最新美国发明专利第2018-04-17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
US09946773B2	Graphical keyboard with integrated search features A computing device may include a presence-sensitive display, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical keyboard including a plurality of keys and a suggestion region; determine, based on a selection of the suggestion region or one or more keys from the plurality of keys, a search query; retrieve one or more search results determined based on the search query; and output, in place of at least a portion of the graphical keyboard, a visual representation of a particular search result of the one or more search results.
US09946772B2	Search queries with previews of search results on online social networks In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a client system of a first user, a text query inputted by the first user, generating a plurality of structured queries based on the text query, each structured query comprising references to one or more objects associated with the online social network, generating one or more search results corresponding to at least one of the structure queries, and sending, to the client system responsive to receiving the text query, one or more of the structured queries for display, at least one of the structured queries being displayed with a preview of one or more of the search results corresponding to the structured query.
US09946771B2	User interface for searching The present disclosure relates to search techniques. In one example process, the device concurrently displays remote search results and local search results. In another example process, the device provides previews of search results that include actionable user interface objects. In another example process, the device concurrently displays options for initiating a search using various search engines.
US09946767B2	Smoothed dynamic modeling of user traveling preferences in a public transportation system A method and system are disclosed for generating a list of trips on an associated transportation network, the list ranked in accordance with time-dependent modeling of passenger preferences. User preferences of choosing a specific public transportation service or change point are modeled by a set of latent variables. Any actual trip on the network is converted into a set of pairwise preferences implicitly made by the passenger during the trip. Sequences of services matrices and change points matrices from the retrieved set of trips and non-negative factorization of the services and change points matrices is performed to smooth the matrices. The set of pairwise preferences are used to learn a ranking function and the output of a journey planner is re-ranked using the ranking function.
US09946766B2	Search result relevance based on content associated with software applications Techniques include receiving a search query from a user device, determining native application states that are accessible by a user of the user device, and identifying application state records based on the search query and the application states. Each application state record includes an application access mechanism (AAM) and application state information (ASI). The AAM references a native application and indicates operations for the application to perform. The ASI describes a state of the native application after the application has performed the operations. Identifying the application state records based on the application states includes determining that the ASI included in each record describes one of the application states. The techniques also include selecting AAMs from the identified application state records and transmitting the AAMs to the user device. Additional techniques include generating result scores for application state records identified based on the search query using the application states.
US09946763B2	Evaluating passages in a question answering computer system According to an aspect, a processing system of a question answering computer system determines a first set of relations between one or more pairs of terms in a question. The processing system also determines a second set of relations between one or more pairs of terms in a candidate passage including a candidate answer to the question. The processing system matches the first set of relations to the second set of relations. A plurality of scores is determined by the processing system based on the matching. The processing system aggregates the scores to produce an answer score indicative of a level of support that the candidate answer correctly answers the question.
US09946762B2	Building a domain knowledge and term identity using crowd sourcing An approach is provided in which a QA system ingests traditional sources, which includes traditional terms, into a domain dictionary. Next, the QA system ingests crowd-based sources that include crowd-based terms and corresponding crowd-based metadata. In turn, the QA system calculates weightings pertaining to the traditional terms based upon the crowd-based metadata. When the QA system receives a question from a requestor that includes question terms, the QA system identifies an answer to the question based on the calculated weightings pertaining to the traditional terms that are relevant to the question terms.
US09946760B2	Visual importance indication enhancement for collaboration environments A system and method for visual importance indication enhancement for collaborative environments comprises a processor for establishing a set of attributes for a primary participant based on attributes obtained from data sources accessible by the primary participant, generating a dynamic rule in accordance with the set of attributes, applying the dynamic rule to an activity stream comprising one or more messages to obtain points of commonality between a participant and the primary participant and determining an importance level of at least one of the one or more messages, and visually indicating the points of commonality and the importance level of the at least one message as a display on a display device. The system can further comprise computer readable storage medium for storing data including the set of attributes.
US09946759B2	Visual importance indication enhancement for collaboration environments A system and method for visual importance indication enhancement for collaborative environments comprises a processor for establishing a set of attributes for a primary participant based on attributes obtained from data sources accessible by the primary participant, generating a dynamic rule in accordance with the set of attributes, applying the dynamic rule to an activity stream comprising one or more messages to obtain points of commonality between a participant and the primary participant and determining an importance level of at least one of the one or more messages, and visually indicating the points of commonality and the importance level of the at least one message as a display on a display device. The system can further comprise computer readable storage medium for storing data including the set of attributes.
US09946755B2	Automated hybrid constraint database manager Automated database manager aspects selectively apply different active constraints within a definition statement for a hybrid constraint name to a relational database management system table data field. One at a time the definition statement constraints are selected and tested, their logical set values to TRUE in response to the testing meeting their defined conditions and an OR statement output generated of the logical values of all of the hybrid constraint name definition statement constraints, wherein the logical values are linked by logical OR operators and the output is TRUE in response to the logical value of any one of the constraints having a logical value of TRUE. In response to the OR statement output set to TRUE, the data operation is performed on the target table name and affected column name without testing any other untested ones of the constraints within the definition statement.
US09946754B2	System and method for data validation Systems and methods for validating data in a communication network environment include receiving a data transformation specification from a user. The data transformation specification is analyzed to determine data transformation rules which are indicative of a relationship between corresponding fields of the source repository and the target repository. Test cases and test scripts are generated based on the data transformation rules and the test cases and the test scripts are executed on the source repository and the target repository to validate the relationship between the corresponding fields of the source repository and the target repository. Thereafter, a log file, indicative of the outcome of the execution of the test cases and the test scripts, is generated.
US09946752B2	Low-latency query processor Techniques for implementing a low-latency query processor accommodating an arbitrary number of data rows with no column indexing. In an aspect, data is stored across a plurality of component databases, with no requirement to strictly allocate data to partitions based on row keys. A histogram table is provided to map object relationships identified in a user query to the component databases where relevant data is stored. A server processing the user query communicates with component databases via an intermediary module. The intermediary module may include intermediary nodes dynamically assigned to connect to the component databases to retrieve and process the queried data.
US09946750B2	Estimating statistics for generating execution plans for database queries A database system identifies missing statistics that is not available for processing database queries and determines the missing statistics. The database system generates execution plans for database queries. The database system requests certain statistical information for generating a database query. If the database system determines that the requested statistical information is not available, the database system stores information describing the requested statistical information as missing statistics. The missing statistics may identify one or more columns associated with tables processed by the database query. The database system performs statistical analysis of database tables to generate the missing statistics so that the statistical information is available for generating execution plans for subsequent queries. The database system may rank the missing statistics based on the number of times the missing statistics was identified by the database system while processing database queries.
US09946749B2	Rewriting inequality queries Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for expressing inequality expressions as a bounded number of equality expressions. One of the methods includes receiving an original query having an inequality expression for an original attribute. A new query that replaces the inequality expression with a bounded number of equality expressions is generated, wherein each equality expression references a respective auxiliary attribute, each auxiliary attribute representing intervals of values for the original attribute. The new query having the bounded number of equality expressions is provided to a database system instead of the original query. Query results that satisfy the inequality expression for the original attribute are received from the database system.
US09946748B2	Efficient join-filters for parallel processing According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of transferring filters for operations in a distributed system comprises generating at each source node a first filter of a first size. The first filter indicates elements of objects that need not be processed for an operation. Each source node generates one more second filters of a second size less than the first size. Each generated second filter is based on a prior generated filter with each location representing a plurality of locations from the prior generated filter. A second filter is transferred from each source node to each of destination node. The elements of the objects to remove for the operation are determined based on the transferred second filters. Embodiments of the present invention further include a system and computer program product for transferring filters in a distributed system in substantially the same manners described above.
US09946739B2	Intelligent internet system with adaptive user interface providing one-step access to knowledge An Intelligent Internet system having the capacity to discover, acquire, organize, store, and make accessible knowledge about things of interest to users and to help users more efficiently interact with these things in a rich variety of ways. The Intelligent Internet system provides users with a personalized interface that dynamically adapts to each user's interests and context. This interface provides users with direct access to “knowledge” about things that humans or machines can uniquely sense, recognize, name, understand and interact with, whether real or imagined. Users can access the knowledge stored in the Intelligent Internet system to find, learn about and select products and services; communicate with family, friends, colleagues, classmates, customers and suppliers; learn about things they encounter in their environment, make decisions about them, consume and share content related to them and perform transactions.
US09946737B2	System and method for simplifying data access between tiers in a multi-tier system A system and method for simplifying data access between tiers in a multi-tier system is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method is provided for receiving a request for service from a browser at a generic data access object (GDAO) layer; generating, by use of a data processor, a single, shared, generic data transfer object (GDTO) at the GDAO layer; calling through to a database tier, the database tier providing database metadata; and using the database metadata to include result data in the GDTO and return the GDTO in response to the request.
US09946733B2	Visual localization method There is provided a visual localization method comprising: (a) transmitting data representative of one or more detected visual features from a mobile device to a server; (b) estimating the location of the mobile device at the server based on the visual features received from the mobile device; (c) transmitting reference data associated with the estimated location from the server to the mobile device; and (d) the mobile device determining its location based on the reference data received from the server.
US09946731B2	Methods and systems for analyzing parts of an electronic file Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.
US09946726B2	Method and system for execution of disconnection from and reconnection to persistent handles A method and a system for execution of disconnection from and reconnection to persistent handles are provided herein. The method may include the following steps: generating a file handle, responsive to a file connect request sent by a client to a distributed file system, wherein the handle has a handle identifier; associating a reconnect identifier with the handle identifier, wherein the reconnect identifier is indicative of a most recent connect attempt made using the respective handle identifier at a respective request; sending a disconnect request responsive to a disconnection, wherein the disconnect request is sent with a reconnect identifier indicative of a connection prior to the disconnection; updating the reconnect identifier, responsive to a reconnect request associated with said handle identifier; and approving the disconnect request only in a case that the reconnect identifier of the disconnect request is identical to the reconnect identifier of the reconnect request.
US09946724B1	Scalable post-process deduplication Implementations are provided herein for data deduplication, and more particularly, to post-process data deduplication on a large scale out storage system. Multiple techniques and implementations are disclosed that offer greater efficiency, higher performance, and more stability when performing post-process data deduplication at large scale. Disclosed implementations are based on a process for data deduplication involving four main phases: enumeration, commonality, sharing, and update. Multi-level hashing can be used to identify candidates for deduplication during the enumeration phase, providing a more efficient use of compute resources. In addition, datasets can be phase rotated through the post-process deduplication steps providing a more controllable deduplication environment as well as a more efficient use of resources.
US09946722B2	Generating file usage information Embodiments relate to tracking local and remote file usage, and aggregating the resulting file usage statistics for presentation to a user. The operating system of a computer can track and generate local file usage statistics, such as most recently used files and editing time. A Web application or service, such as an email or word processing application or service, can record the file usage data for a user's remote stored or served files. A file usage aggregator module, which can be located for resident in the operating system of the local computer or hosted at a Web site, can receive and combine the local and remote file usage statistics. The file usage aggregator module can generate a display of the aggregated file usage statistics, so that local and remote files are listed in a most-recently used order, on a combined basis.
US09946720B1	Searching data files using a key map Approaches for searching for key terms in a plurality of files include associating a respective key map with each file of the plurality of files in memory of a server. Each key map includes a plurality of bit values and each bit value indicates for a key term whether or not the key term is present in the associated file. The server inputs a search map, and the search map includes a plurality of bit values. Each bit value in the search map indicates for a key term whether or not the key term is a key term to search. The server determines for each key map, whether or not the key map satisfies the search map. Data indicating each file of the plurality of files having an associated key map that satisfies the search map is output by the server.
US09946719B2	Distributed data set encryption and decryption An apparatus includes a processor component of a first node device caused to receive data block encryption data and an indication of size of an encrypted data block distributed to the first node device for decryption, and in response to the data set being of encrypted data: receive an indication of the quantity of sub-blocks within the encrypted data block, and a hashed identifier for each data sub-block; use the data block encryption data to decrypt the encrypted data block to regenerate data set portions from the data sub-blocks; analyze the hashed identifier of each data sub-block to determine whether all data set portions are distributed to the first node device for processing; and in response to a determination that at least one data set portion is to be distributed to a second node device for processing, transmit the at least one data set portion to the second node device.
US09946715B1	Document processing system and method A system comprises a data storage system, data analysis logic, and user interface logic. The data analysis logic is configured to analyze the documents and to identify documents that satisfy search criteria received from a user. The user interface logic is configured to generate a user interface. The user interface logic is also configured to generate a plurality of charts for display to the user. The user can interact with the charts to specify modified search criteria. The user interface logic is configured to receive modified search criteria from the user via one of the charts and update the remaining charts to reflect the modified search criteria.
US09946705B2	Query processing using a dimension table implemented as decompression dictionaries According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system may execute database queries and may comprise a computer system including at least one processor. The system may select a column of a first table as a candidate column for creating a dictionary, create tokens for a foreign key in a second table that corresponds to a primary key in the first table, generate the dictionary for the selected column using the created tokens as indexes in the dictionary and modify a query accessing the column of the first table to retrieve column values based on the dictionary. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product executing database queries in substantially the same manner described above.
US09946704B2	Tone mark based text suggestions for chinese or japanese characters or words For suggesting input text based on tone mark information for Chinese or Japanese characters or words, an apparatus, system, method, and computer program product are disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor, a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor, an input text module that receives input text comprising at least one character, a tone mark module that identifies a tone mark associated with the input text, and a suggestion module that proposes at least one next character based on the identified tone mark. The input text module may receive a user selection of the at least one next character. The input text may include characters selected from the group consisting of: Chinese characters and Japanese characters.
US09946700B2	Systems and methods for providing for display a map that graphically represents the association among documents Systems and methods for providing for display a map that graphically represents the association among documents are disclosed. A method for providing for display a map that graphically represents the association between a first document and a second document that analyzes the first document includes receiving, at a computer, a request to generate the map. The method further includes retrieving, from a database, analysis information related to the way in which the second document analyzed the first document, in response to the received request. The method further includes providing for display the map. The map includes a first node, a second node, and a connector. The first node corresponds to the first document. The second node corresponds to the second document. The connector graphically links the first node and the second node. The second node includes a graphical representation of the analysis information.
US09946699B1	Location-based speech recognition for preparation of electronic tax return Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for location-based speech recognition for preparation of an electronic tax return.
US09946698B2	Inserting text and graphics using hand markup A method may include obtaining an image that includes a first graphics element and a second graphics element, determining that the first graphics element corresponds to a command and that the second graphics element is a non-command, and generating an electronic document by executing the command. The electronic document may include a revised version of the second graphics element, but not the first graphics element. The electronic document may be generated in response to the first graphics element corresponding to the command.
US09946697B2	Assisting users to generate desired meme in document A method, system and computer program product for assisting users to generate the desired meme in a document. A document is scanned to identify parts of speech, numerical text or numbers and images (collectively the “terms”) that provide positive/negative memes. A score for each of these terms is assigned. A score may then be assigned to each designated primary object (e.g., individual, company) discussed in the document using the scores assigned to the identified terms. Options may then be provided to modify the document to provide the type of meme (e.g., positive or negative meme) desired by the author to be associated with the particular designated primary object. Upon receiving a selection of one or more of these options, the document is modified accordingly to generate the desired meme in the document.
US09946691B2	Modifying a document with separately addressable content blocks Content curation can be facilitated by an application programming interface (API) for creating an address for a block of content in a document identified through a location identifier as well as APIs for retrieving content from the created address and pushing or merging the content back to the created address. Access services including conversion and merge services can be used to provide the content blocks in a suitable format for various clients. A document view is described in which a plurality of content blocks are presented as a single document even though the content blocks may be retrieved using at least two uniform resource locators (URLs).
US09946690B2	Paragraph alignment detection and region-based section reconstruction A paragraph alignment detection engine and a section reconstruction engine. The paragraph alignment detection engine determines the paragraph alignment of a paragraph and updates the paragraph alignment property of the paragraph in the data store for single line and multi-line paragraphs. The paragraph alignment detection engine employs per paragraph comparisons and relative comparisons to other paragraphs to determine the paragraph alignment of a single line paragraph. The paragraph alignment detection engine employs per paragraph comparisons and relative comparisons of the lines of a paragraph to determine the paragraph alignment of a multi-line paragraph. The section reconstruction engine minimizes the number of sections created in the flow format document by identifying the columns on each page, combining contiguous pages with the same column layout into a single section, and creating alternative objects to contain regions associated special cases in lieu of creating additional sections.
US09946689B2	Generating a moving display image having a native image plane and a web image plane appearing continuously on a same plane Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including: a native processing section adapted to perform processing based on a program stored therein so as to generate a native image as a processing result; a web processing section adapted to generate a web image based on data requested to a server; and a display image generation section adapted to generate a display image and output the display image to a display device, the display image including an element image making up at least part of the native image and an element image making up at least part of the web image, in which the native processing section and the web processing section move the element images in the same direction when the target to be operated by a user is switched between the native image and the web image to change the configuration of the display image.
US09946677B2	Managing single-wire communications Systems, methods, circuits and computer-readable mediums for managing single-wire communications. In one aspect, a method includes starting a transmission cycle by transmitting a clock pulse to a single-wire bus, sampling a data bit transmitted from a single-wire device through the single-wire bus within the transmission cycle after the transmission of the clock pulse, and determining whether a sampling period of the sampling is smaller than a sampling threshold for the data bit. In response to determining that the sampling period is not smaller than the sampling threshold, the method further includes determining that the transmitted data bit is an invalid data bit, and in response: transmitting a high logic voltage level pulse to the single-wire bus for timeout and restarting the transmission cycle for retransmission of the data bit.
US09946671B1	Methods and systems for processing read and write requests Methods and systems for processing an input/output (I/O) requests are provided. The method includes generating an I/O request by an initiator adapter of a computing device that interfaces with a target adapter; indicating by the initiator adapter that the I/O request is sequential in nature. When the I/O request is a sequential read request, the target adapter notifies a target controller to read-ahead data associated with other sequential read requests; and stores the read ahead data at a cache such that data for the other sequential read requests is provided from the cache instead of a storage device managed by the target controller. A sequential write request is processed without claiming any cache space, when data for the write request is not to be accessed within a certain duration.
US09946668B1	Automatic prioritization of interrupts in a modeling environment In one embodiment, a method of implementing interrupt prioritization and preemption in a modeling environment is provided. The method may include obtaining a model including interrupt-generating components in the modeling environment, obtaining information describing interrupts in the model, and using the information describing the interrupts in the model to automatically generate code for prioritizing the interrupts in the modeling environment.
US09946667B2	Microcontroller with configurable logic array A microcontroller may have a central processing unit (CPU); a programmable logic device receiving input signals and having input/outputs coupled with external pins, and an interrupt control unit receiving at least one of the internal input signals or being coupled with at least one of the input/outputs and generating an interrupt signal fed to the CPU.
US09946664B2	Socket interposer having a multi-modal I/O interface Exemplary embodiments include a socket interposer having a plurality of connectors configured to attach to a server board, the server board including: a first processor socket having a processor form factor, and a first memory associated with the first processor socket, a processor inserted into the at least first processor socket, the processor having access to the first memory, and a second processor socket having the processor form factor, and a second memory associated with the second processor socket, wherein the plurality of connectors are configured to fit the processor form factor; and a multi-modal I/O interface having a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode provides processor-to-processor communication, and the second mode provides the first processor with accessibility to the second memory associated with the second processor socket.
US09946662B2	Double-mix Feistel network for key generation or encryption A method of providing security in a computer system includes dividing a block of data into initial left and right halves, and calculating updated left and right halves for each of a plurality of rounds. Calculating the updated left half includes applying a first function to an input left half to produce a first result, and mixing the first result with an input right half. Calculating the updated right half includes applying a second function to the input left half to produce a second result, and mixing the second result with a round key. The input left and right halves are the initial left and right halves for the first round, and thereafter the updated left and right halves for an immediately preceding round. And method may include producing a block of ciphertext with a key composed of the updated left and right halves for the last round.
US09946658B2	Memory interface design having controllable internal and external interfaces for bypassing defective memory An improved memory interface design is provided. In some implementations, an integrated circuit includes a first cache memory unit, a second cache memory unit located in parallel with the first cache memory unit, and a floorsweeping module configured to be able to select between the first cache memory unit and the second cache memory unit for cache requests, wherein the selection is based at least partially on the presence or absence of one or more manufacturing defects in the first cache memory unit or the second cache memory unit.
US09946655B2	Storage system and storage control method In a storage system, first and second controllers have respective first and second buffer and cache areas. The first controller stores write data in accordance with a write request in the first cache area without involving the first buffer area and to transfer the stored write data to the second cache area without involving the second buffer area. The first controller is configured to determine which of the first and second cache areas is to be used as a copy source and to be used as a copy destination depending on whether the storing of the first write data in the first cache area had been successful or on whether the transfer of the write data from the first cache area to the second controller had been successful, and by copying data from the copy source to the copy destination, recovers data in an area related to a transfer failure.
US09946654B2	High-bandwidth prefetcher for high-bandwidth memory A method for prefetching data into a cache is provided. The method allocates an outstanding request buffer (“ORB”). The method stores in an address field of the ORB an address and a number of blocks. The method issues prefetch requests for a degree number of blocks starting at the address. When a prefetch response is received for all the prefetch requests, the method adjusts the address of the next block to prefetch and adjusts the number of blocks remaining to be retrieved and then issues prefetch requests for a degree number of blocks starting at the adjusted address. The prefetching pauses when a maximum distance between the reads of the prefetched blocks and the last prefetched block is reached. When a read request for a prefetched block is received, the method resumes prefetching when a resume criterion is satisfied.
US09946648B1	Cache coherency protocol-based prefetching methods and systems A method includes linking together a set of cache lines, tracking historical changes to the cache coherency protocol states of the set of cache lines, and prefetching to a cache the set of cache lines based at least on the historical changes to the set of cache lines. A cache circuit includes one or more random access memories (RAMs) to store cache lines and cache coherency protocol states of the cache lines and a prefetch logic unit to link together a set of cache lines, to track historical changes to cache coherency protocol states of the set of cache lines, and to prefetch to the cache circuit the set of cache lines based at least on the historical changes to the set of cache lines.
US09946647B2	Directory coherence for multicore processors A cache coherence mechanism may comprise a bit-to-cache map for processor cores operable up to a maximum frequency for cores of a multicore processor. Entries in a cache coherence directory may include a bit field identifying cores operable at or near the maximum frequency that share a memory block corresponding to the entry. An additional field may indicate sharing by cores operating at lower frequencies. The additional field may be indicative of the bit-field corresponding to a bit-to-cache map representative of cores other than those operating at or near the maximum frequency.
US09946646B2	Systems and method for delayed cache utilization A system for managing cache utilization includes a processor core, a lower-level cache, and a higher-level cache. In response to activating the higher-level cache, the system counts lower-level cache victims evicted from the lower-level cache. While a count of the lower-level cache victims is not greater than a threshold number, the system transfers each lower-level cache victim to a system memory without storing the lower-level cache victim to the higher-level cache. When the count of the lower-level cache victims is greater than the threshold number, the system writes each lower-level cache victim to the higher-level cache. In this manner, if the higher-level cache is deactivated before the threshold number of lower-level cache victims is reached, the higher-level cache is empty and thus may be deactivated without flushing.
US09946635B2	Synchronizing multi-system program instruction sequences A method comprises receiving a list of steps with a step associated with a first work unit and a step associated with a second work unit, the first work unit is operative to process the list of steps by determining whether a first step in the list of steps is associated with the first work unit, determining whether a step sequentially listed prior to the first step has been completed responsive to determining that the first step in the list of steps is associated with the first work unit, processing the first step and designating the first step complete responsive to determining that the step sequentially listed immediately prior to the first step has been completed, determining whether a second step in the list of steps is associated with the first work unit.
US09946632B1	Self-service customer escalation infrastructure model A service request from a customer is received at a first computer system. The service request concerns an issue with an application that is installed in a second computer system of the customer. The service request includes a set of fields, and corresponding values inputted by the customer. The service request is parsed to identify the application, the operating system (OS) of the second computer system, and a configuration setting. Code modules automatically create and configure the testing environment so that the environment includes the application, the operating system, and configuration specified in the service request. A test case is then executed in the testing environment, and a notification is generated that includes a result of the executed test case.
US09946631B1	Debug management in a distributed batch data processing environment Disclosed aspects relate to debug management in a distributed batch data processing environment which uses a shared pool of configurable computing resources. A debug configuration to fire a breakpoint based on an achievement of a debug criterion may be initiated in the distributed batch data processing environment. A data block may be detected in the distributed batch data processing environment. The data block may be analyzed with respect to the debug criterion by a debug management engine. Achievement of the debug criterion by the data block may be determined by the debug management engine. In response to determining the achievement of the debug criterion by the data block, the breakpoint may be fired based on the achievement of the debug criterion.
US09946621B2	Prevention of event flooding Techniques for preventing event flooding in an event processing system, comprising: responsive to receiving, by an analysis component, monitored activity data, an analysis component for analyzing the monitored activity data, to determine a potential event; responsive to determining a potential event, an analysis component identifying a set of threshold values and determining whether the potential event has met a threshold value of the set of threshold values; responsive to a positive determination, an analysis component for determining if the met threshold value is an identical threshold value met by a previous potential event; and responsive to a second positive determination, a disregard component for disregarding the potential event.
US09946617B2	Optimized recovery in data replication environments A method for optimizing recovery in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes directing I/O from a primary site to a secondary site in response to a failure at the primary site. After the primary site has recovered from the failure, the method initiates a recovery process wherein updated data elements at the secondary site are copied to the primary site. The method determines a recorded average I/O latency for a host system driving I/O to the secondary site, and calculates an expected average I/O latency for the host system driving I/O to the primary site. The method redirects I/O from the secondary site to the primary site when a difference between the expected average I/O latency and the recorded average I/O latency reaches a threshold value. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09946616B2	Storage apparatus A storage apparatus includes: a plurality of flash memory devices each including: a plurality of flash memory chips each including a plurality of physical blocks being data erasure units; and a flash controller configured to provide logical storage areas by associating at least one of the plurality of physical blocks with the logical storage areas; and a RAID controller configured to: manage a plurality of virtual drives each including a part of the logical storage areas provided by each of the plurality of flash memory devices; and control the plurality of virtual drives as a RAID group.
US09946612B2	Data encoding using spare channels Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, an encoding system includes a codec device, a switching network, a rerouting circuit, a logic integrated circuit, and memory devices. The codec device includes a plurality of input and output (I/O) ports to transport data signals. The switching network is coupled both to the plurality of I/O ports and to a plurality of channels external to the device. The plurality of I/O ports includes at least one spare channel. The rerouting circuitry is coupled to and configured to control the switching network and the logic integrated circuit has logic circuity including command and decode queueing circuitry, redundancy circuits, and error correction circuitry. The memory devices do include any circuitry included in the logic circuitry. Other systems and apparatuses are also described.
US09946609B2	Managing multi-level backups into the cloud A backup tool can manage multi-level backup into a cloud and restoration from the cloud. The backup tool can request a data source to stream backup data to the backup tool, and the backup tool can then generate data objects from the data stream for storing into the cloud. The backup tool generates the data objects in accordance with serialization of the data stream. The order of the data objects resulting from the data stream serialization is encoded into the names of the data objects. In addition, the backup tool encodes the backup level into the object names. With sequencing and backup level encoded into the data object names, the data objects can be stored in the cloud for later restoration.
US09946605B2	Systems and methods for taking snapshots in a deduplicated virtual file system A computer-implemented method for taking snapshots in a deduplicated virtual file system may include (1) maintaining a deduplicated virtual file system that stores, at an original location within a non-virtual file system, at least one configuration file storing metadata for a target file and an extent map for the target file, the extent map defining how to construct the target file from deduplicated data segments in a deduplicated storage system, (2) receiving a request to take a snapshot of the target file corresponding to the configuration file, (3) copying the configuration file storing metadata for the target file and the extent map for the target file into a snapshot location within the non-virtual file system, and (4) transmitting a file reference request to the deduplicated storage system to add a file reference within the deduplicated storage system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09946600B2	Method of detecting power reset of a server, a baseboard management controller, and a server A method of detecting power reset of a server includes: after receiving an event signal, determining whether or not to initialize a random access memory (RAM) of a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the server based on the event signal thus received, and initializing the RAM when it is determined to initialize the same; determining whether a protocol error event has occurred according to a flag value of a power reset flag stored in the RAM; determining whether malfunction of a processor unit of the BMC has occurred when it is determined that the protocol error event has not occurred; and determining that a power reset event has occurred when it is determined that malfunction of the processor unit has not occurred.
US09946593B2	Recovery strategy for a stream processing system The technology disclosed relates to discovering multiple previously unknown and undetected technical problems in fault tolerance and data recovery mechanisms of modern stream processing systems. In addition, it relates to providing technical solutions to these previously unknown and undetected problems. In particular, the technology disclosed relates to discovering the problem of modification of batch size of a given batch during its replay after a processing failure. This problem results in over-count when the input during replay is not a superset of the input fed at the original play. Further, the technology disclosed discovers the problem of inaccurate counter updates in replay schemes of modern stream processing systems when one or more keys disappear between a batch's first play and its replay. This problem is exacerbated when data in batches is merged or mapped with data from an external data store.
US09946590B2	Transmission of command strings and status strings via memory bus Example implementations relate to facilitating communication between a memory module and a central processor. In example implementations, a memory module may receive, via a memory bus, a plurality of command strings. The received plurality of command strings may be stored at a reserved set of addresses on the memory module.
US09946589B2	Structure for reducing power consumption for memory device A method in a computer-aided design system for generating a functional design model of a processor, is described herein. The method comprises detecting memory address information corresponding to accessed data in a first instruction, and detecting memory address information corresponding to accessed data in a second instruction. The method further comprises comparing the memory address information corresponding to the first instruction and the memory address information corresponding to the second instruction, and detecting, based on the comparison, that the accessed data in the first instruction and the accessed data in the second instruction are in a same data range of the memory device. In addition the method comprise executing the second instruction using the accessed data from the first instruction and detecting an error from the execution of the second instruction.
US09946588B2	Structure for reducing power consumption for memory device Techniques for generating a design structure for cache power reduction are described herein. In one example, a system includes logic to detect memory address information corresponding to accessed data in a first instruction, and detect memory address information corresponding to accessed data in a second instruction. The logic can also compare the memory address information corresponding to the first instruction and the memory address information corresponding to the second instruction, and detect, based on the comparison, that the accessed data in the first instruction and the accessed data in the second instruction are in a same data range of the memory device. The logic can also execute the second instruction using the accessed data from the first instruction.
US09946584B2	Systems and methods for extracting application relevant data from messages Systems and methods are provided for extracting application relevant data from messages. In one embodiment, a system can comprise a message parser that parses messages and builds a message tree having one or more objects, one or more data type templates that define a given data type based on one or more data elements and a comparison engine that matches data elements in the one or more objects with data elements in the one or more data type templates. The comparison engine groups data elements in the one or more objects that matches data elements in the one or more data templates as a specific data type corresponding to the associated data type template that is matched.
US09946581B2	Exposing server functions to browser code The exposing of a server function to a browser. From the browser's perspective, the browser submits a request for a web page to a web server, the web page being one of multiple web pages in a web application offered by the web server. The web server responds to the request by, for at least one of the server functions, formulating a corresponding script language function that defines a matching name and parameter set of the server side function. The script language function has a body that, when executed, serializes at least the name and parameter set of the server side function. The web server then provides the web page code and the corresponding script language function to the browser. The browser may then calls the server side function via the script language function.
US09946580B2	Multi-core processor system for information processing This multi-core processor system for processing information, of the kind including a data exchange engine (2) associated with multiple users (3) of shared resources (4), is characterized in that it includes means for controlling data exchanges in the processor, associated with each user (3), with the exchange engine (2) and with the shared resources (4) and defining at the processor, a data exchange law determined according to a defined space-time mapping, a giving the possibility of obtaining predictable operating performances of this processor.
US09946576B2	Distributed workflow execution A workflow is designated for execution across a plurality of autonomous computational entities automatically. Among other things, the cost of computation is balanced with the cost of communication among computational entities to reduce total execution time of a workflow. In other words, a balance is struck between grouping tasks for execution on a single computational entity and segmenting tasks for execution across multiple computational entities.
US09946575B2	Method of execution of tasks in a critical real-time system Method for executing a task composed of a set of sequential and alternative processes. The method includes the steps of: a) assigning to each process a hardware resource need and time constraint; b) allocating to each process a time-slot having a duration corresponding to the time constraint of the process; c) identifying a branch point at which is decided the execution of one or other of two alternative processes; d) allocating to the two alternative processes a common time-slot; e) assigning to the common time-slot a resource need equal to the larger of the resource needs of the two alternative processes; f) iterating from step c) for each branch point; g) organizing the resulting time-slots in an execution template associated with the task; and h) configuring real-time multitasking system to constrain the execution of the task according to the resource needs assigned to the time slots of the execution template.
US09946570B2	Technology for dynamic resource pool master For managing a pool of virtual computer systems, master status and a rebasing task are assigned to at least one virtual computer system of the pool. A non-reserved status is assigned to virtual computer systems of the pool that are not assigned tasks. A virtual computer system of the pool is selected to respond to a rebasing request. The selecting includes selecting one of the at least one virtual computer system that currently has a master status and that currently has a processing load less than a predetermined threshold and, when no virtual computer system of the pool currently has a master status and a processing load less than the predetermined threshold, selecting a non-reserved one of the virtual computer systems to perform rebasing for the request and changing the non-reserved status of the selected, non-reserved one of the virtual computer systems to master status.
