| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10649723B2 |
Communication device, control method, and storage medium
In a case where a communication device receives a playback request for second content while playing back first content, the communication device starts playing back the second content, based on a fact that a communication device identified by identification information about a communication device that has transmitted a playback request for the first content is identical to a communication device identified by identification information about a communication device that has transmitted the playback request for the second content, and continues playing back the first content, based on a fact that the communication devices are different. The communication device starts playing back the second content, based on a fact that a user identified by user identification information about the first content is identical to a user identified by user identification information about the second content, and continues playing back the first content, based on a fact that the users are different. |
| US10649717B2 |
Methods and systems for conveying encrypted data to a communication device
An apparatus includes an audio-sensor inhibitor configured to inhibit detection of sound by an audio sensor of a communication device, and a secure communication interface coupled to the audio-sensor inhibitor, the secure communication interface being configured to transmit encrypted audio data from the secure communication interface to the communication device, wherein the communication interface generates audio data using a secure-interface audio sensor, and generates the encrypted audio data by encrypting the audio data using a cryptographic module. |
| US10649715B2 |
Control device and control method to issue notification on occurrence of processing overflow
There is provided a control device that includes a control unit that executes a process of causing a speaker to stop speaking on a device toward which the speaker speaks on a basis of a result obtained by analyzing speech content based on a result of the speaker speaking toward the device. |
| US10649714B2 |
Data output apparatus and method, and computer-readable recording medium
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a data output method may include: receiving unit-time or unit-size auditory data which are generated around a user and detected via a first apparatus; removing noises from the auditory data; extracting a frequency component included in the auditory data from which the noises have been removed; measuring at least one frequency of the auditory data on the basis of the frequency component; searching a database on the basis of the at least one frequency to fine reference data oscillating at the at least one frequency; generating first output data providing semantic data included in the reference data; and generating and providing an output control signal for transmitting the first output data. |
| US10649712B2 |
Display device and operation method thereof
A display device operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: operating in a twin mode in which a merge screen obtained by merging a first screen of the display device and a second screen of another display device connected to the display device can be used by linking a plurality of display devices including the display device; displaying a pointer on the first screen; acquiring a user input for the displayed pointer; and performing an operation corresponding to the acquired user input through one or more of the plurality of display devices. |
| US10649709B1 |
Location-based universal printing using remote application servers
Disclosed are systems and methods for managing a print job in a virtual environment. The described technique includes associating a physical printer with a chosen virtual printer which may be used by the user in the remote application to execute. A remote application server can receive from a remote application a request to choose a virtual printer in a remote session established between the client device and a remote application server. A tag associated with the print job that indicates one or more parameters of the virtual printer is determined, as well as a location of the client device. The technique includes selecting a physical printer from a plurality of available printers in the remote session based on the determined location and the determined tag of the virtual printer. An association with the virtual printer is generated and saved, and may be used for a subsequent print job. |
| US10649708B2 |
Method and system for multi-mode data object transformation and delivery
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products directed to the multi-mode delivery of documents are provided. Example embodiments implement the transformation and delivery of data objects for use in connection with parallel delivery topologies and pathways to overcome technical challenges associated with the accuracy, reliability, scalability, and efficiency of conventional document delivery approaches. |
| US10649707B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium for information processing apparatus having selectable processing channels and a display capable of displaying applicable options for print settings
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that are executable by a computer in an information processing apparatus connected with a printer, is provided. The computer readable instructions cause the computer to obtain a type of an object contained in an image file, determine whether the obtained type of the object falls under a first type, and based on a determination that the obtained type of the object falls under the first type, determine a combination of applicable options for a print setting for the image file to be a first option group, and based on a determination that the obtained type of the object falls under a second type, determine a combination of applicable options for the print setting for the image file to be a second option group containing a smaller number of applicable options than the first option group. |
| US10649705B2 |
Memory control apparatus and resource management method for memory control apparatus to process PDL data
When the type of PDL data is switched, a resource that is already developed cannot be used. A memory control apparatus configured to process received PDL data includes a developing unit configured to develop the received PDL data in a first memory area, and develop a resource to be used by the PDL data in a second memory area, a determination unit configured to determine whether stored activation information is a first value or a second value, and a control unit configured to perform control for releasing the first memory area and deleting the resource developed in the second memory area, in a case where the activation information is determined to be the first value, and configured to release the first memory area and not deleting the resource developed in the second memory area, in a case where the activation information is determined to be the second value. |
| US10649704B2 |
Global printing system and method for rendering encoding scheme independent labels having serialization data
An apparatus and method for formatting a label are provided. An example method includes receiving data, a first portion of the data being encoded in a first encoding scheme; defining, via a processor, a first field block based on first text layout information received in association with a first field block command, the first field block for rendering text on a label; and formatting, via the processor, the first portion of the data within the first field block according to a first text display direction received in association with a first field parameter command. |
| US10649702B2 |
Communication between an image forming device and a replaceable supply item
A toner container installable in an image forming device having a controller according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A chip is positioned on the housing and configured to, after sending a first busy response to the controller of the image forming device, receive a second write command from the controller of the image forming device that is abbreviated relative to a first write command received from the controller of the image forming device and that requests the chip to send a response to the first write command. The chip is further configured to send a response to the first write command to the controller of the image forming device if upon receiving a read command corresponding to the second write command the chip has completed processing the first write command. |
| US10649701B2 |
Image processing system
In an image processing system, a mobile terminal device obtains a position and a direction of each image forming apparatus relative to the mobile terminal device on a basis of respective wireless signals transmitted from each of the image forming apparatuses and is received by a near field communication unit, and displays on a display unit the position and the direction. When an arbitrary image forming apparatus is selected by operation of a touch panel, image data to be printed is transmitted via a network by a network communication section to the selected image forming apparatus. |
| US10649699B2 |
Setting control program and setting control method
A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable setting control program operating on an apparatus that corrects a print job, causes the apparatus to perform: by reading previously-registered setting information of the print job, displaying a setting value of each of items in a correctable manner; saving, in a storage, when a setting value of any one of the items is corrected, an uncorrected setting value of the item; and by classifying the items of the print job into a first item a setting value of which has not been corrected and a second item a setting value of which has been corrected, registering, in a database in a distinguishable manner, a set of the first item and the setting value of the first item and a set of the second item and an uncorrected setting value of the second item. |
| US10649690B2 |
Fast memory initialization
In an example, there is disclosed a memory controller, including: a data buffer to drive a determinate value to a data bus to communicatively couple to a memory; and a register clock driver to: receive a memory initialization command from a processor; and incrementally step through a plurality of initialization addresses, sequentially driving each initialization address to an address bus to communicatively couple to the memory. There is also disclosed a computing device comprising the memory controller, and a method of initializing memory comprising incrementally stepping through a plurality of initialization addresses and sequentially writing a determinate value to each address. |
| US10649688B1 |
Precise longitudinal monitoring of memory operations
A processor includes a memory subsystem having a first memory subunit that includes a status register and an execution engine unit coupled to the memory subsystem. The execution engine unit is to: randomly select a load operation to monitor; determine a re-order buffer identifier of the load operation; and transmit the re-order buffer identifier to the memory subsystem. Responsive to receipt of the re-order buffer identifier, the first memory subunit stores a piece of information, related to a status of the load operation, in the status register. Responsive to detection of retirement of the load operation, the first memory subunit is to store the piece of information from the status register into a particular field of a record of a memory buffer, wherein the particular field is associated with the first memory subunit. |
| US10649687B2 |
Memory buffer management and bypass
Methods, systems, and devices for memory buffer management and bypass are described. Data corresponding to a page size of a memory array may be received at a virtual memory bank of a memory device, and a value of a counter associated with the virtual memory bank may be incremented. Upon determining that a value of the counter has reached a threshold value, the data may be communicated from the virtual memory bank to a buffer of the same memory device. For instance, the counter may be incremented based on the virtual memory bank receiving an access command from a host device. |
| US10649684B2 |
Memory access monitoring
An apparatus has a monitoring data store for storing monitoring data indicating regions of a memory address space to be monitored for changes, which can include at least two non-contiguous regions. Processing circuitry updates the monitoring data in response to an update monitor instruction. Monitoring circuitry monitors accesses to the memory system and provides a notification to the processing circuitry when data associated with one of the monitored regions has changed. This improves performance and energy efficiency by reducing the overhead of polling changes to multiple regions. |
| US10649683B2 |
System for monitoring and reporting aircraft data storage status
A system for monitoring and reporting data storage status of one or more line replaceable units installed in an aircraft. A data storage monitor onboard the vehicle is in communication with each of the line replaceable units. A storage status is reported, and a storage status log is generated for each line replaceable unit. The storage status logs are communicated to a base station over a communication link established between the base station and the data storage monitor for storage within a repository. The base station has a status log aggregator that generates a report from the storage status logs, an interface for an external management application to access the storage status logs, and an alarm that generates notifications to a predefined destination based upon an evaluation of the storage status logs against one or more alert rules. |
| US10649682B1 |
Focused sanitization process for deduplicated storage systems
Described is a deduplicated storage system that may perform a focused sanitization process by reducing the number of data storage containers that must be sanitized. The system leverages additional characteristics of the files that need to be sanitized such as an initial storage date (e.g. data breach date) of when a sensitive file (e.g. file to be sanitization) was actually stored on the deduplicated storage system. By maintaining a creation date of data containers, the system may limit sanitization to those containers having a creation date on or after the initial storage date of the sensitive file. Accordingly, the system is capable of performing a more focused overwriting of data thereby improving the overall efficiency of the sanitization process. |
| US10649680B2 |
Dual-port non-volatile dual in-line memory modules
According to an example, a dual-port non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM) includes a first port to provide a central processing unit (CPU) with access to universal memory of the dual-port NVDIMM and a second port to provide an external NVDIMM manager circuit with access to the universal memory of the dual-port NVDIMM. Accordingly, a media controller of the dual-port NVDIMM may store data received from the CPU through the first port in the universal memory, control dual-port settings received from the CPU, and transmit the stored data to the NVDIMM manager circuit through the second port of the dual-port NVDIMM. |
| US10649677B2 |
Cooperative physical defragmentation by a file system and a storage device
A storage system includes a host including a processor and a storage device including a controller and a flash memory unit. The host is configured to read physically fragmented data of a file stored in one or more physical storage regions of the flash memory unit and write the data continuously into other one or more physical regions of the flash memory unit, such that the data are physically defragmented. |
| US10649676B1 |
Memory compression for immutable data structures
Duplicates of immutable data objects are identified and deduplicated. This is performed by performing a bottom up deduplication, such that objects in hierarchically lower levels of a data structure are deduplicated first. Deduplication identifies duplicates of a particular object through value equality analysis and replaces pointers to duplicate objects and the duplicate objects themselves, with a reference to the particular object. This process is repeated for hierarchically higher data objects, but where the value equality analysis includes, among other things, evaluating the equality of references to hierarchically lower data objects. |
| US10649673B2 |
Queuing read requests based on write requests
Embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to methods and a computer program product for allowing writes based on a granularity level. The method for a storage server may include receiving a received granularity level for a particular volume of a storage device of a client computer including an effective duration for the received granularity level. The method may include receiving an anticipated write to the particular volume at an anticipated write granularity level. The method may include verifying whether the anticipated write granularity level substantially matches the received granularity level at the effective duration. The method may also include writing, in response to the anticipated write granularity level substantially matching the received granularity level at the effective duration, the anticipated write to the particular volume for the received granularity level. |
| US10649670B2 |
Data block processing
Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to data block processing in a distributed processing system. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is proposed. A first performance indicator for processing a data block by a first processing module is obtained, where the data block is loaded into the first processing module. Then, a second performance indicator for processing the data block by a second processing module is obtained, where the first and second processing modules being logical instances launched in a distributed processing system for processing data blocks. Next, one processing module is selected from the first and second processing modules for processing the data block based on a relationship between the first and second performance indicators. |
| US10649669B2 |
Processes for making opioids including 14-hydroxycodeinone and 14-hydroxymorphinone
Improved processes for making opioid products having low impurity levels including making 14-hydroxycodeinone and 14-hydroxymorphinone from thebaine and oripavine, respectively. |
| US10649668B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products providing read access in a storage system
A computer program product having a computer readable medium tangibly recording computer program logic for providing data access in a storage system, the computer program product including code to analyze a plurality of data access requests directed to a source volume of the storage system, code to generate a mirror volume of the source volume, the mirror volume including a subset of data items of the source volume, in which the first subset of data items is selected for the minor volume based at least in part on data access patterns revealed by analyzing the data access requests, and code to access the mirror volume in parallel with accessing the source volume to fulfill read requests from a plurality of hosts. |
| US10649662B2 |
Methods and apparatus to manage workload memory allocation
Methods, articles of manufacture, and apparatus are disclosed to manage workload memory allocation. An example method includes identifying a primary memory and a secondary memory associated with a platform, the secondary memory having first performance metrics different from second performance metrics of the primary memory, identifying access metrics associated with a plurality of data elements invoked by a workload during execution on the platform, prioritizing a list of the plurality of data elements based on the access metrics associated with corresponding ones of the plurality of data elements, and reallocating a first one of the plurality of data elements from the primary memory to the secondary memory based on the priority of the first one of the plurality of memory elements. |
| US10649661B2 |
Dynamically resizing logical storage blocks
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for dynamically resizing logical storage blocks. A controller for a non-volatile storage device includes a block component that determines a total number of available erase blocks of the non-volatile storage device. A controller for a non-volatile storage device includes a size module that determines numbers of erase blocks from available erase blocks to include in each of a plurality of logical blocks as a function of a total number of available erase blocks such that the numbers of erase blocks for each of the logical blocks deviates from each other by less than a predetermined deviation limit. A controller for a non-volatile storage device includes a map module that generates logical blocks for the non-volatile storage device by assigning determined numbers of erase blocks to each of the logical blocks. |
| US10649657B2 |
Log-based storage for different data types in non-volatile memory
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for log-based storage for different data types in non-volatile memory. An apparatus may include a non-volatile memory element and a controller. A non-volatile memory element may include a first portion of memory, an intermediate storage, and a second portion of memory. A controller may be configured to receive a plurality of data units. A controller may be configured to classify units of data using a first data type and a second data type. A controller may be configured to store a first unit of data having a first data type in a first portion of memory and a second unit of data having a second data type in intermediate storage. Further, a controller may relocate a second unit of data to a second portion of memory. |
| US10649652B2 |
Method of displaying interface of mobile device and mobile device
Provided are a method of displaying an interface of a mobile device including a touch screen and a mobile device performing the method. The mobile device includes a touch screen having a first area and a second area. The method includes receiving, when the first and second areas are locked during a phone call state of the mobile device, an input function activation signal, and displaying, in the second area, an interface comprising a plurality of operation keys related to the phone call state, according to the received input function activation signal. |
| US10649651B2 |
Information processing apparatus, program, and operation control method
There is provided an information processing apparatus including: a detection unit for detecting pressure applied by user input performed on a touch screen; a determination unit for determining which of two or more input states the user input belongs to, in accordance with the pressure detected by the detection unit; and an operation control unit for enabling or disabling a limitation imposed on operation with a user interface displayed on the touch screen, in accordance with the state of the user input determined by the determination unit. |
| US10649649B2 |
Secure method for control of a function by means of a touchpad
Methods for the secure control of an apparatus by way of a system include a viewing device comprising a touch surface, a viewing screen and a processing and control unit. The secure control method comprises the following steps: displaying a first symbol corresponding to a first state of the apparatus and a second symbol corresponding to a second state; implementing the second state of the apparatus by way of a single continuous press on the touch surface starting on the first symbol, passing through a first crossing point, following a pattern comprising a part passing diagonally through a plurality of rows and columns of the matrix, passing through a second crossing point and finishing on the second symbol. |
| US10649645B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method for controlling the same
An electronic apparatus includes touch and pressure detection units and a control unit. The touch detection unit detects a touch on a touch surface. The pressure detection unit detects a pressure on the touch surface. In response to movement of a touch position in a first direction with the touch kept detected, the control unit changes a setting value of a specific setting item in a predetermined direction. In response to movement of the touch position in a second direction with the touch kept detected, the control unit changes the setting value in another direction different from the predetermined direction. In response to detection of the pressure by the touch after changing the setting value of the specific setting item upon movement of the touch position in the first direction, the control unit further changes the setting value of the specific setting item in the predetermined direction. |
| US10649641B2 |
Agricultural machine
An agricultural machine, such as a tractor, is disclosed. The agricultural machine includes a driver assistance system, which comprises an input/output unit for specifying an agricultural working task by an operator and for performing the settings relating to an agricultural working task by the operator. The input/output unit displays virtual operating elements, making the settings possible, and the information corresponding to the settings to be made. Further, the input/output unit includes a set-up assistant unit, which allows the operator to set up the driver assistance system using the virtual operating elements. Further, the set-up assistant unit may be configured depending on the working task determined by the operator. |
| US10649638B2 |
Immersive media content navigation and editing techniques
Techniques and systems to support immersive media content navigation and editing are described. A two-dimensional equirectangular projection of a spherical video is generated by a computing device and displayed in a navigator portion of a user interface of a content editing application. A visual position indicator, indicative of a position within the spherical video, is displayed over the 2D equirectangular projection of the spherical video. A portion of the spherical video is determined based on the position, and a planar spherical view of the portion of the spherical video is generated by the computing device and displayed in a compositor portion of the user interface. The navigator portion and the compositor portion are linked such that user input to the navigator portion or the compositor portion of the user interface causes corresponding visual changes in both the navigator portion and the compositor portion of the user interface. |
| US10649635B2 |
Multi-modal fusion engine
An embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at an electronic device, a command input using a first modality; detecting, at the electronic device, a selecting input using a different modality; combining, using a processor, the command input and the selecting input into an application formatted command; and providing the application formatted command to an application running on the electronic device for execution. Other aspects are described and claimed. |
| US10649633B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An image processing method includes performing an object identification process on a plurality of image data, generating layout data on the basis of at least some of the plurality of image data subjected to the identification process and template data, controlling displaying of a layout image on a display on the basis of the layout data, acquiring setting information relating to a priority of a particular object, and extracting a replacement candidate image in response to a request for replacing an image in the displayed layout image. In extracting a replacement candidate image, the replacement candidate image is extracted on the basis of the setting information relating to a priority. |
| US10649631B2 |
Method and apparatus for adding icon to interface of android system, and mobile terminal
A method for adding an icon to an interface of an Android system, where the Android system has N interfaces, includes: a. obtaining add command information; b. obtaining, according to the add command information, space information of an icon to be added; c. obtaining remaining space information of an Mth interface according to the add command information; d. judging whether the space information of the icon to be added is greater than the remaining space information of the Mth interface; if yes, executing step e; if no, executing step f; e. judging whether the Mth interface is a last interface to be judged; if yes, executing step g; if no, assigning M+1 to M and returning to step c; f adding the icon to the interface; and g. establishing another interface, and adding the icon to the newly established interface; where M and N are natural numbers, and 1≤M≤N. |
| US10649626B2 |
Gesture-based workflow progression
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for displaying, by the one or more processors, at least one graphical representation associated with an electronic document on a touchscreen display; and receiving, by the one or more processors, user input to the at least one graphical representation, the user input indicating a touchscreen gesture to the touchscreen display, and in response: determining a type of the touchscreen gesture; determining a degree of the touchscreen gesture; identifying one or more actions based on the type and the degree, each action of the one or more actions being executable to progress through a workflow; and displaying one or more action elements on the touchscreen display, each action element representing an action of the one or more actions. |
| US10649625B2 |
Device and method for adapting the content of a status bar
A device and method for adapting the content of a status bar to a screen. The method includes activation of an input element with respect to the status bar, reception of user input, and adaptation of the contents of the status bar in which additional information is displayed. |
| US10649622B2 |
Electronic message user interface
The present disclosure relates to electronic message user interfaces. A device, including a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and a rotatable input mechanism, is described in relation to accessing, composing, and manipulating electronic messages. In some examples, a user can provide input through the rotatable input mechanism to access a landing screen of an electronic messages application. The landing screen concurrently displays an affordance for accessing an electronic messages inbox and an affordance for accessing an interface for composing electronic message. |
| US10649616B2 |
Volumetric multi-selection interface for selecting multiple objects in 3D space
Systems and methods for a volumetric multi-selection interface for selecting multiple entities in three-dimensional (3D) space are provided. An example method includes generating a selection region within a three-dimensional space and receiving a selection path user input to define a selection path. The method also includes defining a selection volume based on the selection region and the selection path and selecting entities within the 3D space based on the selection volume. In some implementations, an alter selection region user input is received while the selection path is being defined. The size or shape of the selection region may be altered in response thereto. |
| US10649615B2 |
Control interface for a three-dimensional graphical object
Aspects of the technology described herein provide a control interface for manipulating a 3-D graphical object within a virtual drawing space. The control can be activated by selecting a graphical object or objects. When multiple objects are selected, the manipulations can occur as a group. In one aspect, the manipulations occur around the centroid of the 3-D graphical object, or groups of objects. The manipulations can include rotation, size adjustment, and positional adjustment within the virtual drawing space. The control interface comprises controls that rotate the object around an x-axis, an y-axis, or an z-axis. |
| US10649612B2 |
Textual content speed player
A computer program that plays a user's textual content in an animated format to increase reading speed via reconditioning reading behavior. The computer program: highlights a word being read and positions a copy in the center of the page so a reader can eliminate repositioning their eyes and still satisfy the common scanning strategy's need to have a word projected on the center of the retina while the reader is reconditioned by the highlighting progressing through the text to use the faster scanning strategy of changing the position on the retina being read with eyes fixed; presents a picture representing the word's meaning to recondition users to utilize the faster cognitive strategy of triggering recognition of meaning with a picture; highlights the word for a time calculated using syllables to create a presentation in sync with the natural timing of speech; can play/record a voice speaking the word for creating audible textual presentations enabling the non-reader to enjoy their textual content while learning printed language through context alone. |
| US10649611B2 |
Object pages in multi application user interface
A system for presenting a common user interface (UI) of multiple applications on diverse client computing devices as a web page that includes a set of UI elements leading to the multiple applications. The diverse client computing devices have display screens of diverse sizes. In the system, backend servers host a UI infrastructure including the common UI and one or more object page floorplans of respective UI object pages representing the multiple applications and representing application information and data on the diverse client computing devices. Design tools are available to process the object page floorplans to display, create, or edit the UI object pages. The object page floorplans include a first object page layout including a title bar, a header, an expanded default state, a navigation control, a content area, and a footer toolbar containing actions that are performed upon a corresponding first UI object page. |
| US10649609B2 |
Universal notification pipeline
Inventive embodiments described herein relate to a universal approach for handling user interface notifications. A notification pipeline on a device acts as an intermediary between applications on the device and notification surfaces on the device. Notification surfaces register themselves with the notification pipeline to become active subscribers. Applications or other processes submit notifications complying with a same format, schema, structure, etc. to the notification pipeline. The notification pipeline broadcasts the notification to the subscribed notification surfaces, which in turn determine whether or how to handle and perhaps display the notification based on the content of the notification. |
| US10649607B2 |
Re-ranking story content
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a cover feed interaction history from a device associated with a user of a social-networking system. An order for a plurality of content boards may be determined based on the cover feed interaction history (e.g., viewing history, download status, the current order of content boards in the cover feed, user interaction history, whether the user bookmarked or pinned a particular content board), user information related to the user, and device information about device-based events and device status. Finally, the order for the content boards may be sent to the device. The determination of the order for the content boards may be based on the cover feed interaction history, recency of content included in the content boards, popularity of the content, relevance of content to the user, or device-based events. |
| US10649605B2 |
Conductive film, and display device having the same
A conductive film includes a wiring pattern having the following characteristics. For each spectrum in which spectrum peaks obtained by performing two-dimensional Fourier transform on transmittance image data of the entire image has normalized spectrum intensities equal to or greater than a specified value, an angle is set to oscillate by each unit of a specific angle. Intensity differences, each of which is obtained from a maximum value and a minimum value of the normalized spectrum intensity for each angle, are calculated. One or more clusters of bars, which indicate frequencies of a histogram at an average value or more of the intensity difference in a case where the histogram is a histogram of the intensity differences, are isolated from the other cluster. In addition, in a case where a second sample standard deviation indicating a variation of first sample standard deviations, each of which indicates a variation of the normalized spectrum intensities at a single angle, in all angular directions is calculated as a quantitative value of the wiring pattern, the quantitative value is in a specific numerical value range. |
| US10649604B2 |
Input device manufacturing method
An input device manufacturing method includes: a first process in which, in a state in which a sensor film is inserted into a die, the sensor film having a detection area and a non-detection area other than the detection area, the detection area and the non-detection area constituting the sensor, as well as a first surface formed into a curved surface and a second surface positioned opposite to the first surface, a material that includes a synthetic resin having a translucent property is poured into the die to form a resin layer on the same side as the second surface; and a second process in which a decorative film having a decorative area that covers the non-detection area is pasted to the first surface with an adhesive layer intervening between the decorative film and the first surface. |
| US10649599B2 |
Electronic device for detecting proximity of user and operation method thereof
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electronic device for using an amplifier to detect whether a user body is close to the electronic device and an operation method thereof. An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: an antenna configured to be at least a part of an exterior of the electronic device; a variable element that has a capacitance in a designated range; and an amplifier connected to the variable element and configured to amplify a voltage of the variable element by a designated ratio and output an amplified voltage, wherein the capacitance of the variable element and the designated ratio may be configured so that a difference between a voltage of the antenna and the amplified voltage of the amplifier is smaller than a designated threshold value. |
| US10649594B2 |
Capacitive input device having two detection modes
First and second substrates are disposed to face each other and allowed to approach each other. A plurality of first electrodes are formed on the first substrate. A plurality of second electrodes are formed on the second substrate and face the respective first electrodes. A facing electrode pair is constituted by each of the first electrodes and a corresponding one of the second electrodes. A switching unit causes each of the first electrodes and each of the second electrodes to be connected to a driving unit or a detecting unit and switches between a first detection state in which a distance change between each of the first electrodes and a corresponding one of the second electrodes is detected and a second detection state in which the coordinates of a position that an operating body approaches or touches are determined in accordance with detection outputs from the facing electrode pairs. |
| US10649593B2 |
Hand holding state detection method, capacitive touch apparatus and electronic device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a hand holding state detection method, a capacitive touch apparatus and an electronic device. The method includes: acquiring feature data output by each coupling capacitor in a capacitor array network when the coupling capacitor is touched, and reference feature data corresponding to each coupling capacitor; and determining a feature region formed by touch on the capacitor array according to the feature data output by each coupling capacitor and the corresponding reference feature data, to determine a hand holding state according to the feature region. In this way, a man-machine interaction interface may be adjusted according to the hand holding state, such that a user may conveniently or accurately touch all the virtual keys in the man-machine interaction interface. |
| US10649592B2 |
Conductive substrate and method for fabricating conductive substrate
A laminated substrate is provided that includes a transparent base material, and a laminated body formed at least one surface of the transparent base material. The laminated body includes a blackened layer containing oxygen, copper, and nickel, and a copper layer. A ratio of the nickel is 11 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less, among the copper and the nickel contained in the blackened layer. |
| US10649587B2 |
Terminal, for gesture recognition and operation command determination, vehicle having the same and method for controlling the same
A terminal is provided with an input unit configured to detect contact of an object and a position of the object, and a controller configured to generate a control signal corresponding to a recognition of a gesture of the object, which is detected at a position spaced apart from the input unit when touched by the object. The terminal may allow an operation command desired by the user to be completed since a gesture is initiated at a surface of the terminal, and terminated at the surface of the terminal again after being performed in a space on the surface of the terminal. By specifying a start or an end of the gesture, the intention of the user may be clearly presented and may improve the recognition rate. Therefore, the user may easily manipulate mobile phones and various equipments while driving. |
| US10649584B2 |
Process image according to mat characteristic
Examples disclosed herein relate to a mat characteristic to process images. Examples include to acquire an image of a mat from a camera in a computing device; to process the image according to the mat characteristic in the computing device; and to display the processed image. |
| US10649583B1 |
Sensor fusion algorithms for a handheld controller that includes a force sensing resistor (FSR)
Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch sensor data provided by a touch sensor. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to pause calibration adjustments for the touch sensor—at least with respect to a high-level value that corresponds to a touch of a control—in response to a user pressing upon the control of the handheld controller with an above-threshold amount of force, which may be detected by a FSR associated with the control. For instance, calibration adjustments with respect to the high-level value can be paused in response to FSR values crossing a threshold value from below the threshold value to above the threshold value, and the calibration adjustments can be resumed in response to the FSR values crossing the threshold value in the opposite direction. |
| US10649582B2 |
Detection apparatus, display apparatus, and detection method
A detection apparatus includes a first substrate, a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes, a detection controller, and a second electrode controller. The first electrode is disposed on the first substrate. The second electrodes have an area smaller than the area of the first electrode and overlap the first electrode. The detection controller is coupled to the first electrode and detects a detection signal corresponding to a capacitance change in the first electrode. The second electrode controller supplies, to some of second electrodes in the second electrodes, a guard signal for suppressing a capacitance change in overlapping areas of the first electrode overlapping the respective second electrodes. |
| US10649575B2 |
Touch sensor integrated display device
A touch sensor integrated display device is provided comprising gate lines and data lines formed on a substrate to be intersected with each other, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed at intersections between the gate lines and the data lines, and a common electrode formed to overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes through an insulating film disposed between the common electrode and the plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein the common electrode includes at least two touch electrodes, each of which is connected to at least one of signal lines arranged in one of a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. |
| US10649572B2 |
Multi-modal sensing surface
A multi-modal sensing surface comprises two overlaid arrays: a capacitive sensing electrode array and an array of RF antennas. A first sensing module is coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode array and is configured to detect both an increase and a decrease of capacitance between electrodes in the array. A second sensing module is coupled to the array of RF antennas and is configured to selectively tune and detune one or more of the RF antennas in the array of RF antennas. |
| US10649569B2 |
Display device
A display device, including a substrate; a pixel electrode and an opposing electrode on the substrate; an encapsulation portion on the opposing electrode, the encapsulation portion including at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer alternately deposited; and a planarization layer on the encapsulation portion, the planarization layer including a portion covering an edge portion of the encapsulation portion, a first angle between an edge side surface of the planarization layer and a surface of the substrate being larger than a second angle between an edge side surface of the encapsulation portion and the surface of the substrate. |
| US10649560B2 |
Touch display panel
A touch display panel having a display region, a peripheral region surrounding the display region, and a sensing region located between the display region and the peripheral region is provided. The touch display panel includes a pixel array, a touch electrode, an active device, at least one first sensor, at least one second sensor, and a light-shielding layer. The pixel array is located in the display region. The touch electrode located in the sensing region and the pixel array are separated from each other. The active device coupled to the touch electrode is located in the sensing region. The at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor are located in the sensing region and separated from each other. The light-shielding layer covers the at least one first sensor. |
| US10649559B2 |
Handheld electronic apparatus and touch detection method thereof
A handheld electronic apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of touch sensors, and a controller. The controller under power saving mode activates parts of touch sensors to execute a touch detection action. |
| US10649558B2 |
Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof, touch device
A touch panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a touch device are disclosed, which belongs to the field of manufacturing touch panel. The touch panel includes a substrate, a black matrix in an annular area at edges of the substrate and a transparent conductive pattern. The transparent conductive pattern has an overlapping region with the black matrix in the annular area. The transparent conductive pattern includes a plurality of lateral touch driving lines, a plurality of longitudinal touch sensing lines and a plurality of padding blocks. The plurality of Txs laterally disposed and the plurality of Rxs longitudinally disposed are insulated from each other. The distribution density of the padding blocks in the overlapping region is greater than the distribution density of the padding blocks in the view area. |
