最新美国发明专利第2015-10-06期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09152381B2	Systems and methods employing unique device for generating random signals and metering and addressing, e.g., unusual deviations in said random signals According to some embodiments, a system comprises a generator of a truly random signal is connected to an input and feedback device for the purpose of providing a user with real time feedback on the random signal. The user observes a representation of the signal in the process of an external physical event for the purpose of finding a correlation between the random output and what happens during the physical event. In some examples, the system is preferably designed such the system is shielded from all classically known forces such as gravity, physical pressure, motion, electromagnetic fields, humidity, etc. and/or, such classical forces are factored out of the process as much as possible. The system is thus designed to be selectively response to signals from living creatures, in particular, humans.
US09152379B2	Efficient sorting of large dimensional data Various embodiments sort data. In one embodiment, a matrix D including a set of data values is received. A matrix Q is received, and includes a set of columns and a set of rows. The matrix Q further includes a sorting of each column of the matrix D. Each of these rows corresponds to a sorting. Each of a set of values in each of the set of columns in the matrix Q identifies a row in the matrix D. At least one sub-matrix D′ of the matrix D is identified. A set of columns of the sub-matrix D′ is restricted to one or more columns of the matrix D. A processor sorts the sub-matrix D′ by rows based on the sorting of the set of columns of the matrix D as given in the matrix Q, and based on the set of data values in the matrix D.
US09152376B2	System and method for continuous multimodal speech and gesture interaction Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for processing multimodal input. A system configured to practice the method continuously monitors an audio stream associated with a gesture input stream, and detects a speech event in the audio stream. Then the system identifies a temporal window associated with a time of the speech event, and analyzes data from the gesture input stream within the temporal window to identify a gesture event. The system processes the speech event and the gesture event to produce a multimodal command. The gesture in the gesture input stream can be directed to a display, but is remote from the display. The system can analyze the data from the gesture input stream by calculating an average of gesture coordinates within the temporal window.
US09152372B2	Method and system for enabling multiple VGA cards to process image data A method and system for enabling multiple video graphics array (VGA) cards to process image data are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of a graphics system includes a first video graphics array (VGA) card having a first and a second connection ports, a second VGA card having a first and a second connection ports, a third VGA card having a first and a second connection ports, and a connecting device for electronically connecting the first, the second, and the third VGA cards via connections that transfer data. The connecting device is further configured to connect the first connection port of the first VGA card to either the first or the second connection port of the second VGA card and connect the second connection port of the first VGA card to either the first or the second connection port of the third VGA card.
US09152371B2	Desktop application manager: tapping dual-screen cards Methods and devices for selecting a card from an application stack, wherein the card represents a corresponding application that a user would like to make active or bring focus to. The selecting includes one or more of a dragging and a tapping action, with these actions being triggers for transitioning the device to an optional drag state or tapped state, respectively. Transitioning through this state executes the activating of a corresponding application or other action on the device to facilitate window/application/desktop management. The selecting further allows a user to specify which a touch screen (or portion hereof) on which a particular application should be launched.
US09152368B2	Printer and server One of a plurality of setting screens corresponding to a plurality of printers may be generated based on original data stored in a server. Each of the plurality of setting screens may be for permitting designation of a content of each setting item matching a print condition that a corresponding printer is capable of performing. The server may acquire specific printer identification information for identifying a specific printer from a terminal device, store target data of a print target and supply specific data, which is for representing a specific setting screen corresponding to the specific printer, to the terminal device. The server may acquire setting information indicating a designated content of each setting item designated via the specific setting screen and supply to the specific printer print data according to the target data and the designated content of the each setting item indicated by the setting information.
US09152367B2	Printing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium When a printing apparatus according to one aspect of this invention newly accepts a print job other than a specific job, for which guarantee of the print order is set as a print setting, during execution of print order guarantee for inhibiting execution of a print job other than the specific job and executing specific jobs in the acceptance order, it executes interrupt print processing to execute the print job under a predetermined condition. If the print settings of the print job do not include a setting which disturbs output of a printed material complying with the print settings of a specific job in progress by the print order guarantee, the printing apparatus executes the print job by interrupt processing.
US09152360B1	Method and system for secure branch printing Methods and systems for branch printing. A secure print path to a remote printer can be configured from a device from which a print job originates. The secure print path is configured to include secure device communications and secure job spooling. The print job can be routed via port forwarding to the remote printer for rendering (e.g., printing) at the remote printer. Configuring the secure print path can involve employing an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and an IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) over an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) to train a print server to determine the optimal pooling path for the secure print path.
US09152357B2	Method and system for providing print content to a client A request for print content is received at a network server system. The request includes variable user input. Webpage content is obtained based at least in part on the variable user input. A subset of the webpage content is identified as print content. A print-ready layout of the print content is formed and the print content in the print-ready layout is provided, via network connection, to a client in response to the request.
US09152356B2	Information processing apparatus, function setup method, and computer program A function setup method of providing a user interface for setting various setup items related to a predetermined function, the method including: generating a setup screen in which display item groups corresponding respectively to the various setup items and each including display items are displayed in a list form; detecting an operation input instructing selection of one display item belonging to a certain one of the display item groups; changing a display state of the one display item to a setup effective state; accessing a data storage unit storing confliction information defining a conflicting relationship of setup values not allowed to be set simultaneously between the setup items, and finding a conflicting display item having the conflicting relationship with the one display item from the display item groups based on the confliction information; and changing the display state of the found conflicting display item to a setup disabled state.
US09152351B2	Storage device and method for backing up source volume A storage device includes a source volume and a processor. The source volume includes a plurality of data blocks. The processor is configured to execute a full copy process of copying all data blocks of the source volume to form a full backup volume. The processor is configured to execute, at a generation change timing of changing from a current generation to a next generation, a difference copy process of copying a first data block that has been updated in the current generation into a corresponding region of the full backup volume. The processor is configured to execute a generation backup process of storing the first data block of a previous generation in a generation backup volume corresponding to the current generation.
US09152350B2	Semiconductor memory device controlling write or read process According to an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a controller and a second storage unit. The controller is configured to control a write process of writing data into a first storage unit in which data supplied from a host device are stored or a read process of reading the data stored in the first storage in response to a request from the host device. The second storage unit is temporarily used in the write process or the read process. The second storage unit includes a nonvolatile third storage unit having an area for storing a duplicate of the data to be written by the write process; and a nonvolatile fourth storage unit having a work area for the write process or the read process and having a higher read/write speed than the third storage unit.
US09152349B2	Automated information life-cycle management with thin provisioning A system for managing data includes providing at least one logical device having a table of information that maps sections of the logical device to sections of at least two storage areas. Characteristics of data associated with at least one section of the logical device may be evaluated. The at least one section of the data may moved between the at least two storage areas according to a policy and based on the characteristics of the data. The table of information is updated according to the movement of data between the at least two storage areas.
US09152347B2	Storage and retrieval of high importance pages in an active memory sharing environment Using a set of non-volatile storage media and a virtual input/output system operating in a memory sharing environment, by: (i) estimating which non-volatile storage medium, of the set of non-volatile storage media, will have the fastest access at a given time; and (ii) read-writing (that is, reading and/or writing) data by the virtual input/output system of a high importance page to the non-volatile storage media estimated to have the fastest access time.
US09152343B2	Information processing system that includes multiple information processors and executes process according to request received via network, and information processing method therein An information processing system includes multiple information processors. Each of the information processors includes a control part configured to periodically store a duplicate copy of at least part of predetermined information stored inside the information processor in a first storage part. The control part is configured to cause the first storage part to be operable from the information processor prior to storing the duplicate copy in the first storage part, store the duplicate copy after causing the first storage part to be operable, and cause the first storage part to be inoperable from the information processor after completion of storing the duplicate copy.
US09152341B2	Storage system, storage controller, and method for eliminating data duplication based on hash table According to one embodiment, a storage controller includes a dividing unit, a duplication manager, and a duplication determination unit. The dividing unit divides data specified in a write request from a host computer into a plurality of chunks. The duplication manager preferentially stores a first hash value of a first chunk in a first table in a hash table in association with the first chunk when the first chunk is written to a storage device. The hash table includes a second table having more entries than the first table. The duplication determination unit first searches the first table for a third hash value matching a second hash value of a second chunk when the second hash value has been calculated.
US09152339B1	Synchronization of asymmetric active-active, asynchronously-protected storage In one aspect, a method includes synchronizing a second storage volume to a first storage volume by synchronizing extents according to priority based on extent activity. In another aspect, an apparatus includes electronic hardware circuitry configured to synchronize a second storage volume to a first storage volume by synchronizing extents according to priority based on extent activity. In a further aspect, an article includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions. The instructions cause a machine to synchronize a second storage volume to a first storage volume by synchronizing extents according to priority based on extent activity.
US09152338B2	Snapshot management in hierarchical storage infrastructure Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for snapshot management in a storage infrastructure. A computer identifies one or more snapshots within layers of the storage infrastructure. The computer determines one or more relationships of the one or more identified snapshots of the storage infrastructure. The determined relationships include, at least in part, relations of one or more entities included in the one or more snapshots to additional one or more entities in the one or more snapshots of the storage infrastructure. The computer identifies the one or more duplicate snapshots by utilizing the one or more determined relationships of the one or more identified snapshots. The computer consolidates the one or more identified duplicate snapshots in the storage infrastructure. In another embodiment, the computer identifies one or more inconsistent snapshots, and consolidates the one or more inconsistent snapshots in the storage infrastructure.
US09152331B2	Computer system, storage management computer, and storage management method A memory stores first configuration information indicating a plurality of logical storage areas and a first condition defining a state of a storage apparatus as a trigger for the storage apparatus to move data. A CPU acquires: a second condition defining a state of a computer as a trigger for the computer to move a first object, which is stored in a first logical storage area among the plurality of logical storage areas and performed by the computer, to another one of the plurality of logical storage areas; second configuration information associating the first object and the first logical storage area; first state information indicating a state of the plurality of logical storage areas; and second state information indicating a state of the first object. If a state of performing data movement is set, the CPU identifies a cause of the state of performing the data movement.
US09152330B2	NVRAM data organization using self-describing entities for predictable recovery after power-loss In one embodiment, a node coupled to a plurality of solid state drives (SSDs) executes a storage input/output (I/O) stack having a plurality of layers. Write data associated with one or more write requests to the SSDs is stored in a volatile log. The write data is organized into one or more extents that are copied to the SSDs. The volatile log has a front-end and a set of records with metadata. The metadata includes a head offset referencing an initial record and a tail offset referencing a final record. A portion of the one or more write requests including the write data is copied to a non-volatile log maintained in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The front-end and the set of records from the volatile log are copied, but the head offset and the tail offset are not, to reduce an amount of metadata copied to the NVRAM.
US09152327B2	System and method for detecting failure of storage object images on a storage system and initiating a cleanup procedure An application may store data to a dataset comprising a plurality of volumes stored on a plurality of storage systems. The application may request a dataset image of the dataset, the dataset image comprising a volume image of each volume of the dataset. A dataset image manager operates with a plurality of volume image managers in parallel to produce the dataset image, each volume image manager executing on a storage system. The plurality of volume image managers respond by performing requested operations and sending responses to the dataset image manager in parallel. Each volume image manager on a storage system may manage and produce a volume image for each volume of the dataset stored to the storage system. If a volume image for any volume of the dataset fails, or a timeout period expires, a cleanup procedure is performed to delete any successful volume images.
US09152326B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array configured to include sub memory blocks and a redundancy memory block, data line groups configured to deliver data to be programmed into the sub memory blocks and data read from the sub memory blocks, a redundancy data line group configured to deliver data to be programmed into the redundancy memory block and data read from the redundancy memory block, and switching circuits configured to couple selectively the data line groups to the redundancy data line group.
US09152323B2	Virtual keyboard providing an indication of received input A virtual keyboard providing an indication of received input and method of controlling the same is provided. The method comprises receiving an input of a character from a virtual keyboard displayed on a display, and highlighting a key in the virtual keyboard which corresponds to the input character when the input character belongs to a current set of characters which is incomplete.
US09152320B2	Programmable controllers and schedule timers The present invention relates to a user interface system and method for programming a schedule of a programmable device. The system comprises processor means and a display unit coupled to the processor means, whereby the processor means is configured to provide a graphical display on the display unit for displaying a time select region for programming at least one time period for the schedule. The time select region is displayed on the display unit as a dial (350) divided into a plurality of segments and each segment represents a period of time in a day, such as fifteen minutes, for an operating parameter, such as a temperature setting for the device. The time select region is interactively operable (354) to enable a user to select one or more segments (351) on the dial to correspond to a selected time period for the schedule. The present invention is directed to a user interface system and method that allows adjustment of multiple schedules in an easy and efficient manner allowing a user to easily view and switch between schedules.
US09152319B2	Method for simplifying a Swype based touch-screen keypad for fast text entry A method, apparatus and computer program product for entering text on a touch-screen device is presented. Entry of at least one letter of a word on a virtual keypad of a touch-screen device is detected. In response to the detection of an entry of least one letter of a word on a virtual keypad of a touch-screen device a first row of keys is displayed on the virtual keypad, the first row of keys comprising a predictive character set of keys based on the entry of at least one letter of a word.
US09152318B2	Gallery application for content viewing A gallery software application enables a user to browse, view, and interact with various content items, such as still images and videos. The gallery includes a graphical user interface with two modes: stack and grid. In stack mode, images (which represent content items) are divided into groups, and a group is represented by a displayed stack of images. In grid mode, images are displayed in a grid of rows and columns. The displayed stacks and images can be scrolled. When the scrolling reaches the end of a set of stacks or images, the last stack or image is displayed with perspective distortion. In grid mode, a value is displayed for meta-data of a content item that is not currently displayed. If a user indicates the displayed value, the grid is scrolled until the content item whose meta-data matches that value is displayed.
US09152317B2	Manipulation of graphical elements via gestures A method of operating a graphical user interface of a computing device is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) element on the touch sensitive display screen. The method further comprises in response to receiving touch input data indicative of a one-touch gesture mapping the one-touch gesture to a corresponding GUI element function. The method further comprises in response to receiving touch input data indicative of a multi-touch gesture, mapping the multi-touch gesture to the corresponding GUI element function. The method further comprises transforming display of the GUI element on the touch sensitive display screen based on the corresponding GUI element function.
US09152313B2	Unified picture access across devices A method for creating a design for an image product includes registering a group of image sources by a network based image service system, wherein the group of image sources comprise a first device and a second device, receiving a notification, by the network based image service system, from the image sources about availabilities of the image sources, representing the second device and a local storage of the first device at a user interface on the first device, indicating an availability status of the second device on the first device, and if the availability status of the second device indicates that the second device is available, allowing a user to browse, on the first device, images stored on the second device.
US09152312B1	Displaying related content in a content stream A method includes displaying a scrollable sequence of content items, the content items having a plurality of sources and a plurality of content types; in response to user commands, scrolling the scrollable sequence of content items in a direction parallel to a first axis; visually indicating a first focus item in the scrollable sequence and displaying in the current focus item an affordance including a related-content affordance; and responding to user selection of the related-content affordance in the current focus item by scrolling the current focus item in a direction parallel to a second axis that is distinct from the first axis and displaying a second focus item in place of the first focus item, the second focus item including a content item of one or more content items related to the first focus item in accordance with predefined criteria.
US09152310B2	Method and system for preview control for image adjustment An image-editing application may transform digital images. The image-editing application may display a thumbnail image control including a sequence of thumbnail images. A main image may also be displayed. One or more of the thumbnail images may be transformed according to different transformation adjustment levels. As a user input control rolls over each of the thumbnail images, the main image may be transformed according to the adjustment level associated with the thumbnail image that currently has the user input control over it, offering a preview of the transformation adjustment level associated with the currently active thumbnail image. A slider-bar control may be associated with the thumbnail image control. The slider-bar control may be associated with a complete range of adjustment levels. The image-editing application may coordinate the operation of the slider-bar control, the thumbnail control and the display of the main image.
US09152308B2	Organizing graphical representations on computing devices Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a current configuration of graphical representations displayed in a user interface presented by a computing device, each of the graphical representations being associated with a respective computer-executable application, determining at least one usage signal corresponding to each of the graphical representations, the usage signal reflecting user interaction with the respective associated computer-executable application, determining one or more success metrics indicative of an efficiency of the current configuration of graphical representations, generating, using an optimization technique, a modified configuration of graphical representations based on the usage signals and the one or more success metrics, and presenting, in the user interface, at least a portion of the modified configuration of graphical representations.
US09152305B2	Systems and methods for presentations with live application integration The present disclosure includes presentations with pages that access data from backend applications. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed where presentation pages are sent from a server and received in a client. The presentation pages may include static pages and interactive pages. Interactive pages include active regions that may be selected to access features on server applications. In one embodiment, an active region may be a portion of a presentation page that is selectable to access an application feature. In another embodiment, an active region may be a presentation page that interactively exposes an application feature in the presentation page.
US09152303B2	Systems and methods for efficient video analysis Systems (100) and methods (300) for efficient video analysis. The methods involve: automatically identifying features of at least one feature class which are contained in a first video stream; simultaneously generating a plurality of first video chips (904) using first video data defining the first video stream; displaying an array comprising the first video chips within a graphical user interface window; and concurrently playing the first video chips. Each of the first video chips comprises a segment of the first video stream which includes at least one identified feature.
US09152302B2	Method to obtain a virtual desktop stored in a cloud storage system, a corresponding cloud broker and cloud desktop agent A method to obtain a cloud-stored virtual desktop includes a set of user preferences, applications and shortcuts to files that a user desires to access. The method includes (A) transferring from a client device to a cloud broker a virtual desktop request comprising a user identification and a client device type identification; (B) passing the virtual desktop request to a cloud desktop agent responsible for maintenance of virtual desktops and virtual desktop metadata in the cloud storage system; (C) selecting by the cloud desktop agent a list of available virtual desktops for the user and the client device type based on a comparison with the virtual desktop metadata; (D) transferring the list of available virtual desktops to the cloud broker; and (E) forwarding the list of available virtual desktops from the cloud broker to the client device to enable the user to select a virtual desktop to be opened.
US09152301B2	Information processing apparatus including plurality of display portions and information processing system An exemplary apparatus at least partially displays a first object group on a first display portion, selects at least one first object from the first object group in response to an operation of a direction operation portion, changes a selected position in an order of alignment in a second object group in response to an operation of a first or second operation portion, displays at least one object included in the second object group and corresponding to the selected position on a second display portion, adds a new object corresponding to the selected first object at a position corresponding to the selected position in the second object group in response to an operation of a third operation portion, and displays at least one object included in the second object group on the second display portion.
US09152295B2	Triage tool for problem reporting in maps A graphical user interface (GUI) of a triage tool for triaging reported problems is described. The GUI includes a first set of UI items for viewing reported problems of maps. The GUI includes a second set of UI items for viewing map data related to the reported problems. The GUI includes a third set of UI items for sending triaged problems to a set of sources of the map data.
US09152292B2	Image collage authoring A user interface that includes a catalog area, a collage mock-up area, and a mode select interface control operable to select an operational state of the user interface is displayed. Thumbnails of respective images are shown in the catalog area. A layout of a subset of the images is presented in the collage mock-up area. In response to the receipt of a user input gesture and a determination that the user interface is in a first operational state, a first action type is performed based on the type of the received user input gesture and the object type of the target object. In response to the receipt of the user input gesture and a determination that the user interface is in a second operational state, a second action type is performed based on the type of the received user input gesture and the object type of the target object.
US09152288B2	Remote multi-touch A remote multi-touch system includes a pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device, a display separate from the pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device and the display. The pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device measures a position at which one or more touches are executed on the pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device and, for each of the one or more touches, a force with which that touch is executed. The controller receives a touch report for each of the one or more touches from the pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device. Each touch report indicates the position at which that touch is executed and the force with which that touch is executed. The controller outputs to the display a pre-touch visualization command for displaying a pre-touch visualization. The pre-touch visualization is displayed at a location of the display mapped from the position at which that touch is executed on the pressure-sensitive, multi-touch device.
US09152287B2	System and method for dual-touch gesture classification in resistive touch screens A system and method for classifying touches input into a four-wire resistive touch screen is presented. A voltage may be applied to electrodes in a layer making it the active layer. A first set of four voltages may be measured by a voltage sensing circuit from electrodes in the active layer of a touch screen and a passive layer of a touch screen. The voltage may be switched from electrodes of the first layer to the electrodes of the second layer. A voltage sensing circuit may measure a second set of four voltages nearly simultaneously from electrodes in the active layer and the passive layer of a touch screen. Each set of measured voltages from the passive layer and or the active may be processed. A rule set may be applied to the processing results. An indication of the type of touch that was applied to the touch screen may be provided and optionally including quantitative results.
US09152286B2	Touch panel system and electronic apparatus A touch panel system (11) prevents an incorrect operation caused by an unintended contact of an object with a touch panel while suppressing a decline in sensitivity of detection of presence or absence of a touch on the touch panel. The touch panel system (11) includes a touch invalidating section (9) which, in a case where a specific point of a touch panel (1) is continuously touched for a predetermined period of time, invalidates an instruction that is given, in accordance with the touch, to an electronic apparatus including the touch panel (1).
US09152285B2	Position detection of an object within proximity of a touch sensor In one embodiment, a method includes applying a drive signal to a first electrode of a sensor to generate an electric field extending at least in part from the first electrode toward a second electrode of the sensor. The electric field includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends farther away from a plane of the first electrode than the second portion. The method also includes shunting the second portion of the electric field away from the second electrode and receiving a sense signal from the second electrode produced at least in part by the first portion of the electric field. The sense signal indicates whether an object has come within proximity of the sensor.
US09152283B2	Full in-cell sensor A display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device includes receiver electrodes disposed on a back side of a color filter glass. Transmitter electrodes of the capacitive sensing device are configured with a size and geometry that reduces the capacitive coupling between the transmitter and receiver electrodes. The transmitter electrodes may be made of one or more prongs or segments from a segmented common electrode.
US09152282B2	Method and system for enabling touch controller to be adaptive to capacitive touch sensor A method and a system for enabling a touch controller to be adaptive to a capacitive touch sensor are disclosed. The method may include: step A in which the touch controller detects and samples all the capacitors in the sensor model identification circuit and parses the sampled data; and step B in which the touch sensor selects parameters corresponding to a sensor model in accordance with a parsing result of step A to perform touch detection processing to the capacitive touch sensor. The disclosed methods and systems which are easy to implement and have lower cost can be applied in various digital products with capacitive touch screens, which not only facilitates replacing touch panel modules with different models or supplied by different suppliers, but also can ensure ideal touch detection results.
US09152278B2	Background capacitance compensation for a capacitive touch input device A location of contact with a touch sensitive device is determined. Values associated with each electrode of a plurality of electrodes formed on a single layer of the touch sensitive device are sampled. A determination is made as to whether a contact with the touch sensitive device has occurred. Values sampled subsequent to the contact are adjusted based on selected stored sampled values. A location of contact is then determined based on the adjusted values.
US09152276B2	Acoustic motion determination The motion of an object is characterized by transmitting acoustic signals over first and second transmitter-receiver channels. Information relating to signals received over the first channel is compared with information relating to signals received over the second channel, to identify a similar pattern in both channels arising from reflections from the object. A relative timing difference between the channels, associated with the similar pattern, is used to characterize the motion of the object.
US09152275B2	Optical touch system, method of touch detection and non-transitory computer readable medium recording program instructions An optical touch system includes a light source module, at least one image detecting module and a processing unit. The light source module provides a detecting light. The detecting light is transmitted in front of the base plane. The image detecting module detects an intensity variation of the detecting light. The image detecting module generates a detecting signal corresponding to the detecting light. When an object approaches or touches the base plane, at least a portion of the detecting light is obstructed by the object. The processing unit determines a position of the object with respect to the base plane according to the detecting signal, and determines that the object approaches or touches the base plane according to an intensity of a portion of the detecting signal corresponding to an obstruction position of the object. A method of touch detection and a computer program product are also provided.
US09152267B2	Display device with touch screen A display device with a touch screen includes a panel including a first area and a second area, wherein first electrode strings and second electrode strings crossing the first electrode strings are formed in the first area and the second area; a driving controller applying touch driving signals to the first electrode strings in order; and a sensing controller receiving touch sensing signals according to the touch driving signals through the second electrode strings, wherein a distance between adjacent first electrode strings in the first area is different from a distance between adjacent first electrode strings in the second area, or a distance between adjacent second electrode strings in the first area is different from a distance between adjacent second electrode strings in the second area.
US09152266B2	Touch sensor integrated type display and method for driving the same A touch sensor integrated type display includes a display panel including a touch screen having touch sensors, a data driving circuit for driving data lines of the display panel, and a timing controller for generating a control signal for controlling a potential of an output terminal of the data driving circuit in vertical blank periods between adjacent vertical periods. The control signal selectively floats source output channels of the data driving circuit or selectively sets a potential of the source output channels to a predetermined voltage in the vertical blank periods.
US09152263B1	Spheroidal pivot for an electronic device A multi-positionable computer comprises a user interface portion and a processing portion. The user interface portion includes a path along its back surface. The user interface portion can include a slot for receiving computer peripherals. The processing portion includes a connecting member for slidably coupling the processing portion to the user interface portion, and a rolling surface for contacting an external surface. The processing portion allows the user interface portion to be oriented in one of a plurality of positions along the path. In one orientation of the user interface portion, content is automatically displayed to align with the orientation of the user interface portion. In some embodiments, a virtual keyboard is displayed when the user interface portion is oriented in a predetermined position. The processing portion includes sides adjacent to the rolling surface. In some embodiments, ports and/or connections are accessible from at least one of the sides.
US09152260B2	Touch panel and fabricating method thereof Disclosed herein are a touch panel and a fabricating method thereof. In the touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention, a noise shielding layer may be separately formed between a transparent substrate and an electrode pattern, thereby shielding noise that occur from a display coupled to the touch panel. In addition, through a bridge electrode pattern formed by patterning the noise shielding layer and a bridge insulating pattern patterned on an insulating layer formed on the noise shielding layer, a first electrode pattern and a second electrode pattern may be formed on the same plane of the transparent substrate so as to intersect with each other, thereby ensuring reliability of electrical connection between each electrode pattern.
US09152253B2	Remote control method, remote control apparatus, and display apparatus The present invention discloses a remote control method, apparatus, and display apparatus. Said remote control method is applied in a remote control apparatus for remotely controlling display of one or more signal sources in a display screen of a display apparatus. Said method comprises: determining a layout control image, one or more windows being comprised in said layout control image; generating layout control information according to the layout of said one or more windows in said layout control image; and sending said layout control information to said display apparatus, so that said display apparatus sets correspondingly the layout of said one or more signal sources in the display screen of said display apparatus according to the layout of said one or more windows in said layout control image. Therefore, a user can implement flexible control operations of display configuration in a visual manner, and the user experience can be improved.
US09152251B2	Scan driving circuit and method of repairing the same A scan driving circuit includes a shift register configured to sequentially output a first scan signal to scan lines through respective first output lines during a first section of a frame period, a simultaneous switching block configured to simultaneously output a second scan signal to the scan lines through respective second output lines during a second section of the frame period, the first and second periods of the frame period being different from each other, a switching device electrically connected to the second output line, and a repair line across the first output line and the second output line.
US09152250B2	Electromagnetic pointer with new type adjustment structure An electromagnetic pointer with a new type adjustment structure is disclosed. The electromagnetic pointer comprises at least one pen tube assembly, a tuning component at one end of the pen tube assembly, a pen tip, a core holder configured in the pen tube assembly with a surrounding coil, a ferrite core, an elastomer, a touch pin configured in the core holder and the pen tube assembly and a circuit board. The tuning component is configured to move axially along the pen tube assembly to perform tuning.
US09152249B2	System and method for determining an attitude of a device undergoing dynamic acceleration A system and a method for determining an attitude of a device undergoing dynamic acceleration is presented. A first attitude measurement is calculated based on a magnetic field measurement received from a magnetometer of the device and a first acceleration measurement received from a first accelerometer of the device. A second attitude measurement is calculated based on the magnetic field measurement received from the magnetometer of the device and a second acceleration measurement received from a second accelerometer of the device. A correction factor is calculated based at least in part on a difference of the first attitude measurement and the second attitude measurement. The correction factor is then applied to the first attitude measurement to produce a corrected attitude measurement for the device.
US09152247B2	Computing device with force-triggered non-visual responses In one example, a method includes receiving, by a computing device, an indication of a detected force applied to the computing device. The method further comprises determining, by the computing device, that the detected force matches a corresponding input that the computing device associates with a corresponding function that is executable by the computing device. The method further comprises generating, by the computing device and in response to determining that the detected force matches the corresponding input and, a non-visual output based on the corresponding function.
US09152246B2	Input apparatus, control apparatus, control system, electronic apparatus, and control method An input apparatus includes a detection section, a change section, and a transmission section. The detection section detects a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary direction. The change section changes a ratio of a first movement amount as a movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen to a second movement amount as a movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value detected by the detection section. The transmission section transmits the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed as scroll information of an image displayed on the screen.
US09152242B2	Optical navigator device and its transmission interface including quick burst motion readout mechanism A transmission interface has a quick burst motion readout mechanism and is configured to be used between a master device and a slave device. The transmission interface includes a trigger channel configured to allow the master device to transmit a trigger signal to the slave device before transmission of data, and includes a data transmission channel provided to the slave device to transmit readable data to the master device after the slave device receives the trigger signal. The master and slave devices are adapted to a predetermined data transmission protocol by which the readable data can be directly transmitted and not accompanied by address data related to the readable data.
US09152234B2	Detecting user intent to remove a pluggable peripheral device A method includes receiving, from a three-dimensional (3D) sensing device coupled to a computer, a sequence of 3D maps including at least part of a hand of a user positioned in proximity to the computer. In embodiments of the present invention, the computer is coupled to one or more peripheral devices, and upon identifying, in the sequence of 3D maps, a movement of the hand toward a given peripheral device, an action preparatory to disengaging the given peripheral device is initiated.
US09152233B2	Touch panel support structure A touch panel support structure that can transfer vibration of a touch panel to the operator even though a transparent protective plate is in tight contact with the surface of a case is provided. A rectangular touch panel is sandwiched at four corners between the transparent protective plate that is fixedly attached to the case near the four corners and backside support members so that the four corners act as the nodes of vibration. The antinode of waveform of vibration is located in an input operation area inside the four corners so that the touch panel can vibrate with a certain amplitude together with the transparent protective plate that covers the input operation area, even though the touch panel is fixed to the frame-like case along its periphery via the transparent protective plate, and thus vibration can be transferred to the operator.
US09152232B2	Haptic feedback device and haptic feedback method A haptic feedback device which provides haptic feedback to a user touching a panel, the haptic feedback device including: the panel; a position obtaining unit which obtains a position touched on the panel by the user; a carrier signal generation unit which generates a carrier signal having a first frequency component when the position touched by the user is a first position, and generates a carrier signal having a second frequency component when the position touched by the user is a second position; an acoustic signal generation unit which generates an acoustic signal having harmonics corresponding to a predetermined fundamental frequency; a driving signal generation unit which generates a driving signal by adding together the carrier signal and the acoustic signal; and an actuator which provides haptic feedback to the user by vibrating the panel in accordance with the driving signal.
US09152231B2	Method of controlling a handheld object using haptic feedback The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an object configured to be handheld and including vibratory actuators. The method including mechanically coupling a first group of at least one vibratory actuator to a first part of the object, mechanically coupling a second group of at least one vibratory actuator to a second part of the object, the first and the second parts being configured to be able to vibrate independently of each other, and to come into contact with different areas of the hand of the user holding the object, and transmitting to each group of actuators, an electrical signal having a frequency adapted to the resonance frequency of the part to which it is mechanically coupled.
US09152229B2	Display processing device, display processing method, display processing program, and mobile terminal device A display processing device includes a face image detecting unit detecting the user's face image based on imaging data output from a camera unit provided on a cabinet, a position/angle change detecting unit detecting a change in the position of the user's face image and a change in the face angle, and a display control unit that displays a predetermined image on a display unit, moves the position of the display image in accordance with a change in the position of the detected user's face image, the change occurring in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, performs enlargement/reduction processing based on a position change in the Z-axis direction, performs rotating processing in accordance with a change in the face angle so that an image viewed from the face angle is obtained, and displays the obtained image on the display unit.
US09152228B2	Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and providing medium The invention enables users to virtually attach information to situations in the real world, and also enables users to quickly and easily find out desired information. An IR sensor receives an IR signal transmitted from an IR beacon, and supplies the received signal to a sub-notebook PC. A CCD video camera takes in a visual ID from an object, and supplies the inputted visual ID to the sub-notebook PC. A user inputs, through a microphone, a voice to be attached to situations in the real world. The sub-notebook PC transmits position data, object data and voice data, which have been supplied to it, to a server through a communication unit. The transmitted data is received by the server via a wireless LAN. The server stores the received voice data in a database in correspondence to the position data and the object data.
US09152227B2	Method and apparatus for controlling presentation of media content A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a viewing orientation of a first viewer in a viewing area from a plurality of images captured from the viewing area during a presentation of media content, determining whether an attentiveness level of the first viewer during the presentation of the media content is below a threshold by correlating the viewing orientation with the presentation of the media content, and performing an operation associated with the presentation of the media content at a display, where the operation is selected from a first viewer profile associated with the first viewer according to the viewing orientation responsive to determining that the attentiveness level is below the threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09152224B2	Mobile terminal device, storage medium and screen updating method A mobile terminal device includes a storage module which stores two or more screens of web pages; a receiving module which receives an operation to collectively update predetermined screens of the web pages stored in the storage module; an acquisition module which acquires information for generating the predetermined screens of the web pages through a communication network, in response to the operation; and an updating module which collectively updates, based on the acquired information, the predetermined screens of the web pages stored in the storage module.
US09152218B2	Framework for runtime power monitoring and management Systems and methods of managing power in a computing platform may involve monitoring a runtime power consumption of two or more of a plurality of hardware components in the platform to obtain a plurality of runtime power determinations. The method can also include exposing one or more of the plurality of runtime power determinations to an operating system associated with the platform.
