最新美国发明专利第2015-11-10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
US09183108B2	Logical grouping of profile data Profile data can be ascribed to groups as a function of an organizational scheme that defines groups and relationships between groups. The groups can be abstractions over profile data that are meaningful for computer program analysis. Subsequently, grouped data can be disseminated, queried, and visualized in numerous ways to further aid program analysis.
US09183107B2	Management of stream operators with dynamic connections One embodiment is directed to a method for processing a stream of tuples in a stream-based application. A stream operator may receive a stream of tuples. A stream manager may determine whether a dynamic connection exists at a first stream operator. The dynamic connection may connect the first stream operator to a second stream operator. The stream manager may poll the first stream operator and the second stream operator for a presence of the dynamic connection. The stream manager may modify processing of one or more upstream stream operators in response to a change in use of the dynamic connection.
US09183106B2	System and method for the automated generation of events within a server environment A system and method is disclosed in which the buses and physical characteristics of a server computer are monitored through server management software. A data structure for a monitored characteristic or group of characteristics is created and stored in a repository of data structures for other monitored devices and attributes within the server computer. As events, such as failure and pre-failure events, occur on one or more of the monitored attributes, the event is recorded in an event log. Using the server management software, monitoring commands can be issued by the baseboard management controller to each monitored bus to check the status of the attribute or device.
US09183105B2	Systems and methods for dynamic scan scheduling A system and method for dynamically modifying scheduling of scan operations for a system under test includes a processing module configured to apply input test data to the system under test based on the scan operations via a test access port and a scheduler adapted to provide the processing module with scheduling for the plurality of scan operations. The scheduler includes a circuit model of the system under test. The circuit model includes at least one attribute providing enhancing information for at least a portion of the system under test. The scheduler is adapted to schedule the scan operations based on the circuit model and to modify the schedule based on the at least one attribute. The processing module is configured to receive the modified scheduled scan operations and to apply the input test data to the system under test based on the modified scheduled scan operations.
US09183103B2	Lightweight remote replication of a local write-back cache Techniques for replicating a write-back cache are provided. In one embodiment, a first computer system can receive a write request from a virtual machine (VM) that includes data to be written to a shared storage device. The first computer system can further save the data in a local cache device and transmit, via a network interface controller (NIC), a data packet including the data to a second computer system. Upon determining that the data packet has been transmitted via the NIC, the first computer system can communicate an acknowledgment to the VM indicating that the write request has been successfully processed.
US09183097B2	Virtual infrastructure recovery configurator Systems, methods and procedures to capture, format and process configuration information needed for a Managed Recovery Program (MRP) solution that supports orderly handling of virtual machines in an information technology production environment. An MRP automation package is portable and contains all of the required configuration data to bring virtual infrastructure on line in a recovery environment as well as associated scripts that can be executed to automatically process the configuration data.
US09183095B1	Recovering from a program failure by combining write data A plurality of write data is received and combined to obtain backup write data. The plurality of write data is stored in storage. On a storage controller, the plurality of write data is released without waiting for a confirmation associated with writing the plurality of write data to the storage. The backup write data is stored.
US09183092B1	Avoidance of dependency issues in network-based service startup workflows A system and method for preventing dependency problems, such as deadlocks, within startup of computing service workflows, such as workflows that occur within computing assets that provide network-based computing services. The system and method creates a remedial workflow or action for the computing services to address deadlocks or other blocking conditions within the services which may occur should the underlying computing assets need to be restarted, rebooted or sequentially execute and reach a problematic operational state. The system and method will determine the reliance of each computing service upon the functionality of one or more other network-based computing services and structure the remedial workflow accordingly. Other aspects of the disclosure are described in the detailed description, figures, and claims.
US09183088B2	Reducing database downtime Embodiments enable reduction of database downtime in a live production environment of an on-demand database service during repair and/or maintenance tasks. A source database and a target database are provided. Data is copied from the source database to the target database to create a mirrored set of data. Access is limited to one or more designated tables in the target database. General traffic is redirected from the source database to the target database, wherein the redirection occurs for a duration of a maintenance period. Data modifications that occur in the target database during the maintenance period are captured and then replicated into the source database. Finally, general traffic is redirected from the target database to the source database.
US09183085B1	Systems and methods for adaptively selecting from among a plurality of error correction coding schemes in a flash drive for robustness and low latency Apparatus and methods provide relatively low uncorrectable bit error rates, low write amplification, long life, fast and efficient retrieval, and efficient storage density such that a solid-state drive (SSD) can be implemented using relatively inexpensive MLC Flash for an enterprise storage application. Predefined gears correspond to different predefined ECC schemes. Based on an observed bit error rate, a gear from a set of predefined gears is selected for use for a particular region of memory. Each gear of the set of predefined gears includes a lower-latency ECC decode option and one or more higher-latency ECC decode options.
US09183079B2	Multi-layer error correcting coding A transmission system may include a transformer, an adder, an encoder, and a transmitter. The transformer may segment and transform a data packet into segments. The adder may add a check code to each of the segments. The encoder may encode error correction to each of the segments with the added check code. A receiving system may include a receiver, a decoder, a checker, and a selector decoder. The decoder may decode error correction in each of the encoded segments. The checker may check the check code of the error corrected segments. The selector decoder may select at least one of the valid segments based upon the check code and transform the selected segments into a data packet.
US09183078B1	Providing error checking and correcting (ECC) capability for memory In some implementations, a memory controller is configured receive a data word to be stored in the memory, generate error checking and correcting (ECC) information for the data word, the data word and ECC information forming an encoded word, and distribute bits of the encoded word across the plurality of concurrently accessible memory devices in accordance with one or more indications specifying a number of the bits of the encoded word to store in a wordline of each of the plurality of concurrently accessible memory devices, wherein bits of the data word are to be stored in two or more memory devices of the plurality of memory devices, and bits of the ECC information are to be stored in two or more memory devices of the plurality of memory devices.
US09183077B2	Data storage apparatus and method for storing data A data storage apparatus includes: a memory configured to store data; an input delay circuit configured to input a set of data of a plurality of bits into the memory at different timings between the plurality of bits by adding different delays to the plurality of bits in the set of data or by adding different delays to bits in bit groups obtained by grouping the plurality of bits in units of a consecutive bits; and an output delay circuit configured to obtain an original set of data, which is the set of data before the input delay circuit adds the different delays, by adding, to the plurality of bits in the set of data output from the memory, delays having a pattern opposite that of the delays added by the input delay circuit.
US09183071B1	System and method for automated hardware compatibility testing Systems and methods for automating testing of multiple SATA hard drives with multiple motherboards are described herein. In certain embodiments any number of SATA drives may be switchably connected to any number of motherboards, and any number of tests may be performed on combinations of the SATA drives and motherboards without or with only minimal manual intervention between tests. In one embodiment, the system may include an automated selector having a controller adapted to receive a testing instruction and transmit the received testing instruction and a mainboard in communication with the controller. The mainboard may include a logic device to receive the testing instruction from the controller and/or a switch for pairing and unpairing motherboards with SATA storage devices.
US09183069B2	Managing failure of applications in a distributed environment A mechanism for managing failure of applications in a distributed environment is disclosed. A method includes detecting failure in an application node among a plurality of application nodes when the application node does not respond to a status message. The method further includes routing, by enterprise application nexus application processing interface (EANA) module, a first lock message to the failed application node and ancestors' nodes of the failed application node when the failed application node is an aware application node.
US09183067B2	Data preserving apparatus, method and system therefor A data preserving apparatus includes: a generator generating scenarios that represent presence or absence of occurrence of a failure, presence or absence of a failure symptom, a time point of occurrence of a failure, and a time point of occurrence of a failure symptom; an evaluator calculating the amount of data loss in the case of occurrence of a failure for the scenario based on first and second backup intervals before and after occurrence of a failure symptom; an backup interval evaluator calculating a number of backups performed until earlier one of a time point of occurrence of a failure and a time point after a predetermined time period; a cost evaluator calculating a cost evaluation values for the scenarios based on the amount of data loss and the number of backups; and a calculator calculating the first and second backup intervals based on cost evaluation values for scenarios.
US09183064B2	Intelligent mediation of messages in a healthcare product integration platform An example method to mediate messages in a product integration platform includes receiving a message request from a source healthcare system where the message request contains a message payload. The example method includes determining an interface to be used to route the message to a target healthcare system. The example method includes creating a platform message based on the message request. The example method includes adapting the platform message into a message format expected by the interface and routing the platform message to the interface.
US09183062B2	Automated application reconfiguration Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for automated application reconfiguration. A method includes identifying, for each of one or more configuration files in a pre-configured source virtual machine, a corresponding configuration file in a target virtual machine, identifying one or more mis-configured and/or missing points of variability in the one or more identified configuration files in the target virtual machine based on information derived from the one or more configuration files in the source virtual machine, and reconfiguring the target virtual machine by replacing each identified mis-configured point of variability with a given value based on the information derived from the one or more configuration files in the source virtual machine, and adding each identified missing point of variability at a given location with a given value and a given format based on the information derived from the one or more configuration files in the source virtual machine.
US09183060B2	Computer product, migration executing apparatus, and migration method A computer-readable medium stores therein a migration executing program stored in a second storage area that is different from a first storage area where a first operating system (OS) is stored. The migration executing program causes a source apparatus to execute a process. The process includes detecting the presence of the first operating system in the first storage area when the source apparatus that includes the first and second storage areas is started up by a second OS stored in the second storage area; and transferring, when the presence of the first operating system in the first storage area is detected, data to be migrated that are stored in the first storage area and include at least the first operating system to a destination apparatus that can communicate with the source apparatus.
US09183059B1	VM client administrative interface for virtual machine instantiation allows a user to select from a subset of predetermined available resources assigned to the user Systems and methods for providing a virtual machine client administrative interface are provided. In some aspects, a method includes providing for display of a virtual machine creation console via operation of a virtual machine hosting environment, the virtual machine creation console indicating a set of predetermined available resources for virtual machine creation. The method includes facilitating receiving, from a user, an input via the virtual machine creation console, the input defining a portion of the set of predetermined available resources and one or more virtual machines to be created with the portion of the set of predetermined available resources. The method includes facilitating creating the one or more virtual machines.
US09183058B2	Heuristics-based scheduling for data analytics A scheduler may receive a plurality of jobs for scheduling of execution thereof on a plurality of computing nodes. An evaluation module may provide a common interface for each of a plurality of scheduling algorithms. An algorithm selector may utilize the evaluation module in conjunction with benchmark data for a plurality of jobs of varying types to associate one of the plurality of scheduling algorithms with each job type. A job comparator may compare a current job for scheduling against the benchmark data to determine a current job type of the current job. The evaluation module may further schedule the current job for execution on the plurality of computing nodes, based on the current job type and the associated scheduling algorithm.
US09183055B2	Selecting a resource from a set of resources for performing an operation The described embodiments comprise a selection mechanism that selects a resource from a set of resources in a computing device for performing an operation. In some embodiments, the selection mechanism is configured to perform a lookup in a table selected from a set of tables to identify a resource from the set of resources. When the identified resource is not available for performing the operation and until a resource is selected for performing the operation, the selection mechanism is configured to identify a next resource in the table and select the next resource for performing the operation when the next resource is available for performing the operation.
US09183054B2	Maintaining hardware resource bandwidth quality-of-service via hardware counter Each time a currently scheduled virtual machine (VM) accesses a hardware resource over a bus for the hardware resource via the currently scheduled VM running on a processor, a hardware component adjusts a bandwidth counter associated with usage of the bus for the hardware resource, without involvement of the currently scheduled VM or a hypervisor managing the currently scheduled VM. Responsive to the bandwidth counter reaching a threshold value, the hardware component issues an interrupt for handling by the hypervisor to maintain bandwidth quality-of-service (QoS) of bus bandwidth related to the hardware resource. Upon expiration of a regular time interval prior to the bandwidth counter reaching the threshold value, the hardware component resets the bandwidth counter to a predetermined value associated with the currently scheduled VM, without involvement of the currently scheduled VM or the hypervisor; the hardware component does not issue an interrupt. The hardware resource can be memory.
US09183053B2	Migrating threads across NUMA nodes using corresponding page tables and based on remote page access frequency Implementations provide for tracking memory accesses to optimize processor task placement is disclosed. A method includes creating a page table (PT) hierarchy associated with a thread, wherein the PT hierarchy comprises identifying information of memory pages and access bits corresponding to each of the memory pages, setting the respective access bit of one or more of the memory pages accessed by the thread while the thread is executing, collecting access bit information from the PT hierarchy associated with the thread, wherein the access bit information comprises the set access bits in the PT hierarchy, determining, in view of the collected access bit information, memory access statistics for the thread, and utilizing, during runtime of the thread, the memory access statistics for the thread in a determination of whether to migrate the thread to another processing device during the runtime of the thread.
US09183052B2	Systems and methods for spillover in a multi-core system The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for spillover threshold management in a multi-core system. A pool manager divides the spillover threshold limit of connections for vServers into an exclusive quota pool and a shared quota pool. Each vServer operating on a core is allocated an exclusive number of connections from the exclusive quota pool. If a vServer wishes to create connections beyond its exclusive number, the vServer can borrow from the shared quota pool. When the vServers are using at least a first predetermined threshold of their exclusive number of connections and the number of available connections in the shared quota pool has reached a second predetermined threshold, the multi-core system establishes a backup vServer.
US09183051B2	Methods and apparatus for achieving thermal management using processing task scheduling The present invention provides apparatus and methods to perform thermal management in a computing environment. In one embodiment, thermal attributes are associated with operations and/or processing components, and the operations are scheduled for processing by the components so that a thermal threshold is not exceeded. In another embodiment, hot and cool queues are provided for selected operations, and the processing components can select operations from the appropriate queue so that the thermal threshold is not exceeded.
US09183049B1	Processing content using pipelines A transcoding service is described that is capable of transcoding or otherwise processing content, such as video, audio or multimedia content, by utilizing one or more pipelines. A pipeline can enable a user to submit transcoding jobs (or other processing jobs) into an available pipeline, where a transcoding service (or other such service) assigns one or more computing resources to process the jobs received to each pipeline. The transcoding service and the pipelines can be provided by at least one service provider (e.g., a cloud computing provider) or other such entity to a plurality of customers. A service provider can also provide the computing resources (e.g., servers, virtual machines, etc.) used to process the transcoding jobs from the pipelines.
US09183046B2	Network address retrieval for live migration of a guest system in a virtual machine system A method and system for managing network addresses of a guest during live migration in a virtual machine system. A computer system hosts a guest that is to migrate from a source hypervisor in the computer system to a target hypervisor during operation of the computer system. In response to the indication, the source hypervisor retrieves an address list of the guest from a network device, where the address list identifies one or more network addresses of the guest in one or more networks. The source hypervisor then forwards the address list to the target hypervisor, which notifies the one or more networks of the migration of the guest.
US09183043B2	Systems and methods for adaptive integration of hardware and software lock elision techniques Particular techniques for improving the scalability of concurrent programs (e.g., lock-based applications) may be effective in some environments and for some workloads, but not others. The systems described herein may automatically choose appropriate ones of these techniques to apply when executing lock-based applications at runtime, based on observations of the application in the current environment and with the current workload. In one example, two techniques for improving lock scalability (e.g., transactional lock elision using hardware transactional memory, and optimistic software techniques) may be integrated together. A lightweight runtime library built for this purpose may adapt its approach to managing concurrency by dynamically selecting one or more of these techniques (at different times) during execution of a given application. In this Adaptive Lock Elision approach, the techniques may be selected (based on pluggable policies) at runtime to achieve good performance on different platforms and for different workloads.
US09183042B2	Input/output traffic backpressure prediction According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for input/output traffic backpressure prediction is disclosed. The method includes: performing a plurality of memory transactions; determining, for each memory transaction, a traffic value corresponding to a time for performing the respective memory transactions; responsive to determining the traffic value for a respective memory transaction, determining a median value based on the determined traffic values; determining whether successive median values are incrementing; and responsive to a quantity of successively incrementing median values exceeding a threshold, indicating a prediction of a backpressure condition.
US09183027B2	Facilitating processing within computing environments supporting pageable guests Processing within a computing environment that supports pageable guests is facilitated. Processing is facilitated in many ways, including, but not limited to, associating guest and host state information with guest blocks of storage; maintaining the state information in control blocks in host memory; enabling the changing of states; and using the state information in management decisions. In one particular example, the guest state includes an indication of usefulness and importance of memory contents to the guest, and the host state reflects the ease of access to memory contents. The host and guest state information is used in managing memory of the host and/or guests.
US09183026B2	Supporting heterogeneous virtualization Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system are described. In some embodiments, a virtual machine monitor of a computer platform may comprise a service virtual machine created by the virtual machine monitor partitioning an underlying hardware machine to support execution of a plurality of overlying guest operating systems, wherein the plurality of guest operating systems comprise a guest operating system complying with a non-native guest system architecture different from a host system architecture with which the hardware machine complies. The service virtual machine may further comprise a translation layer to translate instructions from the guest operating system complying with the non-native guest system architecture into instructions complying with the host system architecture.
US09183017B2	Affinity of virtual processor dispatching In an embodiment, a request is received for a first partition to execute on a first virtual processor. If the first physical processor is available at a first node, the first virtual processor is dispatched to execute at the first physical processor at the first node that is the home node of the first virtual processor. If the first physical processor is not available, a determination is made whether the first physical processor is assigned to a second virtual processor and a home node of the second virtual processor is not the first node. If the first physical processor is assigned to a second virtual processor and the home node of the second virtual processor is not the first node, execution of the second virtual processor is stopped on the first physical processor and the first virtual processor is dispatched to the first physical processor.
US09183012B2	Adaptive rendering based on runtime capability check A runtime capability check determines functionality supported by a client application (e.g. a browser) on a computing device. During the runtime capability check, the client application (e.g. the browser) attempts to execute different function tests to determine its capabilities. The result information from the function tests are stored. The stored result information is used by the client application during subsequent connections with the server (e.g. the cookie is passed from the mobile computing device to the server). Based on the supported functionality as determined by the stored result information, the rendering code is adapted for, generated and delivered to the computing device by the server. For example, when the client application supports the tested functionality then the server renders the content using full feature rendering. When the client application does not support all of the tested functionality then the server renders the content using limited feature rendering.
US09183011B2	Method and system for runtime environment emulation A method for runtime environment emulation involves loading an application class of an object-oriented application, where the object-oriented application is executing in a runtime environment, and where the application class includes a method call that is unsupported by the runtime environment. The method further involves translating, during loading of the application class, the unsupported method call into one or more method calls that are supported by the runtime environment, to obtain a translated class, where the one or more supported method calls emulate the unsupported method call.
US09183010B2	Comparing and provisioning configurations for a client having a windows-based embedded image Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for comparing and provisioning configurations for a local client having a windows-based embedded image. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the local client configured to facilitate locating a remote repository server containing a new configuration file, to facilitate obtaining the new configuration file from the remote repository server, and to facilitate obtaining a previous configuration file associated with a previous configuration change successfully applied to the embedded image. The apparatus may include a configuration comparison module of the local client configured to compare the new configuration file with the previous configuration file. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the local client configured to apply, to the embedded image, one of a new configuration change and the previous configuration change based on the comparison. The new configuration change may be based on the new configuration file.
US09183007B2	Dynamic determination of application server runtime classloading Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic selection of a runtime classloader for a generated class file. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic selection of a runtime classloader for a generated class file is provided. The method includes extracting meta-data from a program object directed for execution in an application server and determining from the meta-data a container identity for a container in which the program object had been compiled. The method also includes selecting a container according to the meta-data. Finally, the method includes classloading the program object in the selected container.
US09183005B2	Method and apparatus for resizing buffered windows Methods and apparatuses for resizing buffered windows. In one aspect of the invention, a method to resize a buffered window on a data processing system includes: determining an estimated size for a window which has a first pixel image of a first size buffered in a first window buffer; allocating a second window buffer which is large enough to buffer the window in the estimated size; and buffering a second pixel image of the window in a second size in the second window buffer. In one example according to this aspect, a portion of a frame buffer is updated to the second pixel image to display the window in the second size. A portion of the second window buffer, storing the data that represents the second pixel image, is clipped to update the corresponding portion of the frame buffer.
US09183002B2	Method and system for providing a widget for displaying multimedia content A system and computer implemented method for providing a widget for dynamically displaying multimedia content are described. The method and system include receiving a plurality of parameters for an ancestor widget of the widget. The ancestor widget is embeddable, copyable, and for dynamically displaying at least a portion of the multimedia content. The widget being a copy of the ancestor widget. The plurality of parameters relate to controlling modification of the widget. The method and system also include rendering the widget based on the plurality of parameters. In another aspect, the method and system include providing embeddable code based on a plurality of parameters for the ancestor widget of the widget. In this aspect, the widget is also rendered the widget based on the plurality of parameters.
US09183000B2	Memory system According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor storage able to hold data, a temperature measurement section configured to measure the temperature of the semiconductor storage, a temperature varying section configured to change the temperature of the semiconductor storage, and a control circuit including a transmitter configured such that data received from a host is transferred to the semiconductor storage, and a temperature storage configured to store temperature information received from the temperature measurement section.
US09182992B2	Method for improving performance of a pipelined microprocessor by utilizing pipeline virtual registers A method for improving performance of a pipelined microprocessor by utilizing pipeline virtual registers allows for either decreased register spillage or decreased area and power consumption of a microprocessor. The microprocessor takes advantage of register bypass logic to write short-lived values to virtual registers, which are discarded instead of being written to the register bank, thus reducing register pressure by avoiding short-lived values being written to the register bank.
US09182991B2	Multi-threaded processor instruction balancing through instruction uncertainty A computer system for instruction execution includes a processor having a pipeline. The system is configured to perform a method including fetching, in the pipeline, a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions includes a plurality of branch instructions, for each of the plurality of branch instructions, assigning a branch uncertainty to each of the plurality of branch instructions, for each of the plurality of instructions, assigning an instruction uncertainty that is a summation of branch uncertainties of older unresolved branches and balancing the instructions, based on a current summation of instruction uncertainty, in the pipeline.
US09182990B1	Method and apparatus for detecting execution of unsupported instructions while testing multiversioned code A system and method for detecting execution of unsupported instructions while testing multiversioned functions within software application code are disclosed. An example method includes annotating a software application's executable binary to distinguish functions that are directed to particular hardware variations. Functions with instructions that are unsupported by a simulated hardware platform variation on which the software application's annotated executable binary will run may then be detected. The contents of the detected functions may be rewritten with trap instructions. At runtime, when executing the software application on the simulated hardware platform variation running on a different physical hardware platform variation, responsive to execution of a function with instructions that are unsupported by the simulated hardware platform, terminating the software application based on the execution of the trap instructions. Execution of unsupported instructions may be detected based on the termination of the software application.
US09182989B1	System and method for receiving services provided by distributed systems A system and method allows a legacy program to call a distributed service in the manner of the legacy program calling another legacy program. The call is translated and sent to the distributed system in a secure manner, with potential timeout issues potentially handled faster than would be handled by the distributed system, and the response is returned to the legacy program in the format that another legacy program would have used.
US09182976B2	System and method for managing client application enablement A method for implementation by a network-connectable computing system is provided. The method includes receiving an indication of a service corresponding to a mobile device, the indication based on a user action, and transmitting at least one message to the mobile device responsive to the indication of the service. The at least one message includes an instruction for a particular application corresponding to the service to provide a status of the particular application and an instruction for a user of the mobile device to initiate contact with a network resource to access data corresponding to the particular application. Further provided is a system for managing client application enablement and operation.
US09182970B2	Methods for creating device preload via manufacturing and cloud content Systems, methods and products directed toward creating device preloads via employing base and additional image content. One aspect includes communicating an aspect of an information handling device, and assimilating additional image content at the information handling device responsive to communication of the aspect of the device, wherein a base image and the additional image content are combined to form a unitary device image. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09182967B2	Method for safely downloading application A method for safely downloading an application, including: after a successful mutual authentication of a card and a card connector, adopting an all-cipher text communication means, and controlling the number of installations of an application by a card activation operation, so as to realize secure downloading of the application. The present invention realizes all-cipher text communication of a card and a card connector, and the issuing frequency of the card is controllable; by means of such a method, the independence and security of the application can be ensured when issuing a card, while the issuing frequency of the card is limited, intermediaries and clients are prevented from arbitrarily downloading an application, and the security is relatively high.
US09182964B2	System and method for deploying software into a computing environment There is provided a system and method of deploying software into a computing environment by a processor. An exemplary method comprises providing, by a processor, a model of software to be deployed and providing, by a processor, a model of the environment into which the software is to be deployed. The exemplary method also comprises customizing, by a processor, a plan for deploying the software into the computing environment. The exemplary method additionally comprises deploying, by a processor, the software into the computing environment according to the customized deployment plan.
US09182962B2	Method for translating a cobol source program into readable and maintainable program code in an object oriented second programming language A method is disclosed for translating by a computer system of a COBOL computer program into a translated computer program in a readable and maintainable syntax in an object oriented programming language. The translated program including variable names equivalent to the original COBOL variable names and with attributes described in COBOL syntax. The translating method further providing for memory allocation in the translated computer program for storage of “COBOL” variables compatible with that of the original COBOL program; a description of program flow that is readable, and utilizing arithmetic operators to describe operations between COBOL variables. Also disclosed is a special object oriented run-time library for creating and performing operations between COBOL numeric objects, including maintaining storage of variable content in the original COBOL format, and for enabling readability of the translated source code by allowing arguments for variable type descriptions to be expressed in COBOL syntax.
US09182959B2	Predicate count and segment count instructions for processing vectors The described embodiments comprise a PredCount instruction and a SegCount instruction. When executed by a processor, the PredCount instruction causes the processor to analyze a predicate vector to determine a number of active elements in the predicate vector that exhibit a predetermined condition (e.g., that are set to a predetermined value) and to return a result indicating that number. When executed by a processor, the SegCount instruction causes the processor to determine a number of times that a GeneratePredicates instruction would be executed to generate a full set of predicates using active elements of an input vector.
US09182958B2	Software code profiling An on-chip function call aware software code profiling counter system and method is disclosed. When building software code a compiler/tool-chain can modify prologues and epilogues of functions to add instrumentation code which uniquely identifies the function. Each function included in the instrumented source code tree is assigned a unique identifier (ID) by the compiler/tool-chain. Writing a unique ID for a function to a register starts profiling for the function. The profiling is performed by a counter that counts the number of instruction cycles since the last unique ID was written to the register. When a unique ID for a next function to be profiled is written to the register, the old register value and the counter value are latched to one or more buffers and the counter is cleared to start the next count sequence for the next function to be profiled.
US09182953B2	Hybrid dynamic code compiling device, method, and service system thereof An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrates a hybrid dynamic code compiling device having a parser, a native code generator, and a dynamic code rewriter, wherein the parser is coupled to the native code generator and the dynamic code rewriter. The parser receives and parses a first dynamic code to divide the first dynamic code into compilable blocks and non-compilable blocks. The native code generator generates a native code according to the compilable blocks. The dynamic code rewriter rewrites the non-compilable blocks to generate a second dynamic code, wherein the second dynamic code has function calls which communicate between the native code and the first dynamic code.
US09182952B2	Automated graph-based programming A method includes capturing an image of a scene that includes a diagram. The method further includes applying functional block recognition rules to image data of the image to recognize functional blocks of the diagram. The functional blocks include at least a first functional block associated with a first computer operation. The method further includes determining whether the functional blocks comply with functional block syntax rules. A functional graph is computer-generated based on the functional blocks complying with the functional block syntax rules. The functional graph corresponds to the diagram, and the functional graph includes the functional blocks.
US09182951B1	Multi-ecosystem application platform as a service (aPaaS) An application Platform as a Service system includes a rapid development platform adapted to receive input and create a data-driven application. The rapid development platform provides a graphical user interface and at least one template for use in creating the data driven application. The system further includes a unified platform for executing the data-driven application, the unified platform coupled to the rapid development platform to receive and initialize the data-driven application. The unified platform is capable of communicating with and modifying a plurality of data sources responsive to the data-driven application, and providing a unified environment for executing the data-driven application. The system also includes a multi-system interface module having inputs and outputs for coupling the unified platform to the plurality of data sources. The present invention also includes methods for operation of the application platform as a service.
US09182948B1	Method and system for navigating hierarchical levels using graphical previews Navigating hierarchical levels of a design using graphical preview images. In one aspect, a method for providing a preview image for a design includes causing a display of a main image depicting a first portion of the design, the design organized into multiple hierarchical levels, each level having a different amount of abstraction of graphical information of the design. A preview image smaller than the main image is displayed, portraying a second portion of the design at a different hierarchical level than the first portion. The preview image is receptive to a selection causing the second portion to be displayed as the main image. Some embodiments allow the preview image to include one or more hotspots that cause a display of another preview image at a different hierarchical level, or to show a connected object connected to a probed first object.
US09182945B2	Automatic generation of user stories for software products via a product content space Exemplary embodiments include a computer-implemented method for generating agile user stories, the method including collecting, by a processor, a plurality of requirements, creating, by the processor, a plurality of content space specification files that includes the plurality of requirements, processing, by the processor, the plurality of content space specification files to generate the user stories and outputting, by the processor, the user stories.
US09182944B2	Managing lifecycle of objects A system and computer program product for managing the lifecycle of an object, where the lifecycle involves a plurality of states of the object, at least one transition between the plurality of states and at least one role who has authority to execute the at least one transition. At least one of the plurality of states, the at least one transition and the at least one role is mapped to Web Ontology Language (OWL) elements. The role related control information is obtained using the reasoning ability of OWL itself according to the above mapping. Furthermore, the lifecycle is managed according to the above role related control information. Using the principles of the present invention, the access control information of roles can be embedded into the lifecycle description and therefore the lifecycle management can be realized easily.
US09182940B1	Systems and methods for determining playback locations in media files According to one or more embodiments, a method is provided. The method may include receiving an indication to pause playback of a media file at a current location in the media file. The method may also include receiving an indication to resume playback of the media file. Furthermore, the method may include determining an elapsed time between the indication to pause playback and the indication to resume playback. Furthermore, the method may include determining, based at least in part on the current location and the elapsed time, a second location in the media file that occurs before the current location. Further still, the method may include resuming playback of the media file at the second location.
US09182937B2	Desktop reveal by moving a logical display stack with gestures A dual-screen user device and methods are disclosed for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens. A determined number of desktops and/or running applications are displayed on dual screen displays conditioned upon inputs received and the state of the device. Desktop displays and applications can be shifted between the screens by user gestures, and/or selected desktop displays. Applications can be moved off of the screens by other user gestures and therefore hidden. Hidden desktops and screens can be re-displayed by other gestures. Desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order therefore providing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications and desktops running simultaneously. The user gestures prevent the user from having to open and close the running desktops and applications that otherwise may require laborious efforts by the user to manage the multiple running desktops and applications.
US09182936B2	Display device with sharable screen image Disclosed is an interaction mobile displaying device for jointly displaying one virtual screen image with other interaction mobile displaying devices, comprising display means for displaying a physical screen image corresponding to a portion of the virtual screen image; computing means for executing computations of the interaction mobile displaying device; and communication means for communicating with other interaction mobile displaying devices, so that those interaction mobile displaying devices are capable of interacting with each other via the virtual screen image.
US09182933B2	Image forming apparatus using vibration detection to recognize mobile terminal An image forming apparatus has an operation panel and is operable from an operation panel and a mobile terminal. The image forming apparatus includes a holding unit, a vibration detecting unit, a communication unit, and a terminal recognition unit. The holding unit holds the mobile terminal. The vibration detecting unit detects a vibration of the mobile terminal held by the holding unit. The communication unit receives operation information wirelessly from the mobile terminal. The terminal recognition unit recognizes the mobile terminal from which an operation is to be accepted, on the condition that the timing of reception of the operation information by the communication unit coincides with the timing of detection of the vibration by the vibration detecting unit. The image forming apparatus disables acceptance of an operation from the operation panel in the case of accepting an operation from the mobile terminal.
US09182927B2	Techniques for implementing hybrid flash/HDD-based virtual disk files Techniques for utilizing flash storage as an extension of hard disk (HDD) based storage are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can store a first subset of blocks of a logical file in a first physical file residing on a flash storage tier, and a second subset of blocks of the logical file in a second physical file residing on an HDD storage tier. The computer system can then receive an I/O request directed to one or more blocks of the logical file and process the I/O request by accessing the flash storage tier or the HDD storage tier, the accessing being based on whether the one or more blocks are part of the first subset of blocks stored in the first physical file.
US09182925B2	Memory system that utilizes a wide input/output (I/O) interface to interface memory storage with an interposer A memory system is provided in which at least one memory chip and a memory controller chip are mounted in a side-by-side relationship on an interposer. The memory chip is connected to the interposer via a Wide I/O interface to enable the memory chip and the memory controller chip to communicate with each other via the Wide I/O interface. The memory controller chip has an interface for communicating with an interface of an integrated circuit (IC) chip of the memory system.