| US10649557B2 |
Method for operator guidance, control panel component, production of a control panel component and home appliance comprising a control panel component
A rotary knob for a control panel of a home appliance comprises a support collar, a fixed frontal plate forming a cover cap that is arranged at a front end of the support collar, a fixed sensor layer that is operable to detect touch inputs at the frontal plate, discrete indicator elements forming an indicator layer, which are operable to provide operator guidance, a rotatable ring that is rotatably mounted to the support collar, the rotatable ring being rotatable with respect to the fixed frontal plate, and circuitry arranged to detect rotary inputs via the rotatable ring, and touch inputs via the frontal plate. |
| US10649556B2 |
Control knob for controlling operation of a machine
A control knob for controlling operation of a machine, the control knob including: an attachment member configured for attaching the control knob to a surface of the machine so that the control knob is operably connectable with the machine to control operation thereof; a display member comprising an electronic display module disposed thereon; an operational mode display controller for controlling display of operational modes of the machine upon the electronic display module, said operational mode display controller being configured for rotational movement around the electronic display module amongst a plurality of rotational positions, said operational mode display controller being operably connected with the electronic display module such that, responsive to the rotational movement of the operational mode display controller amongst the plurality of rotational positions, the electronic display module is configured to display a plurality of operational modes of the machine corresponding to the plurality of rotational positions; and an operational mode selector for controlling selection of one of the plurality of operational modes of the machine when said one of the plurality of operational modes is displayed on the electronic display module, the operational mode selector being configured for movement between at least a first position and a second position to actuate selection of the operational mode displayed on the electronic display module. |
| US10649555B2 |
Input interface device, control method and non-transitory computer-readable medium
An input interface device includes a sensing panel, a touch sensor, an auxiliary sensor and a processor. The touch sensor is configured to detect a first touch event located in a first area of the sensing panel, and detect a second touch event located in a second area of the sensing panel. The first area and the second area are separated by a first boundary defined across the sensing panel. The auxiliary sensor is configured to detect a first environmental parameter. The processor is configured to determine whether the first boundary needs to be adjusted or not according to the first environmental parameter. The processor is also configured to selectively adjust the first boundary according to the first touch event and the second touch event, and the first boundary after adjustment is utilized to separate the first area and the second area. |
| US10649554B2 |
Pen for capacitive touch systems
A pen configured for use with a touch sensor includes a pen tip that is configured to make contact with the touch sensor. The pen body includes an electrically conductive receiver portion and an electrically conductive emitter portion that is electrically insulated and electrostatically shielded from the receiver portion. The pen includes circuitry configured to receive a touch sensor drive signal applied to a drive electrode of the touch sensor through the receiver portion of the pen body. In response to the received signal, the pen circuitry generates a pen drive signal that is phase additive with the touch sensor drive signal and emits the pen drive signal through the emitter portion of the pen body. |
| US10649553B2 |
Input device, electronic device for receiving signal from input device, and control method thereof
An input device and method for control based on input device tilt is provided. The input device includes a conductive tip formed at one end of the input device, a resonant circuit unit configured to generate a response signal corresponding to a signal entering through the conductive tip and output the response signal through the conductive tip, and a connection part formed between the conductive tip and a body of the input device to enclose a periphery of the conductive tip so as to have a part of the conductive tip exposed from one end of the input device. The connection part includes a metal member having a larger cross-section area than a cross-section area of the conductive tip and which affects signal intensity in response to input device tilt as detected by a touch screen of an electronic device. |
| US10649549B2 |
Device, method, and system to recognize motion using gripped object
A device, a method, and a system recognize a motion using a gripped object. The motion recognition device may estimate a state of a wrist of a user according to a writing action using the gripped object and may estimate a joint motion of a body part related to the wrist according to the writing action. The device may then estimate a state of the gripped object according to the state of the wrist and the joint motion. Additionally, the motion recognition device may control an external device by using a control signal generated by continuously tracking the state of the object. |
| US10649546B2 |
Method and apparatus for presenting panoramic photo in mobile terminal, and mobile terminal
A method and an apparatus for presenting a panoramic photo in a mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal. A trigger instruction that is used to instruct the mobile terminal to enter an immersive browsing mode is detected, where the immersive browsing mode is a browsing mode in which a panoramic photo moves as the mobile terminal rotates; and if the trigger instruction is detected, a rotation angle of the mobile terminal is detected and determined, and a panoramic photo that is presented in a normal mode in the mobile terminal is moved and presented according to the determined rotation angle. Using the present disclosure, complexity of panoramic photo browsing can be reduced, which makes it convenient for a user to browse a panoramic photo. |
| US10649544B2 |
Data output device
Provided is a data output device that includes an event array including a plurality of sensing elements; a first event identifier connected to a first sensing element among the plurality of sensing elements and configured to identify first element information corresponding to the first sensing element in response to the case where an event is detected by the first sensing element; a second event identifier connected to a second sensing element among the plurality of sensing elements and configured to identify second element information corresponding to the second sensing element in response to the case where the event is detected by the second sensing element; and an event output interface configured to output event information based on at least one of the first element information and the second element information. |
| US10649543B2 |
Apparatus and method for arranging a keypad in wireless terminal
An apparatus and method for arranging a keypad in a wireless terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for arranging a keypad in a wireless terminal to conveniently perform a key input in the wireless terminal, the apparatus including: a display unit for displaying the keypad in at least one of a right and left side on a screen of the display unit in a horizontal mode of the wireless terminal; and a controller for controlling the display unit to display the keypad in the right and/or left side on the screen of the display unit in the horizontal mode of the wireless terminal. |
| US10649535B2 |
Haptic feedback generation
Haptic feedback generation methods and apparatuses relating to the field of haptic feedback are provided. The method comprises: in response to determining that a first part of a user body is touching a target position of an object, sending, by a device comprising a processor, a first mechanical wave to the object via a first medium comprising the first part; and sending, to the object via a second medium, a second mechanical wave that is used to form a haptic signal at the target position with the first mechanical wave, wherein the second medium comprises a second part, touching the object, of the user body. A source for forming the haptic signal can be at the target position, to cause that an effective haptic feedback to the user can be formed with little energy consumption, and poor experience of the user caused by vibration of an entire object is avoided. |
| US10649532B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-rate control of haptic effects with sensor fusion
Systems and methods for multi-rate control of haptic effects with sensor fusion are disclosed. One illustrative system includes, a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a first sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a first sensor signal, a processor in communication with the first sensor. The processor is configured to: sample the first sensor signal from the first sensor at a first rate, receive a reference signal, determine an error between the first sensor signal and the reference signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal, and sample the first sensor signal at a second rate, wherein the second rate is lower than the first rate. |
| US10649529B1 |
Modification of user-perceived feedback of an input device using acoustic or haptic output
A feedback or a user-perceived feedback of an input device is modified using one or more output devices. The output devices include one or more speakers and/or one or more actuators. The output (e.g., acoustic and/or haptic) produced using the output device may enhance, amplify, mask, obscure, or cancel an inherent sound or tactile feedback produced by the input device. |
| US10649525B2 |
Display device that controls screen display according to gaze line of user, and image forming apparatus
A display device includes a display unit, a gaze line detection unit, and a control unit that includes a processor, and acts, when the processor executes a control program, as a gaze line concentration area detector that detects a gaze line concentration area on the screen, according to a trajectory of the gaze line on the screen detected by the gaze line detection unit, a counter that counts a number of objects displayed in the gaze line concentration area detected, and a display controller that enters an enlarged display mode in which the display object is displayed in an enlarged size, when one display object is included in the gaze line concentration area, and enters a help display mode in which help information is displayed, when no gaze line concentration area is detected, or when a plurality of display objects are included in the gaze line concentration area. |
| US10649524B2 |
Apparatus and method for foveated rendering, bin comparison and TBIMR memory-backed storage for virtual reality implementations
One embodiment of a virtual reality apparatus comprises: a graphics processing engine comprising a plurality of graphics processing stages, the graphics processing engine to render a plurality of image frames for left and right displays of a head mounted display (HMD); and foveation control hardware logic to independently control two or more of the plurality of graphics processing stages based on feedback received from an eye tracking module of the HMD, the feedback indicating a foveated region selected based on a current or anticipated direction of a user's gaze, the foveation control hardware logic to cause the two or more of the graphics processing stages to process the foveated region differently than other regions of the image frames. |
| US10649523B2 |
System for detecting six degrees of freedom of movement by tracking optical flow of backscattered laser speckle patterns
Augmented reality headgear includes transparent displays that allow a user to simultaneously view the real world and virtual content positioned in the real world and further includes at least one source of coherent light and at least one sensor array for sensing, at a series of times, speckle patterns produced when the coherent light impinges environment surfaces. Circuitry is provided for sensing shifts in the speckle pattern and determining motion which caused the shift of the speckle pattern and adjusting the display of virtual objects displayed by the augmented reality headgear to compensate for the motion. |
| US10649521B2 |
Compensating for high head movement in head-mounted displays
When the speed of head movement exceeds the processing capability of the system, a reduced depiction is displayed. As one example, the resolution may be reduced using coarse pixel shading in order to create a new depiction at the speed of head movement. In accordance with another embodiment, only the region the user is looking at is processed in full resolution and the remainder of the depiction is processed at lower resolution. In still another embodiment, the background depictions may be blurred or grayed out to reduce processing time. |
| US10649515B2 |
Power management of computing and communications systems during power fluctuation and sudden power failure events
The described embodiments provide a graceful power transition system that can be configured as part of an enterprise computing system, workstations, a carrier grade computing system, and other similar computing systems is described. Power failure can cause potential problems that relate to data integrity, data loss, processing operations completion and timeliness, componentry reliability, and componentry failures, as well as other potential problems. The graceful power transition system recognizes these issues and provides numerous configurable embodiments that allow for smooth power down and power up transitions when power failures, power fluctuations, and return of power events occur. Embodiments of this system can be particularly useful in regions where power failure and power fluctuations are frequent. |
| US10649513B2 |
Energy regulation circuit and operation system utilizing the same
An energy regulation circuit including a first voltage regulator, a processor, a second voltage regulator, and a controller is provided. The first voltage regulator adjusts an input voltage to generate an adjustment voltage. The processor increases the adjustment voltage according to the input voltage to generate a boost voltage. An energy accumulator is charged according to the boost voltage. The second voltage regulator adjusts the boost voltage to generate an operation voltage. The controller operates according to the operation voltage. |
| US10649511B2 |
Scalable data collection for system management
A system with a local data collector that collects power management data for a subsystem. The local data collector can determine whether a first formatting associated with a first channel between the local data collector and a system power management data collector is equivalent to a second formatting associated with a second channel between the local data collector and the system power management data collector, and in response to a determination that the first formatting and second formatting are not equivalent format the power management data according to the first formatting; store the power management data formatted according to the first formatting in a first location in a memory; format the power management data according to the second formatting; and store the power management data formatted according to the second formatting in a second location the memory. |
| US10649505B2 |
Adaptable graphics board with a reconfigurable I/O module board for use in information handling systems
A system and method of implementing an adaptable graphics board comprising the adaptable graphics board including a graphics processor, graphics memory, and a reconfigurable I/O module interface are having a plurality of electrical contacts, a dual compression connector having a first array of compressible electrical spring contacts on a first side and a second array of compressible electrical spring contacts on a second side operatively coupled to the first side via a dual compression connector printed circuit board layer, the first side of the dual compression connector operatively coupled to the reconfigurable I/O module interface of the adaptable graphics board, and a reconfigurable I/O module board having external display data ports disposed along an edge, wherein the reconfigurable I/O module board is operatively coupled to the adaptable graphics board via the second side of the dual compression connector. The dual compression connector is oriented between the adaptable graphics board and the reconfigurable I/O module board in a first orientation selected from a plurality of available orientations to provide I/O connectivity between the graphics processor and the external display data ports aligned along a first edge of the adaptable graphics board. |
| US10649499B1 |
Electronic device and detachable base
An electronic device includes a detachable base and a monitor housing detachably mounted on the detachable base. The detachable base includes a main body, at least one sensor, a keyboard, and a driving circuit. The driving circuit is electrically coupled to the keyboard and the at least one sensor. When the at least one sensor detects the monitor housing placed on the detachable base, the at least one sensor sends a driving signal to the driving circuit, and the driving circuit triggers an input function of the keyboard. |
| US10649498B2 |
Kickstands
In one example, a kickstand for a mobile computing device is described. The kickstand having a first end and a second end opposite the first end to rotatably couple to a first side and a second side of a housing of the mobile computing device, respectively, proximate the middle of the first side and the second side of the housing such that the U shaped kickstand provides the space for disposing the components in the housing without significantly affecting form factors and/or aesthetic aspects of the mobile computing device in typing, inking and retracted modes. |
| US10649495B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device includes a display unit, a movement detection unit, and a control section. The display unit has two display screens of a first screen and a second screen, the second screen being an opposite side of the first screen. The movement detection unit detects a first movement state of the information processing device moving in a direction that the first screen faces and a second movement state of the information processing device moving in a direction that the second screen faces. When the movement detection unit detects the first movement state, the control section allows the first screen to display first content and allows the second screen to display second content. When the movement detection unit detects the second movement state, the control section allows the second display screen to display the first content and allows the first screen to display the second content. |
| US10649493B2 |
Virtual reality all-in-one apparatus
The present invention is mainly related to a virtual reality all-in-one apparatus. The virtual reality all-in-one apparatus may comprise a middle frame, a front housing, and a core function module. The core function module may comprise a frame assembly and a display module mounted on the frame assembly. |
| US10649490B2 |
Computer case, platform, fold-out shade and lock set screw
A spring-loaded or springy biased platform for support of the components carried with a case, such as to hold a portable computer or other device so that, when the case is closed, the computer or other device is securely held within the case. In addition, a foldable shade comprising foldable segments is placeable fully within the case lid and deployable when the case is opened with end portions of the segments extending into a bottom of a bottom shell so as to enable shading of the computer screen from light ambient to the computer when the portable computer is secured to said platform. A novel connection between the case and a light stand is provided, including an improved set screw attachment. Furthermore, the computer is secured to the top surface of the spring-loaded or springy biased platform by hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro® fasteners), the platform has openings in it to provide ventilation. Brackets in the bottom surface of the platform enable a battery to be inserted within the brackets and to the platform. Included also within and attached to the bottom of the case are such components as a power supply and an external hard drive and associated wiring. |
| US10649489B2 |
Portable electronic device
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an enclosure and a transparent cover. The electronic device may include a display assembly. The electronic device may further include an inductive charging unit designed to inductively charge a stylus, or other object suitable for use with the display assembly. The electronic device may further include audio modules, at least some of which are designed to cause resonation of the enclosure to produce acoustical energy in the form of audible sound. Some audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively low frequencies, while other audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively high frequencies. The electronic device may further include a vision system designed for facial recognition. The display assembly may include a metal chassis as well as antennae for wireless communication. In order to prevent antennae interference, the metal chassis can be electrically grounded to the enclosure. |
| US10649488B2 |
Electrode arrangement for gesture detection and tracking
An electrode arrangement has a transmitting electrode which during a measurement cycle is configured to receive an alternating transmission signal and a plurality of receiving electrodes configured to detect disturbances in an electric field formed by the transmitting electrode. The transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode are arranged in a single layer such that a single transmitting electrode is formed by an electrode structure that substantially surrounds each receiving electrode of the plurality of receiving electrodes. |
| US10649486B1 |
Apparatus and methods for accurate latency measurements in integrated circuits
One embodiment relates to a method of performing a latency measurement within an integrated circuit. Receipt of a word that contains a beginning of a frame is detected by a frame begin detect circuit in a decoding circuit block. A begin frame detected signal is fed back to the physical media attachment circuit, and an asynchronous signal from the physical media attachment circuit is transmitted at a beginning of a subsequent frame to a time measurement circuit in a core of the integrated circuit. A bitcount may be used to generate a synchronous signal that is also transmitted to the core. At the core of the integrated circuit, a first time is measured that corresponds to receipt of the asynchronous signal and a second time is measured that corresponds to receipt of the synchronous signal. A latency is determined at least by subtracting the first time subtracted from the second time. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US10649485B2 |
Synchronizing timing sources in computing devices
Described are examples for synchronizing multiple timing sources in a computing device. At least a first clock associated with a first timing source and a second clock associated with a second timing source can be maintained at the computing device. A request for an indication of a difference in values between the first clock and the second clock can be received from the application. A first elapsed time of the first clock and a second elapsed time of the second clock from a previous instance of an event can be determined by the computing device at an instance of a reoccurring event in a domain of one of the first timing source or the second timing source. An indication related to the first elapsed time and the second elapsed time can be provided to the application. |
| US10649480B2 |
Voltage regulator
A voltage regulator is arranged to receive an input voltage (Vin) and produce a regulated output voltage (Vout) and comprises: a current source transistor (Msource) and a current sink transistor (Msink) arranged to provide the output voltage at a node therebetween; a first error amplifier; and a second error amplifier. The first error amplifier is arranged to apply a first control voltage to the gate terminal of the current source transistor, wherein the first control voltage is dependent on the difference between the feedback voltage (Vfb) and the reference voltage (Vref). The second error amplifier arranged in parallel to the first error amplifier, the second error amplifier being arranged to apply a second control voltage to the gate terminal of the current sink transistor, wherein the second control voltage is dependent on the difference between the feedback voltage and the reference voltage. The feedback voltage is derived from the output voltage. |
| US10649477B2 |
Programmable shunt regulator
A device and method that includes a shunt regulator of a universal serial bus (USB) compatible power supply device is disclosed. The shunt regulator includes an amplifier with an output, a first input, and a second input. The shunt regulator also includes a current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that is coupled to the first input of the amplifier and a voltage bus node. The current DAC adjusts a sink or a source current delivered at the first input of the amplifier to regulate a programmable output voltage (Vbus) in the USB-compatible power supply device. The current delivered by the DAC is responsive to receipt of a digital code indicative of a programmable power supply command specifying the Vbus to be delivered by the USB-compatible power supply device on the voltage bus node. |
| US10649474B2 |
Pre-metering system for feeding different types of seed into a seed meter
A pre-metering system for feeding different types of seed into a seed meter of a planter includes separate feeder wheels that are selectively rotated to deliver different types of seed from on-row storage into the seed meter at a given time. The feeder wheels may be supported by a feeder wheel carrier that may also support various wall and ramped structures, such as upright divider walls and sloped walls that maintain separation between the different types of seeds in the on-row storage and direct the different types of seed toward the individual feeder wheels. |
| US10649473B2 |
Pre-metering system for feeding different types of seed into a seed meter
A pre-metering system for feeding different types of seed into a seed meter of a planter includes separate feeder wheels that are selectively rotated to deliver different types of seed from on-row storage into the seed meter at a given time. The feeder wheels may be supported by a feeder wheel carrier that may also support various wall and ramped structures, such as upright divider walls and sloped walls that maintain separation between the different types of seeds in the on-row storage and direct the different types of seed toward the individual feeder wheels. |
| US10649470B2 |
Seed index system for treating agricultural seeds
Seed index system and methods for treating agricultural seeds with one or more seed care products employing a size-adjusted application rate based on the size of the seeds. Such size-adjusted application rates can be determined by a supplier of seed care products and communicated to an applicator who applies the seed care product to a quantity of seeds. Such size-adjusted application rates can be in the form of a chart, an equation, or a calculator. |
| US10649468B2 |
Autonomous takeoff and landing with open loop mode and closed loop mode
Autonomous flight is performed in an open loop mode over a first range of altitudes, wherein a plurality altitude-related data from a plurality of altitude-related sensors is ignored while performing the autonomous flight in the open loop mode. The autonomous flight is performed in a closed loop mode over a second range of altitudes, wherein: the plurality of altitude-related data from the plurality of altitude-related sensors is used while performing the autonomous flight in the closed loop mode, and the first range of altitudes is a non-overlapping, lower range of altitudes compared to the second range of altitudes. |
| US10649465B1 |
Self-driving systems
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to self-driving luggage systems, devices, and components thereof, having multiple following modes. In one implementation, a self-driving system includes a piece of luggage. The piece of luggage includes one or more motorized wheels and an onboard ultra-wideband device. The onboard ultra-wideband device includes a control unit and one or more transceivers. The piece of luggage also includes one or more laser emitters configured to shoot light towards a target. The piece of luggage also includes one or more proximity cameras configured to take one or more images of the target, and the one or more images include light reflected off of the target. Each of the one or more proximity cameras includes an optical filter. The self-driving system also includes a central processing unit. The central processing unit is configured to switch between a vision following mode and a radio following mode. |
| US10649462B2 |
Constraint augmentation in a navigational system
Systems and methods are provided for navigating an autonomous vehicle using reinforcement learning techniques. In one implementation, a navigation system for a host vehicle may include at least one processing device programmed to: receive, from a camera, a plurality of images representative of an environment of the host vehicle; analyze the plurality of images to identify a navigational state associated with the host vehicle; provide the navigational state to a trained navigational system; receive, from the trained navigational system, a desired navigational action for execution by the host vehicle in response to the identified navigational state; analyze the desired navigational action relative to one or more predefined navigational constraints; determine an actual navigational action for the host vehicle, wherein the actual navigational action includes at least one modification of the desired navigational action determined based on the one or more predefined navigational constraints; and cause at least one adjustment of a navigational actuator of the host vehicle in response to the determined actual navigational action for the host vehicle. |
| US10649459B2 |
Data segmentation using masks
A vehicle can include various sensors to detect objects in an environment. Sensor data can be captured by a perception system in a vehicle and represented in a voxel space. Operations may include analyzing the data from a top-down perspective. From this perspective, techniques can associate and generate masks that represent objects in the voxel space. Through manipulation of the regions of the masks, the sensor data and/or voxels associated with the masks can be clustered or otherwise grouped to segment data associated with the objects. |
| US10649457B2 |
System and method for autonomous vehicle system planning
A system includes a processor. The processor is configured to derive one or more partitions of a field based on a vehicle system data via a learning system. The processor is further configured to derive one or more turn features representative of vehicle turns in the field based on the vehicle system via the learning system. The processor is also configured to derive an autonomous vehicle plan based on the partitions of the field and the turn features via a planning system, wherein the autonomous vehicle plan comprises a planned route of the autonomous vehicle in the field. |
| US10649455B2 |
Device, method and system for determining a pilot vehicle for an autonomous vehicle
A device, a system and a method for an autonomous vehicle capable of independently travelling along a road and to communicate in a wireless way. The device is configured to determine a route for the autonomous vehicle, and to determine presence of any risk segment along the route. A risk segment is a segment of the road where the autonomous vehicle is determined to be in need of assistance based on characteristics of that road segment. If a risk segment is determined, the device is configured to perform a matching sequence in order to find a pilot vehicle capable of piloting the autonomous vehicle past the risk segment, and to generate information data α about a result of the performed matching sequence. |
| US10649449B2 |
Distributed industrial performance monitoring and analytics
A technique is provided for providing early fault detection using process control data generated by control devices in a process plant. The technique determines a leading indicator of a condition within the process plant, such as a fault, abnormality, or decrease in performance. The leading indicator may be determined using principal component analysis. A process signal indicating a process variable corresponding to the leading indicator is then obtained and analyzed. A rolling fast Fourier transform (FFT) may be performed on the process signal to generate time-series data with which to monitor the process plant. When the presence of the leading indicator is detected in the time-series data, an alert or other prediction of the condition may be generated. Thus, process faults may be identified using fluctuations and abnormalities as leading predictors. |
| US10649448B2 |
Plant monitoring apparatus
A plant monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment includes a determiner and a display processor. The determiner compares a first process value acquired in time series from a first point of a monitoring target in a plant and a limit value corresponding to the first process value to determine a time when the first process value exceeds the limit value. The display processor causes a display device to display, in time series, the first process value within a time range decided on the basis of the time obtained by the determiner and the limit value corresponding to the first process value. |
| US10649447B2 |
Methods and systems for creating or performing a dynamic sampling scheme for a process during which measurements are performed on wafers
Various methods and systems for creating or performing a dynamic sampling scheme for a process during which measurements are performed on wafers are provided. One method for creating a dynamic sampling scheme for a process during which measurements are performed on wafers includes performing the measurements on all of the wafers in at least one lot at all measurement spots on the wafers. The method also includes determining an optimal sampling scheme, an enhanced sampling scheme, a reduced sampling scheme, and thresholds for the dynamic sampling scheme for the process based on results of the measurements. The thresholds correspond to values of the measurements at which the optimal sampling scheme, the enhanced sampling scheme, and the reduced sampling scheme are to be used for the process. |
| US10649444B2 |
Method and system for generating minimal cut-sets for highly integrated large systems
A system and method are provided for generating minimal cut-sets for highly integrated large systems. The method includes receiving a system model (102) and a scenario (104), and obtaining a dependency array (300) from the system model (102) according to the scenario, with the dependency array (300) including at least one case (302). The method includes selecting a case (302) in the dependency array (300). The method includes querying a cut-set repository (110) to determine if a cut-set for a component (200) in the case (302) is already stored, and retrieving said cut-set; and if a cut-set is not stored, generating the minimal cut-set for the component (200). And the method includes computing a final cut-set list (112) by expanding the dependency array (300) using the cut-set for the component (200). The method improves the efficiency of cut-set generation applied to manufactured systems with great number of components. |
| US10649441B2 |
Acceleration and deceleration controller
A controller for a machine tool includes a machine learning apparatus configured to learn an Nth-order time-derivative component of a speed of each axis of the machine tool. The machine learning apparatus includes: a state observation section configured to observe first state data representing the Nth-order time-derivative component of the speed of each axis as a state variable representing a current state of an environment; a determination data acquisition section configured to acquire determination data representing a properness determination result of at least any one of machining accuracy, surface quality, and machining time of the machined workpiece; and a learning section configured to learn the Nth-order time-derivative component of the speed of each axis in relation to at least any one of the machining accuracy, the surface quality, and the machining time of the machined workpiece using the state variable and the determination data. |
| US10649440B2 |
Method for the design and manufacture of composites having tunable physical properties
A method of designing and manufacturing a replica composite object based on an original object. The method identifies the structure and physical properties of an original object. Base materials, bodies, and structural templates, each of which includes associated physical properties, are utilized to generate a 3-dimensional model. The 3-dimensional model is discretized and tested to determine if the selected combination of base materials and bodies have physical properties that substantially equal the physical properties of the original object. If the physical properties do not equate, the 3-dimensional model is optimized by adjusting the combination of base materials, bodies, and structural templates. When the difference between the measured physical properties of the 3-dimensional model and the identified physical properties of the original object is less than a tolerance value, the method instructs an additive manufacturing system to generate a replica composite object based on the original object. |
| US10649439B2 |
On-line monitoring method and system for three-dimensional printing
Provided are a three-dimensional printing on-line monitoring method and system, relating to the technical field of three-dimensional printing, so as to solve the technical problem that the existing three-dimensional printing on-line monitoring systems are limited in imaging volume and cannot realize full-longitudinal-depth imaging. In the three-dimensional printing on-line monitoring method, full-longitudinal-depth imaging monitoring of the whole printing process is achieved by longitudinal-depth segmented scanning of a printing solidified layer and based on a longitudinal automatic splicing algorithm, and synchronous micro-tomography imaging on-line monitoring of the printing is achieved by guiding printing parameter optimization and control of a next depth-increased segment by using in real time a result feedback of the longitudinal-depth segmented being scanned; and at the same time of completing the manufacturing of the printed product, a three-dimensional high-resolution global image of an internal structure of the printed product is acquired, thereby completing quality control. |
| US10649438B2 |
Method and system for three-dimensional fabrication
A method of three-dimensional fabrication of an object is disclosed. The method comprises: forming a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object, at least one layer of the plurality of layers being formed at a predetermined and different thickness selected so as to compensate for post-formation shrinkage of the layer along a vertical direction. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention spread of building material of one or more layers is diluted at least locally such as to maintain a predetermined thickness and a predetermined planar resolution for the layer. |
| US10649436B2 |
Abnormality detection apparatus and machine learning device
An abnormality detection apparatus includes: a state observation section that observes tool weight data on weights of tools attached to a tool exchange device, tool balance data on balances of the tools, and tool exchange state data on a state during exchange of the tools; a tool exchange state data storage section that stores the tool weight data, the tool balance data, and the tool exchange state data in association with each other; and a determination result output section that detects an abnormality in the exchange of the tools based on the tool weight data, the tool balance data, and the tool exchange state data observed by the state observation section during the exchange of the tools in the processing machine and the data stored in the tool exchange state data storage section. |
| US10649433B2 |
Modular safety monitoring and warning system and methods for use thereof
Situational-awareness controllers and methods to increase situational-awareness for an actor associated with a triggering event are described. An example method includes in response to receiving a notification of a triggering event generated by at least one sensor, a computing device accessing information that includes related to an actor associated with the triggering event. The computing device correlates the information to a compilation of historical information by (i) determining whether the actor's location is associated with one or more safety events stored as part of the compilation of historical information and (ii) determining a risk level of the actor based on whether the one or more associated safety events occurred within a predetermined range of time from the time associated with the triggering event. The computing device generates a command based on a result of the correlating and sends the command to at least one controllable device. |
| US10649430B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring access to multi-variable field devices signals
Systems and methods of configuring process control systems for operating process plants including multi-variable devices are disclosed herein. Multi-variable devices generate data associated with primary parameters and subsequent parameters. To facilitate configuration and use of subsequent parameters within process control systems, new device objects may be generated to represent the subsequent parameters. The new device objects may be generated as child device objects of parent device objects representing the multi-variable devices. Each child device object may also have a unique tag to identify the new device object within the process control system. The subsequent parameters of the multi-variable devices may thus be used within the process control system by reference to the tags of the corresponding child device objects. |
| US10649428B2 |
Method and system for utilizing a device's user location to monitor and control the device power usage
An autonomous system for managing power distribution to an electrically-powered device that includes a power controller module that includes power input and power output abilities and operably connected power switching abilities, wherein the power switching is configured for actuation by an integral power management module operably connected thereto, the integral power management module including integral actuation signal detection and actuation abilities configured for, in accordance with commands and operational parameters, upon detection of an actuation signal, actuation the integral power switching to alter power output through the power output from a first output level to a second output level. The system further includes memory for storing the commands an operational parameters, and wherein the actual signal include an identification component for identifying an actuating signal, and wherein the integral actuation signal detection and actuation is configured for, upon detecting signals other than actual signals, reacting other than in response to the actuation signal. |
| US10649421B2 |
Devices and methods for protecting unattended children in the home
The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for protecting unattended children in the home. In one aspect, a method is performed at computer system. The computer system: (1) receives occupancy data for a room in a smart home environment; (2) determines based on the received occupancy data whether a predetermined child-protection alert condition is met; (3) in accordance with a determination that the condition is met, presents or sends instructions to issue a child-protection alert; (4) receives a request to cancel the child-protection alert; (5) in accordance with a determination that the request is a first type of cancellation request, cancels the child-protection alert and modifies the predetermined child-protection alert condition; and (6) in accordance with a determination that the request is a second type of cancellation request, cancels the child-protection alert and foregoes modifying the predetermined child-protection alert condition. |
| US10649419B2 |
Building management system with virtual points and optimized data integration
A building management system (BMS) includes building equipment, a data collector, a sample aggregator, and an application. The building equipment is operable to monitor and control a variable in the BMS and to provide raw data samples of the variable. The data collector is configured to collect the raw data samples from the building equipment and generate a raw data timeseries including a plurality of the raw data samples. The sample aggregator is configured to automatically generate a data rollup timeseries including a plurality of aggregated data samples. The aggregated data samples are generated by aggregating the raw data samples as the raw data samples are collected from the building equipment. Both timeseries are stored in a timeseries database. The application is configured to retrieve the raw data timeseries and the data rollup timeseries from the timeseries database in response to a request for timeseries data associated with the variable. |
| US10649417B2 |
Controlling tenant services based on tenant usage performance indicators
A control system controls tenant services to various tenants by obtaining tenant attributes for each tenant, with respect to a particular workload. A model is generated that models tenant usage performance for a set of best performing tenants. The model is then applied to a remainder of the tenants to obtain a metric indicative of a likely tenant capacity for incremental usage of the workload. The control system controls the services provided to the tenant based upon the likelihood of adoption metric. |
| US10649416B2 |
Machine learning model construction device, numerical control, machine learning model construction method, and non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a machine learning model construction program
Various neural network models are constructed flexibly on a learning circuit. A machine learning model construction device includes a learning circuit (80) capable of constructed a neural network model according to a setting value, and a control means (11) capable of adjusting the setting value so as to become a value for constructing a predetermined neural network model in the learning circuit (80). |
| US10649410B2 |
High resolution time-of-flight measurements
