| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US10955899B2 |
System, apparatus and method for responsive autonomous hardware performance state control of a processor
In one embodiment, processor includes a first core to execute instructions, and a power controller to control power consumption of the processor. The power controller may include a hardware performance state controller to control a performance state of the first core autonomously to an operating system, and calculate a target operating frequency for the performance state based at least in part on an energy performance preference hint received from the operating system. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US10955898B2 |
Electronic device with a wake up module distinct from a core domain
An electronic device includes an appended module coupled to a core having a standby state comprising a first power supply circuit, a first clock and a circuit that recognizes multiple vocal commands timed by the first clock. The appended module includes a second power supply circuit independent of the first power supply circuit, a second clock independent of the first clock and having a frequency lower than that of the first clock, digital unit timed by the second clock including a sound capture circuit that delivers a processed sound signal, and a processing unit configured in order, in the presence of a parameter of the processed sound signal greater than a threshold, to analyze the content of the processed sound signal and to deliver, when the content of the sound signal comprises a reference pattern, an activating signal to the core that can take it out of its standby state. |
| US10955895B2 |
Information processing apparatus, power reception and delivery control circuit, and control method for power reception and delivery
An information processing apparatus includes: a first control device that controls, in accordance with an operation mode, power reception/delivery from/to an external device connected to the information processing apparatus; a battery that is recharged by an external power supply or the external device; a second control device that acquires a power supply state of the information processing apparatus; and a third control device that determines whether power is being delivered from the external power supply to the information processing apparatus; and sets the operation mode of the first control device to a first mode based on the power supply state and on a result of the determination. The first mode is an operation mode in which the power reception alone is enabled between the power reception from the external device and the power delivery to the external device. |
| US10955891B2 |
Storage devices, storage systems and methods of operating storage devices
A storage device includes nonvolatile memory devices that store data, a storage controller, and an adaptive power supply circuit. The storage controller controls the nonvolatile memory devices. The adaptive power supply circuit generates at least one operation voltage based on at least one power supply voltage, and provides the at least one operation voltage to the nonvolatile memory devices and the storage controller. The at least one power supply voltage is provided to the adaptive power supply circuit through a portion of power lines connected to a host. Under control of the storage controller, the adaptive power supply circuit adaptively activates a power disable function associated with a provision of the at least one operation voltage according to a level of a third power supply voltage provided through a third power line of the plurality of power lines. The third power supply voltage is provided by the host. |
| US10955890B2 |
System and method of utilizing information handling systems with multiple power levels
In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may query each component of multiple components of a system for multiple power utilization attributes associated with the component; may determine a power budget based at least on each multiple power utilization attributes of each component of the multiple components; may determine an integer number of power supply units based at least on the power budget; may determine a fail safe power level based at least on power provided by the integer number of power supply units; may determine, based at least on the fail safe power level, multiple component fail safe power levels respectively associated with the multiple components of the system; and may provide, to each component of the multiple components, configuration information associated with a respective component fail safe power level, of the multiple component fail safe power levels, respectively associated with the component. |
| US10955887B2 |
Managing electrical power in a virtual power delivery network
Systems and methods are provided for managing power to devices in a virtual power delivery network, using a centralized power allocation controller. The method of managing power consumption of a plurality of devices includes receiving device information from one or more devices connected in a virtual power delivery network. The method further includes managing power consumption of the one or more devices in the virtual power delivery network based on the received device information. |
| US10955885B2 |
Methods and systems to control power gates during an active state of a gated domain based on load conditions of the gated domain
Methods and systems to adjust a resistance between a supply grid and a power-gated grid during an active state of a power-gated circuitry in response to load changes in the circuitry to maintain a relatively consistent IR droop. Subsets of power gates (PGs) may be selectively enabled and disabled based on changes in a load factor, such as a voltage, which may be monitored at a gated power distribution grid and/or proximate to a transistor gate within the power-gated circuitry. The adjusting may be performed to minimize a difference between the monitored voltage and a reference, such as with successive approximation or CMS software. PG subsets may be distributed within one or more layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die and may be selectively enabled/disabled based on location. PGs may be embedded within lower layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die, such as within metal layers of the IC die. |
| US10955878B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus
The present invention discloses a portable electronic apparatus, which includes a cover casing, a base casing, a first input module and a second input module. The base casing is pivoted to the cover casing, and the base casing includes a containing portion and at least one first connecting portion. The containing portion is located on the base casing, and the first connecting portion is disposed on the containing portion. The first input module and the second input module are disposed on the containing portion interchangeably, the first input module has a second connecting portion, and the second input module has a third connecting portion. When the first input module is disposed on the containing portion, the second connecting portion electrically connects to the first connecting portion. When the second input module is disposed on the containing portion, the third connecting portion electrically connects to the first connecting portion. |
| US10955877B2 |
Physical keyboards for multi-display computing devices
Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for physical keyboards with multi-display computing devices. An example computing device includes a first display and a second display coupled to the first display via a first hinge. The example computing device also includes a keyboard coupled to the second display via a second hinge. |
| US10955874B2 |
Multi-screen display device
A multi-screen display device includes a plurality of display screens and a prism structure optical element disposed between two adjacent display screens. The prism structure optical element includes a substrate and a plurality of prism columns. The substrate includes a first region and a second region adjacent to each other, and the lengths of the first and second regions are respectively La and Lb, and La≥Lb. The prism columns include a plurality of first and second prism columns in the first and second regions respectively. Each first prism columns has two interior angles θa1, θa2, a first surface and a second surface. Each second prism columns has two interior angles θb1, θb2, a third surface and a fourth surface. The second and/or fourth surfaces are light absorbing surfaces, or a roughness of the second and fourth surfaces is greater than that of the first and third surfaces. |
| US10955871B2 |
Dial device and imaging apparatus
A dial device has a dial, a base member, a sphere; and a biasing member that is provided to one of the dial and the base member and biases the sphere toward the other one. An inner peripheral surface of an accommodation hole includes a portion in which a first hemispherical portion of the sphere is interposed between a first contact point and a second contact point, the first hemispherical portion of the sphere being on one side with respect to a first plane that includes the rotation direction and a biasing direction of the biasing member and passes through a center of the sphere. A recessed surface of each of a plurality of recesses includes a portion in which a second hemispherical portion of the sphere on another side with respect to the first plane is interposed between a third contact point and a fourth contact point. |
| US10955869B2 |
Smart power monitoring for welding and cutting apparatus
An indication of a type of circuit breaker through which a powered device is connected to a power source is received at a processor. A signal from a sensor indicating a level of power flow from the power source to the powered device is received at the processor. The power flow to the powered device is altered by the processor based upon the received signal and the type of circuit breaker such that the power flow does not cause the circuit breaker to interrupt the power flow to the powered device. |
| US10955867B2 |
Building control automated building control employing validation, estimation, and editing rules
A building control system that includes a post VEE readings data stores, a rules processor, and a building controller. The stores provide tagged data sets that are each associated with a corresponding one of energy consumption streams, each of the sets having groups of contiguous interval values tagged as having been validated. The rules processor reads the stores and creates anomalies having different durations using only the groups of contiguous interval values and generates estimates for the anomalies by employing estimation techniques for each of the different durations and selects one of the estimation techniques for subsequent employment. The building controller receives post VEE readings and outside temperatures corresponding to the interval-based streams and determines and controls cumulative energy consumption corresponding to the interval-based streams and manages the cumulative energy consumption by scheduling run times for building elements that are coupled to the building controller. |
| US10955862B2 |
Mobile zipper unit
An apparatus to distribute pressurized fluid from one or more sources to multiple wellbores. The apparatus includes a manifold having at least two inlets and at least two outlets. Pressurized fluid is brought into the manifold from opposing directions so that the fluid from one inlet will impinge upon the fluid from the other inlet thereby deenergizing the fluid. Additionally, the manifold is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the inlets is less than the cross-sectional area of the manifold thereby decreasing velocity minimizing the kinetic energy available to erode or otherwise damage equipment, while providing a pressure decrease as the fluid enters the manifold. The outlets are configured such that the cross-sectional area of the outlets providing fluid to a single wellbore is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the inlets such that no pressure increase occurs within the manifold or the outlets as the fluid exits the manifold. Additional velocity reduction enhancements may include angled or camp third turns between the inlet and the manifold or the manifold and an outlet. |
| US10955858B2 |
Method of generating a surround view of a vehicle platoon and a device thereof
The present disclosure relates to a method of generating a surround view of a vehicle platoon and a device thereof. A surround view generating device for a vehicle in the vehicle platoon acquires a local surround view of the vehicle and at least one of a truncated local surround view associated with one or more preceding vehicles and a truncated local surround view associated with one or more following vehicles in the vehicle platoon. Further, the surround view generation device generates a surround view of the vehicle platoon using the local surround view of the vehicle, the truncated local surround view associated with the one or more preceding vehicles, and the truncated local surround view associated with the one or more following vehicles. Finally, the surround view generating device navigates the vehicle in the vehicle platoon based on the surround view of the vehicle platoon. |
| US10955857B2 |
Stationary camera localization
A computing system receives first sensor data including moving objects and multi-modal LiDAR map data wherein the first sensor is calibrated based on a cost function that alternates between LiDAR map point cloud data and LiDAR map ground reflectivity data as input. The computing system can operate the vehicle based on the moving objects. |
| US10955855B1 |
Smart vehicle
Smart car method for autonomous navigation by creating a 3D model based on outputs of the camera and sensor; accessing a high definition map database and generating a trip with travel segments from origin to destination; detecting a freeway entrance or an exit lane based on a road marking using a camera and a sensor; if the travel segment passes the freeway entrance or exit, then follow the current lane without exiting; and otherwise following the freeway entrance or exit. |
| US10955854B2 |
Method and system for determining the position of a vehicle
A method and a device for determining the position of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps: recording sensor data from the ground over which the vehicle travels; extracting ground characteristics of the ground over which the vehicle travels from the recorded sensor data or from occupancy grids which are calculated on the basis of the sensor data; determining the current position of the vehicle on the basis of the extracted ground characteristics using a characteristic map. |
| US10955853B2 |
Systems and methods for autonomous driving
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for autonomous driving. The systems may obtain driving information associated with a vehicle; determine a state of the vehicle; determine one or more candidate control signals and one or more evaluation values corresponding to the one or more candidate control signals based on the driving information and the state of the vehicle by using a trained control model; select a target control signal from the one or more candidate control signals based on the one or more evaluation values; and transmit the target control signal to a control component of the vehicle. |
| US10955849B2 |
Automatic driving system
An automatic driving system includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: generate a traveling plan so as to moderate a change in behavior of a vehicle at a time when an automatic driving control of the vehicle is started by an automatic engagement compared to a change in the behavior of the vehicle at a time when the automatic driving control is started by a triggered engagement, the automatic engagement being an engagement in which the automatic driving control is automatically started when an automatic engagement condition is satisfied, the triggered engagement being an engagement in which the automatic driving control is started when an automatic driving start condition is satisfied and an automatic driving start trigger is input by an occupant; and execute the automatic driving control by controlling the behavior of the vehicle based on the traveling plan, using an actuator equipped in the vehicle. |
| US10955847B2 |
Autonomous vehicle interface system
In embodiments of an autonomous vehicle interface system, system nodes are each implemented as a distributed node for independent data processing of low-level sensor data and/or high-level system data. The high-level system data is abstracted from the low-level sensor data, providing invariance to system configuration in higher-level processing algorithms. The autonomous vehicle interface system includes at least one real-time bus for data communications of the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data between the system nodes. The system also includes an application programming interface (API) configured for access by the system nodes to the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data that is published on the real-time bus and accessible via the API. |
| US10955845B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for handling operational constraints for control of unmanned vehicles
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for handling operational constraints for unmanned vehicles. The system includes: a plurality of mobile unmanned vehicles for deployment in an environment; a computing device connected to the plurality of unmanned vehicles via a network, the computing device storing, in a memory, a plurality of operational constraints; each operational constraint including (i) a type identifier, (ii) an indication of a region of the environment, and (iii) a property defining a constraint on the operation of the unmanned vehicles within the region. The computing device is configured to: receive a request from one of the mobile unmanned vehicles, the request identifying an operational constraint; responsive to receiving the request, retrieve an operational constraint from the memory based on the request; and send the retrieved operational constraint to the one of the mobile unmanned vehicles. |
| US10955844B2 |
Server apparatus for attenuating vibration of the vehicle
A server apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of vehicles each of which carries a vibration control apparatus for attenuating vibration by adjusting a parameter that affects a predetermined acceleration so that the predetermined acceleration approaches a target acceleration is disclosed. The server apparatus acquires traveling data including a magnitude of the predetermined acceleration generated in each of the vehicles and the target acceleration set for the vehicle every time when each of the vehicles travels on each of sections of a previously divided road, and accumulates the acquired traveling data while being correlated with section identification information. Then, the server apparatus sets the target acceleration which is adequate for each of the vehicles to travel on a scheduled traveling section on the basis of the accumulated traveling data, and transmits the set target acceleration to the vehicle scheduled to travel on the scheduled traveling section. |
| US10955843B1 |
Verified inference engine for autonomy
An autonomous vehicle system includes one or more output devices, one or more input sources, and a controller. In some embodiments, a verified inference engine is used by the controller to generate outputs for the output devices from inputs received from the input sources. The inference engine may be verified to be mathematically correct with an automated theorem proving tool. The automated theorem proving tool may verify that the inference engine meets the design requirements of standards such as DO-178C Level A and/or EAL-7. The controller is configured to validate the inputs received from the input sources, store the validated inputs in a fact base, generate outputs from the validated inputs, validate the one or more outputs, and provide the one or more validated outputs to the output devices. |
| US10955840B2 |
Apparatus and method for installing and replacing light fixture devices
Provided is a method and an apparatus for installing and replacing a lighting controller of an outdoor lighting fixture that includes a base portion supplying power, a telescopic stick portion attached to the base portion at a first end thereof,an extension stick portion attached to a second end of the telescopic stick portion, and a drone-type device attached to the extension stick portion at an end opposite telescopic stick portion. The drone-type device receives power from the base portion through the telescopic stick portion and travels over and land at a top surface of the outdoor lighting fixture and perform installation or replacement of the lighting controller. |
| US10955834B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for controlling movement of transporting devices
A system and method for controlling movement of transporting devices arranged to transport containers, the containers being stored in stacks arranged in a facility. A facility having pathways arranged in a grid-like structure above stacks, the transporting devices being configured to operate on the grid-like structure. A control unit configured to determine at least one task to be performed by at least one transporting device, wherein the at least one task is determined based on at least one of: transporting device battery condition, transporting device damage, transporting device maintenance issues, and transporting device service issues. |
| US10955833B2 |
Cloud based control for remote engineering
A method in an industrial process control and remote engineering system comprises receiving, by a remote control system, a control configuration, interfacing, by the remote control system, via a network, with at least one process equipment, and remotely controlling, by the remote control system, the at least one process equipment according to the control configuration. In some embodiments of the method, the remote control system is a twin of a local control system. |
| US10955832B2 |
Adaptive chamber matching in advanced semiconductor process control
Systems and methods for controlling device performance variability during manufacturing of a device on wafers are disclosed. The system includes a process platform, on-board metrology (OBM) tools, and a first server that stores a machine-learning based process control model. The first server combines virtual metrology (VM) data and OBM data to predict a spatial distribution of one or more dimensions of interest on a wafer. The system further comprises an in-line metrology tool, such as SEM, to measure the one or more dimensions of interest on a subset of wafers sampled from each lot. A second server having a machine-learning engine receives from the first server the predicted spatial distribution of the one or more dimensions of interest based on VM and OBM, and also receives SEM metrology data, and updates the process control model periodically (e.g., to account for chamber-to-chamber variability) using machine learning techniques. |
| US10955830B2 |
Systems and methods for designing and securing edge data processing pipelines
According to some exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a secure edge datastream processing and distribution system comprising a trusted datastream with metadata indicating ownership and access rights added at an edge. Further embodiments include sensors, machines or robots sending sensor data attributes to a fog operating system data pipeline, the fog operating system data pipeline sending dynamic data tags to secure containers and/or the fog operating system data pipeline sending role and org assignment data to secure containers. The secure containers may send correlated edge analytics to an authorization policy engine, and/or the secure containers may send datastream identification definition data to an authorization policy engine. |
| US10955829B2 |
System and a method to enable zero defect production
Embodiments of the present invention provide a comprehensive system that integrates automatically gauging and correcting stations operating in a machine environment with a universal machine monitoring for detecting defective articles, quarantining the defective articles, ensuring the defective articles are safely quarantined, analyzing the machine and article related data for providing contextual information for the defective articles produced, predicting one or more necessary actions to be taken for minimizing defects in future and achieving near zero defect quality in machine production. The comprehensive system provides such contextual information about the defects/faults in the article or the machine operations in real time and locally and remotely to any human resource. |
| US10955827B2 |
Controller and machine learning device for controlling a conveying machine to optimize conveyance of an article
A machine learning device provided in a control unit observes, as state variables representing a current state of an environment, conveyance operation data indicating a state of a conveyance operation of a conveying machine and conveyance article state data indicating a state of the conveyance article, and acquires, as determination data, conveyance speed determination data indicating an appropriateness determination result relating to a conveyance speed of the conveyance article and conveyance article state determination data indicating an appropriateness determination result relating to variation in the state of the conveyance article. The conveyance operation data and the conveyance article state data are then learned in association with each other by using the state variables and the determination data. |
| US10955825B2 |
Beam pumping unit and method of operation
A control system for operating a beam pumping unit includes a strain gauge and a beam pumping unit controller. The strain gauge is coupled to a Samson post of the beam pumping unit, and is configured to measure a Samson post strain. The beam pumping unit controller is coupled to the strain gauge and is configured to operate the beam pumping unit to induce a variable load on a rod of the beam pumping unit. The beam pumping unit controller is further configured to receive the Samson post strain from the strain gauge and compute the variable load based on the Samson post strain. |
| US10955823B2 |
Method for the dosing of cleaning agents
A method for the dosing of cleaning agents in cleaning machines includes the steps: receiving the control information items; wherein the control information items are dependent on an information item about a cleaning machine; determining the progress of a cleaning operation; dosing of cleaning agent depending on the received control information items and the determined progress of the cleaning operation; wherein the information item about the cleaning machine can be manually input via a user interface. |
| US10955822B2 |
Toilet system, toilet management method, and recording medium
Provided is a technique for controlling a door of a toilet cubicle according to a situation in the toilet cubicle at the time of an abnormality occurrence. A toilet system according to the present invention is provided with a detection unit that detects a state of the inside of a toilet cubicle, an abnormality determination unit that determines the occurrence of an abnormality and the type thereof on the basis of a detection result obtained by the detection unit, and a door control unit that controls opening and closing of a door according to the type of the abnormality when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred. |
| US10955820B2 |
Additive 3-dimensional (3D) core design
A system may include a 3D core design engine and a 3D core printing engine. The 3D core design engine may be configured to determine, in a CAD model, an under-core ply of a composite part and a core footprint on the under-core ply specified for an additive 3D core to be manufactured via additive manufacturing for insertion into the composite part, compute a bottom core surface of the additive 3D core from the under-core ply and core footprint, access core design parameters for the additive 3D core; and construct an additive 3D core design in the CAD model based on the computed bottom core surface and the core shape parameters. The 3D core printing engine may be configured to store the additive 3D core design to support subsequent manufacture of the additive 3D core via additive manufacturing. |
| US10955819B2 |
Control method for the movement of a tool and control device
In a control method for the movement of a tool with a machine tool, the machine tool involves a numerically controlled machine tool, in order to produce an arbitrary required surface of a workpiece by machining. A numeric path program is created which describes the machining of the workpiece with the tool at machining points and which controls the control device. The numeric path program produces a path with respect to the geometric nature of the surface of the workpiece to be machined, with the path including a plurality of sample points and individual paths, with each individual path connecting a pair of the sample points to each other. The numeric path program is evaluated and selected on the basis of a geometric quality criterion, with the geometric quality criterion having continuity as at least one criterion. |
| US10955816B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring device information
Provided herein are techniques related to an industrial system that may have a plurality of industrial automation devices, a database that has a plurality of location datasets that correspond to the plurality of industrial automation devices, and a monitoring system that may communicate with the industrial automation devices via a network and the database. The monitoring system may send a first request to the industrial automation devices in the industrial system to identify an industrial automation device having an active maintenance status. The active maintenance status may be indicative of a maintenance request for the industrial automation device. The monitoring system may send a second request to the database for a location dataset associated with the industrial automation device, generate a visualization that includes the active maintenance status and the location dataset associated with the industrial automation device, and display the visualization via an electronic display. |
| US10955806B2 |
System and method for monitoring and analyzing industrial operations
An industrial system and method for monitoring and analyzing industrial operations such that data is obtained from one or more sensors of one or more industrial components and transmitted to a master controller as a data stream through a communication network, the transmitted data is captured, copied, and stored for analysis without interfering with the data stream. |
| US10955805B2 |
SoC architecture to integrate with one out of two diagnostics platforms
An apparatus of a System on Chip (SoC) to implement a one out of two diagnostics (1oo2D) safety system comprises a memory comprising firmware to provide monitoring of the SoC and a second SoC, and a communication interface to provide cross-monitoring between the SoC and the second SoC. The firmware and the communication interface enable the SoC and the second SoC to implement the 1oo2D safety system without significant hardware or software external to the SoC. |
| US10955799B2 |
Setting mechanism for timepiece movement
The invention relates to a setting mechanism for a timepiece movement, including a setting gear train, a winder rod adapted to be moved from a first axial position termed a running position to a second axial position termed a setting position, a sliding pinion adapted to be moved from a first axial position in which the sliding pinion is disengaged from the setting gear train to a second axial position in which the sliding pinion meshes with the setting gear train, and a lever interengaged with the sliding pinion and adapted to pivot, when the winding rod is moved from a running position to a setting position and vice versa, in order to move the sliding pinion from the first axial position to the second and vice versa. The setting mechanism further includes, according to the invention, a device for immobilizing the setting gear train. This immobilizing device includes first and second immobilizing arms and an immobilizing wheel interengaged with the setting gear train. The first and second immobilizing arms are adapted, on the one hand, to the interengaged with the immobilizing wheel in a configuration termed locked in which the setting gear train is immobilized and, on the other hand, to be disengaged from the immobilizing wheel in a configuration termed unlocked in which the sliding pinion is free from meshing with the setting gear train. The immobilizing device includes to this end a locking/unlocking lever interengaged with the sliding pinion and adapted to cooperate with the first and second immobilizing arms in order to pass from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration and vice versa when the winding rod is moved from a running position to a setting position and vice versa. |
| US10955798B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is capable of appropriately removing fine particles produced from a parting material contained in a toner. A distance d (mm) between an inlet port of a duct and a heating belt is Fs (cm2), the area of a nonwoven fabric filter is Fs (cm2), and the air passing speed of the air in the nonwoven fabric filter is Fv (cm/s) satisfy, ( 1.25 × d - 8.67 ) × 1000 Fv × 60 ≤ Fs < 200 × 1000 Fv × 60 . |
| US10955795B2 |
Cartridge
A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge.The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position. |
| US10955793B2 |
Drum unit having electrical contact surface positioned at outer surface of frame and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the fourth frame plate. |
| US10955790B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, having a motor, a first photosensitive drum, a second photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a first cam, a second cam, a first clutch, a second clutch, a first phase sensor, and a controller, is provided. On condition that a triggering condition is satisfied, the controller starts the motor to operate, place the first clutch in a transmittable condition to cause the first developing roller to move for a first separated position, and place the second clutch in a discontinuing condition; and place the second clutch in the transmittable condition to cause the second developing roller to move to the second separated position in one of cases where a predetermined period since the first clutch is placed in the transmittable condition elapses and where the controller receives the separation signal from the first phase sensor before the predetermined period elapses. |
| US10955789B2 |
Cleaning device having function that restricts movement range of cleaning blade and image forming apparatus having cleaning device
Provided is an image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a photoreceptor drum, transfer the toner image to a recording medium, and output the recording medium, and the image forming apparatus includes a cleaning device including a cleaning blade that abuts against the photoreceptor drum and removes residual developer, a cleaning blade supporter that rotatably supports the cleaning blade, a cleaning blade movement restrictor that restricts a movement range of the cleaning blade, and a spring member that urges an end of the cleaning blade to abut against the photoreceptor drum. |
| US10955780B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator configured to press the fixing rotator, a fixing structure, a temperature detector, a discharger, and a holder. The fixing structure is configured to hold at least one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The temperature detector is configured to contact a detected member that is at least one of the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator and detect a temperature of the detected member. The discharger is configured to contact and discharge the detected member. The holder is fixed on the fixing structure and configured to hold the temperature detector and the discharger. |
| US10955775B2 |
Fixing apparatus with a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of a surface of a fixing belt
An image fixing device includes a rotatable fixing belt, a pressing roller, a nip forming member, a heating roller, a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The nip forming member contacts an inner surface of the fixing belt to sandwich the fixing belt between the pressing roller to form a nip. The heating roller stretches the fixing belt. The cooling fan cools the fixing belt and is opposite to the belt at a position downstream of the heating roller and upstream of the nip forming member in the rotational movement direction of the fixing belt. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the fixing belt and is provided at a position downstream of the cooling fan and upstream of the nip. The controller controls the power supplied to the heater on the basis of an output of the temperature sensor. |
| US10955771B2 |
Belt control device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A belt control device includes a plurality of rollers, a belt wound around the plurality of rollers and configured to rotate along with the plurality of rollers, a belt contact member that the belt contacts when the belt moves in an axial direction of the plurality of rollers, and a shaft displacement member movable in the axial direction and including an inclined face inclined with respect to a surface of the belt to control movement of the belt in the axial direction. The belt, the belt contact member, and the shaft displacement member are configured to make a frictional force between an edge of the belt and the belt contact member greater than a frictional force between the belt contact member and the shaft displacement member. |
| US10955768B2 |
Developing apparatus and conveyance screw
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a developing apparatus includes a developer container, a conveyance screw, and an inductance sensor. The conveyance screw further comprises a rib, protruding in a radial direction from the shaft portion, provided at a position opposed to the inductance sensor, and a second blade portion provided continuously to an upstream end portion of the rib with respect to the conveyance direction and configured to convey the developer to the conveyance direction by rotation. The second blade portion is formed to extend not more than one-third of a turn from the upstream end portion of the rib downstream in a direction of rotation of the conveyance screw when viewed in an axial direction of the conveyance screw. |
| US10955767B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, a shortest distance at which a developer container is closest to an image bearing member and which is disposed downstream of a first magnetic pole and upstream of second magnetic pole of a magnet fixed within a developer bearing member is 2.5 mm or less, and a position at which a magnetic flux density in a normal direction of the developer bearing member is zeroed and which is disposed downstream of the first magnetic pole and upstream of the second magnetic pole in the rotation direction of the developer bearing member on the developer bearing member is positioned upstream of the position at which the developer container is closest to the image bearing member and which is disposed downstream of the first magnetic pole and upstream of the second magnetic pole. |
| US10955766B2 |
Image forming apparatus including optical scanning apparatus
An arrangement is therefore employed in which a flexible flat cable is guided by a guide member situated at a position facing a metal rear plate and the flexible flat cable extending from a connector to the metal rear plate is brought into contact with a wall portion of the metal rear plate so that the flexible flat cable is grounded. |
| US10955752B2 |
EUV radiation source apparatus for lithography
An EUV collector mirror for an extreme ultra violet (EUV) radiation source apparatus includes an EUV collector mirror body on which a reflective layer as a reflective surface is disposed, a heater attached to or embedded in the EUV collector mirror body and a drain structure to drain melted metal from the reflective surface of the EUV collector mirror body to a back side of the EUV collector mirror body. |
| US10955746B2 |
Lithography method with reduced impacts of mask defects
An extreme ultraviolet lithography method is disclosed. In an example, the EUVL method includes forming a resist layer on a substrate; performing a first exposure process to image a first pattern of a first sub-region of a first mask to the resist layer; performing a second exposure process to image a second pattern of a second sub-region of the first mask to the resist layer; and performing a third exposure process to image a third pattern of a first sub-region of a second mask to the resist layer. The second and third patterns are identical to the first pattern. The first, second and third exposure processes collectively form a latent image of the first pattern on the resist layer. |
| US10955745B2 |
Exposure device, substrate processing apparatus, exposure method and substrate processing method
Exhaust of gas in the processing chamber is started by a gas exhaust section, and supply of an inert gas into the processing chamber is started by a gas supply section after a predetermined time length has elapsed since the exhaust of gas is started. Alternatively, the gas in the processing chamber in which a substrate is stored is exhausted by the gas exhaust section, the inert gas is supplied into the processing chamber by the gas supply section, and the pressure in a light emitter that has a light-transmitting plate is allowed to match or be close to the pressure in the processing chamber. The substrate in the processing chamber is irradiated with vacuum ultraviolet rays by the light emitter with an oxygen concentration in the gas in the processing chamber lowered to a predetermined concentration. Thus, the substrate is exposed. |
| US10955742B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes designing a layout, manufacturing a photomask based on the designed layout, and performing a photolithography process using the photomask to form a pattern on a substrate. The manufacturing of the photomask includes preparing the photomask including first and second chip regions, extracting first and second images from the first and second chip regions, respectively, averaging the first and second images to generate a preliminary standard image including a difference region between the first and second images, inserting a normal image into the difference region based on the layout to generate a standard image, and comparing each of the first and second images with the standard image to detect a defect of the first and/or second chip regions. |
| US10955741B2 |
Reticle cleaning system and method for using the same
A method for cleaning a reticle includes rotating the reticle, providing a cleaning liquid to clean the reticle, detecting a static charge value on the reticle during rotating the reticle, and reducing static charges on the reticle in response to the detected static charge value. Hence, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) occurred to the reticle can be prevented. |
| US10955737B2 |
Photographing system for viewing 3D images with naked eyes and using method thereof
An image photographing system for viewing 3D images with naked eyes and using method thereof, including an L-shaped frame (1), wherein, a top end of a vertical portion of the L-shaped frame successively at equal intervals providing with: an intermediate photographing mechanism, a left photographing mechanism and a right photographing mechanism, a left driving mechanism and a right driving mechanism, a guide post, a vertical driving servo motor, a driving lead screw; a support plate drives the left driving mechanism and the right driving mechanism to move up and down by moving up and down along the guide post under the drive of the driving lead screw, so as to drive the left photographing mechanism or the right photographing mechanism to swing up and down. The present invention can see the realistic and natural 3D images with naked eyes. |
| US10955734B2 |
Light source apparatus and projection display apparatus
A light source apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a rotator including a light emission unit on one surface, a heat dissipation member that is coupled to the rotator, and has a first cylindrical surface substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the rotator, and a housing that contains the rotator and the heat dissipation member, and has a second cylindrical surface substantially parallel to the first cylindrical surface of the heat dissipation member. |
| US10955733B2 |
Cooling device and projector
A cooling device is provided with an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor pipe, and a liquid pipe. The evaporator includes a housing having a reservoir configured to retain a working fluid in a liquid phase flowing inside, a wick disposed in the housing, and transporting the working fluid in the liquid phase, and a groove member having a plurality of flow channels through which the working fluid changed in phase from the liquid phase to the gas phase flows, the groove member being coupled to the wick. The wick has a plurality of through holes which penetrate the wick along a first direction from the reservoir toward the groove member, the through holes being configured to transport the working fluid in the liquid phase retained in the reservoir in the first direction. |
| US10955727B2 |
Wavelength converter and transmission apparatus
A wavelength converter includes an excitation light source outputting excitation light, a beam splitter receiving an input of the excitation light and an input of the optical signal and to divide both the inputted excitation light and the inputted optical signal into a first polarization component and a second polarization component, a non-linear optical fiber as a non-polarization-maintaining fiber, an accommodation section securing and accommodating the non-linear optical fiber, a first collimator lens disposed between the beam splitter and a first end of the non-linear optical fiber, and a second collimator lens disposed between the beam splitter and a second end of the non-linear optical fiber, wherein the optical signal is inputted to the beam splitter from a direction different from the input of the excitation light. |
| US10955724B2 |
Adjustable lens systems