US09182924B2	Modifying logical addressing at a requestor level Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a control circuit monitors access operations upon a set of data blocks in a memory of a data storage device. The data blocks have a first logical address by which the data blocks are identified by a requestor coupled to the data storage device. When the monitored access operations indicate a potential data degradation condition may arise with the data blocks, the requestor assigns a different, second logical address to the data block.
US09182921B2	Method and system for providing substantially constant-time execution of a copy operation A system and method for providing a substantially constant-time copy operation for file system objects managed by a storage server begins by generating a snapshot of at least a portion of a data set managed by the storage server. The system then performs a copy operation in the storage server to generate a copy of the data set separate from the snapshot, on a set of block locations containing a predetermined reference value. During the copy operation to generate the copy of the data set separate from the snapshot, the system can receive from a requester a first read request directed to the copy of the data set that the copy operation is to generate. In response to the first data request, the system provides data from the snapshot to the requester by the storage server.
US09182920B2	Channel activating method and peripheral device performing the same A channel activating method and a peripheral device are provided for activating a serial transmission channel to retrieve at least one firmware instruction from a host. The peripheral device includes a serial transmission port coupled to the host, a microprocessor coupled to the serial transmission port for performing functions of the peripheral device according to the firmware instruction, a memory for holding the firmware instruction, a trigger generator for generating a trigger signal by monitoring a control signal received from the host via the serial transmission port, and a signal generator, coupled to the trigger generator, for generating an indication signal to the host via the serial transmission port according to the trigger signal to activate the serial transmission channel.
US09182916B1	Non-volatile storage subsystem with energy-based performance throttling A non-volatile storage subsystem regulates energy consumption by controlling or “throttling” the rate at which memory operations are performed. During relatively idle periods in which few or no memory operations are performed, energy allotments or “counts” are accumulated to reflect unused energy. These accumulated energy counts may then be effectively allocated for use during bursts or other periods of relatively heavy memory activity, such that the memory operations are performed at a relatively high rate without causing a maximum average power consumption to be exceeded.
US09182913B2	Apparatus, system and method for the efficient storage and retrieval of 3-dimensionally organized data in cloud-based computing architectures A cloud based storage system and methods for uploading and accessing 3-D data partitioned across distributed storage nodes of the system. The data cube is processed to identify discrete partitions thereof, which partitions may be organized according to the x (e.g., inline), y (e.g., crossline) and/ or z (e.g., time) aspects of the cube. The partitions are stored in unique storage nodes associated with unique keys. Sub-keys may also be used as indexes to specific data values or collections of values (e.g., traces) within a partition. Upon receiving a request, the proper partitions and values within the partitions are accessed, and the response may be passed to a renderer that converts the values into an image displayable at a client device. The request may also facilitate data or image access at a local cache, a remote cache, or the storage partitions using location, data, retrieval, and/or rendering parameters.
US09182897B2	Method and apparatus for intuitive wrapping of lists in a user interface The methods and devices of the various aspects provide a visual indication in a graphical user interface that a document boundary is or will soon be reached, and a mechanism for wrapping the list on the display so that it appears to snap to the other end of the list (i.e., from beginning to end if scrolling up, or end to beginning if scrolling down) when sufficient user input is applied. The displayed snap to the end or beginning of the list may also be implemented in response to a momentum list scroll initiated by a flick gesture when the momentum scroll would otherwise scroll the list a threshold distance beyond a list boundary.
US09182893B2	Sharing annotations of digital items A user may make a digital item available to other users of a computer network, such as an instant messaging system, a chat environment, or a subscription-based computer network. Examples of digital items that may be shared with other users include digital representations of graphic images, photographs, audio segments, songs, video segments, movies, and text (such as lists of favorites (e.g., a list of favorite books, a list of favorite movies, and a list of favorite places to visit)). On-line presence information is provided to indicate the on-line presence of users with whom a digital item has been shared, may be shared or is being shared. For instance, an indication of the on-line or offline status of a user with whom an item has been shared or is being shared may be presented.
US09182892B2	Condition of assembly visualization system A method and apparatus for identifying a condition of assembly. A model for an aircraft is identified. A state from states of assembly for the aircraft is identified. Parts present in the aircraft for the state selected for the aircraft are identified. Sections of the aircraft with the parts present in the aircraft are displayed for the state selected in a graphical user interface on a display device.
US09182891B2	User interfaces for determining the reaction of a group with respect to a set of elements The present invention provides systems and methods that provide knowledge about a reaction (e.g. interest) of a group (normally of people) with respect to a set of elements, wherein each group member can react in a different manner. Assuming that the group is accessible by electronic means (e.g. Internet) this system may be based on a group response algorithm to estimate group reaction minimizing workload of group members and minimizing the time needed.To minimize or reduce group members' workload and time, the algorithm uses statistic tools. The group response system estimates group reaction with previously set statistic reliability.The present invention can use too in some cases, secondary algorithms for specific cases.
US09182885B2	Method and arrangement for the operation of electrical devices At least one additional menu layer can be selected in a menu layer and be displayed on a display unit by means of at least one control element. The additional menu layer selected via the control element is displayed in the display unit as a preview when an object approaches the control element that is equipped with a proximity sensor or when an object touches the control element that is fitted with a tactile sensor. The additional menu layer disappears again when the object, e.g. a person's finger, is removed, and the originally represented menu layer is automatically displayed again. This prevents the control elements from being repeatedly actuated, thus significantly increasing user friendliness and improving customer acceptance.
US09182883B2	Communicating between a virtual area and a physical space Apparatus transmits an identifier for association with a virtual area by an administering network service, generates output data from human perceptible stimulus in a physical space, transmits the output data in connection with the virtual area, receives input data associated with the virtual area, and generates human perceptible stimulus in the physical space from the input data. A persistent association is created between the apparatus and a virtual area. A respective presence is established in the virtual area for a communicant operating a client network node connected to the virtual area. A respective connection between each active pair of complementary sources and sinks of the client network node and the apparatus are administered in association with the virtual area. A client network node displays a graphical user interface, establishes the administered connections, and presents interaction controls associated with the object for interacting with communicants in the physical space.
US09182877B2	System and method for functional elements Systems and methods whereby, for example, one or more functional elements can be established and/or employed. Such functional elements might serve a number of purposes. For instance, such functional elements might be employable in interoperating with devices, software, and/or the like, in working with entities, and/or the like. Such functional elements may, for example, be arrangeable in an associative and/or hierarchical manner.
US09182876B2	Method arranging user interface objects in touch screen portable terminal and apparatus thereof A method of rearranging a display of at least one icon on a touch screen of a portable electronic device is provided. The method detects if the device has entered a tilted state, and automatically rearranges the display of the at least one icon according to the tilted state. In some implementations, icons are rearranged to be displayed in a lopsided manner when entering the tilted state, thereby facilitating user touch selection of the icons.
US09182870B2	Touch panel and electronic device An electronic device includes a display device; a touch panel overlaid on the display device and including at least a predetermined side; a conductive member provided along the predetermined side; and a variable resistor having one end which is electrically connected to the conductive member and another end which is electrically connected to a predetermined potential. A resistance of the variable resistor is switchable.
US09182865B2	Touch screen and touch panel including mutual capacitance type and self-capacitance type pixels, and driving method thereof A touch screen, a touch panel, and a driving method thereof are provided. The touch panel recognizes a user's touch, and includes a plurality of driving lines arranged in a first direction. A plurality of sensing lines are arranged in a direction crossing the first direction. Pixels are at locations where the driving lines and the sensing lines cross each other. Some of the pixels include mutual capacitance type pixels that recognize the user's touch by mutual capacitance, and at least part of the remainder of the pixels include self-capacitance type pixels that recognize the user's touch by self-capacitance.
US09182861B2	Single layer capacitive imaging sensors Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device.
US09182857B2	Input device and display device provided with same An input device is provided with a substrate having a main surface, a first detecting electrode pattern provided on or above the main surface of the substrate, and a second detecting electrode pattern provided on or above the main surface of the substrate wherein a portion of the second detecting electrode pattern intersects the first detecting electrode pattern through an insulator; wherein the insulator, in cross-section taken along the second detecting electrode pattern, comprises a curved convex surface in a region from an end portion to an apex of the insulator.
US09182850B2	Touch type electrophoretic display apparatus A touch type electrophoretic display apparatus, including: at least one photo-controlled voltage source, used for generating at least one reference voltage, wherein the level of the at least one reference voltage gets lower/higher as the intensity of environmental light increases/decreases; and a plurality of photo sensing circuits, each of which including: a photo transistor, generating a channel current according to an incident light; a light intensity storing capacitor, used for integrating the channel current to generate a photo sensing voltage; and an output switch, used for providing an output signal.
US09182849B2	Capacitive touch system and method of operating a capacitive touch system A capacitive touch system includes a touch panel, a detection circuit, and a microprocessor. The touch panel includes a plurality of scan areas. Each scan area of the plurality of scan areas includes a plurality of sensing units. The detection circuit is coupled to the touch panel for utilizing the Wheatstone bridge principle to transmit driving signals to the plurality of scan areas in turn to generate a detection result corresponding to each scan area of the plurality of scan areas according to a predetermined timing. The microprocessor is used for generating the predetermined timing to the detection circuit, and determining whether each area is touched according to a detection result corresponding to each scan area.
US09182848B2	Labeling touch regions of a display device The embodiments herein relate to a method and device for labeling a touch region, in which adjacent raw data are labeled in groups for reducing a labeling time period as well as a memory size for storing the labeled data.
US09182846B2	Electronic device and touch input control method for touch coordinate compensation A touch input control method comprising steps is provided: displaying an interface comprising at least one object; gathering signals as to actual touches for calibration purposes. In use, calculating coordinates of the touch; determining whether the coordinates of the actual touch match the predetermined touch coordinates of the object; creating an adjustment signal if the coordinates of the touch is not the same as the predetermined touch coordinates of any object; determining which finger used for touch input, and retrieving a touch offset direction and a touch offset distance of the determined finger of the user from a calibration database; and applying compensation to the coordinates of the touch, so as to determine the touched object. An electronic device using the touch input control method is also provided.
US09182843B2	Touch panel controller and semiconductor device The drive circuit operable to output a drive pulse pattern to drive electrodes of a touch panel is arranged so that it can change the pulse frequency of the drive pulse pattern for each drive electrode. The detection circuit operable to detect signal changes arising on detection electrodes of the touch panel for each drive pulse pattern output by the drive circuit is arranged so that it can change the sampling frequency of signal change for each detection electrode. The range to make higher the pulse frequency of the drive pulse pattern for each drive electrode, and the sampling frequency of signal change for each detection electrode is variably controlled according to a touch position where a touch has been detected by use of a detection signal detected by the detection circuit.
US09182839B2	Resource controlled user interface resource management A communication link may be managed between the user interface and a system, where the user interface allows a user to select the system. The user interface is determined to be capable of being used with the system. It is communicated that the user interface may be used with the system. The user requests that the user interface be allocated for use with the system. The user interface is allocated for use with the system.
US09182838B2	Depth camera-based relative gesture detection The subject disclosure is directed towards using timing and/or relative depth data to reduce false positives in gesture detection within a depth-sensed region. Depth camera data is processed to position a cursor over a displayed representation of a control. If the user's hand hovers over the control for a threshold time period, and then changes hand depth a relative amount (e.g., pushes the hand forward a delta amount), an event is fired. The displayed representation of the control may change (e.g., enlarge) upon hovering. The relative depth may be computed based upon the depth when the user hand initially enters the control area. The relative depth may remain the same if the user pulls the hand away from the camera by tracking the maximum depth and firing the event when the maximum depth value minus the current depth value reaches a delta value.
US09182833B2	Control system for multi-zone input device A touch sensor system includes a touch controller having a first connector and a second connector and multiple sensor zones. The touch sensor system also includes a plurality of drive lines connected to the first connector of the touch controller and to the multiple sensor zones and a plurality of sets of sense lines connected to the second connector of the touch controller. Each set of the plurality of sets of sense lines is connected to one of the multiple sensor zones.
US09182832B2	Display device, control method of display device and program A display device includes a display unit to display a video screen on a display surface, a information detection unit to detect position information of a plurality of detection points arranged on a stationery tool imitating a shape of a stationery, and identification information added to the plurality of detection points respectively and different among the plurality of detection points, and an angle determination unit to determine a rotation angle of the stationery tool on the display surface based on the position information of the plural detection points.
US09182826B2	Gesture-augmented speech recognition Methods and systems may provide for generating text based on speech input and recognizing one or more hand gestures. Additionally, an adaptation of the text may be conducted based on the hand gestures. In one example, the hand gestures are associated with operations such as punctuation insertion operations, cursor movement operations, text selection operations, capitalization operations, pause of speech recognition operations, resume of speech recognition operations, application-specific actions, and so forth, wherein the adaptation of the text includes the associated operation.
US09182823B2	Actuating haptic element of a touch-sensitive device In one aspect, an apparatus includes a housing, a haptic element on at least a portion of the housing that has a non-discrete configuration and at least a first discrete configuration, a processor, a touch-enabled display operatively coupled to the processor, and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to initiate a function at the apparatus, and at least in part in response to initiation of the function, actuate a portion of the haptic element.
US09182818B2	Communication system of a motor vehicle A communication system of a motor vehicle includes: a first image recording apparatus arranged in the motor vehicle and oriented toward a driver, a first evaluating module for determining a detected viewing direction of the driver from the image recorded by the first image recording apparatus, a determining unit that determines a point of intersection of the detected viewing direction and a windshield of the motor vehicle, and a projection device, connected to the determining unit, for projecting a marking onto the windshield. The position of the marking includes the point of intersection.
US09182816B2	Information processing apparatus and program An information processing apparatus includes an imaging unit, a display, a detection unit, and controller. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The display has a display surface that faces in the same direction as an imaging direction of the imaging unit. The detection unit is configured to perform imaging processing on the captured image to detect an opening degree of eye of a user in the captured image. The controller is configured to control a presentation of the display based on a result of the detection by the detection unit.
US09182815B2	Making static printed content dynamic with virtual data The technology provides embodiments for making static printed content being viewed through a see-through, mixed reality display device system more dynamic with display of virtual data. A printed content item, for example a book or magazine, is identified from image data captured by cameras on the display device, and user selection of a printed content selection within the printed content item is identified based on physical action user input, for example eye gaze or a gesture. A task in relation to the printed content selection can also be determined based on physical action user input. Virtual data for the printed content selection is displayed in accordance with the task. Additionally, virtual data can be linked to a work embodied in a printed content item. Furthermore, a virtual version of the printed material may be displayed at a more comfortable reading position and with improved visibility of the content.
US09182813B2	Image-based object tracking system in 3D space using controller having multiple color clusters Image-based object tracking system includes at least a controller with two or more color clusters, an input button, a processing unit with a camera, an object tracking algorithm and a display. Camera is configured to capture images of the controller, the processing unit is connected to display to display processed image contents, the controller is directly interacting with displayed processed image content. The controller can have two or three color clusters located on a side surface thereof and two color clusters having concentric circular areas located at a top surface thereof, the color of the first color cluster can be the same as or different from the color of the third color cluster. An object tracking method with or without scale calibration is also provided, which includes color learning and color relearning, image capturing, separating and splitting of the controller and the background, object pairing procedure steps on the controller.
US09182811B2	Interfacing dynamic hardware power managed blocks and software power managed blocks A method and apparatus for interfacing dynamic hardware power managed blocks and software power managed blocks is disclosed. In one embodiment, and integrated circuit (IC) may include a number of power manageable functional units. The functional units maybe power managed through hardware, software, or both. Each of the functional units may be coupled to at least one other functional unit through a direct communications link. A link state machine may monitor each of the communications links between functional units, and may broadcast indications of link availability to the functional units coupled to the link. Responsive to a software request to shut down a given link, or a hardware initiated shutdown of one of the functional units coupled to the link, the link state machine may broadcast and indication that the link is unavailable.
US09182807B2	Systems and methods for predictive power management in a computing center Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for predictive power management in a computing center. In general, in some implementations, a system for conserving resources in a multi-processor computing environment monitors usage of the processors in the environment and maintains a sorted list of usage changes that occur in each of a plurality of periodic intervals. The system uses the sorted list to predict, according to configurable parameters, how many processors will need to be available during a subsequent interval. In some implementations, the monitored intervals are consecutive and immediately prior to the subsequent interval. In some implementations, the usage changes during a periodic interval are determined as the difference between a maximum number of active-busy processors during the periodic interval and an initial number of active-busy processors for the periodic interval.
US09182805B2	Display device and method to control driving voltages based on changes in display image frame frequency A display device includes a display panel having a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines crossing each other and pixels formed at intersections thereof; a gate driving circuit that generates a gate pulse based on a gate power voltage and applies the gate pulse to the gate lines; a data driving circuit that divides the data power voltage to convert input digital video data into an analog data voltage and applies the data voltage to the data lines; a power voltage control circuit that detects an input frame frequency and generates a different power control signal in accordance with the detected frame frequency; and a power voltage adjusting circuit that adjusts at least one of the gate power voltage and the data power voltage differently from a predetermined reference level in response to the power control signal.
US09182802B2	Single pin communication mechanism A method and device include a power pin, a ground pin, and a communications pin. A communications module receives power from the power pin and utilizes an edge counting communication protocol over the communication pin.
US09182796B2	Image processing including hibernation When the first time has elapsed after the operator operates a power switch to stop power supply, an image processing apparatus forcibly stops power supply. When stopping power supply, the image processing apparatus executes hibernation processing to retract, in a secondary storage device, the stored content of a main memory used as a work area by a CPU. When the hibernation processing will be completed within a target time necessary to complete the hibernation processing and end processing of the image processing apparatus before the first time elapses, the image processing apparatus executes the end processing of the image processing apparatus and stops power supply after completing the hibernation processing; otherwise, the image processing apparatus interrupts the hibernation processing, executes the end processing of the image processing apparatus, and stops power supply.
US09182795B1	Power distribution system discovery A power distribution system includes two or more power components that distribute power to one or more electrical components. At least some of the power components send and receive signals over power transmission lines to upstream or downstream power components in the power distribution system. The signals include information about power components in the power distribution system.
US09182793B2	Tablet storage and transportation device A tablet storage device includes a module on a cart frame that includes a wheeled base. A cart module defines a selectively accessible interior space having multiple storage slots within the interior space for holding tablets. In some cases a tablet storage device holds multiple tablets using two or more modules in a stacked arrangement on a wheeled base. Each module can hold a portion of the multiple tablets within storage slots within an interior space inside the module. The storage slots may have connectors for connecting to tablets, and the cart frame can have a network connection system that is adapted to provide a network connection for each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors. The cart frame may also have a power supply system for charging each tablet that is connected to one of the connectors.
US09182791B2	Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first portion, a second portion, a hinge, a display, a touch panel, a second board, a third board, and a wiring portion. The first portion includes a first board. The second board is connected to the display. At least part of the second board is located between the display and a first end of the second portion. The third board is connected to the touch panel. At least part of the third board is located between the display and a second end of the second portion. The wiring portion extends between the first portion and the second portion. The wiring portion connects the first board to the second board and the first board to the third board.
US09182789B2	Transparent electronic device components with opaque edge coverings An electronic device may have components such as button members, display cover glass layers, structures associated with connector ports, and other components. The components may have transparent and opaque structures. The transparent structures may be formed on top of the opaque structures. The transparent structures may have peripheral edges through which light may pass. To help prevent the appearance of the components from becoming degraded by the presence of dirt, at least some of the edge portions of the transparent structures may be covered with an opaque covering material. The opaque covering material may be formed from paint or sidewall structures that are formed as an integral part of the opaque structures.
US09182788B2	Desktop application manager card drag Methods and devices for presenting representations of open windows in a device are provided herein. More particularly, the method includes a displaying a desktop application manager. The desktop application manager can include cards or thumbnails presented in a tray that can be navigated. The cards may be selected and placed onto the displays to make the application active. Thus, the desktop application manager can allow a user to navigate and manage open windows without scrolling the display of the windows.
US09182782B2	Synchronizing timing of communication between integrated circuits An integrated circuit includes a first pipeline with multiple stages of asynchronous circuits. Note that a stage in the first pipeline communicates with a stage in a corresponding second pipeline with multiple stages of asynchronous circuits on another integrated circuit via connectors. Furthermore, a first state wire preceding the stage in the first pipeline provides advanced notice to a first state wire preceding the stage in the second pipeline of subsequent communication between the stage in the first pipeline and the stage in the second pipeline so that the stage in the second pipeline has time to amplify a signal received from the stage in the first pipeline, thereby facilitating approximately synchronous operation of the stages in the first and second pipelines.
US09182780B2	Power management unit including a signal protection circuit The present application discloses various implementations of a power management unit (PMU) suitable for use in a mobile device. In one exemplary implementation, such a PMU includes a gain control block configured to control an oscillator coupled to the PMU. The gain control block is further configured to control a clock output stage of the PMU. The PMU also includes a signal protection circuit coupled to an input of the gain control block. The signal protection circuit is configured to preserve clock signals produced by the clock output stage during a transition to a standby mode.
US09182773B2	Low profile auto-locking pinch/turn adjustment knob A compact adjustment knob for an optical, mechanical, or electronic device includes a spindle supported on the device for rotation about an axis to control a setting of the device, and a releasable automatically locking lock mechanism supported on the spindle for rotation therewith. The lock mechanism includes at least one manually depressible button accessible on an outer surface of the adjustment knob and connected to an actuator shaft that extends inwardly through a drive hole in an outer side wall of the spindle so that a force manually applied to the button is transmitted by the actuator shaft to drive the lock mechanism and rotate the spindle. The lock mechanism may include a lock sleeve that is biased to a normally locked position and driven along the axis by the actuator shaft when the button is depressed.
US09182772B2	Power device control circuit and power device circuit A power device control circuit enters a gate driving signal into a gate terminal of a power device. The power device control circuit includes: a control signal input circuit that receives a power device control signal for control of the power device; a driving system control circuit connected to the control signal input circuit; a driving circuit with a plurality of driving systems, the driving circuit driving the power device in response to a driving circuit control signal received from the driving system control circuit; and a timer circuit that makes switching between the driving systems in response to the driving circuit control signal after elapse of a given period of time from receipt of a predetermined signal, specifically the power device control signal, thereby changing the driving power of the driving system control circuit to drive the power device.
US09182769B2	Power supply device, and vehicle-mounted apparatus and vehicle using same A power supply device includes: a control circuit that turns on and off an output transistor to generate an output voltage from an input voltage; an internal power supply voltage generation circuit that generates an internal power supply voltage from an external power supply voltage; and a power switching circuit that switches supply of the internal power supply voltage and supply of the output voltage as a drive voltage of the control circuit.
US09182764B1	Apparatus and method for grouping vehicles for cooperative driving An apparatus includes a logistics manager that includes a processor. The logistics manager is communicably coupled to at least one of a first wireless communication module onboard a first vehicle and a second wireless communication module onboard a second vehicle. The logistics manager is configured to: receive, via the first wireless communication module, first data regarding the first vehicle, where the first data is provided by a first sensor module onboard the first vehicle; receive, via the second wireless communication module, second data regarding the second vehicle, where the second data is provided by a second sensor module onboard the second vehicle; and provide navigational commands to at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a cost and benefit analysis in response to at least one the first data and the second data.
US09182763B2	Apparatus and method for generating three-dimensional map using structured light A three-dimensional map-generating apparatus and method using structured light. The apparatus for generating a three-dimensional map using structured light includes an odometer detecting the pose of a mobile robot, and a distance-measuring sensor including a light source module that emits light upward and a camera module that captures an image formed by light reflected from an obstacle, and measuring a distance to the obstacle using the captured image. The apparatus measures a distance to the obstacle using the distance-measuring sensor while changing the relative pose of the mobile robot, thereby generating a three-dimensional map.
US09182760B2	Method of managing a worksite A method is disclosed for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a machine on a worksite. The method may include measuring a first value indicative of an operating condition of the machine, predicting a second value, using the vehicle model, corresponding to the first value and indicative of the operating condition, and determining a difference between the first value and the second value. The method may also include autonomously directing the machine to a calibration site of the worksite in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value is greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein the calibration site is automatically selected from a plurality of locations at the worksite based on a suitability index of the calibration site.
US09182755B2	Automated operator interface generation in a control system System(s), device(s), and method(s) provide automated configuration of operator interface(s) in an industrial control system, the automated configuration is based at least on control logic that regulates a process and associated equipment in an industrial environment. A terminal that renders control data can acquire the control logic and associate a set of control data structures therein to one or more display objects, which can be retained in a set of libraries stored in the terminal. Based at least on the association, the terminal automatically generates a rendering project that can render an operator interface that conveys control data according to the control logic. A mapping enables association amongst a control data structure and a display object; the mapping can include relationships amongst display objects for numerous domains of industrial control. The operator interface can be refined autonomously or through external data received at the terminal and associated with predetermined event(s).
US09182753B2	Model-based learning control A method controls an operation of a system. The system is operated by a controller. The controller is model-based controller determined according to a model of the system. The method updates the model, during the operation, based on an extremum seeking, and updates the controller based on the updated model.
US09182751B1	Carbon dioxide monitoring Carbon dioxide monitoring, in which carbon dioxide sensor data is processed in combination with additional sensor and automation control data. A system includes a monitoring system that monitors a fixed property and includes a carbon dioxide sensor, one or more additional sensors that are installed at the fixed property and that sense attributes of the fixed property, and one or more automation control components that control one or more appliances located at the fixed property. The system also includes a monitoring application server that receives data communications based on carbon dioxide sensor data, additional sensor data, and automation control data. The monitoring application server integrates the carbon dioxide sensor data with the additional sensor data and the automation control data, analyzes the integrated carbon dioxide sensor data, additional sensor data, and automation control data, and performs an operation related to the fixed property based on the analysis.
US09182747B2	Measuring the phase of received signals The present disclosure relates to a method to determine the phase of a signal when transmitter and receiver circuits use separate clocks. A discrepancy between the separate clocks is determined, as is a correction factor between the separate clocks. The phase is determined using a measured time of arrival of the signal, the determined discrepancy, and the determined correction factor. A drift factor and an expected start time of a pulse sequence may be used to determine the discrepancy. A start time of a pulse within the pulse sequence is determined and used to determine the correction factor. The method works by either absolute synchronization of the separate clocks, or by making the measurements independent of clock synchronization.
US09182745B2	Mechanical adjustment of the shake of a timepiece wheel set A timepiece movement for a watch, including a main plate and a bar holding a wheel set in a reference position, and a device to adjust the height of this bar in relation to the plate in the direction of the axis of rotation of the wheel set, at a first point remote from the reference position, and this height adjustment device includes a screw or a worm rotatably movable about an oblique control axis in relation to the axis of rotation, and a cone or a curved surface for transforming motion between this screw or worm and a pusher movable in a parallel direction to the axis of rotation.
US09182741B2	End portion member, photosensitive drum unit and process cartridge A bearing member engageable and disengageable from a recessed portion of an image forming apparatus body is included. While the bearing member is engaged into the recessed portion, a cross-sectional area occupancy ratio which is a degree of area occupied by a cross-section of the bearing member to a cross-section of the recessed portion is 15% or higher and 75% or less. An outer peripheral shape of the bearing member in a cross-section is a hexagon, and assuming that a radius of a circumscribed circle of the hexagon is r1g, and when a hexagon is formed by sides enclosed by a triangle formed at an opening of the recessed portion when the recessed portion is viewed from a front in the axial direction and a triangle formed at a bottom of the recessed portion, a radius of an inscribed circle of the hexagon is r2h, r1g−r2h>0.
US09182740B2	Cartridge having photosensitive body cartridge and developer cartridge A developer cartridge includes: a first rotary body having at least one detected part; and a second rotary body. The first rotary body is configured to rotate between a first position, in which a transmission part is disposed opposite the second rotary body, and a second position, in which a non-transmission part is disposed opposite the second rotary body. The first rotary body includes a contacted part. A photosensitive body cartridge includes a moving member. When the moving member is in a third position, the moving member contacts the contacted part of the first rotary body disposed in the second position, causing the first rotary body to rotate to the first position. Thereafter, in association with rotation of the first rotary body, the moving member moves to a fourth position, in which the moving member is unable to contact the contacted part.
US09182739B2	Electrophotographic image forming apparatus An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided including a body including an opening and a first coupler, a photoreceptor cartridge including a second coupler connected to the first coupler, a first gear connected to the second coupler, and a mounting portion, and attached to or detached from the body through the opening; and a development cartridge including a second gear connected to the first gear and attached or detached from the mounting portion through the opening while the photoreceptor cartridge is mounted in the body.
US09182738B2	Image forming device having feed tray and retaining unit retaining photosensitive drums An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining unit; a feed tray; and a pickup roller. The retaining unit retains a plurality of photosensitive drums juxtaposedly arrayed and spaced away from each other in an array direction. The retaining unit is movable in the array direction between a mounted position in which the retaining unit is mounted in the main casing and a pulled-out position in which the retaining unit is pulled out of the main casing. The feed tray is configured to accommodate a first transferred medium. The pickup roller is configured to pick up the first transferred medium accommodated in the feed tray. The pickup roller is arranged to overlap with the retaining unit in the array direction.
US09182737B2	Image forming apparatus for replacing toner from the main body of the image forming apparatus A toner storage unit provided in an image forming apparatus that enables a user to replace the toner storage unit when the user opens the door of the image forming apparatus, moves a developing cartridge in a direction corresponding to removal of the developing cartridge, and places the developing cartridge in the toner storage unit replacement position where the toner storage unit can be removed and replaced.
US09182735B2	Developer cartridge A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.
US09182732B2	Image forming apparatus and process cartridge The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.
US09182725B2	Drive switching device and image forming apparatus A drive switching device includes a driving source and a switching unit. The driving source is rotationally driven in one direction. The switching unit is linked with the driving source such that a driving force therefrom is intermittently transmittable to the switching unit, and switches a transmission direction of the driving force from the driving source between a first direction and a second direction every time the switching unit is linked with the driving source.
US09182716B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a conveying path that includes a first U shape portion; a registration roller; and a inverting path including a second U shape portion joining with an upstream position of the registration roller. The conveying path includes a downward slope portion that runs obliquely down from a topmost position of the first U shape portion toward a nipping position of the registration roller; and wherein the topmost position, a joining position in which the conveying path is connected to the inverting path and the nipping position get lower, in this order, in a vertical direction.
US09182715B1	Fixing device and image forming apparatus A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a rotatable pressure member having one and the other end portions in the axial direction, a first cam, a connecting member, and a second cam. The fixing member is used to fix an image. The pressure member is pressed against the fixing member. The first cam attached to the one end portion of the pressure member is rotated in one direction to apply a pressure toward the fixing member. The connecting member is connected to the first cam and the second cam. The second cam attached to the other end portion of the pressure member is rotated in the one direction to apply a pressure toward the fixing member. Before the first and second cams are rotated, a projecting portion of the second cam is positioned downstream of a projecting portion of the first cam in the one direction.
US09182711B2	Image forming device for suppressing power consumption by fixing unit An image forming device includes a toner-image forming unit; a heating unit; and a processor. The toner-image forming unit is configured to form a toner image on a sheet using toner. The heating unit is configured to generate heat for thermally fixing the toner image to the sheet. The processor is configured to perform a first fixing process to control the heating unit to start generating heat in a first mode, and a second fixing process to switch the first mode to a second mode at a switch timing ahead of an estimated end timing at which thermal fixing of toner images to all sheets to be consecutively printed is completed. The heat amount per unit time generated by the heating unit in the second mode is smaller than a heat amount per unit time generated by the heating unit in the first mode.
US09182707B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes image bearing members, cleaning blades for removing toner from corresponding image bearing members, and developing devices for developing an electrostatic latent image on corresponding image bearing members with toner. The image forming apparatus is operable in a monochromatic mode in which the toner image is formed only on a predetermined one of the image bearing members, and no image is formed on the other image bearing member. In a monochromatic mode operation, a controller starts to drive the plurality of image bearing members in synchronism with each other in a state that the other image bearing member is spaced from a belt and the predetermined image bearing member is in contact with the belt. The controller is capable of executing a supplying operation for supplying the toner from the developing devices to the cleaning blades by way of the image bearing members, respectively.
US09182706B1	Method and system for adjusting a gap between rollers of a printer in accordance with a media or image length The invention relates to a method for adjusting a gap in a printing system in which a first roller and a second roller are provided, wherein at least one of said first roller and said second roller comprises a seam, said seam corresponding to in a variation of the diameter of said first roller and said second roller, respectively, along a circumference thereof. An interaction zone is provided, wherein said second roller is in rolling contact with said first roller under pressure, said interaction zone defining a gap for inserting a media to be printed. A size of said gap is controlled by varying a relative position of said first roller and said second roller when said at least one seam passes through said interaction zone, and said gap is adjusted in accordance with a length of said media to be printed and/or in accordance with a length of an image to be printed.
US09182692B2	Brightness toner, development, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method for producing the brightness toner An electrostatic image developing toner including: first toner particles which contain a first binder resin and a brightness pigment; and second toner particles which contain a second binder resin and do not contain a brightness pigment, wherein the proportion of the second toner particles is in a range from 5% by number to 80% by number with respect to a total number of all toner particles.
