最新美国发明专利第2016-08-23期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09423883B2	Electronic apparatus and method for determining validity of touch key input used for the electronic apparatus Provided are an electronic apparatus for determining validity of touch key input and a method and apparatus for determining validity of touch key input for the electronic apparatus. The method includes determining whether a touch key is input to perform a preset function, determining whether a dummy key used to determine validity of input of the touch key is input, if determining that the touch key is input, and determining validity of input of the touch key based on whether the dummy key is input. According to the present invention, by determining whether touch key input is intended by a user, it is possible to prevent a function undesired by the user from being performed.
US09423882B2	Speed typing apparatus A keyboard is provided having 26 letters assigned to only 16 to 21 keys, and preferably 21 keys. This advantageous system of typing makes use of either one or two hands. The 26 letters of the English alphabet are all displayed. Five keys have two letters—those letters are PQ, JK, UW, VX and YZ for a total of ten letters. Sixteen keys have one letter assigned to each key—namely the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, O, N, R, S and T for a total of sixteen letters assigned to a specific key—for a total of 26 letters.
US09423881B2	Foldable keyboard with adjustable ergonomic features An input system includes a first base portion including a keying surface and a second base portion including a keying surface. For example, the input system may be a keyboard with a first keyboard segment and a second keyboard segment. A base portion manipulation mechanism couples the first base portion to the second base portion. The base portion manipulation mechanism includes a first moveable coupling that is configured to allow relative movement of the first base portion and the second base portion into at least one of a side-by-side tented orientation and a side-by-side splayed orientation. For example, the first base portion and the second base portion may be moved into an ergonomic, side-by-side, tented and splayed orientation. A second moveable coupling is configured to allow relative movement of the first base portion and the second base portion into a stacked orientation for storage and travel.
US09423880B2	Head-mountable apparatus and systems A head mountable display (HMD) comprises an infrared light source operable to illuminate foreground objects but not background objects greater than a threshold distance from the HMD; one or more cameras operable to capture infrared illuminated images and visible light illuminated images; and an image processor operable to detect, from the infrared illuminated images, foreground objects in the visible light illuminated images.
US09423879B2	Systems and methods for controlling device operation according to hand gestures Provided is a non-contact sensing device that comprises a sensor comprising a plurality of function key sensors. A function key sensor of the plurality of function key sensors has a field of view. The function key sensor is constructed and arranged to detect a hand gesture at the field of view and to generate a function key control signal in response to detecting the hand gesture at the field of view. A processor processes the function key control signal from the function key sensor and outputs a command to a remote apparatus in response to the processed control signal.
US09423878B2	Electronic device and method of displaying information in response to a gesture A method includes displaying, on a display of an electronic device, an information element associated with an application and detecting a first gesture. In response to detecting the first gesture, at least a first part of a first image is displayed, including information associated with the application, while reducing display of the information element.
US09423875B2	Dynamic tactile interface with exhibiting optical dispersion characteristics One variation of a dynamic tactile interface for a computing device includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate including a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit and exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; a volume of particulate contained within the transparent base material of the substrate, biased around the fluid conduit, and exhibiting a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.
US09423871B2	System and method for reducing the effects of inadvertent touch on a touch screen controller A method and system are provided for determining if a control button on a touch screen controller (TSC) was inadvertently touched. A user gaze point is determined using gaze detection apparatus, and the level of functional significance of the control button is identified. User gaze boundary values for the control button are then determined, and the gaze boundary values are altered to reflect the level of functional significance.
US09423870B2	Input determination method Methods and systems for determining intent in voice and gesture interfaces are described. An example method includes determining that a gaze direction is in a direction of a gaze target, and determining whether a predetermined time period has elapsed while the gaze direction is in the direction of the gaze target. The method may also include providing an indication that the predetermined time period has elapsed when the predetermined time period has elapsed. According to the method, a voice or gesture command that is received after the predetermined time period has elapsed may be determined to be an input for a computing system. Additional example systems and methods are described herein.
US09423869B2	Operation support device An operation support device includes an operation part in which the operation input is performed by an operator, an action part to which a surgical tool is attached and which is driven by the operation input, a drive source that is provided in the operation part, and generates a driving force which adjusts the manipulation resistance at the time of the operation input, and a control unit that sets the magnitude and direction of the driving force, wherein the control unit sets the magnitude and direction of the driving force based on the operation input to the operation part.
US09423865B2	Accelerating microprocessor core wake up via charge from capacitance tank without introducing noise on power grid of running microprocessor cores A mechanism is provided for an integrated circuit with power gating. A power switch is configured to connect and disconnect circuits to a common voltage source. A capacitor tank is configured to supply wakeup charge to a given circuit. A controllable element is connected to the given circuit and to the capacitor tank. The controllable element is configured to controllably connect and disconnect the capacitor tank to the given circuit in order to supply the wakeup charge to the given circuit. The controllable element is configured to, responsive to the power switch disconnecting the given circuit from the common voltage source and to the given circuit being turned on to wakeup, supply the wakeup charge to the given circuit being turned on by transferring the wakeup charge from the capacitor tank to the given circuit. This reduces the electrical charge transferred from the circuits connected to the common voltage source.
US09423864B2	PCI express device and link energy management method and device Embodiments of the present invention disclose a PCI express device, and a link energy management method and device. The method includes: obtaining, by a first device, adjustment information for performing adjustment processing on a current rate and/or bit width of a PCI express link; stopping, by the first device, data sending, and clearing a master enable bit of a configuration space command register of a second device at an opposite end of the link, so that the second device stops data sending after current data sending is finished; performing, by the first device, adjustment processing on the rate and/or bit width of the link according to the adjustment information; resuming, by the first device, the data sending, and resetting the master enable bit, so that the first device and the second device send and receive data again at a rate and/or bit width that is obtained after the adjustment processing.
US09423863B2	Server system with power distribution board and storage control method thereof A server system and a control method thereof are provided. The server system includes a first computing module, a power distribution board (PDB) module, a first storage apparatus, and a second storage apparatus. The PDB module is connected to the first computing module and is configured to distribute the power of the server system. The first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus are connected to the PDB module. After finishing a boot operation, the first computing module determines whether a second computing module connected to the PDB module is present, such that the first computing module controls the PDB module to select and distribute the first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus to the first computing module and the second computing module. Therefore, the server system can achieve different data access applications in the server system by only using a general-purpose PDB module.
US09423853B2	System and method for balanced user experience in a multimedia conferencing community Various embodiments of methods and systems for balancing user experience in a multimedia conferencing community are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment envisions a portable computing device (“PCD”) receiving data indicative of one or more visual multimedia parameter settings in a companion PCD of the community. Based on the received data, the PCD may determine an adjustment to the settings of one or more of its own visual multimedia parameters such that a multimedia output in the form of a data packet stream is adjusted. In this way, the PCD may conserve power consumption by avoiding unnecessary multimedia workload processing for encoding a multimedia output that would not benefit the quality of service (“QoS”) delivered by the companion PCD. Additionally, by optimizing the quality of the multimedia output in view of the companion device parameter settings, the PCD may allocate more of its power budget to improving its own QoS level.
US09423849B2	Electric power management system and electric power management method The HEMS of each consumer transmits the amount of surplus electricity that is expected by to be generated by a PV system, and/or the amount of electric power that is needed by a controllable load, in a predetermined time slot on a predetermined date, to a server apparatus. The server apparatus, based on the notified amount of surplus electricity and the amount of electric power that is needed by the controllable load, combines a first consumer and a second consumer so that the amount of electric power needed by the controllable load will be equal to or greater than the amount of surplus electricity. Then, under the control the HEMS of the second consumer, the surplus electricity that is generated by the first consumer is consumed by each controllable load.
US09423839B2	Plugboard heat dissipation system A plugboard heat dissipation system is provided. The system may include a plugboard, an enclosure, and an air supply apparatus that provides an air source for heat dissipation, a length of a first board edge on the plugboard is greater than a length of a second board edge, an output port is disposed on the first board edge, a spatial position of the second board edge is corresponding to that of the first board edge, a connecting part connected to another plugboard orthogonal to the plugboard is disposed, the output port is output out of an enclosure using a first end face of the enclosure, the connecting part is output out of the enclosure using a second end face of the enclosure. In the system, when space in which the plugboard is located is limited, the number of ports on the plugboard can be expanded.
US09423836B2	Super-slim touch keyboard and super-slim cover device for smart keyboard having the same A super-slim touch keyboard and a super-slim smart cover device including the same are provided. The super-slim touch keyboard includes a lower case, a touch circuit board including a key pattern disposed on the lower case and a touch wheel pattern disposed adjacent to the key pattern, a piezoelectric sensor film layer formed on the touch circuit board and including a piezoelectric sensor printed on a portion thereof corresponding to the key pattern, an electro-luminance (EL) film layer formed on the piezoelectric sensor film layer, a keypad layer formed on the EL film layer and including a plurality of keys at a portion thereof corresponding to the key pattern, and an upper case disposed to be coupled to the lower case at a periphery of the keypad layer and including a touch wheel at a portion thereof corresponding to the touch wheel pattern.
US09423835B2	Invisible, light transmissive display system An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible, tapered, light-transmissive holes are penetrated in a lighttransmissive pattern through at least a portion of the light resistant material using a laser beam having a focal width less than the smallest diameter of the tapered holes.
US09423832B2	Display device using semiconductor light emitting device A display device including a wiring substrate having a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer, a conductive adhesive layer configured to cover the wiring substrate, a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices coupled to the conductive adhesive layer and electrically connected to a first electrode and a second electrode. Further, the first electrode is disposed on the first substrate layer, and the second substrate layer has one surface facing the conductive adhesive layer and the other surface covering the first electrode, and an auxiliary electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on one surface of the second substrate layer.
US09423828B2	Self-leveling system with auto feedback control A leveling system includes a chassis and a first foot protruding from the chassis. The leveling system also includes a plurality of pressure sensors to measure pressure at a first location at the first foot and a second location separated from the first foot. In addition, the leveling system includes a processor that retracts or extends the first foot using an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.
US09423825B2	Mobile computing device with expanded display size A mobile computing device comprising a display panel and a home button, the display panel being disposed on the exterior front surface and the home button being disposed on the exterior back surface of the mobile computing device. The front surface may be free of any additional user Input/Output devices apart from the display panel. The mobile computing device may further comprise an accelerometer and a phone circuit. Upon detection that the display panel faces away from a user during a phone call, displayed information on the display panel may be concealed automatically. The accelerometer may be also operable to detect shaking motions on the mobile computing device as a user command to turn on or turn off the display panel.
US09423820B2	Complimentary bit slicing side channel attack defense This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to communicate data over a data bus during a first period of a clock signal with a uniform power distribution, including providing a complimentary bit state of the data during a first portion of the first period of the clock signal and providing an actual bit state of the data during a second portion of the first period of the clock signal. In an example, the first period can include first, second, third, and fourth portions, and the systems and methods can include providing a complimentary bit state of the data during first and fourth portions of the first period of the clock signal and an actual bit state of the data during a second portion of the first period of the clock signal.
US09423819B2	Optical quantum random number generator A random number generator includes a light source emitting light at a first frequency, an optical unit including an optical component configured to receive light at the first frequency and emit light at a second frequency, and a measurement unit configured to receive light at the second frequency, and generate a random output value related to a phase parameter of the light at the second frequency.
US09423810B2	Voltage regulator and control method thereof A voltage regulator and a control method thereof are provided to dynamically adjust an output voltage. The voltage regulator comprises a plurality of switching transistors and a control circuit. The first end of each switching transistor receives a driving voltage, and the second end of each switching transistor is electrically connected to the end which outputs the output voltage. The input end and the feedback end of the control circuit respectively receive a reference voltage and the output voltage. A plurality of output ends of the control circuit are electrically connected to the control ends of the switching transistors respectively. Switching transistors adjust the output voltage. The control circuit compares the output voltage with the reference voltage, and selectively turns the switching transistors on or off according to the comparison between the output voltage and the reference voltage, to control the output voltage to approach the reference voltage.
US09423801B2	Continuous manufacturing system A continuous system for manufacturing a composition that contains an active ingredient that includes a base manufacturing portion and an addition portion. The system can manufacture compositions having different levels of the active ingredient. A base is formed that contains a first level of the active ingredient that is desired for any composition to be manufactured. The addition portion can be used to add more of the materials for the composition to lower the level of the active ingredient, or more active ingredient can be added to increase the level of the active ingredient. The system is controlled by a sensor that measures an amount of associated material that is associated with the active ingredient. This is useful when the active ingredient is not detectable by the sensor.
US09423798B2	Method for positioning a mobile robot and a mobile robot implementing the same First and second positioning devices disposed at first and second stationary locations transmit first and second pilot signals, respectively. Transmission coverages of the first and second pilot signals have an area of overlap. When a mobile robot moves to the area of overlap, the mobile robot determines first angular orientation information between the mobile robot and the first positioning device, and second angular orientation information between the mobile robot and the second positioning device. The mobile robot then determines an initial position of the mobile robot based on the first stationary location, the second stationary location, the first angular orientation information, and the second angular orientation information.
US09423796B2	Bot having high speed stability An autonomous transport vehicle for transporting items in a storage and retrieval system is provided. The autonomous transport vehicle includes at least two drive wheels and a controller, where each drive wheel is independently driven and a drive wheel encoder is disposed adjacent each drive wheel. The controller, in communication with the drive wheel encoders, is configured to determine a kinematic state of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage and retrieval system based on incremental data from the drive wheel encoders only and independent of drive wheel slippage.
US09423795B2	Inverted pendulum type vehicle An inverted pendulum type vehicle configured to enable a user to control the vehicle by selecting a single control mode, even while other control modes are not selected. One control mode out of plural control modes of the vehicle is selected based on a detection result of an inclination state of an occupant riding section by an inclination sensor that is a fundamental constituent of the vehicle. Motion of a first actuator device and a second actuator device is controlled according to the one control mode selected.
US09423794B2	Control system for travel in a platoon The present invention relates to a control system for travel in a platoon (1), the platoon comprising a lead vehicle (L) and one or more following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) automatically following the lead vehicle, the lead vehicle controlling the movement of the following vehicles, each of the following vehicles and the lead vehicle comprising communication means (10, 12), wherein the control system comprises a common time base, which allows a control command proposing an action to be communicated from the lead vehicle (L) to at least one of the following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) in advance of a control point (tc). The invention further relates to the use of a common time base in a platoon and to a method to control travelling in a platoon.
US09423787B2	Integrated drive management and configuration using instantiated objects A programming tool provides an interface between an industrial controller and a motor drive that allows the logic development tool used to program the industrial controller to be used to configure the motor drive and its supported components directly. This allows a programmer to configure the topology for the motor drive and provide configuration data that can be verified directly from within the controller programming software rather than requiring separate programming and diagnostic tools.
US09423778B2	Intermediate apparatus An intermediate apparatus manages a plurality of lower-level apparatuses, and includes an individual adjustable amount receiving unit, a memory unit storing lower-level apparatus management information, a total adjustable amount calculation unit, a demand adjustment request receiving unit, an allocation unit, and an individual request unit sending an individual demand adjustment request to the lower-level apparatus. The individual adjustable amount receiving unit receives notification of an individual adjustable amount from each of the lower-level apparatuses. The total adjustable amount calculation unit calculates a total adjustable amount being a total of the individual adjustable amounts of the plurality of lower-level apparatuses. The demand adjustment request receiving unit receives a demand adjustment request from a higher-level apparatus. The allocation unit allocates a demand adjustment amount to die lower-level apparatus according to a prescribed order based on the lower-level apparatus management information, based on the demand adjustment request.
US09423777B2	Motor control device A command value generating circuit determines an acceleration profile indicating changes in acceleration of a mechanical load over time. The acceleration profile is determined such that the mechanical load is accelerated from a stop at a first position to a peak velocity, and is decelerated from the peak velocity to stop at a second position, and that the absolute value of an acceleration during accelerating and decelerating the mechanical load is equal to or less than an upper limit acceleration, and that the acceleration is maintained at the upper limit acceleration for a period of time from starting to accelerate the mechanical load, and then, gradually decreased from the upper limit acceleration. The command value generating circuit determines a velocity profile indicating changes in the velocity of the mechanical load over time, according to the acceleration profile, and generates a position command value, according to the velocity profile.
US09423763B2	Exposure unit covering member configuration for an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive member, a developing unit, an exposure member including a light emitting element array, a covering member, and a cover operation mechanism. The developing unit includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer supplied to the photosensitive member. The exposure unit is configured to expose the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the photosensitive member. The covering member is configured to move between a cover position where the covering member covers the exposure member between the photosensitive member and the exposure member and a retracted position where the covering member is retracted from between the photosensitive member and the exposure member. The cover operation mechanism is configured to hold the covering member in the retracted position at least when the exposure member forms the latent image on the photosensitive member.
US09423760B2	Developer accommodating container and image forming apparatus A developer accommodating container, comprising: an accommodating portion provided with a falling inlet; an optical portion which forms a light path inside the accommodating portion; a space portion which is provided in the middle of the light path and capable of accumulating the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion; a casing portion which has a cover portion covering the space portion not to flow in the developer to the space portion except a surface of the opposite side which is formed the falling inlet seeing from the space portion, and that has a introducing inlet which can introduce the developer to the space portion from upper position than at least a bottom of the space portion, and that has a discharge outlet which can discharge the developer at a lower position than the space portion.
US09423754B2	Image forming apparatus A flat cable (301) is disposed along a direction of reciprocating movement of a carriage (122), and is configured to input a synchronization signal to a board mounted on the carriage (122). A conductive plate (311) is supported by a casing (331) such that, when portions of the flat cable (301) face each other as a result of the flat cable (301) being bent according to the reciprocating movement of the carriage (122), the conductive plate (311) is interposed between the facing portions of the flat cable (301). An elastic member (312) is configured to electrically connect the conductive plate (311) and a ground member (321), and has a substantial inductance component that absorbs vibration generated in an image forming portion (140) or an image reading portion (120).
US09423751B2	Image forming apparatus for controlling toner density in developing unit A latent image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member. A developing unit includes a container. The container stores toner. A circulating unit circulates the toner in the container. The developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image using the toner. A replenishment unit replenishes the developing unit with toner. A detection unit detects a density of the toner in the container. An acquisition unit acquires a circulation period at which the circulating unit causes the toner to circulate. A determining unit determines a correction condition based on the circulation period. A correction unit corrects a detection result of the detection unit based on the correction condition. A controller controls the replenishment unit based on the detection result corrected by the correction unit.
US09423750B2	Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit including a containing unit; a replenishment unit replenishes the containing unit with the toner; a first determination unit determines an amount of the toner consumed in the containing unit; a detection unit detects a toner amount in the containing unit; a first calculation unit calculates a difference between the toner amount and a target amount; a second calculation unit calculates a cumulative value of the difference; a second determination unit determines a determination value; a prevention unit prevents the second calculation unit from accumulating the difference at second timing following the first timing; and a controller controls the replenishment unit, based on the determination value, in a case where the first determination value is less than a threshold, the second calculating unit is prevented from accumulating the difference at the second timing, on the cumulative value calculated at the first timing.
US09423746B2	Image forming apparatus and method in which a developer carrying member is rotated for a predetermined time during a startup or removal operation An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer that carries a latent image and a developer carrier including a developer carrying member that carries a developer on a surface thereof. The developer carrier conveys the developer to a developing position opposite to the latent image bearer by moving the developer carrying member so as to develop the latent image carried by the latent image bearer. In a startup operation after a stop operation performed during a developing operation by the developer carrier, the developer carrying member is rotated for a predetermined time while the latent image bearer is set in a stopped state before starting a rotation.
US09423740B2	Image forming apparatus with fixing portion having exciting coil configured to cause rotatable member to generate heat by electromagnetic induction heating An image forming apparatus includes (i) a feeding portion; (ii) an image forming portion; and (iii) a fixing portion. The fixing portion includes: (iii-i) a rotatable member; (iii-ii) an exciting coil configured to cause the rotatable member to generate heat by electromagnetic induction heating; (iii-iii) a magnetic flux suppressing member configured to suppress a part of magnetic flux acting from the exciting coil to the rotatable member; and (iii-iv) a motor for moving the magnetic flux suppressing member depending on a width size of the sheet; and (iv) a controller configured to variably control a feeding interval of the sheet by the feeding portion so that a number of times of movement per unit time of the magnetic flux suppressing member is not more than a predetermined value when image formation of a plurality of sheets different in width size is continuously effected.
US09423738B1	Heat generating unit, fixing unit, and image forming apparatus having a thermal destruction element A heat generating unit includes a substrate; a heat-generating element that is provided on the substrate and generates heat by receiving electric power; and a thermal destruction element provided on the substrate and connected in series to the heat-generating element, the thermal destruction element having a positive temperature coefficient and causing thermal destruction due to self-heating when heated to a temperature higher than a certain temperature by the heat of the heat-generating element.
US09423731B2	Image forming apparatus and non-transitory recording medium having recorded therein temperature control program for use in image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus forms a toner image of text on a recording sheet based on PDL data prescribing text data and one or more print conditions of thereof, and thermally fixes the toner image, and includes: condition acquisition unit analyzing the PDL data to acquire, as the conditions, one or more of character number, character spacing, and line spacing from the PDL data; judgment unit judging for each condition, by comparing the condition with reference value, the judgment indicating whether the condition is suitable for ensuring fixability of the toner image if thermally fixed at a temperature that is lower than predetermined temperature; and temperature control unit, when the judgment unit judges negatively for at least one condition, setting a fixing temperature for thermally fixing the toner image to the predetermined temperature, when the judgment unit judges affirmatively for all conditions, setting the fixing temperature to the lower temperature.
US09423730B2	Cooling device and image forming apparatus including same A cooling device including at least two cooling members to cool a recording medium passing thereover, a coolant circulation unit to circulate a coolant, and tubing that connects the coolant circulation unit to the cooling members and through which the coolant circulates. Each of the cooling members includes a heat-absorbing surface that directly contacts the recording medium or indirectly contacts the recording medium via a thermal transmission member, an internal channel provided within each of the cooling members through which the coolant circulates, and a channel inlet and outlet formed at downstream and upstream ends of each of the cooling members in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, respectively. One of an interval and a thermal insulator is provided between the cooling members.
US09423729B2	Image forming apparatus and heat fixing device provided in the same An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a heater, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. The endless belt is configured to circularly move about a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The endless belt has a center portion and end portions in the axial direction, and defines an internal space and an outer peripheral surface. The heater is configured to heat the endless belt. The first temperature sensor is positioned at the center portion and in the internal space. The second temperature sensor is positioned at one of the end portions and facing the outer peripheral surface.
US09423728B2	Fixing device comprising reflecting member arranged between heat source and supporting member and image forming apparatus including the same A fixing device according to the present invention includes a fixing belt (22), a pressuring member (23), a heat source (24), a reflecting member (25) reflecting the radiant heat radiated from the heat source (24) to an inner circumference face of the fixing belt (22), a pressing member (27) pressing the fixing belt (22) to a side of the pressuring member (23) and a supporting member (26) supporting the pressing member (27). The reflecting member (25) is arranged between the heat source (24) and the supporting member (26) and configured to be curved or bent so as to project toward a side of the heat source (24). Straight lines (L) connecting a center (Z) of the heat source (24) with both end parts of the supporting member (26) in a conveying direction of a recording medium pass through the reflecting member (25).
US09423725B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus being capable of commonalizing a control signal for lighting of static eliminators, and controlling the static eliminators with a single port of CPU. The image forming apparatus includes a main body control part controlling image formation; a nip separation mechanism separating an intermediate transfer belt from color photosensitive drums; a separation control part driving nip separation mechanism on a separation control signal inputted from main body control part; a monochrome static eliminator comprised of a monochrome light guide body and a monochrome light source irradiating light on its end face; color static eliminators comprised of color light guide bodies and color light sources irradiating light on their end faces; and an irradiation location shifting mechanism shifting irradiation location of light emitted from color light source from end face of color light guide body when intermediate transfer belt is separated from color photosensitive drums.
US09423722B2	Toner cartridge, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus Provided is a toner cartridge comprising: a toner storage case configured to store toner; and an auger screw rotatably supported in the toner storage case and configured to convey the toner stored in the toner storage case, wherein the toner storage case comprises: a first supporting portion that rotatably supports a downstream end along a toner conveyance direction of the auger screw; a second supporting portion that rotatably supports an upstream end along the toner conveyance direction of the auger screw; a discharge port provided at a downstream side along the toner conveyance direction and below the first supporting portion so as to discharge therefrom the toner conveyed by the auger screw; and an inclined portion that is provided above the discharge port and inclines by a predetermined angle from a plane perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the auger screw toward an upstream side along the toner conveyance direction.
US09423718B2	Laser scan unit housing for an image forming device A scan unit for an imaging device having a movable mirror and one or more light sources. A light beam generated by each light source is directed towards the movable mirror, movement of the mirror causing each light beam that is reflected by the mirror to follow a distinct scan pattern. An optical assembly is associated with each reflected light beam to form an optical path for each reflected light beam from the mirror. A housing in which the movable mirror, the one or more light sources and the optical assembly are secured has at least a portion made from electrically conductive material for shielding an interior of the housing from electromagnetic fields external to the housing. A light drive circuitry card is disposed in the interior of the housing and communicatively coupled to the one or more light sources for driving the one or more light sources.
US09423717B2	Charge roller for electrographic printer A charge roller includes a body having a metal external surface and an inorganic outer resistive coating.
US09423715B2	Roller member, roller supporting mechanism, and image forming apparatus A roller member used in an image forming apparatus includes a metallic shaft, and the metallic shaft includes a cylindrical portion formed of a metallic plate, and a projecting portion projecting outward from end surfaces of the cylindrical portion, wherein end portions of the metallic plate each include a straight portion, projections, and depressions, the projections on the one end portion engage the depressions on the other end portion, the depressions on the one end portion engage the projections on the other end portion, and the straight portions on both end portions oppose each other, a straight area is positioned on an end portion of the cylindrical portion, a projection and depression area is located adjacent to the straight area, and a projecting amount of the projection with respect to the straight portion is smaller than a projecting amount of the projection with respect to the depression.
US09423710B2	Magnetic toner The magnetic toner includes magnetic toner particles comprising a binder resin and a magnetic body and inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, whereinthe inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles comprise metal oxide fine particles, the metal oxide fine particles containing silica fine particles, and optionally containing titania fine particles and alumina fine particles, and a content of the silica fine particles being at least 85 mass % with respect to a total mass of the silica fine particles, the titania fine particles and the alumina fine particles, wherein; when a coverage ratio A (%) is a coverage ratio of the magnetic toner particle's surface by the inorganic fine particles and a coverage ratio B (%) is a coverage ratio of the magnetic toner particle' surface by the inorganic fine particles that are fixed to the magnetic toner particle's surface, the magnetic toner has a coverage ratio A, a coefficient of variation on the coverage ratio A, a ratio of the coverage ratio B to the coverage ratio A, and a compression ratio in a specific range.
US09423709B2	Polymer coated toner pigments for electrophotographic printing Toner compositions for electrophotographic printing are disclosed, along with methods for making such toners, and printing systems utilizing them. The disclosed process imparts qualities to the toner making it more efficiently and effectively incorporated into printed images.
US09423706B2	Electrophotographic photosensitive member, method for producing electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support. A surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polymerized product of a composition that contains a charge transporting compound having a particular group (polymerizable functional group).
US09423702B2	Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method measuring position of substrate stage by switching between encoder and interferometer An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate with an energy beam via a mask, and includes a substrate stage system that drives a movable body holding the substrate to move the substrate. A measurement system has an encoder system that irradiates a grating section with a beam and measures positional information of the movable body, and an interferometer system that measures positional information of the movable body. A control system controls a movement of the movable body based on measurement information of the measurement system. The positional information used for movement control of the movable body can be switched from the positional information of one of the encoder system and the interferometer system to the positional information of the other.
US09423701B2	Lithographic method and assembly A lithographic method of determining a sensitivity of a property of a pattern feature to change in optical aberrations of a lithographic apparatus used to provide that pattern feature. The method includes controlling a configuration of the lithographic apparatus to establish a first aberration state, forming a first image of the pattern feature with that lithographic apparatus when the lithographic apparatus is in that first aberration state, measuring a property of the image, controlling a configuration of the lithographic apparatus to establish a second, different, aberration state, forming an image of the same pattern feature with that lithographic apparatus when the lithographic apparatus is in that second aberration state, measuring a same property of the image, and using the measurements to determine the sensitivity of the property of the pattern feature to changes in the aberration state.
US09423700B2	Lithography apparatus, lithography method, lithography system, storage medium, and article manufacturing method Provided is a lithography apparatus that includes a plurality of patterning devices each of which is configured to perform patterning for a substrate supplied from a preprocessing apparatus; and a controller configured to control the plurality of patterning devices such that a plurality of substrates respectively belonging to a plurality of lots is subjected to parallel processings by the plurality of patterning devices based on a plurality of recipe information respectively corresponding to the plurality of lots, and transmit information regarding a schedule of the parallel processings to the preprocessing apparatus.
US09423699B2	Substrate holder, lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method, and method of manufacturing a substrate holder A substrate holder for a lithographic apparatus has a planarization layer provided on a surface thereof. The planarization layer provides a smooth surface for the formation of an electronic component such as a thin film electronic component. The planarization layer may be provided in multiple sub layers. The planarization layer may smooth over roughness caused by removal of material from a blank to form burls on the substrate holder.
US09423696B2	Projection exposure apparatus with optimized adjustment possibility Method for operating a projection exposure apparatus for microlithography, the projection exposure apparatus comprising an optical element, a manipulator, which acts on the optical element by changing the temperature of the optical element and the deflection of which brings about a heat flow caused by the manipulator into the optical element. The history of the effects, in particular the temperatures introduced into the optical element or the optical effects caused thereby, of the manipulator are recorded in a record.
US09423694B2	Polarization-modulating element, illumination optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, and exposure method There is disclosed a polarization-modulating element for modulating a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being made of an optical material with optical activity and having a circumferentially varying thickness profile.
US09423692B2	Composition for forming resist protection film for lithography and method for forming pattern of semiconductor device using the same Provided are a composition for forming a resist protection film for lithography and a method for forming a pattern of a semiconductor device using the same. The composition comprises a repeat unit having a fluorine-containing functional group on a side chain thereof and contains a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 2,000-100,000 and a solvent. The solvent containing 10-100 parts by weight of a material has a Hildebrand solubility parameter of 12.5-22.0, based on 100 parts by weight of the total weight thereof.
US09423687B2	Mask plate, method for fabricating array substrate using the same, and array substrate Embodiments of the invention provide a mask plate, a method for fabricating an array substrate using the mask plate, and an array substrate. The mask plate is used for fabricating the array substrate by a stitching exposure. The mask plate comprises 2n+1 mask patterns successively arranged and parallel to each other, where n is any natural number, each mask pattern includes a light-shielding pattern corresponding to a portion of a data signal line on the array substrate. The light-shielding patterns of two adjacent mask patterns are discontinuous, and the portions on both sides of the light-shielding pattern of the mask pattern located in the middle of the mask plate are asymmetric.
US09423686B2	Mask for microlithography and scanning projection exposure method utilizing the mask A mask for microlithography comprises a substrate; a first pattern area on the substrate, the first pattern area comprising a first pattern extending over a first length in a mask scanning direction and a first width in a direction perpendicular to the mask scan direction; and a second pattern area on the substrate adjacent to the first pattern area in the mask scanning direction, the second pattern area comprising a second pattern extending over a second length in the mask scanning direction and a second width identical to the first width in the direction perpendicular to the mask scan direction.
US09423681B2	Projection-type display apparatus having a laser light source A beam, expansion unit is configured to expand a beam of laser light emitted from a laser light source into an ellipse. A beam irradiation position moving unit is configured to translate a mirror by a driving unit to sequentially move the laser light expanded into the ellipse on the surface of an integrator in a minor-axis direction of the ellipse. A reflective liquid crystal device is configured to modulate the laser light. A projection lens is configured to project the laser light modulated by the reflective liquid crystal device.
US09423679B2	Projection unit and method for controlling the projection unit A projection unit may include a reflector-lamp arrangement which is designed to emit light during operation, wherein the light radiates toward an aperture, wherein a setting unit is provided, with which a light intensity distribution of the emitted light is adjustable relative to the aperture, wherein the light intensity distribution is adjusted depending on a period of operation of the lamp, and/or a measuring unit is provided, with which at least part of the light intensity distribution is detectable, wherein the light intensity distribution is adjusted relative to the aperture depending on a change in the light intensity distribution.
US09423678B2	Light emitting device, and super luminescent diode A light emitting device includes: an active layer; and a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer that sandwich the active layer, wherein the active layer forms an optical waveguide that guides light, a traveling direction of the light guided in the optical waveguide changes at a first reflection part provided on a first side surface of the active layer, and the first reflection part is located outside of a region in which the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer are provided in a plan view.
