| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09164734B2 |
Ontology-based user requirement decomposition for component selection for service provision
Configuration requirements that specify the provision of services using a system-level description are automatically generated from user requirements. The user requirements are decomposed into one or more levels of decomposed functionalities using an ontology as input. The ontology stores known decompositions of functionalities and relations between the known decompositions. The lowest level of the decomposed functionalities is mapped into a set of components provided by vendors, and additional components on which the set of components depend are identified. Based on the set of components and the additional components, a required number of instances of service workload is calculated to generate the configuration requirements of the system that satisfy the user requirements. |
| US09164732B2 |
Multiplication method and modular multiplier using redundant form recoding
A multiplication method and a modular multiplier are provided. The multiplication method includes transforming a redundant-form multiplier by adding a recoding constant to the multiplier, performing recoding by using the transformed multiplier, and performing partial multiplication between the multiplier and a multiplicand using result values of the recoding. |
| US09164731B2 |
Circuit and method for generating random number
A circuit and a method for generating a random number are provided. The circuit for generating the random number includes an analog-to-digital converter and a controller. The analog-to-digital converter sequentially generates a plurality of digital data in response to an analog signal. The controller utilizes an estimation procedure to sequentially analyze a variation trend of the plurality of digital data in a time sequence or extract components of the plurality of digital data within a preset frequency band. In addition, the controller generates a true random number based on a result of the estimation procedure. |
| US09164729B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating random numbers using a physical entropy source
A method and apparatus for generating random binary sequences from a physical entropy source having a state A and a state B by detecting whether the physical entropy source is in the state A or in the state B, attempting to shift the state of the physical entropy source to the opposite state in a probabilistic manner with less than 100% certainty, and producing one of four outputs based on the detected state and the state of the physical entropy source before the attempted shift. The outputs are placed in first and second queues and extracted in pairs from each queue. Random binary bits are output based on the sequences extracted from each queue. |
| US09164723B2 |
Virtual lens-rendering for augmented reality lens
Techniques for displaying content using an augmented reality device are described. Embodiments provide a visual scene for display, the visual scene captured using one or more camera devices of the augmented reality device. Embodiments adjust physical display geometry characteristics of the visual scene to correct for optimal projection. Additionally, illumination characteristics of the visual scene are modified based on environmental illumination data to improve realism of the visual scene when it is displayed. Embodiments further adjust display characteristics of the visual scene to improve tone mapping output. The adjusted visual scene is then output for display on the augmented reality device. |
| US09164722B2 |
Modular display panels with different pitches
An embodiment method of manufacturing modular panels includes manufacturing a group of modular display panels, including a first and second modular display panel that have the same size and shape. The first modular display panel includes a first pixel array arranged at a first pitch, and the second modular display panel includes a second pixel array that is arranged at a second pitch that is different than the first pitch. Any two modular display panels in the group are capable of being attached to each other in an integrated display system. |
| US09164721B2 |
Information display device and information display method
An information display device includes a location obtaining part configured to obtain location information, a communication part configured to communicate with at least one other information display device through a network, a setting management part configured to determine setting information corresponding to the location information based on setting management information stored in a memory part of the at least one other information display device in response to an operation from a user, a display part configured to display information; and a control part configured to control an output of the information displayed on the display part by using the setting information. |
| US09164718B2 |
Output device and method for output without an output driver
An output device for providing output service to a mobile information apparatus including a display screen without requiring a device specific output driver installed at the mobile information apparatus is disclosed. The output device may include an operating system, a wireless communication unit for radio frequency communication, a display screen, and a user interface over the display screen, the output device may include features for installing one or more application software at the output device for expanding the capabilities of the output device, registering the output device over a network and providing an identification of the output device for enabling one or more mobile information apparatuses to transmit output data to the output device. Subsequent to registering the output device and providing the identification information of the output device, the output device receives output data associated with the identification information from the mobile information apparatus for rendering. |
| US09164717B2 |
Printing control apparatus, printing control method, and printing control program
A method for controlling printing control apparatus for printing an image on any of a plurality of recording media each set in a plurality of storage units includes inputting a plurality of print jobs, and determining an execution order of the plurality of print jobs in a range in which printing is consecutively executed on the recording medium fed from the same storage unit based on a type of the recording medium corresponding to each of the input plurality of print jobs, and in which each of the input print jobs is not postponed more than a predetermined condition. |
| US09164716B2 |
Communication relaying technology and image processing apparatus
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a communication relaying program stored thereon and readable by a computer of an information processing apparatus, which is connectable to an image processing apparatus through a communication interface. The communication relaying program, when executed by the computer, causes the information processing apparatus to perform operations including: a request receiving process of receiving a processing request from a client application; an extracting process of extracting a folder name from the processing request received by the request receiving process; a specifying process of specifying a particular image processing apparatus on the basis of the folder name extracted by the extracting process; and a request transmitting process of transmitting the processing request to the specified particular image processing apparatus. |
| US09164714B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method, and program for controlling a user interface
An information processing apparatus which operates an operating system providing a first user interface environment appropriate for a touch panel and a conventional desktop user interface environment automatically executes processing by using information set as a default value, if an operation by a user on a pop-up dialog, which is displayed in the desktop user interface environment and is related to functions including a secure print function provided by a printer driver, is not performed for a predetermined period of time. |
| US09164711B2 |
Network printing system and network printing program adapted to execute printing from a mobile terminal to a printer by using wireless communication
A desired printer can be reliably selected and the setting of which printer is permitted to communicate with which mobile terminal can be easily altered. A mobile terminal acquires printer identification information from a printer by NFC communication, and transmits the printer identification information and mobile terminal identification information to a server, thereby requesting an authentication. The mobile terminal transmits print data to the printer to instruct a printing execution when the authentication is successful. Therefore, the desired printer can be reliably selected by placing the mobile terminal close to the desired printer. Any stolen mobile terminal can be disabled for any printer only by rewriting the centrally managed information on the server. |
| US09164701B2 |
Logical address translation
The present disclosure includes methods for logical address translation, methods for operating memory systems, and memory systems. One such method includes receiving a command associated with a LA, wherein the LA is in a particular range of LAs and translating the LA to a physical location in memory using an offset corresponding to a number of physical locations skipped when writing data associated with a range of LAs other than the particular range. |
| US09164696B2 |
Electronic control unit for vehicle and data communication method
An electronic control unit for a vehicle includes a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and capable of receiving a program to be written into the nonvolatile memory in units of a predetermined size by means of communication using a communication buffer. The electronic control unit for the vehicle uses communication buffers, the number of which is greater than the number of communication buffers used in an in-vehicle communication environment, to receive the program. |
| US09164690B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for copying data between memory locations
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for copying data between memory locations. In use, a memory copy instruction is implemented. Additionally, data is copied from a first memory location to a second memory location, utilizing the memory copy instruction. |
| US09164688B2 |
Sub-block partitioning for hash-based deduplication
Sub-block partitioning for hash-based deduplication is performed by defining a minimal size and maximum size of the sub-block. For each boundary start position of the sub-block, starting a search, after the minimal size of the sub-block, for a boundary position of a subsequent sub-block by using multiple search criteria to test hash values that are calculated during the search. If one of the multiple search criteria is satisfied by one of the hash values, declaring the position of the hash value as a boundary end position of the sub-block. If the maximum size of the sub-block is reached prior to satisfying one of the multiple search criteria, declaring a position of an alternative one of the hash values that is selected based upon another one of the multiple search criteria as the boundary end position of the sub-block. |
| US09164687B1 |
Deduplicating messages for improving message sampling quality
A system and method for deduplicating messages is provided. Duplicate copies of messages are excluded from a set of deduplicated messages. The set of deduplicated messages can then be sampled to obtain a sample set usable for ensuring compliance according to a set of rules. One method for deduplicating messages involves receiving a message, determining whether the message is a duplicate copy, and adding the message to the set of deduplicated messages, if it is determined that the message is not a duplicate copy. |
| US09164686B2 |
Virtual storage space with cyclical wrapping grid function
Apparatus and method for arranging a virtual storage space with a cyclical wrapping grid function. The virtual storage space is formed from a physical memory and comprises a plurality of larger grains of selected storage capacity, each divided into a power of two number of smaller grains. Each of the larger grains are distributed across a non-power of two number of storage elements so that each of the storage elements receives the same number of smaller grains. |
| US09164684B1 |
Magnetic disc drive and method of recovering recorded data
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a read/write channel configured to process a read/write signal with respect to a magnetic disk, a data refresh module configured to perform a rewrite for refreshing recorded data on the magnetic disk, a data capture module configured to capture read data in the read/write channel, a timing determination module configured to determine power shutdown timing during the rewriting from the read data, and a data recovery module configured to recover the read data by dividing the read data into two items based on the power shutdown timing, shifting timing of one item of the read data, and combining the shifted data with the other item of the read data. |
| US09164677B2 |
Systems and methods for DMA controller for checking the status of metadata prior to or simultaneously when transferring data to host
A memory controller is provided which includes a host interface configured to provide an interface for communication with a host; a buffer memory configured to store user data and metadata of the user data; and a DMA controller configured to access the buffer memory to check the metadata and to provide user data corresponding to a logical block address requested from a host to the host interface according to the checking result. The metadata includes status information of the user data stored at the buffer memory. Before providing the host interface with user data corresponding to a first logical block address requested from the host, the DMA controller checks metadata of user data corresponding to a second logical block address requested from the host. |
| US09164675B2 |
Electronic device and storage medium
In the present invention, various control can be actualized by a simple operation when display content is controlled based on a touch operation.When a slide operation is performed in which a finger or the like is moved on a touch sensor 8 while touching it, and the pattern of the slide operation determined based on the movement directions of the slide operation is a predetermined pattern in which the finger or the like is initially moved in one direction, and after being temporarily stopped, moved in a different direction, a control section 1 performs image scrolling based on the predetermined pattern, as control of display content displayed on a display section 7. |
| US09164671B2 |
Web application navigation domains
Various embodiments provide a mechanism to allow end users to install web applications and websites onto their desktop. In accordance with one or more embodiments, client-side code can be utilized to allow developers associated with a website to define boundaries associated with user interaction, and have those boundaries enforced by a run-time engine. In at least some embodiments, developers can provide, through JavaScript code and/or HTML markup, various configurations for the creation of a start menu shortcut, navigation, and so-called jumplist integration. |
| US09164670B2 |
Flexible touch-based scrolling
A flexible touch-based scrolling system receives user input comprising a gesture on a touchscreen. The system compares the gesture velocity with one or more velocity ranges. For example, the system determines whether the gesture velocity is above a threshold velocity or below a threshold velocity. The system selects between different types of movement (e.g., smooth scrolling movement, page-by-page movement) of the visual information in the user interface, based on the comparison of the gesture velocity with the velocity ranges. For example, the system selects smooth scrolling movement if the gesture velocity is below a threshold velocity, and the system selects page-by-page movement if the gesture velocity is above the threshold velocity. |
| US09164669B1 |
Dial control for mobile devices
Implementations of the present disclosure provide dial controls on a mobile computing device. In one aspect, a method includes displaying a first function graphic in a dial control, the first function graphic being displayed at a first base position on a touchscreen display of a mobile device, detecting a user selection in a first region of the touchscreen display, the first region being associated with the first function graphic, detecting user motion corresponding to the user selection, animating the dial control to rotate for arcing movement of the first function graphic from the first base position on the touchscreen display in response to detecting user motion, determining a measure of user motion, comparing the measure of user motion to a threshold measure, and performing one or more functions on the mobile device in response to the measure of user motion exceeding the threshold measure. |
| US09164666B2 |
Layered body template based medical records
A device receives medical data associated with a user of the device, and creates a body template based on the received medical data, where the body template includes layers that are representations of a human body associated with the user. The device also displays the body template to the user, where the user is capable of manipulating one or more layers of the body template in order to review the medical data. |
| US09164665B2 |
Outputting management information based on state of managed object
A hardware device outputs management information relating to an event that occurs in a managed object. A management information processing unit generates charts for displaying the management information relating to the event. A management screen editing unit generates a management screen for managing a state of the managed object using the charts generated by the management information processing unit. The management screen editing unit further sets a significance of each of the charts generated; generates a first management screen for selecting one of a plurality of chart groups relating to the event that occurs in the managed object; generates a second management screen for displaying a chart group selected in the first management screen; and provides a special display for a particular chart group that includes a chart whose significance is higher than a predetermined threshold, in order to distinguish the particular chart group from other chart groups. |
| US09164663B1 |
Monitoring and reporting system for an electric power distribution and/or collection system
A system and method for displaying a representation of the configuration of a distribution and/or collection system and the operating status thereof, may comprise: a computer receiving an access request; a storage device storing a representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution and/or collection system and storing information relating to the operating state of the elements; wherein the computer generates a displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution and/or collection system in accordance with the operating state of the elements; and a communication port for transmitting the transformed displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the system to a display. |
| US09164651B2 |
Management of geographic data layers in a geographic information system
Systems and methods for management of geographic data layers in a geographic information system are provided. A layer control tool can be presented in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can provide a control interface to allow the user to manage the display of various geographic data layers in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can include a dynamic control list of geographic data layers. Geographic data layers can be identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list and/or ordered within the dynamic control list based on frequency of user interaction with the geographic data layers. In a particular implementation, the geographic data layers are identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list and/or ordered within the dynamic control list based on a layer score associated with each geographic data layer. |
| US09164650B2 |
Computer interface having a virtual single-layer mode for viewing overlapping objects
A computer-human interface provides a mechanism to manage the available space of a computer display in a manner that facilitates navigation, among multiple windows that are overlaid upon one another. The interface includes a user-selectable mode in which the windows are rearranged, and resized if necessary, so that all open windows can be simultaneously viewed within the area of the display, thereby enabling any one of the windows to be easily selected for access. In effect, the presentation of the windows is “flattened” so that all windows appear at the same virtual depth, rather than overlapping one another. With this approach, there is no need to minimize windows in order to access one that is overlaid by another, thereby enabling the user to keep the content of all windows visible and accessible. Subsets of windows can be repositioned in the same manner, or all windows can be removed from the display area for access to desktop objects. |
| US09164645B2 |
Touch panel and manufacturing method thereof
A touch panel is formed by firstly forming a film layer on a first plate, and next, sequentially forming a buffer layer on the film layer, forming a sensing layer on the buffer layer, forming a second plate on the sensing layer. After the foregoing formation procedures, the first substrate layer is removed from the film layer. Next, a cover is attached to the film layer. In this way, the film layer is located between the cover and the buffer layer. Finally, the second substrate layer is removed from the sensing layer, so as to form a touch panel with the features of light weight, thin thickness and low costs. |
| US09164643B2 |
Method for controlling operations of input device having resistor matrix
A method for controlling an input device is provided. The input device has a resistor matrix having M first traces, N second traces and M×N resistors. Each second trace is coupled to a reference resistor and M−1 variable resistors. M and N are integers greater than 1. A first voltage level of each second trace is measured when a first voltage is applied to a first end of the reference resistor and a second voltage is applied to first ends of the M−1 variable resistors via the M first traces. Variations of the first voltage level of each second trace are measured, such that it could be determined whether any touch point of the input device exists according to the variations of the first voltage level of each second trace. |
| US09164640B2 |
Barrier electrode driven by an excitation signal
Apparatuses and methods of driving barrier electrodes of a capacitive-sense array with an excitation signal are described. One apparatus includes a capacitance-sensing circuit coupled to a capacitive-sense array including multiple electrodes. The capacitance-sensing circuit includes multiple sensing channels. The capacitance-sensing circuit is operative to measure signals on a first subset of the multiple electrodes using the multiple sensing channels. Each of the sensing channels is selectively coupled to one of the first subset of electrodes. The capacitance-sensing circuit is further operative to drive a barrier electrode of the multiple electrodes with an excitation signal while measuring the signals on the first subset. The excitation signal is greater in magnitude than the measured signals. The barrier electrode is adjacent to an edge electrode of the first subset that is coupled to one of the sensing channels. A second subset of electrodes can be driven by a shield signal and the excitation signal is greater in magnitude than the shield signal. |
| US09164638B2 |
Information processing method and device for electronic device with touch screen
The disclosure discloses an information processing method for an electronic device with a touch screen. The method includes: touch with a touch screen is detected; an information pickup area is set on the touch screen according to the touch; and information in the information pickup area is picked up according to an information pickup command and the picked-up information is stored. In the disclosure, existing information, such as an image or a signature, is picked up via an information processing device, such as a stylus, on a touch screen of an electronic device; and a user can autonomously control its image, signature and other information to display on the touch screen of the electronic device when needed. Therefore, great convenience is brought to users using a portable electronic device such as a tablet PC and a smart phone, and their personalized application can also be met to a great extent. |
| US09164635B2 |
Touch sensor chip, touch sensing apparatus including the same, and method of controlling noise of touch panel
Provided are a touch sensor chip, a touch sensing apparatus including the same, and a method of controlling noise of a touch panel. The touch sensing apparatus includes: an electronic device which is driven by a clock signal; a touch panel which is placed adjacent to the electronic device and receives a touch signal; and a touch sensor chip which transmits a driving signal to the touch panel and hops a frequency of the driving signal by a hopping interval if a noise level at the frequency of the driving signal is equal to or higher than a noise threshold, wherein the hopping interval is set based on an exciting frequency of the touch sensor chip. |
| US09164629B2 |
Touch screen panel with slide feature
A touch screen having a capacitive touch-sensitive pad overlaying a display area incorporates one or more slide features each having conductive plates. The conductive plates are located outside the display area of the touch screen and are powered via one or more connections to existing touch sensor circuitry comprising the touch-sensitive pad. The slide features of the touch screen do not obstruct a user's view of the display screen and, when compared to conventional touch screen slide features, reduce the circuitry required for detecting and/or processing a slide touch. |
| US09164625B2 |
Proximity sensor for determining two-dimensional coordinates of a proximal object
A proximity sensor including a housing, a plurality of light pulse emitters for projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, a plurality of primary light detectors for detecting reflections of the light projected by the emitters, by a reflective object in the detection plane, a plurality of primary lenses oriented relative to the emitters and primary detectors in such a manner that for each emitter-detector pair, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the primary lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the primary lenses to the detector of that pair when the object is located at a position, from among a primary set of positions in the detection plane, that position being associated with that emitter-detector pair, and a processor for co-activating emitter-detector pairs, and configured to calculate a location of the object in the detection plane. |
| US09164622B2 |
Denoising touch gesture input
In one embodiment, a computing device determines a touch gesture on a touch screen of the computing device. The touch gesture includes two or more data points that each correspond to a particular location on the touch screen and a particular point in time. For each of one or more of the data points, the computing device adjusts a time value representing its particular point in time. For each of one or more of the data points, the computing device adjusts a position value representing its particular location on the touch screen. The computing device fits a curve to the two or more data points to determine a user intent associated with the touch gesture. |
| US09164620B2 |
Touch sensing error compensation
Error compensation of a touch sensing signal is provided. A touch screen can include a drive region that can be driven by a drive signal, and a sense region that can output a sense signal that includes information of a first amount of touch on or near the touch screen and information of a first amount of error. The first amount of touch can be based on the drive signal. The touch screen can include a compensation sensor that can output a compensation signal that includes information of a second amount of error, and an error compensator that can compensate for the first amount of error in the sense signal based on the second amount of error. |
| US09164614B2 |
Electronic device that invalidates touch input when relative movement between display screens is detected
An electronic device includes a plurality of display screens, a joining part configured to join the display screens relatively movably, touch panels provided on the display screens, a touch panel control module configured to receive signals from the touch panels, a movement sensing sensor configured to sense relative movement between the display screens, and a control module to which signals from the touch panel control module are inputted, the control module being configured to invalidate the input of the signals from the touch panel control module, when the relative movement between the display screens is sensed by the movement sensing sensor. |
| US09164610B2 |
Touch display device having a driver to provide a scan synchronization signal and a data synchronization signal
A touch display device may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel that includes scan lines, data lines, and OLED cells, and a driver to display a touch position on a screen (of the OLED display panel) in a frame that includes a touch subfield. The driver may supply at least one scan sync signal to the scan lines and supply at least one data sync signal to the data lines during one frame. The touch subfield may include a vertical touch subfield to detect a vertical position of the touch position and a horizontal touch subfield to detect a horizontal position of the touch position. |
| US09164607B2 |
Complementary touch panel electrodes
A multi-layer touch panel having an upper and a lower electrode that cross over one another. The electrode pattern for either electrode at the cross over area is complementary to the other electrode at the cross over area. |
| US09164603B2 |
Executing gestures with active stylus
In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more sensors that detect the movement of the stylus, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer. The stylus wirelessly transmits signals to a device based on the movement of the stylus. |
| US09164599B2 |
Multifunctional stylus
One exemplary embodiment involves receiving an input on a device, the input comprising at least one of an amount of pressure applied to the device against a computing device, a click of a physical button associated with the device, or a movement of the device against the computing device. The embodiment also includes transmitting the received input to the computing device via a wireless transceiver associated with the device. Additionally, the embodiment includes causing a plurality of actions to be performed on the computing device based at least in part on the received input. |
| US09164597B2 |
Electronic pen device
An electronic pen device includes a pen body housing, a pen tip unit is provided inside the pen body housing and pressed in any of a plurality of directions via an external force, a light emitting device is provided inside the pen tip unit, and a switch unit is engaged with the pen tip unit and electrically contacts the pen tip unit, thus activating the light emitting device when the pen tip unit is pressed in any of the plurality of directions. |
| US09164596B1 |
Method and apparatus for gesture interaction with a photo-active painted surface
A method and apparatus for gesture interaction with a photo-active painted surface is described. The method may include driving a spatial electromagnetic modulator to emit electromagnetic stimulation in the form of an image to cause photo-active paint to display the image. The method may also include capturing, with at least a camera of a painted surface display system, image data of the image displayed on the photo-active paint applied to a surface and a user motion performed relative to the image. The method may also include analyzing the captured image data to determine a sequence of one or more physical movements of the user relative to the image displayed on the photo-active paint. The method may also include determining, based on the analysis, that the user motion is indicative of a gesture, and driving the spatial electromagnetic modulator to update. |
| US09164593B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting and handling flexion states of flexible display
Disclosed is a flexion state detecting and handling method and apparatus for detecting and handling a flexion state of a flexible display. A sensing unit includes a bend sensor array having a plurality of bend sensors arranged on the flexible display in a predetermined form. Each of the bend sensors detects a degree of bending as the bend sensor is bent along a flexion of the flexible display at a point where the bend sensor is arranged. A controller generates flexion state information indicating a flexion state of the flexible display based on the degree of bending detected by the bend sensors. |
| US09164591B2 |
Enhanced input using recognized gestures
A representation of a user can move with respect to a graphical user interface based on input of a user. The graphical user interface comprises a central region and interaction elements disposed outside of the central region. The interaction elements are not shown until the representation of the user is aligned with the central region. A gesture of the user is recognized, and, based on the recognized gesture, the display of the graphical user interface is altered and an application control is outputted. |
| US09164590B2 |
System and method for automated capture and compaction of instructional performances
The system comprises functionality for instructors to record their lessons in an easy method while allowing them to capture their teaching techniques with a tool which improves the effectiveness of the playback, by reverse scripting of the teachers motions and use of educational tools including blackboards, whiteboards, and tablet computers among others and automating highlight of the relevant multiple media channels for best emphasis during presentation. Access to the centralized lesson database will permit students to learn from the best teachers and instructors and can execute the system right on their desktops or portable computers or access it through a dedicated website. Playback may be personalized to the needs and preferences of each student and the conceptual content is essentially highlighted in video and audio to maximize didactic effectiveness of presentation. |
| US09164589B2 |
Dynamic gesture based short-range human-machine interaction
Systems, devices and methods are described including starting a gesture recognition engine in response to detecting an initiation gesture and using the gesture recognition engine to determine a hand posture and a hand trajectory in various depth images. The gesture recognition engine may then use the hand posture and the hand trajectory to recognize a dynamic hand gesture and provide corresponding user interface command. |
| US09164587B2 |
Haptic spatialization system
A system is provided that controls a haptic effect experienced at a peripheral device. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives spatialization data including: a distance of the haptic effect; a direction of the haptic effect; or a flow of the haptic effect. The system further includes modifying the haptic effect definition based on the received spatialization data. The system further includes sending a haptic instruction and the modified haptic effect definition to the peripheral device. The system further includes causing one or more haptic output devices to produce one or more haptic effects based on the modified haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction. |
| US09164583B2 |
Method and apparatus for gaze point mapping
An apparatus for mapping a gaze point of a subject on a scene image to a gaze point in a reference image, wherein said scene image and said reference image have been taken by a camera from a different position, said apparatus comprising: A module for executing a feature detection algorithm on said reference image to identify a plurality of characteristic features and their locations in said reference image; a module for executing said feature detection algorithm on said scene image to re-identify said plurality of characteristic features and their locations in said scene image; a module for determining a point transfer mapping that transforms point positions between said scene image and said reference image based on the locations of said plurality of characteristic features detected in said reference image and said scene image; a module for using said point transfer mapping to map a gaze point which has been determined in said scene image to its corresponding point in said reference image. |
| US09164571B2 |
Electronic apparatus and power saving control method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first device, a first controller, and a second controller. The first controller transits the apparatus between a working state and a hibernation or stand-by state. The second controller shifts the first device from an ordinary operation mode to a power saving mode when a first condition is established while the apparatus is in the working state. The second controller shifts the first device to the power saving mode without waiting that the first condition is satisfied when the apparatus returns to the working state in which the first device is set to the ordinary operation mode after the apparatus shifted to the hibernation state or to the stand-by state in a state that the first device is in the power saving mode. |
| US09164570B2 |
Dynamic re-configuration for low power in a data processor
A data processor includes an execution unit having a multiple number of redundant resources, and a configuration circuit having first and second modes, wherein in the first mode, the configuration circuit enables the multiple number of redundant resources, and in the second mode, the configuration circuit disables the multiple number of redundant resources. |
| US09164561B2 |
Method for sourcing current using an audio jack
A peripheral device configured to be plugged into an audio jack of an electronic device includes an audio plug having an input terminal; a load electrically connected to the input terminal of the audio plug and configured to draw a first amount of current; a variable resistor electrically connected to the input terminal; a sensor configured to measure a voltage at the input terminal or an amount of current flowing into the load; and a controller that receives a signal from the sensor and is configured to control a resistance of the variable resistor such that a sum of the first amount of current and a second amount of current flowing through the variable resistor is substantially equal to a predetermined current value. |
| US09164560B2 |
Daisy chain configuration for power converters
A system includes a plurality of power supplies and a controller. The plurality of power supplies outputs power to a load. A serial bus connects the plurality of power supplies in a daisy chain. The controller is connected to first and last ones of the power supplies by the serial bus. The controller is connected to a management bus via a management bus interface. The controller monitors the plurality of power supplies via the serial bus. The controller transmits status information of the plurality of power supplies to the management bus via the management bus interface of the controller. |
| US09164559B2 |
Low power semi-reflective display
A semi-reflective display and a method for fabricating and assembling a semi-reflective display are presented, where the display may be comprised of visible light rectifying antenna arrays tuned to four different colors, which when forward biased may use electric power to amplify reflected colored light, and when reversed biased may generate electric power by absorbing light. TFT-tunnel diode logic may be used to control each sub-pixel. |
| US09164556B2 |
Heat dissipation device for a notebook computer
A heat dissipation device for a notebook computer is disclosed. The heat dissipation device includes a base, a connection device and a bracket. The connection device includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member which can be detachably connected with the first connecting member. The bracket is pivotally connected with the base through the connection device. The first connecting member is provided on the base, and the second connecting member is fixed on the bracket. The bracket is regulated by controlling engagement and separation of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, achieving stepless adjustment of the tilt angle of the heat dissipation device for a notebook computer, and the adjustment will be more convenient. Furthermore, the bracket is locked by the engagement of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and it is of better stability. |
| US09164555B2 |
3-dimensional multi-layered modular computer architecture
A stackable layer is provided for 3-Dimensional multi-layered modular computers. The stackable layer comprises at least one encapsulated chip die. Sets of electrical contacts are provided on each one of the large surfaces of the layer. The encapsulated chip die and the two large opposite surfaces of the layer are substantially parallel. |
| US09164553B2 |
Electronic device with rotary positioning function
An electronic device includes a bezel, a door and a resilient component. The bezel includes an accommodating portion and a fixing portion. The accommodating portion has a lateral wall whereon a pivot hole is formed. The fixing portion is disposed on the lateral wall. The door is rotatably disposed on the bezel. The door includes a supporting arm, a pivoting portion and at least one engaging portion. The supporting arm is detachably disposed on the accommodating portion. The pivoting portion passes through the pivot hole. The engaging portion is disposed on the pivoting portion. The resilient component is disposed on the bezel by the fixing portion and presses the pivoting portion. The supporting arm rotates relative to the accommodating portion via the pivoting portion to engage the resilient component with the engaging portion, so as to constrain a relatively rotary angle between the door and the bezel. |
| US09164551B2 |
Tablet computer
A tablet computer includes a housing, a cover, and a keyboard. The housing has an opening and an accommodating trough inwardly recessed from the opening. The accommodating trough has a groove having an inlet section and an engaging section. The inlet section is communicated between the opening and the engaging section. Widths of the inlet section are larger than widths of the engaging section. The cover is pivotally connected to the housing. The cover covers the opening when rotated to a covering position, and supports the housing in a standing position when rotated to an extended position. The keyboard is detachably accommodated in the accommodating trough and includes at least one engaging structure. The engaging structure is located at the peripheral edge of the keyboard and engaged with the engaging section. |
| US09164548B2 |
Touch panel and handheld electronic device utilizing the same
A touch panel including a first transparent flexible substrate, a plurality of first connection lines, a plurality of second connection lines, a first sensing layer, and a second sensing layer is provided. The first transparent flexible substrate has a first side and a second side and includes a first carrying portion and a first leading portion. The first connection lines and the second connection lines are respectively disposed at the first side and the second side and are extended from the first carrying portion to the first leading portion. The first sensing layer and the second sensing layer have plural transparent electrode patterns and are respectively disposed at the first side and the second side of the first carrying portion. The transparent electrode patterns are respectively connected with the first connection lines and the second connection lines. A handheld electronic device with a touch input function is also provided. |
| US09164546B2 |
Gallery operations for a device in landscape mode
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface in a dual screen device. More particularly, the method includes providing a gallery for the dual screen device. The gallery can present one or more images in a user interface. The gallery user interface can adapt to changes in the device configuration. Further, the gallery can display images or videos in the various configurations. |
| US09164545B2 |
Cover with angle adjustable standing slot
A cover with an angle adjustable standing slot is used to place an electronic device. The cover includes a keyboard, a cradle with a standing slot, a torque structure, and an elastic structure. The electronic device can be placed to the standing slot. A user can push the electronic device to rotate the cradle and the cradle would force the torque structure and the elastic structure to move. The electronic device can be stopped at an appropriate viewing angle, because the force between the electronic device, the torque structure, and the elastic structure are balanced. Additionally, the user can use the keyboard on the cover to type or edit documents anytime and anywhere. |
| US09164541B2 |
Notebook computer with slidable and rotatable screen panel
