| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10860327B2 |
Methods for scheduling that determine whether to remove a dependent micro-instruction from a reservation station queue based on determining a cache hit/miss status of a load micro-instruction once a count reaches a predetermined value and an apparatus using the same
A method for scheduling micro-instructions, performed by a qualifier, is provided. The method includes the following steps: detecting a load write-back signal broadcasted by a load execution unit; determining whether to trigger a load-detection counting logic according to content of the load write-back signal; determining whether an execution status of a load micro-instruction is cache hit when the triggered load-detection counting logic reaches a predetermined value; and driving a release circuit to remove the first micro-instruction in a reservation station queue when the execution status of the load micro-instruction is cache hit and the first micro-instruction has been dispatched to an arithmetic and logic unit for execution. |
| US10860324B1 |
Apparatus and method for making predictions for branch instructions
An apparatus and method are provided for making predictions for branch instructions. The apparatus has a prediction queue for identifying instructions to be fetched for execution, and branch prediction circuitry for making predictions in respect of branch instructions, and for controlling which instructions are identified in the prediction queue in dependence on the predictions. During each prediction iteration, the branch prediction circuitry makes a prediction for a predict block comprising a sequence of M instructions. The branch prediction circuitry comprises a target prediction storage having a plurality of entries that are used to identify target addresses for branch instructions that are predicted as taken, the target prediction storage being arranged as an N-way set associative storage structure comprising a plurality of sets. Each predict block has an associated set within the target prediction storage. The branch prediction circuitry further comprises a high branch density (HBD) tracker arranged to identify, as a HBD predict block, a predict block whose sequence of M instructions contains more than N branch instructions. For each identified HBD predict block, at least one additional set is identified in the target prediction storage to be used in addition to the associated set to identify target addresses for branch instructions that are predicted as taken within that HBD predict block. |
| US10860323B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing instructions using processing-in-memory
Provided is a method and apparatus for processing instructions using a processing-in-memory (PIM). A PIM management apparatus includes: a PIM directory comprising a reader-writer lock regarding a memory address that an instruction accesses; and a locality tracer configured to figure out locality regarding the memory address that the instruction accesses and determine whether or not an object that executes the instruction is a PIM. |
| US10860322B2 |
Modifying behavior of a data processing unit using rewritable behavior mappings of instructions
An apparatus is provided comprising rewritable storage circuitry to store at least one mapping between at least one instruction identifier and a behaviour modification. Selection circuitry selects, from the rewritable storage circuitry, a selected mapping having an instruction identifier that identifies a received instruction. The received instruction causes a data processing unit to perform a default behaviour. Control circuitry causes the data processing unit to behave in accordance with the default behaviour modified by the behaviour modification. |
| US10860321B2 |
Electronic device and method for processing instruction using the same
An electronic device including a memory; and a processor configured to generate an instruction code based on a same opcode when the same opcode is used in one or more slots defined in the memory upon application compiling. |
| US10860318B2 |
Computational memory cell and processing array device using memory cells
A memory cell that may be used for computation and processing array using the memory cell are capable to performing a logic operation including a boolean AND, a boolean OR, a boolean NAND or a boolean NOR. The memory cell may have a read port that has isolation circuits that isolate the data stored in the storage cell of the memory cell from the read bit line. |
| US10860317B2 |
Computing network architecture for reducing computing operation time, memory usage, or other computing resource usage, associated with determining, from a set of data elements, at least two data elements, associated with a target computing operation result
This disclosure is directed to reducing a computing operation time and reducing memory usage associated with determining at least two target data elements, associated with a target computing operation result, from a set of data elements. This disclosure can be extended to determining more than two target data elements, associated with a target computing operation result, from a set of data elements, as well. |
| US10860306B2 |
Reducing downtime when applying a patch to multiple databases
A patching module being executed by a computing device may select a node comprising a first set of instances of a first module, a second set of instances of a second module, and infrastructure software used by the first and second set of instances. The patching module may apply an infrastructure patch to a copy of the infrastructure software to create patched infrastructure. The patching module may stop the first and second set of instances using the infrastructure software and restart the first and second set of instances to use the patched infrastructure. The patching module may determine that a module patch applies to the first module, copy the first module, and apply the module patch to the copy to create a patched module. The patching module may stop the first set of instances of the first module and start a third set of instances of the patched module. |
| US10860303B2 |
Selective operating system patching/updating
An application typically runs on top of an operating system. Some computing device have the ability to reboot and load a different operating system whenever an application or set of applications is run. If an old application requires an old operating system version, it is possible to load that OS instead. Every application can have its own version of the operating system. Only new applications or a small set of applications need to use the new OS—all the old applications may run their own older version of the OS. Patches or software updates can be applied only for particular applications. Other applications that need the same base OS but don't need the patch can skip using the patch. It is possible to determine what version the application is and selectively apply the patch based on the version of the application. |
| US10860302B2 |
Memory-efficient upgrade staging
The disclosed technology is generally directed to embedded device updates. In one example of the technology, staging is performed for at least two priority groups, completing staging of each higher priority group before staging a lower priority group, including, for each priority group, the following actions. A list of install targets is generated for the priority group based on a list of software for installation in a memory and software present in the memory. A list of purge targets is generated for the priority group based on the list of software for installation in the memory and the software present in the memory. The install targets are downloaded to a backup partition of the memory. Updating of the software in the memory is caused based on the install targets. The purge targets are deleted from the memory. The install targets are deleted from the back-up partition. |
| US10860300B2 |
Direct function call substitution using preprocessor
Systems and methods for generating a macro substitution command to substitute a single function for a given symbolic name are described. An example method may include a processor analyzing a plurality of build configuration files that describe parameters for building a plurality of source code files. The processor determines whether a single function is declared in the plurality of build configuration files for a given symbolic name. The processor, upon determining that a single function is declared, generates a macro substitution command to substitute an identifier of the single function for the given symbolic name. |
| US10860293B2 |
Efficient matrix data format applicable for artificial neural network
Many computing systems process data organized in a matrix format. For example, artificial neural networks (ANNs) perform numerous computations on data organized into matrices using conventional matrix arithmetic operations. One such operation, which is commonly performed, is the transpose operation. Additionally, many such systems need to process many matrices and/or matrices that are large in size. For sparse matrices that hold few significant values and many values that can be ignored, transmitting and processing all the values in such matrices is wasteful. Thus, techniques are introduced for storing a sparse matrix in a compressed format that allows for a matrix transpose operation to be performed on the compressed matrix without having to first decompress the compressed matrix. By utilizing the introduced techniques, more matrix operations can be performed than conventional systems. |
| US10860292B2 |
Device and method for generating random numbers
The invention relates to a device for generating random numbers, comprising a pair of memristors. The pair of memristors comprises a first and a second memristor, each memristor of the pair in turn comprises a top electrode, a bottom electrode and an intermediate layer adapted to switch resistance in response to predetermined voltage values applied between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. Each memristor is operatively connected to an output terminal by means of its bottom electrode. A control logic is connected to the memristors for applying suitable voltages necessary to determine a change of resistance in at least one memristor of the pair. |
| US10860290B2 |
Mobile information apparatuses that include a digital camera, a touch sensitive screen interface, support for voice activated commands, and a wireless communication chip or chipset supporting IEEE 802.11
Information apparatus specifications that include voice activated command functions are disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include a touch sensitive screen, a digital camera, a wireless communication unit, an operating system, a graphical user interface, an e-mail application, an Internet browsing application, and an application for playing audio or video content. The information apparatus operating system supports an application programming interface (API). A user can install additional applications. The information apparatus may further include a microphone and a speaker for interacting via voice commands with the user. In some examples, the user may take a picture with the digital camera included in the information apparatus and transfer or synchronize the picture to a wireless output device. In other examples, the information apparatus may further wirelessly play, print, stream, or mirror digital content, via the touch sensitive screen, to an output device. |
| US10860286B2 |
Music streaming using supported services
An example technique includes a computing system storing media item identifiers of curated media items associated with one or more service providers. A media curating service aggregates the media item identifiers of curated media items. The example technique further involves receiving, from a media playback system, a first message comprising a service provider access identifier. The service provider access identifier is based on a user account of the media playback system registered to at least one service provider. Based on receiving the first message, the computing system determines media item identifiers of curated media items that are associated with the at least one service provider with which the user account of the media playback system is registered and causes the media playback system to play back the curated media items based on the determined media item identifiers of the curated media items. |
| US10860281B2 |
Screen sharing system, screen sharing method, and storage medium
A screen sharing system includes information processing apparatuses that display the same content on their respective screens as a shared screen. Each of the information processing apparatuses includes an operation right switching unit configured to acquire an operation right, a transmission data generating unit configured to generate transmission data including operational information of an input operation, and a drawing unit configured to draw a display object on the screen. At a transmitting information processing apparatus with the operation right, the drawing unit draws the display object according to the operational information, and the transmission data generating unit generates the transmission data including the operational information and sends the transmission data to a receiving information processing apparatus without the operation right. At the receiving information processing apparatus, the drawing unit draws the display object according to the operational information in the transmission data received from the transmitting information processing apparatus. |
| US10860280B2 |
Display method and device
A display method and display apparatus. The method includes: receiving a display request sent by a vehicle-mounted terminal, the display request including an application identifier of a target application installed on a mobile terminal; in response to the received display request, determining whether the target application is in a running state, and arranging a storage space for the target application; in response to the target application being in a running state, starting to draw an interface of the running target application, and storing, in the storage space, interface data obtained by drawing; performing video encoding on the stored interface data to generate a video stream; and sending the generated video stream to the vehicle-mounted terminal so that the vehicle-mounted terminal displays the interface of the target application according to the video stream. |
| US10860279B2 |
Method and system for browser-based screen sharing
Techniques are disclosed for facilitating browser-based screen sharing using scripting computer language codes that are directly executable by a web browser. An example method comprises loading a presentation webpage in a presenter's web browser. The presentation webpage includes scripting language codes that are configured to cause the presenter's web browser to capture a screen image without requiring the presenter's web browser to load an applet. The method further includes receiving data indicative of the captured screen image from the presenter device, wherein the data is generated by the scripting language codes, processing the received data to form a processed screen image that is in an image format natively displayable to a viewer's web browser, and transmitting a viewer webpage including the processed screen image to the viewer's web browser. |
| US10860278B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device including a first display panel, a second display panel, and a driving unit that is electrically connected to the first display panel and to the second display panel, and that is configured to provide a driving signal, which is a voltage signal having periodicity, to the first display panel and to the second display panel. |
| US10860274B2 |
Electronic device having two display devices and method of operating screen thereof
A method and an electronic device are provided, which attach or detaches two displays by magnetism. The electronic device includes a first housing including a first display exposed through a surface of the first housing, and a first cylindrical magnet disposed in a side of the first housing; and a second housing including a second display exposed through a surface of the second housing, and a second cylindrical magnet disposed in a side end of the second housing. At least one of the first cylindrical magnet and second cylindrical magnet is configured to rotate within the first housing and the second housing, respectively, by magnetic attraction of the first cylindrical magnet and second cylindrical magnet being adjacent to each other. The first housing and the second housing are coupled to each other by the magnetic attraction of the first cylindrical magnet and the second cylindrical magnet. |
| US10860273B2 |
Display device and operation method therefor
A display device operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: outputting first content on a screen of the display device; receiving a screen link request for linking a first screen of the display device and a second screen of another display device connected to the display device; and controlling the display device and another display device such that the first content is output on a merged screen in which the first screen and the second screen are merged according to the received screen link request. |
| US10860272B2 |
Causing rendering of a content item segment on a bead apparatus
A method comprises receiving information associated with a content item, designating a first bead apparatus (716) to be associated with a first content item segment of the content item, the first content item segment being identified by a first content item segment identifier, causing display of a visual representation of the first content item segment identifier by the first bead apparatus (726), designating a second bead apparatus (712) to be associated with a second content item segment of the content item, the second content item segment being identified by a second content item segment identifier, causing display of a visual representation of the second content item segment identifier by the second bead apparatus (722), receiving information indicative of a selection input of the second bead apparatus, and causing rendering of the second content item segment based, at least in part, on the selection input (734). The causation of rendering comprises sending information indicative of a content item segment to a separate apparatus or causing sending of information indicative of a content item segment by another apparatus to a separate apparatus (732) such as a bead apparatus, an electronic apparatus, a server, a computer, a laptop, a television, a phone and/or the like. |
| US10860262B2 |
Printing apparatus
A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor; a printing device; a first storage storing templates, in each of which objects are arranged on a printing medium; a voice input device; an output device; and a controller. The controller is configured to: accept designation of a particular template by voice; make an inquiry about a content of at least one particular character to be assigned to each of the objects in the particular template; accept the content of the at least one particular character to be assigned to each of the objects in response to the inquiry, by voice; and create print data for each of the objects based on character data created by character recognition of the voice indicating the accepted content and control the conveyor and the printing device to perform printing on the printing medium based on the created print data. |
| US10860261B2 |
Network printer detection and authentication for managed device deployment
Disclosed are various examples for network printer detection and authentication for managed device deployment. In one example, a computing environment can access a listing of network printers received from a printer discovery service executed in an enterprise device in an intranet behind a firewall. A user group associated with a client device enrolled with a management service can be identified as well as at least one of the network printers assigned to the user group. The client device can be remotely configured to access the at least one of the network printers assigned to the user group. |
| US10860258B2 |
Control circuit, memory device including the same, and method
A control circuit configured to associate a plurality of memory with an error correction scheme. The control circuit including an internal operation circuit configured to generate an internal command based on an access unit of the plurality of memory. The control circuit including a storage circuit configured to store information on the access unit of the plurality of memory. |
| US10860257B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a RAM; a non-volatile memory storing setting information in which a compression method is set for each of a plurality of RAM disks, the setting information including a plurality of compression methods; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to create each of the plurality of RAM disks with the compression method mounted, in the RAM, according to the setting information; request writing and reading of data from an application; write the data into a corresponding RAM disk of the plurality of RAM disks corresponding to the application, in response to a writing request of the data from the application; and compress the data in the compression method mounted on the corresponding RAM disk. |
| US10860255B1 |
System, method and apparatus for accelerating fast block devices
A system, method and apparatus directed to fast data storage on a block storage device. New data is written to an empty write block. If the new data is compressible, a compressed version of the new is written into the meta data. A location of the new data is tracked. Meta data associated with the new data is written. A lookup table may be updated based in part on the meta data. The new data may be read based the lookup table configured to map a logical address to a physical address. Disk operations may use state data associated with the meta data to determine the empty write block. A write speed-limit may also be determined based on a lifetime period, a number of life cycles and a device-erase-sector-count for the device. A write speed for the device may be slowed based on the determined write speed-limit. |
| US10860250B2 |
Memory device
A memory device includes a memory cell array configured to store data, a control circuit configured to control the memory cell array in response to a command; and a receiver configured to be placed in an active state based on a first signal, a second signal, or an operation result of an address and the command, and be enabled to receive a command or data. |
| US10860246B2 |
Persistent memory updating
Examples associated with persistent memory updating are described. One example includes receiving a first store instruction associated with a first page of memory in a persistent memory from an application. The first page is copied to a new page of the persistent memory. A virtual address space of the application is updated to a location of the new page in a read-write mode. The first store instruction is executed on the new page. A file mapping in the persistent memory is updated from a location of the first page to the location of the new page, and the virtual address space for the location of the new page is updated to a read-only mode. |
| US10860245B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing data storage based on application
Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a method and apparatus for optimizing storage of application data. The method comprises obtaining description information for application data from an application; performing storage optimization based on the description information; and performing at least pan of a storage function to be implemented by the back-end storage device, based on the description information before transmitting application data to the back-end storage device. With the method or apparatus according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, an efficient manner of integrating the application and non-volatile storage device is provided to coordinate the application and storage, thereby improving efficiency and expanding capability. |
| US10860239B2 |
Fan-out asynchronous replication caching
A response is made to a request to replicate, from a production system to a plurality of target systems, a page of data, having an associated short hash. A replication session is established for each target system to replicate the page of data to the target systems. If it's the first request for the short hash, then the page of data associated with the short hash is received and stored in a physical cache. If it's not the first request, then the page of data from the physical cache is retrieved; and, based on dynamic tracking of when each replication sessions requests the page of data based on the short hash, the page of data from the physical cache is cleared when all of the replication sessions have requested the page of data based on the short hash and have accessed the page of data. |
| US10860238B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving firmware loading
A processing device comprises a memory comprising memory blocks configured to store bit values, wherein bit values of an initial memory block are set to a target value; a memory controller configured to perform control of copying bit values from at least one source memory block to at least one destination memory block; the memory controller being configured to perform: copying the set bit values to the at least one destination memory block, subsequently copying the set bit values and the copied bit values to further destination memory blocks. |
| US10860234B2 |
Signature generator for use in comparing sets of data in a content addressable storage system
An apparatus in one embodiment comprises a storage system having a plurality of storage devices configured to store at least a first set of data. The storage system is configured to generate a first signature for the first set of data and to verify equivalence between the first set of data and a second set of data by comparing the first signature to a second signature generated for the second set of data. The first and second sets of data comprise respective first and second sets of pages with each page having a content-based page identifier and a page address, and the first and second signatures are generated as respective functions of the page identifiers and page addresses of the respective first and second sets of pages. The first and second sets of data may comprise respective first and second storage volumes, respective first and second sets of multiple storage volumes, or other sets of data. |
| US10860231B2 |
Memory system for adjusting map segment based on pattern and operating method thereof
An operating method of a memory system which includes a controller including one or more processors and a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, the operating method comprises receiving a first write command; checking whether there is available storage space in a zeroth map segment, using a location of first logical block address (LBA) information written to the zeroth map segment; determining a pattern of the first LBA information and second LBA information corresponding to a first write command when there is no storage space in the zeroth map segment; increasing a sequential count for the second LBA information when the pattern of the first and second LBA information is determined to be a sequential pattern; and performing a map updating operation on a memory block of the memory device by variably adjusting a size of the zeroth map segment based on one or more pieces of LBA information. |
| US10860230B2 |
Storage device that secures a block for a stream or namespace and system having the storage device
A storage device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a plurality of physical blocks and a memory controller. The memory controller is configured to associate one or more physical blocks to each of a plurality of stream IDs, execute a first command containing a first stream ID received from a host, by storing write data included in the write IO in the one or more physical blocks associated with the first stream ID, and execute a second command containing a second stream ID received from the host, by selecting a first physical block that includes valid data and invalid data, transfer the valid data stored in the first physical block to a second physical block, and associate the first physical block from which the valid data has been transferred, with the second stream ID. |
| US10860228B1 |
Method to switch between traditional SSD and open-channel SSD without data loss
Apparatuses and techniques are provided for switching a solid-state device (SSD) between a traditional SSD mode and an open-channel SSD (OCSSD) mode. In one aspect, a set of commands are defined for communicating different types of data from a Flash Translation Layer (FTL) between the host and SSD. The commands can include different predetermined sets of bits which carry different types of FTL data in a standardized format. The commands can be transmitted using reserved data words in an interface specification which interfaces the host to the SSD. The commands can include commands to transfer a logical-to-physical address table, a validity bitmap and a wear table. A switch mode command can include a bit indicating whether the mode is to be switched from traditional SSD to OCSSD, or from OCSSD to traditional SSD. |
| US10860227B2 |
Memory controller, memory system having the same, and method of operating the same
Provided herein may be a memory controller, a memory system having the same, and a method of operating the same. The memory controller may include an operating environment determiner configured to determine an operating environment of a memory device based on at least one of surrounding environment-sensing data, and a central processing unit (CPU) configured to determine operating characteristics of the memory device required in the determined operating environment, select a policy depending on the determined operating characteristics, and control an operation of the memory device based on the selected policy. |
| US10860225B2 |
Apparatus and method for routing access based on device load
An information processing apparatus includes a memory and a processor and accesses a first storage device and a second storage device wherein an access speed of the second storage device is higher than an access speed of the first storage device. The memory stores information relating to a request in a request from the information processing apparatus to the second storage device. The processor, which is connected to the memory, determines a load on the second storage device based on the information relating to the request. |
| US10860224B2 |
Method and system for delivering message in storage system
A method and a system for delivering a message in a storage system. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for delivering a message in a storage system comprising a first controller, a second controller, a first communication area and a second communication area. The method comprises: in response to receiving a message that is to be delivered from the first controller to the second controller, writing the message to the first communication area that is readable and writable to the first controller and readable to the second controller; and writing an address identifier to the second communication area, the address identifier being used for indicating an address at which the second controller reads the message from the first communication area, the second communication area being readable to the first controller and readable and writable to the second controller. |
| US10860218B2 |
Determining a device wear-rate
Example implementations relate to determining a device wear-rate. An example system for determining a device wear-rate can include a plurality of filter drivers to: monitor system requests for I/O associated with a device of the system and transmit information associated with the system requests to a filter manager. The system can also include the filter manager to catalog the information, a service to collate the information across a plurality of machine configurations and workloads, and a processor to determine a wear-rate of the device based on an analysis of the collated information. |
| US10860215B2 |
Delay masking action for memory access requests
An apparatus comprises control circuitry to control access to a memory implemented using a memory technology providing variable access latency. The control circuitry has request handling circuitry to identify an execution context switch comprising a transition from servicing memory access requests associated with a first execution context to servicing memory access requests associated with a second execution context. At least when the execution context switch meets a predetermined condition, a delay masking action is triggered to control subsequent memory access requests associated with the second execution context, for which the required data is already stored in the memory, to be serviced with a response delay which is independent of which addresses were accessed by the memory access requests associated with the first execution context. This can help guard against attacks which aim to exploit variation in response latency to gain insight into the addresses accessed by a victim execution context. |
| US10860214B2 |
Systems and methods for memory load balancing
The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for processing memory operation requests. In one aspect, a method is performed at a computing system having one or more processors and non-volatile memory: (1) obtaining a plurality of internal memory operation requests for the non-volatile memory, the plurality of internal memory operation requests originating from within the computing system; (2) obtaining a plurality of external memory operation requests for the non-volatile memory, the plurality of external memory operation requests originating from one or more devices remote and distinct from the computing system; and (3) regulating a rate at which the plurality of internal memory operation requests are transferred to the non-volatile memory based on an amount of external memory operation requests in the plurality of external memory requests. |
| US10860210B2 |
Division raid for disk array expansion
Division RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) for disk array expansion is provided herein. A data storage system as described herein can include a memory that stores computer executable components and a processor that executes computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can include a disk initialization component that divides a first storage disk into partitions comprising a uniform number of partitions; an array expansion component that adds the first storage disk to a logical storage array, wherein the logical storage array comprises second storage disks, the second storage disks respectively being divided into partitions comprising the uniform number of partitions; and a data allocation component that allocates a data group to respective partitions of the first storage disk and a subset of the second storage disks in a deterministic order, resulting in a set of allocated partitions. |
| US10860206B2 |
Planning method of a flight of an aircraft, associated display computer program product and planning system
The invention relates to a method for planning the flight of a pilot-piloted aircraft and comprising a tactile head-down display defining a display plane and displaying images representing a three-dimensional surface viewed in perspective through the display plane, and arranged with respect to this display plane according to a display parameter.The method comprises the following steps: acquisition of information relating to a tactile displacement on the display screen; association of the information relating to the tactile displacement with a first set of points located in the display plane; projection of the first set of points on the displayed three-dimensional surface in order to obtain a second set of geographical points located on this three-dimensional surface; and display of images representing the second set. |
| US10860204B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing tactile message
The present invention relates to a tactile message providing method and a tactile message providing device. Embodiments of the present invention provide a tactile message providing method for a tactile sense in a mobile communication terminal device, the method including: (a) driving a tactile message program; (b) receiving a tactile pattern; (c) converting the tactile pattern into a pattern signal; and (d) transmitting the pattern signal to a reception terminal device, wherein the tactile message program includes a tactile pattern input window or a tactile switch icon for switching a text input window to a tactile pattern input window, wherein the pattern signal is a signal capable of transmitting tactile information by operating a tactile delivery unit of the reception terminal device. |
| US10860203B2 |
Touch display device having linear and circular arc operation modes
In the display device according to the present disclosure, a linear operation mode, in which an image is changed by tracing an operation surface substantially along a straight line, and a circular-arc operation mode, in which an image is changed by tracing the operation surface substantially along a circular arc, are set as operation modes for changing images displayed on the operation surface by tracing an operation surface of a touch panel. A CPU extracts the characteristic manner in which the operation surface is traced based on information acquired from the touch panel when the operation surface is being traced, decides which one of the linear operation mode and the circular-arc operation mode as the operation mode based on the extracted characteristics is the operation mode, and changes to the other operation mode in response to a change in the characteristic manner in which the operation surface is traced. |
| US10860200B2 |
Drag and drop for touchscreen devices
The subject technology provides for identifying an item being dragged over an application in which the items are arranged in a table in a first arrangement. The subject technology copies the first arrangement to generate a second arrangement that corresponds to an initial arrangement of the items when the item is identified as being dragged over the first application. The subject technology updates the first arrangement to reflect changed positions of the items in the table resulting from another item being inserted into the table. The subject technology updates the second arrangement to reflect changed positions of items. Further, the subject technology merges the updated second arrangement with the updated first arrangement to reconcile the changed positions resulting from the item being inserted into the table at the location with the changed positions resulting from the another item being inserted into the table. |
| US10860194B2 |
Operator watch area in a process control plant
Systems and methods for presenting a watch area display view in a process plant are provided. Indications of process control display elements may be presented via a user interface of a computing device executing an operator application in an operating environment of a process plant. The process control display elements may be displayed in a first display region in a display view, with each of the process control display elements corresponding to process parameters. Simultaneously with the first display region, a second display region (not occluding any process control display elements) may be presented in the display view. An indication that a user has selected one of the process control display elements in the first display region for display in the second display region may be received. The one or more process parameters corresponding to the selected process control display element may be displayed in the second display region. |
| US10860193B2 |
Distributed computing transition screen display based on application type
A development support system includes: a first information processing apparatus including a storage that stores identification information of a plurality of screens according to a display application type; and a second information processing apparatus including an input interface that accepts registration of screen design information including designation of identification information of any screen, as a transition source screen or a transition destination screen, among the identification information of the plurality of screens, and a communication circuit that transmits the accepted screen design information to the first information processing apparatus, wherein the first information processing apparatus includes a communication circuit that refers to the storage when providing screen data to a first display application according to the screen design information, and the communication circuit performs a transmission, to the first display application, including a command to display a screen by a second display application. |
| US10860190B1 |
Presenting and interacting with composite images on a computing device
Techniques for presenting and interacting with composite images on a computing device are described. In an example, the device presents a first article and a first portion of a first composite image showing a second article. The first composite image shows a first outfit combination that is different from the first outfit. The device receives a first user interaction indicating a request to change the second article and presents the first article and a second portion of a second composite image showing a clothing article in a second outfit. The second composite image shows a second outfit combination that is different from the first outfit, the second outfit, and the first outfit combination. The device receives a second user interaction indicating a request to use the third article and presents the second composite image showing the second outfit combination. |
| US10860187B1 |
Object oriented interactions
A system and method of social interaction includes receiving interaction information for an interaction created by a first user of an electronic content work, the interaction information comprising an identification number of a portion of the electronic content work associated with the interaction. The system and method includes storing the received interaction information. The system and method also includes receiving a request from a second user requesting interaction information for a requested portion of the electronic content work. The system and method also includes sending the received interaction information in response to determining that the identification number associated with the received interaction information matches the identification in the request for interaction information. |
| US10860185B2 |
Content item activity feed for presenting events associated with content items
A content management system provides event data relating to other users' activity or interactions with a content item for display in an activity feed provided in conjunction with a user interface of a native application displaying the content item. Though provided in conjunction with the native application, the event data is maintained separate from the content data of the content item and displayed in the activity feed by an application separate from the native application of the content item. The activity feed permits users to exchange chat messages and retrieve information for multiple versions of the content item. |
| US10860182B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method to superimpose data on reference content
An information processing apparatus that controls a user interface to display content, acquires position information corresponding to an input received at the user interface, determines a condition corresponding to the position information, and controls the user interface to display data corresponding to the input based on a result of the determining. |
| US10860166B2 |
Electronic apparatus and image processing method for generating a depth adjusted image file
Provided is an image processing method including: displaying an image including a plurality of objects; receiving a selection of an object from among the plurality of objects; receiving a depth adjustment input; changing a depth of the selected object based on the depth adjustment input; generating a depth adjusted image file of the image based on the changed depth; and displaying a depth adjusted image based on the generated depth adjusted image file. |
| US10860163B1 |
Generating user interface for viewing data records
According to an example embodiment, a computer-implemented method may include receiving a query for information from a data set, wherein the query, regardless of any specific syntax with which the query is defined, can be represented logically by a query graph having a plurality of vertices, wherein at least a first vertex includes a first variable that can be used to select a first subset of records within the data set that correspond to a value of the first variable. The method may also include generating, by at least one processor of a computing system, a browsable user interface to select information in the data set based on the vertices of the query graph, the browsable user interface including a first parameter node corresponding to the first vertex, wherein selection of the first parameter node displays a plurality of first value nodes representing different subsets of records that correspond to different values of the first variable of the first vertex. |
| US10860161B2 |
Environmental pertinence interface
An environmental pertinence interface generated by an example apparatus, method, and computer program product is provided. The apparatus receives an interface request from a mobile device and location data relating to the mobile device. The apparatus queries a database to identify environmental objects that satisfy a proximity threshold. The apparatus identifies environmental pertinence digital content items when the proximity threshold is satisfied. The apparatus applies user permissions rules to determine a user-permitted environmental pertinence digital content item set and generates an environmental pertinence interface for display by the mobile device. |
| US10860151B1 |
Single-layer projected capacitive touch sensor with two bridging areas
A capacitive touch sensor includes sensing columns. Each sensing column has a common sensing electrode and driving electrodes. The driving electrodes are divided into two groups, which are connected to contacts in two bridging areas through electrode wires. Each bridging area is covered by an insulation film with through holes corresponding to the contacts. Signal wires of the driving electrodes pass through the through holes to connect the contacts of the driving electrodes of the sensing columns, which are located in a line, to form a signal channel. The signal wires connecting the common sensing electrodes pass through one of the two bridging areas and insulatively intersect the signal wires of the driving electrodes of the signal channel. Electrode extending portions of the common sensing electrodes are extended to the other bridging area to insulatively intersect signal wires of the driving electrodes of the signal channel. |
| US10860150B1 |
Touch system, operation method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
A touch system includes a processor and a touch array. The touch array includes touch units. Each of the touch units includes a driving electrode, a first sensing electrode, and a second sensing electrode. A first capacitor is formed between the first sensing electrode and the driving electrode. A second capacitor is formed between the second sensing electrode and the driving electrode. The processor is configured to: determine whether the touch array operates in an underwater mode according to the first original capacitance value and the second original capacitance value; determine whether a conductor touch event occurs according to a first threshold value and a voltage across the first capacitor when the touch array operates in the underwater mode; and determine whether a non-conductor touch event occurs according to a second threshold value and a voltage across the second capacitor when the touch array operates in the underwater mode. |
| US10860148B2 |
Ionic touch panel
