| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09229750B1 |
Virtual machine networking
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving one or more respective socket commands from a virtual machine socket core, the one or more respective socket commands being associated with a respective socket destination address; determining, based on the one or more respective socket commands and the respective socket destination address, whether to communicate data associated with the one or more respective socket commands to a host virtual socket device; and in response to determining to communicate the data associated with the one or more respective socket commands to the host virtual socket device, converting the socket destination address to a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) address and communicating the data associated with the one or more respective socket commands and the URI address between the host virtual socket device. |
| US09229747B2 |
Memory compatibility system and method
An apparatus including a first connector configured to fit into a first socket in a processing system, the first connector and first socket conforming to a first standard, a second socket configured to accept a memory module therein, the second socket and the memory module conforming to a second standard, a memory buffer module communicatively coupled to the first connector and the second socket, the memory buffer module configured to receive signals associated with the first standard from the first connector and output signals associated with the second standard to the second socket, and a virtualization module communicatively coupled to the memory buffer module, the first connector, and the second socket, the virtualization module configured to receive first initialization data associated with the second standard from the second socket and output second initialization data associated with the first standard to the processing system. |
| US09229741B2 |
Mobile terminal and application providing method for the same
A mobile terminal and application providing method for same are disclosed whereby the method provides a requested application using an application package installer having multiple pieces of signature information. The application providing method comprises: obtaining an application package installer containing multiple pieces of signature information; determining whether signature information corresponding to the mobile terminal is present in the multiple pieces of signature information; and generating, when signature information corresponding to the mobile terminal is present, a signed application package based on the corresponding signature information. |
| US09229740B1 |
Cache-assisted upload proxy
A deploy service is provided to determine a set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted to a target machine upon receiving an application deployment request from a user of a client device. For instance, the deploy service may compare versions of software artifacts on the target machine with the software artifacts of the application that the user desires to deploy to determine the set of software artifacts that needs to be transmitted. Instead of having to transmit the entire application, some embodiments transmit only a small portion that is reflective of what has been changed between the old version of the application and the new version of the application. This enables the transfer of large files across the Internet to be more efficient. |
| US09229739B2 |
Creation and management of electronic files for a localization project
Electronic files for a localization project may be created and/or managed. The electronic files may be based on a data structure that defines the format and content of the electronic files and may include a first data structure portion that may contain data representing a plurality of references to localization project files. The data structure may includes a second data structure portion that may be associated with the first data structure portion that may contain data that may represent a plurality of references to standard files. |
| US09229733B2 |
System and method for providing an image to an information handling system
A system and method for providing an image to an information handling system is disclosed. A method for delivering an image may include booting an information handling system with a provisioning operating system downloaded via a network into a memory of the information handling system. The method may also include calculating, by the second provisioning OS, a fingerprint of an image stored on the information handling system. The method may additionally include determining if the fingerprint matches a previously-calculated fingerprint of the image calculated prior to delivery of the information handling system to its intended destination. The method may further include enabling the information handling system to boot from a storage resource of the information handling system in response to a determination that the fingerprint matches the previously-calculated fingerprint. |
| US09229732B2 |
System and method for on-demand delivery of operating system and/or applications
A system includes a module to determine a dependency between at least one operating system and at least one application, an interface module to permit an independent selection of an operating system image and an application image, a service to stream a first portion of the application image, and to stream, on-demand, a second portion of the application image, and a memory to store at least one of the operating system image and the application image. The at least one application is compatible with the at least one operating system. Methods and machine-readable medium, and hardware apparatus are provided. |
| US09229731B2 |
System and method for facilitating booting using a plurality of boot methods
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with multiple boot methods are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information handling system comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The information handling system also comprises an access controller communicatively coupled to the processor. The access controller is configured to retrieve non-bootable executable instructions and combine the non-bootable executable instructions with a boot loader associated with a boot method to generate a bootable image associated with the boot method. The access controller is further configured to present the bootable image to the information handling system such that the bootable image is configured to be booted by the information handling system using the boot method. |
| US09229730B2 |
Multi-chip initialization using a parallel firmware boot process
Mechanisms, in a multi-chip data processing system, for performing a boot process for booting each of a plurality of processor chips of the multi-chip data processing system are provided. With these mechanisms, a multi-chip agnostic isolated boot phase operation is performed, in parallel, to perform an initial boot of each of the plurality of processor chips as if each of the processor chips were an only processor chip in the multi-chip data processing system. A multi-chip aware isolated boot phase operation of each of the processor chips is performed in parallel, where each of the processor chips has its own separately configured address space. In addition, a unified configuration phase operation is performed to select a master processor chip from the plurality of processor chips and configure other processor chips in the plurality of processor chips to operate as slave processor chips that are controlled by the master processor chip. |
| US09229720B2 |
Circuit marginality validation test for an integrated circuit
A high volume manufacturing (HVM) and circuit marginality validation (CMV) test for an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The IC comprises a port binding and bubble logic in the front end to provide flexibility in binding a port to the uop and to create empty spaces (bubbles) in the uop flow. The out-of-order (OOO) cluster of the IC comprises reservation disable logic to control the flow sequence of the uops and stop schedule logic to temporarily stop dispatching the uops from the OOO cluster to the execution (EXE) cluster. The EXE cluster of the IC comprises signal event uops to generate fault information and fused uJump uops to specify combination of branch prediction, direction, and resolution in any portion of the test. Such features provide a tester the flexibility to perform HVM and CMV testing of the OOO and EXE clusters of the IC. |
| US09229719B2 |
Method and apparatus for shuffling data
Method, apparatus, and program means for shuffling data. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving a first operand having a set of L data elements and a second operand having a set of L control elements. For each control element, data from a first operand data element designated by the individual control element is shuffled to an associated resultant data element position if its flush to zero field is not set and a zero is placed into the associated resultant data element position if its flush to zero field is not set. |
| US09229710B2 |
Optimizing on demand allocation of virtual machines using a stateless preallocation pool
A method, computer system, and computer program product for allocating virtual machines in a stateless preallocation pool on a computing device is provided. In response to determining that a virtual machine is to be removed from an active pool in a computing device, it is determined whether the virtual machine is to be moved to a preallocation pool of the computing device. In response to determining that the virtual machine is to be moved to the preallocation pool, the virtual machine is cleansed of stateful data by removing unique information about the virtual machine's prior allocation while in the active pool. The virtual machine is moved to the preallocation pool. In response to determining that the virtual machine is needed in the active pool, the virtual machine is moved from the preallocation pool to the active pool. |
| US09229706B2 |
Method and apparatus for field firmware updates in data storage systems
Data storage devices and methods for updating firmware are disclosed. For example, one such data storage device includes a device firmware and a controller, where the controller operates in accordance with the device firmware. The controller determines whether or not the device firmware can be updated with new firmware at least partially based on whether or not the new firmware meets a criterion related to a configuration profile of the device firmware. |
| US09229704B2 |
Smart vehicle reflash with battery state of charge (SOC) estimator
Electronic modules in motor vehicles are reflashed without encountering errors due to insufficient electrical power becoming available during a reflashing. A server system stores a database of update files together with data corresponding to a respective current draw and a respective reflash time associated with the respective update files when applied in each respective vehicle. A vehicle sends pedigree information to the server system which then identifies relevant update files and corresponding current draw and reflash time data for the particular vehicle. The relevant update files and corresponding data are sent to the particular vehicle. A state of charge of a battery in the vehicle is determined. A depleted state of charge is estimated that would remain after applying a relevant update file. The update file is not applied if the estimated depleted state of charge is less than a predetermined state of charge. |
| US09229698B2 |
Method and apparatus for compiler processing for a function marked with multiple execution spaces
A method for processing a function with a plurality of execution spaces is disclosed. The method comprises creating an internal compiler representation for the function. Creating the internal compiler representation comprises copying substantially all lexical tokens corresponding to a body of the function. Further, the creating comprises inserting the lexical tokens into a plurality of conditional if-statements, wherein a conditional if-statement is generated for each corresponding execution space of said plurality of execution spaces, and wherein each conditional if-statement determines which execution space the function is executing in. During compilation, the method finally comprises performing overload resolution at a call site of an overloaded function by checking for compatibility with a first execution space specified by one of the plurality of conditional if-statements, wherein the overloaded function is called within the body of the function. |
| US09229697B2 |
Speculative object shapes
A method for speculative object shapes comprises obtaining values for objects of a first and second shape, determining, by a processor and during runtime, a first speculative type for the first value and a second speculative type for the second value, generating, based on the first speculative type and the second speculative type, a shape tree comprising a first subtree for the first shape and a second subtree for the second shape, marking, by the processor, the first subtree as obsolete based on a determination that the first speculative type is incorrect and that the second shape is a super shape of the first shape, and transforming, in response to marking, the first object from the first shape to the second shape by: merging the first subtree into the second subtree. |
| US09229696B2 |
Common intermediate representation for data scripting language
A common intermediate representation for a data scripting language is provided for efficient representation and direct specification of programming constructs in memory. The common intermediate representation of data scripts allows data intensive applications to be created and analyzed in a machine accessible format, and the elements of the common intermediate representation can be stored independent of underlying storage specifics. Stored elements of the common intermediate representation of code are thus available for fast loading in memory when desired by other applications and programs by mapping the stored elements to the in memory intermediate representation. |
| US09229695B2 |
Usage of TOC register as application register
Embodiments relate to usage of a table of contents (TOC) register as an application register. An aspect includes receiving, by a computer system, application object code comprising a first function call from a calling function to a first callee function, and a symbol table entry in a symbol table comprising a first TOC register usage indicator that is associated with the first callee function. Another aspect includes determining that the first callee function of the first function call does not require a TOC pointer based on the first TOC register usage indicator that is associated with the first callee function in the symbol table. Another aspect includes based on determining that the first callee function of the first function call does not require a TOC pointer, inserting a TOC save command and a TOC restore command corresponding to the first local function call into the application object code. |
| US09229690B2 |
Automatic computer code parallelization
A method for computer code parallelization, comprising: providing sequential computer code by a user; defining structure of the sequential computer code, the structure comprises a plurality of code processes; generating automatically a plurality of parallelized computer codes corresponding to the sequential computer code, each having different configuration of parallelizing the plurality of code processes; running the plurality of parallelized computer codes on a multi-core processing platform; evaluating performance of the processing platform during running of each of the parallelized computer codes; and ranking each of the parallelized computer codes according to the performance evaluation. |
| US09229689B2 |
System and method for providing user support in designing graph structures
A computer system for providing user support in editing graph structures includes a memory, a display, and a processor cooperatively operable with the display and the memory. The processor, based on instructions stored in the memory, causes the display to present, on a user interface, a visualization of a graph structure that includes one or more connections and one or more objects. Each of one or more connections represents a connection of two or more objects. In response to an action by user that selects at least one of the one or more connections and one or more objects, the processor causes the display to present, on the user interface, in real time, a support that indicates an allowable modification to the graph structure based on a methodology to which the graph structure is assigned and the selection of the one or more connections and one or more objects. |
| US09229686B2 |
Accuracy configurable adders and methods
A preferred method of accuracy configuration with an approximate adder receives two input operands and generates a first approximate adder output with a plurality of sub-adders having a first accuracy under a first condition. Error detection and correction is selectively enabled to generate a next approximate adder output having a second accuracy that is higher than the first accuracy under a second condition. In preferred embodiments, a pipelined architecture provides selectable stages and the enablement of each successive stage provides a high level of accuracy. Power gated control can achieve enablement of error correction stages to conserve power. |
| US09229684B2 |
Automated corruption analysis of service designs
Methods and arrangements for conducting corruption analysis of service designs. A service design is accepted. Corrupting factors within the service design are assessed, and a corruption susceptibility score is generated. An alternative service design is generated responsive to a corruption susceptibility score fulfilling predetermined criteria. |
| US09229680B2 |
Enhanced voice command of computing devices
Embodiments provide user access to software functionality such as enterprise-related software applications and accompanying actions and data. An example method includes receiving natural language input; analyzing the natural language input and selecting one or more portions of the natural language input; employing the one or more keywords to select software functionality; and presenting one or more user interface controls in combination with a representation of the natural language input, wherein the one or more user interface controls are adapted to facilitate user access to the software functionality. In a more specific embodiment, the natural language input is functionally augmented via in-line tagging of keywords or phrases, wherein the tags act as user interface controls for accessing selected software functionality. |
| US09229668B2 |
Process enablement in network downtime condition
It is a first aspect of the present disclosure to provide a computer implemented method of enabling, by a mobile device, a peripheral device connected to a network that includes establishing a connection with the peripheral device when the peripheral device fails to communicate with the network; querying the peripheral device for a document; receiving a document from the peripheral device; processing the document; and sending the processed document to the peripheral device. |
| US09229667B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The present invention is concerning an image forming apparatus that has a first power-saving mode in which a power of loads in the apparatus is caused to transition to a sleep state and a second power-saving mode in which supply of power to the loads in the apparatus is stopped, the apparatus comprising: a low power consumption control unit that keeps the power in the second power-saving mode, wherein, in response to an event to cancel the second power-saving mode, the control unit restarts the supply of power to the loads other than the load of an image forming unit while keeping the supply of power to the loads of the image forming unit stopped. |
| US09229666B2 |
Device registration system and method
A device registration system includes a network, an image forming apparatus, a mobile terminal communicatively connected to the network via an access point, and a server. The image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus near field communication (NFC) unit configured to perform wireless communication with the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal comprises a mobile terminal NFC unit configured to perform wireless communication with the image forming apparatus. The server is configured to register setting information associated with the image forming apparatus in a search list, wherein the setting information includes (i) position information indicative of a location of the image forming apparatus and (ii) tag information representative of a text label that describes the image forming apparatus. |
| US09229664B2 |
Apparatus and methods for monitoring operation of a printing system
User-related features of a printing system are disclosed herein. Some embodiments relate to a time-line GUI for visualizing and/or manipulating queued print jobs which may be employed. Some embodiments relate to a reversed augmented reality GUI for visualization and/or control of the printing system. In some embodiments, a display screen is mounted to a printer housing and/or able to control access to moving parts of a printing system. |
| US09229663B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method for selective prioritization of jobs
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes: an acquiring unit that acquires a job list in which a job, authorization information expressing authorization over a process of a job, and level of priority of the job are associated with one another; and an output unit that outputs preferentially a job with high level of the priority over a job with low level of the priority. |
| US09229660B2 |
Storage system and method for controlling storage system
According to an aspect of the present invention, provided is a storage system including a plurality of storage devices, a plurality of access control devices, a relay device, and a connection control device. The plurality of access control devices control access to each of the plurality of storage devices. The relay device connects each of the plurality of storage devices to one of the plurality of access control devices. The connection control device instructs, in response to load states of the plurality of access control devices, the relay device to switch an access control device connected to one of the plurality of storage devices so that deviation of loads among the plurality of access control devices is improved. |
| US09229658B2 |
Status information saving among multiple computers
Provided are techniques for status information saving among multiple computers. In one embodiment, a selected computer is operated using a plurality of input/output devices over switched input/output signal paths passing through a KVM (keyboard video mouse) switch positioned between the selected computer and the plurality of input/output devices. Status data is carried over signal paths passing through the KVM switch wherein the status data represents status information for a plurality of computers connected to the KVM switch. The status data passing through the KVM switch is stored in a memory coupled to the KVM switch. Other embodiments are described and claimed. Other embodiments are contemplated, depending upon the particular application. |
| US09229655B2 |
Controller and method for performing background operations
The embodiments described herein provide a controller and method for performing a background commands or operations. In one embodiment, a controller is provided with interfaces through which to communicate with a host and a plurality of flash memory devices. The controller contains a processor operative to perform a foreground command received from the host, wherein the processor performs the foreground command to completion without interruption. The processor is also operative to perform a background commands or operations stored in the controller's memory, wherein the processor performs the background command until completed or preempted by a foreground command. If the background command is preempted, the processor can resume performing the background command at a later time until completed. |
| US09229653B2 |
Write spike performance enhancement in hybrid storage systems
In an embodiment, a hybrid storage array one uses two or more storage device tiers provided by solid state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs). Random writes are collected and written to a write cache extension, such as a portion of the SSD storage tier. The write cache extension absorbs such accesses that would otherwise be written to HDD storage directly. Data structures are created in a cache memory local to an array controller representing the location on the write cache extension to which the writes were committed and a location in the storage system where they were originally intended to go. The write cache extension can be enabled all of the time, or only when the array controller write cache experiences certain operating conditions, such as when its utilization exceeds a predetermined amount. The approach improves the overall performance of the hybrid array. |
| US09229651B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing memory in virtual machine environment
A method and apparatus for managing a memory in a portable terminal including a main memory, a secondary memory, and a plurality virtual machines allocated by partitioning the main memory are provided. The method includes generating, by the virtual machines, monitoring information by monitoring access to the main memory and the secondary memory and swapping out with respect to the secondary memory; determining memory allocation amounts for each of the virtual machines by using the monitoring information; and allocating the main memory to the virtual machines in a partitioning scheme based on the determined memory allocation amounts. |
| US09229648B2 |
Storage array reservation forwarding
A method is provided for a destination storage system to handle SCSI-3 reservations. The method includes discovering a volume on a source storage system when the source storage system exports the volume to the destination storage system, exporting the volume to host computer systems, locally registering keys for first paths to the destination storage system, and registering with the source storage system the keys for second paths to the source storage system. When one of the host computer systems requests to reserve the volume, the method includes locally reserving the volume for paths to the destination storage system with registered keys and performing reservation forwarding to request the source storage system to reserve the volume for paths to the source storage system with registered keys. |
| US09229647B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for spoofing a port of a host entity to identify data that is stored in a storage system and may be accessed by the port of the host entity
A first device in a network, having a first port, receives an identifier of a second port of a second device in the network, the network comprising a host entity, a switch, and a storage system. The first port of the first device spoofs the second port of the second device, during a communication with the switch. The first device receives information identifying a third port of a third device in the network that is zoned to the second port of the second device. The device identifies data stored in the storage system that may be accessed by the host entity, based at least on the information. |
| US09229645B2 |
Storage management method and storage system in virtual volume having data arranged astride storage devices
An administrator instructs creation of a volume to a virtual storage device and registration of a host port for providing access permission to the volume. The virtual storage device searches a candidate of a physical storage device capable of reaching the host port and a candidate of the target port based on the access permission information, and creates a distributed volume astride the candidate physical storage device. The distributed volume is composed of a plurality of partial volumes, and the partial volumes inherit the functions of the storage device and the access permission information set for the distributed volume. The virtual storage device distributes an access permission to the physical storage device, constitutes the access permission information of the host port and the volume with respect to the candidate target port, and registers the access permission information of the host port and the target port to the SAN switch. |
| US09229641B2 |
Identifying redundant data for disk image streaming
Redundant data in a streaming disk image is identified using commands to indicate unused disk blocks, such as TRIM/UNMAP commands. A TRIM/UNMAP layer is added between an operating system and a disk driver to support the use of TRIM/UNMAP commands. Using the TRIM/UNMAP layer, blocks of a streamed disk image that are unallocated by the operating system are identified. The identified unallocated blocks are streamed to a server for analysis and storage. |
| US09229638B1 |
Adaptive flow control for networked storage
In a networked storage system in which at least one primary data storage device is mirrored by a secondary data storage device, the primary device maintains data indicative of IO response rate of the secondary and capacity of a network via which the primary device is in communication with the secondary device. The primary device uses that data to determine whether to transmit an IO request to the secondary device. For example, the primary device may use the data to calculate loading of the secondary device based on IO response rate of the secondary device. The primary device may also increase its IO transmission rate if it is determined that the response rate of the secondary device is increasing, and decrease its IO transmission rate if it is determined that the response rate of the secondary device is decreasing. In order to avoid overloading the network the primary device compares the size of an IO request against the difference between perceived network capacity and utilized network capacity to determine whether sufficient network capacity exists for the IO request. |
| US09229632B2 |
Animation sequence associated with image
In one embodiment, an image may be displayed in one of several display modes. When an image is displayed in a first display mode on the screen of an electronic device, a user input may cause the image to transition to a second display mode. An animation sequence is displayed while the image transitions from the first display mode to the second display mode. |
| US09229630B2 |
User interface for a portable oxygen concentrator
A user interface for a portable oxygen concentration system. The user interface includes a touch screen and a controller coupled to the touch screen. The controller is configured to detect when a first portion of the touch screen is contacted by a user, and thereafter operate the touch screen for displaying an icon on a second portion of the touch screen. |
| US09229629B2 |
Device identification method, communicative connection method between multiple devices, and interface controlling method
A device identification method, a communicative connection method between multiple devices, and an interface controlling method are disclosed herein. The devices include a first device and at least one second device. The first device includes a touch-sensing interface and a first wireless communication module. Each second device comprising a second wireless communication module and physical contacts arranged with a distinct pattern. The communicative connection method includes steps of: sensing a multi-touch input by the touch-sensing interface when one of the second devices is currently placed upon the touch-sensing interface of the first device; identifying the second device currently placed upon the first device by matching the multi-touch input with the distinct pattern; and, forming a wireless communicative connection between the first wireless communication module of the first device and the second wireless communication module of the matched second device. |
| US09229625B2 |
System and method for providing a circular computer desktop environment
Systems and methods for providing a circular computer desktop. In accordance with an embodiment, one or more computer monitors are used with a closed-path configuration, in which there are no, e.g., natural left and right desktop boundaries. When an object is moved or resized such that a portion or all of the object moves outside an expected boundary of the desktop, then that portion of the object is rendered and made visible at the opposite side of the desktop. The effect is one of a continuous or circular desktop. In accordance with an embodiment, the system can determine the position of objects within the desktop, taking into account the width of monitor bezels. In accordance with various embodiments, the system can be used with a single, e.g., flat or circular monitor, or with a plurality of monitors, and can accommodate left-right and/or up-down circular desktop behavior. |
| US09229623B1 |
Methods for sharing mobile device applications with a vehicle computer and accessing mobile device applications via controls of a vehicle when the mobile device is connected to the vehicle computer
Methods and systems are provided, for sharing mobile device applications with a vehicle computer. One example method includes detecting a mobile device present in a vehicle, by a vehicle computer of the vehicle and generating a user interface on a display screen of the vehicle, as instructed by the vehicle computer. The method further includes identifying by the vehicle computer, a plurality of native applications of the vehicle for the user interface and identifying a plurality of mobile device applications from the mobile device for the user interface, while the mobile devices is present in the vehicle. The method enables system controls, using the vehicle computer, to enable access to the plurality of native applications and the plurality of mobile device applications, the system controls including one or more of button inputs of the vehicle, touch screen inputs via the user interface of the display screen of the vehicle, and voice input via microphones of the vehicle. |
| US09229616B2 |
Methods and systems for arranging media objects on a display screen to compensate for user disabilities
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for arranging media objects on a display screen to compensate for disabilities of a user. For example, if a media guidance application determines that, based on a particular disability, a user cannot see (or has limited vision with respect to) a portion of a screen displaying a media asset, the media guidance application alters the arrangement of media objects in the media asset to compensate for the disability. |
| US09229615B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying additional information items
An apparatus, that may include a processor configured to receive a touch input associated with a first information item, determine a first set of at least one additional information item associated with said first information item, based at least in part on said touch input, generate a first visual representation based at least in part on said first set, and display said first visual representation is disclosed. A corresponding method and computer-readable medium are also disclosed. |
| US09229613B2 |
Transitions among hierarchical user interface components
In one embodiment, one or more components of a user interface are arranged in a hierarchy of layers. The user interface is presented according to the structure of the hierarchy, with a first component of the user interface presented at a first layer. One or more second component are presented at a second layer, the second components being one or more children of the first component and the second layer being one layer above the first layer. Each child component of a parent component is locked to their respective parent component. |
| US09229606B2 |
System and method for rendering widget
A method and a system for rendering a widget are provided. The method is used in an electronic device and includes: receiving a display size of a display unit; comparing the display size of the display unit with a lookup table and obtaining the display size of the widget and a user interface; determining whether the display size of the display unit needs to be adjusted to the display size of the widget; re-adjusting the display size of the display to the display size of the widget according to the obtained display size of the widget when determining that the display size of the display unit needs to be adjusted to the display size of the widget; and rendering the widget. |
| US09229600B2 |
Multi-touch active display keyboard
A touch sensitive display device includes a display fabricated on a flexible substrate, the display having a viewing surface; and a plurality of touch sensitive elements under the display, each of the plurality of touch sensitive elements including a touch sensitive sensor, the sensors being operable by touching the viewing surface of the display, and each of the plurality of touch sensitive elements having an output for outputting a signal responsive to the viewing surface being touched, wherein each of the plurality of touch sensitive elements defines a region of the viewing surface in which the touch sensitive element produces an output in response to a touch, and wherein the plurality of touch sensitive elements are arranged such that two or more substantially simultaneous touches of different regions of the viewing surface produces output signals corresponding to the two or more touches of the viewing surface. |
| US09229597B2 |
Integrated capacitive touch screen and LED layer
A layer of microscopic printed VLEDs is sandwiched between a first conductor layer and a transparent second conductor layer so that light exits the second conductor layer. Touch sensor electrodes are formed overlying the VLED layer so that the VLEDs illuminate the touch sensor. In one embodiment, the touch sensor electrodes are independent from the conductor layers for the VLEDs. In another embodiment, the transparent second conductor layer also serves as a touch sensor electrode. In another embodiment, both the conductor layers for the VLEDs serve as touch sensor electrodes. The conductor layers for the VLEDs may be segmented in groups to selectively illuminate groups of the VLEDs under each touch sensor position. The touch sensor electrodes may be transparent or opaque, depending on whether the electrodes are intended to allow the VLED light to pass through. |
| US09229593B2 |
Single and multiple finger extraction and position calculation using a weighted mask
A method for single and multi-finger extraction and position calculation using weighted masks for each finger, the masks for each finger being calculated using the previous position of each finger, and when the measured results overlap, the results are apportioned according to the masks such that each position result is scaled according to its mask, and scaled by its mask divided by the sum of all overlapping masks. |
| US09229587B2 |
Capacitive touchscreen sensor apparatus and display apparatus
A sensor apparatus includes a first member, a second member, and a detection mechanism. The second member is relatively movable in a first direction with respect to the first member. The detection mechanism includes an elastic member arranged between the first member and the second member, a support that is provided between the first member and the elastic member and forms an air layer between the first member and the elastic member, the air layer having a thickness changed by an elastic deformation of the elastic member, and an electrode pair that forms a plurality of capacitances including a capacitance component changed in accordance with a change of the thickness of the air layer. The detection mechanism outputs a detection signal on a movement amount of the second member in the first direction based on a change of a combined capacitance of the electrode pair. |
| US09229582B2 |
Motion trajectory capturing device and motion trajectory capturing module thereof
A motion trajectory capturing module includes a light-emitting element, a light-splitting element, a first light-reflecting element, a second light-reflecting element, a lens assembly and a motion trajectory sensing element, characterized in that: a projection light beam generated by the light-emitting element is reflected by the light-splitting element and the first light-reflecting element in sequence to form an illumination light beam passing through a light-transmitting element and projected onto an object moving on the light-transmitting element, the illumination light beam is reflected by the object to form an image light beam reflected by the first light-reflecting element, the image light beam sequentially passes through the light-splitting element and the lens assembly and is projected onto the motion trajectory sensing element through the second light-reflecting element, and the motion trajectory sensing element receives the image light beam to obtain a motion trajectory of the object moving on the light-transmitting element. |
| US09229581B2 |
Method for detecting gestures using a multi-segment photodiode and one or fewer illumination sources
A gesture sensing device includes a multiple segmented photo sensor and a control circuit for processing sensed voltages output from the sensor. The control circuit processes the sensed voltage signals to determine target motion relative to the segmented photo sensor. The control circuit includes an algorithm configured to calculate one of more differential analog signals using the sensed voltage signals output from the segmented photo sensors. A vector is determined according to the calculated differential analog signals, the vector is used to determine a direction and/or velocity of the target motion. |
| US09229568B2 |
Touch device gestures
A system and method for facilitating employing touch gestures to control or manipulate a web-based application. The example method includes employing a browser running on a device with a touch-sensitive display to access content provided via a website; determining a context associated with the content, including ascertaining one or more user interface controls to be presented via a display screen used to present the content, and providing a first signal in response thereto; receiving touch input from a touch-sensitive display and providing a second signal in response thereto; and using the second signal to manipulate the display screen in accordance with the context associated with the content presented via the display screen. A library of touch gestures can represent common functions through touch movement patterns. These gestures may be context sensitive so as not to conflict with default touch tablet gestures. |
| US09229567B2 |
Electronic device including touch-sensitive display
A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display, determining a time of a display update of the touch-sensitive display, and adjusting a scanning rate of scanning electrodes of the touch-sensitive display based on the time of the display update. |
| US09229564B2 |
Touch display and electronic device
An electronic device and a touch display panel of the electronic device are provided. The touch display panel receives a touch driving signal and generates a sense signal in response to the touch driving signal, wherein the sense signal is analyzed to calculate a touch position on the touch display. The touch display panel includes a transmitting circuit and a grounding electrode. The transmitting circuit distributes the touch driving signal in the touch display panel. The grounding electrode is disposed over the transmitting circuit and at least partially covers the transmitting circuit, wherein the grounding electrode is a grounded conductor. |
| US09229561B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A mobile phone is provided which includes a liquid crystal display device in which a front window and a touch panel are bonded together with an adhesive sheet, wherein a logo having plural layers is formed on a back side of the front window. A touch-panel flexible wiring substrate is mounted to the touch panel. A plane distance between an end portion of the plural layers of the logo and an end portion of the touch panel is set to greater than zero. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent a peeling stress on the adhesive sheet, even if a thickness of the adhesive sheet is smaller than the sum of a thickness of the touch-panel flexible wiring substrate and a thickness of the logo. |
| US09229559B2 |
Display device and method for producing same
A display device (100) of the present invention is configured in such a manner that a liquid crystal module (30) is inserted in the inside (of the inner faces) of a positioning frame (20) that is attached to a top window (10). This eliminates the need to consider a positioning tolerance for the attachment. As a result, the display device can be reduced in size and a narrow frame can be achieved. |
| US09229556B2 |
Apparatus and method for sensing 3D object
Provided is an apparatus and method for sensing a three-dimensional (3D) object. The apparatus includes a display unit including a first sensing space in which a sensitivity with respect to a proximity touch is higher than a threshold value and a second sensing space in which a sensitivity with respect to the proximity touch is lower than the threshold value, on a stereoscopic space on which at least one 3D object is disposed and a controller for moving predetermined 3D objects in a predetermined direction if a proximity touch is generated on the second sensing space, detecting coordinates of a 3D object corresponding to a proximity touch generated on the first sensing space if the proximity touch generated on the second sensing space is moved and generated on the first sensing space, and performing a function corresponding to the 3D object. |
| US09229555B2 |
Touch screen panel and method of manufacturing the same