US09152217B2	Information processing apparatus configured to shift between plurality of power modes and reduce the time taken to return to a standby state An information processing apparatus capable of reducing time taken to return to a standby state after turn-off of a power switch in a power saving state. A power supply supplies power to a CPU and a RAM in a standby state, supplies power to the RAM without supplying power to the CPU in a second waiting state caused by turning off the power switch, and supplies power to the RAM without supplying power to the CPU in the power saving state caused without having the power switch turned off when a shift-to-power saving state requirement defined in advance is satisfied. A power supply controller causes the apparatus to shift from the second waiting state to the standby state using a standby memory image. The CPU writes the standby memory image in the RAM for storage in the power saving state.
US09152213B2	Bus system in SoC and method of gating root clocks therefor A system-on-chip bus system includes a bus configured to connect function blocks of a system-on-chip to each other, and a clock gating unit connected to an interface unit of the bus and configured to basically gate a clock used in the operation of a bus bridge device mounted on the bus according to a state of a transaction detection signal.
US09152212B2	Electronic device with enhanced method of displaying notifications There is disclosed an electronic device comprising a receiver, a display, an application processor and a sensor hub. The receiver is configured to receive notifications from a remote device. The display is configured to provide information including notifications. The application processor and the sensor hub are in communication with the display. The application processor is configured to provide instructions for displaying full screen information at the display during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device. The full screen information includes a first notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the non-sleep mode. The sensor hub is configured to provide instructions for displaying partial screen information at the display during a sleep mode of the electronic device. The partial screen information includes a second notification associated with information received by the electronic device during the sleep mode.
US09152206B2	System and method for reducing power consumption Systems and methods are disclosed for operating an interface of an electronic device in an active mode or a power save mode based, at least in part, on a condition of a data exchange module buffer. When buffer space is available, incoming data may be stored locally and the interface used to access remote memory storage may be in a power save mode. The interface may revert to active mode to transfer data to the remote memory, such as after a configurable reception interval. Outgoing data may also be stored in a buffer, allowing the interface to be in a power save mode with information transmitted from the buffer.
US09152205B2	Mechanism for facilitating faster suspend/resume operations in computing systems A mechanism is described for facilitating faster suspend/resume operations in computing systems according to one embodiment of the invention. A method of embodiments of the invention includes initiating an entrance process into a first sleep state in response to a sleep call at a computing system, transforming from the first sleep state to a second sleep state. The transforming may include preserving at least a portion of processor context at a local memory associated with one or more processor cores of a processor at the computing system. The method may further include entering the second sleep state.
US09152204B2	System wakeup based on changes in physical environment Methods for controlling power states in a computing device, and apparatus for performing such methods are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring a plurality of sensors included in a computing device. The method further includes detecting, based on the monitoring, occurrence of at least one of a change in physical orientation of the computing device and one or more changes in an ambient environment of the computing device and, responsive to a detected change, activating a controller of the computing device. The method also includes providing, from the sensors to the controller, data corresponding with the at least one of the detected changes. The method still further includes selecting, by the controller, based on the data provided by the sensors, a power state for the computing device and transitioning the computing device to the selected power state.
US09152203B2	Managing power consumption state of electronic devices responsive to predicting future demand A system and process that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, transitioning a processor from a high-power consumption state to a low-power consumption state, wherefrom return to the high-power consumption state includes a boot process. Future demand for operation of the processor in the high-power consumption state is predicted, while the processor is in the low-power consumption state. The processor is transitioned from the low-power consumption state to the high-power consumption state in response to predicting future demand for operation of the processor in the high-power consumption state. Such transition of the processor from the low-power consumption state to the high-power consumption state sufficiently precedes actual demand for operation of the processor in the high-power consumption state so as to avoid perceptible user delay. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09152200B2	Resource and power management using nested heterogeneous hypervisors A server includes a plurality of processors, at least some of the processors being partitioned into virtual partitions using a virtual partition hypervisor. At least one of the virtual partitions executes a virtual machine hypervisor to implement a plurality of virtual machines within said at least one of said virtual partitions. The server also executes a workload manager application configured to dynamically reallocate the processors among the virtual partitions.
US09152196B2	System and method of managing power at a portable computing device and a portable computing device docking station A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery, and powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery. Further, the method may include determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition and charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition. The method may also include monitoring a PCD docking station battery power, determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition, and transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.
US09152194B2	Charging contact system Novel tools and techniques are described for waterproof charging contact system. In one aspect, the charging contact system may comprise docking station comprising a first set of compliant charging contacts for a tablet computer system and a second set of compliant charging contacts for a handset computer. Each compliant charging contact comprises a charging pin pressed into an elastomer diaphragm inserted within a body of the docking station. The tablet computer system comprises a first set of static charging contacts configured to mate with the first set of compliant charging contacts. The handset comprises a second set of static charging contacts configured to mate with the second set of compliant charging contacts.
US09152186B2	Notebook computer and cell phone assembly A notebook computer including a controller for controlling operation of the notebook computer, a pouch in which to insert a cellular communicator, an amplifier connected to the controller, a speaker connected to the amplifier, a power supply connected to the controller, and circuitry, connected to the pouch and to the amplifier, for enabling the amplifier when the controller is powered off, in response to the cellular communicator being inserted in the pouch, and for causing the amplifier to generate a call alert when an incoming call arrives at the cellular communicator while the cellular communicator is inserted in the pouch.
US09152181B2	Apparatus for mounting stylus pen in an information device An apparatus for mounting in a secure manner a stylus pen in an information device, in which there are a casing and the stylus pen. A guide unit having an inlet and an outlet is configured to have an opened top at the inlet and a closed bottom at the outlet, extended along a length direction of the casing, for accommodating the stylus pen.
US09152176B2	Application display transitions between single and multiple displays A multi-screen user device and methods for controlling data displayed are disclosed. The data displayed by the multiple screens of the device is dependent on the physical orientation of the device, whether the content for an application is displayed across a plurality of the multiple screens, and whether the data being displayed for the application originated from a single-screen application or a multi-screen application.
US09152175B2	Display device According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display unit and a mounting stand. The display unit has a housing, a display panel housed at least partially within the housing, an engaging member joined to the housing at a first predetermined location and a processing unit configured to control the display panel to display a position indicator at a second predetermined location substantially corresponding in height to the first predetermined location. The mounting stand has a plurality of engaging parts disposed at different heights for engagement with the engaging member and a plurality of position marks disposed at third predetermined locations, the third predetermined locations being respectively at the different heights and visible when the display unit is mounted on the mounting stand.
US09152172B1	Spheroidal pivot for an electronic device A multi-positionable computer comprises a user interface portion and a processing portion. The user interface portion includes a path along its back surface. The user interface portion can include a slot for receiving computer peripherals. The processing portion includes a connecting member for slidably coupling the processing portion to the user interface portion, and a rolling surface for contacting an external surface. The processing portion allows the user interface portion to be oriented in one of a plurality of positions along the path. In one orientation of the user interface portion, content is automatically displayed to align with the orientation of the user interface portion. In some embodiments, a virtual keyboard is displayed when the user interface portion is oriented in a predetermined position. The processing portion includes sides adjacent to the rolling surface. In some embodiments, ports and/or connections are accessible from at least one of the sides.
US09152171B1	Spheroidal pivot for an electronic device A multi-positionable computer comprises a user interface portion and a processing portion. The user interface portion includes a path along its back surface. The user interface portion can include a slot for receiving computer peripherals. The processing portion includes a connecting member for slidably coupling the processing portion to the user interface portion, and a rolling surface for contacting an external surface. The processing portion allows the user interface portion to be oriented in one of a plurality of positions along the path. In one orientation of the user interface portion, content is automatically displayed to align with the orientation of the user interface portion. In some embodiments, a virtual keyboard is displayed when the user interface portion is oriented in a predetermined position. The processing portion includes sides adjacent to the rolling surface. In some embodiments, ports and/or connections are accessible from at least one of the sides.
US09152168B2	Systems and methods for system power estimation Methods and systems for system power estimation are provided. A method implemented in a computer infrastructure includes separating products into different segments. The method also includes calculating a power estimation for each segment based on operating conditions of each respective segment. The method further includes calculating an average system power estimation. At least one of the separating, calculating the power estimation, and calculating the average system power estimation is performed using a processor.
US09152165B2	Counterbalanced control stick system A counterbalanced control stick system for a vehicle comprising: a shaft (2) rotationally mounted in a casing (22) and a joystick (1). Said joystick (1) is pivotably mounted and has a handgrip section (23). The opposed section of said joystick (1) is linked by said resilient means (10, 10.2) to adjustable fixing points (11.1). A plate (11) is provided offset from the joystick (1) is movable relative to said casing (22). The adjustable fixing points (11.1) are controlled by said movable plate (11). An angle sensor (7) is provided for detection of any angular moves of the shaft (2). Electronics (25) are provided to which signals generated by the rotation angle sensors are supplied. The signals are digitized and differing detected values are harmonized.
US09152161B2	Maintain power signature (MPS) powered device (PD) A Maintain Power Signature (MPS) Powered Device (PD) is described. In one or more implementations, the MPS device comprises a current sensor configured to sense current flowing from Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to the PD. The current sense based MPS device also comprises a current generator configured to sink electrical current to prevent the PSE from removing power to the PD. Thus, the electrical current comprises a current amplitude characteristic selected based upon MPS requirements of the PSE. In some implementations, the current is sunk to a ground. In other implementations, the current is sunk to a storage device, such as a storage device included with the PD and/or external to the PD.
US09152160B2	Water heater demand side management system A system for shifting energy demand from on-peak time windows to off-peak time windows by using hot water heater load shifting, while providing the end user with the level of service (i.e., availability of hot water) according to the user's customary use described by service quality criteria. The shift is accomplished by a controller located at the end user establishment and in communication with a central control server. The controller monitors local water heater upper and/or lower temperature and controls upper and/or lower water heater heating elements in accordance with a demand shift process commanded by the central control server. The controller may determine usage and remaining capacity for reporting back to the central control server. A volumetric capacity and usage determination is disclosed. The control server may select water heaters according to use patterns and/or measured capacity. One embodiment is adapted for use with existing water heaters without disrupting safety features of the existing water heater.
US09152156B2	Step-down regulator The step-down regulator includes a first error amplifying circuit that receives a first reference voltage and the first voltage and supplies a first control signal to a control terminal of the first transistor so that the first reference voltage and the first voltage are equal to each other. The step-down regulator includes a second error amplifying circuit that receives a voltage at the second end of the current controlling circuit and a second reference voltage and supplies a second control signal to the current controlling circuit so that the voltage at the second end of the current controlling circuit and the second reference voltage are equal to each other. The step-down regulator includes a diode that is connected to the second end of the current controlling circuit at an anode thereof and to the second potential at a cathode thereof.
US09152155B2	Device abstraction system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning system The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a system device and a subnet controller. The system device is coupled to a data bus and configured to locally store feature or parameter data related to an operation of the system device. The subnet controller is configured to publish a message via the data bus directing the device to publish a message including the feature or parameter data to the network.
US09152154B2	Multi-dimensional heating and cooling system Methods and system for facilitating multi-dimensional personal heating and cooling. User information is used as a mean to configure the temperature in a surrounding environment, thereby facilitating comfort for a user and, in the case wherein multiple users are accessing an area, classifying the area into a number of regions and maintaining each region at a different temperature and guiding the users to desired regions.
US09152152B2	System for control of mobile hydraulic equipment A controller for mobile hydraulic equipment includes a radio receiver, hydraulic controller, and display unit. The controller further includes terminals configurable to function as a combination of analog or digital inputs or outputs according to the system requirements. A user interface included on the controller permits an operator to select a desired function for each terminal and to configure the controller according to the application requirements.
US09152150B1	Compositions, systems, and methods for immiscible fluid discrete volume manipulation Systems and methods of manipulating discrete volumes of a first fluid in a second fluid are provided. In some embodiments, discrete volumes can be formed in a conduit. In other embodiments, addition fluid can be added to a discrete volume in a first conduit by injecting the addition fluid at a relatively higher pressure. In some embodiments, discrete volumes that normally would not coalesce can be manipulated to be merged together.
US09152141B2	Methods and apparatus for generating control data for the formation of a tooth flank by milling a workpiece on a machine tool A disclosed example method for generating control data for the formation of a tooth flank by milling a workpiece on a numerically controlled machine tool with at least 5 axes, at a universal machine tool, through successive passes with a milling cutter on the machine tool based on generated control data involves defining a geometry of a tooth flank, determining a contact pattern area on the predefined tooth flank geometry, determining parameters to vary the predefined tooth flank geometry, and generating control data on the basis of tooth flank geometry modified based on the defined contact pattern area and of the defined parameters.
US09152138B2	Common collaboration context between a console operator and a field operator A method of operating a system (e.g., an industrial pant) that runs a physical process involving a console operator and a plurality of field operators including a first field operator. The first field operator sends a wireless message that reaches the console operator. Responsive to receiving the wireless message, selected information is read from a system database including information for equipment in the system and process event data obtained from or relating to the equipment. The selected information includes the equipment which is proximate to a current location of the first field operator (proximate equipment) and process related data from the proximate equipment. The selected information is displayed on the display device viewable by the console operator. To complete a collaboration, the console operator can provide information relevant to the current location to the first field operator.
US09152134B2	Closed-loop control device A closed-loop control device for a process, in which a dead band element is connected upstream of a linear dynamic controller to reduce actuating interventions in the steady control state. If a control deviation (e) of the control loop exceeds a first threshold value (s1), then the dead band element is automatically deactivated, where a control deviation (e1) passed via the dead band element is uninfluenced by a set dead band in the inactive state. If the control deviation (e) then undershoots a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value, then the dead band element is automatically re-activated. This reduces the energy consumption and wear of an actuator and improves the control behavior with regard to steady-state accuracy and the control behavior of the control loop.
US09152131B2	Snooze alarm system for a wearable device A wearable device in one embodiment includes a motion detection sensor, an alarm clock and a sleep monitor operatively coupled to the motion detection sensor and the alarm clock. The sleep monitor monitors a person during sleep by collecting motion detection sensor data at a first data collection rate and determines a sleep state of the person based on the collected motion detection sensor data at the first data collection rate. If the sleep monitor detects that the alarm clock has entered a snooze mode, then the first data collection rate is increased to a second data collection rate and motion detection sensor data is collected at the second data collection rate while the alarm clock system in the snooze mode.
US09152130B2	Mobile communication watch utilizing projected directional sound A watch worn by a user for interfacing with or integrated with a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device provides wireless communications with other communications devices. The watch also includes an electronics module integrated into the watch. The electronics module includes an interface for interfacing with the mobile communication device integrated into the watch. The user interfaces with the electronic module to perform operations upon the mobile communication device. In addition, the watch includes a mechanism for directing sound to the user's ear for private calling. The watch may also come with one or more pivotable bezel or a keyboard on a strap of the watch to increase the size of the user input.
US09152123B2	Device for removing jam, image forming apparatus including the same, and method of removing jam A jam removing device, an apparatus including a jam removing device, and a method of removing a jam are provided. The jam removing device includes a first door member installed on an in/out path of a tray mounted with a developing unit and is opened or closed with respect to an apparatus body, a second door member installed in the apparatus body in an opposite direction to the first door member and is opened or closed with respect to the apparatus body, a guide unit including a first guide that guides insertion/withdrawal of the tray with respect to the apparatus body and a second guide that guides the first guide so that the developing unit approaches or separates from a transfer unit, a first link unit connecting the first door member and the first guide, and a second link unit connecting the second door member and the first guide.
US09152122B2	Static-electricity-blocking mounting unit and electronic apparatus A static-electricity-blocking mounting unit, including: a mounting sheet metal in which a female screw portion is formed, the female screw portion being configured to threadably engage with a male screw configured to fix a member to be fixed to a housing; and an insulating member made of an insulating material and configured to support the mounting sheet metal, wherein the mounting sheet metal is fixed to the housing via the insulating member, and the member to be fixed is fixed to the housing by the male screw threadably engaging with the female screw portion of the mounting sheet metal.
US09152121B2	Image forming apparatus having a developer collecting duct An image forming apparatus includes: a developer collecting duct that is linear and has a plurality of coupling portions vertically spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of developer discharging sections that each have an engaging portion inserted into one of the coupling portions to thereby be disposed as being exposed to the inside of the developer collecting duct, and that discharge waste developer to the developer collecting duct through a developer outlet provided in the engaging portion. Second and subsequent ones of the developer discharging sections from the top are detachably attached to the developer collecting duct. The developer collecting duct has a flow path restricting portion that restricts the area through which the waste developer flows down to prevent the waste developer from hitting the engaging portion of lower one of the developer discharging sections.
US09152120B2	Cleaning blade, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus Provided is a cleaning blade for cleaning a surface of an image holding member, including a contact member that contacts the surface of the image holding member at a corner portion of a tip end of the cleaning blade, wherein, when the position of the corner portion in a state where the image holding member is stopped is set to be a standard, a movement distance of the cleaning blade to the position of the corner portion in a state where the image holding member is driven is from 10 μm to 30 μm.
US09152113B2	Image forming apparatus of displaying a relationship of screens for visualizing screen transition, information processing system, information processing method and recording medium An image forming apparatus including a first memory unit configured to store screen transition information in which a screen transition of applications is described in a hierarchical structure; a second memory unit configured to store conditional information in which UIs for previous screens and posterior screens are associated for each screen; a display unit configured to display the screen transition in the hierarchical form based on the screen transition information; and a customization control unit configured to control customization based on the conditional information corresponding to a screen to be customized and update the screen transition information when the screen transition displayed in the display unit is customized.
US09152112B2	Image forming system and image forming apparatus with improved error reporting status In an image forming apparatus, a page data generation unit is configured to generate page data of a job list screen that includes a link to the page data of a detailed information screen on an uncompleted job. The detailed information screen is a screen that displays the status of one job determined by a job status management unit. The page data generation is further configured to (A) generate the page data of a job request screen, and (B) if the job receipt unit receives a job that is requested based on the page data of the job request screen, generate the page data of a receipt-confirmation screen that includes a link to the page data of the detailed information screen on the received job.
US09152110B2	Pressure rotating member, method for manufacturing the same, and heating device The present invention relates to a pressure rotating member which achieves the shortening of a warm-up time while suppressing a non-recording material-contacting area's temperature rise. The pressure rotating member which is used in a thermal fixing apparatus includes: a substrate; and an elastic layer that is formed on the substrate and has a void, wherein the elastic layer contains a needle-shaped filler, wherein the needle-shaped filler has such a thermal conductivity λ1 of the elastic layer in a direction along a rotary axis of the pressure rotating member as to be 6 times or more and 900 times or less of a thermal conductivity λ2 of the elastic layer in a thickness direction.
US09152106B2	Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same A fixing device includes a rotary fixing member, a heater, a pressing member, a nip formation member, a reinforcement member, a sliding sheet, and a holding member. The nip formation member is disposed at an inner circumferential side of the fixing member and pressed by the pressing member via the fixing member to form a nipping portion. The reinforcement member is stationarily disposed in an internal diameter area of the fixing member to support the nip formation member. The sliding sheet is disposed between the nip formation member and an inner circumferential face of the fixing member. The holding member is disposed at a member differing from the nip formation member to hold the sliding sheet in a state in which the sliding sheet is in close contact with a nipping face of the nip formation member facing the nipping portion.
US09152098B2	Cleaning apparatuses for fusing systems An embodiment generally relates to a xerographic fusing apparatus including a fuser member; and a cleaning mechanism for the fuser member. The cleaning mechanism can include an abrasive cleaning web in contact with the fuser member, the abrasive cleaning web including a non-woven fabric and at least one abrasive; a supply roll configured to advance the abrasive cleaning web; and a take-up roll configured to collect the abrasive cleaning web.
US09152095B1	Determining transfer bias settings in electrophotographic printing A method for determining transfer bias settings in an electrophotographic printing system having a plurality of printing modules, each printing module including a respective transfer subsystem operated at an associated transfer bias setting. The method includes defining a plurality of test transfer bias sets, each test transfer bias set including a transfer bias setting for the transfer subsystem in each of the printing modules. For each of the defined test transfer bias sets, a plurality of process control patches are transferred onto a measurement surface, wherein the process control patches include a monochrome patch printed using a particular printing module and at least one multi-color patch. A monochrome transfer function and a multi-color transfer function are determined characterizing the amount of the transferred toner as a function of the transfer bias, and are used to determine a transfer bias setting for the particular printing module.
US09152092B2	Image forming apparatus A container is detachably mountable on an apparatus body in a mounting-detaching direction that is along the same direction as a mounting-detaching direction of a transfer unit and that is in the reverse direction of the mounting-detaching direction of the transfer unit. When the transfer unit and the container are mounted on the apparatus body, a belt, a cleaning device, and the container are arranged in that order in a transport direction of the belt. A discharge portion is provided, the discharge portion extending in the mounting-detaching direction of the container, for discharging the toner removed by the cleaning device to the container.
US09152088B1	Developer replenishing cartridge and developer replenishing method Provided is a developer replenishing cartridge excellent in accuracy with which an image forming apparatus is replenished with a developer irrespective of a use environment even when the developer is in a consolidated state. The developer replenishing cartridge includes: a developer replenishing container and a developer, being removably mountable to a developer replenishing apparatus; in which: the developer replenishing container includes a pump portion that operates so that a state where the internal pressure of a developer containing portion is lower than the atmospheric pressure and a state where the pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure alternately repeatedly switch with each other; and the developer contains toner having a uniaxial collapse stress at a maximum consolidation stress of 10.0 kPa, of 2.5 kPa or more and 3.5 kPa or less.
US09152082B2	Cartridge having contact member to mitigate damage to cartridge frame A cartridge includes: a frame defining a chamber for storing developer therein; a rotary body configured to be rotatably supported to the frame; and a contact member. The rotary body includes: a metal shaft extending in an axial direction, the frame extending in the axial direction; and a cover portion made of an elastic material and provided around the metal shaft to expose shaft end portions thereof, the cover portion having a cover-portion end portion positioned inward of the frame in the axial direction. The contact member is provided on the metal shaft and disposed between the cover-portion end portion and the frame in the axial direction such that the contact member is in contact with each of the cover-portion end portion and the frame.
US09152077B2	Developing device, blade unit, and developing device manufacturing method Aspects include an apparatus, a blade assembly, and a method for manufacturing the apparatus with the blade assembly. The apparatus may include a developer carrier for carrying developer and a blade assembly. The blade assembly may include a blade disposed adjacent to the developer carrier and configured to regulate an amount of developer on the developer carrier. The blade may include a weld mark joining the blade to the supporting member. A first dimension of the weld mark in a first direction may be greater than a second dimension of the weld mark in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a third dimension of the weld mark in a third direction may be a dimension of the thickness of the blade. The weld mark may be formed by irradiating a laser beam onto the blade while moving the laser beam or the blade.
US09152075B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a body provided with an opening at one side thereof, a developing tray movably installed at the opening, a plurality of developing units mounted to the developing tray, and a pair of frames forming opposite inner sides of the body. The frames are provided with a plurality of seating grooves to support lower ends of the developing units such that the developing units are supported by the frames, and therefore the positions of the photosensitive bodies of the developing units with respect to other constituents supported by the frames may be accurately regulated.
US09152071B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit that stores therein a recording medium; an image forming unit that is arranged above the recording medium storage unit and that forms an image on the recording medium transferred from the recording medium storage unit; a storage-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the recording medium storage unit; an image-forming-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the image forming unit and that protrudes forward relative to the storage-unit exterior member; and a fresh air supply path that is arranged on a back side of the image-forming-unit exterior member, through which fresh air introduced from outside the image forming apparatus flows.
US09152068B2	Liquid developer and method for manufacturing the same In a liquid developer in which toner particles are dispersed in an insulating liquid, the toner particles have a core-shell structure that first resin particles containing a first resin are attached to or cover surfaces of second resin particles containing a second resin. The second resin particles further contain a pigment and a dispersant for pigment, and solubility of the dispersant for pigment in the insulating liquid is not higher than 10 mass % at 25° C.
US09152058B2	Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method involving a member and a fluid opening An exposure apparatus including a movable table, a member, movably separate from the table and located on a top surface of the table, to provide a surface substantially co-planar with a top surface of an object in or on the table, a projection system configured to project a radiation beam onto a radiation-sensitive target portion of a substrate, and a liquid supply system configured to provide a liquid to a space between the projection system and the object.
US09152054B2	Exposure device, substrate processing apparatus, method for exposing substrate and substrate processing method In an entire region exposure unit, a platform section and a local transfer mechanism are arranged in one direction. The local transfer mechanism is provided with a local transfer hand. A substrate on which a resist film having a predetermined pattern is formed is held by the local transfer hand. A light-emitting device is attached to the upper portion of the local transfer mechanism. Strip-shaped light is emitted from the light-emitting device toward below. The local transfer mechanism operates such that the local transfer hand is moved relative to the light-emitting device. At this time, the light-emitting device irradiates one surface of the substrate that is moving horizontally with the strip-shaped light. The resist film is modified by the light.
US09152049B2	Actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition and method of forming pattern using the composition According to one embodiment, an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes any of the compounds of general formula (I) below, a compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates an acid and a hydrophobic resin. (The characters used in general formula (I) have the meanings mentioned in the description.) RN-A−X+ (I)
US09152046B2	Photo-resist with floating acid A method for fabricating a semiconductor product includes applying a photo-resist layer to a substrate, the photo-resist layer including a higher acid concentration at an upper portion of the photo-resist layer than at a lower portion of the photo-resist layer. The method also includes exposing the photo-resist layer to a light source through a mask including a feature, the photo-resist layer including a floating, diffusing acid that will diffuse into a region of the photo-resist layer affected by the feature while not diffusing into a feature formed by the mask.
US09152045B2	Fluorine-containing sulfonate, fluorine-containing sulfonate resin, resist composition and pattern formation method According to the present invention, there is provided a fluorine-containing sulfonate resin having a repeating unit of the following general formula (3). In order to prevent deficiency such as roughness after pattern formation or failure in pattern formation, the fluorine-containing sulfonate resin incorporates therein a photoacid generating function and serves as a resist resin in which “a moiety capable of changing its developer solubility by the action of an acid” and “a moiety having a photoacid generating function” are arranged with regularity.
US09152044B2	Radiation-sensitive resin composition, method for forming resist pattern, acid generating agent and compound A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an acid generating agent to generate a compound represented by a following formula (1) by irradiation with a radioactive ray. In the formula (1), R1 represents a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The compound represented by the formula (1) is preferably a compound represented by a following formula (1-1). In the formula (1-1), R2 is as defined in the above formula (1). X represents an electron attractive group. R3 represents a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
US09152036B2	X-ray mask structure and method for preparing the same An X-ray mask structure includes a unibody support substrate having at least one thinned portion surrounded by a wall portion, a top layer disposed on the at least one thinned portion of the support substrate, and a plurality of X-ray absorber patterns disposed on the top layer over the at least one thinned portion. The top layer and the at least one thinned portion form a laminated membrane, wherein the at least one thinned portion and the wall portion provide mechanical support for the top layer, and the laminated membrane provides mechanical support for the plurality of X-ray absorber patterns.
US09152034B2	Image display apparatus for displaying three-dimensional image and having a phase difference plate An image display apparatus includes an image display element configured to modulate incident light from a light source, a polarization splitting element that has characteristics of transmitting first polarized light and reflecting second polarized light different from the first polarized light and that is configured to synthesize image light from the image display element to be introduced into a projection optical system, and a phase difference plate that is disposed at a side of the projection optical system relative to the polarization splitting element. The phase difference plate has an optic axis in a direction different from a surface normal direction and an in-plane direction of the phase difference plate.
US09152027B2	Projector and method for controlling a projector discharge lamp A control section relatively decreases an absolute value of a current supplied to a discharge lamp in a first period and relatively increases the absolute value in a second period, and in the second period, performs any one of a first control for supplying an alternating current to the discharge lamp, a second control for supplying, to the discharge lamp, a current in which a maximum duration of a first polarity is longer than that in the first control, and a third control for supplying, to the discharge lamp, a current in which a maximum duration of a second polarity is longer than that in the first control, and as the state of deterioration proceeds, decreases at least one of the maximum duration of the first polarity in the second control and the maximum duration of the second polarity in the third control.
US09152024B2	Video display device and cooling system A video display device includes: a video processing unit generating and displaying video signals; and a cooling mechanism unit cooling a component to be cooled in the video processing unit, wherein the cooling mechanism unit includes a heat-receiving plate installed at the component to be cooled to receive heat generated at the component to be cooled, a heat conduction member transmitting heat of the heat-receiving plate, a cooler cooling heat transmitted by the heat conduction member by a cooling liquid, and a circulating thermal regulator circulating the cooling liquid with respect to the cooler while managing a liquid temperature of the cooling liquid so as to be a constant temperature.
US09152023B2	Light source cooling device including holding part located on surface of a case and projection type display device Provided is a light source cooling device that includes: a case in which exhaust port (112) is formed; ventilation device (102) that has a blowing port blowing air and that is located in the case; flow path component (301); light source (101); and holding part (121) disposed in an inner surface of case (108). Flow path component (301) constitutes flow path (403) for guiding air from ventilation device (102) to exhaust port (112) in the case. Light source (101) is located in flow path (403). Flow path component (301) includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is connected to exhaust port (112), while the second opening is connected to the blowing port of ventilation device (102). An outer surface of flow path component (301) is held by holding part (121).
US09152021B2	Light source, wavelength conversion method, wavelength conversion device, and system for light source A light source device includes a light emitting element and a wavelength conversion device. The wavelength conversion device includes a stationary member, a moveable carrier made of a transparent material carrying one or more wavelength conversion materials and moveable relative to the stationary member, and a stationary first filter. The first filter is fixed on the stationary member and disposed adjacent the moveable carrier. The excitation light from the light emitting element passes through the first filter and illuminates the wavelength conversion materials on the moveable carrier. The wavelength conversion materials convert the excitation light into converted light as the output of the light source device. The size of the first filter is smaller than the size of the moveable carrier and smaller than a carrying area of the moveable carrier that carries the wavelength conversion material. A wavelength conversion method using the wavelength conversion device is also described.
US09152020B2	Additional knurled ring for optical lens An additional knurled ring for an optical lens is composed of an annular portion and teeth distributed in a radial direction around the outside of the annular portion. The inner diameter and shape of the additional knurled ring match the outer diameter and shape of an adjusting ring of the optical lens. The additional knurled ring is movably connected with the outside of the adjusting ring of the optical lens. Since the additional knurled ring for the optical lens can be extended towards the front of the lens and beyond the front end of the optical lens, the interference of stray light with the imaging of the optical lens is blocked. Digital scale designations are engraved or printed on the outside of the additional knurled ring for optical lens, the position of the scale and the values of the designations are corresponding to the focal length, aperture, and focal range information of the optical lens. The front end with the enlarged outside diameter of the additional knurled ring for optical lens is movably connected with a cap, and the shape and size of the cap matches the shape and size of the front end of the additional knurled ring.
US09152012B2	Power source switching device and electronic appliance A power source switching device includes a first switch circuit provided between a first power source and a load section, a second switch circuit provided between a second power source and the load section, a third switch circuit provided between the first power source and the load section in series with the first switch circuit, a fourth switch circuit provided between the second power source and the load section in series with the second switch circuit, a logic circuit that controls the third and the fourth switch circuits to prevent at least one of the third and fourth switch circuits from turning on while both of the first and second switch circuits are in an on state, and a control circuit that controls the first switch circuit, the second switch circuit, and the logic circuit.
US09152010B2	Auto focus adjusting method, auto focus adjusting apparatus, and digital photographing apparatus including the same An auto focus (AF) adjusting method, an AF adjusting apparatus, and a digital photographing apparatus including the same, the AF adjusting apparatus including: an AF calculator for calculating focus detection evaluation values; a peak detector for detecting a peak position of the focus detection evaluation values; and a speed calculator for calculating a moving speed of a subject by using the peak position. When continuous photographing of still images is performed, the peak detector detects the peak position in an image pickup interval before a light exposure preparation interval for image capturing, and the focus lens driver performs moving body compensation driving for compensating for a focal position by using a moving speed calculated in the light exposure preparation interval before capturing starts.
US09152001B2	Electrochromic devices having improved structure for reducing current leakage across lower transparent conductor layers One object of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic device having improved insulating film structure to reduce electrical leakage. The improved structure includes a lower conductive layer, upper transparent conductive layer, an electrochromic electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and at least one ion-conductor layer sandwiched between the electrochromic electrode layer and the counter electrode layer. The lower transport conductive layer is scribed and the gap formed from the scribing is filled with the layer(s) formed above the lower conductive layer, such as the electrode layer formed directly above the lower conductive layer. The effective linewidth of the scribe is greater than the migration length of the lithium ions intercalated into the electrode layer, such that the electrode materials occupying the gap do not convert the electrode layer into an electrically conductive region.
US09151994B2	Display panel A display panel includes a first substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixel units, a second substrate, a display medium, and a color filter layer. The scan lines and the data lines are disposed on the first substrate. The pixel units are electrically connected to the scan lines and the data lines. Each pixel unit includes first, second, third, and fourth pixels. An extension direction of slit patterns of the first and second pixels is different from an extension direction of at least one of slit patterns of the third and fourth pixels. The color filter layer includes a first color filter pattern disposed corresponding to the first pixel, a second color filter pattern disposed corresponding to the second pixel, and a third color filter pattern disposed corresponding to the third pixel and the fourth pixel.
US09151993B2	Liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof A LCD and a fabrication process is presented. An upper substrate is coincidentally formed with a red, a green and a blue color filters using phase separation. A compound containing a photopolymeric color filter resin and a liquid crystal are coated on an array substrate and then photopolymerized after formation of the array substrate. A seed layer may be provided on the substrate before the compound is applied. Polymerization of the color filter resin permits simultaneous formation of the upper, color filter substrate and liquid crystal layer.
US09151991B2	Electro-optical device and electronic device An electro-optical device may include a first substrate, a second substrate, a photo-curable seal member between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first light-shielding layer between the first substrate and the photo-curable seal member, and a second light-shielding layer between the first substrate and the first light-shielding layer. The first substrate may include a pixel area in which pixels are aligned, and a seal region around the pixel area and in which the photo-curable seal member is provided. Within the seal region, the second light-shielding layer may be larger in an outer shape or pattern than the shape or pattern of first light-shielding layer. The pixel area may include an interconnect layer made of the same layer as the one of the light-shielding layers, and the interconnect layer may be narrower than one of the light-shielding layers.
