| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09223463B1 |
Mobile user interface for a picker application
A user interface of a mobile computing device having a mobile operating system and a display device utilizes a picker application to facilitate selection of an activity. More specifically, the picker application presents at least one radial list of items to provide an effective process for selecting activities categorized amongst one or more locales or neighborhoods associated with a location. |
| US09223460B2 |
Toolbar search centered user interface model
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-storage media for organizing presentation of browser toolbars. In one embodiment, a toolbar of a web browser is presented. The toolbar has a search input box. Additionally, one or more application icons are presented on each of at least two sides of the search input box. An indication that a user has engaged an application icon of the toolbar is received. Further, an application window is presented beneath the search input box of the toolbar. The application window comprises content associated with the application icon. |
| US09223458B1 |
Techniques for transitioning between playback of media files
Methods and apparatus are described for identifying a media file selected for playback by a user, determining whether an alternate media file is available that includes at least some of the same content as the first media file, and transitioning between playback of the first media file and the alternate media file. |
| US09223455B2 |
User preference analysis method and device
A user preference analysis method and device are provided for providing a user with customized content through preference analysis based on the user's content consumption activity. The user preference analysis method includes displaying content data on a screen of the device in response to a user input; recording content information about the content data displayed on the screen; analyzing a user preference based on the recorded content information; and storing a user preference analysis result for the content data. |
| US09223454B2 |
Touch sensor panel with in-plane backup bypass connections
Touch sensor panels (104) have 2-D periodic arrangements of electrodes (304) connected together forming a plurality of horizontal and vertical logical lines (506, 514) for measuring X-Y coordinates of a user's touch. Electrodes forming the horizontal logical lines are interleaved with electrodes forming the vertical logical lines. Each of the vertical and horizontal logical lines includes multiple tracks (502, 504, 510, 512). The tracks of each logical line are cross connected by in-plane cross connects (314, 318) formed in the same layer by the same process that is used to form the electrodes. Diamond and square electrode embodiments are described. |
| US09223451B1 |
Active capacitive sensing on an HMD
Embodiments described herein may allow for the use of active capacitive sensing on a head-mountable device. An example method may involve: sending a first signal that has a first frequency from a signal transmitter positioned on a wearable computing device so that when the wearable computing device is worn, the signal transmitter couples to a part of a wearer of the wearable computing device, receiving a second signal at a capacitive sensor located on the wearable computing device, determining whether the second signal has the first frequency, if the second signal has the first frequency, outputting a third signal that is indicative of manual input on the capacitive sensor, and if the second signal does not have the first frequency, refraining from outputting the third signal. |
| US09223450B2 |
Apparatus and method for proximity touch sensing
An apparatus performs proximity touch sensing, and includes a shield layer, an electrostatic capacity touch panel disposed with a specific distance above the shield layer, and a proximity touch controller for sensing a non-contact touch by supplying a voltage to the electrostatic capacity touch panel and the shield layer and thus by forming a first capacitance. |
| US09223447B2 |
Touch panel, touch display device and assembling method thereof
A touch panel including a substrate, a light shielding layer, a touch sensing device layer, a protective layer, and at least one light transmission protrusion is provided. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface is divided into a visual region and a non-visual region. The light shielding layer is disposed in the non-visual region. The touch sensing device layer is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The protective layer disposed on the first surface of the substrate covers the light shielding layer and the touch sensing device layer. The light transmission protrusion is disposed on the protective layer, and at least part of the light transmission protrusion is in the non-visual region. A light enters the light transmission protrusion from the second surface. A touch display device and an assembling method thereof are also provided. |
| US09223441B1 |
Detection surface for a computing device
A system determines a position of one or more objects relative to a detection surface. An illumination source is located at a first fixed position relative to the detection surface, and configured to illuminate an adjacent coordinate space. Two or more single-pixel optical sensors are located at fixed positions relative to the detection surface such that each point of the illuminated coordinate space is within a field of view of at least two single-pixel optical sensors. Each single-pixel optical sensor detects illumination reflected off an object within the coordinate space, and outputs information useable to assess a time-of-flight of the detected reflected illumination. A controller assesses a radial distance between each single-pixel sensor and the object based at least in part on the time-of-flight of the detected reflected illumination, and determines a position of the object in the coordinate space based at least in part on the radial distances. |
| US09223440B2 |
Optical navigation utilizing speed based algorithm selection
Embodiments of method and systems are disclosed. An embodiment of a method for optical navigation involves generating light at a light source, directing the light to a navigation surface, detecting light reflected from the navigation surface toward a sensor array, and generating movement information, which is indicative of movement of the navigation surface relative to the sensor array, in response to the detected light. Generating the movement information involves determining the speed of the movement, comparing the speed of the movement to a movement threshold, selecting a processing algorithm from a plurality of processing algorithms in response to the comparison, and processing the movement information according to the selected processing algorithm. In an embodiment, the processing algorithms include an adaptive navigation algorithm and a sensor resolution adjustment algorithm. |
| US09223438B2 |
Method of compensating reference data and touch screen apparatus using the method
Provided is a method of compensating reference data, including calculating touch compensation data in the n-th frame period by compensating touch raw data in the n-th frame period using the reference data in the (n−1)-th frame period that is stored in a memory, detecting touch candidate coordinates by analyzing the touch compensation data in the n-th frame period, generating reference compensation data in the n-th frame period by setting up a labeling block from the touch raw data corresponding to the touch candidate coordinates and by compensating the touch raw data included in the labeling block, not the touch raw data not included, and generating reference data in the n-th frame period by calculating an average value of the reference compensation data in the n-th frame period, and the reference compensation data in the (n−k)-th to (n−1)-th frame periods, stored in the memory. |
| US09223437B2 |
Method, touch sensing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium for minimizing noise on touch panel
Disclosed is a method for minimizing noise on a touch panel including a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sensing lines, wherein the drive lines and the sensing lines cross each other, the method including: performing a dummy scan to sense a signal from the sensing line in a state where a driving signal is not applied to the drive line; and comparing a threshold with a magnitude of a signal obtained through the dummy scan, and estimating noise in a first frequency band, i.e., a frequency of the driving signal. |
| US09223435B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel includes a first substrate section formed on the front side of the display panel, a second substrate section which is opposed to the first substrate section, a plurality of pixel sections formed in a matrix form between the first and second substrate sections, and a plurality of sensor sections, each of the sensor sections having two electrodes, one electrode disposed with a electrode-to-electrode gap from the other between the first and second substrate sections, the electrode-to-electrode gap being removed as a result of the deformation of the first substrate section under pressure so that the one electrode is brought into contact with the other electrode, the sensor sections being provided between the first and second substrate sections with one of a plurality of electrode-to-electrode gap lengths respectively. |
| US09223431B2 |
Touch-sensitive display with depression detection and method
A device includes a touch-sensitive display and a sensor configured to detect a force that results in depression of the touch-sensitive display. The sensor includes one or more wavelength selective optical carriers that carry optical signals. The force affects one or more optical paths of the optical signals. |
| US09223428B2 |
Touch type input device
A touch type input device includes a display capable of showing a plurality of icons. A detector detects touching of an operation surface. A controller moves operational coordinates on the display based on the detection of the detector. The controller selects one of the icons in accordance with a region in which the operational coordinates are located. Further, the controller moves the operational coordinates to a specified position in the region where the operational coordinates are located when a touch-release operation is performed indicating that the touching of the operation surface has been cancelled. |
| US09223426B2 |
Repositioning windows in the pop-up window
A dual-screen user device and methods for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens are disclosed. Selected desktops and/or running applications are displayed on dual screen displays. Desktops and applications can be shifted between screens by user gestures, and/or moved off of the screens and therefore hidden. Hidden desktops and screens can be re-displayed by yet other gestures. The desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order of the desktops and applications providing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications/desktops running simultaneously. One user gesture launches an applications management window that provides visual indications of all of the applications and desktops running at the time, applications/desktops displayed on the screens. Other gestures can rearrange the order of all of the applications and desktops in the window stack. |
| US09223422B2 |
Remote controller and display apparatus, control method thereof
A remote controller includes a communicator configured to perform communication with a display apparatus which provides a user interface screen, a sensor configured to sense a movement of the remote controller, and a controller configured to control so that, when a preset event occurs, motion information of the remote controller as sensed at the sensor is mapped with a reference point of a pointer provided on the user interface screen. |
| US09223421B2 |
Input device and electronic apparatus using the same
An input device includes an input-sensing unit that contains a capacitive input sensor and a sensitivity-sensing unit that contains a capacitive sensitivity sensor. The input-sensing unit senses position information obtained by touch operation of an operation body to the capacitive input sensor. The sensitivity-sensing unit senses sensitivity information obtained by touch operation of the operation body to the capacitive sensitivity sensor. The input device includes a control unit determining whether or not the output level of the position information from the input-sensing unit is adjusted based on the sensitivity information sensed by the sensitivity-sensing unit and a sensitivity-adjusting unit that adjusts an output level of the position information from the input-sensing unit based on a result of the determination of the control unit. The control unit controls the sensitivity-adjusting unit to adjust the output level of the position information received from the input-sensing unit. |
| US09223417B1 |
Method and apparatus for on-the-run processing of electronic ink using digital filtering and adaptive parameterization
A method and system for on-the-run processing of source data is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an input device to trace the moving object, such as a pen, an on-the-run filter, coupled to the input device, to perform denoising of the source data without noticeable shrinkage of the trace using recursive reparameterization filtering, and a storage device, coupled to the on-the-run filter, to compress and store the data. |
| US09223414B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing mouse function using touch device
A method and apparatus of providing a mouse function in a touch device includes displaying a mouse interface which is divided into a panning area and a pointer move area. An input of a mouse gesture is received through the mouse interface, processing a panning operation of a contents screen which is displayed in a display device when the mouse gesture is inputted in the panning area, and processing a move operation of a mouse pointer which is displayed in the display device when the mouse gesture is inputted in the pointer move area. The touch device at the time of execution of the mouse mode, and generates a control event for panning the contents screen and moving the mouse pointer according to a mouse gesture which is inputted from the panning area and the pointer move area may provide a mouse function for a display device. |
| US09223413B2 |
Next action page key for system generated messages
An aerospace messaging system comprises a display unit configured to display data, a user input device configured to receive input from a user, a memory configured to store one or more key associations, and a processing unit configured to direct the display unit to display a label with a corresponding system generated message. The user input device comprises a plurality of modifiable keys. Each respective key association is an association between a respective one of the plurality of modifiable keys, a respective system generated message, and a respective action page from which a user can respond to information in the respective system generated message. The label indicates a corresponding modifiable key that is associated with a corresponding action page based on the respective key association. When the corresponding modifiable key is selected, the processing unit is configured to direct the display unit to display the corresponding action page. |
| US09223411B2 |
User interface with parallax animation
User interface animation techniques are described. In an implementation, an input having a velocity is detected that is directed to one or more objects in a user interface. A visual presentation is generated that is animated so a first object in the user interface moves in parallax with respect to a second object. The presentation is displayed so the first object appears to moves at a rate that corresponds to the velocity. |
| US09223408B2 |
System and method for transitioning between interface modes in virtual and augmented reality applications
One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method for transitioning a user interface between viewing modes. The method of the preferred embodiment can include detecting an orientation of a mobile terminal including a user interface disposed on a first side of the mobile terminal, wherein the orientation of the mobile terminal includes an imaginary vector originating at a second side of the mobile terminal and projecting in a direction substantially opposite the first side of the mobile terminal. The method of the preferred embodiment can also include transitioning between at least two viewing modes in response to the imaginary vector intersecting an imaginary sphere disposed about the mobile terminal at a first latitudinal point having a predetermined relationship to a critical latitude of the sphere. |
| US09223405B2 |
Apparatus and method for inputting information based on events
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for inputting events. An embodiment of the present invention can generate left and right click events in addition to activating and stopping pointers by sensing a rolling of a wrist and calculate and output a coordinate displacement according to the motion of the hand at the time of activating the pointers according to the events. Further, the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a large-sized display or a contactless spatial input apparatus of an HMD, entertainment such as games, and the like, and can overcome restricted environments by a gesture input scheme under special environment. |
| US09223403B2 |
Tactile input and output device
A tactile input and output device includes: a panel; a touch information obtaining unitobtaining touch positions; an order input determining unit determining setting information; a vibration position determining unit determining a first touch position and a second touch position, the first touch position observed in a spatial order, and corresponding to the determined setting information, and the second touch position being another one of the touch positions than the first touch position; and a multi-point simultaneous vibration control unit controlling the vibration on the panel to provide a predetermined vibration to the first touch position and provide no predetermined vibration to the second touch position. |
| US09223400B2 |
Performing method of device capable of adjusting images according to body motion of user
A performing method of a device capable of adjusting images according to a body motion of a user, the device comprising a display unit, at least one camera unit, and a control unit electrically coupled to the display unit and the camera unit, the performing method comprising: capturing at least one motion image of the user by the at least one camera unit; receiving the at least one motion image of the user by the control unit; and adjusting the display unit according to the least one motion image of the user by the control unit, whereby the images displayed by the display unit moving as does the user. |
| US09223399B2 |
Translation of gesture responses in a virtual world
Translating gestures made by one avatar to a second avatar in a virtual world by receiving an input from a first user representing an input gesture to be made by the first avatar to the second avatar. The input gesture is translated to generate at least one translated gesture for display. The translated gesture may be output for display as being made by the first avatar to the second avatar. |
| US09223398B2 |
Flexible display apparatus and method of operating the same
Provided are a flexible display apparatus and a method of operating the same. The flexible display apparatus includes: a display unit that displays an image and is flexible; and a sensor for detecting an approach of an object to a bent space of the display unit while the display unit is bent. The flexible display apparatus may use a proximity touch as a user interface by detecting an approach of an object, by disposing a sensor in a region adjacent to a display unit or on the display unit. |
| US09223397B2 |
Personal computing device control using face detection and recognition
Systems and methods are provided for control of a personal computing device based on user face detection and recognition techniques. |
| US09223395B2 |
Viewing presentations in a condensed animation mode
Concepts and technologies are described herein for viewing presentations in a condensed animation mode in which a presentation program condenses or accelerates animations or effects within the presentation while maintaining the animations and effects associated with the presentation. The presentation program is configured to enter into a condensed animation mode and to render a slide of the presentation. In some embodiments, the presentation program waits for user input before playing an accelerated or condensed version of the animations and/or effects. In other embodiments, the presentation program plays the condensed or accelerated version upon rendering the slide without requiring further user input. If user input is received, the presentation program can be configured to wait for the animation sequence to complete before proceeding to the next slide and/or can interrupt playback of the animation sequence and proceed to the next slide of the presentation immediately. |
| US09223393B2 |
Collective operation management in a parallel computer
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for collective operation management in a parallel computer are provided. Embodiments include a parallel computer having a first compute node operatively coupled for data communications over a tree data communications network with a plurality of child compute nodes. Embodiments also include each child compute node performing a first collective operation. The first compute rode, for each child compute node, receives from the child compute node, a result of the first collective operation performed by the child compute node. In response to receiving at least one result, the first compute node reduces a power consumption level of the child compute node. |
| US09223387B2 |
Rescheduling active display tasks to minimize overlapping with active platform tasks
In general, in one aspect, a mobile device display includes panel electronics, a backlight driver and a rescheduler. The panel electronics is to generate images on an optical stack of the display based on input from a processing platform of the mobile device. The backlight driver is to control operation of a backlight used to illuminate the optical stack so that the user can see the images generated on the display. The rescheduler is to determine when a timing critical task of the processing platform overlaps with a non-timing critical task of the panel electronics or the backlight driver and reschedule the non-timing critical task until the timing critical task is inactive or a visual tolerance limit has been reached. The rescheduling minimizes overlap between the timing critical tasks and non-timing critical tasks and accordingly reduces power consumption without effecting performance or impacting a user's visual experience. |
| US09223385B2 |
Re-driver power management
The present disclosure provides techniques for increasing the power efficiency of re-drivers by providing a technique for a re-driver to recognize a variety of power states. A message generator may be located in a host device and may encode a signal indicating a change in a power state. The message may be transmitted to a message decoder located in a re-driver. The message decoder may decode the message and the re-driver may enter a power state in response to the decoded message. |
| US09223384B2 |
Synthesizing intermediate performance levels in integrated circuits, and related processor systems, methods, and computer-readable media
Synthesizing intermediate performance levels in integrated circuits, and related processor systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a synthesized performance level setting circuit receives an input indicating a synthesized performance mode. The circuit generates a power source selection output to select a first power source providing power to an integrated circuit functional block at a first voltage level, and generate a clock frequency setting output to select a first clock frequency associated with the first voltage level to clock the functional block, for a first predefined time interval. The circuit also generates the power source selection output to select a second power source to provide power at a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level, and generate the clock frequency setting output to select a second clock frequency associated with the second voltage level to clock the functional block, for a second predefined time interval. |
| US09223383B2 |
Guardband reduction for multi-core data processor
A multi-core data processor includes multiple data processor cores and a power controller. Each data processor core has a first input for receiving a clock signal, a second input for receiving a power supply voltage, and an output for providing an idle signal. The power controller is coupled to each of the data processor cores for providing the clock signal and the power supply voltage to each of the data processor cores. The power controller provides at least one of the clock signal and the power supply voltage to an active one of the data processor cores in dependence on a number of idle signals received from the data processor cores. |
| US09223382B2 |
System and method for providing power-save operation in an in-home communication network
A first device of a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network may grant a second device of the MoCA network permission to enter a power-saving state. While the second device is in the power-saving mode, the first device may grant bandwidth to the second device during one or more predetermined timeslots. The bandwidth may be granted without a corresponding reservation request from the second device. While the second device is in the power-saving state, it may track time utilizing a clock that is synchronized to the system time of the MoCA network, and transmit during one or more of the predetermined timeslots without first transmitting a corresponding reservation request. The second device may utilize a first modulation profile when not operating in the power-saving state, and utilize a second modulation profile when operating in the power-saving state. |
| US09223379B2 |
Intelligent receive buffer management to optimize idle state residency
Methods and systems may provide for determining a plurality of buffer-related settings for a corresponding plurality of idle states and outputting the plurality of buffer-related settings to a device on a platform. The device may determine an observed bandwidth for a channel associated with a receive buffer and identify a selection of a buffer-related setting from the plurality of buffer-related settings based at least in part on the observed bandwidth. In one example, each buffer-related setting includes a latency tolerance and a corresponding idle duration. |
| US09223378B2 |
Sensing current to protect a fuse
The speed of a processor is adjusted based on the current sensed by a current sensor in order to protect a fuse from being damaged. |
| US09223376B2 |
Managing electrical current in a portable computing device when two or more communications overlap in drawing power during a transmission
A method and system for managing electrical current within a portable computing device (“PCD”) includes assigning a priority to two or more communications supported by the PCD. A present level of a power supply for the PCD may be monitored by a communications power (“CP”) manager module. Next, the CP manager module may determine if the two or more communications may be transmitted at the present level of the power supply. If the two or more communications cannot be transmitted at the present level of the power supply, then the CP manager module may determine if a timing of at least one of the communications may be adjusted. The CP manager module may also determine a theoretical power level adjustment for at least one of the communications. The two or more communications may be transmitted with any calculated timing off sets and power level adjustments. |
| US09223372B2 |
Energy management system
An energy management system and method connecting a load to multiple energy sources. The system includes a load connection, source connections for each energy source, a control unit and at least one energy management module having an inductor and four switches. The first source is in parallel with the load. The first switch couples the first source positive terminal to the first inductor end, second switch couples the first source negative terminal to the first inductor end, third switch couples the second source positive terminal to the second inductor end, and fourth switch couples the second source negative terminal to the second inductor end. The control unit controls the four switches of each module to transfer energy between the energy sources through the module inductor. The system can have more than two sources. Modes including one or two switch, synchronous or asynchronous, and buck or boost can be used. |
| US09223356B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a first body and a second body. The first body has a lock portion. The second body includes a main body, a lock component, an actuator and a retainer. The main body is configured to be detachably assembled to the first body. The lock component is movably disposed in the main body. The actuator is disposed in the main body. The retainer is connected to the actuator, in which when the main body is detachably assembled to the first body and the lock component is located at a first position, the lock component locks the lock portion to prevent the main body being separated from the first body, and the actuator is configured to drive the retainer pushing the lock component so as to prevent the lock component departing from the first position. |
| US09223349B2 |
Low-force dust seal
An electronic device may have polarizer layers, color filter layers, thin-film-transistor layers, and other display layers. A display layer may be separated from structures such as a display cover layer formed from clear glass or plastic and a touch sensor layer mounted on an inner surface of the display cover layer by an air gap. Cavities within an electronic device housing may serve as a source of dust and other contaminants. The air gap may be sealed against dust intrusion from a cavity within an electronic device using a dust sealing structure. The dust sealing structure may have a rectangular ring shape that runs around a rectangular peripheral portion of a display layer. The dust sealing structure may be formed from a tape-based structure, an elastomeric structure, a compressible foam structure, or a cured liquid structure. |
| US09223348B2 |
Split keyboard modification for a pull-out flexible display
A display device may have displayed a user input interface, such as a virtual keyboard, on a main display of the display device. Then as a secondary flexible display is pulled out from within the display device, various methods for handling the display of the user input interface between the main display and the secondary flexible display are described. The display of the user input interface between the main display and the flexible display will be controlled based upon a combination of user input touch gestures on the main display and the flexible display, as well as a measured length of the pulled out portion of the flexible display. |
| US09223347B2 |
Display panel device
A display panel device includes a panel, a stand, at least one stand hinge, and at least one foot mechanism. The stand hinge is disposed at a first side of the stand, and the stand hinge is pivotally connecting the panel to the stand. The foot mechanism is disposed at a second side of the stand opposite to the first side. The foot mechanism includes a foot and an elastically pivot assembly. The elastically pivot assembly is pivotally connecting the foot to the stand. When the panel display device is in an opened status, the panel and the stand form a first angle, and one side of the foot lies on a plane. When the panel display device is in a closed status, the stand covers the panel and the foot mechanism is placed within an opening of the panel. |
| US09223346B2 |
Mobile device case
A protective case for housing a mobile device is provided. The protective case includes an upper assembly and a bottom assembly attachable to (and separable from) the upper assembly to form a watertight inner cavity therebetween. The resulting profile (i.e., external shape) of the protective case mirrors that of the mobile device installed therein. More particularly, the protective case generally includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and spaced-apart inner and outer perimeters extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The top surface of the case is made up of or includes the top surfaces of various other components of the case, and those component top surfaces are flush with one another such that the top surface of the case is completely flat (i.e., does not include an obtrusive raised protective rim). |
| US09223341B2 |
Hinge assembly having linear movement and slide type electronic device
A hinge assembly includes a guiding rail, at least one protruding block, a slidable element, and a rotatable element. The guiding rail includes a first side and a second side surface opposite to each other. The guiding rail further includes a first edge and a second edge in parallel to a longitudinal direction of the guiding rail. The protruding block is disposed on the first side surface. The width of the protruding block is smaller than that of the first side surface, and a gap exists between the protruding block and the first edge. The slidable element includes a sliding surface and a guiding surface opposite to each other. The first edge of the guiding rail inserts into a chute formed on the sliding surface to move the slidable element along the first edge. The rotatable element is pivoted to the slidable element to rotate on the slidable element. |
| US09223340B2 |
Organizing display data on a multiuser display
For organizing display data on a multiuser display, a position module determines a user position from an audible signal. An organization module organizes display data on a multiuser display in response to the user position. |
| US09223338B2 |
Display device
The instant application describes a display device including a display panel; a first component forming the front portion of the cabinet; a second component forming the rear portion of the cabinet; a metal plate comprising a first flat portion parallel to the display surface of the display panel and a second flat portion perpendicular to the first flat portion; an engaging portion provided on the first flat portion, the engaging portion being engaged with the first component; a female screw portion to which a screw penetrating the second component is inserted, and a receiving portion provided on the first component to which the engaging portion is engaged. |
| US09223337B2 |
Single layer self-capacitance touch screen realizing multi-touch identification as well as its data processing method
A single layer self-capacitance touch screen and its data processing method which can realize multi-touch identification, the said touch screen includes at least two self-capacitance electrode assemblies independent of each other, all of which are located in the same plane layer and fully cover the whole touch zone of the touch screen without overlapping each other; the said self-capacitance electrode assembly includes at least a pair of self-capacitance coupling electrode couples, which include two electrode plates seated in the same plane, and these two electrode plates all include their own straight-line electrode plate coupling side and straight-line electrode plate base, which have included angle of acute angle; in the self-capacitance electrode assembly, the center lines of the self-capacitance coupling electrode couples are placed parallel to each other, and the center lines of arbitrarily two self-capacitance coupling electrode couples are also placed parallel to each other. This invention fully utilizes simple technological structure feature of single layer self-capacitance touch screen and realizes multi-point touch control function at possible lowest manufacturing cost. |
| US09223329B2 |
Low drop out voltage regulator with operational transconductance amplifier and related method of generating a regulated voltage
A low drop out voltage regulator includes an operational transconductance amplifier configured to be supplied with a supply voltage of the regulator, receive as inputs a reference voltage and a feedback voltage, and generate an intermediate current based upon a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage. A current-to-voltage amplification stage is configured to be supplied with a boosted voltage greater than the supply voltage from a high voltage line, receive as input the intermediate current, and generate a driving voltage that is changed based upon the intermediate current. A pass transistor is controlled with the driving voltage to keep constant on a second conduction terminal thereof a regulated output voltage. A feedback network generates the feedback voltage based on the regulated output voltage. |
| US09223328B2 |
Switching regulator, control circuit and control method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A control circuit for controlling a switching transistor and a synchronous rectifying transistor of a switching regulator includes: a bottom detection comparator configured to assert an on signal; an off signal generator configured to assert an off signal; a zero current detector configured to assert a zero current detection signal; and a control logic part configured to receive the on signal, the off signal and the zero current detection signal and generate a control signal such that the control circuit (i) transitions to a first state where, when the on signal is asserted, (ii) transitions to a second state where, when the off signal is asserted, and (iii) transitions to a third state where, when the zero current detection signal is asserted; In the third state, the control logic part reduces an operation current of at least a portion of the control circuit. |
| US09223327B1 |
Universal adaptive voltage scaling system
In some implementations, a system includes a universal adaptive voltage scaling monitor (UAVSM) and an adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) controller. The UAVSM is configured to delay a first signal generated by a signal path by an adjustable time period, compare the delayed first signal and a second signal associated with the signal path, and provide an error signal indicating a result of the comparison, where the error signal is asserted when the result of the comparison indicates that the delayed first signal is different from the second signal. The AVS controller is configured to provide a first control signal indicating that the voltage is to be increased when the received error signal is an asserted error signal, and provide a second control signal indicating that the voltage is to be decreased when the received error signal is an unasserted error signal and the signal path is active. |
| US09223326B2 |
Distributed thermal management system for servers
An approach is provided in which a master thermal controller utilizes a primary fan manager to control fans included in a computer system to cool various devices. When the master thermal controller determines that the primary fan manager is unresponsive, the master thermal controller transfers master thermal control to a backup thermal controller. The backup thermal controller creates fan control information based upon sensor information corresponding to the various devices, and sends the fan control information to a backup fan manager. In turn, the backup fan manager adjusts the speed of the fans according to the fan control information. |
| US09223322B2 |
Method for operating a water softening system comprising target value control by a water removal station
A method for operating a water softening plant (1) having: an automatically adjustable blending device (9a, 9a′, 9a″) for mixing a blended water flow V(t)blended comprising a first softened partial flow V(t)part1soft and a second partial flow V(t)part2untreated which carries untreated water, and having an electronic control device (11), the control device (11) controlling the adjustment position of the blending device (9a, 9a′, 9a″) by means of one or more experimentally determined current measurement variables in such a manner that the water hardness in the blended water flow V(t)blended is adjusted to a predetermined desired value (SW), the blending device (9a, 9a′, 9a″) supplying one or more water removal stations (50, 50′, 50″) with blended water, is characterized in that the desired value (SW) is predetermined by a setting of the one or more water removal stations (50, 50′, 50″), and in that the setting of the one or more water removal stations (50, 50′, 50″) is transmitted to the control device (11). With the present invention, it is possible to provide water having different levels of hardness at one or more connected water removal stations with a water softening plant in a convenient manner. |
| US09223317B2 |
Droplet actuators that include molecular barrier coatings
Droplet actuators that include molecular barrier coatings are provided. The molecular barrier coating may be provided atop the conductive layer of the top substrate, atop the droplet operations electrodes of the bottom substrate, or both. Where the conductive layer of the top substrate and/or the droplet operations electrodes of the bottom substrate are formed of an electrically conductive organic polymer, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), the molecular barrier coating helps to immobilize the contents of the PEDOT:PSS layer. Further, the molecular barrier coating reduces, preferably entirely eliminates, moisture from seeping into the electrically conducting organic polymer. Methods of conducting droplet operations using the disclosed droplet actuators are also provided. |
| US09223314B2 |
Hovering control for helicopters using a GNSS vector
A GNSS-based system and method for maintaining a vehicle in a predetermined relation relative to a fixed location defined by GNSS coordinates. The system and method is configured for enabling and facilitating air-to-ground operations. |
| US09223311B2 |
Vehicle driving support control apparatus
A vehicle driving support control apparatus receives lane line information given from a first environment recognizer and information on a target three-dimensional object given from a second environment recognizer. The apparatus estimates the visual range of a driver based on the lane line information, and estimates the driving lane based on at least either one of the lane line information and the target three-dimensional object information, and estimates the driving track of the vehicle. Based on the estimated driving lane and driving track, the apparatus estimates a deviation position where the subject vehicle will deviate from the driving lane on the basis of the driving lane and the driving track estimated. If the deviation position is beyond the visual range, the apparatus executes at least either one of notification to the driver and automatic braking in accordance with the possibility of deviation from the driving lane. |
| US09223310B2 |
Ship course obstruction warning transport
An unmanned aquatic surface vehicle for detecting and locating hazards is disclosed. The vehicle includes a propulsion system configured to impart a propulsive force to the vehicle and a steering system configured to impart a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle. A navigation system may be included to detect the location, direction, and motion of the vehicle. A hazard detection system is configured to detect and locate at least one of a subsurface, surface or above-water hazard. A communications device configured to transmit hazard data associated with a detected hazard to a remote receiver. A control station is able to control the vehicle, and receive and display information about hazards detected by the unmanned aquatic surface vehicle. |
| US09223309B2 |
Plant monitoring and control system and plant monitoring and control method
A monitoring apparatus has: an abnormality detecting unit which can detect an abnormality of a self apparatus; a second communication unit for receiving state information through a second communication network; a plant information forming unit for forming plant information as information regarding the whole plant equipment based on a plurality of state information; a first communication unit for transmitting the plant information to a maintenance tool through a first communication network; and an abnormal-case control unit constructed in such a manner that when the abnormality detecting unit detects the abnormality, a substituting request is transmitted to the other control unit, when a response to the substituting request is affirmative, an operation of the self apparatus is stopped, and when the response to the substituting request is negative or when the response to the substituting request is not received, the state information is transferred to the maintenance tool. |
| US09223308B2 |
Method for the computer-assisted monitoring of the functional performance of a technical system
