| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09262199B2 |
Virtualization and dynamic resource allocation aware storage level reordering
A system and method for reordering storage levels in a virtualized environment includes identifying a virtual machine (VM) to be transitioned and determining a new storage level order for the VM. The new storage level order reduces a VM live state during a transition, and accounts for hierarchical shared storage memory and criteria imposed by an application to reduce recovery operations after dynamic resource allocation actions. The new storage level order recommendation is propagated to VMs. The new storage level order applied in the VMs. A different storage-level order is recommended after the transition. |
| US09262189B2 |
Configuring VM and IO storage adapter VF for virtual target addressing during direct data access
A method is provided for use in a system that includes a host computing machine configured to implement a virtualization intermediary and that includes a physical storage adapter, the configures a virtual machine (VM) and a virtual function (VF) to support IO operations to physical storage through a direct IOV path to the VF of the physical storage adapter, the method comprises: creating by the virtualization intermediary mapping information that includes a first mapping between virtual disks and physical regions of physical storage and that includes a second mapping between virtual disks and virtual disk addresses; transmitting the mapping information from the virtualization intermediary over the physical storage adapter from a physical function (PF) of the physical storage adapter to the VF; associating a virtual port with the mapping information within the virtualization intermediary; binding the virtual port to the VF; communicating virtual disk addresses indicated within the second mapping within the transmitted mapping information for the allocated virtual disks to the VM. |
| US09262188B1 |
Virtual asset management in data center
Techniques are disclosed for managing assets, such as virtual assets, in a computing system implemented with distributed virtual infrastructure. In one example, a method comprises the following steps. Operational information associated with a plurality of virtual assets in a data center is obtained in a trusted manner. The data center is implemented via a distributed virtual infrastructure. At least a portion of the operational information for at least a portion of the plurality of virtual assets in the data center is reported. The operational information reported is operational information pertaining to one or more virtual assets that the data center provides for a tenant of the data center. The obtaining and reporting steps are performed by at least one processing device operating as a virtual asset manager operatively coupled to the distributed virtual infrastructure. |
| US09262186B2 |
Code rearranger and method for rearranging code for a virtual machine
Provided is an code rearranger and method for a virtual machine that uses a just-in-time-compiler (JITC) to manage a location of machine code stored in a code cache. The apparatus may rearrange consecutively-executable machine codes from among those stored in the code cache to be placed successively. |
| US09262182B2 |
Dynamic parameter profiles for electronic devices
A method for dynamically modifying a characteristic for an electronic device. The method includes activating by a processor a first profile having a first characteristic setting and a first state for an input/output (IO) device. Once the first profile is activated, receiving an input by a sensor and communicating the input to the processor. The method then includes activating by the processor a second profile having a second characteristic setting and a second state for the IO device. The second profile modifies a component of the IO device to include a second characteristic setting and a second state. |
| US09262181B2 |
Process grouping for improved cache and memory affinity
A computer program product for process allocation is configured to determine a set of two or more processes of a plurality of processes that share at least one resource in a multi-node system, wherein each of the set of two or more processes is running on different nodes of the multi-node system. The program code can be configured to calculate a value based on a weight of the resource and frequency of access of the resource by each process. The program code can be configured to determine a pair of processes of the set of processes having a greatest sum of calculated values by resource. The program code can be configured to allocate a first process of the pair of processes from a first node in the multi-node system to a second node in the multi-node system that hosts a second process of the pair of processes. |
| US09262178B2 |
Method for reducing platform boot times by providing lazy input/output abstractions
Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for enhanced system boot processing that is faster to launch an operating system, as certain devices such as user input hardware devices may not be initialized unless it is determined that a user-interruption to the boot process is likely. That is, although an interface for the devices is exposed, no initialization occurs unless a call to the interface occurs. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09262172B2 |
Efficient rollback and retry of conflicted speculative threads using distributed tokens
A method for rolling back speculative threads in symmetric-multiprocessing (SMP) environments is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an aborted thread at runtime and determining whether the aborted thread is an oldest aborted thread. In the event the aborted thread is the oldest aborted thread, the method sets a high-priority request for allocation to an absolute thread number associated with the oldest aborted thread. The method further detects that the high-priority request is set and, in response, modifies a local allocation token of the oldest aborted thread. The modification prompts the oldest aborted thread to retry a work unit associated with its absolute thread number. The oldest aborted thread subsequently initiates the retry of a successor thread by updating the successor thread's local allocation token. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed. |
| US09262169B2 |
Branch prediction table install source tracking
Embodiments relate to branch prediction table install source tracking. An aspect includes a system for branch prediction table install source tracking. The system includes memory configured to store instructions accessible by a processor. The processor includes a branch target buffer, where the processor is configured to perform a method. The method includes receiving at the branch target buffer a request to install a branch target buffer entry corresponding to a branch instruction for branch prediction, and identifying a source of the request as an install source of the branch target buffer entry. The method further includes storing an install source identifier in the branch target buffer based on the install source. |
| US09262164B2 |
Processor-cache system and method
A digital system is provided. The digital system includes an execution unit, a level-zero (L0) memory, and an address generation unit. The execution unit is coupled to a data memory containing data to be used in operations of the execution unit. The L0 memory is coupled between the execution unit and the data memory and configured to receive a part of the data in the data memory. The address generation unit is configured to generate address information for addressing the L0 memory. Further, the L0 memory provides at least two operands of a single instruction from the part of the data to the execution unit directly, without loading the at least two operands into one or more registers, using the address information from the address generation unit. |
| US09262155B2 |
System and method for supporting in-band/side-band firmware upgrade of input/output (I/O) devices in a middleware machine environment
A system and method can support controlled and secure firmware upgrade in a middleware machine environment. The system can provide an input/output (I/O) device, which is associated with a host node. The host node can use the I/O device to connect to a shared resource, and the I/O device operates to receive at least one of a firmware image and a firmware update from a fabric administrator that manages the shared resource, and upgrade firmware in the I/O device. Furthermore, the system allows the fabric administrator to send said at least one of a firmware image and a firmware update to the I/O device, using either an in-band connection or a side-band connection. |
| US09262154B2 |
Enhanced upgrade path
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for establishing upgrade paths. In one aspect, a method includes establishing an interim environment and platform, migrating the data from the legacy environment and platform to the interim environment and platform, and migrating the data from the interim environment and platform to the upgraded environment and platform. |
| US09262150B2 |
Services versioning
Downloadable pluggable services and methods of distributing the same are described. The downloadable pluggable services may correspond to communication services that can be downloaded to upgrade a communication system. The downloadable pluggable services may include a number of component parts that can be distributed among various servers in the communication system being upgraded along with instructions that enable the component parts to instruct each server in the communication system to operate in a coordinated fashion so as to provide the downloaded service. |
| US09262145B2 |
Remote software deployment across a network
Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are provided for deployment of software tools across a network. One example method includes initiating a discovery mechanism to poll a plurality of computing machines 121-1, . . . , 144-T from a remote deployment system 101 to multiple systems 120/130/140 across a network 108. The multiple systems 120/130/140 include computing machines 121-1, . . . , 144-T having different operating system (OS) types. Respective agents 151 are deployed for each type of OS identified in the response to the discovery mechanism 210/220. Each of the respective agents 151 is configured to manage communications 230 between the deployment system 101 and the different OS types for each of the plurality of computing machines 121-1, . . . , 144-T on the network 108 and to initiate application deployment and monitoring on each of the plurality of computing machines 230. |
| US09262139B2 |
Layered programming for heterogeneous devices
A method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for parallelizing computer program code including a loop are presented. An intermediate language version of the computer program code is generated based on a parallel type of the loop, wherein the intermediate language version includes information about parallelism in the computer program code. The intermediate language version is optimized at runtime based on the device characteristics where the computer program code is to be executed. The parallel type may include a thread parallel type, wherein the loop is dispatched to multiple threads for execution, or a general parallel type, wherein the loop is dispatched to a single thread and may be vectorized for execution. The intermediate language version may be saved separate from the computer program code. |
| US09262138B2 |
Adding directives for JavaScript files directly into source code in a multi-tenant database environment
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for adding directives for JavaScript files directly into source code, a source file for preprocessing is received and the source file is written in a client-side scripting language, the source file is parsed, directive information is identified within the source file, metadata is associated with the directive during preprocessing, metadata associated is retrieved with a preprocessed directive, a request to access metadata associated with a preprocessed directive in the source file is received and the preprocessed directive is the directive from the source file, and at least a portion of markup language is generated for a web page in accordance with metadata associated with the preprocessed directive in response to the request. |
| US09262137B2 |
Adding directives for versions of javascript files directly into source code in a multi-tenant database environment
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for adding directives for versions of JavaScript files directly into source code, a source file for preprocessing is received and the source file is written in a client-side scripting language, the source file is parsed, directive information is identified for a directive within the source file and the directive information comprises data on at least a portion of a client-side scripting language file and a mode, a version of the source file for the mode is created and the version of the source file comprises source code from the source file and the at least a portion of the client-side scripting language file, and metadata is associated with the directive and the version of the source file. |
| US09262134B2 |
Analysis of source code changes
A code base, including a code base history, is searched for code term(s) and change(s) that have been made to the code term(s). The code base includes, but is not limited to, multiple: (i) instances of code; (ii) product releases; (iii) code components; and/or (iv) code drafting projects. |
| US09262132B1 |
Incremental local source code analysis
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for displaying updated static analysis results within an integrated development environment (IDE) using incremental build information. One of the methods includes receiving, by a static analysis plug-in of an integrated development environment (IDE) application installed on a user device, incremental build information. A plurality of extraction commands are generated from the incremental build information, and source code is extracted from the one or more source code files according to the plurality of generated extraction commands. Updated static analysis results are generated and presented to a user within the IDE. |
| US09262127B2 |
System and method for an infrastructure that enables provisioning of dynamic business applications
A system and method for providing an infrastructure that can be provisioned for use with dynamic business applications. In accordance with an embodiment, the business application infrastructure comprises a plurality of drop-in components which can be added or provisioned as necessary to create a dynamic business application. For example, an integrated composition environment component can be provisioned to allow end-users to quickly develop business applications from an overall business process perspective. In accordance with other embodiments, the business application infrastructure can incorporate additional components as necessary to better support a particular business application, or a particular execution environment. |
| US09262126B2 |
Recommendation system for agile software development
Methods and systems described herein implement a recommendation system for providing recommendations for generating a requirements specification for agile software development. In one implementation, the system includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprises a mapping module and an agile recommendation module. The mapping module is configured to map knowledge elements of at least one ontology instance selected from among a plurality of ontology instances with another ontology instance selected from among the plurality of the ontology instances. The agile recommendation module is configured to generate a knowledge corpus based on the mapped knowledge elements of the ontology instances and at least one environmental parameter, receive modifications in the knowledge corpus, and provide recommendations to generate a requirements specification based at least, in part, on the received modifications. |
| US09262125B2 |
Contextual focus-agnostic parsing-validated alternatives information
Parsing-validated alternatives information (PVAI) is acquired from inactive software development contexts and displayed in the current context to help developers understand how changes to an artifact will impact other contexts. A PVAI request occurs at user request or proactively, in a stand-alone tool or an integrated development environment. PVAI is obtained and acquired from active and inactive contexts, unified, and displayed with corresponding context IDs. PVAI provides parsing-validated information for identifier autocompletion, parameter selection, class or object member selection, routine references, and software construct declarations. Development contexts have dimensions such as target platform, lifecycle configuration, target operating system, graphics processing configuration, numeric processing configuration, IDE project, and licensing configuration. Development context candidates for PVAI acquisition are determined from user preferences and by exclusion of unrealized contexts. PVAI acquisition cost is reduced by reusing computational results in another context. PVAI code can be distributed and/or run in the background. |
| US09262123B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for performing a narrowing-and-rounding arithmetic operation
A processing apparatus supports a narrowing-and-rounding arithmetic operation which generates, in response to two operands each comprising at least one W-bit data element, a result value comprising at least one X-bit result data element, with each X-bit result data element representing a sum or difference of corresponding W-bit data elements of the two operands rounded to an X-bit value (W>X). The arithmetic operation is implemented using a number of N-bit additions (N |
| US09262117B2 |
Image capture modes for self portraits
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface during an image capture. More particularly, the method includes a change in the display mode of a multiple screen device for a first screen and a second screen when capturing the image. The change in the display mode may be made in response to one or more actions conducted by a user. The image capture function includes different modes that display different information on the first and/or second screens. |
| US09262116B2 |
Print control apparatus, image forming apparatus, image forming system, and method of controlling for spooling printing data and handling status information about a work of the image forming apparatus throughout printing process
A print control apparatus connectable to an image forming apparatus includes a printing data generating unit that generates printing data and spools the printing data to the image forming apparatus; a communication unit that receives status information of the image forming apparatus; and a control unit that controls the communication unit to receive status information about a work of the image forming apparatus even after spooling of the printing data generating unit is completed. |
| US09262115B2 |
Terminal device and printer for printing using a printer intermediation server
A terminal device may supply a first request to a print intermediation server. The first request may cause the print intermediation server to register file related information being related to a target file. The terminal device may receive, from a printer, print condition related information being related to an actual print condition, and control a display unit to display a selection screen. The selection screen may cause a user to select a print setting from among the actual print condition. The terminal device may send a print instruction including print setting information indicating the print setting to the printer. The print setting information may be supplied from the printer to the print intermediation server in order for the printer to obtain print data from the print intermediation server. The print data may be created from the target file in accordance with the print setting. |
| US09262109B2 |
Print instruction apparatus, printing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A print instruction apparatus includes a designation storing unit that stores plural pieces of designation information, each designating a print condition not specifying any printer, a combination storing unit that stores a combination of any of the plural pieces of designation information, a group storing unit that stores a group of print settings which realize, in each of plural printers, designation indicated by each of the plural pieces of designation information stored in the designation storing unit, for each of the printers, and a constraint deriving unit that derives a constraint relationship common to the plural printers, on the basis of the combination and the group. |
| US09262108B2 |
Data setting system and data setting method that use optical-communication
Provided is a data setting system that has an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading part, and the communication terminal apparatus provided with a light irradiating part. The image forming apparatus is provided with an optical-communication receive part and an optical-communication execution part. The optical-communication receive part receives an external light signal by using an image reading part. The optical-communication execution part performs a setup of the data corresponding to the received light signal. The communication terminal apparatus is provided with an optical-communication sending part. The optical-communication sending part sends the light signal corresponding to a setup of data using a light irradiating part. |
| US09262106B2 |
Method of adding value to print data, a value-adding device, and a recording medium
Various kinds of value can be easily added to print data output from an existing application without modifying the existing application program. A value-adding method executes a process of adding value to print data output from an application on a computer that has one or more communication ports and executes a specific process by means of an application, and includes a data acquisition step of acquiring the print data at the operating system kernel layer before the print data is received at the communication port, and a data processing step that applies at the application layer a process of adding and/or deleting print content in the print data based on previously registered information, and outputs the data after processing to the specified communication port. |
| US09262105B2 |
Printing system, control method for information processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for transmitting setting information
In a printing system, the information processing apparatus includes: a first obtaining unit which obtains hardware information of a printing apparatus at the time of installation of a printer driver associated with the printing apparatus; a unit which decides on a printer driver to be installed from among a plurality of printer drivers that are associated with the printing apparatus and differ from one another in specifications based on the hardware information; a second obtaining unit which transmits to the printing apparatus attribute information of the printer driver that has been decided on, and obtains as a response thereto a configuration file for expanding functions of the printer driver that has been decided on; and a unit which installs the printer driver that has been decided on, and performs functional expansion for the printer driver using the obtained configuration file. |
| US09262103B2 |
Image forming apparatus having energy saving function to change from normal operation mode to power-saving mode, and recording medium thereof
Provided is an image forming apparatus that performs appropriately changing to the power-saving mode according to environment (luminosity) of a place that user exists, without increasing in a cost. When there is access from a portable terminal, communication circuit requests to the portable terminal for transmission of illuminance information detected by an illuminance sensor in a side of the portable terminal. Then, based on the illuminance information, mode switching circuit changes to the power-saving mode. |
| US09262087B2 |
Non-disruptive configuration of a virtualization controller in a data storage system
Embodiments of the invention relate to configuring a virtualization controller in SAN data storage system without disrupting I/O operations. One aspect of the invention concerns a method that comprises establishing a first data path between a host and a storage controller in the same communication zone wherein the storage controller comprises storage devices for storing data; adding a virtualization controller to the zone wherein the virtualization controller maps the storage devices to virtual volumes and establishes a second data path between the host and the storage devices through the virtual volumes; removing the first data path in response to the host detecting the second data path; and performing I/O operations between the host and the storage devices through the second data path. |
| US09262082B2 |
Storage apparatus, control apparatus, and data copying method
A determining unit selects one storage device each from storage devices of an external storage apparatus and storage devices of a storage apparatus to which the determining unit belongs. At this point, based on a copy request, the determining unit preferentially selects, within each of the external storage apparatus and the storage apparatus, a storage device including a larger number of logical volumes (LVs) which belong to copy unexecuted LV pairs compared to other storage devices therein. Further, the determining unit determines, as a copy execution target, a copy unexecuted LV pair in which a LV provided in one of the selected two storage devices is a copy source and a LV provided in the other storage device is a copy destination. A copy unit copies data stored in the copy source LV, which belongs to the determined LV pair, to the copy destination LV of the LV pair. |
| US09262080B2 |
Reducing read latency using a pool of processing cores
In a read processing storage system, using a pool of CPU cores, the CPU cores are assigned to process either write operations, read operations, and read and write operations, that are scheduled for processing. A minimal number of the CPU cores are allocated for processing the write operations, thereby increasing write latency. Upon reaching a throughput limit for the write operations that causes the minimal number of the plurality of CPU cores to reach a busy status, the minimal number of the plurality of CPU cores for processing the write operations is increased. |
| US09262077B2 |
Solid state drive device
The solid state drive device includes a memory device including a plurality of flash memories and a memory controller connected with a host and configured to control the memory device. The memory controller includes first and second cores, a host interface configured to interface with the host, and a flash memory controller configured to control the plurality of flash memories. The first core is configured to control transmission and reception of data to and from the host. The second core is configured to control transmission and reception of data to and from the memory device. |
| US09262074B2 |
Finger gesture user interface
A light-based finger gesture user interface for an electronic device including a housing for an electronic device, a display mounted in the housing, a cavity, separated from the display, penetrating two opposite sides of the housing, a detector mounted in the housing operative to detect an object inserted in the cavity, and a processor connected to the detector and to the display for causing the display to render a visual representation in response to output from the detector. |
| US09262073B2 |
Touch screen with virtual joystick and methods for use therewith
Joystick display data is generated for display on a touch screen of an electronic device. The joystick display data creates a visual representation of a virtual joystick when displayed on the touch screen. Touch data from the touch screen is processed to determine when the touch data indicates user interaction with the virtual joystick. When the touch data indicates user interaction with the virtual joystick, the joystick display data is adjusted to reflect the user interaction with the virtual joystick, based on the touch data, and joystick data is generated based on the user interaction with the virtual joystick. The display of at least one other element on the touch screen can be adjusted based on the joystick data. |
| US09262072B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling display of an electronic device
A method and apparatus for controlling display of an electronic device are provided. The method includes selecting a specific area of a screen by a user, and switching a display on/off status of the selected specific area of a screen. Wherein, the switching of the display on/off status comprises determining whether display of the specific area is on or off, and, if it is determined that the display of the specific area is on, supplying current to a pixel corresponding to the specific area, and, if it is determined that the display of the specific area is off, discontinuing the supply of the current to the pixel in the specific area. |
| US09262069B2 |
Control device having an input display for detecting two touch points
The present invention provides a new configuration for enabling an input only in the case where a user performs touch operation with the intention of performing the operation. A control device includes a control unit configured to monitor and control at least a target device and an input display unit configured to display a monitoring/controlling screen associated with the target device and also to detect touch operation performed by a user. When the input display unit detects that the user continues touching the monitoring/controlling screen at least at two points and performs rotating operation by a predetermined angle or more, the control unit changes a status value associated with touched positions of the at least two points. |
| US09262060B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing viewmarking
One aspect relates to saving and retrieving view-specific information that facilitates views to be saved and retrieved within an interface of a computer system. View-relevant information associated with a visual context of the computer system is saved in memory or other medium, allowing the information to be retrieved in an easy manner. In one embodiment, a computer system displays a thumbnail representation of a specific graphical view, and permits the user to select the representation, causing the system to navigate to the specific graphical view. In this way, the visual context of the computer system can be restored. |
| US09262058B2 |
System and methods for navigating social networks
Systems and methods are provided for enabling social network navigation. The method at a client device comprises obtaining a node graph from a social networking service, the node graph comprising a plurality of nodes visualizing a social network, each node having an associated profile corresponding to a member in the social network; displaying the node graph; enabling navigation through the node graph to display portions of the node graph in corresponding views; updating the displayed node graph after receiving an update for at least one profile from the social networking service; and updating the displayed node graph after detecting a first interaction with at least one node in the node graph. |
| US09262049B2 |
Apparatus and method of providing graphical user interface
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of providing a graphical user interface, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method of providing a graphical user interface that enables a user to rapidly search a desired menu.An apparatus for providing graphical user interface according to an aspect of the invention includes an apparatus including an output unit outputting a first menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged in a predetermined direction, and outputting a second menu having a first region and a second region that are classified from a menu item selected from the first menu according to a predetermined classification standard, and a control unit performing an operation that corresponds to a menu item selected from the second menu. |
| US09262047B2 |
Method for controlling external device and transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus thereof
A method including receiving a first input for displaying an external input list; and displaying, by the display device, the external input list in response to the first input. The external input list includes a first button for displaying a first external input list including at least one icon corresponding to at least one external device connected to the transmitting device, and a second button for displaying a second external input list including at least one icon representing at least one external device connected to the display device. The first external input list is displayed when the first button is selected. The second external input list is displayed when the second button is selected. The method further includes receiving a second input for selecting an icon from the external input list; and accessing an external input corresponding to the selected icon in response to the second input. |
| US09262045B1 |
Dynamic image display
A plurality of indicia are downloaded during the rendering of a web page retrieved from a server. Each of the indicia corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of text entries in a database in communication with such server or any other server on the network. A predetermined number of the downloaded indicia are then displayed in a first region of a web page. One of the indicia currently displayed at a selected location within the first region is visually enhanced. Next, the respective one of the text entries corresponding to the indicia that has been enhanced at the selected location in the first region is downloaded and then displayed in a second region of the web page. So that all such indicia are displayed, each one of the indicia currently displayed in the first region is replaced with another one of the indicia not currently displayed in the first region. |
| US09262042B2 |
File transfer applications
Devices, methods and products are described that provide file transfer applications. One aspect provides a method including opening a file transfer application on an information handling device having an internal storage device; providing a source display area indicating a source storage device; providing a destination display area indicating a destination storage device; responsive to movement of one or more file icons a predetermined threshold amount beyond a boundary separating said source display area and said destination display area, change one or more indications to indicate to a user a destination storage device to which one or more files is to be transferred, said changing further comprising modifying screen brightness of the source display area; and responsive to movement of said one or more file icons a predetermined threshold amount beyond said boundary, transferring said one or more files to said destination storage device. Other embodiments are described. |
| US09262038B2 |
Method and system for referenced region manipulation
A method and computer graphics program executed by one or more processors is described for arranging regions which refer to various parts of a graphical layout such that changes to the original layout result in updates to the said regions. The regions themselves may be arranged by the user in patterns for various purposes, such as condensing graphical content spread over many parts of the original layout into a single output page in order to minimize the consumption of ink and paper when printing. |
| US09262037B2 |
Selective capture of incoming email messages for diagnostic analysis
A method for processing email is presented here. The method begins by receiving email capture criteria for incoming email messages directed to a destination tenant of a multi-tenant database system. The method continues by comparing the email capture criteria to searchable information conveyed in the incoming email messages. When the searchable information in a candidate email message of the incoming email messages matches the email capture criteria by at least a threshold amount, the candidate email message is identified as a matched email message. The method continues by saving a copy of the matched email message for diagnostic analysis, and performing incoming email processing on the matched email message. |
| US09262032B2 |
Method for making touch panel
A method for making a touch panel, the method comprises the following steps. Carbon nanotubes, a first substrate and a second substrate are provided. A carbon nanotube floccule structure is obtained by flocculating the carbon nanotubes. A first conductive layer on at least one of the first substrate and second substrates is obtained by treating the carbon nanotube floccule structure on at least one of the first substrate and second substrates. Two first-electrodes are located on opposite ends of a first electrode plate and two second-electrodes are located on opposite ends of a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate is spaced from the second electrode plate. |
| US09262022B2 |
Touch device and fabrication method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a touch technology, and more particularly to a touch device and a fabrication method thereof. The touch device comprises a sensing area and a peripheral area. The touch device further comprises a sensing electrode layer, a shading layer, a signal transmission line layer, and a conductive layer. The sensing electrode layer extends from the sensing area to the peripheral area. The shading layer is disposed on the peripheral area to overlay the sensing electrode layer and has a through hole to expose a portion of the sensing electrode layer. The signal transmission line layer is disposed on the shading layer and does not cover the through hole. The conductive layer fills the through hole and electrically connects the sensing electrode layer. In addition, a fabrication method of a touch device is also provided. |
| US09262019B2 |
Touch sensor with conductive lines having different widths
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes one or more meshes of conductive material. Each of the meshes comprising a plurality of conductive lines. At least a first conductive line of the plurality of conductive lines has a width that is greater than a width of at least a second conductive line of the plurality of conductive lines. |
| US09262017B2 |
Capcitive touch panel with simultaneously enabled X- and Y-direction sensor circuits wherein in each sensor circuit the drive line is interdigitated with a plurality of sense lines
There is offered a signal processing circuit of the electrostatic capacity type touch panel which can eliminate duplication of components to reduce a cost of the components. A touch panel 51 is formed on a glass substrate 200. Sensor circuits 50A and 50B are arrayed in a Y direction, and sensor circuits 50C and 50D are arrayed in an X direction on the periphery of the touch pane 51. Serial clock terminals SCL of the sensor circuits 50A-50D are connected to a serial clock line 53 all together, while serial data terminals SDA are connected to a serial data line 54 all together. A microcomputer 52 is disposed on a PCB substrate outside the glass substrate 200. Data communication can be performed between the microcomputer 52 and the sensor circuits 50A-50D through the serial clock line 53 and the serial data line 54. |
| US09262015B2 |
System for portable tangible interaction
Embodiments of the invention describe a system utilizing at least one camera and a display to create an object and context aware system. Embodiments of the invention may utilize the camera to sense a system's surroundings and use recognition logic or modules to detect and recognize objects on and around the system. System applications may further act on the sensed data and use the display of the system to provide visual feedback and interactive elements as a means to interact with the system user. |
| US09262011B2 |
Interactive input system and method
An interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide, a radiation source directing radiation into the optical waveguide, the radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide in response to at least one touch input on a surface of the optical waveguide. At least one imaging device is positioned adjacent to the waveguide, the at least one imaging device having a field of view looking inside the optical waveguide and capturing image frames thereof. Processing structure processes the image frames captured by the at least one imaging device to determine a location of the at least one touch input based on a frequency of reflections of the radiation appearing in the image frame. |
| US09262008B2 |
Method of recognizing touch
The disclosure relates to a method for recognizing touch on a touch panel. A first value and a second value are set. Sensing value Cn is compared with the first value and the second value. When the sensing value Cn is greater than or equal to the first value, a touch with finger is recognized. When the sensing value Cn is smaller than the second value, no touch is recognized. When the sensing values Cn are greater than or equal to the second value and smaller than the first value, following steps are taken. A time period is setting. Touch signals are sensed several times during the time period and a number of maximum sensing values ΔCpeak are selected. Average sensing values ΔCpeak are calculated. When the average sensing values ΔCpeak satisfy following formula: 0.8 ΔCpeak≦ΔCpeak≦1.2 ΔCpeak, a touch with glove is determined. And when not, no touch is recognized. |
| US09262006B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal which includes a terminal body; a display mounted to the terminal body; a window disposed to cover the display and including central and edge regions wherein the central region is formed of a transmissive material and configured to align with the display, and the edge region is formed of an opaque material and configured to surround the central region. The mobile terminal further includes a first touch sensor disposed to span at least the central region and configured to detect a touch input to the central region; and a second touch sensor disposed to span at least part of the edge region and configured to detect a touch input to the at least part of the edge region, wherein the second touch sensor is configured to have a higher touch sensitivity than the first in order to detect a touch input to the opaque edge region. |
| US09262005B2 |
Multi-touch integrated desktop environment
A technique for integrating a multi-touch surface into a desktop environment is disclosed. One or more multi-touch display devices are placed on the horizontal surface surrounding or beneath a keyboard or mouse. At least one region on the multi-touch surface is defined to display one or more user interface tools on the multi-touch surface. The one or more user interface tools displayed via the multi-touch surface may control or display information associated with desktop applications displayed via a primary display device. |
| US09262003B2 |
Piezoelectric force sensing array
A touch sensing system may include a pressure and force sensing device capable of sensing dynamic pressure or dynamic force applied to a piezoelectric sensing array. In such implementations, an applied force may be detected (and optionally recorded) during a period of time that the force is applied and changing. The force-sensing device may have a sufficiently high resolution to function as a fingerprint sensor. The touch sensing system may include one or more additional components capable of fingerprint sensing, such as an ultrasonic transmitter that allows the device to become an ultrasonic transducer capable of imaging a finger (or another object) in detail. The force-sensing device also may be capable of functioning as an ultrasonic receiver. |
| US09262001B2 |
High-accuracy OLED touch display panel structure of narrow border
A high-accuracy OLED touch display panel structure of narrow border includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an OLED layer configured between the upper and lower substrates, a sensing electrode layer, a thin film transistor layer, a cathode layer, and an anode layer. The sensing electrode layer has a plurality of first conductor line units. The thin film transistor layer includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of second conductor line units. The plurality of first conductor line units and the plurality of second conductor line units form a sensing touch pattern structure for sensing an approaching external object. The plurality of first conductor line units and the plurality of second conductor line units are disposed corresponding to positions of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines. |
| US09262000B2 |
Multi-touch interface schemes
Systems, devices and methods are described including using a Human Interface Device (HID) source device to configure a HID sink device to provide interface data such as multi-touch data. The HID source device may enable a data module in the HID sink device to generate the interface data. After receiving the interface data the HID source device may generate output data and provide the output data to the HID sink device. |
| US09261998B2 |
Electronic device and electronic system
One object of an embodiment is to provide a novel electronic device which is configured so that a user can read data regardless of a location, input data by directly touching a keyboard displayed on a screen or indirectly touching the keyboard with a stylus pen or the like, and use the input data. The electronic device includes a first transistor electrically connected to a reflective electrode and a photo sensor over a flexible substrate. A touch-input button is displayed as a still image on a first screen region of a display portion, and a video signal is output so that a moving image is displayed on a second screen region of the display portion. A video signal processing portion supplying different signals between the case where a still image is displayed on the display portion and the case where a moving image is displayed on the display portion is provided. After writing of a still image is performed, a display element control circuit is put in a non-operation state, whereby power consumption can be reduced. |