US09151986B2	Discharge method, continuous film formation method, alignment film formation method, method for forming liquid crystal display device, head unit, droplet discharge device, and electronic apparatus A discharge method is provided for discharging a fluid from nozzle sets having nozzles arrayed between first and second end portions. The method includes classifying each of the nozzle sets into one of a first nozzle group having a distribution characteristic in which a discharge quantity at the second end portion is greater than the discharge quantity at the first end portion, a second nozzle group having the distribution characteristic in which the discharge quantity at the first end portion is greater than the discharge quantity at the second end portion, and a third nozzle group having the distribution characteristic in which the discharge quantity at the first end portion is substantially the same as the discharge quantity at the second end portion. The method also includes forming a nozzle formation including the nozzle sets classified as the first nozzle group, the second nozzle group and/or the third nozzle group.
US09151971B2	Liquid crystal lens and stereoscopic display device A liquid crystal lens is comprises: a plurality of lens units (1), and a driver circuit electrically-connected with the plurality of lens units respectively; each lens unit comprises: a common electrode (11), a signal electrode opposite to the common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the common electrode and the signal electrode; each signal electrode comprises: one or two conductive wires (25) with one end being electrically-connected to the driver circuit, and a resistive block (22) provided on a second substrate and opposite to the common electrode. The resistive block is electrically-connected with the conductive wire(s). Where the driver circuit applies a drive voltage through the conductive wire(s) to the resistive block, the liquid crystal layer provided between the resistive block and the common electrode has a lens function. A stereoscopic display device comprising a same liquid crystal lens is also disclosed.
US09151958B2	Display system using a pair of polarized sources with a 3-D display mode and two 2-D display modes A display system includes a driver configured to create command signals for generating a pair of images along two different optical paths; a pair of polarized sources, each polarized source configured to produce a polarized image of one of the pair of images along a respective optical path at substantially the same time based on a command signal from the driver, the first of the pair of polarizer sources configured to produce a different polarization than the second of the pair of polarizer sources; a polarization co-alignment element configured to optically align the polarized images from the respective polarizer along a common optical path; and a display screen configured to display the co-aligned polarized images. Depending on the mode of the display system, 3-D polarized glasses may be worn by the viewers for observing the displayed images.
US09151957B2	Three-dimensional image display device A three-dimensional (“3D”) image display device includes a display panel assembly which displays a two-dimensional (“2D”) image including a left region and a right region, which are divided by an axis, and the display panel assembly repeatedly rotates back and forth by a predetermined angle with respect to the axis.
US09151955B2	Projection system and light-homogenizing device adjustment element The invention provides a projection system and a light-homogenizing device adjustment element for adjusting the position of a light-homogenizing device. The light-homogenizing device adjustment element has an actuator, and the actuator leans against one side of the light-homogenizing device and has a plurality of curved surfaces with different radii of curvature. When the actuator rotates, different curved surfaces push the light-homogenizing device to cause the light-homogenizing device to move in at least one direction from an initial position.
US09151944B2	Method and apparatus for navigating stacked microscopy images A method for navigating images in microscopic imaging, the method comprising reducing dimensionality of an original sequence of images of a specimen for navigation using an all-focus image and providing a user interface to a user for navigating the original sequence of images and the all-focus image.
US09151943B2	System and method for monitoring birefringent particles in a fluid An imaging system with an imaging mechanism which includes polarization analyzers, which may be crossed polarization analyzers, positioned to provide birefringence images of particles in the fluid passing through the flow chamber. Captured images are of high resolution and may be used in comparison to known images of a library of images. The system and related method enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of particle monitoring by utilizing birefringence imaging combined with particle analysis and the detection of each particle's characteristic features, such as crystalline features. The system includes a scatter detector used to trigger backlighting of the flow chamber and capture images of particles therein.
US09151939B2	Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same There is provided a zoom lens in which the load on the driving system for wobbling operation can easily made low and an image pickup apparatus equipped with the same. A zoom lens in which each of distances between a plurality of lens units changes during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, includes a focus lens unit that shifts along an optical axis to effect focusing from infinity to a close distance and a plurality of wobbling lens units that wobble after a shift of the focus lens unit at an amplitude smaller than the shift of the focus lens unit in focusing operation, wherein a combination of the wobbling lens units caused to operate changes in the middle of the zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.
US09151937B2	Optical system and optical instrument, image pickup apparatus, and image pickup system using the same An optical system which forms an optical image on an image pickup element, comprising in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, which includes a plurality of lenses, a stop, and a second lens unit which includes a plurality of lenses, wherein the first lens unit includes a first object-side lens which is disposed nearest to an object, and the second lens unit includes a second image-side lens which is disposed nearest to an image, and the first lens unit includes a negative lens, and a positive lens which is disposed on the object side of the negative lens, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied: β≦−1.1 (15) 0.08
US09151936B2	Optical inspection system with a variation system consisting of five lens groups for imaging an object into infinity The invention relates to an optical inspecting system designed to image an object to be inspected with a variable imaging scale, comprising a variation system for imaging the object into infinity, a lens group downstream of the variation system for imaging the object from infinity into the image plane of the whole system, and a light source for generating light in order to illuminate the object, means for imaging the illuminating light into the exit pupil of the variation system being provided in the airspace between the fifth lens group and the subsequent lens group. Of the five lens groups of the variation system, the first, second, and fourth lens groups, when seen in the imaging direction, are arranged in a movable manner in the direction of the optical axis, whereas the third and fifth lens groups are not movable.
US09151934B2	Infrared optical system and infrared imaging apparatus Provided is an infrared optical system including: three lenses of a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens that are provided from an object side to an image-surface side, the first and third lenses being each configured as a spherical lens made of an inorganic material and having a positive refractive power, the second lens being configured as a meniscus lens made of a resin material and having aspherical surfaces; and an aperture stop that is provided between any two of the first to third lenses.
US09151930B2	Plastic optical element, mold for forming the plastic optical element, light scanning device and image forming apparatus having the light scanning device A plastic optical element being configured to collect and scan a beam emitted from at least one light source section, and including a transfer surface which extends in a principal direction corresponding to a scanning direction of the beam and has a curved surface formed to extend into a circular-arc shape in a secondary direction perpendicular to the principal scanning direction, the transfer surface having an optical aids disposed to shift from an outer center of the transfer surface in the secondary scanning direction, and a center of curvature of the curved surface being disposed on the optical axis.
US09151929B2	Image pickup apparatus and lens unit A first lens unit performing communication with an image pickup apparatus with a first voltage and a second lens unit performing communication with the image pickup apparatus with a second voltage are selectively attached to the image pickup apparatus. The image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to operate with a third voltage different from at least one of the first and second voltages to output a signal for the communication with the first and second lens units, and a determiner configured to determine the type of the lens unit attached to the image pickup apparatus. The controller is configured to produce, as a voltage of the signal for the communication, from the third voltage, one of the first and second voltages corresponding to a determination result of the determiner.
US09151919B2	Fire resistant optical cable A fire resistant optical cable includes: a plurality of optical fibers; at least one tubular layer of a ceramifiable material surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and at least one flame shielding layer surrounding the tubular layer. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is able to mechanically protect the optical fibers not only during heating but also when the fire is extinguished, since it forms a sufficiently robust layer to withstand the mechanical stresses caused by the collapsing of the materials still surrounding the cable, especially in the transition portions between hot and cold zones. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is protected by means of at least one flame shielding layer which prevents the flames from directly acting on the ceramifiable material.
US09151918B2	Opto-electronic assembly for parallel high speed transmission An opto-electronic assembly for high speed opto-electronic signal transmission which comprises: mounting plate with a top side; wherein the top side contains at least one area at a higher level and at least one area at a lower level, an electro-optical or opto-electronic transducer component with a number of transducers with the optical port of the transducer component on the top side; a micro-mirror component; an optical transmission path assigned to each transducer wherein the transmission axis of each transmission path is oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the transducer component and to the top side of the mounting plate; and a transducer component that is mounted with the bottom side on the mounting plate below a micro-mirror component that is mounted above the transducer component in such a configuration that the optical transmission path to or from each transducer is reflected at the dedicated mirror surface.
US09151912B2	Optical fiber segment holders including shielded optical fiber segments, connectors, and methods An optical fiber segment holder includes a lens holder body comprising a mating surface having a light transmissive material. At least one optical fiber segment is disposed in the lens holder body. The at least one optical fiber segment having an end face located behind the mating surface such that light travels to or from the at least one optical fiber segment through the mating surface.
US09151905B2	Preterminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies, and methods Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.
US09151901B2	Wavelength-selective path-switching element A wavelength-selective path-switching element has a silicon substrate on which a pattern of optical waveguides including a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide and an intermediary optical waveguide is formed. The widths W1, W2, and W3 of these optical waveguides, lengths L1, L2, and spacing G1, G2 are so set that light of a first wavelength entered into the first optical waveguide propagates on the first, intermediary, and second optical waveguides, exits from the second waveguide, propagates on an output waveguide, and is outputted and that light of a second wavelength entered into the first waveguide after propagating on an input waveguide is outputted from this first waveguide. The wavelength-selective path-switching element can be easily fabricated at low cost and have no light leaking out.
US09151900B2	Optical couplings having coded magnetic arrays and devices incorporating the same Optical couplings for making and optical connection between one or more devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical coupling includes a coupling face, an optical interface within the coupling face, an optical component positioned within the optical interface, and at least one coded magnetic array. The at least one coded magnetic array may include a plurality of magnetic regions configured aid in mating the optical component with a corresponding optical component of a complementary mated optical coupling to a predetermined tolerance for optical communication. Optical cable assemblies and electronics devices having optical couplings with optical interfaces using coded magnetic arrays are also disclosed.
US09151893B2	Radiation-emitting semiconductor component with a waveguide meeting a mirror surface perpendicularly and meeting a coupling-out surface obliquely A radiation-emitting semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body. The semiconductor body has a semiconductor layer sequence having an active region provided for generating radiation. The semiconductor component has a waveguide, which is provided for laterally guiding the radiation generated in the active region and which extends between a mirror surface and a coupling-out surface. The waveguide meets the mirror surface perpendicularly and forms an acute angle with a normal to the coupling-out surface.
US09151887B2	Multi-core optical fibers with single mode and multimode core elements Multi-core optical fibers are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a multi-core optical fiber includes a common outer cladding formed from silica-based glass and having a cladding index of refraction ncl. At least one single mode core element may be disposed in the common outer cladding. The at least one single mode core element may have a maximum index of refraction n1 sm. In addition, at least one multimode core element may be disposed in the common outer cladding, the at least one multimode core element having a maximum index of refraction n1 mm. The maximum refractive index n1 sm of the at least one single mode core element may be greater than the cladding index of refraction ncl, the maximum refractive index n1 mm of the at least one multi-mode core element may be greater than ncl, and a center-to-center spacing between adjacent core elements is greater than or equal to 25 μm.
US09151883B2	Cellulose acylate film, retardation film, polarizer and liquid-crystal display device Provide is a cellulose acylate film, of which the environmental humidity-dependent retardation change is small and which, when stuck to a polarizer and used in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, is effective for preventing the polarizing element from being deteriorated. A cellulose acylate film, which contains a hydrogen-bonding compound satisfying the following requirements (A) to (C), and at least one hydrophobizing agent selected from a polyalcohol ester-base hydrophobizing agent, a polycondensate ester-base hydrophobizing agent and a carbohydrate derivative-base hydrophobizing agent: (A) the compound has both a hydrogen-bonding donor part and a hydrogen-bonding acceptor part in one molecule, (B) the value computed by dividing the molecular weight of the compound by the total number of the hydrogen-bonding donor number and the hydrogen-bonding acceptor number in the compound is from 30 to 65, and (C) the total number of the aromatic ring structures in the compound is from 1 to 3.
US09151882B2	Optical display unit, and sheet material and roll for use therein A material roll including a roll of a continuous sheet material, including an optical member including a polarizer and a release film provided on one side of the optical member with an adhesive interposed therebetween, wherein when no external force is applied, the continuous sheet material curls in the longitudinal direction in such a way that the release film is facing inward, and the continuous sheet material is for use in a process including bonding the optical member to a substrate with the adhesive interposed therebetween to form an optical display unit.
US09151881B2	Phase grating for mask inspection system Spectral Purity Filters, or SPFs, are disclosed. Such SPFs are designed to block out the 1030 nm drive laser and other undesired out of band light in a EUV mask inspection system. Different phase grating configurations for near normal incidence and grazing incidence are provided in the present disclosure and are configured specifically for EUV mask inspection.
US09151879B2	Multi-functional photovoltaic skylight and/or methods of making the same Certain examples relate to improved solar photovoltaic systems, and/or methods of making the same. Certain improved building-integrated photovoltaic systems may include concentrated photovoltaic skylights having a cylindrical lens array. The skylight may include an insulated glass unit, which may improve the solar heat gain coefficient. The photovoltaic skylight and lens arrays may be used in combination with strip solar cells and lateral displacement tracking systems. Such techniques may advantageously help to reduce cost per watt related, in part, to the potentially reduced amount of semiconductor material to be used for such example embodiments. A photovoltaic skylight may permit diffuse daylight to pass through into an interior of a building so as to provide lighting inside the building, while the strip solar cells absorb the direct sunlight and convert it to electricity.
US09151877B1	Deflective objective for flexible and semi-flexible endoscopes An objective assembly for use with small endoscopes like uretheroscopes, the objective assembly including a lens having an optical surface that includes a partial wedge. The partial wedge directly faces an aperture stop thereby limiting the F-number of the objective.
US09151875B2	Optical film and touch panel A touch panel which prevents Newton ring formation and glare, shows high transmission image clarity, prevents haze and has high visibility, and an optical film which is applicable to such a touch panel. An optical film comprising an optically-transparent substrate and at least one hard coat layer (A) disposed on a surface of the optically-transparent substrate, wherein a surface of the hard coat layer (A), which is opposite to a surface where the optically-transparent substrate is present, has an arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) defined in JIS B0601 (1994) of 0.025 to 0.05 μm, and has 10 to 250 convex portions each having a height of 0.3 to 3 μm in a 1.08 mm square area.
US09151874B2	Near-infrared reflective film, method for manufacturing near-infrared reflective film, and near-infrared reflector The present invention provides a near-infrared reflective film and a near-infrared reflector, which can be used over large areas and are flexible, and have low haze and high visible light transmittance. The near-infrared reflective film comprises at least one unit composed of a high refractive index layer and low refractive index layer on a substrate, and is characterized in that the refractive index difference between an adjacent high refractive index layer and low refractive index layer is at least 0.1, and said high refractive index layer contains at least one type of compound (A) selected from: 1) a rutile-type titanium oxide having a volume-average particle diameter of not more than 100 nm; 2) a water-soluble polymer; and 3) the following group of compounds. Group of compounds: a carboxyl group-containing compound, hydroxamic acids, pyridine derivatives.
US09151868B2	Reservoir architecture and connectivity analysis An interactive system and method of operating the system to define and evaluate a model of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The reservoir model is defined from extrinsic information such as seismic surveys, well logs, and the like, and is based on elements of formation regions, connections among the regions, wells, and perforations. A boundary-element method is used to determine pressure interference responses, corresponding to the pressure at a perforation in response to a single perforation producing fluid at a unit flow rate. These pressure interference responses are then convolved with measured well flow rates obtained during production to arrive at estimates of the wellbore pressure at one or more wells of interest. The estimated wellbore pressure can be compared with downhole pressure measurements to validate the reservoir model, or to provoke the user into modifying the model and repeating the evaluation of the model.
US09151864B2	Monitoring and detection of materials using hyperspectral imaging Apparatus and methods for imaging and characterizing materials when performing subterranean operations are disclosed. A method for analyzing gaseous emissions from a subterranean formation comprises positioning a hyperspectral image capturing mechanism to monitor an area of interest and detecting presence of one or more materials of interest in the area of interest using the hyperspectral image. The amount of the one or more materials of interest in the area of interest is then quantified.
US09151853B2	Neutron-detecting apparatuses and methods of fabrication Neutron-detecting structures and methods of fabrication are provided which include: a substrate with a plurality of cavities extending into the substrate from a surface; a p-n junction within the substrate and extending, at least in part, in spaced opposing relation to inner cavity walls of the substrate defining the plurality of cavities; and a neutron-responsive material disposed within the plurality of cavities. The neutron-responsive material is responsive to neutrons absorbed for releasing ionization radiation products, and the p-n junction within the substrate spaced in opposing relation to and extending, at least in part, along the inner cavity walls of the substrate reduces leakage current of the neutron-detecting structure.
US09151851B2	Mulitplexing device for a medical imaging system A multiplexing circuit for a positron emission tomography (PET) detector includes a delay circuit and a multiplexer communicating with the delay circuit. The delay circuit configured to receive a plurality of timing pickoff (TPO) signals from a plurality of positron emission tomography (PET) detector units, add a delay time to at least one of the plurality of TPO signals, and transmit the TPO signals based on the delay time to the multiplexer, the multiplexer configured to a multiplex the TPO signals and output a single TPO signal from the plurality of TPO signals to a Time-to-Digital Convertor (TDC). A method of operating a multiplexer and a imaging system including a multiplexer are also provided.
US09151850B2	Radiation detector and imaging system The invention relates to a radiation detector (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106), having a scintillator (120) for generating electromagnetic radiation (202) in response to the action of incident radiation (200). The scintillator (120) has two opposing end faces (121; 122) and a lateral wall (123) between the end faces (121; 122). The radiation detector has, in addition, a conversion system (160) located on the lateral wall (123) of the scintillator (120), said system comprising a plurality of channels (165). Each channel (165) has a photocathode section (130; 131; 132) for generating electrons (204) in response to the action of electromagnetic radiation (202) that is generated by the scintillator (120), said electrons being multipliable by impact processes in the channels (165). A detection system (170) for detecting electrons (204) that have been multiplied in the channels (165) of the conversion system (160) is also provided. The invention also relates to an imaging system (110) comprising a radiation detector of this type (100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106).
US09151849B2	Optical fiber having scintillation quencher, a radiation sensor and a radiation detection apparatus including the optical fiber and a method of making and using the same An optical fiber can include a polymer and a scintillation quencher. The optical fiber can be a member of a radiation sensor or radiation detecting system. The scintillation quencher can include a UV-absorber or a scintillation resistant material. In one embodiment, the radiation sensor includes a scintillator that is capable of generating a first radiation having a wavelength of at least about 420 nm; and a scintillation quencher is capable of absorbing a second radiation having a wavelength of less than about 420 nm. The optical fiber including a scintillation quencher provides for a method to detect neutrons in a radiation detecting system.
US09151848B2	Dosimetry system, methods, and components Dosimeters with wireless communications capability, upon actuation, communicate with a cell phone or other data capture and relay device (DCRD) with an application that allows communication with the dosimeters. The cell phone or other DCRD is a single device or part of an ad hoc network. The cell phone or other DCRD, once it receives raw data from a dosimeter, relays the data to a central station using mobile telephone or Wi-Fi or other communications networks. The data is processed at the central station, and available over the Internet or cell phone.
US09151831B2	Distance measurement device In a distance measurement device of an embodiment, a light source emits modulation light in a first charge transfer cycle, and emission of the modulation light of the light source is stopped in a second charge transfer cycle. In each of the first and second charge transfer cycles, the charges generated in a photosensitive region are distributed to a first accumulation region and a second accumulation region. A first value is obtained based on readout values corresponding to amounts of accumulated charges of the first accumulation region. A second value is obtained based on readout values corresponding to amounts of accumulated charges of the second accumulation region. A distance is calculated based on the first value and the second value.
US09151830B2	Six degree-of-freedom laser tracker that cooperates with a remote structured-light scanner Measuring three surface sets on an object surface with a measurement device and scanner, each surface set being 3D coordinates of a point on the object surface. The method includes: the device sending a first light beam to the first retroreflector and receiving a second light beam from the first retroreflector, the second light beam being a portion of the first light beam, a scanner processor and a device processor jointly configured to determine the surface sets; selecting the source light pattern and projecting it onto the object to produce the object light pattern; imaging the object light pattern onto a photosensitive array to obtain the image light pattern; obtaining the pixel digital values for the image light pattern; measuring the translational and orientational sets with the device; determining the surface sets corresponding to three non-collinear pattern elements; and saving the surface sets.
US09151825B2	Enhancement of positioning quality of service Teachings herein improve selection of the positioning method(s) used to obtain positioning information responsive to a positioning request, by approaching positioning QoS holistically. Approached holistically, a joint QoS metric as taught herein takes into account the joint effect of individual QoS parameters of a positioning method, or the joint effect of multiple methods in a sequence. Processing in one or more embodiments thus includes determining a joint QoS metric for each of a plurality of candidate positioning methods or sequences, and selecting a positioning method or sequence based on those joint QoS metrics. By selecting a positioning method or sequence in this way, holistically based on joint QoS metrics rather than a piecemeal approach based on a one-by-one check of individual QoS parameters, selection proceeds flexibly according to actual QoS requirements of position-based services and/or systematically according to the joint effect of multiple positioning methods.
US09151823B2	Wireless communication device capable of accurately performing position estimations A wireless communication device capable of more accurately estimating its location in an indoor environment is disclosed. In an indoor environment, the wireless communication device may seek to generate a fingerprint map so as to later identify its location within the environment. However, the map requires the device to at least estimate its current position. Therefore, the device includes one or more sensors to identify each of a bearing and a speed of the device. For example, the speed may be determined based on sensed steps and a stored step length. This information may then be used to estimate the device's location as it moves through the indoor environment.
US09151822B2	Precise positioning using a distributed sensor network A method for determining the location and orientation of a transmitter object by measuring a set of complex electromagnetic field magnitude and phase strengths within a space using one or more receivers is provided. The method includes modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic strengths to estimated position and orientation of the transmitter object. And estimating parameters related to the transmitter object position based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values and a set of expected electromagnetic field values. Further embodiments include a method as above including a plurality of receivers with known positions within a limited space including the transmitter object. A sensor network including a plurality of receivers to perform the above method is also provided. The receivers may communicate using a wireless channel.
US09151818B2	Voltage measurement A voltage measurement apparatus is provided that includes: a potential attenuator configured to be electrically connected between first and second conductors, which are electrically coupled to a source, wherein the potential attenuator includes a first impedance and a reference impedance arrangement in series with each other, wherein the reference impedance arrangement has an electrical characteristic that can be changed in a known fashion; and further including a processing arrangement configured to acquire at least one signal from the reference impedance arrangement, the at least one signal reflecting change of the electrical characteristic in the known fashion; and to determine a voltage between the first and second conductors in dependence on the fashion in which the electrical characteristic is changed being known and the at least one signal.
US09151817B1	Auto-measurement and calibration of DC resistance in current sensing applications The present invention pertains to calibration in current sensing applications. Power conversion systems such as those used in computer architectures may employ step down converters such as buck converters or other types of converters. The present invention provides calibration processes and devices to account for various parasitic resistances which are found in such systems. A calibration circuit may be coupled to the buck converter or other power conversion to determine a calibrated voltage signal for the output of the power converter. An effective DC resistance may be determined and programmed for use by a control device used. In this way, the parasitic resistances are taken into account to obtain an accurate estimate of the actual current. In turn, this enables power converters and other devices to operate within specification requirements.
US09151815B2	Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a first imaging unit, an identifying unit, and a second imaging execution unit. The first imaging execution unit acquires, after applying a labeling RF pulse to blood flowing into the myocardium of a subject, multiple non-contrast MR data for which the time intervals between labeling and acquiring data are different by performing sequential imaging of an imaging area including the myocardium in each segment of a k-space for a given time interval. The identifying unit identifies a time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach a given position in the imaging area. The second imaging execution unit sets the identified time interval and, after applying a labeling RF pulse to the blood flowing into the myocardium of the subject, acquires non-contrast MR data by imaging the imaging area including the myocardium.
US09151812B2	Method to operate an image-generating medical modality to avoid patient injury by a modality-generated electromagnetic field In a method to operate an image-generating medical modality in order to avoid harm to a patient caused by an electromagnetic field, an adjustment process is implemented in which the electromagnetic field is radiated by the modality and preliminary image data are acquired using the electromagnetic field; and a clearance between the patient and a wall of the modality is determined from the image. The determined clearance forms the basis of a check process to determine an adaptation of the electromagnetic field for a diagnostic examination of the patient that follows. During the diagnostic examination, that also includes radiation of the electromagnetic field, movement monitoring of the patient takes place and the adjustment process is restarted as soon as a movement of the patient is registered.
US09151810B2	Device and method for synchronizing magnetic resonance unit with the cardiac rhythm of a patient The invention relates to a device for synchronizing a magnetic resonance unit with the cardiac rhythm of a patient, comprising a number of electrodes for leading off electrocardiogram signals from the body of the patient and an evaluation unit for determining a characteristic trigger time within a cardiac rhythm period of the patient from the electrocardiogram signals. In order to provide a device, which allows reliable determination of characteristic trigger times within the cardiac rhythm period of the patient even with elevated magnetic field strengths and which operates at least largely independently of external magnetic fields, it is proposed that the evaluation unit is designed to compare electrocardiogram signals obtained before and after the introduction of the patient into the magnetic resonance unit, in order to determine an enlargement of at least one characteristic of the electrocardiogram signals due to the magnetic field.
US09151805B2	Test machine and the test method for light emitting diode backlight driver, and, manufacturing method for monitor power board A test machine and a test method for a Light Emitting Diode (LED) backlight driver and a manufacturing method for a monitor power board The test machine has a switch-controlled LED-light-bar load that is coupled to an LED backlight driver on a monitor power board. The switch-controlled LED-light-bar load includes a plurality of light bars and a plurality of switches. Each light bar has a plurality of the LEDs which are connected in series. Each switch is connected in parallel to a portion of the LEDs of one light bar such that an effective amount of the LEDs of each light bar is adjustable. The switches are controlled according to a monitor specification that the monitor power board is adapted to.
US09151804B2	On-chip test technique for low drop-out regulators A circuit and method is described for automatically testing multiple LDO regulator circuits on an integrated circuit chip independent of an ATE. Each LDO regulator is tested for voltage at a specified current output capability, wherein the output driver transistor is formed by at least two pass transistors, which are each tested for voltage output at a particular current capability. The test results are delivered back to the ATE and for a failed test, the gate voltage of the pass device can be observed through an analog multiplexer to enable debug.
US09151803B2	Pairing method based on electric current synchronicity for augmented batteries A plurality of augmented batteries each have internal communication circuitry and current monitoring circuitry allowing them to communicate current usage signatures with one another. Based on analysis of those respective signatures each augmented battery determines if it is “paired” with other batteries, by virtue of being installed in the same device. The augmented batteries use knowledge of pairing to control how they collectively behave to provide augmented functionality, such as alerting the user regarding the charge level within the batteries.
US09151797B2	Apparatus for testing electronic devices An apparatus is described for burn-in and/or functional testing of microelectronic circuits of unsingulated wafers. A large number of power, ground, and signal connections can be made to a large number of contacts on a wafer. The apparatus has a cartridge that allows for fanning-in of electric paths. A distribution board has a plurality of interfaces that are strategically positioned to provide a dense configuration. The interfaces are connected through flexible attachments to an array of first connector modules. Each one of the first connector modules can be independently connected to a respective one of a plurality of second connector modules, thereby reducing stresses on a frame of the apparatus. Further features include for example a piston that allows for tight control of forces exerted by terminals onto contacts of a wafer.
US09151794B2	Fault detection system and method, and power system for subsea pipeline direct electrical heating cables A fault detection system for subsea pipeline direct electrical heating cables is provided. The fault detection system includes a first ammeter for measuring a first phase current, a second ammeter for measuring a second phase current, and a third ammeter for measuring a third phase current. The fault detection system also includes a first calculation unit for calculating a negative sequence current from the first phase current, the second phase current, and the third phase current, and a first detection unit for detecting a change in the negative sequence current.
US09151790B1	Sensor pattern with inactive electrodes in transmit (TX) layer for mutual capacitance Apparatuses and methods of equalizing mutual capacitances of sense arrays using inactive electrodes disposed between or within transmit (TX) electrodes and aligned in relation to the receive (RX) electrodes.
US09151789B2	Low power capacitive touch detector A low power capacitive detector is disclosed. The detector includes a mechanism to measure and detect touch on capacitive sensors. The detector uses signal processing to suppress noise and increase sensitivity. The detector does not require dedicated analog circuitry, making it easy to adopt in a microcontroller system. The detector can be scaled to a larger number of capacitive sensors without noticeable increase in silicon cost.
US09151787B2	Method and apparatus for the measurement of radio-frequency electric permittivity by a meander-line ring resonator Methods and apparatus for measuring permittivity having a meander-line ring resonator, which may be disposed on a substrate proximate to and separated from an input coupler and an output coupler thereon, the resonator ring further including a continuous conductive material having at least two turns to form a single congruent pattern, symmetrical along at least one axis.
US09151783B2	Ground offset monitor and compensator Methods and systems are described for monitoring and compensating an offset between a reference voltage used in a first device and a corresponding reference voltage used in a second device. The first device can include offset circuitry. The offset circuitry receives two voltage signals. The first voltage signal is equal to a first voltage value that is used as a reference voltage in the first device. The second voltage signal can be a time-varying voltage signal that has a known relationship with a second voltage value that is used as a reference voltage in the second device. The offset circuitry can then determine the second voltage value from the second voltage signal, and output an offset value based on a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value.
US09151777B2	Device for detecting a percussion event, and associated mobile system The device for detecting percussion events (DISP) comprises at least one axial accelerometer sensor (ACC1, ACC2, ACC3), characterized in that it also comprises at least one additional axial sensor insensitive to the translational vibrations (MAGN1, MAGN2), for measuring an information item representative of the orientation of the device (DISP) relative to a vector field of known direction within a fixed coordinate system not linked to the device (DISP), and low cut-off filtering means (FILTCB) provided with at least one input receiving measurements transmitted by the axial sensor or sensors (ACC1, ACC2, ACC3, MAGN1, MAGN2), means (AN) of analyzing the measurements filtered by said low cut-off filtering means (FILTCB), comprising comparison means (COMP) for comparing data from the analysis means (AN) with one or two thresholds (SP, SN).
US09151773B2	System and method for monitoring airflow A monitoring system for a powered system includes an electric energy sensor, a rotation sensor, and a monitoring device. The electric energy sensor is coupled with a blower to measure an amount of electric energy that powers the blower to draw air through an inlet duct and over one or more bodies to cool the bodies. The rotation sensor is coupled with the blower to measure a rotation speed at which the blower operates to draw the air through the inlet duct when the blower is powered with the amount of electric energy. The monitoring device compares the rotation speed of the blower with a designated speed limit that is associated with the amount of electric energy to determine if the inlet duct is at least partially blocked. The monitoring device identifies the inlet duct as being at least partially blocked when the rotation speed exceeds the designated speed limit.
US09151772B2	Speed detection device To include a pulse counting unit, a pulse timing unit, an overflow detection unit that holds a detected matter in an overflow register, a capture unit that holds an output of the pulse counting unit in a pulse counting register and holds an output of the pulse timing unit in a pulse timing register, and a computation unit (frequency calculation unit) that reads the pulse counting register, the pulse timing register, and the overflow register to calculate a frequency computation value, and when the pulse timing unit has overflowed, the computation unit adds a predetermined constant acquired by a period of a capture clock a period of a timing clock to pulse timing data at the previous interrupt to obtain pulse timing data acquired by a period of time from the last pulse edge a period of the timing clock.
US09151765B2	Method for producing agglutinating reagent, agglutinating reagent or product produced thereby, and method for measuring analysis object using the same, and test kit and analysis device Hemoglobin in a sample solution is quickly and reliably denatured; at the same time, quick and accurate measurement of hemoglobin and a hemoglobin derivative is realized. In a method for measuring hemoglobin and a hemoglobin derivative, and a reagent composition, a measurement kit, an analysis device, and an analysis system used in the method, a sample solution containing a blood component is treated with a nonionic surfactant, an oxidizing agent, and a metal salt to denature hemoglobin in the sample solution to measure the hemoglobin, and thereafter the amount of a hemoglobin derivative in the sample is measured by an immunological method using an antibody specifically binding to a denatured site of the denatured hemoglobin derivative.
US09151762B2	Identification of DSG-3 as a biomarker for the detection of metastasis in lymph nodes Disclosed herein is a method of detecting metastasis of a tumor in a subject, such as metastasis to a lymph node. The method includes directly determining an amount of desmoglein-3 (DSG-3) protein in a sample from the subject (such as a lymph node sample) and comparing the amount of DSG-3 protein to a control, wherein an increase in the amount of DSG-3 protein in the sample relative to the control indicates metastasis of the tumor to the lymph node. The disclosed methods further include selecting a therapy (for example, surgery, lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of two or more thereof) for the subject based on the amount of DSG-3 protein in the sample from the subject.
US09151761B2	Predictive biomarker of survival in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma Methods and compositions are disclosed for predicting and treating the clinical benefit to a human renal cell carcinoma patient prior to their treatment with a VEGFR inhibitor and an Ang2 inhibitor.
US09151760B2	Isolation and use of melanoma cancer stem cells A set of markers for melanoma cancer stem cells are provided. The cells can be prospectively isolated or identified from primary tumor samples, and possess the unique properties of cancer stem cells in functional assays for tumor initiation, cancer stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. In addition, cancer stem cells can be used as a predictor for disease progression. The CSC have the phenotype of being positive for expression CD271.
US09151759B2	Method for detecting cells with elastic cell membranes The subject matter disclosed in this specification pertains to a method for detecting cells with elastic cell membranes. A plurality of cells are fixed to an impedimetric transducer and osmotic stress is applied. Those cells with elastic membranes, including cancer cells, undergo a volume change which is detected by the impedimetric transducer.
US09151756B2	Chlamydia antigens The invention provides Chlamydia antigens for use in the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. In particular, the invention provides antigens CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, CT443, CT372, CT456, CT381, CT255, CT341, CT716, CT745, CT387, CT812, CT869, CT166, CT175, CT163, CT214, CT721, CT127, CT043, CT823 and/or CT600 from C. trachomatis for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.
US09151753B2	Method and test strip for detection of residues A method, test strip and method of manufacturing a test strip useful for detecting one or more analytes, such as an antibiotic, in a test sample such as a milk sample. The test strip and method include a labeled specific binder and test capture agent for the specific binder that increases test sensitivity to the analyte for which the specific binder has affinity while decreasing test sensitivity to an analyte for which a multianalyte binder has affinity.