The present invention relates to an ionic touch panel, and more particularly, to an ionic touch panel using hydrogel for a touch panel and having flexibility, stretchability, and biocompatibility. An ionic touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hydrogel touch unit 100 containing salt, and electrodes connected to at least two parts of the hydrogel touch unit. |
| US10860143B2 |
Display device with fingerprint recognition function utilizing a collimator and lens assembly
The disclosure discloses a fingerprint recognition display device, the fingerprint recognition display device includes: a display panel, a fingerprint recognition sensor arranged on another side of the display panel than a light-emitting side thereof, and a lens assembly and a collimator arranged between the fingerprint recognition sensor and the display panel; wherein the collimator is arranged on a surface of the display panel facing away from the light-emitting side, and the lens assembly is arranged on a surface of the collimator on a side thereof facing away from the display panel, wherein a size of the fingerprint recognition sensor is smaller than a size of the display panel; the collimator is configured to receive light rays reflected by a finger, and to convert the light rays into collimated light incident on the lens assembly; and the lens assembly is configured to converge the collimated light onto the fingerprint recognition sensor. |
| US10860142B1 |
Light-based devices with light guide arrays
A light-based device may provide images and other light output to a user and may gather user input. The device may include a light guide array formed from a bundle of fibers. The light guide array may have an entrance surface that receives light emitted by a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device may include one or more light-emitting diodes and may be a display having an array of pixels. Light from the light-emitting device may be conveyed from the entrance surface to the exit surface by the light guide array. The exit surface of the light guide array may have a compound curvature. Optical structures may be formed over the exit surface. The light-based device may form light-field display, may form a touch sensor, may form a controller, and may form other structures. |
| US10860141B2 |
LED circuit and touch sensing method
The invention discloses a LED circuit and a touch sensing method. Said method, as applied to an array of LEDs, comprises the following steps. First, a driving signal is provided. The driving signal is configured to set at least one of the LEDs in a driven mode or a sensing mode. When a LED is set in the sensing mode, it receives an environmental light, whose intensity is then compared to a first threshold. When said intensity is below that threshold, the location corresponding to the LED is marked as a touch location. |
| US10860131B2 |
Touch panel control device and information processing apparatus
The power consumption of an apparatus including a touch panel is reduced. In a touch panel control device (1) including a sensor drive section (22) and a liquid crystal drive controller (10), the sensor drive section (22) makes a detection sensitivity during a pause period lower than a detection sensitivity during an update period, the pause period being a period in which the liquid crystal drive controller (10) does not update the image that is displayed on a liquid crystal display panel (40), the update period being a period in which the liquid crystal drive controller (10) updates the image that is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel (40). |
| US10860128B2 |
Touch display panel and touch display device
A touch display panel and device. A common electrode is provided between a display driving signal line and a touch line. The common electrode functions as a shielding pattern that prevents display noise of a touch sensing signal without increasing the number of masks used to form the touch display device. A touch load reducing layer is disposed in a region between the touch line and the common electrode, except for a region in which the common electrode and pixel electrodes overlap. This reduces the load of the touch line and improves touch sensing performance without having an adverse effect on display driving. |
| US10860124B2 |
Electroluminescence display device and method of fabricating thereof
The electroluminescence display device and the method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The electroluminescence display device may include an on-cell type touch screen panel and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) for slimming down and cost reduction. It is possible to suppress cracks from being generated in the pad portion of the touch screen panel during film on glass (FOG) bonding by arranging the lower layer of the FPC at a certain distance away from the end of the touch screen panel. |
| US10860119B2 |
Active capacitive stylus, sensor controller, related system and method
A method may be executed by one or more active capacitive styluses and a sensor controller connected to sensor electrodes. The method includes: a discovery step, executed by the sensor controller, of repeatedly sending out a discovery packet for detecting any of the active capacitive styluses; a discovery response step, executed by a first active capacitive stylus among the one or more active capacitive styluses, by which the discovery packet is detected, of returning a response packet to the discovery packet; a configuration step, executed by the sensor controller, of transmitting a configuration packet including time slot designation information that designates a first time slot to the first active capacitive stylus; and a data transmission step, executed by the first active capacitive stylus, of transmitting operation state data indicative of an operation state of the first active capacitive stylus using the designated first time slot. |
| US10860117B2 |
Method for displaying object and electronic device thereof
The present invention is for controlling an input dimension in an electronic device, and an operation method of the electronic device includes: an operation for measuring the distance between the electronic device and the ground; and operation for transmitting, to another electronic device, first information about two-dimensional coordinates representing the position of the electronic device, when the distance is shorter than a threshold value; and an operation for transmitting, to the other electronic device, second information about three-dimensional coordinates representing the position of the electronic device, when the distance is not shorter than the threshold value. |
| US10860116B2 |
Systems and methods for distinguishing gestures
A gesture control system includes a processor, the processor in communication with a plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to perform the steps of detecting, using the plurality of sensors, a gesture in a volume occupied by a plurality of occupants, analyzing a prior knowledge to associate the gesture with one of the plurality of occupants, and generating an output, the output being determined by the gesture and the one of the plurality of occupants. |
| US10860115B1 |
Air transportation systems and methods
A method for transporting people by providing a vehicle with a cab having a moveable actuator coupled to the propulsion unit to move the propulsion unit between a first position above the cab during lift-off and a second position during lateral flight; determining a hand control gesture as captured by a plurality of cameras or sensors in the vehicle, wherein a sequence of finger, palm or hand movements represents a vehicle control request; and determining vehicle control options based on the model, a current state of the vehicle and the environment of the vehicle. |
| US10860113B2 |
Augmented reality head gesture recognition systems
A method, system, apparatus, and/or device for moving or scrolling a virtual object in a virtual or augmented reality environment. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include: detecting, by a first sensor, a first gesture associated with selecting a first virtual object in an augmented reality environment displayed by a head-mounted display; displaying, by the head-mounted display, a first indicator indicating a selection of the first virtual object by a user; detecting, using the first sensor or a second sensor, a first movement of the head-mounted display associated with a first movement command; and in response to detecting the first movement of the head-mounted display, executing the first movement command, where the first movement command is a scrolling function to scroll text or a graphical object of the first virtual object or a movement function to move the text or the graphical object of the first virtual object. |
| US10860111B2 |
Motor vehicle operating unit and a method of confirming a switching command
A motor vehicle operating unit for a motor vehicle, having a haptic feedback device and an operating surface rotatable about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being substantially parallel to a plane spanned by the operating surface in the initial position of the motor vehicle operating unit, the haptic feedback device being arranged so as to control the operating surface such that the operating surface rotates about the axis of rotation. A method of confirming a switching command by means of a motor vehicle operating unit is furthermore described. |
| US10860108B2 |
Tactile sense presentation apparatus, signal generation device, tactile sense presentation system, and tactile sense presentation method
A tactile sense presentation apparatus includes a movable body, an actuator unit, and a signal generation unit. The actuator unit is connected to the movable body. The signal generation unit is configured to supply a driving signal to the actuator unit, the driving signal generating a vibration on the actuator unit, the vibration having within a period at least one of a plurality of different amplitudes and a plurality of different frequencies. |
| US10860107B2 |
Touch-sensitive interface comprising a force sensor
A touch-sensitive interface has a contact surface that is able to be touched by an effector (e.g., a finger). The interface includes actuating transducers (e.g., piezoelectric transducers) allowing a standing flexural wave to be formed, in a resonant mode, extending over the length of the slab. The interface includes a detector for measuring the amplitude of the wave, and a detecting circuit for determining an attenuation signal, when the contact surface is touched by an effector. It includes a processing circuit for estimating a magnitude of the force exerted by the effector on the contact surface. |
| US10860103B2 |
Enhancing virtual reality with physiological sensing
A virtual, augmented, or mixed reality (xR) session is hosted in a physical environment. Physiological measurements of an individual wearing a Head-Mounted Device (HMD) are captured while the individual participates in the xR session. An environmental context of the xR session is determined based on measurements of environmental properties of the physical environment. Physiological states of the individual are determined based on the physiological data. Multiple physiological states may be determined by independent chains that evaluate independent physiological data streams. The environmental context and the physiological states are combined, according to data fusion techniques such as algebraic voting, to determine a physiological classification of the individual. The xR session is modified based on the physiological user classification. |
| US10860102B2 |
Guide for supporting flexible articulating structure
One example provides a system for selectively restricting motion of an articulable joint, the system comprising a base having a first portion configured to be positioned at a first side of the articulable joint and a second portion configured to be positioned at a second side of the articulable joint, a clutch mechanism comprising a flexible portion having a first end coupled to the first portion of the base and a second end coupled to the second portion of the base, and a guide coupled to the base, the guide comprising a support surface that supports the flexible portion between the first end and the second end as the flexible portion moves during articulation of the articulable joint, the support surface of the guide comprising an angular transition in a dimension transverse to a travel direction of the flexible portion as a function of distance along the travel direction. |
| US10860098B1 |
Gesture-based eye tracking
In some embodiments, a method receives images of eyes of a user. The method computes a vertical resting position of the eyes and computes a horizontal resting position of the eyes based on an average horizontal position of both of the eyes. An image of the eyes of the user is received. Then, the method calculates when an offset for a direction and a magnitude of the eyes is within a region in a plurality of regions and determines a command for the region. A call for the command is generated to a device to cause the command to be performed on a user interface. |
| US10860097B2 |
Eye-brain interface (EBI) system and method for controlling same
Methods and systems for calibrating an eye-brain interface (EBI) system controlled on the basis of eye movements and brain waves according to one embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. A method includes: providing an eye-brain calibration (EBC) interface for calibrating eye movements and brain waves simultaneously, wherein the EBC interface includes a visual object and instructs a user to gaze into the visual object in a particular cognitive state; acquiring eye movements and brain waves of the user for the visual object included in the EBC interface; mapping the visual object and eye movements of the user; and mapping the particular cognitive state instructed to the user and brain waves of the user. |
| US10860093B1 |
Eye location tracking device integrated with head-up display
In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that include a head-up display and a locator system. In an exemplary embodiment, the head-up display system includes a housing; a light source disposed within the housing; and one or more mirrors disposed within the housing. Also in certain embodiments, the locator system includes: a galvanic mirror disposed outside, and in proximity to, the housing; a laser formed on the galvanic mirror; and a receiver formed on the galvanic mirror. |
| US10860089B2 |
Method of suppressing VR sickness, system for executing the method, and information processing device
A method includes defining a virtual space including a virtual camera. The method further includes displaying on a head-mounted device a field of view in the virtual space based on a location of the virtual camera in the virtual space. The method further includes moving the field of view by updating the image displayed on the head-mounted device. Moving of the field of view includes moving the field of view at a first speed. Moving of the field of view further includes moving the field of view at a second speed slower than the first speed. |
| US10860082B2 |
Dynamic power budget allocation
A dynamic power budget allocation system includes a plurality of powered subsystems. A power system controller is coupled to the plurality of powered subsystems. The power system controller is operable, for each of a plurality of time intervals, to retrieve power usage data from each of the plurality of subsystems during a current time interval. The power system controller is then operable to project power requirements for the plurality of subsystems for a subsequent time interval using the power usage data. The power system controller is then operable to determine at least one power setting for at least one of the plurality of subsystems using the power requirements, and program the at least one of the plurality of subsystems with the at least one power setting. Each powered subsystem may include a voltage regulator that provides the power usage data and is programmed with the at least one power setting. |
| US10860076B2 |
Computer system, client device and display device
A computer system includes a client device; and a display device operationally connected to the client device, wherein the display device provides the client device with an operating energy, and the display device detects the type of the client device, and, when the client device belongs to a predefined group of client devices, provides the client device with an operating energy even if the display device enters an energy-saving mode or is switched off. |
| US10860075B2 |
Intelligent power tap with zone control and safety zone control
Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling a control network system coupled to an intelligent power tap are disclosed. The method includes sensing at least one of a current signal and a voltage signal, determining that the current signal or the voltage signal is not within a preset range for a predefined period of time, sending a first warning message to the control network system, determining whether to shut off the network power or the switched power, and determining whether to broadcast a second warning message. |
| US10860070B2 |
Thermal management systems for wearable components
In various embodiments, a wearable component configured to be worn on a head of a user is disclosed. The wearable component can comprise a wearable support and an electronic component coupled to or disposed within the wearable support. A thermal management structure can be provided in thermal communication with the electronic component. The thermal management structure can be configured to transfer heat from the electronic component away from the head of the user when the wearable support is disposed on the head of the user. |
| US10860067B2 |
Mobile computing device, apparatus and system
Embodiments of an apparatus, system and method are described for a mobile computing device. A mobile computing device may comprise, for example, an enclosure arranged to support a display and one or more processor circuits, the enclosure having an enlarged portion at one side of the enclosure arranged to allow a user to clutch the enclosure with one hand at the one side, the enlarged portion having a thickness that is larger than a thickness of another portion of the enclosure, and the enlarged portion defining a cavity arranged to support one or more energy storage modules. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US10860061B2 |
Electronic device with bonding structure
An electronic device is provided that includes a housing including a front plate facing a first direction, a rear plate facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a lateral member surrounding a space between the front plate and the rear plate and at least partially constructed of a metal material, wherein the front plate includes a first edge having a first length and extending in a third direction, a second edge having a second length longer than the first length and extending in a fourth direction orthogonal to the third direction, a third edge parallel to the first edge, having the first length, and extending in the third direction from the second edge, a fourth edge parallel to the second edge, having the second length, and extending in the fourth direction from the first edge, a first region in which the third edge and the fourth edge meet, and a second region in which the second edge and the third edge meet, a display viewable through the front plate, and an adhesive layer constructed in a closed-curve shape along the first edge, second edge, third edge, and fourth edge of the front plate, wherein, when viewed from above the display, a width of the adhesive layer in the first region and the second region is greater than a width of the adhesive layer outside the first region and the second region. |
| US10860053B2 |
Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and method of controlling the same
Provided are an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and method of controlling the same. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a probe configured to acquire ultrasound image data with respect to an object by transmitting ultrasound signals to the object; a processor configured to obtain an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound image data, transmit the ultrasound image and a time stamp indicating a time point when the ultrasound image is obtained in real-time to a client apparatus, and store, in a memory, obtained ultrasound still cuts at respective first time intervals, together with the time stamp; and a communicator configured to receive a request for a still cut including a first time stamp from the client apparatus, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit to the client apparatus an ultrasound still cut corresponding to the first time stamp from among the stored obtained ultrasound still cuts. |
| US10860052B2 |
Hybrid single loop feedback retiming circuit
A delay locked-loop includes, in part, a phase/frequency detector responsive to a reference clock signal, a charge pump responsive to the phase/frequency detector, a variable delay line responsive to an output of the charge pump to cause a delay in the reference clock signal thereby to generate an internal clock signal, and a controlled delay line that includes a multitude of fixed delay cells. The controlled delay line causes the internal clock signal to be delayed by a delay across one of the multitude of fixed delay cells in response to the output of the charge pump. The controlled delay line generates the output clock signal of the delay-locked loop. The delay locked-loop may further include an overflow detector configured to cause the selection of one of the multitude of fixed delays in response to the output of the charge pump. |
| US10860051B2 |
Proactive clock gating system to mitigate supply voltage droops
A clock gating system (CGS) includes a digital power estimator configured to generate indications of a predicted energy consumption per cycle of a clock signal and a maximum energy consumption per cycle of the clock signal. The CGS further includes a voltage-clock gate (VCG) circuit coupled to the digital power estimator. The VCG circuit is configured to gate and un-gate the clock signal based on the indications prior to occurrence of a voltage droop event and using hardware voltage model circuitry of the VCG circuit. The VCG circuit is further configured to gate the clock signal based on an undershoot phase associated with the voltage droop event and to un-gate the clock signal based on an overshoot phase associated with the voltage droop event. |
| US10860050B2 |
Apparatus and methods for non-linear function operations
A nonlinear function operation device and method are provided. The device may include a table looking-up module and a linear fitting module. The table looking-up module may be configured to acquire a first address of a slope value k and a second address of an intercept value b based on a floating-point number. The linear fitting module may be configured to obtain a linear function expressed as y=k×x+b based on the slope value k and the intercept value b, and substitute the floating-point number into the linear function to calculate a function value of the linear function, wherein the calculated function value is determined as the function value of a nonlinear function corresponding to the floating-point number. |
| US10860046B2 |
Reference voltage generation device
A reference voltage generation device (100) includes a constant current circuit (101) configured to output a constant current; and a plurality of voltage generation circuits (102) each configured to generate an output voltage based on the constant current, wherein the constant current has a correlation represented by a first gradient with respect to a temperature change, and wherein a plurality of the output voltages from the plurality of voltage generation circuits (102) have correlations represented by second gradients that are inverse to the correlation represented by the first gradient with respect to the temperature change and have different gradient indices. The reference voltage generation device (100) is configured to generate a reference voltage based on the constant current and the output voltage of at least one voltage generation circuit selected from the plurality of voltage generation circuits. |
| US10860045B1 |
High voltage compatible push-pull buffer circuit
A voltage regulator having a buffer circuit and method for operating the same is disclosed. A voltage regulator having a buffer circuit includes an input stage coupled to receive an input voltage and an output stage configured to provide an output signal on an output node. The output stage includes first and second output transistors coupled to the output node. The circuit further includes a buffer stage coupled between the input and output stages. The buffer stage includes a first buffer transistor having a gate terminal coupled to the input stage and a source terminal coupled to a gate terminal of the first output transistor. The circuit further includes a first current mirror coupled to the first buffer transistor, and a second current mirror coupled to the first current mirror, the second current mirror including the second output transistor. |
| US10860043B2 |
Fast transient response voltage regulator with pre-boosting
A circuit and a method for supplying a regulated voltage to a target circuit characterized by fast changes in current loading are described. A voltage regulator supplies the regulated voltage to an output node. The voltage regulator has a transistor having a gate, a first terminal connected to a power supply terminal, and a second terminal connected to the output node of the voltage regulator. A voltage transition generator is capacitively coupled to the gate of the transistor to increase or decrease its driving power upon occurrence of an event in the target circuit indicating a change in current loading. The change in current loading can have an expected magnitude, and the voltage transition can have a magnitude that is a function of an expected magnitude of the increase or decrease in current loading. |
| US10860035B2 |
Travel history storage method, method for producing travel path model, method for estimating local position, and travel history storage device
A method of storing a travel history uses a controller to store the travel history of a vehicle in a storage device for each link of a traveling path. The method includes determining that one or more travel histories in a link are one type or two or more types of travel histories on the basis of a predetermined determination condition and storing the two or more types of travel histories in the link in the storage device so as to be sorted for the determined two or more types. |
| US10860033B2 |
Movable object and method for controlling the same
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a movable object and a method for controlling the same. A method for controlling a movable object may include acquiring virtual data representing distances between each of a plurality of positions within an area and surfaces in the area, in a plurality of directions, respectively, based on a map of the area. An algorithm, such as a machine learning algorithm, may be executed that outputs positions corresponding to the virtual data. Actual distance data between the movable object and a plurality of surfaces in the vicinity of the movable object may be acquired. An actual position of the movable object may then be estimated corresponding to the actual distance data by executing the algorithm using the actual distance data. The movable object may be controlled based on the estimated actual position. |
| US10860032B2 |
System and method for adaptive infrared emitter power optimization for simultaneous localization and mapping
A wearable headset information handling system infrared emitter power optimization system may comprise a memory storing an association between an active infrared (IR) light emitter mounted to the wearable headset and a calibration intensity at which the IR light emitter emits light during a calibration phase, wherein the active IR light emitter is identified based on its position with respect to the field of view of the wearable headset. A SLAM engine may determine a calibration distance between the active IR light emitter and a first farthest identified object and determine an image projection distance between the active IR light emitter and a nearby virtual object. The processor may determine a first light intensity cap for the active IR light emitter based on the calibration distance, the calibration intensity, and the image projection distance, and the active IR light emitter may emit light according to the first light intensity cap. |
| US10860027B2 |
Method of road vehicle trajectory planning
The present disclosure relates to a method of trajectory planning for maneuvers for an ego vehicle (E) equipped with a sensor systems, a prediction systems, a control system, and a decision-making system. The method includes determining possible lateral motion trajectories of a requested maneuver, longitudinal safety critical zones which correspond to each of the determined possible lateral motion trajectories, a longitudinal motion trajectory of the requested maneuver, lateral safety critical zones which correspond to the determined longitudinal motion trajectory of the requested maneuver, and a lateral motion trajectory of the requested maneuver. The present disclosure also relates to a driver assistance system arranged to perform the method and a vehicle including such a system. |
| US10860020B2 |
System and method for adaptive perception in a vehicle
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to selectively processing sensor data to perceive aspects of a surrounding environment of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to identifying attributes of the surrounding environment from sensor data of one or more sensors, selecting a perception technique from a plurality of perception techniques according to a human-based perception model that correlates the plurality of perception techniques with the attributes to identify which of the plurality of perception techniques efficiently process the sensor data. The method includes analyzing the sensor data using the perception technique to perceive characteristics of the surrounding environment that pertain to autonomously controlling the vehicle. The method includes autonomously controlling the vehicle according to the characteristics to navigate through the surrounding environment. |
| US10860017B2 |
Determining lane assignment based on recognized landmark location
Systems and methods are provided for determining a lane assignment for an autonomous vehicle along a road segment. In one implementation, at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle is received from a camera. The at least one image may be analyzed to identify at least one recognized landmark, and an indicator of a lateral offset distance between the vehicle and the at least one recognized landmark may be determined. Moreover, a lane assignment of the vehicle along the road segment may be determined based on the indicator of the lateral offset distance between the vehicle and the at least one recognized landmark. |
| US10860016B1 |
Automated site based mission planning system
Generation and assignment of tasks based on a pre-generated and updateable mission may be utilized to reduce risk and dangers associated with allowing multiple autonomous vehicles to operate within a site. In some cases, the site may be divided into sub-regions with particular vehicles assigned, paths and segments as horizontal divisions of the sub-region and layers as vertical division of the sub-region. The vehicles may then be assigned to a perform operations related to tasks associated with a sub-region, path or segment, and layer. |
| US10860015B2 |
Systems and methods for unmanned positioning and delivery of rental vehicles
A managing apparatus for positioning rental vehicles includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the managing apparatus to access model information and location information for a plurality of autonomous vehicles, receive a request including a delivery location and a chosen model for renting, select an autonomous vehicle of the chosen model from among the plurality of autonomous vehicles based on the model information, the location information, and the delivery location, instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to fully-autonomously or semi-autonomously travel to the delivery location, and instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to switch to manual operation mode at the delivery location for manual operation by a vehicle rental customer. |
| US10860012B2 |
KPI calculation rule builder for advance plant monitoring and diagnostics
A system and a method related to a key performance indicator (KPI) analysis system with a KPI rules builder and a method to generate configurable diagnostic KPI rules. The diagnostic engine for the KPI analysis system can be set up for easy usage by a user without detailed knowledge of specific sensor parameters in relation to the KPI rules. Instead, the KPI rules builder may provide a high level, abstract, organizational interface for generating KPI rules without specific preset correspondence of sensors to KPI rules. |
| US10860011B2 |
Using a digital twin to facilitate environment-specific prognostic-surveillance operations for engineering assets in the field
During operation, the system receives time-series signals from sensors in the asset while the asset is operating. Next, the system obtains real-time environmental parameters for an environment in which the asset is operating. The system then selects an environment-specific inferential model for the asset based on the real-time environmental parameters, wherein the environment-specific inferential model was trained on a golden system while the golden system was operating in an environment that matches the real-time environmental parameters. Next, the system uses the environment-specific inferential model to generate estimated values for the received time-series signals based on correlations among the received time-series signals, and performs a pairwise-differencing operation between actual values and the estimated values for the received time-series signals to produce residuals. Finally, the system determines from the residuals whether the asset is operating correctly. |
| US10860009B1 |
Apparatus for dismantling a plurality of hard disk drives
A method and apparatus for efficiently dismantling hard disk drives, including a holder assembly to clamp a hard disk drive, a scanner that reads identification information of the hard disk drive. A chain conveyor belt indexes the hard disk drive to a position at which a logic board of the hard disk drive is peeled off and dropped into a bin, and to a position at which a lid of the hard disk drive is separated from a housing by way of a wedge, and indexes to a punch position at which magnets are punched in a direction from the logic board side of the hard disk drive. By separating and disposing the logic board and the lid, each hard disk drive is efficiently and securely dismantled. |
| US10860008B2 |
Method and system for lot-tool assignment
A method is disclosed and includes generating a tool-lot relationship based on at least one process constraint and a dispatching rule which includes dispatching preferences for operating at least one lot; assigning the at least one lot to at least one tool by using the tool-lot relationship; and the at least one tool, assigned using the tool-lot relationship, processing the at least one lot by utilization of the tool-lot relationship to manufacture semiconductor devices on at least one wafer in the at least one lot. |
| US10860007B2 |
Smart resource manager in unified automation platforms for robotic process automation
Implementations directed to managing resources executing in one or more RPA platforms, and include actions of receiving process data representative of two or more processes executed by resources in a RPA platform, and resource data representative of the resources in the RPA platform, determining a process rank for each of the two or more processes, respectively, for at least one process, calculating a number of resources required to complete the process in conformance with a SLA governing the process, and transmitting instructions through a platform adapter to provision at least one additional resource to execute the process within the RPA platform, the platform adapter being specific to the RPA platform, and being one of a plurality of platform adapters. |
| US10860003B2 |
Servo controller
The servo controller is provided with a command reception unit and a servo control computation unit. In a measurement mode, the command reception unit asynchronously receives with every command reception period a counter output by the control device with every command update period. The servo controller is further provided with an event detection unit configured to detect the occurrence of an event which entails variation in reception intervals of the counter in the measurement mode, a deviation calculation unit configured to calculate a deviation amount between respective clocks of the control device and the servo controller, based on an occurrence period of the event and the command reception period, in the measurement mode, and a reception period adjustment unit configured to adjust the command reception period based on the deviation amount in an operation mode. |
| US10860000B2 |
Power system stabilization system and method
It is possible by means of a system simulation device to extract a disturbance mode wherein multiple accident conditions are assumed and to determine control parameters, but when the number of accident conditions increases, a threshold value pertaining to a divergence constant deviates prior to an update period, with the result that an uncontrollable disturbance mode appears. In order to solve this problem, the present invention is a power system stabilization system for determining control parameters for a control device connected to a power system, the power system stabilization system equipped with: a disturbance mode prediction unit for predicting a disturbance mode of a power system on the basis of operation information and an assumed system configuration for the power system; a post-control parameter update period prediction unit for predicting an update period for a post-control parameter in post-control after a disturbance has occurred; a threshold value setting unit for setting a threshold value pertaining to a divergence constant on the basis of the disturbance mode and the update period for the post-control parameter; and a control parameter determination unit for determining a control parameter of the control device on the basis of the disturbance mode and the threshold value. |
| US10859998B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for autonomous activation of an optical forklift alignment apparatus using sensors
An activation system and method for an optical alignment system that may comprise one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), and pressure sensors. The system may also comprise at least one limit switch. The sensors and switch provide signals containing information about the movement, position or orientation of the system to a controller. The controller uses the sensor and switch information to estimate the position or orientation, or both, of the system. The system activates the optical alignment light source when predetermined thresholds are exceeded. Filtering such as low-pass, high-pass, and other filtering such as Kalman filtering may be used to remove unwanted frequencies from the filter data prior to processing by the controller. The invention may comprise the activation system alone or in combination with an optical alignment system. An exemplary use is for forklift optical alignment systems. |
| US10859994B2 |
Bias setting in a scent delivery system
A scent delivery system includes scent delivery units that are configured to deliver scent at a variable scent level by being turned on and off successively according to a variable duty cycle. The scent delivery units are associated with corresponding base scent settings. The scent delivery system also includes a central controller configured to control the scent delivery units by generating command data based on a scenting schedule that indicates a desired activation time for more than one implicated scent delivery unit. The scenting schedule is configured to further indicate a scent level bias to be applied to the base scent settings that are associated with different of the implicated scent delivery units. The central controller is configured to generate the command data, based upon a variation in the scent level bias, that takes into account a corresponding variation to duty cycles that are associated with different of the implicated scent delivery units and to communicate the command data to the different implicated scent delivery units. |
| US10859974B2 |
Sheet discharge tray having an air cleaner
A sheet discharge tray includes a duct part provided at an upper side of the tray body to form a sheet discharge path communicating with the sheet discharge port and formed in the lower surface thereof with a discharge port that discharges a sheet, a suction fan provided in the duct part to suck air in the image forming apparatus body through the sheet discharge port and to discharge the air from an end part of the duct part, which is opposite to a side of the image forming apparatus body, and a deodorization filter provided in the duct part. |
| US10859967B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space. |
| US10859966B2 |
Developer container storage apparatus
A developer container storage apparatus includes a storage portion, a door, a locking member, a lock urging portion, a driving source, a rotation shaft, a cylindrical sleeve, and an engage portion. When the door is in the close state, the rotation shaft is located at the engage position, and if the rotation shaft rotates, the engage portion switches the locking member from the first position to the second position so that the door is made unlockable in the close state. When the door is in an open state, the rotation shaft is located at the disengage position, and the lock urging portion switches the locking member from the second position to the first position so that the door is made lockable in the close state. |
| US10859963B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus including an image bearer and a cleaning blade is provided. The cleaning blade comprises an elastic member configured to contact a surface of the image bearer to remove toner particles remaining thereon. The elastic member comprises a substrate and a surface layer comprising a cured product of a curable composition and a siloxane compound. The surface layer is disposed on at least a part of a lower surface of the substrate. The surface layer has a hardness gradient in which a Martens hardness HM measured using a nanoindenter decreases from a surface of the surface layer toward the lower surface of the substrate in a thickness direction, and the Martens hardness HM measured in a region extending from a vicinity of the surface (with a load of 1 μN) to a deepest part in the thickness direction (with a load of 1,000 μN) ranges from 2.5 to 32.5 N/mm2. The toner has a tensile breaking force F of from 200 to 450 gf (from 1.96 to 4.41 N), measured using a powder layer compression/tensile strength measurement device under a load of 32 kgf (313.81 N). |
| US10859962B2 |
System for wiping a photoconductive surface
In an example, a first wiper blade is to contact the photoconductive surface and to wipe at least some of particles and fluid from the photoconductive surface and wherein a second wiper blade is to contact the photoconductive surface and to wipe at least some of the particles and fluid that have passed the first wiper blade, from the photoconductive surface. The first wiper blade includes at least one perforation forming a passage through the wiper blade to transmit part of the particles and fluid during wiping. |
| US10859960B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and information processing system
An image processing apparatus configured to connect with an information management server that manages information relating to a service contracted for the image processing apparatus, includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from the information management server, the information relating to the service contracted for the image processing apparatus, and a notification unit configured to perform notification to the information management server in order to activate service setting that has been determined as being invalid by the information management server, of a service contracted for the image processing apparatus, based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US10859959B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus (1) includes a display (20), a detector (30), a determination section (101), a processing section (102), and an image forming section (140). The display (20) displays an image exhibiting a seating chart including a plurality of seat images. The detector (30) detects a first movement trace of a detection target on the display (20). The determination section (101) determines an order of the plurality of seat images based on the first movement trace. The processing section (102) processes an original document image to generate a plurality of output images respectively corresponding to the plurality of seat images. The image forming section (140) forms the plurality of output images on a plurality of sheets, respectively, in accordance with the order determined by the determination section (101). At least two output images of the plurality of output images are at least partially different from each other. |
| US10859958B1 |
Image forming apparatus that transfers data from volatile cache memory to non-volatile storage based on power supply state and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a printer, a controller configured to transmit a control signal to the printer to control the printer, a storage device including a volatile cache memory region and a non-volatile storage region, and a power control circuit. The power control circuit is configured to supply power from an external power source thereto to the printer and the controller, and supply auxiliary power stored therein when the power from the external power source is cut off. The controller includes a processor configured to, in case that the power from the external power source is cut off, instruct the storage device to transfer data from the volatile cache memory region to the non-volatile storage region, and then cause power supplied to the processor to be cut off. |
| US10859957B2 |
Toner cartridge extrusion device and image forming apparatus including the same
A toner cartridge extrusion device that extrudes a toner cartridge with a driving force of a driver is provided. The toner cartridge extrusion device includes a single detector that performs drive detection to detect drive of the driver and extrusion detection to detect whether or not the toner cartridge has been extruded. |
| US10859951B2 |
Electrophotographic belt having grooves and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic belt that, despite long-term usage, is not susceptible to unevenness in cleaning by a cleaning blade in a width direction. The electrophotographic belt has an endless shape and has grooves on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the grooves each extending in a circumferential direction of the electrophotographic belt, when equally dividing a groove-formed area of the outer circumferential surface into three areas in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the electrophotographic belt, and calculating average values of depths of the grooves contained in the three areas respectively to obtain Dm, De1 and De2, where Dm is an average value of depths of the grooves in a central area, De1 and De2 are average values of depths of the grooves contained in both ends areas, Dm, De1 and De2 satisfy equations (1) and (2): Dm |
| US10859950B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an intermediary transfer belt, first to third image bearing members, a driving member, and first and second drive transmission members, and includes first to third transfer positions. A first inter-transfer-position distance between the first and second transfer positions and a second inter-transfer-position distance between the second and third transfer positions are different from each other. The first inter-transfer-position distance is set at “N×A” and the second inter-transfer-position distance is set at “N×A±N×A/i”, where N is an integer of rotations of the driving member during to movement of the belt in the first inter-transfer-position distance, A is a distance of movement of the belt when the driving member rotates through one full circumference, and i is a transmission ratio between the first and second drive transmission members. |
