最新美国发明专利第2015-10-20期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09164990B2	Annotating contextual workspaces In some implementations, a method for providing user-based context to a virtual workspace includes generating a first virtual workspace viewable by a user on a graphical user interface. The virtual workspace comprises a plurality of workspace modules comprising first data aggregated from one or more data objects. The aggregated data is determined to be semantically proximate aggregated data in a second virtual workspace. User annotations assigned to the semantically-proximate aggregated data are identified. The user annotations are presented in the first virtual workplace viewable by the user.
US09164987B2	Translating a search query into multiple languages A computer-implemented method can include translating a search query from a first language to a second language, comparing the translated query with content in the second language, and identifying content in the second language relevant to the translated query based on the comparing. Also, a computer-implemented method can include translating content in a second language at one or more network locations into a first language, comparing the translated content with a search query written in the first language, and identifying, from the translated content, content relevant to the query based on the comparing.
US09164985B1	Techniques for detecting poor machine translations of key terms Techniques for detecting poor machine translations are disclosed herein. The techniques can include various diagnostics that can be performed to determine whether to adopt a potential translated key term as a translated key term. The diagnostics include a geographic location diagnostic, a reverse translation diagnostic, a local term diagnostic, and a narrow-to-broad diagnostic.
US09164981B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program An information processing apparatus performs topic analysis on one or more collected documents to calculate a probability indicating the degree of fitness of each sentence constituting the collected document for each item of a local topic, performs linguistic analysis on the collected document to detect a unique expression pattern in each item of the local topic, sets topic usefulness for each sentence constituting the collected document on the basis of evaluation of the sentence by an evaluator, sets a total evaluation value with respect to each item of the local topic on the basis of the topic analysis result and the topic usefulness, selects an item of the local topic on the basis of the total evaluation values, and extracts an appropriate sentence for a unique expression pattern in the selected item of the local topic from the collected document as a profound text candidate.
US09164980B2	Name identification rule generating apparatus and name identification rule generating method A name identification rule generating method, includes: generating an abstract syntax tree by removing a portion of an input sentence unrelated to a process in analysis of syntax of the input sentence by a computer; setting, in generating the abstract syntax tree, nodes corresponding to a plurality of arguments at the same layer; and generating, in generating the abstract syntax tree, a first character string pattern including a second character string corresponding to a node of the abstract syntax tree where a number of types of terminal symbols on the node is equal to or smaller than a certain multiple of a number of types of processes that call the input sentence.
US09164979B1	Implicit ratings Disclosed are various embodiments for generating implicit user ratings for a media item. A ratings analyzer tracks user interaction with a network content server configured to present a media item to a plurality of users and then generates an interaction history for each user based at least upon corresponding user interaction with the media item presented by the network content server. A user interaction metric may be generated based at least upon each interaction history associated with the plurality of users and a user interface may be encoded for display where the user interface comprises the user interaction metric.
US09164978B2	Identifying objects within a multidimensional array Data is commonly stored in multidimensional arrays. Users and computer applications may request or interact with the data objects. As larger amounts of data are stored, the resources used to maintain and manipulate the data increase. An effective way to manage resources is to operate on an index of ranges that identify selected data within a multidimensional array. The index of ranges is associated with only a subset of data objects, instead of the entire multidimensional array. A range may comprise multiple dimensions (e.g. row and column) that are indexed by start and end indexes. Using the index of ranges to access data is efficient because the index of ranges is kept in sorted order, allowing for a binary search for locating and accessing specified data within the multidimensional array. The index of ranges is updated to reflect operations within the multidimensional array, such as, selecting new data or removing data, for example.
US09164977B2	Error correction in tables using discovered functional dependencies Mechanisms are provided for performing tabular data correction in a document. Tabular data is received and analyzed to identify at least one portion of the tabular data having an erroneous/missing data value. A functional dependency of the at least one portion of the tabular data on one or more other portions of the tabular data is determined. A correct data value for the erroneous or missing data value of the at least one portion of the tabular data is determined based on the functional dependency of the at least one portion. In addition, the tabular data is modified to replace the erroneous or missing data value with the correct data value and thereby generate a modified table data. A processing operation is then performed on the modified table data to generate a resulting output.
US09164975B2	System and method for viewing and marking maps The present invention is directed to a method and device for obtaining, viewing and marking maps in real time. Maps are obtained from a list of maps, the maps are then viewed on interactive tabletop displays allowing a user to visualize a mapped location and “markup” points on the map. The markup data is captured as a small file and sent out to responders via rapid transmission in both real time as it is developed or as final actionable information. The maps employed in the present invention include land maps or building floor plans that are either in paper or digital formats.
US09164974B2	Method and apparatus for providing an electronic book service in a mobile device A method and a mobile device of providing an electronic book (e-book) service are provided. The method can independently create processed data, without altering the original contents, and share it with other mobile devices. The method includes displaying original contents, overlaying and displaying processed data according to a user's input on the original contents, and mapping the processed data to the original contents, and independently storing them, according to a user's selection.
US09164968B2	Techniques for server-side determination of font subsets A computer-implemented technique is presented. The technique can include receiving, at a server comprising one or more processors, a first request from a computing device, the first request being for a source document associated with a web page, the source document specifying a font in which to display text in the source document. The technique can include obtaining, at the server, the source document indicated by the first request. The technique can include determining, at the server, a subset of the font by identifying unique characters in the source document, the subset of the font including less than all of the characters of the font. The technique can also include providing, from the server, the source document and information identifying the subset of the font to the computing device.
US09164967B2	Extracting font metadata from font files into searchable metadata for package distribution A package installer identifies a font package that facilitates rendering a font of a file being opened by a user based on font metadata downloaded from the remote server. The font metadata includes information identifying one or more font packages available for download from the remote server. Font metadata associated with each font package further indicates one or more fonts supported by the corresponding font package. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed to the user prompting whether the user desires to install the identified font package. The GUI further indicates that an additional font needs to be installed in order to view the file correctly. In response to an input from the user via the GUI, the package installer downloads the font package from the remote server for local installation.
US09164963B2	Embedded document within an application Data structures, methods, program products and systems for creating and executing an executable file for the Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) where the file is capable of causing presentation of a document embedded in the file on a BREW system.
US09164960B2	Matrix storage for system identification A sparse matrix used in the least-squares method is divided into small matrices in accordance with the number of elements of observation. An observation ID is assigned to each element of observation, a parameter ID is assigned to each parameter, and the IDs are associated with parameters of elements as ID mapping. A system determines positions of nonzero elements in accordance with whether or not ID mapping exists, the correspondence between observation IDs and parameter IDs, and the positions of the small matrices, and selects a storage scheme for each small matrix based thereon. The system selects a storage scheme in accordance with conditions, such as whether or not a target element is a diagonal element, whether or not a term decided without ID mapping exists, and whether or not the same ID mapping is referred to.
US09164955B2	Trailer active back-up assist with object avoidance A trailer back-up assist apparatus comprises an obstacle sensing system operable to output information characterizing proximity of a object adjacent to a vehicle-trailer combination while the vehicle-trailer combination is being backed toward a targeted location and a trailer back-up assist system correction apparatus coupled to the obstacle sensing system. The trailer back-up assist system uses the information characterizing proximity of the object to determine if a path of the vehicle-trailer combination needs to be altered to limit a potential of the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object and implements a path correction action to alter the path of travel of the vehicle-trailer combination to reduce the potential for the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object.
US09164954B2	Vending accommodation and accessibility Vending accommodation and accessibility is described in connection with completing transactions by a machine. In certain aspects, the method includes entering an accommodation mode based on a user selection, displaying an accommodation menu comprising at least one selection button and a list of items available for vending, and announcing a selected item of the list of items available for vending. In other aspects, the method includes determining whether an item has been selected for vending based on touching at least one selection button according to instructions to a relative position of the selection button on a display screen. When determining that an item has been selected for vending, the method further includes prompting for payment to complete a transaction for the item.
US09164949B1	System and method for LUN and cache management A method, computer program product, and computing system for defining a first server and a second server within a server cluster. The first server includes a first cache system and the first and second servers are coupled to a data array that includes a LUN. The LUN is reserved for exclusive access by the first server, thus generating a first server reservation. Data associated with the LUN is cached within the first cache system of the first server. A loss of the first server reservation is sensed. In response to a loss of the first server reservation, the first cache system of the first server is purged.
US09164948B2	Electronic calculator and control method thereof An electronic calculator and a control method thereof are provided. The electronic calculator includes a display module, a key array, and a processing chip. The key array includes a plurality of keys. The keys include at least a turn-on key. The turn-on key has a first hardware configuration and a second hardware configuration. The processing chip detects the triggering of the keys to execute corresponding calculation functions and control image display of the display module. The electronic calculator enters a turned-on state in response to the triggering of the turn-on key. When the turn-on key is triggered, the processing chip controls the electronic calculator to keep or clear an operation information stored before the electronic calculator is turned off according to whether the turn-on key is set to the first hardware configuration or the second hardware configuration.
US09164946B2	Data storage raid architecture system and method A data storage RAID architecture system and method that daisy-chains multiple SATA disk drive storage elements to allow a single host bus adapter (HBA) to view the daisy-chain as one logical SATA disk drive is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as comprising a pass-thru disk drive controller (PTDDC) further comprising a pass-thru input (PTI) port, disk drive interface (DDI) port, and pass-thru output (PTO) port. The PTDDC intercepts and translates PTI port input to the requirements of a SATA disk drive connected to the DDI. Each PTDDC may be daisy-chained to other PTDDCs to permit a plethora of SATA drives to be associated with a given HBA, with the first PTDDC providing a presentation interface to the HBA integrating all SATA disk drive storage connected to the PTDDCs. Rack mounting of PTDDC-enabled SATA disk drives enables creation of inexpensive dynamically expandable petabyte-class RAID storage arrays.
US09164937B2	Apparatus and method for data bypass for a bi-directional data bus in a hub-based memory sub-system A memory hub includes first and second link interfaces for coupling to respective data busses, a data path coupled to the first and second link interfaces and through which data is transferred between the first and second link interfaces, and further includes a write bypass circuit coupled to the data path to couple write data on the data path and temporarily store the write data to allow read data to be transferred through the data path while the write data is temporarily stored. A method for writing data to a memory location in a memory system is provided which includes accessing read data in the memory system, providing write data to the memory system, and coupling the write data to a register for temporary storage. The write data is recoupled to the memory bus and written to the memory location following provision of the read data.
US09164935B2	Determining when to throttle interrupts to limit interrupt processing to an interrupt processing time period Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining when to throttle interrupts to limit interrupt processing to an interrupt processing time. Upon receiving interrupts from the hardware device, a determination is made as to whether a number of received interrupts exceeds an interrupt threshold during a interrupt tracking time period. If so, an interrupt throttling state is set to a first value indicating to only process interrupts during an interrupt processing time period. Interrupts from the hardware device are processed during the interrupt time period when the interrupt throttling state is set to the first value. Interrupts received from the hardware are masked during a processing of a scan loop of operations while the interrupt throttling has the first value and the interrupt processing time period has expired, wherein the masked interrupts are not processed while processing the scan loop of operations.
US09164931B2	Clamping of dynamic capacitance for graphics Methods and apparatus relating to clamping or reducing of dynamic capacitance for graphics logic are described. In one embodiment, utilization values for a plurality of subsystems of a graphics logic are determined and a first capacitance value is in turn determined based on (e.g., a sum of products of) the determined utilization values (e.g., and one or more capacitance weight values). A second capacitance value (e.g., corresponding to a maximum dynamic capacitance or Cdyn_max corresponding to the graphics logic) is modified based on (e.g., a comparison of the first capacitance value and a (e.g., threshold) capacitance value. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09164929B2	False power failure alert impact mitigation Apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include copying, by a storage system having a volatile memory configured as a write cache, write cache data from the volatile memory to a solid state device, upon receiving a signal indicating a loss of power to the storage system. Subsequent to copying the write cache data, the solid state device is configured as the write cache.
US09164928B2	Validation of cache locking using instruction fetch and execution A technique for locking a cache memory device (or portion thereof) which includes the following actions: (i) writing full traversal branching instructions in a cache way of a cache memory device; and (ii) subsequent to the writing step, locking the cache way. The locking action is performed by adjusting cache locking data to indicate that data in the cache way will not be overwritten during normal operations of the cache memory device. The writing action and the locking action are performed by a machine.
US09164926B2	Security control method of network storage The present invention discloses a security control method of network storage to ensure that the unencrypted data cannot be figured out from all information stored on the server. The method includes: encrypting, the private key of a user using a user credential and storing the encrypted private key in a server; encrypting data using a storage key, when uploading the data to the server, encrypting the decryption key corresponding to the storage key using the public key of the user, and submitting the encrypted data and the encrypted decryption key to the server.
US09164923B2	Dynamic pinning of virtual pages shared between different type processors of a heterogeneous computing platform A computer system may support one or more techniques to allow dynamic pinning of the memory pages accessed by a non-CPU device (e.g., a graphics processing unit, GPU). The non-CPU may support virtual to physical address mapping and may thus be aware of the memory pages, which may not be pinned but may be accessed by the non-CPU. The non-CPU may notify or send such information to a run-time component such as a device driver associated with the CPU. In one embodiment, the device driver may, dynamically, perform pinning of such memory pages, which may be accessed by the non-CPU. The device driver may even unpin the memory pages, which may be no longer accessed by the non-CPU. Such an approach may allow the memory pages, which may be no longer accessed by the non-CPU to be available for allocation to the other CPUs and/or non-CPUs.
US09164922B2	Technique for passive cache compaction using a least recently used cache algorithm An example method for passive compaction of a cache includes determining first metadata associated with first data and second metadata associated with second data. The first metadata includes a first retrieval time, and the second metadata includes a second retrieval time. The example method further includes obtaining a first metadata key including a first unique identifier and obtaining a second metadata key including a second unique identifier. The example method also includes generating a first data key and generating a second data key. The example method further includes writing, at a client device, the first and second data to the cache. Each of the first and second data occupy one or more contiguous blocks of physical memory in the cache, and the first and second data are stored in the cache in an order based on the relative values of the first and second retrieval times.
US09164920B2	Using permission bits in translating guests virtual addresses to guest physical addresses to host physical addresses A processor including a virtualization system of the processor with a memory virtualization support system to map a reference to guest-physical memory made by guest software executable on a virtual machine which in turn is executable on a host machine in which the processor is operable to a reference to host-physical memory of the host machine.
US09164914B1	Multiple port routing circuitry for flash memory storage systems An integrated circuit (“IC”) may have flash memory circuitry associated with it. The IC may also have controllable routing circuitry for routing signal information (1) between the flash memory circuitry and any one of a plurality of signal ports of the IC, or (2) between various ones of those signal ports. Multiple instance of such ICs and their associated flash memory circuitries may be connected to one another via the above-mentioned signal ports to provide flash memory storage systems of any size in which data can be routed in and out at least partly via the controllable routing circuitries of the various ICs.
US09164906B1	System and method for improving cache performance A method, computer program product, and computing system for maintaining a queue of cache operations to be performed within a cache memory system. The cache operations include one or more of cache write operations and cache read operations. The cache operations within the queue are reordered based, at least in part, upon a maximum acceptable write operation latency.
US09164904B2	Accessing remote memory on a memory blade A method of accessing remote memory comprising receiving a request for access to a page from a computing device, adding an address of the accessed page to a recent list memory on the remote memory, associating a recent list group identifier to a number of addresses of accessed pages, transferring the requested page to the computing device with the recent list group identifier and temporarily maintaining a copy of the transferred page on the remote memory.
US09164903B2	Memory manager A memory management device including a plurality of outputs, each output configured to interface to respective one of a plurality of memories; and a controller configured to cause each buffer allocated to the memories to be divided up substantially equally between each of the plurality of memories.
US09164896B2	Memory system storing management information and method of controlling same A memory system includes a management-information restoring unit. The management-information restoring unit determines whether a short break has occurred referring to a pre-log or a post-log in a NAND memory. The management-information restoring unit determines that a short break has occurred when the pre-log or the post-log is present in the NAND memory. In that case, the management-information restoring unit determines timing of occurrence of the short break, and, after selecting a pre-log or a post-log used for restoration, performs restoration of the management information reflecting these logs on a snapshot. Thereafter, the management-information restoring unit applies recovery processing to all write-once blocks in the NAND memory, takes the snapshot again, and opens the snapshot and the logs in the past.
US09164895B2	Virtualization of solid state drive and mass storage drive devices with hot and cold application monitoring Systems and techniques relating to storage technologies include, according to an aspect, a data processing apparatus including: a processor; a controller coupled with the processor; a solid state drive coupled with the controller; and a mass storage drive coupled with the controller; wherein at least a portion of the solid state drive and the mass storage drive are virtualized as a single physical storage drive; wherein multiple applications stored in the virtualized single physical storage drive are configured to run on the processor; wherein one or more applications in a hot application group are stored in the solid state drive, and one or more applications in a cold application group are stored in the mass storage drive; and wherein each of the multiple applications is actively monitored and placed in either the hot application group or the cold application group.
US09164891B2	Managing the write performance of an asymmetric memory system Some implementations include a method of managing a hosted non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) based storage subsystem that includes NVRAM devices. The method includes: receiving, at a device driver on the host computing device, write requests each requesting to write a respective unit of data to the NVRAM-based storage subsystem; categorizing the write requests into subgroups of write requests, where write requests within respective subgroups are mutually exclusive; ascertaining a load condition of each of several of the NVRAM devices of the NVRAM-based storage subsystem; identifying a target location on at least one NVRAM device to service a particular subgroup of write requests according to the ascertained load conditions of the NVRAM devices of the NVRAM-based storage subsystem; and servicing the particular subgroup of write requests by writing the corresponding units of data to the identified target location on the at least one NVRAM device of the NVRAM-based storage subsystem.
US09164890B2	Storage device capable of increasing its life cycle and operating method thereof Provided is a storage device capable of increasing its life cycle and operating method thereof. The storage device includes a nonvolatile memory device that stores data and a controller that controls the nonvolatile memory device. The controller receive can modify a write time-out value of the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with predetermined conditions, such as request from a host or exceeding of a predefined life cycle.
US09164883B2	Parallel processing device A parallel processing device includes a processing sequence management unit that reads commands of the command corresponding to a parallel processing start bit to the command corresponding to a parallel processing completion bit from a sequence command storage in sequence to make the sequence command storage output the commands to a first address management unit and a second address management unit, the first address management unit refers to the sequence commands read from the sequence command storage in order from the head to find the command that a first processing execution unit executes, and then instructs the first processing execution unit to execute the command, and the second address management unit refers to the sequence commands read from the sequence command storage in order from the head to find the command that a second processing execution unit executes, and then instructs the second processing execution unit to execute the command.
US09164880B2	Method and apparatus for offloading storage workload Exemplary embodiments provide a technique to offload storage workload. In one aspect, a computer comprises: a memory; and a controller operable to manage a relationship among port information of an initiator port, information of a logical volume storing data from the initiator port, and port information of a target port to be used for storing data from the initiator port to the logical volume, and to cause another computer to process a storage function of a storage system including the logical volume and the target port by creating a virtual machine for executing the storage function and by configuring the relationship on said another computer, said another computer sending the data to the logical volume of the storage system after executing the storage function. In specific embodiments, by executing the storage function on said another computer, the workload of executing the storage function on the storage system is eliminated.
US09164879B2	Role-oriented testbed environments for use in test automation In managing testing on a testbed environment a test automator executes an operation specified in a test script to be performed on a testbed environment, wherein the operation refers to a particular role identifier identifying one of a plurality of roles hosted within the testbed environment by at least one host in the testbed environment, wherein the operation does not refer to any of the at least one host. The test automator performs the operation on a particular host of the at least one host of the testbed environment using at least one value from a host description file for calling the particular host assigned to the particular role identifier in a configuration file.
US09164877B2	Business application inspection and modification An inspection and modification window can be displayed within a user interface of a business application being executed in a business application inspection and modification environment. Application code relating to a current navigation point within the business application can be listed within the inspection and modification window. Modifications to the Application code can be received via one or more user inputs, and the business application can be executed from the current navigation point to test how the received modifications to the application code affect operation of the business application.
US09164876B2	Controlling asynchronous call return Aspects include controlling asynchronous call return in a program. At least one asynchronous call is detected in the program. Execution of the program is stopped at a breakpoint in response to detecting that the breakpoint is set in the program. At least one callback corresponding to the at least one asynchronous call is obtained. The at least one callback is inserted into one or more specified positions of the program respectively according to a user selection. Execution of the program continues from the breakpoint in response to the insertion of the at least one callback into the program.
US09164872B2	Tracking of program objects during request processing Coding issues that create runtime memory leaks, for example in programs coded in a platform-independent programming language such as Java™, can be isolated at the program code line level. An allocation trace that retains, in active memory, a unique object identifier for each of a plurality of objects instantiated during program execution and an address in the active memory where each object is stored can be created. Memory leak candidates can be identified by directly examining contents of the active memory to identify one or more data structures that are increasing in size over time. The allocation trace can be combined with the identified memory leak candidates to generate information about at least one identified leaking object.
US09164866B2	Common software activity status representation Described herein are technologies directed towards providing a common mechanism for tracking the activity status of one or more software actions of a computer system. Furthermore, the described technologies facilitate managing the presentation of the tracked activity status of individual actions and/or of a collection of such actions.
US09164861B2	Drive mapping using a plurality of connected enclosure management controllers According to one aspect, a computing system having a plurality of enclosure management controllers (EMCs) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the EMCs are communicatively coupled to each other and each EMC is operatively connected to a corresponding plurality of drive slots and at least one of a plurality of drive slot status indicators. Each EMC is operative to receive enclosure management data, detect an operational status of the drive slots, and generate drive slot status data. One of the EMCs is configured to function at least partly as a master EMC to receive drive slot status data and, based on received enclosure management data and received drive slot status data, generate mapped data for each one of the EMCs for selectively activating at least one of the drive slot status indicators to indicate corresponding operational status.
US09164859B2	Computing device for enabling concurrent testing A method for enabling concurrent testing is described. The method includes generating a plurality of test objects on a computing device. The plurality of test objects is generated using derived classes that are based on a base test class and each of the plurality of test objects corresponds to a separate block in a Device Under Test (DUT). The method also includes adding the plurality of test objects to a queue and sending information based on the plurality of test objects to an Automated Test Equipment (ATE). The method also includes causing the ATE to concurrently test the separate blocks in the DUT using the plurality of test objects.
US09164853B2	Multi-core re-initialization failure control system A method of a computer system recovering from a core re-initialization failure is described. The method may include automatically detect a core re-initialization failure during a core re-initialization process by a hypervisor. The hypervisor automatically determines whether the core re-initialization failure is a permanent failure. If the core re-initialization failure is a permanent failure, then automatically determine, by the hypervisor, which cores are re-initialized and which cores are indeterminate. Automatically allocate the re-initialized cores between one or more virtual machines by the hypervisor.
US09164848B2	Variable partitioning in a hybrid memory subsystem A memory module includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and a memory controller adapted to present to a host system external to the memory module an address space that includes an address space of the volatile memory and excludes all addresses of the non-volatile memory capacity. The module includes logic to copy the contents of the volatile memory to memory locations of the nonvolatile memory capacity reserved for backup of the volatile memory, using power from a backup power interface, when suitable power from the host system is unavailable, wherein the memory controller reserves for backup of the volatile memory an amount of nonvolatile memory storage capacity that is at least twice a memory storage capacity of the volatile memory.
US09164846B2	Restarting a software system In one aspect, a technique for restarting a software system on a computer platform after an unintentional software system shutdown. The technique includes, for instance, generating a core dump file on the computer platform when the software system shuts down unintentionally, restarting the software system, using a library for copying software system related data from the core dump file to the software system, and continuing execution of the software system.
US09164839B2	System and method for correcting errors in data using a compound code Storage of digital data in non-volatile media such as NAND FLASH needs to take account of the errors in data retrieved from the memory. The error rate tends to increase with the number of write/erase cycles of a cell of memory and with the time that the data has been stored. To achieve a very low uncorrected bit error rate (UBER) a substantial amount of redundancy data needs to be stored for error correction purposes. A method and apparatus is disclosed where a first redundancy data is represented by a second redundancy data computed from the first redundancy data. The first redundancy data may not be stored and is reconstructed from the stored data using a same generation procedure as previously used. The reconstructed estimate of the first redundancy data is corrected by the second redundancy data, and is used to correct the underlying data.
US09164835B2	Operating method of controller controlling nonvolatile memory device and mapping pattern selecting method of selecting mapping pattern mapping polar coded code word with multi bit data of nonvolatile memory device An operating method of a nonvolatile memory device controller includes generating a code word through polar encoding of information bits, reading a mapping pattern, generating a repeated mapping pattern through iteration of the mapping pattern, and mapping each bit of the code word onto a specific bit of multi-bit data of the nonvolatile memory device, based upon the repeated mapping pattern.
US09164832B2	ECC management for variable resistance memory cells A data storage device may generally be constructed and operated with at least a controller configured to identify a variance from a predetermined threshold in at least one variable resistance memory cell and upgrade a first error correction code (ECC) level to a second ECC level for the at least one variable resistance memory cell.
US09164830B2	Methods and devices to increase memory device data reliability A first data set is written to first memory units identified as having a higher data reliability and a second data set is written to second memory units identified as having a lower data reliability than the first memory units. In some cases, the second data set may include metadata or redundancy information that is useful to aid in reading and/or decoding the first data set. The act of writing the second data set increases the data reliability of the first data set. The second data set may be a null pattern, such as all erased bits.
US09164827B2	Parity based method for reconstructing a data subset wherein said subset belongs to multiple parity sets Method and apparatus for protecting data comprising dividing data into a plurality of data subsets. Generating parity data for each data subset and another data subset of the plurality of data subsets. Generating parity data for each data subset and a second other data subset of the plurality of data subsets. Method and apparatus for recovering data comprising retrieving one or more data subsets. Retrieving two or more different parity data sets generated for one data subset. Regenerating any missing data subsets using the retrieved one or more data subset and two or more retrieved parity data sets. Combining the one or more retrieved data subset and regenerated missing data subsets to form the recovered data.
US09164826B2	Method and apparatus to recover from an erroneous logic state in an electronic system An electronic system includes circuitry to detect errors in logic state in the system and to initiate corrective action when one or more errors are detected. In some embodiments, redundant information is stored within a system that is associated with an operational state of the system. If the operational state of the system is subsequently corrupted as a result of an electrical or mechanical overstress condition, resulting errors may be detected by comparing or otherwise processing the stored operational state information and the redundant information.
US09164821B2	Performing diagnostic tracing of an executing application to identify suspicious pointer values Arrangements described herein relate to performing diagnostic tracing of an executing application. A trace entry in trace data can be identified, the trace entry comprising a pointer that refers to a memory address. Whether a value that is, or has been, stored at the memory address is an erroneous value can be determined. Responsive to determining that the value that is, or has been, stored at the memory address is an erroneous value, the pointer can be indicated as being a suspicious value.
US09164819B2	Composing message processing pipelines The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for composing message processing pipelines. Embodiments utilize intra-pipeline communication links to physically and/or temporally decouple pipeline stages, configure branching message flows, and bridge protocols. The use of intra-pipeline communication links permits composition of a message processing pipeline without having to alter the pipeline components or application. Each communication link is itself an application with incoming and outgoing message processing pipelines that bridge messages across time and/or space and application logic for satisfying message processing requirements.
US09164817B2	Mobile communication terminal to provide widget expansion function using message communication, and operation method of the mobile communication terminal A mobile communication terminal to provide a widget expansion function using a message communication, and an operation method of the mobile communication terminal is provided. The method includes a configuration of generating an additional function expansion message based on expansion of an additional function of a widget, and transmitting the generated additional function expansion message. The method also includes a configuration of expanding the additional function of the widget by receiving the additional function expansion message, by determining an application programming interface (API) library with respect to the expansion of the additional function, and by calling the determined API library.
US09164813B2	Using a debug engine to identify threads that wait for a mutex In an embodiment, a first thread of a plurality of threads of a program is halted. A subset of the plurality of threads are determined that are waiting for a mutex that is locked by the first thread while the first thread is halted. Identifiers of the subset of the plurality of threads are presented. The subset of the plurality of threads may have their execution directly blocked and/or indirectly blocked by a lock on the mutex by the first thread. In embodiment, the first thread is halted in response to the first thread encountering a breakpoint, and the subset of the plurality of threads do not halt in response to the first thread encountering the breakpoint.
US09164810B2	Allocating an application computation between a first and a second information handling system based on user's context, device battery state, and computational capabilities The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for context-aware adaptive computing. In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a method comprising receiving a request at a first information handling system (IHS) to perform an application computation. The method also includes determining a user's context, the user operating the first IHS, and ascertaining a battery state of the first IHS. The method further includes allocating the application computation between the first IHS and a second IHS based at least on the user's context and the battery state of the first IHS. The present disclosure also includes associated systems and apparatuses.
US09164804B2	Virtual memory module A memory controller of a mass memory device determining that a memory operation has been initiated which involves the mass memory device, and in response dynamically checks for available processing resources of a host device that is operatively coupled to the mass memory device and thereafter puts at least one of the available processing resources into use for performing the memory operation. In various non-limiting examples: the available processing resources may be a core engine of a multi-core CPU, a DPS or a graphics processor; central processing unit; a digital signal processor; and a graphics processor; and it may also be dynamically checked whether memory resources of the host are available and those can be similarly put into use (e.g., write data to a DRAM of the host, process data in the DRAM with the host DSP, then write the processed data to the mass memory device).
US09164800B2	Optimizing latencies in cloud systems by intelligent compute node placement Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: obtaining a set of compute nodes, a set of data nodes, and a set of edges between compute nodes and data nodes; determining an assignment objective to be achieved in assigning compute nodes from the set of compute nodes to data nodes from the set of data nodes; applying an algorithm associated with the assignment objective to obtain a set of assignments based on a plurality of costs associated with the set of edges; and assigning a compute node of the set of compute nodes to a data node of the set of data nodes based on the set of assignments.
US09164799B2	Multiprocessor system A multiprocessor system includes plural processing parts configured to execute a program stored in a program memory; a common resource shared by the processing parts; a resource status table in which an occupation status of the common resource is written; a resource access table in which address areas are associated with occupation manners of the common resource on a function basis of the program stored in the program memory; and a controlling part configured to determine whether to permit execution of a function which involves occupation of the common resource by one of the processing parts using the resource status table and the resource access table.
US09164798B2	Method, apparatus and computer for loading resource file for game engine A method for loading a resource file for a game engine is provided. The method includes: activating a thread to a preload a predetermined resource file, wherein the predetermined resource file includes a texture resource file, and one or both of a structure resource file and a model resource file; and accessing and loading one or both of the structure resource file and the model resource file through memory mapping. The provided method increases a loading speed while loading a game resource file and fully utilizes computer resources.
US09164796B2	Robust system control method with short execution deadlines A method of controlling a system includes the steps of launching a task having associated therewith a worst case execution time, and monitoring the end of the task after the end of a time slot allocated to the execution of the task, wherein the time slot is shorter than the worst case execution time. The task may be launched periodically according to a fixed period of time, and when the execution of the task ends before the allocated time slot, the method may further include outputting a value calculated based on a current input value but when the execution of the task does not end before the allocated time slot, the method may further include outputting a value calculated based on a previous input value and stopping the task and launching the task again at the next period of time with a next input value.
US09164792B2	Executing a gather operation on a parallel computer that includes a plurality of compute nodes Executing a gather operation on a parallel computer that includes a plurality of compute nodes, including: dividing, by each task in an operational group of tasks, a send buffer containing contribution data into a plurality of chunks of data, each chunk of data located at an offset within the send buffer; sending, by each task in the operational group of tasks, one chunk of data to a root task through a data communications thread for each chunk of data; receiving the chunks of data by the root task; and storing, by the root task, each chunk of data in a receive buffer of the root task in dependence upon the offset of each chunk of data within the send buffer.
US09164788B2	Apparatus and method for automatic para-virtualization of OS kernel An automatic para-virtualization apparatus of an OS kernel is provided. The automatic para-virtualization apparatus includes a kernel profiler that detects profile information from a native OS kernel, and a virtualization unit that automatically generates a para-virtualized OS kernel that operates on a para-virtualization virtual machine monitor by combining the native OS kernel and the profile information.
US09164784B2	Signalizing an external event using a dedicated virtual central processing unit Various embodiments of a virtualization system and method are provided herein, wherein computer resources are emulated and simulated by a hypervisor system. In order to provide improved signalization within a virtual computer system, various embodiments may use a virtual CPU for signalizing an external event, wherein the virtual CPU is used temporarily by a signalization routine for processing the signalization of the event.