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for measuring the time-of-flight of a signal. The signal may be acoustic energy or electromagnetic energy such as x-ray, radio frequency, microwave, millimeter-wave, radar, and laser. Unlike unambiguous ranging devices that measures the phases of two or more signals to determine the time-of-flight and requires long averaging to achieve some degree of accuracy, this invention phase lock one or more transmitter signals to the corresponding received signals in predetermined phase relationships and measures the frequencies of one or more variable frequency oscillators having frequencies several times higher than the frequency of the transmitter signal to determined the time-of-flight with much higher accuracy. |
| US10649409B2 |
Atomic oscillator and frequency signal generation system
An atomic oscillator includes: a light source; an atom cell containing a gaseous alkali metal atom, and a nitrogen- and argon-containing buffer gas, and through which light from the light source passes; a photodetector that detects light having passed through the atom cell; and a container containing only a mixed gas containing nitrogen and argon, and housing the atom cell. |
| US10649405B2 |
Digital holographic imaging apparatus and illumination apparatus
Provided is a digital holographic imaging apparatus, comprising: an illumination portion (10) having an illumination light emission surface (32i) for emitting coherent light of a specific wavelength as illumination light toward an object (1) side relative to the illumination light emission surface (32i), and a reference light emission surface (32r) for emitting the coherent light, as reference light, in a direction opposite to the illumination light; and an image sensor (50) located on the reference light emission surface (32r) side of the illumination portion (10) and imaging an interference pattern between object light having been modulated by the object (1) and passed through the illumination portion (10) and the reference light of the illumination light, the image sensor (50) having a pixel array (51) comprising two-dimensionally aligned pixels. |
| US10649404B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a sheet storage portion in which a plurality of sheets is stored; a heater which heats air; a fan which sprays air on the sheet stored in the sheet storage portion; and a controller which controls the heat of the heater and controls the drive of the fan, in which the controller controls the heat of the heater at a first temperature before a drive time of the fan reaches a threshold value set in advance, the drive time being in which the fan sprays air heated by the heater on the sheet, and when the drive time of the fan reaches or exceeds the threshold value set in advance, controls the heat of the heater at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. |
| US10649401B2 |
Toner cartridge with positional control features
A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the housing, respectively, and that run along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outward from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced toward the front of the housing from the fourth alignment guide. Bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to sit on top of a corresponding guide surface in an image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in a vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides. |
| US10649400B2 |
Image forming apparatus with features that suppress deformation of door caused by counterforce from cartridge
An image forming apparatus including a cartridge including an image carrying member and a positioning portion, and an apparatus main body. The apparatus main body including an opening portion, a rotatable opening and closing member, the opening and closing member including an engaging portion and being rotatable between a first position and a second position, an engaged portion, an abutment portion that determines a position of the attached cartridge, and a pressing portion applying pressing force to the cartridge. The opening and closing member rotates from the first position to the second position against counterforce of the pressing force, and the engaging portion is provided in an area of the opening and closing member that is closer to the rotational axis than an area of the opening and closing member that receives the counterforce. |
| US10649399B1 |
Replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device having a magnetic sensor
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a magnetic sensor electrically connected to the electrical contact. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves from a retracted position to an operative position. When the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position, the magnetic sensor moves from a misaligned position to an aligned position with a point in a path of movement of a magnet for sensing a magnetic field of the magnet. |
| US10649398B2 |
Process cartridge
A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum; and a toner cartridge which is mountable on the drum cartridge and stores toner, wherein the drum cartridge includes: a cleaner configured to collect waste toner on the photosensitive drum; a waste toner conveyance tube configured to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaner; and a developing unit which includes a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum and is swingable about a swing axis with respect to the photosensitive drum, and wherein the toner cartridge has a waste toner storing chamber for storing the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveyance tube. |
| US10649391B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotary member, a web, a moving unit, a detecting unit configured to detect a predetermined position, and a control portion. The control portion informs, in a case where an actual moving amount per one winding operation is a first moving amount, the replacement of the web, if a number of sheets of recording materials on which images have been formed after the predetermined position is detected reaches a first number of sheets. The control portion informs, in a case where the actual moving amount per one winding operation is a second moving amount which is greater than the first moving amount, the replacement of the web, if a number of sheets of recording materials on which images have been formed after the predetermined position is detected reaches a second number of sheets which is less than the first number of sheets. |
| US10649389B1 |
Electrical connectors of a replaceable unit of an electrophotographic image forming device
An assembly for an image forming device includes a first replaceable unit and a second replaceable unit matable with the first replaceable unit. One of the first and second replaceable units includes a reservoir for storing toner and the other of the first and second replaceable units is configured to receive toner from the one of the first and second replaceable units. An electrical connector on the first replaceable unit is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector on the first replaceable unit includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the electrical connector is in the operative position. A cam on the second replaceable unit is positioned to engage the electrical connector and to cause the electrical connector to move from the retracted position to the operative position when the first and second replaceable units mate. |
| US10649387B2 |
Power supply and image forming apparatus
The power supply apparatus comprising a generation unit configured to generate a pulse signal, a memory unit configured to store information set in advance on the driving frequency, and a determination unit configured to determine an error of the input voltage and an error of a load, to a piece of the information stored in the memory unit, a driving frequency detected by the detection unit under a state where a load is connected to the convertor, and based on a result of comparing, to a piece of the information stored in the memory unit, a driving frequency detected by the detection unit under a state where the load is not connected to the convertor. |
| US10649380B2 |
Ink development
In one example, a development cycle of a binary ink developer, BID, is timed. Timing may be based on the length of a substrate in which the image is to be printed or the size of the image or the area to be printed with the ink associated to the BID. |
| US10649368B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a first unit having an image bearing member, a second unit having a development member, an apparatus main body which includes an opening portion, an opening-closing member to open or close the opening portion, a first portion contacting with a part of the first unit to position the first unit to the apparatus main body, and a second portion arranged on an opposite side of the first portion with respect to the image bearing member, and a sandwiched unit movable between a first position at which the sandwiched unit is sandwiched between the first unit and the second portion and a second position at which the sandwiched unit is not sandwiched, wherein when the sandwiched unit is located at the first position, a part of the first unit is urged against the first portion by the sandwiched unit. |
| US10649364B1 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device. The developing device transports a two-component developer by a transporting unit so that the two-component developer passes through a developing roller. The two-component developer is stored in a storage chamber provided with a transporting path. The transporting unit rotates in the transporting path. The developing device causes a portion of the two-component developer to overflow from a discharge port provided at the transporting path, and to discharge the two-component developer. The image forming apparatus has a period in which a first operation is executed, the first operation of reversely rotating the transporting unit at a high speed so that a rotational direction of the transporting unit is an opposite direction to that at a time of development and a rotational speed of the transporting unit is higher than that at the time of development. |
| US10649360B2 |
Optical scanning device
In one embodiment, an optical scanning device includes a board and a light receiving member, the positional accuracy of which is improved. When a length in a scanning direction and a length in an intersection direction of a body portion of the light receiving member are denoted by Lx0 and Ly0, respectively, and a length in the scanning direction and a length in the intersection direction of a through-hole formed in the board are denoted by Lx1 and Ly1, respectively, the lengths Lx0, Ly0, Lx1, and Ly1 satisfy the following formula: (Lx1−Lx0)>(Ly1−Ly0). |
| US10649358B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a toner image supporting section and a medium transfer section. The toner image supporting section includes first and second toner image supporting member that support first and second toner images at first and second linear speeds, respectively. The medium transfer section transfers, onto a medium, the first and second toner images respectively supported by the first and second toner image supporting members, to thereby cause the first and second toner images to be superimposed on each other. The following conditional expression (1) is satisfied when the medium transfer section transfers the first and second toner images onto the medium, (Vd1−Vt1)/(Vt1>(Vd2−Vt2)/Vt2 (1) where Vd1 is the first linear speed, Vt1 is a first conveyance speed of the medium, Vd2 is the second linear speed, and Vt2 is a second conveyance speed of the medium. |
| US10649357B2 |
Method for producing liquid developer
A method for producing a liquid developer containing a resin binder containing a resin having an acidic group, a colorant, a basic dispersant, and an insulating liquid, including: step I: stirring raw materials containing the resin binder, the colorant, and the basic dispersant at a temperature of equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of the resin binder; and step II: adding dropwise from 50 to 500 parts by mass of the insulating liquid to a stirred mixture of the step I, based on 100 parts by mass of the stirred mixture at a temperature of equal to or higher than a glass transition temperature of the resin binder, thereby carrying out a phase inversion emulsification, to provide a dispersion of toner particles. The liquid developer obtainable by the method of the present invention is suitably used in development or the like of latent images formed in, for example, electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like. |
| US10649352B2 |
Electrophotographic member, method for producing electrophotographic member, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
To provide an electrophotographic member high in volume resistivity uniformity even in application of a high voltage such as 1,000 V. The electrophotographic member includes a base material and an elastic layer on the base material, the elastic layer containing a silicone rubber and an ionic liquid, and the ionic liquid including a cation modified by a dimethylsiloxane chain, and an anion. |
| US10649341B2 |
Lithographic apparatus
An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid supply system configured to supply a fluid, the fluid supply system having a chamber with a plurality of inlet holes in a first side wall and a plurality of outlet holes in a second side wall, the first side wall facing the second side wall, wherein the inlet holes direct fluid entering the chamber in a direction towards areas of the second side wall between the plurality of outlet holes. |
| US10649337B2 |
Positive type lithographic printing plate precursor, method of producing same, and method of preparing lithographic printing plate
Provided is a positive type lithographic printing plate precursor including at least: a support which has a hydrophilic surface or a hydrophilic layer; and an underlayer, an interlayer, and an upper layer on the support in this order, in which the underlayer contains a polymer compound 1 which has at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a urethane bond, an acetal structure, and a urea bond in a main chain, the interlayer contains a polymer compound 2 which has at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a sulfonamide group, an active imide group, and a urea bond in a side chain, the upper layer contains a polymer compound 3 which has a phenolic hydroxy group, and one or more layers among the underlayer, the interlayer, and the upper layer contain an infrared absorbent. Further, provided are a method of producing the positive type lithographic printing plate precursor and a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate using the positive type lithographic printing plate precursor. |
| US10649332B2 |
Resist composition and patterning process
A resist composition comprising a base polymer and a quencher in the form of an iodonium salt of fluorinated aminobenzoic acid, fluorinated nitrobenzoic acid or fluorinated hydroxybenzoic acid offers a high dissolution contrast and minimal LWR independent of whether it is of positive or negative tone. |
| US10649331B2 |
Composition for forming touch panel electrode protective film, transfer film, laminate, protective film for touch panel electrode and method for forming same, capacitive input device, and image display device
The composition includes a compound represented by Formula 1, a binder polymer, and a photopolymerization initiator, in Formula 1, Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a (meth)acryloyloxy group or a (meth)acryloyloxyalkyl group; and R1 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group. Q2-R1-Q1 (1) |
| US10649330B2 |
Resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, compound, and acid generator
A resist composition including a base component which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, and a compound (B1) having an anion moiety and a cation moiety and being represented by general formula (b1) (wherein R01 to R014 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent, or two or more of R01 to R014 may be mutually bonded to form a ring structure, provided that at least two of R01 to R014 are mutually bonded to form a ring structure, and at least one of R01 to R014 has an anion group, and the anion moiety as a whole forms an anion having a valency of n; n represents an integer of 1 or more; represents an integer of 1 or more; and Mm+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m). |
| US10649324B2 |
Illumination device and projector
An illumination device includes a first light source section which includes at least one first light emitting element adapted to emit first colored light collimated, and is adapted to emit first light including the first colored light, and a light beam magnifying optical system adapted to magnify the first light. The light beam magnifying optical system includes first through fourth lens surfaces arranged in sequence from an incident side of the first light, the first lens surface is formed of a spherical surface having power, the second lens surface is formed of a first anamorphic surface having power with the same sign as the sign of the power of the first lens surface, the third lens surface is formed of a second anamorphic surface having positive power, and the fourth lens surface is formed of a spherical surface having positive power. |
| US10649321B2 |
Light source device and projector
A light source device is provided with a blue laser emitting element, a red laser emitting element, a light combining element, a diffusely reflecting element, a phosphor, a polarization splitting/combining element having a polarization split function, and a first wave plate. The polarization splitting/combining element guides a blue first polarization component obtained by performing polarization split on the light from the blue laser emitting element, and the light from the red laser emitting element to the diffusely reflecting element, and guides a blue second polarization component obtained by performing polarization split on the light from the blue laser emitting element to the phosphor. Then, the polarization splitting/combining element emits red diffused light, blue diffused light, a red polarization split component, and a principal fluorescence component obtained by removing the first red fluorescence component from fluorescence in one direction to thereby generate illumination light. |
| US10649318B2 |
Electronic device capable of unlocking interchangeable unit during blackout, and monitoring system
A monitoring camera which has a lock mechanism, which is capable to unlock a lens 1 even if power supply is stopped due to blackout. The lock mechanism includes a lock member 11 having a region 11b which is pushed by an operation member 3 in a state where a lock pin member 12 engages with the lens 1, a biasing member 13 biasing the lock member 11, and magnetic force generating units 10 generating magnetic forces by electro energization, to move against the biasing force so that the region 11c faces the operation member 3. While the magnetic forces are not generated in a non-electro energization state, the operation member 3 pushes the region 11b and thus moves the lock member 11 and the lock pin member 12 so that the lock pin member 12 is released from the lens 1. |
| US10649317B2 |
Imaging system and method of creating images
An imaging system includes a spherical window, a reflector, an image sensor, a housing and a snap ring. The reflector has a focus point located at a center of a sphere defined by an outer surface of the window. Light entering the window at an angle perpendicular to the outer surface of the window and traveling to the focus point is reflected onto the image sensor by the reflector. The window and housing have first and second grooves, respectively. In order to couple the window to the housing, the snap ring is placed in the second groove, the snap ring is compressed with the window and then the snap ring is allowed to expand so that the snap ring is located in both the first and second grooves. |
| US10649315B2 |
Flash module containing an array of reflector cups for phosphor-converted LEDs
In a thin flash module for a camera, a rectangular array of LEDs is mounted on a single lead frame. The lead frame connects the LEDs in series. The LEDs are much smaller than conventional LEDs in a flash module. The LEDs may be in 5×3 array or a 4×3 array, for example. An array of reflective cups is molded over the lead frame or attached to the lead frame, where each of the cups has a substantially square aperture to produce a square sub-beam. A layer of phosphor is located within each cup overlying its associated LED to produce white light. The aspect ratio of the array is selected to generally match the aspect ratio of the camera's field of view (e.g., 16:9). Since the LEDs are very small, the height of the cups may be small to form an ultra-thin flash module. Thin lenses may instead be used. |
| US10649314B2 |
Optical member driving system
An image capturing unit is provided, including a base, a frame movably connected to the base, a lens holder movably disposed in the frame for receiving a lens, a first magnet, a first coil, a second magnet, and a second coil. When a current is applied to the first coil, a magnetic force is generated between the first magnet and the first coil to move the frame and the lens holder relative to the base. When a current is applied to the second coil, a magnetic force is generated between the second magnet and the second coil to move the lens holder relative to the frame. |
| US10649313B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method for controlling same
Disclosed are an electronic apparatus that achieves both the convenience of touch operation and accurate position specification, and a method for controlling the same. When an area that meets a predetermined condition has been detected in an image, the electronic apparatus executes a function corresponding to a position where a touch has been detected by touch detection means. When the area that meets the predetermined condition has not been detected or area detection is not carried out, the electronic apparatus carries out a process corresponding to an operation for moving a touched position rather than carrying out processing corresponding to the position where the touch has been detected by the touch detection means. |
| US10649310B2 |
Blade driving device and imaging apparatus
A blade driving device including, a base plate including an opening through which light passes, a blade configured to runs on a surface of the base plate to open and close the opening, a drive mechanism including a drive spring and actuates the blade; and a charge mechanism configured to perform a charge operation on the drive mechanism against the drive spring. The charge mechanism includes a slide member configured to linearly reciprocate in a direction parallel to the base plate along a motor between the motor and the drive mechanism, the motor generating a driving force for the charge mechanism. |
| US10649308B2 |
Coherent photon analog-to-digital conversion device
A coherent photon analog-to-digital conversion device comprising an optical clock oscillation source, a sampled signal source, a photon sampling gate, a photoelectric detection module, an electrical sampling module, a phase detection module, a loop filter, and signal feedback links. By adjusting the optical clock oscillating source or the sampled signal source, the invention makes the two highly coherent, thereby reducing the clock jitter and greatly improving the sampling precision. It is very important for improving the performance of microwave photon systems that require high time accuracy and high sampling accuracy, such as microwave photon radar and optical communication systems. |
| US10649305B2 |
Complementary optical phase shifting arrangement
An optical phase shifting arrangement and associated optical switching device and method are disclosed. The optical phase shifting arrangement comprises a first optical phase shifter configured to provide a first phase shift to an optical signal, and a second optical phase shifter configured to provide a second phase shift to the optical signal in addition to the first phase shift. During a predefined period, the first optical phase shifter and the second optical phase shifter are driven such that the second phase shift is substantially complementary to the first phase shift. |
| US10649302B2 |
Aligned particle coating
A method of manufacturing a coating for an e-paper assembly includes forming a coating layer from conductive particles dispersed within an insulative matrix. A field is applied to cause the conductive particles to align in generally parallel, spaced apart elongate patterns that are generally perpendicular to a plane through which the coating layer extends. At ambient temperatures and without applied pressure, the coating layer is cured via radiation energy while maintaining the applied field. |
| US10649301B2 |
Display panel, manufacturing method thereof and display device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The display panel includes: a first substrate and a second substrate which are cell-assembled; a liquid crystal layer, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a spacer layer, disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the first substrate; and an electrochromic layer, disposed between the first substrate and the spacer layer. |
| US10649299B2 |
Electro-optic assembly
An electro-optic assembly for use in a vehicle having a windshield is provided and includes a first arcuate substrate having a first surface with an anti-reflective coating and a second surface. A second arcuate substrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface with an anti-reflective coating. The first and second substrates are positioned such that the second and third surfaces are at least 0.1 mm apart. A seal is disposed between the first and second substrates and located substantially about a periphery of the electro-optic assembly. An electro-optic medium is positioned in a cavity defined by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the seal, the electro-optic medium including a refractive index greater than 1.2. The second surface is configured to receive and reflect incident light projected from a projector, thereby displaying information that appears to be displayed forward of the windshield. |
| US10649294B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a pixel electrode, a signal line, a pixel electrode, and a blocking portion. The signal line is configured to transmit a signal to the pixel electrode. The pixel electrode connecting line is disposed a predefined distance apart from the signal line and connected to the pixel electrode. The blocking portion is disposed between a connecting portion of the pixel electrode connected to the pixel electrode connecting line and the signal line to block an electric field between the connection portion and the signal line. |
| US10649289B2 |
Array substrate, display panel and display device
An array substrate, a display panel and a display device are provided. The array substrate includes a plurality of signal lines each connected to a plurality of subpixel units. The plurality of signal lines includes first signal lines. The plurality of subpixel units connected to each first signal line is divided into at least two groups each including at least one subpixel unit. An overlapping area between a common electrode and a pixel electrode of each subpixel unit in the group of subpixel units adjacent to a signal input end of the first signal line is larger than an overlapping area between a common electrode and a pixel electrode of each subpixel unit in the group of subpixel units away from the signal input end of the first signal line. |
| US10649287B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In this display device, an electrode layer for an upper electrode and a lower electrode is formed on an array substrate via a dielectric film, one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is a pixel electrode, the other thereof is a common electrode, and an opening portion for generating horizontal electric field in a liquid crystal layer is formed in accordance with a shape of the electrode layer in a plan view. A CF substrate has a light-shielding film (BM) including a lateral BM portion. The opening portion has a plurality of slits in an X direction, and an end portion of an outermost slit in a Y direction is concealed by the lateral BM portion overlapped in a Z direction. |
| US10649285B2 |
Pixel structure and LCD panel
This invention discloses a pixel structure comprising: a scan line, and a data line, being crossed with the scan line to define a pixel unit. The pixel unit comprises a pixel electrode including a main body portion and a peripheral portion; a pixel driving element; and a common electrode disposed in an overlay structure with the pixel electrode. The common electrode forms a storage capacitor with the pixel electrode, and includes an outside portion adjacent to the data or scan line. The pixel electrode further includes an extension portion located outside the peripheral portion. The extension portion electrically connects the peripheral portion and forms an evading hole therebetween. The outside portion of the common electrode corresponds to the evading hole. The present invention further discloses a liquid crystal display panel. This invention has advantages of increasing the capacity of the storage capacitor and improving the parasitic capacitance and dark veins. |
| US10649284B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each of the pixel electrodes includes a horizontal trunk electrode and a vertical trunk electrode through which a pixel unit corresponding to the pixel electrode is divided into four light-transmitting areas, and two adjacent light-transmitting areas have different alignment directions. The pixel electrode also includes a plurality of branch electrodes located in the four light-transmitting areas. The branch electrodes are parallel to the horizontal trunk electrode or the vertical trunk electrode. |
| US10649283B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with switchable viewing angle and viewing angle switching method
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel, a display control module and a voltage output module. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is provided with a viewing angle control electrode. In a wide viewing angle mode, the image refresh frequency of the display panel is the same as the data input frequency of the image data inputted to the display control module, and the voltage output module outputs a direct current voltage to the viewing angle control electrode. In a narrow viewing angle mode, the image refresh frequency of the display panel is twice or four times the data input frequency of the image data inputted to the display control module, and the voltage output module outputs a periodic alternating voltage to the viewing angle control electrode. |
| US10649280B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic device
An electro-optical device may include a first substrate including a pixel area in which a plurality of pixels are aligned, a second substrate, a seal member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate so as to bond the first substrate and the second substrate together, the seal member being disposed in a seal region defined around the pixel area, a first conductive layer disposed between the first substrate and the seal member, a second conductive layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the first substrate, a third layer disposed in the pixel area and formed of the first conductive layer, and a fourth layer disposed in the pixel area and formed of the second conductive layer. The second conductive layer is larger in an outer shape than the first conductive layer in the seal region in plan view. |
| US10649274B2 |
Optical construction and display system incorporating same
Optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed optical construction includes a reflective polarizer layer, and an optical film that is disposed on the reflective polarizer layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 50%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical construction are in physical contact with each other. The optical construction has an axial luminance gain that is not less than about 1.2. |
| US10649270B2 |
Color filter substrate, display panel and display apparatus containing the color filter substrate
A color filter substrate, a display panel and a display apparatus containing the color filter substrate are provided. The color filter substrate includes a color filter layer, a phase difference layer and a first wire grid polarizer arranged in sequence, the phase difference layer including a plurality of first phase shift structures and a plurality of second phase shift structures arranged alternately, the phase difference layer allowing P light that passes through the first phase shift structures and P light that passes through the second phase shift structures to have a phase difference. |
| US10649268B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel and a display device, comprising: an opposed substrate and an array substrate opposite to the opposed substrate, as well as a liquid crystal layer provided between the opposed substrate and the array substrate, and recess structures which are provided in at least one of the opposed substrate and the array substrate and provided at the side facing the liquid crystal layer. The display panel has a display region, a non-visual region surrounding the display region, and a sealant region surrounding the non-visual region. The recess structures are provided at corners of the non-visual region. |
| US10649266B2 |
Liquid crystal display and display device
A liquid crystal display and a display device, when the liquid crystal display is powered on, a pixel electrode and a common electrode form an electric field, and liquid crystal molecules are deflected under the action of the electric field. However, due to network of the polymer, the liquid crystal polymer is in a scattering state which destroys the condition of total reflection of light from a backlight between two substrates, in such a manner that at least part of light from the backlight is scattered by the liquid crystal polymer and then is emitted from one side of a first substrate. When the liquid crystal display is in an off-state, a long-axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal polymer is the same as an extending direction of a long-chain in the liquid crystal polymer, and the liquid crystal polymer is in a transparent state. |
| US10649265B2 |
Polymer containing scattering type vertically aligned liquid crystal device
The present invention relates to a polymer containing scattering type VA liquid crystal device with very low hysteresis characteristics. The reduction of the hysteresis is achieved by providing a pretilt angle. |
| US10649264B2 |
Rearview mirror with dimming function
A rearview mirror with a dimming function includes: a transparent cover substrate covering substantially the full screen of the rearview mirror, an absorptive polarization layer disposed below the transparent cover substrate with a substantially uniform size, where when non-polarized ambient light passes through the absorptive polarization layer, the layer absorbs light of a polarization parallel to its absorption axis while transmits light of a polarization perpendicular to its absorption axis, a liquid crystal light-controlling layer disposed below the absorptive polarization layer with a substantially uniform size, and a reflective polarization layer disposed below the liquid crystal light-controlling layer with a substantially uniform size, which reflects the light of a polarization parallel to its reflective axis while transmits the light of a polarization perpendicular to its reflective axis. The rearview mirror can automatically adjust reflective light, while improving the utilization of the display light. |
| US10649263B2 |
Touch panel liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
Disclosed are a touch panel LCD device capable of improving touch sensing performance by preventing non-uniformity of raw touch data of left and right sides and a method of driving the same. In the touch panel LCD device, a plurality of common lines arranged in a non-display area of a panel and configured to check characteristics of the panel is connected to a load free driving (LFD) signal line by a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) when the common lines are attached to the FPCB. |
| US10649262B2 |
Electronic apparatus, method of producing electronic apparatus, and substrate laminate
[Object] To provide an electronic apparatus that can prevent defects caused by a seepage of ultraviolet curable resin, a method of bonding the electronic apparatus, and a substrate laminate.[Solving Means] An electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a translucent substrate, a display panel, a first bond layer, and a guard. The translucent substrate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a frame-shaped coating arranged at a periphery of the first surface. The display panel has a display surface faced to the first surface. The first bond layer bonds the first surface and the display surface together, coats an inner periphery of the coating, and is made of a cured product of light-curable resin. The guard is arranged on the coating along at least a part of a periphery of the first bond layer and has a structural surface with lower wettability to the light-curable resin than that of the coating.[Selected Drawing] FIG. 2 |
| US10649261B2 |
Liquid crystal eWriter system with resistive digitizer and having mechanical palm rejection
A liquid crystal eWriter system with a resistive digitizer and having palm rejection includes the following features. An eWriter includes eWriter substrates that are spaced apart from each other, an upper one of the eWriter substrates being formed of a flexible, clear polymeric material and a lower one of the eWriter substrates being formed of a flexible polymeric material. Electrically conductive layers are spaced apart from each other and located between the eWriter substrates. A dispersion layer including a dispersion of cholesteric liquid crystal material and polymer is disposed between the electrically conductive layers. Pressure applied to the eWriter changes a reflectance of the cholesteric liquid crystal material forming an image. A resistive digitizer determines a location of the pressure applied to the eWriter. The system is designed so that the resistive digitizer detects fingernail or stylus input with substantially no lightly written stroke loss but detects substantially no palm input, under ordinary writing conditions. |
| US10649259B2 |
Display device having display panel fixed relative to optical member solely by elastic fixing member
A display device includes a display panel, an optical member disposed under the display panel, and an elastic inter-module fixing member disposed between the display panel and the optical member and overlapping the optical member, such that the display panel is fixed with respect to the optical member solely by the friction coefficient of the fixing member. |
| US10649257B2 |
Cover mounting structure and display device
A cover mounting structure is configured to mount a cover to a covering target to be covered with the cover. The cover mounting structure includes a support member and a sliding member. The support member is configured to be secured to the covering target and supports the cover. The sliding member is prepared separately from the cover and provided so as to be slidable relative to the support member. The cover is secured to the support member at a prescribed securing position and connected to the sliding member at a different position from the prescribed securing position. |
| US10649255B2 |
Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a display chassis configured to support the display panel, and a cover provided on a rear side of the display chassis. The cover includes a cover body configured to cover a rear surface of the display chassis, and a plurality of magnets disposed on the cover body and configured to generate an attractive force such that the cover body is attached to the rear surface of the display chassis. The cover is configured to be coupled and fixed to at least a part of peripheries of the display chassis and the cover body. With this configuration, assembly efficiency of the display apparatus may be improved. |
| US10649250B2 |
Photosensitive detection module, light source module and electrophoresis display apparatus
A photosensitive detection module is provided, comprising a photosensitive circuit, wherein the photosensitive circuit comprises a first resistive element, a second resistive element, a third resistive element, a fourth resistive element to form a resistor bridge, a first input terminal connected to a node between the first resistive element and the third resistive element, a second input terminal connected to a node between the second resistive element and the fourth resistive element, a first output terminal connected to a node between the first resistive element and the second resistive element, and a second output terminal connected to a node between the third resistive element and the fourth resistive element. All four resistive elements have an identical initial resistance value. The first resistive element and the fourth resistive element are photosensitive resistive elements. |
| US10649247B2 |
Method for authenticating packages using magnetophoretic imaging films
The present invention is directed to a method for authenticating a package using a magnetophoretic imaging film. It provides a low-cost method for verifying the authenticity of products in a way that is not immediately evident to counterfeiters. A single pre-patterned magnetic image can be used to display images on any number of individual imaging films. |
| US10649241B2 |
Multi-function semiconductor and electronics processing
A method of tailoring beam characteristics of a laser beam during fabrication of an electronic device. The method includes: providing a substrate comprising one or more layers; adjusting one or more characteristics of a laser beam; and impinging the laser beam having the adjusted beam characteristics on the substrate to carry out at least one process step for fabricating the electronic device. The adjusting of the laser beam comprises: perturbing the laser beam propagating within a first length of fiber to adjust the one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam in the first length of fiber or a second length of fiber or a combination thereof, the second length of fiber having two or more confinement regions; coupling the perturbed laser beam into the second length of fiber; and emitting the laser beam having the adjusted beam characteristics from the second length of fiber. |
| US10649235B2 |
Optical element and optical apparatus
An optical element switchable to a first state and a second state includes a first material and a second material, each of optical properties of the first and second materials changes between the first state and the second state, and refractive indices of the first and second materials and Abbe's numbers of the first and second materials satisfy a predetermined relationship. |
| US10649234B2 |
Ophthalmic apparatus with corrective meridians having extended tolerance band
The embodiments disclosed herein include improved toric lenses and other ophthalmic apparatuses (including, for example, contact lens, intraocular lenses (IOLs), and the like) that includes one or more refractive angularly-varying phase members, each varying depths of focus of the apparatus so as to provide an extended tolerance to misalignments of the apparatus. Each refractive angularly-varying phase member has a center at a first meridian (e.g., the intended correction meridian) that directs light to a first point of focus (e.g., at the retina of the eye). At angular positions nearby to the first meridian, the refractive angularly-varying phase member directs light to points of focus of varying depths and nearby to the first point of focus such that rotational offsets of the multi-zonal lens body from the center of the first meridian directs light from the nearby points of focus to the first point of focus. |
| US10649233B2 |
Unobtrusive eye mounted display
An unobtrusive augmented reality (AR) system can be used to assist the wearer in every day interactions by projecting information from the contact lens display onto the retina of the wearer's eye. The unobtrusive augmented reality system includes a necklace and a contact lens display that are unobtrusive to the wearer and the wearer's surrounding environment. The necklace of the unobtrusive augmented reality system generates power and data for the contact lens displays. The necklace and contact lens display include conductive coils inductively coupled by a magnetic field. The inductive coupling allows data and power generated by the necklace to be transferred to the contact lens display. A projector in the contact lens display projects images generated from the data onto the retina of the wearers eye. |
| US10649232B2 |
Optical article comprising an antireflective coating with a low reflection both in the ultraviolet region and in the visible region
This invention relates to an ophthalmic lens with a low reflection both in the ultraviolet region and in the visible region, comprising a substrate provided on its rear main face with a multilayered antireflective coating (3-7 layers) comprising a stack of at least one layer with a high refractive index and at least one layer with a low refractive index, having a mean reflection factor on the rear face in the visible region Rm lower than or equal to 1.15%, a mean light reflection factor on the rear face in the visible region Rv lower than or equal to 1%, a mean reflection factor RUV on the rear face between 280 nm and 380 nm, weighted by the function W(λ) defined in the ISO 13666:1998 standard, lower than 5%, for angles of incidence of 30° and 45°, the antireflective coating outer layer being a silica-based layer. The lens according to the invention does especially prevent the reflection of the UV radiation produced by light sources located behind the wearer. |
| US10649229B2 |
Optical image stabilization actuator driver power distribution control
Various embodiments provide an optical image stabilization circuit including a drive circuit having a power waveform generator and a power waveform conversion circuit. The power waveform generator generates a power waveform. The power waveform conversion circuit converts the power waveform to a power drive signal. An actuator is then driven by the power drive signal to move a lens accordingly and compensate for any movements and vibrations of a housing of the lens. |
| US10649221B2 |
Optical processing apparatus, method for processing an object
An optical processing apparatus includes a light source, a condensing lens, and a light shield. The light source emits a light. The condensing lens converts a light emitted from the light source into a Bessel beam and condenses the light onto a surface of an object. The light shield shields an outer edge portion of the light in a cross section of a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the light. The light shield may shield the outer edge portion of the light after entering the condensing lens and before condensing onto the surface of the object in the cross section of the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the light. |
| US10649220B2 |
Content presentation in head worn computing
A method includes retrieving personal information relating to a user of a head-worn computer, wherein the personal information provides an indication of a type of physical structure in the environment that interests the user, selecting a geo-spatial location for digital content to be presented to the user based at least in part on the indication of the type of physical structure in the environment that interests the user, selecting a physical attribute proximate the geo-spatial location based at least in part on the personal information and presenting, based on data indicative that the user is near the geo-spatial location, the digital content in a see-through display of the head-worn computer such that the digital content is perceived by the user to be associated with the physical attribute. |