A notebook computer is provided. The notebook computer includes a screen panel, a main body, two connecting members, and two shafts. The connecting members connect the screen panel to the main body. The screen panel rotates relative to the main body. The main body defines two slide channels and a receiving space. A depth of the receiving space is greater than a depth of the slide channel, a pair of guiding grooves is defined in two opposite inner sidewalls of each slide channel, and a hole is defined in each inner sidewall of each slide channel at an end of corresponding guiding groove adjacent to a bottom of the receiving space and communicating with the corresponding guiding groove. The screen panel is slidable relative to the main body on and along the slide channels. |
| US09164538B2 |
Graphics and monitor controller assemblies in multi-screen display systems
A multi-monitor display system is described having an arm adapted for supporting a plurality of monitors containing display screens. The system also includes a column for supporting the arm, a monitor controller assembly for electronically controlling images displayed on the screens, and a graphics assembly for sending signals to the monitor controller assembly to produce the images. The system is used in conjunction with a central processor located in a computer housing. The monitor controller assembly is disposed outside of the monitors and/or the graphics assembly is disposed outside the computer housing. |
| US09164531B2 |
System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices
A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices having independent clocking arrangements. A task distribution device is to distribute tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices to perform tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to synchrony group members over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which synchrony group members are to execute the task. Each synchrony group member periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task. |
| US09164523B2 |
Voltage regulator having a plurality of capacitors configured to obtain a feedback voltage from a division voltage
An electronic circuit is provided. An error amplifier comprises a first input terminal coupled to a reference voltage, a second input terminal coupled to a feedback voltage, and a transistor comprises a first terminal coupled to an input voltage, a control terminal coupled to an output terminal of the error amplifier and a second terminal outputting an output voltage. A switching-capacitor circuit is coupled between the output voltage and the error amplifier and comprises a plurality of switching elements and at least first and second capacitors. The switching elements are switched by non-overlapping clocks such that the second capacitor is discharged to a bias voltage during a first period, and the first and second capacitors are connected together during a second period thereby extracting a division voltage from the output voltage to serve as the feedback voltage. |
| US09164519B2 |
Smart environmental control system for an enclosure with diagnostics
Environmental conditions within an enclosure containing critical equipment and devices are monitored and when outside of acceptable parameters corrective action is taken to modify these environmental conditions so as to bring them within acceptable limits. Unless an environmental condition is outside of an acceptable limit, no energy expenditure is made by the environmental conditioning equipment since it does not need to be in use. When the environmental conditioning equipment is called into operation, its environmental modification influence is monitored to determine if the expected environmental modification is occurring within an expected time period(s). If the expected environmental modification does not occur within the expected time period, and/or does not occur at an expected time rate of change, then an alarm is generated to indicate that maintenance may be required for the environmental conditioning equipment. |
| US09164513B2 |
Work vehicle coordinating system
Disclosed is a work vehicle coordinating system configured to carry out a ground work by a main work vehicle and an un-manned controlled sub work vehicle that follows up the main work vehicle. This system includes a main-vehicle position detection module, a sub-vehicle position detection module, a main-vehicle traveling path calculation section, a turning detection unit, a work traveling target calculation section, a turn traveling target calculation section, and a steering control section. |
| US09164512B2 |
Autonomous moving body and control method thereof
To enable stable collision avoidance operation without the need to install an infrastructure or the like even in a dangerous area where running out is likely to occur. An autonomous moving body according to the present invention includes: a distance measuring sensor that measures a distance to an object existing in an environment; a distance information acquisition unit that acquires a distance measurement value of the distance measuring sensor as distance information on a measurement point; and a dangerous area extraction unit that categorizes adjacent measurement points as an identical object according to a distance difference between the measurement points, and extracts an endpoint of the object as a dangerous area when the categorized object itself has a size equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold and when an opening formed between endpoints of the objects has a width equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, in which the autonomous moving body travels so as to avoid a collision in the extracted dangerous area. |
| US09164511B1 |
Use of detected objects for image processing
Methods and systems for the use of detected objects for image processing are described. A computing device autonomously controlling a vehicle may receive images of the environment surrounding the vehicle from an image-capture device coupled to the vehicle. In order to process the images, the computing device may receive information indicating characteristics of objects in the images from one or more sources coupled to the vehicle. Examples of sources may include RADAR, LIDAR, a map, sensors, a global positioning system (GPS), or other cameras. The computing device may use the information indicating characteristics of the objects to process received images, including determining the approximate locations of objects within the images. Further, while processing the image, the computing device may use information from sources to determine portions of the image to focus upon that may allow the computing device to determine a control strategy based on portions of the image. |
| US09164510B2 |
Straight line path planning
A solution for navigating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is navigated from a start location to a target location using a set of linear paths. A current linear path is identified between a current location of the vehicle and the target location. At least a portion of the current linear path is evaluated for a presence of an obstacle. In response to no obstacle being present along the current linear path, the vehicle is instructed to travel along the current linear path to the target location. In response to an obstacle being present, the vehicle is instructed to travel along a different linear path from the current location to an intermediate location, which is selected based on an extent of the obstacle and the current linear path. The process can be repeated until the vehicle arrives at the target location. |
| US09164509B2 |
Mobile robot and method of localization and mapping of the same
A method of localization and mapping of a mobile robot may reduce position errors in localization and mapping using a plurality of vector field sensors. The method includes acquiring a relative coordinate in a movement space using an encoder, acquiring an absolute coordinate in the movement space by detecting intensity and direction of a signal using vector field sensors, defining a plurality of virtual cells on a surface of the movement space such that each of the cells has a plurality of nodes having predetermined positions, and updating position information about the nodes of the cells based on the relative coordinate acquired through the encoder and the absolute coordinate acquired through the vector field sensors and implementing localization and mapping in the movement space in a manner that position information of a new node is estimated while position information of a previous node is determined. |
| US09164507B2 |
Systems and methods for modeling driving behavior of vehicles
A system for modeling driving includes a model component and an automatic driving system. The model component is configured to model, within a first vehicle, an anticipated behavior of a proximate second vehicle based on an indication of a capability of an automatic driving system of the second vehicle. The automatic driving system is configured to execute a driving maneuver for the first vehicle based on the anticipated behavior. |
| US09164505B1 |
Automatic rejected takeoff system
A method for automatic rejection takeoff (RTO) of an aircraft monitors a plurality of sensors for an RTO event. Signals are sent to control systems of the aircraft to perform an RTO when the RTO event occurs. |
| US09164503B2 |
Method of optimizing toolpaths using medial axis transformation
Rough machining of a workpiece is performed by a numerically controlled machine tool using an adaptive toolpath technique. Material removal rate and machine efficiency are increased by forming a pre-roughing slot in the workpiece along medial axes, and machining the remainder of the workpiece using a toolpath that begins inside the pre-roughing slot and spirals outwardly in smooth curves. |
| US09164502B2 |
Control device and control method of five-axis control machine tool, program, and mold
A five-axis control machine tool stores rotation-axis data indicating the inclination or runouts of each of a rotation axis A of a tilting table and a rotation axis C of a rotating table in association with rotation angles determined based on NC data, and calculates a correction rotation angle of each of the rotation angles A and C to correct the erroneous attitude of a tool. Five-axis control is performed based on the NC data by rotating the tilting table and the rotating table about the rotation axes A and C at the correction rotation angles, so that a workpiece is machined while eliminating the erroneous attitude of the tool. |
| US09164497B2 |
Reluctance motor system
A method and apparatus for controlling operation of an electric motor. A controller is configured to identify a position of a disc relative to a plate with coils physically associated with the plate. The controller is further configured to control a current sent to the coils based on the position of a disc. The disc is configured to move such that a closest point between the disc and the plate changes along a periphery of the disc. |
| US09164496B2 |
Intelligent switching
An intelligent switching method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of an intelligent switching device, detection data indicating that an individual is located within a specified proximity of an apparatus. The intelligent switching device is lockably attached to the apparatus. The computer processor receives a request from an individual for enabling the apparatus. The computer processor determines that the individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating the apparatus and generates an enable signal. The enable signal enables a power signal for the apparatus. The computer processor indicates that the apparatus has been enabled and is operational. |
| US09164495B2 |
Motor controller controlling two motors for driving single driven object
In a motor controller according to the present invention, a speed control unit 24m includes an integrator calculating an integrated value Sm of a speed error ωm-ωm′ between a speed command value ωm and a rotation speed ωm′ and generates a torque command value Tm based on ωm-ωm′, a predetermined value, a proportional gain and an integration gain. A speed control unit 24s includes an integrator calculating an integrated value Ss of a speed error ωs-ωs′ between a speed command value ωs and a rotation speed ωs′ and generates a torque command value Ts based on ωs-ωs′, the predetermined value, a proportional gain and an integration gain. An integrated value selecting unit 28 selects any one of Sm and Ss as the predetermined value, depending on a drive status of a main motor 6m and a sub motor 6s. |
| US09164493B2 |
Time dependent-temperature independent color changing label
A timing device for indicating a passage of a duration of time is disclosed. The timing device in accordance with the embodiments of the invention has a grid array architecture. The grid array architecture includes an electrode structure with an anode layer, a cathode layer and a thermistor layer. The anode layer and the thermistor layer are electrically coupled through a plurality of cathode trace structures. In operation the timing device is actuated through a suitable mechanism to initiate depletion of the anode layer and, thereby, indicate a passage of a duration time. As the anode layer depletes, sequential cathode trace structures are exposed and the thermistor layer acts as a temperature dependent resistor through a plurality of exposed cathode trace structures. |
| US09164492B2 |
Zero-reset device with independent hammers
A zero-rest device for a timepiece, including first and second control mechanisms, two zero-reset cams, and two corresponding zero-reset hammers configured to cooperate with the cams. The device also includes two hammer springs exerting a pre-stress force causing a hammer to pivot in the direction of its corresponding cam, a winding and release mechanism and a locking mechanism. The winding and release mechanism is configured to wind the hammer springs during a first phase of an actuation of the first control mechanism and to cooperate, during a second phase of this actuation, with the locking means, such that the locking means passes from a rest position in which the locking means holds the hammers to a release position in which the locking means releases the hammers, which come, in each case under the action of the corresponding hammer spring, into the positions thereof of cooperation with the corresponding cam. |
| US09164483B2 |
Escapement mechanism
An escapement mechanism for a timepiece, includes an escapement wheel (1), an escapement anchor (2) including a body (2a), and a fork (5), the body (2a) including pallets (3, 3′, 4, 4′) that engage with the escapement wheel (1), the body (2a) having a shape that makes it possible to delimit an internal space (11) for arranging the escapement wheel (1), the pallets (3, 3′, 4, 4′) including two rest pallets (3, 3′) and two impulse pallets (4, 4′), protruding in the internal space (11). The mechanism includes a pin (7) of a roller (6) that is secured to a regulating device, characterized in that the roller (6) and the fork (5) are arranged with respect to one another such as to impart an alternating translation movement with respect to the escapement wheel (1) to the anchor (2) when the pin (7) engages with the fork (5). |
| US09164482B2 |
Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism
Lever (6) comprising at least a first element (61) for guiding in rotation of a first wheel (1), at least one friction element (62) which is designed to co-operate with an at least substantially cylindrical portion (10c) of the first wheel, and at least one resilient element (63), which is designed to return resiliently the at least one friction element to a state of co-operation with the said portion of the first wheel, notably in contact with the said portion of the first wheel. |
| US09164481B2 |
Generating and displaying holograms
Techniques for generating 3-D holographic images of a 3-D real or synthetic object scene are presented. A holographic generator component (HGC) can obtain a real or synthetic 3-D object scene. The HGC generates a high-resolution grating, and generates a low-resolution mask based on the 3-D object scene. The HGC overlays the mask on the grating to generate the hologram, which can be a digital mask programmable hologram. The HGC can use the grating as an encryption key, if desired, wherein the mask can be encrypted based on the encryption key. The display component receives the hologram and can generate holographic images, based on the hologram, and display the holographic images using one or more low-resolution displays. The grating and display can be arranged in various formations in relation to each other. A single display can be partitioned into a tile structure for displaying holographic images in the respective tiles. |
| US09164478B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a conveying path formation member including through holes
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a transfer-receiving member conveyed from a first side to a second side, and a fixing device disposed on a side of the image forming unit closer to the second side, and configured to fix the image formed on the transfer-receiving member. A conveying path formation member is configured to form a conveying path along which the transfer-receiving member is conveyed from the image forming unit to the fixing device. The conveying path formation member includes a first member having first through holes in the up-down direction, and a second member having second through holes in the up-down direction, wherein the second member faces the first member such that the second through holes do not overlap the first through holes when projected in the up-down direction. |
| US09164476B2 |
Toner cartridge having structure for minimizing deformation when gripped
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer, a recess provided in an outer wall of a frame for forming the accommodating portion, and a sheet member provided so as to cover the recess. The sheet member and the recess are configured so that an amount of flexure of the sheet member is larger than that of the recess when the cartridge is gripped at the sheet member. |
| US09164475B2 |
Image forming apparatus having body casing and first and second cartridges which when mounted to body casing are respectively overlapped by first and second drum units
An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a partition wall which is provided in the housing along a substantially vertical direction, the partition wall partitioning an inner space of the housing into a first space and a second space; developing units which are disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the first space, each of the developing units comprising a first reception opening and a return opening; and developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel along the substantially vertical direction in the second space, each of developer cartridges comprising a supply opening and a second reception opening. The first reception openings of the developing units communicate with the supply openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges, and the return openings of the developer units communicate with the second reception openings of respective ones of the developer cartridges. |
| US09164474B2 |
Toner drum gear projection
A toner drum drive assembly is configured to engage a drive mechanism of a printer. The assembly includes a support portion defining an axis, and a drive projection extending axially from the support portion. The drive projection includes three radially outwardly and circumferentially extending arm portions, with each arm portion having an end. The drive projection defines three undercuts, and each undercut is positioned axially between the support portion and a respective arm portion end. |
| US09164471B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes, an upper cabinet disposed openably and closably on a main cabinet, reader cover disposed openably and closably on the upper cabinet and covering the image reader when the reader cover is closed and restriction mechanism preventing the reader cover from opening relative to the upper cabinet when the upper cabinet is open relative to the main cabinet. The restriction mechanism includes a first engagement member disposed at the upper cabinet and a second engagement member disposed at the reader cover and engageable with the first engagement member. The reader cover is prevented from opening relative to the upper cabinet when the first engagement member engages with the second engagement member. The second engagement member is urged to project from the reader cover towards the upper cabinet and movable from the upper cabinet to the reader cover. |
| US09164470B2 |
Transfer device and attachment of the transfer device to a cover of an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, includes: a main body; a cover configured to be provided so as to be capable of being opened and closed with respect to the main body; an attachment unit configured to be provided on the cover; a unit configured to be attached to the attachment unit; a positioning member configured to, on closing of the cover, position the unit with respect to a member attached to the main body or the main body; a guiding member configured to guide the unit to the positioning member; and a protrusion configured to be provided at the guiding member to protrude in an attaching direction of the unit. |
| US09164467B2 |
Blade member and cleaning blade
A blade member 1 is used for removal of residual toner 5 remaining on a surface of a counterpart member 4 in an image forming device employing an electrophotographic system, by sliding contact with the counterpart member 4. The blade member 1 includes a blade body 11 made of a polyurethane rubber using diphenylmethane diisocyanate and a polyester polyol as main raw materials, and a film 12 that covers at least a surface of a sliding contact portion of the blade body 11 to contact with the counterpart member 4. The polyurethane rubber has an international rubber hardness degree of 65 to 85 IRHD, a tan δ peak temperature of 8° C. or lower, and a tan δ peak value of 1.1 or less. The film 12 contains a hydrocarbon polymer as a main component. |
| US09164461B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including an endless belt; a driving roller to move the endless belt in circulation; a driven roller to rotate along with circulation of the endless belt; a first bearing arranged on a first-side end of the driven roller along an axial direction to movable and to support the driven roller rotatably; a resilient member to apply a resilient force to the driven roller; and a frame having a first guide to the first bearing to move in an inclined direction, which inclines with respect to a virtual line extending through a rotation axis of the driving roller and the rotation axis of the driven roller, is provided. The first guide is formed to incline with respect to the virtual line to be closer to a virtual plane containing the strained plane of the endless belt as the first guide extends farther from the driving roller. |
| US09164455B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a mark, a conveyance member configured, to convey the mark, a sensor configured to read the mark conveyed by the conveyance member, a measurement unit configured to measure a moving time period between a time when the image forming unit forms the mark and a time when the mark conveyed by the conveyance member is read by the sensor, and a determination unit configured to determine whether a traveling speed of the conveyance member is appropriate based on the moving time period measured by the measurement unit. |
| US09164452B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material, the fixing portion including an endless belt, a heater contacted to an inner surface of the endless belt, a pressing member for forming a fixing nip with the heater with the endless belt in the nip, and a switching mechanism for switching a state of the fixing nip between a first state in which pressure at the time of a fixing operation is applied in the fixing nip and a second state in which the pressure at the time of the fixing operation is not applied in the fixing nip. When electric power is supplied to the heater in the second state, the switching mechanism operates to switch the state of the fixing nip from the second state to the first state. |
| US09164451B2 |
Fixing device, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a fixing device including a fixing member that fixes toner onto a recording material, a pressurizing member that forms a nip portion, through which the recording material passes, between the fixing member and the pressurizing member, a moving member that is disposed to be movable in response to passage of the recording material in a transport path of the recording material which passes through the nip portion, a detection unit that detects a presence or absence of the moving member, a displacement mechanism that changes a position of the pressurizing member with respect to the fixing member, and an attachment/detachment member that is disposed in a detachable manner at a facing position facing the displacement mechanism and comes into contact with the moving member. |
| US09164446B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a driving member and a slide contact member. The fixing belt is arranged rotatably. The pressuring member comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip and is arranged rotatably. The driving member is arranged so as to sandwich the fixing belt with the pressuring member and rotates the fixing belt. The slide contact member is arranged so as to sandwich the fixing belt with the pressuring member and comes into slide contact with the fixing belt. The fixing belt is engaged around the driving member and slide contact member with a state having looseness at least partially. |
| US09164443B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat a fixing rotator. A support is disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector is mounted on the support and interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator to reflect light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. The shield portion includes a wing disposed opposite a non-conveyance span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof where a recording medium is not conveyed over the fixing rotator. |
| US09164430B2 |
Developer container, developing cartridge, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A developer container includes: a developer chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a rotatable member rotatably supported in the developer chamber; and a sealing member for being removed at the opening by being wound up by the rotatable member, wherein the sealing member is provided in the developer chamber and includes a first end portion connected to the rotatable member and a second end portion sealing the opening. Sealing of the opening is made by bonding the sealing member along an edge of the opening. The developer container includes a first bonding portion provided upstream of the opening and a second bonding portion provided downstream of the opening with respect to an unsealing direction of the sealing member. A peeling-off force for peeling off the sealing member at a predetermined angle is larger at the first bonding portion than at the second bonding portion. |
| US09164426B2 |
Toner container, and image forming apparatus including the same
A toner container according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a container body, a rotating member, a conveying member, a film member, and a stepped portion. Container body can store toner thereinside. Container body includes toner conveying path having supply opening through which toner is supplied to the outside. Rotating member is rotatably provided in container body. Rotating member rotates to scoop, into toner conveying path, toner stored in container body. Conveying member is rotatably provided in toner conveying path. Conveying member rotates to convey, toward the supply opening, toner in toner conveying path. Film member is mounted to an inner wall which extends from toner conveying path to an inner side of container body, and projects toward a region in which rotating member rotates. Stepped portion is provided in the inner wall. Stepped portion forms, between stepped portion and film member, a space having a predetermined height. |
| US09164424B2 |
Cartridge with flexible developer bag and elastic member for acting on the developer bag
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a flexible developer bag, provided with an opening and provided inside the frame, for containing a developer; and an elastic member for discharging the developer through the opening by acting on the developer bag. The elastic member is extended from a free state by contact with the developer bag, and elastic energy accumulated by extension of the elastic member acts on the developer bag to discharge the developer through the opening. |
| US09164416B2 |
Conductive member, electrophotographic process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
The present invention provides a conductive member in which it is possible to control a variation in resistance due to physical stress from a contact member, and an uneven density in a halftone image can be prevented.The conductive member is a development roller which includes a conductive shaft core, a conductive elastic layer, and a conductive surface layer. The conductive elastic layer contains silicone rubber and a basic carbon black dispersed in the silicone rubber. The surface layer contains a urethane resin having a carboxyl group in its molecule and an acidic carbon black dispersed in the urethane resin. |
| US09164414B2 |
Optical writing control device, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling optical writing device
An optical writing control device includes a light emission control unit that controls light emission of a light source to exposes a photosensitive element. The light emission control unit is configured to draw two patterns as patterns for correction used to correct a transfer position of a developer image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive element, the two patterns including a narrow width pattern where a width of the pattern corresponds to a width of a detection area of a sensor that detects the patterns, in the main-scanning direction, and a wide width pattern having a wider width than the narrow width pattern, and control the light emission, after calculation of a correction value based on a detection signal of the wide width pattern is properly completed, in a manner where the narrow width pattern is drawn upon the calculation of the correction value. |
| US09164413B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an attachment unit to which a load for image formation is attached; an applying circuit configured to apply an applying voltage to the load; a voltage detection circuit configured to detect the applying voltage; a current detection unit configured to detect a load current; and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to: subject the applying circuit to constant current control in accordance with a detected value of the current detection unit so that the load current becomes a target current; and switch to a constant voltage control by which the applying voltage is controlled to become a target voltage when an absolute value of the load current is smaller than a determination value and an absolute value of the applying voltage is larger than or equal to a threshold during execution of the constant current control. |
| US09164412B2 |
Digital printing system with improved toner removal
A digital printing apparatus comprising a developing roller (102) and an image carrying roller (101); the developing roller (102) being arranged to transfer liquid toner (107) onto the image carrying roller (101) in accordance with a charge pattern; an upstream charger (111) upstream of an area (108) of rotational contact between the developing roller (102) and the image carrying roller (101); a downstream discharger (112, 122, 132) downstream of the area (108); a sensor (200) downstream of the area (108) to detect a property representative of the charge of a liquid toner residue; and a controller (210) to receive sensor data from the sensor (200) and to provide a control signal to control the downstream discharger. |
| US09164410B2 |
Toner compositions for single component development system
A toner composition with a novel surface additive package for developing images is provided. The additive package comprises a sol-gel silica, a PDMS silica, an HMDS silica, and an organic spacer such as PMMA, and melamine. The toner composition exhibits improved properties and are useful for high speed printing on Single Component Development systems. |
| US09164408B2 |
Electrophotographic toner
An electrophotographic toner contains an electron donating color developable agent, an electron accepting color developing agent, and a polyester resin binder which is a polyester resin obtained by polycondensation of a carboxylic acid component and an alcohol component and has a crosslinked structure formed of a crosslinking component including at least either one of a trivalent or higher valent carboxylic acid and a trihydric or higher hydric alcohol, and is decolorized by heating. |
| US09164407B2 |
Electrostatic latent image developer
An electrostatic latent image developer of the present invention includes a resin, a colorant and a colorant dispersant, wherein the colorant dispersant contains a first polymer compound containing a constitutional unit derived from a monomer A, a constitutional unit derived from a monomer B and a constitutional unit derived from a monomer C, the monomer A is 4-vinylpyridine, the monomer B is CH2═CR1—COOR2 (where R1 represents hydrogen or a methyl group; and R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms), and the monomer C is CH2═CR3—COOR4 (where R3 represents hydrogen or a methyl group; R4 represents (CH2CH2O)nCH3 or (CH2CH2O)nCH2CH3; and n represents an integer of 12 to 18). |
| US09164406B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus
The charge transporting layer as the surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a charge transporting substances represented by any one of formulae (1) to (5), a specific compound, and a specific resin (binder resin). The specific compound is hexanol, heptanol, cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol ethyl methyl ether, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, nitrobenzene, pyrrolidone, N-methylpyrrolidone, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, acetophenone, methyl salicylate, dimethyl phthalate, or sulfolane. |
| US09164404B2 |
System and process for fabricating semiconductor packages
A method of processing semiconductor chips includes measuring locations of semiconductor dies placed on a carrier with a scanner to generate die location information, and communicating the die location information to a photolithographic stepper. The method includes aligning the photolithographic stepper with the carrier only one time, and exposing at least one of the dies on the carrier with the photolithographic stepper based on the die location information generated by the scanner. |
| US09164403B2 |
Radiation source, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A radiation source generates extreme ultraviolet radiation for a lithographic apparatus as a chamber that is provided with a low pressure hydrogen environment. A trace amount of a protective compound, e.g., H2O, H2O2, O2, NH3 or NOx, is provided to the chamber to assist in maintaining a protective oxide film on metal, e.g., titanium, components in the chamber. |
| US09164399B2 |
Reticle operation system
A system for operating EUV mask stored in reticle SMIF pod and/or dual pod is provided, wherein the reticle SMIF pod and Dual pod are for storing EUV mask. The system can be a sorter for EUV mask transferred from reticle SMIF pod into dual pod, and vice versa, or an operating system for tools relating to EUV mask, wherein the tools may be EUV lithography, or inspection tool for inspecting EUV mask. |
| US09164398B2 |
Overlay metrology method
A process of measuring overlay metrologies of wafers, the wafer having a plurality of patterned layers. The process begins with retrieving historical overlay metrologies from a database, and real overlay metrologies of a first group of the wafers are measured. On the other hand, virtual overlay metrologies of a second group of the wafers are calculated with the retrieved historical overly metrologies. The real overlay metrologies of the first group of the wafers and the virtual overlay metrologies of the second group of the wafers are stored to the database as the historical overlay metrologies. |
| US09164396B2 |
Projection lens system of a microlithographic projection exposure installation
A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a projection objective which images an object onto an image plane and has a lens with a curved surface. In the projection objective there is a liquid or solid medium which directly adjoins the curved surface over a region which is usable for imaging the object. The projection exposure apparatus also has an adjustable manipulator for reducing an image field curvature which is caused by heating of the medium during the projection operation. |
| US09164395B2 |
Exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing a device
An exposure apparatus that includes a projection optical system, and exposes a substrate to light via the projection optical system and a liquid that is supplied between the projection optical system and the substrate. A plurality of recovery ports recover the liquid supplied between the projection optical system and the substrate, and are discretely arranged between vertices on each side of a polygon and at each of the vertices of the polygon. A chamber, connected to the plurality of recovery ports, receives the liquid. A pump attracts the liquid via the plurality of recovery ports and the chamber. A pressure difference between the pump and each of the recovery ports positioned at the vertices, among the plurality of recovery ports, is less than a pressure difference between the pump and each of the recovery ports positioned between the vertices, among the plurality of recovery ports. |
| US09164393B2 |
Exposure method and apparatus, and method for fabricating device with light amount distribution having light larger in four areas
An exposure method and apparatus for illuminating a pattern with an illumination system to expose a substrate through a projection system. The pattern is illuminated with illumination light with a light amount distribution in which an amount of light is larger in a pair of first areas and a pair of second areas than in an area other than the first and second areas on a pupil plane of the illumination system. The pair of the first areas being arranged outside an optical axis, the pair of the second areas being arranged on the same straight line as the pair of the first areas are arranged on, and the pair of the second areas being arranged outside the pair of the first areas. |
| US09164390B2 |
Method of preparing flexographic printing members
Following imagewise exposure of a sandwiched photopolymer layer, the outer layers between which the photopolymer is interposed are separated in a manner that leaves some photopolymer on each of the separated layers. The photopolymer remaining on one layer contains the raised pattern that will carry ink, and may be subjected to further exposure to actinic radiation in order to complete the curing process without the need for washing; the photopolymer remaining on the other layer can be removed and reused. As a result, waste is minimized or eliminated. |
| US09164388B2 |
Temperature control in EUV reticle inspection tool
An apparatus comprises an optics assembly and a plate. The optics assembly configured to focus light from an EUV source onto a reticle or sensor. The plate has an opening to allow the EUV light to pass through disposed between the optics assembly and the reticle or sensor. The plate is cooled to a temperature less than that of the reticle or sensor. The plate is engineered to balance out heat absorbed from the reticle or sensor with heat absorbed by the plate. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09164385B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition and light blocking layer using the same
A photosensitive resin composition includes (A) a cardo-based resin including a repeating unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1; (B) a reactive unsaturated compound; (C) a pigment; (D) an initiator; and (E) a solvent. A light blocking layer can be made using the same. In the above Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as defined in the detailed description. |
| US09164384B2 |
Patterning process and resist composition
A negative pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units of formulae (1) and (2) and a photoacid generator of formula (3) onto a substrate, baking, exposure, PEB and developing in an organic solvent. In formulae (1) and (2), R1 is H, F, CH3 or CF3, Z is a single bond, phenylene, naphthylene, or (backbone)-C(═O)—O—Z′—, Z′ is alkylene, phenylene or naphthylene, XA is an acid labile group, YL is H or a polar group. In formula (3), R2 and R3 are a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, or R2 and R3, or R2 and R4 may form a ring with the sulfur, L is a single bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group, Xa and Xb are H, F or CF3, and k is an integer of 1 to 4. |
| US09164383B2 |
Resist composition and patterning process
A resist composition comprising a salt of a mono- to tetrafunctional carboxylic acid with a metal selected from magnesium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, cadmium, indium, tin, antimony, cesium, zirconium, and hafnium, and a solvent is improved in film uniformity when coated, and exhibits a high resolution, high sensitivity, and minimal LER when processed by the EB or EUV lithography. |
| US09164381B2 |
Resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, and compound
A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid and an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid generator component (B) including a sulfonium compound (B1) having a sulfonio group and an anion group represented by general formula (b1-r-1) shown below in one molecule thereof (wherein Y1 represents a divalent linking group or a single bond; L1 represents an ester bond or a single bond; V1 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom; and n represents 0 or 1, provided that, when L1 represents a single bond, n=1). |
| US09164373B2 |
Method and device for writing photomasks with reduced mura errors
The problem of mura in large area photomasks is solved or at least reduced by setting up a writing system to write a pattern with high accuracy and with the optical axes essentially parallel to the movement axes of the stage, then writing photomasks in two passes with the substrate rotated to different angles on the stage. The angle between the orientation of the first and second pass is larger than about 10 degrees, larger than about 20 degrees or larger than about 35 degrees and it can be approximately 10 degrees, approximately 50 degrees, approximately 60 degrees or approximately 90 degrees. The substrate is physically rotated on the stage and aligned with high accuracy after the rotation and the data driving the first and second exposure passes are derived from the first input data specification but processed according to the known oblique angles, so that the second pass is accurately overlaid on the first pass. |
| US09164369B2 |
Patterning via optical-saturable transitions
An optical material system for nanopatterning is provided that includes one or more material systems having spectrally selective reversible and irreversible transitions by saturating one of the spectrally selective reversible transitions with an optical node retaining a single molecule in a configuration and exposing the single molecule to its spectrally irreversible transitions to form a pattern. |
| US09164362B2 |
Swivel tether
A swivel tether for attaching a camera via a cord to an object, the swivel tether including a side release buckle system having a ball joint connection that allows for 360 degree swivel functionality. This permits the camera to rotate freely without adding tension or twisting of the cord attached thereto and without causing a threaded connection between an end of the cord and the camera to become unthreaded due to rotation of the camera. The ball joint connection may be configured in the plug connection component of the side release buckle system. The side release buckle system also includes a slide lock switch operative to lock plug and socket portions of the buckle system together to prevent unintentional release of the buckle system when fastened. |
| US09164359B2 |
Imaging apparatus including a wireless communication apparatus, and camera system
An imaging apparatus, which is capable of performing wireless communication with a light emitting apparatus via a wireless communication unit using a radio wave, includes a light metering unit configured to meter light of an object, a calculation unit configured to calculate a main light emission amount of the light emitting apparatus based on a light metering value acquired by metering the light, and a control unit configured to perform control such that at least a part of a communication operation of the wireless communication unit with the light emitting apparatus is performed during a light metering operation for acquiring the light metering value to be used when the calculation unit calculates the main light emission amount. |
| US09164354B2 |
Conversion component
A conversion component for arrangement downstream at a radiation-outcoupling face of a radiation-emitting semiconductor chip is specified. The component has a converter element with a first major face, a second major face opposite the first major face and at least one side face. The side face connects together the two major faces. The converter element contains at least one luminescence conversion material, which is suitable for absorbing electromagnetic radiation of one wavelength range and for re-emitting the absorbed electromagnetic radiation in another wavelength range with larger wavelengths than the absorbed radiation. A reflective coating is designed to reflect electromagnetic radiation exiting from the converter element and to reflect it at least in part back into the converter element. The reflective coating covers the converter element at least in places at the at least one side face. |