US09164780B2	Method and device for an intelligent control of portable electronic devices Methods and devices for intelligently controlling a portable electronic device are described. The method includes detecting a selection of a respective application program of the plurality of application programs. The method also includes, in response to detecting the selection of the respective application program of the plurality of application programs, identifying one or more predefined hardware operations that do not correspond to one or more hardware operations associated with the respective application program; conditionally deactivating the one or more predefined hardware operations; and launching the respective application program.
US09164778B2	Modal progress dialog A system and method for modal progress dialog may provide progress feedback to a user when an application accesses or uses system resources on a computing platform. The application may access or use the system resource by invoking an operation via a system interface. Execution of the application may be blocked pending receiving a result of the system resource operation. The progress feedback may be provided by the system interface without the involvement of the application. The progress feedback may include displaying a progress dialog. The progress dialog may be displayed in a window associated with the application. The progress dialog may include a visual indication of a degree of completion of the system resource operation. The progress dialog may mitigate a user misinterpreting delays in completion of the system resource operation as misoperation or failure of the application.
US09164776B2	Dynamic determination of navigation targets in a flexible user interface environment A plurality of registrations corresponding to a user interface component can be stored. Based on at least one of a layer of a software architecture to which a specific user of a user interface has authorized access, an assignment of a work center view to the user, and business data, it can be determined that the user interface presented to the user should include a navigation target to the user interface component. At run time, a navigation link to the user interface component can be dynamically generated according to a relevant registration selected from the plurality of registrations. The user interface incorporating the navigation link to the user interface component can be displayed. Related systems, articles of manufacture, and computer-implemented methods are described.
US09164773B2	Deciding booting of a server based on whether its virtual initiator is currently used by another server or not A method includes determining, by a management controller of a first server in a storage network, if a first virtual initiator is used by a second server in the storage network, wherein the first virtual initiator includes first boot information for allocating a first storage resource of the storage network, aborting a boot up of the first server in response to determining that the first virtual initiator is being used by the second server, and proceeding with the boot up of the first server in response to determining that the first virtual initiator is not used by the second server, wherein the boot up proceeds using the first boot information to allocate the first storage resource to the first server.
US09164770B2	Automatic control of multiple arithmetic/logic SIMD units There is provided a method of performing single instruction multiple data (SIMD) operations. The method comprises storing a plurality of arrays in memory for performing SIMD operations thereon; determining a total number of SIMD operations to be performed on the plurality of arrays; loading a counter with the total number of SIMD operations to be performed on the plurality of arrays; enabling a plurality of arithmetic logic units (ALUs) to perform a first number of operations on first elements of the plurality of arrays; performing the first number of operations on first elements of the plurality of arrays using the plurality of ALUs; decrementing the counter by the first number of operations to provide a remaining number of operations; and enabling a number of the plurality of ALUs to perform the remaining number of operations on second elements of the plurality of arrays.
US09164767B2	Instruction control circuit, processor, and instruction control method In a vector processing device, a data dependence detecting unit detects a data dependence relation between a preceding instruction and a succeeding instruction which are inputted from an instruction buffer, and an instruction issuance control unit controls issuance of an instruction based on a detection result thereof. When there is a data dependence relation between the preceding instruction and the succeeding instruction, the instruction issuance control unit generates a new instruction equivalent to processing related to a vector register including the data dependence relation with the succeeding instruction in processing executed by the preceding instruction and issues the new instruction between the preceding instruction and the succeeding instruction, and thereby a data hazard can be avoided between the preceding instruction and the succeeding instruction without making a stall occur.
US09164766B1	System and method for hardware assisted stack Methods and apparatus for providing additional storage, in the form of a hardware assisted stack, usable by software running an environment with limited resources. As an example, the hardware assisted stack may provide additional stack space to VBIOS code that is accessible within its limited allocated address space.
US09164764B2	Single instruction for specifying and saving a subset of registers, specifying a pointer to a work-monitoring function to be executed after waking, and entering a low-power mode Methods and apparatuses for reducing power consumption of processor switch operations are disclosed. One or more embodiments may comprise specifying a subset of registers or state storage elements to be involved in a register or state storage operation, performing the register or state storage operation, and performing a switch operation. The embodiments may minimize the number of registers or state storage elements involved with the standby operation by specifying only the subset of registers or state storage elements, which may involve considerably fewer than the total number of registers or state storage or elements of the processor. The switch operation may be switch from one mode to another, such as a transition to or from a sleep mode, a context switch, or the execution of various types of instructions.
US09164763B2	Single instruction group information processing apparatus for dynamically performing transient processing associated with a repeat instruction An information processing apparatus includes an instruction supplying section that supplies a plurality of instructions as a single instruction group, an executing section that repetitively executes a plurality of execution processes corresponding to the plurality of instructions in parallel, an issue timing control section that controls an issue timing of each of the instructions to the executing section so that the plurality of execution processes are executed with a timing delayed in accordance with a predetermined latency, and an operand transforming section that transforms an operand register address of each of the instructions in accordance with a predetermined increment value upon every repetition of execution in the executing section.
US09164759B2	Test management domain asset discovery and analysis Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for automated discovery and analysis of test management domain assets. A method for automated discovery of test management domain assets includes crawling different, remotely disposed repositories of test management artifacts and locating test management artifacts in the different, remotely disposed repositories of test management artifacts. The method also includes selecting for each located test management artifact an analyzer configured to process test management artifacts of a type consistent with a type of the located test management artifact. Finally, the unified repository can be queried to produce a result based upon test management artifact data stored in the unified repository, though the test management artifact data had been located in the different, remotely disposed repositories of test management artifacts.
US09164758B2	Method for setting change options of software systems of a software system landscape and computer system with software systems having change options A method for setting change options of software systems of a software system landscape, wherein the systems are interconnected by logical transport paths for the transport of software services therebetween, the software services defining changes to at least one of the code and the data of at least one system, each system having change options that define changeability restrictions pertinent to the system, is described. The method includes providing an interface in each system, the interface allowing read and write access to the change options of the respective system from the outside of the system; providing a central control software system; providing an interface in the central system for communication with the interfaces of the systems; selecting a group of systems based on software service parameter data; and accessing the group of selected systems from the central system via the interfaces and centrally managing a change option in each system of the group.
US09164757B2	Image forming apparatus, tracking apparatus, managing apparatus and method of updating firmware of image forming apparatus A firmware update method of an image forming apparatus includes determining whether firmware update of the image forming apparatus is necessary, acquiring a firmware block distributor list from the tracking apparatus, receiving firmware blocks from the other image forming apparatuses, based on the acquired firmware block distributor list, and generating new firmware by combining the received firmware blocks and performing firmware update using the generated, new firmware.
US09164752B2	Automatic training proposal based on software update errors The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for proposing training based on the prediction or measurement of different metrics associated with a transport request. In one aspect there is provided a method that may include preparing a transport request including one or more objects configured to provide an update of an application. The transport request may be associated with one or more metrics, each metric having a metric value. The method may also include determining whether the transport request includes at least one error by at least evaluating the metric value for each of the one or more metrics and comparing the metric value for each of the metrics with a threshold value; and proposing, based on the determining, at least one training course when the transport request includes the at least one error. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US09164749B2	Differential software provisioning on virtual machines having different configurations Embodiments relate to systems and methods for differential software provisioning on virtual machines having different configurations. A provisioning (or “cobbler”) server can interact with a local virtual machine installation client to initiate a software provisioning process to diverse sets of virtual machines. The provisioning process can entail, for example, the selection and delivery of an operating system to the diverse sets of virtual machines, as well as the installation of applications or other software. In conjunction with the provisioning process, the koan client can identify the virtual machine configuration or type for the various virtual machine sets, such as those based or hosted on a Xen virtualization type, a VMware virtualization type, or kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) type. The cobbler server can generate differentiated versions of the virtualized installations for the different types of target virtual machines, compatible with the various configurations. The supported virtual types can be extensible.
US09164745B2	Method and apparatus for auto installing application into different terminals An apparatus and method of automatically installing an application in different terminals by storing terminal information of a user and allowing the user to install an application when the user installs an application in at least two terminals, and in which an installation process may be automatically conducted is provided. Information related to an application installed in a first terminal is received from the first terminal; and a second terminal is requested to install another application corresponding to the application, in the second terminal, by using the received information related to the application.
US09164742B2	Method and a system for searching for parts of a computer program which affects a given symbol The present invention relates to a method and system for searching for parts of a computer program which affects a given symbol. The system comprises a first data storage area (1) for storing a symbol database including information on names of symbols, such as variables and functions, used in the computer program, and including, in connection to each symbol, a reference list including references to locations in the computer program where the symbol is used, a second data storage area (2) for storing a result list, and a search module (6) configured to in response to a request for information on which parts of the computer program affect a given symbol: a) retrieve the list of references for the symbol from the data-base, and store at least some of the references in the result list, b) analyze the program code or a representation of the program code on the location pointed out by the stored references, and based thereon determine whether the value of the symbol depends on any other symbol or symbols, and if the analysis discovers that the value of the symbol depends on any other symbol or symbols the steps a-b are repeated in a recursive manner for the discovered symbol or symbols until the analysis reveals that the value of the symbol does not depend on any further symbol, and to produce information on which parts of the computer program affects the symbol based on the references stored in the result list.
US09164741B2	Enhanced design guides The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing interface layout information related to one or more interface objects. As the designer places various design guides on the design canvas to assist in spacing and laying out interface objects, the ADE maintains a list of distances between each guide. When the user selects a desired screen area within the design canvas, the ADE displays selected distances for one or more of the design guides associated with the selected screen area.
US09164739B2	Systems and methods for generating a standardized power generation class model Certain embodiments herein relate to generating a power generation class model for use by program code to interact with one or more operational components in a power generation system. The class model may include objects and elements which may be associated with operational components and attributes associated with the operational components, respectively. Associations may be made between such operational components and their attributes. Various representations of the class model, based at least in part on the associations, may be output for use by program code. In one embodiment, a class model may be generated using Uniform Modeling Language (UML). The UML class may be converted to a schema, such as Extensible Markup Language Schema Definition (XSD), and compiled to create a Java or C# object, in one embodiment.
US09164738B2	Database mapping of models for reporting tools in model driven development Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for mapping models to relational databases for reporting tools. In an embodiment of the invention, a model mapping method for models of a model driven development (MDD) environment can include initializing a database table and selecting a data source storing a modeling framework representation of a model. A first query can be executed against an application programming interface (API) of the data source supporting a modeling framework query language to retrieve selected elements of the model. Likewise, a second query can be executed against the API of the data source to retrieve selected attributes of the selected elements of the model. Finally, rows of the database table can be populated with the retrieved selected elements of the model and corresponding columns of the database table can be populated with the retrieved selected attributes of the selected elements of the model. Consequently, a report can be generated for the model based upon the rows and columns of the database table.
US09164737B2	Augmenting programming languages with a type system Described is a technology by which metadata augments a programming language such as JavaScript. Software components such as application programming interfaces are associated with metadata. When a software component is selected for use, such as when putting together a computer program in a graphical programming environment, its corresponding metadata is accessed. The metadata may be used to validate the usage of the software component, such as to validate a constraint associated with a value, provide a default value, validate a value's type, and/or determine whether a value is required. Validation may also determine whether data output by one software component is of a type that is appropriate for input by another software component. In addition to validation via type metadata, the metadata may provide descriptive information about the selected software component, such as to assist the programmer and/or provide further information to the programming environment.
US09164736B2	Data processing system, input support method, and input support program Guide information according to a hierarchy of a given character string is sequentially acquired in response to an input of character strings for describing a source program, and only the guide information is displayed depending on an input status of the character string. Characters input from an input device for software description are coupled with each other to create an input character string. The created input character string is divided for each of the number of hierarchies on the basis of the number of hierarchies sectioned by a member access operator indicative of an access to a member of a structure or a class to acquire hierarchical character strings and hierarchy numbers thereof. The corresponding hierarchy of the hierarchical database is searched with the hierarchical character string as a search key for each of the acquired hierarchy numbers.
US09164733B1	Coverage analysis for variable size signals An embodiment can include one or more computer-readable media storing executable instructions that when executed on processing logic process variable signals. The media can store one or more instructions for receiving executable code that includes constructs with variable signals for processing the variable signals, and for performing a coverage measurement on the executable code based on information about one or more of the variable signals processed by the executable code. The media can store one or more instructions for producing a coverage result based on the coverage measurement, the coverage result identifying a degree of coverage for the executable code when the executable code processes the variable signals.
US09164728B1	Ternary DSP block Backwards compatible architecture for improving the arithmetic capability of existing processing blocks for relatively low cost is disclosed. The architecture includes a processing block on an integrated circuit device. The processing block includes a first, a second, and a third configurable multiplier and a configurable adder network. The processing block also includes a configurable interconnect within the processing block for routing signals between each of the multipliers and the adder network in accordance with a mode of operation. One or more of the processing blocks may be used to perform compute various calculations such as complex number multiplication and/or real number multiplication. The calculations may be performed on input values contain various numbers of bits, such as 36 bit numbers, 54 bit numbers, or 72 bit numbers.
US09164725B2	Apparatus and method for calculating an SHA-2 hash function in a general purpose processor Various systems, apparatuses, processes, and/or products may be used to calculate an SHA-2 hash function in a general-purpose processor. In some implementations, a system, apparatus, process, and/or product may include the ability to calculate at least one SHA-2 sigma function by using an execution unit adapted for performing a processor instruction, the execution unit including an integrated circuit primarily designed for calculating the SHA-2 sigma function(s), and calculating the SHA-2 hash function with general-purpose hardware processing components of the processor based on the sigma function(s). In certain implementations, the calculation of the SHA-2 sigma function(s) can be performed by the integrated circuit within a single instruction, allowing for a faster calculation of the SHA-2 hash function.
US09164724B2	Audio adjustment system An audio adjustment system is provided that can output a user interface customized by the provider of the audio system instead of the electronic device manufacturer. Such an arrangement can save both field engineers and manufacturers a significant amount of time. Advantageously, in certain embodiments, such an audio adjustment system can be provided without knowledge of the electronic device's firmware. Instead, the audio adjustment system can communicate with the electronic device through an existing audio interface in the electronic device to enable a user to control audio enhancement parameters in the electronic device. For instance, the audio adjustment system can control the electronic device via an audio input jack on the electronic device. The electronic device can also include decoding features for decoding communications sent by the audio adjustment system.
US09164712B2	Function executing device A function executing device includes a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with an external device; a specific function unit configured to execute at least one specific function; a storage configured to store function execution restricting information; and a controller. The controller receives external receiving information, which is information including at least user authentication information. When the received external receiving information includes the specific function instruction information, the controller causes the specific function unit to execute the one of the at least one specific function. When the received external receiving information does not include the specific function instruction information, the controller determines whether an authentication target user is included in the at least one registered user. The controller sets the authentication target user as a current-authenticated user when it is determined that the authentication target user is included in the at least one registered user.
US09164705B2	Image forming apparatus and recording medium An image forming apparatus includes an accumulating unit to accumulate documents, a document selecting unit to receive selection of the accumulated documents to be printed, a screen displaying unit to display on a display unit a printing condition setting screen including default values for selecting plural of the accumulated documents and a list of setting items when the selection received by the document selecting unit indicates plural of the accumulated documents, a reset receiving unit to receive selection of the setting item to be changed and resetting of a default value of the selected setting item, a reset control unit to change a content of the setting item into a resetting content when the setting item is resettable or allow the content to remain unchanged when the setting item is not resettable, and a printing unit to print the accumulated document, the setting item of which is reset.
US09164704B2	Semiconductor storage device for handling write to nonvolatile memories with data smaller than a threshold According to an embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a first storage unit, a read control unit, a second storage unit, and a write control unit. The first storage unit is configured to store data supplied from a host device. The read control unit is configured to perform control of reading the data in accordance with a read request. The second storage unit is configured to store a logical address used for reading the data from the first storage unit by the read control unit. The write control unit is configured to perform control of adding the stored logical address to the data and write the resulting data into the first storage unit in a case where a size of the data requested to be written into the first storage unit by the host device is smaller than a threshold.
US09164703B2	Solid state drive interface controller and method selectively activating and deactivating interfaces and allocating storage capacity to the interfaces A solid state drive (SSD) interface controller includes a host interface, first and second command interfaces, and an interface information storage unit. The interface information storage unit is configured to store information for determining activation or deactivation of each of the first and second command interfaces, and a capacity allocated to each of the first and second command interfaces. The interface information storage unit may comprise first and second registers storing interface information, which may be changed in response to an extension ROM BIOS executed during a booting operation. The command interfaces may be configured to communicate using interface protocols such as SATA, SATA express, or nonvolatile express. An interface power management unit may cut power to an interface when deactivated based on the stored interface information.
US09164700B2	System for optimizing the transfer of stored content in response to a triggering event A system is set forth that includes storage, a first file system, a second file system, and a processing system. The first file system manages one or more files and/or directories on the storage, while the second file system manages content of one or more further files on the storage. The processing system is responsive to a triggering event. The processing system responds to the triggering event by re-mapping content from the second file system to the first file system while retaining the content at its original physical location on the storage so that the content is accessible through the first file system from its original physical location on the storage.
US09164699B2	Channel subsystem server time protocol commands A protocol for communicating with the timing facility used in a data processing network to provide synchronization is provided via the execution of a machine instruction that accepts a plurality of commands. The interaction is provided through the use of message request blocks and their associated message response blocks. In this way timing parameters may be determined, modified and communicated. This makes it much easier for multiple servers or nodes in a data processing network to exist as a coordinated timing network and to thus more cooperatively operate on the larger yet identical data files.
US09164697B2	Method and architecture for highly scalable data storage An invention is provided for highly scalable data storage. The invention includes a logical storage device having a logical device queue, where the logical device queue includes a plurality of command slots for storing input/output commands. Also included is a plurality of I/O worker processes, each associated with a command slot of the logical device queue, and a logical device queue process which is associated with the logical storage device. When a command is placed in the logical device queue, the logical device queue process provides an index for the command to an I/O worker process associated with the command slot storing the command. The I/O worker process then obtains the command from the logical device queue and facilitates completion of the command.
US09164693B2	Remote copy system and remote copy control method A first storage system comprises a first RAID group comprising multiple first storage devices, which constitute the basis of a first logical volume. A second storage system comprises a second RAID group comprising multiple second storage devices, which constitute the basis of a second logical volume. The RAID configuration of the first RAID group and the RAID configuration of the second RAID group are the same, and the type of a compression/decompression function of the respective first storage devices and the type of a compression/decompression function of the respective second storage devices are the same. Compressed data is read from a first storage device without being decompressed with respect to the data inside a first logical volume, and the read compressed data is written to a second storage device, which is in the same location in RAID in the second RAID group as the location in RAID of this first storage device.
US09164691B1	Intelligent configuration for snapshot based backups This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus of intelligent configuration for snapshot based backups. In some embodiments, this includes obtaining a snapshot method, locating a source to be backed up, locating a paring configuration, if the paring configuration cannot be located, locating one or more target devices in a storage group using the snapshot method, and if the pairing configuration is located, obtaining one or more corresponding target devices from the configuration and validating the one or more corresponding target devices within the storage group using the snapshot method.
US09164682B2	Nonvolatile storage device and operating system (OS) image program method thereof A nonvolatile storage device in accordance with the inventive concepts includes a nonvolatile memory device comprising a first memory area, a second memory area, and a memory controller. The memory controller includes a first register configured to store reliable mode information, and a second register configured to store operating system (OS) image information. The memory controller is configured to receive a command from a host based on the reliable mode information; determine whether the command is a write request for an OS image and whether OS image information accompanying the command matches the OS image information stored in the second register; write the OS image to the first memory area if the OS image information accompanying the command matches the OS image information stored in the second register, and block data migration of the OS image from the first memory area to the second memory area.
US09164680B2	Systems and methods for improved communications in a nonvolatile memory system Systems and methods are provided for improved communications in a nonvolatile memory (“NVM”) system. The system can toggle between multiple communications channels to provide point-to-point communications between a host device and NVM dies included in the system. The host device can toggle between multiple communications channels that extend to one or more memory controllers of the system, and the memory controllers can toggle between multiple communications channels that extend to the NVM dies. Power islands may be incorporated into the system to electrically isolate system components associated with inactive communications channels.
US09164678B2	Merging data volumes and derivative versions of the data volumes Disclosed are systems, methods, and software for performing version control. In a particular embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided having stored therein program instructions that, when executed by a computer system, direct the computer system to perform a method of version control. The method includes executing a plurality of virtual machines from a plurality of derivative versions of an ancestor data volume, wherein the ancestor data volume and the plurality of derivative versions each comprise a plurality of files. The method further includes tracking modifications to the plurality of files in each of the plurality of derivative versions and merging the plurality of derivative versions with the ancestor data volume based on the modifications.
US09164676B2	Storing multi-stream non-linear access patterns in a flash based file-system Accesses to logical pages of memory are monitored. Each logical page corresponds to a logical memory address and the accesses defining an access pattern. The logical memory addresses are logged in ordered pairs of consecutive logical pages in the access pattern. Upon receipt of a request to write data to a given logical page, a given ordered pair of consecutive logical pages containing the logical memory address of the given logical page as a first logical memory address in the ordered pair of logical memory addresses associated with that consecutive pair is obtained. A first physical memory address mapping to the first logical memory address is identified, and a second logical memory address from that identified consecutive pair. A second physical memory address mapping to the second logical memory address is identified, and the data and the second physical memory address are written to the first physical memory address.
US09164672B2	Image display device and method of managing contents using the same An image display device and a method of managing contents using the same that can enable the user to quickly access wanted (or selected) contents, when using the contents of the image display device and the mobile terminal, thereby enhancing user convenience.
US09164668B2	Defining object groups in 3D A computer-implemented method for defining a group of virtual objects representative of physical objects includes receiving a user input via an input device, wherein the user input relates to at least one virtual object. The method also includes using a processor to determine a purpose of the user input, modifying an object group with respect to the virtual object based on the purpose of the user input, and storing the relationship between the object group and the object in a memory area.
US09164667B2	Word cloud rotatable through N dimensions via user interface A system and related method are disclosed for rendering a set of words linked to an n-dimensional vector space in a word cloud rendered from a two-dimensional projection of the vector space, where the user can click and drag a word, and the subspace and projection thereon will shift to place the word where the user has dragged it in a new projection, and the other words in the cloud will shift correspondingly, offering the user new insights. The importance of words in a document set is represented by word size, and relatedness between words demonstrated by color similarity.
US09164664B2	System and method for avatar cloning Avatar cloning in a virtual world may include receiving an input indicating that a user desires to access a cloning feature and allowing a cloned avatar to be cloned from the user's avatar.
US09164657B2	File management and transfer using user interface icons associated with applications A method performed by a user device includes receiving a request to open a first application associated with a selected file; retrieving, in response to the request, information regarding a user interface (UI) associated with the first application via which multiple operations on the selected file are automatically performed, and a set of second applications automatically associated with the first application based on a frequency of use of each of the second applications in performing respective ones of the multiple operations with respect to other files via the user device, the information regarding the UI including: information associated with a UI icon corresponding to the first application, and information identifying a set of icons, that each correspond to a respective different one of the set of second applications; presenting, via a display, the UI icon and the identified set of icons, based on the information regarding the UI; receiving, via the UI icon, an instruction to move the selected file to one of the identified set of icons; and performing a selected operation on the selected file using an identified application, of the set of second applications, that corresponds to the one of the identified set of icons.
US09164656B1	Graphical display for scheduling and monitoring tasks A portable, computing device (100) schedules and monitors tasks and their state of completion during a work period. The device includes a touch-responsive graphical display (102). At the start of and during a work period, an operator (400) enters tasks into the device. Task icons (118, etc.) move across the screen at positions representative of the time. A central “bridge” indicator (124) marks the current time. When a task is due, its icon approaches the bridge. If the icon coincides with the bridge, the task is late and a portion of its icon changes color, indicating that the task is late. The display can be scrolled to left and right to enable “looking ahead” and back. The display can also be pinched and spread to reveal in a smaller or larger time-scale the workday contents. The device communicates data and instructions with a remote server (405) wirelessly.
US09164655B2	Multiple views of a geographic area on a mobile device A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving on a mobile device a search query associated with a geographic location, providing one or more search results in response to the search query, the search results each being associated with a geographic location, and presenting on a graphical display of the computing device icons corresponding to each search result and also corresponding to a key on the computing device.
US09164653B2	Three-dimensional space for navigating objects connected in hierarchy Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for browsing objects organized in a hierarchy using a three-dimensional user interface. Some embodiments of the present technology involve a platform that renders an interface that represents objects that are hierarchically connected in three-dimensional space and that allows navigation through the hierarchy by moving through the three-dimensional space.
US09164649B2	Presenting context information in a computing device An electronic computing device can be configured to act as a text-entry device and a cursor control device for a second device. The first device can include a touch-sensitive display capable of receiving text inputs and cursor inputs for controlling operations performed on the second device which is communicatively coupled to the first device. The first device can be configured such that selection of a field displayed by the second device can cause information such as text from a focus field to be displayed by the first device. The second device can be configured to send information pertaining to the focus field to the first device. The information can include a warning that the maximum length of input for the focus field has been, or is about to be, exceeded.
US09164646B2	Method and apparatus for accommodating display migration among a plurality of physical displays A method and apparatus provides for the accommodation of display migration among a plurality of physical displays. In one example, the method and apparatus detects a display migration condition from at least a second physical display to a first physical display. The method and apparatus then controls compositing of a plurality of desktop surfaces so as enable access of each one of the plurality of desktop surfaces on the first physical display. The plurality of desktop surfaces include at least a desktop surface associated with the second physical display. The desktop surface is the content in a piece of memory in a frame buffer, which represents all the display content presented on the associated physical display. In one example, the plurality of desktop surfaces may be composited into at least one three-dimensional display object. The three-dimensional display object includes but is not limited to a revolving door object or other three-dimensional shape or object (e.g., a cube object).
US09164641B1	In-cell touch scanning modes for simultaneous touch and display Techniques for simultaneous touch scanning and display updates are described herein. In an example embodiment, a device comprises a display and one or more integrated circuit (IC) controllers. A sensor array is integrated within the display. The display comprises a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer and a top polarizing layer, and the sensor array comprises transmit (TX) electrodes that are disposed between the TFT layer and the top polarizing layer. The one or more IC controllers are configured to simultaneously update a row of pixels in the display and to drive one or more of the TX electrodes to scan the sensor array while the row of pixels is being updated, where the one or more of the TX electrodes are not associated with the row of pixels that is being updated.
US09164639B2	Touch panel A touch panel includes a first substrate, a low light-shielding decoration layer, and a transparent conductive pattern. The first substrate has a peripheral region. The low light-shielding decoration layer is disposed within the peripheral region of the first substrate. The transparent conductive pattern includes transparent touch electrodes and transparent conductive lines. The transparent touch electrodes are at least disposed on the first substrate. The transparent conductive lines are disposed on the low light-shielding decoration layer within the peripheral region. Each of the transparent conductive lines is connected with at least one of the transparent touch electrodes.
US09164636B2	Touch panel and touch display panel A touch panel includes first sensing pads, first bridge lines, second sensing pads, adjusting electrodes, second bridge lines and third bridge lines. The first sensing pad has a first opening. The first sensing pads and the first bridge lines are arranged alternately along a first direction and electrically connected to each other. The second sensing pads and the second bridge lines are arranged alternately along a second direction and electrically connected to each other. The adjusting electrodes are disposed in the first openings and the second openings, and the adjusting electrodes are electrically disconnected from the first sensing pads and the second sensing pads. Adjacent adjusting electrodes are electrically connected through the third bridge line. The first sensing pads, the second sensing pads and the adjusting electrodes are made of a same patterned conductive layer.
US09164633B2	TFT liquid crystal display apparatus having a touch function A TFT liquid crystal display apparatus having a touch function, including: a first electrode layer, having multiple first electrodes and multiple thin film transistors, wherein each of the multiple thin film transistors has a source coupled to a source control unit, a gate coupled to a gate control unit, and a drain coupled to one of the multiple first electrodes and to one of multiple storage capacitors; a liquid crystal display layer, located above the first electrode layer; a transparent electrode layer, being located above the liquid crystal display layer and having multiple transparent strip electrodes; and multiple switches, of which each has a control end coupled with a mode control signal, a first contact coupled to one of the multiple transparent strip electrodes, a second contact coupled to a common voltage generation unit, and a third contact coupled to a touch detection unit.
US09164627B2	Acoustic touch apparatus with variable thickness substrate An acoustic touch apparatus that has a variable thickness glass substrate that permits the transfer of surface acoustic waves between the back and front surfaces, thus enabling transducers to be placed on the substrate surface opposite the desired touch input surface.
US09164626B2	Input/output device An input/output device capable of displaying a high-resolution two-dimensional image and detecting the position of an object in three-dimensional space in spite of having a low profile is provided. An input/output device includes: a display section including, in a mixed manner, image pickup regions for obtaining image pickup data of an object and a display region for displaying an image based on image data; a microlens arranged on a display surface of the display section so as to correspond to each of the image pickup regions; and a position detection section detecting position of the object based on image pickup data obtained from the image pickup regions of the display section.
US09164623B2	Portable device and key hit area adjustment method thereof A portable device and a key hit area adjustment method are provided. The portable device includes a touch screen and a processor coupled with the touch screen. The touch screen is configured to display an input method editor comprising a plurality of virtual keys. The processor is configured to detect an input event triggered via the input method editor and adjust key hit areas of the virtual keys in response to the input event. The key hit area adjustment method is applied to the portable device to implement the aforesaid operations.
US09164621B2	Stereoscopic display apparatus and stereoscopic shooting apparatus, dominant eye judging method and dominant eye judging program for use therein, and recording medium A stereoscopic display apparatus comprising a judging part judging the dominant eye of the user inputting the position coordinates via the coordinate input part based on the reference coordinates of the dominant eye judgment image formed of the left viewpoint image and the right viewpoint image and the obtained position coordinates, depending on whether the obtained position coordinates are near the reference coordinates of the left viewpoint image or the reference coordinates of the right viewpoint image.
US09164619B2	Configurable touch screen LCD steering wheel controls An entertainment system control arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a graphical LCD with a configurable touch screen. The graphical LCD is disposed on the steering wheel. A processor is communicatively coupled to the graphical LCD. The processor prompts a user to select a function to assign to the configurable touch screen. The processor assigns the selected function to the configurable touch screen.
US09164618B2	Noise reduction in digitizer system A method for noise reduction in a digitizer includes determining a location of a stylus with a known frequency of emission over a first sampling period, sampling output from a plurality of detecting elements over a second sampling period, identifying detecting elements with sampled output in the second sampling period above a defined threshold in a selected frequency, the selected frequency being close to but different than the known frequency of the stylus, selecting as a candidate carrier of mere noise a detecting element from the detecting elements identified that is spaced away from the determined location of the stylus, and reducing values of output sampled over the second sampling period from at least one other detecting element, in accordance with the output sampled over the second sampling period from the detecting element selected as the candidate carrier of mere noise.
US09164617B2	Intelligent GUI touch control method and system An intelligent GUI touch control method and system, the method includes the steps of: generating at least one masking plane according to a GUI, wherein the GUI includes at least one option object, the masking plane has at least one masking block corresponding to the at least one option object, the masking block has a plurality of sub-blocks, and each of the sub-blocks has a weighting coefficient; reading a sensed data array from a touch panel; and performing a weighting operation according to the at least one masking plane and the sensed data array, so as to make each of the at least one option object correspond to at least one weighted value, and determine at least one target object among the at least one option object according to the at least one weighted value.
US09164616B2	Touch panel control device, touch panel control method and non-transitory computer-readable medium A touch panel control device includes a first identification portion, a second identification portion, an extraction portion, and a decision portion. The first identification portion identifies a plurality of pressed cells. The plurality of pressed cells is a plurality of cells to which a pressing force is applied, among a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix manner on a panel surface of a touch panel. The second identification portion identifies a separation distance between the plurality of pressed cells. The extraction portion extracts, from a pair of the pressed cells indicating a separation distance that is largest among the separation distances identified by the second identification portion, one of the pressed cells. The decision portion decides, as a specified position, a position of the pressed cell extracted by the extraction portion.
US09164613B2	Touch display substrate and touch display panel having the same A touch display substrate includes a first data line, a first gate line, a first pixel electrode, a second gate line, a second pixel electrode, a sensor data line and a first sensor electrode. The first data line extends along a first direction. The first gate line extends along a second direction. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first data line and the first gate line. The second gate line is substantially parallel with the first gate line. The second pixel electrode is adjacent to the first pixel electrode and electrically connected to the first data line and the second gate line. The sensor data line is adjacent to the second pixel electrode and substantially parallel to the first data line. The first sensor electrode is electrically connected to the sensor data line.