US09182688B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming method and process cartridge An image forming apparatus, including: an electrostatic latent image bearing member; an electrostatic latent image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image bearing member; and a developing unit containing a toner and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with the toner to thereby form a visible image, wherein the developing unit is a contact type one-component developing unit which includes a toner bearing member being in contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member, wherein a contact pressure between the electrostatic latent image bearing member and the toner bearing member is 2.0×104 N/m2 to 7.5×104 N/m2, wherein the toner contains a binder resin and a releasing agent, and wherein an extracted amount of the releasing agent extracted with hexane from the toner is 10 mg/g to 25 mg/g.
US09182686B2	Extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) pellicle formation apparatus Spacers arranged on opposite sides of an article to be processed into an EUV pellicle support the article. Plates on opposite ends of the spacer-article combination include respective electrodes. The plates, article, and spacers can be held together with a vacuum retention system. A center hole of each spacer forms a chamber with surfaces engaged by the spacer. A fluid entry extending from an outer surface of each spacer to its center hole allows delivery of fluid to each chamber. Additional spacers can be used to support additional articles. Additional plates and electrodes can also be used.
US09182683B2	Lithographic apparatus and lithographic projection method A lithographic apparatus, includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a first support constructed to support a first patterning device and a second support to support a second patterning device, the first and second patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The first support and second support are movable in a scanning direction and in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction. By movement of the first support and second support in the second direction the first support and second support can selectively be aligned with the projection system.
US09182681B2	Method and system for measuring a stacking overlay error by focusing on one of upper and lower layer overlay marks using a differential interference contrast microscope According to one embodiment of a method for measuring a stacking overlay error, the method may use a differential interference contrast microscope system to measure a stacking overlay mark and focus on one overlay mark of a lower layer overlay mark and an upper layer overlay mark when measuring the stacking overlay mark. Then, the method uses an image analysis scheme to obtain an image of the stacking overlay mark from a photo-detector and obtains a first reference position of the lower layer overlay mark in a direction and a second reference position of the upper layer overlay mark in the direction from the image; and computes the stacking overlay error in the direction according to the first and the second reference positions.
US09182680B2	Apparatus and methods for determining overlay of structures having rotational or mirror symmetry A semiconductor target for determining a relative shift between two or more successive layers of a substrate is provided. The target comprises a plurality of first structures formed in a first layer, and the first structures have a first center of symmetry (COS). The target further comprises a plurality of second structures formed in a second layer, and the second structures have second COS. The difference between the first COS and the second COS corresponds to an overlay error between the first and second layer and wherein the first and second structures have a 180° rotational symmetry, without having a 90° rotational symmetry, with respect to the first and second COS, respectively.
US09182679B2	Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method Liquid is supplied to a space between the projection system of a lithographic apparatus and a substrate. A flow of gas towards a vacuum inlet prevents the humid gas from escaping to other parts of the lithographic apparatus. This may help to protect intricate parts of the lithographic apparatus from being damaged by the presence of humid gas.
US09182671B2	Method for forming pattern, and composition for forming resist underlayer film A method for forming a pattern includes providing a resist underlayer film on a substrate using a first composition for forming a resist underlayer film. The first composition includes a polymer having a structural unit represented by a following formula (1). In the formula (1), Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent a bivalent group represented by a following formula (2). A resist coating film is provided on the resist underlayer film using a resist composition. A resist pattern is formed using the resist coating film. A predetermined pattern is formed on the substrate by sequentially dry-etching the resist underlayer film and the substrate using the resist pattern as a mask.
US09182666B2	Cyclic compound, method for producing the same, radiation-sensitive composition, and resist pattern formation method A cyclic compound of the present invention has a molecular weight of 500 to 5000, and is represented by the following formula (1):
US09182663B2	Photoresist composition A photoresist composition comprising: a resin which shows an increase in solubility in an aqueous alkali solution by an action of an acid; an acid generator; a compound represented by formula (I); and a solvent the amount of which is from 40 to 75% by mass of the total amount of the photoresist composition: wherein the ring W1 is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, or a benzene ring having a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, A1 represents a phenyl group or a naphtyl group, and n represents an integer of 2 or 3.
US09182660B2	Methods for electron beam patterning A method for electron-beam patterning includes forming a conductive material layer on a substrate; forming a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer on the conductive material layer; forming a resist layer on the BARC layer; and directing an electron beam (e-beam) to the sensitive resist layer for an electron beam patterning process. The BARC layer is designed such that a top electrical potential of the resist layer is substantially zero during the e-beam patterning process.
US09182659B2	Extreme ultraviolet lithography process and mask A system and process of an extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) is disclosed. An EUVL process includes receiving a mask pair having a same pattern. The mask pair includes an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask and a low EUV reflectivity mask. A first exposure process is performed by using the EUV mask to expose a substrate. A second exposure process is performed by using the low EUV reflectivity mask to expose the same substrate. The first exposure process is conducted according to a first exposure dose matrix and the second exposure process is conducted according to a second exposure dose matrix.
US09182655B2	Scanning laser projection display devices and methods for projecting one or more images onto a surface with light-scanning optical fiber Image projection devices, high-speed fiber scanned displays and related methods for projecting an image onto a surface and interfacing with the projected image are provided. A method for projecting one or more images and obtaining feedback with an optical input-output assembly is provided. The input-output assembly comprising a light-scanning optical fiber and a sensor. The method includes generating a sequence of light in response to one or more image representations and a scan pattern of the optical fiber, articulating the optical fiber in the scan pattern, projecting the sequence of light from the articulated optical fiber, and generating a feedback signal with the sensor in response to reflections of the sequence of light.
US09182653B2	Convertible mobile surveillance camera enclosure for selectively protecting camera dome An enclosure for a surveillance camera includes a housing having front, rear, top, bottom and opposing side walls. A camera dome projects downwardly below the bottom wall. A support structure includes a vertical channel attachable to a vertical post for supporting the housing on a post. A cover is selectively attachable to both the top and bottom walls, the cover normally being attached to the bottom wall to cover and protect the camera dome during transport or when surveillance is not required and attached to said top wall to expose said camera dome when in use during surveillance. The top and bottom walls are provided with connecting members for easily removing or securing the cover by flipping it 180° when moving the cover between the top and bottom walls of the housing when mounted on the support structure and post.
US09182652B2	Flashlamp apparatus and method An apparatus including a flashlamp; a lens member connected to the flashlamp; and a reflector connected to the lens member. The lens member is located between the flashlamp and the reflector. A method includes connecting the lens member to the flashlamp, where the lens member substantially surrounds the flashlamp, and connecting the reflector around an exterior side of the lens member, where an exit side of the lens member is not covered by the reflector.
US09182651B2	Image pickup apparatus for correcting an in-focus position An image pickup apparatus arranged to set a correction value for adjusting a focus position obtained by a predetermined detection method at a time of photographing, is arranged such that if a limitation processing is executed with respect to selection of an AF frame at the time of photographing, a display manner at the time of selection of an AF frame which is to be used when the correction value is set and stored is made different between a selectable AF frame and an unselectable AF frame or is made by applying the same limitation as the limitation processing at the time of photographing.
US09182645B2	Portable electronic device A portable electronic device is provided, including a housing, a display module, an optical element and a switchable layer. The housing has a first surface and an opaque layer disposed under the first surface, the opaque layer having a first aperture and a second aperture. The display module is disposed under the first surface and overlapped with the first aperture. The optical element is disposed under the opaque layer. The switchable layer is disposed between the optical element and the second aperture and overlapping the second aperture, wherein the switchable layer is capable of being switched between a substantially opaque state and a substantially transparent state. The substantially opaque state prevents viewing of the optical element through the switchable layer and the substantially transparent state allows viewing of the optical element through the switchable layer.
US09182644B2	Lamination of electrochromic device to glass substrates Electrochromic device laminates and their method of manufacture are disclosed.
US09182643B1	Display having pixel circuits with adjustable storage capacitors A liquid crystal display may have a layer of liquid crystal material. The display may have an array of display pixel circuits. The display pixel circuits may each include a display pixel electrode that applies electric fields to a corresponding portion of the liquid crystal material. Thin-film transistor circuitry and other structures in the display pixels may control operation of the display pixels circuits. The thin-film transistor circuitry may be configured to handle operation of the display at multiple refresh rates. To accommodate multiple refresh rates, each pixel circuit may include a pair of transistors. A first transistor is used to apply data signals from a data line to the display pixel electrode. A storage capacitor is used to maintain the data signal on the electrode. The second transistor may be used to adjust the capacitance of the storage capacitor depending on the refresh rate of the display.
US09182641B2	Signal line structure of a flat display The signal line structure is disposed between a gate driver and a display area of a display. The signal line structure includes a substrate, first metal layers, a first insulation layer, second metal layers, a second insulation layer and third metal layers. The first metal layers are arranged in parallel and toward a first direction in the substrate. The first insulation layer is disposed in the substrate and covers the first metal layers. The second metal layers are disposed on the positions of the first insulation layer corresponding to the first metal layers. The second insulation layer is disposed on the second metal layers and the first insulation layer. The third metal layers are disposed on the positions corresponding to the second metal layers in the second insulation layer. The distance between two adjacent second metal layers is less than that between two adjacent first metal layers.
US09182639B2	Liquid crystal display device According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, pixels a first polarizer having a first absorption axis, a second polarizer having a second absorption axis, a first retardation film having a first slow axis, and a second retardation film having a second slow axis. Each of the pixels includes a primary pixel electrode and a pair of primary common electrodes. Re1
US09182637B2	Liquid crystal display panel A liquid crystal display panel comprise a first substrate, a second substrate and a electrode structure. The electrode structure is disposed on the first substrate. The electrode structure further comprises a first sub-electrode having a first stem electrode with a first end edge and a first branch electrode nearest the first end edge, and a second sub-electrode having a second stem electrode with a second end edge and a second branch electrode nearest the second end edge. The first sub-electrode and the second sub-electrode are adjacent to each other, and the first end edge are adjacent to the second end edge. A first distance between the first end edge and the first branch electrode is different from a second distance between the second end edge and the second branch electrode.
US09182633B2	Display device and display apparatus having particular barrier wall structure A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a space layer, and a protective film. The first substrate has a first surface, and the second substrate comprises a visible region and a non-visible region. The second substrate has a second surface, and the second surface is opposite to the first surface. The space layer includes a plurality of spacers and at least one space component. The spacers are located on the visible region, and the space component is located in the non-visible region. The protective film has water vapor barrier property. The protective film covers the space component, and forms at least one barrier wall. The barrier wall touches the first surface and the second surface.
US09182631B2	Phosphor substrate, display device, and electronic apparatus A phosphor substrate (10) includes a substrate (1), phosphor layers (3R, 3G, and 3B) which are disposed on the substrate (1) and which emit fluorescences (L2) using incident excitation light (L1), and a partition (7) surrounding side faces of the phosphor layers (3R, 3G, and 3B), in which at least portions of the partition (7) in contact with the phosphor layers (3R, 3G, and 3B) have light-scattering properties.
US09182627B2	Liquid-discharging device with observation optical system In a liquid discharging device, an objective optical system is moved in the optical axis direction by a focus position adjusting mechanism to perform a first focusing action relative to the tip of a liquid discharging nozzle or a mirror image thereof and a second focusing action relative to the surface of a substrate facing the liquid discharging nozzle, the distance between the nozzle tip and the surface of the substrate is calculated on the basis of the resulting focus positions, and the position of the liquid discharging nozzle is adjusted by nozzle position adjusting mechanism so that the gap is appropriate. According to this configuration, the distance between the nozzle tip and the surface of the substrate can be precisely calculated and an optical unit for observation can be focused on the surface of the substrate.
US09182621B2	Electronic displays using optically pumped luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals A multicolor electronic display is based on an array of luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals. Nanocrystals which emit tight of different colors are grouped into pixels. The nanocrystals are optically pumped to produce a multicolor display. Different sized nanocrystals are used to produce the different colors. A variety of pixel addressing systems can be used.
US09182619B2	Liquid crystal display device having a transparent substrate and a fusion bonding layer A liquid crystal display device having high impact resistance and good display properties is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a transparent substrate having rigidity, and a fusion bonding layer including a thermoplastic resin, where the transparent substrate is bonded to a viewing-side surface of the liquid crystal display panel with the fusion bonding layer interposed therebetween.
US09182616B1	Photonic band gap structure with tunable optical and electronic properties In one aspect, a photonic band gap (PBG) structure comprises: a first conducting layer; a second conducting layer; and a nanocomposite layer between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer, the nanocomposite layer comprising one or more composite materials and one or more nanoparticles dispersed within the one or more composite materials, with the one or more composite materials comprising a material that is optically transparent.
US09182610B2	Image blur correction apparatus and imaging apparatus An image blur correction apparatus including a lens unit configured to include at least one lens and configured to be turnable in a first direction which is a direction about a first supporting axis that is orthogonal to a light axis of the lens with respect to an outer housing, and in a second direction which is a direction about a second supporting axis that is orthogonal to the light axis and the first supporting axis, a fixed member configured to be arranged on an outer periphery side of the lens unit and configured to turnably support the lens unit in the first direction and the second direction, a first drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the first direction, and a second drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the second direction.
US09182607B2	Display apparatus A display apparatus includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels to display an image, a polarizing plate disposed on the display panel, and a retarder disposed opposite to the display panel, where the polarizing plate is interposed between the retarder and the display panel, the retarder includes first areas and second areas alternately arranged therein, and a direction of a slow axis of the retarder in the first areas is different from a direction of a slow axis of the retarder in the second areas.
US09182601B2	Optical device An optical device which reduces coupling loss while improving practicality is provided. A multi-core fiber coupling device is an optical device which couples a multi-core fiber to single core fibers, and includes a first optical system which is located on optical axes of a plurality of beams emitted from the multi-core fiber, and which makes the optical axes of the respective beams non-parallel to each other, thereby making the beams in a state of being separated from each other, and a second optical system S2 which makes the optical axes of the plurality of beams in a state of being non-parallel to each other on the side of the first optical system, in a state of being approximately parallel to each other.
US09182596B2	See-through near-eye display glasses with the optical assembly including absorptive polarizers or anti-reflective coatings to reduce stray light This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The optical assembly includes absorptive polarizers or anti-reflective coatings to reduce stray light.
US09182593B2	Optical device, optical scanner, and image display device An optical scanner is an optical device including a base portion that is rotatable about the Y-axis, a frame portion that is rotatable about the X-axis intersecting the Y-axis, and a shaft portion that supports the base portion so as to be rotatable about the Y-axis with respect to the frame portion. The optical scanner includes a light reflecting plate that is fixed to the base portion and includes a light reflecting portion with a light reflecting property. The frame portion is provided so as to surround the base portion. The shaft portion includes one end connected to the base portion and the other end connected to the frame portion. The light reflecting plate is separated from the shaft portion in the thickness direction of the light reflecting plate and overlaps the shaft portion, as viewed from the thickness direction.
US09182591B2	System and method for electrowetting actuation utilizing diodes An electrowetting system and method for the movement of a droplet across the surface of a substrate, utilizing an applied voltage. The actuation of the droplet is achieved by introducing a diode into the idealized electrical circuit of the electrowetting system. The diode is in parallel with a capacitor (dielectric) and effectively shorts the droplet on the side of a lower potential electrode so that the entire voltage drop is across the dielectric over the higher potential electrode. This difference in potential creates an energy imbalance that is effective in moving the droplet towards the higher potential electrode. If the voltage polarity is reversed, the direction of actuation will also be reversed.
US09182588B2	Electrowetting display device having banks of different hydrophilicities and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed is an electrowetting display device including a plurality pixels. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode, a hydrophobic layer, a hydrophobic fluid, and a bank adapted to limit the range of movement of the hydrophobic fluid. The bank has a hydrophobic bank surface and a hydrophilic bank surface, which face each other. The hydrophobic fluid is moved from the hydrophilic bank surface towards the hydrophobic bank surface by the application of a voltage to the pixel electrode.
US09182585B2	Endoscope objective lens An object is to provide an endoscope objective lens in which the aberrations are less susceptible to manufacturing errors and in which the variation in field curvature caused by focusing is small. There is provided an endoscope objective lens including: in sequence from an object side, a front group having negative refractive power, an aperture stop, and a rear group having positive refractive power; and a focusing lens that has a negative refractive power and that can be inserted into an optical path between the front group and the rear group. The focusing lens is inserted into the optical path in a normal observation state and is retracted from the optical path in a short-distance observation state, in which the working distance is smaller than that in the normal observation state.
US09182578B2	Imaging optical system and illumination optical system An imaging optical system has a plurality of mirrors, which image an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. A reflection face of at least one of the mirrors is configured as a free form face which cannot be described by a rotationally symmetrical function. The object field has an aspect ratio greater than 1. A ratio of a minimal and a maximal transverse dimension of the object field can be less than 0.9.
US09182566B2	Optical-fiber cable having a perforated water blocking element The present invention provides optical-fiber communication cables with an improved water-blocking element that reduces or eliminates microbending caused by the water-swellable particulate powders by employing such water-swellable powders in conjunction with a smooth but perforated compression-resistant carrier tape. The water-blocking element is deployed within optical-fiber buffer tubes to water-block the buffer tubes and to minimize microbending that can occur when water-swellable particulate powders press against optical fibers.
US09182564B2	Environmentally sealed cable breakout assemblies A cable breakout assembly is provided, including a feeder cable, a breakout structure having a first end threadedly engaged with a cable nut having a single-port cable gland through which the feeder cable extends, a central conduit which houses the sections of the feeder cable passing there through, and an opposed second end threadedly engaged with a cable nut having a multi-port cable gland, whose number of ports corresponds to the number of splices of the feeder cable. A plurality of environmentally sealed, flexible conduits are provided, each having a first end that interfaces with and extends from a respective port of the multi-port gland, and a second end adapted to interface with an external device, wherein each flexible conduit houses a respective spliced section of the feeder cable therein.
US09182560B2	Curable polymeric compositions for cable filling A curable polymeric composition is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a curable polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic block copolymer containing at least two polymer blocks A separated by at least one polymer block B. Each polymer block A is primarily a poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) block, and polymer block B includes hydrogenated conjugated didne. The solid curable polymeric composition further comprises a curable functional compound compatible with polymer block A. The solid curable polymeric composition optionally comprises an initiator, a plasticizer, an antioxidant; a tackifyer and an aromatic resin.
US09182559B2	Light-receiving package for flat-plate mounting, and optical module A light-receiving package for flat-plate mounting which can make monitor reception sensitivity of an optical signal constant without increasing the size of a module. The light-receiving package for flat-plate mounting is provided with a first subassembly in which a photo diode is fixed to a front surface of a retaining holder, a back surface of the retaining holder is a flat surface capable of moving parallel on a plane parallel to a light-receiving surface of the photo diode and a second subassembly which has a rectangular U-shaped concave holder for retaining the retaining holder, and a flat-plate base disposed on a substrate and in which a surface of the flat-plate base that is mounted on the substrate is a flat surface capable of moving parallel to a substrate surface, the rectangular U-shaped concave holder and the flat-plate base are fixed, at least one of surfaces of the concave holder having a rectangular U-shape being a flat surface is a flat surface capable of moving parallel to the back surface of the retaining holder.
US09182557B2	Lens element and optical communication apparatus with same A lens element includes a first surface, a second surface, at least one first communicating lens portion on the first surface, at least one second communicating lens portion on the second surface, and a first deflecting surface for deflecting optical signals between the at least one first communicating lens portion and the at least one second communicating lens portion. The lens element further includes a first testing lens portion, a second testing lens portion, a second deflecting surface, and a third deflecting surface. The second deflecting surface and the third deflecting surface deflect a detecting light converged by the first testing lens portion at a predetermined angle so that the detecting light passes out of the lens element through the second testing lens portion.
US09182549B2	Optical coupling system for two optical waveguides An optical coupling system for coupling a first optical waveguide having a first core surrounded by a first sheath to a second optical waveguide having a second core surrounded by a second sheath. An end face of the first core of the first optical waveguide abuts an end face of the second core of the second optical waveguide at a coupling location and the second core is flush with the first core in the axial direction, wherein, in the region of the coupling location, over at least part of a predetermined axial portion, both the second sheath of the second optical waveguide and the first sheath of the first optical waveguide together form a cladding of the optical waveguide in the predetermined portion.
US09182547B2	Optical waveguide directional coupler and method for making same An optical waveguide directional coupler includes a base having a planar member and a ridge member and an optical waveguide in the base. The ridge member extends from the planar member and has an upper surface where the optical waveguide exposed. The optical waveguide includes a first flat side surface, a second flat side surface parallel to the first flat side surface, a third flat side surface, a fourth flat side surface parallel to the third flat side surface, and a first flat connection side surface. An included angle θ1 between the first and third flat side surfaces is an obtuse angle, an included acute angle α1 is formed between the first flat connection side surface and the second flat side surface, and θ1 and α1 satisfy α1<(180°−θ1).
US09182546B2	Monolithic optoelectronic TWE-component structure for high frequencies and low optical insertion loss A monolithic optoelectronic device has a spot-size converter optically connected to a waveguide. The overclad extending over the core of the waveguide is thinner and more highly doped that the overclad of the spot-size converter. This structure can be made by applying a process of selective etching and enhanced regrowth to create selective regions of the overclad of different thickness or doping.
US09182542B2	Apparatus for compensating image, display device and joint display The present invention provides an image compensating device for a joint display. The image compensating device includes a light incident surface, a parallel light emitting surface, and a plurality of light guiding channels extending from the light incident surface to the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface of image compensating device is greater than the light incident surface. The section area of each light guiding channel is gradually increased from the light incident surface to the light emitting surface, by which to extend the image provided by the peripheral region of each cell of the joint display and provide a seamless joint image.
US09182538B2	Planar light source device and display apparatus incorporating same A planar light source device with highly uniform intensity and high light utilization efficiency, and a display apparatus incorporating the same, are provided. A light guide plate, configured by a material such as plate-shaped and transparent acryl resin, polycarbonate resin, or glass, causes incident light to propagate within the light guide plate and then to exit the light through an exit surface as a surface emitting light. A first recess is formed substantially in the center of the exit surface. The first recess is cylinder-shaped, and on a bottom thereof is provided a lens that refracts incident light from a light source, in a direction away from the center of a circle on the bottom.
US09182532B2	Display device The purpose of the present invention is to provide a display device in which light emitted from a phosphor is used with enhanced efficiency. A display device is provided with a light source unit for emitting light, a plurality of phosphors for emitting light upon incidence thereon of light from the light source unit, a transparent substrate disposed on the phosphors, a color conversion substrate formed between the phosphors and the transparent substrate and including a reflective member and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower than that of the phosphors, and an air layer between the phosphors and the light source unit.
US09182530B2	Light guide plate with tapering unit optical elements A light guide plate includes a body portion, first unit optical elements extending on the body portion in the light guide direction, and second unit optical elements disposed in between the first unit optical elements on the body portion. The width of each first unit optical element gradually decreases from that at the center to that at each end in the light guide direction. The ratio of the height to the width in each first unit optical element at the center is higher than the ratio of the height to the width in each second unit optical element.
US09182529B2	Light guide element and lamp for controlling light beam angle A light guide element and a lamp are described. The light guide element has a length and an angle of total reflection. The light guide element includes a light-incident surface, a light-emitting surface, a first reflecting surface, and a second reflecting surface. The light-incident surface includes a first outer peripheral edge and a first inner peripheral edge. The light-emitting surface includes a second outer peripheral edge and a second inner peripheral edge. The first reflecting surface connects the first outer peripheral edge and the second outer peripheral edge. The second reflecting surface connects the first inner peripheral edge and the second inner peripheral edge. An angle is formed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. The angle is smaller than the angle of total reflection, and the length is greater than a predetermined distance divided by tan the angle of total reflection).
US09182528B2	Multilayer structure formed by nanoparticular lamina with unidimensional photonic crystal properties, method for the production thereof and use thereof The subject of the present disclosure is a multilayer nanoparticular, mesoporous structure that has properties of a Bragg reflector or of a unidimensional photonic crystal in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared ranges close to the electromagnetic spectrum. The unidimensional photonic crystal is formed by laminae with different indices of refraction and of a controlled size, made up of nanoparticles, which can be deposited on different types of substrates using a simple and reliable method. The periodic alternating of laminae with different indices of refraction gives rise to a high reflection factor which can easily be observed with the naked eye and can be measured with a spectrophotometer. In contrast to other, dense, reflective structures, the mesoporous structure of this reflector allows the passage of liquids.
US09182527B2	Method for producing optical member and use of UV-curable resin composition therefor The present invention relates to a method for producing an optical member wherein an optical substrate having a light-blocking part on the surface is bonded to an optical substrate for bonding. The method for producing an optical member uses a UV-curable resin composition and comprises specific (Process 1) through (Process 3). The present invention also relates to the use of a UV-curable resin composition comprising a (meth)acrylate (A) and a photopolymerization initiator (B) for the production method, and a UV-curable resin composition. It is possible to produce a bonded optical member having good curability and adhesiveness, such as a touch panel or display unit having an optical substrate comprising a light-blocking part, with good productivity but with little damage to the optical substrate. It is thereby possible to obtain an optical member having a high degree of resin curing at the light-blocking part and high reliability.
US09182526B2	Tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus and related methods A tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus, such as but not limited to a tunable Fresnel zone lens apparatus, includes a plurality of symmetric repeating structures (i.e., typically concentric rings) located over a substrate and comprising a material susceptible to a transparent to opaque transition for a designated radiation wavelength. The tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus also includes a means for separately effecting the transparent to opaque transition for each of the plurality of symmetric repeating structures to provide a plurality of transparent zones each comprising a variable first sub-plurality of adjacent transparent symmetric repeating structures alternating and interposed between a plurality of opaque zones each comprising a variable second sub-plurality of adjacent opaque symmetric repeating structures. Also included are a method for fabricating the tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus and a method for operating the tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus.
US09182525B2	Retro reflector including at least one corner and two mutually parallel vertical faces A retroreflective article enabling to retroreflect incident light in its incident direction, and the retroreflective article including at least one retroreflective element, the retroreflective element including at least one reflecting corner comprised of a pair of corner reflecting surfaces which meet at dihedral angle of about 90 degrees; and a pair of vertical reflecting surfaces which are formed on both ends of the reflecting corner to be substantially perpendicular to a corner of the reflecting corner with a distance which is smaller than the highest vertical height and which meet at dihedral angle of about 90 degrees for the pair of corner reflecting surfaces. This retroreflective article has higher retroreflective ratio and wider available retroreflective range, and it is designed to be freely changed its main reflecting direction having the highest retroreflective ratio.
US09182521B2	Liquid meniscus lens including variable voltage zones The present invention relates generally to an arcuate liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall. Some specific embodiments include a liquid meniscus lens with a meniscus wall essentially in the shape of a conical frustum with multiple voltage zones that may have variable voltages applied across the zones. Embodiments may also include a lens of suitable size and shape for inclusion in a contact lens.
US09182519B2	Metamaterial composition comprising frequency-selective-surface resonant element disposed on/in a dielectric flake, methods, and applications Infrared metamaterial arrays containing Au elements immersed in a medium of benzocyclobutene (BCB) were fabricated and selectively etched to produce small square flakes with edge dimensions of approximately 20 μm. Two unit-cell designs were fabricated: one employed crossed-dipole elements while the other utilized square-loop elements.
US09182516B2	Personnel screening system The present specification discloses an inspection system for detecting objects being carried by a person. The inspection system is highly modular and capable of being assembled by a two person team using conventional tooling equipment. In one embodiment, the inspection system has three primary modules—two detection modules and one radiation source module—that can be readily attached and detached from each other or to a frame and connected to a signal processing system to provide for a quick set up and tear down process.
US09182514B2	Shielded double-coil multilayer assembly for inductive detector The invention relates to a shielded double-coil multilayer assembly intended to be used in an inductive detector. This multilayer assembly comprises a plurality of stacked parallel separated layers, namely: a layer (C1) comprising a first shielding element for a first coil, a layer (C2) comprising all or part of a first coil, a layer (C3) comprising all or part of a second coil, a layer (C4) comprising a first shielding element for the second coil.
US09182513B1	Determining beacon location using magnetic field shape measurements A method and system for identifying a location of a magnetic field source. A total magnetic field is measured during a calibration routine prior to a drilling procedure. During the drilling procedure, a magnetic field measurement is obtained. Using the measured magnetic field and the calibrated field, a set of possible angles and distances is calculated. After the source is advanced a known distance, a second magnetic field measurement is obtained. A second set of possible angles and distances is calculated. The relative location of the source is then determined using the first set and second set of values, along with the known distance and a pitch angle of the source.
US09182507B2	Imaging system using high and low energy collimation A customizable and upgradable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The system can provide detector columns that include both high and low energy collimation. The detector columns may also use side shielding and adaptively disable detector elements based on emission information and shielding information. This system can be a Nuclear Medicine (NM) imaging system to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) image information.
US09182506B2	Methods and systems for signal communication in gamma ray detectors Methods and systems for signal communication in gamma ray detectors are provided. One gamma ray detector includes a scintillator block having a plurality of scintillator crystals and a plurality of light sensors coupled to the scintillator crystals and having a plurality of microcells. Each of the plurality of light sensors have a local summing point in each of a plurality of signal summing regions, wherein the local summing points are connected to the plurality of microcells. The plurality of light sensors also each include a main summing point connected to the plurality of local summing points, wherein the main summing point is located a same distance from each of the local summing points.
US09182504B2	Radiation detector and radiological image radiographing apparatus A radiation detector and a radiological image radiographing apparatus capable of improving the quality of an obtained radiological image without causing an additional cost are provided. A first scintillator configured to include columnar crystals generating first light corresponding to a radiation emitted through a TFT substrate is laminated on the other surface of the TFT substrate that has a first photoelectric conversion element, which has one surface from which a radiation is emitted and the other surface from which at least one of the first light and the second light is emitted and which generates electric charges corresponding to the light, and a first switching element. A second scintillator which generates second light corresponding to a radiation emitted through the first scintillator and has different energy characteristics of absorbed radiations from the first scintillator is laminated on a surface of the first scintillator not facing the TFT substrate.
US09182503B2	Scintillation pixel array, radiation sensing apparatus including the scintillation pixel array and a method of forming a scintillation pixel array The disclosure relates to a scintillation pixel array, a radiation sensing apparatus, a scintillation apparatus, and methods of making a scintillation pixel array wherein scintillation pixels have beveled surfaces and a reflective material around the beveled surfaces. The embodiments described herein can reduce the amount of cross-talk between adjacent scintillation pixels.
US09182502B2	Analysis apparatus for high energy particle and analysis method using the same Provided is an analysis apparatus for a high energy particle and an analysis method for a high energy particle. The analysis apparatus for the high energy particle includes a scintillator generating photons with each unique wavelength by the impinging with a plurality of kinds of accelerated high energy particles, a parallel beam converting unit making the photons proceed in parallel to one another, a diffraction grating panel making the photons proceeding in parallel to one another enter at a certain angle, and refracting the photons at different angles depending on each unique wavelength, and a plurality of sensing units arranged on positions where the photons refracted at different angles from the diffraction grating panel reach in a state of being spatially separated, and detecting each of the photons.
US09182501B2	Detector-readout interface for an avalanche particle detector A detector-readout interface for an avalanche particle detector comprises a resistive layer formed at a bottom side of a gas chamber and a dielectric layer formed under said resistive layer and is adapted for capacitive coupling to an external readout board. This provides a modular detector configuration in which the readout card and detector core can be combined freely and interchangeably. The readout board can even be removed or replaced without switching off the detector. At the same time, the configuration provides an effective protection against sparks and discharges, and in particular obliviates the need for additional protecting circuits. The configuration may be employed in any avalanche particle detector, such as the MicroMegas or GEM detectors.
US09182500B2	Method and system for amplitude digitization of nuclear radiation pulses Disclosed are methods and systems for amplitude digitization of nuclear radiation pulses. The method includes: applying a constant fraction discrimination (CFD) timing process on a subject current signal and outputting a CFD timing signal; applying a shaping process on the subject current signal to obtain a subject shaped signal; comparing, from a time To, values taken at the same time by the subject shaped signal and a dynamic threshold signal, and taking a time Tot as an over-threshold time if the value of the dynamic threshold signal changes from less than the value of the subject shaped signal to not less than the value of the subject shaped signal at the time Tot, wherein a time length between the time To and the arrival time Td of the subject current signal is preset as ΔT; converting a time length between the time Td and the time Tot into a digital quantity as a digitized value of the amplitude of the nuclear radiation pulse; wherein for any two subject shaped signals having amplitudes Vot1 and Vot2, respectively, the dynamic threshold signal satisfies an equation Tot ⁢ ⁢ 2 - To Vot ⁢ ⁢ 2 = Tot ⁢ ⁢ 1 - To Vot ⁢ ⁢ 1 , Tot1 represents an over-threshold time for one of the subject shaped signals compared with the dynamic threshold signal, and Tot2 represents an over-threshold time for the other of the subject shaped signals compared with the dynamic threshold signal.