An electronic device such as a head-mounted device may have displays that are viewable by the eyes of a viewer through adjustable lenses. The adjustable lenses may be liquid crystal lenses. A camera and other sensors in the head-mounted device may monitor the eyes of the user and gather other information. Control circuitry in the head-mounted device may control the adjustable lenses based on measured characteristics of the eyes of the user such as interpupillary distance and direction-of-view. The control circuitry may match the distance between the centers of the adjustable lenses to the measured interpupillary distance and may align the lens centers with the measured direction-of-view. The adjustable lenses may have transparent electrodes that are supplied with time-varying control signals by the control circuitry. |
| US10955722B2 |
Optical modulator
An object of the present invention is to provide a single drive type optical modulator having good high-frequency characteristics and reduced wavelength chirp of the modulated light. An optical modulator 100 is provided with a Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 10 including first and second optical waveguides 10a, 10b, a buffer layer 4 covering the first and second optical waveguides 10a, 10b, and an electrode layer 6 including first and second ground electrodes 8, 9 and a signal electrode 7 positioned between the first and second ground electrodes 8, 9 in a plan view, the signal electrode 7 has a first lower surface S11 covering the first optical waveguide 10a through the buffer layer 4, the first ground electrode 8 has a first lower surface S21 covering the second optical waveguide 10b through the buffer layer 4 and a second lower surface S22 positioned above the first lower surface S21, and a gap G3 between the signal electrode 7 and the second ground electrode 9 is larger than a gap G2 between the signal electrode 7 and the first ground electrode 8. |
| US10955720B2 |
Electrically reconfigurable optical apparatus using electric field
An optical apparatus may comprise: an electrically reconfigurable optical layer comprising at least one phase-change material, wherein an optical property of the phase-change material is reconfigurable by an electric field; an optically transparent top electrode and a bottom electrode, the top and bottom electrodes configured to apply the electric field to the electrically reconfigurable optical layer, wherein the electrically reconfigurable optical layer is disposed between the optically transparent top electrode and the bottom electrode; and a colossal-K dielectric layer disposed between the electrically reconfigurable optical layer and the bottom electrode. The phase-change material of the electrically reconfigurable optical layer may comprise phase-change nickelate or tungsten oxide. The phase-change material of the electrically reconfigurable optical layer may have a perovskite structure. The phase-change nickelate or tungsten oxide may enable to actuate large refractive index changes of more than 1 in infrared wavelength spectrums at high speeds of phase reconfiguration of more than 1 kHz by applying the electric field to the phase-change material. |
| US10955718B2 |
Power management for electrochromic window networks
Various embodiments herein relate to networks of electrochromic windows. The networks may be configured in particular ways to minimize the likelihood that the windows on the network draw more power than can be provided. The network may include particular hardware components that provide additional power to windows as needed. The network may also be configured to adjust how the windows therein transition to prevent overloading the network. The techniques described herein can be used to design networks of electrochromic windows that are undersized when considering the amount of power that would be needed to simultaneously transition all the windows on the network using normal transition parameters, while still allowing simultaneous transitions to occur. |
| US10955717B1 |
Electrochromic device based on two color layers and methods of fabricating same
An electrochromic device with one pigmentary color layer and one structural color layer is disclosed. The pigmentary color layer comprises electrochromic materials, which allow reversible and gradient switches between a colored state and a bleached state by electric field. In a colored state, the electrochromic device presents saturated pigmentary-structural additive color. In a bleached state, the structural color gradually vanished and leads to the optical transmissive state. The color coupling between these two color layers provides the disclosed devices with broader color gamut and angle-dependent optical response. Multiplexed and patterned devices have been further fabricated to demonstrate bio-mimic camouflage potentials. |
| US10955716B2 |
Electrochromic device including capping layer
An electrochromic device includes an optically transparent first substrate, a first transparent conductor disposed on the first substrate, a counter electrode disposed on the first transparent conductor, an optically transparent, ionically conductive first capping layer disposed on the counter electrode, and configured to permit diffusion of alkali metal ions, and to block the diffusion of organic compounds and carbon, an optically transparent second substrate, a second transparent conductor disposed on the second substrate, a working electrode comprising electrochromic nanoparticles disposed on the second transparent conductor, and an electrolyte disposed between the first capping layer and the working electrode. |
| US10955711B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device, including: a first substrate including a display area displaying an image, and a non-display area disposed in a form surrounding the display area; a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a first static electricity absorbing pattern disposed on the non-display area of the first substrate. |
| US10955710B2 |
Display panels and electronic devices
A display panel includes a first scan line and a second scan line adjacent to the first scan line disposed on the first substrate. A common electrode line is adjacent to the first scan line or the second scan line. The common electrode line has an enlarged portion, and an extending direction of the common electrode line is substantially the same as an extending direction of the first scan line. A first data line and a second data line adjacent to the first data line are disposed on the first substrate. In a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the common electrode line, the enlarged portion has a maximum width, a part of the common electrode line overlapping the first data line has a maximum width, and the maximum width of the enlarged portion is greater than the maximum width of the first data line. |
| US10955706B2 |
Liquid crystal panel structures containing functionalized graphene layers and methods of preparing functionalized graphene layers
A method for preparing a functionalized graphene layer is provided. The method utilizes superiority of transparent conductivity of the graphene and modifiability of the graphene surface to endow the graphene with an effect of liquid crystal molecule alignment. Thus, the functionalized graphene layer provides both transparent conductivity and liquid crystal alignment, and an alignment process that subsequently uses an alignment material is not necessary. |
| US10955703B2 |
Quantum-dot embedded polarizer component and display device using same
A polarizer component has an optical film to receive excitation light, a light re-emitting layer and a polarizing layer. The light re-emitting layer has quantum dots that re-emit red light and quantum dots that re-emit green light in response to the excitation light. The re-emitted red light is provided to a red sub-pixel to be filtered by a red color filter, and the re-emitting green light is provided to a green sub-pixel to be filtered by a green color filter. The excitation light can be blue or ultra violet and part of the excitation light is provided to a blue sub-pixel. The polarizing layer can be a reflective polarizing layer and the optical film can be a wavelength selecting layer. The light re-emitting layer may contain scattering particles to diffuse the excitation light provided to a blue sub-pixel. |
| US10955702B2 |
Photoluminescent nanocrystals based color liquid crystal display for switchable two dimensional/three dimensional displays with wider color gamut and high energy efficiency
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device containing a layer of patterned photoluminescent nanoparticles, which can emit highly saturated color lights when excited with backlights, is disclosed in this invention. The patterned photoluminescent nanoparticle layer is disposed between the backlight and the liquid crystal. The display device can improve the light utilization efficiency for 3 times thus saving reduce the backlight power consumption to ⅓ or being 3 times brighter at the same power consumption from conventional LCD displays. The display also can produce an ultra-wide color gamut up to 95% of the CIE 1976 color space or 165% of NTSC color gamut. The display is capable of switching between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional viewing modes without any hardware structures changes applied. |
| US10955701B2 |
Freeform optical structures for direct-lit applications
An optical apparatus with a distance-to-height ratio, DHR, greater than 2, operable to emit light with a homogenized radiance distribution, the apparatus comprising a plurality of light sources, arranged in an array, a diffusor device at an exit surface of the apparatus, a transparent substrate, arranged between the plurality of light sources and the exit surface, the substrate comprising a plurality of freeform, FF, optical structures wherein the freeform structures are arranged on a bottom side of the transparent substrate facing the light sources. |
| US10955694B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a backlight module and a liquid crystal display apparatus. The backlight module includes: a light source assembly; a frame, to which at least a portion of the light source assembly is connected; and a bottom reflective sheet, at least a portion of a thickness of which is overlapped with a thickness of the frame in a thickness direction of the backlight module. |
| US10955693B2 |
Display device and method of fabricating the same
A display device includes first and second substrates each including a short side and a long side, ground parts located on at least one of the short and long sides of each of the first and second substrates and including at least one first ground surfaces, which are perpendicular to opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, and at least one second ground surfaces, which are provided at at least one edge of the second substrate to define an obtuse angle with reference to the first ground surfaces, and unevenness disposed on the first ground surfaces along a first direction, where the unevenness defines an acute angle with reference to a normal line to the opposing surfaces. |
| US10955692B2 |
Optoelectronic component
An optoelectronic component including a waveguide, the waveguide comprising an optically active region (OAR), the OAR having an upper and a lower surface; a lower doped region, wherein the lower doped region is located at and/or adjacent to at least a portion of a lower surface of the OAR, and extends laterally outwards from the OAR in a first direction; an upper doped region, wherein the upper doped region is located at and/or adjacent to at least a portion of an upper surface of the OAR, and extends laterally outwards from the OAR in a second direction; and an intrinsic region located between the lower doped region and the upper doped region. |
| US10955691B2 |
Dual loop bias circuit with offset compensation
Within a modulator driver, different blocks are employed, e.g. a buffer, one or more variable gain amplifiers (VGA), and a final driver stage. Each of these blocks has an optimum bias point for best performance; however, interconnecting the blocks requires sharing the DC bias points in their interface, which does not necessarily match the optimum performance bias point of each block. Accordingly, a first offset feedback loop extending from reference points after a selected one of the blocks to an input of one of the blocks. The first offset feedback loop includes current sources capable of delivering a variable current to the input of the selected block in order to compensate any offset in an amplified differential input electrical signal measured at the reference points. A first bias feedback loop is also provided, including a current sinker for subtracting excess current introduced in the first offset compensation feedback loop. |
| US10955690B2 |
Spectacle wearing parameter measurement system, measurement program, measurement method thereof, and manufacturing method of spectacle lens
To perform measurement in which a load on a subject is reduced. To provide a spectacle wearing parameter measurement system including: an information processing unit configured to associate a size of an appearance of at least a part of actual spectacles with a size of an appearance of at least a part of each of the spectacles in an imaging result of imaging a subject wearing the actual spectacles as an imaging target, and obtain a spectacle wearing parameter from the imaging result and the related art of the system. |
| US10955687B2 |
Biomedical device including encapsulation
A biomedical device including an energy source, an electro-active device operatively connected to the energy source, circuitry configured to control operation of the electro-active device, at least one barrier layer including at least one inorganic material surrounding the energy source, electro-active device and circuitry, and at least one molded layer surrounding the at least one barrier layer. A method for encapsulating electronic components of an electro-active biomedical device in a protective envelope containing a barrier layer including at least one inorganic compound, and a molded polymer overcoat. |
| US10955684B2 |
Grating driving circuit, driving method and naked-eye 3D display
A grating driving circuit, including: a grating including a plurality of grating elements, each having an on/off state controlled by a grating driving signal; a viewpoint tracker for determining a viewing distance of a viewer; a plurality of grating control electrodes with each configured to control the on/off state of a corresponding grating element in the grating according to a grating driving signal; a grating driving signal generator for generating a plurality of sets of grating driving signals with each set corresponding to a viewing distance and including a plurality of grating driving signals; and a grating driving controller for determining a set of grating driving signals corresponding to the viewing distance, and forming grating periods corresponding to the viewing distance, each grating period including a plurality of grating control electrodes that correspond to the plurality of grating driving signals in a one-to-one relationship. |
| US10955680B2 |
Method of producing thermoplastic resin
The present invention provides a method for producing a thermoplastic resin by reacting reactants comprising a dihydroxy compound. In this production method, the dihydroxy compound comprises a dihydroxy compound represented by the following formula (1), and at least one of a compound represented by the following formula (A), a compound represented by the following formula (B), and a compound represented by the following formula (C), wherein the total weight of the compound represented by the formula (A), the compound represented by the formula (B), and the compound represented by the formula (C) is 1,500 ppm or more, based on the weight (100 parts by weight) of the dihydroxy compound represented by the formula (1). |
| US10955678B2 |
Field of view enhancement via dynamic display portions
In certain embodiments, enhancement of a field of view of a user may be facilitated via one or more dynamic display portions. In some embodiments, one or more changes related to one or more eyes of a user may be monitored. Based on the monitoring, one or more positions of one or more transparent display portions of wearable device may be adjusted, where the transparent display portions enable the user to see through the wearable device. A live video stream representing an environment of the user may be obtained via the wearable device. A modified video stream derived from the live video stream may be displayed on one or more other display portions of the wearable device. |
| US10955677B1 |
Scene camera
Point to point transmission holograms are used to provide a scene camera for an augmented reality glasses display system. A glass or plastic substrate acts as spectacle style lens. A holographic medium is applied to a surface of the substrate, within which is recorded a series of point to point transmission holograms. The construction points of the holograms are arranged at the eye and at the pupil of a camera placed, ideally, to the temple side of the user's eye. The recorded transmission holograms act by diffracting a portion of the light from the scene surrounding the user that is heading for the user's eye towards the scene camera. The hologram efficiency is balanced so that the user is still able to see the surrounding scene. The perspective of the view seen by the scene camera is substantially identical to that seen by the user through the lens. |
| US10955675B1 |
Variable resolution display device with switchable window and see-through pancake lens assembly
A display device is configurable to be operable in a first mode and a second mode. The display device includes an emission surface configured to output image light, a first optical assembly, and a second optical assembly. The first optical assembly is configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user at a first optical power. The second optical assembly includes a first region configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user at a second optical power. The second optical assembly also includes a second region configured to receive ambient light and to transmit at least a portion of the received ambient light at a third optical power distinct from and less than the first optical power and the second optical power. |
| US10955673B2 |
Devices for data superimposition
Provided are methods and devices for data superimposition, in which an imaging device comprises a diffuser and a holographic layer to provide a real or virtual image for an observer. In one variant, diffuser and holographic layer are provided on different sides of a transparent carrier. In other embodiments, the imaging device and holographic layer are arranged in smart glasses. |
| US10955669B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for embedding a diffractive element in an eyeglass lens
Systems, devices, and methods for embedding a diffractive element in an eyeglass lens are described. A method of embedding a diffractive element in an eyeglass lens includes applying a protective layer to a diffractive element, applying an interface layer to the protective layer, and applying a lens layer to the interface layer. The interface layer and the lens layer are each comprised of a resin material that hardens when cured. The interface layer is of a shape and thickness that adheres well to the protective layer after the interface layer is cured. The lens layer is of a shape and thickness that achieves the desired component shape of the lens after the lens layer is cured. |
| US10955668B2 |
Optical display system for augmented reality and virtual reality
Optical display systems and methods for providing three-dimensional and two-dimensional convergence corrected images to a user are described. The optical display systems may include at least two image generators producing a plurality of rays forming a plurality of images. A diffraction enhanced imaging system may be configured to collect the rays produced and control convergence angle of each ray at specific wavelengths into an optical waveguide. An in-coupling diffraction system may couple the rays into the optical waveguide. A wavelength compensated beam expander may expand horizontal extension of the images and an output coupling and vertical expansion system may magnify the images in a vertical direction and direct light towards a user at specific angles creating a wide field of view. |
| US10955667B2 |
Near eye display system and operation method thereof
A near eye display system including a display screen, a graphic processing unit, a lens group, a focal length adjustment device, an interpupillary distance adjustment device, a detection unit, and a control unit is provided. Positions of a left-eye image and a right-eye image to be displayed on the display screen may be adjusted based on lateral displacement amounts of a left-eye lens and a right-eye lens, such that centers of the left-eye image and the right-eye image are respectively aligned with centers of the left-eye lens and the right-eye lens. Sizes (magnification) of the left-eye image and the right-eye image to be displayed on the display screen may be adjusted based on longitudinal displacement amounts of the left-eye lens and the right-eye lens, such that sizes of a visual left-eye image and a visual right-eye image seen by a user are identical. Operation methods thereof are also provided. |
| US10955666B2 |
Compact projection systems with a folded optical path
Projection systems and components thereof are described that are well suited to miniaturization. These systems and components may use one or more of the following features: a folded optical path, as in a reflective cavity or a beamsplitter; an illumination beam that is converging at the place where it impinges upon the spatial light modulator; a beamsplitter that uses opposed prisms of substantially different sizes; a beamsplitter whose obliquely disposed partial reflector defines a first rectangular reference space, and where at least a portion of the light source or at least a portion of the projector lens is disposed within such first rectangular reference space; a system in which a ratio of areas of the first rectangular reference space and a second rectangular reference space is within a specified range, where the second rectangular reference space is just large enough to encompass the optical components of the projector; a system in which the projector lens is small compared to the spatial light modulator. |
| US10955662B2 |
Pairing with companion device
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for device authentication or pairing. In an aspect, a wearable display system comprises a display, an image capture device configured to capture images of a companion device, a computer-readable storage medium configured to store the images of the companion device, and a processor in communication with the image capture device and the storage medium. The processor can be programmed with executable instructions to receive a first image of a first optical pattern displayed by the companion device captured by the image capture device, wherein the first optical pattern is generated by the companion device based on first shared data, extract first data from the first optical pattern in the received first image, authenticate the companion device based on the first data extracted from the first optical pattern, and notify a user of the wearable display system that the companion device is authenticated. |
| US10955660B2 |
Optical element with light shielding area, and imaging lens
There is provided an optical element, an imaging lens and an imaging device preventing from occurring ghosts and flares caused by unnecessary light reflected on a surface of the edge part or inside the same of the optical element, and reproducing a clear image quality.The optical element 100 includes an effective optical portion 101, 103 and an edge part 102, 104 forming at the circumference of the effective optical portion 101, 103. A light shielding area SSI which changes in quality by laser irradiation is provided from a surface to the inside of the edge part or the inside of the same. |
| US10955656B2 |
Image-acquisition apparatus
An image-acquisition apparatus is provided with: an imaging optical system; and an image-acquisition device that acquires parallax images, wherein the imaging optical system is provided with a first negative lens group, a first positive lens group, and a second positive lens group, wherein the first positive lens group and the first negative lens group are disposed along a common center axis, wherein the second positive lens group is provided with two positive lens groups that are disposed next to each other in a parallax direction on either side of the common center axis and that individually have center axes, wherein two aperture stops having openings, wherein the first positive lens group has only one moving lens group that is moved, and wherein all of remaining lens components in the imaging optical system, excluding the moving lens group, remain still. |
| US10955651B2 |
Unique oblique lighting technique using a brightfield darkfield objective and imaging method relating thereto
A process is provided for imaging a surface of a specimen with an imaging system that employs a BD objective having a darkfield channel and a bright field channel, the BD objective having a circumference. The specimen is obliquely illuminated through the darkfield channel with a first arced illuminating light that obliquely illuminates the specimen through a first arc of the circumference. The first arced illuminating light reflecting off of the surface of the specimen is recorded as a first image of the specimen from the first arced illuminating light reflecting off the surface of the specimen, and a processor generates a 3D topography of the specimen by processing the first image through a topographical imaging technique. Imaging apparatus is also provided as are further process steps for other embodiments. |
| US10955650B2 |
Two pass macro image
Two-pass capture of a macro image. In an embodiment, a scanning apparatus comprises a stage, a high-resolution camera, and a lens that provides a field of view, substantially equal in width to a slide width, to the high-resolution camera. The apparatus also comprises a first illumination system for transmission-mode illumination, and a second illumination system for reflection-mode illumination. Processor(s) move the stage in a first direction to capture a first macro image of a specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the first illumination system, and move the stage in a second direction to capture a second macro image of the specimen during a single pass while the field of view is illuminated by the second illumination system. The processor(s) identify artifacts in the second macro image, and, based on those artifacts, correct the first macro image to generate a modified first macro image. |
| US10955647B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a positive first lens unit not moving for zooming, a negative second lens unit moving for zooming, positive third and fourth lens units moving for zooming, and a positive fifth lens unit not moving for zooming. Intervals between adjacent ones of the first to fifth lens units change for zooming. The third lens unit consists of positive, positive, and negative lenses in order from the object side. Appropriate settings are made to the zoom lens's focal lengths at the wide angle and telephoto ends, the lateral magnifications of the second lens unit at the wide angle and telephoto ends, the focal lengths of the third lens unit and the negative lens in the third lens unit, and the average Abbe number of the positive lenses and the Abbe number of the negative lens in the third lens unit. |
| US10955645B2 |
Wide-angle lens assembly
A wide-angle lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens, an eighth lens, a ninth lens and a tenth lens arranged in order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens has negative refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side and a concave surface facing the image side. The second lens has negative refractive power. The third lens has refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side. The fourth lens has positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side. The fifth lens has refractive power. The sixth lens has refractive power and includes a concave surface facing the object side. The seventh lens has positive refractive power. The eighth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The ninth lens has negative refractive power. The tenth lens has refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side. |
| US10955642B2 |
Lens driving device, camera device, and electronic apparatus
A lens driving device (12) includes a lens support (20) configured to support a lens, a frame member (22) surrounding a periphery of the lens support (20), and a support mechanism (38) configured to support the lens support (20) so as to be freely movable relative to the frame member (22) in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction of the lens. The support mechanism (38) includes a support portion (44, 48) and a guiding portion (46, 50). The support portion (44, 48) and the guiding portion (46, 50) extend in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the lens, and the support portion (44, 48) is in contact with the guiding portion (46, 50) at least at two points in a cross section in the optical axis direction of the lens. |
| US10955637B2 |
Cable-retention device
A cable retention device useful for fiber optic cable retention, suspension and anchoring, of the drop type and is provided with a retaining element and a housing element, which once coupled retain a drop between them allowing the manipulation of the drop. |
| US10955636B2 |
Low cost hardened fiber optic connection system
The present disclosure relates to a ruggedized/hardened fiber optic connection system designed to reduce cost. In one example, selected features of a fiber optic adapter are integrated with a wall (24) of an enclosure (22). The adapter comprises a sleeve port (26) into which an optical adapter subassembly is inserted. The subassembly comprises a sleeve part (44) which is inserted into the sleeve, a ferrule alignment sleeve (48) which is inserted into the sleeve part, a ferrule (55) with hub which is inserted into the alignment sleeve, and fixing clip (46) securing the ferrule with hub into the alignment sleeve and the sleeve part. |
| US10955635B2 |
Node fiber connectorization
A HFC network includes an optical node, a first fiber optic cable, and a second fiber optic cable. The first fiber optic cable has a first end that is connected to the optical node for delivering signals to the optical node. The second fiber optic cable has a first end that is positioned within the optical node. Optical fibers of the first optic cable are ribbonized and spliced to ribbonized optical fibers of the second fiber optic cable at a spliced connection such that signals can be transmitted between the fiber optic cables. An optical fiber of the first fiber optic cable is spliced to a connectorized fiber pigtail at a spliced connection, and the connectorized fiber pigtail is optically connected to a broadband optical transceiver in the optical node. The spliced connections are stored in a fiber splice tray within the optical node. |
| US10955634B2 |
Splitter module with interlocking feature for stacking and installation
A fiber optic splitter module includes a body including a front wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls together at least partially defining an interior space. The first side wall includes a tongue extending longitudinally along the first side wall, and the second side wall includes a first groove that is complementary to the tongue. The fiber optic splitter module also includes an optical splitter positioned in the interior space, an input fiber extending through the front wall or the rear wall into the interior space and optically coupled to the optical splitter, and a plurality of output fibers extending through the front wall or the rear wall into the interior space and optically coupled to the optical splitter. |
| US10955631B2 |
Re-enterable enclosure with splitter mounting region
An optical splitter module (140) can be carried on a cover (120) of an enclosure (100) between a contoured surface (129) and a row of optical adapters (130). Output pigtails (165) from the splitter module (140) are routed to the optical adapters (130). In certain examples, a significantly longer input fiber (161) is routed from the splitter module (140) to a splice region (114) at a base (110) of the enclosure (100). Certain types of splitter modules (140) are mounted to the cover (120) at an angle relative to an insertion axis for a feeder cable (170). A certain type of splitter module (140) curves about a minor axis (A2) so that one major surface (142) has a concave curvature and another major surface (143) has a convex curvature. |
| US10955623B2 |
Waterproof fiber optic connector assembly and method of use
Optical fiber connectors and adapters are disclosed. A connector assembly includes a sleeve seal positioned near a proximal end of the connector, the seal fits over an alignment sleeve contained within an adapter. The connector may include a heat shrinkable tubing covering a distal end of the connector to prevent ingress of moisture and debris. The sleeve seal is compressed by a proximal face of a connector plug frame. The sleeve seal contains a plural of sealing or mating surfaces to prevent the ingress of moisture through the adapter opening into the plug frame housing a ferrule. The adapter further comprises a washer-seal that is placed between an adapter flange face and a module face plate that secures the adapter with connectors therein to a rack of adapters. |
| US10955621B2 |
Splice tray for optical fibers
A splice tray may include a tray base including a base panel and flange associated with a perimeter of the base panel and extending outward from the base panel. The splice tray may also include a flexible latch extending from an outer surface of the flange of the tray base. The latch may selectively prevent and allow the splice tray to pivot with respect to a splice tray assembly in which the splice tray is received. The splice tray may also include a splice holder configured to hold a plurality of spliced optical fibers. The splice holder may include a holder base coupled to the tray base, and a plurality of ribs associated with the holder base and defining a plurality of recesses configured to receive at least one spliced optical fiber. The splice tray may also include a cover removably coupled to the tray base and/or splice holder. |
| US10955620B2 |
Separable infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring rotary joint for suspension arm
A suspension arm assembly including at least two members relatively rotatable about each other at a joint, with at least one of the joints comprising an infinite rotation joint. The infinite rotation joint allows the members at the infinite rotation joint to have unlimited rotation relative to one another. The infinite rotation joint is configured to pass at least an optical signal therethrough. The infinite rotation joint includes a stator and a rotor. At least two portions of the infinite rotation joint are separable and can automatically form a unit when adjacent arms are connected together such that the infinite rotation joint can be separated into the at least two portions. The at least two portions are configured to be automatically connected to allow the optical signal to pass therethrough once the at least two portions are engaged. |
| US10955616B2 |
Demountable connection of an optical connector and an optical bench based connector using an alignment coupler
An alignment coupler is provided to facilitate active alignment of the optical bench to the optical connector. The optical bench and the coupler together form an optical bench based connector. A method of demountable connection of an optical connector to an optical bench based connector, comprising: providing a coupler, wherein the coupler has an opening sized to receive an optical bench with clearance for relative movement between the optical bench and the coupler to facilitate alignment, and wherein the coupler is provided with a passive alignment structure structured to demountably couple to the connector; demountably coupling the coupler to the connector; placing the optical bench in the opening of the coupler; actively aligning the optical path between the optical bench and the connector to reach a desired optical alignment between the optical bench and the connector, by adjusting a position of the optical bench within the clearance of the opening of the coupler; fixing the position of the optical bench relative to the coupler at the desired optical alignment, whereby the optical bench is optically aligned to the connector using the coupler, thereby allowing subsequent demountable coupling of the optical bench to the connector by demountable coupling of the coupler. |
| US10955615B2 |
Managing mode transfer in asymmetric waveguide coupling structures
A waveguide coupling structure includes: a first section that supports a mode that has an associated first intensity profile that substantially overlaps with an intensity profile associated with a mode supported by a first waveguide portion at a first end of the waveguide coupling structure; a second section that supports a mode that has an associated second intensity profile that substantially overlaps with an intensity profile associated with a mode supported by a second waveguide portion at a second end of the waveguide coupling structure; and a third section, between the first section and the second section, comprising a core structure on a bottom cladding and a supporting structure on the bottom cladding. The supporting structure: (1) overlaps with at least a portion of an intensity profile associated with a guided mode of the third section, and (2) has a shape that is asymmetric with respect to a propagation axis of the guided mode in a plane parallel to a surface of the bottom cladding. |
| US10955614B1 |
Optical fiber coupler structure having manufacturing variation-sensitive transmission blocking region
Optical coupler structures have an insulator layer on a substrate, a waveguide structure in the insulator layer, and a cladding layer on the waveguide structure and the insulator layer. Optical grating couplers are on the cladding layer and the waveguide structure is connected between the optical grating couplers. The waveguide structure is discontinuous between the optical grating couplers. The insulator layer includes an array at a transmission blocking region between discontinuous sections of the waveguide structure. This array can be a void opening array of openings or can be a blocking element array of disconnected elements in the insulator layer. |
| US10955604B2 |
Suspended lighting fixtures employing shaped light guide illumination devices
A suspended lighting fixture for direct/indirect lighting having a broad light emitting surface and including a thin curved sheet of an optically transmissive material, an LED strip optically coupled to a light input edge of the curved sheet, one or more suspension elements, an elongated heat dissipating structural element longitudinally extending along the light input edge, and an opaque elongated housing at least partially enclosing the LED strip. The curved sheet may include forward-deflecting or forward-scattering elements distributed over an area of the curved sheet according to a two-dimensional pattern and configured to extract light from one location of the sheet and direct the extracted light toward a second location of the sheet. |
| US10955599B2 |
Light emitter devices, photoacoustic gas sensors and methods for forming light emitter devices
A light emitter device includes an emitter component including a heater structure arranged on a membrane structure. The membrane structure is located above a first cavity. Additionally, the first cavity is located between the membrane structure and at least a portion of a supporting substrate of the emitter component. Further, the heater structure is configured to emit light, if a predefined current flows through the heater structure. Additionally, the light emitter device includes a lid substrate having a recess. The lid substrate is attached to the emitter component so that the recess forms a second cavity between the membrane structure and the lid substrate. Further, a pressure in the second cavity is less than 100 mbar. |
| US10955595B2 |
Multilayer reflector, method of manufacturing a multilayer reflector and lithographic apparatus
A reflector for EUV radiation, the reflector comprising a reflector substrate and a reflective surface, the reflector substrate having a plurality of coolant channels formed therein, the coolant channels being substantially straight, substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the reflective surface and configured so that coolant flows in parallel through the coolant channels and in contact with the reflector substrate. |
| US10955590B2 |
Irradiation system for multiwell inactivation
A system for irradiating a microplate may include a light engine with a plurality of light sources, such as light-emitting diodes, included in one or more linear arrays. The plurality of light sources are configured to emit germicidal irradiation, which is directed to the microplate by optical components, such as optical lenses positioned on top of each well of the microplate. The linear array is linearly movable so that as the linear array scans across the microplate, the optical components direct the germicidal irradiation to a plurality of surfaces of each well. |
| US10955588B2 |
Structurally-colored articles and methods for making and using structurally-colored articles
One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to bladders that incorporate a multi-layer optical film that impart a structural color to the bladder. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the bladders having a multi-layer optical film, and methods for making articles and bladders having a multi-layer optical film. |
| US10955587B2 |
Structurally-colored articles and methods of making and using structurally-colored articles
Components of articles that include an optical element that imparts structural color to the component are provided. Methods of making the components including the optical element, and methods of using the components such as to make an article of manufacture are provided. |
| US10955582B2 |
Azimuthal associated particle imaging neutron generator for neutron x-ray inspection system gamma imaging for oil and gas technologies
A wellbore inspection apparatus and a corresponding method of operation are described. The wellbore inspection apparatus comprises a neutron generator that produces, by a fusion reaction, a neutron and a corresponding charged particle. An associated particle imaging (API) detector comprises a particle detector array that detects the corresponding charged particle. The particle detector array comprises a plurality of particle detector elements that facilitate determining a trajectory of the neutron based upon a detection, by a particular one of the plurality of particle detector elements, of the corresponding charged particle. A gamma-ray detector assembly comprises a set of gamma-ray detector elements, and a set of collimating structures, where adjacent pairs of the set of collimating structures define a gamma-ray path for a gamma-ray arising from an inelastic collision of the neutron. |
| US10955574B2 |
Rock damage acoustic monitoring system
The invention discloses a rock damage acoustic monitoring system including an acoustic emission sensor installed in a borehole of a monitored rock mass and a ground workstation. The acoustic emission sensor is composed of an acoustic emission probe and a probe installation mechanism for installing the acoustic emission probe and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the probe installation mechanism. The probe installation mechanism includes a shell, a probe sleeve installed in the shell, an end cap fixed on the upper end surface of the probe sleeve, and a piston hydro-cylinder arranged between the top of the inner wall of the shell and the end cap. The present invention realizes the control of the moving direction of the shell and the probe sleeve by the piston hydro-cylinder component and the hydraulic pump. |
| US10955566B1 |
PSP mosaic builder
This invention provides an ornate method and design to create a PSP panel assembly mosaic for radiography operations. There is no similar design or method as taught herein. Having an integrated attachment point allows a superior foundation to secure PSP panel assemblies together with unique brackets allowing for modular attachments, improving performance, and capabilities. All current options utilize external methods that are not dependable, bulky, and are not modular. The main benefits of this method are a more secure connection, better image quality, fewer backscatter deposits, lightweight, ease of use, and smaller boxes needed to carry components. |
| US10955565B2 |
Radiation measurement device and method
Provided are a radiation measurement device and method that allow stable radiation measurement as compared with the prior art. The radiation measurement device includes a radiation detection unit 1 having a scintillator, an optical transmission member 21 for transmitting an optical signal generated in the radiation detection unit, and a signal processing unit 3 for calculating a radiation dose from the optical signal transmitted. The signal processing unit includes a compensation unit 7 for obtaining an optical transmission loss amount from a change in wavelength spectrum in the optical signal caused by radiation acting on the optical transmission member and performs compensation-control on the optical transmission loss amount, and outputs a compensated signal. |
| US10955560B2 |
Techniques for securing live positioning signals
A pay television satellite broadcast includes validation data that can be used to validate authenticity of live global positioning system (GPS) data. The validation data may be included within entitlement messages and encrypted for security and selective reception by authorized receivers. A navigation system may compute checksums of received live GPS data and compare with the validation data for a match. A decision about whether or not to use the live GPS data may be taken based on whether or not the computed checksums match the validation data received via the pay television satellite broadcast signals. |
| US10955558B2 |
Systems and methods for electronically sharing information about health-related activities
Systems and methods for electronically sharing information about health-related activities among users of portable performance monitoring systems are disclosed. The method may include determining first information corresponding to a health-related activity for a first individual using a first portable performance monitoring system; determining second information corresponding to a health-related activity for a second individual using a second portable performance monitoring system; wirelessly transmitting the first and second information from the first and second portable performance monitoring systems; receiving the first and second information using a computing device remotely located from the first or second individual during the activity; and generating a visual display based on the first and second information. |