US09164612B2	Flexible touch display panel The spread of nascent cracks through a flexible electrodes layer is blocked or impeded by patterning at least one of the electrodes to have crack-spread blocking boundaries and/or crack-spread impeding choke points, where the crack-spread blocking boundaries are placed to block linear growth of cracks and the crack-spread impeding choke points are placed and sized to serve as bottlenecks that impede linear growth of cracks through the corresponding electrode. Additionally, greater flexibility is provided by including a pattern of elongated strips of narrow width electrode material longitudinally extending in different directions, where the provided flexibility is greater than what it would be if a pattern of elongated narrow width electrode strips longitudinally extending in different directions was not provided. One example of crack-spread blocking boundaries and flexibility enhancing patterning is that of shaping each electrode to have serpentine fingers extending longitudinally in different directions. One example of crack-spread impeding choke points is that of shaping each electrode to have dose but spaced apart openings for example in a grid pattern.
US09164611B2	Display input device, and image forming apparatus including touch panel portion A display input device includes a display portion and a touch panel portion. When an object to be transferred is determined by touching two points on the touch panel portion, the display portion displays transfer destination designation information indicating which object is designated as a transfer destination among objects that can be a transfer destination of the object to be transferred. When the touch panel portion has accepted a transfer destination switching operation performed while one or more of the two touched points keep being touched, the display portion switches the object designated as a transfer destination by the transfer destination designation information. After the display portion has displayed the transfer destination designation information, when the touching operation has been released, the touch panel portion accepts the object designated as a transfer destination when the touching operation has been released, as a transfer destination of the object to be transferred.
US09164609B2	Managing sensory information of a user device External mobile device sensors may be provided that are configured to manage sensory information associated with motion of objects external to the mobile device. In some examples, the object motion may be detected independent of contact with the device. In some examples, a device may include a screen with a first sensor (e.g., a touch sensor). The device may also include at least a second sensor external to the screen. Instructions may be executed by a processor of the device to at least determine when an object is hovering over a first graphical user interface (GUI) element of the screen. Additionally, in some cases, a second GUI element may be provided on the screen such that the second GUI element is rendered on the screen adjacent to a location under the hovering object.
US09164608B2	Apparatus and method for adjusting touch sensitivity in mobile terminal An apparatus for adjusting touch sensitivity in a mobile terminal apparatus includes a touch sensitivity adjuster for adjusting touch sensitivity of a touch screen unit, and a controller controlling the touch sensitivity adjuster to selectively adjust the touch sensitivity according to an input method.
US09164606B2	Dynamic voltage generation for touch-enabled displays The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that provides power for a touch-enabled display, wherein the touch-enabled display cycles between a display mode and a touch mode. During the display mode, the system drives a display-mode voltage to the touch-enabled display through a power output, wherein the power output is coupled through a display-mode capacitor CD to ground. Next, during a transition from the display mode to the touch mode, the system couples the power output through a touch-mode capacitor CT to ground, wherein CT was previously charged to a touch-mode voltage, which causes the power output to rapidly transition to the touch-mode voltage. Then, during the touch mode, the system drives the touch-mode voltage through the power output.
US09164605B1	Force sensor baseline calibration An apparatus may include processing logic coupled with a force sensor input and a touch sensor input. The processing logic is configured to determine a relative force magnitude based on a force signal received at the force sensor input and a baseline measurement of the force sensor. The processing logic updates the baseline measurement in response to detecting that the touch signal indicates the absence of the one or more touches from the sensing surface.
US09164601B2	Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus An electro-optical device comprises a substrate, a scanning line, a data line, a pixel circuit, and a first storage capacitor holding a first voltage corresponding to a data signal. The first storage capacitor includes a first portion and a second portion connected in parallel. The first portion and the second portion overlap when viewed from a direction orthogonal with respect to the first main surface.
US09164598B2	Active stylus with surface-modification materials In one embodiment, a stylus has one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch-sensor of the device. The stylus also has an electronic circuit operable to provide an input that changes a property of one or more materials located on the body of the stylus or on the stylus tip.
US09164586B2	Haptic system with localized response A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.
US09164582B2	Display control device and method detecting eye position of a user A display control device 1 is provided, which suppresses a display content from being scrolled when a viewer does not consciously pay attention to the display content. The display control device 1 includes: a display unit 16; an image pickup unit 11 that detects an eye position of a viewer from a taken image of the viewer; an attention state determination unit 12 that determines an attention state to the display content, based on movement of the detected viewer's eye position; a gaze position specifying unit 14 that specifies a gaze position on the display content, based on the detected viewer's eye position and the display content; and a display control unit 15 that causes the display unit 16 to display a non-displayed portion of displayed program information, based on the determined attention state and the specified gaze position, when the viewer pays attention to the non-displayed portion.
US09164578B2	Input device for operating graphical user interface An input device includes an input unit for inputting a predetermined motion image signal, a motion detector for detecting a motion on the basis of the motion image signal inputted into the input unit, a video signal processor for outputting a predetermined video signal, and a controller. The controller controls the video signal processor so that, when a motion detector detects a first motion, the video signal processor outputs a video signal to explain a predetermined second motion to be next detected by the motion detector after the detection of the first motion to a user.
US09164577B2	Augmented reality system, method, and apparatus for displaying an item image in a contextual environment Method, apparatus, and system for providing an item image to a client for display in a contextual environment are described. In some embodiments, the user may select an item for display in the contextual environment, and the user may position a camera coupled to a processing system to capture the contextual environment. A marker may be generated and associated with an item selected by a user. In an embodiment, the generated marker may be placed in a location within the contextual environment, and the user's processing system may send a visual data stream of the camera-captured environment to a server. In an embodiment, the user's processing device may receive a modified data stream including an image of the item, and the user's processing device may display the item image in the same location as the marker.
US09164576B2	Conformance protocol for heterogeneous abstractions for defining user interface behaviors An authoring system for building an application that has a set of graphical objects and is for performing several operations on several graphical objects in response to several user interaction events. The authoring system includes (1) a first set of tools for defining a first description of a first operation that is to be performed on a first graphical object and (2) a second set of tools for defining a second description of a second operation that is to be performed on a second graphical object. The second set of tools provides at least one different tool for defining the second description than the first set of tools provides for defining the first description. The authoring system also includes a conformance module for modifying at least one of the received descriptions to ensure that the descriptions of both the first and second operations are in a uniform description format.
US09164575B2	Provision of frames or borders around pigment flakes for covert security applications Opaque flakes, such as pigment or bright flakes used in paints and inks, have a selected shape and/or other indicia to provide a covert security feature to an object. Shaped opaque covert flakes are not readily detectable by causal observation, but in some embodiments are easily seen at 50× magnification. In manufacturing the flakes a sheet of embossed frames are provided having embossed symbols or indicia within. Upon removing a coating from the embossed sheet the coating material tends to break along frame lines or grooves and the resulting flakes are substantially uniform in size. In order to have the flakes break along frame lines or grooves more readily than along the embossing or grooves defining indicia within a frame, the frames are provided with a deeper groove than indicia grooves. As well a groove having a different shaped profile conducive to breakage can be used for the frame grooves whereas a groove having a profile less conducive to breakage can be used to form the indicia grooves. We have found that the flakes can be further protected from breakage by coating them in a protective coating. This coating may have other features which makes the logo more visible.
US09164574B2	Switching a control device in a vehicle network to sleep mode when velocity is above a threshold and switching to an operating mode after a number of received messages A control device for a vehicle network, having a microprocessor and a transceiver. The control device can be switched off or switched to a sleep mode during a previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle and/or the control device can be awakened from the sleep mode during a previously defined state or event during the operation. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a method for operating a vehicle network.
US09164573B2	Controlling an asymmetrical processor In an embodiment, the present invention includes a multicore processor with a front end unit including a fetch unit to fetch instructions and a decode unit to decode the fetched instructions into decoded instructions, a first core coupled to the front end unit to independently execute at least some of the decoded instructions, and a second core coupled to the front end unit to independently execute at least some of the decoded instructions. The second core may have a second power consumption level greater than a power consumption level of the first core and also heterogeneous from the first core. The processor may further include an arbitration logic coupled to the first and second cores to enable the second core to begin execution responsive to a start processor instruction present in the front end unit. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09164572B2	Method and apparatus for mitigating effects of memory scrub operations on idle time power savings mode An approach for saving power in a memory subsystem that uses memory access idle timer to enable low power mode and memory scrub operation within computing system has been provided. The computing system determines that a memory subsystem is switched out of low power operation mode due to a memory scrub operation. In addition, the computing system bypasses the low power operation mode of an idle timer of the memory subsystem such that the memory subsystem is returned to the low power operation mode upon completion of the memory scrub operation. The computing system further sets a scrub flag of the memory subsystem to a high state, and clears the scrub flag to a low state to track if the idle timer should be bypassed.
US09164569B2	Data processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium A data processing apparatus includes first and second information processing apparatuses. The first information processing apparatus has a first power mode and a second power mode in which electric power consumption is smaller than in the first power mode. The second information processing apparatus is capable of communicating with the first information processing apparatus and an external apparatus via a network. Definition information including identification information identifying a packet received via the network and process information indicating a process to be performed on the packet is received at least from one of the first information processing apparatus and the external apparatus. If a packet is received from the external apparatus in the second power mode, the packet is analyzed to identify definition information corresponding to the packet based on the identification information. A process is performed according to the process information included in the definition information.
US09164568B2	Estimating and preserving battery life based on usage patterns Embodiments apply user-specific usage patterns to estimate and preserve remaining battery life on a computing device. An amount of battery drain and an execution context are determined and stored for a plurality of recurring time periods. The execution context identifies operations executed by the computing device, signal strength, and other data describing the associated time period. If one of the operations is expected to be executed during a recurrence of at least one of the time periods, the expected execution is adjusted based on execution context and an estimated remaining battery life for the computing device. For example, the computing device may postpone or reschedule the operation for a time period during which the operation is expected to have a greater likelihood of completing successfully. In some embodiments, the battery preservation operations are automatically enabled at a particular threshold.
US09164566B2	Apparatus and method for efficient estimation of the energy dissipation of processor based systems A system and method of scheduling tasks, comprising receiving activity and performance data from registers or storage locations maintained by hardware and an operating system; storing calibration coefficients associated with the activity and performance data; computing an energy dissipation rate based on at least the activity and performance data; and scheduling tasks under the operating system based on the computed energy dissipation rate.
US09164565B2	Apparatus and method to manage energy usage of a processor In an embodiment, a processor includes at least one processor core and power control logic having energy usage logic to predict an energy usage of the processor and a voltage regulator coupled to the processor, during a low power period according to a first voltage regulator control mode and a second voltage regulator control mode, and to control the voltage regulator based at least in part on the predicted energy usage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09164564B2	Method and apparatus for optimizing power consumption in a multiprocessor environment A method and apparatus for reducing net power consumption in a computer system includes identifying a plurality of processing states operable to execute a task. A processing state and current drain pattern is selected that is most power efficient. A selected processing state may include one or more processing elements of the computer system such as one or more processors or accelerators and indicates the manner in which one or more portions of the received task may be distributed among the processing elements of the computer system. The current drain pattern selected may be a constant current drain pattern or a pulsed current drain pattern and may be selected to optimize power consumption when executing the task among the one or more processing elements.
US09164562B2	Data storage device for forcibly discharging residual voltage, method operating the same, and data processing system including the same A data storage device includes a voltage supply control circuit configured to receive an external voltage, generate different voltages from the external voltage, and supply the different voltages to loads, respectively, through voltage supply lines, respectively and a discharge control circuit configured to discharge residual voltages from the voltage supply lines in response to a control signal and the external voltage, the discharge control circuit configured to discharge the residual voltages in an order of a highest residual voltage to a lowest residual voltage.
US09164554B2	Non-volatile solid-state storage system supporting high bandwidth and random access Approaches for a non-volatile, solid-state storage system that is capable of supporting high bandwidth and/or random read/write access. The storage system may include a chassis having a bus slot and a disk bay, a master card mounted in the bus slot, and a flash memory card stacked in the disk bay and cabled to the master card. The master card enables one or more flash memory cards to be communicatively coupled to a single PCI Express bus. The master card may split a multi-lane PCI Express bus into a plurality of lanes, where one or more of the flash memory cards communicate over each of the plurality of lanes. Alternately, the master card may includes active circuitry for processing, switching, routing, reformatting, and/or converting the PCI Express bus into one or more busses for a plurality of flash memory cards. The stacked flash memory card is not in an enclosure.
US09164537B2	Display screen assembly having a selectively engageable mount assembly A display screen assembly is provided. The display screen defines a channel for allowing selective engagement of the display screen. A mount assembly is provided and includes a base for supporting the display screen assembly about a support surface, and a locking assembly that selectively engages the channel to thereby lock the mount assembly to the display screen.
US09164535B2	Multi-protocol I/O interconnect time synchronization Described are embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for time synchronization of a multi-protocol I/O interconnect of computer apparatus. A method for synchronizing time across the multi-protocol I/O interconnect may include providing a first local time of a first switch of a switching fabric of a multi-protocol interconnect to a second switch of the switching fabric, and adjusting a second local time of the second switch to the first local time. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09164534B2	Circuit for skew reduction has swap circuit swapping and connecting first signal lines to second signal lines A circuit for skew reduction, includes: first signal lines configured to transmit first signals delayed by first paths respectively; second signal lines configured to transmit second signals delayed by second paths respectively; and a first swap circuit, wherein the first swap circuit is configured to swap and connect the at least one of the first signal lines to the at least one of the second signal lines, when a mutual delay time difference of the second signals in a state where the at least one of the first signal lines is swapped and connected to the at least one of the second signal lines is smaller than a mutual delay time difference of the second signal lines in a state where the first signal lines is connected to the second signal lines without being swapped.
US09164533B2	Method and apparatus for obtaining audio content and providing the audio content to a plurality of audio devices in a multi-zone system An audio processing device comprising: a network interface configured to receive audio information from a network; a user interface module that includes a display configured to display a plurality of audio information sources available via the network; a control module configured to receive control input from the user interface module indicating a selection of one of the plurality of audio information sources; an audio information channelization device connected to the network interface configured (i) to receive a list of audio tracks to be played, (ii) to request the audio information from the selected one of the plurality of audio information sources according to the list, and (iii) to transmit the audio information in packet form via the network interface to two or more audio playback devices.
US09164528B2	Apparatus and method for controlling inductor current in a switch mode power supply Apparatus and method for controlling inductor current in a switch mode power supply. In one embodiment, a switch mode power supply includes an inductor, a high-side switch coupled to the inductor, a low-side switch coupled to the inductor, and a controller. The controller is coupled to at least one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The controller includes a first capacitor and a current source. The controller is configured to control timing of current switching to the inductor by enabling current flow through the at least one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch based on time to charge the first capacitor via the current source. The time is a function of voltage across the inductor.
US09164527B2	Low-voltage band-gap voltage reference circuit The present application discusses low voltage band-gap voltage reference circuit and methods. In an example the circuit can include a current mirror, an operational amplifier adopting an N-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (NMOS) input pair structure, a band-gap output circuit, an adaptive adjustment circuit; and two branches of Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT). The current mirror can be configured to receive an output signal of the operational amplifier and to provide a current to the two branches of BJT. The operational amplifier can be configured to differentially input voltages at the upper ends of the two branches of BJT, to generate the output signal to the current mirror, and to equalize the voltages at the upper ends of the two branches of BJT using a deep negative feedback.
US09164525B2	Thin-film photovoltaic power element with integrated low-profile high-efficiency DC-DC converter A photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell and a DC/DC converter electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell. The at least one photovoltaic cell and the DC/DC converter are integrated into a photovoltaic package.
US09164524B2	Method of managing a site using a proximity detection module According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of managing a site in a mobile environment, which includes detecting an availability of a thermostat wherein the thermostat has an operating condition; detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site; providing a proximity control selector within a user interface of the mobile device to manage a proximity detection module disposed on the thermostat, wherein the proximity control selector has an enabled setting of the proximity detection module and a disabled setting of the proximity detection module; enabling the proximity detection module in response to the enabled setting of the proximity control selector to allow for the modification of the operating condition of the thermostat based on the detected location of the mobile device relative to the site; and disabling the proximity detection module in response to the disabled setting of the proximity control selector.
US09164522B2	Wake up bias circuit and method of using the same A wake up circuit includes a bias signal control block configured to receive a sleep signal and to generate a plurality of bias control signals. The wake up circuit further includes a bias supply block configured to receive each bias control signal of the plurality of bias control signals and to generate a header bias signal. The bias supply block includes a first bias stage configured to receive a first bias control signal of the plurality of bias control signals, and to control the header bias signal to be equal to a first voltage. The bias supply block further includes a second bias stage configured to receive a second bias control signal of the plurality of bias control signals, and to control the header bias signal to be equal to a second voltage different from the first voltage. The wake up circuit further includes a header configured to receive the header bias signal, and to selectively connect a supply voltage to a load based on the header bias signal.
US09164521B2	Power supply unit, semiconductor device, and wireless communication device The present invention realizes stabler output voltage variable control in a power supply unit. A power supply unit capable of changing dynamic output voltage has: a first regulator for dropping down voltage, by a switching method and outputting the resultant voltage to a first node; and a second regulator for dropping down the input voltage by a voltage drop and outputting the resultant voltage to the first node. In the case where a target voltage instructed by first information is larger than a predetermined threshold voltage, the power supply unit controls so that the voltage of the first node becomes the target voltage and stops supply of voltage from the second regulator. In the case where the target voltage is smaller than the predetermined threshold voltage, the power supply unit controls the second regulator so that the voltage of the first node becomes the target voltage and stops output of voltage from the first regulator.
US09164520B2	Synchronous rectification type power circuit and method of adjusting the same According to one embodiment, a synchronous rectification type power circuit includes a first power terminal to which a voltage on a high potential side is supplied, a second power terminal to which a voltage on a low potential side is supplied, an output terminal that outputs an output voltage to a load having an inductance and a capacitor, a first switch unit connected between the first power terminal and the output terminal, a second switch unit connected between the second power terminal and the output terminal, a control signal generating circuit which controls ON/OFF of the first and second switch units, and a control circuit that compares the output voltage with a predetermined reference voltage for a predetermined period when the second switch unit is turned OFF. A timing for turning OFF the second switch unit is adjusted based on a result of the comparison.
US09164518B2	Water delivery system with non-contact user-operated control A water delivery system operable hands-free by, for example, a foot-operated pedal controller, or a non-contact controller, such as a presence and voice actuated circuit that are operatively connected through a power source, transmission and valve assembly in cooperation with a water spout at a water basin or bowl.
US09164517B2	Maintaining flow rate of a fluid A pressure gauge may be coupled to a supply line which carries liquid from a bottle to either one or more mixing vessels and/or one or more reactors in a combinatorial processing tool. A control device may monitor the pressure measured by the pressure gauge, and the control device may be configured to change the pressure supplied to the bottle based on a comparison of the measured pressure to a predetermined pressure value. The control device may adjust the pressure provided to the bottle using a pressure regulator coupled to the pressure source. By changing the pressure provided to the bottle, the control device may maintain a relatively constant flow rate of fluids from the liquid source into one or more mixing vessels and/or the one or more reactors.
US09164508B1	Unmanned vehicle retrofitting system A system for incorporation into a manually controlled vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle, comprising: a quantity of subsystem controllers, including at least: a throttle controller, integratable with an existing throttle system of the vehicle; a brake controller, integratable with an existing brake system of the vehicle; and a steering controller, integratable with an existing steering system of the vehicle; and a master actuator/control system, installable within the vehicle and being operably coupleable to each of the subsystem controllers.
US09164501B2	Methods and apparatus to manage data uploading in a process control environment Example methods and apparatus to manage data uploading in a process control environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to upload a parameter value associated with a process control system and retrieving an upload rule profile associated with the process control system. The example method also includes identifying an upload action from the upload rule profile based on the parameter value and a personnel classification, and determining whether to upload the parameter value based on the upload action.
US09164498B2	Method and system for managing and operating a plurality of farm houses A system for monitoring, managing, and/or operating a plurality of farm houses on a plurality of farms is disclosed. The system includes a controller and/or a monitor box in the farm house and a computer in communication with the controller for controlling and adjusting various parameters of the farm house or with the monitor box for monitoring the farm house. The system also includes a computer at an integrator's office that is operable to monitor and/or control various parameters from the farm house remotely. These parameters enable the integrator to coordinate operations with processing plants, feed mills, field service and hatcheries. It also enables the integrator to prepare various data reports for use by the integrator or others.
US09164491B2	Vapor cell atomic clock physics package In an example, a chip-scale atomic clock physics package is provided. The physics package includes a body defining a cavity having a base surface and one or more side walls. The cavity includes a first step surface and a second step surface defined in the one or more side walls. A first scaffold mounted to the base surface in the cavity. One or more spacers defining an aperture therethrough are mounted to the second step surface in the cavity. A second scaffold is mounted to a first surface of the one or more spacers spans across the aperture of the one or more spacers. A third scaffold is mounted to a second surface of the one or more spacers in the cavity and spans across the aperture of the one or more spacers. Other components of the physics package are mounted to the first, second, and third scaffold.
US09164490B1	Chronograph assembly A chronograph assembly for emitting an audible message at the top of each hour includes a clock structured to have a pair of hands indicating a time of day. The clock is coupled to a support surface. A processor is coupled to the clock. An electronic memory is coupled to the clock and the processor. The electronic memory stores a recorded audible message comprising the words “It's five o'clock somewhere”. A control is coupled to the clock and the electronic memory. The control selects an aural quality of the recorded audible message. A speaker is coupled to the clock and the processor. A sensor is coupled to the clock and the processor. The sensor detects a position of the hands on the clock. The processor is actuated when the hands are positioned in a trigger position. The speaker emits the recorded audible message when the processor is actuated.
US09164487B1	Striking watch A striking watch including a watch case delimiting an internal chamber, as well as the insert partition defining an acoustic sound emission membrane, the insert partition divides the internal chamber into an acoustic cavity and a tight housing which receives a timepiece movement and a gong provided to vibrate after having received an impact from a striking mechanism associated with the timepiece movement, and the acoustic cavity is delimited at least by the insert partition and by a back cover, and the insert partition bears the gong.
US09164484B2	Sprung balance for a timepiece A timepiece assembly including a balance spring stud fixed to a plate, and a balance spring wound into coils between an inner end fixed to a collet and an outer end fixed to the balance spring stud. The balance spring stud and/or the collet includes a braking mechanism cooperating with a first coil during accelerations by contraction or expansion of the balance spring higher than set values, to modify a resulting rigidity of the balance spring when the first coil is locally coupled to the braking mechanism, arranged on a first inner lip and a second outer lip included in the balance spring stud and/or in the collet, which includes a first inner lip and a second outer lip each including the braking mechanism.
US09164480B2	Holographic data storage device and method of making Holographic data storage devices are presented. The holographic data storage device includes an optically transparent substrate, wherein the optically transparent substrate includes a photochemically active dye and a heat generating chromophore. Methods for making holographic data storage device are also presented.
US09164479B2	Systems and methods of dual-plane digital holographic microscopy An embodiment of the disclosed DHM system includes a light source configured to emit coherent optical waves, a first optical Fourier element configured to Fourier transform the optical waves from the object area, wherein the Fourier transform occurs at a Fourier plane and the optical waves from the object area includes directly transmitted waves and diffracted waves, a phase modulator at the Fourier plane configured to introduce a phase delay between the directly transmitted waves and the diffracted waves, a second optical Fourier element configured to receive the directly transmitted waves and the diffracted waves from the phase modulator and to inversely Fourier transform the directly transmitted waves and the diffracted waves to provide interfered optical waves, and at least one imaging device configured to record the interfered optical waves at two image planes to generate a first interferogram and a second interferogram.
US09164473B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a dustproof shutter, a lock lever, a shutter lever and an elastic member. The dustproof shutter is openably/closably supported in a case so as to protect an exposure device. The lock lever is configured to lock a cover openably/closably provided in the case, and to be movable in an opening direction of the cover. The shutter lever is provided at a position coming into contact with the lock lever and the dustproof shutter when the cover is closed. The elastic member biases the shutter lever toward the lock lever. The shutter lever moves between a first position to open the dustproof shutter when the cover is locked and a second position to close the dustproof shutter when the cover is unlocked by moving the lock lever in the opening direction of the cover with assistance from a biasing force of the elastic member.
US09164469B2	Image forming apparatus including endless belt disposed above photosensitive drum An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a photosensitive drum, an endless belt disposed above the photosensitive drum, and a pressing member. The photosensitive drum includes a drum body and a flange portion that is provided on one end portion of the drum body. The flange portion has a contacted portion and a pressed portion. The pressing member presses the pressed portion upward to permit the photosensitive drum to be in contact with the endless belt. The frame has a positioning portion disposed above the pressing member and above the photosensitive drum. The positioning portion is configured to be in contact with the contacted portion and to position the photosensitive drum when the pressing member presses the pressed portion. The pressed portion is disposed farther from the drum body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum than the contacted portion.
US09164468B2	Positioning mechanism for positioning drawer relative to casing of image forming device An image forming device includes a main casing, a unit, a side plate, a positioning member, and a fixing member. The side plate is formed with a through-hole having a first surface extending in a second direction crossing a first direction, a second surface extending in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction, and a third surface, and a fourth surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface in a contour of the through hole. The positioning member is in contact with the first surface and the second surface. The third surface is positioned opposite to the fourth surface with respect to the positioning member. The fixing member includes an insert portion configured to be inserted through the through-hole. The insert portion is positioned between the first portion and the third surface to press the first portion toward the fourth surface.
US09164466B2	Cleaning blade, cleaning device, and image forming apparatus A cleaning blade includes a portion which comes in contact with a member to be cleaned, and the portion is configured of a member containing polyurethane rubber having a structure derived from polyester polyol in which a first diol component having 10 or more carbon atoms and a second diol component having 5 or less carbon atoms are condensed with dicarboxylic acid at a molar ratio (first diol component/second diol component) of 50/50 to 80/20, a structure derived from polyisocyanate, and a structure derived from a triol.
US09164465B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member configured to be forwardly and reversely rotatable; a cleaning blade configured to make contact with the image bearing member and scrape toner remaining on the image bearing member; a toner retention section defined on an upstream side of the cleaning blade in a forward rotational direction of the image bearing member, the toner retention section being configured to retain toner scraped by the cleaning blade; a driving section configured to rotationally drive the image bearing member; and a control section configured to control the driving section to reversely rotate the image bearing member by a distance greater than a distance from a position where the image bearing member and the cleaning blade make contact with each other to an upper surface position of toner retained in the toner retention section, at a time when an image formation process is not performed.
US09164463B2	Image forming apparatus including plurality of paper output trays An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first paper output tray, and a second paper output tray. The image forming portion forms toner images and fixes toner images on sheets. The first paper output tray includes a first receiving portion positioned on its upper surface and configured to receive a sheet with a fixed toner image thereon. The second paper output tray is positioned over the first receiving portion. The second paper output tray includes a second receiving portion positioned on its upper surface and configured to receive a sheet thereon. The second paper output tray includes an accommodation space therein. The accommodation space accommodates cooling air for cooling the sheets.
US09164462B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a transfer device to transfer a toner image formed on an image bearing member onto a recording medium, a sheet separation device to separate the recording medium from the image bearing member, a sheet separation bias application device to apply to the sheet separation device a sheet separation bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component, and a transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer device one of a DC transfer bias having a DC component and a superimposed transfer bias in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component. Upon application of the superimposed transfer bias to the transfer device, the sheet separation bias applied to the sheet separation device is changed from the sheet separation bias applied upon application of the DC transfer bias to the transfer device.
US09164460B2	Image forming apparatus having tone density correction An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a development device that develops an electrostatic latent image as a toner image using a toner, a density sensor that irradiates a controlling image and detects reflection from the controlling image, and a controller that forms controlling images on the image bearing member. The controller decides whether a mode for correcting toner density is performed or not according to both detection results of a first controlling image formed by developing the electrostatic latent image with the development device, the electrostatic latent image formed by exposing a surface of the image bearing member by an exposure device, and a second controlling image formed by developing with the development device without substantially performing exposure to the surface of the image bearing member by the exposure device.
US09164459B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a image; a developing container for accommodating a developer comprising toner and carrier; a rotatable developer carrying member, provided in an opening of the developing container, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a feeding device for feeding the developer in the developing container toward the developer carrying member; detecting device for detecting information relating to a consumption amount of the developer; and a controller for executing, when a image formation is continuously effected for a plurality of recording materials, a operation in a mode in which on the basis of a result of detection of the detecting device, the image forming operation is interrupted, and a operating condition of at least one of the feeding device and the developer carrying member is changed.
US09164458B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming unit, a density sensor, a gradation characteristic data generator, and a gradation corrector. The density sensor includes a low-pass filter to remove a high-frequency component of an output of the image density sensor. The gradation characteristic data generator forms a gradation correction pattern on the image carrier. The gradation correction pattern is a continuous gradation pattern including first and second patterns. The gradation characteristic data generator continuously detects image density of the continuous gradation pattern and background areas adjacent to the continuous gradation pattern to generate the gradation characteristic data. The gradation characteristic data generator forms a compensation pattern on the image carrier next to and continuous with a leading end of the first pattern in an image carrier rotational direction, to compensate for a response delay of the output of the density sensor due to the low-pass filter.
US09164457B2	Image forming device, image forming method and computer readable medium An image forming device provided with a restart unit and a deletion unit. If processing requiring a restart of the image forming device is requested by another terminal device that is connected via a communications circuit, the restart unit causes the image forming device to restart. If the processing requiring the restart is requested by the other terminal device while a service process relating to image processing is being provided by a service process provision device that is connected via the communications circuit, the deletion unit deletes data relating to use of the service process before the image forming device is restarted.
US09164456B2	Image forming apparatus The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a patch image T on a recording material P, a fixing unit that fixes the patch image, a spectral color measurement device that irradiates light onto the patch image T that was fixed by the fixing unit, and measures reflected light from the patch image, a white reference plate disposed facing the spectral color measurement device; and a control unit that controls a density or a chromaticity of an image based on a result obtained by measuring the patch image and a result obtained by measuring the white reference plate by means of the spectral color measurement device. It is thereby possible to improve the color measurement accuracy of a color measurement device.
US09164454B2	Image forming apparatus for performing registration and density correction control An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit configured to continuously form, on an image carrier, first and second detection patterns for detecting relative registration amounts and a density of each of a plurality of colors; and a control unit configured to control registration and the density. The forming unit forms the detection patterns such that a leading edge developer color of a detection pattern formed on a front side among the two detection patterns, in a direction in which the detection patterns are moved by rotation of the image carrier, is the same as a trailing edge developer color of the detection pattern formed on the front side, or a leading or trailing edge developer color of a detection pattern formed on a rear side among the two detection patterns.
US09164453B2	Image forming apparatus and post-processing device A copy machine 1 is provided with: a main body device includes a main body ejection portion that ejects a target material on which an image is formed; and a post-processing device that performs predetermined post-processing on the target material that is fed to a post-processing unit inlet. The post-processing device is provided with a transformation unit that transforms a voltage of power supplied from a main power supply unit inside the main body device to a voltage required for driving of the post-processing device.
US09164450B2	Electrophotographic member, fixing device, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus Provided are an electrophotographic member having excellent durability and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic member includes: an elastic layer including a silicone rubber; an intermediate layer including at least one of an aromatic polyimide and an aromatic polyamideimide, and a fluororesin; and a surface layer including a fluororesin, in which the aromatic polyimide or the aromatic polyamideimide is bonded to the silicone rubber through an amide bond-containing group, and in which a carbon atom constituting the amide bond is directly bonded to a carbon atom constituting an aromatic ring in a molecule of the aromatic polyimide or aromatic polyamideimide.
US09164449B1	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image forming member; a heating member; an opposing member that opposes the heating member; an urging member having one end attached to a first support member that supports the opposing member, the urging member urging the opposing member so that the opposing member presses a recording medium against the heating member; a moving member that moves from a closed position to an open position, a space accommodating the heating and opposing members being closed when the moving member is at the closed position and opened when the moving member is at the open position; and a cancelling member to which the other end of the urging member is attached and that is rotatably attached to a second support member that supports the heating member, the cancelling member rotating from the closed position to cancel a pressing force with which the recording medium is pressed.
US09164445B2	Fixing device and image forming apparatus A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and an opposed rotator contacting an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. A nip formation pad, disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, presses against the opposed rotator via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotator, through which a recording medium is conveyed. A belt holder contacts and rotatably supports a lateral end of the endless belt in an axial direction thereof. A ring is interposed between the belt holder and a lateral edge face of the endless belt. A restraint disposed opposite the ring contacts the ring to restrict movement of the ring in a radial direction of the endless belt within a trajectory of the lateral end of the rotating endless belt.