US09423677B2	Cooling structure, image projection apparatus, electronic device, and cooling device A cooling structure includes: a heat releasing unit configured to include a plurality of fins and to release heat by contacting a first cooling target; and an air blowing unit configured to blow air to the heat releasing unit, wherein the heat releasing unit includes a first region and a second region in which intervals of the fins are smaller than those of the first region, and a second cooling target that is different from the first cooling target is positioned downstream relative to the first region in a flow path of the air, and the air that has passed through the first region blows on the second cooling target.
US09423674B1	System and method for providing image encoding projection using an apodized liquid crystal display pixel A system for projecting to a viewing surface includes an illumination source to project a first image onto the viewing surface along a beam path, an LCD, with at least one pixel having a polarization rotation profile that approaches zero at an edge, for placement in the beam path of the illumination source to the viewing surface to transmit the first image in a first polarization state through the LCD to the viewing surface and to propagate a second image in a second polarization state from the LCD to the viewing surface, and a first polarization filter to provide the first image in the first polarization state prior to the first image being transmitted through the LCD. At least one of the first image in the first polarization state and the second image in the second polarization state is in a non-detectable polarization state when illuminated upon the viewing surface.
US09423672B1	Camera stand having constant resistance for a portion of a range of motion along an axis of rotation This application discloses a stand assembly that includes a receiving element for physically receiving a module, and a base assembly for supporting the receiving element. The receiving element further includes a module holding structure, an extended portion, and a first fastener structure coupled to an end of the extended portion. The base assembly includes a base, and a second fastener structure coupled to the base at a joint and configured to mate with the first fastener structure. The first fastener structure and the joint are configured to respectively provide a first degree of freedom of motion and a second degree of freedom of motion of the receiving element with respect to the base. The movement of the receiving element at the first degree of freedom has substantially consistent resistance through first part of a first full range of motion associated with the first degree of freedom of motion.
US09423671B2	Accessories for communication devices A modular accessory adapter configured to be selectively attachable to at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device. The modular accessory adapter includes a first member configured to be rotatably coupled to a second member such that the first member is rotatable relative to the second member to move the modular accessory adapter between a first position and a second position. The modular accessory adapter further includes a mount for attaching at least one of a flash, tripod, battery, diffuser, microphone, and speaker. The modular accessory adapter includes an engagement member configured to engage with a portion of at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device. In the first position, the modular accessory adapter is configured to be removably attachable to the at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device.
US09423670B2	Imaging device, control method of imaging device, and computer program There is provided an imaging device including an imaging control unit that executes imaging control in first and second self-timer modes in which an automatic focusing process and an imaging process are executed in order after reception of an imaging start instruction. A first period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the first self-timer mode is shorter than a second period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the second self-timer mode.
US09423664B2	Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling transitions in an optically switchable device. In one aspect, a controller for a tintable window may include a processor, an input for receiving output signals from sensors, and instructions for causing the processor to determine a level of tint of the tintable window, and an output for controlling the level of tint in the tintable window. The instructions may include a relationship between the received output signals and the level of tint, with the relationship employing output signals from an exterior photosensor, an interior photosensor, an occupancy sensor, an exterior temperature sensor, and a transmissivity sensor. In some instances, the controller may receive output signals over a network and/or be interfaced with a network, and in some instances, the controller may be a standalone controller that is not interfaced with a network.
US09423663B2	Method for manufacturing patterned layer and method for manufacturing electrochromic device A method for manufacturing a patterned layer includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; providing a material source for supplying a plurality of charged particles, in which the first surface faces the material source; providing a magnetic element, in which the second surface is arranged between the magnetic element and the first surface; and depositing the charged particles on the first surface through using the magnetic element so as to form a patterned layer. A method for manufacturing an electrochromic device is disclosed as well.
US09423659B2	Array substrate, liquid crystal display panel, and display device An array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel (20) and a display device. The array substrate comprises: a substrate (10); a first transparent conductive layer (11) disposed on the substrate (10); an insulating layer (12) disposed on the first conductive layer (11); and a second transparent conductive layer (13) disposed on the insulating layer (20) and configured for forming a horizontal electric field with the first transparent conductive layer (11); the second conductive layer (13) comprises a plurality of transparent electrodes (14), adjacent transparent electrodes (14) possess a slit structure therebetween, and two ends of each transparent electrode each possess a bent structure (16).
US09423656B2	Liquid crystal display and method for fabricating the same A liquid crystal display includes a first display panel having a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding portion, a second display panel that faces the first display panel with liquid crystals interposed between the first and second display panels and that includes a TFT substrate, a pixel electrode on the TFT substrate, a passivation film on the TFT substrate and the pixel electrode, and a common electrode patterned on the passivation film, and a trench in the passivation film within the light-shielding region between the first and second display panels. The trench encloses the light-transmitting region, and the common electrode is on the trench.
US09423655B2	Liquid crystal display device In a first substrate, a first organic insulating film is arranged in an active area, and includes a first surface and a first concave portion in a peripheral area outside the active area. The first concave portion is located more close to a substrate end side than the first surface. In a second substrate, a shield layer is arranged in the peripheral area facing the first substrate. A second organic insulating film includes a second surface facing the first surface and a second concave portion facing the first concave portion. The second organic insulating film overlaps the shield layer in the peripheral area. A pillar-shaped spacer is arranged between the first surface and the second surface in the peripheral area. A seal material contains the pillar-shaped spacer and is arranged between the first surface and the second surface, and between the first concave portion and the second concave portion.
US09423654B2	Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof A liquid crystal display may include a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer comprising liquid crystal molecules that are interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, an insulating layer disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the insulating layer, a third electrode disposed on the second substrate, and an alignment layer disposed on any one of the second electrode and the third electrode. The second electrode comprises a fine slit structure, and at least one of the liquid crystal layer and the alignment layer comprises a sub-alignment substance.
US09423653B2	Back light unit and display device A backlight unit includes: a bottom chassis including a lower portion and side portions enclosing the lower portion; a light source plate to which a light source is attached; a diffuser configured to diffuse light generated from the light source; an optical sheet disposed on the diffuser and adapted to further diffuse the light diffused by the diffuser; and a first mold including a first inclined portion which is disposed between the diffuser and the optical sheet and may prevent the diffuser and the optical sheet from contacting each other, the first inclined portion may reflect light transmitted by the diffuser and emitted from the side of the diffuser toward the bottom chassis.
US09423652B2	Backlight module and light source assembly thereof A light source assembly includes a base plate, a light source secured on the base plate, a first reflection member, a second reflection member, and a diffusion plate. The first reflection member includes a base portion secured on the base plate and a plurality of protrusions with reflection surfaces inclined to the base plate. A through hole is defined on the base portion to receive the light source. Each protrusion protrudes from a side of the base portion away from the base plate and extends around the through hole. The second reflection member includes a reflection portion defining a plurality of light holes. The diffusion plate covers the second reflection member. Light emitting from the light source transmits to the light guide assembly via the reflection portion and the reflection surfaces.
US09423651B2	Backlight module and display device A backlight module comprising a light source and a diffusion plate disposed immediately opposite a light exiting surface of the light source.
US09423649B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same A backlight unit includes first and second light sources; first and second light guide bars positioned between the first and second light sources and each having a branch shape; and a mold frame accommodating the first and second light sources and the first and second light guide bars.
US09423648B2	Transflective display panel, method for fabricating the same and display device A transflective display panel, a method for fabricating the same and a display device are provided. The transflective display panel comprises an array substrate and a color film substrate cell-assembled with each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the array substrate and the color film substrate. A plurality of pixel units correspondingly formed on the array substrate and the color film substrate. Each pixel unit comprises a reflective region and a transmissive region. Disposed inside the reflective region are a first reflection layer disposed on the side of the array substrate that is close to the liquid crystal layer and a diffuse reflection layer disposed on the side of the color film substrate that is close to the liquid crystal layer. The diffuse reflection layer and the first reflection layer are disposed opposite each other.
US09423647B2	Display device with mirror function A display device includes a display panel and a polarization conversion panel disposed on the display panel. The polarization conversion panel has two or more display area regions that are independently drivable in order to implement either a reflection mode or transmissive mode in each of those regions and thus enabling pattern implementation. The polarization conversion panel includes: a reflective polarizer disposed on the display panel; an absorptive polarizer facing and spaced apart from the reflective polarizer; a lower electrode(s) layer disposed on the reflective polarizer; an upper electrode(s) layer disposed on the absorptive polarizer; and liquid crystals disposed between the upper and lower electrode layers. At least one of the upper and lower electrode layers includes a respective plurality of independently drivable sub-electrodes.
US09423646B2	Display device A display device includes a light providing assembly to provide light, and a display panel to display an image using the light. The display panel includes a first substrate (FS), a second substrate (SS), a liquid crystal layer (LCL), a polarizing plate (PP), a first optical element (FOE), and a second optical element (SOE). The FS includes a pixel region (PR) and a non-PR (NPR) adjacent to the PR. The SS faces the FS. The LCL is disposed between the FS and SS. The PP is disposed between the FS and LCL, and includes grid polarizing layers. The FOE is disposed between the FS and PP, and is configured to redirect a fraction of the light propagating toward the NPR in a first direction. The SOE is disposed between the FOE and PP, and is configured to redirect the fraction of light propagating in the first direction toward the PR.
US09423644B2	Display An embodiment of the present invention provides a display including: a first substrate; gate lines and data lines; transistors respectively located in pixel areas, wherein each of the transistors includes: an active layer on the first substrate and having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a necked-down portion connecting the first and the second end portions; a second substrate on the first substrate; and a display medium between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09423643B2	Display panel preventing reflection of external light and display apparatus having the same A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is provided, including a lower substrate; an upper substrate disposed to face the lower substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; a lower polarizing layer with a structure of wire grid formed on one surface of the lower substrate and configured to provide polarizing-filtering of light radiated from a backlight; and an upper polarizing layer with a structure of wire grid formed on one surface of the upper substrate and configured to provide polarizing-filtering of the radiated light passing through the lower polarizing layer and the liquid crystal layer, at least one of the wire grid of the lower polarizing layer and the wire grid of the upper polarizing layer including a reflection layer configured to reflect the radiated light and an absorbing layer configured to absorb external light incident from the outside through the upper substrate.
US09423642B2	Package structure of driving apparatus of display The invention discloses a package structure of a driving apparatus of a display. The driving apparatus of the display includes a plurality of driving units. The package structure includes a substrate and a plurality of package units. The substrate is used to carry the plurality of driving units. The plurality of driving units is apart to each other. The plurality of package units is used to package the plurality of driving units respectively to form a plurality of driving unit package body apart to each other. A total output channel number of the driving apparatus of the display equals to a total channel number of the plurality of driving units. This package structure can avoid heat concentration on the driving apparatus of the display to achieve good cooling effect and output effectiveness of the driving apparatus of the display will be not reduced accordingly.
US09423636B2	High temperature curing oven Embodiments of the invention provide a high temperature curing oven, comprising: a heating cavity a heater and a temperature monitor system. The heater includes a plurality of heating modules that can be controlled independently. The temperature monitor system includes: a thermocouple; an infrared monitor device; a signal processing module; and an executing module.
US09423634B2	Articles of eyewear including accessory attachment features An article of eyewear includes a frame. The frame includes a front frame defining a left aperture and a right aperture. The frame also includes a left temple arm and a right temple arm. The left temple arm is supported by the front frame and the right temple arm is supported by the front frame. The frame further includes an accessory attachment opening adapted to detachably receive an accessory. The accessory attachment opening extends through a portion of the frame in a thickness direction. The accessory attachment opening includes an open side adapted to facilitate ingress and egress of the accessory from the accessory attachment opening in a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction.
US09423628B2	Voice coil motor A VCM (Voice Coil Motor) is disclosed, the VCM including an auto focus module vertically moving a lens and having terminals exposed to an outer surface, a fixation member coupled to the outer surface of the auto focus module to expose the terminals, a handshake correction module including a first driving unit coupled to an outer surface of the fixation member and a second driving unit opposite to the first driving unit, a connection member connecting an upper end of the auto focus module to an upper end of the handshake correction module, and a flexible circuit board connected to the terminals and the second driving unit to apply a driving signal to the first and second driving units.
US09423611B2	Lens and method of forming shape of lens based on calculated normal direction of light incident points on virtual light incident surface A light incident surface of a lens is determined to have a shape of a virtual light incident surface (SF1). The virtual light incident surface (SF1) is defined based on normal directions (ni) respectively calculated at a plurality of light incident points (Pi) of the virtual light incident surface (SF1) such that lights emitted from a first light emitting point (S1) and incident on the respective light incident points (Pi) are projected onto a first projection point (r1) and that lights emitted from a second light emitting point (S2) and incident on the respective light incident points (Pi) are projected onto a second projection point (r2) spaced in a predetermined direction from the first projection point (r1).
US09423608B2	Multidimensional rotary motion apparatus moving a reflective surface and method of operating same A rotary motion controller controlling the motion of a mirror in a projection system is described having a mounting element coupled to a support member. A two-axis coupling is provided with at least two input shafts coupled to two drive mechanisms. A channeled portion is provided in a second of the two input shafts through which the support member extends there through and is guided thereby and where the at least one support member is coupled to the first input shafts via an input coupling coupled to and driving the support member and a control input controlling the position of the at least two input shafts. A method of controlling a mirror in an underwater projection system is also provided along with a method of operating a controller for an underwater projection system.
US09423606B2	Method of manufacturing an electrowetting device A method of manufacturing an electrowetting device including dispensing a fluid from a channel and onto a surface of a support plate. The channel is formed by a part of the surface of the support plate, an interface between the fluid and another fluid, and a further surface which is for example a surface of a roller.
US09423604B2	Subsurface glass reticles An optical instrument for light incoming along a principal optical axis includes a glass block and a subsurface object within the glass block. The subsurface object includes an arrangement of object marks. Each object mark includes a plurality of scattering layers stacked against the principal optical axis of the incoming light. First and second scattering layers of the plurality of scattering layers have different polarization responses.
US09423603B2	Stereo microscope A stereo microscope capable of not only adjusting the three dimensional effect of stereoscopic image but also focusing exactly even when the three dimensional effect of stereoscopic image is adjusted, is provided. A spacing distance of a pair of zoom unit can be adjusted so that a user can adjust three dimensional effect of image seen through an ocular lens according to personal tendency to improve convenience. Additionally, an object with a depth such as a hole can be exactly observed without interference of a boundary. Further, even though the three dimensional effect of an image is adjusted by adjusting the spacing distance of the pair of zoom units, the focus of optical system can be exactly adjusted.
US09423595B2	Imaging lens and imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens An imaging lens is essentially constituted by seven lenses, including: a positive first lens having a convex surface toward the object side; a second lens, of which at least one surface is of an aspherical shape; a third lens, of which at least one surface is of an aspherical shape; a fourth lens, of which at least one surface is of an aspherical shape; a positive fifth lens of a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the image side; a sixth lens, of which at least one surface is of an aspherical shape; and a negative seventh lens having a concave surface toward the image side, provided in this order from the object side. The imaging lens satisfies a predetermined conditional formula.
US09423594B2	Imaging lens and imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens An imaging lens is formed from six lenses, including a negative first lens having a concave surface toward the object side, a positive second lens, a negative third lens, a negative fourth lens of a meniscus shape with a concave surface toward the object side, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens having a concave surface toward the image side. The surface toward the image side thereof has an aspherical shape having at least one inflection point thereon, provided in this order from the object side.
US09423592B2	Imaging lens and imaging apparatus An imaging lens includes: a first lens group; a stop; a positive second lens group; and a negative third lens group which is fixed while focusing, in order from the object side. The first lens group includes at least one positive lens, at least one cemented lens, and a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface toward the image side, in order from the object side. The second lens group includes a cemented lens formed by a biconcave lens and a biconvex lens and a biconvex lens, in order from the object side. The third lens group includes a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface toward the object side, a biconcave lens, and a biconvex lens, in order from the object side. The first lens group, the stop, and the second lens group move integrally along the optical axis to focus from an infinite to a finite distance.
US09423589B2	Lens holder, lens driving device, camera device and electronic device A lens driving device in which the lens holder is employed, a camera device and an electronic device are also disclosed. The lens holder includes portions formed as having the respective different outer circumferential diameters between the upper side and the lower side of the vertical direction and provided in predetermined areas located in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential wall of the lens holder around which a coil is to be wound, and a flanged portion that protrudes from the outer circumferential wall of the lens holder toward the radially outward side, wherein the diametrically larger portion among the portions formed as having the respective different outer circumferential diameters between the upper side and the lower side of the vertical direction and the flanged portion are arranged so that they can be spaced away from each other by a predetermined gap.
US09423587B2	Optical imaging lens and electronic device comprising the same An optical imaging lens includes: a first, second, third and fourth lens element, the first lens element having an object-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of the optical axis, the second lens element having an object-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of the optical axis, and an image-side surface with a concave portion in a vicinity of its periphery, the third lens element having an image-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of the optical axis, the fourth lens element having an image-side surface with a concave portion in a vicinity of the optical axis, wherein the optical imaging lens set does not include any lens element with refractive power other than said first, second, third and fourth lens elements.
US09423586B2	Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and method for making the same A fiber optic connector includes a mechanical splice assembly and a connector body. The connector body has a first portion joined to a second portion. The first portion of the connector body includes first and second chambers. An opening on a front end of the connector body passes through the first chamber into the second chamber so that the mechanical splice assembly can be inserted into the first and second chambers. The second portion of the connector body includes cable retention arms that extend out from the rear end of the first portion and an opening that passes into the second chamber.
US09423585B2	Fiber optic connectivity system A fiber optic connectivity system for fiber optic cable management comprising a main chassis surrounding an interior cavity and including a main opening and a plurality of access points; a door assembly adjacent to the main opening including at least one mounting accessory aperture that is sized and configured for engaged receipt of a mounting accessory component, and said door assembly being selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the interior cavity; a tray supported on a rail on the interior facing surface of the main chassis, and the tray being selectively slideable upon the rail; a plurality of grommets each being integrally secured within a respective one of the access points, and each of the grommets being sized and configured for passage of at least one cable therethrough; and an adapter bracket on the tray being sized and configured for accommodating at least one fiber optic adapter plate thereon.
US09423584B2	Fiber termination enclosure with modular plate assemblies Certain types of fiber termination enclosures include an enclosure and at least one of a plurality of plate module mounting assemblies. Example plate module mounting assemblies include a termination panel plate assembly; a splice tray plate assembly; a cable spool plate assembly; and a drop-in plate assembly. Example cable spool plate assemblies include a cable spool arrangement rotationally coupled to a mounting plate, which fixedly mounts within the enclosure housing. A stand-off mount element may be disposed on the front of the cable spool arrangement to rotate in unison with the cable spool arrangement. The stand-off mount element may include one or more termination adapters.
US09423583B2	Optical USB cable with controlled fiber positioning Methods of controlling the position of an optical fiber having a minimum bend radius within an optical fiber channel in a fiber optic cable having a small footprint are disclosed. The position of the optical fibers is controlled so that the fiber is not bent at a radius below its minimum bend radius.
US09423581B2	Parallel optical system with integrated monitoring photodetectors The invention provides an optical system, in particular, a multi-channel parallel optical transceiver system with monitoring photodetectors and methods of forming the same. The multi-channel parallel optical system includes a substrate with at least one optical component mounted on the first side, at least one optical monitoring photodetector (mPD) fabricated on the first side of the substrate, a set of optical functional components disposed on the first side of the substrate to guide and reflect the light signal, an arrayed fiber placement structure fixing at least one optical fiber and having an exposed end to couple with the optical functional components to guide and diffract light from and to the optical components mounted on the first side of the substrate. The optical alignment of the optical placement structure, optical functional components, and the optical components mounted on the substrate is realized passively through the alignment holes and pins.
US09423578B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing A semiconductor device includes a first chip, a dielectric layer over the first chip, and a second chip over the dielectric layer. A conductive layer is embedded in the dielectric layer and is electrically coupled to the first chip and the second chip. The second chip includes an optical component. The first chip and the second chip are arranged on opposite sides of the dielectric layer in a thickness direction of the dielectric layer.
US09423576B2	Fiber optic cable connector The invention relates to a fiber optic cable connector (1), the fiber optic cable contact (1) having a hot forming zone (100) at a free longitudinal end portion (10) and, at a portion (11) of the fiber optic cable contact (1) remote from the hot forming zone (100), a thermal barrier zone (110), the thermal barrier zone (110) being configured in such a way that it prevents heat from passing from the hot forming zone (100) into a portion of the fiber optic cable contact (1) on the other side of the thermal barrier zone (110).
US09423575B2	Small form-factor pluggable connector A small form-factor pluggable connector is disclosed. A locking and unlocking mechanism of the SFP connector includes a rotating member rotatable mounted on a cover, a fastening shaft pivoting the rotating member on the cover, a spring member providing an elastic force for locking and unlocking, an actuator slideably mounted on the cover, and an U-shaped connecting member connecting the rotating member and the actuator. The spring member is located under a latching arm of the rotating member. When the latching arm is forced to rotate downward under an external force, the spring member is compressed. When the external force is removed, the spring member can be restored to its original state and push the latching arm upward. The SFP connector of the present invention is easy to be operated and can efficiently realize the locking and unlocking functions.
US09423573B2	Optical fiber socket An optical fiber socket includes a socket body and a fastening member. The socket body has a plugging slot. The edge of the plugging slot forms a stop wall and an accommodating slot is formed in the plugging slot near the stop wall. The fastening member is slidably disposed in the plugging slot. The fastening member extends and forms a stopper pin. The stopper pin is for sliding along the accommodating slot and for being stopped between the stop wall and the accommodating slot. The stopper pin stops between the stop wall and the accommodating slot so the optical fiber plug is able to be plugged in and be fixed stably.
US09423572B2	Optical connector and method for manufacturing optical connector An optical connector includes an optical waveguide having multiple cores for propagating light arranged in a width direction, a connector body including a distal end reference surface that contacts a distal end of the optical waveguide, a first reference surface that contacts a first surface of the optical waveguide, a lens array that face the multiple cores, and an opening, and a positioning member that is mounted to the opening, the positioning member including a pressing part that contacts a second surface of the optical waveguide and presses the optical waveguide to the first reference surface, and a first positioning part that contacts a first side of the optical waveguide in the width direction.
US09423571B2	Optical connector protecting cap, optical fiber cable with connector cap, and cap removal tool An optical connector protecting cap includes a projecting pulling piece to which a drawing out force is applied to pull out a cap from an optical connector, the projecting pulling piece protruding from a front end wall that covers in one end in an axis line of a cylindrical body placed on the outside of the optical connector.
US09423566B2	Optical modulator and optical transmitter An optical modulator includes a Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide that includes a pair of parallel waveguides, and a two-input-one-output optical coupler that couples light output from the parallel waveguides; a branching waveguide that branches a portion of light output from the optical coupler; and a light receiving unit that receives the light output from the branching waveguide. Orientation of an output end of the branching waveguide is angled toward the light receiving unit, to be oblique with respect to the parallel waveguides, and orientation of an output end of the optical coupler is angled toward a side opposite to that of the output end of the branching waveguide, to be oblique with respect to the parallel waveguides.
US09423564B2	Optical waveguide feedthrough assembly An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. For some embodiments, the optical waveguide includes a tapered surface biased against a seal seat formed in the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include an annular gold gasket member disposed between the tapered surface and the seal seat. The feedthrough assembly can further include a backup seal. The backup seal comprises an elastomeric annular member disposed between the glass plug and the housing. The backup seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.
US09423563B2	Variable buried oxide thickness for a waveguide A semiconductor structure is provided in which a plurality of waveguide structures are embedded within a semiconductor handle substrate. Each waveguide structure includes, from bottom to top, a bottom oxide portion, a waveguide core material portion and a top oxide portion. An oxide capping layer is present on topmost surfaces of each waveguide structure and a topmost surface of the semiconductor handle substrate. A plurality of semiconductor devices is located above a topmost surface of the oxide capping layer. The structure has thicker buried oxide regions defined by the combined thicknesses of the top oxide portion and the oxide capping layer located in some areas, while thinner buried oxide regions defined only by the thickness of the oxide capping layer are present in other areas of the structure.
US09423559B2	Multi-core amplification optical fiber A multi-core amplification optical fiber includes: a plurality of core portions doped with a rare-earth element; an inner cladding portion positioned at a periphery of the plurality of core portions, having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the plurality of core portions, in which a first hole is formed; and an outer cladding layer positioned at a periphery of the inner cladding portion, having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the inner cladding portion.
US09423556B2	Optical assembly, backlight module and liquid crystal display An optical assembly, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display are provided. The optical assembly includes a light guide plate and a frame. The light guide plate has at least one first circular-arc structure disposed on a side of the light guide plate. The frame is disposed around the light guide plate, in which the frame has at least one second circular-arc structure interlocked with the first circular-arc structure. A radius of the first circular-arc structure is substantially equal to a radius of the second circular-arc structure.
US09423552B2	Lightguide device with outcoupling structures A lightguide assembly including structures to provide for outcoupling of light from an internal reflection structure. In an embodiment, a lightguide assembly includes light transmissive bodies forming respective corrugations which are coupled to one another. Optical coatings are variously disposed between the respective corrugations, wherein the optical coatings provide for redirection of light from the lightguide assembly. In another embodiment, optical coatings are each applied to a respective one of alternate facets of a corrugation. Polymer film portions provide mechanical support for the optical coatings during application to the corrugation.
US09423547B1	Optical fiber light apparatus, and balloon apparatus provided with such optical fiber light apparatus Balloons, including lighter than air balloons and heavier than air balloons, are provided with optical fiber light apparatuses, in which the optical fiber light apparatuses have at least one optical fiber and at least one fluorescent color applied to the at least one optical fiber, such that black light moving through the at least one optical fiber produces fluorescent colored light as the black light is emitted through the fluorescent color applied to the at least one optical fiber.
US09423545B2	Mask processing using films with spatially selective birefringence reduction Certain patternable reflective films are used as masks to make other patterned articles, and one or more initial masks can be used to pattern the patternable reflective films. An exemplary patternable reflective film has an absorption characteristic suitable to, upon exposure to a radiant beam, absorptively heat a portion of the film by an amount sufficient to change a first reflective characteristic to a different second reflective characteristic. The change from the first to the second reflective characteristic is attributable to a change in birefringence of one or more layers or materials of the patternable film. In a related article, a mask is attached to such a patternable reflective film. The mask may have opaque portions and light-transmissive portions. Further, the mask may have light-transmissive portions with structures such as focusing elements and/or prismatic elements.
US09423535B1	LED display screen covers and LED displays An LED display screen cover includes a screen cover body including a plurality of cover units disposed in an array of multiple rows and multiple columns, each cover unit configured to be positioned on top of a respective LED lamp of an array of LED pixel units of an LED screen. A top of each cover unit forms an arched structure extending away from the LED pixel lamp, the arched structures of adjacent cover units configured and joined along the columns and rows such that, when placed over an illuminated LED screen, no perceptible light gaps are visible between adjacent screen pixels, as viewed through the screen cover body.
US09423533B2	Patterned glass cylindrical lens arrays for concentrated photovoltaic systems, and/or methods of making the same Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to patterned glass that can be used as a cylindrical lens array in a concentrated photovoltaic application, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the lens arrays may be used in combination with strip solar cells and/or single-axis tracking systems. That is, in certain example embodiments, lenses in the lens array may be arranged so as to concentrate incident light onto respective strip solar cells, and the entire assembly may be connected to a single-axis tracking system that is programmed to follow the East-West movement of the sun. A low-iron glass may be used in connection with certain example embodiments. Such techniques may advantageously help to reduce cost per watt related, in part, to the potentially reduced amount of semiconductor material to be used for such example embodiments.
US09423532B2	Anti-reflection coatings with aqueous particle dispersions and methods for forming the same Embodiments provided herein describe coating formulations, such as those used to form optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. The coating formulation includes an aqueous-based suspension of particles. The particles have a sheet-like morphology and a thickness of less than about 10 nm. The coating also includes a polysiloxane or silane emulsion, a polysiloxane or silane solution, or a combination thereof.
US09423529B2	Antireflection coating, optical system, and optical instrument An antireflection coating has a band ranging from the visible light range to the near infrared range. The antireflection coating has a deposition structure made up of twelve layers in which layers of a high refractive index material having a refractive index nH of 1.95 to 2.32 and layers of a low refractive index material having a refractive index of 1.35 to 1.46 are deposited alternately, wherein the reflectance of the antireflection coating is not higher than 1.5% in the wavelength range of 400 nm to 680 nm and not higher than 2.0% in the wavelength range of 680 nm to 1350 nm.
US09423528B2	Method of making silicone containing contact lens with reduced amount of diluents The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a contact lens including the steps of: (i) adding reactive components to a mold, wherein the reactive components comprise (a) at least one hydroxy-containing silicone component having a weight average molecular weight from about 200 to about 15,000 g/mole and (b) at least one mono-ether terminated, mono-methacrylate terminated polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from about 200 to about 10,000 g/mole; (ii) curing the reactive components within the mold to form the contact lens; and (iii) removing the contact lens from said mold.
US09423521B2	Method of determining the position of a detector disposed at the bottom of the sea A method of determining the position of a detector disposed under the sea, comprising the following steps: emit N waves from N emission points, record the propagation time of said wave between each emission point and the detector; determine the P time intervals Ti, with P≧1 such that, for each time interval Ti, there exist Mi emission points, Mi≧3 for 1≦i≦P, whose propagation times lie in the time interval, determine for each time interval Ti of the circle which passes closest to the Mi points whose propagation time lies in said time interval, and then determine the position of the detector as being the barycenter of the P centers of the circles determined previously.
US09423516B2	Systems and methods for spent fuel pool subcriticality measurement and monitoring A system and method for measuring and monitoring axial flux to determine subcriticality in a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant. In certain embodiments of this invention, one or more neutron detectors are operable to generate signals resulting from neutron interactions in the spent fuel pool, a counting device counts the signals which are generated by the one or more neutron detectors, a connecting means electrically connects the one or more neutron detectors to the counting device, a signal analyzer is used to determine reactivity of the fuel assemblies in the spent fuel pool based on the counted signals, a power supply provides power for the neutron detectors, the counting device and the system analyzer, and a software code containing an axial flux curve index is used to correlate the counted signals to determine the subcriticality of the spent fuel pool.
US09423514B2	Detection apparatus comprising two scintillators for detecting X-ray radiation Detection apparatus for detecting radiation The invention relates to a detection apparatus for detecting radiation. The detection apparatus comprises at least two scintillators (14, 15) having different temporal behaviors, each generating scintillation light upon reception of radiation, wherein the generated scintillation light is commonly detected by a scintillation light detection unit (16), thereby generating a common light detection signal. A detection values determining unit determines first detection values by applying a first determination process and second detection values by applying a second determination process, which is different to the first determination process, on the detection signal. The first determination process includes frequency filtering the detection signal. Since the scintillation light of the different scintilla-tors is collectively detected by the same scintillation light detection unit, detection arrangements with, for example, side-looking photodiodes for separately detecting the different scintillation light of the different scintillators are not necessarily required, thereby reducing the technical complexity of the detection apparatus.
US09423513B2	Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system A radiation imaging apparatus includes pixels arranged to form an array, sensors including conversion elements dispersed in the array to monitor radiation, a processing circuit for processing signals from the sensors, first signal lines for transmitting a signal from at least one of the sensors to the processing circuit, and second signal lines extending in a direction parallel to the first signal lines and not directly connected to the pixels and the conversion elements or connected to at least one of the pixels and at least one of the sensors. The processing circuit determines a value of a signal generated by each sensor based on a difference between a value of a signal appearing on the first signal line and a value of a signal appearing on the second signal line.
US09423512B2	Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system A radiation imaging apparatus includes a pixel array having pixels, a bias line applying a bias potential to converters of the pixels, a detection circuit which detects a current flowing to the bias line, and a control unit which detects a start of radiation irradiation to the pixel array based on an output from the detection circuit and controls a charge accumulation operation of the pixels in accordance with the detection. The detection circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit and a feedback path, and applies a potential corresponding to a reference bias potential to the bias line. The differential amplifier circuit includes a first input terminal receiving the reference bias potential, a second input terminal connected to the bias line, and an output terminal, and the feedback path connects the output terminal and the second input terminal.