A method for computer-assisted monitoring of the functional performance of a technical system: determining an actual functional performance for each technical component of the technical system; assigning each technical component to a component type, wherein components of identical or similar functional range are assigned to one component type; determining an additional functional performance for each component type, which describes the functional range of the hardware and/or software of a component, wherein the range, among all the available components of one component type, has the highest functional performance; determining a component-related, normalized functional performance from the actual functional performance of a given technical component and from the additional functional performance; determining a component-related, normalized functional performance from the component-related, normalized functional performances of all components of the same type; comparing the component-related, normalized functional performance to a threshold value; and generating an alarm if the threshold value is not reached. |
| US09223307B1 |
Method for scheduling single-arm cluster tools with wafer revisiting and residency time constraints
In semiconductor manufacturing, there are wafer fabrication processes in cluster tools that need a wafer to visit some processing steps for more than once, leading to a revisiting process. Also, wafers may be subject to wafer residency time constraints. By considering atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a typical wafer revisiting process, this invention studies the challenging scheduling problem of single-arm cluster tools for the ALD process with wafer residency time constraints. By recognizing that the key to this problem is to schedule the robot tasks, the present invention presents different robot task sequencing strategies. With these strategies for different cases, the present invention performs the schedulability analysis and derives the schedulability conditions for such tools for the first time. If schedulable, the present invention proposes scheduling algorithms to obtain an optimal schedule efficiently. Illustrative examples are given to show the application of the proposed concepts and approach. |
| US09223306B2 |
System and method utilizing an editing initialization block in a part program editing environment in a machine vision system
A method is provided for defining and utilizing an editing initialization block for a part program. The part program comprises a plurality of steps for taking measurements of a part and is displayed in an editing interface. An option is provided in the editing interface for selecting which steps are in an editing initialization block. After the part program has been saved, at a later time when the part program is recalled for editing, the editing initialization block may be run before additional steps are added to the part program. At least some of the data that would have been obtained by one or more of the initial part program steps that are not in the editing initialization block may be based on estimated data that is related to (e.g., modified based on) data determined from running the editing initialization block. |
| US09223305B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing system
A semiconductor manufacturing system includes circuitry configured to execute: displaying a screen for selecting an inspection set including inspection items having a manipulation item and/or a check item; retrieving the inspection items, arranging the inspection items in the order of workflow, and displaying each inspection item on a screen with an execution attribute indicating whether each inspection item is “automatic” or “manual” execution; receiving an inspection start command and reading the first inspection item from a storage unit. The circuitry also executes steps corresponding to the following cases (a) to (d) until there are no more inspection items: (a) the read-out inspection item being the manipulation item and “automatic”; (b) the read-out inspection item being the manipulation item and “manual”; (c) the read-out inspection item being the check item and “automatic”; and (d) the read-out inspection item being the check item and “manual”. |
| US09223301B2 |
Active cloud point controller for refining applications and related method
A method includes receiving a measurement associated with a cloud point of a biofuel being produced in a refining system. The method also includes determining how to adjust the refining system based on a desired cloud point of the biofuel and the measurement associated with the cloud point. The method further includes outputting a control signal to adjust the refining system based on the determination. Determining how to adjust the refining system could include determining how to adjust an inlet temperature of a reactor in the refining system. The reactor could represent an isomerization reactor, and a heater could heat material entering the isomerization reactor. Determining how to adjust the inlet temperature of the reactor could include determining how to adjust operation of the heater. A model predictive control (MPC) technique could be used to determine how to adjust the inlet temperature of the isomerization reactor. |
| US09223299B2 |
Equipment sound monitoring system and method
A system and method for comparative analysis of sound data obtained from client equipment includes a portable sound detection device with a transducer to collect sounds from equipment, convert the collected sounds into analog signals, and generate digital data files including sound data representative of the collected sounds. The data files are stored in a web-based database and remote server-based program modules aggregate data associated with the data files with previously stored and related data across a plurality of predetermined data parameters. The program executes or enables identification of outlying data points with respect to data points from the sound data, and the comparison of sound data with baseline data determined the equipment type, the location and the aggregated data. The program then executes or enables identification of data points from the sound data representative of an equipment failure, or an imminent failure thereof. |
| US09223290B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, and an output unit. The fixing unit includes a heating member and a backup member. The backup member forms a nip with the heating member. The output unit, provided on a downstream side of the nip, outputs the recording medium to an outside of the apparatus. The recording medium is conveyed at the nip with a side of the recording medium facing the heating member set as an upper side of the recording medium. |
| US09223288B2 |
Waste toner collecting container and process unit
Disclosed is a waste toner collecting container used in an image forming device for collecting waste toner and a process unit having the waste toner collecting container. An assembly of a development unit and the photoreceptor unit is fixedly connected to the waste toner collecting container. The development unit is configured to supply toner to a photoreceptor in the photoreceptor unit. The photoreceptor unit is configured to form a toner image on an outer surface of the photoreceptor, and to have a cleaning component used for removing the waste toner remaining on the outer surface of the photoreceptor after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium. A waste toner discharging outlet is disposed on a top wall of the waste toner collecting container, far away from the photoreceptor, and is disposed at an end of the top wall along an axial direction of the photoreceptor. |
| US09223286B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of developing units disposed in parallel with each other, a developer cartridge being detachably attached to each of the plurality of developing units, each of the plurality of developing units forming a developer image with a developer agent in the developer cartridge; a first cover covering at least one specified developer cartridge of a plurality of developer cartridges attached to the plurality of developing units, the first cover being openable to allow the at least one specified developer cartridge to be attached and detached; and a second cover covering at least one developer cartridge other than the at least one specified developer cartridge of the plurality of developer cartridges, the second cover being openable to allow the at least one developer cartridge other than the at least one specified developer cartridge to be attached and detached. |
| US09223282B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a rear side plate disposed at the rear side of the main body; and a driving unit mounted on the rear side plate, driving a first driven member and a second driven member of the image forming apparatus, the driving unit including a first frame attached to the rear plate, facing the rear side plate; a second frame attached to the first frame, facing the first plate; a first driving source mounted on the first frame, driving the first driven member; a second driving source mounted on the second frame, driving the second driven member; a first gear train, disposed between the first and second frames, transmitting driving force of the first driving source to the first driven member; and a second gear train, disposed between the first and second frames, transmitting driving force of the second driving source to the second driven member. |
| US09223281B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming system, and computer-readable recording medium having gloss control
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores therein a type of surface effect and predetermined glossiness in association with each other, a determining unit that determines, as first glossiness, the glossiness associated with the surface effect specified by the gloss control plane data, a measurement control unit that performs control to measure second glossiness indicating actual glossiness of a printed matter that is a recording medium on which printing has been performed by a printing apparatus, a generation unit that produces, from the gloss control plane data, gloss plane data for additional printing in which a density value is set in accordance with an amount of a transparent color material necessary for achieving the first glossiness on the basis of a difference in value between the first glossiness and the second glossiness, and an output unit that outputs the gloss plane data for additional printing. |
| US09223280B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A light source is provided in the casing and emits a light beam for forming an image. A first sensor receives the light beam emitted by the light source and outputs a light reception signal. A cover opens and closes relative to the casing. A shutter prevents the first sensor from receiving the light beam when the cover is at an open position, and allows the first sensor to receive the light beam when the cover is at a closed position. A controller is configured to: execute a lighting process of lighting the light source; execute a first determining process of determining whether the light reception signal is outputted from the first sensor, in response to the lighting process; and determine that the cover is at the open position upon determination in the first determining process that no light reception signal is outputted. |
| US09223277B2 |
Image forming apparatus for controlling at least one imaging device if an end of a life of a photoconductor is detected
An image forming apparatus includes at least one imaging device including at least a photoconductor, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a transfer device; a detector that detects that the photoconductor of the at least one imaging device has reached the end of a life of the photoconductor; and a controller that controls the at least one imaging device under an imaging condition including a charge condition, an exposure condition, a development condition, and a transfer condition. After the controller acquires detection information of the detector, the controller controls the at least one imaging device by changing the imaging condition to a condition that decreases an image quality. |
| US09223275B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium storing program
An image forming apparatus has a first electric power state and a second electric power state in which power consumption is smaller than that in the first electric power state. It is determined whether or not to display a screen for setting information of a sheet held in a sheet holding unit on a display unit, in accordance with whether a factor in a transition is a first factor that is detection of the sheet being held in the sheet holding unit or a second factor that is different from the first factor, after the image forming apparatus is caused to transition from the second electric power state to the first electric power state. |
| US09223270B2 |
Image forming apparatus controlling toner image in forced laser beam emission state and method thereof
The forced light emission detection unit detects a forced laser beam emission state of an exposing unit when the exposing unit starts forming a latent image on a photosensitive drum. The toner transfer control unit performs the developing of the electrostatic latent image formed at a position before the electrostatic latent image on which the forced laser beam emission state is detected, and transfers the developed toner image to a sheet. The sheet re-conveyance unit makes the sheet being in a re-conveyance state using a duplex printing conveyance path. The toner re-transfer control unit reforms the electrostatic latent image formed after the position on which the force laser beam emission state is detected, performs the developing of the electrostatic latent image, and transfers the developed toner image to the sheet in the re-conveyance state. |
| US09223267B2 |
Image forming system, control method, and program
An image forming system includes receiving units that receive sheet settings and a setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a first setting unit setting, according to received sheet settings, a conveyance speed of a sheet when performing an image forming process, a second setting unit setting, according to a received setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a transfer voltage of a recording material when performing an image forming process, and an image forming unit that performs an image forming process according to the received sheet setting, a set conveyance speed, and a set transfer voltage, wherein the second setting unit sets, when a mode for reducing toner scattering is received, a first transfer voltage when a first conveyance speed is set and a second transfer voltage, lower than the first transfer voltage, when a second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed. |
| US09223266B2 |
Image heating apparatus including an endless belt configured and positioned to heat a toner image on a sheet
An image heating apparatus includes: an endless belt for heating a toner image on a sheet in a nip; a driving rotatable member for cooperating with the belt to form the nip and for rotating the belt; a pressing pad for pressing the belt from an inside of the belt toward the driving rotatable member; a heating device for heating the belt; and a controller configured to execute, in a stand-by mode following a warming-up mode, an intermittent heating operation of the heating device for the belt while rotating the belt by the driving rotatable member. The controller is capable of executing, after executing the intermittent heating operation in a first rest period in the stand-by mode, the intermittent heating operation in a second rest period, which is longer than the first rest period. |
| US09223263B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a fixing device having regulating member to regulate an edge or end of a sheet when entering a back side of a guide member
An image forming apparatus is designed to easily recover a jammed sheet nipped by a fixing roller and a pressure roller. In an entrance guide which guides a sheet to a fixing nip portion between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, a bending portion is provided on a back side of a guide face which guides the sheet to the fixing nip portion. Then, when the sheet to be discharged toward the entrance guide by a manual discharge member enters the back side of the entrance guide, a downstream end of the sheet, in a discharging direction of the sheet, is locked to the bending portion, and thus the central portion of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction is bent along the surface of the guide face by discharging the sheet in a state where the downstream end in the discharging direction is locked. |
| US09223262B2 |
Electrostatic-type printing apparatus
An image processing apparatus comprises a heat roller configured to have a roller surface for contacting a medium on which the unfixed toner image is transferred; a press roller configured opposite to the heat roller; a guide configured along a conveyance space from an inlet arranged at the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the medium, which is conveyed and nipped by the heat roller and the press roller, to an outlet of the medium; a lever configured to be provided with a swing shaft with respect to the guide, a peeling claw arranged at the inlet side for scraping the toner off the roller surface, and a lever end positioned at the outlet side; and a swing section configured to swing and energize the lever to make the lever end protrude into the conveyance space, wherein the lever that is swung and energized by the swing section repeats the following operations: separating the peeling claw in a contacted state with the roller surface from the roller surface, and restoring the peeling claw to the contacted state. |
| US09223260B2 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing device
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing side member disposed at a position on a fixing surface side of a sheet on which a toner image is formed; a back side supporting member that forms a fixing nip for conveying the sheet in a tightly sandwiching manner when the back side supporting member is in pressure contact with the fixing side member; and a voltage applying section that applies to both sides of the sheet passed through the fixing nip voltages opposite in polarity to surface potentials of the both sides. |
| US09223255B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller. |
| US09223254B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is configured to form a toner image by a toner image forming portion on an intermediate transfer belt, to transfer the toner image to a transfer and fixing belt, and to form a toner film by heating and pressurizing the toner image on the transfer and fixing belt. The transfer and fixing belt includes an elastic layer and when the toner film is pressurized to a recording medium in a body at a toner film transfer portion, the toner film is pressed to the recording medium while following surficial ruggedness of the recording medium. Because the toner image is formed by using toner particles containing a thermoplastic elastomer having crystallinity, the toner film formed of this toner image is fully resilient. |
| US09223251B2 |
Toner cartridge and method for reducing image artifact
A method of reducing an image artifact in a remanufactured toner cartridge. The method includes operating the remanufactured toner cartridge to transfer toner to a position between a developer roller and a metering blade of the remanufactured toner cartridge, the toner having a first formulation; and positioning a material having a second formulation different from the first formulation between the developer roller and the metering blade. |
| US09223249B2 |
Image forming unit and image forming apparatus
An image forming unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier carrying a developer for developing images by attaching the developer to electrostatic latent images on the image carrier, a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier, a first developer container having an opening, for containing the developer, a second developer container reserving the developer supplied via the opening from the first developer container, and a stirring member disposed rotatably in a prescribed rotation direction around a rotation axis in the first developer container for stirring the developer. The stirring member comprises a first elastic member extending in a first direction, and a second elastic member extending in a second direction as different direction from the first direction, and the second elastic member is disposed on a downstream side of the first elastic member in the rotation direction of the stirring member. |
| US09223248B2 |
Image forming apparatus for image failure prevention
An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a light source, an image carrier, a developer carrier, a supply member, and a controller. The light source emits light in accordance with printing data. The image carrier carries on a surface thereof a latent image based on the emitted light out of the light source. The developer carrier develops the latent image carried on the image carrier. The supply member supplies a developer to the developer carrier. The controller controls a voltage between the developer carrier and the supply member in accordance with a light emitting amount of the light source at a prescribed use amount. |
| US09223243B2 |
Charging device and image forming apparatus including the same
A charging device has a charging member to charge an object, an applying unit to apply a voltage to the charging member for generating an electric discharge from the charging member, so that the object is discharged by the charging member, a detecting unit to detect an emission of light of the electric discharge, an output unit to output a detection result by the detecting unit, a cleaning unit to clean the charging member, and a controller to control the cleaning unit to clean the charging member when the detection result is out of a predetermined range. |
| US09223241B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus that includes a controlling unit for controlling executions of a single color calibration which is for correcting a reproduction characteristic of a single color image, formed by an image forming unit, according to measurement of a single color image formed by the image forming unit with a single color recording material and a multi-color calibration which is for correcting a reproduction characteristic of a multi-color image, formed by the image forming unit, according to measurement of a multi-color image formed by the image forming unit with a plurality of recording materials. It is decided to execute at least one of the single color calibration and the multi-color calibration in accordance with history information of the single color calibration executed by the controlling and then the calibration which has been decided on is executed by the controlling unit. |
| US09223239B2 |
Toner resins and processes for making the same
Amorphous polyester resins and processes for making the same are disclosed herein. In particular, the process for making the resin provides resins with improved properties. The amorphous polyester resins have substantially reduced free fumaric acid as compared to that made from conventional processes. The toner resins are used to prepare toner compositions the have improved performance. |
| US09223236B2 |
Preparing colorant dispersions using acoustic mixing
The present disclosure provides processes for making inorganic or organic colorant dispersions using an acoustic mixer, where such dispersion may be used to make toner. Such processes apply low frequency, high intensity acoustic energy and a consistent shear field throughout an entire mixing vessel and provide uniform dispersion of colorants within minutes. |
| US09223231B2 |
Position measurement method, position control method, measurement method, loading method, exposure method and exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An exposure method and apparatus exposes a substrate that is loaded on a stage via a carrier system, with an exposure beam via a projection optical system and a liquid. An object carried by the carrier system is mounted in a depressed section of the stage. Information on a positional relation between the object mounted in the depressed section and the depressed section is obtained. The substrate is loaded on the stage based on the obtained information so that the substrate carried to above the stage by the carrier system is mounted in the depressed section. A part of the substrate mounted in the depressed section is irradiated with the exposure beam via the projection optical system and a liquid immersion area formed by the liquid under the projection optical system. |
| US09223229B2 |
Exposure device and exposure method
An exposure method and an exposure device are provided. An exemplary exposure device includes a stage, a first clamp holder, a second clamp holder, an optical projection unit, a first alignment detection unit, and/or a second alignment detection unit. The stage includes a first region and a second region. The first clamp holder is located in the first region and adapted for holding a first substrate, and the second clamp holder is located in the second region and adapted for holding a second substrate. The optical projection unit is located above the stage and adapted for exposure of the first substrate or the second substrate. The first alignment detection unit is adapted for detecting alignment marks of the first substrate. The second alignment detection unit is adapted for detecting alignment marks of the second substrate. The exposure device can accurately position the stage and improve production yield. |
| US09223228B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming pattern
There is provided a pattern forming apparatus which transfers a paste to a predetermined position of a pattern forming object fixed to a table through a pattern forming mask having opening portions at predetermined positions using a discharge mechanism part. To realize a pattern forming which allows the stable forming of a fine pattern with high accuracy and allows the paste to be surely filled into fine through holes, a corner portion of a distal end of the discharge mechanism part in contact with the pattern forming mask is formed into a concave shape, and a surface of the distal end portion of the discharge mechanism part including the concave shaped portion is covered with a film having liquid repellency so that the rolling of the paste is accelerated in a region formed by the concave shaped portion to form a fine pattern with high accuracy. |
| US09223226B2 |
Microlithographic projection exposure apparatus illumination optics
Optics, such as, for example, microlithographic projection exposure apparatus illumination optics, as well as related systems, methods, components and devices are disclosed. |
| US09223224B2 |
Exposure apparatus with component from which liquid is protected and/or removed and device fabricating method
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by filling a liquid between a projection optical system and the substrate, and projecting the image of a pattern onto the substrate through the projection optical system and the liquid, and includes a liquid removing mechanism that intermittently blows a gas against a reference member, movable mirror, and the like, to which the liquid is adhered in order to remove that liquid. |
| US09223223B2 |
Apparatus for forming fine patterns capable of switching direction of polarization interference pattern in laser scanning method and method of forming fine patterns using the same
An apparatus for forming fine patterns by employing polarization interference in a laser scanning method comprises a laser generator; a calcite wave plate configured to refract at least one of the S wave and the P wave, polarized by the polarization plate, an analyzer configured to make coincident with each other the polarization directions of the S wave and the P wave having the paths spaced apart from each other by the calcite wave plate; an exposure lens; an exposure head; an X stage; and a rotation stage configured to move the substrate mounting unit around a Z axis which is a vertical axis. |
| US09223220B2 |
Photo resist baking in lithography process
A method includes coating a photo resist on a wafer in a first production tool, and performing a pre-exposure baking on the photo resist in a second production tool separate from the first production tool. After the pre-exposure baking, the photo resist is exposed using a lithography mask. After the step of exposing the photo resist, a post-exposure baking is performed on the photo resist. The photo resist is then developed. |
| US09223219B2 |
Pattern forming method, actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition and resist film
Provided is a pattern forming method comprising (i) a step of forming a film from an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, (ii) a step of exposing the film, and (iii) a step of developing the exposed film by using an organic solvent-containing developer, wherein the actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprises (A) a resin capable of decreasing the solubility for an organic solvent-containing developer by the action of an acid, (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (D) a solvent, and (G) a compound having at least either one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom and having basicity or being capable of increasing the basicity by the action of an acid. |
| US09223214B2 |
Self-assembled structures, method of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same
Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a graft block copolymer comprising a copolymer comprising a backbone polymer; and a first graft polymer that comprises a surface energy reducing moiety; the first graft polymer being grafted onto the backbone polymer; where the surface energy reducing moiety comprises a fluorine atom, a silicon atom, or a combination of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom; a photoacid generator; and a crosslinking agent. |
| US09223210B2 |
Photosensitive compound, photosensitive resin, and photosensitive composition
A photosensitive compound represented by formula (1) or formula (2). (Chemical formula 1) (In formula (1) and formula (2), n is an integer of 1-3; R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms or an alkylene group having 2-6 carbon atoms formed from two R1 together; R2 is —NR3R4; R3 and R4 are each independently a linear or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, a linear or branched alkylene group having 2-6 carbon atoms formed by R3 and R4 together, or a linear or branched alkylene group or alkenylene group having 3-8 carbon atoms optionally containing an oxygen atom or nitrogen atom.) |
| US09223209B2 |
Sulfonamide-containing photoresist compositions and methods of use
Provided are sulfonamide-containing photoresist compositions for use in lithographic processes that have improved properties for high resolution, low blur imaging. Also provided are alcohol-soluble photoresists for resist-on-resist applications. The sulfonamide-containing photoresist compositions of the present invention include positive-tone photoresist compositions that have sulfonamide-substituted repeat units with branched linking group as shown in Formula (I): |
| US09223205B2 |
Acid generator, chemically amplified resist composition, and patterning process
There is disclosed an acid generator generating a sulfonic acid represented by the following general formula (1) in response to high-energy beam or heat: As a result, there is provided a novel acid generator which is suitably used as an acid generator for a resist composition, which solves the problems of exposure margin and MEF particularly without degradation of resolution and can be effectively and widely used, a chemically amplified resist composition using the same, and a patterning process. |
| US09223201B2 |
Method of manufacturing a photomask with flexography
A method of manufacturing a flexographic printing plate includes designing a photomask patterned design. The photomask patterned designed is laser-ablated into a thermal imaging layer. The laser-ablated thermal imaging layer is laminated to a top side of a flexographic printing plate substrate. A bottom side of the flexographic printing plate substrate is exposed to UV-A radiation. The top side of the flexographic printing plate substrate is exposed to UV-A radiation. The thermal imaging layer is removed. The flexographic printing plate substrate is developed. A flexographic printing system for printing a photomask includes an ink roll, an anilox roll, a printing plate cylinder, a flexographic printing plate disposed on the printing plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder. The flexographic printing plate comprises embossing patterns corresponding to a photomask patterned design. The flexographic printing plate may be used in a flexographic printing system to manufacture a photomask with flexography. |
| US09223199B2 |
Photomask and method of forming the same
A photomask and a method of forming the same, the photomask including a transparent substrate; a light shielding pattern on the transparent substrate, the light shielding pattern including molybdenum and silicon; and an etch stop layer covering at least a sidewall of the light shielding pattern, wherein the etch stop layer has an etch rate lower than an etch rate of the light shielding pattern with respect to an ammonia-based cleaning solution. |
| US09223198B2 |
Mask plate and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a mask plate and a manufacturing method thereof. The mask plate includes a mask plate body and a transmissive member, wherein the mask plate body has a transmissive part and a non-transmissive part adjacent to the transmissive part, the transmissive member is disposed corresponding to the transmissive part of the mask plate body, the absorbance of the transmissive member progressively increases in a direction away from a center region of the transmissive member to a edges region of the transmissive member close to the non-transmissive part. |
| US09223197B2 |
Lithography and mask for resolution enhancement
A lithography process in a lithography system includes loading a mask having multiple mask states and having a mask pattern consisting of a plurality of polygons and a field. Different mask states are assigned to adjacent polygons and the field. The lithography process further includes configuring an illuminator to generate an illumination pattern on an illumination pupil plane of the lithography system; configuring a pupil filter on a projection pupil plane of the lithography system with a filtering pattern determined according to the illumination pattern; and performing an exposure process to a target with the illuminator, the mask, and the pupil filter. The exposure process produces diffracted light and non-diffracted light behind the mask and the pupil filter removes most of the non-diffracted light. |
| US09223194B2 |
Illumination light beam forming device, illumination light source device and image display device
An illumination light beam forming device, including a first light source unit projecting a ring shaped light beam group, a second light source unit projecting light beams including a case the light beams being group, a combining unit for combining the light beam group projected from the first light source unit and light beams projected from the second light source unit, in which the combing unit includes a reflecting part formed to reflect one of the light beam groups, a transmitting part disposed able to transmit the other one of the light beam groups, and light beams projected from the second light source unit are disposed at an internal side of the light beam groups projected from the first light source unit when the two light beam groups are viewed from a plane including the reflecting part. |
| US09223193B2 |
Projection type display apparatus and method of cooling light source
There is provided a projection-type display apparatus which solves the problem that when an amount of electric power applied to light sources is adjusted, the amount of electric power involved in the cooling of LEDs becomes greater than necessary. Coolers (107R, 107G, 107B) cool light sources (103R, 103G, 103B). Light sensor (111) detects the brightness of a surrounding area. Light case temperature detectors (112R, 112G, 112B) detect case temperatures which are the temperatures of cases of light sources (103R, 103G, 103B). Light source forward voltage detectors (113R, 113G, 113B) detect forward voltages of light sources (103R, 103G, 103B). Light source forward current detectors (114R, 114G, 114B) detect forward currents of light sources (103R, 103G, 103B). Adjuster (117) adjusts the amount of cooling power of coolers (107R, 107G, 107B) based on the forward voltage, the forward current, and the case temperatures. |
| US09223186B2 |
Frequency converted laser sources and methods for operating frequency converted laser sources
A method for operating a frequency converted laser source comprising at least one semiconductor laser and a wavelength conversion device optically coupled to at least one semiconductor laser may include operating the frequency converted laser source to produce a frequency converted output beam from the wavelength conversion device and intermittently heating the wavelength conversion device above a recovery threshold temperature TR of the wavelength conversion device. When the wavelength conversion device is heated above the recovery threshold temperature, the wavelength conversion device is held above the recovery threshold temperature TR for a period of time sufficient to restore output power lost to photo-degradation in the wavelength conversion device during operation of the frequency converted laser source. |
| US09223181B2 |
Assembling a flexible display
A technique comprising: assembling together a front plane (1) comprising a first flexible substrate (4) supporting a display medium (6a) and a backplane (2) comprising a second flexible substrate (8) supporting an array of electronic elements (9) for controlling said display medium; and creating an electrically conductive connection between first and second conductive elements (5 10) on opposing faces of the frontplane and backplane by sandwiching an electrically conductive structure (3) between the frontplane and backplane in the region of the first and second conductive elements, wherein the conductive structure is at least more flexible than the least flexible one of the front plane and backplane. |
| US09223175B2 |
Apparatus for aligning a to-be-aligned display panel by self-alignment exposure and method for fabricating retardation plate
An apparatus is disclosed for aligning a to-be-aligned display panel by self-alignment exposure, a first and second groups of pixels are distributed at intervals on the to-be-aligned display panel which includes a first and second substrates, a first polarizer is provided on the first substrate, and a light alignment layer is provided on the first polarizer, wherein the apparatus includes a base platform for placing the to-be-aligned display panel; a display panel driving system connected to the to-be-aligned display panel; light irradiating toward the first substrate from the second substrate is linearly polarized light; a first exposure light source located to be closer to the second substrate; a second exposure light source located to be closer to the first substrate, light emitted from the second exposure light source is linearly polarized light, the polarization direction of which is orthogonal to the transmission axis direction of the first polarizer. |
| US09223174B2 |
Liquid crystal display device including light sources emitting different colors
A display device includes a display panel having a first transparent subpixel, a second transparent subpixel and a third transparent subpixel. A light source part provides light to the display panel. The light source part including a first light source configured to generate red light, a second light source configured to generate green light and a third light source configured to generate blue light. The third light source includes a blue light emitting diode and a wavelength shift layer. The wavelength of the blue light emitted from the third light source has a first peak within a range of about 445 nm to about 450 nm and a second peak within a range of about 450 nm to about 540 nm. |
| US09223173B2 |
Lighting unit and display device having the same
A lighting unit may include a bottom cover having a plurality of sidewalls, a board, a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a light-transmitting resin layer over the plurality of light emitting devices and the board. One of the sidewalls includes a first fixing groove having an inside region greater than an opened inlet region. The light-transmitting resin layer may be provided within the first fixing groove in order to support the light-transmitting resin layer. |
| US09223172B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display comprises: first and second panels facing each other; a compensation film and a first polarizer disposed on the first panel, the compensation film having phase retardation characteristics; and a second polarizer having a supporting film disposed on the second panel, the supporting film having phase retardation characteristics. In alternative embodiments, a supporting film is used in place of the compensation film. The supporting film has retardation characteristics. |
| US09223171B2 |
Polarizer, method of manufacturing the polarizer, display panel having the polarizer and display apparatus having the display panel
A display panel includes an array substrate, an opposite substrate facing the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates. The array substrate includes a first polarizer, a first insulating layer covering the first metal layer, a gate electrode on the first insulating layer, a gate insulation layer on the gate electrode, a channel layer on the gate insulation layer, source and drain electrodes on the channel layer, a protecting layer covering the source and drain electrodes and including a contact hole exposing the drain electrode, and a first electrode on the protecting layer and electrically connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole. The first polarizer includes a first substrate, a first antistatic layer on the first substrate and including a conductive material, and a first metal layer on the first antistatic layer and including a plurality of protrusions which form a wire grid pattern. |
| US09223170B2 |
Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display device
Disclosed a color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device performing an ordinary display for a gray scale display and a dynamic display for a bright display, which includes a transparent substrate, a transparent conductive film formed above the transparent substrate, a black matrix formed above the transparent substrate and having pixel regions which are openings partitioned into polygonal pixel shapes respectively having two parallel sides, a first transparent resin layer formed so as to cover portions corresponding to the two parallel sides of the black matrix, a color layer formed above the pixel regions, and a second first transparent resin layer formed above the color layer and having a linear depression passing a center of the pixel region. |
| US09223167B2 |
Liquid crystal switching barrier thermal control
A polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer applied to the display screen for an electronic device is described herein. The polymer dispersed liquid crystal applied to the display screen is operable to switch between a transparent state and a translucent and/or opaque state. In the transparent state the display screen is viewable as usual. In the translucent and/or opaque state the liquid crystal prevents incident solar radiation from heating up the internal components of the device. |
| US09223165B2 |
Display panel device with touch input function, optical unit for said display panel device, and production method for same
Provided is an optical unit for a display panel device with a capacitive touch input function. In the optical unit, a touch panel laminate comprises: an optically transparent first substrate layer laminated to one surface of a transparent adhesive layer; a first transparent electrically conductive layer laminated, through a first undercoat layer, to a surface of the first substrate layer on a side opposite to the adhesive layer; an optically transparent second substrate layer laminated to the other surface of the adhesive layer; and a second transparent electrically conductive layer laminated, through a second undercoat layer, to a surface of the second substrate layer on a side opposite side to the adhesive layer. |
| US09223164B2 |
Display
A display includes a display medium layer and a dielectric layer disposed at a side of the display medium layer. The composition of the dielectric layer includes at least a humectant for decreasing the electric resistivity of the dielectric layer and stabilizing the electric performance of the display. |
| US09223161B2 |
Display device
