for providing information regarding the position of the channel plate assembly. A method of operating the apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US09416429B2 |
Apparatus and methods for manipulation and optimization of biological systems
A method for optimization of a response of a biological system includes: (1) obtaining measurements of a biological system in response to varying concentrations of drugs in a drug combination; (2) fitting the measurements into a model of the biological system; and (3) using the model of the biological system, predicting concentrations of the drugs in the drug combination to yield an optimized response of the biological system. |
| US09416423B2 |
Primer group for detecting CPG island methylation of P16 gene using methylation-specific fluorescence technique
The invention provides a primer group for detecting CpG island methylation of p16 gene using methylation specific fluorescence technique. The primer group comprises a pair of oligonucleotide primers and a fluorescence-labeled probe. Said oligonucleotide primer pair has base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO.1 and SEQ ID NO.2. Said fluorescence-labeled probe has base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO.3 or SEQ NO.4. |
| US09416419B2 |
Methods for PCR and HLA typing using unpurified samples
Provided are methods for amplifying a gene or RNA or sets thereof of interest using a tandem PCR process. The primers in the first PCR or set of PCR reactions are locus-specific. The primers in the second PCR or set of PCR reactions are specific for a sub-sequence of the locus-specific primers and completely consumed during the second PCR amplification. For RNA amplification, the first PCR is reverse transcription and the resulting cDNA(s) provide a template for cRNA synthesis, endpoint PCR or real time PCR. Also provided is a tandem PCR method which accepts raw, completely unpurified mouthwash, cheek swabs and ORAGENE™-stabilized saliva as the sample input, the resulting amplicons serving as the substrate for complex, microarray-based genetic testing. Also provided is a method of allelotyping a gene or set thereof by amplifying the gene(s) using tandem PCR on DNA or RNA comprising the sample. |
| US09416418B2 |
Biochip and target DNA quantitative method
A biochip used for quantitative analysis of a target DNA contained in a sample. The biochip includes a type I chamber that includes a primer designed to bind to the target DNA, an internal standard DNA of a first amount that has a sequence different from a sequence of the target DNA, and is amplifiable with the primer, and a fluorescent probe that is designed to bind to a part of a PCR product of the target DNA and to a part of a PCR product of the internal standard DNA. The fluorescent probe fluoresces differently for the PCR product of the target DNA and the PCR product of the internal standard DNA. The biochip also includes a type II chamber that includes the internal standard DNA of a second amount, the primer, and the fluorescent probe. The first and second amounts are different. |
| US09416405B2 |
Compositions, methods and kits for enhancing PCR specificity
The present disclosure provides novel primers and method for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods provided herein are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele-specific PCR. |
| US09416403B2 |
Method of detecting target nucleic acid
A method of detecting a target nucleic acid by sandwich hybridization using a detection probe that hybridizes with the target nucleic acid, and a capture probe immobilized on a support wherein at least one nucleic acid base in the nucleic acid molecule(s) of the detection probe and/or capture probe with a photoreactive group includes irradiating, with light, a complex formed by hybridization between the target nucleic acid and the detection probe and/or capture probe to allow formation of a covalent bond(s) between the photoreactive group(s) and a nucleic acid base(s) in the target nucleic acid. |
| US09416397B2 |
Methods of determining glucose and ketone values in a sample
Reagent materials and associated test elements are provided. In one embodiment, a test element having dual functionality includes a first coenzyme-dependent enzyme or a substrate for the first enzyme, a second coenzyme-dependent enzyme or a substrate for the second enzyme, and a coenzyme selected from the group consisting of thio-NAD, thio-NADP, and a compound according to formula (I). In one aspect, the first analyte is hydroxybutyrate and the first enzyme is a hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and the second analyte is glucose and the second enzyme is a glucose dehydrogenase or a glucose oxidase. Other aspects of the subject application are directed to unique reagent materials. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the description and drawings. |