US09164442B2	Fixing device and image forming apparatus A fixing device includes an endless belt member, a secured member disposed to contact the belt member, a heating unit that heats the belt member, and a rotary pressurizing roller including an elastic layer that is elastically deformed when the belt member is pressed against a pressing surface of the secured member to form a fixing part. The pressurizing roller is curved such that a center portion is smaller in outside diameter than end portions along the axial direction. The pressing surface is curved such that a center portion projects toward the pressurizing roller more than end portions along the longitudinal direction. On the pressing surface, an amount of projection of the center portion with respect to the end portions along the longitudinal direction is set to be larger on an output side than on an input side of the fixing part along a moving direction of the belt member.
US09164441B2	Fixing unit and image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided with a fixing unit in which flickers can be effectively reduced while inhibiting electric current imbalance. The fixing unit comprises a fixing heater, a switching unit for switching the fixing heater on/off with an AC power source, and a control unit which controls the switching unit to switch in units of the half wave period of the AC power source AC, and a storing unit for storing a plurality of energization patterns which define the ways of performing the switch control. Each energization pattern corresponds to a control cycle which contains a three or more odd number of the half wave periods each of which is either an OFF period and an ON period, and all the half wave periods of the smaller in number of the ON periods and the OFF periods are not successively arranged.
US09164439B2	Fuser control device and image forming apparatus A fuser control device includes a fuser device that a holding member holds configured to fuse a developing image to a priming medium, a fuser heater that is installed at the holding member configured to generate heat for at least a central part and side parts of a heat application roller, a first temperature detection part configured to detect a temperature of the fuser device and configured to transmit the temperature of the fuser device as a first detecting temperature, a second temperature detection part configured to detect a temperature of the holding member and configured to transmit the temperature of the holding member as a second detecting temperature, and a heat application control unit configured to control the temperature of the fuser device with changing a targeting temperature for the fuser device based on a controlling condition.
US09164434B2	Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing rotation member, a rotation drive portion that rotates the fixing rotation member, a cleaning web sheet that cleans a circumferential surface of the fixing rotation member, a cleaning web sheet roller that takes up or feeds out the cleaning web sheet, a swing cam rotationally driven by the rotation drive portion, a rotation transmission portion that transmits a rotation drive force to the cleaning web sheet roller, a one way clutch provided on an input shaft of the rotation transmission portion, and a swing lever connected to the one way clutch and biased so as to be brought into slide contact with the swing cam.
US09164433B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided. A backup face disposed on an upward face of the control box makes contact with a backup reception part that is disposed on a downward face of a belt cleaning device, and supports a steering roller and cleaning blade. The backup face reduces the force that acts on the frame stay and so forth, following the sliding friction of the intermediate transfer belt and cleaning blade. The backup reception part and backup reception part are formed so that even if the steering roller moves in the tension application direction, the predetermined contact state can be maintained.
US09164431B2	Cleaning member, developing device, and image forming apparatus A developing device includes an agitating member agitating and rotating a developer, a developer amount detecting part detecting the developer amount, and a cleaning member being attached to the agitating member to have has an attachment part, a first cleaning part and a second cleaning part and to clean a detecting surface of the developer amount detecting part. The attachment part is formed by an end part of a wire and attached to the agitating member. The first cleaning part is formed by an intermediate part of the wire, and extends from an end part of the attachment part to reach the detecting surface. The second cleaning part is formed by an another end part of the wire, and is constructed by closely winding the wire, protruded to a location in front of the detecting surface and has a greater width than the detecting surface.
US09164429B2	Developing device capable of restraining leakage of developing agent A developing device includes a frame, a developing roller, and first and second seals. The frame has a seal adhesion surface and a seal placement portion. The first seal is provided between the frame and a peripheral surface at an end portion of the developing roller. The second seal is in contact with the peripheral surface and has an end region positioned between the first seal and the peripheral surface. The second seal has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is adhered to the seal adhesion surface and has an end part adhered onto the first seal. The second end portion is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller. The first seal is compressed in the seal placement portion by the second seal to abut on a stepped portion of the seal placement portion.
US09164428B2	Toner case and image forming apparatus A toner case includes a case main body, an attachment member and a conveying member. The case main body has a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The attachment member is provided at the case main body to be rotatable in normal and reverse rotation directions around a rotation axis. The conveying member is rotatable in the normal and reverse rotation direction around the rotation axis to convey the toner from/to the inside of the case main body to/from a side of the discharge port. When the attachment member is reversely rotated, the conveying member is moved in a direction of the rotation axis between a first position in which the conveying member is reversely rotated together with the attachment member and a second position in which the attachment member runs idle.
US09164427B2	Powder accommodation container and image forming apparatus A powder accommodation container includes an accommodation container body that accommodates powder, a transport member and a discharge port. The transport member is arranged in an inside of the accommodation container body, rotates about a rotating shaft, and transports powder in the inside of the accommodation container body. The discharge port is provided on the accommodation container body and discharges the powder accommodated in the accommodation container body to an outside of the accommodation container body. The transport member includes a first transport piece transporting the powder toward the discharge port at a position corresponding to the discharge port, and a second transport piece arranged on a downstream side in a rotating direction of the rotating shaft than the first transport piece. The second transport piece has a length that is in non-contact with the inner surface at an immediate downstream of the discharge port in the rotating direction.
US09164423B2	Developer replenishment container accommodating apparatus, developer replenishment container, and image forming apparatus A developer replenishment container accommodating assembly, in which a developer replenishment container is removably put in a main body of an accommodating apparatus, replenishes a developer while rotating the developer replenishment container and includes a holding portion provided on the main body and configured to hold the developer replenishment container put in the main body of the accommodating apparatus in a replenishment position for replenishing the developer, and an engaging portion configured to engage with the developer replenishment container when it is positioned in the main assembly. In addition, a biasing member is configured to bias the engaging portion in a predetermined direction so that the developer replenishment container rotating while held by the holding portion is pressed against the holding portion by the biased engaging portion.
US09164421B2	Toner bottle, supply unit, and image forming apparatus A first shutter covers a first supply port formed in an outer peripheral surface of a main body, and can move in an outer peripheral direction along the outer peripheral surface of the main body. A pair of guiding members respectively formed on both ends of the first shutter guide the first shutter in the outer peripheral direction. A lock mechanism fixes the first shutter to achieve a closed state of the first supply port. The lock mechanism includes a protrusion provided to the first shutter, the protrusion being capable of engaging with a recess formed in the outer peripheral surface. Fixing by the lock mechanism is released when the protrusion elastically deforms and is disengaged from the recess. The protrusion, the recess, and the first supply port are disposed along a virtual curve between the pair of guiding members.
US09164418B2	Developing device, and image forming apparatus using the same There is provided a developing device including a toner holding member that is rotatably provided to face an image holding member and holds and transports a nonmagnetic single-component toner toward a development region to develop an electrostatic latent image on the image holding member, a supplying member that is rotatably provided in elastic contact with the toner holding member to supply the toner from a contact region therebetween to the toner holding member, a toner replenishing unit that faces a replenishment region at a portion apart from the contact region to replenish a new toner, and a regulating member that is provided on a downstream side of the contact region in a rotation direction thereof and on an upstream side of the development region to triboelectrically charge the toner held on the toner holding member and regulate the amount of toner provided for the development.
US09164417B2	Image forming apparatus with developer bearing member velocity control An image forming apparatus of a representative configuration of the present invention includes a photosensitive drum, which carries an electrostatic latent image, and a developing sleeve, which carries a two-component developer and develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum into a toner image. Moving directions of the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve are opposite at an opposing portion in a developing device having a speed changing portion, which changes the driving speed of the developing sleeve, and a controller, which switches a target speed of the developing sleeve so that it is driven at a second velocity, before it is driven at the first velocity set in a lower speed mode, when the lower speed mode is executed in which the photosensitive drum is driven at a lower speed than in the normal image forming.
US09164415B2	Image forming apparatus and method of forming an image which can prevent a development memory from occurring An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including a light exposure section configured to expose an image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image, the image forming section being configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member, and to form an image on a recording sheet by transferring the toner image onto the recording sheet; an estimation section configured to estimate a density lowering position on the basis of image data of an image formed by the image forming section, the density lowering position being a position where decrease in image density relative to a predetermined image density is caused in the image; and a control section configured to increase a light exposure amount at the density lowering position estimated by the estimation section on the image bearing member to an amount greater than a predetermined light exposure amount.
US09164409B2	Biophenols for polyester toner resins The present disclosure provides a polyester toner resin comprising a natural phenol used in manufacturing a toner for imaging devices.
US09164405B2	Measurement apparatus for calculation of substrate tilt, exposure apparatus, and device fabrication method The present invention provides a measurement apparatus which measures a height of a test surface, the apparatus including an image sensing device including a plurality of detection units configured to detect interfering light formed by measurement light from the test surface and reference light from a reference surface, and an optical system configured to guide measurement light beams, reflected at a plurality of measurement points on the test surface, and reference light beams, reflected at a plurality of reference points on the reference surface, to the plurality of detection units, respectively, wherein the reference surface generates differences among optical path differences between the measurement light beams and the reference light beams which enter the plurality of detection units, respectively.
US09164397B2	Optics symmetrization for metrology The present invention includes an illumination source, at least one illumination symmetrization module (ISM) configured to symmetrize at least a portion of light emanating from the illumination source, a first beam splitter configured to direct a first portion of light processed by the ISM along an object path to a surface of one or more specimens and a second portion of light processed by the ISM along a reference path, and a detector disposed along a primary optical axis, wherein the detector is configured to collect a portion of light reflected from the surface of the one or more specimens.
US09164394B2	Illumination optical system and optical systems for microlithography An imaging optical system for microlithography is used to illuminate an object field. The illumination optical system has a first transmission optical system for guiding illumination light proceeding from a light source. An illumination presetting facet mirror with a plurality of illumination presetting facets is arranged downstream of the first transmission optical system. The illumination presetting facet mirror produces a preset illumination of the object field via an edge shape, which can be illuminated, of the illumination presetting facet mirror and individual tilting angles of the illumination presetting facets. An arrangement of the first transmission optical system and the illumination presetting facet mirror is such that telecentric illumination of the object field results. An optical system according to a further aspect has, between the illumination presetting facet mirror and the object field, an entry pupil plane of a projection optical system, which, together with the illumination optical system, belongs to an optical system for microlithography. In this aspect, the first transmission optical system and the illumination presetting facet mirror are arranged to illuminate the object field adapted to the entry pupil of the projection optical system. In further aspects within an optical system with a projection optical system and an illumination optical system, a large object-image offset or a large intermediate focus-image offset is present in relation to an installation length of the projection optical system. Illumination optical systems and optical systems which satisfy particular efficiency demands with regard to the use of the illumination light result.
US09164389B2	Patterning method using electron beam and exposure system configured to perform the same A patterning method may employ a particle beam, such as an electron beam (E-beam) and an exposure system that may include preparing an exposure layout defining a spatial distribution of an E-beam, performing an E-beam exposure process to a mask layer, based on the exposure layout, performing a developing process to the mask layer to form mask patterns including a first pattern. The first pattern may be a single solid pattern, and the exposure layout may include a first data associated with a plurality of E-beam conditions defined for a first region corresponding to the first pattern.
US09164386B2	Negative-working photosensitive siloxane composition [Object]To provide a negative-working photosensitive siloxane composition developable inorganically, and also to provide a cured film-manufacturing method employing that.[Means]The present invention provides a negative-working photosensitive siloxane composition comprising a polysiloxane, a silicon-containing compound having a pKa of 2.0 to 15.7, a photo-polymerization initiator, and a solvent. This composition is coat on a substrate, exposed to light, developed with an inorganic developer, and heated, so that a cured film can be obtained.
US09164379B2	Resist composition, method for forming resist pattern, and compound A resist composition including a base material component whose solubility in a developing solution changes by the action of an acid and an acid generator component which generates an acid upon exposure. The acid generator component includes an acid generator that includes a compound containing nitrogen atoms having proton acceptor properties and sites capable of generating an acid upon exposure in the same molecule, the number of the sites being larger than the number of the nitrogen atoms.
US09164377B2	Method for cleaning imprinting mask According to one embodiment, provided is a method for cleaning an imprinting mask including a template having an uneven pattern, a base layer disposed on the template, and a sacrificial film disposed on the base layer. In the method for cleaning the imprinting mask, the sacrificial film is removed, and a contaminant adhered on the sacrificial film is removed from the template pattern.
US09164376B2	Patterning nano-scale patterns on a film comprising unzipping copolymers The invention concerns a method for patterning a surface of a material. A substrate having a polymer film thereon is provided. The polymer is a selectively reactive polymer (e.g., thermodynamically unstable): it is able to unzip upon suitable stimulation. A probe is used to create patterns on the film. During the patterning, the film is locally stimulated for unzipping polymer chains. Hence, a basic idea is to provide a stimulus to the polymeric material, which in turn spontaneously decomposes e.g., into volatile constituents. For example, the film is thermally stimulated in order to break a single bond in a polymer chain, which is sufficient to trigger the decomposition of the entire polymer chain.
US09164375B2	Dual zone template chuck A template chuck includes multiple zones to provide 1) an imprint bend optimized to provide high curvature and provide contact at middle radius of substrate and/or, 2) separation bend zone with an increased free span zone and high crack angle.
US09164374B2	Photomask making method, photomask blank and dry etching method A photomask is manufactured by providing a photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate, a phase shift film, and a light-shielding film, the phase shift film and the light-shielding film including silicon base material layers, a N+O content in the silicon base material layer of the phase shift film differing from that of the light-shielding film, and chlorine dry etching the blank with oxygen-containing chlorine gas in a selected O/Cl ratio for selectively etching away the silicon base material layer of the light-shielding film.
US09164372B2	Method and system for forming non-manhattan patterns using variable shaped beam lithography A method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed in which a series of charged particle beam shots is determined, where the series of shots is capable of forming a continuous non-manhattan track on a surface, such that the non-manhattan track has a line width roughness (LWR) which nearly equals a target LWR. A method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is also disclosed in which at least two series of shots are determined, where each series of shots is capable of forming a continuous non-manhattan track on a surface, and where the space between tracks has space width roughness (SWR) which nearly equals a target SWR.
US09164371B2	Method of correcting defects in a reflection-type mask and mask-defect correction apparatus According to one embodiment, a method of correcting defects in a reflection-type mask is provided, which comprises acquiring a mask-pattern image of the mask, by using a mask-defect correction apparatus includes a mechanism configured to detect a defect in the mask and a mechanism configured to correct the defect, acquiring a simulated wafer-transfer optical image for the mask, by using an AIMS configured to simulate a wafer-transfer optical image, thereby to determine whether the mask is defective, locating a mask defect, in a mask-pattern image acquired by the mask-defect correction apparatus, by referring to the simulated pattern image acquired by the AIMS, and correcting the defect by the mask-defect correction apparatus, on the basis of the position of the mask defect, thus detected.
US09164365B2	Imaging path speckle mitigation Disclosed herein are optical projection systems and related methods for projecting imagery employing shifting image position in-time to mitigate speckle. Exemplary optical systems may include a projector having a light source, a relay lens and at least one projection lens for projecting images. The relay lens or the projection lens may have at least one lens element that may be translated in-time substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical system. Alternatively, the projection lens in its entirety may be shifted in-time to reduce speckle. Further, in stereoscopic embodiments, two projection lenses may be employed, wherein at least one element in each projection lens is moveable to shift the image in-time to reduce speckle. Moreover, electronic compensation, such as electronic addressing or image warping, for the image shifting may be employed to shift the image in a direction opposite to the speckle-reducing shift in position.
US09164364B2	Projector mount A projector mount is provided, which includes a foundation, a base, a Y axis translation unit, a rod, an X axis translation unit, a telescopic element, a Z axis translation unit and an angle adjusting unit. The base is connected to the foundation. The base is moved in the Y axis relative to the foundation via the Y axis translation unit. The rod is connected to the base. The rod is moved in the X axis relative to the base via the X axis translation unit. The telescopic element is connected to the rod. The telescopic element is moved in the Z axis relative to the rod via the Z axis translation unit. The angle adjusting unit is connected to the telescopic element.
US09164360B2	Camera accessory An accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The first tab, the second tab and the third tab extend over varying lengths along the circumferential direction. The first tab extends over a greatest length along the circumferential direction among the first through third tabs. The third tab extends over a smallest length along the circumferential direction among the first through third tabs. The accessory mount includes a restricting member disposed near the third tab, a fitting portion used to align an optical axis of the accessory mount with an optical axis of the camera body, and a lock pin hole through which a lock pin, retractably disposed at the camera body, is inserted so as to lock the camera accessory in a fully mounted state. The restricting member is disposed at a position assumed on a side substantially opposite from the lock pin hole across the fitting portion.
US09164357B1	Extending sensor dynamic range by use of a photochromic filter A system and method for enhanced conditioning light so a camera can capture images from it in a variety of brightness ranges is presented. A camera has an optical lens and a photochromic filter. The photochromic filter may be placed in front of the lens. The photochromic filter extends an exposure range of the camera without the need for a mechanical iris.
US09164355B2	Light control apparatus Incident light that passes through the optical aperture is controlled by pivoting the light control unit (130) alternately to a first stationary position of being retracted from the optical aperture (102 and 122), and a second stationary position of overlapping with the optical aperture by moving the light control unit by the drive unit (132 and 150), and when the light control unit is at the first stationary position, the light control unit is capable of sticking out of the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09164351B2	Freeform-prism eyepiece with illumination waveguide An imaging panel includes a light source, a reflective image-forming array, and a freeform-prism eyepiece. The light source includes a light emitter and a waveguide having a grating. The waveguide is configured to confine the light from the light emitter and to release the light through the grating. The reflective image-forming array is configured to form a display image using light from the light source and to reflect the display image back through the waveguide. The freeform-prism eyepiece configured to receive the display image and to present the display image for viewing, together with an external image transmitted through the eyepiece.
US09164347B2	Display device including electrochromic layer A display device (100A) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (11), a second substrate (21) facing the first substrate (11), a first electrode (15) formed on the first substrate (11), a second electrode (25) formed on the second substrate (21), and an electrochromic layer (17) provided between the first electrode (15) and the second electrode (25) and containing an oxidation coloring-type dye and a reduction coloring-type dye.
US09164344B2	Liquid crystal display device and method of repairing bad pixels therein A liquid crystal display device and a method of repairing bad pixels thereof, in which the bad pixels can be efficiently and easily repaired, includes a first insulating substrate, a gate wiring and a storage wiring arranged substantially parallel to each other in a first direction on the first insulating substrate, a data wiring intersecting the gate and storage wirings in an insulated manner and arranged substantially in a second direction, and a pixel electrode formed on a pixel area defined by the gate and data wirings. The storage wiring includes a horizontal portion arranged substantially in the first direction and at least a part of which does not overlap the pixel electrode, and a vertical portion branching off substantially in the second direction from the horizontal portion and overlapping the data wiring.
US09164341B2	Active matrix substrate, liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing active matrix substrate An active matrix substrate (100A) includes a thin film transistor (20), a scanning line (11) substantially parallel to a first direction, a signal line (12) substantially parallel to a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, a first interlayer insulating layer (16) covering the thin film transistor, a lower layer electrode (17) provided on the first interlayer insulating layer, a dielectric layer (18) provided on the lower layer electrode, and an upper layer electrode (19) overlapping at least a portion of the lower layer electrode via the dielectric layer. A first contact hole (31) for allowing the upper layer electrode to be electrically connected to a drain electrode (24) of the thin film transistor includes a first aperture (16a) formed in the first interlayer insulating layer and a second aperture (18a) formed in the dielectric layer. A width of the first aperture along one of the first direction and the second direction is smaller than a width of the second aperture along the one direction. When viewed from the normal direction of the substrate, a portion of the contour of the second aperture is located inside the contour of the first aperture.
US09164337B1	Manufacturing method of display panel and repair line structure thereof A manufacturing method and repair structure of a display panel are provided. A repair method for a signal wire of the display panel comprises the steps of: connecting a repair wire and a welding pad before a PSVA process, and connecting the repair wire to a short-circuit bus bar of a signal wire of the same category through the welding pad; and welding a weld point between a breakpoint and the connection point of the repair wire and the short-circuit bus bar on a broken wire, hence a signal applied to the display panel by the short-circuit bus bar is transmitted to the breakpoint through the repair wire in the PSVA process. Since the repair wire is connected with the short-circuit bus bar and directly powered up through the short-circuit bus bar in the PSVA process, the wire can not be broken when the signal is transmitted via the short-circuit bus bar, the permanent memory of the broken wire defect of the display panel in the form of a liquid crystal pre-tilt angle on the display panel during the PSVA process can be avoided, and the process yield of the display panel can be increased.
US09164330B2	Liquid crystal display with horizontal inter-electrode distance and dielectric constant anisotropy of a liquid crystal layer According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display includes a first substrate including main pixel electrodes, a second substrate including main common electrodes extending substantially in parallel to the main pixel electrodes and arranged on both sides of each of the main pixel electrodes as seen from above, and a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules held between the first substrate and the second substrate. A horizontal inter-electrode distance in a first direction between the main pixel electrode and the main common electrode is in a range of 11 μm or more and 13 μm or less, and a dielectric constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is 10 or more and 16 or less.
US09164328B2	Liquid crystal display apparatus and electronic device A spacer portion for keeping a thickness of a liquid crystal layer is provided at an intersecting portion between a gate wiring and a source wiring when seen in a plan view, and a light shielding portion for spacer portion which shields the spacer portion from light is provided. The spacer portion is disposed in a region in which the light shielding portion for spacer portion is provided when seen in a plan view. Then, the source wiring has two bend portions which are bent in mutually different directions in the region in which the light shielding portion for spacer portion is provided when seen in a plan view.
US09164319B2	Surface light-emitting device A surface light-emitting device includes: a light guide plate including a notch; a reflection sheet including a notch; a point light source; a light-source substrate; a first chassis covering and extending along the light-source substrate and the lower surface of the light guide plate; a second chassis formed to fit with the first chassis; a liquid crystal panel put on the second chassis; and a third chassis covering the liquid crystal panel and a part of the first chassis on which the light-source substrate is put, and formed to fit with the first chassis on the part. The light-source substrate is fixed on the first chassis. The first chassis includes a protrusion to be engaged with the notches so as to be moved together with the light guide plate and the reflection sheet in response to a movement of the first chassis along the light guide plate.
US09164318B2	Backlight assembly and display apparatus having the same A backlight assembly includes a first light guide plate, a second light guide plate, a light source part and a cover part. The second light guide plate is spaced apart from the first light guide plate. The light source part includes a first light source providing light to the first light guide plate and a second light source providing light to the second light guide plate. The cover part is disposed over the light source part. The cover part overlaps with a portion of the first light guide plate and a portion of the second light guide plate. A display apparatus having the above configuration has a narrow bezel and a thin profile.
US09164317B2	Device and method for improving the response time of liquid crystal displays The invention relates to a display device, comprising an illumination means and a liquid crystal display. The illumination means also serves to heat the liquid crystal display, and control means may control the brightness of an image displayed via the liquid crystal display.
US09164315B2	Transflective display and manufacturing method thereof Embodiments of the invention provide a transflective liquid crystal display and a method for manufacturing the same. The transflective liquid crystal display comprises: an array substrate; a color filter substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate; a plurality of pixels formed on the array substrate, wherein each pixel comprises a transmissive region and a reflective region, and the liquid crystal layer has the same thickness at the transmissive region and the reflective region; a first transparent electrode formed on the array substrate; a second transparent electrode formed on the color filter substrate at the transmissive region, wherein an initial optical delay of the liquid crystal layer at the transmissive region is different from that of the liquid crystal layer at the reflective region.
US09164314B2	Electro-optical controllable glazing A controllable glazing, containing at least a first and a second reflective polarizer and a liquid-crystal-dye layer. The liquid-crystal-dye-layer is arranged between the first and the second reflective polarizer. The alignment of the dichroic dye and the alignment of the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal-dye-layer are changeable. The first and the second reflective polarizer are denoted for electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of λ1 to λ2 and the liquid-crystal-dye-layer is selected such that the electromagnetic radiation transmission through the controllable glazing is controlled in the wavelength range of λ3 to λ4 by dye-absorbance and in the wavelength range λ1 to λ2 by alignment of the liquid crystal and the dye in the liquid-crystal-dye layer. The wavelength range of λ1 to λ2 is within the wavelength range of 750 nm to 2000 nm and the wavelength range of λ3 to λ4 is within the wavelength range of 380 nm to 750 nm.
US09164313B2	Display device To provide a display device having a high contrast ratio by a simple and easy method and to manufacture a high-performance display device at low cost, in a display device having a display element between a pair of light-transmitting substrates, layers each including a polarizer having different wavelength distribution of extinction coefficient from each other with respect to the absorption axes are stacked and provided on an outer side of the light-transmitting substrates. Further, a retardation plate may be provided between the stacked polarizers.
US09164311B2	Color filter substrate for liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device, includes a transparent substrate, a black matrix formed on the transparent substrate and having an opening for division into a plurality of pixels, a transparent conducting film, and a color layer formed on the pixel, wherein a linear projection is formed in a center of the pixel and a recess is formed above the black matrix.
US09164307B2	Polarizer, polarizer producing process, projector, liquid crystal device, and electronic device A polarizer includes a first grating and a second grating. The second grating contains at least one of chromium nitride, tungsten nitride, and tantalum nitride.
US09164306B2	In-cell touch display panel system using metal wires to connect with sensing electrodes An in-cell touch display panel system includes: first and second substrates configured therebetween a liquid crystal layer, a black matrix layer, a sensing electrode trace layer, an insulation layer, and a sensing electrode layer. The black matrix layer is composed of a plurality of opaque lines. The sensing electrode trace layer is composed of a plurality of trace conductor lines. The insulation layer is disposed on one surface of the sensing electrode trace layer facing the liquid crystal layer. The sensing electrode layer is composed of a plurality of transparent sensing electrodes obtained from patterning a common voltage layer. Each transparent sensing electrode is connected with at least one trace conductor line, while the plurality of trace conductor lines are disposed corresponding to positions of the plurality of opaque lines of the black matrix layer.
US09164303B2	Display device There is provided a display device including a display panel and a background panel which are arranged opposite to each other, and a light source which is disposed on a side surface of the background panel. The background panel is in a transmissive state where no voltage is applied thereto, is in a light-scattering state where a direct-current (DC) voltage is applied thereto, and is in a transflective state where a high-frequency alternating-current (AC) voltage is applied thereto.
US09164302B2	Repairable touch panel A display apparatus includes a touch panel having a touch failure portion and a pair of first contacts and a repairing component having a pair of second contacts. The repairing component is positioned on the touch panel at a position corresponding to the touch failure portion and the pair of first contacts is electrically coupled to the pair of second contacts.
US09164301B2	Display device An auxiliary wire, which can be connected to each of a plurality of data signal lines (Sn), is constituted by (i) a first auxiliary wire (17) provided so as to intersect the plurality of data signal lines (Sn) on a side where end parts of the respective plurality of data signal lines (Sn) are connected to a data signal line driving circuit (4) and (ii) a second auxiliary wire (18) provided so as to intersect the plurality of data signal lines (Sn) on a side of the other end parts of the respective plurality of data signal lines (Sn). Between the first auxiliary wire (17) and the second auxiliary wire (17), there are provided (i) a positive-polarity amplifier circuit (6) for receiving a positive data signal from the data signal line driving circuit (4) and (ii) a negative-polarity amplifier circuit (7) for receiving a negative data signal from the data signal line driving circuit (4). An output signal is supplied to the second auxiliary wire (18) from the positive-polarity amplifier circuit (6) or the negative-polarity amplifier circuit (7).
US09164300B2	Reconfigurable optical networks A system, e.g. a reconfigurable electro-optical network, includes input and output waveguides. The input waveguide is configured to receive a first input optical signal including a first modulated input wavelength channel. The output waveguide is configured to receive a carrier signal including an unmodulated output wavelength channel. An input microcavity resonator is configured to derive a modulated electrical control signal from the modulated input wavelength channel. A first output microcavity resonator is configured to modulate the output wavelength channel in response to the control signal.
US09164295B2	Vision prescription, measuring method and measuring apparatus, and a lens production method A method for determining parameters of the vision of an eye of a patient. The method comprises: constituting a part of a process of making a prescription for a corresponding lens via which the patient is expected to gaze in at least two different directions; and measuring in one of the two directions all of the following parameters of the eye's vision: sphere power, cylinder and cylinder axis, and measuring in the other of the two directions at least two of said parameters.
US09164287B2	Stereoscopic image display device A stereoscopic image display device includes a liquid crystal panel section, a light source section, a light detection section, a light source control section, a shutter glasses section, and a timing generation section generating a light emission drive signal, a light detection gate signal, and shutter switching signals in synchronization with an image synchronization signal. The timing generation section, generates the light emission drive signal which causes each of the regions of the light source section to emit light in accordance with scanning performed in the liquid crystal panel section, and which causes all the regions of the light source section to emit light in a predetermined period, and generates the light detection gate signal which enables detection of the light detection section in the predetermined period, and generates the shutter switching signals for switching left and right shutters to a non-transmissive mode.
US09164285B2	Three-dimensional image display apparatus A 3D image display apparatus includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels to display an image and a lenticular lens plate disposed in front of the display panel and including a plurality of lenticular lenses. The pixels are arranged to have an arrangement axis inclined with respect to a vertical axis of the display panel, and the lenticular lenses have a lens axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the display panel.
US09164283B2	Multi optical-route head up display (HUD) A multi optical-route Head Up Display (HUD), comprising: at least an image display unit, to generate at least two input images, and project them respectively to a plurality of relay lenses, which adjusts reflection angle of said input signals and then transmits them to a virtual image generation unit, said virtual image generation unit produces a plurality of virtual images, and transmits them to a plurality of transmission mirrors, which reflects said virtual images to form a large area virtual image. Based on technical contents mentioned above, size of optical elements of lens and mirrors can be reduced drastically, so that said multi optical-route HUD can be miniaturized, to achieve image display range of large area, thus the moving vehicle information frame required completely overlaps outside view, as such effectively solving defects of a conventional single optical-route image display device capable of only providing small area image display.
US09164281B2	Volumetric heads-up display with dynamic focal plane A heads-up display device for displaying graphic elements in view of a user while the user views an environment through a display screen. The heads-up display device includes at least one projector that projects a graphic element on a frontal focal plane in view of the user while the user views the environment through the display screen, and at least one projector that projects a graphic element on a ground-parallel focal plane in view of the user while the user views the environment through the display screen. The projector that projects the graphic element on the frontal focal plane is mounted on an actuator that linearly moves the projector so as to cause the frontal focal plane to move in a direction of a line-of-sight of the user. The projector that projects the ground-parallel focal plane is fixedly arranged such that the ground-parallel focal plane is static.
US09164271B2	Endoscope system An endoscope system according to the invention includes a display device including a first connector, plural apparatuses having different functions in which placing sections, on which the display device can be detachably set from a common direction, are respectively provided, and a second connector disposed in common in each of the placing sections and electrically connected to the first connector of the display device to form a pair in a state in which the display device is set on the placing sections.
US09164267B2	Lens array and manufacturing method thereof As a result of a fourth surface being a surface on a gate side, a merging position of a molten resin material during molding of a lens array main body is placed away from formation positions of lens faces, and as a result of the three dimensional shape of a third recessing section, during molding of the lens array main body, the flow of molten resin material from a surface side that opposes the fourth surface into a flow path corresponding with an area between a first recessing section and a second recessing section can be suppressed.
US09164266B2	Complex modular afocal variator with spherical and chromatic aberration correction The present invention provides a complex modular afocal variator in which a modular afocal variator is supplemented with additional optics to form a more complex, but still modular afocal variator system, that can impart internal focusing as well as active spherical and chromatic aberration corrective improvement.
US09164265B2	Camera lens module A camera lens module in which an optical system is configured to include five sheets of lenses is provided. In the camera lens module, first, second, third, fourth and fifth lenses are sequentially arranged from an object side, and the first lens performs a zooming operation while moving along an optical axis. Accordingly, the optical system is configured to include five sheets of lenses for performance of a zooming operation and to allow only the first lens to perform the zooming operation, so that it is possible to manufacture a high-resolution optical system in a compact size and to perform the zooming operation at a high speed.