In one aspect, a touch screen panel and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. In some embodiments, the touch screen panel includes a substrate including a sensing region and a peripheral region, a plurality of first sensing patterns, a plurality of second sensing patterns, and an insulating layer, where the insulating layer is patterned so that both sides of the second sensing patterns are exposed. |
| US09229549B1 |
Random scanning technique for secure transactions entered with capacitive sensor input device
A random scanning technique for secure transactions entered with a capacitive sensor input device is described. |
| US09229547B2 |
Expandable electronic stylus
An extendable electronic stylus is described. The extendable electronic stylus has a distal end that provides an electronic input to an electronic device and a first cam with an elongated member that extends between a proximal end of the stylus and its distal end. The stylus also includes a second cam that rotates relative to the first cam when the proximal end of the stylus is pushed in a distal direction. The pushing of the proximal end of the stylus causes a surface of the second cam to contact the first cam surface. The stylus also includes a cover with a first look surface. The rotation of the second cam relative to the first cam cause a second lock surface of the second cam to abut the first lock surface, thereby locking the second cam in a fixed position relative to the first cam. |
| US09229546B2 |
Circuit of frequency counter and method thereof
A circuit of frequency counter is adapted for an electromagnetic board with an electromagnetic pen. The counter exemplarily includes a source count module, a motion count module, a logic module, a switching gate module, a signal-capturing module, a frequency-counting module and a control module. The source count module counts number of clock pulses of a first clock signal. A receiver mode is switched by the switching gate module when the number reaches a first predetermined value. The motion count module counts number of clock pulses of a second clock signal. A transmitter mode is made by the switching gate module when the number reaches a second predetermined value. When a cumulative number of circular number counted by the frequency-counting module reaches a third predetermined value, the frequency-counting module completes counting a first high-frequency clock signals, and the control module obtains an operating frequency for the electromagnetic pen. |
| US09229531B2 |
Haptic control device including a seal
Haptic control device that includes a tactile panel mounted movably relative to a support including a peripheral wall, characterized by the fact that a seal is arranged on the periphery of the tactile panel in an annular space situated between the tactile panel and the peripheral wall of the support, the seal including: an inner portion in tight contact with the tactile panel, an outer portion in tight contact with the peripheral wall of the support, and a connecting portion that extends between the inner portion and the outer portion and is elastically deformable so as to absorb the relative displacements of the tactile panel relative to the peripheral wall of the support without removing the haptic effect produced by the movements of the tactile panel. |
| US09229527B2 |
Image display device, image display method, and program
An image display device includes: a display unit that displays images; an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject that faces the display unit; a detection unit that detects motion with respect to the image display device by the user of the image display device; an estimation unit that, when predetermined motion has been detected by the detection unit, estimates the inclination with respect to the display unit of a person's face that was captured by the imaging unit; and a display orientation alteration unit that alters the orientation of images displayed on the display unit according to the inclination that was estimated. |
| US09229524B2 |
Performing local power gating in a processor
In an embodiment, the present invention includes an execution unit to execute instructions of a first type, a local power gate circuit coupled to the execution unit to power gate the execution unit while a second execution unit is to execute instructions of a second type, and a controller coupled to the local power gate circuit to cause it to power gate the execution unit when an instruction stream does not include the first type of instructions. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09229521B2 |
Watchdog circuit, power IC and watchdog monitor system
A watchdog timer circuit for use in microcomputer monitor systems is disclosed. This circuit includes a timer circuit responsive to receipt of a count clock signal for counting it up, and a timer control circuit which loads an externally inputted data signal (stn) in sync with a timer refresh instruction (prun) and holds therein a sequentially loaded latest multi-bit data signal as reference data. When the reference data agrees with a predefined pattern and simultaneously another prespecified condition is met, the timer control circuit interrupts the clock signal counting operation of the timer circuit. During interruption of the counting operation, when the reference data does not agree with the predefined pattern or when the above-stated another prespecified condition becomes unsatisfied, the control circuit allows the timer circuit to restart the clock signal counting operation. |
| US09229519B2 |
Serial interface transmitting method and peripheral device chip
The present invention discloses a serial interface transmitting method utilized in a serial interface for connecting between a master controller and a peripheral device. The serial interface transmitting method comprises receiving a saving power signal from the master controller, a peripheral clock source and a serial interface clock source for generating a clock source selection result, switching an operational mode of the peripheral device according to the clock source selection result, and transmitting a datum to a peripheral-device register or a serial interface register according to the saving power signal and the operational mode. |
| US09229518B1 |
Wake-on-frame for frame processing devices
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with wake-on-frame mechanisms are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a packet source configured to send packets to a frame processing device and a wake-on-frame mechanism that is selectable by the frame processing device between an enabled state and a disabled state. If the wake-on-frame mechanism is in the enabled state, a packet source that has a frame to send to the frame processing device sends a wake signal to the frame processing device prior to sending the packet. The packet source sends the packet to the frame processing device after receiving a ready signal from the frame processing device. |
| US09229517B2 |
Computer input device power savings
In some embodiments a computing device includes a holder to hold an input device, a detector to detect whether the input device is held by the holder, and a controller to manage power of the device in response to the detection. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09229516B2 |
Methods, devices, and computer program products for maintaining network presence while conserving power consumption
Network presence of a computing device in a cloud computing network is maintained while power consumption of the computing device is reduced. When the computing device is determined to enter an idle state, at least some of the operations of the computing device running in a virtual machine environment are migrated to a server within the cloud computing network while maintaining connectivity of the computing device to the cloud computing network. When the computing device is determined to be in the idle state, the computing device is put into a sleep mode to reduce power consumption of the computing device. When the computing device is determined to be in an active state, the computing device is woken, and the migrated operations are returned from the server to the computing device. This reduces power consumption of the computing device while maintaining the network presence of the computing device in the cloud computing network. |
| US09229512B2 |
Host device and terminal device, and communication system
A host-side control unit 120 receives a terminal-device-side notification value INFD indicating a second voltage V2 that is a voltage at a reference point P2 on a terminal-device-side power supply line 134 from a terminal device 130, calculates a first resistance value R1 indicating a resistance from a power supply unit 112 to the reference point P2 based on the terminal-device-side notification value INFD, a first voltage V1 output by the power supply unit 112, and a first current A1 measured by a first current measurement unit 116, and supplies the calculated first resistance value R1 to the power supply unit 112. The power supply unit 112 adjusts the first voltage V1 according to the first resistance value R1 and the first current value A1 measured by the first current measurement unit 116 at that moment so that the second voltage V2 falls within a predetermined first reference range. |
| US09229501B2 |
Distributed grid-interactive photovoltaic-based power dispatching
In one embodiment, each of a plurality of sites may produce surplus power. All or a fraction of the surplus power may be supplied to the power grid according to an agreement between the user of a site and an electric utility. A computer of the utility is in communication with a computer at each of a plurality of sites having a local power source. Terms of power provision that include an amount of power to be provided during a specified time of day is communicated between a site and the utility. |
| US09229500B2 |
Acoustic noise reduction in power supply inductors
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that reduces an audible noise produced in a power supply. The apparatus includes: (1) a housing; (2) an inductor coil formed from a coil of wire enclosed in the housing; (3) a set of wires that are coupled from the inductor coil to the outside of the housing through corresponding apertures in the housing, comprising electrical leads for the inductor coil; and (4) a predetermined amount of adhesive in the apertures that bonds the wires to the housing to reduce an audible noise produced when the current through the inductor coil is cycled quickly. |
| US09229499B2 |
Apparatus for supporting and cooling an electronic device
An apparatus for supporting and cooling an electronic device and methods of using the apparatus. The apparatus can include a housing for a cooling system and a support cradle for receiving the electronic device and engaging the electronic device with the cooling system. |
| US09229498B2 |
Electronic device with heat dissipation equipment
An electronic device includes a chassis, a partition plate mounted in the chassis, a semiconductor refrigeration piece, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a heat dissipation shell, and a fan. A space of the chassis is partitioned to a first space and a second space by the partition plate. The first heat sink is received in the first space, and engaged with a heating surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece. The second heat sink is received in the second space, and engaged with a cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece. The heat dissipation shell is received in the second space, and the second heat sink is received in the heat dissipation shell. The first fan is mounted on a first end of the heat dissipation shell, and a second end of the heat dissipation pipe defines an air outlet. |
| US09229497B2 |
On-blade cold sink for high-density clustered computer system
A high performance computing system includes one or more blade enclosures having a cooling manifold and configured to hold a plurality of computing blades, and a plurality of computing blades in each blade enclosure with at least one computing blade including two computing boards. The system further includes two or more cooling plates with each cooling plate between two corresponding computing boards within the computing blade, and a fluid connection coupled to the cooling plate(s) and in fluid communication with the fluid cooling manifold. |
| US09229493B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided which includes a display panel having pixels, each pixel having a pixel electrode, a common electrode, an image line to supply an image signal to the plurality of pixels, and a transparent conductive film disposed at a surface on a viewer side. The display device display panel, also includes a voltage generation unit to supply a voltage having an AC component superposed on a DC component to the transparent conductive film. The AC component is a voltage with reverse polarity with respect to a spike-shaped voltage occurring at the transparent conductive film to thereby cancel out effects of the spike-shaped voltage on the transparent conductive film. |
| US09229492B2 |
Adaptive information handling system rack rail mount
A rail adjustable mount adjusts a rail to support information handling system chassis with different depths in racks of different depths. The adjustable mount couples to a rack front with a sliding portion extending into the rack interior. The adjustable mount sliding portion slidingly engages a guide of the rail to allow adjustment of the rail relative to the rack so that a rail fits into a rack having a depth that is greater than the length of the rail's housing. A floating portion of the rail supports the rail at the rear of the rack and allows the rail position to float relative to the rear of the rack. A biasing device of the adjustable mount biases the rail towards the front of the rack to aid full extension and retraction of the rail at the rack. |
| US09229487B2 |
Dock with compliant connector mount
Docking stations having a connector with a compliant mount to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliant mount may couple a connector to a base of a docking station and may include at least a first and second flexure disposed there between. The first and second flexure may be configured to have flexural movement in along transverse direction so that, in combination, the flexural movement pivots the connector about a virtual pivot point a distance away from the flexures. The first and second flexures may be configured to project the virtual pivot point to a location on the connector where the connector protrudes from an opening in a docking housing, thereby minimizing the clearance required between the connector and docking housing, while providing controlled movement of the connector relative the dock. |
| US09229483B1 |
Radiation inhibiting personal electronics case
A personal electronics case that is operable to inhibit the transmission of radiation in the direction of a user. The personal electronics case includes four walls and a first bottom layer contiguously formed to define an interior volume. A cavity is adjacent and underneath the first bottom layer and is of similar size. Secured within the cavity is a radiation shield that is operable to inhibit the transmission of radiation. A second bottom layer is adjacent to the cavity opposite the first bottom layer. A keeper is mounted within a void in the body to facilitate the releasable securing of the radiation shield within the cavity. |
| US09229480B2 |
Electronic device having a display unit and a main unit rotatably connected together by a hinge
There is provided an electronic device including a flat main unit provided with a keyboard, a flat display unit having a display face, the flat display unit configured to movably slide between a first state that overlaps the main unit and a second state that is erect with respect to the main unit, and a hinge that is arranged so as to overlap the keyboard in the first state, and is configured to couple the main unit and the display unit together so that the display unit can move with respect to the main unit. |
| US09229479B2 |
Electronic apparatus and docking station
The present invention provides an electronic apparatus and a docking station, thereby solving the conventional technical problem that the electronic apparatus is damaged because it cannot sustain the excessive force applied by the user to the auxiliary device during separating the electronic apparatus from the auxiliary device since the electronic apparatus is coupled to the auxiliary device by the spring and the engagement mechanism. The electronic apparatus comprises a first body including N first coupling members; a second body including N second coupling members mated with the first coupling members, wherein when the first body and the second body are kept in contact with each other, the first body is coupled to the second body by cooperation of the N first coupling members and the N second coupling members if the first body and the second body are in a first relative position, and the first body is decoupled from the second body so that the first body is separable from the second body by cooperation of the N first coupling members and the N second coupling members if the first body and the second body are in a second relative position different from the first relative position. |
| US09229471B2 |
Method and a device for controlling a clock signal generator
A device (104) for controlling a clock signal generator includes a processing system configured to form a control quantity at least partly on the basis of reception moments of data frames belonging to a given flow, the reception moments being time values based on a clock signal prevailing at a receiver. The processing system controls the clock signal generator with the control quantity so as to achieve synchronization between the clock signal and another clock signal in accordance of which the data frames have been transmitted. In order to identify data frames belonging to the relevant flow, the processing system checks whether pre-determined bits of a received data frame constitute a bit pattern that occurs when the data frame belongs to the relevant flow. Therefore, the reception moments of data frames belonging to the relevant flow are obtainable without deep inspection of the received data frames. |
| US09229470B2 |
Memory controller with clock-to-strobe skew compensation
A clock signal is transmitted to first and second integrated circuit (IC) components via a clock signal line, the clock signal having a first arrival time at the first IC component and a second, later arrival time at the second IC component. A write command is transmitted to the first and second IC components to be sampled by those components at respective times corresponding to transitions of the clock signal, and write data is transmitted to the first and second IC components in association with the write command. First and second strobe signals are transmitted to the first and second IC components, respectively, to time reception of the first and second write data in those components. The first and second strobe signals are selected from a plurality of phase-offset timing signals to compensate for respective timing skews between the clock signal and the first and second strobe signals. |
| US09229469B2 |
Reactive force pedal device
In a reactive force pedal device, between a motor-side output shaft and a pedal member, a one-way clutch is provided which allows transmittance of rotational force when performing a depressing operation of the pedal member and disables transmittance of the rotational force when performing a revert operation of the pedal member. |
| US09229468B2 |
Maximum power point tracking
A method and an arrangement of tracking a selected (e.g., maximum) power point of a photovoltaic system is disclosed, in which method an operation point of the photovoltaic system is changed based on the change of operation point and a change of power generated by the photovoltaic system. The method can include repeatedly determining a current or voltage of the photovoltaic system, determining a power of the photovoltaic system, determining a change of power of the photovoltaic system with respect to a previous determined power, and changing the operation point of the photovoltaic system by changing a current or voltage reference of the system stepwise depending on the change of power and a direction of a previous change of the current or voltage reference. |
| US09229466B2 |
Fully integrated voltage regulators for multi-stack integrated circuit architectures
A voltage regulator for one or more dies in a multi-stack integrated circuit includes an inductor located on a die, a voltage controller that is electrically coupled to the inductor and is also located on the die, and a capacitor that is electrically coupled to the inductor and the voltage controller and is also located on the die. The inductor defines an interior space and the voltage controller and the capacitor are located within the interior space of the inductor. The inductor can be a lateral inductor or a through layer via inductor. The multi-stack integrated circuit may have multiple dies. A voltage controller may be electrically coupled to each of the dies, although it may be located on only one of the dies. Alternatively, separate voltage controllers may be electrically coupled to each of the multiple dies and may be located on each of the respective dies. |
| US09229464B2 |
Low drop-out voltage regulator
The voltage regulator comprises a regulation loop (2), which comprises at least a pass transistor (18), a source transistor (28), a sensing transistor (22) and a retention transistor (24), and a stability compensation circuit (10), which comprises a first MOS resistor (12) and a second MOS resistor (14) coupled with the first MOS resistor (12). The gate of the second MOS resistor (14) is coupled to the gate of the pass transistor (18). |
| US09229463B2 |
Voltage tracking circuit
A voltage tracking circuit, which comprises a voltage generating device, a first operational amplifier, a first voltage generator, and a diode-connected device. The voltage generating device provides a fixed voltage. The first operational amplifier has a first input terminal that can receive the fixed voltage, a second input terminal that is coupled with a protected device model, and an output terminal. The first voltage generator connects to the output terminal of the first operational amplifier and to a voltage limiter that is coupled with devices under protection. The diode-connected device is in a feedback loop that connects the second input terminal of the first operational amplifier to the first voltage generator. |
| US09229462B2 |
Capless on chip voltage regulator using adaptive bulk bias
An FDSOI integrated circuit die supplies on an output node a regulated output voltage based on a reference voltage. A pass transistor that passes a first current to the output node. A feedback loop regulates the output voltage by generating a second current based on the first current and applying a control signal to the pass transistor based on the second current. A loop current adaptor adapts a ratio of the first and second currents by adjusting a back gate bias voltage applied to a back gate of loop transistor of the feedback loop. |
| US09229461B2 |
Integrated circuit and semiconductor device
An integrated circuit in which a voltage divider circuit is integrated comprises a first resistor, second resistor, control portion, switch, and switching portion. The first resistor and second resistor form a resistive voltage divider element for dividing a voltage obtained by rectifying an alternating-current voltage, or a direct-current voltage, supplied to a control portion. The switch is provided in series with the resistive voltage divider element, and passes or cuts off current passing through the resistive voltage divider element. The switching portion switches the switch so as to pass current during driving of the control portion, and cut off current during standby of the control portion. |
| US09229460B1 |
Radio frequency peak detection with subthreshold biasing
A radio-frequency peak amplitude detection circuit includes a load capacitor, a current source that charges the load capacitor and set the bias current for the field effect transistors, and a pair of field effect transistors. The gates of the field effect transistors are biased at a level below the threshold voltage of the transistors. The transistors are arranged in parallel with the capacitor and are operable to drain the capacitor at a rate determined by a differential input at the gates of the transistors. The voltage across the load capacitor is low-pass filtered and has a voltage level representative of the amplitude of the differential input signal. |
| US09229457B2 |
Determining a driving strategy for a vehicle
A method and driver assistance system for determining a longitudinal dynamics driving strategy for a vehicle based on a driving condition specification, includes a processor selecting a driving strategy in consideration of the power consumption and in consideration of a detection, by a rear traffic detection unit, of a following vehicle. |
| US09229455B2 |
Microfluidic surface processing systems with self-regulated distance-to surface control
A microfluidic surface processing system includes a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof; a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed; and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface. |
| US09229453B1 |
Unified motion planner for autonomous driving vehicle in avoiding the moving obstacle
A system and method for providing path planning and generation in a semi-autonomous or autonomously driven vehicle that provides a steering correction for collision avoidance purposes. The method includes detecting a lane center of a roadway lane that the vehicle is traveling along and determining a lane centering path that directs the vehicle from its current position to the lane center. The method also includes detecting a moving object in front of the vehicle and determining if a collision between the vehicle and the object will occur if the vehicle travels along the lane centering path at the current vehicle speed. The method solves a fifth-order polynomial equation to define a collision avoidance path from the current vehicle position to a waypoint a safe distance from the object and a return path from the waypoint to the lane center that the vehicle is automatically steered along. |
| US09229450B2 |
Autonomous movement system
A route decision system is provided to avoid an obstacle existing in a traceably moving direction for tracing a reference route from a current location of an autonomous movable body. The system computes traffic distance and a traffic width as a traffic region having a given traffic width and does not allow an obstacle to intrude in each of a plurality of moving The moving direction of the autonomous movable body is decided on the basis of the traceably moving direction and the traffic region. A speed decision device decides a moving speed allowing the autonomous movable body to stop before it collides with the obstacle in response to the braking condition of the autonomous movable body and the location and the speed of the obstacle. |
| US09229443B2 |
Numerical control machine tool
An NC control unit 100 includes a touch panel display device 155 through which a barrier canceling command is input and a machining control section 160 that performs an interference check for interference between a milling tool 70 and a chuck 58 and jaws 60. When the machining control section 160 determines that interference occurs and stops movement of a tool rest 54, the machining control section 160 writes the barrier canceling command that commands cancelation of the interference check for a process of a machining program where the interference has been determined based on manipulation of the display device 155. When the machining program including the barrier canceling command is carried out to machine subsequent workpieces, the machining control section 160 omits the interference check for the process corresponding to the barrier canceling command. |
| US09229442B2 |
In-process compensation of machining operation and machine arrangement
The present invention relates to a method for performing in-process compensating a machining operation on a workpiece, wherein the compensation process includes generating a control signal representative of magnitude of a contact force exerted on a cutting tool in a normal direction in relation to a machining surface of the workpiece, determining a compensation parameter value based on the control signal, and compensating the machining operation based on the compensation parameter value. The present invention also relates to corresponding machine arrangement for performing a machining operation on a workpiece, such as a hard turning process. |
| US09229440B2 |
Method for the configuration of a control device
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for configuring a control device in an automation system. The system including a hardware structure, and a programming tool connected to the hardware structure and the control device. The programming tool is configured to transmit a control program and configuration files to the control device, and store a control project in memory. The programming tool registers modifications of the hardware devices using software “FlexConf.ini” as modification information and sets the control device to a mode “control with flexible configuration” via a parameter “FlexControl”. The programming tool also determines a type for transmitting the modification information in the parameter “FlexControl”, and transmits the modification software with the modification information stored therein in accordance with the transmission type set in the parameter “FlexControl” to the control device. The control device then parameterizes the hardware devices and transitions into a “RUN” operating mode. |
| US09229438B2 |
System responsive to machine vibrations and method of use
A first embodiment of a system for measuring and analyzing a machine property comprises a vibration detector; power source; data transmitter, and first data processor which can obtain and convert sensed vibration data into digital data to be transmitted through the data transmitter to a system server which comprises software for processing and analyzing data comprising the received sensed vibration data. In a second embodiment, the system comprises a vibration sensor and a terminal used to obtain sensed vibration data from the sensor and convert it into digital data to be transmitted through the first data transceiver, and, optionally, to a system server. In this embodiment, data may be presented visually on the user display area and user input received input from the user input area. |
| US09229434B2 |
Radio-controlled timepiece
A radio-controlled timepiece is shown including the following. A receiving unit receives a transmitting radio wave including date/time information from a positioning satellite. A date/time information obtaining unit obtains a week number and elapsed time within a week as the date/time information. An operating unit receives operation. A term obtaining unit obtains a value of a 10 year digit of a present date and time. A first term setting unit sets a first date/time specified range including 10 years corresponding to the obtained value of the 10 year digit and a term adjacent to the 10 years with a predetermined length. A first date/time calculating unit calculates the present date and time within the set first date/time specified range. A date/time correcting unit corrects the date and time of a timekeeping unit based on the present date and time. |
| US09229433B1 |
System and method for synchronizing local oscillators
Provided is a method and apparatus for aligning a first local oscillator (LO) clock generated by a controllable LO clock generator in a first radio frequency (RF) path with a second LO clock in a second RF path. The apparatus includes a synchronization channel configured to exchange a synchronization clock between the first and second RF paths, a phase detector configured to measure a phase alignment between the first and second LO clocks, and a loop filter configured to drive the controllable LO clock generators using the phase alignment. Also provided is a time to digital converter. The time to digital converter includes a D flip-flop for sampling first and second input clocks with a third clock, and a counter configured to synchronously increment the resulting samples and create a digital proportional value representing the delay between the first and second clocks. |
| US09229432B2 |
Fast correction mechanism for timepieces
A lever for transmitting motion from an input wheel set pivoting about a first axis on a pivoting plate of the lever, to a receiver wheel set, the input wheel set permanently transmitting its motion to an output wheel set carried by the plate and pivoting under the action of the input wheel set about a second axis whose angular position is variable relative to the first axis, and the lever includes a first friction connection between a first friction surface of the input wheel set and a second friction surface of the plate, this first friction connection is weaker or stronger than a second friction connection between a third friction surface of the output wheel set and a fourth friction surface of the plate included in the lever. |
| US09229430B2 |
Device for recording and reproducing holographic 3D image, and method for recording and reproducing holographic 3D image
Devices and methods for recording and reproducing a holographic 3D image are provided. The devices for recording the holographic 3D image comprising: a laser generation unit for emitting a laser beam; a beam splitter unit configured to receive the laser beam from the laser generation unit and split the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam directed to an object to be photographed; a photorefractive crystal configured to receive the reference beam from the beam splitter and the object beam diffused from the object to form a holographic 3D image; and a rotation unit configured to rotate the photorefractive crystal once every time one holographic 3D image is recorded. The holographic 3D image can be recorded and reproduced by the rotate the photorefractive crystal in light paths of recording and reproduction light beams, respectively. |
| US09229429B2 |
Image forming apparatus including an air-blowing portion configured to blow air guided to a recording material
An image forming apparatus heats and fixes a toner image on a recording material, discharges and cools the recording material, and prevents the heated and fixed toner image on the recording material from being melted. The apparatus also has a conveying portion that is prevented from being cooled, so that unevenness of cooling of the toner image is prevented, and the image forming apparatus does not cause any contact mark of the conveying portion. |
| US09229427B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device includes a housing, a polygon mirror, and a motor. The polygon mirror is disposed in the housing and reflects light incident thereon while being rotated. The motor is disposed in the housing and rotates the polygon mirror. The housing has a cooling passage that cools the interior of the housing. The cooling passage is asymmetrically located relative to a rotation shaft of the motor in a cross section perpendicular to the main scanning direction. |
| US09229425B2 |
Image forming apparatus with detachable replacement member
Image forming apparatus including: attachment portion which is provided in apparatus main body and in which support plates are disposed to face each other; and replacement member which is supported between support plates of attachment portion in attachable/detachable manner. Replacement member includes first contact portion which is provided on side surface that faces one support plate and is electrically conductive when contacted with one support plate. Attachment portion includes second contact portion and support portion. Second contact portion is provided on one support plate and is electrically connected with first contact portion upon contact with it. Support portion, during attachment operation in which replacement member is attached to attachment portion, is engaged with replacement member and allows first contact portion to be moved to predetermined set position at which first contact portion is in contact with second contact portion. |
| US09229420B2 |
Cover open/close mechanism and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cover open/close mechanism, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a cover having a free end and disposed movable between a closed state that a part of the apparatus body is covered and an open state that the covered part is exposed, a cover rotating shaft about which the cover rotates in a receding direction when the cover moves from the closed state to the open state, a support member rotating shaft disposed parallel to the cover rotating shaft, a cover rotating shaft support member to support the cover rotating shaft and to change a position of the cover rotating shaft with respect to the apparatus body by rotating about the support member rotating shaft, and a biasing member to bias the cover rotating shaft support member in a manner in which the cover rotating shaft support member rotates in an approaching direction. |
| US09229417B2 |
Image forming apparatus including waste toner container with guide unit
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a cleaning unit configured to remove waste toner on the image bearer; a waste toner container configured to be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and to store the waste toner removed by the cleaning device; and a support member configured to support the waste toner container. The support member is provided with a guide unit thereon that guides the waste toner container in attachment and detachment directions, the guide unit includes a side guide plate that guides each of sides of the waste toner container in the attachment and detachment directions, a guide plate arranged on entrance side of the side guide plate in the attachment direction of the waste toner container, and the guide plate includes an inclined guide surface that guides the waste toner container onto the support member. |
| US09229416B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a cleaning device for an image carrier
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a cleaning device. The image carrier is rotated to carry a toner image. The cleaning device includes a cleaning member and an auxiliary cleaning member. To the cleaning member, a bias of a reversed polarity to a polarity of a remained toner adhered on a surface of the image carrier is applied. The auxiliary cleaning member is located at an upstream side from the cleaning member in a rotating direction of the image carrier. According to advance of whitening of the surface of the image carrier, the auxiliary cleaning member is made to come into contact with the surface of the image carrier or contact pressure of the auxiliary cleaning member with the surface of the image carrier is increased. |
| US09229411B2 |
Sheet curl correction apparatus and image forming apparatus
The present invention includes a supporting member that supports a first roller and a second roller, a first actuator that rotates the supporting member, a first gear that is connected to an end of second roller on the first actuator side, a second gear that is threadably engaged with the first gear, a third gear that rotates coaxially with the second gear, an input gear that threadably engages with the third gear, and a second actuator that transmits a rotational force to the input gear. The third rotation shaft extends in parallel in a first plane that includes the leading edge and the trailing edge of the nip, the first actuator rotates the supporting member between a first position at which the sheet is received from the leading edge of the nip and a second position at which the sheet is received from the trailing edge of the nip. |
| US09229409B2 |
Cleaning blade failure prediction processor and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cleaning blade failure prediction processor for an image forming apparatus includes a pixel count acquisition circuit to acquire pixel count data of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade. The cleaning target is divided into a plurality of areas in a main scanning direction of the cleaning target. The pixel count acquisition circuit acquires a pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target. The cleaning blade failure prediction processor also includes a first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target, a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of the cleaning target, and a deformation identification circuit to determine whether or not the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation according to the cumulative pixel count per distance traveled. |
| US09229405B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit configured to feed a sheet, an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on the sheet fed by the feeding unit, a measuring unit configured to measure the measurement image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit, and an adjustment unit configured to perform an adjustment operation on basis of a measurement result of the measurement image. In this case, the image forming unit forms the measurement image of a first side of the sheet and forms a setting aid image on a second side that is different from the first side, and the setting aid image shows information describing the direction of the sheet for setting in the feeding unit and information for prompting to set the sheet with the second side up in the feeding unit. |
| US09229399B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method having a forcible toner consumption process
An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold. |
| US09229398B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a body, a cartridge, detachably mountable to the body, configured to form a toner image, an information recording portion provided in the cartridge and configured to record information, a control portion provided in the body and configured to electrically communicate with the information recording portion, and a connector provided in the body and configured to electrically connect the control portion with the information recording portion. The connector has a temperature detecting portion configured to detect temperature. |
| US09229397B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; an exposing unit which is opposed to the photosensitive member, and which includes a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in an arrangement direction to expose the photosensitive member; and a body frame which is provided at both sides of the exposing unit in the arrangement direction. The body frame is made of a conductive member. The exposing unit includes an exposing unit body having an exterior made of a resin; and an electrically conductive holding member which is longer than the exposing unit body in the arrangement direction, and which holds the exposing unit body, wherein the holding member is electrically connected to the body frame to be grounded. |
| US09229388B2 |
Fixing device
A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film. |
| US09229387B2 |
Fixing apparatus with a control unit for powering a fixing heater using a combination of control patterns, and image-forming apparatus using the same
A fixing apparatus included in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing heater that performs heat fixing, a control unit that controls the fixing heater based on control patterns, a temperature sensor that detects temperature of the fixing heater, and a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage that is applied to the fixing heater. In each control pattern, turn-on period of the fixing heater and turn-off period of the fixing heater are set according to a control cycle of a half cycle duty control. The control unit controls the switching unit to turn on or off the fixing heater using a combination of the control patterns each satisfying a standard for preventing a flicker during each control period of time that is integral multiplication of the control cycle according to the temperature of the fixing heater and the voltage value allied to the fixing heater. |
| US09229385B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part which picks up a recording medium at a predetermined pickup timing and forms an image at a predetermined printing speed; and a controller which accelerates the timing for picking up the recording medium in advance of the predetermined pickup timing, and which lowers the printing speed so as to allow the printing operation to take place at a lower fusing temperature during warming up from a cold start in order to shorten the first print output time (FPOT). |
| US09229382B2 |
Fixing device having a separation member to prevent a recording medium from being wrapped around a heated roller member and image forming apparatus including the same
A fixing device includes a heated roller member, a pressure member, a separation member, and a discharge state switching mechanism. The heated roller member is heated by heating means. The pressure member contacts with the heated roller member so as to form a fixing nip portion. The separation member is conductive and disposed with a predetermined gap to a surface of the heated roller member, so as to separate a recording medium after passing through the fixing nip portion from the heated roller member. The discharge state switching mechanism switches between a discharge permissive condition that permits discharge from the heated roller member to the separation member and a discharge restricted condition that restricts the discharge from the heated roller member to the separation member. |
| US09229380B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a blowing unit. The first rotating member is heated by a heat source. The second rotating member is pressed against the first rotating member to form a fixing nip with the first rotating member along a conveying path of a recording medium. The blowing unit blows a cooling airflow toward the first rotating member. An airflow route from the blowing unit to the first rotating member is arranged so as to cross the conveying path. |
