| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09274888B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiple-bit DRAM error recovery
A system for replacing a page stored in system memory when reading the page incurs a multiple-bit error. Upon reading a page in system memory for which a multiple-bit error is detected, backup data in flash memory is loaded into a redundant page in the system memory, and a re-mapper is configured so that future accesses to the page are redirected to the redundant page. |
| US09274885B2 |
Phase change memory with switch (PCMS) write error detection
Methods and apparatus related to PCMS (Phase Change Memory with Switch) write error detection are described. In one embodiment, a first storage unit stores a single bit to indicate whether an error corresponding to a write operation in any of one or more PCMS devices has occurred. Also, one or more storage units each store a plurality of bits to indicate whether the error corresponding to the write operation has occurred in a partition of a plurality of partitions of the one or more PCMS devices. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US09274884B2 |
Encoding and decoding data to accommodate memory cells having stuck-at faults
A data storage system includes a memory circuit that has memory cells and a control circuit that is operable to receive data bits provided for storage in the memory cells. The control circuit is operable to receive a first matrix. Each row of the first matrix corresponds to a unique one of the data bits. The control circuit is operable to generate a second matrix having only the rows of the first matrix that correspond to the data bits provided for storage in a subset of the memory cells having stuck-at faults. The control circuit is operable to generate a third matrix having linearly independent columns of the second matrix. The control circuit is operable to encode the data bits to generate encoded data bits and redundant bits using the third matrix. |
| US09274882B2 |
Page retirement in a NAND flash memory system
In a data storage system including a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) array, a page is a smallest granularity of the NVRAM array that can be accessed by read and write operations, and a memory block containing multiple pages is a smallest granularity of the NVRAM array that can be erased. Data are stored in the NVRAM array in page stripes distributed across multiple memory blocks. In response to detection of an error in a particular page of a particular block of the NVRAM array, only the particular page of the particular block is retired, such that at least two of the multiple memory blocks across which a particular one of the page stripes is distributed include differing numbers of active (non-retired) pages. |
| US09274880B1 |
Methods and apparatus for detecting and correcting errors in high-speed serial communications systems
An error detection and correction circuit is provided that reduces the number of errors in a data signal sent over a high-speed serial link with little area overhead and without deteriorating the latency of the data transmission. An error detection and correction circuit on the transmit side may compute parity bits for each data packet of N bit-wise interleaved data packets and insert these parity bits into a serial data stream. A transmitter may send the serial data stream with the data packets and the parity bits over a high-speed serial link to a receiver. An error detection and correction circuit on the receive side may locate and correct single-bit errors and detect double-bit errors in each packet of the data signal. Thus, the error correction circuit may correct up to N errors in the N bit-wise interleaved data packets. |
| US09274878B2 |
Field control devices having pre-defined error-states and related methods
Control apparatus having pre-defined error-states and related methods are described. An example non-transitory computer-readable medium disclosed herein comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to analyze, via a controller coupled to a field device, a communication from a control system remotely located from the controller, the control system to operate the field control device during a non-error condition; detect an error condition while the field control device is communicatively coupled to and receives the communication from the control system; and override the communication between the control system and the controller to operate the field control device based on a pre-defined error-state instruction stored in the controller when the error condition is detected to cause the field control device to move to a first position for a first amount of time and subsequently move the field control device to a second position for a second amount of time, the first position being different than the second position. |
| US09274876B2 |
Diagnostic data set component
Various embodiments for retaining diagnostic information for data in a computing storage environment. In one such embodiment, a diagnostic component, apart from a volume table of contents (VTOC), associated with an integrated catalog facility (ICF) catalog and with a base data set from data sets via a catalog association record, is initialized. The diagnostic component is configured to retain base data set-specific diagnostic information retrievable by the computing storage environment to assist in error diagnosis and the ICF catalog is one of the data sets storing information about the data sets for facilitating a retrieval of a name of the base data set and assists with retaining and retrieval of the base data set-specific diagnostic information. The base data set-specific diagnostic information is stored pursuant to at least one event associated with the base data set. |
| US09274875B2 |
Detecting memory hazards in parallel computing
A computer-implemented method, computer-readable media, and a computerized system to track and detect data hazards are provided. The computerized system includes processors configured to execute instructions associated with a multithreaded program. The computerized system allocates memory for the multithreaded program and creates threads for execution on the processors. The memory may include a reserved area for tracking information. The threads access the allocated memory in accordance with the multithreaded program and the memory including the tracking information is updated based on the threads' memory access. In turn, the processors generate notifications of data hazard based on the tracking information stored in the allocated memory. |
| US09274871B2 |
In-lane exception handling
This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing in-lane exception handling. The method includes displaying, on a user terminal display device, a first user interface (UI) configured to display application data in organized rows and columns, receiving, by a data management system, updates and/or edits to the application data, and calculating, by the data management system, the updated and/or edited application data. The method further includes analyzing, by the data management system, the updates and/or edits to determine one or more of associated errors, warnings, and exceptions, and displaying, within the first UI, a graphical representation for each of the errors, warnings, and exceptions in the row and/or column of the application data where the error, warning, or exception has occurred. |
| US09274870B2 |
Monitoring connection quality
In one example monitoring connection quality, data transceiving at a socket may be monitored by frequent pinging. Any error codes identified by the socket may be assigned a corresponding error description, which may then be transmitted to a proper entity for correction. |
| US09274868B2 |
Computerized method and system for automated system diagnosis detection
In a method, system, and storage medium for obtaining system diagnosis, a diagnosis domain is described that includes a number of possible diagnoses, the number of possible diagnoses prioritized based on at least one of a number of confidence levels, a preference function, and a calculation of a relationship between a number of confirmed system symptoms and a number of possible diagnoses. A number of hypotheses for incipient system symptoms is generated, and a hypothesis is selected from the generated number of hypotheses. Information is obtained regarding a number of system observations, and a selection relevant diagnostics for the system is obtained. |
| US09274867B2 |
Method for web site publishing using shared hosting
A method for publishing the web sites on remote server using shared hosting in cases of unexpected server timeouts. A list of elements (work items) to be published is generated. The list is sorted out according to dependencies of elements from one another. Then, the work items are sorted out by the priority. The work item from the top of the list (with the highest priority) is processed first. After the work is performed with this work item, the work item is marked as closed if the process has executed successfully. Then, the process moves to the next work item and so on. The process has a library of the work items. Thus, in case of a server timeout, the process knows exactly which work items have been processed prior to the timeout and can start the processing from the next work item. |
| US09274866B2 |
Programming non-volatile memory using a relaxed dwell time
In at least one embodiment, a data storage system includes a non-volatile memory array including a plurality of blocks of physical memory, each including multiple pages. The data storage system further includes a controller that maintains a data structure identifying blocks of physical memory in the memory array that currently do not store valid data. The controller, responsive to receipt of a write input/output operation (IOP) specifying an address and write data, selects a particular block from among the blocks identified in the data structure prior to a dwell time threshold for the particular block being satisfied, programs a page within the selected block with the write data, and associates the address with the selected block. |
| US09274863B1 |
Latency reduction in distributed computing systems
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to reducing latency for consensus in geographically distributed disaster-safe persistent data-store systems. These distributed systems may include registry system having redundant storage for maintaining the system status. Each registry system may include a server and a storage component. Consensus may be achieved by querying all of other servers of the registry system. In one example, the consensus data may be sharded into independent small groups. This may allow for multiple consensus transactions to be generated and run in parallel, which, in turn may reduce the latency. In addition, or alternatively, requests to a server to write or otherwise change the data-store may be batched at the server side. Thus, for the consensus, the server need only communicate with the other servers only once per batch. This may also reduce the latency of the distributed system. |
| US09274861B1 |
Systems and methods for inter-process messaging
Provided are systems and methods for a first process for writing messages to a shared memory (each of the messages being written to a respective buffer of the shared memory, and the messages configured to be read in a specified sequence by a second process), determining that writing of one of the messages to the shared memory has been completed and, sending, to the second process and in response to determining that writing of one of the messages to the shared memory has been completed, an offset value corresponding to a location in the shared memory, wherein the second process is configured to read one or more messages that are stored in the portion of the shared memory before the offset value. Also the second process reads one or more messages stored in buffers that reside in the portion of the shared memory before the offset value, and commits the reads. |
| US09274859B2 |
Multi processor and multi thread safe message queue with hardware assistance
A message exchange system for software components on different processors. A first component's attempt to load a write register with a message pointer (or a message itself) triggers a determination whether space exists in a shared memory queue. If so, the queue is updated by incrementing a message counter, writing the message/pointer into the queue where designated by a write pointer, and changing the write pointer to a next queue location. A second component's attempt to load the message/pointer from a read register triggers a determination whether there is at least one new message in the queue. If so, the queue is updated by decrementing the message counter, reading the message/pointer from the queue where designated by a read pointer, and changing the read pointer to point to a next queue location. The determinations and queue updates are performed atomically with respect to the software components. |
| US09274846B2 |
Technique for determining a chain of individual functions associated with a service
A method and apparatus are provided for determining a chain of individual functions associated with a service. The functions are designed to be interconnected in order to supply the service to a client entity in a communications network. The method includes the following steps implemented by a determination device: receiving from an access node to the service a temporary chain of individual functions associated with the service requested by the client entity together with a context associated with the client entity; determining an action to be performed on the temporary chain of individual functions associated with the service as a function of the context associated with the client entity; implementing the determined action on the temporary chain in order to obtain a final chain of individual functions; and sending the final chain to the service access node. This method can be implemented for supplying the service to the client entity. |
| US09274845B2 |
Job scheduling apparatus and job scheduling method thereof to assign jobs to a core
An apparatus and a job scheduling method are provided. For example, the apparatus is a multi-core processing apparatus. The apparatus and method minimize performance degradation of a core caused by sharing resources by dynamically managing a maximum number of jobs assigned to each core of the apparatus. The apparatus includes at least one core including an active cycle counting unit configured to store a number of active cycles and a stall cycle counting unit configured to store a number of stall cycles and a job scheduler configured to assign at least one job to each of the at least one core, based on the number of active cycles and the number of stall cycles. When the ratio of the number of stall cycles to a number of active cycles for a core is too great, the job scheduler assigns fewer jobs to that core to improve performance. |
| US09274843B2 |
Multi-redundant switchable process pooling for cloud it services delivery
A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing multi-redundant switchable process pooling cloud IT service delivery with one or more containers are disclosed. The containers comprise one or more processes that are configured to provide the at least one service; one or more adapters that are configured to connect the one or more processes to one or more appliances, applications, and other services that are required to provide the at least one service; a container specification that identifies the one or more appliances, applications, and other services that are required to provide the at least one service; and one or more configuration scripts that, when executed by the processor, are configured to connect the one or more processes to the one or more appliances, application, and other services identified by the container specification utilizing the one or more adapters. |
| US09274839B2 |
Techniques for dynamic physical memory partitioning
Various embodiments are presented herein that reallocate partitions of a shared physical memory between processing units. An apparatus and a computer-implemented method may determine an amount of memory space in the physical memory allocated to a first processing unit during system initialization. The determined amount of the memory space may be consolidated. The consolidated memory space may be allocated to the second processing unit during runtime. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09274838B2 |
Dynamic instantiation and management of virtual caching appliances
It is detected that a metric associated with a first workload has breached a first threshold. It is determined that the first workload and a second workload access the same storage resources, wherein the storage resources are associated with a storage server. It is determined that the metric is impacted by the first workload and the second workload accessing the same storage resources. In response to a determination that the metric is impacted by the first workload and the second workload accessing the same storage resources, a first virtual cache appliance is instantiated and one of the first workload or the second workload is routed through the virtual cache appliance. Routing one of the first workload or the second workload through the first virtual cache appliance causes the first virtual cache appliance to cache data associated with the storage resources. |
| US09274837B2 |
Assigning levels of pools of resources to a super process having sub-processes
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for assigning levels of pools of resources in an operating system to a super process having sub-processes. A plurality of first level pools of resources are reserved in the operating system for first level processes to perform a first level operation and invoke at least one second level process to perform a second level operation. A plurality of second level pools of resources are reserved in the operating system for second level processes. One of the second level pools of resources assigned to one of the second level processes is released and available to assign to another second level process when the second level process completes the second level operation for which it was invoked. |
| US09274836B2 |
Scheduling parallel data tasks
A method for allocating parallel, independent, data tasks includes receiving data tasks, each of the data tasks having a penalty function, determining a generic ordering of the data tasks according to the penalty functions, wherein the generic ordering includes solving an aggregate objective function of the penalty functions, the method further including determining a schedule of the data tasks given the generic ordering, which packs the data tasks to be performed. |
| US09274833B2 |
Task scheduler, microprocessor, and task scheduling method
A task scheduler scheduling running units to execute a plurality of tasks is provided. The task scheduler includes a time control portion having a common time to control a state of the plurality of tasks, and a task calculator calculating a slack disappearance time for each of the plurality of tasks. An arrival time of one of the plurality of tasks is defined as T. A deadline time representing when the one of the plurality of tasks is required to be completed is defined as D. A worst case execution time predicted to be required for a completion of the one of the plurality of tasks is defined as W. A current elapsed time is defined as C. The slack disappearance time is expressed by S=T+D−W+C. A task having an earliest slack disappearance time from among the plurality of tasks is scheduled to be preferentially executed. |
| US09274832B2 |
Method and electronic device for thread scheduling
A method for performing thread scheduling in an electronic device having a hardware processor configured for executing an operating system is provided. The operating system includes a thread scheduler and a queue manager. The method includes the following steps. In response to one of a plurality of predefined conditions is met, enable a virtual manager executed by the hardware processor. Receive a request by the thread scheduler for scheduling a thread to be executed. Mask the scheduler by the virtual manager from accessing a first queue including a plurality of first threads in a runnable state. Direct the scheduler to a first virtual queue including a first portion of the plurality of first threads in the first queue for selecting the thread to be executed. The first portion of the first threads associated with at least one application currently running. Schedule execution of the selected thread by the hardware processor. |
| US09274831B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
There is provided with an information processing apparatus for controlling execution of a plurality of threads which run on a plurality of calculation cores connected to a memory including a plurality of banks. A first selection unit is configured to select a thread as a continuing thread which receives data from other thread, out of threads which process a data group of interest, wherein the number of accesses for a bank associated with the selected thread is less than a predetermined count. A second selection unit is configured to select a thread as a transmitting thread which transmits data to the continuing thread, out of the threads which process the data group of interest. |
| US09274825B2 |
Virtualization gateway between virtualized and non-virtualized networks
Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling communication between a virtualized network and non-virtualized entities using a virtualization gateway. A packet is sent by a virtual machine in the virtualized network to a non-virtualized entity. The packet is routed by the host of the virtual machine to a provider address of the virtualization gateway. The gateway translates the provider address of the gateway to a destination address of the non-virtualized entity and sends the packet to the non-virtualized entity. The non-virtualized entity may be a physical resource, such as a physical server or a storage device. The physical resource may be dedicated to one customer or may be shared among customers. |
| US09274821B2 |
Independent access to virtual machine desktop content
Methods, systems, and techniques for facilitating access to content stored remotely, for example, as part of a virtual machine infrastructure or elsewhere in a networked environment, using a uniform mechanism are provided. Example embodiments provide an Enhanced Virtual Desktop Management Server/System with a Content Abstraction Layer which enables users to access their data stored as part of a virtual machine environment, or replicated otherwise on a network, using a generic API. The API can be incorporated into a web browser or other third party interface to provide access to the users' data without needing to remote a bitmap representation of a virtual desktop display. Accordingly, users can access their data, applications, and settings regardless of the type of access device and regardless of whether the corresponding virtual desktop is running in the data center, provisioned in the datacenter but running on a client device, or not running at all. |
| US09274815B2 |
Method and apparatus for portable self-contained node computer
A portable self-contained node apparatus establishes a connection to a host apparatus having one or more peripheral devices connected directly thereto. The node apparatus is configured to view the one or more peripheral devices while being unaware of the host apparatus, and to act as a master device interacting directly with the one or more peripheral devices. |
| US09274812B2 |
Method of configuring mobile computing device
A method of storing configuration data for mobile computing devices can comprise the steps of providing a master configuration file including one or more parameter records and providing a device file including one or more device records. Each parameter record can map a parameter value to a parameter identifier. Each device record can map a parameter identifier to a mobile computing device identifier. |
| US09274810B2 |
Method and an apparatus to update the snapshot image in a nonvolatile memory based on comparing a first data with the second data
A method and an apparatus for supporting a hibernation function in a mobile device are provided. The method includes receiving an input at an electronic device, loading, using one or more processors, a snapshot image for the electronic device in response to the input, comparing at least one portion of the snapshot image with data indicating a state of the electronic device, and updating the snapshot image using the data, based at least in part on a determination that the state of the electronic device has been changed. |
| US09274808B2 |
Image processing apparatus and hibernation start-up method
An image processing apparatus includes a volatile main memory, a first non-volatile memory for storing a plurality of types of partial snap shot images, a second non-volatile memory from which information can be read faster than from the first non-volatile memory, for storing an entire snap shot image, and a processor. The processor reads a partial snap shot image corresponding to a state after change from the first non-volatile memory and updates a corresponding portion of the entire snap shot image in the second non-volatile memory. |
| US09274796B2 |
Variable register and immediate field encoding in an instruction set architecture
A method and apparatus provide means for compressing instruction code size. An Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) encodes instructions compact, usual or extended bit lengths. Commonly used instructions are encoded having both compact and usual bit lengths, with compact or usual bit length instructions chosen based on power, performance or code size requirements. Instructions of the ISA can be used in both privileged and non-privileged operating modes of a microprocessor. The instruction encodings can be used interchangeably in software applications. Instructions from the ISA may be executed on any programmable device enabled for the ISA, including a single instruction set architecture processor or a multi-instruction set architecture processor. |
| US09274792B2 |
Compiler-controlled region scheduling for SIMD execution of threads
A compiler-controlled technique for scheduling threads to execute different regions of a program. A compiler analyzes program code to determine a control flow graph for the program code. The control flow graph contains regions and directed edges between regions. The regions have associated execution priorities. The directed edges indicate the direction of program control flow. Each region has a thread frontier which contains one or more regions. The compiler inserts one or more update predicate mask variable instructions at the end of a region. The compiler also inserts one or more conditional branch instructions at the end of the region. The conditional branch instructions are arranged in order of execution priority of the regions in the thread frontier of the region, to enforce execution priority of the regions at runtime. |
| US09274790B2 |
Customization manager
A customization includes a name of a module of source code in an existing generic version of application software, a specific position within the module, and a name of a file which contains additional software. An existing customized version of the application software is then prepared, to execute the additional software in executing the existing generic version at the existing specific position. When a new generic version of the application software is received, the existing customization is displayed if applicable to a module in the new generic version, followed optionally by receipt of an update to the existing specific position. On indication of user approval, a new customized version of the application software is prepared, to execute the additional software in executing the module in the new generic version, at the existing specific position or at an updated specific position, which depends on the optional receipt of the update. |
| US09274784B2 |
Automatic deployment and update of hybrid applications
Described herein is a framework for deploying and updating applications (Apps). In accordance with one aspect, a source code of a hybrid application may be provided by a development environment running on a cloud server, in response to a user event. A deployment generator running on the cloud server may be automatically invoked to receive the source code of the hybrid application. The source code of the hybrid application may be further packaged to form a hybrid application package for deployment by the deployment generator. The hybrid application package may be deployed to a deployment service on the cloud server. |
| US09274783B2 |
Dynamic delivery and integration of static content into cloud
A documentation application periodically checks content of a documentation repository to determine whether the documentation repository includes documentation content for update. A documentation archive for update is retrieved from the documentation repository and parsed to read meta information specified in the documentation archive. Based on the meta information, content of the documentation archive for update is integrated into the documentation application at runtime of the documentation application. |
| US09274774B2 |
Common installer server