| US09416391B2 |
Method for identifying cancer drug candidates in Drosophila
A process for preparing information that identifies a compound as capable of perturbing the epithelium in a D. melanogaster comprising the steps of: i) obtaining a D. melanogaster which is genetically unmodified except that the D. melanogaster optionally comprises at least one nucleotide sequence encoding a reporter polypeptide operably linked to a promoter of an endogenous protein; ii) contacting the D. melanogaster with the compound; and iii) determining whether there is a difference between the epithelium of the D. melanogaster of ii) and the epithelium of a corresponding D. melanogaster not contacted with the compound, wherein the presence of a difference between the epithelium of the D. melanogaster contacted with the compound and the epithelium of a corresponding D. melanogaster not contacted with the compound identifies the compound as a compound that is capable of perturbing the epithelium in a D. melanogaster. |
| US09416390B2 |
Electric measurement of monolayers following pro-cleave detection of presence and activity of enzymes and other target analytes
This invention describes methods for detecting target analytes by utilizing an electroactive moiety (EAM) that functions as a substrate for a specific enzyme. If target analyte is present, a functional group is enzymatically removed from a transition metal complex resulting in quantifiable electrochemical signal at two unique potentials, E01 and E02 that is detected through a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on an electrode. |
| US09416382B2 |
Production of polyunsaturated fatty acids by coexpression of acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferases
Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase [“LPCAT”] having the ability to convert acyl-CoA+1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine to CoA+1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EC 2.3.1.23) is disclosed herein to be over-expressed along with the over-expression of phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase [“PDAT”] having the ability to transfer a fatty acyl group from the sn-2 position of a phospholipid (e.g., phosphatidylcholine) to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol [E.C.2.3.1.158], thus resulting in a lysophospholipid and TAG. Co-expression of these enzymes in a recombinant microbial host cell resulted in increased production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”]. |
| US09416373B2 |
Biogas production
A process for the production of biogas from biodegradable material is disclosed, the process comprising the steps of: (a) adding the biodegradable material to the reactor; (b) inoculating a microorganism; (c) adding a colloidal solution of surface-modified iron oxide nanoparticles to the reactor; (d) providing anaerobic conditions; (e) carrying out an anaerobic digestion; and (f) collecting the biogas; wherein the steps (a), (b) and (c) can be carried out in any order. |
| US09416371B2 |
T-cell vaccination with viral vectors via mechanical epidermal disruption
Attenuated, replication-deficient viruses such as vaccinia viruses are used to deliver an exogenous viral, bacterial, parastic or tumor antigen to an epidermal tissue such as the skin, lungs or gastrointestinal tract, which has been mechanically disrupted, in an amount effective to elicit or stimulate a cell mediated immune response. The epidermis may be mechanically disrupted prior to, at the same time, or immediately after the administration of the vaccine. The vaccine can be used to induce immunity against a pathogen, such as a virus, bacteria, or parasite, or against a cancer in a subject that has or is at risk of developing cancer. |
| US09416367B2 |
Plants with improved nitrogen utilization and stress tolerance
The present invention relates to transgenic plants that have increased nitrogen use efficiency, stress tolerance, or both and that have been transformed using a novel vector construct including nucleic acid sequences that modulate nitrogen use in plants. In various embodiments, the vector construct includes one or more nucleic acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, or 38. The invention also relates to isolated vectors for transforming plants and to antibodies used for detecting transformed plants. The invention also relates to methods of expressing in plants the nucleic acid molecules corresponding to the nucleic acid sequences that modulate nitrogen use in plants or are modulated by nitrogen conditions. |
| US09416361B2 |
Splice-region antisense composition and method