US09151752B2	Method for amplifying variation of frequency of signal in piezoelectrical biosensor Provided is a method for amplifying a frequency variation of a detected signal in a biosensor that is used for detecting a biomolecule by measuring a change in frequency of an oscillating signal, the change being caused by pressure a biomolecule applies to a piezoelectric substance. The method for amplifying a frequency variation of a detected signal comprises the steps of: (a) applying a sample to a probe being fixed to an upper portion of a substrate of the biosensor to allow a biomolecule in the sample to be bound to the probe; (b) applying protein tagged with a metal particle to the biosensor to allow the protein and the biomolecule to be bound with each other; and (c) applying a metal enhancer to the biosensor to allow the metal enhancer to be bound to the metal particle having been bound to the protein.
US09151750B2	Method for carrying out reactions in an analytical device Method and system for carrying out heterogeneous chemical or biological reactions are disclosed. The method comprising providing an analytical device having at least one liquid processing unit having at least one reaction chamber and a first inlet channel in fluid communication with the reaction chamber. The method further comprises supplying to the reaction chamber via the first inlet channel or a second inlet channel analyte capturing particles, supplying to the reaction chamber via the first inlet channel or the second inlet channel a liquid sample containing an analyte of interest, and confining by an equilibrium of forces the analyte capturing particles in a particle rearrangement zone within the reaction chamber. The forces comprise a drag force Fd generated by flowing liquids and a counter-oriented force Fg. The method also comprises capturing analytes present in the liquid sample with the particles in the particle rearrangement zone.
US09151749B2	Assay device comprising bubble-forming means Disclosed is a method for determining the presence and/or amount Oran analyte of interest in a liquid sample comprising the steps of: contacting the liquid sample suspected of containing analyte with a gas generating means (eg. catalase and peracid or peroxygen compound), which gas generating means forms a gas dependent upon the presence, absence or amount of analyte, which gas creates one or more bubbles in the liquid sample which act to alter the flow of liquid along a flow path; and determining an alteration of flow in the liquid wherein the alteration of flow of liquid along the flow path is indicative of the presence and/or amount of analyte in the liquid sample.
US09151742B2	Hand-held medical device Disclosed herein are hand-held medical devices, such as blood glucose meters, that include a housing with a cassette compartment for receiving an exchangeable test tape cassette, a drive assembly comprising an electric motor and a gear arrangement adapted for rotating a tape spool of the test tape cassette, where the gear arrangement has a worm drive in which a worm meshes with a worm wheel and a multistage speed-reducing unit comprising a plurality of spur gears arranged between the worm wheel and an output gear that can be directly coupled to the tape spool.
US09151741B2	RFID-based devices and methods for initializing a sensor An RFID-based analyte sensor is provided with an antenna adapted to receive energy from an RF field and produce a signal. A sensing material is electrically connected to the antenna and has an electrical property which varies in the presence of an analyte. An energy storage device is also electrically connected to the antenna and is adapted to receive and store energy from the antenna and selectively discharge the stored energy. An initializing element is electrically connected to the energy storage device and is energized by the stored energy discharged by the energy storage device. When the initializing element is energized, it operates to reduce the analyte content of at least a portion of the sensing material, effectively initializing the sensing material.
US09151739B2	Coelenterazine analogs and manufacturing method thereof There has been a need for coelenterazine analogs that exhibit luminescence properties different from those of known coelenterazine analogs. The present invention provides the compound represented by general formula (1).
US09151736B2	Quality sensor apparatus An apparatus (100) for measuring quality of a urea solution is operated with at least a portion of the apparatus inserted into the urea solution. The apparatus (100) includes a configuration of sensors (180, 190, 200) for measuring mechanical and electrical properties within a volume of the urea solution, the measurements of mechanical and electrical properties being mutually differently influenced by components present in the urea solution. A data processing arrangement (230) of the apparatus (100) is operable to process the measurements of mechanical and electrical properties for generating output data (120) indicative of a quality of the urea solution. The apparatus (100) is also capable of being adapted to measure qualities of other types of solution.
US09151731B2	Fluid pressure control device for an analyzer A fluid pressure control device, including a pressurized fluid inlet, a first valve in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid inlet and controlling the flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid inlet, a first pressure measurement device detecting a fluid pressure downstream of the first valve, and a controller electrically coupled to the first valve. The first pressure measurement device causes the controller to operate the first valve such that a fluid downstream of the first valve is maintained at a substantially constant pressure.
US09151730B2	Method for determining the electrochemical characteristic of a test strip This invention relates to a non-destructive means to determine electrochemical characteristics in biosensor test strips, including first applying a cyclic oxidative and reductive electric potential onto the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode, on which lies a drop of enzyme reagent solution, to homogenize the electrochemical characteristics of the biosensor test strips, and then applying an inspection electric potential within a short period of time over the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode to measure its electrical resistance to identify any abnormal biosensor test strips if present. Afterwards, embodiments of the present invention applies a reverse electric potential, having the same time interval as the inspection electric potential, onto the inspection pads connecting to the reference electrode and working electrode to prevent degradation on mediators such as potassium ferricyanide.
US09151729B2	Carbon monoxide sensor system A gas sensor having first and second electrodes, an ion conducting solid electrolyte membrane positioned therebetween, first and second electrically conductive gas diffusion layers, first and second electrode contact members for electrically coupling said first and second electrodes to an external circuit, a water reservoir, a gas entry passageway and a water permeation barrier for controlling the transport of water vapor to the ion conducting solid electrolyte membrane. The water permeation barrier is a thin walled member which allows water vapor to diffuse therethrough and evaporate from an exit surface, the thickness of the water permeation barrier controlling the internal relative humidity of the sensor. A method for adjusting the present sensor in-situ due to changes in the current humidity conditions of the sensor so as to keep the gas sensitivity loss within a predetermined range is also disclosed.
US09151726B2	Measurement device A measurement device is for use with a current-type sensor unit, which, when applied with a driving voltage, is capable of reacting with a target substance for generating a sensor current that corresponds to a concentration level of the target substance, and includes: a driving unit operable to generate the driving voltage that includes alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) components; and a processing unit for receiving the sensor current from the current-type sensor unit, and operable to determine the concentration level of the target substance according to a peak-to-peak value of the sensor current received by the processing unit.
US09151723B2	3D RF MEMS biosensor for multiplexed label free detection A label-free RF MEMS-based biosensor is described for detecting biomarkers in a given environment. The biosensor is capable of sensing the presence of biomarkers by exploiting both its mechanical and electrical characteristics. In addition, the method employed for detecting mechanical deflections due to antigen-antibody binding uses a simple electrical circuitry which allows the sensor to be used at any location and time. Such a sensor, when placed in a matrix like structure allows for the detection of multiple biomarkers simultaneously.
US09151722B2	Systems for determining and imaging wax deposition and simultaneous corrosion and wax deposit determination in pipelines The systems for determining and imaging wax deposition and simultaneous corrosion and wax deposit determination in pipelines relate to systems for determining wax deposition and corrosion by one or both of two techniques. In both techniques, a source of neutron radiation is directed at the pipeline. In one technique, a neutron detector surrounded by an absorption shield defining a collimation window counts neutrons reflected back to the detector by back diffusion or backscatter radiation. In the other technique, a gamma ray detector measures gamma rays emitted when the emitted neutrons are absorbed in the pipeline. A neutron moderator-reflector is placed around three sides of the pipeline to increase the likelihood of neutron capture.
US09151720B2	Device for testing a surface including an extraction unit for extracting a shifted frequency component and associated method A device including a holder and a transmitter supported by the holder is provided. The transmitter is capable of transmitting an electromagnetic signal toward the surface any transmission frequency (Fe). The device also includes a receiver for receiving a signal reflected on the surface. The device also includes a guide assembly for guiding the movement of the holder to move the transmitter and the receiver across from the surface, tangentially relative to the surface. The device also includes an extraction unit for extracting, in the signal received by the receiver, a shifted frequency component of the transmission frequency resulting from a local impedance variation of the surface. The extraction unit produces an extracted signal representative of the state of the surface from the shifted frequency component.
US09151717B2	Methods and systems of imaging cut stones A method of imaging a cut stone. The method comprises a) identifying an orientation of a cut stone, b) creating a volumetric model of the cut stone according to the orientation, c) capturing a plurality of images of the cut stone from a plurality of viewing angles around the cut stone, d) cropping a plurality of segments depicting the cut stone from the plurality of images using the volumetric model, and e) generating a volumetric image of the cut stone from the plurality of segments.
US09151711B2	Optoelectronic shutter, method of operating the same and optical apparatus including the optoelectronic shutter An optoelectronic shutter, a method of operating the same, and an optical apparatus including the optoelectronic shutter are provided. The optoelectronic shutter includes a phototransistor which generates an output signal from incident input light and a light emitting diode serially connected to the phototransistor. The light emitting diode outputs output light according to the output signal, and the output signal is gain-modulated according to a modulation of a current gain of the phototransistor.
US09151702B2	Sample, sample fabrication apparatus, and sample observation method In accordance with an embodiment, a sample includes a base material and a metal-based heavy element compound. The base material includes a tunnel structure portion with a cavity portion. The metal-based heavy element compound fills the cavity portion of the tunnel structure portion. The metal-based heavy element compound has a thickness that at least locally allows passage of a charged particle beam.
US09151697B2	Method of measuring loadings in joins in a high-temperature environment and instrumented shaft for implementation, in particular for rear attachment of aircraft turbojet The invention aims to produce an instrumentation making it possible to measure the loadings which pass through mechanical joins between two mechanical structures, so as to best evaluate the dimensions and masses without impairing their mechanical properties of a secure transfer of load. To this end, the invention proposes introducing into the zones of transit of the loadings an instrumented component of the form that favors the measurement of shear and its installation. In one embodiment, a zone of transit of loadings consists of an instrumentalized hollow shaft which takes the form of a cylinder (1) able to be introduced into collinear openings (30) in the fittings (20, 25, 26). It comprises a longitudinal housing (10) into which is introduced an insert (2) composed of a central prop (21) in tight contact with the internal wall (1i) of the shaft (1) and connected, on each side, to a flyweight (31, 32) also in tight contact, by way of multiple tabs (41 to 44) away from contact with said internal wall (1i). High-temperature gauges (51, 53, 55, 57) are welded to the tabs (41 to 44), so as to measure a variation in electrical resistance corresponding to the bending deformation of the tabs (41 to 44).
US09151691B2	Method and apparatus for detecting airtight state of machine-tool window Methods and apparatus for detecting machine tool window airtightness includes an airtight state detector, having a sensor detecting the pressure in a space of the window, and a judging section for determining appropriateness of the airtight state of the space based on a pressure value from the pressure sensor and outputting a judgment result. Pressure in the window space, which initially may be pressurized or pressure-reduced, is detected intermittently by the pressure sensor, and the judging section determines appropriateness of the airtight state of the window on the basis of a variation state of the detected pressure.
US09151687B2	Measuring apparatus A measuring apparatus for producing a sequence of measured values of a measured variable, which is a function of a first auxiliary measured variable and at least a second auxiliary measured variable. The apparatus includes a first measuring transducer for registering and for outputting a sequence of values of the first auxiliary measured variable, at least a second measuring transducer for registering and for outputting a sequence of values of the second auxiliary measured variable, an evaluating unit for calculating the sequence of measured values of the measured variable based on the sequences of values of the first auxiliary measured variable and at least the second auxiliary measured variable; wherein the measuring apparatus furthermore has a control unit for synchronizing the registering of the sequences of the first auxiliary measured variable and at least the second auxiliary measured variable by means of a first sequence of control signals, which is output to the first measuring transducer, and a second sequence of control signals, which is output to the second measuring transducer, wherein at least the first sequence of control signals is variable independently of the second sequence of control signals.
US09151683B2	Analyzing load bearing members A method of analyzing a load bearing member (12), comprises providing the load bearing member in a condition in which it is secured to a formation with a securing assembly (14). A predetermined load is applied to the load bearing member, thereby stressing the securing assembly. A signal is transmitted through a component (24, 108) of the securing assembly transverse to the direction at which the load is applied, and a measurement is taken of an effect on the signal to determine the aforesaid load.
US09151677B2	Method and system for demodulating signals A demodulation sensor (30) is described for detecting and demodulating a modulated radiation field impinging on a substrate (31). The sensor comprises the means (1,7,15) for generating, in the substrate, a static majority current assisted drift (Edrift) field, at least one gate structure (33) for collecting and accumulating minority carriers (21), the minority carriers generated in the substrate by the impinging radiation (28) field. The at least one gate structure comprises at least two regions (4,9,18) for the collection and accumulation of the minority carriers (21) and at least one gate (5,6,8) adapted for inducing a lateral electric drift field under the gate structure, the system thus being adapted for directing the minority carriers (21) towards one of the at least two regions (4,9) under influence of the static majority current assisted drift field and the lateral electric drift field induced by the at least one gate, and a means for reading out the accumulated minority carriers in that region.
US09151675B2	Dual-switching sensing device, and dual-function switching circuit thereof A dual-switching sensing device includes two sensor modules and a dual-function switching circuit with an operational amplifier and two integrator modules. Each of the integrator modules includes a transistor, an integrator capacitor and a switching unit. Through control of the switching unit, each of the integrator modules may operate in different modes, so that the dual-switching sensing device may be used to sense different targets.
US09151672B2	Optical absorption spectrometry system including dichroic beam combiner and splitter An optical absorption spectrometry system includes first and second light sources, a dichroic beam combiner and a wavelength selective module. The first light source emits first light having first wavelengths within a first wavelength range, and the second light source emits second light having second wavelengths within a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range. The dichroic beam combiner includes a predetermined first reflectance/transmission transition region, the dichroic beam combiner being configured to transmit a first portion of the first light and to reflect a second portion of the second light to provide combined light. The wavelength selective module is configured to disperse the combined light received at an entrance aperture, to select a sample wavelength range of the dispersed light as sample light, and to output the sample light having the selected sample wavelength range from an exit aperture for illuminating a sample.
US09151671B2	Motorized variable path length cell for spectroscopy The present invention is thus directed to an automated system of varying the optical path length in a sample that a light from a spectrophotometer must travel through. Such arrangements allow a user to easily vary the optical path length while also providing the user with an easy way to clean and prepare a transmission cell for optical interrogation. Such path length control can be automatically controlled by a programmable control system to quickly collect and stores data from different path lengths as needed for different spectrographic analysis. Moreover, the system utilizes configured wedge shaped windows to best minimize the reflections of light which cause periodic variation in transmission at different wave lengths (commonly described as “channel spectra”). Such a system, as presented herein, is able to return best-match spectra with far fewer computational steps and greater speed than if all possible combinations of reference spectra are considered.
US09151670B1	Dynamic system resolution The present disclosure provides a spectrometer. In one aspect, the spectrometer includes at least one slit element located at an object plane, an optical sub-system having at least one optical element, at least one dispersive element, and at least one detecting element located substantially at an image plane. The optical sub-system is configured to substantially collimate, at said dispersive element, electromagnetic radiation emanating from said at least one slit element, configured to substantially image the substantially collimated electromagnetic radiation from said dispersive element onto the image plane, and configured to have a substantially variable focal length.
US09151669B2	Inspecting device and inspecting method An inspecting device inspects an inspecting target that is a semiconductor device or a photo device. The inspecting device includes: a stage for holding an inspecting target; a femtosecond laser for emitting pulsed light; a galvano mirror for obliquely irradiating the inspecting target with the pulsed light, while changing an optical path of the pulsed light, to scan the inspecting target with the pulsed light; and a detection part for detecting an electromagnetic wave emitted non-coaxially with the pulsed light from the inspecting target in accordance with the illumination with the pulsed light.
US09151666B2	Sensor chip, sensor cartridge, and analysis apparatus A sensor chip includes: a substrate that has a planar portion; and a diffraction grating on the planar portion and having a metal surface, the diffraction grating having a target substance thereon and including: a plurality of first protrusions periodically arranged in a period equal to or greater than 100 nm and equal to or less than 1000 nm in a first direction parallel to the planar portion, a plurality of base portions located between two adjacent first protrusions and configures abase of the substrate, a plurality of second protrusions formed on upper faces of the plurality of first protrusions, and a plurality of third protrusions formed on the plurality of base portions.
US09151663B2	Optical module including photoelectric conversion element and optical coupling member An optical module includes a circuit board including a mount surface and a non-mount surface opposite the mount surface, a photoelectric conversion element mounted on the mount surface of the circuit board, an optical coupling member for holding an optical fiber and optically coupling the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element, a semiconductor circuit element mounted on the mount surface of the circuit board, and electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element, a plate-shaped supporting member arranged so as to sandwich the optical coupling member between the supporting member and the circuit board, and an electrically conductive body supported by the supporting member, extended in a thickness direction of the supporting member, and connected at one end to an electrode provided on the non-mount surface of the circuit board.
US09151660B2	Method for validation of pharmaceutical formulation composition weight A method for validating pharmaceutical compositions' weight is disclosed. The method may involve a pharmaceutical composition weight validation system, which may include a pharmaceutical manufacturing process, a barcode scanning, weighing the pharmaceutical compositions with a pharmaceutical balance, sending the barcode scanning and weight information to a database, and having a user accessing the information through a user interface. Additionally, the method for validating pharmaceutical compositions' weight may include entering inventory into the system, formulating the batch, storing weight information, manufacturing the batch, assigning and printing a barcode on the pharmaceutical products, scanning the barcode, weighing the pharmaceutical compositions, populating and storing the weight data, checking if weight is correct in pharmaceutical compositions, and correcting the weight of pharmaceutical compositions.
US09151657B2	Dual measurement liquid level transducer A liquid level transducer for a tank, such as a railroad tank car or the like, includes a mounting head connected to the tank and a sensor assembly extending into the tank from the mounting head. The sensor assembly includes a sensor tube located in the tank and a gauging rod assembly positioned in the sensor tube. The gauging rod assembly can be pulled out of the tank until it magnetically couples with a magnetic float that surrounds the sensor tube. The float moves in response to a change in liquid level and the magnetic coupling provides the user with a visual indication of the liquid level. A sensor board extends along a length of the gauging rod assembly and is responsive to movement of the float for electronically determining the liquid level without the need to magnetically couple the gauging rod assembly to the float.
US09151654B2	Method and apparatus for capturing energy from a meter reading device Electronic circuits in a register associated with a commodity usage meter capture energy from a meter reading device when the device is coupled to the register (e.g., either electrically or inductively coupled) for the purpose of reading metered quantity data from the register. Electrical charge obtained from the reading device may be stored in a high-capacity storage capacitor. When the capacitor is sufficiently charged, it provides power to at least part of the register circuits, such as a controller, for at least the duration of the communication session with the reading device. In some embodiments, the capacitor may additionally supply sufficient power to operate the register until a subsequent reading device coupling.
US09151652B2	Coriolis flow sensor fabricated with laminated films processes A coriolis flow sensor is disclosed. The coriolis flow sensors comprises a first substrate layer, a second substrate layer, and a third substrate layer. The first substrate layer comprises a first wall. The second substrate layer comprises a second wall. The third substrate layer is disposed between the first and second substrate layers in a stacked configuration. The third substrate layer defines a flow path. The first and second walls of the respective first and second substrates and the flow path defined by the third substrate layer define a first flow channel configured to receive a fluid therethrough. A first actuator is configured to generate vibrations in the first flow channel. The first flow channel is mechanically moveable.
US09151651B2	Apparatus and method for determining temperature An apparatus and method for determining temperature is disclosed. An ultrasonic signal is generated that propagates through a buffer and a portion of the signal is reflected at an interface. A time of flight is measured between generating the ultrasonic signal and detecting the reflected portion. The temperature is determined based on the time of flight of the reflected signal.
US09151648B2	Process variable measurement using primary element connection platform An apparatus for measuring a process variable of a process fluid based upon a process variable sensor measurement, includes an elongate spool that provides a spool conduit therethrough adapted to be coupled in line with process piping to receive a flow of process fluid. A meter body is carried in the elongate spool and receives the spool conduit therethrough. The meter body has a primary element opening which extends from the spool conduit to outside of the meter body. A carrier is configured to removably mount to the meter body and includes a primary element in the spool conduit through the primary element opening. A process variable transmitter is coupled to the primary element and is configured to measure the process variable of process fluid. The meter body is preferably configured to receive different types of primary elements carried on the carrier.
US09151647B1	Vertical flow meter equipped A vertical flow meter comprises a vertical barrel, an adjustment mechanism and an induction mechanism. The vertical barrel has a flow passage inside to house a vertical rod and a magnetic element coupling on the vertical rod. The adjustment mechanism straddles a holding plate and a scale plate that are located at two sides of the vertical barrel, and includes an adjustment portion at one side thereof, at least one adjustment member corresponding to a second elongate slot of the scale plate and fastening to the adjustment portion, a protrusive connection portion at another side opposite to the adjustment portion, and a connection plank connecting with the adjustment portion and protrusive connection portion. The induction mechanism is disposed at one side of the protrusive connection portion. Through magnetic attraction between the induction mechanism and the magnetic element, the adjustment mechanism can be moved upward or downward on the scale plate.
US09151644B2	Load measurement sensor support structure A support structure stabilizes a position of a load measurement sensor by ensuring the rigidity of a support bracket supporting the sensor. The support structure supports the sensor, including an extension shaft portion extending from a sensor body, by each of attachment bracket and while the extension shaft portion is located at the lateral side of the sensor body, wherein each of the attachment brackets and includes an upright wall that is provided with an insertion hole into which the extension shaft portion is inserted when the sensor is supported, a bottom wall that intersects the upright wall and contacts the upright wall at one end in the seat width direction, and an upward protruding wall provided at a position contacting the bottom wall at the other end opposite the upright wall in the seat width direction of the bottom wall, intersecting the bottom wall, and facing the upright wall.
US09151640B2	Method and apparatus for sensing capacitance value and converting it into digital format A capacitive sensing system are configured to sense a capacitance value and convert the sensed capacitance value to a digital format. The capacitive sensing system provides good selectivity and immunity to noise and interference, which can be further enhanced by enabling spread spectrum excitation. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing system utilizes a sinusoidal excitation signal that results in low electromagnetic emissions, limited to narrow frequency band. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing system is configured to operate in a spread spectrum mode, in which the majority of the excitation signal power is carried in the assigned bandwidth. The excitation frequency and the bandwidth of the spread spectrum excitation signal are programmable in a wide range, which allows for avoiding frequency conflicts in the operating environment.
US09151639B2	Two-dimensional inductive position sensing system A two-dimensional inductive position sensing system uses four drive inductors arranged at the vertices of a parallelogram and a sensing inductor positioned within the parallelogram. The sensing inductor is movable within the parallelogram and relative to the drive inductors. A first oscillating current at a first frequency is supplied to a first pair of the drive inductors located at ends of a first diagonal of the parallelogram. A second oscillating current at a second frequency is supplied to a second pair of the drive inductors located at ends of a second diagonal of the parallelogram. As a result, the sensing inductor generates a first output voltage at the first frequency and a second output voltage at the second frequency. A processor determines a position of the sensing inductor relative to the drive inductors using the first output voltage and the second output voltage.
US09151638B2	Rotating electric machine A rotating electric machine according to the embodiments includes a rotating-electric-machine unit, a rotation detector, an Oldham coupling, and a washer. The rotating-electric-machine unit includes a shaft. The rotation detector includes a body and a rotation input pin that is rotatably provided on the body. The Oldham coupling couples the rotation input pin of the rotation detector and the shaft to each other while allowing any relative displacement in a direction intersecting an axial direction. The washer is provided on the rotating-electric-machine unit while being positioned with respect to the shaft. The washer includes an attaching portion at which the body of the rotation detector is attached to the washer.
US09151635B2	Route search apparatus, route search method, and program There is provided a route search apparatus including a measuring unit configured to measure a traveling distance or a traveling time, a position information acquiring unit configured to acquire position information of a current point. a start point registering unit configured to register the position information, which is acquired by the position information acquiring unit when the measuring unit starts the measurement, as position information of a start point, and a route searching unit configured to, if an operation of returning to the start point is detected, search a return route between the current point designated as a departure point when the operation of returning to the start point is detected and the start point designated as a destination.
US09151633B2	Mobile communication device for delivering targeted advertisements A mobile communications device comprising a location sensing system, producing a location output; a memory, storing a set of locations and associated events; a telecommunications device, communicating event and location information between a remote system and said memory; and a processor, processing said location output in conjunction with said stored locations and associated events in said memory, to determine a priority thereof.
US09151631B2	Vehicle fueling route planning An estimated fuel consumption may be determined for a route for a vehicle. At least in part based on the estimated fuel consumption, it may be determined that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is insufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route and/or one or more waypoints may be identified within a predetermined distance of the route, e.g., waypoints for refueling the vehicle. The estimated fuel consumption may be determined in a computer system included in the vehicle.
US09151624B2	Data services via receivers independent of navigation systems A system and method for providing a suite of data services in non-navigation based electronic devices such as head units, that can provide similar levels of functionality to navigation-based systems are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a non-navigation data system for providing data services in a mobile environment can include a data decoder for decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source, a location determining means for determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream, a display for displaying data corresponding to the current location, and a plurality of static maps wherein the data corresponding to the current location is overlaid at least over a portion of the static maps. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a method of providing a data service in a mobile environment without the need for a navigation system can include decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source, determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream, displaying data corresponding to the current location, and overlaying the data corresponding to the current location over at least a portion of a plurality of static maps.
US09151617B2	Selected driver notification of transitory roadtrip events To determine whether to notify a traveler of events proximate to a travel path, a description of an event and an event location are received. A geographic coordinate area search range is determined based on the received event location. All midpoints of multiple contiguous segments of the travel path that lie within the determined geographic coordinate search range are identified. A set of segments is determined based on the identified midpoints and proximity searched to identify one segment within the searched set of segments that is in closest proximity to the received event location. A closest offset event location along the identified one segment is identified used to determine whether the user is to be notified of the event.
US09151615B2	Navigation system and method for navigation A navigation system of a vehicle includes a first display arranged behind a first mirror surface of a right outside mirror of the vehicle, a second display arranged behind a second mirror surface of a left outside mirror of the vehicle, and a control unit connected to the first display and the second display to control an output of graphic information on the first display and the second display. The control unit is configured to determine a current maneuver instruction based on a route and a current position of the vehicle, and the control unit is configured to control the output of different graphic information on the first display and the second display, based on the current maneuver instruction and/or the current position.
US09151613B2	Methods and apparatus for detecting, measuring, and mitigating effects of moving an inertial navigation device's cradle Methods and apparatus for detecting, measuring, and/or mitigating effects of moving an inertial navigation device's cradle are provided. In an example, provided are methods and apparatus to mitigate cradle rotation-induced inertial navigation errors. In an example, a method for mitigating an inertial navigation error includes receiving inertial sensor data and processing the inertial sensor data with a first navigation algorithm having a non-holonomic constraint (NHC). A second navigation algorithm, lacking a NHC, also processes the inertial sensor data simultaneously with the first algorithm. A cradle rotation is detected by the second navigation algorithm. A first navigation algorithm result, produced from the inertial sensor data generated during the cradle rotation, is discarded. The first algorithm can be computationally realigned, based on a second navigation algorithm result produced from the inertial sensor data generated during the cradle rotation.
US09151612B2	Vibrating gyroscope including piezoelectric film sandwiched between metallic film layers A vibratory gyro which is provided with a ring-shaped vibrating body, leg portions flexibly supporting the ring-shaped vibrating body, a plurality of electrodes formed by having a piezoelectric film sandwiched between an upper-layer metallic film and a lower-layer metallic film in the thickness direction, and a fixed potential electrode. The plurality of electrodes include a bank of driving electrodes for exciting primary vibration, detection electrodes for detecting secondary vibration, and suppression electrodes for suppressing the secondary vibration on the basis of a voltage signal from the detection electrodes. The driving electrodes, the detection electrodes and the suppression electrodes are disposed in the region from an outer peripheral edge of the ring-shaped vibrating body to a vicinity of the outer peripheral edge and/or a region from an inner peripheral edge thereof to a vicinity of the inner peripheral edge.
US09151611B2	Micro rate of rotation sensor and method for operating a micro rate of rotation sensor The present invention relates to a method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z). The rotation sensor comprises a substrate, driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses. The driving masses are driven by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction. The X-Y sensor masses are coupled to the driving masses, and driven to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the X-axis or the Y-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are jointly deflected about the Y-axis or X-axis. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the Z-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are rotated about the Z-axis, and the Z sensor masses are deflected substantially in the X-direction.
US09151610B2	Validating calibrated magnetometer data Implementations are disclosed for validating data retrieved from a calibration database. In some implementations, calibrated magnetometer data for a magnetometer of a mobile device is retrieved from a calibration database and validated by data from another positioning system, such as course or heading data provided by a satellite-based positioning system. In some implementations, one or more context keys are used to retrieve magnetometer calibration data from a calibration database that is valid for a particular context of the mobile device, such as when the mobile device is mounted in a vehicle. In some implementations, currently retrieved calibration data is compared with previously retrieved calibration data to determine if the currently retrieved calibration data is valid.
US09151606B2	Post level A post level for determining the orientation of a structure that includes a pair of bubble vials that are secured within the level body in a manner such that, if either one of the bubble vials become broken or otherwise damaged, it can be easily replaced and the level need not be discarded. The body of the post level of the invention includes an upper portion, a lower portion having a first side having a slot, an intermediate portion and a rear surface having an outwardly extending locating shoulder for engaging the structure to be oriented. The post level also includes a bulls-eye level that is mounted on the intermediate portion of the level body and an elastomeric connector cord that is receivable within the slot of the first side of the body which enables the level to be removably secured to the structure being oriented. Additionally, the level includes a plurality of magnets that are connected to the level body for engagement with the structure to be oriented.
US09151605B1	Beverage container cap A cap for use with a beverage container comprising a housing that attaches to a beverage container, the housing comprising an opening for dispensing the contents of the beverage container and further comprising a valve activated by a valve button. A sensor within the housing estimates the amount of a fluid that has been dispensed from the opening and a display device is provided for displaying the amount of fluid that has been dispensed from the opening. The display device may be any type of display, including an LED display, and LCD display, or a plurality of indicator lights.
US09151600B2	Shape measuring device, shape measuring method, and shape measuring program The invention provides a shape measuring device, a shape measuring method, and a shape measuring program capable of easily adjusting a posture of a measuring object to a state appropriate for shape measurement before the shape measurement of the measuring object. A measuring object is irradiated with light having a pattern for posture checking by a light projecting unit before the shape measurement. An image of the measuring object captured by a light receiving unit is displayed on a display section in this state. The posture of the measuring object is adjusted with the measuring object being irradiated with the light having the pattern for posture checking by the light projecting unit.
US09151596B2	Position checking device of LED of LED light bar A checking device of an SMT placement machine for checking positions of LEDs mounted on a circuit board includes a shell, a light source and an imaging module. The shell is used for covering the LEDs and the circuit board to be checked. The shell includes an opening and an atomized reflecting layer facing the LEDs. The opening is defined for exposing the LEDs through the shell to the imaging module whereby images of the LEDs can be taken by the imaging module and positions of the LEDs can be checked thereby. The atomized reflecting layer is formed on an inner surface of the shell. The light source is covered by the shell and faces the atomized reflecting layer. The imaging module is aligned with the opening.
US09151595B1	Laser thickness gauge and method including passline angle correction A laser thickness gauge has three laser displacement sensors each transmitting a laser beam onto a target web. Two sensors are spaced along the web and face one surface of the web and the third sensor faces the opposite surface. The thickness of a web that is positioned along a passline plane between the sensor is measured even when the passline plane is not perpendicular to the beams of the sensors. A data processor computes the passline angle from the distance measurements communicated from the three sensors. During setup and calibration, data representing physical characteristics of the gauge are measured and stored and during operation are processed with currently measured data to generate correction factors that are used to correct thickness measurements determined from the three laser sensors.
US09151592B2	Method and system for multiple resonance interferometer A multiple resonance interferometer structure includes an input port and a first arm coupled to the input port and including a first resonant structure. The multiple resonance interferometer also includes a second arm coupled to the input port and including a second resonant structure and an output port coupled to the first arm and the second arm.
US09151590B2	Proximity sensor and method for determining the proximity to an electrically conductive body A method for determining the proximity to an electrically conductive body comprises transmitting an alternating magnetic field at a selected frequency and registering an alternating magnetic field. Frequencies of the registered alternating magnetic field comprising the selected frequency and have an amplitude value above a predefined threshold value and are detected by a detection means. Utilizing a blocking circuit, frequencies of a predefined frequency band comprising the detected frequency or a plurality of predefined frequency bands comprising in each case one of the detected frequencies, are defined as blocked frequencies. A following frequency following the respective selected frequency and different from the selected frequency and the blocked frequencies is defined in a selection controller. The following frequency of a selected frequency is continuously selected as a newly selected frequency for a new time window following immediately after or chronologically spaced apart from a selected time window.
US09151589B2	Surface texture measurement device, controller for surface texture measurement device, and method for controlling the same A surface texture measurement device capable of resolving errors for each entire display range, a controller for the surface texture measurement device, and a method for controlling the surface texture measurement device that includes selecting any one of the display ranges as a reference range and defining a calibration measurement value for each display range; sequentially inputting the calibration measurement values in place of the measurement values to the range amplifier corresponding to the reference range to obtain a reference display value rDATAi; inputting the calibration measurement values to the range amplifiers corresponding to each display range, then obtaining an AD-converted value ADi and a display value DATAi; computing a gain error rate ki=rDATAi/DATAi, a display resolution DIVi=DATAi/ADi, and a corrected display resolution cDIVi=DIVi×ki; and displaying the corrected display value cDIVi=DIVi×ki.
US09151588B2	Method of measuring a circular shape characteristic and circular shape characteristic measuring device and program A circular shape characteristic measuring device includes a shape measuring device that obtains measured data by measuring a profile shape of a circular cross-section of an object to be measured having the circular cross-section, and a computation device that calculates a circular shape characteristic of the circular cross-section. The computation device includes: an input device configured to input one of three parameters including a cutoff value of the filtering process, a minimum number of samples, and a ratio of a radius of the circular cross-section to a radius of a gauge head; a parameter table that stores a relationship between the three parameters, and based on the input parameter, determines the other two parameters; and a sampler configured to perform sampling of the measured data based on the minimum number of samples.