Systems and techniques to provide for software installation. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes detecting selection of one or more applications by a user; creating a manifest for the one or more applications, the manifest including a reference to the one or more applications and a reference to one or more installers, where each of the one or more applications is associated with a unique one of the one or more installers; and providing the manifest to a target system where each of the one or more applications can be installed, none of the applications or installers being provided in the manifest. |
| US09274773B2 |
Translating programming language patterns into database schema patterns
Techniques are described herein that are capable of translating programming language patterns into database schema patterns. Examples of a programming language pattern include but are not limited to a source code pattern, an intermediate language code pattern, metadata associated with a source code pattern, metadata associated with an intermediate language code pattern, or any combination thereof. The programming language patterns may define objects that are included in an object model. Database schema patterns that define a database are automatically (e.g., inferentially) created based on respective programming language patterns that define objects of an object model. The programming language patterns are automatically mapped to the respective database schema patterns. |
| US09274772B2 |
Compact type layouts
A precompiled form of information derived from CIL metadata is created in a compact type layout (CTL) format. Information in CTL format for each data type in a program can be represented as a contiguous byte stream. Information that is irrelevant to decisions concerning layout of a data type in memory can be suppressed. information that is irrelevant to creation of virtual machine data structures can be suppressed. The information in CTL format may reference types, methods, and fields by CIL metadata token. Virtual override information such as, for example, a logical virtual table layout, can be pre-computed. Interface implementation information can be pre-computed. A decoder can generate data structures used in generation of an executable from the CTL formatted data. |
| US09274766B2 |
Treatment of layer tree as video
In one embodiment, a computing device renders as a first frame of a video a graphical user interface (GUI) of a software application on the computing device based on a multi-layered-tree representation of the GUI. The computing device modifies the multi-layered-tree representation of the GUI in response to an input or output associated with the GUI. The computing device also renders as a second frame of the video of the GUI based on the multi-layered-tree representation of the GUI as modified. |
| US09274764B2 |
Defining transitions based upon differences between states
A method is illustrated that comprises receiving at least two states, each state including at least one object with an associated property. Further, the method includes comparing each object of each state to produce a set of differences between states. Additionally, the method includes defining a transition based upon the set of differences. |
| US09274760B2 |
Adaptive developer experience based on project types and process templates
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for providing an adaptive application development environment (ADE). An embodiment operates by receiving a selection of either a simple or complex project type corresponding to an application development environment (ADE). One or more development tools for generating executable code are selected used on the project type. A project view, corresponding to the project type, is generated. |
| US09274756B1 |
System to visualize additional information on source code
A system and method are disclosed which provide visual representations of information related to source code, in the form of annotations, to users who are viewing the source code. In an example system, information related to source code may be provided by multiple sources. This information may be displayed as an annotation related to the information in close proximity to the associated source code. When a user selects the annotation, related additional information may be displayed. |
| US09274754B2 |
Program generating apparatus, program generation method and computer readable medium
In one embodiment, there is provided a program generating apparatus. The apparatus includes: a generator configured to generate a first program based on a second program and a third program. The second program includes a procedure of communicating with an operating apparatus through a network. The third program includes a procedure of allowing a first service and a function of the operating apparatus to collaborate with each other. The first program includes a procedure of realizing a collaboration service in which the first service and the function of the operating apparatus collaborate with each other through the network. |
| US09274736B2 |
Information processing apparatus, output system, information processing method, and recording medium storing information processing program
An information processing apparatus, output system, information processing method, and an information processing program stored in a non-transitory recording medium, each of which controls interaction between an upper-level program and a lower-level program, by providing the functions of: storing output processing information relating to output processing being performed or to be performed on output data, in association with output data identification information; and sending the output processing information associated with the output data identification information to the upper-level program, in response to the output data identification information received from the upper-level program. |
| US09274734B2 |
Recording system, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by mobile terminal, and image recording apparatus
A recording system includes: an image recording apparatus for image recording based on target data in a first format; a server device; and a mobile terminal including a wireless communication device, an operation device, and a controller. The controller transmits recording instruction information to the image recording apparatus when a recording instruction for the target data in a second format is received in a state in which the wireless communication device is connected to an access point. The controller instructs the server device to receive the target data in the second format, convert it to the first format, and cause the image recording apparatus to receive the target data and perform image recording, when the recording instruction for the target data in the second format is received in a state in which the wireless communication device is not connected to the access point. |
| US09274733B2 |
Terminal device and printer capable of using print intermediation server in which printer related information including print condition information is registered
A terminal device may register printer related information including virtual print condition information indicating a virtual print condition in a print intermediation server, obtain authentication information from the print intermediation server, receive print condition related information being related to an actual print condition from an actual printer after the printer related information was registered in the print intermediation server, and changing, by using the authentication information and the print condition related information, contents of the printer related information being registered in the print intermediation server, from a state including the virtual print condition information to a state including actual print condition information indicating the actual print condition. |
| US09274730B2 |
Client device using a web browser to control a periphery device via a printer
A device control system has a terminal 3 with a web browser 31, and a printer 5 that controls a connected device. The terminal 3 calls an object that controls a device and is instantiated by the device API 33 to support the device, and sends a request to the printer 5, by the web application 32; and the printer 5 executes a device control script 502 that controls the device, receives requests sent through the device API 33, and controls the device. |
| US09274722B2 |
System, method and article of manufacture for monitoring, controlling and improving storage media system performance
An apparent load is determined based on assigning weightings to commands based on various factors including, but not limited to, the limitations of the underlying storage media device(s), where the command queue fullness is viewed from that perspective rather than simply the number of commands outstanding in a storage media device. Also disclosed is the use of a positive bias and a negative bias to artificially influence the apparent load. |
| US09274719B2 |
Snapshot management in hierarchical storage infrastructure
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for snapshot management in a storage infrastructure. A computer identifies one or more snapshots within layers of the storage infrastructure. The computer determines one or more relationships of the one or more identified snapshots of the storage infrastructure. The determined relationships include, at least in part, relations of one or more entities included in the one or more snapshots to additional one or more entities in the one or more snapshots of the storage infrastructure. The computer identifies the one or more duplicate snapshots by utilizing the one or more determined relationships of the one or more identified snapshots. The computer consolidates the one or more identified duplicate snapshots in the storage infrastructure. In another embodiment, the computer identifies one or more inconsistent snapshots, and consolidates the one or more inconsistent snapshots in the storage infrastructure. |
| US09274716B2 |
Systems and methods for hierarchical reference counting via sibling trees
Systems and methods for hierarchical reference counting via sibling trees are provided. The hierarchical data structure, together with its associated operations, can efficiently maintain reference counts and significantly reduce input/output (IO) operations compared to traditional techniques. The data structure presented here is applicable to any directed acyclic graph (DAG-type) structure where reference counts are used. Various embodiments of the present invention use a data structure to maintain a “sibling pointer” (pointing to the sibling node as a way to avoid reference count updates) and a “sibling count.” When nodes in the tree diverge, the sibling pointer and sibling count are updated as opposed to directly manipulating the reference counts of the children of the diverging nodes. Various other embodiments can use additional entries or fields that allow for improved efficiency and advantages. |
| US09274713B2 |
Device driver, method and computer-readable medium for dynamically configuring a storage controller based on RAID type, data alignment with a characteristic of storage elements and queue depth in a cache
A storage controller coupled to a host computer is dynamically configured by a device driver executing in the host computer. The storage controller manages a logical volume for the host using a set of flash-based storage devices arranged as a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID). The device driver identifies a RAID type for the logical volume and a queue depth from a stream of I/O commands. For a logical volume in RAID 0, the device driver compares the queue depth to a threshold value and configures the storage controller to process the stream of I/O commands with a first path or an alternative path based on a result of the comparison. For a logical volume in RAID 5, the device driver performs a similar comparison and uses the result to direct the storage controller to use a write back or a write through mode of operation. |
| US09274710B1 |
Offset-based congestion control in storage systems
An I/O request directed to a portion of a storage object managed at a distributed storage service is received. A congestion control parameter value to be used to schedule a storage operation corresponding to the I/O request is determined. The congestion control parameter is based at least in part on an offset within the storage object to which the I/O request is directed. The storage operation is scheduled in accordance with the congestion control parameter at a selected physical storage device to which the portion of the storage object is mapped. |
| US09274706B2 |
Data management method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus
A data management method is provided. The method includes: dividing each of physical programming units into a data bits area and a spare bits area; generating first data management information corresponding to first data according to a first write command and the first data; determining whether the first data is compressible; and generating first data compression information corresponding to the first data. The method further includes: if the first data is compressible, compressing the first data to generate first compressed data, programming the first compressed data and the first data management information corresponding to the first data into a first data bits area of a first physical programming unit among the physical programming units, and programming the first data compression information into the first spare bits area of the first physical programming unit. |
| US09274704B2 |
Electronic apparatus, method and storage medium
According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an electronic apparatus, first stroke data corresponding to a first handwritten stroke and if the first stroke data is received, displaying on a screen a first candidate of a first character string corresponding to a first query of the first handwritten stroke, wherein if second stroke data corresponding to a second handwritten stroke is received continuously after a reception of the first stroke data, and if the first candidate is different from a second candidate of a second character string corresponding to a second query of both the first stroke data and the second stroke data, the second candidate is displayed on the screen with higher priority than the first candidate. |
| US09274703B2 |
Method for inputting instruction and portable electronic device and computer readable recording medium
A method for inputting instruction, a portable electronic device and a computer readable recording medium are provided. The method includes detecting taps applied on a touch screen, and determining whether tap positions of the taps belongs to the same group. The method also includes dividing the tap positions of the taps to groups if the tap positions of the taps do not belong to the same group, generating group flags according to the groups, and sorting the group flags according to a tap order of the taps, so as to generate a group flag sequence. In addition, the method further includes generating an operating instruction according to the group flag sequence. |
| US09274700B2 |
Supporting different event models using a single input source
In at least some embodiments, input provided by a single source generates events representing multiple source types through a mapping process, e.g. a touch input generates both touch and mouse events. By configuring the system to not recognize certain gestures, messages associated with the events of the different source types are then interleaved and provided to an associated application for processing. Efficiencies are gained by configuring the system to interleave the messages associated with the source types because messages of one source type can be processed sooner than if the messages of the one source type were queued up and sent in a non-interleaved fashion. |
| US09274693B2 |
Editing digital notes representing physical notes
In one example, a method includes receiving a digital note of a plurality of digital notes generated based on image data comprising a visual representation of a scene that includes a plurality of physical notes such that each of the plurality of digital notes respectively corresponds to a particular physical note of the plurality of physical notes, wherein each of the physical notes includes respective recognizable content. In this example, the method also includes receiving user input indicating a modification to one or more visual characteristics of the digital note. In this example, the method also includes editing, in response to the user input, the one or more visual characteristics of the digital note. In this example, the method also includes outputting, for display, a modified version of the digital note that includes the one or more visual characteristics. |
| US09274692B2 |
Remote control system for presentation
A computer executes a presentation file to display a presentation frame. An input device generates an input signal in response to a user's operation to have the computer execute a presentation control instruction. There is a signal processing protocol between a remote driver of the computer and a server driver of another computer, wherein the two computers are communicable with each other via a network, for standardizing a packing process and an unpacking process of the input signal. The server driver executes the packing process of the input signal according to the signal processing protocol and transmits the processed input signal out to the another computer. The remote driver executes the unpacking process of the input signal to have the another computer execute the presentation control instruction on the presentation frame. In this manner, the another computer may display the same presentation frame as that displayed by the computer. |
| US09274688B2 |
Interfacing systems and methods
Systems and methods may replace and/or enhance green screens. A green screen may be replaced and/or enhanced by receiving green screen data, determining a modification to be applied to the green screen data, generating a user interface screen including the green screen data and the modification, and causing the user interface screen to be displayed on a display. |
| US09274687B1 |
Managing schedule changes for correlated calendar events
A method of managing schedule changes for correlated calendar events. The method includes receiving, at one or more computing devices, a first calendar event including an event designation as a parent event and receiving a second calendar event including an event designation as a child event. The method further includes receiving, at the one or more computing devices, an indication of event dependency between the second calendar event and the first calendar event. If an indication is received that the first calendar event is cancelled, the method further includes cancelling, using the one or more computing devices, the second calendar event. If an indication is received that the first calendar event is rescheduled at a temporal interval from a first event time, the method further includes rescheduling, using the one or more computing devices, the second calendar event from a second event time based on the temporal interval. |
| US09274685B2 |
Systems and methods for predictive text entry for small-screen devices with touch-based two-stage text input
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for predictive text entry for small touch-screen devices. A two-state input interface (116) of a device (102) can include a seek area (120), which displays a subset of letters representing the full range of available letters. The user can select a first letter in that subset. A prediction engine (160) can generate a next most-likely letter (162) based on the currently inputted letter, using look-up tables or other techniques based on letter sequence probabilities. The user can respond with a right or left-swipe gesture, causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the most-likely next letter upstream or downstream in the alphabet. The user can also respond by touching the seek area causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the next predicted letter closest to the touch point. The prediction engine (160) can also generate a predicted completed word, for convenient user selection. |
| US09274684B2 |
Hierarchical navigation with related objects
A method for navigating information includes identifying a value for a property of a first object associated with one or more devices managed by a management system. The method includes displaying a first plurality of tiles for a plurality of objects, including the first object. A first of the tiles is associated with the first object and includes a display of a graphic associated with the object and the identified value for the property. The method includes identifying a plurality of related objects that are related to the first object and displaying a second plurality of tiles for the related objects in response to receiving a selection of the first tile for the first object. Additionally, the method includes displaying, in response to receiving a selection of a second tile in the second plurality of tiles for one of the related objects, information about the one related object. |
| US09274683B2 |
Interactive answer boxes for user search queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for presenting data are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes presenting, by a user device, an answer box as a search result in a search result location of a search results page. The answer box can include first content responsive to a query that submitted with a first resource request over a network. The user device determines that a user interaction with the answer box has occurred. In response to determining that the user interaction has occurred, the user device can presents second content in the answer box. The second content is selected from available content that has not been presented prior to the user interaction. The second content is presented independent of submission of a second resource request over the network subsequent to submission of the first resource request. |
| US09274679B2 |
Care label method for a self service dashboard construction
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interfaces and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard can be provided. The method can include identifying a widget, assigning a care label to the identified widget based on a type of datafeed payload information associated with the identified widget and displaying the identified widget with the assigned care label in a user interface to enable a user to make a visually matched selection of widgets to create a self service dashboard. |
| US09274676B2 |
Controlling three-dimensional views of selected portions of content
Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to determining that at least a portion of content would be obscured by a border of a graphical user interface if the content were to be presented in a two-dimensional state via the graphical user interface, and presenting the at least the portion of the content in a stereoscopic three-dimensional state in response to the determining that the at least the portion of the content would be obscured by the border of the graphical user interface, wherein a stereoscopic depth effect of the stereoscopic three-dimensional state makes the at least the portion of the content appear to extend beyond the border of the graphical user interface. |
| US09274674B2 |
Live companion user interface
An apparatus and method provide a companion application via a companion application corresponding to a host window provided by a host application, the companion window providing information or metadata descriptive of data in the host window. The host application and companion applications may be separate applications such that the host application is unaware of the companion application. The companion application may hook into the host application (e.g., via an application programming interface) and may monitor host application activities and/or data. Based on identification of data or events in the host application, the companion application may obtain information characterizing or providing a context for data provided by the host application. The host window and companion window may be attached to each other, the host window providing host application data and the companion window providing data describing the host application data. |
| US09274673B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for rewinding media content based on detected audio events
Methods, systems, and media for rewinding media content based on detected audio events are provided. In some embodiments, a method for providing media guidance is provided, the method comprising: causing media content to be presented; receiving, using an audio input device, audio data that includes ambient sounds in an environment in which the media content is being presented; receiving a user command to rewind the media content; detecting that a portion of the audio data corresponds to an audio event that occurred during the presentation of the media content in response to receiving the user command to rewind the media content; determining a playback position in the media content based on the audio event; and causing the media content to be presented from the determined playback position. |
| US09274669B1 |
Customizing user interfaces for multiple different clients
Techniques described herein provide customized user interfaces to users of clients based on the context of the client. For instance, the techniques may receive parameters that relate to specific client contexts, may transmit the parameters to a content scheduler, and may receive a schedule for serving context-specific user interface to the users. In response to receiving the content schedule, the techniques serve the context-specific content in scheduled locations of the customized user interface to the user. |
| US09274667B2 |
Synchronizing user interfaces of content receivers and entertainment system components
A content receiver may establish a communication connection with an entertainment system component. Utilizing the communication connection, the content receiver may control the entertainment system component in order to synchronize user interfaces the content receiver is operable to provide with user interfaces the entertainment system component is operable to provide. Hence, the user interfaces provided by the various entertainment system components may more closely resemble user interfaces of the content receiver, reducing user confusion. The content receiver may synchronize such user interfaces by altering software of the entertainment system component. In altering the software, the content receiver may replace or modify the software to change one or more aspects of one or more entertainment system user interfaces to that of one or more aspects of a content receiver user interface. The aspects may include visual properties, audio properties, and so on. |
| US09274666B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing chatting service
An approach is provided to facilitate chatting services. A friend list page is displayed via a user terminal, the friend list page including an area configured to present a status message associated with a friend. A message page is displayed in response to selection of the status message, the message page including a list of status messages associated with the friend. A chat room page is displayed in response to selection of at least one of the listed status messages, the chat room page being configured to facilitate chatting, the chat room page being displayed including the at least one selected status message automatically inserted into an input area of the chat room page. |
| US09274664B2 |
Display device with touch panel
A display device with touch panel includes a display panel having a display area in which pixels are arranged in a matrix form and displaying an image by outputting lights corresponding to gray levels with respect to each pixel, and a touch panel electrode as one electrode of a set of electrodes forming capacitance for sensing contact in an area superimposed on the display area, extending in one direction, including a plurality of linear transparent conducting materials arranged in parallel, and having a periodically changing line width. |
| US09274663B2 |
Method of detecting touch and apparatus for detecting touch using the same
Disclosed are an apparatus for detecting touch and a method for detecting touch with reduced effect of noise. The apparatus includes a signal source configured to generate a variable frequency signal changed from a starting frequency to an ending frequency, a touch panel including a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein the variable phase signal is applied to one of the plurality of driving electrodes, and the sensing electrode outputs a touch signal that is modulated by the variable frequency signal, a demodulation unit configured to demodulate the touch signal using the variable frequency signal, and an accumulation unit configured to accumulate the demodulated touch signal to detect the touch. |
| US09274661B2 |
Touch sensing circuit, apparatus, and system and operating method thereof