| US09229379B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member; a heating source configured to heat the fixing member; an opposing member configured to come into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to form a nip portion; and a shielding member configured to block heat from the heating source. The shielding member is configured to rotate about a position different from the center of the heating source so as to be movable between a shielding position and a retraction position. The shielding position is a position where the shielding member comes close to the heating source to block heat from the heating source to the fixing member. The retraction position being a position where the shielding member is retracted away from the shielding position. |
| US09229375B2 |
Intermediate transfer belt and method of preparing the same, and image forming apparatus
An intermediate transfer belt includes a polyimide resin or a polyamideimide resin including only γ-butyrolactone of from 5 to 5,000 ppm as a residual solvent. |
| US09229374B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a pushing member pushing an image carrying belt from an inner circumferential side and a guide member guiding a recording medium toward a transfer nip portion formed with an inner-side roller and an outer-side roller. The guide member includes first and second guides and the second guide is provided such that a tip end on the side of the transfer nip portion is positioned further away from the image carrying belt than a reference line that connects a point at which a line connecting the rotational center of the inner-side roller and the rotational center of the outer-side roller intersects with the image carrying belt, and a furthest downstream contact point of a contact area in which the pushing member contacts with the image carrying belt. |
| US09229372B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a regulator, a first developer storing chamber, a plurality of conveyers disposed within the first developer storing chamber, a second developer storing chamber in communication with the first developer storing chamber, and a supply member disposed within the second developer storing chamber. The developer carrier carries developer on its surface and supplies developer to a latent image carrier carrying a latent image. The regulator regulates the thickness of developer on the surface of the developer carrier. The first developer storing chamber stores developer separated from the developer carrier by the regulator and is to be supplied with fresh developer. Each of the plurality of conveyers coveys developer in a different conveyance direction. The second developer storing chamber is to be supplied with developer from the first developer storing chamber. The supply member supplies developer to the developer carrier. |
| US09229366B2 |
Developer storage container and image forming apparatus provided with same
A developer storage container includes a container main body, a developer discharge port, a moving shaft, a moving plate, a guide portion and an elastic member. The container main body includes a wall defining an internal storing space. The developer discharge port is arranged at a predetermined position of the container main body. The moving shaft is arranged to extend in a first direction in the internal space. The moving plate moves in the first direction along the moving shaft in the internal space and conveys the developer toward the developer discharge port. The guide portion guides a movement of the moving plate in the first direction while maintaining the posture of the moving plate. The elastic member is attached to the moving plate and slides in contact with an inner surface of the wall of the container main body when the moving plate moves in the first direction. |
| US09229361B2 |
Developer conveyance device, image forming apparatus, and developer conveyance method
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device; a developer conveyance device including a developer container, a developer reservoir to receive developer discharged from the developer container, and a positive-displacement pump to discharge, from the developer reservoir, developer supplied to the developing device by alternately generating positive pressure and negative pressure due to volume changes; and a controller to control driving of the positive-displacement pump. When the controller recognizes a developer end state of the developer container, the controller lowers a developer conveyance capability of the positive-displacement pump from a setting used before the developer end state is recognized. |
| US09229359B2 |
Doctor blade chamber seal
A printing unit has a doctor blade chamber, a rotatable roller, and a gasket for sealing between the doctor blade chamber and the roller. One end of the gasket has at least one sealing surface directed towards the doctor blade chamber, the gasket having a thickness which is delimited by a first edge and a second edge at the sealing surface. The other end of the gasket has an elastomeric edge for sealing abutment against the roller, the elastomeric edge being offset in a longitudinal direction of the roller relative to at least one of the first and second edges and delimits the thickness of the sealing surface. The a surface of the gasket extending between the doctor blade chamber and the roller is inclined at an angled of less than 90° relative to longitudinal axis of the roller and/or the sealing surface, and is concave and/or convex. |
| US09229356B2 |
Image forming apparatus employing touchdown developing method
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a toner carrier, a bias voltage control unit, and a detection unit. The developer carrier carries a developer layer containing toner, an additive and carriers thereon. The toner carrier supplies toner to the image carrier. The bias voltage control unit changes bias voltage setting from ordinary developing mode to toner removing mode when the detection unit detects toner adhesion in excess of a threshold value on the toner carrier. In the toner removing mode, the bias voltage control unit sets the bias voltage to be applied to the image carrier, the developer carrier, and the toner carrier so that only the additive remains on the circumferential surface of the toner carrier, and the developer layer carried on the developer carrier contacts the circumferential surface of the toner carrier with a larger force, as compared with the ordinary developing mode. |
| US09229355B2 |
Image forming apparatus that identifies a reflection surface of a rotating polygon mirror on which a light beam is incident
A method for generating a BD signal and identifying a reflection surface after a polygonal mirror has reached approximately constant rotation speed increases time to start image formation because the step of generating the BD signal is needed. An image forming apparatus identifies a reflection surface on which a light beam is incident by using the period of an FG signal. |
| US09229354B2 |
Luminous flux limit device, optical scanning unit employing the same, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A luminous flux limit device, an optical scanning unit employing the luminous flux limit device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The luminous flux limit device limits a luminous flux of the optical scanning unit and includes a light-blocking portion, a light transmissive region around the light blocking region, and a light blocking outer region around the light transmissive region. |
| US09229353B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In test modes correcting at least one of an exposure timing of a first exposure portion and an exposure timing of a second exposure portion after transferring test toner images on an endless belt, a control portion is configured to be able to start the exposure of the first exposure portion after a position of an intermediate transfer belt, having been located at a developing position when a developing bias is started to be applied to the second developing portion, arrives at a transfer position. |
| US09229349B2 |
Image forming apparatus which corrects for color misregistration
An image forming apparatus which is capable of, even when the density of an image in a color with low reflectivity has decreased, detecting a misregistration of this color with high accuracy. A first image of a first color and a second image of a second value having lower reflectivity than that of the first color are transferred to an image carrier. A first signal corresponds to reflected light from a first measurement image, a second signal corresponds to reflected light from a second measurement image, and a third signal corresponds to reflected light from the image carrier. A threshold value is set based on the second signal and the third signal. A color misregistration between the first and second images is corrected based on information on a positional relationship between the first and second images determined by comparing the first signal and the threshold value. |
| US09229347B2 |
Carrier for two-component developer, two-component developer using the carrier, and process cartridge and image forming method and apparatus using the two component developer
A carrier for use in a two-component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image is provided. The carrier includes a particulate magnetic core; and a cover layer located on a surface of the particulate magnetic core and including a resin and a particulate electroconductive material. The carrier has a BET specific surface area of from 0.8 to 1.6 m2/g. |
| US09229340B2 |
Lithographic apparatus
A lithographic apparatus including a substrate table position measurement system and a projection system position measurement system to measure a position of the substrate table and the projection system, respectively. The substrate table position measurement system includes a substrate table reference element mounted on the substrate table and a first sensor head. The substrate table reference element extends in a measurement plane substantially parallel to the holding plane of a substrate on substrate table. The holding plane is arranged at one side of the measurement plane and the first sensor head is arranged at an opposite side of the measurement plane. The projection system position measurement system includes one or more projection system reference elements and a sensor assembly. The sensor head and the sensor assembly or the associated projection system measurement elements are mounted on a sensor frame. |
| US09229339B2 |
Positioning system, a lithographic apparatus and a method for positional control
A positioning system for controlling a relative position between a first component and a second component of a lithographic apparatus, wherein a position of each component is defined by a set of orthogonal coordinates, the positioning system including: a measuring device configured to determine an error in the momentary position of one of the components with respect to a setpoint position in a measurement coordinate; and a controller configured to control movement of the other component in a control coordinate based on the determined error; wherein the measurement coordinate is different from the control coordinate. |
| US09229336B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and methods for determining an improved configuration of a lithographic apparatus
A method to determine an improved configuration for a lithography apparatus, a computer-readable medium for use in carrying out the method, and a lithography apparatus are disclosed. In an example, the method involves intelligent selection of one or more device features to measure and use in a routine to optimize the configuration of the lithography apparatus. According to an example, the method comprises imposing a target error profile to one or more device features for which measurement data is not sufficient, for example in a regions where a selected device feature is sparsely distributed. |
| US09229335B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus has adaptations to prevent or reduce bubble formation in one or more gaps in the substrate table by preventing bubbles escaping from the gap into the beam path and/or extracting bubbles that may form in the gap. |
| US09229332B2 |
Systems and methods for high-throughput and small-footprint scanning exposure for lithography
The present disclosure provides a lithography system comprising a radiation source and an exposure tool including a plurality of exposure columns densely packed in a first direction. Each exposure column includes an exposure area configured to pass the radiation source. The system also includes a wafer carrier configured to secure and move one or more wafers along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, so that the one or more wafers are exposed by the exposure tool to form patterns along the second direction. The one or more wafers are covered with resist layer and aligned in the second direction on the wafer carrier. |
| US09229331B2 |
EUV mirror comprising an oxynitride capping layer having a stable composition, EUV lithography apparatus, and operating method
A mirror (13) for use e.g. in an EUV lithography apparatus or an EUV mask metrology system, with: a substrate (15) and a coating (16) reflective to EUV radiation (6), the reflective coating having a capping layer (18) composed of an oxynitride, in particular composed of SiNxOY, wherein a nitrogen proportion x in the oxynitride NxOY is between 0.4 and 1.4. Also provided are an EUV lithography apparatus having at least one such EUV mirror (13) and a method for operating such an EUV lithography apparatus. |
| US09229327B2 |
Electron beam exposure apparatus and method of detecting error using the same
An electron beam exposure apparatus includes an electron beam source, a stage, and an error detection device. The electron beam source radiates a first electron beam corresponding to first input data and a second electron beam corresponding to second input data. The stage includes a mask on which the first electron beam is radiated. The stage may be configured to move the mask. The error detection device detects an error of the second electron beam and outputs error detection information. |
| US09229319B2 |
Photoacid-generating copolymer and associated photoresist composition, coated substrate, and method of forming an electronic device
A copolymer include repeat units derived from an acid-labile monomer, an aliphatic lactone-containing monomer, a C1-12 alkyl(meth)acrylate in which the C1-12 alkyl group includes a specific base-soluble group, a photoacid-generating monomer that includes an aliphatic anion, and a neutral aromatic monomer having the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, X, m, and Ar are defined herein. The copolymer is used as a component of a photoresist composition. A coated substrate including a layer of the photoresist composition, and a method of forming an electronic device using the coated substrate are described. |
| US09229314B2 |
Method of inspecting mask, mask inspection device, and method of manufacturing mask
There is provided a method of high-sensitively detecting both of a phase defect existing in a mask blank and a phase defect remaining after manufacturing an EUVL mask. When the mask blank is inspected, EUV light having illumination NA to be within an inner NA but a larger value is irradiated. When the EUVL mask is inspected, by using a dark-field imaging optical system including a center shielding portion for shielding EUV light and a linear shielding portion for shielding the EUV light whose width is smaller than a diameter of the center shielding portion, the center shielding portion and the linear shielding portion being included in a pupil plane, the EUV light having illumination NA as large as or smaller than the width of the linear shielding portion is irradiated. |
| US09229311B2 |
Projection display device with vapor medium screen
A vapor display device includes a water tank [101], an expansion chamber [102] for creating vapor (which may contain scents), an airbox [104] for creating a laminar flow of air and vapor, and a projector [107] for projecting light onto the vapor display screen. The airbox has a series of mesh and honeycomb panels, preferably made of hexagonal cells having 3/16 inch width. Preferably, the vapor consists of water droplets having mean diameters in the range from 10 to 20 microns, and the laminar flow of air and vapor comprises between 1% and 5% water vapor. Potentiometers allow user control of vapor density, vapor flow speed, and airflow speed. A modular design allows the device to be used in different orientations. |
| US09229309B2 |
Projection apparatus
The invention provides a projection apparatus having an image source, a projection lens, and a beam-splitting module. The image source provides an image beam, and the image beam includes a first sub image beam and at least one second sub image beam. The projection lens is disposed on a transmission path of the image beam. The beam-splitting module projects the first sub image beam passing through the beam-splitting module onto a first imaging plane, and projects the second sub image beam reflected by the beam-splitting module onto at least one second imaging plane. The first imaging plane is not coplanar with the at least one second imaging plane. The projection lens is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam between the beam-splitting module and the image source. |
| US09229308B2 |
Projection apparatus and light condensing module
A projection apparatus and a light condensing module are provided. The light condensing module condenses and deflects an incident beam. The light condensing module includes a curving incident surface, a curving outgoing surface and a reflection surface. The curving incident surface receives the incident beam. The curving outgoing surface is disposed on a transmission path of the incident beam from the curving incident surface. The reflection surface is disposed on the transmission path of the incident beam, and located between the curving incident surface and the curving outgoing surface. A ray of the incident beam propagates through the curving incident surface along the optical axis of the curving incident surface, and emits out from the curving outgoing surface along a direction inclined to the optical axis of the curving outgoing surface. |
| US09229306B2 |
Illumination optical system and projector including fluorophore
A projector includes an illumination optical system, an image formation element that spatially modulates light from the illumination optical system, and a projection lens that projects the spatially modulated light. The illumination optical system includes a light source that emits light of a first wavelength, a fluorophore unit including a reflection region reflecting the light of the first wavelength and a fluorophore region including a fluorophore emitting fluorescent light of a wavelength that differs from the first wavelength by irradiation of the light of the first wavelength, an optical element reflecting the light of the first wavelength, and a quarter-wave plate provided on a light path between the optical element and the fluorophore unit. |
| US09229304B2 |
Phosphor device and illumination system using same
A phosphor device of an illumination system emitting a first color light in a first waveband region includes a first region having n sub-regions and n single-powder phosphor agents, wherein n is ≧2. The n single-powder phosphor agents are coated on the n sub-regions, respectively, for transforming the first color light in the first waveband region into n color lights in n waveband regions. The n sub-regions are arranged in a specific area ratio. The first color light in the first waveband region is cyclically transformed into a second color light in a second waveband region, a third color light in a third waveband region, . . . , and a (n+1)th color light in a (n+1)th waveband region in a specific time ratio according to the specific area ratio, such that the n color lights sequentially outputted in the specific time ratio are integrated as a specific color light. |
| US09229302B2 |
Projector having heat dissipation element disposed on a case with optical elements therein
The projection apparatus includes a light source, optical elements and a heat dissipation assembly. The heat dissipation assembly includes a case, a heat dissipation element, a fan and a temperature controlling unit. The optical elements transmit a light beam generated by the light source, and thereby generate heat. The heat dissipation assembly is adapted for heat dissipation correspondingly. In the heat dissipation assembly, the case protects the optical elements from being polluted by the dust during heat dissipation. The temperature controlling unit senses the surrounding temperature to control the fan for cooling the heat dissipation element, and the durability of the optical elements are thereby enhanced. |
| US09229301B2 |
Illumination system and projection device comprising the same
An illumination system includes a light source module, a light splitting module, a light consolidating module and a waveband converting module. The light source module has a first light source, which provides a first light beam of first waveband. The light splitting module has a first light splitting element and a second light splitting element. The first light splitting element allows the light beam of first waveband to pass through and reflects the light beam of second waveband. The second light splitting element allows the light beam of second waveband to pass through and reflects the light beam of first waveband. The light consolidating module reflects the light beam having an incident angle greater than a predetermined angel and allows the light beam having an incident angle smaller than the predetermined angel to pass through. The waveband converting module has a first waveband converting zone. |
| US09229299B1 |
Multi-directional rotational mount
A multidirectional camera mount allows quick, easy and safe rotational adjustment of camera orientation and/or position. An upper side of the multidirectional camera mount can include upper mounting tabs attached to a camera, camera housing or other device. A lower side of the multidirectional camera mount can include lower mounting tabs which can be affixed to various objects, while static or during numerous physical activities. The multidirectional camera mount can allow the upper mounting tabs to rotate relative to the lower mounting tabs. |
| US09229298B2 |
Privacy ensuring covert camera
A device for monitoring a privacy sensitive area, includes an image receiving device, such as a camera, disposed inside a housing chassis. The image receiving device includes a camera lens. Additionally, a movable obstruction member configured to selectively obstruct a camera lens is disposed on the device and is configured to change a position to selectively obstruct or expose the camera lens. The position of the movable obstruction member is dependent upon a threat level received by the device. |
| US09229297B2 |
Ring structure for reducing flash glare and a manufacturing method thereof
A ring structure for reducing flash glare and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The ring structure for reducing flash glare is assembled on a camera module with a lens and a flashlight and includes a transparent substrate and a shading plate. The flashlight and the lens are fully separated by the shading plate to prevent light rays of the flashlight from interfering with the lens through the transparent substrate. The manufacturing method includes: providing a transparent substrate; forming a C-shaped hole on the transparent substrate; and injecting a plastic to fill the C-shaped hole and thereby form a shading plate on the transparent substrate. The manufacturing method entails performing a processing process on the transparent substrate directly and forming the shading plate by injection molding to not only simplify the manufacturing process but also makes the ring structure waterproof. |
| US09229293B2 |
Semiconductor optical device and method for manufacturing semiconductor optical device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor optical device includes the steps of growing a stacked layer including lower and upper core layers, a first upper region including a non-doped layer, a second upper region including a p-type layer, and a cap layer; forming an upper mesa by etching the stacked layer; selectively etching the cap layer in the upper mesa on the first and second regions; forming a mask on the upper mesa in the second and third regions; and etching the upper mesa using the mask so as to form first to fourth mesa portions. The first and fourth mesa portions are formed by etching the first and second upper regions, and the second upper region and the cap layer, respectively. The second and third mesa portions are formed by etching the first and second upper regions, and the second upper region and the cap layer, respectively. |
| US09229291B2 |
Defect-mitigation layers in electrochromic devices
Electrochromic devices and methods may employ the addition of a defect-mitigating insulating layer which prevents electronically conducting layers and/or electrochromically active layers from contacting layers of the opposite polarity and creating a short circuit in regions where defects form. In some embodiments, an encapsulating layer is provided to encapsulate particles and prevent them from ejecting from the device stack and risking a short circuit when subsequent layers are deposited. The insulating layer may have an electronic resistivity of between about 1 and 108 Ohm-cm. In some embodiments, the insulating layer contains one or more of the following metal oxides: aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, silicon aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, tungsten oxide, nickel tungsten oxide, and oxidized indium tin oxide. Carbides, nitrides, oxynitrides, and oxycarbides may also be used. |
| US09229290B2 |
Pixel structure, array substrate and display device
A pixel structure, an array substrate and a display device are provided. The invention relates to the field of liquid crystal display technology, and can solve the problem of large shadow zones formed between slit electrodes in the existing pixel structure. The pixel structure of the invention comprises a slit electrode and a plate electrode. The slit electrode includes at least two layers, each of which includes a plurality of strip-shaped electrode sections and a plurality of slits located between the adjacent electrode sections, the electrode sections in an upper layer are positioned over the slits in a lower layer, projections of the electrode sections in the layers on a substrate are not overlapped with each other, and the layers are separated from each other by a first insulation layer. The plate electrode is provided under the slit electrode and separated from the slit electrode by a second insulation layer. |
| US09229285B2 |
Method of manufacturing a display device
Provided is a method of manufacturing a display device that includes a structure formed so as to protrude at least in a normal direction of a first substrate, and an electrode formed in a side wall surface of the structure, the method including: forming a transparent conductive film for the electrode; forming a low-affinity material having a low affinity for a resist film on an upper surface of the transparent conductive film formed in a head surface of the structure; forming a resist film by applying a liquid resist material to an upper layer of the transparent conductive film and then fixing the resist material; forming an opening that exposes the transparent conductive film in the resist film by removing the low-affinity material; etching the transparent conductive film which is a lower layer using the resist film as a protective film; and removing the resist film. |
| US09229283B2 |
Display substrate including organic layer and method of manufacturing the same
A display substrate includes a base substrate, a switching element, a protecting layer, an organic layer, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. The switching element is on the base substrate, and includes a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The protecting layer is on the switching element, and includes a first hole exposing the drain electrode. The organic layer is on the protecting layer, and includes a second hole which exposes a side surface of the protecting layer which defines the first hole and exposes a top surface of the protecting layer which is adjacent to the side surface of the protecting layer. The first pixel electrode is on the organic layer. The second pixel electrode overlaps the first pixel electrode, and is electrically connected to the drain electrode via the first and second holes. |
| US09229282B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In one embodiment, a first wiring line is pulled out from an active area, and a short ring circuit is provided in a peripheral portion of the active area. A first electrode is formed in the same layer as the first wiring line. A semiconductor layer is formed on the first electrode. A portion of a second electrode faces the first electrode through an insulating layer and arranged on the semiconductor layer. A third electrode is arranged on the semiconductor layer in the same layer as the second electrode. The first electrode includes a cutout portion arranged under an edge of the second electrode. |
| US09229271B2 |
Display device
A liquid crystal display panel for displaying images in an active area includes a first substrate having a pair of first short ends and first long ends. A second substrate faces the first substrate so as to hold a liquid crystal layer therebetween. A first polarization plate is arranged on an outside surface of the first substrate. The first polarization plate has a pair of second short ends longer than the first short ends, a pair of second long ends, and a first absorption axis. The angle a1 made by the first absorption axis with respect to the second short ends is smaller than an angle b1 made by the first absorption axis with respect to the second long ends. A second polarization plate is arranged on an outside surface of the second substrate and has a second absorption axis. |
| US09229264B2 |
Stereoscopic image display device and method for manufacturing the same
A stereoscopic image display device, includes an array substrate having a thin film transistor; a color filter substrate opposing the array substrate and having black matrixes disposed in first and second directions; a plurality of black stripes formed on the color filter substrate and corresponding to the black matrix in the first direction; a patterned retarder film formed on the plurality of black stripes; and wherein line widths of the plurality of black stripes increase towards first and second ends in the second direction. Due to the invention, the cross-talk problem can be improved. |
| US09229261B2 |
Electronically switchable privacy film and display device having same
An electronically switchable privacy film suitable for use in display devices are described. The electronically switchable privacy film comprises a pair of mutually opposing transparent electrodes; an optically transparent microstructured layer disposed between the transparent electrodes, the microstructured layer comprising a plurality of microstructured ribs extending across a surface thereof such that the microstructured ribs form an alternating series of ribs and channels; and electronically switchable material disposed in the channels, the electronically switchable material being capable of modulation between high and low light scattering states upon application of an electric field across the transparent electrodes. |
| US09229260B2 |
Imprinted bi-layer micro-structure
An imprinted micro-structure includes a substrate having an edge area and a central area separate from the edge area. A cured bottom-layer, connecting layer, and top layer are formed over the substrate, each with a corresponding imprinted micro-channel having a cured micro-wire. The bottom micro-wire is in the central area and the edge area. The connecting-layer micro-wire contacts at least a portion of the bottom-layer micro-wire in the edge area. A cured edge micro-wire in the top layer contacts at least a portion of the connecting-layer micro-wire in the edge area. A top-layer micro-wire is located in a top-layer micro-channel and is separate from the edge micro-wire and bottom micro-wire. The bottom-layer micro-wire in the central area is electrically connected to the edge micro-wire in the edge area and is electrically isolated from the top-layer micro-wire. |
| US09229258B2 |
Liquid crystal mother panel and manufacturing method
A to-be-cut liquid crystal mother panel includes a TFT mother substrate forming at least one voltage-applying area onto which an external voltage is applied, a CF mother substrate arranged corresponding to the TFT mother substrate, and a pressure-reduction member located between the CF mother substrate and the TFT mother substrate; the pressure-reduction member corresponds to the voltage-applying area for reducing an adsorptive force between the voltage-applying area and an end portion of the CF mother substrate corresponding to the voltage-applying area. The pressure-reduction member increases the surface roughness of the end portion, avoids a vacuum state formed between the end portion and the voltage-applying area, reduces the adsorptive force between the end portion and the voltage-applying area, and allows the splitting device to separate the end portion from the TFT mother substrate easily after the liquid crystal mother panel is cut. |
| US09229256B2 |
Manufacturing system and manufacturing method for optical display device
A manufacturing system and manufacturing method for an optical display device, which adheres upper and lower optical films to the optical display device using two rolls having optical anisotropies in the same direction, so that the optical anisotropies are orthogonal to each other. The manufacturing system includes a first feeding device for feeding a first optical film after cutting to a predetermined length, and a second feeding device for feeding a second optical film after cutting to a predetermined length. The first feeding device and the second feeding device correspond to the longer side and the shorter side of the optical display unit, so that the optical film having a width corresponding to the shorter side may be cut to a length corresponding to the longer side, whereas the optical film having a width corresponding to the longer side may be cut to a length corresponding to the shorter side. |
| US09229255B2 |
Manufacturing method of liquid crystal panel
A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal panel is proposed. The manufacturing method includes the following steps of: providing a first substrate and a second substrate; coating the first substrate for forming an alignment film; forming a passivation layer on the surface of the alignment film; removing the passivation layer when a predetermined Q-time arrives; liquid crystals are sprayed onto the surface of the alignment film; attaching the second substrate to the first substrate for forming the liquid crystal panel. The surface of the alignment film could keep clean all the time, which help increase the yield rate of liquid crystal panels. |
| US09229253B2 |
Electronically switchable privacy film and display device having same
An electronically switchable privacy films suitable for use in display devices are described. The electronically switchable privacy film comprises a pair of mutually opposing transparent electrodes; an optically transparent microstructured layer disposed between the transparent electrodes, the microstructured layer comprising a plurality of microstructured ribs extending across a surface thereof such that the microstructured ribs form an alternating series of ribs and channels; and electronically switchable material disposed in the channels, the electronically switchable material being capable of modulation between high and low absorption states upon application of an electric field across the transparent electrodes. |
| US09229249B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device includes a waveguide that an input light to be inputted, a ring modulator optically coupled with the waveguide, a first ring resonator optically coupled with the waveguide and having an optical path length smaller than an optical path length of the ring modulator, a second ring resonator optically coupled with the first waveguide and having an optical path length larger than the optical path length of the ring modulator, a heater arranged adjacent to the ring modulator, the first ring resonator and the second ring resonator, a first photodetector monitoring a light power in the first ring resonator, a second photodetector monitoring a light power in the second ring resonator, and a controller controlling the heater so that a resonance wavelength of the ring modulator agrees with a wavelength of the input light, based on signals detected by the first and second photodetectors. |
| US09229248B2 |
Electro-active spectacles and associated electronics
Aspects of the present invention provide electronics for controlling and synchronizing operation of electro-active lenses regardless of frame type, size or style. The controlling electronics can be contained within one or more electronic modules positioned within the frame temples and can be removable and reprogrammable and can include inductive charge regions. Conductive links between electronic modules and/or between left and right Sides of the electro-active spectacles can include left and right upper and lower rim portions of the frame, the bridge, conductive layers of the electro-active lenses, the upper and lower grooves of the electro-active lenses, and/or wires embedded within any portion of the frame. Aspects of the present invention also provide chargers for recharging electro-active spectacles of any size, shape or style using adjustable inductive charging cradles to inductively charge electro-active spectacles of the present invention. |
| US09229236B2 |
Head-mounted display with half mirror area
A head-mounted display includes: a scanning unit that scans signal light modulated according to an image signal; a display unit on which the signal light from the scanning unit is incident and that is transmissive to visible light, the display unit including a half mirror area reflecting the signal light from the scanning unit and a transmission area having a transmittance higher than that of the half mirror area for visible light; and a control unit that scans, based on a use condition, the signal light over an area including the transmission area. |
| US09229234B2 |
Micro doppler presentations in head worn computing
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to visual presentation techniques for micro-Doppler signatures. |
| US09229233B2 |
Micro Doppler presentations in head worn computing
Aspects of the present invention relate to visual presentation techniques for mD signatures. |
| US09229226B2 |
Hybrid apparatus and methods for analyzing electromagnetic waves
Analysis of an electromagnetic wave traveling in an optical device, can be performed quickly and correctly. A structure forming process simulator forms an analysis structure of a physical object to be analyzed. A hybrid optical simulator calculates time-independent data and time-dependent data of an electromagnetic field by dividing the analysis structure into parts, determining whether a metallic or magnetic material is included in each of the divided parts, and selectively applying a Beam Propagation Method (BPM) or a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method to the divided parts. A storage device stores the time-independent data and the time-dependent data output from the hybrid optical simulator as hybrid electric field data. Related methods are also described. |
| US09229225B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device includes a plurality of scanning optical systems that focus light beams deflected by an optical deflector onto corresponding scanning surfaces. The systems include a first scanning optical system and a second scanning optical system. The first scanning optical system and the second scanning optical system are disposed respectively at each side of a plane including a rotation axis of a polygonal-mirror optical deflector. Each of the scanning optical systems includes a synchronous detection optical system that determines a timing to start scanning the scanning surfaces with the light beams. When a time from the end of an effective scanning area in the second scanning optical system to synchronous detection in the first scanning optical system is Ta, and a time from the end of an effective scanning area in the first scanning optical system to synchronous detection in the second scanning optical system is Tb, Ta>Tb. |
| US09229224B2 |
Image display apparatus and head-mounted display
An image display apparatus includes laser light sources, a light combining section that combines laser light from the laser light sources, and an optical scanner that deflects drawing laser light from the light combining section for two-dimensional scanning. The optical axes of the laser light outputted from the laser light sources and directed toward the optical scanner are present in the same plane. Further, the optical scanner has a light reflection surface configured to be perpendicular to the plane when the optical scanner is not driven. The optical scanner deflects the drawing laser light reflected off the light reflection surface for two-dimensional scanning by causing the light reflection surface to swing within the plane and in the direction perpendicular to the plane. |
| US09229223B2 |
Multi-laser projection device and corresponding production method
A multi-laser projection device includes: a plurality of first assemblies, each including a fixed assemblage of a respective laser diode and an associated first collimator lens; a second assembly that forms a fixed assemblage of a beam combiner and a respective second collimator lens that is fastened on an entry surface of the beam combiner and that appertains to a respective laser diode; and a deflection unit. The plurality of first assemblies, the second assembly, and the deflection unit are mounted in a common housing so as to be adjusted to one another. |
| US09229220B2 |
Variable wavelength interference filter, optical module, and optical analysis device
An etalon is provided with a fixed substrate and a movable substrate opposed to the fixed substrate. The fixed substrate is provided with a first bonding surface to be bonded to the movable substrate via a bonding film and a first electrode surface on which a part of the first electrode is formed. The movable substrate is provided with a second bonding surface to be bonded to the first bonding surface via the bonding film and a second electrode surface on which a part of the second electrode is formed. In the state in which the fixed substrate and the movable substrate are bonded to each other with the bonding film, the first electrode formed on the first electrode surface and the second electrode formed on the second electrode surface have contact with each other. |
| US09229211B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging control program, and imaging method
An imaging apparatus includes: a first imaging area setting unit configured to divide an imaging range that includes a sample into a plurality of areas and set each of the plurality of areas as a first imaging area; a first imaging unit configured to capture a first image at an in-focus position of the first imaging area; a second imaging area setting unit configured to set an area that extends over adjacent first imaging areas as a second imaging area in a case where in-focus positions of the adjacent first imaging areas are so different from each other that the difference exceeds a predetermined value; a second imaging unit configured to capture a second image at an in-focus position of the second imaging area; and an image combining unit configured to combine the first image with the second image. |
| US09229208B2 |
Arrangement for generating a differential interference contrast image
An assembly for the generation of a differential interference contrast image (DIC) of an object in an imaging plane, comprising a radiation source; a Köhler illuminating optical assembly for illuminating the object with light from the radiation source; an objective for imaging the object plane in an imaging plane, wherein the objective is provided with an exit pupil and an entrance pupil, and wherein the entrance pupil of the objective is positioned in the illuminating pupil of the Köhler illuminating optical assembly; and a component for the generation of an interference is characterized in that the component for the generation of an interference is positioned in the exit pupil of the objective, and the component for the generation of an interference is formed by an amplitude filter with an amplitude transmission factor FDIC(x,y), which complies with the equation: 2 · F DIC ( x , y ) = F + ( x , y ) · ⅇ + ⅈ P 0 + F - ( x , y ) = 2 · T 0 · cos ( P max ( - x · sin φ + y · cos φ ) + P 0 2 ) · ⅇ + ⅈ P 0 2 wherein FDIC(x,y) is a functional expression for the description of the amplitude filter transmission and the phase of the amplitude filter depending on the coordinates x and y. |
| US09229205B2 |
Projection optical system, exposure apparatus, and method of manufacturing device
A projection optical system including a unity magnification reflecting optical system which forms an intermediate image of an object positioned on an object plane. The reflecting optical system includes a first mirror which reflects light emitted from the object plane, an optical system which reflects the light from the first mirror, and a second mirror which reflects the light from the optical system toward a forming position of the intermediate image. The first mirror, the second mirror and the optical system are positioned so as to satisfy a condition in which a distance between a position of reflection of the light on the second mirror and the forming position of the intermediate image is smaller than a distance between a position of reflection of the light on the first mirror and the object plane. |
| US09229203B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens substantially consists of, in order from the object side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, and a negative fifth lens group. When varying magnification, the distances between adjacent lens groups) are changed, while all of the lens groups are moved with respect to an image formation position. When focusing, only the fifth lens group is shifted, and the third lens group has a third-a lens group having positive refractive power and a third-b lens group having negative refractive power, which are arranged in this order from the object side, only the third-b lens group is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis to achieve camera shake correction. |