US09151579B2	Non-circular cross-section missile components, missiles incorporating same, and methods of operation A missile component such as a rocket motor case, of an initial transverse cross-sectional shape flexible into another, different cross-section responsive to application of internal pressure from ignition of a propellant grain within the component. A missile launch assembly including at least one missile of a non-circular cross-section disposed within a segment of a partitioned circular launch tube. A multi-stage missile comprising at least a first stage and a second stage having rocket motor cases of non-circular transverse cross-section, the rocket motor case of at least one of the stages being deformable into another, different cross-section. A method of launching a missile including igniting a rocket motor of a missile component having a first cross-section, internally pressurizing the missile component substantially concurrently with motor ignition and flexing the component rocket motor into a second, different cross-sectional shape.
US09151578B2	Unlocking device The invention relates to an unlocking device (10), especially for a vehicle protection device, comprising a locking bar (16) which in a locked position establishes a connection positive at least in portions between a first component (12) to be unlocked and a second component (14) and permits relative motion of the two components (12, 14) in an open position. The unlocking device (10) further comprises a pyrotechnical actuator (18) including a pyrotechnical element (20) having a propelling charge and a piston-cylinder unit (22) having a piston (24) and a cylinder (26), wherein motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) can be generated due to activation of the propelling charge upon ignition thereof and wherein the piston-cylinder unit (22) is connected to the locking bar (16) without redirection so that upon motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) the locking bar is movable from its locked position into its open position.
US09151577B2	Pyramid-sphere bunker system A bunker comprising an exterior pyramid or cone structure made from an energy-absorbing material and an interior hollow spherical structure. The bunker may further comprise a sloped enclosing structure disposed around the exterior pyramid or cone structure. The energy absorbing material may be a solid, liquid or gel, and may be a compressible material. The combination of an outer pyramid or cone structure and an inner spherical structure is very stable. Persons or materials are housed in the inner hollow structure, and are protected from the impact of projectiles such as bombs or shells, or from other dynamic loads, by this combination of two strong geometric shapes with an energy-absorbing material in between.
US09151575B2	Firearm accessory rail and method of attachment An accessory rail and method for attaching the accessory rail to a firearm is described. An accessory rail includes a first block and second block positioned respectively at a rear end and forward end of the accessory rail. The first block is configured to engage a first receiving area of the firearm, and the second block is configured to engage a second receiving area of the firearm. The accessory rail can advantageously be connected to a firearm such as the Samozaryadnj Karabin sistemy Simonova (SKS) assault rifle by utilizing manufactured points present in the SKS. The first block may engage a receiver cover attachment point. The second block may engage a receiving area present in the rear sight. No machining modifications to the firearm are required.
US09151572B1	Aiming and alignment system for a shell firing weapon and method therefor A system and method for aiming and alignment of a shell firing weapon includes a portable aiming unit that may be located in close proximity to the weapon that includes a reference head for emitting and/or receiving at least one energy ray. The portable aiming unit can be aligned to a reference azimuth, either absolute or relative. A sighting unit is also included in the system and removably mounted to the weapon. The sighting unit includes a reference head that is complementary to the reference head of the portable aiming unit. The at least one energy ray established between the portable aiming unit and the sighting unit provides an accurate relative reference of directing the weapons fire and monitoring linear and angular displacement of the weapon as it is fired so that corrections can be made in aiming the weapon in response thereto.
US09151570B2	Synchronized elevation trajectory riflescope A riflescope comprises a body, an elevation knob, a windage knob, and an eyepiece. The elevation knob may be mounted on the body and configured to generate an elevation setting corresponding to the elevation of the riflescope. The windage knob may be mounted on the body and configured to generate a windage setting corresponding to the left and right offset of the riflescope. The eyepiece is for viewing a target and may include a display configured to show a range to the target as determined by the elevation knob or the offset determined by the windage knob.
US09151569B2	Sight with resilient member around frame screw A sight includes a power-changed unit and a bullet impact correction unit. The power-changed unit includes an outer barrel, a rotary frame disposed around the outer barrel, a frame screw disposed in the rotary frame, and a resilient member disposed between the outer barrel and the frame screw. The bullet impact correction unit includes an elevation adjustment screw and a windage adjustment screw, both of which abut the power-changed unit.
US09151568B2	Rifle sling An improved rifle sling comprising of three buckles on an adjustable belt. An adjustment buckle having two serrated openings, a hooked buckle having two serrated openings and a hook at one end and a sliding buckle angled or bent at the middle with two smooth openings. The adjustment buckle allows the user to adjust the belt to a desired length. The sliding buckle is attached to one end of the belt and slides about the rest of the belt. The sliding buckle hooks onto the hooked buckle that is attached close to the other end of the belt when carrying the rifle close to the body. The sliding buckle is unhooked from hooked buckle adding slack to the belt as it slides across it allowing the rifle to be raised normally when it is to be deployed rapidly into a shooting position. The rifle can be carried across the back or front of a user's body.
US09151567B1	Drop-away arrow rest assembly An arrow rest adaptable between right-hand and left-hand configurations includes a support body having a floor portion, a first arm portion and a second arm portion extending from the floor portion. The first at second arm portions have first and second upper connection ends, respectively. An arrow support portion is rotatably connected to the support body between the first and second arm portions for supporting the shaft of an arrow. A capture arm has a lower connection end for connection to one of the first and second upper connection ends. The capture arm is either connected to the first arm portion when the arrow rest is in a right-hand configuration or connected to the second arm portion when the arrow rest is in a left-hand configuration. A torsion hinge assembly includes a shaft rotatably connected to the support body and fixedly connected to the arrow support portion. First and second pulleys are fixed at opposite ends of the shaft. The first pulley is connected to an activation cable when the arrow rest is in a right-hand configuration. Alternatively, the second pulley is connected to the activation cable when the arrow rest is in a left-hand configuration.
US09151566B2	Toy bow and arrow system with UV light shielding A toy bow assembly that is used to launch toy projectiles. The toy bow assembly includes a bow structure having a first arm section and a second arm section. Both the first arm section and the second arm section have sheathed areas that are protected from ambient light. A central area is disposed between the first arm section and the second arm section. A first elastic element extends through the first sheathed area into the central area, wherein the first sheathed area shields the first elastic element from exposure to ambient light. Likewise, a second elastic element extends through the second sheathed area and into the central area, wherein the second sheathed area shields the second elastic element from exposure to ambient light.
US09151564B1	Firearm trigger pull training system and methods A firearm training system provides a firearm body having a trigger and a position input circuit. When the trigger is pulled, the position input circuit emits a two-dimensional trigger position signal that allows monitoring of the actual two-dimensional trigger pull path taken by the trigger during the trigger pull. The trigger pull path can be displayed graphically on an electronic device in real time. In other embodiments, the information associated with the trigger position signal can be stored and can be graphically viewed after the trigger pull is complete. The system provides a way to monitor trigger pull path to determine whether the trigger has been pulled laterally. By repeatedly monitoring trigger pulls using the system, a user can train to improve trigger pull technique. Also, a motion sensing circuit disposed on the firearm body can measure movement of the firearm body during the trigger pull, and a barrel displacement indicator can be graphically and numerically displayed on the electronic device corresponding to the actual barrel displacement. A method of providing firearm user input information to a user is also provided.
US09151557B2	Automatic sear assembly for a rifle An automatic sear assembly for providing a large-bore rifle with full-automatic firing and/or burst firing capabilities is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed assembly includes an automatic sear operatively configured with a sear lever which is provided with bidirectional articulation for selectively imparting torque on the automatic sear to cause tripping thereof. For example, the disclosed assembly can be configured such that rotational deflection of the sear lever away from the automatic sear imparts no rotation thereto, whereas rotational deflection of the sear lever toward the automatic sear imparts rotation thereto. Thus, and in accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed sear assembly can be used in a rifle, for example, to utilize the force of a moving bolt carrier during a given firing cycle to initiate a subsequent firing cycle without need to release and once again operate the trigger of the rifle.
US09151553B2	Bolt action firearm and its method of assembly Several improvements to the components and assembly method of a bolt-action firearm are disclosed. An improved bolt includes two separate members, which makes the bolt less expensive to manufacture while having a stronger extension handle. An improved takedown system and buttonless stop provide two easy ways to remove a bolt from a receiver when desired without misplacing any parts. An improved scope mount has a base connected to a receiver with two ends that substantially cover the top surface of the receiver and a middle portion that is narrowed over an opening to the receiver to accommodate a cartridge. A method of assembling a firearm involves providing a barrel with a threaded portion, fitting a crush washer over the threaded portion, inserting the threaded portion into a corresponding threaded portion of a receiver, and adjusting the barrel about the crush washer until a proper headspace is achieved.
US09151550B2	VLSI hot-spot minimization using nanotubes The invention relates to a semiconductive device comprising a die with at least one defined hot-spot area lying in a plane on the die and a cooling structure comprising nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes extending in a plane different than the plane of the hot-spot area and outwardly from the plane of the hot-spot area. The nanotubes are operatively associated with the hot-spot area to decrease any temperature gradient between the hot-spot area and at least one other area on the die defined by a temperature lower than the hot-spot area. A matrix material comprising a second heat conducting material substantially surrounds the nanotubes and is operatively associated with and in heat conducting relation with the other area on the die defined by a temperature lower than the hot-spot area.
US09151546B2	Heat exchanger assembly The present application provides a heat exchanger assembly. The heat exchanger assembly may include a folded fin core with a ridge end and a trough end, a first end plate positioned about the ridge end of the folded fin core, a second end plate positioned about the trough end of the folded fin core, and with the first end plate and the second end plate including a number of protrusions thereon.
US09151543B2	Data center coolant switch A data center cooling system is operated in a first mode; it has an indoor portion wherein heat is absorbed from components in the data center, and an outdoor heat exchanger portion wherein outside air is used to cool a first heat transfer fluid (e.g., water) present in at least the outdoor heat exchanger portion of the cooling system during the first mode. The first heat transfer fluid is a relatively high performance heat transfer fluid (as compared to the second fluid), and has a first heat transfer fluid freezing point. A determination is made that an appropriate time has been reached to switch from the first mode to a second mode. Based on this determination, the outdoor heat exchanger portion of the data cooling system is switched to a second heat transfer fluid, which is a relatively low performance heat transfer fluid, as compared to the first heat transfer fluid. It has a second heat transfer fluid freezing point lower than the first heat transfer fluid freezing point, and the second heat transfer fluid freezing point is sufficiently low to operate without freezing when the outdoor air temperature drops below a first predetermined relationship with the first heat transfer fluid freezing point.
US09151538B2	Drying device and drying method for hollow fiber membranes Disclosed is a drying device for a hollow fiber membrane, including: a tubular drying member that is formed with an opening portion through which a hollow fiber membrane is input and output at at least one end thereof in a length direction, the hollow fiber membrane passing inside the tubular drying member while forming a gap between the hollow fiber membrane and an inner circumferential surface of the tubular drying member; and a gas supply unit that is formed on a side surface of the tubular drying member and supplies a drying gas into the tubular drying member. Thus, it is possible to dry the hollow fiber membrane in a short time at a low cost without the necessity of large equipment.
US09151537B2	Method and system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) A method and system for optimizing the efficiency of an LNG liquification system of the gas expansion type, wherein an incoming feed gas is first separated in a fractionation column by counter current contact with a cold reflux fluid, and a gaseous stream introduced into the heat exchanger system at a reduced temperature such that an intermediate pinch point is created in the warm composite curve.
US09151533B2	Method and system for tempering of product units in a tank, and application thereof The invention refers to a method for tempering, such as cooling, of a number of packaged units of products (bags) by using a coolant in the form of a mixture of ice cubes and water, and characterised by the fact that an ice slurry of water and ice particles is applied, and that the mixture is circulated around the units in order to cool them. Preferably, injectors should be utilised to pump the slurry around and in between the bags. The invention also refers to a system and an application.
US09151530B2	Automatic icemaker An automatic icemaker includes a swing arm, an actuator swinging the swing arm, and a transmission section transmitting movement of the actuator to the swing arm. The transmission section includes a cam rotated by the actuator, a pivotally movable lever including an abutting portion abutting the cam and pivotally moved by the rotation of the cam, and a joint member to transmit the movement of the pivotally movable lever to the swing arm. As the swing arm, one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. As the joint member, one of the first, second, and third joint members which corresponds to the selected one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. At different positions on a board which extends in a vertical direction, the first, second, and third supporting portions support the first, second, and third joint members, respectively.
US09151529B2	Refrigerator/freezer ice bucket A refrigerator/freezer ice bucket is provided. The ice bucket may include a dispenser interface configured to deliver ice cubes to an ice dispenser upon a request by a user for the ice cubes. The dispenser interface may include a back wall. The ice bucket may further include storage configured to, with the back wall of the dispenser interface, store the ice cubes until the user request. The storage includes a fixed portion and a hinged outer wall. The hinged outer wall is configured to pivot from a position that is parallel to an opposite wall of the fixed portion to a position in which one or more portions of the hinged outer wall are fixed to be slanted upwardly away from the opposite wall of the fixed portion, thereby expanding a capacity of the storage.
US09151522B2	Air conditioner and control method thereof An air conditioning system has a controller and a receiver located between an indoor and outdoor units. The receiver serves as an auxiliary reservoir for refrigerant. The controller generates signals to adjust the amount of refrigerant to be stored in this reservoir as a way of adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing in the system during various modes of operation. By increasing or decreasing the amount of refrigerant in the receiver, the controller may achieve or maintain a desired level of performance and/or efficiency.
US09151519B2	Mounting system for installing solar system modules on roofs A roof hook for mounting of solar installation modules on roofs. The roof hook has a first fastening section, which extends in the X and Y direction for fixing a roof hook, a hook-shaped mount for fixing the solar installation module or a fastening profile for solar installation modules and a second fastening section which runs perpendicular to the first fastening section in the Z direction from the latter. The mount is adjustable on the second fastening section in the Z direction, and fasteners act obliquely to the Z direction for fixing the mount on the fastening section.
US09151518B2	Solar concentrator plant using natural-draught tower technology and operating method Solar concentrator plant using natural-draught tower technology, in which the tower is, in turn, used as cooling system. The tower houses saturated or superheated steam receivers in cavities with different orientations, with adaptive dynamic control of the heliostat field in order to direct said receivers towards different focusing points, for the production of electricity, process heat or solar fuels or for use in thermochemical processes.
US09151516B2	Smart energy controlled water heater A control module for a water heater includes a switching module that receives a voltage supply and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater. The water heater includes an electrical junction box that receives the voltage supply. A communication module communicates with at least one of an energy meter and an energy network external to the water heater and the control module, and receives information from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network. The control module is mounted on the water heater and the voltage supply passes through or adjacent to the control module. The control module determines an operating characteristic of the water heater based on the voltage supply and selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater in response to the operating characteristic and the information.
US09151514B2	Universal canopy suspension system A suspension system for the attachment of a multiple bladed fan, connected beneath the roof of a canopy-styled tent or other overhead structure. The system's bracket is comprised of multiple arms that universally grip the frame of the said canopy-styled tent or overhead structure. Suspension is not limited to a fan, but also other embodiments, each powered by a plug or battery. The bracket is manufactured in polymer or like material. The system's fan blades are comprised of foam, rubber, or other soft matter. The suspension system allows the fan or other attached embodiment's height to be manipulated by a process further shown in this application. The system further includes embodiments for lighting, heating, or the mounting of additional embodiments. The suspension system and its embodiments are portable and may be broken down into a self-contained bag or case for easy transport.
US09151513B1	Apparatus and method for placement of angle plates in transverse duct flanges An apparatus and method are described for inserting angle plates in transverse duct flanges. The apparatus is especially useful in inserting angle plates into transverse duct flanges of duct fittings. Packages for holding angle plates are also described.
US09151512B2	Ventilation system A ventilation system including a heat recovery assembly having a first heat exchanger for heat recovery with a first flow path and a second flow path to exchange heat energy from air transported in one of paths to the other. A peripheral inlet to the first flow path is arranged to surround a central outlet of the second flow path and a peripheral inlet to the second flow path is arranged to surround a central outlet of the first flow path. The assembly further includes a peripheral outlet and a central inlet, the peripheral outlet arranged to surround the central inlet, and the heat recovery assembly is arranged such that air entering the peripheral inlet of the first flow path exits by the peripheral outlet; and air entering the central inlet will exit by the central outlet of the second flow path.
US09151511B2	Method for controlling air conditioner and environmental tester An example control method is a method for controlling an air conditioner to turn a state in closed space to a predetermined target state. The control method includes: setting a target value for controlling a physical quantity; measuring the physical quantity at different positions in the closed space, and calculating a moving average of measurements of the physical quantity measured at each of the different positions; and controlling the air conditioner in such a manner that a median between the maximum value and the minimum value of the plurality of calculated moving averages is the target value.
US09151510B2	Display for HVAC systems in remote control units An HVAC remote controller for use in an HVAC system is described. In some instances, the HVAC remote controller may include a wireless interface for communicating with one or more HVAC controllers and/or other HVAC devices. The HVAC remote control unit may be configured to display two or more option on a display, wherein the user may be allowed to select one of the two or more options resulting in a selected option. The HVAC remote control unit may display a visual cue for the selected option that visually distinguishes the selected option from the remaining options. The visual cue may include a different border for the selected option than the remaining options and/or a marker within or adjacent to the border. It is also contemplated that a similar visual cue may be used in conjunction with an HVAC controller display, if desired.
US09151509B2	Air-cleaning decorative humidifier An air-cleaning decorative humidifier, including mainly a support seat, a water receptacle, at least a shaft, a fan, and a water sub-receptacle; in which a base seat of the water receptacle is fixed to the bottom of the water receptacle; a first water opening is provided on the base seat of the water receptacle; a water valve is provided on the first water opening; the fan and the water sub-receptacle are provided in the support seat; a water level control rod is provided in the water sub-receptacle; the shaft is connected with at least a decoration directly or through a mechanism.
US09151503B2	Coaxial fuel supply for a micromixer Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a coaxial fuel supply for a micromixer. According to one embodiment, the micromixer may include an elongated base nozzle structure, a number of mixing tubes in communication with the elongated base nozzle structure, and an air inlet configured to supply the plurality of mixing tubes with air. The elongated base nozzle structure may be configured to supply a fuel to the mixing tubes.
US09151502B2	System and method for reducing modal coupling of combustion dynamics A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors, and each combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. Each fuel nozzle includes an axially extending center body, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the axially extending center body, a plurality of vanes that extend radially between the center body and the shroud, a first fuel port through at least one of the plurality of vanes at a first axial distance from the combustion chamber, the plurality of vanes being located at a second axial distance from the combustion chamber. A second fuel port is provided through the center body at a third axial distance from the combustion chamber. The system further includes structure for producing a combustion instability frequency in the first combustor that is different from the combustion instability frequency in the second combustor.
US09151501B2	Gas turbine centripetal annular combustion chamber and method for flow guidance A gas-turbine combustion chamber arrangement includes at least one centrifugal compressor as well as one centripetal annular combustion chamber, with a stator vane arrangement being provided between the centrifugal compressor and the annular combustion chamber. The stator vane arrangement for diverting the air flowing out of the centrifugal compressor is designed at an angle α of 20° to 30°, preferably 25°, relative to the engine axis, so the airflow is passed at essentially this angle α to the combustion chamber. The inflow area into the combustion chamber for supplying air is designed at an angle of 20° to 30°, preferably 25°, relative to the meridional plane, and the center axes of the burners or of the injection nozzles of the combustion chamber are arranged inclined at an angle β of 30° to 40°, preferably 35°, relative to a meridional plane passing through the engine axis.
US09151498B1	Conveyor oven igniter An igniter mounting bracket is clamped to a ribbon burner tube by cap screws that are received in burner tube threaded bores. The threaded bores are in alignment with the axis and the elongated slot of the burner tube. A ground tube of the igniter has an insulator plug with an igniter tube bore on each tube end. A ground rod has one end welded to the ground tube. A hood with a hood free edge is on the other rod end. An ignition electrode passes through the igniter tube bores with an igniter tube axis. A threaded end of the electrode is connectable to a controller. An ignition portion parallel to and spaced from the hood free edge is on the other end of the electrode. The ground tube is received in a passage through the mounting bracket. The igniter tube axis is perpendicular to burner tube axis.
US09151497B2	Gas regulator fitting A gas regulator fitting is to be devised that prevents distortions of the temperature value to be regulated caused by ambient temperature fluctuations. Retrofitting without intervention into the gas-conducting space is also to be made possible. To that end, one or more bimetal discs (17) are arranged outside the gas-conducting space of the gas regulator fitting, between an operating element (18) for setting the required temperature and a longitudinally movable ram (8) whose position can be altered by means of metal bellows (9) which are connected to a temperature sensor (11) by a capillary line (10). The ram (8) protruding into the gas-conducting space activates a switch which controls a valve for regulating the gas stream to the main burner. The bimetal discs (17) are arranged in such a manner that their overall height, which is altered in the direction of movement of the ram (8) depending on the ambient temperature, can influence the position of the metal bellows (9).
US09151495B1	Method for reducing volatile organic compounds from gases with hydrocarbons A method to minimize the formation of volatile organic compounds by using an emission control flare stack in line with a gas coming from a source; mixing oxygen/air with the gas then using detected temperatures and concentrations and comparing those detected temperatures and concentrations to a library of preset limits to control inlet flow rates, control burn of the gas forming an intermediate gas; and controlling the temperature of the intermediate gas, then controlling neutralization of the temperature controlled intermediate gas to minimize the formation of volatile organic compound components and form an emission in compliance with within 40 CFR part 63, effective 2015.
US09151492B2	Heating apparatus An apparatus for heating a blast furnace stove having a combustion region and a combustion gas outlet associated with the combustion region includes a source of lower calorific value fuel; a first pipeline for supplying the lower calorific value fuel to the combustion region; a source of air; a second pipeline for supplying the air to the combustion region; a source of oxidant comprising at least 85% by volume of oxygen; a third pipeline to supply the oxidant to the combustion region; a fourth pipeline communicating with the combustion gas outlet for conducting combustion gas away from the stove; and a fifth pipeline operable to recirculate combustion gas to the combustion region. The apparatus may operate in different modes according to which of the pipelines are placed in communication with the combustion region.
US09151490B2	Boiler control system A boiler control system for efficiently controlling the operation of a packaged boiler is provided. The system includes a combustion air control system, a fuel control system, a flue gas sensing system, and a boiler controller. The boiler controller is in operative communication with the combustion air control system, fuel control system, and the flue gas sensing system. Based upon a system demand, the boiler controller controls coarse-level operation of the combustion air control system and the fuel control system. The flue gas sensing system may include an oxygen sensor and a flue gas differential sensor to sense a change in a characteristic of the flue gas. When the flue gas differential sensor senses a change in the flue gas characteristic that meets a flue gas differential setpoint, the boiler controller controls the fine-level operation of the boiler.
US09151483B2	Heat pipe for cooling optical sources Embodiments generally relate to heat pipes and methods for fabricating the same. In one embodiment, the heat pipe comprises a first section bonded to a second section such that a first channel is enclosed therebetween; and a liquid partly filling the first channel. The bonded first and second sections comprise a first area configured to be bonded to a heat-generating device and a second area configured to be bonded to a heat sink. The first channel is characterized by a first portion within the first area and a second portion within the second area. The liquid and at least one of the first section and the second section are transparent at a wavelength emitted by the heat-generating device.
US09151480B2	Light bulb assembly A light bulb assembly includes a bulb housing that is configured to be connected to a light bulb socket. A light bulb is held by the bulb housing and includes a printed circuit board (PCB). The assembly includes an electrical connector having a connector housing, a negative terminal of the light bulb assembly, and a positive terminal of the light bulb assembly. The electrical connector is mounted to the PCB such that the positive terminal and the negative terminal are electrically connected to the PCB. The negative terminal is configured to mate with a corresponding negative terminal of the light bulb socket. The positive terminal is configured to mate with a corresponding positive terminal of the light bulb socket.
US09151477B2	Lighting device and method of installing light emitter A lighting device configured to be held relative to a space extending from an opening in a first surface. A distance between first and second emitters and/or a dimension of a lens is/are larger than a largest dimension of the opening and/or a largest dimension of a power supply. Also, a bracket comprising a body member and at least two mounting clips, the body member configured to be attached to a lighting device, each mounting clip pivotable about respective pivot axes at least from a first position, where a first end region of the clip does not extend farther from an axis of the body member than all portions of the body member, to a second position, where the first end region of the clip extends farther from the axis of the body member than all portions of the body member. Also, a lighting device comprising a removable bracket.
US09151471B2	Light source device and projector A light source device includes a first light source, a fluorescent material, a second light source, and a synthesis member. The synthesis member includes a visible light reflecting film, and a transmitting window which is disposed in the visible light reflecting film to transmit the visible light. The second light source, the fluorescent material and the synthesis member are mutually arranged in such positional relations that the transmitting window is positioned along optical axis of light emitted from the second light source and that generated light emitted from the fluorescent material is reflected in an optical axis direction of the light emitted from the second light source by the visible light reflecting film.
US09151470B2	Illumination device To provide an illumination device in which there is no variation in light intensity distribution of the illumination device, and in which illumination spots, particularly light intensity spots, are not prone to occur in a read image in an image reading device, by maintaining a constant gap between a light source and an end face of a light guide. The illumination device includes: a light guide having an end face for taking in light, a diffuse reflecting surface for diffusely reflecting the light taken in from the end face, and a light exit surface for emitting the light that is diffusely reflected at the diffuse reflecting surface towards an irradiation surface. The illumination device further include a reflector having a diffuse reflecting surface that reflects light from the light source toward the one end face of the light guide. The light guide has, at the one end, a flange portion that abuts the reflector, the light source is mounted to a circuit board, and the reflector is held between the flange portion of the light guide and circuit board so as to maintain a predetermined gap between the light source and light guide.
US09151469B2	Lighting device having a smooth cut-off The invention relates to a lighting device comprising: —at least one light source (11); —a reflective member (20) comprising a reflective surface (22) and an edge (21) (“first edge”) forming a light cut-off of light rays passing in a region adjacent to this first edge (21); —a light-modifying member (30) adapted to modify lighting feature(s) of light rays and having an edge (“second edge”). The light-modifying member (30) extends from the reflective member (20) to this second edge (31) over a surface area defined to receive a part of the light rays passing in said region. The second edge is designed such that, among said part of light rays, the light-modifying member (30) modifies proportionally more light rays passing proximate the first edge than light rays passing less proximate the first edge (21). The invention relates also to said light-modifying member (30) per se.
US09151468B2	High brightness illumination devices using wavelength conversion materials High lumen output and brightness illumination modules using an excitation light source and wavelength conversion part with multi-channel heat dissipation are disclosed. The exciting light source is a light emitting diode or a laser diode emitting in the UV and/or blue region. The luminescent material in the wavelength conversion part absorbs the excitation light and emit longer wavelength light. The enhancement approaches for brightness and polarization is disclosed.
US09151467B2	Single chamber lighting device A lighting device (1) for providing a homogeneous luminous intensity distribution in relation to an optical axis of the lighting device (1), the lighting device (1) comprising: at least one light source (7); a housing (3) arranged to enclose the at least one light source (7), the housing (3) comprising an at least partly transparent housing portion being arranged in parallel to the optical axis of the lighting device (1); and a reflector (4) arranged inside the housing (3), the housing (3) and the reflector (4) together defining a single light mixing chamber (6), wherein the reflector (4) is arranged to reflect light from the at least one light source (7) away from the optical axis of the lighting device (1) towards the at least partly transparent housing portion.
US09151465B2	Light-source device and reflector-support structure A light source device includes: a rod-shaped light source or an array light source extending in a main scanning direction; a reflector that is placed opposite the rod-shaped light source or the array light source, extends in the main scanning direction, and reflects light output from a side face of the rod-shaped light source or the array light source; and a plurality of reflector supports that are arranged at an interval along the main scanning direction and support the reflector.
US09151463B2	LED color combiner A light source combines colored light from different LED sources to provide white light output. Multiple LEDs emitting light at different peak wavelengths may be disposed on a flexible substrate, the LEDs being close to an aperture formed in the substrate. Multiple mirrors, including at least one dichroic mirror, are oriented to reflect light from the multiple LEDs into the aperture. The flexible substrate includes a dielectric layer having a cavity region and an adjacent neighboring region that is thicker than the cavity region. The aperture and the multiple LEDs are all disposed in the cavity region of the dielectric layer. An integrating rod may be coupled to the aperture to receive the reflected light from the multiple LEDs.
US09151458B2	Solar panel device A solar panel device is provided which can be simply attached to an existing fluorescent lamp or LED lamp to construct a power-generating lamp.A solar panel device includes a solar panel (11) that has an arc band shape in a cross-sectional view with an arc length in a range which is equal to or greater than ⅕ of an outer circumference of a lamp tube (14) in a cross-sectional view and equal to or less than ½ of the outer circumference in a width direction and that receives light from a rear surface of the lamp tube and generates an electromotive force, a power supply line (12) that outputs the electromotive force of the solar panel, and a tubular base (13) that has a tube shape, that has the solar panel attached to an inner surface or an outer surface thereof in a length direction, that is externally fitted to the lamp tube to cover the lamp tube, and that holds the solar panel so that a light-receiving surface of the solar panel comes in contact with the surface of the lamp tube or is located with a gap of 10 mm or less from the surface of the lamp tube.
US09151457B2	Lighting device and method of installing light emitter A lighting device comprising a junction box, a trim element and a solid state light emitter, at least a portion of a space defined by regions of the trim element within a space defined by regions of the junction box, the light emitter within the trim element space. A lighting device comprising a trim element (with at least two regions) and a solid state light emitter, in which at least a first part of the first region can be positioned in a first space with the second region outside the first space, the light emitter within the first part. A lighting device, comprising a trim element (which comprises at least two regions), part of an exterior of which defines a first space, at least a first part of the first region within the first space, a solid state light emitter within the first part. Methods of installing a light emitter.
US09151455B2	Thermoplastic resin composition for reflector, reflector plate, and light-emitting diode element The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic resin composition for a reflector plate with which it is possible to obtain a molded article having excellent moldability, high mechanical strength, excellent heat resistance and a high reflectance that is stable over time, and it is possible to obtain a reflector plate with which there is little reduction in reflectance due to heating. The thermoplastic resin composition for a reflector of the invention comprises 30 to 80 weight % of a thermoplastic resin (A) having structural units containing carbonyl groups and a melting point or glass transition temperature of 250° C. or higher, 10 to 50 weight % of an inorganic filler (B) containing an inorganic filler (B-1) that comprises a carbonyl structure and has an aspect ratio of 10 to 100, and 5 to 50 weight % of a white pigment (C).
US09151454B1	Modular LED lighting apparatus A lighting module is disclosed and includes a light emitting diode (LED) panel having a plurality of LEDs and two or more conductive contacts. A boxlike member has a base and sidewalls. The sidewalls have passages that provide ingress to and egress from the boxlike member for power wires. One or more mounting members are attached to the boxlike member for removably attaching the LED panel. A circuit board is disposed in the boxlike member, and the circuit board includes two or more insertion force connectors for connecting to power wires. The circuit board further includes two or more board connectors that engage the conductive contacts of the LED panel and electrically couple the conductive contacts of the LED panel to the insertion force connectors.
US09151450B2	Compact robust gas pressure regulator A gas pressure regulator for use with a gas delivery system is provided. The gas delivery system defines an outer profile, and the gas pressure regulator comprises a plurality of elements arranged such that a substantial portion of the elements of the gas pressure regulator are disposed within the profile of the gas delivery system to reduce a number of impact locations on the gas pressure regulator should the gas delivery system be mishandled during use.
US09151447B2	Liner for a pressure vessel and method A pressure vessel for storing a fluid is disclosed. The pressure vessel including a vessel liner having a substantially smooth outer surface including a flange portion with an aperture formed therein and an end cap coupled to the vessel liner to substantially enclose the flange portion within the resultant pressure vessel.
US09151443B2	Fluid holder and electromechanical lubricator employing same A fluid holder includes: a housing having an inner surface and at least one fluid outlet; a piston in slidable engagement with the inner surface and having first and second opposed surfaces with a threaded opening extending therebetween, the first surface of the piston and the inner surface of the housing defining a fluid chamber in communication with the at least one fluid outlet; and a threaded member engageable with the threaded opening, a first portion of the threaded member extending from the first surface of the piston, the threaded member being rotatably coupled to the housing on the first portion of the threaded member for rotation in the threaded opening of the piston such that rotation of the threaded member causes a force to be exerted by the threaded member on the housing and on the piston to expand or contract the fluid chamber.
US09151442B2	Bar mounted tool adaptor A tool mounting system having at least one support tool structure with at least one tool connected to each of the at least one tool support. A first and second mounting portion is connected to each of the at least one tool support structure and is connectable to a first and second mount on a base, respectively. At least one of the first mounting portion or the second mounting portion has a particular mounting characteristic such that the first and second mounting portions are only correspondable to the first and second mounts of the base to ensure the proper position of the at least one tool support structure relative to the base.
US09151441B2	Adjustable suspension apparatus and method of use An adjustable suspension apparatus and method. One embodiment provides a substrate mounting apparatus that provides the ability to mount the apparatus on a substrate and move the location of a suspended object in at least a substantial two-dimensional planar area. One embodiment allows the suspended object to be moved vertically, laterally, and tilted or leveled with respect to the substrate by merely sliding one or more components of the apparatus from one place to another on the apparatus, without moving the components of the apparatus mounted on the substrate. One embodiment includes a laterally extending element, a peaked or inverted-peaked structure, and interconnecting supports providing for mounting of the laterally extending element to the substrate and sliding support for laterally slidable members. The laterally extending element provides lateral adjustability, with these three features combined cooperatively providing lateral, vertical, and tilting or leveling adjustability of an object mounted on a substrate.
US09151440B1	Insect repellant heater support assembly An insect repellant heater support assembly includes a mount including a first end, a second end, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A coupler is attached to the mount and is positioned nearer to the first end than the second end. The coupler releasably engages a heater. A bracket is attached to the mount and attaches the mount to a post such that the mount is horizontally oriented. A screw is attached to the mount and extends away from the second end. The screw is extendable into and threadably engageable with a tree. The screw has a longitudinal axis lying in a plane is co-planar with the mount.
US09151439B2	Support for portable computing device A foldable support for supporting a portable computing device includes a main frame, a back plate, and a hinge assembly connecting the back plate to the main frame, the hinge assembly being able to position and lock the back plate in a desired position with respect to the main frame. A base member is rotatably connected to a bottom of the main frame. When the portable computing device is supported by the foldable support, a back of the portable computing device rests against the main frame, and a bottom of the portable computing device rests on the base member.