US09946564B2	Adjusting virtual machine migration plans based on alert conditions related to future migrations Migration of virtual machines within a computing environment is facilitated. A processor obtains a current virtual machine to host mapping in the computing environment, as well as a plurality of future virtual machine to host mappings. A current migration plan to migrate from a current state of the computing environment to another state of the computing environment is also obtained. Based on the current virtual machine to host mapping and one or more future virtual machine to host mappings of the plurality of future virtual machine to host mappings a determination is made that one or more potential alert conditions exist in the current migration plan. The current migration plan and/or one or more future virtual machine to host mappings are displayed. The current migration plan is adjusted to address at least one potential alert condition of the one or more potential alert conditions to improve processing within the computing environment.
US09946563B2	Batch scheduler management of virtual machines A batch scheduler receives a task. Further, a processor, at the batch scheduler, generates a virtual machine corresponding to the task. In addition, the virtual machine is deployed from the batch scheduler to a compute node. The task is also dispatched from the batch scheduler to the virtual machine at the compute node.
US09946561B2	Least privileged operating system A method including mapping a first portion of a virtual memory containing code of an operating system for access by a processor; receiving a call for an entry point of the operating system; and mapping, after receiving the call, a second portion of the virtual memory containing data for executing entry point code associated with the entry point for access by the processor. The processor executing the operating system code is permitted to access only data from the first and second portions of the virtual memory.
US09946558B2	Apparatus, method and system for activating an operating system based on a unified command There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a multi-platform capable of managing a plurality of applications, and an operating system which operates on the multi-platform, and is capable of being activated by a command of the multi-platform.
US09946557B2	Computing device with script execution application A computing device includes at least one processor to execute a web browser application and a separate and distinct script execution application. The web browser application submits a script execution request to the script execution application, and the script execution application executes a first script task based on the script execution request.
US09946556B2	Multilingual information guidance system and device Multilingual information guidance system and device are provided. To elaborate, the system may include: at least one information output device configured to display guidance information to a user; and an information provision server connected to the information output device and configured to provide guidance information prepared in one or more languages to the information output device according to a request of the information output device. The information output device may output guidance information prepared in the native language corresponding to nationality information of a user, which is read from an RFID tag in which the nationality information of the user is stored or transmitted from the information provision server.
US09946554B2	System, method, and apparatus for configuring a streamed operating system with associated peripheral information A computer-implemented method for configuring an operating system to associate a peripheral is described. The method includes loading the operating system on a client computer based on an operating system image, determining an identifier of the client computer, retrieving peripheral information to identify a peripheral associated with the client computer, and writing a configuration setting of the client computer to a storage medium of the client computer based on the peripheral information. The identifier identifies the client computer. The peripheral information is associated with the client computer based on an association between the peripheral information and the identifier.
US09946553B2	BMC firmware recovery In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a management device. The management device initiates a first booting process of a program from a first image stored at a primary storage device of the management device. The management device re-initiates the first booting process from the first image when the first booting process is not successful and a number of re-initiation is less than a predetermined number. The management device locates a second image of the program from a secondary storage device when the first booting process is not successful and the number of re-initiation is greater than or equal to the predetermined number. The management device initiates a second booting process of the program from the second image subsequent to the locating the second image.
US09946549B2	Register renaming in block-based instruction set architecture An apparatus for mapping an architectural register to a physical register can include a memory and control circuitry. The memory can be configured to store an intra-core register rename map and an inter-core register rename map. The intra-core register rename map can be configured to map the architectural register to the physical register of a core of a multi-core processor. The inter-core register rename map can be configured to relate the architectural register to an identification of the first core in response to determining that the physical register is a location of a most recent write to the architectural register that has been executed by the first core, is executing on the first core, or is expected to execute on the first core, the most recent write according to program order. The control circuitry can be configured to maintain the intra-core register rename map and the inter-core register rename map.
US09946545B2	Buffer store with a main store and and auxiliary store A loop buffer is provided with a main store 26 and an auxiliary store 28. The main store 26 stores micro-operation instructions. The auxiliary store 28 has fewer entries than the main store 26 and stores target addresses for predicted taken branch instructions stored within the main store 26. Read control circuitry serves to control reading from the main store and from an auxiliary store such that target addresses are read from the auxiliary store in association with the predicted taken branch instructions read from the main store.
US09946542B2	Instruction to load data up to a specified memory boundary indicated by the instruction A Load to Block Boundary instruction is provided that loads a variable number of bytes of data into a register while ensuring that a specified memory boundary is not crossed. The boundary may be specified a number of ways, including, but not limited to, a variable value in the instruction text, a fixed instruction text value encoded in the opcode, or a register based boundary.
US09946541B2	Systems, apparatuses, and method for strided access Systems, methods, and apparatuses for strided access are described. In some embodiments, a plurality of registers are loaded with data from an array of structures. Then data elements that that are not needed in a permute operation are overwritten with index values with a write mask. The register now contains a mix of data and index values. When this same write mask is passed to the permute instruction which overwrites the index register as destination, the data values are preserved and index values are overwritten with data coming from the other two source registers as controlled by the index values.
US09946539B1	Accessing data in multi-dimensional tensors using adders Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an apparatus for accessing a N-dimensional tensor, the apparatus including, for each dimension of the N-dimensional tensor, a partial address offset value element that stores a partial address offset value for the dimension based at least on an initial value for the dimension, a step value for the dimension, and a number of iterations of a loop for the dimension. The apparatus includes a hardware adder and a processor. The processor obtains an instruction to access a particular element of the N-dimensional tensor. The N-dimensional tensor has multiple elements arranged across each of the N dimensions, where N is an integer that is equal to or greater than one. The processor determines, using the partial address offset value elements and the hardware adder, an address of the particular element and outputs data indicating the determined address for accessing the particular element of the N-dimensional tensor.
US09946535B2	Application building blocks for on demand and on premise usage The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for enhancing visual applications. A computer-implemented method includes: identifying a map-based application for enhancement, identifying a configuration file defining one or more application parts for enhancing the map-based application, the one or more application parts associated with a second application, and incorporating the one or more application parts from the identified configuration file into the map-based application. In some instances, incorporating the one or more application parts into the map-based application includes identifying a symbol associated with each of the one or more application parts, accessing data from the second application associated with each of the one or more application parts, and inserting an instance of the symbol for each application part based on the accessed data from the second application.
US09946529B2	Function-based dynamic application extension framework A method of developing a first application includes accessing a graphical user interface of a developer exchange system. The method includes, using the graphical user interface of the developer exchange system, selecting a first function from a plurality of functions in a function ontology. The method includes receiving, from the developer exchange system, processor-executable instructions for integration into the first application. The processor-executable instructions include (i) sending a function module request to the developer exchange system, (ii) receiving a function module provided by the developer exchange system, (iii) executing the provided function module, and (iv) presenting display data from the provided function module within the first application. The function module request identifies the first function. The method includes integrating the processor-executable instructions into the first application, including designating an area in which to display the display data to a user of the first application.
US09946523B2	Multiple pass compiler instrumentation infrastructure A code region of an application is instrumented by a multi-pass profiler with first annotations for generating profile data. The application is executed with the first annotations, wherein executing the application with the first annotations generates first profile data for the code region. The multi-pass profiler identifies, from the first profile data, the code region as a delinquent code region. The multi-pass profiler determines second annotations based, at least in part, on the first profile data and the at least one of the first annotations that defines the delinquent code region. The multi-pass profiler instruments, based on the first profile data, a code sub-region of the delinquent code region with the second annotations for generating profile data. The application is executed with second annotations, wherein executing the application with the second annotations generates second profile data for the code sub-region.
US09946521B2	Programmable code fingerprint A method, computer program product, and system performing a method that includes a processor compiling a description including information to be utilized by programmable logic to recognize a code fingerprint in a program executing in the runtime environment. The method also includes the processor configuring the programmable logic, by loading the description into the programmable logic at a predefined time and obtaining, during runtime of the program, an alert that the programmable logic recognized the code fingerprint in the program.
US09946516B2	Application workflow framework The present disclosure relates to utilizing an application workflow framework to manage workflow on an application executing on a computing device. An illustrative workflow routine can include multiple tasks than need to be completed in order to complete the workflow routine. Accordingly, a workflow framework has a workflow definition that that matches the specific workflow routine. Each of the specific tasks defined in the workflow routine can be represented by a number of interface elements within the application. At least some of the interface elements can have a number of states of execution defined by the workflow definition and having different content and display attributes. In one embodiment, the states of execution can include a pre-active state, an active state, and a post-active state.
US09946515B2	Methods and apparatus for designing device-to-device configurations suitable to be used in a power system Graphical tool and method for designing device-to-device configurations used in power systems. The tool comprises software program instructions configured to allow a user to graphically associate on a monitor an intelligent electronic device (IED) selected from an available list to a corresponding switching device of the power system. For a first IED associated to corresponding switching device, the user graphically configures on the monitor a related logic by selecting one or more logical inputs/outputs and one or more target IEDs from/to which said logical inputs/outputs are to be received/sent, respectively.
US09946514B1	Systems and methods for generating functional application designs A method and apparatus for generating functional application designs is described. The method may include receiving one or more natural language utterances corresponding to natural language design commands for editing an application being designed. The method may also include editing one or more components of the application being designed based on each of the natural language utterances. Furthermore, the method may include generating a functional instance of the application being designed.
US09946512B2	Adaptive radix external in-place radix sort Systems and methods for sorting a data set stored on an external device. A plurality of smaller radix sizes are determined, based on a first radix size and performance characteristics of an external data storage device, whose sizes add up to a first radix size for an in-place radix sort. The smaller radix sizes reduce a total time to perform the in-place radix sort. Each level of a multiple level in-place radix sort is performed with the smaller radix sizes. Each level of the sort includes dividing the data set into N buckets; dividing the buffer into N buckets; and iteratively loading a respective segment in each bucket of the data set into a respective bucket of the buffer, performing an in-place radix sort on the data in the buffer, and returning sorted buffer data to the data set on the external storage device.
US09946509B2	Apparatus and method for processing audio signal An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an audio signal processing device configured to transmit/receive an audio signal to/from an external acoustic output device that includes a microphone and an acoustic output means, including a transmission/reception module configured to transmit/receive a signal to/from the external acoustic output device, and a processor configured to control an operation of the transmission/reception module, wherein the processor transmits an audio output signal to the external acoustic output device through the transmission/reception module, receives, through the transmission/reception module, an input signal to which an external acoustic collected through the microphone is converted while the acoustic output means outputs an acoustic based on the audio output signal, and compares the audio output signal with the input signal to determine whether a user wears the acoustic output means of the external acoustic output device.
US09946505B2	Beveled handheld communication device edge A handheld computing device can include a substantially rectangular first screen having a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the first screen and a substantially rectangular second screen rotatably connected to the first screen so that the device is foldable between an open position and a closed position, the second screen having a front surface, a rear surface, and a beveled edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the second screen. When the device is in the closed position, the first and second screens are positioned back-to-back and the beveled edges of the first and second screens angle inwardly toward the other respective screen to provide an angled surface configured to facilitate opening the device.
US09946501B2	Print controller, print control method and non-transitory computer readable recording medium for executing a test print Provided is a print controller including a receiving unit that receives a print job in a job ticket format from a print work flow system, a test print instruction unit that instructs a printing device to execute a test print using a portion of print data included in the print job when an effect that the test print according to the print job is to be executed is included in the print job, as a result of interpretation of the print job, an option change unit that changes a job option included in the print job, and a notification unit that notifies the print work flow system of test print-related information when the test print instructed to be executed by the test print instruction unit is ended.
US09946500B2	Method for two-sided printing of digital images from a roll in a roll-to-roll printing system A method for two-sided printing of digital images on a roll of media by means of a roll-to-roll system is provided. The roll-to-roll system includes a digital image queue including entries for digital images to be printed on the roll. For each digital image to be printed on a first side of the roll, a first entry is registered in the digital image queue, which entry includes at least one digital item identifying the digital image and digital items of print properties of the digital image. For each digital image to be printed on a second side of the roll, a second entry is registered in the digital image queue, which entry includes at least one digital item identifying the digital image and digital items of print properties of the digital image. For each first digital image to be printed on the first side of the roll, a first location on the first side of the roll is established at which first location the first digital image is intended to be printed, a second digital image is established which is intended to be printed at a second location on the second side of the roll, the second location being the backside of the first location. The first entry of the first digital image in the digital image queue is then linked to the second entry of the second digital image in the digital image queue by means of a linking digital item in the digital image queue. The first digital images are printed on the first side of the roll according to the digital image queue, the one-sided printed roll is received in the input holder, and the second digital images are printed on the second side of the roll according to the corresponding linking digital items in the digital image queue.
US09946499B1	Information processing apparatus, function usage amount management system, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium An information processing apparatus includes a transmitter and an update unit. The transmitter refers to a memory in response to an availability determination request with designation of a requested usage amount of a function. The memory stores a usable amount for each of second periods which are set by dividing a first period into plural periods. An upper limit value of a usage amount of the function which it is not allowed to exceed being set to the first period. The usable amount for each of the second periods is set as an initial value by allocating the upper limit value to the second periods. The transmitter transmits executability information to a request source of the availability determination request when the function in the requested usage amount is executable. The update unit updates the usable amounts stored in the memory based on the requested usage amount.
US09946491B2	Memory erase method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus, including an erase index table and mother-child physical erasing units A memory erase method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The method includes: identifying a to-be-erased logical address range and a logical unit that the erased logical address range belongs to according to an erase command; determining whether the logical unit is mapped to any physical erasing unit; and if no, transmitting a message indicating that the erase command is finished in response to the erase command without performing a physical erasing operation. The method further includes: if a mother physical erasing unit for the logical unit is assigned and no physical erasing unit is assigned as a child physical erasing unit for the logical unit, creating an erase index table for the first logical unit and marking bits corresponding to the to-be-erased logical address range in the erase index table as a value indicating that a logical address is erased.
US09946490B2	Bit-level indirection defragmentation In general, techniques are described for logical defragmenting of a storage device. A controller of a storage device groups sequential logical block addresses of a logical span into a plurality of groups. Each group includes a same number of logical block addresses, and each logical block address references a physical location of a physical block on the storage device. For each group, the controller determines whether at least one logical block address references a physical location of a physical block that includes valid data. Responsive to the at least one logical block address referencing valid data, the controller stores a first value to a field of a bit-level indirection table. The bit-level indirection table includes a number of fields equal to a number of groups of sequential logical block addresses. Responsive none of the logical block addresses referencing valid data, the controller stores a second value to the field.
US09946489B2	Multi-stream journaled replay A method of indirection replay for a flash storage system includes writing data, in a host stream, to blocksets of the flash storage system. The host blocksets are assigned a major sequence number incremented from the most recently closed host blockset. The method includes writing an indirection journal to each host blockset which are associated with the assigned major sequence number. The method includes writing data, in a garbage collection (GC) stream, to other blocksets of the flash storage system. The GC blocksets are assigned a major sequence number, based on the most recently closed host blockset, and a minor sequence number, incremented from the most recently closed GC blockset. The method includes writing an indirection journal to each GC blockset which are associated with the assigned major and minor sequence numbers. The indirection table is constructed by replaying the journals of the blocksets in order of major sequence and minor sequence numbers.
US09946485B1	Efficient data marker representation A changed block bitmap of a volume of storage is represented by a data marker that includes an offset to a first dirty block and an offset to a last dirty block. The blocks between the first and last dirty blocks are represented by contiguous clean block identifiers, contiguous dirty block identifiers, and contiguous mixed clean and dirty block identifiers. The contiguous clean block identifiers and contiguous dirty block identifiers use one or two bits to indicate identifier type. The remaining bits indicate a numerical count of contiguous clean or dirty blocks. The contiguous mixed clean and dirty block identifiers may use one bit per block to indicate change status. The data marker may be smaller than a corresponding changed block bitmap.
US09946484B2	Dynamic routing of input/output requests in array systems A method includes: communicating input output (I/O) operations between a first storage controller and a storage drive, wherein the storage drive includes a first port and a second port, further wherein the first controller accesses the second port of the storage drive via a second storage controller; measuring bandwidth utilization on a first channel of a plurality of channels between the first storage controller and the storage drive; and in response to measuring the bandwidth utilization, changing a routing scheme for the I/O operations with respect to either the first port or the second port or both.
US09946477B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program product According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a non-volatile memory manager. The non-volatile memory manager is configured to save, in a non-volatile memory section, information of a plurality of storage sections to be read after rebooting. The non-volatile memory section is configured to keep storing information even if power is off.
US09946475B2	Joint rewriting and error correction in write-once memories Both rewriting and error correction are technologies usable for non-volatile memories, such as flash memories. A coding scheme is disclosed herein that combines rewriting and error correction for the write-once memory model. In some embodiments, code construction is based on polar codes, and supports any number of rewrites and corrects a substantial number of errors. The code may be analyzed for a binary symmetric channel. The results can be extended to multi-level cells and more general noise models.
US09946466B2	Mobile electronic device including embedded memory An electronic device may include first and second semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor chip may include a processor and a first memory. The second semiconductor chip may include a second memory. The first memory and second memory may be configured to exchange first data and second data with the processor, respectively. The processor may be configured to exchange target data processed or to be processed with the first and second memories. The processor may be configured to determine the target data as the first data if the number of accesses of the target data is equal to or greater than a first reference value. The processor may be configured to determine the target data as the second data if the number of accesses of the target data is less than the first reference value.
US09946463B2	Compression of indirection tables In general, techniques are described for compressing an indirection table. A device comprising a processor and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may be configured to form a plurality of physical containers, each of the plurality of physical containers representative of a plurality of physical block addresses, wherein each of the plurality of physical containers corresponds to one or more logical block address. The memory may be configured to store an indirection table that maps the logical block addresses to the plurality of physical containers. The processor may be further configured to perform run-length encoding of the plurality of physical containers to compress the indirection table.
US09946461B2	In-flash immutable object processing A storage infrastructure, device and associated method for processing immutable data objects using in-flash processing. An in-flash processing system is provided that includes: an input/output manager that receives parameters from a host to perform back-end data processing tasks on immutable objects and that outputs commands to read and write immutable data objects to and from super-pages in a set of flash memory storage devices; a priority manager that ensures that front-end data processing tasks takes priority over back-end data processing tasks; and a back-end processing system that processes at least one immutable object in order to generate at least one new immutable object.
US09946460B2	Storage subsystem and storage system architecture performing storage virtualization and method thereof A method for generating a virtual volume (VV) in a storage system architecture. The architecture comprises a host and one or more disk array subsystems. Each subsystem comprises a storage controller. One or more of the subsystems comprises a physical storage device (PSD) array. The method comprises the following steps: mapping the PSD array into a plurality of media extents (MEs), each of the MEs comprises a plurality of sections; providing a virtual pool (VP) to implement a section cross-referencing function, wherein a section index (SI) of each of the sections contained in the VP is defined by the VP to cross-reference VP sections to physical ME locations; providing a conversion method or procedure or function for mapping VP capacity into to a VV; and presenting the VV to the host. A storage subsystem and a storage system architecture performing the method are also provided.
US09946457B2	Wearable electronic device with interface A wearable electronic device is disclosed. The wearable electronic device comprises a ring body and a substrate. The ring body has an outer cover and an interface disposed on an exterior of the outer cover, with the ring body defining an annular receiving space within the ring body. The substrate is disposed in the annular receiving space and has a plurality of capacitive plates.
US09946453B2	Display device and program A display device calculates an operation amount of a user's input operation based on a detected indicated position. Display device displays component images on display surface based on the operation amount calculated. If display device determines that the indicated position is no longer detected, display device determines whether the calculated operation amount is smaller than or equal to a threshold. If it is determined that the calculated operation amount exceeds the threshold, display device executes an acquiring operation of a newly arrived email.
US09946452B1	Movable information panels Various techniques, methods and apparatus are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a movable information panel may be moved to be displayed as a tabbed web page, moved to a different application window, or docked to a horizontal or vertical panel bar. Other example embodiments are also disclosed.
US09946451B2	Terminal and method of operating the same Provided are a terminal and a method of operating the same. The terminal includes a display unit displaying a plurality of icons that respectively represent the plurality of objects and detecting a user input; and a control unit displaying the plurality of icons on the display unit according to a first user input, displaying at least one icon to be identified according to a second user input that selects the at least one icon selected from the plurality of icons, and pasting an object corresponding to the selected icon on an input window according to a third user input that inputs the selected at least one icon into the input window.
US09946447B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for selecting user interface objects An electronic device with a display, touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface displays a first user interface object and detects first movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of a focus selector toward the first user interface object. In response to detecting the first movement, the device moves the focus selector to the first user interface object; and determines an intensity of the contact. After detecting the first movement, the device detects second movement of the contact. In response to detecting the second movement of the contact, when the contact meets selection criteria based on an intensity of the contact, the device moves the focus selector and the first user interface object; and when the contact does not meet the selection criteria, the device moves the focus selector without moving the first user interface object.
US09946445B2	Navigating to failures in drilling system displays A plurality of data records is stored in a memory. The data records include data about a drill string in a well. Each data record includes a depth zone, wherein the depth zone includes a range of depths in the well, a description of a component in the drill string in the depth zone for this data record, and a failure flag that, when set, represents a failure in the drill string at the depth zone for this data record. A processor with access to the memory generates and transmits for display on a graphical user interface a schematic of a portion of the drill string. The processor emphasizes on the schematic of the portion of the drill string on the graphical user interface a representation of an emphasized depth zone, wherein a failure flag in a data record for the emphasized depth zone is set.
US09946440B2	Method of providing flash card and apparatuses performing the same A method of providing a flash card and apparatuses for performing the method are disclosed. A method of providing a flash card in a learning system including a first terminal and second terminals may include creating, by the first terminal, a first flash card associated with a corresponding page of an electronic book (e-book) currently being displayed on a display of the first terminal, and transmitting, by the first terminal, the first flash card to the second terminals.
US09946437B2	Modifying an appearance of a GUI to improve GUI usability A method, system, and/or computer program product modifies a graphical user interface (GUI) for an application to improve usability of the current GUI. One or more processors build a graphical user interface (GUI) neural knowledge base to capture GUIs used by multiple software applications based on a function, semantics, and context of captured GUIs. The processor(s) identify a current GUI that is utilized by a current software application, and match the current GUI to captured GUIs that have a same function, semantics, and context as the current GUI. The processor(s) identify a top-k active field used by the captured GUIs, and match a function of a current active field to a function of the top-k active field. If the visual appearance of the current active field does not match the visual appearance of the top-k active field, the processor(s) replace the current active field with the top-k active field.
US09946434B2	System and method for simultaneous display of multiple information sources A computerized method of presenting information from a variety of sources on a display device. Specifically the present invention describes a graphical user interface for organizing the simultaneous display of information from a multitude of information sources. In particular, the present invention comprises a graphical user interface which organizes content from a variety of information sources into a grid of tiles, each of which can refresh its content independently of the others. The grid functionality manages the refresh rates of the multiple information sources. The present invention is intended to operate in a platform independent manner.
US09946425B2	Systems and methods for switching sensing regimes for gloved and ungloved user input The various embodiments described herein provide input devices configured to selectively operate in two different sensing regimes. The first sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for ungloved fingers in the sensing region. The second sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for gloved fingers in the sensing region. The input devices are further configured to switch from operating in the first sensing regime to the second sensing regime responsive to detecting an input gesture that meets each of a set of criteria, where the set of criteria includes a measure of sensor value stability corresponding to the input gesture being beyond a sensor value stability threshold level. So implemented, the input device allows a user to easily switch between two different sensing regimes, and thus can facilitate the use of the device with both gloved and ungloved fingers providing input.
US09946421B2	Mobile terminal with multiple driving modes and control method for the mobile terminal The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal and a control method thereof. A mobile terminal according to the present disclosure may include a display unit provided with an electrode layer having a plurality of nodes, and a display layer configured to receive power from the electrode layer and display visual information, a touch sensor disposed to overlap with the display layer to sense a touch input using the electrode layer, and a controller configured to control power supplied to the electrode layer to control the display unit and the touch sensor, wherein the driving mode of the touch sensor includes a first driving mode in which the plurality of nodes are simultaneously turned on to sense the touch input, and a second driving mode in which the plurality of nodes are sequentially turned on to detect the coordinate of the touch input when the touch input is sensed.
US09946420B2	Touch screen panel and method for manufacturing the same A touch screen panel includes a substrate including an active area, a non-active area at the periphery of the active area, and a contact area between the active area and the non-active area, sensing electrodes disposed in the active area, connecting lines disposed in the non-active area and the contact area and electrically connected to the sensing electrodes, and a metal capping layer disposed in the contact area, in which the sensing electrodes include a first overcoating layer disposed on the substrate as a conductor layer, and a second overcoating layer disposed on the first overcoating layer, the connecting lines include the first overcoating layer, the second overcoating layer, and a metal line layer disposed on the second overcoating layer, and the metal capping layer couple the metal line layer to the first overcoating layer through a contact hole to expose the first overcoating layer in the contact area.
US09946417B2	Array substrate, in-cell touch screen and touch display device An array substrate, an in-cell touch screen and a touch display device are provided. The array substrate includes a common electrode layer, wherein the common electrode layer is provided with a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes with extending directions perpendicular to each other, each of the driving electrodes includes a plurality of driving sub-electrodes which are connected to one another, each of the sensing electrodes includes a plurality of sensing sub-electrodes which are connected to one another, and adjacent driving sub-electrode and sensing sub-electrode have concave-convex structures in a staggered arrangement at an border and are insulated from each other.
US09946414B2	In-cell touch panel having a touch sensing chip and a corresponding display device An in-cell touch panel and a display device are disclosed. The in-cell touch panel includes a plurality of self-capacitance electrodes disposed on the same layer and independent from each other, a touch sensing chip and a plurality of wires. The self-capacitance electrodes constitute a common electrode layer and the wires and the self-capacitance electrodes are disposed on different layers. The touch sensing chip is configured to apply common electrode signals to self-capacitance electrodes in a display time period and determine touch positions by detecting capacitance value variation of self-capacitance electrodes in a touch time period. In the touch panel, the common electrode layer is reused as self-capacitance electrodes, thereby implementing touch function without a touch dead zone.
US09946411B2	Touch panel having double routing scheme Disclosed is a touch panel including a cover substrate including an active area and an unactive area, first and second sensing electrodes extending in mutually different directions on the active area, a first printed circuit board connected with one end of the first sensing electrode, and a second printed circuit board connected with an opposite end of the first sensing electrode.
US09946409B2	Computer keyboard with integrated an electrode arrangement An input device, especially in the form of a computer keyboard provides which for a user of a computer keyboard special operator benefits result as compared to conventional keyboard systems in association with a pointing device. According to an embodiment, a computer keyboard with a keyboard that includes a multitude of manually operable keys, wherein in this keyboard an electrode arrangement is integrated, is designed in such a way and over a driver circuit exploited in such a way that by means of this electrode arrangement the detection of the spatial position or movement of a finger or a hand in an area in front of the keyboard is made possible in a electrical-field way, and by means of the driver, circuit system signals are provided that have an information content that correlates with position and/or movement of a finger or a hand of the user.
US09946408B2	Communication between a master active stylus and a slave touch-sensor device In one embodiment, a system comprises a stylus and a touch sensor. The stylus is operable to transmit a first signal. The touch sensor comprises a first plurality of electrode lines and a controller. Each electrode line is operable to sense the first signal transmitted by a stylus. The stylus tip of the stylus is located at a position relative to the first plurality of electrode lines at the time of transmission of the first signal. The controller is operable to measure a voltage, charge, or capacitance of the sensed first signal on each electrode line of the first plurality of electrode lines and estimate the position of the stylus tip based on interpolation of the measured voltages on each electrode line of the first plurality of electrode lines.
US09946405B2	Information processing device A program includes first to fourth steps. The first step includes a step of fetching a first sensor image at the time when a light unit is lighting and a second sensor image at the time when the light unit is not lighting. The second step includes a step of calculating a third image by calibrating the first sensor image using a first calibration image; and a step of calculating a fourth image by calibrating the second sensor image using a second calibration image. The third step includes a step of calculating fifth to seventh images using the third image and the fourth image; and a step of calculating an eighth image by obtaining a weighted average of the fifth to the seventh images in accordance with an illumination and a display image. The fourth step includes a step of calculating touch data using the eighth image.
US09946403B2	Display device, method for driving the same, and driving circuit thereof A touch sensitive display device, a method for driving the same, and a driving circuit of the display device are disclosed. The touch sensitive display device comprises a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels and a plurality of touch sensors. Each touch sensor is connected to at least one respective pixel of the pixels, the display panel driven in a plurality of successive display frame periods and during each display frame period a respective frame of image data is driven to the pixels. A touch driving circuit drives touch driving signals to the touch sensors during a touch frame that begins in a first display frame period of the display frame periods and ends in a second display frame period of the display frame periods that immediately follows the first display frame period.
US09946402B2	Detecting presence of protective liner on device display A method includes determining a presence of a protective liner on a display of a device using a capacitive sensor positioned proximate the display. An alignment guide is generated on the display responsive to determining the presence of the protective liner. A device includes a display, a capacitive sensor positioned proximate the display, and a processor to determine a presence of a protective liner on the display using the capacitive sensor and to generate an alignment guide on the display responsive to determining the presence of the protective liner.
US09946401B2	Display device with integrated touch screen and method for driving the same Disclosed is a display device with integrated touch screen. The display device includes a panel configured to include a plurality of electrodes divided into n groups; and a display driver IC configured to, apply a common voltage to the electrodes during a display driving mode of a first frame, apply a touch scan signal to a first group and a first adjacent electrode unit included in a second group during a touch driving mode of the first frame, apply the common voltage to the electrodes during the display driving mode of a second frame, and apply the touch scan signal to the second group and a second adjacent electrode unit included in the first group adjacent to the second group during the touch driving mode of the second frame.
US09946400B2	Display device A display device includes: a display functional layer that can change display for each pixel in accordance with an application voltage; a plurality of driving electrodes separately disposed in one direction; a plurality of pixel signal lines to which pixel signals used for applying the application voltage to the display functional layer in accordance with an electric potential difference from the display reference electric potential are applied; a plurality of detection electrodes that are separately disposed in a direction other than the one direction, are coupled with the driving electrodes as electrostatic capacitance, generate detection electric potentials in response to the detection driving signal, and change the detection electric potential in accordance with approach of a detection target object; and a pixel signal control unit that controls the pixel signals so as to include pixel signals having different polarities during the display period.
US09946398B2	System and method for timing input sensing, rendering, and display to minimize latency The disclosed systems and methods relate in general to the field of user input to a touch sensitive device, and in particular to user input systems and methods which can reduce the latency between a most recent input event and the displaying of a rendered frame reflecting such input. In an embodiment, a method for decreasing latency between an input touch event and the display of a frame reflecting the input touch event in a touch sensitive device includes estimating the time of a next frame refresh, receiving from the operating system touch data reflective of an input touch event, determining the application associated with the input touch event, estimating the time it will take the application to process and render the received touch data, determining a time at which delivery of the touch data to the application will permit the application to process and render the touch data prior to the time of the next frame refresh, based at least in part on the estimated time it will take the application to process and render the touch data, and the estimated time of the next frame refresh, and providing the touch data to the application just prior to the determined time.
US09946392B2	Pixel circuit, organic electroluminescent display panel and display apparatus The present disclosure provides a pixel circuit, an organic electroluminescence display panel and a display apparatus. The pixel circuit initializes a first node during an initialization period of a touch control phase and a display phase; adjusts a voltage at the first node during a touch sensing period of the touch control phase; causes a driver module to output a touch control signal under the control of the voltage at the first node during a touch reading period of the touch control phase, so as to achieve a touch control function; writes data into the first node during a compensating period and a data writing period of the display phase; and causes the driver module to drive a light emitting device in a light emitting module to emit light during a light emitting period of the display phase, so as to allow the light emitting device to achieve its light emitting function normally. Compared with the conventional pixel circuit, the pixel circuit according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has integrated touch control and display functions. In this way, the manufacture cost can be saved when compared with the separated provided display driver circuit and touch control circuit, so as to simplify the circuit structure and to reduce the thickness of the display panel.
US09946391B2	Sensing objects using multiple transmitter frequencies A processing system includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes. The sensor module is configured to drive the sensor electrodes with first sensing signals and with second sensing signals at a second frequency. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to obtain, concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, first measurement values that are based on effects of the first sensing signals, and a resonance of a pen in a sensing region. Concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, second measurement values are obtained that are based on effects of the second sensing signals, and the resonance of the pen in the sensing region. The determination module determines a resonating state of the pen based on the first measurement values and the second measurement values, and reports the resonating state of the pen.
US09946390B2	Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same A mobile terminal including a touch screen with a first display area disposed at a front of a terminal body and a second display area disposed at a side of the terminal body; and a controller configured to display an operation screen on the first display area, display, on the second display area, information related to the operation screen displayed on the first display area in response to the terminal body being rotated from a first position to a second position, and control the information displayed on the second display area in response to an input received through the first display area.
US09946389B2	Variable pressure touch system The disclosed variable pressure touch system includes an information handling system (IHS) that may take many forms. In one embodiment, the IHS may be a tablet with a touch sensor in the form of a touch sensitive display. A user may apply pressure to the touch sensor with a finger, stylus, or other pointing device. The touch sensor may then generate a current pressure indication of the current pressure exhibited by the touch on the touch sensor. In one embodiment, a touch tool of the IHS may receive the current pressure indication and generate a display image on the display of the IHS that changes as the current pressure indication changes. In other embodiments, the touch tool of the IHS may receive the current pressure indication and generate a visual indicator on the display of the IHS that changes as the current pressure indication changes.
US09946387B2	Display apparatus, drive circuit, driving method and electronic apparatus A display apparatus includes: a display device; a touch detection device; and a driver unit driving the display device so as to sequentially display M horizontal lines in each of plural unit drive periods forming one frame period and driving the touch detection device in N touch detection periods provided in each unit drive period, in which N is lower than M.