| US09261997B2 |
Touch regions in diamond configuration
Touch regions in a diamond configuration in a touch sensitive device are disclosed. Touch regions can include drive regions of display pixels to receive stimulation signals and sense regions of display pixels to send touch signals based on a touch or near touch. The drive regions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacent to each other to form a diamond configuration. In an example diamond configuration, diagonal drive regions can be separate and unconnected from each other, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal sense region connections can be in a forward diagonal direction, a backward diagonal direction, or a combination thereof. In an alternate example diamond configuration, diagonal drive regions can be electrically connected to each other via their drive lines, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal drive and sense region connections can be in a forward diagonal direction, a backward diagonal direction, or combinations thereof. An exemplary touch sensitive device having a diamond configuration can be a touch screen. |
| US09261996B2 |
Mobile terminal including touch screen supporting multi-touch input and method of controlling the same
Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a mobile terminal including a touch screen supporting a multi-touch input. The method includes: determining a number of one or more points inputted as a first touch input on the touch screen; when the number is 3, determining the first touch input as a three-point input; determining a size of a largest internal angle of a triangle generated by connecting points of the three-point input on the touch screen; displaying one of a linear tool and a circular tool based on a size of the largest internal angle of the triangle; receiving a second touch input; generating a line corresponding to the second touch input by interworking with one of the linear tool and the circular tool; and displaying the generated line on the touch screen. |
| US09261995B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer readable recording medium for selecting object by using multi-touch with related reference point
A method of selecting an object by using a multi-touch, by which the object displayed on a screen of an electronic device is selected, is provided. The method includes determining whether at least two touches are input to a touch screen of an electronic device, determining a reference point from touch points where the at least two touches have been input, when it is determined that the at least two touches have been input, tracking a path along which the determined reference point is moved, as the at least two touch points are moved on the touch screen, and selecting at least one object corresponding to the moving path of the reference point on a screen displayed on the touch screen. |
| US09261993B2 |
Touch liquid crystal grating, manufacturing method thereof and touch 3D display device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch liquid crystal grating, a manufacturing method thereof and a touch 3D display device, the touch liquid crystal grating comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer; first electrodes, disposed on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer; an insulating layer, covering the first electrodes; second electrodes, disposed on a side of the insulating layer facing the liquid crystal layer, a spacing region being between adjacent two second electrodes; second touch electrodes, disposed in the same layer with the second electrodes, each being located in one spacing region; first touch electrodes, wherein when being powered on, the first and second touch electrodes function to realize a touch function; liquid crystal molecules under the second electrodes rotate, and liquid crystal molecules under the second touch electrodes do not rotate, forming the liquid crystal grating. |
| US09261990B2 |
Hybrid touch screen device and method for operating the same
A hybrid touch screen device applied to an electric device. The hybrid touch screen device preferably includes a touch panel, a pen touch panel, a display panel, and at least one processor. The touch panel detects an input event by a direct touch. The pen touch panel detects a touch pen input and an input event from an entry into a predetermined detection distance before a touch. The display panel displays a screen according to the touch panel, the pen touch panel, and a user operation. The processor also performs control to execute a relevant function according to an input event inputted to the touch panel and the pen touch panel. The processor also performs control so that an input event of the touch pen and an input event of the touch panel are detected independently of each other. |
| US09261989B2 |
Interacting with radial menus for touchscreens
The subject technology discloses configurations for providing a radial menu on one or more computing devices with a touch-sensitive screen. In one example, a user activates the radial menu after touching a first finger at a first or anchor point on a touchscreen that serves as a center of the radial menu. While the first finger is disposed, the user then touches a second finger at a second point some distance from the anchor point corresponding to the first finger on the touchscreen. The radial menu is generated based on a distance calculated between the anchor point and the second finger at the second point. The radial menu is not a complete circle and instead displayed as a partial circle, and the radial menu is generated so that the display area is bisected from the anchor point to the second point in some configurations. |
| US09261983B2 |
Fingertip mouse and base
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a tracking device to generate movement information for use in moving a user interface object on a graphical user interface. The tracking device is configured to receive at least a portion of a user's finger. The system also includes a base device configured to receive the tracking device. The base device is configured to translate movement of the base device relative to an adjacent surface for use in moving the user interface object. |
| US09261979B2 |
Gesture-based mobile interaction
Motion of a device is sensed using image data, and a gesture corresponding to the sensed motion of the device is recognized. Functionality of the device corresponding to the recognized gesture is determined and invoked. |
| US09261972B2 |
Ergonomic motion detection for receiving character input to electronic devices
Sliding and non-sliding touch input to an electronic device may be selected so that the motions associated with a character to input are intuitive and thus easy to remember. The motions for the contacts of the touch input may be selected ergonomically in a way enabling touch-typing, thus increasing user comfort for longer periods of use. Multiple repositionable finger contact regions are maintained on a contact surface in an arrangement that is easily accessible for the user's fingertips. Each available input character is associated with a unique finger contact or set of simultaneously-entered contacts, each contact being either sliding or non-sliding contact, and the sliding contacts having a direction associated with the character. One example touch surface is a touch screen. Another example touch surface is the table upon which the electronic device sets and thus separate from the electronic device and freeing space on the device for other use. |
| US09261970B2 |
Extended keyboard, electronic device, and keyboard extending system
An extended keyboard includes keys and conductive contact points. Each key is connected to a corresponding one or more conductive contact points. The conductive contact points protrude from a backside of the extended keyboard. The conductive contact points are used to contact with a multi-point touch screen of an electronic device when the extended keyboard is placed on the multi-point touch screen of the electronic device, such that when an operation is applied to one key, the corresponding one or more conductive contact points electrically connected to the key conduct the operation to positions of the multi-point touch screen contacted with the corresponding conductive contact points. |
| US09261969B2 |
Gesture detecting device, gesture recognition device
An object of the present invention is to make it possible for smart devices such as smartphones to provide new operability to users. A gesture detecting device includes a motion detecting unit and a processor. The processor calculates deviation value outputted by the motion detecting unit. At timing when the deviation value exceeds a threshold value at the time of shaking out, the processor obtains a direction determination value at the time of shaking out, whereas at timing when the deviation value falls below a threshold value at the time of shaking back the smartphone, the processor obtains a direction determination value at the time of shaking back. Further, on the basis of a combination of the direction determination value, the processor detects a gesture of the gesture detecting device. |
| US09261966B2 |
Close range natural user interface system and method of operation thereof
A natural user interface system and method of operation thereof including: a display device having a display screen and a display device camera; a mobile device having a mobile device camera, an optical axis of the mobile device camera positioned at an angle to an optical axis of the display device camera; wherein: the mobile device includes a first device pairing module for pairing the mobile device with the display device; the mobile device camera and the display device camera are for: detecting a user's hand, and determining posture and movement of the user's hand; and the display device includes a motion translation module for translating the posture and movement of the user's hand into a gesture for controlling an element of a user interface on the display screen. |
| US09261961B2 |
Accessibility aids for users of electronic devices
A screen protector is provided with tactile aids for vision-impaired users. The screen protector can be placed on the display screen of a computing device to enhance the out-of-box experience for vision-impaired users and/or guide the user during subsequent use of the device. For example, the screen protector can be configured to be tactilely-informative about how to activate accessibility features of the device and/or how to proceed with initial set-up and configuration of the device. The screen protector may include, for example, braille instructions for activating the accessibility mode and/or a raised or embossed tactile aid that identifies the location of a UI control feature that can be engaged to initiate the accessibility mode or other desired function. Once the user has engaged the accessibility mode, the user may receive verbal instructions and cues going forward so as to allow the user to successfully use the device. |
| US09261960B2 |
Haptic sensation recording and playback
A system includes a video recorder configured to record video data, a sensor configured to sense movement of an object and output sensor data representative of the movement of the object, a transformer configured to transform the sensor data into a haptic output signal, a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect to a user based on the haptic output signal, a display configured to display a video, and a processor configured to synchronize the video data and the haptic output signal, and output the video data to the display and the haptic output signal to the haptic output device so that the haptic effect is synchronized with the video displayed on the display. |
| US09261959B1 |
Input detection
Exemplary methods and systems provide for eye-tracking. An exemplary method may involve: causing a projection of a beam of light onto an eye and receiving data regarding a reflection of light from the beam of light off of the eye. The method further includes correlating a pupil of the eye with a darkest region from the data. The darkest region comprises a region that is darker relative to other regions of the reflection data. Once the pupil has been correlated and the pupil location is known, the method includes executing instructions to follow the pupil as the eye moves. |
| US09261957B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling screen by tracking head of user through camera module, and computer-readable recording medium therefor
Controlling a screen by tracking user's head using a camera module is described, comprising: (a) when a request for displaying contents is received, displaying a plurality of content regions on a screen and tracking the head of the user looking at the screen through the camera module; and (b) when it is determined in the tracking that the head of the user moves in a specific direction in a state where information on a first content is displayed in a central content region among the plurality of content regions, displaying, in the central content region, information on a second content which was displayed in a peripheral content region, the peripheral content region being positioned in the specific direction or in a direction opposite to the specific direction from the central content region. |
| US09261950B2 |
Consistent interface for document output request
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a document output request business object. |
| US09261939B2 |
Memory power savings in idle display case
In an embodiment, a system includes a memory controller that includes a memory cache and a display controller configured to control a display. The system may be configured to detect that the images being displayed are essentially static, and may be configured to cause the display controller to request allocation in the memory cache for source frame buffer data. In some embodiments, the system may also alter power management configuration in the memory cache to prevent the memory cache from shutting down or reducing its effective size during the idle screen case, so that the frame buffer data may remain cached. During times that the display is dynamically changing, the frame buffer data may not be cached in the memory cache and the power management configuration may permit the shutting down/size reduction in the memory cache. |
| US09261930B2 |
Electronics enclosure with redundant thermal sensing architecture
Embodiments include determining, based on component temperature information of a thermal sensor associated with a component, that a temperature of the component of a computer system has surpassed a temperature threshold. A thermal sensor that is downstream from the component is identified, wherein the downstream thermal sensor is downstream from the component as defined by airflow through the computer system. Downstream temperature information as measured by the downstream sensor is determined. The downstream temperature information and the component temperature information are compared. |
| US09261927B2 |
Electric device
An electric device provided includes a bottom case having an air outlet and an air inlet, a top cover combined with the bottom case, a fin set, a heat sink having a cold-end portion and a hot-end portion being opposite to each other, and a fan element. An accommodation space is defined between the bottom case and the top cover. The fin set is disposed in the accommodation space. The heat sink is disposed in the accommodation space, and the cold-end portion is adjacent to the air inlet, and the hot-end portion thereof is attached on a projection zone from the fin set to the top cover. The fan element draws airflows into the bottom case from the air in let for cooling the fin set and the hot-end portion. |
| US09261925B1 |
Optimized server design using dense DIMM spacing, wide heatsink, improved routing channels, and improved air delivery to rear devices
Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method of manufacture and an apparatus for optimized server design using dense DIMM spacing, wide heatsink, improved routing channels, and improved air delivery to rear devices. The method of manufacture comprise providing a plurality of compliant pin memory sockets on a first side of a circuit board at a pitch less than that specified in a reference layout requiring solder tail memory sockets and providing a plurality of surface mount capacitors on the second side of the circuit board enabling at least one pair of the plurality of compliant pin memory sockets to be provided at the pitch less than that specified in the reference layout. |
| US09261923B2 |
Card retention mechanism
A system can include a chassis; a board operatively coupled to the chassis where the board includes card slots aligned along respective parallel planes and circuitry operatively coupled to the slots; a processor operatively coupled to the circuitry of the board; memory accessible by the processor; a bracket operatively coupled to the chassis where the bracket includes parallel recesses corresponding to the parallel planes; and a retainer operatively coupled to the bracket where the retainer includes parallel recesses where in an open orientation the parallel recesses of the retainer align with the parallel recesses of the bracket and where in a retention orientation the parallel recesses of the retainer misalign with the parallel recesses of the bracket. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US09261921B2 |
Card edge connector with movable ejector
A card edge connector includes a longitudinal insulative housing (1) with tower portions (12) extending upwards, a plurality of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing with contacting portions for contacting with the memory module and an ejector (4) pivoting between an opening station and a locking station. The tower portion defines a blocking portion (125) and a sliding recess (126) located on outside of the blocking portion for providing an enough sliding space for the ejector (4). |
| US09261919B2 |
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. |
| US09261918B2 |
Information handling system hinge support frame
Low profile portable information handling systems rotationally couple a lid and chassis portion with a dual axis hinge that couples at one axis with an extension and countersink engagement to enhance system strength. For example, a conical boss in a lid support frame extends into a countersink formed in a hinge axis and includes threads to accept a screw inserted from the hinge axis into the conical boss. The conical boss inner diameter extends the space available for placement of threads to engage a screw to provide enhanced coupling strength between the hinge axis and lid support frame. |
| US09261917B2 |
Portable electronic device capable of pivoting
A portable electronic device includes a host module, a display module, a pivoting mechanism and a moving component. The pivoting mechanism is connected to the host module and the display module and for pivoting the host module relative to the display module. The pivoting mechanism includes a base and a pivoting unit. The pivoting unit includes a lower pivoting component and an upper pivoting component. The lower pivoting component is installed on the base. The upper pivoting component is pivotally connected to the lower pivoting component in a first pivoting direction and installed on the display module, so that the display module rotates relative to the host module in the first pivoting direction. The moving component contacts an upper surface of the host module and moves relative to the upper surface as the display module rotates relative to the host module in the first pivoting direction. |
| US09261914B2 |
Flexible display device and method of controlling flexible display device
A display device includes a flexible substrate, a display unit including multiple light-emitting elements arranged at the substrate and configured to display an image according to an image signal, a displacement sensor provided to at least one of a front surface and a back surface of the substrate and configured to detect a curved state of the substrate, and a control unit configured to execute a control by which the image is split and displayed in the display unit when a curve of the substrate is detected by the displacement sensor. |
| US09261912B2 |
Portable cases for a tablet
A portable case for a tablet includes a windowed front superimposed atop a back to define a receiving area for receiving and containing a tablet having a touchscreen, so as to juxtapose the touchscreen with the windowed front to permit viewing and touching the touchscreen. A four-sided perimeter gap to the receiving area is defined between a perimeter of the windowed front and a perimeter of the back. An elastic strap extends across the perimeter gap from a side edge of the perimeter of the windowed front panel to and over an axially-aligned side edge of the perimeter of the back and across an outer surface of the back to an opposed side edge of the perimeter of the back. Connectors extend across the perimeter gap and connect the perimeter of the windowed front to the perimeter of the back along three of the four sides of the perimeter gap. |
| US09261903B1 |
Retractable monitor computer assembly
A retractable monitor computer assembly provides an adjustable viewable area that is also retractable into a lowered position when not in use. The assembly includes a housing having a bottom configured for supporting the housing on a surface. A processor is coupled to and positioned in the housing. Each of a pair of rollers is positioned in parallel spaced alignment. An upper arm is coupled to and extends between upper ends of the spaced rollers. A lower arm is coupled to and extends between lower ends of the spaced rollers. Each of the upper arm and the lower arm is telescopic wherein a distance between the rollers is adjustable. A monitor screen is operationally coupled to the processor and has opposed lateral sides coupled to the rollers. The monitor screen is flexible to be rolled onto the rollers to adjust a size of the monitor screen. |
| US09261897B2 |
Scalable, common reference-clocking architecture using a separate, single clock source for blade and rack servers
Scalable, common reference-clocking architecture and method for blade and rack servers. A common reference clock source is configured to provide synchronized clock input signals to a plurality of blades in a blade server or servers in a rack server. The reference clock signals are then used for clock operations related to serial interconnect links between blades and/or servers, such as QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) links or PCIe links. The serial interconnect links may be routed via electrical or optical cables between blades or servers. The common reference clock input and inter-blade or inter-server interconnect scheme is scalable, such that the plurality of blades or servers can be linked together in communication. Moreover, when QPI links are used, coherent memory transactions across blades or servers are provided, enabling fine grained parallelism to be used for parallel processing applications. |
| US09261891B2 |
Reference voltage generating circuits
A reference voltage generating circuit. A bandgap circuit includes a current mirror circuit and an output circuit. The current mirror circuit generates a first current. The output circuit generates a reference current based on the first current. A compensation circuit is coupled to the bandgap circuit in parallel at a combination node and generates a compensation current. The compensation current is smaller than the reference current. The reference current has a first temperature coefficient and the compensation current has a second temperature coefficient that is inverse to the first temperature coefficient. The reference current and the compensation current are combined at the combination node, such that an absolute value of a temperature coefficient of the reference voltage of the combination node is smaller than an absolute value of the first temperature coefficient and an absolute value of the second temperature coefficient. |
| US09261890B2 |
Power flow control using distributed saturable reactors
A magnetic amplifier includes a saturable core having a plurality of legs. Control windings wound around separate legs are spaced apart from each other and connected in series in an anti-symmetric relation. The control windings are configured in such a way that a biasing magnetic flux arising from a control current flowing through one of the plurality of control windings is substantially equal to the biasing magnetic flux flowing into a second of the plurality of control windings. The flow of the control current through each of the plurality of control windings changes the reactance of the saturable core reactor by driving those portions of the saturable core that convey the biasing magnetic flux in the saturable core into saturation. The phasing of the control winding limits a voltage induced in the plurality of control windings caused by a magnetic flux passing around a portion of the saturable core. |
| US09261886B2 |
Method and system for monitoring temperature and humidity of warehouses
A method and system for monitoring the temperature and humidity of warehouses are disclosed. The method includes: installing a detecting module in a cartridge, transporting the cartridge to a plurality of storages of the warehouse by a transmission assembly so as to measure the temperature and humidity of each of the storages by the detecting module, transmitting the measured results to a control unit by a wireless network, and dynamically monitoring the temperature and humidity of the warehouses according to the measured results by the control unit. The method and the system not only control and adjust the temperature and humidity of each of the storages of the warehouses in time, but also reduce detection cost. |
| US09261884B2 |
Apparatus for dividing and supplying gas and method for dividing and supplying gas by use of this apparatus
A gas dividing/supplying apparatus includes a pressure-type flow control system, a plurality of divided flow passages connected in parallel with each other and through which gas flowing from the pressure-type flow control system is divided and supplied to a process chamber, thermal-type mass flow sensors disposed in the divided flow passages, respectively, motor-operated valves disposed on a downstream side of the thermal-type mass flow sensors, respectively, and switching-type controllers that control opening and closing of the motor-operated valves, respectively, and, in the apparatus, the switching-type controllers perform switching between valve opening control for maintaining the motor-operated valves at a predetermined fixed valve opening degree based on a valve opening control command signal and divided flow control for regulating an opening degree of each of the motor-operated valves by feedback control based on a flow detection signal of the thermal-type mass flow sensor by a divided flow control command signal. |
| US09261881B1 |
Filtering noisy/high-intensity regions in laser-based lane marker detection
An autonomous vehicle may be configured to receive, using a computer system, a plurality of remission signals from a portion of a lane of travel in an environment in response to at least one sensor of the vehicle sensing the portion of the lane of travel. A given remission signal of the plurality of remission signals may include a remission value indicative of a level of reflectiveness for the portion of the lane of travel. The vehicle may also be configured to compare the plurality of remission signals to a known remission value indicative of a level of reflectiveness for a lane marker in the lane of travel. Based on the comparison, the vehicle may additionally be configured to determine whether the portion of the lane of travel in the environment is indicative of a presence of the lane marker. |
| US09261878B2 |
Electronic device having a motion detector
A computer is provided that includes a lid having a display and a motion detector to detect motion or movement of a user. |
| US09261876B2 |
Machining method by turning a face of a spectacle lens
A machining method for machining a surface of a spectacle lens at a fixed rotation speed, includes a step of determining the rotation speed from geometric characteristics of the surface, characterized in that the step of determining the rotation speed includes the following steps: a value (Maxdiff) representative of the largest difference in geometric value of the mean sphere on the surface is determined; and the rotation speed is deduced from the value (Maxdiff) of the largest difference in geometric values of the mean sphere on the surface and from a geometric value of the cylinder (FV torus) at a predetermined far-vision control point. |
| US09261875B2 |
Support apparatus, design support program, and design support method
A design-support-apparatus includes a storage unit that stores mounting information on an order of manufacturing processes, first-region-information indicating a region to be secured in mounting of each component on the substrate, second-region-information indicating a region occupied when each component is mounted on the substrate, a discrimination unit configured to determine a before-and-after relationship between manufacturing processes of mounting a first-component and a second-component that are arranged on the substrate, an acquisition unit configured to acquire the first-region-information for the component of which the manufacturing process is determined to be later by the discrimination unit between the first component and the second-component and acquire the second-region-information for the component of which the manufacturing process is determined to be earlier, and a determination unit configured to compare the first-region-information and the second-region-information so as to determine presence of interference. |
| US09261870B2 |
Control system for power transmission within a structure
A system of electrical distribution within a building, which selectively energizes power sockets only when an appliance is connected to the socket and in need of power. |
| US09261867B2 |
Parameter acquiring device and method, for defining data pairs for valve control in an opening and closing direction
A parameter acquiring device for acquiring parameters for a control valve has a controlling valve operating unit, a valve opening signal acquiring unit and a parameter calculator. The controlling valve operating unit operates a controlling valve in an opening direction and in a closing direction by changing, in a specific sequence, a control signal that controls an opening of a regulator valve. The valve opening signal acquiring unit acquires a signal indicating an actual opening of the regulator valve. The parameter calculator acquires data pairs of control signals and valve opening signals. The parameter calculator calculates a parameter of the control valve based on the data pairs that have been acquired. |
| US09261866B2 |
Distributed control system for hospitality management
A controlling and monitoring control application associated with one or more work operations of one or more utility devices is disclosed. The controller is programmed for controlling one or more external work operations associated with one or more utility devices. An I/O board is connected in communication with the primary controller having a module with a plurality of device-specific control applications associated with one or more device-specific work operations. The housing of the controller includes one or more cable access points for plugging a cable into the controller. The cable access points are sealed to prevent water from entering into the housing. A mounting bracket assembly provides flexibility for mounting the controller at various orientations and/or positions. The controller also includes a DC control circuit for controlling backlight luminance over the entire dimming ratio. |
| US09261865B2 |
Dynamic constrained optimization of chemical manufacturing
System and method for chemical manufacture utilizing a dynamic optimizer for a chemical process including upstream and downstream processes. The dynamic optimizer includes a maximum feed calculator, operable to receive one or more local constraints on the downstream processes and one or more model offsets, and execute steady state models for the downstream processes in accordance with the local constraints and the offsets to determine maximum feed capacities of the downstream processes; and a feed coordinator, operable to receive the maximum feed capacities, and execute steady state models for the upstream processes in accordance with the maximum feed capacities and a specified objective function, subject to global constraints, to determine upstream production parameters for the upstream processes, which are usable to control the upstream processes to provide feeds to the downstream processes in accordance with the determined maximum feeds and the objective function subject to the global constraints. |
| US09261856B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus including thereof
Apparatus main body of image forming apparatus includes first rotation portion, second rotation portion, and lever. Toner container includes opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the toner discharge outlet, and first coupling portion that is provided rotatably with respect to the housing and configured to, when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body, be coupled with the first rotation portion of the apparatus main body to be integrally rotatable therewith. The opening/closing mechanism includes second coupling portion configured to, when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body, be coupled with the second rotation portion of the apparatus main body to be integrally rotatable therewith. The opening/closing mechanism is configured to open and close the toner discharge outlet as the second coupling portion is rotated. The second coupling portion and the first coupling portion are configured to rotate in conjunction with each other. |
| US09261851B2 |
Positional control features of a replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an elongated body extending along a lengthwise dimension between a front and a rear of the body. The body has a reservoir for holding toner. The body includes an extension downward from the bottom of the body near the rear of the body. The extension has a downward chute formed therein in fluid communication with the reservoir. A rear face of the extension is unobstructed to receive a bias force in a forward direction toward the front of the body along the lengthwise dimension. An outlet port on the bottom of the extension is in fluid communication with the chute for transferring toner out of the reservoir. The replaceable unit may include a positioning bump on the bottom of the body at a rearmost position on the bottom of the body. |
| US09261849B2 |
Toner conveying device
A toner conveying device includes a common conveyance path, toner input paths and blades. A screw for conveying a toner is installed in the common conveyance path. The toner input paths extend in an up-down direction and have lower ends connected to the common conveyance path. The blades are installed so as to make contact with a shaft of the screw and are configured to scrape off a toner adhering to the shaft of the screw. The blades are arranged immediately below the toner input paths so as to make contact with the shaft of the screw. The blades are disposed at a pitch of an integer multiple of a pitch of the fin of the screw. |
| US09261847B2 |
Image forming apparatus for setting an electrification voltage
An image forming apparatus includes photoconductors. Electrifiers uniformly electrify surfaces of the photoconductors. A power source applies an electrifying voltage to the electrifiers. A current measurer measures alternating current caused to flow by application of AC voltage by the power source. A controller calculates discharge starting voltage. Environment detectors detect an environment inside of the apparatus. The controller operates the current measurer at each predetermined timing to acquire the discharge starting voltage. When acquiring the discharge starting voltage, the controller changes peak-to-peak voltage at pre-discharge voltage and at post-discharge voltage. The current measurer measures alternating current at measurement points of each of the pre-discharge and post-discharge voltages. The controller calculates a voltage value at an intersection of a first line and a second line. After acquiring the discharge starting voltage, the controller calculates environment-correction discharge starting voltage, and sets electrification voltage based on the calculated voltage. |
| US09261844B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an image forming portion, a curling correction portion, and a speed control portion. The image forming portion forms an image on a recording medium. The curling correction portion has one pair of rollers composed of members that respectively have different elasticities and are pressed against each other, and corrects curling that has occurred in the recording medium after image formation performed thereon by the image forming portion, by conveying the recording medium sandwiched with the roller pair. The speed control portion changes a conveyance speed of the recording medium by the roller pair based on a density value of an image formed on the recording medium. |
| US09261839B2 |
Image forming system and option device
The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, and an option device including a setting unit that includes a setting port where a value is set in a state of being connected to the image forming apparatus, and an input/output port. The setting unit transmits a response signal to the image forming apparatus according to a comparison result between a value of first data received from the image forming apparatus and the value of a signal set in the setting port. The image forming apparatus transmits recognition data on the option device to the option device according to the response signal. The setting unit sets a value of a signal at the input/output port based on the recognition data. |
| US09261835B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a thermal conductor to conduct heat from a heater to the endless belt. A pressure rotator is pressed against the endless belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. An abutment contacts the endless belt to restrict a trajectory of the endless belt to bring the endless belt into contact with the thermal conductor in a particular circumferential span spanning from a particular position upstream from the fixing nip to the fixing nip in the direction of rotation of the endless belt and to separate the endless belt from the thermal conductor in at least a part of an outboard circumferential span outboard from the particular circumferential span in the direction of rotation of the endless belt. |
| US09261828B1 |
Image forming apparatus, fixing device and fixing belt temperature control method which do not require subjecting a fixing belt to a heating test
A fixing device comprises a fixing belt heated through electromagnetic induction; a pressing roller; a plurality of temperature detection devices arranged along a width direction of the belt; and a control device consisting of a storage section and a control section and connecting with the detection devices and the heating device. The control section supplies a given output for the heating device when the belt is rotated initially, measures an initial temperature distribution of the belt on basis of a signal from the plurality of detection devices, and controls the output to the heating device on the basis of the initial distribution to control the initial distribution of the belt in a given range. The storage section stores the output control. The control section controls the output to the heating device based on the control stored in the storage section every time the belt is rotated after the initial rotation. |
| US09261824B2 |
Image forming apparatus ensuring reduced initial bleeding phenomenon
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a power supply switch, a photoreceptor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, and a toner-layer formation unit. The transfer roller contacts the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor drum at a downstream side with respect to the developing device in the rotation direction and is configured to transfer the toner image to a sheet. The cleaning device is cleaning device arranged opposed to the photoreceptor drum, downstream. The cleaning device is configured to clean the photoreceptor drum. The toner-layer formation unit is configured to form a toner layer on a surface of the transfer roller in an initial operation started after the apparatus main body is installed in a predetermined installation location and the power supply switch is switched on. |
| US09261823B2 |
Belt unit and image forming apparatus
A belt unit, in which a belt can be detached by detaching a tension roller from a frame by detaching at least one of bearing members from the frame in a state where the belt is stretched around multiple rollers, includes restriction parts that restrict the position of an end of the tension roller in a state where the belt is stretched around the multiple rollers and the bearing member is detached from the frame, the end being located adjacent to the bearing member. |
| US09261822B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a cleaning operation of rotating an intermediate transfer member to remove an adjustment toner image, which is formed on an image bearing member and attached to the intermediate transfer member during an adjustment operation, at a cleaning portion where toner is electrostatically removed. The control unit is configured to change the number of times of rotating the intermediate transfer member to convey the adjustment toner image on the intermediate transfer member to the cleaning portion according to at least one of a density and a length in a conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member regarding the adjustment toner image on the intermediate transfer member before being conveyed to the cleaning portion. |
| US09261816B2 |
Developer amount detector, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus
A developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer inside a developer container includes a light-emitting element; a light-receiving element; a first light guide including a first end disposed to face the light-emitting element and a second end disposed inside the developer container, covered with a translucent cover including a light-emitting face; a second light guide including a first end disposed to face the light-receiving element, a second end disposed inside the developer container, covered with a translucent cover including a light-receiving face to face the light-emitting face across a gap; and a cleaner including a sliding portion to slidingly contact the light-emitting face and the light-receiving face. The cover of each of the first and second light guides includes a material lower in chargeability with the sliding portion than a material of a body of each of the first and second light guides. |
| US09261815B2 |
Container and image forming apparatus
The present application discloses a container including: a housing including a primary portion for storing developer, and a secondary portion, which projects from the primary portion and is connected to a developing device; a conveying mechanism which conveys the developer in the primary portion to the secondary portion; and a detector which detects a state of the developer. The primary portion includes a facing wall which is situated at a boundary between the primary and secondary portions so that the facing wall faces a flow of the developer moving toward the secondary portion. The developer includes a flowing portion under the conveyance to the secondary portion by the conveying mechanism, and an adhering portion defined by an adhering layer made of developer adhered to the facing wall. The detector detects a decrease of the flowing portion and a decrease of the adhering portion individually. |
| US09261811B2 |
Developer carrying member, developing assembly, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing roller that is capable of carrying toner on a surface thereof, and that supplies the toner carried on the surface to a surface of a photosensitive drum when a voltage is applied thereto, includes: a rubber layer; and a surface layer that covers the rubber layer, contains alumina, and has a higher volume resistivity than the rubber layer. |
| US09261802B2 |
Lithography apparatus, alignment method, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides a lithography apparatus for transferring a pattern formed on an original to each of a plurality of shot regions on a substrate, comprising a detection unit configured to detect a mark provided in the shot region and a mark provided on the original, and a control unit configured to control alignment between a target shot region and the pattern of the original such that the mark in the target region detected by the detection unit and the mark on the original are shifted by a positional shift amount which is generated between each mark in the shot region and each mark on the original when an overlay error between the shot region and the pattern of the original falls within an allowable range. |
| US09261798B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A substrate stage is used in a lithographic apparatus. The substrate stage includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate and a positioning device for in use positioning the substrate table relative to a projection system of the lithographic apparatus. The positioning device includes a first positioning member mounted to the substrate table and a second positioning member co-operating with the first positioning member to position the substrate table. The second positioning member is mounted to a support structure. The substrate stage further comprises an actuator that is arranged to exert a vertical force on a bottom surface of the substrate table at a substantially fixed horizontal position relative to the support structure. |
| US09261795B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device using multiple immersion areas
A shape defect in a transfer pattern formed over the major surface of a substrate is prevented by using an immersion exposure method. When exposure light is radiated onto a resist, immersion water is held in a first immersion area between each of the lower surfaces of an optical element of a projection optical system and a nozzle portion, and a resist; and when a focus, optical system alignment, or the like, is regulated, the immersion water is held in a second immersion area between each of the lower surfaces of the optical element of the projection optical system and the nozzle portion, and the upper surface of a measurement stage. A transverse spread of the immersion water held in the first immersion area is made smaller than that of the immersion water held in the second immersion area. |