US09151431B2	Manhole liner having a wireless data transmitter The present invention provides an apparatus and method for repairing a manhole. The wall of the manhole is lined with a liner to form a new wall. The liner includes a resin that cures to form the new wall that is similar to the repaired wall. Embedded in the liner is a wireless data transfer mechanism that includes a transmitter, such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID). The RFID transmits identification information about the liner or the repaired wall. The transmitter may be capable of data entry in the field or may be otherwise field-programmable and further capable of transmitting at least one physical characteristic. Examples of physical characteristics may include temperature, pressure, chemical reactions, flow within the manhole, and the like. Additional transmitters may be used along the length of the manhole to determine characteristics at multiple locations, with each additional transmitter including the same or different sensors.
US09151428B2	Load line connection spillage container An injection-molded load line connection spillage container for catching and retaining liquid spilled when liquids are pumped between storage tanks and tankers provides an injection-molded reservoir and an injection-molded cover attached to the reservoir by hinges. Reinforcing ribs molded into the reservoir provide strength and ruggedness without the need for reinforcing steel collars and saddles. Gussets molded into the reservoir hinge brackets ensure repeated stresses produced by energetic opening of the cover does not result in failure of the hinge brackets. An optional load line mounting assembly permits secure mounting of the load line container directly onto the load line. An optional cleanout assembly provides a valved suction line for removing retained spillage, and an optional sampling assembly provides a valved sample line for sampling the liquid being transferred.
US09151421B2	Profiled clamp Profiled clamp that includes two half shells, each having a clamping head on a respective first end and a connection geometry on a respective second end. The profiled clamp also includes a clamping element to which the clamping heads are connected and a spring element preloaded to bear against an inside of the half shells. At least one of the two half shells is tiltable with respect to the clamping element.
US09151417B2	Method and composition for lining a pipe A pipe lining composition and a method for installing the pipe lining composition into a pipeline requiring repair is provided. The lining composition is a layered lining composite formed of alternating plies of felt and carbon fiber strand reinforcing such that layers of carbon fiber reinforcing strands are trapped between layers of felt. Once the composite is laid up the composite is preferably stitched to provide stability and to maintain the layers relative to one another and then formed into a tube. In accordance with the method, the lining tube is then sequentially filled resins of increasing viscosity as it is drawn through rollers in a manner that fully wets out the carbon fiber before it is placed into the pipe to be lined.
US09151413B2	Bushing and method for producing such a bushing The invention relates to a bushing for sealing a strand-shaped element (10), in particular one or more lines, in an opening (14) of a wall (15), comprising a foamed sealing body (40), which completely surrounds the strand-shaped element (10) and defines a volume, and a fastening body (20) for fastening the bushing to the wall (15), characterised in that the fastening body (20) is made of a different material than the sealing body (40), the volume defined by the scaling body (40) is delimited on one side at least along a portion of said side and is connected at least by bonding to the sealing body (40) along said portion.
US09151412B2	Retractable cable tray for vertical structures The present invention discloses a cable tray assembly for a drilling rig or other vertical structure. In one embodiment, an extendable cable tray assembly is provided for retractable attachment to a section of a mast of a drilling rig. The cable tray assembly includes an upper tray connected to the mast in a stationary relationship. A center tray has a pivot end pivotally connected to the mast, and an articulating end rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position below, and offset to, the upper tray. A lower tray has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is pivotally connected to the articulating end of the center tray. The lower tray is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position below, and offset to, the center tray. An actuator is provided such that extension and retraction of the actuator results in deployment and retraction of the cable tray assembly.
US09151408B2	Method of polishing a metal surface of a barrier door of a gate valve used in a semiconductor cluster tool architecture The method of preserving the anodized finish of a barrier door of a process module includes bonding a seal to a metal surface, anodizing the metal surface, and then using a CNC machine to polish the metal surface without damaging the seal. The metal surface is polished by traversing a polishing path along the metal surface with a polishing head maintaining frictional contact with the metal surface. The integrity of the seal is preserved by bounding the polishing head to skirt the edge of the seal by following the polishing path.
US09151405B2	Transverse handle assembly for a valve A handle assembly for a valve system is provided. The handle assembly includes a body defining a cavity, an input shaft at least partially located in the cavity, a handle coupled to the input shaft, and a first gear located in the cavity and coupled to the input shaft. The handle assembly further includes an output shaft at least partially located in the cavity, a second gear coupled to the output shaft and located in the cavity engaging the first gear, and at least one key supported by the body. At least one of the input shaft and the output shaft include a first portion having cross-section that is other than circular, and the first portion selectively engages the at least one key, thereby limiting rotation of the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft.
US09151404B2	Button switch outlet mechanism The present invention discloses a button switch outlet mechanism, which is provided with a body communicating with the water source and in which at least two water passages are arranged, wherein, it is further provided with a switch unit and a water division unit mounted in the body, the switch unit comprises at least two switch buttons that are arranged to the control poles of the switch buttons and a limiting assembly respectively, the limiting assembly controls that one of the switch button is pressed or all the switch buttons are pressed simultaneously and located to the limiting plate; the water division unit is connected to the switch unit to control that the water passages are communicated with the water source respectively or simultaneously. The cooperation of the components of the present outlet mechanism is tight and artistic with effective and stable switch.
US09151402B2	Cylinder valve having a device for reducing or closing off the flow in the event of a rise in temperature A cylinder valve for pressurized gas with a body including a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a passage connecting the inlet to the outlet. The valve also includes a closing/opening valve, a pressure reducer and a device for reducing or closing the gas passage between said valve and a pressure reducer. The device includes an element that is made of shape-memory alloy and positioned in a cavity of the passage. The element includes an active deformable portion, the circular outer edge of which is capable of engaging with the inner surface of the cavity in order to close the passage following a rise in temperature caused by combustion. The combustion can be generated by adiabatic compression during the opening of the valve.
US09151401B2	Fail-safe apparatus for use with fluid valves Fail-safe apparatus for use with fluid valves are disclosed herein. An example fail-safe apparatus includes a first piston, a second piston movably coupled relative to the first piston, and a fluid chamber between the first and second pistons to receive a control fluid. The control fluid is to operatively couple the first and second pistons when the control fluid is provided in the fluid chamber. The first piston is operatively decoupled from the second piston when at least some of the control fluid is removed from the fluid chamber.
US09151399B2	Method of configuring a check valve A nipple of a check has a first portion that is selectively positionable within a housing of the check valve. A second portion of the nipple extends from the housing when the first portion of the nipple is selectively positioned within the housing. The check valve is configured to allow fluid flow through the check valve in either a first direction or a second direction when the first portion of the nipple is selectively positioned within the housing. The check valve is configured to prevent fluid flow through the check valve in the first direction when the first portion of the nipple is removed from the housing.
US09151396B2	Valve assembly with integral sensors A valve assembly includes an electronics housing and a valve housing assembly engaged to the electronics housing. The valve housing assembly includes a valve body defining a plurality of fluid ports in fluid communication with the valve bore. A plurality of fluid dampeners is disposed in the fluid ports. A sensor plate is engaged to the valve body. The sensor plate defines a plurality of sensor ports that are generally aligned with the fluid ports of the valve body. At least four fluid sensors are disposed in the plurality of fluid ports of the valve body. A cover is engaged to the sensor plate. The cover defines a cavity. A circuit board is disposed in the cavity of the cover. The circuit board is in electrical communication with the fluid sensors.
US09151395B2	Oil pressure control device An oil pressure control device includes a valve body and a spool valve arranged in the valve body. When the valve body is mounted to a vehicle, the valve body is arranged in air, and has a concave portion which stores oil at a position facing on an upper side. The spool valve has a damper chamber and an orifice causing the damper chamber to communicate with outside. The concave portion is arranged to communicate with a clearance defined between a sleeve of the spool valve and the valve body, and the orifice is opened in a bottom part of the concave portion.
US09151393B2	Two way gate valve and substrate processing system having the same A two way gate valve includes a valve chamber having a first entrance coupled with a first chamber, a second entrance coupled with a second chamber, and an openable and closable chamber cover; a moving module having a first sealing plate for sealing the first entrance, a second sealing plate for sealing the second entrance, and a moving module body to which the first and the second sealing plates are mounted; a push-pull module having a push-pull module body coupled with the moving module body such that the moving module body can linearly move, a first operating body for moving the moving module in a first entrance direction such that the first sealing plate seals the first entrance, and a second operating body for moving the moving module in a second entrance direction such that the second sealing plate seals the second entrance.
US09151390B2	Sliding parts Sliding parts are provided wherein a plurality of pumping areas for generating pumping action via the relative rotational sliding of a stationary ring and a rotating ring is discontinuously formed in a circumferential direction on a sealing face of one of the stationary ring and rotating ring so as to communicate with a sealed fluid-containing space. The pumping areas are provided with intake pumping areas operating in a direction in which the sealed fluid is drawn in and outflow pumping areas operating in a direction in which the sealed fluid is expelled. A plurality of dynamic pressure-generating grooves for generating dynamic pressure via the relative rotational sliding of the stationary ring and the rotating ring are formed in a circumferential direction on a sealing face of the other of the stationary ring and the rotating ring so as to communicate with the sealed fluid-containing space.
US09151388B2	Sealing gasket and seed housing for a seeder and seeder comprising such a seed housing A sealing gasket made of a resilient rubber material or rubber-like material. The sealing gasket is formed as a rotationally symmetric body with a substantially constant cross-sectional profile. The cross-sectional profile includes: a first sealing part located furthest away from a center of rotation of the body and a second sealing part located radially inside the first sealing part, as viewed in the radial direction. An open space is defined by the first and second sealing parts. The second sealing part essentially curves through an angle away from the center of rotation. A seed housing can include such a seal and a seeder can include such a seed housing.
US09151387B2	Ultra-high vacuum metallic seal A metallic seal design that reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing production steps and also lowers the sealing force by incorporating a thin-wall, high height/width ratio annular column. The seal has two horizontal ribs which constrain the thin-wall column from unstable buckling to thereby reduce or eliminate the tendency of the sealing dams to become inclined to sealing flange surfaces.
US09151386B2	Accumulator membrane for a hydraulic hammer An accumulator membrane is disclosed. The accumulator membrane may include a generally cylindrical tube having a side wall with a first end a second end. A lip may be located at the first end, and may form a pocket with the side wall. An extension may protrude from the second end at an angle generally perpendicular to the lip and co-axial with the generally cylindrical tube.
US09151385B2	Multi-part piston construction for a brake caliper of a disk brake A multi-part piston for a brake saddle of a hydraulically and/or mechanically and/or electromechanically actuated disk brake is described herein. The piston is a pot open on one side and including a base and a wall attached thereto in one piece. The base can be impinged by brake pressure coming from the inside of the pot so that an outward-facing abutting surface of the base can be pressed against a brake lining. The inside of the pot receives at least one pressure piece associated with a parking brake mechanism. For simplified manufacture in the form of a modular piston system for use in various applications, it is proposed that the pressure piece and the base comprise conical surfaces facing one another for transferring braking pressure.
US09151384B2	Primary clutch electronic CVT A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is provided for use on a recreational or utility vehicle. The CVT is electronically controlled by at least one control unit of the vehicle. The CVT includes a primary clutch having a first sheave and a second sheave moveable relative to the first sheave. An actuator controls movement of the second sheave.
US09151381B2	Vehicle, control method for transmission and control device for transmission One control mode is selected from a plurality of control modes each setting a target value of a primary pulley revolution speed NIN and prioritized in a predetermined order. When the control mode is changed, the target value of the primary pulley revolution speed NIN is set so as to vary from the target value set in the control mode before change to the target value set in the control mode after change in accordance with the control mode that is higher in priority among the control modes before and after change. A continuously variable transmission is controlled such that the primary pulley revolution speed NIN reaches the set target value.
US09151380B2	Hydraulic pressure control apparatus for automatic transmission and control method thereof A hydraulic pressure control apparatus for an automatic transmission may include a first hydraulic pump connected with an oil tank to receive oil from the oil tank, having a first motor, and adapted to generate a low pressure through an operation of the first motor, a second hydraulic pump connected with the first hydraulic pump to receive the low pressure, having a second motor, and adapted to generate a high pressure through an operation of the second motor, a first regulating valve adapted to receive the low pressure from the first hydraulic pump and to regulate a first operating pressure to supply to the torque converter, and a second regulating valve adapted to receive the high pressure from the second hydraulic pump and to regulate a second operating pressure to supply to the powertrain.
US09151378B2	Control device for transmission When a MODE selector SW is manipulated while CVT automatic shifting mode is selected, the shifting mode is switched to STEP-AT automatic shifting mode. Then, when the shift lever of a shifting device is manipulated by the driver while the CVT automatic shifting mode is selected as the shifting mode of a CVT, the then-set automatic shifting control mode for the CVT is maintained whereas the shifting mode of the CVT is switched to sport mode. When the sport mode being selected as the shifting mode of the CVT is canceled, the shifting mode of the CVT is switched to the mode selected before the switchover to the sport mode, that is, the maintained automatic shifting control mode, unless the MODE selector SW is manipulated during execution of the sport mode.
US09151374B2	Hydrostatic transmission with integrated pump and motor A hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump, a top housing that houses the hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. An endblock sub-assembly has a pump running face for interfacing with the hydraulic pump, and a motor connection portion for interfacing with a hydraulic motor. The enblock sub-assembly forms a porting manifold for communicating hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes an internal rotor set, and the hydraulic motor is secured to the endblock sub-assembly in a manner that permits rotation of the rotor set. The top housing is fixed to the endblock sub-assembly such that the housing and endblock sub-assembly form a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. The motor connection portion of the endblock sub-assembly supports the hydraulic motor externally to the top housing. The hydrostatic transmission is suitable for incorporation into various light vehicle categories, including zero-turn radius vehicles.
US09151372B2	Linear motion device having an anti-twist safeguard, comprising an elongate anti-friction lining A linear motion device includes a housing, an extension arm, and an anti-twist safeguard. The extension arm projects from the housing and includes a securing section. The anti-twist safeguard includes at least one separate elongate anti-friction lining, which is formed with a constant cross-sectional shape. The anti-friction lining is arranged substantially without play between the housing and the securing section of the extension arm and extends transversely to a longitudinal axis. The extension arm is supported on the housing in such a way that it can move along the longitudinal axis. In the securing section, the extension arm extends parallel to the longitudinal axis with a constant external cross-sectional shape deviating from a circular shape. The anti-twist safeguard engages positively in said external cross-sectional shape, thus securing the extension arm with respect to the housing against twisting relative to the longitudinal axis.
US09151370B2	Angle adjusting mechanism An angle adjusting mechanism includes a base seat, a driving assembly, a guiding assembly and an adjusting member. The driving assembly is mounted on the base seat. The driving assembly includes a driving member, a screw rod rotated by the driving member and a screw nut sleeved on the screw rod. The driving member is mounted on the base seat. The screw nut engages with the screw rod and is capable of moving along an axial direction of the screw rod. The guiding assembly is mounted on the base seat and guides the screw nut. The adjusting member is sleeved on the guiding assembly and rotated by the screw nut to a predetermined angle.
US09151369B2	Aerostatic air bearing, assembling method thereof, and aerostatic lead screw actuator using the same Disclosed is an aerostatic air bearing. The disclosed aerostatic air bearing includes: an aerostatic nut, said aerostatic nut including a housing having an air inlet disposed therein, a helical plenum chamber disposed in said housing, said helical plenum chamber being fluidly connected to the air inlet and fluidly interconnecting a plurality of openings, said openings being disposed in a helical pattern, and a plurality of porous media, each of said porous media being disposed in one of the plurality of openings respectively; and a lead screw coupled to said aerostatic nut, said lead screw including a threaded surface separated from each of the plurality of porous media.
US09151367B2	Actuator element for a motor vehicle cover The present disclosure relates to an actuator element for a motor vehicle cover. The actuator element includes a plunger, which is axially guided on a guide. A slotted link guide with a sliding element and a control surface for guiding the sliding element, positively couple the plunger and the guide. A spring element, elastically couple the plunger and the guide in axial and rotational direction. The control surface includes a first loading section for rotating the plunger as a consequence of an axial movement in closing direction subject to axial and rotational loading of the spring element.
US09151366B2	Intelligent belt drive system and method In one aspect, the invention relates to a tensioner that is capable of precognitively anticipating when it is desirable to increase the tension in a belt or other endless drive element so as to prevent belt slip prior to events that would raise the risk of it.
US09151365B2	Hydraulic timing chain tensioner and timing chain system The present invention relates to a timing chain system including a hydraulic pressure timing chain tensioner autonomously controlling a hydraulic pressure for maintaining tension of a timing chain to effectively operate. The system may include: a crankshaft sprocket; a camshaft sprocket controlling exhaust or intake timing of the engine; a timing chain operably connecting the crankshaft and camshaft sprockets; a chain guide for the timing chain; a chain tensioner pushing the chain guide inward; and an oil supply unit for the chain tensioner. The chain tensioner may include a housing, an operating unit case fixed to the housing, a reciprocating plunger inserted into the operating unit case, a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, a supply hydraulic path supplying oil from the oil supply unit to the low pressure chamber, and a regulator controlling hydraulic pressure of the low pressure chamber.
US09151361B2	Gearbox arrangement which comprises a first gearbox with an adjoining range gearbox A gearbox arrangement including a dual-clutch gearbox and an adjoining range gearbox. The dual-clutch gearbox comprises an extra motion-transmitting connection adapted to transmit rotary motion from a primary gear to the output shaft without use of the range gearbox, so that the gearbox arrangement provides an extra gear of at least one primary gear. The extra gear is so dimensioned that it has a higher transmission ratio than the gear achieved by the primary gear with a low transmission ratio in the range gearbox, and a lower transmission ratio than the gear achieved by the primary gear with a high transmission ratio in the range gearbox.
US09151360B2	Metal connection plate of a chain link of an energy chain A metal connection plate of a chain link of an energy chain, which metal connecting plate has two ends, wherein one end has first elements and the other end has second elements, wherein the first elements can be inserted into the second elements of a further connecting plate in such a way that the connecting plates are rotatably connected to each other. The first and second elements are each formed by a hole having a border. The borders form stop surfaces corresponding to each other, which stop surfaces protrude substantially perpendicularly to an extent to the connecting plate.
US09151354B2	Valve device A valve device for electrically regulating a pressure in a hydraulic fluid flow through the valve device in response to an actuating force during a normal operation and mechanically regulating said pressure during a fail-safe operation when no actuating force is present is disclosed. The valve device has a valve chamber. A first valve member is movable within the valve chamber in an axial direction to interact with a first valve seat in response to the actuating force in order to restrict the hydraulic fluid flow into the valve chamber during normal operation. The first valve member is spring-loaded away from the second seat in a direction opposite that of the actuating force such that the first valve member is movable in the axial direction. A second valve member forms a movable chamber wall portion defining a part of the valve chamber. The second valve member is spring-loaded in the direction of the actuating force. The second valve member has a through hole for allowing hydraulic fluid flow out of the valve chamber during normal operation. The spring-loaded first valve member is arranged to close the flow passage during fail-safe operation such that the pressure is mechanically regulated by the second valve member acting on the second valve seat.
US09151351B2	Adjustable fail-safe rotary spring operator with a retaining band A rotary spring-return actuator operator is provided with a multi-slot shaft and a clock type spring retained by a retaining band which encircles the spring in such a manner as to insure that the potential energy within the spring is safely contained during all operations requiring disassembly of the actuator assembly, and wherein the retaining band facilitates the in-field reversal of the spring direction or the adjustment of the spring preload by securing the spring to one or more of the slots on the multi-slot shaft.
US09151349B2	Centrifugal brake assembly A centrifugal brake assembly comprises a pawl and a biasing member. The pawl includes a base from which a circular portion and a triangular protrusion extend. A rotor includes a receiving portion having a notched portion. The notched portion is configured and arranged to receive the circular portion. One of the pawl and the rotor has a slotted portion, and the other of the pawl and the rotor has a protrusion. The slotted portion is configured and arranged to receive the protrusion and the biasing member. The pawl is pivotable about the circular portion relative to the rotor and the triangular portion of the pawl is configured and arranged to engage a stop member when the pawl is in an engaged position. The base contacts the rotor in the engaged position to reinforce the pawl.
US09151348B2	Electromagnetic brake unit A magnetic brake unit includes an operation unit, a rotating plate placed below the operation unit and coaxially rotating with the operation unit in conjunction with an operation of the operation unit, and an electromagnetic brake that is placed to be in contact with the rotating plate and can magnetically adsorb the rotating plate, in which the rotating plate includes an adsorbed surface in contact with the electromagnetic brake, the electromagnetic brake includes an adsorbing surface in contact with the rotating plate, the electromagnetic brake applies a braking force against a pivoting to the rotating plate when the electromagnetic brake magnetically adsorbs the rotating plate, the rotating plate is pivotable in a state of being in contact with the electromagnetic brake when the electromagnetic brake does not magnetically adsorb the rotating plate, and a polymer material section is formed at least one of the adsorbed surface and the adsorbing surface.
US09151345B2	Actuator for multi-mode clutch module A transmission clutch module including inner and outer races, a plurality of race engaging pawls and an actuator ring incorporates an actuator having a rotatable spool header adapted to rotate an attached actuator lever between at least two angular positions. The actuator lever moves the actuator ring to selectively block the pawls so inner and outer races may freewheel relative to one another in at least one operating mode. The actuator may be electric or hydraulic powered, and may be spring-biased to a default position in event of power failure. An elongated axially moveable plunger is secured to and supported within a piston at a first end, and has a radially extending pin at its second end. A fixed spool sleeve to which the spool header is supported includes a helical slot through which the pin extends. As the plunger moves reciprocally, the pin undergoes both translational and rotational movement.
US09151343B2	Ball lock compensator for use with a robotic device A compensation device configured to be positioned between a robotic arm and a robotic tool. The device may be configured to directly attach to the tool, or may be configured to be positioned away from the tool. The device generally includes a first section that connects to the robotic arm and a second section that connects to the tool. The second section is movable relative to the first section to provide for the tool to be positioned at various orientations. The second section may comply rotationally about a first axis. The second section may be movable in a second plane. In one embodiment, the second plane is perpendicular to the first axis.
US09151341B2	Speed changing control method and speed changing mechanism thereof A speed changing mechanism includes a pump (1) including a liquid suction channel (6), a liquid drainage channel (8) and working components (3, 4) moving relatively to each other forming working volumes. A relative movement of the working component leads to a periodic increase and decrease of the working volume, so that the fluid is sucked through the liquid suction channel and discharged through the liquid drainage channel, and the pressure energy discharging the fluid is increased by the excursion of the working components. A part of working components is connected to an input component, another part of working components are connected to an output component. The movement of the part of working components relative to another part of working components is changed by changing the flow rate of the pump. Therefore, the speed changing mechanism can realize the switch-on/off of power transmission and change the transmitted power.
US09151339B2	Locking disconnect clutch A disconnect clutch includes a hub, a carrier, a wedge plate, a friction plate, a pressure plate, and a pin. The hub has a radially outer surface with a ramp and the carrier has a radially inner surface. The wedge plate is disposed radially between the hub and the carrier. It has a radially inner surface with a ramp, proximate and complementary to the hub outer surface, a radially outer surface proximate the carrier inner surface, and a split extending from the radially inner surface to the radially outer surface. The friction plate is drivingly connected to the carrier. The pressure plate is arranged for frictionally engaging the wedge plate with the at least one friction plate. The pin is rotationally fixed and radially or axially displaceable with respect to the hub, and arranged for limiting rotation of the at least one wedge plate relative to the hub.
US09151336B2	Power takeoff lubrication devices and methods Power takeoff lubrication devices and methods are disclosed. Embodiments include an accumulator connected to a power takeoff fluid supply line and storing fluid (which may be under pressure) for selective use independent of the fluid being supplied by the fluid supply line. In some embodiments, the fluid in the accumulator is supplied to various components within the power takeoff, including the clutch plates (which may have fluid supplied prior to and/or during engagement), which can decrease wear and/or clutch temperature. In some embodiments, the fluid in the accumulator is supplied to the clutch piston to actuate the clutch piston when the pressure in the supply line is less than optimal and/or to stabilize the pressures in the hydraulic lines connected to the clutch piston. In still further embodiments, the fluid in the accumulator is supplied to the clutch when the fluid supply line pressure is less than optimal.
US09151329B2	Machine assembly A machine assembly includes a housing in which a shaft element is rotatably supported by a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including two tapered roller bearings which are preloadable against each other and having at least one bearing outer ring and first and second bearing inner rings. The first bearing inner ring includes, in one of its axial end regions, a sleeve-shaped extension formed directly from the material of the first bearing inner ring, which sleeve-shaped extension directly contacts an end side of the second bearing inner ring.
US09151328B2	Conical roller bearing The conical roller bearing includes an inner ring which includes an annular groove between an inner-ring-side raceway surface and a small-diameter-side end portion thereof, and a cage which includes an erected portion extending from a first annular portion of the cage towards the annular groove. The erected portion includes a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion. The first inclined portion is inclined towards conical rollers disposed in pockets of the cage while extending from the first annular portion towards the annular groove. The second inclined portion is inclined towards the small-diameter-side end portion while extending from the first inclined portion towards the annular groove. The second inclined portion is configured to be brought into engagement with the annular groove in an axial direction of the inner ring.
US09151327B2	Backup lubrication system for a rotor bearing A pressurized backup lubricant reservoir (36) with a lubricant line (31) to a rotor bearing (21). A control valve (43) on the backup lubricant line is normally closed. A monitor/controller (44) monitors multiple parameters of the bearing, and initiates an emergency protection sequence under combinations of conditions, including when a temperature of the bearing exceeds a threshold and a flow rate or pressure of a primary lubricant is outside a normal range and the rotor is rotating. The emergency protection sequence initiates a shut-down procedure for the rotor, and opens and modulates the control valve to meter a backup lubricant (33) from the backup reservoir to the bearing in proportion to a rundown rate of the rotor, such that lubrication of the bearing from the backup lubricant reservoir continues until the rotor stops turning. The protection sequence may also include coordinating braking of the rotor with the backup lubricant flow.
US09151325B2	Self-lubricating snubber bearing Disclosed is a snubber bearing assembly for protecting a rotor and accompanying bearings from radial and axial rotor transient overload events. The bearing assembly includes a snubber journal mounted on the rotor and a snubber housing having a radial snubber bearing mounted on its inside surface, the radial snubber bearing being radially-offset from an outer radial surface of the snubber journal. Lubricating plugs are disposed within a plurality of holes defined in the radial snubber bearing, the lubricating plugs being configured to provide lubrication between the radial contact surface and the outer radial surface during a radial rotor transient overload event. The snubber housing can also include opposing axial snubber bearings that have lubricating plugs disposed within holes defined therein also. The opposing axial snubber bearings are configured to be axially-offset from inner axial surfaces defined by the rotor journal and provide lubrication therebetween during an axial rotor transient overload event.
US09151322B2	Foil journal bearing applicable to high speed machining center A foil journal bearing applicable to high speed machining and grinding machines for machining microscopic features. A single foil is secured to and supported by a hollow, generally cylindrical, housing. The foil has a length substantially equal to twice the interior circumference of the housing and a mounting feature, extending across its width, for engagement with a feature of complementary shape in the housing. One portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises a bump foil and a plurality of regions comprising groups of generally uniformly-spaced ridges and flats, the regions being separated by extended flat regions. The other portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises the top foil and is generally flat and overlies the bump foil which overlies the interior of the housing.
US09151320B2	Vehicle handle with improved unlocking mechanism Vehicle handle, which comprises a lever (2) which can rotate around a first axis (4) and is mechanically connected to a first rocker (9) which can rotate around a second axis (10) when the lever (2) rotates around the first axis (4) for pulling a cable (11) which can slide in a duct (12) mechanically connected to the lever (2), so that the duct (12) moves in the direction opposite to the direction (32) of the cable (11) when the lever (2) rotates around the first axis (4).
US09151310B2	Structure of mounting grommet A structure of mounting a grommet according to one embodiment includes: the grommet with: a cylindrical portion for covering a wire harness inserted into a panel hole formed at a panel; and a cylindrical portion provided at an end portion of the cylindrical portion and adhered tightly to the panel in such a manner as to cover an edge portion of the panel hole. When the grommet is mounted to the panel, the cylindrical portion is disposed on a room inside, and the wire harness and the cylindrical portion are upwardly inclined.
US09151307B2	Assembly joined by a flow drill screw An assembly including a plurality of parts fastened together with a flow drill screw. An indentation is formed on one side of a first part and a second part is assembled into engagement with the side of the first part with the indentation facing the second part. The flow drill screw is inserted through the indentation and material is displaced from the part into the indentation. Two or more panels or parts may be joined by aligning a flow drill screw with the indentations that are formed by embossing one or more panels.
US09151300B2	Inline vacuum pump The present invention relates to a vacuum pump, and more particularly, to an inline vacuum pump. The inline vacuum pump according to the present invention comprises a cylinder-type housing, an ejector, and a guide which are mounted in series on the upper side and the lower side in the housing, and a gripper connector coupled to the lower portion of the housing. The guide is provided with a passage and a path through which compressed air is discharged and exhaust air is absorbed. According to the present invention, device design and production are easier than in the related art, and a vacuum is generated and maintained in a stable manner. Also, the ejector can be relatively freely selected and applied.
US09151292B2	Screw compressor with a shunt pulsation trap A shunt pulsation trap for a screw compressor reduces gas pulsation and NVH, and improves off-design efficiency, without using a traditional serial pulsation dampener and a sliding valve. A screw compressor has a pair of multi-helical-lobe rotors that are housed in a compressor chamber that propel gas flow from a suction port to a discharge port of the compressor chamber. The shunt pulsation trap includes an inner casing as an integral part of the compressor chamber, and an outer casing oversized and surrounding the inner casing. The shunt pulsation trap houses at least one gas pulsation dampening device, and includes at least one injection port (trap inlet) branching off from the compressor chamber into the pulsation trap chamber and a feedback region (trap outlet) communicating with the compressor outlet.
US09151290B2	Fuel supply pump and manufacturing method of housing of the same A cylinder body includes a cylinder hole and a discharge flow passage. The cylinder hole receives a plunger and forms a pressurizing chamber in one axial end portion thereof. The discharge flow passage is connected to the pressurizing chamber and is adapted to guide and discharge the pressurized fuel from the pressurizing chamber to an outside of the housing. A connection opening of the discharge flow passage is formed in a hole wall of the cylinder hole. A pressure is applied to a predetermined prestressing subject area in the hole wall of the cylinder hole and a passage wall of the discharge flow passage through autofrettage to generate a residual compression stress in the predetermined prestressing subject area and thereby to form a prestressed area of a final product. The prestressing subject area includes an inner peripheral edge of the connection opening.
US09151282B2	Human powered irrigation diaphragm pump A pump system includes a pump unit an assembly frame that receives first and second pumps. A first and second pedal respectively couples to a first and second pump actuating portion. A rocker arrangement has a rocker that pivotally couples the first and second pedals, so a pushing movement of the first pedal in one direction causes a pulling movement of the second pedal in an opposite direction, and vice versa. The first and second pedals respond to a pushing force, respectively move the first and second pump actuating portions for pumping a fluid from the first and second pumps, and correspondingly move the first and second pump actuating portions for drawing the fluid to be pumped into the first and second pumps.
US09151281B2	Pump for delivering a product, comprising a piston sliding in the metering chamber The pump includes a piston slidably mounted in a metering chamber, the piston including a support, a diaphragm made of a first material and forming a check valve that allows fluid to flow into the metering chamber, and a presser element for pressing the diaphragm against the support, the presser element including a skirt carrying seal enabling the piston to slide in leaktight manner in the metering chamber, the presser element being made of a second material different from the first material of the diaphragm, being fitted against the diaphragm, and having a diaphragm presser surface that holds the diaphragm deformed against the support in order to close the check valve.
US09151280B2	Hydraulic piston pump with reduced restriction barrel passage The present disclosure sets forth an axial piston pump barrel. The axial piston pump barrel is provided with cylinders, antechambers, and fluid flow apertures which are uniquely shaped and dimensioned so as to increase the overall flowability and expulsion rate of a piston pump. By providing curvilinear transition zones and fluid flow apertures, the cylinders can be completely filled and pressurized even at the extremely high pressures and RPMs required by modem machines. Such machines may include front-end loaders, excavators, pipe layers, graders, and the like wherein such pumps can be used to power hydraulic cylinders moving the implements, work arms and other tools associated with such machines.
US09151279B2	Ocean thermal energy conversion power plant cold water pipe connection An offshore structure for use with an OTEC system includes a submerged spar having a lower portion having a cold water intake. The cold water intake includes a domed terminus in fluid communication with a cold water pipe. A dry machinery space adjacent the cold water intake includes one or more cold water supply pumps and one or more cold water pipe lifting and retention winches having a lifting cable connected to the cold water pipe.
US09151275B2	Drive system for a wind turbine A drive system has a transmission unit with planetary gear stage and a first shaft associated with a planetary carrier and having a coupling flange connectable to a machine or rotor shaft. The transmission unit and a motor/generator unit includes a rotor connected with a rotation-lock to a hollow rotor shaft which is connected to a second shaft of the transmission unit and enclosed by a gearbox housing. A coupling is arranged radially between the second shaft and the hollow rotor shaft. A gearbox housing support with a hollow cylindrical extension is arranged between the transmission unit and the motor/generator unit. The cylindrical extension concentrically encloses an end section of the second shaft and forms a bearing seat for a bearing arrangement disposed radially between the second shaft and the cylindrical extension. The hollow cylindrical extension is concentrically enclosed by the rotor and the hollow rotor shaft.
US09151271B2	Control system for a wind park A control system for a wind park includes a plurality of limit controllers. Each limit controller is configured to output a limit value set based upon a specific grid code requirement. A selection unit compiles a limit value set from the plurality of limit value sets according to a number of grid code requirements. The control system further includes a plurality of main controllers, wherein a main controller is configured to generate a setpoint for one or more wind turbines of the wind park according to the compiled limit value set. Further, a wind park and a method of controlling a wind park are provided.
US09151269B2	Run-of-the-river or ocean current turbine A run-of-the-river or ocean current turbine may comprise a hatch and a slanted block having protector ribs for directing water flow to a waterwheel. The hatch may be controlled by a plurality of Transgear™ gear assemblies for varying the amount of water flow to the waterwheel from extreme drought to flood conditions so that the waterwheel may turn at rated speeds and within a predetermined range. The Transgear gear assemblies may comprise an accumulator for accumulating a rough and a fine tuned waterwheel speed. The Transgear assemblies may comprise embodiments of power take-off switches for, for example, bi-directional or clockwise and counterclockwise waterwheel shaft rotation. The turbine may be aligned for top-feed, side-feed or bottom feed of water and may comprise a tail wing or first and second turbines facing in opposite directions to capture high and low tidal flow.