US09423510B2	Scintillation detector for improved PET performance A radiation detector for a radiation imaging system, wherein the detector comprises photosensors, arranged to receive light emitted from an array of scintillator elements. The scintillator elements absorb radiation, such as gamma rays, and emit light. Using Anger arithmetic and crystal decoding, the position of each scintillation event is determined from the relative fractions of light detected by each of the photosensors. Selectively shaping the top surface, i.e., the surface closest to the photosensors, of each scintillator element in the array, the direction of light emission from each scintillator element can be optimized such that the fraction of light detected by each photosensor is optimally distinct for each position in the array of scintillator elements. The top surface of at least one of the scintillator element array is not parallel with the bottom surface of at least one of the scintillator.
US09423506B2	Tactical differential GPS A method for improving an accuracy of a radio based navigation system by correcting the position given by the radio based navigation system with a correction vector derived from localization data stored in a map database. Position coordinates of the radio based navigation system are measured. A set of 3D map data is selected based upon the measured position coordinates of the radio based navigation system position coordinates. The actual position is determined from the selected 3D map data. The actual position data coordinates are retrieved from the 3D map data based upon the determined actual position. The correction vector is calculated from position difference between measured radio based navigation system position coordinates and retrieved actual position coordinates. The position given by the radio based navigation system is corrected with the correction vector.
US09423503B2	Borepath analyzer A tracker used to analyze a desired borepath prior to horizontal directional drilling operations. The tracker analyzes an amount of interference present at a plurality of different frequencies at multiple locations along the borepath and maps a plot of the interference at the different frequencies. The lower the point on the plot, the less interference present at that frequency at the location analyzed. The tracker summarizes the overall interference along the desired borepath for the different frequencies analyzed and will recommend a preferred frequency. An operator may program the beacon prior to boring operations to emit a beacon signal at the preferred frequency. The operator may also tune the tracker to receive the preferred frequency. The tracker and beacon may then communicate during boring operations at the preferred frequency in order to detect the position of the beacon underground relative to the tracker.
US09423492B2	Method for finding a home reference distance using a spherically mounted retroreflector A method of finding a home reference distance of a 3D coordinate measurement device in which a mathematical adjustment is made to move the vertex point to the sphere center of a spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR).
US09423491B2	Radar device A radar device that transmits a high frequency signal and detects an object by a reflected wave that is reflected by the object includes a transmitting antenna that transmits the high frequency signal, a receiving antenna that receives a reflected wave that is transmitted by the transmitting antenna and reflected by the object, and a dummy antenna that attenuates a reflected wave that is reflected by a structure arranged on a transmission path of the high frequency signal. The dummy antenna is configured be selectable as an antenna having another function.
US09423483B2	Locating device for locating a source emitting a short-duration high power microwave pulse A locating device locates a source emitting a short-duration high power microwave pulse. The locating device contains at least three separately disposed receiving antennas that are not disposed on a line, each with an associated detection device for detecting the point in time of the reception at the antenna of the high power microwave pulse. At least one short time measurement device is provided for determining at least two time differences between the points in time of reception of each two of the detection devices. A computing device is provided for calculating a location of the origin of the high power microwave pulse based on at least two of the measured time differences.
US09423480B2	System and method for magnetic resonance imaging A method for contrast agent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a target sample, comprising generating a magnetic field shift in a polarizing magnetic field during a relaxation portion of an MRI pulse sequence and thereafter acquiring an MR image.
US09423478B2	Magnetic shield for MR magnet A magnetic shield for a field magnet of a magnetic resonance system is provided. A magnet apparatus with a field magnet for a magnetic resonance system with active shielding and a magnetic shield, wherein the magnetic shield forms a hollow body which accommodates the field magnets is also provided. A wall of the hollow body has a first, a second and a third area, which are disposed along the axis. In this case the second area separates the first area and the third area from one another and has a smaller wall thickness than the first and the third area.
US09423475B2	Electrical lead assemblies for MRI-compatible medical devices and MRI-compatible medical devices incorporating same An elongate electrical lead assembly that reduces localized heating due to MR scanner-induced currents includes a first elongate electrical lead having a series of alternating single layer coil sections and multi-layer coil sections, a second elongate electrical lead having a series of alternating single layer coil sections and multi-layer coil sections, and a third elongate electrical lead having a coiled section that coaxially surrounds the first and second electrical leads. Each multi-layer coil section of the second electrical lead is coiled around a respective single layer coil section of the first electrical lead, and each single layer coil section of the second electrical lead is coiled around a respective multi-layer coil section of the first electrical lead.
US09423472B2	Magnetoresistive sensor module on the planar surface In the method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor module, at first a composite arrangement out of a semiconductor substrate and a metal-insulator arrangement is provided, wherein a semiconductor circuit arrangement is integrated adjacent to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate into the same, wherein the metal-insulator arrangement is arranged on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and comprises a structured metal sheet and insulation material at least partially surrounding the structured metal sheet, wherein the structured metal sheet is electrically connected to the semiconductor circuit arrangement. Then, a magnetoresistive sensor structure is applied onto a surface of the insulation material of the composite arrangement, and finally an electrical connection between the magnetoresistive sensor structure and the structured metal sheet is established, so that the magnetoresistive sensor structure is connected to the integrated circuit arrangement.
US09423471B2	Low offset vertical hall device and current spinning method One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact.
US09423469B2	Toroidal fluxgate current transducer Toroidal fluxgate current transducer comprising a ring shaped fluxgate sensing unit (6) comprising a ring-shaped support (40), a saturable magnetic core (38) mounted on the support (40), an excitation coil (44) wound around the support and saturable core and a magnetic shell (32) mounted around the excitation coil, ring-shaped support and saturable core. The support is ringed-shape and comprises terminals (50,48) fixed to the support, a first pair of said terminals connected to ends of the excitation coil, and a second pair of said terminals connected to ends of a secondary coil of the current transducer.
US09423467B2	Method of producing a device having batteries with testing of the operation of the batteries before connecting them electrically The method of producing a device having batteries includes the following successive steps performed on a support substrate: providing a support substrate including a first electrically conducting layer forming a main surface, simultaneously forming a plurality of batteries on the first electrically conducting layer, testing operation of the plurality of batteries to discriminate between a first group of functional batteries and a second group of defective batteries, forming a second electrically conducting layer electrically insulated from the first electrically conducting layer, the second electrically conducting layer and the first electrically conducting layer being configured to connect only the functional batteries in parallel.
US09423465B1	State of charge determination A method of determining the state of charge of a battery during charging may include providing a charging current having a first magnitude to the battery for charging, and changing a magnitude of the charging current from the first magnitude to a second magnitude. The second magnitude may be equal to the magnitude of current discharged from the battery during the charging. The method may also include determining a voltage across the battery after the changing, and determining a state of charge of the battery as a function of the determined voltage from a battery characterization curve.
US09423463B2	Method and control unit for an electric motor or generator A control unit for identifying a fault in an electric motor or generator, the control unit comprising means for measuring a value of a first parameter associated with the operation of the electric motor or generator; means for increasing a counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value or a value derived from the measured value and a second value is greater than a first predetermined value; means for decreasing the counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value and the second value is less than the first predetermined value; and means for generating a signal indicative of a fault if the counter value exceeds a second predetermined value.
US09423459B2	Taps with class T0-T2 and T3, T4(W), and T5(W) capabilities Topology discovery of a target system having a plurality of components coupled with a scan topology may be performed by driving a low logic value on the data input signal and a data output signal of the scan topology. An input data value and an output data value for each of the plurality of components is sampled and recorded. A low logic value is then scanned through the scan path and recorded at each component. The scan topology may be determined based on the recorded data values and the recorded scan values.
US09423452B2	Contactless signal testing A method for performing contactless signal testing includes receiving, with a testing pad of an integrated circuit, a signal within an electron beam, converting an electrical current created by the e-beam to a voltage with a number of diodes connected to a positive voltage supply, extracting a digital test signal from the voltage signal with a digital inverter, and passing the test signal to digital circuitry within the integrated circuit.
US09423451B2	Method and apparatus for testing a semiconductor package having a package on package (PoP) design Embodiments include a testing arrangement for testing a first package, the testing arrangement comprising a frame having a top section and a bottom section, wherein the bottom section of the frame comprises a pickup section, and wherein the pickup section has a first air pathway; a second package mounted on a top surface of the bottom section of the frame such that a second air pathway is defined between (i) the second package and (ii) the top surface of the bottom section of the frame; and a vacuum path defined by (i) the first air pathway and (ii) the second air pathway, wherein during testing of the first package, a vacuum in the vacuum path is generated such that the pickup section of the bottom section of the frame holds the first package.
US09423450B2	Inductive charge balancing Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
US09423448B1	Testing of module integrated electronics using power reversal A method for testing a photovoltaic (PV) module includes applying a test sequence to the integrated power converter, reversing the integrated power converter in response to the test sequence, and obtaining test results from the PV module in response to the test sequence. The test sequence may include applying reverse excitation power to output terminals of the reversible integrated power converter. The reverse excitation power may provide bootstrap power to one or more components of the integrated power converter. The test method may include activating substantially the entire reversible drive train, testing the drive train and characterizing the PV cells in the module in response to the reverse excitation power.
US09423443B2	System and method of detecting and locating intermittent and other faults Data associated with at least one building condition or status is sensed by one or more sensors. The data from these sensors may be sent over a data bus and received by the central computer. In addition, a modulated signal may be transmitted by one or both of the transmitters across the data bus. The modulated signal is received at the receiver, which analyzes the received modulated signal, and determines whether an intermittent fault has occurred on the data bus based upon the analyzing. For example, the receiver may compare the received signal to an expected pattern and when a discrepancy exists, an intermittent fault is determined to exist. The receiver may also determine the location of the fault based upon the analysis.
US09423442B2	Arc suppressor, system, and method Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.
US09423436B2	Method and apparatus to assess the thermal damage caused to a PCD cutter using capacitance spectroscopy A method and apparatus for non-destructively determining the wear resistance of an ultra-hard polycrystalline structure after being coupled to a downhole tool using capacitance measurements. The apparatus includes a capacitance measuring device having a positive and negative terminal, a leached component comprising a polycrystalline structure that has been coupled to a downhole tool, a first wire, and a second wire. The first wire electrically couples the positive terminal to a surface of the leached component and the second wire electrically couples the negative terminal to a surface of the downhole tool. The capacitance is measured for the leached component one or more times and compared to a calibration curve that shows a relationship between capacitance values and wear resistance, thereby allowing determination of an estimated wear resistance for the polycrystalline structure.
US09423428B2	Mixed current sensor and method for fitting said sensor The invention relates to a mixed current sensor comprising in a case: a current measurement device comprising a first coil; a magnetic current sensor having a second coil, electronic measurement means. Said sensor comprises: a first cassette comprising first linking means arranged to fix said cassette to the first coil by clip-fastening and second linking means arranged to secure the measurement device on the case; a second cassette comprising third linking means arranged to secure and fix both the magnetic sensor on the case and the first cassette and the measurement device by clip-fastening on said case.
US09423420B2	Testing system with test trays A test system may be provided in which devices under test are loaded into test trays and tested at a plurality of test stations. To test a device under test at a given test station, the test tray may be installed into a test fixture at the test station. Test equipment at each test station may communicate with the device under test via the test fixture and the test tray. Each test tray may have a spring-loaded corner portion that may be used to secure the device under test to the test tray. The test tray may have contacts that mate with corresponding contacts at each test fixture and may have a built in cable that connects to the device under test. The test fixture may have a detector that can detect whether or not a test tray is present on the test fixture.
US09423410B2	Transport device, sample distribution system, and laboratory automation system A transport device for transporting a sample container along a transport surface is presented. The transport device comprises a permanent magnet, a holding unit and a receiving unit. This enables reliable transporting of sample containers by means of magnetic forces. A sample distribution system and a laboratory automation system are also presented.
US09423406B2	Lipidomic biomarkers for the prediction of cardiovascular outcomes in coronary artery disease patients not undergoing statin treatment The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of predicting severe CVD complications such as AMI or CVD death by detecting the lipid concentrations or lipid ratios of a biological sample and comparing it to a control and has identified specific lipid markers that are more specific and sensitive in predicting these CVD complications than currently utilized clinical markers. Also provided are antibodies towards said lipids, and the use thereof for predicting, diagnosing, preventing and/or treating CVD complications. The invention additionally relates to kits comprising lipids and/or an antibody thereto, for use in the prediction and/or diagnosis of CVD complications.
US09423405B2	Trimethylamine compounds as risk predictors of cardiovascular disease Methods of characterizing a test subject's risk of having or developing cardiovascular disease are provided. The methods include using an analytic device to determine levels of choline-related trimethylamine-containing compounds such as trimethylamine N-oxide, choline, or betaine in a biological sample obtained from the subject and comparing the levels of the choline-related trimethylamine-containing compound in the subject's biological sample to a control value. The test subject's risk of having cardiovascular disease is then characterized as higher if the levels of the choline-related trimethylamine-containing compound are higher than the control value. Also provided are methods of identifying a subject at risk of experiencing a complication of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and methods of evaluating the efficacy of a cardiovascular therapeutic agent in a subject with cardiovascular disease using levels of choline-related trimethylamine-containing compounds.
US09423395B2	Fluorescent cell cycle probe having M-phase specificity The present invention is directed to a novel family of fluorophores based on the BODIPY scaffold, and methods for their synthesis. The BODIPY-based fluorophores disclosed herein are used for the selective visualization of cells that exist in the M-phase of the cell cycle. The present invention further relates to methods for the image-based monitoring of mitotic progression in live cells.
US09423393B2	Analytical test cartridge; and, methods An analytical test cartridge is provided. The analytical test cartridge can be used for medical analyses of liquid samples removed from a patient, for example blood. The analytical test cartridge is configured to provide for titration experiments. An example of a titration experiment that can be performed with the arrangement, is titration of heparin with protamine. Methods of assembly and use are provided.
US09423386B2	Method for ion detection A method for detecting a chemical species includes providing in a vessel an acidic sample containing an ionic chemical species to be measured where a substrate of the species to be formed is ionizable by radiant energy provided by a photoionization detector in detector system and a headspace above the acidic sample, adding a preselected reducing agent to the aqueous sample and forming an ionizable chemical gas species in the aqueous sample where the ionizable chemical gas species evolves out of the aqueous sample and into the headspace forming a gas sample, moving the gas sample containing the ionizable chemical gas species from the headspace of the vessel out of the vessel and through a precolumn, and moving the gas sample containing the ionizable chemical gas species from the precolumn into one of (1) a detector system or (2) an oxygen-retaining column before the detector system.
US09423384B2	Method transfer between fluidic devices considering deviations from ideal behavior An apparatus (200) for deriving an operation mode from a first fluidic device to a second fluidic device, wherein the first fluidic device has a first target operation mode (300) representing a desired behavior of the first fluidic device and has a first real operation mode (304) representing the actual behavior of the first fluidic device, wherein the second fluidic device has a second target operation mode (312) representing a desired behavior of the second fluidic device and has a second real operation mode (314) representing the actual behavior of the second fluidic device, the apparatus (200) comprising a first determining unit (202) adapted for determining the first real operation mode (304) based on the first target operation mode (300) and based on a preknown parameterization (302) of the first fluidic device, and a second determining unit (204) adapted for determining the second target operation mode (312) based on the determined first real operation mode (304) and based on a preknown parameterization (306) of the second fluidic device.
US09423383B2	Chromatography systems and methods using them Certain embodiments described herein are directed to chromatography systems that include a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device can be fluidically coupled to a switching valve to provide for selective control of fluid flow in the chromatography system. In some examples, the microfluidic device may include a charging chamber, a bypass restrictor or other features that can provide for added control of the fluid flow in the system. Methods of using the devices and methods of calculating lengths and diameters to provide a desired flow rate are also described.
US09423382B2	Test head for testing a workpiece having an ultrasonic transducer configuration containing a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and process for producing such a test head A test head for testing a workpiece has an ultrasonic transducer configuration with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The test head further contains a carrier matched to a surface contour of the workpiece, a damping layer arranged on the carrier, and a flexible conductor foil configuration, which is arranged on the damping layer and has a number of electrically separated conductor tracks which corresponds to the number of transducer elements. The transducer elements are arranged on the conductor tracks alongside one another in at least one row, and in each case are electrically contact-connected to one of the conductor tracks.
US09423378B2	Methods for the detection of biologically relevant molecules and their interaction characteristics Methods for the detection of biologically relevant molecules that comprise concentrating such molecules into microscopic holes in a sheet of chemically inert material, restricting the openings, and measuring the electric current through the holes or the fluorescence near the hole openings. The electric current or fluorescence will change as the molecules diffuse out of the holes, providing a measure of the diffusion rate and thereby detecting the presence and characteristics of the molecules. For molecules that interact, the diffusion rate will be slower than for molecules that do not interact, yielding a determination of the molecular interaction. Capping the population of holes and inserting into a mass spectrometer allows identification of the molecules.
US09423377B2	Device for detecting at least one gaseous analyte and method for the production thereof A device for detecting at least one gaseous analyte comprises a detection section including a semiconductor substrate and at least one sensor element, which is arranged on the semiconductor substrate. The at least one sensor element includes two electrodes and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the electrodes. The device also comprises a protective cap configured to cover the at least one sensor element, and at least one temperature-control unit configured for temperature control of the protective cap. The at least one temperature-control unit is arranged on the protective cap. The protective cap is formed from a semiconductor material. The device further comprises a diffusion section having a plurality of passage openings for the gaseous analyte arranged at least in a partial section of the protective cap.
US09423376B2	Differential pair sensing circuit structures A differential pair sensing circuit (300) includes control gates (306, 316) for separately programming a reference transistor (350) and a chemically-sensitive transistor (351) to a desired threshold voltage Vt to eliminate the mismatch between the transistors in order to increase the sensitivity and/or accuracy of the sensing circuit without increasing the circuit size.
US09423374B2	Reference electrode error trap determined from a specified sampling time and a pre-determined sampling time Various embodiments for a method that allow for a more accurate analyte concentration with a biosensor by determining at least one physical characteristic of the sample and determining whether a counter or reference electrode is causing an error by monitoring the working electrodes and flagging an error if the signal outputs of the working electrodes do not meet certain thresholds.
US09423372B2	Measurement and uses of oxidative status The present invention provides a method of determining the overall oxidative status of a body fluid or a tissue of a patient by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the body fluid or tissue. The method has been found to be useful in the diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of patients who have suffered a trauma (such as a head injury), patients suspected of being critically-ill or who are critically ill, patients who have an infection, and patients suspected of having a myocardial infarction (MI) or who have had an MI. The method has also been found useful in monitoring and evaluating exercise performance in patients. In addition, the method has been found useful in monitoring and evaluating stored blood products and patients who will receive such a product.
US09423365B2	T2-cutoff determination using magnetic susceptibility measurements Systems and methods for determining T2 cutoff are described. T2 cutoff can be derived from magnetic susceptibility measurements. By providing a depth curve of T2cutoff, improved permeability estimations from NMR can be generated. By combining a magnetic susceptibility tool and an NMR tool, a dynamic T2cutoff can then be provided, together with the standard NMR log, according to some embodiments. According to some embodiments the improved permeability estimations can be provided automatically and in real time at the wellsite.
US09423361B2	Inner image generating apparatus and method thereof An inner image generating apparatus includes a first receiver configured to receive an inlet track information and a first passage time of a muon, a second receiver configured to receive an outlet track information and a second passage time of the muon, a displacement calculator configured to calculate a track displacement of a track of the muon based on the inlet and outlet track information, a mean energy calculator configured to calculate a mean energy of the muon based on a time-difference between the first passage and the second passage time, a data integration circuit configured to integrate multiplied data multiplying the track displacement and the mean energy on a projected plane, and an image generating circuit configured to generate an inner image of the structure by identifying a position of matter at the projected plane based on an integrated multiplied data.
US09423360B1	Optical components The following relates to assessing the quality of an optical component. The optical component comprises an arrangement of a first and a second optically transmissive component grating having a component relative orientation angle, and the quality is assessed in terms of a deviation of the component relative orientation angle from a desired relative orientation angle. A master component comprises a substantially matching arrangement of a first and a second optically transmissive master grating having the desired relative orientation angle. The components are supported with the first and second component gratings in the vicinity of the first and second master gratings, and first and second fringe patterns formed by the first gratings and second gratings respectively are used to output a quality assessment, which is based on the fringe spacing of the second fringe pattern when the fringe spacing of the first fringe pattern is substantially maximal.
US09423354B2	Sensor for imaging inside equipment A system for monitoring performance of a machine for detection of visible signs of failure, includes: a machine enclosure housing machine parts; at least one canal through the machine enclosure acting as a visual conduit for providing a view into the interior of the machine; a guide rail within the canal for moving a camera into the interior; an interface to the machine configured to receive images from the visual conduit; and a repair network for linking the interface to a monitoring center that provides for the repair of problems with the machine.
US09423353B2	Apparatus and methods for fluorescence imaging using radiofrequency-multiplexed excitation Apparatus and methods for fluorescence imaging using radiofrequency multiplexed excitation. One apparatus splits an excitation laser beam into two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The light in the first beam is frequency shifted by an acousto-optic deflector, which is driven by a phase-engineered radiofrequency comb designed to minimize peak-to-average power ratio. This RF comb generates multiple deflected optical beams possessing a range of output angles and frequency shifts. The second beam is shifted in frequency using an acousto-optic frequency shifter. After combining at a second beam splitter, the two beams are focused to a line on the sample using a conventional laser scanning microscope lens system. The acousto-optic deflectors frequency-encode the simultaneous excitation of an entire row of pixels, which enables detection and de-multiplexing of fluorescence images using a single photomultiplier tube and digital phase-coherent signal recovery techniques.
US09423352B2	Method of analyzing image of cell in laminated structure and method of evaluating laminated structure for corneal transplantation A method of analyzing an image of a cell in a laminated structure may include the steps of: (a) fluorescently labeling a cell nucleus in the laminated structure having at least one cell layer and one or more other types of biomolecules; (b) acquiring a plurality of planar tomographic fluorescent labeled images in different height directions from the laminated structure for each type of fluorescently labeled biomolecules after the step (a); (c) superimposing a planar tomographic fluorescent labeled image group acquired in the step (b) to construct a three-dimensional tomographic image; (d) dividing the three-dimensional tomographic image constructed in the step (c) into one or two or more cell regions; (e) producing one planar stacked image for each divided cell region after the step (d); and (f) performing image analysis on each planar stacked image produced in the step (e) to analyze cells in the laminated structure.
US09423350B2	Method and device for determining a concentration The invention relates to a method and a device (1) for determining a concentration (c) of a fluorescent substance in a medium, wherein an excitation radiation having an excitation wavelength (λex) is radiated through the medium having the fluorescent substance so that the fluorescent substance is excited in such a way that the fluorescent substance emits a fluorescence radiation having a fluorescence wavelength (λem), wherein the intensity of the fluorescence (Ifluor) is measured, from which the concentration (c) of the fluorescent substance in the medium is determined, wherein additionally the intensity (Itrans,ex) of a transmitted portion of the excitation radiation is measured, wherein the concentration (c) of the fluorescent substance is determined from the intensity of the transmitted portion of the excitation radiation (Itrans,ex) and the intensity of the fluorescence (Ifluor).
US09423348B2	Absorbance spectrum scanning flow cytometry The present invention provides systems and methods for analyzing the excitation spectra of fluorescent particles in a flowing stream. The system uses a white light laser and color separation optics to provide a spatially-distributed, continuous color-spectrum excitation light system that is used to illuminate a region of a flowing stream. A particle that passes through the detection region traverses the full dispersed spectrum of excitation light, and the fluorescence emissions from the particle are continuously measured as it passes through the detection region. The measured fluorescence emissions at each wavelength of excitation light, which changes through full spectrum of the excitation light as the particle passes through the detection region, provides the excitation spectrum of the particle.
US09423347B2	Automatic analyzing apparatus An automatic analyzing apparatus includes a stir piece moving part that moves a stir piece for stirring a mixture into a reaction container, a reaction disk that rotationally moves and thereafter stops the reaction container in which the stir piece moved by the stir piece moving part and the mixture are housed, and first drivers that drive the stir piece in the reaction container to stir first and second mixtures. During the rotation movement of the reaction container into which first and second reagents have been dispensed at first and second reagent dispensing positions, the first drivers vertically move the stir piece in the reaction container and stir the first and second mixtures.
US09423345B2	Chemical sensors based on plasmon resonance in graphene Techniques for forming nanoribbon or bulk graphene-based SPR sensors are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a graphene-based SPR sensor is provided which includes the steps of: depositing graphene onto a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a dielectric layer on a conductive layer, and wherein the graphene is deposited onto the dielectric layer; and patterning the graphene into multiple, evenly spaced graphene strips, wherein each of the graphene strips has a width of from about 50 nanometers to about 5 micrometers, and ranges therebetween, and wherein the graphene strips are separated from one another by a distance of from about 5 nanometers to about 50 micrometers, and ranges therebetween. Alternatively, bulk graphene may be employed and the dielectric layer is used to form periodic regions of differing permittivity. A testing apparatus and method of analyzing a sample using the present SPR sensors are also provided.
US09423343B2	Membrane potential change detection device and membrane potential change detection method A membrane potential change detection device is provided with a reflection interference measurement light source, a holder which holds a transparent member on which cells are mounted, a reflection interference detection camera which images light emitted from the reflection interference measurement light source and reflected from the cells through the transparent member, to generate a reflection interference image, and an analysis unit which calculates a parameter dI about adhesion between the cells and the transparent member from the reflection interference image and detects a change of membrane potential of the cells on the basis of a change of the parameter dI.
US09423339B2	Spectrum measuring device and spectrum measuring method A spectral measurement apparatus includes a light source for generating a excitation light; an integrator having an input opening portion and an output opening portion; a housing portion arranged in the integrator and for housing a sample; an incidence optical system for making the excitation light incident to the sample; a photodetector for detecting a light to be measured output from the output opening portion; and an analysis means for calculating a light absorptance of the sample, based on a detection value detected by the photodetector, and an irradiation area with the excitation light at a position of incidence to the sample is set larger than an irradiated area of the sample, and the analysis means performs an area ratio correction regarding the irradiation area with the excitation light and the irradiated area of the sample, with respect to the light absorptance calculated.
US09423336B2	Systems and methods for particle sensing and characterization Systems and methods are provided for sensing and characterizing small particles, and in particular blood cells suspended in a liquid medium. Exemplary systems include a volumeter conduit having a central region of higher electrical resistivity disposed between a first and second distal region of lower electrical resistivity, and a current source and sensing circuit module in electrical connectivity with the first and second distal regions. The module provides an electrical excitation current to the first and second distal regions to establish a particle-sensitive zone within the conduit, and detects current changes occasioned by particles of the biological sample passing through the particle-sensitive zone.
US09423335B2	Instrument and method for optical particle sensing Devices for detecting particle sizes and distributions using focused light scattering techniques, by passing a sample through a focused beam of light, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the devices include one or more lasers, whose light is focused into a narrow beam and into a flow cell, and dispersions are passed through the flow cell using hydrodynamic sample injection. In another embodiment, a plurality of lasers is used, optionally with hydrodynamic sample injection. Particles pass through and scatter the light. The scattered light is then detected using scatter and extinction detectors, and, optionally, fluorescence detectors, and the number and size of the particles is determined. Particles in the size range of 0.1 to 10 μm can be measured. Using the device, significantly smaller particles can be detected than if techniques such as EQELS, flow cytometry, and other conventional devices for measuring biological particles.
US09423331B2	Method of determining the energy content of a methane-rich gas mixture A method of determining energy content using a specific gravity meter double calibrated to measure both molecular weight and relative density.
US09423329B2	Testing apparatus A strength testing apparatus has a plurality of testing axes, each of which breaks a test piece in a central area thereof. The apparatus has a plurality of 1-axis testing structures each having: an actuator, which is configured to move linearly, thereby to apply a load onto a test body; an actuator fixing base, which is configured to fix the actuator at a predetermined position; a reaction base comprising a chucking tool, which is configured to chuck a test piece, in a chucking tool, which is provided at an end portion of the actuator; and a base, which is configured to connect the actuator fixing base and the reaction base, wherein all of the testing axes, each almost passing through an axial center of each actuator, come across at one (1) point, and the 1-axis testing structures are arranged so that they are included in a same plane.
US09423326B1	Method of obtaining simulated pore water The method of obtaining simulated pore water includes: mixing cement with a quantity of water and waiting a period of time for water-soluble salts in the cement to dissolve; filtering the mixture; evaporating an aliquot of the filtrate; weighing solids obtained by evaporating the aliquot to determine total dissolved solids or salts in the aliquot; weighing the remaining filtrate and measuring its volume; determining the mass of total dissolved solids in the remaining filtrate; determining the mass of water in remaining filtrate; determining the mass of water that would be in the remaining filtrate if the mix had been prepared with a desired W/C ratio; evaporating any difference between the mass of the remaining filtrate and the mass that would be present at the desired W/C; and collecting the filtrate remaining as simulated pore water for the desired W/C ratio which may be used for a variety of different applications.
US09423322B2	Methods and compositions for hematoxylin and eosin staining The present invention provide for solutions of a defined composition useful in a staining protocol, such as a hematoxylin and eosin staining protocol, when used at certain points of the staining protocol. The formulations of these defined solutions are such that carry-over of the solutions will not negatively impact, or preferably, will stabilize or favorably modify staining reagent solutions coming in contact with the solutions. In certain embodiments of the invention, solutions are buffered to maintain a specific pH that when carried-over—such as carried-over into hematoxylin—will not significantly influence the pH of the next staining reagent.
US09423319B2	Modular rigid barrier A rigid barrier system includes a base piece and a face piece. The face piece may be configured to be to be mounted to the base piece, such that the face piece is laterally movable while mounted to the base piece in an unfixed mode. Alternatively or additionally, the rigid barrier system may include a steel floor plate resting on a base layer. A mass of the base layer may be at least ten times a mass of the face piece and the base piece.
US09423312B2	Impact indicator An impact indicator for impact detection and indication includes: a housing; and a detection assembly configured to detect receipt by the housing of an acceleration event. The detection assembly comprises first and second indicias displayable thereby, wherein the first indicia is displayed in an unactivated state of the impact indicator, and wherein in response to detecting the acceleration event, the second indicia is displayed, the second indicia further comprising an indication of a direction of the acceleration event.
US09423310B2	Bicycle crank arm with sensor system A crank arm is provided that includes a crank body, a sensor support member and at least one sensor. The crank body has an axle mounting portion. The sensor support member is member attached to the crank body, and has an axle support portion that is configured to support an axle. The at least one strain sensor is disposed on the sensor support member.
US09423309B2	Pressure sensor, method for manufacture thereof, and pressure detection module A pressure sensor comprising: a base film on which a conductor pattern having one or more electrodes is formed; a cover film laminated on the base film so as to cover the electrodes of the conductor pattern; and a spacer disposed between the cover film and the base film so as to form a hollow portion having a predetermined gap between the electrode and the cover film; wherein a portion corresponding to the hollow portion of the cover film is constructed such that it has a pressure sensing part which is able to deform in a direction to move toward and away from the electrode in accordance with pressure, and of which contact resistance changes in accordance with a contact pressure thereof with the electrode, so that the pressure sensing part detects the pressure by a change of the contact resistance.
US09423307B2	Method and apparatus for determining wave characteristics using interaction with a known wave The described system and method uses data from interaction between a known wave and an unknown wave to analyze or characterize the unknown wave using cross correlation frequency resolved optical gating (X-FROG). The system may obtain X-FROG trace data from the interaction between the two waves. The system analyzes the X-FROG trace data using a modified principal component generalized projection method strategy to invert the X-FROG trace data, analyzing or characterizing the unknown wave. Results of the analysis can be provided in real time and displayed.
US09423295B2	Photo-sensor with a transparent substrate and an in-plane electrode pair According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a photo-sensor comprising: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode pair; and a photoactive film with electrical polarization located between the optically transparent substrate and the electrode pair, wherein the optically transparent substrate is configured to transmit incident radiation received by the optically transparent substrate to the photoactive film and wherein the electrode pair is configured to receive charge carriers generated by the photoactive film in response to the transmitted incident radiation.
US09423293B2	Optical receptacle and optical module The present invention relates to an optical receptacle that can generate monitor light and can be also produced by integral molding, and an optical module having the optical receptacle. The optical receptacle has a first optical face on which light emitted from a light emitting element is incident, reflection surfaces that reflect the light to a light receiving element, a light splitting section that splits the light into monitor light heading for the light receiving element and signal light heading for an end face of an optical fiber, and a second optical face that emits the signal light toward the end face of the optical fiber. The light splitting section has a divided transmission surface and a divided reflection surface. The divided reflection surface is an inclining surface with respect to an optical axis of the light reflected by the reflection surfaces.