US09946378B2	Noise reduction method and system for touch detection device Noise reduction method and system for a touch detection device are disclosed. The noise reduction method includes: step A, performing a synchronous sampling on the touch detection nodes in one same group and storing the sampling data; step B, comparing each sampling data against a corresponding reference data to calculate a differential data which, as a detection data, replaces a corresponding original sampling data; step C, calculating statistics of the replacing detection data to screen out valid data to calculate a DC offset component indicative of a noise ingredient; and step D, obtaining noise-filtered detection data by subtracting the DC offset component from each detection data.
US09946376B2	Display panel and electronic device A display panel and an electronic device are provided. The display panel includes: a first substrate; a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate; a high resistance shielding layer arranged on a side of the first substrate farther away from the second substrate; a conductive film sandwiched between the first substrate and the high resistance shielding layer, the conductive film includes a contact portion contacted with the high resistance shielding layer and an extension portion; a ground pad arranged on a side of the second substrate closer to the first substrate; and a conductive connection portion for electrically connecting the extension portion of the conductive film and the ground pad. The high resistance shielding layer may be contacted closely with the conductive film, and static electricity on the high resistance shielding layer may be conducted to the ground pad via the conductive film and the conductive connection portion.
US09946375B2	Active matrix capacitive fingerprint sensor with 2-TFT pixel architecture for display integration Embodiments described herein include an input device including an array of sensing pixels configured to sense an input object in a sensing region. Each of the sensing pixels includes a sense element and a first transistor, wherein the first transistor includes a gate terminal connected to a row select line and a second terminal connected to the sense element. Each of the sensing pixels also includes a second transistor, wherein the second transistor includes a gate terminal connected to the sense element and the second terminal of the first transistor, and wherein the second transistor further includes a second terminal connected to a column output line.
US09946373B2	System and method for using single-display application programs on a multi-display device A system and method is provided for, on a multi-display touch screen apparatus executing a single-display application program, establishing an interface between the multi-display touch screen apparatus and the single-display application program, the interface comprising a virtual display and virtual sensors, obtaining sensor data from physical sensors of the multi-display touch screen apparatus, providing at least a first subset of the sensor data to the single-display application program via the virtual sensors of the interface, specifying to the single-display application program virtual display parameters which emulate single display parameters of a single-display touch screen apparatus, receiving at the virtual display of the interface a window image to be displayed from the single-display application, and displaying the window image on at least a first one of multiple displays of the multi-display touch screen apparatus.
US09946366B2	Display, touch, and stylus synchronization A touch input device configured to synchronize a stylus acquisition process with both a touch data acquisition process and a display refresh process is provided. The touch input device can include one or more processors that can synchronize the stylus data acquisition process to the touch data acquisition process by coordinating stylus scans to take place in between touch scans. The one or more processors can also virtual data banks to synchronize both the touch data acquisition and the stylus scan acquisition with the display refresh process.
US09946365B2	Stylus-based pressure-sensitive area for UI control of computing device Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a computing device using a stylus. The stylus is configured with a pressure-sensitive control feature that can be activated to perform various actions while the stylus is touching or otherwise sufficiently proximate to a stylus detection surface of the device. The pressure control feature function can be associated with a variety of tasks on the computing device such as: adjusting variables, executing a particular command, switching between tools, modifying a particular tool's settings, and launching an application. In some embodiments, the stylus-based pressure-sensitive control feature is configured to allow for squeeze actions, tapping actions, and various combinations of such pressure-types on the pressure-sensitive control feature to uniquely identify a corresponding function to be carried out on the computing device.
US09946364B2	Matching method of wireless charging mouse Disclosed is a matching method for a wireless charging mouse, comprising: receiving an electromagnetic energy; building a matching transmission channel at a matching address predetermined, and transmitting a first matching signal to an electric device through the matching transmission channel; receiving the first matching signal and transmitting a first response signal through the matching transmission channel, and generating a first communication address by the electric device; receiving the first response signal and again transmitting the first matching signal to the electric device through the matching transmission channel; again receiving the first matching signal and transmitting a second response signal and the first communication address by the electric device through the matching transmission channel; and storing the first communication address and the wireless charging mouse and the electric device entering a data transmission mode.
US09946363B2	Projector, interactive system, and interactive control method A projector comprising: an image acquiring unit acquiring projection images; an identification information acquiring unit acquiring identification information of a target device among source devices that provide the projections images; a projecting unit that generates a composite image collectively including the acquired projection images, and projects the composite image on a projection plane; a position coordinates detecting unit detecting position coordinates of a pointing object that operates on the plane; a detecting unit that detects a projection region of a projection image provided by the target device, by using the acquired identification information; a converting unit that, when the position coordinates of the pointing object is in the projection region of the projection image, converts the position coordinates of the pointing object to operating information on a coordinate system of the target device; and a transmitting unit that transmits the operating information to the target device.
US09946361B2	Management for wearable display A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for managing a display device are provided. The apparatus may be a wearable device. The apparatus acquires data associated with a foreground corresponding to an image displayed on a display of the wearable device. The apparatus determines an image characteristic of the foreground based on the acquired data. The apparatus detects a change in the image displayed on the display. The apparatus adjusts, upon the detection of the change in the image, a display characteristic of the image based on the image characteristic of the foreground and the change in the image.
US09946359B2	Thin keyboard structure and its keycap A key cap includes a cap body having a bottom surface, and at least one pivot retainer protrusively disposed on the bottom surface of the cap body. The pivot retainer includes a position-limiting portion, two lateral portions and a shaft-received recess. The lateral portions are connected to the same side of the position-limiting portion, and the shaft-received recess is disposed in the position-limiting portion, and is located between the two lateral portions.
US09946358B2	Flexible display device and data displaying method thereof A flexible display device and a data displaying method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a touch sensor to generate touch events according to touch actions, a flexible sensor to generate a bend signal as one side of the device is bent, a storage unit to store a function table, and a controller to control the components of the device. The function table is configured to define control operations to reproduce currently output contents based on the touch events and the bend events.
US09946356B2	3D pointing devices with orientation compensation and improved usability Systems and methods according to the present invention describe 3D pointing devices which enhance usability by transforming sensed motion data from a first frame of reference (e.g., the body of the 3D pointing device) into a second frame of reference (e.g., a user's frame of reference). One exemplary embodiment of the present invention removes effects associated with a tilt orientation in which the 3D pointing device is held by a user.
US09946355B2	System and method for operating a mobile device using motion gestures A mobile device responsive to hand gestures or hand motions detected by a camera. The mobile device comprises: i) transmit path circuitry and receive path circuitry configured to communicate with a wireless network; ii) a memory configured to store a plurality of application programs; iii) a digital camera configured to record an image and to generate a live video stream; and iv) processing circuitry configured to analyze the live video stream and to detect therein a gesture made by a person in the recorded image. In response to detection of the gesture, the processing circuitry performs an operation associated with the detected gesture, such as taking a picture of the image or playing music.
US09946354B2	Gesture processing using a domain-specific gesture language The claimed subject matter includes techniques for processing gestures. An example method includes receiving a gesture from an application. The gesture includes one or more primitives from a language that is domain-specific to gestures. The method also further includes receiving skeletal data from a motion detection system. The method also includes comparing the skeletal data with the gesture from the application in a runtime module. The method also further includes sending a gesture event to the application.
US09946353B2	Portable electronic device and message processing method therefor A message processing method for a portable electronic device includes the steps of: detecting, by a motion sensor, a plurality of first knocks of an object on the portable electronic device and generating a plurality of first detecting signals according to the plurality of first knocks; and encoding, by an encoding system, the plurality of first detecting signals to generate a first message code, wherein a first message is decodable from the first message code by a decoding system.
US09946350B2	Cutaneous haptic feedback system and methods of use Systems and methods may utilize cutaneous feedback for enhanced control of various types of manipulandum. Embodiments of the present invention may include a haptic feedback system comprising: an actuator that exerts force to a user when engaging the actuator that provides cutaneous feedback to the user when using the system. The systems and methods may allow for adjustable and customizable operation of the system to improve the relationship between human and mechanical or virtual devices.
US09946349B2	Shift register, driving method, gate driving circuit and display device A shift register, a driving method, a gate driving circuit and a display device are provided. The shift register includes a scan control module, an output module, a pull-down module, a turn-off restoring module and a touch control module. The turn-off restoring module is electronically connected to the scan control module at a first node and electronically connected to the touch control module and the output module at a second node. The turn-off restoring module controls the first node to be electrically insulated from the second node during a touch scan phase, and restores a potential of the second node to a potential at a time instant before the touch scan phase when the touch scan phase is finished. The touch control module controls the output module to output a touch scan signal to an output terminal of the shift register during the touch scan phase.
US09946344B2	Functional near infrared spectroscopy based brain computer interface Described herein are fNIR-based brain computer interfaces. Training of individuals to intentionally control neural activity in specific cortical areas, thereby up-regulating and down-regulating oxygenation levels in specific locations in the brain is also provided herein. Further, continuous and/or binary control over computing environments using fNIR brain computer interfaces. Further still, a scale for brain interface index for oxygenation of a portion of the brain is provided herein.
US09946342B2	Programmable display device, portable terminal device, data processing method, and program A programmable display device connectable to a programmable logic controller in a communicable manner includes a sightline estimate unit, which estimates a direction of a sightline using image data obtained by capturing an image of a person, a display control unit, which displays a screen including an object on a display, a measurement unit, which measures a time period for which the sightline is directed to the object when the sightline is determined to be directed to the object through the estimation, and a storage unit, which stores image identification information identifying the object and time information indicating the measured time period in association with each other. This allows a third person to determine a time period for which a user has gazed at an object.
US09946341B2	Information observation method and information observation device The present application discloses an information observation method and an information observation apparatus, and relates to the field of multimedia information processing technologies. The method comprises: detecting a position of a sightline focusing point of an observer; in response to that it is detected that the sightline focusing point of the observer moves away from an observed object, judging whether the observer has observed all important information on the observed object; and in response to that it is judged that the observer has not observed all important information on the observed object, reminding the observer. For the method and the apparatus in embodiments of the present application, from the perspective of an actual observation behavior of an observer, a position of a sightline focusing point of the observer is detected to determine an observation behavior of the observer for important information, so as to radically prevent missing of important information.
US09946338B2	Information processing to vary screen display based on a gaze point of the user There is provided an information processing apparatus including a detection unit configured to detect a gaze point of a user in a display image displayed on a display unit, an estimation unit configured to estimate an intention of the user based on the gaze point detected by the detection unit, an image generation unit configured to generates a varying image that subtly varies from the display image to a final display image according to the intention estimated by the estimation unit, and a display control unit configured to control the display unit in a manner that the varying image generated by the image generation unit is displayed.
US09946334B2	Method to determine driver workload function and usage of driver workload function for human-machine interface performance assessment A method of objectively measuring a driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle user interface. The method includes objectively measuring the driver's ability to perform each one of a plurality of calibration tasks of various degrees of difficulty including an easy task, a medium task, and a difficult task; generating a scale with which to evaluate the driver's ability to operate the user interface, the scale customized for the driver based on the objective measurements of the driver's ability to perform each calibration task; objectively measuring the driver's ability to operate a function of the motor vehicle user interface; and objectively evaluating the driver's ability to operate the function of the motor vehicle user interface using the scale to determine if the user interface is appropriate for the driver.
US09946333B2	Interactive image projection An accessory facilitating interaction with a projected image at least partially sourced by the image generation device. The accessory receives an input image from a device, and projects at least a derived image of the input image onto a surface on which the accessory sits. For instance, the accessory might project the input image itself, or perhaps some post-processed version of the input image. A camera system captures data representing user interaction with the projected image. Based on this data, an image input event is detected, and then communicated to the device. For instance, if the image generation device were a touch-sensitive device, the device may respond to the user contacting the projected image the same as it would if the user touched the image generation device at the same corresponding location. Embodiments described herein also relate color compensation of a displayed image.
US09946329B2	Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a connector, power circuit, and controller. The connector is connectable to a first or second external device. The connector includes a first contact configured to receive a first signal from the first external device or a second signal from the second external device. The second signal is different from the first signal and configured to control power inside the electronic apparatus. The power circuit is configured to generate power inside the electronic apparatus using voltage from the first external device or the second external device. The controller is configured to supply a control signal based on the second signal to the power circuit when the first contact receives the second signal.
US09946327B2	Thermal mitigation with power duty cycle An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of cores and a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature for the cores. The apparatus further includes t least one switch, each being configured to supply power to one of the cores. A thermal mitigation module is configured to operate the at least one switch at a duty cycle based on the monitored temperature. A method for thermal mitigation for an apparatus is provided. The method includes monitoring a temperature for a plurality of cores, supplying power to one of the cores at a duty cycle, and adjusting the duty cycle based on the monitored temperature. Another apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of cores, means for monitoring a temperature for the cores, means for supplying power to one of the cores at a duty cycle, and means for adjusting the duty cycle based on the monitored temperature.
US09946325B2	Interprocessor power state transitions A modem identifies an idle condition associated with a data network to be accessed and determines an opportunity to enter a first one of a set of low power device states based on the idle condition, where the set of low power device states further includes a second low power device state, and a host device consumes less power in the first low power device state than in the second low power device state. A notification is sent to an application processor of the host device that the modem is to enter a sleep state, where the notification identifies the first low power device state, and a low power link state is entered corresponding to the first low power device state based on a signal from the application processor. The low power link state applies to a link coupling a communications processor of the modem to the application processor.
US09946323B1	Encrypted wakeup controller apparatus and method for ultra low power wireless communications A wake-up processor for a communications processor has a receive signal amplifier for amplifying the signal level of received RF which has been transmitted as wireless local area network WLAN packets, an amplitude detector for indicating the envelope of the RF energy in the packets, a threshold detector which thresholds the detected RF envelope, and a correlator which compares the detected and thresholded RF envelope with a private pseudo-random number to determine the level of correlation between the received value and the private value. When the correlation exceeds a required threshold, a wake-up signal is asserted which is used to bring a WLAN processor into an active state for processing of subsequently sent packets.
US09946321B2	System and method to proactively screen component wear through time domain response profiling A receiver of a serial communication channel including a memory to store an initial channel characteristic of the serial communication channel, a detector to measure a current channel characteristic of the serial communication channel, and a processor to compare the initial channel characteristic to the current channel characteristic, and to provide an indication when the difference between the initial channel characteristic to the current channel characteristic is greater than a threshold.
US09946315B2	Desktop consumer electronic device An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).
US09946308B1	Electronic apparatus with integrated stand Electronic apparatuses and electronic subassemblies having integrated stands are provided. An electronic subassembly includes a display device and a housing coupled with the display device. The housing has an integrated stand that encircles an open area and that projects away from the display device. The electronic subassembly also includes a processor disposed in the housing and that controls information displayed on the first display device. The integrated stand pivots relative to the housing and supports the housing at different angles relative to a surface on which the housing is disposed. Another electronic subassembly may be removably coupled with the electronic subassembly having the integrated stand.
US09946307B2	Classifying the intent of user input Different types of user inputs can be input by a user via a keyboard of an input device. These different types of user inputs include, for example, key strikes, multi-touch interactions, single finger motions, and/or mouse clicks. Touch information regarding the pressure applied to the keys of a pressure sensitive keyboard over time (or the contact area of the user input for other types of keyboards over time) is used to classify the intent of the user input as one of the various types of user inputs.
US09946303B2	Mobile device and method for operating the same Provided herein are a multi smartphone and a method of controlling the same. The multi smartphone includes a display part configured to output a screen when an input signal is sensed; a memory part configured to store a plurality of operating systems (OSs) which are operated differently based on a time at which the input signal is sensed, a place at which the input signal is input, or a user who inputs the input signal; and a control part configured to perform control such that at least one OS of the plurality of OSs is selected and operated based on any one of a time at which the input signal is sensed, the place at which the input signal is input, and the user who inputs the input signal when the input signal is sensed.
US09946295B2	Flexible keyboard accessory for a portable electronic device An accessory device for use with an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may include a cover configured to overlay an electronic device (or device) or fold to form a support structure for the electronic device. The cover may include an attachment feature that electrically couples with the device, and a keyboard foldable with respect to the cover. Further, the keyboard may include a retention feature designed to receive the attachment feature in a folded configuration of the cover. The accessory device may further include an electrically conductive fabric that folds with the cover. The accessory device may include an array of magnets throughout the attachment feature, the cover, and the keyboard. The magnets may be used to magnetically couple together 1) segments of the cover, 2) the cover and the keyboard assembly, 3) and/or the device with the cover.
US09946293B2	Magnetic force in a directional input device Embodiments for a user input device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user input device comprises a body, an elongate directional control element having a first end projecting towards the body and a second end projecting away from the body and configured to be movable by a user, a magnet to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions, and a sensor coupled to the body to detect a change in position of the directional control element.
US09946288B2	Energy management system, terminal device, display control method, and program An acquirer acquires information concerning an energy management system for controlling a plurality of apparatuses installed in a dwelling. A display displays, in a first display region, the information acquired by the acquirer, and displays, in a second display region, a layout diagram in which images indicating the apparatuses are arranged at positions corresponding to installation locations of the apparatuses in the dwelling. Upon a determination that the information displayed in the first display region includes information concerning a specific apparatus among the plurality of apparatuses, the display displays with relative emphasis an image indicating the specific apparatus in the second display region.
US09946287B2	NOC-oriented demand coordination network control node An apparatus including a first node and a network operations center (NOC). The first node is within the facility and is coupled to a second node via a demand coordination network. The first node has a node processor coupled to a first device, and transmits data and status via the network for generation of schedules, and operates the first device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first environment by cycling on and off according to the schedules. The NOC generates the schedules to control the peak demand of the resource, where one or more run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments. The NOC coordinates run times for the first device and a second device, where coordination is based on a global schedule, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing the first environment, and an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second environment.
US09946285B2	Energy allocation system for balancing energy consumption The present invention relates to an energy allocation system for operating at least an energy storage device to substantially balance the energy consumed by the energy storage device with the energy supplied thereto, comprising the steps of: determining a power flexibility of the energy storage device by generating an upper time-varying power function; predicting energy consumption data per discrete time-slots over a given time-window for the device; predicting a demand for energy by the device in a given planning time-period; generating a time-varying upper energy function for the demand prediction that defines an uppermost limit for the supply of energy to the device; generating a time-varying lower energy function for the demand prediction that defines a lowermost limit for the supply of energy to the device, and supplying energy to the device in a range defined by the limits specified by the upper energy function and the lower energy function.
US09946284B1	Single event effects immune linear voltage regulator A single event effects (SEE) immune linear voltage regulator includes an input node, an output node, a first transistor control logic, a second transistor control logic, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The regulator is configured such that when the first transistor is operating in linear regulation mode, the second transistor automatically operates in saturation mode, and the voltage at the output node is controlled by the first transistor and the first transistor control logic to be substantially equal to the first reference voltage. Conversely, when the second transistor is operating in linear regulation mode, the first transistor automatically operates in saturation mode, and the voltage at the output node is controlled by the second transistor and the second transistor control logic to be substantially equal to the second reference voltage.
US09946277B2	Wide supply range precision startup current source A start-up circuit for a bandgap reference voltage generator circuit, including a first native transistor with a drain connected to a supply voltage of the bandgap reference voltage generator circuit and a source connected to a gate of the first native transistor; a low voltage transistor with a source connected to ground, a drain connected to the source of the first native transistor, and a gate connected to a resistor; a second native transistor with a source connected to the resistor, a gate connected to the source of the first native transistor; a high voltage transistor with a drain connected to a drain of the second native transistor and a source connected to the supply voltage; and a transistor with a gate connected to the gate of the first high voltage transistor and a drain which provides a start-up current for the bandgap reference voltage generator circuit.
US09946276B2	Voltage regulators with current reduction mode A voltage regulator provides an output current at an output voltage, based on an input voltage. The voltage regulator has a pass transistor for deriving the output current. The voltage regulator contains a drive transistor forming a current mirror in conjunction with the pass transistor, such that the output current through the pass transistor is dependent on a drive current through the drive transistor. The voltage regulator comprises an auxiliary transistor arranged such that at least a fraction of the drive current through the drive transistor flows through the auxiliary transistor. The voltage regulator has amplification circuitry to set the drive current through the drive transistor depending on the output voltage and on a reference voltage. The voltage regulator further contains control circuitry to detect an indication for a dropout situation where a difference between the input voltage and the output voltage falls below a dropout voltage.
US09946274B2	Apparatus and method for controlling temperature A temperature control apparatus is provided. The temperature control apparatus includes an analog to digital (AD) converter digital-converting a measurement value transmitted from a plurality of temperature sensors; a control means comparing the measurement value transmitted from the AD converter with a preset desired value to perform PID calculation; and an output unit transmitting, to outside, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal transmitted form the control means, wherein an input-side isolator for isolation for each temperature sensor is provided between the AD converter and the temperature sensor, the input-side isolator is connected to each of the temperature sensors, and the control means sequentially operates the input-side isolators.
US09946273B2	Information providing method and information providing apparatus A cloud server (104) receives environmental information of respective installation sites of a plurality of appliances (101a, 101b, 101c, 102a, 102b) via a network (1000), and determines one or more appliances that are installed in a same room among the plurality of appliances (101a, 101b, 101c, 102a, 102b), based on the received environmental information.
US09946271B2	Fluid flow control system and device A device and system for regulating the flow of a fluid, comprising: a fluid flow controller; wherein the fluid flow controller comprises: a fluid flow control component and an electronic controller; wherein the fluid flow control component is configured to allow at least two different flow rates of a fluid to pass through the fluid flow controller; and wherein the electronic controller controls the fluid flow controller component, such that the fluid flow controller component operatively switches between the at least two different flow rates.
US09946269B2	Method for operating a switch valve that opens and closes a fluid line fed by a filter and feeding an intake pipe A method for operating a switch valve which opens and closes a fluid line is disclosed. The switch valve is actuated by a pulse width modulated signal. The switch valve is actuated outside of the active operating time of the switch valve using PWM signals with an increasing or decreasing duty cycle. The duty cycle in which the switch valve is opened is determined, and the duty cycle corresponding to the opening time is then used to actuate the switch valve to open and close the switch valve during the active operating time of same. In this manner, the switch valve can be actuated in a particularly precise manner.
US09946262B2	Smart vehicle A vehicular gesture control system includes sensors such as IoT (internet of things) sensors that can share data with other vehicles and that can communicate with the cloud to provide intelligent handling of the vehicle.
US09946259B2	Negative obstacle detector An obstacle detector configured to identify negative obstacles in a vehicle's path responsive to steering a laser beam to scan high priority areas in the vehicle's path is provided. The high priority areas can be identified dynamically in response to the terrain, speed, and/or acceleration of the vehicle. In some examples, the high priority areas are identified based on a projected position of the vehicles tires. A scan path for the laser, scan rate, and/or a scan location can be dynamically generated to cover the high priority areas.
US09946258B2	High performance system with explicit incorporation of ATC regulations to generate contingency plans for UAVs with lost communication The present invention is to provide a method and system for generating contingency flight plans for normal landing and flight termination (crash) of UAVs (drones) in the event of lost communications with ground control stations. The system is fast, automatic, comprehensive, and systematic. The contingency plan can be generated using laptops or PCs. The execution of contingency plans will involve the coordination of flight computer in drones, ground control station, air traffic controllers (ATC), and pilot in command (PIC). External devices such as satellites and RF towers are also involved in the process such as reestablishment of communications.
US09946255B2	Remote control for a parking assistance system and a parking assistance system which can be controlled by remote control A remote control for a parking assistance system for automated parking of a passenger motor vehicle is provided. The parking assistance system has an environment sensor system that supplies sensor information, and an obstacle detection device for detecting the presence of an obstacle based on the sensor information. In addition, the parking assistance system has a bidirectional wireless communication device that transmits obstacle detection information about the presence of an obstacle to the remote control. The remote control also has a bidirectional wireless communication device for communication with the passenger motor vehicle. In addition, the remote control has one or more parking function operating elements for controlling the parking and/or unparking. The bidirectional communication device of the remote control receives the obstacle detection information. In addition, the remote control has signaling means for signaling the presence of an obstacle to the operator of the remote control.
US09946254B2	Alarm display system using non-contact type IC tag An alarm display system includes: an IC tag storing ID information for identifying components of a control device; an IC tag reading part capable of reading the ID information stored in the IC tag in a non-contact manner; a storage part storing alarm handling information in association with alarm information for identifying a type of an alarm and the component related to the alarm; a handling information extracting part extracting, when an alarm is generated, alarm handling information related to the component which is identified by the ID information from the alarm handling information corresponding to the alarm based on the alarm information and the ID information read by the IC tag reading part; and a handling information display part displaying the alarm handling information extracted by the handling information extracting part.
US09946253B1	Electronic apparatus and method According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus detects an abnormality of at least one of a first fan for a first device in a first housing and a second fan for a second device in a second housing, and includes a receiver and circuitry. The receiver receives a first signal of a first sound collected by a first microphone and a second signal of a second sound collected by a second microphone. The first sound includes a sound produced by a shaft or a bearing of the first fan. The second sound includes a sound produced by a shaft or a bearing of the second fan. The circuitry detects an abnormality of one of the first and second fans by at least using the first sound and the second sound included in the first and second signals.
US09946252B2	Operational programming of a facility A decision support tool to assist decision-making in the operation of a facility. The decision support tool allows a user to perform operational programming of the facility so that the analysis of specific operational events is flexible and “on-demand.” This is achieved by allowing the user to set scope and timeframe of the analysis according to business needs. As a result, the organization can make better-informed judgments whether to add operational activities and how to adjust the ones already formulated in the program. The decision support tool can also allow for the application of strategies to communicate intent behind the programming instructions and to improve the quality of business decisions.
US09946242B2	Operation schedule optimizing device, method, and program with determination of whether to request user approval An optimized operation schedule of a control-target apparatus is ensured while maximally reducing a burden share to a facility operator. An energy predictor sets, for a control-target apparatus, a predicted value of energy consumption or energy supply within a predetermined future time period based on process data. A schedule optimizer optimizes an operation schedule of the control-target apparatus within the predetermined time period with a predetermined evaluation barometer based on the predicted value, the characteristic of the control-target apparatus, and the process data. An approval request determiner determines a necessity of an approval for a latest operation schedule based on a preset determining condition. A determination result transmitter transmits a determination result by the approval request determiner.
US09946241B2	Model predictive control with uncertainties A method for controlling an operation of a machine according to a model of the machine having uncertainties determines a set of triples of data points representing the operation of the machine over a period of time. Each triple of data points in the set includes two subsequent states of the machine and corresponding control input causing a transition of the machine between the subsequent states. Next, the method determines a current model of the machine based on the set of triples of data points, such that the current model is within a feasible space of models of the machine corresponding to a polytope with vertices defined by base models representing extreme values of different parameters of the model.
US09946239B2	Furnace control board architecture A system and method are disclosed that provide for a dual processor architecture in a furnace or HVAC controller. One processor can control non-safety-critical components and is operable to receive software updates. The other processor can control safety-critical components and is not capable of being updated. Safety-critical components can comprise a flame sensor, gas valve and an igniter.
US09946235B2	Scheduling operation of groups of residential devices Methods and devices for scheduling operation of residential energy consumption devices are described herein. One device includes a memory and a processor. The processor can be configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to form a number of chains of residential energy consumption devices, wherein each of the number of chains includes different devices, determine which of the number of chains has a largest total energy consumption over a particular period of time, and determine, for the devices in the chain having the largest total energy consumption over the particular period of timed of time, an operational schedule having a lowest possible cost.
US09946234B2	Control of flow networks A method for control of a flow network in order to improve the performance of the flow network comprises: (a) applying predetermined excitations at multiple control points within the flow network, wherein the multiple control points are at different branches of the flow network; (b) receiving measurements of changes in one or more flow parameter(s) in one or more flow path(s) in which flows of more than one of the different branches have been combined; (c) carrying out an analysis of the flow parameter measurements to identify variations induced by the applied excitations; (d) determining an adjustment to be made at one or more of the control point(s) in order to improve the performance of the flow network, for example by building and solving an optimization model; (e) making the determined adjustment to the control point(s) of the flow network or making an alternative adjustment decided upon by the flow network operator; and (f) repeating steps (a) to (e) one or more times to thereby iteratively improve the performance of the flow network.
US09946233B2	Apparatus and methods for providing building automation system data updates to a web client An apparatus and methods provide a building automation system that includes a controller, a web server and a client. The controller includes building automation objects that may be used to generate a model that includes elements, wherein each element is associated with one or more of the objects. The web server includes business logic that reads and subscribes to the objects. Each object notifies the business logic of changes to the data of the object. The business logic processes the data from the objects to provide model update commands based on the changed data. The client includes presentation logic that displays the model, receives the model update commands from the business logic, updates the model using the model update commands, and displays the updated model.
US09946229B2	Smart watch and method for controlling the same Disclosed are a smart watch and a method for controlling the same, which determine a notification device that provides a notification of an event, based on wearing/non-wearing of a smart watch and on a distance between the smart watch and an external digital device. The smart watch includes a display unit configured to display content, a sensor unit configured to detect an input signal and transmit the detected input signal to a processor, a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data, and the processor configured to control the display unit, the sensor unit, and the communication unit, wherein the processor is configured to detect a mode of the smart watch, wherein the mode of the smart watch includes a worn mode and an unworn mode of the smart watch, detect an external digital device paired with the smart watch, and determine a notification device providing a notification of an event occurring in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device based on the detected worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch, wherein the notification device includes at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.
US09946228B2	Tool-post for operations on timepiece movements The present invention concerns a device for performing operations on timepiece movements including a plate mounted on a stand, said plate including at least one storage area capable of receiving timepiece movement components, characterized in that said plate further includes at least one work support provided with means for holding timepiece movements, the work support being arranged to form an extension so as to facilitate access to said movement.
US09946224B2	Holographic display Disclosed is a holographic display including a spatial light modulator (SLM) with pixels, the SLM pixels being on a substrate, the SLM including circuitry which is on the same substrate as the SLM pixels, the circuitry operable to perform calculations which provide an encoding of the SLM.
US09946222B2	Air flow sensor and optional device that is for electrical machine and that includes the air flow sensor An air flow sensor includes a case, a to-be-detected object, and a detector. The case includes an intake port and an exit port through which air is to flow. The to-be-detected object is located at a first position in the case when the air flowing from the intake port to the exit port has lower than a predetermined level of pressure, and is movable from the first position receiving the air when the air has equal to or higher than the predetermined level of pressure. The detector is disposed outside the case and is configured to detect a movement of the to-be-detected object and output an electrical signal.
US09946218B2	Cleaning blade disposed to be in contact with an image carrying belt having an elastic layer and an image forming apparatus Provided is a cleaning blade disposed to be in contact with an image carrying belt having an elastic layer for removing foreign material from a surface of the image carrying belt, including: a base; and an amorphous coating layer on the base, the coating layer including a contact portion disposed to be in contact with the image carrying belt, wherein the contact portion is curved to have a predetermined curvature with respect to a direction of a movement of the image carrying belt.
US09946209B2	Image forming apparatus A density correction unit (a1) obtains density measurement values of a surface in a measurement section of an image carrier at a first round, (a2) calculates as section background data at the first round respective differences between the density measurement values at the first round and an average value thereof, (a3) obtains density measurement values of a surface at least in the measurement section at a second round, (a4) calculates as section background data at the second round respective differences between the density measurement values at the second round and an average value thereof in a specific section with the same length as the measurement section, and (a5) determines the rotation period on the basis of a correlation between the section background data at the first round and at the second round. Here the measurement section is a part in a circulating direction of the image carrier.
US09946208B2	Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus When performing a specific process accompanied with reading or writing a storage unit in a sleep mode, the power supply control unit control a control unit and the storage unit to temporarily return. When detecting movement in a period from start to end of the temporary return, the power supply control unit restarts power supply to a display panel. The control unit controls to display warning informing that the storage unit is working and urging to be careful so that the power is not disconnected.
US09946203B2	Fixing device for changing a nip width In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a first rotating body; a second rotating body configured to face the first rotating body and be stretched over a plurality of rotating bodies; and a first mechanism configured to enable at least one among a plurality of the rotating bodies to move to change a nip width between the first rotating body and the second rotating body.
US09946202B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image to the recording medium. A heating unit heats the fixing member. A control unit receives a print job, the print job indicating a print mode and at least one job condition. The control unit determines a ready temperature based on the print mode and the at least one job condition. The control unit controls a heating operation of the heating unit based on the determined ready temperature.
US09946199B1	System and method of filling a toner container A system for filling a toner container with toner. The system includes a base, a receiving portion, and a vacuum source. The receiving portion is supported by the base and defines a chamber. The receiving portion includes an opened end that is configured to receive a toner container. The vacuum source is in fluid communication with the chamber.
US09946196B2	Toner cartridge attachable to developing unit and having toner discharge opening opened in response to the attachment A toner cartridge includes a casing, a toner conveyance unit, a cover, and a first protrusion. The casing includes a first toner-accommodating section having a first internal space for accommodating toner. The first toner-accommodating section has a first opening. The toner conveyance unit is rotatable and configured to convey toner from the first internal space to the first opening. The cover covers the first opening and has a second opening for allowing toner to be discharged therethrough. The cover has a circumferential surface at which a plurality of gear teeth is provided. The gear teeth are configured to move a developing shutter provided at a developing unit for opening or closing an opening of the developing unit. The first protrusion is configured to release the developing shutter from a locking member of the developing unit for locking the developing shutter.
US09946189B2	Developing apparatus having a layer thickness regulation member, cartridge, and image forming apparatus A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer on a surface, a regulating member that regulates layer thickness of the developer on the developer bearing member, and a developer conveying member. In addition, a frame has a development chamber in which the developer bearing member and the regulating member are provided, a storage chamber in which the conveying member is provided and the developer is stored, and an opening through which the developer passes into the development chamber. The developing apparatus collects the developer remaining on the developer bearing member into the storage chamber after the developer on the developer bearing member is transferred onto a transfer material. The regulating material includes a step portion that forms a gap between the regulating member and the developer bearing member.