| US10649219B2 |
Virtual or augmented reality headsets having adjustable interpupillary distance
A virtual or augmented reality headset is provided having a frame, a pair of virtual or augmented reality eyepieces, and an interpupillary distance adjustment mechanism. The frame includes opposing arm members and a bridge positioned intermediate the opposing arm members. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the virtual or augmented reality eyepieces and operable to simultaneously move the eyepieces to adjust the interpupillary distance of the eyepieces. |
| US10649218B2 |
Beam angle sensor in virtual/augmented reality system
A virtual image generation system for use by an end user comprises a projection subsystem configured for generating a collimated light beam, and a display configured emitting light rays in response to the collimated light beam to display a pixel of an image frame to the end user. The pixel has a location encoded with angles of the emitted light rays. The virtual image generation system further comprises a sensing assembly configured for sensing at least one parameter indicative of at least one of the emitted light ray angles, and a control subsystem configured for generating image data defining a location of the pixel, and controlling an angle of the light beam relative to the display based on the defined location of the pixel and the sensed parameter(s). |
| US10649216B2 |
Light homogenization
An optical reflective device for homogenizing light including a waveguide having a first and second waveguide surface and a partially reflective element is disclosed. The partially reflective element may be located between the first waveguide surface and the second waveguide surface. The partially reflective element may have a reflective axis parallel to a waveguide surface normal. The partially reflective element may be configured to reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a first reflectivity for a first set of incidence angles and reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a second reflectivity for a second set of incident angles. |
| US10649211B2 |
Fixed-distance virtual and augmented reality systems and methods
A fixed-distance display system includes a light source configured to generate a light beam. The system also includes a light guiding optical element configured to propagate at least a portion of the light beam by total internal reflection. The system further includes a first inertial measurement unit configured to measure a first value for calculating a head pose of a user. Moreover, the system includes a camera configured to capture an image for machine vision optical flow analysis. The display system is configured to display virtual images only within a tolerance range of a single predetermined optical plane. |
| US10649209B2 |
Optical combiner apparatus
Optical combiners are provided. The optical combiner may have a see through optically transparent substrate and a patterned region included in the optically transparent substrate and disposed along a wave propagation axis of the substrate. The patterned region may be partially optically reflective and partially optically transparent. The patterned region may comprise a plurality of optically transparent regions of the optically transparent substrate and a plurality of optically reflective regions inclined relative to the optical transparent substrate wave propagation axis. Augmented reality optical apparatus, such a head up display, may include the optical combiner. |
| US10649205B2 |
Camera module
A camera module according to one embodiment comprises: a barrel provided with at least one lens; a retainer having an inner space and accommodating the barrel in the inner space; a holder coupled to the lower portion of the retainer; a housing disposed on the lower side of the holder and accommodating a printed circuit board; and a cover part mounted on the retainer and disposed in front of the lens. The cover part comprises: a cover glass; a first reflection suppression layer disposed on the upper side of the cover glass; a heating layer disposed on the lower side of the glass cover; and a second reflection suppression layer disposed on the lower side of the heating layer. |
| US10649204B2 |
Device and method for deflecting a light beam in order to scan a solid angle range
A device and a method for deflecting a light beam to scan a solid angle range. The device includes: a deflection device having an adjustable micromirror, which is configured to periodically deflect a light beam in accordance with an actuating signal, in order to periodically scan a solid angle range, using the micromirror; a control device to receive a control signal that indicates a currently preferred solid angle in the solid angle range to be scanned, and to generate the actuating signal based on the received control signal; and the control device is configured to generate the actuating signal so that a maximum of a location probability density of the periodically deflected light beam is situated at the solid angle. |
| US10649199B2 |
Covert information viewing system and method of covert information processing
A covert information viewing system converts visible light to infrared wavelengths that can be transmitted for detection by an infrared-sensitive detector, such as night vision goggles, without detection by the human eye. The system includes a visible light information source emitting radiation as visible light, and a covert covering including an energy converting layer for absorbing the visible light emitted from the visible light information source and converting the visible light to infrared wavelengths, and a light blocking layer capable of absorbing unconverted visible light and transmitting infrared wavelengths. The covert covering is attached to the visible light information source and oriented to cover visible light emitted from the visible light information source, but it is also easily removed from the visible light information source. |
| US10649190B2 |
Cassegrain reflector retention mechanism, microscope equipped with same, and method for attaching Cassegrain reflector
This Cassegrain reflector 200 is provided with a primary mirror 201 and a secondary mirror 202 disposed coaxially with the primary mirror 201 and laterally supported by a plurality of supporting rods. The Cassegrain reflector 200 causes the light incident through an opening 212 formed along an axial line L of the primary mirror 201 to be reflected onto the secondary mirror 202, and then causes the light to be reflected onto the primary mirror 201 in order to emit the light toward a measurement position through an opening 231 formed on the side of the secondary mirror 202. A Cassegrain reflector retention mechanism 6 for retaining the Cassegrain reflector 200 is provided with a retainer 61 for retaining the Cassegrain reflector 200, and a rotation adjustment mechanism 60 for adjusting the rotational position of the plurality of supporting rods. |
| US10649188B2 |
High-resolution spectrally selective scanning microscopy of a sample
In a high-resolution spectrally selective scanning microscopy of a sample, the sample is excited with illumination radiation in order to emit fluorescence radiation such that the illumination radiation is bundled into an illumination spot in or on the sample. The illumination spot is diffraction-limited in at least one spatial direction and has a minimum extension in said spatial direction. Fluorescence radiation emitted from the illumination spot is imaged into a diffraction image lying on an image plane in a diffraction-limited manner and is detected with a spatial resolution which resolves a structure of a diffraction image of the fluorescence radiation emitted from the illumination spot. The illumination spot is moved into different scanning positions. An individual image is generated for each scanning position, in a diffraction-limited manner onto a detector. The local channels determine the spatial resolution with which the structure of the diffraction image of the fluorescence radiation emitted from the illumination spot is resolved, and the fluorescence radiation emitted from the illumination spot is spectrally evaluated. |
| US10649182B2 |
Camera optical lens
The present disclosure discloses a camera optical lens. The camera optical lens including, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens. The first lens is made of plastic material, the second lens is made of plastic material, the third lens is made of plastic material, the fourth lens is made of glass material, the fifth lens is made of plastic material, and the sixth lens is made of plastic material. The camera optical lens further satisfies specific conditions. |
| US10649181B2 |
Camera optical lens
The present invention discloses a camera optical lens. The camera optical lens including, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens having a positive refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens. The first lens is made of plastic material, the second lens is made of plastic material, the third lens is made of plastic material, the fourth lens is made of plastic material, the fifth lens is made of plastic material, and the sixth lens is made of glass material. The camera optical lens further satisfies specific conditions. |
| US10649180B2 |
Camera optical lens
The present disclosure discloses a camera optical lens. The camera optical lens including, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens having a positive refractive power, a third lens having a negative refractive power, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens. The first lens is made of plastic material, the second lens is made of glass material, the third lens is made of plastic material, the fourth lens is made of plastic material, the fifth lens is made of plastic material, and the sixth lens is made of plastic material. The camera optical lens further satisfies specific conditions. |
| US10649179B2 |
Photographing lens assembly, image capturing unit and electronic device
A photographing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth lens elements. The first lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein the object-side surface has at least one convex critical point in an off-axis region thereof. The third lens element has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has positive refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, and an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The sixth lens element has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein the image-side surface has at least one convex critical point in an off-axis region thereof. |
| US10649176B2 |
Optical imaging system
An optical imaging system includes: a plurality of lenses disposed along an optical axis; and a reflection member closer to an object than the plurality of lenses, and including a reflection surface configured to change a path of light; wherein the plurality of lenses are spaced apart from each other by preset distances along the optical axis; and the condition 0.9 |
| US10649175B2 |
Camera optical lens
The present disclosure discloses a camera optical lens. The camera optical lens includes, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens and a seventh lens. The first lens is made of glass material, the second lens is made of plastic material, the third lens is made of plastic material, the fourth lens is made of plastic material, the fifth lens is made of plastic material, the sixth lens is made of plastic material, and the seventh lens is made of plastic material. The camera optical lens further satisfies specific conditions. |
| US10649174B2 |
Lens driving device, camera module, and camera-mounted device
Provided are a lens driving device, a camera module, and a camera-mounted device for which the miniaturization and weight reduction can be achieved and the reliability can also be improved. The lens driving device includes auto-focusing and shake-correcting driving parts utilizing a voice coil motor. A shake-correcting fixing part includes a coil board consisting of a multilayer printed wiring board in which multiple unit layers consisting of a conductor layer and an insulating layer are stacked on one another, and a base on which the coil board is placed. A shake-correcting coil part, an external terminal, and a conductor pattern including a power-supply line configured to connect the external terminal to the shake-correcting coil part are integrally formed in the coil board. |
| US10649172B2 |
Lens driving module
A lens driving module for holding and moving a lens is provided, including a lens holder, a first electromagnetic driving assembly disposed on the lens holder, a base, a second electromagnetic driving assembly disposed on the base, and a first elastic member. The lens holder has an accommodating space and a first surface, and the lens is disposed in the accommodating space. The base has a connecting surface and a first contacting surface. The connecting surface and the first contacting surface are coplanar. The second electromagnetic driving assembly is adjacent to the first electromagnetic driving assembly, and the first elastic member is connected to the connecting surface and the lens holder. When the lens holder contacts the base, the first surface contacts the first contacting surface. |
| US10649168B2 |
Illuminated tracer cable
An illuminated tracer cable system includes a signal carrying cable comprising a signal connector on each end of the signal carrying cable, an electroluminescent (EL) wire coupled to the signal carrying cable, and a magnetic power connector coupled to an end of the EL wire configured to provide power to the EL wire. |
| US10649165B2 |
Flat drop cable with features for enhanced gel retention and stripability
A flat drop cable has notches or other structures for enhancing the stripability of the jacket from a core of the flat drop cable. The notches can have an angled configuration with surfaces that converge as the notches extend into the jacket. Inner edges, or rounded valleys, at the bottoms of the notches can be positioned along a tear path that intersects the core of the flat drop cable at an angle relative to a major axis of the flat drop cable. For example, the notches can be offset from a minor axis of the flat drop cable a sufficient distance such that the notches are positioned outside a central boundary region that extends tangent to sides of the core and parallel to a minor axis of the flat drop cable. The shoulders of the notches, where the notches transition to an outer jacket wall, may also include a radius of curvature. |
| US10649156B2 |
Optical sensing device having integrated optics and methods of manufacturing the same
The present disclosure provides a communication system, a sensing device, and a semiconductor device, among other things. One example of the disclosed sensing device includes a semiconductor die having a photodetector, an optical element optically coupled to and disposed on the photodetector, at least one support structure substantially surrounding the optical element, and a top metal portion disposed on the semiconductor die adjacent to but distanced away from the optical element and the at least one support structure. |
| US10649154B1 |
Field of view converter for fiber-optic connector endface inspector
An adapter for converting the field of view (FOV) of a connector endface inspector includes a housing with a front end for connecting with a fitting tip for interfacing with a fiber-optic connector, a rear end for connecting to a front portion of the inspector, and an internal light passage. A relay lens system including a front lens group and a rear lens group is embedded inside the housing across the light passage. To achieve a converted FOV, the optical working distance of the relay lens system is made the same as the optical working distance of the connector inspector's microscope objective, and the front focal length is made larger or smaller than the rear focal length of the relay lens system. The rear lens group may be embedded in a portion of the housing that may be detached and replaced to vary the size of the converted FOV. |
| US10649152B1 |
Connector system
The connector system of the present invention includes a crimp housing and a floating block. A passage extending in a longitudinal direction is formed in the crimp housing. The floating block is disposed in the passage of the crimp housing and has an interior passage extending in the longitudinal direction for receiving a back post of a connector. The floating block may make limited three-dimensional movements with respect to the crimp housing. The connectors seated in the connector system of the present invention may be independently moved with respect to each other thereby properly aligning with an adapter. |
| US10649150B1 |
Fiber optic connectors and interfaces
A fiber optic interface includes a first fiber optic connector and a second fiber optic connector. The first fiber optic connector has a ferrule extending from a distal end to a proximal end. The ferrule includes a contact interface defined at the proximal end of the ferrule. A first optical fiber extends within the ferrule and terminates at a first fiber end. The first fiber end is spaced apart from the contact interface towards the distal end of the ferrule by a distance of at least five microns. The second fiber optic connector includes a second optical fiber extending within the second fiber optic connector and terminating at a second fiber end. The ferrule of the first fiber optic connector includes an end face which faces the second fiber optic connector when mated and consists of a single face. |
| US10649149B2 |
High reliability robotic cross-connect systems
An apparatus includes a plurality of connector track elements, each extending substantially perpendicularly from a coupling plane, wherein a particular connector track element of the plurality of connector track elements includes a distribution of at least two magnets adjacent unattached end thereof, a polarity of the magnets on the particular connector track element being selected to provide magnetic repulsion as to at least one adjacent connector track element. |
| US10649147B2 |
Optical module
An optical module that is connectable to an optical fiber array and that can be packaged in a high density. Two package modules are mounted on a board, and optical waveguides in a Si photonic lightwave circuit mounted on the package module are connected to an optical fiber array fixed to an optical fiber block. Moreover, output end surfaces of the optical waveguides in the Si photonic lightwave circuit are perpendicular to a mount surface of the package module. The optical waveguides in the Si photonic lightwave circuit may be tilted at an appropriate angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to a right end surface. Moreover, the optical fiber block fixes optical fibers with the optical fibers tilted with respect to a direction perpendicular to an end surface connected to the Si photonic lightwave circuit. |
| US10649146B2 |
Optical coupling device
An optical coupling device including, in sequence, a focusing lens and an optical coupling network, the coupling device being symmetric with respect to a plane, the focusing lens formed in a core layer, as a front face, perpendicular to the plane, the optical coupling network including a plurality of trenches, formed on the front face, and convex in shape, the optical coupling network including, in sequence, a first sub-network and a contiguous second sub-network, respectively delimited, by a first contour and a second contour, the first and second contours extending in a divergent manner and convergent manner respectively. |
| US10649145B2 |
Two-filter light detection devices and methods related to same
Light detection devices and corresponding methods are provided. The devices include a reaction structure to contain a reaction solution and at least one reaction site that generates light emissions in response to incident excitation light after treatment with the reaction solution. The devices also include a plurality of light sensors and device circuitry. The devices further include a plurality of light guides extending toward at least one corresponding light sensor from input regions that receive the excitation light and the light emissions from at least one corresponding reaction recess. The light guides comprise a first filter region that filters the excitation light and permits the light emissions of a first wavelength to pass to the at least one corresponding light sensor, and a second filter region that filters the excitation light and the permits light emissions of a second wavelength to pass to the at least one corresponding light sensor. |
| US10649141B1 |
Gratings with variable etch heights for waveguide displays
A manufacturing system performs a deposition of an etch-compatible film over a substrate. The etch-compatible film includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The manufacturing system performs a partial removal of the etch-compatible film to create a surface profile on the first surface with a plurality of etch heights relative to the substrate. The manufacturing system performs a lithographic patterning of a photoresist deposited over the created profile in the etch-compatible film to obtain the plurality of etch heights and one or more duty cycles corresponding to the etch-compatible film deposited over the substrate. |
| US10649140B1 |
Back-end-of-line blocking structures arranged over a waveguide core
Structures including a waveguide core and methods of fabricating a structure including a waveguide core. A back-end-of-line interconnect structure includes a cap layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, and one or more metal features embedded in the interlayer dielectric layer. The interlayer dielectric layer is stacked in a vertical direction with the cap layer. The one or more metal features have an overlapping arrangement in a lateral direction with the waveguide core, which is arranged under the back-end-of-line interconnect structure. |
| US10649139B2 |
Optical waveguide structure
An optical waveguide structure includes a substrate and a core structure disposed on the substrate. The substrate includes a first waveguide region, a second waveguide region, and a transition region between the first waveguide region and the second waveguide region. The core structure includes first core segments arranged in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction on the transition region. The core structure includes second core segments arranged in the first direction and the second direction on the second waveguide region. The first direction and the second direction are parallel to a top surface of the substrate. |
| US10649135B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel; a light guide plate configured to guide light to the display panel and disposed behind the display panel; a light source configured to emit light to a lateral surface of the light guide plate; a diffusion plate disposed between the display panel and the light guide plate; and at least one support member configured to support the diffusion plate and disposed to pass through the light guide plate, wherein a light transmittance of a portion of the at least one support member at a side of the support member facing the light source is different from a light transmittance of a remaining portion of the at least one support member. |
| US10649133B2 |
Lighting system for an interior module
The invention relates to a lighting system for an interior module of a vehicle, comprising at least one light source (17), at least one light guide (3), and at least one emission element (5). The at least one light guide (3) consists at least partly of silicone, and the at least one emission element (5) is optically connected to the at least one light guide (3) on at least one side. During the operation of the lighting system, the at least one emission element (5) is provided with light generated by the at least one light source (17) by means of the at least one light guide (3). The lighting system (1) is flexibly designed such that upon being connected to a support layer (25), the lighting system (1) adapts to the shape of the support layer (25). |
| US10649130B2 |
Pebble-plate like louvre with specific domain characteristics
The present invention relates to a louvre lighting unit which contains a plurality of louvre cells for beam shaping the lighting unit light. The plurality of louvre cells comprises a plurality of n subsets, each comprising a respective plurality of m louvre cells. The louvre cells of each subset are configured as a domain of adjoining louvre cells, wherein a respective plurality of k louvre cells within each domain have mutually differing louvre cell cross-sections. |
| US10649128B2 |
Multibeam element-based backlight and display using same
A multiview backlight and a multiview display employ multibeam elements configured to provide a plurality of light beams having different principal angular directions corresponding to different view directions of the multiview display. The display includes multiview pixels that include sub-pixels. A size of the multibeam element is comparable to a size of a sub-pixel in a multiview pixel of the multiview display. |
| US10649127B2 |
Optical devices and systems having a converging lens with grooves
Lens device that includes converging lens having light output surface being spaced apart along lens axis from light input surface. Converging lens has total internal reflection side surface being spaced apart around lens axis and having frusto-conical shape extending between light input and output surfaces of the converging lens. Portion of light input surface of converging lens includes light input cavity being bounded by perimeter and having central axis and being generally shaped as portion of spheroid. Light input cavity has plurality of grooves each respectively following spline along light input surface that intersects with central axis of light input cavity and with respective point on perimeter, wherein each of respective points are mutually spaced apart around perimeter of light input cavity. Lighting system including lens device. |
| US10649125B2 |
Lighting device for optimized light distribution
A lighting device installed in a vehicle for optimized light distribution includes a substrate having quantum dots which are adapted to emit light, a reflecting layer which may be arranged on the bottom side of the substrate, and a transparent layer which may be arranged on the top side of the substrate. |
| US10649122B2 |
Broadband polarizer made using ion exchangable fusion drawn glass sheets
The disclosure is directed to broadband, glass optical polarizers and to methods for making the glass optical polarizers. The glass optical polarizer includes a substantially bubble free fusion drawn glass having two pristine glass surfaces and a plurality of elongated zero valent metallic particle polarizing layers. |
| US10649121B2 |
Low Ts wire grid polarizer
A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have low transmission of a primarily reflected/absorbed polarization (e.g. low Ts). The WGP can comprise an array of wires on a substrate and a stack of thin films between the substrate and the array of wires. The stack of thin films can include a first layer closest to the substrate, a second layer over the first layer, and a third layer over the second layer and closest to the array of wires. An index of refraction of the first layer can be greater than an index of refraction of the substrate, an index of refraction of the second layer can be greater than the index of refraction of the first layer, and an index of refraction of the third layer can be less than the index of refraction of the first layer. |
| US10649120B2 |
Optical element, article, and method of producing optical element
An optical element includes a conversion layer and a metal piece layer. The conversion layer is provided with a light-incidence surface including an uneven surface, the conversion layer being configured to receive light incident on the uneven surface and output the light from the uneven surface as light in a different state than the incident light. The metal piece layer is configured by a plurality of metal pieces to cover at least part of the uneven surface. |
| US10649116B2 |
Auto focusing device
An auto focusing lens includes an active lens including a lens body including electroactive polymer and a transparent electrode at least partially coated on a surface of the lens body, and a controller controlling the focus of the active lens by applying a voltage to the transparent electrode. |
| US10649114B2 |
Backlight unit with optical member and protective member and display device including the same
A display device includes a display panel, a light source unit, a light guide plate including a light exit surface, a bottom surface, a light incident surface, an opposite surface, and first and second side surfaces connecting the light incident surface and the opposite surface and being opposite to each other, a first refractive layer disposed on the light exit surface and having a refractive index lower than that of the light guide plate, an optical member between the display panel and the light guide plate, and an protective member covering at least one of a side surface of the optical member and at least a portion of a side surface of the light guide plate corresponding thereto. |
| US10649106B1 |
Continuously combining seismic migration results using a massively parallel processing (MPP) database
In one aspect, a method includes continuously combining seismic migration results using a massively parallel processing (MPP) database. In another aspect, an apparatus includes electronic hardware circuitry configured to continuously combine seismic migration results using a massively parallel processing (MPP) database. In a further aspect, an article includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions. The instructions cause a machine to continuously combine seismic migration results using a massively parallel processing (MPP) database. |
| US10649105B1 |
Acoustic vector sensor
An acoustic vector sensor (“AVS”) includes one or more sensitive elements arranged in an orthogonal configuration to provide high-sensitivity directional performance. The one more sensitive elements may be seismometers arranged in a pendulum-type configuration. The AVS further includes a hydrophone. |
| US10649100B2 |
X-ray detector
The present disclosure relates to an X-ray detector. The X-ray detector includes the first and second gate lines arranged to be spaced apart from each other on a substrate, a data line and a bias line that are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a direction intersecting the first and second gate lines, and define a unit pixel area, a storage capacitor that is arranged in the unit pixel area and has one end connected to a ground, a phototransistor that is turned on by a reset signal applied to the first gate line and provides a signal generated by an incident light source to the storage capacitor, and a thin film transistor that is turned on by a gate signal applied to the second gate line to provide a charge stored in the storage capacitor to the data line. |
| US10649098B2 |
Light converting nanoparticle, method of making the light converting nanoparticle, and composition and optical film comprising the same
A light converting nanoparticle represented by Chemical Formula 1, AXx Chemical Formula 1 wherein, in Chemical Formula 1, A comprises an alkaline metal element, an alkaline-earth metal element, or a combination thereof, X comprises a halogen element, and x is 1 or 2 and is selected such that Chemical Formula 1 is electrically neutral, and a dopant substituted for a portion of A, wherein the dopant comprises Tl+, In+, Pb2+, Bi3+, Ag+, Cu+, Eu2+, Mn2+, or a combination thereof, wherein a content of the dopant is less than 15 mole percent, based on a total moles of A, wherein the light converting nanoparticle has a particle diameter of less than or equal to about 100 nanometers, and the light converting nanoparticle has a structure, cubic structure, an orthorhombic structure, a rhombic dodecahedron structure, or a combination thereof. |
| US10649094B2 |
Multipath identification by comparing two different GNSS signals
A method for detecting a multipath effect in a GNSS receiver which is designed to receive different signals from a GNSS satellite and includes a parameter which is determined from directly received signals and has a substantially constant target value, including the steps receiving at least two mutually independent signals; determining a current parameter value from at least the first and the second signal; evaluating the parameter value in relation to the target value, and detecting a multipath effect when the parameter value has a deviation (ΔK) which deviates from the already known target value. |
| US10649093B2 |
Method for determining protection levels of navigation solutions, associated computer program product and receiver
A method for determining protection levels that comprises a preliminary phase carried out at least one time and a main phase carried out upon determining each new navigation solution. The preliminary phase comprises the steps of acquiring a first error value, providing a set of numbers of monitored faults, determining a plurality of computation coefficients, and storing the set of determined computation coefficients. The main phase includes the steps of determining a current number of monitored faults, and determining a protection level of the corresponding navigation solution by using an integrity relationship and the computation coefficients determined during the preliminary phase. |
| US10649084B2 |
Object detection apparatus and object detection program
An object detection apparatus measures a distance to a detected object at each irradiation angle, based on reflected waves of electromagnetic waves irradiated from a laser light irradiating unit at each irradiation angle. The apparatus determines whether the measured distance remains unchanged for prescribed period of time, for each irradiation angle, and stores the determined distance in a storage unit as a stationary object distance in association with the irradiation angle. The apparatus compares the current measured distance and the stored distances, and determines whether a stationary object distance matching the current distance is present among the stored distances. The apparatus initially compares the shortest stationary object distance among the stored distances with the current distance, and upon determining that a stationary object distance matching the current distance is present, stops the comparison of the current distance and the stored distances that have not been compared with the current distance. |
| US10649082B2 |
Device for warning a vehicle driver of a vehicle about an object, and vehicle having such a device
An apparatus for warning a vehicle driver about an object, including: a) a sensor device having a detection area (DA) extending from a front DA, in front of a vehicle, including the front DA, to a rear end of a side DA, laterally from one vehicle side and whose length corresponds to no more than the vehicle length, the sensor device detecting an object, b) a control device to evaluate the sensor signals for objects and defines a warning area (WA) that is dynamically alterable (DyA) based on the vehicle speed, the WA being alterable within the side DA between a non-zero minimum/maximum WA, c) a warning device generating a warning signal for a detected object, d) the sensor device being such that the DA continues from the side DA into a rear DA behind the vehicle rear, including the rear DA, e) the control device expanding the DyA WA. |
| US10649073B2 |
Optical scanning system including optical scanning device and photoreceiver device
An optical scanning system including an optical scanning device, and a photoreceiver device. The optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide array including a plurality of first waveguides; and a first phase shifter for adjusting phases of light propagating through the plurality of first waveguides to change an emission direction of emission light from the plurality of first waveguides. The photoreceiver device includes: a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides configured to receive reflected light and propagate the received reflected light; and a second phase shifter for adjusting phases of the received reflected light propagating through the plurality of second waveguides to change a reception direction of the reflected light received by the plurality of second waveguides. An array pitch of the plurality of first waveguides in the optical scanning device differs from an array pitch of the plurality of second waveguides in the photoreceiver device. |
| US10649071B2 |
Scanning optical system and radar
A scanning optical system, includes a mirror unit equipped with a first mirror surface and a second mirror surface each of which inclines to a rotation axis; and a light projecting system which includes at least one light source to emit a light flux toward the first mirror surface. A light flux emitted from the light source is reflected on the first mirror surface of the mirror unit, thereafter, reflected on the second mirror surface, and then, projected so as to scan in a main scanning direction onto an object in accordance with rotation of the mirror unit, and in a case where a direction included in a main scanning plane is set to 0 degree, the light flux reflected on the second mirror surface is polarized in a range within an angle of ±30 degrees to the main scanning plane. |
| US10649068B2 |
Method for modulating a microwave frequency wave, transmission system carrying out this method, and radar comprising a system of this type
A wave transmitted by an antenna made up of an array of radiating elements, two pulse waves are transmitted, each modulated by a phase shift law known as modulation phase shift, the phase shifts being in opposition, a first wave being transmitted by a sub-array of radiating elements referred to as odd and the second wave being transmitted by a second sub-array of radiating elements referred to as even, the two sub-arrays being interleaved, the transmitted wave being the combination of the first wave and the second wave. |
| US10649067B1 |
Simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) subsystem with external noise canceller
A wideband simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) subsystem for a radar or communications system including self-interference cancellation and external noise cancellation. The STAR subsystem includes a canceller circuit which digitally prepares a cancellation signal to cancel out leaked or reflected portions of the transmit signal and correlated noise in the receiver signal. The self-interference cancellation can be adaptively configured in a closed-loop mode, and operated open loop in real time to minimize bandwidth limitations and achieve wideband performance. The STAR subsystem also includes an external noise active canceller which greatly diminishes high-power external noise in the receiver signal. The external noise canceller digitally synthesizes a cancellation signal which dramatically improves the signal-to-noise ratio in the receiver. Together, the combined cancellation techniques prevent receiver saturation and preserve receiver sensitivity. |
| US10649066B2 |
Positioning system and method thereof
A positioning system and method thereof are provided in this disclosure. The positioning method includes steps of: emitting a radiation from a first electronic apparatus to a second electronic apparatus and starting to accumulate a time count; sensing the radiation on the second electronic apparatus and sending a first ultrasonic signal from the second electronic apparatus to the first electronic apparatus; sensing the first ultrasonic signal by a plurality of ultrasound sensors on the first electronic apparatus and calculating a plurality of first time periods started from the radiation is emitted until the first ultrasonic signal is sensed by the ultrasound sensors; calculating a plurality of first relative distances between the ultrasound sensors and a first ultrasound emitter on the second electronic apparatus; and locating a first relative position of the second electronic apparatus relative to the first electronic apparatus according to the first relative distances. |
| US10649065B2 |
Position detection system
In a position detection system that has a plurality of transmitters/receivers placed at least three positions: processing is executed to measure distances among the plurality of transmitters/receivers, each distance being measured a plurality of times, and obtain a minimum value for each distance; processing is executed to obtain an angle between each two adjacent straight lines, each of which is one of straight lines that mutually connect the plurality of transmitters/receivers, by using minimum values, each of which is the minimum value for each distance; and if the absolute value of the difference between 180 degrees and the sum of angles, each of which is the angle between each two adjacent straight lines, inside a triangle formed by straight lines that interconnect three of the plurality of transmitters/receivers is smaller than a predetermined value, processing is executed to take the minimum values as the true values of the distances. |
| US10649064B2 |
Method and/or system for acquisition of a positioning signal
Disclosed are methods for aiding a mobile device in the acquisition of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted in a cellular network in support of OTDOA positioning. In one implementation, a mobile device receives an offset parameter from a location server indicative of a difference in timing between transmission of a first PRS positioning occasion for a reference cell and transmission of a second PRS positioning occasion for a neighboring cell that supports multiple PRS configurations, where the second PRS positioning occasion is for a PRS configuration with a longest periodicity. The mobile device may determine an expected timing of PRS positioning occasions for other PRS configurations for the neighboring cell based on the offset parameter and may measure a Reference Signal Time Difference for the neighboring cell using the expected timing. |
| US10649060B2 |
Sound source localization confidence estimation using machine learning
Techniques are described herein that are capable of performing sound source localization (SSL) confidence estimation using machine learning. An SSL operation is performed with regard to a sound to determine an SSL direction estimate and an SSL-based confidence associated with the SSL direction estimate based at least in part on a multi-channel representation of the sound. The SSL direction estimate indicates an estimated direction from which the sound is received. The SSL-based confidence indicates an estimated probability that the sound is received from the estimated direction. The multi-channel representation includes representations of the sound that are detected by respective sensors (e.g., microphones). Additional characteristic(s) of the sound are automatically determined. A machine learning (ML) operation is performed based at least in part on the SSL direction estimate, the SSL-based confidence, and the additional characteristic(s) to determine an ML-based confidence associated with the SSL direction estimate. |
| US10649057B2 |
Analysis for quantifying microscopic diffusion anisotropy
A method for MRI includes performing an MRI experiment on a material to acquire an echo attenuation data set using a gradient modulation scheme comprising 1D diffusion encoding and to acquire an echo attenuation data set using a gradient modulation scheme comprising 2D diffusion encoding, determining respective first-order deviations μ2 from mono-exponential decay in said echo attenuation data sets, and generating MRI parameter maps or MR image contrast based on said first-order deviations μ2. |
| US10649052B1 |
Method and device for simultaneous Tx/Rx in strongly coupled MRI coil loops
A method and apparatus for processing radio-frequency (RF) signals suitable for magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic-resonance spectroscopy (MRS) from radio-frequency (RF) coils that have strongly-coupled coil loop pairs, each pair including a transmit loop and a receive loop, wherein the transmit loop and the receive loop are of equal sizes and shapes and in close proximity to each other, and wherein a suitable attenuated and phase-adjusted version of a transmit pulse is subtracted from a receive signal obtained from tissue being examined to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal. |
| US10649051B2 |
System and method for detection of chemicals using frequency modulated nuclear quadrupole resonance signals
A system and method for detecting a nucleus of interest in a chemical using a nuclear quadrupole resonance transition. An excitation pulse is used to excite one or more nuclei of interest, if they present in a sample, to an excited state, the energy of which depends on the magnetic field in the sample. The magnetic field in the sample is modulated, after the end of the excitation pulse, while the nuclei of interest decay from the excited state, so that the radiation they emit is frequency modulated. The frequency modulation is detected in the emitted radiation. In some embodiments a DC magnetic field is applied to the sample, during the application of the excitation pulse, to tune the frequency of the transition being excited. |
| US10649044B2 |
Method for the hyperpolarisation of nuclear spins
A method of hyperpolarisation of nuclear spins in one or more particle(s) moving relatively to a polarisation structure, wherein a polarisation of electron spins in the polarisation structure is transferred to the nuclear spins in the particle(s), wherein for one or more of the moving particle(s) within 20 nm from a surface of the polarisation structure, the correlation time of the interaction with the nearest polarisation structure electron spin due to the molecular motion is larger than the inverse of the nuclear Larmor frequency; the electron spins in the polarisation structure are polarised above thermal equilibrium; and the polarisation transfer is performed resonantly. |
| US10649043B2 |
Magnetic field sensor device configured to sense with high precision and low jitter
Magnetic field sensor devices and associated methods are disclosed. Magnetic field sensor devices may comprise a first magnetic field sensor having a first bridge part spatially separated from a second bridge part. In some implementations, a second magnetic field sensor may be arranged between the first bridge part and the second bridge part. With this arrangement, measurements read by the magnetic field sensor device have high precision and low jitter. |
| US10649042B2 |
Packages for coil actuated position sensors
An apparatus comprises a first substrate and two coils supported by the first substrate and arranged next to each other, the coils configured to each generate a magnetic field which produces eddy currents in and a reflected magnetic field from a conductive target, the two coils arranged so their respectively generated magnetic fields substantially cancel each other in an area between the coils. One or more magnetic field sensing elements are positioned in the area between the coils and configured to detect the reflected magnetic field. |
| US10649040B2 |
Leakage current determination