The present invention provides a display device in which a seal is easily inspected. The present invention provides a display device including: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a seal, wherein the first substrate includes a shift register monolithically formed on an insulating substrate, and a plurality of bus lines, the shift register includes a plurality of cascade-connected unit circuits, the plurality of unit circuits each include a clock terminal, an output, an output transistor having one of a source and a drain connected to the clock terminal and the other of the source and the drain connected to the output terminal, and a bootstrap capacitor having a first terminal connected to a gate of the output transistor and a second terminal connected to the output terminal, the output capacitor includes a first electrode, an insulating layer on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the insulating layer, the first electrode is provided with at least one of a first cutout and a first opening, and the second electrode is provided with at least one of a second cutout and a second opening facing the at least one of the first cutout and the first opening. |
| US09223159B2 |
Spatial light modulation device and spatial light modulation method
A spatial light modulation device includes a phase-modulation type spatial light modulator, a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the spatial light modulator, and a control unit providing a drive signal to the spatial light modulator. The control unit has a storage unit. The storage unit stores N correction patterns created so as to correspond to N (N is an integer not less than 2) temperature values of the spatial light modulator in order to correct phase distortion of the spatial light modulator. The control unit selects one correction pattern according to a temperature value of the spatial light modulator, and generates the drive signal based on a phase pattern created by adding the one correction pattern to a desired phase pattern. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress phase distortion according to a temperature change while suppressing a delay in operation. |
| US09223158B2 |
Optical waveguide element and method of manufacturing the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of an optical waveguide element whose DC drift is suppressed, and to provide a manufacturing method of an optical waveguide element, capable of adjusting DC drift in the middle of manufacturing processes so as to improve a fabrication yield. The method of manufacturing an optical waveguide element comprises a step of forming an optical waveguide in a substrate having an electro-optic effect, a step of forming a buffer layer, and a step of forming an electrode, in which one stage or a plurality of stages of an interface diffusion layer heat adjustment step (S1, S2) for adjusting a concentration distribution of a specific substance in the buffer layer by heating is included after the buffer layer is formed. |
| US09223157B2 |
Reflective optical limiter
An optical limiter comprises a glass backing, a glass cover, and a layer of a phase changing material placed between said glass backing and said glass cover, the phase changing material comprising a transparent matrix having embedded particles of material that changes its optical properties due to temperature induced phase change of said material. The optical properties may change from transparent to reflective, from transparent to refractive or from transparent to scattering. The phase changing material is preferably at least one material selected from the group consisting of the elements Antimony, Bismuth, Cadmium, Lead, Tin and Indium and low-melting-point alloys of two or more of these elements. Two or more layers of phase changing materials may be used in a stack configuration, with each of the phase changing materials having a unique melting temperature. |
| US09223156B2 |
Free-space laser tuning of optical microcavities
Methods and apparatuses for resonance tuning of microcavities are provided. An apparatus comprises a whispering gallery mode optical microcavity characterized by at least one resonance frequency; optical components configured to evanescently couple a probe laser beam into the microcavity; an absorber element in thermal contact with the microcavity; and optical components configured to illuminate the absorber element with a free space pump light beam, wherein the absorber element is configured to absorb energy from the free space pump light beam, thereby generating heat, and to transfer the heat to the microcavity, thereby inducing a shift in the at least one resonance frequency. The absorber element may be configured as a pillar forming an interfacial region with the microcavity at one of the ends of the pillar. The surface of the microcavity may be substantially free of a coating material. |
| US09223153B2 |
Integrated driver and related method
A driver circuit may include a first node, and a first circuit to generate on the first node an inverted replica of an input signal during driver switching between a first supply voltage and a first reference voltage, the inverted replica having a threshold voltage value based upon a second reference voltage greater than the first supply voltage. The driver circuit may include a cascode stage to be controlled by the second reference voltage and to be coupled between a second supply voltage and the first node, a delay circuit to generate a delayed replica of the input signal, an amplifier, and a switching network to couple the control terminal of the active load transistor to one of the first reference voltage and the first node based upon the input signal. |
| US09223149B2 |
Sidepiece for eyeglasses, eyeglasses including at least one such sidepiece, and method for assembling such a sidepiece
The invention relates to a sidepiece (3) comprising a reinforcement (5) that is to be hinged onto a frame (2). The sidepiece (3) includes: a first strip (11) for covering a first portion of the reinforcement (5); a second strip (12) for covering a second portion of the reinforcement (5); a first connection means (21) for guiding the first strip (11) in translation and holding same on the reinforcement (5); and a second connection means (22) for guiding at least the second strip (12) in translation and holding same on the reinforcement (5). |
| US09223146B2 |
Optical apparatus and image-pickup apparatus including the same
An optical apparatus includes an image stabilizer configured to drive a first optical member in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis and to stabilize an image, a light amount adjuster that includes a plurality of blades, and is configured to change a diameter of an aperture configured to transmit a light flux, by rotating the blades, a driver configured to drive the light amount adjuster in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a controller configured to control a driving amount of the driver in accordance with a driving amount of the image stabilizer. The controller drives the image stabilizer and the light amount adjuster in equal directions. |
| US09223145B2 |
Device for assembling camera module having anisotropic conductive film
A device for assembling a camera module includes a support base, a pressing head, a buffer tape, a winding device, a driver, and a controller. The support base is for supporting the camera module. The camera module includes a ceramic substrate positioned on the support base and an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) pasted on the ceramic substrate. The pressing head is positioned above the ACF and is configured to pressing the ACF. The buffer tape is positioned between the pressing head and the ACF. The winding device includes a winding-out roller and a winding-in roller. The buffer tape is wound on the winding-out roller. The controller is configured to control the driver to drive the winding device to wind the buffer tape out from the winding-out roller and into the winding-in roller in a predetermined manner. |
| US09223144B2 |
Display and electronic device
A display including a display panel and a switchable retarder is provided. The switchable retarder disposed on a light path of a polarized image having a first polarization provided by the display panel and includes a first substrate, first electrode stripes, second electrode stripes, and a retardation medium. The first electrode stripes and the second electrode stripes are disposed between the display panel and the first substrate, and are electrically independent from each other. A retardation region is defined by each first electrode stripe and one second electrode stripe. The retardation medium is located at a side of the first electrode stripes and at a side of the second electrode stripes, and is controlled by an electric field in the corresponding retardation region such that each retardation region provides a retardation. Accordingly, the polarized image having the first polarization is transformed into the polarized image having a second polarization. |
| US09223142B2 |
Stereoscopic projection system with multiple power groups
Disclosed embodiments relate to a stereoscopic projection system and methods. An exemplary disclosed projection system includes an optical component disposed between the lenses of a lens arrangement. An exemplary lens arrangement includes a first power group, a second power group, and an aperture stop. In an embodiment, the optical component is disposed between the first power group and the aperture stop. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical component is proximate to the aperture stop. By disposing the optical component closer to or proximate to the aperture stop in the lens arrangement, various benefits may be realized, including improved contrast uniformity. |
| US09223141B2 |
Display panel and display apparatus having the same
A display panel includes a transmit-control portion and a light blocking portion. The pixel-transmit portion may include a pair of first sides and a pair of second sides and transmitting light, the pair of the first sides being inclined with respect to a horizontal-axis direction and substantially parallel with each other, the pair of the second sides being inclined with respect to a vertical-axis direction and substantially parallel with each other. The blocking portion may surround the pixel-transmit portion and block the light. |
| US09223140B2 |
Coupling lens, illuminating device, and electronic device
A coupling lens for coupling first light having a first wavelength from a first light source with a second light having a second wavelength from a second light source disposed adjacent to the first light source in substantially the same direction includes a first surface disposed to face the first and second light sources, the first surface including a first region transmitting the first light and having a first region curvature and a second region transmitting the second light and having a second region curvature, and a second surface opposite to the first surface and having a second-surface curvature. A position of a center of the first region curvature differs from a position of a center of the second region curvature. A center of the second surface curvature and the center of the first region curvature are disposed on an optical axis of the first or second light source. |
| US09223137B2 |
Virtual image display apparatus
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a virtual image display apparatus in which occurrence of luminance spots is suppressed to improve efficiency of use of illumination light. In the virtual image display apparatus of the invention, an optical-directivity changing section forms a non-uniform distribution concerning the directivity of image lights GL emitted from an image display device. Therefore, even when an angle of a light beam emitted from the image display device and effectively captured into the eye EY of an observer is substantially different depending on a position of the image display device, it is possible to form the image lights GL having directivity corresponding to such an angle characteristic of light beam capturing. It is possible to suppress occurrence of luminance spots to improve efficiency of use of illumination light. |
| US09223134B2 |
Optical imperfections in a light transmissive illumination system for see-through near-eye display glasses
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, and an LED lighting system coupled to a light transmissive illumination system of the optical assembly. An optical imperfection of the illumination system directs light from the LED lighting system to uniformly irradiate a reflective image display to produce an image that is reflected through the illumination system to provide the displayed content to the user. |
| US09223132B2 |
Optical scanning device, method for manufacturing the optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device includes a deflector configured to deflect a plurality of light beams emitted from a plurality of light emitters that are mutually spaced apart in a sub-scanning direction; an incident optical system configured to steer the plurality of light beams so as to be incident on the deflector; an imaging optical system configured to steer the plurality of light beams so as to be obliquely incident on a surface to be scanned and to form images of the plurality of light emitters on the surface to be scanned; and a correction unit configured to correct a jitter of at least one of the plurality of light beams in a main scanning direction on the basis of irradiation position information, in the sub-scanning direction, of at least one light beam among the plurality of light beams at a point corresponding to the surface to be scanned. |
| US09223129B2 |
MEMS device with multi-segment flexures
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a scanning platform suspended from a fixed platform by two flexures that form a pivot axis. The two flexures may be symmetric or asymmetric about a centerline of the scanning platform. At least one flexure includes two segments that are not parallel to each other. A second flexure may include two segments with one segment being wider than the other. Flexure design reduces effects of mounting and thermal stresses when the MEMS device is mounted as part of an assembly. |
| US09223124B2 |
Time resolved optical microscopy (“TROM”) process for measuring the rate of crystallization of solid inks
A system is disclosed for measuring the crystallization of crystalline-amorphous mixtures. The system includes a sample holder. and a heating apparatus to melt a ink composition and to keep the melted ink composition at a first specified temperature for a first period of time. The system includes a cooling apparatus to receive the melted ink composition, to cool the melted ink composition and to maintain the cooled ink composition at a second specified temperature. The system includes a microscope and a video recording device to capture images of the cooled ink composition for a second period of time A video processing computer includes a memory, a processor and software instructions and the software instructions causes the computer to extract crystallization parameters about the cooled ink composition from the captured images. The crystallization parameters identify fast solidifying crystalline inks that have a short time duration from onset of crystallization until crystallization. |
| US09223114B2 |
Optical photographing lens assembly, image capturing device and mobile terminal
An optical photographing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element has refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element with positive refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and at least one of the surfaces of the fifth lens element has at least one inflection point. The optical photographing lens assembly has a total of five lens elements with refractive power. |
| US09223113B2 |
Optical lens and electronic apparatus including the lens
An imaging optical system includes, in order from the object side to the image side, an aperture stop, a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with a negative refractive power having a convex image-side surface in the vicinity of an outer circumference, a third lens element with a positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface in a vicinity of an optical axis and a convex image-side surface in the vicinity of the optical axis, and a fourth lens element having a concave image-side surface in the vicinity of the optical axis and a convex image-side surface in the vicinity of the outer circumference. The sum of thicknesses of the first, second, third, and fourth lens elements and the sum of total air gaps therebetween satisfy specific conditions. |
| US09223108B2 |
Optical module and manufacturing method thereof
An optical module and a manufacturing method improve positioning accuracy between parts. A barrel and a lens holder are prepared, the lens holder is fitted into a cylindrical portion from a collar portion side of the barrel, and the barrel and the lens holder are assembled. In one case, the barrel and the lens holder are assembled with a brazing material. The assembled barrel and lens holder are heated, and the brazing material is melted to braze the barrel and the lens holder. Lens glass is sandwiched between metal dies and a lens is press-molded using a pressing apparatus. In one case, positioning of press molding uses the barrel which has a small linear expansion coefficient. |
| US09223107B2 |
Adapter correcting for glass thickness and field lens
The adapter correcting for glass thickness includes an adapter main body, a plane parallel plate, and a retainer. The adapter main body includes an attacher/detacher capable of attaching and detaching with respect to an adapter connecter on the lens barrel; a tubular accommodator extending from the attacher/detacher toward the objective along an optical axis of the field lens; and a tongue provided on the attacher/detacher side of the accommodator. The plane parallel plate includes two mutually parallel flat surfaces and is inserted into the accommodator such that the two flat surfaces are orthogonal to the optical axis of the field lens. The retainer is attached to an end of the accommodator closest to the objective and holds the plane parallel plate between the retainer and the tongue. The accommodator is formed to have a tubular length sufficient to insert at least two plane parallel plates. |
| US09223103B2 |
Low shrink telecommunications cable and methods for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications cable having a layer constructed to resist post-extrusion shrinkage. The layer includes a plurality of discrete shrinkage-reduction members embedded within a base material. The shrinkage-reduction members can be made of a liquid crystal polymer. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing telecommunications cables having layers adapted to resist post-extrusion shrinkage. |
| US09223100B2 |
Retention module for positioning conversion module
A retention module (100) for positioning conversion module (8) and a pair of fiber assemblies (7) matched with the conversion module (8) to transfer light signals, the conversion module (100) includes a plurality of pads (81) for contacting with an electrical connector (5) assembled on a substrate (80), the retention module (100) includes a seat (1) with a supporting portion (12) and a head portion (11), the supporting portion (12) includes a bottom wall (121) and a pair of sidewalls (120) to form a window (1203) for receiving the conversion module (8), the head portion (11) includes a top surface (110) higher than the bottom wall (121), a bottom surface (111) and a pair of recesses (1110) recessed from the bottom surface (111) for receiving the pair of fiber assemblies (7). |
| US09223097B2 |
Connector indicia
A plurality of connector modules is disclosed. The connector modules have respective various indicia including topside indicia to indicate orientation and ferrule indicia to indicate ferrule position. Ferrules may be removably inserted into the connector modules, and may include seated indicia that indicate if the ferrules are seated. |
| US09223093B2 |
Connector
A receptacle includes a hollow cylinder and a flange. A plug includes a barrel having a cylindrical body, a semicylindrical section extending from the body, and an engaging section provided at an end of the semicylindrical section and a coupling nut. A boom-like retaining piece is cut out and formed in the semicylindrical section and a retaining hook is formed at an idle end of the retaining piece located in the engaging section. The coupling nut is screwed onto threads of the hollow cylinder so that the plug is connected to the receptacle. Before the connection, the engaging section is engaged with and inserted into the hollow cylinder and the retaining piece is caught in the receptacle, so that the plug is temporarily retained to the receptacle securely. |
| US09223090B2 |
Bidirectional wavelength cross connect architectures using wavelength routing elements
Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals. |
| US09223084B2 |
Illumination of optical analytical devices
Optical analytical devices and their methods of use are provided. The devices are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices include optical waveguides for illumination of the optical reactions. The devices further provide for the efficient coupling of optical excitation energy from the waveguides to the optical reactions. Optical signals emitted from the reactions can thus be measured with high sensitivity and discrimination using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The devices of the invention are well suited for miniaturization and high throughput. |
| US09223080B2 |
Light guide with narrow angle light output and methods
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing illumination. In one aspect, a light guide can be configured to propagate light received from a light source. The light can be propagated by total internal reflection (TIR) within the light guide. The light guide can include an output surface configured to output light and one or more light extraction elements, which are configured to redirect the light propagating in the light guide so that the light exits the light guide through the output surface. The light guide can have tapered side walls that are configured to at least partially collimate the light that is to exit out of the output surface. In some implementations, the light guide can be used to provide illumination for display devices, other electromechanical systems, or for lighting a room or task area. |
| US09223073B2 |
Light guide plate and method of manufacturing the same
This invention relates to a light guide plate, which includes tunnels into which a light source may be inserted in a backlight unit assembly thus reducing light loss, and to a method of manufacturing the same. |
| US09223072B2 |
Light guide structure having axial-light blocking reflector
A light guide structure including a conical hollow light guide element having reflective inner surface, a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED) provided in one end of the conical light guide element, and a reflective element covering an opening on the other end of the conical light guide element and including a light-permeable region and an opaque reflective region corresponding to an optical axis of the light-emitting element, with the light-permeable region is located around the opaque reflective region and outside the optical axis. |
| US09223064B2 |
Photonic crystal-metallic structures and applications
A photonic crystal-metallic (PCM) structure receives an input light signal from a light source. The PCM structure includes a metal structure and a photonic crystal structure disposed adjacent the metal structure. The photonic crystal structure is configured to receive the input light signal such that the input light signal excites surface plasmons of the metallic structure and such that the input light signal is internally reflected within the photonic crystal structure. |
| US09223060B2 |
Optical layered body, polarizer, and image display device
Provided is an optical layered body having excellent antistatic property and optical properties.An optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate and a hard coat layer on at least one surface of the light-transmitting substrate, wherein the hard coat layer contains antimony pentoxide and a urethane resin, and the antimony pentoxide is dispersed in the hard coat layer while forming a three-dimensional net structure. |
| US09223057B1 |
Crowdsourcing platforms, systems, and methods for generating environmental data reports
The platforms, systems, methods and computer readable media provided herein monitor a shore or near shore environment using a plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with a near shore water recreationist or near shore water recreationist equipment. The platforms, systems, methods and computer readable media provided herein include a server application configured to generate and transmit an environmental data report. The platforms, systems, methods and computer readable media provided herein include a device configured to receive the environmental data report. |
| US09223054B2 |
Proximity sensor
A proximity sensor detects an object to be detected. The proximity sensor includes a board; at least three light emitting portions which are mounted on a surface of the board such that not all the light emitting portions is arranged on a straight line, and which emits light; and a light receiving portion which is mounted on the surface of the board so as to have a predetermined positional relationship with the three light emitting portions, and which receives reflected light derived from light emitted from the light emitting portions and reflected by the object to be detected. |
| US09223050B2 |
X-ray imaging system having improved mobility
It is an object of the present application to provide a radiation inspection system, such as an X-ray system, that can operate efficiently even in inclement weather conditions while being highly mobile. Thus the improved inspection system of the present application is capable of operating in high temperature and corrosive environments and is designed to withstand moisture, dirt and/or dust from the articles of inspection as well. |
| US09223049B2 |
Cargo scanning system with boom structure
The present application is a self-contained mobile inspection system and method and, more specifically, improved methods and systems for detecting materials concealed within a wide variety of receptacles and/or cargo containers. In particular, the present application is an improved method and system for inspecting receptacles and/or cargo containers using a single boom placed on a turntable with pivot points to allow for folding and unfolding of the boom, such that the inspection system is relatively compact in a stowed configuration and has a low center of gravity lending to greater stability. |
| US09223046B2 |
Apparatus and method for capacitive measuring of sensor standoff in boreholes filled with oil based drilling fluid
An apparatus and method for estimating the at least one resistivity parameter using at least one processor to estimate capacitance information, wherein the capacitance information is estimated using only one selected frequency electromagnetic signal. The apparatus may include at least one measure electrode. The apparatus may also include a transverse antenna. The method may include imparting an electric current at only one selected frequency into a formation using the at least one measure electrode. The method may also include using capacitance information to estimate a standoff between the at least one measure electrode and a borehole wall. In some embodiments, the estimated capacitance information may be used to reduce errors due to eccentricity. |
| US09223044B2 |
Method and arrangement for magnetically determining a position
A method and an arrangement for magnetically determining a position using a permanent magnet are described, wherein the vector and local gradient of the magnetic flux density of the permanent magnet are measured using a position sensor, and the position and orientation of the magnetic dipole of the permanent magnet relative to the position sensor are calculated from the measured values. A spherical permanent magnet having homogenous magnetization is used in the method and the arrangement, preventing previously present cross-sensitivity between the position and orientation determination, and allowing measurement without prior calibration. |
| US09223041B2 |
Three-dimensional mechanical earth modeling
A technique includes receiving a first dataset that is indicative of seismic data acquired in a seismic survey of a field of wells and receiving a second dataset that is indicative of wellbore data acquired in a wellbore survey conducted in at least one of the wells. The technique includes determining a mechanical earth model for the field based at least in part on the seismic data and the wellbore data. |
| US09223038B2 |
X-ray detector with photon-counting directly converting detector elements and method for temperature stabilization of the X-ray detector
An X-ray detector with photon-counting directly converting detector elements and a method for the temperature stabilization of at least one detector element of an X-ray detector of a CT system are disclosed, wherein the detector elements use a sensor material which converts incident photons of radiation directly into free-moving charge in the sensor material and wherein with the aid of a circuit arrangement (e.g. an ASIC), the number of incident photons in relation to predefined energy ranges (e.g., to imaging) is determined, wherein the total electrical power of at least one detector element is kept constant regardless of the incident intensity of radiation. |
| US09223037B2 |
Structure and method to ensure correct operation of an integrated circuit in the presence of ionizing radiation
Systems and methods to ensure correct operation of a semiconductor chip in the presence of ionizing radiation is disclosed. The system includes a semiconductor chip, a first radiation detection array incorporated in the semiconductor chip, and at least one additional radiation detection array incorporated in the semiconductor chip. a processor determines a region of the semiconductor chip affected by an incident radiation particle by analyzing a trajectory of the radiation particle determined from locations of sensors hit by the radiation particle in the first radiation detection array and the at least one additional radiation detection array. The processor determines whether corrective action is needed based on the region of the semiconductor chip affected by the incident radiation particle. |
| US09223036B1 |
Pixilated neutron detector
Disclosed is a pixilated neutron detector including one or more pixel-cells defined by a plurality of perimeter walls, the pixel-cells including a cathode and an anode, the cathode being at least one wall of the pixel-cell, the cathode being lined with an interaction material, the anode disposed inside the pixel-cell, the cathode and anode structured to provide an electrical field within the pixel-cell to collect charged particles released by neutrons interacting with the interaction material lining, and a signal processing chain communicably coupled to each of the one or more pixel-cells to transmit a signal indicative of a neutron interaction event within the pixel-cell, the signal processing chain including analog signal processing electronics communicably coupled to digital signal processing electronics. In one embodiment inserts coated with interaction material are provided along the length of the anode to enhance the detector efficiency. |
| US09223034B2 |
X-ray imaging panel with thermally-sensitive adhesive and methods of making thereof
Provided herein are laminated devices including an extruded scintillation screen comprising a scintillator material that does not attract dust, and a thermally-sensitive elastomer binder; and a fiber optic plate. Also provided herein are methods of making a laminated device and methods of making an X-ray imaging panel. |
| US09223027B1 |
Rescue method and system for an overboard passenger
A system and method are used for dispatching a rescue flotation device to an individual who has fallen overboard from a ship. A water-activated transmitter is carried or worn by each and every passenger on a given ship. Upon detecting moisture, the transmitter is activated to send a data signal to a radio signal receiver on the ship. The contents of the data signal may be the location and/or coordinates of the victim, as determined by triangulation of the signal, a GPS receiver and/or radar. Upon transmission of the data, a rescue flotation device or vessel is automatically deployed from a portion of the vessel into the water. The rescue device may be dispatched from a portion of the ship nearest to the determined location of the victim, and/or the rescue device may be self-propelled such that it navigates to the approximate location of victim. |
| US09223024B2 |
Three-dimensional model generating device
An example three-dimensional model generating device includes an emitting unit that emits a laser light and a first deflector that deflects laser light, whose emission direction rotates in a first rotation range, within a first scan plane. A second deflector deflects laser light, whose emission direction rotates in a second rotation range, within a second scan plane intersecting with the first scan plane. The detector detects a reflected light when laser light deflected from the first deflector is reflected from the target object or detects a reflected light when laser light deflected from the second deflector is reflected from the target object. The measuring unit measures a distance to the target object on the basis of the time taken since emission of the laser light to detection of the reflected light. The generating unit generates a three-dimensional model of the target object by using the measurement result. |
| US09223021B2 |
Method and system for motion compensated target detection using acoustical focusing
An improved method and system for removing time-varying Doppler shifts and the effects of turbulence from data comprising at least one processor operating to estimate the average instantaneous frequency; reduce or remove noise from the state space variables estimates describing the frequency of the target; compensate for the motion of the target to obtain motion compensated data and increase the coherency of the data, and reduce or remove the noise from the state space variables describing the frequency of the target using a filter or smoother. Alternately, the method and system may comprise at least one processor operating to estimate the average instantaneous frequency of the first harmonic of a moving target; the average instantaneous frequency being inputted into an error reduction subroutine; using state space estimates of the frequency, calculating a time warping to remove the effect of the Doppler shift; and focusing the data using a modified PGA. |
| US09223020B1 |
System and method for weather detection using more than one source of radar data
A radar system can include electronics configured to receive communications from a terrestrial location. The communications can include composite weather data from a plurality of sources and scheduling data. The scheduling data can include an indication of timing for sending local weather data sensed by an airborne radar system to the terrestrial location. The terrestrial system can provide composite weather radar data to an airborne source. |
| US09223017B2 |
Systems and methods for enhanced awareness of obstacle proximity during taxi operations
Systems and methods for predicting and displaying targets based on height in relation to the wing, wingtip or other elements of the aircraft, such as engine nacelles. The location of ground obstacles is based on radar returns (from sensors deployed on the ownship), aircraft surveillance data, and/or an airport moving map database. |
| US09223015B2 |
Interference rejection device, radar device, and target finding method
An interference rejection device includes a change amount calculator, a detector, and a rejecter. The change amount calculator is configured to find change amounts in at least one of amplitude and phase of received signals of a plurality of sweeps in a distance direction between a first distance and a second distance. The detector is configured to detect radar interference occurring between the first distance and the second distance by comparing the change amounts calculated by the change amount calculator between the plurality of sweeps. The rejecter is configured to reduce the amplitude of the received signal corresponding to a position of the radar interference. |
| US09223014B2 |
Three dimensional radar system using usual radars installed in sea facilities
There is provided a three-dimensional radar system by using the combination of commercialized usual radars for vessels at relatively low price so as to enable to strengthen the surveillance capability about aircrafts flying at low altitude and strengthen the surveillance capability on the sea and in the air to protect important facilities of a port with more developed than the conventional surveillance system of monitoring only ships or vessels in a port while overcoming the operational limitation of VTS (Vessel Traffic Service). |
| US09223012B2 |
Ultrasound image enhancement based on entropy information
Embodiments for enhancing an image quality of an ultrasound image based on entropy information in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit acquires multiple ultrasound data, and a processing unit forms entropy information based on the multiple ultrasound data and adaptively perform data processing for image enhancement upon the multiple ultrasound data based on the entropy information. The processing unit forms multiple ultrasound images based on the multiple ultrasound data with the data processing performed. |
| US09223006B2 |
Method and device for localizing objects
A method for localizing an object moving in an unknown environment. The method includes providing k position marks at undetermined positions p1, p2, . . . , pk that are spaced apart from one another, where {p1, . . . , pk}ε, where k is a natural number greater than or equal to 3, and repeatedly measuring the distances between the object and each of the position marks independently of one another at uncontrolled instants, such that distance values {r1, . . . , rn}ε are present at instants {t1, . . . , tn}ε. The method further includes determining a motion curve x(t)ε according to x ( t ) = ∑ i = 1 n α i k ( t , t i ) , where n represents a number of distance measurements used and each function k(t, ti) is a positively defined kernel function, and where {α1, . . . , αn}ε are coefficient vectors that are estimated using smoothness conditions based on a regularization term formed with the kernel functions. |
| US09223000B2 |
Magnetic resonance system, operating method and control device to generate T2-weighted images using a pulse sequence with very short echo times
In a method to control a magnetic resonance system to generate magnetic resonance exposures of an examination subject, a first magnetic resonance radio-frequency pulse with a pulse length of at most 50 μs is initially emitted in a volume region of the examination subject. At least one second magnetic resonance radio-frequency pulse, whose phase is essentially rotated by 180° relative to the first magnetic resonance radio-frequency pulse, with a pulse length of at most 50 μs, is emitted in the same volume region of the examination subject in a predetermined time interval immediately after the first magnetic resonance radio-frequency pulse. An acquisition of raw data from the volume region of the examination subject then takes place. Furthermore, a control device for operating a magnetic resonance system as well as a magnetic resonance system with such a control device to implement such a method, are described. |
| US09222996B2 |
Needle placement manipulator with two rotary guides
A needle placement manipulator includes, a pair of rotary guides arranged at a slanted angle with respect to each other, a needle holder which holds a needle along a needle holder axis, and a base body on which the guides are supported. The needle holder axis and each axis of the rotary guides cross at a single point located at or below the base body. The base body is configured to be attached to a patient or to an RF-coil. |
| US09222992B2 |
Magnetic field current sensors
Embodiments related to magnetic current sensors, systems and methods. In an embodiment, a magnetic current sensor integrated in an integrated circuit (IC) and housed in an IC package comprises an IC die formed to present at least three magnetic sense elements on a first surface, a conductor, and at least one slot formed in the conductor, wherein a first end of the at least one slot and at least one of the magnetic sense elements are relatively positioned such that the at least one of the magnetic sense elements is configured to sense an increased magnetic field induced in the conductor proximate the first end of the at least one slot. |
| US09222991B2 |
Vertical hall device comprising a slot in the hall effect region
A vertical Hall device includes a Hall effect region, a separator, a first plurality of contacts, and a second plurality of contacts. The Hall effect region includes a first straight section, a second straight section that is offset parallel to the first straight section, and a connecting section that connects the first straight section and the second straight section. The separator separates a portion of the first straight section from a portion of the second straight section. The first and second plurality of contacts are arranged in or at the surface of the first and second straight sections, respectively. With respect to a first clock phase of a spinning current scheme, the first plurality of contacts comprises a first supply contact and a first sense contact. The second plurality of contacts comprises a second supply contact and a second sense contact. |
| US09222989B2 |
Manufacturing methods for a sensor package including a lead frame
A sensor package includes a lead frame with a first portion extending and a second portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the first potion. The sensor package also includes an application specific integrated circuit and a magneto resistive sensor and a ferrite provided with a molding body. |
| US09222984B2 |
Power supplying system for supplying power to a load disposed in a facility
[Objective] To provide a power supplying system wherein the timing at which a storage unit conducts capacity learning is made to be more suitable. [Solution] A power supplying system supplies power to loads provided within a facility, and is provided with: a power storage unit that stores power by being charged, and supplies power by being discharged; and a capacity measurement unit that measures the remaining capacity of the power storage unit by executing a complete charging and a complete discharging of the power storage unit, in sequence. The capacity measurement unit obtains the operation schedule of the facility, and determines the timing at which the complete charging and the complete discharging of the power storage unit are to be conducted, on the basis of the operation schedule. |
| US09222983B2 |
Circuit and method for monolithic stacked integrated circuit testing
A monolithic stacked integrated circuit (IC) is provided with a known-good-layer (KGL) test circuit and a scan segment in one of its layers. The test circuit includes a plurality of inputs, outputs, and multiplexers coupled to the scan segment and to a second layer of the IC. The test circuit further includes a plurality of control elements such that scan testing of the IC may be conducted on a layer-by-layer basis. |
| US09222981B2 |
Global low power capture scheme for cores
A method for testing an integrated circuit to reduce peak power problems during scan capture mode is presented. The method comprises programming a respective duration of a first time window for each of a plurality of cores and a cache on the integrated circuit. It further comprises counting the number of pulses of a first clock signal during the first time window for each of the plurality of cores and the cache. Subsequently, the method comprises staggering capture pulses to the plurality of cores and the cache by generating pulses of a second clock signal for each of the plurality of cores and the cache during a respective second time window, wherein the number of pulses generated is based on the respective number of first clock signal pulses counted for each of the plurality of cores and the cache. |
| US09222975B2 |
IC core DDR separate test controller, selector, scan router circuitry
A device test architecture and a reduced device test interface are provided to enable efficient testing of embedded cores and other circuits within devices. The reduced device test interface is achieved using a double data rate (DDR) signaling technique between the tester and the device. The DDR test interface allows the tester to interface to test circuits within the device, such as IEEE 1500 and/or IEEE 1149.1 test circuits, to provide high test data bandwidth to the test circuits using a minimum of test interface signals. The test architecture includes compare circuits that allow for comparison of test response data to be performed within the device. The test architecture further includes a memory for storing the results of the test response comparisons. The test architecture includes a programmable test controller to allow for various test control operations by simply inputting an instruction to the programmable test controller from the external tester. Additional features and embodiments of the device test architecture and reduced test interface are also disclosed. |
| US09222973B2 |
Protecting chip settings using secured scan chains