A touch sensing circuit is provided. The circuit is configured to connect to a conducting wire in a touch area for measuring a signal variation. In a driving mode, the wire is coupled to AC voltage. If a first voltage variation which exceeds a first threshold is measured by the circuit, it is determined that something is approaching the touch area near the wire. In a passive mode, the wire is coupled to DC voltage. If a second voltage variation which exceeds a second threshold is measured by the circuit, it is determined that something is approaching the touch area near the wire. When measuring the second voltage variation, no AC voltage is coupled to the wire. |
| US09274657B2 |
Self-capacitive touch panel
A self-capacitive touch panel including a border region and a central region is provided. The border region has a first area and corresponds to a P number of first sensors. The central region has a second area and corresponds to a Q number of second sensors. A ratio of P to the first area is greater than a ratio of Q to the second area. |
| US09274656B2 |
Fast scanning for mutual capacitance screens
In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines, and detect a touch based on the measurement of the respective signals. |
| US09274655B2 |
Method of detecting a touch position, touch substrate and display apparatus having the touch substrate
Method of detecting a touched position on a touch display of a display apparatus includes determining an amount of an electrical charge generated by a touch on the touch display panel of a display apparatus, determining a difference between the amount of the electrical charge generated from the touch and an amount of a reference electrical charge and comparing this difference to a threshold value, detecting the position of the touch if it is determined that the difference between the amount of the electrical charge generated from the touch and the amount of the reference electrical charge is substantially the same as or larger than the threshold value and detecting the touched position using a pressure according to the touch if it is determined that difference between the amount of the electrical charge and the amount of the reference voltage is smaller than the threshold value. |
| US09274653B2 |
Touch detection device and display device having touch sensor function
A touch detection device includes: a detection surface; a plurality of sensor lines formed from a plurality of types of wiring lines having a different line capacitance; and a touch detection unit which detects an electric variation generated in a plurality of the sensor lines in response to touch or proximity of a detection target object to the detection surface, wherein the touch detection unit has an operational circuit for generating a detection signal representing the electric variation by performing an operation process using a line capacitance ratio for a plurality of outputs from a plurality of types of the sensor lines neighboring to one another with a different line capacitance. |
| US09274646B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting text information
An apparatus that may include a processor configured to receive a multiple touch input comprising a first touch input relating to a first text position within a first word and a second touch input relating to a second text position, determine a first text selection point positioned outside of a word based at least in part on the first text position, determine a second text selection point positioned outside of a word based at least in part on the second text position, and select text information between the first text selection point and the second text selection point is disclosed. A corresponding method, computer readable medium, and computer program product are also disclosed. |
| US09274643B2 |
Capacitive charge measurement
A circuit for measuring a capacitive charge comprises a latched comparator and a determination module. The latched comparator comprises an input and an output. The input is coupled with a sensor electrode of a capacitive input device. An inverted version of the output is coupled with a feedback loop. The feedback loop is configured to provide feedback to the input to maintain the input at a predetermined voltage. The feedback is provided in clocked charge quanta steps based on a clock signal. The determination module is coupled with the output and configured to determine a change in capacitance on the sensor electrode by equating output signals from the output with an amount of charge provided to the input to reach the predetermined voltage. |
| US09274637B2 |
Electronic broadcast log system
There is provided a system and method for displaying a traffic output synchronized with an automation output, the system including a display, a memory storing a user interface, and a processor configured to receive the traffic output, receive the automation output, synchronize the traffic output with the automation output, and display the traffic output synchronized with the automation output using the user interface on the display. The processor is further configured to advance each of the traffic output and the automation output being displayed by the user interface in real-time. Furthermore, the processor is further configured to update the traffic output being displayed by the user interface based on feedback from the automation output. The updating including marking each element in the traffic output as being aired correctly or not being aired correctly. |
| US09274633B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing same
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the number of steps and material costs and a method of producing the liquid crystal display device. A liquid crystal display device (100) of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel (105); and a touch panel (106). Out of the liquid crystal display panel (105) and the touch panel (106), one panel serves as a reference for alignment between the liquid crystal display panel (105) and the touch panel (106) and the other panel is aligned with the one panel. The other panel is provided with a second alignment mark that is aligned with a first alignment mark of the one panel. The second alignment mark is constituted by a transparent member. |
| US09274628B2 |
Targeting in a stylus-based user interface
Aspects of the invention provide virtual hover zones. When a user lowers a hovering stylus while remaining within a hover zone, cursor control is modified to be more easily controllable by the user. If the user pauses the stylus in mid-air before lowering the stylus, and if the stylus remains within the hover zone, then upon touchdown the cursor may be moved to the projection of the location where the stylus was paused. Any action that may be taken in response to the touch down may be sent to the projection location as well. Also provided are cursor control zones. A dampening zone may be used to provide dampened cursor movement feedback in response to movement input provided by a pointing device. Also, a dead zone may be used to prohibit cursor movement in response to movement input provided by the pointing device. |
| US09274627B2 |
Touch panel and electronic device thereof
A touch panel includes a first plate, an antenna component and a decoration layer. A touch input area and a peripheral area aside to the input area are defined on the first plate. The antenna component is located at the peripheral area. The decoration layer is located at the peripheral area and hides the antenna component from view. |
| US09274626B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a panel module, an assembly member, a glue layer, and a touch module. The assembly member is engaged with a sidewall of the panel module. The glue layer is disposed on the panel module and at least one portion of the glue layer is disposed on the assembly member. The touch module is disposed on the glue layer. The panel module and the assembly member are adhered to a first side of the glue layer. The touch module is adhered to a second side of the glue layer opposite to the first side. |
| US09274624B2 |
Annotating digital files of a host computer using networked tablet computers
A computer-implemented method comprising receiving, at a tablet display unit of a first tablet that is coupled to a host computer, image data representing a selected portion of a common display file that is stored on an administrator computer; displaying the image data on a stroke-sensitive display of the tablet display unit; receiving user input from the stroke-sensitive display of the tablet display unit and representing handwritten strokes; transmitting the user input to the administrator computer; receiving, from the administrator computer, second image data representing strokes that other users have applied to the same image data using other tablets that are coupled to the administrator computer over a network; displaying, on the stroke-sensitive display, the second image data; storing, in a memory of the tablet display unit, a data file based at least upon the user input and the image data. |
| US09274623B2 |
Position information input system
Disclosed are a position information input system capable of coupling a signal generating device and a signal receiving device to each other. Firstly, a coupling unit is formed at a signal receiving device. Under such configuration, a signal generating device and the signal receiving device can be coupled to each other once the signal generating device is coupled to the coupling unit. This can enhance portability and a storage characteristic of the position information input system. Secondly, a contact power switch is installed in the coupling unit. Under such configuration, if a user separates the signal generating device from the signal receiving device for input of position information, the contact power switch is automatically turned on. As a result, the signal receiving device is automatically turned on. On the contrary, if a user, who has completed the input of position information, couples the signal generating device to the signal receiving device, the contact power switch is automatically turned off. As a result, the signal generating device is automatically turned off. This can solve the conventional user's inconvenience, i.e., turning on a power switch for input of position information, and tuning off the power switch upon completion of the input of position information. This can enhance a user's convenience. |
| US09274622B2 |
Device specific data in a unified pointer message
In one embodiment, a unified pointer message 300 may describe in a single type of pointer message a coordinate input from a user via multiple types of pointer devices. An input device interface 150 may receive a coordinate input 350 from an input device. A processor 120 may execute an application programming interface layer 430 that creates a unified pointer message 300 for the coordinate input 350. The processor 120 may send the unified pointer message 300 to an application. The processor 120 may process a device specific data set 244 unhandled by the application. |
| US09274618B2 |
Active capacitive touch pen
An active capacitive touch pen includes a casing unit, a circuit unit, a power supply unit and a pen head unit. The casing unit includes a pen-shaped casing structure. The circuit unit includes a circuit substrate disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and at least one varistor disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and electrically connected to the circuit substrate. The power supply unit includes at least one power supply component disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and electrically connected to the circuit substrate. The pen head unit includes a pen head structure movably disposed inside the pen-shaped casing structure and an elastic structure disposed between the pen head structure and the varistor. The pen head structure has an exposed contacting portion exposed from the pen-shaped casing structure. Whereby, a predetermined pressure generated by pushing the pen head structure is transmitted to the varistor through the elastic structure. |
| US09274616B2 |
Pointing error avoidance scheme
Technologies are generally described for a pointing error avoidance scheme. In some examples, a method performed under control of a computing system with a display, may include detecting an input event applied to the computing system at a pointing location in a first area of the display, determining a first time duration for which the pointing location has been maintained in the first area, determining a second time duration for which the pointing location had been previously maintained in a previous area of the display before the pointing location moved into the first area, and determining an intended pointing location of the input event based at least in part on at least one of the first time duration and the second time duration. |
| US09274606B2 |
NUI video conference controls
A system and method providing gesture controlled video conferencing includes a local capture device detecting movements of a user in a local environment and an audio/visual display. A processor is coupled to the capture device and a remote capture device and a remote processor at a remote environment via a network. The local processor includes instructions to render a representation of the remote environment on the display responsive to the remote processor and remote capture device. The processor also tracks movements of a local user in a space proximate to the local capture device. Responsive to a user gesture detected at the local capture device, the audio or visual signals provided by the remote capture device are altered to change the representation of the remote location is altered locally. |
| US09274605B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing device including a display control section configured to display objects in a virtual three-dimensional space, the virtual three-dimensional space including a depth direction of a display screen and having a center region and a peripheral region located around the center region, and an acquisition section configured to acquire an operation on the objects at least in the depth direction based on a movement of a body of a user. The range of the depth direction in which the objects are displayed is set to a first range in the center region and to a second range narrower than the first range in the peripheral region. |
| US09274602B2 |
Haptic actuator controller
An apparatus and method for controlling a haptic actuator. A haptic actuator controller can includes driver input amplifier, an actuator feedback amplifier, an actuator driver, and a gain controller. The actuator driver is configured to drive a haptic actuator based on a difference of output of the input amplifier and output of the actuator feedback amplifier. The gain controller is configured to determine a boost interval for initiating motion of the haptic actuator, the boost interval based on a boost threshold back-electromotive-force (BEMF) voltage value exceeding a BEMF voltage generated by the haptic actuator. The gain controller is also configured to apply boost gains in the input amplifier and the feedback amplifier during the boost interval. The boost gains are higher than gains applied subsequent to the boost interval to maintain motion of the haptic actuator. |
| US09274596B2 |
Moveable headrest for viewing images from different directions
A moveable headrest is mounted on or with respect to a support for supporting a user in viewing images in a standing, seated, or reclining posture. The headrest is for supporting the head of the user in executing head movements with a changing direction-of-view. A display mounted with respect to the user's head provides the images. An actuator can be provided for moving the moveable headrest for a passive user. A sensor can be provided for sensing movements of the moveable headrest, i.e., for sensing the movements from a changing direction. The moveable headrest apparatus may include either or both the actuator and the sensor. |
| US09274594B2 |
Cloud-based personal trait profile data
A system and method is disclosed for sensing, storing and using personal trait profile data. Once sensed and stored, this personal trait profile data may be used for a variety of purposes. In one example, a user's personal trait profile data may be accessed and downloaded to different computing systems with which a user may interact so that the different systems may be instantly tuned to the user's personal traits and manner of interaction. In a further example, a user's personal trait profile data may also be used for authentication purposes. |
| US09274593B2 |
Change the destination physical machine information such that the destination candidate of the certain virtual machine includes at least a physical machine belonging to the second physical machine group
A management server includes a storage unit that stores therein destination physical machine information capable of identifying a physical machine serving as a destination candidate of a certain virtual machine that operates on any one of a plurality of physical machines. The management server includes a control unit that performs the following control. To stop power supply to a first physical machine group performed by a first control unit, the control unit detects. The control unit changes the destination physical machine information such that the destination candidate of the certain virtual machine includes at least a physical machine belonging to a second physical machine group when information capable of identifying the physical machine serving as the destination candidate and stored in the storage unit includes no other physical machine than a physical machine belonging to the first physical machine group. |
| US09274592B2 |
Technique for preserving cached information during a low power mode
A technique to retain cached information during a low power mode, according to at least one embodiment. In one embodiment, information stored in a processor's local cache is saved to a shared cache before the processor is placed into a low power mode, such that other processors may access information from the shared cache instead of causing the low power mode processor to return from the low power mode to service an access to its local cache. |
| US09274589B2 |
Touch sensing system and method for providing proximity sensing function using touch screen panel
Provided is a touch sensing system and method for providing a proximity sensing function using a touch screen panel. The touch sensing system may include at least one storage unit including at least one program, a touch screen configured to detect a touch of an object, and at least one processor configured to activate a proximity sensing function on the touch screen according to a control of the at least one program, to detect proximity of the object based on sensing information of a proximity sensing area predetermined on a partial area of the touch screen, and to process a predetermined operation in response to detecting the proximity of the object. |
| US09274585B2 |
Combined dynamic and static power and performance optimization on data centers
Various datacenter or other computing center control apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of computing is provided that includes defining plural processor performance bins where each processor performance bin has a processor performance state. At least one processor is assigned to each of the plural processor performance bins. Processor performance metrics of at least one of the processors are monitored while the at least one of the processors executes an incoming task. Processor power is modeled based on the monitored performance metrics. Future incoming tasks are assigned to one of the processor performance bins based on the modeled processor power. |
| US09274578B2 |
Enable power from an accessory to a host device based on whether the accessory is able to alter an electrical characteristic of the power path
Methods, systems, and apparatus for enabling a power path between a power source and a host device via an accessory. A host device may send, to an accessory arranged within the power path, via a first data pin arranged in the host device, a request for an accessory identifier. The accessory identifier identifies the accessory. The host device may then determine whether the accessory identifier is received from the accessory within a specified period of time or whether a received accessory identifier is valid. If the accessory identifier is not received from the accessory within the specified period of time, or a received accessory identifier is not valid, the host device sends a new request for the accessory identifier to the accessory via a second data pin different than the first data pin. |
| US09274577B2 |
Adaptive USB charging method and system
An adaptive universal serial bus (USB) charging method and system are disclosed. In a low-power state, a USB device is charged with a non-USB charging mode. The non-USB charging mode is retained when no variation of a data signal coupled to the USB device is detected. When the data signal possesses variation for a first period, it is switched to a third proprietary charging mode. |
| US09274575B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
In an information processing apparatus, a communication unit communicates with notifying apparatuses that store position information thereof and notifies, in a case in which a communication is made with first terminals that are held by respective users, identification information of the first terminals and the position information, and in a case in which a communication is made with a second terminal that is mounted on a screen, identification information of the second terminal and the position information. A control unit obtains an estimated value of distances between the screen and the users, from distances between the second terminal and each of the first terminals, based on the position information received from the notifying apparatuses, and determines a lamp power to be set to a projection apparatus that projects video on the screen, based on the estimated value. |
| US09274574B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for determining throttle settings to satisfy a system power constraint
Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a system that leverage intermediate power margins are described. One or more subsystems of the system are operated at one or more performance points. A power consumed by the one or more subsystems at each of the one or more performance points is measured. An operational power of the one or more subsystems at the one or more performance points is determined. The one or more subsystems are operated at well-known conditions at the one or more performance points. The operational power may be adjusted based on data associated with the one or more subsystems. The operational power is provided to a power lookup table. The power is distributed among the one or more subsystems based on the operational power. |
| US09274571B2 |
Segmented frame for a storage drive
A segmented frame adapted to receive a storage drive is provided. The segmented frame in one example includes a plurality of linked frame segments configured to pivot with respect to each other and wrap around the storage drive, with a first frame segment and a last frame segment of the plurality of linked frame segments latching together to form a joined segmented frame and hold the storage drive, and a plurality of isolator cups trapped within the joined segmented frame and fitting over a corresponding plurality of mounting wings extending from the storage drive, wherein the plurality of isolator cups suspend the storage drive within the joined frame. |
| US09274570B2 |
Positioning apparatus for expansion card
A positioning apparatus includes a computer chassis and a positioning device. The computer chassis secures a plurality of expansion cards and includes a cover. The cover comprises a first flange and a second flange opposite to the first flange. The positioning device includes a securing member and a positioning member secured to the securing member. The securing member is secured to the first flange and a second flange. The positioning member is pressed on the plurality of expansion cards to prevent the plurality of expansion cards from moving. |
| US09274569B2 |
Detachable assembly and memory module using the same
The instant disclosure relates to a memory module comprising a PCB and a detachable assembly. The PCB has a terminal portion and a free portion away from the terminal portion. The detachable assembly includes a plurality of metal members disposed on the free portion of the PCB. Thereby, user can averagely force the metal members to install or detach the memory module from a memory slot of a computer system to prevent the interference of outer ESD to affect the normal function of PCB. |
| US09274566B1 |
Dual-shaft hinge for flip-up electronic product
A dual-shaft hinge connected between a cover member and a base member of a flip-up electronic product is disclosed to include a hinge shaft set including a first hinge shaft having a spirally extended propelling groove, a second hinge shaft having a spirally extended position-limit groove, a female hinge member coupled to the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft, a sliding block set having a first protrusion and a second protrusion respectively located at two opposite sides thereof and respectively coupled to the propelling groove and the position-limit groove, and a linkage adapted to limit the rotating angle of the first hinge shaft and the turning angle of the female hinge member about the second hinge shaft, preventing errors in angular difference between the two opposite lateral sides of the cover member and the two opposite lateral sides of the base member. |
| US09274560B2 |
Flexible display device
A flexible display device includes a housing, a supporting plate, and a flexible panel. The housing has a central plate, a first wing plate, and a second wing plate, and the first and second wing plates are arranged on edges of the central plate, respectively. The supporting plate is on a surface of the housing, and the supporting plate is combined with the central plate and the first and second wing plates. The flexible panel is combined with the supporting plate. A flat state and a bending state of the flexible panel are provided according to states of the first and second wing plates with respect to the central plate. |
| US09274559B2 |
Flexible display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A flexible display apparatus including: a first film including a first surface and a second surface that are opposite each other, and a first groove formed in the first surface, the first film having a first rigidity; a third film on the second surface of the first film; a fourth film facing the third film; an emission display unit between and encapsulated by the third film and the fourth film; and a second film on the fourth film and facing the first film, the second film having a second rigidity that is less than the first rigidity. |
| US09274553B2 |
Fingerprint sensor and integratable electronic display
A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display. |
| US09274552B2 |
Multidisplay portable device
Provided is a portable communication device including a first housing, a second housing rotatably coupled with the first housing, and a hinge portion provided between the first housing and the second housing to stepwise rotate the second housing toward or away from the first housing, in which display units are disposed on inner and outer sides of the first housing and the second housing, respectively, such that the display units on the inner and outer surfaces of the housings may be used independently or in conjunction to provide for larger display screens. |
| US09274551B2 |
Method and apparatus for data entry input
An apparatus and method of inputting data for an electronic data entry device are provided. In one embodiment, main keys on a keyboard of a device are used in which the main keys have multiple symbols or functions associated therewith, and one or more assisting keys of the device are used to select between the symbols or functions on the main keys. In a further embodiment, identification of an input object such as the particular fingers of a user that are used to actuate a key region is performed. The symbol associated with the actuated key region and the finger (or other input object) used is determined. Various types of sensors and recognition technology are implemented in order to identify fingers (or other input objects) in various embodiments. |
| US09274549B1 |
Lost core electronic enclosures
An electronic product includes an electronic enclosure having a housing pocket fabricated as a seamless single unitary molded structure. The single unitary molded structure defines a cavity therein and has at least one molded undercut feature extending over a portion of the cavity. The housing pocket includes a side opening that is sufficiently large to allow lateral insertion of the electronic assembly into position in the cavity with at least a portion of the electronic assembly extending underneath the at least one molded undercut feature. |
| US09274547B2 |
Display with an optical sensor
A display system can include a panel 110. The panel 110 can include a perimeter 117 and can display images on a front side. A bezel 170 can extend from the perimeter of the panel. The display system can include a designated area 140 on the bezel. A three dimensional optical sensor 115 can generate information to determine if an object is in contact with the designated area on the bezel. |