An apparatus for determining the occurrence of a leakage current between a series connected electrochemical battery cells, comprising: a first cell connection terminal for connection to a first cell's first terminal via first filter circuitry; a second cell connection terminal for connection, via second filter circuitry, to a connection between the first cell's second terminal and a second cell's first terminal, the first and second cell adjacent in the series arrangement; a first cell balancing terminal for connection to the first cell's first terminal bypassing the first filter circuitry; a second cell balancing terminal for connection to the connection between the first cell's second terminal and the second cell's first cell terminal; balancing circuitry for providing a connection between the cell balancing terminals; the apparatus configured to provide for identification of a leakage current based at least on a voltage between the cell connection terminals and the cell balancing terminals. |
| US10649039B2 |
Power detection system for valve actuators
A system and method to detect the loss or disruption of one or more phases of a three phase alternating current (AC) power source used in the operation of a valve actuator. The loss of one or more phases of a three phase AC power source may cause a peak in AC power output. While a peak in AC power output may not affect an operation of electronic circuitry, all three phases are often required to safely operate other hardware components, such as an AC motor that is associated with the valve actuator. Therefore, in response to detecting the loss or disruption of at least one phase of a three phase AC power source, this disclosure presents a system and method to inhibit damaging operations such as operating an AC motor associated with a valve actuator, and continuing to operate communications and diagnostic circuitry to report the condition. |
| US10649037B2 |
Insulation fault location systems and methods for insulation fault location for a redundant DC power supply system coupled to diodes
The invention relates to insulation fault location systems and methods for insulation fault location for an ungrounded DC power supply system, which is redundantly fed from a first direct voltage supply source coupled to diodes and a second direct voltage supply source coupled to diodes and to which a consumer is redundantly coupled. Due to the diode coupling and the asymmetric current splitting of the load current associated therewith, non-compensational partial currents arise in the supply lines in such a power supply system and consequently differential current portions, which can be captured by measuring current transformers and which can interfere with a valid test current during an insulation fault location. In order to eliminate the interfering differential current portions, compensating measures on the primary side are proposed in the measuring current transformers and indirect compensating measures on the secondary side are proposed in an insulation fault location apparatus. |
| US10649033B2 |
Methods for switch health determination
The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for determining the health status of a sensed switch. In general, the embodiments described herein determine a measure of a health status of the sensed switch by comparing a voltage on the sensed switch, ascertaining a first comparator state under one test condition and ascertaining a second comparator state under a second test condition. The first comparator state and the second comparator state are and then compared to determine the measure of the health status of the sensed switch. |
| US10649031B2 |
Hardware assisted high speed serial transceiver testing
Hardware assisted high speed serial (HSS) transceiver testing including receiving, by a link layer hardware state machine on a HSS transmitting device, an instruction to generate a test pattern, wherein the test pattern comprises a sequence of data units; loading, by the link layer hardware state machine, each unique data unit into embedded random access memory (RAM); generating, by the link layer hardware state machine, the test pattern comprising the sequence of data units using the unique data units stored in the embedded RAM, wherein at least one of the unique data units is repeated in the sequence of data units of the test pattern; and sending, by the link layer hardware state machine, the generated test pattern to an input of a HSS transceiver. |
| US10649030B2 |
Blade centric automatic test equipment system
An automated test equipment (ATE) system includes a plurality of test blades each coupled to a test blade connector and mounted on a circular track; a central reference clock (CRC) having an origin point at a center of the circle; and a clock/sync connector coupled to the CRC through a zero skew clock connection to one or more sync buses, wherein each instrument utilizes the CRC to coordinate its testing process with another instrument. |
| US10649025B2 |
External DQS bi-directional loopback with use of feed forward equalization path
A byte lane of an integrated circuit including two data strobe loopback paths that allow external test signals to flow in and out of the integrated circuit through data strobe pins in two opposite directions. The integrated circuit includes a Feed Forward Equalization (FFE) path configured to send FFE signals output from the FFE logic via a transmitter set to a first data strobe interface during a normal operation. In a loopback test mode operation, a test signal can be supplied from a second data strobe interface and output to the first data strobe interface by reusing the FFE path. The second loopback path conversely allows a test signal to be routed from the first data strobe interface to the second. |
| US10649024B2 |
System for providing ATE test programming by utilizing drag-and-drop workflow editing in a time domain environment
A drag-and-drop workflow editor in an Automated Test Equipment (ATE) environment to create coherent time domain aligned test programs. This includes graphical interface channel diagrams with channel headers, channel timelines, designer items defining test operations, measurement references and trigger references to define temporal relationships in a time domain environment. |
| US10649017B2 |
Electronic devices and methods for addressing external electromagnetic fields
An electronic device may include a shaft insertable into a target area, and an electronic component configured to generate a signal. The electronic component may be on or within the shaft. The electronic device may also include at least one antenna on or within the shaft. The electronic device may also include a receiver operatively coupled to the antenna. The receiver may monitor an electrical characteristic of the antenna to identify an effect of an electromagnetic field on the electrical characteristic of the antenna. The electronic device may also include a processor communicatively coupled to the receiver. At least one of the receiver and the processor may predict an effect of the electromagnetic field on the signal generated by the electronic component, based at least in part on the effect of the electromagnetic field on the electrical characteristic of the antenna. |
| US10649016B1 |
Dielectric measurement probe for curved surfaces
A probe is provided for measuring permittivity of a dielectric material. The probe includes side electrodes and a pivotable center electrode with a bulbous tip to contact the material. A mounting harness supports the side electrodes and a feed connector with the center electrode soldered to the connector. The tip includes a contoured surface for measurement and rotation on the material. The bulbous tip can rest perpendicularly or in a pivoted position on the material without a loss of measurement accuracy. A saddle ensures that a measurement of the reflection coefficient is near the bulbous tip. In use, a voltage wave generated by a vector network analyzer is guided between the electrodes toward the tip and into the material. The material reflects this voltage wave back to the analyzer. The ratio of the reflected and forward voltages forms a reflection coefficient as a baseline for measuring permittivity. |
| US10649013B2 |
Frequency converter, measuring system, and measuring method
A frequency converter receives a predetermined input signal and a predetermined local oscillation signal, and outputs a signal obtained by mixing the input signal with a harmonic signal having a frequency n times the frequency of the local oscillation signal, wherein a circuit that mixes the input signal with the harmonic signal is a harmonic mixer, which mixes the harmonic signal with the input signal using a nonlinear characteristic of a semiconductor element, and wherein the input signal or the output signal is subjected, either before input to the frequency converter or after output from the frequency converter, to correction on the basis of the amplitude and phase frequency characteristics of the frequency converter, which have been determined in advance. |
| US10649005B2 |
Contact terminal, inspection jig, and inspection device
A contact terminal may include an outer tubular body being tubular and conductive and an inner tubular body being tubular and conductive, that is inserted into a cylinder of the outer tubular body. An outer first spring part that is elastic in an axial direction of the outer tubular body and whose winding direction is a first direction to be formed into a helical shape, may be formed on the outer tubular body. An inner first spring part that is elastic in an axial direction of the inner tubular body and whose winding direction is a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to be formed into a helical shape, may be formed on the inner tubular body. |
| US10649004B2 |
Contact terminal, inspection jig, and inspection apparatus
A contact terminal may include a tubular body made of an electrically conductive material; and stick-shaped first and second central conductors made of an electrically conductive material. The first and second central conductors may include first and second stick-shaped bodies, first and second clasped portions configured to have a diameter greater than that of each of the first and second stick-shaped bodies, and first and second swell portions configured to have a diameter greater than that of each of the first and second stick-shaped bodies. The first and second central conductors are arranged to have a distal end portion of the first and second swell portions inserted into a joining portion of the tubular body, and to have a distal end surface of the first swell portion and a distal end surface of the second swell portion opposite each other with a gap therebetween. |
| US10649002B2 |
Self-calibrating microelectromechanical system devices
Techniques for self-adjusting calibration of offset and sensitivity of a MEMS accelerometer are provided. In one example, a system comprises a first microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor. The first MEMS sensor comprises: a proof mass coupled to an anchor connected to a reference plane, wherein the proof mass is coupled to the anchor via a first spring and a second spring; a plurality of reference paddles coupled to the anchor; and a plurality of acceleration sensing electrodes disposed on the reference plane, wherein a first area of each of the acceleration sensing electrodes is larger than a second area of each of a plurality of reference electrodes associated with the plurality of reference paddles. |
| US10649000B2 |
Connection assembly
A connection assembly includes a sensor substrate, a layer substrate coupled to the sensor substrate so as to face an upper surface of the sensor substrate, and a wire connected between the sensor substrate and the layer substrate. The sensor substrate includes first and second projections provide on the upper surface of the sensor substrate and extending in an extension direction along the upper surface of the sensor substrate. The wire has a first end sandwiched between the layer substrate and the first projection, and a second end sandwiched between the layer substrate and the second projection. The connection assembly provides reliable connection. |
| US10648998B2 |
Automated inventory control system using pivotable divider
An inventory management system for automatically generating a restocking order or prompting generation of a restocking order includes a storage space, a divider pivotable on the storage space between an upright position in which the divider separates the storage space into a front storage section and a rear storage section and a recumbent position that facilitates access to the rear storage section; and a motion detector module attached to the divider, the motion detector module including a sensor for detecting pivoting of the divider and a radio frequency transmitter in communication with the accelerometer and configured to emit radio frequency signals when the divider is rotated from the upright position to the recumbent position. |
| US10648995B2 |
Systems and methods for automated analysis
Aspects of the present disclosure include systems and methods. According to certain embodiments, provided is an integrated analysis system that includes a first module including a sample analysis component and a first internal container conveyor system. The integrated analysis system further includes a second module including a second internal container conveyor system. The first and second modules are positioned adjacent each other such that the first and second internal container conveyor systems are aligned and adapted to transport containers from the first module to the second module. Also provided are methods of analyzing and preparing samples (e.g., blood and body fluid samples), as well as components that find use within the analysis systems of the present disclosure. |
| US10648994B2 |
Apparatus and methods for processing and cataloging of samples
A device for processing and cataloging of a sample, in a container having a label with identifying data, has a frame; a plurality of cameras mounted to the frame; and a controller system coupled to the cameras, the controller system including a controller and a non-transitory memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the controller, cause carrying out of computer processes that produce a catalog record output characterizing the sample, such record also including the identifying data. |
| US10648990B2 |
Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases
Methods, kits and compositions for diagnosing and treating autoimmue diseases such as rheumatiodi arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. |
| US10648989B2 |
Quantitation of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor-II with high-resolution mass spectrometry
Methods are provided for determining the amount of an IGF-I and/or IGF-II protein in a sample using high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometry. The methods generally comprise enriching an IGF-I and/or IGF-II protein in a sample, ionizing an IGF-I and/or IGF-II protein from the sample to generate IGF-I and/or IGF-II protein ions, and determining the amount of IGF-I and/or IGF-II protein ions with high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometry. |
| US10648986B2 |
Method of identifying risk for thyroid disorder
A method for identifying a patient that is at risk for developing a thyroid disorder that occurs subsequent to treatment with a regimen that depletes lymphocytes, comprising determining whether antibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes are present in the patient, wherein if the antibodies are present in the patient then the patient is at increased risk for developing a thyroid disorder. A particular embodiment is a method for identifying a patient with multiple sclerosis that is at risk for developing a thyroid disorder that occurs subsequent to treatment with a regimen that depletes CD52-positive cells, comprising determining whether antibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes are present in the patient, wherein if the antibodies are present in the patient then the patient is at risk for developing the thyroid disorder. |
| US10648983B2 |
Methods for treating cancer and the use of biomarkers as a predictor of clinical sensitivity to therapies
A method of identifying a subject having cancer who is likely to be responsive to a treatment compound, comprising administering the treatment compound to the subject having the cancer; obtaining a sample from the subject; determining the level of a biomarker in the sample from the subject; and diagnosing the subject as being likely to be responsive to the treatment compound if the level of the biomarker in the sample of the subject changes as compared to a reference level of the biomarker; wherein the treatment compound is a compound of Formula I: |
| US10648976B2 |
Sensor integration in lateral flow immunoassays and its applications
Lateral flow immunoassay devices for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample and methods for measuring analyte concentration in sample using such lateral flow immunoassay devices. |
| US10648975B2 |
Single channel chemiluminescent micro-fluidic chip and detection method thereof
Provided is a single-channel chemiluminescent micro-fluidic chip, including a chip body with a quantification-reaction cavity and a waste liquid cavity. The quantification-reaction cavity is composed of a quantification-reaction pool on a lower portion and a reaction pool cover plate, the quantification-reaction pool is equally divided into three cavities by two partition plates, a labeled antibody is placed in the middle cavity, coated antibodies are placed in the others, a surface, facing the quantification-reaction pool, of the reaction pool cover plate is equally divided into two parts. In result, the coated antibodies and the labeled antibodies are physically separated to effectively avoid nonspecific binding. Due to a special structure of the reaction tank, wavy fluid flow is generated to fully mix the coated antibodies and the labeled antibodies, which improves testing efficiency and sensitivity. |
| US10648973B2 |
Immunoassay apparatus
An immunoassay apparatus may include: a sample dispenser part that dispenses a sample into a first reaction container; a reagent dispenser part that dispenses, into the first reaction container,: a solid-phase reagent containing a solid-phase carrier; a labeled reagent; and a releasing reagent that releases, from the solid-phase carrier, an immune complex including a target substance and a labeled substance; a measurement part that measures a signal based on the labeled substance in the immune complex in a second reaction container; a container supply part that stores a plurality of reaction containers; a transfer part that transfers the first reaction container so that the sample dispenser part and the reagent dispenser part perform a dispensing operation to the first reaction container, and that transfers the second reaction container so that the immune complex dispended from the first reaction container is dispensed into the second container. |
| US10648971B2 |
Activation of bioluminescence by structural complementation
Provided herein are compositions and methods for the assembly of a bioluminescent complex from two or more non-luminescent (e.g., substantially non-luminescent) peptide and/or polypeptide units. In particular, bioluminescent activity is conferred upon a non-luminescent polypeptide via structural complementation with another, complementary non-luminescent peptide. |
| US10648970B2 |
Method for evaluation of target in histological sample
The present invention lies in the field of visualization and quantification of immobilized targets in samples using immunochemical means. In particular, the invention relates to a method and reagents for detection, visualization and quantification of a molecular target in immunostained histological samples using particular compositions of the target specific binding agent. Methods and compositions of the invention are suitable for any assay that uses a target visualization system in histological samples based on detection of the target by the target specific binding agent. The methods and compositions are useful for evaluation of targets that are biomarkers of diseases in medical diagnostic. |
| US10648969B2 |
Method and device for quality controlling a blood-based product
A method and device for quality controlling a blood-based product. In order to control the quality of a blood-based product which comprises an erythrocyte concentrate, a thrombocyte concentrate, a granulocyte concentrate, a leukocyte concentrate, whole blood and/or blood plasma, a Raman spectrum is recorded. By means of evaluating the Raman spectrum, it is determined whether the blood-based product can be used for a transfusion. |
| US10648967B2 |
Breath alcohol ignition interlock device and system
The system for use with a breath tester includes a computing facility. In a learning mode, the facility is adapted to: receive the weight of a user; receive the details of each drink consumed by a user and the time of consumption of said each drink; receive measurements of breath alcohol content produced by the breath tester; and calculate the elimination rate of the user. In a predictive mode, the facility is adapted to: receive the details of each drink consumed by a user, and the time of consumption of said each drink; and calculate the expected breath alcohol content of the user based on the weight of the user, the calculated elimination rate of the user and said details of each drink consumed by the user and said time of consumption of said each drink. |
| US10648962B2 |
System and method for preventing cell phone use while driving
A system and method is provided for monitoring a vehicle for inhibiting substances comprising detecting, using a movement detector, movement of a vehicle, collecting, using an air sampler, an initial air sample of air within a cabin of the vehicle, analyzing, using an inhibiting substance detector, the air sample to determine whether an inhibiting substance is detected in the air sample, in response to determining that an inhibiting substance is detected in the air sample, increasing the sampling rate of the air sampler, until a predetermined number of samples are collected that also have been analyzed and an inhibiting substance detected therein and sending an alert to an administrator of the vehicle indicating that inhibited driving is occurring. |
| US10648955B2 |
Online chemical derivatization using a cooled programmed temperature vaporization inlet
A method of detecting an analyte by: providing a derivatizing agent that is reactive with the analyte; delivering the derivatizing agent into a chamber; delivering a sample of a gas suspected of containing the analyte into the chamber before or after delivering the derivatizing agent, while the chamber is maintained at a temperature that retains the derivatizing agent and any analyte and that allows reaction between the derivatizing agent and any analyte in the chamber to form a derivatized analyte; warming the chamber to cause evaporation of any derivatized analyte; and delivering the derivatized analyte in the chamber into a gas chromatograph column. |
| US10648952B2 |
Method and apparatus for non-destructive measurement of modulus of elasticity and/or the compressive strength of masonry samples
A method and apparatus for determining the compressive strength of masonry units based on airborne sonic signals generated by stimulating the samples with short duration, mechanical impulses are described. The non-destructive testing apparatus consists of a specimen support unit which mechanically isolates the masonry unit from the environment and from the support, a mechanical stimulator, and an acoustic response detector. The signals recorded are analyzed to extract the pertinent features which are then used to compute the compressive strength of the sample. The pertinent signals are deduced through a calibration of the masonry type being analyzed (material and shape) based on physical analysis of the sample's normal modes of vibration, or through Finite Element Analysis of the vibrations, or through direct empirical calibration. This non-destructive testing method is low-cost, readily implemented and provides a reliable technique for compressive strength estimation. |
| US10648950B2 |
Turbine blade with ultrasonic wave scattering feature
The invention relates to a turbine blade comprising a platform edge surface including an ultrasonic wave scattering feature comprising surface irregularities adapted to alter a reflection path of an ultrasonic pulse wave. |
| US10648941B2 |
Binding probe circuits for molecular sensors
In various embodiments a molecular circuit is disclosed. The circuit comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, and a binding probe molecule conductively attached to both the positive and negative electrodes to form a circuit having a conduction pathway through the binding probe. In various examples, the binding probe is an antibody, the Fab domain of an antibody, a protein, a nucleic acid oligomer hybridization probe, or an aptamer. The circuit may further comprise molecular arms used to wire the binding probe to the electrodes. In various embodiments, the circuit functions as a sensor wherein electrical signals, such as changes to voltage, current, impedance, conductance, or resistance in the circuit, are measured as targets interact with the binding probe. In various embodiments, the circuit provides a means to measure the presence, absence, or concentration of an analyte in a solution. |
| US10648940B2 |
Electrochemical biosensor and method for producing the same
An electrochemical biosensor includes a substrate, a plurality of layered active metal parts, a plurality of layered electrodes, a reaction confinement layer, an electrochemical reactive layer and a cover piece. The substrate is formed with through holes each of which is defined by an interior wall surface and penetrates top and bottom surfaces. Each of the layered active metal parts is formed at least upon a respective one of the interior wall surfaces. The layered electrodes are formed on the layered active metal parts. The reaction confinement layer confines a reactor space over a region where the through holes are formed. The electrochemical reactive layer is disposed in the reactor space and is electrically coupled to the layered electrodes. |
| US10648939B2 |
Method and system for stability determination of asphaltenes utilizing dielectric constant measurements
A method of determining if unstable asphaltenes are present in a crude oil sample includes obtaining a crude oil sample and performing a fractional analysis of the crude oil sample. In one embodiment, the method further includes measuring, via a cylindrical capacitor, a dielectric constant of the crude oil sample. Responsive to the measured dielectric constant, presence of unstable asphaltenes within the crude oil sample is determined. Responsive to the determined presence of unstable asphaltenes in an amount above a predetermined value, asphaltene precipitation is mitigated by addition of a chemical additive to the well. |
| US10648935B2 |
Flow measurement system and method for determining at least one property of a medium
The invention relates to a flow measurement system for determining a flow of a medium, comprising a Coriolis flow sensor, a thermal flow sensor and a processing unit connected thereto. According to the invention, the processing unit is arranged for determining, based on the output signals of both the Coriolis flow sensor and the thermal sensor, at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium in the flow measurement system. The invention further relates to a method of determining at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium. |
| US10648934B2 |
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for optical focusing in scattering samples
A method includes applying, to a sample exhibiting optical scattering and having a emission particles distributed therein that exhibit spin-dependent fluorescence, a magnetic field to shift a resonance frequency of each emission particle in a position-dependent manner. The method also includes exciting the sample with an excitation beam that causes at least one emission particle to emit spin-dependent fluorescence and detecting the emitted spin-dependent fluorescence. The method also includes estimating a position of the emission particle(s) within the sample based on the spin-dependent fluorescence, the resonance frequency, and the magnetic field. The method also includes estimating optical transmission information for the sample based on a wavefront of the excitation beam and the estimated position. The optical transmission information including a measure of an optical field at each position of an emission particle. |
| US10648933B2 |
Methods and apparatus for optically detecting magnetic resonance
A light-trapping geometry enhances the sensitivity of strain, temperature, and/or electromagnetic field measurements using nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamond, which have exterior dimensions on the order of millimeters. In an example light-trapping geometry, a laser beam enters the bulk diamond, which may be at room temperature, through a facet or notch. The beam propagates along a path inside the bulk diamond that includes many total internal reflections off the diamond's surfaces. The NVs inside the bulk diamonds absorb the beam as it propagates. Photodetectors measure the transmitted beam or fluorescence emitted by the NVs. The resulting transmission or emission spectrum represents the NVs' quantum mechanical states, which in turn vary with temperature, magnetic field strength, electric field strength, strain/pressure, etc. |
| US10648929B2 |
Trailed multiple-viewing-angle item inspection system and method of using the same
Embodiments of the present invention provide a trailed multiple-viewing-angle item inspection system and method of operating the same. The inspection system includes: a trailer vehicle, a radiation inspection device, a power supply device and a power grid connection device. The trailer vehicle is mounted with a power supply chamber within which a power supply device and a power grid connection device are mounted and an inspection chamber within which a radiation inspection device is mounted. The radiation inspection device includes: ray radiation source configured to emit X-rays from various positions, detectors, a body frame, a transfer device, a data and image process system and a display and operation device. The trailed multiple-viewing-angle item inspection system of the present invention can obtain a transmission image containing depth information of an item by its one pass through the device, and achieve a high-speed inspection, a good image quality and a high inspection efficiency of hazardous articles, and its flexibility and movability can meet requirements in various working conditions. |
| US10648923B2 |
Device for the continuous quality control of containers
A continuous quality control device for containers in a roto-revolutionary movement consists of making said containers pass in front of lighting means, capturing by at least one single sequential image capturing device each of said containers in rotation, obtaining an optical reconstruction of said containers and controlling their quality according to said optical reconstruction, characterised in that said lighting means is equipped with stroboscopic control means that allows the illumination of said containers in counterphase from at least two different angles of incidence and the capturing of at least two overlapping images in the same angular rotation position of said container in its own housing with respect to said image capturing device. |
| US10648922B2 |
Crack analysis device, crack analysis method, and crack analysis program
A crack analysis device includes a captured image acquiring unit, a crack detecting unit, and a crack ratio calculator. The captured image acquiring unit acquires a captured image which is obtained by imaging a road surface. The crack detecting unit detects cracks in the imaged road surface on the basis of the captured image. The crack ratio calculator calculates a crack ratio indicating a ratio of an area of the cracks to a predetermined area on the basis of the detected cracks. |
| US10648914B2 |
Optical sample detection system
An optical sample detection system includes: a sensor chip including a dielectric member, a metal film adjacent to an upper surface of the dielectric member, a reaction layer adjacent to an upper surface of the metal film, and a lid member disposed on an upper surface of the reaction layer; a chip holding unit for holding the sensor chip; and a light projecting unit that irradiates the metal film with excitation light through the dielectric member. A sample is detected by irradiating the metal film with excitation light through the dielectric member. The lid member is wider than the dielectric member in an optical path cross section of the excitation light. |
| US10648911B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a fluorescent material, a first laser element and a second laser element. The first laser element is configured to emit a first laser light to excite the fluorescent material. The first laser light having a first peak wavelength that is shorter than an excitation peak wavelength of the fluorescent material. The second laser element is configured to emit a second laser light to excite the fluorescent material. The second laser light has a second peak wavelength that is longer than the excitation peak wavelength of the fluorescent material. |
| US10648906B2 |
Optical analysis and sampling systems
In an embodiment, an optical system comprises an optical cell having an interior fluid chamber defined by an interior surface of a housing, a process inlet disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the interior fluid chamber, and a process outlet disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the interior fluid chamber, wherein the process inlet and process outlet facilitate the flow of a fluid through the interior fluid chamber. A sampling outlet can be disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the interior fluid chamber. A first bi-directional pump can be in fluid communication with the sampling outlet and a first storage vessel and can be configured to withdraw a first sample of the fluid via the sampling outlet and to cause the first sample to flow into the first storage vessel. |
| US10648899B2 |
Method for sorting cell particle in solution
A method for sorting a particle of interest in a solution includes storing a sample solution in a sample solution reservoir and applying a constant pressure to the sample solution; illuminating the sample solution flowing in an illumination region of the sample solution flow path upstream of a branched flow path region, and detecting the particle of interest contained in the sample solution; and upon detecting the particle of interest, opening an electromagnetic valve or electromagnetic valves that are disposed between an air pressure pump and the branched flow path region of the sample solution flow path at a timing that the detected particle of interest reaches the branched flow path region such that a pulse pressure is applied to the branched flow path region to separate the detected particle of interest from the sample solution flow path. |
| US10648897B2 |
Method and apparatus for the identification and handling of particles
The methods herein can allow for the optimised selection and isolation, within a respective population, of elements of interest and/or utility for a series of subsequent operations. A method can include the phases of: a) identifying, for each particle, at least one of a plurality of characteristic parameters; b) selecting the particles of interest, comparing for each of these the at least one parameter with a respective reference parameter. It can furthermore include the phases of c) storing, for each of the particles, the at least one parameter identified; d) processing the value of a function of the stored parameter, associating the function with a criterion for selection of the particles of interest chosen from a group of possible selection criteria; e) establishing for each particle a threshold criterion to be used as reference parameter. The threshold criterion is established on a time by time basis according to the result of the above processing. |
| US10648896B2 |
Modular packaging system for a lubricant condition monitor
An apparatus for assessment of a fluid system includes a scaffold housing with a plurality of internal cavities; a debris monitor module assembly to be selectively inserted into a first cavity of the plurality of internal cavities, the debris monitor module assembly to determine wear debris information in a lubricant; a lubricant condition monitor module assembly to be selectively inserted into a second cavity of the plurality of internal cavities, the lubricant condition monitor module assembly to determine lubricant condition information in the lubricant; and a processing module assembly that is configured to be selectively inserted into a third cavity of the plurality of internal cavities, the processing module assembly to provide communication to an external interface of at least one of the wear debris information and the lubricant condition information. |
| US10648894B2 |
Method for measuring dynamic stress field evolution law of complex heterogeneous structure
A method for measuring the dynamic stress field evolution law of a complex heterogeneous structure, comprising: preparing a transparent photosensitive resin model of a complex heterogeneous structure by means of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to serve as a test piece (S101); placing the test piece in a light path of a circularly polarized light dark field, performing continuous stress loading on the test piece, and recording images (S102); acquiring a plurality of continuously changing full-field stress fringe grayscale images according to videos generated by the image recording (S103); then acquiring grayscale value change sequences of pixel points at each position in the images (S104); and finally, calculating full-field fringe orders under continuous loading conditions according to the relation between the grayscale values and the fringe orders so as to calculate full-field stress values under the continuous loading conditions (S105). Thus, it is possible to extract and quantify the global dynamic stress field evolution law of a complex heterogeneous structure subjected to high exterior load under fixed light field conditions. |
| US10648892B2 |
Smear staining machine
A smear staining machine and a smearing control method and device thereof. The viscosity of the test sample is used for guiding the configuration of at least on smearing parameter. Since the viscosity of the test sample presents multiple influences of many effecting parameters, it is more suitable for presenting the characteristics of the test sample. Therefore, better smearing effect could be acquired by referring the viscosity of the test sample to get the smearing parameter. |
| US10648891B2 |
Evaluating black powder formation of hydrocarbon gas flowed through pipelines
Sales gas output from a glycol dehydration unit in a gas plant is flown into a sales gas pipeline. One or more operational parameters of the glycol dehydration unit are received. One or both of an amount of glycol carryover and an amount of water carryover in sales gas output from the glycol dehydration unit in the gas plant are determined based on the one or more operational parameters of the glycol dehydration unit. An amount of glycol and water co-condensation in the sales gas pipeline is determined based on one or more operational parameters of the sales gas pipeline and the one or both of the amount of glycol carryover and the amount of water carryover. An amount of black powder formation of the sales gas is determined based on the amount of glycol and water co-condensation. |
| US10648890B2 |
Vehicle restraining device
A vehicle restraint apparatus is for restraining a vehicle 1 on one or more rollers 7 of a vehicle test system. The vehicle restraint apparatus 11 includes a vehicle restraining jig 12 to connect the vehicle 1 with a pole 10 on a floor 9, and a deflection absorbing mechanism 90 to absorb deflection of the vehicle restraining jig 12 produced at the time of vehicle test with the vehicle test system. |
| US10648886B2 |
In-vehicle electronic control unit
In adjustment processing executed at the same period as waveform analysis processing, a CPU of a microcomputer permits an execution of the waveform analysis processing on condition that the waveform analysis processing has been completed. Thus a period of non-execution of the waveform analysis processing is ensured between a completion of preceding waveform analysis processing to an execution of next waveform analysis processing. Since low priority processing, which has been disabled to be executed, is enabled to be executed, it is possible to stop continuation of disablement of execution of the low priority processing. |
| US10648879B2 |
Capacitive pressure sensor
Aspects of the disclosure provide a capacitive pressure sensor. The capacitive pressure sensor can include a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a movable plate at a bottom of a first cavity recessed into the substrate from the first surface, and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate over the first surface. A second cavity is formed between the movable plate and the second surface. The second substrate includes a fixed plate disposed over the movable plate to form a capacitor. The second substrate further includes a third cavity between a surface of the fixed plate opposite to the movable plate and a surface of the second substrate opposite to the first substrate. |
| US10648877B2 |
Mechanical strain-based weather sensor
Provided herein is technology relating to weather sensors and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, methods, and systems related to collecting weather data by measuring bending and compression stresses in a weather sensor device. |
| US10648874B1 |
Rotary device
A rotary device includes a stationary member, a rotary member, a sensor device including a sensor rotor, a first sensor, and a second sensor, and a processing device. The first sensor is configured to output a waveform signal that is delayed in phase when the rotary member is displaced relative to the stationary member. The second sensor is configured to output a waveform signal that is advanced in phase when the rotary member is displaced relative to the stationary member. The processing device is configured to calculate a displacement of the sensor rotor based on a difference between a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle, to correct the calculated displacement, and to calculate a load acting on the rotary device from the corrected displacement. |
| US10648873B2 |
Sensor device for detecting pressure
A sensor device may detect pressure. The sensor device may comprise: an elastic dielectric; a first wiring formed on one surface of the elastic dielectric; a second wiring formed on another surface of the elastic dielectric facing the surface on which the first wiring is formed; and a flexible printed circuit board, which is connected to the first wiring and the second wiring, for receiving signals transferred from the first wiring and the second wiring. |
| US10648871B2 |
Fracture ring sensor
Embodiments of the invention include a fracture ring sensor and a method of using the same to detect out of tolerance forces. Aspects of the invention include a product having a defined an out of tolerance force, a fracture ring sensor, and a mounting assembly coupling the fracture ring sensor to the product. The fracture ring sensor is patterned with a conductive trace and is manufactured to break when subjected to a predetermined amount of force. The predetermined amount of force is substantially equal to a percentage of the out of tolerance force of the product. |
| US10648869B2 |
Temperature sensing device capable of automatically switching mode and method thereof
The present disclosure illustrates a temperature sensing device capable of automatically switching mode, and a method thereof. The temperature sensing device includes a control unit configured to determine that the temperature sensing device is to enter or leave from a first mode or a second mode; a power supply unit configured to provide power required by the temperature sensing device; a power circuit including the power supply unit and is electrically connected to the control unit for power supply. The power circuit includes a detection unit electrically connected to the power supply unit and the control unit, and the detection unit is configured to detect when the temperature sensing device is moved from a standing state, and enable the control unit to determine that the temperature sensing device is to leave from the first mode and enter the second mode. |
| US10648864B2 |
High-resolution terahertz wave concentration module, scattered light detection module, and high-resolution inspection apparatus using terahertz bessel beam
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a terahertz wave concentrating module can comprise: a first lens for changing a terahertz wave, which is emitted while a terahertz Bessel beam penetrates an object to be inspected, so as to have a small angle; and a second lens for concentrating, on a detector, the terahertz wave having passed through the first lens. |
| US10648863B2 |
Standoff trace chemical detection with active infrared spectroscopy
A system and process scans a target area at a distance of 3-30 m for one or more materials. Scanning is performed by a coherent transmit beam aimed with the help of a thermal camera. The active source of the beam is a supercontinuum (SC) laser. The transmitted source beam is modulated by a high-speed Fourier-transform spectrometer prior to interaction with the target. Target reflected source beam is detected by an infrared detector, along with a reference portion of the transmitted source beam, as a series of interferograms; passed through a digitizer for digitizing the interferograms; and processed to producing spectrograms, wherein the spectrograms are indicative of one or more materials on the target. |
| US10648860B2 |
Spectroscopic device
Disclosed is a spectroscopic device including a planar lightwave circuit to which light passing through an optical fiber is input, a wavelength divider configured to divide a wavelength of light passing through the planar lightwave circuit, a beam splitter configured to divide a traveling direction of light passing through the wavelength divider into an external sample inlet and an internal sample inlet and adjust power of the divided light, a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor configured to covert light transmitted from the internal sample inlet to an electrical signal or convert light reflected by the external sample inlet to an electrical signal, a control and signal processor configured to process the electrical signal to indicate a light intensity based on each wavelength, and an input and output interface configured to perform a spectrum analysis for each wavelength using the processed electrical signal. |
| US10648859B2 |
Printer and printer system for printing re-adherable memo paper
Provided is a printer system for printing a repositionable note. The system includes a printer that prints a repositionable note and a cartridge that accommodates the repositionable note and is coupled to the printer. The cartridge includes an indication unit that indicates color information previously defined for the repositionable note accommodated in the cartridge, and the printer includes a sensing unit matched with the indication unit included in the cartridge to sense color information of the repositionable note indicated by the indication unit and recognizes a color of the repositionable note accommodated in the printer and changes a Bluetooth search name according to the color of the repositionable note. The system further includes a user client that can be linked to the printer via Bluetooth and is connected to a predetermined printer by using the Bluetooth search name. |
| US10648858B2 |
UV dosimetry system with sensor data correction