| US09229201B2 |
Near infrared lens
The present invention discloses a near infrared lens, comprising four groups of lenses along the optical axis from the object space to the image space, wherein, the first lens is a meniscus-shaped lens with negative focal power, with the convex side facing the object space, and has aspherical surfaces; the second lens is a meniscus-shaped lens with positive or negative focal power, with the convex side facing the image space; the third lens is a convexo-convex, convexo-plane, or meniscus-shaped lens with positive focal power, and the convex side of the lens faces the object space if the lens is a convexo-plane or meniscus-shaped lens; the fourth lens is a lens with positive focal power, and has aspherical surfaces. With the above design, the near infrared lens can achieve high imaging quality and low distortion effects with large aperture and wide viewing angle. |
| US09229198B2 |
Five-piece lens set for capturing images
The invention discloses a five-piece lens set for capturing images. The lens set comprises a five-piece optical lens. In order from an object side toward an image side, the five-piece optical lens comprises a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface; a second lens element having a convex object-side surface, and at least one of both surfaces thereof being aspheric; a third lens element with positive refractive power having a concave image-side surface, and having one inflection point that is located away from the optical axis; a fourth lens element with positive refractive power, and at least one of both surfaces thereof being aspheric; a fifth lens element having a convex object-side surface and having two inflection points not closed to an optical axis on the object-side surface. The five-piece lens set further comprises an aperture stop and an image-plane. |
| US09229197B2 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. Though controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces and/or the refracting power of the lens elements, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened. |
| US09229196B2 |
Optical image capture module
The present disclosure illustrates an optical image capture module comprising an optical lens assembly, an aperture stop and an image plane. The optical lens assembly in order from an object side toward an image side comprising: a first lens element, having positive refractive power and a convex object-side surface adjacent to the optical axis; a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element which have refractive power adjacent to the optical axis; a fifth lens element having refractive power and a concave image-side surface adjacent to the optical axis; a sixth lens element having negative refractive power and a convex surface image-side surface adjacent to the optical axis, at least one of the object-side surface and image-side surface of the sixth lens element being aspheric and having at least one inflection point located between the optical axis and the peripheral surface. |
| US09229194B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus including the imaging lens
An imaging lens substantially consists of, in order from an object side, five lenses of a first lens that has a biconvex shape, a second lens that has a negative refractive power, a third lens, a fourth lens that has a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens that has a negative refractive power and has an object side surface and an image side surface which have aspheric shapes. Further, the imaging lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions. |
| US09229190B2 |
Lens driving motor and elastic member of the same
Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient. |
| US09229186B2 |
Self engaging port plug
An enclosure that includes an outer housing, a sealant assembly that defines a cable port for routing a cable into the outer housing and a port plug that passes through the cable port. The port plug includes a retention feature that is moveable between an expanded configuration and a radially compressed configuration. The retention feature has an elastic construction that allows the retention feature to move to the radially compressed configuration as the retention feature passes through the cable port and causes the retention feature to automatically expand to the expanded configuration after the retention feature passes through the cable port. |
| US09229184B2 |
Lens module
A lens module includes a front lens unit and a bottom lens unit. The front lens unit includes a number of first lenses having parallel optical axes. The bottom lens unit is detachably connected to the front lens unit. The bottom lens unit includes a number of second lenses having parallel optical axes. |
| US09229182B2 |
Optical module
An optical module includes a circuit board, a photoelectric conversion element mounted on the circuit board, an optical connector for optically connecting the photoelectric conversion element and an optical fiber, a semiconductor circuit element mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element, a pressing member for pressing and fixing the optical connector to the circuit board, and a supporting member for supporting the pressing member. The supporting member includes a heat-absorbing surface and a heat-dissipating surface. The heat-absorbing surface is thermally connected to the semiconductor circuit element. The heat-dissipating surface dissipates heat of the semiconductor circuit element to be absorbed through the heat-absorbing surface. |
| US09229181B2 |
Optical receptacle and optical module comprising same
An optical receptacle is capable of actualizing, at low cost, optical transmission accompanying monitoring in which light of a light-emitting element is extracted in a direction along a substrate at an optical transmission body. In an embodiment, light of a light-emitting element 7 that has been incident on a first surface 2a (11) is separated into coupling light and monitor light using total reflection at a coupling light total reflection surface 14 and a first monitor light total reflection surface 15. The coupling light is emitted towards an optical transmission body 5 from a third surface 2c (12), and the monitor light is emitted towards a light-receiving element 8 from the first surface 2a (13). |
| US09229180B2 |
Optical communication device
An optical communication device includes a first fiber, a second fiber, a light-emitting unit, a light-receiving unit, and a lens unit. The lens unit includes a first portion and a second portion connecting with the first portion. The first portion includes a first entrance surface, a first exit surface, and a first reflecting surface. The first entrance surface is perpendicular to the first exit surface. The first optical fiber faces the first entrance surface and the light-receiving unit faces the first exit surface. The second portion includes a second entrance surface, a second exit surface, and a second reflecting surface. The second entrance surface is perpendicular to the second exit surface. The first entrance surface and the second exit surface are coplanar. |
| US09229179B2 |
Integrated optoelectronic module
An integrated optoelectronic module comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a single-mode optical waveguide comprising a semiconductor with a signal input section at a first end; a multi-mode optical waveguide comprising a semiconductor connected to a second end of the single-mode optical waveguide; and a photodiode disposed on and adjacent to the multi-mode interferometer waveguide and having at least one optical absorption layer section, wherein the single-mode optical waveguide, the multi-mode optical waveguide, and the photodiode being stacked on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the multi-mode interferometer waveguide comprises a reflection section formed by partly grooving the multi-mode interferometer waveguide, and an optical signal having propagated through the multi-mode interferometer waveguide is reflected by the reflection section and focused on the optical absorption layer section. |
| US09229177B1 |
Backlash prevention mechanism of adapter for optical connector
A backlash prevention tool is formed by provision of a C-shaped frame-like support portion installed to an engagement surface portion hollowed out and formed from a side wall surface of an adapter main body toward upper and lower wall surfaces, a come-off preventing locking piece protruded in a diagonally outer direction from a center side edge of the support portion so as to face to locking protrusions formed at the center of both side surface portions of the adapter main body, and backlash preventing locking pieces protruded in diagonally outer directions of respective side edges in both sides and upper and lower sides of the come-off preventing locking piece at the center of the support portion so as to come into pressure contact with respective sides of an inner side of an opening edge of an adapter attaching hole of a panel and are formed into a leaf spring. |
| US09229175B2 |
Optical interconnection assemblies and systems for high-speed data-rate optical transport systems
Fiber optic assemblies and systems for high-speed data-rate optical transport systems are disclosed that allow for optically interconnecting active assemblies to a trunk cable in a polarization-preserving manner. The fiber optic assembly includes at least first and second multifiber connectors each having respective pluralities of first and second ports that define respective pluralities of at least first and second groups of at least two ports each. The first and second multifiber connectors are capable of being disposed so that the at least first and second groups of ports are located on respective termination sides of each ferrule. The fiber optic assembly also has a plurality of optical fibers that connect the first and second ports according to a pairings method that maintains polarity between transmit and receive ports of respective active assemblies. At least one of the first and second groups are optically connected without flipping the fibers. |
| US09229174B2 |
Methods for forming connnectorized fiber optic cabling
A connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly includes a loose tube fiber optic cable and a connector assembly. The cable has a termination end and includes: an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers; at least one strength member; and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber bundle and the at least one strength member. The connector assembly includes a rigid portion and defines a fiber passage. The connector assembly is mounted on the termination end of the cable such that the optical fiber bundle extends through at least a portion of the fiber passage. The plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle have a ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly and a loose, non-ribbonized configuration outside the rigid portion. The plurality of optical fibers undergo a transition from the ribbonized configuration to the loose, non-ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly. According to some embodiments, the rigid portion of the connector assembly includes a rigid connector housing. |
| US09229173B2 |
Optical fiber connector component and optical fiber connector provided with optical fiber connector component
Provided are an optical fiber connector component which holds an optical fiber and is capable of being inserted through a thin pipe and capable of being inserted smoothly through a pipe, and an optical fiber connector provided with the optical fiber connector component. The optical fiber connector component comprises a ferrule having a fiber hole to hold an inserted coaxially disposed optical fiber, a stop ring arranged on the base end side of the ferrule, and an urging means arranged in between the ferrule and the stop ring; the optical fiber connector is characterized by having a housing and cover member coaxially connected to the optical fiber, and the cover member being fixed to the stop ring of the optical fiber component by means of a fixing member. |
| US09229169B2 |
Lens array optical coupling to photonic chip
A photonic integrated circuit apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a photonic chip and a lens array coupling element. The photonic chip includes a waveguide at a side edge surface of the photonic chip. The lens array coupling element is mounted on a top surface of the photonic chip and on the side edge surface. The coupling element includes a lens array that is configured to modify spot sizes of light traversing to or from the waveguide. The coupling element further includes an overhang on a side of the coupling element that opposes the lens array and that abuts the top surface of the photonic chip. The overhang includes a vertical stop surface that has a depth configured to horizontally align an edge of the waveguide with a focal length of the lens array and that vertically aligns focal points of the lens array with the edge of the waveguide. |
| US09229168B2 |
Semiconductor optical waveguide device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor optical waveguide device includes a substrate having a first area and a second area, and first, second, and semiconductor mesas on the substrate. The first semiconductor mesa includes a cladding layer and a first mesa portion on the second area, the first mesa portion including first and second portions. The second semiconductor mesa includes an intermediate layer, a first core layer, and first and second mesa portions on the first and second areas, respectively. The third semiconductor mesa includes a second core layer, and first and second mesa portions having a greater width than that of the second semiconductor mesa. The first portion of the first semiconductor mesa has a substantially same width as the second mesa portion of the second semiconductor mesa. The first core layer is optically coupled to the second core layer through the intermediate layer disposed between the first and second core layers. |
| US09229167B2 |
WDM multiplexing/de-multiplexing system and the manufacturing method thereof
A WDM multiplexing/demultiplexing system includes a de-multiplexer configured to separate and guide light beams from an incident ray having a plurality of wavelengths to corresponding lenses on an optical device, a multiplexer configured to guide light beams from optical transmitters having various wavelengths through the corresponding lenses on the optical device and combine the light beams, a lens array including the corresponding lenses to receive and/or transmit the light beams from or to the de-multiplexer and multiplexer, and a light beam collimator configured to function with the multiplexer and de-multiplexer. The light beams received or transmitted by the light beam collimator and the light beams transmitted or received from or to the multiplexer and de-multiplexer are collinear. The light beam collimator and multiplexer/de-multiplexer can be easily positioned to predetermined or designed positions, thereby providing light beams output through the lenses in a plastic optical device. The WDM system advantageously reduces optical signal loss, while increasing the assembly yield. |
| US09229166B2 |
Optical fiber cutter, and optical fiber cutter unit
The optical fiber cutter 1 comprises a cutter base 3 and a cutter lid 4 attached openably and closably to the cutter base 3. A slider 8 having a blade member for incising an optical fiber is attached to the cutter base 3 so as to be movable widthwise. A switching plate 15 is attached to a rear end part of the cutter base 3, while a switcher 16 is provided on the outer surface side of the switching plate 15. When the switcher 16 is at a first position, the cutter lid 4 engages a stopper, thereby attaining an opening angle of 35°. When the switcher 16 is at a second position, the engagement between the cutter lid 4 and the stopper is released, whereby the cutter lid 4 attains an opening angle of 70°. |
| US09229164B2 |
Butt-coupled buried waveguide photodetector
A method of forming an integrated photonic semiconductor structure having a photodetector and a CMOS device may include forming the CMOS device on a first silicon-on-insulator region, forming a silicon optical waveguide on a second silicon-on-insulator region, and forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region surrounding the silicon optical waveguide such that the shallow trench isolation electrically isolates the first and second silicon-on-insulator region. Within the STI region, a germanium material is deposited adjacent an end facet of the semiconductor optical waveguide. The germanium material forms an active region that receives propagating optical signals from the end facet of the semiconductor optical waveguide. |
| US09229162B1 |
Three-dimensional ordered diamond cellular structures and method of making the same
Various implementations and embodiments relate to three-dimensional open cellular diamond micro-truss structures and methods. |
| US09229158B2 |
Method for production of optical waveguides and coupling and devices made from the same
Novel processing methods for production of high-refractive index contrast and low loss optical waveguides are disclosed. In one embodiment, a novel waveguide is produced by first depositing or growing a first low refractive index material layer as a cladding layer on top of a base substrate. Then, a first high refractive index material layer is deposited or transferred to the top of the cladding layer to form a slab core region. Subsequently, a second high refractive index material layer is deposited on top of the slab core region, and an etch mask layer is formed. Furthermore, the second high refractive index material layer is selectively etched by utilizing a dry-etching tool with high selectivity to the etch mask layer, and a second low refractive index material layer is deposited as a top cladding layer to encapsulate the second high refractive index material layer on top of lower cladding layers. |
| US09229157B2 |
Sold photonic band gap fiber, fiber module using sold photonic band gap fiber, fiber amplifier, and fiber laser
A solid photonic band gap fiber includes: a core area located at a central portion of a cross-section with respect to a longitudinal direction of the fiber, the core area being formed of a solid substance having a low refractive index; cladding areas having base portions formed of a solid substance having a low refractive index, the cladding areas surrounding the core area; and a plurality of fine high refractive index scatterers provided in the cladding areas, and disposed in a dispersed manner so as to surround the core area, the number of fine high refractive index scatterers being formed of a solid substance having a high refractive index, wherein in a state that the solid photonic band gap fiber is held at a predetermined bending radius, propagation in a high-order mode is suppressed by using a difference in a bending loss between a fundamental mode and the high-order mode, and only the fundamental mode is substantially propagated, the fundamental mode and the high-order mode being caused by bending. |
| US09229153B2 |
Warning device
The present invention provides a warning device, which includes a housing; a bottom cover, an accommodation space is formed through the bottom cover being engaged with the housing; a first light guide plate formed with a plurality of first light guide strips; a second light guide plate formed with a plurality of second light guide strips, and the arranged direction of the plural second light guide strips is perpendicular to the arranged direction of the plural first light guide strips; a light source module installed with at least a LED; and a switch module installed with a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is provided with a switch and a microcontroller, when the switch is pressed, the microcontroller drives the LED for enabling a plurality of pointy light sources to be formed and emitted through the first light guide plate. |
| US09229150B2 |
Backlight module and LCD comprising the same
A backlight module comprises a backplate having a baseplate and side plates, a direct-lit LED array, edge-lit LED arrays and a light guide panel. The light guide panel is located above the baseplate. The direct-lit LED array is disposed between the baseplate and the light guide panel. The edge-lit LED arrays are disposed at two sides of the light guide panel and facing light incident surfaces thereof respectively. Light scattering structures for scattering light rays are disposed on a light exiting surface or on a bottom surface of the light guide panels. With the LED arrays and the light scattering structures, the light guide panel is divided into three backlight regions. Displaying of the backlight module is controlled region by region by the light scattering structures and the LED drive circuit to improve the brightness of the backlight module and reduce the power consumption of the liquid crystal module. |
| US09229148B2 |
Light guide plate and display apparatus including the same
A light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a light facing surface facing the light incident surface, a connection surface connecting the light incident surface with the light facing surface, and a top surface connected with the light incident surface, the light facing surface, and the connection surface. The light incident surface receives light from a light source, the light facing surface reflects light, and the top surface outputs light toward a display panel. The connection surface includes at least two absorption surfaces parallel to a straight line linking a center of an arc with an end of the light incident surface and at least one reflective surface interposed the two adjacent absorption surfaces to reflect the light. |
| US09229146B2 |
Backlight module
A backlight module including a light guide plate is disclosed. The light guide plate has a light emitting plane, a bottom plane opposite to the light emitting plane and a light incident plane connecting the light emitting plane and the bottom plane, a plurality of arc protrusions disposed on the first light incident plane; and a transparent layer disposed upon each of the arc-protrusions. In the backlight module, an LED bar is disposed near to the light incident plane of the light guide plate, and the LED bar has a plurality of LED light sources corresponding to the arc-protrusions of the light guide plate, respectively. |
| US09229140B2 |
Omnidirectional UV-IR reflector
The present invention provides an omnidirectional ultraviolet (UV)-infrared (IR) reflector. The omnidirectional UV-IR reflector includes a multilayer stack having at least three layers, the at least three layers having at least one first index of refraction material A1 and at least one second index of refraction layer B1. The at least one first index of refraction material layer and the at least one second index of refraction material layer can be alternately stacked on top of each other to provide the at least three layers. In addition, the at least one first index of refraction material layer and the at least one second index of refraction material layer each have a predefined thickness of dA1 and dB1, respectively, with the thickness dA1 not being generally equal to the dB1 thickness such that the multilayer stack has a non-periodic layered structure. |
| US09229137B2 |
Wire grid polarizer comprising transparent particles, display device including the same, and method of fabricating the wire grid polarizer
A wire grid polarizer including a substrate, parallel conductive wire patterns which protrude from a top surface of the substrate, non-conductive wire patterns which are formed on the conductive wire patterns, respectively, and a protective layer which is formed on the conductive wire patterns and the non-conductive wire patterns. The protective layer includes first transparent particles having a diameter greater than a period of the conductive wire patterns, and spaces between the conductive wire patterns are filled with air or are evacuated to form a vacuum. |
| US09229135B2 |
Composition for film having prism-type retroreflection structure formed on the surface thereof
Provided is a composition for use in producing a film having a prism type retroreflection structure, the composition being capable of favorably forming a prism type retroreflection structure by thermal transfer, while being superior in weather resistance and transparency and the film having breakage resistance. The composition contains: (A) an acrylic polymer produced by polymerizing (a-2) a monomer component in the presence of (A-1) a crosslinked acrylic polymer; and (B) a thermoplastic acrylic polymer, the composition having a fluidity (MFR: measured under heating at 230° C. and compression at 37.3 N) of 1 to 14, and having a gel content of 25 to 50% by weight with respect to 100% by weight in total of the acrylic polymer (A) and the thermoplastic acrylic polymer (B). |
| US09229132B2 |
Meteorological parameter forecasting
A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for forecasting a meteorological parameter. The method includes analyzing geographically distributed sensor network data to assess spatial and temporal variation of a meteorological parameter in real-time, correlating at least two portions of data from the sensor network to identify a temporal and spatial evolution of the meteorological parameter, and forecasting the meteorological parameter based on the temporal and spatial evolution of the meteorological parameter. |
| US09229124B2 |
Methods and systems for processing microseismic data
Methods and systems for processing microseismic waveforms. The methods and systems provide determining a measure of waveform fit in the frequency-domain comprising constructing, in the frequency-domain, at least one of an amplitude misfit functional and a cross phase functional between arrivals; and estimating source parameters and/or model parameters. |
| US09229123B2 |
Method for handling rough sea and irregular recording conditions in multi-sensor towed streamer data
Rough sea elevation is estimated from a high-frequency portion of recorded pressure data and recorded vertical velocity component data. Generalized deghosting and datuming operators are constructed, which take into account the estimated rough sea elevation and irregular recording depth conditions. A low-frequency portion of the recorded pressure data is decomposed into up-going and down-going wavefields on a horizontal reference plane, using the generalized datuming and deghosting operators. A low-frequency portion of the vertical velocity component data is reconstructed from the decomposed up-going and down-going wavefields on the horizontal reference plane, using the generalized datuming and deghosting operators. |
| US09229120B2 |
Discrete electric seismic source unit
The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. The seismic source includes systems for driving the acoustic energy systems using electric energy concurrently from both the generator and an electric energy accumulator such as a capacitor or battery, systems for adjusting the weight on the acoustic energy delivery system by raising and lowering wheels individually and an active energy isolation to isolate the chocks and impulses of the acoustic energy delivery system from the remainder of the seismic source. |
| US09229118B2 |
Rare-earth halide crystal scintillator with polished sensitive face
A single-crystal scintillator material can include at least 50 wt % of rare-earth halide and comprising a polished first face. This material is integrated into an ionizing-radiation detector comprising a photoreceiver, the photoreceiver being optically coupled to the material via a face other than the polished first face. The material provides a good energy resolution and a high light intensity. The polishing may be carried out whatever the crystal orientation of the crystal. Loss of material due to this orientation is therefore prevented. |
| US09229117B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system
A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a plurality of sensor units each including a plurality of photoelectric converters, a substrate configured to support the plurality of sensor units, and a scintillator, wherein the scintillator comprises scintillator grains configured to convert radiation into light and a binder configured to make the scintillator grains adhere to each other, and the scintillator includes first portions provided between the plurality of sensor units and a second portion provided on the plurality of sensor units and the substrate. |
| US09229116B2 |
Neutron detector
A device having: a scintillator material, an optically transparent element containing a glass or polymer and gadolinium oxide, and one or more photomultiplier tubes adjacent to the scintillator material. The optically transparent element is surrounded by the scintillator material. |
| US09229108B2 |
Underwater platform with LIDAR and related methods
Systems and methods for conducting autonomous underwater inspections of subsea and other underwater structures using a 3D laser mounted on an underwater platform such as AUV, an ROV or a tripod. The systems and methods described herein can be used for scanning underwater structures to gain a better understanding of the underwater structures, such as for example, for the purpose of generating a 3D virtual model of the underwater structure. The 3D virtual model can be used for many purposes including, but not limited to, directing inspection, repair, and manipulation of the underwater structure, navigating around the underwater structure, and other purposes. |
| US09229105B2 |
Relative position detection device for vehicle
A relative position detection device is used for a traveling system that allows a first and second vehicles to travel such that the first vehicle precedes and the second vehicle follows the first vehicle. The detecting device includes a sensor pair of a first and second sensors and an arithmetic unit. The first and second sensors are located at the same height on the right and left end portions of the front surface of the second vehicle. The first and second sensors emits transmission waves from their located positions in their front directions and receives their reflected waves. The arithmetic unit detects a direction of deviation between the first and second vehicles in the right and left direction on the basis of a difference between a first intensity of the reflected wave received by the first sensor and a second intensity of the reflected waves received by the second sensor. |
| US09229104B2 |
Sensor assembly for driver assistance systems in motor vehicles
A sensor assembly is described for driver assistance systems in motor vehicles, having a radar sensor and a video camera, in which the radar sensor and the video camera are integrated into a common housing. |
| US09229097B2 |
Architecture of single substrate ultrasonic imaging devices, related apparatuses, and methods
Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound device circuitry as may form part of a single substrate ultrasound device having integrated ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound device circuitry may facilitate the generation of ultrasound waveforms in a manner that is power- and data-efficient. |
| US09229093B2 |
Method for estimating a location of an electronic device with aid of information carried by responses corresponding to one broadcast request sent to multiple devices, and associated apparatus
A method for estimating a location of an electronic device and an associated apparatus are provided, where the method includes the steps of: sending a pre-association broadcast request frame by the electronic device to multiple responders in a wireless network system; receiving a plurality of response frames corresponding to the pre-association broadcast request frame from the multiple responders; and performing a timing measurement according to information carried by the plurality of response frames for determining the location of the electronic device. For example, each of the response frames is sent from one of the responders, and each of the responders sends only one response frame corresponding to the pre-association broadcast request frame. As a result, the power consumption can be greatly decreased, and the related art problem of insufficiency of the total channel capacity of the wireless network system can be prevented. |
| US09229091B2 |
Positioning device, mobile station and positioning method
A positioning device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive wireless quality information indicating wireless quality between a mobile station and a base station and information indicating a direction and an orientation of the mobile station; a determining unit configured to acquire measuring data to be used for measuring a location of the mobile station based on the direction and the orientation, from data in which each of regions as location candidates of the mobile station is associated with respective wireless quality information; and a measuring unit configured to measure the location of the mobile station based on the wireless quality information and the measuring data. |
| US09229090B2 |
Method for indoor/outdoor call judgment
The indoor/outdoor call judgment method comprises the following steps. Firstly, to build an algorithm and indicator function for determining indoor/outdoor call by analyzing drive test data. Secondly, to retrieve the event log data to be judged by the method, and find the position of the retrieved event log data by means of geo-location tools. Thirdly, to determine whether the retrieved event log data are referring to a moving call, if “YES”, then the event log is determined to be referring to an outdoor call. Fourthly, to determine whether or not the event log data are referring to an Indoor call by using the pre-built algorithm and the indicator function. Users' behavior, Cell antenna module and signal strength difference are considered when building the algorithm and indicator function so as to increase the accuracy of the indoor/outdoor call judgment method. |
| US09229089B2 |
Acquisition of navigation assistance information for a mobile station
Navigation assistance information for a mobile station is acquired based on a feature descriptor of an image of a visual beacon captured by the mobile station. The navigation assistance information includes locations of neighboring visual beacons, locations of wireless positioning resources; user environmental context information. The navigation assistance information may then be used to assist in navigating within the local environment. The visual beacon may be an artificial feature, such as a QR code or other type of matrix or bar code or a natural feature, such as a statute or architectural detail. The mobile station may request navigation assistance by transmitting the feature descriptor to a server. The server retrieves the navigation assistance information from a database based on the feature descriptor and optionally location information, which may also be provided in the navigation assistance request, and transmits the navigation assistance information to the mobile station. |
| US09229086B2 |
Sound source localization apparatus and method
Sound source localization apparatuses and methods are described. A frame amplitude difference vector is calculated based on short time frame data acquired through an array of microphones. The frame amplitude difference vector reflects differences between amplitudes captured by microphones of the array during recording the short time frame data. Similarity between the frame amplitude difference vector and each of a plurality of reference frame amplitude difference vectors is evaluated. Each of the plurality of reference frame amplitude difference vectors reflects differences between amplitudes captured by microphones of the array during recording sound from one of a plurality of candidate locations. A desired location of sound source is estimated based at least on the candidate locations and associated similarity. The sound source localization can be performed based at least on amplitude difference. |
| US09229082B2 |
Method for diffusion magnetic resonance imaging
A method for diffusion magnetic resonance imaging may be provided. The method may comprise steps of performing sampling on an object at N diffusion weighted directions to acquire undersampled but complementary k-space data, combining the complementary data from different directions to obtain a full sampled k-space data, performing initial reconstruction based on common information among images at the N diffusion weighted directions, and performing joint iterative regularized reconstruction to k-space data in all diffusion weighted directions based on the initial images to obtain the desired final images. Due to the utilization of common information at the N diffusion weighted directions, the acquisition efficiency may be enhanced and image resolution and SNR of acquired images may be improved accordingly. |
| US09229081B2 |
Accelerated MRI with nonlinear spatial encoding gradients
In a method of magnetic resonance imaging, a set of nonlinear, mutually orthogonal magnetic gradient encoding fields are sequentially and separately generated in an imaging region [100]. Using multiple receiver coils having nonuniform sensitivity profiles, echo data representing signal intensities in the imaging region is sequentially acquired as the magnetic gradient encoding fields are sequentially generated [102]. A reconstructed image of the imaging region is computed from the acquired echo data [104], and the reconstructed image is then be stored and/or displayed on a display monitor [106]. |
| US09229076B2 |
Decoupling of multiple channels of an MRI RF coil array
A radio-frequency coil assembly (18), for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system (10), includes a plurality of coil elements (18n). The coil elements (18n) are connected to a decoupling network (40) which includes a plurality of decoupling elements (40n,x) connected (via transmission lines) to pairs of coil elements (18n, 18x) at corresponding ports (64n,64x) from which the coil can be fed. The decoupling elements (40n,x) compensate for mutual coupling between pairs of corresponding coil elements. An inductive coupling loop (51n), with a constant or adjustable mutual inductance, inductively couples the associated coil element (18n) to the corresponding decoupling network port (64n). Transmission lines (52n) electrically connect each inductive coupling loop (51n) to the decoupling network (40) at the corresponding port (64n). Each transmission line (52n) has an electrical length of kλ/2 where k=0, 1, 2, 3 . . . and λ is a wavelength of the excited and/or received resonance signals inside the transmission line. |
| US09229073B2 |
Systems and method to substantially mitigate AC stark shift effects in a sensor system
One embodiment includes a sensor system. The system includes a cell system comprising a pump laser configured to generate a pump beam to polarize alkali metal particles enclosed within a sensor cell. The system also includes a detection system comprising a probe laser configured to generate a probe beam. The detection system can also be configured to calculate at least one measurable parameter based on characteristics of the probe beam passing through the sensor cell resulting from precession of the polarized alkali metal particles in response to an applied magnetic field. The system further includes an AC Stark shift control system configured to frequency-modulate the pump beam and to control a center frequency of a frequency-modulated pump beam based on the characteristics of the probe beam passing through the sensor cell to substantially stabilize and mitigate the effects of AC Stark shift on the at least one measurable parameter. |
| US09229070B2 |
Apparatus and method for reset and stabilization control of a magnetic sensor
A magnitude and direction of at least one of a reset current and a second stabilization current (that produces a reset field and a second stabilization field, respectively) is determined that, when applied to an array of magnetic sense elements, minimizes the total required stabilization field and reset field during the operation of the magnetic sensor and the measurement of the external field. Therefore, the low field sensor operates optimally (with the highest sensitivity and the lowest power consumption) around the fixed external field operating point. The fixed external field is created by other components in the sensor device housing (such as speaker magnets) which have a high but static field with respect to the low (earth's) magnetic field that describes orientation information. |
| US09229061B2 |
Electrical storage device temperature measuring method
An internal impedance of an electrical storage device is measured by using a signal of a frequency which ions in the electrical storage device are difficult to follow (e.g., a frequency equal to or higher than 10 kHz), and an internal temperature of the electrical storage device is calculated from a measured value of the internal impedance. |
| US09229060B1 |
Electronic circuit tester and method of use
An electrical circuit tester including a resistive load and a testing station for detecting the variable load. The testing station includes at least one electrical current transducer capable of detecting the variable load in an adjacent electrical power circuit. The detection of the variable load is communicated to the testing station and a variable load detection function. |
| US09229058B2 |
Die attach pick error detection
Embodiments of the invention provide a method to detect pick and place indexing errors on each manufacturing batch (lot) of semiconductor wafer processed during a die attach process using a preselected skeleton of check die. The known locations of the check skeleton die are verified during picking of die from the wafer. If the check skeleton cannot be correctly verified at the known locations, then a pick error is indicated. The embodiments may be implemented on existing die attach equipment. |
| US09229054B2 |
Self-contained, path-level aging monitor apparatus and method
An aging monitor circuit that provides a more accurate estimate of aging and/or delay in a circuit and/or circuit path. The aging monitor circuit employs a separate aging path with driving and receiving flip flops (FFs) and a tunable replica circuit (TRC) to enable measurements of single-transition DC-stressed path delay that only propagates through stressed transistors or other circuit element(s). A finite state machine (FSM) in the aging monitor circuit is configured to adjust a frequency of a clock signal output by a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) in response to an error signal output by the receiving FF. The error signal is generated in response to single-transition DC-stressed path delay; and therefore enables the adjustment of the frequency of the dock signal to correspond to an amount or effect of the delay. |
| US09229051B2 |
Integrated circuit with degradation monitoring
An integrated circuit including a degradation monitoring circuit. The degradation monitoring circuit includes a comparison circuit having a delay element including an input coupled to a data node of a timing path and having an output to provide a delayed signal of a data signal of the data node. The comparison circuit includes a logic comparator that provides a logic comparison between a data signal of the data node and the output of the delay element. The monitoring circuit includes a sampling circuit that provides a sampled signal of the output of the logic comparator that is a sampled with respect to a clock signal of the clock signal line. The monitoring circuit includes a hold circuit that provides a signal indicative of a data signal of the data node transitioning within a predetermined time of an edge transition of a clock signal of the clock signal line. |
| US09229050B2 |
BIST circuit for phase measurement
A BIST circuit for high speed applications includes a phase difference detection circuit, a period-to-current conversion circuit having an input coupled to an output of the phase difference detection circuit and a current-to-voltage conversion circuit coupled to an output of the period-to-current conversion circuit. The phase difference detection circuit includes first NAND logic for receiving as inputs an input clock signal and a delayed version of an inverted version of the input clock signal; second NAND logic for receiving as inputs the inverted version of the input clock signal and a delayed version of the input clock signal; third NAND logic for receiving as inputs the input clock signal and the delayed version of the input clock signal; and fourth NAND logic for receiving as inputs the inverted version of the input clock signal and a delayed version of the inverted version of the input clock signal. |
| US09229045B2 |
In-situ characterization of a solid-state light source
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for in-situ characterization of a solid-state light. First, a voltage and a current of the solid-state light source are monitored. Then, the health of the solid-state light source is characterized based on an analysis of the monitored voltage and current. |
| US09229040B2 |
Disconnection detection circuit for bridge circuit and system including disconnection detecting means
In an existing disconnection detection circuit for a bridge circuit, consideration is not taken into the fact that an offset voltage or temperature characteristic of a bridge output is degraded. Provided is a disconnection detection circuit for a bridge circuit capable of suppressing a change in a characteristic of a sensor to a minimal extent. A disconnection detection circuit 8a for a bridge circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises conducting means 9 and 10 each of which causes a current to flow from an output terminal of the bridge circuit to a predetermined potential, potential difference detecting means 12 and 13 each of which detects a potential difference between the potential at the output terminal of the bridge circuit and the predetermined potential, and a disconnection detecting means 14 that detects a disconnection on the basis of the outputs of the potential difference detecting means. |
| US09229038B2 |