US09946188B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is capable of performing a second image forming operation in which a peripheral velocity ratio of a developer bearing member to an image bearing member becomes greater than that in a first image forming operation, and in which a potential difference between a developing bias applied to the developer bearing member and a supply bias applied to a supply member becomes a potential difference at which a urging force causing a developer at the contact portion between the developer bearing member and the supply member to move from the supply member to the developer bearing member becomes smaller than that in the first image forming operation, or becomes a potential difference at which a urging force causing the developer to move from the developer bearing member to the supply member is generated.
US09946185B2	Image forming apparatus, and method and computer-readable medium for the same An image forming apparatus includes a belt, a first process unit, a second process unit, and a controller configured to form a toner image based on a first pattern on a first photoconductive body of the first process unit. In addition, the controller is configured to transfer the toner image onto the belt, form an electrostatic latent image based on a second pattern on a second photoconductive body of the second process unit such that the electrostatic latent image formed on the second photoconductive body positionally coincides with the toner image transferred onto the belt in a contact position where the second photoconductive body contacts the belt, and convey the electrostatic latent image formed on the second photoconductive body to the contact position without developing the electrostatic latent image with toner.
US09946184B2	Image forming apparatus using flat toner to obtain a gloss An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion that uses toner containing flat pigment; a second image forming portion that uses toner not containing the flat pigment; and a toner image carrier that carries a first toner image that is formed in the first image forming portion and a second toner image that is formed in the second image forming portion. The image forming apparatus has a mode in which a relationship Am
US09946177B2	Carrier, two-component developer, image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming method A carrier is provided. The carrier includes a magnetic core particle and a resin layer coating a surface of the magnetic core particle. The resin layer includes a resin, a conductive particle including tungsten tin oxide, and a chargeable filler.
US09946171B2	Movable body apparatus, exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method One pair each of a Y linear motor (a total of four) on the +X side and the −X side that drive a reticle stage include one pair each of a stator section (a total of four) and three each of a mover section (a total of six) on the +X side and the −X side. In this case, the three each of the mover sections on the +X side and the −X side configure one each of a mover. The mover section located in the center in the Z-axis direction of each of the movers is used in common by each pair of the Y linear motors. Therefore, the weight of the mover section (reticle stage) of the reticle stage device is reduced, which allows a higher acceleration. Further, the mover section located in the center in the Z-axis direction of each of the movers coincides with a neutral plane of the reticle stage.
US09946169B2	Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method An exposure apparatus of performing an exposure for each shot region on a substrate includes: a stage configured to move while holding the substrate; a measurement device configured to measure a vibration of the stage; and a controller, when the vibration of the stage measured by the measurement device during an exposure period of a shot region of a first substrate falls outside an allowable range, configured to change a control parameter when exposing a shot region of a second substrate to be exposed after the first substrate at the same position as the shot region of the first substrate so as to improve an exposure accuracy.
US09946165B2	Methods and apparatus for obtaining diagnostic information relating to an industrial process In a lithographic process, product units such as semiconductor wafers are subjected to lithographic patterning operations and chemical and physical processing operations. Alignment data or other measurements are made at stages during the performance of the process to obtain object data representing positional deviation or other parameters measured at points spatially distributed across each unit. This object data is used to obtain diagnostic information by performing a multivariate analysis to decompose a set of vectors representing the units in said multidimensional space into one or more component vectors. Diagnostic information about the industrial process is extracted using the component vectors. The performance of the industrial process for subsequent product units can be controlled based on the extracted diagnostic information.
US09946163B2	Apparatus and method for maintaining immersion fluid in the gap under the projection lens during wafer exchange in an immersion lithography machine An immersion exposure apparatus and method involves (i) supporting a substrate with a stage, (ii) arranging the stage under an optical assembly to maintain immersion liquid in a gap between the optical assembly and the stage, (iii) projecting an image onto the substrate via the optical assembly and the immersion liquid, (iv) arranging a movable pad, which is movable separately from the stage, adjacent to the stage, and (v) moving the stage and the pad adjacent to each other relative to the optical assembly to arrange the pad under the optical assembly in place of the stage such that the immersion liquid is maintained below the optical assembly during the movement, thereby to arrange the movable pad under the optical assembly to maintain the immersion liquid in a gap between the optical assembly and the pad.
US09946156B2	Imprint apparatus, method of manufacturing article and alignment apparatus The present invention provides an imprint apparatus comprising at least one first detector configured to detect a first number of first marks among a plurality of marks formed in the plurality of shot regions, a second detector having a field of view wider than that of the first detector, and configured to detect a second number of second marks different from the first marks among the plurality of marks, the second number being larger than the first number, and a controller configured to align the plurality of shot regions and the mold by using a detection result from the second detector.
US09946155B2	Photolithographic mask A method is provided for fabricating a photolithographic mask. The method includes providing a transparent substrate; and forming an opaque layer on the transparent substrate. The method also includes writing layout patterns with at least one sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along a longitudinal direction to increase an adhesion force between the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction and the transparent substrate in the opaque layer. Further, the method include cleaning residual matters generated by writing the layout patterns in the opaque layer. Further, the method also includes spin-drying the transparent substrate with the layout patterns and the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction.
US09946153B2	Mask blank and transfer mask Provided is a mask blank in which a thin film for transfer pattern formation is provided on a main surface of a transparent substrate. The thin film is made of a material containing a transition metal and silicon and further containing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen. The thin film has as its surface layer an oxide layer with an oxygen content higher than that of the thin film of a region other than the surface layer. The thin film is formed so that the thickness of its outer peripheral portion is greater than that of its central portion on the main surface side. The oxide layer is formed so that the thickness of its outer peripheral portion is greater than that of its central portion on the main surface side.
US09946151B2	Method for producing a mask and the mask Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for producing a mask and a mask obtained by this method. The mask is configured to shield light during an exposure of a product. The method includes steps of: producing a composite membrane, wherein the composite membrane includes a first protection layer, a bonding layer, a shielding layer and a second protection layer stacked in sequence; only cutting the first protection layer, the bonding layer and the shielding layer of the composite membrane, wherein a cutting line corresponds to a shape of an area to be exposed of the product; removing the first protection layer and cut portions of the bonding layer and the shielding layer which have a same shape as that of the area to be exposed; attaching the formed composite membrane onto a base substrate of an open mask, and removing the second protection layer.
US09946149B1	Method of producing a packaging material for making a packaging bag configured to contain hair dye A method of producing a packaging material for making a packaging bag configured to contain hair dye includes the steps of preparing a first biaxially-oriented polyester film and an aluminum foil film, coating them with adhesives, and hot pressing them; preparing a second biaxially-oriented polyester film and roughening opposite surfaces thereof; coating one surface of the second biaxially-oriented polyester film with an adhesive, adhere it to the aluminum foil film and hot pressing them; preparing a cast polypropylene film and coating a surface thereof with an adhesive; and adhering the surface of the cast polypropylene film to the other surface of the second biaxially-oriented polyester film and hot pressing them.
US09946148B2	Image projection unit and image projection apparatus An image projection unit includes: a light source unit; a plurality of reflection-type image display elements; a plurality of total reflection prisms configured to guide lights of multiple colors emitted from the light source unit to the reflection-type image display elements and to emit the lights reflected from the reflection-type image display elements; a color synthesis prism configured to receive the lights emitted from the total reflection prisms, synthesize the lights, and emit the synthesized lights; a holding member fixed to the color synthesis prism and holding the reflection-type image display elements; and a base member supporting the color synthesis prism and the plurality of total reflection prisms
US09946142B2	Light source device and projector having the light source device A light source device includes light sources having semiconductor lasers, a condensing lens, an optical component between the light sources and the condensing lens, and a phosphor wheel. The optical component has an inclined optical surface, and the inclined optical surface has different inclination angles for each of the light sources. Some of the semiconductor lasers are first semiconductor lasers having a short axis of the shape of its condensing spot aligned in a first direction and some of them are second semiconductor lasers having a short axis in a second direction that is different from the first direction. A light diffusing layer is disposed in the optical path of the emitting light of either the first semiconductor laser or the second semiconductor laser. A light scattering layer is disposed in the optical path of the emitting light of either the first semiconductor laser or the second semiconductor laser.
US09946141B2	Projection device for projecting images on a surface of the device A projection device for projecting images on a surface of the device includes an outer housing having a front translucent screen, a projection module frame mounted on an inner surface of the outer housing, and a projection roller frame supported by the projection module frame. The projection roller frame includes first and second spaced apart rollers rotatable respectively on two opposite cylindrical ends integrally formed on a lampshade. A cylindrical projection film is held between the first and second rollers. A light source is mounted inside the lampshade so that an image formed on the projection film can be projected on the front translucent screen by the light source. The device further includes a gear mechanism for driving the rollers, a position-limiting mechanism, and a speaker.
US09946136B2	Display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof The present invention discloses a display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof. The display apparatus comprises a display device, an out-cell device and a flexible printed circuit board for being connected to an external signal. The display device has a first category of leads and a second category of leads; the out-cell device has reserved leads, and the reserved leads are electrically connected to the second category of leads; and the flexible printed circuit board has a first category of pins and a second category of pins, the first category of leads are electrically connected to the first category of pins, and the second category of leads are electrically connected to the second category of pins. In this way, the reserved leads are electrically connected to the second category of leads, while the second category of leads are electrically connected to the second category of pins, thereby enabling conduction between the out-cell device and the external signal. As compared with the prior art in which the out-cell device and the display device are provided with their respective flexible printed circuit boards, the display apparatus as provided in the embodiments of the present invention omits the step of separately making a flexible printed circuit board of the out-cell device, thereby reducing the cost of production of the display apparatus and at the same time further simplifying the structure of the out-cell device of the display apparatus.
US09946135B2	High voltage thin film optical switch A thin film optical switch includes a layer of photosensitive material that extends laterally with first and second electrodes are spaced apart laterally from one another along the layer of photo sensitive material. The first and second electrodes contact the photo sensitive material at first and second junctions, respectively. At least one field plate is electrically insulated from the photo sensitive material and extends laterally along the layer of photo sensitive material over the first or the second junction. The field plate is electrically connected to the first electrode or the second electrode.
US09946133B2	Field sequential color ferroelectric liquid crystal display cell An electrically suppressed helix (ESH) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell with fast response includes: a liquid crystal layer, disposed between two transparent substrates, wherein helix pitch of chiral smectic liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer is less than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer; at least one polarizer; and a voltage source, configured to apply electrical driving voltage pulses to electrodes of the display cell with amplitude greater than a critical voltage for helix unwinding of the chiral smectic liquid crystals.
US09946132B2	Array substrate and liquid crystal display panel An array substrate and a liquid crystal display panel including the array substrate are provided. The array substrate includes: multiple pixel units; at least one additional functional area located in each row of a matrix formed by the multiple pixel units, where the additional functional area is provided with a gate signal detecting transistor; and a detection signal output line and a preset signal line connected with each other. By detecting whether a drive signal on a gate line is normal using the gate signal detecting transistor, the problem of manually detecting one-by one whether a signal on a gate line is normal can be avoided, thereby improving the detection efficiency and accuracy.
US09946131B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device in which smear error is suppressed and transmittance is uniform is provided. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a plurality of pixels and uses comb-teeth-shaped transparent conductive films 110 as common wirings, the common wirings include mesh-shaped common metal wirings 101v and 101h extending in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction and the comb-teeth-shaped transparent conductive films 110 are connected between adjacent pixels.
US09946129B2	Liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display includes: a first insulation substrate; a gate line disposed on the first insulation substrate; a first data line and a second data line disposed on the first insulation substrate; a color filter disposed on the first insulation substrate and disposed between the first data line and the second data line; a first light blocking member disposed on the first data line and the second data line; and a second light blocking member disposed on the color filter and the first light blocking member, extending in the same direction as the gate line, and overlapping the first light blocking member on the first data line and the second data line.
US09946128B2	Image display device In an image display device including a first display panel and a second display panel, there are provided a first panel body, a first panel body emission-side polarizing plate disposed at a front-surface side with respect to the first panel body, a second panel body, a second panel body incidence-side polarizing plate disposed at a back-surface side with respect to the second panel body, at least one inter-panel polarizing plate disposed between the first panel body and the second panel body, and a back-surface irradiation light source configured to emit light toward the back-surface side. The back-surface irradiation light source is provided in one of regions between the first panel body emission-side polarizing plate and the second panel body incidence-side polarizing plate.
US09946127B2	Display device According to one embodiment, a display device includes first and second substrates, and liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes first and second electrodes. The second electrode includes comblike electrodes extending in parallel to a first direction and tapered toward tips thereof, and a connecting portion which connects the comblike electrodes. An initial alignment direction is parallel to the first direction or a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The comblike electrode includes a first part having sides each form a first angle with the first direction, and a second part having sides each form a second angle with the first direction, the second angle being greater than the first angle.
US09946125B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device according to FFS technology is capable of providing a common electrode with common electric potential. A pixel electrode is formed of a first layer transparent electrode. A common electrode made of a second layer transparent electrode is formed above the pixel electrode interposing an insulation film between them. The common electrode in an upper layer is provided with a plurality of slits. The common electrode extends over all the pixels in a display region. An end of the common electrode is disposed on a periphery of the display region and connected with a peripheral common electric potential line that provides a common electric potential Vcom. There is provided neither an auxiliary common electrode line nor a pad electrode, both of which are provided in a liquid crystal display device according to a conventional art.
US09946123B2	Pixel arrangement structure, display panel and display device The present disclosure provides a pixel arrangement structure, a display panel and a display device. The pixel arrangement structure includes a plurality of first sub-pixels, a plurality of second sub-pixels and a plurality of third sub-pixels. Each pixel includes one first sub-pixel, each second sub-pixel is shared by at least two adjacent pixels and each third sub-pixel is shared by at least two adjacent pixels. A density of the sub-pixels is 1.5 times larger than a density of the pixels in a first direction of a pixel array, and a density of the sub-pixels is 1.5 times larger than a density of the pixels in a second direction of the pixel array. The first direction is different from the second direction.
US09946120B2	Display device A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible first substrate including a display area, and a non-display area around the display area, a first piezoelectric material layer—at one side of the first substrate, an intermediate electrode layer contacting the first piezoelectric material layer, a piezoelectric material layer driver coupled to the intermediate electrode layer, and configured to apply a driving voltage to the intermediate electrode layer to form an electric field at the first piezoelectric material layer, a thin film transistor at one side of the first substrate, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor.
US09946118B2	Display device To improve the reliability of a display device, a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate having a back surface, a substrate having a front surface opposing the back surface, a display functional layer arranged between the substrate and the substrate, and a sealing section SL that adhesively fixes the substrates around the display functional layer in a plan view. The sealing section SL includes a member PS extending along an outer edge of the display functional layer and sealing materials adjacently arranged on both sides of the member PS and continuously surrounding the periphery of the display functional layer in a plan view. The member PS includes a plurality of portions PS1 having a height TK1 and a plurality of portions PS2 arranged among the plurality of portions PS1 and having a height TK2 smaller than the height TK1.
US09946115B2	Liquid crystal display panel and method for manufacturing the same, display device A liquid crystal display panel and a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device are provided. The liquid crystal display panel includes: an array substrate, a color film substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a first alignment layer and a second alignment layer. The first alignment layer includes a first alignment region corresponding to an opening region and a second alignment region corresponding to a light shielding region. An alignment direction of the first alignment region is different from an alignment direction of the second alignment region, and an alignment direction of a region in the second alignment layer is parallel to an alignment direction of a region in the first alignment layer corresponding to the region in the second alignment layer. According to the present disclosure, a color mixing and color cast phenomenon in the liquid crystal display panel is alleviated.
US09946107B2	Display device A display device including a plurality of pixels includes a first display part including a first electrode, a second electrode and a light emitting layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second display part including the second electrode, a third electrode and a light function layer provided between the second electrode and the third electrode, the light function layer controlling the diffusion state or transparency state of light and being provided on the same side the light emitting layer with respect to the second electrode.
US09946098B2	Eyewear with a cellular GPS module The embodiments herein provide an eyewear with an improved structure for temple. The eyewear comprises a cellular communication module and a push button mounted in the pair of temples. The cellular communication module is configured to provide wireless communication between the eyewear and a computing device for tracking GPS location coordinates of the eyewear. The eyewear is tracked by the computing device using an identification number programmed in the cellular communication module. The eyewear is tracked by identifying GPS location coordinates of the eyewear using an eyewear detecting application in the computing device. Further, the push button is configured to make emergency calls to a plurality of emergency contact numbers programmed in the cellular communication module. The push button enables to make an emergency call during an emergency occurred to the user of the eyewear.
US09946097B2	Electronic frames comprising electrical conductors In some embodiments, a first device may be provided. The first device may comprise a lens housing adapted to support a first lens and a second lens, a first temple movably coupled to the lens housing, a second temple movably coupled to the lens housing, an electronics module disposed at least partially within the first temple, and a first electrical conductor coupled to the first temple. A first conductive path may be provided from the first temple to the lens housing at least in part by the first electrical conductor. The first electrical conductor may be configured to couple the electronics module to the first temple.
US09946091B2	Eyeglasses frame The eyeglasses frame includes a first hinge barrel provided on a lens holding portion, a second hinge barrel provided on a temple, a first screw that pivotably couples the first hinge barrel and the second hinge barrel, and a second screw provided in the second hinge barrel and contactable with the first hinge barrel. A tip portion of the first hinge barrel is a cam that includes a first depression where the second screw comes to rest when the eyeglasses frame is completely open, a second depression where the second screw comes to rest when the eyeglasses frame is completely closed, substantially straight portions that join the first and second depressions, and a corner portion where the substantially straight portions change direction at a point therebetween.
US09946084B2	Methods for making optical devices Described herein are methods for constructing optical device without the need of chemical adhesives. The methods involve performing the following steps: obtaining a first optical substrate comprising a first surface and a second optical substrate comprising a second surface; applying water to the first surface of the first optical substrate, to the second surface of the second optical substrate, or both; securing the first optical substrate to the second optical substrate, wherein the first surface of the first optical substrate is adjacent to the second surface of the second optical substrate; and applying deep ultraviolet radiation to the first optical substrate and the second optical substrate to form a bond without the use of adhesive. Also provided are optical devices constructed by the methods described herein.
US09946083B2	Reflective mobile phone cinema lens A reflective mobile phone lens, comprising a semi-permeable semi-reflecting mirror (5), a concave spherical reflecting mirror (4) and a mobile phone (1) screen; the mobile phone (1) screen serves as a display screen to display an image; light passes through the semi-permeable semi-reflecting mirror (5) and arrives at the concave spherical reflecting mirror (4), and then is reflected by the concave spherical reflecting mirror (4) back to the semi-permeable semi-reflecting mirror (5), and is reflected by the reflective surface of the semi-permeable semi-reflecting mirror (5) onto the mobile phone (1) screen. The mobile phone lens enables watching an online movie or playing a virtual reality game on the mobile phone (1) to have a good effect like watching a movie on a big screen in a cinema.
US09946079B2	Method of controlling head-mounted display that provides information to user A method of causing a processor of a head-mounted display including a display device that displays an image to execute operations including receiving information indicating an inclination of the head-mounted display, determining a posture of the head-mounted display based on the received information indicating the inclination, in a case where the posture of the head-mounted display is first posture, controlling the display device to display a representing an operation process performed by a user and superimposed in a field of view of the user, and in a case where it is determined that the posture of the head-mounted display has changed from the first posture to a second posture, switching the image displayed on the display device to a second image having a display area smaller than that of the first image.
US09946077B2	Collapsible virtual reality headset for use with a smart device The present invention relates to a new type of collapsible virtual reality headset to view a three-dimensional environment on a smart device that can be folded into a self-contained package for compact storage and ease of portability. Through its design of structural folds, the collapsible virtual reality headset offers portability, durability, and adaptability to be mounted to headphone, headgear, and/or to be used with a haptic device. Users of the invention download software applications onto their smart devices and use this display apparatus to view the virtual stereoscopic images or video through left and right lens systems. Users of this invention can adjust the pupillary distance and the distance between the lenses from the smart device display for optimal user comfort. The invention is made up of material that makes it water resistant and may be stored in one's bag or pocket when configured in its compact form.
US09946076B2	System and method for 3-D projection and enhancements for interactivity A system projects a user-viewable, computer-generated or -fed image, wherein a head-mounted projector is used to project an image onto a retro-reflective surface, so only the viewer can see the image. The projector is connected to a computer that contains software to create virtual 2-D and or 3-D images for viewing by the user. Further, one projector each is mounted on either side of the user's head, and, by choosing for example a retro angle of less than about 10 degrees, each eye can only see the image of one of the projectors at a give distance up to 3 meters, in this example, from the retro-reflective screen. The retro angle used may be reduced with larger viewing distance desired. These projectors use lasers to avoid the need for focusing, and in some cases there projectors use instead of lasers highly collimated LED light sources to avoid the need for focusing.
US09946073B2	Methods and systems for eliminating strobing by switching display modes in response to detecting saccades A virtual-reality system includes a head-mounted display system comprising an eye tracker and a display screen comprising an array of pixels. The virtual-reality system monitors movement of a user's eye using the eye tracker. A first plurality of frames for virtual-reality images is displayed on the display screen using a first persistence in accordance with a first display mode. The persistence is a percentage of a frame duration during which the array of pixels is activated. While displaying the first plurality of frames in accordance with the first display mode, a saccade of the user's eye is detected. In response to detecting the saccade, the virtual-reality system switches from the first display mode to a second display mode having a second persistence that is greater than the first persistence. In the second display mode, a second plurality of frames for the virtual-reality images is displayed using the second persistence.
US09946072B2	Diffractive optical element with uncoupled grating structures In an optical display system having a waveguide and multiple diffractive optical elements (DOEs), an in-coupling DOE couples light into the waveguide, an intermediate DOE provides exit pupil expansion in a first direction, and an out-coupling DOE provides exit pupil expansion in a second direction and couples light out of the waveguide. The intermediate DOE includes grating features that are configured to rotate a state of polarization of light perturbations in the intermediate DOE that would otherwise generate optical interference through a closed-loop coupling phenomenon. The polarization state of a perturbed beam is rotated in the intermediate DOE to be orthogonal relative to the polarization state of the main beam used for image display to thereby uncouple the closed loops and make the perturbed beam non-interfering with the imaging beam.
US09946067B1	Systems and methods for reducing boot time and power consumption in wearable display systems Systems and methods for communications with wearable devices having displays with low boot time are provided. In one example embodiment, a display command is received at a low-power processor, and the low-power processor boots a video processor. The video processor then boots a high-speed processor as part of managing display of content. In certain embodiments, a low-power wireless connection from a camera to a client device is established. Based on this connection, the low-power processor initiates boot-up of a high-speed processor and wireless communication circuitry, which is used to receive content for display on the wearable device.
US09946066B1	Optics for diffraction limited focusing inside transparent media Apparatuses, devices and systems and methods for microscopy and optical data storage in transparent media, as well as for laser material processing of transparent or semi-transparent materials. Optics for diffraction limited focusing inside transparent or semi-transparent media comprising aplanatic focusing optical system and positive meniscus lens where reciprocal positions of the components and a transparent medium are optimized with criterion of minimized aberration providing diffraction limited internal focusing at a given depth inside the said transparent medium. For modern high resolution microscopy the optical components have achromatic and apochromatic optical designs. Immersion in space between the meniscus lens and the transparent material is used to increase the system numerical aperture. Simultaneous compensation of aberrations at different depths in a transparent medium provides diffraction limited focusing in wide depth range and simultaneous operation in multiple working planes separated along optical axis that is required in modern multi-focus microscopy. For modern scientific and industrial applications the movable optical components can be motorized.
US09946060B2	Super-resolution microscopy The present invention relates to a method of processing images captured following structured illumination of a sample, the method comprising the steps of: identifying emission spots within each captured image; verifying the emission spots; and reconstructing an enhanced image of the sample from the emission spots. The method may comprise identifying only in focus emission spots. By identifying and processing only in focus spots, whether or not they are centered on expected illumination positions, improvements in resolution can be achieved compared to known SIM methods. In particular, by suitable selection of in focus spots, significant improvements in lateral and axial resolution can be achieved.
US09946058B2	Microscope apparatus and observation method A microscope apparatus comprises: a distribution measurement apparatus which—with respect to an observation region wherein a sample is arranged which comprises a fluorescent material that is activated when irradiated with an activating light of a prescribed wavelength, and that emits fluorescence when irradiated in an activated condition with an exciting light of a wavelength that differs from that of the activating light—obtains a fluorescent picture image by conducting irradiation with the exciting light, and measures a fluorescent intensity distribution of the observation region; an irradiation intensity setting apparatus which sets irradiation intensities of the activating light for respective portions of the observation region based on the fluorescent intensity distribution; and a picture image formation apparatus which obtains a plurality of the fluorescent picture images by multiply repeating operations comprising an operation wherein the observation region is irradiated with the activating light at the irradiation intensities that have been set in the respective portions, and an operation wherein a fluorescent picture image is obtained by irradiating the observation region with the exciting light after the activating light irradiation, and which generates a sample picture image from the plurality of the fluorescent picture images.
US09946055B2	Beam shaping system and an illumination system using the same A beam shaping system is for example for use over an array of light sources. An array of beam shaping units is arranged in a general plane, each beam shaping unit comprising a central refracting area, an intermediate total internal reflection area for processing of light from a light source beneath the central area, and an outer total internal reflection area for processing light from the nearest light source and an adjacent light source. This outer area essentially extends the useful size of the adjacent beam shaping unit to improve the beam shaping performance and/or the optical efficiency.
US09946048B2	Lens barrel module and lens assembly including the same A lens barrel module is disclosed to include a lens barrel unit and a flow path unit. The lens barrel unit extends along an axis and includes a peripheral wall that surrounds the axis and that has a first end adjacent to an object side of a lens assembly and a second end opposite to the first end and adjacent to an image side of the lens assembly. The peripheral wall defines an accommodation space configured as a series of accommodation sections for receiving the optical members. The flow path unit is formed in the lens barrel module and is in spatial communication with at least two of the accommodation sections. A lens assembly including the lens barrel module is also disclosed.
US09946046B2	Apparatus for selectively connecting items An apparatus for selectively connecting an accessory item to a surgical microscope includes a center pivot. An adapter arm includes an adapter support having a substantially planar support body which extends laterally in an outboard direction from the center pivot and has laterally spaced inboard and outboard support regions separated by a laterally oriented centerline. The adapter arm is configured to accept at least a portion of the accessory item in a supporting relationship. An undermount adapter includes a substantially planar undermount body having laterally spaced inboard and outboard body regions separated by a laterally oriented centerline. A plurality of microscope attachment throughholes each throughhole extend through the undermount body. Each throughhole is configured to accept a fastener for securement of the undermount adapter to the surgical microscope. An arm receiver is configured to accept the adapter tongue of the adapter arm in a supporting relationship.
US09946040B2	Optical fibers without cladding In some examples, an optical fiber may include a clad portion and an exposed fiber core that extends from the clad portion. Multiple such optical fibers may be included in a fiber bundle having a condensed region of fiber cores spaced at a first center-to-center spacing and a non-condensed region of clad portions spaced at a second center-to-center spacing greater than the first center-to-center spacing. Such optical fibers may be formed with exposed fiber cores ab initio.
US09946039B2	Optical transceiver module An optical transceiver module includes an optical fiber and an optical fiber positioning structure that fixes the optical fiber. The optical fiber positioning structure includes a first positioning part that fixes the said optical fiber, and a first supporting part that fixes the first positioning part on a case of the optical transceiver module. The first positioning part includes a first end face and a second end face opposite to one another, and a first through-hole that connects the first and second end faces. The inner diameter of the first through-hole is substantially equal to the diameter of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is fixed within the first through-hole. The first supporting part includes an accommodating portion for accommodating the first positioning part. The first positioning part is fixed in the accommodating portion.
US09946034B1	Contamination prevention system for fiber optic cabling A plug may be coupled with a cable and include a fiber ferrule extending from the plug. A biasing mechanism may be arranged to bias a cover toward a covered configuration in which the fiber ferrule is situated within an internal volume defined by the cover and away from an uncovered configuration in which the fiber ferrule is situated at least partially outside of the internal volume defined by the cover. Bristles or other blockers may be positioned along or within a boundary of the internal volume of the cover, may be arranged to block particulate entry through the blockers into the internal volume of the cover in the covered configuration, and may be movable to permit passage of the fiber ferrule through the blockers in response to movement of the cover between the covered configuration and uncovered configuration.
US09946029B2	Optical coupler having anchored cantilever structure with multi-stage inverse taper core waveguide and fabrication method thereof An optical coupler structure may include a substrate, a waveguide section and an anchored cantilever section. The substrate may include a main body and a sub-pillar structure formed on the main body. The waveguide section may be disposed on the substrate, and may include a core waveguide of a first material surrounded by a cladding layer of a second material. The anchored cantilever section may be disposed on the sub-pillar structure on the substrate, which may be configured to support the cantilever section and separate the cantilever section from the main body of the substrate. The anchored cantilever section may include a multi-stage inverse taper core waveguide and a cladding layer, of the second material, which surrounds the multi-stage inverse taper core waveguide.
US09946027B2	Device and method for post-fabrication trimming of an optical ring resonator using a dopant-based heater A device and method for post-fabrication trimming of an optical ring resonator using a dopant-based heater is provided. An optical ring resonator at the device can be heated using heaters in an optical slab from which the optical ring resonator extends, the heater including a non-uniform doping profile. A controller determines an initial resonance frequency and a target resonance frequency of the optical ring resonator. The controller applies predetermined electrical parameters to the heater using electrical connections to shift a resonance frequency of the optical ring resonator from the initial resonance frequency to the target resonance frequency by causing the dopant in the heater to migrate.
US09946026B2	Reduced pupil integrated optical system using precisely matched optical pathlengths An imaging system comprises a matched pathlength combining waveguide array including input optical couplers for receiving light, combining waveguides for combining the light received from different input optical couplers and relaying the light to output optical couplers. A lens system is also provided for imaging the light from the output optical couplers. Compared to imaging systems, this imaging system can be much more compact. A standard imaging system requires a focal length at least equal to the aperture (width) of the lens. Because the aperture size of a lens determines the performance of a system (resolution and collected light) there is a limit to how compact a traditional high performance imaging system can be. In contrast, the present system removes that limitation because the minimum practical focal length is now determined by the size of the aperture of the outputs, which can be significantly smaller (by factors of more than 10×, typically).
US09946025B2	Removable optical tap for in-process characterization An integrated circuit includes optical waveguides defined in a semiconductor layer, and uses removable optical taps to allow for in-process characterization and trimming. These optical waveguides may be trimmed during fabrication of the integrated circuit to improve performance. Note that the trimming may modify indexes of refraction of portions of the optical waveguides or may involve a more invasive process. Moreover, the trimming may exclude or may not involve the use of a polymer and/or the carrier wavelengths at a given temperature may be stable as a function of time. The trimming process may use removable optical taps for external feedback to determine the amount of change required. These optical taps may be formed either in the semiconductor layer or the cladding layer, and they may be disabled with negligible impact to device performance via alterations to the cladding layer after the completion of trimming.
US09946024B2	Method and system for grating couplers incorporating perturbed waveguides Methods and systems for grating couplers incorporating perturbed waveguides are disclosed and may include in a semiconductor photonics die, communicating optical signals into and/or out of the die utilizing a grating coupler on the die, where the grating coupler comprises perturbed waveguides. The perturbed waveguides may include rows of continuous waveguides with scatterers extending throughout a length of said perturbed waveguides a variable width along their length. The grating coupler may comprise a single polarization grating coupler comprising perturbed waveguides and a non-perturbed grating. The grating coupler may comprise a polarization splitting grating coupler (PSGC) that includes two sets of perturbed waveguides at a non-zero angle, or a plurality of non-linear rows of discrete shapes. The PSGC may comprise discrete scatterers at an intersection of the sets of perturbed waveguides. The grating coupler may comprise individual scatterers between the perturbed waveguides.
US09946022B2	Waveguide formation using CMOS fabrication techniques Conventional approaches to integrating waveguides within standard electronic processes typically involve using a dielectric layer, such as polysilicon, single-crystalline silicon, or silicon nitride, within the in-foundry process or depositing and patterning a dielectric layer in the backend as a post-foundry process. In the present approach, the back-end of the silicon handle is etched away after in-foundry processing to expose voids or trenches defined using standard in-foundry processing (e.g., complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processing). Depositing dielectric material into a void or trench yields an optical waveguide integrated within the front-end of the wafer. For example, a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer formed in-foundry may serve as a high-resolution patterning waveguide template in a damascene process within the front end of a die or wafer. Filling the trench with a high-index dielectric material yields a waveguide that can guide visible and/or infrared light, depending on the waveguide's dimensions and refractive index contrast.
US09946021B1	Method for fabricating waveguide construction A method for fabricating a waveguide construction is described and has steps of: providing a layered structure by: forming a first-type InGaAsP layer on a substrate, forming a first-type InP layer on the first-type InGaAsP layer, forming an active layer containing gallium on the first-type InP layer, forming a second-type InP layer on the active layer, and forming a second-type InGaAsP layer on the second-type InP layer; forming an SiO2 patterned layer having SiO2 regions and at least one channel facing toward a desired direction and formed between the SiO2 regions on the second-type InGaAsP layer; and performing a rapid thermal annealing treatment on the layered structure formed with the SiO2 patterned layer. The rapid thermal annealing treatment has a treating temperature between 720° C. and 760° C. and a treating time between 60 and 240 seconds.