Some embodiments include a method for processing a scan chain in an integrated circuit. The method can include: receiving, in the integrated circuit, the scan chain, wherein the scan chain includes a secret key pattern; separating the secret key pattern from the scan chain; comparing the secret key pattern to a reference key pattern; determining, based on the comparing the secret key pattern to the reference key pattern, that the secret key pattern does not match the reference key pattern; and generating a signal indicating that the secret key pattern does not match the reference key pattern. |
| US09222972B1 |
On-die jitter generator
An IC that includes a jitter generator, where the jitter generator is integral with the IC and generates non-intrinsic jitter, is provided. In one implementation, the non-intrinsic jitter is used to measure a characteristic of the IC. In one implementation, the non-intrinsic jitter is used to test jitter tolerance of the IC. In yet another implementation, the non-intrinsic jitter is used to test another IC coupled to the IC that includes the jitter generator. |
| US09222966B2 |
Test apparatus and test method
There is provided a test apparatus that is capable of applying, to a device under test, a current that rises within a short period. A test apparatus for testing a device under test, includes a current source that supplies the device under test with a current, a dummy load that has an electrical characteristic corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the device under test, and a switching section that switches whether the current source is connected to the dummy load or the device under test. Here, after connecting the current source to the dummy load, the switching section disconnects the current source from the dummy load and connects the current source to the device under test when a voltage applied to the dummy load reaches a voltage within a predetermined range. |
| US09222964B2 |
Cable detection in a pin constrained connector
A cable detection apparatus comprises a cable connector, a signal generator, and a detection module. The cable connector is located on a first device and has an input-only pin that is coupled to a receiver and assigned for receiving a first signal from a driver on a second device. The signal generator is located within the first device and has an output driving a second signal onto the input-only pin, wherein the second signal has a frequency that is at least four times greater than the frequency of the first signal. The detection module has a detection input coupled to the input-only pin, wherein the detection module produces a negative cable detection output in response to detecting the second signal, and wherein the detection module produces a positive cable detection output in response to detecting a signal other than the second signal. |
| US09222955B2 |
Damping device for a micromechanical sensor device
A damping device for a micromechanical sensor device, having at least one first intermediate layer having at least two sections, a second section being situated around a first section, a lateral distance being provided between the first and the second section, and an elastic device being provided between the first section and the second section as an integral part of the first intermediate layer. |
| US09222950B2 |
Analysis assisting method, analyzer, remote computer, data analyzing method, program, and reagent container
In an analysis system having an analysis apparatus using a reagent container having a memory to store reagent information concerning the reagent in the reagent container and a remote computer, the following steps are executed: reading out the reagent information from the memory of the reagent container; judging, based on the read reagent information, whether or not the reagent in the reagent container is usable; when it is judged that the reagent in the reagent container is unusable, writing data representing the reagent is unusable into the memory of the reagent container; and when it is judged that the reagent in the reagent container is unusable, registering the data representing the reagent is unusable, into a reagent database managed by the remote computer in association with identification information to identify the reagent container. Thus, it is possible to automatically identify the reagent, which should not be used, and to manage the reagent not so as to use it for the analysis. In addition, it is possible to use the data for the enhancement of the business efficiency such as the automatic order of the reagent, the stock management in the manufacturer and the like. |
| US09222946B2 |
Composition of diagnostic biomarker for stomach cancer and method of diagnosing stomach cancer using the composition
Provided are a composition of a diagnostic biomarker for stomach cancer and a method of diagnosing stomach cancer using the same. The composition of a diagnostic biomarker for stomach cancer and the method of diagnosing stomach cancer using the same may be useful to determine stomach cancer from a patient with suspected stomach cancer. |
| US09222942B2 |
Methods and kits for determining von willebrand factor activity in the absence of ristocetin
Described herein are method(s), kit(s), reagent(s) and the like for determining von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity in a sample in the absence of ristocetin. |
| US09222940B2 |
Fused cyclooctyne compounds and their use in metal-free click reactions
The invention relates to fused cyclooctyne compounds, and to a method for their preparation. The invention also relates to a conjugate wherein a fused cyclooctyne compound according to the invention is conjugated to a label, and to the use of these conjugates in bioorthogonal labeling, imaging and/or modification, such as for example surface modification, of a target molecule. The invention further relates to a method for the modification of a target molecule, wherein a conjugate according to the invention is reacted with a compound comprising a 1,3-dipole or a 1,3-(hetero)diene. |
| US09222939B2 |
Cell division marker
This application relates to a newly identified animal cell structure, the midbody scar. This structure is a remnant of the midbody that is retained by one daughter cell following cytokinesis and persists through multiple subsequent cell cycles. The midbody scar can be useful as a marker of dividing cells or of a cell's replicative age. |
| US09222934B2 |
Reagent and reagent kit for analysis of immature leukocyte
The present invention provides a reagent for analysis of immature leukocytes comprising: a surfactant which can damage cell membranes of erythrocytes and mature leukocytes, a solubilizing agent which can shrink the damaged blood cells and at least one dye for staining nucleic acid selected from the dyes of the formulae (I) and (II), wherein X− is an anion. |
| US09222932B2 |
Engineered liver tissues, arrays thereof, and methods of making the same
Engineered, living, three-dimensional liver tissue constructs including: one or more layers, wherein each layer contains one or more liver cell types, the one or more layers cohered to form a living, three-dimensional liver tissue construct free of pre-formed scaffold. Also disclosed are arrays and methods of making the same. |
| US09222930B2 |
Fabrication of tunneling junction for nanopore DNA sequencing
A mechanism is provided for forming a nanodevice. A reservoir is filled with a conductive fluid, and a membrane is formed to separate the reservoir in the nanodevice. The membrane includes an electrode layer having a tunneling junction formed therein. The membrane is formed to have a nanopore formed through one or more other layers of the membrane such that the nanopore is aligned with the tunneling junction of the electrode layer. The tunneling junction of the electrode layer is narrowed to a narrowed size by electroplating or electroless deposition. When a voltage is applied to the electrode layer, a tunneling current is generated by a base in the tunneling junction to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. When an organic coating is formed on an inside surface of the tunneling junction, transient bonds are formed between the electrode layer and the base. |
| US09222928B2 |
Biphenol ether compounds as markers for liquid hydrocarbons and other fuels and oils
A method for marking a petroleum hydrocarbon or a liquid biologically derived fuel by adding to the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel at least one compound having formula (I), wherein R represents C1-C18 alkyl, C3-C18 alkenyl or C3-C18 alkynyl. |
| US09222927B2 |
Dissolution test equipment
Apparatus and method for dissolution testing of active substances in various dosage forms is provided. The apparatus has filtration cells equipped and configured to simulate bodily functions, operate continuously and facilitate testing various types of dosage forms including, but not limited to, tablets, capsules and those having non-disintegrating substrates. |
| US09222926B1 |
Methods and articles for identifying objects using encapsulated perfluorocarbon tracers
A system and method for tagging, tracking, locating and identifying people and vehicles transporting people using Perfluorocarbon tracers. An on-going problem faced by military as well as law enforcement personnel is that of friendly fire incidents. To prevent possible friendly-fire incidents, troops would separate the two layers of the uniform patch, thereby releasing a controlled release of the Perfluorocarbon vapors. Other “friendly” troops, equipped with sensors tuned to the specific perfluorocarbon characteristics would thus be able to literally view a plume around the tagged person or object. The system may conversely be used to tag enemies. Formulations of mixed perfluorocarbons may be used to provide coding of emissions. |
| US09222925B2 |
Oxygen sensors and their uses
Oxygen sensors and their uses are disclosed, and more particularly to oxygen sensors for use in product packaging for storing an article in a packaging envelope under modified atmosphere conditions wherein the oxygen sensors comprise solid oxo-hydroxy metal ion materials, optionally modified with one or more ligands and/or optionally having polymeric structures. The sensors may be present in a hydrated, oxygen permeable matrix, for example formed from a material, such as gelatine. The sensors are useful in many technical fields, and find particular application in the field of food packaging as they are safely disposable (e.g. are environmentally friendly), cheap to manufacture, and provide detectable changes in the presence of oxygen that are easy to read. |
| US09222918B2 |
Sizing of a defect using phased array system
Disclosed is an improved method of sizing a defect using a phased array system with a single probe orientation requiring only a simple one-pass scan. It is an improvement of the ADDT standard which is adapted to phased array systems with fixed probe orientations. Based on pre-configured parameters obtained from C-scans, the method as presently disclosed provides novel analysis on C-scans and more complete information on defects, including the orientation and sizes in length and depth or thickness of the defects. Phased array systems devised with the presently disclosed method can perform such inspection and complete sizing automatically for longitudinal, transverse and oblique defects in one pass of scan. |
| US09222911B2 |
Method and device for detecting at least one property of a gas
A method for detecting at least one property of a gas in a measuring gas chamber, in particular for detecting at least one gas component of the gas. The at least one property is determined using at least one electrochemical measuring cell of a sensor element. Temperatures are detected at at least two different locations of the sensor element and used in determining the at least one property. |
| US09222908B2 |
Device and method for detecting redox reactions in solution
Described herein is a device comprising: a plurality of first reaction electrodes arranged in an array, the plurality of first reaction electrodes configured to be exposed to a fluid and having a capacitance; first circuitry configured to controllably set the plurality of first reaction electrode to a predetermined voltage and allow the capacitance of the plurality of first reaction electrode to charge or discharge through the fluid; and second circuitry configured to measure a rate of charging or discharging of the capacitance of the plurality of first reaction electrodes. Also described herein is a method of using this device to sequence DNA. |
| US09222902B2 |
Estimations of nuclear magnetic resonance measurement distributions
A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) related distribution is estimated that is consistent with NMR measurements and uses linear functionals directly estimated from the measurement indications by integral transforms as constraints in a cost function. The cost function includes indications of the measurement data, Laplace transform elements and the constraints, and a distribution estimation is made by minimizing the cost function. The distribution estimation may be used to find parameters of the sample. Where the sample is a rock or a formation, the parameters may include parameters such as rock permeability and/or hydrocarbon viscosity, bound and free fluid volumes, among others. The parameters may be used in models, equations, or otherwise to act on the sample, such as in recovering hydrocarbons from the formation. |
| US09222901B2 |
X-ray diffraction method of mapping grain structures in a crystalline material sample, and an X-ray diffraction apparatus
An X-ray diffraction method of mapping grain structures in a polycrystalline material sample, where an X-ray detector detects spots or line-shaped segments from beams diffracted from at least some of the grains. A processing device analyzes values received from the X-ray detector and identifies at least the position of the spots or line-shaped segments. The processing device discretizes an initial three-dimensional model of the polycrystalline material sample into voxels and reconstructs the grains in the model by iterative testing associating crystallographic orientations of the voxels to the detected spots or line-shaped segments. |
| US09222898B2 |
X-ray diffraction imaging system with integrated supermirror
An x-ray diffraction imaging (XDI) system includes a plurality of x-ray sources configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The XDI system also includes a primary collimator positioned a distance from the plurality of x-ray sources. A plurality of nodes are defined within the primary collimator at a plurality of node distances from the plurality of x-ray sources. Each node of the plurality of nodes defines an x-ray intersection region. The XDI system further includes a supermirror assembly including a plurality of mounting rails positioned adjacent the plurality of nodes. |
| US09222893B2 |
Modified apparatus and method for assessment, evaluation and grading of gemstones
An apparatus (10) for assessment, evaluation and grading of gemstones has a stage (11) upon which a gemstone may be supported. The stage is enclosed in a housing (15) that is impervious to light. There is at least one light source (14) located in the housing which is adapted to project incident light onto the gemstone. Means for rotating and tilting the stage so as to vary the orientation of the gemstone to the incident light are also present. A digital camera (16) is located in the housing adjacent the or each light source and is adapted to take images of the gemstone based on reflection and/or refraction of the incident light. The apparatus also includes information processing means for calibrating and analyzing the images. The information processing means is programmed with instruction sets for assessing one or more of color, cut, clarity, scintillation, brilliance, lustre, dispersion and sheen. The gemstone is supported upon the stage by securing means (17) engaging the gemstone at its bottom surface. |
| US09222892B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring the quality of a fluid
Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid having one or more adulterants therein. One method of monitoring the fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one adulterant present therein, optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the at least one adulterant in the fluid. |
| US09222890B2 |
Plasma spectrometer
To improve detection sensitivity, detection accuracy, and reproducibility when electric discharge is caused in a sample solution to perform analysis with light emission in the plasma, a flow channel 101 provided with a narrow part is filled with a conductive sample solution, plasma is generated in bubbles formed by applying an electric field to the flow channel, and a region other than the narrow part in the flow channel is set as a measurement object region to measure light emission. |
| US09222889B2 |
Sample analysis device, testing apparatus, and sensor cartridge
A sample analysis device capable of realizing the enhancement of a near-field light while increasing a hotspot areal density is provided. In a sample analysis device, multiple nanostructures are arranged on the surface of a base body. A dielectric body is covered with a metal film in each nanostructure. The nanostructures form multiple nanostructure lines. In each nanostructure line, the nanostructures are arranged at a first pitch SP which is smaller than the wavelength of an excitation light and the nanostructure lines are arranged in parallel with one another at a second pitch LP which is greater than the first pitch SP. |
| US09222888B2 |
Pulse amplitude modulated chlorophyll fluorometer
Chlorophyll fluorometry may be used for detecting toxins in a sample because of changes in micro algae. A portable lab on a chip (“LOAC”) based chlorophyll fluorometer may be used for toxin detection and environmental monitoring. In particular, the system may include a microfluidic pulse amplitude modulated (“PAM”) chlorophyll fluorometer. The LOAC PAM chlorophyll fluorometer may analyze microalgae and cyanobacteria that grow naturally in source drinking water. |
| US09222887B2 |
Conjugates of nano-diamond and magnetic or metallic particles
Techniques for imaging a characteristic of a sample with a plurality of conjugates of diamond-metallic nanoparticles having a nitrogen vacancy center. The plurality of conjugates can be exposed to a sample and the nitrogen vacancy centers can be optically pumped. One or more microwave pulses can be applied to the nitrogen vacancy center, and a fluorescent response can be detected. |
| US09222883B2 |
Optical measuring system having a cell holder to accommodate flow through cells of different dimensions in the direction of optical path
An optical measuring system includes at least one radiation source, at least one radiation receiver, and at least one flow through cell. The radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source passes at least partially in an optical path between the radiation source and the radiation receiver through the flow through cell and then strikes the at least one radiation receiver. The radiation receiver is embodied to output a signal dependent on the intensity of the radiation striking the radiation receiver, wherein the flow through cell is arranged in a cell holder, which is connected via a first connection interface releasably with the radiation receiver and which is connected via a second connection interface releasably with the radiation source. |
| US09222882B2 |
Measurement system that estimates reflection characteristics of a target object and control method thereof
A measurement apparatus comprises a light source of line shape configured to move in a predetermined direction and illuminate a measurement target object, and a capturing unit configured to capture the measurement target object illuminated by the light source of line shape. The measurement apparatus controls the light source of line shape and the capturing unit, and estimates the reflection characteristics of the measurement target object from a plurality of images captured by the capturing unit. |
| US09222879B2 |
Apparatus and method for optically characterizing materials
The present invention relates to a device for optical characterization of a sample and/or of the material(s) of the same having an illumination unit that can be orientated to illuminate with incident light a sample spatial portion into which the sample can be introduced, a detection unit which is orientated or can be orientated to image the sample introduced into the sample spatial portion by receiving light reflected by the sample, and which is configured to detect at least two different, preferably orthogonal, polarization components in the reflected light, and an evaluation unit with which, in the imaging data recorded by the detection unit, those imaged surface elements (reflection elements) of the sample can be identified, and with which the detected different polarization components for these reflection elements can be evaluated for optical characterization. |
| US09222878B2 |
Method and device for optical imaging with a resonant amplifier assembly
An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical signal source, an optical signal detector apparatus, and a resonant amplifier assembly. The optical signal source is configured (i) to generate an optical signal including a carrier signal and an imaging signal, and (ii) to guide the optical signal to a sample. The optical signal detector apparatus is configured (i) to detect a modified optical signal from the sample, and (ii) to generate an electrical image signal based on the modified optical signal. The electrical image signal includes a background component and a modulated image signal corresponding to an image of the sample. The resonant amplifier assembly is electrically coupled to the optical signal detector apparatus and is configured (i) to isolate the modulated image signal from the background component, (ii) to amplify the modulated image signal, and (iii) to rectify the modulated image signal. |
| US09222877B2 |
Fiber Bragg grating systems and methods for moisture detection
A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for detecting moisture may include a sensor housing, FBG cable, water-swellable bead(s), and retaining mechanism. The housing secures the FBG cable and water-swellable bead. The retaining mechanism, such as one or more wire(s), placed adjacent to the FBG cable may be utilized to minimize lateral displacement of the water-swellable bead(s). The water-swellable bead(s) may swell as they absorb water, thereby causing the FBG to be strained to allow the detection of liquid moisture. |
| US09222873B2 |
Optical particle detector
An optical device mounted on the interior of an aircraft for distinguishing the morphology of individual atmospheric particles, identifying them as water droplets, ice crystals, dust particles or volcanic ash, including a source of collimated, polarized light and providing this information to the flight crew to assist them in making informed decisions on conditions that might impact aircraft performance. |
| US09222870B2 |
Method and device for multi-parameter imaging within a single fluorescent channel
A method of monitoring temporal and spatial information of cells includes trapping a plurality of cells within single cell traps contained in a microfluidic device having an inlet, and an outlet. A first fluorescent stain specific to a first target is flowed into the inlet of the device and exposed to the trapped cells. The trapped cells are then imaged as a function of time. A fluorescent stain specific to a different target is flowed into the inlet of the device, the subsequent fluorescent stain having an emission spectrum that substantially overlaps with the emission spectrum of the prior fluorescent stain. The plurality of trapped cells are then imaged again as a function of time. The process can be repeated with additional fluorescent stains having substantially overlapping emission spectra. Images may be subtracted to reveal the contribution of a single fluorescent stain. |
| US09222869B2 |
Sheath flow device and hematology analyzer
An embodiment of a sheath flow device may include: a reflecting plane, aspheric reflecting surface, and a conduit for passage of cells disposed in a central hollow. A focal point of the aspheric reflecting surface is positioned in a location where cells settle. A collimated beam generated by an external light source incident on a first reflective side of the reflecting plane, is reflected to reach a first reflective surface of the aspheric reflecting surface, and reflected before being focused on the focal point, after which the light proceeds to reach a second reflective surface of the aspheric reflecting surface to be reflected to reach a second reflective side of the reflecting plane to emerge after being reflected thereby. The first and second reflective sides and the first and second reflective surfaces may be centrosymmetric. The sheath flow device improves the alignment accuracy of beam commissioning during the application process. |
| US09222867B2 |
Resonant micromachined biochemical sensor
A sensor system is formed from a micro machined resonant structure with multiple resonant elements, a tracking resonator control electronics, and signal processing algorithms. The moving elements of the resonator are coated with chemically active materials that change mass when exposed to the target chemical resulting in a change in frequency or period of oscillation. The changes in frequency or period are processed by multi-sensor chemical detection algorithms to identify chemical types and concentrations. In essence, the resonator and drive electronics form a closed loop oscillator operating at the resonator's natural frequency. The resonators are formed from silicon using photolithographic processes. The resonator design includes in-plane resonant motion combined with dynamic balance to operate with a high Q even in the presence of atmospheric pressure. |
| US09222866B2 |
Evaluation of ground surface hardness
Evaluating ground surface hardness for a site involves using a mobile data collection device to automatically drop an object including an accelerometer onto a ground surface at sample locations spaced at regular intervals within the site. The acceleration of the object is detected with the accelerometer as the object impacts the ground surface at the sample locations. A value is generated representative of ground surface hardness for each of the sample locations. Evaluation using a handheld hardness measurement device is also disclosed. |
| US09222865B2 |
Fatigue assessment
Methods are disclosed relating to the assessment of fatigue damage in objects that include for example, subjecting a fatigued object to a cyclic mechanical stress, measuring a rate of temperature rise in the fatigued object, and assessing a degree of fatigue of the fatigued object based on the rate of temperature rise in the fatigued object. Methods of measuring internal structural characteristics and methods of correlating fatigue damage to results from excitation tests are also taught. |
| US09222864B2 |
Apparatus and method to measure back face signature of armor
An apparatus and method are provided for evaluating the backface signature of flat panel ballistic resistant composites with accuracy, repeatability and improved correlation to the expected backface signature of shaped ballistic resistant composites in actual field use. The apparatus separates the composite from a clay backing material with a suitable spacer so that the bulk of the backface deformation is inside an air gap space with minimal clay disturbance, thereby eliminating conventional testing error and producing an accurate test result. |
| US09222861B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring the stretch of a chain which circulates endlessly in the apparatus
An apparatus (2) with a chain (1) that is arranged endlessly circulateable in the apparatus (2) includes a measuring apparatus (3) for measuring the stretching or elongation of the chain (1), with a first signal pick-up (4) and with a second signal pick-up (5), which are arranged at a spacing distance (D) relative to one another, which extends in the running direction over several chain links (6) of the chain (1). A first element for signal generation (7) is arranged on a first chain link (6.1) in such a manner so that with a circulating chain (1) a signal is produced upon running past the first signal pick-up (4). Several further elements for signal generation (8) are arranged on a second chain link (6.2) in such a manner so that with a circulating chain (1) a further signal is generated with each one of these further elements (8) upon running past the second signal pick-up (5). During one circulation of the chain (1), the number (NS2) of signals at the second signal pick-up (5) is counted, which are produced before a first signal is produced at the first signal pick-up (4). |
| US09222855B2 |
Volatile compounds trap desorption device and method for desorbing volatile compounds from a trap
A method for restoring a volatile compound from a trapping means, wherein the method includes a flowing step wherein a carrier gas flows through the trapping means, at a controlled rate, by increasing the volume of a chamber located downstream of the trapping means is disclosed. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the method. The invention allows to faithfully restore the compounds that have been previously trapped and to faithfully restore the trapped odors. |
| US09222854B2 |
Vehicle dynamic load estimation system and method
A dynamic load estimation system and method is provided, the system including a tire supporting a vehicle; a vehicle-mounted acceleration sensor for determining a vehicle lateral acceleration and a vehicle longitudinal acceleration; a roll angle calculating model for determining a vehicle roll angle; a roll rate calculating model for determining a vehicle roll rate; a static normal load calculation model for calculating a measured static normal load; and a dynamic tire load estimation model for calculating an estimated dynamic load on the tire from the measured static normal load, the vehicle roll angle, the vehicle roll rate, the vehicle lateral acceleration and the vehicle longitudinal acceleration. |
| US09222850B2 |
Integrated optics reflectometer
An apparatus includes a laser source configured to output laser light at a target frequency, and a measurement unit configured to measure a deviation between an actual frequency outputted by the laser source at a current period of time and the target frequency of the laser source. The apparatus includes a feedback control unit configured to, based on the measured deviation between the actual and target frequencies, control the laser source to maintain a constant frequency of laser output from the laser source so that the frequency of laser light transmitted from the laser source is adjusted to the target frequency. The feedback control unit can control the laser source to maintain a linear rate of change in the frequency of its laser light output, and compensate for characteristics of the measurement unit utilized for frequency measurement. A method is provided for performing the feedback control of the laser source. |
| US09222843B2 |
System for on-chip temperature measurement in integrated circuits
A thermal sensor providing simultaneous measurement of two diodes. A first diode and a second diode are coupled to a first current source and a second current source, respectively. The ratio of the currents provided by the two sources is accurately know The voltage across each of the two diodes may be coupled to the input of a differential amplifier for determination of temperature. Alternatively, the first diode may be coupled to a first current source by a resistor with a known voltage drop, the second diode may be coupled to an adjustable second current source. The current in the second diode is equal to the sum of voltage drop across the first diode and the known voltage drop across the resistor. Under the established conditions, the Diode Equation may be used to calculate a temperature. |
| US09222838B2 |
Detection device, sensor device, and electronic device
A detection device includes a heat sensing element, a detection circuit connected to a detection node of the heat sensing element, and a read circuit connected to a read node of the detection circuit, wherein the detection circuit includes a drive transistor whose gate is controlled by the detection node. In a program period the detection node is programmed to a voltage value corresponding to the threshold voltage of the drive transistor, and in a read period following the program period the read circuit reads the detection result of the detection circuit. |
| US09222832B2 |
Device and method for detecting and monitoring ingredients or properties of a measurement medium, in particular of physiological blood values
The invention relates to a device for detecting and monitoring ingredients or properties of a measurement medium, for example physiological blood values, wherein said device contains a light source (20) for generating broad-spectrum measurement light (2) and for acting on a measurement area (3), and means (9) for fanning out the analysis light (4) reflected by the measurement area (3). The device also has a sensor array (11) for picking up the fanned light. The sensor array (11), the light source (20) and the means for dispersing the analysis light (4) are arranged as a compact unit in a housing. |
| US09222831B2 |
Spectroscope
A spectroscope comprises a package provided with a light entrance part, a plurality of lead pins penetrating through a support part opposing the light entrance part in the package, a light detection unit supported on the support part within the package, and a spectroscopic unit supported on the support part within the package so as to be arranged on the support part side of the light detection unit. The light detection unit has a light transmission part for transmitting therethrough light incident thereon from the light entrance part. The spectroscopic unit has a spectroscopic part for spectrally resolving the light transmitted through the light transmission part while reflecting the light to a light detection part. The lead pins are fitted into fitting parts provided with the light detection unit and electrically connected to the light detection part. |
| US09222828B2 |
Downhole flow measurements with optical distributed vibration/acoustic sensing systems
A method of verifying a substance interface location during a cementing operation can include optically measuring vibrations caused by substances flowing across structures distributed along a wellbore, the vibrations being caused at each structure, and the vibrations changing at each structure as the interface displaces across the structure. A method of determining a property of at least one substance flowed in a wellbore can include optically measuring vibrations caused by the substance flowing across structures distributed along a wellbore, the vibrations being caused at each structure, and the structures having different shapes, thereby causing the vibrations at the structures to be different from each other when the substance flows across the differently shaped structures. |
| US09222827B2 |
Method and system for an ultra low power dosimeter
Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in an ultra low power dosimeter assembly. The ultra low power dosimeter assembly may comprise a low power voltage source and a table circuit. The table circuit may be adapted to convert an input voltage to a second voltage level. The second voltage level may correspond to noise dose. The ultra low power dosimeter assembly may also comprise a switch adapted to trigger a control circuit. The control circuit may provide progressive attenuation of an output signal as the second voltage level increases. In certain embodiments, the control circuit may also be adapted to send one or more warning signals to a user of the ultra low power dosimeter. The one or more warning signals may be sent when the control circuit determines the second voltage level has reached one or more pre-determined threshold voltage levels. |
| US09222825B2 |
Device for measuring liquid filling levels
The invention relates to a device (1) which uses ultrasound to measure the filling level for liquids in a tank (2). The device (1) consists of a housing (3) in which a piezoelectric disc (4) connected to a circuit board (5) and an energy store (6) is provided. A display unit (8) is arranged in the housing (3), and on the side of the piezoelectric disc (4) that faces the tank (2), the disc is given a layer (11) consisting of elastic material. |
| US09222821B2 |
Volumetric measurement
Disclosed is a method of determining a volume of liquid in a sample tube, comprising the steps of capturing an image of the sample tube, determining a first region of interest within the sample tube based upon pre-stored information concerning dimensional properties of the sample tube, scanning the first region of interest to detect the position of a meniscus indicative of an upper extent of the liquid, and using said meniscus position together with certain pre-stored properties of the sample tube to determine a volume of liquid in the tube, and outputting said volume. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the method. |
| US09222820B2 |
Self-leveling measuring device
A self-leveling measuring device is provided. The self-leveling measuring device includes at least two measuring devices each having a measuring cup. The two measuring devices are hinged together at one end so they swivel with respect to each other and are positioned such that the measuring cup of a first device is positioned opposite the measuring device of a second device when the two are positioned over each other. The upper measuring device acts as a leveler for ingredients contained in the lower measuring device by swiveling the upper device over the ingredient filled lower device measuring cup, and can also act as a cover for the ingredient filled lower measuring cup when positioned over the same. |
| US09222819B2 |
Tracking and controlling fluid delivery from chamber
Electrochemical impedance may be used for accurate and real-time tracking and control of fluid delivery from fluid-filled chambers, such as from drug delivery devices. At least two measurement electrodes may be placed within the chamber in contact with the fluid to be sensed. Application of a small alternating current using these electrodes through the fluid/drug may allow measurement of electrochemical impedance. Volumetric changes of the compressible chamber due to movement of at least one surface within the compressible chamber (such as an actuating bellows or flexible diaphragm), may induce changes in the measured electrochemical impedance. Measuring these changes may allow for tracking of ejected liquid volumes from the compressible chamber. By taking the time-derivative of this signal, the rate of volume change can be tracked and therefore the rate of ejected fluid (flow rate) can be deduced. |
| US09222816B2 |
Apparatus configured to detect gas usage, method of providing same, and method of detecting gas usage
In some embodiments, an apparatus can be configured to detect gas usage. The apparatus can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator, the sensing unit having: (1) at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first data signals; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first data signals to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the one or more first data signals to determine the gas usage. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09222813B2 |
Flow sensor and manufacturing method of the same and flow sensor module and manufacturing method of the same
Technique of suppressing performance variations for each flow sensor is provided. In a flow sensor FS1 of the present invention, a part of a semiconductor chip CHP1 is configured to be covered with resin (MR) in a state in which a flow sensing unit (FDU) formed on a semiconductor chip CHP1 is exposed. Since an upper surface SUR(MR) of the resin (MR) is higher than an upper surface SUR(CHP) of the semiconductor chip (CHP1) by sealing the resin (MR) on a part of the upper surface SUR(CHP) of the semiconductor chip CHP1 in a direction parallel to an air flow direction, the air flow around the flow sensing unit (FDU) can be stabilized. Further, interface peeling between the semiconductor chip (CHP1) and the resin (MR) can be prevented by an increase of contact area between the semiconductor chip (CHP1) and the resin (MR). |
| US09222812B2 |
Hybrid sensor system for gas flow measurements
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for measuring gas flow. A gas flow meter can include a plurality of sensors to detect a gas flow at various flow rates in the meter. A first sensor can detect a gas flow at a low flow rate and a second sensor can detect a gas flow when the flow rate is sufficient to produce an oscillating jet. The first sensor can be disposed parallel to the gas flow and detect the flow rate and the temperature of the gas flow. When the flow rate of the gas is below a predetermined threshold, power is supplied to the first sensor to detect gas flow. When the gas flow rate is high enough such that the gas flow produces an oscillating jet of fluid, power is supplied to the second sensor. The second sensor can detect the frequency of the oscillating jet flow. |
| US09222811B2 |
Flowmeter
Flowmeter for a fluid, comprising a duct unit which forms the ducts of the flowmeter, the duct unit having a plurality of ducts in a measurement region, and at least one measuring device being arranged in one of these ducts, the duct unit comprising a dividing device with one or more dividing stages for apportioning the fluid flowing into the flowmeter to the ducts, the or each dividing stage comprising at least one damming element which apportions fluid flowing through an inflow duct to at least two subducts, characterized in that the dividing device and/or an accelerating device, which is arranged in at least one of the ducts between the dividing device and measurement region, are/is designed to accelerate the fluid in such a way that the fluid has a first flow velocity upstream of the dividing device and in the measurement region a second flow velocity which is at least 1.5 times as high, in particular at least twice as high. |
| US09222810B1 |
In situ calibration of a light source in a sensor device
A sensor device is described herein, wherein the sensor device includes an optical measurement system, such as an interferometer. The sensor device further includes a low-power light source that is configured to emit an optical signal having a constant wavelength, wherein accuracy of a measurement output by the sensor device is dependent upon the optical signal having the constant wavelength. At least a portion of the optical signal is directed to a vapor cell, the vapor cell including an atomic species that absorbs light having the constant wavelength. A photodetector captures light that exits the vapor cell, and generates an electrical signal that is indicative of intensity of the light that exits the vapor cell. A control circuit controls operation of the light source based upon the electrical signal, such that the light source emits the optical signal with the constant wavelength. |
| US09222808B2 |
Scale for rotary encoder, method of injection-molding same, and rotary encoder using same
In a radial optical path type rotary encoder, in order to be able to reduce deterioration of resolution and variation among products due to burrs during molding and/or rounding of a die, a scale for a rotary encoder is provided with a scale body which is formed substantially in a cylindrical shape, the scale body having a side surface portion in which a light transmitting portion through which light passes and a light blocking portion by which light with a predetermined width in a circumferential direction is blocked are formed alternately in the circumferential direction, wherein the side surface on a light-incident side of the light blocking portion is formed outside a light transmittable region having an outer edge defined by a light beam tangent to the side surface of the light blocking portion amidst the light passing through the light transmitting portion, in a lateral cross-section view. |
| US09222807B2 |
Method and device for production of a magnetic position or path sensor element
A method is provided for producing a magnetic position or path sensor element, the magnetic position or path sensor element having at least one magnetic pathway that extends along a displacement path and that has a plurality of magnetic north-south transitions, as well as at least one magnetic sensor mounted so as to be movable relative to the magnetic pathway. At least one of the magnetic north-south transitions is defined as a critical north-south transition whose position is to be detected with a specified degree of precision. Adjacent to the critical north-south transition are situated magnetic poles having identical polarity. The method provides production reliability by reducing the sensitivity of the magnetic position or path sensor element to positional tolerances. |
| US09222806B2 |
Encoder
An encoder is configured for detection of rotational movement of a rotatable shaft in relation to a part of a machine, and a method is provided for generating a reference signal by an encoder. |
| US09222803B2 |
Metering and measuring point system for measuring and metering electrical energy and method
The invention relates to a metering and measuring point system for measuring and metering the electrical energy drawn off a connection device or fed in the connection device by a consumption and/or generation unit at a fixed geographical point, comprising (a) an identifiable stationary connection device as well as (b) an identifiable mobile or non-stationary functional unit, the latter comprising respective devices for (b1) detecting the identifier of the connection device, (b2) metering and measuring the electrical energy drawn off and/or fed in the recognized connection device, (b3) storing the determined metering and measuring data and the determined identifier of the respective connection device being used and (b4) reading out the stored data.The invention further relates to a method for mobile/non-stationary measuring, metering and billing/clearing of the electrical current. |