US09164262B2	Infrared-cut filter with sapphire substrate and lens module including the infrared-cut filter An IR-cut filter includes a substrate and an infrared filtering film. The substrate is made of sapphire, and includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The infrared filtering film covers the first surface of the substrate and increases the reflectivity in relation to infrared light, thus filtering out the infrared light. The infrared filtering film includes a number of first high refraction index layers and a number of first low refraction index layers alternately stacked on the first surface of the substrate.
US09164254B2	Optical component and image capturing device using same An optical component includes a substrate and two optical lenses, and the substrate and the two optical lenses are an integrated and inseparable structure. A groove that can accommodate a required collimating optical element is provided on the substrate, or a collimating optical element and the substrate are integrated. Because fabrication of optical elements is completed during fabrication of the optical component, the number of elements to fabricate and time and cost of fabricating the elements can be reduced. Also, during assembly of an image capturing device, it is only required that the optical component is locked to a body of the image capturing device to complete arrangement of a front panel and the optical elements, which can greatly simplify an assembly procedure and shorten assembly time.
US09164252B2	Apparatus and a method for jointing a first and a second optical fibre of a composite cable An apparatus and a method for jointing a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, the apparatus includes a composite cable, where the composite cable includes an electric power cable, a first optical fiber cable including the first optical fiber, and a second optical fiber cable including the second optical fiber, wherein the apparatus includes a first routing device and a second routing device, each routing device being arranged to change the direction of a fiber optic path from a first axis to a second axis and including a first optical fiber portion aligned with the first axis, a second optical fiber portion aligned with the second axis, and an intermediate optical fiber portion integral with the first and second optical fiber portions and extending through an arc between the first and second optical fiber portions, the intermediate optical fiber portion in the region of the arc having a reduced diameter in relation to the diameter of the first and second optical fiber portions, wherein the first optical fiber is optically connected to the first optical fiber portion of the first routing device, wherein the second optical fiber is optically connected to the first optical fiber portion of the second routing device, and wherein the second optical fiber portion of the first routing device is optically connected to the second optical fiber portion of the second routing device.
US09164246B2	Docking stations, electronic devices, and fiber optic cable assemblies having a magnetic optical connection Docking stations, electronic devices, fiber optic cable assemblies, and display devices incorporating optical connections including a magnetic coupling portion are disclosed. One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a docking station for an electronic device having a major surface. The docking station includes a mating surface operable to contact a major surface of an electronic device, and an optical connection disposed in the mating surface. The optical connection includes an optical interface portion and a magnetic coupling portion positioned adjacent to the optical interface portion. Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to an electronic device including a major surface having a cavity, and an optical connection disposed in the cavity. The optical connection includes an optical interface portion and a magnetic coupling portion positioned adjacent to the optical interface portion. The optical interface portion is offset from the major surface. Display devices are also disclosed.
US09164245B2	Optical connector The present invention relates to an optical connector including, a ferrule within which an integrated optical fiber is fixed, a clamp portion disposed at a rear of the ferrule, the clamp portion comprising: a base component and a lid component facing the based component, where the base component and the lid component together are configured to clamp an end portion of the integrated optical fiber and an end portion of a naked optical fiber abutting the end portion of the integrated optical fiber, and a naked optical fiber guide portion disposed at a rear of the clamp portion, where the naked optical fiber guide portion comprises a through hole through which the naked optical fiber can be inserted, and that guides the naked optical fiber to the clamp portion by the through hole.
US09164244B2	Optical connector plug In an optical connector plug, a front end of the shutter member can move between a shield position to shield a front end face of a ferrule in an extension state and a non-shield position to expose the front end face of the ferrule to the front side of a housing in a reduction state, when a plug frame and a shutter holding member move between the extension state and the reduction state. In the optical connector plug, in a course in which the shutter holding member is engaged with holding portions protruding in an axial direction of the optical connector adaptor and a grip member moves from the extension state to the reduction state, the front end of the shutter member is spaced to face front ends of the holding portions in the axial direction.
US09164243B2	Optical coupling lens and method for testing same An optical coupling lens includes a main portion and two reference portions. The main portion includes a first surface having at least one first converging lens formed thereon, a second surface having at least one second converging lenses formed thereon, and a reflecting surface. The second surface is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. An angle between the reflecting surface and the first surface is about 45 degrees. An optical axis of the first converging lens is substantially perpendicular to the first surface, and an optical axis of the second converging lens is substantially perpendicular to the second surface. Each reference portion includes a reference member. The reference member includes a reference point. A connecting line of the reference points of the reference portions is substantially parallel to the first surface and the second surface, and the connecting line is in a surface substantially coplanar with the reflecting surface.
US09164237B2	Coherent mixer A coherent mixer includes a substrate including a principal surface, the principal surface having a first area and a second area; a multi-mode interference device provided on the first area of the substrate; a light-receiving device provided on the second area of the substrate, the light-receiving device including a plurality of waveguide-type photodiodes; a first input waveguide optically coupled to the multi-mode interference device; a second input waveguide optically coupled to the multi-mode interference device; a plurality of optical waveguides optically coupling the multi-mode interference device to the plurality of waveguide-type photodiodes; and a protective layer covering the first and second areas of the substrate, the protective layer covering the plurality of waveguide-type photodiodes. The protective layer has an opening in the first area of the substrate. In addition, the multi-mode interference device has a surface that is at least partially exposed at the opening of the protective layer.
US09164234B2	Splicing twisted multiple core optical fibers A method of coupling optical fibers containing cores or other structures that twist about the axis of one or both fibers. The fiber end faces are aligned axially to confront one another, and side view images of end regions of the fibers including the contained cores or structures are produced. For each fiber, a brightness profile of a side view image is obtained at an axially offset position from the fiber end face. One or both fibers are rotated about their axes until the brightness profiles for each fiber indicate certain cores or structures in the fibers are aligned. For each fiber, an additional amount of twist from the offset position to the fiber end face is determined. One or both fibers are rotated again to compensate for the additional twist in each fiber, so that the fibers are aligned optimally when coupled.
US09164229B2	Bend insensitive gradient index multi-mode light conducting fiber The invention relates to a bend insensitive gradient index multi-mode light conducting fiber comprising a leakage mode dependent optical core diameter that is uniform over its length and a numerical aperture that is uniform over its length, wherein for a light wavelength of 850 nm and an overfilled launch (OFL), the optical core diameter for a fiber length in a range between 2 m and 100 m decreases by less than 5% and the numerical aperture decreases by less than 2.5% and the curvature related attenuation increase for two turns and a curvature radius of 7.5 mm is less than 0.2 db.
US09164226B2	Illumination device, display device, and television reception device The illumination device 10 according to the present invention includes: a housing member 22 having a bottom plate 22a and a side wall 22b; a light guide plate 26 disposed on the inside of the side wall 22b in a manner so that a gap is formed between the side wall 22b and the side edge face 26b of the light guide plate 26; a light source unit having a light source 24 and a light source substrate 25 and disposed in the gap in a manner so that the substrate surface 25a faces the side edge face 26b; an optical sheet 23 disposed on the front surface 26a side of the light guide plate 26 and having an outer edge 23d protruding towards the light source substrate 25 from the side edge face 26b in a manner so as to cover and hide the bottom plate 22a at the section where the gap is; and a circulation hole X that pierces the light source substrate 25 or the housing member 22 in a manner such that the outside communicates with the air space S1 enclosed by the side edge face 26b, the substrate surface 25a, the bottom plate 22a, and the outer edge 23d.
US09164219B2	Frontlight unit for reflective displays The frontlight unit is intended for enhancing illumination of a reflective display having pixels arranged in a matrix pattern and using monochromatic laser lights as light sources. The unit contains a network of light-distribution planar ridge waveguides with holograms arranged in a matrix pattern that corresponds to the matrix pattern of the reflective display when it is applied onto this display and emits light in the downward direction in the form of diverging beams that fall onto the pixels of the reflective display and in the upward direction onto mirrors wherefrom light is reflected also in the form of diverging beams onto the reflective display. Thus, all of the light reflected from the holograms of the light-distribution planar ridge waveguides is not lost and is used entirely for illumination of the reflective display. The mirrors occupy no more than 5% of the display surface area.
US09164216B2	Illumination device and display device Provided is an illumination device for obtaining planar light having satisfactory uniformity and suppressed brightness irregularities. A backlight unit (illumination device) (20) comprises a light source and a light-guiding element (23) for guiding light from the light source. The light-guiding element (23) includes prisms (23q) formed in an end area (22b) on the light source side, and prisms (23i) formed in an area (a light-emitting area (22a)) on the side opposite the light source relative to the end area (22b). The prisms (23q) vary the propagation angle of light spreading in a direction intersecting the direction of light entry, more so than the prisms (23i).
US09164212B2	High luminance polarizing plate, method of manufacturing the same, and display using the polarizing plate Provided are a high luminance polarizing plate including a polarizing plate, a λ/2 retardation film having an in-plane retardation value ranging from 250 nm to 280 nm in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 650 nm that is laminated on one side of the polarizing plate, and a brightness enhancement film laminated on the λ/2 retardation film, a method of manufacturing the same, and a display device using the high luminance polarizing plate.
US09164210B2	Optical laminated body, optical laminated body set, and liquid crystal panel using optical laminated body or optical laminated body set There is provided an optical laminate that significantly suppresses the warping of a liquid crystal panel and can realize high contrast. An optical laminate of the present invention includes: a polarizing film having a thickness of 10 μm or less; and a reflective polarization film. A liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; and the optical laminate of the present invention. According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical laminate set is provided. The optical laminate set includes: a first optical laminate that is the optical laminate of the present invention as described above; and a second optical laminate including a polarizing film having a thickness larger than the thickness of the polarizing film of the first optical laminate by 5 μm or more.
US09164205B2	Solar mirror panels and their manufacture A solar mirror panel (10) has a first sheet-like stiffening member (12) having a reflective surface, a second sheet-like stiffening member (18), and a spacer member (16) of resin bonded wood composite located between the first and second members (12, 16).
US09164202B2	Adaptive optical devices with controllable focal power and aspheric shape A fluidic lens may include an optical surface configured for deflection dominated by bending stress. An adjustable concentric load may be applied to the optical surface to cause a clear aperture region of the optical surface to deflect with generally spherical curvature. Adjusting the concentric load controls the radius of curvature. An adjustable uniformly-distributed load may be applied to the optical surface by fluid pressure that causes the clear aperture region to deflect with an aspheric shape. Adjusting the pressure controls the asphericity of curvature. First and second fluids having similar densities and different refractive indexes may be disposed on either side of a deflectable optical surface to help balance gravitational loading on either side of the optical surface, thereby reducing gravity-associated aberrations.
US09164200B2	Optical element and imaging apparatus including the same A lens includes a first optical surface including an optical axis X, and a first cut end surface at an outer circumference of the first optical surface. The first optical surface has a first SWS configured to reduce reflection of light. The first cut end surface has a second SWS configured to reduce reflection of light. A reflectance of the second SWS with respect to light having a predetermined wavelength is higher than the reflectance of the first SWS with respect to the light having the predetermined wavelength.
US09164198B2	Films having switchable reflectivity Compositions, structures and methods that relate to films having switchable reflectivity and anti-reflectivity depending on ambient conditions, such as temperature. A film with switchable reflectivity and anti-reflectivity includes a nanostructured first layer having nanopillars associated with nanowells. A hydrogel occupies at least a portion of the nanowells. As the hydrogel moves from a dehydrated state to a hydrated state, the surface of the film switches from being reflective to being anti-reflective in a repeatable and reversible process.
US09164192B2	Stress and fracture modeling using the principle of superposition Stress and fracture modeling using the principal of superposition is provided. A system simulates linearly independent far field stress models for a subsurface earth volume, computing stress, strain, and displacement values based on superposition of independent stress tensors. Based on the precomputed values, the system generates real-time recovery of paleostress values, or, stress, strain, and displacement parameters for any point in the subsurface volume as the user varies far field stress values. The system recovers one or more tectonic events, or a stress tensor represented by a ratio of principal magnitudes and associated orientation, using fault geometry, well bore data (fracture orientation and secondary fault plane data), GPS, InSAR, folded and faulted horizons, tiltmeters, slip and slikenlines on faults. The system uses different geologic data from seismic interpretation, well bore readings, and field observation to provide numerous results, such as predicted fracture propagation based on perturbed stress field.
US09164189B2	Method for managing a multi-vessel seismic system A method for managing a multi-vessel seismic system including a first vessel, having a recording system and towing a streamer integrating seismic sensors, and a second vessel, including at least one seismic source performing shots. The second vessel sends to the first vessel a plurality of series of shot predictions. For each shot, the second vessels activates the seismic source according to the predictions and sends to the first vessel shot data relating to the shot. The first vessel activates the recording system. If the first vessel has not received the shot data relating to at least one performed shot, it sends a request to the second vessel and receives in response the missing shot data. For each performed shot and the related shot data, the system selects seismic data and combines the selected seismic data with the related shot data to obtain combined data allowing a seabed representation.
US09164188B2	Forming a geological model A method of forming a geological model of a region of the earth includes obtaining seismic data relating to the region, the seismic data including seismic traveltime uncertainty. A seismic velocity model of the region may also be provided and includes velocity uncertainty. Three dimensional positions of a plurality of points of the region can then be determined. The three dimensional positional uncertainties of at least some of the points can be calculated from the traveltime uncertainty and the velocity uncertainty. This can be combined with the positions to form a geological model.
US09164187B2	Electrical energy accumulator The invention is an electric power accumulator used with an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power to drive a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion. The source may also be designed to use electric power to drive the source from location to location through a survey area. A large electric power accumulator is provided to store electric power when the generator is able to produce excess power and the accumulator may deliver power along with the generator to drive the rods and deliver acoustic energy. With a large electric power accumulator, such as a battery or capacitor, the engine and generator combination may be engineered to be somewhat smaller, less costly and more efficient than a system where the engine and generator were sized to provide the electric power at times of maximum electric draw.
US09164181B2	Scintillation crystals having features on a side, radiation detection apparatuses including such scintillation crystals, and processes of forming the same A scintillation crystal capable of emitting scintillation light can have a main body and a feature extending from the main body along a side of the scintillation crystal. The feature can have a dimension that is no greater than 2.5 times a wavelength of the scintillating light. In an embodiment, the feature and the main body can have substantially the same composition, and in a further embodiment the scintillation crystal can be interface free between the feature and the main body. The feature can be formed along the side of the scintillation crystal by removing portions of the scintillation crystal. In particular, the feature can be formed by abrading a surface of the scintillation crystal with an abrasive material.
US09164178B2	Transmitting location information of a beacon According to one embodiment of the present invention, determining the location of a target of interest includes determining a beacon location of the beacon. The beacon location is transmitted to a sensor. The sensor is operable to determine a sensor location of the sensor. The sensor is further operable to determine a target location of the target according to the beacon location and the sensor location. The target location is distinct from the beacon location.
US09164173B2	Laser tracker that uses a fiber-optic coupler and an achromatic launch to align and collimate two wavelengths of light A coordinate measurement device sends a first beam of light having first and second wavelengths to a target point. The device includes a fiber-optic coupler that combines the first and second wavelengths and launches them through an achromatic optical element to produce collimated and aligned light. The device also includes first and second motors, first and second angle measuring devices, a distance meter, and a processor that determines 3D coordinates of the target point based on the measured distance and two angles.
US09164172B2	Compensation for depth finders System and methods for compensating a depth signal for a depth finder of a boat. In one embodiment, a compensation system is implemented between the depth finder and a transducer mounted on the boat. The compensation system receives a depth signal (i.e., a plurality of electrical impulses) from the transducer that directs sound waves toward the bottom of a body of water. The compensation system also monitors a change in elevation of the transducer, such as due to waves rocking the boat. The compensation system then compensates the depth signal based on the change in elevation, and provides the compensated depth signal to the depth finder.
US09164171B2	Method of ultrasonic beamforming and apparatus therefor An ultrasonic beamforming method is provided. The ultrasonic beamforming method includes dividing an input ultrasonic signal into a plurality of regions in an observation space, calculating a weight value for each of the plurality of regions, calculating a pixel weight value for each pixel using the weight value for each region, and calculating a beamforming value using the pixel weight value.
US09164166B1	Display of radar signal detection alerts A device includes a radar signal detector configured to detect a police radar signal and determine a frequency of the police radar signal and a display in communication with the radar signal detector and configured to provide a first display portion associated with a first range of frequencies. In particular, the display is further configured to provide a visual indicator associated with the police radar signal, the visual indicator having a first position within the first display portion which varies based on the frequency of the police radar signal and the visual indicator having a first visual appearance when the frequency is within a predetermined subset of the first range of frequencies and a second visual appearance when the frequency is outside the predetermined subset of the first range of frequencies.
US09164165B2	System and method for providing warning and directives based upon gunfire detection A system and method for providing warnings and directives based upon gunfire detection is described herein. Specifically, gunfire detection system can comprise a memory that stores an application, and a one or more zone plans, wherein said zone plan comprises directives relating to a one or more output devices spanning across a monitored area comprising a one or more zones. The gunfire detection system can further comprise a processor that, at the direction of said application, determines whether gunfire has occurred and a location associated with said gunfire, and implements one of said zone plans based on said location.
US09164164B2	Indoor localization method and system An indoor localization method for estimating the location of nodes (n1, n2), at least one node (n1) being connected to at least another node (n2) by at least two different channels (ch1, ch1′), comprising the following steps: measuring a distance between the connected nodes, for each channel, building a Euclidean Distance Matrix (EDM) based on the measured distances, estimating the location of the nodes (n1, n2) based on the built Euclidean Distance Matrices.
US09164163B2	System and method for estimating terminal position based on non-geostationary communication satellite signals A device is provided for use with a satellite and a receiver having a local oscillator. The satellite is traveling in a vector and transmits a signal having an expected frequency. The receiver receives a received signal having a received signal frequency. The device includes: a Doppler shift measuring portion measuring a Doppler shift Dm; a predetermined Doppler shift storage portion storing a predetermined received Doppler shift Dp; a received signal Doppler shift error calculating portion calculating a received signal Doppler shift error De; a predetermined receiver position storage portion storing a predetermined position Pp of the receiver; and a receiver position estimating portion calculating an estimated receiver position Pe based on the predetermined position Pp of the receiver and the received signal Doppler shift error De.
US09164159B2	Methods for validating radio-frequency test stations A manufacturing system for assembling wireless electronic devices is provided. The manufacturing system may include test stations for testing the radio-frequency performance of components that are to be assembled within the electronic devices. A reference test station may be calibrated using calibration coupons having known radio-frequency characteristics. The calibration coupons may include transmission line structures. The reference test station may measure verification standards to establish baseline measurement data. The verification standards may include circuitry having electrical components with given impedance values. Many verification coupons may be measured to enable testing for a wide range of impedance values. Test stations in the manufacturing system may subsequently measure the verification standards to generate test measurement data. The test measurement data may be compared to the baseline measurement data to characterize the performance of the test stations to ensure consistent test measurements across the test stations.
US09164157B2	Magnetoresistive device and method for manufacturing the same A magnetoresistive device includes a carrier, an xMR-sensor, a magnetic layer formed above an active xMR-region of the xMR-sensor and an insulating layer arranged between the xMR-sensor and the magnetic layer.
US09164156B2	Apparatus having a back-bias magnet and a semiconductor chip element An apparatus may include a back-bias magnet; and a semiconductor chip element; wherein the semiconductor chip element has a sensor for measuring a magnetic field strength; and wherein a contact surface is formed on a contact side of the back-bias magnet and on a contact side of the semiconductor chip element and wherein the contact side of the semiconductor chip element has one or more structures such that the contact surface of the back-bias magnet is shaped in a manner corresponding to the structures of the semiconductor chip element.
US09164155B2	Systems and methods for offset reduction in sensor devices and systems Embodiments relate to systems and methods for reducing errors in sensor devices and systems. In embodiments, the sensor devices comprise magnetic field sensor devices, such as ordinary or vertical Hall sensor devices, and the error to be reduced is a residual offset error, though in other embodiments other sensor devices can be used and/or other types of errors can be targeted for reduction or elimination. In one embodiment, at least two such sensor devices not electrically coupled with one another are sequentially operated in a spinning current-type mode such that an individual output signal from each of the at least two sensor devices is obtained. A total output signal can then be calculated, such as by averaging or otherwise combining the individual output signals from each sensor device.
US09164152B2	Ultra low startup current power detection apparatus A power detection apparatus is provided. The power detection apparatus includes a first current processing circuit and a second current processing circuit. The first current processing circuit is configured to provide a dynamic bias voltage at a bias terminal in response to a variation of a system power. The second current processing circuit is coupled to the first current processing circuit and is biased under the dynamic bias voltage for outputting a power good signal at an output terminal to represent that the system power is ready when the dynamic bias voltage is greater than a threshold voltage.
US09164148B2	Systems and methods for detecting over/under excitation faults System, methods, and computer-readable storage media that may be used to detect excitation faults for electrical devices, such as generators and/or condensers, connected in a parallel configuration are provided. A method includes determining a change in a terminal voltage of one of the electrical devices with respect to a steady state terminal voltage. The method further includes determining a change in a reactive power of the electrical device with respect to a steady state reactive power. The method further includes determining whether an excitation fault condition exists based on the determined changes in terminal voltage and reactive power.
US09164141B2	Gel probe photocurrent measurement device and methods of use thereof Apparatus and methods of use thereof for the measurement of photocurrents are provided. More specifically, methods for measuring the external quantum efficiency of a sample are provided wherein the method comprises contacting a sample with an electrolyte gel; contacting the electrolyte gel with a probe; directing light on the sample through the probe; measuring the resultant photocurrent; and determining the external quantum efficiency based on the light input power and the measured photocurrent.
US09164139B2	Memory device and memory system including the same A memory device includes a memory cell array and a data input/output circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of word lines. The data input/output circuit is configured to receive data from external data pins of the memory device, output the received data to the memory cell array through a plurality of input/output lines electrically coupled to the plurality of bit lines, receive data read from the memory cell array through the plurality of input/output lines, and output the read data through the external data pins. For each external data pin, the data input/output circuit is configured to output data received at the external data pin to a corresponding input/output line. The corresponding input/output line is selected in response to bit values of a set of bits included in the received data.
US09164125B2	Vehicle door handle apparatus A vehicle door handle apparatus is provided with a handle main body formed by coupling a first cover and a second cover and a capacitance sensor accommodated in a hollow space in the handle main body. One of the first cover and the second cover is formed with an accommodation recess defined by partition walls. The capacitance sensor is accommodated in the accommodation recess and fixed by a potting agent.
US09164122B2	Dual output accelerometer system There is disclosed a dual output compressive mode accelerometer having first and second output channels, comprising: a supporting base; first and second transducers mounted on the supporting base adjacent to one another, each transducer comprising a piezoelectric element and a seismic mass, the piezoelectric element positioned between the supporting base and the seismic mass; and a rigid mechanical coupling between the first and second transducers, the rigid mechanical coupling coupled to both of the first and second transducers above the supporting base.
US09164121B2	Motion sensing Technologies are generally described for detecting acceleration by sensing a movement of a liquid contained in at least one liquid flow path arranged in a film-type material. An example device may be configured to detect acceleration based at least in part on an output signal from at least one strain sensor formed on at least one surface of a film layer. The film layer may include at least one liquid flow path containing a liquid and arranged in the film layer. The strain sensor may be formed on the at least one surface of the film layer in the vicinity of the least one liquid flow path, and may be configured to detect deformation on the at least one surface of the film layer.
US09164114B2	Supply unit for continuous loading The present invention relates to a system and method for continuous loading of consumables into an analyzer comprising a stacker unit which can be uncoupled from the transport system for transporting the consumables from the stacker to the analytical modules and within and/or between the analytical modules.
US09164113B2	Methods, systems, and apparatus adapted to transfer sample containers A method adapted to transfer a sample container such as a capped sample tube is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes gripping a sample tube body with a first gripper pair and a cap with a second gripper pair of a gripper apparatus. In another aspect, a seating member may contact the cap to aid in the positioning of the sample container. Apparatus and systems for carrying out the method are provided, as are other aspects.
US09164112B2	Automatic analyzer A display is provided for an automatic analyzer to display statistics such as measurement results. A width of a display in a window that displays statistics may be adjusted and the amount of information to be displayed on the display is changed according to a level of detail of the information which the operator wants to confirm. Sample information, measurement results, and detailed information related to the measurement results are simultaneously displayed without a subwindow being displayed in overlapped form in the limited display area.
US09164110B2	Sample processing apparatus and method for controlling a sample processing apparatus using a computer A sample processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sample processing section configured to perform a process on a sample; and a controller configured to execute an order defining a process to be performed on a sample and to cause the sample processing section to perform the process on the sample according to the order. When the controller receives an instruction to perform a shutdown operation, the controller performs the following operations comprising: prohibiting the execution of the shutdown operation if an unexecuted order remains; and causing the sample processing section to perform the shutdown operation if there is no unexecuted order.
US09164108B2	Liposome-based microarray and methods of use thereof This invention provides novel liposome-based articles of manufacture and microarrays and methods of making and using them (1) to detect the presence of one or more agents in a sample, (2) to determine the amount of one or more agents in a sample, and (3) to determine whether a subject is afflicted with a disorder. This invention also provides kits which comprise the instant microarrays.
US09164106B2	Determination of decreased metabolism of tryptophan in diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders Methods for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders are described. Methods include culturing a cell sample of a test subject with a tryptophan-containing energy source and examining the culture to determine the ability of the cells of the test subject to properly metabolize tryptophan. A determination that a subject does not properly metabolize tryptophan is an indication that the subject may be afflicted with autism. Methods can be utilized as a quick and reliable diagnostic tool for autism spectrum disorders and may provide a unifying model for the genetic heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorders.
US09164105B2	Pancreatic cancer biomarker using the characteristics of pancreatic cancer stem cells, and use thereof The present invention relates to a novel molecular marker for pancreatic cancer stem cells and pancreatic cancer, to a marker detection method, and to a screening method. The present invention is a marker discovered from the cell lines of pancreatic cancer, wherein the marker may detect pancreatic cancer, in particular early pancreatic cancer, through the detection of a pancreatic cancer stem cell marker. In addition, the marker of the present invention may enable an accurate diagnosis and prognosis analysis of pancreatic cancer.
US09164104B2	Relevance of achieved levels of markers of systemic inflammation following treatment The invention involves, inter alia, the use of markers of systemic inflammation to determine whether or not an individual undergoing treatment with a cardiovascular agent to reduce the risk of a future cardiovascular event will benefit from continued treatment with the cardiovascular agent. Further, this invention describes the use of markers of systemic inflammation to evaluate the efficacy of treatment and to assist physicians in deciding on the course of a treatment in an individual at risk of future cardiovascular events.
US09164103B2	Monitoring and inhibiting human immunodeficiency virus infection by modulating HMGB1 dependent triggering of HIV-1 replication and persistence Compositions and methods for modulating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection involving substances that inhibit the ability of high mobility box 1 (HMGB1) protein to interact with natural killer (NK) cells. Therapeutic compositions comprising antibodies and drugs, such as glycyrrhizin, which bind to HMGB1. Methods of detecting or monitoring HIV infection involving detection or quantitation of HMGB1 or antibodies specific for HMGB1 in a biological sample.
US09164099B2	Site-specific labeling of affinity tags in fusion proteins The present invention provides methods and fluorescent compounds that facilitate detecting and labeling of a fusion protein by being capable of selectively binding to an affinity tag. The fluorescent compounds have the general formula A(B)n, wherein A is a fluorophore, B is a binding domain that is a charged chemical moiety, a protein or fragment thereof and n is an integer from 1-6 with the proviso that the protein or fragment thereof not be an antibody or generated from an antibody. The present invention provides specific fluorescent compounds and methods used to detect and label fusion proteins that contain a poly-histidine affinity tag. These compounds have the general formula A(L)m(B)n wherein A is a fluorophore, L is a linker, B is an acetic acid binding domain, m is an integer from 1 to 4 and n is an integer from 1 to 6. The acetic acid groups interact directly with the positively charged histidine residues of the affinity tag to effectively label and detect a fusion protein containing such an affinity tag when present in an acidic or neutral environment.
US09164092B2	Detection of intraamniotic infection The present invention concerns the identification of biomarkers and groups or combinations of biomarkers that can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of intra-amniotic infection, and diagnostic assays using such biomarkers.
US09164077B2	Biological detection device and method utilizing LCPCF film for testing liquid form samples containing triglyceride/HDL disposed thereon The present invention discloses a biological detection device and a detecting method. The biological detection device comprises a substrate, an electric field unit, a liquid crystal/polymer composite film (LCPCF), a power supply, a processing unit, and an image sensor. Because of the electrically tunable orientations of the liquid crystal (LC) director anchored among the polymer grains, the wettability of the LCPCF changes with an applied electric field. As a result, we can manipulate a blood droplet on the LCPCF by a wettability gradient owing to the distribution of LC directors on the LCPCF. The motion states of the blood droplet can be related to the various qualities of the blood, and finally determines the health of the test sample. The change of contact angle of blood on LCPCF and the blood droplet motion on LCPCF indicate the concentration of TG and the concentration of HDL.
US09164074B2	Fibre cloth inspecting method The invention provides a fiber cloth inspecting method for inspecting a fiber cloth regarding sparse density, filament break, various kinds of mark, fabric runs, break, weaving validation, and dyeing uniformity. The method includes following steps: scanning the fiber cloth by a scanning light beam; retrieving a light pattern generated by the scanning; generating an inspecting result information according to the light pattern in relation to the fiber cloth; and analyzing the fiber cloth regarding sparse density, filament break, various kinds of mark, fabric runs, break, weaving validation, and dyeing uniformity according to the inspecting result information.
US09164073B1	Multi-functional, discrete determination of concentrations of gases in a gaseous mixture Method and device for detection and quantitative and qualitative analysis of components in a gaseous mixture distinguished by high selectivity and high resolution. Method allows to distinguish the influence of individual gases, by themselves or in a mixture, on the microstructure of a sensor's sensitive layer and utilizing the variations of measured parameters to analyze and derive the characteristics of gases, for example, the concentration of a gas or multiple gases in a mixture. As an example, the method could be utilized in medicine for non-invasive detection of the blood glucose level in diabetics. Device realizing the method is described.
US09164069B2	Potentiometric titration method of a mixed acid solution The present invention provides a potentiometric titration method of calculating a content of each acid in a mixed acid solution. The potentiometric titration method includes steps as follows. Step 1, an alkali-alcohol solution of a concentration in 0.1˜0.2 mol/L is prepared and titrated with a basis reagent. Step 2, a first solvent and a second solvent are added into and stirred with a mixed acid solution consisted of nitric acid, phosphoric acid and acetic acid to form a mixed system, and the mixed system is titrated with the alkali-alcohol solution to obtain three equivalence points of the nitric acid, phosphoric acid and acetic acid in the mixed system. Step 3, a concentration of each acid in the mixed system is measured with the three equivalence points obtained in Step 2. According to the present invention, the content of each acid in the mixed acid solution can be rapidly and precisely measured.
US09164068B2	Thin layer chromatography plates and related methods In an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a thin layer chromatography (“TLC”) plate is disclosed. The method includes forming a layer of elongated nanostructures (e.g., carbon nanotubes), and at least partially coating the elongated nanostructures with a coating. The coating includes a stationary phase and/or precursor of a stationary phase for use in chromatography. At least a portion of the elongated nanostructures may be removed after being coated. Embodiments for TLC plates and related methods are also disclosed.
US09164066B1	Laser ultrasound array system A method and apparatus comprises a sensor structure, a first array of optical fibers, and a second array of optical fibers. The first array of optical fibers is associated with the sensor structure. The first array of optical fibers is configured to transmit a pattern of light towards a test object and the pattern of light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of light encounters the test object. The second array of optical fibers is associated with the sensor structure. The second array of optical fibers is configured to detect a response to the sound waves.
US09164065B2	Automated fault localization in pipelines and electrical power transmission lines Methods and apparatus for determining an estimated physical location of a fault in a pipeline or electrical transmission line using localization devices coupled thereto. In an embodiment, a first and second localization device each generate time values representing times when the respective localization device detected the fault. The estimated fault location is calculated, by one of the localization devices or a separate computing device, based upon the reported time values. In some embodiments, the calculation is further based upon characteristics of the pipeline or electrical transmission line, or based upon characteristics of matter transported through the pipeline. In some embodiments, the localization devices transmit time or sequence values to the other device, and the values received by the devices just before the detection of the fault may additionally be utilized to calculate the estimated physical location of the fault.