A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that measures the UV irradiance intensity. The system can generate extrapolated UV intensity data based on measured UV intensity data to correct unreliable UV measurement due to inconsistent irradiation of UV light. The system integrates the extrapolated UV intensity data over time to calculate real-time UV dosage and vitamin D production by taking into account factors including UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The system is also adapted to measure sun exposure time based on the corrected UV intensity over a period of time. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface. |
| US10648856B2 |
Method and system for measuring beam quality of a laser beam
This invention relates to a method of and a system for determining a beam quality factor (VQF) of a beam of light having a transverse electric field that may be scalar, vector, or a combination thereof, wherein the VQF is a measure of the degree of vectorness of the beam of light varying between pure scalar and pure vector. The beam is typically a laser beam, wherein the method comprises receiving an input laser beam to be analysed and splitting the received beam of light into two orthogonal components. A predetermined number of modes or states per orthogonal component is then detected and an on axis intensity of each detected mode or state detected is measured. The measured intensities is then used to calculate the VQF in terms using at least one quantum mechanical entanglement measure. |
| US10648853B2 |
Lens module comprising a bracket with a side wall bending and extending from a top wall to form a sensor receiving space
The present disclosure provides a lens module. The lens module includes a lens barrel with an accommodation space; a lens group accommodated in the accommodation space; a filter, a bracket and a sensor set in turn by an image side of the lens group and located outside the accommodation space. The bracket includes a top wall forming an optical aperture. The top wall includes a first surface facing an object side, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a third surface connecting the first surface to the second surface for forming an optical aperture. The third surface is a curved surface. |
| US10648850B2 |
Devices and methods for determining aircraft weight
An example method for in-flight determination of a gross weight of an aircraft includes causing an aircraft to perform a first flight operation defined by a first airspeed that is substantially constant and a descent rate that is substantially constant, determining the first airspeed and a first thrust that caused the aircraft to perform the first flight operation, the first thrust being substantially constant during the first flight operation, causing the aircraft to perform a second flight operation defined by a second airspeed that is substantially constant and a descent rate that is substantially constant, determining the second airspeed and a second thrust that caused the aircraft to perform the second flight operation, the second thrust being substantially constant during the second flight operation, and using the first thrust, the second thrust, the first airspeed, and the second airspeed to determine the gross weight of the aircraft. |
| US10648848B2 |
Mounting structure of liquid level detecting device
A mounting structure includes a mounting object member and a liquid level detecting device. The liquid level detecting device includes a device main body which is mounted on a mounting surface of the mounting object member and a holder which is attached to the device main body and is rotated according to a variation of a liquid level of liquid stored in a tank. The mounting object member has a pair of lock portions which lock side portions of the device main body respectively and a pair of projections. The device main body has a pair of hooks. The hooks have respective claws. The hooks are formed closer to the mounting surface in a thickness direction of the device main body than a holder movable area of the device main body. |
| US10648847B2 |
Level sensor with parabolic reflector
A level sensor and housing therefor, the level sensor provides a measurement of the depth in a sewer manhole or chamber. The level sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer that emits a signal to measure the liquid below and may use an additional transducer or it is used by itself to detect the signal reflected from the surface. A parabolic reflector is designed and arranged to direct the emitted ultrasonic signal from the transducer to the surface with a linear beam while minimizing the beam spread. The return echo may either be measured directly or with the same transducer that was used to transmit the ultrasonic signal. The narrow ultrasonic beam with limited spread will allow measuring level in a sewer manhole or confined chamber or any sewer where the level is measured close to a vertical wall. |
| US10648839B2 |
Photoelectric encoder
Provided is a photoelectric encoder that can achieve higher accuracy while maintaining reliability by reducing stray light. An encoder 1 is a photoelectric encoder including a light source device 2 that emits parallel light, a scale 3 having calibrations C provided along a measurement direction, and a light receiving unit 4 that receives light being emitted from the light source device 2, and transmitted through the scale 3. The encoder 1 includes an antireflection member 30 that prevents stray light generated by being reflected on the scale 3, from entering the light receiving unit 4. Because the encoder 1 includes the antireflection member 30, the encoder 1 can achieve higher accuracy while maintaining reliability by reducing stray light entering the light receiving unit 4. |
| US10648838B2 |
Contamination and defect resistant rotary optical encoder configuration including a rotary scale with yawed scale grating bars and structured illumination generating arrangement with a beam deflector configuration
An optical encoder configuration comprises a cylindrical or planar rotary scale including yawed grating bars, an illumination source, a structured illumination generating arrangement (SIGA) and a detector arrangement including a photodetector. The SIGA is configured to input source light to a first illumination region on the rotary scale which diffracts light to a beam deflector configuration which transmits the diffracted light in a form that provides a particular fringe pattern proximate to a second illumination region on the scale. The scale filters and outputs that light to form a detector fringe pattern of intensity bands that are long along the rotary measuring direction and relatively narrow and periodic along a detected fringe motion direction (DFMD) transverse to the rotary measuring direction. The photodetector is configured to detect a position of the intensity bands as a function of rotary scale displacement and provide corresponding displacement or position signals. |
| US10648837B2 |
Encoder, printer, and robot
An encoder includes a light emitting portion emitting light, an optical element portion splitting the light into a first beam and a second beam, an optical scale receiving the first beam and the second beam from the optical element portion, and a light receiving portion receiving the first beam and the second beam from the optical scale and outputting a signal in accordance with intensity of the received light, in which the optical element portion includes a prism on which the light is incident, a beam splitter disposed on the prism and splitting the light incident on the prism into the first beam heading for the optical scale and the second beam heading for an inside of the prism, and a first mirror portion disposed on the prism and reflecting the second beam from the beam splitter toward the optical scale. |
| US10648836B2 |
Device for determining the movement of a rotary element, particularly for readings of water and/or gas meters
A rotary element is equipped with a pattern representing a reflected binary code on at least three bits. A detection circuit is configured to sense the pattern and deliver an incident signal encoded in reflected binary code on at least three bits. The incident signal is converted by a transcoding circuit into an intermediate signal encoded in reflected binary code on two bits. A decoding stage decodes the intermediate signal and outputs at least one clock signal representing the amount of rotation of the rotary element and a direction signal representing the direction of rotation. A processing circuit determines the movement of the rotary element, and has at least one general purpose timer designed to receive the at least one clock signal and direction signal. |
| US10648832B2 |
System and method for in-vehicle display with integrated object detection
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving situational awareness of occupants of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing, using at least a processor of the vehicle, scan data from a sensor of the vehicle to detect at least one object within the surrounding environment. The method includes converting the scan data into converted data that represents the at least one object with a reduced quantity of data. The method includes rendering, using the converted data, at least one graphic that is a visual representation of the at least one object. The method includes displaying the at least one graphic within a display of the vehicle at a location within the display that represents a location of the at least one object relative to the vehicle in the surrounding environment. |
| US10648828B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the position of a vehicle
A method for determining the position of a vehicle, including sensing of multiple objects in a surround field of the vehicle, detecting a sequence of the multiple sensed objects in a digital map and determining a position of the vehicle in the digital map based on a position of the detected sequence in the digital map. An apparatus for determining the position of a vehicle, as well as to a computer program are also described. |
| US10648827B2 |
System to provide real-time railroad grade crossing information to support traffic management decision-making
A system that automatically communicates the event or potential event of a blocked railroad grade crossing to various users, including but not limited to emergency dispatchers and drivers, news media, traffic management systems, and the general public, specifically the location, time, and duration of the event or potential event. The system applies multiple technologies to detect the presence of activity on a rail line, transmits this detection data to a database, performs various analyses on the data, and communicates the status of grade crossings (blocked, potentially blocked, upcoming blockage, or clear) to assist various users with information to make more informed decisions. |
| US10648826B2 |
Providing stop recommendations based on a travel path and transaction data
The disclosure facilitates the generation and provision of stop locations based on context data and transaction data associated with a user's account. Context data indicating a location and travel path of a user is collected from a computing device of the user and a plurality of stop locations are identified by a recommendation engine based on the context data. User transaction data associated with the user is received by the recommendation engine. User preference data is determined by the recommendation engine based on the transaction data. The recommendation engine provides a recommendation of at least one stop location based on the user preference data, whereby the user is enabled to select a stop location based on the recommendation. Generating recommendations based on the user's transaction data and context data provides reliable recommendations to the user and enhances the efficiency of the user's stops while traveling. |
| US10648825B2 |
Pulse wave measuring apparatus, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A pulse wave measuring apparatus includes a light emitter that illuminates with light having an amount an area containing a part of skin of a user staying in a vehicle, an imager that captures an image of the area, a controller that obtains a driving route from a departure point of the vehicle to a destination point of the vehicle, obtains an estimated time at which the vehicle passes through a location along the driving route, predicts an incident amount of sun light that enters the vehicle at the location at the estimated time, and calculates the amount under a condition that a sum of the predicted incident amount and the amount is a constant value, and a pulse wave calculator that calculates a pulse wave of the user using the image, and outputs pulse wave information of the user. |
| US10648822B2 |
Systems and methods for simultaneous electronic display of various modes of transportation for viewing and comparing
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and displaying a comparison of multiple modes of transportation for reaching a destination. One method includes receiving a start location and a destination location, and stops in between, receiving information related to at least one third party operated mode of transportation from a third party determining data related to the at least one third party operated mode of transportation and at least one user operated mode of transportation, generating and displaying determined data for at least one option for each of the plurality of modes of transportation, receiving a selection of a sort category, and determining the option of each mode of transportation to be displayed and an order in which the modes of transportation are displayed based on the selection of the sort category. |
| US10648815B2 |
Information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method
There is provided an information processing device including a movement data acquiring unit that acquires pieces of movement data including positional information for movement and time at which the positional information is acquired, a movement data analyzing unit that analyzes a velocity for movement on a specific route on the basis of the pieces of movement data, and a route dividing unit that divides the specific route on the basis of a result obtained by analyzing the velocity. |
| US10648812B2 |
Method for filtering the signals arising from a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor for measuring a vector physical field which is substantially constant over time and in space in a reference frame
A method for filtering the signals arising from a sensor assembly (EC) comprising at least one measurement sensor for measuring a vector physical field which is substantially constant over time and in space in a reference frame, said sensor assembly (EC) being tied in motion to a moving frame, moving in the reference frame, the method comprising the steps consisting in: applying a first transformation (T1) to the measurements of a measurement sensor of the sensor assembly (EC) which are provided in the moving frame, to a pseudo reference frame, with the aid of a first change-of-frame operator (R(t)) by rotation between the moving frame and the pseudo reference frame; and applying a filtering (FILT) to the measurements thus transformed in the pseudo reference frame; and applying a second transformation (T2), the inverse of said first transformation, to the measurements filtered by said filtering (FILT), from the reference frame to the moving frame, with the aid of a second change-of-frame operator (R−1(t)) by rotation between the pseudo reference frame and the moving frame, the inverse of said first operator (R(t)). |
| US10648809B2 |
Adaptive compass calibration based on local field conditions
Disclosed is a system and method for calibrating a magnetometer. The method comprises responsive to a determination that a magnetic inclination is less than a threshold, measuring first magnetic field data by detecting a magnetic field with the magnetometer through a first rotation path, measuring second magnetic field data by detecting the magnetic field with the magnetometer through a second rotation path, and determining calibration values for the magnetometer based on the measured first magnetic field data and the measured second magnetic field data. |
| US10648807B1 |
Solid state analog altimeter switch
The invention disclosed herein includes various embodiments and components of a solid state analog altimeter switch useful for generating switching signals based on altitude determined from barometric pressure. Embodiments of the solid state analog altimeter switch disclosed herein are designed to be extremely accurate, small, robust and inexpensive to produce. Such solid state analog altimeter switches are particularly useful for generating switching events based on predetermined altitudes in sounding rockets. |
| US10648792B2 |
Measuring system and measuring method
A measuring system having a measuring tool which includes a probe body and an optical marker, a camera for recording image data of the measuring tool, and an evaluation and control unit which is configured to evaluate the image data recorded by the camera and use the data to determine spatial position coordinates of the optical marker. The evaluation and control unit is also configured to calculate the deformation of the measuring tool due to external mechanical loading acting on the measuring tool, and to determine spatial position coordinates of the probe body based on the spatial position coordinates of the optical marker and the calculated deformation. |
| US10648789B2 |
Method for monitoring linear dimensions of three-dimensional objects
A method of 3D measurement is performed using a first camera and a second camera located at different distances from the projector. The method includes projecting a known projection pattern that includes at least two non-crossing lines to form a first band and a second band on a surface of an object. The method includes recording first and second images of the object using the first and second cameras, respectively. The method includes determining a first longitudinal coordinate of a first point within the first band and a first vertical coordinate of the first point within the first band; determining a second longitudinal coordinate of the first point within the first band; and determining a second vertical coordinate of the first point within the first band. The method includes determining a final vertical coordinate of the first point by comparing the first longitudinal coordinate to the second longitudinal coordinate. |
| US10648787B2 |
Rotating field sensor
A first, a second, and a third computing circuit respectively generate a first post-computation signal with a second harmonic component reduced as compared with first and second signals, a second post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with third and fourth signals, and a third post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with fifth and sixth signals. A fourth and a fifth computing circuit respectively generate a fourth post-computation signal with a third harmonic component reduced as compared with the first and second post-computation signals, and a fifth post-computation signal with the third harmonic component reduced as compared with the second and third post-computation signals. A sixth computing circuit determines a detected angle value based on the fourth and fifth post-computation signals. |
| US10648786B2 |
Magnetoelastic sensor for analyzing strain
A magnetoelastic sensor is provided for analyzing strain induced by a force causing mechanical deformation of a region of a substrate. The sensor includes a substrate that has a non-deformable region and a mechanically deformable region, the mechanically deformable region coupled to the non-deformable region by a linking structure. The sensor also has a transformer having a magnetic flux guide. The flux guide includes a magnetoelastic section having a magnetoelastic subsection configured to be strainable by deformation of the mechanically deformable region. In transformer embodiments, one or more drive coil and/or pickup coil has a width greater than the minimal width of the linking structure. Sensor embodiments include numerous configurations. The sensor is useful in methods for analyzing strain and force. |
| US10648785B1 |
Munition with controlled self neutralization
Methods, systems, and devices for an area-denial munition configured for self-neutralization of an explosive ordnance. In one or more embodiments the munition including a housing including a chassis defining one or more openings such that the housing is an at least partially open structure exposing an interior to an ambient environment. In various embodiments the munition includes a detonation module including a detonation initiator and a deflagration module including a deflagration initiator coupled with a pyrotechnic primer, and munition control circuitry. In various embodiments the munition control circuitry receives instructions to deflagrate the explosive ordnance and instructs the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator. In various embodiments, the deflagration initiator causes a deflagration of the explosive ordnance for self-neutralization of the munition resulting in safe destruction of the munition's explosive charge and control electronics. |
| US10648784B1 |
Ammunition case mouth sealing system and related method
An ammunition sealing system includes a case hanging rail for holding a row of cases and one or more heating elements in close proximity to the row of cases. The one or more heating elements are configured to heat sealant applied inside the case mouths. The one or more heating elements are one or more induction heating elements or microwave heating elements. |
| US10648779B1 |
Forearm-secured portable weapon shield
Provided is a portable weapon shield configured for securing to the forearm of a human subject. The shield includes a base having a length sufficient to align with a substantial portion of the forearm. The shield also includes a handgrip affixed to the back of the base in a location defining a proximal portion of the base, and a pair of rails affixed to the back of the base at the distal portion thereof. The shield includes a set of adjustable straps threaded through the rails to form a set of loops. The straps are configured to support the base when the forearm is inserted through the loops in a manner so that a hand associated with the forearm is gripping the handgrip. The shield includes a resilient padding layer mounted to the back of the base to protect against trauma to the forearm caused by the directed threat. |
| US10648778B2 |
Armored glazing manufactured from mass-produced laminated glazing constituents
A process for manufacturing a light armored curved laminated glazing intended to be fitted in an opening of a transport vehicle suitable for the mass-production fitting of a curved laminated glazing containing two glass sheets, wherein use is made of at least three constituent curved glass sheets of such mass-produced curved laminated glazing containing two glass sheets, including both sheets from one and the same such mass-produced curved laminated glazing containing two glass sheets, which have been previously bent together. |
| US10648777B2 |
Pro-active defense structure
A ballistic resistant material and structure and methods for allowing and preventing projectiles from passing through the ballistic resistant defense structure. The ballistic resistant defense structure involves a ballistic multilayer arrangement comprised of V-Profiles 100 which are further comprised of V-shaped wedges arranged adjacent to each other, spaced slightly apart, with gaps. The gaps between the V-shaped wedges expand or contract depending on which side of the V-Profile a projectile strikes. |
| US10648773B2 |
Kit and method for aligning a scope on a shooting weapon
A kit and method for aligning a scope located a shooting weapon including calibrating first and second electronic alignment sensors while on the shooting weapon, placing the second electronic alignment sensor on the scope, and adjusting an alignment of the scope relative to the shooting weapon if the first and second electronic alignment sensors indicate relative vertical misalignment. |
| US10648770B2 |
Manual actuators for thermoelectric modules and related methods
A grasping element is provided including a manual actuator associated with a thermoelectric module, and an optional device powered by the thermoelectric module upon manipulation of the manual actuator. The thermoelectric module can generate electricity via a thermal gradient generated by a user's body. The electricity can power the optional device directly and/or indirectly. |
| US10648759B2 |
Aimable device stock with multi-function forestock
Stocks for aimable devices are provided. In one aspect, stock has a body mechanically associated with the aimable device and movable to determine an aiming axis of the aimable device, a shoulder mount positioned proximate to one end of the body, a firing grip positioned apart from the shoulder mount along a length of the body; a support leg having a mounting end pivotably mounted to the body between the firing grip and an end of the body opposite from the shoulder mount and having a foot end movable between a first range of positions and a second range of positions and a receiver located between the mounting of the support leg to the body and the firing grip and adapted to releasably hold the support leg in the first range of positions wherein the at least one support leg provides a grippable forestock. |
| US10648758B2 |
Flaring tool for handgun magazine wells
A tool for use in flaring a handgun magazine well includes a housing and an insert. The housing defines at least one contoured peripheral surface. The insert is engaged with the housing and defines at least one magazine release notch. The contoured peripheral surface is configured to shape a corresponding inner surface of the magazine well. The magazine release notch is configured to engage a magazine release mechanism within the magazine well. |
| US10648757B2 |
Firearm muzzle device attachment facility
Firearms have an alignment element configured to connect to the barrel with the threaded muzzle portion exposed forward of the alignment element, the alignment element having a lock element movable between a release position and an engaged position, a muzzle device having internal threads configured to mate with the threaded portion of the barrel, the muzzle device defining a lock channel adapted to receive the lock element in the engaged position, the lock channel including wall portions configured to contact the lock element in the engaged position to prevent rotation of the muzzle device, and the lock element in the release position being clear of the lock channel to enable the muzzle device to rotate for removal from the threaded muzzle portion. The alignment element may define a first bore portion configured to closely receive a selected barrel portion immediately aft of the shoulder surface. |
| US10648756B2 |
Suppressor assembly
A suppressor assembly for a firearm includes a diffusor assembly with a body extending along a central axis. At least one diffusor baffle extends across an inside of the body in a direction transverse to the central axis. The diffusor baffle defines a diffusor central opening and a plurality of outer diffusor openings positioned radially outside the diffusor central opening. Signature-reduction baffles include a first baffle portion that extends across the inside of the body and that defines a central baffle opening and a baffle port positioned radially outside of the central baffle opening. A second baffle portion is connected to the first baffle portion opposite the baffle port and radially outside of the central baffle opening. The second baffle portion extends at an angle to the body sidewall. |
| US10648755B1 |
Firearm safety feature
A novel firearm safety feature includes arresting surfaces for preventing the fall of a hammer in the event of a spontaneous failure of other firearm parts. In a particular embodiment a safety lug has an arresting surface and the hammer has a complementary arresting surface. In the event of a spontaneous failure, the arresting surface and the complementary arresting surface create a positive engagement and prevent the hammer from falling. In another embodiment, a grip safety includes an arresting surface and the hammer includes a complementary arresting surface. In the event of a spontaneous failure, the arresting surface and the complementary arresting surface create a positive engagement and prevent the hammer from falling. |
| US10648751B1 |
Heat dissipating cladding
For dissipating heat a cladding includes a dissipation tape and a particle coating. The dissipation tape includes dissipation ridges that dissipate infrared radiation at a dissipation angle. The particle coating is deposited on the dissipation tape. |
| US10648748B2 |
Cooler
Provide is a cooler in which the number of components can be decreased and the space can be reduced. The cooler includes: a cooling plate (10) having a flat shape and including a plurality of refrigerant passages (14) partitioned by a plurality of partition walls (13, 13A) parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction; a first cutout portion (11), which is formed at one end of the cooling plate in the longitudinal direction, and is opened on an upper side and at an end portion in the longitudinal direction while leaving both side walls (10c, 10d) in a width direction and one (13A) of the plurality of partition walls; a second cutout portion (12), which is formed at another end of the cooling plate in the longitudinal direction, and is opened on the upper side and at an end portion in the longitudinal direction while leaving both the side walls in the width direction; a first upper lid member (20), which is joined to the first cutout portion, and has a refrigerant inlet port (25) and a refrigerant outlet port (27) respectively communicating to a refrigerant inlet side and a refrigerant outlet side partitioned by the one of the plurality of partition walls; and a second upper lid member (30), which is joined to the second cutout portion, and forms, between the second upper lid member and the second cutout portion, a flow passage space (35) causing the refrigerant inlet side and the refrigerant outlet side to communicate to each other. |
| US10648745B2 |
Azeotropic working fluids and thermal management systems utilizing the same
A thermal management system includes a heat transport component and a water-based azeotropic mixture disposed within the heat transport component to move heat from one portion of the heat transport component to another. The mixture includes at least 50% water. |
| US10648742B2 |
Finless heat exchanger, outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus including the finless heat exchanger, and indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus including the finless heat exchanger
A finless heat exchanger includes a pair of headers each including a pipe-shaped portion extending in a first direction, and branching portions formed on the pipe-shaped portion, and flat pipes each having a flat sectional shape elongated in one direction, the flat pipes being arrayed in the first direction and connecting the branching portions of the headers. Flat surfaces of adjacent two flat pipes face each other and the adjacent two flat pipes each have a side surface facing a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The flat pipes connect the branching portions, the side surface of each of the flat pipes has a wave shape, and adjacent flat pipes are prevented from contacting each other. Both the side surfaces are opened so that air flows in from a side corresponding to one side surface in the second direction and flows out from a side in the second direction. |
| US10648730B1 |
Medical implement drying apparatus
Disclosed herein is a novel medical implement drying apparatus and a method for holding and drying certain medical implements during a reprocessing sequence. This is accomplished by forcing air through the apparatus. The apparatus and method disclosed herein is useful for many medical implements having a hollow casing. The medical implement drying apparatus is particularly well suited for use with a drying cabinet containing one or more of the medical implements during the drying process which will facilitate drying of the exterior of each medical implement, while the disclosed apparatus removes water and water vapor from the interior of each medical implement. Specialized holders, racks, and drying gas pumping systems are also disclosed. |
| US10648726B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment, a sliding shelf configured to discharge forward from the compartment, a folding shelf configured to, based on rotation of the folding shelf, switch positions between a first position in which the folding shelf is disposed along a plane of the sliding shelf and a second position in which the folding shelf is disposed transverse to the plane, a hinge unit configured to couple the folding shelf to a side surface of the compartment, a rotation stopper located on the side surface and configured to resist rotation of the folding shelf, and a supporter that is configured to support the folding shelf based on the folding shelf being disposed at the first position and that includes a protrusion at a bottom surface of the folding shelf, and a press portion at the hinge unit and configured to press the protrusion. |
| US10648724B2 |
Cold plate shelf assembly for a refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment, at least one door that selectively seals the refrigerated compartment and a cold plate shelf assembly mounted in the refrigerated compartment. The shelf assembly includes a front trim, a rear trim and a first plate directly coupled to the front trim and the rear trim. A second plate extends from the front trim to the rear trim, the second plate being positioned so that a food item supported on the shelf assembly contacts the second plate. The second plate is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than glass. In one arrangement, the refrigerator further includes an air duct having an air vent. Air exiting the air duct through the air vent either impinges on and travels across the second plate or enters an interior of the shelf assembly. |
| US10648722B2 |
Modular container system
An exemplary modular container system is provided that includes couplings that may, in one embodiment, be implemented as integrated or interfaced receptacles and corresponding inserts that allow accessory items to couple with a compartment, which may be referred to as a “wet box”, and used as a container that holds items. The accessories may include, for example, a second compartment or “dry box” for holding items that need to be kept dry, a fishing rod holder, a shelf, a cutting board, a cup holder, a chair or seating platform, one or more dollies, or virtually any needed accessory. |
| US10648720B2 |
Ice-making container
An ice-making container including a container body having an opening formed in its upper part and being flexible so as to be deformable by being grasped and an inner container configured to be insertable into and removable from the container body through the opening, in which an ice-making area for making ice is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the container body and an outer peripheral surface of the inner container, in the state where the inner container is placed in the container body, and the ice-making area is formed as an area where the ice made in the ice-making area is crushed in response to deformation of the container body being grasped. |
| US10648716B2 |
Air conditioner
An air conditioner includes a stainless steel pipe having one end connected to a compressor and the other end connected to a refrigeration cycle component to form a single pipe between the compressor and the refrigeration cycle component, the stainless steel pipe partially having a corrugated part to attenuate vibration transferred from the compressor to the refrigeration cycle component, wherein the corrugated part is integrally formed with the other portion of the stainless steel pipe as at least a portion of the stainless steel pipe is processed. |
| US10648713B2 |
Industrial heat transfer unit
An industrial heat transfer unit including a compressor, a condenser heat exchanger, an expansion valve structure, and an evaporator heat exchanger. The compressor outlet is fluidly connected to the condenser heat exchanger inlet; the condenser heat exchanger outlet is fluidly connected to the expansion valve inlet; the expansion valve outlet is fluidly connected to the evaporator heat exchanger inlet; and the evaporator heat exchanger outlet is fluidly connected to the compressor inlet. The condenser heat exchanger is retained vertically above the compressor to provide enhanced operational efficiency. In some embodiments, service regions of the compressor and heat exchangers face a housing window. Process lines of the heat exchanger(s) can be high pressure stainless steel tubes. The compressor can be a scroll compressor and can include a variable frequency drive controlling delivery of power to a motor. |
| US10648710B2 |
Heat pump system and cooling generation method
A heat pump system generates cooling by evaporating a refrigerant using an evaporator, and generates cooling by using a compressor to desorb refrigerant that has been evaporated by the evaporator and adsorbed at an adsorption device. |
| US10648705B2 |
Magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly
A magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly includes a first magneto-caloric cylinder and a second magneto-caloric cylinder. First and second pluralities of thermal stages are stacked along an axial direction between a cold side and a hot side. The second magneto-caloric cylinder and the second plurality of thermal stages are nested concentrically within the first magneto-caloric cylinder and the first plurality of thermal stages. Each thermal stage of the first and second pluralities of thermal stages includes a plurality of magnets and a non-magnetic ring. The plurality of magnets is distributed along a circumferential direction within the non-magnetic ring in each thermal stage of the first and second pluralities of thermal stages. |
| US10648704B2 |
Magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly
A magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly includes a magneto-caloric cylinder with a plurality of magneto-caloric stages. A length of one of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages is different than a length of another of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages. Each of a plurality of thermal stages includes a plurality of magnets and a non-magnetic ring. The plurality of magnets is distributed along a circumferential direction within the non-magnetic ring in each of the plurality of thermal stages. The length of each of the plurality of thermal stages corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages. |
| US10648703B2 |
Caloric heat pump system
A caloric heat pump system includes a pump is operable to circulate a working fluid through a stage. The pump includes a motor. A cam is coupled to the motor such that the cam is rotatable by the motor. The cam has a non-circular outer profile surface. Each piston of a pair of pistons has a cam follower positioned on the non-circular outer profile surface of the cam. |
| US10648697B2 |
Systems and methods for direct thermal receivers using near blackbody configurations
An aspect of the present disclosure is a receiver for receiving radiation from a heliostat array that includes at least one external panel configured to form an internal cavity and an open face. The open face is positioned substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and forms an entrance to the internal cavity. The receiver also includes at least one internal panel positioned within the cavity and aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the at least one internal panel includes at least one channel configured to distribute a heat transfer medium. |
| US10648694B2 |
Multi-tube offset pre-insulated HVAC ducting technology
The invention provides an HVAC duct having an inner composite tube and an outer composite tube. The inner composite tube has an interior metal wall, a primary foam wall, and an exterior metal wall. The outer composite tube has an interior metal wall, a secondary foam wall, and an exterior metal wall. In certain embodiments, the inner composite tube is nested inside the outer composite tube in an end-offset configuration. In these embodiments, the first end of the duct defines a male detent having a radially-outward-facing metal engagement face projecting beyond the interior metal wall of the outer composite tube, whereas the second end of the duct defines a female detent having a radially-inward-facing metal engagement face projecting beyond the exterior metal wall of the inner composite tube. Also provided is an HVAC ductwork assembly wherein two ducts of the described nature are connected in an advantageous end-to-end manner. |
| US10648691B2 |
HVAC actuator with contactless adjustable settings
An actuator in a HVAC system includes a housing having an interior-facing surface and an exterior-facing surface. The actuator includes magnetic field sensor(s) located within the housing and arranged adjacent to the interior-facing surface. The actuator includes a user input device retaining magnet(s) that are movable into multiple different positions along the exterior-facing surface of the housing. An actuator controller includes a magnet locator that determines a location of the magnet(s) with respect to the magnetic field sensor(s) based on data generated by the magnetic field sensor(s). The actuator controller also includes a settings generator that generates settings for the actuator based on the location of the magnet(s) determined via the magnet locator. |
| US10648682B2 |
Building provided with an air treatment system
The invention is directed to a building comprising more than one separate spaces and an air treatment system. The air treatment system comprises a central air drying unit fluidly connected to two or more local evaporative cooling units, wherein at least two local evaporative cooling units are each fluidly connected to a separate space of the building. The invention is also directed to a method to cool the air in two or more separate spaces by (a) drying ambient air in a central air drying unit to obtain a volume of dried air, (b) drawing in a part of the volume of dried air as obtained in step (a) to each separate space by means of an air displacement means and (c) using the dried air in a process of indirect evaporative cooling to obtain cooled air which is discharged into the interior of the separate space. |
| US10648681B2 |
Heat source unit and refrigeration cycle apparatus
A bellmouth of a heat source unit includes: a straight tubular portion having a cylindrical shape; an air inlet portion which is radially expanded toward the upstream side, wherein, the air inlet portion has at least one angle-reduced portion that satisfies θ0>θi>0, where, an angle formed by a line L1 and a line L2 is taken as θ0, and an angle formed by a straight line L3 and the line L2 is taken as θi, the line L1 is a line passing through a portion of an outer peripheral end portion of the air inlet portion, the line L2 is a line passing through a connecting portion between the air inlet portion and the straight tubular portion, and the straight line L3 is a line connecting an intersection P of the line L1 and the line L2 and a portion of the outer peripheral end portion of the air inlet portion. |
| US10648679B2 |
Device for domestic hot water distribution
A heat exchanger that includes a portion for heat exchange with gray water, a portion for heat exchange with clean water, the heat exchanger being arranged to transfer heat between the gray water heat-exchange portion and the clean water heat-exchange portion during a distribution of water and thereby heat a feedwater to a first temperature, wherein the heat exchanger includes a first heating means arranged to achieve the heating of the feedwater, for heating the feedwater to a second temperature, and wherein the heat exchanger includes a second heating means arranged to keep the clean water heat-exchange portion at a temperature greater than or equal to the first temperature during a period without water distribution. |
| US10648678B2 |
Building-integrated solar energy system
A building-integrated solar energy system is disclosed that comprises an evacuated closed-loop conduit network circulating a working fluid through a solar thermal collector and at least one heat usage device, wherein the effective entirety of the surfaces of the closed-loop conduit network are in contact with the working fluid such that phase change occurs whenever heat energy is added by the solar thermal collector or removed by a heat usage device. The working fluid is adiabatically isolated and contained in a low pressure environment within the closed-loop conduit network. The full surface contact and low-pressure isolation of the working fluid dramatically reduces temperature differentials and energy losses, allowing for highly efficient and cost-effective heat collection and distribution. |
| US10648673B2 |
Combustor
A combustor includes a combustion tube having a cylindrical shape with a combustion space where fuel is combusted and including an inlet through which the fuel is introduced, an outlet through which a gas generated when the fuel is combusted is discharged, and a protrusion protruding inward from a wall surface between the inlet and the outlet; an injection unit configured to inject fuel into the combustion tube through the inlet of the combustion tube; and an additional injection unit located on the protrusion of the combustion tube and configured to inject fuel into the combustion tube. |
| US10648672B2 |
Method and apparatus for assisting with the combustion of fuel by using a plasma generator within a fuel nozzle
An apparatus and method for assisting with the combustion of fuel are described. The apparatus includes a swirler assembly and a fuel nozzle. Fuel is directed into a fuel nozzle mixing chamber and combines with air therein to form a fuel-air mixture. At least one plasma generator, at least partially within the fuel nozzle, generates an at least one of an at least partially ionized air-fuel mixture and an at least partially dissociated air-fuel mixture (“at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture”) via a plasma generator discharge. A combustion chamber inlet admits the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture from the plasma generator into a combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion air flows through the swirler body and into the combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion of the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture with the combustion air occurs at least partially within the combustion chamber internal volume to responsively produce products. |
| US10648669B2 |
Case and liner arrangement for a combustor
A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic case forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic case. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner is located in the metallic case using a plurality of cross key connectors. |
| US10648663B2 |
Turbocharged burner
A turbocharged burner has a burning unit and a turbocharger. The burning unit is installed with a fuel bucket for storing fuel and a burning chamber having a tubular shape, and interior of the burning chamber is installed with at least one nozzle. At least one fuel tube coupled to the fuel bucket is disposed at each nozzle, and the turbocharger is coupled to the burning chamber. Under the reaction of the turbocharger, the gas fluid of the burning chamber is increased, a flowing speed and a flowing flux of the gas fluid are increased, and thus the burning further entirely achieves the objective of increasing fuel burning efficiency. |
| US10648658B1 |
Salt lamp with audio arrangement