| US09164348B2 |
Light guide and electrophoretic display apparatus switchable between black-white mode and color mode
Disclosed herein is a light guide, which includes a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface. The light-emitting surface includes a plurality of gratings spaced apart from each other by a spacing interval. Each grating has a number of prisms extending in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction of at least one grating is different from that of another grating. These gratings cooperate together to allow light in a wavelength range to transmit the gratings, and to restrict light in another wavelength range to transmit the gratings. An electrophoretic display apparatus switchable between black-white mode and color mode is disclosed as well. |
| US09164343B2 |
Method for saving by-pass capacitor by using circuit board
The present invention provides a method for saving by-pass capacitor by using circuit board, which includes (1) providing a liquid crystal panel including two glass substrates and liquid crystal material containing liquid crystal molecules, the glass substrates forming a liquid crystal panel driving circuit, which includes a gate driver, a source driver, gate lines, and data lines; (2) providing a power supply module and a power connection circuit board including a base material on which a power route and a grounding route are provided to respectively form exposed copper zones at a location where a by-pass capacitor is desired to form so as to form an equivalent by-pass capacitor; (3) connecting the gate driver and the source driver via the power connection circuit board to the power supply module; and (4) activating the power supply module to control rotation of the liquid crystal molecules of each of the pixel units. |
| US09164342B2 |
Circuit substrate and display device
Provided is a circuit substrate which can integrate circuit elements without degrading wiring characteristics, and a display device including the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate of the present invention includes a transistor substrate (10) which is a support substrate (1) having a transistor (20) and an external connection terminal (50) mounted thereon, and an external member (60) attached on the transistor substrate (10). The external member (60) is connected physically and electrically to the external connection terminal (50) through a conductive member (3), and the transistor (20) and the external connection terminal (50) are arranged side by side. |
| US09164340B2 |
Pixel structure and liquid crystal panel
A pixel structure includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines and data lines, and at least one first pixel. The gate lines and the data lines are disposed on the substrate. The first pixel is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to corresponding gate line and data line. The first pixel includes a first electrode, a first dielectric layer and a second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the substrate. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the first electrode, and the first dielectric layer has at least one first island structure. The second electrode is disposed on a top surface of the first island structure, and the second electrode partially exposes the top surface of the first island structure. |
| US09164336B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a first dummy pixel and a second dummy pixel adjacent to each other in an X direction, in which width of a first portion of a scanning line between a first transistor of the first dummy pixel and a second transistor of the second dummy pixel is larger than width of a second portion of the scanning line between the second transistor and a third transistor of a pixel. |
| US09164334B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing same
Provided are a display device and a method of manufacturing same, whereby deterioration in image display quality due to display unevenness or shadowing is avoided. An open region is disposed in a source driver mounting region in a position thereof that corresponds to a remaining output region 15 of a source driver 4. Next, a common signal line 30, which connects an FPC connecting region 19 to a common transfer electrode 20a, is formed passing through the open region. It is thus possible to shorten the length of the common signal line 30, and to position the common transfer electrode 20a in a desired location. Consequently, variation in the common signal rounding for each position on a common electrode is mitigated, making it possible to minimize image display unevenness. The width of the open region is also increased, allowing the width of the common signal line 30 to also be increased. Consequently, the load on the common signal line 30 can be reduced. |
| US09164326B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and process for producing liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device in which image sticking seldom occurs. The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, at least one of the pair of substrates is provided with an alignment film for vertically aligning adjacent liquid crystal molecules, and a polymer layer formed on the alignment film for controlling the alignment of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules, and the polymer layer is formed by polymerization of at least one monomer, the polymerization being initiated by radicals generated of the monomer upon absorption of light. |
| US09164325B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and process for producing liquid crystal display device
The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy, at least one of the pair of substrates is provided with an alignment film for vertically aligning adjacent liquid crystal molecules, and a polymer layer formed on the alignment film for controlling the alignment of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules, the polymer layer is formed by polymerization of at least one monomer, the polymerization being initiated by radicals generated of the monomer upon absorption of light, the alignment film includes a polymer compound having a main chain that contains an imide structure, and the main chain has an imidization ratio of 50% or more. |
| US09164323B2 |
Display device
A display device comprises a VA liquid crystal display unit as well as a front side polarizer and a rear side polarizer arranged respectively at both side of the VA liquid crystal display unit; wherein the VA liquid crystal display unit has an optical path difference Δnd of 324.3 nm to 305.8 nm at the wavelength of 550 nm; the front side polarizer is arranged at a side in the light-exiting direction of the VA liquid crystal unit; one of the front side polarizer and the rear side polarizer includes the biaxial compensation film, which has an in-plane delay Ro of 50.4-78 nm at the wavelength of 550 nm and a thickness direction delay Rth-b of 168-260 nm at the wavelength of 550 nm. The amount of light leakage is significantly reduced with the contrast close to the horizontal viewing angle obviously increased and the display effect further improved. |
| US09164320B2 |
Light emitting unit with high light spreading angle, backlight assembly having the same, and display apparatus
A backlight assembly includes a light emitting unit, a reflective sheet, and a bottom cover. The light-emitting unit includes a light source emitting light and an optical system. The optical system is spaced apart from the light source in a direction in which the light emitted from the light emitting unit initially travels. The optical system has a curved shape that reflects a portion of the light emitted from the light source and transmits a remaining portion of the light emitted from the light source. The reflective sheet is disposed under the light-emitting unit to re-reflect the light reflected by the optical system. The bottom cover accommodates the light emitting unit and the reflective sheet. Thus, the light-spreading angle of the light-emitting unit becomes wide. |
| US09164316B2 |
Color regulating device for illumination and apparatus using the same, and method of regulating color
There is provided a color regulating device for illumination. The color regulating device includes a light-valving structure for adjusting a flux ratio of outgoing light through the light-valving structure to incident light entering the light-valving structure, and a color-adjusting structure having a wavelength-band converting element for changing incident light with a wavelength band into outgoing light with a different wavelength band through the element. Wherein, the light-valving structure and the color-adjusting structure at least partially overlap on the traveling path of light, forming at least one overlapping structure. Mixing the outgoing lights of the light source passing through light-valving structure, the color-adjusting structure, and the overlapping structure to obtain a different wavelength band (or color temperature) from that of the light source.There are also provided a color adjusting apparatus for illumination including the color adjusting device and a color adjusting method. |
| US09164310B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
Disclosed are an LCD device and a driving method thereof, which save the manufacturing cost that is expended by the application of four-color (RGBW) sub-pixels, and enhance an aperture ratio and brightness, thus increasing display quality. The LCD device includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. A plurality of R, G, B and W color filters are formed at the upper substrate. In the lower substrate, a plurality of R, G, B and W sub-pixels are formed in respective regions defined by intersection of a plurality of gate lines and data lines. The liquid crystal layer is formed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. Each of the pixels is configure with three-color sub-pixels of the R, G, B and W sub-pixels. Pixels of the plurality of pixels including a W sub-pixel share a one-color sub-pixel included in a pixel adjacent thereto, and display a color image. |
| US09164309B2 |
Display with broadband antireflection film
Display layers in an electronic device may be used to generate images. The display layers may include liquid crystal display layers such as upper and lower polarizers and a layer of liquid crystal material. A display cover layer may be mounted in a housing adhesive. A touch sensor layer may be mounted under the display cover layer. An air gap may separate the upper polarizer from the touch sensor layer and display cover layer. Antireflection coatings may be formed on the lower surface of the display cover layer or touch sensor layer and may be formed on the upper surface of the upper polarizer. The antireflection coatings may include coatings formed from a polymer hard coat covered with a polymer layer having a different index of refraction and may include broadband antireflection coating material formed from textured polymer or other structure exhibiting a continuously varying index of refraction. |
| US09164299B2 |
Ophthalmic lens dispensing method and system
A method (100) of dispensing an ophthalmic lens for a wearer is disclosed. The method (100) includes measuring (104) the relative location of, and/or relationship between, selected anatomical features of a wearer's head or face to obtain one or more measurement values and processing (106) the one or more measurement values to design and/or select an ophthalmic lens having a shape that depends on the measured values. The ophthalmic lens element is then dispensed to the wearer. A dispensing system (200) is also disclosed. |
| US09164298B2 |
Wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses
Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent, wherein the polymerizable composition has a molar ratio of total amount of hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer to total amount of acrylate-containing siloxane monomer of from 5:1 to 30:1, respectively. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses have good manufacturing processability, can be manufactured without the use of alcohol solvents, and have excellent surface wettability. |
| US09164296B2 |
Soft contact lens application method, liquid for contact lenses and soft contact lens package
An object of the invention is to provide an application method capable of facilitating the application of the soft contact lens without using any instrument, a liquid for contact lenses capable of being used for the application method, and a soft contact lens package. The present invention is a method for applying a soft contact lens, including a shrinkage step of shrinking a soft contact lens by contacting the soft contact lens with a liquid for contact lenses, the liquid for contact lenses being capable of shrinking the soft contact lens to a state of being more intensively shrunken than an equilibrium state thereof in a physiological saline; and an application step of applying the shrunken soft contact lens to the eye, in which after the application step, the size of the soft contact lens is restored. |
| US09164294B2 |
Method for the manufacture of cost-optimized spectacle lenses
A method for manufacture of spectacle glasses from prefabricated blanks made without cutting. Each prefabricated blank has a front side not to be finished and an opposite back side. The front side and the back side have at least one optical focus in common. The method includes finishing the back side by calculating a prescription surface based on a prescription of a person. The prescription describes the vision defects of a left and a right eye of the person. The machined back side and the front side together form a first prescription lens and a second prescription lens. The method further includes making first and second spectacle glasses from the first and second prescription lenses. Focal points of the first spectacle glass correct the vision defect of the left eye and focal points of the second spectacle glass correct the vision defect of the right eye of the person. |
| US09164293B2 |
Adjustable eyewear with fixed temple and method of manufacture
A novel pair of eyewear includes a frame, one or more optically active eyepieces, a first temple piece and a second temple piece. The first and second temple pieces each include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length and angle of the first and second temple pieces. In a particular embodiment, the first and second temple pieces each include a locking mechanism for fixing the length and angle of the first and second temple pieces with respect to the frame. |
| US09164291B2 |
Optical system including diffractive optical element and optical apparatus
The optical system includes, in order from an object side, a front lens unit LF, an aperture stop S, a rear lens unit LR. The front lens unit includes a diffraction optical element Ldoe. A stop side positive lens Lsp disposed closest to the aperture stop among the rear lens unit satisfies 1.55≦Ndsp≦1.70, 30.0≦νdsp≦50.0, and 5.0×10−4≦ΔθdCsp≦5.0×10−3. Ndsp and νdsp repectively represent a refractive index and an Abbe number of the stop side positive lens for a d-line, and ΔθdCsp is represents a value defined by ΔθdCsp=θdCsp−(−0.17041×θgdsp+0.513577) where Ngsp, NCsp and NFsp respectively represent refractive indices of the stop side positive lens for a g-line, a C-line and an F-line. θdCsp and θgdsp are respectively defined by θdCsp=(Ndsp−NCsp)/(NFsp−NCsp) and θgdsp=(Ngsp−Ndsp)/(NFsp−NCsp). |
| US09164289B2 |
Stereoscopic image display device
A stereoscopic image display device that enables 2D/3D image output conversion includes a display panel configured to display an image and a polarization lens panel disposed on the display panel and configured to transmit as-is or refract light supplied from the display panel according to an image display mode. The polarization lens panel includes: first and second substrates; a lower electrode formed on the first substrate; an upper electrode formed on the second substrate; and a polymer liquid crystal layer formed of a polymer liquid crystal in which a polymer and a liquid crystal are combined, and disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. |
| US09164288B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for presenting stereoscopic display content for viewing with passive stereoscopic glasses
The presentation of stereoscopic display content for viewing with passive glasses and full resolution is provided. In use, (a) a frame of stereoscopic display content intended for viewing by one eye of a user is scanned, using a display layer of a display device; (b) the scanned frame is polarized utilizing a polarizing layer of the display device, according to a polarization associated with a lens of stereoscopic glasses worn over the same one eye of the user; (c) a backlight is activated to illuminate the polarized frame, in response to an entirety of the polarized frame being scanned; (d) the display device is held for a predetermined period of time in response to activation of the backlight, and then the backlight is de-activated; and (a)-(d) are then repeated for the other eye of the user, with another frame of stereoscopic display content intended for viewing by the other eye. |
| US09164286B2 |
Display apparatus and method of displaying three dimensional image using the same
A display panel displays a first image during a first subframe and a second image during a second subframe. A display panel driver provides the first and second images to the display panel. A light source part provides light to the display panel. A light converting element is disposed between the display panel and the light source part and includes a barrier part and a lens part disposed on the barrier part. The barrier part has a plurality of independently controllable barrier groups. A position detecting part determines a position of a viewer. A barrier driver controls the barrier part to selectively transmit light from the light source part based on the viewer's position. A single barrier group includes a plurality of barriers, and a single barrier includes a plurality of sub-barriers. |
| US09164284B2 |
Wearable device with input and output structures
An electronic device including a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user is disclosed. The frame can include a bridge configured to be supported on the nose of the user and a brow portion coupled to and extending away from the bridge and configured to be positioned over a side of a brow of the user. The frame can further include an arm coupled to the brow portion and extending to a free end. The first arm can be positionable over a temple of the user with the free end disposed near an ear of the user. The device can also include a transparent display affixed to the frame adjacent the brow portion and an input affixed to the frame and configured for receiving from the user an input associated with a function. Information related to the function can be presentable on the display. |
| US09164282B2 |
Image-partitioned display device for virtual image
An image-partitioned display device for virtual image is disclosed. The display device comprises an image display unit, a refractive element, and a virtual image generation module. The refractive element is disposed between the image display unit and the virtual image generation module. Firstly, the image display unit generates at least one image, and then the refractive element refracts and partitions the image into a plurality of sub-images. Finally, the virtual image generation module receives lights of the sub-images to generate a large area virtual image or a plurality of enlarged virtual images. A volume of the virtual image generation module is reduced and all kinds of display information are provided by the image-partitioned technology. |
| US09164278B2 |
Micro-optical switching device, image display apparatus including micro-optical switching device, and method of manufacturing micro-optical switching device
A micro-optical switching device, an image display apparatus including the micro-optical switching device, and a method of manufacturing the micro-optical switching device are provided. The micro-optical switching device includes a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate and including a first opening array, wherein the first opening array includes a plurality of openings; and a second electrode disposed spaced apart from the first electrode and including a second opening array including a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings of the second opening array do not overlap with the plurality of openings of the first opening array. |
| US09164277B2 |
Micromechanical device
The force on the electrodes of an electrostatic field is used so that lateral tensile or compressive forces result which can deform a deformable element or can strongly deflect a deflectable structure. For this, a micromechanical device includes, apart from an electrode and a deformable element, an insulating spacer layer via which the electrode is fixed to the deformable element, wherein the insulating spacer layer is structured into several spaced-apart segments along a lateral direction, so that by applying an electric voltage between the electrode and the deformable element lateral tensile or compressive forces bending the deformable element along the lateral direction result. Thereby, the problem that normally accompanies electrostatic drives, namely the problem of the pull-in effect, is overcome. The deflection of the deformable element can be much larger than the gaps of the two electrodes, i.e. the above-mentioned electrode and the deformable element. A usage as a sensor is also possible. |
| US09164276B2 |
Micro optical switching device, image display apparatus including micro optical switching device, and method of manufacturing micro optical switching device
A micro optical switching device is provided, including a substrate, a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the substrate and including a first opening array including having a first plurality of openings, a second electrode disposed over the first electrode and including a second opening array including a plurality of second openings which do not overlap with the plurality of first openings, and a support member disposed on the substrate. The support member has a thickness greater than a distance from the first surface of the substrate to the second electrode and protrudes above the second electrode. |
| US09164272B2 |
Electrowetting optical device
An electrowetting optical device is provided comprising a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, the liquids being non miscible, having different refractive indices and forming an interface, wherein the conductive liquid comprises from 5% by weight of a fluorinated salt, based the total weight of the conductive liquid. An apparatus comprising said electrowetting optical device is described as well. |
| US09164270B2 |
Endoscope with pivotable viewing direction
An endoscope having a viewing direction which can be pivoted relative to the endoscope includes an illumination beam path for transmitting illumination light and a plurality of reflective surfaces for reflecting illumination light, the reflective surfaces being arranged at least partially next to one another in the illumination beam path relative to the intended light propagation direction of illumination light in the illumination beam path. |
| US09164268B2 |
Light mixing optics and systems
In one aspect, a light-mixing optic is disclosed for use with one or more light sources such as light emitting diodes. In one embodiment, an exemplary optic can include an optical body disposed about an optical axis and having an input and an output surface and a peripheral surface extending between the two. The input surface can form a central cavity for receiving light from the light sources, if not the light sources themselves. Further, the input surface can be shaped to refract substantially all of the light received from the one or more light sources away from the optical axis to the peripheral surface of the optic, where that light (e.g., substantially all of it) can be redirected (e.g., via total internal reflection or specular reflection) to the output surface. An array of micro-lenses or other surface features can be formed on the output surface. Further embodiments, as well as exemplary design methods, are also disclosed. |
| US09164264B2 |
Projection zoom lens and projection display apparatus
A six group projection zoom lens downsized with broadened angle of view while aberrations are satisfactorily corrected over the entire zoom range, including a negative lens group having a negative power, a second lens group having a positive power, a third lens group having a positive power, a fourth lens group having a negative power, a fifth lens group having a positive power, and a sixth lens group having a positive power in this order from the magnification side and is configured telecentric on the reduction side. The first and sixth lens groups are fixed while the second to fifth lens groups are moved independently of each other at the time of zooming. The fifth lens group includes a plurality of lenses and a biconvex lens is disposed on the most magnification side. The projection zoom lens satisfies conditional expressions (1): (R51a+R51b)/(R51a−R51b)≦0 and (2): 25.0<νd51<45.0. |
| US09164263B2 |
Illumination optical system and projection-type display apparatus
An illumination optical system is configured to illuminate an optical modulator configured to modulate incident light and includes a condenser lens system that includes a meniscus lens with a concave on a light source side, and condenses light from a light source; and a spherical aberration corrector disposed on an optical modulator side of the condenser lens system. The illumination optical system satisfies: 0.6<|f/L|<1.4 0.9 |
| US09164260B2 |
Wide-angle lens, imaging apparatus, and method for manufacturing wide-angle lens
Including: a front lens group Gf disposed to an object side of an aperture stop; and a rear lens group Gr disposed to an image side of the aperture stop; the front lens group including a sub-lens group Ga having negative refractive power, the sub-lens group Ga including, in order from the most object side, at least three negative lenses, at least one of the three negative lens being an aspherical negative meniscus lens, the aspherical negative meniscus lens having a shape that negative refractive power is getting smaller from the center to the periphery, a cemented lens constructed by a positive lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens being disposed to the image side of the sub-lens group Ga, and given conditional expressions being satisfied, thereby providing a wide-angle lens having high optical performance with a wide angle of view. |
| US09164258B1 |
Imaging lens, and electronic apparatus including the same
An imaging lens comprises a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, an aperture stop, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element arranged in order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis of said imaging lens. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant optical parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance. |
| US09164256B2 |
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. |
| US09164255B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging apparatus
A lens barrel includes a cam cylinder that is provided with a cam groove on the inner circumference thereof and a linear cylinder that restricts movement of the lens holding unit. A plurality of bayonet protrusions are provided on the linear cylinder at different positions in the optical axis direction. A plurality of bayonet grooves that engage with the bayonet protrusions provided on the linear cylinder so as to achieve the relative position restriction between the cam cylinder and the linear cylinder in the optical axis direction are further provided on the inner circumference of the cam cylinder. In accordance with the relative rotation of the cam cylinder with respect to the linear cylinder, the relative position restriction between the cam cylinder and the linear cylinder due to the engagement of the bayonet protrusions with the bayonet grooves is changed to position restriction depending on the relative rotation. |
| US09164253B2 |
Composite molded lens and method for producing the same
In a composite molded lens, a press-formed lens body is integral with an injection-molded lens frame. The lens body has a lens portion and a flange portion surrounding the lens portion. Eight projections are radially formed on a top surface of the flange portion. The height of the projection increases toward an outer peripheral edge side of the flange portion. A recess is formed on an outer peripheral edge face of the flange portion and located at a position on a line extending from the projection. The recess increases torsional resilience of a joint surface between the lens body and the lens frame and strengthens bonding force there between. |
| US09164250B2 |
Replaceable modular optical connection assembly
Connectors of a first removable modular optical connection assembly, having a first predefined arrangement of optical signal conduits, are connected to respective connectors on a support structure that are optically connected to corresponding devices. The first modular optical connection assembly is replaceable with a second modular optical connection assembly having a second, different predefined arrangement of optical signal conduits, to change a topology of a network. |
| US09164249B2 |
Glass-silicon wafer-stacked opto-electronic platforms
A glass-silicon wafer stacked platform. The platform includes a plurality of silicon pillars defining a ferrule receptacle, a silicon spacer connected to bases of the pillars and enclosing an aperture, a glass wafer bonded to the spacer, a microlens array formed in a first surface of the glass wafer and located in the aperture, conductive material carried by a second surface of the glass wafer, and contacts in electrical communication with the conductive material. |
| US09164241B2 |
Low loss passive optical hub for use in the plastic optical fiber networks
A node for a low loss passive optical hub is provided. The low loss passive optical hub includes a 1:N-split fiber and a plastic-optical fiber. The 1:N-split fiber has a fused-fractional end and N second-fractional ends. The 1:N-split fiber is formed from N sub-fibers. The N sub-fibers each have a first-fractional end and a second-fractional end. The N first-fractional ends are fused to form the fused-fractional end. The plastic-optical fiber has a first end and a second end. The first end of the plastic-optical fiber is optically coupled to the fused-fractional end of the 1:N-split fiber. |
| US09164239B2 |
Method and apparatus for optically filtering a communication signal
There is provided a method and apparatus for optically filtering a communication signal. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus comprising an optical filter having first and second input ports and first and second output ports, the optical filter being configured to transmit light in a target frequency range to the first output port in response to receiving light at the first input port and being configured to transmit light in the target frequency range to the second input port in response to receiving light at the second output port, and first and second photodiodes, the first diode being located to be illuminated by light from the first output port and the second photodiode being located to be illuminated by light from the second input port. |
| US09164233B2 |
Field installable cable splice system
A combination of an inner crimp tube and a crimp sleeve provide a basis for securing a connection between respective first and second cables through which optical fibers extend and can be spliced together for signal transmission. The combination of the inner crimp tube and the crimp sleeve includes the inner crimp tube receiving at least one strength member from each respective cable, wherein the inner crimp tube is positioned along lengths of the strength members such that the strength members extend through the inner crimp tube. Loose ends of respective strength members fold back over opposite ends of the inner crimp tube to join strength members of each cable to a common structure. At least one crimp sleeve secures the respective loose ends of the strength members to the inner crimp tube. |
| US09164232B2 |
TE- polarization splitter based on photonic crystal waveguide
The present invention discloses a TE-polarization splitter based on a photonic crystal waveguide, comprising a waveguide formed in a photonic crystal with a complete photonic bandgap, wherein after the incident wave with any polarization direction is inputted into the polarization splitter via the input port of the photonic crystal waveguide. TE wave is outputted from the output port of the polarization splitter, while the TM wave is reflected from the input port of the polarization splitter. The structure of the present invention has a small volume, high degree of polarization, high light transmission efficiency, and it is suitable for large-scale optical integrated circuits and can realize the polarization beam splitting function for different wavelengths. |
| US09164230B2 |
High-power double-cladding-pumped (DC) erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)
A high-powered double cladding (DC) pumped Ytterbium-free L-band Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) for dense-wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) is disclosed. The DC pumped Ytterbium-free L-band EDFA comprises a length of DC Erbium-doped fiber (EDF) that has a low-index, large-diameter core. For some embodiments, the DC-EDF also comprises a trench that is located radially exterior to the cladding, thereby increasing cladding absorption while still effectively maintaining single-mode behavior. |
| US09164227B2 |
LED backlight module
The present invention relates to an LED backlight module, which includes an LGP, an LED light bar, a backplane, and a heat sink. The LED light bar is mounted on the heat sink at a location close to a light incidence side of the LGP. The heat sink forms upward-extending LGP positioning columns that are fixed with respect thereto. The LGP positioning columns extend upward and through the LGP so as to fix the LGP with respect to the heat sink. The heat sink is arranged on the backplane in a manner of being movable in a light incidence direction. The heat sink is movable with expansion or contraction of the LGP so as to maintain light coupling distance between the LGP and the LED light bar. The LED backlight module prevents the LGP from waving resulting from heat or mechanical interference. |
| US09164224B2 |
Light guide plate, backlight source and liquid crystal display device
A light guide plate used for an LED backlight source. The LED backlight source comprises a plurality of LED lamps. The light guide plate comprises a light guide plate body (24). The light guide plate body (24) is provided thereon with a plurality of dots (242), and there is a light guide region in the light guide plate body (24). In the light guide region, the diameters of the dots in the same dot row progressively increase from the middle to either side, and diameters of the dots in the same dot column progressively increase in the direction away from the LED lamps. |
| US09164223B2 |
Light guides
This invention relates to light guide devices and methods of manufacture. The light guide device is suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays. |
| US09164222B2 |
Backlight module
A backlight module is provided with at least one light guide plate each including a plurality of openings; a white reflective film bent to conceal the at least one light guide plate and including a plurality of circuitries, a plurality of paired conductive terminals and a plurality of through holes; and at least one illumination unit disposed under the at least one light guide plate, each of the at least one illumination unit including a circuit member and a plurality of LEDs each disposed in one of the openings. The light emitted by the LEDs is directed to the at least one light guide plate and is further directed out of the white reflective film via the through holes. |
| US09164220B2 |
Uniform light directing film and method of making same
Light directing film (100) is disclosed. The light directing film includes a structured major surface (110) that includes a plurality of microstructures (150) extending along a first direction (142) and a plurality of elevated portions (160) disposed on the plurality of microstructures. The number density of the elevated portions across the light directing film is D. Each elevated portion includes a leading edge (162) and a trailing edge (164) along the first direction. The light directing film can be divided into a plurality of same size and shape grid cells that form a continuous two-dimensional grid. The area of each grid cell is approximately 1/D. Each of at least 70% of the grid cells includes a single leading edge (162) of an elevated portion (160). |
| US09164218B2 |
Slim waveguide coupling apparatus and method
In various embodiments, an illumination structure includes a discrete light source disposed proximate a bottom surface of a waveguide and below a depression in a top surface thereof. A top mirror may be disposed above the discrete light source to convert modes of light emitted from the discrete light source into trapped modes, thereby increasing the coupling efficiency of the illumination structure. |
| US09164217B2 |
Linear light source and planar light source
A linear light source includes a plurality of LED chips that are linearly arranged along a first direction, and a reflector including a first tapered sidewall sandwiching the LED chips in the first direction and a second tapered sidewall sandwiching the LED chips in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The LED chips are surrounded by first tapered sidewall and second tapered sidewall, and the second tapered sidewall is lower than the first tapered sidewall. |
| US09164214B2 |
Multicolor film
A system and method of providing an at least two color image with a system where the system has at least two contiguous imaged light print sheets. Each imaged light print sheet has a white light translucent sheet having a volume and a first and second print sheet having pixels within the volume which alter direction of white light transmission through the volume such that at least some light intersecting the pixel is directed towards the first viewable surface. The first and second at least two imaged light prints overlain with respective pixels of a single composite image in registry. A light emitter of a first visible color is positioned to edge-light the first imaged light print sheet and a second light emitter of a second visible color different from the first visible color, is positioned to edge light the second imaged light print sheet. |
| US09164213B2 |
Polarizing plate and organic EL panel
Provided is a polarizing plate that has an excellent viewing angle characteristic and suppresses changes in display characteristics. A polarizing plate of the present invention is used in an organic EL panel, and includes a polarizer (10), a first retardation layer (30), and a second retardation layer (40). The first retardation layer (30) shows a refractive index characteristic of nx>ny≧nz, satisfies a relationship of Re(450) |
| US09164199B2 |
Optical layered body, polarizer, and image display device
The present invention provides an optical layered body having excellent hardness, abrasion resistance, and flexibility.The present invention provides an optical layered body having a hard coat layer on one side of a triacetylcellulose substrate, wherein a Martens hardness (N1) of a surface of the hard coat layer, a Martens hardness (N2) of the center of the cross-section of the hard coat layer, and a Martens hardness (N3) of the center of the cross-section of the triacetylcellulose substrate have a relationship of N2>N1>N3 as determined by nanoindentation, and the hard coat layer has a pencil hardness of 4H or more as measured by a test in accordance with a pencil hardness test defined in JIS K5600-5-4 (1999) at a load of 4.9 N. |
| US09164197B2 |
Hydrosilylation-curable silicone rubber composition
A silicone rubber composition having a good transparency and hardness is made of a hydrosilylation-curable silicone rubber composition containing (A) 100 parts by mass of an organopolysiloxane, (B) a silicone resin, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (D) a rare earth salt of a carboxylic acid represented by general formula (I): (RCOO)nM (I) (in the formula, R denotes a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, n denotes a number between 3 and 4, and M denotes a rare earth element selected from among cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), samarium (Sm) and the like), and (E) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst. |
| US09164196B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition for a color filter and uses thereof
The invention relates to a photosensitive resin composition, and it has the advantages of a high development speed and good compatibility. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a color filter, color filter and liquid crystal display device. |
| US09164195B2 |
Methods of making microstructured optical films comprising biphenyl difunctional monomers
A method of making optical films having a polymerized microstructured surface are described. The polymerized microstructured surface comprises the reaction product of a polymerizable resin composition comprising 10% to 100 wt-% of at least one biphenyl di(meth)acrylate monomer. The di(meth)acrylate monomer comprises a core biphenyl structure having two aromatic rings connected with a C—C bond. The biphenyl di(meth)acrylate monomer preferably comprises a sufficient amount of ortho and/or meta(meth)acrylate substituents such that the monomer is a liquid at 25° C. |
| US09164194B2 |
Method for modeling deformation in subsurface strata
A method for modeling deformation in subsurface strata, including defining physical boundaries for a geomechanical system. The method also includes acquiring one or more mechanical properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries, and acquiring one or more thermal properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries. The method also includes creating a computer-implemented finite element analysis program representing the geomechanical system and defining a plurality of nodes representing points in space, with each node being populated with at least one of each of the mechanical properties and the thermal properties. The program solves for in situ stress at selected nodes within the mesh. |
| US09164190B1 |
Panel system and method with embedded electronics
A system and method for a panel system containing embedded electronic elements providing both housing for the electronics and structural support. A preferred embodiment of the system is for a container security system, which is constructed into or conforming onto the roof, walls, door, or base of a cargo container is provided. The panel system may consist of a variety of electronic elements, batteries or power elements, sensors, a processing element to collect the sensor data, and a communications element to transmit outside of the container. |
| US09164185B2 |
Near-simultaneous acquisition for borehole seismic
A technique facilitates performance of seismic profiling, such as three-dimensional vertical seismic profiling. A downhole acquisition system is provided with acoustic receivers designed to receive acoustic source signals. The firing of acoustic source signals is synchronized with the downhole acquisition system. Additionally, the firing of two or more acoustic source signals is controlled to provide simultaneous or nearly simultaneous timing of one acoustic source signal with respect to another acoustic source signal. A processing system is used to acquire and process a data stream of the initial shot and a data stream of the additional shot occurring simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. |
| US09164184B2 |
Reciprocal method two-way wave equation targeted data selection for seismic acquisition of complex geologic structures
The invention relates to seismic surveying where complex geologies are likely to create data that is confusing or ambiguous for a conventional matrix of acquisition source points and receiver locations. With some understanding of the geological substructure, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be found by using a reciprocal two-way wave equation propagation method coupled with the best geologic model available. With this, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be used in seismic survey to better resolve the substructure and avoid the inclusion of data that obscures understanding of the substructure. |
| US09164183B2 |
Method for detecting x-ray radiation and detector system with direct conversion detectors
A method and a detector system are disclosed for the photon-counting detection of x-ray radiation with direct conversion detectors. In at least one embodiment of the method, as a function of the existing radiation energy, current and/or voltage pulses which are largely proportional thereto are generated, and the generated current and voltage pulses are counted in the detector when a predetermined current and/or voltage source is exceeded, whereby a threshold is used as a predetermined current and/or voltage threshold, which corresponds to a detection of a photon with an energy which is less than the k-edge of the detector material used. |
| US09164177B1 |
GNSS navigation for a mechanized irrigation corner system
A GNSS based steering control system for a mechanized irrigation corner arm utilizing waypoint navigation. |
| US09164176B2 |
GNSS receiver and antenna system including a digital communication subsystem
A GNSS receiver and antenna system transmits signals from an antenna structure to a remote GNSS receiver and includes a digital communications subsystem that utilizes a high speed digital communications conductor. The transmissions are digital signals that preserve GNSS satellite signal frequency and/or carrier and code phase information. The system may transmit digital signals corresponding to GNSS signals such as GPS, GLONAS, Galileo and Compass satellite signals. In addition, the system may transmit, over the same digital communications conductor in appropriately formatted digital signals, ranging signals from ground-based transmitters or other satellites, differential GNSS correction signals from beacons or base GPS receivers, and/or signals from transmitting or co-located sensors, such as inertial sensors, temperature sensors and so forth. The digital signals include in headers or payload relative timing and carrier and code phase information and, as appropriate, information that identifies the signals by source or type, such as information that identifies the frequencies or the antennas or antenna elements providing the respective signals. |