| US09261792B2 |
Reflective lithography masks and systems and methods
Various non-planar reflective lithography masks, systems using such lithography masks, and methods are disclosed. An embodiment is a lithography mask comprising a transparent substrate, a reflective material, and a reticle pattern. The transparent substrate comprises a curved surface. The reflective material adjoins the curved surface of the transparent substrate, and an interface between the reflective material and the transparent substrate is a reflective surface. The reticle pattern is on a second surface of the transparent substrate. A reflectivity of the reticle pattern is less than a reflectivity of the reflective material. Methods for forming similar lithography masks and for using similar lithography masks are disclosed. |
| US09261783B2 |
Fluorinated ester monomer, making method, fluorinated ester polymer, and difluorohydroxycarboxylic acid
A fluorinated ester monomer is provided having formula (1) wherein R1 is H, CH3 or CF3, R2 and R3 are H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R2 and R3 forms a hydrocarbon ring, R4 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and k is 0 or 1. A polymer obtained from the monomer has transparency to radiation with a wavelength of up to 200 nm and appropriate alkaline hydrolysis, is constructed such that any of water repellency, water slip and surface segregation may be adjusted by a choice of its structure, and is useful in forming ArF immersion lithography materials. |
| US09261782B2 |
Maleimide containing cycloolefinic polymers and applications thereof
Various cycloolefinic/maleic anhydride polymers containing maleimide pendant groups and compositions thereof useful for forming self-imageable films encompassing such copolymers are disclosed. Such polymers encompass norbornene-type repeating units containing maleimide groups and maleic anhydride-type repeating units where at least some of such maleic anhydride-type repeating units have been ring-opened. The films formed from such copolymer compositions provide self imageable, low-k, thermally stable layers for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices. |
| US09261781B2 |
Preparation of norbornane-based PAC ballasts
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide for norbornane-type ballast materials, norbornane-type photoactive compounds derived from such ballast materials and alkali-soluble positive-tone polymer compositions that encompass such norbornane-type photoactive compounds and one of a PBO or PNB resin. |
| US09261777B2 |
Method for making three-dimensional nano-structure array
A method for making three-dimensional nano-structure array is provided. The method includes following steps. A base is provided. A mask layer is located on the base. The mask layer is patterned, and a number of bar-shaped protruding structures is formed on a surface of the mask layer, a lot is defined between each of two adjacent bar-shaped protruding structures of the number of protruding structures to expose a portion of the base. The exposed portion of the base is etched through the slot so that the each of two adjacent bar-shaped protruding structures begin to slant face to face until they are contacting each other to form a protruding pair. The mask layer is removed. |
| US09261772B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, substrate and device manufacturing method
A method uses a lithographic apparatus to form an inspection target structure upon a substrate. The method comprises forming the periphery of the inspection target structure so as to provide a progressive optical contrast transition between the inspection target structure and its surrounding environment. This may be achieved by providing a progressive change in the optical index at the periphery of the target structure. |
| US09261770B2 |
Apparatus and method for combining laser beams of different polarization
The present invention provides a light source apparatus (10) for use with a projector (80) and a method for combining laser beams of different polarization characterized in that an overall efficiency for the reflection and transmission exceeding 97% is achieved. A first white laser light beam (18) having a first polarization is combined with a second white laser light beam (28) having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization by utilizing a multi narrow-band polarizing beam splitter (20) positioned to receive the first and the second white laser light beams (18, 28). Embodiments of the present invention utilize two laser light sources (12, 22) emitting two sets of laser light beams with multiple wavelengths (14, 15, 16 and 24, 25, 26). |
| US09261768B1 |
Trophy containing projector
A body, preferably a trophy, containing a projector. The projector includes a front face at a base of the body, and a momentary switch that allows for automatic projection of an image when the trophy is lifted from a surface. |
| US09261766B1 |
Time management display for reflective screen
An apparatus for the management of time during a visual presentation such as a talk with slides includes an optical emitter surface and focusing assembly for presentation of a progress plot in circular or linear format onto a presentation display shared by a presentation image. A user interface with policies and rules is operative with a controller for an optical emitter to automatically provide and adjust the brightness and contrast level, select optimal regions for placement of the progress image, and generate the optical image which is displayed in superposition with, or adjacent to, the presentation image. |
| US09261765B2 |
Light converging optical system and projection-type image display apparatus
A light converging optical system (1) includes a surface-emission light source (11) that emits light from a light emitting surface (12), a collimator lens (13) as a collimator optical system that converts the light emitted from the light emitting surface (12) into approximately parallel light, a condenser lens (4) as a converging lens as a light converging element that converges the light converted into the approximately parallel light, and an integrator rod (7) as a light-intensity-distribution equalizing element that has an incident surface (8) on which the light converged by the condenser lens (4) is incident, equalizes light intensity distribution of incident light, and emits the light from an emission surface (9). Among the light converged on the incident surface (7) of the integrator rod (7), a converging angle of the light converged on a center portion of the incident surface (8) is smaller than a converging angle of the light converged on a corner portion of the incident surface (8). |
| US09261763B2 |
Pico projection fixing module
A pico projection fixing module includes a bracket main body, plural color light sources, and plural collimator lenses. The bracket main body includes plural assembling seats. The plural assembling seats are arranged side by side. Each of the plural assembling seats includes a first assembling part and a second assembling part beside the corresponding first assembling part. The plural color light sources are installed on the first assembling parts of the plural assembling seats, respectively. The plural collimator lenses are installed on the second assembling parts of the plural assembling seats and aligned with the plural color light sources, respectively. Moreover, plural color light beams from the plural color light sources are projected out through the corresponding collimator lenses. Moreover, plural concave spaces are arranged around bottoms of the plural second assembling parts, respectively, wherein the plural concave spaces are separated from each other. |
| US09261757B2 |
Projector and method for controlling projector using a slidable lens shutter
A projector can not only perform power on/off operation in synchronization with open/close action of a shutter but also provide a screen mute function achieved by the shutter. When the shutter is located in an OFF position and the period timed by a timer is longer than or equal to a predetermined period during the operation of the projector, the projector is powered off. In this process, after the timing operation performed by the timer and notification from a notification unit are terminated, a light source is turned off and the projector is caused to enter a standby state. |
| US09261754B2 |
Parallel and WDM silicon photonics integration in information and communications technology systems
A wavelength converter includes first silicon waveguides and second silicon waveguides intersecting the first silicon waveguides to form an arrayed waveguide. The arrayed waveguide receives optical data signals at the same wavelength at a first input and optical pump signals at different wavelengths at a second input. Microring resonators evanescently couple different ones of the first silicon waveguides to different ones of the second silicon waveguides. Each microring resonator is tuned to the wavelength of the optical data signals or one of the wavelengths of the optical pump signals, so that different combinations of the optical data signals and the optical pump signals are provided at an output of the arrayed waveguide. A non-linear optical media converts the wavelength of each combined optical signal at the output of the arrayed waveguide to yield wavelength converted signals each having a new dedicated wavelength. |
| US09261751B2 |
Electrochromic devices
Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically-insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically-insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. |
| US09261743B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having dual link structure and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an LCD device having a dual link structure and a method of manufacturing the same, which can reduce a width of a bezel. A link line structure includes a plurality of first and second link lines which are alternately disposed. The first and second link lines are formed on different layers. Also, embodiments herein provide a method which can reduce the number of masks used in a manufacturing process and can easily manufacture the LCD device in consideration of the possibility of misalignment of exposure equipment. |
| US09261742B2 |
Display substrate, mother substrate for manufacturing the same and method of manufacturing the display substrate
A display substrate includes a circuit mounted part that has a driving IC mounted thereon. The circuit mounted part includes an input pad part connected to an input terminal of the driving IC and an output pad part connected to an output terminal of the driving IC. A flexible pad part connected to a terminal of a FPCB includes a driving pad part to receive a drive signal of the driving IC. A driving line part is connected to the driving pad part to be extended along a length direction of the circuit mounted part within the circuit mounted part. Connection lines are extended from the driving line part disposed within the circuit mounted part toward the output pad part. The connection lines are partially removed in a trimming area defined between the driving line and the output pad part. |
| US09261739B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate provided with first and second electrodes, and a second substrate disposed to be opposite to the first substrate via a liquid crystal layer. Regions of pixels each having the first and second electrodes are arranged in a matrix, and the liquid crystal layer is driven by an electric field in an in-plane direction of the first substrate, applied between the first and second electrodes. A step difference is formed at an opposite side of the first substrate for each of the pixel regions. The first or second electrode includes a wall-shaped electrode formed at a side wall surface of the step difference and a planar electrode formed from an edge of the wall-shaped electrode along the main surface of the first substrate. The wall-shaped electrode and the planar electrode are electrically connected to each other. |
| US09261737B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display including: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; a first electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a second electrode overlapping the first electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; and a first alignment layer disposed on the first electrode. The first alignment layer includes a photo-alignment layer, and the liquid crystal has negative dielectric anisotropy. |
| US09261736B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The substrate of a liquid crystal display has a non-square rectangular shape and is bent such that the longer edges of the rectangular shape are nonlinear while the shorter edges are linear. Liquid crystal containerizing micro-cavities of the display are organized to be elongated in the extending direction of the nonlinear longer edges of the substrate while gate lines and liquid crystal injection holes forming areas are formed extending in the extending direction of the linear shorter edges of the substrate. Concentration of mechanical stresses may be reduced due to this configuration. |
| US09261732B2 |
Acryl-base polymer film, optical compensation film, and liquid-crystal display device having the same
The invention relates to an optical compensation film for IPS or FFS-mode liquid crystal display devices, having the tilt angle β[°] not equal to zero, β[°] being defined as φ giving the minimum value of retardation R[φ] which is retardation measured for incident light coming in a direction tilted by φ° from a normal line relative to the film-plane, the direction being in a plane including the direction perpendicular to the in-plane slow axis thereof and the normal line; and having retardation along the thickness direction at a wavelength of 550 nm, Rth(550), not equal to zero. |
| US09261723B1 |
Reducing visibility of inter-screen gap in tiled display systems
Techniques and display systems that provide a tile display screen made up by adjacent constituent screens with a reduced level of visibility of a gap between two adjacent constituent screens. |
| US09261718B2 |
Composite thin film and composite nanocrystals containing europium (II) compound and metal
The present invention is produced by a composite with an Eu (II) compound nanoparticle and a metal nanoparticle. Such production generates quantum size effects of the Eu (II) compound nanoparticle, while the surface plasmon of the metal nanoparticle can be used. Thus, the magnetooptical property can be improved. In addition, a thin film may be produced by a composite with an Eu (II) compound nanoparticle and a metal nanoparticle. |
| US09261713B1 |
Electronically transitioning lenses
One embodiment provides a method, comprising: capturing, using a sensor, data with an ambient brightness; comparing, using a processor, the data with a rule set; determining, using a processor, an amount of tinting of glasses needs adjusted based upon the comparison of the data to the rule set; and adjusting, using a processor, the amount of tinting of glasses. Other aspects are described and claimed. |
| US09261712B2 |
Contact lenses, apparatus and methods
Method and apparatus for manufacturing a contact lens comprising: dispensing a plurality of separate portions (24) of a liquid composition onto a contact lens mold section (12, 16), each separate portion of the liquid composition having a volume of less than about 1000 nano-liters. |
| US09261705B2 |
Display device and display system
Disclosed herein is a display device, including: a display unit configured to display images each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of shutter mechanisms that carry out opening and closing operation at timings different from each other, in such a manner as to switch the images in a time-division manner; and a shutter controller configured to set a respective one of the shutter mechanisms to an opened state in a display period of the image corresponding to the respective one of the shutter mechanisms, and variably control at least one of start time and length of an opened-state period of the shutter mechanism. |
| US09261703B2 |
Multi-view autostereoscopic display
A multi-view autostereoscopic display comprising a projection device array and a pair of lenticular arrays is disclosed. The projection device array includes a plurality of projectors. Each of the projectors includes a light source array, which consists of a plurality of light sources for projecting light beams towards a split visual field via the projectors respectively. The pair of the lenticular arrays is disposed between the projection device array and the split visual field so that a portion of the light beams projected from each of the light sources can be obtained at each position on the split visual field. |
| US09261702B2 |
Optical device for beam shaping
The invention concerns an optical device and its application to generate an adjustable wave front deformation of a laser beam and thus to generate an adjustable beam spot geometry in the focal plane of laser optics. For this purpose, a device is provided which allows adjusting and modifying a laser beam in such a way that a beam spot, the shape of which can be adjusted continuously based on the original focal shape, is generated after focusing the beam, i.e. at least one dimension parameter of the shape of the beam spot has to be variable and adjustable so that the beam parameter product of the beam can also be modified without having to modify the focal position. |
| US09261700B2 |
Systems and methods for performing multi-touch operations on a head-mountable device
Embodiments described herein may provide a configuration of input interfaces used to perform multi-touch operations. An example device may involve: (a) a housing arranged on a head-mountable device, (b) a first input interface arranged on either a superior or an inferior surface of the housing, (c) a second input interface arranged on a surface of the housing that is opposite to the first input interface, and (d) a control system configured to: (1) receive first input data from the first input interface, where the first input data corresponds to a first input action, and in response, cause a camera to perform a first operation in accordance with the first input action, and (2) receive second input data from the second input interface, where the second input data corresponds to a second input action(s) on the second input interface, and in response, cause the camera to perform a second operation. |
| US09261699B2 |
Microscope apparatus and storage medium storing microscope apparatus control program
A microscope apparatus includes a monitoring optical system, an imaging unit capturing an image of an observation target through the monitoring optical system to generate a plurality of images, a correction unit disposed in the optical monitoring system and correcting various aberrations which occur due to an observation condition, and a decision unit deciding a correction amount of the correction unit based on the plurality of images generated by the imaging unit, whereby an image deterioration ascribable to the aberration occurring due to the observation condition in the microscope apparatus is appropriately and easily corrected according to a use condition of the microscope apparatus. |
| US09261695B2 |
Illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a spatial light modulator which is arranged between a light source and a pupil plane. The spatial light modulator includes an array of micromirrors or other light deflecting elements each being capable of individually deflecting impinging projection into various directions. An irradiance distribution on the mirror array or its envelope has, along a direction X an increasing slope and a decreasing slope. The control unit controls the mirrors in such a way that a first mirror, which is located at the increasing slope, and a second mirror, which is located at the decreasing slope, deflect impinging projection light so that it at least partly overlaps in the pupil plane. This ensures that the angular irradiance distribution at mask level is substantially independent from beam pointing fluctuations. |
| US09261694B2 |
Display apparatus and methods for manufacture thereof
Display devices incorporating light modulators are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such devices. According to some aspects of the invention, a control matrix for controlling light modulators of a display includes a light absorbing layer that includes a material having a substantially light absorbing property. |
| US09261688B2 |
Image relay optical system and virtual image display device including the same
An image relay optical system is provided with an optical coupling member before incidence of image light on a light guide member. Among a first light incident surface, a coupling member reflecting surface, and a first light emitting surface provided in the optical coupling member, the coupling member reflecting surface and the first light emitting surface are curved surfaces. Therefore, a large bright virtual image with reduced aberration can be displayed. |
| US09261687B2 |
Variable magnification optical system for projection and projection-type display apparatus
A variable magnification optical system for projection consists of a negative lens group and a positive lens group in this order from a magnification side. A distance on an optical axis between the negative lens group and the positive lens group changes during magnification change, and an entire system substantially consists of six lenses. The negative lens group consists of a first lens including an aspheric surface and a second lens that is a negative single lens in this order from the magnification side. |
| US09261686B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes first to fourth lens groups having negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive power, respectively, and arranged in order from an object side. The first lens group includes negative lenses. The fourth lens group is configured of one positive lens. A zooming operation from wide end to telephoto end allows the first to third lens groups to travel along an optical axis, and allows the fourth lens group to be fixed. A focusing operation allows the third lens group to travel along the optical axis. The conditional expressions 1<(R1a+R1b)/(R1a−R1b)<5 and 2<(R4a+R4b)/(R4a31 R4b)<7 are satisfied where R1a and R1b are curvature radii on the object side and on the image side of a most-object-sided negative lens in the first lens group, respectively, and R4a and R4b are curvature radii on the object side and on the image side of the positive lens in the fourth lens group, respectively. |
| US09261684B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
The zoom lens substantially consists of a positive first lens group fixed while changing magnification, a negative second lens group which moves from the object side to the image side while changing magnification, a positive third lens group which moves while changing magnification, and a positive fourth lens group which moves from the image side to the object side while changing magnification, and a positive fifth lens group fixed while changing magnification in this order from the object side. A floating system in which the third lens group and the fourth lens group move relative to each other while changing magnification is adopted. The image formation magnification rates of the combined lens group formed by the third lens group and the fourth lens group together and the second lens group simultaneously pass −1× point while changing magnification from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. |
| US09261683B2 |
Zoom lens, imaging optical apparatus, and digital device
A zoom lens includes, in an order from an object side, four groups of a positive group, a negative group, a positive group, and a negative group. For varying magnification from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first group is configured to be moved toward the object side, the second group is configured to be moved toward an image side, the third group is configured to be moved toward the object side, and the fourth group is configured to be moved toward the object side, and conditional equations of −0.63 |
| US09261682B2 |
Zoom lens
A zoom lens comprises a first lens unit G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit G3 having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit G4 having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens unit G5, and a sixth lens unit G6 having a positive refractive power. Zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end is carried out by changing a distance between the lens units, and a distance between the first lens unit G1 and the third lens unit G3 narrows at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end, and the first lens unit G1 is stationary at the time of zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, and lens units from the second lens unit G2 to the fifth lens unit G5 move. |
| US09261677B2 |
Optical image capturing lens system
This disclosure provides an optical image capturing lens system comprising: a positive first lens element having a convex object-side surface, a negative second lens element, a positive third lens element having a convex image-side surface, a fourth lens element having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; and a positive fifth lens element having a convex object-side surface at a paraxial region thereof, both of the object-side and image-side surfaces being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is positioned on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof. When particular relations are satisfied, the angle at which light projects onto the image plane can be efficiently controlled for increasing the relative illumination and preventing the occurrence of vignetting. |
| US09261667B2 |
Driving device, projector, and driving method
A driving device includes: a driving state detection unit which detects a driving state of a driving unit which drives a driving target; and a control unit which performs a first control for driving the driving unit for an amount based on the driving state of the driving unit detected by the driving state detection unit and a second control for driving the driving unit for a predetermined amount. |
| US09261662B2 |
Photoelectric conversion connector, optical transmission module, imaging apparatus, and endoscope
A photoelectric conversion connector, includes: an optical element that performs one of inputting and outputting an optical signal; an electric element that controls one of a light emission and a light reception of the optical element; and at least one substrate on which the electric element and the optical element are mounted, the substrate including an aligning and connecting part that allows connecting an optical fiber that performs one of inputting an optical signal output from the optical element and outputting an optical signal input to the optical element, the aligning and connecting part being provided on a surface different from a surface on which the optical element are mounted of the substrate, the optical fiber being connected to the substrate via the aligning and connecting part, and the optical element and the optical fiber being arranged and mounted in line along a direction of a thickness of the substrate. |
| US09261661B2 |
Structures of connecting optical waveguide parts and holding parts of holding optical input members, and a method of producing the same
A connecting structure includes an optical waveguide part, a holding part of holding an optical input member, and an adhering part adhering the optical waveguide part and holding part. The optical waveguide part includes an optical waveguide substrate including an optical waveguide. At least one of the holding part and optical waveguide part includes a recess and an adhesive face adjacent to the recess. The adhering part is provided on the adhesive face and in a single region distant from the optical waveguide substrate in a direction of thickness of the optical waveguide substrate. The recess is provided between the adhering part and optical waveguide substrate. A space is provided between an end face of the optical input member and an end face of the optical waveguide. |
| US09261659B2 |
Apparatus for concentrating solar energy
A solar concentrator comprising a transparent optical material including a first light coupling portion having an outer end and an inner end tapered so that it converges from the outer end towards the inner end; a first facet formed at the outer end and arranged to reflect light along the first light coupling portion; a first primary concentrator element arranged to focus light onto the first facet; a second light coupling portion having an outer end and an inner end tapered so that it converges from said outer end towards said inner end; a second facet formed at the outer end of the second light coupling portion and arranged to reflect light along said portion the second facet vertically overlapping the first facet; a second primary concentrator element arranged to focus light onto the second facet; a common light guide portion in optical communication with said inner ends of the first and second light coupling portions and arranged to transmit said radiation therethrough; wherein a greatest vertical thickness of the common light guide portion is less than a sum of the heights of the first and second facets. |
| US09261658B2 |
Method for fastening a fiber optic connector to a fiber optic cable
A method for fastening a fiber optic connector to a fiber optic cable including providing a fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber, loose yarn serving as strength members and an outer cable sheath surrounding the loose yarn and optical fiber; providing a fiber optic connector having at least two recesses into which strength members of a fiber optic cable can be inserted; removing a portion of the outer cable sheath at an end of the fiber optic cable, thereby exposing a portion of the loose yarn at the end of the fiber optic cable; splitting the exposed portion of the loose yarn into at least two bundles; forming at least two yarn pins from the bundles; and inserting each yarn pin into a respective recess of the fiber optic connector and fastening using an adhesive. Also disclosed is the cable assembly made by the method. |
| US09261657B1 |
Optical fiber array connector with ribbon fiber holder
An optical fiber array connector includes a ribbon fiber and a ribbon fiber holder. The ribbon fiber includes optical fibers having fixed pitch. The ribbon fiber holder includes a connection plate and a support member connected to the connection plate. The connection plate defines a ribbon shaped through hole. The support member includes a top surface and two rails. The two rails are supported by the top surface and parallel to each other. The two rails and the top surface cooperatively define a ribbon shaped receiving channel. The ribbon shaped receiving channel communicates with the ribbon shaped through hole. The ribbon fiber is received in the ribbon shaped receiving channel. The optical fibers are received in the ribbon shaped through hole. |
| US09261656B2 |
Optical transceiver interface with flat surface lens and flat surface interfaces
An optical lens connector includes a flat lens and substantially flat alignment surfaces. A lens body has a planar surface, and an optical lens is disposed in the lens body. The lens is a GRIN lens with a flat optical surface through which a light signal is propagated. The flat surface of the optical lens and the connector face enables the lens to be cleaned, and can reduce degradation due to contamination. The lens body can be housed in a sleeve as a rail guide to provide alignment of the lens with a mating connector lens. |
| US09261654B2 |
Fiber optic adapter plates with integrated fiber optic adapters
Structures, devices and methods are provided for creating fiber optic adapter plates with integrated fiber optic adapters. In one aspect, fiber optic adapter plates having integrated fiber optic adapter subassemblies are formed from a moldable plastic. For example, a molded plastic fiber optic adapter plate can include a molded plastic adapter back plate having a plurality of integrated fiber optic adapter subassemblies and one or more attachment mechanisms that facilitate locating and attaching an adapter front plate having a corresponding plurality of integrated fiber optic adapter subassemblies on the adapter front plate. Advantages provided by integrating fiber optic adapters into the molded plastic assemblies include superior mechanical strength, manufacturing cost reductions and adapter placement flexibility among other advantages. |
| US09261653B2 |
Fiber optic plug assembly and optical connector system
A fiber optic plug assembly for a fiber optic cable includes a plug body and cable attachment element. The plug body has a main portion with a front end and back end and at least one latching arm extending from the main portion. The cable attachment element has a front portion received in the back end of the main portion of the plug body, a rear portion located outside of the plug body, and a passage configured to allow at least one optical fiber to extend through the cable attachment element and into the main portion of the plug body. The rear portion of the cable attachment element receives at least a portion of the at least one latching arm. An optical connector system with a fiber optic plug assembly is also provided. |
| US09261651B2 |
Ferrule assemblies, connector assemblies, and optical couplings having coded magnetic arrays
Ferrule assemblies having at least one coded magnetic array are disclosed. In one embodiment, a ferrule assembly includes a ferrule body having a coupling surface and a coded magnetic array having a plurality of magnetic regions. The coded magnetic array may be located within the coupling surface. The ferrule assembly further includes a lens component located within the ferrule body. The lens component may have a facet at the coupling surface of the ferrule body at a predetermined angle. In another embodiment, a translating ferrule assembly includes an optical interface and a coded magnetic array, and is configured to translate within a connector housing of an optical connector when coupled to an electronics device. Optical couplings having a coded magnetic array and sockets for receiving a connector are also disclosed. |
| US09261648B2 |
Plasmonic wavelength selective switch
A plasmonic structure comprises a substrate and an electro conductor provided in or on the substrate. The electro conductor comprises a first part configured to provide a first series of plasmon resonance modes (for incident radiation of a first wavelength) and a second part configured to provide a second series of plasmon resonance modes (for incident radiation of a second wavelength). The first and second parts are functionally connected in a linkage region, wherein the electro conductor is shaped such as to form a capacitive gap. The electro conductor is further configured to direct radiation incident on the plasmonic structure of the first wavelength predominantly toward a first direction and to direct radiation incident on the plasmonic structure of the second wavelength predominantly toward a second direction, in which the first direction and the second direction are separated by an angle of at least 60°. |
| US09261647B1 |
Methods of producing strain in a semiconductor waveguide and related devices
Quasi-phase matched (QPM), semiconductor photonic waveguides include periodically-poled alternating first and second sections. The first sections exhibit a high degree of optical coupling (abbreviated “X2”), while the second sections have a low X2. The alternating first and second sections may comprise high-strain and low-strain sections made of different material states (such as crystalline and amorphous material states) that exhibit high and low X2 properties when formed on a particular substrate, and/or strained corrugated sections of different widths. The QPM semiconductor waveguides may be implemented as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), or germanium-on-silicon structures compatible with standard CMOS processes, or as silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) structures. |
| US09261646B2 |
Optical fiber with large effective area
An optical fiber with a large effective area includes a core layer and a cladding layer. The core layer comprises an inner core layer having a radius of 1-4 μm and a relative refractive index difference Δ12 of −0.2%≧Δ12<0% relative to the outer core layer, and an outer core layer having a radius of 4-7 μm and a relative refractive index difference Δ2 of −0.15%-0.05%. Δ12 remains unchanged or increases as the radius of the inner core layer increases. The cladding layer comprises an inner cladding layer cladding the core layer and having a radius of 7-20 μm and a relative refractive index difference Δ3 of −0.5%˜−0.1%, a depressed cladding layer has a radius of 12-40 μm, and a relative refractive index difference Δ4 of −1.0%˜−0.3%, and an outer cladding layer having a relative refractive index difference Δ5 of −0.2%˜−0.4%. |
| US09261639B1 |
Collimating light guide texture
An optical display device comprises a light source, a pixelated display panel, and a light guide to collect light from the light source and to transport the light via total internal reflection. A first surface of the light guide includes recessed regions having a circular-based profile, such as a quarter-circle profile, to reflect the light from the light guide to the pixelated display panel. A first optical layer covering at least a portion of the first surface of the light guide fills the recessed regions included in the first surface of the light guide. A second optical layer covering at least a portion of a second surface of the light guide transmits the reflected light to the pixelated display panel. |
| US09261636B2 |
Polarizing plate, method for preparing the same, and optical display apparatus including the same
A polarizing plate includes a polarizer having absorption and transmission axes, a protective film on an upper surface of the polarizer, a half-wavelength (λ/2) retardation film on a lower surface of the polarizer, an adhesive layer on a lower surface of the half-wavelength (λ/2) retardation film, and a quarter-wavelength (λ/4) retardation film on a lower surface of the adhesive layer. An absolute orthogonal b-coordinate value based on a CIELAB color coordinate system of the polarizing plate may be approximately 3 or less when the polarizing plate is stacked with a reference polarizing plate having a degree of polarization of at least 99.9% such that an angle between the absorption axis of the polarizer and an absorption axis of a polarizer of the reference polarizing plate or an angle between the transmission axis of the polarizer and a transmission axis of the polarizer of the reference polarizing plate is 90°. |
| US09261633B2 |
Black resin composition, resin black matrix substrate, and touch panel
Disclosed is a black resin composition with which a black matrix having high insulation properties even after heat treatment at a high temperature and, in addition, achromatic reflection properties can be readily formed. The black resin composition comprises (A) a light-shielding material, (B) an alkali-soluble resin, and (C) an organic solvent, and comprises (A-1) a carbon black and (A-2) titanium nitride compound particles as the light-shielding material (A). The carbon black (A-1) is surface-treated with a sulfur-containing compound, and in the surface composition, the percentage of carbon atoms is 95% or less and the percentage of sulfur atoms is 0.5% or more. |
| US09261632B2 |
Light emitting diode device
A light emitting diode device is described which includes at least one planar non-periodic high-index-contrast grating. The light emitting diode device includes a cavity formed between a reflective optical element and a transmissive optical element. One or both of the optical elements can be a planar non-periodic high-index-contrast grating. The transmissive optical element can be a collimating lens used to collimate incident beams of light while the reflective optical element can be a parabolic reflector used to reflect incident beams of light along a direction opposite to an incidence direction. A light emitter can be disposed within the cavity and can emit beams of light. |
| US09261630B2 |
Solar energy collection system
A method of concentrating directional radiant energy using reflective optics and receivers that convert that energy wherein the receivers are situated in the body of the reflector on risers parallel to the direction of radiant energy, each said riser bounded by at least one parabolic mirror lying closer and another lying farther from the energy source, where the focus or foci of said mirrors lie substantially in the direction faced by the receiver situated in said riser. The reflector geometries include ones in which the mirrors are parabolic cylinder sections and require only one-axis tacking to focus, and ones in which the mirrors are paraboloid sections and require two-axis tracking to focus sunlight. |
| US09261627B2 |
Zinc oxide anti-reflection layer having a syringe-like structure and method for fabricating the same
The disclosure provides a zinc oxide anti-reflection layer having a syringe-like structure and method for fabricating the same. The zinc oxide anti-reflection layer includes: a zinc oxide lower portion, wherein the zinc oxide lower portion has a nanorod array structure; and a zinc oxide upper portion connected to the zinc oxide lower portion, wherein the zinc oxide anti-reflection layer has a syringe-like structure. |
| US09261625B2 |
Ultra high resolution gravity gradiometery technique
A method and system provide the ability to measure relative displacement and rotation. A first light is continuously shined from a first light source that is fixed on a first entity to a first two-dimensional (2D) plate fixed on a second entity. The first direction of propagation of the first light does not change relative to the first entity. A second light is shined from a second light source that is fixed on the first entity to a second 2D plate fixed on the second entity. A second direction of propagation of the second light does not change relative to the first entity and is different from the first direction of propagation. The displacement of the lights on plates is directly monitored to determine a 3D displacement vector that represents a relative displacement between the first entity and the second entity. Thus, a three dimensional gravity gradient tensor is constructed. |
| US09261623B2 |
Target assembly including temperature activated coupler and related methods
A target assembly for a radiation generator may include a target body and a beam dump. The target assembly may also include a temperature activated coupler between the target body and the beam dump to move the beam dump between a non-contact position with the target body and a contact position with the target body based upon temperature. |
| US09261620B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for mapping fracture features in hydraulically fractured strata using functional proppant properties
System and method for deploying multiple antennas in an array configuration with unobstructed electromagnetic access to a formation outside of a casing, sequencing the transmitted signal to control the direction of transmission into the formation, receiving the reflected signals, and locating the position of the reflection based on the scanned transmission signal orientation and the direction of the received signal. Such a deployment of an antenna array with unobstructed electromagnetic access to the formation outside of the casing, sequencing of the interrogation signal, and analysis of the received signal relative to the transmitted signal direction form the basis for reflection image rendering as the transmitted signal is scanned by a sequenced stimulus signal. |
| US09261613B2 |
Passive monitoring method for seismic events
The invention concerns a passive monitoring method to detect the presence of and characterize a micro-seismic event (3) occurring in the subsurface, by processing seismic data recorded by a plurality of seismic receivers (R1, Rn) arranged on the earth surface (4), said seismic data comprising acquisition noise and a wave field (6) generated by the micro-seismic event, said wave field being drowned in the noise, the method comprising the performing of waveform inversion directly on the seismic data recorded by the seismic receivers with no prior detection of the wave field generated by the micro-seismic event. |
| US09261612B2 |
Nuclear radiation detector calibration downhole
Methods of evaluating a parameter of interest of a formation intersected by a borehole, including exposing a radiation sensor in the borehole to a calibration radiation source while a measurement operation using the radiation sensor is suspended. Methods may include exposing the radiation sensor to the calibration radiation source when the radiation sensor is stationary relative to the formation or during interruption of drilling operations or at predetermined intervals; processing response information, including performing a mitigation process on a portion of the response information relating to exposure of the radiation sensor to a calibration radiation source during measurement operations; or using the calibrated measurement information to estimate parameters of interest. Devices may include a radiation sensor, a calibrator including a calibration radiation source, and an actuator configured to intermittently expose the radiation sensor to the calibration radiation source. The radiation sensor may be a spectral gamma ray detector. |
| US09261611B2 |
Systems and methods for scanning with radiation detectors
Systems and methods for scanning with radiation detectors are provided. One system includes at least one radiation scanning camera-head, an array of at least one pixelated radiation detector having an imaging surface including a two dimensional array of pixels, and a scanning unit positioned between the radiation detector and the object. The scanning unit includes first and second radiation blocking plates having first and second two-dimensional arrays of openings, respectively, wherein the array of pixels and the first and second arrays of openings have a same pitch. Additionally, for each of a plurality of scan positions of the scanning unit, the first and second moveable plates and the imaging surface are positioned differently with respect to each other to produce different inclination angles in response to each scan position. |
| US09261608B2 |
Imaging apparatus, an aperture for the imaging apparatus and a method for manufacturing an aperture of an imaging apparatus