| US10859948B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developer tank holding a developer, and a transporting member stirring and transporting the developer. The transporting member includes first and second screws each provided with a rotary shaft having a spiral blade disposed on an outer circumferential face of the rotary shaft. The first and second screws are disposed such that the rotary shafts are parallel to each other. The developer tank includes a first compartment accommodating the first screw, a second compartment accommodating the second screw, a partition separating the first compartment and the second compartment, and a circulation zone. The circulation zone includes an opening in the partition that allows the developer to flow through. The first and second compartments have bottom faces at different heights. A protrusion is formed on a bottom face in the circulation zone. |
| US10859945B2 |
Corner tie attachment for a bag liner for receiving a powder such as toner
A tie attachment assembly, including a first layer including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including an adhesive, a fold line, a second layer, including a third surface, a fourth surface connected to the first surface, a first cutout arranged on a first side of the fold line, and a second cutout arranged on a second side of the fold line, opposite the first side. |
| US10859938B2 |
Charging member for electrophotographic equipment
The present disclosure provides a charging member for electrophotographic equipment capable of providing constant and excellent uniform chargeability over a long period of time from low-temperature and low-humidity through high-temperature and high-humidity environments, while suppressing bleeding. A charging member for electrophotographic equipment includes an elastic layer and a surface layer formed around the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes the following (a) through (c): (a) an ion conducting agent that is solid at room temperature; (b) an ion conducting agent that is liquid at room temperature; and (c) an electron conducting agent with an average grain diameter of 25 to 90 nm and a DBP absorption of 152 ml/100 g or below. |
| US10859933B2 |
Magnetic toner
A magnetic toner comprising a magnetic toner particle including a binder resin, a magnetic body and a crystalline polyester, wherein the dielectric loss tangent at 100 kHz is 1.0×10−2 or more, a variation coefficient CV3 of an occupied area ratio of the magnetic body when a cross section of the magnetic toner particle is divided by a square grid having a side of 0.8 μm in cross-sectional observation of the magnetic toner particle using a transmission electron microscope TEM is from 30.0% to 80.0%, and where a storage elastic modulus of the magnetic toner at 40° C. is taken as E′(40) [Pa] and a storage elastic modulus of the magnetic toner at 85° C. is taken as E′(85) [Pa], the following formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: E′(85)≤5.5×109 (1) [E′(40)−E′(85)]×100/E′(40)≥30 (2). |
| US10859931B2 |
Toner and two-component developer
A toner having an inorganic fine particle and a toner particle containing a binder resin, wherein the binder resin contains a polymer A having a first monomer unit derived from a first polymerizable monomer and a second monomer unit derived from a second polymerizable monomer that is different from the first polymerizable monomer, the first polymerizable monomer is selected from the (meth)acrylic acid esters each having a C18-36 alkyl group, the content of the first monomer unit in the polymer A is within a specific range, the SP value of the first monomer unit and the SP value of the second monomer unit are in a specific relationship to one another, the inorganic fine particle is surface treated with a compound having an alkyl group, and the volume resistivity of the inorganic fine particle is within a specific range. |
| US10859920B2 |
Mask and fabrication method thereof, display panel and touch panel
A fabrication method of a mask and a mask, a display panel and a touch panel are provided. The fabrication method of the mask includes: providing a substrate; forming a photoresist material layer on the substrate; and performing at least two scanning exposure processes on the photoresist material layer by using a scanning beam, wherein, each of the at least two scanning exposure processes is performed along a first direction parallel to a surface where the substrate is located, the scanning beam in each of the at least two scanning exposure processes scans the photoresist material layer in a scanning region having a preset width, at least one pair of adjacent scanning regions partially overlap with each other, and a partially overlapping region of the at least one pair of adjacent scanning regions is located in a first region of the mask. |
| US10859918B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and method of operating the same
A method for operating a semiconductor apparatus includes generating a plurality of target droplets, deforming the target droplets into a plurality of target plumes respectively, changing an orientation of at least one of the target plumes, and generating a plurality of EUV radiations from the target plumes respectively. At least one of the EUV radiations irradiates an area on the light collector different from other EUV radiations in response to the orientation of the at least one of the target plumes. |
| US10859916B2 |
Composition for forming fine pattern and method for forming fine pattern using the same
[Problem] To provide a composition for forming a fine pattern having a good pattern shape even after being applied to a thick-film resist, a high size reduction rate and less defects, as well as a method for forming a fine pattern using the same.[Means for Solution] A composition comprising vinyl resin, an amine compound having a specific cage-type three-dimensional structure and a solvent, and a method for forming a fine pattern using the same. |
| US10859912B2 |
Imprint apparatus, imprint method, and article manufacturing method
An imprint apparatus includes a mold holder for holding a mold, a substrate holder for holding a substrate, a dispenser for arranging imprint material on the substrate, and a scope for capturing an image of a mark. The substrate holder includes a reference plate having a reference mark whose image is captured by the scope, the dispenser is arranged in a first direction when viewed from the mold holder, and the reference plate is arranged between a virtual straight line which is parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when viewed from the mold holder and passes through a center of the substrate holder, and an edge of the substrate holder located in the first direction when viewed from the virtual straight line. |
| US10859911B2 |
Multi-tone amplitude photomask
A method of fabricating a multi-tone amplitude photomask includes providing a mask substrate. The method includes providing a stepped pattern in at least one layer of material on a surface of the mask substrate. The stepped pattern includes at least two steps and at least three levels. Each level of the stepped pattern provides a different intensity of light when a light source shines light on the stepped pattern. |
| US10859907B2 |
Method for preparing column spacer
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a column spacer, and is characterized in using a mask including first, second, and third patterns having different light transmittance. In addition, according to the method for preparing a column spacer of the present invention, a taper angle between a matrix part and a spacer part may increase during manufacturing a column spacer in which the matrix part and the spacer part are continuously connected, and critical dimension of the spacer part may decrease. Therefore, a column spacer with fine patterns may be simply and efficiently manufactured. |
| US10859906B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet alignment marks
The present disclosure describes a method to form alignment marks on or in the top layer of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask blank without the use of photolithographic methods. For example, the method can include forming a metal structure on the top layer of the EUV mask blank by dispensing a hexacarbonylchromium vapor on the top layer of the EUV mask and exposing the hexacarbonylchromium vapor to an electron-beam. The hexacarbonylchromium vapor is decomposed to form the metal structure at an area which is proximate to where the hexacarbonylchromium vapors interact with the electron-beam. In another example, the method can include forming a patterned structure in the top layer of an EUV mask blank with the use of an etcher aperture and an etching process. |
| US10859895B2 |
Projector apparatus
A projector apparatus that can effectively reduce bending of a base plate supporting a lens shifting unit thereon and facilitates replacement of unit parts in the event of a failure is provided. The projector apparatus includes: a base plate attached inside a projector body; a lens supporting unit attached to the base plate and supporting a projection lens so as to be movable relative to the base plate; guiding mechanisms for guiding the lens supporting unit so as to be freely movable in a horizontal direction and a normal direction relative to the base plate; and fixing devices which fix the base plate to the projector body. The fixing devices include a plurality of first fixing devices provided at a peripheral edge of the base plate, and second fixing devices provided on an inner side of the plurality of first fixing devices. |
| US10859892B2 |
Electronic device
The electronic device can be used with an accessory module that is a second device attached to a device main body that is a first device. The accessory module includes a locking member that is held so as to be able to be turned. The locking member includes a ring-shaped portion that has a plurality of claw portions and an operation portion for performing a turning operation. The device main body 1 includes a plurality of claw portions corresponding to the plurality of claw portions of the locking member. The claw portions and the claw portions engage with each other in a state in which the accessory module is attached to the device main body by the turning operation of the operation portion, and the claw portions and the claw portions are not engaged in a state in which the accessory module can be removed from the device main body. |
| US10859889B2 |
Systems, methods, and structures for improved supercontinuum generation
Aspects of the present disclosure describe improved supercontinuum generation based upon alternating optical dispersion along a waveguide length that advantageously generates much more spectral bandwidth than possible with conventional, prior art techniques without losing coherence as well as supporting a larger range of pulse energies (i.e., for lower than conventionally allowed pulse energies or high pulse energies). |
| US10859888B2 |
System for generating brief or ultra-brief light pulses
Disclosed is a system for generating short or ultra-short light pulses, including a light source configured to emit temporally continuous-wave light radiation, an electrical generator configured to operate at a tunable frequency in a passband included between 5 and 100 GHz and to emit an analogue modulating electrical signal including at least one electrical pulse of duration included between 10 ps and 100 ps, and an electro-optical modulator having electrodes and an electrical passband that are suitable for receiving the analog modulating electrical signal, the electro-optical modulator being configured to optically amplitude modulate the continuous-wave light radiation depending of the analog modulating electrical signal and to generate modulated light radiation including at least one light pulse of duration included between 10 ps and 100 ps. |
| US10859883B2 |
Array substrate, method for maintaining breakage thereof, and display apparatus
The embodiments of the present disclosure propose an array substrate, a display apparatus, and a maintaining method. The array substrate comprises: a first signal line disposed in a first direction; a second signal line disposed in a second direction different from the first direction; and a maintaining part disposed adjacent to an intersection region of the first signal line which overlaps with the second signal line, electrically connected to a common electrode line, and is electrically insulated from the first signal line. |
| US10859876B2 |
Display panel, method for fabricating the same and display device
The disclosure discloses a display panel, a method for fabricating the same, and a display device, and the display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite to each other, wherein the display panel further includes an isolation layer, and the isolation layer, the first substrate, and the second substrate define together a sealed chamber. |
| US10859872B2 |
Method to utilize force sensors to adjust the LCD pattern or brightness on a display
A system comprising a display, a display cover, a plurality of sensors disposed between the display and the display cover and a lighting control system coupled to the display and the plurality of sensors, the lighting control system configured to receive one or more signals from the plurality of sensors and to reduce a backlight level of a subgroup of lighting elements associated with the one or more sensors associated with the one or more signals, wherein the subgroup of lighting elements is one of a plurality of subgroups of lighting elements of the display. |
| US10859870B2 |
3D displays
Embodiments described herein relate to three dimensional (3D) display apparatus. In one embodiment, the 3D display apparatus include a polychromatic backlight unit comprising an emissive light source, a collimator comprising a plurality of collimating features coupled to and in optical communication with the backlight unit, and a diffractive element comprising a plurality of gratings coupled to and in optical communication with the collimator. In other embodiments, the 3D display apparatus includes a monochromatic backlight unit, an LCD module, and a quantum dot containing film. |
| US10859864B2 |
Display device
The present invention provides a display device including: a first liquid crystal cell including a first electrode layer, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer, and a first array substrate, wherein the first array substrate includes a second electrode layer, the second electrode layer includes a plurality of first pixel electrodes, and a light source is disposed at a side of the first liquid crystal cell. |
| US10859861B2 |
Virtual reality and/or augmented reality viewer having variable transparency
According to one implementation, a dual-mode augmented reality and virtual reality viewer (AR/VR viewer) includes a device configured to provide AR and VR effects, the device including a display screen, a VR shield, and a transparency control unit coupled to the VR shield. The AR/VR viewer also includes a computing platform for generating the AR and VR effects communicatively coupled to the device. The display screen has a user facing first surface for receiving the AR and VR effects, and a second surface opposite the user facing first surface. The display screen or a transmissive layer adjoining the display screen is configured to have a variable transparency. The VR shield is configured to be one of substantially transparent in an AR mode and substantially opaque in a VR mode under the control of the transparency control unit. |
| US10859860B2 |
Electro-optic modulator device, optical device and method of making an optical device
An electro-optic modulator device includes a modulation region, a reflecting region, a conductive line and an anti-reflecting region. The modulation region includes a doped region. The reflecting region is over the modulation region. The conductive line is connected to the doped region. The conductive line extends through the reflecting region. The anti-reflecting region is on an opposite surface of the modulation region from the reflecting region. |
| US10859852B2 |
Real-time video processing for pyramid holographic projections
Various techniques are described herein that provide for a real-time image or video processing system that is able to capture and stream or record/store video content of an object, and turn the captured content into a new video format that can be properly projected onto a pyramid holographic projector. In one specific embodiment, the techniques herein capture a video selfie of a user and stream it live or else store it for playback later as a saved message. Other embodiments, such as controlled avatars, animated characters, etc., may also be converted from a standard 2D format into a pyramid hologram format, either in real-time or else during post-processing, accordingly. |
| US10859851B2 |
Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products
An optical product can be configured to be an anti-counterfeit feature such as a patch, a window, or a thread on a banknote. The optical product can be configured, when illuminated, to reproduce by reflected or refracted light, a 3D image of at least a part of a 3D object. The optical product can include a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface can include a plurality of portions. Each portion can correspond to a point on a surface of the 3D object. Each portion can include features corresponding to non-holographic elements on the optical product. A gradient in the features can correlate to an inclination of the surface of the 3D object at the corresponding point. An orientation of the features can correlate to an orientation of the surface of the 3D object at the corresponding point. |
| US10859849B2 |
Autostereoscopic three-dimensional display device
The disclosure relates to an autostereoscopic 3D display device for minimizing luminance difference in a view as well as a luminance difference between views. The 3D display device includes a display panel including pixels and a black matrix including openings exposing portions of the pixels, each of the pixels including a pixel electrode including a plurality of first fingers and a common electrode including a plurality of second fingers disposed between the first fingers, and a 3D optical plate disposed on a front surface or a rear surface of the display panel. At least two adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction have different shapes exposed by the plurality of openings. |
| US10859846B2 |
Optical unit with shake correction function
The disclosure reduces the size of an optical unit with a shake correction function provided with a filter switching function and reduces the power consumption. An optical unit with a shake correction function includes a fixed body; a movable body having an optical element; an oscillation support mechanism configured to oscillatably support the movable body with respect to the fixed body; and a shake correction drive mechanism configured to oscillate the movable body, such that the movable body includes a filter and a filter switching mechanism configured to switch the presence or absence of the filter, and the oscillation support mechanism is arranged at a position overlapping the shake correction drive mechanism when seen from a direction perpendicular to a direction of an optical axis of the optical element, and the filter and the filter switching mechanism are arranged at a subject side of the optical element. |
| US10859845B2 |
Projection device, projection image control method, and recording medium having projection image control program recorded thereon
A projection device is provided with at least: a laser light source which emits laser light; a conversion unit which converts the laser light into parallel light; a phase-modulation-type spatial modulation element which phase-modulates the parallel light on the basis of a supplied projection image and delivers phase-modulated light; and a control unit. The control unit includes: a projection image storage unit in which at least one projection image group is stored; a processing unit which, with respect to one projection image acquired from the projection image storage unit in synchronism with an update period, generates a combination of a plurality of diffraction patterns in the update period; and a projection image generation unit which supplies the combination of a plurality of diffraction patterns to the phase-modulation-type spatial modulation element as the supplied projection image. |
| US10859844B2 |
Systems for lateral movement of optical modules
An optical system comprises a first optical module and a second optical module. A tensioned element includes an upper segment attached to the first optical module and a lower segment attached to the second optical module. Movement of the tensioned element thus generates opposing movement of the first and second optical modules, the first optical module moving in a direction parallel to a direction of movement of the upper segment, and the second optical module moving in a direction parallel to a direction of movement of the lower segment. |
| US10859843B1 |
Backplate for head-mounted displays
A backplate for a head-mounted display (HMD) is disclosed. The backplate provides structural support as well as thermal cooling for components coupled to the backplate. The backplate includes a plurality of mounting regions that are used to couple components to the backplate. The mounting regions may include camera mounting regions (e.g., for inside-out tracking), an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounting region, circuit board mounting regions, heat pipe mounting region, and a fan mounting region. The mounting regions may be specific to the component. In various embodiments, the backplate is a single diecast metal plate that includes the mounting regions designed to provide certain levels of thermal management, stiffness, and conductivity (e.g., ground) for the HMD. |
| US10859841B2 |
Augmented reality image device
An augmented reality image device is provided and includes a display, a mirror, a reflector, and a front mask. The display has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The mirror and the front mask are disposed at the first side of the display. The first reflector is disposed at the second side of the display. The front mask has a reflection area. The display emits an image light from the first side to the mirror. The image light is reflected by the mirror to the reflector. The reflector reflects the image light to the reflection area of the front mask. Therefore, a virtual image caused by the image light in the reflection area is combined with a real image to generate an augmented reality image. |
| US10859839B2 |
Head mounted display
A head mounted display has a display unit to generate a displayed image, an illumination unit to emit illumination light to the display unit, a projection unit to project image light from the display unit, and a light guide unit to transmit image light from the projection unit to pupils of a user. Here, the illumination unit has light source units, a microlens array that is illuminated by light emitted from the light source units and becomes a virtual secondary light source, a condensing optical member to focus light from the microlens array on the display unit, and a diffusion plate to diffuse light from the microlens array, and the diffusion plate is arranged closer to the condensing optical member than to the microlens array. As a result, a conjugate image is inhibited from being generated with the adoption of a microlens array. |
| US10859837B2 |
Optical combiner lens for wearable heads-up display
An optical combiner lens for a wearable heads-up display includes a first lens, a second lens, and a lightguide disposed between the first lens and the second lens to form a stack. A first medium gap is defined within the stack and between the first lens and the lightguide, and a second medium gap is defined within the stack and between the lightguide and the second lens. An in-coupler is positioned to receive light into the lightguide. An out-coupler is positioned to output light from the lightguide. |
| US10859835B2 |
Head-mounted display apparatus and method for controlling imaging data of head-mounted display apparatus using release code
A head-mounted display (HMD) includes a controller configured to follow an order of execution, execute a plurality of work blocks included in process flow data, and in accordance with settings of the process flow data regarding the work blocks, control whether use of imaging data is allowed. When one of the work blocks is disallowed to use imaging data of a camera, and the work block is executed, and when a release code is entered, the controller allows use of the imaging data. When the imaging data is used and as a result a condition set beforehand is satisfied, the controller disallows use of the imaging data of the camera. |
| US10859834B2 |
Space-efficient optical structures for wide field-of-view augmented reality (AR) eyewear
This invention comprises novel optical structures for Augmented Reality (AR) eyewear which can potentially improve virtual image quality, reduce eyewear size, selectively mask environmental light, and enable multiple focal planes. An optical structure for AR eyewear can comprise an annular array of light-energy emitters around a lens in front of a person's eye, wherein the lens has a plurality of nested annular light guides. This optical structure can also include an array of selectively-movable light reflectors. |
| US10859832B1 |
Mitigating light exposure to elements of a focus adjusting head mounted display
A head-mounted display (HMD) includes an optics block and an electronic display. A varifocal actuation block included in the HMD adjusts a location of an image plane by adjusting a position of the optics block or the electronic display. Responsive to the varifocal actuation block being powered down or a determination that the HMD is not being worn, the varifocal actuation block changes focus of light directed towards the electronic display by the optics block so the light is not focused on the electronic display. For example, the varifocal actuation block maximizes defocusing of light on the electronic display by the optics block. Additionally, when the HMD is powered on, the varifocal actuation block may also reposition the optics block and the electronic display relative to other so light directed towards the electronic display by the optics block illuminates different areas of the electronic display at different times. |
| US10859828B2 |
Smart glasses
Provided is smart glasses including a spectacle frame having a lens frame to which a pair of lenses or a display is coupled and a pair of spectacle temples which extends from both ends of the lens frame in one direction; a cartridge detachably mounted on the spectacle frame and in which a functional material contained; a spray nozzle which is provided at a nose pad portion of the lens frame and discharges the functional material contained in the cartridge to an outside; and a supply path formed inside the spectacle frame to supply the functional material from the cartridge to the spray nozzle. |
| US10859827B2 |
Combiner and head-up display device
A combiner is fastened to a base in a mobile object with a fastening member having a planar seat surface. The combiner displays a display light image as a virtual image visible to an occupant in the mobile object when the display light image is projected from a projection unit. The combiner includes a projection main body and a fastening protrusion. The projection main body is set with a projection region and has reflection surfaces displaying a virtual image by reflecting the display light image projected onto the projection region in a shape of a curved surface. The fastening protrusion has a planar fastening surface in surface contact with the seat surface. The fastening protrusion protrudes from the projection main body and is fastened to the base with the fastening member inserted into the fastening protrusion. |
| US10859820B2 |
Head-up display device
A head-up display device is configured to project a display image in a vehicle onto a projection member that transmits an external real image to display the display image superimposed on the external real image for virtual image display visible to an occupant in the vehicle. A projection unit is configured to project a notification image as the display image for notifying the occupant of specific information onto the projection member. A display control unit is configured to control the projection unit to adjust a virtual image display state of the display image and to cut a virtual image display of specific pixels forming an inner portion inside an outer edge portion of the notification image. |
| US10859818B2 |
Cleaning system for a camera lens
A camera lens includes a cover adapted to at least partially enclose at least one camera having at least one camera lens, drive means adapted to rotationally move the cover relative to the camera, and a housing adapted to hold the cover and the drive means, where the housing at least partially encloses the cover and includes at least one opening for allowing electromagnetic radiation to pass through the cover to the lens. A rear view display for a vehicle includes such a cleaning system, and a vehicle includes such a rear view display. |
| US10859812B2 |
Dynamic field of view variable focus display system
An augmented reality (AR) device is described with a display system configured to adjust an apparent distance between a user of the AR device and virtual content presented by the AR device. The AR device includes a first tunable lens that change shape in order to affect the position of the virtual content. Distortion of real-world content on account of the changes made to the first tunable lens is prevented by a second tunable lens that changes shape to stay substantially complementary to the optical configuration of the first tunable lens. In this way, the virtual content can be positioned at almost any distance relative to the user without degrading the view of the outside world or adding extensive bulk to the AR device. The augmented reality device can also include tunable lenses for expanding a field of view of the augmented reality device. |
| US10859806B2 |
Magnifying observation apparatus
To easily obtain a magnified observation image in which a user's intention is reflected. A side-view image acquired by a side-view image capturing unit is displayed on a display unit. An arbitrary position designation by a user is received on the side-view image displayed on the display unit. A magnifying observation apparatus is controlled based on the received position. |
| US10859800B2 |
Imaging lens
Compact imaging lens which maintains low-profileness, wide field of view, and properly corrects various aberrations. Imaging lens includes first lens having positive refractive power and convex surface facing object side near an optical axis, second lens having negative refractive power and concave surface facing image side near optical axis, third lens having positive refractive power and concave surface facing image side near optical axis as double-sided aspheric lens, fourth lens having meniscus shape with positive refractive power and concave surface facing object side near optical axis, fifth lens as double-sided aspheric lens, and sixth lens having negative refractive power and concave surface facing image side near optical axis as double-sided aspheric lens, and conditional expression is satisfied: (1) 0.6<Σd/f<1.0, where Σd denotes distance along optical axis from object-side surface of first lens to image-side surface of sixth lens, and f denotes focal length of overall optical system of imaging lens. |
| US10859799B2 |
Optical image capturing system
The invention discloses a three-piece optical lens for capturing image and a three-piece optical module for capturing image. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis comprises a first lens with positive refractive power; a second lens with refractive power; and a third lens with refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the three lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US10859794B2 |
Automatic focusing device and system
The present disclosure provides an automatic focusing device, an automatic focusing electronic eyepiece and an electronic device. The automatic focusing device comprises a sensor drive unit, a master control unit and an interface unit. The master control unit is configured to control the sensor drive unit to enable the automatic focusing device to automatically focus by adjusting an image distance, the interface unit is configured to output image data of the measured target for display. |
| US10859793B2 |
Actuator for a camera module
An actuator includes an oscillating unit including two or more oscillation circuits each configured to output an oscillation signal including a frequency, which is changed in response to movement of a detection target, a frequency down-converting unit configured to down-convert frequencies of two or more oscillation signals respectively output from the two or more oscillation circuits, and a determining unit configured to calculate a position of the detection target in response to two or more down-converted oscillation signals output from the frequency down-converting unit. |
| US10859792B2 |
Lens driving device, camera device and electronic apparatus
Provided are a lens driving device capable of miniaturizing the entire configuration, and a camera device and an electronic apparatus provided with the lens driving device. The lens driving device of the present disclosure includes: a lens support; a main body for supporting the lens support; a guide mechanism for guiding forward and backward movement of the lens support along an optical axial direction of the lens; and a driving mechanism for generating a driving force for driving the forward and backward movement of the lens support along the optical axial direction. The main body, the guide mechanism, and the driving mechanism are all provided only on one side in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the lens with respect to the center of the lens. |
| US10859791B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device and a focusing control method are provided. The imaging device includes: an imaging element, having pixels including phase-difference detecting pixels and imaging a subject through an imaging optical system including a focus lens; and a focusing controller, selectively performing focusing control using a phase difference AF method or focusing control using a contrast AF method in a mode in which focusing control for focusing on a main subject by driving the focus lens is continuously performed multiple times. The focusing controller performs the focusing control using the contrast AF method in a case where a state in which a degree of reliability of the focusing control using the phase difference AF method is equal to or less than a threshold value persists N times (N=2 or more), while the focusing control using the phase difference AF method is continuously performed. |
| US10859782B2 |
Fiber enclosure
The present disclosure provides improved media patching systems, and related methods of use. The present disclosure provides improved systems/methods for the design and use of patching systems configured to support multiple media connections (e.g., high density media connections). More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous systems/methods for the design and use of media patching systems that include improved features and structures (e.g., camming door; stackable cable manager members; tool-less mounting attachments; cable/fiber retention grommets; pivotable cable management arms; removable panel members; sliding label fields). Moreover, exemplary media patching systems disclosed herein advantageously provide improved access to the media connectors and/or cabling elements. |
| US10859780B2 |
Optical fiber unit, optical fiber cable, and method for manufacturing optical fiber unit
Two bundle materials are provided on the outer periphery of a plurality of optical fibers. The bundle materials are twisted back while reversing the winding from front to back and vice versa to thus wind the bundle materials around the plurality of optical fibers. That is, the bundle materials are not wound spirally around the plurality of optical fibers. The bundle materials are bonded at a bonding portion where both bundle materials intersect. The bonding portion is provided along a center line of an optical fiber unit. The bundle materials are arranged in ranges which are each approximately 180° and partitioned by the center line. |
| US10859773B2 |
Methods for forming connectorized fiber optic cabling
A connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly includes a loose tube fiber optic cable and a connector assembly. The cable has a termination end and includes an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers, at least one strength member, and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber bundle and the strength member. The connector assembly includes a rigid portion and defines a fiber passage. The connector assembly is mounted on the termination end of the cable such that the optical fiber bundle extends through at least a portion of the fiber passage. The plurality of optical fibers undergo a transition from a ribbonized configuration to a loose, non-ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly. |
| US10859772B1 |
Routing of multicore optical fibers in data networks
A method of connecting lengths of multicore optical fibers (MCFs) to one another. First and second lengths of a MCF whose cores are arranged in a certain pattern about the fiber axis to define pairs of cores are provided, and the cores of each pair of cores are disposed symmetrically with respect to a key plane that includes the axis of the fiber. Ends of the first and the second lengths of the MCF are arranged in axial alignment with one another, and the key plane at the end of the first length of the MCF is aligned with the key plane at the end of the second length of the MCF. Each defined pair of cores in the first length of the MCF is thereby positioned to mate with the same defined pair of cores in the second length of the MCF. |
| US10859771B2 |
Fiber optic connector
A connector includes a ferrule assembly having a ferrule, a hub and a spring, the ferrule having a distal face accessible at a distal end of the connector housing, the ferrule being movable in a proximal direction relative to the connector housing. The distal and proximal positions are separated by an axial displacement distance. The ferrule proximal movement is against the spring's bias. The cable of the assembly includes an optical fiber contained within a jacket and also a strength layer between the fiber and the jacket that is anchored to the connector housing. The fiber extends through a fiber from the proximal end of the connector housing to the ferrule. The fiber has a distal portion potted within the ferrule. The fiber passage has a fiber take-up region configured to take-up an excess length of the fiber corresponding to the ferrule axial displacement. |
| US10859770B2 |
Pre-embedded optical fiber quick connector
Pre-embedded optical fiber connector having an inner core, an insertion core assembly in the inner core, an outer casing, and an intermediate component and a threaded tail sleeve mounted on the inner core; a pre-embedded optical fiber is provided inside the insertion core assembly; an optical cable is inserted into an insertion channel formed by the inner core and the intermediate component; a connecting optical fiber inside the optical cable is inserted into the insertion core assembly; a press block and a push member are provided on the insertion core assembly; the push member is exposed from a first opening on the outer casing; the push member is slidable; the press block presses against and fixes the pre-embedded optical fiber and the connecting optical fiber, and a pressure of the cress block on the pre-embedded optical fiber and the connecting optical fiber varies depending on different positions of the push member. |
| US10859767B2 |
Optical fiber cutter
An optical fiber cutter includes: a base member; a movable member that clamps the optical fiber extending from a fiber holder and that moves with respect to the base member between an advanced position and a retracted position in an extending direction of the optical fiber; a biasing member that biases the movable member at the retracted position forward; a locking member that regulates forward movement of the movable member at the retracted position; a cutter supporter that supports a blade that forms an initial cut in the optical fiber, that moves in a direction that intersects with the extending direction of the optical fiber, and that forms the initial cut at an initial cut forming position between the fiber holder and the movable member; and an unlocking member that releases the regulation of forward movement of the movable member before the blade reaches the initial cut forming position. |
| US10859766B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, an optical 90-degree hybrid circuit provided on the substrate, a plurality of input optical waveguides provided on the substrate, and a plurality of output optical waveguides provided on the substrate. The plurality of input optical waveguides is optically coupled to input ends of the optical 90-degree hybrid circuit. The plurality of output optical waveguides is optically coupled to output ends of the optical 90-degree hybrid circuit. Each of the plurality of input optical waveguides includes a first curving portion and a first straight portion adjacent to the first curving portion, and each of the plurality of output optical waveguides includes a second curving portion. A central axis of the first curving portion is inwardly offset with respect to a central axis of the first straight portion, and a central axis of the second curving portion follows a raised sine curve. |
| US10859764B2 |
Integrated active devices with improved optical coupling between active and passive waveguides
An optical device comprises first, second and third elements fabricated on a common substrate. The first element comprises an active waveguide structure supporting a first optical mode, the second element comprises a passive waveguide structure supporting a second optical mode, and the third element, at least partly butt coupled to the first element, comprises an intermediate waveguide structure supporting intermediate optical modes. If the first optical mode differs from the second optical mode by more than a predetermined amount, a tapered waveguide structure in at least one of the second and third elements facilitates efficient adiabatic transformation between the second optical mode and one of the intermediate optical modes. No adiabatic transformation occurs between any of the intermediate optical modes and the first optical mode. Mutual alignments of the first, second and third elements are defined using lithographic alignment marks. |
| US10859753B2 |
Luminaires utilizing waveguides with extraction feature patterns
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a luminaire comprises a plurality of waveguides, a light source arranged to direct light into the plurality of waveguides, and a plurality of extraction feature patterns. The luminaire contemplated by the present disclosure is arranged with the plurality of waveguides are aligned such that an extraction feature pattern extracts light out of a first waveguide of the plurality of waveguides and a second extraction feature pattern extracts light out of a second waveguide of the plurality of waveguides. Further, in accordance with this aspect, the light extracted out of the first waveguide is directed through the second waveguide to develop an appearance of depth. |
| US10859751B1 |
Backlight module having a light guide with a plurality of microstructure groups and prims connected there between
A backlight module including a plurality of first light-emitting devices and a light guide plate is provided. The light guide plate includes light-emitting surface, bottom surface and a first light-receiving side. The bottom surface is corresponded to the light-emitting surface, and the first light-receiving side connects the light-emitting surface and the bottom surface. The first light-emitting devices are disposed on the first light-receiving side, arranged along a first direction. The light guide plate further includes a plurality of prisms and a plurality of microstructure groups. The prisms are disposed on the bottom surface and extend along the first direction. The microstructure group includes microstructures, and the microstructures are respectively connecting two of the prisms adjacently disposed. Each of the microstructures has a ridgeline, and the ridgeline is parallel to a second direction, which is different from the first direction. A manufacture method of a light guide plate is also provided. |
| US10859749B2 |
Optical waveguide for use with a cable or line
Cable/line systems and related methods are provided. The cable/line systems include at least one central cable and an optical waveguide surrounding the cable. The optical waveguide includes an inner cladding, a core, and an outer cladding. Scattering structures are dispersed within the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is configured to scatter light by way of the scattering structures away from the core to emit radial lighting along the length of the optical waveguide. The spectrum and/or luminance of the emitted light is controlled according to properties of the cable/line. |
| US10859748B2 |
Diverging light from fiber optics illumination delivery system
An illumination fiber optics is provided that includes an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and a light-scattering element, at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle. The illumination fiber optics can be prepared by providing an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and creating a light-scattering element at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle. |
| US10859744B2 |
Method of manufacturing wire grid polarization element
In a manufacturing process of a wire grid polarization element, a metal film, a light absorption film, and an inorganic material film for hard mask are sequentially formed, and then a resist mask is formed using nanoimprinting. Next, the metal film is patterned into a plurality of wire-shaped metal layers by dry etching. The resist mask is remaining at the bottom portion of the concave portion interposed between the adjacent convex portions. Δt/P (%), which is obtained by dividing, by the pitch P (nm), the difference Δt (nm) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the thickness t (nm) of the residual film of the resist mask remaining at the bottom portion of the concave portion, is rendered to be 13.4% or less. |
| US10859742B2 |
Polarizing plate and optical device
Provided is a polarizing plate having a wire grid structure, including: a transparent substrate; grid-shaped protrusions that are arranged in a one-dimensional grid shape on the transparent substrate at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a use band and extend in a predetermined direction, in which the grid-shaped protrusions include a first grid-shaped protrusion group arranged, at a first pitch P1 and a second grid-shaped protrusion group arranged at a second pitch P2 between the adjacent grid-shaped protrusions of the first grid-shaped protrusion group, and in which a width W1 of the grid-shaped protrusion in the first grid-shaped protrusion group is larger than a width W2 of the grid-shaped protrusion in the second grid-shaped protrusion group. In addition, provided is an optical device including the polarizing plate. |
| US10859738B2 |
Retroreflective articles including optically active areas and optically inactive areas
This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making such articles. |
| US10859735B2 |
Diffuser plate, display device, projection device, and lighting device
There is provided a diffuser plate, a display device, a projection device, and a lighting device that can achieve more even diffusion angle distribution properties, the diffuser plate being of a microlens array type, and including: a single lens group located on a surface of a transparent base material, in which aperture sizes and radii of curvatures of respective single lenses constituting the single lens group vary in the single lens group as a whole, and vertex positions of the respective single lenses are located irregularly, and energy distribution of light that transmits through the single lens group is substantially even in a predetermined diffusion angle range. |