| US09164175B2 |
Wireless communications system providing notification-based mobile device navigation features and related methods
A wireless communications system may include a notification server and at least one mobile wireless communications device. The at least one mobile wireless communications device may include an output device, a position determining device, and a processor. The processor may be configured to obtain at least one notification from the notification server, determine a current location based upon the position determining device, and output the at least one notification via the output device. The processor may also be configured to selectively output navigation information for a route from the current location to a destination location via the output device based upon the at least one notification being output. |
| US09164170B2 |
Systems and methods for autotilting a ground-mapping radar
Systems and methods that utilize a terrain database to find the elevation of the ground in the area of ground-mapping illumination to optimize the tilt of a ground-mapping antenna. An exemplary system located on a host aircraft includes a memory that stores terrain elevation data and a component that provides height, position, and orientation information of the host aircraft. A processor receives the height, the position, and the orientation information; defines a desired terrain area to be mapped, based on the received information; retrieves terrain elevation data from the memory, based on the desired terrain area to be mapped; and calculates at least one tilt angle for a ground-mapping radar function based on the retrieved terrain height value and the aircraft's height, position, and orientation information. One or more actuators is commanded to move an antenna based on the calculated at least one tilt angle. |
| US09164169B2 |
Radio frequency transponder system
Various embodiments relate to a radio frequency transponder. In one embodiment, the transponder includes: a substrate and at least one planar antenna on the substrate, the antenna having a shape determining a corresponding resonant frequency of the antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to cause a phase difference between backscattered signals generated in response to excitation of the antenna by orthogonally polarized interrogation signals at the resonant frequency, and the phase difference represents a code of the antenna. |
| US09164168B2 |
Systems for detecting movement of a target
A system is disclosed for wirelessly detecting movement of a target. The system comprises a reference oscillator, a transmitter, a receiver, a demodulator, and a processor, wherein: the reference oscillator generates references frequencies for the transmitter, the receiver, and the demodulator; the transmitter generates a continuous-wave signal at a frequency based on the transmitter reference frequency and wirelessly transmits it to the target; the receiver wirelessly receives a reflected signal from the target having a phase angle corresponding to movement of the target and converts the reflected signal into an intermediate frequency signal based on the receiver reference frequency; the demodulator demodulates the intermediate frequency signal into an in-phase component and a quadrature component; and the processor converts the in-phase component and the quadrature component into a movement signal corresponding to movement of the target. |
| US09164167B2 |
Personal electronic device with a micro-impulse radar
A personal electronic device such as a smart phone can include a micro-impulse radar (MIR). |
| US09164162B1 |
Estimating information about an antenna system, based on propagation-time measurements that are provided by wireless terminals
A location engine that accounts for propagation-time components in an antenna system disposed between i) the base station that serves a wireless terminal and ii) the airwaves over which electromagnetic signals propagate between the antenna elements and wireless terminal. By considering and accounting for these propagation components, the location engine is able to estimate information about the antenna system, such as i) whether the antenna system is a distributed antenna system and ii) the configuration of the antenna system. Based on this estimated information, the location engine is also able to estimate adjustments that can be made to location-related measurements, and, with these adjustments, estimate the location of one or more wireless terminals. |
| US09164160B2 |
Techniques for tracking destinations on a mobile computing device
Various embodiments of systems and techniques for tracking destinations on a mobile computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, the mobile computing device may comprise or implement hardware and/or software configured to determine arrival at a destination and what is situated at the destination. |
| US09164154B2 |
Electro permanent magnetic system with magnetic state indicator
An electro permanent magnetic system (10) for anchoring ferromagnetic material, with magnetic state indicator (14), comprising: an electro permanent magnetic module (12), a control unit (11) for said electro permanent magnetic module (12), an electrical connection system (13) between said control unit (11) and said electro permanent magnetic module (12); a magnetization indicator (14) for said electro permanent magnetic module (12) associated with the electro permanent magnetic module (12); characterized in that said magnetization indicator (14) is a bistable indicator having two stable states; said magnetization indicator (14) not requiring electrical power to remain in one of said stable states; said magnetization indicator (14) being electrically fed only in association with the magnetization or demagnetization of said electro permanent magnetic module (12), to pass from one stable state to the other of said two stable states. |
| US09164147B2 |
Method and apparatus for 3D IC test
An apparatus comprises a die comprising a plurality of switch/router circuits; and a plurality of additional dies. Each respective one of the plurality of additional dies comprises: a respective network interface, which is electrically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of switch/router circuits; and a respective interconnection test logic, which is electrically coupled to the respective network interface and the interconnection test logic in at least one other one of the plurality of additional dies. |
| US09164146B2 |
Tap and shadow access port output circuitry with clock doubler
The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for providing a shadow access port within a device. The shadow access port is accessed to perform operations in the device by reusing the TDI, TMS, TCK and TDO signals that are used to operate a test access port within the device. The presence and operation of the shadow access port is transparent to the presence and operation of the test access port. According to the disclosure, the shadow access port operates on the falling edge of the TCK signal while the test access port conventionally operates on the rising edge of the TCK signal. |
| US09164145B2 |
Apparatus and method for testing semiconductor device
There are provided an apparatus for testing a semiconductor device and a method for testing a semiconductor device. The apparatus for testing a semiconductor device includes: a temperature detection unit detecting a temperature of a semiconductor device to generate a detected temperature; a controller comparing the detected temperature with a preset control temperature to generate a comparison result, and determining whether to cool the semiconductor device according to the comparison result; and a cooling unit cooling the semiconductor device according to a control of the controller, wherein the controller resets the control temperature, when the detected temperature is outside of a range of an operational temperature of the semiconductor device. |
| US09164143B2 |
Method and device for detecting state of overcurrent protector for battery
The disclosure discloses a method and device for detecting a state of an overcurrent protector for a battery, wherein a voltage Uout of a power supply and a voltage Ubat of a battery connected to the power supply via an overcurrent protector is acquired, and U=|Uout−Ubat| is calculated; when UL≦U≦UH and |Ibat|≦Imin, the voltage of the power supply is adjusted to be U′out, wherein UL and UH are the minimum value and maximum value of a difference between the voltage of the power supply and the voltage of the battery, respectively, Ibat is a current of the battery, and Imin is a current detecting precision for detecting a current equipment of the battery; the voltage of the battery U′bat after adjusting the voltage of the power supply is acquired, and U′=|U′out−U′bat| is calculated; and a state of the overcurrent protector for the battery is determined. With the disclosure, in the case that the difference between the voltage of the battery and the supply voltage is small, by regulating the supply voltage and comparing the voltage difference across the overcurrent protector again, accurate detection of the state of the overcurrent protector for the battery as well as reduction of detecting costs is enabled. |
| US09164138B2 |
Electric vehicle service equipment tester
A tester connects with the connector of electrical vehicle service equipment (EVSE). The tester simulates the battery supply of an electric vehicle to test whether the EVSE is properly operating without requiring that the electric vehicle be present. In one embodiment LEDs are employed to indicate whether the EVSE meets specifications. In a second embodiment various measurements of voltage levels and signals are provided to allow for a more detailed analysis of the performance characteristics of the EVSE. Ground fault, proximity sensor, and re-closure tests are also undertaken. |
| US09164133B2 |
Switched averaging error amplifier
A signal averaging circuit includes a plurality of switched weighted current sources to generate a total amount of charge. The total amount of charge is representative of a weighted sum of a plurality of input signal samples during an active period of a read enable signal. A timing control signal generator is coupled to receive an input signal and the read enable signal and sequentially switch the plurality of switched weighted current sources to adjust the total amount of charge in response to the input signal during the active period of the read enable signal. A storage circuit is coupled to the plurality of switched weighted current sources to convert the total amount of charge into a voltage representative of an output signal. |
| US09164129B2 |
Voltage detection circuit
A voltage detection circuit includes: an amplifier which amplifies a voltage difference between first and second input signals input into non-inverting and inverting input terminals of the amplifier via first and second input portions; a first signal line which connects the first input portion to the amplifier; a second signal line which connects the second input portion to the amplifier; a first capacitor connected in parallel to the first signal line; a second capacitor connected in parallel to the second signal line; a first filter element which has an inductor component and a resistor component and is connected in series to the first signal line between the first capacitor and the amplifier; and a second filter element which has an inductor component and a resistor component and is connected in series to the second signal line between the second capacitor and the amplifier. |
| US09164127B2 |
Contactor and semiconductor test apparatus comprising the same
Provided is a test contactor for testing a semiconductor device which includes a cylinder, a piston which is configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position according to a change in pressure in the cylinder, and a pressing part which is configured to change its location according to the reciprocating motion of the piston. The pressing part is configured to be in contact with the semiconductor device when the piston is located at the first position, and the pressing part is configured not to be in contact with the semiconductor device when the piston is located at the second position. |
| US09164126B1 |
Wrist meter-mount system
A wrist meter-mount system having a meter mount configured to attach to a meter, and a wrist mount configured to attach a meter mount to a person's wrist is described. The meter mount and wrist mount are configured to be detachably attachable to each other by at least one magnet. The meter mount has a first set of engagement teeth that interface with a second set of engagement teeth on the wrist mount. The engagement teeth allow the meter to be rotationally positioned as desired on the wrist mount. The wrist meter-mount system allows a user to attach a meter to their wrist and use one or both hands to connect a probe or probes to a measurement location. In one embodiment, a wrist mount comprises a cantilevered base allowing an attached meter to be inclined up to a desired reading location. |
| US09164124B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling automatic gain of inertial sensor
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for controlling an automatic gain of an inertial sensor. The automatic gain control apparatus of an inertial sensor includes: an inertial sensor; a driving unit; a detection unit; a state determination unit generates an AGC control signal according to the state of the driving mass; and a control unit that includes an AGC controlling to compensate for the driving displacement of the driving mass when the state of the driving mass is abnormal and performs a control to wake-up the AGC or convert the AGC into a sleep mode according to the AGC control signal input from the state determination unit to operate the AGC at the corresponding driving rate. |
| US09164123B2 |
Micromechanical rotary acceleration sensor and method for detecting a rotary acceleration
The disclosure relates to a micromechanical rotary acceleration sensor including a substrate with at least one anchoring device and at least two flywheel masses. At least one of the flywheel masses is connected to at least one anchoring device by means of a coupling element. The at least one anchoring device is designed in such a manner that the at least two flywheel masses are elastically deflectable from a respective rest position about at least one axis of rotation. The at least two flywheel masses is designed in such a manner that they have different natural frequencies. |
| US09164120B2 |
Method of and device for capturing 3D data of one or more airborne particles
Disclosed is a method of capturing 3D data of one or more airborne. At least one image of the one or more airborne particles is taken by a plenoptic camera of which the geometry and the optical properties of its optics are known, and the distance of a plane of focus with at least one selected particle of the one or more airborne particles from a defined reference location is determined by use of the captured image together with the known optical properties and the known geometry of the optics of the plenoptic camera. |
| US09164117B2 |
Stress reduction components for sensors
An accelerometer device for reducing stress on the sensor resulting from temperature extremes and multiple coefficients of thermal expansion. An exemplary accelerometer device includes upper and lower stators and a reed. The reed includes a support ring and a paddle that is flexibly connected to the support ring. The support ring includes a ring section and at least two mounting devices. The mounting devices are at least partially mechanically isolated from the ring section. The ring section flexibly receives the paddle. The mounting devices include a pad area and a neck area that connect the pad area to the ring section. The neck area includes a width dimension that is narrower than a diameter dimension of the pad area. |
| US09164116B2 |
Wash element, wash station and process for washing reusable fluid manipulators
A wash element for washing one or more reusable fluid manipulators is provided comprising at least one nozzle for connection to a fluid pump to generate a fluid jet and at least one deflector surface positioned to deflect the fluid jet towards a washing zone for receiving at least a portion of the fluid manipulator. The deflector surface is being shaped to broaden the fluid jet. The invention further relates to a wash station having a cavity provided with one or more wash elements. The invention yet further relates to an automated system for manipulating fluids comprising at least one wash station and a controller set up to control washing the fluid manipulator. In a process for washing the reusable fluid manipulator at least a portion of the fluid manipulator is moved in a washing zone, a fluid jet of washing fluid is generated and directed onto a deflector surface shaped to broaden and deflect the fluid jet towards the washing zone. |
| US09164115B2 |
High-speed, automated chromatographic analyzer for determination of nonglycated and glycated proteinaceous species in blood samples
High-speed, automated analyzers for analyzes of biological fluids, such as whole blood or blood-derived components, include specialized analyzer and sample transfer features permitting injection-to-injection analysis times on the order of one minute. The analyzers are particularly designed for HPLC analysis for glycated and nonglycated proteinaceous species in blood samples. |
| US09164098B2 |
Determining an expression status of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in a biological sample
A method for determining an expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) of a subject. The method includes providing a sample from the subject; measuring one of (i) amounts of two or more proteins in the sample, each protein having a molecular weight substantially equal to 4740, 8404, 8419, 8435, 8450, 8455, 8465, 8570, 8607 or 8626 atomic mass units, and (ii) amounts of at least one of human cystein-rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1), one or more variants of the human cystein-rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1 variants), and proteolytic digestion products thereof in the sample; and comparing the amounts of the proteins to control amounts, which control amounts are determinative of the expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. |
| US09164096B2 |
Monoclonal antibody against necrosis marker PRDX4 and use thereof
[PROBLEM] To provide a monoclonal antibody against a biomarker which shows high specificity and can be effectively used in detection and diagnosis of various lesions relevant to various kinds of carcinomas and foci of necrosis, and so forth.[MEANS] A monoclonal antibody against a necrosis marker consisting the following amino acid sequence: (1) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (2) an amino acid sequence having substitution, deletion and/or insertion of one or several amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of (1) or sharing a homology of 90% or more with the amino acid sequence of (1), and showing the same function, activity or property as that of the amino acid sequence of (1) as a protein. |
| US09164095B2 |
Myeloperoxidase, a risk indicator for cardiovascular disease
Diagnostic tests for characterizing an individual's risk of developing or having a cardiovascular disease. In one embodiment the present diagnostic test comprises determining the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a bodily sample obtained from the individual or test subject. In another embodiment, the diagnostic test comprises determining the level of MPO mass in a bodily sample obtained from the test subject. In another embodiment, the diagnostic test comprises determining the level of one or more select MPO-generated oxidation products in a bodily sample obtained from the test subject. The select MPO-generated oxidation products are dityrosine, nitrotyrosine, methionine sulphoxide or an MPO-generated lipid peroxidation products. Levels of MPO activity, MPO mass, or the select MPO-generated oxidation product in bodily samples from the test subject are then compared to a predetermined value that is derived from measurements of MPO activity, MPO mass, or the select MPO-generated oxidation product in comparable bodily samples obtained from healthy controls. Such comparison characterizes the test subject's risk of developing CVD. |
| US09164091B2 |
Centrifugal micro-fluidic device and method for detecting analytes from liquid specimen
A centrifugal micro-fluidic device detecting analytes in a liquid specimen and a method of detection of analytes from a liquid specimen using the micro-fluidic device are provided. Reaction efficiency is increased using a repetitive flow of the liquid specimen induced by an alternating combination of capillary force and centrifugal force, thereby enhancing detection sensitivity. |
| US09164087B2 |
Rapid diagnostic device, assay and multifunctional buffer
An improved rapid diagnostic device, assay and multifunctional buffer reagent are provided for the detection of a target analyte in a fluid test sample. The 2-step assay utilizes a dual component flow-through device comprising a test unit and a dried indicator reagent delivery unit capable of receiving the fluid sample and multifunctional buffer, respectively. The test unit comprises a reaction zone containing immobilized capture reagent that can specifically bind to the target analyte, an absorbent zone supporting the reaction zone, and optionally, a blood separation zone in lateral fluid communication with the reaction zone. The dried indicator reagent delivery unit comprises a label zone permeated with a dried indicator reagent which is capable of being placed in transient fluid communication with the reaction zone of the test unit during the assay procedure. The rapid diagnostic assay system reduces the number of assay reagents, method steps and time required for performance compared to other conventional assays. |
| US09164086B2 |
Fluorescent dyes with phosphorylated hydroxymethyl groups and their use in light microscopy and imaging techniques
The invention relates to novel fluorescent dyes with phosphorylated hydroxymethyl groups, a method for preparing the same as well as to their use in imaging techniques. The fluorescent dyes are coumarin, rhodamine or BODIPY dyes having of one of the following general formulae I-III: wherein W=OP(O)Y1Y2 or P(O)Y1Y2, where Y1 and Y2 independently denote any of the following residues: OH, O(−), ORa and ORb, NHRa and NHRb, NRaRb and NRcRd, ORa and NHRb, ORa and NRbRc, NHRa and NRbRc; and any salt thereof. |
| US09164085B2 |
Test strip for the detection of equol
Subject of the invention is a test strip for the detection of equol by a color change. Subject of the invention are also methods for producing the test strip, methods for using the test strip, and uses of the test strip. |
| US09164084B2 |
Methods for determining aggressiveness of a cancer and treatment thereof
The invention generally relates to methods for determining aggressiveness of a cancer and treatment thereof. Certain aspects of the invention provide methods that involve conducting an assay on a lipid droplet in order to detect an amount of a biomarker within the lipid droplet, and determining aggressiveness of a cancer based upon the amount of the biomarker within the lipid droplet. Other aspects of the invention provide methods for treating a cancer that involve administering an agent that blocks storage of cholesteryl ester in a lipid droplet. |
| US09164082B2 |
Biochip substrate and method for producing same
A substrate for biochips, which does not induce autofluorescence, which can immobilize a biologically relevant substance(s) easily, which can prevent the undesirable spread of a liquid spot which is added dropwise on the biochips when using the biochips, in which the adhesion between a carbon-containing layer and an aluminum material is high, and which can be produced at lower cost than the known substrate for biochips; a method for producing the substrate; and a biochip including the substrate are disclosed. The substrate for biochips comprises a carbon-coated aluminum material, wherein the carbon-coated aluminum material comprises an aluminum material and a carbon-containing layer formed on at least one surface of the aluminum material, and further comprises an interposing layer which is formed between the aluminum material and the carbon-containing layer, and which interposing layer contains aluminum element and carbon element. |
| US09164072B2 |
Sensor element and method for detecting a gas
A sensor element for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a gas includes a front electrode configured to be exposed to the gas to be measured, a back electrode, and an electrically insulating layer positioned between front electrode and back electrode. The front electrode and the back electrode can be electrically contact connected to an AC voltage source for a qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a gas. The electrically insulating layer is at least locally polarizable in such a way that in a polarized state the electrically insulating layer has a relative permittivity which is lower than in a non-polarized state by a factor in a range of greater than or equal to 1.1. |
| US09164071B2 |
Method and system for determining levels of gases
A method and system for measuring or assessing the homeostatic relationship between gases in the body, environment or water. The measured or assessed level of gases in the body, environment or air uses the interrelationships of the various components in order to establish guidelines for treating individuals, the environment or water. |
| US09164070B2 |
Column adc
The described embodiments may provide a chemical detection circuit. The chemical detection circuit may comprise a column of chemically-sensitive pixels. Each chemically-sensitive pixel may comprise a chemically-sensitive transistor, and a row selection device. The chemical detection circuit may further comprise a column interface circuit coupled to the column of chemically-sensitive pixels and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the column interface circuit. Each column interface circuit and column-level ADC may be arrayed with other identical circuits and share critical resources such as biasing and voltage references, thereby saving area and power. |
| US09164067B2 |
System and method for tracking chemical entities in an LC/MS system
In complex separations, more than one entity may have the same molecular weight, to within the ability of an instrument to distinguish. Accurate mass measurements are used in light of the previously unknown regularities in retention time to determine a retention time (N pairs of values (tiB, tiBref)) (506). The retention time map allows a reference retention time to be assigned to each entity in a separation. The reference retention times, together with accurate mass measurements, can then be used to track and to compare entities (704,708) between separations. |
| US09164064B2 |
Flaw detection method and apparatus for fuel cell components
Various embodiments provide systems and methods for detecting defects in components of a fuel cell. Embodiment methods and systems include directing acoustic energy into the component, detecting acoustic energy from the component, analyzing a characteristic of the detected acoustic energy, and based on the analyzing, determining the presence or absence of a defect in the component. |
| US09164057B2 |
Method for operating a measuring point
A method for operating a measuring point for determining at least one measured variable of a medium is disclosed. The measuring point includes a base unit, which is connected releasably with a sensor unit, and which is provided for communication of a signal representing the value of the measured variable to a process monitoring facility. The following steps are included: at least one-time registering and storing in the base unit a value of a diagnostic parameter stored in the sensor unit or produced by the sensor unit; on the basis of this value conforming a prognosis value or prognosis interval stored in the base unit, and storing the conformed prognosis value or prognosis interval in the base unit in place of the previously stored prognosis value or prognosis interval. |
| US09164054B2 |
Method and apparatus for assay of electrochemical properties
The presence of a select analyte in the sample is evaluated in an an electrochemical system using a conduction cell-type apparatus. A potential or current is generated between the two electrodes of the cell sufficient to bring about oxidation or reduction of the analyte or of a mediator in an analyte-detection redox system, thereby forming a chemical potential gradient of the analyte or mediator between the two electrodes After the gradient is established, the applied potential or current is discontinued and an analyte-independent signal is obtained from the relaxation of the chemical potential gradient. The analyte-independent signal is used to correct the analyte-dependent signal obtained during application of the potential or current. This correction allows an improved measurement of analyte concentration because it corrects for device-specific and test specific factors such as transport (mobility) of analyte and/or mediator, effective electrode area, and electrode spacing (and as a result, sample volume), without need for separate calibration values. The analysis can be performed using disposable test strips in a hand held meter, for example for glucose testing. |
| US09164050B2 |
Thermal test apparatus and method
Thermal test apparatus comprising a specimen supported by a fixture, a thermal shroud comprising a flexible insulating fabric forming an enclosure around at least a portion of the specimen, and a temperature controlled air supply connected to an opening formed in the enclosure for delivering a supply of temperature controlled air into the enclosure. Also, a method of conducting a thermal test. |
| US09164049B2 |
Temperature-control device for thermoanalytical analyses
A temperature-control device for thermoanalytical analyses, including a housing, one heating element, one protective sheath disposed in the housing, wherein the protective sheath is connectable to a gas supply. The heating element is partially arranged inside the protective sheath. |
| US09164040B2 |
Method and apparatus providing analytical device and operating method based on solid state image sensor
An analytical system-on-a-chip can be used as an analytical imaging device, for example, for detecting the presence of a chemical compound. A layer of analytical material is formed on a transparent layer overlying a solid state image sensor. The analytical material can react in known ways with at least one reactant to block light or to allow light to pass through to the array. The underlying sensor array, in turn, can process the presence, absence or amount of light into a digitized signal output. The system-on-a-chip may also include software that can detect and analyze the output signals of the device. |
| US09164030B2 |
Image capturing device and image capturing method
The present invention is applied for an image capturing device having a light source and a camera that captures an image of a measurement subject placed in an optical path that lies between said camera itself and said light source. The image capturing device according to the present invention includes a control unit that subtracts a plurality of frame images captured by said camera during an OFF period of said light source from a plurality of frame images captured by said camera during an ON period of said light source, the number of frame images captured by said camera during the OFF period being the same as that number of frame images obtained by said camera during the ON period and integrates the differences between their images. |
| US09164029B2 |
Method of classifying and discerning wooden materials
A score of each of multiple pieces of reflection spectrum information included in a population is calculated using a first second principal component loading acquired by a principal component analysis, and a first group is classified based on the calculated score. Then, a score of each of multiple pieces of reflection spectrum information included in the population is calculated using a second second principal component loading acquired by a principal component analysis on a second population in which the reflection spectrum information of the first group is not included, and a second group is classified based on the calculated score. By performing a second principal component analysis using the second population, the second group can be accurately classified based on minute characteristics of each type of material included in the reflection spectrum information and the classification can be performed with a high accuracy. |
| US09164028B2 |
Spectrometric measurement device and program
A spectrometric measurement device capable of determining an optimal wavelength for detecting an objective component is provided. One mode of the present invention is a fluorescence measurement device for casting an excitation light of a predetermined wavelength into or onto a sample and detecting a predetermined wavelength of light contained in the fluorescence generated from the sample irradiated with the excitation light. |
| US09164025B2 |
Method for inspection of image sticking
A method for image sticking inspection of a light-transmissive device is disclosed. The light-transmissive device is responsive to application of a voltage to electrodes thereof to adjust light transmission characteristics. The method includes: providing light for passage through the light-transmissive device; applying a first alternating current (AC) voltage to the electrodes; applying a direct current voltage to the electrodes; and applying a second AC voltage to the electrodes, and measuring intensity of the light passing through the light-transmissive device during application of the second AC voltage. |
| US09164017B2 |
Identification of plastic material composition
Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a color additive that is embedded or otherwise not visible. The color additive identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is deformed such that the embedded color additive is made visible in the optical spectrum, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. |
| US09164011B2 |
Estimation device for cylinder intake air amount and internal EGR rate in internal combustion engine
An estimation device for a cylinder intake air amount and an internal EGR rate in an internal combustion engine is provided which is capable of making an estimation with a high degree of accuracy in a small number of adaptation constants. The estimation device calculates a volumetric efficiency corresponding value and the internal EGR rate based on an exhaust efficiency (a linear function of intake pipe internal pressure) which is an index indicating an amount of residual gas which is an exhaust gas after combustion remaining in the cylinder without being discharged from the cylinder to an exhaust pipe, and an intake efficiency (a linear function of intake pipe internal pressure) which is an index indicating an amount of air coming into the cylinder from the intake pipe excluding the residual gas. |
| US09164010B2 |
Torque detection apparatus, electric power steering system and vehicle
There are provided a torque detection apparatus with high reliability and an electric power steering system and a vehicle which use the torque detection apparatus. The torque detection apparatus (30) detects the torque based upon a difference in the terminal voltage of the pair of detection coils. In this situation, the torque detection apparatus (30) outputs two analog torque signals (analog main torque signal Tma and analog sub torque signal Tsa) to the ECU (15), and outputs to the ECU (15) a digital communication signal S in which digital torque values obtained by converting the two analog torque signals to a digital format (main torque value Tm and sub torque value Ts) and diagnosis information Diag of the torque sensor circuit are superimposed. |
| US09164004B2 |
Hermetic weighing cell having overload protection
A load cell has a longitudinal body including a bending beam axially between a force input element and a force output element, strain gages applied on strainable measuring parts of the bending beam, a hermetically sealed enclosure outside around the strain gages and the strainable measuring parts, an O-ring and centering pins. An end face of the force input or output element is to be connected to a weighing scale part in an aligned, force-transmitting, hermetically-sealed manner, for which the end face has centering holes receiving the centering pins, a circular groove receiving the O-ring, and a threaded hole receiving a connecting bolt. Further embodiments involve an overload protection integrated in the bending beam, or the enclosure including a stiff pipe sleeve and ring elements with flexible membranes connecting the sleeve to the longitudinal body. |
| US09163999B2 |
Temperature sensor, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A temperature sensor includes a front surface; a back surface; a first temperature-sensitive element and a second temperature-sensitive element disposed side by side between the front surface and the back surface; an infrared-ray absorber; and a heat-transfer inhibitor. When the temperature sensor is exposed to infrared rays that have propagated from both of a front-surface side and a back-surface side of the temperature sensor, the infrared absorber heats up by absorbing the infrared rays and transfers heat to the first temperature-sensitive element and the heat-transfer inhibiter inhibits heat transfer to the second temperature-sensitive element caused by the infrared rays. |
| US09163998B2 |
Infrared detector
An infrared detector may include a substrate, a resonant unit spaced apart from the substrate, the resonant unit configured to generate heat by inducing resonance at a plurality of wavelengths of incident infrared light, a thermistor layer configured to support the resonant unit and be spaced apart from the resonant unit, the thermistor layer having a resistance value that varies according to the heat generated in the resonant unit, and a connection unit configured to support the thermistor layer such that the thermistor layer is spaced apart from the substrate and electrically connect the thermistor layer to the substrate. |
| US09163995B2 |
Techniques for tiling arrays of pixel elements
Sub-arrays such as tiles or chips having pixel elements arranged on a routing layer or carrier to form a larger array. Through-chip vias or the like to the backside of the chip are used for connecting with the pixel elements. Edge features of the tiles may provide for physical alignment, mechanical attachment and chip-to-chip communication. Edge damage tolerance with minimal loss of function may be achieved by moving unit cell circuitry and the electrically active portions of a pixel element away from the tile edge(s) while leaving the optically active portion closer to the edge(s) if minor damage will not cause a complete failure of the pixel. The pixel elements may be thermal emitter elements for IR image projectors, thermal detector elements for microbolometers, LED-based emitters, or quantum photon detectors such as those found in visible, infrared and ultraviolet FPAs (focal plane arrays), and the like. Various architectures are disclosed. |
| US09163992B2 |
Abnormal measurement detection device and method for infrared radiation thermometer
A technique for an infrared radiation thermometer used for thermography that detects measurement abnormality of an infrared radiation thermometer and estimates the causes of the measurement abnormality such as contamination of an objective lens and a malfunction in a mechanism section of the infrared radiation thermometer. |
| US09163991B2 |
Color space color value determination from digital image
A device captures a digital image of a color of interest and a physical color calibration chart. A corrected color value of the color of interest is determined based on the physical color calibration chart and the color of interest as captured within the digital image. A selected color value for the corrected color value is determined, as a closest color value within a predetermined color space or as a spot color value within the predetermined color space. |
| US09163989B2 |
Recording apparatus
There is provided a recording apparatus including a colorimeter unit. The colorimeter unit includes a colorimeter including a color-measuring device that acquires colorimetric data from a recording surface of a recording medium; a first member that is a frame that supports the colorimeter; and a second member that is a frame fastened to the first member using a fastening device. The fastening device has an elastic member and fastens the first member and the second member together relatively movably against the elastic force of the elastic member. |
| US09163985B2 |
Spectral characteristic measurement apparatus and spectral characteristic measurement method
A spectral characteristic measurement apparatus includes a spectrometer for spatially dispersing incident light depending on wavelengths and a detection portion for receiving light dispersed by the spectrometer. The detection portion includes a first detection area on which a component in a first wavelength range is incident and a second detection area on which a component in a second wavelength range is incident. The apparatus includes a correction portion for correcting stray light detected by the detection portion derived from light to be measured. The correction portion corrects a stray light pattern based on a first amount of change with respect to wavelengths in the first wavelength range of the stray light pattern and a second amount of change with respect to wavelengths included in a result of detection in the first detection area of the detection portion, to calculate a stray light component derived from the light to be measured. |
| US09163984B2 |
Spectroscopic sensor and angle limiting filter
An angle limiting filter includes: a first light-shielding layer containing a first light-shielding material and provided with a first opening; a second light-shielding layer containing a second light-shielding material and located in a region which surrounds at least one portion of the first light-shielding layer; a third light-shielding layer containing the first light-shielding material, provided with a second opening at least one portion of which overlaps the first opening, and located above the first light-shielding layer; and a fourth light-shielding layer containing the second light-shielding material and located above the second light-shielding layer in a region which surrounds at least one portion of the third light-shielding layer. |
| US09163983B2 |
Light therapy monitoring
A light-monitoring apparatus includes a power source, a light detector, a computer processor coupled with the power source and in communication with the light detector and configured to receive and record light exposure detected by the light detector, an output device coupled with the computer processor, and a computer-readable medium coupled with the computer processor and storing instruction code for summing the recorded light exposure from the computer processor over time and communicating a signal to the output device to generate and communicate a signal indicating that a cumulative threshold light exposure for achieving a health benefit has been reached. The apparatus can accordingly be used by an individual to monitor cumulative light exposure from both natural and artificial sources, e.g., in the treatment of seasonal or non-seasonal depression. |
| US09163977B2 |
Alert system for detecting rising water levels
A portable, self-contained flood alarm which alleviates the shortcomings of the alarms of the prior art and offers an easy-to-use and reliable flood and water level alarm which will adequately warn users of potential flood conditions and possibly save their personal belongings, equipment and lives. |
| US09163970B2 |
Dispenser with discharge control
A dispenser is provided for a flowable product and is defined by a container body forming a storage chamber. A discharge tube is provided with an inlet positioned adjacent a bottom end of the storage chamber and an outlet positioned adjacent a discharge opening in the container. A sealing member is rotatably secured to the bottom end of the container body and includes a defined first position and defined second position. A closing member is positioned at the inlet end of the discharge tube when the sealing member is in the defined first position. Rotation of the sealing member from the first position to the second position moves the closing member away from the inlet opening and exposes the inlet to product within the storage chamber for selective discharge through the discharge tube outlet and the discharge opening. |
| US09163967B2 |
Electromagnetic flow meter and method for monitoring fluid flow of a conducting fluid having either a uniform or a non-uniform flow profile
An electromagnetic flow meter and method for monitoring the flow of a fluid is provided. In particular, the electromagnetic flow meter and method measure the axial velocity profile of a conducting fluid. The conducting fluid may be a conducting single phase fluid or a conducting continuous phase of a multiphase fluid. The conducting fluid may have a uniform flow profile or a non-uniform flow profile. The electromagnetic flow meter and method measure the axial velocity profile of a conducting fluid by dividing the flow cross section into multiple pixels and determining the axial velocity of the conducting fluid in each pixel. Having derived the axial velocity profile, the electromagnetic flow meter and method may further derive the volumetric flow rate of the conducting fluid. The electromagnetic flow meter and method may be suitable for measuring the axial velocity profile and optionally the volumetric flow rates of each phase of a multiphase fluid. |