Cabinet touch control
Provided is a method and an apparatus for controlling an electric device. The apparatus includes a cabinet defining a recess, and a sensor disposed within said recess for sensing the presence of a foreign object in close proximity to the sensor. A veneer at least partially conceals the sensor disposed within said recess from view when observed from an ambient environment of the cabinet. A controller is responsive to a signal transmitted by the sensor indicative of the presence of the foreign object adjacent to the sensor to transmit a control signal for controlling operation of the electric device operatively connected to communicate with the controller. |
| US09229033B2 |
Voltage detecting system
A voltage detecting system is configured for detecting a voltage supplied to an electronic device. The voltage detecting system includes a voltage measuring circuit configured to measure the voltage, a voltage converting circuit electrically coupled to the voltage, and a voltage comparing circuit. The voltage measuring circuit has a first measuring range and a second measuring range that is wider than the first measuring range. The voltage converting circuit is capable of the converting the voltage to an output voltage according to a predetermined ratio. The voltage comparing circuit compares the output voltage with a reference voltage. If the output voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the voltage comparing circuit informs the voltage measuring circuit to select the second measuring range. If the output voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, the voltage comparing circuit informs the voltage measuring circuit to select the first measuring range. |
| US09229030B2 |
Testing apparatus and method using same
A testing apparatus for testing a number of different characteristics of a circuit board includes at least two probes, at least one measuring meter, and a storage device. After a circuit schematic diagram of the circuit board and a circuit wiring diagram of the circuit board have been compared, the location of each electric contact is determined. The probes necessary for testing particular characteristics are connected in turn to the measuring meter. The circuit board is moved to align the electric contacts with the probes, and bring the probes into electrical contact with the electric contacts for testing. |
| US09229028B2 |
Sensor for low force-noise detection in liquids
The embodiments described herein provide a sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor includes (1) a resonator, (2) a probe attached to the resonator, and (3) an encasement that encases the resonator, where the encasement includes an opening through which the probe can protrude and where the dimensions of the encasement are on the same order as the dimensions of the resonator. |
| US09229026B2 |
Accelerometer systems and methods
An accelerometer system can include a sensor element comprising first and second proofmasses, the first proofmass accelerating in a first direction and the second proofmass accelerating in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to an external acceleration. A force rebalance controller applies control signals to at least one control element to provide a first force to accelerate the first proofmass toward a first null position and to at least one control element to provide a second force to accelerate the second proofmass toward a second null position. The force rebalance controller can also generate opposite polarity first and second output signals associated with respective displacements of the first and second proofmasses relative to the respective first and second null positions. An acceleration component calculates the external acceleration based on the first and second output signals. |
| US09229023B2 |
Electronic apparatus, mobile terminal, and velocity measuring method
An electronic apparatus includes a processor configured to select a type of an object subject to measurement; calculate a first distance to the object, based on output of a first sensor configured to detect passing of the object; calculate a second distance to the object, based on output of a second sensor configured to detect passing of the object; obtain based on the first distance, a first time point at which the object passes the first sensor; obtain based on the second distance, a second time point at which the object passes the second sensor; and calculate based on the first and second time points and a distance between the first and second sensors, a velocity of the object. The processor drives the first and second sensors at measurement time intervals corresponding to the type, and causes the first and the second sensors to detect the passing of the object. |
| US09229021B2 |
Measuring device with a multi-walled housing
A measuring device for determining and/or monitoring a chemical and/or physical measured variable of process automation technology, wherein the measuring device includes at least one housing, and the housing has at least a first wall; which comprises a first material, and the housing has at least a second wall which comprises at least a second material. The second wall is secured to the first wall; and the outside of the first wall is at least partially surrounded by the second wall. The second wall is approximately fitted to the shape of the first wall, and the second wall is mechanically connected to the first wall. |
| US09229017B2 |
Sample processing apparatus, transport apparatus and non-transitory storage medium
A transport apparatus includes: a first transport line configured to transport a rack downstream along the transporting route; a second transport line configured to transport the rack upstream along the transporting route; and a controller including a processor and a memory that stores programs executable by the processor to: determine where to transport a post-tested rack according to whether or not retesting is necessary on any sample held in the post-tested rack; and according to a determination, instruct the transport apparatus to transport the post-tested rack selectively (i) along the first transport line either back to first sample processing unit, where the rack has been tested, or to a second sample processing unit located downstream of the first sample processing unit, or (ii) along the second transport line back from the first sample processing unit. |
| US09229015B2 |
Accuracy management method
There is provided a comprehensive accuracy management method attained by including the steps of: displaying operation event information in time series in an accuracy management result chart or a calibration result chart on the same screen; accumulating a characteristic daily measurement value fluctuation pattern on the basis of a kind of an operation event; displaying the latest fluctuation pattern of measurement results and the daily measurement value fluctuation pattern in superposition with each other to warn of fluctuations which differ from the daily measurement value fluctuation pattern; and estimating and reporting the cause of the fluctuations. |
| US09229010B2 |
Methods and compositions for diagnosis and prognosis of renal injury and renal failure
Disclosed are methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, disclosed are assays that detect one or more markers selected from the group consisting of Prostatic acid phosphatase, Lactotransfenin, Soluble erythropoietin receptor, Von Willebrand factor, Soluble endothelial protein C receptor, and Beta-2-glycoprotein 1 as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in renal injuries. |
| US09229008B2 |
IL-8 level as a determinant of responsivity of a cancer to treatment
The present application includes methods for using IL-8 as a biomarker for, e.g., tumor size, for example, during course of treatment with an anti-cancer agent such as an ERK inhibitor. |
| US09229007B2 |
Fluorescence detection of cysteine and homocysteine
Embodiments of probes for selectively detecting compounds having a thiol group and an amino group, e.g., cysteine and/or homocysteine, are disclosed, along with methods and kits for detecting the compounds in neutral media with the probes. The probes have a structure according to the general formula where R1-R4 independently are hydrogen hydroxyl, halogen, thiol, thioether, lower aliphatic, or lower alkoxy, x is an integer from 0 to 4, and each R5 independently is halogen, hydroxyl, thiol, thioether, lower aliphatic, or lower alkoxy. Embodiments of the disclosed probes are capable of undergoing condensation/cyclization reactions with cysteine and/or homocysteine. Cysteine and/or homocysteine can be selectively detected and identified by determining fluorescence emission of the probes at characteristic wavelengths. |
| US09229003B2 |
Method for detecting thyroid carcinoma
It is an object of the present invention to identify a gene that exhibits behavior which is characteristic of carcinomas such as thyroid carcinoma, so as to provide a method for detecting carcinoma and a cell growth suppressing agent. The present invention provides a method for detecting carcinoma, which comprises detecting malignant transformation by detecting at least one alteration of gene existing in chromosomal regions 1q41, 3q28, 7q31.2, 8p12, 8q22.2, 8q24.21, 11q4.1, 17q12, 20q11, 9p21.3, 16q13.2, and 16q23.1 in a specimen. |
| US09228999B2 |
Method for screening active agents that stimulate the expression of CERT to improve the skin's barrier function
A method for screening an active agent intended for preventing or combating the cutaneous signs resulting from a non-pathological impairment of barrier function, which includes the selection of active agents that stimulate the expression of the ceramide transport protein CERT in cultured human keratinocytes. |
| US09228995B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring hematocrit of blood
Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for measuring hematocrit of flowing blood. The apparatus for measuring hematocrit of blood according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a body part provided with a blood inlet and a blood outlet; first and second electrodes disposed on both inner side walls of the body part so as to be opposite to each other; a third electrode disposed on the same side wall as a side wall on which the first electrode is disposed while maintaining a predetermined distance from the first electrode; a measurement unit measuring first impedance of blood between the first and second electrodes and second impedance of the blood between the first and third electrodes; and a calculation unit determining the hematocrit of blood using the first and second impedances. |
| US09228992B2 |
Electric insulating oil inspection method, electric insulating oil treatment method, and oil-filled electric device maintenance method
The present invention relates to an electric insulating oil inspection method for determining whether or not an inhibitor-consuming substance is present in an electric insulating oil. The inhibitor-consuming substance is such a substance that causes to decrease over time a concentration of an inhibitor which is added to the electric insulating oil to inhibit copper sulfide from being generated on an insulating paper immersed in the electric insulating oil. The electric insulting oil inspection method includes steps of: preserving the electric insulating oil at a predetermined condition, measuring a concentration of the inhibitor, and determining that the inhibitor-consuming substance is present upon condition that a decrement of the concentration of the inhibitor relative to an initial concentration of the inhibitor becomes not less than a specified amount within a predetermined period. |
| US09228991B2 |
Methods and kits for detection of drugs
The present invention discloses a method for determining the presence of a drug or drug mixture in a liquid medium such as a beverage. |
| US09228990B2 |
System for predicting production of fruit tree and driving method thereof
Provided is a system for predicting production of a fruit tree, including a plant image obtaining unit collecting images of a fruit tree and confirming identification information about the fruit tree from the collected images, a branch pattern recognizing unit receiving an image of the fruit tree whose identification information is confirmed and extracting fruit bearing branches from among various kinds of branches belonging to the fruit tree, a fruit tree bud recognizing unit receiving an image of each of the extracted fruit bearing branches and extracting information about buds that fruits are actually to be born from among buds belonging to the fruit bearing branch, a meta database storing previous production predicting information about the fruit tree corresponding to the collected images, and a production estimating unit comparing the received bud information and the previous production predicting information to predict production of the fruit tree. |
| US09228988B2 |
Molecularly imprinted polymers for detection of contaminants
A method for producing a conductive molecularly imprinted polymer film for detection of an airborne target molecule includes (a) dissolving a polymer host comprising a structural component and a conductive component in a first solvent to form a first solution, wherein the structural component includes nylon-6 or polyethyleneimine and the conductive component includes polyaniline, (b) adding a target molecule to the first solution, (c) mixing the target molecule into the first solution to form a molecularly imprinted polymer solution, (d) coating the molecularly imprinted polymer solution onto a surface, (e) and removing the target molecule to form the conductive molecularly imprinted polymer film. |
| US09228987B2 |
Gas sensor
A protector has a two-stage structure that includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion. The large-diameter portion includes a cylindrical first peripheral wall and a first front end wall. The small-diameter portion includes a cylindrical second peripheral wall connected to the first front end wall and a second front end wall connected to a front end portion of the second peripheral wall. Opening portions are not formed in the first and second peripheral walls. First opening portions, which are opened toward only first recessed portions and an inner surface of the first peripheral wall, are formed at the first front end wall. A second recessed portion and second opening portions, which are formed in the second recessed portion and are opened toward an inner surface of the second peripheral wall, are formed in the second front end wall. |
| US09228985B2 |
Device and method for testing catalysts with variable process pressure adjustment
The present invention relates to a catalysis apparatus for testing catalysts with variable process pressure adjustment over a pressure range from 0.01 millibar to 300 bar. The apparatus preferably has a plurality of reaction chambers (101, 102, . . . ) arranged in parallel, the reaction chamber outlet-side lines (211, 212, . . . ) of which are divided into two groups of sub-lines. One group of main lines (411, 412, . . . ) is operatively connected to a regulating valve (61), which is common to all of the main lines, and to an exhaust-air line (62), and the second group of secondary lines (311, 312, 313, . . . ) and switching valves (321, 322, . . . ) is operatively connected to an analysis unit (34). It is preferable for reaction chamber outlet-side lines (201, 202, . . . ) to be equipped in each case with a separate line for regulating fluid supply (211, 212, . . . ). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting points of the reaction chamber outlet-side lines (201, 202, . . . ) to the respective main lines (411, 412, . . . ) and secondary lines (311, 312, . . . ) have in each case one mixing vessel (301, 302, . . . ). |
| US09228983B2 |
Process analytic device with improved thermal stability
A process analytic device has an input to receive a sample of interest. An analytic detector is operably coupled to receive the sample of interest and to provide an analytic output relative to the sample of interest. A heat pipe is thermally coupled to the analytic detector. In one embodiment, the process analytic device is a process gas chromatograph. |
| US09228981B2 |
Resonance inspection-based surface defect system/method
A system and method for evaluating a part-under-test (120) is disclosed. The part-under-test (120) is excited using at least one drive frequency. A first surface acoustical wave (SAW) mode (206) is identified in the frequency response (200). A separate reference peak (204) for the identified SAW mode (206) is also identified in the frequency response (200). At least one degeneracy assessment zone (208) is evaluated for existence of a surface defect trigger condition. If a surface defect trigger condition exists, the part-under-test (120) may be rejected. Otherwise, the part-under-test (120) may be accepted. |
| US09228979B2 |
Capacitive transimpedance amplifier with offset
Spectrometers including integrated capacitive detectors are described. An integrated capacitive detector integrates ion current from the collector (768) into a changing voltage. The detector includes a collector configured to receive ions in the spectrometer, a dielectric, and a plate arranged in an overlapping configuration with collector on an opposite side of the dielectric. The detector also includes an amplifier (764). A capacitive detector with offset (776) is described. |
| US09228975B2 |
Patient serum/plasma sample resistivity for electrolyte result verification
Verification of patient sample electrolyte results using a separate quantitative measurement of sample resistivity. Sample resistivity may be used to measure small differences in resistivity of one sample to the next, and in comparison to a standard solution, in order to verify the results of sample electrolyte measurements being measured at the same time by, for example, individual ion selective electrodes (ISE) in a clinical analyzer. Providing a separate or secondary quantitative means for verification of the measured results of sample electrolytes using sample resistivity solves the problem of electrolyte result variability in sample electrolyte measurements. The process may compare a measured sample resistivity to an expected resistivity value as a verification of the accuracy of individual electrolyte results. Suspect samples—e.g., where the electrolyte resistivity results do not fit the expected resistivity—may be flagged. This separate verification step provides added confidence in the measured electrolyte results and can identify when problems occur or interferences are present in real time. |
| US09228972B2 |
Electroanalytical sensor based on nanocrystalline diamond electrodes and microelectrode arrays
A diamond electrode and a diamond microelectrode array for biosensors and electroanalytical applications, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), are disclosed. The electrode comprises a layer of ultra-smooth conductive nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) having a resistivity of >0.05 Ωcm and a surface roughness of <20 nm Ra. Preferably, the diamond layer comprises boron or nitrogen-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) having an average grain size <10 nm and a surface roughness <10 nm Ra. It may be patterned to define a microelectrode array with a plurality of individually addressable electrodes, each having a diameter in the range from 100 nm to 100 μm. The surface of each microelectrode is hydrogen-terminated before bio-functionalization, i.e. modifying with sensing molecules for detection of a specific biological or chemical target and coating with a blocker for reducing non-specific binding. These diamond electrodes exhibited substantial increases in sensitivity, selectivity and signal reproducibility, e.g. for detection of E. coli K12 using EIS. |
| US09228970B2 |
Heat-transfer resistance based analysis bioparticles
A method an system is disclosed for characterizing DNA and/or RNA duplexes. The biosensing device comprises a heating element using a power and being suitable for providing thermal denaturation of target DNA and/or RNA bioparticles, a sample holder adapted for receiving a biocompatible substrate having a functionalized surface which is coated with probe DNA and/or RNA whereto target DNA and/or RNA duplexes can be attached, the sample holder further being adapted for exposing the biocompatible substrate at one side to the heating element, a first temperature sensing element for sensing a temperature at the side where the biocompatible substrate can be exposed to the heating element and a second temperature sensing element for sensing a temperature at the side opposite thereto with respect to the biocompatible substrate. The device also comprises a processing means programmed for calculating at least one heat transfer resistivity value based on temperature values obtained with the first temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing element and the power for the heating element, for deriving a characteristic of the target DNA and/or RNA bioparticles from said heat transfer resistivity value. |
| US09228968B2 |
Thermal sensor and platform
In order to provide a sensor operating in a high sensitivity at a low cost and a radio sensor platform having a high energy efficiency, the sensor includes a detecting film which generates heat through incidence or adhesion of an object, a magnetic film which generates a spin current in a direction of a temperature gradient by the heat generated by the detecting film, and an electrode which convert the spin current generated by the magnetic film into an electric current. |
| US09228967B2 |
Micro-hotplate device and sensor comprising such micro-hotplate device
The present invention relates to a micro-hotplate device comprising a frame, a membrane, an active area comprising at least one active layer, and a heating structure designed to heat said active layer, said heating structure having concentric tracks and comprising inner tracks (20) and inner spaces (22) and outer tracks (24) and outer spaces (26) as being the one or two tracks and spaces located the furthest away from the center of the heating structure, characterized in that said outer tracks (24) are designed to be located closer to their neighboring tracks and/or are designed to have a width which is lower than those of the inner tracks (20), the width and the spacing of said inner tracks (20) being substantially constant. |
| US09228966B2 |
Methods and devices for detecting unsaturated compounds
A method for detecting an unsaturated compound, the method comprising monitoring change in electrical properties of a substance that reacts or interacts with unsaturated compounds. |
| US09228964B2 |
System for aligning patterns on a substrate
A system for aligning a first and second pattern based on alignment structures is disclosed. The system comprises a first substrate including the first alignment structure. The alignment structure has a different magnitude of the electrical characteristic than the substrate. The system also includes an electrical probe and a controller for controlling the relative position of the probe with respect to the substrate to measure the electrical characteristic at a plurality of positions proximate the substrate. The measured electrical characteristics are used to identify the location of the alignment structure by identifying a difference between the measured electrical characteristic at pairs of the plurality of positions. A controller identifies the location of a second alignment structure formed on a second substrate. A registration mechanism aligns the two substrates using the identified locations of the first and second alignment structures. |
| US09228960B2 |
Defect inspecting method and defect inspecting apparatus
A defect inspecting method and apparatus for inspecting a surface state including a defect on a wafer surface, in which a polarization state of a laser beam irradiated onto the wafer surface is connected into a specified polarization state, the converted laser beam having the specified polarization state is inserted onto the wafer surface, and a scattering light occurring from an irradiated region where the laser beam having the specified polarization state is irradiated, is separated into a first scattering light occurring due to a defect on the wafer and a second scattering light occurring due to a surface roughness on the wafer. An optical element for optical path division separates the first and second scattering lights approximately at the same time. |
| US09228959B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting an article
A method of determining the orientation of a grain structure of a turbine blade or vane using an optical technique, illuminates a surface with a beam from a light source and then manipulates the relative orientation of the surface, a light beam and detector to determine the relative orientation which provides the peak reflectance of the beam from the surface to the detector. Further surfaces of the component are similarly manipulated and illuminated and the orientation of the grain structure calculated from the determined relative peak reflectance orientations of the surface, first further surface and second further surface. Determination of the grain orientation allows the value of high angle boundaries to be determined. Also disclosed is apparatus suitable for performing the method. |
| US09228954B2 |
Method of detecting defects in ion exchange membranes of electrochemical cells by chemochromic sensors
A method of detecting defects in membranes such as ion exchange membranes of electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes an assembly having an anode side and a cathode side with the ion exchange membrane in between. In a configuration step a chemochromic sensor is placed above the cathode and flow isolation hardware lateral to the ion exchange membrane which prevents a flow of hydrogen (H2) between the cathode and anode side. The anode side is exposed to a first reactant fluid including hydrogen. The chemochromic sensor is examined after the exposing for a color change. A color change evidences the ion exchange membrane has at least one defect that permits H2 transmission therethrough. |
| US09228949B2 |
Aggregation-induced emission luminogens for metal ion detection
Pyridine-containing polyenes and their applications as metal ion sensors. These polyenes are practically nonluminescent in the solution state but become highly emissive as nanoparticle suspensions in aqueous solutions or thin films in the solid state, due to aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The nanoaggregates of these compounds can work as “turn-off” fluorescent chemosensors for metal ions and display different fluorescence responses to various metal ions. For example, a characteristic red shift in the emission spectra is observed with a terpyridine-containing luminogen in the presence of Zn2+. However, the terpyridine-containing luminogen displays a magenta color upon selectively binding with Fe2+. This allows easy identification of both Zn2+ and Fe2+ ions in aqueous media. The function of the polyenes can be easily tuned by altering the substituent groups. Due to their AIE properties, these polyenes can be used in aqueous solutions and in solid substrates for metal sensing. |
| US09228946B2 |
Analyzer, method for determining a dispensed liquid amount, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An analyzer comprises a dispenser which dispenses a liquid into a container, a detector which comprises a phototransmitter which emits light to the container and a photoreceiver which receives light from the phototransmitter, a moving unit which changes a relative position between the container and the detector, and a controller which determines whether an amount of the liquid in the container is within a predetermined range, based on outputs from the detector at a plurality of the relative positions. |
| US09228944B2 |
Sample analysis element and detection device
There is provided a sample analysis element capable of uniting a propagating surface plasmon resonance with a localized surface plasmon resonance while increasing the surface density of the hot spots. The sample analysis element is provided with a plurality of metal nanobody lines. Each of the metal nanobody lines includes a plurality of metal nanobodies arranged in a line on a dielectric surface at a first pitch smaller than a wavelength of incident light, and the plurality of metal nanobody lines is arranged in parallel to each other at a second pitch larger than the first pitch. |
| US09228939B2 |
Refractive fuel concentration detector
A refractive fuel concentration detector comprises mainly a light source device and a light-sensing device. The light source device supplies light source incident on the fuel and refracts light source to the light-sensing device such that a plurality of light sensor therein would respectively output a corresponding electrophysical quantity signal based on the light quantity received. Moreover, a circuit means can be used to obtain concentration information of fuel based on the electrophysical quantity signal output by the light sensors and the tag information of those light sensors. |
| US09228933B2 |
Apparatus and method for multiplex analysis
The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids. |
| US09228931B2 |
Imaging and evaluating embryos, oocytes, and stem cells
Methods, compositions and kits for determining the developmental potential of one or more embryos or pluripotent cells and/or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in one or more embryos or pluripotent cells are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in identifying embryos and oocytes in vitro that are most useful in treating infertility in humans. |
| US09228930B2 |
Oscillating type physical property measuring apparatus and method
An apparatus that is able to measure a viscosity and a density directly within a short time with a small amount of sample, which has been difficult for existing vibratory viscometer. The end part of an oscillator is formed in a shape, such as a sphere, whose resistance by a fluid can be logically derived, and the viscosity and the density of a fluid are calculated based on a predefined mechanical impedance and on an amplitude ratio and a phase difference of accelerations in the cases the oscillator is in the air and is in the fluid. |
| US09228929B2 |
Method of on-line rapid fluid density measurement using a piezoresistive micro-cantilever
The present invention provides a method of on-line rapid fluid density measurement using a piezoresistive micro-cantilever, the present invention can achieve on-line measurement without changing the existing device; more importantly, without acquiring the resonant frequency of the cantilever in fluid to be detected, thus remarkably reducing measurement time, and guaranteeing the real on-line rapid measurement. By using the method of the present invention, measurement of the density of fluid to be detected by a calibrated piezoresistive micro-cantilever may be achieved within seconds or even shorter. |
| US09228927B2 |
Field testing apparatus and method for determining the dynamic elastic modulus of asphalt
Field testing apparatus includes load device with drop weight for generating force impact and load stamp for introducing the force impact into asphalt. Load stamp is guided in a guide element. The load stamp is guided with its stamp face resting flat on the asphalt surface for testing. Time dependence of acceleration of load stamp is measured with acceleration sensor and movement of the load stamp is measured with displacement sensor. When impact force generated by the device is applied, the load stamp penetrates into the asphalt for testing. This penetration has a dynamic and a static depth (sdyn, sst). Load stamp is subjected to force impacts: For each force impact, time dependence of acceleration of load stamp and movement of load stamp are measured and temporarily stored, until static penetration depth (sst) is smaller than or equal to the predetermined minimum static penetration depth (sstmin). |
| US09228921B2 |
Aberration estimating method, program, and image-pickup apparatus
An aberration estimating method using a steepest descent method is configured to estimate, as an aberration of a test optical system, an aberration when a predetermined evaluation function becomes less than or equal to a permissible value. The aberration estimating method comprising the step of updating the aberration with a sum of a current aberration and a first derivative of the evaluation function by the aberration when the evaluation function is larger than the permissible value. The aberration is an aberration of an entire pupil plane of the test optical system. The updating step includes calculating the first derivative by Fourier-transforming the difference instead of an integration at coordinates of respective points on an image plane of the test optical system. |
| US09228918B2 |
Systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring a pipeline
An example method includes introducing a movable inline inspection device into a pipeline, the movable inline inspection device having a housing that defines a conduit therein which provides fluid communication through the movable inline inspection device in the form of a bypass fluid, the conduit having one or more optical computing devices arranged thereon for monitoring the bypass fluid, wherein each optical computing device has at least one integrated computational element arranged therein, generating an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the bypass fluid with at least one detector arranged within each optical computing device, receiving the output signal from each optical computing device with a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device, and determining with the signal processor the characteristic of the bypass fluid detected by each optical computing device. |
| US09228915B2 |
Method and system for detecting a flow blockage in a pipe
A method of detecting a flow blockage in a pipe includes: arranging a fluid flow along the pipe, the pipe in fluid communication with a pressure sensor; configuring the pressure sensor to measure a pressure within the pipe; recording plurality of measurements of pressure within the pipe; sampling ‘n’ successive values of pressure within the pipe; performing an analytical test on the ‘n’ successive values, the analytical test producing an output value, the output value representative of a variation in the individual ones of the ‘n’ successive values; comparing the output value to a pre-defined threshold value, the threshold value indicative of a lack of variation in the individual ones of the ‘n’ successive values; and if the output value is less than the threshold value, generating an alert to provide a user with an indication of the presence of flow blockage in the pipe. |
| US09228914B2 |
Composite material, formed body, electronic device with formed body, and method for manufacturing a formed body
A composite material includes a polymer matrix and silica gel, which is bound in the polymer matrix. The volume fraction of the silica gel to the volume fraction of the composite material amounts to at least 50%, especially at least 65%. An electronic device, especially measuring device, includes at least one housing having at least one inner space, which contains an electronic circuit, wherein the device has at least one gas path, via which moisture can get into the housing, wherein the device has at least one formed body of the composite material. |
| US09228911B1 |
Method and apparatus for smart E-straps
The present invention provides a smart monitoring system incorporating various forms of hardware used to secure the tie-down straps of ULDs, pallets, or shipping containers. More specifically, the present invention provides a smart electronically enhanced strap for a container monitoring and security device which is integrated into the housing of the hardware of a tie down strap webbing. Using this system, discrete sensors housed in the ratcheting mechanism, the hook, the winch or the load bar that are attached to latching straps are able to actively monitor a securely loaded ULD, pallet or container. |
| US09228910B2 |
Abnormality diagnosis apparatus and abnormality diagnosis method for torque sensor
An apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a torque sensor that is connected to a controller of an electric power steering apparatus by two systems includes a steering speed determination unit that determines whether a variation speed of a steering angle equals or exceeds a predetermined speed on the basis of a detection result from a steering angle sensor, an integrated value calculation unit that calculates an integrated value of an input torque detected by the torque sensor within a sampling period extending from a point at which a steering wheel is steered at or above the predetermined speed to a point at which the steering wheel returns to a neutral position, and an abnormality determination unit that determines that an abnormality has occurred in the torque sensor when the integrated value of the input torque is equal to or smaller than a predetermined reference integrated torque. |
| US09228906B2 |
Quartz-temperature-measurement probe and quartz-temperature-measurement device
A crystal oscillator (31) (Y-cut) has a temperature characteristic in which its oscillating frequency significantly changes with temperature, whereas a crystal oscillator (32) (AT-cut) has a temperature characteristic in which its oscillating frequency is stable with temperature. Crystal oscillators (31, 32) are cut from a raw material of the same type and configured to be substantially equal in shape, material, and size, and provide a combination of oscillation frequencies such that the frequency of a signal generated by a differential frequency circuit (35) will be less than or equal to 10 kHz within a measuring temperature range of 21 to 30° C. The frequency of a signal generated by differential frequency generating circuit (35) is output to a measurement apparatus main unit and a frequency counting circuit (15) measures the frequency of this signal by a reciprocal counting method to obtain at least eight or more significant digits. |
| US09228904B2 |
Method for manufacturing a measuring apparatus and method for casting in a mold
Method for manufacturing a measuring apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable. At least one sensor element is inserted into an at least partially pot-shaped mold, and the mold is at least partially filled with a casting material composed at least of a first component and a second component. The mold is filled with the casting material, at least partially, with at least the following steps at least one predeterminable amount of the first component of the casting material is charged into the mold; at least one predeterminable amount of the second component of the casting material is charged into the mold; and the mold is vibrated and/or caused to oscillate with a predeterminable frequency. Furthermore, a method for filling an at least partially pot-shaped mold is disclosed. |
| US09228902B2 |
Infrared temperature measurement and stabilization thereof
Infrared (IR) temperature measurement and stabilization systems, and methods related thereto are provided. One or more embodiments passively stabilizes temperatures of objects in proximity and within the path between an infrared (IR) sensor and target object. A protective housing may encase an IR sensor, which may include a sensing element or IR element, a circuit or signal processor, and a housing seal plug. The IR element may be thermally bonded with a frame or conductive top hat. |
| US09228900B2 |
Multi-function spectrometer-on-chip with a single detector array
Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein for a spectrometer comprising at least two dispersive elements configured to receive at least one input optical signal and generate two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, at least a portion of the at least two dispersive elements being implemented on a first substrate; and a single detector array coupled to the at least two dispersive elements and configured to receive and measure two or more pluralities of narrowband optical signals derived from the two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, respectively. |
| US09228899B2 |
Terahertz temporal and spatial resolution imaging system, imaging method and application thereof
A terahertz temporal and spatial resolution imaging system is provided. The system includes: a sample placing rack; a detection crystal, located on the exit side of the sample placing rack; a pump light generating device, for generating a pump light to irradiate the test sample; a terahertz light generating device, for generating a terahertz light to irradiate the test sample, irradiate the detection crystal after obtaining information about the test sample, and modulate an index ellipsoid of the detection crystal; a detection light generating device, for generating a detection light to irradiate the detection crystal to detect the index ellipsoid of the detection crystal, thereby indirectly obtaining the information about the test sample; and an imaging apparatus, located in an optical path after the detection light passes through the detection crystal, for collecting terahertz images of the test sample. |
| US09228898B2 |
Scalable spectroscopic detection and measurement
The present invention generally pertains to a system, method and kit for the detection and measurement of spectroscopic properties of light from a sample, or the scalable detection and measurement of spectroscopic properties of light from each sample present among multiple samples, simultaneously, wherein the system comprises: an optical train comprising a dispersing element; and an image sensor. The light detected and measured may comprise light scattered from a sample, emitted as chemiluminescence by a chemical process within a sample, selectively absorbed by a sample, or emitted as fluorescence from a sample following excitation. |
| US09228897B2 |
Fabry-Perot interferometer based satellite detection of atmospheric trace gases
Systems, methods, and devices relating to optical imaging systems for gathering data on atmospheric trace gas emissions from a satellite. An optical system used in the satellite has a Fabry-Perot interferometer coupled to a suitable telescope. The interferometer is a wide angle Fabry-Perot interferometer which creates a fringing pattern in concentric circles with each fringe being a different wavelength on the imaging system. A filter is used with the optical system and allows multiple adjacent modes in a selected spectral range to pass through the interferometer to the imaging system. Each pixel in the imaging system collects light at multiple wavelengths within the selected spectral range. The optical system gathers multiple images of the target area allowing light from the target area to be collected at multiple different wavelengths. Different absorption data for different atmospheric trace gases can be gathered in a single satellite pass over the target area. |
| US09228895B2 |
Imaging system with multiple focal plane array sensors
A multi-wavelength optical imaging system and method. In one example, an optical imaging system includes an integrated dewar assembly housing a staring detector that includes a plurality of focal plane array sensors spatially distributed over a common focal plane and aligned relative to one another, each of the plurality of focal plane array sensors being configured for a different waveband. The optical imaging system further includes foreoptics, such as a telescope, optically coupled to the integrated dewar assembly and configured to direct and focus light from an entrance pupil of the optical imaging system into an optical beam incident on at least one of the plurality of focal plane array sensors. |
| US09228893B2 |
Apparatus for measuring pollutants and method of operating the same
A system for the detection of components in a region of the atmosphere is disclosed, the system comprising a spectrometer assembly having a detector optically coupled to a optical assembly, the optical assembly receiving incident sunlight from the region of the atmosphere, the optical assembly having a field of view extending from the zenith to below the horizon; means for rotating the spectrometer assembly about a vertical axis; and a processor for receiving data from the spectrometer assembly and compiling data relating to the identity and concentration of components in the region of the atmosphere. A method of monitoring pollutants in a region of the atmosphere comprises providing a spectrometer assembly having a detector optically coupled to an optical assembly having a field of view extending from the zenith to below the horizon; exposing the spectrometer assembly to incident sunlight while rotating the spectrometer assembly about a substantially vertical axis; and processing signals received from the spectrometer assembly to analyse components in the atmosphere. The system and method are particularly useful in monitoring atmospheric pollutants arising from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, in particular oxides of nitrogen and/or sulphur. A preferred arrangement comprises a plurality of systems disposed at spaced apart locations and having their scanned regions overlapping. |
| US09228890B2 |
Method of measuring acoustic distribution and distributed acoustic sensor
Optical pulses are output from a light source to an optical fiber at one selected emission wavelength, a reflection light reflected at a fiber Bragg grating at the optical fiber is received at an optical receiver and is converted to a reflection signal by an optical to electrical conversion, a fiber Bragg grating which reflects the reflection light is identified by the signal processing unit when an intensity of the reflection signal obtained by the optical receiver is over a predetermined threshold value, and a measurement step that calculates acoustic frequencies at the fiber Bragg grating based on a temporal change of the intensity of the reflection signal at the fiber Bragg grating is repeated more than two times while changing an emission wavelength of the light source. The acoustic frequency at each fiber Bragg grating is calculated to determine an acoustic distribution along a longitudinal direction of the fiber. |
| US09228889B2 |
Detection of deposits in flowlines