| US09274544B2 |
Sideband initialization
Initialization in multiple clock domains. A first die having a master initialization component generates initialization commands. A local initialization agent on the first die is coupled to receive the initialization commands. The local initialization agent manages initialization of one or more components on the first die. A remote initialization agent on a second die is coupled to receive the initialization commands. The remote initialization agent manages initialization of one or more components on the second die. The master initialization component receives acknowledgement messages from the local initialization agent and the remote initialization agent to manage conflicts and dependencies between the local initialization agent and the remote initialization agent and synchronizes events in multiple clock domains that share a reference clock signal by signaling in the reference clock domain. |
| US09274537B2 |
Regulator circuit
There is provided a regulator circuit capable of increasing the capacity of the output transistor for supplying current, stably generating an internal power supply voltage and adapting to the reduction of a power supply voltage. The regulator circuit includes an output transistor which is supplied with an external power supply voltage and supplies dropped voltage to an internal circuit, a differential amplifier for outputting a gate potential applied to the gate of the output transistor, a reference voltage generating circuit for supplying a reference voltage to the differential amplifier, and a cut-off transistor for turning off the output transistor to stop supplying power to the internal circuit. The output transistor is comprised of a depression NMOS transistor whose threshold voltage is a negative voltage. The regulator circuit further includes substrate potential control means for controlling the substrate potential of the depression NMOS transistor. |
| US09274536B2 |
Low-impedance reference voltage generator
Described herein is an apparatus and system of a low-impedance reference voltage generator. The apparatus comprises: a voltage-control loop including a first transistor to provide an output voltage; and a current-control loop to sense current through the first transistor, relative to a reference current. The node having the output voltage is a low-impedance node. |
| US09274535B2 |
Current to voltage converter, arrangement comprising the converter and method for converting an input current to an output voltage
A converter for converting an input current to an output voltage may include: a first region; a second region galvanically separated from the first region; an input reference node in the first region, wherein the converter allows a flow of the input current through a device to the input reference node; a circuitry for generating, based on the input current, the output voltage relative to an output reference electric potential, the circuitry including a voltage transfer component for transferring the output voltage from the first region to the second region, wherein the voltage transfer component comprises a first circuit in the first region and a second circuit in the second region, wherein the first circuit is driven by a first electric supply voltage relative to a first supply reference potential; and an output terminal, located in the second region and connected to the second circuit, for outputting the output voltage. |
| US09274531B2 |
Thermostatic fluid supply inverter valve
An assembly for a thermostatic mixing valve includes a valve body including a first fluid channel having a first inlet port for receiving a first fluid from a first fluid supply line, a second fluid channel having a second inlet port for receiving a second fluid from a second fluid supply line, and a cartridge chamber having a first layer, a second layer offset from the first layer, and an opening for receiving a thermostatic mixing cartridge. A first removable insert guides the first fluid to the first layer when inserted into the first fluid channel and guides the second fluid to the first layer when inserted into the second fluid channel. A second removable insert guides the first fluid to the second layer when inserted into the first fluid channel and guides the second fluid to the second layer when inserted into the second fluid channel. |
| US09274527B2 |
Parking control apparatus and parking control method
The present invention relates to a parking control apparatus and a parking control method. In particular, the present invention relates to a parking control apparatus and a parking control method in which an initial parking space searched while a vehicle is moved is corrected into a final parking space in a space recognition correction section based on a situation at the time of searching by the vehicle and information for an obstacle which is acquired while the vehicle moves along a first parking route, the position of the vehicle is changed, and then a final parking route is calculated. |
| US09274526B2 |
Autonomous vehicle and method of estimating self position of autonomous vehicle
An autonomous vehicle includes: a first sensor which obtains environmental information on surrounding environment of the autonomous vehicle; and a control unit which controls a drive unit based on a self position. The control unit includes: a first estimation unit which calculates a first estimate value indicating an estimated self position, by estimation using a probabilistic method based on the environmental information; and a second estimation unit which calculates a second estimate value indicating an estimated self position, by estimation using a matching method based on the environmental information, and the control unit changes, according to the first estimate value, a second estimate range for the calculating of the second estimate value by the second estimation unit, and controls the drive unit using the second estimate value as the self position. |
| US09274524B2 |
Method for machine coordination which maintains line-of-site contact
A method and system that facilitates operation of autonomous equipment by providing a mission planner to maintain line-of-sight contact between a plurality of coordinated machines, including a method for maintaining line-of-sight (LoS) communication between a plurality of machines that creates a mission plan for a work site that includes a path plan for each of the plurality of machines that maintains the line-of-sight communication between the plurality of machines by taking into account a topography for the work site; and loads the path plan for each respective one of the plurality of machines into each respective one of the plurality of machines, wherein the path plan specifies a machine travel path for each respective one of the plurality of machines. |
| US09274523B2 |
Aircraft with a device for directionally stabilizing the aircraft, computer program product and method for directionally stabilizing the aircraft
A method for reducing yawing motions of an aircraft in-flight, wherein a spoiler adjustment drive of a spoiler and a regulating flap adjustment drive of a regulating flap of the same respective airfoil are adjusted in a time segment in such a way that the motion of the spoiler being adjusted and the motion of the regulating flap of the same airfoil deflect in mutually opposite directions in the time segment. The spoiler and the regulating flap are adjusted on the airfoil, on which the adjusted deflections counteract the respectively occurring yawing motion. Also provided are a computer program product for carrying out this method and an aircraft with a directional stabilization device for carrying out this method. |
| US09274518B2 |
Industrial control energy object
An energy object extension to an industrial protocol having a comprehensive suite of attributes, messages and services utilized for the monitoring and control of energy consuming or producing resources by a manufacturing automation application is provided. The energy object includes an identifier associated with an energy resource that is associated with a manufacturing automation application and an energy type associated with the energy resource. This includes a measurement characteristic associated with the energy resource to facilitate energy management by the manufacturing automation application. |
| US09274510B2 |
Light grid and method of monitoring a monitored zone
A light grid (10) is provided having a plurality of light transmitters (14) for transmitting a respective monitoring light beam (38) and having a plurality of associated light receivers (22) to generate an objection detection signal (42a-d) depending on the reception of the monitoring light beam, having a control (30, 32) which is configured to divide the monitoring light beams (30) into groups and to consecutively activate the monitoring light beams (38) of the groups, wherein, in a group-wise parallel monitoring sequence, a respective monitoring light bream (34) of each group is activated in parallel, as well as having a first bus (34) over which the object detection signals can be output to the control (32) by the light receivers (26, 26). The light receivers (22, 26) are in this respect configured to output the object detection signals to the control (32) in a time multiplex process. |
| US09274509B2 |
System for biometric identity confirmation
A biometric identity confirmation system is based on both pulse wave data and spirometric data for the subject. During an initial enrollment mode, pulse wave and spirometric data for a known subject are used to generate subject characterization data for the known subject. During a subsequent identity authentication mode, pulse wave and spirometric data for a test subject are analyzed using the subject characterization data to confirm whether the identity of the test subject matches the known subject. |
| US09274505B2 |
Systems and methods for radial display of time based information
In certain embodiments, a radial configuration of time based information is displayed by a computing system in a graphical user interface. The radial configuration includes a graphical timeline spirally disposed about at least one axis point in the graphical user interface. In certain examples, the graphical timeline represents a time period and includes a first section representing a first portion and a second section representing a second portion of the time period. In certain other embodiments, a radial configuration of time based information is displayed by a computing system in a graphical user interface. The radial configuration represents a time period and includes a first radial section and a second radial section disposed about an axis point at different radial distances from the axis point. The first radial section represents a first portion and the second radial section represents a second portion of the time period. |
| US09274504B2 |
Modular mechanical timepiece unit with functional modules
A functional timepiece module is integratable in a mechanical modular unit, and the functional module is derived from a sub-assembly carrying components for a particular timepiece function of transferring a movement between input and output wheel sets. The sub-assembly includes adjustment components which are irremovably secured after this timepiece function has been adjusted and function checked on a test bench. This pre-adjusted module, derived from transformation of the sub-assembly by the irreversible securing of the adjustment components thereof, includes at least one bearing surface and a locating mechanism for recognition and positioning of this module relative to another element of the mechanical modular unit or relative to a plate, by abutment of the bearing surface on a complementary bearing surface comprised in this other element or in the plate. |
| US09274499B2 |
Cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge includes: a first unit including a photosensitive drum; a second unit, including a process member, movable to a spaced position and to a close position; and a spacer member for holding the second unit at the spaced position. The spacer member includes a contact portion for holding the second unit at the spaced position and includes a portion-to-be-phase-determined for preventing rotation of the spacer member by being engaged with a phase-determining portion provided in the second unit. The spacer member is rotated, by receiving a force from the drum at the contact portion when the drum is rotated, against a force with which the phase-determining portion determines a rotational position of the spacer member, and eliminates a contact state of the contact portion with the drum to permit movement of the second unit from the spaced position to the close position. |
| US09274495B2 |
Image forming apparatus having fixing unit whose projected portion is prevented from coming out of main assembly opening after entering main assembly recessed portion
An image forming apparatus includes: a main assembly; and a fixing unit for fixing an image on a recording material. The fixing unit is detachably mountable to the main assembly. The fixing unit includes a projected portion for regulating a position of the fixing unit relative to the main assembly. The main assembly includes an opening for guiding movement of the projected portion and a recessed portion, provided downstream of the opening with respect to a mounting direction of the fixing unit, for regulating a position of the projected portion. The fixing unit includes an engaging portion engaging with the opening so that the projected portion is prevented from coming out of the opening after entering the recessed portion. |
| US09274484B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner accommodation container
An image forming apparatus on which a toner accommodation container accommodating toner is insertably/removably mounted to discharge the toner from the toner accommodation container by rotating the toner accommodation container includes a phase detection sensor that detects a rotation phase of the toner accommodation container by detecting a phase detection portion provided in the toner accommodation container and detects removal/mounting of the toner accommodation container from/on the image forming apparatus through the phase detection sensor. |
| US09274483B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer readable medium having image density adjustment control
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a controller. The image forming unit forms an image on a continuous recording medium by transferring to the continuous recording medium a toner image obtained by developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor. The controller controls the image forming unit such that an image based on image information is formed in a specific image area on the continuous recording medium, and at the same time, a specific image pattern is formed in a specific side area outside the image area on the continuous recording medium. |
| US09274480B1 |
Paper tray size sensing mechanism
A media supply tray includes a cable and pulley system attached to side paper guides. Movement of one side guide causes the opposing side guide to move in the opposite direction. When the side guides are moved, a flag attached to the cable moves and can be detected to provide accurate feedback to a printer regarding media size in the tray. Alternatively, a Bowden cable can be attached to the side guides for enhanced accuracy in size sensing. |
| US09274473B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the fixing unit; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit relative to the supporting mechanism in a longitudinal direction thereof; an electric connector provided on the supporting mechanism; and a wire connecting between the electric energy supply connector and the fixing unit and having an enough length to permit reciprocation of the fixing unit. |
| US09274468B2 |
Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes first and second rollers forming a nip therebetween to heat a toner image on a sheet; a rubbing roller for rubbing an outer surface of said first roller; a moving mechanism for moving said rubbing roller between a contact position for contacting with said first roller and a spacing position spaced from said first roller; a measuring portion for measuring time elapsed from start of a rubbing process; a controller for discriminating, upon receipt of image heating instructions during the rubbing process execution, whether to continue the rubbing process or to interrupt the rubbing process and execute the image heating process, on the basis of the time measured by said measuring portion. |
| US09274460B2 |
Semiconductive roller, charging roller and electrophotographic apparatus
The semiconductive roller according to the present invention includes: a roller body having an outer peripheral surface made of a semiconductive rubber composition; and an oxide film covering the outer peripheral surface of the roller body, while the semiconductive rubber composition contains a base polymer and a crosslinking component for crosslinking the base polymer, the base polymer is a mixture of a bicopolymer E containing epichlorohydrin and nitrile-butadiene rubber N, the mass ratio E/N of the bicopolymer E and the nitrile-butadiene rubber N in the mixture is 50/50 to 80/20, and the crosslinking component includes a thiourea-based crosslinking component for crosslinking the bicopolymer E and a sulfur-based vulcanizing component for vulcanizing the nitrile-butadiene rubber N. |
| US09274459B1 |
Image forming apparatus including meandering correction roller
An image forming apparatus includes a rotation input section that is supported to one side roller axis so as to freely rotate integrally with an intermediate transfer belt in contact with the intermediate transfer belt when it has meandered to one side in an axial direction from a predetermined travel position, a rotation output section that is connected to the rotation input section via a speed reduction mechanism, a rotation gear section that is connected to the rotation output section, a fixed rack bar section that is engaged with the rotation gear section, and an urging member that urges the rotation gear section to return to an initial position when there is no rotation input, wherein an axis center of a meandering correction roller inclines in the state in which the rotation gear section so that the intermediate transfer belt meanders the one side in the axial direction. |
| US09274456B2 |
Developing device comprising a conveying member having a hollow spiral shape and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A developing device includes a developing roller, a developer supply path, a developer conveyance path, a supply-side conveying member and an agitating-side conveying member. The developing roller is rotatably supported in the housing. The developer supply path is arranged along the developing roller. The developer conveyance path is arranged along the developer supply path. The supply-side conveying member is a conveying member arranged in the developer supply path and includes a first receiving portion arranged to face the communication path at an upstream side in the first direction and configured to receive the developer from the developer conveyance path, and has a hollow spiral shape at a side downstream of the first receiving portion. The agitating-side conveying member is a conveying member arranged in the developer conveyance path and includes a first transferring portion arranged to face the first receiving portion at a downstream side in the second direction. |
| US09274450B2 |
Charging device
A charging device includes: a discharging electrode; a casing surrounding the discharging electrode and being provided with an opening in a member-to-be-charged side; a grid electrode provided in the opening and provided with a mesh portion having a plurality of through holes; a cleaning brush, including a base material and a plurality of fibers held on the base material, for cleaning the grid electrode by entrance of a part of the fibers into the through holes while contacting a surface of the grid electrode in the discharging electrode side; a shutter capable of shielding between the member-to-be-charged and the grid electrode; and a moving mechanism for moving the cleaning brush and the shutter along a longitudinal direction of the grid electrode. When the shutter is moved in a closing direction, the cleaning brush moves in advance of a leading end portion of the shutter with respect to the closing direction by a predetermined interval or more. |
| US09274447B2 |
Two-component color developer and image formation device using same
A two-component color developer containing a toner and a resin-coated carrier, the toner containing at least a polyester resin as a binding resin, an organic pigment as a colorant and inorganic fine particles as an external additive, wherein the inorganic fine particles have a negative polarity, the toner has a volume resistivity of 40×109 to 220×109 Ωcm and a negative polarity, and the carrier has a coat durability of 90% or greater. |
| US09274442B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus having charge transport layer with matrix-domain structure and charging member having concavity and protrusion
Provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a charge transport layer as a surface layer having a matrix-domain structure including specific resins. The charging member comprises an electro-conductive substrate, and an electro-conductive elastic layer. The electro-conductive elastic layer comprises a binder, and holding a bowl-shaped resin particle having an opening, so that at least a part of the bowl-shaped resin particle is exposed, and the charging member has a concavity derived from the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle on the surface thereof, and a protrusion derived from an edge of the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle on the surface thereof. |
| US09274441B2 |
Inspection method for imprint lithography and apparatus therefor
A method is disclosed for inspecting a device imprint lithography template to detect defect particles of imprintable medium remaining on the patterned imprinting surface after an earlier imprint step. The method involves illuminating the patterned surface with radiation of a first wavelength selected to induce fluorescence of the defect particles and not to induce fluorescence of anti-adhesion compound on the patterned surface. The presence of defect particles is indicated by the presence of fluorescence from the patterned surface and can be used to initiate a cleaning step when necessary, speeding processing by eliminating unnecessary cleaning. The elimination of false positives from transferred anti-adhesion compound is reduced or eliminated. Related apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US09274440B2 |
Arrangement for and method of characterising the polarization properties of an optical system
An arrangement for and a method of characterizing the polarization properties of an optical system, in particular an optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The arrangement includes at least one polarization state generator (130, 230, 330) which sets a defined polarization state of radiation incident on the optical system, and a polarization state detector (140, 240, 340) adapted to measure the exit polarization state of radiation issuing from the optical system, wherein the optical system is designed for a working wavelength of less than 15 nm, and wherein the polarization state generator and/or the polarization state detector are so designed that their polarization-optical action on an incident light beam is substantially constant over an angle spectrum of the light beam of at least 10°. |
| US09274439B2 |
Reticle clamping system
A support structure for positioning an exchangeable object (e.g., patterning device) in a lithographic apparatus. The support structure has a chuck and at least two clamp mechanisms spaced from one another in a first direction. Each clamp mechanism has a plurality of vacuum sections to support the object and apply a localized clamping force to the object to hold the object. The separation between the vacuum sections is in a second direction different from the first direction. The support structure may have a chuck and a clamp mechanism having a plurality of clamp sections to support the object and apply a clamping force to the object. The sections may move relative to each other. Each section may include a channel to communicate a low pressure to hold the object. The stiffness of the clamp mechanism(s) reduces and/or avoids stress and/or slip at the interface of the chuck/clamp and object. |
| US09274433B2 |
Fly eye lens and proximity exposure machine optical system
An embodiment of the present invention provides a fly eye lens which is applied to a proximity exposure machine optical system. The fly lens includes a first lens assembly and a second lens assembly, wherein the first lens assembly includes a plurality of lenses which form a first lens face, and the second lens assembly includes a plurality of lenses which form a second lens face. The first lens face is used to split an incident broad light beam into narrow light beams and then refract the narrow light beams onto the second lens face, and the second lens face is used to dispersively refract the received narrow light beams onto a concave mirror in the optical system. A lens closer to a center of the second lens face has a higher transmittivity, and a lens farther from the center of the second lens face has a lower transmittivity. According to the embodiment of the present invention, since different lenses on the second lens face have different transmittivities, the illuminances of light radiated to different regions of a mask plate through the fly eye lens are different, and thus the uniformity of the critical dimensions of the exposed patterns can be improved to a certain extent. |
| US09274432B2 |
Selective masking by photolithography (SMP) for making electrochemical measurements
A method for isolating microstructural regions or features on a surface for electrochemical experimentation comprising polishing a metal sample, coating the metal sample with a photoresist, selecting a region of interest of the metal sample, exposing the region of interest with light energy, developing the exposed photoresist and creating a developed region. |
| US09274428B2 |
Resist top coat composition and patterning process
A resist top coat composition includes a polymer including a base resin having a repeating unit p of styrene having a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol group and a repeating unit q of acenaphthylene having chemical formula 1. R is hydrogen, hydroxyl. R1 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, linear or branched C1-C10-alkyl, cycloalkyl, acyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, —OC(═O)R2. R2 is linear or branched C1-C10-alkyl, cycloalkyl or fluorinated alkyl. m is 1 or 2. p and q are positive numbers satisfying the expressions 0 |
| US09274425B2 |
Resist composition and patterning process
A resist composition comprises a metal compound obtained from reaction of a starting metal compound having formula (A-1) or a (partial) hydrolyzate or condensate or (partial) hydrolytic condensate thereof, with a di- or trihydric alcohol having formula (A-2). M(OR1A)4 (A-1) R2A(OH)m (A-2) In formula (A-1), M is Ti, Zr or Hf, and R1A is alkyl. In formula (A-2), m is 2 or 3, R2A is a divalent group when m=2 or a trivalent group when m=3. The resist composition exhibits improved resolution and edge roughness when processed by the EB or EUV lithography. |
| US09274423B2 |
Fluorine-based resins and photosensitive resin composition comprising the same
The present application relates to a fluorine-based resin having a novel structure and a photosensitive resin composition including the same. The photosensitive resin composition including the fluorine-based resin according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application has excellent photosensitivity and developability and can increase a contact angle of a coating film to prevent a water stain. Accordingly, the photosensitive resin composition including the fluorine-based resin according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application may be applied to various photosensitive materials, and particularly, may be preferably applied when a color filter pattern for LCD is manufactured. |
| US09274419B2 |
Blue photosensitive resin composition for color filter and application thereof
The present invention relates to a blue photosensitive resin composition for a color filter and an application thereof. The blue photosensitive resin composition includes an organic pigment (A), a dye (B), an alkali-soluble resin (C), a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group (D), a photo-initiator (E) and a solvent (F). The alkali-soluble resin (C) includes a first alkali-soluble resin (C-1) having a hindered amine structure. The blue photosensitive resin composition of the present invention can improve a voltage holding ratio and a contrast ratio of the color filter. |
| US09274414B2 |
Method for making a lithography mask