| US10955554B2 |
System and method for refining coordinate-based three-dimensional images obtained from a three-dimensional measurement system
A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar system and images from a video system to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory of a target and generate a three-dimensional image of the target. The system may refine the three-dimensional image by reducing the stochastic components in the transformation parameters between video frame times. |
| US10955551B2 |
Pixel output processing circuit with laser range finding (LRF) capability
A pixel output processing circuit of a focal plane array (FPA) having a plurality of laser range finding pixels (LRF) is provided. The respective LRF pixels output a high frequency analog signal in response to sensing a reflected laser pulse. The pixel output processing circuit includes a common net and a detection circuit. The common net is connected to a amplifying transistor of each of the LRF pixels for receiving analog signals output from the respective LRF pixels. The detection circuit is coupled to the common net and outputs a pulse flag in response to detecting that a high frequency analog signal has been received by the common net. |
| US10955548B1 |
Weather radar enabled low visibility operation system and method
A weather radar system can be used as an enhanced vision sensor for providing an image on an electronic display during aircraft surface operations. The weather radar sensed image is representative of the external surroundings of the airport surface environment associated with radar returns received by the weather radar system. The radar returns are processed as a collection of radar measurements to determine a high resolution angle and range to a target, using beam sharpening techniques. When the radar image is combined with an image generated from an airport surface database, the combination or comparison of the two independently created images can be used to confirm the integrity of the positioning and attitude source along with the accuracy of the airport surface database. |
| US10955545B1 |
Mapping geographic areas using lidar and network data
A geographic area mapping system may enable collecting, from a set of mobile devices, radio frequency data, the radio frequency data comprising information about a set of network connections in the geographic area; collecting lidar data for the geographic area; generating a mapping between the collected radio frequency data and the collected lidar data for the geographic area; and providing a visualization of the mapped radio frequency data and lidar data for the geographic area. |
| US10955544B2 |
Measurement setup, reference reflector as well as method for measuring attenuation
A measurement setup for measuring attenuation through an irregular surface of a device under test is described. The measurement setup comprises a positioning system, a reference reflector having a collection of diffuse scattering members, and a three dimensional imaging system. The measurement setup has a reference state and a measurement state, wherein respective images are taken in the different states. The imaging system is configured to compare the images taken in the reference state and the measurement state to determine the attenuation of the device under test. Further, a reference reflector as well as a method for measuring attenuation are described. |
| US10955536B2 |
Ultrasound system with a tissue type analyzer
An ultrasound system (100) for imaging a volumetric region comprising a region of interest (12) comprising: a probe having an array of CMUT transducers (14) adapted to transmit ultrasound beams and receive returning echo signals over the volumetric region; a beamformer (64) coupled to the array and adapted to control ultrasound beam transmission and provide ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer controller (62) coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary driving pulse characteristics of the CMUT transducers, a region of interest identifier (72) enabling an identification of a region of interest on the basis of the ultrasound image data; a beam path analyzer (70) responsive to the ROI identification and arranged to detect an attenuating tissue type in between the probe and the ROI based on a depth variation in attenuation of the received signal; wherein the transducer controller is further adapted to change, based on the attenuating tissue type detection, at least one parameter of the driving pulse characteristics. |
| US10955532B2 |
Modular LADAR sensor
A lightweight, inexpensive LADAR sensor incorporating 3-D focal plane arrays is adapted specifically for modular manufacture and rapid field configurability and provisioning. The sensor generates, at high speed, 3-D image maps and object data at short to medium ranges. The techniques and structures described may be used to extend the range of long range systems as well, though the focus is on compact, short to medium range ladar sensors suitable for use in multi-sensor television production systems and 3-D graphics capture and moviemaking. 3-D focal plane arrays are used in a variety of physical configurations to provide useful new capabilities. |
| US10955530B2 |
Systems for vibration cancellation in a lidar system
A scanning lidar system includes an external frame, an internal frame attached to the external frame by vibration-isolation mounts, and an electro-optic assembly movably attached to the internal frame and configured to be translated with respect to the internal frame during scanning operation of the scanning lidar system. |
| US10955527B2 |
Radar signal processor and radar system
A radar system includes a transmitter circuit, which transmits a radar wave having a chirp frequency gradually increasing or decreasing to a target, and a frequency conversion circuit, which demodulates a signal of the radar wave reflected at the target by frequency-conversion in correspondence to the chirp frequency. A radar signal processor includes a variable amplifier connected to an output side of the frequency conversion circuit, and a feedback circuit which detects an output of the variable amplifier as a detection signal and feeds back a signal of a frequency band included in the detection signal to an input of the variable amplifier. The feedback circuit is configured to cut off and not cut off a frequency band including a DC offset transient response frequency, which occurs at time of frequency conversion by the frequency conversion circuit, during a specified period and a period other than the specified period, respectively. The specified period is a predetermined first period from starting of a demodulation operation of the frequency conversion circuit and/or a predetermined second period from ending of the demodulation operation of the frequency operation of the frequency conversion circuit. |
| US10955526B2 |
Device and method for processing an input signal and radar device
A device for processing an input signal, including a local oscillator, designed to generate an oscillator signal; a subtracting unit, designed to subtract an amplified correction signal from the input signal in order to generate a corrected input signal; a downmixer, designed to mix the corrected input signal downward to an intermediate frequency using the oscillator signal in order to generate a difference signal; a first amplifier unit, designed to amplify the difference signal in order to generate and output an output signal; a correcting unit, designed to suppress a predefined frequency range of the output signal in order to generate a correction-difference signal; an upmixer, designed to mix the correction-difference signal upward using the oscillator signal in order to generate a correction signal; and a second amplifier unit, designed to amplify the correction signal in order to generate the amplified correction signal. |
| US10955519B2 |
Methods and devices for determining and saving location information
Aspects of the present disclosure include devices configured for wireless communication with a mobile computing device having GPS capability that allow a user to record the user's current location with the user's mobile computing device without having to physically access the mobile computing device. Such devices can allow a user to mark or record a location or waypoint to a mobile computing device, such as a GPS-enabled mobile phone, using a wireless remote and software configured to enable communication with the mobile computing device. Such devices can enable a user to mark and record locations for navigation without having to physically touch and operate the mobile computing device. |
| US10955517B2 |
Underwater ultrasonic device
An underwater ultrasonic device includes at least one first ultrasonic transducer and at least one second ultrasonic transducer. The first ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit a plurality of ultrasonic signals and the second ultrasonic transducer is configured to receive a plurality of reflected signals of the ultrasonic signals. The first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer are disposed with respect to each other. One of the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer is curvilinear and another one of the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer is curvilinear or straight linear. |
| US10955514B2 |
Planar transmission-line permittivity sensor and calibration method for the characterization of liquids, powders and semisolid materials
A low cost planar transmission line sensor and simple calibration method for measuring the complex permittivity of materials with minimal sample preparation over a wide band of radio- and microwave frequencies. The sensor is also used for measuring anisotropic dielectric properties of materials with a defined grain. |
| US10955513B2 |
Test apparatus which tests semiconductor chips
A test apparatus includes a motherboard including a first surface. The test apparatus further includes a handler including a second surface facing the first surface of the motherboard. The test apparatus additionally includes an adapter board disposed between the first surface of the motherboard and the second surface of the handler. The test apparatus further includes a first sensor mounted on the adapter board and senses data about temperature of the adapter board. The test apparatus additionally includes a wireless transceiver mounted on the adapter board and transmits, in real time, the sensed data. |
| US10955506B2 |
Parallel MR imaging with spectral fat suppression
A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique enables parallel imaging in combination with fat suppression at an increased image quality, notably in combination with EPI. The method includes acquiring reference MR signal data from the object in a pre-scan and acquiring imaging MR signal data from the object in parallel via one or more receiving coils having different spatial sensitivity profiles. The MR signal data are acquired with sub-sampling of k-space and with spectral fat suppression and an MR image is reconstructed from the imaging MR signal data. Sub-sampling artefacts are eliminated using sensitivity maps indicating the spatial sensitivity profiles of the two or more RF receiving coils. A B0 map is derived from the reference MR signal data and the spatial dependence of the effectivity of the spectral fat suppression is determined using the Bo map. In the image reconstruction step, signal contributions from water and fat are separated using regularisation taking the spatial dependence of the effectivity of the spectral fat suppression into account. |
| US10955498B2 |
DNP-NMR probe and method of using the same
Attenuation of microwaves is reduced or prevented when vacuum windows are provided in microwave waveguides of a DNP-NMR probe. A DNP-NMR probe has an inner container and an outer container. The inner container has therein a sample tube containing a sample to which radicals are added. The outer container keeps a space between the outer container and the inner container in the outer container in a vacuum state. The outer container has an outer container waveguide that has a vacuum window at an inner end portion and guides microwaves. The inner container has a vacuum window facing the vacuum window of the outer container waveguide through vacuum, and guides microwaves transmitted from the outer container waveguide to the sample. The window-to-window distance between the vacuum window of the outer container and the vacuum window of the inner container is adjusted by means of adjustment bolts. |
| US10955496B2 |
Gas-filled structures and related compositions, methods and systems for magnetic resonance imaging
Gas vesicle protein structures and related compositions, methods, and systems for singleplexed and/or multiplexed magnetic resonance imaging of a target site alone or in combination with ultrasound are described, in which the gas vesicle protein structures provide contrast for the imaging. |
| US10955493B2 |
Magnetic sensor systems
A calibration apparatus for calibrating a magnetic sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of magnetic field strength when a bias signal is applied to it is disclosed. The apparatus includes a test magnetic field generator (MFG) to generate magnetic fields of known magnitude, and further includes a processor to control the MFG to generate a known magnetic field, control the sensor to generate a test output signal when the MFG generates the known magnetic field and a known bias signal is applied to the sensor, and determine how to change the bias signal based on a deviation of the measured test output signal from an expected output signal. Using a test MFG that produces known magnetic fields when known bias signals are applied to sensors allows evaluating and compensating for changes in sensitivity of the sensors by accordingly changing bias signals applied to the sensors. |
| US10955488B2 |
Modular power supply monitoring by accessory interface of a test and measurement instrument
A modular power supply including a voltage regulator configured to output a voltage, a first output configured to connect to a device under test and output the voltage from the regulator, a microcontroller connected to the voltage regulator, and an interface configured to connect to a test and measurement instrument. The interface includes an input configured to receive power from the test and measurement instrument and a second output configured to output a signal characteristic of the first output. |
| US10955487B2 |
High voltage diagnostic connector with service disconnect
A high voltage diagnostic connector includes a housing holding a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a ground terminal with a cover removably coupled to the housing. An HVIL assembly is in the housing having a HVIL contacts and an HVIL shunt. An HVIL switch is held by the housing including a shunt actuator operably coupled to the HVIL shunt to position the HVIL shunt in an un-shunted position to open an HVIL circuit when in the primary position and in a shunted position to close the HVIL circuit when in the secondary position. The shunt actuator is movable between the primary position and the secondary position when testing the positive terminal, the negative terminal and the ground terminal with the testing device during diagnostic testing of the high voltage diagnostic connector. |
| US10955476B2 |
Unlimited multiplexing testing system for press type switch
Disclosures of the present invention describe an unlimited multiplexing testing system for press type switch, which mainly consists of a main board, a plurality of fixing bases, a test controlling module, a first interface unit, a button punching module, and a host device. Particularly, this novel unlimited multiplexing testing system is able to apply at least one button punching test procedure to a great quantity of mechanical switch components, keyboards or computer mice, thereby completing any one type of standard button punching test, such as life cycle test, loading test or endurance test. On the other hand, this unlimited multiplexing testing system can also be adopted for achieving any one of the foregoing standard button punching tests on the mechanical switch components, keyboards and computer mice, simultaneously. |
| US10955470B1 |
Method to improve testability using 2-dimensional exclusive or (XOR) grids
Methods and design system for generating 2-dimensional distribution architecture for testing integrated circuit design that utilizes double grid to minimize interdependencies between grid cells and the associated functional logic to facilitate the a physically efficient scan of integrated circuit designs, that simultaneously minimizes required test application time (“TAT”), test data volume, tester memory and cost associated with design for test (“DFT”), while also retaining test coverage. An additional grid parallel to a 2-dimensional XOR grid may be implemented that improves the quality of test coverage by optimally adding additional data inputs which decreases correlations between grid cells. A column spreader may feed data into column wires and row spreader may feed data into column wires. The double grid allows data to be fed into two wires, row and column, respectively, which provides twice as much stimulus data in each direction, without significantly increasing the wiring used to build the grid. |
| US10955469B2 |
Method for estimating failure rate and information processing device
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium has stored therein a program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process including: generating, based on search history information indicating history of search in a component search device with respect to feature values of a component, appearance frequency information indicating frequencies at which the feature values appear in the search history information; generating, based on the appearance frequency information, weighting information in which weights are associated with the feature values; executing learning on accumulated failure record information to build a failure estimation model for estimating a failure rate of the component; and estimating the failure rate of the component by using the built failure estimation model. |
| US10955462B2 |
Apparatus and method for frequency characterization of an electronic system
An apparatus for a frequency characterization of an electronic system is provided. The apparatus includes two terminals configured to couple with the electronic system. Further, the apparatus includes a control circuit configured to generate a test signal. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit including an adjustable impedance and a switch which are coupled in series. End nodes of the coupling circuit are coupled to the two terminals. The switch is configured here to electrically couple the two terminals with each other based on the test signal. |
| US10955460B2 |
Test scheduling and test access in test compression environment
Disclosed are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for test scheduling and test access in a test compression environment. Clusters of test patterns for testing a plurality of cores in a circuit are formed based on test information that includes compressed test data, corresponding tester channel requirements and correlated cores. The formation of test pattern clusters is followed by tester channel allocation. A best-fit scheme or a balanced-fit scheme may be employed to generate channel allocation information. A test access circuit for dynamic channel allocation can be designed based on the channel allocation information. |
| US10955456B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic localization of a fault
Provided is an in-field apparatus and method for automatic localization of a fault having occurred at power transmission lines of a power supply system, the in-field apparatus includes a preprocessing unit configured to process measured voltage and/or current raw time series data of the power transmission lines to provide a normalized raw data and/or feature representation of the measured raw time series data, and an artificial intelligence module configured to predict an optimal evaluation time used for evaluation of the measured voltage and/or current raw time series data to localize the fault based on the normalized raw data and/or feature representation. |
| US10955455B2 |
Broken conductor detection and remediation in electric power systems
The present disclosure pertains to detection of a broken conductor in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a broken conductor detector may be configured to be mounted to an electrical conductor and may comprise a communication subsystem configured to transmit a signal configured to indicate that the conductor is broken. A sensor may determine an operating vector. A processing subsystem may be configured to receive the operating vector from the sensor and to identify when the operating vector is outside of a range defined by a rest vector and a threshold value. In certain embodiments, the threshold may comprise a three-dimensional sphere. The processing subsystem may determine that the conductor is broken based on the operating vector remaining outside of the range for a period of time determined by the timer subsystem. A signal may be transmitted by the communication subsystem to indicate that the conductor is broken. |
| US10955453B2 |
Neuro-adaptive onboard/offboard fault detector for digital charging
An electrified vehicle includes a global positioning system (GPS) module. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to learn a source identification for a charging error during charge events. The controller receives location data corresponding to each charging error and utilizes the location data to determine the source identification. The source identification may be indicative of the vehicle, an offboard charger, and the operator. Errors that occur consistently at multiple locations may be assigned a higher probability of being identified as vehicle-related errors. |
| US10955449B2 |
Sensor and method of manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sensor for a high-temperature environment. The method comprises the steps of: depositing an electrically insulating material (108) to form at least one portion of a layer (112); depositing an electrically conductive material (110) to form at least one further portion of the layer (112); depositing successive layers (112), each layer being formed of the electrically insulating material (108) and/or the electrically conductive material (110), wherein the electrically conductive material (110) in each layer is deposited on at least a portion of the electrically conductive material (110) in the previous layer so as to form at least one electrically continuous portion extending through the layers; and fusing the materials. The invention further relates to a sensor for a high-temperature environment comprising: at least one electrically conductive portion; and at least one electrically insulating portion, encapsulating the or each electrically conductive portion. The or each electrically conductive portion and the or each electrically insulating portion are fused to form a monolithic body. |
| US10955443B2 |
Current sensor and current sensor module
A current sensor includes a conductor through which current to be measured flows and which has dimensions in a length direction, a width direction, and a height direction, and first and second magnetic sensors that detect the strength of a magnetic field generated by the current. Each of the first and second magnetic sensors is positioned in an area between first and second conductor portions in the width direction and an area extending from one end to the other end in the height direction of the first and second conductor portions. |
| US10955441B2 |
Measurement system and method for operating a measurement system
A measurement system is described, comprising a sampling clock unit, a travelling wave sampler circuit and at least a first analog-to-digital converter and a second analog-to-digital converter. The sampling clock unit is configured to generate a sampling timing for the travelling wave sampler circuit. The travelling wave sampler circuit is configured to receive an input signal. The travelling wave sampler circuit is further configured to provide at least a first time-discrete intermediate signal and a second time-discrete intermediate signal and to sample the first and the second time-discrete intermediate signal with the same sampling timing. The first analog-to-digital converter and the second analog-to-digital converter are configured to receive the first time-discrete intermediate signal sampled and the second time-discrete intermediate signal sampled, respectively. The first analog-to-digital converter and the second analog-to-digital converter are configured to output a first digitized output signal and a second digitized output signal, respectively. Further, a method for operating a measurement system is described. |
| US10955440B2 |
Probe card alignment
An adjustable load transmitter for adjusting an alignment between a probe card and a bridge beam of a wafer prober, where the probe card is separated from the bridge beam by a gap. The adjustable load transmitter located in the gap, the adjustable load transmitter comprising two rotatable plates adapted for transmitting a load via a load transmission path between the bridge beam and the wafer prober and each comprising two flat, non-parallel contact faces. The adjustable load transmitter removes an angular misalignment between the bridge beam and the set of plates by rotating each of the rotatable plates about a pre-determined adjustment angle such that two angles of inclination are adjusted to zero. The adjustable load transmitter establishes the load transmission path by closing a clearance between the bridge beam and the contact face. |
| US10955430B2 |
Auto-navigating robotic processing vehicle
An auto-navigating robotic processing vehicle including a carriage having a frame, an autonomous drive section configured to traverse the carriage effecting vehicle travel on a facility floor, and having an autonomous navigation section to effect autonomous navigation vehicle travel, a processing section with different processing modules connected to and carried by the frame, each of the different processing modules having a different predetermined laboratory processing function with a different predetermined function characteristic corresponding to the processing module and being automatically selectable to effect a preprocess or preprocess condition of laboratory samples and/or sample holders with respect to a process at a processing station, and a controller automatically selects at least one processing module and the corresponding predetermined function of the selected processing module effecting automatically the preprocess or preprocess condition based on an identification of a travel location for the vehicle and the process of the at the processing station. |
| US10955424B2 |
Mass spectrometry of steroidal compounds in multiplexed patient samples
The invention relates to the quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds by mass spectrometry. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds from multiple samples by mass spectrometry. |
| US10955422B2 |
Method of assessing risk of PML
The invention relates to methods of assessing a patient's risk of developing Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). |
| US10955419B2 |
Methods and systems for analysis using polymer dots
Methods, systems, compositions and kits are provided for the analysis of target molecules using chromophoric polymer dots conjugated to biomolecules. The use of chromophoric polymer dots improves detection sensitivity and stability when compared with existing techniques. In some aspects, methods, systems, and kits are provided for detecting a target protein using chromophoric polymer dots conjugated to biomolecules in a Western blot analysis. Related methods, systems, compositions and kits are also provided. |
| US10955416B2 |
Compositions for detecting mutant anaplastic lymphoma kinase in human lung cancer
Novel gene deletions and translocations involving chromosome 2 resulting in fusion proteins combining part of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) kinase with part of a secondary protein have now been identified in human solid tumors, e.g. non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Secondary proteins include Echinoderm Microtubule-Associated Protein-Like 4 (EML-4) and TRK-Fusion Gene (TFG). The EML4-ALK fusion protein, which retains ALK tyrosine kinase activity, was confirmed to drive the proliferation and survival of NSCLC characterized by this mutation. The invention therefore provides, in part, isolated polynucleotides and vectors encoding the disclosed mutant polypeptides, probes for detecting it, isolated mutant polypeptides, and reagents for detecting the fusion and truncated polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for determining the presence of these mutant polypeptides in a biological sample, methods for screening for compounds that inhibit the proteins, and methods for inhibiting the progression of a cancer characterized by the mutant polynucleotides or polypeptides. |
| US10955412B2 |
Graphene-modified electrodes
The specification provides an assay electrode including a composite containing a matrix and a multiplicity of graphene particles dispersed therein. |
| US10955407B2 |
In vitro toxicity screening assay
The invention relates to methods for predicting the in vivo toxicity of oligonucleotides, such as antisense oligonucleotides using in vitro cell based assays based on gymnotically administering oligonucleotides to primary mammalian hepatocytes and subsequently measuring the levels of toxicity biomarkers such as the release of LDH into the cell culture media and/or intracellular ATP. |
| US10955406B2 |
Diffuse optical imaging with multiple beams
A first wavelength-shifted exit signal is interfered with a first reference beam and a second wavelength-shifted exit signal is interfered with a second reference beam. The first wavelength-shifted exit signal and the second wavelength-shifted exit signal have different wavelengths. A first and second interference pattern are captured by an image sensor in a single image capture. The first reference beam is incident on the image sensor at a first reference angle and the second reference beam is incident on the image sensor at a second reference angle different from the first reference angle. |
| US10955405B2 |
Electrode assembly for measurement of platelet function in whole blood
A platelet impedance measurement system including an electrode assembly allows for measurement of platelet function in blood. The assembly includes a substrate that acts as a substantially rigid base and includes an electrode. A portion of the electrode is exposed such that, when the electrode is placed in blood, the exposed portion is in contact with the blood for measuring impedance changes as platelets adhere to the electrode. Wires of the electrode can be attached to each end of the substrate and can run within a groove along a portion of the substrate. The substrate includes an open area where the wires in the groove exit and re-enter the substrate at the end of the substrate, allowing the wires to be exposed to the blood. The open area includes a brace, ensuring that the exposed wires are held in the appropriate placement relative to each other and to the cuvette. |
| US10955403B2 |
Leather inspection system
A leather inspection apparatus is provided for detecting inconsistencies on both upper and lower surfaces of a hide. It includes a first camera assembly movably coupled to a support frame and capable of movement along the upper surface of the hide and a second camera assembly movably coupled to the support frame and capable of movement along the lower surface of the hide. A computing device is coupled to the first camera assembly and the second camera assembly, such that the first camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the upper surface of the hide and the second camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the lower surface of the hide. The computing device digitally stores the locations of the inconsistencies of the upper surface of the hide and the locations of the inconsistencies of the lower surface of the hide. |
| US10955400B2 |
Drinking water heavy metals sensor and methods for use thereof
A sensor for detecting heavy metals in water is provided. The sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode having complementary interdigitated surfaces that are separated from each other by a first gap having a distance of greater than or equal to about 500 nm to less than or equal to about 10 μm. The sensor also includes a power source connectable to the first electrode and the second electrode. The sensor is configured to continuously monitor water for the presence of heavy metals. Methods of making and using the sensor are also provided. |
| US10955393B2 |
Gas chromatograph device with removable column holder and method of use thereof
A gas chromatograph with a removable column holder includes a column and a removable column holder. The column is configured for gas chromatography. The removable column holder houses the column. The removable column holder is configured to be removable from the gas chromatograph device with the column. The removable column holder houses only the column. The removable column holder is configured to allow removing and interchanging of the column within the removable column holder. The removable column holder is configured to protect the column within the column holder from mechanical damage and contamination due to handling. The removable column holder is configured to allow a user to install the column into the gas chromatograph without the need for tools. The removable column holder is also configured to reduce the possibility of error when installing the column. |
| US10955391B2 |
Multi-injection mode valve module
A chromatography system has an associated system volume and a sample dispersion volume. The chromatography system comprises a pump pumping a flow of gradient, a sample manager for introducing a sample into the flow of gradient, and a valve manager fluidically coupled to the pump and to the sample manager. The valve manager includes at least one valve. A first valve of the at least one valve has a plurality of ports including an inlet port that receives the flow of gradient from the pump and an outlet port through which the flow of gradient exits the first valve. The first valve has at least two different, automatically selectable positions. A first position of the at least two different automatically selectable positions operating to change one of the system and sample dispersion volumes of the chromatography system when the first valve is automatically switched into the first position. |
| US10955390B2 |
Autosampler and liquid chromatograph
An autosampler sucks cleaning liquid from a tip side of a sampling needle and holds the cleaning liquid in the sampling channel before sucking analysis liquid from the tip of the sampling needle, and, after dispensing of the analysis liquid is finished, discharges the cleaning liquid from the tip of the sampling needle, so as to clean the inside of the sampling needle and the sampling channel. |
| US10955389B2 |
Sample introduction device for gas chromatograph
A sample introduction device 100 includes a heating unit 102, an ultraviolet irradiation unit 103, and a sample supply part 106. The heating unit 102 vaporizes a sample 22 by heating externally a container 2 in which the sample 22 is enclosed. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 103 causes ultraviolet rays to pass through the container 2 and irradiates the sample 22 with the ultraviolet rays. The sample supply part 106 supplies the sample vaporized in the container 2 to a gas chromatograph 1 side. |
| US10955386B2 |
Compact immersion scanning system for high-frequency sound waves
An apparatus includes an XY scanning mechanism, a first transducer configured to transmit a sound wave, a second transducer configured to receive the sound wave, and a tray configured to hold a material. The tray is coupled to the XY scanning mechanism and located beneath the first transducer and the second transducer is located on a bottom side of the tray below the material. The tray is moved in an XY pattern along an X axis and a Y axis in response to an XY scanning mechanism controller mechanically moving the XY scanning mechanism while the first transducer is positioned in a stationary location along a vertical axis perpendicular to the tray. The first transducer transmits sound waves into the material and the second transmitter receives the transmitted sound waves at each XY position. |
| US10955385B2 |
Sound measurement system for a motor vehicle
A sound measurement system intended to be installed on a motor vehicle, the system comprising: a microphone, an element for supporting the microphone, mechanical means for protecting the microphone against various projections (water, dust, etc.) from the environment of the vehicle, and mechanical means for protecting the microphone from airborne noise originating from the routing of the sound wave between the source and the measurement (cavity noise) and from the environment of the measuring system (turbulence around the measuring device), the various mechanical protection means being separate or combined. A motor vehicle may be provided with such a system. |
| US10955384B2 |
Arrangement and method for influencing and/or detecting a dynamic or static property of a support structure
An arrangement and a method are described for influencing and/or detecting a dynamic or static property of a support structure which has a support structure surface, with at least one planar first actuator element that includes at least one electrically and/or magnetically activated transducer material, and a fiber composite material which joins the first actuator element indirectly or directly to the support structure surface in a planar, which has at least one first fiber layer and a curable matrix. The first fiber layer at least partially covers the first actuator element resting indirectly or directly on the support structure surface, protrudes beyond the first actuator element on both sides along at least a spatial direction running parallel to the support structure surface, and permanently adheres directly to at least some areas of the support structure surface at least in the regions protruding beyond the first actuator element by means of the curable matrix. |
| US10955382B2 |
Experimental device for studying the propagation characteristics of stress wave in jointed rock mass at high temperature
An experimental device for studying the propagation characteristics of stress wave in jointed rock mass at high temperatures. The device includes a launch system, a loading system, a measuring system and a heating device. The heating device can be heated in sections to meet complicated test requirements. The measuring system includes two sets of measuring devices to ensure test accuracy. One measuring device uses a strain gauge to measure the local displacement of rock, thus obtaining the change of wave velocity; this method can be used when sample temperature is low. The other device adopts digital image processing technology. The experimental device can control the initial wave form and initial wave velocity, which can better meet the test requirements. The position of the sample can be fine-tuned to avoid the impact of errors left by rock processing on the test results. |
| US10955378B2 |
Resonant gas sensor
A method for detecting an analyte comprises providing a first carbon-based material comprising reactive chemistry additives, providing conductive electrodes connected to the first carbon-based material, exposing the first carbon-based material to an analyte, applying a plurality of alternating currents having a range of frequencies across the conductive electrodes, and measuring the complex impedance of the first carbon-based material using the plurality of alternating currents. |
| US10955374B2 |
Characteristic detector, medium supply device, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A characteristic detector includes two electrodes facing each other to form a passage through which a medium passes, a cover disposed between the two electrodes, a current generator to supply a current between the two electrodes, a capacitance gauge to measure a capacitance generated between the two electrodes, and circuitry. The two electrodes have a shape or an arrangement in which at least two points on a leading end of the medium enter the passage with a time lag. The cover covers one of the two electrodes in connection with a size of the medium. The capacitance gauge detects the size of the medium based on the measured capacitance. The circuitry calculates a characteristic of the medium based on the capacitance measured by the capacitance gauge and the size of the medium detected by the capacitance gauge. |
| US10955371B2 |
Measurement arrangement for measuring process and structure parameters of a fiber composite material along a measuring path
A measurement arrangement for measuring process and structure parameters of a fiber composite material along a measuring path includes a fiber material, a matrix material which surrounds the fiber material at least in regions, and an electrical sensor element that includes at least two signal transmission lines twisted together and aligned along the measuring path in and/or at the fiber material such that the signal transmission lines are surrounded at least in portions by the matrix material, wherein the electrical sensor element is configured to measure the process and structure parameters on the basis of the behavior of electromagnetic signals that are fed into the signal transmission lines. |
| US10955370B2 |
Container cap to test volatile organic compounds
Method and apparatus to test for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including a cap configured to at least partially seal a container, and a plunger mechanism configured to form a passageway for air to flow from the container into a detection area. A sensor may be attached to the cap and positioned proximate the detection area. The sensor may be configured to detect data relating to a VOC and to generate a signal. A processor may be configured to receive the signal and to determine a result relating to the VOC. |
| US10955369B2 |
Mask inspection apparatuses and methods, and methods of fabricating masks including mask inspection methods
Mask inspection apparatuses and/or mask inspection methods are provided that enable quick and accurate inspection of a registration of a pattern on a mask while a defect of the mask and the registration of the pattern are inspected simultaneously. The mask inspection apparatus may include a stage configured to receive a mask for inspection; an e-beam array including a plurality of e-beam irradiators configured to irradiate e-beams to the mask and detectors configured to detect electrons emitted from the mask; and a processor configured to process signals from the detectors. A defect of the mask may be detected through processing of the signal and registrations of patterns on the mask may be inspected based on positional information regarding the e-beam irradiators. |
| US10955368B2 |
Method and data analysis system for semi-automated particle analysis using a charged particle beam
A data analysis system is disclosed for generating analysis data depending on microscopic data of an object generated by a charged particle microscope. The microscopic data includes an image showing a structure. A graphical representation of the structure is displayed on the display by the graphical user interface. Separation data is generated representing at least one path of a separation cut, which separates pixels of the structure from each other. The separation cut is visually marked by the graphical user interface, depending on the separation data, by differently marking different area portions of the representation, which represent different pixels of the structure which are separated from each other by the separation cut. Separate analysis data are generated for each of at least two portions of the object, depending on the microscopic data and depending on the separation data. |
| US10955366B2 |
Crystal structure analysis system and crystal structure analysis method
An electron diffraction apparatus measures an overall structure of a crystal of a specimen by electron diffraction. An NMR apparatus measures a local structure of the crystal by NMR measurement. An analysis apparatus combines the overall structure and the local structure to specify a structure of the crystal. |
| US10955363B2 |
Soldering quality detection platform
A soldering quality detection platform comprises a 2D image acquisition device adapted to acquire a 2D image of a soldered region of a soldered product, a 3D image acquisition device adapted to acquire a 3D image of the soldered region of the soldered product, and a judgment device. The judgment device is adapted to determine whether a soldering quality is qualified based on the 2D image and the 3D image of the soldered region of the soldered product. |
| US10955354B2 |
Cylindrical body surface inspection device and cylindrical body surface inspection method
A cylindrical-body surface inspection device includes: a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate the cylindrical body with light; a two-dimensional imaging unit; a scanning-position determination unit configured to determine at a predetermined period, with respect to two-dimensional image data acquired by the two-dimensional imaging unit, a scanning position that is corresponding to a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body; a time-series scanning image generator configured to perform extraction of image data in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction at the scanning position determined by the scanning-position determination unit on a plurality of pieces of the two-dimensional image data acquired by the two-dimensional imaging unit, and generate a time-series scanning image by arranging in chronological order in the first direction each piece of extracted image data of the second direction; and an inspection unit configured to inspect the time-series scanning image to detect a defect. |
| US10955353B2 |
Method and apparatus for angular-resolved spectroscopic lithography characterization
An apparatus and method to determine a property of a substrate by measuring, in the pupil plane of a high numerical aperture lens, an angle-resolved spectrum as a result of radiation being reflected off the substrate. The property may be angle and wavelength dependent and may include the intensity of TM- and TE-polarized radiation and their relative phase difference. |
| US10955346B2 |
Device and associated methods for performing luminescence and fluorescence measurements of a sample
Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a housing including an internal area, a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position in a light tight manner within the internal area of the housing, a light source configured to project light onto the fluid sample within the container, and an optical sensor configured to move between different sensor positions while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the different sensor positions including at least two of: (i) a first sensor position for taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample; (ii) a second sensor position for taking a dark current or other background measurement; and (iii) a third sensor position for taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample. |
| US10955345B2 |
Relating to remote sensing
A system for remotely sensing light from within a monitored environment containing one or more retro-reflective optical elements. The system includes an illuminator including a light source and a reflector unit comprising a deformable mirror arranged to receive light from the light source and to reflect the received light. This outputs illumination light from the illuminator for illuminating the optical element(s) within the monitored environment. A detector is arranged to receive light returned by the one or more retro-reflective optical elements in response to the illumination light. The detector determines a wavefront of the returned light and detects a property of the monitored environment according to the returned light. The reflector unit is arranged to deform the deformable mirror according to the determined wavefront such that light from the light source is reflected by the deformable mirror so deformed to output illumination light with a modified wavefront. |
| US10955337B2 |
Method of estimating optical physical property value distribution, computer-readable recording medium and optical physical property value distribution estimating apparatus
A method of estimating an optical physical property value distribution includes: first estimating including reading a first measured value obtained by measuring isotropic backscattering light of light that is applied to a measurement subject, from a storage and estimating a first optical physical property value distribution that is an optical physical property value distribution in the measurement subject, by an inverse analysis arithmetic operation; and second estimating including reading a second measured value obtained by measuring more anisotropic backscattering light of light that is applied to the measurement subject than the backscattering light corresponding to the first measured value, from a storage and estimating a second optical physical property value distribution that is an optical physical property value distribution in the measurement subject, by an inverse analysis arithmetic operation using at least part of the first optical physical property value distribution as an initial value. |
| US10955332B2 |
Flow cell package and method for making the same
A flow cell package includes first and second surface-modified patterned wafers and a spacer layer. The first surface-modified patterned wafer includes first depressions separated by first interstitial regions, a first functionalized molecule bound to a first silane or silane derivative in at least some of the first depressions, and a first primer grafted to the first functionalized molecule in the at least some of the first depressions. The second surface-modified patterned wafer includes second depressions separated by second interstitial regions, a second functionalized molecule bound to a second silane or silane derivative in at least some of the second depressions, and a second primer grafted to the second functionalized molecule in the at least some of the second depressions. The spacer layer bonds at least some first interstitial regions to at least some second interstitial regions, and at least partially defines respective fluidic chambers of the flow cell package. |
| US10955331B2 |
Imaging or measurement methods and systems
Imaging or measurement methods and systems including methods and systems for finding the three-dimensional orientation and position of multiple dipole-like particles and single molecules, methods and systems for generating helical beams and helical spread functions, and methods and systems for super-resolution and super-localization of dense arrays of emitters. |
| US10955330B2 |
Particle analysis and sorting apparatus and methods
Described herein are apparatuses for analyzing an optical signal decay. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes: a source of a beam of pulsed optical energy; a sample holder configured to expose a sample to the beam; a detector comprising a number of spectral detection channels configured to convert the optical signals into respective electrical signals; and a signal processing module configured to perform a method. In some embodiments, the method includes: receiving the electrical signals from the detector; mathematically combining individual decay curves in the electrical signals into a decay supercurve, the supercurve comprising a number of components, each component having a time constant and a relative contribution to the supercurve; and numerically fitting a model to the supercurve. |
| US10955325B2 |
Actuatable paddle and methods of use
An exemplary paddle includes a central shaft having a first end and a second end. One or more lateral blades extend laterally from the central shaft, and each lateral blade including a geared end positioned adjacent the central shaft and a distal end opposite the geared end. Each lateral blade provides a blade gear at the geared end. A drive shaft is movably positioned within the central shaft and operatively coupled to the one or more lateral blades such that rotation of the drive shaft about a central axis rotates the one or more lateral blades about a corresponding one or more blade axes. The one or more lateral blades are able to move between a horizontal position and a vertical position via independent actuation. |
| US10955324B2 |
Pressure probe including multiple orifices for measuring air pressure in varying airflow systems
In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a pressure probe. In some embodiments, the pressure probe includes a tube having an output end, an internal passage, an axial run, and pressure orifices axially aligned along a downstream side of the axial run. In some embodiments, the pressure orifices are in communication with the output end through the internal passage and an upstream side of the axial run that is opposite from the downstream side of the axial run and does not include a pressure orifice. Additionally, in some embodiments, the downstream side is perpendicular to airflow. |
| US10955316B2 |
Liquid to liquid biological particle concentrator with disposable fluid path
Highly efficient and rapid filtration-based concentration devices, systems and methods are disclosed with sample fluidic lines and a filter packaged in a disposable tip which concentrate biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. The concentrate is then dispensed from the disposable tip in a set volume of elution fluid. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. A single-use pipette tip includes fluid ports for aspirating the sample and connecting to a concentrating unit. |
| US10955315B2 |
Method, device and system for manipulating portions of a rigid body
The invention relates to a method, a device, and a system for manipulating portions of a rigid body (1), and a computer program for the execution of the steps of the method for manipulating portions (20) of a rigid body (1). The method comprises the steps of providing a rigid body (1) comprising ultrathin-sectionable material, cutting an ultrathin portion (20) from the rigid body (1), providing the portion (20) at the surface of a liquid, providing at least one magnetic device (4), which produces a magnetic field or which is able to produce a magnetic field, using the magnetic field in order to provide a magnetic force, and using the magnetic force to move the portion (20) at the surface of the liquid. The device, the system and the computer program are adapted to carry out the method for manipulating portions (20) of a rigid body (1). |
| US10955314B1 |
One-handed surface sampling device
A sampling apparatus and method for collecting chemical and biological samples is disclosed and claimed. A surface sampling apparatus is designed to simplify taking successive environmental samples using one hand. In addition, the sampling bag used with the apparatus serves as both safety barrier and transport bag and is prepared with multiple sampling surfaces and in wet or dry formats. |
| US10955313B2 |
Dummy vehicle for carrying out tests for a driver assistance system
The present invention relates to a dummy vehicle for carrying out tests for a driver assistance system. The dummy vehicle has a deformable first outer panel, which at least partially encloses an inner volume of the dummy vehicle, and an opening element, which at least partially encloses the inner volume of the dummy vehicle, wherein the opening element and the first outer panel form a self-supporting unit. The opening element is detachably connected to the first outer panel such that, upon an influence of an impact force, the opening element is detachable from the first outer panel, such that the self-supporting unit is disintegratable and a deformation of the vehicle is providable. |
| US10955305B2 |
Sensor chip junction structure and pressure sensor
In a sensor chip junction structure, if a moving distance of a tip of a press jig (56) is any of 50 μm and 30 μm, for example, a characteristic line of a load (shearing force) (N) applied to an adhesive layer (50) formed on a sensor chip that is integral with a glass pedestal, the glass pedestal having a thickness set in a range from 0.3 mm to 2.5 mm is either located on any of a characteristic line Lt1 (y=1.3889x3) and a characteristic line Lt2 (y=0.463x3) or located in a region above zero and equal to or below any of the characteristic line Lt1 and the characteristic line Lt2. |
| US10955304B2 |
N-implant electrical shield for piezo-resistor sensor
A piezo-resistor-based sensor, and a method to fabricate such sensor, comprise a sensor having at least a sensing element provided on a flexible structure, such as a membrane or cantilever or the like. The sensing element includes at least one piezo-resistor comprising at least a first region of the flexible structure doped with dopant atoms of a first type. The flexible structure furthermore comprises a second doped region within it, at least partially overlapping the first doped region, forming a shield for shielding the sensing element from external electrical field interference, wherein dopant atoms of the second doped region are of a second type opposite to the dopant atoms of the first doped region, for generating a charge depletion layer within the flexible structure at the overlapping region between the first doped region and the second doped region. |
| US10955303B2 |
Load sensor and load sensor integrated type multiaxial actuator
Provided is a load sensor that can precisely detect a load of pressing force to an object. A load sensor to be used for a multiaxial actuator (10) that has a drive rod (12) that linearly moves in an axial direction in a state where the drive rod (12) is contained in a housing (11), and a suction rod (22) that is arranged in parallel with the drive rod (12), linearly moves at the same time as the drive rod (12) in the axial direction, and has a tip end portion (22a) to be pressed, when a chip is to be suctioned, against the chip, includes a coupling member (30) that couples the drive rod (12) and the suction rod (22), the coupling member (30) has a first coupling part (31) that couples the drive rod (12), and a second coupling part (32) that couples the suction rod (22), and a neck part (33) that is provided between the first coupling part (31) and the second coupling part (32) and formed to be thinner than the first coupling part (31) and the second coupling part (32), and the neck part (33) includes strain gauges (41) to (44) attached to a front surface of the neck part (33). |
| US10955299B2 |
Fluid ejection dies including strain gauge sensors
A fluid ejection die includes a plurality of nozzles to eject fluid drops and a plurality of strain gauge sensors to sense strain. Each strain gauge sensor corresponds to a nozzle and passes the sensed strain to a controller to determine the health of the nozzle based on the sensed strain. |
| US10955297B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring junction temperature of a semiconductor switch
A system for monitoring a junction temperature of a semiconductor device includes a sensing resistor electrically coupled to a source terminal of the semiconductor device in a gate loop of the semiconductor device. The system includes a detection circuit electrically coupled to the gate loop of the semiconductor device and configured to measure a voltage difference across the sensing resistor. The system also includes an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the gate loop and the detection circuit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a first gate current peak during a switching process of the semiconductor device, wherein the first gate current peak is determined based on the voltage detected by the detection circuit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine the junction temperature based on the first gate current peak. |
| US10955294B2 |
Optical sensor for trace-gas measurement
A system for detecting trace-gas includes an optical sensor mounted on a vehicle and processing circuitry. The optical sensor includes a plurality of interferometers configured to collect samples. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a digitized signal based on the samples, apply a forward Fourier-transform on the digitized signal to generate spectrum information for the plurality of interferometers, and determine a gas species has been detected using one or more intensity of absorption features of the spectrum information corresponding to the gas species from the spectrum information. |
| US10955291B2 |
Methods of determining exposure to UV light
Methods of determining the dose of UVC light delivered to a sample comprising a low optical transmission complex fluid are provided. Also provided are methods of inactivation of an organism, such as a spore, a bacteria or a virus, in a sample comprising dose of UVC light delivered to a sample comprising a low optical transmission complex fluid. |
| US10955289B2 |
Electronic module including an ambient light sensor stacked over a proximity sensor
An electronic module includes an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor. The ambient light sensor includes an ambient light photodetector. The proximity sensor includes an infrared photoemitter, a reference infrared photodetector and another infrared photodetector. The ambient light sensor is arranged in a stack over the proximity sensor with a position that allows infrared photons transmitted by the infrared photoemitter to be received by the reference infrared photodetector. |
| US10955288B2 |
Cross-sensor standardization
The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating a cross-sensor standardization model. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes a system that includes at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor performs operations comprising selecting a representative sensor from a group of sensors comprising at least one of same primary optical elements and similar synthetic optical responses and calibrating a cross-sensor standardization model based on a matched data pair for each sensor in the group of sensors and for the representative sensor. In one embodiment, the at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor performs operations further comprises generating the matched data pair, wherein the matched data pair comprises calibration input data and calibration output data. |
| US10955286B2 |
Method and arrangement in a weighing system and a corresponding software product and material handling machine
The invention relates to a method in a weighing system, in which method the mass of the bundle is weighed and recorded during both loading % and unloading mi_p of the bundle, during loading, the total loading mass mK_kok_j is calculated from the mass mi_c of one or more bundles weighed during loading and corrected using a correction factor Cj, the total unloading mass mp_kok_j is calculated from the mass mi_p of one or more bundles weighed during unloading, with the aid of the said total loading mass mK_COk_j and total unloading mass mp_kok_j′, a new corrected value Cj+1 is calculated for the correction factor Cj in order to adjust the weighing for the loading of the next load Kj+1. The invention also relates to a corresponding software product, an arrangement, and a material-handling machine. |
| US10955285B2 |
Weighing balance having a mounting unit for carrying accessories
A balance (10) has a mounting unit (30) movably connected to a first side (35) of a rear wall (25) of a weighing chamber. The mounting unit is above a top wall (23) of the weighing chamber. An elongate slot (40) extends from the first side through a second side (36) and receives the mounting unit and the top wall. The elongate slot guides the mounting unit and the top wall in a direction normal to a base body (11) of the balance. A position control unit (50), on the second side, has lower and upper carriages (52, 54). The upper carriage is connected to the mounting unit and the lower carriage is connected to the top wall. A stopper (64) limits the lower carriage at a predetermined position away from the base body, while allowing the upper carriage to advance therebeyond, separating the mounting unit from the top wall. |
| US10955281B1 |
Monitoring with a radially magnetized magnet and hall effect sensor
An improved fluid level sensor includes a radially magnetized magnet integrated into a float, and a Hall sensor adapted to monitor the magnet field emitted from the magnet. This arrangement provides a continuously variable signal across a range of travel, such that a controller receiving the signal can produce precise fluid level measurements and detect operational states of an associated device based on fluid behavior. In addition, the present fluid level sensor is suitable for use in harsh service environments, both because it is physically resilient to fouling, and because the controller is capable of detecting fouling by sensor behavior. In the context of a steam cooker, the present fluid level sensor can also sense low-water, overfill and fouling conditions, while remaining relatively insensitive to food residue, water scale buildup, corrosion and foaming. |
| US10955280B2 |
Detecting fluid characteristics via a float
A system for detecting a characteristic of a fluid. In one example, the system includes a tube, a float, a sensor, and a controller. The tube is configured to receive the fluid. The float is located within the tube. The sensor is configured to sense a position of the float. The controller is configured to receive, from the sensor, the position of the float, and determine a characteristic of the fluid based on the position of the float. The characteristic may be a density or a concentration. |
| US10955276B2 |
Wet gas measuring device
A wet gas measuring system for calculating mass and volume of a gas and a liquid independently and simultaneously, having one or two hollow bodies, each hollow body having conical section mount interrupting the flow of a mixture of gas and liquid, a conical area ratio changer conditioning the gas to a uniform geometric shape; a protruding dome upstream of the first conical area ratio changer; a ram inlet bore through the dome unaffected by changes in gas viscosity, changes in Reynolds' number, changes in gas and liquid turbulence, and an upstream static pressure sensor; downstream pressure sensor for detecting a differential pressure; a temperature sensor; a ram velocity sensor with a processor and computer instructions for calculating velocity and mass of the gas using a detachable and re-attachable conical area ratio changer. |
| US10955275B2 |
Systems and methods for calibrating and correcting a speckle contrast flowmeter
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for calibrating contrast measurements from laser speckle imaging systems to accurately determine unknown particle motion characteristics, such as flow rate. The calibration stores to memory calibration data, which may include a set of measurements from samples with known particle characteristics and/or estimates of noise, including the effects on contrast arising from undesired signals unrelated to the unknown particle motion characteristics. The calibration data may be accessed and used to correct an empirical measurement of contrast and/or interpolate a value of the unknown particle motion characteristic. The system may include a light source, photodetector, processor, and memory, which can be combined into a single device, such as a wearable device, for providing calibrated flow measurements. The device may be used, for example, to measure blood flow, cardiac output, and heart rate, and can be used to amplify the pulsatile signal. |
| US10955273B2 |
Extended range ADC flow meter
A method of calculating a time difference is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first ultrasonic signal (r21) from a first transducer (UT1) and receiving a second ultrasonic signal (r12) from a second ultrasonic transducer (UT2). The first and second ultrasonic signals are sampled to produce respective first and second sampled ultrasonic signals (502). Points having a value greater than a first threshold are selected from the first and second sampled ultrasonic signals (510). A difference in travel time between the first and second ultrasonic signals is calculated (512) in response to the selected points. |
| US10955269B2 |
Wearable apparatus
A wearable and/or a wearable mount solves many issues presented with conventional wearables and wearable mounts. For example, the wearable mount can be designed with a low ratio of adhesive contact area to wearable mount contact area while providing the capability to collect data and/or dispense medication on one specific spot and, further still, allowing the use of an easy to remove adhesive. This configuration may facilitate free movement of the body even when the wearable mount is attached to the skin. The wearable may have surface contacts, removing the need for ports that could be damaged. The adhesive layer can provide insulation and isolating properties for the contacts while the device is being worn. Finally, the wearable may be a patch-type wearable that allows the appearance of the wearable to be changed without the need for housing changes or other costly solutions. |
| US10955268B2 |
Methods and apparatus to facilitate active protection of peripheral sensors
Method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating active protection of peripheral sensors. An example vehicle includes a sensor and a sensor protector. The example sensor protector is configured to, responsive to a vehicle collision, obtain diagnostic information from the sensor. The example sensor protector is also configured to determine whether to move the sensor from a first position to a second position based on the diagnostic information. The example sensor protector is also configured to cause the sensor to from the first position to the second position based on the determination. |
| US10955265B2 |
Encoder scale, manufacturing method for encoder scale, and encoder
An encoder scale includes a tabular base material and an optical pattern provided above one surface of the base material, a first region and a second region being disposed side by side above the optical pattern. The first region includes a resin layer disposed above the base material and including photosensitive resin and a metal film disposed above the resin layer and formed of a metal material. The surface of the first region is configured mainly by a first surface having a normal line in the thickness direction of the base material. The surface of the second region is configured mainly by a second surface inclined with respect to the first surface. |
| US10955262B2 |
Rotation angle sensor for a stator
A rotary sensor includes a stator element and a rotor element that is rotatably mounted in respect of the stator element about an axis of rotation. A rotary angle can be captured by inductive coupling between the rotor element and the stator element. The rotary sensor further includes a measuring device configured to capture the rotary angle depending on the inductive coupling between the rotor element and the stator element. The stator element has at least one transmission coil for emitting alternating electromagnetic fields and at least two reception coils for capturing alternating electromagnetic fields, when the measuring device is configured to excite the at least one transmission coil with at least two mutually different frequencies for emitting at least two alternating electromagnetic fields. |
| US10955258B2 |
Route selection for navigation devices and applications
One particular example includes a system, comprising a processor and a memory to store instructions that when executed by the processor performs operations, comprising displaying a map of a first area on a display; receiving an instruction to designate a second area on the map to be avoided; displaying the second area to be avoided on the map; and generating a route from a first point to a second point, where the route does not go through the second area to be avoided. |
| US10955255B2 |
Navigation system with location based parser mechanism and method of operation thereof
A navigation system comprising of a control circuit configured to: determine a free text query for representing a description of a query target, generate a parsing model based on a recognition pattern within a map, determine a concentric region within the map based on a user location, apply the parsing model based on the concentric region, generate a match based on the parsing model; and a communication circuit, coupled to the control circuit, configured to communicate the match for displaying on a device. |
| US10955251B2 |
Identifying incorrect coordinate prediction using route information
Systems and methods of identifying incorrect coordinate prediction using route information are disclosed herein. In some example embodiments, a computer system receives route information and geographic image data. The route information corresponds to a servicing of a request associated with a place and indicates a travelled route that has been traveled by a user in traveling from an origin location to the place, and the geographic image data represents a geographic area corresponding to the travelled route. The computer system determines that an initial geographic location stored in a database in association with the place is incorrect based on the route information and the geographic image data using a first deep learning model, and then performs a verification operation based on the determining that the stored initial geographic location of the place is incorrect. |
| US10955250B2 |
Vehicle maintenance operation
A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to identify a vehicle part to replace based on received vehicle data including a diagnostic status, a location, and a first route. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a vehicle operating pattern based on the identified vehicle part and to generate a second route including a second destination based on the vehicle part, the vehicle operating pattern, the location, and a first destination and an expected time of arrival of the first route. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to navigate the vehicle based on the determined second route and the vehicle operating pattern. |
| US10955247B2 |
Allocation of facilities on a route
Elevators and other facilities in buildings and other constructed environments can be controlled remotely. In an advanced controlling method at least one person is guided through constructed environment along a predetermined route. When the route is known facilities, such as elevators, may be called or activated in advance so that the person guided along the route does not need to do it when arriving at the area of influence of the facility. When there are more than one person travelling the routes may be combined such that the central system controlling allocations of facilities may call or activate resources more than one person. |
| US10955246B2 |
Method and apparatus for route planning
The technology disclosed relates to a method for demand-response scheduling that resolves the most undesirable issues intrinsic to the paradigm of the prior art, namely constructing schedules by “Trip by Trip Insertion” onto service vehicles called routes. These issues are classified into Customer Service, On-time Performance, and Efficiency categories. The first step of the 2-step process is to globally build packets to patterns in a library that provide good Customer Service, On-time Performance protection, and Positive Ridesharing Efficiency. The packets are “Mini-Manifests” that meet all constraints, and once formed, are locked from modification by any subsequent scheduling action. The second step is to globally build routes by chaining packets together, controlled by configurable heuristic strategy. The routes that are built directly resolve the undesirable issues. |
| US10955239B2 |
Positioning device and positioning method, color film coating machine
The present disclosure provides a positioning device, including a laser projector, and a servo system for driving the laser projector and collecting a coordinate data. The present disclosure further provides a positioning method and a color film coating machine, including a warehouse and a marble platform arranged in the warehouse, wherein further includes a positioning device, the positioning device includes a laser projector and a servo system for driving the laser projector and collecting a coordinate data, a projection direction of the laser projector is opposite to a surface of the marble platform. Compared with the prior art, by knowing the current position of the laser projector to output the corresponding coordinates, the corresponding target foreign objects can be quickly found on the marble platform according to the coordinates, cleared in time, the inspection time is saved, and the product yield is improved. |
| US10955238B1 |
In-process automatic recalibration
An apparatus and associated method for a frame that is configured to rotate a workpiece around an axis of rotation. The apparatus has a measurement device, and a known fixture that is supported by the frame. A processor is configured to execute stored computer instructions to initially-calibrate the measurement device to the axis of rotation, to employ the initially-calibrated measurement device to obtain an initial-calibration value of the known fixture, to store the initial-calibration value in a digital memory, to subsequently use the initially-calibrated measuring device to obtain an in-process automatic recalibration (IPAR) value of the known fixture, and to compare the IPAR value to the initial-calibration value to calculate a compensation value indicating positional error of the apparatus. |
| US10955235B2 |
Distance measurement apparatus and distance measurement method
A distance measurement apparatus includes: a control unit that makes an imaging unit acquire a plurality of first captured images corresponding to light patterns when making an optical system set the focal length to a first focal length, and that makes the imaging unit acquire second captured images corresponding to the light patterns when making the optical system set the focal length to a second focal length; a first distance measurement unit that determines presence or absence of an image blur and acquires a first distance to a subject from an image blur index value indicating an extent of the image blur; a second distance measurement unit that acquires a second distance to the subject based on triangulation; and a measurement result synthesis unit that outputs the first distance for a pixel with the image blur and that outputs the second distance for a pixel with no image blur. |
| US10955233B2 |
Thickness measuring apparatus
A thickness measuring apparatus including a thickness measuring unit for measuring the thickness of a plate-shaped workpiece. The thickness measuring unit includes a white light source for emitting white light, a dispersing mechanism for producing time differences corresponding to wavelengths of light components of the white light to thereby generate spectral light, a two-dimensional image sensor having a photodetecting area for detecting the return light, the photodetecting area including a plurality of pixels, a storing section for storing the intensity of the return light detected by the plural pixels according to wavelength with time difference, a waveform table previously storing a plurality of kinds of sample spectral interference waveforms respectively corresponding to different thicknesses of the workpiece, and a thickness deciding section for deciding the thickness at an X-Y coordinate position in a two-dimensional area of the workpiece. |
| US10955230B2 |
Die removal device
A device (2) for pulling a cartridge case (4) in a pulling direction (10) out of an axial bore of a die (6) which, as seen from the axial bore, comprises a male thread (20) on the outside to hold the die (6) in a reloading press is provided. The device (2) comprises: a support plate (12) for holding the die (6) aligned with its axial bore in the pulling direction 10) and secured against a movement in the pulling direction (10) in a die bore (18) a lifting plate (14) arranged at a distance (16) before the support plate (12) as seen in the pulling direction (10), comprising a pulling element (24) with retaining members aligned against the pulling direction (10), wherein the retaining members are arranged in such a way to hold the cartridge case (4) at an end of the pulling element (24) opposite the lifting plate (14), and drive members (32, 34) for driving the support plate (12) and the lifting plate (14) apart in and/or against the pulling direction (10). |
| US10955229B2 |
Firearm cartridge
The present invention is an improved .30 caliber cartridge that overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a centerfire cartridge with a case having a head with a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder to a mouth that seats a bullet. The cartridge having a dimension that is short enough to fit in an automatic pistol's magazine and when fired from such a pistol's barrel will achieve ballistics closely resembling that of a rifle carbine. |
| US10955224B1 |
Net packing method and device
An exemplary configuration of a net packing device includes a winding tool and a loading tool. In an exemplary method, the net is weaved onto the winding tool and then transferred to the loading tool. The net is pushed off of the loading tool into a net gun storage chamber configured to receive nets that are ready to launch. The winding and loading tools each have first and second prongs that are spaced apart the same distance so that the ends can be aligned. The net can be weaved about sleeves carried by the prongs of the winding tool. The net and sleeves are moved to the loading tool where the net is then pushed from the sleeves. In other exemplary configurations, only the loading tool is used. |
| US10955215B2 |
Projectile launching apparatus
A projectile launching apparatus for launching a projectile, such as a pellet, a BB bullet, an arrow, a dart and a paintball includes a linear motion converter driven by a motor, a piston coupled to the linear motion converter and reciprocally movable within a cylinder, a gas spring and a breech assembly. The piston compresses a gas within the cylinder, after which the compressed gas expands in the barrel of the breech assembly for launching the projectile. Breech assembly includes a breech, a bolt, and bolt barrel cam, which rotate with the gas spring to allow a projectile to enter the breech and then to seal the bolt in the breech before the gas spring releases its stored energy to launch the projectile. In another embodiment, the bolt is coupled with a magnet instead of a cam. |
| US10955214B1 |
Mass transfer module attachable to a strip stop of an archery bow
A mass transfer module attachable to a string stop of an archery bow preferably includes a fastener, a clamp, a hole and at least one a weight component and a vibration dampening device. The clamp is located on one end of the mass transfer module and the threaded hole is located on an opposing end. The clamp is secured to a string stop rod by tightening the fastener. In an alternative embodiment, an extension rod may be used to extend the weight component and/or vibration dampening device away from a mass body of the mass transfer module. In an alternative embodiment, the hole may be replaced with a stop clamp. In another embodiment the mass transfer module may be pivotally secured to the string stop rod in two axes. |
| US10955211B1 |
Lock system
The invention relates to a lock system for a firearm having an arrangement composed of at least two lever arms; in a manner similar to a toggle lever, the lever arms are connected to an axle or shaft in articulating fashion; the resulting toggle lever can be pivoted to both sides of a dead point in which the arrangement is maximally extended; and one of the lever arms is embodied as a hammer for a firing pin. |
| US10955210B1 |
Firearm apparatus
A firearm apparatus that is operable to provide faster reloading of an ammunition magazine through operable engagement of the trigger, the hammer or the bolt carrier. The firearm apparatus of the present invention includes a magazine that is configured to receive and store a plurality of bullets within the interior volume thereof on an ammunition support member. The ammunition support member is movable intermediate a first and second position and in the second position, an engagement member operably coupled to the ammunition support member is operable to engage the arm member. The arm member is moved to its second position wherein the arm member in its second position inhibits the firing of the firearm and maintains the bolt in a closed position. The arm member can be provided in alternative embodiments so as to operably coupled with the aforementioned elements of the firing assembly. |
| US10955206B2 |
Short round lightweight automatic weapon
An automatic or semiautomatic rifle having a short-stroke action with multiple firing chambers which are arranged radially around an axis of rotation parallel to the firing bore. The multiple firing chambers reciprocate rearward and forward while the assembly is indexed through a loading, firing, and ejection sequence. Ammunition cartridges are inserted into the forward end of the chambers and subsequently positioned against the rear of a barrel of the rifle for firing. |
| US10955201B2 |
Heat exchanger, boiler, and setting method for heat exchanger
The present invention provides an economizer 70 including a plurality of cylindrical heat transfer tubes 71a-71d extending along a crossing direction crossing a flowing direction of combustion gas and disposed at a predetermined disposition interval P along the flowing direction, the combustion gas and fluid flowing in the plurality of heat transfer tubes performing heat exchange, and a swirl preventing section 75 disposed in contact with a downstream side outer circumferential surface 71Aa-71Ad in the flowing direction of each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes 71a-71d and configured to prevent a swirl of the combustion gas from occurring near the downstream side outer circumferential surface 71Aa-71Ad. |
| US10955193B2 |
Furnace for dental prosthesis or partial dental prosthesis
A furnace for a dental prosthesis or a partial dental prosthesis, in particular for dental ceramic, comprising a firing chamber which can be heated and in particular can also be evacuated, a control device for controlling the operation of the furnace on the basis of a firing program, which is based on a set of parameter values, and an operator control unit, which is assigned to the control device and is designed to display a representation of the firing program in the form of a firing process curve, wherein the operator control unit can be used in a simplified operating mode in which it displays together with the firing process curve at least one operator control area for adjusting a selected parameter value of the set of parameter values that relates to a prescribed program phase of the firing program, wherein the at least one operator control area is permanently arranged in the area of the displayed firing process curve that corresponds to the prescribed program phase. |
| US10955192B2 |
Dental furnace as well as method for operating a dental furnace
A dental furnace having closed or closeable firing chamber (12), which is surrounded by thermal insulation (20) and which comprises at least one inlet terminal (22) and at least one outlet terminal (24). Via said two terminals, a gas, especially air, may be passed through the firing chamber (12) and/or may be discharged from the firing chamber (12), wherein a vacuum source (44) is provided, which is in direct or indirect communication with the outlet terminal (24) and via which the outlet terminal (24) may be set under vacuum pressure. At the outlet terminal (24), an especially T-shaped or Y-shaped connector (26) is attached. The connector (26) comprises two entrance ports (32, 24) and an exit (40), wherein the exit (40) is in communication with the vacuum source (44) and a first entrance port is in communication with the firing chamber (12), and especially is flange-mounted at the outlet terminal (24) thereof, and a second entrance port (34) is in communication with ambient air. |
| US10955191B2 |
Nail lamp
A nail lamp is configured to cure light-curable nail product on a user's nails. The lamp includes an array of discrete light sources with different light wavelength profiles. The different wavelength profiles are configured to, in combination, cure a light-curable nail product. A space is disposed beneath the array and is sized to accommodate therein the nails of an appendage of a user so as to expose the user's nails to light from the array. The space is substantially open to the ambient environment to the front, rear, left, right, and top of the space, thereby providing an open architecture. |
| US10955187B2 |
Refrigerator with quick fill dispenser incorporating removable fluid storage receptacle
A refrigerator utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator. |
| US10955183B2 |
Refrigerator
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an improved configuration of an inner wall forming a storage compartment and capable of improving an appearance of the storage compartment. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, an inner case forming an inner space of the main body, and a cover plate installed inside the inner case to form an exterior of the storage compartment and formed of a ceramic material. |
| US10955181B2 |
Collapsible insulating device
A portable insulating device kit may be configured to fit within a smaller container for easier shipment. In one example, the assembly may include a base, a top wall having an opening, an inner liner configured to extend into the opening of the top wall to form an interior cavity defining a volumetric storage capacity and an exterior wall. The container can have a flat configuration defining a length, height, and width. The base, the top wall, the inner liner, and the exterior wall may be configured to be assembled into a portable insulating device. The volume of the container may be less than the volumetric storage capacity of the assembled portable insulating device, and the base, the inner liner, and the exterior wall are configured to be detached from one another and shipped in the container. |
| US10955179B2 |
Redistributing refrigerant between an evaporator and a condenser of a vapor compression system
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an expansion device disposed between a condenser and an evaporator of a vapor compression system and a control panel communicatively coupled to the expansion device. The control panel is configured to: determine a liquid refrigerant level set point of the condenser based on parameters of the vapor compression system, provide a first control signal to increase an opening of the expansion device in response determining that the current liquid refrigerant level in the condenser is greater than a determined liquid refrigerant level set point of the condenser, and provide a second control signal to decrease the opening of the expansion device in response to determining that the current liquid refrigerant level in the condenser is less than the determined liquid refrigerant level set point of the condenser. |
| US10955177B2 |
Air conditioner and method for controlling the same
An air conditioner and a control method for the same, the air conditioner including an air conditioning unit including a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger; and a controller configured to obtain enthalpy of a refrigerant flowing in the air conditioning unit, obtain an air conditioning capacity using a circulation amount of the refrigerant and the obtained enthalpy of the refrigerant, obtain efficiency based on the obtained air conditioning capacity and supplied power, and control the air conditioning unit according to the obtained efficiency. |
| US10955176B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller configured to control operations of an outdoor fan. The controller has a voltage acquisition unit configured to acquire drive voltages of the outdoor fan at set time intervals while the rotation speed of the outdoor fan is maintained at a reference rotation speed, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an acquired drive voltage is equal to or greater than a lower limit threshold and less than an upper limit threshold, an extraction unit configured to calculate an evaluation value by extracting a drive voltage determined to be equal to or greater than the lower limit threshold and less than the upper limit threshold, and a defrosting determination unit configured to decide to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger if the calculated evaluation value is equal to or greater than an evaluation threshold. |
| US10955175B2 |
Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration system
An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger. |
| US10955174B2 |
Thermoelectric module
A thermoelectric module includes a plurality of thermoelectric components, a first electrode and a second electrode. The thermoelectric components have the same type of semiconductor material. The first electrode includes a first parallel connection part and a first serial connection part. The plurality of thermoelectric components is electrically connected to the first parallel connection part and each of the plurality of thermoelectric components is separated from one another. The first serial connection part is configured for being electrically connected to other electrical components. The plurality of thermoelectric components is electrically connected to the second electrode and located between the first parallel connection part and the second electrode. |