A salt lamp includes a main housing having a receiving cavity, a lighting arrangement and an audio arrangement. The lighting arrangement is provided underneath the main housing for generating illumination toward the receiving cavity. The audio arrangement includes a first speaker assembly provided in the receiving cavity. The first speaker assembly includes a first acoustic chamber secured on a top portion of the main housing, a second acoustic chamber extended from the first acoustic chamber, and a speaker provided on the acoustic chamber and arranged to position adjacent to a plurality of through audio holes formed on the main housing. The salt lamp is arranged to deliver an optimal mix of negative ions, lighting effect and audible sound to ambient environment. |
| US10648655B2 |
Light module for a vehicle with a heat sink with void housing a driving device arranged on an electronic support
The invention relates to a light module (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: a light source (10); an electronic support (11); a driver device (13) driving the electrical power supply of said one light source (10) arranged on said electronic support (11); a heatsink (12) comprising an obviously (121) in which said driver device (13) is housed, characterized in that said light source (10) is fixed onto said heatsink (12). |
| US10648654B2 |
Stage lighting source system with a lamp protection function
Provided is a stage lighting source system with a lamp protection function. The stage lighting source system comprises a lamp, a lamp protection device and a light filter. All are arranged along a light axis sequentially. The lamp protection device comprises a non-transparent structure and a mounting component for mounting non-transparent structure. Light axis passes through the non-transparent structure. Non-transparent structure size does not affect a lamp light emitting effect in the light axis direction. Non-transparent structure fully or partially absorbs and/or reflects light energy from the light filter. The structure is easy and convenient to use, intercepts light energy reflected from the light filter by using appropriate blocking object and structure, effectively controls lamp electrode temperature within an acceptable range, and ensures lamp service life so that a flat light filter without an included angle is applied, and an ideal optical effect is realized. |
| US10648652B2 |
LED lighting system with distributive powering scheme
A linkable linear light emitting diode (LED) system provides apparatus and methods for mechanically, optically, and electrically linking multiple LED modules disposed over a wide and separated area of a ceiling system. Openings can be cut in ceiling tiles of a drop ceiling system and the LED lighting modules are coupled to the tile through the opening, with the tile being sandwiched between different portions of the module. A remote driver system is placed within the drop ceiling above the tiles and provides multiple connectors for powering a multitude of lighting modules. Certain of the LED lighting modules include both input and output connectors for both receiving power or data and providing power or data to other modules. In this manner, some of the modules act as master LED lighting modules and those receiving power and/or data therefrom are act as slave modules. |
| US10648651B2 |
Illumination system with transportation system
The present invention relates to an illumination system (100) comprising at least one illumination device (1) comprising a casing (2) wherein at least one light source (3) suitable for illuminating is housed, at least a power receptor (10) and at least an electronic board (9) adapted to receive, elaborate and transmit data. Moreover, said illumination system (100) also comprises at least one command interface (80A, 80B) adapted to communicate with said electronic board (9) of said at least one illumination device (1). |
| US10648648B2 |
Lighting system
A lighting system may include a plurality of suspenders and a beam configured to provide light in at least one direction. The suspenders may structurally support the beam from a ceiling and may provide electrical power and dimming control signals to the beam. The beam may include a plurality of light engines for emitting light. The light engines may be single sided or dual sided, and may transmit electrical power among each other. The dual sided light engines may emit light upwardly and downwardly from the beam, and the single sided light engines may emit light downwardly. |
| US10648644B2 |
Optics for chip-on-board lighting having a protrusion
A cover for a light source for use in a lamp or luminaire. An outer surface of the cover, opposite the light source, comprises a rounded shape and includes a protrusion extending from the cover. The protrusion extends substantially in a light emission direction and is shaped the protrusion to direct light emitted from the light source in a desired direction. |
| US10648641B2 |
Vehicle lamp
A vehicle lamp comprises: a substrate; a semiconductor light source which is mounted on the substrate; a lens which emits light from the semiconductor light source; and a heat sink having a planar first surface which is formed in the shape of a plate from a metal material, is in contact with and affixed to the substrate, and supports the lens, and a planar second surface which is the back surface of the first surface, the heat sink being plastically deformed by a plurality of recesses disposed in a prescribed pattern in a surface machining area on the second surface that includes an area on the back side of the contact area. |
| US10648639B2 |
Dehumidifying apparatus
The present invention relates to a general-purpose dehumidifying apparatus in which a housing having a dehumidifying member therein is applied to an object to be dehumidified (an electric light (such as a street lamp, a vehicle lamp, etc.), an outdoor or indoor electronic enclosure (such as power distributing equipment, communication equipment, security equipment, a solar system, etc.), and the like), and the dehumidifying apparatus removes internal moisture through an outer valve that opens and closes an outer communicating part of the housing (by closing the outer valve) in a case where the temperature of the object to be dehumidified is low and discharges the moisture of the dehumidifying member to the outside by opening the outer valve when the temperature in a lamp module rises in a case where the temperature of the object to be dehumidified is high. The dehumidifying apparatus, according to the present invention, comprises: a housing installed in an object to be dehumidified and having inner and outer communicating parts connected to the outside; a dehumidifying member mounted in the housing; and an outer valve that opens and closes the outer communicating part of the housing. |
| US10648637B1 |
Optical device for a lighting and/or signalling device of an automobile vehicle
The present invention discloses an optical device for a motor vehicle comprising: a light guide; at least one collimator; at least one light source associated with each collimator; and at least one optical coupler having at least two reflecting facets. The optical coupler couples a collimator with the light guide at the light entry face of the light guide. The collimator is adapted to receive the light beam emitted by a light source and to collimate this beam, and directing the collimated beam towards the reflecting facets of the optical coupler. At least part of collimated light beam from the reflecting facets enters the light guide and directed towards the light exit face along an optical axis of the light guide. The optical device further comprises at least one aperture for diverting other part of the collimated light beam out of the light guide. |
| US10648626B2 |
Lighting module and lighting device having same
A lighting module disclosed in an embodiment comprises: a plurality of light emitting devices on a substrate; and a reflector arranged in the direction of emission of light from each light emitting device on the substrate. The light emitting device has a light exit surface, and the reflector has a reflecting surface concave toward the substrate, at least a portion of the reflecting surface corresponding to the light exit surface of the light emitting device. The reflecting surface is arranged at a height that increases gradually in proportion to the interval from the light emitting device arranged in the light incident direction. The reflecting surface comprises a plurality of convex portions arranged in a first direction and first bridge portions that connect between the plurality of convex portions. The first bridge portions are arranged along the convex portions and are arranged to be lower than a straight line that connect high points of adjacent convex portions. The convex portions and the first bridge portions have the same length in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, and the area of the convex portions may be larger than the area of the first bridge portions. |
| US10648623B2 |
Light source, lamp, and method for manufacturing a light source
The invention relates to an LED light source comprising a light unit and a hollow curved cap covering the light unit. The light unit comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) distributed in the form of a spatial arrangement having a center position. The plurality of LEDs includes at least two different types of LEDs. Each type of LED is arranged for the emission of radiation within a different wavelength range. The cap is substantially transparent for radiation emitted by the light unit. The cap is further provided with an axially symmetric protrusion forming a depression in the exterior of the cap. The symmetry axis of the protrusion substantially coincides with the center position of the spatial arrangement of the plurality of LEDs. |
| US10648622B2 |
Pipeline network diagnosing device
Provided is a pipeline network diagnosing device in which: a pressure measurement value is stored upon being acquired by a pressure gauge; a pipeline network is divided into sub-networks at the installation positions of an air compressor, a terminal device, and a pressure gauge installed partway along a pipeline channel, after which a sub-network model is generated; the flow of air within a sharing sub-network configured from two sub-networks that share the pressure gauge is calculated and stored, the pressure measurement value at an end part of the sharing sub-network serving as a calculation criterion; the pressure measurement value and a pressure calculation value at a shared pressure measurement point are compared to each other, the shared pressure measurement point being a pressure measurement point shared by the two sub-networks within the sharing sub-network; an assessment is made for each of the sub-networks with regard to whether air has leaked or a device has clogged; and any sub-networks in which air leakage or device clogging is assessed to have occurred are displayed on a display device using the results of the aforementioned assessment. |
| US10648620B2 |
Vented fitting for pressure vessel boss
An apparatus is configured to be positioned between a boss and a shell of a pressure vessel. The boss includes a bore therethrough, and the bore has a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes an annular body and a gas permeable feature. The annular body includes an inner surface configured to abut the boss and an outer surface configured to abut the shell. The annular body has opposite first and second ends relative to the longitudinal axis. The gas permeable feature is provided on the inner surface and extends at least from the first end to the second end. The disclosure also describes a pressure vessel including a shell, and boss, and an apparatus positioned between the boss and the shell. A method for forming a pressure vessel includes mounting a boss on a mandrel, positioning an annular fitting about a neck of the boss, forming a liner, and forming an outer shell. |
| US10648616B2 |
Pressure vessel assembly and method of forming
A pressure vessel assembly includes a plurality of lobes, each lobe having at least one vertically arranged interior wall, the lobes positioned in a side by side arrangement such that a first interior wall of a first lobe is positioned adjacent a second interior wall of a second lobe, the first interior wall having a first wall top and bottom side, the second interior wall having a second wall top and bottom side, the first wall top side joined to the second wall top side and the first wall bottom side joined to the second wall bottom side. Also included are first and second end wall surfaces of each of the plurality of lobes. Further included is a plurality of end caps, each of the end caps joined to the end wall surfaces of the lobes, each of the end caps joined to at least one adjacent end cap. |
| US10648613B1 |
Methods and devices for securing devices and accessories to a track system
A device for securing accessories to a track having an entrance height. The device includes a main body defining an axle opening and being configured to couple to the accessory. A track bolt has an axle extending to a head, which is rotatably received in the axle opening. The head has a long length greater than the entrance height and a short length less than the entrance height. A handle is fixed to the track bolt, which rotate together. A ramp and a riding surface are disposed between the handle and the front of the main body, the riding surface engaging the ramp from a low end and a high end. When the head is inserted into the track and the handle is rotated such that the riding surface engages the high end of the ramp, the head is drawn into compression with the track to secure the device. |
| US10648612B2 |
Mount assembly
A mount assembly has an attachment component and a housing. The housing is hollow and has an interior and an exterior. The housing has a rear plate that is substantially rectangular, a top face, a bottom face, two lateral faces, and a front plate. The front plate is substantially similar to the rear plate and has an opening that has a keyhole and a slot. The housing also has a spring biased actuator and a detent that corresponds with the keyhole and is linearly biased toward the front plate. The attachment component is configured to be releasably coupled to the housing, and has a rear wall that is substantially similar to the front plate of the housing, and a post that extends perpendicularly from the rear wall. The post has a flattened head at a distal end that corresponds to the keyhole of the front plate of the housing. |
| US10648611B2 |
Display stand
A metal extrusion plate for a display stand and the display stand are provided. The metal extrusion plate extends along a first direction and comprises N of flat plate sections and N−1 of connecting sections, wherein the flat plate sections are integrally formed with the connecting sections, and N is a positive integer greater than 1. The flat plate sections are interlaced with the connecting sections, and each of the connecting sections is connected to the two adjacent flat plate sections therebetween. Each of the connecting sections has a groove extending along a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction and forming a first incline and a second incline opposite to the first incline. The metal extrusion plate is capable of being bent at the connecting section so that the two adjacent flat plate sections form a first included angle. The metal extrusion plate is bent to form as a supporting frame to be disposed on a base. The flat plate sections and the connecting sections encompass and form a receiving space for an elevating module disposed therein so as to move up and down with respect to the supporting frame. |
| US10648608B2 |
Thermal insulated ice hole wrap devices and methods
Ice hole wraps configured to be positioned in a floor of an ice shelter are provided. An ice hole wrap includes a first circular end, a second circular end, a cylindrical wall extending between the first and second ends, and a height extending between the first and second circular ends. The wall is foldable between a first configuration in which the cylinder has a first height between the first and second circular ends, and a second configuration in which the cylinder has a second height between the first and second circular ends. |
| US10648607B2 |
Process for lining a steel pipe for the subsea transport of fluids
A process for lining a steel pipe for the subsea transport of fluids comprises machining of an annular cavity in an inner wall of the pipe to be lined. The cavity is set back longitudinally relative to an end of the pipe. The deposition by welding of a first resurfacing layer includes a corrosion-resistant metal alloy on the inside of the cavity. Surface machining of the first resurfacing layer is done to the internal diameter of the pipe. A liner made of corrosion-resistant steel alloy is introduced into the pipe. Deposition by welding includes at least one second resurfacing layer made of corrosion-resistant metal alloy on the inner wall of the pipe between the end of the liner in contact with the first machined resurfacing layer and the corresponding end of the pipe. Surface machining of the second resurfacing layer is done to the internal diameter of the pipe. |
| US10648606B2 |
Method of reducing leak or risk of leak in pipe system
A method of reducing a leak or a risk of a leak of a pipe system is disclosed. The pipe system is filled with a composition that includes metal powder and xylenes, and a pressure is applied to the filled pipe system and the pipe system is drained of said composition. Also, the use of a composition for reducing a leak or a risk of a leak of a pipe system is disclosed. |
| US10648602B2 |
Sealing gasket with specialized reinforcing ring for sealing plastic pipelines
A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a raceway provided within a socket end of a female bell plastic pipe end which is assembled with a mating male pipe end to form a plastic pipe joint. The raceway in the female bell plastic pipe end is preformed during manufacture and the gasket is installed thereafter. The gasket has a rubber body portion which is reinforced by a hard plastic band formed as a series of integral, spaced wedges which are interconnected by a flexible ribbon. The gasket is flexible enough to be flexed and placed in the pipe raceway and yet the hard plastic band acts to prevent extrusion of the gasket during a variety of pressure conditions as well as preventing displacement during field assembly. |
| US10648600B2 |
Swivel a decoupled central ring member
A swivel includes an inner and an outer ring. The rings are coaxial and rotatable relative to one another around a central axis, and define a toroidal chamber and an axial seal annulus gap between the rings. The inner and outer rings are rotatably interconnected via a bearing structure. The swivel includes an upper bearing structure and a lower bearing structure on each side of the toroidal chamber. Each bearing structure interconnects the inner and outer rings. An upper and a lower sealing member is situated in the seal annulus gap near a respective upper and lower bearing structure. At least one of the inner and outer rings includes an upper member, a lower member and a central member. The upper and lower members are fixedly attached to the respective upper and lower bearing structures and the central member is independently displaceable relative to the upper and lower ring members. |
| US10648589B2 |
Cylindrical element adapted to reduce vortex-induced vibration and/or drag
A generally cylindrical element adapted for immersion in a fluid medium, the cylindrical element comprising an elongate body having a length and a generally circular cross-section, and a plurality of raised body portions disposed about and extending along the length of the elongate body, the raised body portions being arranged generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body and having a height between 2% and 10% of a diameter of the body. The plurality of raised body portions are adapted to reduce vortex-induced vibration and/or drag on the cylindrical element when the cylindrical element is immersed in the fluid medium and there is relative movement between the cylindrical element and the fluid medium. |
| US10648586B1 |
Automated drain valve with internal reset
An automated thermally responsive valve with an internal reset function is disclosed. The cartridge latching mechanism can be retracted at a target temperature and manually reset at the target temperature to engage an ejector cap. The reset mechanism of the cartridge automatically returns to a latching configuration upon warming. The cartridge thermal actuator can be configured to retract the latching mechanism at a target temperature near freezing to provide a freeze protection drain valve that is ejected from a sealing element in the ejector cap and allows a fluid system to drain. |
| US10648584B2 |
Earthquake gas valve
An earthquake gas valve that uses a battery powered actuation mechanism to automatically close a gas valve when the movement caused by an earthquake is perceived. A gear motor is activated by a plurality of shake switches which in turn cause a motor driven radial rack to rotate. The rack terminates in a closure plug which obstructs the gas outlet opening and prevents gas from entering the house or office when an earthquake occurs. A timing circuit delays the activation of the closure plug to make sure that the motion has been caused by an earthquake and not by an accidental brief jarring action. |
| US10648575B2 |
Electro-hydraulic pressure reducing and relieving valve with flow force control for large flow capacity
A hydraulic valve is provided that includes an interior spool and a surrounding cage. A supply port and a return port are connected to the cage and the interior of the cage is in fluid communication with a control port. The interior spool is positioned between an on and off position using a solenoid and a spring. In the off position, slots in the spool and cage align to place the return port in fluid communication with the interior of the spool. Conversely, in the on position, different slots in the spool and cage align to place the supply port in fluid communication with the interior of the spool. |
| US10648574B2 |
Top entry ball valve
A top entry ball valve including a valve body, a valve cover, a valve stem, an assembly screw, a spring, a support sleeve, a support valve seat, a sphere, and a sealing valve seat. The valve stem passes through the valve cover and the valve body and is fixedly connected to the sphere disposed within the valve body; the valve cover is fixed to the opening of the cavity of the valve body by screws, to seal the cavity of the valve body; the sphere spherically fits with the support valve seat and the sealing valve seat; the support sleeve and the spring are provided between the support valve seat and the valve body; the spring presses the support sleeve and the support valve seat such that the support valve seat clings to the sphere; the support sleeve is fixedly connected to the valve body by the assembly screw. |
| US10648572B2 |
Valve with built-in orifice, and pressure-type flow rate control device
A valve with a built-in orifice includes a base section having a housing recess and first and second flow passages; a valve seat body; an inner disc; a valve element; and an orifice body, wherein the housing recess has a wide-diameter section and a narrow-diameter section, the first flow passage is connected to a space between a wall surface of the narrow-diameter section and the orifice body to communicate with a valve chamber, and the second flow passage communicates with the valve chamber through a through hole of the orifice body and a through hole of the valve seat body. |
| US10648569B2 |
Sliding component
Provided is a sliding component having sealing face of one of a pair of sliding parts that slide relative to each other provided with a first pumping groove that is open to the high-pressure fluid side but isolated from the low-pressure fluid side by a seal area and also angled to discharge the fluid toward the high-pressure fluid side by sliding relative to the mating sealing face, as well as a second pumping groove that is open to the low-pressure fluid side but isolated from the high-pressure fluid side by a seal area and also angled to discharge the fluid toward the high-pressure fluid side by sliding relative to the mating sealing face, wherein the low-pressure fluid-side end of the first pumping groove is arranged adjacent to the high-pressure fluid-side end of the second pumping groove. |
| US10648568B2 |
Sealing arrangement and sealing ring
A sealing arrangement includes: a sealing ring having at least one dynamically loaded sealing lip, the sealing ring including a core comprised of an electrically conductive material and a casing comprised of an electrically insulating material, the casing having a material thickness, surrounding the core at least in part and including the sealing lip; a machine element to be sealed that has a surface to be sealed, which surface is electrically conductive and surrounded by the sealing lip in a radially prestressingly sealing manner; and a wear detector, which has an electric measurement device for detecting a state of wear of the sealing ring. When viewed in section, the material thickness of the sealing lip is smaller in a radial direction than the material thickness of a remainder of the casing. |
| US10648560B2 |
Parking device
A lock shaft and a shaft member (a plunger and a permanent magnet) of a magnetic locking device are arranged such that a moving direction thereof is orthogonal to a moving direction of a piston rod of a hydraulic actuator. In a parking lock released state, when the coil is not energized, the lock shaft and the shaft member are locked by an attracting force between the permanent magnet and a flange of a yoke so as not to move back from the piston rod, and, when the coil is energized, the attracting force between the permanent magnet and the flange is canceled, so that the lock shaft and the shaft member are allowed to move back from the piston rod. |
| US10648554B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
A vehicle may include a continuously variable transmission which requires non-recycled air. The continuously variable transmission may provide non-recycled air to a first number of sheaves of the continuously variable transmission with a second number of air supply conduits, the second number being less than the first number. A cover of the continuously variable transmission may have a unitary body. |
| US10648552B2 |
Automated product dispensers and related methods for isolating a drive assembly to inhibit vibration transmission
An automated product dispenser for dispensing a product from a supply of product is provided. The automated product dispenser includes a chassis assembly, a drive assembly, and an isolation member. The chassis assembly includes a chassis frame, and the drive assembly includes a motor, a drivetrain, and a drivetrain housing. The isolation member mounts the drive assembly to the chassis assembly such that the drive assembly is substantially spaced apart from the chassis frame. A related method of inhibiting vibration transmission in an automated product dispenser also is provided. |
| US10648550B2 |
Harmonic driving device
A harmonic driving device comprises a wave generator, a rigid wheel having an internal gear furnished therein, and a flexible wheel having an external gear furnished therein further comprising a cup-shaped which is composed of a main body and a bottom, a plurality of holes are disposed on the cup-shaped. |
| US10648549B2 |
Drive device for a motor vehicle
A drive device for a motor vehicle, includes a differential gearing and a torque vectoring unit having an electric machine, wherein the differential gearing has a first and a second planet set, which are rotatably supported on a common planet carrier, wherein the first planet set meshes at least with a first sun, the second planet set meshes at least with a second sun, and the two planet sets at least mesh with each other in pairs, and wherein at least the second sun is connected to the torque vectoring unit in order to redistribute the torque between the first and the second suns. |
| US10648547B2 |
Torque converter with an etched clutch surface
A torque converter, including: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell fixedly connected to the cover and including a first surface; a first plurality of blades fixedly connected to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell with a second surface; a second plurality of blades fixedly connected to the turbine shell; friction material bonded, with an adhesive, to one of the first surface or the second surface; and a stator connected to the turbine and the impeller and including a third plurality of blades. The one of the first surface or the second surface includes a periodic pattern etched into the one of the first surface or the second surface. |
| US10648546B2 |
Ball screw
To prevent the positional precision of the ball return passage and the tongue of the end deflector relative to the nut main body from being impaired by an axial force applied by a screw used for securing the end deflector to the nut main body, the end deflector includes a flange (32) provided at an axial end of a main part (30) of the end deflector and provided with an axial through hole (50) for receiving a screw which is threaded into the nut main body, and a rib (52) projecting from a radially inner edge of the flange to an inner side of the deflector receiving recess (26). |
| US10648544B2 |
Variable belt tensioner for engine and method for controlling mild hybrid vehicle using variable belt tensioner for engine
A variable belt tensioner for an engine includes: a first damper; and a second damper connected to the first damper through a driver. The first damper, the second damper, and the driver causes a belt connected to a crankshaft pulley and a starter-generator pulley to have a first tensile strength when the engine including the crankshaft pulley starts, the first damper, the second damper, and the driver causes the belt to have a second tensile strength that is less than the first tensile strength when an electric power is generated by the starter-generator pulley, and the first damper, the second damper, and the driver causes the belt to have a third tensile strength that is less than the second tensile strength when the vehicle is accelerated by the engine. |
| US10648541B2 |
Rotary actuator
An actuator includes a manually operable portion that is operable to transmit rotation to an output shaft. The manually operable portion is provided such that the manually operable portion extends through a housing while at least a portion of the manually operable portion is exposed to an outside of the housing. In this way, even in a case where the actuator becomes inoperable, it is possible to change a shift range by rotating the output shaft through operation of the manually operable portion. It is only required to have a connection hole, which is conventionally provided at an outer wall of a transmission case, as a hole, which connects this rotary actuator to a shift range change mechanism. Therefore, it is sufficient to perform only a relatively small improvement, such as providing screw holes for fixing the actuator in a preexisting transmission. |
| US10648536B2 |
Length adjusting devices and method of using the same
A length adjusting device includes: a body having sides extending in spaced relation to one another, the sides defining respective planes; a first cam operably assembled in relation to the body and having a first proximal cam end positioned between the sides; a second cam operably assembled in relation to the body and having a second proximal cam end positioned between the sides and adjacent to the first proximal cam end; an axle that rotatably attaches the second cam to the body; a channel formed by a space between the cam ends; a handle attached to the body and rotatable from a first position to a second position about a rotation point upon application of a first force; wherein the body is configured to rotate with respect to the second cam to expand the size of the channel upon the application of the first force exerted on the handle. |
| US10648531B2 |
Hybrid module for a motor vehicle
A hybrid module for a motor vehicle power train, including an input side for connecting to an internal combustion engine, an output side for connecting to a drive wheel, an electric drive motor comprising a stator and a rotor and a torque transfer device arranged between the roto and the output side. The transfer device is designed to reduce rotational irregularity. |
| US10648529B2 |
Hydraulic vibration control
In one embodiment, a centrifugal force generating device comprises a first hydraulic rotor, a second hydraulic rotor, and one or more hydraulic control valves. The first hydraulic rotor comprises a first mass and is configured to rotationally drive the first mass around a first axis of rotation using a first flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic rotor. The second hydraulic rotor comprises a second mass and is configured to rotationally drive the second mass around a second axis of rotation using a second flow of hydraulic fluid through the second hydraulic rotor. The one or more hydraulic control valves are configured to control the first flow of hydraulic fluid through the first hydraulic rotor and the second flow of hydraulic fluid through the second hydraulic rotor. |
| US10648527B2 |
Twin tube damper including a pressure rate sensitive system
A twin tube damper assembly includes a main tube defining a fluid chamber. An external tube extends about the main tube defining a compensation chamber therebetween. A piston, slidably disposed in the fluid chamber, divides the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A rod guide is disposed in the rebound chamber, attached to the main tube and the external tube, defining at least one channel in fluid communication with the rebound and compensation chambers. A piston rod extends through the rod guide and is attached to the piston. A pressure rate sensitive system, disposed in the rebound chamber, is attached to the rod guide in fluid communication with the at least one channel, the rebound chamber, and the compensation chamber for regulating the working fluid flow through the rod guide between the rebound and compensation chambers during compression and rebound strokes. |
| US10648525B2 |
Cable adjuster
A cable adjuster is provided for a small vehicle including a bicycle. The cable adjuster includes a base portion and a control structure. The control structure includes a first member, a second member and a clutch mechanism. The first member is configured to be rotatably mounted to the base portion about a first axis. The second member is attached to the first member to rotate relative to the first member. The clutch mechanism is configured to transmit rotational force applied to the second member to the first member. The clutch mechanism is also configured to prevent from transmitting rotational force applied on the first member to the second member. |
| US10648518B2 |
Synchronous engagement clutch
A clutch assembly includes an output shaft extending along an axis and output teeth. A movable component is disposed adjacent to the output component. The movable component includes drive teeth and an annular engagement weight track including a groove circumscribing the axis. The movable component is movable between an engaged position, wherein the drive teeth are drivingly engaged with the output teeth, and a disengaged position, wherein the drive teeth are not engaged with the output teeth. An input component is disposed adjacent to the movable component. The input component includes engagement weight pockets. Spherical engagement weights are disposed in each engagement weight pocket. The groove has a generally uniform radial cross section across its circumference. |
| US10648515B2 |
Pressure plate assembly and vehicle
A pressure plate assembly for a motor vehicle with a wear compensation mechanism which comprises a sensor element for sensing wear, wherein the sensor element has an angle lever or is constructed as an angle lever; and a motor vehicle, including such wear compensation mechanism. |
| US10648514B2 |
Friction clutch device
A structurally and/or functionally improved friction clutch device is disclosed. In particular, a servo spring for a clutch is to be provided which is suitable for series production. In particular, the servo spring is to be realized in the clutch while integrating already existing components. In particular, the servo spring is to keep a maximum disengaging force low. In particular, the servo spring is to operate only under worn conditions; in the new state and during separation it should be possible for it to be force-free. In particular, the total tolerance in the friction clutch device is to remain small, so that the susceptibility of the servo spring force to tolerance deviations is limited. |
| US10648507B2 |
Circumferential back-to-back seal assembly with bifurcated flow
A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation. Each groove is also tapered widthwise. |
| US10648506B2 |
Walking rig creeper interface
A walking foot for a drilling rig comprising a foot plate attacheable to a drilling rig by an travel plate, capable of functionally bearing a load in excess a quarter of the weight of a drilling rig, comprising a planar roller array wherein a plurality of load rollers with parallel rotational axes are dispersed both laterally and longitudinally within the plane, so as to fractionalize a weight applied perpendicular to the plane, and thereby promote longitudinal motion of the roller array in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of roller rotational axes. |
| US10648505B2 |
Adjustable spacer with hardened ends
An adjustable spacer with a non-hardened intermediate portion therebetween is mountable between a pair of roller bearings also mounted on a shaft such an axle or spindle or the like. The intermediate portion allows the spacer to collapse in the axial direction to maintain desired axial loads on the bearings. |
| US10648504B2 |
Bearing pressure indicator having a proximity switch arrangement
A pressure indicator assembly disposed in a bearing has a first pressure relief valve and a first piston disposed in a first passage formed in a first component of the bearing and a first proximity switch disposed an initial distance away from the first piston. A first preset pressure value is set on the first pressure relief valve to indicate when pressure within the bearing is greater than or equal to the first preset pressure value. |
| US10648501B2 |
Flexible rotational shaft
A flexible shaft includes first and second shaft portions, first and second angular displacement couplings, and an axial displacement coupling generally extending and centered to a rotational axis. The first shaft portion extends between the first angular displacement coupling and the axial displacement coupling. The second shaft portion extends between the axial displacement coupling and the second angular displacement coupling. The axial displacement coupling includes an outer periphery, first wall attached to and extending radially between the first shaft portion and the periphery, and a second wall attached to and extending radially between the second shaft portion and the periphery. The first and second walls are resiliently flexible to facilitate axial displacement between the first and second shaft portions. |
| US10648500B2 |
Blind rivet nut
A blind rivet nut includes a rivet sleeve having a set head, a deformation region for forming the closing head, and a threaded section having a female thread. The female thread comprises maximally four complete thread turns, which produces a blind rivet nut with a low mass. |
| US10648492B2 |
Rod bracket
A rod bracket is provided and includes a bracket base, wherein the bracket base defines a plurality of bracket mounting cavities and includes a base front, a base rear, a base top and a base bottom, a bracket arm having a bracket arm length and a curtain rod cradle securely associated with the bracket base via the bracket arm, wherein the plurality of bracket mounting cavities communicate the base front with the base rear and are configured at an angle of between about 30° and 60° relative to a horizontal plane, and wherein the bracket base defines a first bracket base rear opening, and wherein the ratio between the bracket arm length and the distance between the first bracket base rear opening and the base bottom is about 1:1. |
| US10648488B1 |
Proportional fluid flow control valve configured to generate a pressure-boosted pilot fluid signal
An example valve includes: a piston movable between a neutral position and an actuated position, wherein in the neutral position: a second port of the valve is fluidly coupled to a first port, and a third port is fluidly decoupled from the second port; a solenoid actuator sleeve movable between an unactuated state and an actuated state, wherein in the actuated state, the solenoid actuator sleeve allows pilot fluid to apply a fluid force on a piston in a distal direction; a first feedback spring; and a second feedback spring disposed in series with the first feedback spring, wherein the first feedback spring and the second feedback spring cooperate to apply a biasing force in a proximal direction on the piston against the fluid force, wherein the piston is configured to move to the actuated position based on a relationship between the fluid force and the biasing force. |
| US10648485B2 |
Ceiling fan
An ceiling fan comprising a motor system. The motor system is mounted around a motor shaft. The motor shaft couples to a downrod for suspending the ceiling fan from a structure. The motor shaft and motor are encased by a motor housing. The motor housing comprises hub arms for mounting a plurality of blade holders. The blade holders coupled to a plurality of blades rotatable about the motor during operation. The downrod comprises a wire disk mounting guy wiring to the downrod. A retention rod is utilized internal of the motor and downrod as a secondary retention method. An electrical connector is internal of the motor shaft and electrically couples to the stator to power the motor. |
| US10648483B2 |
Ceiling fan with moisture protection features
A fan may be designed for the strategic diversion of moisture through or around a housing enclosing a controller and/or a motor. The enclosure may include one or more paths for directing moisture away from the controller or the motor. For instance, the housing may include a gap between a support structure and the housing for preventing moisture from entering the housing. The housing may also include a hollow structure for directing fluid through the housing. Additionally, the housing may include one or more channels, raised walls, gutters, and shields for preventing fluid, such as liquid water, from entering an enclosure for the controller or motor. |
| US10648482B2 |
Method of manufacturing a fan blade
The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing composite airfoils bonded to a metallic root. A composite body may be formed with a metallic co-molded member. The co-molded member may be transient liquid phase (TLP) bonded to a metallic root. The metallic root may allow the composite body to be attached to a rotor. The airfoil may also have a metallic edge which is TLP bonded to the composite body via a co-molded edge. |
| US10648475B1 |
Turbine engine
A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core including a turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting turbine to compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core and including a plurality of fan blades each having a leading and trailing edge. The turbine includes a lowest pressure turbine stage having a row of rotor blades, each rotor blades extending radially and having a leading and trailing edge. The engine has a fan tip axis that joins a radially outer tip of the leading edge of a fan blade and the radially outer tip of the trailing edge of a rotor blade of the lowest pressure stage. The fan tip axis lies in a longitudinal plane which contains a centreline of engine. A fan axis angle is defined as the angle between fan tip axis and centreline, and is in a range between 10 and 20 degrees. |
| US10648473B2 |
Screw compressor
A screw compressor, in particular for refrigeration systems, comprising a compressor housing (1) which at least partly encloses the compressor, an integrated suction gas filter (2) and a non-return valve (7) that is to be actuated by pressurized gas; the compressor housing (1) has grooves, in particular drilled or cast ducts (13, 16 22, 23, 24) to which pressurized gas can be fed in order to control the non-return valve (7). |
| US10648472B2 |
Sound absorber for refrigerant compressor
In order to further improve the sound damping in a refrigerant compressor comprising a common housing, a screw-type compressor in a common housing has a compressor housing that is formed as part of the common housing with a first sound absorber unit which is arranged in the common housing. The first sound absorber unit is arranged adjacent a housing window, and the sound absorber unit comprises at least one chamber which is located between an inlet opening and an outlet opening and which widens out relative to the inlet opening and to the outlet opening in a direction transverse to a direction of flow. |
| US10648470B2 |
Scroll compressor having wrap with an offset portion
A scroll compressor is provided that may include an orbiting scroll having an orbiting wrap, and which performs an orbiting motion; and a fixed scroll having a fixed wrap to form a compression chamber including a suction chamber, an intermediate pressure chamber, and a discharge chamber, by being engaged with the orbiting wrap. In a state in which the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll are concentric with each other, when a distance between the orbiting wrap and the fixed wrap is defined as an orbiting radius, there exists an offset section having an interval larger than the orbiting radius, between a side surface of the orbiting wrap and a side surface of the fixed wrap which faces the orbiting wrap. With such a configuration, even if the fixed scroll or the orbiting scroll is transformed due to thermal expansion, interference between the fixed wrap and the orbiting wrap at a portion having a large transformation amount may be prevented. This may prevent a frictional loss or abrasion between the fixed wrap and the orbiting wrap. Further, this may restrict or minimize a gap between the fixed wrap and the orbiting wrap at an opposite side to the suction chamber, resulting in enhanced compression efficiency. |
| US10648460B2 |
Nanomotor propulsion
Self-propelling, programmable nanoscopic motors capable of harvesting energy from absorbed photons and undergoing subsequent photoeletrochemical (PEC) reactions are provided. A nanomotor can have a three-dimensional Janus configuration and can sense the direction of a light source. By controlling the zeta potential of different parts of the nanomotor with chemical modifications, the nanomotor can be programmed to show either positive phototaxis or negative phototaxis. |
| US10648452B1 |
Vertical axis wind turbine
A vertical axis wind turbine includes a cylindrical rotor with a plurality of convex-concave blades placed in a stator which directs the wind stream. The VAWT is installed vertically towards a surface of the ground, and wherein, the stator and the rotor are formed of vertically located blades which may have numerous geometric forms. Both the stator and rotor blades have a leading edge and a trailing edge, and each blade of the stator possesses a top end that is fastened to an immobile upper plate of the stator, and a bottom end that is fastened to a lower plate of the stator. In this embodiment, each blade of the rotor includes a top end fixed to an upper plate, while a bottom end of the each blade is fixed to a lower plate. |
| US10648451B2 |
Method for manufacturing a rotor blade of a wind power plant, rotor blade and wind power plant