A method of fabricating a mask is described. The method includes receiving receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that has a first pattern layer including a first feature and has a second pattern layer including a second feature, wherein the first pattern layer and the second pattern layer are spatially related when formed in a substrate such that the first and second features are spaced a first distance between a first edge of the first feature and a second edge of the second feature, modifying the IC design layout by adjusting a dimension of the first feature based on the first distance, and generating a tape-out data from the modified IC design layout for mask making. The method further includes applying a logic operation (LOP) to the IC design layout. |
| US09274413B2 |
Method for forming layout pattern
A method for forming a layout pattern includes the following processes. First, a first layout pattern consisting of mandrel patterns and dummy mandrel patterns, a second layout pattern consisting of geometric patterns, and a third layout pattern consisting of pad patterns and dummy pad patterns, are respectively defined on a first mask, a second mask, and a third mask. Then, the first layout pattern is transferred to form a first patterned layer. Afterwards, spacers having a first critical dimension are formed on the sidewalls of the first patterned layer so as to constitute loop-shaped patterns. Then, the third layout pattern is transferred to form a second patterned layer having a second critical dimension, wherein the second critical dimension is greater than the first critical dimension. Finally, the loop-shaped patterns, the pad patterns, and the dummy pad patterns are transferred into a target layer on the substrate. |
| US09274411B2 |
Reflection type blank masks, methods of fabricating the same, and methods of fabricating reflection type photo masks using the same
Reflection type blank masks are provided. The blank mask includes a substrate having a recessed pattern with a predetermined depth, a reflection layer substantially on the substrate, an absorption layer substantially on the reflection layer, and a resist layer substantially on the absorption layer, wherein the resist layer has a recessed part that is formed by transference of the profile from the recessed pattern. |
| US09274410B2 |
Method and system for automated generation of masks for spacer formation from a desired final wafer pattern
Methods and systems for generating masks for spacer formation are disclosed. As a part of a disclosed method, a predefined final wafer pattern is accessed, areas related to features in the predefined final wafer pattern are identified and a template mask is formed based on the identified areas for forming spacers on a wafer. Subsequently, a mask is formed for use in the removal of portions of the spacers to form an on wafer pattern that corresponds to the predefined final wafer pattern. |
| US09274409B2 |
Image projection apparatus
Provided is an image projection apparatus, such as a projector, including a light source; an image generating element such as a DMD that receives light from the light source and forms an image; an image generating unit that irradiates the image generating element with the light from the light source; a first optical system including multiple transmission refractive optical elements; a second optical system arranged on an optical path of outgoing light of the first optical system and including a reflection optical element; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects an image conjugate to the image generated by the image generating element as a projected image. The light source, the image generating unit, and the first optical system are arranged side by side in series in a direction parallel with the projected image plane. |
| US09274405B2 |
Projector with illumination system having a cuboid optical member
A projector includes an area light source, a spatial light modulator, an illumination system that receives light from the area light source and illuminates the spatial light modulator, and a projection lens that forms an image by the light from the spatial light modulator. The illumination system includes an optical member having a cuboid shape and including an entrance plane and an exit plane, the optical member being arranged so that the entrance plane faces the area light source, and the optical member forming, on the exit plane, an illuminance distribution having a higher illuminance at a peripheral portion than at a central portion. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with the light from the exit plane. |
| US09274401B2 |
Focal-plane shutter and optical device
A focal-plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a blade opening and closing the opening; a rotor of an actuator for driving the blade; an output member rotated by the rotor and including a first gear portion; a drive member including a second gear portion meshing with the first gear portion, rotating about a predetermined axis, and driving the blade; and a positioning portion abutting with the drive member and defining an end of a rotational range of the drive member, wherein the first and second gear portions and the positioning portion overlap one another in a plane direction perpendicular to the axis. |
| US09274400B2 |
Optical beam steering
The invention relates to optical beam steering. There is described an optical beam steering apparatus, comprising: a splitter arranged to split an optical beam into at least a first part having a first polarization and a second part having a second polarization, said first and second polarizations being substantially mutually orthogonal; a first liquid crystal device region arranged to receive said first part and to have director orientation substantially aligned to said first polarization; and a second liquid crystal device region arranged to receive said second part and to have director orientation substantially aligned to said second polarization. |
| US09274397B2 |
Reflective display device having the functions of both monochrome and color display modes and driving method thereof
A reflective display device includes a drive array substrate, an electrophoretic display film, a reflective optical film and a light source module. The electrophoretic display film is disposed on the drive array substrate and includes a plurality of display mediums. The reflective optical film is disposed on the electrophoretic display film. The light source module is disposed beside the reflective optical film. A light emitting from the light source module is reflected to the electrophoretic display film by the reflective optical film. The light source module includes a plurality of first-color light sources, a plurality of second-color light sources and a plurality of third-color light sources which are switched on in sequence. The reflective display device is in a color display mode when the light source module is turned on. The reflective display device is in a monochrome display mode when the light source module is turned off. |
| US09274390B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing into each other, a gate line and a data line on an inner surface of the first substrate, the gate line and the data line defining a pixel region, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and disposed at the pixel region, a color filter layer disposed closer than the pixel electrode from the first substrate, the color filter layer corresponding to the pixel electrode, a black matrix over the thin film transistor, a common electrode on an inner surface of the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. |
| US09274389B2 |
Flat display device having a plurality of link lines and method of fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a flat display device and method of fabricating the same which can make narrow bezel design easy and minimize resistance variation between adjacent link lines for improving of a picture quality. The flat display device includes a display region having a plurality of pixels, a driving integrated circuit for forwarding driving signals for driving the plurality of pixels, and a plurality of link lines for transmitting the driving signals to the display region, wherein each of the plurality of link lines includes a first metal line, a second metal line formed on a layer different from the first metal line, and a contact portion for connecting the first and second metal lines to each other. |
| US09274386B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a gate wiring, a source wiring, an insulating film, a shield electrode, a primary pixel electrode, a peripheral wiring and a peripheral connecting electrode. The shield electrode is opposite to at least a portion of the gate wiring and the source wiring. The peripheral connecting electrode electrically connects the shield electrode and the peripheral wiring. The second substrate includes a pair of primary common electrodes. |
| US09274384B2 |
Liquid-crystal display device
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device with high transmittance or viewing angle characteristics. A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a first substrate (10) which includes a pixel electrode (30); a second substrate (20) which includes a counter electrode (25); and a liquid crystal layer (21) and a spacer (40) which are provided between the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (20). The pixel electrode (30) includes a first portion which is formed by a plurality of first branch portions (34A) extending in a first direction, a second portion which is formed by a plurality of second branch portions (34B) extending in a second direction, a third portion which is formed by a plurality of third branch portions (34C) extending in a third direction, and a fourth portion which is formed by a plurality of fourth branch portions (34D) extending in a fourth direction. The spacer (40) is provided at a position in the pixel (50) which is surrounded by the first to fourth portions of the pixel electrode (30) when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane of the first substrate (10). |
| US09274382B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes: a substrate including a plurality of pixel areas; a thin film transistor formed on the substrate; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and formed in at least one of the plurality of pixel areas; a roof layer formed on the pixel electrode to be spaced apart from the pixel electrode by a microcavity therebetween; an injection hole formed on the roof layer so as to expose a part of the microcavity; a liquid crystal layer configured to fill the microcavity; at least one support member adjacent to the injection hole and formed in a column shape in the microcavity; and an encapsulation layer formed on the roof layer so as to cover the injection hole to seal the microcavity. |
| US09274379B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A display device includes a first substrate having a first insulation film, a first conductive layer and a second insulation film, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate, a rectangular display area formed with a plurality of pixels, a sealing material formed outside the rectangular display area and securing the first substrate to the second substrate, and a driving circuit disposed on the first substrate, the driving circuit outputting a signal to the first conductive layer, the first substrate has a sealing hole area passing through thin film layers formed over the surface of the first substrate at least in corners of the first substrate on a side opposite to a side where the driving circuit is disposed on the first substrate. |
| US09274376B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which enables costs to be reduced, excels in productivity, and enables a high contrast ratio over a wide viewing angle range to be realized. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a first polarizer, a second-type (nx |
| US09274373B2 |
Portable device having display unit
A metal structure that holds a display unit, as the main structure, and a casing structure that is integrally molded from resin onto the metal structure. The metal structure is resilient against flexural loads, torsional loads, and other deformations from the exterior upon the display unit composed of thin plate glass, because the member that protects the display unit is in a box shape. The display unit itself can be protected from damage even if rigidity is reduced because of a thinner profile. The metal structure is manufactured by thin plate pressing and sufficient strength can be maintained even if the thickness is low. Furthermore, the metal structure is configured as a frame part of the entire casing, the rigidity of the entire device can therefore be maintained by using this structure, and the mounting board and functional components other than the display unit can also be protected. |
| US09274370B2 |
Light-emitting device, backlight device, and image display apparatus
A light-emitting device includes: a first planar member having a plurality of light sources; a second planar member being parallel to the first planar member; and a reflecting member reflecting light beams from the respective light sources to the second planar member, the reflecting member being provided on an inner side of a polygon which is defined by the light sources as vertices thereof, wherein the reflecting member having a polygonal pyramidal shape with a bottom surface being parallel to the first planar member satisfies at least one of: a condition that a diffusion distance is from 0.8 to 1.3 when a length of each side of a polygon of the bottom surface is 1; and a condition that an angle between a side surface of the polygonal pyramid and the bottom surface is from 40 degree to 60 degree. |
| US09274369B1 |
Seamless display with tapered fused fiber bundle overlay
A display tile includes a display panel and a fused fiber bundle overlay. The display panel includes display pixels and a bezel surrounding the display pixels. The fused fiber bundle overlay includes an input side mounted adjacent to the display panel and optically aligned with the display pixels to receive image light, an emission side opposite the input side to emit the image light, and an array of fused fibers each extending from the input side to the emission side and each including an input end and an emission end. At least a portion of the fused fibers are tapered. |
| US09274368B2 |
COA substrate, method for fabricating the same and display device
A COA substrate and its fabrication method as well as a display device are disclosed. The method includes steps of: forming a TFT (10) on a base substrate (1); forming a color film layer (6) pattern on the base substrate (1) having the TFT (10) formed thereon; forming a pattern which includes a color film via hole (5) on the color film layer (6) through a patterning process, the patterning process includes an ashing process; and forming a pattern comprising a pixel electrode (7) on the base substrate (1). The pixel electrode (7) is electrically connected to a drain electrode (12) of the TFT (10) by way of the color film via hole (5). |
| US09274351B2 |
Method for optimizing the postural prism of an ophthalmic lens
Methods for optimizing postural prism to be added to a pair of ophthalmic multifocal lenses (lenses) adapted to a wearer and to slow down myopia progression are described. The method includes an initial pair of lenses in a providing step S1. In a postural prism adding step S2, a same postural prism is added to each lens. In a gazing step S3, the wearer gazes at a first distance target through the lenses with the added postural prism. A gazing direction determining step S4 determines the wearer's gazing direction during S3. Steps S2 to S4 may be repeated while changing the added postural prism, wherein the added postural prism is smaller than or equal to a maximum prism value. Steps S2 to S4 may be repeated to determine the smallest added postural prism for which the wearer's gazing direction in step S4 passes through the first vision zone. |
| US09274350B2 |
Ophthalmic lens comprising a unique lens identification code
An ophthalmic lens (1) has a front surface (2) and a rear surface, each of the front and rear surfaces comprising a central optical zone (4) which is surrounded by a peripheral zone (3). The ophthalmic lens (1) further comprises a unique lens identification code which is arranged in the peripheral zone (3) of one of said front and rear surfaces. The unique lens identification code has the form of an N×M dot matrix (5) comprising N rows and M columns of matrix elements (50), and the N×M dot matrix (5) represents a binary code. |
| US09274349B2 |
Laser despeckler based on angular diversity
A device for reducing laser speckle using a micro scanner and a holographic diffuser. The micro scanner includes a first transparent optical substrate with an input surface and an output surface and a second transparent optical substrate with an input surface and an output surface and a variable refractive index medium sandwiched between the output surface of the first substrate and the input surface of the second substrate. Transparent electrodes are applied to the output surface of the first substrate and the input surface of the second substrate. The electrodes are coupled to a voltage generator. The input surface of the first substrate is optically coupled to a laser source. The input surface of the second substrate is configured as an array of prismatic elements. At least one of the input surface of the first substrate or the output surfaces of the second substrate is planar. |
| US09274348B2 |
Dispersive device having beam expanding optical system and dispersive element and wavelength selective switch having dispersive device
A dispersive device has a beam expanding optical system which includes first and second prisms each having a pair of faces inclined relative to each other, and expands light containing a plurality of wavelength components by passing the light through each of the faces of the first and second prisms; and a dispersive element which emits the light expanded by the beam expanding optical system, at different diffraction angles by the respective wavelength components. A direction of variation of an output angle of the light emitted from the beam expanding optical system due to temperature change is configured to be a direction to suppress variation of the diffraction angles of the respective wavelength components emitted from the dispersive element due to the temperature change. |
| US09274347B2 |
Polarized glasses type stereoscopic image display device and method of fabricating the same
A polarized glasses type stereoscopic image display device and a fabricating method thereof according to the present disclosure is characterized in that in a polarized glasses type stereoscopic image display device in which an image panel is implemented as a color filter on TFT (COT) type liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an internal reflection due to light shielding patterns with high reflectivity can be reduced by opening light shielding patterns formed on a black stripe region to the full and simultaneously forming a light shielding layer in such a manner of additionally depositing color pigments on the open light shielding patterns. |
| US09274344B2 |
Method for extracting optical energy from an optical beam
A method includes generating a primary beam using light emitted by a light-source. The method includes generating a secondary beam using a portion of the light using a lens of a telescope. The lens includes one or more refraction elements positioned on a first surface of the lens, and the secondary beam is generated by diverting the portion of the light using the one or more refraction elements. |
| US09274341B2 |
Head mounted display
According to one embodiment, a head mounted display includes a holder, a projector, an optical part, a weight, a detector, a first calculator, and a movement part. The holder includes a frame, a first temple, and a second temple. The first temple and the second temple are respectively connected to each end part of the frame. The projector is provided on the first temple. The projector emits light. The optical part is provided on the frame. The optical part reflects at least part of the light emitted from the projector. The weight is provided on opposite side of the projector. The detector detects tilt of the holder. The first calculator calculates an optimal position of the weight based on the tilt of the holder. The movement part changes the position of the weight according to the optimal position. |
| US09274338B2 |
Increasing field of view of reflective waveguide
A near-eye display system includes an image former and a waveguide. The image former is configured to form a display image and to release the display image through a first exit pupil. The waveguide presents a back surface that faces the wearer's eye, and a front surface opposite the back surface. The waveguide is substantially transparent to external imagery received normal to the front surface, and is configured to receive the display image from the image former and to release the display image through a second exit pupil, which is larger than the first exit pupil. |
| US09274335B2 |
Controlling light transmission through a medium
Methods for controlling light transmission through a medium by transmitting light from a single spatial portion of an input optical field through the medium creating an output optical field, superposing the output optical field with a reference optical field creating an optical interference field, detecting an intensity of a spatial portion of a polarization component of the optical interference field and using the detected intensity to determine a value of an optical field amplitude and of an optical field phase for each of a plurality of spatial portions of the input optical field and for each of first and second orthogonal input polarization states of transmitted light entering the medium. The method may be used in the control of the transmission of light 1) through a medium, which is randomizing in amplitude, phase and/or polarization or 2) through a multi-mode fiber or for beam shaping, optical trapping and/or optical manipulation. |
| US09274333B2 |
Alignment methods in fluid-filled MEMS displays
This application relates to a display including a first layer of material including a first aperture having at least one side, a first substrate separated from the first layer of material by a gap, where the first substrate is arranged to pass through a portion of light emitted from a light source into the gap. The display further includes a movable shutter arranged within the gap, where the shutter is movable to at least a first position and a second position, to obstruct passage of the portion of light through the first aperture at the first position. The movable shutter has a first edge, and in the first position, the movable shutter is aligned with the first aperture such that the first edge extends a first length past the at least one side of the first aperture. |
| US09274331B2 |
Electrowetting optical element
An electrowetting optical element comprising a first electrode layer stack and a second electrode layer stack, and a containment space formed between said first electrode layer stack and said second electrode layer stack, one or more pixel walls fixedly mounted on said second interface surface and extending between said first and second electrode stacks, for defining sides of said containment space. Said containment space at least contains a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid, the polar and non-polar liquids being immiscible with each other. Said hydrophobic interface surface has a higher hydrophobicity than the second interface surface. The electrowetting element is arranged for enabling powering of said first and second electrode layers for rearranging said polar liquid relative to said non-polar liquid. An end face of said one or more pixel walls opposite said first electrode layer stack faces said hydrophobic interface surface in a loose manner. |
| US09274322B1 |
Three-piece all-aspheric adapter fisheye lens
A three-piece all-aspheric adapter fisheye lens includes a negative meniscus lens, a biconvex lens, and a biconcave lens positioned between the negative meniscus lens and the biconvex lens. The lenses are coaxial and are arranged with an exit pupil to cooperatively generate an image with a camera lens that has greater field of view than the camera lens alone when the exit pupil is coplanar and coaxial with an entrance pupil of the camera lens. Each lens has an aspheric object-side surface and an aspheric image-side surface. |
| US09274319B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus equipped with the imaging lens
An imaging lens is substantially constituted by five lenses, including: a positive first lens having a convex surface toward the object side; a negative second lens having a concave surface toward the object side; a positive third lens of a meniscus shape with a convex surface toward the object side; a positive fourth lens of a meniscus shape with a concave surface toward the object side; and a negative fifth lens having a concave surface toward the image side, the surface thereof toward the image side being of an aspherical shape having at least one inflection point within a range from an intersection of a principal light ray at a maximum angle of view with the surface toward the image side inwardly toward the optical axis in the radial direction, provided in this order from the object side. The imaging lens satisfies predetermined conditional formulae. |
| US09274313B2 |
Wide-angle imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens is composed of a first lens having a negative meniscus shape with a convex surface on the object side, a negative second lens, a positive third lens, an aperture stop, a negative fourth lens, and a positive fifth lens disposed in order from the object side. The fourth and the fifth lens are cemented with an interface which is convex on the object side and has an aspherical shape. If the radius of curvature is taken as R9 and the focal length of the entire system is taken as f, the imaging lens satisfies a conditional expression given below: 1.0 |
| US09274310B1 |
Optical imaging lens
An optical imaging lens includes an aperture stop and an optical assembly, the optical assembly includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a positive refractive power; a second lens element with a positive refractive power; a third lens element with a negative refractive power; the aperture stop is located between an image-side surface of the first lens element and an object to be photographed; wherein a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens element is R1, a radius of curvature of the image-side surface of the first lens element is R2, a central thickness of the second lens element is CT2, a central thickness of the third lens element is CT3, and the following conditions are satisfied: −2.0<(R1+R2)/(R1−R2)<−0.2; 2.0 |
| US09274309B2 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises six lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces and/or the refracting power of the lens elements, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened. |
| US09274308B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens includes: a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having positive refractive power; a third lens having negative refractive power; a fourth lens having positive refractive power; a fifth lens having positive refractive power; and a sixth lens having negative refractive power in vicinity of an optical axis and having positive refractive power in a peripheral portion. The first to sixth lenses are arranged in order from object plane. |
| US09274307B2 |
Camera device and optical imaging lens thereof
The present invention provides a camera device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side and an aperture stop positioned between the third lens element and fourth lens element. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements, the view angle of the optical imaging lens is efficiently increased to provide better optical characteristics. |
| US09274303B2 |
Adjusting device for an optical system
An adjusting device for an optical system has a first slider for a first optical element, which is arranged displaceably along an axial direction, a second slider for a second optical element, which is arranged displaceably along the axial direction, a control cam contour fixed in relation to the axial direction, a coupler between the first slider, the second slider and the cam contour, and a force element to exert force between the first slider and the second slider, so that the coupler is in contact with the first slider at a first point, is in contact with the second slider at a second point and is in contact with the control cam contour at a third point, the coupler including a first lever arm formed between the first and third points, and the coupler including a second lever arm formed between the second and third points. |
| US09274299B2 |
Modular optical backplane and enclosure
Embodiments are directed to decomposing an all-to-all interconnection network topology into a plurality of smaller all-to-all interconnection network elements, replicating the interconnection network elements in a modular fashion, wherein the modular interconnection network elements construct the all-to-all interconnection network topology. Embodiments are directed to an apparatus comprising a shuffle cable assembly comprising a plurality of shuffle cables, where each of the plurality of shuffle cables comprises a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of connectors, a block configured to organize, align, and maintain a position of the plurality of connectors, and at least one handle coupled to the block and configured to actuate the plurality of connectors. |