The invention is an imaging apparatus comprising a detector device (12) for determining points of incidence of photons and having an impact surface (13), and an aperture (16) suitable for projecting the photons to the detector device (12) having an inlet surface (17) and an outlet surface facing the impact surface (13), and comprising pinholes (18′, 18″, 22) connecting the inlet surface (17) and the outlet surface. The pinholes (18′, 18″, 22) comprise one or more central pinholes (18′, 22) and one or more peripheral pinholes (18″), and at least one central pinhole (18′, 22) and at least one peripheral pinhole (18″) are formed with focal opening (20′, 20″, 23) depth or focal opening (20′, 20″, 23) sizes different from each other. Furthermore, the invention is an aperture for the imaging apparatus and a method of manufacturing an aperture of an imaging apparatus. |
| US09261600B2 |
Method and system for calibrating group delay errors in a combined GPS and GLONASS receiver
A combined GPS and GLONASS receiver receives GPS signals and GLONASS signals. A calibration signal is generated utilizing the received GPS signals and/or the received GLONASS signals to offset group delay errors in the received GLONASS signals. The generated calibration signal is filtered through Kalman filters to estimate group delay variations in the received GLONASS signals. The estimated group error delay variations are combined with the received GLONASS signals to calibrate the received GLONASS signals by offsetting the estimated group error delay variations. When GPS signals are not available for use, the combined GPS and GLONASS receiver obtains group delay errors stored or in the received GLONASS signals to estimate calibration coefficients. The estimate calibration coefficients are updated utilizing received GPS and/or GLONASS signals. The updated estimated calibration coefficients are stored before turning off the combined GPS and GLONASS receiver to expedite calibrating of GLONASS signals received upon turning on. |
| US09261596B2 |
Method for monitoring of medical treatment using pulse-echo ultrasound
A method for ultrasound imaging of anatomical tissue. A first signal is received from a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from a location in the anatomical tissue during a first time period. A second signal is received from a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from the location in the anatomical tissue during a later second time period, following a discrete medical treatment. The second signal is subtracted from the first signal to form a difference signal. The difference signal may be scaled, spatially filtered, then used to generate an indication, the indication showing the effect of the medical treatment in the location in the anatomical tissue. |
| US09261595B2 |
Acoustic array with a shape alloy for medical ultrasound
A memory alloy is used during manufacture of a transducer. The memory of the alloy may correct for deviations or bending during manufacture, such as a superelastic alloy returning an array to a flat state after being twisted during handling. The memory of the alloy may cause a desired change in array geometry during manufacture, such as a shape memory alloy twisting an array into a curved or helix due to applied heat. The array may be fixed in place by the memory alloy or bonding after positioning by the memory alloy, preventing further substantial alteration. |
| US09261589B2 |
Signal processing device, radar device, vehicle control system, and signal processing method
There is provided a signal processing device. Data indicative of a past sensing point, and a counter value indicative of existence possibility of the past sensing point are stored in a storage. Whether the past sensing point has continuity to a recent sensing point is determined. The counter value associated with the past sensing point determined as having no continuity to the recent sensing point is decreased. The data is deleted from the storage means when the counter value becomes less than a first threshold value. The sensing point possibly detected by pairing peak signals obtained in first and second periods in a wrong manner is identified as a specific sensing point. A first value is decreased from the counter value associated with the past sensing point, and a second value different from the first value is decreased from the counter value associated with the specific sensing point. |
| US09261587B1 |
Methods and apparatus for highly reliable signal distribution
Methods and apparatus for providing a passive non-redundant signal distribution system including a passive combiner coupled to the first and second controlled signal sources to receive first and second signals, the combiner having an output, and a passive splitter coupled to the combiner output to provide reference signals to signal sinks, all to provide reliable dissemination of a reference signal despite failures of signal generation or distribution. |
| US09261586B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating diagnosis image, diagnosis system, and medical image system for performing the method
A method of generating a diagnosis image includes receiving signals reflected from a subject; calculating a beamforming coefficient using the received signals; synthesizing each of the plurality of low resolution images using the calculated beamforming coefficient; and synthesizing a high resolution image using the synthesized plurality of low resolution images. |
| US09261582B2 |
Intelligent radar detection device and method thereof
An intelligent radar detection device and method thereof comprise an airport signal detection device detecting a specific airport signal intensity for judging if the device enters an airport, a radio communication device identifying a takeoff of the airplane and reporting location information of the device after the airplane lands, a GPS device acquiring GPS data to ensure the location information, and a system power respectively connected to the radio communication device, the airport signal detection device, and the GPS device. The radio communication device is respectively connected to the airport signal detection device and the GPS device. The present invention for locating and tracking packages and goods transported through aviation can automatically identifies if the device enters the airport to turn off the radio communication function. The present invention also automatically identifies the takeoff of and the landing of the airplane to turn on the radio communication function. |
| US09261580B2 |
System and method for channel information exchange for time of flight range determination
A system for time-of-flight (ToF) positioning in an IEEE 802.11 network comprises an initiating station that transmits a request frame over a channel to a responding station for a ToF position measurement. The responding station may respond with an offloading of the channel information, request frame receipt time, and response frame transmit time back to the initiating station to enable the initiating station to calculate the ToF position with respect to the responding station. |
| US09261574B2 |
Structured RF coil assembly for MRI scanner
An imaging apparatus that incorporates an RF coil assembly and RF shield as part of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils, an RF coil former having inner and outer surfaces, an RF shield positioned on the outer surface of the RF coil former so as to be formed about the RF coil former, and an RF coil positioned on the inner surface of the RF coil former, with the RF coil coupled to a pulse generator to emit an RF pulse sequence and receive resulting MR signals from a subject of interest. The RF coil former comprises a generally cylindrical member having an indented portion indented in a radial direction inwardly from the outer surface, with the RF shield conforming to the RF coil former so as to also have an indented portion. |
| US09261573B1 |
Magnetic resonance system and method employing a digital SQUID
A magnetic resonance system, comprising at least one SQUID, configured to receive a radio frequency electromagnetic signal, in a circuit configured to produce a pulsatile output having a minimum pulse frequency of at least 1 GHz which is analyzed in a processor with respect to a timebase, to generate a digital signal representing magnetic resonance information. The processor may comprise at least one rapid single flux quantum circuit. The magnetic resonance information may be image information. A plurality of SQUIDs may be provided, fed by a plurality of antennas in a spatial array, to provide parallel data acquisition. A broadband excitation may be provided to address a range of voxels per excitation cycle. The processor may digitally compensate for magnetic field inhomogeneities. |
| US09261570B2 |
Magnetic sensor for improving hysteresis and linearity
A magnetic sensor includes a non-bias structure element section that has a laminated structure in which a fixed magnetic layer, a non-magnetic material layer, a free magnetic layer, and a protection layer are laminated, and that is extended in an X1-X2 direction; and soft magnetic bodies that are arranged on the element section in a contactless manner. The soft magnetic bodies include a first section, a second section, and a third section. The second section is located on a Y2 side of the element section and the third section is located on a Y1 side thereof. The second section of one of soft magnetic bodies faces the third section of the other soft magnetic body in a Y1-Y2 direction through the element section. An electrode layer is provided on the element section which faces the joint sections of the second section and the third section in the Y1-Y2 direction. |
| US09261565B2 |
Method of testing secondary battery
A method of testing a secondary battery includes step A of charging the secondary battery to a predetermined charge voltage, step B of setting aside the secondary battery for a predetermined time (tb) after the step A, step C of discharging the secondary battery to a predetermined discharge voltage after the step B, and step D of detecting a battery voltage increase for a preset time (t2) after a predetermined time (t1) has elapsed after the step C. This method of testing a secondary battery can evaluate a measurement of how much the negative electrode active material layer covers the positive electrode active material layer based on the battery voltage increase detected in the step D. |
| US09261563B2 |
System and method for improved battery charge state determination
Improved battery charge state determination. The estimated charge state of a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells is updated using Coulomb counting during battery operation, for example, while operating an electric vehicle motor. The estimated charge state may be coupled to a fuel gauge. When the battery is in a no load state, a no load voltage measurement is made. During testing, a set of relationships between battery no load voltages and associated known good charge states have been determined. The measured no load voltage is compared to the set of no load voltages associated with known good charge states. A known good charge state associated with the measured no load voltage is used to update the estimated charge state, thereby providing a more accurate indication of the actual battery charge state, thus providing a more robust and accurate fuel gauge. |
| US09261562B2 |
Portable system for immotive multiphasic motive force electrical machine testing
A portable test device (1) can be configured as a rotor conductivity anomaly tester, a magnetic core anomaly tester, or a rotational eccentricity fault tester for a multiphasic motive force electrical machine (6) by providing an immotive multiphasic motive force electrical machine test signal from a plurality of multiphasic motive force electrical machine signal generators (4) through a detachable electrical power connectivity (2) and by having a multiphasic motive force electrical machine fault analyzer (16) that can sense responses and discern the existence of a fault. Control of the test signal can be accomplished by an immotive multiphasic test signal controller (3) that varies frequency and achieves incremental movement or to achieve stator magnetization plane angle changes or movement that tests angular relationships. |
| US09261561B2 |
Scan chain latch design that improves testability of integrated circuits
A scan chain latch circuit, a method of operating a latch circuit in a scan chain, and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure defining a scan chain latch circuit for instantiation on a semiconductor die are disclosed. In an embodiment, the scan chain latch circuit comprises a first latch for holding one data value, a second latch for holding another data value, and a multiplexor. The one data value is applied to a first data input of the multiplexor and the another data value is applied to a second data input of the multiplexor. An alternating clock signal is applied to a select input of the multiplexor to control the output of the multiplexor, wherein the output of the multiplexor toggles between the two data values held in the two latches at a defined frequency. |
| US09261560B2 |
Handling slower scan outputs at optimal frequency
An embodiment provides a circuit for testing an integrated circuit. The circuit includes a scan compression architecture driven by a scan clock and generates M scan outputs, where M is an integer. A clock divider is configured to divide the scan clock by k to generate k number of phase-shifted scan clocks, where k is an integer. A packing logic is coupled to the scan compression architecture and generates kM slow scan outputs in response to the M scan outputs and the k number of phase shifted scan clocks. The packing logic further includes M number of packing elements. Each packing element includes k number of flip-flops. Each flip-flop of the k number of flip-flops receives a scan output of the M scan outputs and a phase-shifted scan clock of the k number of phase-shifted scan clocks, and generates a slow scan output of the kM slow scan outputs. |
| US09261559B2 |
IC tap with dual port router and additional update input
This disclosure describes a test architecture that supports a common approach to testing individual die and dies in a 3D stack arrangement. The test architecture uses an improved TAP design to facilitate the testing of parallel test circuits within the die. |
| US09261554B2 |
Semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof, and measuring method thereof
To provide a semiconductor device capable of being easily subjected to a physical test without deteriorating characteristics. According to a measuring method of a semiconductor device in which an element layer provided with a test element including a terminal portion is sealed with first and second films having flexibility, the first film formed over the terminal portion is removed to form a contact hole reaching the terminal portion; the contact hole is filled with a resin containing a conductive material; heating is carried out after arranging a wiring substrate having flexibility over the resin with which filling has been performed so that the terminal portion and the wiring substrate having flexibility are electrically connected via the resin containing a conductive material; and a measurement is performed. |
| US09261548B2 |
Hum noise detection device
A hum noise detection device includes: a frequency conversion unit (1) configured to perform a frequency converting process at a constant time interval on an input signal, and converting the input signal into a frequency signal; a peak frequency calculation unit (2) configured to calculate a stationary peak frequency based on the frequency signal; a fundamental frequency estimation unit (3) configured to estimate a fundamental frequency of hum noise based on the stationary peak frequency; and a hum noise judgment unit (4) configured to judge whether or not there is hum noise in the input signal based on the estimated fundamental frequency and the stationary peak frequency. |
| US09261547B2 |
Electrostatic capacitance detection device
An electrostatic capacitance detection device includes a plurality of electrodes configured to detect an electrostatic capacitance, an electrostatic capacitance measurement part configured to select one electrode from the plurality of electrodes as a detection electrode, to allow the electrodes other than the detection electrode to be in a first electric potential condition and then to be in a second electric potential condition that is different from the first electric potential condition, and to measure a first voltage of the detection electrode in the first electric potential condition and a second voltage of the detection electrode in the second electric potential condition, and a judgment part configured to compare measurement values based on the first and the second voltages of the detection electrode, thereby to judge whether the detection electrode is in a short circuit condition. |
| US09261540B2 |
Devices for measuring voltage of a power supply, detection devices, and temperature controllers
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of devices for measuring voltage of a power supply. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of detection devices and temperature controllers comprising such devices for measuring voltage of a power supply. In exemplary embodiments, a device for measuring the voltage of a power supply generally includes a resistor, a capacitor, and a control unit. One end of the capacitor is connected with the resistor, while the other end of the capacitor is connected to ground. The control unit is connected with the power supply. The control unit includes a comparator connected with the capacitor, a reference power supply connected with the comparator, a timer, and a computing unit. |
| US09261539B2 |
Method for measuring an electrical current and apparatus for this purpose
A method for measuring an electrical current with the aid of a field effect transistor inserted into a current path is disclosed, in which a control voltage is applied between the gate and source of the transistor in such a way that the voltage drop between the drain and source at the transistor in the current path remains within a specifiable range. Further, said voltage drop and the control voltage are determined. With these two values, and with a known relationship between the drain-source current, the drain-source voltage and the gate-source voltage the value of the current of interest can now be determined. Apparatus for implementing the method according to the invention is, furthermore, disclosed. |
| US09261536B2 |
Test contactor for electrical testing of electronic components
A testing apparatus for electronic components comprises a mounting block and a plurality of contact strips arranged on the mounting block. The contact strips are configured such that electrical leads of an electronic component are operative to press against and bend the contact strips in a biasing direction to ensure good contact between the electrical leads and the contact strips during testing of the electronic component. Further, a preload block located on the mounting block is operative to contact and apply a pre-stress force onto the contact strips in the biasing direction prior to contact between the electrical leads and the contact strips. |
| US09261535B2 |
Active probe adaptor
An adapter for attaching an active probe to a device under test is disclosed. According to one aspect, an active probe adapter includes an adapter body for connecting an active probe to a device under test (DUT), the adaptor body having an impedance controlled conducting path for connecting a signal of the DUT to a signal input of the active probe, the path including a signal conductor and a reference conductor. The adapter body includes probe-side electrical contacts for electrically connecting an active probe to the signal and reference conductors of the adapter, and a set of DUT-side electrical contacts for electrically connecting the signal and reference conductors of the adapter to the DUT via one or more connectors attached to the contacts. The DUT-side electrical contacts are physically arranged to allow different orientations of the connector relative to the adapter body. |
| US09261531B2 |
Quantification method and quantification apparatus for electrode material
In a quantification method for an electrode material, information regarding a distribution of a material in an electrode is obtained. Information regarding a distribution of resistance in the electrode is obtained. A scatter diagram is produced based on the information regarding the distribution of the material and the information regarding the distribution of the resistance. The scatter diagram is divided into a plurality of regions. The material constituting the electrode is quantified based on the divided regions. |
| US09261530B2 |
Acceleration sensor
An acceleration sensor includes a weight portion having a recess section and a solid section, beam portions, a movable electrode provided on the opposite surface of the weight portion from an open surface of the recess section to extend over the recess section and the solid section, a first fixed electrode arranged at the opposite side of the movable electrode from the recess section, and a second fixed electrode arranged at the opposite side of the movable electrode from the solid section. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration using a change in capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrodes caused by rotation of the weight portion. The beam portions are shifted toward the recess section such that an angle between a perpendicular line extending from a gravity center position of the weight portion to the rotation axis and a surface of the movable electrode becomes equal to 45 degrees. |
| US09261525B2 |
MEMS inertial sensor and method of inertial sensing
The invention comprises an inertia! sensor comprising a frame, a proof mass; a first resonant element having a proximal end and a distal end, the first resonant element being fixed to the frame at its proximal end and coupled to the proof mass at its distal end, a second resonant element having a proximal end and a distal end, the second resonant element being fixed to the frame at its proximal end, adjacent to the first resonant element such that there is no coupling between the second resonant element and the proof mass, a means for coupling the first resonant element to the second resonant element; a drive means coupled to the first and second resonant elements for vibrating the first and second resonant elements; and a sensor assembly for detecting the amplitude of vibration of the resonant elements. |
| US09261522B2 |
Integrity testing of hair samples
Methods for assessing the condition of keratinized structures, including hair, in particular methods to determine the condition of keratinized structures in relation to suitability for analysis of analytes of interest in a test sample, are presented. The methods comprise contacting the keratinized structure with a non-proteolytic reducing agent and an optional proteolytic agent. The methods further include inspection of the hair sample, or measurement of free protein eluted from the keratinized structure, after reduction and optional proteolysis to determine condition prior to analyte identification and quantitation by known techniques such as immunoassays. |
| US09261521B2 |
PC-O 42:4—a biomarker for visceral adiposity
The present invention generally relates to the field of biomarkers. In particular, the present invention relates to biomarkers such as PC-O 42:4 that can be used, for example for detecting and/or quantifying visceral adiposity and/or changes in visceral adiposity. This biomarker may also be used to diagnosing the effect of a change in lifestyle on visceral adiposity in a subject. |
| US09261519B2 |
Isotopic biomarkers for rapid assessment of bone mineral balance in biomedical applications
The present invention relates to the use of natural isotopes 44Ca/42Ca 87Sr/86Sr as biomarkers to measure changes in bone mineral balance and loss. |
| US09261518B2 |
Method for producing implantable medical bioprostheses having reduced calcification properties
The application relates to a method for producing a medical bioprosthesis that can be transplanted in a patient and comprises substances from animal tissue, said method comprising a step during which a bioprosthesis is positively selected for implantation in the body of said patient when (i) the phenotype in the ABO/ABH system of said bioprosthesis is compatible with (ii) the phenotype in the ABO/ABH system of said patient. |
| US09261517B2 |
Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, or angina pectoris by means of neurophysin II
The invention relates to methods for in vitro diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or angina pectoris (AP) by determining the level of neurophysin II in a sample from a patient. |
| US09261515B2 |
Method for determining volume and hemoglobin content of individual red blood cells
Provided herein is a method for determining the volume or hemoglobin content of an individual red blood cell in a sample containing a population of red blood cells. The method may be performed on a hematology analyzer. Also provided are a hematology analyzer for performing the method and a computer-readable medium containing programming for performing the method. |
| US09261513B1 |
Antibody biomarker specific for mitotic cells and related methods
An isolated antibody having a specific binding affinity for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence HTEGKP (SEQ ID NO: 2) phosphorylated at threonine is described. The antibody may be used as biomarker for mitotic cells. A method for using the antibody includes contacting a cell with the antibody and detecting antibody bound to the cell as an indicator of the cell being in the mitotic state. A reagent kit comprising the antibody is also described. |
| US09261512B2 |
Biomarker for treating cancer patients
The present invention concerns biomarkers and use thereof for determining whether a subject is or is not susceptible to developing a prophylactic or therapeutic immune response after such treatment. |
| US09261508B2 |
Antisense RNA for treating cancer and inhibition of metastasis and vectors for antisense sequestration
Provided is the use of antisense RNA and methods for the treatment, diagnosis and prophylaxis of cancer comprising administering said antisense RNA, particularly miRs 15 and 16 to a patient in need thereof. |
| US09261500B2 |
Analyte detection
The present disclosure provides methods and/or kits for detecting an analyte in a sample. Some embodiments provide a method for detecting a non-nucleic acid analyte in a sample using a solid substrate comprising a bound immobilization agent and an antibody capture agent and a detectable agent, which can bind to the analyte. The antibody capture agent comprises, at a plurality of sites, a ligand for the immobilization agent. A complex between the analyte, the antibody capture agent and a detectable agent is formed and immobilized on the solid substrate by binding between the immobilization agent and the ligand. In some embodiments, the ligand and the immobilization agent are a binding pair comprising a peptide tag and an anti-peptide tag antibody. |
| US09261498B2 |
Biomarker for sensitivity to mTOR inhibitor therapy in kidney cancer
The invention disclosed herein provides methods for the examination and/or quantification of biochemical pathways that are disregukted in pathologies such as cancer and to reagents and kits adapted for performing such methods. For example a correlation between VHL loss and mTOR inhibitor sensitivity in human kidney cancer cells is disclosed, indicating that VHL loss confers autonomous and angiogenic competitive advantages to such cells. |
| US09261497B2 |
Method of treating cancer with modulators of SCFSkp2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention is also directed to a method of treating cancer in a subject. Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting SCF-Skp2 activity and a method of identifying inhibitors of SCF-Skp2 activity. |
| US09261496B2 |
Device for high throughput investigations of multi-cellular interactions
Provided herein are microfluidic devices that can be used as a 3D bioassay, e.g., for drug screening, personalized medicine, tissue engineering, wound healing, and other applications. The device has a series of channels {e.g., small fluid channels) in a small polymer block wherein one or more of the channels can be filled with a biologically relevant gel, such as collagen, which is held in place by posts. As shown herein, when the device is plated with cells such as endothelial cells, new blood vessels grow in the gel, which is thick enough for the cells to grow in three dimensions. Other channels, e.g., fluid channels, allow drugs or biological material to be exposed to the 3D cell growth. Cells, such as endothelial cells, can be cultured and observed as they grow on the surface of a 3D gel scaffold, where e.g., rates of angiogenesis can be measured, as well as intervascularization and extravascularization of cancerous cells. |
| US09261495B2 |
Method for flagging a blood sample
A hematology analyzer is provided. In certain embodiments, the hematology analyzer comprises: a) a flow cell; b) a light source for directing light to the flow cell; c) a plurality of detectors for detecting a plurality of optical characteristics of a blood cell passing through the flow cell; and d) a data analysis workstation programmed to: i. enumerate test blood cells passing through the flow cell; and ii. flag a blood sample as containing lysis-resistant red blood cells or fragile white blood cells. |
| US09261494B2 |
Biosensor cartridge
A biosensor cartridge includes a plasma separator, a plasma metering chamber, a mixer, and a biosensor. |
| US09261491B2 |
Urea solution quality determining system
A urea solution quality determining system may include a urea tank in which a urea solution is filled through a charging hole, a test chamber positioned below the charging hole for holding a portion of the urea solution, a main line connected to the urea tank at a lower part of the urea tank below the test chamber, a test line connected to the test chamber, a pumping line to which the main line and the test line are joined, a pump in the pumping line to pump the urea solution from the test chamber or from the urea tank, a control valve for selectively connecting the main line or the test line to the pumping line, and an injector at an end of the pumping line to inject the urea solution into an exhaust line through which an exhaust gas flows. A method is also described. |
| US09261486B2 |
Technique for imaging using array of focused virtual sources using phased excitation
The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting, measuring and evaluating defects in an object and/or specific material property of an object using a phased array wave technique. The device comprises of a phased array transceiver probe/source and control unit for use in a phased array wave technique for transmitting and receiving wave signals on and from the area to be inspected. The phased array source is divided into a plurality of virtual probes/sources and each virtual probe/source comprises of plurality of elements arranged sequentially but without phasing for excitation. |
| US09261483B2 |
Acoustic wave detector and acoustic wave measurement apparatus
An acoustic wave detector includes: a transducer; and a light reflecting member which is positioned between the transducer and a subject surface that is irradiated with the light, and which reflects scattered light on the subject surface. The light reflecting member includes a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface positioned closer to the transducer than the first reflecting surface, and a distance between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface is an odd multiple of a half wavelength of a predetermined wavelength included in an acoustic wave generated from the light reflecting member by the scattered light. |
| US09261480B2 |
Ceramic heater and gas sensor
A terminal connection portion has a plate shape extending in an axial direction and has a constant width dimension. A terminal front end edge thereof has a convex shape at a front end side in the axial direction and has a circular-arc shape with a radius from 0.5 times to 0.8 times the width dimension, and is arranged in the center between a first pad side edge and a second pad side edge, on an electrode pad. A brazing material portion has a form spreading to a front end side in the axial direction away from the terminal connection portion. A brazing material front end edge which is a front end edge of the brazing material portion has a convex and circular-arc shape at the front end side in the axial direction, and is configured to be apart from a pad front end edge. |
| US09261479B2 |
Electrochemical test sensor and method of making the same
An electrochemical test sensor being adapted to assist in determining information relating to an analyte in a fluid sample and includes a base and a second layer. The base includes a plurality of electrodes, a working conductive lead and a counter conductive lead thereon. The electrodes include a working electrode and a counter electrode. The second layer assists in forming a channel in which the channel includes a reagent therein. Auto-calibration information of the test sensor is performed by a plurality of auto-calibration segments connected to one of the following: the working conductive lead, the counter conductive lead, or neither of the conductive leads, at least one of the plurality of auto-calibration segments being connected to the working conductive lead and at least one of the plurality of auto-calibration segments being connected to the counter conductive lead. |
| US09261477B2 |
Hematocrit corrected glucose measurements for electrochemical test strip using time differential of the signals
Various embodiments that allow for determination of hematocrit by a time differential between the input and output signals such that a glucose measurement for a blood sample can be corrected by the measured hematocrit of the blood sample. |
| US09261475B2 |
Inspection equipment and inspection method
Foreign metal inspection equipment is provided with: a conveying device for conveying a sample to be subjected to inspection; electrodes positioned so as to face the surface of the sample; a measurement device for measuring the capacitance between the electrodes and the sample being conveyed by the conveying device; and a processing unit that inspects for foreign metal mixed in the sample on the basis of the change in capacitance measured by the measurement device. |
| US09261474B2 |
Methods for analysis of fluids
A method for analyzing a sample includes providing a sensor assembly having a sensing region with a plurality of resonant circuits, and a plurality of tuning elements. The method further includes exposing the sensor assembly to an environment comprising the sample, and probing the sample with one or more frequencies generated by the sensor assembly. Furthermore, the method includes determining an impedance of a sensor response over a measured spectral frequency range of the sensor assembly, and relating measurement of impedance of the sensor assembly to at least one environmental property of the sample. |
| US09261473B2 |
Non-destructive testing system
Non-destructive testing system performs accurate testing as to whether lamination joining portion of different metal materials is in strong joining state by secure metal joining. The system sets a lamination joining portion of different metal materials of a work to a certain position and angle. Laser light in certain waveform is applied to lamination joining portion surface to capture images by infrared camera, and data processing device obtains infrared images. Based on infrared images, Fourier transform is performed on each pixel of infrared images, and phase image is created by console device. Based on created phase image, effectiveness/defectiveness of joining is determined. In this non-destructive testing, whether reflection by vertical wall in vicinity is significant is determined, based on intensity of infrared images obtained immediately after irradiation with laser and angle between laser light optical axis and testing part surface is finely adjusted to obtain infrared images with less noise. |
| US09261471B2 |
Device for measuring urea concentration
A device for monitoring a urea solution in a tank of a motor vehicle tank includes a light source capable of emitting a light beam, a photodetector capable of detecting a portion of a light beam emitted by the light source, and a part made of a material allowing the propagation of a light beam emitted by the light source. The part includes a surface intended to be in contact with the urea solution. The light source, the photodetector, and the part are arranged in such a way that a light beam emitted by the light source is propagated by the surface of the part, by refraction, toward the photodetector. A tank including such a monitoring device is provided. A process for monitoring a urea solution in a tank of a motor vehicle is also provided. |
| US09261458B2 |
Microscope system and method for measuring refractive index of sample
A microscope system includes: a wavefront modulator that modulates a wavefront of light from a light source; an objective that irradiates a sample with light whose wavefront has been modulated by the wavefront modulator; a spherical aberration corrector that corrects spherical aberration caused by a difference between a refractive index of a medium between the objective and the sample and a refractive index of the sample; a refractive index calculator that calculates, for each wavelength of the light from the light source, an average refractive index of a medium between the objective and a condensing position of light emitted from the objective on the basis of an amount of the corrected spherical aberration; and a controller that controls the wavefront modulator to correct chromatic aberration calculated on the basis of the calculated average refractive index for each wavelength. |
| US09261456B2 |
Terahertz spectroscopy of rough surface targets
A method and system for analyzing noisy terahertz spectroscopy data transforms the measured time-dependent data into frequency space, for example, using a discrete Fourier transform, and then transforms the frequency spectrum into wavelet frequency space. The twice-transformed data is analyzed to identify spectroscopic features of the signal, for example, to identify a resonance frequency. The method may be used, for example, in a stand-off detector to identify particular chemicals in a target. |
| US09261455B2 |
Capillary microcuvette having double loading means
The present invention relates to a capillary microcuvette, the microcuvette comprises a body member having two plates and a cavity formed within the body, the cavity being defined by two opposing inner surfaces of the two plates of the body member, a portion of the cavity defining a detection zone, a capillary inlet being provided at one end of the body member that is communicated with the cavity, a sample slot being provided at a portion of the body member in which the capillary inlet is not formed, the sample slot being communicated with the cavity. The present microcuvette improves user convenience by providing dual application means of applying a specimen directly from a fingertip or using a pipette. |
| US09261454B2 |
Cell culture vessels for meniscus reduction with aqueous solutions
A meniscus reducing member for use in a vessel for containing a liquid including a surface feature overlying at least a portion of an interior surface of the vessel. The surface feature includes at least two surfaces for contacting the liquid that cooperate to reduce a width of a meniscus formed at an interface between the liquid and the surface feature by physically altering a contact angle between the liquid and the surface feature. |
| US09261452B2 |
Flow cytometer
Embodiments are directed to a host structure that includes a waveguide configured to deliver measurement light to a compartment at least partially within the host structure. The compartment is configured to reversibly engage a fluidic optical cartridge. The host structure also includes a detector configured to receive and process output light emanating from the fluidic optical cartridge as well as electronics to process signals from the detector. |
| US09261448B2 |
Particle size distribution measuring apparatus
A particle size distribution measuring apparatus having: a light intensity distribution obtaining unit for obtaining the light intensity distribution that occurs when the sample cell is irradiated with light for measurement from a light source through detection by a detector; and a particle size distribution calculating unit for calculating the particle size distribution of the particles to be measured included in the sample by using the light intensity distribution obtained by the light intensity distribution obtaining unit, the temperature adjusting member for adjusting the temperature of the sample cell is movable between a first location along the light path around the sample cell and a second location that is outside the light path, and the temperature adjusting member is moved to the second location when the sample is irradiated with the light for measurement from the light source. |
| US09261447B2 |
Apparatus and method for monitoring particles in a stack
A method of monitoring particles in a stack comprises generating on a first side of the stack a beam of light directed towards a second, opposite, side of the stack. The beam is reflected back towards the first side of the stack and through the particles in the stack. An image is obtained of light scattered from the particles. The image is obtained using an imager positioned and oriented to have a field of view that includes unwanted scattered light. The method includes the step of blocking the unwanted scattered light from the image. |
| US09261446B2 |
Rotational viscometer
A rotational viscometer contains a measuring shaft that can be rotated at a specified rotational speed, a measuring part that is carried by the measuring shaft and that can be lowered into a sample, and a detection unit for determining the angle of torsion of the measuring part relative to the driven part of the measuring shaft. Accordingly, a twistable element is inserted into the measuring shaft, preferably in the section of the measuring shaft close to a motor. The detection unit is moved along with the shaft and determines the relative twist or the angle of torsion (twist) between the shaft part located on the motor side relative to the twistable element and the shaft part located on the measuring-part side. The output signals of the detection unit are fed to an evaluation device as the basis for determining the viscosity of the sample. |
| US09261440B2 |
Punching device with gripper unit
A punching device is provided for processing samples applied to a sample card comprising at least one punching head with a punch and a lower die, the punch being movable between a resting position and a punching position. The punching head has a receiving opening into which a sample card can be introduced by a movable gripping unit, and a punching drive, which drives the movement of the punch between the resting position and the punching position. A piece of sample punched out from the sample card can be discharged at an outlet opening of the lower die into a receiving recess of a receiving container. The gripper unit comprises a sample card gripper and a receiving container gripper which are moveable by a drive unit in three main directions that are orthogonal to one another. |
| US09261437B2 |
Attached matter inspection device
Sample fine particles attached to an inspection object are identified simply and with high accuracy, and an increase in operation rate and a decrease in device size are achieved. The inspection object is transported into a sampling chamber defined by a pair of side walls and an upper wall enclosing a part of a transport route of a transport unit. The inspection object is sprayed with compressed gas from an air nozzle, the peeled sample fine particles are aspirated into a collector, and the sample fine particles are separated from the aspirated gas for analysis. The air nozzle is disposed on one of the side walls defining the sampling chamber. The collector is disposed under the other side wall as a container independent from the sampling chamber. |
| US09261436B2 |
Fluid treatment device and method for treating fluid
A fluid treatment device (100) has a first substrate (210), a second substrate (120), and a resin film (130) located between the first substrate (210) and the second substrate (120). On the first substrate (210) are formed a first flow channel (111), a region (214) facing a valve formed at the end of the first flow channel (111), a second flow channel (112), and a barrier wall (215) located between the region (214) facing the valve and the end of the second flow channel (112). On the second substrate (120) is formed a pressure compartment (123). The region (214) facing the valve and the barrier wall (215) face the pressure compartment (123) on opposite sides of a diaphragm (131) of resin film (130). |
| US09261435B2 |
Apparatus and method for testing multiple samples
The invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously injecting fluids into a plurality of samples of porous media, comprising: a plurality of holders for the samples of porous media, each holder comprising a sleeve and first and second platens, the first platen having an inlet for an injection fluid and the second platen having an outlet for a produced fluid, and the samples of porous media being arranged, in use, in each of the holders such that the first platen and second platen of each holder contact a first and second end of the sample of porous medium respectively, the inlet of each first platen being in fluid communication with an injection line for injecting fluid into the sample of porous medium arranged in the holder, the outlet of each second platen being in fluid communication with a dedicated effluent line for removing fluid produced from the sample of porous medium arranged in the holder, on-line and/or off-line analytical means for analyzing the fluids injected into each of the samples of porous media, on-line and/or off-line means for analyzing the fluids removed from each of the samples of porous media. A method of simultaneously injecting injection fluid into the samples of porous media is also provided. |
| US09261434B2 |
Tire uniformity testing system having a testing station for changing rim sets