| US10955171B2 |
Solar heating apparatus
The solar heating apparatus has a base box and a main axle mounted on the base box. At least one mirror support arm is mounted orthogonal to the main axle and supports a plurality of mirrors. In a first embodiment, a circular plate on the side of the base box rotates the main axle to bank the mirrors to track azimuth and a belt or chain drive rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a second embodiment, the main axle is a beam mounted on a rotating circular plate on top of the base box to track azimuth and bevel gears drive a belt or chain drive that rotates the mirror support arms to track elevation. In a third embodiment, the mirror support arms are driven to rotate by bevel gears and the main axle through belt or chain drives. |
| US10955169B2 |
Control system for modulating water heater
A control system is provided for a modulated heating system including a plurality of modulating water heaters, which may be modulating boilers. A deadband control scheme provides for reduced cycling of the modulating heater when total system heat demand falls between the maximum output of one heater and the sum of the maximum output of that one point and the minimum firing point of the next subsequent heater. Condensation of flue gas products is prevented by monitoring flue exhaust temperature for each heater and controlling the modulation of each heater to maintain a minimum heater output sufficiently high to prevent condensation of flue gas products from that heater. Rapid reaction to changes in system heat demand is provided by sensing changes in flow rate in a primary loop of the system and anticipating resulting changes in temperature thus allowing for change in heater output prior to the time the change in flow rate has fully impacted system temperature. |
| US10955167B2 |
Airfoil blade and method of assembly
An airfoil blade assembly includes an upper airfoil shell, and a lower airfoil shell and a pair of upper legs protruding from the upper airfoil shell and extending towards the lower airfoil shell. A pair of lower legs protrudes from the lower airfoil shell and extending towards the upper airfoil shell and are formed by bending material of the lower airfoil shell back upon itself. An upper strengthening rib formed is in the upper airfoil shell, and a lower strengthening rib is formed in the lower airfoil shell. The pair of upper legs and the pair of lower legs are abutting when the upper airfoil shell and the lower airfoil shell are selectively fixed to one another. |
| US10955166B2 |
Method and apparatus for manipulating metal workpieces
A method of forming a duct section from a web of material includes the steps of forming a series of perforations in a web of material, the series of perforations defining an outline of one of a hole or notch in a finished duct section, forming a male lock bend and a female lock seam in first opposed edges of the web of material, forming flanges in second opposed edges of the web of material, removing the portion of material interior to the series of perforations to form the hole or notch, and bending the web of material to form the finished duct section. |
| US10955165B2 |
Method and system for supply-air re-circulation
An HVAC system includes an evaporator coil disposed between a supply air duct and a return air duct. A re-circulation duct fluidly couples the supply air duct and the return air duct. A damper is disposed in the re-circulation duct and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A controller is operatively coupled to a variable-speed compressor, a variable-speed circulation fan, and the damper. Responsive to a determination that the variable-speed circulation fan is operating at the minimum speed and the suction pressure is above the pre-determined threshold, the controller signals the damper to move to the open position. Responsive to a determination that the variable-speed circulation fan is not operating at the minimum speed or the suction pressure is below the pre-determined threshold, the controller signals the damper to move to the closed position. |
| US10955157B2 |
Building management system with distributed data storage and processing
A building management system (BMS) including device controllers configured to monitor and control one or more heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) devices and to store and process time-series data associated with the HVAC devices. The BMS includes a BMS controller that is communicably coupled to the device controllers. The BMS controller is configured to generate and send one or more processing sub-requests to at least one of the device controllers based on a processing request requesting time-series data associated with an HVAC device. The BMS controller is configured to receive one or more processing results from the at least one of the device controllers and join the one or more processing results into a joined result. The BMS controller is configured to provide the joined result to a requesting entity. The device controllers are configured to receive and process processing sub-requests and send results to the BMS controller. |
| US10955153B2 |
Solar aircooler
The present invention relates to a compact, fully integrated solar powered airconditioning (A/C) device for recycling and cooling the air inside buildings, which device comprises a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell, a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Charge Controller, a battery unit and a vapor compression air cooling device. |
| US10955142B2 |
Cooking oven with steam generator inside cooking cavity
A cooking oven has a cooking cavity and a steam generating system. The steam generation system includes a water reservoir received and support in a reservoir-receiving space of a reservoir rack inside the cooking cavity. Thermal energy is provided to the water reservoir by a heater inside the cooking cavity. The heater can include thermal block made of a thermally conductive material in thermal communication with a heating element. The heater can be positioned such that it intimately contacts the water reservoir to deliver thermal energy thereto to convert water contained therein to steam, which can be used to cook a food item inside the cooking cavity. |
| US10955134B2 |
Burner with variable port area
A fuel burner includes a tube extending from a first end to a second end and including a central passage and fluid directing structure for directing a mixture of air and combustible fuel radially through the tube. The fluid directing structure collectively defines a total flow area. A blocking member is axially movable within the central passage between a first condition blocking a first percentage of the total flow area and a second condition blocking a second percentage of the total flow area different from the first percentage to control the flow of the mixture of air and combustible fuel through the fluid directing structure from the first end to the second end of the tube to be ignited. |
| US10955124B2 |
LED link system with distributive powering scheme
A linkable linear light emitting diode (LED) system provides apparatus and methods for mechanically, optically, and electrically linking multiple LED modules disposed over a wide and separated area of a ceiling system. Openings can be cut in ceiling tiles of a drop ceiling system and the LED lighting modules are coupled to the tile through the opening, with the tile being sandwiched between different portions of the module. A remote driver system is placed within the drop ceiling above the tiles and provides multiple connectors for powering a multitude of lighting modules. Certain of the LED lighting modules include both input and output connectors for both receiving power or data and providing power or data to other modules. In this manner, some of the modules act as master LED lighting modules and those receiving power and/or data therefrom are act as slave modules. |
| US10955122B1 |
Fixture installation tool
A fixture installation tool provides for installation of a fixture on a mounting bracket adjacent a surface. The fixture installation tool includes at least one elongate support post removably attached to the mounting bracket and oriented such that the elongate support post extends to a distal end away from the surface, the elongate support post having a diameter such that the elongate support post slidably fits through a mounting hole of the fixture and at least one removable stop located on the distal end of the at least one elongate support post, the removable stop sized to prevent the fixture from sliding off of the at least one elongate support post. The at least one elongate support post is removably attached to the mounting bracket such that the fixture installation tool supports the fixture in proximity to the surface for wiring of the fixture. |
| US10955121B2 |
Hybrid laser/LED modular light source with enhanced directional illumination
An improved vehicle light apparatus including an auxiliary light having a housing defining a front opening extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. A light emitting device is mounted in the housing. A transparent cover is mounted over the front opening. A rib extends rearwardly from the housing opposite the front opening and a plurality of fins are mounted on the rib. |
| US10955120B2 |
Lamp having radially disposed light emitting members that rotate about an axis that is non-parallel to a transmission axis
A lamp has a base, a transmission mechanism, and multiple light-emitting assemblies. The transmission mechanism is mounted on the base and is rotatable around a transmission axis. The light-emitting assemblies is mounted on the base and is connected to the transmission mechanism. Each light-emitting assembly is rotatable around a rotation axis which is nonparallel with the transmission axis. The light-emitting assemblies can be rotated through driving the transmission mechanism, so as to adjust lighting effects of the light-emitting assemblies and an appearance of the lamp. Not only the lighting effects can be adjusted according to a user's need, but also the appearance of the lamp can be changed to adapt the lamp to the environment where the lamp is disposed, such that the lamp of the present invention can be widely used. |
| US10955119B2 |
Wearable illumination apparatus
The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of illumination technology, and in particular, a wearable illumination apparatus is disclosed, which comprises: a body, the body being bendable; and a first light source, the first light source being fixed to the body and able to be bent together with the body. The wearable illumination apparatus is provided with the first light source that is bendable; and when the wearable illumination apparatus is worn around the head of a user, the wearable illumination apparatus can be bent into the contour shape of the head of the user. In this case, the first light source forms an arc-shaped light source, so that the wearable illumination apparatus provides a wider illumination range than those of the headlamps on the market, and the user does not need to repeatedly adjust the angle of a main lamp or move the main lamp to make an illumination area of the main lamp be within a desired range by the user, thereby facilitating use of the user. |
| US10955118B2 |
Light fixture installation apparatus and methods
A foldable mounting collar includes first and second collar segments. Each collar segment includes a planar annular segment that substantially subtends a semicircle, a collar flange that, when the planar annular segment is horizontal, extends vertically downward along an inner periphery of the planar annular segment, such that the collar flange forms a cylindrical portion, and two hinge flanges that, when the planar annular segment is horizontal, extend upwardly from each end of the semicircle formed by each planar annular segment. The mounting collar further includes pivot means that hingedly couple pairs of the hinge flanges of the collar segments. The second collar segment can rotate, relative to the first collar segment, through at least a polar angle range sufficient for the mounting collar to fit through an aperture having a diameter defined by the cylindrical portions of the collar flanges when both collar segments are horizontal. |
| US10955114B2 |
Phosphor and light-emitting apparatus
The phosphor according to an aspect of the present disclosure contains a crystal phase having a chemical composition CexYyLa3-x-ySi6N11, where x and y satisfy 0 |
| US10955112B2 |
Adjustable optic and lighting device assembly
A lighting device includes: a light source; an optic device to pass at least some light from the light source; an optic assembly including a holding member having an interior volume to contain the optic device; and a housing member having a first curved surface defining a cavity to receive at least a portion of the holding member. The holding member has an outer surface having a curvature that slideably engages with the first curved surface of the housing member when the optic assembly is pivoted about the light source. The optic device includes a recessed bottom surface facing the light source, one or more reflective elements arranged on the recessed bottom surface to refract light received from the light source at a critical angle, and an emitting surface opposite the recessed bottom surface to internally reflect the light refracted by the one or more reflective elements to be absorbed. |
| US10955110B2 |
Precollimator for a lighting device
The disclosure describes a precollimator for a lighting device, including: a) a number of first collimator units each having an entry face and an exit plane, wherein for each first collimator unit the exit plane is wider than the entry face in a first direction and the entry face and the exit plane have the same width in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and b) a second collimator unit having an entry plane and an exit face, wherein the exit face is wider than the entry plane in the second direction, and wherein the exit plane of each first collimator unit is optically connected to the entry plane of the second collimator unit, wherein the precollimator is joined together from at least two components. The disclosure further describes such lighting device and a method to manufacture such precollimator. |
| US10955107B1 |
Vehicle headlight
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight that ensures improving usage efficiency of light focusing of light emitted from a light source. A vehicle headlight (1) has a main reflecting mirror (10) having an elliptic main reflecting surface (10a) and a light source (8) positioned at a first focal point (F1) of the main reflecting surface (10) and disposed opposed to the main reflecting surface (10). The vehicle headlight includes a reflection type polarizing plate (13) disposed between the main reflecting mirror (10) and a second focal point (F2) of the main reflecting mirror (10), an auxiliary reflecting mirror (11) that is disposed opposed to the reflection type polarizing plate (13) and reflects reflected polarized light (B12) by the reflection type polarizing plate (13) again to focus the reflected polarized light at the second focal point (F2) of the main reflecting surface (10), and a quarter-wave plate (14) that is disposed between the reflection type polarizing plate (13) and the auxiliary reflecting mirror (11) and disposed between the auxiliary reflecting mirror (11) and the second focal point (F2) of the main reflecting mirror (10). |
| US10955105B2 |
Vehicle lamp
A vehicle lamp is provided with an upper light source and a lower light source spaced apart from the upper light source in a height direction. A reflector has a central optical axis extending a forward direction and oriented between the upper and lower light source. The reflector has first and second arrays of reflective surfaces. The first array of first reflective surfaces reflects light emitted from the upper light source in a first light pattern in the direction of the central optical axis. The second array of second reflective surfaces reflecting light emitted from the lower light source in a second light pattern in the direction of the central optical axis. At least one of the first reflective surfaces is oriented between two second reflective surfaces in the height direction. |
| US10955104B2 |
Lighting apparatus for vehicles
A lighting apparatus for vehicles with a housing sealed by a transparent covering panel, containing a light source unit and an optical unit for producing a predetermined light function, wherein the optical unit has a hologram element and/or diffractive element in which diffraction information for producing the light function is contained, wherein optics are disposed downstream of the hologram element and/or the diffractive element in the light beam path, so that light of different orders of diffraction emerging from the hologram element and/or the diffractive element produce different light functions. |
| US10955103B2 |
Light module with light beam scanning, notably for motor vehicles, provided with a focusing system having small dimensions, and motor vehicle light device comprising such a light module
A light module having light beam scanning, notably for motor vehicles, including a light source configured for generating a light beam which has a slow axis and a fast axis, a wavelength conversion element having a conversion surface, and scanning means arranged for scanning the conversion surface with the light beam, the light module including moreover a focussing system arranged for focussing the light beam onto the conversion element and for adapting the width of the light beam to the dimensions of the scanning means, the focussing system including a lens convergent along the fast and slow axes, the lens being provided with an input dioptre and an output dioptre of the light beam, the input dioptre being substantially cylindrical in such a way as to make the light beam converge only along the fast axis until inducing a point of inversion of the image of the light source inside the lens before the light beam reaches the output dioptre. |
| US10955101B2 |
Lighting device comprising separator sheet
The disclosure relates to a lighting device. The object to provide a lighting device comprising a light guide, wherein the amount of guided light is further optimized, is solved in that the lighting device comprises: a light-emitting element with a light-emitting face; the light guide having a light entry face, the light guide being configured to guide light emitted by the light-emitting element by means of total internal reflection; and a separator sheet comprising a first face and a second face, wherein the first face is arranged in direct contact to the light entry face, wherein the second face is arranged opposite the light-emitting face, wherein the separator sheet is arranged such that a minimum distance between the light-emitting face and the light entry face is 300 μm or less, and wherein the separator sheet is arranged such that a gap is provided between the light-emitting element and the separator sheet at least in sections. The invention further relates to a method for production of such a lighting device and to an automotive head light comprising an inventive lighting device. |
| US10955090B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling pressure in a cryogenic energy storage system
A cryogenic energy storage system comprises at least one cryogenic fluid storage tank having an output; a primary conduit through which a stream of cryogenic fluid may flow from the output of the fluid storage tank to an exhaust; a pump within the primary conduit downstream of the output of the tank for pressurising the cryogenic fluid stream; evaporative means within the primary conduit downstream of the pump for vaporising the pressurised cryogenic fluid stream; at least one expansion stage within the primary conduit downstream of the evaporative means for expanding the vaporised cryogenic fluid stream and for extracting work therefrom; a secondary conduit configured to divert at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid stream from the primary conduit and reintroduce it to the fluid storage tank; and pressure control means within the secondary conduit for controlling the flow of the diverted cryogenic fluid stream and thereby controlling the pressure within the tank. The secondary conduit is coupled to the primary conduit downstream of one or more of the at least one expansion stages. |
| US10955089B2 |
Set for dispensing liquefied gas
A set (10) for dispensing liquefied gas from a vessel (100) comprises a supporting structure (1), a pump (2) and a conditioning system (4). The supporting structure is designed for maintaining both the pump and the conditioning system inside the vessel when the set is in operation condition for dispensing a flow of liquefied gas. The set allows easy handling, simple fitting to the vessel and easy removal from the vessel because a main part of said set can be handled as a one-block element. |
| US10955084B2 |
Redundant parallel positioning table device
A positioning table device with six or fewer degrees of freedom and redundancy. Four modular legs extend from a base to a table. Each leg has three joints. In one embodiment, the bottom joint is planar and active, the middle joint is prismatic and passive, and the top joint is spherical and passive. In another embodiment, fewer than six degrees of freedom is achieved by reducing the number of degrees of freedom of selected joints. In another embodiment, the middle joint is active, and the bottom and top joints are passive. |
| US10955083B2 |
Launching pipeline pigs
A pipeline pig launching device has a tubular body that accommodates a set of pipeline pigs arranged in series, such that respective chambers art defined within the body in which to apply launch pressure behind each pig. The body has an open end through which pigs of the set may be launched in succession and a closed end opposed to the open end. A fluid inlet communicates with one of the chambers defined between the closed end and a pig nearest to that closed end. A passageway communicates with another fluid inlet that passageway extending through at least one pig to one or more other chambers defined between successive pigs of the set. |
| US10955076B2 |
High-pressure resistant screw connection for pipe or hose lines with a tapered thread
A connecting device for pipelines or hose lines with a threaded body and with a pipe-like end piece which can be inserted into a receptacle formed on the threaded body and which can be fitted therein by means of a swivel nut screwed onto the threaded body, wherein the receptacle of the threaded body has the shape of a widening cone and the circumferential surface of the end piece that engages in the receptacle has a conical design, is characterized in that the circumferential surface (12) of the threaded body (10) that bears the external thread (30) has, in the direction of the front end of said surface, an inclined profile directed opposite to the cone of the receptacle (11), and the swivel nut (17) has, with its surface (18) bearing the internal thread (31), a profile complementary thereto, and the external thread (30) and internal thread (31) are designed as tapered threads in such a way that a radial force emanating from the tapered thread with the swivel nut (17) screwed on is directed opposite to the radial force exerted, with the connecting device mounted, by the conical end piece (13) onto the receiving cone (11) formed in the threaded body (10). |
| US10955074B2 |
Threaded pipe connections and sockets for making the same in situ
A pipe socket for making a threaded pipe connection that includes: a socket body defining a threaded portion, a cavity and a stop; an O-ring positioned within the cavity; and a plurality of interrupted series of tapping threads defined on an internal surface of the socket body in the threaded portion. The cavity is configured to receive a pipe and the stop is configured to stop a pipe received within the cavity. Each of the interrupted series of tapping threads is circumferentially equidistant from the adjacent interrupted series of tapping threads. Further, each of the interrupted series of tapping threads comprises threads arranged axially on the internal surface of the socket body for forming threads on a pipe received within the cavity. |
| US10955070B2 |
Receiving device for receiving a line-shaped component
A receiving device is provided for receiving a line-shaped component. The receiving device has an arrangement region which extends in the longitudinal direction and a receiving opening which extends in the longitudinal direction for introducing the line-shaped component into the arrangement region. The receiving opening has a first opening width in a central region extending in the longitudinal direction. The first opening width is constant in the entire central region. A second opening width in at least one end region is larger than the first opening width. |
| US10955068B2 |
Composite pipeline sleeper with hollow outer shell and rigid internal reinforcement
A composite pipeline sleeper features a rotationally molded outer shell, and an internal reinforcement structure that is disposed within, is materially distinct from, and is more rigid than, said rotationally molded outer shell. A topside of said pipeline sleeper comprises a cradle-shaped area for seated receipt of a pipe there atop. |
| US10955067B2 |
Methods and systems for enhanced microfluidic processing
Methods and systems are provided for a microfluidic cartridge including a high performance actuator useful for analyte detection, labeling and analysis. Microfluidic processing systems are to carry out chemical or biochemical reactions, or sequences of reactions, with small volumes (typically between 1 microliter and 10 milliliters) of reactants and products. A microfluidic processing system can comprise a network of tubes interfaced with discrete components such as valves and sensors, or an integrated device made of plastic, glass, metal, or other materials, or a combination of materials, with components such as valves and sensors built into the device and connected by flow passageways formed in the material. |
| US10955065B2 |
Locking apparatus for a rotating valve actuator
A locking apparatus for a rotatable lever of the type used to control a valve. The apparatus is formed from a wedge-like base element, a wedge-like blocking element and a plurality of guide posts. The base element is fixedly attached to the valve body. The blocking element is penetrated by plural guide passages. Each guide post passes through a corresponding guide passage in the blocking element, and is threaded into the base element. A spring is interposed between the blocking element and the base element. When the spring is uncompressed, the blocking element obstructs rotation of the lever. External pressure in opposition to the spring can urge the blocking element toward the base element. When the blocking element is so positioned, the lever may be rotated. |
| US10955064B2 |
Solenoid valve assembly and method of assembling the same
A solenoid valve may have a fixed member having a tube portion. The valve may also have a mobile plunger positioned in the tube portion, the mobile plunger being axially movable between a first and a second position. The valve may also have a rod coupled to the mobile plunger and having a spool for control of fluid flow, the rod being axially movable in the tube portion. The valve may also have an electromagnetic coil positioned externally to the fixed member, where the rod has a coupling end and the mobile plunger has a coupling element where the coupling end hookingly couples to the coupling element. |
| US10955059B2 |
Faucet including dual water outlets
A faucet assembly including a spout with dual flow outlets resulting in two separate streams of water from a discharge outlet that combine into a single stream a distance below the flow outlets. In an illustrative embodiment, the faucet spout is formed is formed through additive manufacturing. |
| US10955055B2 |
Spiral wound gasket
A spiral wound gasket includes a resilient sealing element including spirally wound, alternating layers of metal banding and winding fill material that incorporates a significant quantity of talc with quantities of fiber and binder. Either or both of an outer guide ring and inner guide ring may extend from peripheral outer and inner surfaces of the sealing element. Embodiments of the gasket overlay one or both axial faces of the sealing element with a layer facing material that incorporates a significant quantity of talc with quantities of fiber and binder. |
| US10955054B2 |
Mechanical seal arrangement and well bore conveyor device
A mechanical seal arrangement includes a first mechanical seal with a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring, which define a sealing gap in between them. The mechanical seal arrangement includes a first sealing space that is filled with a sealing liquid. The first mechanical seal seals off the sealing space against a surrounding area, a first piston arrangement with a piston element and flexible wall areas that define a first piston interior space, wherein the first piston interior space is in fluid connection with the first sealing space. A piston outer surface of the piston element is in fluid connection with the surrounding area, and a first pre-stressing appliance that exerts a first preload force (F1) on the piston element of the first piston arrangement. |
| US10955050B2 |
Drive control device for vehicle and control method for vehicle
A drive control device for a vehicle is configured: to determine whether or not a sound pressure level inside a vehicle cabin becomes a predetermined value or less, under a state where it is predicted that a meshing-type engagement mechanism is changed from a disengaged state to an engaged state; and to prohibit the meshing-type engagement mechanism from entering the disengaged state, when it is determined that the sound pressure level becomes the predetermined value or less. In the disengaged state, transmission of a power output from a driving force source to driving wheels as drive energy is interrupted. |
| US10955046B2 |
Control device
A control device that includes an electronic control unit that is configured to perform, when specific control that causes a change in a state of a hydraulic circuit in the hydraulic control device that involves an increase in hydraulic pressure at the discharge port is performed in a state in which a rotational speed of the electric motor is a first rotational speed, torque increase control that controls drive of the electric motor such that torque of the electric motor starts to increase before hydraulic pressure at the discharge port increases by the specific control. |
| US10955042B2 |
Vehicle differential device
A vehicle differential device comprises: a differential casing rotatably disposed around a rotational axis; and a pair of side gears rotatably supported by the differential casing and supported in a thrust direction via an annular bearing surface formed in the differential casing to mesh with a pair of pinion gears. The differential casing is provided with a first lubricating oil passage formed in a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential side of the bearing surface in the differential casing, and a first guidance projection projected toward the rotational axis in the first lubricating oil passage and guiding a lubricating oil flowing in a circumferential direction in the first lubricating oil passage due to rotation of the differential casing around the rotational axis, toward a first meshing portion between a first side gear of the pair of side gears and the pinion gears. |
| US10955039B2 |
Transmission and actuator
A transmission includes a first shaft that is rotatable in a circumferential direction about a central axis extending in one direction, a second shaft that is rotatable in the circumferential direction and in series with the first shaft in an axial direction in which the central axis extends, a tubular housing, an internal gear including an internal tooth portion, and held by an inner surface of the housing, an annular external gear connected to the second shaft, and including an external tooth portion that partially meshes with the internal tooth portion, and a wave generator connected to the first shaft to deform the external gear such that meshing positions between the internal tooth portion and the external tooth portion shift in the circumferential direction. The internal gear and the housing are defined by separate members. At least one of a joining surface of the internal gear joined to the housing, and a joining surface of the housing joined to the internal gear, includes a recessed portion recessed in radial directions centered on the central axis. At least a portion of the recessed portion overlaps with the internal tooth portion when viewed in the radial directions. |
| US10955038B1 |
Hydro-mechanical hybrid transmission device with multiple power distribution modes and control method thereof
A hydro-mechanical hybrid transmission device and a control method thereof are provided. The device includes an input shaft, a split mechanism, a mechanical transmission assembly, a hydraulic transmission assembly, and an output shaft, wherein the input shaft is connected, through the split mechanism, to the mechanical transmission assembly and the hydraulic transmission assembly that are connected in parallel, and the mechanical transmission assembly and the hydraulic transmission assembly are both connected to the output shaft. The mechanical transmission assembly includes a front planetary-gear-set assembly and a rear planetary-gear-set assembly. The front planetary-gear-set assembly and the rear planetary-gear-set assembly are connected in series. The control method includes three modes of transmission: pure hydraulic transmission, hydro-mechanical hybrid transmission, and pure mechanical transmission are implemented through combination and engagement/disengagement of gear-shift components. |
| US10955034B2 |
Rolling guide apparatus
A rolling guide apparatus having a first member 1, a second member 2, and a rolling body unit 5, the apparatus including a guide path G of the rolling body unit 5 including a rolling path R configured to have a rolling groove 1a and a rolling groove 3a, and a circulation path C allowing communication between a start point and an end point of the rolling path R, the rolling body unit 5 being configured to have a plurality of first rolling bodies 5a and a plurality of second rolling bodies 5b each composed of an elastic material, at least one second rolling body 5b being always positioned in the circulation path C. The rolling guide apparatus is easy to be assembled and is capable of performing stable operations. |
| US10955032B2 |
Switching module
The invention relates to a switching module for coupling a drive module to an output module in an automatic transmission where the drive module and the output module are rotatably mounted around a common transmission axis. The switching module includes a switching unit rotatably mounted about the common transmission axis and couples with one of the modules in a movable and rotationally fixed manner. The switching unit includes an element for coupling the drive module and the output module in a force-fitting manner and a power transfer element for coupling the drive module and the output module in a form-fitting manner. |
| US10955031B2 |
Multispeed transmission
A multi-speed transmission having drive and output shafts, front-mounted planetary gearsets, rear-mounted planetary gearsets and six shift elements. Selective engagement of shift elements selectively renders a drive shaft speed and speeds generated in the front gearsets for achieving a reverse gear and twelve forward gears via the rear gearsets transmissible as an output speed to the output shaft. Four shift elements are assigned to the front gearsets and two are assigned to the rear gearsets. At least one front gearset is rigidly connected to an element of the rear gearsets, resulting in six different output speeds of the front gearsets being transmissible to the rear gearsets. If normalized to the drive shaft input speed, one output speed is smaller than 0, three output speeds are between 0 and 1, one output speed is equal to 1 and one output speed is greater than 1. |
| US10955028B2 |
Transmission belt
A transmission belt that is to be mounted on pulleys, for transmitting a force between the pulleys. The transmission belt includes: at least one endless annular hoop; and plate-shaped elements that are held by the at least hoop such that the elements are arranged in a circumferential direction of the transmission belt. The elements, each of which has a pair of flank surfaces at its widthwise opposite ends, are to be clamped between conical surfaces of a substantially V-shaped annular groove of each of the pulleys. A flank angle of each of the flank surfaces is larger than a cone-generating angle of each of the conical surfaces. The elements include first and second elements, such that each of the first elements is to be in contact at the flank surfaces with the conical surfaces, and has a width larger than a width of each of the second elements. |
| US10955017B2 |
Smart braking devices, systems, and methods with resin features
Various braking devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the braking device includes a support element, a block of friction material supported by the support element, at least one piezoceramic sensor supported by the support element and interposed between the block of friction material (and the support element, and a protective element located at the piezoceramic sensor and embedding the latter. The protective element can have one or more layers of resin-based material applied to protect the piezoceramic sensor and direct a predetermined part of the external compression force onto an area of the support element surrounding the piezoceramic sensor. In some embodiments, a signal transduction device is provided and includes at least one piezoceramic sensor supported on a support element and has an integral protective coating having properties of mechanical and temperature resistance. |
| US10955015B2 |
Method and device for operating a drive train
A vehicle drive train, has a clutch unit actuatable by an actuating unit, and a sensor for determining the coupling status. The actuating unit includes an electromagnetic actuator having a piston movable from a starting to an end position. At least the piston and the clutch are acted on by a transmission fluid. Operating the drive train can include: a) actuating the actuator and moving the piston from the starting position; b) ascertaining a measured sensor value; c) ascertaining a temperature of the transmission fluid by measuring an electrical resistance of the actuator and/or measuring a first time interval between actuation of the actuator according to step a) and the detection by the sensor of an intermediate position that is reached by the piston; d) determining an actual position of the piston based on the measured sensor value and the temperature; and e) moving the piston, starting from the determined actual position, into the end position. |
| US10955012B2 |
Electromagnetic connecting device
An electromagnetic connecting device includes a flange of a hub, an armature supported by the flange via a leaf spring, a rotor accommodating an electromagnetic coil, and an anti-vibration member. When an electric current is supplied to the electromagnetic coil, the armature moves in the axial direction of the hub against the spring force of the leaf spring, and is attracted to the rotor. The leaf spring includes a moving portion that moves in the axial direction together with the movement of the armature. The anti-vibration member is fixed to the moving portion of the leaf spring. The anti-vibration member includes a stopper that comes in contact with the flange, and a damper that comes in contact with the armature. With this configuration, an electromagnetic connecting device capable of reducing an impact sound both when the armature is attracted and released can be manufactured at a low manufacturing cost. |
| US10955007B2 |
Bearing retaining mechanism
One object is to reduce an effect of fastening of a restriction member, thereby to increase durability of a bearing retaining mechanism. The present invention relates to a bearing retaining mechanism. A bearing retaining mechanism according to an embodiment includes: a first member having an inner peripheral surface including an internal screw portion; a second member disposed on the inner peripheral surface; a rolling member configured to roll on a rolling surface formed on the second member; a crankshaft rotatably supported on the second member via the rolling member; and a restriction member supported on the first member and the second member, the restriction member including an external screw portion screwed on the internal screw portion of the first member. |
| US10955006B2 |
Radial shaft seal with dynamic exclusion of contamination
A sealing arrangement includes a housing including a bore and a shaft extending through the bore in the housing. An inner annular sealing member includes an inner surface press fit on the shaft and having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting fins on an outer surface. An outer annular sealing member is press fit in the bore and includes a first end supporting a seal lip that sealingly engages an outer surface of the inner annular sealing member. The outer annular sealing member includes a second end that is disposed directly radially outward of and spaced from the radially outwardly projecting fins of the inner annular sealing member. When the shaft rotates, the radially outwardly projecting fins pro-actively/dynamically move air, contamination, particles, fluids etc. axially away from the sealing area. |
| US10955001B2 |
Magnetic bearing assembly
A radial magnetic bearing assembly having an unsymmetrical stator. The assembly comprises fewer or smaller electromagnets, and thus capacity, in the two lower quadrants below the rotor in use, in comparison to the electromagnets, and thus capacity, in the two upper quadrants above the rotor in use. This creates space in the two lower quadrants that can advantageously be used to move for example instrumentation and cooling from other places of the assembly to make the bearing assembly compactor, and also to be able to put instrumentation and cooling where it is best needed, close to the rotor. |
| US10954999B2 |
Integrated journal bearing
An integrated journal bearing (IJB) includes a shaft extending in an axial direction, a housing through which the shaft extends in the axial direction, the housing surrounding the shaft in a radial direction, an active magnetic bearing (AMB) arranged within the housing and surrounding the shaft in the radial direction, and at least a first fluid film journal bearing (JB) arranged within the housing and surrounding the shaft in the radial direction. The first JB is axially adjacent to the AMB such that first JB and the AMB do not share a common radial clearance, while both are commonly flooded with oil. A controller in signal communication with the AMB can be variously configured to supply current thereto to operate the AMB by controlling a magnetic force generated thereby. |
| US10954996B2 |
Turbocharger bearing
A fluid bearing for operably connecting a shaft to a center housing of a turbocharger is provided. The fluid bearing includes a single-piece bearing sleeve defining a bore between first and second ends that each form a thrust face. The sleeve includes first and second bearing portions proximal to an associated one of the first and second ends, and a shank connecting the first and second bearing portions. Each of the first and second bearing portions includes an outer bearing surface defining a maximum outer diameter, and each of the first and second bearing portions includes an inner bearing surface defining a minimum inner diameter for radially supporting the shaft in the bore. The inner bearing surface is a continuous surface free of grooves. The sleeve has a wall thickness defining oil passages spaced from the inner bearing surface and configured to supply oil to the thrust face. |
| US10954993B2 |
Electronically-releasable suction cup assembly secured to an appliance
An electronically-releasable suction cup assembly is designed to releasably secure an object to a surface. The suction cup assembly includes a suction cup secured to the object. The suction cup has a cavity and is configured to be releasably secured to the surface. The suction cup assembly further includes a gas generating cell coupled to the suction cup. The gas generating cell is configured to selectively eject fluid into the cavity of the suction cup to release the suction cup from the surface. |
| US10954987B2 |
Plug screw
The present invention relates to a screw, in particular a plug screw, having a screw shank (1), a screw head (2) and a tapering screw tip (4), and having a screw thread (6) that extends at least over a portion of the screw shank (1) and over the screw tip (4), the flight (6a) of said screw thread (6) having a triangular cross section as seen in longitudinal section, with two thread flanks (8, 9) that intersect at a flank tip (7). The flank tip (7) is rounded, wherein a radius of the rounding of the rounded flank tip (7) is selected to be from 1% to 10% of the nominal diameter of the screw. The thread flanks (8, 9) are each formed from two flank portions which enclose an obtuse angle with one another. |
| US10954982B2 |
Construction nailing screw
A construction nailing screw is configured to be used in like manner as traditional nails but rotate during driving through threading, providing retention of the construction nailing screw in the construction material(s), and the ability to be removed from the construction material(s) by reverse rotation. The construction nailing screw is characterized by a shank with a head on one longitudinal end, and a tip on another longitudinal end, with external threading that provides minimal friction during installation and mild resistance during removal, and two cutouts extending along the exterior of the shank and through the external threading. The head allows both a manual installation tool and an automatic installation tool to strike the head and drive (install) the nailing screw. The external threading has an upper side with a high pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a lower side with a low pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank. |
| US10954981B2 |
Radial expansion coupling device
A radial expansion system for a fastener is disclosed. The radial expansion system can include a plurality of wedge guides. Each wedge guide can have at least one guide surface. The plurality of wedge guides can be operable to be movably arranged along an axis with the guide surfaces of adjacent wedge guides opposing one another. The radial expansion system can also include a plurality of expansion wedges. Each expansion wedge can have wedge surfaces configured to slidingly interface with the at least one guide surface. Each expansion wedge can also have a clamp surface operable to interface with an interior portion of a first component. The plurality of expansion wedges can be operable to be disposed between adjacent wedge guides such that the wedge surfaces interface with the opposing guide surfaces. A second component and the plurality of wedge guides can be operable to be drawn toward one another by a fastener to cause the plurality of expansion wedges to displace radially outward from the axis such that the clamping surfaces engage and apply a clamping force to the interior portion of the first component, and thereby couple the first and second components to one another. |