Antisense compositions targeted against an mRNA sequence coding for a selected protein, at a region having its 5′ end from 1 to about 25 base pairs downstream of a normal splice acceptor junction in the preprocessed mRNA, are disclosed. The antisense compound is RNase-inactive, and is preferably a phosphorodiamidate-linked morpholino oligonucleotide. Such targeting is effective to inhibit natural mRNA splice processing, produce splice variant mRNAs, and inhibit normal expression of the protein. |
| US09416359B2 |
Method for constructing mutagenesis libraries in situ
Method and kit for constructing a random mutagenesis library. The method comprises providing a first expression vector comprising a target polynucleotide fragment, providing a pair of Vector-primers that are complementary to the vector portion of the first expression vector, wherein the Vector-primers comprise a second selection marker gene, and wherein the Vector-primers allow PCR amplification of the target polynucleotide; and performing a PCR reaction using the first expression vector as the template with the Vector-primers under error-prone PCR conditions in the presence of a thermostable DNA ligase, generating a second expression vector which comprises the second selection marker gene and a mutated target polynucleotide. |
| US09416353B2 |
Covalent tethering of functional groups to proteins and substrates therefor
A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate and has at least two amino acid substitutions relative to the wild-type hydrolase. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein. |
| US09416351B2 |
Lactic bacterium for texturizing food products selected on basis of phage resistance
The present invention relates to a bacterial cell with texturizing property, starter cultures comprising the cell, and dairy products fermented with the starter culture. |
| US09416348B2 |
Hepatocyte-like cells and uses thereof
The present invention relates to hepatocyte-like cells. Also disclosed are methods of making the cells and using the cells. |
| US09416345B2 |
Cold box with a rack loaded with tube-shaped vessels for automated filling by an automated pipetting device
A cold box having a cooling receptacle filled with a dry protective gas in which is accommodated a rack loaded with tube-shaped vessels. The cooling receptacle is covered by a movable lid which is associated with a lid part and which is preferably formed by an outer lid and a rotatable inner lid integrated in the outer lid so that the cooling receptacle is completely covered in every position of the lid. At least one of the through-holes provided in the inner lid can be arranged over a respective tube-shaped vessel by a coordinated movement of the outer lid and rotation of the inner lid so that the tube-shaped vessel located under the through-hole in alignment therewith can be filled with a sample through the through-hole by means of a commercially available pipette tip/dispensing needle of an automated pipetting device. |
| US09416340B2 |
Temperature-controlled liquid infusing device
An invention for infusing liquids, such as beer or wine, at a desired temperature is disclosed. The invention comprises a fillable container to contain the infusing material and the liquid to be infused and a cooling system to maintain the temperature of the liquid at a desired level during infusion. The preferred embodiment can easily be connected to an existing beer faucet mount and has transparent sides to allow the customer to visibly observe the liquid as it is being infused. |
| US09416339B2 |
Treatment compositions comprising microcapsules, primary or secondary amines, and formaldehyde scavengers
The need for a treatment composition which provides a pleasant odor to a treated situs, particularly one having a long-lasting woody, floral, fruity or citrus character, and which does not discolor over time, is met by formulating the treatment composition with microcapsules comprising a microcapsule wall formed from cross-linked formaldehyde, and a core comprising an aldehyde or ketone containing perfume, in combination with a formaldehyde scavenger which does not complex with the aldehyde and/or ketone and amine, to form complexes that result in discoloration. |
| US09416333B2 |
Use of avocado pit for obtaining an avocado oil enriched with alkyl polyols and/or acetylated derivatives thereof
The present invention relates to the use of avocado seeds in order to obtain avocado oil enriched in alkyl polyols and/or acetylated derivatives thereof, said avocado seeds accounting for 10 to 50% by weight relative to the total weight of avocado used. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining avocado oil enriched in alkyl polyols or acetylated derivatives thereof from at least avocado seeds, said avocado seeds accounting for 10 to 50% by weight relative to the total weight of avocado used. The invention also relates to avocado oil enriched in alkyl polyols and/or acetylated derivatives thereof, obtainable by the present method. The invention also relates to the use of avocado oil in order to prepare an avocado oil concentrate enriched in alkyl polyols and/or acetylated derivatives thereof, or to prepare an avocado unsaponifiable enriched in alkyl polyols. Lastly, the invention relates to an avocado unsaponifiable enriched in alkyl polyols or an avocado oil concentrate enriched in alkyl polyols and/or acetylated derivatives thereof, obtainable from said avocado oil, for use as a drug, advantageously in the prevention and/or treatment of conjunctive tissue disorders such as arthrosis, articular pathologies such as rheumatism, or periodontal diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis. |