| US09274296B2 |
Optical fiber connector and optical fiber coupling assembly having same
An optical fiber connector includes a body and a photoelectric conversion module received in the body. The photoelectric conversion module includes a base, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a light coupling block. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are fixed on the base. The light coupling blocks are formed on the base and are arranged over the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. The light emitting unit is configured for emitting light to the light coupling block in a first direction. The light coupling block is configured for reflecting the light from the light emitting unit to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The light receiving unit is configured for receiving light emitting from the light coupling block in a direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US09274295B2 |
Releasable connection for a transceiver
A connector with a transceiver and a socket on a substrate receiving the transceiver. The transceiver is movable within the socket into a locked position in a direction parallel to the substrate. The socket and transceiver include complementary locking sections cooperating when the transceiver is in the locked position. During the movement the transceiver wipes over contacts, e.g., on the substrate or on an interposer. |
| US09274294B2 |
Optical communication module and method for producing the same
An optical communication module includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers that emit optical signals with different wavelengths, a plurality of first mounts each including a first mounting surface on which a corresponding one of the semiconductor lasers is mounted and a first side surface that intersects with the first mounting surface, a second mount including a second mounting surface on which a lens array that collimates an optical signal emitted from a corresponding one of the plurality of semiconductor lasers and a multiplexing optical system that multiplexes the plurality of optical signals that have been collimated by the lens array and a second side surface that intersects with the second mounting surface. Each of the first mounts is fixed to the second mount in a state where a corresponding one of the semiconductor lasers is aligned with the lens array and the first side surface abuts the second side surface. |
| US09274293B2 |
Arrangement of photonic chip and optical adaptor for coupling optical signals
An apparatus includes an optical adaptor having monolithically integrated optical elements and first micro-mechanical features, the latter defining at least a first horizontal reference surface and a first vertical reference surface; wherein the first horizontal reference surface is perpendicular to an optical plane, the latter being perpendicular the optical axis of the optical elements; and wherein the first vertical reference surface is perpendicular to the first horizontal reference surface and parallel to the optical axis. |
| US09274292B2 |
Signal transmitting connector, cable having the signal transmitting connector, display apparatus having the cable, and video signal output apparatus
A signal transmitting connector of the present disclosure includes a connection terminal portion comprising a terminal that executes at least one of outputting of an electric signal to an external device or inputting of the electric signal from an external device, a connector portion comprising a photoelectric converting portion that executes photoelectric conversion between an optical signal and the electric signal, and a cable holding portion that holds an optical fiber transmitting the optical signal, the cable holding portion comprising one or a plurality of cable holding portion mirror(s) each forming an optical path between the optical fiber and the photoelectric converting portion. |
| US09274288B2 |
Connector for multilayered optical waveguide
Methods for fabricating connectors for multilayered optical waveguides, as well as apparatuses for multilayered optical waveguides that embody ferrules and connectors. The method of fabricating a connector includes the steps of: stacking in a containing unit of a ferrule, a plurality of optical waveguides that are each preliminarily formed in the shape of layers; and injecting resin or adhesive through a space lying between the plurality of optical waveguides and the containing unit of the ferrule, with the plurality of optical waveguides contained in a stacked manner so that resin or adhesive reaches each of the plurality of optical waveguides. |
| US09274283B1 |
Silicon photonics alignment tolerant vertical grating couplers
Disclosed are optoelectronic integrated circuit structures that incorporate a first optical waveguide, having a semiconductor core, indirectly coupled to a grating coupler through a second optical waveguide, having a dielectric core, in order provide a relatively large alignment tolerance. The dielectric core can comprise multiple dielectric layers above one end of the semiconductor core and extending laterally over an isolation region adjacent to that end. The grating coupler can include dielectric fins above the isolation region. Alternatively, the grating coupler can include semiconductor fins within the isolation region. Also disclosed herein are methods of forming such optoelectronic integrated circuit structures that can be readily integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device processing and germanium photodetector processing. |
| US09274280B2 |
Optical waveguide type optical terminator
An optical waveguide type optical terminator forms an optical waveguide structure including at least an optical absorption core (103) which is formed on a clad layer (102) and includes a portion composed of silicon in which an impurity of 1019 cm−3 or more is doped, and is used by being optically connected in series with an optical waveguide including a core (105) composed of silicon. The optical absorption core (103) is sufficient provided that, at least, an impurity of around 1019 cm−3 is doped therein. For example, its impurity concentration is sufficient provided that it falls within a range of 1019-1020 cm−3. The existence of this impurity causes absorption of light in the optical absorption core (103). |
| US09274277B2 |
Waveguide devices with supporting anchors
Si waveguide devices on a bulk Si substrate with supporting anchors and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a waveguide device over an Si substrate, and forming one or more anchors from the Si substrate. The one or more anchors support the waveguide device. |
| US09274274B1 |
On-chip path-entangled photonic sources based on periodical poling and waveguide circuits in ferroelectric crystals
A photonic chip based on periodical poling and waveguides circuits in ferroelectric crystals, the method is based on the integration of waveguide circuits, periodical poling and electro-optic modulator (EOM). The chip is illustrated by FIG. 1. The waveguide circuits guide the photons and makes linear operations like the beam splitting, filtering etc. on the photons. The periodical poling enables the efficient spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), resulting the generation of entangled photons. The EOM controls the phase of photons dynamically. The following directional coupler distributes the entangled photons and the quantum interference takes place, resulting different types of path-entangled states by controlling the voltage of EOM insides the chip. |
| US09274273B2 |
Opto-electric hybrid board
An opto-electric hybrid board which is capable of significantly reducing stresses applied to a bent portion thereof is provided. The opto-electric hybrid board includes a stacked electric circuit board and an optical waveguide. The electric circuit board includes an insulative layer having front and back surfaces, electrical interconnect lines formed on the front surface of the insulative layer, and an insulative coverlay formed on the front surface of the insulative layer and for covering and protecting the electrical interconnect lines. The optical waveguide includes a first cladding layer having a front surface, cores formed in a pattern on the front surface of the first cladding layer, and a second cladding layer covering the cores. Part of the opto-electric hybrid board is defined as a to-be-bent portion in which the coverlay and the optical waveguide are disposed in non-overlapping relation. |
| US09274272B2 |
Photonic device and methods of formation
A photonic device and methods of formation that provide an area providing reduced optical coupling between a substrate and an inner core of the photonic device are described. The area is formed using holes in the inner core and an outer cladding. The holes may be filled with materials which provide a photonic crystal. Thus, the photonic device may function as a waveguide and as a photonic crystal. |
| US09274270B2 |
Light output device with movable lightguide system
The invention relates to a light-output device (1; 10; 30) controllable to provide different light-output functions. The light-output device comprises a light-source arrangement (12; 31) configured to emit light; and a light-guiding system (10; 32) arranged to receive the light and configured to guide the light to at least one light-output surface of the light-guiding system. The light-guiding system (10; 32) comprises at least a first light-guide (11b; 37) and a second light-guide (11a; 40, 41); and the light-guiding system (10; 32) is movable relative to the light-source arrangement (12; 31) between at least a first position where light output by the light-source arrangement is guided by the first light-guide (11b; 37) to provide a first light-output function, and a second position where light output by the light-source arrangement is guided by the second light-guide (11a; 40, 41) to provide a second light-output function, different from the first light-output function. The present invention is based on the realization that different light-output functions conveniently and intuitively can be achieved by moving a light-guiding system comprising at least two light-guides relative to a stationary light-source arrangement. Hereby, different light-output functions can be achieved with a single stationary light-source arrangement. |
| US09274267B2 |
Backlight device, display device including the same, and manufacturing method for backlight device
A backlight device is provided. A backlight device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a lower cover enclosing a light guide plate and having a bottom cover and a side cover; and a printed circuit board attached to the lower cover and mounted with the light source, wherein the first opening is formed in the lower cover. The light source is inserted into the first opening and is positioned on an inner surface of the lower cover, and the printed circuit board is positioned at the outer surface of the lower cover. |
| US09274264B2 |
Light source module
A light source module includes a light guide element, at least one light-emitting element, and a quantum dot element. The light guide element has a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. The light-emitting element is disposed at the light incident surface for providing a first color light. The quantum dot element converts only a portion of the first color light into a first monochromatic light. The first color light and the first monochromatic light are mixed into a white light. |
| US09274263B2 |
Discontinuous or variable thickness gain modification coating for projection film and method for making same
The present invention relates to projection films and methods of making the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a projection film whereby the microspheres exhibit improved alignment on the light exit surface and have alignment on the light entrance surface that varies according to the individual microsphere diameter. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a projection film that has the attributes of variable gain within the single projection film. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an exposed microsphere projection film construction that provides modification of the head-on and angular pattern of light transmission (gain). |
| US09274258B2 |
Thin-layer element having an interference layer structure
The present invention relates to a thin-film element (30) having an interference layer structure for security papers, value documents and the like, having at least two semitransparent absorber layers (34, 38) and at least one dielectric spacing layer (36) arranged between the at least two absorber layers. According to the present invention, it is provided that the two absorber layers (34, 38) are each formed from a material having a complex refractive index N whose real part n and imaginary part k differ at least in a portion of the visible spectral range by a factor of 5 or more. |
| US09274257B2 |
Light reflective film and method for manufacturing the same
An exemplary light reflective film painted on a smooth reflective surface of a base includes a composition. The composition consists of polyester polyols, isocyanate, N-butyl acetate and light reflective powders. A mass of the polyester polyols and isocyanate is 15%-30% of the total mass of the composition, a mass of the N-butyl acetate is 50% of the total mass of the composition, and a mass of the light reflective powders is 20%-35% of the total mass of the composition. A method for manufacturing the light reflective film is also provided. |
| US09274247B1 |
High resolution density measurement profiler using silicon photomultiplier sensors
A system to completely measure multiple densities in varying levels in tanks or vessels. The present invention provides a multiplicity of aligned sources and separate aligned detectors, the combination aligned sources and separate detectors are positioned horizontally relative to each other at varying vertical tank levels, each combination separate source and aligned detector at each measuring level in the tank provide continuous density data at each level. The sources and separate detectors are placed in a vertically aligned array in the separation tank near the weir, with each individual source and separate detector aligned with a given level. |
| US09274244B2 |
Security checking system using X-rays and neutrons
Provided is a security checking system. The security checking system includes an electron beam acceleration unit for accelerating electron beams having at least one energy intensity, an X-ray guide unit converting the electron beams accelerated by the electron beam acceleration unit into X-rays to guide the converted X-rays into an object, a neutron guide unit, and a detection unit detecting the X-rays and neutrons passing through the object. Thus, nuclear materials within the object may be detected, and also, maintenance/repair costs may be inexpensive to improve economic feasibility. |
| US09274243B2 |
Advanced drill string communication system, components and methods
A drill string communication system is described. An uphole transceiver can couple a signal onto the drill string at a power that is always greater that a selectable power for a downhole signal. Communication from a drill rig to an inground tool can be re-initiated using a maximum uphole transmit power of an uphole transceiver. A procedure can establish a new set of transmission parameters for a drill string signal to establish communication between the drill rig and the inground tool. The system can include a walkover locator that receives an active/inactive status-controlled electromagnetic locating signal. Responsive to a locating signal degradation, a reconfiguration command can modify the locating signal. The uphole transceiver and a downhole transceiver can automatically modify at least one parameter of a downhole signal. An uphole receiver can apply a compensation response to a transferred signal to compensate for a drill string channel transfer function. |
| US09274242B2 |
Fracture aperture estimation using multi-axial induction tool
A method for estimating fracture aperture from multi-axial electromagnetic induction measurements made in a wellbore includes determining a fracture indicator and a fracture orientation indicator. The value of the fracture indicator is determined from components of the measurements made transverse to the tool axis. A relationship between the value of the fracture indicator and the fracture aperture for the subsurface formation is determined by estimating the fracture indicator using a plurality of values of fracture aperture and a resistivity of drilling fluid in the wellbore over a background formation with estimated horizontal resistivity and vertical resistivity. The fracture aperture is determined using the determined fracture indicator and the determined relationship. |
| US09274239B2 |
Wavefield deghosting
A technique includes receiving sensor acquired data, which includes pressure data representative of at least one pressure measurement of a wavefield and particle motion data representative of at least one particle motion measurement of the wavefield. The technique includes filtering the pressure data and the particle motion data with a plurality of directional filters to provide a plurality of filtered datasets. The filtered datasets are associated with different directional ranges. The technique includes estimating an angle of incidence for at least one of the directional ranges based at least in part on at least one of the filtered datasets; and processing the acquired data to determine at least one of an upgoing component of the wavefield and a downgoing component of the wavefield based at least in part on the at least one estimated angle of incidence. |
| US09274236B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of driving the same
To provide a semiconductor device and a driving method of the same that is capable of enlarging a signal amplitude value as well as increasing a range in which a linear input/output relationship operates while preventing a signal writing-in time from becoming long. The semiconductor device having an amplifying transistor and a biasing transistor and the driving method thereof, wherein an electric discharging transistor is provided and pre-discharge is performed. |
| US09274224B2 |
Global positioning system speedometer
A GPS speedometer comprising: a housing; a circuit board located in the housing; a microprocessor located on the circuit board; a GPS module located on the circuit and in signal communication with the micro-processor; a GPS antenna located on the circuit board and in signal communication with GPS module; and a readable speedometer display located on the housing and in signal communication with the microprocessor, where the readable speedometer display is configured to display the current speed of the vessel or vehicle calculated by the microprocessor based on data from a global positioning system. A GPS speedometer system comprising: a vessel, the vessel comprising an instrument panel; a GPS speedometer located on the instrument panel, the GPS speedometer comprising: a housing; a circuit board located in the housing; a microprocessor located on the circuit board; a GPS module located on the circuit and in signal communication with the micro-processor; a GPS antenna located on the circuit board and in signal communication with GPS module; a readable speedometer display located on the housing and in signal communication with the microprocessor, where the readable speedometer display is configured to display the current speed of the vessel or vehicle calculated by the microprocessor based on data from a global positioning system; and a global positioning satellite in signal communication with the GPS antenna. |
| US09274223B2 |
System for determining the distance from and the direction to an object
A system for determining the distance from and the direction to an object includes an emitter and at least two receiver elements for receiving a signal which is transmitted by the emitter and reflected by the object. The receiver elements are arranged as a linear array, as two linear arrays situated at an angle to one another, as an array which surrounds the emitter and forms a circle, or as a two-dimensional array. The diameter of the array may be greater than one-half the wavelength of the signal, and the receiver elements each have an individual surface area whose height or diameter corresponds at most to one-half the wavelength of the signal, and the emitter has a height or a diameter which is greater than one-half the wavelength of the signal. |
| US09274221B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote object sensing employing compressive sensing
A method for remote object sensing on-board a vehicle includes employing compressive sensing to analyze a waveform originating from an on-vehicle low-resolution radar imaging system and reflected from a remote object. The compressive sensing includes generating a matrix including a temporal projection, a Fourier transform, and an integral term configured to analyze the reflected waveform. Leading and trailing edges of the remote object are identified by employing a norm minimization procedure to reconstruct a range profile based upon the reflected waveform analyzed by the compressive sensing. |
| US09274219B2 |
Apparatus and method for short dwell inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging of turning moving vehicles
An apparatus and method for generating a radar image including acquiring a first plurality of data in a first domain, wherein one or more of the first plurality of data include data of a moving target engaged in a turning motion at a rotational rate greater than a threshold; converting the first plurality of data from the first domain to a second plurality of data in a second domain, wherein the second domain is a first two-dimensional transformation of the first domain; extracting one or more of the second plurality of data; converting the one or more of the extracted second plurality of data to a third plurality of data in a third domain, wherein the third domain is a second two-dimensional transformation of the second domain; phase compensating the third plurality of data; and transforming the phase compensated third plurality of data to generate the radar image. |
| US09274218B2 |
Distance measurement between two nodes of a radio network
In certain embodiments, a method includes transmitting, by a first node, a first signal with a first frequency. The method includes receiving a second signal with a second frequency by downmixing the second signal to an intermediate frequency. The method includes determining a first value of a first phase for the second frequency. The method includes transmitting a third signal with a third frequency, the first frequency and the third frequency having a frequency difference, and receiving a fourth signal with a fourth frequency, the second frequency and the fourth frequency having the frequency difference. The method includes determining a second value of the first phase for the fourth frequency. The first frequency and the second frequency are spaced apart by an amount of the intermediate frequency, and the third frequency and the fourth frequency are spaced apart by the amount of the intermediate frequency. |
| US09274216B2 |
Radar apparatus and an antenna apparatus
The present invention relates to radar and antenna technique, and more particularly, to a radar apparatus and an antenna apparatus having antenna configuration of arranging a plurality of array antennas capable of concentrating antenna gain on a direction for sensing. |
| US09274212B2 |
Mobile terminal and parameter calibration method for global positioning system
A mobile terminal and a global positioning system calibration method are disclosed in the invention. The mobile terminal includes: a GPS parameter calibration module (10), which is configured to calibrate GPS parameters based on at least one of the following items: data from a GPS signal feedback and collection module (20), state parameters of the mobile terminal, and environmental parameters of the mobile terminal; the GPS signal feedback and collection module (20), which is configured to acquire the GPS parameters before and after the calibration implemented by the GPS parameter calibration module (10) and feed back the collected data to the GPS parameter calibration module (10). The GPS calibration function of the mobile terminal is enhanced with the invention. |
| US09274210B2 |
Indoor radio ranging based on a subset of subcarriers employed by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
Systems, apparatus and methods for determining a set of ranges from selected subcarriers of an OFDM signal sent between a receiver (e.g., first transceiver or a local receiver of a local unit at a first location) and a transmitter (e.g., second transceiver or remote transmitter of a remote unit at a second location) are presented. The set of ranges is ambiguous as to the correct range. Each range in this set of ambiguous ranges represents a possible range between the transmitter and the receiver. Range ambiguities may be resolved by using additional subcarriers from the OFDM signal and/or using a last know position of a receiver and/or finding ranges to two, three or more transmitters. The range may be used with other ranges to find a location estimate of the receiver. |
| US09274208B2 |
Enhanced RF location methods and systems
Methods and systems that use the time-wise stability of RF location systems and the short time accuracy and spatial stability of inertial tracking system to increase the accuracy of tracking method. |
| US09274202B2 |
Optical time-of-flight system
Time-of-flight technology may be combined with optical detection technology identifying an angle of a light pulse emitted from a transmitter and reflected off an object based on a proportion of the reflected light pulse detected at each of at least two light sensors. The optical detection technology may include a light detector with two or more light sensors arranged at different orientations with respect to an aperture in the detector so that each sensor is able to detect a different subset of the light passing through the aperture. The effective angle of the light passing through aperture may then be calculated from the proportion of light detected at the each of the sensors. The effective angle information may be combined with a calculated time-of-flight of the light pulse to accurately identify a position of the object relative to the detector in two or three dimensions. |
| US09274192B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging gradient coil, magnet assembly, and system
A magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly (100) comprising: —a magnet (102) adapted for generating a main magnetic field for aligning the magnetic spins of nuclei of a subject (502) located within an imaging volume (504); and —a gradient coil (103) for generating a gradient magnetic field for spatial encoding of the magnetic resonance signal of spins of nuclei within the imaging volume, wherein the gradient coil is adapted to be mounted into the magnet, wherein the gradient coil comprises: —a first gradient coil section (112), wherein the first gradient coil section comprises a first rigid element (113), —a second gradient coil section (114), wherein the second gradient coil section also comprises a second rigid element (115), —a connecting element (116, 300, 302, 304, 400) for joining the two half gradient coils, wherein the connecting element comprises an elastic material (116), wherein the elastic material is in contact with the first rigid element and the second rigid element. |
| US09274191B2 |
Gradient-independent shim coil for a local coil of a magnetic resonance device
A shim coil device for installation and/or arrangement within a local coil of a magnetic resonance device is provided. The shim coil device includes at least one shim coil formed by at least one conductor loop, and at least one compensation coil formed by at least one conductor loop. The at least one shim coil and the at least one compensation coil are arranged in a same coil plane. An overall arrangement of the at least one shim coil and the at least one compensation coil is symmetrical about a first central axis and a second central axis. The first central axis and the second central axis are perpendicular to each other and lie in the coil plane. An overall induction surface is enclosed by the at least one conductor loop of the at least one compensation coil corresponding to an overall induction surface enclosed by the at least one conductor loop of the at least one shim coil. |
| US09274190B2 |
Local coil
A local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography device includes a plurality of antenna elements. Each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements has two conductor tracks. The conductor tracks are disposed on opposite sides of an insulator and are connected electrically conductively to one another by plated through-holes through the insulator. In areas, in which conductor tracks of at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements cross, at least one antenna element of the at least two antenna elements only has a conductor track on one side of the insulator. |