An apparatus for changing rim sets at a testing station of a tire uniformity testing system that includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of rim set assemblies. A transfer arm is reciprocally movable and includes a gripper mechanism for gripping a rim set assembly and moving it from a storage position to a position at which rims forming part of the rim set assembly are aligned with opposed spindles at the testing station. The rim set assembly includes a bracket having structure engageable by the transfer arm and at least one of the rims forming part of the assembly includes a locking member rotatable between a first position and a second position. The bracket includes a structure for immobilizing the rim to inhibit relative rotation between the rim and the bracket and further includes a lever mechanism for moving the locking member from its first position to its second position in order to engage retaining members forming part of the bracket. The lever mechanism moves the locking member from its second position to its first position when the rim is aligned with an associated spindle in order to engage other retaining members forming part of the spindle. The rim is released from the bracket as the locking member moves to engage the other retaining members. After release, the bracket moves to a remote position spaced from the testing station. To remove the rim sets, the steps for attaching rims to the spindles are reversed in order to release the rims from the spindles while simultaneously engaging the bracket. The resulting rim set assembly is moved to a remote position defined by a storage unit that stores a plurality of rim set assemblies. The disclosed locking member and associated rim can be used to facilitate the manual installation of a test rim to a spindle. |
| US09261433B2 |
Misfire detection system of internal combustion engine
When ignition is retarded in an internal combustion engine, an engine misfire detection system calculates a difference between combustion-time engine torque produced when combustion takes place in the engine, and expansion torque corresponding to non-combustion-time engine torque produced when the engine rotates without causing combustion, at intervals of a predetermined crank angle, calculates a shift amount with which a total value of the differences within a misfire determination period is maximized, and shifts the misfire determination period by the shift amount. |
| US09261431B2 |
Engine control apparatus and control method for the same
An engine control apparatus includes a stack detecting unit, a count processing unit, a stack value storage control unit, and an abnormality determination unit. The abnormality determination unit determines that a sensor has a stack abnormality when a count value by the count processing unit becomes equal to or more than an abnormality determination threshold. When maximum value of the detected value of the sensor detected during a determination period is lower than a value stored in a storage unit and a stack state has not been detected by the stack detecting unit during the determination period, the count processing unit does not count up a counter and does not reset the counter. |
| US09261427B2 |
Fixture for camera modules
A fixture includes a base, a carrier plate, a number of pressing strips, and a cover. The base defines a base receiving chamber. The carrier plate is received in the base receiving chamber and defines a number of receiving portions in a surface opposite to the base, each receiving portion is configured for receiving a camera module, the receiving portions being arranged in a plurality of lines, the carrier plate defines a spacing portion between each two adjacent receiving portions in the same line. Each pressing strip is pressed into the spacing portions associated with one of the lines of the receiving portions to press the camera modules in the lines of the receiving portions. The cover is fixed to the base and covers the carrier plate. |
| US09261426B2 |
System and method for automated integrity testing
A testing system and method for performing integrity testing in a gas piping system include using a motorized pump to pressurize the piping system. A pressure sensor is used for measuring the pressure in the piping system, and an input device receives inputs from an operator related to a test to be performed. An output device is provided for communicating information to the operator. A control system includes at least one controller and is configured to: control the pump to pressurize the piping system to a predetermined pressure, receive inputs from the pressure sensor, and output data related to the pressure of the piping system. |
| US09261424B2 |
Method of assessing shaft alignment based on energy efficiency
A method of determining and utilizing an Energy Efficiency Indicator, the method initiating with a step of determining a distal or angular offset between a pair of coupled shafts provided between adjacent rotating machines. The offset is correlated to energy efficiency between the pair of coupled shafts. Correlation is referred to as an Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI). The Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) can be used to predict changes in alignment, changes in energy efficiency, and the like. Monitoring the coupled rotating machines and using the Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) can provide the operator with predictive information to enhance the reliability and extend the lifespan of the coupled rotating machines. |
| US09261423B2 |
Piezoresistive load sensor
A three-axis load sensor utilizing four piezoresistive devices on a flexible silicon membrane is provided. The load sensor further includes a mesa disposed on the membrane substantially equidistant from the piezoresistive devices. A six-axis load cell is provided by placing a plurality of load sensors disposed on a substrate, the substrate configured to attach to an object wherein forces applied to the object can be measured and/or determined. The load sensors can be manufactured using bulk microfabrication techniques on a single crystal silicon wafer, and can detect normal and shear loading applied to the membrane. |
| US09261420B2 |
Digital device and method for measuring the axial load of a torque-shear-type high strength bolt
The present invention relates to a digital device and a method for measuring the axial load of a torque-shear-type high strength bolt. One embodiment of the digital device of the present invention includes: a main body portion which is connected to an electromotive wrench fastening a torque-shear-type high strength bolt; a measurement portion disposed at the main body portion to measure the axial load of the torque-shear-type high strength bolt using a quantity of the electricity from the electromotive wrench; a power supply portion disposed at the main body portion and including a power lead-in portion for receiving an external power supply and a power lead-out portion for supplying power to the electromotive wrench; and a display portion displaying the axial force value measured by the measurement portion. |
| US09261419B2 |
Modular load structure assembly having internal strain gaged sensing
A modular assembly for measuring forces on a structure. The structure may contain a strain gage module that is insertable in a cavity or hole in the structure. There may be numerous structures that can contain a strain gage module. These structures may have various configurations, sizes, and shapes. Despite the various configurations, sizes and shapes, the structures may have cavities or holes of the same size that accept strain gage modules of the same size. Modules of the same size may be easier and less expensive by being produced in multiple quantities, than modules of various sizes. An electronics module may be attached to or separate from the structure. Electronics modules may also be the same items for various structures and be produced in multiple quantities. One example application of the structure may be a strain gage instrumented load pin replacing a standard connecting pin. |
| US09261418B2 |
Systems and methods for common mode signal cancellation in press detectors
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems, methods, and apparatus for common mode signal cancellation in force change detectors. An example embodiment of the disclosed technology includes a press sensor element configured to reduce or eliminate thermally induced signals. The sensor element includes a piezoelectric layer that includes a first surface in communication with a first layer. The first layer includes a first conductive region. The piezoelectric layer includes a second surface in communication with a second layer. The second layer includes a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a non-conductive void region separating the second conductive region and the third conductive region. The second and third conductive regions are configured to substantially reduce a thermally-induced voltage change between two or more of the first, second and third conductive regions responsive to a corresponding temperature change of at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer. |
| US09261417B2 |
Methods and devices for measuring the temperature of a strand-like material
The disclosure relates to a method for measuring the temperature of a strand-like material to be heated to a target temperature, including the steps: the strand-like material is guided in heat conducting contact about at least one disk, mounted so as to rotate, that is heated to a predefined temperature, and a difference is measured between the temperature of the strand-like material or a value characterizing the temperature of the strand-like material, before conveyance about the disk and after conveyance about the disk. The disclosure also relates to a corresponding device. |
| US09261413B2 |
Clip for attaching battery temperature sensor
A clip includes an abutting portion abutting against an outer surface of a case; an insertion hole to which a sensor main body can be inserted; a holding tube through which the sensor main body can pass, and can internally hold an overhanging portion; a leg tube which can be inserted into an attachment hole; and elastic claws sandwiching the case between the abutting portion and the elastic claws. In the abutting portion, at least a pair of ribs is provided, which is positioned respectively in both end portions in a diametrical direction of the abutting portion; protrudes toward the outer surface of the case; and applies a force to the holding tube in a direction bending the abutting portion and narrowing an open end surface when the case is sandwiched between the pair of elastic claws and the ribs. |
| US09261411B2 |
Uncooled microbolometer detector and array for terahertz detection
An uncooled microbolometer detector that includes a substrate, a platform held above the substrate by a support structure, at least one thermistor provided on the platform, and an optical absorber. The optical absorber includes at least one electrically conductive layer extending on the platform over and in thermal contact with the at least one thermistor and patterned to form a resonant structure defining an absorption spectrum of the uncooled microbolometer detector. The optical absorber is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and absorbs the electromagnetic radiation according to the absorption spectrum. A microbolometer array including a plurality of uncooled microbolometer detectors arranged in a two-dimensional array is also provided. Advantageously, these embodiments allow extending the absorption spectrum of conventional infrared uncooled microbolometer detectors to the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| US09261403B2 |
Inline spectroscopic reader and methods
An inline spectroscopic reader having a light source, one or more optics heads, a spectrometer and a data processing system in digital communication with the spectrometer detector. The optics heads include transmission optics providing for the illumination of a target with light from the light source and detection optics providing for the collection of light from the target. Typically, the target is moving with respect to the optics head during spectroscopic interrogation. The spectroscopic reader is thus an inline reader well suited to provide spectrum based production or analytical decision making in real time as the target moves along a production or analysis line. Also disclosed are methods including the steps of illuminating a target with light from a light source; collecting light from the target; obtaining a digitized spectrum with a spectrometer; extracting information content from the digitized spectrum; and basing a contemporaneous process decision upon the information content. |
| US09261399B2 |
Method and device for determining acoustic coefficients and acoustic power
A method for determining the acoustic absorption coefficient and/or the transmission coefficient at a chosen position in a space in which a certain sound field prevails as a result of the operation of a sound-emitting source, and/or the acoustic power emitted by the source comprises the following steps of: (a) measuring the sound pressure p(t) and the particle velocity v(t) at the chosen position in the space; (b) calculating the Fourier transforms P(f), V(f) of p(t), v(t); (c) calculating on the basis of P(f) and V(f) the time-averaged active intensity Iac(f) in the direction indicated with the vector n, being the normal vector on the relevant surface, and the time-averaged total intensity Itot(f), in the direction indicated with the vector n; (d) determining the time-averaged incident sound intensity in the direction n: Iin(f)=½(Iac(f)+Itot(f)); and the step of: (e) determining the time-averaged absorption coefficient in the direction n: α=Iac(f)/Iin(f); and/or the step of: (f) determining the transmission coefficient θ=Iac(f)/Iin(f) in the direction n for barriers wherein the mechanical absorption can be disregarded; and/or the steps of: (q) defining an enveloping surface around the sound-emitting source; and (r) determining the emitted acoustic power by integrating Iin(f) over the enveloping surface. The invention also relates to a device for performing the method. |
| US09261397B2 |
In-motion scale, in particular, conveyor scale with a conveyor belt
The invention relates to an in-motion scale, in particular, to a conveyor scale with a conveyor belt, with a load cell (9) and a conveying device (5) for goods to be weighed, in particular, packaged goods, for feeding the goods to and leading them away and from the load cell (9), and with a control device (11) for controlling the functions of the in-motion scale. According to the invention, the control device (11) can be changed over to a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scale (1) are controlled according to a specified cleaning-mode functional model so that danger to operating personnel and/or damage to the in-motion scale (1) is reduced or eliminated. |
| US09261396B2 |
System and method for monitoring liquid level in containers/reservoirs
A system for monitoring level of a liquid in a reservoir of a machine is provided. The system includes a liquid sensor (112) that measures said level of said liquid in said reservoir, a fixed voltage feed (110) that generates a regulated voltage, a sampling unit (114) that samples one or more parameters of the machine and a calibration unit (124) that calibrates the system for monitoring the level of said liquid in a reservoir of a machine in one or more modes to obtain a mathematical relation between the parameter and the level of the liquid. The calibration unit executes a calibration process during a first mode and obtains a calibrated data that corresponds to the parameter during a second mode. |
| US09261391B2 |
System for monitoring a surface for gas and oil flow
A system for monitoring for gas and oil flow venting from a surface using time intervals, size and velocity, and using a processor with a data storage containing a bubble flow classification chart and bubble flow categories. The data storage receives at least one: video feed, drilling parameter data feed, seismic profile data feed, logging while drilling data feed, measurement while drilling data feed, sonar data feed, and hydrographic data feed to verify a determined bubble flow category and bubble flow classification as a baseline bubble flow classification and provides an alarm when a bubble flow emergency is ascertained due to a change in bubble flow classification without an anticipated change or changes outside predefined acceptable limits within the video feed, drilling parameter data feed, seismic profile data feed, logging while drilling data feed, sonar data feed, hydrographic data feed, or measurement while drilling data feed. |
| US09261386B2 |
Detecting probe mounting device
A detecting probe mounting device for fixation in the proximity to a rotating member of a machine is provided. The detecting probe mounting device includes at least two detecting probes with a connecting part and a detecting part for detecting parameters of the machine and/or the rotating member, a probe support structure with one through hole for each detecting probe and with mounting means for mounting each detecting probe at the probe support structure, wherein in a mounted state the connecting part and the detecting part are located on different sides of each through hole, and fixing means for fixing the probe support structure at a predefined position in proximity to the rotating member of the machine, wherein in the fixed state the detecting part of each detecting probe is facing the rotating member. |
| US09261380B2 |
Intelligent adjustment of map viewports at launch
A method of selectively displaying maps on a mobile device. The method sends a map application, which had been displaying a first map, to the background. The method then returns the map application to the foreground. The method then determines whether to redisplay the previous map or display a map surrounding the then current location of the device. The determination is based on various factors including user interaction, time that the map application has been in the background and distance traveled while the map application is in the background. |
| US09261378B2 |
Navigation assistance, driver assistance system, as well as method for navigating at least one means of transportation
A navigation assistance system for a vehicle enables possible routes from the starting point to a destination to be ascertained with the aid of route network data, a preferred route being specified, and at least one driving recommendation that guides at least one user along the specified route being output, such that no driving recommendations are output that are superfluous for and therefore irritating and/or disturbing to the operator of the vehicle. The number of times or the frequency with which the vehicle has already previously passed at least one location point or junction point of the preferred route is ascertained, and the at least one driving recommendation for this point of the preferred route is suppressed if the ascertained number of times or frequency reaches at least one threshold value. |
| US09261374B2 |
Optimized route planning and personalized real-time location-based travel management
A method for optimized route planning for a user, including: (a) determining a departure point and a destination point for multimodal travel; (b) based on said departure point and destination point, computing and proposing criteria for restricting the number of candidate routes to consider, (c) proposing an updated list of candidate routes between said departure point and said destination point, said updated list being either: i) automatically displayed after a delay, and/or: ii) based on user selection of said criteria. |
| US09261372B2 |
User-centric annotated location aware asset mapping
According to one general aspect, a method may include receiving a floor map indicating a structural layout of a physical location, receiving a point-of-interest (POI) data structure representing a POI and POI metadata associated with the POI, POI data structure including a location of an associated POI that is associated with the POI, and the POI metadata including a POI type indicating a type of the associated POI, and a POI status indicating the status of the associated POI, annotating the floor map by overlaying on the selected floor map an indicator for each selected POI data structure such that the indicator is placed on the floor map at a location representing the physical location of the respective associated POI and indicates the type of the associated POI and the status of the associated POI, displaying a portion of the annotated floor map, and initiating a POI action. |
| US09261371B2 |
System and method of voice based personalized interactive evacuation guidance
Systems and methods of voice based personalized interactive evacuation guidance are provided. Some methods include receiving a notification about an occurrence of a predetermined event in a monitored region, responsive to receiving the notification, pairing with a fixed device in the monitored region, responsive to pairing with the fixed device, transmitting location identifying information to a remote wireless system, and receiving, from the remote wireless system, information identifying an optimal route from a current location. Some methods include receiving user input requesting an optimal route from location A to location B in a monitored region, transmitting the user input to the remote wireless system, and receiving, from the remote wireless system, information identifying the optimal route. |
| US09261370B2 |
Provision of navigation service including reporting of elevation information and/or vertical guidance
Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with navigation service are disclosed. In various embodiments, a method may include collecting, by a client mobile device, ambient barometric pressure information at a current location of the client mobile device. The method may further include providing, by the mobile device, contemporaneous navigation assistance to a user of the mobile device or for a user of the mobile device, assisted by a remote navigation assistance service. Assistance by the remote navigation service is associated with determining the current elevation level, based at least in part on ambient barometric pressure information collected by the client mobile device and by one or more crowdsourced mobile devices at the current location. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed. |
| US09261368B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a device flashlight as feedback for guidance purposes
An approach is provided for linking the navigation and flashlight functions of a mobile device for guidance purposes. A coordination platform determines mapping information, navigation information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one device. The coordination platform determines at least one operational parameter for at least one flashlight component of the at least one device based, at least in part, on the mapping information, the navigation information, or a combination thereof. The coordination platform causes, at least in part, a configuration of the at least one flashlight component based, at least in part, on the at least one operational parameter. |
| US09261366B2 |
Automatic origin determination for faster route request initiation and resulting system response time
When a user enters, initializes, or otherwise starts using a navigation function, such as a navigation function on a mobile phone or a stand-alone device, a current location is automatically estimated, prior to or in the absence of a GPS fix, for use as an origin in route determination. The estimation of current location is performed using a database of GPS fixes that are mapped to cell tower identifiers. For example, the database can include one or more fixes associated with each cell tower that the mobile device has used. Thus, when navigation on the device is begun, one or more cell towers to which the device can communicate are identified. If any has a GPS fix in the database, then a location derived from such GPS fix(es) can be used as an origin for navigation functions. Such navigation functions can include estimating a time of arrival at a destination, producing a route to the destination, and checking for traffic updates. |
| US09261356B2 |
Confocal surface topography measurement with fixed focal positions
An apparatus is described for measuring surface topography of a three-dimensional structure. In many embodiments, the apparatus is configured to focus each of a plurality of light beams to a respective fixed focal position relative to the apparatus. The apparatus measures a characteristic of each of a plurality of returned light beams that are generated by illuminating the three-dimensional structure with the light beams. The characteristic is measured for a plurality of different positions and/or orientations between the apparatus and the three-dimensional structure. Surface topography of the three-dimensional structure is determined based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the returned light beams for the plurality of different positions and/or orientations between the apparatus and the three-dimensional structure. |
| US09261355B2 |
Device for optically measuring the curvature of a rotor blade of a wind power plant
This disclosure relates to a device for optically measuring the curvature of a rotor blade (18) of a wind power plant (1). The rotor blade is fixed at the blade root (23) to a rotor hub (8) or a rotor (6). The device includes at least one light-emitting external marking (33) fixed to the rotor blade (18) at a distance from the blade root (23), at least one camera (27) fixed to the rotor (6) for capturing the light (35) emitted from the external marking (33). The device provides first location information as a function of the relative position of the camera (27) with respect to the external marking (33). An evaluating device (37) is coupled to the camera (27), and a position detection means detects the relative location of the camera (27) with respect to the blade root (23) and provides second location information as a function of said relative location. The evaluating device (37) determines at least one variable characterizing the curvature of the rotor blade (18) while evaluating the position information. |
| US09261345B2 |
Probe
A surface profile measurement probe comprising two spaced apart points 20 for contacting a convex surface to be measured and a straight edge or surface 22 moveable relative to the two points to enable the straight edge to be brought into contact with a convex surface contacted by the two points. A tip 10 protrudes from and is moveably mounted relative to the straight edge or surface for measuring the profile of a surface contacted by the straight edge. |
| US09261344B2 |
Probe head for a coordinate measuring machine for determining spatial coordinates on a measurement object
A probe head for a coordinate measuring machine has a coupling part having a retaining pin, on which a probe tool is detachably arranged. The probe tool has at least one stylus for touching a measurement object, and a rotary plate. The rotary plate is coupled to the coupling part by means of the retaining pin in one of a plurality of defined rotation angle positions. Moreover, the rotary plate has a latching mechanism including at least one adjustable latching element and a detector. The latching element has a latching position in which it fastens the rotary plate on the retaining pin, and it has a release position in which it releases the retaining pin. The detector generates a signal which is representative of at least one from the latching position and the release position. |
| US09261340B2 |
Protective canisters for incendiary devices
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to protective canisters for incendiary devices, said canisters comprising a sidewall and two endcaps, said endcaps attached to said sidewall so as to form a substantially enclosed canister; wherein one or both of said endcaps is removably attached to said sidewall; and wherein said sidewall comprises a plurality of transverse holes through it. Optionally, one or both of said endcaps comprise one or more transverse holes through them. |
| US09261339B2 |
Multiple report stun grenade
Multiple report stun grenades have an elongated body defining a body axis and having a sidewall and opposed top and bottom end faces, the body including a plurality of delay chambers each containing a different delay feature, the body having a plurality of flash charge chambers each containing a quantity of flash charge material, the body defining a plurality of ignition passages, each ignition passage communicating from a respective flash charge chamber to an associated delay chamber, each flash charge chamber having at least one exhaust aperture, and each of the exhaust apertures penetrating at least one of the top and bottom end faces. Each of the flash charge chambers may have a first exhaust aperture penetrating the top end face, and a second exhaust aperture penetrating the bottom end face. Each of the flash charge chambers may be an elongated bore parallel to the body axis. |
| US09261336B2 |
Toy projectile and method of making
A toy projectile and method of making the toy projectile is provided herein. The toy projectile having: an elongated dart body secured to a tip assembly, the tip assembly comprising: a tip insert secured to a forward end of the elongated dart body and a tip secured to the tip insert, wherein the tip comprises a styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer (SEBS rubber) tip. |
| US09261335B2 |
Frangible portion for a high strength polymer-based cartridge casing and manufacturing method
A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing can include a first end having a mouth and a neck extending away from the mouth. Next, a shoulder extends below the neck and away from the first end. The cartridge can have a frangible portion capable of being split upon discharge of a projectile. A projectile can be disposed in the mouth. |
| US09261334B1 |
Ballistic resistant and self-repairing structures for rail cars and like end uses
A low-weight rupture/ballistics resistant wall structure is provided. Such a structure includes a multi-layer composite of at least two triaxial quasi three-dimensional woven fabrics, each coated with a specific depth of a polyurea material. Additionally, each fabric layer may be impregnated with an epoxy material to retain the triaxial configuration during utilization. Such a composite is adhered to a steel or other type of metallic base to provide improved strength to the base structure without significantly increasing the overall weight thereof. In such a manner, the inventive composite mitigates against undesirable rupture or other compromise of the overall metal structure during a destructive event and even permits reliable resealing of any created opening therein as a result of such an occurrence. The process of manufacturing the composite as well as the method of providing increased ballistic protection are also encompassed within this invention. |
| US09261332B2 |
System and method for marksmanship training
A system and method for marksmanship training comprises a screen, a computer having a processor and a memory connected to the processor and adjacent the screen, a set of modified video images stored in the memory, a set of projectors for projecting the set of modified video images onto the screen, connected to the computer and adjacent the screen, the set of modified video images including a moving clay target image and a phantom clay target image adjacent the moving clay target image at a lead distance from the moving clay target image, a camera connected to the computer and adjacent the screen, a weapon adjacent the screen, and a laser operatively mounted in the weapon. The phantom clay target image has a contrast level range from a fully opaque image to a fully transparent image. |
| US09261330B2 |
Firearm sight with dual diamond shaped apertures
A sight for use on a firearm includes a frame member mountable to a firearm and having a pair of spaced apart posts extending therefrom, a support member extending transversely between the pair of posts and selectively rotatable with respect thereto, and a sight element. The sight element is carried by the support member between the posts and includes a central portion rotatably coupled to the support member, a first sight aperture portion extending from the central portion and defining a first aperture formed in a diamond shape with an upper v-notch and a lower v-notch, and a second sight aperture portion extending from the central portion and defining a second aperture formed in a diamond shape. |
| US09261323B2 |
Bowstring release having a safety device
A bowstring release has, in one embodiment, a removable safety device. The safety device prevents unintentional releasing of the bowstring. The safety device enables enough movement to provide perceptible output indicating that the release has been at least partially activated. |
| US09261314B1 |
Sleeve piston for actuating a firearm bolt carrier
The embodiments described herein relate to a sleeve piston for operating the bolt carrier of an auto-loading firearm. The sleeve piston can comprise a monolithic sleeve piston or it can comprise two or more sleeve-piston parts, thereby evenly distributing the reciprocating mass of an auto-loading firearm about its barrel and minimizing muzzle rise when fired. The sleeve piston can be coupled to the bolt carrier by two or more operating rods, thereby reducing the tipping force experienced by the bolt carrier during firearm operation. The sleeve piston can reciprocate in or on a gas block coupled to the barrel, and the sleeve piston can be removed by sliding it forward and off the end of the barrel. The embodiments of the present invention can thus provide a balanced and compact operating mechanism that is ideally suited for rifles, carbines, and personal-defense weapons. |
| US09261312B2 |
Carbon fiber thermal interface for cooling module assembly
A propulsion system for an electric vehicle includes a battery pack having at least one battery cell. A cooling system includes a cooling plate abutting the battery cell. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the cooling plate by at least one carbon fiber brush coupled to at least one of the cooling plate and the heat sink. |
| US09261305B2 |
Shelving assembly for refrigerator compartment
A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks. |
| US09261304B2 |
Adjustable divider assembly for refrigerator storage unit
An adjustable divider assembly for a pan, drawer or other storage unit of a refrigerator is constituted by multiple, pivotally interconnected sections which can be selectively angled relative to each other and/or varied in length to establish a desired configuration for compartmentalizing the storage unit. The adjustable divider assembly can carry various spaced magnets which are attracted to a metallic property of a support surface of the storage unit to retain the divider assembly in the desired configuration. |
| US09261302B2 |
In-line internal plumbing line sanitizer for appliances apparatus
A new and useful in-line internal plumbing line sanitizers for appliances apparatus that sanitizes the internal plumbing lines of appliances such as refrigerators with integrated ice makers and drinking water dispensers, is easily adaptable, can be made in different sizes for use with various appliances, and can house a variety of sanitizing agents. The apparatus can also be used by an ordinary consumer, increases the safety and efficiency of internal plumbing line sanitation procedures, and eliminates the need for expensive replacement of internal appliance plumbing lines. This device is believed to be useful in the domestic and commercial settings. A device according to the invention is also believed to be favorable for use by appliance service technicians, as well as lay people who want to sanitize an appliance periodically. |
| US09261300B2 |
Expansion valve control system and method for air conditioning apparatus
A method of controlling an HVAC system electronic expansion valve (EEV) includes determining an optimal EEV position for the HVAC system as a function of a variable related to an ambient environment enthalpy and operating the HVAC system as a function of the optimal EEV position. |
| US09261298B2 |
Ejector cycle refrigerant separator
A system has a compressor (22, 412). A heat rejection heat exchanger (30) is coupled to the compressor to receive refrigerant compressed by the compressor. The system has a heat absorption heat exchanger (64). The system includes a separator (170) comprising a vessel having an interior. The separator has an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. An inlet conduit may extend from the inlet and may have the conduit outlet positioned to discharge an inlet flow into the vessel interior to cause the inlet flow to hit a wall before passing to a liquid refrigerant accumulation in the vessel. |
| US09261293B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing hot or boiling water
An apparatus for dispensing hot or boiling water which is provided with a thermally insulated reservoir which is resistant to an excess pressure prevailing in the interior, an electric heating element which is arranged in the reservoir, a discharge conduit and a valve which is included in a fluid communication between the reservoir and the discharge conduit and provided with a valve seat and a movably arranged valve member which in a closed position is pressed with a closing force against the valve seat and which can be brought with an operating element to an opened position, wherein the configuration of the valve and the connection thereof to the fluid communication are such that an excess pressure prevailing in the reservoir exerts a force on the valve body which is directed opposite to the closing force, wherein the closing force is such that the valve member is pressed from the closed position when an excess pressure prevailing in the reservoir reaches a threshold value. |
| US09261289B2 |
Adjusting proximity thresholds for activating a device user interface
A smart-home device includes a user interface including an electronic display having a first display mode and a second display mode, the first display mode generally requiring more power than said second display mode. The device also includes a processing system in operative communication with one or more environmental sensors for determining at least one environmental condition. The device additionally includes at least one sensor configured to detect a physical closeness of a user to the at least one sensor. The processing system may be configured to cause the electronic display to be in the first display mode when a closeness threshold has been exceeded, where the processing system is further configured to automatically adjust the closeness threshold based at least in part on a historical plurality of physical closeness events as detected by the at least one sensor. |
| US09261288B2 |
Air conditioning system for adjusting temperature and humidity
An air conditioning system processes sensible heat load and latent heat load of a target space, and adjusts temperature and humidity of the target space. The air conditioning system includes a cooling heat exchanger circulating a heat exchanging medium to cool and dehumidify air blown into the target space, a heater heating the air cooled and dehumidified by the heat exchanger, a staged variable speed fan creating a flow of the air blown into the target space through the heat exchanger and the heater, and a control unit. The control unit has a cooling adjusting unit adjusting a quantity of cooling supplied from the heat exchanging medium to the air in the heat exchanger, a heating adjusting unit adjusting a quantity of heating supplied from the heater to the air, and an air flow adjusting unit adjusting an air flow volume supplied by the fan. |
| US09261282B2 |
Heating system controller, a heating system and a method of operating a heating system
A heating system, a method of operating a heating system and a controller for a heating system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) a system interface configured to receive thermostat calls from a thermostat, the thermostat calls including a heat pump thermostat call and an electrical heating elements thermostat call and (2) a processor coupled to the system interface and configured to select a starting heat load for the heating system based on the thermostat calls and a selected target discharge air temperature for the heating system. |
| US09261280B2 |
User interface and cooking oven provided with such user interface
An user interface for domestic appliances, particularly for cooking ovens, comprises input and display for showing menus and/or items selected by the user through said input. The input comprises a selection zone where the user's finger can move, the display having at least a portion with a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the selection zone and showing the result of the finger movement in terms of item or menu selection. |
| US09261276B2 |
Burner combustion method
The present invention provides a burner combustion method for supplying and combusting an oxidant stream and a fuel stream, wherein the oxidant stream is composed of a primary oxidant stream jetted from around the periphery of the fuel stream or from a position near the fuel stream, and a plurality of secondary oxidant streams, and by periodically changing the flow rate of at least one of the primary oxidant stream and the plurality of secondary oxidant streams, and also causing a periodic change in the oxygen concentration within the oxidant stream, causing a periodic change in the oxygen ratio which is calculated by dividing the supplied amount of oxygen, supplied by the oxidant stream, by the theoretically required amount of oxygen, and providing a difference between the periodic changes in the oxygen concentration and the oxygen ratio, the combustion state adopts a periodic oscillating state. |
| US09261274B2 |
Supplemental fuel to combustor of dual fluidized bed gasifier
A method of gasification by introducing a feed material to be subjected to gasification into a dual fluidized bed gasifier comprising a pyrolyzer fluidly connected with a combustor such that a circulation stream comprising a heat transfer material can be continuously circulated between the pyrolyzer, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is reduced, and the combustor, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is increased, wherein the pyrolyzer is operable to convert at least a portion of the feed material into a gasifier product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and wherein the combustor is operable to increase the temperature of the circulation stream via combustion of char introduced thereto with the circulation stream and at least one supplemental fuel. A system for carrying out the method is also provided. |
| US09261270B2 |
LED lighting fixture
A light fixture comprising a chamber, at least one power-circuitry driver within the chamber, at least one LED module outside the chamber, and at least one air gap between the chamber and the at least one LED module, the air gap permitting air/water-flow therethrough. The chamber is defined by a housing. The at least one LED module is on an LED heat sink outside the chamber. The housing defines the air gap permitting air/water-flow to and from the heat sink. |
| US09261269B2 |
Heat protection and homogenizing system for a luminaire utilizing a lamp with an intense hotspot
An automated luminaire which allows for the selection of a diffuser or a hot mirror which is mounted to engage the light beam at an angle non perpendicular to the central axis of the light beam and nonparallel or not in the same plane as the diffuser. The selector is articulated in a manner to automatically engage a selector based on what other light modulators are selected to engage the light beam and to automatically oscillate or scan when there is a likelihood of damage to the hot mirror or diffuser based on how long it is engaged and/or light intensity and/or other modulators selected and or temperature sensor data in the luminaire. |
| US09261268B2 |
Mechanical connector for lighting applications and a method for using the same
A mechanical connector is provided for lighting applications. The mechanical connector, having a modifiable length, includes a connector body portion having an anterior side and a posterior side. A cavity is disposed in the posterior side and sized to receive a lighting apparatus. More than two pins are affixed to the anterior side and extend outward therefrom. Pairs of the more than two pins have a predetermined spacing. Each of the more than two pins is removable from the connector body portion. |
| US09261267B2 |
Hybrid reflector including lightguide for sensor
A luminaire is providing, having a substrate of a particular shape and a plurality of solid state light sources mounted thereon. The plurality has a measurable characteristic and includes an adjustable solid state light source, such that the characteristic changes in response to adjustment thereof. The luminaire also includes a sensor that detects the characteristic from outputted light, compares it to a baseline value and, based on the comparison, so adjusts the adjustable solid state light source. The luminaire also includes a reflector with a lower edge that conforms to the particular shape of the substrate, and reflects outputted light from the plurality so that it exits past the reflector's upper edge. The luminaire also includes a lightguide having an input that is surrounded by the reflector and captures a portion of the outputted light so as to provide the captured outputted light to the sensor. |
| US09261264B1 |
System for creating a tensioned wall composed of individual LED tiles
Support wires can be used to hold up light tiles to provide a lightweight display system. |
| US09261263B2 |
Commercial lighting integrated platform
One or more interconnectable modules, each comprising a housing mounting an LED circuit board on an underside thereof and having a guide track on a top surface thereof with one or more slip fitter components shaped to slidably insert into and engage or attach to the guide track and configured to cooperate with one or more of a ceiling mounting bracket, a hanger bracket, an eye hanger and a cable hanging arrangement in order to provide multiple modes of hanging, suspending or otherwise mounting the one or more lighting modules. |
| US09261259B2 |
Laser-beam utilization device and vehicle headlight
A headlamp (1) that utilizes a laser beam includes a scattered-light emitting unit (21) that emits scattered light upon receipt of a laser beam deviated from a predetermined path through which the laser beam is to pass or a predetermined irradiation region that is to be irradiated by the laser beam. |
| US09261258B2 |
High brightness light emitting diode luminaire