US09946016B2	Waveguide with shaped assistant layer An apparatus includes a waveguide extending along a light-propagation direction between a light source and a media-facing surface. The waveguide comprises an assistant layer configured to receive light from a light source, truncated with an intermediate bottom cladding layer. A core layer comprises a coupling end configured to receive light from the assistant layer. The coupling end comprises a taper that widens toward the media-facing surface. A near field transducer is disposed proximate the media-facing surface and is configured to receive the light from the core layer.
US09946015B2	Fiber structural body and light source device A fiber structural body includes a first fiber, and a second fiber spliced to the first fiber such that light having propagated through the first fiber propagates through the second fiber. At least one of the fibers is a photonic crystal fiber. The second fiber is coated with a first coating layer and a second coating layer in order from a splice surface, and the first coating layer has a refractive index n1 larger than that of a clad layer of the second fiber. In the fiber structural body, L, r, n1, and NA satisfy a particular relationship.
US09946000B2	Display device and display system A display device and display system. Each pixel cell group of the display comprises at least one first line of pixel cells for displaying information to be viewed by a dedicated spectacle wearer, a second line of pixel cells for displaying compensation information, and a third line of pixel cells for displaying naked-eye pattern information. The light adjustment mechanism allows for a difference between phase retardations experienced by the light emitted by the first line of pixel cells and by the third line of pixel cells upon passing through the light adjustment mechanism. With the display device, the viewer wearing dedicated spectacles and the naked-eye viewer are allowed to see different information, thereby improving the confidentiality of the display device in peep preventive displaying.
US09945999B2	Optical system Optical systems including first and second optical stacks and adapted to provide an adjustable dioptric correction are described. The first optical stack includes a first optical lens and a partial reflector. The second optical stack is convex along orthogonal first and second axes and includes a second optical lens and a reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer has at least one first location having a radial distance r1 from an optical axis of the second optical stack and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at an apex of the reflective polarizer, where s1/r1 is at least 0.1. A quarter wave retarder is disposed between the second optical stack and the first optical stack.
US09945997B2	Virtual image display apparatus with curved surface having both positive and negative curvature and functioning as both reflection surface and refraction surface An intermediate image is formed inside a light guide member by a projection lens or the like, whereby a small optical system having a wide viewing angle and high performance is provided. At least one curved surface among curved surfaces forming an optical system is an opposite-sign curvature curved surface having an opposite-sign curvature point different in curvature depending on direction, whereby the optical system is placed in a satisfactory aberration correction state.
US09945991B2	Light-scattering sheet, electronic device comprising same, and method for producing same Provided are a light scattering sheet, an electronic device comprising the same, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US09945983B2	Silicon titanium oxide coating, coated article including silicon titanium oxide coating, and method of making the same Certain example embodiments relate to a layer of or including Ti1-xSixOy and/or a method of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the Ti1-xSixOy-based layer may be substoichiometric with respect to oxygen. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the layer may include Ti1-xSixOy where x is from about 0.05 to 0.95 (more preferably from about 0.1 to 0.9, and even more preferably from about 0.2 to 0.8, and possibly from about 0.5 to 0.8) and y is from about 0.2 to 2 (more preferably from about 1 to 2, and even more preferably from about 1.5 to 2, and possibly from about 1.9 to 2). The layer may have an index of refraction of from about 1.6 to 1.9. The layer may also be used with a transparent conductive oxide in a transparent conductive coating.
US09945982B2	Fluorinated siloxanes and methods for their preparation Fluorinated siloxane compositions, and methods of making and using the fluorinated siloxanes are disclosed. The polymers described herein may exhibit self-healing properties, a low dielectric constant, and a low refractive index. In some embodiments, a method of making a siloxane compound may involve contacting a silicon metal with a fluorinated compound to form a dichlorosilane compound, hydrolyzing the dichlorosilane compound to form a fluorinated tetrasiloxane compound, and contacting the fluorinated tetrasiloxane compound with a metal catalyst to form a fluorinated cyclic siloxane (D4) compound.
US09945979B2	Acoustic sensor metadata dubbing channel A system for recording metadata is disclosed. The system includes an acoustic vibration sensing system. The system also includes one or more sensors operable to measure characteristic parameters. The sensors are coupled to the acoustic vibration sensing system and include one or more channels for recording metadata. The system further includes one or more optical modulators. The optical modulators modulate a signal received from the one or more sensors and direct the modulated signal to the acoustic vibration sensing system. The system further includes one or more sources of the metadata coupled to the one or more optical modulators.
US09945977B2	Method and apparatus for determining formation properties using non-directional electromagnetic measurements in high angle or horizontal wells Embodiments set forth in this disclosure providing techniques for determining formation parameters, such as horizontal resistivity (Rh), vertical resistivity (Rv), and dip, in high angle and horizontal wells using non-directional resistivity measurements. For example, a method is provided that may include using an electromagnetic logging tool to acquire non-directional resistivity measurements in a wellbore of a high angle or horizontal well. The method may also include defining a processing window that corresponds to a measurement point of the electromagnetic logging tool along a well trajectory that intersects a at least one bed boundary between two layers of a subsurface formation. The method may also include defining a formation structure and defining an initial set of formation parameters for each layer in the formation structure. Furthermore, the method may include inverting the formation parameters for each layer.
US09945973B2	Marine seismic survey pre-plot design Method and system for generating a full acquisition path for a marine seismic acquisition system. The method includes receiving survey area information about a survey area to be seismically surveyed; selecting a radius (R) and a length (L) of a lace; selecting an overlap distance (OL) between first and second lanes; generating the full acquisition path by repeating the lace along a first lead line inside the first lane and along a second lead line inside the second lane and replicating the first and second lanes until the entire survey area is covered with laces; and sending the full acquisition path to a streamer vessel for performing the seismic survey.
US09945972B2	Method and system for separating seismic sources in marine simultaneous shooting acquisition Seismic data are obtained by recording simultaneously in seismic streamer, acquired by activating approximately simultaneously two or more seismic sources towed at two positions in the vicinity of seismic streamers. A residual is updated iteratively for an inversion solution for the activations of the two or more seismic sources. The iterative updating of the residuals utilizes a sequence of overlapping temporal windows containing reflection events and utilizes normal moveout corrections based on largest reflection events in each temporal window. A final updated residual is added to a final updated model result.
US09945965B2	Universal readout for silicon photomultiplier based detectors A SiPM readout circuit includes a front-end circuit having amplifiers coupled to SiPM analog outputs, pixel readout channels coupled to amplifiers provide a timing signal representing gamma ray photon detection in individual SiPM, a block timing channel that creates a summed signal from all SiPMs, and generates a block timing signal and a validation signal, an energy channel that generates a summed energy signal and a two-dimensional position of the gamma ray photon detection in the block, and a control logic/processing circuit that performs a time stamp estimation method. Methods of determining the radiation event timing and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions to implement the methods are disclosed.
US09945962B2	Signal processor and radiation detection device According to an embodiment, a signal processor includes an integrator, a differentiator, a zero cross detector, a pile-up detector, an event interval detector, a counter, and a creator. The integrator is configured to calculate charge of current from a photoelectric converter for an incident radiation. The differentiator is configured to calculate a differential value of the current. The zero cross detector is configured to detect a zero cross of the differential value. The pile-up detector is configured to detect pile-up of the current based on the zero cross. The event interval detector is configured to detect, based on the zero cross and pile-up, an event interval of the radiation entering. The counter is configured to count, based on the charge and pile-up, the respective numbers of events according to the charge and the event interval. The creator is configured to create histograms for the numbers of events.
US09945959B2	Global navigation satellite system receiver system with radio frequency hardware component A stand-alone radio frequency (RF) hardware component comprises first and second antennas, a digitizer, a serializer, and a serial output. The first antenna receives, over-the-air, a first analog Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal in a first frequency band. The second antenna receives, over-the-air, at least a second analog GNSS signal in a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band are separate and distinct. The digitizer digitizes the first analog GNSS signal into a first digitalized GNSS signal and digitizes the second analog GNSS signal into a second digitized GNSS signal. The serializer serializes the digitized GNSS signals into a serialized output signal. A wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the digitized GNSS signals, as the serialized output signal, from the radio frequency hardware component to a separate communication device.
US09945957B2	Machine control system and method A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) based control system is provided for positioning a working component relative to a work surface, such as an agricultural spray boom over a crop field. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, are mounted on the working component and provide positioning signals to a control processor. A method of positioning a working component relative to a work surface using GNSS-based positioning signals is also disclosed. Further disclosed is a work order management system and method, which can be configured for controlling the operation of multiple vehicles, such as agricultural sprayers each equipped with GNSS-based spray boom height control subsystems. The sprayers can be remotely located from each other on multiple crop fields, and can utilize GNSS-based, field-specific terrain models for controlling their spraying operations.
US09945950B2	Method for localizing a vehicle equipped with two lidar systems A method of localizing transportable apparatus (200) within an environment includes receiving (402) data obtained from a first ranging sensor device (202) that is configured to collect information relating to a 2D representation of an environment (301) through which the transportable device is moving. Further data is received (404), that data being obtained from a second ranging sensor device (204) of the transportable apparatus configured to collect information relating to at least a surface (218) over which the transportable apparatus is moving. The ranging sensor device data is used (406) to estimate linear and rotational velocities of the transportable apparatus and the estimates are used (408) to generate a new 3D point cloud (212) of the environment. The method seeks to match (412) the new 3D point cloud with, or within, existing 3D point cloud (216) in order to localize the transportable apparatus with respect to the existing point cloud.
US09945949B2	Long-range, small target rangefinding A device for measuring a distance of a target by means of a telemeter comprises: a laser pulse emitter; a receiver of the laser echoes backscattered by the target, comprising, a spatial detection device which comprises at least one photodiode set up as integrator and is able to provide a spatial signal, and a temporal detection device which comprises at least one photodiode coupled to a transimpedance circuit and is able to provide a so-called temporal signal, means of processing of the spatial signal and of the temporal signal, comprising a unit for calculating the distance of the target, the temporal signal being in the form of a data frame which is the recording of data detected over a predetermined duration. The means of processing comprise: means of post-integration of temporal signals, linked at output to the unit for calculating the distance of the target, linked to the spatial detection device and to the temporal detection device, means for selecting the temporal signals to be transmitted to the post-integration means, as a function of the spatial signal.
US09945948B2	Method and apparatus for providing time-of-flight calculations using distributed light sources An approach is provided for acquiring both depth and surface normal of an object using a time-of-flight sensor with multiple distributed light sources. The approach involves causing, at least in part, at least one sequential illumination of at least one object by a plurality of distributed light sources associated with a time-of-flight sensor. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a capturing of reflected light intensity data using the time-of-flight sensor during the at least one sequential illumination. The approach further involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of the reflected light intensity data to determine at least one depth, at least one surface normal, or a combination thereof of the at least one object.
US09945941B1	Simultaneous continuous wave signals A method is provided for transmitting a plurality of narrowband signals in estimating a Doppler shift of a target object. The method includes simultaneously transmitting at least two narrowband signals from a source and receiving incident signals at a receiver. Multiple narrowband signals can be sent simultaneously and in combination with broadband signals from a source. The incident signals are filtered and processed to determine range and Doppler shift of the target.
US09945937B2	Calibration method based on dual-transmitting dual-receiving phase measurement and distance-measuring device thereof A calibration method includes forming an external optical path, forming an internal optical path, and conducting a phase comparison between the second part of signals of the internal and external optical paths sequentially received by a second receiving device and the first part of signals of the internal and external optical paths sequentially received by a first receiving device. Two-way phase signals are outputted with part of a base reference being eliminated. Phase comparison is conducted again between the two-way signals with part of the base reference being eliminated, and the final phase signal is outputted with the base reference being eliminated. The distance-measuring device includes a transmitting device, first reflective surface, first and second receiving devices, first and second filters, and a phase detector. This realizes phase compensation and calibration, avoids introducing uncertain phase noise into a circuit due to environmental changes, improves distance-measurement precision, and reduces system costs.
US09945936B2	Reduction in camera to camera interference in depth measurements using spread spectrum Reduction in interference between different time of flight (ToF) cameras used for depth measurements and operating in the same application environment is achieved using a spread spectrum technique in which the cyclical operations of a pulsed light source such as a laser or light emitting diode (LED) and gated image sensor are varied in a pseudo-random manner in each camera. In an alternative embodiment, spread spectrum logic is applied in a ToF camera that employs phase modulation techniques.
US09945933B2	Apparatus and method for mitigating interference in a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) automotive radar system In a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar processing system and method, a linear frequency ramp signal is defined. The linear ramp signal is divided into a plurality of time sections. The sections of the linear ramp signal are rearranged in time such that the plurality of sections define a transmit control signal different than the linear ramp signal. A radar transmission signal is generated having a frequency varying with time according to the transmit control signal, and the radar transmission signal is transmitted into the region of interest. An intermediate frequency (IF) signal is generated using the radar transmission signal and radar receive signals received from the region of interest, a frequency of the IF signal being a difference between the frequency of the radar transmission signal and a frequency of the radar receive signals. The IF signal is low-pass filtered. Radar processing is performed on the low-pass-filtered IF signal.
US09945932B2	Real-time multi-array sum power spectrum control Power control for a radar system issues power draw commands to each array in the radar system. Each power draw command controls direct current (DC) power draw by the respective radar array on a dwell-by-dwell basis, based on total energy resources (including stored energy) available to the respective array at the start of a dwell period, a power spend rate expected for the respective array during the dwell period, and a rate of “waste” power set to be dispersed to reduce excess power at the respective array during the dwell period. In determining power draw for an array, the power control takes into account a predetermined number of future dwell periods and any transmit and/or receive tasks scheduled for such periods. If necessary to maintain less than a predetermined ripple on total DC power drawn from a source of the DC power by the radar system, the power control adjusts a duration of empty dwell periods within the dwell schedule for one or more of the arrays.
US09945928B2	Computational signal processing architectures for electromagnetic signature analysis Systems and methods can support a computational signal processing architecture for electromagnetic signature analysis and threat detection. A plurality of sensor antennas can couple a radio frequency signal into a radio receiver. The radio receiver can generate digital samples of the signal. A raw signal analysis engine can identify signal features within the digital samples, generate signal feature vectors from the identified signal features, decode signal content from the signal feature vectors, and transmit the signal feature vectors into a signal feature network. The signal feature vectors may be aggregated from the signal feature network into a signal aggregation and analysis engine. The signal aggregation and analysis engine can refine feature vectors through processing such as identifying wireless attacks according to the signal features within the signal feature vectors. One or more operator interfaces and one or more analysis databases may support these operations.
US09945926B2	Method of designing bandwidth efficient ranging waveforms A method of designing bandwidth-efficient ranging waveforms provides waveforms usable in non-contiguous spectral bands that have low SNR thresholds and are usable at low and moderate SNR's. A set of allowed frequencies in the desired spectral region is divided into bands. A first group of band combinations is selected having a required accuracy at high SNR. Those band combinations in the first group that have the smallest autocorrelation secondary peaks are selected as a second group. Finally, waveforms are selected that occupy band combinations from the second group and have desired factors such as simultaneous or sequential transmission, a desired order of sequential transmission, and/or a desired modulation of the individual bands. Multiple simultaneous transmissions can share a set of bands, and individual transmitters can employ different modulating waveforms with good cross-correlation. In embodiments, waveforms having 4-6 bands provide a SNR threshold only 6-9 dB lower than conventional waveforms.
US09945925B2	Method for detecting a malfunction of a battery control system A method for detecting a malfunction of a battery control system including a plurality of sensors intended to measure separate physical quantities of the battery, the method including the following steps: a) reading output values of the sensors; and b) determining, by means of a processing unit, whether the read values are consistent with a physical phenomenon conditioning relationships between at least two of the quantities.
US09945923B2	Method and apparatus for prospective motion correction using volume navigators in magnetic resonance imaging In a method and apparatus for motion-corrected magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR data are acquired in a diagnostic scan in respective portions, and between each portion of acquired diagnostic data, a navigator scan is implemented wherein navigator data are acquired simultaneously in multiple slices in a navigator sub-volume that is less than the volume of the acquisition volume. A reference scan is acquired before beginning the diagnostic scan, and the navigator data in the sub-volumes are acquired between the acquisition of the portions of the MR data in the diagnostic scan. Between each acquisition portion, a motion-correction algorithm is executed, wherein the navigator data of the sub-volume is compared only to corresponding image data in the reference scan, and, if necessary, a motion-correction instruction is generated that is used for the acquisition of the next diagnostic data portion.
US09945920B2	Method and apparatus for optimizing a magnetic resonance sequence In a method for optimizing a magnetic resonance sequence of a magnetic resonance apparatus, a magnetic resonance sequence is provided to a computer, the sequence having a number of fixed point time intervals that are to be left unmodified, and a number of modifiable time intervals which may be optimized. The magnetic resonance sequence is automatically analyzed in the computer in order to identify the fixed point time intervals and the modifiable time intervals in the magnetic resonance sequence. At least one gradient pulse, which occurs during at least one modifiable time interval of the number of modifiable time intervals, is optimized by taking the first moment of this at least one gradient pulse into account.
US09945919B2	Systems and methods for real time gradient timing modification A method is provided for modified gradient timing in a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system. The method includes generating radio frequency (RF) excitation pulses in a volume of patient anatomy to provide subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data and generating a sequence of gradient waveforms on a static magnetic field in three directions each orthogonal to each other for slice selection, phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in the volume of patient anatomy. The method also includes receiving, by a controller, an indication of the sequence of gradient waveforms to be applied to a plurality of gradient coils and modifying, via the controller, the sequence of gradient waveforms to be applied to the plurality of gradient coils based on one or more parameters to produce a sequence of modified gradient waveforms. The method further includes providing the sequence of modified gradient waveforms to the plurality of gradient coils.
US09945915B2	High magnetic field compatible interventional needle and integrated needle tracking system An elongate device, such as a catheter, for interventional MRI has one or more passive LC-circuits attached to its distal tip portion for position tracking. The LC-circuits includes an inductor winding and a three-dimensional “trench” capacitor. The LC-circuits are integrated in a piece of silicon. Optical fibers may be included in the device for optical probing of tissue surrounding the distal tip portion.
US09945913B2	Magnetic sensor, method for manufacturing magnetic sensor, and current sensor A magnetic sensor includes: a magnetoresistive effect element having a sensitivity axis in a specific direction in which a fixed magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic material layer, and a free magnetic layer are laminated in this order; an antiferromagnetic layer which generates an exchange coupling bias with the free magnetic layer and which aligns the magnetization direction thereof in a predetermined direction provided on the free magnetic layer; and a ferromagnetic layer which generates an exchange coupling bias with the antiferromagnetic layer and which aligns the magnetization direction thereof in a predetermined direction provided on the antiferromagnetic layer. The magnetization direction on the exchange coupling bias in the free magnetic layer is the same direction as that on the exchange coupling bias in the ferromagnetic layer, and the ferromagnetic layer is able to impart a reflux magnetic field having a component along a sensitivity axis to the free magnetic layer.
US09945910B2	Voltage monitoring module and voltage monitoring system which compares voltages to determine leakage The voltage monitoring module includes an input terminal, a cell balancing input terminal, a switch, and a control circuit. The input terminal is coupled to a high-voltage-side terminal of a battery cell through a filter resistor. The cell balancing input terminal is coupled to the high-voltage-side terminal of the battery cell. The switch is coupled to the input terminal. The control circuit- controls ON/OFF of the switch. A filter resistor is coupled between the switch and a ground. The control circuit turns on the switch, so that a high-voltage-side voltage is compared with a low-voltage-side voltage.
US09945909B2	Monitoring multiple subsea electric motors According to some embodiments, two or more subsea motors are run simultaneously from a common topside frequency converter and a single set of three-phase cores within an umbilical cable. The subsea distribution system, which may include a subsea transformer distributes the power to the electrical motors. Current sensor and measuring electronics are used to measure current on one or more of the phases used to drive each motor. Measurement data is transmitted to the surface where an analysis system is used to detect possible load imbalance conditions between the motors.
US09945906B2	Test device and method A test device for testing a device under test (DUT) includes an integrated control interface adaptable for a plurality of different communication standards. The integrated control interface can be adapted to be compliant with the communication standard used by a DUT connected to the test device.
US09945904B1	Apparatus, method, and system for testing IC chip An apparatus for performing a scan test of IC chip includes a shift-frequency searching unit that executes first scan test for first scan pattern whole or part of which constituting first scan section and second scan test for second scan pattern whole or part of which constituting second scan section, and searches usable shift frequency for the second scan section. The first scan pattern is scan pattern inputted to scan path right before the second scan pattern. The shift-frequency searching unit shifts the first scan section to the scan path with first shift frequency in the first scan test, shifts the second scan section to the scan path with second shift frequency in the second scan test, and determines, when both results of the first scan test and the second scan test indicate pass, the second shift frequency as the usable shift frequency for the second scan section.
US09945899B2	Testing of semiconductor devices and devices, and designs thereof In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of testing a plurality of semiconductor devices includes applying a stress voltage having a peak voltage on a shield line disposed over a substrate. The substrate has functional circuitry of a semiconductor device. A fixed voltage is applied to a first metal line disposed above the substrate adjacent the shield line. The first metal line is coupled to the functional circuitry and is configured to be coupled to a high voltage node during operation. The peak voltage is greater than a maximum fixed voltage. The shield line separates the first metal line from an adjacent second metal line configured to be coupled to a low voltage node during operation. The method further includes measuring a current through the shield line in response to the stress voltage, determining the current through the shield line of the semiconductor device, and based on the determination, identifying the semiconductor device as passing the test.
US09945894B2	Arc fault detection The present disclosure provides systems and methods for detecting arc faults. For some embodiments, arc faults are detected from waveforms that are acquired and processed, preferably using an Average Magnitude Difference Function (AMDF). The characteristics of the waveform provide an indication of whether or not an arcing fault occurred.
US09945892B2	Wire processing machine including a conductor monitor device An illustrative wire processing machine includes at least one blade configured for at least one of cutting a conductor or at least piercing an insulation layer on the conductor. At least one gripper assembly includes a gripper configured to at least temporarily grasp a portion of a conductor during a wire processing operation. A generator, which is part of the gripper assembly, is configured to radiate a field toward a conductor. The gripper assembly also includes a detector that is configured to detect at least some of the field propagated along the conductor. A processor is configured to determine when a change in the propagated field detected by the detector indicates contact between a conductor and the blade.
US09945889B2	Method for detecting power theft in a power distribution system A method detects power theft in a branch of a distribution system by distinguishing between technical losses that are inevitable during the course of normal operation of the system, and non-technical losses that can be attributed to power theft. The method assumes a specific circuit corresponding to that branch, collects data for energy consumed and currents at regular intervals by means of a smart or traditional power meter, estimates the likely resistances of the lines connecting the consumption points to the distribution transformed by means of least squares regression, and uses the estimated resistances to predict technical losses in future time intervals. By comparing the total power losses measured during future intervals with the estimates of the technical losses, the amount of non-technical losses can be estimated, and theft can be signaled when this amount is unusually high.
US09945884B2	System and method for a wind speed meter According to an embodiment, a method of measuring wind speed includes measuring atmospheric pressure at a first pressure sensor arranged inside a case and shielded from wind, measuring air pressure at a second pressure sensor arranged at an opening in the case, and determining wind speed at the opening in the case based on measuring the atmospheric pressure and the air pressure.
US09945883B2	Pipette system A pipetting system includes a rail; a carriage to engage the rail, the carriage movable relative to the rail substantially along a first axis; a pipette pump slidably engaged with the carriage, the pipette pump slidable relative to the carriage substantially along the first axis; and a sensor to detect movement of the pipette pump relative to the carriage.
US09945882B2	Method for pipetting liquids in an automated analysis apparatus ABSTRACT The present invention lies in the field of automated analysis apparatuses and relates to a method for transferring a liquid volume from a first liquid vessel into a second liquid vessel. The method ensures increased pipetting accuracy, even from liquid vessels which have foam on the surface of the liquid.
US09945880B2	Automatic analyzer According to one embodiment, an automatic analyzer includes a magnetic field generator, a photometric unit, a measurement unit, and a decision unit. The magnetic field generator causes magnetic separation in a reaction liquid stored in a cuvette by magnetic particles. The photometric unit includes a light source unit configured to generate light, and a detection unit configured to detect the light generated by the light source unit and generate an output signal corresponding to the detected light. The measurement unit measures a measurement item based on the output signal. The decision unit decides the use range of the output signal to be used to measure the measurement item in accordance with spatial unevenness of the magnetic separation by the magnetic field generator.
US09945878B1	Compositions and solutions for target substance detection and measurement Various embodiments for a hand-held device to determine a level of one or more cannabinoid compounds in exhaled human breath are provided; some embodiments may also determine a level of alcohol in the exhaled breath. The device may perform any of the following steps: capture, concentrate, separate, identify, and quantify the level of cannabinoids in the exhaled human breath. The device may use solvent extraction and liquid chromatography to concentrate and separate cannabinoids from breath contaminants, followed by selective chemical modification of the cannabinoids with a fluorescent indicator for quantification. The measurement methodology may also include real time calibration of the device and detection protocol using known cannabinoid standards, which are simultaneously analyzed along with an unknown, to quantify the level of cannabinoids captured from the breath sample. The capture and separation components, along with cannabinoid analysis standards, may be configured as part of a single-use, field-replaceable testing cartridge.
US09945876B2	Diagnostic tools for charcot-marie-tooth disease The present invention relates in particular to methods of detecting predisposition to or diagnosis and/or prognosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and related disorders. More specifically, the invention relates to development, validation and application of new biomarkers which can be used for detecting the presence or risk of CMT disease and related disorders. In particular, the present invention relates to metabolite, lipid, carbohydrate and proteinaceous biomarkers that can be measured in biological body fluids and easily available extracts of biopsies, which can be used to aid in the detection, prediction of drug treatment and follow-up of this treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, including CMT disease. The present invention also relates to methods for identification of CMT disease subtypes and assessing the responsiveness to treatments and the efficacy of treatments in subjects having CMT or a related disorder.
US09945875B2	Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) biomarkers and uses thereof Methods, compositions, and kits for determining whether a subject has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are provided. Methods, compositions, and kits for determining whether a subject has non-alcoholic steatosis are also provided. Methods, compositions, and kits for determining whether a subject has non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are also provided.
US09945873B2	Methods and kits for predicting the risk of respiratory failure, renal failure or thrombopenia in a septic patient by measuring endocan levels in blood The present invention relates to methods and kits for predicting the risk of respiratory failure, renal failure or thrombopenia in a septic patient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for predicting the risk of having an organ failure selected from the group consisting of respiratory failure, renal failure and thrombopenia in a septic patient comprising a step consisting of measuring the concentration of endocan in a blood sample obtained from said septic patient.
US09945870B2	Methods for determining responsiveness to an anti-CD47 agent Methods and kits are provided for determining whether an individual is responsive to an anti-CD47 agent and for determining whether an individual is maintaining responsiveness to an anti-CD47 agent by assaying biological samples for the level of at least one biomarker in a biological sample.
US09945868B2	Method for determining degree of modified potency of bipathic medicament The invention comprises a method for determining degree of modified potency of a bipathic medicament. A bipathic medicine is a medicament comprising a therapeutic component and a homeopathic component, wherein the homeopathic component has some physical, chemical or biological affect on the therapeutic component and/or the pharmacological efficacy thereof. An analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form is made prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form. The same analytical measurement(s) are made and after interaction between the therapeutic and activated-potentiated forms. This data is used to confirm the presence of any modified potency is caused by the presence of molecular form in the activated-potentiated form. Further, the claimed analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form and again after such interaction serves to quantify the degree of modifying potency associated with the activated-potentiated form in relative dimensionless activity units (release activity).
US09945865B2	Polymer nanocomposites for early diagnosis of diseases Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a crosslinked hydrogel; where the hydrogel comprises a polymer having a cleavable bond along a backbone of the polymer, along a substituent that undergoes crosslinking, or along the backbone of the polymer and along the substituent that undergoes crosslinking; where the cleavable bond is operative to be cleaved by an enzyme released in the body of a living being; and a semiconducting quantum dot that emits light in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
US09945864B2	Disease-associated antigens and methods of use thereof The present disclosure provides synthetic antibodies specific for a disease-associated antigen, and methods of using the antibodies in disease therapy. The present disclosure further provides diagnostic assays involving detecting the presence and/or level in biological sample of an antibody specific for a disease-associated antigen.
US09945860B2	Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide indicators, methods of preparation and application thereof The invention relates to a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, as well as methods of preparation and uses thereof. In one aspect, this invention relates to a sensor for detecting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, particularly, a recombinant fluorescent fusion protein sensor for detecting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. In one specific aspect, this invention relates to a recombinant fluorescent fusion protein sensor for detecting reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH); in another specific aspect, this invention relates to a recombinant fluorescent fusion protein sensor for detecting oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+); in yet another aspect, the invention relates to a recombinant fluorescent fusion protein sensor for detecting the ratio of reduced to oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. This invention also relates to the method of preparing the sensors, and uses of the sensors in detecting NADH, NAD+, NADH/NAD+ ratio, screening drugs and measuring NADH metabolism.
US09945850B2	Lateral flow assays for non-diagnostic analytes Methods of determining whether a non-diagnostic analyte is present in a non-diagnostic sample are provided. Aspects of the methods include applying a non-diagnostic sample to a sample receiving region of a lateral flow assay device and reading a detection region to determine whether a non-diagnostic analyte is present in the non-diagnostic sample. Also provided are kits that find use in practicing methods of the invention.
US09945849B2	Methods for producing surfaces that resist non-specific protein binding and cell attachment A method is disclosed herein for treating a polymeric surface to resist non-specific binding of biomolecules and attachment of cells. The method includes the steps of: imparting a charge to the polymeric surface to produce a charged surface; exposing the charged surface to a nitrogen-rich polymer to form a polymerized surface; exposing the polymerized surface to an oxidized polysaccharide to form an aldehyde surface; and exposing the aldehyde surface to a reducing agent. Advantageously, a method is provided which produces surfaces that resist non-specific protein binding and cell attachment and that avoids the use of photochemical reactions or prior art specially designed compounds.
US09945846B2	Detection of antibodies using an improved immune complex (IC) ELISA The present invention relates to the field of diagnostic or analytic methods. In particular, the inventors teach that FcγR such as CD16, CD32 or CD64 may be used for in vitro quantification of antibodies in the form of immune complexes, i.e., complexes formed by antigen and specific antibody. A method for detection and quantification of antibodies in the form of immune complexes is also provided.
US09945845B2	Methods of screening using amphibians High-throughput methods of screening agents for activities affecting renal, cardiac, blood or lymphatic vascular development and functions in amphibians in multiwell plates are provided. Also provided are novel compounds that modulate blood and lymphatic vascular development.
US09945843B2	Methods for identifying compounds that inhibit G protein-coupled receptor (GPR84) agonist-stimulated chemotaxis The present invention relates to methods and assays for identifying agents capable of modulating GPR84 activity in cells, in particular agents that inhibit GPR84-agonist stimulated chemotaxis. Inhibition of GPR84-agonist stimulated chemotaxis is useful in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory conditions. In particular, the present invention provides methods and assays for identifying agents for use in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory conditions (for example inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, lung diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung interstitial diseases (e.g. idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)), neuroinflammatory conditions, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and/or diseases involving impairment of immune cell functions.
US09945842B2	Identification and enrichment of cell subpopulations Markers useful for the identification, characterization and, optionally, the enrichment or isolation of tumorigenic cells or cell subpopulations are disclosed.
US09945836B2	Field effect based nanopore device A nanopore FET sensor device and method of making. The nanopore FET sensor device includes a FET device stack of material layers including a source, channel and drain layers, and a nanoscale hole through the FET device stack to penult flow of strands of molecular material, e.g., DNA, therethrough. The perimeter of the nanoscale hole forms a FET device gate surface. The source and drain layers are provided with respective contacts for connection with measuring instruments that measure a flow of current therebetween. The molecular strands having charged portions pass from one side of a wafer substrate to the other side through the (nanopore) gate and modulate the current flow sensed at the source or drain terminals. The sensor collects real-time measurements of the current flow modulations for use in identifying the type of molecule. Multiple measurements by the same nanopore FET sensor are collected and compared for enhanced detection.
US09945835B2	All electric piezoelectric finger sensor (PEFS) for soft material stiffness measurement A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. The PEFS may be incorporated into a portable hand-held device. The PEFS offers superior sensitivity.
US09945834B2	Method for examining a plurality of cultured cells for the presence of periodic structures of at least one target component contained in the cultured cells A method for examining cultured cells for the presence of periodic structures comprises the steps of providing cultured cells, fixing the cultured cells, staining the fixed cultured cells using a first staining agent, stimulating the first staining agent causing it to emit light taking a two-dimensional image of the fixed cultured cells, cross-correlating first and second filtered images derived from the image of the fixed cultured cells to obtain a correlation image, and determining the presence or absence of periodic structures in the fixed cultured cells by determining whether there are periodic structures of maxima and minima in brightness in the correlation image.
US09945833B2	Facility for processing a multiphase fluid and method for characterizing said fluid online A plant (1) for the treatment of a multiphasic fluid and method for line-characterization of the fluid wherein the plant (1) comprises a circuit (4) within which the fluid is intended to circulate and being characterized in that it comprises a characterization tool (3) comprising at least an analysis settler (6) adapted to separate the phases to obtain so-called separated phases and a means (9) for combining the separated phases. The plant (1) is designed so that a fraction of the fluid circulating within the circuit (4) circulates within the tool (3) to pass through the analysis settler (6) so that the phases of the fluid are separated then discharged into the circuit (4). The combining means (9) is designed so as to combine the separated phases.