US09164063B2	Sensing device, sensing system, and sensing method A sensing device is to be connected to a piezoelectric resonator for sensing a target substance in a sample fluid based on oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric resonator. The sensing device includes an oscillator circuit, a voltage supply unit, an information obtaining unit, and a voltage adjusting unit. The oscillator circuit is commonalized for a plurality kinds of piezoelectric resonators. The voltage supply unit is configured to supply a DC drive voltage to the oscillator circuit. The information obtaining unit is configured to obtain type information of a piezoelectric resonator which is connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage adjusting unit is configured to adjust the DC drive voltage to a voltage corresponding to the connected piezoelectric resonator based on the type information obtained by the information obtaining unit.
US09164060B2	Reducing interferences in isobaric tag-based quantification Methods and systems for performing mass spectrometry of analytes labeled with isobaric tags are provided herein. In accordance with various aspects of the applicants' teachings, the methods and systems can enable enhanced discrimination between an analyte of interest and one or more interfering species when using isobaric tagging techniques.
US09164059B2	Ion mobility spectrometer with device for generating ammonia gas The present invention relates to ion mobility spectrometry, in particular to methods and devices for generating and delivering of ammonia gas as dopant into the ionization region of an ion mobility spectrometer. It provides an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) with an ion source and device for generating ammonia gas, wherein the device comprises a dopant reservoir filled with alkali metal nitride or alkaline earth metal nitride, preferably lithium nitride and/or magnesium nitride, said reservoir being fluidly coupled to the ion source and to a water reservoir.
US09164047B2	Apparatus and method for supporting a liquid sample for measuring scattering of electromagnetic radiation An apparatus for supporting a liquid sample for measuring an intensity of X-ray radiation scattered by the liquid sample is configured such as to allow the X-ray radiation to impinge along a first direction (117, 217, 317, 417, 517, 617) through the first support member onto the liquid sample and to leave the liquid sample through the second member along a second direction (119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 619) different from the first direction to be detected by a detector. Further, a system for measuring an intensity of X-ray radiation scattered by a liquid sample and corresponding methods are provided.
US09164046B2	Method for a three-dimensional representation of a moving structure The invention relates to a method for three-dimensional representation of a moving structure by a tomographical method. Projection images are recorded by an image recording unit during a rotational run from recording angles between a start angle and an end angle, with a three-dimensional image data reconstructed from the projection images, with a first perfusion measurement with a first contrast agent injection and a first rotational run and with a further perfusion measurement with a further contrast agent injection and a further rotational run, which is started after the preceding perfusion measurement has concluded, with the start time and/or the start angle of the additional rotational run deviating from one another in respect of the time of the contrast agent injection. The method enables a functional three-dimensional time-resolved imaging of perfusion processes with the aid of flexible C-arm x-ray devices, which allow a functional imaging in an interventional environment.
US09164045B2	Phase imaging A method of phase imaging uses X-ray beams having edges overlapping with pixels. A phase image may be obtained from first and second images using one or more X-ray beam, the first image being measured with the first edge but not the second edge of each X-ray beam overlapping the corresponding pixel(s) and the second image being measured with the second edge but not the first edge overlapping the corresponding pixel(s). The gradient of the X-ray absorption function may be calculated and a proportional term included in the image processing to calculate a quantitative phase image.
US09164044B2	Charged particle beam lithography apparatus, inspection apparatus and inspection method of pattern writing data An inspection method of pattern writing data includes creating an area map of a figure pattern written on a target object for each modulation rate for modulating a dose by using modulation rate data to modulate the dose in a case that a plurality of figure patterns is written on the target object by using a charged particle beam, and layout data in which the plurality of figure patterns is defined; converting the layout data into pattern writing data to be input into a lithography apparatus; and inspecting an amount of electric charge for each predetermined region by using the area map when a pattern is written on the target object by using the pattern writing data.
US09164041B2	Co-topo-polymeric compositions, devices and systems for controlling threshold and delay activation sensitivities Co-topo-polymeric indicator compositions and methods for making and using the same are provided. Indicator compositions of the invention include a polymer and undergo a color change, which may be reversible or irreversible, in response to an applied stimulus, e.g., temperature. Aspects of methods of producing the compositions include setting a fluid co-topo-polymeric precursor composition into a solid product and then subjecting the solid product (either immediately or after a delay period) to polymerizing conditions to produce the desired indicator composition. Also provided are indicator devices that include the indicator compositions of the invention. The compositions of the invention find use in a variety of different applications.
US09164039B2	Method of calibrating and correcting color-bleed factors for color separation in DNA analysis A method includes calibrating color bleed factors of optical detector channels of a sample processing apparatus through processing a color bleed calibration substance which includes a plurality of different size fragments replicated from different groups of DNA loci, wherein fragments in a same group are labeled with a same fluorescent dye, and fragments in different groups are labeled with different fluorescent dyes having different emission spectra, wherein the different size fragments are processed during different acquisition times.
US09164038B2	Fluorescence light detection device and fluorescence light detection method A fluorescence light detection device includes an excitation light fiber having an excitation light emitting end configured to emit excitation light; a fluorescence light fiber having a fluorescence light incident end on which fluorescence light is incident; an objective lens arranged between where the excitation light emitting end and the fluorescence light incident end are located, and a sample; and a reflective member arranged between where the excitation light emitting end and the fluorescence light incident end are located, and the objective lens, and having two reflective surfaces facing in opposite directions. The two reflective surfaces of the reflective member are positioned between an optical axis of the excitation light fiber and an optical axis of the fluorescence light fiber.
US09164035B2	Distributive transmissometer A distributive transmissometer, comprising a series of light sources that illuminate and map out a volume of space to be sampled to a one-dimensional space, a light detector, the one-dimensional space being mapped to the light detector such that spatial dust density distribution of the volume to be sampled can be determined; and, a lens for focusing light emitted by the light sources toward the light detector.
US09164034B2	Device and method for optical localized plasmon sensing A device is presented comprising a multi-layer structure with a plurality of metal islands on the surface of a solid transparent substrate. The islands are coated by an ultrathin sol-gel derived silica film via self-assembled monolayer.
US09164032B2	Short-wave infrared super-continuum lasers for detecting counterfeit or illicit drugs and pharmaceutical process control A system and method for using near-infrared or short-wave infrared (SWIR) light sources for identification of counterfeit drugs may perform spectroscopy using a super-continuum laser to provide detection in a non-contact and non-destructive manner at stand-off or remote distances with minimal sample preparation. Also, near-infrared or SWIR light may penetrate through plastic containers and packaging, permitting on-line inspection and rapid scanning. The near-infrared or SWIR spectroscopy may also be used to detect illicit drugs and their chemical composition. Moreover, the spectroscopic techniques may also be applied to quality assessment and control in pharmaceutical manufacturing, thus permitting the implementation of smart manufacturing with feedback control. Fiber super-continuum lasers may emit light in the near-infrared or SWIR between approximately 1.4-1.8 microns, 2-2.5 microns, 1.4-2.4 microns, 1-1.8 microns. In particular embodiments, the detection system may be a dispersive spectrometer, a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, or a hyper-spectral imaging detector or camera.
US09164031B2	Measurement apparatus and method, tomography apparatus and method An apparatus configured to obtain a physical property of an object by time-domain spectroscopy includes: a detection unit; a delay unit configured to adjust a time difference between generation and detection; a shaping unit configured to collect the electromagnetic wave pulses; a waveform obtaining unit configured to construct a time waveform of the electromagnetic wave pulses; and a collecting position adjusting unit configured to adjust a collecting position. When the collecting position is moved, an amount of adjustment when the collecting position matches first and second reflection portions, respectively, of the object, and a difference by the delay unit required for detecting first and second pulses of the time waveform are obtained, and from an amount of change of the amount of adjustment and the difference, a thickness and a refractive index of a region between the first and second reflection portions of the object are calculated.
US09164027B2	Frequency tunable laser system There is provided a frequency tunable laser system comprising a laser, frequency varying means arranged for varying an optical frequency output of the laser, an intensity sensor arranged for receiving light from the laser, and a processor arranged for controlling the frequency varying means for varying the optical frequency output of the laser and receiving an intensity signal from the intensity sensor for monitoring the intensity output of the laser. The frequency tunable laser system further comprises an external reflective surface, in use, fixedly arranged in a light path of the laser beam outside the laser cavity at a predefined distance from the second reflective surface along the light path of the laser beam to reflect part of the emitted laser beam back into the laser cavity. The processor is further arranged for processing the intensity signal and registering oscillations of the intensity output caused by interference of the reflected part of the laser beam in the cavity and responsive to a change in optical frequency and calculating the change in optical frequency output from the registered oscillations of the intensity output and predefined distance.
US09164023B2	Cell sorting apparatus, cell sorting chip and cell sorting method A cell sorting apparatus includes a flow channel through which fluid including cells flows, an electric-field application section capable of applying an electric field having a gradient in a direction different from the flowing direction of the fluid at a first position on the flow channel in accordance with a cell sorting signal requesting an operation to sort the cells, and a flow splitting section configured to split the cells changing their flowing directions due to a dielectrophoretic force caused by application of the electric field at a second position on the downstream side of the first position on the flow channel.
US09164019B2	System and method for automated dilution and delivery of liquid samples to an optical particle counter A system for the automated dilution and delivery of mixtures of diluent and liquid samples to a particle counter comprises a container positioning member for receiving and retaining congruent sample containers with a volume of liquid sample therein. An automated diluent pumping mechanism draws a respective volume of a diluent from a diluent source and introduces the diluent into the each sample container for mixing with the unknown volume of liquid sample within each sample container to together form a mixture that is substantially equal to a pre-determined threshold volume. A mixer agitates the mixture in the sample containers. An automated mixture pumping mechanism sequentially draws a respective volume of mixture from the sample containers and delivers the drawn volume of the mixture to the optical particle counter for testing.
US09164018B2	Method for prediction of inhibition durability index of shale inhibitors and inhibitive drilling mud systems Embodiments of a method used for determination of inhibition durability index (IDI) of an inhibitive mud system can include multiple stages, with each stage including specific steps. The first stage can include a dispersion test that evaluates the inhibition effects of a stability inhibitor after exposing the test material to the inhibitor. The second stage can include a durability inhibition assessment, which includes assessing the longevity of the effect of the inhibitor. A third stage can be used to graph or otherwise evaluate the results of the second stage or the first and second stages.
US09164016B2	Device for sampling and vaporizing liquefied natural gas The device for sampling and vaporizing liquefied natural gas includes a circuit provided at one end with a device for collecting a sample of liquefied gas and conveying the sample to a measurement device. The circuit includes and passes through a device for vaporizing the sample. The device for vaporizing includes at least one vaporization chamber having a first convergent section portion and a second divergent section portion and shaped so as to vaporize the sample under supercritical conditions at a pressure of greater than 80 bar without fractionating. The vaporization chamber includes, at the entrance of the first convergent section portion, a port with a variable opening. The port is sized so as to limit the vaporization pressure to a maximum of 90 bar in conjunction with a fixed opening at the outlet of the second divergent section portion.
US09164013B2	Reagent delivery system, dispensing device and container for a biological staining apparatus The invention concerns reagent delivery system for an apparatus for processing of biological samples arranged on microscope slides, comprising a reagent section having one or more reagent containers; a slide section in which at least one microscope slide is arranged; a probe for dispensing a portion of reagent onto a predetermined microscope slide, and means for handling the probe. The probe comprises a continuous prove tubing element extending through a rigid probe member and connecting the probe tip to a pneumatic pressure regulation device. The reagent containers are adapted for cooperation with the probe tip. In this manner a high though-put and a very low carry over of fluid residues is achieved since there is no assembled parts making up the inside volume of the probe in which the fluid may be retained.
US09164008B2	Pressure detector The present invention relates to a pressure detector. In a body that constitutes part of the pressure detector, a through hole is formed, which is directed upwardly from a substantially central portion of a flow passage through which a pressure fluid flows. The through hole communicates with a sensor chamber in which a pressure sensor is disposed, and a rod-shaped member is disposed displaceably in the through hole. In addition, an end of the rod-shaped member, which is exposed to the flow passage, is pressed by the pressure fluid and displaced upwardly thereby, and pressure is detected as a result of the pressure sensor being pressed by a head of the rod-shaped member.
US09164003B2	Force sensor with mechanical over-force transfer mechanism A force sensor system includes a housing assembly, a sensor, an actuator, and an actuator travel stop. The sensor is disposed within the housing assembly, and is configured to generate a sensor signal representative of a force supplied to the sensor. The actuator is disposed at least partially within, and is movable relative to, the housing assembly. The actuator extends from the housing assembly and is adapted to receive an input force. The actuator is configured, upon receipt of the input force, to move toward, and transfer the input force to, the sensor. The actuator travel stop is disposed within the housing assembly, and between the housing assembly and a portion of the actuator. The actuator travel stop is configured to be selectively engaged by the actuator and, upon engagement by the actuator, to limit movement of the actuator toward, and the input force transferred to, the sensor.
US09164000B2	Non-invasive core temperature sensor A core temperature sensor and a method of using such a sensor to non-invasively measure a temperature of a core thermal compartment of a human body or other mammals. A heater of the core temperature sensor heats a peripheral area to a temperature greater than the core temperature. A skin temperature sensor of the core temperature sensor monitors a cooling of the peripheral area to determine the core temperature.
US09163994B2	Electronic mirror and method for displaying image using the same An electronic mirror and a method for displaying an image using the electronic mirror are provided. The electronic mirror may include a display unit, a detecting unit and a control unit. The detecting unit may receive a signal transmitted from the outside. The control unit may control the detecting unit and the display unit to display the signal received at the detecting unit on the display unit as an image. The image displayed on the display unit may be output from the electronic mirror through the detecting unit. The electronic mirror may further include a reflecting unit. A light from the outside may pass through the detecting unit and the display unit and then be reflected on the reflecting unit. The reflected light may be output from the electronic mirror through the display unit and the detecting unit.
US09163990B2	Color measuring device calibration In a calibrating method for a filter color measuring device that includes at least three color channels, a calibration matrix for transforming output signals of the color channels into tristimulus color values is formed. The calibration is performed spectrally, wherein the spectral sensitivities of the color channels of the color measuring device and the spectral emission properties of typical light sources are measured and stored, and the calibration matrix is calculated from the spectral sensitivities and the spectral emission properties of the light sources and the spectral evaluation functions of the standard observer, e.g., according to CIE 1931.
US09163986B2	Method and system for enhancing spectrometer function A method and system for enhancing spectrometer function may include initially exposing an array of photosensors of the spectrometer to spectral radiation and recording a first data set of photosensor counts within a predetermined measurement range; making a plurality of successive exposures of the photosensors to the radiation, and for each, progressively increasing an intensity of the radiation from the previous exposure, recording counts from the photosensors within the predetermined measurement range, disregarding counts from photosensors that already have recorded counts within the measurement range from a previous exposure to the radiation to make a data set of measured counts, and rescaling the data set of measured counts to adjust for the increasing an intensity of the spectral radiation to form a rescaled data set; and stitching together the first data set and each rescaled data set of measured counts to form a resultant data set of spectral irradiance.
US09163981B2	Ambient light based gesture detection A gesture sensing device includes one or more sensors and a processor for processing sensed voltages output from the sensors based on ambient light and/or reflected light received by the sensors. The processor determines an ambient light level and/or a distance between the target and the sensors such that, if the ambient light level exceeds an ambient light threshold and/or the distance is less than a distance threshold, the processor determines the motion of a target relative to the sensors based on the ambient light instead of the reflected light.
US09163980B2	Light output calibration in an optoacoustic system An optoacoustic system includes first and second light sources capable of generating pulse of light at first and second wavelengths, optical output control, first and second light sync detectors, and a combiner. A power meter that is calibrated to determine power at the first and second predominant wavelength measures power at the first wavelength after the first light sync is detected and measures power at the second wavelength after the second light sync is detected. The system includes a calibration mode wherein it reduces optical output of the first light source when the power measured by the power meter at the first wavelength after the first light sync is detected is above a first level, and reduces optical output of the second light source when the power measured by the power meter at the second wavelength after the second light sync is detected is above a second level.
US09163978B2	Purge-bin weighing scale Apparatus and methods for a self-service device (“SSD”) purge-bin weighing scale are provided. The SSD may include a dispenser. The dispenser may disburse one or more tangible items to a customer. The dispenser may retract at least one of the tangible items disbursed to the customer. The SSD may include a purge-bin. The purge-bin may hold at least one tangible item. The purge-bin may hold the tangible item after the tangible item is retracted by the dispenser. The SSD may include a scale. The scale may measure a weight. The weight may be the weight of at least one tangible item. The scale may measure the weight after the tangible item is retracted by the dispenser. The scale may measure the weight of the tangible item prior to a transfer of the tangible item to the purge-bin.
US09163975B2	System and method for monitoring the remaining capacity and operational state of multiple shred bins The bins are situated in locations at one or more sites. A monitoring station located remotely from the bins is operably connected to each of the bins. Each bin includes an internal compartment having a given capacity for retaining paper to be shredded. An IR-LED distance measuring sensor is mounted within each bin for generating an output which is a function of the level of paper present in the compartment. The bin electronics monitors the status of the sensor and the power input to the bin. Signals are transmitted the monitoring station when the output of the sensor indicates that bin is filled to a pre-set percentage of its capacity and when a sensor or power failure are detected. At the monitoring station, information as to the remaining capacity and operational state of each bin is displayed and stored.
US09163972B2	Apparatus and method for reducing cross-talk between capacitive sensors An apparatus and method is provided to reduce cross-talk between multiple capacitive sensors used in an electronic toilet and between multiple capacitive sensors used in an electronic faucet and an electronic soap dispenser.
US09163968B2	Magnetic flowmeter with drive signal diagnostics A magnetic flowmeter includes a flowtube arranged to receive a flow of process fluid. A coil is positioned proximate the flowtube and arranged to apply a magnetic field to the process fluid in response to a drive current alternating direction. First and second electrodes are arranged to sense a voltage potential in the process fluid in response to the applied magnetic field. The voltage potential is indicative of flow rate of process fluid through the flowtube. A sensor is coupled to the first and second current paths which has a sensor output related to the drive current. Diagnostic circuitry provides a diagnostic output as a function of a transient change in the sensor output when current flowing through the coil alternates direction.
US09163966B2	Measuring device for determining the volumetric flow rate of glue in a gluing device A measuring apparatus (10) for determining the volume flow of glue in a gluing device (100) for an apparatus, particularly a bottoming device or a tubing machine, for manufacturing bags or semifinished bag products. The measuring apparatus (10) comprises a pressure accumulator (20) having a gas volume (22) and a glue volume (24) that is separated from the gas volume (22) by a pressure equalization element (26), particularly a flexible membrane, wherein the glue volume (24) as a glue port (28) for connection to a glue line (110) of the gluing device (100), and the pressure accumulator (20) comprises a pressure sensor (30) for determining the internal pressure inside the pressure accumulator (20).
US09163965B2	Microflowmeter and method for making same A flowmeter includes a first chamber and a second chamber connected through a channel. The first chamber is provided with a first deformable membrane and with first and second gauges. The second chamber is provided with a second deformable membrane and with third and fourth gauges. The four gauges form a Wheatstone bridge.
US09163964B2	Device for detecting at least one flow characteristic of a fluid medium A device for detecting at least one flow characteristic of a fluid medium, in particular for detecting an air mass flow in the intake air of a motor vehicle, includes at least one flow channel, through which the fluid medium may flow, and at least one sensor element, which is situated in the flow channel, for detecting the flow characteristic. The sensor element has at least one heating element. The device includes at least one bidirectional electrical interface. The device is configured to receive information and transmit information via the bidirectional electrical interface.
US09163963B2	Augmented mesh delivery system A method is disclosed including receiving with a controller at a destination node signal samples and associated sampling time indications. The signal samples and the associated sampling time indications are received from a source node via a mesh network. The signal samples are delivered with sampling time indications generated at the source node to form a series of signals corresponding to one or more characteristic(s) related to electricity supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source. The method also includes applying a time domain convolution procedure to the received signal in the time domain that is uniformly sampled. The weighting of sample values in time domain convolution procedure is determined at least partially based on information indicative of the statistical behavior of a corresponding realized sample process.
US09163962B2	Methods and systems for providing sensor data using a sensor web A system and method for providing sensor data may comprise receiving a request for sensor data, the request including a triggering parameter. Furthermore, the system and method for providing sensor data may comprise searching for information identifying devices that meet the triggering parameter. Devices are selected from a plurality of item tracking devices, where the plurality of item tracking devices correspond to a plurality of items. Moreover, the system and method for providing sensor data may retrieve the requested sensor data that corresponds to the devices that meet the triggering parameter, and return the requested sensor data.
US09163961B2	Disposable ophthalmic/medical apparatus with timed color change indication A disposable ophthalmic or medical apparatus has a portion with a color changeable dye disposed thereon. The dye changes color after being exposed to oxygen for a controlled and predetermined period of time indicating that the apparatus should no longer be used.
US09163959B2	Position detecting device using reflection type photosensor A position detecting device using a reflection type photosensor, comprising a reflector fitted to a moving target and having reflecting portions and non-reflecting portions arranged alternately in a moving direction of the moving target, a reflection type photosensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element with plural light receiving portions, and an operation unit for calculating a value indicating the position of the moving target. The light receiving element comprises the first and second light receiving portions outputting signals having different phases, the second light receiving portion is divided into two regions provided at far and near sides from the light emitting element about the first light receiving portion, and the operation unit calculates the value using the one signal calculated from the output signals from the two regions and the output signal from the first light receiving portion.
US09163957B2	Position sensor A position sensor for a transmission mode selector lever includes a magnet and three magnetic flux detection elements that detect magnetic flux of the magnet. A determination circuit determines an operation position of the transmission mode selector lever based on output levels of detection signals generated by the magnetic flux detection elements. The magnet includes first and second magnetized regions. The first and second magnetized regions are formed so that when the magnet is moved relative to the magnetic flux detection elements along a straight line, output levels of the detection signals generated by the magnetic flux detection elements change in accordance with a proportional relationship having a first or second gradient relative to the distance of the movement. The three detection elements are spaced apart from each other on a straight line that is parallel to the first and second straight lines.
US09163951B2	Optional re-routing Disclosed herein are tools and techniques for providing optional re-routing. In one exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, a determination is made that a location of a computing device is not on a predetermined route between a start location and an end location. Based on the determining, a re-route option is provided. Also, while the re-route option is available, a determination is made that a subsequent location of the computing device is on the predetermined route, or a re-route is performed responsive to receiving a touch-anywhere input event on a touchscreen display.
US09163948B2	Position accuracy testing system Accuracy of a positioning device may be determined without requiring the device to be at any specific location, such as a test location. Instead of comparing the reported location and directional data to a known location and directional data, the present technology may use multiple discrete location and directional reports for comparison with the reported data at multiple locations. The multiple comparisons are used to assess the relative accuracy of the positional telematics system. The reported location may be a GPS location or from another positioning system.
US09163944B2	System and method for displaying three dimensional views of points of interest The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying 3 dimensional (3D) view of points of interest (POI) on a moving map, said method comprises storing in a first database, information relating to a flight path of an aircraft and storing in a second database, at least one 3D model of the at least one or more POI, said model associated with one or more 3D views of the related POI. The method further comprises mapping the location of the at least one or more POI stored on second database with the location of the aircraft and retrieving the 3D model, associated 3D views and related information of said 3D model based on the mapped location. Further, integrating the retrieved 3D views and related information of said 3D model with the moving map on the mapped location and displaying the 3D views of POI on the moving map.
US09163937B2	Three-dimensional measurement method based on wavelet transform A new three-dimensional measurement method based on wavelet transform to solve the phase distribution of a fringe pattern accurately and obtain three-dimensional profile information of a measured object from phase distribution. The method includes: projecting a monochrome sinusoidal fringe pattern onto the object; performing wavelet transform for the deformed fringe pattern acquired with CCD line by line, solving the relative phase distribution by detecting the wavelet ridge line, recording the wavelet transform scale factors at the line, and creating a quality map; dividing the relative phase distribution into two parts according to the map, and performing direct-phase unwrapping for the part with better reliability using a scan line based algorithm, and unwrapping the part with lower reliability using a flood algorithm under the guide of the quality map, to obtain the absolute phase distribution of the fringe pattern; obtaining the three dimensional information using a phase-height conversion.
US09163933B1	Wearable head tracking system The present invention includes a system for removing drift from a head-worn gyro, which utilizes forward and rearward looking IR sensors, which are used to determine if gyro output signals, which indicate downward or upward rotation of the head, are correct.
US09163932B2	Measuring device and processing system using same A measuring device is configured to measure a height of a mold. The measuring device includes a laser generator, a raster, a camera module, and a controller. The raster is positioned between the laser generator and the mold. A laser beam emitted by the laser generator is refracted by the raster to divide the laser into two laser beams. The two laser beams cooperatively define a predetermined angle θ. The camera module is configured to capture an image of the two laser beams irradiated onto the top surface. The controller is electrically connected to the camera module, and configured to receive the image and to calculate an actual distance D between the two laser beams, according to the image. The controller is capable of calculating a height H of the mold, according to D and the predetermined angle θ.
US09163930B2	Systems for extended depth frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) and related methods Systems for extended depth frequency domain optical coherence tomography are provided including a detection system configured to sample spectral elements at substantially equal frequency intervals, wherein a spectral width associated with the sampled spectral elements is not greater than one-half of the frequency interval. Related methods are also provided herein.
US09163929B2	Tomographic image generation apparatus having modulation and correction device and method of operating the same A tomographic image generation apparatus includes a light source unit configured to emit light to be used for scanning an object; an optical control unit configured to control a direction of propagation of light; an optical coupler configured to divide and combine incident light; a plurality of optical systems optically connected to the optical coupler; and a modulation and correction device configured to modulate and correct the light to be used for scanning the object. The modulation and correction device may be disposed between the optical control unit and the optical coupler, or may be included in an optical system that irradiates light onto the object among the plurality of optical systems. The modulation and correction device may only modulate light that is reflected to the object.
US09163925B1	Electric field measurement apparatus A charge coupled displacement sensor includes a first number of electrodes disposed to form a first ring including a first diameter and further operable to form an electric field around an object. A second number of electrodes are alternately disposed with the first number of electrodes within the first ring and are further operable to measure variations in the electric field attributed to a position of the object. A third number of electrodes are disposed to form a second ring including a second diameter greater than the first diameter and further electrically coupled with an electrical ground.
US09163916B2	Electro-mechanical fuze for a projectile The present invention describes an electronic fuze (200) operable to complement a mechanical point impact fuze (101). The electronic fuze (200) includes a voltage generator circuit (210), micro-controller (220), a piezo-electric sensor (262), a firing circuit (280) and a safety lockout circuit (290). When a projectile (50) strikes a target at an optimum angle, the mechanical point impact fuze (101) is activated; when the strike angle is oblique, the mechanical point impact fuze may be ineffective but the piezo-electric sensor (262) is operable to trigger the firing circuit (280). The safety lockout circuit (290) ensures the firing circuit (280) is operative only after a predetermined delay time when an n-channel FET (292) is turned OFF. The micro-controller (220) also generates a TIME-OUT signal, which provides for self-destruction of a projectile that has failed to explode.
US09163915B2	Projectile with steerable control surfaces and control method of the control surfaces of such a projectile The subject-matter of the invention is a method for controlling the control surfaces of a projectile and the associated projectile comprising incidence steerable control surfaces and comprising at least two control surfaces, each one being rotatable with respect to the projectile around a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the projectile, wherein the projectile comprises central means for controlling the control surfaces having at least a spherical shape, a control arm secured to the spherical shape and adapted to rotate the spherical shape, for each control surface a transmission member cooperating with the spherical shape and adapted to transmit to the control surface the rotation movements of the spherical shape, and means for positioning the arm.
US09163914B2	Explosive cutting A method for explosive cutting using converging shockwaves, and an explosive cutting device are disclosed. The method includes providing a projectile with an explosive charge, positioning the projectile over the object so it extends along an intended line of cut, and detonating the explosive charge so that the projectile is accelerated toward the object, wherein the projectile either impacts on the object and the projectile includes a wave-shaping element which is shaped such that the impact generates converging shockwaves in the underlying object to be cut causing a crack to be propagated through the object along the intended line of cut; or impacts on a wave-shaping element in contact with the object, the wave-shaping element being shaped such that the impact generates converging shockwaves in the underlying object causing a crack to be propagated through the object along the intended line of cut.
US09163910B2	Armored cab for light tactical vehicles An armored cab comprises a top wall, two side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall, the cab having a longitudinal axis. The bottom wall comprises a generally centrally disposed downwardly facing smooth concave wall portion extending substantially an entire length of the cab and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cab and forming a power train tunnel of the cab, and a pair of opposite laterally disposed wall portions extending substantially the entire length of the cab and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cab, each of the opposite laterally disposed wall portions extending downwardly and laterally inwardly and terminating in a lowermost portion of the bottom wall on either lateral side of the concave wall portion. The concave wall portion and the opposite laterally disposed wall portions are configured so as to present a substantially reduced surface area of the lowermost portions of the bottom wall in a downwardly facing direction. The armored cab includes various additional features that improve occupant survivability.
US09163909B2	Unmanned multi-purpose ground vehicle with different levels of control A vehicle comprises a platform, a propulsion system, a communications system, a sensor system, and a computer system. The propulsion system, communications system, sensor system, and computer system are associated with the platform. The propulsion system is configured to move the platform on a ground. The communications system is configured to establish a wireless communications link to a remote location. The sensor system is configured to generate sensor data. The computer system is configured to run a number of control processes to perform a mission and configured to perform operations in response to a number of commands from the number of operators if the number of requests is valid.
US09163900B2	Open chamber ammunition Aspects described herein relate to an ammunition round for an open chamber gun mechanism is provided, the round comprising a housing having a triangular shaped cross section and a central longitudinal axis, the housing including at least one projectile positioned along the central longitudinal axis, a propellant positioned behind the at least one projectile along the central longitudinal axis, a first sealed end located at a first end of the housing nearest the propellant, and a second sealed end positioned at a second end of the housing in front of the projectile, wherein the second sealed end is configured to become unsealed after firing of the projectile.
US09163893B1	Adjustable rifle support An adjustable rifle support for use on a window sill of a blind or similar structure includes three main parts or assemblies: an elongated member having a forward end and a rearward end; a forward support assembly attached to the forward end and a rearward support assembly on the rearward end of the elongated member. The adjustable rifle support further includes five adjustments, all of which may be adjusted without tools, while the shooter is in position for aiming and shooting the rifle.
US09163889B2	Receiver assembly for firearm A receiver assembly includes a bolt, a receiver having a threaded portion receiving a barrel, a barrel having a threaded portion engaged with the threaded portion of the receiver, and a crush washer positioned over the threaded portions between the barrel and the receiver to permit adjustment of the barrel relative to the receiver to achieve a proper headspacing.
US09163887B2	Battery cooling structure A battery cooling structure includes a cooling plate and a heat transfer sheet. The cooling plate is to cool a battery module including a plurality of battery cells arranged side by side. The heat transfer sheet is provided between the cooling plate and a cooling surface of the battery module to transfer heat from the cooling surface to the cooling plate. The heat transfer sheet is deformable by a pressure applied to the heat transfer sheet. The heat transfer sheet includes a positioning hole through which the cooling surface of the battery module is visible when the heat transfer sheet is assembled to the battery module.
US09163886B2	Method for manufacturing a cooling device for electronic component A cooling device for an electronic component, includes: a metal pipe; a metal foil provided on an external surface of the metal pipe; and a thermally-cured resin layer that bonds the external surface of the metal pipe and the metal foil together.
US09163885B2	Cooler and refrigerating apparatus including the same A cooler includes a circular pipe member through which a heating medium circulates, and being in thermal contact with a power module to cool the power module with the heating medium flowing through an interior of the circular pipe member. An axially extending channel formation member between which and an inner circumferential surface of the circular pipe member a narrow channel for the heating medium is formed is provided in the circular pipe member.
US09163883B2	Flexible thermal ground plane and manufacturing the same Methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed for flexible thermal ground planes. A flexible thermal ground plane may include a support member. The flexible thermal ground plane may include an evaporator region or multiple evaporator regions configured to couple with the support member. The flexible thermal ground plane may include a condenser region or multiple condenser regions configured to couple with the support member. The evaporator and condenser region may include a microwicking structure. The evaporator and condenser region may include a nanowicking structure coupled with the micro-wicking structure, where the nanowicking structure includes nanorods. The evaporator and condenser region may include a nanomesh coupled with the nanorods and/or the microwicking structure. Some embodiments may include a micromesh coupled with the nanorods and/or the microwicking structure.