US09182495B2	System and method for monitoring integrity of a global navigation satellite system A system and method for monitoring integrity of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) are provided. Integrity of a GNSS location is assessed based on a comparison of the GNSS location with one or more locations received from at least one other GNSS. Integrity of the GNSS location is also assessed based on a comparison of the GNSS location with one or more locations obtained from signals generated by one or more known located emitters. Integrity of the GNSS location is also assessed based on a comparison of the GNSS location with historical data, which may include contextual information of recent GNSS locations of a user equipment, measurements made by an inertial navigation system of the user equipment, and prior measurements made by the user equipment during similar paths. An integrity warning is outputted when one or more of the integrity assessments indicate a loss of integrity of GNSS.
US09182494B2	Tracking a mobile computer indoors using wi-fi and motion sensor information A mobile computer may receive a bluetooth signal from a wireless sensor to determine entrance to a building. The mobile computer may track, on a floor of the building, its indoor position by utilization of a combination of Wi-Fi information and accelerometer information. The indoor position may be tracked without global positioning system (GPS) information and may be associated with a probability related accuracy value.
US09182492B2	Apparatus and method for measuring the distance and/or intensity characteristics of objects An apparatus for measuring intensity and/or range characteristics of an object(s), comprising: a signal source to emit modulation signals at a frequency(s); an illuminator to illuminate the object(s) by a first modulation signal; a sensor comprising a pixel(s), wherein the sensor creates a sampled correlated signal by sampling the correlation of a backscattered signal with a second modulation signal within the pixel; and a processor to determine range/intensity characteristics of component returns within the pixel(s) by comparing sampled correlated signals using measurements(s), wherein the measurement(s) comprise first and second modulation signals having a characteristic(s) selected from: (a) two or more different modulation frequencies, (b) a different modulation frequency(s) and an offset of the correlation waveform, and (c) another different modulation frequency(s) and one selected from: the zeroth spatial frequency of the signal returns versus range and an approximation of the zeroth spatial frequency of the signal returns versus range.
US09182490B2	Video and 3D time-of-flight image sensors Electronic devices may include time-of-flight (ToF) image pixels. Each ToF pixel may include a photodiode, a first capacitor coupled to the photodiode via a first transfer gate, a second capacitor coupled to the photodiode via a second transfer gate, and a third capacitor coupled to the photodiode via a third transfer gate. The first transfer gate may be turned on for a given duration to store a first charge in the first capacitor. The second transfer gate may be turned on for the given duration to store a second charge in the second capacitor. The third transfer gate may be turned on for a duration that is longer than the given duration to store a third charge in the third capacitor. Depth information may be computed based on the first, second, and third stored charges and a corresponding pixel constant.
US09182488B2	Method and device for detecting target object This disclosure provides a target object detection device for outwardly transmitting a detection pulse and detecting a target object based on a returned reception signal. The device includes a first peak holding module for extracting, at every predetermined cycle, a maximum value of the reception signals obtained in the predetermined cycle, a second peak holding module for extracting, at the same predetermined cycle, a minimum value of the reception signals obtained in the predetermined cycle, and a target object determiner for determining a level rising and a level falling of the reception signal indicating the target object by using a gradient between the minimum and maximum values extracted at different peak holding positions.
US09182485B1	Transmit/receive module for electronically steered weather radar An electronically steered weather radar system comprises a plurality of transmit/receive modules, a plurality of antenna modules, and a system signal processor. Each transmit/receive module may be configured to adjust the phase of a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted and received. Each antenna module may be in communication with one transmit/receive module. The antenna modules may form an antenna array configured to transmit a system beam in a direction determined by the phase of the RF signal from each transmit/receive module and to generate the RF signal from the received system beam. The system signal processor may be configured to perform a first scan to detect meteorological formations wherein the system signal processor communicates with each transmit/receive module to adjust the phase of the RF signals such that the antenna array transmits and receives the system beam through a plurality of azimuth angles and a plurality of elevation angles.
US09182484B2	Traffic information services-broadcast (TIS-B) automatic address detection and coverage indication Techniques are described that allow a system, such as a portable ADS-B-enabled device, to automatically determine whether the aircraft in which the system is employed is included in air traffic information (e.g., TIS-B air traffic information) broadcast by an air traffic control (ATC) ground station. The system includes a receiver assembly to receive a first transmission from a transponder of the aircraft that includes an identification address (e.g., an ICAO address) that identifies the aircraft. The receiver assembly also receives a second transmission from the ATC ground station that includes air traffic information and a client list including identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information. The identification address of the aircraft is retrieved from the first transmission and used to determine whether the aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing the identification address with the identification addresses in the client list.
US09182481B2	Remote detection and measurement of objects Provided are methods of using electromagnetic waves for detecting metal and/or dielectric objects. Methods include directing microwave and/or mm wave radiation in a predetermined direction using a transmission apparatus, including a transmission element; receiving radiation from an entity resulting from the transmitted radiation using a detection apparatus; and generating one or more detection signals in the frequency domain using the detection apparatus. Methods may include operating a controller, wherein operating the controller includes causing the transmitted radiation to be swept over a predetermined range of frequencies, performing a transform operation on the detection signal(s) to generate one or more transformed signals in the time domain, and determining, from one or more features of the transformed signal, one or more dimensions of a metallic or dielectric object upon which the transmitted radiation is incident. A system and method for remote detection and/or identification of a metallic threat object using late time response (LTR) signals is also disclosed.
US09182476B2	Radar system having arrangements and methods for the decoupling of transmitting and receiving signals and for the suppression of interference radiation Using a radar system in a motor vehicle, high frequency individual signal pulses are transmitted from at least one transmitting antenna, and at least one receiving antenna receives reception signals formed by reflection of the transmitted signal pulses from objects in the surroundings. The reception signals are mixed with the high-frequency signal to produce low-frequency mixed signals representing the sequence of individual signal pulses. The phase angle of the mixed signals is varied over successive individual signal pulses thereof by varying the phase angle of: the successive individual transmitted signal pulses, the high-frequency signals used for the mixing, and/or the mixed signals. In further processing of the mixed signals to determine the distance and the relative velocity of detected objects, an interference component can be separated and/or suppressed from a useful signal component because the useful signal component has the known phase angle variation but the interference component does not.
US09182472B2	Method and apparatus for on-device positioning using compressed fingerprint archives A method and apparatus are provided for on-device positioning using compressed fingerprint archives. The method and apparatus may be configured to provide compression of localization fingerprints, to facilitate efficient on-device positioning based on the RF fingerprint model, and to estimate the physical distance between two or more devices. Embodiments of the method may receive a space-to-access point histogram that corresponds to an access point as observed in a space. A mean, standard deviation, and weight may be calculated and assigned for each of a plurality of access points as observed within a space. The mean, standard deviation, and weight of each access point may be combined to form a data triple. The data triples may be combined to form a fingerprint of access points observed from that space. The data triple or plurality of data triples with the lowest assigned weight(s) may be removed from the fingerprint.
US09182471B2	Sun tracking method and sun tracking system A sun tracking method is disclosed. The method can track the position of sun continuously, without the need to install an optical sensor, to calculate a sun-tracking solar orbit function, and to calibrate the mechanical structure periodically. The method comprises the steps outlined below. (A) A motor of an attitude control device is driven for changing attitude of a photovoltaic cell device to sense and record a short-circuit current by a short-circuit current measuring device directly or in cooperation with the switching behavior of a switch power unit of a maximum power tracking control device, or to sense and to record an output power by a power measuring device. (B) A maximum value of the short-circuit current or the output power is calculated. (C) The motor-driving device is driven for modulating the photovoltaic cell device to an attitude corresponding to the maximum value of the short-circuit current or the output power.
US09182468B2	RF reception coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus using same There is provided a technique for improving quality of images obtained with an MRI apparatus by using the geometric structures of the conventional RF transmission coil and RF reception coil and without increasing burden on patients or MRI technicians. A conductor loop of an RF reception coil disposed between a subject and an RF transmission coil is used also as a loop for magnetic field adjustment in order to shield or enhance a rotating magnetic field B1 generated by the RF transmission coil. Further, the conductor loop operated as a conductor loop for magnetic field adjustment among the conductor loops constituting the RF reception coil is driven so that inhomogeneity of the rotating magnetic field B1 is reduced.
US09182467B2	Comparative analysis of protein conformations by using 2D NOESY NMR spectra The present disclosure provides a method for determining the relative conformations of a protein provided in different protein preparations, comprising steps of: (i) obtaining a first 2D NOESY NMR spectrum of a first protein preparation; (ii) obtaining a second 2D NOESY NMR spectrum of a second protein preparation; and (iii); determining whether a protein has a different conformation in the first and second protein preparations by comparing one or more cross-peaks in the first 2D NOESY NMR spectrum with one or more corresponding cross-peaks in the second 2D NOESY NMR spectrum.
US09182466B2	Gradient coil arrangement and production method The present embodiments optimize a gradient coil structure with a gradient coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography device. The gradient coil arrangement includes a carrier plate with holes. Inserts are located in the holes. The inserts are made of an electrically isolating, thermally conductive material.
US09182464B2	Retractable current lead A current lead assembly for minimizing heat load to a conduction cooled superconducting magnet during a ramp operation is provided. The current lead assembly includes a vacuum chamber having a through hole to enable a retractable current lead having a retractable contact to penetrate within the vacuum chamber. A superconducting magnet is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber and includes a magnet lead. A current contact is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber beneath the through-hole and is coupled to the magnet lead via a thermal connector. The current contact is supported by a thermal isolation support structure coupled to an inside wall of the vacuum chamber. An actuator assembly is provided to contact the retractable contact with the current contact, where connection occurs at ambient temperature inside of the thermal isolation support structure.
US09182463B2	Magnetic resonance examination apparatus and antenna device There is provided a technique for securing a comfortable examination space in a tunnel type MRI apparatus without increasing the manufacturing cost of the MRI apparatus and sacrificing performance thereof. In an RF coil provided with a hollow-shaped outer conductive element and a strip-shaped conductive element disposed along the outer conductive element in the axial direction, meander lines constituting the strip-shaped conductive element are disposed at uneven distances from the outer conductive element to secure an internal space. In order to obtain uniform sensitivity at the center of the RF coil, the strip-shaped conductive element is constituted with N of connected meander lines, and length of the strip-shaped conductive element is adjusted so that, in the strip-shaped conductive element resonating at resonance frequency of the antenna, nodes are formed in a number of (M+1)×N−1, wherein M is 0 or a natural number of 1 or larger.
US09182459B2	Wireless magnetic position sensor In one example, a position sensor is provided. The position sensor comprises an integrated circuit, and a magnetic field sensor that provides a detected signal indicative of a position of a magnetic field source to the integrated circuit. The magnetic field sensor comprises a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor. The position sensor further comprises a wireless circuit coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the wireless circuit comprises an antenna configured to radiate a position signal based on the detected signal.
US09182458B2	Magnetoresistive sensing device A magnetoresistive sensing device includes a substrate, a magnetic layer, a first electrode and a second electrode. The substrate has a reference plane. The first electrode and a second electrode are disposed over the reference plane. The magnetic layer is disposed over the reference plane and has a magnetization direction. A non-straight angle is formed between the magnetic layer and the reference plane. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected with each other through an electric pathway of the magnetic layer. An included angle is formed between the electric pathway and the magnetization direction. Consequently, the magnetoresistive sensing device is capable of measuring a magnetic field change in a Z-axis direction, which is perpendicular to a reference plane.
US09182455B2	DLA rotor flux density scan method and tool A method of measuring flux density and run out to accommodate rotors of different diameters, evaluate intrinsic properties of magnet material and the magnetization process. Circular run out measurement capability is also used to evaluate bearing journal “ovality.” The method includes the use of a scan tool, or a DLA Rotor Flux Density Scan Fixture, which evaluates the electromagnetic field strength (gauss), combined with surface run out and presents the data in a scalable pictorial format. The scan tool includes a probe which measures a magnetic field strength and circular run out of the perimeter of the magnet. Simultaneously, a non-contact measurement sensor is used to measure the rotor surface for subtle variations. The resulting sine wave gauss data and the surface dimension data are manipulated into a scalable “radar” plot. The radar plot correlates magnetic pole field strength and surface circular run out variation to the index position.
US09182454B1	Steered-electron electric-field (SEEF) sensor program Improved electric field (steered-electron electric-field, or SEEF) sensors and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The SEEF sensors described herein may have increased sensitivity to low-frequency electric fields while being smaller than previously known sensors, and may allow for low-power electric field detection. The invention described herein allows for sensitive, long-term electric field monitoring for applications ranging from personnel detection to underground facility monitoring, as well as extraordinarily small vector sensing (full Poynting vector) for compact direction-finding of emitters of interest. Exemplary electric field sensors may accurately sense, measure, characterize and/or transmit electric field data over a wide frequency range. Importantly, such sensing, measuring, and/or characterizing do not require any physical or resistive contact between the sensor and a source of an electric field.
US09182443B2	Testing device and testing method thereof Disclosed are a testing device and a testing method thereof. The testing device includes a frame, a flexible multi-layer substrate and at least one electrical testing point. The frame is positioned corresponding to a chip. At least one electrical connecting point is formed on a surface of the chip. The flexible multi-layer substrate is fixed in the frame. The electrical testing point is corresponding to the electrical connecting point and formed on an upper surface of the flexible multi-layer substrate for contacting the electrical connecting point and performing an electrical test to the chip. Furthermore, the electrical connecting point or the electrical testing point is a bump.
US09182429B2	Distribution line clamp force using DC bias on coil A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a split-core transformer to harvest energy from the conductors. The monitoring devices can be configured to harvest energy from the AC power grid and apply a DC bias to core halves of the split-core transformer to maintain a positive magnetic force between the core halves. Methods of installing and using the monitoring devices are also provided.
US09182427B2	Probe for electric/magnetic field In an electric/magnetic field probe using an optical fiber, when a stress is applied to the fiber, the polarization state of the light propagating in the fiber changes, and the signal level of the electric or magnetic field detection becomes unstable. For coping with this problem, for suppressing the curve or waggle of the optical fiber caused by a stress applied to the fiber, an electric/magnetic field sensor unit composed of the fiber and EO/MO material is fixed on a quartz substrate, for example, and the part of the fiber other than the sensor unit is stored in an acrylic tube and fixed. Further, polarization adjustment parts like a polarization controller, an optical analyzer or the like is installed in the housing, so that a stress caused by wind pressure or contact is not applied to the fiber connected to the parts.
US09182426B2	Current sensing circuit and method thereof A current sensing circuit comprises a high frequency signal generator, an electromagnetic exchanger, and a demodulation circuit. The high frequency signal generator generates a high frequency signal. The electromagnetic exchanger couples to the high frequency signal generator, and receives the high frequency signal to generate a high frequency magnetic field. The high frequency magnetic field modulates the magnetic field induced by a current to generate a modulated magnetic field. The electromagnetic exchanger induces the modulated magnetic field to output a modulated signal. The demodulation circuit couples to the electromagnetic exchanger, and performs demodulation to output a sensing result according to the modulated signal.
US09182425B2	Probe supporting and aligning apparatus An apparatus for testing electrical characteristics of a device, having one or more testing sites. The apparatus comprises a nonconductive plate having a through-hole. The through-hole is positioned such that it at least partially overlays one of the one or more testing sites when at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nonconductive plate is adjacent to the device to be tested. The apparatus also comprises an adhesive on at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nonconductive plate for attaching the bottom surface of the nonconductive plate to the device to be tested. The apparatus also comprises a probe positioning body protruding from the top surface of the nonconductive plate and having a through-hole. The probe positioning body is positioned such that the through-hole of the probe positioning body at least partially aligns with the through-hole of the nonconductive plate.
US09182417B2	Device and method for separating and analyzing blood The invention provides a device for detecting FABP in a blood sample from a patient, methods for analyzing blood on the presence of FABP, as well as methods and kits for the detection of FABP in a blood sample from a patient.
US09182407B2	Method of evaluating visceral fat accumulation, visceral fat accumulation-evaluating apparatus, visceral fat accumulation-evaluating method, visceral fat accumulation-evaluating system, visceral fat accumulation-evaluating program, recording medium, and method of searching for prophylactic/ameliorating substance for visceral fat accumulation According to the method of evaluating visceral fat accumulation of the present invention, amino acid concentration data on concentration values of amino acids in blood collected from a subject to be evaluated is measured, and a visceral fat accumulation condition in the subject is evaluated based on the measured amino acid concentration data of the subject.
US09182405B2	Highly sensitive system and method for analysis of troponin The invention provides methods, compositions, kits, and systems for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin. Such methods, compositions, kits, and systems are useful in diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of methods of treatment in conditions that involve release of cardiac troponin.
US09182404B2	Tumor markers and methods of use thereof The invention provides newly identified proteins as markers for the detection of tumors, or as targets for their treatment, particularly of tumors affecting lung, colon, breast, ovary; affinity ligands capable of selectively interacting with the newly identified markers; methods of screening a tissue sample for malignancy, for determining the presence of a tumor in a subject and for screening a test compound as an antitumor candidate; a diagnostic kit.
US09182403B2	Kits for and methods of differential staining of cervical cancer cells and/or tissues Provided are methods and kits for staining cervical cell sample by contacting the cervical cell sample with a Ficus elastics plant extract, staining the cervical cell sample with New Fuchsin, and staining the cervical cell sample with Light Green or Fast Green. Also provided are method of diagnosing a pre-malignant or a malignant cervical tumor in a subject, by staining the cervical cell sample and identifying at least one cervical cell having a red cytoplasm above a pre-determined threshold, wherein presence of the at least one cervical cell having the red cytoplasm above the pre-determined threshold is indicative of a non- or less-differentiated cell as compared to a normal cervical cell, thereby diagnosing the pre-malignant or a malignant cervical tumor in the subject.
US09182402B2	Hepsin inhibitors Compositions and methods are provided for preventing or attenuating cancer progression or blocking metastasis in prostate cancer and other cancers (e.g., ovarian carcinoma, endometrial cancer, renal cell carcinoma) that are characterized by overexpression of the type II cell surface serine protease hepsin, based on the discovery of multiple disclosed compounds having activity as specific hepsin inhibitors.
US09182397B2	Immunoassay for detecting antibiotics The present invention relates to a device and method for detecting analytes in a sample.
US09182392B2	Processing microtitre plates for covalent immobilization chemistries Disclosed herein is a method of: treating an organic polymer with an electron beam-generated plasma; exposing the treated polymer to air or an oxygen- and hydrogen-containing gas, generating hydroxyl groups on the surface of the polymer; reacting the surface with an organosilane compound having a chloro, fluoro, or alkoxy group and a functional or reactive group that is less reactive with the surface than the chloro, fluoro, or alkoxy group; and covalently immobilizing a biomolecule to the functional or reactive group or a reaction product thereof.
US09182391B2	Method of producing insoluble carrier particles, insoluble carrier particles, measurement reagent, specimen analyzing tool, and immunoturbidimetric assay The present invention provides a measurement reagent that is capable of suppressing nonspecific aggregation even when the amount of antibody to be carried is increased, and is capable of measuring in a wide measurement concentration range with high measurement sensitivity; an immunoturbidimetric assay using the same; and a method of producing thereof. A method of producing an insoluble carrier particle of the present invention is a method of producing an insoluble carrier particle carrying an antibody or an antigen on a particle surface thereof. The method includes a sensitization reaction processes in which the antibody or the antigen is brought into contact with the insoluble carrier particle in the presence of an amino acid with a charged polar side chain in a sensitization reaction solution. The insoluble carrier particles obtained by the producing method of the present invention show favorable dispersibility because nonspecific aggregation is suppressed. As can be seen from Examples 1-1 to 1-4 in FIG. 3, when the insoluble carrier particles are applied to measurement by an immunoturbidimetric assay, a wide measurement concentration range and high measurement sensitivity can be achieved.
US09182389B2	Detection of specific antigens in a population of antigens Detection of the presence or absence of, RH positive cells in a mixed population with Rh negative cells, as is found in a fetal maternal hemorrhage (FMH). The novel methods utilize gravitational forces or applying magnetic forces to reactive magnetic particles to isolate, distinguish and quantify cells.Particles aggregate and are pulled or settle by gravity through a transparent separating solution into a measuring zone where the volume of Rh positive cells can be measured. Rh positive cell volume is correlated to the volume of the original blood sample as an indication of the number of doses of RhIG needed to be administered to the mother to prevent subsequent Rh immunization.
US09182385B2	Methods for diagnosis, prognosis and methods of treatment This invention is directed to methods and compositions for diagnosis, prognosis and for determining methods of treatment. The physiological status of cells present in a sample (e.g. clinical sample) can be used in diagnosis or prognosis of a condition (e.g. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), in patient selection for therapy, to monitor treatment and to modify or optimize therapeutic regimens. The physiological status of a cell can be determined by comparing the intracellular status of one or more activation elements (e.g. the phosphorylation status of a signaling molecule) in a cell (e.g. a cancer cell) to that of another cell (e.g. a normal cell). The physiological status of a cell can be further classified by adding one or more modulators (e.g. an inhibitor or activator) to the cell in question. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to methods of determining a phenotypic profile of a population of cells.
US09182383B2	Biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer Compositions and methods for use in methods and kits for the detection of an increased risk of pancreatic cancer are provided. Cyst fluid samples isolated from patients that are positive for at least three of the following markers, mucin 1, mucin 2, mucin 5AC, mucin 5B, mucin 6, CEA CAM 1, CEACAM 5, CEACAM 6, CEACAM 7, CEACAM 8, S100-A6, S100-A8, S100-A9 and S100-A11 indicate that such patients are at greater risk for development of pancreatic cancer when compared to cyst fluid samples isolated from patients lacking these markers.
US09182381B2	Apparatus and methods for measuring concentrations A probe for measuring an agent in gas and liquid form comprising: a body including an inner chamber and comprised of a porous material; and a heating element in thermal communication with the porous material.
US09182380B2	Signal processing apparatus, signal processing system, probe, signal processing method, and program There is provided a signal processing apparatus including a focus position control unit that controls transmission focus positions to be focus positions of transmission waves transmitted by a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators and reception focus positions to be focus positions of reception waves received by the plurality of vibrators on the basis of position information regarding relative positions of the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators of which the relative positions are changeable.
US09182377B2	Ultrasonic transducer drive circuit and ultrasonic image display apparatus An ultrasonic transducer drive circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer by outputting pulses including a positive pulse and a negative pulse to an output line is provided. The ultrasonic transducer includes a positive voltage supply circuit, a negative voltage supply circuit, a current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit configured to operate when voltage in the output line is positive voltage, and a current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit configured to operate when voltage in the output line is negative voltage, wherein the current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit is configured to enter an operation state at a time of generating the negative pulse in a state where the voltage in the output line is positive voltage, and the current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit is configured to enter an operation state at a time of generating the positive pulse in a state where the voltage in the output line is negative voltage.
US09182374B1	Pipeline marker with flux concentrator Defects in a pipeline may be detected by an in-line inspection tool passing therethrough. However, as the tool travels through the pipeline, errors associated with certain onboard components may accumulate. These errors may reduce the accuracy with which the locations of detected defects can be determined. Accordingly, markers may be positioned at various locations along the pipeline. Each marker may include a radio receiver to receive signal transmitted by an in-line tool passing thereby and one or more magnetic flux detection systems that may detect a magnetic field emanating from the in-line tool. The radio receiver may include an antenna comprising two or more coils connected in series and positioned side-by-side. The flux detection system may include one or more flux concentrators to amplify the strength of the magnetic field. Signals received through the antenna or flux detection system may be used to correct any errors associated with the onboard components charting the progression of the in-line tool through the pipeline.
US09182372B2	Stopped-flow, micro-fluidic device and method for the charge-based separation of complex analyte mixtures The present inventions relate to micro-fluidic devices and related methods of fractionating samples of analytes, such as peptides or proteins, according to their isoelectric points. The disclosed micro-fluidic devices and related methods provide a fractionation sufficient to enhance the performance of immunochemistry and/or tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry workflows. Such methods and devices are capable of fractionating complex samples in a short time, using a small amount of sample, do not require high voltages and are further characterized by their high degree of reproducibility and ease of use.
US09182370B2	Device for operating a gas sensor A device for operating a gas sensor having both at least one pump cell and a measuring cell is provided. A constant current source is provided that makes available a pump current which acts upon an outer electrode of the pump cell. The constant current source provides at least two different amounts of the pump current and/or allows for an alternating operation having ON phases and OFF phases, the duration of the ON phases/OFF phases being specifiable. The device may be largely implemented in digital circuitry and adapted to different requirements.
US09182369B2	Manufacturable sub-3 nanometer palladium gap devices for fixed electrode tunneling recognition A technique is provided for manufacturing a nanogap in a nanodevice. An oxide is disposed on a wafer. A nanowire is disposed on the oxide. A helium ion beam is applied to cut the nanowire into a first nanowire part and a second nanowire part which forms the nanogap in the nanodevice. Applying the helium ion beam to cut the nanogap forms a signature of nanowire material in proximity to at least one opening of the nanogap.
US09182365B2	Excess enthalpy upon pressurization of nanosized metals with deuterium A method for producing excess enthalpy by impregnating metallic precursors on an oxide support that reduces sintering and particle growth; drying the impregnated support at a temperature where the particle growth is minimal; reducing the metallic precursors at a second temperature where the particle growth results in supported metallic particles 2 nm or less in size; and pressurizing the supported metallic particles in the presence of deuterium. The metal particles may comprise palladium, platinum, mixtures thereof, or mixtures of palladium and/or platinum with other elements. Also disclosed is a method for measuring excess enthalpy by placing a test material in a pressure vessel; heating the pressure vessel; evacuating the pressure vessel; introducing deuterium, hydrogen, or both into the pressure vessel; measuring the enthalpy generated during pressurization; again evacuating the pressure vessel; and measuring the enthalpy used during depressurization.
US09182364B1	Hot wire needle probe for thermal conductivity detection An apparatus comprising a needle probe comprising a sheath, a heating element, a temperature sensor, and electrical insulation that allows thermal conductivity to be measured in extreme environments, such as in high-temperature irradiation testing. The heating element is contained within the sheath and is electrically conductive. In an embodiment, the heating element is a wire capable of being joule heated when an electrical current is applied. The temperature sensor is contained within the sheath, electrically insulated from the heating element and the sheath. The electrical insulation electrically insulates the sheath, heating element and temperature sensor. The electrical insulation fills the sheath having electrical resistance capable of preventing electrical conduction between the sheath, heating element, and temperature sensor. The control system is connected to the heating element and the temperature sensor.
US09182363B2	Instrument and method of measuring the concentration of a target element in a multi-layer thin coating An instrument and a method of detecting a target element in a multi-layer thin coating. Lα, Lβ and Lγ x-rays are caused to be emitted from the target element (preferably lead paint) with excitation radiation. Upon detecting the emitted x-rays, an areal concentration of the target element is calculated using Lα and Lβ intensities once, and then using the Lβ and Lγ intensities once, by reference to a single layer model; By combining the two concentrations calculated using single layer model, a more accurate concentration can be calculated for the target element in the multi-layered surface coating.
US09182362B2	Apparatus for protecting a radiation window A radiation detector assembly and a method for using the same are provided. The radiation detector assembly includes an aperture, a window covering the aperture, the window is configured to permit radiation to pass through, the window is configured to prevent the passage of fluids and particles through the aperture, and a protective device covers the window. The protective device includes a plurality of holes at least partially aligned with the aperture, is configured to permit at least some radiation to pass through the holes, is configured to prevent objects larger than the holes to contact the window and is configured to withstand external forces and prevent those forces from damaging the window.
US09182357B2	Semiconductor wafer inspection system and method A wafer inspection system comprises a camera having a field of view, an object mount configured to position at least a portion of surface 5 of an object 3 at an object plane 15 relative to the camera and within the field of view of the camera and at least one surface portion 41 carrying a multitude of retroreflectors 95 disposed at a greater Δd distance from the camera than the object plane and within the field of view of the camera.
US09182355B2	Systems and methods for monitoring a flow path Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing a flow of a fluid at two or more discrete locations to determine the concentration of a substance therein. One method of determining a characteristic of a fluid may include containing a fluid within a flow path that provides at least a first monitoring location and a second monitoring location, generating a first output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the first monitoring location with a first optical computing device, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the second monitoring location with a second optical computing device, receiving first and second output signals from the first and second optical computing devices, respectively, with a signal processor, and determining a difference between the first and second output signals with the signal processor.
US09182352B2	System and method for detecting oil or gas underground using light scattering spectral analyses A method for detecting crude oil or gas in a drilling sample includes introducing a drilling sample into a sample solution containing nano particles, illuminating the sample solution comprising the drilling sample and the nano particles by a laser beam, collecting light scattered by the drilling sample and the nano particles in the sample solution, obtaining a Raman spectrum from the light scattered by the drilling sample and the nano particles in the sample solution, identifying, in the Raman spectrum, a spectral signature associated with a substance around a predetermined Raman shift, and detecting targeted chemicals correlated with crude oil or gas existence underground from where the drilling sample, based on the spectral signature of the substance in the Raman spectrum.
US09182348B2	Resonance fluorescence localization microscopy with sub-wavelength resolution The resonance fluorescence spectrum of a number of two-level atoms is driven by a gradient coherent laser field. In the weak dipole-dipole interaction region (separation less than λ/50), a very strong laser field may be applied such that the Rabi frequency is much larger than the dipole-dipole interaction energy. From the spectrum, the positions of each atom may be determined by just a few measurements. This sub-wavelength microscopy scheme is entirely based on far-field technique and it does not require point-by-point scanning, which makes the method more time-efficient. When two atoms are very close to each other (less than λ/50), the position information for each atom may still be obtained with very high accuracy provided that they are not too close to other atoms. The method may be extended to an arbitrarily large region without requiring more peak laser power and only a few measurements are required.
US09182347B2	Fluoroscopy apparatus, fluoroscopy system, and fluorescence-image processing method A fluoroscopy apparatus includes a preprocessing section that multiplies at least one of a fluorescence image and a reference-light image by a coefficient by which distance characteristics of fluorescence intensity and distance characteristics of return-light intensity acquired from a standard sample in advance are made directly proportional to each other to generate a correction fluorescence image and a correction reference-light image; a divided-image generating section that divides the correction fluorescence image by the correction reference-light image to generate a divided image; a threshold-setting section that sets a threshold based on a mean grayscale level of pixels in the divided image; an image-adjusting section that enhances contrast between a region with grayscale levels above the set threshold set by the threshold-setting section and a region with grayscale levels below the threshold in the divided image; and a monitor that displays the divided image with the enhanced contrast.
US09182346B2	Transmittance testing apparatus A transmittance testing apparatus includes a frame bearing rod for support, and a light emitter carriage, a DUT carriage and a light receiver carriage supported by the frame bearing rod from bottom up; the light emitter carriage is used for placing a light emitter capable of emitting light, the DUT carriage is used for mounting a touch sensor, a light receiver carriage is used for placing a light receiver facing the DUT carriage. Positions of the light emitter, the touch sensor and the light receiver in the apparatus are fixed with respect to each other Thus, stable and accurate measurement of transmittance can be obtained.
US09182337B2	Observation apparatus capable of detecting distal end position of insertion module using external light An insertion module inserted into inside of an observed object includes a light-source light emitting module, around its distal end, configured to emitted light from a light source and a detector, provided close to the distal end, configured to detect a light quantity of incident visible light. A controller controls the light source such that a null signal is transmitted from the light-source light emitting module, the null signal being characteristic for detection of the position of the distal end and obtained by making at least light of a predetermined wavelength region have an absence of visible light. The detector performs detecting operation in a period in which the null signal is transmitted. A determination module performs determination relating to the position of the distal end, based on detection information outputted by the detector.
US09182334B2	Method of determining thermodynamic and kinetic parameters from measured off rates A method for measuring a property of a binding interaction between a capture agent and a binding partner for the capture agent is provided. In certain embodiments, this method comprises: a) contacting a population of particles that are linked to a capture agent with a substrate comprising a binding partner to produce capture agent/binding partner complexes, wherein the population of particles comprises first particles that are bound to a single molecule of the capture agent and second particles that are bound to two molecules of the capture agent; b) applying a force to the bound support, wherein the force is in a direction that separates the particles from the support; and c) separately measuring the forces required to disassociate the first particles and the second particles from their respective complexes.
US09182331B2	Measurement of solid, aerosol, vapor, liquid and gaseous concentration and particle size A method and apparatus for measuring particle content in a stream, comprising routing the stream, via a plurality of tubes, from a plurality of sampling points where particle content concentrations are to be measured. The concentration of particle content in the stream may be measured. The measurement may be based on determination, via a sensor for example, of an electrostatic charge of the particles as the particles, and/or based on counting of a number of particles in the stream, such as using a counter tracking light emitted from a light source. The measured concentration of particle content may be analyzed to determine if it is indicative of an appropriate concentration of measured particles in the stream. The particles may comprise extinguishing and/or suppression agent particles.