US09423286B2	Liquid level sensing apparatus and method Provided is a apparatus for sensing a liquid level reliably based solely on an analog process even if a liquid held in a container boils, causing the liquid level to fall. A liquid level sensing apparatus includes: a probe selection unit configured to select a probe whose heater is to be activated from among the plurality of probes; an input unit configured to receive an output of the temperature sensor of the probe selected by the probe selection unit, the output being received as a temperature signal directly in the form of an analog quantity; a signal processing unit configured to output a processing signal of the temperature signal in synchronization with activation of the heater; a calculation unit configured to arithmetically process the temperature signal and the processing signal and output a result; a gas/liquid discrimination unit configured to discriminate whether the detecting point exists in a gas phase or a liquid phase based on the output result of the arithmetic processing; and a display unit configured to indicate a discrimination result produced by the gas/liquid discrimination unit.
US09423281B2	Self-calibrating single track absolute rotary encoder A rotary encoder includes a single read-head and a circular scale. The encoder is self-calibrated by acquiring calibration samples with the read-head for rotational angles of the circular scale, and estimating spatial frequency and spatial distortion parameters of the encoder from the calibration samples.
US09423279B2	Encoder, motor with encoder, and servo system An optical module includes: a light source configured to emit diffusion light to tracks; one light receiving array and another light receiving array which are arranged across the light source in a width direction substantially vertical to the measurement direction; a light receiving array arranged between the one light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a first incremental pattern; and a light receiving array arranged between the another first light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a second incremental pattern which pitch is longer than a pitch of the first incremental pattern.
US09423278B1	3D laser projection, scanning and object tracking Techniques are disclosed for tracking the position of moving parts and assemblies using 3D laser projection, and projecting templates and other information onto the parts and assemblies based on position. The projected template may then be used, for example, to assist in fabrication of an assembly by indicating where to put a next component or layer, or to assist in post-fabrication inspection of an assembly by indicating where the various components or layers should have been placed. Reference targets can be used as fiducial points for aligning a laser projector with the work piece in question. When the work piece rotates or is otherwise moved to a next manufacturing or inspection position, the relative position of the laser projector and the work piece is updated by bucking-in to the reference targets. The laser projector can then project patterns or other information onto the work piece at the appropriate locations.
US09423277B2	Remote optical position sensing device and methods An optical position sensing system and method for sensing a gimbal position in a gimbal-based optical system. One example of an optical position sensing system includes an off-gimbal light source that generates a position sensing light beam and transmits the position sensing light beam along an optical coude path of the optical system, and an on-gimbal optical element that causes a change in an intensity of the position sensing light beam based on rotation of the gimbal about the axis. The system further includes an off-gimbal detector configured to receive the position sensing light beam returned from the optical element and to detect the change in the intensity of the position sensing light beam, and a controller coupled to the detector and configured to determine the gimbal position based on a correlation between the change in the intensity of the position sensing light beam and the gimbal position.
US09423272B2	Estimation of conventional inertial sensor errors with atomic inertial sensor Embodiments described herein provide for a method for obtaining an inertial measurement. The method includes obtaining multiple contiguous high sample rate readings during a time period from a conventional inertial sensor. Non-contiguous low sample rate reading of accumulated motion are also obtained over the time period from an atomic inertial sensor. One or more observable errors are estimated for the conventional inertial sensor based on comparing the low sample rate reading to the multiple high sample rate readings. A compensated hybrid reading is determined by compensating the high sample rate readings for the one or more observable errors based on the estimating of the one or more observable errors.
US09423270B2	Electronic device and motion state judgment method An electronic device includes: a sensor that detects a triaxial direction acceleration; and a processor operable to calculate axial components in the triaxial directions of a gravitational acceleration from detection values of the sensor, to determine a ratio of a magnitude of the gravitational acceleration with respect to the axial components of an axial direction of the triaxial directions, to determine a vertical acceleration magnitude according to the ratio and the detection values of the sensor in the axial direction, and to judge whether or not a motion state is a running state according to the vertical acceleration magnitude.
US09423264B2	Navigation system A navigation system (NS) can determine a junction between a current position of a user and a maneuver point of a route. Additionally, the NS can determine, change, and output an explicit notification not to turn at the junction.
US09423259B2	3D sonar display with semi-transparent shading A marine navigation device comprises a location determining element, a display, a memory element, and a processing element. The location determining element determines a current geolocation of a marine vessel on a first body of water. The memory element stores sonar data for a plurality of bodies of water. The processing element is in communication with the memory element and is configured to access the sonar data from the memory element corresponding to the first body of water, calculate bottom hardness shading data based on the sonar data, generate a map representation of at least a portion of the first body of water corresponding to the current geolocation, the map representation including shading derived from the calculated bottom hardness shading data, and control the display to visually present the map representation.
US09423256B2	Pointing and navigation system and process for calibrating the pointing and navigation system A method of calibration of a navigation and pointing system (10) including a navigation unit (11) integrally connected to a pointing device (12), the navigation unit being configured to measure the orientation of a navigation reference system (21), the pointing device (12) being configured to measure a signal in a pointing reference system (22). The calibration method includes the following steps: selecting a first planar surface (8) and a second planar surface (9); acquiring measurements via the system by directing the pointing direction towards the first planar surface (8), and respectively towards the second planar surface (9), according to a plurality of predetermined orientations; applying an algorithm for processing the measurements acquired at the previous step to extract therefrom the misalignment angles between the navigation reference system (21) and the pointing reference system (22).
US09423255B2	System and method for mitigating an occurrence of a dry spot in a field of view of a star tracker A system and method for mitigating an occurrence of a dry spot, the method may include: (1) predicting the occurrence of the dry spot by at least one of determining a location of the occurrence of the dry spot, determining a date of the occurrence of the dry spot, and determining a duration of the occurrence of the dry spot; (2) generating a visualization of the occurrence of the dry spot, and (3) modifying a star catalog to reduce an impact of the dry spot by at least one of generating a set of modification to modify the star catalog, generating a modification schedule for modifying the star catalog, and uploading the set of modifications to the star catalog.
US09423251B2	Type of along-the-cable reciprocating motion control mechanism An along-the-cable reciprocating motion control mechanism includes a moving platform, weight drop-off gear, weight release gear and trigger gear. The moving platform is set at a guide cable and can make reciprocating motion along the guide cable. A profiler is carried by the moving platform and the buoyancy of the moving platform carrying the profiler is greater than zero, the weight drop-off gear is set at the top of the guide cable and can drop a weight onto the moving platform within a predefined period, the weight release gear is provided on the moving platform, the trigger gear is set at the bottom of the guide cable, and when the moving platform carries a weight and descends to the bottom of the guide cable, the trigger gear touches the weight release gear to enable it to make a series of actions.
US09423249B2	Biometric measurement systems and methods In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of generating crop biometric information in field conditions that includes scanning top surfaces of various plant crown structures of a plurality of plants in one or more rows of plants within a field to collect scan data of the crown structures. Additionally, the method includes converting the scan data into a high spatial resolution 3-dimensional field contour map that illustrates an aggregate 3-dimensional field contour of the scanned plants. The method further includes extracting, from the high spatial resolution 3-dimensional field contour map, biometric information relating to the plants in each of one or more selected rows of the scanned rows of plants.
US09423247B2	Positioning graphic component for substrate detection and method of manufacturing the same The present disclosure discloses a positioning graphic component for substrate detection and a method of manufacturing the same. The positioning graphic component for substrate detection comprises at least two layers of metal layer patterns and an insulation layer placed between any two layers of metal layer patterns. The present disclosure solves the problem of the occurrence of an incomplete positioning graphic component due to incomplete coverage by the insulation layer in processing TFT LCDs, thus improving the yield.
US09423246B2	Three-dimensional measurement system A three-dimensional measurement system includes a measurement platform, a projection module, an image-capturing module, and a control unit. The measurement platform carries a test object. The projection module includes a light-emitting unit, a light-shielding rotary disc, a grating unit, and an optical-reflective ring structure. The light-emitting unit generates a light beam. An aperture formed in the light-shielding rotary disc is located at different rotational positions time-sequentially while the light-shielding rotary disc rotates, and the light beam passes through the aperture to form light beam segments. The grating unit transforms the light beam segments into stripe-patterned structure-light beams. The optical-reflective ring structure reflects the stripe-patterned structure-light beams onto the test object. The image-capturing module captures stripe-patterned images formed after reflection of the stripe-patterned structure-light beams from the test object. The control unit measures a three-dimensional shape of the test object using the stripe-patterned images.
US09423244B2	System and method for configuring a monitored zone of an optoelectronic monitoring device A system for configuring a monitored zone of an optoelectronic monitoring device has an optical reception device for detecting an optical sequence generated by a sequence generation unit. A first memory device is used to store an association between the optical sequences selectable at the sequence generation unit and shape elements. A second memory device stores a shape of the monitored zone, and an evaluation unit determines the shape of the monitored zone from the detected optical sequences and the shape elements.
US09423242B2	Board-warping measuring apparatus and board-warping measuring method thereof A board-warping measuring method is configured to measure a device under test. The device under test is disposed on a measuring carrier. The board-warping measuring method includes: projecting a pattern onto the device under test, wherein the pattern includes plural reference points; capturing a measurement image by an image-capturing module when the pattern is projected onto the device under test, wherein the measurement image includes plural measurement points respectively corresponding to the reference points; calculating a position of each of the measurement points in the measurement image by utilizing a transfer function corresponding to each of the reference points to obtain position heights of the device under test corresponding to the measurement points; and compensating for board warping of the device under test based on the position heights of the device under test corresponding to the measurement points.
US09423241B2	Optical measuring apparatus An optical measuring apparatus includes a light emitter, a scanner, a polarizing plate, a photoreceiver, and a CPU. The light emitter emits a laser beam. The scanner uses the laser beam emitted from the light emitter and scans a measurement region where a work piece is placed. The polarizing plate allows passage for only a laser beam, among the laser beams fired by the scanner, directed orthogonally to an emission direction of the laser beam and an axis direction of the work piece. The photoreceiver receives the laser beam that has passed through the measurement region and the polarizing plate. The CPU calculates a dimension of the work piece from a pattern of light and dark in a scan direction, the pattern being obtained by the photoreceiver.
US09423239B2	Method to improve fiber length measurement using confocal laser scanning microscope images A method for measuring the lengths of industrial fibers is provided. The method employs the depth perception properties of a confocal laser microscope to monitor three-dimensional properties of the sample to determine fiber connectivity in areas where individual fibers in the sample overlap one another. This results in a more accurate matching of fiber termini in such situations, and obviates the need for algorithms which match fiber termini based on curvature, angle, or other two-dimensional properties.
US09423236B2	Apparatus for optical interferometric measurement and method for the same An optical interferometric measurement apparatus includes an interference optical system to output a monitoring interference signal and a measurement interference signal in accordance with light emitted from a wavelength-swept light source, and a controller to measure a movement of an object to be measured. The controller has a storage to store monitoring data acquired by sampling the monitoring interference signal in each period of the light source and measurement data acquired by sampling the measurement interference signal in each period of the light source and Fourier transformation unit to apply Fourier transform to the measurement data. The controller determines a phase of the measurement interference signal based on the Fourier-transformed measurement data and measures the movement of the object based on the phase.
US09423235B2	Device for measuring dimensions of parts Measuring system having a plurality of probes for measuring lengths, each probe including a probe tip connected in removable fashion relative to a casing, a transducer supplying an electric signal that is representative of the position of said probe tip relative to the casing, a digital processing unit for sampling the signal from said transducer and transforming it into a digital representation of said position, and a bidirectional interface for a wireless communication network connecting said probes with a control unit. A method including a step during which the clocks of the digital processing units of the probes are synchronized through said bidirectional wireless interface and a step during which the control unit transmits commands determining the instant at which said electric signals are sampled.
US09423234B2	Mechanical phenotyping of single cells: high throughput quantitative detection and sorting This invention provides methods and devices for the high-throughput characterization of the mechanical properties of cells or particles. In certain embodiments the devices comprise a microfluidic channel comprising: an oscillating element on a first side of the channel; and a detecting element on a second side of the channel opposite the oscillating element, wherein the detecting element is configured to detect a force transmitted through a cell or microparticle by the oscillating element. In certain embodiments the devices comprise a microfluidic channel comprising an integrated oscillator and sensor element on one first side of the channel, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a force transmitted through a cell or microparticle by the oscillator.
US09423229B1	Imploding barrel initiator and related methods Apparatuses and methods are provided including electrically fired detonator are provided using, e.g., secondary explosives (SE), that have increased safety and reliability relative to primary explosives (PE). PEs require a lower amount of energy or shock to detonate than SEs thus are more difficult to initiate than PEs; SEs are less sensitive to shock or energy than PEs. SEs increase safety but suffer design difficulties in using such SEs in place of PEs that are more susceptible to undesired detonation. Various embodiments are provided including a metalized barrel with a specific thickness that is filled with a SE having a required diameter that has structures that provide efficient transfer/conversion of electrical energy into a detonation of the SE by, among other things, reducing electrical and mechanical/chemical losses. Embodiments of the invention also include various methods of design, use, and manufacturing.
US09423227B2	Method for optically transmitting data into and from a casing of a projectile A method for optically transmitting data into and from a casing of a projectile. The method including: transmitting, from an outside of the casing to an inside of the casing, a first optical signal containing first data through a first optical window disposed on the casing; manipulating the first data inside the casing of the projectile into second data; and transmitting, from the inside of the casing to the outside of the casing, a second optical signal containing the second data through a second optical window. The first and second optical windows can be the same optical window or different optical windows.
US09423224B2	Kinetic fireball incendiary munition A kinetic fireball incendiary munition is provided having an outer shell or bomb casing, one or more incendiary sub munitions therein, and an igniter therefore. Each of the submunitions includes an incendiary portion, at least one rocket motor that propels the submunition inside of a target volume, and an oxidizer for the incendiary portion and rocket motor. The submunitions liberate sufficient heat to produce elevated temperatures inside of a target structure to thermalize the contents thereof without creating a substantial overpressure or explosive effect.
US09423222B1	Less-than-lethal cartridge A less-than-lethal (LTL) cartridge is disclosed. The LTL cartridge includes a case, a sabot that includes an end portion configured to fit within the case, and an interior volume configured to contain a teardrop-shaped bladder. The sabot is configured to release the teardrop-shaped bladder subsequent to exiting a barrel of a firearm. The teardrop-shaped bladder includes a leading end, a tapered body with weakened sections to facilitate rupturing of the tapered body upon impact with an object, a trailing end, and a drogue tail coupled to the trailing end.
US09423217B2	Lubricated projectile trap and shooting range A fluid lubricated projectile trap includes a substantially cylindrical chamber defined by a forward concave wall and a rearward concave wall. A bullet funnel extending forwardly therefrom. The funnel having a lower panel connecting to the forward concave wall in conjunction with an end plate defines a pressurized fluid containment with discharge outlets directed to the rearward concave wall. All plumbing may be secured below the ramp and forward of the chamber.
US09423216B2	KeyMod quick mounting arrangement A KeyMod quick mounting arrangement is arranged for detachably coupling an accessory at a firearm having a KeyMod mounting slot, wherein the arrangement includes a mounting body extended from the accessory, a positioning member protruded from a second side of the mounting body for detachably engaging with a narrow slot portion of the mounting slot, and a coupling head having a head portion outwardly protruded from said second side of the mounting body. In a securing position, the head portion of the coupling head is arranged for being disposed in an enlarged slot portion of the mounting slot so as to secure the accessory at the firearm. In a releasing position, the head portion of the coupling head is arranged for disengaging with the enlarged slot portion of the mounting slot so as to enable the accessory to be detached from the firearm.
US09423215B2	Multi-turn elevation knob for optical device An optical device has a post and a reference. A knob is rotatably connected to the optical device and has see-though portions and a gear pivotably disposed therein. The gear has a ring engagement member and a receiver for receiving the post and an inner ring is disposed within the housing. The inner ring includes a first indicia and second indicia. The first indicia are aligned with the plurality of see-through portions when the gear is in a first position. The second indicia are aligned with the plurality of see-through portions when the gear is in a second position. Each of the first and second indicia is associated with a single specific rotated position of the housing relative to the reference.
US09423210B2	Holster support The invention generally concerns the field of the accessories for fire-arms with which police officers, military men, private armed surveillance services and the like are equipped, More precisely the invention is directed to a system for connecting a holster or also a similar accessory to different wearing harnesses for carrying said holster or accessory. The support comprises a base plate, rotating disc to which the holster is fastened, locking means to releasably fix the disc in a selected angular position, and lever means pivotal with the plate for providing an abutment to said disc that prevents its separation from the plate.
US09423208B1	Vertical foregrip pepper spray device A vertical foregrip pepper spray device is taught which consists of a hollow body having a base with an internal fluid conduit incorporated therein. The device has a picatinny rail female groove and a thumb opening containing a covered safety mechanism in the top portion. A pepper spray pressurized aerosol container is inserted within the hollow of the body and latched in place, such that an operator may safely discharge a non-lethal chemical irritant spray by manually depressing the top surface of the pressurized aerosol container. The device is removably mounted, with a quick release assembly, onto a picatinny rail positioned on the forearm underside of a modern sporting rifle or long gun.
US09423207B2	Pistol recoil reduction device A recoil reduction apparatus is provided. The recoil reduction apparatus includes an elongated body. The elongated body has a first end and a second end. The first end may include a handle engaging surface. The handle engaging surface secures against a handle of a pistol. The second end includes a chest stop. The chest stop rests against a user's chest while firing the pistol. Therefore, the chest absorbs some of the recoil of the pistol making the pistol less intimidating.
US09423205B1	Orb launching device A toy projectile launching device. The device preferably includes a handle, barrel, muzzle, trigger, cocking shaft, and cocking handle. The device uses a spring loaded shaft in order to launch an orb. In addition, the launching mechanism of the device imparts rotation upon the orb, which stabilizes the orb in flight—thereby achieving an increase in sustained velocity and an increase in the distance traveled.
US09423201B2	Balanced pulley assembly for compound archery bows, and bows incorporating that assembly A compound bow includes a first and second pulley, each of which is operative, when the bow is drawn, to unwind a portion of a bow string from a bow string groove and to take up a portion of a bow cable so as to decrease its effective length. At least one of the pulleys includes a cable controller which operates to modify the rate at which the effective length of the bow cable is decreasing so that during an initial portion of the draw of the bow, the rate is greater than it would be in the absence of the controller, and during a second portion of the draw, the rate is less than it would be in the absence of the controller. Use of the controller provides a bow which has an inherently balanced draw.
US09423200B1	Virtual preloaded bearing A preload bearing is provided for mounting into an orifice in a shock-inducing platform. The bearing includes a cylindrical housing insertable into the orifice of the platform with a housing axis oriented vertically in relation to the platform, the housing having a closed bottom end and an open top end; a scraper that attaches to the bottom end of the housing for receiving compressive load from underneath; a crown roller disposed to extend radially from the housing; a shaft coaxial with the crown roller disposed within the housing along a roller axis perpendicular to the housing axis; and a cap that covers the open top end of the housing.
US09423199B2	Retractable gun stand A gun stand comprising a base for supporting a gun and a ribbon of stiff material including a coiled portion and an uncoiled portion (e.g., having a curved lateral cross-sectional shape). A lock mechanism (e.g., movable between an engaged position and a released position) can be used to inhibit movement of the ribbon relative to the base. Preferably, the lock mechanism further includes a trigger for selectively moving the lock mechanism between the engaged and released positions. The gun stand can comprise two ribbons, each having a coiled portion and an uncoiled portion. At least one of the ribbons can include a releasable securing mechanism (e.g., magnets) for securing the uncoiled portions of the ribbons to each other. A foot brace can be secured to a free end of the ribbon. A releasable attachment mechanism (e.g., a strap) can be provided to secure the gun to the gun stand.
US09423191B2	Fastener assembly and method for heat sink mounting Method and assembly for attaching a heat sink to a heat source surface associated with a printed circuit board or other component having a heat source. A fastener assembly may include a push pin with a barbed, bifurcated end arranged to be inserted through an opening of the printed circuit board and thereby secure the heat sink to the printed circuit board. A stopper may be headless, be separable from the push pin, and have a portion, such as a barrel-shaped element, positionable in a throughbore of the push pin that supports the bifurcated end so that movement of the barbed portions toward each other is resisted, thereby securing engagement of the barbed portions with the printed circuit board.
US09423189B2	Fluid heat exchange apparatus A fluid heat exchange apparatus including a casing, and a heat-dissipating device is provided. The casing includes a chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The chamber includes a first channel including a first entrance and a first exit and a second channel including a second entrance and a second exit. The cross-sectional area of the first channel decreases from the first entrance to the first exit and the cross-sectional area of the second channel decreases from the second entrance to the second exit. The heat-dissipating device is located between the first exit and the outlet. A first fluid flows from the inlet and flows through the first channel and the heat-dissipating device and then flows to the outlet. Part of the first fluid flowing through the heat-dissipating device absorbs heat and forms bubbles moving to the second channel and then forms a second fluid converging into the first channel.
US09423186B2	Heat-dissipating device The present invention provides a heat-dissipating device including a heat sink and a heat pipe. The heat sink has an end surface provided with a trough. The trough has an open side and a closed side. The heat pipe has a heat-absorbing surface and a heat-conducting surface corresponding to the open side and the closed side respectively. The heat-conducting surface and the heat-absorbing surface are not brought into contact with the heat sink. The heat is directly absorbed by the heat pipe and then conducted to the heat sink for dissipation. With this arrangement, heat resistance of the heat-dissipating device is reduced to improve the heat-dissipating effect thereof.
US09423183B2	Heat treatment method A heat treatment method of an impeller includes a heat treatment preparation process of arranging the impeller within a vacuum furnace, an impeller covering process of covering an outer peripheral surface of the impeller in a circumferential direction by a heat uniformizing jig made of a radiation conversion material which radiates transferred heat as radiant heat, and a heat treatment process including a heating process and a cooling process in which heat treatment is performed by heating or cooling the impeller covered with the heat uniformizing jig from the periphery using a heater.
US09423180B2	Disc for industrial plants An industrial plant such as a disc dryer is constructed or retro-fitted with discs each comprising two annular plates connected to one another around their outer edges, each plate comprising one or more integral ribs extending between its inner edge and outer edge. The integral ribs may comprise folds in the annular plates, and each plate may be formed from a length of sheet material, by roll forming for example, so that the integral ribs are deeper towards the inner peripheral edge than the outer peripheral edge of the annular plates forming the disc.
US09423179B2	System having a process chamber for workpieces The invention relates to an installation having a process chamber which comprises an inner space having a receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has an opening for the supply or discharge of workpieces. The process chamber is constructed so as to have a device for the introduction of gaseous fluid into the inner space, which device has at least one nozzle or aperture for the production of a fluid stream curtain between the opening and the receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has a device for supplying fresh air, with which device fresh air can be introduced into the receiving region at a side of the fluid stream curtain, which side faces away from the opening.
US09423178B2	Device for conversion of waste to sources of energy or fertilizer and a method thereof The present invention provides a compact device (that may be installed onto a mobile or stationary platform) for conversion of waste to sources of energy or fertilizer. The device includes multiple stages for efficient conversation and processing of waste into energy or fertilizer, including a first stage for reducing a size of received waste, a second stage for compressing the reduced sized waste into partially dehydrated waste, a third stage for grinding and further compression of received waste from second stage to pulverize the constituent parts into highly dense substantially dehydrated pellets or fertilizers, with a fourth stage for further drying of the received pellets or fertilizers and a final fifth stage for cooling the received pellets or fertilizers into highly dense pellets. The device of the present invention further includes a controller for controlling each operational stage.
US09423173B1	Single beverage freezable container A container for accepting and retaining bottles or cans for the purpose of insulating or bringing them to a desired temperature range is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a hollow upper section with an internal cylindrical portion that has an upper edge. The upper section includes an internal frusto-conical section with a slotted aperture that commences from the cylindrical portion and extends away from the cylindrical portion. The device also includes a hollow base section that is adapted for engaging the upper section. The arrangement accommodates cans as well as bottles, and allows drinking from either type of container while retaining the container.
US09423170B2	Cooling device comprising a door opening mechanism The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) wherein the objects to be cooled are placed, at least one door (3) providing access into the body (2) and a door opening mechanism (4) situated on each door (3), having a handle (5) that rotates around the axis parallel to the short side of the door (3) and that the user moves to open the door (3), an extension (8) with at least some portion in geared form, extending from the handle (5) towards the body (2) parallel to the side wall of the door (3) and moving together with the handle (5), a latch (6) actuated by the movement of the handle (5) having a pusher (7) disposed at the end portion, providing the door (3) to separate from the body (2) and a transmission member (9) that transmits the movement of the extension (8) to the latch (6), and wherein the door (3) thereof can be easily opened and closed.
US09423168B1	Portable cooler system An ice cooler system includes a body configured to form a fluidly sealed cavity, a first row of tubes and a second row of tube in fluid communication with the fluidly sealed cavity, the first row and the second row of tubes being configured to receive beverages, and a door pivotally attached to the body and in fluid communication with the fluidly sealed cavity. The door is configured to allow ice to pass therethrough to the cavity, which in turn is placed in contact with the first row and the second row of tubes.
US09423167B2	Refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser having an improved ice chute air seal A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
US09423166B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator includes a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, a refrigerating compartment door, an ice maker disposed in the freezing compartment, and an ice bank disposed on the door. The refrigerator also includes an ice transfer device configured to transfer ice made by the ice maker to the ice bank through an ice chute. The ice transfer device includes a housing and a transfer member configured to transfer ice from the housing into the ice chute. An inlet end of the ice chute is located at a point that is spaced upward from a bottom surface of the housing and extends upward from a horizontal plane at an angle that is less than an angle between the horizontal plane and a tangent that passes through an outer circumferential surface of the housing at a lower end of the inlet end of the ice chute.
US09423164B2	Method and apparatus for the defrosting of an evaporator in connection with an air handling unit Method and device for defrosting of an evaporator (1) in a heat pump (2) connected to an air handling unit (9), which comprises a controllable heat recovery device (10). The heat pump (2) comprises a refrigerant system (3) with a refrigerant (4), a compressor (5), a condenser (6), a first expansion valve (7) and an evaporator (1). A four-way valve (8) is arranged after the compressor (5) and before the condenser (6), for changing a flow direction of the refrigerant (4) to the evaporator (1) instead of the condenser (6). The heat recovery device (10) recovers energy from first air stream (11) and transfer energy to second air stream (12). When frost formation occurs, the refrigerant temperature is increased and the recovery device (10) is regulated down so that heating of the evaporator (1) is accomplished, both from inside and outside to defrost the evaporator (1).
US09423163B2	Modular thermoelectric submerged high volume liquid temperature controlling system The present invention relates to a liquid temperature controlling system and, more particularly, to a modular liquid temperature controlling system that is structured and/or configured to cool a volume of liquid stored in a container through direct contact with a portion of the system which utilizes at least one thermoelectric device.
US09423162B2	Thermoelectric temperature control unit A thermoelectric temperature control unit having at least one first Peltier element, which includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is disposed adjoining or opposite the second surface, wherein the first surface of the Peltier element is connected to a first cover plate and the second surface is connected to a second cover plate, wherein heat can be supplied at least via one of the cover plates and dissipated via the other cover plate, wherein at least one of the cover plates has a variable material thickness along one or both of the extension directions thereof, whereby at least one region having a maximal material thickness and one region having a minimal material thickness are formed.
US09423157B2	Selective solar absorbent coating and manufacturing method Selective solar absorbent coating and manufacturing method, with solar absorption and low emissivity properties. The coating comprises a substrate (1) of metal, dielectric or ceramic material, at least one highly reflective metal layer (2) in mid-far infrared applied to the substrate itself which provides low emissivity properties, a multi-layer structure of alternating dielectric and metallic layers (3) of subnanometric thickness applied to the reflective metal layer and at least one dielectric layer (4) that acts as an anti-reflective layer for the solar spectrum. The coating is applicable as a selective absorbent coating in absorbent tubes for parabolic-trough solar collectors, in solar panels for hot water, heating or domestic cooling, both in the form of absorbent tubes and absorbent sheets, in capture systems in tower solar thermoelectric power plants, and in capture systems in Stirling disk systems.
US09423155B2	Solar energy collector and system for using same A solar energy collector includes a first member having a cavity and a longitudinal axis. The first member has a longitudinal window forming a part thereof and a body forming another part thereof. The longitudinal window is made of a material adapted to be transparent to solar radiation. The body has an exterior absorptive surface and an interior reflective surface. A second member is located within the cavity of the first member and is generally parallel to longitudinal axis of the first member. The second member is adapted to carry an energy absorbing fluid. An insulative material fills the cavity between the first member and the second member. A solar energy collection system includes the form going solar energy collector and a solar energy transmitting device for directing solar energy through the window of the collector.
US09423153B2	Unregulated integrated function gas valve for a water heater An unregulated gas valve for a water heater that includes an inlet configured to receive a gas flow into the gas valve, an outlet configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a combustion chamber, a pilot line configured to direct a portion of the gas flow to a pilot flame, and a dial configured to regulate the flow of gas into the gas valve, and further configured to select a water temperature setting.
US09423151B2	Electric heating system, a control head and a heating liquid A heating system to heat a main heating circulation comprises an electric heater, a control head, a heat exchanger, a pump, and a plurality of tubes. The electric heater is adapted to heat a primary heating liquid by applying an electric current directly to the primary heating liquid. The control head is adapted to determine a temperature and a pressure of the primary heating liquid. The heat exchanger comprises a first liquid passage for the primary heating liquid and a second liquid passage for a secondary heating liquid in the main heating circulation. The second liquid passage is in thermal contact with the first liquid passage to heat the secondary heating liquid while cooling the primary heating liquid. The tubes connect the electric heater, the control bead, the heat exchanger and the pump to define a circulation for the primary heating liquid. The pump is adapted to pump the primary heating liquid such that heat is transferred from the heater via the heat exchanger into said the heating circulation.
US09423150B2	Steam cooker A coupling device for attaching an external heat source to a high-throughput steam cooker enables the steam cooker to be used with a wide variety of heat sources and fuels. The coupling device includes a heat flow chamber that provides efficient, effective heat transfer from the heat source to a heat sink in thermal communication with the steam cooker, thereby facilitating steam generation in a steam cooker assembly. The heat source may be a liquid-fueled heat source to facilitate transport and storage of fuel to remote locations.
US09423143B2	HVAC actuator with light indicator An HVAC actuator includes an output shaft rotatable between first and second end positions and a drive mechanism to selectively drive the output shaft toward the first end position. The actuator may include a light source within its housing and a window to provide visibility of the light from the light source to an observer. An aperture member may be situated between the light source and the window and be configured to move as the output shaft is rotated. The aperture member may have spaced openings that transmit the light to the window at a plurality of positions of the output shaft such that the aperture member may cause the appearance of blinking of the light through the window as the output shaft is rotated toward the first end position. One of the openings may be configured to be in registration with the light source at the first end position.
US09423139B2	Condensation management system and method The present disclosure provides a system and method of condensation of a steam flow produced in a cooking device. The condensation system and method provides a vent pipe configured to be non-linear for providing a path for the steam flow. The condensation system and method also provides a spray nozzle which is positioned to spray water in substantially in alignment with the path of the steam flow. The system and method of increases condensation of the steam flow within the vent pipe, and the condensed steam is drained from the cooking device, producing a minimal amount of steam that is vented outside of the cooking device. The system and method of the present disclosure provide higher efficiency of condensation of steam and an overall smaller amount of atmospheric venting of steam.
US09423133B2	Method and apparatus for assisting with the combustion of fuel An apparatus and method for assisting with the combustion of fuel are described. The apparatus includes a swirler assembly and a fuel nozzle. Fuel is directed into a fuel nozzle mixing chamber and combines with air therein to form a fuel-air mixture. At least one plasma generator, at least partially within the fuel nozzle, generates an at least one of an at least partially ionized air-fuel mixture and an at least partially dissociated air-fuel mixture (“at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture”) via a plasma generator discharge. A combustion chamber inlet admits the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture from the plasma generator into a combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion air flows through the swirler body and into the combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion of the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture with the combustion air occurs at least partially within the combustion chamber internal volume to responsively produce products.
US09423132B2	Ultra low emissions gas turbine combustor The gaseous fuel-fired can combustor for a gas turbine include a generally cylindrical housing, and a generally cylindrical liner disposed coaxially within the housing to define with the housing a radial outer flow passage for combustion air, the-liner also defining inner combustion and a dilution zone, the dilution zone being axially distant a closed housing end relative to the combustion zone. A fuel/air mixing apparatus disposed at the closed housing end includes a plurality of swirl vanes defining passages each having constant cross-section flow areas along the vanes, and an increasing aspect ratio from the passage inlet to the outlet. An impingement cooling sleeve coaxially disposed in the combustion air passage between the housing and the liner cools the portion of the liner defining the combustion zone. Channeling apparatus is disposed between a downstream end region of the sleeve and the mixing apparatus and includes a diffuser section with a ratio of the outlet flow area to the inlet flow area in a range of 1.3-1.5.