| US09222802B2 |
Sensor power management
A sensor power management arrangement includes a signal processing circuit configured to receive signal from a sensor, to test the signal against at least one criterion, and to pass the signal for further processing in response to the signal passing the at least one criterion. In this way, only signals that are of a sufficient importance or significance will consume the maximum amount of processing energy and through processing by later processes or circuitry. Should a signal from a sensor not be strong enough or meet other criteria, power will not be wasted in preparing that signal for provision to the microcontroller or microprocessor. Additional flexibility in the sensor power management can be realized by adjusting the criteria against which the sensor signal is compared based on a status of the sensor apparatus. |
| US09222800B1 |
Taxi information presentation system, device, and method
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for presenting taxi information to a pilot are disclosed. A processor receives aircraft taxi information; retrieves navigation reference and object data; generates an image data set as a function of the aircraft taxi information data and the navigation reference and object data; and provides the image data set to a display system. The image data set could be representative of an image in which one or more first location highlighters highlight the location(s) of one or more raised surface features that appear within an egocentric, perspective scene outside the aircraft. The one raised surface feature could be comprised of a raised surface boundary or a raised surface centerline. In an additional embodiment, the image could include one or more second location highlighters highlighting the location(s) of one or more raised surface transition features. |
| US09222797B2 |
Device, system and method of contact-based routing and guidance
Device, system and method of contact-based routing and guidance; for example, an apparatus including a route guidance information generator adapted to receive a plurality of personal contacts associated respectively with at least one of: a plurality of road-based addresses, or a plurality of latitude and longitude data items; and to generate route guidance information including a reference to at least one of said personal contacts. |
| US09222796B2 |
Map display system, map display method, and computer-readable storage medium
A map display system including a unit that stores map information including information about a facility icon, a display unit, a position detecting unit that detects a touch position on the screen of the display unit when the screen is touched, and a scroll control unit that performs follow scrolling in which a map image on the display unit is scrolled following movement of the touch position detected by the position detecting unit, and that performs inertial scrolling in which the map image is scrolled on the basis of a moving direction and speed of the touch position when touching the screen is released. When the facility icon is placed in a first given region having a center at a cursor displayed on the screen while the follow scrolling is being performed, the scroll control unit scrolls the map image so that the facility icon moves to a center position of the cursor and when the facility icon is placed in the first given region while the inertial scrolling is being performed, the scroll control unit continues the inertial scrolling. |
| US09222793B2 |
Communication-based navigation system
A communication-based navigation system that detects a traffic volume change and searches for a route. The system comprises terminal retaining geographic information and generating a route request and a traffic condition check request; traffic analysis server having at least one database corresponding to and in communication with the terminal; and service server receiving route request from the terminal for searching for route and transmitting searched route to the terminal and traffic analysis server, and relaying the traffic condition check request from the terminal to traffic analysis server. Traffic analysis server stores in database the searched route from service server and traffic conditions in the searched route and is responsive to the traffic condition check request signal for detecting traffic condition change from comparing a current traffic condition in the searched route with a previous traffic condition stored in the database and for transmitting the traffic condition change. |
| US09222789B2 |
Wayfinding method and device
An automatic wayfinding method for an ego or first vehicle is disclosed. The method includes receiving position information transmitted by at least one lead vehicle and constructing a route based on the received position information. |
| US09222787B2 |
System and method for acquiring map portions based on expected signal strength of route segments
Embodiments may include determining a navigation route between an origination and a destination; the route may span multiple portions of a map. Embodiments may also include receiving an order of priority in which to receive the multiple portions of the map; the order may be generated based on distinct levels of expected signal strength for each of the multiple portions. For instance, within the order of priority, map portions associated with areas of low signal strength may be ranked higher than areas of higher signal strength. Embodiments may also include acquiring at least some of the portions of the map according to the order of priority, and generating a map display comprising the multiple portions of the map. For instance, map portions associated with areas of poor reception may be downloaded first whereas map portions associated with strong signal strength may be downloaded on-the-fly during route navigation. |
| US09222786B2 |
Methods and systems for creating digital transportation networks
In a method for creating a digital representation of a transportation network, acquired probe traces are refined based on characteristics of the transportation network. Geographic objects associated with the transportation network are identified based on the refined probe traces. A digital geographic network is built based on the refined probe traces and identified geographic objects, and the digital representation of the transportation network is created by linking the identified geographic objects in the digital geographic network. |
| US09222780B2 |
System and method for determination and display of personalized distance
A system and method for determination and display of personalized distance. A request is received for the determination of a personalized distance over a network, wherein the request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and a plurality of real world entities comprising at least a starting location and an ending location. At least one route is determined between the first location and the second location. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. A personalized distance is calculated via the network between the first location and the second location using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route. A representation of the personalized distance calculated for the route is displayed on a display medium. |
| US09222774B2 |
Clinocompass for measuring strike and dip on irregular geological outcrop, and method of measuring strike and dip by using the same
Disclosed is a clinocompass for measuring a strike and a dip on an irregular geological outcrop and a method of measuring the strike and the dip by using the same. Since the level meter of the clinometer is supported by providing a support force and a fixing force on an irregular geological outcrop having no exposed flat plane, the clinocompass serves as a supporting member or a fixing member for the measurement of the strike and the dip on an irregular geological outcrop having no exposed flat plane. Accordingly, the clinocompass has a structure to measure the strike and the dip suitable for the geological structure and the orientation of the outcrop having no exposed flat plane, so that the strike and the dip are usefully measured. |
| US09222772B2 |
Rotary laser level with automated level calibration
A method of operating a rotary laser level includes actuating a drive system to level a laser assembly of a base unit of the rotary laser level, and emitting a laser beam from the rotating laser assembly after the laser assembly has been leveled. A first beam center position of the emitted laser beam is detected using a portable receiving unit. An initial level position is determined at the first beam center position, and the receiving unit is fixed at the first beam center position. The base unit is then rotated so the laser assembly is pointing away from the receiving unit and the laser assembly is leveled again. The laser beam is then centered on the receiving unit again and a current level position is determined. The current level position is compared to the initial level position to determine a state of calibration of a level position of the laser assembly based on the comparison. |
| US09222767B2 |
Display apparatus and method for estimating depth
A display apparatus and method may be used to estimate a depth distance from an external object to a display panel of the display apparatus. The display apparatus may acquire a plurality of images by detecting lights that are input from an external object and passed through apertures formed in a display panel, may generate one or more refocused images, and may calculate a depth from the external object to the display panel using the plurality of images acquired and one or more refocused images. |
| US09222765B2 |
Quantitative phase measurement apparatus
Provided is a small-sized quantitative phase measurement apparatus. The quantitative phase measurement apparatus 1 includes a reflective polarization splitting element 17. The reflective polarization splitting element 17 is disposed at a focusing position of the converging light L4, and performs splitting of the converging light L4 into two polarized beams having different polarization directions and reflection of the two polarized beams to form a first polarized beam L5 and a second polarized beam L6 both travelling toward the converging optical system 16. |
| US09222763B2 |
Coordinate measuring machine with constrained counterweight
A coordinate measuring machine has a measuring member for measuring a workpiece, a counterweight to control movement of the measuring member, and a pulley and cable system coupling the measuring member with the counterweight. The coordinate measuring machine also has a guide track, where the counterweight is movably secured to the guide track. The guide track substantially limits counterweight movement, relative to the measuring member, to one dimension. |
| US09222762B2 |
Decoys for infra-red radiation seeking missiles and methods of producing and using the same
The present invention relates to decoys for heat-seeking missiles and methods of producing and using the same. The decoys axe designed to be kinematic or pseudo-kinematic, producing one or more infra-red radiation emitting clouds that give the appearance of a moving infra-red target in the airspace in which the decoy has been released. |
| US09222760B2 |
Portable target apparatus
A portable target apparatus is disclosed that includes a main body and a first target plate adjacent the main body. The first target plate is operable to move independent of the main body when struck by at least one projectile. A support member is coupled to the first target plate and is operable to retain the main body in an upright position when the main body is struck by at least one projectile and move the main body from the upright position to a non-upright position when the first target plate is struck by at least one projectile. |
| US09222746B2 |
Trigger assembly for a fire arm
A trigger assembly for a fire arm including a breechblock moving between a base position and a charging position. The trigger assembly includes a catch lever moving between a resting position and a catch position. The trigger assembly includes a trigger element moving between a non-actuation and an actuation position to transfer the catch lever from the catch position into the resting position, and a release element moving between a hold position and a release position for releasing the catch lever. The release element is transferred from the hold position into the release position by the breechblock moving toward the charging position. The release element pivots about a release-element axis movable relative to the trigger element so the release element in the non-actuation position moves out of a movement space of the breechblock when the trigger is secured via a breechblock moving towards the base position. |
| US09222744B2 |
Apparatus and method for safe handling of striker-fired firearms
A safety apparatus for striker-fired weapons, mountable at the back end of the weapon's slide and comprising a spring loaded button associated with a ram bar, wherein, when the spring loaded button is actuated by a user, the ram bar temporarily displaces a component of the weapon's firing mechanism, such that, although the weapon's trigger can still move full range, discharge of the weapon is prevented and the weapon is thus temporarily in safe mode; and wherein, as soon as the user releases the spring loaded button, the spring loaded button returns to its position before actuation by the user, causing the ram bar to stop the temporary displacement of the component of the weapon's firing mechanism, the weapon being thus returned to its normal, ready-to-fire mode. |
| US09222739B1 |
Follower and methods for weapons magazine
A follower for a firearm magazine is provided. In some embodiments, the follower has: a platform shaped to interface with a firearm cartridge; a first side face extending longitudinally from the platform and having a first end opposing the platform; and a second side face extending longitudinally from the platform and having a second end opposing the platform. The first side face and the second side face may define a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of a magazine spring. At least one of the first end and the second end may have a nonlinear profile shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force. |
| US09222738B2 |
Ambidextrous charging handle for firearm
A charging handle for a firearm includes a T-handle with a receiving slot for a latch plate that pivots between latched and unlatched positions about a pivot pin. The latch plate includes a finger grip and a thumb pad that permit ambidextrous operation of the latch plate. A latch return assembly including a spring returns the latch plate to a latched position. |
| US09222737B1 |
Projectile launcher
This application relates to a projectile launcher in which the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber can be varied to shoot the projectile in a lethal or non-lethal mode. The amount of fuel determines the velocity at which the projectile is fired. A low velocity launch on the order of 150 feet per second will be non-lethal at all but very short distance whereas a high velocity launch on the order of 450 feet per second will be non-lethal at a typical range of 100-150 meters but may possibly be lethal at a range of the order of 30 meters or less. |
| US09222730B2 |
Method for forming and using a furnace roller assembly
A furnace roller assembly is formed with a helically shaped shaft-offset and metal product contact surface assembly wound around a furnace roller shaft. A corebuster may be provided within the furnace roller shaft to direct the flow of a coolant within the axial length of the furnace roller shaft and through a cooling element forming a part of the shaft-offset and metal contact surface assembly. |
| US09222725B2 |
Air separation method and apparatus
A compressed air stream is cooled to a temperature suitable for its rectification within a lower pressure heat exchanger and a boosted pressure air stream is liquefied or converted to a dense phase fluid within a higher pressure heat exchanger in order to vaporize pumped liquid products. Thermal balancing within the plant is effectuated with the use of waste nitrogen streams that are introduced into the higher and lower pressure heat exchangers. The heat exchangers are configured such that the flow area for the subsidiary waste nitrogen stream within the higher pressure heat exchanger is less than that would otherwise be required so that the subsidiary waste nitrogen streams were subjected to equal pressure drops in the higher and lower pressure heat exchangers. This allows the higher pressure heat exchanger be fabricated with a reduced height and therefore a decrease in fabrication costs. |
| US09222714B2 |
Beverage cooling device
A fluid cooling apparatus includes a first cooling portion have a first series of cooling elements with first cooling surfaces. A second cooling portion can have a second series of cooling elements with second cooling surfaces. The second cooling portion can be removably nested together with the first cooling portion such that the first and second cooling surfaces of respective first and second series of cooling elements can be positioned adjacent to each other with gaps therebetween to form cooling cavities for cooling fluid introduced into the cooling cavities. |
| US09222713B1 |
Ice machine with false bottom
The multi-level storage assembly for storing clean ice discretely from contaminated ice includes a housing that may contain ice. A panel is movably coupled to the housing. The panel defines an upper portion and a lower portion of an interior of the housing. The upper portion stores the clean ice. The lower portion stores the contaminated ice. A drain is coupled to the housing. |
| US09222709B2 |
Solar thermal air conditioning unit
A solar thermal air conditioning unit is provided. The solar thermal air condition unit includes a pressurized water tank with a water entrance port for receiving water. A copper coil tube may be within the pressurized water tank. The copper coiled tube may include a liquid refrigerant inlet and a gas refrigerant outlet. A solar heat converter may be connected to the pressurized water tank and may heat the water within the pressurized water tank, thereby heating the copper coil tube. The liquid refrigerant may be injected into the copper coil tube via the liquid refrigerant inlet and travels through the copper coil and is heated, thereby turning the liquid refrigerant to a gas refrigerant. |
| US09222708B2 |
Magnetic refrigeration device and magnetic refrigeration system
According to one embodiment, a magnetic refrigeration device includes magnetic bodies, a magnetic field application unit, a thermal storage medium, and a heat transfer unit. The magnetic bodies are arrayed at an interval. The application unit applies and removes a magnetic field to and from the magnetic bodies, respectively. The medium is arranged to face at least one of the magnetic bodies. The medium has no Curie point within a range of a temperature change of the magnetic bodies and removal. The heat transfer unit selectively brings the medium into thermal contact with the magnetic bodies or thermally isolates the medium from the magnetic bodies, and transfers heat from the magnetic bodies to the medium or from the medium to the magnetic bodies in synchronism with magnetic field application and removal. |
| US09222703B2 |
Optically active multilayer system for solar absorption
The present invention pertains to a composite material for use as a selective solar absorber with a carrier layer (1), wherein at least the following layers are present on a side (B) of the carrier layer: A reflection layer (3), an absorber layer (5) and a dielectric and/or oxidic antireflection layer (7), wherein a layer (4) consisting of a nitride, a carbide or a carbonitride of a metal or of a mixture of two or more metals from subgroup IV, V or VI is located between absorber layer (5) and reflection layer (3), and an optically active layer (6) consisting of a metal compound with stoichiometric composition is located between absorber layer (5) and the dielectric antireflection layer (7).In addition, the present invention pertains to a composite material for use as a selective solar absorber with a carrier layer (1) consisting of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, wherein an optically active layer (8), which reduces the reflection of the uncoated carrier material by at least 5% at a specific wavelength in λ the wavelength range between 200 nm and 10 μm and preferably between 200 nm and 2,500 nm during irradiation at a specific incidence angle and reduces the reflection of the uncoated carrier material by no more than 20% and preferably by no more than 5% in the wavelength range between 2.5 μm, is located on a side (A) of the carrier layer. |
| US09222701B2 |
Modular solar receiver and solar power plant comprising at least one such receiver
A solar receiver for a thermal power plant including a plurality of absorber modules, each absorber module including at least one face configured to be illuminated by a solar flux, wherein the modules are arranged side by side forming a paving. Each absorber module further includes its own fluid circuit in which a fluid to be heated by the solar flux can flow, the fluid circuits of the absorber modules being connected to one another. |
| US09222698B2 |
Heater for vaporizing liquids
A method of heating fluids that includes heating liquids within a lower portion of a vessel, using first immersion heaters and heating a gas within an upper portion of the vessel using second immersion heaters. Liquid levels in the lower portion of the vessel are controlled. Heating the gas includes heating gas within the upper portion of the common vessel within another vessel positioned within the upper portion of the common vessel. |
| US09222697B2 |
Water heater with centering thermal break support
A water heater is provided that includes a centering ring or thermal barrier that facilitates centering or alignment of the water tank while also diminishing heat loss through the bottom of the water heater. Features are provided with the bottom of the water heater and centering ring that can also improve the stability of the water heater when placed in a vertically upright position. |
| US09222696B2 |
Integrated water heating system with supply reservoir
An integrated water heating system is comprised of a hot water holding tank having an outer jacket secured in spaced relationship therearound. An insulating space is defined about the hot water holding tank and the outer jacket. A connecting bracket is secured to an outer surface of the hot water holding tank and has a projecting formation provided with an arcuate connecting wall spaced a predetermined distance from the outer surface for close fit adjacent an inner surface of the outer jacket and disposed for alignment with an external support bracket adapted to be secured thereto through the outer jacket. Thermal insulating material is disposed in the insulating space and about the connecting bracket. An external water heating device is removably supported by the external support bracket. A pump circulates water through the water heating device and through the hot water holding tank. |
| US09222691B2 |
Static roof ventilator
A roof ventilator including: a first module defining a first module passageway having a first passageway longitudinal axis. The first module including a first module louver support extending substantially parallel to the first passageway longitudinal axis and a first module louver for creating a draft within the first module passageway upon wind blowing onto the first module louver. The first module louver extending from the first module louver support, located peripherally relatively to the first module passageway. A second module attached to the first module, defining a second module passageway, in fluid communication with the first module passageway and defining a second passageway longitudinal axis. The second module including a second module louver support, extending substantially parallel to the second passageway longitudinal axis. A second module louver creates a draft within the second module passageway upon wind blowing onto the second module louver. The second module louver extending from the second module louver support located peripherally relatively to the second module passageway. A fastener operatively couples the first and second modules biasing the first and second module louver supports towards each other. |
| US09222689B2 |
Combined air conditioning and water generating system
An Air conditioning and potable water generating system in which a cooling element condenses water from atmospheric air is operable two switch between an air conditioning mode, in which cooled atmospheric air from which water has been extracted is supplied to a building's interior environment, and a water generating mode, in which communication of such supply air into the building interior is closed off. The system can thus be operated to collect water regardless of whether cooling of the building interior is required at a particular point in time. Use of the same cooling element in each mode provides and use of return air from the building to mix with incoming fresh air and cool the heat dissipating element of the cooling system make for efficient operation. Controls of the system are operable to change a mixture ratio of the fresh atmospheric air and circulating return air. |
| US09222688B2 |
Air conditioning control device, air conditioning control method and program
An air-conditioning control device controls a plurality of air-conditioners (indoor devices) disposed at different locations within a predetermined living room space. A data manager stores location information for each air-conditioner (indoor device). A distance calculator calculates a distance between respective air-conditioners (indoor devices) based on the location information. A control order setter sets, based on the distance between respective air-conditioners (indoor devices) calculated by the distance calculator, a control order of each air-conditioner (indoor device) on which energy-saving control is to be performed in such a way that time spans for performing the energy-saving control that controls respective air-conditioners (indoor devices) for a predetermined time to suppress power consumption in respective sections of the living room space are balanced. The control executer repeatedly executes the energy-saving control on each air-conditioner (indoor device) in accordance with the control order set by the control order setter. |
| US09222686B2 |
Apparatus for removing water vapor from an enclosure
An apparatus for removing humidity from an enclosure includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a diode, a transistor, a battery, a first electrode and a second electrode, a relay coil, a first electric generator, a second electric generator, a dehumidifier, a direct circuit for operating the dehumidifier manually. The first electrode and second electrode are arranged on a base. The base is an insulator (non-conductive) and hence the electrodes are not connected by the base. The arrangement of the electrodes is such that the first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode at a distance, preferably, less that 3 mm. The distance of less than 3 mm enables the water droplets to be collected between the two electrodes thereby connecting the first electrode to the second electrode. |
| US09222683B2 |
Supply air terminal device
A fresh airflow is conducted from a supply air chamber through nozzles into a ring-shaped mixing chamber. A circulated airflow is conducted from a room space into a cylindrical suction chamber inside a ring-shaped heat exchanger. From the suction chamber the circulated airflow travels through the heat exchanger into the mixing chamber. The nozzles are located in the upper part of the mixing chamber at a distance from each other on the periphery of at least one circle, whereby the mid-point of the circle is located on the vertical central axis of the supply air terminal device. The horizontal component of the direction vector of the fresh airflow discharging from each nozzle forms an angle β, which is in a range of 45-135 degrees, with the radius of said at least one circle, and the direction vector is directed downward, in relation to the horizontal plane at an angle α, which is in a range of 15-75 degrees, whereby a rotating airflow directed downward is formed in the mixing chamber. |
| US09222679B2 |
Earthquake resisting apparatus
An earthquake resisting apparatus includes a load transmitting member which has a surface area larger than an installation area of an installation object, a movement limiting member which is arranged between the load transmitting member and an installation floor, the movement limiting member being bonded to the load transmitting member and having a coefficient of static friction between the movement limiting member and the installation floor when a load acts on the installation object in a horizontal direction in a state in which the installation object is fixed to the load transmitting member, in which the coefficient is larger than or equal to a predetermined value, and a fastening part which connects the installation object and the earthquake resisting apparatus. |
| US09222677B2 |
Gas burner
Gas burner having at least two flame spreaders, at least one diffusion chamber between the flame spreaders for the diffusion of a primary air/gas mixture for at least one of the flame spreaders, and at least one cross-lighting duct for the flame passage between the flame spreaders. The duct is disposed transversally inside the diffusion chamber to define a first and a second region in the diffusion chamber and has two side walls and one upper wall, for the fluidic direct connection between the first and the second region of the diffusion chamber. The upper wall has at least one hole for the mixture inflow into the duct and the cross-lighting duct has at least one lower opening facing the upper wall of the cross-lighting duct. |
| US09222676B2 |
Supercritical or mixed phase fuel injector
An apparatus is disclosed including a main fuel supply fluidly coupled to a main fuel valve and an arcuate fuel passage receiving main fuel through the main fuel valve. The arcuate fuel passage includes a passage diameter and a radius of curvature which provides sufficient rotational acceleration to the main fuel such that a liquid portion of the main fuel is deposited on an outer wall of the arcuate fuel passage. The apparatus includes a fuel injector nozzle that receives the main fuel from the arcuate fuel passage, and injects the main fuel into a combustion chamber for a turbine engine. The apparatus further includes a pilot fuel supply fluidly coupled to a pilot fuel passage and a fuel selector structured to selectively provide the main fuel or the pilot fuel to the fuel injector nozzle. |
| US09222674B2 |
Multi-stage amplification vortex mixture for gas turbine engine combustor
A multi-stage vortex mixer for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a vortex amplifier stage in communication with a first stage amplifier, the vortex amplifier stage in communication with a dilution hole. |
| US09222672B2 |
Combustor liner cooling assembly
A combustor liner defining a combustor chamber is included. Also included is a cover sleeve spaced radially outwardly from and at least partially surrounding an aft end of the combustor liner, the cover sleeve and the combustor liner defining a cooling annulus. Further included is at least one aperture extending through the cover sleeve for routing a cooling flow to the cooling annulus. Yet further included is a perforated sleeve disposed between the cover sleeve and the combustor liner, wherein the perforated sleeve comprises a plurality of holes for impinging the cooling flow toward the combustor liner. |
| US09222671B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling the products of combustion
The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling a combustion reaction and the products thereof. One embodiment includes a combustion control system having an oxygenation stream substantially comprising oxygen and CO2 and having an oxygen to CO2 ratio, then mixing the oxygenation stream with a combustion fuel stream and combusting in a combustor to generate a combustion products stream having a temperature and a composition detected by a temperature sensor and an oxygen analyzer, respectively, the data from which are used to control the flow and composition of the oxygenation and combustion fuel streams. The system may also include a gas turbine with an expander and having a load and a load controller in a feedback arrangement. |
| US09222669B2 |
Gas combustor
The present invention relates to a gas combustor, comprising: a gas intake valve, the bottom of a valve tube axially formed in a valve member is installed with a filter member, a first spring is installed above the filter member and inside the valve tube, the top of a valve pin is protruded out of a tube opening formed at and communicated with the top of the valve tube, a plug outwardly protruded at the bottom of the valve pin is abutted against the first spring, the plug is enabled to seal the tube opening through the first spring being stretched, and when the top of the valve pin is axially subject to a force, the valve pin and the plug are downwardly moved, the first spring is compressed thereby enabling the tube opening to be opened. |
| US09222668B2 |
Low NOx burner apparatus and method
A burner apparatus for a furnace system and a method of burner operation. The burner has a series of fuel ejection structures which at least partially surround the burner wall for ejecting fuel into a combustion region projecting from the forward end of the burner wall. The ejection structures preferably eject fuel outside of the burner wall at alternating angles. Further, the burner apparatus preferably includes at least one additional series of fuel ejection structures which is spaced radially outward from the first series of ejection structures. |
| US09222664B2 |
Backlight unit and display device
Embodiments of the invention provide a backlight unit and a display device. The backlight unit comprises at least one light emitting component and at least one reflection support component, wherein the light emitting component comprises a plurality of element surfaces disposed obliquely and a plurality of luminophors disposed on the element surfaces, the reflection support component comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces disposed obliquely. |
| US09222661B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device may be provided that includes: a heat sink which includes a base and a projection extending from the base and having one side; a light source which includes a substrate disposed on the one side of the projection and a light emitting device disposed on the substrate; an optical plate disposed on the light emitting device; a driving part which is disposed on the base and is electrically connected to the light source; and a housing which receives the heat sink, the light source, the optical plate and the driving part, wherein the one side of the projection is disposed between a first point and a second point, wherein the first point indicates a half of the overall height of the housing, and wherein the second point indicates a minimum interval of 5 mm between the light emitting device and the optical plate. |
| US09222657B2 |
Vehicle lighting device
The present invention provides a vehicle lighting device that can set a wide output current without replacing a component such as a coli. An output current setting device 7 sets an output current setting signal 8 in such a manner that an output current 5 in accordance with a luminous flux of an LED 2 is outputted. The output current setting signal 8 is supplied to a frequency adjusting component 3a and an output current detecting component 3b. The frequency adjusting component 3a generates a triangle wave of a frequency based upon the output current setting signal 8, and supplies the triangle wave to an output adjusting-signal generating component 3c. The output adjusting-signal generating component 3c compares the triangle wave with a signal voltage that is outputted from the output current detecting component 3b to generate an output adjusting signal 6, which is supplied to a switching element 30. |
| US09222656B2 |
Conformal power adapter for lighted artificial tree
A conformal power adapter for insertion into a lighted artificial tree and for converting power received from an external power source to a power usable by the lighted artificial tree. The power adapter includes an elongated housing including a first end, and a second end; a printed circuit board assembly including power-converting circuitry for converting an input electrical power to an output electrical power for use by a lighted artificial tree having a hollow trunk section, the printed circuit board assembly located substantially within the elongated housing; a power cord secured to the first end of the housing and in electrical connection with the power converting electronics, the power cord adapted to transmit power from an external power source to the power-converting circuitry. The elongated housing enclosing the printed circuit board assembly is sized to fit substantially within the hollow trunk portion of the lighted artificial tree. |
| US09222652B2 |
Lighting module as a tool for connecting/disconnecting another lighting module
A lighting module (1) having a connection end (2) for connection to a lamp holder (3), and a light output end (4) for outputting light, wherein the lighting module (1), at the light output end (4), is provided with a mechanical interface comprising first (6) and second (7) protrusions extending in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis (13) of the lighting module and being configured to interact with corresponding protrusions (6′,7′) on an identical mechanical interface to transfer at least one of a rotational force and a pulling force to the lighting module (1), so that a device (1′) provided with such an identical mechanical interface can be used as a tool for connecting/disconnecting the lighting module (1). An advantage is that it is possible to utilize one lighting module as a tool to connect/disconnect another lighting module from a lamp holder. |
| US09222650B2 |
Switchable light-duct extraction
The disclosure generally relates to switchable light extractors and in particular to switchable light extractors useful for extracting light from light ducts used for interior lighting of a building. The disclosure also relates to lighting systems that include the light extractors, and methods of extracting light from a lighting system. The switchable light extractors generally include a first and a second reflective film, each having a plurality of voids that can aligned to extract light from a light duct. |
| US09222646B2 |
Luminous flux control member, light emitting apparatus, and illuminating apparatus
A luminous flux control member (120) has: a light input surface (121) having inputted thereto light that has been outputted from a light emitting element (110); a total reflecting surface (122) which totally reflects a part of the light inputted from the light input surface (121); and a light output surface (123), which outputs a part of the light inputted from the light input surface (121), and the light reflected by the total reflecting surface (122). The light output surface (123) of the luminous flux control member (120) has a substantially toroidal shape or a saddle-like shape. |
| US09222645B2 |
LED lighting assembly and method of lighting for a merchandise display
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a lighting assembly and method for illuminating a vertical planar area, such as a merchandise display. The lighting assembly can comprise two opposing support arms and a lighting bar extending between the two opposing support arms, a circuit board having a plurality of LEDs mounted to the inside of the lighting bar; and a plurality of reflective surfaces located adjacent to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of reflective surfaces are positioned such that the LEDs project a first light beam in a first direction and a second light beam in a second direction different than the first direction. |
| US09222642B2 |
Lamp with light guide lens for lateral illumination
A lamp with light guide lens for lateral includes a body, a light-emitting element, a light guide lens and a movable housing which are disposed on the body. When the movable housing moves until the light guide lens is located within the hole of a reflection cup of the movable housing, the lateral light from the light guide lens will be reflected by the reflection cup and emitted out of the front light-passing portion, when the movable housing moves until the light guide lens is not within the hole, and the lateral light-passing portion extends out of the body, the lateral light from the light guide lens will be emitted out of the lateral light-passing portion. |
| US09222641B2 |
Translucent conductive substrate for organic light emitting devices
A translucent conductive substrate (1) for Organic Light Emitting Device comprising, a transparent support (10), a scattering layer (11) formed over the transparent support (10) and comprising a glass which contains a base material (110) having a first refractive index for at least one wavelength of light to be transmitted and a plurality of scattering materials (111) dispersed in the base material (110) and having a second refractive index different from that of the base material and a transparent electrode (12) formed over the scattering layer (11), said electrode (12) comprising at least one metal conduction layer (122) and at least one coating (120) having properties for improving the light transmission through said electrode, said coating (120) comprises at least one layer for improving light transmission (1201) and is located between the metal conduction layer (122) and the scattering layer (11), on which said electrode (12) is deposited. |
| US09222636B2 |
Vehicle information transmission device
A vehicle information transmission device includes: a display device that displays light in a first mode at a position of a vehicle body, at which visual recognition of a certain object is prompted, when the visual recognition is prompted and that displays light in a second mode different from the first mode on the vehicle body when the visual recognition is not prompted or when the visual recognition is prompted; and a control unit that adjusts light in the second mode on the basis of light in the first mode when the visual recognition is prompted. |
| US09222634B2 |
Solar lighting apparatus and system thereof
A solar lighting apparatus and system, which is constructed into a street lamp, entrance lamp, garden lamp, nightlight, etc., includes a light emitting unit for providing illumination and a lighting apparatus body; a solar energy arrangement including a solar panel unit for light absorption and power supply; and a mounting plate; at least one ground supporting unit coupling with the mounting plate for securing the mounting plate onto a ground surface; and a light apparatus connecting unit provided through the mounting plate for firmly positioning the lighting apparatus, and a LED light control arrangement effectively controlling a power consumption in such a manner that the light emitting unit is arranged to being charged and discharged in a controlled manner and is protected against short circuit and overcharging, thereby maximizing power utilization, increasing lifespan and performance of the solar lighting apparatus. |
| US09222629B2 |
N-modulation for wide color gamut and high brightness
Techniques are provided to support a high dynamic range, high brightness, a wide color gamut, and high resolution in an imaging system. The imaging system may use a light source unit to sequentially emit light of different colors. Color-specific frames may be used to drive, directly or indirectly, multiple display panels that comprise at least one monochromatic display panel. Color bleeding and light bleeding may be prevented, or otherwise mitigated, in the imaging system by controlling the sequential emission of light by the light source unit and by controlling display portions of the display panels in the imaging system. |
| US09222628B2 |
Color temperature tunable LED-based lamp module
A light mixing and folding lamp includes an LED assembly with two or more LED chips that direct light into the ingress end of a light mixing rod. The light mixing rod is positioned to pass through an aperture in a concave second reflecting element, and mixed light emerges from the egress end of the light mixing rod, where it is directed toward a first reflecting element positioned near a focal point of the second reflecting element. The first reflecting element reflects mixed light emerging from the egress end of the light mixing rod, folding the mixed light back toward a concave reflecting surface of the second reflecting element. The second reflecting element reflects light from the first reflecting element forward, where the light emerges from the lamp directed toward a subject to be illuminated. |
| US09222627B2 |
Annulus shaped luminaire
An annulus shaped luminaire includes an annular structure that includes one or more luminous panels, and transition structure that couples a support structure of the luminaire with the annular structure. The one or more luminous panels emit light that illuminates an area adjacent to the luminaire. |