| US09416327B2 |
Hybrid gasification system
The present invention provides a hybrid gasification system which simultaneously has the advantages of an entrained-flow gasifier using pulverized fuel and a fluidized-bed gasifier utilized for gasifying fuel with relatively various properties. The present intention provides a hybrid gasification system employing a structure in which a second reaction chamber operated at a temperature of 700 to 900 is surrounded by a first reaction chamber operated at temperature, thereby obtaining an insulation effect, performing additional heat exchange, and minimizing a heat loss. Furthermore, the present invention provides a hybrid gasification system having a structure in which unreacted substances and tar within synthetic gas generated from a first reaction chamber reacts within a second reaction chamber, thereby increasing the entire gasification efficiency. |
| US09416322B2 |
Process for making improved catalysts from clay-derived zeolites
This invention relates to a process of preparing an improved catalyst comprising a clay derived zeolite. In particular, the invention comprises combining an yttrium compound with a zeolite produced by treating clay with a silica source and under alkaline conditions. The clay derived zeolite can be further combined with conventional matrix and/or binder precursors to form particulates suitable for use as catalysts in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). Alternatively, the clay that is treated with the silica source and alkaline conditions can be in particulate form having sizes suitable for use in FCC, and the zeolite is produced in situ within the particulate. Yttrium compound is then combined with the zeolite in the particulate, e.g., via impregnation. It has been shown that the addition of the yttrium compound improves zeolite surface area retention, and zeolite stability in catalysts comprising clay derived zeolites. |
| US09416321B2 |
Separation process with modified enhanced hot separator system
A separation process with a modified enhanced hot separator system is described. The process eliminates undesirable entrainment while allowing for enhanced stripping of the net liquid only. The modified enhanced hot separator system combines a hot separator with a hot stripping column. |
| US09416318B2 |
Liquid crystal composition, polymer, film, and cholesteric liquid crystal
A liquid crystal composition containing an optically active compound represented by the following formula (1) and a liquid crystal compound shows a cholesteric liquid crystal phase having an excellent alignment state: K1 and K2 represent benzene, cyclohexane or cyclohexene; X1 to X12 represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, alkenyl or alkyloxy. |
| US09416311B2 |
Boron chain embedded carbon nanotubes
Compositions comprising boron chain embedded carbon nanotubes, methods of making, and methods of using are provided. Electroluminescent compositions comprising the same are also provided. |
| US09416310B2 |
Materials for electronic devices
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) and to the use thereof in electronic devices, in particular organic electroluminescent devices. Furthermore, the present invention relates to electronic devices comprising at least one compound according to the invention, preferably as emitter material or as charge-transport material. |
| US09416309B2 |
Alumina, luminophores and mixed compounds, and associated preparation processes
The present invention relates to the synthesis of luminophores and of reflective alumina for optimizing the emissive properties of a fluorescent layer. |
| US09416308B2 |
Core-shell structured silicate luminescent material and preparation method therefor
A core-shell structured silicate luminescent material and a preparation method thereof. The molecular formula of the luminescent material is: MLn1-xSiO4:xRE@SiO2; where @ represents a coating, where M is one or two elements among Li, Na, and K, where Ln is one or two elements among Y, Sc, Lu and La, where the value of x is 0 |
| US09416307B2 |
Method and composition for inhibiting wax in a hydrocarbon mixture