US09423129B2	Shell and tiled liner arrangement for a combustor A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
US09423127B2	Radial burner air inlet with linear volumetric air control An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the introduction of air into a burner. More particularly, the invention provides for a damper system that controls the introduction of air into a burner system by altering the size of a peripheral flow path for the introduction of air into the plenum of the burner.
US09423125B2	Burner with lance The present invention relates to a burner for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine plant. The burner includes a lance for introducing gaseous fuel into the burner. A shaft of the lance has at least one nozzle for introducing gaseous fuel into the burner. A main injection direction of the respective nozzle is oriented onto a portion of a burner wall. An introduction device for a diverting fluid is provided, which is designed for introducing a diverting fluid counteracting an impingement of the fuel flow on the burner wall.
US09423118B2	Light-emitting module and lamp using same A light-emitting module includes a substrate, an LED chip arranged on a main surface of the substrate, a sealing member covering the LED chip on the main surface of the substrate and converting a wavelength of the light produced by the LED chip, and a heat transfer member thermally connecting the sides of the LED chip to the main surface of the substrate and dissipating heat produced by the LED chip to the substrate. The heat transfer member is made up of a silicone resin having particles dispersed therein, the particles being nanoparticles of ZrO2 and microparticles of MgO, which have higher thermal conductivity than the silicone resin.
US09423115B2	Lighting device with microwave detection function A lighting device includes a microwave sensor for adjusting its sensing range based on a range gate selected from multiple range gates. An active antenna module transmits first FMCW signal toward a target based on the selected range gate and for receiving second FMCW signal reflected from the target. The microwave sensor demodulates the first FMCW signal and the second FMCW signal to generate beat frequency signal. Then another demodulator demodulates the beat frequency signal to generate Doppler signal. The microwave sensor calculates a range between the microwave sensor and the target based on the beat frequency signal, calculates velocity of the target according to frequency of the Doppler signal, and determine whether to generate triggering signal according to the calculated velocity and the calculated range, when the object located within the range gate. The power module enables a lamp based on the triggering signal.
US09423111B2	Illumination device An illumination device includes a plurality of flat light source units and an elongated base unit to which the light source units are removably attached. The base unit includes one or more connectors connected to the light source units and used in supplying an electric current to the light source units and a plurality of connector attachment portions arranged at a specified interval along a longitudinal direction of the base unit. The connectors are removably attached to the connector attachment portions.
US09423103B2	Light source device for tubular observation device A light source device includes a primary light source unit and a light converting unit. The primary light source unit includes a primary light emitting portion. The light converting unit includes a light converting member and a secondary light emitting portion. In the two-dimensional shape of the secondary light emitting portion projected on a surface perpendicular to the optical axis of primary light, the length of the minimum width of the two-dimensional shape passing through the center of gravity of the two-dimensional shape is different from the length of the maximum width of the two-dimensional shape passing through the center of gravity.
US09423092B1	Method and apparatus for light illumination with light spread diffusion in a vehicle light A lighting fixture for vehicles is described herein. The light fixture is configured to produce a variable light output with variable angle of light spread. A light source, such as a series of connected light emitting diodes, encapsulated by optics, are affixed to a light fixture. A series of optics facing the light source may thus be manipulated and moved in a linear fashion towards or away from a light source in order to achieve a particular angle of light spread. The optics are controlled by a controller coupled to the light fixture and may function in an automated method or may respond to manual control. An adjustability mechanism assembly existing within and coupled to the light fixture operates the series of optics in a linear fashion towards or away from a light source. The light fixtures produce a range of light spreads from a focused spot light to a wider flood light.
US09423087B2	Vehicular lamp A vehicular lamp has a light source attachment flat surface having a plurality of light source attachment portions, a plurality of light sources attached to the plurality of light source attachment portions, and a plurality of parabolic reflectors. Each of the plurality of parabolic reflectors reflect light from a corresponding one of the light sources in a predetermined optical axis direction. The light source attachment flat surface is tilted with respect to an optical axis of the reflector so as to be higher on a front side of the lamp than on a rear side of the lamp.
US09423086B2	LED signal light with visible and infrared emission The present disclosure is directed to a light emitting diode (LED) signal light. In one embodiment, the LED signal light includes at least one visible LED, at least one infrared (IR) LED, a reflector, wherein the reflector collimates a light emitted from the at least one visible LED and a light emitted from the at least one IR LED and a power supply powering the at least one visible LED and the at least one IR LED.
US09423081B2	Illumination assembly The present invention relates to an illumination assembly comprising a specific combination of one or more white LEDs and one or more red-orange LEDs with improved spectral characteristics (e.g., specific color performance characteristics, such as a desirable color rendering index and color temperature).
US09423079B1	Method and system for retrofitting luminaires A lighting fixture can be upgraded from utilizing a fluorescent-based light source to utilizing a light source based on light emitting diode (LED) technology. The upgrade can be completed while the fixture is mounted at an installation, or the fixture can be taken down temporarily during the upgrade. One or more fluorescent tubes in the fixture can be removed and replaced with an LED-based light engine. The light engine can include LEDs, an LED driver, and a lightguide, which may be slab-shaped. The LEDs can couple light into the lightguide, and the lightguide can distribute the coupled light. A bracket system can mount the new light engine to a frame of the lighting fixture. If the lighting fixture has a ballast, the ballast can remain attached to the fixture frame during and after the upgrade or be removed, for example.
US09423070B2	Gutter-anchored structure for portable fire sprinklers A plastic body incorporating a flate base, with a top side and a bottom side, is encompassed by a rim perpendicular on it. A pair of rectangular prolongations extends from a side of flat base. Each rectangular prolongation terminates into a downwardly extending end, bent back at 90 degrees and provided with a tapered plate, inwardly directed for tangentially contacting an interior of a gutter. A cantilever bar, having a bent longitudinal axis of symmetry, is located at midway between the pair of rectangular prolongations. A slanted, ribbed plate extending transversally at the bottom end of cantilever bar is adapted to tangentially contact a gutter, respectively a curvilinear external surface of the latter. A tubular housing projecting perpendicularly out of the bottom side of the flat base is used for inserting a pole for positioning and anchoring the gutter-anchored structure.
US09423060B2	Fixing device for lower stage members and fluid control device equipped with fixing device Provided are a fixing device for a lower-stage member which facilitates a leveling operation for making upper surfaces of lower-stage members coplanar, and can further enhance a vibration absorbing effect generated by an elastic member, and a fluid control device which includes the fixing device. A fixing device for a lower-stage member is configured such that respective lower-stage members are fixed once and, thereafter, a desired lower-stage member is moved upwardly against an elastic force so as to finely adjust positions of upper surfaces of a plurality of lower-stage members. The elastic member is formed of an annular body made of rubber or a synthetic resin. A cutout which imparts the elastic deformation by bending when a force in the vertical direction is applied to the elastic member is formed on an upper portion and a lower portion of an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member.
US09423054B1	Method and apparatus for suspending a package in an elevated position One embodiment provides a method and apparatus for suspending air conditioning duct works from a support structure comprising unistrut type support beams which apparatus includes a plurality of support brackets arranged and configured for being slidably interlockable with the interior of the unistrut beam members. The support brackets can be slid inside the interior of the support beam until adjacent a support beam which support beam can be connected to the support bracket. In like manner additional support brackets can be inserted into the interior of the support beam members to be adjustably located next to their respective support rod. In such manner multiple support rods can be used to support a frame member even where the support rods are not symmetrically located along the length of the support beam as the support bracket can be slid/moved inside the support beam until lining up with its respective support rod. Additionally, the entire support framework can be moved relative to the plurality of support rods by sliding the framework relative to the support brackets. In such manner the location of the supporting frame member can be changed without moving the support rods.
US09423052B2	Hydraulic valve for supplying single-acting or double-acting consumer A valve formed with a valve sleeve formed with at least a first port, at least a second port and a pressure-compensated valve tappet movable between a closed position and at least one open position. The valve tappet is formed as two parts that move relative one another and are acted upon relative to one another by a hydrostatic pressure present at the first port.
US09423051B2	Dispensing carbonated beverages from a closed package A mechanism to dispense a carbonated beverage from a closed package may include reducing a pressure of a gas from a cartridge using one or more pressure regulators coupled to the cartridge. Further, the flow rate of the gas having the reduced pressure may be regulated using a flow regulator coupled to the one or more pressure regulators. The flow regulator may be coupled to a dispensing head comprising a sequential arrangement of a snifting valve and a dispensing valve. Using the sequential arrangement, the gas whose flow rate is regulated may be released into the closed package to dispense a carbonated beverage in the closed container at a controlled rate to minimize a foaming.
US09423042B2	Slit valve having increased flow uniformity Methods and apparatus for increasing flow uniformity are provided herein. In some embodiments, a slit valve having increased flow uniformity may be provided, the slit valve may include a housing having an opening disposed therethrough, the opening configured to allow a substrate to pass therethrough; a gas inlet formed in the housing; an outer plenum disposed in the housing and coupled to the gas inlet; an inner plenum disposed in the housing and coupled to the outer plenum via a plurality of holes; and a plurality of gas outlets disposed in the housing and fluidly coupling the opening to the inner plenum.
US09423040B2	Fire protection deluge membrane valve with multiple closing apertures Valve of the type having a body which is provided with an inlet and an outlet of a fluid which are reciprocally put in flow communication by means of a communication chamber in which said communication chamber can be occluded by means of closure means and in which the communication chamber is divided in a first chamber and a second chamber, each putting in flow communication the inlet and the outlet of the fluid according to a parallel configuration. The first chamber is provided with first closing means, the second chamber is provided with second closing means and there is further provided at least one third closing means.
US09423033B2	Dust cover A dust cover made of resin comprising a bellows tube portion and a mating tube portion provided to one axial side of the bellows tube portion. The mating tube portion includes: a circumferential groove that opens onto an inner peripheral surface of the mating tube portion and is configured to receive a catch claw that projects from a cylinder to an outer peripheral side to be inserted into the circumferential groove from an opening of the mating tube portion; and at least one bent portion that has a mountain-shaped cross section projecting to the outer peripheral side while opening to an inner peripheral side of the mating tube portion and extends in an axial direction so that the mating tube portion is substantially enlarged in diameter via elastic deformation of the bent portion to expand in a circumferential direction.
US09423031B2	Key seal and valve A key seal preferably includes a first circular seal portion, a second rounded seal portion and a third rounded seal portion. The first circular seal portion preferably has generally circular cross-section. The second rounded seal portion preferably has a bottom side which is connected to the first seal portion, and has a cross-section which is smaller than that of the first circular seal portion. The third rounded seal portion preferably has a top side which is connected to the first seal portion, and has a cross-section which is smaller than that of the first circular seal portion. The first, second and third seal portions may be integrally formed. They key seal may be installed in a hydroseal assembly around the pin section of a hydroseal, and between a seal and a block section of the hydroseal.
US09423030B2	Outer pin seal A seal (200) of substantially wedge shaped cross section self adjusts and seals pivot joints (100) over a range of gap widths to be sealed.
US09423028B2	Piston ring An improved piston ring for use as an intermediate piston ring in a piston assembly having three or more piston rings is provided. The piston ring includes a piston ring body which extends through an arcuate shape between opposite end faces. The piston ring body has at least one combustion gas guidance feature for allowing a greater flow of combustion gasses to pass the piston ring body when the piston is moving in one direction and for allowing a lesser flow of combustion gasses to pass the piston ring body when the piston is moving in an opposite direction. This allows for the ring gap at the outer diameter of the piston ring to be minimized without creating flutter in another piston ring above the intermediate piston ring during operation of an engine.
US09423026B2	System and method for controlling a continuously variable transmission when transitioning operation from a hydrostatic mode to a hydro-mechanical mode In one aspect, a method for controlling a continuously variable transmission when transitioning the transmission from operation within a hydrostatic mode to operation within a hydro-mechanical mode may generally include initially operating the transmission in the hydrostatic mode, receiving a mode switch signal associated with transitioning the operation of the transmission to the hydro-mechanical mode and initiating a clutch swap between a secondary range clutch and a directional clutch of the transmission. In addition, the method may include adjusting a swash plate angle of the transmission as the directional clutch is slipped in order to transition the operation of the transmission to a point along a hydro-mechanical operating curve and fully engaging the directional clutch to allow operation of the transmission along the hydro-mechanical operating curve.
US09423019B2	Manual park release actuator assembly A manual park release assembly includes a housing defining an inner cavity and an opening in communication with the inner cavity. The manual park release assembly further includes a locking device at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The locking device is movable relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position. Further, the manual park release actuator assembly includes a manual park release actuator coupled to the locking device. The manual park release actuator is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position when the locking device is in the unlocked position. The manual park release actuator includes an actuator body sized to be at least partially received in the opening and a plurality of mechanical stops coupled to the actuator body.
US09423018B1	Technologies for variator cooling A variator and methods for making the variator are disclosed. The variator includes a plurality of spheres and a plurality of fluid conduits. The plurality of spheres are arranged circumferentially about a central axis and configured to be positioned between an input disc and an output disc. The plurality of fluid conduits each include (i) an inlet positioned radially outward of the plurality of spheres and (ii) an outlet positioned radially inward of the inlet and fluidly coupled to the inlet to deliver fluid received by the inlet to at least one of the plurality of spheres.
US09423013B2	Planetary gear and group transmission with planetary gear Planetary gearsets (PS1, PS2) are coupled and arranged coaxially and radially offset relative to one another. Gearset (PS1) is arranged radially inside gearset (PS2) and each have a carrier on which planet gears (8, 12) respectively rotate. A support ring, having inner and outer teeth, is radially arranged between the planet gears (8, 12). A sun gear, which meshes with planet gears (8) which mesh with the inner teeth of the support ring, is radially within gearset (PS1). A ring gear, which meshes with planet gears (12) which mesh with inner teeth of the support ring, is radially outside gearset (PS2). The sun gear of gearset (PS1) is fixed to an input shaft. The carrier of gearset (PS1) is fixed to the ring gear of gearset (PS2) and mounted, via a radial-axial bearing, on the output shaft. The carrier of gearset (PS2) is fixed to an output shaft.
US09423010B2	Method of producing mechanism for converting rotational motion to linear motion and jig for executing the method In this manufacturing method, when a plurality of planetary shaft main bodies are arranged at even intervals around a sun shaft main body, a state in which a sun threaded section is engaged with each of planetary threaded sections is referred to as a regular assembled state, and an assembly formed by a combination of the sun shaft main body and the planetary shaft main body in the regular assembled state is referred to as a first assembly. The first assembly is assembled in a state in which the relationship of the planetary shaft main body and the sun shaft main body is in correspondence with the relationship of the planetary shaft main body and the sun shaft main body in the regular assembled state.
US09423007B2	Multi-stage transmission for vehicle A multi-stage transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft, an output shaft, first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear devices disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft to transmit rotary force, each of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear devices having three rotary elements, and at least six shifting elements connected to the three rotary elements of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear devices.
US09423006B2	Multi-stage planetary vehicle transmission A multi-gear transmission having a housing, planetary gearsets, shafts and shifting elements. Input shaft (1) is connected or can couple the sun gear of gearset (RS3), and can couple the sun gear of gearset (RS1) and the carrier of gearset (RS1) and can couple the sun gear of gearset (RS2). Output shaft (2) is connected directly to the ring gear of gearset (RS4) and is connected or couple indirectly the carrier of gearset (RS3). The sun gear and the carrier of gearset (RS1) and the sun gear of gearset (RS4) can in each case couple the housing. The ring gear of gearset (RS1) is connected to the carrier of gearset (RS4) and is or can couple the ring gear of gearset (RS2), and the carrier of gearset (RS2) and the ring gear of the third planetary gearset (RS3) are or can be connected to one another.
US09423004B2	Gearbox apparatus A gearbox housing defines a first enclosure for reception therein of at least two different diameter size first gearwheels. A second gearwheel has a second axis of rotation and is disposed at selected locations that permit intermeshing of the second gearwheel with one of the first gearwheels and a third gearwheel as well as a replacement first gearwheel and the third gearwheel.
US09423003B2	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. of varying dimension measured in the circumference direction “L” of the belt (3), which transverse members (32) are provided with a rocking edge (18) in the form an axially and radially extending section of a respective main body surface (38; 39) of the transverse member (32) that is convexly curved in radial direction. According to the invention, the design of such drive belt (3) can be improved, at least in terms of durability, by shaping the rocking edge (18) of the thinner transverse members (32) of such drive belt (3) according a larger radius of curvature in comparison with the radius of curvature of the rocking edge (18) of thicker transverse members (32) thereof.
US09422999B2	Spring functional component for a hydroelastic bearing and hydroelastic bearing A spring functional component for a hydroelastic bearing. The component comprises a mounting inner connection, a mounting outer connection radially surrounding the mounting inner connection, a spring body which delimits at least two working chambers for receiving a damping fluid and couples the mounting inner and outer connections to one another in order to allow a relative movability between the mounting inner and outer connection and a support frame surrounding the mounting inner connection made of a rigid material such as plastic or metal, on which at least one radial stop is held, wherein the radial stop can be displaced from a pre-assembly state, in which a stop end of the radial stop is disengaged with respect to a stop counterpiece on the mounting inner connection side or mounting outer connection side, into a final assembly state in which the stop end engages the stop counterpiece.
US09422997B2	Micro-nano fluid damper A micro-nano fluid damper includes a sleeve, a piston assembly and a micro-nano fluid. The sleeve has an accommodating space. The piston assembly has a piston head and at least one piston rod. The piston assembly is movably disposed in the accommodating space. The piston rod extends out of the sleeve from a side of the piston head. The micro-nano fluid is filled between the sleeve and the piston assembly, and the micro-nano fluid flows in the accommodating space by the back-and-forth movement of the piston. When a shear strain rate of the micro-nano fluid is greater than 1s−1, an exponent of velocity of the micro-nano fluid damper is less than 1, and the micro-nano fluid has a shear thinning threshold and a shear thickening threshold.
US09422994B2	Manufacturing method of cast-iron friction member A cast-iron friction member is manufactured by: performing a nitrocarburizing treatment on a cast workpiece at a treatment temperature of 500° C. to 600° C. to thus form a nitrogen compound layer on a surface of the workpiece; and exposing the workpiece to an atmosphere when a temperature becomes 400° C. to 480° C. after the nitrocarburizing treatment so as to cool the workpiece to a room temperature while keeping a contact state with oxygen to thus form an iron oxide layer including Fe3O4 on a surface of the nitrogen compound layer.
US09422988B2	Electromagnetic connect/disconnect system for a vehicle An electromagnetic connect/disconnect system with an electromagnet including a coil and a coil housing. The system also including a slide ring located between the coil housing and a sliding collar. The slide ring has a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface. The sliding collar has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is located radially inward from the slide ring and defines a first set of axially extending teeth. The second portion is located radially inward from the first portion. A return spring groove is located radially inward from the sliding collar first portion and houses a return spring. An output gear is also included which has a second set of axially extending teeth for selective engagement with the first set of teeth.
US09422986B2	Telescopic shaft A telescopic shaft includes a male shaft having an outer circumference on which a plurality of protruding teeth are formed, and a female shaft having an inner circumference on which a plurality of tooth grooves are formed. The tooth grooves of the female shaft are fitted onto the protruding teeth of the male shaft such that the male shaft and the female shaft are relatively slidable in an axial direction and such that a rotational torque is transmittable between the male shaft and the female shaft. One of a curvature radius of a tooth surface of the protruding teeth and a curvature radius of a tooth surface of the tooth grooves is smaller than the other of the curvature radius of the tooth surface of the protruding teeth and the curvature radius of the tooth surface of the tooth grooves.
US09422981B2	Roller bearing cage and manufacturing method therefor as well as roller bearing manufacturing method A roller bearing cage (1A) is configured such that a pair of ring parts (4, 6) axially separated from each other is connected by column parts (5) sliding on outer peripheral surfaces of rollers (RA), and pocket holes (P) are evenly formed to store and hold the rollers (RA) in a peripheral wall portion in a circumferential direction. The cage (1A) is manufactured such that a base body (2) including the ring part (4) and the column parts (5) with square columnar convexes (5A) and a connection body (3) including the ring part (6) with square holes (6A) are set as separate members.
US09422980B2	Pre-stressed rolling bearing, notably for a steering column A rolling bearing includes a first ring, a second ring and a row of rolling elements disposed between the first ring and the second ring. The first ring has a housing, at least two raceway elements are mounted in the housing and at least one pre-stressing element is mounted in the housing. The at least one pre-stressing element is provided with at least one portion having a circumferential extension of less than 360° in sliding contact with the second ring.
US09422976B2	Axial-radial rolling contact bearing, in particular for supporting rotor blades on a wind turbine An axial-radial roller-bearing assembly for mounting rotor blades on a wind-power plant has a first bearing ring forming a race and centered on a bearing axis and a second bearing ring forming another race coaxial to the race formed by the first bearing ring. A radial roller bearing with rollers as rolling elements is between the first and second bearing rings. First, second, third, and fourth axial roller bearings have rollers serving as rolling elements between the first and second bearing rings and axially spaced from one another. The radial roller bearing is axially between the second and third axial roller bearings.
US09422974B2	Fluid bearing apparatus including dynamic pressure grooves with striations, spindle motor, and disk drive apparatus A fluid bearing apparatus includes a stationary member and a rotating member. A bearing surface of the stationary member and a bearing surface of the rotating member are arranged opposite to each other with a minute gap intervening therebetween. A lubricating fluid is arranged in the minute gap. At least one of the bearing surfaces includes a dynamic pressure groove, and a plurality of striations defined in a bottom portion of the dynamic pressure groove. Each of the dynamic pressure groove and the striations is arranged to extend in a direction at an angle greater than 0° to a circumferential direction. An angle defined between each striation and the circumferential direction is equal to or smaller than an angle defined between the dynamic pressure groove and the circumferential direction. Thus, an improvement in a force of dynamic pressure at the dynamic pressure groove is achieved.
US09422970B1	Suction cup A suction cup is disclosed, including a suction disc assembly, a rotatable unit and a hanger accessory interface; wherein the suction disc assembly including a suction disc and a pull-up element disposed on the suction disc; the rotatable unit including a carrier base, a penetration hole, and a plurality of tilt tracks, the tilt tracks being distributed around a ring-shaped inner wall of the carrier base and the penetration hole being formed at the center area of the carrier base; the hanger accessory interface being disposed inside the carrier base and contacts the suction disc through the carrier base; the hanger accessory interface including a plurality of slider blocks, with each slider block located at a corresponding tilt track; the pull-up element being engaged to the hanger accessory interface through the penetration hole; as such, suction cup provides convenience and enhance durable suction for attachment.
US09422964B2	Blind fasteners Fasteners for producing double blind joints where the fastener is not visible or accessible are provided. The fasteners comprise a shape memory polymer that may be used to fasten workpieces by heating the fasteners, inducing recovery of the original, permanent shape of the fasteners.
US09422963B2	Extendable interlocking structures and methods Embodiments of the present disclosure include extendable structures and methods of forming an extendable structure. In accordance with an embodiment, an extendable structure includes a first chain of interlocking components including a first interlocking component, a second chain of interlocking components including a second interlocking component configured to mate to the bottom surface the first interlocking component, and a third chain of interlocking components including a third interlocking component configured to mate to the bottom surfaces of the first interlocking component and the second interlocking component. The extendable structure may include more than three chains of interlocking components and each chain of interlocking components may comprise three or more interlocking components.
US09422962B1	Collated staple strip assembly A collated staple strip assembly includes first and second staples, each staple having a bight extending between first and second legs, first and second leg axes, and a bight axis. An attachment strip is secured to at least one of the first and second legs of the first staple and at least one of the first and second legs of the second staple. The attachment strip is deformable about a first axis extending along at least a portion of the height of one of the first and second staples and substantially parallel to the leg axes of one of the first and second staples to position the first and second staples such that the bight axis of the first staple is substantially alignable with the bight axis of the second staple.
US09422959B2	Method for interconnection of structural components A structural component interconnect assembly includes a first component adapted for interconnection with a second component. A connection component is adapted for securing the first component and the second component together in a secured interconnection. The connection component includes at least two flanges spaced from each other by a first distance. The first component includes a mating surface having at least two slots formed therein and spaced one from another by the first distance. The second component includes a first surface and a second surface spaced one from the other by a distance on the order of the first distance. Engagement of the at least two flanges, via the at least two slots, with the first surface and the second surface secures the first component to the second component.
US09422956B2	Panel mounting arrangement A panel mounting system comprises a panel, a foundation and a plurality of hangers connecting the panel to the foundation. The panel comprises a plurality of first attachment points, and the foundation comprises a plurality of second attachment points.The panel is constrained by the plurality of hangers such that movement of each first attachment point relative to the corresponding second attachment point is constrained to a plane that is normal to the surface of the panel at the first attachment point, and is aligned with the direction of thermal expansion of the panel at the first attachment point.
US09422954B2	Piezoelectric driven oscillating surface Disclosed herein is an active roughness actuator and a method of forming an active roughness actuator. The active roughness actuator includes a surface having at least one aperture; a compliant layer disposed on the surface such that the compliant layer covers the at least one aperture; a chamber having a fluid therein and a piezoelectric surface mechanically coupled to the chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the compliant layer via the at least one aperture. The piezoelectric surface is configured to displace the fluid in the chamber to control production of at least one dimple in the compliant layer proximate to the at least one aperture.
US09422948B2	Energy storage system and method for storing energy and recovering the stored energy using the system There is provided an energy storage system. The system includes a storage tank, a reservoir connected to the storage tank configured to store fluid and exchange the stored fluid with the storage tank, at least one path configured to transfer the stored fluid between the storage tank and the reservoir, a pump configured to inject the stored fluid into the storage tank and compress air in the storage tank, and a generator configured to generate electricity by using the injected fluid transferred from the storage tank to the reservoir.
US09422941B2	Impeller for a pump and core arrangement and method for casting an impeller for a pump An impeller (2) for a pump is designed as a casting and includes at least one blade (4). The impeller (2), when casting, is molded by way of at least two core parts (14, 16). Partition lines (26, 28) between the at least two core parts (14, 16) are distanced to an end-edge (10) of the at least one blade. The end-edge is at a front in a flow direction (S).
US09422939B2	Electric motor and electric unit including the same A pump housing, a fixing member and a holding member are assembled in the axis direction of an oil pump to fix a stator and a rotor of a brushless motor. The holding member is made of metal material and has a cylindrical shape that extends from its bottom portion toward one side in the axial direction. The fixing member is a cylindrical metal member. Stepped portions, extending in the circumferential direction, are formed in the outer periphery of the holding member and the inner periphery of the fixing member, and contact each other. The outer periphery of the holding member engages with the inner periphery of the fixing member. The outer periphery of the other end portion of the fixing member is fitted to the inner periphery of a flange portion projecting from the end face of the pump housing, which is adjacent to the brushless motor.
US09422937B2	Vacuum pump The invention relates to a vacuum pump having at least one molecular pump stage, in particular a Holweck stage, which includes a rotor member which forms the pump-active surface of the molecular pump stage and having at least one side channel pump stage which is arranged downstream of the molecular pump stage and which includes a plurality of rotor elements, wherein the rotor elements of the side channel pump stage are supported by the rotor member of the molecular pump stage. The invention further relates to a vacuum pump having at least one molecular pump stage, in particular a Holweck stage, and having at least one side channel pump stage which is arranged downstream of the molecular pump stage and which includes a plurality of rotor elements, wherein the side channel pump stage is arranged between a pump inlet and the molecular pump stage.
US09422934B2	Systems and methods for monitoring a disc pump system using RFID A disc pump system includes a pump body having a substantially cylindrical shape defining a cavity for containing a fluid, the cavity being formed by a side wall closed at both ends by substantially circular end walls, at least one of the end walls being a driven end wall. The system includes an actuator operatively associated with the driven end wall to cause an oscillatory motion of the driven end and an isolator is operatively associated with the peripheral portion of the driven end wall to reduce damping of the displacement oscillations. The isolator comprises a flexible material, which in turn includes an RFID tag.
US09422933B2	Bellows and method for manufacturing same A conductive coating layer 2a, 2b is formed on at least one of an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of a base body 2 of bellows 1 by diffusion-bonding. Regarding the diffusion-bonding, the flat conductive coating layer 2a, 2b is layered on at least one end surface side of the plate-shaped base body 2, and these base body 2 and conductive coating layer 2a, 2b are diffusion-bonded. After forming this diffusion-bonded multilayer member into a tubular body by a drawing process, a side wall of the tubular body is formed into a bellows shape. With these processes, it is possible to obtain the bellows that has the conductive coating layer having a more uniform thickness on the base body of the bellows and has extremely good characteristics (the mechanical characteristics and the electric characteristics).
US09422932B2	Roller pump with dynamic occlusion adjustment A roller pump including a drive shaft, a motor, a roller head assembly, a stator housing, and an occlusion adjustment assembly. The drive shaft is coupled to the motor. The roller head assembly includes a hub, a slide body, and a roller. The hub is mounted to the drive shaft, and maintains the slide body and the roller. The stator housing forms a raceway receiving surface. The occlusion adjustment assembly includes an actuator knob, an actuating structure, and a ground shaft. The actuating structure interfaces with the slide body, and thus the roller, with rotation of the knob. The ground shaft supports the knob and is rotationally isolated from the drive shaft. A user and optionally a control system can adjust occlusion while the pump continuously delivers a fluid medium.
US09422931B2	Milking installation with milk pump A milking installation with a milking robot for automatically connecting teat cups to the teats of a dairy animal has milk lines extending between the teat cups and a milk de-aeration unit or milk glass. A de-aeration port is present at the top of the de-aeration unit and a de-aeration line connects the milk glass to a vacuum system. At the bottom of the milk glass a milk inlet line is provided which connects the milk glass to the milk pump. The milk pump includes a milk inlet, a pump housing, a milk outlet. The milk pump is a membrane pump which type of pump is known to be gentle to the milk and thus reduce occurrence of lypolysis of the milk when pumped through the milking installation.
US09422930B2	Refrigerant compressor The present invention provides a refrigerant compressor which may assure excellent reliability while using low-viscosity refrigerant. The refrigerant compressor is characterized in that the viscosity of oil stored in hermetic container ranges from VG3 to VG8, and the boiling component at 350° C. or over is not less than 10% and not higher than 30% in volume ratio, and the boiling component at 300° C. or less is not less than 50% and not higher than 70% in volume ratio. Accordingly, the input reduction at sliding surfaces can be realized, and the lubricant is evaporated, therefore it is possible to prevent defective compression caused by PET (polyethylene phthalate) or the like deposited on the surfaces of the discharge reed and the like, and to enhance the efficiency and reliability.
US09422929B2	Energy-saving silencer assembly, a semiconductor manufacturing vacuum pump with same and method for heating nitrogen gas The disclosure relates to an energy-saving silencer assembly, which includes: a silencer connected to a discharge side of a pump section, which pumps reaction by-product gas into a vacuum pump, so as to pass the pumped reaction by-product gas from a rear end portion to a front end portion; an outer pipe surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the silencer at an interval so as to provide a heating space between the silencer and the outer pipe; a nitrogen gas supply section for supplying nitrogen gas to the heating space; and a nitrogen gas injection section for injecting heated nitrogen gas to the inside of the silencer by the contact with the outer peripheral surface of the silencer in the heating space.
US09422928B2	Electric motor thermal energy isolation A compressor assembly (10) configured to increase pressure of a fluid. The compressor assembly includes a cylinder (12a, 12b) forming a space for compressing the fluid and a piston (14a, 14b) configured to reciprocate in the cylinder to compress the fluid. The compressor assembly includes a crank shaft (72) configured to drive the piston and a crank shaft housing (18a, 18b) operatively connected to the cylinder and configured to house the crank shaft. A motor (20) is connected to the crank shaft and drives the crank shaft. The compressor assembly further includes a motor housing (22) connected to the crank shaft housing and configured to house the motor. A thermal insulator (24a, 24b) is disposed between the motor housing and the crank shaft housing to enhance thermal insulation between the motor housing and the crank shaft housing.
US09422926B2	Pump device The purpose of the present invention is to provide a small, light coolant-pump device equipped with a filter, said coolant-pump device not requiring regular maintenance. The present invention is provided with: a positive-displacement pump (9); a cyclone filter (12) provided on the intake side of the positive-displacement pump; and a non-positive-displacement pump (40) provided on the intake side of the cyclone filter (12). The cyclone filter (12) contains a primary cyclone (20) and a secondary cyclone (30) each provided with a mechanism (outlet (20c and 30c)) through which separated foreign substances (cutting debris and the like) are expelled. The present invention is set such that the discharge rate of the non-positive-displacement pump (40) is higher than the discharge rate of the positive-displacement pump (9). The positive-displacement pump (9), cyclone filter (12), and non-positive-displacement pump (40) are connected in a vertical straight line.