A method 2 of determining the location of deposits in a flowline comprises providing 4 a distributed vibration sensor along the flowline, measuring 6 vibrations along the flowline with the sensor and analyzing 8 the measured vibrations to determine the location of any deposits. The vibration measurements are made using a distributed fiber optic sensor provided on the flowline. The measurements are analyzed in real time to identify deposit formation and location within the flowline. |
| US09228888B2 |
Sensor positioning with non-dispersive guided waves for pipeline corrosion monitoring
An ultrasonic sensor assembly for testing a pipe includes a first and second transducer rings attached to the pipe and spaced apart along a length of the pipe. The first transducer ring includes a plurality of transmitters for transmitting a wave, such as a non-dispersive guided wave. The first transducer ring transmits the wave along the pipe. The second transducer ring includes a plurality of receivers for receiving the wave. A relative position of the first transducer ring with respect to a circumferential position of the second transducer ring is determined based on characteristics of the wave received by the second transducer ring. A method of positioning the ultrasonic sensor assembly on the pipe is also provided. |
| US09228886B2 |
Semiconductor wafer weight metrology apparatus
A semiconductor wafer metrology technique comprising performing atmospheric buoyancy compensated weighing of a wafer, in which the wafer is weighed in a substantially upright condition. A vertical or near vertical wafer orientation causes the surface area in the direction of a force (weight) sensor to be reduced compared with a horizontal wafer orientation. Hence, the electrostatic force components acting in the same direction as the wafer weight force component is reduced. |
| US09228881B2 |
Method and apparatus for in-situ calibration and function verification of fluid level sensor
An in-situ method and apparatus for calibrating and verifying the operational accuracy of a fluid level sensor. |
| US09228878B2 |
Dual beam non-contact displacement sensor
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for remotely monitoring an elevation, or change in elevation, of a fluid surface, such as that of molten sapphire. The remote monitoring can be performed by measuring positions of a pair of reflected laser beams off the fluid surface as detected on an imaging sensor. As the surface elevation falls, the positions of the pair of reflected laser beams move relative to each other, and this positional change can be converted into a change in the fluid surface elevation. |
| US09228875B2 |
Liquid level detection system for a driveline component
The present disclosure relates to a detection system for detecting a liquid level in a rotating driveline component. The detection system may include a first sensor for detecting the liquid, a second sensor for detecting a rotational position of the driveline component, and a receiver for determining the liquid level based on the first and second sensors. |
| US09228874B2 |
Measuring cup
A measuring cup includes a floor and sidewalls to define an internal volume. The floor is inclined to enable increasing volumes from a lowest point on the floor to the highest point on the floor. A first set of volumetric markings is positioned on the floor for measuring small volumes, and a second set of volumetric markings is positioned on the sidewall for measuring relatively larger volumes. |
| US09228869B2 |
Industrial process variable transmitter with isolated power scavenging intrinsically safe pulse output circuitry
An industrial process variable transmitter includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the process variable sensor and provides a measured output as a function of the process variable. Output circuitry includes a loop connection configured to couple to a process control loop. An optical sensor receives the measured output from the measurement circuitry. A switching device applies pulses to the process control loop in response to an output from the optical sensor. Power supply circuitry powers the optical sensor, a comparator, and/or the switching device with power received from the process control loop and loop connection. |
| US09228862B2 |
Structure for ultrasonic transducer
Provided is an ultrasonic transducer including: a housing including a bottom surface and side members, the side members facing each other and extending upwardly with a space part therebetween, the housing having an opened upper part; a piezoelectric resonator disposed at an upper portion of the bottom surface; a housing auxiliary member disposed at upper portions of the side members and inserted into the space part; and a signal connection pin part disposed at an upper portion of the housing auxiliary member. In particular, the housing auxiliary member is formed of material having a lower density than the housing, thereby improving isotropic radiation characteristics. Sides of the housing are symmetrically opened by a structure for the ultrasonic transducer so that an isotropic radiation angle of ultrasonic waves is maximized to improve accuracy of sensing an obstacle, an internal structure of the housing is simplified in such a way that no additional process is required, thereby reducing manufacturing cost, and the housing auxiliary member is combined with the opened part of the housing so that external pollution can be prevented from entering into the ultrasonic transducer. |
| US09228861B2 |
Rotation sensing apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
A signal transmitting member is electrically connected to a rotation sensing device and transmits a rotation sensing signal from the rotation sensing device to an external device. An internal structure holds the rotation sensing device and a portion of the signal transmitting member. At least one rib is molded on an outer peripheral surface of the internal structure. The internal structure is integrally molded with a resin material and includes an installing portion, which is configured to install the rotation sensing apparatus to an external subject body through the installing portion, and a holding portion, which is configured to enable holding of the rotation sensing apparatus through the holding portion. A plurality of recesses is formed between the installing portion and the holding portion. |
| US09228856B2 |
Rotational angle sensor system and method for the production thereof
Using integrated multi-component assembly injection molding, a two-part magnetic rotational angle sensor system having high sensing accuracy is very efficiently integrally produced in a tool as a functional unit that can be directly applied, comprising a polymer-bonded permanent magnet as a passive transmitter part in the first section, which can be rotated relative to the material of the active sensor receiver part, which material is sprayed thereon and then shrunk, with the potted receiver. For this purpose, injection molding materials are used that are mutually incompatible for adhesion and lift off from one another over the mutual contact regions due to shrinkage. |
| US09228854B2 |
Method for remotely reading fluid meters, and meter and server associated with said method
The invention relates to a method for remotely reading fluid meters, according to which a meter comprises a module having a metering clock and a wireless transmitter for transmitting a frame of time-stamped remote-reading information to a server which comprises a server clock; after every N frames are transmitted, the meter module enters a receiving mode (Rx) for a period of time (ΔRx); upon receiving a frame of time-stamped information, the server determines the difference between the time information contained in the received frame and the time information provided by the server clock; then, if the difference is greater than a predetermined limit (ΔL), the server sends a reset message to the meter; upon receiving the reset message, the module of the meter updates the meter clock. |
| US09228850B2 |
System and method for presenting a computed route
A method for presenting a route includes receiving a starting point and a destination point and computing a route that includes a route segment between the two points. The method further includes determining, based on a user's travel history, that the route segment is an unfamiliar segment. The method includes determining an alternative route from the starting point to the destination point that includes a familiar road identified based on the user's travel history instead of the unfamiliar segment. The method further includes providing the computed route and the alternative route for presentation in a format that distinguishes the computed route from the alternative route. |
| US09228848B2 |
Traffic control device and traffic control system
A traffic control device and a traffic control system are provided, and the traffic control device includes a route calculating unit configured to detect candidates of a route to a destination, and decide a guidance route from the detected route candidates, an infrastructure communicating unit configured to acquire signal cycle information related to a cycle at which a display of a traffic signal at a traffic signal location on the route calculated by the route calculating unit is switched, and a fuel consumption simulating unit configured to perform fuel consumption simulation including fuel economy improvement assistance executed at a time of passing the traffic signal location with respect to the route candidates based on the signal cycle information acquired by the infrastructure communicating unit, and the route calculating unit decides the guidance route based on the fuel consumption simulation calculated corresponding to the route candidates by the fuel consumption simulating unit. |
| US09228844B2 |
Data mining in a digital map database to identify insufficient merge lanes along roads and enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle
Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection without traffic signals and without a sufficient merge lane. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where roads meet without a traffic signal and without a sufficient merge lane. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the location of the insufficient merge lane. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a location of an insufficient merge lane. |
| US09228843B2 |
System and method for providing a dynamic telematics dashboard
An approach is described for providing telematics information in connection with equipment. The approach includes scanning equipment available in a service vehicle, wherein the service vehicle is located at a service location. The approach also includes determining location information for the service location based on telematics information associated with the service vehicle. The approach further includes mapping the equipment to the service location based on the location information. |
| US09228841B2 |
Methods and systems for determining routes in a navigation system
Methods and systems for determining one or more routes in a navigation system. A request comprising a first set of parameters corresponding to a trip is received. The first set of parameters comprise at least one an originating node for the trip, a destination node for the trip, a start time for the trip, or a set of preferences associated with the trip. The one or more routes between the originating node and the destination node are determined based on the first set of parameters. Each of the one or more routes comprises at least one public transportation sub-trip traversed by a public vehicle and a private transportation sub-trip traversed by a private vehicle. The one or more routes are ranked based on a trip score associated with the one or more routes. The trip score is determined based on the set of preferences. |
| US09228830B2 |
Electromechanical device for measuring the inclination of a support plane with high resolution, high accuracy and low sensitivity to outside disturbances
An electromechanical device for measuring the inclination of a support plane with high resolution, high accuracy and low sensitivity to outside disturbances, comprising a first electromechanical pendulum system, controlled in a closed loop to measure the static rotations of an inverted pendulum pivoted to a supporting structure which can be associated with the support plane whose inclination is to be measured. The measurement is performed by measuring the mechanical torque required to keep the inverted pendulum in a neutral position, i.e., in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the support plane. This is made possible by a first motor which is associated with the inverted pendulum and turns it as a function of its angular deviation from the neutral position measured by a first position sensor associated with the inverted pendulum. |
| US09228828B2 |
Thickness monitoring device, etching depth monitoring device and thickness monitoring method
A thickness monitoring device capable of performing thickness measurement of an object of measurement in real time even when using a relatively narrow band light source. This etching monitoring device (thickness monitoring device) includes a light source which produces measurement light having a predetermined wavelength bandwidth; an array detector which detects, for each wavelength, interference light of measurement light reflected from mask, whereof the thickness changes over time; and data processing unit which computes the thickness of the mask based on change over time of a plurality of single-wavelength components of the interference light detected by the array detector. |
| US09228826B2 |
Apparatus and method for contactless thickness measurement
A contactless thickness measuring apparatus is provided which includes an terahertz transmitter configured to receive the first optical path signal from the coupler and to generate a terahertz continuous wave using the first optical signal and an applied bias; an optical delay line configured to delay the second optical path signal output from the coupler; and an terahertz receiver configured to receive the terahertz continuous wave penetrating a sample and to detect an optical current using the terahertz continuous wave and the second optical path signal delayed. A thickness of the sample is a value corresponding to the optical current which phase value becomes a constant regardless of a plurality of measurement frequencies. |
| US09228823B2 |
Inductive position sensor
This inductive position sensor includes: a primary winding, and at least two secondary windings (4, 6) each constituted by several turns (8) produced on two layers of a printed circuit board. A secondary winding has turns (8) each having substantially the same shape, aligned in a direction referred to as longitudinal, each time with an offset between them. The turns (8) each have a first globally concave part (12) disposed on one layer of the printed circuit board and a second globally concave part (14) disposed on the other layer of the printed circuit board, the first part of a turn is connected to the second part of the same turn by a first via (36a) passing through the printed circuit board, the first part of a turn is connected to the second part of an adjacent turn by a second via (36b) passing through the printed circuit board. |
| US09228819B2 |
Power actuated wheel clamp
A wheel clamp attaches to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The wheel clamp has a body for supporting a target or measuring head, and three elongated arms mounted to the body. Each arm has a gripping portion for gripping the tire's tread surface. A self-centering linkage has enmeshed gears that, when rotated, cause the elongated arms to simultaneously proportionally move relative to the clamp body. An attachment interface mechanically connected to the self-centering linkage is configured to engage with a rotational actuator. Alternatively, the wheel clamp includes an actuator mechanically coupled to the self-centering mechanism. Activation of the actuator causes the gripping portions of the arms to engage and grip the tire tread surface and tighten the clamp onto the tire. |
| US09228817B2 |
Apparatus for measuring an article
There is provided a measuring device having a pair of pivoted arms, the ends of which remote from the pivot having an associated tape. The tape is fixed to one arm and extends internally through the other arm to be wound on to a biased reel located in a housing part, the reel taking up any slack in the tape. |
| US09228815B2 |
Very low-power actuation devices
An actuator including: a housing; a piston movably disposed in the housing, the piston being movable between an extended and retracted position; a plurality of gas generation charges generating a gas in fluid communication with the housing; and an exhaust port for exhausting gas from the cylinder generated by the plurality of gas generation charges; wherein activation of each of the plurality of gas generation charges results in an increase in pressure in the housing causing the piston to move in the housing from the refracted to the extended position. The actuator can further include a return spring for biasing the piston in the retracted position and the plurality of gas generation charges can be disposed in the housing. |
| US09228814B2 |
Delivery shell using gyroscopic guiding system and methods of making the same
A projectile such as a paintball including a ball-shaped capsule and a round-shaped disc capable of facilitating accuracy of projectile travel direction is disclosed. The ball-shaped or substantial ball-shaped capsule, in one embodiment, having a head and a tail is able to store and deliver colored markers upon an impact between the projectile and an object. The round-shaped disc is positioned at a place so that allowing a portion of the round-shaped disc to extend above outer surface of the capsule. The disc is able to catch at least airflow when the projectile is launched. The round-shaped disc, in one example, uses the direction of the airflow to facilitate travel direction of the projectile. |
| US09228810B2 |
Bullet trap
A bullet trap is disclosed which is formed without intervening sidewalls to enable cross-shooting and the like with reduced risk or ricochet or damage to the bullet trap. Furthermore, the bullet trap can be configured in a variety of ways to eliminate the need for facing plates while providing a removable attachment mechanism, to enable repair on the trap, to reduce bullet adhesion to the trap and to provide improved containment of lead and improved access to the trap. |
| US09228809B1 |
Target practice apparatus
A target practice apparatus adapted to receive projectiles fired at it by a remotely positioned shooter includes a motor having an output shaft, a motor housing, and a post secured to the motor and motor housing. A target disc is secured to the output shaft and rotates with it. A frame supports the motor housing and the target disc. An L-shaped elbow member is attachable to the frame in a plurality of differing configurations. The post is also attachable to the frame in a plurality of differing configurations and is further attachable to the L-shaped elbow member in a plurality of differing configurations. This enables the target disc to be positioned in a vertical plane facing the shooter or on edge to the shooter and a horizontal plane on edge to the shooter. A non-rotating blocker disc having window openings partially obscures the target disc in the shooter-facing configuration. |
| US09228802B2 |
Universal holster assembly
A holster assembly for a handgun includes a double-locking system that comprises two distinct and independent locking devices. A first passive locking device is actuated by the weight of the gun, upon its insertion into the holster, and a second passive locking device is actuated by a spring. An active locking device is also provided that further secures the handgun to the holster to avoid inadvertent removal or discharge of the handgun. The active locking device is movable between a plurality of positions to provide varying degrees of securement for the handgun to the holster. The holster assembly further includes a height-regulating system to adjust the height of the assembly with respect to the user's body. |
| US09228799B2 |
Firearm having a removable hand guard
A semi-automatic or automatic rifle is provided. The rifle having: an upper hand guard and a lower hand guard each removably secured to an upper receiver of the rifle, wherein the upper hand guard has an integral upper rail that extends along an upper surface of the upper hand guard and the upper hand guard has a rear tab that is received within a mating slot of the upper receiver when the upper hand guard is secured to the upper receiver and wherein the upper rail of the upper hand guard is contiguous with a receiver rail when the upper hand guard is secured to the upper receiver; a cap configured to releasably engage a forward end of the upper hand guard and a forward end of the lower hand guard; and wherein the upper hand guard and the lower hand guard are not directly secured to a barrel of the rifle such that the upper hand guard and the lower hand guard float in position relative to the barrel of the rifle. |
| US09228793B2 |
All-in-one muzzle loading device
An all in one muzzle loading device is a T-shaped device used to store and quickly reload a gun during a successive shot. The all in one muzzle loading device has a handle and a stem forming the T-shaped configuration. The stem releasably holds the projectile and the handle holds gunpowder pellets, and primer. A cap is disposed at an end of the handle to hold the pellets within the handle. The primer is manipulated on the handle using a slideable primer applicator that, in an extended position, disposes the primer a distance from the handle. The handle also has lip extending from its side being a ram rod receiver. The ram rod receiver is designed to hold a ram rod without restraint thus permitting the ram rod to rotate or twist freely. |
| US09228791B2 |
Archery bow and bowstring dampener
An archery bow and bowstring dampener is disclosed. The dampener comprises at least one sleeve and at least one piston. The sleeve is formed with a first end adapted attached to a bow and a second end with at least one flared arm extending therefrom. Each sleeve is configured to matingly receive at least one piston therein. Each piston has at least one gripper extending therefrom on one end. The grippers flare outwardly from each piston and are mounted to each piston such that the grippers move inwardly when impacted by the bow limb(s) and/or bowstring and when each piston enters its sleeve, thereby grasping the bow limb(s) and/or bowstring, and outwardly when each piston exits its sleeve, thereby releasing the bow limb(s) and/or bowstring. |
| US09228787B2 |
Polymeric sleeve vibration damper for the action spring of AR-10 derivative rifles
A vibration-dampening polymeric sleeve is provided for installation within the tubular receiver extension of an AR-10 derivative assault rifle before the action spring and buffer are installed therein. The presence of the sleeve dampens noise and vibration caused by the action spring of an AR-10 derivative assault rifle slapping against the cylindrical wall of the receiver extension. For one embodiment of the sleeve, a generally rectangular sheet of laminar polymeric plastic material equipped with tabs at the rear thereof, that is rolled into a tube. The tabs, which are inwardly bent, are held against the closed, rear end of the receiver extension by the action spring, whether the spring is fully compressed or only partially compressed. For an alternative embodiment, the sleeve, a solvated liquid polymer compound is sprayed into the cylindrical chamber of an axially-rotating receiver extension and allowed to dry. |
| US09228786B2 |
Quick barrel change firearm
A firearm can have a backbone, a barrel, a swinging wedge, and a barrel latch, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The barrel latch can be in mechanical communication with the swinging wedge. The barrel latch can have a first position and a second position and the swinging wedge can be configured to maintain attachment of the barrel to the backbone when the barrel latch is in the first position and is configured to release the barrel from the backbone when the barrel latch is in the second position. Thus, the firearm can provide quick barrel changes. Other features enhance the reliability and utility of the firearm. |
| US09228783B2 |
Method for controlling the fuel supply to burners of a burner group and burner controller
A method for controlling a fuel supply to a plurality of burners of a burner group includes determining a temperature in the burner group as a control variable. The fuel supply to the burners of the burner group is specified in dependence on a control deviation of the temperature determined in the burner group to a specified setpoint temperature. The fuel supply is a common mean fuel supply that is specified for all of the burners of the burner group by a temperature master controller. The fuel supply is corrected for each of the burners or burner subgroups of the burner group. Each of the burners or the burner subgroups have a fuel supply slave controller. The fuel supply slave controllers use at least, one disturbance variable associated to the respective burner or the respective burner subgroup so as to perform the correcting. |
| US09228781B2 |
Drying system having a thermal engine
A system for drying vehicle bodies and/or for controlling the temperature thereof. The system includes a cabin and has a heater for heating hot air for the cabin. The system is equipped with a mechanical energy-consuming device, for example, a generator and/or a fan. The heater contains at least one heat exchanger. The hot exhaust gas of a thermal engine can be supplied to the heat exchanger. The thermal engine is coupled to the mechanical energy-consuming device, for example, the generator, so as to move together. Because of the coupled movement, mechanical energy can be transmitted from the thermal engine to the mechanical energy-consuming device. |
| US09228780B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling cooling temperature and pressure in wood veneer jet dryers
An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section. |
| US09228777B2 |
Cooling device comprising a dispenser
The invention is a cooling device, possibly a refrigerator, comprising a dispenser for distribution of ice and/or water having a housing, which is disposed on an outer wall of the cooling device and has an opening on a front face thereof for a fixing element to fix position of the housing on the outer wall; a front cover disposed on the housing as covering the front face of the housing; and that the front cover comprises an opening corresponding with the opening of the housing and providing access to the fixing element; and a cover for covering the opening of the front cover. |
| US09228773B2 |
Tilt monitor and stress controller for absorption type refrigerator
An automated control device for monitoring the position angle of an absorption type cooling system or refrigerator that circulates a refrigerant, an absorbent, and a diffusion agent within a conduit system includes a housing, a controller with a processor within the housing, a sensor in communication with the controller for measuring the angle of inclination of the refrigerator, and a stress counter connected to the controller for counting increments of stress induced into the cooling system. The tilt monitoring control method prevents system stress, which in turn prevents personal and property damage due to hydrogen gas leaks, fires and explosions. |
| US09228762B2 |
Refrigeration system having dual suction port compressor
A cooling system for appliances, air conditioners, and other spaces includes a compressor, and a condenser that receives refrigerant from the compressor. The system also includes an evaporator that receives refrigerant from the condenser. Refrigerant received from the condenser flows through an upstream portion of the evaporator. A first portion of the refrigerant flows to the compressor without passing through a downstream portion of the evaporator, and a second portion of the refrigerant from the upstream portion of the condenser flows through the downstream portion of the evaporator after passing through the upstream portion of the evaporator. The second portion of the refrigerant flows to the compressor after passing through the downstream portion of the evaporator. The refrigeration system may be configured to cool an appliance such as a refrigerator and/or freezer, or it may be utilized in air conditioners for buildings, motor vehicles, or other such spaces. |
| US09228761B2 |
Electromagnetic wave concentrator and absorber
An electromagnetic black hole may be fabricated as concentric shells having a permittivity whose variation is at least as great as an inverse square dependence on the radius of the structure. Such a structure concentrates electromagnetic energy incident thereon over a broad range of angles to an operational region near the center of curvature of the structure. Devices or materials may be placed in the operational region so as to convert the electromagnetic energy to electrical signals or to heat. Applications included solar energy harvesting and heat signature detectors. |
| US09228754B2 |
Cuboidal housing for accommodating components of air-conditioning or ventilation system
The invention relates to a cuboidal housing for components of a HVAC system. The housing has at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a frame. The frame consists of twelve segments which form edge lines. The segments span six open side surfaces in a sealing manner with the open side surface of an adjacent housing, and an insulating means is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. Each panel element has a plastic profile wherein the profile has two bearing limbs each having a bearing surface. In the fitted state, the bearing surface of one bearing limb is in contact with the outer side of the frame segment directly or via at least one further component. In the fitted state, the bearing surface of the other bearing limb faces that side of the frame segment which is facing in the direction of the interior. |
| US09228753B2 |
Ventilation system
A ventilation system includes a connection determinator configured to determine that N-th, second, and sixth humidity controlling ventilation devices are connected to an identical second duct bank in a situation where when fans of the second and sixth humidity controlling ventilation devices are driven, and the rotational speed of a fan of the N-th humidity controlling ventilation device is changed, a power detector detects fluctuations in the power consumed by the fan of each of the second and sixth humidity controlling ventilation devices. |
| US09228751B2 |
Humidity controlling ventilator
The present invention is directed to a humidity controlling ventilator which takes in air through the use of an air blowing fan, and controls the humidity of the taken air via an adsorption heat exchanger prior to supplying it to the room. In the invention, the air blowing fan is controlled so as to make an air volume flow rate approach a predetermined target volume flow rate. To do this, the invention calculates the fan's air volume flow rate based on a specific volume of air downstream of the adsorption heat exchanger and an air mass flow rate of the fan. The calculated value is fed to an air blow controller that is configured to control the fan such that the calculated air volume flow rate approaches the predetermined target air volume flow rate. |
| US09228749B2 |
Heating wire support meshing and method of constructing a heated surface with same
A heating wire support meshing and a method of constructing a heated surface, particularly a floor surface therewith, is described. The heating wire support meshing comprises one or more mats formed by transversely spaced parallel rows of wire support bridge elements interconnected together at their crossings. The bridge elements have electric heating wire support slots to receive and guide one or more electric heating wires along one or more desired paths. Bottom support formations extend along a bottom planar surface of the mat. Top support formations lie in a top planar surface of the mat. The wire support slots are adapted to support the one or more electric heating wires spaced below the top support formations. The support meshing also acts as a reinforcement of a sub-floor on which the support meshing is installed. |
| US09228748B2 |
Frame structure for an appliance
A frame structure for an appliance, such as an oven appliance, is provided. The frame structure includes a pair of vertical rails and a pair of lateral rails. A pair of hinges is mounted to the vertical rails, and a door is mounted to the vertical rails with the pair of hinges. A control panel is also mounted to the pair of vertical rails. |
| US09228745B2 |
Cleaner equipment for the smelt spouts of a recovery boiler
A cleaning unit for smelt spouts of a recovery boiler. A motorized cleaning member is configured to clean smelt spouts of a recovery boiler. A motorized transfer device is configured to transfer the cleaning unit from the location of a first smelt spout to the location of a second smelt spout. |
| US09228737B2 |
Adjustable height candle holder jar
A combination package of an adjustable height candle holder jar and poured wax candle therein comprising a plurality of stacked, removable rings forming an adjustable height jar atop a closed bottom ring, and with a too ring. The jar is filled with scented candle wax with a typical wick in the center. |
| US09228736B1 |
Article of protective clothing with light source
An article of protective clothing, such as a boot, for providing visibility to a wearer has at least one light source encased within a housing. The housing is integrated within the article of protective clothing. The article of protective clothing includes a light-permeable shield positioned over the encased light source in the housing. Also, the article of protective clothing has a power source functionally coupled to the light source. The shield has one or more protective properties equal to or greater than one or more protective properties of the protective clothing. |
| US09228735B2 |
Display stand
A display stand includes a frame body and several illuminating support plate units. The frame body has several spaced-apart plate-mounting portions, and several power supply portions respectively adjacent to the plate-mounting portions. Each illuminating support plate unit includes a plate body coupled removably to one plate-mounting portion, an illuminating unit mounted on the plate body, and an electric connecting unit having a base portion that is embedded in the plate body, and an electric connecting portion that is disposed within a range defined between extensions of upper and lower surfaces of the plate body, and that is connected electrically to a corresponding one of the power supply portions. |
| US09228734B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device comprising a lamp casing, a heat dissipation element and a light-emitting module is provided. A first opening and a second opening are formed on an upper end and a lower end of the lamp casing respectively. An edge of the lamp casing adjacent to the first opening is bended inward to form a bending portion. The heat dissipation element has several carrying portions separated from each other and arranged in radial-shape, and several fins perpendicular to the carrying portions. Each fin is bended downward and vertically from an edge of the carrying portions and extended toward the second opening. The light-emitting module comprises a substrate and several light-emitting elements. An edge of the substrate leans against the bending portion, such that the light-emitting module is sandwiched between the carrying portions and the bending portion. |
| US09228730B1 |
Variable radius multi-lamp illumination system
Electric lamps are mounted by lamp arms to lamp pulleys that are, in turn, mounted to a rigid frame. A motor-driven belt synchronously rotates the lamps via frictional contact with the lamp pulleys to position the lamps to optimally illuminate a target surface. The lamps can be synchronously moved from a first location outside the periphery of the frame to a second location within the frame periphery by operation of the motor driving the belt. In either location, as well as in any other location, the apparatus provides an un-impeded, pass-through opening within the frame for an un-impeded line of sight to the target surface. Furthermore, the radial distance from each lamp to the geometric center of the frame remains the same, and the lamps remain spaced equally apart from each other. |
| US09228728B2 |
Luminaire module
A luminaire module (1) arranged to radiate light in all directions is disclosed. It comprises a plurality of sections (5, 6) each having an LED (7) and at least one electrical terminal (3, 4) opposing said LED (7). The sections (5, 6) are attachable to each other with their LED's (7) facing outwardly so that the electrical terminals (3, 4) of each section (5, 6) face each other within the luminaire module (1). The sections (5, 6) are attachable to each other in spaced relation A lighting network comprises a plurality of luminaire modules (1), wherein the luminaire modules (1) are coupled to each other in a three dimensional form. |
| US09228723B2 |
Downlight fixtures
Retrofit light fixtures suitable for installation without tools. One or more spring bands deform as the fixture is forced through a ceiling opening and resume their preloaded shape to hold the fixture in place. Some embodiments may be installed in round ceiling openings and may utilize LED light sources. |
| US09228721B2 |
LED PAPI with condensation protection
In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein a LED PAPI (10) with condensation protection. The condensation protection may suitably comprise passive components, such as gaskets and seals (26, 36) and a desiccant (48), and/or active components, such as a defroster (39) and/or a heater (50). |
| US09228720B2 |
Illumination apparatus, light source apparatus using illumination apparatus, and image display apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes a wavelength conversion element to convert light emitted from a light source into converted light and to emit the converted light and unconverted light, a first optical element including a first region guiding the light emitted from the light source to the wavelength conversion element and a second region preventing the unconverted light from traveling to the light source, and a second optical element to guide the converted light in a direction different from a direction of the light source while guiding the light emitted from the light source to the wavelength conversion element. The second optical element is disposed in an optical path between the first optical element and the wavelength conversion element. The light emitted from the light source is incident on the first region, and the unconverted light is incident on both the first region and second region of the first optical element. |
| US09228710B2 |
Light projection apparatus, light condensing unit, and light emitting apparatus
A light projection apparatus that can produce an elongate light projection pattern is provided. The light projection apparatus includes a fluorescent member which is excited with exciting light and a light projecting member which reflects or transmits the light emanating from the fluorescent member to project it outside. The fluorescent member includes an irradiated region which is irradiated with the exciting light, and the length of the irradiated region in a first direction is greater than its length in a second direction. |
| US09228708B2 |
Linear LED system
A linear LED system including a plurality of line light modules, each line light module comprising an extruded light module housing profile that extends along an axis and that has a profile wall defining an inner profile contour and an outer profile contour and of which a cross sectional view along a plane that is perpendicular to the axis is closed, wherein the profile wall in the cross sectional view defines a LED chamber. At least one LED-strip including a plurality of LEDs is accommodated in an associated LED chamber. The system further includes a plurality of interface modules, each interface module that connect the housing profiles and that an inner space in which at least one power supply module is accommodated so that the power supply module and any other electronic controller equipment is not, or at least to a lesser extend exposed to heat dissipated by the LEDs. |
| US09228693B2 |
Equipment mounting structure
A modular pole system is used to support office systems or equipment to facilitate point of sale retail functions. An elongate pole has a plurality of channels that receive locking nuts to support the equipment in place. Electronic equipment including such items as scanners, printers, displays, and telephones may be placed on specialized equipment mounting structures proximate the pole or with use of extension arms to space the equipment away from the pole. |
| US09228692B2 |
Three-dimensional telescoping adjustable equipment mounting fixture
An adjustable equipment curb has a lower frame having opposed first and second length-adjustable sides and opposed length-adjustable first and second ends interconnectable to form a rigid frame and height-adjustable mounting legs. The lower frame may be used alone, or may support an upper frame through a shock mount system having mounts affixed to both the upper and lower frames and shock absorbing springs between the mounts. The frames may be formed of interconnecting channel members, and the lower frame channel members may be of a perforated construction that, in conjunction with applied sheathing, provides acoustic damping. Seismic brackets may be affixed to the frame to provide increased resistance to seismic shock. |
| US09228690B2 |
Apparatus and method for repairing an existing spill containment manhole
An apparatus for repairing an existing spill containment manhole operably associated with an underground fuel storage tank. The apparatus includes a containment vessel for containing fuel spilled during filling of the underground fuel storage tank. A major portion of the containment vessel is adapted to be inserted into an existing spill containment manhole. Preferably, the containment vessel includes an upper annular flange that extends over and surrounds a portion of an existing cover rim of an existing spill containment manhole thereby isolating an upper portion of the containment vessel from an upper portion on the existing spill containment manhole when the containment vessel is installed. Optionally, a replacement cover is provided to replace an existing cover of the existing spill containment manhole. The replacement cover may include at least one sealing member that engages the inner surface of the at least one wall of the containment vessel when installed. |
| US09228687B2 |
Water hammer arrester
A water hammer arrester for installation into a water pipeline, the water hammer arrester including an inlet for receiving water from the water pipeline, an outlet for returning the water to the water pipeline, a body connecting the inlet and the outlet, and a piston assembly positioned in the body to allow water to flow from the inlet to the outlet between the piston assembly and the body, wherein the piston assembly is adapted to absorb pressure variations in the water pipeline to thereby at least partially reduce water hammer in the water pipeline in use. |
| US09228682B1 |
Two-piece pipe flange and systems
A flange with a shoulder piece that may be adjusted into different positions within a shoulder piece opening of a base piece. The shoulder piece includes a lip that catches a recessed portion of the base piece so that the shoulder piece is caught and held in position with the base piece. The base piece and shoulder piece may include complimentary indentations and protrusions so as to hold specific positions relative to one another. The base piece and shoulder piece may include base and shoulder screw holes so that the base and shoulder pieces may be screwed into a specific position. |
| US09228680B2 |
Conduit identification system
An identifier for a conduit includes a substrate having a pair of apertures. The substrate further contains a frangible portion encompassing one of the apertures and having a shape that corresponds to an opening left in the substrate after removal of the frangible portion. The identifier enables the shape of the frangible portion to be correlated with the shape of the opening left in the substrate after the frangible portion is separated from the substrate. |
| US09228679B2 |
Holding a flexible elongate object
A holder which has a loop portion securable around a flexible elongate in a folded configuration. A spine portion is coupled to the loop portion. At least one movable portion is adjustable between a first position, in which the at least one movable portion forms at least a portion of a handle in a substantially coplanar orientation relative to the spine portion, and a second position, in which the at least one movable portion forms at least one hook in a substantially transverse orientation relative to the spine portion. The at least one hook is positionable on a structure to support the loop portion in a hanging position on the structure. |
| US09228678B2 |
Door harness attaching structure
A door harness attaching structure includes: an opening provided on an inner panel of a hinge-open/close-type door; and a hole provided on an end wall at the hinge side of the inner panel. The opening is composed of a large main opening covered by a panel unit of a door module and a small sub opening continued to the main opening, notched toward the hole for attaching a grommet and covered by a cover member. A wiring harness of the door module includes: a harness portion projecting from the panel unit; and the grommet provided at a tip end of the harness portion and attached through the hole. |
| US09228673B2 |
Flow regulating device
A flow regulating device 1 is provided which includes: a valve element 19 which is movable into contact with or away from a valve seat 18; a spring 21 for exerting an urging force on the valve element 19; a diaphragm 20 fixed to an end of the valve element 19, the diaphragm having a fluid contact surface 20a and a back surface 20b; a pressure chamber 24 into which compressed air is externally introduced; and a piston 25 for transmitting the pressure of the compressed air that is introduced into the pressure chamber 24 to the back surface 20b of the diaphragm 20, wherein a portion of the piston 25 which portion receives the pressure of the compressed air has an area equal to or more than twice the area of the fluid contact surface 20a of the diaphragm 20. |