| US10954978B2 |
Fixed or sliding screw
The invention relates to a fixed or sliding screw with a screw head and a screw shaft which has a threaded section. The screw head has a torque transmitting section for rotating the fixed or sliding screw about a screw axis which is concentric to the screw head and the screw shaft. The screw head has a collar section at the screw head end facing the threaded section. A buffer element made of an elastic plastic is arranged on the collar section side facing away from the torque transmitting section, and a sliding disk is arranged on the buffer element side facing away from the collar section. |
| US10954977B2 |
Insert fastener with a compression sleeve
A two-part fastener with an insert and a compression sleeve. The insert is an internally-threaded fastener intended to be installed into a hole of a very hard panel. The insert itself is relatively hard with a knurled outer barrel portion and a flange at the bottom. A compression sleeve is made of relatively soft material and is preassembled around the barrel of the insert by friction fit. Upon installation into a panel with a blind hole having parallel sides, the compression sleeve is pressed into the panel and deforms outwardly between the insert and the side wall of the hole. Friction between the compression sleeve and the wall of the hole prevents torque out and pull out of the fastener from the panel. |
| US10954971B2 |
Servovalve
A servovalve includes: a fluid transfer valve assembly comprising a supply port and a control port; a moveable valve spool arranged to regulate flow of fluid from the supply port to the control port in response to a control signal; and a drive assembly configured to axially move the valve spool relative to the fluid transfer assembly in response to the control signal to regulate the fluid flow. The drive assembly comprises a piezoelectric actuator configured to vary the flow of fluid to respective ends of the valve spool in response to the control signal. |
| US10954966B2 |
Bootstrap accumulator containing integrated bypass valve
An apparatus includes a bootstrap accumulator having multiple fluid expansion volumes each configured to receive fluid. The bootstrap accumulator also includes a piston assembly configured to move within the fluid expansion volumes based on pressures within the fluid expansion volumes. The piston assembly includes (i) a fluid pathway that couples the fluid expansion volumes and (ii) a bypass valve configured to selectively open or block the fluid pathway. The piston assembly could also include multiple pistons and a connecting rod coupling the pistons. The fluid pathway could include a narrower path through a first portion of the connecting rod and a wider path through a second portion of the connecting rod. The bypass valve could include a ball and a spring configured to push the ball to block the narrower path through the first portion of the connecting rod. |
| US10954962B2 |
Vacuum pump
An object is to provide a vacuum pump that enables, without being affected by a flow rate of gas to be discharged, concentrated and efficient heating of only a stator component of an exhaust side gas channel that needs to be heated in order to prevent deposition of products and that also enables prevention of deposition of products in the exhaust side gas channel as a result of the heating, and improvement of pump emission performance. The vacuum pump has a rotor rotatably arranged on a pump base and a gas channel through which gas sucked by rotation of the gas is guided to an outlet port, and further includes heat insulating means for thermally insulating a stator component, which forms an exhaust side gas channel in the gas channel, from other components and heating means for heating the thermally insulated stator component. |
| US10954961B2 |
Blower device and blower system equipped with blower device
A blower device includes a housing including an intake chamber, an accommodation chamber communicating with the intake chamber, and an exhaust port, a motor provided in the accommodation chamber and including a coil, a fan provided on a rotating shaft of the motor, a sealing member configured to seal up the intake chamber, and a flow path of the air which is introduced into a gap between a first surface of the fan and the housing, is returned from a flow path hole provided in the housing and communicating with the intake chamber to an opening, and is introduced to a second surface of the fan opposed to the first surface by an air-blowing operation of the fan. |
| US10954960B2 |
Centrifugal compressor
A centrifugal compressor is equipped with a housing including a suction passage which accommodates an impeller. The suction passage is provided with a first opening portion formed at a position facing the impeller, a second opening portion formed on an upstream side of the first opening portion, a circulation flow path which allows the first opening portion and the second opening portion to communicate with each other and extends in an annular shape around a rotational axis of the impeller, and a plurality of guide vanes disposed in the circulation flow path. The circulation flow path includes a first region in which a plurality of guide vanes is disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction, and a second region in which no guide vane is disposed. The second region extends over a wider range in the circumferential direction than the interval between the guide vanes in the first region. |
| US10954958B2 |
Heat dissipation fan
The present invention relates to a heat dissipation fan, where the heat dissipation fan includes a fan frame and a fan blade, where the fan blade includes a hub and a plurality of double-layer blades evenly disposed around the hub, and a primary air intake area is formed between the double-layer blades; the double-layer blade includes a primary blade and a secondary blade, where the secondary blade is fixed on the primary blade, and a secondary air intake area is formed between the primary blade and the secondary blade; and when the heat dissipation fan works, an airflow enters the primary air intake area and the secondary air intake area of the heat dissipation fan through an air inlet of the heat dissipation fan, and forms a first airflow in the primary air intake area and a second airflow in the secondary air intake area, and the first airflow and the second airflow flow out through an air outlet of the heat dissipation fan. In the present invention, the structure of the fan blade of the heat dissipation fan is improved, and the secondary blade is designed on the primary blade, and the secondary air intake area and the air guiding groove are further formed. In this way, air pressure and airflow aggregation are increased when the double-layer blades rotate, thereby reducing resistance on an air intake side, increasing wind pressure and reducing noise. |
| US10954956B2 |
Fan
A fan includes a fan frame, an impeller, and at least a supporting member. The fan frame includes a bottom plate and a cover plate spaced from the bottom plate. The bottom plate and the cover plate together define a first accommodating space. The cover plate has an air inlet disposed in an axial direction. A side of the fan frame is provided with at least an air outlet. The impeller is disposed in the first accommodating space and includes a hub and a plurality of blades. A cross-sectional area of the hub increases gradually along a direction from the cover plate to the bottom plate. The blades are disposed around the periphery of the hub. The supporting member is disposed between the bottom plate and the cover plate for supporting the cover plate. |
| US10954955B2 |
Centrifugal fan assembly
A centrifugal fan assembly comprises a blade assembly integrally formed. The blade assembly comprises a plurality of blades integrally formed, wherein each blade of the plurality of blades has a twisted shape with a first portion of a hub end of the each blade facing a first adjacent blade, and a second portion of a outer end of the each blade diagonal to the first portion of the hub end facing a second adjacent blade, a fixing portion integrally connected to the blades. The centrifugal fan assembly comprises at least one opening formed in the fixing portion and a hub plate comprising a recessed portion and a convex portion enabled to couple to the blade assembly. The concave portion is provided to correspond to a shape of the fixing portion and the convex portion is provided to correspond to a shape of the at least one opening. |
| US10954949B2 |
Turbocharger with control device
A control device for mechanically actuating a component may include a housing surrounding a housing interior, at least one fastening sleeve integrally disposed on the housing, and at least one connection opening disposed at the at least one fastening sleeve. The at least one fastening sleeve may surround a fastening opening into which a pin-shaped fastening element may be insertable. One end of the at least one connection opening may lead to a sleeve inner side. The at least one fastening sleeve may be arranged at a housing outer side. The fastening opening may extend outside of the housing interior. Another end of the at least one connection opening may lead to a housing inner side. The at least one connection opening may be covered on the housing inner side via a membrane penetrable by gas and impenetrable by liquid. |
| US10954943B2 |
Compressor comprising a variable volume index valve
A compressor is provided including a housing having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet. A compression mechanism within the housing is configured to receive a vapor at the suction inlet and to provide a compressor vapor to the discharge outlet. A volume index valve is arranged near the discharge outlet. The volume index valve includes a piston positioned within a hollow chamber and configured to move between a closed position and an open position to provide a bypass flow path from an intermediate portion of the compression mechanism to the discharge outlet. The piston is configured to move within the chamber automatically in response to the operating pressure of the vapor within the compressor. |
| US10954940B2 |
Compressor having capacity modulation assembly
A compressor may include a shell, first and second scrolls, a seal assembly, a modulation control chamber, and a modulation control valve. The first scroll may include a first end plate having a biasing passage extending therethrough. The seal assembly may isolate a discharge pressure region from a suction pressure region. The seal assembly and the first scroll may define an axial biasing chamber therebetween that communicates with the axial biasing chamber and a first pocket between the first and second scrolls. The modulation control chamber may be fluidly coupled with the biasing chamber by a first passage. The modulation control valve may be fluidly coupled with the modulation control chamber by a second passage and movable between a first position allowing communication between the second passage and the suction pressure region and a second position restricting communication between the second passage and the suction pressure region. |
| US10954939B2 |
Gear pumps
Disclosed is a gear pump (10) comprising a contra rotating gear element pair (30 and 40) mounted within a housing (20), each gear element having complementary gear teeth sets providing a pumping action in use, said teeth being formed from an annulus (34 and 44) of generally rigid construction mounted on a relatively flexible inner section (35 and 45), the gear pair being mounted such that their respective annuli are biased into resilient contact with the housing to provide a sliding seal. |
| US10954936B2 |
Axial piston machine with recess in the region of the loading pressure channel
An axial piston machine includes a housing, an actuating piston, and a closing screw. The housing includes a cylinder bore, a recess, and a fluid channel. An end of the bore open to an outside of the housing has an internal thread. The recess is located in a region of the internal thread, and is deeper than a thread depth of the internal thread so that a floor region of the recess is free from thread turns. The piston is linearly moveable in the cylinder bore, and is configured to adjust a displacement volume of the machine. The screw is screwed into the internal thread so as to form a closed chamber between the piston and the screw. The fluid channel opens into the floor region of the recess, and is fluidically connected to the cylinder chamber. |
| US10954935B2 |
Active hydraulic ripple cancellation methods and systems
Presented herein are systems and methods for attenuating flow ripple generated by a hydraulic pump. In certain aspects, a method and system for operating a hydraulic positive displacement pump according to a stabilized command profile are disclosed, such that flow ripple generated by operation of the pump according to the stabilized command profile is attenuated as compared to operation of the pump according to a corresponding nominal command profile. In other aspects, a pressure-balanced active buffer is disclosed that allow for at least partially cancelling flow ripple in a hydraulic circuit comprising a pump. In another aspect, a method for generating ripple maps for a pump is disclosed. Such ripple maps may be used, for example, to determine the stabilized command profile used to operate the pump, or may be used by the pressure-balanced active buffer to counteract ripple in the hydraulic circuit. |
| US10954934B2 |
Pumping installation comprising a pneumatic pump and a valve for regulating supply of the pump with compressed gas
The pumping installation (16) comprises a pneumatic pump (22) for pumping a fluid (12) and a system (24) for supplying the pneumatic pump (22) with compressed gas. The supply system (24) comprises a source (34) of compressed gas and a fluidic connection (36) that fluidly connects the source (34) to the pneumatic pump (22). The pumping installation (16) also comprises a system (38) for controlling the supply of the compressed gas to the pneumatic pump (22), wherein the control system (38) comprises a valve (40) mounted on the fluidic connection (36) and switchable between a blocking state, in which the valve (40) prevents the flow of compressed gas between the source (34) and the pneumatic pump (22), and a passing state, in which the valve (40) allows the circulation of compressed gas between the source (34) and the pneumatic pump (22). |
| US10954932B2 |
Electromagnetic cooling fan
An electromagnetic cooling fan includes a thin blade connected to an elongated beam. The beam is simply supported at its two ends with two supporting members. The beam has a magnet attached to it at the center. An electromagnet is used to generate cyclic force on the magnet, causing the beam and the blade to oscillate, generating air flow for cooling purpose. |
| US10954930B2 |
Method of calibrating a pump output
Embodiments of the present disclosure includes a method of calibrating a pump in a system to determine a minimum pump duty cycle needed. The system comprises a pump, a plurality of application lines downstream of the pump, and a flow control device in each application line. The method determines the minimum pump duty cycle to achieve total flow in the system, achieves a minimum pressure in the system, and ensures that the flow control device is not at or beyond a maximum open position. |
| US10954927B2 |
Hydraulic pump control system
A hydraulic pump system includes a pump control system operable to reduce electric current required at the start of the pump and reduce starting torque for the pump. The pump control system can include a gap between a spring seat and a valve spool such that the valve spool need not overcome a biasing force from a swash plate when the swash plate changes from its maximum displacement position to its neutral position. |
| US10954923B2 |
Wind-turbine rotor blade, and wind turbine having same
A wind-turbine rotor blade, comprising a blade root and a blade tip, a flange arranged on the blade root side for fastening the rotor blade to a rotor hub of a wind turbine, and a pitch bearing for adjusting the angle of attack of the rotor blade. The rotor blade has a non-pitched carrier, on which the flange is embodied, wherein the pitch bearing is fastened to the carrier and is spaced apart from the flange toward the blade tip. |
| US10954921B2 |
Shadow detection
The detecting a shadow is determined by a modeling of at least a portion of a wind turbine. First and second sensors are arranged relative to the model such that the first sensor detects a light and the second sensor detects a shadow during the conditions where the shadow would be produced. |
| US10954920B2 |
Transport frame for a wind turbine blade
Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and configured for transporting a root end or tip portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, the frame being stackable with similar frames, the frame having four top shoulders and four feet, the feet of the frame being conformed to be stackable on corresponding shoulders of another similar frame, wherein each shoulder is provided with a locating finger, each finger having a height above the shoulder, and wherein each foot is provided with a recess conformed to receive a locating finger, and wherein a first locating finger has a height greater than each of the three remaining locating fingers. |
| US10954917B2 |
System and method for reducing wind turbine loads by yawing the nacelle to a predetermined position based on rotor imbalance
A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine includes determining a wind speed at the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining an operational state of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether a rotor of the wind turbine is imbalanced beyond a predetermined threshold when the operational state corresponds to a predetermined operational state as a rotor imbalance beyond the predetermined threshold is indicative of a pitch fault in one or more of the rotor blades. In addition, the method includes yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine to a predetermined angular position when the wind speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold and the rotor is imbalanced beyond the predetermined threshold. |
| US10954916B2 |
Wind turbine blade with anchoring sites
The invention relates to a wind turbine blade having integrated thermoplastic anchoring sites for attachment of surface mounted devices, a method for producing such blade and a wind turbine equipped with such blade. |
| US10954915B2 |
Wind turbine blade manufacture
Method of bonding a shear web (50) to a wind turbine blade shell (75) and the obtained blade, wherein the shear web (50) comprises a web and a mounting flange (56) oriented transverse to the web (50). The method involves: providing a seal (66, 68) on the mounting flange (56) of the shear web (50) such that when the mounting flange (56) is positioned against the blade shell (75), a cavity (76) is defined by the seal between the mounting flange (56) and the blade shell (75). The air of the cavity (76) is then evacuated and adhesive is injected into the cavity (76). The use of pieces (80) to keep the distance between the mounting flange (56) and the blade shell (75) is preferred. |
| US10954911B2 |
Control and communication module for light-duty combustion engine
—In at least some implementations, a control and communication system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a circuit card, an ignition circuit carried by the circuit card and configured to control an ignition timing of the engine, and a short range wireless communication circuit carried by the circuit card. The communication circuit may include a Bluetooth Low Energy antenna. The ignition circuit may include an ignition capacitor that when drained induces an ignition pulse adapted to fire a spark plug. The system may further include a microprocessor that is coupled to and controls the ignition and communication circuits, and/or a clocking circuit adapted to provide a clocking frequency associated with the timing of the ignition circuit and associated with the communication circuit via a short range wireless communication protocol. The clocking circuit may include a crystal oscillator. |
| US10954910B2 |
Starting device for starting a combustion engine and handheld work apparatus having said starting device
A starting device for a combustion engine includes a housing relative to which a rope pulley, a spring housing and an entrainer can rotate about a rotation axis. A coupling unit produces a rotationally-fixed connection between the rope pulley and the spring housing in response to a rotational movement of the rope pulley in a starting direction. The spring housing has a spring receiving space for a tension spring and is connected to an entrainer by the spring. The coupling unit has a first coupling element and a second coupling element, which interact at a contact location which is at a spacing (d) to the rotation axis and is at least as large as the maximum spacing (c) of the tension spring to the rotation axis. |
| US10954909B2 |
Electromagnetic switch device for starter
A movable iron core, a primary attracting and holding coil, a resistor electrically connected to an upstream start-up electric contact, and an auxiliary attracting and holding coil electrically connected to the upstream start-up electric contact are included. The movable iron core displaces a pinion from a separated position to a contact position. After the pinion is displaced from the separated position to the contact position, the upstream start-up electric contact is electrically disconnected from another start-up electric contact to cut off a current to the motor, and the movable iron core displaces the pinion from the contact position to an engaged position with the magnetomotive force of the primary attracting and holding coil and a magnetomotive force of the auxiliary attracting and holding coil. After the pinion is displaced from the contact position to the engaged position, main electric contacts are electrically connected to resume electric connection to the motor. |
| US10954908B2 |
Method for managing a transient phase of the starting of a heat engine by an electric motor
Disclosed is a method for managing the starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid drive system including a combustion engine and an electric machine, as well as a drive shaft, the electric machine producing torque to start the combustion engine and drive the drive shaft at least during an initial phase of the start. In a transient starting phase, the combustion engine drives the drive shaft and the electric machine is stopped. The electric machine is regulated, during the initial phase and transient phases, with a first engine speed setpoint. The transient phase begins when the drive shaft reaches the first engine speed setpoint and remains steady. Torque control produced by the electric machine during the transient starting phase being configured so that the electric machine is stopped as soon as the control determines that the torque produced by the electric machine is tending toward zero torque. |
| US10954905B2 |
Internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injection nozzle with an additional supply of a combustion-promoting medium into the combustion chamber
A reciprocating piston-type internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head that has an inlet valve that can be supplied with combustion air from a cylinder inlet line connected to the inlet valve, comprising a pressure accumulator, out of which an additional medium that promotes the combustion in the cylinder can be supplied to the cylinder in a controlled manner, and an injection nozzle, via which fuel can be injected into the cylinder. The additional medium is a combustion air/fuel mixture according to the invention. The pressure accumulator is connected to the injection nozzle which has a nozzle needle, and the additional medium can be introduced into the cylinder in a controlled manner by means of the injection nozzle. |
| US10954904B2 |
Pressure-regulating device for a fuel consumption measurement system and fuel consumption measurement system
A pressure-regulating device for a fuel consumption measurement system includes a fuel supply line which supplies fuel to a consumer, a fuel return line, a bypass line which branches off from the fuel supply line, a pressure regulator which sets a free flow cross-section in the bypass line, a pressure sensor arranged at the fuel supply line downstream of where the bypass line branches off, a control unit electrically connected to the pressure sensor, and a pressure-reducing element arranged in the fuel supply line upstream of the pressure sensor and downstream of the branch of the bypass line. The bypass line fluidically connects the fuel supply line to the fuel return line and feeds fuel from the fuel supply line to the fuel return line while bypassing the consumer. The pressure sensor provides pressure measurement values. The control unit regulates the pressure regulator depending on the pressure measurement values. |
| US10954901B2 |
Intake system component for internal combustion engine
An intake system component for an internal combustion engine includes a tubular curved portion extending in a curved manner. The curved portion includes an inner wall located on an inner side of a curve relative to an inner passage. The inner wall is made of a breathable fibrous molded body. A part of the curved portion excluding the inner wall includes a portion having a lower breathability than the inner wall. |
| US10954899B2 |
Filter and filter cartridge
A filter cartridge for a filter for filtering a fluid is to be used downstream of a main filter cartridge in a filter and is provided with an inflow surface, an outflow surface, and a main flow direction extending from the inflow surface to the outflow surface. A filter body is provided that can be flowed through along the main flow direction. A filter cartridge frame supports the filter body. A seal is disposed on the filter cartridge frame and separates a filter interior of a filter into a clean side and a raw side. An adhesive connection is provided that connects the filter body and the filter cartridge frame to each other. In one configuration, the filter cartridge frame at an inflow side is provided with a grip area, wherein the grip area enables inflow of a fluid into the filter body via the grip area and manual removal of the filter cartridge. |
| US10954897B2 |
Automotive vapor pump
An automotive vapor pump for pumping a pump gas having a fuel vapor. The automotive vapor pump includes a pump inlet opening, a pump outlet opening, an outlet volute, a pump outlet duct which is substantially tangential and which fluidically connects the outlet volute with the pump outlet opening, a centrifugal pumping wheel which pumps the pump gas from the pump inlet opening into the outlet volute and subsequently into the pump outlet duct, an electric motor which drives a pumping wheel, the electric motor including a static motor coil, a magnetic rotor body, and a motor driving electronics which drives the static motor coil, an electric connector plug which electrically connects the motor driving electronics with an external control unit, and an integrated pressure sensor which detects a fluidic pressure in the outlet volute or in the pump outlet duct. |
| US10954896B2 |
Canister
A canister includes a charge port, a purge port, an atmosphere port, a main chamber, a sub chamber, activated carbon, and additional activated carbon. The sub chamber communicates with the main chamber. The atmosphere port is connected to the sub chamber directly or via an additional chamber. The activated carbon is stored in a main volume (Vmain) in the main chamber. The additional activated carbon is stored in a sub volume (Vsub) in the sub chamber. A ratio of a length L in a gas flow direction to an equivalent diameter D in a section perpendicular to the gas flow direction is 2 or more for the sub chamber. A ratio of a volume of the activated carbon stored in the main chamber to a volume of the activated carbon stored in the sub chamber (Vmain/Vsub) is more than 7 and equal to or less than 10. |
| US10954895B2 |
Evaporated fuel treatment device
The evaporated fuel treatment device includes: a canister that adsorbs evaporated fuel generated within a fuel tank that is provided to a vehicle; a vapor passage that connects the canister and the fuel tank; a shutoff valve capable of closing off and opening up the vapor passage. When a specific event by which a current position of the shutoff valve becomes unknown occurs and initialization processing has become necessary, a first process is performed in which the shutoff valve is operated by a first operating amount that is set as an operating amount capable of operating the shutoff valve to an operation limit, irrespective of the current position, while, when the initialization processing has become necessary without the specific event occurring, a second process is performed in which the shutoff valve is operated by a second operating amount that is an operating amount from the current position to an initial position, and that is smaller than the first operating amount. |
| US10954893B2 |
Accumulator device
An engine includes an intake, an air-fuel path coupled to the intake, an accumulator configured coupled to the air-fuel path and configured to store an air-fuel mixture, and at least one valve configured to selectively provide the air-fuel mixture from the engine to the accumulator at a first time and store the air-fuel mixture within the accumulator at a second time. A controller may be configured to provide commands to the at least one valve. The plurality of commands may include an open command to release air and fuel mixture from the accumulator and a close command to store air and fuel mixture in the accumulator. |
| US10954892B2 |
Liquid propellant rocket engine nozzle with passive condensate cooling
A liquid propellant rocket engine includes a combustion chamber that has a throat and a nozzle aft of the throat. The nozzle has a first nozzle section adjacent the throat and a second nozzle section aft of the first nozzle section. The first nozzle section includes active cooling features and the second nozzle section excludes any active cooling features. The first nozzle section is operative via at least the active cooling features to form a condensate that passively cools the second nozzle section. |
| US10954891B2 |
Hybrid metal composite structures, joint structures, and related methods
A multi-component structure includes a first hybrid metal composite structure, a second hybrid metal composite structure, and a joint structure. The first and second hybrid metal composite structures include layers, each layer comprising a fiber composite material structure including a fiber material dispersed within a matrix material and at least one metal ply located between layers of the layers. The joint structure extends between and connects the first hybrid metal composite structure and the second hybrid metal composite structure. Additionally, the joint structure exerts a clamping force on the first and second hybrid metal composite structures and to reduce gaps between the layers, between the layers and the at least one metal ply, and between the joint structure and the first and second hybrid metal composite structures to less than half a thickness of the at least one metal ply. |
| US10954881B2 |
Method of controlling an injection apparatus of an internal combustion engine
It is hereby disclosed a method of controlling an injection apparatus of an internal combustion engine including setting a minimum value (QMIN) of a fuel quantity that can be injected into the internal combustion engine by the injection apparatus with one injection; preventing the injection apparatus from performing post-injections of fuel quantities having a smaller value than the minimum value (QMIN). |
| US10954874B2 |
System and method for diagnosing a variable displacement engine
Systems and methods for determining operation of a cylinder deactivating/reactivating device are disclosed. In one example, a direction of engine rotation is selected to maximize air flow through the engine while the engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel. Operation of one or more cylinder valve deactivating mechanisms is assessed while the engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel. |
| US10954862B2 |
Compact spinal transmission
The invention relates to an assembly comprising a drive gearbox (10) for an aircraft (1) and an accessory (30), the gearbox comprising: a connecting shaft (110) adapted to be driven by the propulsion system, a main shaft (120) adapted to be driven by the connecting shaft (110), and two bevel gears (122, 123) which are integral with the main shaft (120) and have different diameters (d122, d123), the accessory comprising: a high-speed accessory shaft (31) comprising a bevel gear (310), a low-speed accessory shaft (32) comprising a bevel gear (320), such that each gear (310, 320) on the accessory shafts (31, 32) meshes with one of the two bevel gears (122, 123) on the main shaft (120), so that the two accessory shafts (31, 32) rotate at different speeds relative to one another. |
| US10954850B2 |
Connecting rod for a variable compression internal combustion engine
A connecting rod for a variable compression internal combustion engine, the connecting rod an eccentrical element adjustment arrangement for adjusting an effective connecting rod length, the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement including a first cylinder including a first hydraulic chamber and a second cylinder including a second hydraulic chamber, a first inlet for feeding hydraulic fluid into the first cylinder from a supply and a first outlet for draining the hydraulic fluid from the first cylinder, a second inlet for feeding hydraulic fluid into the second cylinder from the supply and a second outlet for draining the hydraulic fluid from the second cylinder, a switch valve for controlling a hydraulic fluid flow, the switch valve including a piston that is movable in a housing, wherein the piston is displaceable into a first switching position or a second switching position, wherein the second outlet of the second cylinder is connected with the supply in the first switching position and the first outlet of the first cylinder is connected with the supply in the second switching position, wherein the first cylinder is associated with a first check valve which facilitates feeding hydraulic fluid into the first cylinder and which prevents draining the hydraulic fluid from the first cylinder, wherein the second cylinder is associated with a second check valve which facilitates feeding hydraulic fluid into the second cylinder and which prevents draining hydraulic fluid from the second cylinder, wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder are connected so that hydraulic fluid is conductible from the first cylinder into the second cylinder directly with a defined pressure drop in the second switching position. |
| US10954845B2 |
Actively controlled coolant tank to increase thermal storage capacity of hybrid electric vehicles
An engine and cabin thermal management system for use with a vehicle having an engine, a cabin heating system configured to thermally heat a cabin of the vehicle, a coolant system operably coupled to the engine and to the cabin heating system to thermally manage a temperature of the engine and a temperature of the cabin. The coolant system having one or more coolant thermal storage units fluidly coupled with a radiator and heater core of the coolant system forming a coolant loop. The system further having a control system configured to monitor and maintain at least a predetermined coolant temperature at the cabin heating system even during a coolant temperature decrease at the engine stops. |
| US10954844B2 |
Common rail water jacket
Described is an internal combustion engine, in particular including a dual-circuit water cooling system, including a crankcase and at least one inlet and/or outlet rail which is/are situated upstream from the crankcase and receives a coolant communicating with this crankcase, at least one coolant-conducting cylinder head, and at least one outlet and/or inlet rail downstream from the cylinder head receiving a coolant communicating with the cylinder head. |
| US10954843B2 |
Control of combustion source with at least one pollution control device
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for emissions control. An emissions monitor module measures at least one pollutant level for an exhaust gas flow produced by a combustion source and treated by a pollution control device. The at least one pollutant level may be controllable based on at least one combustion source operating parameter and at least one pollution control device operating parameter. A control module controls the at least one combustion source operating parameter and the at least one pollution control device operating parameter based on the at least one measured pollutant level. |
| US10954841B2 |
Diesel exhaust fluid mixing
A canister assembly for use in an exhaust gas aftertreatment device comprises a cylindrical shell defining a cylindrical axis, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, a top end and a bottom end. A flow tube is inserted into the top end of the cylindrical shell and terminates short of the bottom end of the cylindrical shell, defining an exit of the flow tube. A mixing bowl member including a symmetrical annular shape about the cylindrical axis and defining a mixing bowl pocket is attached at the bottom end of the cylindrical shell. |
| US10954834B2 |
Exhaust systems and methods for gas turbine engine
Systems and methods for an exhaust system for a gas turbine engine are provided. The method includes: receiving a primary exhaust fluid in a primary manifold; receiving a secondary cooling fluid in a secondary plenum; directing the primary exhaust fluid through a plurality of eductor primary flow paths associated with a respective plurality of ducts spaced circumferentially about a primary manifold, the plurality of eductor primary flow paths extending through the secondary plenum; and mixing the primary exhaust fluid and the secondary cooling fluid in a mixing chamber associated with a respective one of the plurality of ducts to create a mixed fluid flow. |
| US10954833B2 |
Air cleaner
An air cleaner includes: an air cleaner box defining a clean chamber that is placed rearward of a dirty chamber, the clean chamber receiving air which has been introduced from front into the dirty chamber and then filtered through an air cleaner element; and funnels that are to be connected to an intake port of an internal combustion engine, the funnels protruding upward into a space within the air cleaner box from a bottom wall of the air cleaner box. The air cleaner further includes a breather chamber into which blow-by gas is introduced from the internal combustion engine, the breather chamber being placed rearward of the funnels and between the funnels and a rear wall of the air cleaner box. Accordingly, the air cleaner can further promote the air-liquid separation of blow-by gas without incurring an increase in weight of the internal combustion engine. |
| US10954828B2 |
Variable camshaft phaser with magnetic locking cover bushing
A variable camshaft phaser is provided having a stator attached to a driving part, and a rotor located within the stator and attached to a driven part. First and second cover plates are located on respective first and second axial sides of the stator. Inwardly directed vanes of the stator, the rotor, and the first and second cover plates define at least one chamber. Radially outwardly directed vanes of the rotor divide the at least one chamber into an advance side working chamber and a retard side working chamber. A locking pin bore is located in the rotor, and a locking pin is located in the locking pin bore. One of the first and second cover plates includes a locking pin receiving opening. A magnetic part is located in the locking pin receiving opening to remove metallic particles and contaminants from the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid. |
| US10954820B2 |
Non-contacting seal with non-abradable coating
There is provided a non-contacting seal assembly for a gas turbine engine, having a housing that houses a sealing ring; and a counter component cooperating with the sealing ring. The sealing ring and the counter component are rotatable relative to each other about a central axis and define sealing faces circumferentially extending around the central axis. The sealing faces face each other and are spaced apart from each other by a controlled gap. At least one of the sealing faces is coated with a non-abradable material. A method of operating a non-contacting seal assembly is also provided. |
| US10954818B2 |
Turbocharger and engine system
A turbocharger includes: a rotating shaft which extends along an axis; a turbine wheel which is provided on one end side of the rotating shaft; a compressor wheel which is provided on the other end side of the rotating shaft; a rolling bearing which includes an inner race fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft, an outer race surrounding the inner race from an outside in a radial direction, and rolling bodies arranged between the inner race and the outer race and rotatably supports the rotating shaft around the axis; a housing which covers the rolling bearing from an outer circumferential side with a gap between the housing and an outer circumferential surface of the rolling bearing; and a plurality of lubricating oil supply lines through which lubricating oil is supplied to different locations in the housing at different state quantities. |
| US10954815B2 |
Divided baffle for components of gas turbine engines
Divided baffles for a gas turbine engines are provided. The divided baffles include a baffle body having a first end and a second end, at least one divider located within the baffle body and extending from the first end to the second end arranged to divide an interior of the baffle body into two or more feed cavities, at least one cap arranged at the first end to bound a first feed cavity of the two or more feed cavities, and at least one cap arranged at the second end to bound a second feed cavity of the two or more feed cavities. |
| US10954814B2 |
System with thin walled cooling plate for an electronic enclosure
A cooling system with a thin walled cooling plate. The system includes an enclosure with a cover that defines an interior space and that has an open side. Temperature sensitive devices are contained in the interior space. A cooling plate closes the open side and includes an inner side with a surface that is substantially flat and that faces into the interior. The cooling plate defines a flow channel adjacent the inner side that is configured to channel a circulating fluid to remove heat from the interior space. The flow channel extends across substantially all of the opening. An outer side of the cooling plate may be anodized to block heat from entering the interior space through the cooling plate. |
| US10954810B2 |
Additive manufactured integrated rub-strip for attritable engine applications
A unitary rub strip comprises a casing having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a unitary rub strip is formed integral with the casing proximate the inner surface, wherein the unitary rub strip comprises a modified structure within the casing configured to abrade responsive to an interaction with a rotating element. |
| US10954808B2 |
Sealing device and rotary machine
A sealing device for suppressing a leakage flow of a fluid via an annular gap between a stationary member and a rotary member of a rotary machine includes: a fixed fin having an annular shape and disposed in the annular gap; and a movable fin having an annular shape and being disposed adjacent to the fixed fin in an axial direction inside the annular gap. The movable fin has a greater thermal expansion coefficient than the fixed fin and is fixed to the fixed fin in a fixing region on a root-end side of the movable fin. |
| US10954805B2 |
Aircraft turbofan engine having variable pitch fan and method of over-pitching the variable pitch fan in an engine out condition to reduce drag
There is provided a turbofan engine for an aircraft. The turbofan engine has a core with a fan cowl and a variable pitch fan (VPF) configured to only rotate in a first rotation direction. The VPF has a plurality of fan blades each configured to over-pitch to an over-pitch position relative to a feathered position. The turbofan engine has outer guide vanes (OGVs) axially disposed downstream of the VPF, and has a rotation control device to prevent the VPF from rotating in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction, during an engine out (EO) condition of the turbofan engine. When the VPF is prevented from rotating during the EO condition, the fan blades are over-pitched to the over-pitch position relative to the feathered position, to achieve no or minimal air flow separation about the OGVs, and to reduce drag of the turbofan engine during the EO condition. |
| US10954804B2 |
Rotary machines including a hybrid rotor with hollow and solid rotor blade sets
A hybrid rotor may comprise a rotor disk having a peripheral rim, a plurality of solid rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk, and a plurality of hollow rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk in a blade array with the plurality of solid rotor blades. In various embodiments, the plurality of solid rotor blades may be integrally coupled to the rotor disk. In various embodiments, the plurality of hollow rotor blades may be mechanically retained in the rotor disk. |
| US10954797B1 |
Turbine rotor blade airfoil profile
The present application provides a turbine rotor blade including an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape may have a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table I. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances expressed in a unit of distance (e.g., inches) by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in the unit of distance. The X and Y values, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each Z value. The airfoil profile sections at Z values may be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape. |
| US10954796B2 |
Rotor bore conditioning for a gas turbine engine
A rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor disks that each have a rim portion. The plurality of rotor disks includes a first rotor disk and at least one first bleed air passage that extends through a forward rim portion of the first rotor disk. At least one second bleed air passage that extends through an aft rim portion of the first rotor disk. |