| US09163955B2 |
Electronic sensing system with environmental sensor patches
An electronic sensing system has a transceiver with input and output pads, an excitation circuit connected to the output pad, and a detection circuit connected to the input pad. An electrically-conductive sensor patch has an electrical state that changes with exposure to a corresponding environmental factor. The detection circuit detects an electrical state of the input electrical-connection pad in response to the excitation signal and the electrical state of the input pad. Several electrically-conductive sensor patches are distributed over the substrate so that they are exposed to an external environmental factor substantially contemporaneously, each having a conductance susceptible to a respective environmental factor. The output pad is electrically connected to the input pad through the sensor patches in series, so that the detection circuit detects an electrical state of the input pad in response to the excitation signal and the respective conductances of the sensor patches. |
| US09163953B2 |
Low fuel warning
A low fuel notification system for use in association with a vehicular navigation system is operable to generate and provide notifications to the vehicle operator of low fuel conditions and provide information regarding available refueling stations based on the station's location and the vehicle's estimated driving range. |
| US09163950B2 |
Vehicle navigation device, a method for navigating and a non-transitory computer readable medium
A vehicle navigation device for use on a vehicle includes a user interface that receives information on a first place and a destination, a GPS sensor that detects a position of the vehicle navigation device, and a memory that stores navigation rules information. The vehicle navigation device also includes circuitry that calculate a plurality of routes from the position of the vehicle to the destination, extracts different navigation rules, which are different from navigation rules of the first place, from navigation rules in the routes, categorizes the different navigation rules into at least two groups of first rules and second rules, determines a route from the plurality of routes, and controls the user interface to output information on the first rules before the vehicle starts driving, output navigation information on the route, and output information on the second rules when the vehicle is where the second rule is applicable. |
| US09163946B2 |
Methods and applications for motion mode detection for personal navigation systems
A method and apparatus of detecting and using motion modes in a mobile device is described. Movement data is collected from an inertial motion unit (IMU) of the mobile device and compared to two or more sets of training data, each set of training data corresponding to a different motion mode. Then, a motion mode is determined to be the current mode of the mobile device on the results of the comparison. The motion mode is used by the mobile device in a variety of applications. |
| US09163945B2 |
Database search for visual beacon
A visual beacon, such as a Quick Response (QR) code or other type of artificial visual beacon is identified based on a coarse position and content information, and optionally, type of the visual beacon. For example, position may be based on latitude and longitude, e.g., from a satellite positioning system, or the CellID from a cellular network. The content information may be based on a sampling of the content before or after decoding. Content information may alternatively be all of the decoded content or an image of the visual beacon. Thus, for example, a mobile platform may generate a visual beacon identifier using the position and content information, which is transmitted to a navigation assistance server. The server can access and transmit to the mobile platform a navigation assistance message associated with the visual beacon identifier. If no visual beacon identifier is found, the server may enter the information. |
| US09163943B1 |
Systems and methods for using magnetic field readings to refine device location estimates
Systems and methods for using magnetic field readings to refine device location estimates are provided. As an example, a plurality of magnetic field readings can be collected by a device as it travels along a path. A positioning system (e.g., GPS) or other sensors can be used to provide a coarse location for the device at each reading. A contribution to each of the magnetic field readings by the Earth's magnetic field can be removed to obtain a plurality of residual readings and a plurality of regions of interest along the path can be identified based at least in part on the residual readings. The regions of interest can be compared to each other to identify a plurality of correspondences between magnetic field readings or residual readings and the plurality of correspondences can be used to refine the location estimates. |
| US09163941B2 |
System and method for implementing low-cost electronic gyroscopes and accelerometer
Accelerometers have a number of wide-ranging uses, and it is desirable to both increase their accuracy while decreasing size. Here, millimeter or sub-millimeter wavelength accelerometers are provided which has the advantage of having the high accuracy of an optical accelerometer, while being compact. Additionally, because millimeter or sub-millimeter wavelength signals are employed, cumbersome and awkward on-chip optical devices and bulky optical mediums can be avoided. |
| US09163938B2 |
Systems and methods for image acquisition
Methods and systems for image acquisition are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to cause incremental relative rotation of a projector with respect to an image-capture device through multiple discrete angles. At each angle of the multiple discrete angles, the computing device may be configured to cause the image-capture device to capture a first image of an object, cause the projector to project a pattern on the object, and cause the image-capture device, while the pattern is projected on the object, to capture a second image of the object. |
| US09163936B1 |
Three-dimensional profilometer
Profilometers for industrial metrology and other applications are described. A line is projected on a surface to be profiled. The line is scanned to build a three dimensional point cloud allowing the three-dimensional (3D) profile of the surface to be determined. In some embodiments, the line is projected by a laser system. In other embodiments, the line is projected by a digital micromirror device (DMD). In still further embodiments, multiple lines, or other patterns are projected. |
| US09163934B2 |
Gap measurement device
A gap measurement device 1 comprises a light source 5 for projecting light on a gap 3 to be measured, a lens optical system 6 for focusing on an imaging surface 7 a gap image 3A from light transmitted through the gap 3, and a light-receiving element 9 for receiving light of the gap image 3A formed on the imaging surface 7 of the lens optical system 6. A holed mask 8 provided with a light-transmitting hole 8a having a prescribed aperture size is arranged on the imaging surface 7, and the light-receiving element 9 receives the light of the gap image 3A via the hole 8a. A gap size at a point to be measured in an extended gap 3 can be measured by forming an image of the gap with the lens optical system 6 and placing the hole 8a of the holed mask 8 on the point to be measured on the imaging surface 7 of the lens optical system 6. |
| US09163931B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring thickness and temperature and substrate processing system
An apparatus for measuring a thickness or wear amount and a temperature of the ceramic member by using a terahertz wave includes a terahertz wave generating unit configured to output a terahertz wave, a terahertz wave analysis unit configured to analyze a terahertz wave and an optical system configured to guide the terahertz wave output from the terahertz wave generating unit to the ceramic member and guide reflected waves of the terahertz wave reflected from the ceramic member to the terahertz wave analysis unit. The terahertz wave analysis unit obtains an optical path difference between a first reflection wave reflected from a front surface of the ceramic member and a second reflection wave reflected from a rear surface of the ceramic member and measures a thickness of the ceramic member based on the optical path difference. |
| US09163928B2 |
Reducing registration error of front and back wafer surfaces utilizing a see-through calibration wafer
A calibration wafer and a method for calibrating an interferometer system are disclosed. The calibration method includes: determining locations of the holes defined in the calibration wafer based on two opposite intensity frame; comparing the locations of the holes against the locations measured utilizing an external measurement device; adjusting a first optical magnification or a second optical magnification at least partially based on the comparison result; defining a distortion map for each of the first and second intensity frames based on the comparison of the locations of the holes; generating an extended distortion map for each of the first and second intensity frames by map fitting the distortion map; and utilizing the extended distortion map for each of the first and second intensity frames to reduce at least one of: a registration error or an optical distortion in a subsequent measurement process. |
| US09163927B2 |
Resolver
A resolver can have a stator and a housing fixed without requiring a special jig. The resolver includes a housing in an approximately cylindrical shape, a stator core in an approximately annular shape fixed to the inside of the housing, in which an exciting coil and a detecting coil are wound therearound, and a rotor arranged on the inside of the stator core, wherein the stator core is fixed to the housing by a C-shaped ring, a groove extending in a circumferential direction is provided on the inside of the housing, and the stator core is fixed to the housing by engaging the C-shaped ring with the groove. |
| US09163926B2 |
Inductive detection type rotary encoder
A first reception wiring and a first magnetic flux coupler form a first track having a shape periodically changing in a rotation direction of the rotor at a first pitch. A second reception wiring and a second magnetic flux coupler form a second track having a shape periodically changing in a rotation direction of the rotor at a second pitch. The first reception wiring and the second reception wiring are stacked via a first insulative layer in a direction in which a rotation shaft extends. The first magnetic flux coupler and the second magnetic flux coupler are stacked via a second insulative layer in a direction in which the rotation shaft extends. |
| US09163924B2 |
Air spring height measurement arrangement
The subject invention relates to an air spring height measurement arrangement comprising a magnetic field transmitting arrangement (110) and a magnetic field receiving arrangement (120). The magnetic field transmitting arrangement is adapted to adopt a first state and a second state with regard to the magnetic field receiving arrangement. One of the magnetic field transmitting arrangement (110) and the magnetic field receiving arrangement (120) comprises a first coil (141) and a second coil and the other comprises a third coil (143). A first central axis (161) of the first coil and a second central axis (162) of the second coil enclose a first angle (171) and, in the first state, a third central axis (163) of the third coil (143) and the first central axis enclose a second angle (172), which first and second angle cannot be 0°. |
| US09163922B2 |
Coordinate measurement machine with distance meter and camera to determine dimensions within camera images
An articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) that includes a noncontact 3D measurement device, position transducers, a camera, and a processor operable to project a spot of light to an object point, to measure first 3D coordinates of the object point based on readings of the noncontact 3D measurement device and the position transducers, to capture the spot of light with the camera in a camera image, and to attribute the first 3D coordinates to the spot of light in the camera image. |
| US09163921B2 |
Ultra-portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine
In some embodiments, an articulated arm coordinate measurement machine can include a plurality of transfer members and a plurality of articulation members connecting the plurality of transfer members to each other to measure an angle between the transfer members. The machine can additionally include at least one coordinate acquisition member positioned at an end of the articulated arm. Further, the machine can include a harness connected to at least one of the group consisting of the transfer members and the articulation members to support at least a portion of the weight of the transfer members and the articulation members. The harness can also be configured to mount to a human. |
| US09163920B2 |
Dismountable numerical control machine
Dismountable numerical control machine which comprises a first longitudinal bedplate (1), a base (2), a column (3) attached to the base (2), a secondary carriage or crosspiece (4) and an arm (5), in which the principal carriage or base (2) moves horizontally along the longitudinal bedplate (1), while the secondary carriage or crosspiece (4) can move vertically in relation to the column (3); and in which, also, the arm (5) can be moved horizontally in relation to the crosspiece (4), and which also comprises a transport tool (6) configured as an auxiliary longitudinal bedplate placed adjacent to the principal bedplate (1). |
| US09163918B2 |
Tape measure apparatus with a rotating and sliding catch
An improved tape measure apparatus which includes a catch that is both slidable and rotatable relative to the rule blade in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rule blade when the rule blade is extended from the tape casing. In one embodiment the catch can both roate and slide relative to the rule blade when frictional forces exceed a predefined minimum or are within a predefined range. |
| US09163917B2 |
Lever head
A stylus support member extends in a first direction. A first and second elastic body attaching members are spaced aside from each other in a second direction are arranged spaced aside from the stylus support member in the first direction, and are connected to each other by first and second members. A first elastic body is arranged between a holder and the first elastic body attaching member. A second elastic body is arranged between a first member and the first elastic body attaching member. A third elastic body is arranged between a second member and the second elastic body attaching member. A fourth elastic body is arranged between the holder and the second elastic body attaching member. A detector detects displacement in the second direction of the stylus support member. The first to fourth elastic members perform lever motion of a single degree of freedom. |
| US09163912B1 |
Reactive targets
Disclosed herein is a reactive target for shooting sports and competitions. The reactive target having a plurality of target paddles relative to a pivoting target arm to provide a dueling competition configuration and an arcade configuration. The target paddles being substantially identical and interchangeable. |
| US09163911B2 |
Vehicle stabilization in the event of large detonation
A vehicle, apparatus, method and computer program are provided. The vehicle comprises: vehicle stabilizing means for ejecting at least one non-gaseous mass; means for detecting an explosion local to the vehicle; and control means for controlling, in response to detection of an explosion local to the vehicle, the vehicle stabilizing means to eject at least one non-gaseous mass in order to apply a force to the vehicle and stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. |
| US09163908B2 |
Gunner accessory package
A protected firing platform protection system protects personnel from contact with the protected firing platform. In an embodiment, the protected firing platform protection system is adapted for use with a protected firing platform of a military vehicle. The protected firing platform protection system includes a blanket. The blanket has a carrier and a protective insert. The carrier has an interior. The protective insert is disposed in the interior. The blanket is attached to the protected firing platform. |
| US09163907B2 |
Adaptive camouflage
In a system for the adaptive camouflage of objects, particularly of vehicles, at least one panel-like layer (5) is provided, which is at least partially air-permeable. The air suctioned in from the surroundings can be controlled, before or while it is fed into the layer, to a temperature that is determined at least almost from the background of the object. |
| US09163906B2 |
Ergonomic garment with cut and shearing resistant strapping and an adjustable girth and lock
A protective garment of elastic ergonomic material with waist and thighs straps, and a central panel made of fabrics and obstacle elements in various patterns and combinations in order to delay, impede and deflect knife and scissors blades. Both waist and thigh structures enable adjustable girth via a lock and as such create a flexible and a non-elastic rigid and connected overall protective structure resistant to forcible attempts of undressing by pulling and or by cutting or shearing the garment. |
| US09163903B2 |
Field boresighting using holographic laser projection
Systems and methods for boresighting a weapon having a barrel and at least one component to be aligned with the barrel. In one example, a boresighting apparatus includes a housing configured to attach to the weapon so as to lock the boresighting apparatus in a stationary position relative to the barrel, and a holographic laser projector contained within the housing and configured to project an image, the image including at least one boresighting target, each boresighting target of the at least one boresighting target having a geometric shape selected according to a component of the at least one component so as to permit alignment of the component with the barrel. |
| US09163902B1 |
Sight module
A sight module includes a mounting base for detachably mounting on a firearm, a sight unit including a sight housing upwardly extended from the mounting base, a reflex sight including a light unit supported by the sight housing for generating a sight reticle, and a foldable lens movably coupled at the sight housing and being actuated to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the foldable lens is folded at the sight housing. In the second position, the foldable lens is moved to outwardly extend from the sight housing, such that the sight reticle generated by the reflex sight is projected on the foldable lens in the second position. |
| US09163898B2 |
Mating arrow mounted slide and arrow rest cradle assembly for bowfishing and bowhunting
A mating arrow mounted slide and arrow rest cradle assembly for bowfishing and bowhunting utilizes an arrow shaft mounted slide that is releasably snapped into a cradle carried by the riser of a bow, in which the slide cradle combination provides a tight arrow rest as well as an anchoring mechanism for one end of a line when used for bowfishing. When the arrow is released the slide unsnaps from the cradle and moves in unison with the arrow as the arrow moves out of the bow. |
| US09163895B2 |
Arrow quiver assembly and frame
A frame is provided, and a quiver assembly is attached to the frame. The frame, preferably made from aluminum, is manufactured by using an axis of extrusion that is perpendicular to the primary axis of the quiver assembly. A top portion of the quiver assembly provides blade covers with foam inserts to store, for example, expandable broadheads. The blade covers are non-circular in shape, so that broadheads can be rotated approximately ninety degrees to a secure position. The quiver also utilizes a set screw that allows a the hunter to adjust the camming force required for loading and unloading the quiver from the bow. The quiver assembly utilizes rubber posts that allow for a quiet operation, as well as a secure means of locking the quiver assembly to a bow. |
| US09163890B2 |
Trigger mechanism
A trigger mechanism has a hammer, a hammer spring, a disconnect rest and a sear. The sear translates along a longitudinal axis between a rest position and a break point and also moves in an arc around a rotational axis from the break point to a disconnect position. The sear has a hammer side that presses against and rotates the hammer's cam end of as the sear moves between the rest position and the break point and thereby rotates the hammer's striking end around the hammer's pivot point between its seated and cocked positions. The support side contacts the disconnect rest's face as the sear moves between the rest position and the break point. The support side has an edge that is located at the ledge at the break point position. The hammer spring forces the sear to the disconnect position as the edge moves past the ledge. |
| US09163882B2 |
Plate heat exchanger with channels for ‘leaking fluid’
A double-wall heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange plate pairs. Each heat exchange plate pair forms a double-wall structure including two heat exchange plates that are at least partially separated by a leak space. At least one weep hole is disposed through the plurality of heat exchange plate pairs and intersects the leak spaces of the plurality of plate pairs to channel leaking fluid from the leak spaces to a location outside of the heat exchanger. The at least one weep hole is positioned on a surface of the heat exchanger at a location that is spaced from a side boundary of the heat exchanger thereby enabling an operator of the heat exchanger to observe a leakage on the surface of the heat exchanger. |
| US09163879B2 |
Partially-reduced iron producing apparatus
A partially-reduced iron producing apparatus includes: an exhaust gas circulating device which supplies an oxygen-containing gas to raw-material pellets to be heated by a heat of ignition raw-material pellets, the oxygen-containing gas made by circulating part of an exhaust gas discharged from the raw-material pellets by use of the heat of the ignition raw-material pellets heated in a heating furnace and mixing the discharged exhaust gas with air; and a liquid-tar separating device which is provided in the exhaust gas circulating device and which separates a tar component in the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas as a liquid tar. |
| US09163878B2 |
Device and a method for transporting blanks made from an initially plastic, especially ceramic, material to and from a dryer and a kiln
A device and method for transporting blanks is provided. The blanks are made from an initially plastic, subsequently dried and finally fired material. A transport tray transports the blanks through both a dryer and a kiln. The blanks can be stacked on a drying trolley or a firing trolley. A first transfer device transfers the blanks onto the drying trolley when the blanks are stacked on the transport tray and are plastic. The drying trolley transports the blanks and the transport tray in the dryer for drying the blanks. A second transfer device transfers the blanks and the transport tray onto the firing trolley after the blanks have been dried. The firing trolley transports the blanks and the transport tray in the kiln for firing the blanks. |
| US09163877B2 |
Conveyor oven
A conveyor oven is described. The conveyor oven includes a frame made of load-bearing structural members. The conveyor oven has a modular construction, with the structural members defining a rectangular prism. Blocks of insulation are placed in the frame openings, and a flexible insulating material, such as a multi-layer insulating textile, is used to cover joints between adjacent modules. Along the length of the conveyor oven, idler rollers that support the conveyor belt have ends that penetrate the sides of the oven and are supported such that the rollers can shift as the oven expands and contracts without creating openings for heat or air leakage. Air flow within the oven is managed using sets of adjustable baffle plates above and below the conveyor belt. |
| US09163873B2 |
Method and system for optimized LNG production
A method and system for producing liquefied and sub-cooled natural gas by means of a refrigeration assembly using a single phase gaseous refrigerant comprising: at least two expanders (1-3); a compressor assembly (5-7); a heat exchanger assembly (8) for heat absorption from natural gas; and a heat rejection assembly (10-12). The novel features according to the present invention are arranging the expanders (1-3) in expander loops; using only one and the same refrigerant in all loops; passing an expanded refrigerant flow from the respective expander into the heat exchanger assembly (8), each being at a mass flow and temperature level adapted to de-superheating, condensation or cooling of dense phase and/or sub-cooling of natural gas; and serving the refrigerant to the respective expander in a compressed flow by means of the compressor assembly having compressors or compressor stages enabling adapted inlet and outlet pressures for the respective expander. |
| US09163870B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator in which a rotating bar installed to one of a pair of doors is rotated when the other door is opened or closed. The refrigerator includes a rotating bar to seal a gap between doors, and a guide device to guide rotation of the rotating bar. The guide device includes a base having a receptacle, a rotating unit mounted in the receptacle and rotated by a rotating shaft, a ramp structure fixed in the receptacle and having a ramp, a linkage unit linearly movably secured to the rotating unit and connected to the rotating bar so as to be linearly moved on the ramp and rotated along with the rotating unit about the rotating shaft, and an elastic unit supported by the rotating unit and adapted to transmit elastic force to the linkage unit to allow the linkage unit to move on the ramp. |
| US09163868B2 |
Methods and components for thermal energy storage
A method is provided for storing thermal energy or increasing the thermal energy of a heat pump using reversible chemical reactions in which inorganic oxoacid compounds and/or their salts are hydrolysed and condensed or polymerized in order to release and capture heat.The method allows thermal energy to be stored at ambient circumstances in a transportable medium and allows converting a continuous heat generation process into a discontinuous and even dislocated consumption. |
| US09163867B2 |
Ice cube shape manipulation via heat
An ice making device includes heating and cooling elements that control the formation of ice within a cavity. The ice making device may include one or more fluid inlets that supply liquid water to the cavity, and one or more fluid outlets that drain water from the cavity after formation of ice having a desired shape. |
| US09163861B2 |
Solar panel truss mounting systems and methods
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a solar panel truss mounting system comprising a base and a truss assembly coupled to the base. The truss assembly comprises a first panel rail mount, second panel rail mount parallel to the first panel rail mount, base rail mount parallel to the first and second panel rail mounts, and a plurality of support members. A first portion of the plurality of support members extends between the first and second panel rail mounts. A second portion of the plurality of support members extends between the first panel rail mount and the base rail mount. A third portion of the plurality of support members extends between the second panel rail mount and the base rail mount. The system can further comprise a plurality of connectors for coupling a plurality of photovoltaic solar panels to the truss assembly. |
| US09163860B2 |
Prestressed solar collector module
The invention relates to a prestressed solar collector module forming a support structure for solar collectors, of the type formed by a lattice bar structure including a central beam (1) essentially characterized in that: the central beam or torque box (1) takes the form of a multi-face polyhedron or cylinder, that is divided into sections (3) each section (3) being formed by multiple bent or curved plates (4), a surrounding triangular lattice structure (16) is provided to support the parabolic reflector (17) which structure is formed with L-shaped elements, all of the connections being formed with rivets, and all of the structure is prestressed using a series of tension rods (13, 14, 15) which optimize the flexural behavior of the structure and which include end anchoring points and intermediate through-points allowing the necessary curvature to be obtained and the tension to be maintained. |
| US09163857B2 |
Spray stations for temperature control in solar boilers
A boiler for a solar receiver includes a plurality of solar receiver panels. The panels are fluidly connected to one another by way of a steam circuit. At least one spray station is in fluid communication with the steam circuit and is configured and adapted to provide temperature cooling spray into the steam circuit to control the temperatures of the panels. |
| US09163855B2 |
Apparatus for instantly preparing hot water
The invention relates to an apparatus including an induction device (110) for heating water in a channel and supplied by a high-frequency generator (113), and an electromagnetic scale-preventative device (120) upstream from the heating circuit (110) and powered by a frequency generator (113). A channel sensor (130) detects a request for water and a control circuit (150) receives the water request signal (Sec) from the sensor (130) so as to control the operation of the heating circuit (110) and of the scale-preventative device (120), adjusting the power thereof in order to adjust the temperature and to stop the operation thereof. |
| US09163853B2 |
Noise control system, and fan structure and outdoor unit of air-conditioning-apparatus each equipped therewith
To provide a noise control system capable of generating a noise cancellation field where noise is reduced at a desired position in a space. An error scanning filter generates a noise cancellation signal using an adaptive control algorithm based on error scanning, the signal having a phase opposite to that of an acoustic signal component detected by a reference sensor. A control speaker radiates the noise cancellation signal to create a noise cancellation field near the head of a person receiving sound. |
| US09163852B2 |
Bracket-active grille and actuator
A modular a bracket which forms a cavity such that the bracket surrounds and supports an actuator. In one embodiment, the bracket is made of multiple pieces and also connects together without the use of fasteners. The pieces are connected together through the use of several attachment features, with a portion of each of the attachment features integrally formed as part of each half. The bracket also includes a plurality of alignment features integrally formed as part of the bracket. The alignment features support and properly position the actuator within the cavity. The design of the bracket reduces and simplifies design and tooling, and also has minimal components and fasteners, which also simplifies and reduces labor time. |
| US09163848B2 |
Air vent
The invention relates to an air vent comprising a housing, an air inlet opening, which is located in the axial direction of the housing, and an air outlet opening, which is disposed opposite the air inlet opening, a first air guide surface, which has a first bulge and is disposed in the housing, and a second air guide surface, which has a second bulge and is disposed in the housing, wherein the first bulge points in a first direction and the second bulge points in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction oppose one another and extend perpendicularly to the axial direction, wherein the first air guide surface and the second air guide surface are disposed at a distance from the housing, wherein a first air duct is formed by the housing and the first air guide surface, and wherein a second air duct is formed by the housing and the second air guide surface, wherein the first air duct is designed to convey a first volumetric flow of air—which can flow into the housing through the air inlet opening—to the air outlet opening, wherein the second air duct is designed to convey a second volumetric flow of air—which can flow into the housing through the air inlet opening—to the air outlet opening, comprising a first vane and a second vane, wherein the first vane is movably disposed at the end of the first air guide surface facing the air inlet opening, and wherein the second vane is disposed at the end of the second air guide surface facing the air inlet opening, wherein the movability of the first vane and the second vane is designed such that the ratio of the first volumetric flow to the second volumetric flow can be adjusted by means of the position of the first vane and the second vane. |
| US09163845B1 |
Garage ventilation system
A garage ventilation system including a housing body with side walls and rear and front mounting plates with louvered vents on the front mounting plates. Support frames vertically disposed on the rear mounting plate have a channel longitudinally disposed therein and a stop body disposed within an outer end thereof. A mount bracket engages each of the channels. Legs disposed on each side of a central pivot member engage the respective channel with termination at the stop body. The mount brackets extend outwardly and away from the rear mounting plate. A fan casing, having a fan disposed therein, is rotatingly mounted to the mount brackets allowing rotation of the fan into an exhaust position and an alternate intake position to direct airflow away from or alternately into a garage. A heater contained within the housing body generates heated airflow directed by the fan. |
| US09163839B2 |
Micromixer combustion head end assembly
Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a micromixer combustion head end assembly. The micromixer may include one or more base nozzle structures. The base nozzle structures may include coaxial tubes. The coaxial tubes may include an inner tube and an outer tube. The micromixer may also include one or more segmented mixing tube bundles at least partially supported by a respective base nozzle structure. Moreover, the micromixer may include an end cap assembly disposed about the one or more segmented mixing tube bundles. |
| US09163838B2 |
Gas turbine combustion burner
Provided is a gas turbine combustion burner capable of uniformly ejecting fuel from ejection holes for reduced NOx emissions of gas turbine combustors. The gas turbine combustion burner includes a plurality of swirling vanes (20) for ejecting fuel from fuel ejection holes (23, 24) into air or a mixture of air and fuel flowing from an upstream side while applying a swirling force to form a swirling mixed airflow and a nozzle (21) having the swirling vanes (20) arranged radially on an outer circumferential surface thereof and having a first fuel passage (26), through which the fuel is guided to the fuel ejection holes (23, 24), provided therein, a cavity (25) communicating with the fuel ejection holes (23, 24) is provided in each swirling vane (20), and at least two second fuel passages (27) are provided between the cavity (25) and the first fuel passage (26) along an axial direction. |
| US09163835B2 |
Thermal power boiler
A thermal power boiler includes a furnace having a rear wall. A flue gas channel connected to the furnace includes a vertical back pass arranged on the rear wall side of the furnace. An ash hopper in the lower portion of the back pass has (i) a front wall, (ii) a rear wall, and (iii) two sidewalls. A pre-heater preheats combustion air and is provided with an inlet channel for flue gas connected to the preheater. The inlet channel has vertical portions, with an upper portion being attached to the lower portion of the back pass near the ash hopper. The inlet channel includes two adjacent channel portions connected to opposite sides of the back pass. One of the two portions is directly connected to the front wall of the ash hopper, and the other is directly connected to the rear wall of the ash hopper. |
| US09163834B2 |
Forced flow steam generator having wall heating surface and method for its operation
The invention refers to a forced flow steam generator (10) and to a method for its operation. The forced flow steam generator (10) has a combustion chamber (11) with a burner arrangement (20). A fuel (B) and a mixture (G) consisting of pure oxygen and flue gas (R) are fed into the combustion chamber (11) or to the burner arrangement (20) for combusting. A flue gas duct (27) is connected to the combustion chamber (11) in the flow direction (S) of the flue gas (R), and a flue gas passage (26) is connected to the flue gas duct. The flue gas (R) for the oxygen-flue gas mixture (G) is fed back from the flue gas passage (26) via a flue gas recirculation line (28). The forced flow steam generator (10) is operated in the so-called oxyfuel process. A plurality of auxiliary heating surfaces (35) are arranged in the flue gas duct (27) downstream of the burner arrangement (20). Between the burner arrangement (20) and the auxiliary heating surfaces (35), provision is made for a wall heating surface arrangement (36) which at least partially covers a combustion chamber wall section (38) of the combustion chamber wall (12) which delimits the combustion chamber (11). For this purpose, the wall heating surface arrangement (36) has a plurality of wall heating surfaces (37) which butt against the respectively associated segment of the combustion chamber wall section (38). The operating medium (A) flows through the wall heating surface arrangement (36) and in this way thermal energy is dissipated from the flue gas (R) in order to limit the heating of the operating medium (A) in the combustion chamber wall tubes (13) and therefore to limit wall tube temperatures in the upper section of the boiler. |
| US09163832B2 |
Waste combustion chamber
A waste incinerator system is disclosed for incinerating waste in a holding tank. The system comprises a pump in fluid communication with the waste, and which is adapted to pump waste out of the holding tank and into a substantially hollow burning chamber. The burning chamber includes a raised open end and a lowered chimney end. The chimney end is sealed with a selectively removable chamber plate and includes a chimney for venting exhaust fumes from within the burning chamber. A waste tray is adapted to be slid into the burning chamber through the chimney end and holds waste received from the pump. A burner assembly is fixed adjacent with the open end of the burning chamber and adapted to direct a flame into the open end of the burning chamber to heat the waste tray and incinerate the waste therein. A housing is included to enclose the burner assembly and the burning chamber. |
| US09163830B2 |
Sealpot and method for controlling a solids flow rate therethrough
A sealpot for a combustion power plant includes a downcomer standpipe which receives solids of the combustion power plant, a bed including a first end and a second opposite end, the first end connected to the downcomer standpipe, a discharge standpipe disposed at the second opposite end of the bed, and an orifice plate disposed between the bed and the discharge standpipe separating the discharge standpipe from the bed. The orifice plate includes apertures disposed at a height above the bed which allow transport of fluidized solids and gas through the orifice plate. |
| US09163829B2 |
Moving bed heat exchanger for circulating fluidized bed boiler
A moving bed heat exchanger (155) includes a vessel having an upper portion (200), a lower portion (210) with a floor (272) including a discharge opening therein, and an intermediate portion (205). The vessel directs a gravity flow of hot ash particles (140) received thereby from the upper portion (200) through the intermediate portion (205) to the floor (272) of the lower portion (210) of the vessel, where the hot ash particles (140) are collected. Tubes in the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel direct a flow of working fluid in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the gravity flow of the hot ash particles (140) through the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel such that heat from the hot ash particles (140) is transferred to the working fluid thereby cooling the hot ash particles (140). |
| US09163819B2 |
Light assembly with a heat dissipation layer
A light assembly includes a light source circuit board, a plurality of light sources disposed on the light source circuit board, a housing thermally coupled to the light source circuit board and a lens cap assembly comprising a lens cap and a heat dissipation layer. The heat dissipated layer distributes heat from the light source circuit board through the lens cap and external to the light assembly. |
| US09163818B2 |
Linear solid-state lighting with degenerate voltage sensing free of fire and shock hazards
A linear light-emitting diode (LED)-based solid-state universal lamp using a degenerate voltage sensing and control mechanism operates normally in both single-ended and double-ended linear tube lamp fixtures. The degenerate voltage sensing and control mechanism automatically detects power source configuration in the fixture and makes proper management so that the universal lamp works in any fixtures without operational uncertainty or risk of fire. When used with shock protection switches in the two lamp bases at two opposite ends, the universal lamp fully protects a person from possible electric shock during initial installation and re-lamping. |
| US09163816B2 |
Energy diverting light socket plug
The present invention relates to an apparatus that has the specific features of attaching to a light bulb base and creating a light bulb with the additional feature of being able to be dimmed and flexed for directional lighting at the socket of the light bulb itself. An additional feature of this attachment is to allow for the light bulb to be turned off or on at the point of where the light bulb is attached to its socket from which electricity is drawn. A third feature of said device is to have the addition of a USB port also on the socket dimming device as a way to draw energy from the light bulb socket for the additional feature of using a USB port with some type of electronic device that can be charged at the base of the light socket itself. |
| US09163815B2 |
Power converter device for driving solid state lighting load
A power converter device for converting power from a mains power supply (201) to power a solid state lighting load (280) includes a converter (230) and a control circuit (350). The converter (230) includes a half-bridge inverter (220) that functions as a boost inverter and output stage inverter, the half-bridge inverter having multiple switches (221, 222). The control circuit (350) is configured to control a mains input current and an output current of the device independently by providing a switching signal (S_HB) to the switches in the half-bridge inverter, where the switching signal has a duty cycle, a frequency and a cycle skipping duty cycle. |
| US09163814B2 |
Integral troffer motion detector
A sensor system (20) electrically connected to and controlling at least one recessed luminaire (30). The sensor system housing (22) is externally connected to the luminaire (30) and includes a flexible member (50) projecting therefrom. The flexible member (50) supports detection electronics spaced from the sensor system housing (22) or the coupled light fixture and sensor system housings (32, 22). The flexible member (50) allows a sensor (52) to be horizontally and vertically positioned relative to the sensor system housing (22). |
| US09163813B2 |
LED lamp with open structure
A lamp (1) has one or more LED's (2), supported above an open structure (7). The lamp (1) is made from thermoplastic material and has a base (3) including threads (4) and a lower contact (5). A thermoplastic body (6) of larger diameter is located above the base and has an open structure portion (7) preferably shaped as a truncated inverted and open cone. An upper part of the cone supports a circuit board (8) with a laminar form that supports the light emitting diodes (2). A upper semispherical element (9) is located over the body (6) and forms a light diffuser. An upper center of the base (3) has an internal electronic circuit (10) for connecting to a power source. The LED lamp with the open structure eases installation, has lower weight and cost, allows easy recycling and provides greater security for users. |
| US09163806B1 |
Wide angle optical system for LED array
An optical system includes a lens and reflector configured to form a wide angle beam from light emitted from an array of LEDs by modifying only the component of emitted light that diverges from a reference plane. A central portion of the lens collimates emitted LED light relative to the reference plane containing the optical axes of the LEDs. A peripheral portion of the lens re-directs emitted LED light into an orientation perpendicular to the reference plane. The reflector surrounds the periphery of the lens and re-directs light from the peripheral portion of the lens into a direction parallel with the reference plane. The linear array of LEDs may include sub arrays projecting away from a support plane to enhance visibility of a resulting light signal from vantage points close to or aligned with the support plane. |
| US09163804B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device includes an LED light source that emits light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 200 to 470 nm and a second peak wavelength in a range from 460 to 700 nm. An emission intensity at the second peak wavelength is greater than an emission intensity at the first peak wavelength, and an emission intensity at a wavelength band of 720 nm or greater is one tenth or less than an emission intensity at the second peak wavelength. |
| US09163803B2 |
Hybrid driving light