A light emitting diode (LED) luminaire that produces a uniform light pattern at close distances is provided. The LED luminaire includes a housing, a printed circuit board assembly thermally coupled to the housing, a plurality of high brightness (HB) LED emitters, thermally coupled to the printed circuit board assembly to form a linear array, and a linear reflector assembly, attached to the housing, to concentrate the light generated by the LED emitters over a beam angle formed by the upper surface of the housing and the linear reflector assembly. |
| US09261257B2 |
Warning lighting system using LED beacon arrays with a single master power supply
The present disclosure is directed to an obstruction lighting system for an elevated structure. In one embodiment, the obstruction lighting system for the elevated structure includes two obstruction light beacons that provide at a light output, wherein each one of the two obstruction light beacons comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and at least one optic, wherein each one of the two light beacons provides at least a 180 degree light output in a horizontal direction for being operated together to provide a combined 360 degree light output in a horizontal direction. |
| US09261254B2 |
Automotive vehicle optical device having dioptric elements integrated into the light duct
An optical device of an automotive vehicle comprises a first luminous source and a light duct designed to conduct light originating from the luminous source in the form of a beam with substantially parallel rays. The light duct comprises a rear face forming at least one reflecting facet designed to return some of the beam substantially along an optical axis (E) of the light duct. It also comprises a front face fashioned as at least one dioptric element associated optically with each reflecting facet and through which the light exits the light duct after return by the associated reflecting facet. Each dioptric element is configured so as to be stigmatic between a point in the substance of the light duct situated in immediate proximity to the center (Oi) of the associated reflecting facet and a point situated at infinity. |
| US09261251B1 |
Door for outdoor lighting fixture
A door for an outdoor lighting fixture can include a base portion and a cantilever portion. The base portion can include a first light source receiving area and at least one attachment recess, where the first light source receiving area is disposed on a bottom of the base portion. The cantilever portion can be disposed at a distal end of the base portion and can include a second light source receiving area disposed on a bottom side of the cantilever portion. The at least one attachment recess can be configured to receive a securing clip of a cabinet of the outdoor lighting fixture. The first light source receiving area can be configured to receive a first light source, and the second light source receiving area can be configured to receive a second light source. |
| US09261245B2 |
Light emitting diode module with three part color matching
A light emitting diode module is produced using at least one LED and at least two selectable components that form a light mixing chamber. First and second selectable components have first and second types of wavelength converting materials with different wavelength converting characteristics. The first and second wavelength converting characteristics alter the spectral power distribution of the light produced by the LED to produce light with a color point that is a predetermined tolerance from a predetermined color point. Moreover, a set of LED modules may be produced such that each LED module has the same color point within a predetermined tolerance. The LED module may be produced by pre-measuring the wavelength converting characteristics of the different components selecting components with wavelength converting characteristics that convert the spectral power distribution of the LED to a color point that is a predetermined tolerance from a predetermined color point. |
| US09261241B2 |
Lighting fixture and light-emitting diode light source assembly
An improved LED light source assembly is described, suitable for use as a retrofit for prior lighting fixtures of a kind including a concave reflector, an incandescent lamp positioned with its filament(s) at or near a focal region of the reflector, and a lens assembly for projecting light reflected by the reflector to a distant location, e.g., a theater stage. The improved LED light source assembly includes a compact arrangement of three or more LED assemblies, which are mounted at the forward end of an elongated heat pipe. The heat pipe's rearward end attaches to a heat sink mountable on the back side of the lighting fixture's concave reflector, and the heat pipe extends through a central hole in the reflector to position the LED assemblies at or near the concave reflector's focal region. The concave reflector reflects light emitted by the LED assemblies forward to the lighting fixture's lens assembly, which in turn projects a beam of light to a distant location. The LED light engine's configuration allows a significant proportion of the prior lighting fixture to continue to be utilized, leading to substantial cost saving and simplified installation. |
| US09261239B2 |
Pressure gas container and vehicle including the same
A pressure gas container includes a liner to store a gas, a reinforcing layer provided on an outer side of the liner, a boss attached to the liner, and an attachment attached to an outer surface of the liner. The boss has an opening through which the gas is introduced into the liner and through which the gas inside the liner is released. The attachment is to support the liner rotatably when the reinforcing layer is provided. At least one of the boss and the attachment has a gas release channel that allows communication between a gap formed between the outer side and an inner side of the reinforcing layer and a space outside the pressure gas container to release the gas having permeated through the liner and present in the gap between the liner and the reinforcing layer to the space. |
| US09261236B2 |
Train propellant management systems and methods
An LNG storage and delivery method for a transportation system includes routing a first train to scheduled stops along a first train route, routing the first train to an LNG fuel source positioned on the first train route, transferring LNG from the LNG fuel source to the first train, and transporting LNG from the LNG fuel source to an LNG storage site positioned along a second train route using the first train. |
| US09261235B2 |
Method and device for controlling the pressure in a hydrogen tank
Method for controlling the pressure in a transportable cryogenic tank (1), especially a tank (1) mounted on a transportable platform (2) capable of being moved by a truck, the tank (1) being made of steel and containing pressurized liquid hydrogen, the method comprising at least one of the following: continuously or periodically measuring the temperature in the tank (1) and continuously or periodically measuring the level of the liquid in the tank and, when the measured temperature exceeds a set upper temperature threshold (Ts) lying between minus 140° C. and minus 160° C., and, respectively, when the liquid level in the tank drops below a set liquid level threshold, the pressure in the tank (1) is limited to a value less than or equal to a set pressure threshold (Pmax) lying between 1.5 and 3 bar. |
| US09261221B2 |
Pipe liner having a wireless data transmitter with sensing capabilities
The present invention provides a liner assembly for repairing the wall of a pipe that includes a transmitter or transmitters capable of transmitting information, such as identification information and physical characteristics of the area around the transmitter. Embedded in the liner is a transmitter, which includes a radio-frequency identification and at least one sensor. The RFID transmits identification information about the repaired wall, while the sensor provides physical characteristics of the environment in and around the pipe. Examples of physical characteristics may include temperature, pressure, flow, chemical reactions, velocity of the pipe, and the like. Additional transmitters may be used along the length of the pipe to determine characteristics at multiple locations, with each additional transmitter including the same or different sensors. |
| US09261220B2 |
Winch boom and method for trench less replacement
A pipe replacement system and method are shown. Configurations are shown that include a pulley that does not damage a bursting tool, as the bursting tool is pulled into a pit. Configurations are also shown that include a boom that does not need an extraction cage for the bursting tool. |
| US09261218B2 |
Pipeline leak sealing system and method
A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline used to transport fluid includes positioning a sealing device within the pipeline, moving the sealing device through the pipeline to a leak location, and internally generating an inflation pressure to inflate the sealing device to substantially cover a leak opening and limit release of the fluid from the pipeline. |
| US09261211B2 |
Latching mechanisms for clamshell type couplers
Latching mechanisms in multiple embodiments connect clamshell type couplers comprising a pair of arcuate coupling halves joined at a hinge. One embodiment includes a biased catch lever that engages a corresponding latch plate. Another embodiment includes a plurality of latching extensions that engage an opposing latching housing, along with biased locking buttons for selectively locking the mechanism. Another embodiment includes dual rotatable latching arms for interconnecting the coupling halves, each arm having a latching cam for selectively locking the mechanism. Another embodiment includes a rotatable latching arm and a receiving bracket for receiving the latching arm for selectively locking the mechanism. Another embodiment includes an over center hinge mechanism including three cooperating and rotatable latch plates. Another embodiment includes cooperating cassette mechanisms, each having connector extensions for connecting the cassette mechanisms to one another for selectively locking the mechanism. Methods are also disclosed for selectively locking the latching mechanisms. |
| US09261209B2 |
Fluid coupling
Example fluid couplings, systems and methods are described including a fluid delivery tube for delivering fluid to a fluid supply, a fluid interconnect fitting for connection to the fluid delivery tube, a retainer for engaging the fluid interconnect fitting and a fluid supply for retaining the fluid interconnect fitting with respect to the fluid supply, and a seal feature arranged to mate with the fluid interconnect fitting and a fluid inlet of the fluid supply. |
| US09261204B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations. |
| US09261200B2 |
Valve mechanism with frangible plug
A valve mechanism is herein described that utilizes a frangible plug. The valve mechanism comprises a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port and a passageway extending therebetween. The valve mechanism comprises a frangible plug that is held within the valve body to block the passageway when the plug is intact. The plug comprises a predefined fracture plane and is configured to fracture across the predefined fracture plane upon application of an impact force. |
| US09261199B1 |
Temperature controlled fire abatement apparatus
Fire abatement fluid flow control apparatus, comprising a fusible link, a valve housing, a stopper in the housing, and a stopper seat, the link operating to normally block movement of the stopper away from the seat, and upon fusing to unblock the stopper movement, whereby when the fire abatement fluid is operatively supplied under pressure to the valve housing, and when overheating of the link occurs, the link will fracture so that stopper movement away from the seat is effected, allowing release of abatement fluid for application to a fire. |
| US09261197B2 |
Pipeline pressure isolation systems and devices
A pressure isolation device for a pipeline system is described. The pressure isolation device changes from an open position to a closed position when the pressure of a fluid flowing through the device exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure. In some embodiments, the pressure isolation device comprises a housing having an internal chamber, a main inlet, and a main outlet. An elongated member is disposed within the internal chamber between the main inlet and main outlet, and is biased towards the open position. As fluid pressure increases, the elongated member is pushed to the closed position and a portion of the elongated member blocks the fluid pathway from the main inlet to the main outlet. The pressure isolation device provides a simple mechanical solution to protecting and isolating downstream pipeline components from over-pressurization. |
| US09261194B2 |
Metal seal fitting constraints
An air conditioner system fitting includes a first seal portion comprising a metal material adapted to provide a primary seal, and a second seal portion attached to a free edge of the first seal portion and adapted to provide a secondary seal, wherein the fitting militates against leakage during operation of the air conditioning system. |
| US09261193B2 |
Sealing apparatus for a process chamber
A sealing apparatus is provided herein. In some embodiments, the sealing apparatus includes an annular body including a first portion having a circular cross-section and a second portion extending radially outward from the first portion, wherein the second portion has a rectangular cross-section. In some embodiments, a sealing apparatus includes a body configured to be retained in a recess of a first surface; an arm extending from the body away from the first surface and configured to provide a force when deflected towards the body by a second surface to form a seal between the first surface and the second surface. |
| US09261188B2 |
Actuator arrangement for a drive train
Actuator arrangement for a drive train. The actuator arrangement has an actuator pump driven by electric motor, and a clutch actuator, which is designed for actuation of a friction clutch of the drive train and which is connected to a discharge port of the actuator pump. The actuator arrangement has a parking lock actuator, which is designed for actuation of a parking lock arrangement of the drive train. The parking lock actuator has an open position, in which the parking lock arrangement is released, and a closed position, in which the parking lock arrangement is closed. The parking lock actuator is likewise connected to the discharge port of the actuator pump. The parking lock arrangement can be retained in at least one of the open position and the closed position by means of a retaining device. |
| US09261185B2 |
Drive transmission mechanism and image forming apparatus including same
A drive transmission mechanism including a shaft including a reduced diameter portion at an outboard end, an engaging portion inboard of the reduced diameter portion, and an installation portion inboard of the engaging portion and having the same diameter as the engaging portion, a first bearing having an inner ring onto which the reduced diameter portion is fitted, a connecting member provided to the shaft and including a main body into which the installation portion is fitted and a fitting portion provided to the main body on a side in which the engaging portion is provided to accommodate the engaging portion, and a second bearing engaging the shaft to support the shaft at an inboard end of the shaft opposite the first bearing with the connecting member interposed between the first and second bearings. |
| US09261183B2 |
Differential device
In a differential device, an outer tube portion is formed in one of a side gear and a sleeve, and an inner tube portion fitted to an inner periphery of the outer tube portion is formed in the other. A falling-off prevention device for preventing axial relative movement of the outer and inner tube portions is provided between the outer and inner tube portions. A seal member for shutting off communication between the falling-off prevention device and an inside of a differential case is set in a fitting portion between the outer and inner tube portions. Accordingly, lubricating oil in the differential case is prevented from leaking out of a space between the side gear and the sleeve without performing a special process such as pressure welding or adhesive bonding during assembly and which has good ease of assembly. |
| US09261182B2 |
Shift power transmission apparatus and travel power transmission device
Disclosed is a shift power transmission apparatus for readily suppressing or avoiding size increase thereof. The apparatus includes an input shaft (22) receiving engine drive force, a hydraulic continuously variable transmission (30) driven by the input shaft (22), a planetary power transmission section (40) combining drive force from the input shaft (22) and output from the hydraulic continuously variable transmission (30) for outputting the combined drive force, and an output rotary member (24) outputting power to a travel apparatus. The planetary power transmission section (40) and the output rotary member (24) are arranged on a side of the hydraulic continuously variable transmission (30) associated with an engine-coupled side of the input shaft (22). The drive force is inputted to the planetary power transmission section (40) from a portion between the engine-coupled side and the hydraulic continuously variable transmission-coupled side of the input shaft (22). |
| US09261176B2 |
Gearbox mechanism
The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a plurality of linkage assemblies, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each linkage assembly of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter. |
| US09261175B2 |
Kitchen appliance
A kitchen appliance includes a base body, a pivot arm which is disposed in a pivotable manner on the base body and a lever facility for assisting a pivoting movement of the pivot arm. An adjusting mechanism is operably connected to the lever facility to set a degree of assistance for the pivoting movement. |
| US09261170B2 |
Chain guide and chain transmission device
A chain guide is provided by which a chain can be guided silently. The chain guide includes: a guide base arranged along a portion of the outer periphery of a chain for transmitting torque and elongated in the direction in which the chain travels; a plurality of roller shafts spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide base; and a plurality of rollers for guiding the chain. The rollers are rotatably supported by the respective roller shafts. The rollers guide the chain by rolling. An arrangement interval between each adjacent pair of the rollers is set such that any two of the pins by which pieces of the chain are joined together do not pass any two of the rollers at the same time. |
| US09261168B2 |
Dual condiment grinder
A dual condiment grinder contains: a body, a transmitting mechanism, a covering assembly, and a grinding mechanism. The body includes a first chamber and a second chamber, the grinding mechanism includes a first transmission column and a second transmission column. The covering assembly includes an inner cover and an outer cover. The body includes a first retaining recess and a second retaining recess. The transmitting mechanism includes a holder, a pressing member, a rotary shaft, a main gear, a left gear, a right gear, a first transmission gear, and a second transmitting gear. The main gear does not mesh with the left gear and the right gear, the first transmission gear does not mesh with the second transmitting gear, and the first transmission gear and the second transmitting gear mesh with the main gear respectively, such that two different ingredients are ground in the first chamber and the second chamber. |
| US09261164B2 |
Lubricated engine compensator assembly and motorcycle having the same
The present invention provides a compensator assembly for use in a motorcycle. The compensator assembly includes an input member, and an output member driven by the input member through a torque-buffering interface. The compensator assembly also includes one or more lubrication passageways formed therein extending between a distal end and one or more interfaces to provide lubricant thereto. |
| US09261163B2 |
Suspension damper having inertia valve and user adjustable pressure-relief
A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools. |
| US09261162B2 |
Damping force controlling valve assembly for shock absorber
Provided is a damping force controlling valve assembly for a shock absorber using a solenoid part for variation of a damping force. The damping force controlling valve assembly includes: a first valve body having an inlet passage through which a working fluid flows in from the shock absorber; a second valve body coupled to the first valve body with a gap therebetween; a main valve disposed at the front of a back-pressure chamber to resist the working fluid flowing through the inlet passage; and a valve spring disposed in the gap between the first valve body and the second valve body and elastically supporting the main valve. |
| US09261158B2 |
Damper assembly and device utilizing the same
A damper assembly includes a housing, a rotor rotatable within the housing, a rotor shaft projecting outwardly of the housing and a damper gear disposed on the rotor shaft. A bracket includes legs disposed outwardly of the damper for securing the assembly in a device, the bracket further having a body between the damper and the damper gear, the body exerting force against each the damper and the damper gear. The damper is selectively engageable with and disengageable from the bracket for enabling and disabling relative movement between the damper and the bracket. |
| US09261157B2 |
Air spring modular piston
A modular piston assembly is associated with an air spring assembly that has a bellows rolling over a surface of the piston assembly. The modular piston assembly includes a first piston portion adapted to fasten to an associated air spring bellows. A second piston portion separate from the first portion, is adapted to fasten to an associated mounting component. Interlocking members are provided to secure the first and second piston portions together, and/or any desired intermediate piston portions. Discrete air reservoirs may also be included in the modular piston assembly to increase the volume of the air spring. |
| US09261156B2 |
Flexible spring members as well as gas spring assemblies and methods of manufacture including same
Flexible spring members can include a flexible spring wall and at least one girdle hoop. The flexible spring wall can include a plurality of convoluted wall portions disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to one another. The girdle hoop can take the form of an annular ring that is at least partially formed from a non-metallic material and can be positioned longitudinally between adjacent ones of the plurality of convoluted wall portions. The girdle hoop can be at least partially embedded within the flexible spring wall and can operate to substantially inhibit radially-outward expansion of the flexible spring wall during inflated conditions and/or use. Gas spring assemblies and methods of manufacture can include one or more of such flexible spring members. |
| US09261155B2 |
Compact vertical-motion isolator
A vertical-motion vibration isolator utilizes negative-stiffness-producing mechanism which includes a plurality of compressed flexures, each having a particular length in the compressed direction of the flexure and being oriented in a horizontal direction, wherein the plurality of compressed flexures are positioned relative to each other such that the length of each compressed flexure substantially overlaps the length of each of the other compressed flexures. At least some of the plurality of compressed flexures can be positioned in a stacked arrangement. The arrangement of compressed flexures forming a portion of the negative-stiffness mechanism can reduce the size of the isolator without compromising vibration isolation performance. |
| US09261153B2 |
Method for controlling an electric lining wear compensator device for a disk brake arrangement and disk brake
A method for controlling an electric pad wear compensator device of a disc brake arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle, and a corresponding disk brake arrangement is provided. The disk brake arrangement includes control device that controls air clearance between a brake pad and a brake disk, a brake application device with a brake applicator lever coupled to the electric pad wear compensator device, and a readjustment spindle which receives at least a portion of the electric pad wear compensator device. The method for controlling the electric pad wear compensator device includes sensing the air clearance of the disc brake, comparing the detected air clearance with a preset value, and controlling the electric pad wear compensator device to adjust the air clearance to the preset value by energizing a solenoid of a coupling device of the electric pad wear compensator device during brake applicator lever movement. |
| US09261149B2 |
No-back check device
A device and method for determining whether a no-back device is functioning properly includes a no-back device coupling an input shaft and an output shaft. A no-back output gear is coupled to the output shaft, and a reaction gear is operably coupled to the no-back output gear. A check device includes a rotatable drive feature having a first end accessible for rotation and a second end engaged with the reaction gear. The functionality of the no-back device is evaluated by applying a rotational torque to the drive feature. |
| US09261147B1 |
Installation error proof clutch release bearing and method of installation in clutch fork
A clutch release bearing designed for error proof installation on a holding structure of a clutch fork in a clutch system includes a bearing assembly supported on a bearing carrier, and an inner flange extending radially outwardly from the bearing carrier. The clutch release bearing also includes an outer flange spaced from the inner flange, and secured to the bearing carrier. The outer flange is formed with a circular lip defining an installation safeguard to ensure reception and retention of the holding structure of the clutch fork only between the inner and outer flanges. |
| US09261145B2 |
Bearing device for a wheel
A bearing device for a wheel has a stem shaft of an outer joint member of a constant-velocity universal joint fit and inserted in a hole of a hub wheel, the stem shaft and hub wheel being coupled through an intermediation of a recess-projection fitting structure. Projections extending in an axial direction are provided on one of the stem shaft and an inner diameter surface of the hole of the hub wheel. The projections are press-fit into another of the stem shaft and the inner diameter surface of the hole along the axial direction. Recesses that adhere to and fit the projections are formed in the other. An end on an inboard side of the hub wheel is caulked to an outer diameter side to form a caulking section and preload is applied to a roller bearing by the caulking section. |
| US09261144B2 |
Sealing and signaling device, in particular for a rolling bearing
A device including a sealing assembly having a first annular shield constrainable to a rotating first member, a second annular shield facing the first shield and constrainable to a stationary second member, and an annular seal supported by the first shield and provided with annular lips cooperating with the second shield. The device has a signal generator device having a third shield constrainable to the first member and an annular signal generator element arranged facing the first and the second shields; wherein the first shield has a flange portion, having on a side of the first shield, a first and a second L-fold in opposite directions which delimit a first annular surface facing the annular lips and the second shield; wherein the annular signal generator element is delimited towards the second shield by a second annular surface facing the annular lips forming an obtuse angle with the first annular surface. |
| US09261141B2 |
Ball bearing cage, and grooved ball bearing provided therewith
A ball bearing cage having a first ring element and a second ring element is provided. The ring elements are each formed from sheet metal, and each include axial bulges separated by support surfaces. Ball guide pockets are formed between facing bulging inner walls by joining the support surfaces of the two ring elements. The ring elements are formed in such a way that the bulging inner walls that define the ball guide pockets define a channel cross-section which is concave in relation to a ball and which has an inner and an outer ball contact zone. The channel cross-section has such a depth in a groove base lying between said inner and outer ball contact zones that, when the ball comes into contact with the ball contact zones, an intermediate space remains between the ball and the groove base lying between the ball contact zones. |
| US09261140B1 |
Process to create a self-organizing surface matrix
A method involves the coating of a metallic substrate with a blasting medium through sandblasting or equivalent techniques. The blasting medium is preferably a powder made of silicon nitride (or other ceramic or engineering materials). The sandblasting process allows the silicon nitride powder to form a loosely packed layer on the substrate. With additional treatment via rolling and/or sliding action against a secondary body in the presence of a liquid lubricant, the loosely packed particle layer turns into a flattened surface matrix consisting of particle clusters and irregular cavities. The silicon nitride particles are spontaneously attached to the substrate surface without the use of an adhesive agent which subsequently leads to the formation of a surface matrix exhibiting a chaotic hybrid topography with zero tensile stress when subjected to rolling/sliding contact pressure. This cluster-cavity matrix can evolve continuously (thus dynamic) and is immune to debris indentation from dirty lubricants. It is a complex, self organizing, and adaptive system. The practical value of this invention is to greatly enhance the fatigue and wear life of the bearing substrate and other objects coming into contact with the treated substrate. |
| US09261138B2 |
Center bearing bush unit for propeller shaft
A center bearing bush unit for a propeller shaft can effectively decrease the amount of large/small displacement that occurs in the propeller shaft during driving of a vehicle. A center bearing bush unit for a propeller shaft includes an inner pipe; an outer pipe disposed on a common axis as the inner pipe at the outside of the inner pipe; a cushion rubber attached between the inner and outer pipes, and having a plurality of voids disposed on the common axis; and a plurality of stoppers attached to the outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe while being spaced apart from the cushion rubber at a predetermined interval. |
| US09261135B2 |
Thrust roller bearing and method for manufacturing thrust race thereof
A thrust race of a thrust roller bearing has a race portion and a cylindrical portion extending from the race portion in an axial direction. At a plurality of locations along a circumferential direction on the cylindrical portion, cutout portions are formed such that each of the cutout portions is recessed in the axial direction from a distal edge of the cylindrical portion toward the race portion. A protrusion is provided at a portion closer to the race portion from a bottom edge of each of the cutout portions such that the protrusion protrudes in a radial direction from the cylindrical portion toward a side away from the race portion. The protrusion serves as a race-retaining locking portion to prevent a race from moving out from a mating member on which the race is mounted. |
| US09261133B2 |
Media transport assembly shaft
A shaft for a media transport assembly includes a first assembly provided at a first end of the shaft to datum the shaft, and a second assembly provided at a second end of the shaft to bias the shaft in a direction opposite the second end of the shaft such that the first assembly and the second assembly each provide point contact with a respective surface oriented substantially perpendicular to an axis of the shaft. |
| US09261128B2 |
Anti-tamper system
An anti-tamper system including: a fixing device and an anti-tamper detection device; the fixing device comprising a body and a head whereby the head having a larger cross section then the body for enabling a tool to engage and drive the body into a first material layer thereby makes a firm connection with the anti-tamper detection device between the head and the first material layer; the fixing device further comprising a lock wherein the head is locked to the body by the lock where there is no external magnetic field and wherein the head becomes disengaged from the body when the lock is unlocked by an external magnetic field; and whereby the anti-tamper detection device detects and records a change the connection when the head becomes disengaged. |
| US09261127B2 |
Fastener with multilobular tool engaging portion
A fastener comprising a fastener body and a fastener head is disclosed. The fastener body has a threaded portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The fastener head is arranged at one end of the fastener body, and comprises a tool engaging portion. The tool engaging portion comprises a plurality of alternating lobes and flutes forming a multilobular surface pattern, each lobe having a driven surface arranged to engage with a driving surface of a tool, and a trailing surface arranged opposite to the driven surface. The driven surface and the trailing surface extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis defined by the fastener body. The trailing surface of at least one lobe is provided with a modified zone in which a diameter of the lobe is increased, said modified zone providing a wedging effect between the tool engaging portion and a tool.In the fastener of the invention wobble between the fastener and a tool is significantly reduced. A tool for punching a recess in a fastener head is also disclosed. |
| US09261121B2 |
Channel sign lens securing system
A channel letter has a rear surface for mounting against a raceway, wall, or a structure for supporting the signage, and sheet metal sides defining the figuration of the letter or shape to be depicted. A lighting element is positioned against the rear surface of the enclosure, and a lens is retained to the open front of the enclosure. The lens is retained by a plurality of retainer clips. Each of the retainer clips has a first and a second side extending from an arched back with the sides spaced a distance sufficient for the sides to fit around the end of the walls. |
| US09261117B2 |
Pneumatic shifting force supporting device
A pneumatic shifting force supporting device for a gearbox comprises a housing structure having a compressed air inlet and an air vent, and a control rod and an output unit comprising a working piston defining two pneumatic working chambers. A valve arrangement is functionally provided between control rod and output unit. By acting on the two pneumatic working chambers, the valve arrangement causes a pneumatic follow-up control from the output unit to the control rod comprising two valve pistons, annular sealing edges, valve spools and valve seats. A throttle slide is associated with at least one of the valve pistons and is slidable relative thereto. The throttle slide has a closing edge co-operating with the respective associated valve seat and delimiting at least one throttle passage, the cross-sectional area of which depends on the relative position of the throttle slide with respect to the associated valve piston. |
| US09261112B2 |
Dampers for fan spinners of aircraft engines
Dampers for fan spinners of aircraft engines are disclosed. An example fan module for a gas turbine engine may include a fan disk; fan blades mounted to the fan disk and extending radially therefrom; a fan spinner operatively coupled to the fan disk at an axially upstream position; and/or one or more elastic vibration dampers operatively interposing the fan spinner and the fan disk. The elastic vibration dampers may be disposed circumferentially around an interface between the fan spinner and the fan disk and may be compressed axially and/or radially. |
| US09261109B2 |
Turbine housing and exhaust gas turbine supercharger
A turbine housing includes an outer housing member, which has a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion, and an inner housing member, which is provided inside the outer housing member and has a shroud surface that faces a turbine wheel in an axial direction. A distal portion of the inner housing member serves as a slide portion slidable in the axial direction. Further, a proximal portion of the inner housing member is fixed to the proximal housing portion at a part closer to a distal side than a proximal portion of the proximal housing portion. Further, a scroll portion is formed by the inner housing member and a proximal scroll portion of the proximal housing portion located closer to a proximal side than the inner housing member. |
| US09261108B2 |
HVAC blower impeller
An impeller has an impeller axis, a first blade support, a second blade support, a third blade support, a plurality of first blades extending between the first blade support and the second blade support, and a plurality of second blades extending between the second blade support and the third blade support. An angular location of attachment of the first blades to the first blade support is angularly offset from an angular location of attachment of the first blades to the second blade support in a first angular direction, wherein an angular location of attachment of the second blades to the third blade support is angularly offset from an angular location of attachment of the second blades to the second blade support in the first angular direction, and wherein the second blade support is configured to allow airflow longitudinally through the interior of the impeller. |
| US09261103B1 |
Integration of aerodynamic, thrust bearing and seal running surface
A number of variations may include a product for use with a turbocharger system may include a housing with a rotor wheel rotatable relative to the housing. The rotor wheel may have a front face with blades disposed in a gas stream and a back wall facing the housing. The rotor wheel may generate thrust loads. A thrust bearing may be positioned on the housing and may face the back wall. The thrust bearing may be configured to directly absorb the thrust loads from the rotor wheel. |
| US09261101B2 |
Fan housing for ram air fan
A fan housing has a radially outer surface. A pair of radially intermediate surfaces includes a first surface spaced towards a first axial end, which has an inner bore positioned radially outward of an inner bore of a second surface. Vanes extend between the radially outer surface and an outer periphery of the pair of radially intermediate surfaces. A bearing bore extends radially inwardly of the first surface. A mounting lug nub is formed on an outer periphery of the radially outer surface. A first distance is defined between the first axial one end of the fan housing and an opposed axial end. A second distance is defined between the first axial end and a center of the mounting lug. A ratio of the first distance to the second distance is between 2.13 and 2.11. An intermediate part, a ram air fan and a method are also disclosed. |
| US09261098B2 |
Fan speed and memory regulator control based on memory margin
Methods and systems for fan speed control based on memory margin are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes determining an operating margin of a memory interface. The method also includes determining whether the operating margin of the memory interface meets a predetermined condition. Further, the method includes controlling a speed of a computing system cooling fan based on the operating margin in response to determining the operating margin meets the predetermined condition. |
| US09261095B2 |
Cutter system for pump suction
A centrifugal pump with a cutter mechanism has a toothed cutter auger affixed to an impeller, and a toothed cutter stator affixed to the volute casing. The auger is a rotor cutter preferably profiled radially to match the inlet geometry of the impeller vanes while extending along its central axis towards the pump suction. The auger is preferably radially concentric to the impeller and includes vanes numbered preferably to match the number of vanes on the impeller. The auger is affixed to the impeller, preferably with a lockscrew threaded into a common pump shaft. The radial profile of the auger essentially makes a continuous vane with the impeller, and prevents solids from hanging on the inlet vane tip or center void while providing a smooth flow transition into the impeller. |
| US09261094B2 |
Rotary compressor
An aspect of the present disclosure involves a rotary compressor that is primarily optimized for use without the need for liquid lubricants, such as in the flow path of the fluid being compressed, and is efficient and quiet to use. The compressors described herein are efficient, run quietly, use less power, and last longer than those previously known in the art. The compressors are useful for medical applications and other clean gas applications, for instance, where lubricants could contaminate the fluid being compressed and/or increased noise and/or vibration may be problematic. |
| US09261093B2 |
Heater and pump performance diagnostic for a hybrid battery thermal system
A system includes a controller, battery pack, fluid, heater, a pump that circulates the fluid to the battery pack through the heater, and a temperature sensor positioned between the heater and battery pack. The controller processes temperature signals from the sensor, diagnoses the pump and heater by turning on the pump in response to a received enabling signal, calculates an absolute value of a temperature gradient of the fluid while the pump remains on, and records a passing pump diagnostic code if the absolute value of the temperature gradient exceeds a calibrated rate. The controller executes a heater diagnostic, after calculating the absolute value of the temperature gradient, only when heating is requested or the absolute value of the temperature gradient does not exceed the calibrated rate. The heater diagnostic includes turning off the pump, cycling the heater on and off, and monitoring the temperature signals for a temperature rise. |
| US09261092B2 |
Pump, in particular pneumatic pump
The invention relates to a pump comprising a housing (2), comprising at least one pump chamber (15), comprising an inlet valve (30) that has a valve element (30a) which controls an inlet opening (30c), comprising an outlet valve (33) that has a valve element (33a) which controls an outlet opening (33c), comprising a pressure relief valve (43) that has a valve element (43a) which controls a pressure relief opening (43c) and on which a spring element (48) acts in the closing direction (31), and comprising a spring chamber (49) that receives the spring element. A stop element (51) which can be accessed from the housing outer face and which can be adjusted in the closing direction (31) is arranged in the spring chamber (49), the spring element (48) end that faces away from the closing direction resting against the stop element. |
| US09261090B2 |
Diaphragm pump, and exhaust-gas aftertreatment system having a diaphragm pump
Diaphragm pump for delivering a fluid, in particular an exhaust-gas aftertreatment medium, such as an aqueous urea solution for example, comprising a working chamber (1) which is delimited by a working diaphragm (2) and which can be connected via a first valve (3) to an inlet (4) and via a second valve (5) to an outlet (6), and an electromagnet (7) which comprises a coil assembly (8) and an armature (9) which interacts with the coil assembly (8) and is operatively connected to the working diaphragm (2). According to the invention, the valves (3, 5) are configured in a valve plate (10) which is arranged between the coil assembly (8) and the armature (9). Exhaust-gas aftertreatment system having a diaphragm pump of this type. |
| US09261088B2 |
Linear compressor
A linear compressor can prevent leakage of a magnetic force by changing the construction of a linear motor. As the construction of the linear motor is changed, a mechanical spring constant is set smaller in consideration of a magnetic spring constant, so that the size of springs supporting a piston in the reciprocal linear motion direction can be reduced and components supporting the springs can be removed. Therefore, the linear compressor achieves a small size/a light weight. With the characteristics of the linear motor construction, the linear compressor can suppress a stroke spreading influence and easily expand a compression capacity according to a load. |
| US09261085B2 |
Fluid pump having liquid reservoir and modified pressure relief slot
A pump, which generally includes a pump housing and a pump piston. The pump housing defines a central longitudinal bore, a transverse bore communicating with the central bore for conveying a liquid through the pump housing, a liquid reservoir communicating with the central bore and the transverse bore for retaining an amount of the liquid conveyed through the transverse bore and a pressure relief slot extending from the transverse bore to the liquid reservoir. The pump piston is axially and rotatably slidable within the central longitudinal bore for pumping the liquid through the transverse bore. |
| US09261082B2 |
Device for shifting one structure with respect to another
A device (10) for shifting one structure with respect to another, is disclosed. The device comprises a body (12) defining a cylinder, a core (14) within the cylinder and rotatable in the cylinder with respect to the body (12). A coil spring is connected between the body (12) and the core (14) and is wound or unwound as the core (14) is rotated in the cylinder. A compressible ring (48) is carried by the core (14) and is in frictional contact with the body. The ring (48) can be compressed by a nut (66) screwed onto a shaft (50) forming part of the core (14) so that the frictional resistance offered by the ring (48) to turning of the core (14) in the cylinder is increased. |
| US09261080B2 |
Method for reducing vibrations of a wind turbine and control system for reducing vibrations
A method for reducing vibrations of a wind turbine includes a plurality of set points characterizing set values of operation parameters of the wind turbine. The method includes measuring an acceleration force value corresponding to acceleration forces acting on the turbine, and determining whether the measured acceleration force value is above a predetermined threshold value. Furthermore, in case it is determined that the acceleration force value is above the predetermined threshold value, the set point value of at least one set point of the plurality of set points is modified in order to reduce the vibrations in such a way that a power output of the wind turbine is not reduced. |