US09945831B2	Aquatic sample analysis system According to one aspect, the invention relates to an aquatic sample analysis system adapted for in situ use. The system includes an incubation chamber having an optically clear portion and forming an opening for receiving a fluidic sample and apparatus for sealing the opening. The system also includes a sensor for sensing at least one parameter associated with the sample inside the chamber, a control module in communication with the sensor, and a power source.
US09945830B2	Standard solution with cleaning reagent for wet chemistry analyzer A calibration solution for a wet chemistry analyzer is provided. The solution comprises a calibration agent. The solution also comprises a cleaning agent. The cleaning agent is selected such that the wet chemistry analyzer is simultaneously cleaned and calibrated.
US09945829B2	Deep-frying device, portable deep-frying oil measuring device, deep-frying device set and method for monitoring a deep-frying device According to the invention for a deep-frying device (2) including a stationary deep-frying oil sensor (5) which immerses into deep-frying oil (4) of a deep-frying oil basin (3), in order to monitor the stationary deep-frying oil sensor (5), a receiving unit (17) having a receiving data interface (8) is provided, via which interface a reference value obtained beforehand by a portable deep-frying oil measuring device (14), the portable deep-frying oil sensor (15) of which is immersed into the deep-frying oil (4) in the deep-frying oil basin (3) for measuring, can be transmitted in order to adapt a characteristic curve stored in the stationary evaluation unit (6) of the deep-frying device (2) such that the stationary evaluation unit (6) calculates a value for an evaluation variable for characterizing the deep-frying oil (4), this value being consistent with the reference value of the portable deep-frying oil measuring device (14).
US09945825B2	Predictive analysis of complex datasets and systems and methods including the same Predictive analysis of complex datasets and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The methods include analyzing airborne particle count data from a cleanroom environment to predict a particle count fault condition within the cleanroom environment. The methods further include generating an airborne particle count data repository that includes particle counts within the cleanroom environment, analyzing the airborne particle count data to calculate a difference between a first rate of change and a second rate of change, and predicting the particle count fault condition responsive to the difference between the first rate of change and the second rate of change being outside a predetermined threshold range difference. The systems include computer readable storage media including computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a data analysis system to perform the methods. The systems also include a distributed cleanroom particle count monitoring system including a plurality of detection nodes.
US09945824B2	Core-shell nanofiber-based sensors Nanofiber-based sensors for the rapid detection, identification, and/or quantification of analytes, including gaseous analytes such as oxygen, are provided. The nanofiber-based sensors can comprise core-shell nanofibers. The core-shell nanofibers can comprise (a) a core comprising a first polymer and an sensor dispersed therein; and (b) a shell disposed coaxially around the core, comprising a second polymer.
US09945823B2	Device and method for combustion analysis by means of induction furnaces and protective element for induction furnaces for the combustion analysis With a device for combustion analysis, comprising an induction furnace with a furnace chamber, in which carrier gas can flow during operation via at least one gas inlet to a gas outlet, and in which a sample to be analyzed can be arranged and burned in a sample container, a hollow protective element is provided and, with normal operation of the device, is arranged in the furnace chamber directly above the sample in such a way that the end of the protective element facing towards the sample, together with the sample container, forms a constriction for the carrier gas flow, wherein the protective element is desgned to convey gases produced during the combustion of the sample through the protective element and to the gas outlet.
US09945822B2	Measurement system including a network of nanoelectromechanical system resonators The invention relates to a measurement system including a network of nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) resonators, characterized in that: each one of said resonators includes: an electrostatic activation device capable of generating a vibration of a beam exposed to said excitation signal, at least one piezoresistive stress gauge made of a doped semiconducting material, extending from the beam so as to detect a movement of said beam, the variation in the electrical resistance of said at least one gauge supplying an output signal; said network includes at least two groups of resonators, each group including at least two resonators having an identical empty resonance frequency, each group of resonators having an empty resonance frequency different from that of each other group; the resonators forming each group are connected in parallel; the groups of resonators forming said network are connected in parallel; said system includes a reading device designed to supply an excitation signal at the network input and to determine the resonance frequency of a group of resonators which is selected by injecting, into said excitation signal, a frequency component corresponding to the empty resonance frequency of each selected group of resonators, and by identifying, in the output signal of the network, a resonance frequency component of the selected group of resonators.
US09945818B2	Ultrasonic authenticating button Embodiments of an ultrasonic button and methods for using the ultrasonic button are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic button may include an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave, a piezoelectric receiver layer configured to receive a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave, a platen layer configured to protect the ultrasonic transmitter and the piezoelectric receiver layer, a first matching layer configured to match an acoustic impedance of the platen layer with an acoustic impedance of ridges of a finger, and an ultrasonic sensor array configured to detect the finger using the reflected wave.
US09945817B2	Specially designed phased array transducer for the inspection of fastener holes and adjacent structure without the removal of the fastener A phased array transducer for inspecting a fastener hole and adjacent structure to identify defects and determine hole integrity without removing the fastener from the hole. The phased array transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements, where one of the transducer elements is used to align the transducer to the hole, one group of the remaining transducer elements inspects the entire thickness of the structure at one side of the fastener and another group of the remaining transducer elements inspects the entire thickness of the structure at an opposite side of the fastener.
US09945815B2	Methods and systems for detecting defects in a fuel cell stack A method for testing a fuel cell stack includes providing a fluid, such as an ammonia-containing fluid, in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack, detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector, such as an ammonia detector, positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the fuel cell stack that is separated from the first portion of the fuel cell stack and determining the presence of a defect in the stack based on detecting the presence of the fluid. Further embodiments relate to testing a fuel cell stack using a microphone that detects an audio signal indicative of a stack defect.
US09945814B2	Total integrated tube analysis The invention relates to improved systems and methods for inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor that involves modeling the steam generator, comparing signals of a tube from an eddy current sensor with aspects of the model to determine whether further analysis is required, employing primary and secondary analysis processes, and producing a combined report of the primary and secondary analysis results.
US09945806B2	Electrochemical gas sensors with ionic liquid electrolyte systems An electrochemical gas sensor includes an electrolyte including at least one ionic liquid which includes an additive portion including at least one organic additive, at least one organometallic additive or at least one inorganic additive.
US09945805B2	Fuel cell for use in an alcohol breath tester An improved alcohol fuel cell sensor and alcohol breath tester assembly where wires for connection to the electrodes are bent to have a generally planar base portion which may be positioned toward the center of the electrodes and an upright that then extends to the outside of the case. The uprights are generally perpendicular to the base allowing the wires to exit the housing toward the center, as opposed to toward an edge.
US09945804B2	Sensor array In one illustrative embodiment, a test strip with a first planar substrate has coplanar electrodes on a first planar surface and a second planar substrate (which opposes the first surface of the first planar substrate) has coplanar electrodes on a second planar surface. The first planar surface of the first planar substrate having a first sensing area electrically connected to a first electrical contact. The second planar surface of the second planar substrate having a second electrical contact electrically connected to the first electrical contact via a conductive element, the conductive element extending between the first surface of the first planar substrate and the second surface of the second planar substrate without passing through the first planar substrate, the second planar substrate, or any intermediate layers.
US09945803B2	Gas detecting device and method thereof A gas detecting method includes heating a gas detector, formed of a gas sensing layer and an adsorption layer, for an oxygen adsorption period t0 at an oxygen adsorption temperature T0; heating the gas detector for a target gas adsorption period t1 at a target gas adsorption temperature T1 at which a target gas is adsorbed to the adsorption layer, heating the gas detector for a target gas desorption period t2 at a target gas desorption temperature T2 at which the target gas adsorbed to the adsorption layer is desorbed to move to the gas sensing layer; and calculating a gas concentration of the target gas from a sensor resistance of the gas sensing layer. A gas detecting device includes the gas detector and a drive processing unit configured to carry out the method.
US09945802B2	High throughput label free nanoparticle detection and size assay The present invention reports a novel microfluidic analyzer for the high-throughput, label-free measurement of particles suspended in a fluid. The present invention employs the resistive pulse technique (RPT) which affords very high electrical bandwidth for the device, which surpasses that of currently available systems and devices. Further, devices in accordance with the present invention are fabricated with very simple microfabrication technologies, making the present invention more cost efficient and easier to manufacture than currently available devices.
US09945800B2	Fuel gas composition sensing system A fuel gas composition sensing system may include a remotely controllable valve, with the valve including a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, an internal chamber, and at least one actuating mechanism configured for successively opening the inlet port to allow gas to enter the internal chamber, closing the inlet port and the outlet port to retain the gas in the internal chamber for a period of time, and opening the outlet port to release the gas from the internal chamber. One or more micro-sensors may be mounted in the internal chamber of the valve, with each of the micro-sensors being configured to sense a characteristic of a gas introduced into the internal chamber of the valve. One or more heating elements may be mounted in the internal chamber, with each of the heating elements being associated with one of the one or more micro-sensors, and the one or more heating elements may be configured to implement a different temperature level at each of the micro-sensors in order to enable detection of a resulting change in the characteristic of the gas corresponding to a thermodynamic property of the gas that correlates to a composition of the gas.
US09945798B2	Method for determining degree of modified potency of a medicament The invention comprises a method for determining degree of modified potency of a medicament. A medicine is a medicament comprising a therapeutic component and a homeopathic, i.e., activated-potentiated, component, wherein the activated-potentiated component has some physical, chemical or biological affect on the therapeutic component and/or the pharmacological efficacy thereof. The therapeutic component is biologically related to the starting substance of the homeopathic component. An analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form is made prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form. The same analytical measurement(s) are made and after interaction between the therapeutic and activated-potentiated forms. This data is used to confirm the presence of any modified potency is caused by the presence of molecular form in the activated-potentiated form. Further, the claimed analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form and again after such interaction serves to quantify the degree of modifying potency associated with the activated-potentiated form in relative dimensionless activity units (release activity).
US09945792B2	Generating an array of spots on inclined surfaces A system which may be used to generate a plurality of spots on a surface is provided. The spots may be aligned with the incident plane of oblique illumination. The system may include a diffractive optical element configured to split a beam into a plurality of beams by generating a plurality of diffraction orders. The system may also include a focusing lens configured to focus at least some of the plurality of beams on the surface in the plurality of spots. At least some of the plurality of beams may be focused on the surface at an oblique illumination angle. The system may also include an illumination source positioned off-axis relative to an optical axis of the diffractive optical element. Using the system, a plurality of spots may be generated on an inclined surface.
US09945789B2	Multiple analyte detection systems and methods of detecting multiple analytes A multiple analyte detection system includes a carrier having reagents disposed thereat, with each of the reagents capable of optically changing in response to exposure to a respective analyte. The system further includes a photodetector positioned to collectively detect light interacted with each of the reagents, a processor to determine a presence or an absence of each of the analytes in response to the light collectively-detected, and an indicator to provide an indication of the presence or the absence of each of the analytes. A method of detecting multiple analytes includes exposing reagents capable of optically changing in response to exposure to a respective analyte to a sample. The method further includes collectively detecting light interacted with each of the reagents, determining a presence or an absence of each of the analytes in response to the light collectively detected, and indicating the presence or the absence of each of the analytes determined.
US09945788B2	Methods and systems for determining optical regions of interest The present teachings relate to a method and system for determining Regions of Interest (ROI) for one or more biological samples in a laboratory instrument. The method can include an optical system capable of imaging florescence emission from a plurality of sample wells. An initial ROI, its center location and size can be estimated from the fluorescence detected from each well. From this information the average size of the ROIs can be determined and global gridding models can be derived to better locate each of the ROIs. The global gridding models can then be applied to the ROIs to improve the precision of the ROI center locations. Sample wells not originally providing fluorescence ROIs can be recovered through the use of mapping functions. The radius of each ROI can then be adjusted to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the optical system.
US09945787B2	Increasing the usable dynamic range in photometry An optical device for determining the presence and/or concentration of analytes in a sample is presented. The optical device comprises a detector and a detection unit comprising optical path components. The detection unit has wavelength-dependent responsivity. The optical device further comprises a light source for emitting light of different respective usable wavelength ranges. The light is guidable through the optical path to the detector to generate baseline signals and response signals relative to the baseline signal indicative of the presence and/or concentration of analytes in the optical path. The intensity of the light reaching the detector is adjusted inverse to the wavelength-dependent responsivity with respect to at least two respective usable wavelength ranges so that a reduction of the ratio between the maximum baseline signal at one of the selected usable wavelength ranges and the minimum baseline signal at another of the selected usable wavelength ranges is obtained.
US09945786B2	Immobilised-bead immunomultiplex assay Embodiments of this invention include image-based systems and methods for detection of one or more analytes. A surface has identifiable analyte-specific capture particle(s) immobilised thereto at any point of an assay, to which different analytes attach due to the affinity of analyte-specific capture molecule(s) linked to the surface of the capture particle(s) for the analyte. Analyte-specific detector molecules with conjugated detection moieties are then attached to the analyte, and a computer assisted, image-based detection system captures images of the capture particles with or without attached analytes and detector molecules. By using different subsets of analyte-specific capture molecules, each subset having a characteristic identifiable feature; it is now possible to perform capture particle-based, rapid multiplex assays of biological and non-biological analytes without flow. These image-based systems can be used to aid in diagnosis of disease, evaluation of therapy for disease, or laboratory investigation.
US09945781B2	Analytical devices having dichroic prism arrays Apparatus, systems and methods for use in analyzing discrete reactions are provided. The analytical devices of the invention use an array of nanoscale regions (a chip) that has discrete patches, for example, patches of nanoscale regions. In some embodiments an analytical system is provided that has an analysis chip with an array of patches, each of the patches comprising nanoscale regions that emit fluorescent light when illuminated. The system has a two-dimensional (x, y) array of dichroic prisms, each prism comprising a dichroic element that diverts illumination light up in the z dimension of the array to a patch on the analysis chip above it. Each dichroic element transmits fluorescent light emitted by the patch that it illuminates, whereby the emitted light from each patch passes down through each dichroic prism. The analytical system also has a detector below the array of dichroic prisms that detects the transmitted fluorescent light. Such systems are useful for monitoring many analytical reactions at one time including single molecule sequencing reactions.
US09945780B2	Use of a fluorescent material to detect failure or deteriorated performance of a fluorometer A System and method for self-checking a fluorometer for failure or deteriorated performance includes fluorescent reference standards mounted on a support to move with respect to one or more fixed fluorometers. The intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent reference standard is initially measured with the fluorometer, and, after a prescribed interval of usage of the fluorometer, a test measurement of the intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent standard is taken with the fluorometer. The test measurement is compared to the initial measurement, and failure or deteriorated performance of the fluorometer is determined based on a deviation of the test measurement from the initial measurement.
US09945779B2	Integrated device for temporal binning of received photons An integrated circuit includes a photodetection region configured to receive incident photons. The photodetection region is configured to produce a plurality of charge carriers in response to the incident photons. The integrated circuit also includes at least one charge carrier storage region. The integrated circuit also includes a charge carrier segregation structure configured to selectively direct charge carriers of the plurality of charge carriers into the at least one charge carrier storage region based upon times at which the charge carriers are produced.
US09945777B2	Multi-spectral imaging using longitudinal chromatic aberrations Systems and methods for imaging a target object are provided. In one example, an imaging device comprises an objective lens having symmetry around an optical axis. The objective lens is configured to disperse images of a target object in longitudinal chromatic aberrations along the optical axis. The imaging device further includes a sensor configured to obtain multiple images of the target object. Each image corresponds to a specific wavelength within a predetermined spectrum.
US09945776B2	Mail detection device and method The present invention discloses a mail detection device and method. The device comprises a broad-band terahertz generator, a collimator, a beam splitter, a fixed reflector, a movable reflector, a wave buncher, a matrix detector, an acquisition card and an information processing module; wherein the information processing module is used for generating a terahertz image of a mail to be detected according to the electric signals sent by the acquisition card when the movable reflector is motionless; and when finding suspicious articles according to the terahertz image of a mail to be detected, the information processing module controls the movable reflector to move, and generates spectral information of the suspicious articles according to an electric signal sequence sent by the acquisition card during the movement of the movable reflector.
US09945773B2	Flow cell and liquid feed system A flow cell (2) includes a plate-shaped body 21 that is almost rectangular in a plan view, an introduction portion (22) that is made of a concave portion formed in the upper surface of the body (21), a channel (23) that is formed inside the body (21) and has one end connected to the lower end of the introduction portion (22), and a delivery portion (24) that is made of a concave portion formed in the body (21) and has the lower end connected to the other end of the channel (23). The introduction portion (22) is formed to cause the meniscus of a liquid introduced from an opening to apply, to the liquid, a positive pressure or a negative pressure whose absolute value is smaller than that of a negative pressure applied to the liquid introduced into the channel (23) by the meniscus of the liquid. The channel (23) is formed to cause the meniscus of the liquid introduced into the channel (23) to apply a negative pressure to the liquid. This invention provides a flow cell and a liquid feed system capable of more easily controlling feed of a trace amount of liquid.
US09945769B2	Disposable chip-type flow cell and flow cytometer using same The present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing particles in a solution including a unit configured to place a flow cell having a flow path for flowing a sample solution containing the particles; a unit configured to illuminate the sample solution flowing through the flow path of the flow cell; a photodetector that detects a scattered light and/or fluorescence generated from the particles in the sample solution; and a unit configured to analyze the particles based on their signal intensities detected by the photodetector, wherein the flow cell has the flow path formed in a substrate, a reflection plane is formed on the side surface of the flow path, the reflection plane leads the lights generated in the flow path of the flow cell and advancing in the substrate in-plane direction to a specified region of the surface of the flow cell, and the photodetector detects the light exiting from the specified region to the outside.
US09945767B2	Apparatus and methods for determining surface wetting of material under subterranean wellbore conditions Methods and apparatuses for determining surface wetting of metallic materials at downhole wellbore condition with fixed or changing well fluids are disclosed. In general, the methods according to the disclosure include carrying out an electrical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) for a system simulating downhole conditions for the wetting of a surface by simultaneously dynamically moving electrodes exposed to the well fluid while measuring the changes in electrical characteristics between the electrodes.
US09945765B2	Environmental sensor and a method for determining relative vapour pressure An apparatus for use in determining the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in an environment in which the apparatus is located, the apparatus comprising a first layer (512) configured to enable a flow of charge carriers from a source electrode (505) to a drain electrode (506), a second layer (513) configured to control the conductance of the first layer (512) using an electric field formed between the first (512) and second layers (513) and a third layer (514) positioned between the first and second layers to prevent a flow of charge carriers therebetween to enable formation of the electric field, wherein the second layer (513) is configured to exhibit a charge distribution on interaction with the fluid, the charge distribution giving rise to the electric field between the first (512) and second (513) layers, and wherein the second layer (513) is configured such that the charge distribution and electric field strength are dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of the fluid in the environment (516), thereby allowing the relative vapor pressure to be derived from a measurement of the conductance of the first layer (512).
US09945763B1	Methods and systems for immunohistochemistry heat retrieval of biological samples Heat induced antigen retrieval systems for biological specimens may include a sealable heating pressure chamber, a programmable process controller, a nonpareil operating element, and perhaps even a substantially user-disencumbering autonomous processing component of a plurality of biological samples perhaps using various user selected protocols, and the like.
US09945759B2	Vehicle test system, test condition data generation apparatus, and vehicle test method A vehicle test system according to the present invention intends to comprehensively manage and operate multiple types of test apparatuses to smoothly perform vehicle development, problem correction, and the like. For this purpose, the vehicle test system includes an actual running data acquisition apparatus that acquires actual running data that is data related to states inside and outside of a vehicle in running on a road; multiple types of test apparatuses each of which performs a drive test or an operation test of a vehicle or a part of the vehicle in accordance with set test conditions; and a test condition data generation apparatus that from the actual running data, generates test condition data indicating test conditions necessary to reproduce a part or all of the running states indicated by the actual running data in a test apparatus specified from among the multiple types of test apparatuses.
US09945757B2	Temperature-measuring device for a gas pipe connected to a heat engine of a motor vehicle, and heat engine and vehicle provided with said device The invention relates to a device for measuring temperature in a gas duct. The device (1′) comprises a body (3′) for supporting a temperature sensor (4′), the sensor comprising a head (7′) and at least two wires (8′) connecting the head (7′) to means for acquiring a temperature-measurement signal. The supporting body (3′) is arranged so as to be inserted into an orifice of a wall of the duct in order to immerse the head (7′) of the sensor (4′) in the gases of the duct. The supporting body (3′) comprises a bottom collar (12′), having a top end surface (17a′), in which are arranged at least two channels (9′) for guiding and holding the wires (8′), arranged to allow the mounting of the sensor (4′) in the supporting body (3′) and the holding of the wires (8′) in order to hold the head (7′) of the sensor (4′) at a distance from the top end surface (17a′) of the collar (12′).
US09945755B2	Methods for using digitized sound patterns to monitor operation of automated machinery In an operating machine, one example of a method for monitoring operation of operating machinery includes converting an actual sound pattern generated by the machine into an audio signal and digitizing the audio signal to create a real-time acoustic fingerprint unique to the actual sound pattern. A reference database contains a plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints, each stored acoustic fingerprint in the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints representing a unique sound pattern associated with a particular operating condition. A controller compares the real-time acoustic fingerprint to the stored acoustic fingerprints in the reference database and generates an output in response to detection of a match between the real-time acoustic fingerprint and one of the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints. One example of the machine is a corruptor machine that converts paper webs into corrugated paperboard sheets.
US09945754B2	Underwater light leakage detection apparatus A housing is provided having a leak detection tube in liquid communication with the inside of the housing. The housing is adapted to be affixed to a wall surface of a swimming pool over a suspected leak area below the surface of the water by a lockable connector mounted on the housing. A suitable dye substance then is inserted into the distal top or free end of the leak detection tube while the latter is positioned just below the surface of the swimming pool water by a leak specialist positioned on the deck or beam of the pool. A light fixture may be mounted in the wall surface and the aforementioned leakage test conducted to determine water leaks in the niche containing the light fixture.
US09945752B2	Fuel tank pressure sensor rationality testing for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles A method for a hybrid-electric vehicle is presented, wherein a fuel tank is sealed closed during a first condition that includes an inductive charging event, and wherein degradation of a fuel tank pressure transducer is indicated responsive to a fuel tank pressure transducer output failing to increase above a threshold following an active testing duration. The outer walls of the fuel tank may include ferrous components which are energized by a magnetic field generated during the inductive charging event, thus heating the fuel tank and the fuel stored within. In this way, the pressure within the sealed fuel tank increases during the inductive charging event, and a determination may be made as to whether the output of the fuel tank pressure transducer is rational.
US09945743B2	Torque sensor device Provided is a torque sensor device to detect a torque between an input shaft and an output shaft through a relative rotation displacement therebetween. The torque sensor device includes: a housing to accommodate an end of the input shaft and an end of the output shaft: a magnet unit including a magnet block fixed in position to the housing; a collector unit including a collector disposed between the input shaft and the magnet block and between the output shaft and the magnet block in the radial directions of the input shaft and the output shaft to be partially rotatably connected to each of the input shaft and the output shaft, the collector focusing a magnetic field generated from the magnet unit; and a sensing unit including a torque sensor disposed at the outer circumference of the collector unit and detecting the magnetic field focused by the collector unit.
US09945736B2	Methods and apparatus for in situ substrate temperature monitoring by electromagnetic radiation emission A method for estimating a temperature of a substrate includes generating plasma in a plasma processing system. The substrate is arranged on a substrate support structure in the plasma processing system. The plasma generates electromagnetic radiation that is incident upon a first surface of the substrate. The method further includes arranging a detector adjacent to a second surface of the substrate and in-situ the plasma processing system and measuring a signal intensity of electromagnetic radiation passing through the second surface of the substrate at N frequencies. The method includes selecting each of the N frequencies at which the signal intensity is measured by the detector to correspond to a phonon-generating frequency of a material in the substrate. The method includes converting the signal intensity at the N frequencies to N absorbance values and estimating a temperature of the substrate based on the N absorbance values.
US09945731B1	Optical detector for measuring respective phases of multiple beams apparatus and method A system includes a source of laser beams forming an array, a source of a reference laser beam, and an optical detector for measuring respective phase differences between the array laser beams and the reference laser beam. The system includes a mask, having apertures with a shape, size and position identical to a shape, size and position of the array laser beams, and positioned in the reference laser beam to form respective beams of the reference laser beam corresponding to the beams from the array laser beams. A phase modulator phase modulates respective beams of one of (a) the array laser beams and (b) the beams of the reference laser from the mask. A photodetector receives the respective array laser beams and the corresponding reference laser beams from the mask to generate a composite signal. Processing circuitry is responsive to the composite signal for generating respective signals representing the phase differences of the individual laser beams from the reference laser beam.
US09945730B2	Adjusting an amount of coherence of a light beam Techniques for controlling an optical system include accessing a measured value of a property of a particular pulse of a pulsed light beam emitted from the optical system, the property being related to an amount of coherence of the light beam; comparing the measured value of the property of the light beam to a target value of the property; determining whether to generate a control signal based on the comparison; and if a control signal is generated based on the comparison, adjusting the amount of coherence in the light beam by modifying an aspect of the optical system based on the control signal to reduce an amount of coherence of a pulse that is subsequent to the particular pulse.
US09945726B2	Thermal pile sensing structure integrated with capacitor The present invention discloses a thermal pile sensing structure integrated with one or more capacitors, which includes: a substrate, an infrared sensing unit and a partition structure. The infrared sensing unit includes a first and a second sensing structure. A hot junction is formed between the first and the second sensing structures at a location where the first and the second sensing structures are close to each other. A cold junction is formed between the partition structure and the first sensing structure at a location where these two structures are close to each other. Another cold junction is formed between the partition structure and the second sensing structure at a location where these two structures are close to each other. A temperature difference between the hot junction and the cold junction generates a voltage difference signal. Apart of the partition structure forms at least one capacitor.
US09945724B2	Method and device for determining yellowish level of screen caused by pressing A method and a device for determining a yellowish level of a screen caused by pressing are provided. The method includes: acquiring chromaticity coordinates of a plurality of test points of the screen during a pressing test; processing the acquired chromaticity coordinates, so as to acquire a chromatic aberration between the test point with a maximum value of X or a maximum value of Y in the chromaticity coordinates and the test point with a minimum value of X or a minimum value of Y in the chromaticity coordinates; and comparing the chromatic aberration with a predetermined standard chromatic aberration, so as to determine whether the screen is qualified after the pressing test.
US09945720B1	Infrared radiation detectors using bundled-vxoy or amorphous silicon nanoparticles nanostructures and methods of constructing the same The use of silicon or vanadium oxide nanocomposite consisting of graphene deposited on top of an existing amorphous silicon or vanadium oxide microbolometer can result in a higher sensitivity IR detector. An IR bolometer type detector consisting of a thermally isolated nano-sized (
US09945719B2	High resolution thermo-electric nanowire and graphene coupled detector system A frequency selective electromagnetic apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include at least one nanowire comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, at least one 2-dimensional contact disposed adjacent to the first end or the second end and in thermal communication, electrical communication, or both thermal and electrical communication with the at least one nanowire, and at least one nanoscale-sized-diameter thermoelectric junction disposed between the at least one 2-dimensional contact and the at least one nanowire.
US09945714B1	Method of determining the mass of objects from a plurality of X-ray images taken at different energy level A method of determining the mass of an object by scanning the object in a radiographic inspection system, specifically in an X-ray scanner with the capability to take scan images at a plural number J of energy leves, has three modes or parts, namely: an initial learning mode, a normal operating mode, and a learning improvement mode. An inintial learning mode in which refernce object are scanned and their actual masses weighed and stored as reference values. A normal operating mode wherein smaple objects with unknown mass m are scanned and analyzed for compatibility with the reference values, and if found incompatible, the method switches to the learning improvement mode. A learning improvement mode in which the actual mass of the sample object found incompatible is determined by weighing and updates the stored reference values.
US09945712B2	Method and apparatus for detection of phase separation in storage tanks A system and method for detecting phase separation in storage tanks is provided. At least one float has a density calibrated to detect a density differential among surrounding fluids. The float is buoyant on a relatively more dense lower layer of fluid such as phase separated fuel or pure water, while remaining submerged in a relatively less dense upper layer of fluid such as a gasoline/ethanol blend. A detection device sends a signal when the float rises or falls above or below a preset acceptable level.
US09945711B2	Infrared sensor assembly for ingredient level detection in beverage dispensers A beverage dispenser ingredient level detection system is disclosed. The system may include a container with a wall, a canister, a capsule, an infrared emitter, and an infrared receiver. The canister may be disposed within the container at a first distance from the wall and may be configured to hold a beverage ingredient. The capsule may be disposed on an interior surface of the wall. The infrared emitter and the infrared receiver may be disposed within the capsule and the infrared receiver may be configured to transmit infrared light rays and the infrared receiver may be configured to detect infrared light rays reflected by the beverage ingredient in the canister to determine whether a pre-determined amount of the beverage ingredient is within the canister. The capsule may absorb infrared light rays that are not indicative of whether the pre-determined amount of the beverage ingredient is within the canister.
US09945710B2	High liquid-level alarm device A high liquid-level alarm device is configured such that one casing includes a plurality of liquid-level alarm units, the liquid-level alarm units are directed for monitoring one liquid level, issue an alarm for a different height of the liquid level, have radio wave detection units for detecting a radio wave, respectively, each of the liquid-level alarm units has a radio wave detection unit for detecting a radio wave, transmits a radio wave when not detecting a radio wave, and performs a determination operation as to whether a predetermined liquid level is reached, and when one of the liquid-level alarm units is performing the determination operation, the rest of the liquid-level alarm units do not perform the determination operation.
US09945707B2	Flow sensor and method for producing resin structure The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flow sensor that makes it possible to detect temperature abnormalities that the flow sensor has been exposed to and the time history of the flow sensor in a high-temperature environment from an externally visible cover material and that uses a cover material for which the laser welding quality can be guaranteed through visual inspection when the sensor is delivered as a product and even if the sensor is used in an abnormal state. A flow sensor provided with a housing, a cover, a circuit chamber that houses a wiring portion sealed between the housing and the cover, and an auxiliary passage through which the liquid to be sensed flows, wherein: a joint portion formed on the housing and a joint portion formed on the inner surface of the cover are joined together through the laser welding; the main material of the cover is a crystalline resin; the cover includes an amorphous alloy; and the cover is made to have a natural color.
US09945704B2	Flow rate measurement in a volume A system for measuring flow rate within a volume includes one or more transmission devices that transmit one or more signals through fluid contained within the volume. The volume may be bounded, at least in part, by an outer structure and by an object at least partially contained within the outer structure. A transmission device located at a first location of the outer structure transmits a first signal to a second location of the outer structure. A second signal is transmitted through the fluid from the second location to a third location of the outer structure. The flow rate of the fluid within the volume may be determined based, at least in part, on the time of flight of both the first signal and the second signal.
US09945703B2	Multi-tank material balance model Embodiments are directed to performing material balance analysis for tanks in a petroleum reservoir and to performing dual porosity material balance analysis. In one scenario, a computer system divides a reservoir into multiple tank blocks, where at least two tank blocks are adjacent. The adjacent tanks are connected at a tank block boundary so that materials are permitted to travel between the tank blocks. The computer system determines flow rate between adjacent tank blocks proportional to the difference in tank block pressures. Then, upon making this determination, the computer system determines material balance for at least some of the tank blocks in the reservoir through influx and efflux of material across the tank block boundary. The material balance includes a determined material balance for one of the adjacent tank blocks and a determined material balance for the other adjacent tank block.
US09945702B2	Reconfigurable indicating device A pointer is rotational relative to a screen. A driver unit is equipped with the pointer and configured to rotate the pointer. A controller sends an output signal to the driver unit to rotate the pointer at a rotational position in a rotational range. The controller is configured to modify the rotational range. The controller is configured to modify the graphic according to the rotational range, which is modified.
US09945701B2	Actuator bracket having a sensor Actuator bracket having a sensor is disclosed. An example apparatus includes a bracket having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is to couple to a first surface of an actuator. The second side is to couple to a controller. The apparatus also includes a first sensor coupled to the first side of the bracket. When the bracket is coupled to the first surface of the actuator, the first sensor is adjacent the first surface to measure a characteristic of the first surface of the actuator.
US09945696B2	Stroke sensor system and LC oscillation circuit A stroke sensor system includes a vehicle-body-side member, a wheel-side member, and a movement-amount deriving section. The movement-amount deriving section derives a movement amount of relative movement between the vehicle-body-side member and the wheel-side member. At least a part of one of the vehicle-body-side member and the wheel-side member is a conductor, and the other is provided with a coil. The movement-amount deriving section includes an even number of capacitors and an even number of exciting sections. The even number of capacitors are electrically coupled to the coil and configure an LC resonance section. The even number of exciting sections are for exciting an oscillation waveform output by the LC resonance section. The even number of capacitors and the even number of exciting sections are divided into equal numbers to configure a balanced circuit. The movement-amount deriving section derives the movement amount based on the oscillation waveform.
US09945695B2	Proximity sensor A proximity sensor includes an active sensor, a passive target, and a measurement circuit. The active sensor includes an active resonant tank circuit that includes an excitation source, a first capacitor, and a first inductor. The passive target includes a passive resonant tank circuit that includes a second capacitor and a second inductor, where magnetic coupling between the first inductor and the second inductor varies as a function of physical displacement of the first inductor and the second inductor with respect to one another. The measurement circuit is configured to measure a coupled resonant frequency response in the active resonant tank circuit and provide a measured distance output based on the coupled resonant frequency response.
US09945694B2	Rotary angle sensor A rotary angle sensor used to determine a relative angular position as compared to a reference position, comprising a housing (1), at least one rotor (3, 4) that is rotatably mounted inside said housing (1), one circuit board (2) containing electrical and/or electronic components as well as one or multiple stators corresponding to the number of used rotors (3, 4). The rotary angle sensor is supposed to be improved in such a manner that a particularly precise alignment of the first rotor (3) in relation to the stator is ensured and that it is inexpensive to manufacture. This is achieved by a first rotor (3) that is interlocked with the housing (1) without any play while a pre-loaded spring washer (14) is positioned on the latching arms (11).