| US10859734B2 |
Method for fabrication of a multivariate optical element
A method for fabricating an optical element including selecting a lamp spectrum and bandpass filter spectrum, obtaining a spectral characteristics vector to quantify the concentration of a component in a sample and obtaining a target spectrum from the lamp spectrum, the bandpass filter spectrum, and the spectral characteristics vector, is provided. Further including selecting a number of layers less than a maximum value, and performing an optimization routine using the index of refraction and thickness of each of the number of layers until an error between a model spectrum and the target spectrum is less than a tolerance value, or a number of iterations is exceeded. And reducing the number of layers if the error is less than a tolerance and stopping the procedure if the number of iterations is exceeded. A device using an optical element for optically-based chemometrics applications fabricated using the method above is also provided. |
| US10859733B2 |
Optical functional film and method for producing the same
An optical functional film containing a siliceous material, wherein a refractive index nA of one surface A of said optical functional film to light is larger than a refractive index nb of the other side surface B to light, and the refractive index to light gradually decreases from said surface A to said surface B and wherein when a refractive index of a medium X coming into contact with said surface A is nx and a refractive index of a medium Y coming into contact with said surface B is ny, the relation ny |
| US10859731B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating an interpolated weather forecast report
An approach is provided for interpolating weather forecast reports for a forecast location having limited weather station access. The approach involves segmenting a plurality of weather forecast reports according to a plurality of segmentation categories, the plurality of segmentation categories representing respective one or more forecast parameters. The approach also involves determining respective values of the plurality of segmentation categories from each of the plurality of weather forecasts. The approach further involves selecting a representative value from the respective values for each of the one or more segmentation categories. The approach further involves combining the representative value for said each of the plurality of segmentation categories to generate an interpolated weather forecast report. |
| US10859729B2 |
Wireless power transmitter and receiver with cordless operation
Embodiments are directed towards a multi-stage wireless power transmission system that includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit transmits a power beam to the receiving unit, which converts the power beam into local electrical power and provides it to a personal electronic device without a corded connection between the receiving unit and a mains power supply. The transmitting unit includes a light-based transmitter to generate and transmit a power beam towards the receiving unit. The receiving unit includes a receiver to receive at least a portion of the power beam and to convert the received power beam into local electrical power. The receiving unit also includes a power output unit to provide the received local power to a personal electronic device when the personal electronic device, which is separable from the receiving unit, is electrically coupled to the power output unit. |
| US10859727B2 |
Electronic marker devices and systems
Buried utility locator systems, including a locator including an integrated marker device excitation transmitter for generating and sending a marker device excitation signal to one or more marker devices, are disclosed. In operation, the marker device excitation signal is sent from the locator at least partially simultaneously to receiving and processing a buried utility signal. |
| US10859723B2 |
Systems and methods for using Stoneley waves for bottom-hole proximity detection
A downhole tool system may include a Stoneley wave emitter, located in a downhole tool, designed to emit Stoneley waves into a borehole. The downhole tool system may include one or more Stoneley wave sensors, located in the downhole tool, and a processor. The processor may be designed to receive signals from the one or more Stoneley wave sensors based on the detection of the Stoneley waves. The processor may use the signals to obtain a temporal measurement of the Stoneley waves. Based at least in part on the temporal measurement, the processor may calculate a distance from the downhole tool or a bottom-hole assembly to the bottom of the borehole. |
| US10859720B2 |
Opto-mechanical sensor system for measuring seismic movements and a method of seismic measurements using the system
The invention concerns a measuring instrument, a combined seismic sensor system that can measure 9 components of seismic motion, i.e. 3 orthogonal translational components, 3 components of rotation around orthogonal axes and 3 strain components at the measuring point. The system according to the invention comprises a solid undeformable frame, horizontal and vertical seismic sensors and optical dilatometers. The invention also includes a method of seismic measurement using the instrument. The instrument is suitable for measuring wavefields generated both by artificial sources (mine blasts, generators of rotational motions) and by natural sources (e.g. local earthquakes, rockbursts etc.) |
| US10859718B1 |
Layered converter for high-resolution neutron radiography
Large detection area, high spatial resolution, high dynamic range and low noise neutron detectors are disclosed. Curved detectors that minimize parallax errors and boundary regions without sacrificing its intrinsic resolution or the efficiency are also disclosed. |
| US10859716B2 |
One-dimensional directional shieldless particle detector
A device for determining the location of a source of radiation, based on data acquired at a single orientation of the device without iteration or rotations. Embodiments may comprise two side detector panels positioned closely parallel to each other and adjacent to each other, plus a front detector positioned orthogonally in front of the side detectors, without collimators or shields. The various detectors have contrasting angular sensitivities, so that a predetermined angular correlation function can determine the sign and magnitude of the source angle according to the detection rates of the front and side detectors. Embodiments enable rapid detection and localization of nuclear and radiological weapon materials for greatly improved inspection of cargo containers and personnel. Advanced detectors such as those disclosed herein will be needed in the coming decades to protect against clandestine weapon transport. |
| US10859714B2 |
Real-time kinematics for end of train
A method of determining geographic positions of a head of train (HOT) unit and an end of train (EOT) unit of a train includes receiving, by the HOT, first satellite radio position data and position correction data; determining, by the HOT, a first geographic location of the HOT based on the first satellite radio position data and the position correction data received by the HOT; receiving, by the EOT, second satellite radio position data; receiving, by the EOT from the HOT via a communication link, a copy of the position correction data received by the HOT; determining, by the EOT, a second geographic location of the EOT based on the second satellite radio position data and the position correction data received by the EOT; and receiving, by the HOT from the EOT, a copy of second geographic location of the EOT. |
| US10859711B2 |
Railway positioning method and system
A railway positioning method, based on the movement of a train determined by a signal receiver of a satellite navigation system embedded onboard the train, and on the movement of the train determined by an odometer embedded onboard the train, and a map of the railway tracks, by determination of the ionospheric propagation bias corresponding to a propagation bias of the signal carrier phase of the satellite navigation system, comprises the steps of, by line of sight of the satellites of the navigation system: estimating the biased ionospheric drift by difference between an integrated Doppler term determined by the receiver and a biased estimation of the movement of the train by the odometer; estimating the odometer drift bias and the drift bias of the local clock of the receiver, by least squares resolution of the speed determined by the satellite navigation system, of the drift bias of the local clock of the receiver, and of the odometer drift bias; correcting the estimation of the ionospheric drift, by subtraction of the estimated odometer drift bias; and correcting the integrated Doppler term using the drift bias of the local clock of the receiver and the ionospheric drift bias, and correcting the pseudo-distance deviations using the ionospheric drift bias. |
| US10859710B2 |
Systems and methods for frequency drift compensation for radio receivers
A frequency drift compensation system for a radio receiver includes a pilot signal generator that is configured to generate two pilot signals, a local oscillator that is configured to generate a local oscillator frequency signal, a first mixer that generates a first offset pilot signal, a second mixer that generates a second offset pilot signal, and a summer that is configured to add the first offset pilot signal and the second offset pilot signal to the intermediate frequency signal to obtain a composite signal. The frequency drift compensation system includes a processor that is configured to detect frequency drift in the offset pilot signal responsive to the composite signal and to generate a frequency drift control signal to compensate for the frequency drift. Related radio receivers, GPS receivers, and methods are described. |
| US10859702B1 |
Positional tracking using retroreflectors
Systems described herein use outside-in positional tracking. A base station emits one or more rotational light beams to illuminate a local area. The rotational light beams rotate around a rotation axis and are used for positional tracking one or more objects in the local area. The one or more rotational light beams retroreflect from the one or more objects in the local area. The one or more objects include retroreflectors that retroreflect light beams incident on them. The base station detects the retroreflected light beams. The base station generates illumination data in response to the detected light beams. A system analyzes the illumination to determine an orientation and/or a location of an object. |
| US10859700B2 |
Systems, devices, and/or methods for encoded time of flight light detection and ranging
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an instrument comprising a signal generator. The signal generator is constructed to generate a temporally distinct profile of LIDAR pulses and a reference signal. The instrument comprises a light source coupled to the signal generator. The light source constructed to receive the temporally distinct profile of LIDAR pulses and output corresponding light pulses with temporal spacing substantially equal to those of temporally distinct profile. |
| US10859698B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting falling objects
In an aspect, a processing apparatus receives detection signaling indicating a field incursion in a detection field of a LIDAR device mounted to a marine vessel and oriented to detect objects within a free space alongside the marine vessel. The processing apparatus applies plausibility testing to the field incursion, including determining whether parameters derived from the detection signaling are characteristic of a human body falling from the marine vessel through the detection field. The processing apparatus outputs signaling indicating a person overboard event to an alarm or control system onboard the marine vessel, in response to the field incursion passing the plausibility testing. |
| US10859697B2 |
Method for detecting an object in a surrounding region of a motor vehicle with the aid of an ultrasonic sensor with improved filtering of ground reflections, control device, ultrasonic sensor apparatus and motor vehicle
A method for detecting an object in a surrounding region of a motor vehicle is disclosed. In each of a plurality of temporally sequential measurement cycles a raw signal is received, which describes an ultrasonic signal of an ultrasonic sensor reflected in the surrounding region, the raw signal is compared with a predetermined ground threshold value curve, and a signal component of the raw signal that is to be tracked which exceeds the ground threshold value curve is detected and assigned to the object, and the object is tracked in the measurement cycles on the basis of the detected signal component that is to be tracked, wherein to track the object after recognition of the signal component that is to be tracked, in the subsequent measurement cycles, signal peaks of the raw signal are detected, and an assignment to the object is checked for the detected signal peaks. |
| US10859692B2 |
Device and process for detection of non-authorized objects or substances carried by an individual in a protected access zone
The invention relates to a device intended for detection of non-authorised objects or substances carried by an individual in a protected access zone, comprising at least two columns defining a channel by which individuals to be checked can transit, windings distributed in the two columns, adapted to emit a magnetic field and adapted to detect the perturbations of the magnetic field caused when an individual travels between the two columns, microwave emitters and receivers arranged in the two columns, and means to analyse the signals to detect the presence of a metallic object carried by an individual to detect the presence of dielectric material carried by the individual transiting via said channel, and to set up the spatial correlations existing between the metallic objects and the dielectric materials detected. |
| US10859688B2 |
Method for locating electromagnetic pulse emission sources in an environment including reflectors
The invention relates to a method for locating at least two sources emitting electromagnetic pulses in an environment comprising two reflectors.The method comprises receiving, by a detector, for each source to be located, at least one same emitted pulse, received directly from said source and received by reflection on one of the reflectors.The method further comprises: identification of the pulses received directly and the pulses received by reflection, grouping by pairs of pulses received directly with pulses received by reflection, calculating, for each pair, the difference between the date of arrival of the pulse received by reflection relative to the date of arrival of the pulse received directly, and determining the distance of each source from the detector from calculated differences in dates of arrival. |
| US10859685B2 |
Calibration of laser sensors
Automatic calibration of laser sensors carried by a mobile platform, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative method includes determining an overlapping region of point cloud data generated by laser sensors, comparing surface features of the point clouds within the overlapping region, and generating calibration rules based thereon. |
| US10859683B2 |
Solid-state light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system with real-time self-calibration
A method and system for a coupler that receives power from a power source, and a waveguide connected to the coupler at a first end of the waveguide. A splitter is connected to a second end of the waveguide to receive the power traveling through the waveguide, and the splitter divides the power between a plurality of outputs creating divided power. A global phase shifter is connected to a first output of the plurality of outputs of the splitter, and the global phase shifter receives the divided power. An on-chip splitter is connected to the global phase shifter and further divides the divided power into sub-divided power. An on-chip phase shifter is connected to the on-chip splitter. An OPA is connected to the on-chip splitter. A phase monitor array is connected to the OPA, and a phase controller is connected to the phase monitor array. |
| US10859682B2 |
Telematics using a light ranging system
Methods, systems, and devices are provided for calibrating a light ranging system and using the system to track environmental objects. In embodiments, the approach involves installing light ranging devices, such as lidar devices, on the vehicle exterior. The light ranging system may be calibrated using a calibration device to scan the vehicle exterior and construct a three-dimensional model of the vehicle exterior comprising the positions of the installed light ranging devices on the vehicle exterior. The calibrated light ranging system may use the model in conjunction with ranging data collected by the installed light ranging devices to track objects in the environment. In this way, the light ranging system may detect a proximity of environmental objects and help a driver of the vehicle avoid potential collisions. The light ranging system may further measure the vehicle exterior and thereby detect changes to the vehicle exterior. |
| US10859681B2 |
Circuit device, object detecting device, sensing device, mobile object device and object detecting device
A circuit device comprising a first wiring, one end of which is connected to a signal source, a wiring portion having one end connected to the signal source and including at least one second wiring that generates a signal having a longer time delay than the first wiring connected to the signal source, and a measurement circuit, to which the other end of the first wiring and the other end of the second wiring are connected, to measure a transit time difference, which is a difference between a first transit time required for a signal from the signal source to pass through the first wiring and a second transit time required for the signal from the signal source to pass through the second wiring. |
| US10859678B2 |
Micromirror array for feedback-based image resolution enhancement
In one embodiment an imaging system (e.g., a LIDAR or camera) contains a micromirror array that is configured in response to sensor data to dynamically enhance a complex shape region of interest in a field of view (FOV). The micromirror array functions as like an electronically controllable transfer function for light, between an input FOV and a detector array, thereby providing dynamically defined resolution across the detector array. Data from various configurations of the micromirror array is then combined in a 2D or 3D output image. In one aspect the imaging system begins with a first uniform resolution at the detector array and subsequently reconfigures the micromirror array to enhance resolution at a first portion of the detector array (e.g., spread an interesting object across more pixels) reduce resolution from in a less interesting part of a scene and thereby sample all of the original FOV with anisotropic resolution. |
| US10859677B2 |
Laser scanner for motor vehicles
The invention relates to a laser scanner (1′) for motor vehicles, having at least two optical transmitters (12, 13, 14) for emitting in each case one transmitted light beam (3, 4, 5), and a rotatably arranged micromirror (6) for deflecting the transmitted light beams (3, 4, 5) onto the scene to be measured. The laser scanner additionally comprises an optical deflecting device, which is arranged in the beam path of at least one transmitted light beam (3, 4, 5) upstream of the micromirror (6) and is configured and arranged such that the transmitted light beams (3, 4, 5) are guided onto the micromirror (6).In order to direct in a laser scanner a plurality of transmitted light beams onto the micromirror with as little distortion as possible, provision is made according to the invention for the deflecting device (20) to have at least one deflecting mirror (21, 22) arranged in the beam path of a transmitted light beam (3, 4, 5). |
| US10859676B2 |
Projector with spatial light modulation
A time of flight based depth detection system is disclosed that includes a projector configured to sequentially emit multiple complementary illumination patterns. A sensor of the depth detection system is configured to capture the light from the illumination patterns reflecting off objects within the sensor's field of view. The data captured by the sensor can be used to filter out erroneous readings caused by light reflecting off multiple surfaces prior to returning to the sensor. |
| US10859675B2 |
Gesture recognition with sensors
A sensor for motion or gesture sensing may be configured to emit radio frequency signals such as for pulsed range gated sensing. The sensor may include a radio frequency transmitter configured to emit the pulses and a receiver configured to receive reflected ones of the emitted radio frequency signals. The received pulses may be processed by a motion channel and/or a gesture channel. The gesture channel may produce signals for further processing for identification of one or more different motion gestures such as by calculating and evaluating features from one or more of the amplitude, phase and frequency of the output signals of the gesture channel. The sensing apparatus may optionally serve as a monitor for evaluating user activities, such as by counting certain activities. The sensor may optionally serve as a user control interface for many different devices by generating control signal(s) based on the identification of one or more different motion gestures. |
| US10859674B2 |
Radar front end with RF oscillator monitoring
An apparatus is described that, according to an exemplary embodiment, has an RF oscillator for generating an RF oscillator signal at a first frequency and a frequency divider having a division ratio that is fixed during operation. The frequency divider is supplied with the RF oscillator signal and is configured to provide an oscillator signal at a second frequency. The apparatus further has a monitor circuit, to which the oscillator signal at the second frequency is supplied and which is configured to measure the second frequency and to provide at least one digital value that is dependent on the second frequency of the oscillator signal. The at least one digital value is provided on a test contact. |
| US10859673B2 |
Method for disambiguating ambiguous detections in sensor fusion systems
A disambiguating system for disambiguating between ambiguous detections is provided. The system includes a plurality of modules, wherein each module is configured to disambiguate between ambiguous detections by selecting, as a true detection, one candidate detection in a set of ambiguous detections and wherein each module is configured to apply a different selection technique. The system includes: one or more modules configured to select as the true detection, the candidate detection whose associated position is closer to a position indicated by other data and one or more modules configured to select as the true detection, the candidate detection with the highest probability of being true based on other sensor data. |
| US10859671B2 |
Position estimation apparatus and position estimation method
A position estimation apparatus includes receivers that are disposed at different known positions and are configured to measure a reception intensity of a radio wave emitted from a mobile object and a calculator configured to sequentially perform, for each target receiver that is one of the receivers, processing for updating an estimated position of the mobile object such that the estimated position is closer to a presence circle having a center at the target receiver and a radius based on a reception intensity measured by the target receiver. |
| US10859667B2 |
Programmable reference beacons
Search and rescue (SAR) systems utilizing Earth-orbiting satellites are provided. In one implementation, a SAR system comprises a plurality of reference beacons, each having a known geographical location, and a ground-based station. The ground-based station includes one or more antennas for communicating with the reference beacons via a plurality of Earth orbiting satellites. The ground-based station is configured to receive reference signals from each of the reference beacons and calculate estimates of the locations of the reference beacons from the received reference signals. Also, the ground-based station is configured to calculate system calibration factors based on the location estimates and known geographical locations of the reference beacons. The ground-based station is further configured to receive distress signals from at least one distress beacon via the Earth-orbiting satellites and calibrate the distress signals based on the system calibration factors. |
| US10859663B2 |
Beacon-based position awareness system
A system comprising: a transmitting device configured to transmit, in at least one plane, a plurality of directional signals each covering an angular sector, wherein every adjacent pair of said angular sectors overlaps partially to create a logical sector, and wherein each of said plurality of directional signals encodes at least an indication regarding each said logical sector associated therewith; and a client device comprising program instructions executable by at least one hardware processor to: cause the client device to receive at least some of said plurality of directional signals, calculate a signal strength level (RSL) value for each of said received directional signals, and determine that said client device is located within a said logical sector, when two highest said RSL values (i) are related to two said directional signals associated with said logical sector, and (ii) are within a specified value range of each other. |
| US10859661B2 |
Memory arrays
Some embodiments include memory arrays. The memory arrays can have global bitlines extending along a first horizontal direction, vertical local bitlines extending perpendicularly from the global bitlines, and wordlines extending along a second horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction. The global bitlines may be subdivided into a first series at a first elevational level, and a second series at a second elevational level which is different from the first elevational level. The global bitlines of the first series can alternate with the global bitlines of the second series. There can be memory cell material directly between the wordlines and the vertical local bitlines. The memory cell material may form a plurality of memory cells uniquely addressed by wordline/global bitline combinations. Some embodiments include cross-point memory cell units that have areas of about 2F2. |
| US10859658B2 |
System and method for semi-projective quantitative flow imaging using accelerated arterial spin-labeled cine MRI
A system and method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to create magnetic resonance (MR) cine angiograms of a subject. The method includes controlling the MRI system to acquire MR data from the subject by performing at least one cine acquisition pulse sequence having a plurality of acquisition RF pulse modules applied at constant intervals throughout a cardiac cycle, and at least one labeling pulse sequence including a first and a second α/2 module and a labeling RF pulse module for labeling a region of inflowing arterial flow through a vessel of interest. The method further includes reconstructing the MR data to form a series of cine frames that form a cine angiogram, subtracting at least one cine frame from other cine frames reconstructed from the MR data, and displaying the MR cine angiogram of the vessel of interest. |
| US10859653B2 |
Blind source separation in magnetic resonance fingerprinting
Systems and methods are provided for Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to distinguish between different tissue types. In some configurations, an MRF acquisition may be performed to be sensitive to a selected tissue property or parameter, and tissues may be grouped into separate independent components based on their time courses which may be based on the underlying tissue property. |
| US10859652B2 |
MR imaging with dixon-type water/fat separation
A Dixon water/fat separation technique, in particular in combination with a single-point acquisition scheme, avoids swaps of water and fat signals in the reconstructed MR images due to imperfections of the main magnetic field B0. Echo signals are generated and acquired in a pre-scan by subjecting an object (10) to a two or more point imaging sequence. A fat fraction map is derived from the echo signals of the pre-scan. Echo signals are generated and acquired in a clinical scan by subjecting the object (10) to a single-point imaging sequence. A field map estimate is derived from the fat fraction map and from the echo signals of the clinical scan. An MR image is reconstructed from the echo signals of the clinical scan. Signal contributions from fat and water are separated on the basis of the field map estimate. |
| US10859650B2 |
Methods for determining plant rubber content with low field NMR
Methods are described for quantifying an amount of natural rubber in a plant from a sample of the plant by obtaining a NMR spectrum and analyzing the signal peaks for the natural rubber in the plant sample and a standard component tested in combination with the plant sample. The NMR testing is conducted on a liquid state sample of a solution containing dissolved plant sample and standard component. A pre-determined and known amount of standard component is present in the liquid state sample and provides a reference for calculating an estimated amount of natural rubber in the plant sample. The estimated amount of natural rubber in the sample can be used to quantify the amount of extractable rubber in the sampled plant. |
| US10859648B2 |
Systems and methods for a configurable radio frequency coil for MR imaging
Various systems are provided for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one example, a method includes selecting a contour topology for operating a configurable radio frequency (RF) coil assembly, wherein the configurable RF coil assembly includes an array of conductive segments coupled via a plurality of switches, and the contour topology defines a configuration of one or more RF coil elements formed on the configurable RF coil assembly. The method further includes, during a receive mode, at least partially activating one or more subsets of switches of the plurality of switches according to the selected contour topology to form the one or more RF coil elements. |
| US10859646B2 |
Method and systems for coil selection in magnetic resonance imaging to reduce annefact artifact
Various methods and systems are provided for selecting radio frequency coil array comprising a plurality of coil elements for magnetic resonance imaging. In one embodiment, the method includes grouping the plurality of coil elements into receive elements groups (REGs) according to REGs information; generating REG sensitivity maps; determining, for each REG, signal in a region of interest (ROI) and signal in an annefact source region based on the REG sensitivity maps; selecting one or more REGs based on the signal in the ROI and the signal in the annefact source region; and scanning the ROI with the coil elements in the one or more selected REGs being activated and the coil elements not in any selected REGs being deactivated. In this way, annefact artifacts in the reconstructed image may be reduced. |
| US10859645B2 |
Method and systems for coil selection in magnetic resonance imaging
Various methods and systems are provided for selecting coil elements of a plurality of coil elements of a radio frequency (RF) coil array for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a method includes grouping the plurality of coil elements into receive elements groups (REGs) according to REGs information, generating channel sensitivity maps for the plurality of coil elements, generating REG sensitivity maps based on the REGs information and the channel sensitivity maps, labeling each REG as either selectable or not selectable based on the REG sensitivity maps, selecting one or more REGs from the selectable REGs based on the REG sensitivity maps and a region of interest (ROI), and scanning the ROI with the coil elements in the one or more selected REGs being activated and the coil elements not in any selected the other REGs being deactivated. |
| US10859644B2 |
Manufacturing of high performance magnetoresistive sensors
A method includes depositing a hardmask layer over a magnetoresistive (MR) structural layer formed on a substrate, the hardmask layer being formed from tungsten or a tungsten-based composition. A photoresist layer is deposited over the hardmask layer and is patterned to expose a first portion of the hardmask layer. A first etch process is performed to remove the first portion of the hardmask layer and expose a second portion of the MR structural layer and a dry etch process is performed to remove the second portion of the MR structural layer and produce an MR sensor structure. Following the dry etch process, a composite structure remains that includes the MR sensor structure and a hardmask section of the hardmask layer, the hardmask section overlying the MR sensor structure. A spacer formed from a protective, dielectric material layer may additionally be formed surrounding the composite structure. |
| US10859643B2 |
Magnetic field sensor having sensing element placement for reducing stray field sensitivity
Methods and apparatus for a sensor having a first magnetic field sensing element with first and second segments where the first and second segments are located at positions of opposite magnetic field. The first and second segments are spaced from each other based upon iso-lines of the magnetic field. A processing module can process an output of the magnetic field sensing element. |
| US10859642B2 |
Magnetic sensor
An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic sensor having enhanced magnetic detection sensitivity by bending magnetic flux more largely. A magnetic sensor includes magnetic detection elements MR1 and MR2 positioned on a plane P separating a first space S1 and a second space S2, a first magnetic member 31 disposed in the first space S1 so as to be between the magnetic detection elements MR1 and MR2 when viewed in the z-direction, and a second magnetic member 32 disposed in the second space S2. The magnetic detection element MR1 is positioned between the first magnetic member 31 and a first part 32a of the second magnetic member 32 when viewed in the z-direction. The magnetic detection element MR2 is positioned between the first magnetic member 31 and a second part 32b of the second magnetic member 32 when viewed in the z-direction. According to the present invention, magnetic flux collected by the first magnetic member is attracted to the first and second parts of the second magnetic member, allowing the magnetic flux to be bent more largely. Thus, the magnetic detection sensitivity of the magnetic sensor can be enhanced. |
| US10859638B2 |
Passive bridge circuit with oxide windows as leakage sink
Leakage current detection systems and detection methods are provided. A leakage current detection system includes a passive bridge circuit disposed on a circuit substrate, the passive bridge circuit including a first branch having a first output and a second branch having a second output; a leakage surge structure disposed on the circuit substrate, where the leakage surge structure is electrically connected to a common node at which the first branch and the second branch are connected and is configured to draw a leakage current thereto from the passive bridge circuit; and a processing device configured to monitor for the leakage current, including summing a first output value at the first output with a second output value at the second output to determine a summed value, performing a common mode test using the summed value, and outputting a monitored result based on the common mode test. |
| US10859635B2 |
Management device and power supply device
A first voltage detection circuit is connected by first voltage detection lines to each node in a plurality of cells connected in series and detects the voltage of each of the plurality of cells. A second voltage detection circuit is connected, by second voltage detection lines, to each node in the plurality of cells and detects the voltage of each of the plurality of cells. First capacitance elements are each connected between two first voltage detection lines connected to each cell. Second capacitance elements are each connected between two second voltage detection lines connected to each cell. A first charge drawing circuit draws charge from each node in the plurality of cells, via each first voltage detection line. A second charge drawing circuit draws charge from each node in the plurality of cells, via each second voltage detection line. |
| US10859634B2 |
Energy storage system for vehicle
An energy storage system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a plurality of energy storage devices that are arranged to provide output power to a vehicle and are connected in parallel with each other. A plurality of sub-relays are connected to the plurality of energy storage devices, respectively. A controller then measures the degrees of deterioration of the respective energy storage devices and selectively opens or closes the sub-relays based on the amount of output power required for a vehicle and the measured degrees of deterioration such that a sub-relay connected to an energy storage device having a low degree of deterioration is closed first. |
| US10859633B2 |
Method for updating a discharge battery profile
The disclosure presents a method and a hearing aid with an improved method for updating a discharge charging profile of a battery. The method comprises following steps; receiving during a first discharge step of the plurality of discharge steps a first primary battery voltage from a voltage monitor unit, receiving during the first discharge step a first primary charge from a charge monitor unit or a storing unit, determining a first secondary charge, where the first secondary charge is one or more discharge steps lower than the first primary charge, determining a first secondary battery voltage difference to be equal to a secondary battery voltage difference of a plurality of secondary battery voltage differences relative to the first secondary charge, wherein the plurality of secondary battery voltage differences is stored in the storing unit, determining a first secondary battery voltage to be equal to a secondary battery voltage of the plurality of secondary battery voltages relative to the first secondary charge, determining a first primary battery voltage difference between the first secondary battery voltage and the first primary battery voltage, determining a new battery voltage difference based on a first weight of the first primary battery voltage difference and a second weight of the first secondary battery voltage difference, and updating the discharge battery profile with the new battery voltage difference. |
| US10859630B2 |
Test methods for packaged integrated circuits
A circuit test method for a test device to test a device under test is provided. The circuit test method includes the steps of applying zero volts to a plurality of power pins of the device under test; applying a test voltage to a first signal pin among a plurality of signal pins of the device under test; and measuring a current on a second signal pin among the plurality of signal pins of the device under test and determining whether there is a leakage current in the device under test. |
| US10859627B2 |
In-field system testing
A processor, including: a core; system test circuitry, the system test circuitry to be locked during operational processor operation; reset circuitry including a kick-off test (KOT) input, the reset circuitry to detect a reset with the KOT input asserted, and to initiate an in-field system test (IFST) mode; a test interface controller to receive in IFST mode an encrypted test packet having a signature, verify the signature of the test packet, and decrypt the test packet; and IFST control circuitry to cause the system test circuitry to perform an IFST test according to the decrypted test packet and to log or report results. |
| US10859625B2 |
Wafer probe card integrated with a light source facing a device under test side and method of manufacturing
An integrated wafer probe card with a light source facing a device under test (DUT) side and enabling methodology are provided. |
| US10859624B2 |
Semiconductor device, electronic control unit and vehicle apparatus
A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor chips mounted on one package. In the first semiconductor chip, a current generation circuit generates a sense current in accordance with a load current and a fault current indicating that an abnormality detection circuit has detected an abnormality, and allows either one of the currents to flow through a current detecting resistor in accordance with presence or absence of detection of the abnormality. In the second semiconductor chip, a storage circuit stores a current value of the fault current obtained in an inspection process of the semiconductor device as a determination reference value. An arithmetic processing circuit sets a standard range based on the determination reference value, and determines presence or absence of detection of the abnormality based on whether or not a current value indicated by a digital signal of an analog-digital conversion circuit is included within the standard range. |
| US10859623B2 |
Systems and methods for insulation impedance monitoring
At least one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a power conversion unit (PCU). The PCU includes a power converter circuit, a safety detection circuit including a plurality of known network impedances and a switch having a first end coupled between two of the plurality of network impedances and a second end coupled to an output terminal, and a controller communicatively coupled to the safety detection circuit and the at least one power converter circuit. The controller may be configured to operate the switch, determine one or more voltage values of the safety detection circuit, and calculate an insulation impedance based at least in part on the one or more voltage values, a position of the switch, and the plurality of known network impedances. |
| US10859617B2 |
Method of operating LC sensors, corresponding system and apparatus
In one embodiment, an inductive/LC sensor device includes: an energy storage device for accumulating excitation energy, an LC sensor configured to oscillate using energy accumulated in the energy storage device and transferred to the LC sensor, an energy detector for detecting the energy accumulated in the energy storage device reaching a charge threshold, and at least one switch coupled with the energy detector for terminating accumulating excitation energy in the energy storage device when the charge threshold is detected having been reached by the energy detector. |
| US10859615B2 |
Method and apparatus for VSWR estimation using cross-correlation and real sampling without the need for time alignment
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products using spectrum analysis or cross correlation techniques to discriminate against interference. These approaches are straight forward if both the forward and reflected signals contain complex or quadrature (I and Q) samples. But, if only single axis samples are available as is often the case to reduce the sampling rate, the resulting samples could represent the I component, the Q component or, more likely, some combination of the two. This generally requires some type of time alignment procedure to ensure proper phase. Assuming that the transmitted signal exists in complex form, this signal can be mathematically rotated in phase and then single axis sampled for comparison against the single axis reflected signal. If the rotation is done over equally spaced intervals that spans one complete cycle, the average of the absolute value all such return loss ratios will approach the actual return loss ratio and the interference will be suppressed. The resultant can be compared to a threshold value and trigger an alarm. |
| US10859609B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for characteristic management with side-channel signature analysis
Some embodiments described herein include an apparatus having a processor communicatively coupled to a memory. The processor is configured to monitor, at a characteristic controller, a first characteristic of an electronic device. The processor is then configured to receive side-channel signature analysis of the electronic device from a signature analyzer. The processor is configured to determine if the first characteristic of the electronic device has changed or will change in a predefined period of time based on the side-channel signature analysis. The processor is then configured to adjust a second characteristic of the electronic device and/or filtering characteristics such that the side-channel signature analysis reflects predefined side-channel behavior. |
| US10859605B2 |
Current sensor and a method of manufacturing a current sensor
The present disclosure provides an improved Rogowski-type current sensor. The current measurement coil, and the compensation coil are provided on the same board. The measurement coil and the compensation coil are arranged such that they at least partially overlap by virtue of each repeatedly changing side of the board. This arrangement makes the current sensor far better at rejecting interference than certain other PCB Rogowski type coil arrangements. |
| US10859602B2 |
Transferring electronic probe assemblies to space transformers
Transferring electronic probe assemblies to space transformers. In accordance with a first method embodiment, a plurality of probes is formed in a sacrificial material on a sacrificial substrate via microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processes. The tips of the plurality of probes are formed adjacent to the sacrificial substrate and the remaining structure of the plurality of probes extends outward from the sacrificial substrate. The sacrificial material comprising the plurality of probes is attached to a space transformer. The space transformer includes a plurality of contacts on one surface for contacting the plurality of probes at a probe pitch and a corresponding second plurality of contacts on another surface at a second pitch, larger than the probe pitch, wherein each of the second plurality of contacts is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of probes. The sacrificial substrate is removed, and the sacrificial material is removed, leaving the plurality of probes intact. |
| US10859600B2 |
Current measuring device
Provided is a current measuring device including a first wire member formed of a conductive metal and a second wire member formed of a conductive metal, the second wire member partially including a resistive element metal, in which the first wire member and the second wire member are arranged in parallel with an insulator sandwiched therebetween in a portion where at least the resistive element metal is present. |
| US10859598B1 |
Back-drilled via attachment technique using a UV-cure conductive adhesive
A method for electrically connecting a test and measurement instrument to a via of a printed circuit board, PCB, the method comprising: dispensing a UV-curable conductive adhesive into a back-drilled hole formed in the PCB, the back-drilled hole extending to the via, such that the dispensed adhesive contacts the via; curing the dispensed adhesive by applying a UV light source to the dispensed adhesive; and connecting a test and measurement instrument to the cured adhesive using a conductive member. |
| US10859583B2 |
Feces sampling container, method for measuring components in feces sample, method for stabilizing components in feces sample, and method for storing feces sample
A feces sampling container having an increased storage stability of a component in a feces sample such as hemoglobin to enable the measurement of a component in a feces sample with a small amount of feces collected. The container includes a container body, and a feces sampling stick having a gripping part on one side and a stick part on the other side, the stick part having a feces sampling part in the vicinity of the tip, wherein the container body comprises an opening part through which the feces sampling part of the feces sampling stick is inserted, and a feces container chamber in which a desiccant is enclosed, wherein the feces sample held by the feces sampling part is dried by a contact of the feces sampling part, which is inserted through the opening part and holding the feces sample, with the desiccant. |