Disclosed is a hybrid lamp assembly (10) which includes a substantially parabolic reflector (12) having an open end (20) and a circumferential mounting member (18) extending outwardly from the open end (20) of the reflector (12). The mounting member (18) presents a plurality of nonparallel mounting surfaces (22). A primary, non-LED light source (14) is operably assembled with the parabolic reflector (12). A secondary light source (24), comprising a plurality of LED lamps (26), is positioned circumferentially around the open end (20) on the mounting surfaces (22). The LED lamps (26) are each mounted to project in a direction (42) substantially normal to the surface on which it is mounted. |
| US09163800B2 |
Outer casing for vehicle lamp, vehicle lamp and manufacturing method for the same
An outer casing for vehicle lamps, a vehicle lamp and a manufacturing method for the outer casing and the vehicle lamp can include an outer lens having a rib located at a peripheral portion thereof and a casing having a supporting portion located so as to face the rib formed in a ring shape. The rib of the lens can include an end portion formed in a convex shape in a width direction thereof in accordance with a light energy distribution of a laser welder, and can be attached to the casing with confidence by utilizing the energy distribution. Thus, the vehicle lamp using the outer casing can incorporate various lamps with an airtight structure and an adequate mechanical strength while preventing misalignment between the outer lens and the casing, and the manufacturing method can provide the outer casing using similar manufacture equipment as compared with conventional methods. |
| US09163789B2 |
Attachment base for a lighting unit of a decorative lighting string
The present invention provides an attachment base for a lighting unit of a decorative lighting string comprising an upper base member inserted with an LED lamp and mounted onto an lower base member; the upper base member comprising locking hooks extended downward from two lateral sides of a bottom portion thereon; the lower base member comprising buckle holes adjacent to a bottom portion on two lateral sides corresponding to the locking hooks; characterized in that inner bottom surfaces of rear of the two buckle holes on the lower base member comprise blocking plate; a distance between the blocking plate and the buckle hole is slightly greater than a thickness of the locking hook. With such blocking plates, once the locking hooks are secured onto the buckle hole, the locking hooks abut the blocking plate to prevent the looking hook to disengage from the buckle hole under external forces. |
| US09163787B2 |
LED bar
Disclosed is an LED bar. The LED bar has a plurality of LED units mounted in a cuttable form and each of the LED units has a single LED. The LED bar includes a plurality of LEDs; a bar-shaped base substrate on which the plurality of LEDs are mounted; a plurality of resistors mounted on the base substrate so as to respectively correspond to the plurality of LEDs; and a link formed so that an LED unit formed with one of the plurality of resistors corresponding to the one LED is distinguished from other LED unit that is adjacent to the LED unit. |
| US09163785B2 |
Pumpless fluid dispenser
Embodiments of the disclosure may include a fluid dispensing system. The system may include a first tank configured to contain a first fluid and a second tank configured to contain a second fluid. The system may also include a plurality of conduits fluidly connecting the first and second tanks, wherein the first fluid in the first tank is configured to be gravity-fed or pressure-fed to the second tank. The system may also include a conditioning system fluidly connected to the second tank. The conditioning system may include at least one conduit fluidly coupled to a lower region of the second tank. The conditioning system may also include a heat exchanger. In addition, the conditioning system may include at least one conduit fluidly coupled to an upper region of the second tank. The conditioning system may be capable of a first configuration that returns fluid from the heat exchanger to a lower region of the second tank, and a second configuration that returns fluid from the heat exchanger to an upper region of the second tank. |
| US09163783B1 |
Adjustable television ceiling mounting system
An adjustable television ceiling mounting system attaches to an exposed ceiling board surface, and is secured by an adjustable joist support bracket mounting system. The adjustable television ceiling mounting system is capable of securely tilting, swiveling, extending, and retracting up and parallel to an exposed ceiling board surface. The adjustable television ceiling mount utilizes two motors and a hydraulic cylinder to power a retracting arm and a swiveling arm by remote control. The adjustable television ceiling mounting system can be positioned anywhere on the exposed ceiling board surface and is capable of supporting televisions greater than 50 pounds and maneuvering them easily and securely due to the supporting adjustable joist support bracket mounting system. |
| US09163782B2 |
Support bracket for supporting an electrical box
A support bracket for supporting an electrical box between two supports. The support bracket is used with a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes two elongated members each having an end mount. The elongated members are slidably coupled to each other, thereby allowing the mounting assembly to be telescopically extended. The support bracket is affixed to the one of the elongated members for supporting an electrical box and includes a planar surface and a slot having a plurality of extended clamps. The clamps are positioned and deformed within an inner lip of one of the elongated members. The bracket also includes a plurality of perpendicular extensions and a support rod affixed to the planar surface and positioned over at least one of the elongated members. The support rod is also affixed to the electrical box thereby providing support to the electrical box. |
| US09163778B2 |
Horizontal logistics bar holder for logistics trailers
A logistics bar holder assembly safely secures logistics bars of logistics trailers horizontally along a wall of the trailer. The logistics bar holder assembly is designed to mimic existing logistics posts. The logistics bars snap into the logistics bar holder assembly exactly as they would in the logistics posts. The bars' placement is quick, easy and secure, in compliance with FMCSA regulations. More importantly, the bars are stored horizontally, high up off the floor, minimizing potential damage by forklifts and/or cargo. |
| US09163777B1 |
Lifting litter box
A lifting litter box comprising a base, where the base includes a lifting mechanism; a frame secured above the base, where the frame is lifted and lowered by the lifting mechanism; and a litter box positioned atop the frame, where the lifting mechanism lifts the litter box to an extended position for cleaning and then lowers the litter box once clean. The lifting mechanism may be battery operated and/or manually operated to enable lifting anytime desired by the user. |
| US09163774B2 |
Support structure with features for precision leveling
A support structure is provided that can comprise a central support member and leveling devices arranged in a deployed configuration where the leveling devices are radially offset from the central support member. In one embodiment of the support structure, each of the leveling devices can comprise an actuator assembly for fine positioning of a support plane of the support structure. The actuator assembly can communicate with a control system, and in one example the control system is operatively configured to monitor the position of the support plane, providing feedback in the form of a control that operates the actuator to adjust the orientation of the support plane. |
| US09163771B1 |
Conduit repair system
A method of repairing a crack or leak in a curved section of plumbing includes wetting/saturating a conduit repair liner with a bonding agent (e.g., epoxy). The conduit repair liner has straps with an end of each of the straps at an edge of the conduit repair liner and a distal end of each of straps has a section of hook and loop material. After saturating is complete, the conduit repair liner we with the bonding agent is wrapped around an inflatable carrier and then both are positioned within the curved section of the plumbing. Now, the inflatable carrier is inflated such that the conduit repair liner adheres evenly to the inside surfaces of the curved section of the plumbing. Next, the inflatable carrier is deflated and removed, leaving the conduit repair liner evenly adhered to the inside surfaces of the curved section of the plumbing. |
| US09163770B2 |
Method and apparatus for lining a pipe
The method for rehabilitating a damaged section of a pipe without a need for a resin absorbent liner is provided. The method includes pumping a low viscosity material towards a damaged section of pipe and changing the viscosity prior to dispensing of the material. For example, the material may be partially cured prior to dispensing. The partially cured or higher viscosity material is compressed between an inflating bladder and interior wall of the pipe, and the material that is allowed to fully cure. The bladder either can then be removed from the pipe or could be allowed to maintain in the pipe providing a new interior surface for the repaired pipe. |
| US09163766B2 |
Device for connecting pneumatic tools to a manipulator
A device for connecting interchangeable pneumatic tools to manipulators is provided. The device includes a body, fixable to a manipulator, provided with a plurality of seats for accommodating pins for engaging a tool, ducts for feeding a working fluid to the tool, where the ducts extend in the device body, an engaging mechanism which can be activated for constraining and releasing, respectively, the tool to/from the device, and means for closing the ducts. For safety purposes the device is arranged such that the activation of the engaging mechanism for unlocking the tool is always achievable upon the reaching of the complete closing of the ducts by the respective closing means. This way a quick depressurization of the tool is prevented from occurring at the separation from the device, this latter circumstance being conventionally dangerous for the tool replacement operator. |
| US09163764B2 |
Valve for liquid vessels
A valve for opening and closing a liquid vessel or pouch, which includes a valve body having a central axis, top and bottom sides arranged transversely with respect to the central axis, and a passage opening that extends through the valve body coaxially from the top side to the bottom side. A closure element can be pressed into the passage opening by a spring element coaxially with respect to the central axis from the underside such that the passage opening can be closed in a liquid-tight manner. The closure element includes a first sealing lip which can be pressed into the passage opening with an interference fit P1 and, axially behind said first sealing lip, a second sealing lip, which can be pressed into the passage opening with an interference fit P2, wherein P2 is a stronger interference fit than P1. |
| US09163763B2 |
Arrangement, ventilation arm, ventilation system
This invention concerns an arrangement (3) that is comprised as a component (4.2) of an airtransport channel where the air-transport channel component (4.2) comprises two tubular sub-elements, a first sub-element (7) and a second sub-element (8), where the second element (8) has a diameter that is somewhat larger than that of the first element (7), which allows the first element (7) to be inserted into the second element (8) such that the two elements (7, 8) can be displaced relative to each other in a telescopic manner. The arrangement (3) is characterised in that it comprises a glide sleeve (11) that is arranged between the first element (7) and the second element (8), that the glide sleeve (11) comprises a first part (12) that retains the glide sleeve (11) at the second element (8), that the glide sleeve (11) comprises a second part (13) that makes contact with the first element (7) under a force (F) that can be adjusted and that is united with the first part (12), and that all parts of the second part (13) are located in front of the first end (8.1) of the second element. The invention concerns also a ventilation arm (2) and a ventilation system (1). |
| US09163759B2 |
Fitting connection including compression nut with retainer
A compression nut including a retaining tooth for use with a fluid coupling. |
| US09163754B2 |
Resin-made fuel inlet pipe, and method for producing same
A resin-made fuel inlet pipe that has a light weight, excellent impact resistance, and causes no fuel leakage includes at least one resin layer comprising a resin composition containing (A) a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or a linear short-chain branched polyethylene; (B) a polyethylene polymerized with a metallocene-based catalyst; and (C) a carbon black. A weight mixing ratio ((A)/(B)) is in a range of from 10/90 to 90/10; a content of component (C) is in a range of from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of a total of components (A) and (B); a tissue (Y) comprising component (B) is inserted between linear crystalline tissues (X) comprising component (A) to expand an interval between the tissues (X); and component (C) is dispersed in the tissue (Y). |
| US09163753B2 |
Self-aligning product delivery system
A self-aligning product delivery system including a vapor plate assembly and a ball joint assembly is provided. The vapor plate assembly has a vapor plate base portion with a vapor plate passage and a seating plate portion. The seating plate portion has a generally spherical segment shaped seating face defining an opening to the vapor plate passage. The ball joint assembly includes a ball joint base portion with a ball joint passage and an engaging portion. The engaging portion includes a generally spherical segment shaped joining surface. The spherical segment shaped joining surface of the engaging portion of the ball joint assembly is configured and arranged to rotationally mate with the spherical segment shaped seating face defining the opening of the vapor plate assembly to create a seal between the vapor plate assembly and the ball joint assembly. |
| US09163750B2 |
Safety valve and method of use
Embodiments of a method of operating a safety valve and a safety valve system are provided. The valve system includes a valve, an actuator, a mechanical override, and an indicator. The actuator includes a fail-safe mechanism and the indicator is configured to indicate whether the fail-safe mechanism is operable during use of at least one of the actuator and the mechanical override. In one embodiment, a method of operating the safety valve includes actuating the valve into an open position and sending a signal to indicate that the fail-safe mechanism is operable to move the valve to the closed position, while the valve is in the open position. |
| US09163747B2 |
Valve actuators having magnetic angle sensors
A valve actuator including a magnetic angle sensor is disclosed. The magnetic angle sensor may function as an absolute position encoder. The magnetic angle sensor may also function as an incremental position encoder. The magnetic angle sensor may generate angular velocity data. The magnetic angle sensor may be used in quarter-turn and single-turn rotary valve actuators. The magnetic angle sensor may also be used in multi-turn rotary and linear valve actuators. |
| US09163745B2 |
Solenoid valve
A solenoid valve includes: a valve body having a fitting hole; a tubular sleeve fitted in a fitting hole and having a valve hole, a supply port, and an output port; and a spool valve that is accommodated in the valve hole of the sleeve and that changes a flow passage area between the supply port and the output port by moving axially. A pair of recessed portions is formed in an outer peripheral face of the sleeve, at positions on axially opposite sides of the supply port, so as to extend in the circumferential direction of the sleeve. A strip-shaped first strainer is fitted in the recessed portions. A cutout into which a pressure for suppressing an offset of the central axis of the sleeve from the central axis of the fitting hole, is formed in the sleeve so as to be communicated with the supply port. |
| US09163744B2 |
Solenoid valve
A solenoid valve. In a solenoid section forming part of the solenoid valve, a sleeve is provided on the inner circumferential side of a bobbin around which a coil is wound. This sleeve is formed from magnetic material and includes a cylindrical section and a flange section formed at a lower end of the cylindrical section. At an upper end of the cylindrical section, a tapered section is formed in which an outer circumferential face is recessed in the radially inward direction. The tapered section is arranged facing and in close contact with the outer circumferential face of a fixed core such that the magnetic flux density in the tapered section increases when the solenoid section is excited. |
| US09163743B2 |
Piezoelectrically driven valve and piezoelectrically driven flow rate control device
A piezoelectrically driven valve and a piezoelectrically driven fluid control device are provided that may control a fluid even if the temperature of the fluid is higher than an operating temperature range of a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectrically driven valve includes a valve element for opening and closing a fluid passage, a piezoelectric actuator for driving the valve element by utilizing extension of a piezoelectric element, and a radiation spacer that lifts and supports the piezoelectric actuator away from the fluid passage, and radiates heat that is transferred from fluid flowing in the fluid passage to the piezoelectric actuator, and preferably further includes a support cylinder that houses and supports both of the piezoelectric actuator and the radiation spacer, wherein the support cylinder is made of a material with the same thermal expansion coefficient as that of the radiation spacer, at least at a portion for housing the radiation spacer. |
| US09163741B2 |
Gas regulating unit
The invention relates to a gas regulating unit with a valve basic body (11) which forms at least one gas inlet chamber and one gas outlet chamber, with a safety valve and with a main gas valve, wherein the safety valve and the main gas valve either open or close a gas flow from the gas inlet chamber into the gas outlet chamber. According to the invention, the valve basic body (11) comprises at least three parts, namely at least one plastic core (12), which defines the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber, and at least two metallic shells (13, 14), wherein a first metallic shell (13) encloses the plastic core (12) at least in sections on an upper side, and wherein a second metallic shell (14) encloses the plastic core (12) at least in sections on an underside, and wherein at least one diaphragm (15) is positioned between one of said metallic shells (14) and the plastic core (12), which at least one diaphragm (15) delimits in each case a drive chamber, in which a servopressure prevails, for the safety valve and/or the main gas valve. |
| US09163739B2 |
High temperature coating resistant to damage from decompression
A coating for use in protecting surfaces susceptible to environmental degradation. The coating may be applied to metallic surfaces for providing a barrier against elements and/or ambient conditions that would otherwise degrade the surface material. The coating includes multiple layers, where a thermoplastic polymer is included, wholly or partly, within one or more of the layers. Example applications of the coating are for protecting valve seat seals and valve stem seals of a valve assembly used in conjunction with handling of fluids produced from a subterranean formation. |
| US09163733B2 |
Fluid valve
The invention relates to a fluid valve comprising: a body (50) defining a fluid flow duct (60), and a flap (1) that can move between a closed position preventing the fluid from flowing through the duct and an open position allowing the fluid to flow through the duct. According to the invention, the valve also comprises a joint (2) having at least one opening for the passage of the fluid, and the aforementioned flap can close the opening(s) (5) in the joint when in the closed position. |
| US09163730B2 |
Unitized radial fluid seal
A unitized radial fluid seal includes a shell having a first elastomeric seal body affixed thereto and defining a primary seal lip. A sleeve includes a substantially cylindrical, axially-extending sealing flange and a protective flange extending substantially radially from the axially-extending sealing flange. A spring radially urges the primary seal lip into sealing contact with a sealing surface of the axially-extending sealing flange. A second elastomeric seal body is affixed to the sleeve and includes a resiliently-elastic angled lip extending from a terminal end of the axially-extending sealing flange opposite of the radially-extending protective flange. The sealing surface and an axially-outward facing surface of the angled lip define an angle (α) that is between about 130-170°. The primary seal lip is axially retained between the angled lip and the radially-extending protective flange. |
| US09163728B2 |
Strip seals
A strip seal for providing a seal between adjacent components, which include a first groove and a second groove angled with respect to and intersecting the first groove. The grooves of respective components are opposed to one another when the components are assembled. The strip seal includes a first strip section to span between and be received in the opposed first grooves, and a second strip section to span between and be received in the opposed second grooves. One end of the first strip section is arranged to butt against the second strip section at the intersection of the grooves. The other end of the first strip section has at least one deformable projection that can engage the end of the first groove. The projection deforms as it engages the end of the groove and urges the end of the first strip section against the second strip section. |
| US09163724B1 |
Transaxle having dual brake system
A hydraulic drive unit for use in a vehicle or other application incorporates a motor connected to a pump through a porting system and an output shaft driven by the motor. A mechanical brake is used to brake the motor, while a valve provides a hydraulic brake for preventing flow between the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic pump. A brake actuator is connected to both the mechanical brake and the hydraulic brake, whereby actuation of the brake actuator causes both the mechanical brake and the hydraulic brake to be actuated. |
| US09163720B2 |
Transmission hydraulic control system having an automatic engine stop-start accumulator
A hydraulic control system is provided for controlling the actuation of a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms. The hydraulic control system includes an accumulator having parallel feed paths to the plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms. |
| US09163719B2 |
Illuminated knob for a shifter assembly and corresponding illumination method
A knob for a shifter assembly of a vehicle includes a housing having an interior surface defining a cavity and an opening. A body is at least partially disposed within the cavity, has first and second surfaces, extends to a periphery, and is formed of an at least partially transparent material. An illumination device is disposed within the cavity for emitting light rays. At least one reflective surface is disposed along the periphery for receiving the light rays. A first portion of the light rays is internally reflected within the body off of the first surface. At least one indicium is disposed along the body. The body defines at least one indicium cavity having a bottom substantially parallel to the first surface with the indicium disposed within the indicium cavity along the bottom for reflecting the first portion of the light rays toward the opening for illuminating the indicium. |
| US09163718B2 |
Haptic feedback shift knob
Automotive vehicles having a manual shift transmission, with driver feedback to indicate when a shift change is recommended or to provide other event notifications. |
| US09163713B2 |
Crank pulley decoupling device
A crank pulley decoupling device includes: a crank pulley connected to one end of a crankshaft and configured to transmit a rotational force; a first spring configured to be inserted into the crank pulley and to have one end provided in the crank pulley and the other end provided in the crank shaft; and a second spring configured to be inserted into the crank pulley and to be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the crankshaft. Spring design and design change are freely done by utilizing space in the crank pulley while the first and second springs are spaced apart so that impact therebetween is reduced, thereby improving durability and preventing decrease in efficiency due to friction and thus improving the product value. |
| US09163708B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
A chain (endless flexible member) is looped over an input pulley and an output pulley. Each of the input pulley and the output pulley includes a pair of a fixed sheave and a movable sheave. The fixed sheave and the movable sheave have tapered faces that are opposed to each other to define a V-shaped groove. A vibration damping plate (vibration damping member) is fixed to each fixed sheave, and is in contact with the outer peripheral face of the fixed sheave. When the fixed sheave vibrates, the vibrations are damped by the friction between the outer peripheral face of the fixed shave and the vibration damping plate. |
| US09163707B2 |
Method for controlling the speed of a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower
A method for controlling the speed of the self-propelled transmission assembly for a walk-behind lawn mower is provided. The speed control mechanism is also configured to control the relative output speed of the transmission assembly. The speed control mechanism includes a speed engagement assembly and a speed adjustment assembly, wherein the speed engagement assembly includes a pair of rotatable levers for causing the transmission assembly to actuate between a disengaged position and an engaged position and the speed adjustment assembly includes a rotatable knob for causing the relative output speed of the transmission assembly to the wheels of the lawn mower to increase or decrease. |
| US09163705B1 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission may include an input shaft, a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first planetary carrier, and a first ring gear, a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second planetary carrier, and a second ring gear, a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third planetary carrier, and a third ring gear, a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth planetary carrier, and a fourth ring gear, a fifth planetary gear set including a fifth sun gear, a fifth planetary carrier, and a fifth ring gear, first to ninth rotational shafts, and six friction elements selectively connecting the rotational shafts and the rotational shaft and the transmission housing. |
| US09163702B2 |
Shifting device and transmission unit
A shifting device for a transmission unit, in particular for a vehicle which is operated by muscle force is disclosed. The shifting device has a first partial transmission and a second partial transmission, which are connected in series for power transmission. The selecting devices of the first partial transmission are designed as selectable free-running clutches and the second partial transmission has a plurality of selectable gear stages. During shifting from a highest stage of the gear stages of the first partial transmission to a lowest stage of the gear stages of the first partial transmission, the free-running clutches of the two gear stages are actuated simultaneously, and a load change between the corresponding free-running clutches allows a shifting operation of the second partial transmission to a higher stage of the gear stages. |
| US09163695B2 |
Liquid-sealed anti-vibration device and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid-sealed anti-vibration device comprising: an inner tube (1), an outer tube (2); rubber bodies (3), (4) interconnecting the inner and outer tubes (1), (2) in a liquid-tight manner at two positions spaced in an axial direction; a partition wall disposed between the rubber bodies (3), (4) to divide a space between the inner and outer tubes into two parts in the axial direction, the partition wall having an annular rigid member (5a) and an elastic member (5b); liquid chambers (8), (9) configured in such a way that the spaces partitioned by the partition wall (5) are filled with non-compressible liquid; and a limiting passage (7) provided in the partition wall (5) to allow the liquid chambers (8), (9) to communicate with each other, wherein the annular rigid member (5a), protrudes from the inner tube (1) toward the outer tube, the elastic member (5b) connects the annular rigid member (5a) to the outer tube (2), and the limiting passage (7) is formed by at least one passage groove (5c), the passage groove being formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular rigid member (5a) and extending at least one time around the annular rigid member, and by a circumscribed rigid tube member (6) fixed to the elastic member (5b) so as to close opening of the passage groove (5c) via a seal member (5d) in a liquid-tight manner. |
| US09163688B2 |
Energy absorption and distribution material
An energy absorbing and transmitting material comprising a framework of interconnected units comprising at least one unit having a base and a protrusion or cone extending from the base along an axis, and at least one connecting member or rod that connects the unit to at least one adjacent unit, the connecting members extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the unit from the base, where the framework is comprised of a single elastic material throughout, or configured so that when the framework is perturbed by tilting the unit towards the adjacent unit, the adjacent unit is tilted towards the unit. |
| US09163685B2 |
Road vehicle provided with a cooling duct for the cooling of a brake
A road vehicle provided with a cooling duct for the cooling of a brake, the cooling duct including an air intake arranged at the inlet of the cooling duct, a shutter, which is mobile, so as to move between a closing position, in which the shutter closes the air intake, and an opening position, in which the shutter leaves the air intake unobstructed, and an electric actuating device, which controls the movement of the shutter and, therefore, moves the shutter between the closing position and the opening position and is mechanically configured to be normally open and, therefore, in the absence of a power supply, to push the shutter towards the opening position. |
| US09163680B2 |
Powerless brake
A motor brake includes an actuator fixed to a motor shaft and including spaced peripheral ears including a member therethrough. A fixed plate includes spaced detents and an output about the actuator has spaced ball releasably urged into the fixed plate detents by the actuator ear members. The output has channels for the actuator ears for driving the output with the actuator when the actuator ear members release the output spaced balls from the fixed plate detents. |
| US09163679B1 |
Magnetic powder brake device of motor used for oil production
A magnetic powder brake device of a motor used for oil production is provided. The motor has a turning shaft and an oil extraction pump, and is coupled with a magnetic powder brake. The magnetic powder brake is connected with an electromagnetic switch and a battery. The electromagnetic switch is provided with a power sensor and connected with a power source. When the motor is turned under a normal power supply, the electromagnetic switch is in a disconnection state and the battery doesn't supply power to the magnetic powder brake, so the turning shaft is not braked by the magnetic powder brake. In case of an unexpected power failure, the electromagnetic switch is in a connection state, the battery supplies power to the magnetic powder brake, and the magnetic powder brake is activated to brake the turning shaft, preventing the turning shaft from turning reversely. |
| US09163675B2 |
Clutch control device
The present invention relates to a clutch control device, more particularly, to a clutch control device wherein a mechanical section may be miniaturized and operational errors can be reduced using a non-contact type displacement detection system which uses a linear distance sensor for a clutch clearance and the position of the mechanical section can be accurately controlled by using a plurality of solenoid valves. |
| US09163674B2 |
Final drive disconnect mechanism
The present disclosure provides a disconnect mechanism for removably coupling an input member and an output member to one another. The mechanism includes a drive member configured to be rotationally driven and a driven member rotationally coupled to the drive member. A collar is rotatably coupled to the driven member, where rotation of the drive member induces rotational and longitudinal movement of the collar along the shaft. The mechanism further includes a coupler member coupled to the collar such that the coupler member is adapted to be removably coupled to the input member and output member. As the collar moves along the longitudinal shaft, the coupler member moves longitudinally between a first position in which the input member and output member are coupled and a second position in which the input member and output member are decoupled from one another. |
| US09163664B2 |
Guidance for target processing tool
The invention relates to a target processing tool, comprising a target carrier guidance assembly, said target carrier guidance assembly comprising: a guide surface having a longitudinal axis in a first direction, a target carrier for carrying and displacing a target along said first direction, a bearing support mounted to the target carrier by means of a flexible mount, a bearing arranged between the guide surface and the bearing support, and a biasing element, connected to the target carrier and to the bearing support, adapted for biasing said bearing support along a second direction against the bearing, wherein preferably said second direction is perpendicular to said first direction. |
| US09163663B2 |
Rotating shaft holding mechanism and rotational viscometer with same
A compact and high-precision rotating shaft holding mechanism is provided which can be utilized for a device that requires a small amount of rotation.A rotating shaft holding mechanism includes a plurality of parallel spring links, each of the plurality of parallel spring links including: a movable side connected to a rotating shaft by a hinge at a connection point at a distance h radially away from a center of rotation of the rotating shaft; a plurality of deformable sides which are parallel to each other; hinges each of which connects one end of a corresponding one of the deformable sides to the movable side; and hinges each of which connects the other end of a corresponding one of the deformable sides to the stationary section, the effective length of each of the deformable sides being set to h to permit the rotating shaft, which is connected to the movable side by the hinge at the connecting point at the distance h radially away from the center of rotation of the rotating shaft, to rotate within a range of finite angles, the plurality of parallel spring links including at least two parallel spring links oriented in different directions. A rotational viscometer uses the rotating shaft holding mechanism. |
| US09163661B2 |
Rolling bearing assembly device for steering column
Rolling bearing assembly device comprising an outer race, an inner race, a row of rolling elements which is arranged between the outer and inner races, a sleeve mounted in the bore of the inner race, and an elastic preload element capable of transmitting an axial preload to the inner race, the elastic preload element being mounted in direct contact with the inner race and being able to be in contact with an annular axial centring portion of the sleeve. A radial bearing flange of the sleeve extends radially from the axial centring portion towards the outside of the device and bears axially over its entire periphery against the elastic preload element.The rolling bearing assembly device comprises an axial retention means bearing axially over its entire periphery against the radial bearing flange of the sleeve. |
| US09163653B2 |
Fixing mechanism
A fixing mechanism disclosed in the present invention includes a body, a contact portion and an airtight sealing component. The body has a hollow structure and a first end and a second end. The first end is opposite to the second end. The first end passes through an open hole formed on a first object to insert into a positioning portion disposed on a second object, and an outer surface of the body is engaged with an inner surface of the positioning portion in a linear contacting manner. The contact portion is disposed on the second end. The contact portion contacts against a side of the first object opposite to the second object when the body passes through the first object and the second object. The airtight sealing component is disposed on the second end to seal the hollow structure, to prevent external gas from flowing into the hollow structure. |
| US09163652B2 |
Blind fastener equipped with a self-breaking holding system
A blind attachment that includes a body (36) with—at a first end—a visible surface (38), through which a bore (40) passes that accommodates a rod (42) of which a first end (44) projects relative to the visible surface (38) and of which the other end includes a head (46) that can deform a deformation zone (48) when the rod (42) moves translationally, with the visible surface including holding elements for coupling the body (36) to a tool that is used for driving the rod (42) in rotation, whereby the holding elements include at least one lug (52) that is connected at the visible surface (38) and that projects relative to the latter, characterized in that the at least one lug (52) is connected to the body (36) by a junction zone (54) that can break when the lug undergoes a force that exceeds a given threshold. |
| US09163648B2 |
Rotary piston type actuator with a central actuation assembly
A rotary actuator includes a housing defining an arcuate chamber including a cavity, a fluid port in fluid communication with the cavity, and an open end. A rotor assembly includes an output shaft and a rotor arm extending outward. An arcuate-shaped piston is disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement in the arcuate chamber through the open end, wherein a seal, the cavity, and the piston define a pressure chamber, and a portion of the piston contacts the first rotor arm. A central actuation assembly includes a central mounting point formed in an external surface of the output shaft, said central mounting point proximal to the longitudinal midpoint of the shaft, and an actuation arm removably attached at a proximal end to the central mounting point, said actuation arm adapted at a distal end for attachment to an external mounting feature of a member to be actuated. |
| US09163645B2 |
Vehicle brake system
A vehicle brake system includes a cylinder, a master piston including a pressure applying piston and a projection portion, a servo chamber, a contact/separation determining means determining a separated state and a contact state between the input piston and the master piston, a pilot pressure generating device generating a pilot pressure, a servo pressure generating device, a servo pressure measuring device measuring a servo pressure, and a master pressure estimating means estimating a master pressure from the pilot pressure and a first servo ratio, which is a cross-sectional area ratio between a first pilot chamber and a servo pressure generating chamber, in a case of the separated state, and estimating the master pressure based on the servo pressure, the pilot pressure and a second servo ratio, which is a cross-sectional area ratio between a second pilot chamber and the servo pressure generating chamber, in a case of the contact state. |
| US09163642B2 |
Impeller and rotary machine
An impeller of a rotary machine, in which a direction of flow is configured to gradually change from an axial direction to a radial direction as the flow goes from an interior in the radial direction of a fluid flow passage to an exterior in the radial direction of the fluid flow passage, includes: a hub surface defining at least a portion of the fluid flow passage; a blade surface defining at least a portion of the fluid flow passage; and a bulge being disposed so as to bulge toward the interior of the fluid flow passage at a corner where the hub surface, which is located at a rear half on an outlet side of the fluid flow passage, is in contact with the blade surface. |
| US09163640B2 |
Fan
A fan includes a housing, an impeller and at least one position-limiting mechanism. The housing has an accommodating space for receiving the impeller. The impeller has a hub and a plurality of blades surrounding the hub. The position-limiting mechanism is located between the top of the blade and the inner side of the housing, and disposed on the top of the blade or the inner side of the housing. |
| US09163639B2 |
Air mixing device for buildings
An air mixing unit suitable for buildings having open spaces. In one embodiment, the air mixing unit may include a centrifugal fan and mounting frame. The fan includes a rotatable body, a drive shaft defining a vertical rotational axis, a plurality of radial blades, a top air inlet, and a bottom air inlet. The fan is operable to draw air through the air inlet openings from axially opposing directions in some embodiments, mix the air, and discharge the mixed air laterally outwards from the fan to the open space. In some embodiments, the air mixing unit may be mounted near the ceiling of the building to temper cooler air drawn from outside with warmer inside room air before discharging the air into the space. A method for mixing and destratifying air within a building is also described. |
| US09163637B2 |
Fan assembly and fan device thereof
A fan assembly and its fan device are provided. The fan device includes a housing, a fan body disposed in the housing, a connector electrically connected with the fan body, and a fixing cover detachably assembled to the housing. The fixing cover includes a connecting structure fitting a type of the connector for positioning the connector on the fixing cover. |
| US09163635B2 |
Electric fluid pump
An electric water pump includes a housing, a propelling mechanism disposed in the housing, and a driving mechanism for driving a driving shaft of the propelling mechanism. The driving shaft has a fluid passage in fluid communication with an impeller chamber and a cooling chamber in the housing. The propelling mechanism further includes a spiral rod disposed in the fluid passage and co-rotatable with the driving shaft, and an impeller disposed in the impeller chamber. During operation of the propelling mechanism, the impeller drives flow of a fluid, and the spiral rod co-rotates with the driving shaft to change the rate of the fluid flowing through the driving shaft. |
| US09163633B2 |
Vane pump
A vane pump is provided that may include a rotor having a plurality of slots formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof; a vane slidably inserted into each of the plurality of slots; and a cam ring configured to receive the rotor therein and having a inner circumferential surface in contact with an end portion of the vane. The rotor may be formed of nodular graphite cast iron, the vane may be formed of high speed tool steel, and the cam ring may be formed of alloy cast iron. |
| US09163632B2 |
Injection port and orbiting-side wrap for a scroll compressor
A scroll compressor includes a compression mechanism having fixed and orbiting scrolls engaged with each other to form a compression chamber. Each of the fixed and orbiting scrolls includes an end plate and a spiral wall-shaped wrap extending from the end plate. The fixed scroll has an injection port configured to communicate with the compression chamber through a communication passageway located in the fixed-side end plate. The orbiting-side wrap has a thick portion located at a position corresponding to the injection port and having an increasing tooth thickness portion. A tooth thickness of the increasing tooth thickness portion increases from a start of winding to an end of winding of the orbiting-side wrap. The thick portion has a thickness greater than or equal to a dimension of an opening of the injection port measured along a tooth thickness of the orbiting-side wrap. |
| US09163631B2 |
Fluid compressor or pump apparatus
The present invention relates to an apparatus which may be in the form of a pump or compressor and which can function to compress or accelerate a fluid such as air, gas, gaseous mixtures and/or liquid. In particular, the invention provides a mechanism in which fluid can be admitted and then discharged continuously from each of the radial compartments that make up the compressor chamber. |
| US09163630B2 |
Integrated electric vane oil pump
An electric vane pump includes a first cover plate having a substantially planar first pump surface and a second cover plate coupled to the first cover plate defining a substantially planar second pump surface spaced apart from and extending substantially parallel to the first pump surface. A plurality of permanent magnets are fixed to a rotor. A plurality of radially moveable vanes are fixed for rotation with the rotor. Each vane is positioned between the first and second pump surfaces and has a first end slidably engaging the center vane support. An electric motor stator is positioned between the first and second cover plates and circumscribes the rotor. A resilient member biases each of the vanes into engagement with the center vane support. |
| US09163628B2 |
Self adjusting gear pump