| US09274188B2 |
System and apparatus for compensating for magnetic field distortion in an MRI system
A magnet apparatus for a magnetic resonance imaging system, the magnet apparatus includes a cylindrical vacuum vessel, a closed loop cooling system disposed within the vacuum vessel and a cylindrical thermal shield disposed between the vacuum vessel and the closed loop cooling system. A set of passive compensation coils are disposed within the vacuum vessel and used to compensate for magnetic field distortion caused by mechanical vibrations within the magnet apparatus. |
| US09274185B2 |
Method for judging coercive force of magnetic recording medium
A method for judging a coercive force of a magnetic recording medium, so recording magnetic information can be formed in either a low coercivity magnetic medium or a high coercivity magnetic medium by using a magnetic head. A magnetic information recording step writes magnetic information in the magnetic recording medium by alternately using a first write current suitable for writing in the low coercivity magnetic medium and a second write current suitable for writing in the high coercivity magnetic medium. A magnetic information reproducing step reproduces the magnetic information written in the magnetic recording medium. A judging step makes a judgment on a coercive force of the magnetic recording medium by way of comparing a first reproduced output A of the magnetic information written with the first write current and a second reproduced output B of the magnetic information written with the second write current. |
| US09274181B1 |
Magneto-optic field coupling in optical fiber Bragg gratings
The invention is a magneto-optic coupled magnetic sensor that comprises a standard optical fiber Bragg grating system. The system includes an optical fiber with at least one Bragg grating therein. The optical fiber has at least an inner core and a cladding that surrounds the inner core. The optical fiber is part of an optical system that includes an interrogation device that provides a light wave through the optical fiber and a system to determine the change in the index of refraction of the optical fiber. The cladding of the optical fiber comprises at least a portion of which is made up of ferromagnetic particles so that the ferromagnetic particles are subject to the light wave provided by the interrogation system. When a magnetic field is present, the ferromagnetic particles change the optical properties of the sensor directly. |
| US09274172B2 |
Selective test pattern processor
A method, system, and computer program product to test a semiconductor device are described. The method includes receiving a set of test patterns for testing the semiconductor device and a user selecting a subset of the set of test patterns. The method also includes cataloging a content of pattern files associated with the subset of the set of test patterns to generate a catalog, and processing the catalog to output test data to the semiconductor device. |
| US09274170B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device including a test mode circuit capable of changing the semiconductor device into a test mode with fewer malfunctions and without providing a test terminal. The semiconductor device includes a test circuit configured to compare data of a data input terminal and a data output terminal in synchronization with clock, and control whether or not to change the semiconductor device into a test mode in accordance with a result of the comparison. |
| US09274165B2 |
Tester for lightning arresters counter
The designed circuit is used for testing all kinds of discharge counter for lightning arresters. Discharge counter for lightning arresters are used in substation and all power plants with various voltages and discharge currents. The lightning arresters counter tester creates the needed voltage and current that operates the counter and simulates the conditions that the counter works in; therefore it can be concluded whether the counter works well or not. |
| US09274164B2 |
Detection apparatus for light-emitting diode chips having a light sensing device receiving light beams penetrated through a transparent chuck
A detection apparatus for light-emitting diode chips comprises a transparent chuck with the light-concentration capability, a probing device and a light-sensing device. The transparent chuck comprises a light-incident plane and a light-emitting plane. The light-incident plane is used to bear a plurality of light-emitting diode chips under detection. The probing device comprises two probe pins and a power supply. The two ends of each probe pin is electrically connected to one of the light-emitting diode chips and the power supply, respectively, to make the light-emitting diode chip emit a plurality of light beams. The light beams penetrate through the transparent chuck by emitting into the incident plane of the transparent chuck. The light-sensing device is disposed on one side of the light-emitting plane of the transparent chuck to receive the light beams which penetrate through the transparent chuck. |
| US09274159B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring an electric power circuit
A method for monitoring an electric power circuit configured to transfer a power signal to a torque module that is electrically isolated from a chassis ground includes injecting a common voltage component into a common mode voltage of electrical phases during operation and monitoring a negative-ground voltage and a positive-negative voltage of the electric power circuit. An AC line resistance is determined based upon the negative-ground voltage and the positive-negative voltage. Faults in electrical isolation between the electric power circuit and a chassis ground are detected based upon the AC line resistance. |
| US09274158B2 |
Hybrid/electrical vehicle HV AC system leakage and ground fault detection
Apparatus and methods for detection of a ground fault on a DC side as well as on an AC side of an inverter are presented. A detection means can receive forward and reverse current and provide an induced current based on the difference between them. A parameter associated with the induced current, or a parameter associated with a voltage generated by conduction of the induced current through a device, can be used to detect a ground fault. In addition, a detection means can be configured to receive transient current, and a resulting voltage at the detection means can be used for fault detection. A detection means can be disposed at the DC side of an inverter or at the AC side of the inverter. Apparatus and methods can be configured to detect AC leakage current caused by a ground fault. |
| US09274155B2 |
Cancellation of secondary reverse reflections in a very-fast transmission line pulse system
An approach for cancelling reverse reflections in very-fast transmission line pulse (VFTLP) testing of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device in a semiconductor is provided. A method includes generating an incident pulse in a VFTLP system for applying to a device under test (DUT). The method also includes generating a delayed replica of the incident pulse. The method also includes cancelling a portion of a reverse reflection of the incident pulse by combining the delayed replica with the reverse reflection at a power divider. |
| US09274149B2 |
Frequency phase detection three phase system
A system, method, and apparatus are described for monitoring the operation of a three phase system. In some embodiments, one or more vectors may be generated. The vectors may be indicative of an output of the three phase system. In some embodiments, one or more of the vectors may correspond to a difference of two of the three phases of the three phase system. A gain associated with a third of the vectors may be different from a gain associated with each of the first and the second vectors. The gain associated with the third vector may be maximized. The three vectors may be combined with hardware or software. In some embodiments, frequency content associated with the three phase system may be filtered with hardware or software. For example, filtering may be used to remove frequencies outside of a specified frequency range of interest. |
| US09274148B2 |
Voltage detection circuit
A voltage detection circuit comprises a reference resistor including a terminal for receiving a first voltage; a reference transistor including a control terminal for receiving a second voltage; a comparator, including a first input terminal for receiving a converted voltage and a second input terminal for receiving the second voltage, for generating an output voltage; and a voltage dropping circuit series, comprising a plurality of voltage dropping circuits connected in a series, for converting an input voltage into the converted voltage; wherein the comparator indicates whether the input voltage matches a specific multiple of a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and the specific multiple relates to a number of the plurality of voltage dropping circuits. |
| US09274146B2 |
Electronic tamper detection in a utility meter using magnetics
An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a sensor and a processing circuit supported by a base of the meter, and a magnetic element carried by the cover of the meter, in which the cover is removably mounted to the base. The sensor includes at least two magnetizable elements, such as inductors, that are magnetized at opposite polarities when the meter is closed and operable. The magnetizable elements are positioned in very close proximity so that as cover is removed the magnetic element passes the elements to cause the magnetizable elements to assume the same polarity. The processing circuit continuously polls the magnetizable elements to evaluate their respective polarities and is configured to issue a tamper indication when the detected polarities are the same. |
| US09274145B2 |
Active shunt ammeter apparatus and method
An active shunt ammeter for measuring current flowing through a device under test (DUT) and method are disclosed. The active shunt ammeter includes an input configured to receive an input signal having a frequency within a frequency band and representing the current flowing through the DUT. An output is configured to generate an output voltage representing the current flowing through the DUT. The active shunt ammeter also includes a gain circuit having an amplifier with a gain characteristic that varies respect to frequency within the frequency band and a feedback element having an impedance coupled from an output of the gain circuit to a negative input of the gain circuit, the feedback element impedance being configured to change with frequency to correlate with the amplifier gain characteristic such that the feedback element impedance divided by the amplifier gain over the frequency band has minimal frequency dependency. |
| US09274142B2 |
Testing system with capacitively coupled probe for evaluating electronic device structures
Conductive electronic device structures such as a conductive housing member that forms part of an antenna may be tested during manufacturing. A test system may be provided that has a capacitive coupling probe. The probe may have electrodes. The electrodes may be formed from patterned metal structures in a dielectric substrate. A test unit may provide radio-frequency test signals in a range of frequencies. The radio-frequency test signals may be applied to the conductive housing member or other conductive structures under test using the electrodes. Complex impedance data, forward transfer coefficient data, or other data may be used to determine whether the structures are faulty. A fixture may be used to hold the capacitive coupling probe in place against the conductive electronic device structures during testing. |
| US09274140B2 |
Multi-purpose integrated circuit device contactor
A contactor uses a pogo block in a first configuration as a direct integrated circuit test socket and the contactor can be reconfigured to provide a pogo block assembly to interface between a main test printed circuit board (PCB) and a daughter card that is dedicated to a specific device handler and/or a specific package type that can be different from the main test PCB. A pogo block is inserted into a thick frame with an alignment plate for contactor use in which a device under test fits into a recess in the frame through an alignment plate to align the device under test to make contact with electrical contacts of the contactor. The frame and guide plate can be removed and a thinner frame coupled to the contactor, which changes its function to a pogo block assembly. |
| US09274139B2 |
Method and apparatus of operating a scanning probe microscope
Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined, and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation. |
| US09274136B2 |
Multi-axis chip-scale MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) based on frequency modulation
A multi-axis microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is fabricated in a vacuum sealed single packaged device. An FM vibratory gyroscope and an FM resonant accelerometer both for generating FM output signals is fabricated in the silicon chip using MEMS. A signal processor is coupled to the an FM vibratory gyroscope and to the FM resonant accelerometer for receiving the FM gyroscopic output signals and the FM accelerometer output signals. The signal processor generates simultaneous and decoupled measurement of input acceleration, input rotation rate, and temperature and/or temperature distribution within the IMU, self-calibration of the biases and scale factors of the IMU and its support electronics against temperature variations and other common mode errors, and reduction of the cross axis sensitivity by reducing acceleration errors in the gyroscope and rotation errors in the accelerometer. |
| US09274132B2 |
Assay cartridge with reaction well
Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples. |
| US09274128B2 |
Transcriptional repression leading to parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is caused by the preferential loss of substantia nigra dopamine neurons. A Parkin Interacting Substrate, PARIS (ZNF746) is identified. The levels of PARIS are regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system via binding to and ubiquitination by the E3 ubiquitin ligase, parkin. PARIS is a KRAB and zinc finger protein that accumulates in models of parkin inactivation and in human brain Parkinson's disease patients. PARIS represses the expression of the transcriptional co-activator, PGC-1α and the PGC-1α target gene, NRF-1 by binding to insulin response sequences in the PGC-1α promoter. Conditional knockout of parkin in adult animals leads to progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons that is PARIS dependent. Overexpression of PARIS causes selective loss of DA neurons in the substantia nigra, which is reversed by either parkin or PGC-1α co-expression. The identification of PARIS provides a molecular mechanism for neurodegeneration due to parkin inactivation. |
| US09274127B2 |
Method for determining depression, kit for analyzing serotonin transporter, and kit for analyzing ubiquitinated serotonin transporter in blood
[Problem] To provide: a method for utilizing a novel marker, including a method for determining depression; and a kit for analyzing an ubiquitinated serotonin transporter.[Solution] A method for determining depression, comprising a step of analyzing the proportion of an ubiquitinated serotonin transporter in a blood sample collected from a subject; and a kit for analyzing an ubiquitinated serotonin transporter in blood, which comprises an ubiquitinated protein collector material and an anti-serotonin transporter antibody and is used for the analysis of the proportion of an ubiquitinated serotonin transporter in a collected blood sample. |
| US09274126B2 |
Risk factors and prediction of myocardial infarction
Biomarkers and methods are disclosed for diagnosing the risk of a myocardial infarction in an individual by measuring the levels of a set of biomarkers in a sample from an individual. A risk score is calculated for the individual by weighting the measured levels of the biomarkers. The risk score then is used to identify whether the individual is likely to experience a myocardial infarction. In addition, kits are disclosed that include a set of reagents for specifically measuring biomarker levels in a sample from an individual. |
| US09274123B2 |
Method for analysis of compounds with amino group and analytical reagent therefor
The present invention provides a method for the analysis of a compound with amino group (e.g., an amino acid or peptide) contained in a sample and convenient manner with a high sensitivity. The compound with amino group in a sample containing the compound with amino group is labeled with a specific carbamate compound such as p-trimethylammonium anilyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate iodide to enhance the selectivity and sensitivity. The present invention is preferably used in conjunction with mass spectrometry such as MS/MS method to facilitate quantitative analysis. The present invention further provides labeling reagents for mass spectrometry. |
| US09274115B2 |
Anti-IL-6 antibodies for the treatment of anemia
The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as anti-IL-6 antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat anemia (e.g., anemia associated with chemotherapy) including persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation for cancer (e.g., head and neck cancer) that is associated with increased risk of anemia. |
| US09274114B2 |
Prostate kallikrein allergen
Methods for in vitro diagnosis of type I allergy comprises the steps of contacting an immunoglobulin-containing body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having type I allergy with a variant or fragment of the mature protein, amino acids 25-260, of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, which variant or fragment shares epitopes for antibodies with the mature protein, amino acids 25-260, of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; and detecting the presence, in the sample, of IgE antibodies specifically binding to the variant or fragment. The presence of such IgE antibodies specifically binding to the variant or fragment is indicative of a type I allergy in the patient. |
| US09274107B2 |
Microchip, measurement system and method using the same, and test reagent to be used for microchip
A microchip to be used for measuring a plurality of types of objects to be measured. The microchip includes at least a reagent retaining portion and a detecting portion. The test reagent retaining portion includes a plurality of types of test reagents corresponding respectively to the plurality of types of objects to be measured. A plurality of time courses for a change in detected value at the detecting portion caused by a reaction between the test reagents and the objects to be measured corresponding respectively thereto are all different from each other. |
| US09274104B2 |
Measuring system using optical waveguide, measuring device, measuring method, optical waveguide type sensor chip, and magnetic fine particle
According to one embodiment, a measuring system using an optical waveguide is provided. The measuring system has an optical waveguide, magnetic fine particles, a magnetic field applying unit, a light source and a light receiving element. The optical waveguide has a sensing area to which first substances having a property of specifically bonding to subject substances to be measured are fixed. Second substances having a property of specifically bonding to the subject substances are fixed to the magnetic fine particle. The magnetic field applying unit generates a magnetic field for moving the magnetic fine particles. The light source inputs a light into the optical waveguide. The light receiving element receives the light output from the optical waveguide. |
| US09274096B2 |
Assay utilising cellular binary half-adder system
An in vitro cell assay for detecting an effect a test condition has on one or more cells. The assay comprises providing a binary half-adder system comprising first and second oscillating cells, and detecting an effect a test condition has on the oscillation of said first and/or second cells. |
| US09274092B2 |
Method of and device for packing a chromatography column
A method and device for packing a chromatography column formed of one or more vibration devices attached to top and/or bottom flanges of the column. Media is added in one or more steps to the column, allowed to settle under the effects of gravity and then subjected to one or more treatments of vibration from the vibration devices until a suitably packed column is obtained. Liquid used to suspend the media while being placed into the column may be at least partially removed before or during the vibration step(s). The remaining liquid is then removed or replaced after the packing has been obtained. |
| US09274091B2 |
Automated systems and methods for detection of chemical compounds
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for processing a liquid test sample includes using a needle assembly to introduce a first flow of gas through an inlet in the needle assembly into a container containing a liquid test sample and to provide an outlet from the container through the needle assembly, separating at least one volatile component from the sample in a gas and liquid separator using the first flow of gas, adsorbing the at least one volatile component onto a trapping material to provide at least one adsorbed component, and releasing the at least one adsorbed component from the trapping material to provide at least one released component. |
| US09274090B2 |
Ultrasonic non-destructive testing
An apparatus and method for ultrasonic non-destructive testing provides an elongate strip of ultrasound transmissive material coupled at a proximal end to an object under test. The elongate strip has a transverse cross-section with a width and thickness giving an aspect ratio greater than unity and matched to the ultrasonic transducer such that excitation induces a substantially non-dispersive ultrasonic signal to propagate along the elongate strip to the proximal end and to enter the object under test. These non-dispersive pulses are particularly suited for time-of-flight measurements, thickness measurements, crack measurements and the like. The elongate strip helps to separate the transducer from a potentially hostile environment associated with the object under test. The elongate strip also has a large area of contact with the object under test allowing efficient transmission of energy into the object under test. |
| US09274088B2 |
Redistribution layer in an ultrasound diagnostic imaging transducer
Medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging is performed with a multi-dimensional transducer array and an imaging system for planar scanning. The elements of the array may be distributed on a periodic grid with aperiodic shifts in position. When a one-dimensional array is formed on the array, the aperiodic shifts better distribute acoustic energies, reducing peaks in side lobes. Using a layered structure of switches underneath the acoustic elements, side lobes may be further reduced. The switches are used for interconnecting elements to form macro elements of the one-dimensional aperture on the multi-dimensional array. The switches are distributed on a grid corresponding to the desired imaging frequency. The acoustic elements are distributed with a finer pitch. The finer pitch allows formation of the macro elements for the one-dimensional aperture where the edges of the macro elements have fewer or no periodic patterns. |
| US09274087B2 |
Piezoelectric microcantilever sensors for biosensing
A piezoelectric microcantilever for sensing compounds or molecules. The piezoelectric microcantilever, may include at least one electrode, an insulation layer, a receptor, an immobilization layer, a non-piezoelectric layer and a piezoelectric layer The sensor is capable of self actuation and detection. The piezoelectric layer may be constructed from a highly piezoelectric thin lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate film, a highly piezoelectric thin zirconate titanate film, a highly piezoelectric lead-free film. Methods of using the sensors and flow cells and arrays including the sensors are also described. |
| US09274080B2 |
Electrochemical measuring probe, filling arrangement and maintenance system
An electrochemical, measuring probe, for measuring a chemical or physical, measured variable, of a measured medium, wherein the measuring probe comprises: at least one measuring half cell and at least one reference half cell, and the reference half cell includes: a housing of electrically insulating material, in which a reference electrolyte chamber containing a liquid, reference electrolyte is formed, and which has in a housing wall a diaphragm permeable for the reference electrolyte for providing electrolytic contact between the reference half cell and the measured medium; a potential indicating element extending into the reference electrolyte; and a supply opening opening into the reference electrolyte chamber for supply of reference electrolyte into the reference electrolyte chamber. The reference half cell has a check valve blocking exit of reference electrolyte from the reference electrolyte chamber through the supply opening, especially a check valve arranged at least partially within the supply opening. |
| US09274079B2 |
Etchant product analysis in alkaline etchant solutions
Silicon ions in an alkaline etchant solution are analyzed by acidifying a sample of the etchant solution, adding fluoride ions in excess of the concentration required to react with all of the silicon ions, and using a fluoride ion specific electrode (FISE) to detect free fluoride ions in the resulting test solution. Good sensitivity and precision are provided by using a relatively acidic test solution and only a slight excess of fluoride ions, and limiting the analysis range to the maximum expected silicon concentration in the etchant solution. |
| US09274075B2 |
Proximity sensor detecting metallic and non-metallic objects
A method determines a type of an object in a proximity to a resonant structure having a resonant frequency as a metallic object if the object changes a phase of a power signal reflected by the resonant structure at frequencies below and above the resonant frequency. Otherwise, the method determines the type of the object as a non-metallic object. |
| US09274072B2 |
Method for determining interstitial oxygen concentration
A method for determining the interstitial oxygen concentration of a sample made from a p-doped semiconductor material includes a step of heat treatment of the sample in order to form thermal donors, determining the duration of the heat treatment required to obtain a compensated semiconductor material, determining the thermal donors concentration in the sample of compensated semiconductor material, from the charge carriers concentration, and determining the oxygen concentration from the thermal donors of and the duration of the heat treatment. |
| US09274069B2 |
Method for evaluating degree of crystalline orientation of polycrystalline silicon, method for selecting polycrystalline silicon rod, polycrystalline silicon rod, polycrystalline silicon ingot, and method for manufacturing monocrystalline silicon
When the degree of crystalline orientation of polycrystalline silicon is evaluated by an X-ray diffraction method, each obtained disc-like sample 20 is disposed in a position where Bragg reflection from a Miller index face |
| US09274064B2 |
Surface feature manager
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a mapping means for generating a map of locations of surface features of an article based on photon-detector signals corresponding to photons scattered from the surface features of the article, and a surface feature manager. The surface manager is configured to locate a predetermined surface feature of the surface features of the article based, at least in part, on the map of the surface features locations, irradiate photons of a first power onto the location of the predetermined surface feature to analyze the predetermined surface feature, and irradiate photons of a second power onto the location of the predetermined surface feature to remove the predetermined surface feature. |
| US09274062B2 |
Optical method for inspecting transparent or translucent containers bearing visual
An optical method of inspecting containers comprises taking an image of each container and determining a search zone in each image of the container, a visible pattern appearing in the search zone. A digital mask is prepared for a treatment zone of the images including the visible pattern and at least each pixel of the treatment zone of the images is compared with a digital mask. A visible pattern is selected belonging to the container and the position and the orientation of the selected visible pattern in said search zone is determined. A geometrical transformation is applied to the digital mask or to the treatment zone to place the mask and the treatment zone in a position in which they coincide. Image treatment is applied to each pixel of the treatment zone, which treatment depends on the intensity value of the coincident pixel of the digital mask. |
| US09274060B1 |