| US10859576B2 |
Method for diagnosing a brain tumour in a human
An in vitro method for diagnosing a brain tumour in a human test subject comprising: determining the concentration of at least two metabolites comprised in a biofluid sample obtained from the human test subject; comparing the concentration of the at least two metabolites in the biofluid sample with the concentration of the same at least two metabolites in at least one reference standard obtained from a non-tumour bearing subject and/or a tumour bearing subject; and identifying a concentration difference for each of the at least two metabolites in the biofluid sample relative to the reference standard; wherein the concentration difference for each of the at least two metabolites in the biofluid sample correlates with the presence of a brain tumour. The invention also relates to a data-storage medium comprising data obtained by a method of the invention. |
| US10859574B2 |
Signatures and determinants for diagnosing infections in non-human subjects and methods of use thereof
Antibiotics (Abx) are the world's most misused drugs. Antibiotics misuse occurs when the drug is administered in case of a non-bacterial infection (such as a viral infection) for which it is ineffective. Overall, it is estimated that 40-70% of the worldwide Abx courses are mis-prescribed. The financial and health consequences of Abx over-prescription include the direct cost of the drugs, as well as the indirect costs of their side effects, which are estimated at >$15 billion annually. Furthermore, over-prescription directly causes the emergence of Abx-resistant strains of bacteria, which are recognized as one of the major threats to public health today. This generates an immediate need for reliable diagnostics to assist physicians in correct Abx prescription, especially at the point-of-care (POC) where most Abx are prescribed. Accordingly, some aspects of the present invention provide methods using biomarkers for rapidly detecting the source of infection and administrating the appropriate treatment. |
| US10859562B2 |
Methods, compositions, and devices for information storage
Methods, systems and devices for reading data stored in a polymer (e.g., DNA) and for verifying the sequence of a polymer synthesized in situ in a nanopore-based chip, include providing a resonator having an inductor and a cell, the cell having a nanopore and a polymer that can traverse through the nanopore, the resonator having an AC output voltage frequency response at a probe frequency in response to an AC input voltage at the probe frequency, providing the AC input voltage having at least the probe frequency, and monitoring the AC output voltage at least at the probe frequency, the AC output voltage at the probe frequency being indicative of the data stored in the polymer at the time of monitoring, wherein the polymer includes at least two monomers having different properties causing different resonant frequency responses. |
| US10859561B2 |
Proteoliposome and production method thereof
The invention discloses a proteoliposome or a planar lipid bilayer membrane comprising a single protein manufactured using glycerol or polyethylene glycols (PEG) in the rehydration step. Products so prepared are useful for nanopore sensing technology, including ultrafast DNA sequencing and biomedical diagnostic applications. |
| US10859560B2 |
Biosensors for detecting cholesterol and OxLDL in blood sample
The present invention provides biosensors for detecting cholesterol and OxLDL in blood sample. The present invention relates to a paper-based colorimetric biosensor and an electrochemical biosensor each for detecting cholesterol and OxLDL in blood sample. The biosensors are inexpensive, rapid, simple, portable, diagnostics that incorporate information from multiple biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease. The biosensors provide diagnostic test results that would place vital health data in the hands of doctors and patients and thus establish a framework for further advances in personalized medicine. |
| US10859559B1 |
Gemstone testing apparatus
The application provides an improved gemstone testing apparatus for testing a gemstone specimen. The gemstone testing apparatus includes a handheld casing, a processor unit, a first gemstone test device, a second gemstone test device, and a display unit. The first gemstone test device includes a first test probe and a thermal conductivity test module. The second gemstone test device includes a second test probe and a light absorption module. |
| US10859558B2 |
Oilfield monitoring of subterranean polymer solution
Aqueous liquid which has been in contact with a subterranean geological formation, especially a hydrocarbon reservoir, is examined in order to detect or measure viscosifying polymer therein, by flowing a sample of the liquid through a constriction thereby causing extensional flow and alignment of any polymer molecules with the flow, and examining the solution for birefringence of aligned polymer molecules. The amount of birefringence is determined from intensity of light which has passed through the solution relative to intensity of the light source. |
| US10859555B2 |
Methods of isolating and detecting metal ions from proteins
A method of detecting a metal ion in a protein-containing sample includes adding a protein degrading enzyme to the protein-containing sample to form an enzyme degradation product, adding an acid to the enzyme degradation product to provide a mixture, filtering the mixture to provide a supernatant, extracting the supernatant with an organic solvent to remove organic solvent soluble byproducts to provide a washed aqueous layer, and detecting the metal ion in the washed aqueous layer. The method is amenable to the detection of heavy metal ions in complex products such as milk. A kit includes reagents for performing the method. |
| US10859544B2 |
Secondary ultrasonic nebulisation
A secondary ultrasonic nebulisation device is disclosed comprising: a liquid sample delivery capillary; a sample receiving surface arranged for receiving a liquid sample from the capillary; and an ultrasonic transducer configured for oscillating the surface so as to nebulise the liquid sample received thereon, wherein the device is configured such that the oscillations of the surface by the ultrasonic transducer cause charged droplets and/or gas phase ions to be generated from the sample. |
| US10859540B2 |
Duckbill septum
A septum containing a duckbill valve assembly includes a plurality of elastomeric ribs extending from the body of the septum to the duckbill valve assembly. When inserted into an injection port cavity, force generated by an interference fit between the body of the septum and the cavity is transmitted by the ribs to the duckbill valve assembly. The ribs are configured to reversibly collapse at a hinge point when a needle is inserted through the duckbill valve assembly and are spaced to assist in centering the needle in the duckbill valve assembly. The ribs reduce wear on the duckbill valve assembly by reducing the concentration of compressive forces at higher inlet pressures while maintaining sufficient compressive force to close the duckbill valve assembly at lower inlet pressures. |
| US10859536B2 |
Photoacoustic flow cell for identification of rare analytes in suspension
A photoacoustic flow cell, the components of which may be made well in advance of conducting photoacoustic analysis, comprising (a) a chamber structure that defines a chamber, a chamber inlet, and a chamber outlet, and (b) a glass test structure, at least a portion of which is supported by the chamber structure and at least a portion of which is located in the chamber, wherein the test structure comprises an interior surface that defines a test passageway through which samples will be flowed when conducting the photoacoustic analysis. |
| US10859534B2 |
System and method for examining semiconductor substrates
A system for examining semiconductor substrates may comprise an indenter configured to exercise a force onto the semiconductor substrate such that a crack in the semiconductor substrate occurs, a piezoelectric acoustic emission sensor configured to detect an acoustic signal emitted by the crack, and attaching means configured to fasten the indenter to a first surface of the piezoelectric acoustic emission sensor. The indenter and the attaching means are configured to transmit the acoustic signal to the piezoelectric acoustic emission sensor. The resonance frequencies of the indenter and the piezoelectric acoustic emission sensor are attuned to one another. |
| US10859532B2 |
Sensor device and sensing method
A sensor device includes: a first signal generator and a second signal generator which each generate at least one of a signal of a first frequency and a signal of a second frequency; and a calculation part configured to obtain a reference phase difference based on a first reference signal which is obtained by generating the signal of the first frequency from the first signal generator in such a state that the calculation part is connected to the first signal generator, and a second reference signal which is obtained by generating the signal of the second frequency from the second signal generator in such a state that the calculation part is connected to the second signal generator, and calculates a reference voltage corresponding to the reference phase difference based on the first reference signal and the second reference signal in accordance with a heterodyne system. |
| US10859526B2 |
Gas sensor with a pump cell
A gas sensor includes an electrochemical cell having a solid electrolyte layer disposed between a sensing electrode and a reference electrode; a heater disposed in thermal communication with the electrochemical cell, the heater having a positive heater lead and a negative heater lead; a reference gas channel; a reference chamber in fluid communication with the reference electrode; a pump cell having a first pump cell electrode in fluid communication with the reference gas channel and also having a second pump cell electrode in fluid communication with the reference chamber. The first pump cell electrode has a pump cell first lead which forms a first electrical junction with either the positive heater lead and the negative heater lead and the second pump cell electrode has a pump cell second lead which forms a second electrical junction with the same heater lead as the pump cell first lead. |
| US10859518B2 |
X-ray zoom lens for small angle x-ray scatterometry
Methods and systems for controlling illumination beam spot size for Transmission, Small-Angle X-ray Scatterometry (T-SAXS) measurements of different sized metrology targets are described herein. An X-ray illumination optics subsystem includes one or more focusing optical elements with object and image planes at fixed locations and one or more illumination apertures or slits that independently control magnification and beam divergence. In a further aspect, the illumination source size and shape is controlled, along with magnification and beam divergence. In this manner, beam divergence and illumination spot size on a specimen are independently controlled, while maintaining constant illumination flux. |
| US10859514B2 |
X-ray inspection device
An X-ray inspection apparatus includes an X-ray source that radiates X-rays to a product, an X-ray detection unit that detects X-rays penetrating the product, and an uninterruptible power supply that supplies electric power during an electric power failure. The uninterruptible power supply is not electrically connected to the X-ray source. |
| US10859513B2 |
Oblique CT apparatus
When performing CT imaging while maintaining a state in which a rotational axis Ax and an irradiation axis (optical axis) intersect obliquely, the X-ray CT apparatus 1 of the present invention can make assessments from a group of cross-sectional images resulting from provisional CT imaging, so even an unskilled person can determine a specific cross-sectional image with high precision, and can further determine the CT imaging conditions so that the cross-sectional image is positioned in the center. In addition, by performing main imaging by narrowing the target field from provisional CT imaging, CT imaging can be performed without the portion to be viewed deviating from the field of view. As a result, the operator can perform CT imaging without repeating a process of trial and error involving performing CT imaging while changing the CT imaging conditions, and CT imaging can be performed efficiently without requiring skill. |
| US10859512B2 |
X-ray phase contrast imaging apparatus
Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus capable of performing precise imaging without performing pre-imaging in the absence of a subject. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a radiation imaging apparatus capable of performing precise imaging without performing pre-imaging in the absence of a subject immediately before. That is, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a phase grating 5 provided with a subject area and a reference area. Both areas each have a predetermined pattern that absorbs radiation, but the patterns are different from each other. In this area, an image of the phase grating 5 is observed in a moire pattern of a long period. This moire image of a long period changes in the positions due to the minute change in the relative position between the phase grating 5 and the absorption grating 6, so it becomes possible to detect the minute change of the relative position between the radiation source, the phase grating 5, and the absorption grating 6 from the image of the reference area. |
| US10859511B2 |
Mobile imaging of an object using penetrating radiation
A system for imaging a target object comprises a first unmanned vehicle including a source of penetrating radiation. The first vehicle positions the source such as to direct the radiation toward the target object. A second unmanned vehicle comprises an image detector for registering a spatial distribution of the radiation as an image, in which the second vehicle positions the detector to register the distribution of radiation when transmitted through the target object. These unmanned vehicles are autonomous vehicles adapted for independent propelled motion, and comprise a positioning unit for detecting a position of the vehicle. A processing unit controls the motion of the unmanned vehicles to acquire at least two images corresponding to at least two different projection directions of the radiation through the target object. The processing unit is adapted for generating data representative of an internal structure of the target object from the at least two images. |
| US10859509B2 |
Process, device and line of inspection for determination of a wire-edge at the site of an internal edge of a ring surface
A method of determining a presence of a wire-edge at the site of an internal edge of a ring surface of a ring of a container includes lighting of the ring surface of the container from above using a radial light beam at 360 and observing the ring surface according to a peripheral observation field. A first principal circle is formed in a first image zone. At least one secondary arc of a circle concentric to the first so-called principal circle, and radially offset relative to the latter is also formed in the first image zone. The first so-called principal circle and any first secondary arc of a circle are searched using the first image zone. A device for executing the determining method is provided along with a line including the device. |
| US10859506B2 |
Image processing system for processing image data generated in different light emission states, non-transitory computer readable recording medium, and image processing method
It is to perform image measurement under appropriate conditions according to a position in image data. An image processing device acquires a plurality of pieces of image data generated by imaging in a plurality of different light emission states of a plurality of light emitting units included in an illumination device. The image processing device generates image data to be used for image measurement on the basis of the plurality of pieces of acquired image data and a generation condition defined in association with the position in the image data. |
| US10859505B2 |
Fluorescence box for gemological applications
Some examples herein include systems and methods of creating standards of gemstones of various classifications, which may display certain characteristics of the various classifications when excited by ultraviolet radiation and fluoresce in response. In some examples, a set of standards are created using fluorescent material, filters, and a radiation source to compare against a sample gemstone. |
| US10859499B2 |
Apparatus and method for quantitative molecular sensing based on raman peak shift
An apparatus and method for quantitatively sensing and analyzing a concentration of biomolecules using Raman peak shift are disclosed. The quantitative molecular sensing apparatus includes an illumination optical system including a light source configured to irradiate excitation light onto an object, a detection optical system including an optical detector configured to detect light scattered from the object, and a signal processor configured to analyze properties of the object based on signal output by the detection optical system and to calculate a concentration of target molecules in the object based on a Raman peak shift value over a predetermined time period. |
| US10859498B2 |
Method for visualization of conjunctival cells using fluoroquinolone antibiotics and method for diagnosis of ocular lesions using the same
A method for visualization of conjunctival cells using fluoroquinolone antibiotics and a method for diagnosis of ocular lesions using the same. The method for visualization of conjunctival cells using fluoroquinolone antibiotics includes staining goblet cells of ocular conjunctiva with moxifloxacin, which is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, and exciting the stained goblet cells with single photons in the near-UV region or in the visible region, followed by fluorescence photographing of the goblet cells, thereby enabling acquisition of morphological information on living tissue without damage to or destruction of the ocular conjunctiva. Specifically, the method for visualization of conjunctival cells includes: a conjunctiva staining step in which ocular conjunctiva is stained with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic; a light irradiation step in which the ocular conjunctiva stained with the fluoroquinolone antibiotic is irradiated with light from a light source; and a conjunctiva photographing step in which the ocular conjunctiva is photographed using an image pickup unit through the fluoroquinolone antibiotic fluorescence-excited by light in the light irradiation step, wherein, in the conjunctiva staining step, goblet cells of the ocular conjunctiva are stained with the fluoroquinolone antibiotic; in the light irradiation step, the light source emits single photons; and, in the conjunctiva photographing step, the image pickup unit photographing the ocular conjunctiva is a high-magnification fluorescence microscope or a slit lamp microscope. |
| US10859497B2 |
Arrays of integrated analytical devices
Arrays of integrated analytical devices and their methods for production are provided. The arrays are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices allow the highly sensitive discrimination of optical signals using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The devices include an integrated diffractive beam shaping element that provides for the spatial separation of light emitted from the optical reactions. |
| US10859492B2 |
Optical sensor and method of operating the optical sensor
An optical sensor and a method of operating the optical sensor are provided. The optical sensor includes a light source configured to emit a light, and a path adjuster configured to adjust a traveling path of the light to reflect the light at a first time, and allow the light to pass through the path adjuster at a second time. The optical sensor further includes a light receiver configured to receive a reference light among the reflected light, and receive, among the light passing through the path adjuster, a measurement light related to a target material. |
| US10859490B2 |
System and method for photo-thermal analysis of immunoassay tests
A system and method for photo-thermal imaging of a lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) device are provided. The system includes an intensity modulated heat source directed at a surface of the LFA device to selectively excite chromophore particles of interest and a thermal capture device configured to capture thermal waves emitted from the surface of the LFA device as a radiometric signal. A computing device, in communication with the thermal capture device, receives the radiometric signal and executes lock-in demodulation to detect surface or subsurface inhomogeneities of the LFA device. |
| US10859489B2 |
Hand-held microfluidic detection device that uses a parasitic light suppressing mechanism to reduce background noise
The present invention relates to a hand-held microfluidic detection device, comprising: —a microfluidic cell (M) having at least one chamber intended to at least contain a sample; —a support (S) comprising a housing for the removable attachment thereto of the microfluidic cell (M); —excitation light means arranged at least in part in the support (S) to side illuminate the at least one chamber of the microfluidic cell (M) to excite the sample contained therein; —an optical detector (D) configured and arranged to detect light emitted from the sample when excited with said side illumination; and —a casing (C) constituting an envelope into which at least the support (S) is housed and attached. |
| US10859488B2 |
Sample holder for home testing device
A sample holder includes a slide, containing a depression in a surface of the slide. A cover slip is fixed to the slide over the depression so as to define a sample chamber, while leaving a loading area of the depression uncovered, so that a liquid sample deposited in the loading area is drawn into the sample chamber by capillary action. |
| US10859480B2 |
System and method for determining linear density of carbon fiber
A method for determining a linear density of a carbon fiber tow. The method includes providing a pulse of air directed toward the carbon fiber tow, determining, via a first sensor, an air pressure of the pulse of air, and measuring, via a second sensor, a displacement of the carbon fiber tow in response to the pulse of air directed toward the carbon fiber tow. The method further includes calculating, via a controller, a linear density of the carbon fiber tow based on the air pressure and the displacement, and outputting, via the controller, the linear density. |
| US10859478B2 |
Biaxial load test specimen, biaxial load test apparatus, and biaxial load test method
A biaxial load test specimen includes a main body and four arms. The main body has a plurality of through-holes aligned along axial directions of two load axes orthogonal to each other. The four arms extend from the main body in the respective axial directions of the load axes. Each of the arms has a plurality of slit grooves extending, on respective extensions of the through-holes aligned in the axial directions, along the respective axial directions. |
| US10859476B2 |
Liquid phase chromatograph
A liquid chromatography having an on-line cleaning function, comprising a first flow channel (L3), a second flow channel (L21), an analysis flow channel (L22) and waste liquid flow channels, further comprising a cleaning flow channel (L25), a direction switch valve (V1) and a multi-flow channel switch valve (V2), etc. The liquid chromatography changes the flow path of the liquid by changing the communication relationship between the two-position switch valves, thus realizes the on-line cleaning function for a first chromatographic column (C1), a middle chromatographic column (C2), a filter or a protector (B2) respectively, and realize the simultaneous on-line cleaning function for the first chromatographic column (C1) and the middle chromatographic column (C2). |
| US10859472B2 |
Piston corer and method of acquiring a soil sample
The present document relates to a piston corer for acquiring a soil sample. The piston corer comprises a sample reception cylinder for taking in and retaining the soil sample, and which comprises a piston. The piston is moveable over a piston stroke inside the sample reception cylinder. An intake opening at a first end of the sample reception cylinder allows to receive the soil sample upon penetration of the ground, and the piston is configured to move in a direction away from the intake opening during taking in of the soil sample towards an end position of the piston stroke. The piston corer further comprises an activator cooperating with a valve arranged for closing of the intake opening upon activation. The activator is configured for activating a closing action of the valve in response to the piston reaching the end position of the piston stroke. The document further relates to a method of acquiring a soil sample using such a piston corer. |
| US10859467B2 |
Bearing diagnosing device and bearing diagnosing method
A bearing diagnosing method for diagnosing degradation of a bearing rotatably supporting a spindle includes: the steps of obtaining the rotation speed of the spindle; obtaining the temperature of the bearing; recording the rotation time for which the spindle has rotated, at each of multiple classes that are defined in advance by combination of rotation speed range and temperature range, into the storage unit, based on the rotation speed and the temperature; and calculating bearing degradation information representing the degree of degradation of the bearing, based on the rotation time at each of the classes, stored in the storage unit. |
| US10859462B2 |
Hydrant cap leak detector with oriented sensor
A nozzle cap includes a cap body, the cap body defining a cap axis extending from a first body end of the cap body to a second body end of the cap body; and a vibration sensor attached to the cap body, the vibration sensor defining a sensor axis extending from a first sensor end of the vibration sensor to a second sensor end of the vibration sensor, the sensor axis aligned perpendicular to the cap axis. |
| US10859458B2 |
Pressure sensor
A pressure sensor of the present disclosure includes a laminated piezoelectric device including a stacked body in which piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes are alternately laminated; and a case which encloses the laminated piezoelectric device, the case including a case main body and a first projection protruding inwardly from the case main body, the first projection including an end face which abuts on an end face in a stacking direction of the stacked body, and is located inside an outer periphery of the end face of the stacked body. |
| US10859455B2 |
Brake inspection device and motor controller
Provided is a brake inspection device including: load torque measurement units configured to respectively measure: load torques as a motor is normally rotated and reversely rotated in a released state where an operation of a brake for holding a rotor with respect to a stator of the motor is released; and a load torque as the motor is rotationally driven in either one of a normal direction or a reverse direction in a locked state where the brake is operated; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of the brake based on the load torques measured by the load torque measurement units. |
| US10859454B2 |
Delivery device for delivering yarns, method for determining the tension of yarns and use of control means for controlling actuators for delivering yarns
A delivery device with actuators for delivering yarns in a textile machine, controllers for controlling the actuators, which comprise produce measurement signals as a measure of the drive torque of the actuators, and monitors for monitoring the tensions of the yarns using the measurement signals. Additionally, at least one embodiment concerns a method for monitoring the tension of yarns which are delivered in a textile machine by means of actuators, comprising producing measurement signals as a measure of the drive torque of the actuators, which is a measure of yarn tension, and monitoring the tension of the yarns using the measurement signals. |
| US10859452B2 |
Surface refractive index measurement method and surface stress measurement method using the same
Disclosed is a method of measuring a surface refractive index of a strengthened glass including causing light to enter a surface layer of the strengthened glass through a liquid provided with a refractive index equivalent to that of a surface of the surface layer; a process of causing the light to be emitted from the strengthened glass through the liquid; converting two types of light components into two types of emission line sequences; capturing an image of the two types of emission line sequences; measuring positions of respective emission lines of the two types of emission line sequences from the image; and calculating refractive indexes of a surface of the strengthened glass corresponding to the two types of light components, or refractive index distributions of the strengthened glass in a depth direction from the surface corresponding to the two types of light components. |
| US10859447B2 |
Operating-status diagnostic apparatus
An operating-status diagnostic apparatus includes a sensor unit and a control unit. The sensor unit detects heat fluxes flowing outward from a component of a facility. A control unit determines whether or not an operating status of the facility indicates that the component is in a warming-up complete state where warming-up of the component is completed based on a detection result of detection by the sensor unit. |
| US10859443B1 |
System and method for automatic measurement and recording
A method and apparatus for automatically measuring and storing a various measured values of an item, or a sequence of measured values of one or more item(s) suitable for single-handed use by a user. In particular, the present invention relates to a mobile computing device with one or more sensors for determining when to measure and record a particular value of one or more items. The mobile computing device may automatically measure the values based on sensing a change in the temperature value or through using proximity as detected by one or more onboard sensors. Additionally, the mobile computing device may automatically measure the values based on coming within range of an external proximity device. In response to automatically measuring the values, the measured values are stored along with additional information for record keeping purposes. |
| US10859442B2 |
Thermal pile sensing structure integrated with capacitor
The present invention discloses a thermal pile sensing structure integrated with one or more capacitors, which includes: a substrate, an infrared sensing unit and a partition structure. The infrared sensing unit includes a first and a second sensing structure. A hot junction is formed between the first and the second sensing structures at a location where the first and the second sensing structures are close to each other. A cold junction is formed between the partition structure and the first sensing structure at a location where these two structures are close to each other. Another cold junction is formed between the partition structure and the second sensing structure at a location where these two structures are close to each other. A temperature difference between the hot junction and the cold junction generates a voltage difference signal. Apart of the partition structure forms at least one capacitor. |
| US10859439B1 |
Reflectometer, spectrophotometer, ellipsometer or polarimeter system including sample imaging system that simultaneously meets scheimpflug condition and overcomes keystone error
An imaging system, and method of its use, for viewing a sample surface at an inclined angle, preferably in functional combination with a sample investigating reflectometer, spectrophotometer, ellipsometer or polarimeter system; wherein the imaging system provides that a sample surface and multi-element imaging detector surface are oriented with respect to one another to meet the Scheimpflug condition, and wherein a telecentric lens system is simultaneously positioned between the sample surface and the input surface of the multi-element imaging detector such that an image of the sample surface produced by said multi-element imaging detector is both substantially in focus over the extent thereof, and such that substantially no keystone error is demonstrated in said image. |
| US10859438B2 |
Ultraminiature endoscopy
A spectrally encoded endoscopy optical device includes a bundle of multi-mode optical fibers that transmits light received from an imaging target to a spectrometer. A far field pattern of light transmitted through a fundamental mode of at least one of the multi-mode optical fibers is nonparallel to an optical axis of the spectrometer for reducing nonuniformity of the far field pattern at an input sensor of the spectrometer. For still further reduction of such nonuniformity, a far field pattern of light transmitted through a fundamental mode of the bundle of multi-mode optical fibers is nonparallel to an optical axis of the spectrometer. |
| US10859430B2 |
Sensor including electrical transmission-line parameter that changes responsive to vehicular load
An apparatus includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a transmission-line assembly having an electrical transmission-line parameter configured to change, at least in part, in response to reception, at least in part, of a vehicular load of a moving vehicle moving relative to a vehicular roadway to the transmission-line assembly positionable, at least in part, relative to the vehicular roadway. |
| US10859428B2 |
Apparatus for reliably determining and/or monitoring a process variable
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring the viscosity, the density and/or a predetermined filling level, having an excitation/receiving unit which excites a mechanically vibratable unit to vibrate, wherein a control/evaluation unit which is connected to the excitation/receiving unit and has a measuring branch and a checking branch separate from the latter is provided. The checking branch is configured to apply an excitation signal to the excitation/receiving unit, to receive the vibrations of the mechanically vibratable unit and to determine at least a first malfunction and a second different malfunction of the mechanically vibratable unit and/or of the excitation/receiving unit from the received vibrations, wherein the excitation signal of the checking branch has a continuous changing frequency which is described by a frequency/time function and passes through a plurality of modes of the mechanically vibratable unit. |
| US10859425B2 |
Flowmeter having an adjustable shield with flow scales
A flowmeter having an adjustable protective shield for calibrating the flowmeter is presented. The flowmeter includes an inner conduit providing a flow path for pressurized fluid, a protective shield having a plurality of markers providing a visible indicator of the flow rate of the pressurized fluid according to the position of the float in the flow path, and a housing assembly for receiving the inner conduit and the protective shield. The flowmeter also can include a fitting assembly for securely coupling the inner conduit, the flow label, and the housing assembly in-line within a pipeline path. The flowmeter can be calibrated by adjusting the position of the protective shield while in-line within the pipeline path. |
| US10859422B2 |
Method for determining a remaining operating period of a detector unit
The present disclosure relates to a method for determining a remaining operating period of a detector unit for a radiometric, density- or fill-level measuring device. The detector unit includes a photomultiplier. In such method, the control voltage of the photomultiplier is registered over at least one predetermined time period, a time rate of change function is ascertained based on control voltage registered during the predetermined time period, and the remaining operating period until reaching a maximum control voltage is calculated by means of the time rate of change function and a current control voltage, which is present at the current operating time. The method of the present disclosure permits approximation of the remaining operating period of the detector unit and, thus, timely learning of when required maintenance measures, especially aging related replacement of the photomultiplier, must be performed. |
| US10859419B2 |
Vehicle body fuel consumption determination based on sensor data
Techniques are described for determining an amount of fuel that is consumed by the body components of a vehicle, based at least partly on sensor data describing the operations of the body components and/or the location of the vehicle. A vehicle is equipped with a body that has any suitable number of body components that perform operations not directly associated with the translational movement of the vehicle from one location to another. Fuel is consumed to provide power (e.g., through power take off) to operate the body components. The vehicle includes sensor device(s) configured to sense the operations of the body components and generate sensor data that describes the operations of the body components. The sensor data is analyzed to determine an amount of fuel that is consumed to power the operations of the body components. |
| US10859418B2 |
Airflow measuring device
A case is equipped to an intake passage where a mainstream of air flows toward an engine. The case has a bypass passage which draws a part of the mainstream. A sensor is equipped to the bypass passage. The case has an external wall as a side wall extending along the mainstream direction in which the mainstream flows. The bypass passage has an outlet port formed in the side wall as an opening which opens in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mainstream direction. The airflow measuring device further includes a throttle located on the upstream side in the mainstream direction than a center of the opening to throttle a stream of air which flows outside the case along the side wall. The throttle throttles the stream of air to flow toward a downstream side and to merge with air flowing out from the opening. |
| US10859414B2 |
Miniaturized illuminated pointer for instrument cluster
An illuminable pointer assembly for an instrument panel includes a transparent or translucent base, a transparent or translucent pointer blade, and a hub mounted on the base and supporting the pointer blade. The assembly is miniaturized or capable of being miniaturized by integrating reflectors into a lower surface of the pointer blade to internally reflect light propagated upwardly through the base in a lateral direction to uniformly illuminate the pointer blade. |
| US10859410B2 |
Position detection apparatus, lens apparatus, and image pickup apparatus
A position detection apparatus configured to detect a position of a test object includes a scale in which a plurality of patterns are arranged at cycles different from one another, a sensor configured to detect the plurality of patterns and to output a signal corresponding to a position of the test object relative to the scale, a first position calculator configured to calculate an absolute position of the test object based on the signal from the sensor, a determiner configured to determine a precision of the absolute position of the test object based on the signal from the sensor, and a controller configured to determine whether or not position information of the absolute position calculated by the first position calculator is to be used based on a determination result of the determiner. |
| US10859406B2 |
Magnetic sensor position measurement with phase compensation
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to correcting for a phase shift between signals associated with an angle sensor and a multi-turn sensor that includes magnetoresistive elements. A processing circuit can determine a phase shift correction and generate position information based on at least the phase shift correction and a signal associated with the multi-turn sensor. |
| US10859402B2 |
Assembly on a member of a system for determining the position of said member
The invention relates to an assembly comprising an encoder (1) secured in rotation to the member, said encoder comprising a primary magnetic track (2) and a secondary magnetic track (3) and a sensor (4) having two patterns (5) of sensitive elements which are suitable for detecting the signals supplied by the tracks (2, 3) of the encoder (1), each pattern (5) being arranged at reading distance from a track (2, 3) to form a representative signal of the position of said track, the sensitive elements of a first pattern (5) are based on a magnetoresistive material wherein the resistance varies according to the magnetic signal of the track (2, 3) to be detected, said first pattern being arranged at reading distance from a second track (3) having 2N−1 magnetic pole pairs, the sensitive elements of the second pattern (5) being based on an anisotropic magnetoresistive material, said second pattern being arranged at reading distance from a primary track (2) having N magnetic pole pairs. |
| US10859401B2 |
Fault tolerant servo sensor with linear hall sensors and discrete hall sensors
At least an output shaft angle associated with an output shaft is initialized to a known value where the output shaft is coupled to a motor shaft via a set of one or more gears. A direction of rotation associated with the motor shaft is determined using a plurality of discrete Hall sensors in the motor and the output shaft angle is updated using an incremental value and the direction of rotation. |
| US10859393B2 |
Apparatus and associated methods for indicating road data gatherer upload zones
An apparatus comprising a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and computer program code configured to, with the processor, enable the apparatus at least to: generate an indication of one or more communication network receiver upload zones for a road data gatherer along a planned route to be traveled by the road data gatherer, the indication determined according to a predetermined upload criterion, which takes account of the bandwidth capacities of communication network receivers along the planned route for the road data gatherer, to specify communication network receivers to be used by the road data gatherer for uploading of road data; and provide the indication to guide uploading of the road data gathered by the road data gatherer. |
| US10859390B2 |
Electric vehicle charging network services
To provide remote services, including dynamic, interactive assistance to electric vehicle (EV) users, a central server is arranged for electronic communications with EVs (15) and with client devices (11). The server also communicates with at least one EV charging station network, which in turn communicate with individual charging stations (30). Remote services may include trip planning, locating charging stations, checking availability and suitability of charging stations, making reservations at charging stations, and updating plans en route. The server collects data from the EV and analyzes the data to determine various statistics. The system advises a user on readiness of the EV to complete a proposed trip before recharging the EV batteries. Client devices may include smart phones, computers, or a head unit in the EV. Application software programs are executable on the client devices to provide user interfaces for accessing the remote services and for communicating with the central server. |
| US10859388B2 |
Route generation using road lane line quality
A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system. |
| US10859386B2 |
Waste management system having roadway condition detection
A system is disclosed for managing waste services. The system may have a memory with computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive, via a first portal, sensor data and location data associated with a service vehicle; to make a determination based on the location data of whether the service vehicle is stopped or moving; and based on the determination, to selectively show on a second portal, confirmation of a service activity completed by the service vehicle or an irregularity in a roadway traveled by the service vehicle corresponding to the sensor data. |
| US10859384B2 |
Lightweight vehicle localization systems and methods
Systems and methods for autonomous vehicle localization are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, by a computing system that includes one or more computing devices onboard an autonomous vehicle, sensor data indicative of one or more geographic cues within the surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle. The method includes obtaining, by the computing system, sparse geographic data associated with the surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle. The sparse geographic data is indicative of the one or more geographic cues. The method includes determining, by the computing system, a location of the autonomous vehicle within the surrounding environment based at least in part on the sensor data indicative of the one or more geographic cues and the sparse geographic data. The method includes outputting, by the computing system, data indicative of the location of the autonomous vehicle within the surrounding environment. |
| US10859372B2 |
Comprehensive information detection system for steel wire rope
A comprehensive information detection system for a steel wire rope, having a detection device, a stroke metering device, a data acquisition and conversion workstation, an alarm controller, and a terminal control master station is provided. The detection device further specifically has a steel wire rope electromagnetic detection device, a steel wire rope machine vision damage recognition device, a steel wire rope machine vision diameter measurement device, and a damage location marking device. The comprehensive information detection system for a steel wire rope may perform comprehensive evaluation on the damage situation of the steel wire rope and refine damage data information, thereby comprehensively improving the refinement degree of detection and the detection accuracy. |
| US10859363B2 |
Tape rule assembly with linear optical encoder for sensing human-readable graduations of length
A tape rule assembly includes a linear optical encoder for sensing human-readable graduations of length disposed on a surface of a tape, without requiring any other machine-readable indicia to be present on the tape. The optical encoder includes two optical sensors disposed in a sensor holder pivotably disposed in the tape rule housing and configured to be displaced relative to one another in the housing along both the “x” axis and the “z” axis, a set of intersecting “x”, “y” and “z” axes being defined relative to a tape exit in the tape rule housing. |
| US10859362B2 |
Tape measure
A tape measure includes a spool, a housing defining an opening, where the spool is rotatably coupled to the housing, and a blade including a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to the spool and the second end is movable through the opening between a retracted position and an extended position. The manually retractable tape measure further includes a cleaning assembly positioned within the housing adjacent the opening such that the cleaning assembly is in contact with the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position. |
| US10859356B1 |
Cartridge for cooling gun barrels
A liquid or powder filled cartridge is used to cool and lubricate the bore of gun barrels to eliminate cook off and improve barrel life. A primer is used to rupture the nose of the cartridge and propel the cooling material into the bore. The coolant absorbs heat from the bore of the barrel and is ejected from the muzzle of the weapon. The liquid or powder may include lubricants, preservatives, antifreeze, coolants, cleaners, or mixtures thereof, or other materials to enhance barrel performance. The liquid or powder filled cartridge is particularly well suited to externally powered weapons. Ammunition may be fed into the weapon using a mix of conventional cartridges and coolant filled cartridges. Internally cooling the barrel may be used to reduce or eliminate cook off and increase barrel life. |