US09163880B2	Heat exchanger A heat exchanger assembled from multiple heat exchanging tubes. Each of the multiple heat exchanging tubes is formed as a flattened tube of 0.5 mm in thickness by press work or bending work of a stainless steel plate member having a thickness of 0.1 mm. Each of the multiple heat exchanging tubes is structured to have multiple lines of sequential wave crests and multiple lines of sequential wave troughs formed on each of flattened faces of the heat exchanging tube. The multiple lines of the sequential wave crests and the multiple lines of the sequential wave troughs are arranged to have a preset angle γ relative to a main stream of an air flow. The lines of the sequential wave crests and the lines of the sequential wave troughs are symmetrically folded back about folding lines arranged at a preset interval W along the main stream of the air flow.
US09163876B2	Drying device and image forming apparatus There is provided a drying device including: an airflow path extending in a direction intersecting with a conveyance path of a recording medium; an external air intake section that introduces external air into the airflow path; and a heating and blowing section provided to the airflow path that heats external air introduced into the airflow path and blows drying air onto a front face of the recording medium being conveyed on the conveyance path.
US09163871B1	Cooler having a bar extension A cooler having at least one bar configured along one side of the cooler lid and/or cooler body is described. A lid and/or body bar is supported by a lid or body support respectively, and has an extended length between the supports wherein a strap or latch may be configured around the bar. For example, a cooler lid may have a lid on the front side of the cooler lid and a cooler body may have a body bar that extends along the front wall of the cooler body. A latch or strap may be configured to pull the lid bar to the body bar, thereby providing for secure sealing of the cooler lid to the cooler body. A strap may be configured around a body bar to positively secure the cooler to an object, such as a vehicle while still allowing for access to the interior of the cooler.
US09163866B2	System pressure actuated charge compensator A system pressure actuated charge compensator for use with a heat pump having a liquid service valve and a vapor service valve. The charge compensator comprises a holding tank having first and second ports, a first pressure tap coupled to the first port and removeably coupleable to the vapor service valve, and a second pressure tap coupled to the second port and removeably coupleable to the liquid service valve. A heat pump system and a method of manufacturing a charge compensator are also provided.
US09163862B2	Receiver fill valve and control method A heat pump includes a valve system that connects a receiver tank in fluid communication with an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the valve system, operating under a novel control scheme, works in conjunction with the receiver to control the heat pump's effective refrigerant charge. To avoid suction or discharge pressure faults and to help prevent slugs of liquid refrigerant from entering the heat pump's compressor as the heat pump switches between heating and cooling modes or switches between heating and defrost modes, the control scheme provides momentary periods of transition between those modes of operation. In some embodiments, the valve system comprises a check valve connected in parallel flow relationship with a two-position receiver valve, wherein the check valve has an appreciably higher flow coefficient than that of the receiver valve.
US09163856B2	Hot air heater and blower assembly A gas-fired heater assembly for use in conjunction with a shrink wrap chamber or tunnel, including a gas-fired heater assembly, said gas-fired heater assembly incorporating an air intake, and having a gas port for injection of combustive gas into the heat chamber for combustion, the heated air combustion directed into the length of an associated heat box, said heat box having a designed opening for uniform dissemination of heated air into a hot air envelop, said hot air envelop being operatively associated with an air circulating blower, said air circulating blower directing air through the regions of the heat box for mixing of the circulating air with the heated air, and directing said mixture of heated air out of the hot air envelop and into the shrink wrap chamber or tunnel for shrinking polymer film about packaged goods for shipment and/or storage.
US09163850B2	Display device for air conditioner and method of controlling the display device An air conditioner including notification device is provided. The device may include an input device receiving input information regarding operation of the air conditioner, a controller comparing the input information with previously mapped information and controlling the operation of the air conditioner, and an output device outputting primary information regarding the operation of the air conditioner based on a control command received from the controller. Secondary information may be visually or audibly changed and output by the output device corresponding to a change in the primary information. A method of controlling such a device may include changing input information regarding operation of the air conditioner, changing and outputting primary information in response to the change in the input information, and visually or audibly changing and outputting the secondary information based on the change in the primary information.
US09163849B2	Jitter control and operating profiles for air moving devices Various methods related to air moving devices in electronic systems are disclosed. Various electronic systems including controlled air moving devices are also disclosed. Thus, one example electronic system includes an air moving device and a controller for controlling the air moving device. The controller is configured to selectively control a rotational speed of the air moving device. The controller is configured to vary the rotational speed within a range bounded by and including a first rotational speed and a second rotational speed during a time that a target rotational speed is within the range.
US09163847B2	Methods for the conversion of storage containers for the remediation of environmentally damaged articles Methods for the remediation of environmentally damaged articles includes removably positioning a conversion door having a height-adjustable header assembly and a plurality of access ports with respect to an access opening of a storage container so as to close the access opening with the container door in an opened condition, and connecting at least one of the access ports with remediation equipment to permit remediation of environmentally damaged articles within the interior chamber of the container. The header assembly is adjustably moved relative to an upper edge region of the conversion door so as to permit vertical height adjustment thereof and fit the conversion door with respect to a vertical dimension of the access opening.
US09163846B2	Ventilation apparatus arrangements A ventilation apparatus arrangement 10 for ventilating the interior 12 of a building. The ventilation arrangement 10 includes a duct 18 extending to above the roof 14 of the building. The duct 18 is square in cross section and is divided into four quadrants by internal vertical divider plates. A louvre arrangement 22 is provided on each side of the upper part of the duct 18 to receive air into the building on a windward side of the duct 18, and to expel air from a leeward side of the duct 18. A closure arrangement 26 is provided for selectively partially or wholly closing the louvre arrangements 22, for instance in the event of bad weather.
US09163843B2	Wear-leveling for components of an auxiliary heat source In at least some embodiments, an air handler includes a coil and a fan. The air handler also includes an auxiliary heat source having a plurality of heat elements. The auxiliary heat source implements a wear-leveling algorithm to cycle use of the heat elements over multiple auxiliary heat cycles.
US09163842B2	Home appliance with unitary anti-tip bracket A home appliance, such as a range, for floor-standing operation, including an appliance body, a floor-standing frame supporting the appliance body, the frame including a traverse frame member and an anti-tip bracket mounted to a support surface, the anti-tip bracket including a stanchion and an engagement member projecting from the stanchion in an generally horizontal manner and a tooth projecting downwardly from a distal end of the engagement member for engagement with a portion of the traverse frame member.
US09163840B2	Gas turbine combustor and fuel supply method used for the same An object of the invention is to provide a reliable gas turbine combustor that can provide lowered NOx and combustion stability. The gas turbine combustor includes a combustion chamber to which fuel and air are supplied; a first burner located on the upstream side of the combustion chamber, the first burner jetting fuel into the combustion chamber and jetting air into the combustion chamber in a swirling manner; a plurality of second burners arranged around the first burner and supplying a premixed gas of air and fuel to the combustion chamber; an annular bulkhead disposed between the first burner and the second burners and having an inclined surface formed to broaden toward the downstream side of the combustion chamber; and a plurality of air jet ports formed in the inclined surface of the annular bulkhead and adapted to jet air into the combustion chamber.
US09163831B2	Flame device A flame device includes a fluid inducing assembly that can induce external air therein. A flow diverting mechanism includes a plurality of vanes. The plurality of vanes is circumferentially disposed, and each pair of adjacent vanes includes a space therebetween defining a passage which is spiral shaped. Each vane has a first section exposed to outside and not concealed by a concealing member defining a flow intake zone. Each vane has a second section encircled by the concealing member defining a flow accelerating zone. A shield is disposed above the fluid inducing assembly. A combustion head is disposed above the flow diverting mechanism and includes a mixing chamber, a flame guiding member, and a plurality of grooves. The flame guiding member is in a spaced relationship and circumferentially conceals a wall delimiting the mixing chamber.
US09163828B2	Model-based load demand control Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling a load generated by a power generating system may include controlling at least a portion of the system using model-based control techniques. The model-based control techniques may include a dynamic matrix controller (DMC) that receives a load demand and a process variable as inputs and generates a control signal based on the inputs and a stored model. The model may be configured based on parametric testing, and may be modifiable. Other inputs may also be used to determine the control signal. In an embodiment, a turbine is controlled by a first DMC and a boiler is controlled by a second DMC, and the control signals generated by the first and the second DMCs are used in conjunction to control the generated load. Techniques to move the power generating system from Proportional-Integral-Derivative based control to model-based control are also disclosed.
US09163823B2	Light module A light stand assembly with a base having pivoting legs and a power supply circuit. An adjustable post detachably connects to the base. The adjustable post is configured for telescoping movement between a lower position and a raised position, and secures at a selected position with latches. An adjustable post connector moveably connects to the adjustable post. A pair of light modules detachably connect to the adjustable post connector and operatively connects to the power supply circuit.
US09163822B2	Light source assembly Provided is a light source assembly including: a frame including a device region; a radiator mounted on the device region and detachable therefrom; and a light source including a light emitting device disposed at a position corresponding to the device region above the radiator.
US09163821B2	High-power optical element street lamp using thermocouple A high power optical element streetlamp using a thermocouple includes a body unit, a lamp head unit, and a power supply unit fixed to the body unit. The lamp head unit includes a circuit board connected to the power supply unit, at least one optical element installed on the lower surface of the circuit board, a molding, and a heat dissipation plate installed on the upper end of the circuit board and including a plurality of heat dissipation fins to dissipate heat generated and transmitted from the at least one optical element and the circuit board. The thermocouple is arranged in the shape of a checkerboard on the surfaces of the heat dissipation fins and converts dissipated heat into thermoelectromotive force, and forming junctions where two kinds of metals having different thermal conductivities intersect to generate thermoelectric current is formed on the heat dissipation plate.
US09163820B2	LED lamp having a cooling body The invention relates to an LED lamp (L), having a light-emitting means with at least one LED, and a heat sink (K1-K6), characterized in that the heat sink (K1-K6) is configured such that a plurality of channels (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″) are formed through said heat sink for transporting away air which is heated by operation of the light-emitting means, wherein the channels (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″) are arranged in the form of a ring around an axis (A), and wherein the length of at least one channel (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″) is at least half the shortest diagonal or transversal in the transverse extent of the corresponding one channel. The arrangement according to the invention and in particular the configuration of the channels (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″) make it possible to achieve particularly effective dissipation of heat.
US09163811B2	Light module An illumination module is provided that can be inserted into a receptacle that includes a wall and may be mounted on a support surface, such as a heat sink, and the illumination module include a cover and an LED assembly rotateably coupled to the cover. The LED assembly seats within the receptacle which causes terminals of the LED assembly to align with contacts on the receptacle. One of the cover and the receptacle can have a plurality of ramps and the other a plurality of shoulders. The cover can be rotated relative to the receptacle to cause the shoulders to slide relative to the ramps so as to direct the LED assembly into the receptacle. When the LED assembly is attached to the receptacle, the terminals on the LED assembly mate with the contacts on the receptacle.
US09163809B2	Lighting system A lighting system may include a housing for a lighting module and at least one profiled element which can be coupled to the housing and protrudes from the housing when coupled to the housing. The housing has an external surface with a plurality of channels and comprises a plurality of seats. The profiled element may have a first engagement formation insertable into one of the channels of the housing and a second engagement formation insertable into one of the seats of the housing when the first engagement formation is inserted in the channel. Blocking means movable into a first and into a second operative position, may be.
US09163807B2	Heat management for a light fixture with an adjustable optical distribution A light fixture includes a member having a substantially frusto-conical shape. A channel extends between a wide top end of the member and a narrower bottom end of the member. The member includes multiple surfaces (“facets”) disposed around its outer surface. Each facet is configured to receive one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) in a linear or non-linear array. Each facet can be integral to the member or coupled to the member. The channel is configured to transfer heat generated by the LEDs through convection. Fins can be disposed within the channel, extending from the inner surface of the member to an inner channel. The fins are configured to transfer heat away from, and provide a greater surface area for convecting heat away from, the member. For example, one or both of the channels can transfer heat by a venturi effect.
US09163805B2	LED lens and LED module for two-sided lighting, and LED two-sided lighting apparatus using same There is provided a light emitting diode (LED) lens for double-sided lighting, including a light diffusion agent diffused therein, the LED lens including a light receiving portion receiving light, a first light transmitting portion corresponding to the light receiving portion and transmitting a portion of the light in an upward direction therefrom, a reflective portion extended from the first light transmitting portion and reflecting a portion of the light, and a second light transmitting portion facing the first light transmitting portion and transmitting the light reflected by the reflective portion in a downward direction therefrom.
US09163802B2	Lighting fixtures using solid state device and remote phosphors to produce white light The present subject matter utilizes solid state sources to pump remote phosphors positioned within lighting fixtures to facilitate visible light illumination application in a region or area to be inhabited by a person. One or more phosphors are remotely positioned in a chamber of a lightguide element, which in some examples, substantially fills an optical volume of the fixture. The chamber includes a solid liquid or gas material for bearing the one or more phosphors. Multiple phosphors, for example, may together produce light in the fixture output that is at least substantially white and has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher.
US09163795B2	Candle apparatus with light transmissive figures The present invention provides a candle apparatus with light transmissive figures comprising a base having a power supply unit provided thereon to receive a battery therein and electrically connected thereto to generate a power; a lighting unit provided on a top portion of the base and electrically connected to the power supply unit of the base; a light transmissive housing comprising a decorative figure layer on a housing wall thereof; and a light shield provided to cover a top portion of the housing. Therefore, as the light generated by the lighting unit passes through the housing and shone onto the decorative figure layer, the figures on the decorative figure layer are illuminated to show on the housing such that the candle apparatus of the present invention advantageously offers an illumination with unique visual effects as well as decorative and entertaining lighting.
US09163793B2	Combination lamp and flashlight assembly and method of use A combination lamp and flashlight assembly including a frame; a headlamp attachment and a charging attachment carried by the frame; a cable electrically coupling the headlamp attachment and the charging attachment; a headlamp head; and a battery pack, wherein the assembly is changeable between a headlamp configuration, where the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the headlamp attachment and the battery pack is mechanically and electrically coupled to the charging attachment, and a handheld flashlight configuration, where the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the battery pack to form a handheld flashlight. The assembly is also changeable to a cycle lamp configuration, where the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to a headlamp attachment of a handle bar mount to form a cycle lamp and the battery pack is mechanically and electrically coupled to a charging attachment of a cycle tube mount.
US09163790B2	LED illumination device and LED light-emission module An illumination device and a light-emission module suppressing a change in color temperature when light emitted from a light-emission unit passes through an optical member. The illumination device has a lighting apparatus that includes: a first light-emission part emitting light of a daylight color temperature; a second light-emission part emitting light of an incandescent lamp color temperature; and the optical member, which is disposed on an optical path of the light emitted from the light-emission parts. A correlated color temperature of the light emitted from the second light-emission part is set to 2238 K. Due to this, in a spectrum of the light emitted from the second light-emission part, a maximum intensity within a wavelength range from 400 nm to 500 nm is no greater than one-tenth of a maximum intensity within a wavelength range from 300 nm to 800 nm.
US09163788B2	Engineered light distribution LED light bulbs LED light bulbs especially suited for use in table lamps or floor lamps with lamp shades. The LED light bulbs include optics which provide more limited but more uniform illumination of the lamp shade and provide more uniform illumination through the top and bottom apertures of the lamp shade. The light bulbs comprise an electrical coupling base (e.g., Edison screw base) coupled via an insulating coupling piece to a tube. Metal Core Printed Circuit Boards on which LEDs with lenses are mounted are mechanically coupled to the tube.
US09163786B2	Energy capturing system and pressure stabilizing device thereof An energy capturing system includes a first chamber, a second chamber, a spacer element, a pressurization device, an energy capturing device and a pressure stabilizing device. The first chamber and the second chamber are adapted to contain a liquid. The spacer element is located between the first chamber and the second chamber. The second chamber is connected with the first chamber via an opening of the spacer element. Two ends of the pressurization device are connected with the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively. The energy capturing device is located on the opening. The pressure stabilizing device is connected with the first chamber.
US09163781B2	Spring systems for vortex suppression devices A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression system configured to accommodate a change in an underlying tubular diameter. The system including an encircling member dimensioned to at least partially encircle an underlying tubular. The encircling member may be, for example, a collar or a VIV suppression device such as a strake, or any other type of VIV suppression device. The system further including a band member dimensioned to encircle the encircling member and hold the encircling member around the underlying tubular at a desired axial position. A spring member may further be provided. The spring member may be positioned between the encircling member and the band member and dimensioned to contract in response to an increase in a diameter of the underlying tubular and expand in response to a decrease in a diameter of the underlying tubular such that the encircling member remains at the desired axial position.
US09163776B2	Motorized dolly A motorized dolly includes an elongated frame, a first and second arc-shaped rail, a first and second pulley, a continuous belt, a motor, a platform, a first and second set of rollers or wheels, a fastener and one or more controls. The first arc-shaped rail has a first radius to a point in space. The second arc-shaped rail has a second radius greater than the first radius. The first and second pulleys are attached to the elongated frame proximate to each end. The continuous belt is moveably attached to the first pulley and the second pulley. The motor is operably engaged with the first pulley, the second pulley or the continuous belt. The first and second set of rollers or wheels are attached to the platform and moveably engaged with the first and second rails, respectively. The fastener securely is attached to the platform and the continuous belt.
US09163772B2	Vacuum insulated cryogenic fluid transfer hose A vacuum insulated cryogenic fluid transfer hose provides a fluid conduit and high-pressure fitting with a highly-insulative vacuum jacket which enables convenient access to the fitting. An interface collar is mounted to an end of the transfer hose with the fluid conduit and the fitting extending therethrough, a bellows fastened at a first end to an interior of the interface collar and fastened at a second end to a pass-through collar, a slide cuff mounted to the pass-through collar and extending over the bellows and the interface collar, and a connecting nut mounted to the pass-through collar. The slide cuff is displaceable relative to the interface collar between a retracted position, wherein the connecting nut, the pass-through collar, and the bellows are retracted to expose and provide access to the fitting, and an extended position, wherein the fitting is entirely covered by the enclosure.
US09163768B2	Return fuel cooling system for LPI vehicle and control method thereof A return fuel cooling system for LPI vehicle having an engine and a bombe connected to each other through a fuel supply line and a fuel return line in the LPI vehicle using LPG fuel to cool high-temperature LPG fuel returning from the engine to the bombe, may include a heat exchanger mounted on the fuel return line, a bypass line connecting upstream and downstream of the fuel return line, wherein the heat exchanger may be interposed between the upstream and the downstream of the fuel return line to make the LPG fuel returning to the bombe bypass the heat exchanger and supply the LPG fuel to the bombe, and a valve included at a portion in which the fuel return line and the bypass line is connected, and selectively opening or closing the fuel return line connected with the heat exchanger according to a temperature of the bombe.
US09163762B2	Sealed gimbal joint A gimbal joint includes a gimbal ring, a first fitting pivotally connected to the gimbal ring such that the first fitting pivots about a first axis, and a second fitting pivotally connected to the gimbal ring such that the second fitting pivots about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. The gimbal ring further includes a separable sealing element having a cylindrical portion with a first rounded end and a second rounded end. The gimbal ring, the first fitting, the second fitting, and the separable sealing element define a fluid pathway.
US09163760B2	Pipe joint restraint apparatus An arcuate member is clamped onto a pipe so that a protrusion or ridge penetratingly engages the outside surface of the pipe.
US09163751B2	Floatable spoolbase with intermediate carousel storage A floatable spoolbase for supplying rigid pipe to a reel-lay pipelaying vessel having a storage reel with an upright rotational axis for interim storage of a continuous length of pipe is disclosed. Welding stations upstream of the storage reel add pipe elements to the pipe to be stored on the storage reel. When a pipelaying vessel visits the spoolbase, the pipe is unwound from the storage reel and fed to a pipelay reel of the pipelaying vessel. Where the pipelay reel turns about a substantially horizontal rotational axis, winding the pipe onto the pipelay reel reduces ovalization of the pipe imparted by previously winding the pipe onto the storage reel.
US09163749B2	Valve control mechanism and method A valve controller includes a housing, and a lever extending from the housing. The lever includes a protrusion rigidly attached to the lever, and the lever is biased to an initial position. A switch has an open and a closed position. A linkage is pivotally connected to the switch, and the linkage includes a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever such that moving the switch to the closed position closes a valve controlled by the lever regardless of a position of the lever.
US09163748B2	Fluid control device and flow rate control apparatus This invention provides a fluid control device capable of making compact a fluid control device in which a valve and a limit switch are combined. A valve 6 includes a piston 26 as a moving member which includes a protruding portion protruding from an opening of a casing 21, and which linearly moves according to opening and closing of the valve 6 so as to abut against a limit switch 7. The limit switch 7 is made to face the piston 26 and is attached via a limit switch positioning unit 8 so as to be adjustable about its position. The limit switch positioning unit 8 includes a first bolt 42 fixed to a body 2, a second bolt 43 fixed to the limit switch 7, and a connection screw 44 which connects both the bolts 42, 43. The first bolt 42 and the second bolt 43 have different pitches from each other.
US09163740B2	Interchangeable valve for a valve block used with a glass machine An air valve manifold (20) to be used with a glass making machine includes a base (24) and a valve (22) including a valve body attached to the base (24). The valve body includes a first projection (42) on a front of the valve body and an opposing second projection (44) on an opposing rear of the valve body. A first attachment feature (50) is secured to the front of the base to retain at least a portion of the first projection (42) of the valve body. A second attachment feature (52) is secured to the base to retain at least a portion of the opposing second projection (44) of the valve body.
US09163737B2	Check valve for use with pumps controlled by variable frequency drives A check valve is provided for use with variable frequency drives and other applications. In one aspect, the check valve provides a poppet guided by a poppet guide in at least two locations to ensure stability between fully open and fully closed positions. In another aspect, the check valve includes a poppet guide adapted to receive a poppet in a stem receiving channel, the stem receiving channel including guide vanes engaging the poppet and auxiliary channels for self cleaning. The check valve may also include a valve seal. In one embodiment, the valve seal is an o-ring received by a poppet head, based of the poppet guide and valve seat. The valve seat and/or the base may include expansion channels to receive a portion of the valve seat during compression when the check valve is in a closed position.
US09163736B2	Method and device for preventing a mud relief valve from incorrect opening A device for preventing a primary relief valve in a mud system from opening at a pressure lower than a nominal opening pressure includes a flow restrictor between a mud pump of the mud system and the primary relief valve. In addition, the device includes a cavity between the flow restrictor and the primary relief valve.
US09163735B2	Flow diverter A flow diverter is provided for use with a valve having a valve body with an inlet and an outlet separated by a valve seat, a valve member, an actuator for displacement of the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, and a bonnet in which the valve member and the actuator are housed. The flow diverter has an elongate housing with an inlet end and an outlet end and which is configured to engage the valve body at the inlet end with the valve member and actuator removed from the valve body. The elongate housing defines an outlet passage and an inlet passage, the outlet passage being interposed between the inlet end and the inlet passage. An elongate flow guide is positioned within the housing. The flow guide is configured to engage the valve seat and, together with the housing, to define a flow path that confines the flow of fluid from the valve body and out of the outlet passage. The outlet passage and the inlet passage are configured for bridging with a device such as a water flow meter.
US09163727B2	Sealing member for water cutoff A sealing member for water cutoff is stuck to a door inner panel of an automobile for joining a door hole seal. The sealing member for water cutoff is long in length and at least a part thereof is curved when used. The sealing member for water cutoff comprises: a body part made of vulcanized sponge rubber, which is extrusion molded and having softness and elastic restoring force for reverting to an original shape when an external force once applied is unloaded; and adhesive layers formed by applying adhesive on surfaces of the body part.
US09163726B2	Piston ring and process for manufacturing a piston ring The present invention refers to a piston ring, particularly for use in the piston channel of an internal combustion engine or a compressor, comprising at least a substantially ring-shaped metallic base (2) having at least a first region (20), at least a second region (21) and at least a gap (22), the first region (20) being positioned in a way substantially opposite to the gap (22), the ring comprising at least a nitrided layer (3) in the second region (21) and comprising at least reduction of the nitrided layer (3) in the first region (20), whereas the reduced nitrided layer (3) is at least partially blocked in the first region (20) due to the previous application of an intermediate layer (4).
US09163721B2	Pilot downshifting system and method Methods and systems are provided for performing a multiple gear downshift of a transmission gear by transiently operating in an intermediate gear. In response to air mass flow not reaching a threshold for CAC self-cleansing for a set duration, the transmission gear may be downshifted from a higher gear to an intermediate gear, and then to a requested lower gear. Downshifting through an intermediate gear may also be controlled based on the gear shift request and maximum air mass flow levels for engine misfire.
US09163716B2	Gear casing heat exchanger A gear casing heat exchanger has a mounting flange separating the heat exchanger into a first side and a second side. A manifold section is on the first side, and includes an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. A heat exchange section is on the second side, and extends from the mounting flange in a lengthwise direction. A sealing perimeter is on the second side, and the heat exchange section is entirely contained within a projection of the sealing perimeter in the lengthwise direction. The heat exchange section of the heat exchanger can be inserted through an aperture of a gear casing to provide a cooled gear assembly.
US09163715B2	Clutched power transmitting device with filter element A power transmitting device can include a clutch, filter and housing defining first and second sumps spaced apart by a first wall. First and second members can meshingly engage and rotate through the first sump. The clutch plates can rotate through the second sump. A third member can be drivingly coupled to the second member and clutch plates. An outer surface of the third member and the first wall can define an annular cavity that fluidly couples the sumps. The filter can be received in the annular cavity about the third member and can include a second wall, outer portion, inner portion, and a filter element. The second wall can define an aperture. The outer portion can seal with the first wall. The inner portion can seal with the outer surface. The filter element can span the aperture to permit fluid communication between the sumps and inhibit passage of solids.
US09163714B2	Bearing arrangement A bearing arrangement for mounting a gear bolt (1) as the bearing axle for a gearwheel (2) in a transmission housing. The gear bolt (1) is held in the transmission housing by only a single component in the form of an intermediate plate (3).
US09163710B2	Wave gear device and flexible externally toothed gear In a hollow wave gear device, a rigid internally toothed gear and a wave generator are disposed adjacent along a center axis line so as to enclose a cylindrical barrel part of a flexible externally toothed gear from the outside. A pushed cylindrical portion adjacent to an external-tooth-formed cylindrical portion of the cylindrical barrel part is pushed from the outside and made to flex into an ellipsoidal shape by the wave generator disposed on the outside thereof, whereby external teeth partially mesh with internal teeth of the rigid internally toothed gear. The inside diameter dimension of a hollow part can be the inside diameter of the cylindrical barrel part of the flexible externally toothed gear, and a hollow wave gear device can be achieved which is formed with a hollow part having a large inside diameter.
US09163706B2	Sprocket box for increasing the gas mileage of a vehicle with an automatic transmission A sprocket box for increasing the gas mileage of a vehicle with an automatic transmission is positioned between the back of an engine block and the torque converter. The sprocket box is fed the rotational motion from the engine and doubles the rotational motion being fed into the torque converter in order to increase the fluid pressure felt within the torque converter. Thus, the sprocket box is used to increase the fuel economy of the vehicle. The rotation motion from the engine is transferred and modified by the sprocket box by using an input assembly of sprockets and a roller chain and by using an output sprocket of more sprockets and another roller chain.
US09163700B2	Drive unit for actuator drive including an electric motor and actuator drive A drive unit for an actuator having an electric motor, wherein the drive unit comprises a gear train having at least a first gear stage and a last gear stage, wherein the gear train realizes a transmission ratio of greater than one from the electric motor to an output wheel, wherein each gear stage is formed by a gear drive and wherein in the last gear stage, one gear wheel or alternatively two gear wheels connected in parallel are provided that each mesh with an upstream gear wheel of the gear train and with the output wheel, so as to transmit the torque acting on the last gear stage to this stage via the one gear wheel or alternatively distributed over the two gear wheels connected in parallel, wherein the drive unit is accommodated in a housing of the actuator that has at least a first and a second bearing support for the gear wheels of the last gear stage, and to form this last gear stage, the two bearing supports are fitted with the one gear wheel or alternatively with the two gear wheels connected in parallel.
US09163698B2	Flexible protective guide internally holding long members A protective guide has a long shape and internally holds long members including at least one of flexible cables and ducts. The protective guide includes a flexible curved strip-shaped base and a plurality of flexible sectioning members. The base is made of a synthetic resin, formed into a long plate and has a longitudinal direction. The sectioning members are also made of a synthetic resin, permitted to uprise from both ends of the base and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, the both ends being opposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sectioning members cooperatively define a space for accommodating the long members along the base. The base has a cross section inwardly curved toward the space, as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
US09163697B2	Multi-purpose adjustable retaining device A multi-purpose adjustable retaining device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a cord having two ends is provided that is composed of an elastomeric material configured to deform elastically upon elongation. Each of ends of the cord are threaded through a cord stop, which permits the length of each end to be adjusted, with any spare cord forming a loop extending from a side of the cord stop opposite the two ends. Suspension clips are respectively slidably connected to each end of the cord in order to grip a material.
US09163694B2	Bi-stable shock absorber assembly A shock absorber assembly including a fluid for absorbing forces between the body and the wheel of a motor vehicle. The shock absorber includes a valve having a resilient disc engaging a piston for impeding the passage of fluid through the aperture of the piston. A bi-stable solenoid is disposed in the housing and is interconnected with the resilient disc of the valve. The bi-stable solenoid's armature is moveable between a first stable position for applying a first biasing force against the resilient disc of the valve and a second stable position for applying a second biasing force being less than the first biasing force against the resilient disc of the valve. The adjustment of the biasing force on the valve also adjusts the damping force of the shock absorber.
US09163687B2	Virtual pivot axis spring A spring includes a first, inner, continuous frame and a second, continuous frame enveloping the first frame. The first and second frames is made of a flexible material of high yield stress. The first and second frame have a common frame portion constituting a minor proportion of the first frame compared to the remainder of the first frame. The first and second frames are plane arranged generally in a common plane in their unloaded state and arranged for being deformed generally in the common plane.
US09163683B2	Brake rotor A brake rotor including a rotor support; and a braking band disposed on and encircling the rotor support. The braking band has first and second brake pad receiving surfaces on opposite sides of the braking band. At least one brake pad receiving surface defines at least one groove that has a groove path extending along and having a variable depth with respect to the at least one brake pad receiving surface.
US09163681B2	Brake device, friction couple for brake device, and brake pad A brake device includes a first member having holders, each of the holder configured to be in contact with a corresponding rolling body and hold the rolling body rotatably; a second member provided in contact with the rolling body and configured to rotate the rolling body in the holder according to a relative displacement with the first member; and a pressing mechanism configured to press the first member and the second member against each other. This makes it possible appropriately to set performance regardless of, for example, a projecting area of a surface of the first member, the surface being pressed by the second member.
US09163678B2	Wedge clutch with a split hub A bi-directional wedge clutch, including: an outer race; first and second inner hubs; a wedge plate, radially located between the outer race and the inner hubs; and an axially displaceable activation hub engaged with the inner hubs and arranged to: for a free-wheel mode, rotate at least one of the inner hubs in a first rotational direction, with respect to the other of the inner hubs, such that the wedge plate is free of contact with the outer race; and for a locking mode, rotate the at least one of the inner hubs in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, with respect to the other of the inner hubs, to non-rotatably connect the wedge plate with the outer race and the inner hubs.
US09163672B2	Fixed constant velocity universal joint A fixed type constant velocity universal joint has track grooves of an outer joint member including first and second track groove portions located on depth and opening sides, respectively. The first track groove portions each have a circular-arc part having a curvature center that is not offset in an axial direction with respect to a joint center, are inclined in a circumferential direction with respect to a joint axial line, and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with their inclination directions opposite to each other. The second track groove portions have a different shape than the first track groove portions to increase an effective track length with respect to a maximum operating angle. The first and second track groove portions are connected respectively to each other on the opening side with respect to the joint center.
US09163671B2	Connecting device A connecting device with a drive section having a thread on the end, wherein the connecting device can be used to screw a shaft element to a thread corresponding to the thread of the drive section, wherein, in addition to the thread, at least one positive-locking element forming a positive-locking connection with the shaft element is provided.
US09163670B2	Rolling bearing A rolling bearing includes: a first raceway member having a first annular raceway surface; a second raceway member having a second annular raceway surface opposing the first raceway surface; a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the first raceway surface and the second raceway surface so as to roll; and a guide member formed integrally with or separately from the second raceway surface. The guide member including: an annular guide surface arranged at a position different form the second raceway surface in an axial direction; a plurality of flow paths which are separately provided in the axial direction and in which compressed air for supplying lubricating oil flows; and discharge openings which spray the compressed air to a guided surface. An annular cage that holds the plurality of rolling elements at given intervals in a circumferential direction and has the guided surface which opposes the guide surface such that the guided surface can slidably contact the guide surface.