US09182325B2	Method and apparatus for changing relative concentrations of gases present within a gaseous sample for mass spectrometry An apparatus for changing relative concentrations of first and second analyte substances in an analyte sample comprises a sample cell defining a sample chamber therewithin, and a semipermeable boundary member disposed in the sample chamber to define first and second sides of the sample chamber. Sample flow input and sample flow output ducts direct an analyte sample containing respective initial concentrations of the first and second analyte substances into the first side of the sample chamber. The semipermeable boundary member permits diffusion therethrough of the first and second analyte substances to the second side of the sample chamber at different rates. An analyte sample in the second side of the sample chamber, and an analyte sample exiting the first side via the sample flow output duct, have respective concentrations of the first and second analyte substances that are different from the initial concentrations.
US09182324B2	Systems and methods for the automated pre-treatment and processing of biological samples Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention allow for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.
US09182321B2	Mobile sampling of target substances Implementations for sampling of one or more target substances using a mobile device configured to sample mobile substances at various locations, analyze the substances, and map the substances to the sampling locations are generally disclosed.
US09182316B2	Predictive rolling bearing maintenance A method of predicting a fault in a rolling bearing, the rolling bearing including inner and outer rings and rolling bodies evenly angularly distributed therebetween, the method comprising: processing (in the DSP system 8) a position signal (x(t)) indicative of a relative angular position of the inner ring with respect to the outer rings, and a vibration signal (y(t)) (by the accelerometer 7) indicative of speed-related vibrations in the rolling bearing, such that they correspond to either an angular displacement of the rolling bodies equal to an integer number of angular gaps between adjacent rolling bodies or an integer number of complete rotations of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring; space sampling (in the ND acquisition board 9) the processed vibration signal (y(t)) based on the processed position signal (x(t)); and predicting a fault in the rolling bearing based on the space-sampled vibration signal (y(t)).
US09182315B2	Lens module testing device Lens module testing device for testing a lens module includes a testing platform, a light source, a testing board, a sensing element, a processor, a driving element, and a position feedback unit. The light source, the testing board, and the sensing element are arranged in order on the testing platform along an optical axis of the lens module. The lens module is positioned between the testing board and the sensing element. The light source emits testing light to the testing board, and the sensing element senses an image of the testing board and sends the image to the processor. The processor determines whether the testing board is in a focal plane of the lens module, controls the driving element to adjust a position of the testing board relative to the lens module, and obtains position information from the position feedback unit to generate a focal length of the lens module.
US09182313B2	Electronic weighing system and method for railcars A railcar has an on-board system for weighing a load of the railcar. A center plate load cell is attached to the bottom of the railcar body and supports the first end of the railcar body on a truck assembly via the center bowl of the truck assembly. A pair of side bearing load cells are mounted to the bottom of the railcar body so as to flank the center plate load cell. A pair of side bearings are positioned on the top surface of the truck assembly bolster in alignment with the pair of side bearing load cells. Circuitry sums signals from the center plate load cell and the pair of side bearing load cells to provide a summed output corresponding to a weight of the railcar load. The summed output is conditioned and transmitted via a satellite and/or cable system to a remote receiving station.
US09182309B2	Knocking sensor There is provided a knocking sensor that has good insulation characteristics even at an operating temperature of 150° C. or more and is excellent in the accuracy of knocking detection. The knocking sensor 10 includes a sensor body 20 including: a metal shell 12 that includes a cylindrical portion 12a and a flange portion 12b positioned at one end of the cylindrical portion 12a and protruding outward in a radial direction; an annular piezoelectric element 15; upper and lower electrode plates 16 and 14 that are superimposed on upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 15; a weight 17 that is disposed so that the piezoelectric element 15 is interposed between the weight and the flange portion 12b; a lower insulating plate 13 that is disposed between the flange portion 12b and the lower electrode plate 14; and an upper insulating plate 13t that is disposed between the upper electrode plate 16 and the weight 17; and a resin molding 11 that covers the sensor body 20. Further, the thickness of each of the upper and lower insulating plates 16 and 14 is in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.50 mm, and the resin molding 11 is made of polyphenylene sulfide having good heat resistance.
US09182308B2	Leadless oil filled pressure transducer An oil-filled pressure transducer having reduced back pressure, comprising an alignment plate having a sensor accommodating aperture, a sensor module inserted into the sensor accommodating aperture, a header surrounding the alignment plate, the header having a protruding top surface, and a diaphragm disposed on the protruding top surface to create a relatively small oil accommodating region between the diaphragm and the sensor. This configuration reduces the oil volume required for operation, which ultimately reduces the back pressure applied against the diaphragm.
US09182306B2	Environmental sensor with tensioned wire exhibiting varying transmission characteristics in response to environmental conditions Systems and methods for measuring environmental conditions of a sensing location, where a sensor including a measuring surface and a wire coupled in tension to the measuring surface over which ultrasonic signals may be transmitted and sensed. Signal analysis of ultrasonic signals transmitted over the tensioned wire are analyzed to measure one or more environmental conditions acting on the measuring surface.
US09182298B2	Blackbody calibration standard for submillimeter frequency range Blackbody calibration standard including a main absorber and a secondary absorber, wherein the main absorber is comprised in a cavity and the secondary absorber is comprised in a cavity and the secondary absorber is arranged such that it surrounds the cavity comprising the main absorber.
US09182294B2	Differential temperature sensor and its capacitors in CMOS/BICMOS technology The sensor is made on a semiconductor substrate covered with an electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating layer separates a thermocouple from the substrate. It includes a first portion presenting a first value of capacitance per unit area and a second portion presenting a second value of capacitance per unit area, which is lower than the first value. The sensor includes first and second output terminals connected to the thermocouple. The first output terminal includes a first capacitor having a first electrode formed by a first leg made of an electrically conducting material. The second electrode of the capacitor is formed by a part of the substrate facing said first leg and separated from the first electrode by the first portion of the electrically insulating layer. The first leg connects the thermocouple while overlapping the second portion of the electrically insulating layer.
US09182292B2	Stimulus indicating device employing polymer gels The present invention relates, for example, to a stimulus-indicating device. More particularly, the present invention includes an apparatus for evidencing when a stimulus sensitive product has been exposed to a designated or predetermined stimulus for a certain period of time, and the invention further may include a method for manufacturing aspects of that apparatus.
US09182291B2	Device for measuring temperature in molten metal A device for measuring the temperature in molten metals contains a thermocouple arranged in a ceramic tube that is closed on one side, and has an external protective body that surrounds the tube, forming an annular space between the outer surface of the tube and the inner surface of the protective body. The protective body is formed of a mixture containing 75 to 90% by weight aluminum oxide, 2 to 10% by weight silicon oxide, 7 to 15% by weight graphite, 0.1 to 1% by weight Fe2O3, 0.1 to 1% by weight (K2O+Na2O), and 0.1 to 1% by weight MgO.
US09182290B2	Methods and apparatuses for monitoring nuclear reactor core conditions A temperature sensor array includes several temperature sensors at different positions for installation within an instrumentation tube of a nuclear reactor. The temperature sensors measure temperature at multiple axial positions of the nuclear reactor, and plant operators are able to access and interpret this measurement data. Temperatures associated with vessel coolant boiling or loss and/or fuel damage can be detected by the temperature sensors to permit more direct determinations of core fluid levels. Multiple temperature sensor arrays permit vessel fluid levels and conditions to be measured at multiple core locations.
US09182288B2	Thermal detector, thermal detection device, and electronic instrument A thermal detector includes a thermal detection element, a support member, and a fixing part supporting the support member. The support member mounts and supports the thermal detection element on a second side thereof with a first side thereof facing a cavity. The support member includes a first layer member disposed on the second side and having a residual stress in a first direction, and a second layer member laminated on the first layer member on the first side and having a residual stress in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A thermal conductance of the first layer member is less than a thermal conductance of the second layer member.
US09182286B2	Infrared sensor and a circuit board equipped therewith An infrared sensor allows for a large temperature difference between a temperature sensor for the detection of infrared rays and a temperature sensor for temperature compensation; a reduction in size; and a low manufacturing cost. The infrared sensor comprises: an electrical insulating film sheet; first temperature sensor and second temperature sensor which are provided on one side of the electrical insulating film sheet, and are located at a distance from each other; first foil conductor patterns formed on one side face of the electrical insulating film sheet, and are connected to the first temperature sensor; second foil conductor patterns formed on the one side of the electrical insulating film sheet, and are connected to the second temperature sensor; and an infrared reflector film provided on the other side of the electrical insulating film sheet, and is opposite the second temperature sensor across the electrical insulating film sheet.
US09182282B2	Multi-analyte optical computing system The present subject matter relates to methods of high-speed analysis of product samples. Light is directed to a portion of a product under analysis and reflected from or transmitted through the product toward an optical detector. Signals for the detector are compared with reference signals based on a portion of the illuminating light passing through a reference element to determine characteristics of the product under analysis. The products under analysis may be stationary, moved by an inspection point by conveyor or other means, or may be contained within a container, the container including a window portion through which the product illuminating light may pass.
US09182281B1	Robust terahertz spectrometer configuration against scanner heads misalignment Robust terahertz time-domain spectrometer has a reflective surface arrangement that renders the sensor insensitive to x or y displacement. The apparatus includes: (a) first scanner head; (b) a first reflective surface; (c) emitter; (d) beam splitter to yield reference radiation pulses and sample radiation pulses; (e) first reflector to reflect sample radiation pulses that have been transmitted through the sample to generate reflected sample radiation pulses that are directed towards a web; (f) second reflector that reflects the reference radiation pulses to generate reflected reference radiation pulses that are directed towards the beam splitter which in turn transmits a portion of the reflected references radiation pulses towards the web; and (g) a detector that receives (i) the reflected sample radiation pulses that have interacted with the sample a plurality of times and (ii) reflected reference radiation pulses that have interacted with the sample a plurality of times.
US09182280B1	Method for reducing frequency of taking background/reference spectra in FTIR or FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and handheld measurement device embodying same Featured is a method for reducing frequency of taking background spectra in FTIR or FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Such a method includes determining if there is a pre-existing reference spectrum available and if such a reference spectrum is available, acquiring a present reference scan before acquiring a sample scan. The method also includes comparing the present reference scan with the pre-existing reference spectrum to determine if there is one or more non-conformities therebetween and if there is/are one or more nonconformities, determining if the one or more non-conformities are resolvable or not. If the one or more non-conformities are resolvable; resolve each non-conformity in a determined manner and thereafter acquiring a scan of the sample, and if the non-conformities are not resolvable, then acquiring a new reference sample and thereafter acquiring a scan of the sample.
US09182277B2	Light sensing apparatus and adjustment method thereof A light sensing apparatus includes a light sensing module, a signal conversion module and a processing module. The light sensing module is configured to output a first and second sense signals according to a light intensity emitting thereon. The signal conversion module is electrically coupled to the light sensing module and configured to receive the first and second sense signals and output a sense value according to a relative difference between the first and second sense signals, The comparison module is electrically coupled to the signal conversion module and configured to adjust a light sensing characteristic of the light sensing module according to the sense value so as to adjust a light sensing characteristic of the light sensing module. An adjustment method for a light sensing apparatus is also provided.
US09182274B2	Optical measuring apparatus and method of stereoscopic display device An optical measuring apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of a stereoscopic display device includes a test image supplier for generating a 3D test signal, a 3D display for displaying left-eye image and/or right-eye image based on the 3D test signal supplied from the test image supplier, a image selection member for selectively transmitting the left-eye image and right-eye image to be displayed on the 3D display, and a light measuring device for measuring intensity or color information of the image transmitted via the image selection member.
US09182272B2	Laser module To make miniaturization of a laser module easier. In the laser block of a laser module, multiple semiconductor laser elements that each emit a beam of laser light are disposed. A collimating lens receives and collimates the individual beams of laser light emitted from the laser block, and emits collimated light. Photodiodes detect the individual beams of collimated light emitted from the collimating lens, and output signals corresponding to the intensities of the individual beams of collimated light. Additionally, the photodiodes are disposed on the propagation paths of collimated light emitted from the collimating lens, and in addition, are disposed at positions that receive a portion of collimated light for all the individual beams of collimated light which are emitted.
US09182270B2	Method and apparatus for measuring a load in a material handling system A system and method for determining the load present in a material handling system is disclosed. A commissioning routine executing on a motor drive controls operation of a hoisting motor with a known load present. The commissioning routine stores values of current provided to the motor or torque generated by the motor at various operating speeds in memory on the motor drive. During subsequent runs of the motor drive, the value of the current/torque is monitored as a function of the speed of the motor and compared to the stored values. The resulting value of the load may be monitored and action taken if the value of the load exceeds the rated capacity of the material handling system. Optionally, the measured load may be displayed to an operator.
US09182269B2	Method for determining the weight of an agricultural bale that compensates for un-level terrain and adjusting for the amount of wrapping material used A method is provided for determining the weight of an agricultural bale that compensates for un-level terrain such as hillsides. The method uses an empty baler tare weight and a full baler weight to determine a raw bale weight. The cosine of the slope upon which the baler sits is then calculated based upon the empty baler weight as it sits and the empty baler tare weight. The cosine of the angle of slope and raw bale weight are the used to determine an actual bale weight. Further steps are provided for compensating in the tare weight of the baler for the weight of wrapping material consumed in the formation of each bale.
US09182267B2	Capacitive level gauge A fuel gauge (15) provided with an inner structural body (27) that is formed of an insulator; an outer structural body (23) that is formed of an insulator and disposed on the outer circumference side of the inner structural body (27) over the entire circumference thereof; an inner electrode (29) that is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the inner structural body (27); and an outer electrode (25) that is attached to an inner circumferential surface of the outer structural body (23). The fuel guage measures the capacitance between the inner electrode and the outer electrode and detects the level of fuel that exists between the inner electrode and the outer electrode. The outer structural body is provided with a plurality of outer through-holes (31) that allow electric charge to move from an outer circumferential surface thereof to the outer electrode.
US09182265B1	Liquid level detection device A liquid level detection device includes a signal source for generating one or more unique signals on low impedance signal electrodes, a lock-in amplifier, and a reference signal directly connecting the signal source to the lock-in amplifier. The unique signals generated by the signal source are connected to one or more low impedance signal electrodes. The low impedance signal electrodes may be positioned at different levels inside the tank so that at any given level of liquid in the tank, each low impedance individual electrode may or may not be in contact with the liquid in the tank. Alternatively, the low impedance signal electrodes may be attached to the external wall of the tank at different levels. An antenna is connected to an input of the lock-in amplifier. The antenna may be placed inside the tank at the lowest level for the liquid, or the antenna may be attached to the outside wall of the tank near the bottom of the tank.
US09182264B2	Probe indicating intermaterial boundaries The present invention describes a method, apparatus and computer program for detecting the locations of boundaries between different materials in a desired measurement volume. The apparatus uses at least one measuring probe, the electrodes of which are characterized in that they together form an assembly that differs from a straight line. In addition, a volume at a further distance from the assembly can also be observed by the assembly, so that measurements can be conducted remotely and, on the other hand, the apparatus stays unbroken in diverse measurement situations. By using the EIT-measurement and applying for example a so-called 1D-σ-method or methods of machine learning, electrical conductivity distributions in the measured volume are detected. As a result, the locations of the possible boundaries between different materials or for example thicknesses of different material layers are detected.
US09182263B2	Level gauge The present invention relates to a level gauge, and more particularly, to a level gauge provided on a device such as an engine or transmission of a vehicle to discharge aft from the device and prevent a foreign substance from being introduced therein. In addition, the level gauge and an oil net can be integrated into a single module, to thereby save costs.
US09182262B2	Temperature sensor and thermal flow-measuring device A temperature sensor and a flow measuring device. The temperature sensor comprising: a housing which comprises a housing body from which at least a first shell and a second shell protrude, each of which shells comprises a first end section, a second end section and a longitudinal axis. A temperature sensor element is arranged, which has especially a thin-film resistance thermometer, wherein one of the temperature sensor elements is heatable, and which shells have outsides, which interface the housing with the environment. From each temperature sensor element at least one connection wire leads away, which is connected with a circuit board. The housing body has a housing chamber, which is connected with inner hollow spaces of the shells, wherein the circuit board is arranged in the housing chamber, and wherein the circuit board is positioned in the housing chamber by a snap-in connection.
US09182261B1	Thermal mass flow meter A thermal mass flow meter includes a housing, a control module, a plurality of probes, a flow calculation circuit, and a heating module. The control module is installed in a containing space. The probes are connected to one terminal of the housing. The flow calculation circuit is connected to the control module, and has a plurality of circuit boards installed in the probes and a plurality of temperature sensing units connected to the circuit boards. The heating module is connected on one of the circuit boards, and connected to the control module. The control module controls the heating module to heat a working fluid in a pipeline; the flow calculation circuit senses the temperature inside the pipeline to acquire temperature change values, and transmits the temperature change values to the control module; and the control module measures the fluid velocity of the working fluid.
US09182260B2	Flow meter with protruding transducers The invention relates to an ultrasonic flow meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a liquid, the flow meter comprises a flow tube 2, optionally a measurement insert, and two or more ultrasonic transducers 8 which are arranged in transducer inserts 20 to be inserted into the flow tube through openings in the flow tube. The transducer inserts are formed monolithically with the housing as a part of the bottom of the housing. The transducer inserts are in a mount position inserted through the openings in the flow tube to extend into the flow passage so that the surface 15 of the transducer inserts protrude into the flow passage. In this manner, gas bubbles, such as air bubbles, released from the flowing liquid will not rest in front of the transducer insert irrespectively of the orientation of the flow meter in the pipe installation.
US09182258B2	Variable frequency magnetic flowmeter An apparatus comprises a pipe section for process flow, a coil for generating a magnetic field across the pipe section, a current source for energizing the coil to generate the magnetic field, and an electrode for sensing an electromotive force induced across the process flow by the magnetic field. The current source energizes the coil at a plurality of different pulse frequencies. A processor calculates a function of the electromotive force at the plurality of different pulse frequencies, and generates a flow output based on the function.
US09182255B2	Sensor A sensor has a receiver device (16) is configured such that the sensor holder (44) is rotatable with respect to the installation body (14) and is adjustable by a telescopic extension or retraction or the sensor holder (44). The receiver is rotatable with respect to the installation body and tiltable with respect to the installation body, and has clamping elements (18) for the sensor holder (44). The clamping elements (18) can be clamped tight by means of a cap nut (20) which engages into a thread (24) of the receiver device (16). The cap nut (20) has a first sealing ring (30) at an opening (28) and contacting the sensor holder (44), and has a second sealing ring (34) at the oppositely disposed opening (32) and contacting the installation body (14). The sealing rings (30, 34) are connected without joints to the cap nut (20).
US09182254B2	Indicating device The present invention relates to an indicating device, in particular for a motor vehicle, which comprises a dial, a first needle and a second needle, the first needle being rotated in front of the dial and about a rotational axis, the second needle being rotated behind the dial and about the rotational axis, the second needle comprising an end portion visible along the periphery of the dial, the end portion including at least one first marking element and one second marking element, the first marking element and the second marking element being separated along the circumference of the dial, the indicating device comprising a means of illuminating the end portion of the second needle.
US09182253B2	Optical fiber event sensor An optical fiber attenuation sensor that includes a first protrusion movable between a first position and a second position, a second protrusion movable between a third position to a fourth position, and an elastic object coupled to the first protrusion that causes the first protrusion to move from the first position to the second position. When the first protrusion moves from the first position to the second position, the second protrusion moves from the third position to the fourth position. The second protrusion is configured and positioned to cause an event in a signal in an optical fiber when the second protrusion moves from the third position to the fourth position.
US09182244B2	Apparatus, method and article for authentication, security and control of power storage devices, such as batteries A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. By default, each portable electrical energy storage device is disabled from accepting a charge unless it receives authentication information from an authorized collection, charging and distribution machine, other authorized charging device, or other authorized device that transmits the authentication credentials. Also, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is disabled from releasing energy unless it receives authentication information from an external device to which it will provide power, such as a vehicle or other authorization device.
US09182243B2	Navigation application Some embodiments provide a navigation application that presents a novel navigation presentation on a device. The application identifies a location of the device, and identifies a style of road signs associated with the identified location of the device. The application then generates navigation instructions in form of road signs that match the identified style. To generate the road sign, the application in some embodiments identifies a road sign template image for the identified style, and generates the road sign by compositing the identified road sign template with at least one of text instruction and graphical instruction. In some embodiments, the road sign is generated as a composite textured image that has a texture and a look associated with the road signs at the identified location.
US09182242B2	Systems and methods for time management and multipoint navigation Systems and methods for time management and multipoint navigation adapted to receive at least one task to be performed by the user; calculate a time schedule; allow the user to view said time schedule and target information via a graphical user interface; allow for an automatic or semi-automatic periodic re-calculation of said time schedule according to information retrieved from a remote computing device; and allow the user to export said calculated orders and target information to a navigation aid.
US09182237B2	Navigation system with rapid GNSS and inertial initialization A navigation system for use with moving vehicles includes target points proximate to a rendezvous site located on a first moving vehicle. One or more transmitters broadcast target point positioning information. A navigation unit on a second moving vehicle utilizes a camera to capture images that include the target points or a detector system that emits one or more beams to the target points. The navigation unit determines the relative position and orientation of the rendezvous site at the second vehicle. The navigation unit utilizes the relative position and orientation and an absolute position and orientation of the rendezvous site calculated from the target position information and calculates an absolute position and orientation corresponding to the second vehicle. The navigation unit then initializes its component inertial subsystem using a local position and orientation that are based on the calculated absolute position and orientation of the second vehicle.
US09182236B2	System for post processing GNSS/INS measurement data and camera image data A system for performing post processing of GNSS and INS measurement data and image data to provide highly accurate location information for a camera, an INS measurement unit or both performs first processing operations using the GNSS and INS measurement data, to determine position, velocity and attitude solutions. The system then analyzes the solutions to determine which measurement data provide sufficiently reliable solutions from which to determine the precise position, velocity and attitude of the camera, and thus, which measurement data do not provide sufficiently reliable solutions. The system and method then performs more time consuming and processing intensive processing operations using the measurement data and camera image data that are associated with solutions that are not sufficiently reliable.
US09182234B2	Fishfinder data display device, fishfinder device, method of specifying destination and computer readable media A fishfinder data display device is provided. The display device includes a memory for storing fishfinder data obtained by a fishfinder detecting underwater and a location where the fishfinder data is acquired so as to associate the fishfinder data with the location, a display unit for displaying an image created based on the fishfinder data, and a controller, when an operator performs a specifying operation to a predetermined part of the image displayed by the display unit, for reading the location corresponding to the fishfinder data based on the specified predetermined part of the image from the memory, and causing an autopilot device to execute an autopilot operation with the location as a destination.
US09182232B2	Magnetically altered operations of a node in a wireless node network A magnetically actuated node apparatus and methods of its operation are described involving interaction with a master node that communicates with a server in a wireless node network. As part of magnetically altering an operation of a node in a wireless node network having a master node operative to communicate with a server, the node detects one or more magnetic field changes in a proximate environment of the node (such as a sensing an altered configuration of a magnetic switch integrated within the node). The node then alters a management function of the node (such as changing a power condition of the node that may override a prior power setting) in response to the detected one or more magnetic field changes. The node further transmits to the master node information about the altered management function (such as a movement alert and/or location information) to be forwarded to the server.
US09182228B2	Multi-lens array system and method An image capture system comprises a plurality of cameras and a camera mount. The camera mount has a curved portion, and the plurality of cameras are secured to the curved portion. The cameras are oriented radially inward relative to the curved portion of the camera mount, such that the lines of sight of the cameras intersect. Images are captured substantially simultaneously with the plurality of cameras. The captured images are stitched together to form a collective image. The image capture system may be positioned in an aerial vehicle to provide overhead views of an environment, and captured images may be transmitted to a remote location for viewing in substantially real time. A remote user may indicate a region of interest within the collective image, and the image capture system may render a portion of the collective image in accordance with the user's indications.
US09182226B2	Hand-held laser distance measuring device The disclosure is based on a hand-held laser distance measuring device comprising at least one laser unit which is configured to determine a first distance using a laser beam emitted in a first relative direction. The laser unit is further configured to determine at least one second distance, near instantaneously, using a laser beam emitted in at least one second relative direction which differs from the first relative direction.
US09182225B2	Position recognition device of printer A position recognition device of a printer includes a bracket, a platform, a positioning gear, and a base. The bracket includes a receiving shaft. The receiving shaft includes a shaft body and a gear portion mounted to the shaft body. The positioning gear is pivotally located to the platform. The positioning gear includes a gear body and a marker connected to the gear body. The gear body and the gear portion are the same size. The base is slidably mounted to the bracket. The base includes a sensor. The positioning gear is located under the sensor to be aligned with the sensor; the gear portion rotates to drive the positioning gear to rotate. The sensor senses the marker to determine an initial position of the receiving shaft for compensation.
US09182222B2	Substrate placement in immersion lithography A method for determining an offset between a center of a substrate and a center of a depression in a chuck includes providing a test substrate to the depression, the test substrate having a dimension smaller than a dimension of the depression, measuring a position of an alignment mark of the test substrate while in the depression, and determining the offset between the center of the substrate and the center of the depression from the position of the alignment mark.
US09182221B2	Information processing apparatus and information processing method An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of positions on a surface of a measurement target object using information of light reflected from the measurement target object on which structured light is projected, a position of a light source of the structured light, and a position of a light reception unit configured to receive the reflected light and acquire the information of the reflected light, a calculation unit configured to acquire at least one of a position and a direction on the surface of the measurement target object based on the plurality of the positions, and a correction unit configured to correct at least one of the plurality of the positions based on information about an error in measurement for acquiring the plurality of the positions and at least one of the position and the direction on the surface of the measurement target object.
US09182220B2	Image photographing device and method for three-dimensional measurement An image photographing device for three-dimensional measurement sequentially photographs a measuring object in an overlapping manner by a single camera. The image photographing device for three-dimensional measurement photographs the measuring object with marks having self-other identifiable identification codes, extracts the marks from a photographed image, identifies the identification codes of the marks, defines an area of the measuring object in the photographed image into photographed areas surrounded by the marks, counts a number of photographing times of each of the photographed areas which are involved in different photographed images, groups the photographed areas in response to the number of photographing times, inputs positions of the marks in a coordinate space of a photographing range image of the measuring object, connects the positions of the marks input in the photographing range image such that mark symbols of the marks surrounding the photographed areas correspond to each other to match the photographed areas into the photographing range image, and indicates the photographed areas matched into the photographing range image.
US09182215B2	Flexible strained sensor with protective coating A strain sensor includes a flexible substrate, a CNT film made of a plurality of CNT fibers aligned in an orientation direction, a pair of electrodes, and a protective coat. The electrodes are formed at the opposite ends of the CNT film in a perpendicular direction to the orientation direction of the CNT fibers. The protective coat protecting the CNT film is made of a resin, a water-based emulsion, or an oil-based emulsion. The protective coat is placed in contact with at least part of the CTN fibers on the surface of the CNT film. The strain sensor including the protective coat is able to prevent damage/breakage of the CNT film and to prevent foreign matters from entering into gaps between CNT fibers, thus improving durability in maintaining adequate sensing functionality.
US09182210B2	Caliper for measurement of an object A caliper is arranged for applying predetermined constant pressure to a joint or other anatomy under measurement. The caliper includes an elongate housing, a first jaw connected to the housing, a second jaw slidably connected to the housing, the first and second jaws spaced apart by a predetermined minimum distance, and a constant force spring engaging the first and second jaws. The constant force spring biases the first and second jaws toward one another. A method includes using the caliper to measure anatomical dimensions.
US09182208B2	Method of selecting kind of size of a helmet and shape of a pad, method of adjusting helmet size by using the selection method, and head size measuring tool used in aforesaid selection method In the present invention, by inputting an upper head size to a computer in addition to a front & back length-size and a right & left width-size of a head portion of a helmet wearer and by data-processing them, there is employed a configuration in which a kind of the helmet size and a shape of a pad such as a pad, in the region consisting of the head-top portion and the vicinity thereof, or the like, which fit the head portion of the helmet wearer, are to be selected. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a selection method in which it is possible to easily select a kind of a preferable size of the helmet, and a preferable shape of the pad in the region consisting of the head-top portion and the vicinity thereof.
US09182204B2	Subsonic ammunition casing A subsonic ammunition cartridge casing having an engineered internal volume designed to allow for the introduction of precisely the amount of propellant necessary at precisely the desired location to reproducibly produce the desired projectile velocity and internal pressure is provided. The subsonic shell casing has an engineered internal propellant cavity built into the internal body of the casing itself that does not necessarily depend on the introduction of a separate volume reducing device such as tubing, filler, foam filler and the like. This ensures the integrity of the case, does not result in anything being expelled through the muzzle of the weapon other than the projectile, does not have any burning or combusting components, allows for very precise control of the internal volume and thus chamber pressure, and is economical to produce.
US09182201B2	Cartridge with rapidly increasing sequential ignitions for guns and ordnances A cartridge may be loaded with a powder column containing stratified, stacked layers of propellant, each powder layer over-compressed to a specified degree, with the burn rate controlled by the specified degree of over-compression applied to each respective powder layer. The application of a highly compressed powder column reduces the burn rate, and may force one or more of the powder layers to launch with the projectile down the barrel. Accordingly, the powder column is forced to burn in a manner similar to fuel burning in a solid fuel rocket engine. This greatly reduces the pressure(s) developed in the chamber, and permits the force of the burning powder to be efficiently focused on forward propulsion. The rapidly increasing set of sequential ignitions provides higher and higher energy densities with each subsequent ignition, and creates a more uniform linear acceleration of the projectile for the full length of the target barrel.
US09182197B2	Pane construction and corresponding bullet proof window The present invention relates to a pane construction or screen for covering and protecting at least a part of the outside of a ballistic block of a bullet proof window. The ballistic window for use in a motor vehicle may comprise the ballistic block having transparent panes and layers made of glass, ceramic, or plastic which are arranged in a layered manner in a laminate, and it has an outside surface which is covered completely or at least in part by the transparent pane construction.
US09182193B1	Systems and methods for providing a signal to inhibit locomotion An electronic weapon inhibits locomotion by a human or animal target by conducting a stimulus signal through the target. The electronic weapon includes an inductance, first and second energy stores, and a switch. The switch has a first position and a second position and is in series with first energy store and the inductance. Energy from the first energy store is transferred to a magnetic field of the inductance while the switch is operating in the first position. The stimulus signal comprises a first phase and a second phase. During the first phase, the switch is operated in the second position, and a flyback effect of the inductance provides an ionizing voltage for the stimulus signal. During the second phase, the second energy store releases energy for the stimulus signal at a voltage less than the ionizing voltage.
US09182190B2	Linear clutch for use with a bow and an arrow rest A clutch for use with an arrow rest is mounted intermediate the arrow rest and the bow. The clutch includes a body having a first end configured to operatively connect to the arrow rest cord and a second end that receives a moveable shaft. The moveable shaft has a first end received in the body and a second end configured to connect to a bow. A spring is received on the shaft and positioned between the shaft and the clutch body. The clutch is moveable between a first position in which the shaft first end is proximate the clutch body first end to facilitate the movement of an arrow rest launcher arm out of an arrow support position, and a second position in which the shaft first end is proximate the clutch body second end to facilitate movement of the arrow rest launcher arm into an arrow support position.
US09182189B2	Dry fire practice training device When a semi-automatic weapon is live fired, its firing pin is reset and is ready to be fired again. The shooter's hands remain in the firing position, and just the trigger finger and trigger are employed. But with dry fire practice, the shooter must remove a hand from the weapon and ratchet the slide to reset the firing pin, allowing the trigger to return to its unfired position. This must be done each time a shot is simulated. This invention provides, by incorporating a modified ammunition magazine in the weapon's magazine compartment, realistic muscle memory training by duplicating the action of the trigger, the feel and the sound of the release of the firing pin and the resetting of the trigger for additional trigger activations. It does not interact with the weapon's firing pin and does not require any alterations to the weapon such as disassembling and reassembling of parts.
US09182187B1	Integrated muzzle adapter coupling system Devices, systems, and methods for adding a coupling system onto the existing accessory thread on a rifle barrel, which allows for existing terminal muzzle devices (such as but not limited to muzzle brakes, flash hiders, muzzle suppressors, and the like) to remain on the barrel and not be removed when accessory devices, such as but not limited to silencers, percussion shrouds, golf ball launchers, tennis ball launchers, cartridge oil filters, and the like, are used with threaded gun barrels.
US09182186B1	Firearm magazine release lock A button lock for a depressible magazine release button bolt of a lower portion of a firearm of the type having a selectively removable upper portion includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one peripheral edge. The body includes a main aperture traversing the bottom surface and sized to accept a screw insert therein that itself includes a threaded bore for receiving the button bolt. The body includes at the top surface thereof a laterally-projecting extension terminating at a downwardly-projecting lip. The button bolt is engaged within screw insert in the main aperture. With the extension positioned over both the lower and upper portions of the firearm, the downwardly-projecting lip prevents the button bolt from being depressed when contacting the upper portion of the firearm. A permanent plug may be fixed within the main aperture to prevent removal of the screw insert after installation.