| US09228671B2 |
Electrically actuated valve with a sealing ball
A valve (201) is provided that comprises a housing (202) including a fluid inlet (332) and a fluid outlet (204). The valve (201) also includes one or more vibrating elements (409) configured to vibrate when energized. The valve (201) further comprises an amplifying plate (410) including a fluid passage (412) and one or more pressure-balancing apertures (413) in fluid communication with the fluid inlet (332), contacting the one or more vibrating elements (409). A sealing ball (407) is positioned between the fluid inlet (332) and the fluid passage (412). |
| US09228668B2 |
Overpressure relief valve assembly
An overpressure relief valve assembly includes an outer housing having an inlet at a first end opening to an inlet cavity and an outlet at an opposite second end opening to an outlet cavity, and a valve located in the outer housing, the valve including a valve housing that is fixed with respect to the outer housing and an actuator movable within the valve housing to alternatingly cut off and allow communication between the inlet cavity and the outlet cavity. |
| US09228667B2 |
Pressure-limiting valve
A pressure-limiting valve is proposed, in particular for a common rail system. The pressure-limiting valve comprises a valve support (10), a valve insert (12) which is connected to the valve support (10), a valve piston (14) which is mounted such that it can slide in the valve insert (12), and a closing spring (16) which acts on the valve piston (14) with a closing force in the closing direction. By means of the closing force, the valve piston (14) acts on a valve seat (18) which produces a hydraulic connection via a valve chamber (40) between a high-pressure space (33) and a low-pressure space (36), as soon as the hydraulic force which acts on the valve piston (14) in the opening direction exceeds the closing force of the closing spring (16). When the valve seat (18) is closed, a leakage gap (50) is formed between the valve chamber (40) and the low-pressure space (36), which leakage gap (50) makes it possible for the leakage to be discharged out of the valve chamber (40) into the low-pressure space (36). |
| US09228665B2 |
Pressure fuse or breaker
Described are pressure fuses or pressure breakers which regulate the pressure downstream from the device. When the fluid pressure exceeds the trip pressure, the pressure fuse or breaker will trip and protect other components downstream of the fuse or breaker. Also described are methods of regulating pressure downstream from a fluid source using such fuses or breakers. |
| US09228663B2 |
Diverter valve device, in particular for a washing machine, such as a dishwasher
A diverter valve device (10) including a body (12), in which a chamber (14) is defined, which is able to be flown through by a pressurized fluid flow; a rotatory plug (16), which is mounted on the body (12) and is adapted to rotate about a rotation axis (X-X); at least one inlet (18), which is provided in the body (12) and is fluidly arranged upstream of the chamber (14); and a pair of outlets (20a, 20b), which stem from the body (12) and are fluidly arranged downstream of the chamber (14). The body (12) has a substantially axial seat (22a) and a substantially radial seat (22b), which are fluidly arranged between the chamber (14) and one outlet (20a) and the other outlet (20b), respectively. The plug (16) is suited to assume a first and a second operating condition, in which it (16) respectively frees and obstructs the substantially axial seat (22a) as well as respectively obstructs and frees the substantially radial seat (22b). |
| US09228658B2 |
Pumping seal with aligned spring
A seal assembly for sealing a space between a housing and a rotary shaft includes a generally annular sealing member having a central axis and inner and outer circumferential surfaces extending about the axis, at least a portion of the inner surface providing a sealing surface engageable with the shaft outer surface so as to define a seal interface with opposing axial ends. The sealing surface is configured to direct substances entering the interface toward at least one of the axial ends. Further, an annular biasing member is disposed about the sealing member outer surface and configured to exert a radially-inwardly directed force on the sealing member so as to generate contact pressure within the seal interface. The biasing member is arranged on the sealing member such that at least a portion of the biasing member extends axially in general alignment with at least a portion of the sealing surface. |
| US09228655B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for vehicle electric oil pump
A control apparatus and a control method that controls an electric oil pump that supplies oil to a power transmission device transmitting a drive force to an axle. The control apparatus changes a PWM frequency in a PWM control of the electric oil pump to a lower frequency, when a vehicle is in a pulled state, when a vehicle speed is high, when a power source is operated at a high rotational speed, when a discharge amount from the electric oil pump is large, or when a noise in a vehicle interior is large. Thus, a drive noise of the pump can be reduced, or the amount of heat generated in the pump drive circuit and power consumption can be reduced. |
| US09228653B2 |
Idler sprocket lubrication assembly and method
The invention presented is a chain drive sprocket assembly designed to capture lubricating oil from the engine sump or case and distribute the oil throughout the assembly including over the bearings. The invention provides a unique accumulator channel to capture dripping and splashing oil and exit ports with reduced pressure that enable the oil to be drawn through the bearing space and out the assembly, providing for continuous circulation of oil through the assembly. |
| US09228651B2 |
Compact torque-transmitting gearbox with high reduction ratio
A harmonic drive has an outer gear, an elliptical follower hub, and an outer chain coupled to the follower hub, and having teeth that mate with the outer gear. Preferred embodiments further include an inner chain disposed such that the follower hub is functionally interposed between the inner and outer chains. |
| US09228649B1 |
Simultaneous actuating mechanism for parallel axis rotors
The simultaneous actuating mechanism for parallel axis rotors includes a base and a plurality of rotating rotors mounted in spaced relation inside the base, the rotors having parallel axes of rotation. A crank pin extends from each rotor at a position offset from the corresponding axis of rotation. A driving assembly is coupled to the crank pin of all the rotors. Operation of the driving assembly causes simultaneous rotation of the rotors to facilitate various mechanical functions, such as threading, steering, and reciprocation of multiple elements. |
| US09228648B2 |
Electric linear motion actuator and electric brake system
An electric linear motion actuator is provided which can set the clearance during normal braking operation of an electric brake system. The linear motion actuator includes a load sensor for detecting the magnitude of the load with which a friction pad is pressed against the brake disk, a temperature sensor for compensating for the influence of temperature on the load sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is adapted to calculate a target rotational angle from the position of the electric motor corresponding to the magnitude of the load detected by the load sensor to the position of the electric motor where the clearance is at a predetermined value, and control the electric motor to rotate the electric motor by the target rotational angle. |
| US09228639B2 |
Automated manual transmission
An automated manual transmission includes an input, an output disposed in parallel with the input, a common use planetary gear device disposed on the input or the output, a shift gear device in which a plurality of external gear mates having different shift ratios are disposed on the input and the output, and a friction member disposed to transmit the rotation power transmitted to the input at the time of the braking to the output through the external gear mates. |
| US09228638B2 |
Shift drive mechanism for multi-speed transmission
A shift drive mechanism in which a special constant-meshing-type multi-speed transmission can be applied to a transmission case of a constant-meshing-type multi-speed transmission of a general type. In a shift drive mechanism of a multi-speed transmission where the transmission is configured such that a control rod is movable in the axial direction on a hollow-shaft center axis of a gear shaft formed in a hollow shape so that an engagement changeover mechanism is driven to perform a gear shift, and a shift pin, which is guided by a shift drum provided near a periphery of the gear shaft, moves the control rod in the axial direction, an intermittent drive mechanism intermittently rotates the shift drum for every position of each gear speed by transmitting the reciprocating rotation of a shift spindle, which is connected to a gear shift operating member, is arranged between the shift spindle and the shift drum. |
| US09228633B2 |
Engine balance system
A balance system for implementation within an engine crankcase, as well as an engine employing such a system and a method of balancing forces as performed by such a system, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the balance system includes a crankshaft with at least one eccentric portion and a counterbalance assembly having at least one connecting arm and a counterbalance weight with first and second ends, where each of the at least one connecting arm includes a respective circular orifice that is positioned around and supported by a respective one of the at least one eccentric portion. The balance system further includes first and second hinged arms rotatably coupled proximate the first and second ends of the counterbalance weight, respectively, where the arms at least indirectly link the ends of the counterbalance weight to a portion of the engine crankcase and guide movement of the counterbalance weight. |
| US09228632B2 |
Damping force variable shock absorber having additional valve installed in rod guide
Provided is a damping force variable shock absorber in which an additional valve is installed in a rod guide so as to implement performance that could not be implemented by a main valve. The damping force variable shock absorber includes: a base shell in which a damping force variable valve assembly is attached to an outside thereof; an inner tube which is installed inside the base shell and in which a piston rod is installed to be movable in a length direction; a piston valve which is connected to one end of the piston rod to partition an internal space of the inner tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber; a separator tube which is installed to partition a space between the base shell and the inner tube into a low-pressure chamber and a high-pressure chamber. |
| US09228630B2 |
Twin tube style damper with selectable bypass flow passages
A twin tube damper includes an inner fluid chamber, an outer fluid chamber in fluid communication with the inner fluid chamber and a first fluid circuit that is in fluid communication with the inner fluid chamber. The first fluid circuit includes a primary flow passage and a first bypass flow passage. A second fluid circuit is in fluid communication with the outer fluid chamber and with the first fluid circuit via a common flow passage. The second fluid circuit includes a primary flow passage and a second bypass flow passage. A switchable flow valve is provided for directing fluid flow between the first bypass flow passage and at least one of the common flow passage and the second bypass flow passage, and between the second bypass flow passage and at least one of the common flow passage and the first bypass flow control passage. |
| US09228629B2 |
Shock absorbing member
A hollow columnar shock absorbing member (1) has an axis (O), a plurality of rectangular walls (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) extending parallel to axis (O), and a polygonal cross-section perpendicular to axis (O), the shock absorbing member extending in the direction of axis (O) and absorbing externally-applied impact energy while buckling in the direction of axis (O). Shock absorbing member (1) is provided with at least two flanges (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) protruding from at least two edges (1e, 1f, 1g, 1h) formed by at least two sets of neighboring walls among a plurality of walls, and the at least two flanges are arranged so that the directions of protrusion of the flanges from the edges are directed to the same direction with respect to a circumferential direction. |
| US09228627B2 |
Vibration-damping rubber composition, and liquid-filled vibration-damping rubber device
A vibration-damping rubber composition is provided, which is used as a material for a rubber member of a liquid-filled vibration-damping rubber device in which a glycol liquid is sealingly contained. The rubber composition comprises: (A) a chloroprene rubber as a major component; and (B) an aromatic hydrocarbon plasticizer. The rubber composition makes it possible to suppress increase in the hardness of the rubber member (chamber wall) after thermal aging and reduction in durability. |
| US09228623B2 |
Wear distance sensor for a brake pad of a friction brake
A wear distance sensor detects wear distance of a brake pad, in particular of a friction brake, and includes a housing having a friction side and a connecting side and a probe having two electrical conductor elements in combination with at least one electrical resistance element. Two dimensions of the resistance element are not constant depending on the wear distance. A third dimension of the resistance element, which has a three-dimensional design, is not constant depending on the wear distance. |
| US09228621B2 |
Disc brake pad assembly
A disc brake pad assembly includes a pad and a shim plate. The shim plate includes locking pieces which are bent from a main body portion towards a pressure plate. The locking pieces are brought into abutment with circumferential edge portions of the pressure plate so as to be displaced in a rotating direction of a rotor. Projecting portions are formed at portions of the circumferential edge portion which are brought into abutment with one surface of each of the locking pieces. A circumferential central portion of a part of each of the projecting portions which faces the one surface projects further than both circumferential end portions thereof. The circumferential edge portion and the one surface of each of the locking pieces are spaced apart from each other at portions of the one surface which lie close to both circumferential end portions thereof. |
| US09228613B2 |
Bicycle bottom bracket assembly
A bicycle bottom bracket assembly comprises a first adapter, a first bearing, a second adapter and a second bearing. The first adapter extends along a first center axis of the first adapter. The first bearing comprises first rolling elements and a first outer race. The first outer race is configured to be fitted in the first adapter. The first outer race is slidable relative to the first adapter in both axial directions along the first center axis in a state where the first outer race is fitted in the first adapter. The second adapter extends along a second center axis of the second adapter. The second bearing comprises second rolling elements and a second outer race. The second outer race is configured to be provided in the second adapter such that the second outer race is a separate member from the first outer race. |
| US09228610B2 |
Support bearing for a roll
Support bearing which comprises a first ring and a second ring disposed inside the first ring and substantially coaxial thereto. The first ring and the second ring define between them an annular hollow space in which a cage structure is disposed comprising two circular crowns disposed distanced from each other and between which a plurality of rolling elements are disposed, provided to allow the reciprocal rotation of the first ring and the second ring. The bearing is suitable to support a roll which is used particularly, but not exclusively, in coating processes of a metal product, such as for example strip, wire, bars, by means of metal coating methods such as those known such as galvanization, aluminizing or other similar coating processes. |
| US09228609B2 |
Laser cladding fabrication method
A fabrication method is provided for use in making a component. The fabrication method may include generating a laser beam at a first orientation relative to a wear surface of the component to produce a first laser beam spot having a first characteristic, and feeding a cladding material into the first laser beam spot to produce a cladding layer on the wear surface. The fabrication method may also include generating a laser beam at a second orientation relative to the wear surface of the component to produce a second laser beam spot having a second characteristic, and moving the second laser beam spot along the cladding layer to substantially flatten the cladding layer. |
| US09228604B2 |
Cap for forming sealed cavity around fastener
A joint comprising: a structure; and a fastener passing through the structure. The cap has a body portion with an annular base terminating at an edge, the body portion forming an enclosure around an end of the fastener. The cap also has an annular flange which extends outwardly from the body portion and is set back from the edge of the base so as to define a pocket between the flange and the base. A sealant is provided in the pocket between the flange and the base, the sealant bonding the cap to the structure via a sealant/cap interface with the cap and a sealant/structure interface with the structure. The surface area of the sealant/cap interface is greater than the surface area of the sealant/structure interface. |
| US09228602B2 |
Connector assembly
Disclosed is a connector assembly, which includes a metal base which defines a housing cavity arranged to receive the end of a male connector, a resilient interface element inside the housing cavity, and a metal clip inside the housing cavity by the resilient interface element. The metal clip engages removably with the end of the male connector inserted into the housing cavity to connect the metal base to the male connector. Also disclosed is a resilient interface element providing an interface between a male connector and a metal base defining a housing cavity to receive the end of a male connector, as well as a kit of parts. Such kit contains a metal base defining a housing cavity receiving the end of a male connector, a metal clip arranged to be capable of engaging removably with the end of the end of the male connector, and a resilient interface element. |
| US09228598B2 |
Fluid cooling device with a replenishment circuit
A fluid cooling device has at least one heat exchanger device (10) for cooling at least one fluid and has at least one filter device (12) also for filtering the fluid conducted to a hydraulic device (14). The device has a follow-up suction device (42) that, if required, conducts fluid to the suction side of the hydraulic device fluid cooling (14). |
| US09228592B2 |
Blowing device, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a blowing device including a blower that sends air, a blower pipe having an inlet that takes in the air sent from the blower, an outlet that is formed in an elongated opening shape parallel to the portion of the target structure in the longitudinal direction, and a body portion that connects the inlet and the outlet and to cause the air to flow therethrough, and plural flow dividing plates, each of the flow dividing plates having a distributing portion and a changing portion. |
| US09228591B2 |
Air conditioner with outdoor unit
An outdoor unit of an air conditioner is disclosed. The outdoor unit includes: a casing, including a portion defining an outlet through which air is discharged from the outdoor unit; an axial flow fan disposed in the casing for blowing air through the outlet, wherein the axial flow fan comprises: a hub; a plurality of main wings extending from the hub; and a rim connecting the main wings to one other and rotating integrally with the main wings; and one or more air entry blockers disposed at a clearance space between the rim and the portion of the casing defining the outlet. |
| US09228590B2 |
Method for controlling a compressor element of a screw compressor
Method for controlling a compressor element of a screw compressor, where the compressor element has a housing with two meshing helical rotors supported in the housing in the axial direction using at least one axial bearing. The method has a process A and/or a process B, where process A has a first step of switching on a first magnet during start-up of the compressor element, such that the magnet exerts a force on the rotor that is directed from an outlet side to an inlet side, and of switching off this first magnet during nominal operation of the compressor element; and where process B has a first step of keeping a second magnet switched off during start-up of the compressor element, and switching on this second magnet during nominal operation of the compressor element, such that this second magnet exerts a force that is directed from the inlet side to the outlet side. |
| US09228587B2 |
Scroll compressor for accommodating thermal expansion of dust seal
The present invention provides a scroll compressor which includes a housing, a stationary scroll including a stationary wrap, an orbiting scroll having an orbiting wrap, a receiving portion formed in the housing, a self-rotation preventing eccentric shaft installed in the receiving portion with a bearing interposed therebetween, a self-rotation preventing mechanism including a stopper formed in the housing to support the front of the bearing, and a bearing tube fixed to the housing to support a drive shaft, the scroll compressor including: an annular groove formed in the stationary scroll or in the orbiting scroll; a dust seal fitted in the annular groove and having first and second ends at both ends; and a stationary block including a first support member and first and second elastic members which extend from the first support member and face the first and second ends, the stationary block being fitted in the annular groove. |
| US09228586B2 |
Pump integrated with two independently driven prime movers
A pump having at least two fluid drivers and a method of delivering fluid from an inlet of the pump to an outlet of the pump using the at least two fluid drivers. Each of the fluid drives includes a prime mover and a fluid displacement member. The prime mover drives the fluid displacement member to transfer fluid. The fluid drivers are independently operated. However, the fluid drivers are operated such that contact between the fluid drivers is synchronized. That is, operation of the fluid drivers is synchronized such that the fluid displacement member in each fluid driver makes contact with another fluid displacement member. The contact can include at least one contact point, contact line, or contact area. |
| US09228575B2 |
Sealed and self-contained tankless water heater flushing system
A sealed and self-contained tankless water heater flushing system including a holding basin, a cover lid for the holding basin firmly securable and sealed liquid tight to the holding basin, a submersible pump contained within the holding basin, a submersible pump hose, securable from the submersible pump within the holding basin to a discharge opening in the cover of the holding basin, a filter system, securable within the holding basin to a filter opening contained in the cover lid, wherein the filter system includes a filter for filtering solid substances from the tankless water heater during a flushing process, a discharge hose for connecting the discharge opening to the water heater, and a filter hose for connecting the filter opening to the water heater. |
| US09228572B2 |
Hydraulic apparatus return to neutral mechanism
A hydraulic apparatus is provided with a return to neutral mechanism for returning a trunnion control bracket arm to a neutral position. The return to neutral mechanism comprises a pair of springs, one spring connecting a fixed bracket to a first rotatable bracket and the other spring connecting the fixed bracket to a second rotatable bracket. The mechanism uses springs with different spring constants and the springs are attached to the brackets in a single plane. |
| US09228571B2 |
Variable radial fluid device with differential piston control
According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device comprises a cylinder block, a first plurality of pistons including a first piston, and a second plurality of pistons including a second piston. Each of the first plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a first plurality of radially extending cylinders. Each of the second plurality of pistons are slidably received within a different one of a second plurality of radially extending cylinders. The second piston is configurable to begin its stroke at a different time relative to the first piston within the first cylinder pair. |
| US09228568B2 |
Methods for scheduling the replacement of wind turbine batteries and related systems
A method for scheduling the replacement of wind turbine batteries is disclosed. The method may include monitoring an air temperature of a location at which a battery is stored within a wind turbine, determining with a controller a predicted lifetime for the battery based on the air temperature and determining when to replace the battery based at least in part on the predicted lifetime. |
| US09228565B1 |
Wind-propelled generator
The wind propelled generator is an electrical generator uniquely adapted for installation and use with a pitched roof of a house. The electrical generator includes a housing that is suspended from a bottom surface of the sub-surface of the pitched roof. A hole is included to enable the rotor of said electrical generator to extend vertically there through and from which the wind vanes are positioned above the pitched roof surface whereby outdoor wind is able to actuate and rotate said wind vanes thereby producing electrical power. |
| US09228560B2 |
Power generating floating vessel
Hydroelectric generation devices, and more particularly fixed or floating paddlewheel electric generation devices that may be placed in any flowing liquid source in order to generate power, are presented. Such an overall power generating system includes a paddlewheel component that is situated within an artificial channel properly configured to increase the velocity of the flowing liquid therethrough, thereby providing a manner of generating paddlewheel rotation at a speed greater than that relative to the main body of the fluid itself. The inventive system thus permits power generation through the capture of the kinetic energy derived from the paddlewheel rotation at a level that is acceptable in relation to available hydrokinetic energy of the fluid source. |
| US09228557B1 |
Method and system for expediting engine warm-up
Methods and systems are provided for improving crankcase ventilation by directing heated air to a crankcase. Air is drawn into the crankcase upon passage through an interstitial space of a double walled exhaust manifold where it is heated. Crankcase vapors are then released to the engine intake, downstream of an intake throttle. |
| US09228556B2 |
Internal combustion engine including starting system powered by lithium-ion battery
An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a cylinder, a piston positioned within the cylinder, a crankshaft configured to be driven by the piston, a fuel system for supplying an air-fuel mixture to the cylinder, a starter motor, and a lithium-ion battery mounted on the engine, the lithium-ion battery configured to power the starter motor to start the engine, wherein the piston is configured to reciprocate in the cylinder along a cylinder axis, wherein the lithium-ion battery includes at least one lithium-ion cell having a longitudinal cell axis, and wherein the cylinder axis and the longitudinal cell axis are not parallel to one another. |
| US09228548B2 |
Intake device for internal combustion engine with supercharger
A compressor (5) of a turbo supercharger (3) is located between an air flow meter (12) and a throttle valve (13). An EGR passage (21) is connected to an intake passage (10) at a joint (22) upstream of the compressor (5). The following relationship (1) is satisfied between an intake passage volume (V1) from the air flow meter (12) to the junction (22), an intake passage volume (V2) from the compressor (5) to the throttle valve (13) and a maximum boost pressure (Pb) under operating conditions in which the introduction of EGR gas is performed, in order to prevent a mixed gas of fresh air and EGR gas from flowing back to the air flow meter (12) even under the maximum boost pressure (Pb). V 1 > V 2 × ( P b - P 1 P 1 ) × ( P 1 P b ) κ - 1 κ ( 1 ) |
| US09228547B2 |
Apparatus for generating engine intake air turbulence
An apparatus has a turbulence generator valve which is arranged in an intake air passage. The valve generates turbulence in a cylinder of an engine. The valve receives an intake flow torque TA by flow of intake air. The valve is driven by an electric motor in an electric actuator. Reverse transmission torque TB is necessary to rotate the electric motor in the electric actuator when the electric motor is not activated. A cancel spring is provided to apply a cancel torque TC to the valve. The torques are set to satisfy |TA+TC|<|TB|. As a result, it is possible to keep a valve opening degree of the valve while the electric actuator is not activated. |
| US09228542B2 |
Swirl vane air duct cuff assembly and method of manufacture
A swirl vane air duct cuff assembly includes a tubular body and a swirl vane cuff extending from the tubular body. The swirl vane cuff has an exterior surface which has a cuff groove, and an interior surface which has at least one inward radially extending vane. |
| US09228541B2 |
Partially sealed fuel vapor purge system
Systems and methods for operating an engine with a fuel vapor recovery system are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises, during a diurnal condition, providing a first amount of venting to a fuel vapor canister, and during a purge condition, providing a second amount of venting to the fuel vapor canister, where the second amount is greater than the first amount. |
| US09228537B2 |
Method and systems for a passageway block
Various methods and systems are provided for flowing fluid through a passageway block. In one embodiment, a passageway block comprises a first passage and a second passage, each of the first passage and the second passage including inlets and outlets to the passageway block, none of the inlets and outlets being concentric with one another; but within the passageway block, for at least a portion, a third passage concentrically surrounds the second passage. |
| US09228534B2 |
Variable contour nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section and a nacelle assembly which at least partially surrounds the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section. At least a portion of the nacelle assembly includes an adjustable contour. The portion of the nacelle assembly including the adjustable contour is selectively moveable between a first portion and a second position to influence the adjustable contour of the nacelle assembly. A controller identifies an abnormal aircraft operating condition and selectively moves the portion of the nacelle assembly including the adjustable contour between the first position and the second position in response to detecting the abnormal aircraft operating condition. |
| US09228527B2 |
Dynamic estimator for determining operating conditions in an internal combustion engine
Methods and systems are provided for estimating engine performance information for a combustion cycle of an internal combustion engine. Estimated performance information for a previous combustion cycle is retrieved from memory. The estimated performance information includes an estimated value of at least one engine performance variable. Actuator settings applied to engine actuators are also received. The performance information for the current combustion cycle is then estimated based, at least in part, on the estimated performance information for the previous combustion cycle and the actuator settings applied during the previous combustion cycle. The estimated performance information for the current combustion cycle is then stored to the memory to be used in estimating performance information for a subsequent combustion cycle. |
| US09228526B2 |
Fuel injection controller
A fuel injection controller includes a transistor downstream of a coil of a fuel injector, two transistors applying a source voltage to an upstream of the coil, a diode refluxing an electric current to the coil from a ground, and a Zener diode provided to promptly consume the counter electromotive force generated in the coil when one of the transistors is turned OFF and the transistor is turned OFF, after an injector-drive-period of the fuel injector is terminated. When a microcomputer measures an injector current “I” decreasing from a time of the termination of an injector-drive-period, a drive control circuit delays an OFF time of the transistor relative to a time of a termination of an injector-drive-period, whereby the injector current “I” decreases gradually. |
| US09228521B2 |
Fuel injection controller and fuel-injection-control system
A fuel injection controller includes a current-increase control portion applying a voltage to the coil so that the coil current is increased to a first target value, and a current-hold control portion applying the voltage to the coil so that the increased coil current is held at the first target value. A maximum electromagnetic attracting force to start a valve opening is referred to as a required valve-opening force. A saturated electromagnetic attracting force by the coil current of the first target value is referred to as a static attracting force. The first target value is established in such a manner that the static attracting force is greater than the required valve opening force. |
| US09228509B2 |
Motor control apparatus that generates preload torque value as function of motor acceleration
A preload torque value generating unit (22m) generates a preload torque value (Tpm) as a function of the acceleration (am) of a main motor (6m), the preload torque value (Tpm) being a torque value that is appended in advance to a torque command value (Tm) so that the direction of force applied to the main motor (6m) and the direction of force applied to a sub motor (6s) will become opposite to each other. A preload torque value generating unit (22s) generates a preload torque value (Tps) as a function of the acceleration (as) of the sub motor (6s), the preload torque value (Tps) being a torque value that is appended in advance to a torque command value (Ts) so that the direction of force applied to the main motor (6m) and the direction of force applied to the sub motor (6s) will become opposite to each other. |
| US09228505B2 |
Fuel injector with co-axial control valve members and fuel system using same
A dual fuel injector utilizes first and second control valves to open and close first and second nozzle outlet sets to inject a first fuel and a second fuel, respectively. The first and second control valves have concentric lines of action. The two fuels may differ in at least one of chemical identity, matter phase and pressure. |
| US09228504B2 |
Diesel engine
First and second turbochargers for supercharging a first cylinder group which continues or stops an operation by a valve stopping mechanism for reduced cylinders, and a second cylinder group which stops or continues the operation by the valve stopping mechanism for reduced cylinders, respectively, and a third turbocharger in which air from the first and second turbochargers is supplied to the first and second cylinder groups via separate independent intake passages, to supercharge the first and second turbochargers. If a reduced-cylinder operation system provided with this valve stopping mechanism is provided in addition to the turbo-charging system, a drop in a supercharging amount during a reduced-cylinder operation is prevented, a sufficient air amount is supplied into operating cylinders, deterioration of combustion in the operating cylinders and deterioration of a state of an exhaust gas are prevented, and fuel efficiency is improved. |
| US09228503B2 |
Method and device for handling uncontrolled combustions in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle
A method for handling uncontrolled combustions in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the uncontrolled combustions occurring independently of the ignition by a spark plug and being detected in or at the internal combustion engine. To allow a rapid yet reliable reduction of uncontrolled combustions in an internal combustion engine in order to protect the internal combustion engine from damage, the number of detected uncontrolled combustions in a monitoring period is determined and compared to a threshold value. A temperature in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is dropped if the threshold value is exceeded. |
| US09228498B2 |
Laser clad fuel injector premix barrel
A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include a center body disposed about a longitudinal axis, and a premix barrel positioned radially outwardly from the center body to define an annular passageway between the center body and the premix barrel. The annular passageway may extend from an upstream end that is configured to be fluidly coupled to a compressor to a downstream end that is configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor. The premix barrel may include a first portion at the upstream end and a second portion at the downstream end. The first portion may include a stainless steel material, and the second portion may include a nickel based superalloy material. The second portion may be coupled to the first portion by a laser clad coupling. |
| US09228492B2 |
Safety device for controlling an engine comprising acquisition redundancy of a sensor measurement
A safety device for controlling an engine includes a first and a second sensor of an environmental parameter, two channels for processing data measured by the sensors, each of the channels each including a command module and a power supply. The device includes at least two relays. The first relay is capable of receiving a first command coming from a supply and delivering, in the absence of the first command, data from the first sensor to the second command module. The second relay is capable of receiving a second command coming from the supply and delivering, in the absence of the second command, data from the second sensor to the first command module. The supply of the active channel sends a command to the relay associated with it, the relay sending data from the sensor to the active channel. |
| US09228484B2 |
Engine fluid cooling assembly
A baffle for engine fluid cooling includes a fluid guide having a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, and a coolant fluid inlet. A channel receives a pair of heat exchangers such that one may be positioned proximate to or above a part of the bottom wall and the other may be positioned proximate to or above another part of the bottom wall. Some coolant entering the guide flows into the first heat exchanger and some coolant is passed under the first heat exchanger and subsequently into the second heat exchanger. |
| US09228482B2 |
System and method for diagnosing a fault in a switchable water pump for an engine based on a change in crankshaft speed
A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a pump control module and a pump diagnostic module. The pump control module commands a water pump to switch between on and off, wherein the water pump circulates coolant through an engine when the water pump switches on as commanded. The pump diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the water pump based on a change in a crankshaft speed of the engine when the water pump is commanded to switch between on and off. |
| US09228472B2 |
System for thermal management of a vehicle and method for vehicle cold start
A method, comprising during a vehicle engine cold start, opening a first valve coupled between a first container containing an adsorbent and a second container containing an adsorbate, circulating a first fluid through a first conduit coupled to a first heat exchanger located within the first container and a second heat exchanger located outside the first container, and circulating a second fluid through a second conduit coupled to the second heat exchanger. In this way, heat may be generated at the adsorber during a cold start and subsequently transferred to the cooling jacket of the vehicle engine and/or other vehicle compartments, thereby decreasing the warm-up time for the engine. |
| US09228470B2 |
Honeycomb structure
A honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure section having porous partition walls, and an outer peripheral wall; and a pair of electrode sections, each of the pair of electrode sections are formed into a band shape, the one electrode section is disposed on an opposite side to the other electrode section via a center O of the honeycomb structure section, a shape of the cells is a quadrangular shape or a hexagonal shape, and in the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the cells and including the electrode sections, a straight line parallel to a diagonal line connecting two facing vertexes of the one cell and passing the center of the honeycomb structure section is a reference line L, and each of the electrode sections is disposed at a position to intersect with the at least one reference line L. |
| US09228467B2 |
Urea injection controller for a motorized system
A urea injection controller for a motorized system includes a passive regeneration model configured and disposed to calculate an amount of NOx conversion resulting from an interaction between exhaust gases and soot entrained in a selective catalyst reduction filter (SCRF) device, a replenishment mode trigger module configured to set an ammonia replenishment request based on the passive regeneration model, and a replenishment control module configured to selectively activate a urea injector to discharge a particular amount of urea based on the regeneration model. |
| US09228465B2 |
Catalyst protection device and catalyst protection method for internal combustion engine
A catalyst protection device includes: a catalyst provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine; a bed temperature acquisition unit that acquires a bed temperature for each of a plurality of regions of the catalyst distributed in an exhaust gas flow direction; and a fuel injection unit that determines for each of the regions whether an increase in fuel injection amount is required on the basis of the corresponding bed temperature acquired by the bed temperature acquisition unit, that calculates an increase in fuel injection amount for each region and that injects fuel of an amount including the sum of the calculated increase values. |
| US09228462B2 |
Jacket-cooled exhaust manifold
The present disclosure considers an exhaust manifold and method of casting an exhaust manifold, where the exhaust manifold has both a portion of the exterior wall that is jacket cooled and a portion of the exterior wall that is not cooled. The non-cooled portion of the exterior is not accessible when the exhaust manifold is secured to the engine block. Furthermore, the non-cooled portion of the exterior wall of the exhaust manifold is designed to add stability during the casting process and allow for a simplified casting process with fewer cores. |
| US09228461B2 |
Bi-directional tractor exhaust system
A bi-directional tractor exhaust system includes a downwardly directed exhaust pipe connected to an upwardly directed exhaust pipe. An exhaust pipe valve may be mounted in the downwardly directed exhaust pipe. An actuator may be connected to the exhaust pipe valve and may be moveable between a first position opening the exhaust pipe valve to direct exhaust through the downwardly directed exhaust pipe, and a second position closing the exhaust pipe valve to direct exhaust through the upwardly directed exhaust pipe. |
| US09228460B2 |
Systems and methods for thermal management of aftertreatment system components
An exhaust aftertreatment system includes an oxidation catalyst and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst disposed in an exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine. A stay warm thermal management strategy is employed after warm-up of the aftertreatment system is complete to maintain the aftertreatment system above a temperature providing a desired performance threshold of one or more components of the aftertreatment system, such as the oxidation catalyst or the SCR catalyst. |
| US09228456B2 |
Valve drive of an internal combustion engine
A valve drive of an internal combustion engine is disclosed , having at least one main camshaft, on which at least one cam carrier is provided such that it is fixed so as to rotate with said main camshaft and can be displaced axially between at least two axial positions, wherein at least one valve actuating cam for actuating a gas exchange valve of the internal combustion engine is assigned to the cam carrier. The valve actuating cam is mounted rotatably and a rotary angular position of the valve actuating cam with regard to the cam carrier can be set by means of an adjusting device. |
| US09228452B2 |
System and method for auxiliary fluid circuit heating or cooling of a superheater during startup and shutdown operations
System and method for pre-startup or post-shutdown preparation for such power plants are disclosed which are subject to frequent startups and shutdowns, such as a solar operated power plant. The system and method introduces an auxiliary fluid flow to be circulated in an opposite direction to a direction of normal working fluid flow responsible for producing electricity. That is, if the working fluid flow in a first direction for operating the power plant, than the auxiliary fluid flows in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. The auxiliary fluid flows in the second direction for a predetermined time and at a predetermined conditions through a plurality of superheater panel arrangements of solar receiver former to activation of the working fluid circuit, as pre-startup preparation of the power plant, and after cessation of the working fluid circuit, as post-shutdown preparation of the power plant, to attain predetermined conditions in the superheater. |