US09422925B2	Apparatus and method for the generation of electric energy from novel nanogenerator as a thin tape The present invention discloses an apparatus and a process of using the apparatus to generate an electric energy in a crowded place. The apparatus comprises of an array of nanogenerators with a novel composition in a mesh of nanowires specifically piezoelectric nanowires embedded in a thin and transparent tape that may be paste/stick on a floor in a crowded place or a place with heavy traffic. The apparatus generates an electric field by using variations in pressure and surface temperature which is then transferred to a charging/discharging board in the form of an electric energy for later use.
US09422924B2	Nacelle cover For a wind turbine, an electromagnetically shielding nacelle cover is formed of a composite material which can comprise, for example, an outer layer made of a fiber material or fiber mats such as glass fiber mats and an interposed foam layer. A conductor layer, for example a mesh, a woven fabric or a coating made of conductive material is integrated between the fiber layers of the composite material to provide electromagnetic shielding of the nacelle. The conductor layer is also connected, or can be connected, directly or indirectly, to at least one conductive structure that is applied to the outside of the nacelle cover.
US09422918B2	Methods and systems for managing power generation and temperature control of an aerial vehicle operating in crosswind-flight mode Methods and systems described herein relate to power generation control for an aerial vehicle of an air wind turbine (AWT). More specifically, the methods described herein relate to balancing power generation or preventing a component of the aerial vehicle from overheating using rotor speed control. An example method may include operating an aerial vehicle in a crosswind-flight mode to generate power. The aerial vehicle may include a rotor configured to help generate the power. While the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight mode the method may include comparing a power output level of the aerial vehicle to a power threshold and, based on the comparison, adjusting operation of the rotor in a manner that generates an optimal amount of power or minimizes overheating of the aerial vehicle.
US09422915B2	Customizing a wind turbine for site-specific conditions After establishing a design environmental condition (26, S1) for a wind turbine blade, and engineering a coefficient of lift and a corresponding optimum blade tip speed ratio (TSR 21) that maximizes annual energy production of the wind turbine when operating under the design environmental condition, determining a site-specific condition (28, S2, S3) that changes a wind loading condition on the blade compared to the design environmental condition, and providing an add-on device (49, 50, 60) for the blade that maximizes annual energy production of the wind turbine under the site-specific condition by changing the coefficient of lift and optimum TSR of the blade. Site specific conditions may include reduced RPM (28) for noise curtailment and/or specific mean wind speeds (S2, S3). The add-on device may include a flap (49, 60) and/or vortex generators (50).
US09422914B2	Radar absorbing material compatible with lightning protection systems A wind turbine component incorporating radar-absorbing material having increased compatibility with lightning protection systems is described. The radar absorbing material includes a ground plane having an electrical conductivity and/or a dielectric constant that is higher in the presence of an electric field having a frequency of 1 GHz and above than in the presence of an electric field having a frequency of 10 MHz and below. Suitable materials for the ground plane include ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic materials and percolating material combinations, all of which have frequency-dependent properties that can be tuned to make the ground plane highly reflective at radar frequencies and benign at lightning discharge frequencies.
US09422912B2	Method for controlling a corona ignition device The invention relates to a method for controlling a corona ignition device that has a high-frequency generator and a resonant circuit that contains an ignition electrode, wherein a primary voltage is fed into the high-frequency generator, the resonant circuit is excited by a secondary voltage generated by the high-frequency generator, and a corona discharge is thus produced at the ignition electrode, a series of values of an electric variable are measured during the excitation of the resonant circuit, it is checked, by evaluating the measured values, whether the corona discharge has transitioned into an arc discharge, and a determination of an arc discharge is responded to by reducing the secondary voltage and thus extinguishing the arc discharge.
US09422910B2	System and method for limiting a starting current For the electrical protection of a current control device 12 against overcurrents, a starting current limitation system is proposed with a first electrical connection 4 connectable to a motor vehicle battery pole 9, a second electrical connection 6 connectable to a starter 10, and a parallel circuit connected between the first connection 4 and the second connection 6, comprising a branch with a current control device 12 and a branch with an electrical resistor 14, in such a way that, at the beginning of a warm start of the motor vehicle, a starter current is conducted via the resistor 14 and that, after the beginning of the warm start, the starter current is conducted via the current control device 12 and the resistor 14.
US09422907B2	Start control device for outboard motor, start control method for outboard motor, and program A start control device (20) for an outboard motor (40) has: a determination unit (64) determining whether or not an emergency switch (31) is on when a first switch is operated by a boat operator; a start instruction unit (65) instructing a start of the outboard motor (40) when the determination unit (64) determines that the emergency switch (31) is not on; and a stop instruction unit (66) instructing a stop of a supply of electric power to the outboard motor (40) when the determination unit (64) determines that the emergency switch (31) is on. It is possible to make a state where the electric power is supplied to the outboard motor (40) shift to a state where the supply of electric power to the outboard motor (40) is stopped without starting the outboard motor (40).
US09422904B2	Vehicle engine starting apparatus Vehicle engine starting apparatus of automatically restarting an engine by quickly responding to a subsequent engine restart request even if engagement of a pinion gear with a ring gear is failed in the process of a stop of the engine. Pinion gear is displaced such that the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear at a timing (when rotation speed of the pinion gear and rotation speed of the engine are nearly synchronized with each other with a signal from a control device when a predetermined condition is met. Where an engagement sensor has transmitted a signal “H” indicating engagement failure, when restart of the engine becomes necessary, the pinion gear is displaced toward a ring gear side by the control device.
US09422903B2	Connecting element for GDI tube stress reduction In a GDI fuel rail mounting system comprising a fuel injection rail, having at least one fuel injector receiving cup with a generally cylindrical shape directly attached to the fuel rail generally perpendicular to and offset from the center of the fuel rail. The fuel rail further comprising at least one generally cylindrical attachment means proximal the fuel injector receiving cup, also attached to the fuel rail offset from the center thereof, the attachment means and the fuel injector receiving cup being disposed generally parallel to each other. A securing strap is attached to the outer curvature of at least one of the injector receiving cup and the attachment means, at least partially wrapping around the outer periphery of the attachment means, thereby inhibiting torsional, lineal, and lateral movement of the injector cup relative to the attachment means and the fuel rail.
US09422901B2	Fuel injection valve A first spring axially urges a needle valve toward an injection hole. A second spring axially urges a movable core toward a stationary core with an urging force that is smaller than an urging force of the first spring. A stopper is placed on one axial side of the movable core where the injection hole is located. The stopper limits movement of the movable core toward the injection hole to limit an amount of compression of the second spring.
US09422899B2	Dual fuel injector with hydraulic lock seal and liquid leak purge strategy A dual fuel system includes a dual fuel injector that has disposed therein a gaseous nozzle chamber fluidly connected to a gaseous fuel inlet, and a liquid nozzle chamber fluidly connected to the liquid fuel inlet. The dual fuel injector also includes a hydraulic lock seal with an annular volume of liquid fuel surrounding a guide segment of a gas needle valve member for inhibiting migration of gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel. A liquid fuel common rail is fluidly connected to a liquid fuel inlet. A check valve is fluidly positioned between the gaseous fuel common rail and the gaseous nozzle chamber of the dual fuel injector for blocking liquid fuel leaked into a gaseous nozzle chamber through the hydraulic lock seal from entering the gaseous fuel common rail.
US09422894B2	Evaporation fuel processing device An evaporation fuel processing device is provide including: a passage; a tank port and a purge port on one end side of the passage; an atmospheric air port on the other end side of the passage; and adsorbent layers filled with adsorbent for evaporation fuel components, provided in the passage; a region provided on an atmospheric air port side of the passage, being constituted of three or more adsorbent layers and separating parts for separating the adjacent adsorbent layers, in which a volume of the adsorbent layer is smaller in the adsorbent layer closer to the atmospheric air port, a volume of the separating part is larger closer to the atmospheric air port, and the volume of the separating part located farthest on a tank port side is larger than that of the adsorbent layer located farthest on the atmospheric air port side.
US09422889B2	Combined turbojet and ramjet engine A combined engine includes a turbopump including a pump injecting hydrogen into a heater arranged in an outer casing downstream from a central body, and a subsonic turbine driving the pump, which turbine receives partially-expanded hydrogen collected at an outlet from the heater to apply the hydrogen to a supersonic turbine to operate the engine as a turbojet. The hydrogen from the supersonic turbine is collected in tubes inside the central body to be sent to a combustion chamber defined downstream from the central body, while the hydrogen that is partially expanded in the subsonic turbine is sent directly to the combustion chamber via injectors to operate the engine as a ramjet.
US09422887B2	Device for reducing the noise emitted by the jet of an aircraft propulsion engine A gas exhaust nozzle for aircraft propulsion includes at least a downstream part with a trailing edge of chevron type formed of chevrons distributed along the periphery of the nozzle. Each chevron extends downstream between an upstream transverse plane and a downstream transverse plane with free edges oriented in two converging downstream directions and defining the trailing edge. The chevrons generate vortices at the boundary of the jet emitted by the nozzle. The gas exhaust nozzle includes a device to inject auxiliary gas jets upstream of the free edges of the chevrons in the main jet through orifices placed upstream of the upstream plane in such a way as to discharge upstream of the upstream plane of the chevrons to generate the vortices upstream of the free edges of the chevrons.
US09422884B2	Internal combustion engine control system with injector valve timing control The internal combustion engine control system includes an injector to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine, control section for calculating power distribution time for the injector, a sensor to detect a valve opening of the injector, and control section calculating and storing valve opening delay time, which is a difference between a power distribution start time and a valve opening detection time.When a power distribution time determination section determines that the power distribution time for the injector is not less than a predetermined value, the valve opening delay time is calculated and stored. When the power distribution time for the injector is less than the predetermined value, the power distribution time for the injector is controlled based on the valve opening delay time stored in storing means to perform control to increase the injector power distribution time.
US09422882B2	Control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine The present invention is intended to provide a technique of improving exhaust emissions at the time of starting up of an internal combustion engine, without decreasing the performance of a catalyst at the time of the engine starting up. The present invention is provided with the catalyst that is arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine in which a plurality of kinds of fuels are able to be used, and serves to adsorb and remove exhaust gas components discharged from the internal combustion engine, wherein in cases where among the plurality of kinds of fuels, a first fuel is used in which unburnt fuel components thereof are easily adsorbed to the catalyst, at the time when a request is made for stopping the internal combustion engine, said first fuel is changed to a second fuel thereby to operate said internal combustion engine until said internal combustion engine is stopped.
US09422878B2	EGR operation method and system for increased drivability A method for an engine may comprise, in response to an EGR valve closing, determining an EGR oxygen content, and purging an EGR system when the EGR oxygen content is less than a threshold oxygen content.
US09422877B2	System and method for control of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) utilizing process temperatures A system includes a reciprocating internal combustion engine with one or more reaction zones configured to receive a charge flow that is configured to react within the one or more reaction zones, thereby forming an exhaust gas flow, and a controller. The charge flow includes an oxidant flow, a fuel flow, and a recirculated portion of the exhaust gas flow. The controller is configured to control a ratio of the recirculated portion of the exhaust gas flow to a fuel mixture. The controller controls the ratio based at least in part on a first temperature, a second temperature of the charge flow, and a third temperature of the recirculated portion of the exhaust gas flow. The fuel mixture includes the oxidant flow and the fuel flow. The first temperature includes one or any combination of a sensed temperature of the oxidant flow, the fuel flow, or the fuel mixture.
US09422875B2	Method of controlling the burnt gas fraction in an engine cylinder with EGR and IGR The invention relates to a method of controlling an internal-combustion engine (1) equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation circuit and with variable timing means, having a first actuator (8) and of a second actuator (9). The method comprises acquiring a torque setpoint for the engine Tqsp determining a position setpoint for the first actuator (8) VVTint and a position setpoint for the second actuator (9) VVTexh by using a burnt gas flow model (MEGB) that relates the position setpoints of the actuators to the engine torque setpoint Tqsp . The burnt gas flow model (MEGB) comprises a cylinder filling model (MR), the burnt gas fraction in the cylinder is controlled by applying position setpoints VVTint and VVTexh to the variable timing means (8 and 9).
US09422874B2	Simplified method to inject ethanol or other solution additives into diesel engines equipped with a digital data bus A system for the delivery of ethanol or other solution additives to the intake manifold of compression ignition diesel engines comprising an electronic control module containing a microcomputer capable of monitoring SAE J1939 serial data, receive a signal from an additive monitoring sensor and have outputs to turn on a pump relay, indicator lamp and from 1 to n pulse width modulated electrical fluid injectors.
US09422871B2	Variable intake system for vehicle, and apparatus and method for controlling the same An intake system mounted to a vehicle controls an opening angle of a variable flap according to an RPM of an engine, an intake pressure, and an opening angle of a variable flap to optimize performance in various operation regions by detecting engine RPM and an intake air pressure, and determining an operation region based on the RPM of the engine; applying the intake pressure to determine a target amount of air and an opening angle of a variable flap for an operation region; driving an actuator to adjust an opening angle of the variable flap to a target opening angle; and analyzing an operation position of the actuator to detect an opening angle of the variable flap, and, when the target opening angle is not followed, correcting a drive of the actuator such that an opening angle of the variable flap follows the target opening angle.
US09422870B2	Throttle having two channels with control via each channel The invention relates to a double distributor for distributing the intake fluid of an engine, comprising a body in which first and second flow channels are arranged, first and second movable shutters being positioned in said flow channels, said distributor also including an actuator motor and kinematics for simultaneously actuating the first and second shutter, characterized in that the kinematics are arranged so as to distribute the flow passing through the first output channel by rotating the first shutter, provide proportional distribution via the two output channels by simultaneously rotating the two shutters, and distribute the flow passing through the second output channel by rotating the second shutter.
US09422869B2	Systems and methods for gas turbine tuning and control A method of tuning a gas turbine includes receiving a first plurality of operating parameters as the gas turbine engine is operated at a first operating state. Further, the method includes operating the gas turbine engine at a second operating state to measure a second plurality of operating parameters at the second operating state. In addition, the method includes operating the gas turbine engine at a third operating state to measure a third plurality of operating parameters at the third operating state, wherein the first, second, and third operating states are different from each other. Additionally, the method includes generating a correction factor based on the first, second, and third plurality of operating parameters. The method also includes adjusting the operation of the gas turbine engine based on the correction factor.
US09422868B2	Simple cycle gas turbomachine system having a fuel conditioning system A simple cycle gas turbomachine includes a compressor portion, and a turbine portion having an outlet. At least one combustor is fluidically connected to the compressor portion and the turbine portion. An exhaust member includes an inlet, fluidically connected to the outlet of the turbine portion, a first outlet and a second outlet. A fuel conditioning system includes a heat exchange member provided with a first circuit having an exhaust gas inlet fluidically connected to the second outlet of the exhaust member and an exhaust gas inlet, a second circuit having an inlet fluidically connected to a source of fuel and an outlet fluidically connected to the at least one combustor. A conditioned fluid conduit is fluidically connected between a source of conditioned fluid and one of the combustor assembly and the first outlet of the exhaust member.
US09422867B2	Variable volume combustor with center hub fuel staging The present application and the resultant patent provide a combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a number of micro-mixer fuel nozzles and a fuel injection system for providing a flow of fuel to the micro-mixer fuel nozzles. The fuel injection system may include a center hub for providing the flow of fuel therethrough. The center hub may include a first supply circuit for a first micro-mixer fuel nozzle and a second supply circuit for a second micro-mixer fuel nozzle.
US09422866B2	Gas turbine controller and a method for controlling a gas turbine Exemplary embodiments relate to a method and system for transient operating of a gas turbine. Operation of the gas turbine the controller determines command values for an inlet air mass flow, fuel mass flow, and for a water or steam mass flow. In order to allow fast transient operation with a stable premix flame at least one command value is dynamically compensated to compensate for the different system dynamics of the supply systems to synchronize the resulting changes in fuel, water, steam, and/or combustion air mass flows, which reach the combustor, so that the fuel to air ratio stays within the combustible limit.
US09422864B2	Staggered double row, slotted airfoil design for gas turbine exhaust frame A gas turbine exhaust frame includes an inner barrel and an outer barrel establishing an annular exhaust gas flow path therebetween. A plurality of airfoils extend radially between the inner barrel and the radially, outer barrel, the plurality of struts arranged in first and second axially-spaced and circumferentially-staggered rows.
US09422863B2	Method and architecture for recombining the power of a turbomachine A method and architecture for recombining power of a turbomachine improving on problems of size, mass, or reliability. In the method energy is recovered in an exhaust nozzle and converted and recirculated using a mechanical and/or electrical power recombining mechanism. An example of an architecture of a turbomachine includes a main turbine engine and a heat exchanger positioned in the exhaust nozzle and coupled, via pipes, to an independent system that converts thermal energy into mechanical energy. This independent system is connected to a localized mechanical recombination mechanism via a power shaft to supply power to a power transmission shaft according to aircraft requirements.
US09422858B2	Turbocharger with an annular rotary bypass valve A turbocharger includes an annular bypass passage with an annular bypass valve disposed therein. The bypass valve includes a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member disposed against the valve seat. The valve member is rotatable about the axis for varying a degree of alignment between orifices in the valve seat and valve member so as to form flow passages having a flow area A for exhaust gas. The orifices are shaped to provide a first phase of evolution of the flow area A from zero up to a value A1 and then a second phase of evolution from the value A1 up to a value A2, and such that the first and second phases have distinctly different slopes on a curve of flow area versus rotational position of the valve member, with a distinct break point in the curve between the first and second phases.
US09422856B2	Valve device for controlling the air intake for a compressor of a vehicle, and compressor system and method for controlling a compressor system A valve device controls the air intake for a compressor of a vehicle. The valve device includes a valve housing having a first compressed air inlet for connecting to an ambient air infeed, a second compressed air inlet for connecting to a charge air infeed, through which pre-compressed air can be fed, and a compressed air outlet for connecting to the compressor. The valve device includes a first switched state in which the compressed air outlet is fluidically connected to the first compressed air inlet, and a second switched state in which the compressed air outlet is fluidically connected to the second compressed air inlet. The valve device includes a switching device capable of switching the valve device between the first switched and the second switched state.
US09422854B2	Exhaust gas evacuation system structure for internal combustion engine An exhaust system structure for an internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust manifold and a plate-like heat shielding member. The exhaust manifold has branch pipes and flanges formed at the distal ends of the branch pipes. The heat shielding member covers the exhaust manifold and suppresses the occurrence of heat damage caused by the exhaust manifold. The basal portion of the heat shielding member and the flanges are fastened to the cylinder head by common fastening members.
US09422851B2	Exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine An amount of NOx discharged from an internal combustion engine at the time of reducing the NOx stored in an NOx storage reduction catalyst is decreased. In an exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine which includes an NOx storage reduction catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine for storing NOx in exhaust gas and reducing the NOx when an air fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is equal to or less than a stoichiometric air fuel ratio, an air fuel ratio control unit to change the air fuel ratio of the exhaust gas in the internal combustion engine, and an EGR device connecting between the exhaust passage and an intake passage of the internal combustion engine for supplying a part of the exhaust gas to the intake passage as an EGR gas, provision is made for an EGR ratio control unit that controls the EGR device in such a manner that in cases where the NOx stored in the NOx storage reduction catalyst is reduced by changing the air fuel ratio in the internal combustion engine, an EGR ratio becomes higher when the target air fuel ratio is low than when the target air fuel ratio is high.
US09422848B2	Internal combustion engine and control method for same An engine exhaust gas post-treatment device including a mechanism that can vary opening timing of an exhaust valve, and a control method. A unit is configured to raise a temperature of a part or all of the device to not less than a preset temperature by the mechanism opening the exhaust valve in an exhaust stroke at normal combustion within a range of an afterburning period, and the mechanism feeds the device an exhaust gas whose temperature and pressure are high due to combustion of fuel injected into a cylinder. After the exhaust gas is treated by the device, or when the device is regenerated, the unit adds an unburned fuel component to the exhaust gas by an additional injection of an injector in the cylinder or an injection of a hydrocarbon addition nozzle provided at an exhaust port in accordance with the valve opening timing by the unit.
US09422847B2	System and method of isolating component failures in an exhaust aftertreatment system An apparatus includes a dosing module structured to suspend dosing in an exhaust aftertreatment system; a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) inlet NOx module structured to interpret SCR inlet NOx data and an SCR inlet temperature; a SCR outlet NOx module structured to interpret SCR outlet NOx data; and a system diagnostic module structured to determine an efficiency of a SCR system based on the SCR inlet and outlet NOx data over a range of SCR temperatures, wherein the system diagnostic module is further structured to determine a state of at least one of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), a diesel particulate filter (DPF), and the SCR system based on the SCR efficiency at an elevated SCR temperature range and the SCR efficiency at a relatively lower SCR temperature range relative to a high SCR efficiency threshold and a low SCR efficiency threshold.
US09422842B1	Plug on disconnect PCV fitting A crankcase ventilation system for an engine that may include a control valve and a disconnect fitting disposed in a conduit between the crankcase and an intake system. The disconnect fitting may include a tube wall, where the inside of the tube wall may have a support. The support may include at least one flow gap, and a plunger opening. The inside of the tube wall may have a plunger seat spaced apart from the support. A plunger may include a stem positioned in the plunger opening, that may be configured to translate in the opening. The plunger may include a head configured to engage the plunger seat to close flow. The conduit may include a segment configured for insertion into the disconnect to engage and unseat the plunger from the plunger seat to open flow.
US09422840B2	Hydraulic valve for an internal combustion engine In a hydraulic valve comprising a spool, one or more band-shape check valves and an enclosing bolt or snout, the check valve may be compressed to the point of excessive wear or failure and may impede spool movement. The problem outlined is solved by an inventive hydraulic valve for use with a cam phasing apparatus of an internal combustion engine. The hydraulic valve comprises a hollow bolt or snout, check valves, and a spool disposed inside the bolt while still being able to shift axially within the bolt. The bolt and spool are configured to provide fluid passageways between the spool and the cam phasing apparatus depending on a translational displacement of the spool. Furthermore, the spool is configured to allow an oil flow through the fluid passageway, yet limit a compression of the band-type check valves.
US09422835B2	Valve train system drive device for an internal combustion engine, and engine incorporating same In an internal combustion engine having an idle gear that transmits power received from a crankshaft to valve train systems, an idle shaft that rotatably supports the idle gear, and an outer cover that covers a crankcase from a lateral side, a valve train system drive mechanism includes a crankcase-side boss part is formed on a sidewall of the crankcase, which supports one end of the idle shaft. The drive mechanism also includes a case-cover-side boss part that is formed on the outer cover and supports the other end of the idle shaft. A cover-side joint part and a shaft-side joint part are formed at the case-cover-side boss part and the other end of the idle shaft, respectively, and engagement of the joint parts with each other precludes the idle shaft from rotating.
US09422834B2	Roller lifter for internal combustion engine A roller lifter for internal combustion engines is provided, which has higher rigidity of the lifter body, prevents cocking in the cylinder, and can achieve a size reduction. The roller lifter includes a cylindrical lifter body having a sliding surface on an outer circumferential surface thereof and a roller rotatably attached to the lifter body via an axial support pin and making contact with a rotating cam lobe. The lifter body includes a pair of support portions supporting the axial support pin. The axial support pin is mechanically fastened to the pair of support portions, with both ends thereof inserted in support holes formed in the support portions. The lifter body includes an anti-rotation retainer extending radially outward from the sliding surface. The sliding surface is formed on both front and rear sides in the sliding direction of the anti-rotation retainer.
US09422833B2	Camshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine A camshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft, a first lobe set, and a second lobe set, extending along, and rotatable about, a cam axis. The first lobe set includes a first, second, and third lobe. The second lobe set includes a first and second lobe. The first lobe set is movable along the cam axis between a first, second, and third position. The second lobe set is movable along the cam axis between a first and second position. The first and second position of each of the first and second lobe sets corresponds to lift of a respective valve stem in the engine. The third position of the first lobe set corresponds to zero lift of the respective valve stem to provide cylinder deactivation of a corresponding cylinder within the engine.
US09422830B2	Washer of a combustion chamber tile of a gas turbine A washer of a combustion chamber tile of a gas turbine having a round disk-shaped basic body provided with a central recess and a flat contact surface arranged on a first side of the washer, wherein several groove-like air ducts are provided on a second side that extend from a circumferential rim of the washer radially relative to the center axis of the washer, and in the center area of the washer in the axial direction.
US09422826B2	Start control unit for steam turbine plant A start control unit for a steam turbine plant, wherein inputting a measured value of a steam temperature fed to a steam turbine, a measured value or an estimated value of a rotor temperature of the steam turbine, and a measured value of a casing temperature of the steam turbine, and controlling a steam flow rate so as to increase the steam flow rate fed to the steam turbine when a difference between the steam temperature and the rotor temperature is smaller than a first regulated value and a difference between the rotor temperature and the casing temperature is a second regulated value or larger.
US09422824B2	Gas turbine thermal control and related method Thermal control is provided for a gas turbine casing by supplying thermal control gas from a compressor to a space between an outer casing and an inner casing, and transferring the thermal control gas from the space through the opening in the inner casing via a plurality of holes defined through a plate attached to an outer surface of the inner casing. The holes are arranged with a predetermined non-uniform distribution corresponding to a desired preferential impingement pattern for providing non-uniform heat transfer. A gas turbine thermal control assembly includes structure providing preferential heat transfer from the inner casing during operation of the gas turbine via a thermal control gas flow path from radially outside of the inner casing into the interior of the gas turbine.
US09422821B2	Selective coating removal or masking for ground path A device for providing a grounding path between an outer surface of a gas turbine aircraft engine and an inner surface of a gas turbine aircraft engine uses a structural guide vane (SGV) with a nonconductive coating on the surface. Bolts are put in bolt holes that have a bolt receiving cavity without the nonconductive coating. A washer and bolt are used so that attachment of the SGV to a surface provides a ground path from the SGV through the bolt, washer and nut for electrical engagement with a surface to which the bolt attaches the SGV.
US09422817B2	Turbine blade root with microcircuit cooling passages A method of fabricating an airfoil includes the steps of fabricating a first core including a first plurality of ribs defining a first plurality of passages of a completed airfoil, and fabricating as second core including a second plurality of ribs defining a second plurality of passages of the completed airfoil. The second plurality of ribs includes a plurality of standoffs. The plurality of standoffs set a spacing between the first plurality of ribs and the second plurality of ribs to define a spacing between the first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels of the completed airfoil. The airfoil is then molded about the core assembly. Once completed, the core assembly is removed to provide a completed airfoil incorporating multiple microcircuits with a desired stability and structural integrity.
US09422810B2	Finding oil content of the formation using dielectric spectroscopy The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for evaluating fluid saturation in an earth formation using complex dielectric permittivity. The method may include estimating fluid saturation using an estimated rate of change at a frequency of an imaginary part of permittivity relative to a real part of permittivity. The method may include performing dielectric permittivity estimates using an electromagnetic tool in a borehole. The apparatus may include the electromagnetic tool and at least one processor configured to store information obtained by the electromagnetic tool in a memory. The at least one processor may also be configured to estimate the fluid saturation.
US09422807B2	Acoustic determination of the position of a piston with buffer rods An apparatus having a transducer configured to generate acoustic energy, a buffer rod with a first end and a second end, the transducer in contact with the first end, a cylinder configured to define a volume, the second end of the buffer rod abutting the cylinder; and a piston within the cylinder.
US09422801B2	Modulated opto-acoustic converter An opto-acoustic subsystem is provided. The subsystem includes an optical transmitter and an actuator device. The optical transmitter can be positioned at a surface of a wellbore. The actuator device can be positioned in the wellbore and can respond to a modulated electrical signal generated from a modulated optical signal received from the optical transmitter by outputting a modulated acoustical signal into an environment of the wellbore.
US09422800B2	Method of developing a petroleum reservoir from a technique for selecting the positions of the wells to be drilled The invention is a method of developing a petroleum reservoir employing a technique for selection of the position of the wells to be drilled. A production indicator map is utilized comprising a set of cells each associated with a production indicator defining impact on fluid production of addition of a well in this cell. The production indicator map is constructed by selecting cells from among the set of cells of the map; determining production indicators in the selected cells; and interpolating the production indicators on the set of cells of the map, by an interpolation model accounting for a distance between the cell to be interpolated and the closest well to the cell to be interpolated. The position of the well to be drilled is defined by the cell where the production indicator is a maximum.
US09422797B2	Method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir A downhole steam generation apparatus and method of use are provided. The apparatus may include an injection section, a combustion section, and an evaporation section. The injection section may include a housing, injector elements, and injector plate. The combustion section may include a liner having channels disposed therethrough. The evaporation section may include conduits in fluid communication with the channels and the combustion chamber, and a nozzle operable to inject a fluid from the channels to the combustion chamber in droplet form. A method of use may include supplying fuel, oxidant, and fluid to the apparatus; combusting fuel and oxidant in a chamber while flowing the fluid through a plurality of channels disposed through a liner, thereby heating the fluid and cooling the liner; and injecting droplets of the heated fluid into the chamber and evaporating the droplets by combustion of the fuel and the oxidant to produce steam.
US09422790B2	Safety valve with lockout capability and methods of use A safety valve includes a housing, a flapper coupled to the housing and movable between open and closed positions, and a flow tube movably disposed within the housing to retain the flapper in the open position. A lockout rod is coupled to the housing and movable between deployed and stored positions. The lockout rod is configured to retain the flow tube in an extended position when in the deployed position. A lockout ratchet element is arranged within the housing and coupled to the lockout rod. The lockout ratchet element is configured to retain the lockout rod in the deployed position.
US09422787B2	Support device for use in a wellbore and a method for deploying a barrier in a wellbore The present invention relates to a downhole support device (100) for use in a wellbore and which is adapted to be run into the wellbore through an elongate member string (2) such as on a string of tubulars, a coiled tubing string or a slickline. The downhole support device comprises an inflatable element (102), which in use is adapted to be selectively connectable to the elongate member string and is further adapted to apply a biasing force in the direction of the wellbore walls. The inflatable element has an inlet (104) for receiving fluid and/or fluidized solids. The support device is further adapted to be selectively disconnectable from the elongate member string.
US09422786B2	Hybrid-tieback seal assembly A hybrid-tieback seal assembly and methods for tying a well back to the surface or subsea well head are disclosed. A method to tie a well back to the surface or subsea well head comprises running a hybrid-tieback seal assembly into a wellbore, the hybrid-tieback seal assembly comprising one or more anchoring bodies, one or more packer seal assemblies; and a device for creating a pressure differential in a tieback string, wherein the tieback string is coupled to the hybrid-tieback seal assembly. The method further comprises landing a casing hanger in a well head, increasing pressure in the tieback string, setting the anchoring bodies and one or more packer seal assemblies within at least one of a previously installed liner hanger system and a host casing above a previously installed hanger system, and testing the hybrid-tieback seal assembly down an annulus between the host casing and the tieback string.
US09422785B2	Internal blow out preventer An internal blow out preventer for use in a drill string, comprising a housing having an outer valve closure element and where the outer valve closure element is configured to be moved between an open and a closed position, wherein the outer valve closure element is provided with an inner valve closure element that is configured to be moved between an open and a closed position inside the outer valve closure element.
US09422782B2	Control pod for blowout preventer system A blowout preventer system includes a blowout preventer stack having hydraulic components. The blowout preventer stack is coupled to a lower marine riser package that includes additional hydraulic components. The lower marine riser package includes control pods that enable redundant control of the hydraulic components of the blowout preventer stack and the additional hydraulic components of the lower marine riser package. These control pods include frames, valves, and stack stingers that facilitate connection of the control pods to hydraulic components of the blowout preventer stack, but do not include riser stingers that facilitate communication of control fluid to the additional hydraulic components of the lower marine riser package. The stack stingers extend through central apertures of bottom plates of the control pod frames and facilitate communication of control fluid from the valves to the hydraulic components of the blowout preventer stack. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
US09422781B1	Magnetic tool and method A magnetic tool for use in removing metal debris from a well is disclosed, the tool having inserts that may be safely installed and removed by a method using a placement screw to prevent pinching. The inserts comprised of a sleeve with a lead end and a follow end. The inserts also containing a plurality of magnets.