| US09261077B2 |
System and method for real-time load control of a wind turbine
A system and method for load control of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes: selecting a plurality of wind turbine components for load monitoring; defining a load envelope for each of the selected components and storing the load envelopes in a controller, the load envelopes defining a maximum acceptable load capacity for the respective component that may be at or near the component's design capability; directly or indirectly monitoring loads on the selected components and generating corresponding load signals that are communicated to the controller; with the controller, determining if the loads acting on each of the selected components are within the component's respective load envelope; and the controller initiating corrective action in the event that the load acting on any one of the selected components exceeds the component's load envelope. |
| US09261076B2 |
Method for operating a wind turbine at improved power output
A method for operating a wind turbine includes: providing a curve defining optimal pitch angle as a function of tip speed ratio or as a function of wind speed; modifying at least a part of the optimal pitch angle curve by applying a safety buffer, thereby obtaining a safety modified pitch angle curve; operating the wind turbine in accordance with the safety modified pitch angle curve; measuring one or more parameters regarding wind conditions and/or loads on one or more component of the wind turbine; adjusting the safety buffer, based on the measurements, thereby obtaining an adjusted pitch angle curve; and operating the wind turbine in accordance with the adjusted pitch angle curve. Since the safety buffer is adjusted based on measured parameters, it can be reduced if actual operating conditions are less severe than expected. This allows the wind turbine to be operated in a more optimal manner. |
| US09261074B2 |
Variable bolt parameters for a wind turbine rotor blade
A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may include a body extending lengthwise between a blade root and a blade tip. The body may include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In addition, the rotor blade may include a plurality of bolts extending from the blade root. A bolt parameter of the bolts may be varied for at least two of the bolts based on the loads transmitted through the blade root. |
| US09261071B2 |
Mounting arrangement for pitch gear
A system for a wind turbine includes a pitch system having a blade pitch bearing and a wind turbine hub, the pitch bearing being attached to the wind turbine hub and arranged to be attachable to a wind turbine rotor blade. A pitch gear, having a gear surface for engaging with an actuator, such as a pinion, is releasably coupled to the pitch system so that the pitch gear, under the action of the actuator, causes relative rotation between the hub and the relevant part of the bearing. Releasably coupling the gear surface to the pitch system can allow easy replacement of the gear without requiring the removal of large components such as the bearing. |
| US09261069B2 |
Sloping wall channel
The invention relates to a device for collecting energy from water waves, comprising an extended length channel provided with a long shore-facing wall, a long sea-facing wall, and a remote end wall all extending substantially above high water level, and a proximate end wall forming a fixed lower dam having an upper edge approximately level with low water level. The shore-facing wall of the channel being sloped in a shoreward direction so that the upper open edge of the wall is nearer the shore than the lower edge of the wall. The sloped wall being impacted by waves having entered the channel and retaining water of the waves at a raised level above sea level. Inside the channel, the long sea-facing wall being pierced by multiple one-way apertures extending substantially over the complete area of the sea-facing wall, each one-way aperture being closed by an attached shutter unit opening inwards under pressure of incoming water waves and closing after the entry of the waves to maintain the raised water level in the channel. |
| US09261068B2 |
Hydroelectric power generating system
The hydroelectric power generating system incorporates a man-made dam structure configured to completely enclose a body of water. The dam is preferably filled by pumping seawater into the reservoir defined by the encircling dam. A circumferential canal feeds water to one or more penstocks. Each penstock has one or more hydroelectric turbine generators installed therealong. The penstocks feed an enclosed circumferential channel about the base of the dam. The channel delivers water to a pump that pumps the water back into the bottom of the reservoir. An auxiliary hydroelectric power generating system disposed within the dam utilizes the water exiting from the lower end of the penstocks for additional production of energy. While this system results in a net loss of energy, the system can make use of surplus power to drive the return pump during periods of low electrical demand in order to replenish the reservoir. |
| US09261067B2 |
System and method for providing spark to an engine
An approach for supplying spark to a spark ignited engine having activated and deactivated engine cylinders is disclosed. In one example, the approach increases ignition energy supplied to spark plugs of deactivated cylinders to reduce the possibility of spark plug fouling for the deactivated cylinders while continuing to supply spark to activated cylinders. |
| US09261066B2 |
Ignition timing control device and ignition timing control method for internal combustion engine
An ignition timing control device for an internal combustion engine includes a retarding portion and a prohibiting portion. The retarding portion retards ignition timing according to a parameter that correlates with temperature inside a combustion chamber. The prohibiting portion prohibits the retarding portion from retarding the ignition timing when alcohol concentration in blended fuel is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The internal combustion engine uses the blended fuel in which an alcohol fuel and a gasoline fuel are blended at arbitrary proportion. |
| US09261064B2 |
System for transmitting torque with speed modulation
A system is provided for transmitting torque with speed modulation between a motor generator and an engine. The system includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a first reduction gearset, and a second reduction gearset. The first shaft is configured to rotatably connect with the motor generator. The second shaft is configured to rotatably connect with the engine. The first reduction gearset is rotatably supported at least in part on the first shaft. The first reduction gearset is disposed in selective engagement with the first shaft via a first overrunning clutch disposed therebetween. The second reduction gearset is rotatably supported at least in part on the first shaft and at least in part on the second shaft. The second reduction gearset is disposed in selective engagement with the first shaft via a second overrunning clutch disposed therebetween. |
| US09261062B2 |
Squeeze clip ground strap
Vehicles and engines are provided. The engine, for example, may include a first engine component configured to be ohmically coupled to a common ground, a second engine component configured to be coupled to the first engine component, the second engine component comprising an insulative materially ohmically isolating the second engine component from the first engine component, the second engine component including an inclusion having a predetermined depth along a surface of the second engine component configured to be coupled to the first engine component, a third engine component configured to be coupled to the second engine component, and a spring clip configured to be ohmically coupled to the third engine component, wherein the spring clip is further configured to be disposed within the inclusion of the second engine component and to have a deflectable surface having an undeflected depth greater than the predetermined depth of the inclusion. |
| US09261055B2 |
Canister module
A tank passage communicates a canister housing with a fuel tank. A purge passage communicates the canister housing with an intake air system. An atmospheric air passage communicates the canister housing with an atmosphere. A valve housing accommodating a valve element is located in a recessed portion defined with a first inner wall and a second inner wall. A seal member is located on a radially outside of the valve housing to seal the recessed portion. The first inner wall has a first opening to communicate the canister housing with the recessed portion. The second inner wall has a second opening to communicate the recessed portion with the atmospheric air passage. The first opening or the second opening is defined around a valve seat. The valve element is seated on and lifted from the valve seat to control communication between the canister housing and the atmospheric air passage. |
| US09261045B2 |
Casing structure for an internal combustion engine
A casing structure of an automotive internal combustion engine includes an upper/lower divided crankcase structure. A crankshaft and a first transmission shaft of a pair of transmission shafts parallel to the crankshaft of a transmission are axially supported by a dividing surface of the upper crankcase and the lower crankcase. The dividing surface of the crankcase is inclined so that a second transmission shaft axially supported by the upper crankcase above the first transmission shaft is below the crankshaft. A cylinder is formed on the upper crankcase so that a cylinder axial line is orthogonal to the dividing surface. |
| US09261044B2 |
Cylinder gasket having oil drainback constraint feature for use with internal combustion engine
A gasket for use with in an internal combustion engine having lubricating oil drainback passageways and an integrated exhaust manifold formed in the cylinder head is disclosed. The gasket includes at least one drainback passageway opening to fit substantially around the drainback passageways formed in the cylinder block. A loose component-capturing constraint feature is integrally formed with the gasket and effectively provides a bridge over the drainback passageway opening of the gasket. The constraint feature does not restrict the flow of lubricating oil and may be of any of several designs including, for example, a rib. The cylinder head gasket is preferably of a multi-layer construction and is preferably steel. The constraint feature may be a single gasket layer. The cylinder head gasket includes both active and non-active areas. The constraint feature may be either or both an active and a non-active area of the gasket. |
| US09261041B2 |
Spark-ignition direct injection engine
A spark-ignition direct injection engine is provided. The engine includes an engine body, a fuel injection valve, a fuel pressure setting mechanism, an ignition plug, and a controller. The controller operates the engine to perform compression-ignition combustion within a first operating range, and controls the ignition plug to operate the engine to perform spark-ignition combustion within a second operating range. Within a specific part of the first range, the controller sets the fuel pressure to 30 MPa or above, and retards the compression ignition to after a compression top dead center by controlling the injection valve to inject fuel into a cylinder in a period from a late stage of compression stroke to an early stage of expansion stroke. Below the specific part, the controller controls the fuel injection valve to inject the fuel into the cylinder in a period from intake stroke to a mid-stage of the compression stroke. |
| US09261038B2 |
Vehicle engine control system
A calculation control circuit unit 110A is provided with a microprocessor 111, an auxiliary control circuit unit 190A, and a high-speed A/D converter 115 to which the detection signals of excitation currents for electromagnetic coils 81 through 84 are inputted; based on an valve-opening command signal generated by the microprocessor 111 and excitation-current setting information, the auxiliary control circuit unit 190A opening/closing-controls power supply control opening/closing devices by use of a numeral value comparator and a dedicated circuit unit, and monitors and stores at least one of the peak value of a rapid excitation current and a peak current reaching time; the microprocessor 111 performs correction control with reference to the monitoring storage data, and implements fuel injection control while reducing a rapid control load on the microprocessor 111. |
| US09261034B2 |
Gas engine control device
It is an object of the invention to achieve a stable idling revolution speed in a short time and to prevent easily the occurrence of abnormal combustion, misfire, or the like by effectively controlling a gas flow rate adjustment valve even in a case where a fuel gas which tends to fluctuate in fuel gas concentration, as represented by a coal mine gas, is used. The invention includes a revolution speed detection part 5 detecting the revolution speed of a gas engine 1, a gas concentration detection unit 7 detecting the gas concentration of a fuel gas, a gas flow rate adjustment valve 4 disposed in a fuel gas pipeline 3 supplying a fuel gas to the gas engine 1, a governor actuator 21 for operating the gas flow rate adjustment valve 4, and an operation amount computation part 15 computing the operation amount of the governor actuator 21 according to the gas concentration of the fuel gas detected by the gas concentration detection unit 7; and a governor controller 10 operating the governor actuator 21 based on the operation amount computed by the operation amount computation part 15 is further provided. |
| US09261033B2 |
Systems and methods for improving catalyst diagnostics in the presence of sensor degradation
Systems and methods for diagnosing operation of a catalyst are presented. In one example, threshold limits for catalyst variables are adjusted in response to attributes of a catalyst monitor sensor that may vary with sensor age. The catalyst variables may provide insight into whether or not the catalyst is degraded or operating as intended. |
| US09261030B2 |
Automatic fuel shutoff
A combination lever for a carburetor is an integrated shutoff lever and fuel valve. The combination lever includes a longitudinal portion for a handle and a cylindrical portion including a fuel path for the fuel valve. A carburetor casing is shaped to form a valve chamber and a carburetor chamber. The valve chamber supports the cylindrical portion. A directional cavity formed in the cylindrical portion of the combination lever regulates a flow of fuel to the carburetor chamber according to a rotation of the combination lever. At one position the directional cavity opens the fuel path so that fuel flows into the carburetor chamber. At another position the directional cavity closes the fuel path so that the flow of fuel is blocked. The combination lever may also include an abutment portion to engage a switch for completing an electrical shutoff path to an engine coupled to the carburetor. |
| US09261027B2 |
Fuel cutoff testing system
A method and apparatus for controlling operation of an engine in an aircraft. A time when a cutoff speed for the aircraft will be reached at which a flow of fuel is to be stopped is identified. A delay between sending a command to move a switch to an off position and the time at which the engine ceases operation is also identified. The command is sent based on the predicted time and the delay. The command causes the switch to move to the off position moving a fuel control switch for the engine of the aircraft to a shut off position to stop the flow of fuel to the engine. |
| US09261024B2 |
Method and a device for producing a setpoint signal
A method and device producing a setpoint signal representing a flow rate of fuel that a metering unit having a slide valve is to supply to a fuel injection system of a combustion chamber in a turbine engine, the position of the valve depending on the setpoint signal. The method: obtains a first signal representing a measurement as delivered by a flow meter of a flow rate of fuel injected into the chamber; evaluates a second signal representing the flow rate of fuel injected into the chamber based on a measurement of the position of the valve; estimates a third signal representative of the measurement delivered by the flow meter by applying a digital model of the flow meter to the second signal; and produces the setpoint signal by adding a compensation signal to the first signal, the compensation signal obtained by subtracting the third signal from the second signal. |
| US09261021B2 |
Turbine engine for aircraft
An internal wall of an air intake and a housing of a fan form a single tubular piece made from a fiber/resin composite material. A rear end has the single tubular component connected by a flange and bolts to an external cowl of the fan duct, such that the rear end of the tubular component is uniform and the flange is attached and fixed to the rear end. |
| US09261019B2 |
Variable cycle gas turbine engine
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique variable cycle gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for variable cycle gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith. |
| US09261018B2 |
Internal combustion engine of the annular piston type and a center shaft for such an engine
The present invention provides a novel internal combustion engine of the annular piston type and a center shaft for such an engine for further improving the cooling an internal combustion engine of the annular piston type. The internal combustion engine comprises a block having at least one annular combustion chamber and an annular piston with a center chamber. The annular piston of the engine is configured to reciprocate in the combustion chamber. The internal combustion engine further comprises a center shaft being fixed to said block and configured to fit at least partially inside the center chamber of the annular piston. The center shaft comprises at least one passageway which is configured to lead fluid flow to and from the center chamber of the annular piston. |
| US09261017B2 |
Vehicle drive device
A vehicle drive includes a speed change mechanism connected to a rotary electric machine; an output member connected to the speed change mechanism and wheels; an engagement device changes a state of engagement between an input member connected to an engine and the speed change mechanism; a hydraulic pump driven by the engine or the rotary electric machine; a first pressure control device that controls pressure supplied from the pump and supplies the pressure to the speed change mechanism; a second, separate hydraulic pressure control device that controls the pressure supplied from the pump and supplies the pressure to the engagement device; and a case that houses the rotary electric machine, speed change mechanism, engagement device, and pump. At least the engagement device is housed in a space formed by the case, and the second hydraulic pressure control device is provided at a part of the case forming the space. |
| US09261010B2 |
Liquid-cooled internal combustion engine with a partially integrated exhaust manifold
A liquid-cooled engine and method for its operation is described wherein the engine includes a cylinder head comprising at least one coolant jacket and exhaust manifold at least partially integrated therein. In one particular example, the exhaust pipes merge in stages within the cylinder head before merging into a common exhaust gas collector outside the cylinder head. Inclusion of a coolant system according to the present disclosure allows the thermal load of the cylinder head to be controlled, which thereby allows cooling to be achieved in a targeted manner inside the cylinder head by means of liquid cooling and forced convection. |
| US09261009B2 |
Automotive muffler
In a muffler comprising a shell formed by joining a pair of shell halves each including a bottom wall and a side wall and defining an opening opposite to the bottom wall, the shell halves being joined to each other at the openings thereof, the muffler further comprising an inlet pipe for introducing exhaust gas into the shell and an outlet pipe for expelling exhaust gas from inside the shell, a depth of one of the shell halves is greater than a depth of the other shell half, and the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are connected to the side wall of the one shell half so that the overall plane stiffness of the shell is well balanced and maximized. Therefore, without adding any reinforcement or increasing the wall thickness of the shell, the acoustic emission from the muffler can be minimized. |
| US09261008B2 |
Exhaust with an acoustic attenuation system
An aeroengine exhaust cone is arranged to extend from upstream to downstream along a longitudinal axis. The cone comprises a structural core of composite material made up of an axisymmetric part having an upstream endpiece at its upstream end and a downstream endpiece at its downstream end. The core provides structural strength to the cone. The cone has an acoustic attenuation system made of composite material and fastened on the structural core. |
| US09261003B2 |
System and method for treating exhaust pipe
The system for treating exhaust gas comprises an exhaust duct, a catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust duct and an injector for injecting a substance into the system. The system further comprises a bypass duct bypassing a section of the exhaust duct, wherein the bypass duct is arranged such that only part of the catalytic converter is bypassed by the bypass duct. |
| US09261002B2 |
Feed-back for closed-loop selective catalytic reduction control
A system and method for using feed-back information, such as, for example, system-out NOx levels, to provide for closed-loop selective catalytic reduction control. A reference generation module may adjust an ideal SCR conversion value based on a quantity of reductant slippage from the engine system so as to provide an adjusted ideal SCR conversion efficiency value. The adjusted ideal SCR conversion efficiency value may then be used to generate a reductant to NOx ratio that corresponds to an ideal reductant dosing command. The ideal reductant dosing command may be further adjusted to account for low frequency variations, such as, low frequency variations in the SCR system, to generate an adjusted ideal reductant dosing command. The adjusted ideal reductant dosing command may be further adjusted to reflect high frequency variations in the SCR system, before a final reductant dosing command is generated for a reductant injector. |
| US09261001B2 |
Failure determination system of exhaust gas purification apparatus
In a failure determination system that performs failure determination of an exhaust gas purification apparatus having a NOx selective catalytic reduction catalyst (NOx catalyst) that is disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine and uses ammonia as a reducing agent, the failure determination of the exhaust gas purification apparatus is performed by a failure determination unit, based on a detected value of a NOx sensor that detects NOx in exhaust gas. Then, based on an adsorption amount difference at assumed failure that is the difference between an ammonia equilibrium adsorption amount in the NOx catalyst in an equilibrium state of ammonia adsorption, assuming that the exhaust gas purification apparatus is in a predefined failure state, and an actual ammonia adsorption amount in the NOx catalyst, the failure determination itself by the failure determination unit is inhibited or the use of the NOx sensor in the failure determination is restricted. Accordingly, in the failure determination system of exhaust gas purification apparatus having the NOx selective catalytic reduction catalyst, erroneous determinations at the time of failure determination are suppressed, thereby further improving the accuracy of the failure determination. |
| US09260997B2 |
Exhaust device of outboard motor
A water jacket is attached to an exhaust manifold connected to an exhaust port to annularly cover an outer side of an exhaust channel in the exhaust manifold. An engine cooling coolant is made to flow as a cooling medium of the water jacket of the exhaust manifold. An exhaust pipe in a siphon shape is connected to the exhaust manifold, a water jacket is attached so as to annularly cover an outer side of a front half portion of the siphon shape, and seawater is directly supplied into the water jacket to flow therein. Consequently, an exhaust device of an outboard motor practically having a compact structure and excellent exhaust performance and accordingly realizing excellent engine performance is provided. |
| US09260996B2 |
Exhaust system and method for controlling an exhaust system
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling an exhaust system includes determining an air to fuel ratio within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine into the exhaust system and determining a specific heat for the exhaust gas flow in a first segment of the exhaust system based on the temperature of the exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine and the air to fuel ratio, wherein the first segment is upstream of the particulate filter. The method also includes determining a first temperature of the exhaust gas in the first segment based on the specific heat for the exhaust gas flow and selectively controlling a regeneration process for the particulate filter using the determined temperature of the exhaust gas at the selected location. |
| US09260991B2 |
System and method for storing crankcase gases to improve engine air-fuel control
A system and method for improving processing of gases contained within the crankcase of an internal combustion engine is presented. The system is especially suited for single boiling point fuels because it allows the storage of such fuels until the fuel can be opportunistically combusted. |
| US09260986B2 |
Oil pressure scheduling based on engine acceleration
Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting oil pressure supplied to engine components. In one example approach, a method for controlling oil flow in an engine comprises adjusting oil pressure supplied to the engine based on engine acceleration. For example, engine acceleration may be used to predict future engine lubrication requirements so that oil pressure adjustments may be scheduled accordingly. |
| US09260984B2 |
Camshaft adjuster
A camshaft adjuster (1) including a hub (2) for securing the camshaft adjuster (1) to one end (3) of a camshaft (4) is provided. The camshaft adjuster (1) includes a drive element (8) and an output element (9). An outer cover surface (5) of one section (6) of the hub (2), which faces the camshaft, is designed as a bevel surface (7) which protrudes from the camshaft adjuster (1) and can be brought into contact with a complementary bevel surface (24) of the end of the camshaft (3). |
| US09260983B2 |
Valve control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A valve control apparatus includes first and second engine valves; a first drive cam configured to rotate integrally with the drive shaft; a second drive cam provided on the drive shaft and configured to rotate integrally with the drive shaft; a swing cam configured to swing; a transmission mechanism configured to convert a rotation of the first drive cam into a swinging force and to transmit the swinging force to the swing cam; a first swing arm configured to open the first engine valve by a swing of the swing cam; a second swing arm configured to open the second engine valve by a rotation of the second drive cam; a control mechanism configured to vary a swing amount of the swing cam by varying an attitude of the transmission mechanism; and a connection changeover mechanism configured to connect and disconnect the first swing arm with/from the second swing arm. |
| US09260978B2 |
System and method for heating a stator segment
A system for heating a stator segment includes a first frame member, a plurality of arms extending radially from the first frame member, and a heater releasably connected to each arm. The system further includes a biasing element for biasing each heater away from the first frame member. |
| US09260975B2 |
Apparatus and methods for electricity generation from exhaust of condenser of HVAC system
A low RPM permanent magnet generator mounted over the exhaust port of a HVAC condenser provides a direct drive generator that allows low cogging and low startup resistance to effectively produce electricity at low wind speeds. |
| US09260971B2 |
Turbine rotor
Providing a turbine rotor in which the rotational inertia of the turbine rotor can be reduced without changing the geometry of the blade part, whereas the turbine rotor is provided with the rear side surface so that the stress concentration appearing at the root part regarding the hub part on the rear surface side is constrained in order that the strength and the durability of the turbine rotor can be enhanced. A turbine rotor that comprises a hub part 9 connected to a rotor shaft 19 and a plurality of blade parts 11 formed around the outer periphery of the hub part 9, the hub part and the blade parts being integrated into one piece, wherein the diameter of the hub part 9 around the rotation axis L of the rotor shaft 19 gradually increases along the rotation axis direction toward a rear side surface 7 on an end side regarding the rotation axis direction; an annular recess 21 is formed annularly around the rotation axis as a rotation center line, on the side of the rear side surface 7 of the hub part 9; the cross-section of the annular recess whose plane includes the rotation axis is configured with a part of the major arc C of an oval shape or an egg shape, the major arc C being formed so that the oval shape or the egged shape is divided by the major axis b as a symmetrical axis of the oval shape or the egged shape; and, the major axis b is placed in the rear side surface 7. |
| US09260969B2 |
Runner for direct-connected low-speed small mixed flow type water turbine applied in hydrodynamic energy-saving cooling tower
The invention relates to a runner for a direct-connected low-speed small mixed flow type water turbine applied in a hydrodynamic energy-saving cooling tower, which comprises an upper crown (1), a lower ring (3) and curved surface blades (2) mounted between the upper crown (1) and the lower ring (3), and is characterized in that the ratio of the height h of water inlet edge (4) of each blade (2) to the diameter D1 corresponding to the water inlet edge (4) is 0.18-0.22, the ratio of the overall height H of the blades (2) to the diameter D1 is 0.35-0.42, the ratio of the diameter D2 corresponding to the intersection point A of each water outlet edge (4) and the lower ring (3) to the diameter D1 is 0.4-0.6, the ratio of the diameter D3 corresponding to the intersection point B of each water outlet edge (4) and the upper crown to the diameter D1 is 0.3-0.45, the ratio of the diameter D4 in the position of a water drain round platform on the upper crown (1) to the diameter D1 is 0.1-0.2, and the relationship between the diameter D1 and the rotational speed of cooling fan blades is D1=n11×√{square root over (H)}/n. The invention has the advantages of simple structure, convenience in design and mounting and high energy conversion efficiency. |
| US09260966B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for the management of heat removal within a compression and/or expansion device or system
Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator that can be used to compress a gas within a pressure vessel. An actuator can be actuated to move a liquid into a pressure vessel such that the liquid compresses gas within the pressure vessel. In such a compressor/expander device or system, during the compression and/or expansion process, heat can be transferred to the liquid used to compress the air. The compressor/expander device or system can include a liquid purge system that can be used to remove at least a portion of the liquid to which the heat energy has been transferred such that the liquid can be cooled and then recycled within the system. |
| US09260959B2 |
Determining fluid pressure
A wellbore fluid pressure measurement system includes a densometer adapted to measure a fluid density of a fluid flowing in a tubing system; and a monitoring unit communicably coupled to the densometer. The monitoring unit is adapted to receive a plurality of values representative of the fluid density from the densometer and includes a memory adapted to store the plurality of values representative of the fluid density; and one or more processors operable to execute a fluid pressure measurement module. The module is operable when executed to determine a fluid pressure of the fluid based on at least a portion of the values representative of the fluid density. |
| US09260957B2 |
Use of nanoparticles for labelling oil field injection waters
The present invention relates to the development of tracer fluids, more generally, that of aqueous liquids, intended to be injected under pressure in an oil reservoir, for example from an injection well up to a production well.The object of the invention is to propose a new method of study of a solid medium, i.e. an oil reservoir, by diffusion of a liquid (i.e. injection waters) containing tracers, through said solid medium, which is simple to implement and economical and which remedies the drawbacks of the known tracers for injection waters of oil reservoirs.This method essentially consisting of injecting, in this solid medium, an injection liquid comprising a nanoparticle-based tracer having average dimensions comprised between 20 and 200 nm, detectable by means of one or several S signals at dilutions of less than or equal to 10−7, adapted to form a stable colloidal suspension in a saline medium, at least a portion of which is constituted of a core and a coating provided with an adjustable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and comprising at least one organic and/or organosilicon component; recovering the liquid having diffused; and analyzing this liquid having diffused to measure the quantity of tracer by detection of the signal or signals S. |
| US09260952B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow in an autonomous valve using a sticky switch
Apparatus and methods are described for autonomously controlling fluid flow in a tubular in a wellbore. A fluid is flowed through an inlet passageway into a biasing mechanism. A fluid flow distribution is established across the biasing mechanism. The fluid flow distribution is altered in response to a change in the fluid characteristic over time. In response, fluid flow through a downstream sticky switch assembly is altered, thereby altering fluid flow patterns in a downstream vortex assembly. The method “selects” based on a fluid characteristic, such as viscosity, density, velocity, flow rate, etc. The biasing mechanism can take various forms such as a widening passageway, contour elements along the biasing mechanism, or a curved section of the biasing mechanism passageway. The biasing mechanism can include hollows formed in the passageway wall, obstructions extending from the passageway wall, fluid diodes, Tesla fluid diodes, a chicane, or abrupt changes in passageway cross-section. |
| US09260950B2 |
One trip toe-to-heel gravel pack and liner cementing assembly
A gravel packing assembly gravel packs a horizontal borehole. Operators wash down the borehole using an inner string in a first position by flowing fluid from the inner string through the apparatus' toe. Operators then gravel pack by moving the inner string to one or more flow ports between a screen and the toe. Slurry flows into the borehole from the flow ports, and returns from the borehole flow through the screen. The gravel in the slurry can pack the borehole in an alpha-beta wave from toe to heel. In another condition, operators can move the inner string to a second flow port so slurry can flow into the borehole through a shunt extending from the second flow port. When gravel packing is done, operators move the inner string to a port collar in a liner of the assembly to cement the liner in the borehole. |
| US09260948B2 |
Multi-level reservoir history matching
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for performing multi-level reservoir history matching. At least some illustrative embodiments include a method that includes generating a first history-matched model using at least one updated model parameter derived from one or more existing model parameters, generating a set of second history-matched models by applying a probabilistic inversion to the first history-matched model, and deriving a set of third history-matched models from the set of second history-matched models. The method further includes generating dynamic simulation realization sets using each of the set of third history-matched models, ranking each of the set of third history-matched models based at least in part on the dynamic simulation realization sets, and presenting a production forecast to a user based on the highest ranked third history-matched models. |
| US09260945B2 |
Expandable and variable-length bullnose assembly for use with a wellbore deflector assembly
A wellbore system includes an upper deflector arranged within a main bore of a wellbore and defines first and second channels. A lower deflector is arranged within the main bore and spaced from the upper deflector by a predetermined distance and defines a first conduit exhibiting a predetermined diameter and communicating with a lower portion of the main bore and a second conduit that communicates with a lateral bore. A bullnose assembly includes a body and a bullnose tip arranged at a distal end of the body, the bullnose assembly being actuatable between a default configuration and an actuated configuration. The upper and lower deflectors direct the bullnose assembly into one of the lateral bore and the lower portion of the main bore based on a length and a diameter of the bullnose tip as compared to the predetermined distance and the predetermined diameter, respectively. |
| US09260938B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for bypassing a flow control device
A bypass assembly for use in a downhole tool comprises a chamber, a first fluid port in fluid communication with the chamber, a second fluid port in fluid communication with the chamber, a flow restrictor disposed in a first flow path between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, a piston moveable in a first direction by the application of a first fluid pressure, a biasing member, and a restraining member disposed adjacent to the piston. The biasing member biases the piston to move in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the restraining member is actuated by movement of the piston in the first direction in response to a predetermined fluid pressure. Movement of the piston in the second direction to a predetermined position configures the bypass assembly to divert fluid flow around the flow restrictor along a second flow path. |
| US09260937B2 |
Flow rate control valve for solutions of polymers
A flow rate control valve and a method for injecting a fluid into an underground formation are provided. In accordance with the method, the fluid is transported in at least one injection pipe. The injection pipe has a main portion including a single tube. The flow rate control valve has at least ten fluid transport tubes that are arranged in parallel. A ratio of the cross-section of the main portion over the sum of the cross-sections of the fluid transport tubes is less than or equal to 5. A flow rate of the fluid circulating in the injection pipe is adjusted by distributing the fluid through all or only some of the fluid transport tubes. The fluid from the injection pipe is then injected into the underground formation. |
| US09260935B2 |
Degradable balls for use in subterranean applications
Degradable balls for downhole use may include an incompliant degradable polymer and a compliant filler material, the incompliant degradable polymer having an elastic modulus of about 2 GPa or greater, and the compliant filler material having an elastic modulus of less than about 2 GPa. Such degradable balls may be useful in sealing segments of a wellbore and actuating wellbore tools. |
| US09260932B2 |
Blowout preventer ram assembly and method of using same
The techniques herein relate to a ram assembly for a blowout preventer for receiving a tubular of a wellbore. The ram assembly includes a ram block for engagement with the tubular, a ram shaft for selectively extending and retracting the ram block, and a ram connector for operatively connecting the ram shaft to the ram block. The ram block has at least one block groove. The ram shaft has a ram head with at least one shaft groove. The ram connector includes at least one shear connector correspondingly disposable in the block groove and the shaft groove whereby the ram shaft is releasably securable to the ram block. |
| US09260927B2 |
System and method for managing heave pressure from a floating rig
A system compensates for heave induced pressure fluctuations on a floating rig when a drill string or tubular is lifted off bottom and suspended on the rig, such as when tubular connections are made during MPD, tripping, or when a kick is circulated out during conventional drilling. The system also compensates for heave induced pressure fluctuations on a floating rig when a riser telescoping joint located below a RCD is moving while drilling. |
| US09260926B2 |
Seal stem
In one embodiment, the sealing apparatus includes a mandrel having at least two portions, a first portion having a seal ring disposed on an exterior surface and a second portion without a seal ring disposed on an exterior surface. In one embodiment, the seal ring is disposed around the first portion. In another embodiment, the burst and collapse integrity of the first portion is substantially the same as the second portion. |
| US09260921B2 |
System and methods for constructing and fracture stimulating multiple ultra-short radius laterals from a parent well
Systems and methods for multi-lateral wellbore construction and stimulation from cased parent wellbores. Methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate the creation of casing exit openings in the casing of parent wellbores. Methods and systems are provided for azimuthally and longitudinally aligning drilling assemblies through openings in a parent wellbore casing are provided to allow for drilling multiple lateral wellbores extending outwardly from a parent wellbore. A method of stimulating one or more subterranean zones intersected by multiple lateral wellbores extending outwardly from one or more parent wellbores includes the steps of: simultaneously injecting a stimulation fluid into the lateral wellbores; and stimulating the zones intersected by the lateral wellbores in response to the stimulation fluid injecting step. |
| US09260920B2 |
Multipurpose cantilever skidding frame
The present subject matter provides a multipurpose cantilever skidding frame having a first frame structure, a second frame structure and two connection beams integrally forming a rigid structure to provide longitudinal and lateral movement for an exemplary cantilever. The present subject matter also provides a drilling rig that enables a cantilever to be moved in both longitudinal and transverse directions. |
| US09260919B2 |
Method and apparatus for aligning a BOP stack and a mast
A method and apparatus for aligning a wellhead or BOP stack with a mast assembly comprising a sensor which provides an initial alignment between a mast and a wellhead or BOP stack. A mast assembly is transported to a well site by a rig carrier and positions the mast assembly adjacent a wellhead, or BOP stack. The mast assembly is raised to an upright position whereby a rear portion of the mast extends over the wellhead. In one embodiment, at least one sensor is mounted to a top drive and/or crown located within the mast assembly. The top drive has a predetermined path of movement and the sensor aligns itself with the wellhead. In another embodiment, at least one sensor is mounted to the wellhead and aligns itself with a laser alignment target fastened to a crown and/or top drive of the mast. In yet another embodiment, at least one sensor is located on a lower portion of the mast assembly to align the mast with the wellhead. The apparatus is designed to achieve an accuracy of alignment which in different embodiments could be less than 5 degrees, less than 3 degrees, or less than 1 degree. |
| US09260915B2 |
Device for controlling a release member for releasing an electrical actuator
This actuator device (1) is for actuating a release member for a motor and gearbox unit for applying rotary drive to a tube for winding a closure or solar protection screen. The release member is controlled by means of a cable. The device comprises a tensioner mechanism (20, 30) for tensioning the cable (11) in an actuation direction (Fa, Fa′), at least one locking means for locking the tensioner mechanism, and at least one unlocking means (41a) for unlocking the tensioner mechanism. The unlocking means are actuatable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the actuation direction. |
| US09260914B2 |
Covering for an architectural opening
A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include an accumulator roller, a shade attached to the accumulator roller, and a shade actuation system. The shade may be wrappable about the roller. The shade may include two laterally-separable sheets interconnected by a plurality of vertically-spaced vanes. The shade actuation system may be selectively engageable with a confronting face of one of the two laterally-separable sheets. Engagement of the shade actuation system and the one of the two laterally-separable sheets may restrict movement of the one of the two laterally-separable sheets relative to the other of the two laterally-separable sheets. |
| US09260911B2 |
Door panel for overhead roll-up doors and a method for creating the same
A door panel for an overhead roll-up door assembly having a first face, a second face, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The door panel is constructed by butt jointing at least two sub-panels together in a horizontal direction such that neither sub-panel overlaps the other and applying at least one strip of seaming material over each horizontal butt joint, the seaming material being adhered over each butt joint on at least the first face of the door panel. The door panel further includes at least one strip of seaming material adhered vertically along at least one face of the door panel extending from approximately the top edge of the door panel to approximately the bottom edge of the door panel, and being configured such that a top face of the vertical seaming material is substantially co-planar with a top face of the horizontal seaming material. |