| US09222626B1 |
Light tube and power supply circuit
A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes an elongate tubular housing having first and second ends, first and second end caps disposed thereon, each configured to fit with a socket for the fluorescent light tube, and a rigid support structure having a planar portion having a first surface extending within the elongate tubular housing between the first and second ends and having spaced-apart sidewalls extending away from the first surface and extending within the housing between the first and second ends. At least a portion of the sidewalls are in contact with an interior surface of housing. A plurality of white light emitting diodes are supported only by a second surface of the planar portion opposite to the first surface and between the first and second ends, and are arranged to emit light through the housing. |
| US09222623B2 |
Devices and methods for manipulating deformable fluid vessels
A fluid container comprises a first vessel, a second vessel connected or connectable to the first vessel, and a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel. The container further includes a spherical opening element initially supported within the second vessel by the sealing partition and configured to be contacted with the sealing partition to open the sealing partition and permit fluid flow from the second vessel. |
| US09222622B2 |
Vessels with personnel access provisions
Embodiments of vessels include personnel access provisions having welded or otherwise permanent connections that substantially reduce the potential for leakage into or out of the vessels by way of the personnel access provisions. |
| US09222619B2 |
Apparatus for unloading CNG from storage vessels
Methods and apparatus for offloading CNG from high-pressure storage vessels (22) are provided. The methods and apparatus are operable to warm the offloaded CNG either before or after a letdown in pressure to ensure that the delivered product is gaseous and that delivery of condensed products to downstream equipment is avoided. Particularly, a heating assembly (32) configured to warm a stream offloaded from a vessel (22) and flowing through a coil-shaped conduit (84) by infrared energy emitted by one or more heating elements (70) is provided upstream or downstream of a pressure reduction device (50). |
| US09222618B2 |
Stepper motor driving a lubrication pump providing uninterrupted lubricant flow
Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication points via divider valves. A pump driven by a stepper motor to supplies lubricant at a varying rate which provides lubricant substantially uninterrupted at the lubrication point(s), and/or provides lubricant at a continuous non-constant flow rate which provides lubricant without interruption at the lubrication point(s), and/or provides lubricant at a constant flow rate which provides lubricant without interruption at the lubrication point(s). |
| US09222610B2 |
Clamp device
In a clamp device, a main clamp body includes an elongated tightening groove delimited by groove-forming wall sections. First and second lobe parts are disposed in the vicinity of end portions of two such tightening grooves. The main clamp body presents a ring shape when bolt and nut are mounted in position on the lobe parts disposed facing each other. Each of the lobe parts includes sidewall sections respectively contiguous to the groove delimiting wall sections that delimit the tightening groove. Each lobe part also includes a curved outer end wall section interconnecting the sidewall sections at an outer end of each lobe part and a seat surface wall section contiguous to the sidewall sections and to the outer end wall section. The seat surface wall section provides a bolt/nut seat surface. An arcuately shaped fulcrum part is formed on the curved outer end wall section of each lobe part. |
| US09222608B2 |
Resinous tube joint
A resin pipe joint including: a synthetic resin-made joint body including an inner cylinder portion, an external thread portion, and a radial groove m into which an end of a tube enters; and a union nut that is made of a transparentable fluorine resin, and the union nut including an internal thread portion, a seal peripheral edge which presses a tip end portion of a tube flared portion, a slipping-off prevention peripheral edge which is actable on a large-diameter portion of a flaring changing region, and a pressing inner peripheral portion which is externally fittable to a flared straight portion. |
| US09222606B2 |
Hydraulic supply hose including an integral tensile load member
A supply hose includes a core tube, a first layer, a second layer, and a sheath. The core tube defines a hollow interior that surrounds a central axis and is configured to transport fluid therethrough. The first layer and/or the second layer provide tensile strength to the supply line. The first layer is disposed about the core tube and includes a plurality of first fibers. The first fibers are braided about the core tube at a first angle, relative to the central axis. The second layer is disposed directly on the exterior surface of the first layer and includes a plurality of second fibers. The second fibers are braided about the exterior surface of the first layer at a second angle, relative to the central axis. The sheath may be disposed about the second layer. |
| US09222604B2 |
Seal device for conduit in a fuel dispensing unit
Embodiments of seal device prevent migration of vapor into compartments that house electronics in a fuel dispensing unit. These embodiments deploy about conduits in a vapor barrier to seal gaps between the conduit and opening in plates of the vapor barrier and/or other components that separate the electronics from fuel-handing components. In one or more embodiments, the sealing device forms a radial seal about the conduit and a planar seal with the vapor barrier, where the sealing device is configured to maintain the planar seal and to allow relative movement of the conduit with respect to the vapor barrier in the opening. This relative movement can occur as a result of connection of the conduit to the fuel-handling components, e.g., a motor that can change position due to operation and/or natural settling of the support structure that supports the motor in the dispensing unit. |
| US09222603B2 |
Cord support bracket
Sleeves are attached to a bracket bar to support multiple chords. The solid sleeves are mounted to the bracket bar in a substantially parallel orientation. The sleeves are configured to receive and support cords. Clamps may be attached to the sleeves and may secure the cords within the sleeves. |
| US09222596B2 |
Fault tolerant airflow control system
An airflow control system for controlling pressure and flow through a flow passage with an upstream portion and a downstream portion includes a valve actuator which receives electrical signals to control the opening and closing of the valve that is configured and arranged such that the system may operate in the event of loss of power. |
| US09222595B2 |
Hydraulically controlled storage chamber valve
A hydraulically controlled storage chamber valve includes a closing element that is biased via a first compression spring. The closing element seals a valve seat in a valve body. A tappet protrudes through a bushing in the valve body and is movable by an accumulator piston that is loaded by a second compression spring that is configured to push the closing element out of the valve seat when a specified force ratio is present between spring bias forces and a hydraulically acting force. The tappet is fastened in a region of the bushing such that the tappet is movable in a longitudinal direction and lies flush with a face of the accumulator piston while moving. |
| US09222590B2 |
Ventilating and evacuating valve for conduit pipes and/or braces
The present invention relates to a ventilating and evacuating valve for fluid-guiding conduit pipes or braces. The valve includes a valve mechanism and a floating body which acts on the valve mechanism. The valve mechanism includes a valve body which can be moved into different opening or closing positions in order to open and close a valve outlet; a diaphragm cup; and a roll diaphragm which is arranged between the valve body and the diaphragm cup and can come to rest in different opening or closing positions over aperture openings of the valve body. The valve also includes a channelling mechanism which is configured to guide an evacuating flow past the valve mechanism. |
| US09222582B2 |
Main valve with internal rigid structure
A valve assembly is described herein that includes a valve plate and a main valve contacting the valve plate, the main valve having an internal rigid structure and an outer shell, the internal rigid structure having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface. |
| US09222578B2 |
Electro-hydraulic control system diagnostics
Various embodiments of methods, apparatus and systems that diagnose and/or detect faults of an electro-hydraulic control system for a transmission are presented. Some embodiments, adjust a main line pressure of the electro-hydraulic control system and detect faults based upon changes in a pressure switch resulting from such adjustments of the main line pressure. The pressure switch may be incorporated into a control main valve or a clutch trim valve of the electro-hydraulic control system. |
| US09222572B2 |
Belt driving mechanism, belt driving apparatus, and pulley
A belt driving mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys and a belt wound around the pulleys and made of a metallic material. The pulleys include a driving pulley and a driven pulley. At least one of the pulleys includes an air supply portion. The air supply portion supplies an air from the interior of at least one of the pulleys toward the belt wound around the pulleys. |
| US09222571B2 |
Temperature management system for transmission using split engine cooling
A system for thermally managing a transmission having a transmission heat exchanger, wherein the transmission is coupled to an engine having a block and a head. A closed cooling circuit is provided to flow coolant through the system. A block output valve is provided for receiving coolant exiting the block and having a first outlet in fluid communication with the transmission heat exchanger and a second output connected to a bypass. Thermosensors may also be provided to determine the temperature of the block and the transmission. A system having a controller to thermally manage a transmission is also provided. A method of thermally managing a transmission is also provided. |
| US09222568B2 |
Bicycle power train cogs
A debris venting cog particularly useful for belt driven bicycle power train systems. The cog includes an outer circumferential surface that is shaped to drivingly interact with a flexible drive member such as a belt. The cog includes a number of cavities that are each shaped to interact with a tooth of the belt. A vent fluidly connects at least one cavity to atmosphere and is shaped to direct debris that can accumulate in the cavity or the belt in a radially inward and lateral direction so as to maintain a desired driving interaction between the belt and the cog. |
| US09222564B2 |
Lock-up device for torque converter
A lock-up device basically includes a piston, a first plate, a second plate, a plurality of outer peripheral side torsion springs and a plurality of inner peripheral side torsion springs. The piston is configured to press a friction member that is fixed to a lateral surface of the piston onto a front cover or release pressing of the friction member. Further, the piston has a plurality of engaging portions formed by partially bending the piston towards the turbine. The second plate is coupled to the turbine. The outer peripheral side torsion springs are disposed between the piston and the first plate. The outer peripheral side torsion springs are configured to transmit torque from the piston to the first plate while the circumferential ends thereof are engaged with the engaging portions of the piston. |
| US09222563B2 |
Manual transmission of a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle
A hybrid drive manual transmission, for a motor vehicle, having two input shafts (GE1, GE2) and one common output shaft. The first shaft (GE1) can connect with a combustion engine drive shaft and can drive the output shaft via a first group of gearwheel sets. The second shaft (GE2) can connect with an electric machine and, via a second group of gearwheel sets, the output shaft. The input shafts (GE1, GE2) can connect with one another via a coupling device. For inexpensive production, the transmission is derived from a double clutch transmission having a hollow input shaft (GE2) and a coaxial inner input shaft (GE1) and a coupling device of which comprises a gear step and/or a shiftable clutch, which replaces that gearset and associated gear clutch. The gearset of the underlying double clutch transmission is allocated to first input shaft (GE1) and adjacent the gear-side end of shaft (GE2). |
| US09222562B2 |
Output member and multi-shaft driving device
To provide a multi-shaft driving device that aims for a lightening of weight and lowering of cost as compared with conventional structures. In a structure in which, when a movable shaft (40) is slidably installed at an output shaft (20) and advances toward an input-side bevel gear (14), an output-side bevel gear (50) of a distal end side of the movable shaft (40) meshes-together with the input-side bevel gear (14), and the movable shaft (40) rotates and rotation of this movable shaft (40) is transmitted to the output shaft (20), the movable shaft (40) and the output-side bevel gear (50) are molded integrally of resin, and the output shaft (20) also is formed of resin, and the movable shaft (40) is slidably exteriorly placed on an outer peripheral side of the output shaft (20). |
| US09222561B2 |
Transmission for use in shredding machines
A transmission for shredding machines includes a drive shaft, a driven shaft, and an intermediate shaft, with at least two spur gears each, at least one hydraulic shift clutch each, and at least one overload clutch. The shafts can releasably be coupled with each other via the spur gears and the hydraulic shift clutches, and the driven shaft can releasably be coupled with an output shaft by way of the overload clutch. |
| US09222553B2 |
Multi-speed gearbox
A multi-speed transmission includes four planetary gear sets, eight rotatable shafts and six shifting elements. The eight rotatable shafts include an input shaft and an output shaft. Selective actuation of the six shifting elements brings about different transmission ratio relationships between the input shaft and the output shaft of the eight rotatable shafts. |
| US09222551B2 |
Transmission
A racing transmission that is lightweight and simplistic. The racing transmission features a low gear, reverse gear, neutral and a direct drive gear. The transmission utilizes a drive shaft; two sets of planetary gears and a common sun gear. The transmission disclosed herein does not use a countershaft to accomplish low and reverse. This transmission can be with an external clutch. |
| US09222549B2 |
Multi-speed transmission
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. One of the torque transmitting devices includes a friction clutch disposed in parallel with a binary clutch. |
| US09222544B2 |
Device for mechanical vibration decoupling
A device is disclosed for mechanical vibration decoupling having two bearing ends to which bodies for reciprocally decoupling vibrations are joined which are interconnected by couplings having a variably adjustable stiffness. The couplings comprise at least three spring beam elements each having a spring beam surface from which a normal vector extends and which are each dimensionally stable in a longitudinal direction and are elastical orthogonal to the spring beam surface. The at least three spring beam elements are disposed spatially relative to each other so that normal vectors thereof are each orientated at an angle α relative to each other with α=90°±30°. |
| US09222538B2 |
Shock absorber having unidirectional fluid flow
A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from a cap side chamber to a rod side chamber. An adaptive flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area by varying the fluid pressure supplied to the flow regulator. |
| US09222532B2 |
Brake carrier
A brake carrier for a heavy vehicle disc brake includes an actuating side carrier portion including a support for an actuating side brake pad having a first material having a first property. The brake carrier also includes a separate reaction side carrier portion having a support for a reaction side brake pad for securement to the actuating side carrier portion. The actuating side carrier portion includes a first material having a first property, and the reaction side carrier portion includes a second material having a second property, wherein the second property differs from the first property. |
| US09222531B2 |
Vehicle transmission with tie-up monitoring logic
A vehicle includes a prime mover, transmission, and controller. The transmission, e.g., a DCT or 8-speed automatic transmission, includes an input member, an output member, gear sets, and a plurality of clutches. The controller monitors the transmission for a threshold tie-up condition via a method, which includes processing clutch control input signals and a gearbox status signal to identify the clutches involved in a present operating mode of the transmission, e.g., a shift, neutral, or fixed gear. The controller determines the torque capacity of each involved clutch, compares the determined clutch torque capacities to respective calibrated clutch torque capacities, and executes a control action in response to a threshold tie-up condition. The threshold tie-up condition is present when the determined clutch torque capacities exceed the calibrated clutch torque capacity for at least one of the involved clutches for longer than a calibrated duration. |
| US09222528B2 |
Overrunning clutches
In at least one illustrative embodiment, a clutch may comprise an outer race, an inner race, and an engagement assembly disposed in a space located radially between the outer and inner races. The engagement assembly may comprise a plurality of locking members and a biasing shoe frictionally engaged with one of the outer race and the inner race. The locking members may be configured to move with the biasing shoe within the space between an unlocked position, in which the locking members are free to move relative to the outer race and to the inner race, and a locked position, in which the locking members are wedged between the outer and inner races to couple the outer and inner races for rotation together. |
| US09222521B2 |
Torque limiting tolerance ring
A torque limiting tolerance ring that is configured to be installed between an inner component and an outer component is disclosed. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can have a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section and a plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall. The projections can be configured to engage the inner component or the outer component. During use, the torque limiting tolerance ring can move from an engaged configuration, in which the inner component is statically coupled to the outer component, to a disengaged configuration, in which the inner component is disengaged from the outer component. |
| US09222518B2 |
Device for centering a bearing ring in a holding element
A centering assembly (100; 200; 400) serves to center a bearing ring (123; 423) in a circular opening (111) of a holding element (110; 210; 510; 610). The centering assembly (100; 200; 400) includes at least three centering elements (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 601) that are each elastically deformable in the radial direction of the bearing ring. The centering elements (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 601) are respectively disposed in recesses (114; 214; 514; 614) defined around a circumferential edge of the circular opening. The centering elements urge the bearing ring to be centered relative to the holding element. |
| US09222516B2 |
Rolling bearing, throttle valve apparatus, and anti-lock brake system
The sealing performance against positive and negative pressures is increased and sufficient air tightness against pressure fluctuations is maintained in a rolling bearing having a sealing function. Seal members are provided on both ends of a bearing. The seal members include a metal core and an elastic body, and are fixed to an outer ring. Outside and inside lip parts of the seal members contact an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring. When a positive pressure acts on the outside of the seal member, the outside lip part is pressed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring, and the air tightness is maintained. When a negative pressure acts, the inside lip part is pressed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring by the differential pressure between the outside and inside of the rolling bearing, and the air tightness is also maintained. |
| US09222514B2 |
Securing element, a steering bearing comprising a securing element, and a steering column comprising a steering bearing and a securing element
A securing element (1, 11, 12, 13, 14) made of sheet metal with an annular body (3, 12a, 26) and with holding tongues (4, 41, 42, 43, 44) which emerge from the annular body (3, 12a, 26) and end at a hole (6) in the securing element (1, 11, 12, 13, 14), which hole is centered with respect to the center axis (5) of the securing element (1, 11, 12, 13, 14), wherein the hole (6) leads axially in the same direction as the center axis (5) through the securing element (1, 11, 12, 13, 14) and, at radial narrowest hole cross sections of the hole (6), is bounded at least by end edges (7, 71, 72, 73, 74) formed on the end sides of the holding tongues (4, 41, 42, 43, 44). |
| US09222509B2 |
Wing foil bearings and methods of manufacturing same
A wing foil bearing may include one or more wing or tab foil layers. A tab foil layer may comprise a thin material with a two-dimensional array of tab shapes. A tab shape may be defined by a boundary of material separated from the thin material and having an integral edge and a free edge. Tab shapes may include one or more free-state bends relative to the thin material, forming a two-dimensional array of cantilever wings or tabs. Tab arrays may be one or more of various types or two-dimensional arrays, and a tab foil layer may include additional tab arrays and tabs. One or more tab foil layers may be engaged with a mounting surface layer and a counter-surface layer to form a wing foil bearing. Tab foil layers may be stacked and or nested, including partial nesting and complete nesting. |
| US09222505B2 |
Thrust bearing
A thrust bearing including a back metal layer and a sliding layer joined to a front face of the back metal layer. The thrust bearing having a thickness. The back metal layer includes an intermediate sub-layer and a buffer sub-layer disposed on a back face of the back metal layer. The sliding layer is joined to the intermediate sub-layer. Both of the sub-layers include iron or an iron alloy, and the buffer sub-layer has a thickness of 2 to 20% relative to the thickness of the thrust bearing, and a porosity ratio of 10 to 50%. |
| US09222503B2 |
Support system for a support rail
A support system for a support rail includes at least one clamping frame and at least one block-type fastening element. The at least one block-type fastening element is disposed on and fastened to a top surface of the support rail and is mounted in the at least one clamping frame. |
| US09222501B2 |
Detachable linking system for two components
The system of the present method, system, and device comprises a mechanism for linking components including: a rod having a widened and elastically deformable end; an axially movable needle; and a body surrounding the interacting ends of said rod and said needle; and a control device acting on said needle and capable of switching said widened elastically deformable end from an open position to a closed position. |
| US09222499B2 |
Attaching structure using clips
An attaching structure using a clip for attaching an article of a vehicle to a panel secured to a vehicle body in a condition in which an article body of the article is inserted into an opening formed in the panel, may include an engagement portion formed in the article body, and a retainer portion formed in the clip and capable of being connected to the article body via the engagement portion. The engagement portion and the retainer portion are arranged and constructed such that the retainer portion can overlap a periphery of the engagement portion when the retainer portion is connected to the article body via the engagement portion. |
| US09222498B2 |
Lifting bar and lifting bar connector
A patient lift connector for attaching and detaching a patient lifting bar to a load supporting member in a patient lifting system is described. The connector includes a connector body including a connecting block configured to be fixedly attached to the patient lifting bar. The connector also includes a pin holder coupled to the load supporting member and configured to be inserted through the connector body and into the connecting block, and an attachment latch secured to the connector body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the connector body. When the attachment latch moves from the closed position to the open position, the pin holder is allowed to be inserted into the connecting block and thereby allow the lifting bar to be attached to the load supporting member. |
| US09222497B2 |
Method and apparatus for suspending duct by inserted corner members
An air transport duct, and sections of such duct, capable of connection to a support by support members and attachment members formed from two mating members. Each section has two terminal open ends and a flange disposed around each open end for connection to a flange of an adjacent section. Each flange includes two relatively transverse receiving channels adjacent to a corner of the flange, and an insertable corner member positioned into the channels. The corner member is attached to the flange by a load-bearing connection, and can support a predetermined portion of a weight of the duct by connection of the corner member to a first mating member connectable to a second mating member secured to a corresponding support member. A method of connecting a duct to a support by forming a load-bearing connection between a corner member and a flange. |
| US09222492B2 |
Fluid cooling device
A fluid cooling device (1) as a structural unit has a drive motor (2) driving a rotatable fan impeller (3) and has a storage tank (4) with a filling opening (6) and a fill-level indicator (7). Fluid can be conveyed from the tank into a hydraulic working circuit. In the hydraulic working circuit, the fluid is heated and is cooled via a heat exchanger (5) of the structural unit, and returned into the storage tank (4). The structural unit is designed as a turning assembly in which the filling opening (6) for fluid and the fill-level indicator (7) are disposed on the storage tank (4) such that they can be used and read in a first vertical installation direction (X, Y) of the structural unit, and in a second installation direction (Y, X) inclined with respect to the first installation direction (X, Y), preferably at a right angle. |
| US09222473B2 |
Passive pressure regulation mechanism
A pump system including a drive mechanism that provides a pumping force, a primary pump including a first pump cavity, an actuating element in reciprocal relation with the first pump cavity, and an outlet fluidly connected to a reservoir, a force translator that facilitates pump force transfer from the drive mechanism to the actuating element, a pressure regulation mechanism including a reciprocating pump that includes a pump chamber including an inlet manifold fluidly connected to the reservoir, a valve located within the inlet manifold, and a reciprocating element in reciprocal relation with the pump chamber. The pressure regulation mechanism preferably passively ceases force transfer from the drive mechanism to the primary pump based on the pressure of the reservoir. |
| US09222462B2 |
Wind turbine
A wind turbine includes a turbine housing, a turbine wheel system housed in the turbine housing, and a wind power converting system for converting kinetic energy generated by the turbine wheel system into electrical energy. The turbine wheel system includes a turbine rotor being driven to rotate circumferentially around an interior of the turbine housing, and a rail frame guiding a rotational movement of a turbine rotor. The wind turbine not only allows airflow to move across and through the turbine wheel system but also allows airflow to be directed and exhausted to maximize and control energy generation. The wind turbine is able to efficiently convert wind power to electrical power via a turbine wheel system which allows for the load generated to be distributed across the circumference of the turbine wheel system instead of localized in the center as the traditional wind turbine. |
| US09222457B2 |
Wave energy concentration using water wave band gap structure with defect cavities
According to embodiment of the disclosure, a wave energy harvesting system comprises a water wave band gap structure (WWBGS) and one or more energy conversion devices. The water wave band gap structure (WWBGS) comprises an array of posts with one or more missing posts that define a defect cavity. The one or more defect cavities are configured to concentrate energy of water waves. The one or more energy conversion devices are positioned in or adjacent to one of the one or more defect cavities and are configured to convert the energy from the water waves into another form of energy. |
| US09222451B2 |
Injection valve comprising a transmission unit
An injection valve for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine may include an actuator and an injection needle associated with a sealing seat. A hydraulic transmission unit may establish an effective connection between the actuator and the injection needle. The transmission unit may include two movable pistons, between which a movable pot is arranged. The movable pot may be guided within another stationary pot. The first piston may be guided through the bottom of the other pot, and the second piston is guided within a sleeve section of the pot. A first chamber may be formed between the other pot and pot, and a second chamber may be formed between pot and the second piston. The two chambers may be interconnected via at least one duct. One piston may be effectively connected to the injection needle, while the other piston may be effectively connected to the actuator. |
| US09222450B2 |
Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems
Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems are described herein. An example pressure relief apparatus includes a pressure relief system coupled to a body of a fuel cap to define a first side of the body and a second side of the body. The pressure relief system comprises a plurality of fluid valves to enable fluid flow from the first side of the body to the second side of the body when a first pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the first side to the second side is greater than a first reference pressure and to enable fluid flow from the second side of the body to the first side of the body when a second pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the second side to the first side is greater than a second reference pressure. |
| US09222448B2 |
Air intake system for a work vehicle with improved fan aspiration
In one aspect, an air intake system for a work vehicle may generally include a fan shroud, a fan disposed within the fan shroud, an intake duct for receiving a portion of the air drawn through a front grille of the work vehicle by the fan and a filter assembly in flow communication with the intake duct. The filter assembly may include a pre-cleaner defining a scavenge port. The system may also include an aspiration conduit coupled to the scavenge port and an aspiration scoop extending between an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end may be coupled to the aspiration conduit. The aspiration scoop may extend through a portion of the fan shroud such that the outlet end is positioned within the fan shroud at a location upstream of the fan. The outlet end may include an outlet opening defined by at least one curved wall. |
| US09222446B2 |
Fuel storage system for a vehicle
An evaporative emission control system for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a diurnal control module coupled to a vapor exhaust line running between the fuel tank and an activated carbon canister. A purge line is coupled to the canister and is open to atmospheric pressure. The purge line includes a breathing loss accumulator that collects fuel vapors expelled from the canister during diurnal thermal expansion. The diurnal control module closes fluid communication between the fuel tank and the canister when the fuel tank is not being refueled to maintain the fuel tank in a pressurized condition and the canister in a non-pressurized condition. |
| US09222444B2 |
Apparatus and method of determining a leak condition of a fuel system
A portion of a fuel system of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a motor-generator-starter connected to an engine. The fuel system includes a fuel tank connected to the engine. The portion of the fuel system includes an evaporative emissions system and an evaporative emissions leak check system connected to the evaporative emissions system. The evaporative emissions leak check system includes a vacuum source. The vacuum source includes the motor-generator-starter connected to the engine. The motor-generator-starter actuates the engine when the vehicle is operated in a non-moving, keyed-off condition for creating a vacuum within an intake manifold of the engine. A method is also disclosed. |
| US09222443B2 |
Method for purging fuel vapors to an engine
A method for improving purging of fuel vapors from a fuel vapor storage canister to an engine is presented. In one example, the method adjusts engine operation to provide sonic flow between a canister and the engine. In this way, it may be possible to lower an amount of fuel vapors stored in a canister while the engine continues to operate efficiently. |
| US09222440B2 |
One-step starting carburetor
A one-step starting carburetor system includes a body, a middle body, a fuel inlet pipe, a fuel outlet pipe, a lower cover and a temperature controller which is connected to the lower cover. The fuel inlet pipe pumps fuel from an oiler through the pipe. The fuel outlet pipe connects with an oil pumping unit through a pipe. The body connects with a pulse generator through a pipe, wherein the pulse generator comprises a pulse generating chamber, a cover, and a solenoid valve. |
| US09222439B2 |
Rocket engine with cryogenic propellants
A cryogenic-propellant rocket engine includes: at least a first tank for a first liquid propellant; a second tank for a second liquid propellant; a third tank for an inert fluid; an axisymmetrical nozzle including a combustion chamber, a device for injecting first and second liquid propellants into the combustion chamber, a nozzle throat, and a divergent section; and a heater device including at least one duct for conveying the inert fluid and arranged outside the nozzle in immediate proximity thereof, but without making contact therewith, to recover energy of thermal radiation emitted when the rocket engine is in operation and to heat the inert fluid. |
| US09222435B2 |
Stirling engine with humidity control
A stirling engine 10A includes: cylinders 22 and 32; pistons 21 and 31, gas lubrication being performed between the corresponding cylinders 22 and 32 and the pistons 21 and 31; a crankcase 62 that is provided with a crankshaft 61 converting a reciprocating movement of the pistons 21 and 31 into a rotational movement; and a cooler 45 that cools a working fluid performing expansion work, wherein a start timing is adjusted based on an internal humidity of the crankcase 62. |
| US09222433B2 |
Genset fuel injection system
An apparatus includes a recreational vehicle genset having an engine and a generator. The apparatus includes a fuel injection system having a primary fuel reservoir, a secondary fuel reservoir, and a fill pump that receives fuel from a primary fuel reservoir and is fluidly coupled to the secondary fuel reservoir at the pump outlet. The apparatus includes a reservoir fuel indicator that provides a fuel amount signal corresponding to the fuel in the secondary fuel reservoir, and a pressure regulator that relieves pressure in the secondary fuel reservoir at a threshold relief pressure. The apparatus includes an injection pump that provides pressurized fuel from the secondary fuel reservoir to a fuel injector for the engine. The apparatus further includes a controller having a pump regulation module that interprets the fuel amount signal, and that selectively provides a fill pump operation command in response to the fuel amount signal. |
| US09222432B2 |
Path planning during combustion mode switch
Systems and methods are provided for transitioning between a first combustion mode and a second combustion mode in an internal combustion engine. A current operating point of the engine is identified and a target operating point for the internal combustion engine in the second combustion mode is also determined. A predefined optimized transition operating point is selected from memory. While operating in the first combustion mode, one or more engine actuator settings are adjusted to cause the operating point of the internal combustion engine to approach the selected optimized transition operating point. When the engine is operating at the selected optimized transition operating point, the combustion mode is switched from the first combustion mode to the second combustion mode. While operating in the second combustion mode, one or more engine actuator settings are adjusted to cause the operating point of the internal combustion to approach the target operating point. |
| US09222430B2 |
Multicore processor and onboard electronic control unit using same
A multicore processor according to the invention has a plurality of cores. The plurality of cores are configured to operate at an operation clock with a frequency varying periodically with the same period, and a variation phase of a frequency of the operation clock of each core of the plurality of cores is shifted by a predetermined amount among the plurality of cores. |
| US09222429B2 |
Engine control system having a cam phaser
A control system for a gaseous-fueled engine is disclosed. The gaseous-fueled engine may have an intake valve mechanically driven by a camshaft. The control system may have a variable valve timing device configured to adjust a cyclical opening and closing timing of the intake valve. The control system may further have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the engine and a controller in communication with the variable valve timing device and the sensor. In addition, the controller may be configured to selectively initiate a first Miller Cycle timing and a second Miller Cycle timing based on the signal. |
| US09222426B2 |
Transient air flow control
Embodiments for controlling cylinder air flow are provided. In one example, a method for controlling airflow into a cylinder of an engine comprises, if a previous cylinder airflow is different than a desired cylinder airflow, allocating flow into an intake manifold between a throttle and an EGR valve to provide the desired cylinder airflow while maintaining a desired EGR amount in the cylinder. In this way, transient air flow requests may be met without delay while maintaining desired cylinder EGR amounts. |
| US09222419B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine including valve stop mechanism
A control apparatus which is capable of determining an abnormality of a stopping operation of an exhaust valve without using a dedicated sensor for detecting the abnormality in an internal combustion engine including a valve stop mechanism capable of maintaining the exhaust valve and an intake valve in a valve closed state is provided. It is discriminated whether or not there is a change to a rich side of a air fuel ratio of gas detected by a main A/F sensor at the time of a fuel cut for all the cylinders associated with a valve stop request for the exhaust valves and intake valves of all the cylinders. Then, when it is discriminated that there is the change to the rich side of the air fuel ratio of the gas, it is determined that the stopping operation of the exhaust valve is not performed in a normal manner in at least one cylinder. |
| US09222418B2 |
Fuel feed circuit with hydraulic actuator and fuel metering unit for an aeroengine
A fuel feed circuit for an aeroengine, the circuit including a high-pressure pumping system including first and second positive displacement pumps, a hydraulic actuator, and a fuel metering unit. As a function of a position of a slide of the actuator, a feed orifice of the actuator may be connected to a high-pressure delivery orifice connected to an outlet of the second pump, or to a low-pressure delivery orifice connected to a low-pressure feed line. The fuel metering unit includes through sections, one of these through sections being connected to an outlet of the high-pressure pumping system and the other through section being connected to an outlet of the high-pressure pumping system and leading to a high-pressure pilot chamber of the hydraulic actuator. |
| US09222416B2 |
Turbine engine gearbox
A gas turbine engine comprises a fan, a compressor, a combustor, and a fan drive turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine drives the fan through a gear reduction. The gear reduction includes at least two double helical gears in meshed engagement. Each of the at least two double helical gears are disposed to rotate about respective axes, and each have a first plurality of gear teeth axially spaced from a second plurality of gear teeth by a spacer. Each of the first plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the spacer and each of the second plurality of gear teeth has a first end facing the spacer. Each first end of the first plurality of gear teeth is circumferentially offset from each first end of the second plurality of gear teeth. A method is also disclosed. |
| US09222414B2 |
Fuel supply system for gas turbine combustor and fuel supply method for gas turbine combustor
A consumption amount of high-calorific gas such as coke oven gas (COG) during operation of a gas turbine is reduced, halt of the gas turbine due to clogging of a pilot system, a malfunction of a compressor which compresses high-calorific gas is prevented, and reliability of the gas turbine is improved. When operation of the gas turbine (11) starts, with use of both a first fuel supply system (31) which supplies a high-calorific fuel for a first nozzle constituting a combustor (17), and a second fuel supply system (32) which supplies a low-calorific fuel for a second nozzle constituting the combustor (17), the high-calorific fuel and the low-calorific fuel are supplied to the combustor (17), and at a time when the gas turbine (11) reaches output power which enables continuous operation with only the low-calorific fuel, supply of the high-calorific fuel to the combustor (17) is shut off, and only the low-calorific fuel is supplied to the combustor (17). |
| US09222412B2 |
Method and a device for performing a check of the health of a turbine engine of an aircraft provided with at least one turbine engine
A method of automatically performing an engine health check for checking the health of at least one turbine engine of an aircraft. During flight, the stability of at least one monitoring parameter is verified by acquiring a measurement signal, by performing first filtering of each signal by a high-pass filter over a long first duration (TPS1) and by verifying that a first amplitude (A1) of the signal filtered in this way does not exceed a first threshold defined by the manufacturer, by performing second filtering of each signal by a high-pass filter over a short second duration (TPS2) in parallel with said first filtering by a high-pass filter, and by verifying that a second amplitude (A2) of the signal filtered in this way does not exceed a second threshold defined by the manufacturer, the second duration (TPS2) being less than the first duration (TPS1), and the second amplitude (A2) being less than the first amplitude (A1). |
| US09222404B2 |
Cooling assembly having multiple coolers
A cooling assembly having multiple coolers is disclosed. The cooling assembly may include a housing at least partially defining a first chamber and a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber and substantially isolated from the first chamber. The housing may also at least partially define first and second inlets configured to direct air into the first chamber in parallel, and first and second outlets configured to direct air out of the second chamber in parallel. The cooling assembly may also include a first cooler disposed in the first chamber, and a second cooler disposed in the second chamber. |
| US09222400B2 |
Liquid-cooled internal combustion engine with afterrun cooling, and method for operating an internal combustion engine of said type