US09151268B1	Wave energy convertor using oscillating pendulums The wave energy convertor using oscillating pendulums includes a buoyant base, a support frame mounted to the buoyant base, and a power generating assembly coupled to the support frame. A plurality of annular rails is disposed on the support frame and a reinforcement member extends diametrically across each annular rail. The power generating assembly includes a plurality of pendulum arms rotatably mounted on a central axle extending coaxially through the reinforcement members. One or more dynamos are mounted to support plates on opposite ends of the pendulum arms, and rotors extend from the dynamos to ride on the inner surface of the annular rails. Undulation of the buoyant base riding the waves of a body of water causes the pendulum arms to oscillate. Rotation of the rotors generates current, which is collected by a current collection assembly and transmitted to an onshore facility for distribution.
US09151267B2	Wave-powered devices configured for nesting A wave-powered water vehicle includes a) a first component which is a float that travels on or near the water surface; b) a second component which is wave actuated and travels below the first component; and c) a means whereby the first component engages the second component and/or the second component engages the first component; wherein the engagement means provides lateral support of one component for the other, and thereby minimizes lateral movement of one against the other when the components are fitted together.
US09151265B1	Ignition apparatus, internal-combustion engine, ignition plug, plasma equipment, exhaust gas degradation apparatus, ozone generating/sterilizing/disinfecting apparatus, and odor eliminating apparatus An ignition apparatus comprising a microwave device emitting microwave into a combustion/reaction field to increase temperature of a mixture, and create a plasma discharge, in the combustion/reaction field to increase radical concentration, an igniter igniting the mixture in the combustion/reaction field, and a controller controlling the microwave radiator and the igniter. The microwave radiator and igniter are controlled to repeat a cycle wherein the microwave radiator radiates the microwave into the combustion/reaction field to increase the temperature of the mixture in the combustion/reaction field and creates the plasma in the combustion/reaction field. When the igniter ignites the mixture, the microwave radiator creates the plasma in the combustion/reaction field by radiating the microwave into the combustion/reaction field to increase the radical concentration, so that the flame propagation speed is promoted, and the combustion reaction of the mixture is promoted in the combustion/reaction field.
US09151263B2	Method and system for opportunistically automatically stopping an engine of a vehicle Methods and systems for stopping and starting an engine automatically are presented. In one example, a method inhibits automatic engine stopping in response to output of an on-board camera. The method prevents engine stopping during conditions where little fuel may be saved via automatically stopping the engine.
US09151262B2	Work vehicle A work vehicle includes an engine, an authentication processing unit for permitting the engine to be started only when stored authentication information and authentication information inputted by a manual operation are identical to each other, storage means for pre-storing the stored authentication information, a first switch and a second switch for performing the manual operation, authentication information identifying means for comparing the inputted authentication information acquired by the authentication processing unit with the stored authentication information, and power controlling means for allowing power to be supplied to a starter motor of the engine when the inputted authentication information is identical to the stored authentication information at the authentication information identifying means. The authentication processing unit is configured to acquire, as the inputted authentication information, the number of operation iterations of the first switch and the number of operation iterations of the second switch.
US09151261B2	Functional module that integrates a distributor and a fuel rail and process for its production A functional module integrates a distributor with a plenum and several pipes that form a common attachment and connection plate, a fuel rail, and a holding part for ensuring the locking in position of the fuel rail. The functional module (1) is characterized in that it consists of an interlocked and nested arrangement that includes the distributor (2), the fuel rail (7), and the holding part (9), with the fuel rail (7) being held between the holding part (9) and the distributor (2), and in that the holding part (9) and the distributor form by cooperation a longitudinal receiving housing with the possibility of locking the fuel rail (7) whose introduction opening is defined between an arrangement of feet (10) of the holding part (9) and the plate (5) of the pipes (4).
US09151257B2	Fuel pump module for supplying diesel fuel Provided is a fuel pump module for supplying diesel fuel. The fuel pump module in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is configured to include a flange assembly fixed to an inlet of a fuel tank and a reservoir body assembly disposed in the fuel tank, wherein the reservoir body assembly includes: a filter that removes foreign objects included in the diesel fuel; a fuel pump that forcibly circulates the diesel fuel passing through the filter to a diesel engine; and a pump connection return passage that supplies fuel toward a diesel engine through a supply line of fuel but supplies the diesel fuel that is returned without being consumed by the diesel engine between the filter and the fuel pump to supply the fuel to the fuel pump without passing through the filter.
US09151256B2	Overfill prevention valve An overfill prevention valve includes: a valve housing having a first valve seat communicating with a fuel tank, and a second valve seat communicating with a canister; a parent valve disposed slidably within the valve housing, and having a base end opening communicating with a first opening, a front end opening communicating with a second opening and a third valve seat provided in the base end opening; a first urging unit which urges the parent valve toward the first valve seat; a child valve disposed slidably within the parent valve; a second urging unit which urges the child valve toward the third valve seat; and an air passage forming unit which forms an air passage between the parent valve and the first valve seat when the patent valve abuts on the first valve seat.
US09151251B2	Evaporative emission control device for an internal combustion engine A leakage judgment with respect to a fuel tank is carried out. If the fuel tank is not leaking, a leakage judgment with respect to a canister is carried out. If there is a possibility of leakage in the fuel tank, a leakage judgment with respect to the fuel tank and the canister is carried out. If it is judged that there is leakage in the fuel tank and the canister, the leakage judgment with respect to the canister is carried out.
US09151248B2	Apparatus and method for transferring inflammable material on marine structure A system for supplying fuel to an engine of a ship. The system includes a high pressure pump pressurizing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) and supplying the pressurized LNG to the engine, a hydraulic motor driving the high pressure pump and a chamber carrying the high pressure pump and the hydraulic motor. The chamber is substantially free of electric sparks.
US09151246B2	Thrust chamber and rocket engine system An engine system includes a thrust chamber that has a cooling channel. The cooling channel is adapted to provide sustained cracking conditions for a fluid at steady-state operating conditions. A turbine has an input in fluid communication with an output of the cooling channel. A pump is mechanically coupled with the turbine and is in fluid communication with the cooling channel.
US09151245B2	Pulse rocket motor including a dividing sheet for separating the first grain propellant from the second grain propellant A pulse rocket motor has a hollow cylinder-like first grain situated in a rear section of a pressure vessel; a first igniter for igniting the first grain; a hollow cylinder-like second grain situated in a front section of the pressure vessel; a second igniter for igniting the second grain; and a dividing sheet member that covers the second grain within the pressure vessel. The dividing sheet member includes a dividing sheet expanding at least along the inner circumferential surface of the second grain and holders formed integrally with the dividing sheet at both ends of the dividing sheet by cure adhesion and attached to the pressure vessel. The dividing sheet includes a brittle portion that expands along the inner circumferential surface of the second grain through a rear end face of the second grain and is more brittle than other portions.
US09151244B2	Aircraft jet engine comprising a system for reducing the noise generated by the ejection of the gases An aircraft jet engine comprising a nozzle to eject a gas stream, and a system for reducing the noise generated by the ejection of the gas stream. This system comprises several ducts which each are connected upstream to a recess divided into several chambers and open, downstream, at the outlet of nozzle. In this way, each duct ejects a fluid jet deriving from the recess and which interacts with the gas stream of the engine. The system also comprises a pulsation means for the fluid jet which brings about its ejection at the nozzle outlet and/or modulates its speed by varying the volume contained in the recess.
US09151243B2	Coolant penetrating cold-end pressure vessel An improvement is provided to a pressurized close-cycle machine that has a cold-end pressure vessel and is of the type having a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion within a cylinder containing a working fluid heated by conduction through a heater head by heat from an external thermal source. The improvement includes a heat exchanger for cooling the working fluid, where the heat exchanger is disposed within the cold-end pressure vessel. The heater head may be directly coupled to the cold-end pressure vessel by welding or other methods. A coolant tube is used to convey coolant through the heat exchanger.
US09151241B2	Reactivity controlled compression ignition engine operating on a Miller cycle with low pressure loop exhaust gas recirculation system and method An internal combustion engine includes at least one cylinder having a reciprocable piston, an intake system directing intake air to the at least one cylinder, and an exhaust system directing exhaust gasses from the at least one cylinder. A first fuel injector disposed to inject a first fuel into the cylinder, and a second fuel injector disposed to inject a second fuel into said cylinder. At least one intake valve of said cylinder is configured to open and close with a variable timing in accordance with a Miller thermodynamic cycle. An exhaust gas recirculation system, provides exhaust gas to said cylinder through the intake valve. An electronic controller is disposed to monitor and receive at least one input signal indicative of the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine, and adjusts at least the amount of exhaust gas recirculation.
US09151237B2	Engine control system for mobile machine A control system is provided for use with an engine. The control system may have a coolant pressure sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a pressure of coolant circulating through the engine, and an oil pressure sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a pressure of oil circulating through the engine. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the coolant and oil pressure sensors. The controller may be configured to determine functionality of the coolant and oil pressure sensors during operation of the engine, and to selectively allow operation of the engine in a semi-protected mode when the coolant pressure sensor or the oil pressure sensor is determined to be non-functional.
US09151234B2	Engine control apparatus for a vehicle and vehicle incorporating same An engine control apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform a feedback control based on a second amount of intake air until a engine speed reaches a target idle speed. The engine control apparatus then regulates the amount of intake air to an amount smaller than a predetermined second amount of intake air for a predetermined period when the engine speed exceeds the target idle speed, and then performs a feedback control based on a first amount of intake air. Such engine control apparatus minimizes variation in engine speed by reducing a convergence time of the engine speed to a target idle speed in switching control of the amount of intake air in a case where engine friction at a low temperature is high.
US09151229B2	High pressure turbine speed calculation from fuel system hydraulic pressures The speed of a high-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine may be determined using known centrifugal pump affinity relationships for a fuel pressure apparatus, fuel pressure apparatus input and output pressures, and gear ratios for a mechanical linkage between the high-pressure turbine and the fuel pressure apparatus. The technique avoids wear-related variations in gas pressure based measurements and also applies to fuel pressure apparatus using both single pump and multiple pump configurations.
US09151226B2	Corrugated mid-turbine frame thermal radiation shield A corrugated shield comprises a mounting base and a corrugated ring section. The mounting base is disposed at an aft end of the ring section for securing the shield ring section within a generally annular cavity. The generally annular cavity is defined at least in part by a hot fluid flow path boundary wall, and a radially adjacent and spaced apart cold fluid flow path boundary wall. The corrugated ring section is configured to substantially block a line of sight between the hot fluid flow path boundary wall and the cold fluid flow path boundary wall.
US09151218B2	Variable capacity exhaust gas turbocharger A variable capacity exhaust gas turbocharger having a small thermal capacity and enabling the structure to be simplified. A exhaust gas inlet hardware (13) having an exhaust gas inlet body (11) in which an inner side flow passage (U1) communicating with an inner scroll passage (T1) and an outer side flow passage (U2) communicating with an outer scroll flow passage (T2) are formed and a flap valve (12) for opening and closing the outer side flow passage (U2) are formed at the exhaust gas inlet part of a turbine housing body (14) in which the inner scroll passage (T1) and the outer scroll flow passage (T2) are formed. A valve recess (11a) for disposing the flap valve (12) along the outer side flow passage (U2) and a seat (11b) for the flap valve for closing the outer side flow passage (U2) are formed in the exhaust gas inlet body (11). The flap valve (12) is rotatable about a rotating center positioned in the storage space of the valve recess (11a) between the position of the flap valve in contact with the seat (11b) and the position of the flap valve stored in the valve recess (11a).
US09151217B2	Twin turbocharger wastegate control An engine system comprises a first turbocharger including a first wastegate, first wastegate actuator, and first turbocharger sensor, a second turbocharger including a second wastegate, second wastegate actuator, and second turbocharger sensor, and a controller configured to adjust the first wastegate actuator so that a parameter of the first turbocharger matches a parameter of the second turbocharger, based on output from the first and second turbocharger sensors. In this way, turbocharger output between the two turbochargers may be balanced.
US09151215B2	Artificial aspiration methods and systems for increasing engine efficiency Artificial aspiration methods and systems for increasing engine efficiency and or power. The methods include determining an engine operation status, determining an artificial aspiration goal value based on the engine operating status, determining an artificial aspiration system configuration based on the artificial aspiration goal value and the engine operating status, and configuring the artificial aspiration system to obtain the determined artificial aspiration system configuration. The system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing characteristics of an operating engine, and an artificial aspiration control unit comprising a processor connected to receive the sensed characteristics of the engine. On one example, the processor is configured to determine the engine operating status, determine an artificial aspiration goal value based on the engine operating status, determine an artificial aspiration system configuration based on the artificial aspiration goal value and the engine operating status, and configure the artificial aspiration system to obtain the determined artificial aspiration system configuration.
US09151214B2	Engine control system and method Methods and systems are provided for purging condensate from a charge air cooler to an engine intake while reducing misfire events related to the water ingestion. During the purging, a spark timing is adjusted based on the amount of condensate purged per cycle. The spark timing is adjusted differently when the condensate is purged during a tip-in versus a pro-active clean-out routine.
US09151211B2	Method of monitoring an engine coolant system of a vehicle A method of monitoring an engine coolant system includes modeling the total energy stored within an engine coolant. If an actual temperature of the engine coolant is below a minimum target temperature, the modeled total energy stored within the energy coolant is compared to a maximum stored energy limit to determine if sufficient energy exists within the engine coolant to heat the engine coolant to a temperature equal to or greater than the minimum target temperature. The engine coolant system fails the diagnostic check when the modeled total energy stored within the energy coolant is greater than the maximum stored energy limit, and the minimum target temperature has not been reached.
US09151210B2	Fluid control valve A fluid control valve includes a body portion provided at a circulation flow passage that circulates fluid between an internal combustion engine and a heat exchanger, an inflow passage, an outflow passage, a valve element, a valve seat including a contact portion relative to the valve element, the contact portion being provided to face a downstream side of a circulating direction of the fluid, a solenoid causing the valve element to make contact with the valve seat in a state where the solenoid is supplied with an electric power, and a spring mechanism holding the valve element to be balanced at a position at which the valve element is away from the valve seat by a predetermined distance in a case where the solenoid is inhibited from being supplied with the electric power and the fluid is inhibited from flowing.
US09151209B2	Oiling structure for engine A lower cam housing is formed to be a separate body from a cylinder head and the lower cam housing is arranged at a joint surface of the cylinder head, a first upper oil passage reaching from an oil entry passage to the joint surface is formed inside the cylinder head and an upstream end of the first upper oil passage is opened at the joint surface, and a second upper oil passage through which the oil reaches to the joint surface via an upper side than the joint surface is formed in the lower cam housing, where an upstream end of the second upper oil passage is in communication with the oil entry passage side at the joint surface, and a downstream end of the second upper oil passage is in communication with the first upper oil passage at the joint surface.
US09151205B2	Real-time soot measurement in a diesel particulate filter Methods and apparatus for detecting the filtering state of a filter, such as a particulate filter. Some embodiments include one or more capacitive sensors that provide a signal corresponding to the filtered state of the filter with a change in measured capacitance. A novel ECT based sensing technique for soot load estimation in a diesel particulate filter is presented. The sensing technology is based on principle that deposited soot thickness inside DPF causes a variation in the dielectric constant which has a direct impact on the capacitance of ECT system and its output voltage. The sensor can be built into the DPF outer shell as indicated in the design. The simulation results demonstrate that there is a direct relationship between the amount of soot load in the DPF and the output voltage of the ECT system which can be used to estimate the soot load.
US09151204B2	Device for detecting particulate matter in exhaust gas Disclosed is an abnormality determination device capable of checking for abnormal particulate matter detection by a particulate matter detection sensor. The particulate matter detection sensor 10 includes a sensor element section 12, which comes into contact with particulate matter in exhaust gas in an exhaust pipe 6 of an internal combustion engine 2, and changes its output in accordance with the amount of particulate matter attached to the sensor element section 12. A heater for the particulate matter detection sensor 10 is capable of heating the sensor element section 12 to a particulate matter elimination temperature (T3) at which the particulate matter attached to the sensor element section 12 is eliminated from the sensor element section 12. An ECU 50 determines, in accordance with output changes (S1 to S4) occurring in the particulate matter detection sensor 10 during heater control, whether or not the particulate matter detection sensor 10 is abnormal.
US09151198B2	Poka-yoke mounting system for an exhaust treatment device An exhaust treatment system includes an exhaust treatment device having a stepped outer diameter. First and second clamps each include a stepped inner diameter such that the clamps engage the exhaust treatment device and other portions of the exhaust treatment system when the exhaust treatment device is properly oriented. The exhaust treatment device interferes with one of the clamps to preclude coupling the exhaust treatment device to an adjacent portion of the exhaust treatment system when an attempt is made to install the exhaust treatment device in a reversed improper orientation. A consistent exhaust flow direction through an exhaust treatment device such as a diesel particulate filter may be maintained through use of the inventive system.
US09151189B2	Internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing control apparatus including a driving-side rotating member rotating about a rotary axis by rotational force transmitted from a crankshaft, a driven-side rotating member including at least one fluid pressure chambers partitioned and formed with at least one advanced angle chambers and at least one retarded angle chambers and integrally rotating with a camshaft for opening and closing a valve, and a lock mechanism configured with a lock member provided at one of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotary member to be engageable and disengageable with a recessed portion formed at the other of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotary member, and an engine control unit for stopping the internal combustion engine to position a portion where the lock mechanism is formed below a virtual line passing through the rotary axis when the internal combustion engine is stopped.
US09151179B2	Turbine shroud segment cooling system and method The present embodiments are generally directed toward systems and methods for cooling one or more shroud segments of a gas turbine engine. For example, in a first embodiment, a shroud segment is provided that is configured to at least partially surround a turbine blade of a turbine engine. The shroud segment includes a body and a microchannel disposed in the body. The microchannel is configured to flow a cooling fluid through the body.
US09151171B2	Stepped inlet ring for a transition downstream from combustor basket in a combustion turbine engine A hot gas path system for a gas turbine including a stepped inlet ring at an intersection between a downstream end of a combustor basket and an upstream end of a transition is disclosed. The heat shield may be positioned downstream from a combustor basket and proximate to an intersection between the collar and the axially extending cylindrical wall. The stepped inlet ring may be coupled to the transition section and may extend upstream from the transition section. An upstream end of the stepped inlet ring may be positioned radially outward from the combustor basket such that at least a portion of the stepped inlet ring overlaps a portion of the combustor basket. A spring clip may be positioned between the combustor basket and the stepped inlet ring such that the spring clip seals at least a portion of a gap between the combustor basket and the stepped inlet ring.
US09151168B2	Turbine engine fan disk A turbine engine fan disk including a cylindrical rim including in its outer periphery substantially axial slots for mounting blade roots and opening out to a radially upstream face of the rim is provided. A shroud extends from the rim and connects with a rotary drive shaft. A cylindrical lip extends upstream from the upstream face of the rim. The inside surface of the disk having a cylindrical portion extended upstream by a portion of greater diameter that forms a setback that is axially offset upstream relative to the upstream radial face of the rim.
US09151167B2	Turbine assembly According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes an airfoil extending from a blade and a dovetail located on a lower portion of the blade, wherein the dovetail has a dovetail contact surface. The turbine assembly also includes a member with a slot configured to couple to the airfoil via the dovetail, the slot having a slot contact surface to contact the dovetail contact surface, wherein the dovetail contact surface is reduced by a relief to alter a fundamental frequency of an assembly of the blade and member.
US09151166B2	Composite gas turbine engine component A gas turbine engine component is disclosed having a composite construction. In one embodiment the gas turbine engine component is a blade that includes a shroud. A fiber ply of the composite construction extends from an airfoil part of the blade to the shroud. The shroud can include multiple plies that can be stitched together. In one form a sealing knife is formed and coupled to the shroud. The sealing knife can be coupled to the shroud by stitching. Filler material can be used in the composite construction of the gas turbine engine component.
US09151162B2	Preventing rotation of a fixed ring of a swashplate According to one embodiment, a rotor system includes an anti-rotation sleeve featuring an outer recess portion and a tilt sleeve positioned about the anti-rotation sleeve and having an opening therethrough. A first swashplate ring is positioned about the tilt sleeve and features an inner recess portion. An anti-rotation mechanism is disposed through the opening and at least partially in the outer recess portion and the inner recess portion. The anti-rotation mechanism is operable to prevent the first swashplate ring from rotating about the anti-rotation sleeve. A second swashplate ring is positioned about the first swashplate ring and rotatable about the anti-rotation sleeve.
US09151161B2	Ristau conical rotor orbital engine A rotary thermal engine for generating mechanical energy. The rotary thermal engine includes an engine block having an enclosed interior space, a first rotor and a second rotor, a first disc coupled to the first and second rotor. A second disc is positioned between the first and second rotor, wherein the second disc pivots relative to the first disc. In addition, wherein the first and second rotors and first and second discs are at least partially enclosed within the interior space of the engine block.
US09151159B2	Traction-type actuator A traction-type actuator includes a frame, a first actuating unit, a second actuating unit, a rotatable member and a traction member. The rotatable member is disposed on the frame. The first actuating unit and the second actuating unit are located at two sides of the rotatable member. The traction member has a strip shape and can be curved and wound. The traction member has two ends fixed to the frame and is in a tightened state. The traction member winds through the first actuating unit, and then winds on the rotatable member, and finally winds through the second actuating unit. When the first actuating unit is actuated, the second actuating unit will be towed, vice versa, the first actuating unit and the second actuating unit are push-pull by the traction member so that the rotatable member is turned clockwise and counterclockwise.
US09151158B2	Roof bolt installation tool The invention provides a roof bolt installation tool which has a central drill bit. A plate surrounds the central drill bit and has radial drill bits attached to it so that when the central drill bit rotates, the plate rotates. A boot surrounds the plate and is rotationally isolated from the plate and central drill bit. When the drill bit cuts a central bore into a mine roof, the radial drill bits cut a recess having a horizontal surface. A roof bolt and support plate are installed such that the bolt is inserted in the central bore and the support plate abuts the horizontal surface.
US09151155B2	Device and method of taking fluid samples offshore A subsea pipeline (10) is provided with a valve (11) which can be operated between a closed position and an open position to establish access from the pipeline exterior to the pipeline interior. The valve (11) is provided with a connector (13) adapted to connect to a sampling tool (16) comprising one or more fluid sampling probes (21). During operation, the fluid sampling tool (16) is transported from a surface location by an ROV down to the subsea pipeline (10) and connected to the valve. Then, the ROV opens the valve (11), moves a sampling probe (21) from the fluid sampling tool (16), through the valve (11) and into contact with the fluid within the subsea pipeline (10) to take fluid samples from the same. When the sampling procedure is completed, the probe is returned back to the sampling tool, and the valve is closed. The ROV disconnects the sampling tool and returns the sampling tool (16) to the surface.
US09151145B2	Downhole gas release apparatus The present invention provides for an apparatus for use with a traveling valve assembly of a downhole pump for releasing gas and thereby breaking gas locks. The apparatus comprises a piston slidably disposed within a cylindrical housing, the piston being driven by an attached plunger element. On the down stroke of the pump, the piston protrudes through end of the cylindrical housing engaging and opening the adjacent valve. On the up stroke of the pump, the piston retracts into the cylindrical housing, disengaging from the valve allowing it to close. Fluid flows along the outer surface of the apparatus by means of fluid ports connected by defined fluid passages.
US09151142B2	Segmental flow control method and apparatus for a flow control filter string in an oil-gas well An oil-gas well structure and a segmental flow-control method for a flow-control filter string (5) used in the oil-gas well. The segmental flow-control method for the flow-control filter string (5) comprises the following steps: 1) establishing a channel (2-1); 2) running the flow-control filter string (5); 3) filling with the anti-channeling flow pack-off particles (7); 4) sealing; 5) disconnecting a run-in string connected to the flow-control filter string (5). The segment flow control of the flow-control filter string (5) is achieved by using a pack-off effect of the anti-channeling flow pack-off particles (7).
US09151141B1	Apparatus and method for modifying loading in a pump actuation string in a well having a subsurface pump A housing unit installed within a tubing string of a oil well, water well, or gas dewatering well contains at least one reciprocating plunger which utilizes the hydraulic head of the fluid in the tubing to modify the loading in a subsurface pump actuation string, such as a string of sucker rods. The device can be used to either reduce observed polished rod loads at the surface to reduce the required counterbalance, or the device can be used to provide additional loading in the pump actuation string above the pump to reduce buckling. The device is used in a method for modifying the loading in a subsurface pump actuation string.
US09151140B2	Downhole tools with electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic drives An apparatus to be conveyed into a wellbore. The apparatus includes a housing configured to be conveyed downhole and a drive member located in the housing. The apparatus further includes a drive unit configured to actuate movement of the drive member by selectively coupling to the drive member, wherein the coupling of the device to the drive member is controlled by applying an energy to a selected material in the device.
US09151139B2	Method of reducing deflection through a rod piston in a subsurface safety valve An actuation assembly including a sleeve member having a radially outwardly extending projection and a piston having an axis, the piston operatively coupled to the projection of the sleeve member and arranged to exert an actuation force on the projection of the sleeve member for actuating the sleeve member, the actuation force positioned about radially aligned with the axis or radially outwardly from the axis.
US09151138B2	Injection of fluid into selected ones of multiple zones with well tools selectively responsive to magnetic patterns A method of actuating a well tool can include producing a magnetic pattern in the well, thereby transmitting a corresponding magnetic signal to the well tool, and the well tool actuating in response to detection of the magnetic signal. A method of injecting fluid into selected ones of multiple zones can include producing a magnetic pattern in a tubular string having multiple injection valves interconnected therein, actuating a set of at least one of the injection valves in response to the magnetic pattern producing, producing another magnetic pattern in the tubular string, and actuating another set of at least one of the injection valves in response to the second magnetic pattern producing.
US09151136B2	Cementing whipstock apparatus and methods A system and method facilitate sidetracking by eliminating one or more trips downhole. A sidetracking system includes a whipstock assembly and a stinger assembly. The stinger assembly has a running/stinger assembly which extends at least partially through the whipstock assembly. The running/stinger assembly is designed for disconnection from the whipstock assembly after delivery downhole. After disconnecting the stinger assembly, the sidetracking system enables delivery of cement slurry down through the stinger assembly to form a cement plug at a desired location.
US09151134B2	Seal assembly and method A seal assembly (10) is provided for sealing between an interior surface (14) on a wellhead (12) and a tapered exterior surface (18) on a hanger (16). A unitary seal body (20) includes an upper portion for engagement with a force tool and a lower portion for sealing with the wellhead and the hanger. A first locking ring (24) is movable radially inward for securing the sealing assembly to the hanger, and a second locking ring (22) is movable radially outward for securing the seal assembly to the wellhead. An actuation member (60) including a plurality of downward extending fingers passing through slots in the seal body move downward through a portion of the body to force the first and second locking rings into engagement with the wellhead and the hanger.
US09151133B2	Metal seal Seal assembly (201) for a subsea well assembly with inner and outer circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b) in an annulus (211). It has a seal ring (203) with a cross section exhibiting two legs (205a, 205b), with seal ring seal surfaces (209a, 209b). The seal ring comprises a main metal section (217) having metal with the same or higher degree of hardness than the metal in said facing circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b). The seal ring seal surfaces comprise a seal ring surface metal (210a, 210b) which is of a softer metal than the metal in the circular sealing surfaces (215a, 215b) and the metal in the main metal section (217). The seal ring (203) comprises a second section (219) comprising said seal ring surface metal (210a, 210b), the second section (219) extending continuously between said seal ring seal surfaces (209a, 209b) on the respective legs.
US09151132B2	Method and system for setting a metal seal A system and method is provided for setting a metal-to-metal seal (e.g., in an annular space between wellhead components) using a temporary elastomer seal. For example, the annular space may be sealed with one or more elastomer seals before hydraulically setting the metal-to-metal seal. A seal assembly may include the elastomer seals and the metal-to-metal seal. Positioning the seal assembly in the annular space between the wellhead components may isolate pressure in the annular space below the seal such that the metal-to-metal seal may be set. In an exemplary embodiment, a hydraulic mechanism axially compresses the metal-to-metal seal between two members of the seal assembly, thereby radially expanding and setting the metal-to-metal seal.
US09151129B2	Core barrel assembly including a valve A core barrel assembly for retrieving a core sample. The core barrel assembly includes a retrieving element defining an inner tube for retrieving the core sample thereinto, a locking assembly including latch dogs for locking the core retrieving assembly inside the outer tube and a valve assembly mechanically coupled to the locking assembly and provided proximally relative thereto for controlling the flow of fluid across the core barrel assembly. The core barrel assembly is operable in a retrieving configuration in which the latch dogs are retracted and the valve assembly is closed, in a locking configuration in which a locking element locks the latch dogs in an extended configuration and the valve assembly is open and a retrieving configuration, in which the latch dogs are force in a retracted configuration and the valve assembly is open.
US09151128B2	Device for intervention in a fluid exploitation well, exploitation installation and associated method This device comprises a cable working line bearing a lower assembly and a winch for maneuvering the line.The hydraulic central unit (46) of the winch includes a tank (50) for storing a hydraulic control fluid, a pump (52) for driving the hydraulic fluid, connected to the tank (50) through an upstream conduit (54) and at least one hydraulic motor (56) for driving the drum (42) connected to the pump (52) through an intermediate conduit and connected to the tank (50) through a downstream conduit.The hydraulic central unit comprises a regulator (62) for the hydraulic fluid flow rate at the outlet of the pump (52). The regulator (62) is driven according to at least one hydraulic fluid pressure depending on the load exerted on the motor (56) by the rotary drum (42), said or each pressure being directly taken on one of said conduits.
US09151118B2	Reamer A downhole apparatus for reaming a borehole incorporates two sets of cutting structures into two integral blade stabilizers, one oriented downhole and the other oriented uphole. The cutting structures comprise polycrystalline diamond cutters that are brazed into a wedge of steel that is inserted into the body of the reamers in an axial direction and retained by a stop block and retention cover that is bolted into the reamer. The two integral blade stabilizers have a combination left hand/right hand blade wrapping to provide 360° support around the circumference of the reamer. Between the two stabilizers, an impeller and a flow accelerator agitate cuttings on the low side of the borehole to mix the cuttings in with the drilling mud.
US09151111B2	Quickly slideable and incrementally adjustable barrier A barrier for the inside of a home. The barrier includes two partitions that slide relative to each other to increase and decrease a distance between ends of the barrier. The partitions slide into and out of confronting relationships with each other. The partitions engage each other at upper and lower locations and further at a medial location where an elongate member of one partition is received in a tube engaged to the other partition. A threaded piece upon being turned brings pressure to bear upon an end of the tube such that the partitions can be incrementally expanded apart and thereby pressurized between two locations within the home so as to block off one portion of the home. The threaded piece is slideable along the elongate member.
US09151110B2	Cordless blind systems having cord enclosures with a swivel feature and methods of assembling such cord enclosures A cord enclosure assembly to encase one or more lift cords extending from the headrail of an architectural covering, such as a blind or shade system, is disclosed, for the purpose of avoiding exposed cords capable of creating a hazardous loop. The cord disclosure assembly comprises an enclosure having a pivot cup portion and an adaptor. The adaptor is configured to be selectively attached to the pivot cup portion about a pivot point. The adaptor is also configured to connect the enclosure to the headrail about a swivel point. At least one of the pivot point and the swivel point at a top of the enclosure allows the enclosure to swivel, or move in a lateral direction when attached to the headrail. This lateral movement allows the enclosure to be positioned substantially horizontally such that it may be stored under the headrail behind the blind or shade assembly.
US09151108B1	Gate having four pins and stairway post adapter A gate apparatus that includes a gate, an elongate member or gate base for the ends of the gate, and a stairway post adapter such that a wooden stairway post can serve as a base for a gate without harming the wood of the stairway post. The stairway post adapter includes a vertical or longitudinally running channel for receiving the gate base, a horizontally or laterally extending channel for receiving a strap, and a recess or receptor or face for confronting a section of a stairway post. The gate base includes an upper and lower eyelet. Each of the ends of the gate includes upper and lower pins for engaging the upper and lower eyelets of the gate bases. On the hinge side of the gate, the pins are relatively long and remain in the eyelets as the gate is lifted and swung. On the latch side of the gate, the pins are relatively short such that that latch side of the gate can be lifted and disengaged from the eyelets and then swung open. The gate is extendable and retractable in length, and is reversible.
US09151107B2	Trailer door seal A sealing system seals the perimeter of insulated hinged double doors. The sealing system includes first and second exterior seals made of a monolithic, resilient and elastically deformable material. The first exterior seal has an elongated lobe for contacting the exterior of said door, and both of the first and second exterior seals have an interior lobe which contact one another when the doors are closed. The sealing system further includes first and second inner seals made of a monolithic, resilient and elastically deformable material, each having a pair of spaced-apart sealing lobes. The inner seals are mounted to respective doors in a staggered fashion, such that the respective pairs of sealing lobes interact with one another to create a redundant, weather-resistant and thermally robust seal when the double doors are closed.
US09151104B2	Wide channel knife edge door and door frame system The present invention is a wide channel door frame cooperating with a wide width knife edge of a door and latching mechanism: to accommodate a gap between finger stock seals when the wide knife edge door is in the open position, to provide electrical connectivity between the door and door frame when the wide knife edge door is received into the wide channel door frame in the closed position, to accommodate ease of manufacturing a straight channel, to accommodate ease of cleaning the channel after installation of the finger stock seals, and to accommodate ease of closing/latching and opening/delatching the door. An alternative embodiment includes a third strip of beryllium copper finger stock seals attached to the base of the channel for increased electrical conductivity or the addition of weather seals for exterior applications. Wide channels and knife edges can be made of desirable material, for example 304 stainless steel.
US09151100B2	Bracket door closer A door closer is provided to automatically pull a storm or screen door to a fully closed position without user action. The door closer includes a bracket housing with a cam switch movable along a track as the door opens and closes. The closer cylinder rod is engaged with the cam switch until the door is fully opened. The cam switch biases the closer cylinder and rod as the door approaches the closed position.