| US10859355B2 |
Ballistic internet of things sensors and communications platform
A projectile device for establishing a wireless network and transmitting data within the network. The projectile device includes a motion sensor configured to measure at least one of an acceleration, angular velocity, or an orientation of the projectile device; an antenna configured for communication within a wireless network between the projectile device and at least one external device. The projectile device includes a processor configured to establish communication in the wireless network for receiving and/or transmitting a message between the projectile device and the at least one external device via the antenna and a wireless protocol that is determined by at least one of the acceleration, angular velocity, or orientation of the projectile device. The projectile device includes a damping agent arranged to impact movement of components of the projectile device, wherein a form factor of the projectile device is complimentary with a launching mechanism of the projectile device. |
| US10859354B1 |
Arrow insert with threaded stem for retaining an arrow tip
An arrow insert with threaded stem for retaining an arrow tip preferably includes an arrow tip and an arrow insert. The arrow tip includes tip portion formed on one end and a threaded tap formed in an opposite end thereof. An O-ring counter bore is formed in the opposite end. The arrow insert preferably includes a barbed shank, an arrow shaft contact portion, an end flange, an arrow tip locator, at least one O-ring groove and a threaded stem. The barbed shank extends from one end of the arrow shaft contact portion. The end flange extends from an opposing end of the arrow shaft contact portion. The arrow tip locator extends from the end flange. The threaded stem extends from the arrow tip locator. The at least one O-ring groove is formed in the arrow tip locator. |
| US10859353B1 |
Lighted nock device
Methods and systems for illuminating an arrow nock or bolt end are disclosed, including providing a nock having a nock body comprising an arrow or shaft attachment portion and a slot adapted to receive a bowstring; and a luminous assembly at least partially disposed within the nock body, wherein the luminous assembly comprises a power source, a light source, and a switch, and alternately activated or deactivated by depressing and releasing of the light source. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US10859343B1 |
Magazine well for a firearm
A magazine well configured to be attached to a firearm is disclosed herein. The magazine well comprising a base, a flexible tab extending from the base, and a detent disposed on the flexible tab. The detent is configured to engage a notch in the firearm in order to secure the magazine well to the firearm. |
| US10859342B2 |
Firearm stock with barrel-centering feature
A firearm stock with barrel-centering feature has an elongated body defining an elongated receiver channel and an elongated barrel channel, the receiver channel defined in part by a flat floor surface facing in upward direction, the receiver channel defined in part by opposed sidewalls extending above the floor surface, a fastener facility at the rear of the receiver channel operable to connect to the tang of the receiver, and a lateral adjustment facility forward of the fastener facility and operable to secure the receiver in a selected lateral angle of pivot about the fastener facility, such that the barrel is centerable within the barrel channel to avoid the barrel touching the stock. The lateral adjustment facility may include a set screw having an axis parallel to the floor surface of the stock. A pair of set screws opposing each other may secure the action in a selected lateral position. |
| US10859334B2 |
Universal trigger locking system
Systems for universally locking a trigger of a firearm are provided that require authentication to transition the firearm to an unlocked state. In general, examples of the systems for universally locking a trigger of a firearm described herein are located in an interchangeable grip portion of the firearm or mounted to an accessory rail of the firearm. Embodiments of the system generally include trigger interference or blocking members to prevent actuation of the trigger until the authentication system has authorized the user to fire the firearm. Once the system is authenticated, embodiments of the system remain in an unlocked state while the user is grasping the firearm. When the user removes their hand from the firearm, embodiments of the trigger locking system automatically returns to a locked state, reducing or eliminating unauthorized use of the firearm. |
| US10859333B2 |
Magazine retaining device
The present disclosure relates to magazine retaining devices and methods to produce such magazine retaining devices that may be coupled to a rail, such as a Picatinny rail, and used to retain a firearm magazine. |
| US10859332B2 |
Firearm receiver with adjustable positioning assembly
A firearm receiver includes a lower receiver body having a pair of takedown pin openings that are positioned along each side, and a bolt channel that extends diagonally from the back end of the receiver body to the inside of the receiver body. A takedown pin assembly is positioned within the receiver body and is in communication with the bolt channel. The takedown pin assembly including a takedown pin that is selectively positioned within the pair of takedown pin openings. The takedown pin assembly including a cam-pin and securement bolt that engage a lock tensioner that is connected to the takedown pin. The cam-pin transitioning between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the cam-pin imparts a downward force onto the lock tensioner, takedown pin and an upper receiver that is connected to the takedown pin. |
| US10859331B2 |
Method and system for cleaning a heat exchange system of a heating ventilation and air conditioning system
A method for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting commercial and residential HVAC system includes applying low pressure cleaning foam to heat-exchange coils of the HVAC system, the cleaning foam including one or more agents that break down organic and/or inorganic fouling dirt or debris, the foam removing and carrying away dirt or debris from the coils. Moving air, such as from the air handler of the HVAC system, pushes or draws the cleaning foam from the first side of the coils toward a second side, the cleaning foam and removed dirt or debris exiting the second side of the coils. The moving air and cleaning foam move co-currently in the same direction through spaces in the coils. |
| US10859329B2 |
Thermal transistor
A thermal transistor is provided. The thermal transistor includes a metallic thermal conductor, a non-metallic thermal conductor, and a thermal resistance adjusting unit. The metallic thermal conductor and the non-metallic thermal conductor are contact with each other to form a thermal interface. The thermal resistance adjusting unit is configured to generate an electric field at the thermal interface. |
| US10859327B2 |
Heat exchanger and manufacturing method for the same
A heat exchanger includes a stacked body that is configured by tubes stacked in a stacking direction and a header tank. The header tank includes a plate header and a tank body. The tubes include longitudinal ends attached to the plate header. The plate header includes a tube insertion hole provided with a stopper. One of the longitudinal ends of the plurality of tubes is inserted into the tube insertion hole. The stopper sets a position of the one of the longitudinal ends in the tube insertion hole. The stopper is provided with the tube insertion hole, and has a width dimension that is smaller than both of a width dimension of the tube insertion hole and a width dimension of the one of the longitudinal ends of the plurality of tubes when viewed in the stacking direction. |
| US10859324B2 |
Modular thermal energy storage system
A thermal energy storage (TES) system includes a plurality of closely packed TES modules, each TES module having a shell enclosing a plurality of sealed tubes that each contain a TES media. A computer-controlled flow control system includes a flow distributor, for example a flow distributor having a plenum configured to receive a heat transfer fluid (HTF), and a plurality of control valves controlled by the computer to controllably distribute the HTF from the plenum to the plurality of TES modules. Sensor data from the TES modules, for example temperature, pressure, and/or flow data, is provided to the computer. In some embodiments the plenum includes two or more compartments with separate HTF flow ports, which may be provided to the controller at different temperatures. |
| US10859317B2 |
Apparatus and method for evaporating liquids containing potentially explosive impurities
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for evaporating liquids containing potentially explosive impurities of lower volatility than the actual liquid compound. The set-up of the evaporator according to the invention allows its operation with complete evaporation of a liquid without formation of a liquid sump of not yet evaporated liquid. |
| US10859316B1 |
Predictive refractory performance measurement system
A measurement system is provided for predicting a future status of a refractory lining that is lined over an inner surface of an outer wall of a metallurgical vessel and exposed to a heat during which the refractory lining is exposed to molten metal. The system includes one or more laser scanners and a processor. The laser scanners are configured to conduct a plurality of laser scans of the refractory lining when the metallurgical vessel is empty. At least one of the laser scanners is configured to laser scan the refractory lining prior to the heat to collect data related to pre-heat structural conditions of the refractory lining. At least one of the laser scanners is configured to laser scan the refractory lining after the heat to collect data related to post-heat structural conditions of the refractory lining. The processor is configured to predict the future status of the lining. |
| US10859314B2 |
Gas liquefaction column
An apparatus and process for the compression, expansion, evaporation, and liquefaction of gases or gaseous mixtures consisting of a gas liquefaction column comprising successive chambers made of balloons resembling those used in pneumatic suspensions, and double-piston bases in between the upper and lower end of each chamber. Some of the double-piston bases are fixed while others in between are mobile. The group of mobile double-piston bases is activated in a linear to-and-fro vertical stroke while the other group of double-piston bases remains stationary. This results in consecutive suction and compression of the chambers, creating a Joule-Thomson effect at each of them. This results in the cooling and liquefaction of the gas or gaseous mixture. The apparatus also comprises humidity extractors, and different types of valves and piping. |
| US10859313B2 |
Process for separating hydrogen from an olefin hydrocarbon effluent vapor stream
One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a method for separating hydrogen from an olefin hydrocarbon rich compressed effluent vapor stream, employing a single heat exchanger, multiple gas-liquid separators, multiple expander/compressor sets, and a rectifier attached to a liquid product drum. |
| US10859311B2 |
Freezable beverage dispenser assembly
A freezable beverage dispenser assembly for cooling alcohol as the alcohol is being poured includes a reservoir that is fillable with a freezable liquid. The reservoir is placed in a freezer thereby facilitating the freezable liquid to freeze into ice. Moreover, the reservoir is comprised of a thermally conductive material such that the reservoir is cooled by the ice. The reservoir has a top wall that is sloped downwardly and a channel is formed into the top wall. A beverage poured into the channel, and the beverage runs down the top wall for dispensing the beverage into a beverage container. The ice in the reservoir cools the beverage when the beverage is poured onto the channel. |
| US10859305B1 |
High performance ULT chest freezer with dehumidification
The present invention is a high-performance ultra-low temperature chest freezer capable of reaching temperatures as low as −160° C. within several hours with the capability to automatically and continually defrost and dehumidify its payload bay before, during, and after a door open event without needing to cease freezing operations or raise the setpoint. |
| US10859301B2 |
Refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly
A refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly therefor are provided herein. The ice bin assembly or ice bin may be removably received within the chilled chamber. The ice bin may include a bin body, an ice sweep, and a gear assembly. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein. The ice sweep may be positioned within the ice bin. The gear assembly may be positioned within the ice bin below the ice sweep in mechanical communication with the ice sweep to motivate rotation of the ice sweep. |
| US10859298B2 |
Evaporator control
An evaporator controller for a plural-coil evaporator of a refrigeration system, the evaporator controller comprising a mode determiner for selecting a mode of operation of the evaporator from a plurality of modes of operation, wherein one mode uses a first coil of the plurality of coils of the evaporator, another mode uses a second coil of the plurality of coils of the evaporator and at least one mode uses more than one of the plurality of coils, based on selection data and a refrigeration requirement, and a selection data updater for updating the selection data based on the selected mode of operation and a process variable of the refrigeration system. |
| US10859295B2 |
Cooling and heating platform
A cooling and heating platform is disclosed. An example cooling and heating platform includes an operating chamber with an operating liquid in the operating chamber. The example cooling and heating platform includes a heat exchanger in the operating chamber. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between the operating liquid and an application fluid in the heat exchanger to maintain the application fluid at a predetermined temperature for an application. |
| US10859284B2 |
Solid-state common-wire adapter for smart communicating thermostats
A solid-state common-wire adapter combines two Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) control signals on a single pre-existing wire to allow another pre-existing wire to be used as a common-wire to provide reliable power to a Smart Communicating Thermostat. The solid-state common-wire adapter may comprise a thermostat element with at least one diode and an HVAC element with at least one device selected from the group consisting of: a solid-state TRIode for Alternating Current (TRIAC), a capacitor, a microprocessor, a power supply, an optoisolator, and a load resistor. Smart Communicating Thermostats require continuous power for communicating with a wireless network, providing a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display, and controlling an HVAC system. Some Smart Communicating Thermostats use power stealing which is unreliable. The solid-state common-wire adapter is reliable, small, low-cost, and easy to install. |
| US10859281B2 |
Thermostat assembly with removable trim ring
A thermostat assembly includes a thermostat and a trim ring. The thermostat includes a user interface, a thermostat housing having a front portion with a front portion side wall and a back portion with a back portion side wall, the back portion side wall being offset from the front portion side wall, and a controller disposed within the thermostat housing and operably coupled to the user interface, the controller configured to accept input from a user via the user interface and provide one or more control signals to control the HVAC system. The trim ring includes an outer surface that transitions from a larger back side profile to a smaller front side profile. A front side of the trim ring includes a thermostat recess that is configured to receive at least part of the back portion of the thermostat. |
| US10859278B2 |
Evaporative cooler with pressurized water distribution system
An evaporative cooler having a pressurized water distribution system that provides even water distribution to evaporative media pads within the evaporative cooler, even when the evaporative pads are canted and/or are not in perfect alignment. The pressurized water distribution system generally includes a distribution assembly with a pressurized flow path portion and a non-pressurized flow path portion, and a supply assembly. The evaporative cooler may also include other features that enhance aesthetics and/or cooling capacity, such as supplemental evaporative media pads, a perforated lid, an internal retaining frame, angled louvers, and/or a dropper that allows for a low-profile installation on a roof of a building or other structure. |
| US10859277B2 |
Air-conditioner
A high elongated portable air-conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator located inside a housing. The air conditioner also includes a cool air inlet and outlet and a warm air inlet and outlet. The air-conditioner has an axial evaporator fan and a radial condenser fan and the housing of the air-conditioner has an elongated shape where the end sections of the elongated air conditioner housing forms a top section and a bottom section, respectively. Other features of a portable air-conditioner are also disclosed. |
| US10859272B2 |
Combustor for a gas turbine
A combustor for a gas turbine, having a pre-combustion chamber having a peripheral wall around a center axis of the pre-combustion chamber, the peripheral wall has an inner panel and an outer panel and a passage provided between the inner and the outer panels, a swirler which is connected to the pre-combustion chamber for providing pre-combustion chamber with a flow of an oxidant gas, at least a pilot fuel injector, wherein the swirler is connected to the peripheral wall in such a way that a portion of the oxidant gas from the swirler is channeled to the passage, and the pilot fuel injector is connected to the passage for injecting a flow of pilot fuel into the passage. |
| US10859270B2 |
Burner assembly for a burner of a gas turbine
A burner assembly of a gas turbine comprising: a tubular body defining the flow path for the hot gas of the combustion during the turbine operation; an aperture for a fuel lance; a wearing ring of a sacrificial material configured to correspond to the edge of the aperture; a contacting leg extending from the wearing ring on the tubular body; a pre-tension system configured to contact the contacting leg in order to provide a pre-tension force on the ring. |
| US10859268B2 |
Ceramic matrix composite turbine vanes and vane ring assemblies
The present disclosure is related to turbine vanes comprising ceramic matrix composite materials and vane ring assemblies including the same. The turbine vane may include mount extensions that extend outside a primary gas path to provide a point of coupling for attaching the turbine vane to a support structure. |
| US10859266B2 |
Lighter sleeve device
A device including a sleeve body, wherein the sleeve body is configured to host a lighter, and wherein the sleeve body is further configured to be operable for relieving boredom or stress; an opening portion, the opening portion is configured to be operable for accepting a lighter; a circular indentation section disposed on a proximate center portion of the sleeve body; wherein the circular indentation implement is configured to generally secure a rotating disc implement; and a rotating disc implement, wherein the rotating disc implement is configured to significantly flush-mount against the circular indentation, wherein the rotating disc implement is further configured to customarily rotate freely against the sleeve body. |
| US10859262B2 |
Method and apparatus for waste combustion
A toxic waste incinerator is capable of enhanced combustion of hazardous waste (oil contaminated sand, human waste, garbage, etc.) utilizing immersed non-combustible and thermally conductive objects for increasing heat feedback from the flames to the unburned fuel, while air inlets are used to optimize the air entrainment rate to enhance the burning efficiency. The burning rate of a fluidic mass such as a sand-oil mixture is enhanced using immersed conductive objects (copper rods) which enable rapid heat-up of the flame exposed to the upper surface of the rod and transmits heat back into the sand. Consequent conduction of heat to the porous media through the lower portion of the immersed rod significantly increases vaporization and therefore the burning rate. Incineration may be performed on a transient, exigent basis as with hazardous waste and oil spills, or as part of a permanent fixture for receiving an ongoing waste stream. |
| US10859258B2 |
Spray nozzle and deaerator
A spray nozzle and a deaerator each include an external cylinder provided with a plurality of jetting outlets on an outer circumference portion thereof, an inner cylinder that is supported inside the external cylinder so as to be movable in an axial center direction and is provided with a plurality of first communication holes capable of communicating with the jetting outlets, and an open-close valve that includes a shaft coupled to the inner cylinder and a valve body provided at a distal end portion of the shaft and capable of opening and closing a distal opening of the external cylinder. The spray nozzle and the deaerator thus structured provide improved performance by preventing an increase in pressure loss occurring regardless of a jet flow amount. |
| US10859255B1 |
Handheld flashlight
A handheld flashlight includes a hollow cylinder having a first end and a second end, and a rechargeable battery therein. The handheld flashlight further includes a lamp head with a light source, a window breaker, a charging port and a discharging port, selectively connected to an external power source or an external load; a connection port, selectively connected to positive and negative terminals of a vehicle battery through external cables; and a management circuit, selectively applying power from the battery to one or more of the light source, the discharging port, and the connection, and selectively charging the battery from the external power source through the charging port; wherein the handheld flashlight is of such compact size and low weight as to be suitable for single-handed portable operation by a user. |
| US10859252B2 |
LED lamp having LED chips electrically connected to power source
An LED lamp includes: a lamp shell including a lamp head, a lamp neck and a sleeve; a passive heat dissipating element having a heat sink connected to the lamp shell; a power source having a first portion and a second portion; a light emitting surface connected to the heat sink of the passive heat dissipating element and comprising LED chips electrically connected to the power source; a first heat dissipating channel formed in a first chamber of the lamp shell for dissipating heat generated from the power source while the LED lamp is working, and the first chamber is located between bottom of the LED lamp and an upper portion of the lamp neck; and a second heat dissipating channel formed in the heat sink and between the fins and the base of the heat sink for dissipating the heat generated from the LED chips and transferred to the heat sink; wherein a lateral outline of the LED lamp detours around the axis of the LED lamp 360 degrees to turn around to form a contour of the LED lamp, the outline includes an outline of the lamp neck and an outline of the heat sink, the outline of the lamp neck is a concave curve, the outline of the heat sink is a convex curve, the radius of curvature of the outline of the lamp neck is greater than the radius of curvature of the outline of the heat sink. |
| US10859251B2 |
LED lamp having aperture located in the light emitting surface
An LED lamp includes: a lamp shell including a lamp head, a lamp neck and a sleeve; a passive heat dissipating element having a heat sink connected to the lamp shell; a power source having a first portion and a second portion; a light emitting surface connected to the heat sink of the passive heat dissipating element and comprising LED chips electrically connected to the power source; a first heat dissipating channel formed in a first chamber of the lamp shell for dissipating heat generated from the power source while the LED lamp is working, and the first chamber is located between bottom of the LED lamp and an upper portion of the lamp neck; and a second heat dissipating channel formed in the heat sink and between the fins and the base of the heat sink for dissipating the heat generated from the LED chips and transferred to the heat sink; wherein a lateral outline of the LED lamp detours around the axis of the LED lamp 360 degrees to turn around to form a contour of the LED lamp, the outline includes an outline of the lamp neck and an outline of the heat sink, the outline of the lamp neck has a slope a which is a constant, the outline of the heat sink has a slope b which is a constant, and the value of the slope a is greater than that of the slope b. |
| US10859248B2 |
Light source module and lighting device
The present disclosure discloses a light source module and a lighting device. The light source module includes an annular light source substrate, which is enclosed to form a housing region, and the light source module further includes a plurality of light emitting units disposed on a surface of the light source substrate, a driving power component disposed in the housing region and electrically connected with the light source substrate, and a light distribution element. The light distribution element includes an annular optical portion covering the light source substrate, a drive housing portion housing the driving power component and disposed in the housing region, and at least two connection portions connecting the drive housing portion to the optical portion. The at least two connection portions divide the housing region into at least two separated spaces. |
| US10859247B2 |
Method of determining the pose of a moving head light fixture
A method of determining pose of a moving head light fixture, comprising a support structure and a rotatable structure rotatable connected to the support structure. The rotatable structure comprises at least one light source generating a light beam and a position indicating the position of the position indicator. The method comprises the steps of arranging the position indicator at at least three different positions around the axis of rotation by rotating the rotatable structure; and a step of obtaining the position of the position indicator at each of the at least three different positions. The pose of the moving head light fixture can be obtained based on the obtained positions. |
| US10859246B2 |
Systems and methods for collapsible lighting fixtures
Systems and methods for collapsible lighting fixtures are disclosed. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire 100 has first and second light fixtures 110, 120 coupled in movable relation between storage and deployed positions by a coupling element 130 applying a retarding torque. Coupling element can be coupling shaft 250 providing friction, or friction hinge cartridge 260. In aspects, hinge 130 has ledge surfaces 218, 228 adjacent rotational hinge faces 216, 226 and extending transverse the rotational plane. In aspects, a horticultural luminaire has an articulated cableway extending through hinge 130 coupling light fixtures 110, 120 and guiding a cable entering from the exterior into cable passageways in light fixtures 110, 120, thereby lessening a cable pinch point during rotation and deployment. |
| US10859242B2 |
Downlight for ceiling system
A lighting assembly includes a base plate and a lighting module coupled to the base plate. The lighting module includes a light source and a housing supporting the light source. The housing includes a first end adjacent the base plate, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a first face and a second face extending from the first end toward the second end. The lighting assembly is configured to be coupled to a ceiling grid such that the base plate is mounted above an intersection of a first member and second member of the ceiling grid. The first and second member are each t-shaped having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The first and second faces of the housing extend downward from the base plate toward the horizontal portions of the first and second members. |
| US10859241B2 |
Modular luminaire
A modular troffer luminaire includes a housing having a perimeter frame, and a first light module removably attached to the housing. The first light module is replaceable by a second light module after the modular troffer luminaire is installed, where the first light module comprises an LED light source and an optic. The modular troffer luminaire further includes a sensor attached to the perimeter frame. The first light module is controllable based on sensing information from the sensor. |
| US10859238B2 |
Reflector and light source module
The present disclosure provides a reflector and a light source module. The reflector is provided with a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other; an inner surface of the reflector has a plurality of microstructures, an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of microstructures includes a first surface and a second surface, the second surface is a curved surface, the first surface has a starting edge and an ending edge opposite to the starting edge, the ending edge is connected with the second surface, at least one of the plurality of microstructures is located on a same side of a vertical plane that intersects the starting edge and is perpendicular to the first end surface. The reflector and the light source module can change the uniformity and the beam angle of the light, meanwhile, can ensure the achievability of the processing and manufacturing. |
| US10859236B2 |
High visibility termination system and method
A lighted cable termination assembly for use with one or more pipes is provided herein. The lighted cable termination assembly includes a base component having a body defined by an upper portion and a lower portion. The base component is configured to receive, through the lower portion of the body, an end portion of an electric heating cable. A lens has a proud surface and a pedestal is configured to couple the lens to the upper portion of the body such that the proud surface of the lens extends radially outside of a perimeter of the base component. A light emitting component optically is coupled with the lens such that the lens provides, through the proud surface, illumination from a plurality of viewing angles as viewed from an underside of the any of the one or more pipes on which the lighted cable termination assembly is installed. |
| US10859235B2 |
Warning devices with oscillating light patterns
An example warning device can include: a plurality of light sources forming an array; a plurality of reflectors, with at least one reflector being associated with each of the plurality of lights; at least one lens for each of the plurality of lights; and an optical prism plate that directs light from one or more of the plurality of lights to one of a plurality of far field light spots. |
| US10859234B2 |
Lighting unit
A lighting unit includes a housing, a first cover, and a second cover. The housing is configured to house a light source and a circuit body constituting a circuit between the light source and an outside of the housing. The first cover is mountable to the housing and configured to emit light from the light source to the outside of the housing. The second cover is mountable to the housing and includes a cover-side attachment portion attachable to an attachment hole of a lighting attachment member. The second cover is configured to emit the light from the light source to the outside of the housing through the attachment hole. The first cover and the second cover are selectively mountable to the housing. |
| US10859223B2 |
Floating candle over a base with suspended decoration
The present disclosure relates to a new way to manufacture and incorporate decorative features within a candle using a floating candle and a suspension base. The present disclosure describes a floating candle that may be located over a base with suspended decoration. In some aspects, the floating candle may comprise an ignitable wick that may extinguish prior to reaching the base. In some implementations, the base may comprise a liquid that may allow for movement of the decorations within the base. In some aspects, the base may comprise a rigid material, such as a hardened epoxy or polymerized monomer, wherein the curing of the material may occur after the decorations may be placed in the base. |
| US10859219B2 |
Luminaire
A lighting fixture having a generally cuboid main housing elongated in a longitudinal direction, a light source for emitting light, and a solid light tube of light-permeable material mounted in the main housing for receiving the light. The light tube is elongated in the longitudinal direction and includes a light-emitting surface having generally linear, elongated prisms extending in the longitudinal direction for refracting the light. The lighting fixture also includes a reflecting surface elongated in the longitudinal direction and at least partially facing the light-emitting surface for receiving the refracted light and reflecting the refracted light. |
| US10859217B2 |
Light source apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
Examples of the present disclosure disclose a light source apparatus and a method of manufacturing the light source apparatus. The light source apparatus includes a luminescent component having a substrate and at least two luminescent units disposed on the substrate, where the at least two luminescent units is arranged along a circular ring; and a light distribution component including an optical element provided with an annular lens or a transparent mask and a mounting part encircling the annular lens or the transparent mask and being connected with the optical element and the substrate, where the lens or the transparent mask receive emergent light of the at least two luminescent units and emitting the light after light distribution, and the mounting part is bonded to the substrate and is configured to fix the optical element above the at least two luminescent units. |
| US10859216B2 |
Optical component and method of manufacturing same
A light emitting device comprising: an optical component comprising: multiple light transmissive members, the light transmissive member having an upper face, a lower face, and at least one lateral face; and a light reflecting member that surrounds the at least one lateral face of the light transmissive member, wherein the light reflecting member is made of a ceramic that contains a plurality of pores, and wherein the plurality of pores are localized in a vicinity of the light transmissive member in a cross section that extends through the light transmissive member and the light reflecting member; multiple light emitting elements disposed on an upper surface of a substrate; and wherein the optical component is arranged on upper faces of the light emitting elements such that one light transmissive member is positioned on the upper face of one or two or more light emitting elements. |
| US10859211B2 |
Segmented vapor plug
Methods, apparatus, and device, such as a vapor plug, which partially seals an opening of a dewar. The vapor plug includes a vapor plug cover. The vapor plug cover is configured to cover an opening of a dewar. The vapor plug includes a neck that is formed from multiple disks and multiple sheets. The vapor plug includes a fastener that connects the multiple disks, the multiple sheets and the vapor plug cover. |
| US10859210B2 |
Device for supplying pressurized fluid, and assembly for storing pressurized fluid comprising such a device
A device for supplying pressurized fluid, including a first valve accommodating an internal fluid circuit, the device including a second valve including an internal circuit, the second valve forming a separate physical entity from the first valve, the first valve and the second valve including respective coupling members that form a male/female quick-connection system for removably connecting the second valve to the first valve, the internal circuits including a set of valves configured to allow or prevent the flow of the fluid towards an outlet of the device when the second valve is coupled to the first valve via the quick-connection system. |
| US10859208B2 |
Heat transfer unit for prefabricated vessel
Vessel assemblies, heat transfer units for prefabricated vessels, and methods for heat transfer prefabricated vessel are provided. A heat transfer unit includes a central rod, and a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod. The plurality of peripheral rods are movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position. The heat transfer unit further includes a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods. |
| US10859206B2 |
Loading and unloading equipment and procedure for the operation of loading and unloading equipment
A loading and unloading equipment that includes at least one carrier that essentially runs parallel to the ground, at least one supporting body extending diagonally or at an angle towards the carrier, at least one carriage body that is installed on the carrier, at least one motor that moves the carriage body in a direction of movement along the carrier, at least one loading and unloading device that may be or is set on the carriage body, at least one control device that at least controls the movement of the motor and/or the loading and unloading device, and at least one access device that consists of at least one stair-like or step-like walk-on element, and at least one locking tool, which blocks the access to the walk-on element when set to a locking position and which allows access to the walk-on element when set to a release position. |
| US10859204B2 |
Hoisting sheave shaft, hoisting sheave and lubricating device thereof
This invention discloses a hoisting sheave shaft, a hoisting sheave and a lubricating device thereof, where the hoisting sheave shaft is provided with a first oil injection channel extending axially; an oil inlet of the first oil injection channel is arranged on an end surface of the hoisting sheave shaft; the hoisting sheave shaft is also radially provided with at least one second oil injection channel; the second oil injection channel intersects with the first oil injection channel; and an oil outlet of the second oil injection channel is arranged on an outer circular surface of the hoisting sheave shaft. |
| US10859203B1 |
High-low pressure lubrication system for high-horsepower plunger pump
The invention discloses a high-low pressure lubrication system for a high-horsepower plunger pump, including a high-pressure oil line and a low-pressure oil line, the high-pressure oil line is used for lubricating the connecting rod bearing bushes and the crosshead bearing bushes in the plunger pump, the low-pressure oil line is used for lubricating the crankshaft bearings, the crosshead sliding rails, the reduction gearbox bearing, and the reduction gearbox gear pair in the plunger pump. The beneficial effects are as follows: oil is fed in two passages: a high-pressure oil line and a low-pressure oil line, the high-pressure oil line is used for lubricating the connecting rod bearing bushes and the crosshead bearing bushes, and the low-pressure oil line is used for lubricating the crankshaft bearings, the crosshead sliding rails, the reduction gearbox bearing, and the reduction gearbox gear pair; two oil pumps are employed to supply oil so that the oil supply of each oil line could be better guaranteed, thus better distributing the lubricating oil, and avoiding problems of uneven distribution of lubricating oil caused by excessive lubrication branches and insufficient amount of lubricating oil at each lubricating point, thus enhancing the utilization of lubricating oil, reducing abnormalities; both the high-pressure oil line and the low-pressure oil line utilize two-stage filtration, which can reduce impurities in the lubricating oil and improve the life time of various components in the plunger pump. |
| US10859202B2 |
Coupler for releasably securing integrated segments of an assemblage against otherwise accommodated relative translational displacement
Apparatus are disclosed for coupling integrated segments of an assemblage. The coupler apparatus includes a carrier connectable to one segment and slidably receiving another segment and has an elongate slot defined at one wall portion of a cavity therein. A restraint includes a conic wedge receivable in the carrier and has an actuator arm angularly extending from the wedge that is receivable through the elongate slot of the carrier. |
| US10859199B2 |
Display apparatus
Disclosed is a display apparatus including a display module for displaying an image forward, a link module coupled to the display module so as to be rotatable about a second rotational axis extending in the leftward-rightward direction, and a base module coupled to the link module so as to be rotatable about a first rotational axis extending in the leftward-rightward direction. The base module is configured to have a first state, in which the base module is placed on a floor to support the display module, and a second state, in which the base module is rotated by a predetermined angle from the first state. The first rotational axis is disposed at the rear portion of the base module in the second state. The rear portion faces upward or downward in the first state. |
| US10859198B2 |
Foot for household appliance, and household appliance
A foot for household appliance and a household appliance are provided. The foot includes: a hydraulic plate; a sheath, fixedly connected with the hydraulic plate; an adjustable foot, arranged in the sheath and capable of axially moving relative to the sheath, an accommodating chamber is formed by the hydraulic plate, the sheath and the adjustable foot; a hydraulic medium, arranged in the accommodating chamber, and the hydraulic medium is compressed or expanded depending on pressure changes to drive the adjustable foot to move axially in the sheath for leveling. At least two feet are communicated with each other to allow the hydraulic medium to flow between the feet. A liquid flowing passage for allowing the hydraulic medium to flow is arranged in the hydraulic plate. A control device for controlling the liquid flowing passage to open or close is arranged on at least one of the feet. |
| US10859192B2 |
Reusable clamp with latch release arm for connecting conduit sections and associated methods
A reusable clamp for retaining conduit sections or sanitary fittings having circular flanges together includes two gland members movable between open and closed positions. The gland members include two handles projecting outwardly from the gland members and two sets of locking detents formed on a latch finger connected to one gland member and the outer periphery of the other gland member. The locking detents engage to prevent movement of the gland members away from the closed position until a latch release arm coupled to the latch finger is depressed towards one of the handles, which causes the locking detents to disengage from one another and enables re-opening of the clamp when desired. The latch release arm and one or more of the handles also include tie-receiving loops to prevent accidental opening of the clamp unless desired by the end user. |
| US10859191B2 |
Coupling arrangement for screw coupling
A coupling arrangement for a screw coupling for liquid conduits of a high-pressure cleaning apparatus is provided. The coupling arrangement includes a plug part which is pluggably connectable to a complementarily configured plug part of a second coupling arrangement of the screw coupling for establishing a liquid-tight and releasable connection therewith with a sealing ring interposed therebetween, and a connecting part having a thread that is screwably connectable to a complementarily configured thread of the second coupling arrangement. The thread can be of multiple-threaded configuration and the connecting part can include a clamping element which is aligned in an in-line relationship with the thread relative to the thread longitudinal axis and is releasably clampable against a complementarily configured clamping element of the second coupling arrangement by axially inserting one into the other. |
| US10859190B2 |
Sprung coupling
A coupling has first and second segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space for receiving pipe elements. A spring assembly attaches the segments at one end and an adjustable attachment assembly attaches the segments at the opposite end. The spring assembly biases the segments away from one another sufficient to permit insertion of the pipe elements into the central space while the segments are attached to one another. The coupling may include a split ring toothed retainer for coupling plain end pipe elements, or it may have arcuate keys which engage grooved or shouldered pipe elements. |
| US10859187B2 |
Hanger assembly for mounting multiple cables
A cable hanger assembly includes: a mounting substrate, the mounting substrate including a plurality of holes configured to receive clips; and a plurality of clips, each of the clips configured to receive a cable and mount in one of the plurality of holes of the mounting substrate. |
| US10859182B2 |
Shaft-integrated gear and driving device
A shaft-integrated gear includes a rotational shaft formed of a resin material; and a cylindrical gear that is formed of a metal material, wherein the cylindrical gear fits around a gear support part of the rotational shaft. |
| US10859181B2 |
Water softener valve
Disclosed is a water softener valve and a water softener, the water softener valve includes a valve body, the valve body includes a valve cavity, and an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a waste water passage all communicated with the valve cavity, the valve cavity, the inlet passage, the outlet passage, and the waste water passage all extend towards a first direction, the inlet passage, the outlet passage, and the waste water passage are all located at a periphery of the valve cavity, and adjacent to the valve cavity; ends of the inlet passage, the outlet passage, and the waste water passage which are all located at a same end of the valve body towards the first direction respectively form an inlet, an outlet, and a waste water port. |
| US10859179B2 |
Servovalve
A torsion bridge for use in a servovalve includes a body extending along and adapted to rotate about a first axis; a passage extending through the body along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the passage defining a first cylindrical surface having a radius R1; an annular groove formed in the first cylindrical surface. The annular groove includes: a second cylindrical surface extending substantially in the direction of the second axis, the second cylindrical surface having first and second ends and a radius R2, where R2 is greater than R1; a first annular surface joining the first cylindrical surface to the first end of the second cylindrical surface; and a second annular surface joining the second end of the second cylindrical surface to the first cylindrical surface. |
| US10859177B2 |
Electrically operated gas flow regulating valve
An electrically operated gas flow regulating valve causes a needle valve body to move axially by the rotation of an electric motor through a motion conversion mechanism. The mechanism includes: a rotating body rotated by the electric motor; a cylindrical cam body prevented from rotating; a cam pin which is engaged with a spiral cam groove formed in the cam body and which is fixed to the needle valve body. The cam body is divided into two parts of a forward-side half part and backward-side half part with the cam groove serving as a boundary. The backward-side half part is urged by a coil spring in the forward direction such that the cam pin is pinched between the forward-side side edge of cam groove formed in the forward-side half part and the backward-side side edge of cam groove formed in the backward-side half part, thereby restraining the occurrence of hysteresis. |
| US10859175B2 |
Flow control valve apparatus