An engine comprises a cylinder head connected to a cylinder block; a cooling circuit including a pump, a heat exchanger, and a ventilation vessel; a liquid-cooled component, connected into the cooling circuit by a connecting line and arranged between the pump and the ventilation vessel, which is cooled when the engine is not in operation; and a valve which is self-controlling as a function of coolant pressure arranged in the connecting line between the pump and the ventilation vessel, the valve adjustable between a first working position having a first, relatively small cross section of the connecting line, and a second working position, having a second, relatively large cross section of the connecting line, the valve controlling coolant throughput, wherein when the engine is not in operation and coolant pressure is reduced, the valve is in the second working position to provide an enlarged flow cross section. |
| US09222396B2 |
Method and system for exhaust cleaning
A method and a system for estimation of a soot load in a particle filter in an exhaust cleaning system, which estimation involves using a pressure drop across said particle filter in order to determine the soot load. Measurement of the pressure drop across the particle filter and therefore the estimation have to take place at a time when an exhaust mass flow of the exhaust cleaning system exceeds a flow threshold value, the particle filter is substantially free from water and a temperature of the particle filter exceeds a first threshold value. The result is a robust estimate of the soot load in the particle filter. |
| US09222395B2 |
Method for monitoring a pollutant conversion capacity in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a pollutant conversion capacity of a catalytically coated, oxidizing exhaust gas aftertreatment component (29) in an exhaust gas system (13) of an internal combustion engine (15). A nitrogen oxide sensor (31, 32) is disposed in each case in the flow path of the exhaust gas upstream of and downstream of the oxidizing exhaust gas aftertreatment component (29), a capacity of said oxidizing exhaust gas aftertreatment component (29) for converting NO to NO2 being ascertained from a comparison of the two signals (Z′, Z″) of the nitrogen oxide sensors (31, 32). Additional independent claims relate to an open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (17), a computer program and a computer program product. |
| US09222394B2 |
Diesel engine exhaust gas purification method and exhaust gas purification system
An exhaust gas purification method of a diesel engine, which purifies exhaust gas while suppressing deterioration in drivability and fuel consumption, including when exhaust gas enters a rich reduction state, opening an EGR valve and closing an intake throttle, if a temperature of an NOx occlusion reduction catalyst is at or above a predetermined temperature, and a vehicle having a diesel engine is decelerating from a speed at or above a predetermined speed, and then closing an exhaust throttle provided downstream of the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst and supplying fuel to the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst as a reductant. |
| US09222391B2 |
Exhaust gas purification system
An exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine includes: an addition valve disposed in an exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine to add a reducing agent to exhaust gas; a temperature obtaining portion that acquires a temperature of the addition valve; a cooling portion that cools the addition valve by circulating cooling fluid; a determining portion that determines whether the cooling portion is able to normally cool the addition valve; and an output limit portion that limits output of the internal combustion engine based on a heat-resistant temperature of the addition valve and the temperature of the addition valve acquired by the temperature obtaining portion. |
| US09222390B2 |
Injection device
The invention relates to a device for injecting a fluid (2), in particular into the exhaust-gas section of an internal combustion engine, having a reservoir (4) for storing the fluid (2) to be injected; an injection and metering module (10); a pump (8) which is configured for conveying fluid (2) during operation out of the reservoir (4) to the injection and metering module (10); and a return line (16) which makes an outflow of fluid (2) out of the injection and metering module (10) possible, wherein a switchable throttling valve (14) which is suitable for pumping fluid out of the injection and metering module (10) is arranged in the return line (16). |
| US09222389B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling reductant delivery to an exhaust stream
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a feed rate for direct introduction of a reductant gas into an exhaust stream to achieve a NOx emissions target and for controlling a reductant introduction device to admit the reductant gas into the exhaust stream at the determined feed rate. |
| US09222387B2 |
Control apparatus for an internal combustion engine
In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine provided with an electrically heated catalyst which heats a catalyst having an ability to purify an exhaust gas by heat from a heat generation element which generates heat by the supply of electric power, provision is made for a decision unit that decides a restraint amount for energy inputted to the electrically heated catalyst through the exhaust gas so that a heat generation element internal temperature difference, which is a difference in temperature between predetermined portions in the heat generation element of the electrically heated catalyst at the time of cold starting of the internal combustion engine, falls within a predetermined temperature range; and a control unit that controls an operating state of the internal combustion engine according to the restraint amount for the input energy decided by the decision unit. With this construction, the occurrence of cracks inside the heat generation element of the electrically heated catalyst is suppressed. |
| US09222384B2 |
SCR treatment of engine exhaust gases using temperature control
The exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is periodically dosed to recharge an SCR catalyst with ammonia. If dosing is scheduled and exhaust gas temperature is too low to ensure recharging, a forced increase in exhaust gas temperature is effected for the period of dosing. A diagnostic to confirm correct operation of a catalytic converter may advantageously run at the same time. |
| US09222381B2 |
Engine device
An engine device in which a support structure of an exhaust throttle device can be made as a high rigidity structure, and it is possible to prevent the exhaust throttle device from being heated by radiation heat from peripheries of the exhaust throttle device. The engine device of the invention includes an engine having an exhaust manifold, and the exhaust throttle device adjusts exhaust gas pressure of the exhaust manifold An exhaust gas intake side of a throttle valve case of the exhaust throttle device is fastened to an exhaust gas outlet of the exhaust manifold, and an exhaust gas pipe is connected to the exhaust manifold through the throttle valve case. An intermediate portion of a cooling pipe of an EGR cooler is provided with a cooling water pipe of the exhaust throttle device. |
| US09222364B2 |
Platform cooling circuit for a gas turbine engine component
A component for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a platform having a first path side and a second path side and a platform cooling circuit disposed on one of the first path side and the second path side of the platform. The platform cooling circuit includes a first core cavity, a cavity in fluid communication with the first core cavity, and a cover plate positioned to cover at least the cavity. |
| US09222361B2 |
Rotary piston machine having shaft encoder
A rotary piston machine is disclosed. In one aspect, the machine includes a shaft and a shaft encoder including a first structure, based on which the rotational speed and/or the rotational position of the shaft can be determined by scanning the first structure with a sensor. The shaft encoder has a rotationally asymmetrical mass distribution in order to produce an imbalance. |
| US09222355B2 |
Detecting sump depth of a miner
Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a controller, a stationary object, and a radar device. The radar device transmits radio waves toward the stationary object and detects reflections of the radio waves. The controller obtains timing information regarding the radio waves and the reflections. Based on the timing information, the controller is configured to determine a first distance between the radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material and a second distance between the radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material. The controller is also configured to determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance, compare the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth, and perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth. |
| US09222353B2 |
Tip for an earth working roll
A tip for use on an earth working roll for mining, construction and public works machines such as crushers, surface miners, milling machines and the like includes a working end provided with side relief to reduce drag and wearing, require less power to drive the rolls, and lengthen the usable life of the tip. The working end can also have a generally flat front surface to improve the yield in a crushing or other similar operation. The tip includes a base and a wear cap releasably secured together by a retainer. |
| US09222352B2 |
Control of a component of a downhole tool
An apparatus including a downhole tool for conveyance in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation and method of use thereof. The downhole tool may include a turbo-alternator disposed in a passageway for drilling mud, and a controller to: track operating points of the turbo-alternator, determine from the operating points a flow rate of the drilling mud, and control a component of the downhole tool based on the flow rate. |
| US09222350B2 |
Cutter tool insert having sensing device
A cutting element for an earth-boring drilling tool and its method of making are provided. The cutting element may include a substrate, a superhard layer, and a sensing element. The superhard layer may be bonded to the substrate along an interface. The superhard layer may have a working surface opposite the interface and an outer peripheral surface. The outer peripheral surface may extend between the working surface and the interface. The sensing element may comprise at least a part of the superhard layer. |
| US09222349B2 |
Cementing plug tracking using distributed strain sensing
Various systems and methods for cementing plug tracking using distributed strain sensing include a downhole cementing apparatus that includes a distributed strain sensor with an optical cable and a first downhole cementing plug coupled to a fixed point on the optical cable. The apparatus further includes a second downhole cementing plug slidably coupled to the optical cable between the first downhole cementing plug and a sensing end of the optical cable. The second downhole cementing plug causes a detectable feature in a strain profile along the optical cable's length that indicates a position of the second downhole cementing plug. |
| US09222347B1 |
Hydraulic fracturing system and method
A hydraulic fracturing system and method are disclosed. The system include a pulse-inducing system configured to deliver pulses of fluid to a fluid stream upstream of the wellbore. The pulse-inducing system can include at least one supplemental pump, at least one pulsation valve, and at least one pressure storage vessel. A hydraulic fracturing method can comprise generating a fluid stream via a primary pumping system, generating a pulsed output via a pulse-inducing system, and directing the pulsed output into the fluid stream upstream of a wellbore. |
| US09222345B2 |
Well fracturing systems and methods
A fracturing system can include a fracturing manifold coupled to a plurality of fracturing trees. The fracturing manifold may include adjustment joints that enable adjustment of the length of the fracturing manifold. The fracturing manifold can also include pivot joints that allow angular displacement of portions of the fracturing manifold with respect to other portions. The adjustment and pivot joints can accommodate spacing and elevation differences between the fracturing trees. |
| US09222344B2 |
Methods for stimulation and stabilization of subterranean formations
Methods treating a subterranean formation including providing a one-step acidizing treatment fluid comprising a first aqueous base fluid, a formation stimulation agent, and a stabilizing emulsion, wherein the stabilizing emulsion is an aqueous external emulsion comprising a second aqueous base fluid, a surfactant, and an aqueous-based surface modification agent; introducing the one-step acidizing treatment fluid into the subterranean formation; contacting the formation stimulation agent with the subterranean formation so as to acidize the subterranean formation and create conductive channels therethrough; and contacting the stabilizing emulsion with the subterranean formation so as to release the aqueous-based surface modification agent and stabilize unconsolidated formation particulates therein. |
| US09222341B2 |
Method and apparatus for artificial lift using well fluid electrolysis
An artificial lift device is useful for inducing artificial gas lift in a well bore fluid present in a horizontal well bore system using electrically conductive aqueous solution. The artificial lift device includes an ion exchange membrane, an electrode pair having an anode and a cathode separated by the ion exchange membrane, a sensor operable to detect the presence of solution and a power relay operable to selectively permit the electrode pair to receive electrical power. The artificial lift device is operable to form hydrogen product gas bubbles from hydrogen product gas. A method for providing artificial gas lift using the artificial lift device includes forming a horizontal well bore system having a well boot, introducing the artificial lift device into the well bore system, introducing electrical power to the electrode pair, and operating the device to introduce hydrogen product gas bubbles into the horizontal well bore system. |
| US09222336B2 |
Devices, systems and methods relating to down hole operations
Systems and method for improving down hole operations of well casings are disclosed herein. Systems and methods disclosed herein can comprise brushes, high pressure fluid outlets, and skids. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein. |
| US09222331B2 |
System and method for enhanced sealing of well tubulars
A well isolation includes a radially expandable sealing element that engages an interior wall of the wellbore tubular and a radially expandable expansion cone in telescopic relationship with the sealing element. The expansion cone expands the sealing element and a swage telescopically engages and expands the expansion cone. |
| US09222328B2 |
Wellhead latch and removal systems
A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead. |
| US09222324B2 |
Stretchable elastomeric tubular gripping device
A selectably operable passive gripping device for gripping tubular materials has an elastomeric element which is provided with integrally bonded segmented end rings to prevent the extrusion of the elastomer when it is subjected to high compressive loads. The elastomeric element is molded so that its as-molded gripping surface interferes with the surface of tubular objects to be gripped. The elastomeric gripping element is mounted and supported by a structural element or housing and allows axial flow communication through the gripped tubular objects. The gripping device is used to lift tubular objects such as a tubular string used in oil field applications. |
| US09222321B2 |
Orienting a subsea tubing hanger assembly
An apparatus includes an engagement device to be disposed on a landing string. The engagement device includes a retracted state to allow the apparatus to be run inside a riser and an expanded state to engage the riser to secure the apparatus to the riser. The apparatus further includes an actuator assembly to be disposed on the landing string. The actuator assembly is remotely actuatable from a sea surface to rotate a tubing of the landing string relative to the engagement device to rotate the landing string to orient a tubing hanger assembly. |
| US09222318B2 |
Systems and methods for riser coupling
Systems and methods for riser coupling are disclosed. A riser coupling system comprises a riser joint connector comprising a first tubular assembly coupled to a second tubular assembly. The riser coupling system further comprises a spider assembly which receives the riser joint connector and has a connector actuation tool. The connector actuation tool comprises a dog assembly, a clamping tool and a splined member. The dog assembly selectively extends a dog to engage the riser joint connector. The clamping tool couples the first tubular assembly and the second tubular assembly. Finally, the splined member actuates a locking member of the riser joint connector. |
| US09222313B2 |
Arrangement in a hose connection between a wellhead and a surface installation
Arrangement in a hose connector of a riser provided between a wellhead and a floating surface installation. One or more hoses form a flexible fluid communicating connection between an upper portion of the riser and the floating surface installation. The first end portion of at least one fluid conduit is fixed to the riser by an upwardly directed, first pipe muzzle and is provided with a rotatable connecting sleeve. Each of one or more flexible hoses is connected to a conduit spool of a connecting assembly provided with a second and pipe muzzle that is arranged for releasable mating with the first end portion of the fluid conduit. A lifting yoke is connected to the connecting assembly and forms an actuator which is able to effect rotary motion to the connecting sleeve to enable engagement. |
| US09222308B2 |
Detecting stick-slip using a gyro while drilling
A method for drilling operation in a subterranean formation, including calculating, by a hardware processor and in response to determining that an magnitude of gyro data representing rotations of a drill bit in a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and a time derivative of the gyro data are within a pre-determined range, a drift parameter of the gyro data, analyzing, by the hardware processor, the gyro data based on the drift parameter to generate a stick-slip alert, and presenting the stick-slip alert. |
| US09222307B2 |
Locking joint for collapsible ladders and other structures
A rigid structure such as a ladder is disclosed having rotating hinges that allow the ladder to fold up and/or be disassembled and assembled. The hinge or hinges can be provided between ladder sections with one ladder section having a male hinge element, and another having a female hinge element. A cam element provided with the female hinge element can be moved between an unlocked position in which the ladder sections can rotate with respect to each other, and a locked position in which the structure is rigid. |
| US09222306B2 |
Crane access staircase and mounting system
An access system for facilitating access to an elevated deck of a mobile crane includes a staircase having a support post defining an axis of inclination. A plurality of ascending steps is connected to the at least one support post, and a mounting bracket is pivotally coupled to an upper end of the at least one support post. The staircase is pivotable about a longitudinal axis such that a lower end of the at least one support post is induced to move in a lateral direction in response to pivotal motion of the at least one support post. A caster is coupled to the lower end of the support post for supporting the staircase on a ground surface. The caster supports the staircase on the ground surface throughout longitudinal movements of the staircase and lateral movements of the staircase induced by vertical movements of the mobile crane. |
| US09222301B2 |
Removable solar panel inserts
Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods related to a removable solar panel insert for a window. In some embodiments the window is an architectural window. The removable solar panel insert may include an insert frame shaped substantially equivalent to the frame of the window and a translucent solar material securely attached to the insert frame. The translucent solar material covers an opening defined by the insert frame. The solar panel insert may be easily removed from the window. |
| US09222297B2 |
Openable roof window
An openable roof window includes: a window panel configured to be slidable along a guide rail to selectively open and close an opening in a roof and tiltable relative to a base frame; a slider having a pin and driven by a drive device to slide along the guide rail; an engagement structure that selectively engages the slider with the window panel such that they are unmovable relative to each other in a direction along the guide rail; and the engagement structure includes a stay fixedly secured to the window panel and having a cam groove formed therein, the cam groove engaging the pin of the slider and having a shape defined such that, when the engagement structure does not engage the slider with the window panel, the window panel is caused to tilt as the slider moves relative to the stay as a result of sliding of the slider along the guide rail. |
| US09222295B2 |
Window regulator
A window regulator includes: a guide rail including a rail main body part, an insert-through part provided at one end of the rail main body part and inserted into a housing, and a locking tab provided at the rail main body part. The housing includes a housing part housing the insert-through part, an engaging part engaging with a tip of the locking tab, and a guide part configured to guide the tip of the locking tab to the engaging part when the tip of the locking tab is brought into contact with the guide part. The engagement of the locking tab and the engaging part restricts movement of the housing in a longitudinal direction of the rail main body part toward the one end of the rail main body part. |
| US09222293B2 |
Hinge assembly for mounting door on cabinet below opening thereof
A hinge assembly for mounting a door on a cabinet below an opening thereof is provided. The hinge assembly may include a pin defining an axis about which the door rotates, the pin being supported by a hinge plate and including a splined portion. Moreover, the hinge assembly may include a height adjuster including an inner circumference through which the pin extends and at least a portion that is rotatable about the pin. The hinge assembly additionally may include a first cam element including a cam surface and an inner circumference through which the pin extends, the inner circumference corresponding to the splined portion of the pin for mating therewith at a single position, the first cam element being vertically adjustable along the splined portion of the pin through rotation of the rotatable portion of the height adjuster about the pin. |
| US09222291B2 |
Toggle type fastener
A toggle type fastener to releaseably couple a fixed object and a movable object to each other includes a pedestal that is structured to be fixed to the movable object, a toggle lever pivotally coupled to the pedestal, a latching arm pivotally coupled to the toggle lever, a looseness prevention element that prevents movement of the movable object. The looseness prevention element is attached to the latching arm and sized to be hooked to a hooked member that is structured to be fixed to the fixed object. |
| US09222290B2 |
Inside-door-handle device for vehicle
An inside-door-handle device for a vehicle is provided with a base part and a cover. A swinging space is provided between the base part and the cover. The cover has a locking section; the base part has a lock-receiving section. A swing motion of the cover relative to the base part is regulated by the elastic locking between the locking section and the lock-receiving section. If the cover swings relative to the base part due to pushing operation toward the cover, the lock between the locking section and the lock-receiving section is released, and the cover can be separated from the base part. |
| US09222288B2 |
Integrated hood latch keeper for a grill opening reinforcement structure
A position-controlled front hood latch bracket for a vehicle includes a bracket base having a hood latch opening configured to receive a hood latch assembly having a latch base, the latch base having a perimeter and a plurality of locating apertures. The front hood latch bracket also includes a plurality of spaced-apart hood latch keeper features, the hood latch keeper features configured to receive and keep the perimeter of the latch base in slidable engagement with the bracket base while enabling a predetermined amount of movement of the latch base relative to the bracket base in a pre-assembly position. The bracket further includes a plurality of fastener apertures each configured to receive a fastener for detachably attaching the latch base to the bracket base, the locating apertures having a size and a location that exposes the fastener apertures in the preinstallation position regardless of the predetermined amount of movement. |
| US09222287B2 |
Object gripping device using electromagnetic assembly
An object gripping device using a electromagnetic assembly includes a base having two opposite ends thereof, a fastening portion pivoted at one end of the base and having an object-gripping trench and a through opening having a stopping surface therein at two opposite ends of the fastening portion, a transmission portion pivoted at the other end of the base, a stopping shaft extending through both the transmission portion and the through opening, a first spring connected both the base and the fastening portion, a second spring connected both the base and the transmission portion, and a electromagnetic assembly connected the base and the transmission portion. |
| US09222284B2 |
Electronic locks particularly for office furniture
An electronic cam lock accessible either by PIN code or wirelessly transmitted code from a user's credential has a compact electronics housing that fits neatly and unobtrusively in office furniture, including metal or wood file cabinets. The housing has a rear-extending driver, which may be within a cylinder, preferably positioned where the driver of a cam lock of conventional keyed configuration would be located. One form of the lock is front-recess mounted. In another form the housing is inside-mounted, fitted within the usually one-inch top rail or vertical side rail of a file cabinet, with the electronic access terminal and a rotatable knob exposed for the user. The locks can be connected in a wired or wireless network for controlling access by time or by personnel, or for auditing entries. |
| US09222283B1 |
Combination lock with override key
A combination lock, such as a dial combination cam lock, has a mechanical key override, the mechanical key extending through the manual knob of the cam lock. For a lost mechanical key situation, or to change the mechanical key, a special key or device can be inserted to enable the knob and key core or plug to be rotated to a further position not normally available. In this position the key, knob and core can be removed, then replaced with a different key and core, preferably using the same knob. |
| US09222272B2 |
System and method for the selective repair of roofing shingles
The invention is primarily directed to a system and method of selectively repairing asphalt-based shingles having embedded granular material. The system and method of the invention also comprises the use of devices specifically designed and used to template repaired shingles and protect surrounding shingles from adhesives and a shingle frame device to aid in applying, leveling and compressing granules onto the damaged shingle. The system and method of the claimed invention comprises the steps of removal of debris from the damaged area, application of a base coat adhesive to the damaged area, embedding color-matched granules in the base coat and application of a top coat sealant that permanently bonds the repaired layers to the original roofing material. |
| US09222271B2 |
Formwork anchor receptacle, a formwork anchor as well as a formwork element for receiving these
The present invention relates to a formwork anchor receptacle as well as to a formwork anchor which are used in the field of construction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a formwork element. The formwork anchor receptacle is adapted to receive an anchor rod provided to connect formwork elements. The formwork anchor receptacle comprises a section with an opening for insertion of an anchor rod and a spherical section for providing support against a formwork element. |
| US09222263B2 |
Roof framing structure using triangular structural framing
A roof framing structure (20) is disclosed, and includes a plurality of primary supports (30) (e.g., rafters) that may be disposed in parallel relation and extend along the roof pitch (14). One or more secondary supports (40) extend between each adjacent pair of primary supports (30). Each secondary support (40) is of a triangular cross-sectional configuration, and may extend orthogonally to the various primary supports (30). |
| US09222258B2 |
Building structured material using cell geometry
An improved cellular building block including a middle beam and two legs. The cellular building block having the first leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and a second leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and spaced apart from the first leg, the first leg and the second leg having an inside edge and an outside edge. Having at least one barb located on the inside edge of the first leg and on the inside edge of the second leg and further configured to lock into a recess. The cellular building blocks connect in a two dimensional or three dimensional pattern and a produce a structured material that holds itself together and exhibits beneficial characteristics. |
| US09222254B2 |
Structural assembly insulation
A structural assembly (20) providing both a surface (21) and an insulating stratum associated with the surface. The assembly (20) can comprise structural members (23-24) and pods (30) associated with the structural members (23-24). The pods (30) contribute to structural integrity, thermal insulation, and/or sound attenuation. The pods or pod-like material can be used in or on horizontal or vertical cavities, in or on horizontal or vertical surfaces, and/or incorporated into a structural assembly or equipment housing. |
| US09222252B1 |
Foundation wall and floor slab drain
The foundation wall and floor slab drain is a device that is designed to control the buildup of mold in basements by enabling the water that drains from wall to be channeled into a French drain that is provided there under. The device is installed during construction of the footing, foundation wall, and floor slab. The device is further defined as an elongated planar member with a plurality of tubes linearly aligned thereon, and which collectively form an assembly. Both the elongated member and the plurality of tubes are bent to form a right angle. A vertical portion of the assembly is adapted to interface against a foundation wall and a side surface of a floor slab. A horizontal portion of the assembly is adapted to interface between a bottom surface of the floor slab and a top surface of a footing. |
| US09222249B2 |
Method and apparatus for designing, producing, manfacturing and delivering personalized living environments
A method and apparatus for the creation, selection, ordering, shipping and constructing of personalized living environments with customized configurations through the use of an architectural process, unitized assemblies, and assembly joineries. The architectural process allows for the initial creation, design and selection of the unitized assembly collections based upon human factors behavioral based criteria. The unitized assemblies are fixed and/or flexible, trade-integrated modules in unitized, shippable configurations designed and incorporated with high touch finished crafts, allowing for dimensional flexibility. The unitized assembly and human factors behavioral analysis combine for an experience blueprint of a homeowner's lifestyle portrait. The assembly joineries, based upon the desired collections selection, provide finishing touches to the unitized assembly, efficient strength to weight ratios, and expressed, stylized configurations in hybrid materials. The combination of the physical constructs with the behavioral process allows for “mass customization” in the design, production, manufacturing and delivering of personalized living environments. |
| US09222248B2 |
Stormwater treatment device
A stormwater treatment device has an annular outer portion and an annular inner portion positioned at least partially within the annular outer portion, the annular inner portion offset from the annular outer portion to define a channel between the annular inner portion and the annular outer portion. A flow conduit within the annular inner portion connects to an inlet and has a plurality of openings within the inner portion. The annular outer portion has an outlet connecting to the channel. |
| US09222242B2 |
Fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration systems and methods for controlling electrohydraulic systems used in construction equipment
The present disclosure relates to fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration schemes, architectures and methods for use in electrohydraulic actuation systems for construction equipment. In one embodiment, a supervisory controller adapted to interface with a main controller of the construction vehicle is provided. A plurality of control nodes that interface with the supervisory controller are also disclosed, each of which includes pressure and position sensors. The nodes also include a first actuator control node for controlling operation of a first hydraulic actuator, a second actuator control node for controlling operation of a second hydraulic actuator, and a pump control node. The control system has an architecture in which faults are detected and isolated at the supervisory controller level and, where possible, within each of the control nodes at a sensor level, a component level, and a subsystem level. |
| US09222239B2 |
On-board service tool and method
A self-contained, on-board diagnostic system integrated with a control system and method of using the same. Various control system coefficients and parameter settings may be set and edited with the on-board system, without the use of external hardware. In certain embodiments, an operator panel display may be used as a display for the on-board system. A menu navigation scheme can be employed to access a plurality of screens in an organized, efficient manner. The on-board system can be adapted for use with a tracked trencher and/or other mobile equipment. |
| US09222234B2 |
Supporting structure for excavator
For providing a supporting structure for the excavator changes the fitting height of the backhoe, This invention provides a supporting structure of excavator for attaching the backhoe with variable height which comprising: an attachment mount fixed to a frame, and an adjuster plate fixed to the attachment mount, wherein the backhoe is mounted to an appropriate position of the adjuster plate. |
| US09222228B2 |
Road finishing machine and method of operating a road finishing machine
In a road finishing machine with a primary power plant and a power transfer to a hydraulic pump and/or a generator for supplying power to hydraulically or electrically operated functional components, the power transfer comprises at least one clutch that can be optionally engaged and disengaged, and a clutch control device is provided by means of which, depending on at least the operator guidance and/or a detected clutch loading situation, a disengagement delay (Δt) automatically overriding the operator guidance can be set, and/or a clutch shifting number restriction can be set by means of a detection interval (dt) moving along in time. The clutch control device actually engages, within the frame of the respective overriding control strategy, the clutch only after the disengagement delay (Δt) has lapsed, if no operation command to the contrary is present, and/or keeps the clutch first engaged, although an operation command to the contrary is present. |
| US09222225B2 |
Pre-stressed concrete track slab of slab-type ballast-less track
Provided in the disclosure is a pre-stressed concrete track slab of slab-type ballast-less track, which includes a slab body (1), on which fastening embedded casings (4) are arranged. At least one row of longitudinal common steel bars (11) and at least one row of transverse common steel bars (12) are arranged in the slab body (1) along a length direction and a width direction. The longitudinal common steel bars (11) are insulated from the transverse common steel bars (12). At least one row of longitudinal pre-stressed steel bars (7) and at least one row of transverse pre-stressed steel bars (6) are fastened in the slab body (1) along the length direction and the width direction through anchor backing plates and fastener devices (8). In the pre-stress directions of the longitudinal pre-stressed steel bars (7) and the transverse pre-stressed steel bars (6), it is post-tensioned in both directions or it is pre-tensioned in one direction and post-tensioned in the other direction. Limiting structures (5) and grounding terminals (10) are also arranged on the slab body (1). The pre-stressed concrete track slab has the characteristics of light structural dead weight, small structure height, low manufacturing cost and deformation resistance. |
| US09222224B2 |
Tissue product comprising bamboo
The disclosure provides tissue webs, and products incorporating the same, where the webs comprise wood and bamboo fibers. More specifically the disclosure provides soft and durable through-air dried tissue webs comprising at least about 10 percent bamboo fiber by weight of the web. In the through-air dried tissue webs of the present disclosure, bamboo typically replaces high average fiber length wood fibers, which increases the bulk of the through-air dried web without negatively effecting softness or durability. |
| US09222222B2 |
Dried highly fibrillated cellulose fiber
A mixture of lyocell fiber and low DP or standard DP cellulose pulp fiber having a Canadian Standard Freeness of 250 mL CSF or less is dried and has a Canadian Standard Freeness of 250 mL CSF or less. The pulp is 10% to 75% of the total weight of fibers in the mixture. Both the dried product and the process of making it are disclosed. |
| US09222219B2 |
Blade element
A blade element (20) for a conical portion (4) of a stator (2) of a refiner (1). The blade element (20) has a feed end (24), a discharge end (25), and a refining surface (21) which has a feed zone (26) at the feed end (24) of the blade element (20). The feed zone (26) of the blade element (20) has at least one guide groove (29) extending from the feed end (24) toward the discharge end (25) for guiding a flow of material to be refined from the feed end (24) toward the discharge end (25). The depth of the guide groove (29) is arranged to change in a direction transverse in relation to the extending direction of the guide groove (29). |
| US09222215B1 |
Laundry transfer apparatus
A laundry transfer apparatus comprising a frame within which is disposed a transfer conduit that traverses a distance between the openings of a washing machine and dryer. A plurality of upper extensions are provided to enable the apparatus to rest on the top surfaces of the washing machine and dryer and to vertically suspend the apparatus so that the conduit is appropriately positioned for each use. The conduit preferably comprises a substantially planar surface formed by individual table sections that fold out to form the conduit when the laundry transfer apparatus is in use. The conduit is slidably engaged to the frame via a railing. When use of the laundry transfer apparatus is complete, the individual sections are folded upright and pushed into a retracted position for later use. |
| US09222214B2 |
Ironing board cover
The present invention relates to an ironing board cover with at least three layers (18, 20, 22) that are arranged on top of each other, wherein one of the layers (18, 20, 22) is a heat resistant cover layer (18) that is permeable to steam (26), another one of the layers (18, 20, 22) is a porous layer (20) that is at least partially permeable to steam (26) and heat, and a further one of the layers (18, 20, 22) is a water proof layer (22) that is impermeable to steam (26) and/or liquid, wherein the porous layer (20) is arranged between the cover layer (18) and the water proof layer (22). |
| US09222213B2 |
Machine for spreading out and loading flat clothing articles
The machine comprises a conveyor belt (30) and loading clamps (24a) which receive contiguous corners (A1) of a flat clothing article (A) manually loaded by an operator (P) in a loading station (1) and transfer them to spreading clamps (4a). Each loading clamp (24a) has a loading jaw (51) driven by an actuator (52) and an auxiliary loading jaw (53) with yielding and recovery capacity to catch parts of the corner (A1) against opposite sides of a loading support (50), and an air blowing nozzle (55) producing an airflow capable of pushing a portion of corner (A1) released from the auxiliary loading jaw (53) and introducing it between jaws of a corresponding spreading clamp (4a) driven by an actuator (58) for catching the portion of corner (A1) previously released. |
| US09222211B2 |
Mixing chamber connecting system in a washing machine
A water inlet system for a washing machine including a main body, at least one insert and a valve assembly. The main body is made of a first material. The at least one insert is spin welded to the main body. The at least one insert is made of a material substantially the same as the first material. The valve assembly is mechanically coupled and sealed with the insert. The valve assembly has a valve body made of a second material, with the first material and the second material being different. |
| US09222210B2 |
Drum washing machine and washing method thereof
A drum washing machine and washing method are provided. The washing machine directly sprays water to laundry inside the drum through a nozzle unit. The method includes passing some water through a detergent container and directly spraying some water to the inside of a drum through a nozzle unit such that a high concentration of detergent bubbles is generated while applying a force to the laundry. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub inside the cabinet, a drum inside the tub, a door on the cabinet, a diaphragm, and a nozzle unit installed so interference with the door is avoided and to receive water directly from an external source to spray water inside the drum during a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle. The nozzle unit adjusts water jetting according to a displacement of an actuator installed inside the nozzle unit. |
| US09222208B2 |
Elastic silicone rubber belt
A rubber belt comprising at least one layer of a plurality of tightly packed elastic yarns or fibers and at least one layer of silicone rubber. A method of manufacturing a rubber belt is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of wrapping one or more elastic yarns or fibers onto a mandrel, where the one or more elastic yarns or fibers form one or more layers on the mandrel; adding a liquid high viscosity silicone rubber on top of the one or more layers; and heating the mandrel in order to polymerize the silicone rubber. |
| US09222206B2 |
Nonwoven fabric and method for manufacturing same
A nonwoven fabric facilitating permeation of loose passage. A nonwoven fabric is formed of short fibers of thermoplastic synthetic resin fused together. The nonwoven fabric is formed on a top side thereof with ridges and troughs undulating in a width direction and extending in parallel to one another in a length direction. When the nonwoven fabric is placed on a horizontal plane with the back side put in contact with the horizontal plate, highly void regions are formed between the back side and the horizontal plane. In the vicinity of apices of the respective ridges, the short fibers slope down so as to extend in a thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric. |
| US09222205B2 |
Rapidly configurable braiding machine
A braiding system having a plurality of mobile carrier devices movable under its own power, each mobile carrier including a plurality of wheels, a motor driving the wheels, a power source, a controller, and a pick-up unit having a receiver. Each of the plurality of mobile carriers has a tow carrier positioned in the receiver, and each mobile carrier is simultaneously movable along a virtual track-less path predetermined for each individual carrier, such that the simultaneous movement of the mobile carrier devices along their predetermined paths form a braid. |
| US09222200B2 |
Spinning device
A spinning device is disclosed. The spinning device includes a tube body, a sleeve component, a jacket tube and a lid. The tube body has a first through orifice in a vertical direction, the sleeve component has a second through orifice for the tube body to be mounted therein to form a fluid passage in between; the jacket tube has a third through orifice for the sleeve component and the tube body to be mounted therein. A first opening and second opening are formed on the wall of the jacket tube, allowing the second opening to be coupled with the fluid passage. The lid is coupled to one end of the jacket tube, and has a fourth through orifice, allowing the tube body to rotate with respect to the sleeve tube, jacket tube and the lid, thereby making a the hollow fiber having a spiral passage. |