US09182183B2	Cleaning system Fluid is circulated through a heat exchange system for heat exchange to occur at a bundle of tubes making up a portion of the heat exchange system. Heat exchange efficiency at the bundle of tubes requires debris and fouling deposits accumulated therewithin to be substantially removed. Taking the heat exchange system off-line for physical flushing is not only ineffective but also disallow use of the heat exchange system for the duration it remains off-line. Described herein is an embodiment of a cleaning system which uses a displacement system for displacing cleaning balls carried in fluid into the bundle of tubes for cleaning thereof. A flow diverting system is configured and operable for introducing the cleaning balls to the bundle of tubes when in a first operating mode and for retrieving the cleaning balls from the plurality of tubes when in a second operating mode.
US09182182B2	Variable-flow nozzle for cooling tower A water spray nozzle (3) for cooling tower is provided. Wherein, the nozzle (3) or the upper connection section of the nozzle (3) has an upward extension section in a water distribution groove (1). Several layers of water inlet holes or slots (4) are opened around the extension section at different heights, or several tapered water inlets (5) with downward taper tips are distributed around the extension section. The nozzle (3) far from a water distribution port can still get the uniformly distributed water even when the water quantity of the cooling tower is low, the efficiency of the cooling tower thereby will not be reduced.
US09182181B2	Condensate drain trap for an air conditioning system A condensation drain trap for a drain outlet of an air conditioner for draining of condensate waste water. The drain trap has a diaphragm divided by cuts into a plurality of sections to permit the diaphragm to deform, upon the air conditioner being first turned on and a negative pressure being generated inside the air conditioner, to allow passage of air, in a controlled fashion, through the drain trap and into the air conditioner. The diaphragm is designed to retain a column of waste water in the drain trap to balance the negative pressure inside the air conditioner, while the cuts are such that when the column of waste water exceeds a predetermined height or volume, the excess waste water drains out through the diaphragm to maintain the column of waste water at the predetermined height or volume.
US09182175B2	Anti-icing heat exchanger A heat exchanger for cooling fluid passing through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a hot fluid flowpath and a cold air flowpath. At least a portion of the cold air flowpath has a thermally conductive wall transferring thermal energy from hot fluid flowing through the hot fluid flowpath to cold air flowing through the cold air flowpath. The cold air flowpath includes a separator for separating ice particles from the cold air flowing through the cold air flowpath. The separator includes a passage having a bottom wall, an end wall, and a side wall including a porous wall through which a majority of cold air entering the separator passes. The end wall has an ice particle discharge opening adjacent the bottom wall permitting a minority of the cold air entering the separator to carry ice particles separated from the majority of cold air through the opening.
US09182174B2	Fluidised bed treatment A component is treated in a fluidized bed by insertion of only a treatment part of the component into the treatment chamber of a fluidized bed apparatus. The non-treatment part of the component is located substantially outside the treatment chamber and out of contact with the fluidized bed. The boundary between the treatment part and the non-treatment part of the component is defined by a boundary containment surface at a fixed location with respect to the component. The boundary containment surface may be a seal which seals between the component to be treated and an aperture in a side wall of the treatment chamber.
US09182173B2	Arc furnace Provided is an arc furnace, including: a furnace body having a bottomed cylindrical shape; a furnace lid that openably closes an opening of the furnace body; an electrode that is provided at the furnace lid and melts a metal material supplied into the furnace body by electric discharge; a tilting floor that is tiltable within a plane substantially perpendicular to the tilting floor; and a rotation mechanism that is provided on the tilting floor inward from an outer circumference of the furnace body to support a bottom wall of the furnace body, and rotates the furnace body around a cylinder axis thereof.
US09182172B2	Method for operating a clothes drying appliance and clothes drying appliance A method is provided for operating a clothes drying appliance, wherein a moisture content of clothes is determined by measuring a current running through the clothes and wherein the determining takes into account a salt content of the moisture. The clothes drying appliance is adapted to perform the method.
US09182170B2	Oxygen vaporization method and system A method and system for producing an oxygen product stream in which sensible heat from a compressed air stream is indirectly exchanged with a vaporized pumped liquid oxygen stream in a main heat exchanger and latent heat is exchanged in an auxiliary heat exchanger connected to the main heat exchanger. The latent heat exchange produces subcooled liquid air that is fed into a low pressure column of the air separation plant and vaporization of the pumped liquid. Part of the subcooled liquid air can be withdrawn from the auxiliary heat exchanger at a higher temperature than the remainder of the subcooled liquid air. All or part of the subcooled liquid air can be further cooled within the main heat exchanger. As a result, low temperature, subcooled liquid air is produced that allows for an increased oxygen recovery and also, argon recovery if an argon column is present.
US09182168B2	Compartmentalized storage container A system for dividing a container into compartments has a divider that divides the container into compartments. The system also has a first support device configured to removably receive and support the divider in a first orientation that forms laterally adjacent compartments and a second support device configured to removably receive and support the divider in a second orientation that forms vertically adjacent compartments. The divider is received by either the first or second support device.
US09182165B2	Rapid cryocooler utilizing spray holes to cool a beverage A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a storage chamber defined therein, a refrigeration cycle device for cooling the storage chamber, a chilling case for receiving a beverage container such that the chilling case surrounds the beverage container in a contact manner, and a rapid cooling device, having a case receiving part for receiving the chilling case, for cooling a coolant using the refrigeration cycle device and spraying the cooled coolant to an outside of the chilling case in a vicinity of the chilling case. A beverage is cooled in a state in which the beverage container is not in direct contact with the coolant, whereby the coolant is not present at the outside of the beverage container, and therefore, the beverage container is kept sanitary.
US09182162B2	Apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an actuator in a refrigeration device upon detection of an unwanted condition An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.
US09182159B2	Water heater and control method therefor A water heater includes one or a plurality of heat pumps that heat tap water or return water from a hot water supply part, a circulation line that supplies hot water heated in the heat pumps to the hot water supply part, and introduces the return water from the hot water supply part to the heat pumps, an incoming water pipe that joins to between the hot water supply part in the circulation line and the heat pumps and supplies the tap water, a circulation pump that returns the return water to the heat pumps and circulates the return water through the circulation line, and a control unit that controls operation or stop of the circulation pump according to driving operation time or elapsed stop time by linking a combustion process of the heat pumps.
US09182154B2	Adaptive control of vapor compression system A control system controls adaptively an operation of a vapor compression system. The control system includes a memory for storing a mapping relationship between control inputs of the vapor compression system, and a processor for executing a supervisory controller and an optimization controller. The supervisory controller controls the operation of the vapor compression system using a set of control inputs selected according to the mapping relationship. The optimization controller modifies the mapping relationship in response to the operation of the vapor compression system.
US09182151B2	Solar power generation apparatus A solar power generation apparatus includes a solar cell panel body formed in a tube shape, and a reflection plate installed such that reflected light is incident to the solar cell panel body, wherein the solar cell panel body can be rotated around a shaft center of the tube shape.
US09182148B2	Thermal solar system A thermal solar system including a collector that is connected to a heat sink, in particular a heat storage medium, by way of a solar circuit containing a heat exchange medium. To reduce overheating of the system during idling and to improve the efficiency of the solar system, the solar circuit is connected temporarily to at least one heat exchanger by way of a valve control unit disposed at a hot side of a thermogenerator receiving an inflowing heat flow. A thermal insulation reduces the exchange of thermal energy between the collector of a thermal solar system and the heat exchanger.
US09182144B2	Hot air blower A hot air blower includes a shell including a fan mechanism, a combustion device, a vane mechanism, and a flame protector disposed therein. The vane mechanism includes a clipping seat and a plurality of guiding vanes extended thereon. The plurality of guiding vanes extend obliquely and prevents the air passing through the vane mechanism from generating turbulence. The clipping seat and the flame protector form a half-closed combustion chamber therebetween. Heat in the half-closed combustion chamber causes a thermal expansion of the air and, thereby increasing a speed and a volume of the air passing the guiding vanes of the vane mechanism. The heated air is discharged from an external flow tube and which controls a heating range of an area of the hot air blower.
US09182143B2	Room pressure controlling system A room pressure controlling system having a local exhaust valve, a supply air valve, a common exhaust air valve, controllers and a differential pressure sensor. The controller calculates a correction control output value for the valve operated as the room pressure controlling valve, which is either the supply air valve or the common exhaust air valve, based on a setting value and a room pressure measured by the differential pressure sensor. The controller evaluates whether or not the supply airflow rate and/or the exhaust airflow rate is changing, and if an airflow rate is changing, emphasizes rapid responsiveness of the room pressure control than a reduction in the frequency of actuation of the room pressure controlling valve, if the airflow rate is stable, the controller emphasizes the reduction in the frequency of actuation of the room pressure controlling valve than the rapid responsiveness of the room pressure control.
US09182141B2	Fan coil thermostat with activity sensing Fan coil thermostats can provide energy savings by, for example, not unnecessarily heating and/or cooling an unoccupied room or other space. Fan coil systems employing such a fan coil thermostat may be more energy efficient. A fan coil system may include a fan coil that is configured for fluid communication with a source of heated fluid and/or a source of cooled fluid, a valve that controls fluid flow through the fan coil, a fan that blows air across the fan coil and a fan coil thermostat. The fan coil thermostat may include a controller that implements a control algorithm that may include an unoccupied temperature setting. The controller may be programmed to permit a user to enter a user-chosen temperature setting. In response, the controller may initiate a timer, and may automatically return to the unoccupied temperature setting once the timer has expired.
US09182139B2	Room pressure controlling system A room pressure controlling system having a supply air valve, a common exhaust air valve, controllers, and a differential pressure sensor. The controller gradually changes a supply and an exhaust airflow rates when there is an airflow rate change controlling operation, and calculates, based on a setting value and a pressure difference that is measured by the differential pressure sensor, a correction control output value for the valve being operated as the room pressure controlling valve, and if the sum value of the control output value and the correction control output value is a value that causes operation of the room pressure controlling valve in the direction opposite of the desired direction, suspends the output of the sum value, but if the value causes the room pressure controlling valve to operate in the desired direction, outputs the sum value to the room pressure controlling valve.
US09182132B2	Combination domestic appliance mounting system with service capability A modular, multi-piece, domestic appliance combination unit includes a lower appliance; an upper appliance; a universal connector bracket attached to the upper appliance; a support bracket attached to the lower appliance, the support bracket having a plurality of attachment locations that are positioned relative to each other in the horizontal direction; a slide mechanism having an upper slide member fixed to the universal connector bracket, and a lower slide member fixed to the support bracket and slidably attached to the upper slide member. The upper appliance moves relative to the lower appliance in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction when the upper slide member moves relative to the lower slide member, and the support bracket is attachable to the lower slide member at different ones of the plurality of attachment locations such that the lower slide member is positionable at different locations along the horizontal direction.
US09182127B2	Home appliance with improved control access A home appliance defining a width direction and a depth direction, and a control panel extending along the width direction, the control panel having control element components mounted thereat, the home appliance including a chassis within the body adjacent the control panel; first and second spaced brackets mounted to the chassis adjacent the control panel, with fastener portions aligned in the depth direction; and a cross member extending in the width direction between the first bracket and the second bracket with control elements intermediate the cross member and the chassis, the cross member having a fastener portion at each widthwise end thereof and aligned in the depth direction, the cross member being mounted to the first bracket using fasteners aligned in the depth direction, and the second bracket using fasteners aligned in the depth direction, wherein the fasteners are removable from the depth direction.
US09182125B2	Fuel plenum annulus Embodiments of the disclosure include a combustor assembly. The combustor assembly may include one or more fuel plenums. The combustor assembly may also include one or more fuel distribution plates disposed within the fuel plenums. Moreover, the combustor assembly may include a number of mixing tubes disposed at least partially within the fuel plenums and extending through the fuel distribution plates. In certain aspects, the mixing tubes may each include a reduced diameter about the fuel distribution plates to form an annulus therebetween.
US09182123B2	Combustor fuel nozzle and method for supplying fuel to a combustor A combustor fuel nozzle includes a center body and an inner shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the center body. The inner shroud has a downstream surface. The fuel nozzle includes an inner passage between the center body and the inner shroud, an outer passage that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the inner shroud and a first plurality of fuel ports extending substantially radially outward through the center body. The first plurality of fuel ports is upstream from the downstream surface of the inner shroud. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor fuel nozzle includes flowing a working fluid through an inner passage between a center body and an inner shroud, injecting a fuel from the center body against the inner shroud, and flowing a portion of the working fluid through an outer passage that surrounds at least a portion of the inner shroud.
US09182116B2	Efficient solid fuel burning appliance A wood or other bio mass fueled appliance is disclosed for maximum efficiency and low cost construction for home, garage, workshop, and barn. Comprised of a vertical cylindrical outside shell (12) outside bottom (16) and outside top (14) enclosing an inside shell (24) inside bottom (28) and inside top (26). Inside shell (24) forming a vertical cylindrical chamber (36) accessed by load door (38) and ash door (40), through which disassembled baffles (32) may pass. A suitable means for igniting fuel in chamber (36) and controlling burn rate by draft regulators (42) and fan limit switches (52). Whereby circular baffles (32) elevated by 90° angle shaped supports (30) suppress the flow of flame and exhaust gases from entering flue (22). Exhaust gases and flame pass by gap (50), directing energy toward the inside surface of inside shell (24) inside bottom (28) and inside top (26). Thus maximizing the efficiency of heat transferred from chamber (36) to the air or fluid in space (18) circulated through ducts (20) by blowers/pumps (48) and directed by air deflectors (46) producing economizing results.
US09182112B2	Sheet lighting in an appliance A lighting system for an appliance includes a panel having a side and an exposed edge, a light source positioned in proximity to the exposed edge of the panel, and a coating disposed over a surface of the side of the panel. The coating is configured to allow light to diffuse from the coated side of the panel and the panel is located remotely from the light source.
US09182111B2	Desk top item with LED means has USB-units or USB-module to charge other electric or digital data devices Desk top items with LEDs also include USB-unit(s) or USB-module(s) and, optionally, additional outlet-units, to supply charging power to other electric or digital devices such as a smart phone or digital data device. The USB-unit(s) or USB-module(s) are arranged to supply power only, and do not have an additional USB data transfer function.
US09182107B2	Luminaire adapter with tombstone cover A luminaire adapter is provided. The luminaire adapter includes a tombstone cover and a light source bracket. The tombstone cover includes a housing that defines a slot opening to accept a tombstone socket and a pair of snap connectors. The light source bracket includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion and the bottom portion are configured to connect. The bottom portion includes a pair of snap receivers configured to receive the pair of snap connectors of the tombstone cover. The top portion and the bottom portion define an opening to receive a luminaire.
US09182101B2	Light flux controlling member and illuminating device Light flux controlling member 140 includes first light flux controlling member 141 and second light flux controlling member 142. First light flux controlling member 141 includes incidence surface 143 on which a part of light emitted from light-emitting element 130 is incident, total reflection surface 144 that reflects a part of light incident on incidence surface 143 toward second light flux controlling member 142, and emission surface 145 that emits a part of light incident on incidence surface 143 and light reflected by total reflection surface 144. Second light flux controlling member 142 includes reflection surface 149 that reflects a part of light emitted from first light flux controlling member 141. Reflection surface 149 is a rotational symmetric surface with the optical axis LA of light-emitting element 130 as a rotation axis.
US09182099B2	Lens and LED light module having the same A lens, which is integrally formed as a single piece, includes a base, a first light diffusion portion and a second light diffusion portion formed on the base. A receiving hole is defined in the second light diffusion portion. The first light diffusion portion is received in the receiving hole, and an inner surface of the receiving hole is spaced from a top surface and a periphery side surface of the first light diffusion portion. A recess is defined in the first light diffusion portion for receiving an LED therein. The first and second light diffusion portions have different light diffusion (refraction) capabilities. The present disclosure also relates an LED light module using the lens.
US09182098B2	Device for scattering light A device for scattering light emitted from at least one light source includes, among other things, a light coupler configured for placement adjacent to the light source. The light coupler includes a first region proximal the light source where the first region has a first index of refraction and a second region abutting the first region to define a boundary therebetween. Being distal to the light source, the second region has a second index of refraction that is greater than the first index of refraction. Light emitted from the light source is scattered as a result of travelling through the first region and the second region.
US09182097B2	Variable diffuser The invention relates to a diffuser (1) for use in a lighting device. The diffuser (1) comprises an at least partially transparent first layer (10) and an adjoining at least partially transparent second layer (20), the first layer being continuous and comprising a stretchable elastomer, the second layer being a segmented layer comprising a material with a high effective stiffness measured as the product of the thickness of the material and the elastic modulus of the material. The second layer (20) comprises a non-periodic pattern of segments (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e) having different dimensions. The diffuser is stretchable between a first position in which the first layer is in a non-stretched state and the segments of the second layer are arranged adjacent each other such as to form a substantially continuous layer, and a second position in which the first layer is stretched out and the segments of the second layer are separated from each other such that part of the first layer is exposed.
US09182093B2	Gimbaled ceiling lamp A ceiling lamp consists of one or more LEDs supported by a housing that fits within a hemispherical framework that may be installed in a ceiling. The LED housing comprises a hemispherical heat sink that may be movably retained within the framework and may be rotated 360 degrees in the horizontal plane and downwardly in the vertical plane. The frame has one or more upwardly extending legs rigidly attached to a ceiling trim and that hold a circular ring positioned above the heat sink. An adjustment screw passes through a concave disc above the ring, and extends through the ring where it is attached to the hemispherical heat sink.
US09182089B2	Compact LED work light A work light having a work light body including handle section and light head section, an elongate housing, a battery compartment and a component chamber longitudinally aligned within the housing, a battery, an LED circuit board assembly extending longitudinally within the housing and having a substrate layer, an external component layer on a first side of the substrate layer, and a driving component layer on an opposing second side of the substrate layer. Overlapping portion of the LED circuit board assembly in close proximity to the battery. Also, at least one LED on the external component layer, the external component layer facing transaxially outwardly from the housing such that light emitting from the LED emits from the light head section. At least one driving component on the driving component layer, all driving components placed on an extending portion of the LED circuit board assembly over the component chamber.
US09182081B2	Rapid data-based data adequacy procedure for pipeline integrity assessment A method and system for evaluating the sample coverage of ultrasonic or radiography (UT/RT) measurements of pipeline wall thickness for statistical validity. A data library contains distributions of in-line inspection (ILI) measurements for other pipelines, calibrated to correspond to UT/RT measurements as needed. The data library for these ILI-measured pipelines also includes statistics generated from Monte Carlo simulation, by way of which various sample coverage levels sample the ILI measurements, for determining whether a measurement exceeds a given threshold or meets another premise related to determining the extreme wall loss measurement for the pipeline. A pipeline with sampled UT/RT measurements is used to identify one or more ILI-measured pipeline datasets that are most similar, and the statistics from those most similar pipeline datasets determine whether the sample coverage of the UT/RT measurements is sufficient to draw conclusions about the extreme value of wall loss in the sampled pipeline.
US09182075B2	Devices for application and load bearing and method of using the same Gecko-like adhesive application devices suited for dynamic applications are disclosed, where the device can be easily applied to target substrates, exhibiting a firm hold, and subsequently released therefrom. Gecko-like adhesive application devices that are suited for sustained holding after easy application (e.g., on vertical or inclined surfaces or ceiling) also are disclosed.
US09182074B2	Cap holder with magnet The cap holder with magnet according to the present invention includes a base that serves to place caps, hats, visors, or articles having similar characteristics for their care, display, storage, or to keep them in order. A magnet is attached to the base or bottom section of the base. A protrusion is formed on the back section of the base. Inward curves are formed on the back section of the base. A hook may also be attached to the back section of the base to allow to vertically use the cap holder with magnet.
US09182067B2	Extrusion roll with selectable skew capability A support system through which a first extrusion roll is operatively mounted upon a frame. The first extrusion roll has a shaft that has a first operating axis and axially spaced first and second ends. A first support assembly at the first shaft end has a first housing. A second support assembly acting between the frame and the first support assembly and has a second housing. The second housing is movable relative to the frame to selectively change a relationship between the first extrusion roll and a second extrusion roll on the frame that has a second operating axis and cooperates with the first extrusion roll during formation of a product. The first housing is movable guidingly relative to the second housing along a first path to thereby change an angular relationship between the first and second operating axes.
US09182066B2	Erosion resistant flow conduit A particulate-accommodating fluid flow directing apparatus comprises a failure detection housing containing a flow directing insert, the housing serving as a pressure boundary; failure at any location along the insert being detectable by means associated with the housing. The insert can be manufactured of erosion resistant materials, including non-ductile materials such as ceramics. The insert is sealed to the housing at an inlet and a discharge forming a pressure chamber between the insert and housing. The pressure chamber can be maintained at a pad pressure complementary to the process pressure, the pad pressure being maintained and monitored for indication of insert failure.
US09182064B2	Connector structure and a connector structure of a sampling tube of a patient respiratory tubing A connector structure for a fluid tube is provided. The connector structure comprises: a first connector body connected to a fluid tube; a second connector body, the first connector body and the second connector body being connectable to each other and comprising mating surfaces to create a fluid tight seal between the first connector body and the second connector body, wherein the mating surfaces comprise only vertical and/or oblique parts and are configured to press tightly against each other and form a fluid tight seal with the locking mechanism; and a locking mechanism, wherein the first and the second connector body are configured to detach from each other when the locking mechanism is not used.
US09182062B2	CPAP systems A CPAP system includes a flow generator, a patient interface, an air delivery conduit that interconnects the flow generator and the patient interface, and a packaging arrangement including at least one storage facilitating member to allow storage of the air delivery conduit. The at least one storage facilitating member may be provided to the flow generator, a cradle, and/or the air delivery conduit.
US09182061B2	Pipe joint A pipe joint comprising a pressing nut into which a flexible pipe is inserted, a joint body into which the pressing nut is partially inserted, a resilient means unlocked when pushed by a tip end of the flexible pipe, a sealing member, a retainer engaging the flexible pipe, and an engaging mechanism keeping the pressing nut at a predetermined position in the joint body; the engaging mechanism comprising a stop ring, an annular groove formed on an outer surface of the pressing nut for receiving the stop ring, pluralities of engaging grooves formed on an inner surface of the joint body for receiving the stop ring and communicating with each other; the stop ring engaging both of the annular groove and the first engaging groove before the connection of the flexible pipe is completed; and when the flexible pipe is pulled after completing the connection, the stop ring moving from the first engaging groove to the second engaging groove to draw the pressing nut from the joint body, so that the normal connection of the flexible pipe can be confirmed.
US09182059B2	Adaptor assembly An adaptor assembly to be fitted onto a service pipe comprising a host pipe lined with a lining pipe is provided. The adaptor assembly includes a body to seal with the host pipe, a bore extending along a longitudinal axis of said body, and a compression element mountable on and displaceable relative to the body. The adaptor assembly includes an axially translatable piston, an annular flange protruding into said bore, and a grip ring disposable between said piston and said flange and having an inner radial surface to grip an outer radial surface of the lining pipe. A slip spacer is disposable between the compression element and the piston to transmit axial load but substantially prevent transmission of torque therebetween. The compression element is moveable to axially displace the piston causing the grip ring to bear against the inclined annular flange and grip radially inwardly against the outer radial surface.
US09182056B2	Pipe section having polyarylene sulfide composition barrier layer Pipe sections and methods for forming pipe sections are disclosed. A pipe section includes a hollow body, the hollow body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior. The pipe section further includes a barrier layer surrounding the hollow body, the barrier layer having an inner surface and an outer surface. The barrier layer is formed from a polyarylene sulfide composition. The polyarylene sulfide composition includes a polyarylene sulfide and a crosslinked impact modifier. Such pipe sections exhibit high strength characteristics and flexibility as well as resistance to degradation, even in extreme temperature environments, while maintaining desirable processing characteristics.
US09182053B2	Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing are described. An example method disclosed herein includes adjusting a packing flange nut to a position corresponding at least approximately to a free condition of a biasing assembly, coupling a first gauge member to a first flange, adjusting a first gap between a first surface of the first gauge member and a reference surface opposite the first flange to a first predetermined distance, and tightening the packing flange nut so that the first surface of the first gauge member substantially aligns with or engages the reference surface and causes a load assembly to provide a first predetermined packing stress to the valve packing when the first gauge member substantially aligns with or engages the reference surface.
US09182047B2	Valve with fail-safe device A power operated valve for controlling fluid flow is provided with a fail-safe device responsive to failure of the power supply to the valve to shut-off fluid flow. A valve member is coupled to linear actuator for movement towards and away from a closed position for controlling fluid flow through the valve. The linear actuator is held in a control position by the fail-safe device for normal operation of the valve with the power supply on. The fail-safe device responds to failure of the power supply to release the linear actuator. When the linear actuator is released, energy stored n a spring while the linear actuator was held in the control position is released and biases the linear actuator away from the control position causing the valve member to move to the closed position to shut-off fluid flow.
US09182046B2	Pressure retention valve A pressure retention valve including a housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage that can be connected together and a separating diaphragm subdividing the housing into two portions, wherein, in operation of the valve, a first portion conveys fluid and a second portion is fluid-free. The valve further includes a valve seat defining an end of the inlet passage, arranged in the fluid-conveying portion of the housing, and has a first sealing surface, a shut-off body which is arranged movably in the fluid-conveying portion of the housing and has a second sealing surface, and a spring element having a spring force, which is arranged in the fluid-free portion of the pressure retention valve. The spring element is so arranged that its spring force prestresses the second sealing surface in the direction towards the first sealing surface so that in a position of the shut-off body that closes the valve the sealing surfaces are in engagement with each other and the shut-off body separates the inlet passage from the outlet passage. The inlet passage is so arranged that a fluid flowing in through the inlet passage in operation of the valve is applied to the shut-off body in such a way that the fluid exerts on the shut-off body a force which acts in opposition to the spring force of the spring element. The shut-off body has a guide portion which extends into the inlet passage, and the inlet passage is portion-wise of such a design configuration that it forms a guide bush in which the guide portion of the shut-off body is guidedly received.
US09182045B2	Concentric diverter cartridge A diverter cartridge for a fluid mixing valve includes an inlet adapter having a first inlet port, a second inlet port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The cartridge further includes a diverter plate having a first inlet channel and a second inlet channel. The diverter plate is rotatable relative to the inlet adapter between a first end position, a second end position, and a neutral position between the first and second end positions. Rotation of the diverter plate from the neutral position toward the first end position increases a volume flow rate through the cartridge and diverts the fluid to the first outlet port. Rotation of the diverter plate from the neutral position toward the second end position increases a volume flow rate through the cartridge and diverts the fluid to the second outlet port.
US09182041B2	Seal for sealing a sealing gap and method for producing a seal of this type In order to provide a seal for sealing a sealing gap between a first component and a second component, comprising a seal body with at least one sealing portion and at least one spring element for biasing the sealing portion against at least one of the components to be sealed, the spring element being at least partially arranged in a receiving space of the seal body, which seal is simply constructed and easily producible and nevertheless ensures a secure retention of the spring element in the receiving space, it is proposed that the spring element has at least one claw element, by means of which the spring element is interlocked with the seal body.
US09182040B2	Fluid rotary passage A fluid rotary passage is provided for sealing a fluid pressure chamber between a rotatable shaft and a shaft seat. The fluid rotary passage includes a sealing ring carrier and a fitting body, rotationally fixed or in contact with one of the shaft and the shaft seat in a fluid-tight manner and radially spaced from each other to create the chamber between them. Two sealing rings are provided axially spaced from each other and each sealingly applied with one contact surface against the carrier and one against the fitting body, for sealing the chamber against the outside. The carrier and the fitting body together form two axially spaced receiving grooves for the sealing rings, which are open toward the chamber and have at least one holding protrusion at least partially securing the sealing ring disposed in the respective receiving groove against a radial dislocation from the groove toward the chamber.
US09182039B2	Sealing segment and sealing-segment arrangement A sealing segment for sealingly connecting two structural components parts which are movable relative to one another, with two sealing bodies which are connected to one another by a web and which can be arranged in recesses of the structural component parts in an articulated manner, and a sealing segment arrangement with a plurality of sealing segments of this type, and a flow machine with a sealing segment arrangement of this type.
US09182035B2	System for controlling shift of vehicle A shift control apparatus for a vehicle may include a GPS sensor detecting a vehicle location, a navigation device outputting short-distance road information and long-distance road information using the vehicle location, a vehicle controller restoring forward road information using the short-distance road information and the long-distance road information, and determining a degree of curve and an average degree of inclination of a road using the forward road information, and a vehicle shifting unit having a shift controller controlling a shift pattern of a transmission using the degree of curve and the average degree of inclination.
US09182031B2	V-belt type continuously variable transmission In a V-belt type continuously variable transmission for utility vehicle, a transmission case assembly covering a drive pulley assembly and a driven pulley assembly is provided. The transmission case assembly includes a transmission case main body, and a transmission cover attached to a cover attachment surface of the transmission case main body. The cover attachment surface is inclined with respect to a vertical plane which is orthogonal to a crankshaft, and the transmission cover is attached to the cover attachment surface by a plurality of bolts removed and inserted in the direction orthogonal to the cover attachment surface.
US09182027B2	Chainring A solitary chainring of a bicycle front crankset for engaging a drive chain, including a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring, the plurality of teeth consisting of an even number. The plurality of teeth includes a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth arranged alternatingly between the first group of teeth. The first group of teeth and the second group of teeth are equal in number. Each of the first and second group of teeth include an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side and each tooth of the first group of teeth includes at least a first protrusion on the outboard side thereof and each tooth of the second group of teeth are free of the first protrusions on the outboard side and the inboard side.
US09182026B2	Cam follower arrangement A cam follower assembly includes a housing. The cam follower assembly includes a first cam follower and a second cam follower to contact a cam surface. The cam follower assembly includes a first holding element coupled to the first cam follower, and a second holding element coupled to the second cam follower. The second holding element is assembled with the first holding element and received in an opening of the housing, where the first holding device moves relative to the second holding device. An adjusting element of compressible material determines the relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device. The first cam follower moves relative to the second cam follower according to the relative movement between the first holding element and the second holding element. The first cam follower and the second cam follower maintain contact with the cam surface according to their relative movement.
US09182023B2	Linear motion system with automatic lubricator A linear motion system includes an elongated shaft, a movable member mounted at the elongated shaft, a lubricator unit defining therein a grease storage container for storing a lubricating grease, a motor mounted in the grease storage container, a lubricating grease guide connected to the motor, a controller mounted in the grease storage container, and a sensor adapted to provide an actuation signal to the controller upon movement of the movable member, causing the controller to start the motor in moving the lubricating grease guide to expel the storage lubricating grease out of the grease storage container onto the surface of the elongated shaft so as to achieve a self-lubricating effect.
US09182022B2	Ball screw actuator including a stop with an integral guide An actuator includes a housing assembly, a ball nut, a ball screw, and a ball screw stop. The ball nut is rotationally mounted in the housing assembly, is adapted to receive an input torque, and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate and supply a drive force. The ball screw is mounted within the housing assembly and extends through the ball nut. The ball screw has a first end and a second end, and is coupled to receive the drive force from the ball nut. The ball screw is configured, upon receipt of the drive force, to selectively translate between a stow position and a deploy position. The ball screw stop is mounted on the ball screw to translate therewith and is configured to at selectively engage the housing assembly while the ball screw is translating, and engage the ball nut when the ball screw is in the deploy position.
US09182020B2	Wiper motor A wiper motor 10 has a reduction mechanism 29 for reducing the rotational speed of a motor shaft 25 and transmitting the reduced speed, and a motion conversion mechanism 31 for converting the rotational motion of the reduction mechanism 29 into a rotational motion and transmitting the motion to the output shaft 30. A pair of first connection holes 50 and a pair of second connection holes 51 are formed on a worm wheel 35 at a position deviated in a radial direction from an axial center of the worm wheel so that each of the holes is opened at the side of one axial end side. The worm wheel 35 can be used for both cases in which the output shaft 30 is swung within a first swinging region and in which the output shaft 30 is swung within a second swinging region.
US09182018B2	Continuously and/or infinitely variable transmissions and methods therefor An infinitely variable transmission (IVT) having a rotatable input shaft arranged along a longitudinal axis of the transmission. In one embodiment, the input shaft is adapted to supply a lubricant to the interior of the transmission. In some embodiments, a stator assembly is coupled to, and coaxial with, the input shaft. The IVT has a plurality of planets operably coupled to the stator assembly. The planets are arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis of the transmission. In one embodiment, a traction ring is operably coupled to the planets. The IVT is provided with a housing that is operably coupled to the traction ring. The housing is substantially fixed from rotating with the input shaft. The traction ring is substantially fixed from rotating with the input shaft. In some embodiments, the IVT is provided with a lubricant manifold that is configured to supply a lubricant to the input shaft.
US09182013B2	Power-shiftable transmission A power-shiftable transmission, in particular an automatic transmission for a vehicle, which comprises a plurality of frictional shifting elements and at least one interlocking shifting element (A, B, C, D, E) and a plurality of gearwheels which can be engaged in a power flow by the shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). In order to engage a gear step, at least two associated shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) are engaged and at least one interlocking shifting element (B), as a shifting element (B) to be engaged, is associated with a gear step to be engaged with a supporting gear.