A method of inhibiting the formation or deposition of wax in a mixture comprising hydrocarbons, the method comprising contacting the mixture with a composition which comprises at least one ionic liquid. The ionic liquid is preferably a polyamine salt derivative or a polypropylene glycol derivative. |
| US09416299B2 |
Structural acrylic adhesive
There is provided an adhesive composition comprising: a) at least one acrylic functional monomer; b) a first toughening agent; c) a second toughening agent; d) an adhesion promoter; and e) a high aspect ratio filler selected from at least one of a high aspect ratio fibrillated filler and a halloycite clay filler. |
| US09416298B2 |
Process for the manufacture of semiconductor devices comprising the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of III-V material in the presence of a CMP composition comprising a specific non-ionic surfactant
A process for the manufacture of semiconductor devices comprising the chemical-mechanical polishing of a substrate or layer containing at least one III-V material in the presence of a chemical-mechanical polishing composition (Q1) comprising (A) inorganic particles, organic particles, or a mixture or composite thereof, (B) at least one amphiphilic non-ionic surfactant having (b1) at least one hydrophobic group; and (b2) at least one hydrophilic group selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene groups comprising (b22) oxyalkylene monomer units other than oxyethylene monomer units; and (M) an aqueous medium. |
| US09416297B2 |
Chemical mechanical polishing method using slurry composition containing N-oxide compound
The present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry composition that provides for a high metal to dielectric material selectivity along with a low rate of metal recess formation. In some embodiments, the disclosed slurry composition has an oxidant and an etching inhibitor. The oxidant has a compound with one or more oxygen molecules. The etching inhibitor has a nitrogen-oxide compound. The etching inhibitor reduces the rate of metal and dielectric material (e.g., oxide) removal, but does so in a manner that reduces the rate of dielectric material removal by a larger amount, so as to provide the slurry composition with a high metal (e.g., germanium) to dielectric material removal selectivity and with a low rate of metal recess formation. |
| US09416294B2 |
Curable epoxide containing formaldehyde-free compositions, articles including the same, and methods of using the same
A composition is disclosed that includes a water insoluble polymer, a polycarboxy functional polymer, and a water insoluble epoxide functional compound, the water insoluble polymer including at least one of polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene copolymer, acrylate copolymer, and polyurethane. |
| US09416293B2 |
Recording medium
A recording medium that includes a base material and an ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer includes an inorganic particle including a structure represented by General Formula (1) and a binder. |
| US09416292B2 |
Fluoropolymer non-stick coatings
A coating composition is provided comprising (a) an aqueous medium, (b) melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer dispersed in said aqueous medium and having a melting temperature of at least 290° C., (c) melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer dispersed in said aqueous medium and having a melting temperature of no greater than 270° C., and (d) water miscible organic liquid having a boiling temperature of at least 280° C. and optionally (e) filler, the combination of (c) and (d) providing sloughing resistance to said composition applied to a non-horizontal substrate and baked, component (d) being unnecessary when component (a) is not present in the coating composition, and when filler is present the amount of (c) being present in an effective amount to increase the cohesive strength of the baked layer of the coating composition. |
| US09416291B2 |
Coating compositions
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards coating compositions comprising from 50 to 85 percent of an aqueous dispersion based on a total weight of the coating composition, an abrasion reducing composition, a solvent, a basic water composition, and a crosslinker. |
| US09416288B2 |
Inkjet recording method
An inkjet recording method includes discharging a composition including a metal powder, an organic solvent, and a binder resin. Metal or metal alloy constitutes at least a surface of the metal powder, and the surface of the metal powder is treated by a surface preparation with a fluorinated silane composition and/or a fluorinated phosphate ester. |
| US09416280B2 |
Styrene-maleic anhydride based dispersant in a coating or ink
The invention relates to a composition containing a particulate solid, an organic or aqueous medium, and a copolymer containing less than 25 mol % of residues of monomers comprising a dicarboxylic acid, or anhydride thereof. The invention further relates to novel copolymers, and the use of the copolymers as a dispersant. |