| US10954789B2 |
Robotic mobility and construction by growth
A robot for navigating an environment through growth is provided. The growing robot has a thin-walled, hollow, pressurized, compliant body that elongates the body by everting from its tip new wall material that is stored inside the body. The robot controls the shape of the body by actively controlling the relative lengths of the wall material along opposing sides of the body allowing steering. |
| US10954787B2 |
Pumpable two component resin
A pumpable resin system for installation of mine roof bolts includes a resin feed cylinder pump, a catalyst feed cylinder pump, a resin cylinder pump in fluid communication with the resin feed cylinder, with the resin feed cylinder configured to transfer resin to the resin cylinder pump when the resin feed cylinder pump is actuated, a catalyst cylinder pump in fluid communication with the catalyst feed cylinder, with the catalyst feed cylinder configured to transfer catalyst to the catalyst cylinder pump when the catalyst feed cylinder pump is actuated, a resin line in fluid communication with the resin cylinder pump, and a catalyst line in fluid communication with the catalyst cylinder pump. |
| US10954785B2 |
Bit holder with enlarged tire portion and narrowed bit holder block
A bit assembly includes a base block and a bit holder having a forward body portion and a shank. The forward body portion includes an enlarged tire portion to deflect material and particles removed from the terra firma and protect the base block from damage. The base block includes a base and a shortened front end. The enlarged tire portion has dimensions that cover at least all of the shortened from end. The dimensions of the tire portion can also extend beyond the dimensions of the shortened front end. |
| US10954784B2 |
Shearer cutting unit with double-speed rollers
A shearer cutting unit with double-speed rollers includes a motor driving unit, a motor driving unit, a gear transmission unit and a roller output unit. The motor driving unit includes a left cutting motor and a right cutting motor which are both arranged in a cutting unit case and connected with the roller output unit in a transmission way through the gear transmission unit. The roller output unit comprises a middle output shaft (3-1), a far-end output shaft, a middle support frame, a middle roller, a far-end support frame and a far-end roller. A cutting roller is separated into two coaxially-rotating parts, and the two rollers can rotate in different speeds. |
| US10954782B2 |
Functional earth model parameterization for resistivity inversion
An example method for modeling a geological formation includes receiving a set of measurements from an electromagnetic logging tool and representing at least one characteristic of the geological formation as at least one continuous spatial function. At least one coefficient of the at least one continuous spatial function may be determined based, at least in part, on the set of measurements. At least one characteristic of the geological formation may be determined based, at least in part, on the at least one continuous spatial function. |
| US10954777B2 |
Fixed-wavelength fiber optic telemetry for casing collar locator signals
A downhole tool, in some embodiments, comprises a casing collar locator (CCL) to generate a signal that indicates the presence of a casing discontinuity; and a modulator, coupled to the CCL, to modulate fixed-wavelength light in a fiber optic cable based on said signal. |
| US10954776B2 |
Mechanical casing perforation locator and methods of using same
A mechanical perforation locator has a plurality of perforation locator pins that are normally urged to a run-in condition. Fluid pumped into a work string energizes the perforation locator and urges the perforation locator pins outwardly. When the mechanical perforation locator is pulled or pushed through a cased well bore using the work string, some of the pins are forced into perforations in the casing, which impedes movement of the perforation locator and produces a characteristic spike in work string weight that is detectable at the surface. |
| US10954770B1 |
Systems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit
Systems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit and may include an exchangeable fracturing component section to facilitate quickly exchanging a fracturing component of a hydraulic fracturing unit. The fracturing component section may include a section frame including a base, and a fracturing component connected to the base. The fracturing component section also may include a component electrical assembly and a component fluid assembly connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section further may include a coupling plate connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section also may include one or more of a plurality of quick-connect electrical couplers or a plurality of quick-connect fluid couplers connected to a coupling plate. The quick-connect electrical and fluid couplers may be positioned to receive respective electrical and fluid connections of the component electrical and fluid assemblies and connect to other portions of the hydraulic fracturing unit. |
| US10954768B2 |
Fracturing a subterranean formation
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation to produce fluid from a reservoir through a wellbore includes flowing a treating fluid into the wellbore to create fractures in the formation, selectively flowing a flow constraint material (FCM) into the wellbore simultaneously with the treating fluid, pausing the flow of the FCM while maintaining the flow of the treating fluid, monitoring a parameter of the formation to determine whether the parameter is within a range, resuming the flow of the FCM when the parameter of the formation is out of the range, ceasing the flow of the FCM when the parameter of the formation is in the range, where a system strain increase is about 0.0003 or less when the parameter of the formation is in range, and where the flow of the flow constraint material partially constrains the treating fluid from entering at least one of the fractures. |
| US10954763B2 |
Method and system for distribution of a proppant
A method for directing a proppant in a subterranean formation including providing a first wellbore and a second wellbore, wherein the first wellbore and the second wellbore are disposed about a target area of the subterranean formation; creating a pressure differential between the first wellbore and the second wellbore, such that the pressure of one of the first wellbore or the second wellbore is at a higher pressure and the other of the first wellbore or second wellbore is at a lower pressure; and initiating a fracturing pressure in the higher pressure wellbore by pumping a fracturing fluid in the wellbore, the fracturing pressure sufficient to create a fracture at a predetermined location; whereby the fracturing fluid is drawn from the fractured wellbore toward the lower pressurized wellbore as a result of the pressure differential. |
| US10954762B2 |
Completion assembly
A completion assembly includes tubing that defines an axis that extends from a distal shoe end to a proximal uphole end where the tubing includes: a washdown shoe; a plug seat configured to receive a plug that hinders flow through the washdown shoe; a screen; a fluid loss control device that permits, in an exterior space, flow of fluid in an uphole direction and that hinders flow of fluid in a downhole direction; a circulation valve that is actuatable to permit flow of fluid from an interior space to the exterior space; a formation isolation valve that is actuatable to form a flow barrier in the interior space; a packer that is actuatable to extend radially outwardly from the tubing to form an annular flow barrier in the exterior space; and a barrier component that is actuatable to form a flow barrier in the interior space of the tubing. |
| US10954759B1 |
Method for increasing pressure in a flexible liner with a weighted wellhead
A method and system to increase or maintain pressure within a flexible liner within a subterranean borehole, such as may be deployed to perform subsurface groundwater sampling. The liner is slightly larger than the borehole and pressurized with an interior fluid pressure so as to urge the liner into intimate contact with the borehole wall. The system and method utilize a weighted “sealing wellhead” assembly placed upon an inverted upper end of the liner. The action force of the sealing wellhead increases or maintains the liner's interior fluid pressure. This method and system are generally practiced with a water-filled liner and with a liner with relatively simple attachments. |
| US10954758B1 |
Device and working method for drilling hydrate micro-borehole and performing fast completion
Disclosed are a device and a method of drilling a hydrate micro-borehole and performing fast completion, which belongs to the technical field of a hydrate extraction device and a hydrate extraction method. The method includes a continuous operation machine, a power control mechanism, a high pressure water jet pump, a guider, a continuous pipe, a parent pipe and a child pipe, the parent pipe is connected with the continuous operation machine, and an end of the child pipe is connected with a water jet nozzle; the working method basically includes the following: firstly, a large main borehole is formed by drilling to a destination layer at one time with a large size drill bit; secondly, a horizontal micro-borehole is drilled in a natural gas hydrate reservoir by a high pressure water jet device formed by the child and parent pipes and then the child pipe is heated to enable its skin to fall off and leave a screen; finally, the child and parent pipes are disconnected to perform well completion. The present disclosure is applicable to different natural gas hydrate extraction manners. In this way, well drilling and completion is integrated, sand production is effectively inhibited, and the production of the hydrate reservoir is increased with a small effect on the hydrate reservoir. Thus, drilling is accelerated. |
| US10954756B2 |
Core bit designed to control and reduce the cutting forces acting on a core of rock
A method for designing a core bit to control and reduce the cutting forces acting on a core of rock is disclosed. The method includes generating a model of a core bit including a plurality of cutting elements on a plurality of blades. The method may additionally include simulating a coring operation with the model of the core bit. The method may further include calculating at least one force vector generated by at least one of the plurality of cutting elements on the model of the core bit during the coring operation. The method may further include determining at least one force acting on a core in the model of the core bit based on the at least one force vector and generating a design of the core bit based on the at least one force acting on the core. |
| US10954751B2 |
Shearable split ball seat
A frac sleeve assembly and method of operation. The frac sleeve assembly includes a ball seat that retains a frac ball. The ball seat moves within a sleeve. The sleeve includes a profile that separates the first half and the second half to allow passage of the frac ball through the ball seat when the ball seat moves within the sleeve. Alternatively, the ball seat has a ring for receiving the frac ball and the sleeve has a protrusion that selectively engages a shifting pin to move the ring with respect to a ridge to release the ball from the ball seat when the ball seat moves within the sleeve. |
| US10954749B2 |
Bidirectional downhole isolation valve
A method of drilling a wellbore includes deploying a drill string into the wellbore through a casing string disposed in the wellbore casing string having an isolation valve. The method also includes drilling the wellbore into a formation by injecting drilling fluid through the drill string and rotating a drill bit of the drill sting and retrieving the drill string from the wellbore until the drill bit is above one or more valve members of the isolation valve. The method further includes closing the valve members, thereby bidirectionally isolating the formation from an upper portion of the wellbore. |
| US10954741B2 |
Expanding and collapsing apparatus and methods of use
The invention provides an expanding and/or collapsing apparatus and a method of use. The apparatus comprises a plurality of elements assembled together to form a ring structure oriented in a plane around a longitudinal axis. The ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition by movement of the plurality of elements. The plurality of elements is operable to be moved between the expanded and collapsed conditions by sliding with respect to one another in the plane of the ring structure, in a direction tangential to a circle concentric with the ring structure. Applications of the invention include oilfield devices, including anti-extrusion rings, plugs, packers, locks, patching tools, connection systems, and variable diameter tools run in a wellbore. |
| US10954737B1 |
Systems and methods for initiating an emergency disconnect sequence
Systems and methods for initiating an emergency disconnect sequence (EDS) are provided. In an aspect, a disconnection system is provided and configured to initiate the EDS, and includes a controller including a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The controller receives, from a set of motion reference units (MRU(s)) operably coupled to a flexible joint, position data generated by the set of motion references units and associated with the joint when the joint is operably coupled to and disposed between a drilling riser and a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The controller determines, based on the position data, an angular offset of the joint. The controller sends, to a subsea control pod disposed at or adjacent to the LMRP, a trigger signal in response to determining that the angular offset exceeds a predetermined threshold, such that the subsea control pod initiates the EDS. |
| US10954735B2 |
Degradable window for multilateral junction
This disclosure may generally relate to drilling operations and, more particularly, to systems and methods for sidetracking an existing well. Specifically, examples of the present disclosure may include creating a window by introducing a pH-modifying fluid downhole to degrade a portion of a casing string, thereby creating the window through which a secondary wellbore may be drilled. A method for creating a window in an oilfield tubular may comprise of providing a pH-modifying fluid in the oilfield tubular disposed in a wellbore and contacting a degradable section of the oilfield tubular with the pH-modifying fluid to degrade at least a portion of the degradable section and form an exit window in the oilfield tubular. |
| US10954734B2 |
Downhole tool with a propellant charge
A tool for manipulating a tubular, such as casing or production tubing, in a downhole environment, includes a housing defining a chamber, the chamber having at least one outlet, a propellant source located within the chamber and an ignition mechanism for igniting the propellant source. Upon ignition of the propellant source, the propellant deflagrates, creating at least one stream of combustion products, the chamber directing the stream of combustion products through the/each outlet, towards the tubular to be manipulated, the/each stream of combustion products combining with at least one modifying agent to manipulate the tubular. |
| US10954731B2 |
Foam cap drilling methods
A method for conducting a wellbore operation includes drilling a wellbore through one or more hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formations with a drill bit arranged at an end of a drill string, wherein an annulus is defined between the drill string and an inner wall of the wellbore. A foam is generated with a foam generator of an annular injection system in communication with the annulus, and the foam is introduced into the annulus with the annular injection system. |
| US10954727B1 |
Dual-wear pad for downhole drilling housings
A wear pad for a drill pipe body of downhole drilling assembly comprising at least one wear insert and a wear pad material that at least partially encases the at least one wear insert. The wear inserts can be supported by or attached to an insert support structure of the drill pipe body. The insert support structure and the wear inserts can be welded over by the wear pad material to at least partially encase the wear inserts (e.g., using a plasma transfer arc welding tool). The wear inserts can comprise tungsten carbide impregnated with industrial diamonds, and the wear pad material can comprise tungsten carbide, the wear inserts comprising an overall hardness greater than the hardness of the wear pad material. A second wear pad can be formed adjacent to, and have similar features as, the wear pad. The wear pads can be separated by or located on opposite sides of a bend portion of a bent housing drill assembly. |
| US10954724B2 |
Axial and rotational alignment system and method
An axial and rotational alignment system including a casing string having an axial orientation feature and a rotational orientation feature; and a tubing string having an axial and rotational orientation assembly thereon, the assembly including a rotational alignment subassembly having a selectively actuable member that is selectively engagable with the rotational orientation feature. |
| US10954717B2 |
Step assembly
Disclosed is a step assembly for use in climbing a utility structure. The step assembly comprises a rod member and a plate member. The rod member comprises a generally L-shaped rod, a shoulder formed contiguously to the generally L-shaped rod, and an arm pivotably coupled to the shoulder by a pin. The plate member comprises a duct having a longitudinally formed internal passage, and a support plate attached at one end portion of the duct and formed transversally to the duct, wherein the internal passage of the duct contiguously provides an opening in the support plate at the one end portion. The aligned shoulder and arm are configured to pass through the internal passage. |
| US10954716B2 |
Lift station for a covering for an architectural structure
In one aspect, a lift station configured for use with a covering for an architectural structure includes a housing and one or more lift spools disposed within a spool cavity defined by the housing. Additionally, the lift station also includes first and second outriggers extending outwardly from opposed sides of the housing of the lift station. The first outrigger is configured to define a first cord guide surface for guiding a front lift cord between a front side of the covering and the spool cavity of the housing. Similarly, the second outrigger is configured to define a second cord guide surface for guiding a rear lift cord between a rear side of the covering and the spool cavity of the housing. |
| US10954709B2 |
Vehicle assembly having a capacitive sensor
A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of capacitive sensors mounted along a perimeter of the vehicle body, wherein one of the capacitive sensors capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object proximal to the portion of the vehicle body such that the capacitance of the one of the capacitive sensors changes, and a controller coupled to the capacitive sensors, the controller being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the object is coupled to the at least one capacitive sensor. |
| US10954705B2 |
Grill damping hinge
Disclosed is a grill damping hinge comprising a hinge lower cover and a hinge upper cover covering the top of the hinge lower cover. The invention can adopt double-axis double spring pressing design, and the hinge ear can be adjusted back and forth, and can be easily adjusted when the oven body and the oven cover are different in size, to ensure the sealing effect. The upper cover of the invention is lighter during opening and closing, and the opening-and-closing of the oven cover can stay at any angle within 0 to 58°, thereby avoiding the natural falling of the oven cover and having higher safety performance; In the production process of the invention, the cumbersome link of the screws and the nuts in the traditional hinge is avoided, and the manual installation and commissioning cost can be greatly saved. |
| US10954704B2 |
Door stop mechanism for holding a door of an enclosure in an open position
An assembly according to some embodiments of the disclosure includes an enclosure having a housing and door hingedly attached to the housing and a door stop mechanism which holds the door in an open position. The mechanism includes a link member pivotally connected to the door and to the housing. The link member has an elongated slot which extends along a portion of the link member. The slot has a linear portion and an enlarged opening at an end thereof which is offset from the linear portion. When the door is opened, a fastener, which is either mounted to the housing or to the door, slides along the slot until the fastener is positioned in the enlarged opening to hold the door open. |
| US10954703B2 |
Motor vehicle having door check mechanism
This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle includes a door pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions, and a door check mechanism including a bar having a helical groove and at least one check hold recess along the helical groove. |
| US10954701B2 |
Motor vehicle door lock device
A motor vehicle door lock device comprises a locking mechanism, a locking motor, an electric release mechanism, an opening lever, and an outside handle. An ECU includes an authenticating portion. When the authenticating portion authenticates a signal from a transmitter and the locking mechanism starts switching from a locking state to an unlocking state by the locking motor, ECU controls a releasing motor so that the electric release mechanism is actuated because a switch detects door-opening action of the outside handle. The locking mechanism is switched to the unlocking state without contacting the opening lever from a direction where the opening lever cannot be actuated. A locked door can be opened with the outside handle at a single action and prevents a panic. |
| US10954699B2 |
Security device for trailer doors
A security device for a trailer door which has a rotatable post for a locking door and a bar member secured to the post, the security device comprising a plate member for securement to a substrate, a cover hingedly connected to the plate member and movable between an open and closed position, a locking device mounted at one end of the cover, the locking device having a housing, a plunger mounted within the housing, the plunger being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the plunger being spring biased to the extended position, and a deflector extending upwardly from the plate member, the deflector having an aperture formed therein, the plate member being located such that the plunger enters the aperture when the cover is in a closed position. |
| US10954696B2 |
Storage assembly with a drawer having a drawer pull assembly and a method for locking a drawer
A storage assembly 10 having a drawer 12 and a drawer pull assembly 14 including a door handle 16 which allows the drawer 12 to selectively locked and unlocked as the drawer handle 16 is selectively pivoted about the drawer 12, and a method for locking and unlocking a drawer 12 by the selective articulation or pivoting of the drawer handle 16. |
| US10954695B2 |
Interlock for enclosures
An interlock for an enclosure can include a primary door activator with an activator arm, a secondary door activator, and a rotatable arrangement that links the primary and secondary door activators. The activator arm can block a primary door of the enclosure from being closed when the activator arm is in an open configuration. The activator arm can be configured to rotate with the rotatable arrangement in a first direction towards the open configuration as the primary door is opened, and in a second direction away from the open configuration as the primary door is closed. The secondary door activator can be configured to engage the rotatable arrangement to prevent rotation of the rotatable arrangement when the secondary door is open, and to permit rotation of the rotatable arrangement when the secondary door is closed. |
| US10954691B2 |
Guardrail base and system
A guardrail base can include a base body, which can include a first foot, a second foot, and a raised portion between the first foot and the second foot; and a rail mount mounted on the raised portion of the base, the rail mount configured to angularly pivot about and between a first position towards the first foot and a second position towards the second foot. |
| US10954688B2 |
Interment system including desiccation vessel for securely and portably retaining decedent remains, and building structure for housing same
An interment system, includes: (a) at least one desiccation vessel for storing remains of a decedent who has not been cremated; (b) a plurality of memorial suites configured to house the at least one desiccation vessel, each of which includes a storage area for the at least one desiccation vessel, a living area, a vertically-oriented tribute wall separating the storage area from the living area, and an HVAC unit, which is configured to adjust at least one of a temperature, a pressure and a humidity within the at least one desiccation vessel to adjust a rate of desiccation; (c) a processor configured to securely store and share decedent data. The at least one desiccation vessel is sufficiently light, durable, and air-tight such that the at least one desiccation vessel with the decedent contained therein can be easily relocated without the need for special vehicles or trained personnel. |
| US10954683B2 |
Pool cleaner with stair identification capability
A pool cleaner for cleaning a pool includes a housing, a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing through an inlet and expelling the liquid through an outlet when the pool cleaner is submerged in the pool, a filter for trapping debris that is in the indrawn liquid, and a propulsion system for propelling the pool cleaner along a submerged surface within the pool. A controller is configured to determine a position of the pool cleaner on a stairway of the pool, and to control the propulsion system to stop ascending the stairway when the pool cleaner is determined to have ascended to a highest permissible stair of the stairway. |
| US10954682B2 |
Tool for cleaning a pool, particularly in a radioactive environment, comprising a tank
A tool for cleaning a pool, particularly in a radioactive environment. The tool comprises a liquid filtering device, a pump, and a tank. The tank comprises an inlet for liquid from the pool. The tank at least partly houses the filtering device and the pump. The filtering device is arranged between the inlet and the pump so as to fluidically connect said inlet and pump. |
| US10954679B2 |
Dynamic platform creation
A modular platform is provided and includes a platform having upper and lower surfaces. The modular platform further includes one or more propulsion units, mesh coverings, jack elements and a lock mechanism. The one or more propulsion units are embedded within the platform to generate upward thrust. The mesh coverings overlay each of the one or more propulsion units in the upper surface. The jack elements are coupled to the lower surface and support the platform above an underlying substrate. The lock mechanism connects the platform to a neighboring platform. A power storage unit is embedded in the platform and powers the one or more propulsion units, the jack elements and the lock mechanism. A control unit is embedded in the platform and controls operations of the one or more propulsion units, the jack elements and the lock mechanism. |
| US10954676B2 |
Magnetic roof attachment
A rooftop equipment attachment system includes a rooftop having a roof deck, an insulation layer positioned atop the roof deck, a plurality of metallic roof plates that secure the insulation layer to the roof deck, and a roofing membrane secured atop the insulation layer. The roofing membrane covers the plurality of metallic roof plates. The system includes a frame for supporting rooftop equipment. The frame includes a plurality of mounting supports that are positionable atop the rooftop at positions that are above at least a portion of the plurality of metallic roof plates. The plurality of mounting supports are configured to support the frame and any rooftop equipment mounted thereon. Each of the plurality of mounting supports includes a magnetic element that is configured to secure a particular one of the plurality of mounting supports with a particular one of the plurality of metallic roof plates. |
| US10954675B1 |
Ice breaker for an architectural metal roof
An ice breaker for installation on an architectural roof on a flat between the seams of a metal panel. The ice breaker has a pointed upslope end and an irregular polygon base with non-equilateral triangular faces extending from the irregular polygonal base that meet at a truncated top. The non-equilateral triangular faces at the upslope end being symmetrical about a centerline axis. |
| US10954672B2 |
Method of connecting a circular concrete-filled steel tubular column to a reinforced concrete footing
The method of connecting a circular concrete-filled steel tubular column to a reinforced concrete footing provides a process for constructing a circular concrete-filled steel tubular column anchored in a reinforced concrete footing. A tubular member is partially embedded in a cavity formed in a block of reinforced concrete, such that a pair of flanges thereof is positioned adjacent to and above a base surface of the cavity. A steel tube is partially inserted into the cavity, such that rotation of the steel tube will cause the pair of flanges to interlock with a pair of slots at the lower end of the steel tube, locking the steel tube in place with respect to the tubular member and the block of reinforced concrete. The cavity is filled with concrete grout to secure the column, and the steel tube is filled with concrete to form the circular concrete-filled steel tubular column. |
| US10954671B2 |
Vibration isolation supporting structure and vibration isolation system
A vibration isolation supporting structure and a vibration isolation system that can prevent a high-frequency vibration and a low-frequency vibration generated on a floor of a building. The vibration isolation supporting structure includes a plurality of supporting portions erected facing each other in a predetermined area near a wall of a floor of a building, a supporting structure supported on the floor by the supporting portions, and a fixing device configured to fix the supporting structure to the floor, and when receiving a release command, the fixing device releases fixing of the supporting structure to the floor. |
| US10954667B2 |
Adjustable masonry anchor
An anchor for use in joining inner and outer wythes of the wall. The outer wythe is formed from successive courses of masonry units with a mortar-filled bed joint between each two adjacent courses. The anchor comprises an engagement portion configured for disposition in the bed joint and an attachment portion coupled to the engagement portion. The attachment portion is configured to be secured to the inner wythe. The attachment portion defines an elongate slot. A bushing defines an opening sized and shaped to receive a fastener to attach the attachment portion to the inner wythe. The bushing is movably attached to the attachment portion to permit movement of the bushing and attachment portion relative to one another. This permits the engagement portion to move relative to the outer wythe to position the engagement portion in the bed joint when the fastener secures the attachment portion to the inner wythe. |
| US10954665B1 |
Sprayed-in-place framed wall
A sprayed-in-place framed wall is disclosed, comprised of a cementitious face and backing layers and a polyurethane foam insulation layer that bonds the cementitious layers to a separate wall frame. Stationary walls are constructed by spraying the materials against one-sided, vertical wall forms positioned around an erected, exterior wall frame. The cementitious materials are restrained by stays. The wall forms may have indentations to enable the resulting wall face to have protrusions such as moulding, bands, quoins and cornices, which may be a different color that the surrounding flat wall face. |
| US10954662B1 |
System and method for connecting a square concrete-filled steel tubular column to a reinforced concrete footing
The system and method for connecting a square concrete-filled steel tubular column to a reinforced concrete footing includes a short steel pipe partially embedded in the footing, the pipe having a top end having flanges extending radially therefrom, the top end extending into a cavity in the footing having an elliptical top opening and circular base, the flanges extending above the base. An elliptical base plate is welded to the bottom of the tubular steel column, the base plate having a circular opening defined therein and a plurality of spaced flange slots depending therefrom. The bottom end of the column is lowered into the cavity, the elliptical base plate passing through the elliptical opening in the cavity, and the column is rotated 90° to interlock the flanges with the flange slots. The cavity is filled with concrete grout, and the square or rectangular steel column is filled with concrete. |
| US10954659B1 |
Systems and methods for coupling a tank of a toilet to a pedestal of the toilet
A toilet includes a tank, a pedestal, and a mounting assembly. The tank includes a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes an opening and a bottom surface. The pedestal includes an opening and a top surface. The opening of the pedestal is aligned with the opening of the bottom wall. The mounting assembly includes a mounting plate, a nut, and a gasket. The mounting plate is configured to be coupled to the pedestal and includes an opening aligned with the opening of the pedestal. The nut holds the mounting plate against the bottom surface of the bottom wall and includes a rounded portion. The gasket is disposed about the opening of the pedestal and along the top surface of the pedestal and includes a concave surface that is configured for receiving the rounded portion of the nut. |
| US10954651B2 |
Control system for work vehicle, control method, and work vehicle
A terrain information acquisition device acquires terrain information about a work site. A controller is configured to decide an inclination angle of the current terrain along a travel direction of the work vehicle from the terrain information. The controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface that is inclined at an inclination angle smaller than the inclination angle of the current terrain. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the inclined virtual design surface. |
| US10954644B2 |
Screw pile substructure support system
A screw pile substructure support system comprises a tubular pile with a fixed conical tip having a helical flight thereon which draws the pile into a soil bed when a torque is applied to the pile. The tip has a substantially conical shape, and the largest diameter of the tip is substantially the same as the diameter of the tubular pile to which it is attached. The helical flight is attached to the outside surface of the tip. The tip may also be provided a point tip and one or more cutting teeth attached its surface. |
| US10954641B2 |
Beach erosion inhibitor
An apparatus for impeding beach erosion includes a sea-facing barrier wall penetrated by large holes that allow water mixed with sand to enter the apparatus. Smaller holes provided in a rear wall allow the water to drain out after the entrained sand has settled. An underlying water reservoir fills with the drained water and gravitationally anchors the apparatus. The reservoir can be buried in the sand or placed on top thereof. The top of the barrier wall can be curved to direct water back toward the sea. The barrier wall can extend above the rear wall, and a backstop wall can form an additional sand-collecting chamber behind the rear wall. The walls can be made from plywood, metal, or plastic. Embodiments can be disassembled and/or folded for transport and storage. Internal reinforcing partition walls can extend between the barrier and rear walls. The apparatus can be further anchored by stakes. |
| US10954638B2 |
Flow boulevard; continuous flowing traffic on interrupted urban streets
A Flow Boulevard system of transportation for existing urban and suburban streets which optimizes vehicular capacity and flow for at grade facilities having intervening crossing streets is provided. The system may be applied to a single street right of way having two-way traffic with a median and enables packs of traffic to continuously flow in both directions concurrently. Flow Boulevards may be connected through interchanges supporting continuously flowing traffic to that connect to couplets of one-way streets to define networks of high vehicular capacity and continuous flowing traffic over large urban areas. Lane signals are provided to optimize traffic flow in each flow boulevard lane and at each interchange. |
| US10954634B2 |
Nanofibrillated cellulose ply bonding agent or adhesive and multi-ply absorbent sheet made therewith
A ply-bonding agent or adhesive composition characterized by a viscosity and a surface tension for the manufacture of paper tissue and paper towel, includes: (a) water; (b) nanofibrillated cellulose; and (c) one or more modifiers effective to modify either or both of (i) the viscosity of the composition or (ii) the surface tension of the composition, wherein the one or more additional modifiers are selected from the group consisting of components (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii), wherein: (iii) is PVOH and a viscosity modifier; (iv) is a viscosity modifier; (v) is a viscosity modifier and a surface tension modifier other than PVOH; (vi) is a water-soluble cellulose derivative; (vii) is a water soluble polyol; and (viii) is a surface tension modifier other than PVOH. The compositions are particularly useful for ply-bonding multi-ply absorbent sheet when the plies are treated with debonder. |
| US10954632B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing a fibre web
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and a method comprising a forming section for feeding an aqueous furnish of fibres on a moving surface to form a shape of a product and a pressing and heating section for removing water from the shaped product received from the moving surface. The pressing and heating section comprises a felt and metal belt that are set to run against each other for receiving the furnish from the moving surface and heating elements for heating the web in at least two pulses including at least one first pulse wherein the product is pressed for at least 10-200 ms on a first pressure and at least one second heating and smoothing pulse wherein the product is heated at least for 10-200 ms on a pressure that is higher than the first pressure, and at least one of the surfaces pressing the product being the smooth metal belt. |
| US10954628B2 |
Process of textile dyeing and dyed textiles
A textile is dyed by treating the textile with a composition containing 2D nano and/or microparticles of carbon and by dyeing the textile with a dye that is different from said carbon particles. |
| US10954620B2 |
Washing machine and method of controlling the same
The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, having an actively movable balancer, and method of controlling the same. The washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a balancing unit to move along a circumference of a drum to reduce imbalance due to an unbalanced distribution of the laundry; a transmission coil provided at a tub to generate a wireless power signal and transmit power wirelessly to the balancing unit; a transmission converter to apply power at a driving frequency to the transmission coil; a voltage measurer to measure a transmission voltage, which is a voltage of the transmission coil; and a transmission controller to control the transmission converter based on the transmission voltage measured by the voltage measurer, thereby transmitting sufficient power wirelessly to the balancing unit in a short period of time. |
| US10954616B2 |
Embroidery frame transport device and embroidery frame
An embroidery frame transport device includes a carriage, a guide portion, a rotation shaft, and a lock release lever including a first restricting portion and a contact portion. The lock release lever is configured to rotate to a first position and a second position around the rotation shaft. The first restricting portion contacts the coupling portion to restrict an embroidery frame from moving in a removing direction by moving to the first position when the embroidery frame is moved in a mounting direction in a process of mounting the coupling portion on the carriage. The contact portion contacts the coupling portion and presses the embroidery frame in the removing direction as a result of the lock release lever moving to a third position when the lock release lever is rotated in a releasing direction while the coupling portion is mounted on the carriage. |
| US10954612B2 |
Rip resistant, non-pilling fine knit garments
The present invention relates to knits that can be used to make rip-resistant sheer hosiery or similar garments, using a specific combination of UHMWPE fiber and stretch fiber, such as spandex. The knit has rip-resistant and anti-microbial properties. Details are provided to avoid problems with pilling and the appearance of bald spots during use. A variation of the knit is useful for activewear. |
| US10954611B2 |
Relating to textiles incorporating electronic devices
A fiber for incorporation into a textile has an electronic device, and an electrical conductor connected to the electronic device is provided. The electrical conductor extends along a longitudinal axis of the fiber, and the electronic device and the electrical conductor are encapsulated by a unitary body of at least a first material. |
| US10954609B2 |
Yarn from polymers having different decomposition temperatures and process for forming same
This invention relates to a yarn, and a process for making the yarn, the yarn comprising a plurality of spun filaments having a distinct, continuous, uniform-density sheath of a first polymer surrounding a distinct, continuous core of a second polymer; the first polymer further having a thermal decomposition temperature at least 50 degrees Celsius lower than the thermal decomposition temperature of the second polymer. |
| US10954606B2 |
Methods for modeling the impurity concentration of a single crystal silicon ingot
Methods for forming single crystal silicon ingots in which plural sample rods are grown from the melt are disclosed. A parameter related to the impurity concentration of the melt or ingot is measured. In some embodiments, the sample rods each have a diameter less than the diameter of the product ingot. |
| US10954603B2 |
Substrate holder, plating apparatus, plating method, and electric contact
A substrate holder includes: a first holding member having a surface configured to come into contact with the substrate; and a second holding member, between which and the first holding member the substrate is put and held. The second holding member includes a removal portion that is disposed along an outer circumference of the substrate and configured to come into contact with the substrate and remove an insulating material on the substrate when the substrate is put between the first holding member and the second holding member, and an electric contact portion that is disposed along the outer circumference of the substrate and configured to come into contact with a region on the substrate in which the removal portion has removed the insulating material when the substrate is put and held between the first holding member and the second holding member. |
| US10954602B1 |
Method of electro-chemical plating
A method of electro-chemical plating is disclosed. The catholyte is delivered to the cathode chamber. The catholyte is controlled at a first temperature before flowing into the cathode chamber. The anolyte is provided at room temperature. The temperature of the anolyte is lowered from the room temperature to a second temperature before delivering into the anode chamber. The second temperature is equal to or lower than the first temperature. The plating surface of the substrate is immersed in the electrolyte. The substrate is biased to a direct current (DC) voltage. The biased substrate attracts ions of the metal in the electrolyte toward the plating surface so as to electroplating the metal onto the substrate. |
| US10954599B2 |
Washing assembly for sheet metals for producing double-layered copper-coated pipes
The present invention is a washing assembly having at least one washing chamber at which at least one sheet metal passing through for producing copper-coated double-layer steel pipe. The washing assembly comprises at least one pair of wiper pair accommodated by the washing chamber. |
| US10954591B2 |
Method for producing a structured coating on a substrate, coated substrate, and semi-finished product having a coated substrate
The invention relates to a method for producing a structured coating on a substrate, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a substrate having a surface to be coated and producing a structured coating on the surface of the substrate to be coated by depositing at least one evaporation coating material, namely aluminium oxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or titanium dioxide, on the surface of the substrate to be coated by means of thermal evaporation of the at least one evaporation coating material and using additive structuring. The invention further relates to a coated substrate and a semi-finished product having a coated substrate. |
| US10954590B2 |
Coated cutting tool
A coated cutting tool includes a body and a hard and wear resistant coating on the body. The coating has at least one NbN layer with a thickness between 0.2 μm and 15 μm, wherein the NbN layer includes a phase mixture of a cubic phase, c-NbN, and a hexagonal phase, h-NbN. |
| US10954589B2 |
Current collector production apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a current collector production apparatus for producing a current collector. The current collector includes a current collector substrate, a conductive layer disposed on at least one surface of the current collector substrate. The current collector production apparatus includes an oven having a space where the current collector is to be heated, and a passivation ozone knife having a current collector injection port. The current collector injection port is configured to release ozone in such a manner that the ozone reacts with a surface material of the conductive layer, so as to form a passivation layer. The passivation ozone knife is disposed inside the oven. The current collector produced in the present disclosure can prevent HF in electrolyte from reacting with Al, so as to solve a problem of detachment of active material from the current collector and maintain the performance of lithium-ion battery. |