| US09222198B2 |
SiC single crystal wafer and process for production thereof
A SiC single crystal wafer on which a good quality epitaxial film by suppressing defects derived from the wafer can be grown has an affected surface layer with a thickness of at most 50 nm and a SiC single crystal portion with an oxygen content of at most 1.0×1017 atoms/cm3. This SiC single crystal wafer is manufactured from a high purity SiC bulk single crystal obtained by the solution growth method using raw materials with an oxygen content of at most 100 ppm and a non-oxidizing atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of at most 100 ppm. |
| US09222197B2 |
Shield member and apparatus for growing single crystal equipped with the same
Provided is a shield member and an apparatus for growing a single crystal equipped with the shield member. Such a shield member includes: a vessel for growing the single crystal; a raw material storage part positioned at a lower portion of the vessel for growing the single crystal; a substrate supporting part, positioned above the raw material storage part to support the substrate; and a heating apparatus positioned at a an outer periphery of the vessel for growing the single crystal, thereby sublimating the raw material from the raw material storage part to grow the single crystal of the raw material onto the substrate, in which a plurality of permeation holes through which the raw material gas passes is formed. The shield member is configured such that the heat capacity thereof increases from the center to the outer periphery. |
| US09222186B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes forming a through hole in an insulating substrate such that the hole extends from first surface of the substrate to second surface of the substrate on the opposite side, forming a seed layer on the first and second surfaces and wall of the hole, and applying pulse plating to the substrate via the seed layer such that a through-hole conductor is formed in the hole. The applying of the pulse plating includes flowing forward and reverse current on the first and second surfaces of the substrate such that when the forward current flows on the first surface of the substrate, the reverse current flows on the second surface of the substrate and that when the reverse current flows on the first surface of the substrate, the forward current flows on the second surface of the substrate. |
| US09222178B2 |
Electrolyzer
The electrolytic production of high purity hydrogen and oxygen may include regulating gas pressure in the cathode and anode compartments of the electrolysis apparatus. The supply of water to the apparatus may be through at least one opening on the surface of the apparatus. High pressure hydrogen and oxygen gas may be produced without subjecting the electrolysis apparatus to large pressure differences between the interior and exterior of the apparatus. This may be accomplished by substantially immersing the entire electrolysis apparatus in a high pressure fluid thus making the interior and exterior pressures of the apparatus substantially equal. Two example structures for accomplishing this goal are disclosed. First, the apparatus may be placed in and encapsulated by a fluid-containing vessel that is itself pressurized. Second, the apparatus may be immersed in a deep water environment. Part of the electrical energy used to perform electrolysis may be recovered by capturing the kinetic energy and momentum in high pressure gas flowing in a tube, oxygen for example, and converting it to electricity by causing it to rotate an impeller that is coupled to an electric generator. |
| US09222174B2 |
Corrosion inhibitor comprising cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanocrystals in combination with a corrosion inhibitor
The present invention relates to a corrosion inhibitor comprising cellulose nanocrystals. According to another aspect, there is provided a corrosion-inhibiting agent essentially consisting of a plurality of cellulose nanocrystals. The above set out cellulose nanocrystals may be in free form, such as acid-form cellulose nanocrystals, in one embodiment and added to a carrier. The cellulose nanocrystals may be effective in inhibiting ferrous and non-ferrous metals. According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a corrosion-inhibiting composition comprising a corrosion inhibitor and the above set out corrosion-inhibiting agent in an effective combination to inhibit corrosion of metals. The composition may be effective in inhibiting ferrous metals when the cellulose nanocrystals are in either salt or free form. The composition may be effective in inhibiting corrosion of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals when the cellulose nanocrystals are in free form. |
| US09222173B2 |
Vacuum processing device
An exhaust opening of a process chamber (12) contained in a vacuum chamber (11) is connected to an exhaust line (13) by a connector comprising a bellows (03) with one end which is connected to the exhaust line (13) fixed to a housing and its opposite end carrying a coupling tube (02) for connecting to a coupling ring (01) which surrounds the exhaust opening, the coupling tube (02) being elastically biased towards the same. The coupling tube (02) can be moved between a connected state where it is in contact with the coupling ring (01) and a disconnected state by an actuator reciprocatable in an axial direction perpendicular to the exhaust opening. To enable a gas-tight connection with the process chamber (12) the coupling tube (02) has lateral play such that it can align with the coupling ring (01) when a conical surface of the coupling tube (02) contacts a complementary conical surface on the coupling ring (01) in the connected state. The actuator comprises two rods (04) which extend through drill holes of an outward extending holding ring (05) of the coupling tube (02) and interact with the same in such a way that the lateral position of the coupling tube (02) is fixed in the disconnected state. |
| US09222169B2 |
Silicon oxide-nitride-carbide thin-film with embedded nanocrystalline semiconductor particles
A solar call is provided along with a method for forming a semiconductor nanocrystalline silicon insulating thin-film with a tunable bandgap. The method provides a substrate and introduces a silicon (Si) source gas with at least one of the following source gases: germanium (Ge), oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon into a high density (HD) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. A SiOxNyCz thin-film embedded with a nanocrystalline semiconductor material is deposited overlying the substrate, where x, y, z≧0, and the semiconductor material is Si, Ge, or a combination of Si and Ge. As a result, a bandgap is formed in the SiOxNyCz thin-film, in the range of about 1.9 to 3.0 electron volts (eV). Typically, the semiconductor nanoparticles have a size in a range of 1 to 20 nm. |
| US09222164B2 |
Process for forming a chromium diffusion portion and articles made therefrom
In one embodiment, a method for forming an article with a diffusion portion comprises: forming a slurry comprising chromium and silicon, applying the slurry to the article, and heating the article to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to diffuse chromium and silicon into the article and form a diffusion portion comprising silicon and a microstructure comprising α-chromium. In one embodiment, a gas turbine component comprises: a superalloy and a diffusion portion having a depth of less than or equal to 60 μm measured from the superalloy surface into the gas turbine component. The diffusion portion has a diffusion surface having a microstructure comprising greater than or equal to 40% by volume α-chromium. |
| US09222157B2 |
High-carbon iron-based amorphous alloy using molten pig iron and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is an iron-based amorphous alloy and a method of manufacturing the same.More particularly, provided is an high carbon iron-based amorphous alloy expressed by a general formula FeαCβSiγBxPyCrz, wherein α, β, γ, x, y and z are atomic % of iron (Fe), carbon (C), silicon (Si), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and chrome (Cr) respectively, wherein α is expressed by α=100−(β+γ+x+y+z) atomic %, β is expressed by 13.5 atomic %≦β≦17.8 atomic %, γ is expressed by 0.30 atomic %≦γ≦1.50 atomic %, x is expressed by 0.1 atomic %≦x≦4.0 atomic %, y is expressed by 0.8 atomic %≦y≦7.7 atomic %, and z is expressed by 0.1 atomic %≦z≦3.0 atomic %. |
| US09222155B2 |
Method for manufacturing high strength hot-rolled steel sheet having excellent stretch flangeability and fatigue resistance
A high strength hot-rolled steel sheet has a tensile strength of not less than 780 MPa and exhibits excellent stretch flangeability and excellent fatigue resistance. A steel has a composition containing C at 0.05 to 0.15%, Si at 0.2 to 1.2%, Mn at 1.0 to 2.0%, P at not more than 0.04%, S at not more than 0.005%, Ti at 0.05 to 0.15%, Al at 0.005 to 0.10% and N at not more than 0.007%. |
| US09222154B2 |
Wear resistant cast iron
A casting of a white cast iron alloy which includes the following alloy composition, in weight %: chromium: 12-25%; carbon: 1.5-6%; manganese: 2-7%; silicon: up to 1.5%; molybdenum: up to 2; nickel: up to 4%; microalloying elements selected from the group of titanium, zirconium, niobium, boron, vanadium, and tungsten: up to 2% of each of one or more of the elements; and iron: balance. The microstructure of the casting has 15-60 vol % eutectic carbides and primary carbides dispersed in a ferrous matrix of martensite and is at least substantially free of pearlite. |
| US09222152B2 |
Aluminum—magnesium alloy and alloy plate thereof
An aluminum-magnesium alloy capable of suppressing molten metal oxidation even without adding Be, and an alloy plate of the aluminum magnesium alloy, are characterized by being obtained by adding 0.20 mass % or more of Cr and/or 0.002 mass % or more of Ca to an aluminum-magnesium alloy which contains 0.8-15 mass % Mg and, as an unavoidable impurity, 0.001 mass % or more of P. |
| US09222150B2 |
Process for making finished or semi-finished articles of silver alloy
A process for making a finished or semi-finished article of silver alloy, said process comprising the steps of providing a silver alloy containing silver in an amount of at least 77 wt %, copper and an amount of germanium that is preferably at least 0.5 wt % and is effective to reduce tarnishing and/or firestain, making or processing the finished or semi-finished article of the alloy by heating at least to an annealing temperature, gradually cooling the article; and reheating the article to effect precipitation hardening thereof. The avoidance of quenching reduces the risk of damage to the article. |
| US09222145B2 |
Soft magnetic alloy ribbon and its production method, and magnetic device having soft magnetic alloy ribbon
A method for producing a soft magnetic alloy ribbon having a composition represented by Fe100-x-y-zAxByXz, wherein A is Cu and/or Au, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, S, C, P, Al, Ge, Ga and Be, and x, y and z are numbers (by atomic %) meeting the conditions of 0 |
| US09222142B2 |
Adenoviruses and their use
Baboon Adenovirus (BaAdV)-2/4 and BaAdV-3 are described herein. BaAdV-2/4 and BaAdV-3 polynucleotide, polypeptides and antibodies that specifically bind BaAdV-2/4 and/or BaAdV-3 are described. Methods are described for detecting BaAdV-2/4 and BaAdV-3. Methods are also described for treating, preventing, and inducing an immune response to BaAdV-2/4 and/or BaAdV-3. Kits are also provided. |
| US09222141B2 |
Use of brown midrib-3 gene specific markers in maize for trait introgression
This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for determining the zygosity of corn plants containing one or more brown midrib (BMR) mutations. The disclosure also concerns methods that are useful for enhancing the breeding process for BMR corn. In certain embodiments, compositions and methods for determining the zygosity of corn plants with respect to the bm3 allele. |
| US09222140B2 |
Primers for detecting plasmodium
The present invention provides an easy and rapid method for detecting/identifying the presence or absence of specific Plasmodium parasites and four species of malaria parasites in a human specimen, an anti-malaria measure support system, and a malaria infection-prevention/treatment system, which can contribute to practical diagnosis in a malaria endemic area. According to the present invention, using a genus-specific primer set that can detect four Plasmodium parasites that infect humans at a time, and the primer sets each specific to each of four species of Plasmodium parasites (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale), the presence or absence of infection with these parasites can be detected/identified easily and rapidly. |
| US09222134B2 |
Molecule detection system on a solid support
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods used for detecting different types of molecules associated with a site on a solid support. |
| US09222132B2 |
Methods and compositions for efficient base calling in sequencing reactions
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for acquiring nucleotide sequence information of target sequences. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of sequencing reactions by using fewer labels to distinguish between nucleotides and by detecting nucleotides at multiple detection positions in a target sequence. |
| US09222131B2 |
Rhodamine compounds and their use as fluorescent labels
The present invention relates to new rhodamine compounds and their use as fluorescent labels. The compounds may be used as fluorescent labels for nucleotides in nucleic acid sequencing applications. |
| US09222130B2 |
Method and apparatus for sequencing molecules
The invention comprises a polymer sequencing chip. In one embodiment, an open nano channel is used in the surface of a semiconductor material or glass as a conduit for the polymer and the resulting monomers released from the polymer. As the resulting monomers pass through the nano channel, a detection device reads the sequence of monomers. Preferably, multiple micro LEDs are used to emit a signal when different monomer units pass through a region of the nano channel, such that multiply parallel sequencing operations can be conducted at the same time on a chip. |
| US09222129B2 |
Method for amplification of nucleotide sequence
A method for amplification of a nucleotide sequence characterized by performing PCR amplification using mRNA isolated from a biological sample as a template and using a first primer comprising a poly(T) sequence and an additional nucleotide sequence X thereto and a second primer comprising a poly(T) sequence and an additional nucleotide sequence Y thereto, provided that the nucleotide sequences X and Y in the first and second primers, respectively, have different sequences from each other. |
| US09222125B2 |
Dimeric diagnostic arrays
The invention provides dimeric diagnostic arrays and methods for their use. |
| US09222123B2 |
Analytic devices comprising optical waveguides and nanometer-scale apertures and methods of uses thereof
This invention provides substrates for use in various applications, including single-molecule analytical reactions. Methods for propagating optical energy within a substrate are provided. Devices comprising waveguide substrates and dielectric omnidirectional reflectors are provided. Waveguide substrates with improved uniformity of optical energy intensity across one or more waveguides and enhanced waveguide illumination efficiency within an analytic detection region of the arrays are provided. |
| US09222119B2 |
Detection of degradative enzymes and biomolecules in bodily fluids
Provided herein are compositions useful in detecting degradative enzymes and biomolecules in bodily fluid samples. |
| US09222115B2 |
Channels with cross-sectional thermal gradients
Provided herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating thermal gradients in channels and uses thereof. In particular, provided herein are system, methods, and devices employing first and second thermal layers positioned around a channel in order to create a thermal gradient across a cross-section of the channel having, for example, a nucleic acid denaturation zone, a nucleic acid annealing zone, and a nucleic acid polymerization zone. Such devices find use in, for example, nucleic acid amplification procedures, including digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) to temperature cycle droplets for amplification of nucleic acid templates within the droplets. |
| US09222111B2 |
Method of producing lauric acid-containing oil or fat
To provide a method for supplying lauric acid with algae.A method for producing an oil or fat containing lauric acid as a constituent fatty acid including: culturing, in a medium, at least one species of algae in the class Cryptophyceae selected from the group consisting of algae belonging to the genus Rhodomonas and algae belonging to the genus Chroomonas selected from among Chroomonas diplococca, Chroomonas mesostigmatica, Chroomonas nordstedtii, and Chroomonas placoidea and recovering, from the culture product, an oil or fat having a lauric acid content of 3 weight % or higher of the fatty acid composition. |
| US09222107B2 |
REIC-expressing adenovirus vector
An objective of the present invention is to provide an adenovirus vector expressing a REIC/Dkk-3 protein at a high level and containing a DNA construct for expression of REIC/Dkk-3 DNA, wherein the DNA construct is prepared by ligating, from the 5′ terminal side, (i) a CMV promoter, (ii) REIC/Dkk-3 DNA, (iii) a polyA addition sequence, and (iv) enhancers prepared by linking an hTERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase) enhancer, an SV40 enhancer, and a CMV enhancer in this order. |
| US09222104B2 |
Method for creating broad-spectrum resistance to fungi in transgenic plants
The present invention relates to the creation of broad-spectrum resistance in transgenic plants by inserting inhibitory nucleic acid sequences inhibiting the expression of fungal genes.The nucleic acid sequences of genes which are crucial to development, growth and profilation of fungi, i.e. sequences of genes with an essential function in fungi, are often conserved and/or have a high sequence identity. Regions having a particularly high sequence identity between various fungi are used in order to produce inhibitory gene constructs, e.g. on basis of antisense, siRNA, shRNA, ribozyme technology and other technologies imparting the inhibition of the expression and activation of genes. Since said methods base on the sequence-specific hybridization of the inhibitory RNA molecules with respective target sequences in certain fungal genes, the expression of all corresponding genes from various fungi is thus inhibited as well. Due to the high sequence identity of such conserved gene sections, transgenic plants are thus produced, which have broad-spectrum resistance to various fungi. |
| US09222099B2 |
Plant regulatory elements derived from medicago truncatula 3'UTR sequences, and uses thereof
Recombinant DNA molecules and constructs useful for modulating gene expression in plants, including molecules derived from Medicago truncatula 3′ UTR sequences, are provided. Transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising recombinant DNA molecules operably linked to heterologous transcribable DNA molecules are further provided, as are methods of their use. |
| US09222097B2 |
Functional viral vectors for the overexpression or extinction of particular genes in plants, and applications thereof
The invention relates to the use of genes which, in plants, encode proteins with a functional diversity in terms of silencing, comprising the selection of the gene with the level of effectiveness in order to construct a plant viral vector having the function of overexpressing or silencing particular genes. |
| US09222096B2 |
Fungi and products thereof
The present invention provides substantially purified or isolated fungi of Nodulisporium spp. or Ascocoryne spp., plants infected with said fungi, organic compounds produced by said fungi, and related nucleic acids, polypeptides and methods. |
| US09222089B2 |
Aging marker, method for evaluating aging inhibitor, and cancer inhibitor
The present invention aims to elucidate a miRNA involved in cellular senescence and to provide a method of use thereof. The senescence marker of the present invention comprises a gene transcript of miR-22. Further, the method for evaluating a senescence inhibitor of the present invention comprises the step of measuring the expression level of a gene transcript of miR-22 in a sample in the presence of a test compound and in the absence of the test compound; and the step of comparing the expression level of the gene transcript of miR-22 in the sample in the presence of the test compound with the expression level of the gene transcript of miR-22 in the sample in the absence of the test compound. Further, the cancer inhibitor of the present invention comprises as an effective component a gene transcript of miR-22, which cancer inhibitor promotes cellular senescence and inhibits invasion and/or metastasis of cancer. |
| US09222086B2 |
Compositions and methods for silencing genes expressed in cancer
The present invention provides therapeutic nucleic acids such as interfering RNA (e.g., siRNA) that target the expression of genes associated with tumorigenesis and/or cell transformation, lipid particles (e.g., nucleic acid-lipid particles) comprising one or more (e.g., a cocktail) of the therapeutic nucleic acids, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles, e.g., for the treatment of a cell proliferative disorder such as cancer. |
| US09222084B2 |
Method for isolating parallel double and single-stranded nucleic acids and for selectively removing double-stranded nucleic acids from a mixture of double and single-stranded nucleic acids
A method for i) parallel isolation of a double-stranded and/or a single-stranded nucleic acid and/or ii) selective removal of a double-stranded nucleic acid from a mixture of a double-stranded and a single-stranded nucleic acid or from a source comprising a double-stranded and a single-stranded nucleic acid includes absorbing the double-stranded nucleic acid onto a first solid carrier, while the single-stranded nucleic acid is not adsorbed and remains in solution, removing the first carrier with the adsorbed nucleic acid from the solution, mixing the solution comprising the single-stranded nucleic acid with an alcoholic solution having a concentration of 1 to 90 vol.-%, and contacting the resulting solution with second solid carrier, to absorb the single-stranded nucleic acid onto the second solid carrier. |
| US09222082B2 |
Hybridization linkers
The invention provides method of covalently coupling two or more moieties, the method comprising: (a) providing a first moiety having covalently attached thereto (i) at least one first linker comprising a first hybridizable region and (ii) at least one first group capable of forming a covalent bond; (b) providing a second moiety having covalently attached thereto (i) at least one second linker comprising a second hybridizable region capable of hybridizing to the first hybridizable region and (ii) at least a second group capable of forming a covalent bond with the first group; (c) contacting the first and second moieties under conditions that allow the first and second hybridizable regions to hybridize and link the moieties; and (d) exposing the linked moieties to conditions that allow the formation of a covalent bond between the first and second groups. |
| US09222079B2 |
Aromatase activator
A method of increasing expression of the aromatase gene by treating a cell population with an effective amount of an aromatase activator containing an extract of Iris florentina, where the effective amount ranges from 0.0001 to 1% by weight based on the total weight of the aromatase activator on a dry basis. |
| US09222078B2 |
Bleaching of pulp
The use of a peroxidase and violuric acid, or a derivative thereof in the bleaching of pulp, such as paper materials, such as paper, linerboard, corrugated paperboard, tissue, towels, corrugated containers and boxes. The peroxidases of the invention are classified as EC 1.11.1.7. The effect of peroxidase is bleaching and de-inking of the pulp, e.g. the paper pulp and the resulting paper material. |
| US09222076B2 |
Process for the production of patches or derssings of autologous skin through cultivation of autologous keratinocytes and fibroblasts with autologous serum for the generation of skin
The process in general is based on taking a sample of skin and a sample of blood from the patient and based on these two elements skin is cultured, being placed on a collagen patch to produce a dressing which is subsequently placed on the patient requiring same. |
| US09222074B2 |
Process for producing three-dimensional tissue
The invention provides a process for producing a three-dimensional tissue by cultivating eucaryotic cells by introducing the cells into a matrix and cultivating the cells within the matrix in a cell culture medium within a cell culture vessel under controlled dissolved oxygen conditions of the cell culture medium. The matrix contains a support containing an optical oxygen sensor, which is an oxygen-sensitive dye, which upon irradiation with an excitation wavelength changes its emission characteristics in dependence on the dissolved oxygen concentration in the surrounding medium, including a dye phosphorescing upon irradiation of an excitation wavelength, which phosphorescence is quenched by dissolved oxygen. |
| US09222071B2 |
Cell therapy method for the treatment of tumors
T cell responses are often diminished in humans with a compromised immune system. We have developed a method to isolate, stimulate and expand naïve cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) to antigen-specific effectors, capable of lysing tumor cells in vivo. This ex vivo protocol produces fully functional effectors. Artificial antigen presenting cells (AAPCs; Drosophila melanogaster) transfected with human HLA class I and defined accessory molecules, are used to stimulate CD8+ T cells from both normal donors and cancer patients. The class I molecules expressed to a high density on the surface of the Drosophila cells are empty, allowing for efficient loading of multiple peptides that results in the generation of polyclonal responses recognizing tumor cells endogenously expressing the specific peptides. The responses generated are robust, antigen-specific and reproducible if the peptide epitope is a defined immunogen. This artificial antigen expression system can be adapted to treat most cancers in a significant majority of the population. |
| US09222070B2 |
Cell therapy method for the treatment of tumors
T cell responses are often diminished in humans with a compromised immune system. We have developed a method to isolate, stimulate and expand naïve cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) to antigen-specific effectors, capable of lysing tumor cells in vivo. This ex vivo protocol produces fully functional effectors. Artificial antigen presenting cells (AAPCs; Drosophila melanogaster) transfected with human HLA class I and defined accessory molecules, are used to stimulate CD8+ T cells from both normal donors and cancer patients. The class I molecules expressed to a high density on the surface of the Drosophila cells are empty, allowing for efficient loading of multiple peptides that results in the generation of polyclonal responses recognizing tumor cells endogenously expressing the specific peptides. The responses generated are robust, antigen-specific and reproducible if the peptide epitope is a defined immunogen. This artificial antigen expression system can be adapted to treat most cancers in a significant majority of the population. |
| US09222068B2 |
Apparatus for and method of preparing plant tissue for plant production
An apparatus for preparing multiple plant embryos for plant production includes a first station having a first rack system configured to support at least one incubation vessel, a second station having an automated member configured to manipulate the at least one incubation vessel and a third station having a second rack system configured to support the at least one incubation vessel after being manipulated by the automated member. The second station can be selectively adjusted to perform more than one operation required in the development of plant embryos. |
| US09222065B2 |
Method for photoculturing and harvesting microalgae
The present invention relates to a method for photoculturing and harvesting microalgae, and more particularly to a method for photoculturing and harvesting microalgae, in which a light emitting diode (LED) is used as a light source to increase the efficiency with which microalgae are cultured, and the cultured microalgae are harvested using a natural polymer flocculant and air microbubbles so that the operating cost is reduced and the range of application of microalgae is expanded, and also a semi-continuous culture method is applied so that the maximum concentration of microalgae can be produced again within a short time, even though the amount of microalgae harvested is small. |
| US09222059B2 |
Cleaning formulations with improved surfactant solubility and methods of production and use thereof
The present invention provides liquid cleaning compositions useful in cold water and hard water laundry applications, and methods for making and using such compositions. The compositions of the invention use surfactants or surfactant blends, such as α-sulfofatty acid esters or mixtures thereof (optionally along with one or more additional components), that have increased solubility/stability at cold temperatures, at higher-than-usual concentrations, and/or in hard water, with the composition remaining as a clear liquid. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention may be provided in the form of a unit dose, for example in a water-soluble pack or pouch. In use, the compositions of the invention result in an enhanced detergency along with a reduced amount of residue remaining in the machine, on laundered garments or cleaned dishware or hard surfaces, and on the body in personal care settings, and demonstrate a longer shelf-life, particularly when stored or used in colder temperatures. |
| US09222056B2 |
Methods of refining natural oils, and methods of producing fuel compositions
A method of refining a natural oil includes: (a) providing a feedstock that includes a natural oil; (b) reacting the feedstock in the presence of a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesized product that includes olefins and esters; (c) passivating residual metathesis catalyst with an agent selected from the group consisting of (i) a salt and/or an ester of a phosphorous oxo acid, (ii) a derivative of the phosphorous oxo acid in which at least one P—H bond has been replaced by a P—C bond, (iii) a salt and/or an ester of the derivative, and (iv) combinations thereof; (d) separating the olefins in the metathesized product from the esters in the metathesized product; and (e) transesterifying the esters in the presence of an alcohol to form a transesterified product and/or hydrogenating the olefins to form a fully or partially saturated hydrogenated product. |
| US09222055B2 |
High intensity fragrances
The present invention relates to a high intensity fragrance composition for use in a cosmetic, toiletry, personal care, personal cleansing product or adsorbent article, which comprises by weight: a) 75% to 100% of at least 2 fragrance ingredients where each fragrance ingredients must contain only atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, comprise an ester functional group, an alcohol functional group or an aldehyde functional group, have boiling points between 100° C. and 300° C. at a pressure of 760 mm of mercury, have molecular weights within the range of 70 atomic mass units to 175 atomic mass units, and have ClogP values between 0.00 and 4.00; b) 0 to 25% of an essential oil; and c) 0 to 25% of a fragrance ingredient other than the fragrance ingredients in category a), wherein the sum of a), b) and c) equals 100%. |
| US09222053B2 |
Lubricating composition
The present invention provides a lubricating composition comprising a base oil (A) and a hydroxyl group-added poly(meth)acrylate (B). |
| US09222051B2 |
Lubricating composition with improved TBN retention
The invention provides a lubricating composition containing a diarylamine, an aminobenzene and an oil of lubricating viscosity. The invention further relates to the use of the lubricating composition in an internal combustion engine. The invention further relates to the use of the lubricating composition to improve TBN retention. |
| US09222048B1 |
Pipeline arrangement for utilizing a gas comprising biomethane
Embodiments of the invention provide a process in which a gas comprising biomethane having a heating value of about 350-950 BTU/cubic foot is introduced to a pipeline system at a combination point that is downstream of natural gas in the pipeline system having a heating value of at least about 950 BTU/cubic foot. This produces a mixed gas downstream of the combination point. At least a portion of the mixed gas downstream of the combination point is withdrawn for use by a user that combusts the mixed gas to generate heat and/or electricity. A corresponding amount of natural gas is withdrawn at an upstream location for use as a transportation fuel, a fuel intermediate or as a feedstock for producing a fuel. The process can enable fuel credit generation. |
| US09222047B2 |
Liquid fuel compositions
A liquid fuel composition containing (a) a diesel base fuel suitable for use in an internal combustion engine; and (b) one or more organic sunscreen compounds. The liquid fuel composition of the present invention provides benefits in terms of power output of a diesel engine, and modifying the ignition delay and/or modifying the burn period and/or increasing the cetane number of the liquid fuel composition. |
| US09222045B2 |
Method for producing a stable boric solution
The invention relates to a method for producing a stable boron solution with lubricating characteristics which is intended to be used preferably as an addition in the form of a concentrate/additive to a liquid, e.g. to a liquid fuel or a lubricant. The invention is achieved by the method steps of using a boron substance of pharmaceutical quality (1, 11), using a liquid as solvent, applying a mixing ratio between the boron substance and the solvent (3, 13) of preferably 1 g of boron per 15-25 liters of liquid, agitating the mixture for an initial predetermined period of time (4, 14), adding further liquid to dilute the solution (6, 15), the quantity of liquid being chosen such that a final user mixture reaches a concentration of between 20 and 30 ppm of boron (8), and further agitating the mixture (7, 16) for a second predetermined period of time so that the boron substance is completely dissolved in the boron solution, resulting in a boron solution which is stable over time. |
| US09222042B2 |
Process for regulating joule value of offgases from plants for pig iron production or of synthesis gas
In a plant having integrated CO2 removal, for pig iron production or synthesizing gas, at least part of the offgas or synthesis gas is discharged as export gas from the plant, optionally collected in an export gas container and subsequently thermally utilized in a gas turbine. The offgas from the gas turbine is fed to a waste heat boiler for generation of steam. To reduce the addition of high-grade fuel gases, at least part of the tailgas from the CO2 removal plant is mixed into the export gas upstream of the gas turbine as a function of the joule value of the export gas after addition of the tailgas. The proportion of tailgas is increased when the joule value of the export gas goes above a predefined maximum joule value and the proportion of tailgas is reduced when the joule value of the export gas drops below a predefined minimum joule value. |
| US09222038B2 |
Plasma gasification reactor
A plasma gasification reactor vessel having a top section with a conical wall extending up from a bottom section, containing a carbonaceous bed into which plasma is injected by plasma torches, to a roof of the vessel is arranged in ways that can contribute to characteristics of gas flow and solids residence time that are favorable for thoroughness of reactions and yield of useful reactions products. In some cases, such a conical wall is combined in arrangements with other features such as one or more feed ports arranged to give more uniform distribution including examples with a feed port that has a distributive feed mechanism. The roof of the vessel, in some examples, has vertical outlet ports that include intrusions into the interior volume of the reactor proximate the conical wall of the top section. The configurations of outlet ports with intrusions and the configurations of feed ports for more uniform distribution of feed material are also applicable to reactor vessels with other geometries. |
| US09222036B2 |
Process for the production of a gasoline with a low sulfur content
This invention relates to a process for treatment of a gasoline comprising diolefins, olefins, and sulfur-containing compounds including mercaptans, in which: Gasoline is injected into a distillation column comprising at least one reaction zone to produce a desulfurized light gasoline; with the process also comprising the following stages: An intermediate gasoline fraction is drawn off at a level located above the reaction zone; A heavy gasoline comprising the majority of the sulfur-containing compounds is drawn off at the bottom of the column; In a demercaptization reactor, said intermediate gasoline fraction is brought into contact with a second catalyst to produce an effluent that contains sulfides; The effluent that is obtained from the demercaptization reactor is recycled in the distillation column (3). |
| US09222035B2 |
Process for stabilizing an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion
A process for the preparation of at least one ARN acid or salt thereof comprising: (I) allowing at least one ARN acid salt to form during the production of crude oil in the presence of water; (II) removing at least 5 wt % of the formed at least one ARN acid salt, e.g. from the oil water interface; and optionally (III) converting said salt into an acid. |
| US09222028B2 |
Process to produce biofuels from biomass
Biofuels can be produced by: (i) providing a biomass containing celluloses, hemicelluloses, lignin, nitrogen compounds and sulfur compounds; (ii) removing sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds from the biomass by contacting the biomass with a digestive solvent to form a pretreated biomass containing carbohydrates and having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content of untreated biomass on a dry mass basis; (iii) contacting the pretreated biomass directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to form a plurality of oxygenated intermediates, and (vi) processing at least a portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form a liquid fuel. |
| US09222026B2 |
Plasma gasification reactors with modified carbon beds and reduced coke requirements
A process for forming and maintaining a carbonaceous bed with coke replacement units suitable for use in pyrolytic processes includes the steps of: forming a plurality of non-coke units that are either or both irregularly shaped natural wood blocks and bricks including carbon-containing fines and one or more binders; forming an initial carbonaceous bed by a quantity of particles of coke in which at least about 25% of the carbon content of the initial bed is provided by said quantity of non-coke units and up to about 75% of the carbon content of the initial bed is provided by said quantity of particles of coke; and performing a pyrolytic process with the carbonaceous bed including reacting carbon in the bed with other added process material at an elevated temperature in the bed and supplementing carbon material during the pyrolytic process by adding additional carbon material of which at least 25% of the additional carbon material is not coke. |
| US09222022B2 |
Polymer-stabilized optical isotropic liquid crystal formulation and optical isotropic liquid crystal device
An embodiment provides a polymer-stabilized optical isotropic liquid crystal formulation, including 50 to 99.5 parts by weight of an optical isotropic liquid crystal material; and 0.5 to 50 parts by weight of polymer, wherein the polymer is polymerized by an acrylic monomer containing fluorine groups and an acrylic monomer with a liquid crystal phase and/or an acrylic monomer without a liquid crystal phase. |
| US09222015B2 |
Thermochromic coating and method of manufacturing thereof
A thermochromic coating which comprises a thermochromic compound and a polyurea resin. The thermochromic compound and polyurea resin form a thermochromic layer. The coating optionally has a protective layer containing a resin and a UV-blocking material arranged on top of the thermochromic layer. A reflective layer containing a reflective material is optionally arranged between the thermochromic layer and the substrate. A thermochromic coating is formed by applying successive reflective, thermochromic, and protective layers on a substrate. |
| US09222014B2 |
Consolidating agent emulsions and associated methods
Method of treating a subterranean formation comprising providing a consolidation fluid, introducing the resin consolidation fluid into a subterranean formation comprising unconsolidated particulates; and, curing the resin to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated particulates. The consolidation fluid comprises a resin in emulsified form with an aqueous external phase and an organic internal phase wherein the emulsified resin does not comprise a hardening agent and an aqueous base fluid that further comprises a hardening agent. The consolidation fluid may further comprise an emulsifying agent. |
| US09222012B2 |
Methods for strengthening smectite shale in highwall mines
Stabilizing smectite shale may include treating a smectite shale in a subsurface formation with a dewatering fluid so as to yield a stabilized smectite shale, the dewatering fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a dewatering additive. In some instances, at least a portion of a highwall in a highwall mine may be formed at a highwall mine site comprising stabilized smectite shale. |
| US09222010B2 |
Pumpable geopolymers comprising a mixing aid and dispersing agent
The invention concerns the use of a carbohydrate-based compound as a mixing aid and dispersing agent in a pumpable geopolymeric suspension for oil and/or gas industry applications, said suspension further comprising an aluminosilicate source, a carrier fluid, and an activator, and method for placing such a suspension in a borehole. In particular, the suspension according to the invention is used for well primary cementing operations and/or remedial applications. |
| US09222005B2 |
Slip prevention pad and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a slip prevention pad and a method of manufacturing the slip prevention pad. The method includes coating emery with a rubber-metal adhesive and then drying the adhesive-coated emery; kneading a raw rubber with a rubber reinforcing material and a vulcanizing agent to prepare an unvulcanized rubber; mixing the adhesive-coated emery with the unvulcanized rubber to obtain a mixture; introducing the mixture into a rubber molding machine to vulcanize and mold the mixture to obtain a rubber product; and cutting the rubber product. The slip prevention pad may effectively prevent slipping on a slippery road surface such as a snowy road or an icy road. |
| US09221999B2 |
Method to activate silicone rubber surfaces
A method for activating silicone rubber surfaces comprising steps of: i) swelling at least the surface of the silicone rubber matrix with a silicone rubber swelling solvent; ii) treating the silicone rubber matrix during or after the swelling with a solution comprising at least a reactive silane, the reactive silane comprising: a) at least one Si—C bond and; b) at least one hydrolytically labile bond linked to at least one of the Si atoms present in the reactive silane and; c) at least one functional group F1 connected via a Si—C bond to the same or an other Si atom present in the reactive silane, the functional group comprising electrophilic and/or nucleophilic moieties, and/or at least one functional group F2 connected via a Si—C bond to the same or an other Si atom present in the reactive silane comprising moieties which become electrophilic or nucleophilic moieties by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of ring opening of a cyclic structure, hydrolysis, displacement or by a migration reaction; iii) drying and/or heat treating of the treated silicone rubber matrix. |
| US09221997B2 |
Erosion-resistant coating compositions
Disclosed is a composition comprising at least one polyol component (a) having an OH group content of 3% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the polyol component, and at least one isocyanate component (b) having an isocyanate group content of 5% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the isocyanate component. The polyol component (a) comprises at least one OH group-containing polyurethane prepolymer that is the product of a reaction between at least one compound a1. of the general formula (I) HO—R1—X—R2—OH (I) and at least one di- or polyisocyanate a2. The isocyanate component (b) comprises at least one di- or polyisocyanate-terminated polylactone prepolymer. The composition can be used as erosion-resistant coating material. |