| US09416279B2 |
Bi- and tri-layer interfacial layers in perovskite material devices
Photovoltaic devices such as solar cells, hybrid solar cell-batteries, and other such devices may include an active layer disposed between two electrodes. The active layer may have perovskite material and other material such as mesoporous material, interfacial layers, thin-coat interfacial layers, and combinations thereof. The perovskite material may be photoactive. The perovskite material may be disposed between two or more other materials in the photovoltaic device. Inclusion of these materials in various arrangements within an active layer of a photovoltaic device may improve device performance. Other materials may be included to further improve device performance, such as, for example: additional perovskites, and additional interfacial layers. |
| US09416277B2 |
Process for controlling particle size and additive coverage in the preparation of titanium dioxide
The present disclosure relates to a vapor phase process for producing a substantially anatase-free titanium dioxide pigment comprising: reacting a vaporous titanium dioxide precursor and an oxygen containing gas in a reactor; and introducing a mixture of liquid titanium dioxide precursor and a liquid or finely divided solid compound comprising a element selected from the group consisting of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, and Pb, into the reactor at a point downstream of the addition of the vaporous titanium dioxide precursor, and the oxygen containing gas, and at a process temperature of about 1200° C. to about 1600° C. to produce titanium dioxide particles that are coated by the oxide formed from the element. |
| US09416276B2 |
Method for producing contrast agent
A method for producing a contrast agent includes the reaction step of allowing a cyanine dye containing a naphthyl group and a carboxyl or carboxylate group to react with a polyethylene glycol containing an amino group in an organic solvent to form a conjugate, and the purification step of purifying the conjugate using an organic solvent. |
| US09416273B1 |
Curable composition and method for manufacturing the same
A curable composition includes the following: (A) a polymer having an average unit formula (I′): [(R″)2SiO2/2]a″[(CH2═CH)(R″)2SiO1/2]b″[R″SiO3/2]c″[O1/2Si(R″)2(CH2CH2)(R″)2SiO1/2]e″; (B) a branched organopolysiloxane having an average unit formula (VI) (R4SiO3/2)x(SiO4/2)y[(R8)3SiO1/2]1-x-y; (C) an organopolysiloxane having an average unit formula (II) being capped with H: (R52SiO2/2)f(R63SiO1/2)g(R7SiO3/2)h(SiO4/2)i(CH2CH2)j; and (D) a catalyst, wherein R″, R4 to R8, x, y, a″ to c″, e″ and f to j are as defined in the specification. |
| US09416272B2 |
Polyphenylene sulfide resin composition, molded product of polyphenylene sulfide resin composition and production method of polyphenylene sulfide resin composition
There is provided a polyphenylene sulfide resin composition, comprising 5 to 95% by weight of a component (B) which is a polyphenylene sulfide resin having a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 10,000 and a weight loss percentage ΔWr of not greater than 0.18% under heating, relative to 95 to 5% by weight of a component (A) which is a polyphenylene sulfide resin having the weight loss percentage ΔWr of greater than 0.18%, wherein a total of the component (A) and the component (B) is equal to 100% by weight. |
| US09416270B2 |
Polyamide composition for low temperature applications
A polyamide composition is formed from a low viscosity polyamide-6 and a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent includes an organic material, a first inorganic material and a second inorganic material. Suitable organic materials include organic polymers. Suitable inorganic metallic materials include metal oxides and silicates. The polyamide composition may include polyamide-66 materials and carbon black. |
| US09416263B2 |
Propylene-ethylene random copolymer
Propylene random copolymer composition containing (A) 60-85 wt % of a copolymer of propylene and from 0.1 to 2 wt % of units derived from ethylene and having a melt flow rate value according to ISO 1130 (230° C., 2.16 kg) of from 80 to 200 g/10 min; and (B) 15-40 wt % of a copolymer of propylene and from 7 to 17 wt % of units derived from ethylene. The composition has a total ethylene content of from 3 to 4.5 wt %, and a melt flow rate value according to ISO 1133 (230° C., 2.16 kg) of greater than 60 to 150 g/10 min, the composition having not been subject to any form of post-reactor treatment which increases its melt flow rate by more than 5 g/10 min. |
| US09416254B2 |
Photocurable acrylic-based thermal conductive composition, acrylic-based thermal conductive sheet, and method of producing the same