| US10954587B2 |
Uncoated biodegradable corrosion resistant bone implants
A preferred embodiment is an uncoated, biodegradable corrosion resistant bone implant. The implant includes a body being uncoated and lacking any protective polymer, metallic or ceramic coating, the body being shaped to fix to a bone and/or bone fragment. The body is formed of a magnesium alloy. The magnesium alloy includes from high-purity vacuum distilled magnesium containing impurities, which promote electrochemical potential differences and/or the formation of precipitations and/or intermetallic phases. The impurities are such that the body has a strength of >275 MPa, and a ratio yield point of <0.8, wherein the difference between strength and yield point is >50 MPa. |
| US10954586B2 |
Copper alloy and method for producing same
A copper alloy disclosed in the present description has a basic alloy composition represented by Cu100−(x+y)SnxAly (where 8≤x≤12 and 8≤y≤9 are satisfied), in which a main phase is a βCuSn phase with Al dissolved therein, and the βCuSn phase undergoes martensitic transformation when heat-treated or worked. A method for producing a copper alloy disclosed in the present description is a casting step of melting and casting a raw material containing Cu, Sn, and Al and having a basic alloy composition represented by Cu100−(x+y)SnxAly (where 8≤x≤12 and 8≤y≤9 are satisfied) so as to obtain a cast material, and a homogenization step of homogenizing the cast material in a temperature range of a βCuSn phase so as to obtain a homogenized material, the method includes at least the casting step. |
| US10954579B2 |
Partial radiation heating method for producing press hardened parts and arrangement for such production
The present invention relates to a method, and system for performing such method, for producing a press hardened part (2′) of heat treatable material having zones of different structure by partially heating a blank (2) before the blank is processed. The method (100) comprises the steps of arranging (104) the blank in a furnace (10) for heating the blank to a temperature equal to or above the austenitization temperature of the material of the blank to get the blank into an austenitic phase, in a IR heating station (10) partially heating (106), by means of IR radiation (24), at least one first zone (2a) of the blank thereby keeping the at least one first zone of the blank in the austenitic phase, and arranging (108) the blank in a processing unit (30) for forming and quenching the blank to a press hardened part. |
| US10954577B2 |
Hot-forming line for manufacturing hot-formed and press-hardened steel-sheet products, and method for operating said hot-forming line
A hot-forming line and a method for operating the hot-forming line is disclosed having a temperature-control station and a hot-forming and press-hardening tool. A linear conveyor system for conveying the metal blank or the formed steel-sheet products, respectively, through the hot-forming line is provided. |
| US10954575B2 |
Device and method for tempering sections of metal components
A device and method for tempering sections of hot-formed and/or press-hardened metal components is disclosed having a support structure and a work head, the work head having at least one contact element consisting of an electrically-conductive material, for heating sections of a metal component using a flow of heat. Electrodes for resistively heating the contact element are connected thereto, and to a current source. A hot-formed and/or press-hardened metal component is first provided, and at least one contact element mounted on a work head is heated to a temperature greater than a target temperature to which a section of the metal component is to be heated. A contact surface of said contact element then comes into full-surface contact with the metal component section to be heated, with a predetermined pressing force, such that the metal component is heated to a target temperature in at least some sections by a flow of heat. The contact element is thus heated using resistive heating. |
| US10954572B2 |
Polynucleotides for the amplification and detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Disclosed herein are primers and probes related to the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae via nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), for example to amplify and determine the presence of N. gonorrhoeae nucleic acids present in test samples. Specifically the present disclosure describes primers and probes that bind to Cytochrome C or ccpA gene of N. gonorrhoeae for detection via loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and molecular beacon hybridization. |
| US10954569B2 |
Compositions and methods for detecting mutations in JAK2 nucleic acid
The invention disclosed herein is based on the identification of novel mutations in the JAK2 gene and JAK2 protein. The invention provides compositions and methods useful for diagnosing hematopoietic diseases including, for example, myeloproliferative diseases. The invention also provides compositions and methods useful for determining a prognosis of an individual diagnosed as having a hematopoietic disease. |
| US10954568B2 |
Gene signatures for cancer prognosis
Biomarkers and methods using the biomarkers for the prediction of the recurrence risk of cancer in a patient are provided. |
| US10954567B2 |
Mutations associated with resistance to inhibitors of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK)
Described herein are mutations that confer resistance to treatment with a BTK inhibitor. Described herein are modified BTK polypeptides that exhibit decreased inhibition (i.e. are resistant) to a covalent and/or irreversible BTK inhibitor. Also described herein modifications of PLCy2 and CARD 11 polypeptides that confer resistance to treatment with a BTK inhibitor. Described herein are diagnostic methods for detecting the modified polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding the modified polypeptides and applications of the methods thereof. Described herein are compositions, combinations, and kits containing the modified polypeptides and methods of using the modified polypeptides. Also described herein are methods of using modified BTK polypeptides as screening agents for the identification and design of second-generation BTK inhibitors. |
| US10954564B2 |
Combinations of cell free nucleic acids
A method of detecting a combination of nucleic acid biomarkers in a human subject can include: obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the human subject; selecting the combination of nucleic acid biomarkers; analyzing a transcriptome of the human subject for the combination of nucleic acid biomarkers in the nucleic acid sample from the human subject; detecting in the nucleic acid sample the presence of the combination of nucleic acid biomarkers, wherein each nucleic acid biomarker in the combination of nucleic acid biomarkers has a variation from a transcription standard. |
| US10954563B2 |
Method for predicting the onset of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by an antipsychotic-based treatment
The invention relates to methods for predicting the onset of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by an antipsychotic-based treatment as well as methods for providing personalized medicine to patients based on the sequence of several SNPs associated with the onset of EPS. The invention relates as well to kits for carrying out the diagnostic and predictive medicine methods. |
| US10954560B2 |
Single-cell nucleic acids for high-throughput studies
Described herein are cell-based analytic methods, including a method of incorporating nucleic acid sequences into reaction products from a cell population, wherein the nucleic acid sequences are incorporated into the reaction products of each cell individually or in small groups of cells individually. Also described herein is a matrix-type microfluidic device that permits at least two reagents to be delivered separately to each cell or group of cells, as well as primer combinations useful in the method and device. |
| US10954557B2 |
Methods for processing nucleic acid samples
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for amplifying and analyzing nucleic acid samples. The present disclosure provides methods for preparing cDNA and/or DNA molecules and cDNA and/or DNA libraries using modified reverse transcriptases. |
| US10954551B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for single molecule, real-time nucleic acid sequencing
Methods, systems, and reagents for real-time single molecule sequencing of nucleic acids, particularly long DNA molecules, is described. Preferably, such methods and systems combine FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer)-based proximity sensing of labeled nucleotides in or near a DNA polymerase's active site with FRET-based monitoring of the conformational changes in the polymerase that occur during nucleotide incorporation. |
| US10954550B2 |
Method and system for screening nanobody
Provided are a method for screening for nanobodies and a corresponding system. The method uses polymerase chain reactions and cDNA 5′ end rapid amplification technology to screen for and obtain nanobodies. The experiment cycle requires only approximately 21 days. |
| US10954548B2 |
Nuclease profiling system
Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, methods, and reagents for determining nuclease target site preferences and specificity of site-specific endonucleases. Some methods provided herein utilize a novel “one-cut” strategy for screening a library of concatemers comprising repeat units of candidate nuclease target sites and constant insert regions to identify library members that can been cut by a nuclease of interest via sequencing of an intact target site adjacent and identical to a cut target site. Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, methods, and reagents for selecting a site-specific endonuclease based on determining its target site preferences and specificity. Methods and reagents for determining target site preference and specificity are also provided. |
| US10954547B1 |
Methods for quantifying starch and cellulose in corn samples
Solutions and methods are disclosed for the extraction and quantification of cellulose derived from cellulosic biomass samples. Improved extraction yields and selectivities are provided through the use of an extraction solvent mixture comprising an aprotic solvent such as DMSO, a quaternary ammonium salt such as TBAF, and an quaternary ammonium base such as TBAOH. The extracted cellulose can be optionally precipitated using disclosed precipitation solutions to further improve cellulose purity. Extracted cellulose can be measured by hydrolyzing the cellulose to glucose or cellobiose, or by using disclosed spectrophotometric assays of cellulose-salt complexes. |
| US10954546B2 |
Method for pathogen isolation
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting one or more pathogens in one or more biological samples. The biological sample may be a food sample, a sample of a body fluid, a cell suspension, water, or a combination thereof. The present invention relates also to methods of diagnosing or predicting a disease in an individual. |
| US10954539B2 |
Method for producing hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid
A novel method of producing high-purity hydroxy-L-pipecolic acids in an efficient and inexpensive manner while suppressing the production of hydroxy-L-proline is provided. The method includes allowing an L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase, a microorganism or cell having the ability to produce the enzyme, a processed product of the microorganism or cell, and/or a culture liquid comprising the enzyme and obtained by culturing the microorganism or cell, to act on L-pipecolic acid as a substrate in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion, wherein the L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase has the properties: (1) the enzyme can act on L-pipecolic acid in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion to add a hydroxy group to the carbon atom at positions 3, 4, and/or 5 of L-pipecolic acid; and (2) the enzyme has a catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-proline that is equal to or less than 7 times the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-pipecolic acid. |
| US10954536B2 |
Modified Escherichia coli having an increased expression of a CysP transporter, an ATP sulfurylase, an APS kinase and a PAP phosphatase
The present invention generally relates to the field of biotechnology as it applies to the production of aryl sulfates using recombinant host cells. More particularly, the present invention pertains to recombinant host cells comprising (e.g., expressing) a polypeptide having aryl sulfotransferase activity, wherein said recombinant host cells have been modified to have an increased uptake of sulfate compared to identical host cells that does not carry said modification. Further provided are processes for the production of aryl sulfates, such as zosteric acid, employing such recombinant host cells. |
| US10954535B2 |
Reducing insoluble deposit formation in ethanol production
The present inventors have surprisingly discovered that phytic acid tenaciously precipitates with soluble metals in food or fuel ethanol-processing fluid, producing insoluble organometallic salt deposit or scale on the processing equipment that must be removed in order to facilitate further ethanol processing. The present invention relates to converting phytic acid salts or phytates to inorganic phosphates to improve metal solubility and reduce deposition within processing equipment. |
| US10954533B2 |
Processes of producing fermentation products
The invention relates to processes of producing a fermentation product, comprising liquefying a starch containing material with an alpha-amylase; pre-saccharifying and/or saccharifying and fermenting using a fermentation organism in the presence of a carbohydrate source generating enzyme and a cellulolytic composition The invention also relates to methods of dewatering whole stillage. |
| US10954521B1 |
Immunization and/or treatment of parasites and infectious agents by live bacteria
Chimeric proteins are expressed, secreted or released by a bacterium to immunize against or treat a parasite, infectious disease or malignancy. The delivery vector may also be attenuated, non-pathogenic, low pathogenic, or a probiotic bacterium. The chimeric proteins include chimeras of, e.g., phage coat and/or colicin proteins, bacterial toxins and/or enzymes, autotransporter peptides, lytic peptides, multimerization domains, and/or membrane transducing (ferry) peptides. The active portion of the immunogenic chimeric proteins can include antigens against a wide range of parasites and infectious agents, cancers, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, and have enhanced activity when secreted or released by the bacteria, and/or have direct anti-parasite or infectious agent activity. The activity of the secreted proteins is further increased by co-expression of a protease inhibitor that prevents degradation of the effector peptides. Addition of an antibody binding or antibody-degrading protein further prevents the premature elimination of the vector and enhances the immune response. |
| US10954519B2 |
Compounds and methods for modulation of dystrophia myotonica-protein kinase (DMPK) expression
Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of a DMPK mRNA and protein in an animal. Also provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for preferentially reducing CUGexp DMPK RNA, reducing myotonia or reducing spliceopathy in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate type 1 myotonic dystrophy, or a symptom thereof. |
| US10954518B2 |
RAAV-based compositions and methods for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
The invention relates to inhibitory nucleic acids and rAAV-based compositions, methods and kits useful for treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. |
| US10954517B2 |
Methods and compositions for the specific inhibition of complement component 5(C5) by double-stranded RNA
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for reducing C5 target RNA and protein levels via use of dsRNAs, e.g., Dicer substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) agents. |
| US10954516B2 |
GNAQ targeted dsRNA compositions and methods for inhibiting expression
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a G-alpha q subunit (GNAQ) of a heterotrimeric G gene, and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of GNAQ. |
| US10954515B2 |
Therapeutic methods, products and compositions inhibiting ZNF555
The present invention relates to products and compositions as well as their therapeutic uses in human or veterinary medicine. In particular, the invention provides ZNF555 as a new therapeutic target for the prevention or treatment of a musculoskeletal disease in a subject. Particular embodiments include wherein the musculoskeletal disease is selected from Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD), a myopathy, musculoskeletal fibromatosis and muscular cachexia. Also disclosed is a method for identifying and selecting a compound inhibiting or decreasing the expression or activity of ZNF555, the method comprising a step of detecting and/or measuring the level of expression of ZNF555 or ANTI in a muscle cell in the presence of a test compound, wherein an absent or decreased expression of ZNF555 or ANTI in comparison with a control muscle cell that has not been exposed to or contacted with the test compound, is indicative of the capacity of said compound to inhibit or decrease the expression or activity of ZNF555 in said cell. |
| US10954513B2 |
RNA-guided transcriptional regulation and methods of using the same for the treatment of back pain
Described herein are compositions and methods for treatment and prevention of low back pain. The compositions include vectors comprising nucleotide sequences encoding one or more CRISPR-Cas system guide RNAs and a RNA-directed nuclease. The methods include modulating expression of a gene in a cell using said compositions, introducing a CRISPR-Cas system into a cell comprising one or more vectors comprising said compositions, inducing site-specific DNA cleavage in a cell, and treating a subject having lower back pain, and lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease using the compositions disclosed herein. |
| US10954511B2 |
HTP genomic engineering platform for improving fungal strains
A HTP genomic engineering platform for improving filamentous fungal cells that is computationally driven and integrates molecular biology, automation, and advanced machine learning protocols is provided. This integrative platform utilizes a suite of HTP molecular tool sets to create HTP genetic design libraries, which are derived from, inter alia, scientific insight and iterative pattern recognition. Methods for isolating clonal populations derived from individual fungal spores are also provided. |
| US10954505B2 |
Variants of chymosin with improved milk-clotting properties
Variants of chymosin with improved milk clotting properties. |
| US10954503B2 |
Antidotes for factor Xa inhibitors and methods of using the same
The present invention relates antidotes to anticoagulants targeting factor Xa. The antidotes are factor X and factor Xa protein derivatives that bind to the factor Xa inhibitors thereby substantially neutralizing them but do not assemble into the prothrombinase complex. The derivatives describe herein lack or have reduced intrinsic coagulant activity. Disclosed herein are methods of reversing anticoagulation, stopping or preventing bleeding in a patient that is currently undergoing anticoagulant therapy with a factor Xa inhibitor. |
| US10954501B2 |
Nucleic acid encoding modified membrane type serine protease 1 (MTSP-1) polypeptides and methods of use
Provided are MTSP-1 polypeptides modified to have altered activity and/or specificity so that they cleave a complement protein, such as complement protein C3, to inhibit its activity and thereby inhibit complement activation. The modified MTSP-1 polypeptides that inhibit complement activation can be used for treatment of diseases and conditions in which complement activation plays a role. Such diseases and conditions include inflammatory diseases and diseases with an inflammatory component. Exemplary of these disorders are ischemic and reperfusion disorders, including myocardial infarction and stroke, sepsis, autoimmune diseases, ophthalmic disorders, such as diabetic retinopathies and macular degeneration, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and transplanted organ rejection, such as renal delayed graft function (DGF). |
| US10954496B2 |
Methods, systems, and reagents for direct RNA sequencing
Provided are compositions comprising recombinant polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for sequencing RNA or RNA/DNA templates. Polymerases that topologically encircle the template nucleic acid are provided. Also provided are methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a template comprising RNA. |
| US10954492B2 |
Processes for production and purification of nucleic acid-containing compositions
Described are improved processes for production and purification of nucleic acid-containing compositions, such as non-naturally occurring viruses, for example, recombinant polioviruses that can be employed as oncolytic agents. Some of the described improved processes relate to improved processes for producing viral DNA template. Also described are improved processes for chromatography purification of nucleic acid-containing compositions, in which the nucleic acid is quantified in chromatography fractions using a rapid detection method of the one or more nucleic acid sequences of the nucleic acid-containing composition, such as detection by real time RT-qPCR. In addition, improved processes for production and purification of oncolytic poliovirus, such as PVS-RIPO, are described. Compositions generated using these methods are also provided. |
| US10954487B2 |
Cell culturing method
Provided is a cell culturing method in which physical stress is reduced and oxygen can be supplied. The invention relates to a cell culturing method including; arranging cells in a dispersed state in a culture medium which is a plastic fluid; and introducing air bubbles into said culture medium. |
| US10954486B2 |
Method for freeze drying a bacteria-containing concentrate
The present invention relates to a process for freeze drying a bacteria-containing concentrate. Further, the present invention relates to the freeze dried concentrates per se. |
| US10954485B1 |
Instruments, modules, and methods for improved detection of edited sequences in live cells
The present disclosure provides instruments, modules and methods for improved detection of edited cells following nucleic acid-guided nuclease genome editing. The disclosure provides improved automated instruments that perform methods—including high throughput methods—for screening cells that have been subjected to editing and identifying cells that have been properly edited. |
| US10954479B2 |
Composition for surface treatment and surface treatment method using the same
The present invention relates to a composition for surface treatment including: a phosphonic acid compound containing two or more nitrogen atoms; and water, wherein the pH is 6 or less, and the composition for surface treatment is used for treating a surface of a polishing-completed object to be polished having a tungsten-containing layer. According to the present invention, there is provided a means capable of inhibiting dissolution of the tungsten-containing layer provided on a polishing-completed object to be polished when a surface treatment is performed. |
| US10954476B2 |
Alkaline cleaning composition and methods for removing lipstick
Methods of cleaning waxy, oily and/or greasy soils, including lipsticks and lip gloss, are disclosed. Methods of removing lipstick and lip gloss stains in warewash and laundry applications are disclosed through application of cleaning compositions comprising long chain polyamines, namely C6-C20 polyamines having between 1 and 5 nitrogens. In some aspects alkaline cleaning compositions comprise sodium hydroxide detergents and a C6-C20 polyamines such as N1-(3-aminopropyl)-N3-dodecylpropane-1,3,diamine) and/or N1,N1,N3-tris(3-aminopropyl)-N3-dodecylpropane-1,3-diamine. |
| US10954474B2 |
Leuco polymers as bluing agents in laundry care compositions
A leuco polymer comprising a polymeric carbohydrate and a leuco moiety. The polymeric carbohydrate and the leuco moiety are covalently bound. Methods of making the leuco polymer, laundry care compositions comprising the leuco polymer and methods of treating textiles with such laundry care compositions. |
| US10954470B2 |
High pressure purification of waxes
The invention relates to a method for the purification of crude rice bran wax using an alcohol as a purifying solvent under high pressure conditions. It particularly relates to the use of ethyl alcohol as said solvent for efficient and economic purification of crude rice bran wax into economically valuable high purity wax products. |
| US10954466B2 |
Polymeric-inorganic particles useful as lubricant additives
The invention relates to polymeric-inorganic nanoparticles and preparation processes thereof. The invention also relates to a powder, concentrate and lubricating composition comprising these polymeric-inorganic nanoparticles, to a method of dispersing nanoparticles in lubricating oil, as well as the use of these polymeric-inorganic particles in an oil lubricant formulation to reduce pour point, friction and wear. |
| US10954462B2 |
Bimodal bottlebrush poly(alpha olefin) solid lubricants
Bottlebrush poly(alpha olefin)s of high carbon number, greater than 12 such as poly(octadecene), are used as a thickener for a synthetic base oil grease lubricant that is based on oligomerized alpha olefin with carbon number from 7 to 12, such as oligo(decene). Dispersion aids are not required in the present lubricants because poly(octadecene) can be dissolved in oligo(decene). The lubricant is a solid grease formed by percolation/network of the poly(octadecene) crystals, at a sufficient concentration, after the crystallization of poly(octadecene), and water resistant having oxidation/high temperature stability. |
| US10954460B2 |
Fuel compositions
A fuel composition for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine comprises an additive having a chemical structure comprising a 6-membered aromatic ring sharing two adjacent aromatic carbon atoms with a 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, the 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring comprising a nitrogen atom directly bonded to one of the shared carbon atoms to form a secondary amine and an atom selected from oxygen or nitrogen directly bonded to the other shared carbon atom, the remaining atoms in the 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring being carbon. The additive increases the octane number of the fuel, thereby improving the auto-ignition characteristics of the fuel. |
| US10954458B2 |
Composition and method for dispersing scales and solid deposits
The present disclosure relates to a composition for removing scales and solid deposits. The composition comprises at least one dispersant salt, at least one hydrocarbon, and at least one ionic liquid. |
| US10954457B2 |
Methods including direct hydroprocessing and high-severity fluidized catalytic cracking for processing crude oil
According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for processing a heavy oil includes introducing the heavy oil to a hydroprocessing unit, the hydroprocessing unit being operable to hydroprocess the heavy oil to form a hydroprocessed effluent by contacting the heavy oil feed with an HDM catalyst, an HDS catalyst, and an HDA catalyst. The hydroprocessed effluent is passed directly to a HS-FCC unit, the HS-FCC unit being operable to crack the hydroprocessed effluent to form a cracked effluent comprising at least one product. The cracked effluent is passed out of the HS-FCC unit. The heavy oil has an API gravity of from 25 degrees to 50 degrees and at least 20 wt. % of the hydroprocessed effluent passed to the HS-FCC unit has a boiling point less than 225 degrees ° C. |
| US10954455B1 |
Desalter chemical control system
A system may include: a crude oil desalter; one or more sample points fluidically coupled to the crude oil desalter; and one or more fluid characterization units coupled to each of the one or more sample points, the one or more fluid characterization units being operable to measure at least one of density or flow rate of fluid from the sample points. |
| US10954452B2 |
Processes for recovering valuable components from a catalytic fast pyrolysis process
Methods of separating products from the catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass are described. In a preferred method, a portion of the products from a pyrolysis reactor are recovered and separated using a quench system and solvent contacting system that employs materials produced in the pyrolysis process. |
| US10954447B2 |
Integrated process for producing anode grade coke
The invention relates to processes for producing anode grade coke from whole crude oil. The invention is accomplished by first deasphalting a feedstock, followed by processing resulting DAO and asphalt fractions. The DAO fraction is hydrotreated or hydrocracked, resulting in removal of sulfur and hydrocarbons, which boil at temperatures over 370° C., and gasifying the asphalt portion in one embodiment. This embodiment includes subjecting hydrotreated and/or unconverted DAO fractions to delayed coking. In an alternate embodiment, rather than gasifying the asphalt portion, it is subjected to delayed coking in a separate reaction chamber. Any coke produced via delayed coking can be gasified. |
| US10954439B2 |
Semiconductor nanoparticles, method of producing the semiconductor nanoparticles, and light-emitting device
A method of producing semiconductor nanoparticles, semiconductor nanoparticles, and a light-emitting device are provided. The method includes heat-treating a mixture containing a salt of Ag, a salt containing at least one of In and Ga, an Se supply source, and an organic solvent at a temperature in the range of above 200° C. to 370° C. In the method, the ratio of the number of Ag atoms to the total number of In and Ga atoms in the mixture is above 0.43 to 2.5. The semiconductor nanoparticles contains Ag, at least one of In and Ga, and Se. The light-emitting device includes a light conversion member containing the semiconductor nanoparticles and a semiconductor light-emitting element. |
| US10954438B2 |
Process for improved halide materials
Synthesizing a color stable Mn4+ doped phosphor by contacting a gaseous fluorine-containing oxidizing agent with a precursor of: AaBbCcDdXx:Mn4+; AaiBbiCciDdXxYd:Mn4+; A13G2−m−nMnmMgnLi3F12Op; or AZF4:Mn4+. Where A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or a combination; B is Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or a combination; C is Sc, Y, B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, or a combination; D is Ti, Zr, Hf, Rf, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, or a combination; X is F or a combination of F and one of Br, Cl, and I; Y is O, or a combination of O and one of S and Se; A1 is Na or K, or a combination; G is Al, B, Sc, Fe, Cr, Ti, In, or a combination; Z is La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc, Y, In, or a combination. |
| US10954436B2 |
Polynitrogen compounds and uses thereof as fluorescent chromophores
The present invention relates to the use, as a fluorescent chromophore, of a compound with formula (I) wherein: A1 is —N— or —C(Y1)—; A2 is —N— or —C(Y2)—; A3 is —N— or —C(Y3)—; A4 is —N— or —C(Y4)—; at least one of A1, A2, A3 and A4 representing —N—; X1 is —N— or —C(Y5)—; X2 is —N— or —C(Y6)—; X3 is —N— or —C(Y7)—; and Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6 and Y7 are in particular chosen independently of one another from the group made up of: H, electron-donor groups and electron-attracting groups. |
| US10954434B2 |
Coated proppants and methods of making and use thereof
Methods for producing proppants with block copolymer proppant coating include coating proppant particles with the block copolymer proppant coating to produce coated proppants with block copolymer proppant coating. The block copolymer proppant coating is a block copolymer composition having at least one copolymer backbone. Each copolymer backbone comprises at least two hard segments and a soft segment disposed between the at least two hard segments. Additionally, a proppant comprising a proppant particle and a block copolymer proppant coating is provided. The block copolymer proppant coating is a block copolymer composition having at least one copolymer backbone, in which each copolymer backbone comprises at least two hard segments. A soft segment is disposed between the at least two hard segments. The copolymer backbone has at least one anhydride group grafted onto the soft segment. Furthermore, the anhydride group is crosslinked by an amine-containing crosslinker. |
| US10954433B2 |
Methods and systems for preparing proppant slurries
Methods and systems for preparing slurries for treating subterranean formations are provided herein. The methods may include: combining proppant particulates and a base fluid at a well site to form a slurry; and extracting dust from a mixing tank at a well site in which the slurry is disposed. The systems may include: a first tank containing proppant particulates located at a wellsite; a second tank containing a base fluid located at a well site; at least one mixer operable to receive and mix at least a portion of the proppant particulates from the first tank and at least a portion of the base fluid from the second tank at the well site to form a slurry; at least one mixing tank operable to receive the slurry from the mixer; and at least one dust extractor operable to extract dust from the at least one mixing tank. |
| US10954432B2 |
On the fly mixing of acids and diversion fluids with water-soluble retarding agents
Described herein are methods for on the fly mixing of retarded acidizing fluids containing acid, a water-soluble acid retarding agent (RA), and optionally a viscoelastic surfactant (VES), and for on the fly mixing of diversion fluids containing VES and RA in the same equipment. Also described are methods of controlling the preparation of such fluids based on feedback composition analyses. |
| US10954429B2 |
Controlled release of surfactants for enhanced oil recovery
A sparingly soluble sulfonate-metal salt particle includes the metal ion salt of an alkyl aryl sulfonate, the metal ion salt of a petroleum sulfonate and a hydrophobically modified hydrophilic polymer, and has an average particle size diameter in a range of from about 50 nm to about 450 nm and is sparingly soluble in water at room temperature. A method of producing a sparingly soluble sulfonate-metal salt particle includes the steps of introducing an aqueous solution containing a metal ion salt into a reactor, introducing an aqueous solution containing a sulfonate surfactant and a polymer into the reactor, and operating the reactor such that the sparingly soluble sulfonate-metal salt particle forms from the interaction of the metal ion from the salt, the sulfonate surfactant and the polymer. |
| US10954420B2 |
Curable modified petroleum resin, and preparation method and use thereof
Provided is a curable petroleum resin, and a preparation method and a use thereof, the curable petroleum resin comprising a repeating unit derived from a petroleum resin monomer, a repeating unit derived from a silane monomer and a repeating unit derived from a C3-C20 alpha-olefin monomer. The curable petroleum resin is used as an additive in a reactive polyolefin-based adhesive composition to increase the adhesive strength to a polyolefin-based substrate used for various parts. |
| US10954417B2 |
Glue-bonded multi-ply absorbent sheet and polyvinyl alcohol ply bonding adhesive
A multi-ply absorbent sheet includes a first absorbent ply of cellulosic sheet; a second absorbent ply of cellulosic sheet; and a ply bonding adhesive interposed between the first absorbent ply and the second absorbent ply, the ply-bonding adhesive thereby adhering said absorbent plies together. The ply-bonding adhesive comprises polyvinyl alcohol and nanofibrillated cellulose. In a particularly preferred embodiment the adhesive is applied as a dilute aqueous composition to tissue plies and the nanofibrillated cellulose has a Characteristic Breaking Length of 6.5 km or above. |
| US10954415B2 |
Aqueous noctilucent and allochroic glue
An aqueous noctilucent and allochroic glue that includes deionized water; a noctilucent material that includes long-afterglow phosphor powder and a transparent medium, wherein the noctilucent material includes particles formed by creating, curing, and then crushing a suspension, mixture, or sheet of the long-afterglow phosphor powder and transparent medium, and wherein the particles have been coated with allochroic material; adhesive; and suspension concentrate. |
| US10954414B2 |
Method for producing glass unit and pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet
Provided is a method for producing a glass unit. The method comprises a step (A) of obtaining a glass plate comprising a glass substrate and a Low-E layer placed on the glass substrate; a step (B) of applying a protective sheet to the Low-E layer surface of the glass plate; an optional step (C) of subjecting the glass plate to at least one process selected from the group consisting of transportation, storage, processing, washing and handling; a step (D) of removing the protective sheet from the glass plate; and a step (E) of assembling a glass unit using the glass plate. The protective sheet comprises a waterproof layer, and a PSA layer provided to at least one face of the waterproof layer. The PSA layer has a surface hardness of 0.5 MPa or less. |
| US10954411B2 |
Chemical mechanical polishing composition and method of polishing silicon nitride over silicon dioxide and simultaneously inhibiting damage to silicon dioxide
An acid chemical mechanical polishing composition polishes silicon nitride over silicon dioxide and simultaneously inhibits damage to the silicon dioxide. The acid chemical mechanical polishing composition includes polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, anionic functional colloidal silica abrasive particles and an amine carboxylic acid. The pH of the acid chemical mechanical polishing composition is 5 or less. |
| US10954406B2 |
Preparation of high conductivity copper films
A copper precursor composition contains: a first copper complex of an imine or a first cyclic amine coordinated to a first copper precursor compound; and, a second copper complex of a primary amine or a second cyclic amine coordinated to a second copper precursor compound. A copper precursor composition contains a copper complex of an imine coordinated to a copper precursor compound. The copper precursor composition is thermally degradable at a temperature lower than a comparable composition containing only primary amine copper complexes under otherwise the same conditions to produce a metallic copper film having a resistivity of about 200 μΩ-cm or less. Inks containing the copper precursor composition and a solvent may be deposited on a substrate and sintered to produce a metallic copper film. The substrate with the film thereon is useful in electronic devices. |
| US10954405B2 |
Water-based diacetylene ink, hydrochromic polydiacetylene paper prepared using the ink, and use thereof
A water-based ink comprising a diacetylene monomer, a hydrochromic polydiacetylene paper prepared using the ink, and uses therefor are provided. The water-based ink includes a diacetylene monomer, and a solvent mixture comprising water and an alcohol. The diacetylene monomer has a ionic functional group represented by R+X−, wherein X− is F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, PF6−, BF4−, bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI) (Tf2N−), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO−), SCN−, or CH3COO−, and R+ is N+—R1-heterocyclic quaternary ammonium. |
| US10954402B2 |
Inkjet ink compositions
Disclosed herein are inkjet ink compositions comprising: at least one pigment and at least one polyurethane comprising: at least one polypropylene glycol, and at least one diisocyanate. The at least one polyurethane contains at least 70 wt % polypropylene glycol relative to the at least one polyurethane and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of no more than 80,000. |
| US10954401B2 |
Sealing lacquer for application in a printing process
Sealing lacquer for application in a printing process, in particular for sealing packaging parts which can be peeled off from one another. The sealing lacquer has in particular a) 40 to 65 wt % solvent, b) 0 to 10 wt % styrene butadiene block copolymer, c) 8 to 12 wt % styrene alpha methylstyrene, d) 6 to 12 wt % linear and/or radial Tri-block (SBS) block, e) 0 to 10 wt % linear Di-Block (SB) block, f) 15 to 30 wt % polyester, and g) up to 3 wt % antioxidant. The sealing lacquer provides a seal that, whether the seal is opened by peeling, or the packaging is push-through packaging, provides a holding force exhibiting a strength until cohesion failure that is determined by the pressures and temperatures used during sealing. |
| US10954398B2 |
Decorative coating film
The present disclosure provides a decorative coating film, which ensures and/or maintains millimeter wave transmission properties even though the decorative coating film is continuously used. The present disclosure relates to a decorative coating film formed on the surface of a resin substrate positioned in the pathway of a radar device, wherein the decorative coating film at least comprises: fine silver particles or fine silver alloy particles, nickel oxide, and a binding resin having light transmission properties, which binds the fine silver particles or the fine silver alloy particles dispersed in the decorative coating film with one another, wherein the shape of the nickel oxide is a wire shape. |
| US10954397B2 |
Curable photochromic compositions
A curable photochromic composition can include: (a) a first component having a first compound with at least two active hydrogen-functional groups and an active hydrogen-functional group equivalent weight of at least 1000; (b) a second component having at least one of a polyisocyanate and a blocked polyisocyanate; and (c) at least one photochromic compound. The ratio of total isocyanate and blocked isocyanate equivalents of the second component to total active hydrogen-functional group equivalents of the first component is at least 4:1. |
| US10954394B2 |
Polymer-containing composition and antifouling coating composition
Provided is an antifouling coating composition, which can form a coating film having good hardness and good physical properties and having a wear degree appropriate for expressing a long-term antifouling effect, has a viscosity not being excessively high, and makes it possible to reduce a content of volatile organic compounds, and a polymer-containing composition which is suitable for obtaining the antifouling coating composition. The polymer-containing composition contains a (meth)acryl-based copolymer (A-1), in which the (meth)acryl-based copolymer (A-1) contains a constitutional unit (U11) or a constitutional unit (U12) having carboxylate forming an ionic bond with a divalent metal atom, and has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 5,000, and the polymer-containing composition has a coating film hardness (Martens hardness) equal to or higher than 2.5 N/mm2. |
| US10954390B2 |
Smart rutting and cracking resistant asphalt pavement incorporating shape memory polymers
The low temperature cracking and high temperature rutting of polymer-modified asphalt concrete pavement can be reduced. The composite includes asphalt and at least one polymer that expands at low temperature, triggered by cooling-induced tensile stress, to reduce thermal cracking. The composite includes at least one polymer that expands at high temperature, so that the composite recovers after compression induced by traffic loading at higher temperatures, thereby reducing rutting. The system reduces thermal stress, and reduces or even eliminates thermal cracking and rutting. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used to improve asphalt compositions so that they better resist both thermal cracking and rutting. The SMP(s) can be incorporated into the asphalt, or a portion of fine aggregates can be replaced with SMP particles or SMP fibers, or aggregate replacement and asphalt modification can be combined. |
| US10954389B2 |
Compositions containing rosin esters and ethylene polymers
Disclosed are compositions which include an ethylene polymer derived from at least one polar monomer with one or more ester groups, and a rosin ester. The rosin ester can have a low hydroxyl number (e.g., a hydroxyl number seven or less), a low acid number (e.g., an acid number of ten or less), a relatively low PAN number (e.g., a PAN number less than twenty-five), a relatively high third moment or third power average molecular weight (Mz), (e.g., an Mz value in between 2500 and 12000 g/mol), a low sulfur content (e.g., a sulfur content lower than 600 ppm prior to antioxidant addition) or combinations thereof. The compositions can exhibit a high heat stress resistance (e.g., a heat stress pass temperature value higher than 52° C. or in between 48° C. and 60° C.) and/or improved viscosity stability and/or color stability upon thermal aging and/or improved compatibility. |
| US10954387B2 |
Dispensable chemical composition with high amount of filler materials and low thixotropic index levels
A dispensable chemical composition comprising a blend of siloxane polymeric components, with a low viscosity component in an amount greater than a high viscosity component, and suitable to integrate a high amount of filler materials while maintaining rheological features of thixotropic index and viscosity values at low and high shear rates proper for a dispensing paste. |
| US10954385B2 |
Heat-resistant millable silicone rubber composition
Provided is a millable silicone rubber composition capable of yielding a silicone rubber (cured product) superior in heat resistance. The composition contains: (A) 100 parts by mass of an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups in one molecule, and having an average polymerization degree of not lower than 100; (B) 5 to 100 parts by mass of a reinforcing silica having a specific surface area of not smaller than 50 m2/g; (C) 0.01 to 10 parts by mass of a titanium oxide doped with a transition metal oxide of 0.01 to 5% by mass; (D) 0.01 to 10 parts by mass of a cerium oxide and/or a cerium hydroxide; and (E) 0.01 to 10 parts by mass of a curing agent. |
| US10954383B2 |
Biofidelic skin simulant
Described are biofidelic skin simulants closely mimicking the biomechanical properties of natural human skin, including vaginal skin tissue. The simulant contains a crosslinked siloxane network. |