A flow control valve apparatus includes: a housing including two pump ports, two tank ports, a first supply/discharge port, a second supply/discharge port, and a spool hole; a first spool configured to switch a connection status among one of the pump ports, one of the tank ports, and the first supply/discharge port depending on a position of the first spool; a first actuator configured to move the first spool to each of a first supply position and a first discharge position; a second spool configured to switch a connection status among the other pump port, the other tank port, and the second supply/discharge port depending on a position of the second spool; and a second actuator configured to move the second spool to each of a second supply position and a second discharge position. The first spool and second spool are inserted in the spool hole so as to reciprocate. |
| US10859166B2 |
Gas turbine engine
A pressure relief arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises a panel and a plurality of pressure relief mechanisms provided in the panel. The mechanisms have a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the panel is sealed to prevent fluid flow through the panel in a thickness direction and in the second configuration the mechanisms are arranged so that a plurality of holes are provided in the panel so fluid can flow through the panel in a thickness direction. |
| US10859163B2 |
Multi-layer gasket pressure relief device
Methods and systems are provided for a multi-layered steel gasket for an internal combustion engine. In one example, a system may include a pressure relief device arranged in the multi-layered steel gasket for releasing pressure from one or more fluids flowing through passages of the internal combustion engine. |
| US10859160B2 |
Calibration method for a slip control arrangement of a driveline including a continuously variable transmission
A calibration method for a slip control arrangement of a driveline including a continuously variable transmission is described herein. The driveline includes a clutch that is so controlled as to slip when a torque higher than the usable torque attempts to pass through. Accordingly, the clutch prevents the prime mover from stalling. A calibration method to link a valve command value and a torque allowed to pass through the clutch includes preventing the vehicle from moving and increasing the pressure applied in the clutch while noting the torque % value developed by the prime mover. |
| US10859159B2 |
Model predictive control of torque converter clutch slip
A control system to control slip of a torque converter clutch includes a clutch plant model configured to predict a value of a parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip as a function of clutch plant model inputs comprising commanded clutch pressure and of torque from the torque generative device. The control system also includes a model predictive controller configured to receive signals that allow determination of a desired value of the parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip and a predicted value of the parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip, receive a signal representing reported torque of the torque generative device, identify an optimal commanded clutch pressure value that will result in an optimal value of an objective function based on the clutch plant model, and provide a command signal to an actuator effective to control commanded clutch pressure to the torque converter clutch. |
| US10859156B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for operating a high efficiency, high output transmission
A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse. |
| US10859145B2 |
High efficiency, high output transmission with linear clutch actuator
A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing is operationally coupled to the shift actuator and a linear clutch actuator. The linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, and the transmission includes a self-adjusting clutch. |
| US10859142B2 |
Slip-modulated proprioceptive infinitely variable transmission and robotic power distribution system
A transmission or actuator offering one or more rotational outputs proportionate in speed and direction to that of a common rotational input, each with its own ratio coupled with a controllable dynamic slip/compliance element and optionally either of a one-way bearing or brake preventing back driving. Ratios are continuously variable between positive and negative values, including infinity, varied by mechanical or electromechanical actuators under external or computer control. The transmission may intrinsically integrate multiple partial transmissions for increasing torque capability, rapidly changing between alternate settings, and/or to drive multiple outputs with customizable design. A communicating system of such distributed transmissions forming a hierarchy or network, each transmission driven directly by a motor, indirectly by the output of another transmission, or both, including indirect cumulative forward and back driving throughout the hierarchy or network. Such a network of actuators for complex robotic, manufacturing, movement, or transport applications. |
| US10859135B2 |
Coupling piece element for a joining shackle for anchor chains
The Invention relates to a coupling piece element for a Kenter shackle for anchor chains, which shackle comprises two half elements which can be coupled to one another and between which the coupling piece element can be inserted. The coupling piece element has a base body with at least one transverse borehole. Furthermore two securing bolts are provided, which are mounted in at least one transverse borehole in the base body and can be slidably moved outwards by means of at least one spreader element. The laterally protruding ends of the securing bolts are spherical or conical in shape. The base body has protrusions and/or recesses on its side surfaces facing the half elements for positive guidance on the half elements. |
| US10859132B2 |
Bogie for a railway vehicle comprising a three discs brake system arranged between axle boxes
The bogie for a railway vehicle comprises a chassis; an axle mounted rotatably relative to the chassis around a transverse rotation axis, at least one wheel being mounted on each of the transverse end parts of said axle, a braking system comprising three brake discs mounted around the axle, arranged in the space defined between the wheels, and three brake forks acting on a brake disc, comprising a pair of arms extending between first and second ends, the second ends each bearing a brake pad forming a pair of brake pads, each of the pairs of brake pads being positioned around part of a brake disc, and two successive pairs of brake pads extending on either side of the rotation axis. The first ends of the arms all extend on a same side of the rotation axis. |
| US10859129B2 |
Method for disconnecting a valve unit from a pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement
The present invention relates to a method for disconnecting a valve unit (302) from a pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208, 210) of a vehicle transmission (100), said transmission comprising at least one clutch arrangement (202, 204), a pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208, 210) arranged to controllably position the at least one clutch arrangement between a closed position and an opened position, and a valve unit (302) mechanically connected to the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208, 210), the method comprising the steps of positioning (S1) the valve unit (302) in an opened state for providing compressed air to the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208, 210); and subsequently disconnecting (S4) the valve unit (304) from the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208, 210). |
| US10859125B2 |
Selectable one-way clutch with electromagnetic actuator and direct-acting strut assembly having an active strut and strut biasing arrangement
A controllable one-way clutch assembly having a clutch module and an actuator module mounted to a first clutch member of the clutch module. The actuator module includes an electromagnetic actuator equipped with an energizeable coil assembly, a strut moveable in response to energization of the coil assembly from a released position to a locked position with respect to ratchet teeth formed on a second clutch member of the clutch module, and a strut spring biasing the strut toward its released position. The strut spring is configured to provide an anti-tilting feature. |
| US10859124B2 |
Synchronizer ring for a synchronization unit of a manual transmission and method for the production thereof
A synchronizer ring for a synchronization unit of a manual transmission is produced from a sheet metal material and has a conical friction surface on the inner side thereof and has a device for radial centering of the synchronizer ring on the outer side thereof. The device for radial centering includes a plurality of separate arc-shaped centering collar portions spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. |
| US10859122B2 |
Spline drive drill steel couplers
An assembly which includes a first member with torque transmission elements, and a coupler which connects together, in a rotatably driving relationship, the first member and a second member. The coupler includes an intermediate section disposed between an axial forward end and an axial rearward end of the coupler, a forward section extending between the intermediate section and the axial forward end, and a rearward section extending between the intermediate section and the axial rearward end. The intermediate section includes torque transmission elements for engaging with the torque transmission elements of the first member, to facilitate transmission of torque from the first member to the coupler. The torque transmission elements of the coupler are automatically brought into a torque-transmitting relationship with the torque transmission elements of the first member when the coupler is engaged with the first member. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein. |
| US10859121B2 |
Bearing compression strap
A tensioning arrangement for a bearing ring, which introduces a compressive force towards a rotational centre of the bearing ring, to prevent the bearing ring distorting as a shaft supported by the bearing turns. The tensioner arrangement includes a strap and a tensioner. The strap has a connector at each end, and tensioner has an element for connecting to the connectors. The tensioner also has an element for applying tension to the strap. In use, the strap is arranged around the bearing ring and a circumferential length of the strap in contact with the bearing ring is reduced, thereby applying compressive force to the bearing ring. |
| US10859120B2 |
Tapered roller bearing and wind turbine
A tapered roller bearing may comprise an inner ring, an outer ring, and two rows of tapered rollers that are arranged in an O-arrangement between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner ring may extend in an axial direction over a greater length than the outer ring, and a gap between the inner ring and the outer ring on at least one side of the tapered roller bearing may be sealed by a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly may comprise a main seal that is attached to the inner ring in a rotationally fixed manner, as well as a seal race ring that is attached to the outer ring in a rotationally fixed manner. The seal race ring may form a seal raceway for the main seal. |
| US10859118B2 |
Slewing roller bearing with at least two rows of roller elements
A slewing bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring provided with a first part and a second part that are axially assembled one to another, at least one axial thrust between the inner ring and the first part of outer ring that can transmit axial forces, and a radial thrust between the inner ring and the second part of outer ring which can transmit radial forces is provided. Roller elements of radial thrust are arranged in an annular groove that extends from a bore of second part of outer ring. At least one mounting orifice axially extends from the annular groove, has dimensions such that at least one roller element can pass through the mounting orifice, and is closed by a plug. |
| US10859116B1 |
Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same
Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring structure having a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements. The support ring structure may include at least one erosion resistant region exhibiting a higher erosion resistance than another region of the support ring. |
| US10859114B2 |
Universal joint bearing
A universal joint bearing having a cup that serves as an outer ring of the universal joint bearing. The universal joint bearing includes exactly one sealing ring that is provided for sealing a gap between the cup and a trunnion. |
| US10859113B2 |
Bearing arrangement for fluid machinery application
A bearing arrangement for a fluid machinery application employing an axially locating bearing. The axially locating bearing includes: a first angular self-aligning contact bearing arranged next to a second angular self-aligning contact bearing. Each of the first angular self-aligning contact bearing and the second angular self-aligning contact bearing includes a set of rolling elements arranged in a row and interposed between a respective curved inner raceway and an associated curved outer raceway. Each roller is a symmetrical cylindrically-shaped roller having a curved raceway-contacting surface. Each roller is inclined respective to the axial direction of the shaft by a respective contact angle. The rollers support an axial force and a radial force. The axially non-locating bearing position is arranged spaced apart from the axially locating bearing position, as seen in the axial direction. Examples of fluid machinery applications include: a wind turbine, water turbine or a propulsion turbine. |
| US10859112B1 |
Anti-friction insulated bearing sleeve construction and modularity
An anti-friction insulated bearing system, including a bracket disposed about a motor driveshaft and a bearing disposed within the bracket configured to support the driveshaft for rotation. The system also includes an outer bearing cap disposed proximal a drive end of the bracket and an inner bearing cap. The system further includes an insulation sleeve disposed within the bracket proximal the bearing. The outer bearing cap, the inner bearing cap and the insulation sleeve are configured as modular components of the system. The modular insulation sleeve allows the use of standard anti-friction rolling element bearings. The modular components have common inner and outer bearing caps that can be used across a multitude of configurations with a minimal number of parts. |
| US10859104B2 |
Solid surface reinforcement system
A clamp for reinforcing a solid surface is disclosed and may be used with a top rail and a bottom rail. The clamp has a top jaw and a bottom jaw, each with a channel constructed to receive and align the top and bottom rails respectively in a first direction and a second direction. Each jaw has its own channel lip, shaft hole, and alignment pin hole. An alignment pin may be disposed of in the pin holes to inhibit the rotation of the jaws relative to each other. A shaft may be disposed of in the shaft holes, and the shaft may be at least partially threaded with a knob connected to the shaft. The clamp may have three configurations: a locked configuration; a sliding configuration; and a rail removal configuration. Multiple clamps may be used to construct a multidimensional frame to reinforce and support the solid surface. |
| US10859100B2 |
Hydraulic drive with fast stroke and load stroke
An autarkic hydraulic linear drive with a hydraulic arrangement and a method for operating the same. The hydraulic arrangement a pump unit, an equalizing reservoir, a load switching valve configured to switch between a fast extension and a load extension, and a hysteresis circuit. The hysteresis circuit is configured for triggering a first switching process of the load switching valve at a first control pressure and a second switching process of the load switching valve at a second control pressure that is different than the first control pressure. |
| US10859097B2 |
Method for controlling a trim-adjustment mechanism for a centrifugal compressor
A method for controlling an inlet-adjustment mechanism in an air inlet for a compressor so as to switch the mechanism in a binary fashion between open and closed positions for adjusting a flow area of the inlet. The method includes identifying a threshold line on a compressor map of pressure ratio versus corrected flow rate for the compressor, at which the inlet-adjustment mechanism is switched from one of its positions to the other. A fixed switch band straddling the threshold line can be used for determining when to initiate the switch of positions so as to time the switch to coincide with the operating point reaching the threshold line. Alternatively, a time to reach the threshold line can be instantaneously computed and compared to the actuator/mechanism response time. |
| US10859094B2 |
Throat distribution for a rotor and rotor blade having camber and location of local maximum thickness distribution
A rotor for a compressor includes a hub and a plurality of airfoils having a root, a tip opposite the root and a span that extends from 0% at the root to 100% at the tip. Each of the airfoils is coupled to the hub at the root and is spaced apart from adjacent ones of the airfoils over the span by a throat dimension. The throat dimension has a maximum value at a spanwise location between 60% of the span and 90% of the span of the adjacent ones of the airfoils, and at 10% of the span of the adjacent ones of the airfoils above or below the spanwise location of the maximum value, the throat dimension is less than 97% of the maximum value. The throat dimension at 5% of the span of the adjacent ones of the airfoils is less than 70% of the maximum value. |
| US10859093B2 |
Blower
A blower includes an impeller rotatable about a central axis, a motor that drives the impeller, and a housing that accommodates the impeller and the motor. The impeller includes a plurality of vanes arrayed in a circumferential direction and a flange in which the plurality of vanes are provided at an outer circumferential edge on a radially outer side. The housing includes a first housing that faces a vane lower end surface located on an axial-direction lower side of the vane with a gap interposed therebetween. The vane lower end surface includes a first vane end surface in which a shortest distance to the first housing in an axial direction increases toward the radially outer side. |
| US10859091B2 |
System having machine and fan with an axial flow inducer
A system includes a machine; a centrifugal fan, the centrifugal fan having a plurality of centrifugal fan blades and being constructed to generate a cooling airflow for cooling the machine; and an axial flow inducer disposed on the plurality of centrifugal fan blades, wherein the axial flow inducer is constructed generate an axial flow through a central portion of the centrifugal fan. |
| US10859090B2 |
Water pump
A water pump includes: an upper housing formed with an inlet and an outlet of fluid; a lower housing installed to fit in a lower side of the upper housing, having a receiving space formed therein; a shaft fixing support having a lower part of a protrudedly formed shaft inserted in the center of a bottom part of the lower housing; an impeller installed around the shaft; a rotor configured by having a magnet installed around a rotor core; a stator installed inside the lower housing; a lower cover; a shaft upper part fixing support member installed in an upper side of the shaft erectedly inserted in the shaft fixing support; and a synthetic resin mold member formed with a first synthetic resin mold around an outer side of the shaft fixing support and around the shaft, and a second synthetic resin mold around an outer side of the rotor. |
| US10859082B2 |
Accurate flow-in measurement by triplex pump and continuous verification
A method includes determining a rotational position of a crankshaft in a multiplex pump from one or more sensors disposed on the crankshaft, determining a position of each of a plurality of pistons along a corresponding pump bore in relation to a total stroke length of each piston and a connecting rod length, calculating an individual theoretical displaced volume of fluid for each of the pump bores in the multiplex pump based on the rotational position of the crankshaft, and summing the individual theoretical displaced volumes to determine a total theoretical pumped volume by the multiplex pump. A calibration method includes determination of the multiplex pump efficiency versus speed and discharge pressure, and the effect of pump leakage and valve closing delay on the pump efficiency. Verification of the pump performance and efficiency may be controlled during pumping to insure the validity of the last calibration data set. |
| US10859081B2 |
Tube pump
A tube pump having small driving energy is provided. The tube pump includes: a flexible tube for conveying a fluid; a holder part holding the tube so that the tube is at least partially bent; a driving part; and at least one pressing part, rotationally driven around a first central axis by the driving part, and pressing the tube along the bent portion of the tube held by the holder part while rotating around the first central axis, thereby conveying the fluid in the tube. The pressing part has an inclined plane inclined from the side of the tube toward the side of the pressing part in a radially outward direction with reference to the first central axis. |
| US10859079B2 |
System for mounting a refrigerant compressor housing to a base plate
A system for mounting a refrigerant compressor housing (11) to a base plate (9) having threaded holes (10), the system comprising at least two screw pins (1) and one clip (2) for connecting the two screw pins, each screw pin (1) has a threaded portion (3), a middle portion (4) to be inserted into a respective opening (17) of the refrigerant compressor housing (11), a neck portion (5) having a smaller diameter than the middle portion (4) and a head portion (6) having a larger diameter than the neck portion (5). The elongate clip (2) has one slot (7, 8) respectively in each of its two end portions, the first slot (7) having a width equal to the diameter of the neck portion (5) of the screw pin (1) and being oriented in longitudinal direction of the clip (2), the second slot (8) narrowing to a width smaller than the diameter of the neck portion (5) of the screw pin (1) and then enlarging to a diameter equal to the diameter of the neck portion (5) and the second slot (8) being oriented normal to the longitudinal direction of the clip (2). This system has the advantages of convenient installation and stable fixation. |
| US10859074B2 |
Microfluidic devices
According to an example, a microfluidic device may include a transport channel having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of pump loops extending along the transport channel. Each of the plurality of pump loops may include a first branch, a second branch, and a connecting section connecting the first branch and the second branch. The first branch may include a first opening and the second branch may include a second opening, in which the first opening and the second opening are in direct fluid communication with the transport channel. The pump loops may also each include an actuator positioned in the first branch, in which the actuators in the pump loops are to be activated to induce a traveling wave that is to transport the fluid through the transport channel from the inlet to the outlet. |
| US10859071B2 |
Rotary traveling valve
A rotary traveling valve for subterranean pumping system is disclosed herein. The traveling valve includes a rotary lock configured for back and forth rotary motion in response to up stroke and down stroke movements of a driver. The bottom face of the rotary lock rests against a seating face of a housing of the valve, and a fluid passage in the seating face is opened due to rotary motion of the rotary lock during a down stroke movement of the driver, and closed during an up stoke movement of the driver. The bottom face of the rotary lock is pressed against the sealing face by a back pressure spring to prevent excessive bottom pressure to cause pumping interruption due to gas and fluid blow-by through the valve. It also compensates for any wear that may take place on the two surfaces. In addition traveling valve incorporates bearing balls to minimize friction between moving parts such as driver and housing as well as between driver and rotary lock. |
| US10859068B2 |
Electric propulsion power circuit
A circuit (400, 700, 800) comprising: a first power source (402) supplying first current to a load (470) during a first Period of Time (“PoT”); a second power source (416) supplying a second current to the load during a second POT; a Unidirectional Current Valve (“UCV”) in series with the first power source; a current detector (420, 702, 802) in series with the UCV (422); and a switch (424) in parallel with a series combination of the current detector and UCV to bypass the UCV during the second PoT. The current detector determines whether the second period of time has commenced and whether the switch has closed. |
| US10859063B2 |
Power reduction in a plurality of wind power plants in a wind farm
A method for operating a wind farm in a reduced-power throttle mode in which a farm master determines an individual setpoint power reduction for each participating wind power plant by determining an available power for each wind power plant, reducing this available power by a reduction proportion; determining the reduction proportions using an optimization method with the optimization condition of equal increase time for the wind power plants; and repeating until the optimization method reaches a presettable termination criterion. |
| US10859061B2 |
Axial piston machine
An axial piston machine may include a housing, a guide, a shaft, at least two cylinders each delimited by an associated cylinder wall, at least two pistons, a feed configured to supply a working fluid, an exhaust configured to discharge the working fluid, and at least one actuator configured to open and close a plurality of secondary outlets. Each associated cylinder wall may include a primary outlet and a secondary outlet of the plurality of secondary outlets. Each primary outlet and each secondary outlet may be fluidically connected to an outlet chamber that is fluidically connected to the exhaust. Each primary outlet may open into an associated primary outlet channel that opens into the outlet chamber. Each secondary outlet may be fluidically connected to an associated secondary outlet channel that opens into the outlet chamber and is separate from the plurality of primary outlet channels. |
| US10859057B2 |
Internal combustion engine ignition system
An internal combustion engine ignition system includes: a primary coil provided with a center tap; a third switching element that interrupts and conducts a primary current flowing from a voltage application unit to the center tap; a first switching element connected to one end on a first winding side; a second switching element connected to the other end on a second winding side; an ignition control circuit that controls operation of each of the above switching elements, thereby performing discharge generation control that allows an ignition plug to generate a spark discharge, and thereby interrupting and conducting the primary current flowing to the second winding to perform discharge maintenance control that maintains the spark discharge generated in the ignition plug; and a current circulation path that circulates a current flowing from the second winding to the second switching element. |
| US10859056B2 |
Electronic control for engine block heater elements
An electronic control for engine block heater elements for heating an engine to an engine ready temperature includes a power input, a power output, and a controller. The controller includes a clock for keeping a time and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature. The controller is configured for controlling the power from the power input to the power output in at least two modes of operation for heating the engine to the engine ready temperature. The second mode of timed ready is where the power from the power input to the power output is connected at a pre-calculated time interval for the purpose of making ready the subject vehicle for starting at the desired start time as set by the user. The third mode of maintain ready is where the power from the electrical outlet to the engine block heater element is regulated to maintain the engine ready temperature. |
| US10859055B1 |
Method for starting an engine
A method for starting an engine is disclosed. The method may adjust exhaust valve opening timing of one or more cylinders during a first cycle of an engine since a most recent engine stop to reduce engine cranking work. The method may adjust exhaust valve timing if the engine is directly started or started via an electric machine. |
| US10859054B2 |
Rechargeable jump starting device having a highly electrically conductive cable connecting device
A rechargeable battery jump starting device having detachable positive and negative cables. The rechargeable battery jump starting device, including a rechargeable battery connected to a positive cam-lock cable connecting device and a negative cam-lock cable connecting device. The rechargeable battery jump starting device can include a highly electrically conductive frame connecting the rechargeable battery to the cam-lock cable devices. |
| US10859042B2 |
EGR valve unit
An EGR valve unit is provided. The EGR valve unit comprises a segment gear disposed on a shaft of an EGR valve, a rotation arm disposed on a shaft of an air intake valve, a bearing disposed on the rotation arm via a pin, and a cam member disposed on the segment gear and formed with a push part configured to push the bearing to rotate the rotation arm when the EGR valve is operated. |
| US10859040B2 |
Internal combustion engine having catalyzed heat exchanger for steam reformation and delivery of hydrogen to a fuel cell
A method of providing electrical power to on-board electrical devices of a vehicle. The engine has an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation loop) which may be a high pressure loop, a low pressure loop, or a dedicated cylinder loop. A catalyzed heat exchanger on the EGR loop has a steam reformation catalyst and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger uses hot exhaust gas from the main exhaust line to heat the catalyst. A methane fuel source adds methane to the recirculated exhaust stream before it enters the catalyst, and the catalytic reaction increases the amount of hydrogen in the recirculated exhaust. The hydrogen is then delivered to a PEM fuel cell. |
| US10859035B2 |
Composite translating cowl assembly for a thrust reverser system
An improved translating cowl (transcowl) assembly for a thrust reverser system for a turbine engine is provided. The transcowl assembly comprises an outer skin comprised of a first composite material and an inner skin comprised of a second composite material. The inner skin is configured to couple circumferentially within the outer skin and creates a flow path for engine exhaust flow. The inner skin comprises a contoured depression configured to provide clearance for movement of a blocker door. A metallic bracket is disposed between the inner skin and outer skin. |
| US10859033B2 |
Piston having an undercrown surface with insulating coating and method of manufacture thereof
A vehicle internal combustion piston and method of construction thereof are provided. The piston includes piston body extending along a central longitudinal axis, having an upper combustion wall forming an upper combustion surface and an undercrown surface opposite the upper combustion surface. An annular ring belt region depends from the upper combustion surface, a pair of skirt panels depend from the ring belt region, and a pair of pin bosses depend from the undercrown surface to provide laterally spaced pin bores aligned along a pin bore axis for receipt of a wrist pin. The undercrown surface forms a central undercrown surface, and a portion of either an open outer cooling gallery, a sealed outer cooling gallery, or an outer galleryless region, wherein an insulating coating is applied to at least one of the portions of the undercrown surface. |
| US10859029B2 |
Method to determine a closing instant of an electromagnetic fuel injector
Method to determine a closing instant of an electromagnetic fuel injector; in a beginning instant of the injection, a positive voltage is applied to a coil of an electromagnetic actuator so as to cause an electric current to circulate through the coil, said electric current determining the opening of an injection valve; in an end instant of the injection, a negative voltage is applied to the coil of the electromagnetic actuator so as to cancel the electric current circulating through the coil; a first voltage time development is detected at least one end of the coil of the electromagnetic actuator after the cancellation of the electric current circulating through the coil; the voltage actuation time development is compared with a voltage comparison time development; and the closing instant of the electromagnetic injector is determined based on the comparison between the voltage actuation time development and the voltage comparison time development. |
| US10859028B2 |
Engine fuel injection control device
Disclosed is a fuel injection control device for an engine equipped with a solenoid-type fuel injector 67. The fuel injection control device comprises: a voltage sensor SW19 configured to detect a voltage of a solenoid of the fuel injector 67; and a PCM 10 configured to set a valve-open period of the fuel injector 67, based on a fuel injection amount according to an operation state of the engine 1, and control the fuel injector 67 based on the valve-open period. The PCM 10 is configured to perform correction for gradually shortening the set valve-open period, as the voltage (residual voltage) detected by the voltage sensor SW19 when opening the fuel injector becomes larger, and control the fuel injector 67 based on the corrected valve-open period. |
| US10859023B2 |
Method for ascertaining a setpoint value for a manipulated variable for activating a low-pressure pump
A method for ascertaining a setpoint value for a manipulated variable for activating a low-pressure pump in a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, including a high-pressure accumulator and a high-pressure pump including a volume control valve, the low-pressure pump being activated in such a way that a pressure provided by the low-pressure pump is reduced across multiple intake phases, in which fuel delivered by the low-pressure pump is sucked in by the high-pressure pump via the volume control valve, the volume control valve being at least temporarily held in a closed position during each of the multiple intake phases, in which it may be opened from a side facing the low-pressure pump, and the setpoint value being ascertained, taking into account an activating value of the manipulated variable, in which a drop in the delivery rate of the high-pressure pump is detected. |
| US10859022B2 |
Process for designing a virtual sensor, corresponding virtual sensor, system, and computer-program products
Described herein is a process for designing a virtual sensor that is able to estimate a variable of interest v as a function of a set of available variables ui. The process comprises the steps of: —acquiring (1002) a design data-set Dd comprising a number N of measured values v(ti) of the variable of interest v and corresponding measured values ũi(ti) of the available variables ui; —determining a limit δ on the disturbances of the available variables ui and a limit η on the errors of the method of measurement of the variable of interest v; —selecting (1004) a Lipschitz function ƒ* with a respective Lipschitz constant γ, which is able to estimate the variable of interest v(t) as a function of a number n of past values of each available variable ui, by executing the following steps one or more times for different numbers n: a) determining a value for the Lipschitz constant y; b) defining (1006) a maximum limit ƒ(r(t)) and a minimum limit ƒ(r(t)) for the estimate of the variable of interest v as a function of the design data-set Dd, and moreover the number n, the value for the Lipschitz constant y, the limit δ on the disturbances of the available variables ui, and the limit η on the errors of the method of measurement of the variable of interest v, and choosing a Lipschitz function ƒ* comprised between the maximum limit ƒ(r(t)) and the minimum limit ƒ(r(t)); c) determining (1008) an estimation error ε*(ƒ*) for the Lipschitz function ƒ* and selecting the Lipschitz function ƒ*, associated to which is a respective Lipschitz constant y* and a respective number n*, that presents the minimum estimation error ε*(ƒ*(y*, n*)); and —implementing (1012) the selected Lipschitz function ƒ* in an electronic circuit. |
| US10859020B2 |
Method for reducing particulate emissions during a cold start of an internal combustion engine
In a method for reducing particulate emissions of an internal combustion engine during a cold start of the internal combustion engine, the combustion chamber temperature and the ambient temperature are determined. A cold start condition is recognized when the combustion chamber temperature is below a first threshold temperature and the ambient temperature is below a second threshold temperature. In this case, the internal combustion engine is dragged by means of the starter, wherein air that is present in the combustion chambers is compressed and heated. This heat is discharged to the combustion chamber walls, which are likewise heated up. In this operating situation there is no fuel injection in the combustion chambers and no ignition, so that no combustion takes place in the combustion chambers and the internal combustion engine compresses solely fresh air. The combustion chambers heat up due to the compression work, thus achieving better evaporation of the fuel in the combustion chamber. An initially switched-off fuel injection into the combustion chambers is switched on when the combustion chamber walls of the combustion chambers have reached a sufficient temperature, so that the soot formation due to unburned fuel striking the cold combustion chamber walls is reduced. |
| US10859018B1 |
Exhaust gas purification system using three-way catalyst and method of controlling the same
A method of purifying exhaust gas discharged from an engine using a three-way catalyst may include: calculating, by a controller, an oxygen mass flow rate flowing into the three-way catalyst based on an air-fuel ratio and an exhaust gas flow rate measured by a front oxygen sensor arranged at a front end of the three-way catalyst; calculating, by the controller, an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and an oxygen storage amount (OSA) of the three-way catalyst by integrating the oxygen mass flow rate; correcting, by the controller, the calculated oxygen storage amount based on an actual voltage measurement value of the exhaust gas measured by a rear oxygen sensor arranged at a rear end of the three-way catalyst; and controlling, by the controller, a control variable related to performance of the three-way catalyst based on the corrected oxygen storage amount and the oxygen storage capacity. |
| US10859016B2 |
Methods and system for diagnosing belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive
Systems and methods for detecting and mitigating belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive are described. In one example, three different signals are input to a weighted average filter to determine the presence or absence of belt slip so that quality of an indication of belt slip may be improved. |
| US10859015B2 |
Control system for compression ignition engine
A control system for a compression ignition engine includes a combustion chamber, a throttle valve, an injector, an ignition plug, an EGR system, a sensor device and a controller. The controller includes a first mode module, a second mode module and a changing module configured to change an engine mode from a first mode to a second mode in response to a change demand. The changing module outputs signals to the throttle valve and the injector in response to the demand so that an air-fuel ratio of mixture gas becomes a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or a substantially stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and outputs a signal to the EGR system so that an EGR gas amount decreases more than before the demand, and when the EGR gas amount is determined to be decreased to a given amount, the changing module permits that the second mode module starts the second mode. |
| US10859013B2 |
Pump module and evaporated fuel treatment device
A pump module that is mounted in an evaporated fuel processing device configured to perform a purge process in which evaporated fuel in a fuel tank is supplied to an intake passage of an engine through a purge passage. The pump module may include: a pump configured to pump the evaporated fuel in the purge passage to the intake passage; and a pump controller configured to control drive of the pump. The pump controller may be configured to: during the purge process, drive the pump at a rotational speed equal to or lower than a rotational speed threshold until when a predetermined period has elapsed from a start of the purge process; and after the predetermined period has elapsed, drive the pump at a rotational speed equal to or higher than the rotational speed threshold. |
| US10859010B2 |
Estimation device and control device for combustion system
A fuel passage leads a fuel from a pressure-accumulation vessel to a nozzle hole of a fuel injection valve. A fuel pressure sensor detects a fuel pressure in a fuel passage. An estimation device is applicable to a combustion system, which includes these components, and includes a mixing acquisition unit and an injection amount estimation unit. The mixing acquisition unit acquires the mixing ratio of various components contained in the fuel used for combustion in the internal combustion engine. The injection amount estimation unit estimates an injection amount of the fuel from the nozzle hole according to a change mode of the fuel pressure, which is detected with the fuel pressure sensor and associated with injection of the fuel from a nozzle hole, and the mixing ratio acquired with the mixing acquisition unit. |
| US10859008B2 |
Rotational angle determining device and phase shift detection method therefor
A rotational angle determining device periodically samples a resolver signal output from a resolver receiving an alternating current excitation signal, the sampling being performed at a timing at which the excitation signal reaches a peak or trough value, based on a timer signal to which initial phase alignment is performed with respect to the excitation signal, and then the device performs A/D conversion of a voltage value of the sampled resolver signal, to determine the rotational angle of the rotor of the resolver. The excitation signal is periodically sampled at a predetermined timing based on the timer signal, and a presence or absence of a phase shift between the excitation and timer signals is detected based on a change in A/D converted value AD1n (n=1, 2, . . . ) obtained by A/D conversion of a voltage value of the sampled excitation signal. |
| US10859002B2 |
Method for controlling surge margin of gas turbine and extraction device for gas turbine
Disclosed herein is a method for controlling a surge margin of a gas turbine and an extraction device for a gas turbine. The method for controlling the surge margin of the gas turbine and the extraction device for the gas turbine may support stable operation of a compressor unit in the gas turbine, thereby improving the efficiency of the gas turbine and minimizing vibration and noise of the gas turbine. |
| US10858992B2 |
Turbocharger systems and method for capturing a process gas
Systems and methods are provided for a turbocharger system for use with a process gas capture system. In one example, the turbocharger system comprises: a heat exchanger positioned to receive inlet gas from a gas generating system via a first inlet; a low pressure compressor driven by a low pressure turbine and coupled to a first outlet of the heat exchanger; a mid-pressure compressor driven by a mid-pressure turbine and coupled in series with the low pressure compressor, the mid-pressure compressor configured to receive low pressure compressed gas from the low pressure compressor; and a high pressure compressor driven by a high pressure turbine and coupled in series with the mid-pressure compressor, the high pressure compressor configured to receive mid-pressure compressed gas from the mid-pressure compressor and output high pressure compressed gas to the process gas capture system and a second inlet of the heat exchanger. |
| US10858987B2 |
Method and system for compressor outlet temperature regulation
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a boosted engine system, having a turbocharger and a charge air cooler, to limit overheating of a compressor outlet. In one example, a method includes predicting an engine torque profile based on current and future engine operating conditions. The method then models a compressor outlet temperature profile and reduces engine torque output to limit overheating of the compressor outlet. |
| US10858986B2 |
Turbocharger, two-stage turbo system, and control method for two-stage turbo system
A turbocharger includes: at least two scroll passages, and a first range of the nozzle flow passage into which the exhaust gas flowing through the first scroll passage is introduced does not overlap with a second range of the nozzle flow passage into which the exhaust gas flowing through the second scroll passage is introduced, in a circumferential direction of the nozzle flow passage. The first scroll passage includes: a division wall disposed along a flow direction of the exhaust gas within a predetermined range in the first scroll passage, the division wall dividing the first scroll passage into a radially outer side scroll passage and a radially inner side scroll passage positioned on a radially inner side of the radially outer side scroll passage, and having a communication hole which brings the radially outer side scroll passage and the radially inner side scroll passage into communication; and a flow-rate control valve disposed on an upstream side of the division wall, for adjusting a flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the radially outer side scroll passage and the radially inner side scroll passage. |
| US10858985B2 |
Internal combustion engine and method for its operation
An internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a combustion chamber and a piston supported reciprocatingly in the cylinder and delimiting the combustion chamber. A crankcase is connected to the cylinder and a crankshaft is rotatably supported therein. The piston is operatively connected to the crankshaft so as to drive the crankshaft in rotation. A transfer passage provides flow communication between crankcase interior and combustion chamber when the piston is at bottom dead center. The transfer passage has a port opening connecting the transfer passage to the crankcase interior and has a transfer port connecting the transfer passage to the combustion chamber. A fuel supply device supplies fuel into the transfer passage at a location between the transfer port and the port opening. The transfer passage has a connecting opening and is connected to the crankcase interior at the connecting opening. A control element controls the connecting opening. |
| US10858981B2 |
Water jacket of engine and engine cooling system having the same
A water jacket of an engine may include: a block-side water jacket formed in a cylinder block of the engine and surrounding a cylinder of the cylinder block; and a head-side water jacket formed in a cylinder head of the engine and surrounding a combustion chamber and an exhaust port of the cylinder head. In particular, the head-side water jacket includes: a first coolant passage surrounding the combustion chamber of the cylinder head, and a second coolant passage surrounding the exhaust port of the cylinder head, and the second coolant passage is fluidly separated from the first coolant passage. |
| US10858980B2 |
Cooling system for an internal combustion engine