A self-adjusting gear pump is disclosed. The pump may be a crescent internal gear pump, a gerotor pump, or an external gear pump. The pump includes a pump housing, gear housing, first and second gears, a side plate housing with a side plate, a shim and an end plate. The side plate moves between a first position contacting the first and second gears and gear housing, and a second position contacting the end plate. The side plate is spring biased toward the first position. A method is disclosed for match grinding the crescent plate (if used), gear housing and gears as a unit to provide a uniform surface. The side plate housing and side plate are similarly match ground. An assembly method is disclosed which allows the crescent plate to be moved with respect to the gear housing so that clearances between the crescent and the gear teeth are eliminated. |
| US09163625B2 |
Current limited pulse width modulation controlled motor
In order to realize, without inviting cost increase, a control for maintaining a pressure of fluid delivered from a pump at a target value, a pump control unit is provided with a driver control unit controlling a rotational speed of a hydraulic pump through adjustment of a duty ratio of a PWM signal driving excitation coils of an electric motor. Further, the pump control unit is provided also with a signal correction circuit configured to convert a current flowing in the excitation coils to a voltage signal with using a shunt resistor and to divide the voltage signal with using a voltage division ratio setting circuit and to shorten an ON signal of the PWM signal by increasing the divided voltage. The voltage division ratio setting circuit has a characteristics of setting the divided voltage higher, the longer an ON period of the PWM signal. |
| US09163623B2 |
System and method for improved flow uniformity in a peristaltic pump mechanism
A pumping mechanism is disclosed that includes a plurality of peristaltic pumping actuators configured to selectively and sequentially compress adjacent portions of a first portion of an at least partially compressible pumping element having an inlet that is upstream of an outlet. The plurality of pumping actuators are further configured to reciprocate at a common drive frequency with a first phase offset between each adjacent pair of pumping actuators. The pumping mechanism also includes at least one compensation actuator arranged to selectively compress a second portion of the at least partially compressible pumping element that is disposed between the first portion and the outlet. The at least one compensation actuator is configured to reciprocate at an optimal displacement and at a modulation frequency that is an integer multiple of the fundamental drive frequency and with a second phase offset between the at least one compensation actuator and the adjacent pumping actuator. |
| US09163620B2 |
Oil management system for a compressor
A compressor including a hollow housing having a suction chamber, a discharge chamber, and a crank chamber formed therein. A first fluid flow path provided within the compressor facilitates a flow of the working fluid from the crank chamber to the suction chamber. A second fluid flow path provided within the compressor facilitates a flow of a mixture of the working fluid and a lubricating fluid from the crank chamber to the suction chamber, wherein the second fluid flow path is selectively opened and closed by an annular sleeve. |
| US09163619B2 |
Valve actuator control system and method of use
A valve actuator control system for use with a valve actuator may include two pump assemblies, two control valve assemblies, two transducers, a fluid reservoir, and a controller assembly. The controller assembly may actuate the pump assemblies to direct fluid from the fluid reservoir to the valve actuator, and may actuate the control valve assemblies to direct fluid from the valve actuator to the fluid reservoir. A method of actuating a valve actuator using a valve actuator control system may comprise sending a signal to the valve actuator control system, injecting pressurized fluid from a fluid reservoir of the valve actuator control system into a first chamber of the valve actuator, discharging pressurized fluid from a second chamber of the valve actuator into the fluid reservoir, and actuating the valve actuator from a first position to a second position. |
| US09163618B2 |
Automated conversion between SFC and HPLC
An apparatus, system, and process of converting a standard, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) flow path to a flow path suitable for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are described. This reversible technique is applied to a variety of flow configurations including binary, high pressure solvent mixing systems and quaternary, low pressure solvent mixing systems than can be conventionally operated or automated. The technique is generally applied to the fields of supercritical fluid chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography, but users skilled in the art will find utility for any flow system where pressurization components must be periodically applied to and removed from both ends of a flow stream in an automated manner. |
| US09163617B2 |
High pressure pump including hollow stud
A high-pressure fluid pump is operable to pressurize a fluid and includes a hollow stud including a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical space extending between the first end and the second end and a housing fixedly coupled to the first end of the hollow stud. A high pressure cylinder is disposed within the cylindrical space of the hollow stud. The high pressure cylinder includes a bore that extends from a first end to a second end of the high pressure cylinder. A seal head is engaged with the first end of the high pressure cylinder to define a seal therebetween and an end cap is coupled to the second end of the hollow stud and the seal head. The end cap is operable to apply a compressive force to the seal head to compress the seal head against the cylinder and to apply a tensile load to the hollow stud. A plunger is movable within the bore to pressurize the fluid in a space defined by the piston, the seal head, and the high pressure cylinder. |
| US09163615B2 |
Tubular device and actuator
A tubular device including a tubular having a continuous wall and a substantially constant inner radial dimension and an outer surface that varies in radial dimensions configured to lessen a reduction in a longitudinal dimension of the tubular in response to radial expansion of the tubular in comparison to a reduction in the longitudinal dimension of a constantly-dimensioned-inner-and-outer-radially-surfaced-tubular made of a same material as the tubular. |
| US09163609B2 |
Boomerang wind blades and the device thereof
A boomerang wind blade includes a blade body having a protruding front edge and a recess rear edge. Both sides of the center of the blade body are two wing parts bent at an angle. The wing shape of one wing part is round at the front edge and tapering towards the rear edge. The wing shape of the other wing part is round at the rear edge and tapering towards the front edge. The device with a boomerang wind blade has a shaft fixed to the center of the two wing parts of the blade body to rotate as the blade body is driven by wind. The device also has at least one generator coupled with the shaft to generate electrical power. |
| US09163607B2 |
Wind and hydropower vessel plant
The disclosed embodiments relate to wind and hydropower vessel plant. The vessel plant is configured for generating renewable electrical energy. The wind and hydropower vessel plant comprises apparatus which relates to exposable turbine and/or submersible turbine configuration. Both exposable and submersible turbines are incorporated in a system by reference, comprising a platform for producing renewable electrical energy that is storable and/or transportable. The disclosed embodiments further include a plant for the production of hydrogen, methane, oxygen, desalinated water, salt and supplemental energy. |
| US09163606B2 |
Hydro-electric tube generation
Disclosed is a hydro-electric energy system comprised of an inner and outer tube designed to contain and distribute water such that failing water powers hydro-electric turbines located in the inner tube. The system may be located in a body of water taking in and distributing the surrounding water, or on and utilizes natural or/constructed/water sources. A number of different pump types are utilized at the bottom of the inner tube to maintain water levels and water flow within the system. In certain embodiments the pumps are driven by pressure and gravitational forces. In other embodiments supplemental power sources drive the pumps either power generated from the system's turbines or power sources external to the system. |
| US09163605B2 |
Method for closed-loop control of the temperature of a glow plug
A method for controlling the surface temperature of any glow plug in an internal combustion engine. A glow plug control device carries out an initialization at the installed and connected glow plug to adapt the temperature model to the behavior of the connected glow plug before the engine is started. Upon initialization, the glow plug is acted on by at least two different voltages and the resistances of the glow plug with these voltages are measured. A resistance gradient is calculated therefrom and the temperature model is adapted to the behavior of the connected glow plug. During the control process during operation of the engine, the momentary surface temperature of the glow plug is estimated by a model temperature, which is established using the temperature model. The effective voltage acting on the glow plug is changed in accordance with the deviation of the model temperature from a target temperature. |
| US09163604B2 |
Engine starting device and engine starting method
Engine starting device, including: a crank signal generation unit (13); and an engine control unit (10) for identifying a predetermined crank position of a crankshaft, and starting the engine, in which the engine control unit estimates, in a course of stopping the engine when a stop condition for the engine is established, based on an engine rpm at the identified predetermined crank position, whether or not the engine rotates backward before reaching the predetermined crank position for a next time, and after estimating that the engine rotates backward, sets an inhibition range which is prescribed from a starter drive inhibition start timing to a starter drive inhibition reset timing, and a permission range which is other than the inhibition range, and when the restart condition is established during rotation of the engine, inhibits restart in the inhibition range and carries out the restart in the permission range. |
| US09163599B2 |
Starting device for at least one combustion engine, in particular cable pull starting device
A starting device for at least one combustion engine, in particular cable pull starting device for at least one two-stroke or four-stroke engine, with at least one cable sheave or cable drum rotatably mounted in a housing, which for generating a driving fork for a crankshaft can be put into rotary motion by means of at least one starter handle or pulling handle via at least one force transmission means, in particular via a starter cable or pulling cable and is connected to at least one driving member, in particular to at least one pawl driver via at least one elastic coupling element, by means of which the driving torque can be transmitted to the crankshaft, the coupling link having two ends, wherein an end is in engagement with the driving member and another end with the cable sheave or the cable drum. |
| US09163596B2 |
Thermal recirculation valve for fuel filtration module
A thermal recirculation valve (TRV) is described that provides for effective fuel module heating during cold operation to mitigate fuel waxing or gelling issues. The TRV allows for the control of heated return fuel flow into the module dependent upon the module's outlet fuel temperature without the return fuel directly contacting the wax element. The wax element is isolated from direct contact with the higher temperature return fuel through use of an elastomeric seal which prevents return fuel from directly contacting the wax element. In addition, the wax element is positioned in the fuel outlet of the module. |
| US09163592B2 |
Vapor gas discharging apparatus for hybrid electric vehicle
A vapor gas discharging apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which includes a vapor line disposed between a canister and a fuel tank, wherein a purge line may be connected to the canister for transferring vapor gas from the canister to an engine, may include a discharging nipple formed to the canister and employed to supply air to the canister, an air supply line connected to the discharging nipple of the canister for supplying the air to the discharging nipple, a two-way valve connected to an end of an exhaust pipe and an end of the air supply line, and controlled for selectively communicating air flow between the air supply line and the exhaust pipe or between the air supply line and the outside of the air supply line, and a conduction member disposed in the air supply line between the two-way valve and the discharging nipple. |
| US09163584B2 |
System, method and apparatus for lean combustion with plasma from an electrical arc
The present invention provides a plasma arc torch that can be used for lean combustion. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel, an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, a linear actuator connected to the first electrode to adjust a position of the first electrode, a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and wherein the tangential inlet and the tangential outlet create a vortex within the cylindrical vessel, and the first electrode and the hollow electrode nozzle create a plasma that discharges through the hollow electrode nozzle. |
| US09163582B2 |
Convergent-divergent gas turbine nozzle comprising movable flaps having a variable thickness in a lateral direction
A liner assembly includes a plurality of flaps arranged about a central axis and operable to move relative to the central axis. Each of the plurality of flaps defines a forward end and an aft end, lateral sides, and an inner surface and an outer surface relative to the central axis. Each of the plurality of flaps has a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface, and thickness varies in a lateral direction between the lateral sides. |
| US09163581B2 |
Alpha-stream convertor
A thermo-acoustic engine and/or cooler is provided and includes an elongated tubular body, multiple regenerators disposed within the body, multiple heat exchangers disposed within the body, where at least one heat exchanger is disposed adjacent to each of the multiple regenerators, multiple transducers axially disposed at each end of the body, and an acoustic wave source generating acoustic waves. At least one of the acoustic waves is amplified by one of the regenerators and at least another acoustic wave is amplified by a second one of regenerators. |
| US09163578B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
Disclosed are a control device and a control method that are used with an internal combustion engine in which the air-fuel ratio in the vicinity of an ignition plug differs from the overall air-fuel ratio in a cylinder, and capable of properly fulfilling demands concerning various capabilities of the internal combustion engine by accurately reflecting each of the demands in the operation of each actuator. Three physical quantities, namely, a torque, an efficiency, and an air-fuel ratio, are used as controlled variables for the internal combustion engine. Target values for the controlled variables are then set by integrating at least some of demands concerning a capability of the internal combustion engine into the three physical quantities. Further, in accordance with the target values for the three controlled variables, namely, the torque, the efficiency, and the air-fuel ratio, three operation amounts, namely, an intake air amount adjustment valve opening, an ignition timing, and a fuel injection amount are set, and a fourth operation amount for adjusting the air-fuel ratio distribution in the cylinder is set. |
| US09163576B2 |
System and method for calibrating engine crankshaft-camshaft correlation and for improved vehicle limp-home mode
A system for an engine includes an edge detection module and a correlation calibration module. The edge detection module (i) detects edges of a camshaft of the engine using a camshaft position sensor, and (ii) detects edges of a crankshaft of the engine using a crankshaft position sensor. The correlation calibration module calibrates a correlation between the crankshaft and the camshaft based on the detected edges of the crankshaft and the camshaft, respectively. |
| US09163572B2 |
Method for determining a pressure at the output of an exhaust gas system
In a method for determining a pressure at the output of an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine system of a vehicle, a mass flow through the internal combustion engine system and an ambient pressure at a fresh air supply of the internal combustion engine system are detected. The pressure at the output of the exhaust gas system is determined as a function of the mass flow, the ambient pressure and throttling of the mass flow through the internal combustion engine system. |
| US09163565B2 |
Valve flap device
A valve flap device for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, having at least one tubular valve housing with a flow cross section running perpendicular to a central axis and being formed by the inner geometry and a shaft which can turn about a valve axis with a valve flap mounted on the shaft, being mounted in the valve housing to close the flow cross section. The valve flap device can be made with low material input and at the same time with low fabrication expense at low costs. For this, the valve housing is made from a tubular blank of sheet metal with a tube diameter that is calibrated to the flow cross section at least partially by mechanical, plastic forming. |
| US09163564B2 |
Method and system for energy generation in a chemical plant by utilizing flare gas
The present techniques provide systems and methods for recovering energy from flare gases in chemical plants and refineries. The systems use an engine to burn a portion of gas diverted from the flare system. The engine may be a reciprocating engine, or a burner in a boiler system, among others. The power generated by burning the flare gas is then used to power an energy recovery device. The energy recovery device may be an electrical generator, a compressor, or a steam boiler, among others. |
| US09163563B2 |
Fuel metering control
A method of controlling the operation of a fuel metering unit of the type incorporating a temperature sensor is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: sensing a change in temperature; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a fast temperature correction factor; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a slow temperature correction factor; using the fast and slow temperature correction factors in combination with a fuel demand to determine a metering valve position; and moving the metering valve to the determined metering valve position. |
| US09163548B2 |
Exhaust system including an exhaust manifold having an integrated mixer plate
An exhaust system for an engine is provided herein. The exhaust system includes an emission control device and an exhaust manifold having a plurality of runners merging at a confluence section positioned upstream of the emission control device. The exhaust system further includes a mixer plate positioned in the confluence section, the mixer plate including a central opening and a plurality of louvered vents positioned axially around the central opening, the louvered vents having angled openings facing a common rotational direction. |
| US09163547B2 |
Lightweight construction silencer
A silencer (1; 1′) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes a housing (2; 2′), which includes a housing shell (3; 3′) extending in a circumferential direction (U) of the housing (2; 2′). At least one sandwich plate (6; 6′) forms a part of the housing shell (3; 3′). A housing interior space (4) including at least one chamber (8), is enclosed by the housing (2). A self-supporting support structure (5) is provided, which includes a pipe arrangement (7) that is at least partially arranged in the housing interior space (4). |
| US09163545B2 |
Thermoelectric generator with heat exchanger
A heat exchanger (9), of e.g. an exhaust gas system (5) for an internal combustion engine (1), includes a thermoelectric generator (12) having a hot side (13) and a cold side (14) and including a heating tube (15) on a hot side of a heating device (10), and a cooling tube (16) on a cold side of a cooling device (11). The heating tube and the cooling tube are stacked on one another and form a tube stack (18), with the heating tube and the cooling tube extending parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction (19) of the tube stack. For energy efficiency, a housing (21) of the heat exchanger has a jacket (23) with an integral re-tensioning section (25) that is resiliently adjustable between a relaxed state and a tensioned state. The pre-tensioning section generates a pre-tensioning force (26) pressing the tube stack in a stacking direction (17). |
| US09163538B2 |
Fine particle collecting filter
A fine particle collecting filter includes a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of honeycomb segments are integrally joined by a joining material, and has a constitution where an exhaust gas allowed to flow from an inlet end surface into cells passes partition walls, and then flows out from an outlet end surface to the outsides of the cells. The partition walls are made of a material containing SiC as a main component, at least one of an average open diameter of pores of an inlet side of the exhaust gas passing the partition wall and an average open diameter of the pores of an outlet side of the exhaust gas passing is from 0.1 to 5 μm, an average pore diameter of the whole partition wall is from 10 to 30 μm, and a thermal conductivity of the partition walls at room temperature is from 80 to 110 W/mK. |
| US09163537B2 |
Enhanced diagnostic signal to detect pressure condition of a particulate filter
An exhaust gas treatment system includes a particulate filter to collect particulate matter from exhaust gas flowing therethrough. The particulate filter realizes a pressure thereacross in response to the exhaust gas flow. A delta pressure sensor determines a first pressure upstream from the particulate filter and a second pressure downstream from the particulate filter. A delta pressure module is in electrical communication with the delta pressure sensor. The delta pressure module determines a pressure differential value based on a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure and generates a diagnostic signal based on a plurality of the pressure differential values and a predetermined time period. |
| US09163535B2 |
Crosshead lubrication system
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a crosshead having a crosshead body, a recess formed in an outer surface of the crosshead body, and a lubricant port extending through the crosshead body from the recess to an aperture of the crosshead, wherein the crosshead is configured to move in a reciprocating motion in a machine. |
| US09163534B2 |
Valve actuation mechanism and automotive vehicle comprising such a valve actuation mechanism
A valve actuation mechanism for an internal combustion engine includes rockers moved by a camshaft, each rocker being adapted to exert a valve opening force on at least a portion of a valve opening actuator of each cylinder, via an activation piston, housed in a bore of the rocker and movable with respect to the rocker under action of a fluid pressure raise in a chamber fluidly connected to the bore, from a first position to a second position with respect to the rocker, in which a cam follower of the rocker is adapted to read at least one auxiliary valve lift sector of a cam of the camshaft so as to perform an engine operating function. Each rocker includes a check valve adapted to control the fluid pressure raise in the chamber. The valve actuation mechanism includes, for each rocker, a stopper fast with a housing of the engine and adapted to exert, on a member of the rocker, a force for opening a valve independent from the check valve, adapted to release fluid from the chamber when the piston has to be moved from its second position to its first position. |
| US09163530B2 |
Method for operating a steam cycle process
The invention relates to a method for operating a steam cycle process for using the heat of an internal combustion engine (2), comprising a conduction circuit (4) in which a working medium circulates. Said conduction circuit (4) comprises at least one pump (6, 13), at least one heat exchanger (8), an expansion machine (10), a feedwater tank (14) for storing the liquid working medium, and a condenser (12). Components of the conduction circuit (4) are frost-proofed by partially evacuating the liquid working medium. After the end of the circulation of the working medium, at least one of the pumps (6, 13) continues to operate in order to evacuate the working medium at least from the pump (6, 13) which continues to operate. |
| US09163528B2 |
Control system and method for biomass power plant
A system and a method for controlling operation of a power plant system. The system has at least a gasifier, a boiler, an induced draft fan, and a baghouse. A controller in communication with the system is configured to implement a first stage and/or a second stage sequences after detecting loss of flame in the boiler using a temperature measurement device. The method includes automatically bypassing the baghouse and controlled (e.g., decreasing) the speed of the induced draft fan in the system to relight the boiler. The input feed to the gasifier can be limited and devices operated for a predetermined amount of time before reigniting the boiler. |
| US09163523B2 |
Turbocharger with flexible installation
One embodiment is an apparatus including a bearing housing mechanically coupled to a compressor housing on a first side and to a turbine housing on a second side. The compressor housing has a compressor outlet and the turbine housing has a fluid outlet. A first flow path fluidly connects the compressor outlet to a first circumferential channel formed between the bearing housing and the compressor housing. A fifth flow path fluidly connects the fluid outlet to a second circumferential channel formed between the bearing housing and the turbine housing. A third fluid flow path fluidly connects the first circumferential channel to the second circumferential channel. The apparatus further includes a fluid conduit that fluidly connects the fluid outlet to an actuator. |
| US09163522B2 |
Spring carrier and removable seal carrier
A seal assembly includes a seal support, a spring carrier, a plurality of springs, and a seal carrier. The spring carrier is connected to the seal support by a guide assembly. The plurality of springs are disposed between the seal support and the spring carrier. The seal carrier is connected to the spring carrier and is removable therefrom. |
| US09163521B2 |
Gas turbine engine with supersonic compressor
A gas turbine engine having a compressor section using blades on a rotor to deliver a gas at supersonic conditions to a stator. The stator includes one or more of aerodynamic ducts that have converging and diverging portions for deceleration of the gas to subsonic conditions and to deliver a high pressure gas to combustors. The aerodynamic ducts include structures for changing the effective contraction ratio to enable starting even when designed for high pressure ratios, and structures for boundary layer control. In an embodiment, aerodynamic ducts are provided having an aspect ratio of two to one (2:1) or more, when viewed in cross-section orthogonal to flow direction at an entrance to the aerodynamic duct. |
| US09163519B2 |
Cap for ceramic blade tip shroud
A ceramic shroud assembly includes a tip shroud having an outer platform supporting at least one seal tooth, a shroud cap less brittle than the outer platform and including a shroud cap base on the outer platform, and clockwise and counter-clockwise facing clockwise and counter-clockwise contact surfaces located at clockwise and counter-clockwise distal ends respectively of the base. A rotor assembly may include a circumferential row of turbine blades made of a ceramic material and extending radially outwardly from a disk of a turbine rotor. The turbine blades include airfoils having the airfoil tip shrouds and the shroud caps at blade tips. The clockwise and counter-clockwise contact surfaces of circumferentially adjacent ones of the shroud caps contact each other. The shroud and the platform may be made of a ceramic or ceramic matrix composite material and the shroud cap may be made of a metallic material. |
| US09163518B2 |
Full coverage trailing edge microcircuit with alternating converging exits
A turbine engine component has an airfoil portion with a pressure side wall, a suction side wall, and a trailing edge. The turbine engine component further has at least one first cooling circuit core embedded within the pressure side wall, with each first cooling circuit core having a first exit for discharging a cooling fluid, at least one second cooling circuit core embedded within the suction side wall, with each second cooling circuit core having a second exit for discharging a cooling fluid, and the first and second exits being aligned in a spanwise direction of the airfoil portion. |
| US09163516B2 |
Fluid movement system and method for determining impeller blade angles for use therewith
A fluid movement system that includes an impeller having a blade with a leading edge blade tip angle determined as a function of an increase in mass flow rate due to reinjection of flow from a flow stability device located proximate to the leading edge tip of the blade. In an exemplary method, the leading edge blade tip angle can be determined based on selecting a blade incidence level based on a mass flow gain versus flow coefficient curve. Blade leading edge tip angles determined in accordance with a method of the present invention are typically greater than blade leading edge tip angles determined using traditional methods. The greater blade leading edge tip angles can lead to more robust blades designs. |
| US09163514B2 |
System and method for coupling rotor components
A system includes a rotor assembly with a first rotor component having a first set of bushing receptacles and a first set of bolt holes arranged about a first rotational axis of the first rotor component. The rotor assembly also includes a second rotor component having a second set of bushing receptacles and a second set of bolt holes arranged about a second rotational axis of the second rotor component. The rotor assembly includes a first set of bushings disposed in the first and second sets of bushing receptacles in a first installed configuration, wherein the first installed configuration of the first set of bushings is configured to align the first and second rotational axes with one another, and the first installed configuration of the first set of bushings is configured to bear at least a first portion of a torque during rotation of the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly also includes a first set of bolts extending through the first and second sets of bolt holes to retain the first rotor, the second rotor, and the first set of bushings in the rotor assembly. |
| US09163513B2 |
Balanced rotor for a turbine engine
A balanced rotor of a turbine engine, having a rotor disc with a circumferential slot and a row of rotor blades mounted in the slot and a balance weight having a land which extends beneath the root of a blade and having a mass-adjustment protrusion extending from the land in a radial direction relative to the axis of the rotor component and which lies wholly between the blade root and an adjacent blade root. |
| US09163512B2 |
Bladeless turbine
The bladeless turbine includes a case, three or more turbine discs disposed within the case. Each turbine disc has a center opening, and two or more of the turbine discs have a set of exhaust ports positioned annularly around the center opening. A drive shaft passes through the center openings of the turbine discs and is attached to the three or more turbine discs, wherein the drive shaft is positioned within the case along the centerline, free to rotate within the case, and extends through the case for connection to a generator. The one or more fluid/vapor inlets are attached to the main housing such that a fluid/vapor is directed at a specified angle onto the three or more turbine discs. The fluid/vapor outlet is aligned with the centerline. A set of exhaust holes proximate to and connected to the fluid/vapor outlet that are positioned annularly around the drive shaft. |
| US09163508B2 |
Gerotor motor balancing plate structure
A gerotor device includes a valving plate, a balancing plate structure, and a rotor positioned between the valving plate and the balancing plate structure. High pressure fluid flowing from the valving plate toward the rotor pushes the rotor toward the balancing plate structure. The balancing plate structure includes a balancing plate and a second plate. A cavity is defined between the balancing plate and the second plate. The balancing plate includes a fluid passage having a check valve and fluid passes through the fluid passage for pressuring the cavity. The balancing plate includes first and second relief holes extending through the balancing plate connected with the cavity. |
| US09163507B2 |
Pneumatic mechanical power source
An mechanical power system provides torque without using a heat engine where fossil-fuel engines have conventionally been used, by replacing the fossil-fuel burning engine with a rotary pneumatic motor and feeding pressure-regulated compressed gas to the rotary pneumatic motor. The rotary pneumatic motor can be used anywhere, and requires preferably compressed nitrogen in a non-liquid state. Automotive, marine and electrical generating applications are adaptable, and auxiliary power is available for emergencies where a supply of compressed gas has been exhausted. A screw-type compressor can be electrically powered to supply compressed gas to the pneumatic motor where tanks of compressed gas have been exhausted. An electrical generating power plant includes an array of solar panels for generating direct current (DC) and a DC/AC converter for converting the DC to alternating current (AC) and outputting a portion of the AC via a power plant output port to supply an AC load. |
| US09163504B2 |
Axially rotating free piston
A piston slidably engaged in relation to the longitudinal axis of a shaft rotationally journaled proximate opposed ends to a housing which allows reciprocal travel of the piston within a cylinder of the housing with the external surface of the piston and the internal surface of the cylinder providing mated portions of a piston rotation generation assembly which induces rotation of the piston within the cylinder during reciprocal travel of the piston along the length of the shaft with the piston having rotationally fixed engagement with the shaft such that rotation of the piston within the cylinder generates a corresponding rotation of the shaft. |
| US09163503B1 |
Utility mine scoop and mine duster
A mine scoop machine having a steerable wheeled body provided with a material scoop having a load ejection blade mounted thereon for movement longitudinally of said body between a load position and a load ejection position adjacent an open front end of the scoop, operator controlled power means for moving the ejection blade selectively between the two positions for loading and unloading the scoop, a mine dusting unit mounted on the body rearwardly of the load position of the ejection blade, wherein the dusting unit comprises a dust hopper having a ground rock material feed inlet port and a rock dust outlet port, an air jet means on the unit for fluidizing the ground rock material and ejecting the resulting rock dust out into a mine shaft. |
| US09163501B2 |
Guide piece for an extraction or coal plough
A replaceable guide piece (10) for an extraction or coal plough (100) is provided. The replaceable guide piece (10) includes a generally U-shaped guide piece body (12) configured to be inserted into a guide claw (14) of the plough (100). A single recess (22) is formed in a central portion of a guide piece body (12) to extend at an angle (α) from an upper side of guide piece body (12) to a side surface of the same. A locking mechanism (24) is configured to engage with the single recess (22) to prevent movement of the guide piece (10) in the longitudinal direction after insertion of the guide piece (10) into the guide claw. |
| US09163500B2 |
Extendable and elongating mechanism for centralizing a downhole tool within a subterranean wellbore
An apparatus including a downhole tool for conveyance in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation. The downhole tool includes a feature to physically interface a sidewall of the wellbore, and first and second setting pistons each extendable from the downhole tool opposite the feature. The downhole tool also includes a rigid member spanning and extendable with the first and second setting pistons, wherein a length of the rigid member is variable. |
| US09163499B2 |
Method of determining reservoir pressure
A new approach is disclosed for measuring the pressure of tight gas reservoirs, using information obtain from continuous injection prior to hydraulic fracture stimulation. The technique can be obtained utilizing either bottom-hole or surface pressure gauges and properly instrumented surface injection pumps. The analysis is completed by plotting injection and rate data in a specialized form from terms arranged in Darcy's radial flow equation to obtain a curve or trend. The key component to proper application of this technique is to obtain both baseline and one or more calibration data sets. These calibration data sets are obtained by either increasing or decreasing the injection pressure and/or rate from the baseline data. Initial reservoir pressure is assumed, but the calibration data indicates if the guess was too high or low. Accurate estimates of reservoir pressure may be obtained in a few iterations. |
| US09163497B2 |
Fluid flow back prediction
A computing device configured to determine when an alarm is triggered for a drilling operation is provided. Measured drilling data that includes a value measured for an input variable during a previous connection event of a drilling operation is received. A predicted value for a fluid flow back measure is determined by executing a predictive model with the measured drilling data as an input. The predictive model is determined using previous drilling data that includes a plurality of values measured for the input variable during a second drilling operation. The second drilling operation is a previous drilling operation at a different geographic wellbore location than the drilling operation. A fluid flow back measurement datum determined from sensor data is compared to the determined predicted value for the fluid flow back measure. An alarm is triggered on the drilling operation based on the comparison. |
| US09163495B2 |
Fracturing system
The present invention relates to a fracturing system for fracturing a formation surrounding a well tubular structure, comprising a tubular part to be mounted as a part of the well tubular structure, the tubular part being made of metal, an expandable sleeve made of metal, the sleeve having a wall thickness and surrounding the tubular part, a fastening means for connecting the sleeve with the tubular part, and an aperture in the tubular part or the fastening means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a fracturing method for fracturing a formation surrounding a well tubular structure. |
| US09163494B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating a well
A method for treating a well includes positioning a seat within the well that is capable of catching an obstruction which will prevent flow of fluid downstream of the seat. The seat is formed by expanding a sleeve with a ring positioned around its periphery or as a subsequent step in the process. As the sleeve is expanded over the ring, the seat is formed. Once the seat is formed, an obstruction in the form of a ball or dart is dropped down to the seat. The sleeve may also act as a stop for a secondary valve seat which catches the obstruction. The casing uphole of the seat is perforated so that fluid under pressure will enter the formation surrounding the perforations. The process is particularly useful for fracing a formation in a horizontal well where numerous stages are required to complete the stimulation of the well. There is also potential application in vertical wells. |
| US09163493B2 |
Wellbore servicing assemblies and methods of using the same
A wellbore servicing system comprising a casing string disposed within a wellbore, a work string at least partially disposed within the casing string and having a wellbore servicing tool incorporated therein, wherein the wellbore servicing tool is selectively transitionable between a jetting configuration and a mixing configuration, wherein the wellbore servicing tool is configured to transition between the jetting configuration and the mixing configuration via contact between the wellbore servicing tool and the casing upon movement of the work string upwardly within the casing string, upon movement of the work string downwardly within the casing string, or by combinations thereof. |
| US09163484B2 |
Actuator
An actuator for displacing a control device including a valve, a gate valve or the like, in particular for use in oil or gas production systems, said actuator comprising an electric drive and a thread drive displaceable by means of said electric drive. The thread drive comprises at least a threaded spindle and a screw nut. The threaded spindle is displaceable in a substantially axial direction between an advanced position and a retracted position so as to displace the control device.In order to improve an actuator of this kind in such a way that advantages of an already known actuator will be maintained on the basis of a smaller number of components and a more compact structural design and a reduction of the manufacturing costs can simultaneously be accomplished, the electric drive comprises at least one torque motor with a hollow shaft, said hollow shaft being connected to the driven side of a safety clutch unit such that it is secured against rotation relative thereto. This safety clutch unit is, on the driving side thereof, connected in a motion-transmitting manner to the screw nut which is supported such that it is rotatable and axially non-displaceable. In this way, it is additionally achieved that the actuator in question can also be used for units that are already in use. |
| US09163482B2 |
Subsea system with subsea cooler and method for cleaning the subsea cooler
There is provided a subsea system for increasing pressure and/or flow rate in a flow line, the subsea system being arranged in fluid communication with said flow line which receives fluid from at least one fluid source. The subsea system comprises at least one compressor or pump and at least one subsea cooler which is arranged in the flow line in series with the at least one compressor. The subsea system further comprises a recirculation line which is configured such that at least a portion of the fluid flowing in the flow line downstream the at least one compressor and the at least one subsea cooler may be recirculated back to the flow line upstream the at least one compressor and the at least one subsea cooler such that the recirculating line can be used for capacity regulation of the at least one compressor and cleaning of the at least one subsea cooler. There is also provided a method for the removal of wax and/or hydrate and/or sand and debris which has accumulated in at least one subsea cooler of a subsea system. |
| US09163469B2 |
One trip packer plug debris milling and removal method
A combination tool is delivered to compacted debris above a packer whose plug is to be removed. The shoe or mill is on the lower end of an outer bushing and the grapple or overshot is held within the bushing but away from the shoe so that the shoe can advance into the debris as reverse circulation takes the cuttings up through a mandrel to a debris removal tool. When the shoe lands on the packer the surface personnel can see it on the weight indicator. Weight is then set down to overcome a resisting force of a breakable member such as a shear pin or a spring or both so that the grapple advances to engage the packer plug. Advancing the mandrel relative to the bushing with the shoe at its lower end also releases a torque lug that previously allowed tandem rotation of the mandrel with the bushing. |
| US09163464B2 |
Systems for stabilizing oilfield equipment
An apparatus for stabilizing a conduit, such as a riser, against motion. The apparatus comprises an outer wall portion, an inner tubular member having a longitudinal channel extending therethrough, a first tubular member at least partially located between the outer wall portion and the inner tubular member, and a second tubular member at least partially located between the outer wall portion and the inner tubular member. The outer wall portion at least partially surrounds the inner tubular member and the first and second tubular members are movable about the inner tubular member and are movable relative to each other. The first and second tubular members are adapted for securing to the conduit, such as a riser. |
| US09163461B2 |
Methods of attaching a shank to a body of an earth-boring tool including a load-bearing joint and tools formed by such methods
Earth-boring rotary drill bits may include a bit body attached to a shank assembly at a joint. The joint may be configured to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference at the joint. The joint may be configured to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit. Methods for attaching a shank assembly to a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include configuring a joint to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. The joint may be configured to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. |
| US09163460B2 |
Wellbore conditioning system