| US09260904B1 |
Concealed valuable-storage box
A valuable-storage box includes a hollow housing embedded within a wall having a plurality of sidewalls and an open face in communication with an interior storage chamber. A cover plate securable over the open face includes at least one simulated toggle switch on the front surface that resembles a conventional, operable light switch. Accordingly, when valuables are placed within the storage chamber and the cover plate is fastened, the storage box deceptively resembles an operable light switch. |
| US09260901B2 |
Door-opening/closing device for use in vehicle
A door opening/closing device for use in a vehicle is provided with a driving member. The driving member has a permanent-magnet motor provided with two terminals and an output member, which is rotationally driven by the permanent-magnet motor. The driving member is mounted on either a vehicle body or a vehicle door and is coupled to the other via the output member. As the output member rotates, the vehicle door opens or closes. The door opening/closing device is also provided with a switching device configured to switch the permanent-magnet motor between an energizable state, in which the permanent-magnet motor can receive electricity through the two terminals, and a brake state, in which the terminals are short-circuited. The switching device switches the permanent-magnet motor into the brake state when the vehicle door is in any position other than the fully closed position. |
| US09260897B2 |
Hidden interlocking hinge assembly
The hidden interlocking hinge assembly at least partially hides or conceals the hinging mechanism of a door pivotally attached to a jamb. The assembly incorporates interlocking knuckles on the door and the jamb, an overlapping flange feature, and a corresponding depression feature that allows the overlapping flange and the depression to move relative to the other without binding and while generally concealing the balance of the assembly. |
| US09260894B2 |
Prop rod end piece
An end piece for connecting a prop rod to a seat includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A flange is formed on the second end of the body, and is configured to abut the seat. The end piece may have a hole defined in the first end of the body, such that the prop rod inserted into the hole, or the end piece may connect to the prop rod with other structure. The end piece has a top key formed on the flange. The top key extends away from the body and helps hold the end piece to the seat. |
| US09260891B2 |
Container with gravity releasable locking lids
A container can include a body having an opening, a lid for selectively covering the opening, and a lock system for securing the lid. The lock system can include a limiter slidably mounted on a pivot pin between first and second latch members and configured to engage and control rotation of the first and second latch members. The limiter can be weighted such that when the container is upright the limiter is biased by gravity towards a pivot pin when the first and second latch members engage a lock pin and prevent the first and second latch members from disengaging the lock pin. |
| US09260889B2 |
Tilt prevention assembly for a series of drawers in a tool cabinet
The invention relates to a tilt prevention assembly for a series of drawers in a tool cabinet, comprising a frame which, when in use, is connected to the tool cabinet, as well as a securing member pivotably mounted to the frame, which securing member is pivotable between a securing position in which the securing member forms an obstruction for the movement of the closed drawers, and between a releasing position in which a drawer is moveable at least to an extended position. The tilt prevention assembly also comprises an actuator member that is arranged for pivoting the securing member under the influence of the movement of the drawers to the securing position or the releasing position. |
| US09260888B1 |
Door lock device for refrigerator and freezer
The present invention relates to a door lock device for a door of a refrigerator and freezer, and more particularly, to a door lock device for a door of a refrigerator and freezer that is configured to improve the coupling structure of an outer case and an inner case, thus preventing the inner case fixed by bolts to the surface of the door from being disassembled to the outside, and to reduce the whole volumes and the number of parts of opening and closing structure and releasing structure adapted to open and close the door, thus making it easy to perform assembling and installing processes. |
| US09260887B2 |
Lock assembly
A lock assembly including a lock bolt, a first hub, a first electrically powered hub locker assembly and a manually driven hub locker assembly. The lock bolt is movable between a latching position and an unlatching position. The first hub is adapted to move the lock bolt in response to movement of a first handle. The first electrically powered hub locker assembly is positionable to selectively prevent or allow movement of the lock bolt in response to torque being applied to the first handle and is configurable for fail safe operation. The manually driven hub locker assembly is positionable to selectively prevent or allow movement of the lock bolt in response to torque being applied to the first handle. |
| US09260882B2 |
Universal global latch system
A powered latch system for a door of a vehicle including a latch assembly, actuatable inside and outside handles, a powered actuator and a door controller that causes the powered actuator to unlatch the latch assembly upon actuation of the inside and outside door handles. The latch assembly may be mechanically unlatched by a user within a vehicle interior even if the powered actuator does not actuate due to a loss of electrical power or other failure. The controller can be programmed to unlatch the latch assembly according to various criteria as required to meet the specific requirements of different markets. |
| US09260881B2 |
Quick camp frame system
A frame structure for a portable structure, preferably a tent, has a hub capable of a plurality of configurations, each configuration adapted for receiving an associated end of a tent pole. Preferably, the tent pole is formed from a plurality of tent pole sections. Each tent pole section has a first end and a second end. At least one end of each of said plurality of tent pole sections has a ferrule associated with it. The ferrule is sized to receive an adjacent end of an associated tent pole section. Preferably the ferrule has a frustoconical shape. The structure also includes feet for receiving an end of each tent pole. The hub, tent poles and feet all are attached to the material used to define the tent. |
| US09260872B2 |
Device for leveling and aligning tile and method for leveling and aligning tiles
A device for leveling and aligning tiles and method for leveling and aligning tiles are disclosed. In one embodiment, the leveling device includes a body and two spaced and parallel strip members extending transversely from the body. Each of the spaced and parallel strip members extend to the front and rear of the body. Two opposing lateral open windows are formed in the body. A breakaway section is defined along the body. A wedge device is provided for penetrating one or more of the two opposing lateral open windows and exerting a force on the tiles for leveling them relative to each other. |
| US09260871B2 |
System, method and apparatus for trim for building products
A trim assembly may include a starter strip having a first fastener hem configured to receive a fastener, a starter flange extending from the first fastener hem, and a first rib extending from the starter flange. A fastener flange having a second fastener hem may be configured to receive a second fastener. The fastener flange can include a second rib extending from the second fastener hem. A trim having a first slot may be configured to receive the first rib and be mounted to the starter strip, and a second slot configured to receive the second rib and be mounted to the fastener flange. |
| US09260870B2 |
Set of mutually lockable panels
A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels. |
| US09260869B2 |
Building panels
Flooring material comprising sheet-shaped floor elements with a mainly square or rectangular shape. The floor elements are provided with edges, a lower side and an upper decorative layer. The floor elements are intended to be joined by means of joining members. The floor elements are provided with male joining members on a first edge while a second edge of the floor elements are provided with a female joining member. The male joining member is provided with a tongue and a lower side groove while the female joining member is provided with a groove and a cheek, the cheek being provided with a lip. The floor elements are provided with a male vertical assembly joining member on a third edge while a fourth, opposite, edge is provided with female vertical assembly joining member. |
| US09260863B2 |
Dynamically responsive acoustic tuning envelope system and method
A dynamic responsive acoustic tuning envelope system that includes a movably connected set of cells, each possessing sound reflecting, sound absorbing, and/or electro-acoustic properties, and which are assembled according to the principles of rigid origami. So configured, the system is capable of both localized surficial deformation to alter the material surface exposure, transform its textural profile, and alter the enclosed volume of space in a single material envelope, thereby tuning the acoustics of the environment in which the system resides. |
| US09260862B2 |
Beveled trench forming device for concrete slab foundations
An assemblage which form a beveled edge in a slab-on-grade foundation trench. The device is comprised of straight members corner members, and a connector member to hold the larger members together, an angle brace to maintain the proper bevel angle of 45° degrees, and a stake to anchor the device to the ground. When the device is assembled it forms a box-like structure whose sides and corners are sloped inwards at a 45° degree angle. The device simply needs to be positioned within the perimeter form, and filled with dirt from digging the trench; in order for the device to properly function as a device designed to make foundations much stronger. |
| US09260855B2 |
Masonry tie
Masonry tie is provided having a base and a retainer plate. The base has back plate and a shaft extending from the back plate. The shaft has a plurality of teeth. The retainer plate has a receiving opening configured to receive the shaft. The retainer plate has a locking arm adjacent the receiving opening. The locking arm is biased to engage at least one of the plurality of teeth when the at least one of the plurality of teeth is adjacent the locking arm to releasably prevent the retainer plate from moving in at least one direction. The shaft has a mounting passage extending transversely through the shaft. |
| US09260852B2 |
Spiral guiding drain structure
A spiral guiding drain structure is disposed on a toilet and includes a hidden segment and an open segment connecting with the hidden segment. The hidden segment passes through the toilet and has an inlet end leaving away from the open segment. The open segment is defined on an inner wall of the toilet and spirally surrounds the inner wall downward, a length of the open segment is at least ¾ circumference of the inner wall of the toilet, and the toilet includes a fence portion extending outwardly from a bottom rim of the open segment adjacent to an opening, and a height of the fence portion changes when an extending distance of the open segment from the hidden segment increases so that water flows out of the open segment, thus flushing the inner wall of the toilet. |
| US09260850B2 |
Vacuum toilet having a urinal function
A vacuum toilet unit having a urinal function with reduced noise emission, system design size and system weight, in which vacuum toilet unit a triggering device for triggering the vacuum valve is adapted in such a manner that the triggering unit may not be triggered when a sit-down toilet is in use as intended. |
| US09260848B1 |
Hydraulic valve and toilet leak safety catch
An elongated catch device pivotally mounted intermediately to an inlet pipe device and carrying at its upper extremity a keeper selectively disposed in the path of a float device to, unless a toilet has been flushed, block lowering of the float device and consequent opening of the control valve. |
| US09260847B2 |
Ball type clamp assembly
Described is a drain cleaner assembly, including: a clamp knob having a central cavity therein for accommodating a drain snake; a spout having a central cavity therein for accommodating the drain snake; the spout having at least one gripper cavity therein; at least one gripper disposed in the at least one gripper cavity; the clamp knob and the spout being attached to one another and also being displaceable with respect to one another to achieve at least two orientations, the at least two orientations comprising: a first orientation wherein the clamp knob contacts the at least one gripper and forces the at least one gripper into securing contact with the drain snake; and a second orientation wherein the clamp knob permits the at least one gripper to transition within the at least one gripper cavity to be out of securing contact with the drain snake. Other aspects are described and claimed. |
| US09260844B2 |
Shower head with integrated mixing valve
A shower head is configured to receive a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, where the shower head includes a mixer valve within a portion thereof that is configured to receive a first fluid from the first fluid conduit and a second fluid from the second fluid conduit and to output the first fluid or the second fluid or a blend the first and second fluids to a shower head outlet. |
| US09260841B2 |
Biased drain valve for dry barrel fire hydrant
A drain valve slide and drain valve facing seal an elbow drain hole in a dry barrel fire hydrant when the main valve is closed. A first wedge on the main valve assembly engages the elbow when the main valve is opened and biases the drain valve slide and drain valve facing toward the elbow drain hole, creating a positive seal. |
| US09260838B2 |
Control system for construction machine
A fuel-efficient hydraulic fluid has a lower viscosity than a standard hydraulic fluid, a pressure loss decreases, and thus, when control based on a standard model is exercised, the speeds of various actuators increase. However, the speeds need not be increased beyond the speeds of the standard model. Instead, it is preferred that fuel efficiency be improved. As a result, an engine revolution speed decreases by 50 rpm and a pump torque decreases by 5%. This reduces an engine output. Therefore, when a hydraulic fluid is changed from the standard hydraulic fluid to the fuel-efficient hydraulic fluid, the fuel efficiency can be improved while maintaining operability equivalent to that of the standard model. Hence, the fuel efficiency can be improved while maintaining the operability when an item affecting the fuel consumption is replaced. In addition, the settings can be changed with ease by a service technician. |
| US09260837B1 |
Intelligent pass jump control
A system for controlling an earthmoving machine is provided. The system includes a positioning system and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the position signals from the positioning system, store the position signals in a pass history, and determine, based on pass history, an actual profile of the work surface. The controller is further configured to determine, based on the actual profile of the work surface in the pass history, existence of a first condition, the first condition exists when the actual profile has a first volume having a height above a threshold for an upper pass, and existence of a second condition, the second condition exists when the actual profile has a valley having a floor lower than the threshold for the upper pass. The controller is configured to direct the earthmoving machine to operate based on the lower pass if the first and second conditions exist. |
| US09260836B2 |
Earthmoving apparatus for construction machine
An earthmoving apparatus includes an earthmoving blade (9) extending in the width direction of an undercarriage, a lifting unit (10) configured to move the earthmoving blade (9) up and down, and a cover unit (12) covering the lifting unit (10), wherein the earthmoving blade (9) can be moved by the lifting unit between a grounded position in which the earthmoving blade is in contact with the ground surface and a retracted position in which the earthmoving blade is held highest off the ground surface, while keeping a nearly vertical orientation with respect to the ground surface, the cover unit (12) includes a sub cover (27) extending from a location above the lifting unit (10) toward the earthmoving blade (9) and a main cover (28) slidable on the upper surface of the sub cover (27), the main cover (28) is pivotally attached to the earthmoving blade (9) in such a manner that one end portion of the main cover is nearly in contact with the top surface of the earthmoving blade, and when the earthmoving blade (9) is in the grounded position, the other end portion of the main cover overlaps with the sub cover (27). |
| US09260830B2 |
Flood bag
An apparatus, system, and method for creating a flood barrier by use of an open-top fabric bag device or series of connected bag devices that can be filled with materials to create the barrier. Each bag has a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, a four-sided neck, an opening in the neck, and lifting loops at the neck for lifting the bag. The bottom panel may contain a closable aperture formed by a front bottom panel overlapping a back bottom panel underneath the back bottom panel and secured by a fastening device to releasably secure the aperture. When the bag is full of materials and is lifted at the neck loops, the aperture opens and the contents are released and remain in place as the bag is lifted and removed and is available for re-use. |
| US09260829B1 |
Pedestrian barricade
A pedestrian barricade segment is attachable to adjacent similar segments using a hinge construction to form a barricade of a desired configuration. A support leg is rotatable between a stowed and a deployed orientation. A recess is disposed in the segment for receiving the leg when it is stowed. A locking ramp secures the leg in the recess. A foot pocket is disposed in the rear vertical face above the recess so that a user may insert their foot into the foot pocket and use the foot to push the leg downwardly, thereby releasing the leg from the locking ramp for deploying the leg. The leg hinge structure includes a wedge and a wave washer disposed on a flat surface of the block, for securing one end of the leg. The leg hinge structure pre-loads the leg, with the wedge, creating a pivoting bushing surface for rotating the leg. |
| US09260821B2 |
Method for converting a ballasted track into a slab track
In a section of a ballasted track that extends over a plurality of crossties, ballast is removed and crossties are removed. Crosstie blocks mounted in concrete slabs are inserted, lifted, and fastened to the rails. The rails are supported by temporary, vertically adjustable supports and adjusted. In an area that extends over a number of concrete slabs, infill concrete is filled in from the underground up to at least part of the height of the concrete slabs, and after the infill concrete has hardened, at least a part of each of the supports located between two respective concrete slabs is removed. The method allows the conversion to be carried out without changing the position of the rails. After the placement of the supports, the track is immediately operable again so that the relevant section need not remain closed until all method steps are completed. |
| US09260813B2 |
Motor usable with washing machine and washing machine having the same
Disclosed herein are a motor usable with a washing machine, which includes a drive shaft to enable supply of electric power to an electric device within a drum, and a washing machine having the same. The washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub placed within the cabinet, a drum rotatably placed within the tub and configured to accommodate laundry therein, at least one electric device mounted to the drum and configured to be operable by electric power, a motor including a ring-shaped stator mounted to a rear wall of the tub and a rotor placed around the stator so as to be rotated via electromagnetic interaction with the stator, the motor being driven by an external power source, and an electric power generating device including a power-generation unit to generate electric power to be transmitted to the electric device via driving of the motor. |
| US09260811B2 |
Annular auto-balancing mechanism
An annular auto-balancing mechanism consisting of an annular shaped housing that is filled with fluid of specific viscosity, characterized in that its balancing weights rotate around a series of circularly set supporting axes of balancing weights, which allows for the construction of an annular shaped mechanism, which, in turn, allows the mechanism to be installed on the front side of a drum for unobstructed opening and closing of the door of a washing machine, on the one hand, and maximal utilization of the mechanism's volume, on the other hand. |
| US09260810B2 |
Tufting machine drive system
A tufting machine has a needle bar for carrying a plurality of needles for reciprocating into and out of a base material. A sliding needle bar shift mechanism may shift the needle bar laterally according to a pattern. The needle bar is mounted for reciprocation and for lateral movement relative to the direction of reciprocation by a drive system including a first directional drive component having a foot secured to a respective push rod of the tufting machine and a second directional drive component connected to the shift mechanism. The first and second drive components will connect to the needle bar through linear bearings or bushings so that the motion of the needle bar in multiple different directions is controlled while permitting greater machine operating and needle bar shifting speeds. |
| US09260809B2 |
Mattress cover closing machine and method
A machine for closing an open end of a cover encasing a mattress core in order to form a mattress is provided. A frame is adapted to support at least an edge portion of the mattress core encased in the cover. A mattress core press is mounted on the frame for vertical movement and is adapted to compress an edge of the mattress core to a desired height. A mattress cover clamp is mounted on the frame for vertical movement and is adapted to clamp free edges of the open end of the mattress cover together. A sewing head carriage is mounted on the frame for horizontal movement. A sewing head is mounted on the carriage, and a sewing head motor is mounted on the carriage for driving the sewing head. The sewing head is adapted to stitch the free edges of the open end of the mattress cover closed as the sewing head carriage traverses from one side of the mattress to the other side of the mattress. |
| US09260806B2 |
Method for homogenizing the stitching pattern in a needled fleece
A method for homogenizing the stitching pattern in a needled fleece requires a detector which is arranged between a first needling device and a second needling device and detects areas in the fleece where stitches are absent. Then the fleece needled by the first needling device is also needled in the second needling device, wherein at least one operating parameter or at least one structure parameter of the second needling device is adapted specifically on the basis of the result of the detection of the absent-stitch areas, so that, during the further needling of the fleece in the second needle machine, the absent-stitch areas are filled in a targeted manner. |
| US09260805B2 |
Base fabric for stent graft, and stent graft
A base fabric for a stent graft is a woven fabric constituted by a fiber having a total fineness of 1 to 40 decitex and a single yarn fineness of 0.1 to 2.0 decitex and has a yarn density of 150 strands/2.54 cm or more in both longitudinal direction and lateral direction, a thickness of 1 to 90 μm, and a tensile strength of 50.0 N/cm or more in both longitudinal direction and lateral direction. According to the present invention, the base fabric for a stent graft having thinness, high strength, low permeability, durability, and flexibility can be obtained. |
| US09260803B2 |
Method of electrospinning fibres
A method of electrospinning fibers is disclosed. The fibers have an inner core surrounded by a porous outer shell. The method comprises co-electrospinning first and second liquids as core and shell respectively, the second liquid surrounding the first liquid in a jet issuing from a Taylor cone, wherein the first and second liquids are miscible or semi-miscible with each other, such that pore generation is driven in the shell of the fiber. The liquids may be solutions or melts. The electrical conductivity, viscosity, miscibility and other parameters of the liquids determine the structure of the produced fibers. As well as producing fibers having a porous shell there are described methods of co-electrospraying porous beads as well as core-shell vesicles having a porous shell. The methods may be used to produce hydrogen storage fibers, vesicles and beads. The methods may also be used for producing controlled drug-delivery fibers, vesicles and beads. |
| US09260791B2 |
Method of fabricating a thermal barrier
The invention relates to a method of fabricating a thermal barrier comprising a ceramic coating layer covering at least a portion of the structure of a substrate, wherein the ceramic coating layer is deposited on the substrate solely by a cathodic electrodeposition process between at least one cathode (26) and at least one anode (28), the substrate being formed of an electron-conducting material and constituting the cathode. In characteristic manner, the electrolyte (24) comprises at least one salt from the group comprising the salts of lanthanides, of yttrium, of zirconium, and of hafnium, such that the coating layer applied by the electrodeposition process includes at least one oxide from the group comprising the oxides of lanthanides, of yttrium, of zirconium, and of hafnium, and it also includes a step of heat treating the ceramic coating layer at a temperature lying in the range 400° C. to 2000° C. for a duration of at least 10 min. |
| US09260788B2 |
Reinforced articles and methods of making the same
An article comprising a substrate; a bond layer disposed on the substrate, the bond layer comprising one or more bonding segments and at least one reinforcing segment; at least one protective layer disposed on the bond layer; and at least one cooling hole extending through the substrate, the at least one reinforcing segment and the at least one protective layer, wherein the at least one reinforcing segment reduces cracking and/or delamination at the interface between the substrate and the bond layer, and methods of making the same. |
| US09260787B2 |
Hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having excellent adhesiveness at ultra-low temperatures
Provided is a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having excellent adhesiveness at ultra-low temperatures as well as fine spangles, and a method of manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having excellent adhesiveness at ultra-low temperatures includes a base steel sheet, a composite layer formed on the base steel sheet and including transition metal, an inhibition layer formed on the composite layer and including a iron-aluminum (Fe—Al) based intermetallic compound, and a zinc (Zn)-plated layer formed on the inhibition layer, in which an average diameter of spangles in the zinc-plated layer is 150 μm or less, and a method of manufacturing the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is provided. |
| US09260779B2 |
Light-transmitting conductive film, display device, electronic device, and manufacturing method of light-transmitting conductive film
An object is to provide a transparent conductive film having favorable transparency and conductivity at low cost. Another object is to reduce the resistivity of a transparent conductive film formed using conductive oxynitride including zinc and aluminum. Another object is to provide a transparent conductive film that is formed using conductive oxynitride including zinc and aluminum. When aluminum and nitrogen are made to be included in a transparent conductive film formed using oxide including zinc to form a transparent conductive film that is formed using conductive oxynitride including zinc and aluminum, the transparent conductive film can have reduced resistivity. Heat treatment after the formation of the transparent conductive film that is formed using conductive oxynitride including zinc and aluminum enables reduction in resistivity of the transparent conductive film. |
| US09260778B2 |
Organic layer deposition apparatus, method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display apparatus using the same, and organic light-emitting display apparatus manufactured using the method
An organic layer deposition apparatus, a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device by using the same, and an organic light-emitting display device manufactured using the method, and in particular, an organic layer deposition apparatus that is suitable for use in the mass production of a large substrate and enables high-definition patterning, a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device by using the same, and an organic light-emitting display device manufactured using the method. |
| US09260776B2 |
Method of producing α crystal structure-based alumina films
In forming alumina films on substrates by sputtering of an aluminum metal target in an oxidizing gas-containing atmosphere, film formation is carried out intermittently in a plurality of substeps while restricting a thickness of the film formed in each substep to at most 5 nm. A turntable is disposed to face a direction of sputtering of the aluminum metal target and the substrates are fixed to the turntable. |
| US09260773B2 |
Nanocrystal titanium alloy and production method for same
A titanium alloy has high strength and superior workability and is preferably used for various structural materials for automobiles, etc. The titanium alloy is obtained by the following production method. An alloy having a structure of α′ martensite phase is hot worked at conditions at which dynamic recrystallization occurs. The working is performed at a heating rate of 50 to 800° C./second at a strain rate of 0.01 to 10/second when the temperature is 700 to 800° C. or at a strain rate of 0.1 to 10/second when the temperature is more than 800° C. and less than 1000° C. so as to provide a strain of not less than 0.5. Thus, equiaxed crystals with an average grain size of less than 1000 nm are obtained. |
| US09260764B2 |
Low iron loss high strength non-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet and method for manufacturing same
Provided is a low iron loss high strength non-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet and a method for manufacturing the same. The method comprises hot-rolling a slab comprising 0.005 weight % or less of C, 4.0 weight % or less of Si, 0.1 weight % or less of P, 0.03 weight % or less of S, 0.1 to 2.0 weight % of Mn, 0.3 to 2.0 weight % of Al, 0.003 weight % or less of N, 0.005 weight % or less of Ti, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, cold-rolling the slab, and finally annealing the slab such that the fractional area of the non-recrystallization tissue at the cross sectional surface of the steel sheet is 50% or lower (not including 0%). |
| US09260763B2 |
Sample processing method using tube strips and tube strip holder
An automated process for converting samples includes: receiving tube strips having a number of sample tubes and samples therein, transferring multiple tube strips to a tube strip holder, dispensing sample conversion buffer into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a first time, centrifuging the tube strip holder, removing a liquid supernatant from each tube, simultaneously inspecting the contents of each tube, dispensing a specimen transport medium and a denaturation reagent into each tube, shaking the tube strip holder a second time, heating the tube strip holder for a first length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a third time, heating the tube strip holder for a second length of time, shaking the tube strip holder a fourth time, and transferring at least a portion of each sample to a respective well on an output plate. |
| US09260761B2 |
Assays for short sequence variants
The invention provides assays that can detect multiple genetic variants of a gene (e.g., a mycobacterium gene) in a sample using a pool (using 2, 3, 4, or more) of oligonucletide hybridization probes. |
| US09260759B2 |
Pyrazoloanthrone and derivatives thereof for the treatment of cancers expressing MISRII
Provided herein are pyrazoloanthrones or functional derivatives or analogs thereof to activate MIS receptor-mediated downstream effects in a cell. In particular, methods are provided to prevent and treat cancer that expresses MIS receptor type II (MISRII) by administering to a subject at least one pyrazoloanthrone or a functional derivative or analog thereof. Also provided herein are methods to lower plasma androgen levels in a subject, and/or for the treatment of a subject with a disease characterized by excess androgen, whereby the subject is administered at least one pyrazoloanthrone or a functional derivative or analog thereof. Also provided are methods to decrease the dose of a chemotherapeutic agent by administering the chemotherapeutic agent with a pyrazoloanthrone or a functional derivative or analog thereof that lowers the effective dose of the chemotherapeutic agent. |
| US09260754B2 |
Connexin mutation detection for lymphatic variation and disease
Methods are provided for identifying risk of developing lymphedema, including primary and secondary edema. The methods comprise identifying the presence in a biological sample of a polymorphism in one or more of GJA4, GJA5 and GJC2, resulting in a functional mutation of one or more of connixin 37 (Cx37), Cx40 or Cx47. |
| US09260753B2 |
Single cell nucleic acid detection and analysis
Methods and compositions for digital profiling of nucleic acid sequences present in a sample are provided. |
| US09260749B2 |
Genome walking method for cloning of unknown DNA sequences adjacent to known sequences
A method and a kit for cloning a nucleotide sequence adjacent to a known nucleotide sequence by PCR are disclosed. The method includes 1) preparing a DNA fragment with cohesive ends by cleaving a DNA that contains the known first nucleotide sequence and the second nucleotide sequence adjacent thereto using a restriction enzyme; 2) modifying the 3′ end of the DNA fragment with a nucleotide analog to block further elongation of the DNA fragment; 3) linking the cohesive ends of the 3′ end-modified DNA fragment with a linker, adapter or cassette having a cohesive end sequence complementary thereto; and 4) performing PCR using a known first nucleotide sequence-specific primer, and a linker, adapter or cassette sequence-specific primer. |
| US09260748B2 |
Methods for assessing endometrium receptivity of a patient
The present invention relates to a method for assessing the endometrium receptivity of a patient, comprising a step consisting of measuring the expression level of eleven genes in an endometrial biopsy sample obtained from said patient wherein said genes are MFAP5, ANGPTL1, PROK1, NLF2, LAMB3, BCL2L10, CD68, TRPC4, SORCS1, FST and KRT80. |
| US09260745B2 |
Detecting and classifying copy number variation
The invention provides a method for determining copy number variations (CNV) of a sequence of interest in a test sample that comprises a mixture of nucleic acids that are known or are suspected to differ in the amount of one or more sequence of interest. The method comprises a statistical approach that accounts for accrued variability stemming from process-related, interchromosomal and inter-sequencing variability. The method is applicable to determining CNV of any fetal aneuploidy, and CNVs known or suspected to be associated with a variety of medical conditions. CNV that can be determined according to the method include trisomies and monosomies of any one or more of chromosomes 1-22, X and Y, other chromosomal polysomies, and deletions and/or duplications of segments of any one or more of the chromosomes, which can be detected by sequencing only once the nucleic acids of a test sample. |
| US09260744B2 |
Various-substance holder, various-substance holder treating apparatus, and various-substance holder treating method
An object of the present invention is to provide a various-substance holder including a plurality of particulate carriers or plural sets of particulate carriers to which plural types of chemical substances are or can be immobilized and a carrier holding portion holding the plurality of particulate carriers or the plural sets of particulate carriers in a substantially stationary state such that the plurality of particulate carriers or the plural sets of particulate carriers can be externally measured. The various-substance holder is configured so that each of the plurality of particulate carriers or at least one of the particulate carriers belonging to the plural sets of the particulate carriers are labeled according to types of the chemical substances or for each of the particulate carriers or each set of the particulate carriers so as to be mutually identifiable before the particulate carriers are introduced and held in the carrier holding portion. |
| US09260741B2 |
Validation techniques for fluid delivery systems
A fluid delivery system may include a container that houses a medical fluid, a fluid pressurizing unit, and a fluid transfer set that transfers the medical fluid from the container to the fluid pressurizing unit. To validate the integrity and sterility of the fluid delivery system, the system may undergo testing protocols to evaluate the susceptibility of the system to pathogenic ingress, chemical degradation, and/or fluid cross-contamination between patient fluid delivery procedures. The testing protocols may help ensure that delivery system components used during multiple different fluid delivery procedures perform as well as if the components were replaced after each fluid delivery procedure. |
| US09260736B2 |
Measurement method using oxidase
A method for measuring a target object in a sample by using an oxidase, wherein the influence of dissolved oxygen in the sample can be corrected, is provided. The method comprises: obtaining measurement values by causing the target object in the sample to react with the oxidase under different conditions of two or more types; and performing a correction based on the obtained two or more measurement values and a correction method preliminarily set so as to correct the influence of dissolved oxygen in the sample. |
| US09260735B2 |
Dispersing feedstocks and processing materials
Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is dispersed in a liquid medium and then saccharified. |
| US09260731B2 |
Butanol fermentation using acid pretreated biomass
The production of butanol by the mutant Clostridium acetobutylicum MTCC 5587 using an acid pretreated biomass such as jatropha seed cake, pongamia seed cake and banana stems as renewable feedstock. Chemical mutagenesis was carried out for improvement of the strain for better butanol tolerance and production. This leads to a high yield of butanol obtained in single batch fermentation using acid pretreated jatropha seed cake. |
| US09260730B2 |
Method and system for collecting ethanol from aquatic plants
Methods and systems for collecting, purifying, and/or extracting ethanol produced during anaerobic metabolism by aquatic plants is provided. The system includes a cell containing water and an aquatic plant, an ethanol extraction assembly in fluid communication with the cell for removing ethanol from the water. Ethanol is released by the aquatic plant by initiating an anaerobic process in the plant such as by regulating the photosynthesis inducing light that reaches the aquatic plant. |
| US09260729B2 |
Primary alcohol producing organisms
The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having at least one exogenous gene insertion and/or one or more gene disruptions that confer production of primary alcohols. A method for producing long chain alcohols includes culturing these non-naturally occurring microbial organisms. |
| US09260721B2 |
Expression vector and methods of producing high levels of proteins
A process for high expression of protein of interest using an expression vector. The process comprises at least the following regulatory elements: a) a CMV promoter, or a functional variant thereof, b) an intron, c) TPL or a functional variant thereof, d) VA gene or a functional variant thereof, and e) a bovine growth hormone polyadenylation sequence or a functional variant thereof. |
| US09260718B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting expression of the PCSK9 gene
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the PCSK9 gene (PCSK9 gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the PCSK9 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and method for treating diseases caused by PCSK9 gene expression. |
| US09260717B2 |
Method of screening for chaperonin modulator
The present invention relates to a method of screening for modulator of chaperonin that is involved in protein aggregation inducing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, use of the chaperonin modulator screened by the method for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. According to the present invention, novel negative chaperonin modulator is provided, and chaperonin modulator may be more rapidly and conveniently screened with the negative modulator as a target. Furthermore, by using the screened material, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease may be effectively prevented or treated without concern for cell death due to autophagy, which is the existing method of removing protein aggregate. |
| US09260715B2 |
Method of inducing an immune response
A method is provided for inducing or enhancing an immune response in a mammal to a target polypeptide expressed in a plurality of cells of the mammal, which method comprises administering to the mammal an inhibitory nucleic acid which targets a region of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) which encodes said polypeptide. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitory nucleic acid which targets a region of an RNA which encodes a target polypeptide expressed in a plurality of cells of a mammal, such that translation of an aberrant form of the target polypeptide occurs in said cells, said truncated form of the target polypeptide comprising one or more T cell epitopes; together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. |
| US09260711B2 |
Solid matrix for one step nucleic acid amplification
The present invention to relates to methods and kits which can be used to amplify nucleic acids with the advantage of decreasing user time and possible contamination. The PCR reagents are bound to a solid matrix for easy processing and amplification of DNA samples. |
| US09260710B2 |
Photocleavable linker
There are provided, inter alia, photolabile compounds and methods useful for the formation of dimers of biological molecules and subsequent dissociation of the dimers. |
| US09260706B2 |
Performance-enhanced protease variants
Proteases encompassing an amino acid sequence, which are at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence specified in SEQ ID NO. 1 over the entire length thereof and which, in the listing according to SEQ ID NO. 1, have the amino acid substitution I21V in combination with at least one further amino acid substitution, the further amino acid substitution being selected from the group consisting of Q12L, M122L, N177V, A222S, V228I and T247N, and agents encompassing such proteases, exhibit very good cleaning performance on egg-containing stains. |
| US09260704B2 |
Polypeptide having or assisting in carbohydrate material degrading activity and uses thereof
The invention relates to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant polypeptide or variant polynucleotide thereof, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least 76% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or the variant polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that has at least 76% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention features the full length coding sequence of the novel gene as well as the amino acid sequence of the full-length functional polypeptide and functional equivalents of the gene or the amino acid sequence. The invention also relates to methods for using the polypeptide in industrial processes. Also included in the invention are cells transformed with a polynucleotide according to the invention suitable for producing these proteins. |
| US09260693B2 |
Actuation of parallel microfluidic arrays
An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed. |
| US09260691B2 |
Methods relating to an attenuated mycoplasma
The present invention provides a method for identifying or generating an attenuated mycoplasma bacterium, which bacterium comprises a mutation in at least one gene as listed and use of the bacterium in a vaccine for eliciting protective immunity against mycoplasma or for detecting infection by said bacterium. |
| US09260689B2 |
Device for a photochemical process
Device for a photochemical process includes a reactor. A reaction medium is contained in the reactor and is guided in the reactor in a meandering manner. At least one reactor element is arranged in the reactor through which the reaction medium flows. A light-conducting liquid is utilized. The at least one reactor element comprises one of pipes connected at a bottom and being arranged vertically, pipes connected at a bottom and being inclined at an angle relative to a vertical plane, chambers connected at a bottom and being arranged vertically, and chambers connected at a bottom and being inclined at an angle relative to a vertical plane. The reaction medium is introduced into the reactor and removed therefrom over an upper reaction medium surface and without pressure and freely to the atmosphere such that the flow of the reaction medium is stress-free for micro-organisms disposed therein. |