The invention relates to a cooling system (4) for an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder head (1), the at least one cylinder head being connected to at least one cylinder block (2) by means of a cylinder-bead sealing surface (28). The cooling system comprises at least one first cooling jacket (5) arranged in the cylinder head (1), the at least one first cooling jacket having a flow connection to at least one coolant inlet (27) and at least one first coolant outlet (19), and at least one second cooling jacket (6) arranged in the cylinder block (2), the at least one second cooling jacket being connected to at least one second coolant outlet (20) in the cylinder head (1), wherein the first cooling jacket (5) and the second cooling jacket (6) are connected to each other by means of at least one connection flow path (17), which preferably extends through an opening (17a) in the cylinder-bead sealing surface (28), and a liquid coolant can flow through the first cooling jacket and the second cooling jacket in succession, and wherein the coolant flow through the second cooling jacket (6) can be controlled by means of at least one first valve (8), preferably a thermostat valve, which blocks the coolant flow through the second cooling jacket (6) in a first valve position and allows the coolant flow through the second cooling jacket in at least one second valve position. In order to enable quick heating of the coolant while achieving optimal cooling of the internal combustion engine, flow through the first cooling jacket (5) according to the invention is possible in a transverse direction of the internal combustion engine. |
| US10858974B1 |
Lubricant coolers for marine engines
A marine engine has a cylinder block comprising first and second banks of cylinders disposed along a longitudinal axis and extending transversely with respect to each other in a V-shape so as to define a valley there between; and a lubricant cooler located in the valley and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. The lubricant cooler has a lubricant conduit that conveys engine lubricant parallel to the longitudinal axis and then transversely to the longitudinal axis to the cylinder block. The lubricant cooler further has a cooling conduit that conveys cooling fluid alongside the lubricant conduit to thereby cool the lubricant conduit and the engine lubricant therein. |
| US10858973B2 |
Lubrication control in internal combustion engines
A bearing supporting an end of a layshaft in an internal combustion engine is lubricated by injection of oil through a flange that mounts the layshaft on the engine. A pressure responsive flow control valve controls delivery of oil through the flange to the bearing. A backflow prevention adapter prevents backflow of oil to the engine's oil pump. |
| US10858970B2 |
Lubricating structure of variable valve train
An engine camshaft has a lubricating oil passage formed along the longitudinal axis of the same, a cam communicating oil hole is radially formed from the lubricating oil passage to an outer peripheral surface of the camshaft at the same axial position as an engine valve. Cam lubrication holes are radially formed from the inside to cam surfaces of cam lobes formed around a cam carrier fitted around the camshaft. One of the cam lubrication holes of the cam lobes shifted to a position for operating the valve communicates with the cam communicating oil hole of the camshaft to supply lubricant oil. |
| US10858969B2 |
Variable valve train
An engine variable valve train is provided with a cylindrical cam carrier fitted on a camshaft in a manner axially slidable to and co-rotatable with the camshaft. The cam carrier has therearound mutually adjoining low-speed and high-speed cam lobes selectively acting on the engine valve and being different in cam profile. The cam carrier has therearound lead grooves to be engaged with or disengaged from changeover pins for axial shift of the cam carrier. The lead grooves include a speed-increasing lead groove for changeover from the low-speed to the high-speed cam lobe and a speed-decreasing lead grooves for changeover from the high-speed to the low-speed cam lobe. The speed-increasing and speed-decreasing lead grooves are different in groove contour. This enables the cam carrier to axially shift smoothly and to improve the durability of the lead grooves. |
| US10858958B2 |
Turbine ring assembly held by jaw coupling
A turbine ring assembly includes a plurality of ring sectors of ceramic matrix composite material forming a turbine ring and a ring support structure secured to a turbine casing and having two annular flanges, each ring sector having two tabs held between the two annular flanges. The ring support structure includes an annular retention band mounted on the turbine casing, the annular retention band including an annular web forming one of the flanges. The two annular flanges exert stress on the tabs of the ring sectors. One of the flanges is elastically deformable in the axial direction of the turbine ring. The band has a first series of teeth distributed circumferentially on the band and the turbine casing has a second series of teeth distributed circumferentially on the casing, and the teeth of the first series and the teeth of the second series together provide circumferential jaw coupling. |
| US10858953B2 |
Turbine casing heat shield in a gas turbine engine
Systems and methods for reducing heat exposure of a turbine casing in a gas turbine engine may be provided. The system may include a blade track coupled with a turbine casing with a clip. The system may further include a nozzle guide vane coupled to the turbine casing. A cavity may be formed by an end of the blade track, the clip, and a portion of the nozzle guide vane. A heat shield may be positioned between the clip and the end of the blade track in the cavity such that an edge of the heat shield and the portion of the nozzle guide vane form a gap. The heat shield and the nozzle guide vane may be positioned such that the gap closes in response to the heat shield and the nozzle guide vane thermally expanding. |
| US10858948B2 |
Intersector sealing tab for an aircraft turbine engine
The invention relates to a tab (5) for a sealing gasket device of a part of an aircraft gas turbine engine. The tab is arranged in respective slots of adjacent sectorized parts of the turbine engine nozzle. This tab has two bulging ends (51a, 51b) joined by a thinner intermediate part (51c) each having a connection with the other (53a, 53b), which can deform into a flat position by bracing the tab, when excess pressure is applied to its intermediate part from one side of the tab. |
| US10858945B2 |
Apparatus and method for selective bonding to form hollow components
An embodiment of an apparatus includes means for peripherally welding a cavity-back blade and a cover of the cavity-back blade to form a 3-dimensional hollow blade assembly, and a plurality of bellows contained in one or both of a first die half and a second die half receiving the 3-dimensional hollow blade assembly. The plurality of bellows are disposed within the region defined around or inward of the peripherally welded interface of the cover and the blade. At least a portion of the plurality of bellows are arranged in a manner to provide pressure to the cover at approximately a 90 degree angle to each of a plurality of nodes, each node defined by an intersection of two or more ribs in the cavity-back blade. |
| US10858944B2 |
Method of manufacturing a fan blade and a fan blade
There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a fan blade for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: providing a root insert comprising quasi-isotropic short fibre reinforced resin, providing a first sub-laminate of a fibre-reinforcement pre-form for the fan blade on a first mould surface, placing the root insert on the first sub-laminate at a position corresponding to a root of the fan blade, providing a second sub-laminate of the pre-form over the root insert and the first-sub-laminate, so that the root insert is at an intermediate position between the first and second sub-laminates; and applying heat and pressure to form the pre-form. |
| US10858942B2 |
Gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine includes an engine core including: a compressor system including first, lower pressure compressor, and second, higher pressure compressor; and inner and outer core casings that define a core working gas flow path (A) therebetween, which has an outer radius that defines a gas path radius. The outer core casing includes a first flange connection that: has a first flange radius, is arranged to allow separation of the outer core casing at an axial position thereof, and is the first flange connection that is downstream of an axial position defined by the axial midpoint between the mid-span axial location on trailing edge of the most downstream aerofoil of first compressor and mid-span axial location on leading edge of the most upstream aerofoil of the second compressor. A gas path ratio of: first flange radius gas path radius is equal to or greater than 1.10. |
| US10858941B2 |
Shutter for turbine machine having an absent rectifier blade
A shutter is provided for repairing a turbine engine having a damaged or absent fixed rectifier blade (38, 39), this damaged or absent fixed blade (38, 39) leaving free an opening (34) of a ferrule (31) intended to receive an end of this fixed blade (38, 39). The shutter (48) arranged to close the free opening (34) by being rigidly attached to this free opening (34). |
| US10858940B1 |
Bearing with an asymmetric pressure balance groove
A pump bearing including a top face, a side face peripherally surrounding the top face, a bottom face opposed to the top face, a first bearing bore projecting from the top face to the bottom face, an edge defined where the top face meets the side face, and an asymmetric pressure balance groove defined within a portion of the edge of the top face and the side face defining first depth from the top face. |
| US10858939B2 |
Gear pump bearings
A gear pump bearing can include a body sized and shaped to occupy a portion of a pump housing cavity such that a clearance is formed between the body and a pump housing. The gear pump bearing can also include at least one clearance consuming feature extending from an outer surface of the body configured to reduce motion of the body within the pump housing cavity. |
| US10858935B2 |
Flow regime identification with filtrate contamination monitoring
Implementations of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining when a well cleanup process has established developed flow and then extrapolating out modeled fluid parameter values to determine parameter values for a formation fluid. The model fluid parameter values may be modeled using a power law function having a specified exponent value. |
| US10858927B2 |
Systems and methods for estimating forces on a drill bit
Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for estimating real-time bit forces experienced on a drill bit and decoupling bit force disturbances. Real-time bit forces can be estimated based on bit force observers using measurements from downhole sensor subs. Model-based observers that adopted to estimate the bit force from downhole sensor sub measurements. Strain and torque measurements as measured by the sensor subs are used to estimate bit force and bit torque. These measurements can be observed using an effective observer design with the estimated bit force and bit torque based on sensor sub measurements to track the real bit force and bit torque. Observations of estimated bit forces and identified bit force disturbances can be used perform drilling dynamics modeling and identify the occurrence of negative drilling events. |
| US10858926B2 |
Gain scheduling based toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for a gain scheduling based toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool are disclosed. The method includes determining a desired toolface of a drilling tool, calculating a toolface error by determining a difference between a current toolface and the desired toolface, determining a plurality of operating points of the drilling tool, selecting one of the plurality of operating points based on a current operating point of the drilling tool, determining a model based on the selection, calculating a correction to correct the toolface error, the correction based on the model, transmitting a signal to the drilling tool such that the signal adjusts the current toolface based on the correction, and drilling a wellbore with a drill bit oriented at the desired toolface. |
| US10858919B2 |
Quick-locking detonation assembly of a downhole perforating tool and method of using same
A detonation assembly of a perforating unit of a downhole tool is positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, and includes a charge assembly. The detonation assembly includes a detonator housing positionable in the perforating unit and having an uphole and downhole ends; uphole and downhole connections positioned at the uphole and downhole ends, respectively, of the detonator housing; a detonator positioned in the detonation housing; and a trigger positioned in the detonator housing. The trigger includes a detonation switch and a detonator contact. The detonation switch is communicatively coupled, when in use, between a remote actuator and the detonator contact. The detonator contact is positionable in the downhole connection, and has spring-loaded arms extending through openings in the downhole connection to urge electrical contact with the charge assembly whereby an electrical connection is maintained between the detonator and the charge assembly. |
| US10858918B2 |
Method and system for lining a tubular
A liner having an outer surface coated with a fluid absorbing coating is cladded to a tubing string by inserting the folded liner into the tubing string and then unfolding the liner against the tubing string. The liner may be a long single thin foil corrosion resistant liner coated with a sticky glue and a hygroscopic and/or other fluid absorbing coating to absorb fluid pockets trapped between the tubing and liner and inhibit corrosion and leakage of, the elongate tubing string. |
| US10858917B2 |
Expandable liner hanger
The present invention discloses an expandable liner hanger system comprising a central pipe and an expandable pipe, with an expansion cone provided therebetween the central pipe and expandable pipe in a way that the expansion cone is movable along the central pipe, so that the expandable pipe is expanded; wherein, the expansion cone comprises an expansion cone seat move along the central pipe, and an expansion cone sleeve fitted over the expansion cone seat, the connection between the expansion cone seat and the expansion cone sleeve is configured in a way that the expansion cone sleeve can move upward together with the expansion cone seat along the central pipe so that the expandable pipe is expanded, and the central pipe can drive the expansion cone seat to disengage from the expansion cone sleeve. |
| US10858916B2 |
Biflex with flow lines
Provided is a well screen assembly, and method of use therefore. The well screen assembly, in one embodiment, includes a plurality of fluid collecting elements, wherein the fluid collecting elements have collection troughs extending along a length thereof. The well screen assembly, of this embodiment, further includes filter elements positioned over the collection troughs, and flexure mechanisms connecting proximate pairs of the fluid collecting elements, the flexure mechanisms allowing the plurality of fluid collecting elements to radially extend from a compact state to a radially extended state. |
| US10858914B2 |
Silty marine natural gas hydrate gravel stimulation mining method and mining device
The present invention discloses a silty marine natural gas hydrate gravel stimulation mining method and a mining device. The mining method appropriately relaxes the sand retention accuracy of a wellbore, so that the fine sand and muddy components of the stratum can flow into the wellbore, and after a certain period of production, the coarse gravels are injected into the extra-pipe stratum of the production well to fill the deficit caused by the production of the fine components of the stratum and the hydrates, and then the well is opened for production. The method achieves the triple objectives of improving the productivity of the silty reservoir, preventing the large-area deficit in the stratum and extending the effective period of the sand retention of the wellbore, by way of the alternation of the rounds of the gravel injection and the hydrate reservoir fluid extraction. |
| US10858904B2 |
Rotating control device having an anti-rotation locking system
A rotating control device (RCD) having an anti-rotation locking system for restricting rotation of a bearing assembly housing of the RCD comprises an RCD housing operable with a blowout preventer, and a bearing assembly operable to be received within the RCD housing and comprising a stationary bearing housing. The bearing assembly can be configured to receive and engage with and seal a pipe of a drill string of a drill rig. The stationary bearing housing can have secured thereto a locking ring. The anti-rotation locking system of the RCD can further comprise one or more anti-rotation devices moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The anti-rotation device(s) are operable to engage the locking ring, when in the locked position, to lock the stationary bearing housing to the RCD housing independent of the rotational position of the stationary bearing housing relative to the RCD housing. |
| US10858903B2 |
Tool and method for closed operation in a subsea well
The invention relates to a tool and associated method for making closed operation in subsea wells possible, without the use of cable or coiled tubing up to the rig or ship. The object of this solution is to move such operations to lighter and more cost efficient vessels or ships which are not necessarily required to handle hydrocarbons up to the deck of the vessel. The basis of maintaining two independent well barrier envelopes is met even if the tool and the method for operation does not require cutting functions for isolating the well from the environment. The tool comprises a hoist arrangement, a seal element and connection points. The localization and arrangement of these are essential for the invention. The invention also adapts for use of traditional workover systems as alternative, independent operation, if the new technique should not complete the operation as planned. |
| US10858899B2 |
Core sampler with impregnation windows and method for stabilization of unconsolidated sediment in core samples
A core sampling apparatus includes an inner tube configured to collect a core sample by means of a core catcher attached to one end of the core sampling apparatus, and an outer tube co-axially disposed on the outside of the inner tube, wherein the inner tube includes a plurality of impregnation windows configured to allow resin to flow into the core sample, each window including a window opening and a window cover configured to cover the window opening. A method for sampling a core includes extracting a core sample using a core sampler, transporting the inner tube containing the core sample to the surface, impregnating the core sample with a resin by allowing the resin to flow into the core sample through a plurality of impregnation windows formed on the inner tube, and allowing for the resin to cure, thereby stabilizing unconsolidated sediment in the core sample. |
| US10858898B2 |
Auto-bleeding setting tool with oil shut-off valve and method
A setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well, the setting tool including a housing having a floating piston, the floating piston separating the housing into a pressure chamber, located upstream the floating piston, and a hydraulic chamber located downstream the floating piston; an internal plug having an upstream end attached to the floating piston and having a downstream end extending into the hydraulic chamber; and a cover-insert member covering the downstream end of the internal plug. The internal plug has an internal passage that fluidly communicates (1) with an internal passage through the floating piston, at one end, and (2) with a port at the other end, and the port is covered by the cover-insert member. |
| US10858893B2 |
Laterally movable mobile well servicing units and methods of use
A mobile well service unit has a structural frame with a front end and a rear end, and defining an axis between the front end and the rear end; a platform mounted at the front end or the rear end of the structural frame and configured to move up and down relative to the structural frame; and ground engaging members mounted to the structural frame and configured to permit the mobile well service unit to move laterally, relative to the axis, across a ground surface. A method of use involves translating the unit laterally. |
| US10858891B2 |
Drill bit insert for rock drilling
Drill bit insert with a sintered cemented carbide body including a hard phase of tungsten carbide (WC) and a binder phase wherein the cemented carbide comprises 5.0-7.0 wt % Co, 0.10-0.35 wt % Cr, and a Cr/Co weight ratio of 0.015-0.058. The cemented carbide body has a hardness of 1520-1660 Hv30 and a toughness of K1c≥10.0 both measured in the bulk at the center of the longitudinal axis through the center of the insert, or ≥5 mm from any surface of the insert. The insert further has a surface toughness K1c≥12.0 measured at 0.5 mm below the surface of the body in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis the insert. The invention also relates to a drill bit comprising the insert and the use of such a drill bit for drilling. |
| US10858888B2 |
Swimming pool ladder with safety gate
The present disclosure provides a pool ladder with an active protection mechanism. The ladder provides a switch positioned at a significant height from the ground such that children cannot easily reach the switch. When actuated, the switch unlocks a protective door for the ladder and the ladder can be moved to access the steps. As such, the ladder can effectively prevent children from unlocking the protective door and accessing the pool. |
| US10858885B2 |
Shaft assembly, covering or protective device, and mounting kit
A shaft assembly for a protective or closing device comprises a hollow-shaped hollow section body and a drive unit. The shaft assembly is arranged to be mounted between a first support bearing and a second support bearing. The hollow section body is rotatable about longitudinal axis thereof and arranged to accommodate a curtain or a panel. The drive unit is at least partially accommodated in the hollow section body. The drive unit comprises an output for rotatably driving the hollow section body. The hollow section body comprises a first end and a second end and extends between the first support bearing and the second support bearing. At least at the first end or at the second end of the hollow section body, a connecting sleeve is provided. A biasing element is arranged between the hollow section body and the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve is axially displaceable relative to the hollow section body against a force applied by the biasing element. |
| US10858881B2 |
Threshold and threshold cap
A threshold has a substrate, a sill deck, an upstanding nosing, and an upstanding dam. An upwardly open sill channel is defined between the upstanding nosing and the upstanding dam. A threshold cap extends along and at least partially overlies the upwardly open sill channel. At least one holder is formed separate from the threshold cap and is located in the upwardly open sill channel between the upstanding dam and the upstanding nosing, the at least one holder at least partially supporting the threshold cap. The holder is removably disposed within the sill channel. The threshold cap is pivotably attached to the holder. The threshold cap is capable of rotating between a raised position and a lowered position. In at least the raised position, a highest point of the threshold cap is closer to the upstanding dam than the upstanding nosing. |
| US10858873B2 |
Hydraulically damped, self-closing hinge
A hinge for coupling a closure member to a support includes a first hinge member and a second hinge member pivotably mounted on the first hinge member through the intermediary of two rolling bearings that are placed between different abutments. The hinge further includes a damping mechanism for damping a closing movement of the closure member; and an energy storing mechanism for storing energy when opening the closure member and using the energy to close the closure member. One of the rolling bearings supports the weight of a right-handed closure member while the other of the rolling bearings supports the weight of a left-handed closure member if the first hinge member is always fixed to the same element. |
| US10858872B2 |
Door closer casings
An example door closer includes a casing and a pinion rotatably mounted to the casing. The pinion is operable to rotate through a plurality of movement zones, and the door closer is configured to exert forces on the pinion as the pinion moves through the plurality of movement zones. The door closer further includes a plurality of adjustment mechanisms, each operable to adjust the force exerted on the pinion as the pinion travels through a corresponding movement zone. The casing is provided with indicia that correlate each of the adjustment mechanisms to the corresponding movement zone. |
| US10858871B2 |
Panel door system
A panel door system has at least two support tracks and at least two panels hanging from the at least two support tracks. The at least two support tracks are mounted to a support structure such that each support track is offset from a previous support track both horizontally and vertically. The least two panels are hung using hanging mechanism such that each panel is hung on a different support track. The at least two panels create a door. The at least two panels are movable along the at least two support tracks in a first direction to open the door and in a second direction to close the door. The at least two panels stack horizontally with each other when the door is in the open position. |
| US10858868B2 |
Motor vehicle door lock
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a ratchet mechanism, at least one actuation lever for triggering the ratchet mechanism and a ratchet lever that is pivotable about an axis. The ratchet lever renders the ratchet mechanism ineffective, at least with regard to the magnitude and direction of occurring retarding forces, for example in the event of an accident (“in the event of a crash”). According to the invention the ratchet lever is mounted eccentrically on the axis thereof and thereby produces in dependence of the occurring retarding forces a counter-torque that blocks the actuation lever. |
| US10858866B2 |
Housing for a latch with water drain opening and method of draining water from a latch
A housing for a vehicle latch is provided. The housing having a fluid pathway extending from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing through a perimeter wall, wherein the fluid pathway is defined by an inclined surface that extends downwardly and away from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing. |
| US10858864B2 |
Motor-driven lock with roller
An exemplary locking mechanism includes a plunger, a lock control member adjacent the plunger, a roller captured between the plunger and the lock control member, a driver operably connected with the lock control member, and a control assembly operable to control the driver to move the lock control member between a locking position and an unlocking position. The locking mechanism has a locking state in which the lock control member is in the locking position, and interference between the roller and the lock control member prevents movement of the plunger in a retracting direction. The locking mechanism has an unlocking state in which the plunger is in the unlocking position such that the roller is operable to move into a pocket formed in the lock control member, thereby enabling movement of the plunger in the retracting direction. |
| US10858863B2 |
Self-locking lock for merchandise security
Embodiments are directed to merchandise security devices, systems, and methods for protecting an item of merchandise from theft. For example, a merchandise security device may include a lock configured to be secured to a merchandise fixture and a strike plate configured to be secured to the merchandise fixture. The lock includes an actuator configured to extend into operable engagement with the strike plate in a locked state and to retract out of operable engagement with the strike plate in an unlocked state. In addition, the actuator includes a curved portion at its free end and a straight portion extending from the curved portion, and the strike plate is configured to receive the entire curved portion in the locked state. |
| US10858861B2 |
Adjustable dead-latching bolt mechanism
A latch mechanism having an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the distance to which a latch bolt extends into a mating recess. The adjustment mechanism may include a driver component and a driven component. Rotation of the driver component about a first axis may displace the driven component, thereby causing the position of the latch bolt to be adjusted along a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis. According to certain embodiments, the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. The latch mechanism may also include an inner housing that is displaced as the latch bolt is extended into, and retracted from, a mating recess in an adjacent structure. Further, the position of the inner housing may remain generally static as the position of the latch bolt is adjusted along the second axis via operation of the adjustment mechanism. |
| US10858860B2 |
Door lock having day-night visible keypad
A door lock apparatus including a door lock housing, a door lock, and a keypad operatively connected to the door lock housing and to the door lock. The keypad includes a protective layer, a decorative layer, and a light source, wherein the protective layer is disposed next to the decorative layer and the decorative layer is disposed between the protective layer and the light source. The decorative layer includes a first surface having a first material located thereon and a second surface having a second material located thereon, and wherein the first material and the second material are generally aligned to provide indicia having a three-dimensional appearance with the indicia being offset from a background plane. |
| US10858859B2 |
Door latch and a dishwasher mounted with the door latch
A door latch and a dishwasher fitted with a door latch are described. The door latch has a body, a pawl provided with a rotating shaft, a first gap being provided between two ends of the rotating shaft, and a mounting slot being provided in one side of the pawl, a first pin mounted on the pawl, the first pin being mounted in the mounting slot in the pawl, a spring having two ends which are connected to the body and the pawl, respectively, a first end of the spring being connected to the first pin through the first gap. During installation of the door latch, assembly of the door latch is quick and easy because the first pin is put into the pin mounting slot in the pawl from the top side of the pin mounting slot, and repair with changing of components is also easy. |
| US10858858B1 |
Device for installing a fence
The present invention relates to a device for installing a fence. In most embodiments the device comprises three main areas: the driver area, the installer area, and the storage area. The driver area is where the driver of the device is located and comprises the necessary components to drive the device, such as a motor and steering mechanism. The installer area is where the fence installer is located, and in most embodiments is placed above the driver area so that the installer can access the top rail of the fence during installation. The storage area is where the fencing material is placed, often times as a roll. This roll is fed out of the storage area and installed by the installer while the device is driven down the length of the fence. This device beneficially decreases the amount of time and man-power required to install a fence. |
| US10858857B2 |
Anti-climbing device
An anti-climbing device on a fence (7) with angled arms (2) as protective devices having a planar element (1) fastened to the protective device. The planar element is connected to the protective device via force sensors (3). The force sensors are operatively connected to an evaluation unit (4). The force sensors are load cells which predominantly detect loading or load reduction in the direction of gravity. The planar element is fastened along the plane spanned by the arms and the planar element is connected via the force sensors to the arms. |
| US10858856B1 |
Modular tent construction and components thereof
A modular tent construction with one or more tent pods including a pod roof, a frame system, and brackets and/or tensioners. |
| US10858853B2 |
Autonomous active waterline scrubbing device principally for swimming pools and spas
Buoyant, autonomous devices for actively scrubbing upstanding walls of swimming pools and spas at and nearby their waterlines are detailed. The devices may be configured to float on and travel along a surface of water of a pool and include at least one brush or scrubber adapted to contact pool walls. An electric motor may cause the scrubber to rotate about a shaft or axle, with frictional contact between the scrubber and the wall dislodging dirt and debris therefrom. In particular, if a scrubber is conically shaped and angled relative to the vertical direction, its rotating blades may lift water from the pool to hydrate dried debris stuck to the wall, thereby facilitating dislodging of the debris. |
| US10858841B1 |
Wind-driven rain and impact resistant louver
Described is a louver having a frame that forms an enclosure defining an opening, and a plurality of louver blades disposed within the opening. The louver further includes an elongated member disposed within the frame and in contact with the plurality of louver blades. The elongated member has a body that longitudinally extends between a first member end and a second member end, wherein the first member end and the second member end are fixedly connected to opposing sections of the frame. The described louver may provide improved wind-driven rain resistance and/or impact resistance. |
| US10858837B2 |
Raised arc rain gutter debris preclusion device
A gutter debris preclusion device for use with a gutter attached to a building, comprising a support structure being substantially rigid and having a recess with a plurality of apertures and a plurality of ribs; a screen having a plurality of apertures and being at least partially disposed on the ribs of the support structure; and, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the screen has an arc shape. |
| US10858836B2 |
Fascia gutter system and coverings using the same
A covering employing a fascia gutter is disclosed. The fascia gutter includes a front member, bottom member, a rear member, a ledge, a guiding groove, a protrusion and a receiving space. The bottom member connects the front member to the rear member. The receiving space is defined by the front member, the bottom member, and the rear member. The ledge is connected to the rear member. An opening is defined by the ledge and the protrusion. |
| US10858833B2 |
Roofing shingle
A roofing shingle including a lower layer including a headlap and a plurality of tabs extending from the headlap, and an upper layer including one or more fingers, wherein the one or more fingers are disconnected from one another, and wherein each of the one or more fingers is disposed on one tab of the plurality of tabs, wherein a number of the plurality of tabs is different than a number of the one or more fingers. In an embodiment, the lower layer is a lowermost layer of the roofing shingle. In another embodiment, the roofing shingle further includes an alignment feature disposed in an exposure zone of the roofing shingle, wherein the alignment feature is adapted to permit alignment of adjacent roofing shingles during installation on a roof. |
| US10858832B2 |
Structural element for constructions
A structural element for constructions comprising a structure (2) made of concrete and/or geopolymer and/or alkali activated material and at least one strip (3) made of a fibre-resin composite.Such strip surrounds at least part of said structure (2), compressing it. The strip also at least partly surmounts an external surface (20) of said structure (2). |
| US10858830B2 |
Device and method for suspension of a suspended ceiling and a suspended ceiling
A device for suspension of a suspended ceiling, comprising an elongated suspension member (3) having a first end (10) and an opposing second end (11), an anchoring head (4) being arranged at the first end (10); a housing (2) having an open top side (5) and an opposed, closed bottom side (6), the (2) housing defining a housing cavity (7) adapted to be filled with an adhesive (16); and a suspension member holder (8). A passage (9) is provided extending through the closed bottom side (6) of the housing (2), wherein the elongated suspension member (3) in an assembled state of the device extends through the passage (9) with the first end (10) positioned inside the housing cavity (7) and the second end (11) positioned outside the housing cavity (7) and wherein the suspension member holder (8) in the assembled state of the device positions the first end (10) and the thereto arranged anchoring head (4) of the suspension member (3) at a distance H1 from the closed bottom side (6). The invention also relates to a suspended ceiling system comprising such a device as well as a method for suspending a suspended ceiling in a structural ceiling. |
| US10858828B2 |
Building block, wall constructions made from building blocks, and methods
A concrete building block includes indicators along each end to assist in aligning a pin placed in the block with a channel in a like block in a course below as a wall is being constructed. |
| US10858825B2 |
Concrete dowel placement system and method of making the same
A concrete dowel placement system and methods for making the same. The system allows for accurate and easy substantially-parallel or parallel placement of slip dowels within sections of concrete so that adjacent sections of concrete may be allowed to undergo thermal expansion and contraction while remaining in a common plane without cracking or faulting. The system includes a coupler and a sheath. The sheath is configured to be slidably extensible over the coupler and may be held to the coupler by friction. Additionally, a method of constructing the concrete dowel placement system includes extruding material to form two tubes of different sizes. The tubes are then attached to each other, then material is extruded to form a sheath. Alternatively, construction may include extruding material to form a tube, then removing some of the material from the tube in order to form a coupler. |
| US10858824B2 |
Connector for use in forming joint
Presented herein is a connector forming a joint between first and second surfaces. The connector includes a hollow male member embedded in a first surface. The male member has open ended protrusion extending therefrom. A hollow female member to be embedded in second surface. The female member has a mating opening for receiving the protrusion and a flexible sealing means for forming a fluid tight seal between the female and male members. When installed, a tendon forms part of the first surface and extends through protrusion into female member. Prior to grouting, movement of the tendon during settling of first surface is facilitated by the male and female member, without breaking the fluid tight seal formed by flexible sealing means. Also presented is a method of forming a joint between a vertical surface and a horizontal surface. |
| US10858821B2 |
Bamboo pole connectors for building construction
A construction system for connecting bamboo segments or poles together, where the segments or poles have non-uniform diameters. The system includes elbow connectors, sleeve connectors, T-shaped connectors and six cavity connectors. Also, part of the connectors include connector segments including an opening defined by a plurality of opposingly located arms separated by one or more channels, and at least one hoop-compression clamp adapted to be positioned around the arms. The arms and hoop-compression clamp cooperate to compress the arms against the bamboo segment to sec1n-e bamboo segment within the connector opening. |
| US10858815B2 |
Toilet carrier system with a quick connector
A quick connector assembly for connecting a toilet waste pipe to a drain pipe including a toilet carrier base. A collet has resilient radially inward fingers and a lock body secures the collet in place. The lock body has guide tracks with locked portions that define a locked position and unlocked portions that define an unlocked position. A lock nut includes interior protrusions coupled in the guide tracks for movement between the locked and unlocked positions. A guide is slidingly mounted between the lock nut and lock body. In the unlocked position, the lock nut forces the guide into the collet so that the radially inward fingers are splayed to allow removal of a toilet waste pipe for adjustment. In the locked position, the guide is not forced into the collet so that the radially inward fingers prevent removal of the toilet waste pipe for fast and easy assembly. |
| US10858814B2 |
Toilet rim block and rim block cage
A toilet rim block which consists of an outer cover and a core, and to a rim block cage including the toilet rim block. The outer cover includes a first composition and the core includes a second composition. Preferably, the first and the second compositions differ from each other by at least one of the following features: different active substances, different concentration but same active substance, and different viscosity. The outer cover partly encloses the core and the core protrudes on at least one face of the toilet rim block right to the surface as a pole and is exposed. The core is shaped such that the surface of the exposed area changes upon even wear of the surface of the toilet rim block, the surface of the exposed area of the core reducing upon even wear of the surface of the toilet rim block. |
| US10858813B1 |
Drain stopper apparatus
A drain stopper apparatus is disclosed and configured for being installed within a drain hole of a fixture, for preventing any buildup of hair or other materials within an associated drainpipe of the fixture. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a stopper body sized and shaped for being positioned within the drain hole of the fixture, in contact with an inner surface of a basin of the fixture. A stopper tailpiece is engaged with a bottom of the stopper body. A stopper is positioned within the stopper body and configured for selectively moving between one of an open position and a closed position. A drive coupler interconnects a lower end of the stopper tailpiece with an upper end of the drainpipe, the drive coupler providing a drive mechanism positioned and configured for selectively actuating the stopper between the open and closed positions. |
| US10858812B2 |
Pullout faucet with mounting system
The present invention provides a pullout faucet with a mounting system that is easier to manufacture and assemble. The pullout faucet includes a cage and a mounting retainer. The mounting retainer is separately formed from the cage. |
| US10858806B2 |
Modular manifold having at least two control modules for controlling operation of at least two hydraulic actuators of an earthmoving machine
A control module for controlling an operation of a hydraulic actuator that is associated with an earthmoving machine includes a body. The body has a spool chamber and a load sensing passageway associated with the spool chamber. The body also has a spool positioned axially, and at least partially, within the spool chamber. The spool is spring-biased by an end cap located at a first end of the body. The body also has a pair of electrohydraulic spool actuators that are located at a second end of the body and operable to axially displace the spool within the spool chamber. The pair of spool actuators are positioned in parallel and disposed adjacent to one another. The body also has an inlet chamber disposed parallel to the spool chamber and in selective fluid communication with the spool chamber via a spool supply passageway. |
| US10858805B2 |
Construction machine
A construction machine is provided which includes a hydraulic closed circuit in which a single rod hydraulic cylinder is driven directly by a bidirectionally tiltable variable displacement pump and can stably speed up the contraction action of the single rod hydraulic cylinder. In the case where a contraction action of a hydraulic cylinder 10 is instructed through an operation lever 30, when a differential pressure obtained by subtracting the pressure of a cap chamber 10a from the pressure of a rod chamber 10b is equal to or lower than a first threshold value a set to a level equal to or higher than a selection setting pressure of a flushing valve 14, a controller 20 closes a rod side selector valve 12b to disable rod assist action for supplying hydraulic fluid from a second hydraulic pump 8 to the rod chamber, and when the differential pressure is higher than the first threshold value, the controller 20 opens the rod side selector valve to enable the rod assist action. |
| US10858802B2 |
Hydraulic excavation around a pipeline buried under shallow water
A hydraulic excavation apparatus may be used for providing access to a pipeline buried under shallow water or in wetland locations, for example, in order to install an electro-mechanical clamp on the pipeline. This clamp can then be used for connecting externals anodes to the pipeline, for monitoring the level of corrosion protection of the pipeline, or for any other purpose. |
| US10858797B2 |
Method of recognizing obstacles on operation of a vibratory pile driver
A method of recognizing obstacles on operation of a vibratory pile driver of a work machine includes monitoring an acceleration signal of the vibratory pile driver during operation of the vibratory pile operator and analyzing the acceleration signal to determine the presence of an obstacle. The acceleration signal may be monitored over a time period which is determined based on an excitation frequency of the vibratory pile driver. The analysis may include comparing negative and positive half-waves of the acceleration signal. Responsive to the analysis indicating an obstacle, a system operator may be alerted, and/or operation of the vibratory pile driver may be adjusted via controller intervention. |
| US10858796B2 |
Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a ductile support pier
Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier. |
| US10858795B1 |
Quick-fit self-priming drain pipe
A quick-fit self-priming drain pipe, comprises at least two pipes and at least a joint pipe for connecting several pipes. The surface of the pipe is surrounded with several endlong extended slots in the axial direction of the pipe. From the end face of the pipe, the slot comprises a trench hole and a slot opening from inside to outside. The outer surface at the end of the pipe is surrounded with several locating holes. The joint pipe has at least two through holes corresponding to one end of pipe, and its inner surface is surrounded with several locating pieces corresponding to the locating holes. Hereby, the construction operation is simplified, and the working efficiency and draining efficiency are increased greatly. |
| US10858793B1 |
Snow and ice covered surface aerators and methods of use
Aerators and methods for aerating snow and/or ice-covered surfaces, such as, golf greens or lawns, are provided. The aerators include a hub and cylindrical projections from the hub. The cylindrical protections are shaped and oriented to contact the snow and/or ice covered surface. Upon distribution of the aerators upon a snow and/or ice covered surface and exposure of the aerators to ambient conditions, such as, the sun, the temperature of the projections is raised above freezing which melts adjacent portions of the snow and/or ice to expose portions of the underlining surface to ambient air. A kit providing aerators is also provided. |
| US10858789B2 |
Hollow, composite dowel bar assemblies, associated fabrication methodology, and apparatus
Hollow composite dowel bar assemblies, their manufacture, and apparatus for manufacture. The dowel bar assemblies may include an elongate and hollow core, a protective jacket coating at least the sidewall exterior of the core, and a sealing structure coupled with each end of the combined core and jacket, that are configured to protect the core from the environment. |