A wellbore conditioning system is disclosed. The system comprises at least one shaft and at least two eccentric unilateral reamers, wherein the unilateral reamers are positioned at a predetermined distance from each other and the unilateral reamers are positioned at a predetermined rotational angle from each other. |
| US09163459B2 |
Rock bit having a pressure balanced metal faced seal
A sealing system includes a first gland in a cone and a first ring mounted in the first gland. A second ring is mounted to a shaft region. A third ring is positioned between the first and second rings. The first and third rings present a pair of metal seal faces. A second gland is formed between the second and third rings, with an o-ring sealing member installed within the third gland and radially compressed in a sealing relationship between the second and third rings. The second gland is sized to permit axial movement of the o-ring sealing member within the second gland in response to pressure changes. An energizer is configured to exert an axial force against the third ring so as to keep the metal seal faces in sealing contact. The axial force is applied at a radial position corresponding to a radial center the metal seal faces. |
| US09163457B2 |
Pressure compensation system for an oil-sealed mud motor bearing assembly
In an oil-sealed bearing assembly in the bearing section of a mud motor, in which a mandrel is rotatably disposed within a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical sleeve is disposed coaxially and rotatably around the mandrel, with the sleeve being non-rotatably mounted to an inner surface of the housing, thereby forming an annular piston chamber forming part of a generally annular oil reservoir. The sleeve provides radial support to the mandrel along the length of the piston chamber by virtue of the flexural stiffness of the sleeve. The mandrel rotates within the sleeve, with a radial bearing being provided between the sleeve and the mandrel. An annular piston is axially movable within the piston chamber in response to variations in the volume of oil in the reservoir. The piston slides within the piston chamber without rotation relative to either the housing or the sleeve. |
| US09163454B1 |
Corrosion resistant screen frame assembly
A screen enclosure frame element structured to resist fluid from contacting the anchor is presented. Particularly, the frame element comprises an anchor channel disposed within an interior portion of the frame element between a head surface and a support side; the anchor channel being dimensioned to receive an anchor there through and into an engaging relation with the base. Further, the frame element of at least one embodiment includes at least one anchor retention assembly which at least partially defines the anchor channel. The retention assembly comprises a support wall connected to or a part of an inner side of the head surface at one end, and disposable in a fluid restricting relation with the support base at the other end. Other embodiments include a cap with a curvilinear surface configuration and/or a plurality of support ledges with corrugates surfaces disposed in a fluid restricting relation with the base. |
| US09163449B2 |
Laminated glass retention system
A laminated glass retention system for securing a laminated glass subassembly within a window sash or frame member or door panel or similar component includes a retention member applied to the laminated glass subassembly. The retention member generally can include a leg portion that engages of the laminated glass subassembly, and can further include a base portion that is coupled to the frame member in which the laminated glass subassembly is seated. The retention member helps retain the insulating glass subassembly within its frame member when subjected to high winds and wind-borne debris. |
| US09163446B2 |
Door control apparatus
A door control apparatus and methods for controlling a door motion device for a hinged door and, optionally, illuminating a designated area on the floor. During the time the designated area is illuminated, a person can expect that the door will not close. The door control apparatus may include control circuitry, and a sensor, and optionally a light emitter and/or a sound emitter. The sensor detects a person proximate to the door and signals the control circuitry upon a detection event. The light emitter is also connected to the control circuitry. Upon a detection event, the control circuitry signals the light emitter to produce light and signals the door motion device to hold the door open. The light emitter directs light to form an image on the floor in the designated area. The light emitter may be, for example, a laser generator or a light emitting diode lamp. |
| US09163438B2 |
Door stay
A door stay for attachment to a door above a floor, the door stay comprising a mounting means, and a floor-contacting element rotatably mounted on said mounting means, the floor-contacting element being biased against said floor by the mounting means. Preferably, the floor-contacting element is a ball and the ball moves over the floor under tension. The door stay provides significant advantages in the positioning of a door so that it will not swing to and fro, but which can still nevertheless be swung open when desired by manual operation of the door. The door stay is attachable to the lower edge of the door, wherever required and removed when no longer required, or when it is required somewhere else. All of these features are provided in a relatively simple low cost door stay which is highly effective in practical use. |
| US09163434B2 |
Vehicle door lock apparatus
A closing mechanism of a vehicle door lock apparatus includes a drive, a pivoting body, a close lever, a transmitting member, and a cancel lever. The pivoting body is driven by the drive to pivot when a fork is disposed in a half latched position. The transmitting member is displaceable between an engaging position, where the transmitting member regulates relative displacement of the close lever and the pivoting body, and a releasing position where the transmitting member allows relative displacement. The cancel lever pivots independently of an open lever and displaces the transmitting member to the releasing position. The close lever displaces the fork to a latched position through the pivoting of the pivoting body when the transmitting member is in the engaging position. The close lever does not contact the fork irrespective of the pivoting of the pivoting body when the transmitting member is in the releasing position. |
| US09163433B2 |
Display stand for a tablet computer
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a display stand for securing a tablet computer from unauthorized removal or theft. The display stand may include a sleeve configured to at least partially receive a tablet computer therein and a base configured to releasably engage the sleeve. The base may be configured to engage the sleeve in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the sleeve and the tablet computer from the base and to disengage the sleeve in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the sleeve and the tablet computer to be removed from the base. |
| US09163430B1 |
Drawer lock
A drawer assembly includes a drawer body that is slideably coupled within a cabinet housing using a slide assembly. The slide assembly includes an outer slide portion having a blocking tab disposed thereon. The slide assembly further includes a slide mount having an engagement tab pivotably mounted thereon. The engagement tab engages the blocking tab to lock the drawer assembly. The engagement tab can be released by turning a twist-lock mechanism, which actuates a lever that engages an actuator tab extending inwardly. |
| US09163424B2 |
Viscous wall coupling damper
A building structure in an outrigger configuration having a building core, at least one perimeter column, and at least one outrigger beam having a main body portion connected to the building core, an end portion distal from the building core in a direction of the at least one perimeter column and a vane portion extending from the end portion. At least one damper having a high-viscosity fluid container connected is connected to the at least one perimeter column and the vane portion extends into the high-viscosity fluid container to couple the building core to the at least one perimeter column, such that when the building structure is subjected to lateral loads and the building core is displaced with respect to the at least perimeter column, high-viscosity fluid within the high-viscosity fluid container is sheared by the vane to damp vibrations and provide coupling in the building structure. |
| US09163414B2 |
Floor panel
In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element. |
| US09163408B2 |
Silicone roof edge accessory for foam roof and associated method
A foam roof of the present disclosure includes a roof having a roof portion with one of an edge, termination, or penetration having a generally upright edge. A foam is received over a region of the roof portion adjacent to and along the generally upright edge. A flexible edge member is received over the generally upright edge and an adjacent region of the foam. The edge member preferably has first and second legs disposed in substantially perpendicular relation, and each leg has a variable or tapering cross-sectional conformation. |
| US09163407B2 |
Roofing composition
A split-flashing composition for covering a protrusion from a roof, having a flange for sealing to a roof surface with an in-plane spiral closed-loop opening with first and second end portions connected together in an off-set manner, and a generally conical collar portion that extends from the flange portion, the collar portion having a curved wall section and a planar wall section that define an internal volume within the collar portion. |
| US09163403B2 |
Block for use in constructing a retaining wall with improved features
A block for forming a structure, the block having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, the block having disposed proximate the top at least one projection, the block having disposed proximate the bottom thereof at least one recess, wherein when the structure is formed from a plurality of the blocks, the at least one projection of one block engages with the at least one recess of another block. |
| US09163402B2 |
Suspended architectural structure
A suspended architectural structure includes a plurality of fin support members configured to couple with one or more architectural structures, e.g. ceiling structure. A plurality of flexible fins, with each flexible fin including a plurality of attachment points that is configured to be coupled to the plurality of fin support members. The plurality of fin support members includes a rib frame and a plurality of lateral rib members. The flexible fins are coupled to the ribs by the attachment points using removable pins. |
| US09163401B2 |
Retractable roof
A retractable roof structure for crop protection includes pitched sections of roof defined by a retractable membrane. The membrane is moved by cables connected to a drive tube with a spring to regulate minimum tension of the cable. The drive system ensures that the membrane adjacent to the drive tube is able to travel the same distance as the second membrane from the drive tube. The rafter contains profiles to allow the stationary end of said membrane to be attached continuously to the rafters to provide a water tight connection. The rafter also contains clips which inhibit vertical, lateral and horizontal movement of the guide wires used to suspend the membrane. The guide wires are supported by flexible cables or nodes. A secondary clear membrane is installed below a white upper retractable membrane. |
| US09163397B2 |
Foil-backed wallboard and insulation system
An insulated exterior wall assembly combining insulating material and reflective surface insulation coupled with an air gap. A wall assembly according to this invention includes wall support studs defining insulation cavities between them, sheathing boards facing the building exterior, an insulating material such as cellular plastic material or fibrous insulation applied from the exterior sheathing partly through the depth of the insulation cavities, a foil-backed gypsum-containing wallboard applied to the interior facing portions of the studs, with an air gap between the foil backing of the wallboards and the surface of the foam along the depth of the studs. The wall assembly according to this invention provides comparable thermal resistance compared to a deep layer of insulating material. |
| US09163395B2 |
Compact combined habitation module and utility rack with multiple deployment modes
The present invention is an easily mobilized compact module that combines habitable quarters and integrated interior and/or exterior multipurpose storage structures. Mobilization may be via trailer, truck bed, helicopter, adjustable jacks or other conveyance means. The module may be easily and quickly removed and reattached to one of the aforementioned mobilization means via attachable height-adjustable legs, hoist, crane, or forklift with locking turnbuckles, bolts, or other hold-downs. The module is built of a rigid exoskeleton designed for enclosure habitat and for utility as a base for attaching items or equipment. It has various end cap options such as doors, windows, or solid panels, as a user dictates. The interior of a module has modular panels that form many configurations for functional use and/or storage. The interior also has a useful endoskeleton or useful interior storage structure for attaching useful items such as soft stowage and electrical wires thereto. The module may be used as a single unit or attached together to form a larger habitable structure. |
| US09163394B1 |
Portable vehicle cover structure
A portable or moveable carport is described. The carport as described herein is able to be quickly and easily set up and taken down while still shielding a vehicle from rain, snow and sun—the primary destroyers of automotive paint, body and interiors. The structure has at least four vertical legs supporting an A-frame roof structure. The vertical legs are anchored under the vehicle's four tires with adjustable plates which can be driven onto once the structure is assembled. |
| US09163391B2 |
Modular click-connector elements for assembly of wall and building superstructures
A modular connector element has a hook, a catch, and fittings for connection to an end of a hollow log for assembly into a wall or building superstructure. In assembling three such connector elements in a sequence conforming a corner between two structural walls, the hook of the middle connector element makes a click connection with a catch formed on a second such connector element positioned on one side of the middle connector element, and the catch of the middle connector element makes a click connection with a hook formed on a third such connector element positioned on the side of the middle connector element opposite the second connector element. The connector elements with their respective logs are thus rapidly, securely and manually click-locked together to erect walls and building superstructures. |
| US09163379B2 |
Plow blade
The present disclosure provides a plow blade edge device for mounting to a moldboard of a plow comprising at least one adapter blade including a bottom edge having selectively carbide insert(s) along at least a portion of the bottom edge. The disclosure further provides for a method of brazing the carbide insert(s) in a cavity along at least a portion of the bottom edge. The device further includes at least one wear block selectively reversible to present the adapter blade at a first angle or a second angle. The at least one wear block can include a bottom edge having a carbide insert along at least a portion of the bottom edge. |
| US09163377B2 |
Bucket design for maximizing liquid transport
A bucket for a machine, such as a wheel loader or track loader is disclosed. The bucket includes a bottom section connected to a top section by a middle section. The top, bottom and middle sections are connected to a pair of side walls. The bottom section includes a bottom distal edge and the top section includes a top distal edge. A rear side of the bucket includes a lower ear for receiving a lower pin. The lower pin connects the lower ear and the bucket to a lower linkage. A first distance between the lower pin and the bottom distal edge has a first length and a second distance between the lower pin and the top distal edge has a second length. A ratio of the first and second length, referred to as a loading index (LI) ranges from greater than 0.83 to less than 0.95. |
| US09163375B2 |
Synthetic ground cover system with binding infill for erosion control
A synthetic ground cover system for erosion control to be placed atop the ground, including a synthetic grass which comprises a composite of one or more geo-textiles tufted with synthetic yarns. The synthetic ground cover also includes a sand/soil infill ballast applied to the synthetic grass and a binding agent applied to the sand/soil infill to stabilize the sand/soil infill against high velocity water shear forces. |
| US09163374B2 |
Use of cactus mucilage as a dispersant and absorbant for oil in oil-water mixtures
Despite advances in off-shore oil exploration and drilling technology, accidental oil spills do occur. Depending on their magnitude and location, irreparable damage may be inflicted on marine and coastal ecosystems. Emulsification of a water/surfactant/oil system results in the production of oil droplets and this depends on the formulation and composition variables, mixing characteristics and system preparation. Thus, research is ongoing on improving methods of cleaning up oil spills. Cactus mucilage was used to disperse and absorb oil from a simulated oil slick in different salt concentrations. Results show correlations between emulsion properties and interfacial characteristics of mucilage as function of aqueous phase salinity. Mucilage powder added to the oil floating on the water dispersed the oil film and absorbed the oil while remaining afloat, facilitates removal of the oil-mucilage aggregate. This invention is a competitive treatment for oil spill remediation with the added advantage of being more environmentally friendly. |
| US09163372B1 |
Three-handled snow shovel
A three-handled snow shovel is disclosed. The shovel includes a first shaft having upper and lower ends defining a longitudinal axis, a shovel blade having top and bottom edges, a concave front side and a convex rear side, a first handle at the upper end of the first shaft defining a first axis, the first handle having a first grip, the first grip capable of rotating about the first axis, a second handle assembly comprising a second shaft and a second grip, wherein the first and second shafts are selectively connected using a first hook and a first eye component and pivotally connected using a second eye component of the second shaft secured to a third eye component secured to the first shaft, and a third shaft connected to the second shaft at a substantially 90-degree angle. |
| US09163371B1 |
Snow removal system
A snow removal system utilizes a towing frame having a towing device such as a winch or winch crank. A towing line extends in a straight line path directly from the towing device to a uniquely shaped snow shovel having dual, concave shaped blades. Actuation of the towing device pulls the snow shovel towards the towing frame, causing snow on the ground surface to accumulate on and slide off and to the side of the blades. |
| US09163367B2 |
Bridge span replacement system
A vertically-adjustable gantry assembly installation adapted for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprises a gantry assembly positioned on load-bearing first ground-support locations, the gantry assembly comprising a gantry and a ground-engaging vertical support and lift system, the vertical support and lift system adapted for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in at least one operational vertical position above respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers including a position corresponding to a disembarking plane in which the leg portions are extended from a stowed position to an extent at least sufficient for the gantry assembly to self-liftoff the pre-installation conveyance system onto the first ground-support locations to effect the gantry assembly installation. |
| US09163361B2 |
Welding structure with double-inclined surface of no bumping and no vibration seamless rail with high load-bearing capability
A double inclined weld face structure for a jolt-and-vibration-free seamless rail with high bearing capacity relates to the welding of the seamless rail of the rail train, a weld seam of the rail according to the present application forms, at least partly, a double inclined weld face, forming an angle α with the vertical direction of the rail and an angle β with the transverse direction of the rail. The double inclined weld face can further improve the stress state in the weld face of the rail, enhance the bearing capacity of the weld face and eliminate upward and downward jolting and leftward and rightward shaking of a train. The double inclined weld faces of the two parallel rails (1) are arranged in a interleaving way and the interleaving length is greater than the length of a carriage, thus enhancing the running stability and durability of the train and more beneficial to use a simple existing Aluminothermic welding in the weld of the seamless rail. |
| US09163358B2 |
Method and assembly for processing cellulose pulp of wood processing industry
A method of and an apparatus for processing cellulose pulp of wood processing industry. The method and assembly may be used, on one hand, as a pressure diffuser for washing the pulp before an oxygen stage and, on the other hand, the separation of soap, gas and/or other light materials from filtrates and from black liquor of a cellulose mill in a pressurized device, as well as the new process connections enabled by the method. The method and apparatus may process filtrates from brown stock washing and bleaching as well as black liquors from a digesting department and an evaporation plant. By way of example, the filtrate of the washing department is pumped to the digesting department of a sulfate cellulose mill as well as the black liquor taken from the digesting department to an evaporation plant. |
| US09163351B2 |
Heat pump module and laundry treatment device using the same
A laundry treatment device is provided. The laundry treatment device includes a dual filter structure which may prevent heat transfer efficiency of a heat pump module from becoming poor due to introduction of lint to an inlet duct. The laundry treatment device may include a cabinet, which may form an exterior of the laundry treatment device, a tub mounted in the cabinet configured to accommodate washing water therein, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub configured to receive laundry therein, a heat pump module mounted under the tub that supplies hot air to the drum and having an inlet duct that receives air from the drum and an outlet duct that discharges the heated air, and a filter module mounted to be accessible through a lower side of a front of the cabinet that filters air received therethrough. |
| US09163350B2 |
Clothes treating apparatus and controlling method thereof
A clothes treating apparatus and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. The clothes treating apparatus includes a housing defining a accommodating space for receiving clothes, an air supplying device for drying air circulating into the accommodating space, a temperature measuring device for measuring the interior temperature of the accommodating space, a preheating unit for raising the temperature of the accommodating space according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device, and a controller for controlling the air supplying device and the preheating unit according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device. |
| US09163349B2 |
Push-in metering system for domestic appliances
A domestic appliance having a metering device into which a storage insert containing additive substances can be inserted and by means of which additive substances can be dispensed in metered fashion during a number of cleaning operations. The metering device is distinguished in that it has an interface device for interacting with different storage inserts. |
| US09163348B2 |
Method for measuring the moment of inertia of a drum of a washing machine and washing machine arranged to implement said method
A method for measuring the moment of inertia of a washing machine drum containing a load. The drum is set in a rotation by means of a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor taking it to a first angular spin velocity. The method includes identifying a synchronization point in a periodic signal indicative of the torque provided by the synchronous electric motor at the first angular velocity. An acceleration transient of said drum with constant electromotive torque is provided by the synchronous electric motor. The method further includes interrupting the acceleration transient upon reaching a second angular velocity, acquiring the acceleration transient time duration, and processing an indirect measurement of the moment of inertia of the drum starting from a value of the torque yielded to the drum during the acceleration transient, from the transient time duration value, and from the variation of the angular velocity in the transient. |
| US09163347B2 |
Door lock control apparatus and method of washing
Disclosed herein are a door lock control device and method of a washing machine which sense opening or closing of a door using a door lock switch. Since the door is locked or unlocked and the closing or opening of the door is sensed using one door lock switch without adding a separate switch to sense the closing or opening of the door, cost may be decreased. |
| US09163344B2 |
Sewing machine and embroidery frame
A sewing machine includes a frame support portion, a detecting device, a detecting device, a processor, and a memory. The frame support portion is configured to be detachably mounted with a selected one of a plurality of embroidery frames whose types are different from each other. Each of the embroidery frames has a holding portion. The detecting device is configured to detect the type of the embroidery frame mounted on the frame support portion. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes comprising, setting a sewing area inside the holding portion, by setting a size of the sewing area, as well as a position and an angle of the sewing area, identifying an embroidery pattern to be sewn on the sewing workpiece, and setting a layout of the identified embroidery pattern, corresponding to the sewing area. |
| US09163343B2 |
Printer driver systems and methods for automatic generation of embroidery designs
Printer driver systems and methods for automatic generation of embroidery designs are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a print command associated with print data representative of a design to be embroidered, and generating embroidery data using a printer driver and based on the print data. |
| US09163340B2 |
Method of fabrication of a weave of material strips within a metal mesh
A method is provided for making a weave of material strips within a metal mesh. The method includes providing a metal mesh having a plurality of rows of rods linked together by a plurality of columns of malleable cables woven through the rods. A plurality of openings are formed as slots enclosed between two rods opposite one another and two cables opposite one another. Strips of material are inserted into the openings in the metal mesh and the strips are interlaced through the openings to create a woven appearance. |
| US09163339B2 |
Method of manufacturing a composite article using fibers having optimized shapes for improved optical performance
A method of manufacturing a composite article may include providing a plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the plurality of fibers may be substantially optically transparent. The method may further include forming the fibers with at least one base surface and a pair of side surfaces oriented in non-perpendicular relation to the base surface. The method may additionally include positioning the fibers in a layer in side-by-side relation to one another such that the side surfaces overlap one another when viewed along a direction normal to a plane of the layer. The method may also include embedding the fibers at least partially in a substantially optically transparent polymeric matrix. |
| US09163335B2 |
High performance ballistic composites and method of making
Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties and retained or improved ballistic penetration resistance properties. The composites are formed from high tenacity fibers having a tenacity of at least about 33 g/denier at ambient room temperature after being modified by a plasma treatment or by a corona treatment, without tenacity loss due to said treatments. |
| US09163332B2 |
Compositions incorporating dielectric additives for particle formation, and methods of particle formation using same
A method of forming particles that includes performing a strong force attenuation of a mixture to form pre-particles. The mixture including a base compound and a dielectric additive having an elevated dielectric constant dispersed therein. The pre-particles are then dielectrically spun in an electrostatic field to further attenuate the pre-particles and form the particles. |
| US09163329B2 |
RNA labeling method
A method of sample analysis is provided. In certain embodiments, the method involves: a) obtaining a fragmented RNA sample comprising fragments of long RNA molecules and short RNA molecules; b) ligating an adaptor to an end of the RNA of the fragmented RNA sample to produce an adaptor-ligated sample; c) hybridizing said adaptor-ligated sample to an array of nucleic acid probes; and d) reading said array to obtain an estimate of the abundance of a long RNA in the RNA sample and an estimate of the abundance a small RNA in the RNA sample. |
| US09163328B2 |
Methods for preparing trimanganese tetroxide with low BET specific surface area, methods for controlling particle size of trimanganese tetroxide and trimanganese tetroxide product
The present invention provides methods for preparing trimanganese tetroxide with low BET specific surface area and methods for controlling particle size of trimanganese tetroxide and trimanganese tetroxide product. |
| US09163323B2 |
Vibration feeding device
A vibration feeding device includes a mounting seat, a vibration feeding mechanism, and a pressing mechanism. The vibration feeding mechanism includes a driving member, a rotating shaft, a rotation wheel, and at least one adjusting member. The rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the driving member. The rotation wheel is non-rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft. The at least one adjusting member is fixed between the rotating shaft and the rotation wheel to adjust an eccentricity of the rotation wheel. The vibration feeding mechanism is mounted on the mounting seat. The pressing mechanism is connected to the rotation wheel of the vibration feeding mechanism and is driven by the vibration to adjustably move close to and then away from a workpiece. |
| US09163321B2 |
Fabrication of topical stopper on head gasket by active matrix electrochemical deposition
A method for making a gasket (32) for an internal combustion engine (20) includes forming a generally annual stopper (38) on a metallic gasket body (40) through the process of electrochemical deposition. An electrolytic cell is completed with the gasket body (40) forming a cathode. The stopper (38) is formed with a contoured compression surface (42) by selectively varying the electrical energy delivered to selected electrodes (70) over time. Electrolyte (48) rich with metallic ions is pumped at high speed through the inter-electrode gap. A PC controller (82) switches selected electrodes (70) ON at certain times, for certain durations, which cause metallic ions in the electrolyte (48) to reduce or deposit onto the gasket body (40), which are built in columns or layers into a three-dimensional formation approximating the target surface profile (106) for the compression surface (42). The subject method for building a three-dimensional formation can be applied to work parts other than cylinder head gaskets (32). |
| US09163317B2 |
Diffusion layer for an electrochemical device and method for producing such a diffusion layer
A method for producing a diffusion layer of an electrochemical device, including: superimposition of multiple unidirectional webs of carbon filaments, filaments of each web positioned parallel with, and next to, one another; needle punching of the webs, breaking a proportion of the filaments such that broken portions of the filaments are tangled with other filaments of the webs; and cutting a proportion of the multiple unidirectional webs, the carbon filaments forming one electrically conducting outer surface of the diffusion layer. The needle punching is accomplished all the way through the multiple unidirectional webs, and/or through two principal opposite faces of the multiple unidirectional webs, and/or with an impact density against the multiple unidirectional webs of between approximately 100 and 300 impacts/cm2. |
| US09163313B2 |
Amorphous IrOX film pH sensor
The present invention provides a pH sensing apparatus that includes a flexible polymer substrate, one or more amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes disposed on the flexible polymer substrate, and a reference electrode corresponding to each amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. Each reference electrode is disposed on the flexible polymer substrate in close proximity to the corresponding amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. The amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes provide a potential in reference to the reference electrodes that varies according to a pH of a substance contacting the amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes and the reference electrodes. |
| US09163312B2 |
Method of colouring tin and tin-containing articles
A method of coloring the surface of a tin-containing article is provided, the method comprising contacting at least a portion of the surface of the article with a solution comprising a thiosulphate, preferably under substantially neutral or acidic conditions. In one embodiment, the solution contains sodium thiosulphate and citric acid and further comprises a copper salt, together with acetone and/or glycerol. The method is preferably conducted at elevated temperatures, in particular by heating the solution to a temperature of from 45 to 85° C. The method is particularly suitable for the coloring of pewter articles, but may be applied to a wide range of tin-containing materials and tin alloys. |
| US09163308B2 |
Apparatus for coating formation by light reactive deposition
Light reactive deposition uses an intense light beam to form particles that are directly coated onto a substrate surface. In some embodiments, a coating apparatus comprising a noncircular reactant inlet, optical elements forming a light path, a first substrate, and a motor connected to the apparatus. The reactant inlet defines a reactant stream path. The light path intersects the reactant stream path at a reaction zone with a product stream path continuing from the reaction zone. The substrate intersects the product stream path. Also, operation of the motor moves the first substrate relative to the product stream. Various broad methods are described for using light driven chemical reactions to produce efficiently highly uniform coatings. |
| US09163307B2 |
Three-dimensional photoresists via functionalization of polymer thin films fabricated by iCVD
Disclosed are simple, efficient, and scalable methods of patterning polymeric or metallic microstructures on planar or non-planar surfaces. The methods utilize initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) technology. Also disclosed are patterned articles produced by these methods, and methods of using the articles. |
| US09163304B2 |
High strength forged aluminum alloy products
High strength forged aluminum alloys and methods for producing the same are disclosed. The forged aluminum alloy products may have grains having a high aspect ratio in at least two planes, generally the L-ST and the LT-ST planes. The forged aluminum alloy products may also have a high amount of texture. The forged products may realize increased strength relative to conventionally prepared forged products of comparable product form, composition and temper. |
| US09163298B2 |
Method and apparatus for condensing metal vapours using a nozzle and a molten collector
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for condensing vapor phase compounds or elements, typically metals such as magnesium, obtained by reduction processes. |
| US09163296B2 |
Coiled tube with varying mechanical properties for superior performance and methods to produce the same by a continuous heat treatment
Described herein are coiled tubes with improved and varying properties along the length that are produced by using a continuous and dynamic heat treatment process (CDHT). Coiled tubes can be uncoiled from a spool, subjected to a CDHT process, and coiled onto a spool. A CDHT process can produce a “composite” tube such that properties of the tube along the length of the tube are selectively varied. For example, the properties of the tube can be selectively tailored along the length of the tube for particular application for which the tube will be used. |
| US09163295B2 |
Shot-treatment apparatus
The present invention aims to provide a shot-treatment apparatus which allows a high throughput of workpieces with the least possible idle time while achieving a uniform shot-treatment effect on workpieces. The shot-treatment apparatus of the present invention has a rotatable main table 30 located in the place where both a projection area to be projected upon by the shot from a projecting device and a non-projection area are included. A plurality of satellite tables 32 for placing workpieces 12 are rotatably mounted on the main table 30. Each satellite table 32 has a driven shaft 33 which is in parallel with a main shaft 31 of the main table 30. The shot is projected from the projecting device against the workpiece 12 that is placed on the satellite table 32. The workpiece 12 that is placed on the satellite table 32 is held down by a holding member 48 of a holding assembly 46. The holding member 48 rotates along with the workpiece 12. |
| US09163294B2 |
Method of manufacturing sugar solution
A method of producing a sugar liquid with a cellulose-containing biomass as a raw material includes (1) hydrolyzing a cellulose-containing biomass to produce an aqueous sugar solution, and (2) filtering the aqueous sugar solution obtain in (1) through an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cutoff of 600 to 2,000 to remove a fermentation inhibitor(s) into the permeate side and collect a sugar liquid from the feed side. |
| US09163285B2 |
Treatment of tristetraproline (TTP) related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to TTP
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Tristetraproline (TTP), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Tristetraproline (TTP). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of TTP. |
| US09163282B2 |
Methods for non-invasive prenatal ploidy calling
The present disclosure provides methods for determining the ploidy status of a chromosome in a gestating fetus from genotypic data measured from a mixed sample of DNA comprising DNA from both the mother of the fetus and from the fetus, and optionally from genotypic data from the mother and father. The ploidy state is determined by using a joint distribution model to create a plurality of expected allele distributions for different possible fetal ploidy states given the parental genotypic data, and comparing the expected allelic distributions to the pattern of measured allelic distributions measured in the mixed sample, and choosing the ploidy state whose expected allelic distribution pattern most closely matches the observed allelic distribution pattern. The mixed sample of DNA may be preferentially enriched at a plurality of polymorphic loci in a way that minimizes the allelic bias, for example using massively multiplexed targeted PCR. |
| US09163277B2 |
Microfluidic device
Microfluidic devices of the present disclosure relate to quick and inexpensive microfluidic manipulation/handling. A number of channels may be provided for supply of fluid ingredients to a number of cavities. A separating material may provide fluid separation between a number of cavities, such as corresponding cavities of a reaction chamber. Once the cavities are supplied with fluid ingredient, channels connecting the cavities may be sealed off; that is, the cavities may be subject to fluid isolation. In some embodiments, a sealing material may be compressed so as to deform into the channels obstructing fluid flow. The separating material may be manipulated so that the initial fluid separation between cavities is removed. Removal of this fluid separation subsequently permits mixing of fluid ingredient(s) contained within previously separated cavities. In some embodiments, the fluid separation may be removed by heating or dissolving portions of the separating material. When appropriate, contents within reaction chambers may be subject to further processing (e.g., thermal cycling, various analyzes). |
| US09163269B2 |
Preparation of malto-oligosaccharides
Disclosed is a method for preparing a mixture of malto-oligosaccharides. Generally, a dry-milled corn fraction, such as a corn flour from which germ and fiber have been removed, is subjected to hydrolysis, typically catalyzed with acid or an enzyme such as an α-amylase enzyme, under conditions suitable to form a mixture of malto-oligosaccharides. A gluten fraction is removed and the enzyme is inactivated, such as with heat. The mixture of malto-oligosaccharides then may be recovered from remaining solids and purified. |
| US09163265B2 |
Method and systems for isolation and/or separation of products from production processes
The present invention relates to separation of desired target products from biological, plant, and waste-type material, wherein the desired target products include renewable fuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, wherein the separation is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to separate desired products from both non-viscous and viscous medium. |
| US09163262B2 |
In vitro and in vivo delivery of genes and proteins using the bacteriophage T4 DNA packaging machine
Described is T4 DNA packaging machine comprising: one or more DNA molecules packaged in a head of the T4 DNA packaging machine, one or more Hoc-fused proteins displayed on the head of the T4 DNA packaging machine, and one or more Soc-fused proteins displayed on the head of the T4 DNA packaging machine. Also described are methods of making and using such a T4 DNA packaging machine. |
| US09163259B2 |
Viral vectors for the treatment of retinal dystrophy
The present invention relates to viral vectors that are capable of delivering a heterologous gene to the retina and in particular delivering RLBP1 to RPE and Müller cells of the retina. The invention also relates nucleic acids useful for producing viral vectors, compositions comprising the viral vectors and uses of the compositions and viral vectors. The invention also relates to methods of delivering and/or expressing a heterologous gene to the retina, improving the rate of dark adaption in a subject and treating RLBP1-associated retinal dystrophy. |
| US09163252B2 |
Fiber-preferential promoter in cotton
The present application discloses a chimeric gene comprising a promoter region consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 1437 operably linked to a nucleic acid coding for an expression product of interest, and a transcription termination and polyadenylation sequence. Also disclosed herein are a vector, a transgenic plant cell, a transgenic plant and a seed comprising such a chimeric gene. Methods disclosed herein relate to the production of a transgenic plant, growing cotton, producing a seed, effecting fiber-preferential expression of a product in cotton and of altering fiber properties in a cotton plant using the chimeric gene described. |
| US09163250B2 |
Truncated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter
The invention found that partial deletion of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) promoter can enhance gene expression (even heterologous gene expression) in basidiomycetous fungi. With the discovery of these gpd promoters, an expression system can be constructed for the expression of a heterologous gene in mushroom. Accordingly, the invention provides a truncated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter and a construct comprising the promoter of the invention operably linked to a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide molecule and a mushroom comprising the construct. |
| US09163247B2 |
Vector comprising mannose promoter and mannose promoter
The present invention relates to a vector expressible in a prokaryotic host and a nucleic acid sequence comprising a mannose-inducible promoter of the mannose operon of Bacillus subfiles wherein the vector and nucleic acid sequence, respectively, can be suitably used for transforming a host cell for expression of a heterologous nucleic acid sequence coding a polypeptide in, in particular, high cell density fermentation. |
| US09163246B2 |
T7 expression system
The present invention provides an improved prokaryotic cell expression system employing a tightly controlled host strain construct that controls uninduced, leaky expression of proteins while still auto-inducing well. Various aspects of the present invention address and overcome the problem of uninduced basal expression by providing a host strain that comprises a T7 polymerase gene, and mutants thereof, inserted between lac Z and lac Y of the lac operon (a “ZRY” construct), downstream of an otherwise wild-type lac operon control region. |
| US09163245B2 |
Compositions for linking zinc finger modules
Disclosed herein are compositions for linking DNA binding modules to allow for specific and selective binding to module subsites separated by 1 or more base pairs. Also described are methods of making and using compositions comprising these linkers. |