US09182010B2	Chain and connecting pin Provided are a chain and a connecting pin that enable reduction in the number of components and the workload involved in chain assembly, and that enhances the strength of a connecting pin. A chain 100 has inner plates 110, outer plates 120 and connecting pins 130. Each connecting pin 130 has a pair of outer shaft sections 131 formed on both end sides of the pin and fixed into pin holes 121 of the outer plates 120; a pair of inner shaft sections 132 formed inward of the pair of outer shaft sections 131 in the pin longitudinal direction and freely fitted into pin holes 111 of the inner plates 110; and a movement restricting section 133 formed inward of the left-right pair of inner shaft sections 132 in the pin longitudinal direction and restricting the movement of the inner plates 110 in the chain width inward direction.
US09182009B2	Reduced weight wheel configured for use with valve stem and or tire sensor A wheel having a recess thereon to offset the weight of a valve stem and/or a tire sensor so that the wheel will be balanced for normal operational use on a vehicle.
US09182005B2	Hydraulic suspension damper with a floating disc valve A hydraulic damper (2) comprises a tube (3) filled with working liquid, inside of which a slidable piston assembly (4) is attached to a piston rod (6) and provided with at least one valve assembly (43) to control the flow of working liquid passing through the piston assembly (4) during rebound and compression stroke of the damper. The valve assembly (4) contains a floating disc valve (431) and additionally comprises a unidirectional check valve disc (436) disposed serially with the floating disc valve (431) across the passage of the flow of working liquid during compression or rebound stroke of the damper (2). Preferably the piston assembly (4) forms a symmetrical cross-flow arrangement and preferably the at least one valve assembly includes compression (43a) and rebound (43b) valve assemblies of the piston assembly (4) which each have the same constructions.
US09182004B2	Rotary damper A rotary damper for remote-controlled vehicles is described. The rotary damper includes a housing containing a fluid, a rotary joint, a rotating member, a protrusion extending from the first end of the rotating member dividing a space within the housing into at least two portions, and a rocker arm. In operation, a linear motion applied to the rocker arm translates into rotary motion on the rotating member, causing the protrusion to move through the fluid within the housing. An elastic member may be coaxially mounted on the rotating member to resist the rotary motion translated from the rocker arm. The elastic member generates a spring force, and the protrusion moving through the liquid generates a damping force. In other examples, the damping force is generated using a fluid-shearing object moving through the liquid, such as a slotted disc or an impeller.
US09182003B2	Damper device A damper device includes an inner part having a cylindrical shape; an outer part including an annular space with a bottom to rotatably or relatively rotatably house the inner part from one cylinder end side; and a viscous fluid filled in the annular space. An outer side of the inner part is formed with a circular groove to fit an outside seal ring. Also, an inner side of the inner part is formed with a circular step surface positioned closer to the one cylinder end side than the circular groove, and positioning an inside seal ring. A depth of the circular groove has a dimension approximately half a thickness of the inner part at a portion forming the circular groove.
US09182002B2	Travel control for a gas spring and gas spring having very short travel modes A gas spring capable of having long and short travel modes is described. The gas spring uses liquid in combination with pressurized air to affect the travel length. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than, for example, by 50%.
US09182001B2	Apparatus and method for the vibration control of a rising pipe of a vertical pump An apparatus (10) for the vibration control of a rising pipe (3) of a vertical pump is presented which riser pump is excited to vibrations in operation and which has a longitudinal direction. The apparatus (10) is outwardly positionable at the rising pipe and includes a vibration element (7.1, 7.2), one or more spring elements (8.1-8.4) and a guide, wherein the vibration element has an opening to surround the rising pipe (3) and is movably and elastically held by the spring element or elements (8.1-8.4), and wherein the vibration element (7.1, 7.2) is guided by guide such that the movements of the vibration element in operation are restricted to movements in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rising pipe.
US09181996B2	Device for reducing rod string backspin in progressive cavity pump A backspin reducing device for reducing an amount or a rate of backspin of a rod string when lifting the rotor apart from the stator of an oil or gas downhole progressive cavity pump. The backspin reducing device includes a substantially cylindrical housing having one or more threaded pin receptacles holding respective threaded pins in threaded engagement around a polished rod portion of the rod string of the progressive cavity pump. Turning threaded pins in their respective threaded pin receptacles causes the interior ends of the threaded pins to move towards or away from the polished rod in the center of the housing. Attached to the interior end of each threaded pin is a friction roller.
US09181993B1	Selectable one-way clutch A selectable one-way clutch includes an inner member having a plurality of clutch teeth on an outer perimeter thereof. An outer clutch assembly includes at least one side plate supporting a plurality of pivoting pawls engageable with the clutch teeth of the inner member and an actuator operable to engage the plurality of pivoting pawls to selectively allow and or prevent the plurality of pivoting pawls from engaging the inner member. The at least one side plate includes an opening therethrough with a plurality of inner peripheral notches corresponding to the plurality of clutch teeth that allow the inner member to be received through the opening in the at least one side plate during assembly.
US09181992B2	Torque converter for motor vehicle A vehicle transmission torque converter assembly, having: an engine output shaft; a turbine; and a transmission input shaft linkable to either the engine output shaft or turbine via a lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch is configured to sustain the transmission input shaft being: (i) coupled to the engine output shaft; (ii) coupled to the turbine; or (iii) decoupled.
US09181987B2	Device for end-to-end coupling of a supercritical transmission shaft, in particular for driving a rotorcraft rotor A coupling device (9, 10) providing end-to-end coupling between link shafts (4) and a supercritical transmission shaft (5) for driving a rotorcraft rotor (1). Since the transmission shaft (5) is movable in angular deflection (B), spherical bearing surface friction members (12, 13) are incorporated in the bearings (7) for mounting the transmission shaft (5) on a carrier structure (8). The friction members (12, 13) are caused to press against each other in dry friction via respective friction surfaces. A first friction member (12) is secured to the carrier structure (8) and a second friction member (13) is secured to a cage (14) for housing rolling members (15) carried by the transmission shaft (5). The cage is itself engaged on the transmission shaft (5) to accompany it in its movement in angular deflection (B).
US09181983B2	Method and device for lubricating and cooling a bearing that is subject to high loads The invention relates to a method for lubricating and cooling a bearing that is subject to high loads and to a device for carrying out said method. The invention is characterized by dissolving a lubricant in a supercritical gas that is cooled down to a low temperature and feeding the gas/lubricant mixture to the baring. The gas/lubricant mixture is relaxed in the bearing area, thereby releasing the lubricant and lubricating the bearing. The now subcritical gas that is cooled down to a low temperature is used for cooling and is discharged to the exterior. The gas used is carbon dioxide (CO2) and the lubricant is a hydrocarbon-based lubricant.
US09181980B2	Fluid bearings with adjustable frictional load characteristics An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fluid bearing having an adjustable effective surface area and a method of adjusting the load carrying capacity of a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a bore defining a central longitudinal axis and lubricating fluid provided within the bore. The fluid bearing may also include a bearing including a bearing surface, wherein at least a portion of the bearing is positioned within the bore. An adjustable effective bearing surface area may also be provided. The method includes adjusting effective bearing surface area of the bearing.
US09181977B2	Air-foil bearing The present invention provides an air-foil bearing including a damper body, a front welding plate, and a front top foil for increasing durability, and which has a first bending mode. The damper body includes a front body portion, a rear body portion, and a front protruded portion protruded upward from the front body portion to have a flat protruded surface, and the front welding plate includes a front first contact portion in surface contact with a top surface of the front protruded portion and a front second contact portion which is a portion that is bent from the front first contact portion in surface contact with the front welding plate.
US09181976B2	Bearing shell and method for its production The invention provides a bearing sleeve and method of forming a sleeve having at least one window whose edge boundary has a first apex region and a second apex region situated opposite one another in the sleeve longitudinal direction. In order to prevent chip formation when pressing the bearing sleeve into a bearing housing, it is provided that, in at least one apex region, the edge boundary forms an angle α≠90° with the sleeve longitudinal direction of the bearing sleeve.
US09181969B1	Decorative screws The ornamental fastener assembly for enhancing an appearance of an object includes a head. The head has an outer edge defining an ornamental shape. A shaft is coupled to the head. The shaft penetrates the object. The head is coupled to the object.
US09181960B2	Guide liner for break-away fitting A break-away fitting facilitates installation and removal of a pump in wet well system, along at least one guide rail. When installed, the fitting mates an outlet of the pump to an outlet pipe of the wet well. The fitting has a body with a first and a second surface, the surfaces arranged to be substantially perpendicular to each other. A flanged opening in the first surface is sized and adapted for attaching the body to the outlet flange of the pump. The second surface has indentations for engaging the at least one guide rail, so that the body slides in the vertical channel. To minimize the dangers from static electricity in the wet well, the body may be formed from a non-sparking material, such as brass or bronze, or a surface of the indentations may be covered by a non-sparking material, including high-density polyethylene or poly(tetrafluoroethylene).
US09181957B2	Hydraulic machine A hydraulic machine having a hydro turbine runner which has a crown at a center and a band along an outer periphery, and is formed around the axis of rotation, long blades which are arranged along the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation, and whose center-side ends are supported by the crown, and periphery-side ends are supported by the band, and short blades which are arranged between the long blades, and whose center-side ends are supported by the crown, periphery-side ends are supported by the band, and rear edges are curved in a rotation direction of the hydro turbine runner in turbine operation, on a plane of projection perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
US09181954B2	Method in connection with a pump driven with a frequency converter and frequency converter An exemplary frequency converter and method are directed to estimating an operation point of a pump when the QH characteristic curve of the pump is known. The frequency converter controls the pump, and a process curve is estimated when a first operation point of the pump is in the nominal range. The process curve defines a head as a function of volumetric flow. A rotational speed of the pump is determined and a QH characteristic curve of the pump is converted to a current rotational speed of the pump based on affinity laws. A second operation point of the pump is estimated by determining an intersection point of the converted QH characteristic curve and the estimated process curve.
US09181952B2	Washing appliance and control method thereof Control method for a washing household appliance comprising a drainage pump unit with an impeller and a motor supplied with an alternating supply voltage of a determined frequency from among a plurality of possible preset frequencies. According to one implementation the method involves an adjustment stage in which the frequency of the motor supply voltage is regulated between the preset frequencies. The method also includes an application stage in which a stator voltage is applied to the motor, the frequency of the motor supply voltage being regulated between the preset frequencies in accordance with the stator voltage applied.
US09181951B2	Scroll compressor A scroll compressor includes a rotation shaft, a fixed scroll, a movable scroll, a compression chamber, and a shaft support. A movable member is movable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft toward and away from the movable scroll. A rotation restriction mechanism includes a pin and a hole that is loosely fitted into the hole. An orbital radius switching mechanism moves the movable member in a first direction when a rotation speed of the rotation shaft is increased, which decreases an orbital radius of the pin relative to the hole so that an orbital radius of the movable scroll is decreased, and moves the movable member in a second direction when the rotation speed of the rotation shaft is decreased, which increases the orbital radius of the pin relative to the hole so that the orbital radius of the movable scroll is increased.
US09181942B2	System and method for subsea production system control A control and instrumentation system utilizes a subsea data hub to establish closed loop of between subsea production system components and a surface located controller. The control and instrumentation system can be utilize to operational control all of the required process components of the subsea production system from the surface located controller.
US09181940B2	Compressor baseplate with stiffening ribs for increased oil volume and rail mounting without spacers A compressor that includes a housing with a plurality of attached shell sections which define an internal volume of the compressor. In the housing, compressor bodies have respective surfaces which mutually engage. The compressor includes a drive unit disposed in the housing. The drive unit has a motor to provide a mechanical output on a drive shaft. The drive shaft drives one of the compressor bodies to facilitate relative movement for the compression of fluid. In an embodiment, the plurality of shell sections includes a base plate having an annular rib, which locates a tubular central shell section of the plurality of attached shell sections.
US09181938B2	Tank dampening device A compressor assembly that has a compressed air tank having a vibration absorption member. The vibration absorption member can exert a pressure on a portion of the compressed air tank. A method of controlling sound emitted from a compressor assembly, by using a vibration absorber which applies a force against the compressed gas tank. Controlling the sound level of the compressed gas tank is accomplished by absorbing vibration from the compressed gas tank by which exerting a pressure on a portion of the compressed gas tank.
US09181934B2	Rotary switch assembly for ion propulsion system A gridded ion propulsion system comprising two power controllers, four ion thrusters, and two switch assemblies. One switch assembly is connected to the two power controllers and to two of the four ion thrusters. The other switch assembly is connected to the two power controllers and to the other two ion thrusters. Each switch assembly has first and second switching states which can be selected to enable either power controller to supply power to any one of the four ion thrusters. Each switch assembly comprises a respective movable body and a respective multiplicity of switches which change state in unison when the movable body changes position. For example, the movable body may be a rotatable hollow shaft driven by a stepper motor.
US09181933B2	Temperature control device with a passive thermal feedback control valve A device, comprising a flow controller. The flow controller includes a body having walls that define a channel within the body, and a passive flow control valve. The passive control valve has a moveable member that includes a thermal shape memory material, the moveable member configured to change an aperture size in the channel in response to a reversible temperature-induced shape transformation of the thermal shape memory material.
US09181932B2	OTEC cold water retrieval and desalination systems A system for raising water for OTEC and desalination is provided. The system includes at least one submerged platform positioned within a body of water, wherein the at least one submerged platform is buoyantly held up from a bottom surface of the body of water, and wherein the at least one submerged platform is held below a top surface of the body of water by at least one mooring attached to the bottom surface of the body of water. At least one cable is movably connected to the at least one submerged platform. At least one container is held by the at least one cable, wherein a quantity of water is emptied from the at least one container.
US09181927B2	Lightning protection system for a wind turbine, wind turbine and method for protecting components of a wind turbine against lightning strikes A lightning protection system for a wind turbine includes at least one insulated high-voltage cable, a pick-up unit and an additional insulated high-voltage cable. The at least one insulated high-voltage cable is electrically connected to a lightning receptor and to the pick-up unit. The pick-up unit is electrically connectable to an electrically grounded member by the additional insulated high-voltage cable.
US09181922B2	Marine energy capture system A mechanism for capturing wave energy includes a structure and a set of vertical buoys with support portions for supporting the structure. The structure is rectangular and includes rails that are oriented parallel to a direction of waves of water, and a movable tank holder carriage that runs along the rails perpendicularly to the direction of the waves. The movable tank holder carriage includes buoyancy tanks for floatation, with the buoyancy tanks having faces configured to maximize contact with the water. The buoyancy tanks are encased in a structural cage attached to the movable tank holder carriage. Wheels of the buoyancy tanks run along the structural cage to keep a position of the buoyancy tanks fixed relative to a level of the water, allowing the buoyancy tanks to rise and fall with movement of the waves.
US09181920B2	System and method for detecting arc formation in a corona discharge ignition system A system and method for detecting arc formation in a corona discharge ignition system is provided. The system includes a driver circuit conveying energy oscillating at a resonant frequency; a corona igniter for receiving the energy and providing a corona discharge; and a frequency monitor for identifying a variation in an oscillation period of the resonant frequency, wherein the variation in the oscillation period indicates the onset of arc formation. The method includes supplying the energy to the driver circuit and to the corona igniter; obtaining the resonant frequency of the energy in the oscillating driver circuit; and identifying a variation in the oscillation period of the resonant frequency.
US09181916B2	Engine start-stop control strategy for optimization of cabin comfort and fuel economy A Start-Stop method and system for optimizing a selected set of parameters to provide an ideal balance between cabin thermal comfort and fuel economy performance is disclosed. The method and system include several parameters to manage how long and when the engine OFF time will occur. Such parameters include, but are not limited to, outside ambient temperature, cabin temperature, cabin humidity, engine coolant temperature, and evaporator thermistor temperature. A control logic monitors inputs such as cabin humidity and, under certain conditions, sends a request for the engine to be ON. Other factors influencing engine ON time include inputs from the wiper(s), the heated windshield, the heated back light, the HVAC blower, and the temperature control setting. The disclosed system has utility in both electronic automatic temperature control (EATC) systems as well as in manual temperature control (MTC) systems.
US09181915B2	Engine automatic stop/start mechanism An inventive system and method for managing vehicle power is presented. The novel technology provides a means to automatically shutdown a vehicle's engine when conditions are such that engine power is not needed, reducing fuel consumption as well as lowering noise and emissions. A series of conditions are examined to determine whether engine power is needed and hence whether shutdown can be safely performed. The inventive system and method can also determine when power is again needed by the engine and can re-start the engine automatically at such times.
US09181914B2	Method for controlling a motor-vehicle provided with a propulsion system of the “mild-hybrid” type In a vehicle provided with a power propulsion system of the mild-hybrid type, a BAS unit—including an electric machine connected through a belt transmission to the shaft of an internal combustion engine—is exploited as the only propulsion engine of the vehicle in given operating conditions. The internal combustion engine is provided with a system for variable actuation of the intake valves which is controlled to reduce the pumping losses of the internal combustion engine in the phase in which such engine is in cut-off condition and it is driven by the aforementioned BAS unit. It is also provided for that the system for variable actuation of the intake valves be controlled to temporarily increase the pumping losses of the internal combustion engine in a phase in which it is required to accelerate the switching off of the engine.
US09181910B2	Control valve, in particular for metering in a fluid for a delivery pump which is arranged downstream A control valve is provided, in particular for metering in a fluid for a delivery pump which is arranged downstream. The control valve has a flow channel, an axially movable valve needle, and a valve element which can be loaded by the valve needle in an opening direction and is arranged in the flow channel. If the valve element is actuated in the opening direction by the valve needle, the fluid can flow back through the flow channel at least temporarily counter to the opening direction of the valve element. Upstream of the valve element as viewed in the backflow direction, the flow channel has a fluidically active shield which keeps the backflow at least partially free of a face of the valve element.
US09181909B2	Fuel pump retainer A fuel pump is disclosed. The fuel pump includes a housing. Further, the fuel pump includes a rotatable pump shaft disposed within the housing. One end of the rotatable pump shaft is attachable to a gear. The housing also includes a retainer disposed within the housing and located about the pump shaft. The retainer includes a first rim and a second rim that are spaced apart from each other. The retainer also includes a side wall extending between the first and the second rims. Further, the side wall of the retainer defines a first volume and a second volume within the housing. The side wall of the retainer has a plurality of apertures configured to allow a fluid flow from the first volume to the second volume while retaining particulate contaminants larger than a size of the apertures within the first volume.
US09181908B2	Saddle ride type vehicle An intake system includes an air cleaner arranged behind the cross member with a shock absorber supporting portion supporting an upper end of a rear shock absorber unit connected to an engine main body in such a manner wherein a straddling portion is curved in a shape convex upwardly to straddle the cross member and also the shock absorber supporting portion from above. A fuel injection valve for the intake system is arranged in front of the cross member. An intake passage is formed to extend linearly downwardly and to the front toward an intake port at a downstream side of a straddling portion. An upper portion of a passage forming member forming at least a part of the straddling portion by forming an apex part of the straddling portion is provided with a second fuel injection valve attached with its fuel injection direction directed to the intake port.
US09181905B2	System for controlling an air handling system including an electric pump-assisted exhaust gas recirculation A system controlling an air handling system for an internal combustion engine. An EGR valve in-line with an EGR passageway fluidly coupled between exhaust and intake manifolds of the engine is controllable between fully closed open positions to control a flow rate of exhaust gas through the EGR passageway. A control circuit determines a pump enable value as a function of at least one of a target engine speed and a total fueling target, determines a maximum achievable flow rate of recirculated exhaust gas through the EGR passageway with the EGR valve in the fully open position, and activates an electric gas pump to increase the flow rate of exhaust gas through the EGR passageway if the pump enable value exceeds a threshold pump enable value and a target flow rate of recirculated exhaust gas through the EGR passageway is less than the maximum achievable flow rate.
US09181902B2	Fuel tank and method for producing same An object of the invention is to increase efficiency in an operation of joining an upper shell and a lower shell and to enhance reliability of a fuel tank against leakage.The fuel tank according to the present invention includes: a fuel tank body (10m) which is constituted by an upper shell (12) and a lower shell (14); a fuel supply device (30) which is installed in the fuel tank body (10m) and pressure-feeds fuel in the fuel tank body (10m) to an internal combustion engine (E) of a vehicle; and a fuel vapor treating apparatus (20) which is configured to enable adsorption of fuel vapor, wherein the fuel supply device (30) and the fuel vapor treating apparatus (20) are mounted to the upper shell (12), and pipe (20a), (20p), (20t), (43), and (31) and wires (44) and (32) of the fuel supply device (30) and the fuel vapor treating apparatus (20) are configured to penetrate a wall of the upper shell (12).
US09181900B1	Fully advanced superconducting segmented turbo-electric rotormachine (fasster) Disclosed is a high-power, fully-superconducting electric machine and major subcomponents including a dual (twin) superconducting, counter rotating, sub-scale bypass fan machine, 13-stage switched reluctance turbo-motor, electric compressor, annular ion-plasma combustor with electromagnetic electrodes, and a five stage superconducting counter-rotating turbine power generation machine which is capable of developing 2.5 MW per stage.
US09181891B2	Method and device for identifying errors in emission-relevant control devices in a vehicle A method and a device for identifying errors in emission-relevant control devices of a vehicle, such as the injection of fuel into a cylinder, allows error identification even if none of the sub-systems exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The method has the following steps: determining whether at least one parameter, which permits conclusions to be drawn about the emission behavior of the respective control device, lies in a desired range; if the parameter lies outside said desired range, an error value that correlates to an increase in emissions is stored; if the parameter is in the desired range, an error value of zero is stored; a total error value is formed from all error values of the control device and an error message is output if the total error value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US09181890B2	Methods of operation of fuel injectors with intensified fuel storage Methods of operating fuel injectors with intensified fuel storage. At least one storage volume is provided in the intensifier type fuel injector, with a check valve between the intensifier and the needle chamber and storage volume preventing loss of injection pressure while the intensifier plunger cylinder is refilling with fuel. Using the check valve to isolate the storage volume from the intensifier to reduce and control pressure spikes that effect injector operation. This provides very efficient injector operation, particularly at low engine loads, by eliminating the wasted energy of compressing, venting and recompressing fuel for injection and reducing and controlling pressure spikes that effect injector operation.
US09181887B2	Methods and systems for an oxygen sensor Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected idling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during an idle adaptation relative to a zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation.
US09181881B2	Co-axial quill assembly retainer and dual fuel common rail engine using same A dual fuel common rail engine supplies pressurized natural gas and liquid diesel fuel at different pressures through a co-axial quill assembly for direct injection from a single fuel injector into an engine cylinder. Each coaxial quill assembly includes a matched pair of inner and outer quills that are chosen to have dimensions that allow both quills to sealingly engage each fuel injector at a common conical seat responsive to a clamping force applied along an axis. Matched pairs of inner and outer quills are retained together during pre-installation handling with a retainer that is left between the inner and outer quills after installation in an engine.
US09181879B2	Control apparatus for internal combustion engine and control apparatus for vehicle equipped with internal combustion engine Provided is a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can suppress blowback of in-cylinder residual gas to an intake passage when reverting from a fuel-cut operation accompanied by valve stopping control of an intake valve while suppressing an oil ascent during execution of the fuel-cut operation, and a control apparatus for a vehicle equipped with the internal combustion engine. When executing a fuel-cut operation accompanied by intake valve stopping control, advancement control of the opening/closing timing of an exhaust valve (32) is executed. If the advancement control is being executed in a case where a request to revert from the fuel-cut operation has been detected, an advance amount of the opening/closing timing of the exhaust valve (32) is retarded so as to become less than or equal to a predetermined value.
US09181877B2	Seal hook mount structure with overlapped coating A seal is positioned radially outwardly of a compressor blade. The seal has a seal hook facing in a downstream direction. A seal mount has a mount hook for receiving the seal hook in a gap. The hook face in an upstream direction. The seal mount has an upstream portion extending from an upstream end into the gap. The mount hook extends into a web which extends in a downstream direction. A thermal barrier coating on the upstream portion of the seal mount extends to a downstream end. There is a thermal barrier coating on a radially inner surface of the mount hook, and along the web to a downstream coating end. An upstream end of the coating on the inner surface of the hook being formed axially upstream of the downstream end of the coating on the upstream portion.
US09181876B2	Method and apparatus for operating a gas turbine engine A gas turbine includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a heat transfer system, wherein the heat transfer system receives a compressed working fluid from the compressor. A fluid coupling between the heat transfer system and the combustor, wherein the fluid coupling receives the compressed working fluid from the heat transfer system. A conditioner in fluid communication with the compressor and a fluid coupling between the heat transfer system and the conditioner, wherein the fluid coupling receives a cooling media from the heat transfer system. A method for operating the gas turbine includes flowing a compressed working fluid from the compressor to the heat transfer system, transferring heat energy from the compressed working fluid to the heat transfer system, flowing the compressed working fluid from the heat transfer system to a combustor, and flowing a cooling media from the heat transfer system to a compressor inlet.
US09181874B2	Turbine for an internal combustion engine A turbine may include a turbine housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and defining a housing interior space configured to be subjected to a through-flow of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. A turbine rotor may be rotatably mounted in the turbine housing about an axis of rotation defining an axial direction. An exhaust gas sensor may be arranged in a measurement space of the turbine housing the exhaust gas sensor configured to determine at least one part of a gas component of the exhaust gas carried in the turbine housing. A feed line may be arranged in the turbine housing having a feed opening and a discharge line arranged in the turbine housing having a discharge opening for feeding and discharging exhaust gas at least one of in and out of the measurement space.
US09181870B2	Element provided with at least one slide surface for use on an internal combustion engine The present invention relates to an element (1) that works sliding, of an internal combustion engine and/or a compressor that undergoes friction and receives a coating of chrome nitride having an equiaxial morphology, with low porosity (lower than 1%) and with a crystallographic orientation predominantly (111), maintaining some reticulate in the orientation (200), so as to improve its resistance to wear and its toughness, prolonging the useful life of the element (1) that works sliding.
US09181869B2	Mechanical breather system for a four-stroke engine A mechanical breather system for a four-stroke engine includes a rotating member. The rotating member can have at least one inlet channel in fluid communication between an outer perimeter of the rotating member and an inner region of the rotating member. A breather housing having an air receiving chamber formed therein is fluidly coupled to the at least one inlet channel of the rotating member. A passage can be formed through a wall of the breather housing is in fluid communication with the air receiving chamber and an exterior of the breather housing.
US09181868B2	Aerodiesel engine The present invention is an aero engine that is provided with compression combustion and weighs less than 725 lbs. The present invention is further a method of forming the aero engine.
US09181866B2	Energy recovery and cooling system for hybrid machine powertrain An energy recovery and cooling system for a hybrid machine is disclosed. The energy recovery and cooling system can include at least one circuit including at least one pump, at least one condenser, and at least one turbine, as well as a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path can be connected in fluid communication with the at least one pump, the at least one condenser, and the at least one turbine. The first flow path can additionally be in thermal communication with at least one internal combustion energy system component of the hybrid machine. The second flow path can be connected in fluid communication with the at least one pump, the at least one condenser, and the at least one turbine. The second flow path can additionally be in thermal communication with at least one electrical energy system component of the hybrid machine.
US09181861B2	Internal combustion engine control apparatus An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes a turbocharger, an intake air quantity detecting section, an intake air pressure detecting section, a turbine rotational speed limit determining section and a turbine control section. The turbine rotational speed limit determining section determines a turbine rotational speed limit pressure ratio between the upstream-side intake air pressure and a downstream-side intake air pressure in the air intake passage at a downstream side of the compressor for a turbine rotational speed limit that corresponds to the intake air quantity detected by the intake air quantity detecting section. The turbine rotational speed limit determining section further calculates a turbine over rotation suppressing boost pressure of the turbine compressor using the upstream-side intake air pressure and the turbine rotational speed limit pressure ratio. The turbine control section controls the turbocharger based on the turbine over rotation suppressing boost pressure.
US09181860B2	Control device and control method for internal combustion engine Provided are a control device and a control method for an internal combustion engine, which enable a throttle-valve upstream pressure through simple calculation processing without being affected by a state of an opening degree of a wastegate valve (WGV). When a wastegate (WG) command value to a WGV driving section (212) for driving a WGV (33a) provided in a bypass passage (33) which bypasses a turbocharger (32) is to control supercharging to be weakened to the lowest level, the throttle-valve upstream pressure is estimated from an exhaust-gas amount. Otherwise, a value obtained by adding a preset value to an intake-manifold pressure is used as a throttle-valve upstream pressure estimate value. As a result, the throttle-valve upstream pressure is estimated with high accuracy by an inexpensive configuration without mounting a throttle-valve upstream pressure sensor, and then engine control is performed.
US09181857B2	Method for operating a turbocharger arrangement and control unit for a turbocharger arrangement A method for operating a turbocharger arrangement of an internal combustion engine, the turbocharger arrangement comprising a low-pressure and a high-pressure turbocharging stage arranged sequentially, the high-pressure turbocharging stage comprising a high-pressure compressor with a sensorless compressor bypass valve, comprises evaluating at least one sensor signal of the turbocharger arrangement for detecting a failure mode of the compressor bypass valve.
US09181856B2	Exhaust driven auxiliary air pump and products and methods of using the same One exemplary embodiment may include an engine breathing system including an exhaust driven auxiliary air pump to flow air directly into the exhaust side of the breathing system.
US09181853B2	Intercooler condensate to sump or positive crankcase ventilation flow Methods and systems are provided for removing condensate from a charge air cooler. Condensate may be drained from the charge air cooler and introduced into a positive crankcase ventilation flow or an engine oil sump. Introducing condensate into the engine oil sump may be controlled based on conditions of the engine oil sump and stored condensate.
US09181851B1	Engine system having radial fuel injection An engine system is disclosed. The engine system may have an engine block at least partially defining a cylinder bore, and a cylinder liner disposed within the cylinder bore. The engine system may also include a fuel injector configured to pass radially through the cylinder bore and threadingly engage the cylinder liner.
US09181844B2	Diagnostic system and method for an oxygen sensor positioned downstream from a catalytic converter A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a diagnostic execution module and a diagnostic disabling module. The diagnostic execution module diagnoses a fault in at least one of an oxygen sensor and a catalytic converter based on input received from the oxygen sensor. The diagnostic disabling module disables the diagnosing based on at least one of a temperature of the catalytic converter and a mass flow rate of air flowing through the catalytic converter.
US09181839B2	Exhaust pipe An exhaust gas purification catalyst, using a reducing agent, is provided on an inside of an exhaust pipe via a support member. A baffle portion for preventing the reducing agent from penetrating the exhaust gas purification catalyst is provided on a portion of an internal surface of the exhaust pipe, which is upstream of the exhaust gas purification catalyst.
US09181837B2	Secondary air supply system for internal combustion engine A secondary air supply system includes an electric air pump that supplies secondary air to a location upstream of an exhaust gas purification catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage; a control valve that opens/closes a secondary air supply passage; a pressure detector that detects a pressure between the pump and the control valve; and a control unit that detects a first pressure in a first operating state where the control valve is closed, and detects a second pressure in a second operating state where the control valve is open, using the pressure detector. The control unit corrects at least one of the first and second pressures based on a first driving voltage for the pump in the first operating state and a second driving voltage in the second operating state, and estimates a secondary air flow rate based on the first and second pressures after correction.
US09181836B2	Secondary air supply system and secondary air supply method for internal combustion engine In an internal combustion engine that includes a first secondary air supply unit having a first air pump and a first air switching valve and a second secondary air supply unit having a second air pump and a second air switching valve, a time difference is provided between the operation start timing of the first air pump and the operation start timing of the second air pump, and the open timing of the first air switching valve and the open timing of the second air switching valve are set so as to be simultaneous with each other.
US09181834B2	Method and device for adapting the injection agent supply in an injection system, and exhaust gas aftertreatment system In a method and a device for adapting the injection agent supply for an emission control system, the following steps are carried out: a) setting of a agent pressure target value in the line upstream of the pump in relation to the ambient pressure; b) opening of the pressure relief valve for a predetermined time t; c) determining the pressure difference between the target and the injection agent pressure, caused in step b), immediately after step b); d) setting a target value for the agent pressure in the line downstream of the pump in relation to the exhaust gas pressure in the system; e) opening of the injector for a predetermined time t; f) determining the pressure difference between the target and the agent pressure, caused in step e), immediately after step e); g) comparing the pressure differences from steps c) and f); and h) optional adaptation of the injector opening time.
US09181830B2	After-treatment system and method for six-stroke combustion cycle An internal combustion engine operates on a six-stroke combustion cycle including a first compression stroke, a first power stroke, a second compression stroke, and a second power stroke. A first fuel charge is introduced to a combustion chamber of the engine at a first fuel rate during the first compression and/or first power stroke to produce lean exhaust gasses. A second fuel charge is also introduced to the combustion chamber during the second compression and/or second power stroke to normally produce lean exhaust gasses. Periodically, the second fuel charge can be increased to a second fuel rate to produce stoichiometric rich exhaust gasses. A lean nitrogen oxide trap can be disposed in an exhaust system associated with the engine to temporarily trap nitrogen oxides. Once saturated, the LNT can be periodically regenerated by production of the rich exhaust gasses.