A photocurable acrylic-based thermal conductive composition suitable for an acrylic-based thermal conductive sheet contains 100 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylate monomer, 300 to 2,000 parts by mass of a thermal conductive filler, 0.5 to 7.0 parts by mass of a photo-radical polymerization initiator, 0.5 to 4.0 parts by mass of a primary antioxidant, 0.5 to 8.0 parts by mass of a secondary antioxidant, and 0.1 to 4.0 parts by mass of a thermal degradation inhibitor. |
| US09416250B2 |
Semi-finished product and tire comprising a composition containing a corrosion inhibitor
A semi-finished product or tire comprises a metal reinforcing element embedded in a rubber composition comprising a compound of formula (I): where X and Y represent, independently of one another, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation. |
| US09416249B2 |
Anti-adhesive agent for asphalt mixtures
Provided is an anti-adhesive agent for asphalt mixtures which does not readily separate at ordinary or low temperatures, even after dilution with water. The anti-adhesive agent comprising: a water-soluble monohydric alcohol (A) that has a boiling point greater than or equal to 150° C. and is liquid at 25° C.; a compound (B) that is represented by Formula (1); and liquid paraffin (C) that has a kinematic viscosity of 1 to 40 mm2/s at 40° C., wherein the mass ratios of (A), (B) and (C) are (A) 15 to 35 mass %, (B) 53 to 79 mass % and (C) 6 to 12 mass %. R1O-(EO)n—H . . . (1) (In the formula, R1 is a hydrocarbon group having a branched alkyl group and having 8 to 12 carbon atoms, EO is an oxyethylene group, and n is the average number of moles of oxyethylene groups added, which is 4 to 10.) |
| US09416248B2 |
Molasses binder
A binder based predominantly on molasses which incorporates both polymeric and monomeric polycarboxylic acid components to form a composite including both melanoidin and polyester polymeric structures. The binder incorporates the chemical profile of molasses with a mixture of polycarboxylic acids which combines to form a strong and weatherable binder composition which may be used to bind loosely or non-assembled matter. |
| US09416243B2 |
Photocurable and thermosetting resin composition, dry film solder resist manufactured therefrom, and circuit board including the solder resist
The present invention relates to a photocurable and thermosetting resin composition, including an acid modified oligomer, a photopolymerizable monomer, a thermosetting binder resin, a photoinitiator, two or more kinds of spherical alumina particles having different particle diameters from each other, and an organic solvent, a dry film solder resist obtained from the resin composition, and a circuit board including the dry film solder resist. |
| US09416240B2 |
Low-wear microporous friction material with high stability coefficient and manufacturing method thereof
A low-wear microporous friction material with a high stability coefficient and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The formula of the friction material includes GM-15 resin 15-50 wt %, rubber 0-10 wt %, shaping aid 0.5-5 wt %, sintering aid 0.5-5 wt %, foaming aid 0.5-5 wt %, kaolin powder 0.5-20 wt %, barite powder 5-40 wt %, carbon fiber 2-20 wt %, KEVLAR 1-5 wt %, zinc oxide 1-10 wt %, and iron oxide red 0-2 wt %. By adjusting the hydrophilicity of the friction material and controlling the surface tension of the material, the friction coefficient of the material is kept from lowering under wet conditions and is rendered stable in dry and wet conditions. More specifically, the friction coefficient of the friction material stays above 0.25 under wet conditions, and the stability coefficient of the friction coefficient can reach 85% or above on an MM 1000 tester. |
| US09416239B2 |
Acrylamide-based crosslinking monomers, their preparation, and uses thereof
A process for preparing an acrylamide-based crosslinking monomer comprising reacting in the presence of a catalyst an isocyanate compound containing at least two isocyanate groups with one of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. These acrylamide-based crosslinking monomers are used in the preparation of coating compositions, adhesive compositions curable by applying thermal or radiation energy, and in the preparation of cation or anion exchange membranes. |
| US09416238B2 |
Method for the preparation of a heterophasic copolymer and uses thereof
Methods for preparing an impact copolymer by selecting a continuous phase polymer having a first melt flow rate and selecting a rubber phase polymeric material such that the final melt flow rate of the impact copolymer is within 2 g/10 min of the first melt flow rate. Impact copolymers made from such methods and films and molded articles produced from such impact copolymers are also included. |