US09945691B2	Magnetic angular sensing system with side-shaft mounted sensor and the method thereof A magnetic angular sensing system has a magnet magnetized radially and a magnetic angular sensor for sensing the angular position of the magnet. The magnetic angular sensor is mounted in parallel to the axis of the magnet and is non-coplanar with the magnet. The magnetic angular sensor senses an angular position of the magnet based on a detected axial magnetic field component and a tangential magnetic field component of the magnetic field vector where the sensor mounted. This invention provides a flexible sensing system.
US09945685B2	Navigation apparatus and navigation method A navigation apparatus includes a positioning unit configured to measure a current position, a route guidance screen generation unit configured to generate a route guidance screen used for route guidance for a retrieved route from the current position to a destination and display the route guidance screen on a display unit, and a guidance image generation unit configured to, in a case where a remaining distance between the current position and the destination is a predetermined value or less while route guidance is performed using the route guidance screen, generate a guidance image in which a display subject representing the destination is highlighted such that the display subject is more prominently displayed than a vicinity of the display subject and display the guidance image on the display unit.
US09945684B2	Frequency-based direction guidance Frequency-based direction guidance is disclosed. In some implementations, a navigation system leverages frequent location information to filter navigation directions that are presented to a user of a navigation device. If a destination is a frequent location, the navigation system filters the navigation directions so that navigation directions associated with the destination are not presented to the user. If a departure location is a frequent location, the navigation system filters the directions so that directions associated with the departure location are not presented to the user.
US09945683B1	Transport communication Transport communication comprising, associating a wireless device and a user, associating a transport and the wireless device, determining a characteristic of the user based on at least one of a user search history and a user preference selection, determining a probable route the transport based on at least one of a route history and an input destination and ranking at least one suggestion of a route deviation based at least one of the determined probable route and determined characteristic.
US09945678B2	Navigation system with arrival time mechanism and method of operation thereof A method of operation of a navigation system includes: determining a destination; determining a target arrival time for traversing to the destination; generating a preferred route based on the target arrival time for arriving at the destination using the preferred route at or before the target arrival time; and communicating the preferred route for providing navigational guidance to the destination.
US09945677B1	Automated lane and route network discovery for robotic actors Systems and methods are provided for automated route discovery. A computing device can receive location data for designated actor(s) of a plurality of actors operating within an environment. The plurality of actors can also include a robotic device. The computing device can determine a route network of paths taken by the designated actor(s) within the environment, where the route network includes information about frequencies of paths taken by the designated actor(s) based on the location data. The computing device can receive a starting location and a destination location for the robotic device. The computing device can select a selected path from the starting location to the destination location based on the route network taken by the designated actor(s). The computing device can provide an instruction to the robotic device to use the selected path to travel from the starting location to the destination location.
US09945674B2	Movement guidance device and movement guidance method The movement guidance device includes a first unit which calculates at least one of an error range of a first arrival time and an error range of a first movement time in a first route to the destination, a second unit which calculates at least one of an error range of a second arrival time and an error range of a second movement time in a second route, which is a route to the destination and is different from the first route, at a point where the second route is branched from the first route, and an output unit which outputs at least one of the error range of the second arrival time and the error range of the second movement time calculated by the second unit based on whether the error range calculated by the second unit is smaller than the error range calculated by the first unit.
US09945673B2	Apparatus and methods for routing An electronic navigational route developer may accept user input regarding the user's boat, such as height, draft and beam, and develop a route from a start point to end point based on cartographic information and the boat information.
US09945669B2	Rotation rate sensor and a method for operating a rotation rate sensor A rotation rate sensor for detecting a rotational movement of the rotation rate sensor about a rotational axis extending within a drive plane of the rotation rate sensor include: a first rotational element, a second rotational element and a drive structure moveable in parallel to the drive plane, the first rotational element being drivable about a first center of rotation to achieve a first rotational vibration in parallel to the drive plane, the second rotational element being drivable about a second center of rotation to achieve a second rotational vibration in parallel to the drive plane, the drive structure being (i) coupled to the first and second rotational elements, and (ii) configured to generate a drive mode in phase opposition of the first and second rotational vibrations.
US09945668B2	Tunnel convergence detection apparatus and method Provided are methods and products for rapid, reliable, and accurate monitoring and detecting of convergence in mining and civil engineering applications. A sensor, such as a scanning laser device, is moved through a tunnel, either automatically, autonomously, or with manual guidance. The sensor is configured to acquire 3D point clouds of all or a portion of a tunnel, at selected times. The 3D point cloud data is used to compute a set of indicators, which are local descriptors of the environment along the tunnel. The indicators are then amalgamated to estimate the probability that convergence has occurred in a given region. In one embodiment, the indicators are fused together using a Bayes network.
US09945667B2	Sensing system and sensing method using the same The present invention relates to a sensing system and a sensing method using the same. The sensing system includes at least one tested unit and an optical fiber measuring unit. The tested unit includes a container, a strain arm and a float. The container can be filled with a fluid, and the strain arm is connected with the float and combined with a measuring portion of the optical fiber measuring unit. When the container is disposed on a body of interest, the surface inclination or settlement of the body of interest would cause changes of buoyant force on the floating element and induce bending deformation of the strain arm. Accordingly, the surface deformation of the body of interest can be determined by detecting the bending deformation of the strain arm using the measuring portion combined with the strain arm.
US09945664B2	Method and device for automatically estimating parameters relating to a flight of an aircraft The estimation device comprises an estimation assembly for determining a corrected estimated incidence, with the aid of an estimated incidence which is computed on the basis of aerodynamic parameters and of inertial parameters related to the aircraft and of a measured incidence which is determined on the basis of measurements carried out on the aircraft by at least one incidence probe. This estimation device thus makes it possible to obtain estimations of the speed of the aircraft, of its incidence and of the total temperature, on the basis of aerodynamic and inertial parameters.
US09945653B2	Inductive position sensor A detector to measure the displacement of relatively moveable bodies along an axis comprising: a resonant electrical intermediate device further comprising an inductor, whose width varies along the displacement axis, and a capacitor in electrical series which co-operates with an antenna comprising transmit and receive windings whose mutual inductance varies according to the position of the electrical intermediate device relative to the antenna.
US09945649B2	System and method for guiding a cannon shell in flight An apparatus and method for guiding a cannon shell accurately are disclosed. The apparatus includes two main parts adapted to be installed on the leading end of the cannon shell. The front main part of the apparatus is equipped with at least one pair of fins and is rotatable with respect to the rear main part. The pair of fins is controlled to hold the front main part substantially stable with respect to an external reference frame when the cannon shell rotates as it flies towards its target. Control system is comprised within the apparatus that receives location signals and is adapted to provide guiding control commands to the cannon shell via the fins so as to guide the shell accurately to its preprogrammed target. The control system is adapted to activate the detonation chain of the shell according to preprogrammed mode.
US09945647B2	Self locking broadhead blade Designs and methods are provided for a retractable broadhead blade. In one exemplary embodiment the broadhead blade is configured to be received in a slot in a broadhead body, and moveable between a retracted or in-flight position, and a deployed or target penetrating position. The broadhead blade includes a front end that faces substantially forward when the blade is in the retracted position, a distal end opposite the front end, an outward facing sharpened leading edge between the front end of the blade and the distal end, and an inward facing trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The blade further includes an integral spring member with a contact surface configured to bear against a blade locating portion of a broadhead body when the blade is in the retracted, or in-flight position.
US09945644B2	Machine for launching targets and its adjustment method A machine for launching targets, comprising a chassis on which a support is mounted. A barrel is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, the barrel comprising a plurality of columns for storing stacked targets. The columns each have an axis parallel to the axis of rotation. The chassis comprises a surface for receiving targets for a launch, the support comprising a hole configured to allow the passage of a target from a column of the barrel to the receiving surface. The support comprises a first locking position with respect to the chassis and at least a second locking position with respect to the chassis, the first position and the second position having an angular offset along the axis of rotation.
US09945640B2	Firearm system that tracks points of aim of a firearm A firearm system includes a firearm and a computer. Electronics in the firearm determine data that includes a pathway between different points of aim of the firearm as the firearm moves. The computer receives this data and builds an image of the pathway between the different points of aim of the firearm.
US09945639B1	Optic attachment for a firearm scope The optic attachment for a firearm scope mounts onto the ocular lens end of a scope. The optic attachment for a firearm scope provides a flip-up cap that exposes an corrective lens in the optical path through the scope when the flip-up cap is open and protects the lens at the ocular end of the scope when the flip-up cap is closed. The corrective lens may improve the vision of the shooter, either by providing prescriptive correction or by providing magnification. The flip-up cap may comprise a mirror that can be used in emergency survival situations as a signaling device. An information chart, such as a ballistics chart, may be applied to the mirror and may be removed when use of the mirror is required. The corrective lens may be used as a fire starter by focusing solar rays.
US09945635B1	Trigger archery release with thumb assist A trigger release for archery includes a thumb assist that enables the thumb of the archer holding the release to apply force assisting in drawing and holding the bowstring under tension.
US09945633B2	Extractor pin tool Apparatus, systems, and methods for the maintenance, repair, modification, cleaning, disassembly, and reassembly of firearms and firearm components are disclosed. Particular embodiments include tools to aid in the removal and insertion of an extractor pin from the bolt assembly of an AR-15 or M-16 rifle. Preferred embodiments are directed to bolt assemblies for .223 and .308 imperial caliber firearms, as well as 5.56 and 7.62 metric caliber firearms. The tools include a housing with a channel to receive the bolt, a channel to insert a locking rod to orient and secure the bolt in the housing, a channel for inserting a removal rod to remove the extractor pin from the bolt or an inserting rod to insert the extractor pin into the bolt.
US09945632B1	Bolt capture and release mechanism and method for an imitation machine gun Electromagnetic force holds a reciprocatively movable bolt in a charged position in resistance to compressive force from a bolt actuating spring, while generating recoil impacts that simulate firing rounds of ammunition from an ammunition belt in imitation machine gun. Terminating the electromagnetic force allows the compressive force from the actuating spring to move the bolt from the charged position after simulating the firing of the last round from the ammunition belt.
US09945630B2	Firearm monitoring and notification apparatus and method of use The present disclosure provides a firearm monitoring and notification apparatus to allow users to monitor a firearm without interfering with the accessibility to the firearm. The firearm monitoring and notification apparatus mitigates common risks surrounding unauthorized access and tampering through deterrence and notification strategies.
US09945628B2	Self-leveling follower and magazine A follower for a firearm magazine and a method are disclosed. The follower platform is shaped to support a cartridge and has a top surface, a bottom surface opposing the top surface. The top surface defines at least one plane. A normal of the bottom surface defines a vertical axis of the follower. The front end has an interior surface and an exterior surface for engaging a magazine body. The rear end has an interior surface and an exterior surface for engaging the magazine body. A spacer is positioned on the platform. The bottom surface, the front end, and the rear end define a spring receiving space. The spring receiving space is shaped to limit an upper portion of the spring to vertical compression when the upper portion of the spring is compressed into the spring receiving space.
US09945622B2	Double-walled dry heat exchanger coil with single-walled return bends A dry heat exchanger coil having a plurality of straight inner tubes connected by a plurality of return bends. The return bends are located outside of the air flow passing over the coil. The inner tubes are situated within a corresponding outer or “safety” tube. The outer tubes do not contain and are not connected to return bends, but the ends of the outer tubes are located outside of the air flow path. Leaks in the inner tubes are captured by the outer tubes and the leaking fluid will flow in the space between the inner and outer tubes, flow out the end of the outer tube, to be captured in a drip pan at the bottom of the coil housing. Leaks occurring in the return bends will also be captured in drip pan.
US09945621B2	Cooling device having an elastic fixing member and a valve holder group A cooling device has an elastic fixing member for fixing a valve which is cooperating with a compressor and disposed in a compressor room of a heat insulated body. The cooling device includes a bearing bracket for fixing the valve in the compressor room. The uniform elastic fixing member has at least one rear directional fixing extension for insertion into at least one locking hole of the bearing bracket, at least one fixing extension formed opposite the rear directional fixing extension for insertion into at least one hole on the valve, and an insulator section for reclining the valve.
US09945619B2	Wave fins Wave fins which are disposed inside a heat exchanger housing of a heat exchanger in order to cause a turbulent flow of fluid through direct contact with the fluid. The wave fins include a plurality of hills, a plurality of valleys and a plurality of sidewalls. The hills and valleys are connected to each other via the plurality of sidewalls. The sidewalls partition fluid passages between the hills and the valleys through which fluid passes. The hills, the valleys and the sidewalls form main waveforms that extend in a longitudinal direction so as to be waved in a first radius of curvature. One or more bent portions are formed on intermediate portions of the main waveforms, the bent portions being connected to remaining portions of the main waveforms so as to be bent at a second radius of curvature.
US09945618B1	Heat transfer surface A method for forming features in an exterior surface of a heat transfer tube includes forming a plurality of channels into the surface, where the channels are substantially parallel to one another and extend at a first angle to a longitudinal axis to the tube. A plurality of cuts are then made into the surface substantially parallel to one another and extend at a second angle to a longitudinal axis to the tube different from the first angle. Individual fin segments extend from the surface and are separated from one another by the channels and the cuts. The fin segments have a first channel-adjacent edge adjacent substantially parallel to the channel, a first cut-adjacent edge substantially parallel to the cut, and a corner formed by a second channel-adjacent edge and a second cut-adjacent edge. A tube formed using this method can be used as a condenser tube.
US09945617B2	Thermal ground planes, thermal ground plane structures, and methods of heat management Thermal ground planes, thermal ground plane structures, and methods of thermal energy management, are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure provide for thermal ground planes and/or thermal ground plane structures for both fully passive and active two-phase heat spreaders, as well as the cooling devices and thermal management methods enabled by these planes and/or structures that enable heat dissipation from one or more high heat flux domains followed by spreading the heat laterally over a large area achieving essentially the spatially isothermal plane, structure, system, or device.
US09945616B1	Waste heat recovery system for a fluid heater A fluid heating apparatus may comprise a fluid pumping assembly configured to increase a pressure characteristic of the fluid between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, and a heating assembly configured to heat the fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The heating assembly may define a first portion of a gas path such that exhaust gases from combustion in the heating assembly enter the gas path. The apparatus may also comprise a heat recovery assembly configured to recover heat from the exhaust gases and transfer recovered heat to fluid moving through the fluid path. The heat recovery assembly may define a second portion of the gas path in fluid communication with the first portion of the gas path. An exhaust gas movement device may be configured to pull exhaust gases through the first and second portions of the gas path to the gas movement device.
US09945614B2	Heat exchanger with high pressure phase refrigerant channel, low pressure phase refrigerant channel and coolant channel A heat exchanger is provided that includes a first flow channel for a refrigerant, a second flow channel for a refrigerant, and a third flow channel for a coolant, wherein the first flow channel has a first region for initial cooling of the refrigerant and a second region for further cooling of the refrigerant. The refrigerant can flow in a high-pressure phase in the first flow channel and the refrigerant can flow in a low-pressure phase in the second flow channel. A first heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant in the first region of the first flow channel and the coolant in the third flow channel and a second heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant in the second region of the first flow channel and the refrigerant in the second flow channel.
US09945610B2	Energy efficient infrared oven An oven may facilitate heating, curing, and/or drying processes for manufactured items, such as shoe parts, using multiple groups of infrared sources. Each group of infrared sources may comprise a plurality of sources having heating parameters, such as a peak wavelength, power, distance from items to be cured, number of infrared sources, etc. By staging different types of sources throughout an oven, different aspects of the curing process may be performed in an efficient fashion. Further, conditions within the oven such as temperature and relative humidity may be monitored and adjusted to optimize curing conditions.
US09945609B2	Alkalinity control agent supply method and apparatus for compressor impurity separation mechanism Exhaust gas from which impurities have been removed through pressurization and cooling by a compressor-based impurity separation mechanism is further cooled by a refrigerator-type heat exchanger. Drain produced from the cooling by the refrigerator-type heat exchanger is discharged and supplied as an alkalinity control agent to at least upstream of an aftercooler in a first impurity separator.
US09945608B2	Natural gas processing plant The invention provides systems and methods for separating ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream. In aspects of the invention, an adsorption unit is integrated with a cryogenic gas processing plant in order to overcome methane recovery limitations by sending the tail gas from the adsorption unit to the cryogenic gas processing plant to recover methane that would otherwise be lost.
US09945606B2	Method and system for the production of pressurized air gas by cryogenic distillation of air Methods and apparatus for cryogenic distillation of air. In a system of air separation columns, all the air is taken to a high pressure which is 5 to 10 bar greater than a medium pressure. A portion of air, between 10% and 50% of the high pressure air stream, is boosted in a cold booster. This boosted air is then sent to an exchanger and a portion of it liquefies at the cold end of the exchanger. Part of the air is sent to one column of the column system, and another fraction is partly expanded in a Claude turbine. After expansion in the turbine, the air is sent to a medium pressure column, and a liquid stream is withdrawn for one of the columns of the system. The withdrawn stream is pressurized and vaporizes in the exchange line. The cold booster is coupled to either an expansion turbine, an electric motor, or a combination of the two.
US09945605B2	Process for the removal of CO2 from acid gas The invention relates to a process for the removal of CO2 from acid gas by cryogenic distillation performed in two steps. The feed mixture is first distilled at high pressure (at least 45 bar) in a first distillation column. The top product or a part thereof is then, after heating, subjected to a second distillation step at a lower pressure (lower than 45 bar). The top product of the second distillation step is methane of high purity (more than 99 mol. %). The bottom product of the second distillation step is recycled back to the first distillation column. The method according to the invention allows complete separation of methane also at higher level of acidic components, is economical and does not result in solid CO2 build-up, which is a common problem in cryogenic distillation.
US09945602B2	Appliance modular system for incorporating a pantry compartment within an appliance A refrigerating appliance includes an interior volume divided by a medial wall into refrigerating and freezing compartments. A horizontal false mullion extends through one of the compartments, parallel with the medial wall to define a pantry compartment in thermal communication with at least one of the refrigerating and freezing compartments. A center vertical mullion is removably engaged with the medial wall and divides the pantry compartment into first and second pantry sub compartments. First and second outer drawer glides are positioned on the cabinet structure within the pantry compartment and opposite first and second inner drawer glides of the center vertical mullion. The first inner and first outer drawer glides partially define the first pantry sub compartment. The second inner and second outer drawer glides partially define the second pantry sub compartment. First and second pantry drawers are slidably engaged with first and second pantry sub compartments, respectively.
US09945601B1	Refrigerator shelf and method for producing the shelf A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment and a door that selectively seals the refrigerated compartment. A shelf is mounted in the refrigerated compartment. The shelf includes a plate and a frame encapsulating the plate. A front trim is coupled to a front portion of the frame. The front trim includes a front face that is flush with the frame.
US09945600B2	Refrigerator Disclosed is a refrigerator an outer case, an inner case including storage spaces integrally manufactured so as to have a first set value, a barrier disposed within the storage space to vertically divide the storage space into a plurality of storage chambers so that the heights of openings of the respective storage chambers have a second set value and a third set value, and including first communication parts on the side surfaces of the barrier, second communication parts formed on the inner case, and a foamed heat insulating material filling the inside of the barrier by causing a foaming liquid, injected from the outer case, to pass through the second communication parts and the first communication parts and then foaming the foaming liquid within the barrier, wherein the first set value is 1.5 times or more at least one of the second set value and the third set value.
US09945598B2	Self-demolding ice mold and methods of use and automation Systems and methods for making ice utilize self-demolding ice molds. Responsive to freezing of water in the mold into ice, an ejection apparatus is compressed. Via a force arising from the compression, the ejection apparatus ejects the ice from the mold. Ice machines may utilize multiple molds, and water filling a first mold may be utilized to at least partially melt ice in a second mold to facilitate ejection of the ice from the second mold.
US09945592B2	Throttle device Provided is a throttle device to decompress a refrigerant cooled by a condenser in a refrigerating cycle and to deliver the refrigerant to an evaporator, where a minimum space between a needle valve and a valve port can be accurately set. Inside a cylindrical main body case including a primary chamber connected to the condenser and a secondary chamber connected to the evaporator, a valve seat member formed with a valve port and a cylindrical guide member integral to the valve seat member are provided. A coil spring to energize the needle valve toward the valve port side is provided inside the guide member. A needle portion of the needle valve protrudes from the valve port toward the primary chamber. A tip portion of the needle portion abuts against a stopper member and the tip portion is thereby positioned.
US09945591B2	Cooling system with integrated subcooling A system includes a high side heat exchanger, a flash tank, a vessel, a load, and a compressor. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The flash tank stores the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger. The vessel includes a chamber defined by an exterior housing and a tube positioned within the chamber. Heat is removed from the liquid refrigerant circulating through this tube and coming from the flash tank. The load uses the refrigerant from the tube to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The load sends the refrigerant into the chamber between the exterior housing and the tube. The compressor receives the refrigerant from the chamber between the exterior housing and the tube and compresses the refrigerant.
US09945582B2	Apparatus and methods for pre-heating water with air conditioning unit or heat pump Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.
US09945581B2	Water heater A water heater includes a burner of a premixed type, a heat exchanger, and a fan suctioning combustion gas and exhausting combustion gas to the outside. The burner includes a burner case partitioned into a combustion chamber and a gas introduction chamber by a partition plate and a plurality of combustion tubes arranged in the combustion chamber. An air supply opening for supplying air into the gas introduction chamber is provided in the burner case. The partition plate has a plurality of opening portions communicating with the inside of the combustion tubes and a plurality of through holes communicating with the outside of the combustion tubes within the combustion chamber. The air supply opening is constructed to have an opening area smaller than the total sum of the total of opening areas of the plurality of opening portions and the total of opening areas of the plurality of through holes.
US09945579B2	Icing protection for a heat pump A protective housing is provided for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit having a fan therein. The fan comprises a plurality of blades, each blade having a proximal and distal end. The housing comprises a plurality of side panels, each side panel comprising openings enabling airflow into the housing. The housing further comprises an access panel that is coupled between two of the plurality of side panels wherein the access panel and the plurality of side panels form an enclosure. An orifice ring is mounted within the housing, wherein a running clearance between the distal end of the fan blades and the orifice ring has a first spacing. A cover fastens atop the enclosure, the cover comprising a grill having a plurality of grill members, wherein the grill members are separated by a second spacing, the second spacing being smaller than the first spacing.
US09945577B2	Air conditioner having a lighting apparatus An air conditioner is provided that may include a setting unit to set a predetermined function to be embodied or displayed with lighting, a storing unit to store at least one illumination pattern information, a control unit to connect the function input by the setting unit to an illumination pattern stored in the storing unit, and a lighting unit to be lighted according to the illumination pattern information connected to the function by the control unit.
US09945572B2	Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system controller Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controllers are described herein. One method includes receiving an approximate relationship between each of a number of controlled and manipulated variables of an HVAC system, designating one of the number of controlled variables as a primary controlled variable, determining operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain the primary controlled variable based, at least in part, on the approximate relationship between the primary controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable, and determining operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain each of the other controlled variables based, at least in part, on the approximate relationship between each respective other controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable and the determined operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain the primary controlled variable.
US09945568B2	Air conditioning apparatus An air conditioning apparatus includes a casing having intake and blow-out ports, a partition member dividing an interior of the casing, a heat exchanger, a centrifugal fan, a heater and a fan heat shield. The centrifugal fan includes a bladed wheel mounted in the fan compartment such that a rotary shaft of the bladed wheel is oriented along an opening direction of the fan entrance and an opening direction of the blow-out port, and the bladed wheel being made of resin. The heater is mounted in a blow-out port opposed space opposed to the blow-out port within a fan downwind space located on a downwind side of the bladed wheel within the fan compartment. The fan heat shield member is mounted in the fan downwind space in order to cover a part of the bladed wheel that is opposed to the heater.
US09945567B2	Heating furnace using anti-stratification mode A heating control device comprising input/output ports, a memory, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to transmit a first electrical signal to operate an air circulation fan at a first speed and a heating unit in a first configuration to achieve a first temperature rise where less than all of the burners are active. The microprocessor is further configured to obtain a return air temperature, obtain a room air temperature, and determine a temperature difference between the return air temperature and the room air temperature. The microprocessor is further configured to compare the temperature difference to a temperature rise threshold and transmit a second electrical signal to transition the air circulation fan from the first speed to a second speed to achieve a second temperature rise that is less than the first temperature rise when the temperature difference is greater than the temperature rise threshold.
US09945562B2	Staged fuel and air injection in combustion systems of gas turbines A gas turbine that includes: a combustor coupled to a turbine that define a working fluid flowpath; a compressor discharge cavity; a staged injection system that includes the forward injector and a staged injector; a stator blade positioned extending across the working fluid flowpath between an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall. A one-way continuous coolant flowpath that includes: an intake section that comprises an upstream port connected to the compressor discharge cavity and a downstream port formed through one of the inboard and outboard sidewalls; an outtake section that comprises a downstream port connected to the staged injector and an upstream port formed through the same one of the inboard and outboard sidewalls; and a cooling circuit extending through an interior of the airfoil of the stator blade and connecting to the downstream port of the intake section and the upstream port of the outtake section.
US09945560B1	Fire starter apparatus This embodiment relates generally to the Fire-Starter Apparatus (200) as a means to provide an instant fire in a safe, portable, time-saving, disposable, and convenient manner. The Fire-Starter Apparatus (200) contains both the fuel and reagents housed in a safe and convenient manner. The Fire-Starter Apparatus (200) relies on the user to cause the separated reagents to admix together, causing an exothermic reaction between reagents as a result of a chemical reaction between reagents.
US09945559B2	Fire starter A fire starter includes a casing made from a first material a first material having a first time associated therewith that defines a length of time that the casing burns after being ignited. A second material disposed in the casing has a second time associated therewith that defines a length of time that the second material burns after being ignited. An igniter, disposed in the casing and adjacent to the second material, generates a first thermal event to ignite the second material wherein the second material combusts to define a second thermal event that ignites the first material. An actuator is coupled to the igniter and is positioned outside of the casing for activating the igniter to generate the first thermal event.
US09945556B2	Fossil-fuel power generation system assisted by waste incineration A fossil-fuel power generation system assisted by waste incineration includes a waste incineration subsystem and a fossil-fuel power generation subsystem; wherein: the waste incineration subsystem includes a waste incinerator and the fossil-fuel power generation subsystem includes a main boiler; a flue gas channel is provided between a furnace of the waste incinerator and the main boiler; flue gas generated by waste incineration of the waste incinerator enters the main boiler through the flue gas channel; and the flue gas channel is located in a low part of the main boiler. Based on a high-temperature combustion environment of the main boiler, thermal energy of combustible waste is fully released and a thermal efficiency is increased; moreover, the flue gas discharged by the waste incinerator contains harmful substances which are mostly burned down by a high-temperature incineration of the main boiler. A secondary incineration greatly reduces the harmful substances and protects environment.
US09945553B2	Aqueous working fluid steam generation system Aqueous working fluid (WF) steam generation system including: pressure vessel containing heat exchanger; enclosed combustion air (CA) chamber; burner; another heat exchanger outside pressure vessel; and WF conduit. Heat exchanger includes first: enclosed WF chamber having WF input and output apertures (IOA); and enclosed CA passageway communicating with CAIOA and passing through enclosed WF chamber. Enclosed CA chamber includes second: enclosed WF chamber having WFIOA; and enclosed CA passageway communicating with CAIOA. Burner is connected to second CA input aperture. Another heat exchanger includes third: enclosed WF chamber having WFIOA; and enclosed CA passageway communicating with CAIOA. WF conduit connects third WF output aperture to second WF input aperture. Second WF output aperture is connected to first WF input aperture; and second CA output aperture is connected to first CA input aperture; and first CA output aperture is connected to third CA input aperture.
US09945551B2	Illuminated eating utensil and container system An illuminated eating utensil and container system includes a plurality of utensils. Each of the utensils includes a handle that is translucent. A head is attached to a first end of the handle. A light emitter is mounted at a juncture of the head and the handle and is directed towards a second end of the handle. The light emitter illuminates the handle when the light emitter is turned on. A battery is mounted in the head and is electrically coupled to the light emitter.
US09945545B2	Clip A clip for attaching a device, such as a lighting strip, to an underlying wire structure, such as a merchandizer shelf or peg, may present at least one spring bar as a part of a main clip body. These spring bars should each have a portion thicker than a remainder than the spring bar so as to increase a range of sizes of the device may be accommodated by the clip. The thicker portions should interact with a top surface of the device to force the spring bars to provide a counter pressure to the device and secure it to the structure. Legs depending from the clip body may feature cut-outs to interface securely with the underlying wire structure. Said cut-out may be made to accommodate different sizes of wire.
US09945537B2	Light deflector A deflector controls the distribution of light emanating from an overhead light fixture defining at least two opposing first edges connected by at least two opposing second edges, the at least two first edges and at least two second edges substantially defining a rectangle. A panel is defined by at least two opposing horizontal edges and two opposing vertical edges to substantially form a rectangle. One of the horizontal edges is secured to a selected first edge of the light fixture with the panel hanging downwardly from the selected first edge of the light fixture, the selected first edge of the light fixture being located between the light fixture and an area where reduced light is desired.
US09945536B2	Light guide and LED lamp with the light guide An LED lamp with an LED lamp light guide of ultra-high brightness and large angle, including a lamp holder, a lampshade, an LED light source, and the light guide is provided. The lamp holder is fastened with the lampshade, the LED light source is arranged in the lamp holder and connected to a power source through the lamp holder, the light guide is arranged inside the lamp holder and the lampshade, and the light guide is a long bar with four wing plates perpendicularly connected to each other in a cross shape when viewed longitudinally.
US09945526B2	Optoelectronic lighting module, optoelectronic lighting apparatus and vehicle headlamp An optoelectronic lighting module (100) is provided having at least two optoelectronic semiconductor chips (10) with a radiation outlet surface (11) and an electrically non-conductive back side (12) facing away from the radiation outlet surface,—a cooling body (20) with a cooling body top side (21) and a cooling body bottom side (22) facing away from the cooling body top side (21),—two contact strips (30) with a contact top side (31) and a contact bottom side (32) facing away from the contact top side (31), wherein—the optoelectronic semiconductor chips (10) are arranged with the electrically non-conductive back side (12) on the cooling body top side (21),—each optoelectronic semiconductor chip (10) comprises two electric contact points (13) formed in the direction of the radiation outlet surface (11), and—the optoelectronic semiconductor chips (10) are connected in series via the electric contact points (13).
US09945524B2	Light source unit and lighting fixture A light source unit includes an attachment body including an attachment board, a circuit board having a first surface in contact with the attachment board and a second surface on which lighting sources are mounted. The light source unit further includes a cover attached to the attachment body so as to cover the second surface of the circuit board. The cover includes a panel covering the circuit board and a pair of inner flanges each of which extending from both ends of the panel in a width direction of the panel so as to come toward each other. The circuit board is supported by being held between the pair of inner flanges and the attachment board of the attachment body.
US09945523B2	Lighting system and decorative article including same A lighting system comprises a crown including a plurality of connectors for engaging a plurality of light strands. The lighting system further comprises a plurality of light strands extending between first and second ends. The first ends of the light strands are removably engageable with the connectors of the crown. Each of the light strands includes at least one lighting element. Finally, the lighting system also comprises a controller in electrical communication with the crown for selectively controlling the lighting elements of the light strands. The present invention additionally provides a decorative article including the lighting system.
US09945519B2	Dispense interface The present patent application relates to a dispense interface comprising a channel profile with at least two inlet channels and at least one outlet channel, wherein each of the at least two inlet channels is configured for fluid communication with a respective reservoir of at least two reservoirs, at least one top layer and one bottom layer, an intermediate layer structure arranged between the at least one top layer and one bottom layer, wherein intermediate layer structure is tightly laminated with the top layer and the bottom layer and wherein the intermediate layer structure comprises at least one intermediate layer comprising at least one recess for forming at least one part of the channel profile.
US09945516B2	Method for preserving quality of nitric oxide A method provide high-purity nitric oxide by preserving quality of the nitric oxide by suitably inhibiting the disproportionation reaction of the nitric oxide that is transported in a state of being stored in a high-pressure gas cylinder, and decreasing the amount of nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide that are produced during the transportation. When the nitric oxide is transported in a state of being stored in the high-pressure gas cylinder, the nitric oxide is filled into the high-pressure gas cylinder at a gauge pressure between 1.96 MPa to 3.5 MPa to be stored, and is transported in a state in which the exterior surface temperature of the high-pressure gas cylinder is held in a range from −15° C. to 5° C.
US09945511B2	Adjustable panel mount A panel mount including a base, a first jaw, and a second jaw is provided. The panel mount includes a first and second threaded hole in the first jaw having fasteners received therein. The first threaded hole is nearer to the base than the second threaded hole. The panel mount includes a first and a second protrusion when fasteners are adjusted to protrude from the first jaw towards the second jaw. The panel mount includes a pivot protrusion on the second jaw. A panel is to be fastened between the pivot protrusion and at least one of the first protrusion or the second protrusion. Further, when one of the threaded fasteners protrudes from the first jaw at a greater distance than the other of the threaded fasteners, the panel may pivot about an axis centered on the pivot protrusion.
US09945510B1	Flashlight mount A flashlight mount is provided comprising a suction cup base, a modular, flexible mast attached to the suction cup base at a first end wherein the modular, flexible mast is capable of being positioned in any orientation, a clamp adaptor attached to an elbow joint at a second end of the flexible mast wherein a plurality of inner grooves are formed vertically on an inside surface wherein the elbow joint is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the flexible mast and wherein the clamp adaptor is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the elbow joint, and an inner ring having a plurality of outer grooves formed vertically on an outside surface of the inner ring wherein the inner grooves and outer grooves interlock wherein the inner ring is rotatable 360 degrees with respect to the clamp adaptor and an opening in the inner ring is configured to hold a flashlight.