US09181828B2	Internal combustion engine having turbocharging and low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation The description relates to an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger, having a first particle filter in the intake section of the internal combustion engine and having a low-pressure EGR line that comprises a second particle filter. A fast-reacting low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system with small dimensions can be realized by virtue of the EGR line branching off from the exhaust section upstream of the first particle filter, and the second particle filter being provided with a heater. The description also relates to a corresponding EGR method.
US09181827B2	Variable valve lift apparatus A variable valve lift apparatus for changing a lift of an intake or exhaust valve in at least two stages may include a lever body, a piston, a cylinder, a hydraulic pressure chamber, an active portion, a hinge portion, a roller, a rotation shaft, a guide slot, a hydraulic pressure supply portion, and an elastic member, in which the lever body may make a lever motion at an end with the intake valve or the exhaust valve connected thereto, the piston may make reciprocal motion in the cylinder, the rotation shaft may pass through the hinge portion and the roller and be a rotation center of the roller, moving together with the roller, the hydraulic pressure supply portion may supply hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pressure chamber for moving the piston, and the elastic member may return the piston if the hydraulic pressure being supplied to the hydraulic pressure chamber is removed.
US09181826B2	Variable valve mechanism of internal combustion engine The present invention provides a variable valve mechanism of an internal combustion engine which includes a main arm that is capable of swinging and that drives a valve when swinging, a first sub arm that is provided on one side in the lateral direction of the main arm and that swings when driven by a first cam, a second sub arm that is provided on the other side in the lateral direction of the main arm and that swings when driven by a second cam, and a switch device that performs switching between a first coupled state where only the first sub arm of the first and second sub arms is coupled to the main arm, and a second coupled state where only the second sub arm of the first and second sub arms is coupled to the main arm.
US09181825B2	Internal combustion engine independent valve actuator A device and method for double actuating, by pressure differential, a valve of a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, wherein the double actuating device comprises an actuator piston displaceably arranged in an actuator cylinder between two chambers of inversely varying volume, mechanically attached to the stem of said valve. The actuating forces on said valve are selectively controllable via pressurized manifolds. The valves are double actuated independently of engine operation, the method allowing for variation in timing, duration, and lift under an electronically controlled fluid circuit, using alterable constants to allow for modifiable operating modes, also allowing reprogramming of said electronics to provide for in-place upgrades.
US09181823B2	Device for the variable control of at least one valve, for example for a reciprocating engine A device for controlling at least one valve, the device comprising a body having a non-deformable cavity communicating exclusively with the outside via at least four rectilinear cylinders that are closed respectively by an opening piston (P1) actuated by an opening cam (C1), a closing piston (P2) actuated by a closing cam (C2), a shuttle piston (Pa) serving to load or unload the device, and a piston (Ps) that is mechanically connected to the valve. By adjusting the angular phase shift between the opening and closing cams (C1, C2), the control device of the invention makes it possible in operation to adjust the lift of the valve, the angular duration of the opening of the valve, and if necessary, to deactivate the valve completely throughout the duration of a cycle.
US09181822B2	Variably operated valve system for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and control apparatus for variably operated valve system In a variably operated valve system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and a control apparatus for the variably operated valve system, a first valve stop mechanism is configured to switch between a valve operation state in which one of a pair of intake valves from among the pair of intake valves of a part of a plurality of cylinders is operated to be open or closed and a valve stopped state in which the valve open or closure operation of the one of the intake valves is stopped, a second valve stop mechanism is configured to switch between the valve operation state in which the other of the pair of intake valves from among the pair of intake valves of the part of the cylinders is operated to be open or closed and the valve stopped state in which the valve open or closure operation is stopped.
US09181817B2	Method and apparatus for labyrinth seal packing rings The present disclosure relates to a seal assembly for a turbomachine that includes at least one arcuate plate, a biasing member, and a packing ring. In addition, the seal assembly includes a plurality of arcuate teeth disposed intermediate to the packing ring and the rotor. The plurality of arcuate teeth includes at least one subset of arcuate teeth. The clearance of at least one of the arcuate teeth is different from the clearances of the rest of the arcuate teeth. The clearances of the arcuate teeth of the at least one subset do not progressively increase going from an upstream to a downstream side of the turbomachinery.
US09181816B2	Seal assembly including grooves in an aft facing side of a platform in a gas turbine engine A seal assembly between a disc cavity and a hot gas path in a gas turbine engine includes a stationary vane assembly and a rotating blade assembly axially upstream from the vane assembly. A platform of the blade assembly has a radially outwardly facing first surface, an axially downstream facing second surface defining an aft plane, and a plurality of grooves extending into the second surface such that the grooves are recessed from the aft plane The grooves are arranged such that a circumferential space is defined between adjacent grooves During operation of the engine, the grooves impart a circumferential velocity component to purge air flowing out of a disc cavity through the grooves to guide the purge air toward a hot gas path such that the purge air flows in a desired direction with reference to a direction of hot gas flow through the hot gas path.
US09181809B2	Coated article The present invention is a coated article containing at least two adjacent cooling holes that are substantially uncoated. In an embodiment, the coated article includes a base material, an outer surface and a coating on a portion of the outer surface. Here, the adjacent cooling holes are arranged along an axis on the outer surface and extend within the base material at an angle to the outer surface. The coating may include at least one unfinished edge oriented substantially parallel to the axis and set off at an oblique angle and a distance from the adjacent cooling holes.
US09181805B2	Gas turbine bladed rotor for aeronautic engines and method for cooling said bladed rotor A bladed rotor of a gas turbine for aeronautic engines is cooled by making an air mass flow through a plurality of passages, each one defined by a turbine disk on one side and by a root of a corresponding blade coupled to this turbine disk on the other, the incoming air of each passage being subdivided into two or more airflows and each flow being directed towards the turbine disk in a predefined direction.
US09181804B1	Ball bearing turbocharger balancer A method of balancing a core assembly of a turbocharger. The core assembly may include a rotor assembly having a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel connected for common rotation by a shaft. A first bending critical speed of the rotor assembly may be determined. The core assembly may be mounted in a balancing machine. A drive source may be engaged with the core assembly to impart rotation. The rotor assembly may be rotated at an initial phase speed that is between approximately 5500 revolutions per minute and the first bending critical speed. A state of imbalance of the rotor assembly may be determined at the initial phase speed.
US09181802B2	Robust mine ventilation door with single actuation system A high-pressure mine door assembly for use in mine shafts, the door assembly configured with opposing wings, which enable the door assembly to open and close quickly. The assembly includes a major hub and a minor hub positioned at or above the cap of the door assembly and coupled together via a connecting bar. A drive mechanism is coupled to the cap and the connecting bar, which facilitates the opening and closing of the wings of the door assembly. The door assembly is configured in a 12-6 pitch orientation, requiring only a ⅔ rotation of the wings to fully open the door assembly to. Such a configuration also negates the effect of air pressure on operation of the door assembly, regardless of the direction of the airflow, with the airflow assisting one wing in opening and the other in closing.
US09181799B1	Fluid sampling system A sampling system and a method for sampling fluid from a target zone within a well bore without commingling fluid from other zones in the well. The sampling system includes a hydraulic flow control system and a differential flow logging system. The hydraulic flow control system has a plurality of multi-level, vertically disposed pumps with fluid extraction rates set to generate hydraulic zones above and below a center one of the pumps. The hydraulic zones isolate fluid flow in a target zone surrounding the center pump, and the center pump collects a sample from the isolated target zone without mixing fluid from other zones of the well. The differential logging system has a plurality of flow devices. Each of the plurality of flow devices is disposed near one of the hydraulic zones to monitor vertical flow in the well and confirm isolation of the target zone.
US09181798B2	Removable modular antenna assembly for downhole applications A wellbore apparatus may include first and second tubular members joined together in end-to-end relation, the first tubular member having a reduced outer diameter end portion. The wellbore apparatus may further include a removable modular antenna assembly comprising a cylindrical dielectric housing removably positioned on the reduced outer diameter end portion of the first tubular member, at least one antenna coil carried by the cylindrical dielectric housing, and a first electrical connector coupled to the at least one antenna coil. The wellbore apparatus may also include resistivity processing circuitry coupled to the first electrical connector to determine an electrical resistivity of a wellbore based upon the at least one antenna coil.
US09181796B2	Downhole sand control apparatus and method with tool position sensor Systems and methods for monitoring a position of a service tool in a wellbore are provided. The service tool can have a sensor assembly coupled thereto and be positioned within the wellbore. The service tool can be moved within the wellbore. The distance travelled by the service tool in the wellbore can be measured with the sensor assembly. The position of the service tool in the wellbore can be determined by comparing the distance travelled to a stationary reference point.
US09181795B2	Groundwater management system The invention relates to a method of managing ground water resources, where bores are used to extract ground water such as for agricultural, mining and town water supply purposes. It involves a method for managing a groundwater resource including, providing at least one production bore that is adapted to extract groundwater from an aquifer, providing at least one monitoring bore that provides a measure of the extraction capability of removing water from the aquifer, measuring the hydraulic head of groundwater in the aquifer by means of the monitoring bore, and monitoring at least one indicator of the capability of extracting groundwater from the bores. The method involves determining at least one trigger point at which further monitoring of, or action in respect of, the groundwater extraction is to be undertaken, and intervening when this trigger point is reached during groundwater extraction. Preferably there are at least two trigger points; one to trigger a review and another that triggers management action.
US09181794B2	Graph to analyze drilling parameters A method for presenting drilling information includes presenting a display including a graph having a first axis and a second axis. The first axis represents a rate of penetration (ROP) of a drill bit into a borehole and the second axis representing a mechanical specific energy (MSE) of a drilling system that includes the drill bit. The method also includes plotting time based or foot based data with a computing device for one or more drilling runs on the graph and overlaying the graph with lines of constant power.
US09181793B2	Radio frequency identification system for mineral extraction equipment A system including, a first component of a mineral extraction system, and a first radio frequency identification (RFID) module coupled to the first component, wherein the first RFID module comprises first component data relating to the first component, and first location data relating to a first location of the first component.
US09181792B2	Method for detecting and mitigating drilling inefficiencies Present embodiments are directed to a drilling system and method for evaluating energy consumption to determine the onset of drilling issues and identify mitigation strategies for more efficient drilling. The drilling system receives drilling parameter values and a drilling performance value from sensors located on a drilling rig, and calculates an energy value based on the drilling parameter values and drilling performance value. The drilling system determines a deviation of the calculated energy value from a desired energy value and identifies one drilling parameter that significantly correlates with the deviation. Further, the drilling system determines an adjustment to the one drilling parameter that, when applied, causes the calculated energy value to approach the desired energy value. The drilling system then indicates the desired adjustment to the drilling operator so that appropriate actions may be taken to mitigate the drilling issue.
US09181789B2	Fracturing system and method for an underground formation using natural gas and an inert purging fluid A method for fracturing a downhole formation, includes: preparing an energized fracturing fluid including mixing gaseous natural gas and a fracturing base fluid in a mixer; injecting the energized fracturing fluid through a wellhead and into a well; and continuing to inject the energized fracturing fluid until the formation is fractured. An apparatus for generating an energized fracturing fluid for use to fracture a downhole formation, the apparatus includes: a fracturing base fluid source; a natural gas source; and a mixer for accepting natural gas from the natural gas source and fracturing base fluid from the fracturing base fluid source and mixing the natural gas and the fracturing base fluid to generate the energized fracturing fluid.
US09181788B2	Plasma source for generating nonlinear, wide-band, periodic, directed, elastic oscillations and a system and method for stimulating wells, deposits and boreholes using the plasma source A plasma source for generating nonlinear, wide-band, periodic, directed, elastic oscillations in a fluid medium. The plasma source includes a plasma emitter having two electrodes defining a gap, a delivery device for introducing a metal conductor into the gap, and a high voltage transformer for powering the plasma emitter. A system and method for stimulating wells, deposits, and boreholes through controlled periodic oscillations generated using the plasma source. The system includes the plasma source, a ground control unit, and a support cable. In the method, the plasma source is submerged in the fluid medium of a well, deposit, or borehole and is used to create a metallic plasma in the gap. The metallic plasma emits a pressure pulse and shockwaves, which are directed into the fluid medium. Nonlinear, wide-band, periodic and elastic oscillations are generated in the fluid medium, including resonant oscillations by passage of the shockwaves.
US09181786B1	Sea floor boost pump and gas lift system and method for producing a subsea well A method and system for producing a subsea well includes installing a pump and a gas/liquid separator on a sea floor. The system flows well fluid up the well to the pump, boosting the pressure of the well fluid. The system flows the well fluid from the pump into the gas/liquid separator and separates gas from the well fluid. The stream of liquid flows up a flow line to a remote production facility. The stream of gas is injected back into the well at a selected depth to mix with the well fluid flowing up the well. The injection of gas creates a gas lift system that lightens the hydrostatic pressure of the well fluid in the well.
US09181778B2	Multiple ball-ball seat for hydraulic fracturing with reduced pumping pressure A downhole isolation tool including a sub, a sleeve disposed in the sub, and a ball seat mandrel coupled to the sleeve, the ball seat mandrel having at least two ball seats axially aligned with at least two throughbores disposed within the ball seat mandrel. A method of isolating a well, the method including running a downhole isolation system into a well, wherein the downhole isolation system includes a first downhole isolation tool, the first downhole isolation tool including a first sub, a first sleeve disposed in the sub, and a first ball seat mandrel coupled to the first sleeve, the first ball seat mandrel having at least two ball seats of a first size axially aligned with at least two throughbores disposed within the first ball seat mandrel, dropping at least two balls of a first size into the well, and seating the at least two balls of the first size in the at least two ball seats of the first ball seat mandrel.
US09181777B2	Annular pressure release sub A method and apparatus for a pressure relief valve assembly. The valve assembly may be coupled to one or more casings and/or tubular members to control fluid communication therebetween. The valve assembly is a one-way valve assembly that relieves pressure within an annulus formed between adjacent casings and/or tubular members to prevent burst or collapse of the casings and/or tubular members. The valve assembly is resettable downhole.
US09181773B2	Downhole packer with multiple areas of relative rotation A packer having at least two or more areas of relative rotation. The packer also incorporates a jet port, a highly debossed mandrel and/or a J-pin rotatably disposed within a drag block assembly for continuously and redundantly engaging a J-slot area disposed in the mandrel. The areas of relative rotation can be between the mandrel and piping above the packer, the drag block assembly and the mandrel, and the drag block assembly and the J-pin.
US09181771B2	Packer assembly with enhanced sealing layer shape A packer assembly with an enhanced sealing layer is provided. The packer assembly may have an outer bladder with drains. The packer assembly may further have an inflatable inner packer disposed inside the outer bladder such that inflation of the inner packer causes the outer bladder to expand. End pieces may be coupled to the inner bladder and the outer bladder, and flowlines may be in fluid communication with the drains and the end pieces. A piston ring may reinforce the packer assembly. The piston ring may have three or more passive pistons which expand with the packer assembly during testing.
US09181770B2	Pressure lock for jars Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a jar including the following: a mandrel; an outer housing slidably disposed about the mandrel; a ball stop housing disposed below the outer housing; a lower sub disposed below the ball stop housing; and a ball stop assembly disposed in the ball stop housing. The ball stop assembly includes a ball stop pivotally disposed in the ball stop assembly.
US09181767B2	Downhole bypass tool A downhole bypass tool that includes an inlet for receiving fluid into a housing of the bypass tool is described herein. The bypass tool also includes a flow directing apparatus disposed in the housing for directing fluid to flow into an operational flow path of a vibratory tool. The vibratory tool is at least partially disposed within the hosing of the bypass tool. The flow directing apparatus operates to selectively bypass the operational flow path of the vibratory tool such that the fluid bypasses the operational flow path of the vibratory tool and flows out of an outlet of the bypass tool.
US09181766B2	Breakout tool A breakout tool including a breakout tong adapted to grip a first one of the two components of a drill string. The breakout tool can be used for breaking out the two components of a drill string while a second one of the two components is held stationary. The breakout tong includes a first jaw and a second jaw, with the second jaw pivotally coupled to the first jaw at a first pivot point. A small hydraulic cylinder is provided in the breakout tong for forcing the second jaw to pivot about the first pivot point when it is activated wherein, in use, the first drill string component can be gripped between the second jaw and the first jaw. A main hydraulic cylinder is adapted to be mounted on the drill rig, and which is mechanically coupled to the breakout tong for applying a torque to the breakout tong. In use, the two components of the drill string can be broken apart by the breakout tong gripping the first drill string component and applying a torque thereto via the main hydraulic cylinder.
US09181763B2	Apparatus for supporting or handling tubulars A method and apparatus for facilitating running or pulling tubulars from a well bore whereby the functions of a surface mounted traditional spider/elevator are replaced by an FMS which may also be remotely controlled. The FMS comprises a main body consisting of upper and lower plates assembled in a bolted and welded configuration, a slip assembly each said slip assembly comprising a slip back, a slip, one or more die inserts, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and multiple sized die blocks to conform to the tubular OCTG diameter.
US09181762B2	Device for securing pipes having various diameters A device for vertically holding pipes for elevator systems on oil drilling platforms has a basic element with a pivotable door element. A closing movement for forming a cylinder liner is carried out by a lockable adjusting cylinder. The cylinder liner is formed by interchangeable cylinder segments to form a cylinder liner of different size diameters in the basic element and door element. The cylinder segments are arranged interchangeably via rear guide profiles and associated profile rails in the basic element and door element. Upper sides of the cylinder segments are connected to corresponding receptacles via retaining rings which are able to be pushed on horizontally. By receiving pipes in the cylinder liner and an occurring load, a spring-loaded actuating arm is adjustable in height via a cylinder segment. Locking of the hydraulic adjusting cylinder for the closing movement is controllable via an associated load sensor.
US09181761B2	Riser tensioning system The riser tensioning system (10) includes a tensioning ring (18) for secured engagement with the riser and plurality of hydraulic cylinders (12) extending between the tensioning ring and a floating platform. A gimbal mechanism (42) acts between the platform and the riser to allow the riser axis to tilt relative to the floating platform. One or more elongate torque transfer members (38) extend between the tensioning ring and the gimbal mechanism and allow axial movement of the tensioning ring and the riser with respect to the floating platform.
US09181759B1	Method and apparatus for increasing load bearing capacity of a tubular string An apparatus for increasing a load bearing capacity of a tubular string having a first body coupled to the string, two or more members coupled to the first body, and wherein the two or more members are configured to move with respect to the first body. The two or more members each further include a distal end having one or more of an acute, pointed, tapered, or sharp configuration. In addition, a second body is configured to cause the two or more members of the first body to move radially outwardly, wherein the distal ends of the two or more parts penetrate the earth and thereby increase the load bearing capacity of the tubular string.
US09181755B2	Downhole expandable roller bearing apparatus A downhole expandable roller bearing apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises a plurality of roller assemblies comprising at least one roller rotatably mounted between pistons. A retaining member such as a spline bar is removably mounted in a keyway formed in the body. Each piston comprises an aperture through which the spline bar projects in both the inwardly retracted and outwardly deployed positions of the pistons.
US09181750B2	Pull cord on headrail for operating a motorized blind A motorized blind having a pull cord. The pull cord is mechanically connected to an electrical switch in a headrail of the blind, the switch being electrically connected to an electric motor within the headrail. The pull cord also extends outwardly of an end of the headrail and then outwardly and downwardly of the blind through a hole in the front of an end cap on the headrail.
US09181745B1	Trunk cushion assembly A cushion member assembly includes an attachment fastener having deflecting first and second arms curving toward a planar flange, and a neck region connecting the first and second arms to the planar flange. A cushion member includes a slot in a body first portion first end and a body second portion having a hollow chamber. A first bore extends into the body first portion from the slot. A second bore has a diameter larger than a first bore diameter and substantially equal to a first and second arm spaced width. A surface separates a cavity defined by the second bore from the first bore. The arms initially deflect toward each other during entrance into the first bore and outwardly rebound in the second bore directly contacting the surface. The first and second arms in contact with the surface resist removal of the attachment fastener from the cushion member.
US09181742B2	Articulated shutter holder An articulated device is adapted to hold a shutter in different open positions, without the need for the user to lean out of the window.
US09181740B2	Method of removing a retractable door of a center door assembly on a dump trailer A center door assembly for a dump bed and a method for removing the door from the dump bed. A frame is mounted in a wall of the dump bed and has a pair of opposite and spaced apart channels. A pair of elastomeric inserts are removably mounted in the channels. A retractable door has a pair of edges slidably received in the inserts and is movable linearly within the channels between a closed position and an open position. A pivot linkage assembly is operatively connected to the door for linearly moving the door between the closed and open positions. The elastomeric inserts are removed from the channels through a bottom opening in the channels providing lateral space between the channels to enable the door to be removed from the frame. The elastomeric inserts are provided with bend areas enabling them to be compressed for removal from the channels.
US09181736B1	Compact door closing latching mechanism A door mechanism pulling a door closed for latching. A puller tongue is triggered to release when adjacent a strike plate or jamb of a door. The puller tongue pushes the door completely closed resulting in latching. A setting lever is rotated upon turning a door knob setting the puller tongue in a retracted position. A raising lever and pendulum selectively cause the releasing of the puller tongue when the latch contacts a strike plate or jamb of a door and prevents releasing of the puller tongue when a door knob is turned. A door is caused to securely latch even though the door is closing slowly and with little force.
US09181732B2	Latch release system A latch release system for releasing a latch, the system having a rest position and an actuated position and requiring a first force to move the system from the rest position to the actuated position, the system including an inertia event sensor and a means for increasing the force required to operate system, wherein when the inertia event sensor detects an inertia event it activates said means so the system requires a second force, greater than the first force, to move the system to the actuated position.
US09181731B2	Drawer latch assembly and a toolbox assembly A container 10 having a latch assembly 40 which reduces the likelihood that a drawer 16 will undesirably and/or inadvertently move to an open position by selectively locking and unlocking the drawer 16 in response to a selective movement of a handle 904 which is movably disposed upon a front surface of the drawer 16.
US09181729B2	Lock kit and key rotor housed in rotor case A lock device (10) is used with a flat key (K) having asymmetric opposite edges (3, 4). The lock device (10) includes a key rotor (14) which is configured to have distances from a central axis line (O2) of the key (K) to abutment points of the edges (3, 4) against the tumbler (32a-32c) respectively, and the distances are set so as to equal each other such that the non-reversible key is capable of reversible use in an inserted state of the key (K) into a key insertion hole (23).
US09181726B2	Post handling device A device for lifting a post out of the ground, including a part for engaging the post and an elongate body having a handle for applying a lever action to the part in order to lift the post from the ground, wherein the part is coupled to a stand and the stand is moveable relative to the body from a stowed condition to a deployed condition whereat the body is pivotally supported above the ground for rotation about the stand in order to effect the lever action.
US09181722B2	Automatic storage system for vehicles An automatic vehicle storage system includes an adjustable, self-guided vehicle satellite for moving a vehicle between a pick-up and drop-off bay, a vehicle carriage, and a storage bay. The vehicle carriage is typically movable along and by a vehicle crane, which carries the vehicle to a desired storage bay, where the vehicle satellite then moves the vehicle. Once the vehicle is in the storage bay, the satellite and returns back to the carriage at the vehicle crane. The vehicle storage system is also capable of rotating the vehicle, such that the vehicle is forward-facing in the pick-up and drop-off bay when it is retrieved by the user, and to facilitate the simultaneous operation of side-by-side cranes within a storage facility.
US09181715B2	Clip device for attaching structural member to a supporting structure A Π-shaped clip with a top horizontal portion and a pair of integrally formed spaced apart vertical legs underneath. The legs define a spacing distance across their span and are inwardly compressible toward each other in response to a side force. The top portion has raised gripping means for frictional engagement. The clip is inserted into grooves of adjacent structural members secure them to a supporting structure.
US09181713B1	Siding attachment system Siding attachment system is disclosed having a base and an attachment member. The base has an engaging wall extending from a back plate. The engaging wall has a plurality of base teeth. The back plate is configured to attach to a support wall. The attachment member has a receiving wall extending from a mounting plate. The receiving wall has a receiving opening configured to receive the engaging wall. The receiving wall comprises two interior walls adjacent the receiving opening. Each interior wall comprises one or more receiving teeth extending into the receiving opening to engage one or more of the base teeth to releasably join the attachment member to the base. The mounting plate comprises a surface for supporting siding.
US09181711B2	Bracket, kit and assembly for decorative mounted panels An assembly for securing a panel to a wall surface, including an elongated rail adapted to being secured in extending fashion along the wall surface and a clip adapted to being secured to a rear surface of the panel. The rail and clip each exhibit a similar cross sectional profile, with each including at least one mating and inclined support surface for redirecting a weight of the panel inwards toward the wall surface.
US09181708B1	Snow removal system A module assembly includes a forward module, a rearward module, and a hinge coupling the forward module and the rearward module. A movement assembly includes two forward wheels and two rearward wheels. A blower assembly includes a forward auger within the forward module, a rearward auger within the rearward module, an opening in each of the modules with a suction fan rotatable within the opening, and an exhaust tube extending upwardly and outwardly from each of the modules. A drive assembly includes a motor for each of the augers, each of the suction fans, and each of the wheels, and includes a source of electrical potential to power each of the motors.
US09181705B2	Protective covering for roof mounted systems A protective covering helps to prevent fastener leaks from roof installed fasteners, which are used to mount roofing systems, such as a solar panel installation system, to roofs with a mounting bracket attached to the roof. The protective covering is a portion of flat, malleable waterproof material molded to form a cover, forming a rounded or peaked triangular-shaped structure when viewed from the side. The triangular shaped structure includes a base and a hypotenuse portion where the line of the roof acts as a side which is covered by at least the hypotenuse portion. The hypotenuse portion meets the roof at an angle. The covering is adapted for insertion under portions of a roof shingle, and extends back in a slight rise (downwardly with respect to the roof) to cover the fastener and L-shaped bracket, which the fastener fastens to the roof.
US09181704B2	Modular roof panel with integrated drainage system A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body.
US09181703B2	Modular roof panel with integrated drainage system A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body.
US09181700B2	Tapered truss A tapered truss is provided. In one embodiment, the truss has a pair of base members configured to be attached to a top surface of a vertical support member. The truss may further have an upper pair of truss members and a lower pair of truss members. Each upper truss member each forms an acute angle with a respective base member and each lower truss member forms an obtuse angle from the respective base member such that the lower truss member is not parallel to the upper truss member. The truss may additionally include a ceiling joist member connected to each of the lower truss members. In one embodiment, the ceiling joist member is substantially parallel to the pair of base members.
US09181697B2	Floor tile having a latch and loop structure Lateral edges of the modular plastic floor tiles are provided with latches which fit into loops with an interference fit. The latch and loop structure may include an undercut behind the lateral edge of the tile. The loops flex in order to impose a compressive force on mating tile edges.
US09181696B1	Assembly for supporting ceiling panels and ceiling system incorporating the same A connection assembly for mounting a ceiling panel to a grid support, including a saddle bracket for use in the same and a ceiling system incorporating the same. The connection assembly may comprise a mounting bracket assembly including a resilient element and a mounting bracket and a saddle bracket having stepped support flange. When coupled together the mounting bracket and the stepped support flange of the saddle bracket are in contact with one another and a flange portion of a strut of the support grid is sandwiched between and in contact with each of the mounting bracket and the stepped support flange.
US09181693B2	Inside corner framing element for supporting wallboard The present invention is directed to an inside corner framing element for supporting wallboard at the intersection of two adjoining walls made from sheet metal framing members. The inside corner framing element may be characterized as either: (1) an elongated sheet metal strip bent lengthwise two times to define a truncated W-shaped cross-sectional profile with at least one linear receiving slot positioned at an end of the elongated sheet metal strip; or (2) an elongated sheet metal strip bent lengthwise three times to define a W-shaped cross-sectional profile with at least one linear receiving slot positioned at an end of the elongated sheet metal strip.
US09181691B2	Quick connect anchor for poured concrete ceilings on metal or wood decks An internally threaded anchor for use in poured concrete floors having a metal deck or a wood form. The threaded anchor provides quick and easy attachment to threaded support rods that carry racks for utilities, piping, or ceiling grid systems. Each threaded anchor is capable of accepting different diameter rods or bolts with different thread cuts. Each anchor accepts the different diameter threaded rods by a single insertion motion, without the need to thread the rod into the anchor. Full insertion is visually verifiable when the marked end of the rod inserted into the anchor is no longer visible. An authentication tag visible upon full insertion indicates that authorized rod is being used.
US09181687B2	Adaptation of flush valve for dual flush capability Various apparatuses and methods that facilitate dual flush capability are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a dual flush mechanism configured to provide for a dual flush capability in a toilet. The dual flush mechanism can include a basket structure. A gasket can be attached to the dual flush mechanism. The gasket can form a seal between the dual flush mechanism and a flush orifice of a flush valve.
US09181685B2	Magnetic docking faucet A faucet is provided. The faucet has a spout and a sprayhead releasably coupled to the spout. A hose having a magnetically responsive collar thereon provides fluid through the spout to the sprayhead. A magnet is located in the faucet such that when the sprayhead is coupled to the spout, the collar magnetically couples to the magnet, thereby applying sufficient magnetic force to the hose to retain the sprayhead against the spout.
US09181682B2	Aggressive and stable speed control A system and method are provided for controlling a movable element in accordance with a speed command. The movable element, which may be an excavator swing platform, is moved via an actuator that is driven in accordance with a torque command. The speed of the movable element is sensed, and a torque command is generated via PID control based on the speed command and the sensed speed. The PID control uses a set of gains including a P-gain, an I-gain, and a D-gain. At least one of these gains is set based on a counter, and the counter is set, cleared, incremented, or decremented based on one or more of the speed command, the torque command and the sensed speed. In this way, the movable element responds aggressively to operator input, but stability is maintained.
US09181677B2	Construction machine having hydraulic circuit A construction machine includes a hydraulic actuator circuit including: a first circuit connected to one of travel motors and a boom cylinder; a second circuit connected to the other travel motor and arm cylinder; and a third circuit connected to a slewing motor; control valves for hydraulic actuators; and a merging valve having a first position for unloading hydraulic fluid discharged from a third pump upon no operation except for two travel motors; a second position for merging the hydraulic fluid into the first and second circuits upon a simultaneous operation of the travel motors and an operation of at least one remaining hydraulic actuator except for a boom raising operation; and a third position for merging the hydraulic fluid into the first circuit while blocking it from the second circuit upon the boom raising operation.
US09181671B2	Compactor machine A rigid wheel (18) or roller for a compactor machine, comprising a drum for contacting material to be compacted. The drum has a profiled outer surface including a first cylindrical portion (27) and a second cylindrical portion (29). The first cylindrical portion has a larger rolling diameter than the second cylindrical portion. An inclined portion (24) extends between the first and second cylindrical portions. The area of contact between the outer surface of the drum and refuse, soil or other material to be compacted varies with the depth of penetration of the wheel into the material. The different rolling diameters within the scope of one wheel gives different ground pressures. This means that the pressure applied to the material for compaction varies depending upon the depth of penetration of the wheel. One benefit of this wheel/roller design is to allow improved go anywhere mobility—high floatation where needed changing to heavy ground pressure where conditions demand.
US09181670B2	Large scale spallation inducing ice protection A technique for protecting a structure from an impact with ice involves providing a horizontal spall initiator extending from the wall a distance of 1 to 10 cm, the horizontal spall initiator being resilient to the ice impact, and formed by blade segments having a blade width less than ½ a thickness of an expected hard zone of the ice; and situating the horizontal spell initiator at an elevation of the expected hard zone. Situating the horizontal spall initiator at an elevation of the hard zone may involve providing an elevation control mechanism (e.g. buoyancy, mechanical, or hydrodynamic), or may involve a panel with a plurality of horizontal spell initiators at respective elevations. The horizontal spell initiator may be driven.
US09181664B2	Automotive construction machine In an automotive construction machine, with a machine frame (4) with preferably vertically arranged lateral outer walls (5), a milling drum (6) mounted in the machine frame (4) for working a ground surface or traffic surface (8), and with an operator's platform (10), it is provided that the operator's platform (10) is moveable on the machine frame (4) transversely to the direction of travel, and is moveable outwards beyond the lateral outer walls (5) of the machine frame (4), that the machine frame (4) is provided with a guide (18) for the operator's platform (10) acting transversely to the direction of travel, and that the guide (18) projects laterally either not at all or just slightly beyond the outer walls (5).
US09181663B2	Intermediate paving material Disclosed is a paving material which is useful to accommodate efficient movement of heavy loads, including but not limited to heavy loads necessitated by large-scale agricultural operations. Also disclosed is a process for producing such a paving material.
US09181662B2	Lower screed interfaces A screed assembly includes a screed assembly frame and a screed plate removably connected to the screed assembly frame to define a space between the screed assembly frame and the screed plate. A heating element and a hold down device for securing the heating element can be provided in the space between the screed assembly frame and the screed plate. The heating element is configured to be removed from the space by sliding the heating element out of the space and disengaging the heating element from the hold down device without removing the screed plate from the screed assembly frame.

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