US09163669B2	Sliding member and bearing To provide a sliding member that improves seizure resistance by restraining any exposure of the porous layer and improves abrasion resistance and load resistance.The sliding member 1 constitutes a bearing having a cylindrical shape, an inner circumferential surface of which is a sliding layer 5 with an axis. In the sliding member 1, a porous layer 3 made of alloy material is formed on a surface of a metal base 2 and this porous layer 3 is covered by resin material 4 so that the sliding layer 5 is formed. In the sliding member 1, a particle size of metal powder 30 forming the porous layer 3 is within a range of 15 through 60 μm, preferably, about 25 through 45 μm. Further, in the sliding member 1, a thickness of the porous layer 3 is within a range of 0.06 through 0.1 mm and a thickness of the sliding layer 5 is within a range of 0.08 through 0.16 mm The thickness of the sliding layer 5 is set to be thicker on average than the thickness of the porous layer 3 so that the porous layer 3 is not exposed.
US09163665B2	Linear guideway A retainer of the linear guideway comprises a retaining member a supporting member. The retaining member has a base portion and two side wing portions integrally extended from the base portion. The base portion has a receiving groove, and each side wing portion has a positioning opening. One positioning opening is offset with respect to the receiving groove along a first direction, and another positioning opening is offset with respect to the receiving groove along a second direction opposite to the first direction. One side portion of the supporting member is wedged to the receiving groove of the base portion. Thus, the instant disclosure provides the retainer for positioning two staggered circulation tubes. Moreover, the instant disclosure also provides a linear guideway.
US09163662B2	Installation of calibration gauge for measuring constraints An installation for calibration of a stress gauge for an external bearing block of a turbomachine roller bearing, the bearing block including a radially internal roller bearing race. The installation includes a support table on which the bearing block is attached; an internal roller bearing ring mounted coaxial with the bearing block; a drive shaft driving the ring. The installation also includes a device for applying an axial stress to the bearing block including a support drum on which the internal ring is removably fixed and a connection with the device for applying the axial stress.
US09163660B1	Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring structure having a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements. The support ring structure may include at least one erosion resistant region exhibiting a higher erosion resistance than another region of the support ring.
US09163659B2	Caged roller bearing, caged roller bearing assembly, and cage A caged roller bearing includes a plurality of rollers and a roller retaining cage having pockets defined therein at circumferential locations thereof for accommodating the respective rollers therein. A nickel plating layer, which is a plated backing layer, is applied to the entire surface of the roller retaining cage, and an Ni•PTFE plated layer, containing nickel and polytetrafluoroethylene, is applied to the surface of the nickel plating layer.
US09163657B2	Remote manipulator with universal cable A remote manipulator of a tool has a body provided with a fixed jaw and a slide provided with a mobile jaw able to be displaced linearly, actuators located at a distance and coupled to the tool via a cable integral with a side of the slide and sliding inside a flexible sheath having one end integral with the body. The actuators have two arms each associated respectively to a handle and able to be separated angularly from each other by rotation about an axis by a value such that the distance between their free ends is at least equal to the maximum linear displacement of the slide bearing the mobile jaw, when the two handles are brought close to one another.
US09163656B2	Lightning protection fastener and cap for lightning protection fastener To provide a lightning protection fastener or the like, that can reliably seal an arc between the cap and a member such as a wing panel. An end part 30A of a cap 30 on an opening side, the end part 30 A facing a member 22 (or member 21), includes a plane 30d orthogonal to an axis line of the cap 30A and a tapered face 30c formed on an outer circumferential side of the plane 30d. A sealant 34 that spills out of the cap 30A upon mounting the cap 30A is present between the tapered face 30c and a surface 22f of the member 22 (sealant 34S).
US09163654B2	Screw for composite/plastic materials A screw for composite or plastic material comprises a head having a socket which is rotatably couplable for application of a torque. An elongated shank extends from the head and terminates a tapered threaded distal tip. The shank has one portion having an enlarged diameter and a second portion having a reduced diameter. The first portion is traversed by a left hand thread having a first pitch. The second portion is traversed by a right hand thread having a second pitch which is less than the first pitch. An unthreaded land portion adjacent the tip extends at least twice the second pitch. For some embodiments, some thread segments have notches. The fastener is particularly adapted for very dense material.
US09163649B2	Mechanical stop adjustment for jack A first adjustable stop on a jack member selectively adjusts an incline stop gap while a second adjustable stop on a support element selectively adjusts a decline stop gap. Stop surfaces on the first adjustable stop and the support element may define the incline stop gap, while stop surfaces on the second adjustable stop and the first adjustable stop may define the decline stop gap. A number of turns of a stop needed to effect a desired of adjustment may be determined using a pitch, lead, and/or number of starts of threads used to mount the stops.
US09163646B2	Hydraulic valve system for actuating at least one shifting element of a transmission A valve device (14) of a hydraulic system (1) for actuating at least one shifting element (2) of a transmission. The valve device comprising a pilot-controlled control valve device (3) with a valve slide (9) and, functionally connected with this is, an also pilot-controlled switching valve device (4) which is also formed with a valve slide (7). The valve slides (7, 9) are arranged to move longitudinally in a common bore (15) of a valve housing (16) and are positioned coaxially with one another, and an inner valve slide (7) is arranged to move longitudinally at least partially within the outer valve slide (9).
US09163643B2	Suction casing and fluid machine A suction casing includes a suction nozzle that introduces a fluid from an outer circumferential side to an inner circumferential side in a radial direction; and a chamber that includes a substantially doughnut-shaped space in communication with an inside of the suction nozzle on the outer circumferential side and that guides the fluid, introduced from the suction nozzle, to an inlet opening portion opening in an axial direction and disposed in a substantially annular shape. The chamber is formed so that a radial width is narrower in a circumferential direction from a joint portion in communication with the suction nozzle to an opposite side across a central axis.
US09163641B2	Turbocharger support housing having improved drainage A support housing is disclosed for use with a turbocharger. The support housing may have an end wall, a semi-cylindrical protrusion extending from the end wall in a first direction, and a plurality of side walls extending from the end wall in a second direction. The plurality of side walls together with the end wall may form a generally hollow enclosure. The support housing may also include a mounting flange disposed at distal edges of the plurality of side walls, and a center opening disposed in the end wall. The support housing may further include a collection cavity formed at a gravitationally lowest corner of the end wall below the center opening and substantially isolated from the enclosure formed by the plurality of side walls and the end wall, and a gutter passage formed in the end wall and extending from the center opening to the collection cavity.
US09163638B2	Electronic device with fan An electronic device includes a casing and a fan received in the casing. The fan includes a cover plate, a bottom plate and a side wall. An air outlet is defined in the side wall. The bottom plate defines an air inlet. The casing includes a bottom cover and a top cover. The bottom cover includes a base plate, and a side plate extending upwardly from a periphery of the base plate. The bottom plate includes a horizontal first area and a second area inclining relative to the first area. A height of the base plate relative to a horizontal plane gradually increases from one side of the casing to another side of the casing. A height of the second area relative to the horizontal plane also gradually increases from the one side of the casing to another side of the casing.
US09163634B2	Apparatus and method for enhancing compressor efficiency Disclosed herein is a single screw gas compressor having a housing including a cylindrical bore, a primary and secondary gate rotors mounted for rotation in the housing, each gate rotor having a plurality of gear teeth, a main rotor rotatably mounted in the bore and having a plurality of grooves and a plurality of threads, wherein each groove meshingly engages at least one of the gear teeth from each gate rotor, a primary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore, and a secondary economizer port in communication with the cylindrical bore.
US09163629B2	Controlled thickness resilient material lined stator and method of forming The present invention relates to a resilient material lined stator and method of forming. A method of forming a resilient material lined stator can include disposing a resilient material tube 400 with a profiled helical inner surface 401 into the bore of a body 420. A cast material 410 can be disposed therebetween. The cast material 410 can bond to the body 420 to form a resilient material lined stator or the body 420 can be removed. The cast material 310 can include a conduit 312 or conductor 314 extending therethrough. The cast material 310 can include a pathway 316 formed therethrough. The resilient material can be an elastomer.
US09163627B2	Rotating pump and brake system using same A rotating pump includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor. The inner and outer rotors are rotated by a drive shaft between a first side plate and a second side plate to pump put fluid. The first side plate faces the inner and outer rotors and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is inclined to an axial direction of the drive shaft to create a wedge-shaped gap between itself and one of the inner and outer rotor. The second surface extends more parallel to a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft than the first surface does. The geometric configurations of the first and second surfaces serve to minimize the leakage of the brake fluid without sacrificing a reduction in resistance to sliding motion of the inner rotor and the outer rotor on the second side plate.
US09163624B2	Vibration fan with movable magnetic component A vibration fan includes a base, an electromagnetic actuator and a blade. The electromagnetic actuator is disposed on the base, and includes a movable magnetic component and a fixed magnetic component. The movable magnetic component reciprocates relative to the fixed magnetic component. The blade is connected to the movable magnetic component.
US09163621B2	Apparatus for controlling compressor and refrigerator having the same A compressor control apparatus, and a refrigerator including the same are provided. Operation of two compressors may be controlled using one inverter, thereby reducing a number of components, increasing compressor capacity, and enhancing operation efficiency of the system. Commonly used switching elements may be switched at an operating frequency, allowing the simultaneous operation of two compressors, reducing switching losses, and improving the efficiency and stability of the system.
US09163614B2	Static weight energy production apparatus An energy production apparatus that includes a weight bearing member configured to alternate between an upper and lower position, and a drive shaft. A gear system can be connected to the weight bearing member and the drive shaft. The gear system can be positioned to rotate the drive shaft when a load is placed on the weight bearing member and the weight bearing member moves from the upper position to the lower position. A torsion spring can be connected to the drive shaft, the torsion spring positioned to wind as the weight bearing member moves to the lower position. A return member can be configured to return the weight bearing member to the upper position. A locking member can selectively engage the gear system, the locking member preventing the torsion spring from unwinding when engaged. A generator can be driven by the drive shaft as the torsion spring unwinds.
US09163613B2	Support structure for a wind turbine and procedure to erect the support structure A series of spans of column shaft (1) with a frustoconical shape, each span integrating two or more parts (2) and (3) with a polygonal or circular section formed with pieces prestressed in a bed in the factory, with centered or slightly deviated prestressing (4) and non-prestressed reinforcement (5) in the perimeter of the section or fibers, attached by means of wet or dry longitudinal joints (6), rotated in plan view or not, and transverse joints (7) which can be at different levels and provide continuity or not to the general prestressing, for a joining by means of steel bars (12), and in the case of the attachment to the foundation with direct positioning of the starter bars at the time said foundation is built, or by means of jacket tubes which will subsequently receive the mentioned bars (16).
US09163612B2	Wind turbine nacelle A wind turbine nacelle (50) which comprises a frame (54) and a drive train which comprises a gearbox (55). The nacelle (50) has a rotor attached thereto and comprises a rotor hub (52), with one or more blades (53), which supported by a rotor bearing(s) (56) located on a tubular part (57) at an end of the frame (54) furthest from the tower (51). The gearbox (55) comprises a gearbox housing (58), not constituting part of the frame (54), which is rigidly and axially connected to the frame (54) by a gearbox flange (66) such that a side of the gearbox flange (66), furthest from the gearbox input side (I), is connected to an end of the frame flange (67) furthest away from the tower (51). An input shaft (76) of the gearbox (55) is connected to the rotor hub (52) via a separate connection part (77).
US09163611B2	Methods and systems for operating a wind turbine coupled to a power grid According to the present disclosure, a method of operating a wind turbine (10) coupled to a power grid (92) for delivering electric power thereto is provided. The method includes: a) operating the wind turbine (10) in a noise reduction mode; b) determining whether the power grid (92) is in an unstable grid state corresponding to an increase of power demand; and, c) increasing the electric power delivered by the wind turbine (10) to the power grid (92) during a stabilization time period for supporting stabilization of the unstable grid. Further, the increasing of the electric power for supporting stabilization of the unstable grid is performed such that a resulting noise increase is below a selected upper level. In addition thereto, a control system and a wind turbine for performing the above method are provided.
US09163610B2	Method of controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator Methods of controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator connected to a power grid. The method may include measuring the frequency, f, of the power grid, controlling the speed of the generator for optimizing the power delivered to the power grid, and setting limits for the generator speed. The setting of the limits for the generator speed is performed in dependency of the measured frequency of the power grid. This provides a dynamical set of limits providing improved possibilities of optimizing the power production.
US09163608B2	Double tunnel wind turbine A wind turbine apparatus includes a shaft carrying a plurality of rotor wheels fixed at axially spaced intervals. Each rotor wheel includes buckets at the periphery thereof. First and second generally cylindrical housing are disposed in concentric relationship to define a blind annular chamber surrounding the rotor wheels that directs ambient winds to through the inner wall of the inner cylindrical housing to the periphery of the respective rotor wheels. One extremity of the blind annular chamber is open for receiving ambient air flow and a second axial extremity proximate is closed, whereby axial airflow into the annular chamber is substantially directed in a radial direction toward the buckets carried on the rotor wheels to cause rotation of the shaft.
US09163603B2	Control system for internal combustion engine A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of properly determining timing for restarting the engine in a stopped state when idle stop control of the engine is executed during a heating operation of an air conditioner, thereby making it possible to ensure marketability and fuel economy performance in a well-balanced manner. The control system executes the idle stop control of the engine during the heating operation of the air conditioner. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU sets a lower limit blowout temperature, calculates an estimated blowout temperature, and controls the engine such that the engine is restarted when the estimated blowout temperature has become not higher than the lower limit blowout temperature.
US09163601B2	Control device for internal combustion engine An object of the present invention is to be able to execute motor assist only when it is necessary at a time of starting an engine, and drive a motor efficiently. An engine 10 includes a starter motor 34 for aiding in starting, and performs motor assist by the starter motor 34 in accordance with necessity when the engine is to start independently by combustion. An ECU 50 predicts a torque T1 that is generated in an initial explosion cylinder at a time of starting before actual combustion, and performs independent starting without driving the motor 34, when the prediction torque T1 is a starting request torque Ts1 or more. When the prediction torque T1 is less than the starting request torque Ts1, the ECU 50 drives the motor 34 and performs starting by motor assist. Thereby, power consumption of a battery and the like can be suppressed by decreasing wasteful drive of the motor, and the starter motor 34 can be efficiently driven while startability is secured.
US09163600B2	Charging in multiple voltage start/stop bas system An alternator-starter system and method is disclosed. A method of operating an alternator-starter having an inverter/rectifier for starting an engine and charging a plurality of batteries includes providing two switches for each battery, monitoring voltages of each of the plurality of batteries, and switching the switches to selectively charge individual ones of the plurality of batteries. A system includes a plurality of batteries connected in series, and includes first and second switches for each battery, the first switch being operable to switchably connect the upper rail of the inverter/rectifier with the respective (+) terminal, the second switch being operable to switchably connect the lower rail of the inverter/rectifier with the respective (−) terminal. A high voltage configuration may be utilized for motoring and generating modes.
US09163598B2	Engine with variable flow rate oil pump The engine with a variable flow rate oil pump includes a subsidiary relief passage that extends from an oil passage-switching valve to a subsidiary oil pump, a main relief passage that extends from the oil passage-switching valve to the main oil pump separately from the subsidiary relief passage, and a check valve that is provided in the subsidiary discharge passage and cuts off the flow of oil from the main discharge passage side to the oil passage-switching valve side. The oil passage-switching valve has a main pressure-adjusting chamber for the main oil pump, a subsidiary pressure-adjusting chamber of for the subsidiary oil pump, and a spool valve that performs partitioning between the main pressure-adjusting chamber and the subsidiary pressure-adjusting chamber.
US09163593B2	Fuel heating device for improving cold start performance of flex fuel vehicle A fuel heating device may improve cold start performance and solve a number of problems of conventional auxiliary tank and heating systems of a flex fuel vehicle (FFV). The fuel heating device may include a heater having embedded therein a heat emission object for heating fuel, a solenoid valve connected the heater such that a flow path to a first outlet is opened or closed to selectively supply fuel, a temperature sensor installed in the heater, and a controller for turning on and off the heater and opening and closing the solenoid valve according to a temperature of the fuel, in which the outlet of the heater is connected with a cold start injector through a cold start line and an inlet of the solenoid valve is connected with a fuel line connected from the fuel tank.
US09163588B2	Method and system for humidity sensor diagnostics Methods and systems are provided for an engine including a humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined based on a change in intake air relative humidity as compared to a change in intake air temperature or pressure, under selected conditions. An amount of exhaust gas recirculated to an engine intake is adjusted differently based on whether the humidity sensor is degraded or functional.
US09163586B2	Exhaust system having parallel EGR coolers An exhaust system is disclosed for use with an engine. The exhaust system may have a first exhaust manifold associated with a first plurality of engine cylinders, and a second exhaust manifold associated with a second plurality of engine cylinders. The exhaust system may also have a first exhaust gas recirculation passage extending from the first exhaust manifold to the first plurality of engine cylinders, and a second exhaust gas recirculation passage extending from the first exhaust manifold to the second plurality of engine cylinders. The exhaust system may additionally have a first cooler located in fluid communication with the first exhaust gas recirculation passage, and a second cooler located in fluid communication with the second exhaust gas recirculation passage.
US09163585B2	Apparatus and method of determining a leak condition of a fuel system A portion of a fuel system of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a brake system. The fuel system includes a fuel tank connected to an engine. The portion of the fuel system includes an evaporative emissions system and an evaporative emissions leak check system selectively fluidly-connected to the evaporative emissions system. The evaporative emissions leak check system includes a vacuum source. The vacuum source includes a vacuum pump connected to a brake boost device that provides power braking to the brake system of the vehicle. A method is also disclosed.
US09163583B2	System, apparatus, and method for thrust vectoring The thrust vectoring systems described herein create variable reverse thrust during a landing event. The reverse thrust may be varied based on manual inputs, dynamically changing operating events, or a landing duty cycle. The thrust vectoring systems comprise a movable shelf that is capable of adjusting a directing a fluid flow to create a variable reverse thrust which may reduce the risk of foreign object ingestion M the engine at lower ground speeds.
US09163575B2	Methods and systems for an oxygen sensor Various systems and methods are described for an engine system with an exhaust gas recirculation system and catalyzing and non-catalyzing intake oxygen sensors. In one example, the catalyzing oxygen sensor is utilized to measure and control exhaust gas recirculation while fuel vapor purge is measured and controlled based on the catalyzing and non-catalyzing sensors.
US09163574B2	Sensor characteristic correction device A sensor characteristic correction device is configured to detect a characteristic of a first sensor arranged upstream of a catalyst 6 in an exhaust passage 4 of an internal combustion engine 2, and a characteristic of a second sensor that is an air-fuel sensor 12 arranged downstream of the catalyst 6, to calculate a first air-fuel ratio based on the characteristic of the first sensor, and calculates a second air-fuel ratio based on the characteristic of the second sensor, to detect, when the catalyst 6 is in an inactive state after start-up of the internal combustion engine 2, a difference between the first characteristic and the second characteristic or a difference between the first air-fuel ratio and the second air-fuel ratio, and to correct the responsiveness of the first or the second sensor in accordance with the difference.
US09163573B2	Internal combustion engine system for industrial applications Methods, systems, and apparatuses are enclosed for an internal combustion engine system for industrial applications.
US09163569B2	Indirect HCCI combustion control A method for controlling combustion in a spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine includes monitoring at least one combustion input parameter, and when the at least one monitored combustion input parameter deviates from a respective desired combustion input parameter, adjusting a combustion input mechanism associated with controlling the at least one monitored combustion input parameter to converge toward the respective desired combustion input parameter.
US09163567B2	Vehicle controller When a computer determines that an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are simultaneously stepped based on the signals from the accelerator position sensor and a brake switch, the first switch is turned off so that the accelerator sensor signal which will be transmitted into the computer is compulsorily made zero. A throttle-position command value which will be transmitted from the computer into a throttle actuator is reduced to a value corresponding to the idling state. If an engine output is not reduced, the computer turns off a second switch so that a throttle actuator is de-energized. A throttle valve is compulsorily brought into a position corresponding to an idling state by a biasing force of a throttle return spring.
US09163562B2	Constant speed pump system for engine ECS loss elimination A gas turbine engine comprises a fan configured to produce propulsive thrust from a fan discharge air stream. A bypass duct is located between a cowl and an engine core, the bypass duct is fluidly coupled to the fan. An impeller pump has an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the bypass duct. The impeller pump has an outlet coupled to an outlet duct fluidly coupled to an environmental control system, wherein the impeller pump is configured to raise pressure of the fan discharge air stream and pump the fan discharge air into the environmental control system for cooling. An integrated drive pump is connected to the impeller pump for driving the impeller pump at a constant speed. The integrated drive pump is positioned on the engine core.
US09163561B2	Power plant emissions reduction A system for improved emissions performance of a power plant generally includes an exhaust gas recirculation system having an exhaust gas compressor disposed downstream from the combustor, a condensation collection system at least partially disposed upstream from the exhaust gas compressor, and a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust gas compressor and the condensation collection system, where the mixing chamber is in fluid communication with the combustor.
US09163558B1	Complex path design of the flinger and insert A product for use with a turbocharger that may include a complex sealing path between a lubricated area of a housing and a compressor wheel.
US09163556B2	Turbine wastegate An assembly for a turbocharger can include a turbine housing that defines an exhaust inflow chamber that includes a wastegate valve seat and that defines an exhaust outflow chamber; and a wastegate valve plug that includes a seal surface where, in a closed state, the seal surface seats against the wastegate valve seat and where, in an open state, the wastegate valve plug extends into the exhaust inflow chamber. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09163551B2	Cooling system for internal combustion engine The character or nature of cooling water is correctly estimated. A cooling system for an internal combustion engine includes a radiator, a bypass passage which bypasses the radiator, a thermostat, and a control unit which changes a valve opening temperature of the thermostat. The cooling system for the internal combustion engine further includes an estimating unit which forbids valve opening of the thermostat and which estimates the character of the cooling water on the basis of temperature transition of the cooling water provided in this state.
US09163550B2	Internal combustion engine and straddle-type vehicle including the same A forced air-cooled engine includes a crankcase, a cylinder block, a cylinder head, a cooling fan, and a shroud arranged to cover a portion of the crankcase, the cooling fan, and a portion of the cylinder block and a portion of the cylinder head. Fins are provided at least in a region of the cylinder block covered by the shroud. The shroud includes a facing wall portion that faces the fins. An exhaust opening is provided between the facing wall portion and the cylinder block, and opens away from the cooling fan.
US09163546B2	Power generator power generation facility In a power generation facility, there are provided a plurality of diesel engines, a plurality of turbochargers driven by exhaust gas from the diesel engines, a plurality of power generators connected to the plurality of turbochargers, a plurality of converters for converting AC power generated by the plurality of power generators to DC power, one inverter for converting the DC power outputted from the plurality of converters to AC power, and a main controller for controlling the converters in accordance with the AC power from the inverter, by which stable electric power can be generated.
US09163544B2	Unit for recovering thermal energy from exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine A unit for recovering thermal energy from exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine including an inlet, an outlet, a heat exchanger arranged downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet, and a valve capable of being switched between a recovery position. The exhaust gas flows from the inlet through the heat exchanger to the outlet, and a bypass position, in which the exhaust gas flows from the inlet through a bypass to the outlet. The valve includes separate first and second valve bodies and associated separate first and second valve seats arranged upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger, respectively. The first and second valve bodies are adapted to be switched only simultaneously from the recovery position to the bypass position and vice versa.
US09163541B2	Control device for an electrically heated catalyst, and electrode deterioration degree estimation device for an electrically heated catalyst The present invention is intended to provide a technique which is capable of contributing to the suppression of the deterioration of surface electrodes in an electrically heated catalyst. The electrically heated catalyst according to the invention is provided with a heat generation element to heat a catalyst, and a pair of electrodes to supply electricity to the heat generation element. Each of the pair of electrodes has a surface electrode which spreads along a surface of the heat generation element, and the surface electrodes are arranged in opposition to each other with the heat generation element being sandwiched therebetween. Then, when a frequency becomes large in which a condition was satisfied in which a difference in temperature between two points located at a predetermined distance from each other on surfaces or in insides of the surface electrodes exceeds a predetermined temperature difference, an electric power supplied to the heat generation element is decreased, and an amount of heat supplied to the EHC by an exhaust gas is increased, as compared with when the frequency is small.
US09163525B2	Turbine wheel catcher A catcher for a gas turbine engine includes a central hub, a plurality of struts, and a first ring. The plurality of struts are connected to and extend outward from the central hub. The first ring is connected to a mid-section of the plurality of struts and extends therebetween.
US09163524B2	Variable geometry turbine seal According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; and a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the annular inlet, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; and a ring-like seal adjacent a free end of the sleeve, at least a part of the ring-like seal being located in-between the sleeve and the inlet portions, or a structure defining the inlet portions.
US09163515B2	Gas turbine arrangement and method for operating a gas turbine arrangement A gas turbine arrangement and a method of operating are provided. The turbine includes an annulus, axially delimited between a rotor unit, and at least one stationary component. Cooling medium outlet openings, lead into the annulus, from the stationary component. The cooling medium flows into cooling medium inlet openings, in the rotor unit in a flow direction, which propagates through the annulus. At least one inner cavity, radially to the annulus, is delimited by the rotor unit and by the stationary component. The inner cavity is pressurized with a purging gas, and is fluidically connected to the annulus. The stationary component and the rotor unit include a constriction by which the inner cavity is separated from the radially outer annulus and via which the inner cavity is fluidically connected to the radially outer annulus. Flow guides, fastened on the stationary component on one side, project into the constriction.
US09163509B2	Gerotor device roller pocket geometry A gerotor device includes a rotor having outwardly extending teeth and a stator having inwardly extending teeth. The inwardly extending teeth are formed by rollers each of which is received in a respective roller pocket in the stator. Each roller pocket has a maximum pocket width measured perpendicular to a pocket centerline. Each roller pocket defines a roller bearing surface having a first side that follows a first radius and a second side on an opposite side of the centerline that follows a second radius. Each radius is greater than ½ the maximum pocket width. Each roller pocket has an edge pocket width between a first pocket edge where the pocket transitions to a generally cylindrical section in the stator and a second pocket edge on an opposite side of the centerline. The edge pocket width is less than the maximum pocket width.
US09163506B2	Engine An internal combustion engine comprises a movable piston (2), at least one inlet port (21a, 21b) for a working fluid, at least one transfer/scavenging port (14) for a working fluid, internally to a working space, and at least one exhaust port (16) from the working space, in which the said at least one transfer/scavenging port (14) is provided with closure means including a reciprocatable sleeve (1) which is parallel to the axis of and linked synchronously with, the piston movement.
US09163498B2	Apparatus and methods for determining parameters downhole using gravity-affected sensor In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided that in one embodiment includes a sensor having a plurality of spaced conductive contact elements, a sensing member that moves by gravity and contacts at least two contact elements in the plurality of contact elements to create an electrical short between such at least two contact elements and a circuit coupled to the contact elements configured to generate electrical signals in response to the electrical short between the contact elements.
US09163496B1	Method of making a fracturing fluid composition and utilization thereof The present disclosure is directed to a method of making a fracturing fluid and system of fracturing a formation penetrated by a well-bore. The method includes providing a fracturing fluid that is liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) and a co-solvent in a quantity of 1-19 wt %, and at least one friction-reducing polymer in a quantity of 0.001-1.0 wt % of the fracturing fluid composition, wherein the friction-reducing polymer is initially disposed in an emulsion, and is at least partially soluble in the co-solvent and LCO2 mixture.
US09163489B2	Fluid injection A method is described of injecting CO2 into an aquifer or a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir (211) via at least one injection well (202) that penetrates said aquifer or reservoir, wherein the injection well is provided with an injection tubing (203) that is in sealing engagement with the injection well. The injection tubing terminates at or immediately above the interval of the aquifer or the reservoir into which the CO2 is to be injected and the injection tubing is provided with a fluid injection control valve (208) at or near the bottom thereof which is closed or closes when the pressure above the valve is less than a pre-set pressure value and opens or reopens when the pressure above the valve is at or greater than said pre-set pressure value, the pre-set pressure value being selected such that the CO2 in the injection tubing is maintained in a liquid or supercritical state.
US09163485B2	Connection apparatus and methods A vertical connection apparatus for connecting a pipeline to a subsea structure comprises a guide funnel for controlling the position of the pipeline relative to the subsea structure; a moveable barrier and a attachment region for a drive mechanism; the moveable barrier is operable between an open position in which the pipeline can pass through the guide funnel and a closed position in which the barrier prevent the end of the pipeline passing through the end of the guide funnel. A tool with a drive mechanism can be attached between the pipeline and guide funnel to manipulate the pipeline into a connectable position. A clamp connector secures the connection between the pipeline and subsea structure conduit.
US09163481B2	Remotely operated isolation valve A method of operating an isolation valve in a wellbore includes: deploying a work string into the wellbore through a tubular string disposed in the wellbore. The work string comprises a deployment string, a shifting tool, and a bottomhole assembly (BHA). The tubular string comprises the isolation valve and an actuator. The method further includes rotating the actuator using the shifting tool, thereby opening or closing the isolation valve. The isolation valve isolates a formation from an upper portion of the wellbore in the closed position.
US09163480B2	Decoupling a remote actuator of a well tool A well tool with a housing has an actuator sleeve in the housing. The actuator sleeve has an internal shifting tool engaging profile. An actuator is in the housing. The actuator is responsive to a remote signal to move the actuator sleeve from a first position to a second position. A dog is in the housing, supported to couple the actuator sleeve to the actuator when the actuator sleeve is in the first position and unsupported to allow the actuator sleeve to uncouple from the actuator when the actuator sleeve is in the second position.
US09163478B2	Inwardly swelling seal A device and method that allows a gravel slurry to placed in a wellbore from the toe towards the heel to reduce the pressure acting upon the heel of the wellbore during the gravel placement operation. By reducing the pressure acting upon the heel gravel slurry may be placed in longer sections of the wellbore in a single operation.
US09163477B2	Configurable downhole tools and methods for using same An insert for a downhole plug for use in a wellbore. The insert can include a body having a bore formed at least partially therethrough. One or more threads can be disposed on an outer surface of the body and adapted to threadably engage an inner surface of the plug proximate a first end of the plug. One or more shearable threads can be disposed on an inner surface of the body. The one or more shearable threads can be adapted to threadably engage a setting tool that enters the plug through the first end thereof and to deform to release the setting tool when exposed to a predetermined force that is less than a force required to deform the one or more threads disposed on the outer surface of the body. At least one impediment can be disposed within the body.
US09163472B2	Extendable conductor stand having multi-stage blowout protection An extendable conductor stand allowing for rapid alignment and installation. The conductor stand having capacity to accept a BOP to protect against all blowouts, including behind the casing blowouts.
US09163470B2	Multiple activation-device launcher for a cementing head A multiple activation-device launching system for a cementing head comprises a launcher body comprising at least one launching chamber and a device chamber, the launching chamber sized to receive one or more activation devices therein, the launching chamber in fluid communication with a power source for launching the activation device into the device chamber. The launching system may further comprise a pressure sensor, a pressure-relief device or a flow-measurement device, or combinations thereof.
US09163468B2	Expandable casing patch A system including a housing having an upper end in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and a lower end releasably coupled to an expandable tubular. A piston is disposed within and sealingly engaged with the housing. An expansion cone is coupled to the piston and is operable to radially expand the expandable tubular as it moves longitudinally therethrough. A pressure chamber is disposed within the housing and defined by the piston and the expansion cone. A first pressure relief port is disposed within the housing and is operable to allow fluid communication between the pressure chamber and an annulus external to the housing. A second pressure relief port is disposed within the expansion cone and is operable to allow fluid communication between the pressure chamber and a portion of the expandable tubular below the expansion cone.
US09163467B2	Apparatus and method for galvanically removing from or depositing onto a device a metallic material downhole In one aspect, a method of performing a wellbore operation is disclosed that in one embodiment may include: deploying a device in the wellbore containing a conductive fluid, wherein the device is configured to disintegrate upon application of electrical current thereto; and applying current to the device in the wellbore using a tool to controllably disintegrate the device. In another aspect, an apparatus for use downhole is provided that in one embodiment may include a device placed at a selected location in a wellbore, wherein the device is made from a material that disintegrates when electric current is induced in to device and a tool placed proximate to the device configured to induce electric current into the device to cause the device to disintegrate.
US09163465B2	System and method for drilling a well that extends for a large horizontal distance Method and apparatus for extending the horizontal distance through which wells can be drilled. A horizontal tubular is used to convey a drillstring from a drilling rig toward a target location and a mud return line and pump on the surface is used to pump drilling mud returning from the bit back to the drilling rig.

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