US09945509B2	Quick-release mounting system for removably attaching a panel instrument to a structure A quick-release mounting apparatus for mounting a panel instrument to a mounting surface or support. The mounting apparatus comprises a frame to be mounted to the mounting support. A slide bar is slidably mounted to the frame and is slidable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The slide bar has a mounting hole configured to receive a mounting pin projecting from the back surface of the panel instrument. The mounting hole locks the mounting pin within the mounting hole in the locked position and allows the mounting pin to be removed from the mounting hole in the unlocked position. A cam is rotatably mounted to the frame and couples the slide bar to an actuator configured to rotate the cam between a locking position and an unlocking position. The actuator has a biasing device which biases the cam toward the locking position.
US09945504B2	Lining element for the rehabilitation of a pipeline The invention relates to a lining element (10) for the rehabilitation of a pipeline, having a carrier layer (16) consisting of an expandable, resin-absorbent material which, in the longitudinal direction (L1, L2) of the carrier layer (16), has a first expansion rigidity, and a stiffening structure (24) which, in the longitudinal direction (L1, L2) of the carrier layer (16), has a second expansion rigidity, wherein the first expansion rigidity is lower than the second expansion rigidity and wherein the stiffening structure (24) is incorporated into the carrier layer (16).
US09945503B2	Rotate-to-press inflation adaptor for English valves A rotate-to-press inflation adaptor is provided for use with an English valve and includes a valve connector having a side surface recessed inwardly to form a positioning cavity having an inside surface in which slide channels are formed and two opposite ends respectively forming a valve opening and a coupler opening in communication with the positioning cavity. The coupler includes an air charging hole extending axially therethrough and an outer surface on which an external thread and two slide blocks are formed for being slidably received in the slide channels for reciprocal movement. The rotary knob has a through hole in which an internal thread is formed and the knob body is fit over and combinable with the valve connector in a rotatable manner with the internal and external threads engaging each other. An air tube is connected to the coupler.
US09945500B2	Flexible pipe for transporting fresh water, set for the storage thereof and assembly of a plurality of pipes A flexible pipe suitable for transporting fresh water is described. The pipe has a circular cross-section when it is pressurized and which can collapse in on itself. The pipe has an outer diameter of between 1 and 7 meters and a length of between 200 and 3000 meters and includes an envelope which is sealed from the transported liquid, and at least two peripheral reinforcing elements increasing the mechanical resistance of the pipe to a positive differential pressure so that the pipe can support a positive differential pressure of between 1 and at least 10×105 Pa without bursting or cracking.
US09945496B2	Automatic transmission control valve body structure Structure of control valve body of automatic transmission has valve body enclosures having channels on opposing surfaces thereof; a separate plate sandwiched between the valve body enclosures for defining oil passages on both sides of the separate plate; and an orifice provided at the separate plate. The oil passages on both sides of the separate plate, which are upstream and downstream side oil passages located on upstream and downstream sides of the separate plate, communicate with each other through the orifice. Depth h, in a part facing to the orifice, of the channel corresponding to the downstream side oil passage is set to be shallower than depth of the channel corresponding to the upstream side oil passage, and the depth h of the channel in the part facing to the orifice and a diameter d of the orifice are set so as to satisfy relationship of h≤3d.
US09945491B2	Drive unit with optical waveguide A device for actuating a valve, comprising a casing, said casing exhibiting a transparent region and said casing preferentially having been formed from an upper part and a lower part, a transmission assembly, an electric motor and a base board for attaching electrical components, wherein LEDs or a multicolor LED and an optical waveguide have been arranged in the casing, preferentially on the base board, the position or another function of the valve being indicated by the LEDs lighting up, and the optical waveguide collimating and focusing the light of the LEDs for the purpose of indicating the position or malfunction.
US09945490B2	SMA valve for controlling pressurized air supply to an air cell in a vehicle seat SMA valve for controlling pressurized air supply to an air cell in comprising: a valve housing; a valve element (4) which is moveably suspended with respect to a mounting plate (30) in the housing between a closed position and an open position of the valve; a spring element adapted to exert a bias force on the valve element (4) to the closed position; a SMA wire (1) arranged such that shortening of the SMA wire upon exceeding its threshold temperature pulls the valve element to the closed position; a conductor (20) arranged on the valve element (4) in contact with the SMA wire (1) and arranged such that it comes into contact with a conducting surface (34) on the mounting plate (30) to close an electrical circuit when the valve element reaches its open position; a control unit arranged to supply electrical power to the SMA wire and to detect closure of the electrical circuit, and arranged to reduce the electrical power supply to the SMA wire when detecting closure of the electrical circuit, characterized in that the suspension (8, 10, 10′, 12, 12′, 14, 14′) of the valve element (4) is arranged such that the valve element moves parallel to the mounting plate (30) between the closed and open positions, and the conductor (20) is arranged to extend along a first portion (22) parallel to the longitudinal and moving direction of the valve element (4) and along a second portion (24) towards the mounting plate (30) and into a slot (32) formed therein, the conducting surface (34) being located in the slot such that an exposed end of the conductor (20) comes into contact with the conducting surface (34) in the slot (32) when the valve element (4) reaches its open position.
US09945489B2	Safety valve A safety valve mounted on a container and configured to release gas in a container in the case where the temperature rises, in which the safety is secured and a cost reduction is achieved. A movable body 12 includes a shaft portion 21 on which a compression coil spring 13 is fitted and a flange portion 22 configured to come into contact with a fusible alloy 11 by being urged by the compression coil spring 13. The flange portion 22 of the movable body 12 is provided with through holes 35 configured to discharge the fused fusible alloy 11 into a compression coil spring arrangement space 30.
US09945486B2	Radial sealing butterfly valve A valve assembly having a valve housing, the valve housing defining a passageway. A flapper valve arranged within the passageway is coupled to a rotatable valve shaft. A flexible wall, sealed along opposed edges to the valve housing, is controllable to at least two positions. The first position seals against the flapper valve and the second position releases the flapper valve allowing for ready movement of the valve.
US09945477B2	Shift drum angle detecting device for transmission A shift drum angle detecting device for a transmission includes shift forks, a shift drum, a first sensor shaft, a first angle sensor, a speed increasing mechanism, and a second angle sensor. The first angle sensor is to detect a rotational angle of the first sensor shaft to output a first output value based on the rotational angle. The speed increasing mechanism includes a speed increasing drive member, a speed increasing driven member, and a second sensor shaft. The second angle sensor is provided to the second sensor shaft to detect a rotational angle of the second sensor shaft and to output a second output value based on the rotational angle. A rotational angle of the shift drum is to be detected based on the first output value output from the first angle sensor and the second output value output from the second angle sensor.
US09945473B2	Kick-down element for a vehicle A kick-down element for a vehicle, complete with a housing, an actuator that is fastened in the housing such that it can be moved axially and a force surge element that can be moved axially in the actuator and which is axially loaded by an elastic element. There is a plate-shaped protruding part on at least one housing panel, which runs perpendicular to the movement direction and the upper end of which runs diagonally downward. The force step element interacts with at least one roller, which is located between the protruding part and a wedgeshaped (9) of the force surge element in a resting position. The kick-down element is intended to allow for a relatively long travel path for the actuator in the most compact design possible. This is achieved by keeping the roller attached to a lower end of the actuator.
US09945472B2	Lubricating structure for transmission A lubricating structure for a transmission includes: a case that includes a center support fixation portion that extends from the inner peripheral surface toward the radially inner side, and that houses the transmission on the first side of the center support fixation portion in the axial direction of the transmission; a center support that is press-fitted into the center support fixation portion, that rotatably supports an input shaft of the transmission, and that rotatably supports a clutch drum of the transmission; a bearing provided between the clutch drum and the center support in the axial direction; an oil reservoir portion formed on the center support on the second side of the center support fixation portion in the axial direction to open on the upper side in the vertical direction, the second side being opposite to the first side; and an oil passage formed in the center support, one end of the oil passage opening in the oil reservoir portion, and the other end of the oil passage opening in a space between the clutch drum and the center support in the axial direction.
US09945469B2	Straight bevel gear with spherical involute configuration A straight bevel gear having a gear body that includes a first set of gear teeth and at least one web. The set of gear teeth may have a spherical involute configuration. The web may extend between adjacent members of the set of gear teeth such that the web may be completely and continuously curved in multiple directions.
US09945467B2	Supporting assembly for a lightweight differential A differential gearing for a motor vehicle, comprising a drive gear, by means of which torque can be introduced into the gearing, a first output element and a second output element, by means of which the torque can be output from the gearing, a differential housing attached to the drive gear in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the drive gear and the differential housing together form a differential cage for transmitting torque from the drive gear to the first output element, wherein the first output element is arranged in such a way that the first output element can be rotated in relation to the differential cage, and a first rolling-element bearing for supporting the differential hosing on a housing, wherein a bearing shell of a second rolling-element bearing is directly attached to the drive gear in a rotationally fixed manner.
US09945463B2	Torque converter with an embossed cover for receiving a carrier plate A torque converter, including: an axis of rotation; a cover arranged to receive torque from an engine and including a first indentation; an impeller shell fixedly secured to the cover; at least one impeller blade fixedly secured to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade fixedly secured to the turbine shell; and a lock-up clutch including a first carrier plate fixedly secured to the cover and including a first protrusion disposed in the first indentation and a clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the first carrier plate.
US09945462B2	Hydrostatic assembly A hydrostatic assembly employing a 1st hydraulic piston drive unit is described in which the output is increased without using additional servo assemblies by incorporating a 2nd hydraulic piston drive unit, coupling the drive shafts of both drive units together, and employing a common means to simultaneously adjust displacement of both the 1st and 2nd hydraulic piston drive units. In such embodiments, coupling the drive shafts together such that the 1st hydraulic piston drive unit is rotationally offset with respect to the 2nd hydraulic piston drive allows for a reduction in the amplitude of pressure pulsations associated with the hydrostatic assembly output, thereby smoothing out operation and improving durability.
US09945461B2	Parallel gearshift transmission of a motor vehicle A parallel shift transmission of a motor vehicle comprising splitter and range groups. At least the splitter group is split into two parallel transmission branches having countershafts. One branch can be actuated by a power-shift element to transfer rotation of a drive shaft to a countershaft, via a stepped transmission ratio of the splitter group according to the actuation of one of the transmission branches and then converting and transmitting the rotation, via one of a plurality of range transmission ratios of the range group, to an output shaft. In order to reverse rotation, parallel countershafts can be coupled by individual gearwheel pairs by actuation of associated switching elements such that one countershaft, at the output side of the splitter group in the flow of power flow from the drive to the output shaft, is connected to the other countershaft at a drive side of the range group.
US09945454B2	Motorized gear reducer A motorized gear reducer is provided with an axial support shaft in a housing; a speed reduction device including at least three stages of a sunless planetary gear train, each stage including a stationary ring gear, a rotatable ring gear served as a torque output, and a carrier on the support shaft and served as a torque input of each stage; planet gear sets, each in the carrier and including a first planet gear meshing the stationary ring gear, and a second planet gear meshing the rotatable ring gear, the rotatable ring gear of the last stage extending out of the housing to serve as a torque output of the speed reduction device; and a hollow motor surrounding the first stage and including a stator, a rotor surrounded and driven by the stator, and windings for rotating the rotor.
US09945453B2	Multiple speed transmission An automatic transmission 20 includes: a Simpson type complex planetary gear train 25 including single pinion type first and second planetary gears 21 and 22 and single pinion type third and fourth planetary gears 23 and 24; first through fourth clutches C1 to C4; and first and second brakes B1 and B2. A first carrier 21c of the first planetary gear 21 is coupled to an input shaft 20i. A first ring gear 21r of the first planetary gear 21 is selectively connected to an output shaft 20o by the first clutch C1.
US09945447B2	Gear drive and actuator arrangement A number of variations may include a gear drive comprising a housing; a shaft supported in the housing; a ring gear which is coaxial and rotatable with the shaft; at least one intermediate gear constructed and arranged to engage the ring gear; an intermediate gear plate which is coaxial with the ring gear and the shaft, and wherein the intermediate gear plate includes an engagement feature and a pin, wherein the engagement feature is constructed and arranged to attach to the shaft and the pin is constructed and arranged to locate and rotatably mount the at least one intermediate gear to the intermediate gear plate; and wherein engagement of the intermediate gear plate with the shaft provides alignment of the at least one intermediate gear, the ring gear, and the shaft and allows for rotation of the intermediate gear plate and the at least one intermediate gear about the shaft.
US09945446B2	Driving system for vehicle A driving system for a vehicle includes drive source, a driven portion, a unidirectional power transmitting unit provided on a power transmission path between the drive source and the driven portion, and having a first member, a second member, and an engaging element interposed between the first member and the second member, and an eccentricity acquiring unit adapted to acquire an eccentricity, the eccentricity being a magnitude of deviation between the rotational axis of the first member and the rotational axis of the second member.
US09945444B2	Lock-up device A lock-up device includes a drive plate, a driven plate, first torsion springs, second torsion springs, a spring holder and a rotation restricting unit. The rotation restricting unit is configured to restrict and bring the first torsion spring in each group and the second torsion spring in each group to a deactivated state by at least either of engagement of the spring holder with the driven plate or engagement of the drive plate with the spring holder.
US09945443B2	Boom mounting assembly for an agricultural application machine A boom mounting assembly for attachment to an agricultural application machine is provided. The assembly includes a boom support frame which is suspended from a primary frame mounted to a chassis. The boom support frame comprises a transverse beam for supporting an intermediate section of a fluid application boom. The suspension mechanism allows both yaw and pitch of boom support frame relative to the primary frame resulting from fore and aft forces on the boom. Dampers are each connected between the primary frame and the boom support frame at a position spaced from the transverse center of the assembly. Damping of pitch and asymmetrical yaw movement of the transverse beam away from a neutral position is controlled by the first and second dampers.
US09945442B2	Vibration isolator A vibration isolator (10) includes a first attachment member (11), a second attachment member (12), an elastic body (13), and a partition member (16) configured to partition a liquid chamber in the first attachment member in which a liquid (L) is sealed into a first liquid chamber (14) and a second liquid chamber (15). A communicating passage (30) configured to communicate the first liquid chamber with the second liquid chamber is provided in the partition member. A flow changing protrusion (31) is provided at an inner circumferential surface (30a) of the communicating passage. A guide surface (32) opposite to the communicating passage and intersecting the axial direction (O) of the communicating passage is provided at the flow changing protrusion. A passing hole (34) which is open toward both sides in the axial direction is formed by a projecting end (31b) of the flow changing protrusion and another place on the inner circumferential surface (30b) of the communicating passage. The flow changing protrusion changes the flow of the liquid flowing in the communicating passage and reaching the guide surface toward the projecting end. The guide surface is formed in a concave curved surface shape which is recessed in the axial direction.
US09945441B2	Cylinder device A cylinder device includes a recess provided on either one of the piston and the cylinder, the recess facing the other one of the piston and the cylinder; an extension-side discharge passage configured to permit only a flow of liquid from the extension-side chamber toward the recess; a compression-side discharge passage configured to permit only a flow of liquid from the compression-side chamber toward the recess; a tank-side discharge passage configured to allow the extension-side discharge passage and the compression-side discharge passage to communicate with the tank through the recess; an extension-side damping force generation passage configured to apply a resistance to a flow of liquid passing therethrough so as to exert a damping force during extension; and a compression-side damping force generation passage configured to apply a resistance to a flow of liquid passing therethrough so as to exert a damping force during contraction.
US09945440B2	Device for damping the movement of a movably mounted component A device for damping the movement of a movably mounted component includes a first, mechanically acting braking device with at least one friction pair, wherein, in order to generate a braking force, a driven friction surface can be rotated about an axis of the first braking device relative to a secured friction surface resting thereon, and a second braking device which is coupled to the first braking device, wherein the friction surfaces of the friction pair, or of at least one of the friction pairs, are pressed against each other in response to a braking force exerted by the second braking device. The second braking device has at least one driven damper surface that can be rotated about an axis of the second braking device and cooperates with at least one secured damper surface to enclose at least one gap in which a viscous damping medium is present that causes a braking force of the second braking device when the at least one driven damper surface is rotated with respect to the at least one secured damper surface.
US09945439B2	Elastomer strip design for torsional vibration dampers and torsional vibration dampers having same Elastomer members for a torsional vibration damper, methods of making the same, and torsional vibration dampers having the elastomer members are disclosed. The elastomer members have a first major surface and an opposing second major surface with opposing side joining the first major surface to the second major surface, have a median sagittal plane extending parallel to the first major surface and the second major surface, and a transverse plane perpendicular to the median sagittal plane. In a cross-sectional geometry in a plane bisecting the median sagittal plane and the transverse plane, a thickness of the elastomer member changes along the median sagittal plane in a direction parallel to the transverse plane with a first thickness at both opposing sides and a second thickness at the transverse plane, where the second thickness is greater than the first thicknesses.
US09945436B2	Disc brake A disc brake for heavy vehicles. The disc brake may include first and second brake pads, a caliper, and at least one support. The caliper may have a radial opening and a pad strap. The support may support a rear face of at least one of the brake pads and may have a guide formation that may be configured to engage the pad strap and restrict rotation of the brake pad about a radial axis.
US09945434B2	Brake assembly with anchor pin retention A brake assembly having a brake spider that may receive an anchor pin or a sleeve that receives an anchor pin. Features such as splines may be provided with the anchor pin to help secure the anchor pin to the brake spider or the sleeve. Engagement features may be provided with the sleeve to help secure the sleeve to the brake spider.
US09945432B2	Hydraulic control device for drive power distribution device A drive power distribution device includes a hydraulic pressure sealing-type hydraulic pressure control device for making an operation noise of an on-off valve such as a solenoid valve less recognizable to occupants of a vehicle. By closing the on-off valve and driving the oil pump, a hydraulic pressure detected using a hydraulic pressure detection means reaches a target hydraulic pressure, and fastening power of a hydraulic clutch is maintained at an oil pressure of hydraulic fluid sealed in an oil passage until the on-off valve is opened. The drive power distribution device closes the solenoid valve when the hydraulic pressure is detected to be equal to or less than a predetermined threshold hydraulic pressure and equal to or less than a predetermined threshold vehicle speed. This can prevent synchronization between an accelerator operation by a driver and a closing operation of the solenoid valve.
US09945431B2	Electromagnetic clutch An inner peripheral surface of an outer cylindrical tubular portion and an outer peripheral surface of an inner cylindrical tubular portion of a rotor are respectively shaped into a stepped form. A radial distance between the outer cylindrical tubular portion and the inner cylindrical tubular portion at a counter-armature side location is larger than that of an armature side location in the rotor. An outer peripheral surface of an outer cylindrical tubular portion and an inner peripheral surface of an inner cylindrical tubular portion of a stator are respectively shaped into a stepped form. A radial distance between the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical tubular portion and the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical tubular portion at the counter-armature side location is larger than that of the armature side location in the stator.
US09945428B2	Clutch assembly and transmission A transmission utilizes a three clutch module. The clutch module may be pre-assembled before it is assembled into the transmission. All three clutch packs are splined to a common shell at their outer diameter. One of the clutch pistons passes through openings in the clutch pack of one of the other clutches. The common shell is fixedly coupled to a hollow shaft through which the transmission input shaft protrudes. Pressurized fluid to engage the three clutches is routed through axial passageways in the input shaft.
US09945427B1	Shaft-expanding cone lock A cone piece is tightened into a compatibly shaped hole in the end of a shaft. As the cone piece is tightened, it forces the shaft to expand outwards. As the shaft expands, it creates or increases pressure against a hub, wheel, crank or other mating piece that is positioned on the shaft, locking it into place.
US09945426B2	Shaft-hub connection, adapter and geared motor A shaft, especially a motor shaft, is inserted into an accommodation area of a hub, especially an adapter shaft, and is connected with force locking, especially being clamped. The hub, at least in one axial area, has three flattenings evenly spaced from one another in the circumferential direction. A first threaded part, particularly a first, preferably radially-acting setscrew, is screwed into a clamping ring and presses on one area of the hub in order to bring about the force-locking connection, especially by bracing the clamping ring against the hub, in particular, the area covering an angle-at-circumference area which is smaller than the angular distance in the circumferential direction between two flattenings immediately adjacent in the circumferential direction.
US09945425B2	Rotating shaft coupling A rotary shaft coupling (10) for the drive-line of a vehicle includes a female component (11) of a propeller shaft (41) and a male component (12) of a drive axial pinion (42). The components have mutually engageable splines (14, 15) and circular regions (23, 25, 24, 26) drawn into engagement by a clamp nut (16) of the male component; the circular regions are a sliding or an interference fit. The clamp nut (16) may also be used to draw the components (11, 12) apart.
US09945423B2	Method and apparatus relating to movable assembly In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing a slide arrangement is provided, comprising: coupling a first rail part with a second rail part; deforming at least one of the first rail part and the second rail part for reducing a separation distance between the first rail part and the second rail part; and configuring the first rail part and the second rail part for relative movement.
US09945419B2	Retainer A retainer (30) for maintaining a relative angular spacing of a plurality of rolling elements includes a body (34) having an annular portion (38) and a plurality of engaging portions (42). Each of the engaging portions is configured to engage at least one of the plurality of rolling elements. The body is made of a sintered powdered metal infiltrated with bronze.
US09945417B2	Method for correcting variations of parameters of components and/or of assembly of active magnetic bearing and active magnetic bearing for bearing rotating working means A method for correcting variations of parameters of components of an active magnetic bearing and/or assembly of active magnetic bearing as a whole, the active magnetic bearing includes a memory (M) to store values of production and/or electrical and/or installation variations of at least one component of the active magnetic bearing and/or variations of the whole active magnetic bearing assembly and/or correction values formed from the variations, the memory (M), a control system and/or detectors (D) of output signal of sensors (A) of the position and/or the evaluation circuits being interconnected or interconnectable.
US09945415B2	Torque transmitting shaft A torque transmitting shaft includes a first member and a second member. The first member extends along an axis and has an inner surface extending between a first end and a second end. The inner surface defines a plurality of first engagement elements disposed proximate the first end. The second member extends along the second axis and has a first end portion and an intermediate portion extending from the first end portion. An end of the intermediate portion is fixedly attached to the second end. The first end portion has a first spline portion and each member of the first spline portion is received within corresponding engagement elements of the plurality of first engagement elements.
US09945409B2	Corner member, corner assembly, construction kit and rectangular structure An extruded corner bracket is provided, the corner bracket comprising a length; a body extending the length; a pair of wings extending the length and extending outward from the body to define, with the body, an outer right angle and a pair of inner right angles, the inner right angles being normal to each other, each inner right angle having a first face and a second face; and a slot within the body and extending the length, the slot for slidably, non-rotatably retaining a nut and for housing a distal end of a bolt, the slot including an elongate opening defined by a distal edge of each first face. A corner bracket assembly, rectangular structures using the corner bracket assembly and a kit are also provided.
US09945402B2	Internal position sensor A piston actuator (10) includes a housing (12) having a hollow interior (12a) for enclosing a piston (14) defined by a head (14a) and a rod (14b). The piston (14) can reciprocate between first and second end limits of travel within the housing (12) and separates the housing (12) into first and second expandable fluid chambers (16a, 16b). The housing (12) has a rod-end opening (12b) at one end and a head-end opening (12c) at an opposite end. The piston (14) can include a longitudinally extending aperture (14c) formed therein with an open end (14d) facing the head-end opening (12c) of the housing (12). A magnet (18) can be supported by the piston (14) adjacent to the open end (14d) of the longitudinally extending aperture (14c) in the piston (14). A position sensor (20) can be supported by the housing (12) within the longitudinally extending aperture (14c) in the piston (14) adjacent to the magnet (18) for sensing the position of the piston (14) during movement between the first and second end limits of travel within the housing (12).
US09945395B2	Control device for a hydraulic cylinder unit with an individual valve controller A control device controls a hydraulic cylinder unit having a piston. The device receives a setpoint variable and an actual variable and determines, based on a difference between the setpoint variable and the actual variable, a preliminary manipulated variable for valves of the hydraulic cylinder unit. The setpoint variable and the actual variable relate to a position of the piston or a force applied by the piston. Linearization factors are determined dynamically as a function of the actual position of the piston and working pressures on both sides of the piston and a hydraulic fluid tank/pump. Definitive manipulated variables to control the valves are determined from the preliminary manipulated variable and the linearization factors. With the linearization factors, a ratio of the piston adjustment speed to the difference between the setpoint variable and the actual variable is independent of the actual position of the piston and the working pressures.
US09945392B2	Hydropneumatic device and assembly kit A hydropneumatic device having pressure a working part with a working piston guided in the working part and an intensifier part with an intensifier piston guided in the intensifier part. A connecting section for a hydraulic connection of the working part and of the intensifier part provides a connecting line for passage of hydraulic fluid between the working part and the intensifier part. The connecting section includes an adapter component which can be mounted on the working part and the intensifier part, and in the interior of which the connecting line is formed. In the mounted state of the adapter component, an opening, which is provided at the side on the working part, of a hydraulic chamber of the working part is connected, via the connecting line, to an opening, which is provided at the side on the intensifier part, of a hydraulic chamber of the intensifier part.
US09945389B2	Composite fan A modular fan assembly includes a center hub assembly and a first blade attached to the center hub assembly. The center hub assembly includes a first plate having an outer edge, and a second plate having an outer edge. The first blade has a mounting pad and a working portion. The mounting pad is positioned in between the first plate and the second plate. The working portion extends beyond the outer edges of the first and second plates of the center hub assembly. A thickness of the first blade is smaller proximate the outer edge of the first plate than at the mounting pad to create a first gap between the first blade and the first plate at the outer edge of the first plate.
US09945381B2	Compressor A compressor is provided that may include a passage separator provided between an electric motor drive and a compression device to separate a refrigerant passage from an oil passage. The passage separator may include a first partition wall and a second partition wall. The first partition wall may be disposed between an inner circumferential surface of a casing and a discharge hole of the compression device, and the second partition wall may be disposed between the discharge hole and a balance weight. Accordingly, the refrigerant passage may be separated from the oil passage between the compression device and electric motor drive, thereby efficiently recovering oil to an oil storage space.
US09945374B2	System and method for changing proppant concentration Disclosed are systems and methods utilizing multiple parallel pumps to deliver a mixture of the proppant and clean fluid via a manifold trailer. One method of providing a step-change in proppant concentration includes selecting a first flow rate for a first pump connected between a first input node and first output node, calculating a first transit time for a flow of a fluid at the first flow rate through a first flow path extending from the first inlet node, through the first pump, and to the first outlet node, and calculating a second flow rate for a second pump connected between the first input node and the first output node such that a second transit time for a flow of the fluid through a second flow path extending from the first inlet node, through the second pump, and to the first outlet node is equal to the first transit time.
US09945373B2	Direct injection pump control strategy for noise reduction A pump may have a first chamber and a solenoid coil to control movement of a first valve member. A second chamber may have a second valve member to control fluid moving into a third chamber. A first fluid passageway may link the first and second chambers, a second passageway may link second and third chambers and a third passageway may link third and fourth chambers. After pressurizing the third chamber causing fluid to flow into and leave a fourth chamber, the third chamber depressurizes due to downward movement of a plunger. Upon depressurization with a solenoid coil energized, second valve member floats and then moves against a valve seat. While the second valve member is moving toward the valve seat, the solenoid coil is de-energized causing the first valve member to move and strike the second valve member when the second valve member is moving at maximum velocity.
US09945372B2	Compressing diaphragm pump with multiple effects A compressing diaphragm pump with multiple effects includes an eccentric roundel mount with three cylindrical eccentric roundels, a pump head body with three operating holes, and a diaphragm membrane with three annular positioning protrusions. A basic curved groove or other positioning structure is circumferentially disposed around each operating hole while a basic curved protrusion or other mating positioning structure is provided in the diaphragm membrane for suitably coupling with the corresponding groove or positioning structure in the pump head body upon assembly, resulting in a shortened length of moment arm from the basic curved protrusions or other positioning structures and an annular positioning protrusion, and a reduction in vibration-caused noise and resonant shaking in comparison with a conventional compressing diaphragm pump. The cylindrical eccentric roundels each includes a sloped top ring extending between an annular positioning groove and a vertical or inverted frustoconical flank of the eccentric roundel mount resulting in an extended service lifespan of the compressing diaphragm pump.
US09945370B2	Gas compression system and method of compressing gas using the gas compression system A gas compression system is provided. The gas compression system includes a compressor, an adsorption device, and a fluid control device. The compressor includes a first port and a second port. The adsorption device is adapted to output the high pressure hydrogen gas to the first port and absorb the low pressure hydrogen gas from the second port. The adsportion includes a first container connected to the first port or the second port, and a second container connected to the first port or the second port. The first container and the second container includes a hydrogen adsorption material adapted to release the high pressure hydrogen gas when heated, and absorb the low pressure hydrogen gas when cooled. A method of using the gas compression system is also provided.
US09945368B2	Non-evaporable getter and non-evaporable getter pump A non-evaporable getter 1 includes a mesh 3, a frame 2 which is attached to the mesh 3 and suppresses deformation of the mesh 3, and a powder-state getter material 4 which is surrounded by the mesh 3 and the frame 2, and whose particle size is larger than a mesh opening of the mesh 3.
US09945367B2	Dual-gauge air pump A dual-gauge air pump has two round dial pressure gauges that are configured in a back-to-back arrangement, i.e. 180 degrees to each other, and to rotate through 360 degrees simultaneously for a user's easy observation.
US09945366B1	Wheeled pumping station The wheeled pumping station includes a front axle and a rear axle with wheels that mobilize a pumping station supported via a chassis. The pumping station is enclosed within a housing. The housing supports a pump from which an intake hose descends down. The pump is wired to a powering member. The powering member is also wired to at least one solar panel provided on a top surface of the housing. The powering member is wired to a computer, GPS unit, and transceiver. The computer is able to track location and maneuver the wheeled pumping station to different locations as needed. The pump is connected to both the intake hose and an irrigation pipe such that water collected via the pump is removed from the land, and transferred via the irrigation pipe to another location.
US09945353B2	Spoiler for a wind turbine blade A spoiler for a rotor blade includes a base member, which base member has a mounting face for mounting onto a surface of the rotor blade, and an aerodynamic member for detachably connecting onto the base member. Further, a wind turbine includes a number of rotor blades attached to a hub, wherein at least one rotor blade has such a spoiler mounted on a surface strip of the rotor blade. Also, a method of constructing a wind turbine is provided. A rotor blade is manufactured. A base member of the spoiler is mounted onto the rotor blade. The rotor blade is connected to a hub of the wind turbine. An aerodynamic member of the spoiler is attached onto the base member, wherein at least the mounting of the base member onto the rotor blade is performed prior to the connecting of the rotor blade to the hub.
US09945347B2	Wear protection features for corona igniter A corona igniter comprises an electrode with a central extended member extending along a central axis and a crown extending radially outwardly from the central extended member. The central extended member has an extended length and the crown has a crown length. The extended length is greater than the crown length such that the extended member approaches a piston more closely than the crown. In addition, the firing tips of the crown each present a first spherical radius which is less than a second spherical radius of the central extended member. Thus, if arcing occurs, it forms from the central extended member, rather than from the crown. Accordingly, the firing tips of the crown experience less wear and remain sharp. In addition, due to the sizes of the spherical radii, corona discharge is more likely to form from the firing tips than from the central extended member.
US09945346B2	Method and apparatus to control an ignition system A method is provided for controlling an ignition system which includes a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least one coil stage, the at least one coil stage adapted to successively energize and de-energize to provide a current to a spark plug, each coil stage includes a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding. The method includes measuring low side voltages at one or more of each coil stage and controlling a duty cycle or a pulse width of a PWM-signal of a step-down converter stage dependent on a battery voltage, a maximum primary current threshold, and the measured voltages.
US09945345B2	Intra-even control strategy for corona ignition systems The invention provides a system and method for controlling corona discharge and arc formations during a single corona event, i.e. intra-event control. A driver circuit provides energy to the corona igniter and detects any arc formation. In response to each arc formation, the energy provided to the corona igniter is shut off for short time. The driver circuit also obtains information about the arc formations, such as timing of the first arc formation and number of occurrences. A control unit then adjusts the energy provided to the corona igniter after the shut off time and during the same corona event based on the information about the arc formations. For example, the voltage level could be reduced or the shut-off time could be increased to limit arc formations and increase the size of the corona discharge during the same corona event.
US09945344B2	Method and system for ignition control Methods and systems are provided for addressing spark plug soot fouling. In one example, spark plug tip temperatures are raised and maintained elevated by advancing spark timing and increasing engine speed, while reducing an amount of EGR being delivered to the engine. The spark plug fouling mitigating actions are adjusted based on whether the engine is in a green condition at an assembly plant or not.
US09945341B2	Negative pressure abnormality detection apparatus, and control apparatus for internal combustion engine A negative pressure abnormality detection apparatus includes a negative pressure sensor to output a signal representing negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber of a brake booster into which intake negative pressure of an intake manifold generated by rotation of an engine is introduced; a negative pressure detection unit to detect the negative pressure based on the signal; an abnormality determination unit to determine whether an abnormality occurs with the negative pressure sensor, based on whether the negative pressure is shifted toward atmospheric or vacuum pressure relative to a threshold, when a state continues for a predetermined time or longer during which the engine rotates and a negative-pressure-expending braking operation is not performed; and a threshold change unit to change the threshold depending on opening of a throttle valve in an intake pipe connected with the intake manifold, while the state continues.

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