US09151097B1	Hinge stop apparatus and method A hinge stop apparatus and method includes a first hinge connection section and a second hinge connection section. An upper flange section is connected transverse to the first hinge connection section and, also, a lower flange section is connected transverse to the first hinge connection section and spaced apart from the upper flange section. A stop bracket is connected with the first hinge connection section and a hinge device movably connects the first hinge connection section and the second hinge connection section.
US09151091B2	Actuator mechanism for door latch An actuator mechanism for a door latch is provided. The actuator mechanism may include a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator can be pivotably coupled to a first support structure about a first axis. Moreover, the first actuator can include an engaging tip, a first engagement and a second engagement. The second actuator can be pivotably coupled to a second support structure about a second axis. In response to the movement of the arm of the second actuator about the second axis, the first engagement of the first actuator can rotate about the first axis to move the engaging tip to release the door latch. Alternatively, in response to the movement of the second engagement of the first actuator, the second engagement of the first actuator can rotate about the first axis to move the engaging tip to release the door latch.
US09151085B2	Passive entry side door latch release system A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch. The door latch release system may include a movable linkage assembly engageable with the release cable, a motor including an output shaft having a pinion engageable with a rack affixed to or formed with the linkage assembly to move the release cable to unlatch the door latch, and an electronic control unit for controlling the motor. The electronic control unit may operate the motor upon receiving an actuation signal. The invention also provides a vehicle including the door latch release system described above, and various embodiments thereof.
US09151082B2	Security apparatus for ratchet type gunlocks A security apparatus to prevent unauthorized opening of a ratchet type gunlock. A hook is permanently anchored to the housing of the lock and a groove is provided in the rotatable ratchet arm. When the hook is within the groove this forms, in essence, a closed loop so that the only way to force open the ratchet arm is to break the lock by breaking the hook or the arm even if the gunlock is attempted to be opened by severe force.
US09151081B2	Lockable containers A container that includes a lockable zipper. The container includes a cavity having an opening. A zipper is provided that includes first and second rows of teeth and a slider. The first row of teeth is connected on one side of the opening and the second row of teeth is connected on an opposite side of the opening. The slider is configured to cause the rows of teeth to mesh together when the slider is moved to the closed position and to cause the rows of teeth to separate when moved to the open position. A locking arrangement is provided that includes a lock mechanism and a locking latch opening. A locking latch is provided that is designed to be releasably connected to the locking latch opening. The locking latch is designed to prevent the slider from moving to a fully open position when the locking latch is locked in the locking latch opening. The locking latch is designed to allow the slider to move to a fully open position when the locking latch is released from the locking latch opening.
US09151078B2	Truck box with keyless entry system A truck box is provided having latch elements, one or more locking mechanisms and a keyless entry system which is operative independently of the locking mechanisms to move the latch elements to an unlatched position in order to permit opening of the lid of the truck box.
US09151077B2	Key and cylinder locking assembly corresponding to said key A key includes a blade having an axially-extending window formed by an opening through a thickness of the blade between two opposite faces thereof, and a set of rollers mounted in series along the window, with each roller being freely rotatable around a spindle fixed transversely across the window in a width direction of the blade. The key may be a security key designed to cooperate with a pin tumbler cylinder.
US09151073B2	Underground tank hold-down system An underground fluid storage tank hold-down system for holding down an underground cylindrical fluid storage tank in a hole that has been excavated, the underground tank hold-down system comprising a multiplicity of paired hold-down straps having a first end and a second end. A multiplicity of paired deadmen anchors are adapted to be placed to either side of the tank when the tank is in the hole. The deadmen anchors each have anchor upstanding loops. A tank hold-down assembly is provided comprising a take-up coupler assembly having a pair of arched sections, having hooks thereon, including a first arched section and a second arched section and a threaded engagement assembly. The threaded engagement assembly includes a threaded member and a receiving member adapted to receive part of the threaded member. The straps engage the hooks and the anchor upstanding loops.
US09151067B2	Method of attaching a cabinet assembly to a hot tub A method of attaching a cabinet assembly to a spa. The method includes providing a frame that has a channel that forms a perimeter. A spa is placed on the frame such that a flange or lip of the spa extends past the perimeter created by the channel. A plurality of slats are then secured between the flange of the spa and the channel of the frame in order to form a cabinet around the spa. The spa having a pan and a toe kick secured adjacent its bottom end.
US09151066B1	Apparatus and method to fix a floor The invention is a method and apparatus for repairing a portion of a floor where a flooring material has become separated from a subfloor, the method includes the steps of: determining a separated area of the flooring material; drilling a first injector hole at the separated area to a void between the flooring material and the subfloor; injecting a liquid adhesive into the first injector hole via an injection nozzle to deliver the liquid adhesive into the void of the separated area; and allowing the liquid adhesive to set. The apparatus is the injection nozzle including a body having a first end, a second end and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the first end being configured to receive the liquid adhesive into the passageway, and the second end comprises a pre-formed hole configured to deliver the liquid adhesive from the passageway to the void.
US09151060B2	Construction block A construction block 1, which can be used to build ornamental structures, wall boards, decorative coatings etc., includes a front face 2, a back face 3 and edges 4. Each edge has a projection 5 and a recess 6. The projection includes a claw 7 on both sides of the projection 5, and the recess includes a notch 8 on both sides of the recess 6. The projection matches with the recess in order to connect the construction block 1 to a similar construction block. The construction block includes also a wheel 9 that has wedges 11 for each edge 4 of the construction block. The wedge 11 locks the connection between the construction block 1 and the similar construction lock when turning the wheel 9.
US09151059B2	Roof venting closure member including convoluted foam A roofing system, especially suited for use with metal roofing panels includes a V-shaped vent cover located above an air circulation vent at the crest or apex of a sloping roof. A vent closure strip in the form of a composite member is located in the gap between the vent cover and the roofing panels, which contain a series of ribs or protrusions forming an uneven surface. An air impermeable backing strip, which can be a closed cell foam, includes fastening blocks through which fasteners extend to fasten the vent cover to the roofing panels. Air permeable members are adhered to the backing strip. These air permeable members can be a reticulated foam with a convoluted lower surface for compressively conforming to the uneven upper surface of the roofing panels. The air permeable members are more porous and more dense than the air impermeable members.
US09151058B1	Ledger board bracket A ledger board bracket includes a ledger board receiving section defined having a channel extending along its length to provide an offset between a ledger board and a building when the ledger board is mounted to the building in connection with installation of a deck. An integral flange may be incorporated to help direct water away from entering the channel. A joist hanger may be implemented on a front surface of the ledger board bracket to enable the ledger board bracket to implement a combination ledger board and joist hanger bracket. Apertures may be provided in the bracket to enable fasteners to pass through the bracket in connection with mounting the ledger board to the building and in connection with securing the joists to the ledger board.
US09151055B2	Hip and ridge roofing material Shingle blanks including a first fold region, a second fold region, a third region, a lower edge and an upper edge are provided. The shingle blank has a length. The first and second fold regions extend substantially across the length of the shingle blank. The second fold region is positioned between the first and third fold regions. A first perforation line is positioned between the second and third fold regions. A second perforation line is positioned between the first and second fold regions. A reinforcement material is positioned over the first perforation line and configured to reinforce the first perforation line. The reinforcement material includes apertures configured to allow an asphalt coating to bleed through the reinforcement material. The first and second perforation lines facilitate folding of the first and second fold regions on top of the third region to form a three layered stack.
US09151054B2	Steel reinforcing structure for concrete The present invention relates generally to a steel reinforcing structure 10 for concrete according to one embodiment of the invention. The steel reinforcing structure is in the form of a cage 10 comprising six (6) reinforcing bars arranged substantially parallel to one another including a pair of common reinforcing bars 12A and 126 located intermediate two (2) pairs of opposing reinforcing bars 14A/B and 16A/B. The reinforcing cage 10 also comprises a plurality of spiral ties including one pair of spiral ties 18A and 18B located on one side of the reinforcing cage 10, and another pair of spiral ties 20A and 20B located on an opposite side of the reinforcing cage 10. The pair of spiral ties 18A/18B on the left hand side of the reinforcing cage 10 are formed in a clockwise direction whereas the other pair of spiral ties 20A/20B on the right hand side of the reinforcing cage 10 are formed in an anticlockwise direction forming a set of the spiral ties. This opposing orientation of the spiral ties such as 18A and 20A is understood to balance loads and stresses in the reinforcing cage 10 which may otherwise twist or distort.
US09151053B2	Modular building panel with frame A building panel includes a polymeric block, one or more framing studs and one or more framing studs at least partially embedded in or to the polymeric block. The block includes a panel interior surface and a panel exterior surface. The panel interior surface of the polymeric block is offset from at least one of the one or more framing studs. The panel interior surface of the polymeric block includes one or more slots that can receive framing studs.
US09151052B2	Insulation system for buildings An insulation system for coupling to a building substrate comprising a plurality of insulation panels, bracket members and splice members. Each insulation panel includes a longitudinal slot. Each bracket member is formed from a polymer and includes an elongated body having a body wall, a first end wall and a second end wall. Upper and lower ribs extend from the body wall and are structurally configured to extend into the longitudinal slot of each of the plurality of insulation panels, and to elastically deform the longitudinal slot so as to effectively seal along a length thereof, defining a vapor barrier. A similar structure is on each splice member. The bracket members are positioned in a spaced apart relationship with insulation panels therebetween. The upper and lower ribs extend into corresponding ones of the longitudinal slots of the insulation panels, with splice members extending between adjacent adjacently abutting insulation panels.
US09151046B1	Concrete slab having integral wall base forms and wall base plates for automated construction and system thereof A composite automated building construction system, with automated alignment of various truss and wall sections, includes a wall section having frame, an expanded wallboard, and a concrete layer. The wallboard includes an outer portion and inset portion wherein the wallboard is attached to the frame with the outer portion covering an exterior side of the frame and the inset portion is disposed within the frame. The wallboard thus provides exterior and interior insulation for the system. The concrete layer is sprayed on to the outer portion of said wallboard, forming a strong durable composite construction system. A building is constructed with these wall sections by way of a base form template delimiting the boundary of the building. The base forms are installed and then a concrete foundation slab is poured over the base forms. Pre-installed bolts extend above the concrete foundation to providing pre-determined mounting points for the frames for the wall sections.
US09151043B1	Wall-panel system for façade materials A wall system for improved water drainage, and diminished probability of occurrence of mold, mildew and rot formation behind cladding attached to the wall system. The wall system is generally material agnostic, and may be used as an interface between a structural-wall sheathing (including house wraps, gage-metal framing, and felt), and exterior-façade materials, including, but not necessarily limited to: faux masonry, faux stone, mortar, stucco, and other aesthetic or exterior-façade materials. The following disclosure is also directed to systems and methods of attaching faux stone to a wall.
US09151036B2	Square shaped lightweight steel component with reinforced members A square shaped lightweight steel component with reinforced members includes a main body structure (1) and reinforced members (2). The main body structure (1) is a square steel tube integrally molded by a steel plate with certain thickness. One side of the square steel tube is provided with an opening. Angular curled edges (5) are respectively set on two sides of the opening. The reinforced members (2) are fixedly connected with the side of the main body structure (1) having the opening and installed with an interval therebetween.
US09151034B2	Turnbuckle for joining structural elements A turnbuckle for joining structural elements, in particular prefabricated concrete parts, which is formed substantially in the shape of a shell and has a housing chamber accessible at least from outside via an access opening and, in addition, passage sections which are preferably located opposite one another and open into the housing chamber and which are preferably configured as passage openings for a fixing element to be pushed through. In addition, a kit for joining structural elements, method for joining structural elements, an arrangement for joining structural elements and a method for preparing structural elements.
US09151032B2	Shower arm for shower WC A shower arm for a shower WC or a bidet comprising a spherical swirl chamber for generating swirl in the shower jet and a corresponding shower device and a corresponding shower WC.
US09151028B2	Flushing valve A flushing valve suitable for reducing water wastage from a cistern of a toilet is described. The flushing valve comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a timer valve. The timer valve is mechanically connected to both the inlet valve and the outlet valve so as to control their movement between an open and a closed position such that the timer valve prevents both the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions. By preventing the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions results in the fact that the flushing valve does not allow the cistern to start to refill until after the flush process is complete. This results in a significant reduction in the volume of water passing through the cistern during each flushing cycle.
US09151027B2	Bathroom fittings A bath or basin waste having a plug in which the upper face of the cap is substantially below the upper face of the bottom of the bath or basin to which it is fitted when in the closed position and substantially flush with the upper face of the bottom of the bath or basin when in the open position.
US09151024B2	Shower columns or panels Improvements to shower panels and, more particularly to the lower part of such a panel, connected to the upper one by a metallic protective sleeve (3), characterized in that said lower part comprises a casing in two parts, one of which forming a base (6) and comprising means to allow it being fixated against the usual membrane and to maintain a priming valve (1), while the other (11), which totally covers the first part, and the lower part of the sleeve forms a metallic protecting shell and comprises means for operating the usual pusher (2) of said priming valve and to evacuate the water resulting of the discharging of said priming valve and of the main valve disposed at the upper part of the panel.
US09151022B2	Automatic valve shutoff device and methods Examples of automatic valve shutoff systems are described which may include an actuation device including an actuator and a valve attachment portion. The valve attachment portion may be configured for attachment with an existing valve in a fluid or compressible gas supply line. The system may further include a controller coupled to the actuation device, wherein the controller is configured to initiate a valve shutoff process in response to a wireless signal. Wake-up circuitry may be coupled to the controller and configured to monitor the supply line for vibrations and activate the controller in response to the vibrations.
US09151018B2	Closed-loop hydraulic system having energy recovery A hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a pump with variable-displacement, a first linear actuator, and a second linear actuator coupled to the first linear actuator to operate in tandem. The first and second linear actuators may be connected to the pump in closed-loop manner, and each of the first and second linear actuators may have a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a piston. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator in fluid communication with the second chamber of only the second linear actuator.
US09151017B2	Wheel loader A hybrid wheel loader is provided, the hybrid wheel loader achieving high work efficiency even with a short supply of power to be output relative to a vehicle power requirement.The hybrid wheel loader includes a motor generator 6 connected to an engine (1), a hydraulic pump (4) connected to the motor generator, a hydraulic actuator (51, 52, 53) driven by hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump, a travel electric motor (9) for driving wheels (61), and an electrical storage device (11) connected to each of the motor generator and the electrical storage device via respective inverters (7, 10). When a total requirement power value is greater than a hybrid output upper limit value, either one of a hydraulic requirement power value Pf and a travel requirement power value Prun is limited according to an operation of the wheel loader to thereby set the total requirement power value to a value equal to, or less than, the hybrid output upper limit value.
US09151011B2	Drilling device for executing diaphragm walls and method thereof A drilling method and device is for the execution of diaphragm walls by cutters, (131, 105, 110) carried by a frame (130) supported by suspension and movers (102). A guide hole (200) is formed as far as the depth specified in the design at the center of the panel to be made. Excavation is started with the introduction into the guide hole (200) of a guide element (101) that is fixed with respect to the tool-holder frame and having geometry such as to copy the guide hole along which it slides during excavation. Excavation is carried out as far as the depth specified in the design. The tool is extracted from the excavation and the excavation is filled with concrete and a panel is formed. The method is repeated so as to form adjacent panels.
US09151010B2	Article for joining concrete piles An article for joining concrete piles having an annular plate mounted at one end of the pile, a central opening, a front surface an obverse surface and an interlocking profile having a plurality of first and second complementary configurations. Each configuration is defined in a substantially equalized sector and arranged radially in an alternate fashion on the front surface, the first configuration is a protrusion and the second configuration is a recess, wherein the lateral edges of each protrusion carries a horizontally extending groove. When mating of two identical articles, each mounted at the ends of two separate piles, the protrusions of one article mate with the recesses of another article forming of a passageway by two adjacently positioned grooves of two contiguous protrusions of the mated articles, the passageway allows interlocking of the mated articles by inserting a pin there through.
US09151008B1	Wave break device A device for dispersing wave energy is provided with a series of surfaces for redirection of approaching waves. The device has curved major surfaces that extend from the top to the bottom, each of the surfaces has stacked scallops that are angled downward to direct approaching waves downward. The curved major surfaces direct wave energy to become more parallel to a shore.
US09151007B2	Quick-connect side wing plow hitch A quick-release attachment system for connecting a wing plow to the side of a vehicle has a mounting block configured to couple to a conventional structure on the wing plow. A mounting block lifting and securing mechanism has a base element affixed to the vehicle and an extendable and retractable slider controlled by a slider actuator. A lift arm is pivotably mounted to the slider and is raised and lowered by a pivot actuator connected between the slider and the lift arm. When lowered, the lift arm can be positioned such that it engages and raises the mounting block when the lift arm is pivoted back to its raised position. The engagement allows the lift arm to carry the mounting block with it when the slider is retracted, drawing the mounting block into a bracket on the base element to which the mounting block can be secured.
US09151005B1	Disposable pet wipe and waste collection bag The present disclosure relates to improved convenience in helping to improve environmental and animal health and comfort. The present disclosure relates to disposable pet wipe and waste collection bags, series of disposable pet wipe and waste collection bags, and the manufacture thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure presents a disposable reversible receptacle for picking up and disposing pet waste, wherein the disposable reversible bag further comprises a moistened wipe, which may allow a user to sanitarily wipe the pet and pick up the waste.
US09150999B2	Loop rope assembly A loop rope assembly includes loop rope assembly includes a main rope segment having a plurality of rope strands and first and second ends, the plurality of rope strands of the same material and coextensive with the main rope segment; a first end loop provided on the first end of the main rope segment; a second end loop provided on the second end of the main rope segment, the first end loop and the second end loop connecting and establishing continuity between the plurality of rope strands at the first and second ends, respectively, of the main rope segment; the plurality of rope strands disposed in closely adjacent proximity to each other at each of a plurality of spaced-apart intervals along each of the plurality of rope strands; at least one of the plurality of rope strands axially movable with respect to another of the plurality of rope strands at each of the plurality of spaced-apart intervals; and at least one sinusoidal intermediate loop defined by the at least one of the plurality of rope strands between the plurality of spaced-apart intervals, the at least one sinusoidal intermediate loop selectively size adjustable by axially moving the at least one of the plurality of rope strands with respect to the another of the plurality of rope strands at the plurality of spaced-apart intervals.
US09150998B2	Method and apparatus for producing detailed fabric applique A method to produce a fabric applique includes the steps of providing a piece of steel, removing oxide layers from the steel, and forming a pattern on the steel. The steel is etched and coded. A die cutting laminate including the coded steel is prepared and compressed to cut fabric.
US09150989B2	Spunbonded non-woven fabric, production process for the fabric and use thereof The present invention provides a spunbonded non-woven fabric having excellent productivity, stretchability, touch and fuzz resistance without adhesion thereof on a roll and the like just after fiber deposition during the production. The spunbonded non-woven fabric comprises long fibers of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A) containing ethylene bisoleic acid amide and/or crosslinked organic fine particles and having a hardness of 75 to 85, and the spunbonded non-woven fabric comprises the long fibers of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A) and long fibers of a thermoplastic resin (B) other than the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (A). The present invention also provides uses thereof.
US09150988B2	Method for making a fibrous absorbent material An absorbent material including a fibrous material having a plurality of individual fibers forming a fiber matrix, a plurality of absorbent fibers, wherein the plurality of absorbent fibers are impregnated within the fiber matrix by means of a needlepunch process.
US09150984B2	Method for the production of a multi-layer metal cord that is rubberized in situ using an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer Method of manufacturing a multi-layer metal cord having a plurality of concentric layers of wires, comprising one or more inner layer(s) and an outer layer, of the type “rubberized in situ. The method includes the following steps: at least one step of sheathing at least one inner layer with the rubber or the rubber composition by passing through at least one extrusion head; and an assembling step in which the wires of the outer layer are assembled around the inner layer adjacent to it, in order to form the multi-layer cord thus rubberized from the inside. The rubber is an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer extruded in the molten state, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer of the thermoplastic stirene (TPS) elastomer type such as an SBS, SBBS, SIS or SBIS block copolymer for example.
US09150981B2	Manufacturing apparatus and method for semiconductor device There is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a chamber in which a wafer is loaded; a gas supply mechanism for supplying process gas into the chamber; a gas discharge mechanism for discharging gas from the chamber; a heater having a slit and for heating the wafer to a predetermined temperature; a push-up base on which the wafer is mounted in an lifted state and housed in the slit in a lower state; a vertical rotation drive control mechanism for moving the push-up base up/down and rotating the push-up base in an lifted state; and a rotating member for rotating the wafer in a predetermined position and a rotation drive control mechanism connected to the rotating member.
US09150978B2	Device for fixedly securing a metallic inlay An element including a body including at least one recess forming the pattern cavity for a decoration, the at least one recess being entirely filled by a galvanic deposition in order to form an element inlaid with at least one metallic decoration with improved visual quality. The element includes a device for fixedly securing the at least one metallic decoration communicating with the at least one recess in order to improve the securing of the at least one decoration against said element.
US09150973B2	Process for recovering metals and an electrolytic apparatus for performing the process A process for recovering at least one metal from a metal containing resource, in particular containing at least one metal oxide. The process including the step: providing a crucible containing a chloride salt melt, at least one cathode and an anode connected to the salt melt, heating means for heating the salt melt, and an aluminum melt present at the bottom of the crucible, said aluminum melt forming a part of the anode.
US09150972B2	Fuel augmentation support system Disclosed is a Fuel Augmentation Support System (“FASS”). The disclosed FASS herein is useful to support a multitude of electrolysis cell composition and designs. It provides a system which supports an uncontaminated electrolysis process via the prohibition of other elements from intermingling with the electrolytic fluid, without creating excess positive or negative pressures in a FASS operations, an example of producing gas using the electrolysis of distilled water combined with a catalyst of potassium Hydroxide will be used since it is a method to generate a combustible gas used to enhance the combustion of practically any fuel. The FASS exploits an efficient utilization of electrons generated between the electrolysis electrodes in order to produce gas and achieve it's goals.
US09150969B2	Method of etching metal layer In a method of etching a metal layer of an object to be processed, the metal layer is etched by ion sputtering etching while forming a protective film containing carbon on a surface of a mask of the object. The object is exposed to an oxygen plasma after etching the metal layer. The object is exposed to hexafluoroacetylacetone after exposing the object to the oxygen plasma.
US09150967B2	Plasma processing apparatus and sample stage A plasma processing apparatus includes a metallic basic material arranged in a sample stage, a dielectric film of dielectric material disposed on an upper surface of the basic material, the dielectric film being formed through a plasma spray process; a film-shaped heater disposed in the dielectric film, the heater being formed through a plasma spray process; an adhesive layer arranged on the dielectric film; a sintered ceramic plate having a thickness ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm, the sintered ceramic plate being adhered onto the dielectric film by the adhesive layer; a sensor disposed in the basic material for sensing a temperature; and a controller for receiving an output from the sensor and adjusting quantity of heat generated by the heater.
US09150963B2	Method for depositing phosphosilicate glass A method of depositing phosphosilicate glass (PSG) is disclosed. The method includes a first deposition step for depositing a first PSG layer with a sputtering deposition ratio of 0.10 to 0.16, and a second deposition step for depositing a second PSG layer with a sputtering deposition ratio of 0.18 to 0.22 after the first deposition step. The first PSG layer has a thickness smaller than that of the second PSG layer. With such two-step deposition method, flower pattern having a dramatically reduced size can be formed without occurrence of clipping or formation of sidewall voids in the resultant gate patterns. Specifically, the formed flower pattern has a height reduced by about 50% and a thickness reduced by about 30%.
US09150961B2	Gas delivery for beam processing systems Gas flow from multiple gas sources into a sample chamber of a beam system is controlled by a cycling valve for each gas source, with the gas pressure in the sample chamber being determined by the relative time that the valve is opened and the upstream pressure at the valve. A gas valve positioned inside the vacuum chamber allows rapid response in shutting off a gas. In some preferred embodiments, a precursor gas is supplied from a solid or liquid material in a container that remains outside the vacuum system while in use and which is readily connected or disconnected to the gas injection system without significant leakage.
US09150956B2	Monolithic aluminum alloy target and method of manufacturing Aluminum or aluminum alloy sputter targets and methods of making same are provided. The pure aluminum or aluminum alloy is mechanically worked to produce a circular blank, and then the blank is given a recrystallization anneal to achieve desirable grain size and crystallographic texture. A 10-50% additional strain is provided to the blank step after the annealing to increase the mechanical strength. Further, in a flange area of the target, the strain is greater than in the other target areas with the strain in the flange area being imparted at a rate of about 20-60% strain. The blank is then finished to form a sputtering target with desirable crystallographic texture and adequate mechanical strength.
US09150949B2	Plasma systems and methods including high enthalpy and high stability plasmas The present disclosure generally relates to systems, apparatus and methods of plasma spraying and plasma treatment of materials based on high specific energy molecular plasma gases that may be used to generate a selected plasma. The present disclosure is also relates to the design of plasma torches and plasma systems to optimize such methods.
US09150948B2	Method for manufacturing an integral rotationally symmetrical metal part including a reinforcement consisting of ceramic fibers A method for manufacturing an integral rotationally symmetrical part, which includes producing a blank of the part around a cylindrical mandrel, the blank including at least one fibrous structure made of composite ceramic fibers coated with metal, followed by a diffusion-welding treatment of the blank by hot isostatic pressing, and optionally machining the thus-treated blank to obtain the part. The blank includes at least a first metal-wire layer between the mandrel and the composite fibrous structure, and at least a second metal-wire layer arranged around the composite fibrous structure to cover the composite fibrous structure.
US09150945B2	Multi-component solid solution alloys having high mixing entropy A multi-component high-entropy alloy includes a composition selected from the following group: VNbTaTiMoWRe, VNbTaTiMoW, VNbTaTiMoRe, VNbTaTiWRe, VNbTaMoWRe, VNbTiMoWRe, VTaTiMoWRe, NbTaTiMoWRe, VNbTaTiMo, VNbTaTiW, VNbTaMoW, VNbTiMoW, VTaTiMoW, NbTaTiMoW, VNbTaTiRe, VNbTaMoRe, VNbTiMoRe, VTaTiMoRe, NbTaTiMoRe, VNbTaWRe, VNbTiWRe, VTaTiWRe, NbTaTiWRe, VNbMoWRe, VTaMoWRe, NbTaMoWRe, VTiMoWRe, NbTiMoWRe, TaTiMoWRe, wherein relative amounts of each element vary by no more than ±15 atomic %.
US09150938B2	Tagatose production from deproteinized whey and purification by continuous chromatography Disclosed is a process for the production of d-tagatose from deproteinized whey or whey permeate containing lactose after acid hydrolysis to provide a hydrolysate comprising 1 equivalent of d-glucose and 1 equivalent of d-galactose for each unit of lactose converted. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose and the use of a simplified separation scheme based on simulated moving bed (SMB) separation. The isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose is carried out in the presence of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The process is useful for providing a simplified processing route to providing pure d-tagatose and glucose syrup as two products from lactose hydrolysate isomerate. D-tagatose is useful as a food additive, as a sweetener, as a texturizer, as a stabilizer, or as a humectant.
US09150934B2	Methods and compositions for detecting Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus niger, and mycotoxins The invention relates to a method of identifying an Aspergillus terreus or an Aspergillus niger fungal species in patient tissue or body fluid and to primers and probes for use in such a method.
US09150933B2	Gray leaf spot tolerant maize and methods of production The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying maize plants that have newly conferred tolerance or enhanced tolerance to, or are susceptible to, Gray Leaf Spot (GLS). The methods use molecular genetic markers to identify, select and/or construct tolerant plants or identify and counter-select susceptible plants. Maize plants that display newly conferred tolerance or enhanced tolerance to GLS that are generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.
US09150930B2	Rapid detection of mycobacteria The invention provides a method for detecting a mycobacterium belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) in a sample, the method comprising: (a) contacting the sample with a forward oligonucleotide primer and a reverse oligonucleotide primer; wherein the forward primer hybridizes to a target nucleic acid sequence located within a Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit (MIRU) repeat element; and wherein the reverse primer hybridizes to a target nucleic acid sequence located within a MIRU repeat element; (b) extending the forward and reverse primers to generate an amplification product; and (c) detecting the amplification product.
US09150926B2	Diagnosis and treatment of adrenocortical tumors using human microRNA-483 Disclosed herein are methods of diagnosing and treating a malignant adrenocortical tumor, including adrenocortical carcinoma. In some examples, methods of diagnosing a malignant adrenocortical tumor include detecting expression of at least one microRNA (miR) gene product, such as miR-100, miR-125b, miR-195, miR-483-3p, miR-483-5p and IGF2 mRNA in a sample obtained from the subject with an adrenocortical tumor and comparing expression of at least one of these miR gene products and IGF2 mRNA in the sample obtained from the subject to a control. Altered expression of at least one of the miR gene products and IGF2 mRNA, such as a decrease in miR-100, miR-125b or miR-195 or an increase in miR-483-3p, miR-483-5p, and an increase in IGF2 mRNA, in the sample obtained from the subject compared to the control indicates a malignant adrenocortical tumor.
US09150920B2	Methods of characterizing host responsiveness to interferon by ex vivo induction of interferon-responsive markers Embodiments of the invention relate generally to ex vivo methods of quantifying expression of interferon responsive genes and characterizing an individual's potential responsiveness to interferon administration. Certain embodiments relate to methods to monitor the efficacy of ongoing interferon therapy by evaluating expression of interferon responsive genes before and after interferon administration.
US09150913B2	Thermal reaction device and method for using the same An M×N matrix microfluidic device for performing a matrix of reactions, the device having a plurality of reaction cells in communication with one of either a sample inlet or a reagent inlet through a via formed within an elastomeric block of the device. Methods provided include a method for forming vias in parallel in an elastomeric layer of an elastomeric block of a microfluidic device, the method comprising using patterned photoresist masks and etching reagents to etch away regions or portions of an elastomeric layer of the elastomeric block.
US09150912B2	Oligonucleotides comprising a label associated through a linker The present application discloses a labeled nucleotide comprising a label attached via a linker, wherein said labeled nucleotide has the formula wherein R1 is a residue with a negative net charge, preferably selected from the group consisting of a phosphate group, and a sulphate group; wherein R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of H2, OH2, and O; wherein “n” is an integer between 0 and 16; wherein “a” is an integer between 1 and 10; wherein SP is absent or a spacer; wherein X is said label; and wherein Y is a nucleotide or nucleoside. Furthermore, oligonucleotides comprising a labeled nucleotide according to the present invention and the use as a primer in amplification based methods is disclosed herein.
US09150904B2	Coincidence detection The invention relates to a method of detecting the coincidence of two biomolecular structures in a solid phase sample, said method comprising: (i) providing a first and a second fusion protein, each fusion protein comprising (a) a detection domain, said detection domain comprising a DNA binding domain; said detection domain capable of binding a cognate specific nucleotide sequence in co-operation with a further detection domain; (b) a recognition domain, said recognition domain capable of binding a target biomolecular structure; and (c) a connector domain; said connector domain being fused at one end to the detection domain and being fused at the other end to the recognition domain; wherein at least two of (a), (b) and (c) are heterologous to one another; wherein the recognition domains of said first and said second fusion proteins are capable of binding to first and second biomolecular structures; (ii) contacting the sample with said first and second fusion proteins; (iii) incubating to allow binding; (iv) removing unbound fusion protein; (v) contacting the sample with nucleic acid comprising said cognate specific nucleotide sequence; (vi) incubating to allow heterotrimeric binding of the nucleic acid; (vii) detecting nucleic acid bound to the sample wherein detection of nucleic acid in step; (vii) indicates that the two biomolecular structures are present coincidentally in said sample.
US09150899B2	Identification of compounds modifying a cellular response The present invention relates to methods for identifying compounds capable of modulating a cellular response. The methods involve attaching living cells to solid supports comprising a library of test compounds. The test compounds are linked to the solid support via cleavable linkers and may thus be released from the solid supports. Solid supports comprising cells, wherein the cellular response of interest has been modulated are selected and the test compound of the solid support can then be identified. The cellular response may for example be changes in complex formation between proteins.
US09150897B2	Expression and purification of fusion protein with multiple MBP tags The present invention provides a new method for recombinantly expressing a protein of interest, such as the human BRCA2 protein, BLM protein, CtIP protein, or EXOI protein, by expressing the protein in the form of a fusion protein comprising two maltose-binding protein (MBP) or glutathione-S-transferase (GST) tags. The expression cassette useful for this method and the fusion protein produced by this method are also described.
US09150892B2	Process of producing arginine employing Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 21831 or Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 21493 in an afermantation medium comprising cassava bagasse or jackfruit seed as a carbon source Disclosed are processes for producing Arginine by fermentation in which sugars obtained by enzymatic starch hydrolysis from inexpensive starch containing agro-wastes, such as Cassava bagasse and Jackfruit seed powder, are fermented in the presence of microorganisms to produce a fermentated liquor containing Arginine, and recovering Arginine from the liquor. The process can economically be scaled up for the production of Arginine from unrefined sugar sources as it produced Arginine in higher yields, when compared to more expensive synthetic carbon sources, like dextrose or sucrose.
US09150891B2	Method for transforming stramenopiles Disclosed is a transformation method whereby an ability to produce a useful substance of a stramenopile can be improved. The method for transforming a stramenopile comprises transferring a foreign gene into the stramenopile which is a microorganism belonging to the class Labyrinthula, more specifically, to a genus Labyrinthula, Altornia, Aplanochytrium, Schizochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Ulkenia, etc. Said foreign gene, which is a gene relating to tolerance against an antibiotic, a colorimetric protein and/or a fatty acid desaturase (Δ5 desaturase gene, Δ12 desaturase gene and/or ω3 desaturase gene), is transferred by using the electroporation or gene-gun technique.
US09150890B2	Candida tropicalis cells and use thereof The invention relates to genetically engineered Candida tropicalis cells, use thereof and a method of production of ω-hydroxycarboxylic acids and ω-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters.
US09150887B2	Ethanologenic bacteria with increased resistance to furfural The invention relates to bacterium that have increased resistance to furfural and methods of preparation. The invention also relates to methods of producing ethanol using the bacterium and corresponding kits.
US09150886B2	Foam control of alcoholic fermentation processes The method of producing bioethanol by sugarcane fermentation is improved by using a polyalkylene glycol with a hydroxyl functionality of greater than 2 as a foam controlling agent.

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