| US09228451B2 |
Gas turbine engine module adapter to a carrier
An engine mounting arrangement is provided for supporting a gas turbine engine. The mounting arrangement comprises a module adaptor mounted to an overhead or a ground based carrier for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. The module adaptor extends horizontally from a base to an axially-opposed distal end having a first mounting interface configured for attachment to a module of the engine. The module adaptor holds the engine by the module to which it is attached and with the other engine modules projecting in a cantilever fashion from the supported module. |
| US09228444B2 |
Annulus filler
A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine, the rotor assembly has a disc supporting a plurality of radially extending blades. The blades define passages therebetween and each passage has an annulus filler assembly. The annulus filler assembly includes at least two bodies and a brace, each of the bodies being arranged to abut respective adjacent blades and the brace is arranged to occupy a position centrally of the two bodies. The brace is mounted to the disc and each body and the brace are arranged to engage one another to form an airwash surface. The airwash surface improves aerodynamic flow of air entering the gas turbine engine. |
| US09228443B2 |
Turbine rotor assembly
A turbine rotor assembly may include a turbine rotor with a plurality of turbine blade slots and a plurality of turbine blades. A root structure of each turbine blade may include a portion shaped to be received in a corresponding turbine blade slot of the rotor. The rotor assembly may also include a seal plate attached to the forward end of the rotor. The seal plate may extend upwards from a first end below the inner end of the blade slots to a second end located between an outermost lobe of the blade slots and the outer rim of the rotor. |
| US09228441B2 |
Passive thermostatic valve
An airfoil includes an airfoil body having an internal cavity. A thermostatic valve is located at least partially within the internal cavity. The thermostatic valve is configured to passively control fluid flow into the internal cavity in response to a temperature within the internal cavity. |
| US09228440B2 |
Turbine blade airfoils including showerhead film cooling systems, and methods for forming an improved showerhead film cooled airfoil of a turbine blade
Turbine blade airfoils, showerhead film cooling systems thereof, and methods for cooling the turbine blade airfoils using the same are provided. The airfoil has a leading edge and a trailing edge, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall both extending between the leading and the trailing edges, and an internal cavity for supplying cooling air. A showerhead of film cooling holes is connected to the internal cavity. Each film cooling hole has an inlet connected to the internal cavity and an outlet opening onto an external wall surface at the leading edge of the airfoil. A plurality of surface connectors is formed in the external wall surface. Each surface connector of the plurality of surface connectors interconnects the outlets of at least one selected pair of the film cooling holes. |
| US09228435B2 |
Method and apparatus for applying rock dust to a mine wall
Rock dust is applied to a mine wall for mine fire suppression in combination with a chemical foam, by generating the foam from air and a foamable liquid in a mixing chamber, and delivering the foam through one flexible conduit and a suspension of rock dust in water through another flexible conduit to a combiner, and causing the combined foam, rock dust and water to pass through a flexible hose to a delivery nozzle from which it is applied to a mine wall. |
| US09228428B2 |
System and method for monitoring tubular components of a subsea structure
A system for monitoring a subsea structure is presented. The system includes a sensor disposed on or about one or more tubular components of the subsea structure, where the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure include a riser, a flow-line, and a subsea umbilical. Moreover, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure and configured to detect an anomaly in the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure. A method for monitoring the subsea structure is also presented. |
| US09228426B2 |
Underground coal gasification well liner
The invention relates to compositions and method for construction of an underground coal gasification (UCG) well liner assembly. In particular, a well liner segment for use in the construction of a UCG well liner assembly for conveying product gas to a production well is disclosed. Also disclosed are a system and method for UCG product gas production. |
| US09228423B2 |
System and method for controlling flow in a wellbore
A technique facilitates controlling flow in a wellbore. One or more flow control valve assemblies may be designed for coupling with downhole well equipment. Each flow control valve assembly comprises a flow control valve which cooperates with a control module. The control module comprises a plurality of electrically controlled valves arranged to control flow of actuating fluid to the flow control valve. Each flow control valve assembly also comprises a hydraulic override system to enable hydraulic actuation of the flow control valve to a predetermined position when, for example, no electrical power is available for the electrically controlled valves of the control module. |
| US09228422B2 |
Limited depth abrasive jet cutter
Tools and methods for abrasively cutting downhole pipes and casing. The tools and methods are ideally suited for situations where the pipe to be cut or perforated is positioned partly or wholly inside another pipe and damage to the outer pipe must be avoided. The jet nozzles are positioned at a non-normal angle to the target surface to reduce the jets' effective cutting distance. While pumping the abrasive fluid, the jets are supported at a selected radial distance from the target surface so that within a predetermined operating time the jets will cut or perforate the inner pipe but leave the outer pipe substantially intact. The tool may be rotated with a motor to perform cutoff operations or held in a fixed position for perforating. |
| US09228419B1 |
Acoustic method and device for facilitation of oil and gas extracting processes
A method for improving and maintaining well productivity is disclosed. The method comprises placing at least two acoustic devices within key wells of a geological formation, measuring parameters for initial acoustic impact, and continuing to measure parameters in order to change impact parameters during production and optimize the acoustic effect. The method may be used to restore, maintain, or increase the productivity of an entire geological formation (oil or gas), and to reduce the water cut in the formation. |
| US09228417B2 |
Horizontal frac ball injector
An injector spool supports a plurality of ball injector assemblies having respective ball cartridges adapted to load one frac ball at a time into a ball chamber of a ball launcher of the respective ball injector assemblies to provide a horizontal frac ball injector adapted to be connected to a frac head by frac iron. |
| US09228414B2 |
Junk basket with self clean assembly and methods of using same
A downhole tool for removing debris from fluid flowing through the downhole tool comprises a screen member in sliding engagement with an inner wall surface of the tool. As the screen member becomes blocked, it moves from a first or initial position to a second or actuated position which causes a pressure change detectable at the surface of the wellbore. The pressure change causes the debris blocking fluid flow through the screen member to fall off the screen member thereby allowing an increase in fluid flow through the screen member. As a result, the screen member returns to its initial position and fluid again flows through the screen member for capturing by the screen member. |
| US09228409B2 |
System, apparatus and process for collecting balls from wellbore fluids containing sand
A ball catcher for recovering balls from wellbore fluids containing sand during flow back operations. The ball catcher has a receiving chamber for receiving the wellbore fluids containing sand, a first flow outlet for discharging a portion of the wellbore fluids and sand contained therein, and a diverter for redirecting balls entrained within the wellbore fluids. The redirected balls and a balance of the wellbore fluids also containing sand are received in a ball-retaining chamber. A blocker fit to the ball-retaining chamber retains the recovered balls therein while the balance of the wellbore fluids and sand contained therein is discharged from a second flow outlet and directed to downstream equipment through an auxiliary flow line. The retaining chamber can be isolated allowing the balls to be removed from the ball catcher without disrupting the flow back operation. |
| US09228407B2 |
Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore
An expandable tubular assembly includes an expander for expanding a tubular. The expander may be hydraulically actuated. A bore obstruction object may be received in a receptacle sleeve that is a modular component of the expandable tubular assembly. In this respect, the expandable tubular assembly may be quickly fitted with a receptacle sleeve designed to receive selected type of bore obstruction object. |
| US09228406B2 |
Extended whipstock and mill assembly
A cutting apparatus and method to facilitate milling of a casing window by improving the interaction between the mill and the casing. The cutting apparatus comprises a whipstock having a plurality of ramp sections which provide a ramp profile arranged and designed to cooperate with the cutting structure of a mill to achieve a desired loading on the mill cutting elements during milling of the casing window. The plurality of ramp sections, having specific lengths and oriented at specific angles, adjust the loading on the mill as the mill cuts through the casing during formation of the casing window. The improved whipstock maintains a more balanced loading across the cutting elements during milling operations. Additional mill cutting structures may also be selected and evaluated to further balance the cutting load during window milling. |
| US09228405B2 |
Velocity strings
A velocity string installation method comprises the steps of: removing an existing safety valve from a production tubing safety valve nipple; running a velocity string into the production tubing to engage the safety valve nipple; and then running a velocity string safety valve into the velocity string and coupling the safety valve with a port at the safety valve nipple. |
| US09228401B2 |
Method of determining borehole conditions from distributed measurement data
Borehole conditions can be determined using distributed measurement data. Real time data measurements can be taken from sensors distributed along the length of a drill string to assess various conditions or properties of the borehole. In particular, the distributed data can be used for example, to track the progress of a chemical pill or also track the location of different types of borehole fluids, and also to determine the hole size or volume of the borehole. |
| US09228398B2 |
Telescoping riser skid
A riser transport system includes telescoping vertical riser racks to facilitate vertical riser transport. |
| US09228396B2 |
Recovery valve
A tubing hanger landing system includes a tubing hanger running tool, a locking flowline to lock the tubing hanger running tool into a tubing hanger, and a lower body shear joint comprising a recovery valve. The recovery valve includes a valve body with a functional port, an operational port, a bi-directional port, and a relief port, and a valve piston positioned within the valve body and movable between an operational position and a relief position within the valve body. The functional port enables pressure to be communicated to the valve piston to move the valve piston from the operational position to the relief position, and, in the relief position, the valve piston provides fluid communication through a relief flowpath between the bi-directional port and the relief port to release pressure from the locking flowline. |
| US09228395B2 |
Flexible routing device for well intervention
A conduit device for a petroleum well intervention string includes a first end connected to an intervention string drum unit with a drum and a second end connected to an injector head of a wellhead assembly. The conduit device, at any point between said first end and said second end, has a radius of curvature larger than or equal to a given smallest allowable radius of curvature for the intervention string. The conduit device forms a substantially incompressible fixed length path for the portion of said intervention string at any time present between the first end and the second end. The conduit device constitutes a tubular path for the intervention string. |
| US09228393B2 |
Method and system of drilling laterals in shale formations
Drilling laterals in shale formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: drilling a deviated borehole through a shale formation with a drill string comprising a drill bit; logging the shale formation with a logging tool disposed within the drill string; estimating, in real time with the drilling, fracture potential of a portion of the shale formation near the drill bit, the estimation of fracture potential based on information acquired by the logging tool; and controlling drilling direction based on the fracture potential. |
| US09228388B2 |
Systems and methods for marking individuals with an identifying substance
The present application discloses systems and methods for marking an individual with an identifying substance. The system includes a spray delivery device configured to release a pressurized substance in response to an activation signal, an activation device configured to transmit an activation signal to the spray delivery device, and a power supply, configured to provide power to at least one of the activation devices and the spray delivery devices. The method includes storing a pressurized substance, receiving an activation signal at a spray delivery device, and releasing the pressurized substance in response to the received activation signal. |
| US09228387B2 |
Door catch
Disclosed is a door catch that can help to prevent door sag, especially for heavy or tall residential or commercial doors, and provides for post-installation catch tension adjustment without removal or adjustment of mounting members. In one aspect, the door catch can include a ball catch base, a threaded ball plunger assembly, a catch bumper, and a bumper base. In another aspect, the catch bumper and the bumper base can optionally be combined into a single catch bar bracket. The ball plunger assembly is adjustably mounted within a threaded aperture of ball catch base. A ball captive in one end of the ball plunger assembly engages a detent in the catch bumper, or catch bar bracket, providing friction to hold the door open. The position of the ball plunger assembly can be adjusted vertically to increase or decrease the tension between the detent and the ball plunger assembly. |
| US09228386B2 |
Sliding door fitting
The invention relates to a sliding door fitting for the coupling of a door, which is fastened to at least one hinge, of a refrigerator to a door, which is fastened to at least one further single- or multi-axis hinge, of a furniture carcass in which the refrigerator is installed, wherein the sliding door fitting has a guide element and a slider guided by the guide element, and wherein the guide element can be arranged on one of the doors and the slider can be arranged on the other of the doors. The sliding door fitting is distinguished by having at least one damping device for damping a relative movement between the slider and the guide element over at least one defined portion of the relative movement. |
| US09228376B2 |
High security combination disc padlock
The present invention is directed to exemplary embodiments of a combination disc padlock that may include a housing, a shackle positioned within a portion of the housing, the shackle having a curved shape with a first end that is never released from the housing and a second end that may be exposed from the housing when the padlock is in an unlocked configuration. The padlock may include a mechanism or other structure formed on or connected to the shackle that facilitates movement of the shackle between a closed position and an open position. The padlock may include a reset mechanism that prevents a user from accidentally changing a combination code of the padlock when the padlock is in the unlocked configuration, thereby requiring that the padlock be put into a reset mode in order to change the combination code. |
| US09228372B2 |
Fence rail and bracket system
A fence system having upright posts and transverse fence rails, formed of hollow rectangular tubular construction and having internal ribs formed within the hollow interior; a plurality of angular mounting brackets defining a transverse insertion portion and an upright attachment portion, and wherein the transverse insertion portions are adapted to make a frictional fit within the interior of said hollow tubular rails, and a plurality of fastening holes in said attachment portions, whereby the same may be secured to a fence post. |
| US09228364B1 |
Adjustable work surface for large irregularly shaped objects
An adjustable work platform comprises a fixed platform carrying a multiplicity of adjustable members designed to slide out of the fixed platform to variable lengths as needed. A large irregularly shaped object, such as an aircraft, may be driven into the interior of the platform with the adjustable members retracted. Once in place, the adjustable members are extended to form a heavy duty work platform conforming to the irregular shape of the exterior of the object. |
| US09228358B2 |
Self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning for vehicles
The invention relates to a self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning, in particular for motor homes or trailers, comprising articulated arms (20) that are pivotable at awning arm joints or shoulder joints (10), and brackets or shoulders (II) for connecting the entire awning (100) to the vehicle by means of fastening elements and for receiving joint pins (I) in an insertable, in particular, slidable manner and for at least limiting the twistability of joint pins (I) of those parts of the awning arm joint or shoulder joint that are fixed to the vehicle. Desirable is a compact, continuously variable twisting arrangement for the joint pin which, at the same time, is capable of absorbing the high torques of the extended awning. This is achieved in that at least one, in particular, at least one multi-part bracing or clamping means (III, IV) is provided which can be inserted, in particular slid, into at least one of the brackets or shoulders (II) and which acts in particular radially with regard to the brackets or shoulders (II). The bracing or clamping means (III, IV) can be twisted with regard to the associated bracket or shoulder (II) about its longitudinal axis (12), at least to a limited degree, and receives the joint pin (I) in a positive- or nonpositive-locking manner. Alternatively or additionally it is proposed that at least one height adjustment and/or tilt adjustment means and at least one twisting means of the associated joint pin (I), which twisting means is continuously adjustable about its longitudinal axis, are arranged coaxial to each other in the bracket (II). |
| US09228357B1 |
Roofing device
A method and apparatus for a roof that takes the pressure from wind in extreme weather events off of the eaves and roof of a building thereby allowing the roof to stay intact and increasing the likelihood that the building will not collapse under the influence of the weather event. The apparatus of the instant invention allows the airflow from the wind to continue on its natural path. |
| US09228356B2 |
Above-deck roof venting article
A roofing system and article for installation on a roof deck. The roofing article includes a body having an upper portion and an underside. A first channel is defined within the upper portion. The first channel includes an inlet. A second channel is defined intermediate the underside of the body and the roof deck. The second channel is operably connected to the first channel through an orifice, such that the outside air can enter the second channel through the orifice. |
| US09228355B2 |
Above-deck roof venting article
A building construction assembly for installation on a roof deck including a base layer and a channel structure coupled to the base layer and defining a plurality of channels. In an embodiment, the plurality of channels include a first airflow channel and second airflow channel extending in parallel through the channel structure. The plurality of channels further includes a venting channel between the first and second airflow channels and the base layer. The channel structure defines one or more apertures between the venting channel and each of the first and second airflow channels configured to allow airflow from the first and second airflow channels into the venting channel. The base layer defines one or more exit orifices in airflow communication with the venting channel and configured such that air in the venting channel exits the building construction assembly through the one or more exit orifices. |
| US09228351B1 |
Support chair for bracing objects to be imbedded in concrete or the like
A support chair for bracing objects, such as rebar, cable, or the like. The support chair is preferably configured to support rebar at any one of multiple different heights. |
| US09228346B2 |
Supporting element for pipes in buildings and application method of a pipe supporting element in a flagstone
This relates to a pipe supporting element (1) used to contain a pipe (15) that is used in buildings for hydraulic, electrical and other pipes. In one preferred arrangement, the aforementioned pipe supporting element comprises polyethylene foam, is as thick as a partition (wall or paving slab), has at least two anchoring points located on the side faces (3) thereof, and includes at least one through hole (2) between a first face (1) and a second face (2). |
| US09228343B2 |
Panel system
A panel system including a sheet-like movable panel; a lower profile carrying the panel weight and acting as a panel guide track; an upper profile supporting the panel from above and acting as a panel guide track; and an opening guide track placed in parallel with the lower profile, carrying the panel weight and acting as a panel guide track. The panel can move from the lower profile onto the opening guide track and simultaneously pivot to an open position, in which the panel weight is carried by both the lower profile and the opening guide track. In an embodiment, an opening angle of the panel with respect to the lower profile in the open position is smaller than 90° or 85°, or not greater than 45°, or is preferably from 10° to 15°. In an example, the panel system further includes a sheet-like immovable panel with an open position. |
| US09228342B2 |
Beam attachment system
A system for attachment of a fitting to an extruded beam comprises a beam including an upstanding longitudinally-disposed neck having a head comprising laterally-extending flange elements and co-operating attachment means for mounting the fitting, in which the attachment means comprise clamp elements which in use engage the neck of the longitudinally-disposed member from each side thereof, underneath the flange elements, when a clamping force is applied. |
| US09228337B2 |
Quick connect structural system
A kit for an easy quick connect structural system for constructing framework structures comprising a plurality of elongate rectangular prism frame members is provided. The frame members incorporate custom design features which provide structural strength, facilitate assembly and expansion of the framework structure and allow ease of attachment and securing of accessories. These design features include a corner groove, a central hollow longitudinal chamber, at least one sub-trade chamber, at least one outer main channel, stub-nosed channels, and claw assembles flanking each corner groove. There is provided a plurality of snap-in connectors designed and configured to mate with the frame members such that the frame members can be secured in various arrangements with respect to each other. There is further provided custom reinforcement brackets designed and configured to securely bind together a selection of the plurality of the frame members. |
| US09228330B1 |
Sink with colored lights for indicating water temperature
An aesthetically designed sink (100) comprises a plurality of orifices (110, 115, 120, 125) that deliver different water flow profiles for washing, rinsing, and drinking. Hot and cold water supplies (1110, 1115) supply water to the sink. A series of touch and sliding-touch controls (130-180) regulate the temperature and flow of water from the orifices. A logic circuit (1105) controls all operations, i.e., orifice selection, flow rate, and temperature. In one aspect water flowing from an orifice forms a sheet-shaped stream that arcs over the bowl for ease of washing and drinking. The stream can be illuminated by bi-color light-emitting diodes (121) in colors indicative of the selected temperature of the water flowing through that orifice. Alternatively an orifice is replaced by a removable fixture (900) in a cavity (905) in the sink, which is connected to the water supply (910). |
| US09228327B2 |
Sanitary hydrant
A freeze resistant sanitary hydrant is provided that employs a reservoir for storage of fluid under the frost line or in an area not prone to freezing. To evacuate this reservoir, a means for altering pressure is provided that is able to function in hydrant systems that employ a vacuum breaker. |
| US09228326B1 |
Portable drinker system
A portable drinker system is configured with a convertible frame that enable a water collector to be assembled in a desired location. The portable drinker system may be configured to be carried by a single person and have suitable packed dimensions and weight for this purpose. The water collector has a canopy that is supported by the convertible frame and a drain opening to collect water. The water collector is configured to direct water collected therein to a drinker. A conduit may be coupled to a water collector and extend to drinker. A drinker comprises a water retainer that is configured for animals to drink therefrom. A convertible frame may have articulating scissor portions or integrally segmented poles or some combination thereof. The canopy may have sleeves for the insertion of poles that can be bowed to form a structure. |
| US09228325B2 |
Tool retention system
A retention system is provided for use with a ground engaging tool. The tool retention system may have a generally C-shaped clamp configured to be disposed within an aperture of a work implement and to engage apertures in a tool adapter. The retention system may also have a wedge configured to be disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and the work implement and against the generally C-shaped clamp. The retention system may additionally have a generally C-shaped slider configured to be disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and to engage the aperture of the work implement. The C-shaped slider may have an opening oriented away from the generally C-shaped clamp, and the retention system may further have a fastener configured to connect the generally C-shaped slider to the wedge. |
| US09228324B2 |
Ground engaging tool assembly
A ground engaging tip comprising a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes an interior surface that includes a coupler pocket. The interior surface has a base wall, a first coupler face wall, and a second coupler face wall. The first and second coupler face wall extend from the base wall to an opening of the coupler pocket. The first and second coupler face wall include a distal planar portion adjacent the base wall. The first and second coupler face include a first convex portion adjacent the distal planar portion, a concave portion adjacent the first convex portion, and a second convex portion adjacent the first concave portion such that the concave portion is disposed between the first convex portion and the second convex portion. |
| US09228317B2 |
Cooling device and construction machine or working machine equipped with the same
A cooling device includes: a cooling fan; a shroud provided at an outer circumferential side of the cooling fan; and a ring having an inner circumferential wall and an outer circumferential wall. The inner circumferential wall is provided on the shroud and adjacent to an outer circumference of the cooling fan. The outer circumferential wall surrounds the inner circumferential wall, and an air-flow-direction downstream side end of the outer circumferential wall is positioned at a further downstream position in an air flow direction than an air-flow-direction downstream side end of the inner circumferential wall. An air-flow-direction downstream side end of an outer circumferential edge of the cooling fan is positioned at a further downstream position in the air flow direction than the air-flow-direction downstream side end of the inner circumferential wall. |
| US09228314B2 |
Quick coupler hydraulic control system
A hydraulic system for an implement coupler assembly of a machine includes a coupler cylinder, a control valve connecting the coupler cylinder to a pressurized fluid source and a low pressure reservoir, and a sequence valve and a check valve connected in parallel between the coupler cylinder and the control valve. An implement cylinder provides a pilot pressure for the sequence valve. The coupler cylinder extends to a locked position when the control valve provides pressurized fluid through the check valve to a head end of the coupler cylinder. The coupler cylinder retracts to an unlocked position when the control valve provides pressurized fluid to a rod end of the coupler cylinder if the implement cylinder provides pilot pressure sufficient to open the sequence valve and connect the head end of the coupler cylinder to the low pressure reservoir. |
| US09228313B2 |
Restoration and reinforcement of a scarp
The method for the restoration and reinforcement of scarps and a resulting reinforced structure is provided. The method includes of clearing the scarp surface under restoration, and of creating a pit (an excavation). The bottom of the pit is filled with mineral soil and is compacted as a foundation of a retaining wall. A protective filter made from draining mineral soil is installed on the foothill of the scarp, where the protective filter is surrounded by draining geotextile. The geogrid is placed on the surface of the regressed scarp and then anchored to the soil of the scarp by tensile ropes. A rigid support, such as a crib (grillage), is created on the protective filter and batter piles are driven under the rigid support. Then the retaining wall is constructed, consisting of layers of compacted soil that are surrounded by draining geotextile. The retaining wall is covered by erosion control mats, anchored to the draining geotextile of the soil layers of the retaining wall. Protrusion in the scarp is covered with large granite boulders or concrete elements. |
| US09228310B2 |
Tire assembly and a method of building a support structure in a marine environment using tires
A tire assembly for use in reclaiming land from a marine environment. An anchor having at least one cable connected thereto acts as a base to which tires are connected by threading them down the cable to form a cylindrical tower of tires which can be filled with concrete or filler if desired. A plurality of the tire assemblies can be positioned adjacent to one another and further interconnected for stability purposes and can form the basis for further structural elements. |
| US09228309B1 |
Portable dam assemblies
A water containment apparatus includes a straight strut arrangement comprising a plurality of straight strut assemblies forming an alternating v-shape and inverted v-shape pattern; and a curved strut arrangement comprising a plurality of corner strut assemblies forming a desired curvature and connecting two straight strut arrangements to form a closed loop water containment system. |
| US09228307B2 |
Monopod mounted solid pet waste collecting and disposing system
A monopod mounted solid pet waste collecting and disposing system, is a pole device with a mounted scooper box. When not in use, the scooper box is mounted vertically parallel to the walking stick. When required for pet waste collection, it is deployed horizontally parallel to the ground. The Scooper box has a provision to insert a specially designed disposable case inside the box which has lower lips to protect the surface of scooper box coming in contact with pet waste and side lips that allows the case to be opened or closed in sync with the scooper box. The internal section of the stick also has control systems to deploy the scooper box for pet waste pick-up, to open and close the two compartments of the scooper box to collect the pet waste from ground and to eject the disposable case out of scooper box. |
| US09228306B2 |
Post-cable connection for a roadway barrier
A post-cable connection for releasably connecting a cable to a post, for example in a roadway cable barrier system. A post-cable connector is hung from the top end of a post whereby when the post is impacted and urged toward ground level the cable is released from the post. |
| US09228305B2 |
Bollard
A bollard comprises an elongate outer tubular cover, an elongate inner tubular core located within the outer tubular cover, a damper located at a lower end of the inner tubular core, and a washer arranged to locate the damper against the inner tubular core. The outer tubular cover and the inner tubular core are both substantially circular in horizontal cross-section and the outer tubular cover and the inner tubular core are not connected together. The bollard further comprises one or more bolts, each bolt passing through the washer, damper and inner tubular core and into the ground. |
| US09228300B2 |
Slipforming assembly
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an assembly and method for slipforming a slot drain with concrete. The assembly includes a slipform paver, a movable sleeve adapted to fit over a void forming means, a first taut tether, sensing means and one or more actuators. The first taut tether is provided and maintained in an inclined or declined disposition to provide a parallel reference for guiding the sleeve which in use is driven forward by the slipform paver. The sensing means are adapted to receive guidance from the inclined or declined tether for dictating the elevations and dispositions of the sleeve. The one or more actuators are connected to the sleeve and adapted to be controlled by the sensing means to achieve the dictated elevations and dispositions of the sleeve. |
| US09228294B2 |
Activator for hydrogen peroxide and its application
The present invention provides a novel, non-toxic and eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide activator, a method for its production and its application. The activator can effectively activate H2O2 under mild conditions, such as low temperature and nearly neutral aqueous solution, making it a more advantageous alternative to traditional activators. The novel activator can further expand the application of H2O2 in the fields, such as textile, paper making and health care. |
| US09228293B2 |
Clothing dryer
The clothing dryer includes a filter device to filter foreign matter in a flow channel along which high-temperature, high-humidity air having dried an object to be dried is discharged. The filter device is mounted so as to be moved inward into and outward from a cabinet in a horizontal state. Usability and reliability of the clothing dryer are improved. |
| US09228289B2 |
Washing ball
Disclosed is a washing ball which comprises a first tubular portion which is formed so as to vertically extend from the center of the upper end of the upper main body; a second tubular portion which is formed so as to vertically extend from the center of the upper end of the lower main body; multiple porous ceramic balls which are filled into both sides of the inside of the lower main body; a blocking film which prevents the multiple porous ceramic balls filled into the lower main body from moving out of position; and a laundry additive container which is removably inserted into the inner sides of the first tubular portion, the blocking film, and the second tubular portion which communicate with each other when the upper main body and the lower main body are coupled together. |
| US09228288B2 |
Pretreatment cup
A pretreatment cup that encourages the customer to pretreat stained fabrics with a liquid laundry detergent composition, the pretreatment cup having a pretreatment region that is differentiated from other parts of the cup by a difference in material, color, translucency, surface texture, a line, and mixtures thereof. |
| US09228282B2 |
Vertical axis washing machine having steam features
One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a vertical axis washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet having a top portion with a lid and side portions extending downwardly from the top portion. A tub is positioned within the cabinet with a basket rotatably supported within the tub. The washing machine also includes a heater and a water level sensor. The water level sensor controls the volume of water that enters the tub and the heater generates steam from such volume of water. |
| US09228280B2 |
Method and device for sewing designs
The present disclosure is directed to a device and method for guiding a hopping foot across material in a desired pattern using a manually positionable longarm sewing machine, the device having a rigid guide arm with opposing first and second planar sides, a plurality of notches formed in the edges of the guide arm, and at least one attachment point for mounting on the material. The attachment point can be a circular opening, and an anchor point in the form of a temporary disc affixed to the material is sized and shaped to be slidably received within the circular opening to provide a pivot point for rotation of the guide arm, and the notches are sized and shaped to slidably receive the hopping foot of the longarm sewing machine to guide the hopping foot across the surface of the material. |
| US09228277B2 |
Drive device for a compaction device on a spinning machine
A device for compacting a sliver (V) on a spinning machine has a driven, revolving compaction element (17) that is acted on by suction air and which has a drive element (28, 29) that, in an operating position, forms a drive connection with a driven element (7, 7z) of the spinning machine while forming a first gearing stage (G1). To make the drive of the compaction device more flexible, a second gearing stage (G2) is provided between the drive element (28, 29) of the compaction element (17) of the first gearing stage (G1) and the compaction element (17). |
| US09228275B2 |
Apparatus with two-chamber structure for growing silicon carbide crystals
An apparatus with two-chamber structure for growing silicon carbide (SiC) crystals is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sample feed chamber and a crystal growth chamber, both of which are separately connected with each other by a vacuum baffle valve and connected with a vacuum system. The crystal growth apparatus ensures that the insulation materials in the crystal growth chamber cannot contact with air, minimizes the adsorption of nitrogen and pollutants on the insulation materials and the growth chamber, improves purity of SiC crystals and achieves precise control of the impurities so that growth of high-quality SiC crystals such as conductive, doped semi-insulating or high-purity semi-insulating SiC crystals and the like is enabled. |
| US09228274B2 |
Axial gradient transport growth process and apparatus utilizing resistive heating
A crucible has a first resistance heater is disposed in spaced relation above the top of the crucible and a second resistance heater with a first resistive section disposed in spaced relation beneath the bottom of the crucible and with a second resistive section disposed in spaced relation around the outside of the side of the crucible. The crucible is charged with a seed crystal at the top of an interior of the crucible and a source material in the interior of the crucible in spaced relation between the seed crystal and the bottom of the crucible. Electrical power of a sufficient extent is applied to the first and second resistance heaters to create in the interior of the crucible a temperature gradient of sufficient temperature to cause the source material to sublimate and condense on the seed crystal thereby forming a growing crystal. |
| US09228272B2 |
System for dip coating articles
A system for dip coating articles, in particular vehicle bodies, which articles can be moved to at least one dip tank and away from it with the aid of a transport system. For being lowered into and raised out of the tank, they are placed onto a rotating platform of at least one stationary rotating station and are dipped into the treatment liquid and removed from it by rotation of the rotating platform. Each article is fastened with the aid of a fastening device on a skid which interacts with the transport system. The fastening device is configured such that the article fastened to the fastening device is at a smaller spacing from the rotating platform in the removed position than in the second, dipped position. |
| US09228270B2 |
Lipseals and contact elements for semiconductor electroplating apparatuses
Disclosed herein are lipseal assemblies for use in electroplating clamshells which may include an elastomeric lipseal for excluding plating solution from a peripheral region of a semiconductor substrate and one or more electrical contact elements. The contact elements may be structurally integrated with the elastomeric lipseal. The lipseal assemblies may include one or more flexible contact elements at least a portion of which may be conformally positioned on an upper surface of the elastomeric lipseal, and may be configured to flex and form a conformal contact surface that interfaces with the substrate. Some elastomeric lipseals disclosed herein may support, align, and seal a substrate in a clamshell, and may include a flexible elastomeric upper portion located above a flexible elastomeric support edge, the upper portion having a top surface and an inner side surface, the later configured to move inward and align the substrate upon compression of the top surface. |
| US09228269B2 |
Tin alloy plating solution
A cyanide-free tin alloy plating solution having outstanding serial stability as well as a method of precipitating tin alloy plating onto an electroconductive object using the tin alloy plating solution is disclosed. The tin alloy plating solution contains tin ions and one or more additional metal ions of silver, copper, bismuth, indium, palladium, lead, zinc, or nickel, and peptides with cysteine residues. |
| US09228268B2 |
Method of electroplating silver strike over nickel
A silver electroplating solution is used to electroplate a mirror bright silver layer on a nickel or nickel alloy substrate. The silver electroplating solution is cyanide-free and environmentally friendly. |
| US09228266B2 |
Pickling method and pickling system of steel plate
The present invention is a method of pickling of steel plate which contains silicon comprising applying ultrasonic waves of at least two types of frequencies of 28.0 kHz or more to less than 1.0 MHz to an acidic cleaning solution which contains microbubbles and, in that state, dipping the steel plate which contains silicon in that cleaning solution. The present invention is a continuous pickling system of steel plate which contains silicon which is provided with at least a support part which supports the steel plate, a conveyor which makes the steel plate move, and a pickling tank which pickles the steel plate, wherein the pickling tank has means for feeding microbubbles and means for applying ultrasonic waves of at least two types of frequencies of 28.0 kHz or more to less than 1.0 MHz. |
| US09228262B2 |
Plating catalyst and method
A catalyst solution includes a precious metal nanoparticle and a polymer having a carboxyl group and a nitrogen atom. The catalyst solution is useful for a catalyzing an electroless process for plating metal on non-conductive surfaces. |
| US09228259B2 |
Method for treatment of deposition reactor
A method for treating a deposition reactor is disclosed. The method removes or mitigates formation of residue in a gas-phase reactor used to deposit doped metal films, such as aluminum-doped titanium carbide films or aluminum-doped tantalum carbide films. The method includes a step of exposing a reaction chamber to a treatment reactant that mitigates formation of species that lead to residue formation. |
| US09228258B2 |
Hard-coated member and its production method, and indexable rotary tool comprising it
A hard-coated member comprising a substrate made of cemented carbide or high-speed steel and a titanium carbonitride layer formed on the substrate by a chemical vapor deposition method, the titanium carbonitride layer comprising first to third layers each having a columnar crystal structure in this order from the side of the substrate, the second layer being smaller than the first layer in carbon concentration, and the third layer being smaller than the second layer in carbon concentration, and an indexable rotary tool comprising it. The first layer is formed by using a starting material gas comprising a TiCl4 gas, an N2 gas, a C2-C5 hydrocarbon gas and an H2 gas, the second layer is formed by using a starting material gas comprising a TiCl4 gas, an N2 gas, an organic cyanide gas, a C2-C5 hydrocarbon gas, and an H2 gas, and the third layer is formed by using a starting material gas comprising a TiCl4 gas, an N2 gas, an organic cyanide gas, whose amount is smaller than in the second layer, and an H2 gas. |