US09422780B1	Drill members for mine roofs A drilling system for drilling vertical holes in a mine roof includes a chuck configured to be driven in rotation by a motorized drill head. The chuck is cylindrical has a bore having a first polygonal inside perimeter. A drill member has an elongated hollow body with a cross section defining a circular outside perimeter over most of its length and a constant, second polygonal inside perimeter along substantially the entire length of the drill member. The drill member has at least one end region having a first polygonal outside perimeter that is sized to fit into the first polygonal inside perimeter to rotationally engage the drill member with the chuck. Drill bits having a bit fixture having a cross section with a second polygonal outside perimeter are sized and configured to fit snugly inside the second polygonal inside perimeter to be mounted to the drill member opposite the chuck.
US09422777B2	Elevator assembly with reversible insert An elevator assembly such as, for example, a single joint elevator apparatus having a removable load supporting insert member for gripping the outer surface of a pipe section. The load supporting insert member has at least two different shoulder profiles; the load supporting insert member can be quickly and easily removed, inverted and re-installed to accommodate and facilitate gripping of pipe sections having different outer configurations (including, without limitation, outer configurations associated with threaded connection members).
US09422776B2	Rotating control device having jumper for riser auxiliary line A rotating control device housing includes an upper riser flange; a lower riser flange; a latch section for receiving a bearing assembly and connected to the upper riser flange; a port section connected to the latch section by a flanged connection, having an outlet for discharging fluid flow diverted by the bearing assembly, and connected to the lower riser flange; and a jumper connected to the upper and lower riser flanges.
US09422769B2	Force-balancing mechanisms especially useful for assisted lifting/lowering of aircraft stairs The disclosed embodiments herein are generally directed toward force-balancing mechanisms for weighted members and/or loads. According to one embodiment, the force-balancing mechanism includes at least one gear rack, at least one spring assembly comprising a spring member operatively connected to the at least one gear rack, a pinion gear intermeshed with the at least one gear rack; and a variable radius cam. Rotation of the cam causes the pinion gear to rotate to thereby in turn linearly drive the at least one gear rack and accumulate spring force of the spring member. The spring member may be a compression or a tension spring. Preferably, the spring member is a compression spring.
US09422767B2	Ladders and related methods Ladders and related methods of using and manufacturing stepladders are provided. In one embodiment, a stepladder is provided that comprises a first assembly hingedly coupled with a second assembly. The first assembly has a pair of spaced apart rails pivotally coupled with one or more rungs. The second assembly includes a pair of space apart rails with one or more bracing members extending therebetween. The first assembly and second assembly are configured to be displaced relative one another such that the stepladder is selectively positionable between a first, deployed state and a second, collapsed state. Upon rotation of the two assemblies relative to one another into a stowed condition, components of the second assembly engage undersurfaces of the rungs effecting rotation of at least a portion of each rung relative to the rails of the first assembly.
US09422766B2	Handle and brake arrangement for a covering for architectural openings A handle is releasably secured to a rail wall by means of fasteners extending from inside the rail. An actuator shaft pushes against a contact plate to move a movable braking member to stop the rotation of a rod inside the rail.
US09422764B2	Three-door structure suitable for two-axis rotation type coating mixer A three-door structure suitable for rotation type coating mixer may include an upper lid cover, symmetrically arranged front doors, a door movement support frame, and linear straight guide rails. The upper lid cover may be located at the top of the machine casing and fixedly arranged on the door movement support frame. The front doors may be symmetrically arranged on the front side of the machine casing. The linear straight guide rails may be installed on the housing of the machine casing through a guide rail fixing base. The door movement support frame may be symmetrically connected on two sides to sliding blocks arranged on the guide rails. The front doors may be connected to two sides of the door movement support frame. The lower ends front doors may be engaged with a fixing base at the bottom of the machine casing through a joining part.
US09422760B2	Automotive opening safety device having a sensor A protector with a sensor is installed on a sliding door for detecting an alien substance by touch between two core wires in a hollow part. In a terminal part of the protector with the sensor, the core wires drawn out are connected with a resistor or leads joined with a control unit. A primary seal is formed by injection molding for coating wire connection parts and another end side of an insert and a secondary seal is formed by the injection molding for coating a part formed with the primary seal for forming an external shape of a product.
US09422758B2	Horizontal door closer structure The present invention provides a horizontal door closer structure, comprising an outer sleeve pipe and an inner pipe which can slide relatively, wherein an end of the outer sleeve pipe is provided with a buffer device, an adjustment component for adjusting total inlet and outlet air, and a buffer assembly are arranged on the buffer device; a spring is arranged in the inner pipe, one end of the spring is connected to the inner pipe, and the other end thereof is connected to the buffer device; and the front end of the outer sleeve pipe and an end of the inner pipe are provided with locating components which are mutually matched. In the door closer structure, the compression spring is arranged in the inner pipe, thereby saving the space of a door closer, and the adopted buffer device plays a buffering role by adjusting the total inlet and outlet air, and can control the speed of opening a door.
US09422753B2	Vehicular electric lock device A vehicular electric lock device is provided in which a magnet is provided in a slider which is operated linearly in response to rotation of an electric motor and is operatively linked to a lock member, and a magnetic sensor detects by means of a magnetic field of the magnet that the lock member is in at least one of a lock position and a unlock position, wherein the slider comprises a screw-fitting member that is formed from a ferromagnetic material having rigidity and has a threaded shaft screwed thereinto and a magnet retaining member that is formed from a paramagnetic material, covers the screw-fitting member and retains the magnet, and the magnet retaining member is coupled to the screw-fitting member while preventing a relative movement in the direction along an axis of the threaded shaft and relative rotation around the axis of the threaded shaft.
US09422749B2	Anti-off structure of tool box An anti-off structure of a tool box is provided. The tool box includes a first cover and a second cover pivoted with and correspondingly coverable on each other on a side thereof. The first cover has a pivoting base, and the second cover has a clasping base. The anti-off structure includes an engaging member and a positioning member. The engaging member includes an engaging portion, and an end thereof is pivoted to the pivoting base via a pivoting connection mechanism; therefore, the engaging portion is buckleable with the clasping base when the first and second covers cover on each other. The positioning member is connected with the pivoting connection mechanism and the pivoting base to positionably restrict the pivoting connection mechanism.
US09422748B2	Lock and the application thereof The present invention discloses a lock and the application thereof. The lock is applied on a base having an inner surface and an outer surface. The lock comprises a locking plate and a motion module. The motion module has a curved surface facing the locking plate. The curved surface has a first surface and a second surface. A main feature of the present invention is that the lock has a close status and a far status. The locking plate contacts with the first surface and has a first distance from the base in the close status, and contacts with the second surface of the base and has a second distance, which is greater than the first distance, from the base in the far status. The invention has the advantages of low cost and simplicity, and solves the long lasting problem of the prior arts.
US09422744B2	Burglarproof primary-secondary row sheet lock A burglarproof primary-secondary row sheet lock includes an outer cylinder in which a cylindrical chamber that receives the insertion of a plug and a latch trough are formed. The plug includes row sheet receiving slots, a latch opening, a key way, and a lock bolt. The secondary row sheets each have a side edge in which a first latch notch is formed. The primary row sheets are each formed with a secondary row sheet channel and a second latch notch. The primary row sheets are set in the row sheet receiving slots and the secondary row sheets are received in the secondary row sheet channels. The closure plates cover the row sheet receiving slots with sheet return springs arranged between the closure plates and the primary and secondary row sheets. The latch is received in the latch opening and latch return springs are arranged between the plug and the latch.
US09422743B2	Decoding pin locks In order to determine the particular cut possessed by a tumbler of a mechanical lock, the tumbler is stimulated with mechanical energy. The vibrational response of the tumbler is detected, and the detected response is used in determining which cut of the plurality of possible cuts the tumbler possesses. The cut of a lock tumbler is defined by its shape and/or size. For example, in the case of a pin-tumbler lock, the cut of a pin is defined by its length. Different cuts of tumbler will therefore exhibit different vibrational responses to stimulation by mechanical energy, and these different vibrational responses can be used to determine which cut the tumbler possesses, for example by comparing with the vibrational responses of real or modeled tumblers with known cuts. The response may be detected while the tumbler is being stimulated, and the responses to different frequencies of stimulation may be detected and processed.
US09422740B2	System for retrofitting local energy modules in rail networks A system for retrofitting energy supply modules in the region of a traffic route is provided. Supporting cables extend transversely over the traffic route and support a plurality of solar panels, which can be mounted on the transverse supporting cables. Elongated mounting elements fastened to each support mast act to reinforce the support masts and accommodate electronic system components. The solar panels are adjusted about a horizontal and/or a vertical axis by means of cable sheaves. The supporting cables are fastened at a lower region of the support masts for instance with micropiles so that they can be tensioned. The forces exerted by the solar panels on the transverse support cables are conducted through the transverse supporting cables via at least one first redirection element and into the lower region of the support mast.
US09422739B2	High altitude structures and related methods A system and method is described generally for providing a high altitude conduit the high altitude conduit includes a first material layer forming an elongated duct. The high altitude conduit also includes a second material layer outside the first material layer. The second material layer defines a space between the second material layer and the first material layer. A gas has a density that is less dense than that of the atmosphere outside of the second material layer. The gas is disposed in the space between the first and the second layer. An introducer is configured to provide the gas into the space between the first material layer and the second material layer. The gas causes the conduit to extend in an approximately upright orientation.
US09422735B1	Methods and systems of applying forces using folded hoses An inflatable hose is folded over onto itself at least once to form inflatable hose sections. When a pressurized media is introduced into the hose, the hose sections expand in volume. The expansion in volume can be used to apply a force to a structure which can be used to, for example, move the structure in a desired direction or maintain the structure at a height or position. The force(s) can be applied to the structure in a vertical direction (for example vertically upward or vertically downward), a horizontal direction (for example to move or maintain the structure in a sideways direction) or any angle between vertical and horizontal.
US09422734B1	System and method for straightening and/or supporting a wall An improved a system for straightening and/or supporting a wall is provided. The system includes an elongated vertical member and an elongated horizontal member positioned to abut the wall. The elongated horizontal member has a first end and a second end, the former being positioned adjacent to the elongated vertical member. A cinch plate having at least two plates is provided. One of the plates is connected to the elongated vertical member. A driving member can be movably coupled to the other plates of the cinch plate and configured to force the elongated horizontal member to move relative to the elongated vertical member. Movement of the elongated horizontal member applies a corresponding force to the wall. The elongated horizontal member may not be connected to the elongated vertical member, but rather a compressive force applied between the driving member and the wall can vertically support the elongated horizontal member.
US09422733B2	Repair and strengthening of structures with resin-impregnated heatable wrap A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures, such as pipes, piles, walls, tanks, silos, chimneys, and the like, constructed from various materials including steel, concrete, masonry, wood, plastics, and the like. Some of the various structures may be used to transport water, gas, oil, and the like. One or multiple layers of various material sheets, each sheet having substantially the same or different properties, may be impregnated with resin and wrapped around or attached to the surface of a structure to be reinforced or to the surface of a spacer shell surrounding the structure and subjected to heat to cure the resin and to bond the reinforcement sheets to the structure or the spacer shell. The multiple layers together constitute a heat-cured structure reinforcement wrap (HRW) to reinforce the structure against external and internal loads, such as weight, impact load, blast load, internal pressure, ballistic load, and the like.
US09422728B2	Deck board fastener and arrangement A fastening device includes a receptor portion having an angled through hole extending from a first surface of the receptor portion to a second surface of the receptor portion, wherein the angled through hole has an angled axis. The fastening device further includes a top portion having at least a first flange and a second flange extending generally outwardly from the receptor portion. The flanges generally define a flange plane. The angled axis intersects the flange plane at an intersecting angle between 0 and 90 degrees.
US09422724B2	Seal for a pipe penetration in a roof underlay A roof underlay seal (1) for a leadthrough penetrating a roof structure, includes a tubular collar (2) and a flange portion (3) laterally extending from the collar and surrounding it. The collar (2) is attached to a flange portion (3) via a flexible sleeve (4) extending between the collar (2) and the flange portion (3) for setting the upper end of the collar (2) flexibly at a desired distance from the flange portion (3).
US09422723B2	Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
US09422720B2	Non-penetrating roof mount for a membrane roof A mount for a membrane roof is assembled from first and second metal plates coated on at least one side with heat-weldable material, at least one bolt and two sheets of membrane roofing material. The parts are assembled in a manner that the bolt faces upwards and is effectively sealed in the assembly against any leak around the bolt by a first sheet of roofing material. The mount may be attached to a roof by fasteners around the periphery of the first base plate, and the second sheet of membrane material seals the fasteners and fastener holes.
US09422719B2	Roofing granules comprising base particles that are sintered and have an initial reflectance of at least 0.25 A roofing product can include roofing granules, wherein the roofing granules include base particles and a coating covering the base particles. The base particles are sintered. The coating has a depth of penetration into an outside surface of at least about 0.5% of an average radius of the base particles. In an embodiment, the coating has a depth of penetration into an outside surface of at least about 2.5 microns into the base particles. Further included is a process of forming the roofing granules.
US09422718B2	Repair and strengthening of structures with heat-cured wrap A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures, such as pipes, piles, walls, tanks, silos, chimneys, and the like, constructed from various materials including steel, concrete, masonry, wood, plastics, and the like. Some of the various structures may be used to transport water, gas, oil, and the like. Multiple layers of various material sheets, each sheet having substantially the same or different properties, may be impregnated with resin and wrapped around or attached to the surface of a structure to be reinforced or to the surface of a spacer shell surrounding the structure and subjected to heat to cure the resin and to bond the reinforcement sheets to the structure or the spacer shell. The multiple layers together constitute a heat-cured structure reinforcement wrap (HRW) to reinforce the structure against external and internal loads, such as weight, impact load, blast load, internal pressure, ballistic load, and the like.
US09422717B2	Column structure and base member In a column structure, a steel column serving as a column member is joined to a base plate serving as a base member. The steel column is configured by a pair of flanges provided at each of two width direction ends of a web. One end side of the base plate is fixed by first anchor members. The other end side of the base plate is fixed by second anchor members, and the second anchor members are formed with higher tensile strength than the first anchor members.
US09422716B2	Composite action support structures A composite action support structure for a bridge or other civil infrastructure includes an elongate member made of a plastic material and providing load bearing capability. A cover plate is made of a plastic material and extends along at least a portion of the length of the elongate member. A lower surface of the cover plate is mated to the upper surface of the elongate member. A plurality of panels made of a plastic material are arranged at an angle to the cover plate, and a lower surface of each of the panels mates with an upper surface of the cover plate. The elongate member, the cover plate and the plurality of panels form a structural unit. The plastic materials used can include virgin plastic, thermoplastic, recycled thermoplastic composite, recycled structural composite, combinations thereof, and the like.
US09422714B2	Wooden frame truss with enhanced fire resistance A wooden frame truss with enhanced fire resistance is provided and includes an upper chord extending along a longitudinal axis, a lower chord disposed below the upper chord and extending along a vertically displaced, parallel axis, a plurality of supports attached between the upper and lower chords, and a plurality of metal gusset plates securing the supports to the chords. At least one wallboard batten strip is attached to an underside of the lower chord, the strip being constructed and arranged so that the strip defines a ledge extending from each side of the lower chord.
US09422713B2	In-situ fabricated wall framing and insulating system A wall system for basements includes a horizontally-extending floor member defining an upwardly facing channel. A first vertically-extending support beam is coupled to the floor member and defines a pair of laterally-adjacent channels separated by a center rib. A second similar support beam is laterally displaced along the floor member with respect to the first support beam. A foam panel is disposed in the upwardly facing channel of the floor member and in one of the laterally-adjacent channels of the first support beam and in one of the laterally-adjacent channels of the second support beam. The floor member, first support beam and second support beam comprise a non-organic plastic material. The foam panel comprises a closed-cell non-organic foam material. The wall system can be formed in-situ and can be configured as a free-standing wall.
US09422712B2	Temperature controlled variable reflectivity coatings Coatings configured to change between a relatively higher reflectivity state and a relatively lower reflectivity state depending at least partially upon temperature are generally disclosed. Some example coatings may include a selectively reflective layer including a plurality of microcapsules, which may include an ionic liquid and/or a surfactant within a shell. The microcapsules may have a relatively higher reflectivity when at temperatures above a cloud transition temperature and/or a relatively lower reflectivity when at temperatures below the cloud transition temperature. When at temperatures above the cloud transition temperature, the selectively reflective layer may reflect a first fraction of the incident light. When at temperatures below the cloud transition temperature, the selectively reflective layer may reflect a second fraction of the incident light. The first fraction of the incident light may be greater than the second fraction of the incident light.
US09422708B2	Floor drain assembly and method A drain assembly for providing a drain in a floor. The drain assembly includes a drain conduit, a strainer and an adaptor. The drain conduit has an inner surface that defines a fluid flow path and an outer surface. The strainer is disposed above the drain conduit and has openings in fluid communication with the fluid flow path of the drain conduit. The adaptor may be securable in the drain conduit and may be connected to the strainer. Prior to securing the adaptor in the drain conduit, a position of the adaptor in the drain conduit may be moveable to allow a top surface of the strainer to be substantially aligned with the floor. A method of assembly is also disclosed.
US09422703B1	Odor-removing hinge system for toilets and portable commodes An odor-removing hinge system and method of use for withdrawing noxious odors from toilets and portable commodes is disclosed. The present seat hinge system includes an integrated housing that functions as a portion of an exhaust pathway for noxious gases expelled within the toilet bowl. The present hinge system includes at least one hollow bolt disposed in fluid communication with the housing, which is used to secure the toilet seat to the toilet. In one embodiment the noxious gases within the toilet bowl are carried by convection or vacuum via connective tubing to an exhaust conduit installed in an adjacent wall. In other embodiments the noxious gases are directed through a detachable air filter assembly secured to the housing and the odorless filtered air is recirculated. In a method of use the present hinge system is retrofitted to existing toilets and portables commodes in replacement of standard toilet seat hinges.
US09422699B2	Toilet inlet valve and control method thereof A toilet inlet valve and control method thereof, the inlet valve comprises a valve body, an inlet pipe, a water stop device with a water stop rubber gasket, a float bowl device, a raising rod device and an outlet pipe, wherein, the water stop device also comprises a water stop seat, a tray, a needle valve and a back pressure cavity; the water stop seat is located at the front end of the outlet pipe, and of which the opening is coupling with the end face of the water stop rubber gasket; the tray is connected to the water stop rubber gasket, and is located at the side of the water stop seat that is opposite to the water stop rubber gasket; the needle valve is fixed to the tray, and is located at the side of the water stop rubber gasket that is opposite to the tray.
US09422697B2	Solid state fragrancing Fragrance control is provided by articles of manufacture including various solid state fragrancing objects, methods of using such objects, and systems that employ one or more such objects. The fragrancing object can be easy to manufacture, long lasting, provide fragrance that is consistently released over time, provide an indication to the user that the object needs to be replaced, and can hold a desired ratio of fragrance. The fragrancing object can include a first material comprising a polyether block amide, a second material comprising a polyolefin elastomer (POE), and a fragrance component such as a fragrance oil.
US09422695B2	Water faucet A water faucet has a housing, an outlet cover, a valve shaft, a valve base, a pushing rod and a linkage rod. By repeatedly pressing a knob, water supply can be switched between the two different outlet portions, which is easy to operate. A valve shaft is only pushed by the spring such that a stopping loop of the valve shaft firmly contacts the divider of the valve base without leakage.
US09422694B2	Manually operated valve for a shower installation system Embodiments of a manually operated valve for a shower installation system are described herein that include: an inlet and an outlet configured for installation of the valve along piping and a valve debit control mechanism including a valve chamber that defines a passage between the inlet and outlet, and a valve actuator that biases the valve debit control mechanism towards a closed position wherein the passage is obstructed and which is movable towards an opened position wherein the passage is opened when a triggering force is applied onto the valve actuator. The valve limits the consumption of water in a shower by automatically preventing the flow of water therethrough unless a user voluntarily triggers and maintains the opening of the valve.
US09422693B2	Protective device for a culvert pipe A protective device for a culvert pipe has a generally conical screen portion extending between a base member at one end and an apex member at the other end. The base member is annular about an opening sized to receive the open end of the culvert pipe therein. The apex member may take the form of a domed cap, or an annular ring structure. The screen portion is formed of a plurality of rigid members between opposing first and second ends which are arranged to be selectively mounted to the base member and the apex member respectively using threaded fasteners. The two apex members may thus be interchangeable with one another.
US09422691B2	Upper slewing body for construction machine Provided is an upper slewing body allowing elements to be compactly arranged while preventing required length of a hydraulic pipe from increase. The upper slewing body includes an upper frame, an engine, a hydraulic pump coupled thereto, a control valve forward of the engine and rearward of a slewing axis, and a rear tank between the engine and the control valve. The control valve is oblique to a frame lateral direction so as to locate a front end portion thereof forward of an inner end portion thereof. The rear tank has a rear opposition side surface opposed to a rear side surface of the control valve while being oblique to the rear side surface thereto.
US09422687B2	Flat plate foundation supports A flat-plate foundation support includes a lower portion extending longitudinally along a central longitudinal axis of the support and adapted for insertion into a ground surface. The lower portion has a plurality of flat plates that are mutually connected along the central longitudinal axis of the support and extend laterally or radially from the central longitudinal axis. The flat plates are beveled and have a sharpened leading edge at a lower end of the lower portion. An upper portion of the support is attached to a top end of the lower portion. The upper portion of the support is attached to a ground supported apparatus to anchor the apparatus to the ground.
US09422685B2	Truss spar vortex induced vibration damping with vertical plates The disclosure provides a system and method of reducing vortex induced vibration (VIV) with a plurality of tangentially disposed side plates having an open space on both faces transverse to a current flow of water. The side plates cause water separation around the plates with transverse VIV movement of the platform caused by the current flow against the platform, and the tangential side plates resist the VIV movement of the platform from the current. The side plates can be disposed tangentially around a periphery of an open truss structure below the hull of a spar platform. In another embodiment, the tangential side plates can be disposed tangentially away from a periphery of a hull to form a gap with an open space between the plates and the hull.
US09422682B2	Box broom sweeper with an adjustable bottom surface attachment The box broom sweeper with adjustable bottom surface attachment can include a box broom having a broom and a housing. The housing can include a top portion, a bottom portion having a guard, opposing front and rear ends, two opposing side walls connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, and an adjustable bottom surface attachment. The adjustable bottom surface attachment includes a plate and two opposing sides extending from the plate. The two opposing sides of the adjustable bottom surface attachment extend along corresponding side walls of the housing. The adjustable bottom surface attachment can be detachably coupled to the side walls of the housing to allow the adjustable bottom surface attachment to be detached when a front portion of the plate becomes damaged. The adjustable bottom surface attachment can be coupled to the box broom housing by welding.
US09422680B2	Deck Provided is a deck, configured for supporting a carriageable surface, including first structural girders defining a support surface for the carriageable surface; at least one second structural girder configured to position itself on the opposite side to said carriageable surface in relation to the first structural girders; diagonal girders integrally connecting the first and said second structural girders to each other, defining, for the deck, a truss; said first and said second structural girders include a core in concrete material: and an external reinforcement partially cladding the core and made of metallic material.
US09422674B2	In-track rail welding system An improved in-track welder eliminates conduction path force members and employs separate bridging current path conductors for DC welding of rail ends. The enhancement allows for an increased closure distance, thus improving cold-weather operations. An increased allowable distance between conduction contacts allows for the incorporation of an internal shear member for more efficient finishing of welds. The force members may be optimized for strength rather than electrical properties, and are comprised of relatively small diameter alloy steel rods.
US09422669B2	Process for preparing stable dispersions of starch particles In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides for a process for preparing a dispersion of starch particles in an aqueous liquid. In one or more embodiments, the process includes introducing a feed starch and the aqueous liquid into a rotor stator mixer, maintaining the feed starch and the aqueous liquid in the rotor stator mixer at a temperature ranging from a gelation temperature to less than a solubilization temperature, and shearing the feed starch into starch particles with the rotor stator mixer to form the dispersion of starch particles in the aqueous liquid. In one or more embodiments, the starch particles produced by this process have an average particle size diameter of no larger than 2 micrometers and the dispersion has 20 to 65 weight percent of the starch particles based on a total weight of the dispersion.
US09422668B2	Sheet manufacturing apparatus and sheet manufacturing method A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes: a defibrating unit which defibrates a raw material including at least fibers; an addition unit which adds an additive agent to a defibrated material which is defibrated in the defibrating unit; and a sheet forming unit which forms a sheet by bonding the plurality of fibers to each other via the additive agent. According to a history of the raw material, an amount of the additive agent which is fed by the addition unit varies. In addition, there is provided a sheet manufacturing method, including: defibrating the raw material which includes at least fibers; adding the additive agent to the defibrated material; and bonding the plurality of fibers to each other via the additive agent. According to the history of the raw material, a feed amount of the additive agent with respect to the raw material varies.
US09422664B2	Sheet manufacturing apparatus and defibration unit The sheet manufacturing apparatus in the present invention includes a defibration unit configured to cause a rotating unit to rotate and dry-defibrating a defibration object, and at least a part of defibrated material that has been dry-defibrated is deposited and heated to manufacture a sheet. A plurality of rotating plates provided with a base section located on a central rotation axis side and a plurality of protruding sections that protrude out in a direction drawing away from the central rotation axis are stacked in the rotating unit such that the protruding sections are in contact in a direction in which the central rotation axis extends.
US09422656B2	Drum type washing machine A drum type washing machine includes a main tub having a main drum that rotates to wash laundry, a sub tub separate from the main tub and having a sub drum that rotates to wash laundry, and a clutch unit including a motor that provides a rotational force to at least one of the main drum and the sub drum.
US09422650B2	Balloon with dividing fabric layers and method for braiding over three-dimensional forms A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.
US09422648B2	Platform for weaving interlinking bands A platform for linking elastic bands together to form bracelets, anklets, necklaces and jewelry products has a circular platform having a plurality of substrate stations for retaining elastic bands in a semistretched configuration. An interlinking utensil allows a user to make cross-linked jewelry products which can be worn around a wrist or other area of the body. The substrate stations may be aligned in one or more rows.
US09422646B2	Apparatus for producing entanglements on a multifilament thread An apparatus for producing entanglements on a multifilament thread, has a treatment channel, has a nozzle bore that opens into the treatment channel and has an air supply device. The air supply device interacts with the nozzle bore in order to produce pulse-like compressed-air flows, wherein the compressed air is produced via a pressure chamber and a pressure source. In order in particular to control the pressure pulses produced in the pressure chamber, a volume store is arranged between the pressure chamber and the pressure source, wherein the volume store has a storage volume which is greater than a chamber volume of the pressure chamber.
US09422643B2	Method for producing article Provided are a heat-fusible fiber having excellent heat resistance, flame retardancy and dimensional stability; a fiber structure comprising the heat-fusible fiber; and a molded article produced by applying a heat fusion treatment to the fiber structure and having excellent heat resistance. The heat-fusible fiber comprises an amorphous PES type polymer (A) not substantially having a melting point and an amorphous PEI type polymer (B) in the mixture ratio (weight) of (A)/(B)=5/95 to 95/5, the fiber having a single glass transition temperature in the range between 80° C. and 200° C., and being amorphous. The fiber structure comprises 10% by weight or higher of the amorphous heat-fusible fiber. The molded article comprises at least a fiber structure comprising 10% by weight or higher of the amorphous heat-fusible fiber, to be fusion-bonded at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the amorphous heat-fusible fiber.
US09422640B2	Single-crystal 4H-SiC substrate A method for manufacturing a single-crystal 4H-SiC substrate includes: preparing a flat 4H-SiC bulk single-crystal substrate; and epitaxially growing a first single-crystal 4H-SiC layer having recesses on the 4H-SiC bulk single-crystal substrate, wherein the first single-crystal 4H-SiC layer has a thickness of X (μm), the recesses have a diameter Y (μm) no smaller than 0.2X (μm) and no larger than 2X (μm), and a depth of Z (nm) no smaller than (0.95X (μm)+0.5 (nm)) and no larger than 10X (μm).
US09422636B2	Method and apparatus for producing single crystals composed of semiconductor material A method for producing a single crystal of semiconductor material having material properties of a zone-pulled single crystal includes providing a vessel transmissive to high frequency magnetic fields and having a granulate of a granular semiconductor material disposed therein and a first conductor disposed externally thereto. A high frequency current is supplied to a planar inductor disposed above the vessel, the planar inductor having a turn and a slit as a current supply so as to produce an open melt lake on the granulate by a temperature field at a surface of the granulate produced by thermal power of the planar inductor and a heating action of the first inductor, the melt lake being embedded in unmelted material of the granular semiconductor material and not being in contact with a wall of the vessel. A single crystal is pulled form the melt lake of the semiconductor material upwards.
US09422634B2	Method and apparatus for producing a single crystal Single crystals are produced by means of the floating zone method, wherein the single crystal crystallizes below a melt zone at a crystallization boundary, and the emission of crystallization heat is impeded by a reflector surrounding the single crystal, wherein the single crystal is heated in the region of an outer edge of the crystallization boundary by means of a heating device in a first zone, wherein a distance Δ between an outer triple point Ta at the outer edge of the crystallization boundary and a center Z of the crystallization boundary is influenced. An apparatus for producing the single crystal provides a heat source below the melting induction coil and above the reflector.
US09422633B2	Method for mass transfer of micro-patterns onto medical devices This invention is directed to a new method of mass-transfer/fabrication of micro-sized features/structures onto the inner diameter (ID) surface of a stent. This new approach is provided by technique of through mask electrical micro-machining One embodiment discloses an application of electrical micro-machining to the ID of a stent using a customized electrode configured specifically for machining micro-sized features/structures.
US09422622B2	Flexible conductive single wire Thin conductive metal coatings suitable for flexible nonmetal fine wires and leads are described. Polymer clad silica fiber cores are produced by plasma coating with single or dual layers of metals such as silver, gold or titanium to provide micro thin leads such as those used for pacemakers and fracture resistant aircraft wires that are both conductive and resistant to flexing breakage. The metal surfaces can be used to transmit analog signals while the nonmetal cores can be designed to transmit digital signals. Select deposition conditions can produce nanorough metal coating surfaces which promote cell adhesion so that tissue scarring in vivo is greatly reduced.
US09422621B2	Refractory metal barrier in semiconductor devices Gate metallization structures and methods for semiconductor devices are disclosed, wherein a refractory metal barrier is implemented to provide performance improvements. Transistor devices are disclosed having a compound semiconductor substrate and an electron-beam evaporated gate structure including a layer of tantalum nitride (TaNx), a layer of titanium (Ti) and a layer of gold (Au).
US09422620B2	Translucent hard thin film A translucent hard thin film having high transmissivity and film strength is provided. The translucent hard thin film can be composed of a laminated film formed on a substrate surface, wherein the laminated film has a superlattice structure obtained by stacking a plurality of SiO2 layer and SiC layers alternately and the entire film thickness is 3000 nm or more. A film thickness per layer is 5 to 30 nm in a SiC layer and 30% to 60% of that of the SiO2 layer in a SiC layer.
US09422619B2	Processing apparatus and shield A processing apparatus includes a substrate holding portion, a shield arranged to surround a substrate, and a shield holding portion configured to hold the shield. The shield includes first magnets each having a magnetic pole of a first polarity facing the shield holding portion, and second magnets each having a magnetic pole of a second polarity facing the shield holding portion. The first magnets and the second magnets are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the shield. The shield holding portion includes third magnets each having a magnetic pole of the first polarity facing the shield, and fourth magnets each having a magnetic pole of the second polarity facing the shield.
US09422618B2	Method and apparatus for forming coating layer with nano multi-layer Disclosed is a method and apparatus for forming a coating layer using a physical vapor deposition apparatus equipped with a sputtering apparatus and an arc ion plating apparatus, comprising: a first coating step of forming a Mo coating layer on a base material using a the sputtering apparatus and a Mo target and Ar gas; a nitrating step of forming a nitride film forming condition using an arc ion plating apparatus and Ar gas and N2 gas; a second coating step of forming a nano composite coating layer of Cr—Mo—N using the Mo target and Ar gas of the sputtering apparatus and the Ar gas, N2 gas and a Cr source of the arc ion plating apparatus at the same time; and a multi-coating step of forming a multi-layer having alternating Cr—Mo—N nano composite coating layers and Mo coating layers by revolving the base material around a central pivot.
US09422617B2	Cermet thermal spray powder, roller for molten metal plating bath, article in molten metal plating bath A cermet thermal spray powder generates a dense sprayed coating with superior wear resistance, superior toughness, superior resistance to molten metal, and superior resistance to thermal shock. The cermet thermal spray powder is sprayed onto a surface of a roller for a molten metal plating bath, wherein the powder includes: a first boride including W; a second boride including Cr; binder alloy particles including at least W, Cr, and Co; and unavoidable impurities; the content of B being 4.5% by mass to 8.5% by mass and the content of W being 50% by mass to 85% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the cermet thermal spray powder.