A method for manufacturing a rotor blade of a wind power plant which has an area close to the blade root in which the rotor blade has an obtuse rear edge. The method includes manufacturing a half-shell on the pressure side and a half-shell on the suction side, introducing and adhesively bonding filler bodies into at least one section of the area of the obtuse rear edge of the pressure-side half-shell and the suction-side half-shell, wherein the sections with the filler bodies lie opposite one another in the assembled rotor blade, assembling and positioning the half-shells relative to one another, wherein an adhesive gap which is delimited by the first adhesive surfaces of the filler bodies remains between the filler bodies, and introducing an adhesive medium into the adhesive gap. Also a rotor blade manufactured according to the method, and a wind power plant including such a rotor blade. |
| US10648450B2 |
Wind turbine suitable for mounting without a wind turbine tower
This invention discloses an improved wind turbine suitable for mounting without a wind turbine tower. The wind turbine is based on a rotor with appropriately selected blades. A nozzle and diffuser in the wind flow increase the amount of wind energy available to the rotor. The rotor is interruptibly connected with one or more of a plurality of generators which allows generation at a wide range of wind speeds. The rotor is also interruptibly connected with a co-axial flywheel which allows for storage or use of rotational energy as needed by the availability of wind energy. One or more wind turbines can be grouped together in a common housing. Electricity can also be generated by means of stored energy or other motive source. The lack of a wind turbine tower and the general compact design allows the wind turbine to be used in close proximity to or on buildings. |
| US10648448B2 |
Tidal current generator
A tidal current generator relates to a tidal current generator that can efficiently generate power by separating an on-water power generation unit and an in-water power collection unit, that allows for easy management of facilities on the water because the facilities in the water can be easily pulled up on the water even if they break, that can maximally use the flow of tides using a connection rope and a groove formed on a rotary propeller, and that can maximize efficiency by controlling the number of power connections between a rotary unit and an on-water power generator in accordance with the states of the flow of tides to prevent waste or deficit of power transmission. |
| US10648446B2 |
Assembly for generating electricity
An assembly for generating electricity from flowing water includes a chamber having a base, a side wall extending from the base, a water inlet, and a water outlet, a rotor unit having a shaft and a rotor mounted to the shaft located in and rotatable in the chamber in response to water flow through the chamber, and an electrical generator coupled to the rotor unit for generating electricity in response to rotation of the rotor. The dimensions of the inlet, the outlet and the chamber and the positions of the inlet, the outlet and the rotor are selected to promote the formation of a vortex within the chamber when in use the assembly is located in a body of water or beside a body of water, in a waterway or beside a waterway, within an enclosed water conduit or beside an enclosed water conduit, and there is a flow of water through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet. |
| US10648443B1 |
Control apparatus for compression auto-ignition engine
A control apparatus for a compression autoignition engine controls compression autoignition by ignition. The control apparatus includes an injector, a spark plug, and a controller. The controller controls the injector so that fuel is injected by a plurality of divided injections, and thereafter, outputs a control signal to the spark plug at predetermined ignition timing so that, by ignition, unburned air-fuel mixture combusts by autoignition. Control is performed so that, when load on the engine is high, an amount of fuel injected at later timing among the plurality of injections becomes larger than when the load is low. |
| US10648441B2 |
Remote startup system and center server
A remote startup system includes a terminal of a user, a center server that is configured to communicate with the terminal, and a vehicle that is configured to communicate with the center server, and starts up an engine of the vehicle according to a startup request transmitted from the terminal to the center server. The remote startup system includes a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the vehicle, a time information acquisition unit that acquires time information, and a controller that changes a performance manner of the startup of the engine based on the startup request including whether the startup of the engine is permitted according to the position information of the vehicle and the time information when the startup request is transmitted from the terminal to the center server. |
| US10648440B2 |
Fuel injection valve
A fuel injection valve includes a valve housing having an injection hole and a valve seat surface tapering toward a downstream side, a valve component that is accommodated in the valve housing and is coaxially separated from or seated on the valve seat surface, and an elastic component biasing the valve component toward the valve seat surface. The valve component includes an inner convex surface curved in a partial spherical shape with a predetermined curvature radius, and an outer convex surface that is provided continuously to the outer peripheral side of the inner convex surface and curved in a partial spherical shape having a smaller curvature radius than the inner convex surface. A boundary portion between the inner convex surface and the outer convex surface protrudes toward the valve seat surface so as to be able to be separated from or seated on the valve seat surface. |
| US10648438B2 |
Multipart insulating element, in particular for a fuel injection device
An insulating element for a fuel injection apparatus is notable in particular for the fact that a low-noise design is achieved. The fuel injection apparatus encompasses at least one fuel injection valve and one receiving bore in a cylinder head for the fuel injection valve, and the insulating element between a valve housing of the fuel injection valve and a wall of the receiving bore. The insulating element possesses an inner insulating ring that is present in encapsulated fashion between an outer ring and an inner ring. The outer ring is directed toward the fuel injection valve and the inner ring is directed toward the wall of the receiving bore, so that corresponding abutment of these components occurs with the insulating element in the installed state. The fuel injection apparatus is suitable in particular for direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing spark-ignited internal combustion engine. |
| US10648437B2 |
Fuel pump
A fuel pump includes a mechanical regulating valve arranged in a pump body which modulates the pressure in a high pressure space so that the pressure matches the engine demand. Modulation by the regulating valve requires adjustment of the inlet fuel quantity, adjustment of the volume of the high pressure space, and control of a return fluid communication enabling fuel to exit the high pressure reservoir. |
| US10648428B2 |
Aircraft thrust reverser system with hydraulic assist device
A thrust reverser system for a gas turbine engine includes a support structure, a transcowl, an actuator, and a hydraulic assist mechanism. The actuator is configured to supply an actuation force to the transcowl to thereby move the transcowl between the stowed and deployed positions. The hydraulic assist mechanism is coupled to the transcowl and is configured to react reverse thrust loads on the transcowl at least when the transcowl is translating between the stowed position and the deployed position. |
| US10648419B2 |
Fuel injection control device and fuel injection system
A fuel injection control device includes an electric controller controlling an opening and closing of an injector by energizing a coil in the injector, and a booster circuit boosting a battery voltage to generate a boost voltage. The electric controller includes a valve-opening control unit applying the boost voltage and then applying the battery voltage to the coil to execute a valve-opening control to generate a required valve-opening force, an open valve maintenance control unit applying the battery voltage to the coil to execute an open valve maintenance control to generate an open valve maintenance force and is smaller the required valve-opening force, after the valve-opening control, and a current correction control unit executing a current correction control to correct a maximum value of a current flowing through the coil when the boost voltage is applied in the valve-opening control, according to a decreasing quantity of the battery voltage. |
| US10648414B2 |
Method and system for engine control
Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel efficiency, monitor completion, and tailpipe emissions of a variable displacement engine. Fueling is initially disabled in cylinders selected to be deactivated while pumping air through the cylinders to an exhaust after-treatment catalyst and oxygen sensor. Once the sensor shows a lean response and catalyst monitoring is completed, cylinder valve operation is also disabled to reduce pumping losses and prevent further oxygen saturation of exhaust components. |
| US10648413B2 |
Method for determining a dilution of recirculated gases in a split exhaust engine
Methods and systems are provided for determining a dilution of recirculated gases, including blowthrough air, combusted exhaust gas, and fuel vapor, in a split exhaust engine. In one example, the dilution rate may be calculated using a steady state model based on temperature measurements from an intake region of the engine. The steady state model may be further used in combination with a feedforward model adapted to estimate engine dilution during engine transients as a correction factor. |
| US10648411B2 |
Controller and control method for internal combustion engine
To provide a controller and a control method, for an internal combustion engine, that can detect occurrence of knocking appropriately, even though the frequency distribution of the knock signal is distorted according to the occurrence state of knocking. The controller for the internal combustion engine calculates the background level by processing a low pass filter to the knock signal; and performs a low side frequency increase which makes a low side frequency, which is a cutoff frequency of the low pass filter in the case where the knock signal is smaller than an output value of the low pass filter, higher than a high side frequency, which is a cutoff frequency of the low pass filter in the case where the knock signal is larger than the output value of the low pass filter. |
| US10648410B2 |
Piston temperature state monitoring system for internal combustion engine and piston temperature monitoring method for internal combustion engine
Provided is a piston temperature state monitoring system for an internal combustion engine and a piston temperature monitoring method for an internal combustion engine which are capable of properly managing a history of a piston temperature. When the number of times of a piston temperature suppression control is counted, if a ratio of a temperature difference which is the difference between a maximum limit temperature and a piston temperature to a margin width which is the difference between the maximum limit temperature and a control start temperature is equal to or less than a count threshold ratio set in advance or calculated, a count output system outputs a count signal. |
| US10648407B2 |
CMC boas cooling air flow guide
A turbine section for a gas turbine engine includes a turbine blade that extends radially outwardly to a radially outer tip and for rotation about an axis of rotation. A blade outer air seal is mounted in a support structure and is arranged radially outward of the outer tip. A flow guide is arranged between the support structure and the blade outer air seal and defines a passage between the flow guide and the blade outer air seal. The passage is configured to communicate air in a generally axial direction. |
| US10648405B2 |
Tool to predict engine life using ring wear and fuel burned
Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for estimating the remaining life for an engine. The method includes determining a correlation between a quantity of burned fuel and a level of wear of a piston ring for an engine. The level of wear of the piston ring is indicative of a remaining life of the engine. The method also includes determining a current quantity of burned fuel by the engine, and determining the remaining life of the engine based on the correlation and the current quantity of burned fuel by the engine. |
| US10648404B2 |
Vent insert
A vent insert is disclosed for use with an automotive turbocharger system. The vent has a substantially cylindrical hollow tube with a first end for seating the vent and a second open end. The first end has a rim around an opening. The second end of the vent has an angled opening that faces away from the direction of the gas flow when the vent insert is operating within the turbocharger system. There are a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the outside surface of the vent to assist in keeping the vent insert in place in the turbocharger system. |
| US10648398B2 |
Intake structure of internal combustion engine
In an intake structure of an internal combustion engine, on an intake upstream side from a valve seat of an intake port, a convex portion is provided which protrudes to an inside of the intake port in a place near an outer circumferential portion of a cylinder chamber when viewed from an upper side of the cylinder chamber. The convex portion includes an upstream guide surface extending from an apex of the convex portion to the intake upstream side, and a downstream guide surface extending from the apex to an intake downstream side and including a curved surface recessed inside the convex portion at a middle portion thereof. |
| US10648396B1 |
General purpose engine
A general purpose engine includes: a crankcase to support an engine rotary shaft; a cylinder unit extending from the crankcase in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the engine rotary shaft; a cooling fan fixed to one of opposite ends of the engine rotary shaft; and a fan housing configured to have an air induction opening defined therein for the cooling fan and to cover the crankcase and the cylinder unit from one side of the engine rotary shaft. At a position of the fan housing which is opposed to the cooling fin of the cylinder unit, a cleaning access window is defined. The cleaning access window is covered by a debris covering that is capable of being selectively opened and closed. The debris covering has one end portion engaged with the fan housing and the other end portion removably mounted on the fan housing by a magnetic body. |
| US10648392B2 |
Large diesel engineer aftertreatment system
An aftertreatment system for a diesel engine is disclosed. The aftertreatment system may include a first flow conduit configured to convey an exhaust gas stream, and a first diffuser assembly positioned fluidly downstream of the first flow conduit and be configured to increase flow uniformity of the exhaust gas stream. The first diffuser assembly may include a first disperser having a honeycomb structure surrounded by a first outer frame. The first disperser may have a number of cells per square inch defining a first cell density. The aftertreatment system may also include a first selective catalytic reduction cassette positioned fluidly downstream of the first diffuser assembly, and the first selective catalytic reduction cassette may include a selective catalytic reduction catalyst. |
| US10648388B2 |
Method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system component including a self-healing ceramic material
An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust system component having excellent properties to be located in an exhaust flow path from an internal combustion engine, particularly, an exhaust system component having an extended use-life. The exhaust system component of the present invention for an internal combustion engine has a self-healing ceramic material and an electric heater for heating the self-healing ceramic material. In particular, the exhaust system component of the present invention is an oxygen sensor having a detection element and an electric heater, wherein the detection element has a solid electrolyte layer, a reference-side electrode layer, an exhaust-side electrode layer, and a diffusion layer and/or a trap layer each composed of a self-healing ceramic material. |
| US10648383B2 |
Planetary gear system arrangement with auxiliary oil system
A method of designing a gas turbine engine includes configuring a speed reduction device for driving a fan and configuring a lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap. The lubrication system includes a lubricant input. A stationary first bearing receives lubricant from the lubricant input and has a first race in which lubricant flows. A second bearing for rotation is within the first bearing. The second bearing has a first opening in registration with the first race such that lubricant may flow from the first race through the first opening into a first conduit. The first bearing is configured to also include a second race into which lubricant flows. The second bearing has a second opening in registration with the second race such that lubricant may flow from the second race through the second opening into a second conduit. The first and second conduits deliver lubricant to distinct locations. |
| US10648375B2 |
Eccentric gears with reduced bearing span
An electrically-controlled eccentric camshaft phaser (10) that adjusts phase between a camshaft and a crankshaft includes a sprocket (12), configured to connect to the crankshaft and rotate about a center axis (x), having a sprocket ring gear (14); a camshaft plate (20) configured to connect to the camshaft and rotate about the center axis (x), having a camshaft ring gear (22); an eccentric shaft (28) that includes a crankshaft eccentric section (52) and a camshaft eccentric section (54); a sprocket bearing (16) that is received by the crankshaft eccentric section (52); a camshaft bearing (64), having a different diameter than the sprocket bearing (16), that is received by the camshaft eccentric section (54). |
| US10648372B2 |
Sliding cam system
A sliding cam system for an internal combustion engine. The sliding cam system includes a cam shaft and a cam carrier, arranged rotationally fixedly and axially movably on the cam shaft. The cam carrier including a first shifting gate and a second shifting gate. The sliding cam system includes a first actuator with an element able to move along a longitudinal axis of the cam shaft, especially a pin, which can be brought into contact with the first shifting gate for the axial movement of the cam carrier in a first direction. The sliding cam system includes a second actuator with an element able to move along the longitudinal axis of the cam shaft, especially a pin, which can be brought into contact with the second shifting gate for the axial movement of the cam carrier in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. |
| US10648371B2 |
Removable valve bridges and valve actuation systems including the same
A system for actuating engine valves may include a valve bridge having a main event rocker interface portion, a first valve interface portion and a second valve interface portion extending in generally opposite directions from the main event rocker interface portion. The second valve interface portion may include an open end including a slot for receiving a bridge pin. The slot permits the valve bridge to be removed from the actuation system without removal of the main event rocker or other actuating components, such as an auxiliary rocker. The valve bridge can be removed from the valve train without requiring removal of other actuation system components, such as auxiliary rockers or main event rockers. A single valve bridge configuration can be used with different valve spans, which may occur among different cylinder sizes in a given engine family, or across different engine families. |
| US10648370B2 |
Power plant and method of controlling same
Disclosed are a power plant that uses a synchronous generator using a working fluid for generation of electric power, and a method of controlling the power plant, the power plant and the control method having an advantage of preventing damage to the power plant during synchronization with an electrical grid. The power plant comprises a pump for compressing a working fluid, a heat exchanger for heat transfer from an external heat source to the working fluid transferred from the pump, and a power turbine generator for generating a rotational force by using the working fluid heated by the heat exchanger, generating electricity using the rotational force, and supplying the electricity to an electrical grid. |
| US10648368B2 |
Drive assembly for a gas turbine engine
A drive assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment includes, among other things, an epicyclic gear train having an input and an output, the input coupled to a first turbine, the output coupled to an accessory drive shaft, and at least one engagement feature on a component of the gear train. An actuator is engageable with the at least one engagement feature to cause the accessory drive shaft to rotate. A method of driving a section of a gas turbine engine is also disclosed. |
| US10648364B2 |
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, including a turbine with a turbine rotor, a compressor with a compressor rotor coupled to the turbine rotor via a shaft. At least one bearing, via which the shaft is mounted in the bearing housing, wherein the respective bearing comprises a bearing bush mounted in the bearing housing in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein between the bearing bush and the bearing housing a radially outer lubricating gap and between the bearing bush and the shaft a radially inner lubricating gap is formed. The radially inner lubricating gap is suppliable with lubricating oil via at least one line introduced into the bearing bush, wherein the or each line introduced into the bearing bush, which serves for the oil supply of the radially inner lubricating gap, leads into a lubricating oil pocket of the bearing bush each, which based on the axial length of the bearing bush is placed off-center. |
| US10648363B2 |
Turbine vane cooling arrangement
A vane includes a pair of airfoils having a plurality of film cooling holes that extend through an exterior surface of the airfoils, the plurality of film cooling holes including at least a first subset of film cooling holes, wherein the first subset of film cooling holes break through the exterior surface at geometric coordinates set forth herein. Each of the geometric coordinates is measured from a reference point on a leading edge rail of a platform of the vane. |
| US10648362B2 |
Spline for a turbine engine
A shroud assembly for a turbine engine comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged shroud segments having confronting end faces defining first and second radially spaced surfaces. The shroud assembly includes a forward edge spanning to an aft edge to define an axial direction and a set of confronting seal channels formed in each of the confronting end faces with a spline seal located within the confronting seal channels. |
| US10648360B1 |
Turbocharger turbine assembly
A turbocharger can include a center housing; a bearing disposed in a through bore of the center housing where the through bore of the center housing defines a longitudinal axis; a shaft rotatably supported by the bearing; a compressor wheel operatively coupled to the shaft; a turbine wheel operatively coupled to the shaft; and a turbine housing assembly operatively coupled to the center housing where the turbine housing assembly includes: a turbine housing; and a cartridge that includes a nozzle wall component and a plate component that are spaced axially by spacers, where the nozzle wall component includes spacer bores for the spacers and where the nozzle wall component has a non-circular outer perimeter defined at least in part by arcs where adjacent arcs intersect at intersection points, and where each of the intersection points is radially outwardly from a respective one of the spacer bores. |
| US10648356B2 |
Bypass turbomachine fitted with bleed system
A bypass turbine engine is described. The engine includes a system for bleeding gas from a primary stream to a secondary stream. The system may include two coaxial rings extending one around the other. A perforated internal first ring may be situated at the level of an outer casing and may extend substantially in a continuation of the outer casing. A perforated external second ring may be mounted such that it slides circumferentially on the first ring between a first position in which the perforations of the rings do not communicate with one another and a second bleed position in which the perforations of the rings communicate with one another. |
| US10648349B2 |
Method of manufacturing a coated turbine blade and a coated turbine vane
A method of manufacturing a coated turbine vane (34) comprises manufacturing a turbine vane (34) having a platform (44) and an aerofoil (42) extending from the platform (44), a curved transition (60) connects the platform (44) to the aerofoil (42) and a recess (64) is provided in the curved transition (60) from the platform (44) to the aerofoil (42). A bond coating (70) is deposited on the platform (44), the aerofoil (42), the curved transition (60) and the recess (64). A ceramic thermal barrier coating (72) is deposited on the platform (44), the recess (64) and the curved transition (60) by plasma spraying. The recess (64) reduces the size of the step due to the ceramic thermal barrier coating (72) and hence improves the aerodynamics of the turbine vane (34). |
| US10648340B2 |
High modulus hybrid material rotor blade spar
A composite spar having an upper and lower wall region connected by leading and trailing edge regions is provided including a plurality of first laminates and a plurality of second laminates. The plurality of first laminates includes one or more intermediate modulus graphite plies having an intermediate modulus. The plurality of first laminates is arranged in one or more intermediate modulus layers to form at least a portion of the upper wall region, lower wall region, leading edge region and trailing edge region. The plurality of second laminates includes one or more high modulus graphite plies having a high modulus. The plurality of second laminates is arranged in one or more high modulus layers. The high modulus layers are generally interposed between intermediate modulus layers. |
| US10648339B2 |
Contouring a blade/vane cascade stage
A blade/vane cascade segment for a blade/vane cascade of a turbomachine includes a stage and at least two blade/vane elements that define a blade/vane intermediate strip with an axial cascade span on the stage surface by their leading and trailing edges. A stage edge on the inflow side has a contour with a depression. In the axial direction, this depression extends at most by 10% of the cascade span into the blade/vane intermediate strip. Also provided is a corresponding stage, a blade/vane cascade, a blade/vane channel, and a turbomachine. |
| US10648338B2 |
Airfoil shape for second stage compressor stator vane
A system is provided, including an airfoil. The airfoil includes a first suction portion of a nominal airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z of a suction side as set forth in TABLE I to a maximum of three decimal places, wherein the X and Y values of the suction side are coordinate values that couple together to define suction side sections of the first suction portion of the nominal airfoil profile at each Z coordinate value, the suction side sections of the first suction portion of the nominal airfoil profile are coupled together to define the first suction portion, the airfoil includes an airfoil length along a Z axis, the first suction portion comprises a first portion length along the Z axis, the first portion length is less than or equal to the airfoil length, and the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z are non-dimensional values convertible to dimensional distances. |
| US10648337B2 |
Eccentric screw pump
The invention relates to an eccentric screw pump, comprising at least one stator (1) composed of an elastic material and a rotor (2) that can be rotated in the stator (1), the stator (1) being surrounded by a stator casing (3) at least in some regions. The stator casing (3) consists of at least two casing segments (19) as a longitudinally divided casing and forms a stator clamping device, by means of which the stator (2) can be clamped against the rotor (1) in the radial direction. The pump is characterized in that the casing segments (19) have at least one clamping flange (20) having first clamping surfaces (21) at each end of the casing segments and that one or more clamping elements (22, 23), which can be displaced in the axial direction and have second clamping surfaces (24), are placed onto the clamping flange (20), the first clamping surfaces (21) and the second clamping surfaces (24) being designed in such a way and interacting in such a way that the stator casing (3) can be clamped against the stator in the radial direction in the course of an axial displacement of the clamping elements (22, 23). |
| US10648335B2 |
Tunnel boring machine backup train comprising means for conveying an arch segment
A trailer of a backup train of a tunnel boring machine includes a rolling means configured to allow movement of the trailer on a circulation route, a chassis including a lower portion including the rolling means and an upper portion, opposite to the rolling means, conveying means, fixed in the lower portion of the chassis, the conveying means being configured to move at least one support along the trailer, the support being configured to transport at least one arch segment along the chassis. |
| US10648331B2 |
Method of strip mining
A method of moving waste material from a mining site using at least one excavator and a plurality of dozers, including excavating material with the at least one excavator from a dig area, said at least one excavator moving along an excavator path that is parallel with the dig area, transferring the excavated material to a plurality of slots, each of said slots are positioned at an angle to the excavator path, and pushing the transferred material by one of said plurality of dozers along the slot and away from the excavator path; wherein each slot allows each of the plurality of dozers to move between a proximal position and a distal position relative to the excavator path. |
| US10648328B2 |
Sample phase quality control
Systems and methods for subterranean formation testing. A method may include: lowering a formation testing tool into a subterranean formation, wherein the formation testing tool may include memory, a pump, a formation probe, at least two sample chambers, wherein the at least two sample chambers may include probes to measure pressure and temperature; extracting a fluid from the subterranean formation with the pump and the formation probe; flowing the fluid into the at least two sample chambers with the pump; storing pressure and temperature data of the fluid in the memory; and removing the at least two sample chambers from the formation testing tool. |
| US10648327B2 |
Flow control device and method
The flow control device includes a flow path, a compensation chamber and a regulator assembly defining a first surface exposed to the flow path and an opposing second surface which is exposed to the compensation chamber. A drive arrangement is provided for moving the regulator assembly to vary the flow path. Fluid flowing through the flow path establishes a pressure which varies across the first surface of the regulator assembly. The compensation chamber is in pressure communication with a localised region of the first surface which is selected to establish a compensation chamber pressure which acts against the second surface of the regulator assembly to bias the regulator assembly in a desired direction. The first surface of the regulator assembly may define a profile configured to minimise the variation in pressure applied over the first surface by action of fluid flowing through the flow path. |
| US10648326B2 |
Inground device with advanced transmit power control and associated methods
An inground housing supports a transmitter for receiving electrical power from a battery. The transmitter transmits at least one signal using at least two different transmit power levels for at least one of locating the transmitter and characterizing an orientation of the transmitter. Based on detecting the battery voltage, the transmitter selects one of the transmit power levels. Transmitter output power can be controlled based on one or both of signal gain and duty cycle. |
| US10648319B2 |
Boundary tracking control module for rotary steerable systems
A rotary steerable bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit disposed at a distal end thereof, and azimuthal resistivity antennas and electronics configured to measure a distance to a formation boundary. |
| US10648311B2 |
High horsepower pumping configuration for an electric hydraulic fracturing system
Embodiments include a hydraulic fracturing system for fracturing a subterranean formation. The system includes an electric pump, arranged on a first support structure, the electric pump coupled to a well associated with the subterranean formation and powered by at least one electric motor, and configured to pump fluid into a wellbore associated with the well at a high pressure so that the fluid passes from the wellbore into the subterranean formation and fractures the subterranean formation. The system also includes support equipment, arranged on a second support structure, electrically coupled to the electric pump, wherein the support equipment includes at least a transformer for distributing power to the electric pump, the power being received from at least one generator at a voltage higher than an operating voltage of the electric pump. |
| US10648308B2 |
Solvents and NCG-co-injection with tapered pressure
A variation of expanding solvent steam assisted gravity drainage (ES-SAGD) production of heavy oil wherein steam and hydrocarbon solvent are co-injected into a heavy oil reservoir and water, hydrocarbon solvent and heavy oil are produced by gravity drainage until the steam chamber is well developed or until oil recovery reaches about 20-30% of oil in place. At that time, the wells are switched to a lateral sweep using non-condensible gas (NSG) and steam co-injection, where more hydrocarbon solvent is recovered than is recovered with ES-SAGD used alone and where the cumulative steam to oil ratio is reduced over using -ES-SAGD alone. |
| US10648305B2 |
Systems and methods for carbonated water flooding of hydrocarbon reservoirs
The present disclosure relates to the recovery of oil from an underground hydrocarbon reservoir, and more particularly to systems and methods for carbonated water flooding of an underground reservoir for enhanced oil recovery. |
| US10648304B2 |
Method of using surface modifying treatment agents to treat subterranean formations
A well treatment fluid contains a surface modifying treatment agent having an anchor and a hydrophobic tail. The surface modifying treatment agent is an organophosphorus acid derivative. After the well treatment fluid is pumped into a well penetrating the subterranean formation, the anchor binds to the surface of the formation. The subterranean formation is a siliceous formation or a metal oxide-containing subterranean formation. The anchor bonds to a Si atom when the formation is a siliceous formation and to the metal of the metal oxide when the formation is a metal oxide-containing formation. After being bound to the surface of the formation, frictional drag within the well is reduced. This allows for faster recovery of formation fluids. The bonding of the surface modifying treatment agent onto the formation may further be enhanced by first pre-treating the formation with a non-aqueous fluid. By increasing the number of sites for the surface modifying treatment agent to bind onto the surface of the subterranean formation, productivity is improved. |
| US10648300B2 |
Venting system for a shaped charge in the event of deflagration
A shape charge venting apparatus and method for venting gases generated during deflagration. The venting apparatus and method including vent grooves inside the shape charge providing a pathway for deflagration gases to escape the shape charge. The venting apparatus and method also may include using a retainer ring in addition to the vent groove in order to hold the components of the shape charge in place. The venting of the gases during deflagration facilitates pressure relief within the shape charge and increases safety from accidental detonation during a fire. |
| US10648296B2 |
Borehole casing deployment detection
A casing deployment apparatus includes a processing resource with a signal pattern recognition engine unit (420), a tubular measurement unit (404) and a decision unit (416). A first sensor input (402) and a second sensor input (406) are attached to the pattern recognition unit (420) and receive first sensor data and second sensor data corresponding to first and second time-varying sensor signals. The pattern recognition unit (420) analyzes a characteristic of the first sensor data to determine whether the characteristic is substantially consistent with a first expected characteristic of the first sensor data associated with deployment of casing in a borehole. The tubular measurement unit (404) analyzes a characteristic of the second sensor data in order to determine whether the characteristic is substantially consistent with a second expected characteristic of the second sensor data associated with the deployment of the casing. |
| US10648295B2 |
Equipment for connection of subsea pipelines in block architecture and oil drilling system
Equipment for connection of subsea pipelines for oil and gas fields includes one machined block manifold having at least one fluid import spindle of side input, one stop valves set provided on a surface of machined block manifold, which also receives a header and branches, a point for line support and device for subsea installation, subsea line or pipeline. This set is installed on a foundation frame in sea soil and will be part of an oil drilling system. |
| US10648293B2 |
Quantification of crossflow effects on fluid distribution during matrix injection treatments
Methods and systems for detection of crossflow and quantification of crossflow effects on fluid distribution during multistage injection treatments of hydrocarbon bearing reservoir formations. A low rate injection stage is applied after a main (high rate) fluid injection stage of a multistage injection treatment process. Wellbore temperature measurements can be utilized along with an inversion process to detect any crossflow and quantify its effects on fluid distribution during the main injection stage. After the effects of any detected crossflow on the fluid distribution are quantified, the effectiveness of the multistage injection treatment can be analyzed and any adjustments or modifications to the treatment can be made accordingly. |
| US10648289B2 |
Downhole milling tool
A downhole milling tool (100) operable to remove unwanted debris from an interior wall of a pipeline, well casing or other tubular in which the tool (100) is deployable. The tool (100) comprises a hollow tool body (1, 11) mountable on a drill string and an annular element (8) mountable about an outside surface of the tool body (1). The annular element (8) houses at least one elongate milling blade (12). The at least one milling blade (12) is configured such that it always projects from an outside surface of the annular element (8) and includes an elongate cutting face (36). The annular element (8) is configured to be rotatably coupled to the tool body (1) in an active state and rotatably decoupled from the tool body (1) in an inactive state such that the annular element (8) and the tool body (1) are rotationally dependent when coupled and rotationally independent when decoupled. The cutting faces (36) are each configured to be operable to remove unwanted debris only when the annular element (8) and the tool body (1) are rotationally dependent, such that, in use, rotation of the tool body (1) effects operation of the milling blades (12) to remove unwanted debris and to be inoperable to remove unwanted debris when the annular element (8) and the tool body (1) are rotationally independent. |
| US10648281B2 |
Drilling riser protection system
A protection system for a drilling riser. The drilling riser includes a main drilling riser bore and a drilling riser annulus and extends from a floating installation to a location on a seafloor and is fluidly connected to a subsea BOP. The system includes a fluid conduit which extends from the floating installation to a lower region of the drilling riser. The fluid conduit is fluidly connected with the drilling riser annulus in the drilling riser. The fluid conduit provides at least one of a rapid pressure relief and a fluid bypass for the main drilling riser bore to prevent the drilling riser from an uncontrolled pressure build-up due to an inadvertent plugging or a restriction resulting in a maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of the drilling riser being exceeded, if a restriction, a plug or a blockage exists in the drilling riser annulus or in riser outlets. |
| US10648274B2 |
Apparatus and method for opening and closing in multiple cycles a downhole sleeve using an intervention tool
A downhole wellbore system is provided, comprising one or more downhole sleeves run on a liner; and an intervention tool deployable into the liner. The intervention tool is reciprocateable within the line and one or more downhole sleeves between any one or more positions selected from the group consisting of: downhole sleeve opening position, downhole sleeve closing position, pull uphole position, push downhole position, and setting in a blank section of the liner position. A method is further provided for manipulating an intervention tool in a liner comprising one or more downhole sleeves. The method comprises the steps of deploying an intervention tool into the liner and reciprocating the intervention tool between one or more positions selected from the group consisting of: downhole sleeve opening position, downhole sleeve closing position, pull uphole position, push downhole position, and setting in a blank section of the liner position. |
| US10648271B1 |
Swivel device for rotating a bowl
The swivel device attaches to a bowl or is implemented as a component of the bowl. The swivel device enables adjustment of the bowl to align the outlet with the flowline. A flange of the swivel device includes multiple fastener apertures for securing the flange to the stack. The swivel device secures the bowl to the stack while allowing rotation of the bowl. Rotation of the bowl adjusts the positioning of the outlet to align the outlet with the flowline for connecting the outlet to the flowline. |
| US10648258B2 |
Sealing and controlling of fluid pressure in an annular fluid passageway in a wellbore related process
In a method for sealing and controlling fluid pressure in an annular fluid passageway in a wellbore related process, use is made of an annular fluid passageway sealing device, which includes a chamber delimited by chamber end members each provided with an opening therein so that the drilling tubulars string passes through said chamber and said chamber end members. The lower chamber end member is exposed, at least partially, to wellbore related fluid pressure in the annular fluid passageway. The housing is provided with an inlet and an outlet in communication with said chamber. Use is made of a pump that circulates a high viscosity liquid. The inlet and the outlet are vertically offset from each other and the chamber is provided with one or more narrow annular gap defining members that are arranged between vertically spaced apart feed and discharge zones. The circulation of liquid and the narrow annular gap are such that shear of the high viscosity liquid is induced resulting in a pressure drop between the discharge zones such that high viscosity liquid pressure in the feed zone assists the lower chamber end member in absorbing the wellbore related fluid pressure. |
| US10648257B2 |
Smart shaker room
This disclosure is generally drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to monitoring a shaker and monitoring a room in which shaker(s) operate. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to controlling an actuated arm to inspect, remove, replace, repair, clean the shaker and/or screen assemblies based on monitoring the shaker and its screen assemblies, and to adjust or maintain shaker(s) in a defined area such as the room in which shaker(s) operate. While the examples disclosed herein generally describe shakers for separating solids from fluids, the present disclosure contemplates that other separation equipment (e.g., machines for separating solids from other solids) may also be monitored and controlled by the systems and methods described herein. |
| US10648256B2 |
Diffuser assembly
A diffuser assembly is provided which includes an upper mounting member mountable within a conduit and having an fluid inlet port, and a lower section having a diffuser screen. A plurality of radially oriented cutters are removably attached to the diffuser screen, and the cutters may extend internal or external to the diffuser screen. A first set of cutters is mounted at a first selected height along the central axis of the diffuser screen, and wherein a second set of cutters is mounted at a second selected height along the central axis of the diffuser screen. The diffuser assembly may be positioned in different locations, including within a downhole carrier sub inside a well bore, within a drill pipe at the rig floor, or within a conduit in fluid communication between a mixing tank and a pump. |
| US10648255B2 |
Tubular stabbing guide for tong assembly
Methods and apparatus for tubular stabbing guides are presented. One example tubular stabbing guide includes a frame, a clamping assembly mounted to the frame, the clamping assembly including a plurality of guide members configured to receive a tubular and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a support plate configured to support a weight of the tubular, the support plate movable between an extended position and a retracted position. |
| US10648253B2 |
Modular spinner roller
A spinner roller set adapted for use in an apparatus used to connect and disconnect threaded drilling tubulars includes a first and a second modular spinner roller that mounts independent drive and spacer discs on a central shaft. The setup is arranged so that the spinner rollers when in use can engage a small diameter tubular using the same setup as that for engaging a much larger diameter tubular. When a drive disc is in need of replacement, the worn drive disc can be removed from the central shaft and replaced with a new drive disc. The other drive discs and spacers can be reused. |
| US10648252B2 |
Remote operated vehicle removable flexible joint elastomer protection tool
An improved flexible joint elastomer protection tool is described, which can be actuated and removed by a remote operated vehicle (“ROV”), the tool having pivot arms that can be rotated from a closed position to an open position. Rotation inward to the closed position results in the compression of the elastomeric component in an offshore flexible joint. Rotation outward to the open position results in the de-compression of the elastomeric component in an offshore flexible joint. Rotation of the arms can be accomplished using mechanical, hydraulic or other mechanisms that can be operated by an ROV. |