US09422611B2	Al—Sc alloy manufacturing method Provided is a method of producing an Al—Sc based alloy suitable for production of an Al—Sc based alloy that: eliminates the needs for equipment for heating in an inert gas atmosphere or a vacuum atmosphere, a reducing agent such as metal Ca, and equipment and power for molten salt electrolysis; can be performed adequately by heating up to 1,050° C.; and enables continuous operation. The method of producing an Al—Sc based alloy includes: loading into a reaction vessel metal aluminum (Al), a metal fluoride salt, and a scandium compound; elevating a temperature of a reaction system to from 700 to 1,050° C. to form a molten metal layer including molten metal aluminum serving as a lower layer and a molten salt layer in which the metal fluoride salt and the scandium compound are melted serving as an upper layer; and transferring a scandium ion (Sc3+) generated in the molten salt layer side to the molten metal layer side. The metal fluoride salt has a melting temperature lower than the reaction temperature and has a density in a range of from 70 to 95% of the density of the molten metal aluminum, at the reaction temperature.
US09422607B2	Method for analyzing D4Z4 tandem repeat arrays of nucleic acid and kit therefore The present invention relates to a method for analyzing in vitro D4Z4 tandem repeat arrays of nucleic acid contained on nucleic acid representative of chromosomes, in particular on nucleic acid representative of Human chromosomes 4 and 10, and to a kit therefore. Said method is in particular suitable for determining the number of D4Z4 repeat units in said D4Z4 repeat arrays. Said method is based on stretching of nucleic acid and in particular on Molecular Combing and relies on the use of probes, especially nucleic acid probes, with a particular design. The invention also relates to a method for providing tools for the diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and to a diagnostic kit therefore. The invention further relates to a method for identifying biochemical events and/or genetic in regions containing such tandem repeat arrays.
US09422604B2	Sample processing apparatus and method The invention relates to a sample processing apparatus comprising a holder for a microtiter plate comprising a plurality of microwells, optical measurement unit for measuring optical responses of samples dosed to the microwells, and a computing unit configured to analyze the optical responses in order to detect dosing failures in said plurality of microwells, and if a dosing failure has been detected in one or more of the microwells, to communicate the existence of the dosing failure to a user of the apparatus through signaling means or to store data indicative of the dosing failure to data storage means for further use. In particular, the invention relates to detecting dosing failures in before, during and after a PCR process.
US09422599B2	Cold shock protein compositions and methods and kits for the use thereof The present invention provides cold shock protein-containing compositions for improved DNA synthesis reactions with improved reactivity, methods for synthesizing DNA using such compositions, kits for use in such methods, and DNA compositions yielded by such methods. The present invention further provides cold shock protein-containing compositions for the identification of endoribonuclease cleavage sites, methods for identifying endoribonuclease cleavage sites using such compositions, and kits for use in such methods.
US09422597B2	Allele amplification bias Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis. In an illustrative method, allele amplification bias is used to amplify preferentially a target nucleic acid that is present in a low allele fraction.
US09422595B2	Endonucleases The present invention provides an endonuclease I or enzymatically active fragment thereof wherein said endonuclease I has the sequence of SEQ ID No. 4 or a sequence which is at least 70% identical thereto and wherein the amino acid residue which is immediately N-terminal of the FYCGC pentapeptide motif has been substituted with a residue which is negatively charged as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding these enzymes and methods of removing contaminating polynucleotides from a sample using these enzyme.
US09422589B2	Assay for histidinyl hydroxylase activity The present invention relates to assays for monitoring activity of Mina53 and NO66 activities, in particular, to assays for identifying modulators of Mina53 and NO66 activities. The invention also relates to assays to monitor the histidinyl hydroxylase activity of Mina53 and NO66 on their substrates, the human ribosomal protein Rpl27a and Rpl8 respectively. The invention also enables the introduction of S-3-hydroxyhistidinyl residues into peptides and proteins.
US09422585B2	Phytoglycogen-based compositions, materials and methods The present invention provides methods for treating phytoglycogen-containing materials to generate phytoglycogen compositions with enhanced emulsification attribute. One method comprises contacting a phytoglycogen-containing material with at least one protease. The other method comprises heat treatment of a phytoglycogen-containing material, such as corn kernels. The two methods can be applied independently, or can be applied in combination. Applications of phytoglycogen compositions are also included.
US09422579B2	Method for conversion of halophytic biomass to biogas via thalassic anaerobic digestion Described is a process for the conversion of halophytic plant biomass containing saline organic solids into biogas through anaerobic digestion. Operation of the process with saline (e.g., seawater) as liquid media under the method conditions taught leads to biological conversion of the organic matter into biogas. Additionally described is a method for pretreatment of the biomass under mild physicochemical conditions to increase the bioavailable fraction of the biomass for conversion.
US09422578B2	Methods for biosynthesizing 1,3 butadiene This document describes biochemical pathways for producing butadiene by forming two vinyl groups in a butadiene synthesis substrate. These pathways described herein rely on enzymes such as mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, isoprene synthase, and dehydratases for the final enzymatic step.
US09422573B2	Methods and means for generating microbial disease resistant plants Described are genes and chimeric genes encoding anti-microbial peptides. These genes can be used to generate transgenic plants with an improved resistance to, for example, plant pathogenic fungi. Alternatively, the peptides encoded by these genes can be applied as agrochemical formulations to plants suffering from microbial diseases such as fungal diseases.
US09422572B2	Plants with improved agronomic traits Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs useful for conferring drought tolerance, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter that is functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a PRE2 polypeptide.
US09422571B2	Increased kernel productivity of plants through the modulation of glutamine synthetase activity The invention relates to a method for improving the kernel productivity of a maize plant, wherein said method comprises overexpressing in said plant at least one glutamine synthetase isoenzyme, in order to increase the number and/or size of kernels.
US09422568B2	Process for preparing L-amino acids A process for preparing L-amino acids employing coryneform bacteria in which the AmtR regulator has been attenuated is provided. Recombinant bacteria, polynucleotides and vectors corresponding to or having the attenuated AmtR regulator are disclosed.
US09422567B2	Targeted gene deletions for polysaccharide slime formers The present invention provides improved polysaccharides (e.g., gellan and diutan) produced by mutant gene R, M or N Sphingomonas strains containing at least one genetic modification that favors slime-forming polysaccaride production. Methods of making the mutant Sphingomonas strains and the culture broth containing such mutant Sphingomonas strains are also provided.
US09422566B2	Gene cluster for biosynthesis of griselimycin and methylgriselimycin The present invention refers to the gene cluster and genes comprised by the gene cluster which are involved in the biosynthesis of griselimycin and methylgriselimycin and to the use of the gene cluster, genes comprised thereby and proteins encoded thereby for the production of antibiotic agents.
US09422565B2	Recombinant microorganisms comprising NADPH dependent enzymes and methods of production therefor The invention provides a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism with increased overall utilization of NADPH relative to a parent microorganism. Further, the invention provides a method of producing a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism which exhibits increased NADPH utilization relative to a parental microorganism. In particular, the invention relates to increasing the overall utilization of NADPH in a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism in order to increase the production of at least one fermentation product by the microorganism.
US09422564B2	Immunostimulatory sequence oligonucleotides and methods of using the same The invention provides immunomodulatory polynucleotides and methods for immunomodulation of individuals using the immunomodulatory polynucleotides.
US09422554B2	MicroRNAome MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that have important regulatory roles in multicellular organisms. The public miRNA database contains 321 human miRNA sequences, 234 of which have been experimentally verified. To explore the possibility that additional miRNAs are present in the human genome, we have developed an experimental approach called miRNA serial analysis of gene expression (miRAGE) and used it to perform the largest experimental analysis of human miRNAs to date. Sequence analysis of 273,966 small RNA tags from human colorectal cells allowed us to identify 200 known mature miRNAs, 133 novel miRNA candidates, and 112 previously uncharacterized miRNA* forms. To aid in the evaluation of candidate miRNAs, we disrupted the Dicer locus in three human colorectal cancer cell lines and examined known and novel miRNAs in these cells. The miRNAs are useful to diagnose and treat cancers.
US09422553B2	Prokaryotic RNAi-like system and methods of use Provided herein are methods for inactivating a target polynucleotide. The methods use a psiRNA having a 5′ region and a 3′ region. The 5′ region includes, but is not limited to, 5 to 10 nucleotides chosen from a repeat from a CRISPR locus immediately upstream of a spacer. The 3′ region is substantially complementary to a portion of the target polynucleotide. The methods may be practiced in a prokaryotic microbe or in vitro. Also provided are polypeptides that have endonuclease activity in the presence of a psiRNA and a target polynucleotide, and methods for using the polypeptides.
US09422549B2	Methods for the production of libraries for directed evolution Disclosed herein is an efficient method of generating a library of variants of a sequence of interest, such as may be used in directed evolution, in one embodiment, the method includes an amplification reaction, e.g. error-prone PCR, to generate double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) variants of a sequence of interest, after which one strand of the dsDNA variants may be selectively degraded to produce single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) variants. The ssDNA variants may be hybridized to ssDNA intermediaries, e.g., uracilated circular ssDNA intermediaries, to form heteroduplex DNA, which may be transformed into cells, such as E. coli cells, yielding a library of variants. This method eliminates the inefficient sub-cloning steps and the need for costly primer sets required by many prior methods.
US09422548B2	OB-fold used as scaffold for engineering new specific binders The present invention pertains to the field of protein engineering, and provides means for obtaining stable molecules that specifically bind to a target selected amongst a large variety of ligands families. In particular, the present invention provides methods for obtaining a molecule specifically binding to a target of interest, through a combinatorial mutation/selection approach with an OB-fold protein as a starting molecule. In particular, the target of interest can be of a different chemical nature form that of the native target of the OB-fold protein used as the starting molecule.
US09422547B1	Recombinant fusion proteins and libraries from immune cell repertoires Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for generating a repertoire of recombinant fusion polypeptides from immune cells, and uses thereof.
US09422544B2	Methods and kits for extraction of DNA Methods and materials are disclosed for use in recovering a biopolymer from a solution. In particular, the invention provides methods for extraction and isolation of nucleic acids from biological materials. The nucleic acids can be separated by forming a stable complex with soluble polysaccharide polymers and magnetic particles, in the presence of detergents and solvent. When the particles are magnetically separated out of the solution, the nucleic acids are separated with them. The nucleic acids can subsequently be released and separated from the particles. The nucleic acid preparation is useful for achieving efficient and accurate results in downstream molecular techniques such as quantification, identification of the source of the nucleic acids, and genotyping.
US09422542B2	Process for parallel isolation and/or purification of RNA and DNA The present invention relates to a process for the parallel isolation and/or purification of RNA and DNA from the same fixed biological sample, the quantification and analysis of the nucleic acids isolated by the process according to the invention, to a kit for the parallel isolation and/or purification of RNA and DNA from a fixed sample and to the use of this kit for the diagnosis, prognosis, decision with respect to therapy and/or the monitoring of the therapy of a disease.
US09422539B2	Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of histidyl-tRNA synthetases Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
US09422538B2	Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of methionyl-tRNA synthetasis Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
US09422533B2	Nucleic acid encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase and uses thereof The gene encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) and constructs comprising such DNA are provided, including methods of regulating MPO expression independently or with other alkaloid biosynthesis genes to modulate alkaloid production in plants and host cells. MPO genes or fragments thereof are useful for reducing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, for increasing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, and for producing an MPO enzyme in host cells.
US09422532B2	Nucleic acid encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase and uses thereof The gene encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) and constructs comprising such DNA are provided, including methods of regulating MPO expression independently or with other alkaloid biosynthesis genes to modulate alkaloid production in plants and host cells. MPO genes or fragments thereof are useful for reducing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, for increasing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, and for producing an MPO enzyme in host cells.
US09422531B2	Biocatalysts for the preparation of hydroxy substituted carbamates The present disclosure relates to engineered ketoreductase polypeptides for the preparation of hydroxyl substituted carbamate compounds, and polynucleotides, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using the ketoreductase polypeptides.
US09422529B2	Alphavirus compositions and methods of use Embodiments are directed compositions related to Eilat virus and uses thereof. Certain aspects are directed to the detection of non-Eilat entities using a chimeric Eilat alphavirus as a capture agent.
US09422527B2	Drug target site within gp120 of HIV The present invention relates to a method of designing an inhibitor of the binding of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) glycoprotein (gp)120 to a CD4-receptor or to the integrin alpha4 beta7 (a4b7). The inhibitor interacts with at least two amino acid residues comprised in six motifs within the 3-dimensional structure of gp120. Also provided are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof and uses thereof in the development of an inhibitor of the binding of a HIV gp120 to a CD4-receptor or an integrin alpha4 beta7 (a4b7). The inhibitors are useful for the prevention or treatment of an HIV infection and/or diseases associated with an HIV infection.
US09422524B2	Diabetes treatment The invention is directed to a treatment of diabetes, a scaffold and a method of preparing a scaffold. In a first aspect, this object is met by providing a scaffold comprising beta cell aggregates, wherein the aggregates are distributed over the scaffold in a predetermined pattern.
US09422521B2	Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells with a kinase inhibitor or PGI2 The present invention provides a process of differentiating stem cells, in particular hES cells, into cardiomyocytes and into neural progenitors by growing the hES cells in the presence of a defined medium that is substantially free of xeno- and serum-components and thus comprises a clinically compliant medium. The defined media comprises defined factors that contribute to the promotion of differentiation to cardiomyocytes and neural progenitors. The invention also includes defined culture media and cell populations and methods of using them.
US09422518B2	High solids enzyme reactor or mixer and method A reactor apparatus including: an internal mixing chamber including a first chamber section having a cross-sectional area expanding from a biomass inlet to the internal mixing chamber to the a second chamber section; the second chamber section having a substantially uniform internal cross-sectional area from the opposite end of the first chamber section to a discharge end of the mixing chamber; the biomass inlet is coupled to a source of pre-treated biomass external to the reactor vessel, and a rotating mixing device in the internal mixing chamber and coaxial with an axis of the first chamber section.
US09422517B2	Microscale and nanoscale structures for manipulating particles The devices and systems described herein include one or more fluid paths, e.g., channels, and one or more selectively permeable obstacles arranged in the fluid path(s), each including a plurality of aligned nanostructures, e.g., nanotubes or nanorods, defining an outer surface of the obstacle and an internal network of voids. The obstacle(s) can further include binding moieties applied to the outer surface and/or to the surfaces of the individual nanostructures within the obstacle(s). The devices can be manufactured by forming the dense groupings of nanostructures to extend outwards and upwards from a substrate; forming a fluidic channel, bonding the fluidic channel to the substrate; and optionally applying binding moieties to the obstacles. The devices can be used to manipulate cells within fluid samples.
US09422514B2	Point-of-production brewing system A point-of-production brewing system which utilizes commercially available ocean and over-the-road shipping containers as a means to create a modular brewing system. Point-of-production brewing system is comprised of a system of modules for transporting and producing an alcoholic beverage and includes a wort production equipment module, a fermentation/maturation equipment module and a packaging module. The modular design allows for the system to be rapidly deployed and utilized to produce an alcoholic beverage on site.
US09422512B2	Cleaning liquid for semiconductor elements and cleaning method using same By cleaning with use of a cleaning liquid that contains 10-30% by mass of hydrogen peroxide, 0.005-10% by mass of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, 0.005-5% by mass of potassium hydroxide, 0.000005-0.005% by mass of an amino polymethylene phosphonic acid and water, a hard mask, an organosiloxane-based thin film, dry etching residue and a photoresist can be removed without corroding a low-dielectric-constant interlayer dielectric film, a wiring material such as copper or an copper alloy, a barrier metal and a barrier dielectric film. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, damage to copper wiring lines is suppressed even in cases where an acid is added into the cleaning liquid and significant decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is not caused even in cases where titanium is added into the cleaning liquid.
US09422508B2	Antioxidant compositions useful in biodiesel and other fatty acid and acid ester compositions Compositions containing phenolic antioxidant solutions are provided. The invention further provides methods of making and using such compositions as well as compositions that contain both biodiesel and at least one antioxidant concentrate solutions and blended fuel compositions containing biodiesel blended with other fuels.
US09422504B2	Use of whole soft avocados for preparing avocado oil rich in unsaponifiables The present invention relates to the use of whole soft avocados to obtain an avocado oil rich in unsaponifiable, said unsaponifiable containing aliphatic acetogenins and/or their derivatives. Advantageously, the oil has an acid value less than or equal to 3 mgKOH/g. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining an avocado oil rich in unsaponifiable from whole soft avocados. said unsaponifiable containing aliphatic acetogenins and/or their derivatives. The invention also relates to an avocado oil rich in unsaponifiable obtainable by this process. The invention also relates to the use of the avocado oil to prepare a concentrate of avocado oil enriched in unsaponifiable or an avocado unsaponifiable rich in aliphatic furans. Finally, the invention relates to an avocado unsaponifiable rich in aliphatic furans or a concentrate of avocado oil enriched in unsaponifiable, obtainable from said avocado oil, for its use as a drug, advantageously in the prevention and/or the treatment of connective tissue disorders such as arthrosis, articular pathologies such as rhumatisms, or parodontal disorders, such as gingivitis or parodontitis.
US09422503B2	Method for coating metal surfaces with a phosphate layer and then with a polymer lubricant layer The invention relates to a method for preparing metal workpieces for cold forming by first applying a phosphate layer and then applying a lubricant layer which has a major content in organic polymer material. The phosphate layer is formed by an aqueous acidic phosphating solution having a major content in calcium, magnesium or manganese and phosphate. The lubricant layer is formed by contacting the phosphated surface with an aqueous lubricant composition which has a content in organic polymer material based on ionomer and optionally also non-ionomer the organic polymer material used predominantly being monomers, oligomers, co-oligomers, polymers or copolymers based on ionomer, acrylic acid/methacrylic acid, epoxide, ethylene, polyamide, propylene, styrene, urethane, the ester or salt thereof. The invention also relates to the corresponding lubricant composition, to the lubricant layer produced thereof and to its use.
US09422502B2	Low viscosity, low volatility lubricating oil basestocks A composition containing one or more sulfur-containing compounds represented by the formula (R1)a(X)(R2)b wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are the residue of a heteroatom-containing olefin having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, X is the residue of a thiol or polythiol, a is a value from 1 to 6, and b is a value from 0 to 6. The composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. (Kv100) from 2 to 300 cst, a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. (Kv40) from 5 to 4000 cst, a viscosity index (VI) from −100 to 300, and a Noack volatility of no greater than 90 percent. A process for producing the composition, a lubricating oil base stock and lubricating oil containing the composition, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives in a lubricating oil containing the composition.
US09422501B2	Lubricating oil composition and method for lubricating sliding material while preventing elution of copper and lead The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition having excellent NOx resistance, anti-oxidation properties, base number retainability and detergency, suitably used for an internal combustion engine. The lubricating oil composition comprises a lubricating base oil, (A) a 2,2,6,6-tetraalkylpiperidine derivative and (B) an organic molybdenum compound and/or an organic tungsten compound and preferably further comprises (C) a hindered phenol-type anti-oxidant and/or an aromatic amine-type anti-oxidant or (D) at least one type of compound selected from the group of consisting of phosphorus compounds and metal salts or amine salts. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for lubricating a sliding material by contacting a specific lubricating oil composition selected from the above lubricating oil compositions with the sliding material while preventing elution of the copper and lead contained in the material.
US09422500B2	Noise reducing grease composition The invention provides a grease composition capable of smoothly operating the lubricated parts even under wide-ranging temperature conditions, and at the same time, exhibiting excellent noise reducing effect on the lubricated parts. The grease composition containing a base oil and a thickener is provided, wherein the base oil includes at least one first base oil selected from the group consisting of poly-α-olefins and ethylene-α-olefin oligomers and at least one second base oil selected from the group consisting of polybutene, polyisobutylene, polymethacrylate, and styrene based copolymers, with the first base oil being contained in an amount of 65 mass % or more and the second base oil being contained in an amount of 1 mass % or more and less than 35 mass % based on the total mass of the base oil, the base oil having a kinematic viscosity of 350 to 1400 mm2/s at 40° C., the first base oil having a kinematic viscosity of 300 to 1200 mm2/s at 40° C., and the second base oil having a kinematic viscosity of 1500 to 200,000 mm2/s at 40° C.
US09422495B2	Method for gasifying gas hydrate and device thereof Provided are a method and a device for efficiently decomposing gas hydrate pellets and extracting gas. That is, provided is a method for decomposing gas hydrate characterized by supplying gas hydrate pellets to a decomposition vessel, damming and gathering densely the pellets on a downstream side in the decomposition vessel, and passing hot water through this pellet layer which is in a densely gathered state, to thereby decompose the pellets into water and gas.
US09422492B2	Process for the conversion of a feed containing biomass for the production of hydrocarbons, by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis The present invention concerns an integrated process for the production of liquid hydrocarbons starting from a feed containing at least one fraction of biomass and optionally at least one fraction of another feed, said process comprising at least one pre-treatment step, a gasification step, a step for conditioning synthesis gas, a water scrubbing step, a step for eliminating acid gases, a final purification step, and a catalytic Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction step.
US09422485B2	Method of trading cellulosic-renewable identification numbers The present application generally relates to a method of trading cellulosic-renewable identification numbers by co-processing a renewable fuel oil with a petroleum fraction to form a renewable identification number-compliant fuel, obtaining one or more renewable identification numbers, and transferring the rights of renewable identification numbers.
US09422466B2	Temperature-stable cross-linkable adhesive compound with hard and soft blocks Temperature-stable adhesive compound, comprising (i) block copolymers having a construction A-B-A, (A-B)n, (A-B)nX, or (A-B-A)nX, where X is the radical of a coupling reagent, n is an integer between 2 and 10, A is a polymer block of a vinylaromatic, and B is a polymer block of an alkene or diene, at least some of the A blocks being sulfonated, and optionally diblock copolymers of the form A-B, and (ii) at least one tackifier resin, and (iii) at least one metal complex with a substitutable complexing agent.
US09422465B2	Emulsion adhesive for washable film This invention relates to removable pressure sensitive adhesive compositions and constructions that contain an emulsion acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive copolymer of a plurality of acrylic monomers and at least one polymerizable acid. The invention further relates to labels, particularly removable polymeric labels for use on reusable containers.
US09422459B2	Coatings for protection against corrosion in adhesively bonded steel joints An apparatus includes a first steel component having a first surface, a second steel component having a second surface, a corrosion resistant coating on at least one of the first and second surfaces, and an adhesive bonding the first and second components together. The corrosion resistant coating can be electrically conductive.
US09422458B2	Method and apparatus for adhesive deposition An improved approach toward the electrostatic deposition of activatable adhesive formulations is disclosed. The activatable adhesive formulations are formed for transforming from a dry powder precursor layer to a precursor layer film.
US09422457B2	Colloidal silica chemical-mechanical polishing concentrate A chemical-mechanical polishing concentrate includes at least 10 weight percent of a colloidal silica abrasive particle dispersed in a liquid carrier having a pH in a range from about 1.5 to about 7. The colloidal silica abrasive includes an aminosilane compound or a phosphonium silane compound incorporated therein. The concentrate may be diluted with at least 3 parts water per one part concentrate prior to use.
US09422456B2	Colloidal silica chemical-mechanical polishing composition A chemical-mechanical polishing composition includes colloidal silica abrasive particles dispersed in a liquid carrier having a pH in a range from about 1.5 to about 7. The colloidal silica abrasive particles include an aminosilane compound or a phosphonium silane compound incorporated therein. The composition may be used to polish a substrate including a silicon oxygen material such as TEOS.
US09422455B2	CMP compositions exhibiting reduced dishing in STI wafer polishing The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition containing a ceria abrasive, an ionic polymer of formula I: wherein X1 and X2, Z1 and Z2, R1, R2, R3, and R4, and n are as defined herein, a polyhydroxy aromatic compound, a polyvinyl alcohol, and water, wherein the polishing composition has a pH of about 1 to about 4.5. The invention further provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with the inventive chemical-mechanical polishing composition. Typically, the substrate contains silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and/or polysilicon.
US09422452B2	Polymerized film forming method A polymerized film forming method for forming a polymerized film on a target surface of a workpiece using a first raw material gas which contains a first monomer and a second raw material gas which contains a second monomer differing from the first monomer includes: supplying the first raw material gas wherein difunctional non-aromatic amine having a hydrolyzable group is used for the first monomer; and supplying the second raw material gas wherein difunctional acid anhydride is used for the second monomer.
US09422451B2	Low density fuel resistant sulfur-containing polymer compositions and uses thereof Low-density compositions and sealants prepared from sulfur-containing prepolymer compositions that exhibit enhanced fuel resistance are disclosed. The low density and enhanced fuel resistance is realized by using polyphenylene sulfide fillers.
US09422449B2	Varnish composition transferable by inkjet suitable for sublimable or thermal-transfer ink The present invention relates to a varnish which is for covering the surface of a substrate and deposited by inkjet, to a process for preparing said varnish and to the use thereof as a laminable and/or overprintable ink or varnish.
US09422440B2	Bis-ureas as amorphous materials for phase-change ink An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to an amorphous bis-urea compound having a formula 1: where X is a branched alkyl bridge and R′ and R″ are alkyl groups.
US09422437B2	Copolymer, aqueous ink, and ink cartridge A copolymer contains a structure unit represented by Chemical formula 1 and a structure unit represented by Chemical formula 2, where R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X represents a hydrogen atom or a cation, L1 and L2 each, independently represent alkylene groups having 2 to 18 carbon atoms.
US09422433B2	Ternary antifouling compositions and methods Compounds for mitigation of biofouling, and methods of making compounds for biofouling. Terpolymers comprising hyperbranched fluoropolymers possessing unique topology mitigate fouling on susceptible surfaces. In some embodiments, the terpolymers comprise PEG and PDMS.
US09422432B2	Powder coating pretreatment compositions, and methods of using and making the same The present document describes a composition which comprises about 25% to about 40% (v/v) plasticizers such as 2-ethylhexyl benzoate and butyl benzyl phthalate, about 0.5% to about 2% (v/v) of monoethanolamine as degasser, about 5% to about 20% (w/w) of pH adjusting agents such as calcium carbonate and ammonium carbonate, and from about 30% to about 45% (v/v) of a phenol formaldehyde resin based adhesive comprising an epoxy consisting of epichlorohydrin. The document also describes processes of making the composition as well as methods of using the composition for the pretreatment of surfaces, for example wood surface, metal rock or plastic surfaces prior to further treatment.
US09422429B2	Transparent polyamide-imides What is described is a transparent polyamide-imide based on one or more different imido-dicarboxylic acids (AB) or derivatives thereof, and cycloaliphatic diamines (C) comprising 6 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the imido-dicarboxylic acids (AB) or derivatives thereof are selected from the group of imido-dicarboxylic acids (AB) having the following structural formulas: wherein: ASL=(CH2)5-11, phenylene, (ylomethyl)phenyl, bis(ylomethyl)benzene, cyclohexanediyl, (ylomethyl)cyclohexyl, bis(ylomethyl)cyclohexane, cyclopentanediyl, (ylomethyl)cyclopentyl, bis(ylomethyl)cyclopentane, R═OH, O-alkyl, O-aryl, Cl, NH-ASL-COOH, Br, O—(CO)-alkyl, O—(CO)-aryl, R1=H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, with the provision that the ring can be substituted once or twice, and, with double substitution of the ring, the two substituents can be selected from the group, but may be different, and also moulding compounds based thereon, a method for production, and uses.
US09422427B2	Artificial marble chips, artificial marble containing same, and production method therefor An artificial marble chip of the present invention comprises curable resin, metal fiber and/or inorganic fiber, and inorganic filler. The metal fiber and/or inorganic fiber preferably have an average length of about 1 to about 6 mm and an average particle diameter of about 10 to about 15 μm. An artificial marble according to the present invention is produced by using the artificial marble chip, curable resin matrix, and inorganic filler as main components. The curable resin is preferably selected from acrylic resin, unsaturated polyester resin, epoxy resin, or a copolymer thereof. The artificial marble according to the present invention is produced by the steps of: producing an artificial marble composition by mixing the artificial marble chip, the inorganic filler, and other additives into the curable resin matrix; and curing the composition at about 25 to about 180° C. The invention can also include the step of defoaming the composition prior to curing.
US09422425B2	Polyethylene with high melt strength for use in films The present invention is a method for producing a film particularly well suited for shrink film applications, said method comprising the steps of selecting a target polyethylene resin and then increasing the melt strength of the polyethylene resin by reacting the polyethylene resin with an alkoxy amine derivative, and then forming a film from the reacted target polyethylene.
US09422422B2	Transparent and tough rubber composition and manufacturing process for the same In order to provide a rubber composition having high transparency and toughness, the present invention can provide a crosslinked rubber composition, being substantially free of silica, comprising a first olefin polymer having refractive index of between 1.500 to 1.525 at 23 degree C.; and a second olefin polymer which is different from the first olefin polymer, wherein the composition has haze of 20% or less on 2 mm thick sheet, measured according to JIS K7136, and wherein the composition has Type A Durometer hardness (0 sec) of 35 or more, measured according to JIS K6253.
US09422419B2	Surface-treated calcium carbonate filler, and curable resin composition containing the filler The surface-treated calcium carbonate filler having a floc structure is provided which can provide a curable resin composition which has a high thixotropic property, exerts a high elongation degree at a low modulus, and has such a restoring rate that a load to be applied onto an adherend is reduced particularly by mixing in the curable resin composition, and the curable resin composition containing the filler.The surface-treated calcium carbonate filler is comprised of a synthetic calcium carbonate which is surface-treated with a fatty acid-based organic material containing a fatty acid salt and has a floc structure, wherein a ratio Sr of the amount of a fatty acid salt for which a counter ion is of monovalent, and which is contained in surface-treating agents eluted as free materials when the surface-treated calcium carbonate is refluxed with ethanol, to the total amount of the surface-treating agents is 10 to 30 wt %, and a porosity Po at the time of the consolidation of the surface-treated calcium carbonate is 38 to 45 wt %.
US09422417B1	Modified conjugated diene polymer, method for preparing the same and rubber composition comprising the same Disclosed is a modified conjugated diene polymer represented by Formula 1. Advantageously, provided are a modified conjugated diene polymer which exhibits superior compatibility with a reinforcing filler, heat generation, tensile strength and abrasion resistance, low fuel consumption and excellent wet skid resistance, a method for preparing the same and a rubber composition comprising the same.
US09422411B2	Reaction mixture, porous particles and methods of making Porous polymeric particles are provided that can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. The porous polymeric particles can be used for the storage and delivery of various active agents or for moisture management. Reaction mixtures for forming the porous polymeric particles, methods of making the porous polymeric particles, and articles containing the porous polymeric particles are also provided.
US09422409B2	Method of hydrolytically stable bonding of elastomers to substrates Active devices such as pumps and mixers have been fabricated in plastic-PDMS hybrid devices. By utilizing functionalized bis-silane primers, bond strength between Polycarbonate or PMMA and PDMS improved in dry and aqueous environments. Plastic-primer-PDMS layers exposed to acid and base solutions at 70° C. for 2 hours showed no signs of delamination at 30 psi for pH −1 to 15 and 60 psi for pH 0 to 15. A peristaltic pump fabricated in polycarbonate achieved consistent flow rates up to peristaltic cycle frequencies of 10 Hz in water, 1OM HCl, and 1OM NaOH solutions.
US09422408B2	Process for forming thermoplastic vulcanizates Provided are methods for producing a thermoplastic vulcanizate. One method includes charging vulcanizable rubber to a reactor; charging a masterbatch of thermoplastic resin and a catalyst for a phenolic resin curative to the reactor; charging a phenolic resin curative to the reactor; and dynamically vulcanizing the rubber with the phenolic resin curative in the presence of the catalyst. Also provided are thermoplastic vulcanizates made by the methods of the invention.
US09422397B2	Polycarbonate block copolymers The disclosure pertains to amphiphilic block copolymers comprising an aliphatic polycarbonate chain coupled to a hydrophilic polymer. Such amphiphilic polymers may have the formula A-L-B, where A- is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain having from about 3 to about 500 repeating units, L is a linker moiety and -B is a hydrophilic oligomer having from about 4 to about 200 repeating units. Provided copolymers are useful as surfactants capable of emulsifying aqueous solutions and supercritical carbon dioxide. Provided copolymers also have utility as additives for use in enhanced oil recovery methods.
US09422395B2	Multi-functional photoactive additives with improved chemical and flame resistance Photoactive additives are disclosed. The additive is formed from the reaction of a dihydroxybenzophenone, one or more linker moieties having functional groups that react with the phenolic groups, a diol chain extender, and an end-capping agent. If desired, a secondary linker moiety can be used. When added to a base polymeric resin, the photoactive additive permits crosslinking when exposed to ultraviolet light.

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