Methods for transmembrane measurement of oxygen concentration and monitoring changes in oxygen concentration within a space enclosed by a membrane employing a photoluminescent transmembrane oxygen probe
Measuring oxygen concentration and monitoring changes in oxygen concentration within an enclosed space by applying a transmembrane photoluminescent oxygen probe to the external surface of the membrane forming the enclosed space, wherein the transmembrane photoluminescent oxygen probe has an oxygen impermeable support layer carrying a spot of an oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dye and a layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive on a first major surface of the support layer. |
| US09274058B2 |
Metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing
A metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing. The device includes a substrate, and a plurality of nanofingers. A nanofinger includes a flexible column, and a metallic cap coupled to an apex of the flexible column. At least the nanofinger and a second nanofinger are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with at least one analyte molecule disposed between at least the metallic cap and a second metallic cap of respective nanofinger and second nanofinger. A morphology of the metallic cap is to generate a shifted plasmonic-resonance peak associated with amplified luminescence from the analyte molecule. A coating encapsulating the metallic cap to respond upon exposure to a liquid, and a chemical-sensing chip including the metallic-nanofinger device are also provided. |
| US09274054B2 |
Method for performing a blood count and determining the morphology of a blood smear
A method for counting blood cells in a sample of whole blood. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a sample of whole blood; (b) depositing the sample of whole blood onto a slide, e.g., a microscope slide; (c) employing a spreader to create a blood smear; (d) allowing the blood smear to dry on the slide; (e) measuring absorption or reflectance of light attributable to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells in the blood smear on the slide; (f) recording a magnified two-dimensional digital image of the area of analysis identified by the measurement in step (e) as being of suitable thickness for analysis; and (g) collecting, analyzing, and storing data from the magnified two-dimensional digital image. Optionally, steps of fixing and staining of blood cells on the slide can be employed in the method. |
| US09274053B2 |
Flow through metallic nanohole arrays
The present invention presents a device and methods of use thereof in combined electrohydrodynamic concentration and plasmonic detection of a charged species of interest using a flow-through nanohole array. The device comprises microchannels, which are linked to a substrate with arrays of through nanoholes, wherein the substrate comprises two layers, wherein one of the layers is made of insulator material and one of the layers is made of metal, whereby induction of an electric field across the nanohole array results in the species of interest concentrating inside the nanoholes and in the vicinity of the nanohole arrays. The induction of an electric field is achieved by means of an external electric field source, which is applied to the fluid containing the species of interest, resulting in electroosmotic (EO) flow. An additional pressure driven fluid flow in the microchannels, co-directional to the EO flow is applied by external means. The resulting fluid flow from the combination of the EO and pressure driven flow results in a total bulk fluid flow hereafter referred to as bulk flow (BF). The local electric field strength across the insulator layer of the nanoholes is high and the charged species in the fluid may exhibit a high electrophoretic (EP) velocity, opposing the BF. The local field strength in the metallic portion of the nanoholes is null, due to the conducting nature of the metal, and the charged species in the fluid exhibits a null EP velocity in this region. The BF and the EP velocity of the charged species may be balanced which may result in the concentration of the charged species inside the nanoholes and at both sides of the nanohole array. An incident light over one side of the nanohole array may result in the formation of surface plasmons (SP) at the interface of the metal and the surrounding liquid containing the concentrated species. The signal from the SP may be detected by optical means, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging and SPR spectroscopy. |
| US09274051B2 |
Movement detection device capable of detecting three-dimensional motions
The present invention relates to a movement detection device for detecting a movement of an object in a space range. The movement detection device includes a light source, a light guiding element, at least two light sensing elements and a processing unit. The light sensing elements have an offset therebetween along a first direction such that the object, when moving in the space range, reflects the light from the light source sequentially to the light sensing elements through the light guiding element. The processing unit identifies the movement of the object along the first direction according to a sequence that the light sensing elements detect the light reflected by the object. |
| US09274050B2 |
Process interface of a process gas analyzer operating by the transmitted light method
A process interface of a process gas analyzer operating by a transmitted light method includes a purging tube, which extends between an optoelectronic element and an interior of a plant part carrying a process gas, wherein the purging tube is closed off, at its end opposite from the optoelectronic element by a window, in the vicinity of which a purging gas feed enters the purging tube, where an annular part is arranged in the interior of the purging tube opposite the entrance of the purging gas feed and is coaxial in relation to the purging tube, and the part has a convex outer side, the vertex line of which divides the entrance of the purging gas feed into a smaller region, open toward the window, and a larger region, open toward the interior of the plant part. |
| US09274049B2 |
Apparatus and methods for detecting propellant degradation in solid propellant fuel
The present disclosure relates to a gas sensor, including: a gas collecting chamber including: (a) a nanoporous wall including alumina, on a portion of the gas collecting chamber in the near vicinity of the solid propellant fuel; a micro pump attached to the gas collecting chamber; and a gas analysis device connected to the gas collecting chamber. The gas analysis device measures both type and concentration of gases collected in the gas collecting chamber via the nanoporous wall, the gases measured being selected from the group consisting of CO, CO2, NO, N2O, NO2 and combinations thereof. The present disclosure also relates to a method of sensing propellant degradation in solid fuel and a method of using a gas collecting chamber to sense such degradation. |
| US09274043B2 |
Sample identification sorting apparatus and sample identification sorting method
A sample identification sorting apparatus includes an identifying unit having an optical information-measuring section that measures optical information of a sample dispersed in a liquid, and a determining section that determines whether the sample is a target sample or a non-target sample, a sorting unit including a sorting nozzle having a flow path in communication with the flow path of the identifying unit, a liquid waste-collecting section that collects by suction a liquid waste discharged from a sorting nozzle tip, and a container to collect a sorting solution containing a target sample, a moving unit and a control unit that cause the sorting nozzle and/or the collecting container to move relatively based on the optical information. The liquid waste-collecting section has a suction nozzle that sucks a liquid waste containing a non-target sample discharged from the sorting nozzle tip or containing a non-target sample or a non-sortable sample. |
| US09274041B2 |
Particle counter and classification system
A particle counter and classification system including an imaging subsystem configured to determine the size and morphology of particles above a predetermined size in a fluid in a sample cell. A first stage magnetometer sensor subsystem is tuned to detect and determine the size of ferrous and/or conducting particles. An optional second stage magnetometer sensor subsystem is tuned to detect the overall ferrous particle content of the fluid. A processor subsystem is configured to calculate and report the number of particles in the fluid in a plurality of size ranges, their morphology, their classification as a particular particle type according to their characteristic morphology, the number of ferrous and/or conducting particles, and the overall ferrous content of the fluid. |
| US09274040B2 |
Process for characterization of micro and meso porous materials
A process for characterizing micro, meso, and/or macro porous materials is provided. The process includes providing a volumetric and/or gravimetric adsorption system, the adsorption system having an adsorption chamber and a probe gas at a first temperature. In addition, a porous material to be characterized is provided and placed within the adsorption chamber. Thereafter, a porosimetry run is conducted on the porous material. The porosimetry run includes: (a) selecting an uptake target value; (b) selecting a target interval bounding the target uptake target value; (c) adjusting pressure within the adsorption chamber in order for the porous sample to reach the target uptake value; (d) adjusting pressure within the adsorption chamber until the pressure within the adsorption chamber is within the target interval for a predetermined amount of time; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until the porosimetry run is complete. |
| US09274036B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing composite materials using an artificial neural network
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for characterizing composite materials, and in particular, to utilizing an artificial neural network for predicting an impact resistance of a composite material. A method for predicting an impact resistance of a composite material in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of designing an artificial neural network including a plurality of neurons, training the artificial neural network to predict the impact resistance by adjusting an output of the plurality of neurons according to sample data and known results of the sample data, inputting data of the composite material into the artificial neural network, and utilizing the artificial neural network to predict the impact resistance of the composite material. |
| US09274031B1 |
Gas analysis system providing simultaneous analysis and multi-point sample acquisition
A gas handling system capable of simultaneous sample analysis and multi-point sample acquisition is provided. An exemplary system has N gas inlets and N+1 sample storage loops (having a high aspect ratio), where N≧2. The high aspect ratio of the sample storage loop prevents significant sample diffusion along the length of the loop. Therefore each loop preserves a time axis for its contents. The sample loops can be disposed to simultaneously admit samples from different points in space. A gas switching manifold can be employed to connect the sample storage loops sequentially and one at a time to the gas analysis instrument for analysis. A common time axis for all samples can be reconstructed from the switching and flow conditions. Thus a simultaneous multi-point measurement using a single analysis instrument is provided. |
| US09274028B2 |
Sample holder with plunger and method for expelling sample
Method and apparatus for holding and/or transferring a sample material into a second holder. The sample holder may comprise a shoulder arranged on the outer surface to engage a second holder and to position a top opening of the sample holder for communication with the second holder. A sample may be expelled from a sample holder using a piston that moves from a lower portion to an upper portion of the sample holder. |
| US09274022B2 |
Diagnostic system for bulk well material handling plants
Diagnostic system for bulk well material handling plants that includes multiple fluid flow pathways to transport well materials. The bulk well material handling system includes multiple connections, each connected to a fluid flow pathway. The system also includes a control system connected to the multiple connections and adapted to automatically operate one or more connections of the multiple connections to a fluid flow pathway to analyze a pneumatic integrity of the fluid flow pathway in the bulk material handling system. |
| US09274021B2 |
Leakage inspection apparatus and leakage inspection method
Provided are a leakage inspection apparatus and a leakage inspection method for inspecting the flow rate of leakage from a tested body disposed in a tested-body chamber 21. The leakage inspection apparatus includes liquid supplying and pressurizing means 11 for supplying a probe liquid to the inside of the tested-body chamber 21 and pressurizing the probe liquid to a high pressure 0.1 MPa or more, vacuum evacuation means 22-b, 23-b and a quadrupole mass spectrometer 34. The tested body 21 is evacuated, the probe liquid is supplied to the inside of the tested body and pressurized to 0.1 MPa or more and the concentration of a probe medium leaked from the tested body and evaporated in a vacuum is measured by the quadrupole mass spectrometer 34, thereby measuring the flow rate of leakage from the tested body. This makes it possible to determine the flow rate of leakage using a liquid as a probe medium and simultaneously possible to perform a pressure tightness inspection at an atmospheric pressure of 0.1 MPa or more, especially at a high pressure ranging from 1 MPa to 1 GPa. |
| US09274020B2 |
System and a method for detecting liquid water
The present subject matter provides a system and a method for detecting liquid water. The method includes establishing signal communication between an RFID tag and an RFID reader, monitoring the signal communication between the RFID tag and the RFID reader and determining that liquid water is disposed between the RFID tag and the RFID reader or on the RFID tag if the signal communication between the RFID tag and the RFID reader is disrupted, interrupted or terminated. |
| US09274019B2 |
System and method for air containment zone air leakage detection
A system for measuring hot or cold aisle containment air leakage in a data center includes a plurality of equipment enclosures arranged in a first row and a second row, a plurality of panels cooperatively arranged with the plurality of equipment enclosures to form an air containment region, and a conduit mounted within the air containment region and sealed at each end, the conduit having an orifice and a plurality of openings distributed at substantially uniform intervals along a length of the conduit. |
| US09274016B2 |
Pressure sensor chip
A pressure sensor chip includes a sensor diaphragm, and first and second retaining members. The first and second retaining members face and are bonded to peripheral edge portions of a first face and another face of the sensor diaphragm, and have pressure guiding holes that guide measurement pressures to the sensor diaphragm. The first retaining member has, in an interior thereof, a non-bonded region that is continuous with a peripheral portion of the pressure guiding hole. The non-bonded region in the interior of the first retaining member is provided at a portion of a plane that is parallel to a pressure bearing surface of the sensor diaphragm. The second retaining member is provided with a recessed portion that prevents excessive dislocation of the sensor diaphragm when an excessively large pressure is applied to the sensor diaphragm. |
| US09274008B2 |
Nanothermometer, methods and uses therefor
A nanothermometer is disclosed. In various embodiments, a nanothermometer comprises a nanoparticle such as a gold nanoparticle, a fluorophore, and a linker, such as a peptide linker, extending between the nanoparticle and the fluorophore, whereby the fluorophore is self-quenched. The linker can comprise one or more cysteines. An unheated thermometer shows little or no fluorescence. Upon heating, fluorophore-linker conjugates are released from the nanoparticle, thereby unquenching the fluorescence. An increase in fluorescence results. In some embodiments, the increase in fluorescence can be irreversible. Methods of measuring temperature of a sample such as a biological sample, and methods of synthesizing a nanothermometer, are also disclosed. A molecular thermometer is also disclosed. |
| US09274007B2 |
Semiconductor device having temperature sensor circuits
A semiconductor device that may include at least one temperature sensing circuit is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various operating parameters to improve the operation of the semiconductor device over a wide temperature range. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worst case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at other operating temperatures. The temperature sensing circuit may provide a plurality of temperature ranges for setting the operational parameters. Each temperature range can include a temperature range upper limit value and a temperature range lower limit value and adjacent temperature ranges may overlap. The temperature ranges may be set in accordance with a count value that can incrementally change in response to the at least one temperature sensing circuit. |
| US09274005B2 |
Device and method for increasing infrared absorption in MEMS bolometers
A semiconductor sensor includes a substrate and an absorber. The substrate includes at least one reflective component. The absorber is spaced apart from the at least one reflective component by a distance. The absorber defines a plurality of openings each having a maximum width that is less than or equal to the distance. |
| US09273998B2 |
Analyser
A device (1) for analyzing the material composition of an object (2) has a casing (3) with a handle (4), an operating trigger (5), a window (6) for abutment against the object to be analyzed and a display (7) for displaying the analysis of the object. Mounted in the casing is a housing (11) having a base (12) to which it is pivotally connected about an axis (14) at one end (15). At the other end (16), a stepper motor (17) is provided for traversing the end across the base. This end has an opening (18) generally in alignment with an opening (19) in the housing in which the window is mounted. Within the housing, are mounted: a laser diode (21); a laser amplification crystal (22); a collimating lens (23); a laser focusing lens (24). The components are arranged on a laser projection axis (25), which passes out through the openings (18,19). A plane mirror (32) can receive light emitted by a plasma P excited at the surface of the object (2). Light from the plasma P is reflected in the direction (34) across the projection axis to a curved focusing mirror (35). From this mirror, the light is reflected again across the projection axis and focused on the end of an optical (fiber (37) set in an aperture (38) in the side wall (39) of the housing opposite from the reflecting mirror. |
| US09273990B1 |
Aircraft repair fixture
A repair fixture for an aircraft portion comprises a frame for supporting the aircraft portion, and rigid variable-length rods having first ends secured to the frame and second ends configured to be firmly secured to the aircraft portion and locked in length. |
| US09273987B2 |
Continuous piston flow meter
According to the present invention a flow meter is provided for measuring a fluid, comprising a measuring tube with a measuring piston movably arranged in said measuring tube, and elements for changing the direction of movement of the measuring piston in said measuring tube, wherein said measuring piston, when measuring, is designed to be moved in said measuring tube under the influence of said fluid. Sensor elements detect movement of the piston and the direction of movement in said measuring tube, and sensor elements detect when the piston is situated in at least one of its reversing areas before the measuring piston has reached the extreme point of the reversing area, so as to afford a substantially continuous flow detection for said fluid. |
| US09273979B2 |
Adjustable destination icon in a map navigation tool
A map navigation tool presents directions using a map navigation user interface that simplifies navigation in various ways. In particular, the map navigation tool uses a destination icon that directs the user towards an end location of a route when the user is close to the end location. For example, the map navigation tool obtains multiple list items of a list of directions. Based at least in part on current location, the tool determines that a destination icon is to be displayed. For example, the tool checks whether the current location is within a threshold distance from or past the end location. The tool then renders the destination icon, which indicates direction towards the end location. The tool can further adjust the destination icon depending on current location, for example, rotating the destination icon or switching between multiple destination icons representing left, right, ahead and behind directions. |
| US09273976B2 |
Defining travel paths in parking areas
Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for defining travel paths in parking areas. In one embodiment, travel paths in parking areas are defined by automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually. |
| US09273975B1 |
Concepts for determining the accuracy of map data
Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for determining the accuracy of map data. In one embodiment, map data and collected telematics data can be compared. The difference between the map data and the telematics data can be used to determine the accuracy of the map data. |
| US09273969B2 |
System and method for providing enhanced flight-plan management
A system and method for positioning a new waypoint in a flight plan displayed on an avionics display in the form of an interactive graphical image comprises generating symbology on the display graphically representative of the new waypoint on the flight plan, and dragging the new waypoint on the display to alter its position. |
| US09273968B2 |
Track information generating device, track information generating method, and computer-readable storage medium
Track information generating devices, methods, and programs acquire a self-contained navigation track of a vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of self-contained navigation information, and acquire a GPS track that is a track of the vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of GPS information. The devices, methods, and compare the self-contained navigation track with the GPS track to acquire a first correction amount for obtaining the highest degree of coincidence between the self-contained navigation track and the GPS track and then correct the self-contained navigation information using a second correction amount that is smaller than the first correction amount. |
| US09273967B2 |
Bias estimating method, posture estimating method, bias estimating device, and posture estimating device
A bias estimating method includes: calculating a virtual posture angle which is a posture angle with a bias which is assumed to be zero by the use of detection values of a plurality of axes in a calibration posture where one axis of a multi-axis acceleration sensor is parallel to the vertical direction; and estimating a bias value contained in the detection value of the axis using the detection value of the axis and the virtual posture angle. |
| US09273964B2 |
System and display element for displaying waypoint markers with integrated altitude constraint information
A flight deck display system for an aircraft includes a processor architecture configured to receive aircraft instrument data, waypoint restriction information, and position data for the aircraft and, based upon the received data, generate image rendering display commands. The system also includes a display element configured to receive the image rendering display commands and, in response thereto, to render a display that includes a perspective view of terrain and at least one waypoint marker corresponding to an approaching waypoint. The waypoint marker includes visually distinguishable characteristics that convey waypoint restriction information (e.g., altitude or airspeed constraint information that governs the waypoint). |
| US09273961B2 |
Dynamically balanced flywheel
In embodiments of the invention, a vehicle stabilization control unit may determine a control moment value for one or more gyroscopes coupled to a vehicle frame to exert for stabilization of the vehicle frame. A number of input axes for the flywheels of the one or more gyroscopes to precess may be increased in order to generate the determined control moment value. In some embodiments, the one or more gyroscopes are further coupled to a turntable, and increasing the number of input axes for the flywheels comprises rotating the turntable. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the one or more gyroscopes comprise at least two gyroscopes coupled inline to the vehicle frame (e.g., aligned lengthwise with respect to the front and rear wheel to spin and precess in opposite directions with respect to each other). |
| US09273958B2 |
Rotation laser
A rotation laser, in particular for surveying tasks, includes a remote control unit. The rotation laser has at least one operating mode necessary for measurement operation that is configured to be controlled exclusively by the remote control unit. |
| US09273953B2 |
Apparatus for inspecting warpage of sheet-like member and method for inspecting warpage of sheet-like member
An apparatus for inspecting warpage of a sheet-like member includes a conveyance device for conveying a glass substrate in a substantially horizontal attitude and a non-contact displacement meter for measuring a distance to a surface of the glass substrate. The apparatus is configured to preset an upper limit waveform and a lower limit waveform based on an ideal waveform of surface shape displacement of the glass substrate in a conveyance direction, which is determined based on a characteristic of the conveyance device; and determine whether or not an actual waveform of the surface shape displacement of the glass substrate in the conveyance direction during conveyance, which is obtained based on the distance measured by the non-contact displacement meter, falls within a range between the upper limit waveform and the lower limit waveform. |
| US09273951B2 |
Optical method and apparatus for determining a characteristic such as volume and density of an excavated void in a construction material
One or more methods and apparatuses for determining a characteristic, such as volume, of an excavated void of a construction material are provided. The one or more methods may include excavating a void defined in a construction material, interacting with the void using a material interacting device for determining at least one measurement thereof, manipulating the at least one measurement to determine a characteristic of the void such as the volume thereof, obtaining at least one measurement of the material, and determining a characteristic of the void based on the measurements obtained. The apparatus may include at least one material interacting device configured to interact with a surface of a construction material and a surface of a void defined therein for determining at least one respective measurement thereof and manipulate a plurality of the at least one measurement so as determine a characteristic of the void. |
| US09273949B2 |
Backscattering interferometric methods
Disclosed are improved optical detection methods comprising multiplexed interferometric detection systems and methods for determining a characteristic property of a sample, together with various applications of the disclosed techniques. |
| US09273948B2 |
Optical fiber sensor
An input of an optical interferometer is a periodical optical pulse. A phase of a first half and a latter half of a reference pulse is a 90 degree (independently orthogonal) phase difference. Two interferometric outputs i1 and i2, where the phase difference is 90 degrees from each other, are obtained by interference of the reference pulse and the signal pulse. θ is calculated by referring the amplitude of reference pulse and the signal pulse to remove the light intensity fluctuations. Two values of cos θ1 and cos θ2 are calculated and positions are determined on the cosine curve by obtaining θ1 and θ2 values. Δθ1 and Δθ2, which are the phase increment or decrement of both θ1 and θ2 in a T period, are summed and becomes the sensor output signal that removes the measurement range limitation of ±90 degrees (a half wavelength of light) of the light phase. |
| US09273944B2 |
Segmented missile approach
This invention is a segmented missile that uses multiple circular linear shaped charge warheads deployed in tandem. Each warhead is capable of full-caliber holes and 5 to 15 charge diameters of penetration for each warhead, depending on the target material. The full-caliber hole capability allows for the warheads to travel down the hole made by the previous warhead. Each warhead is sequenced in its time of arrival at the bottom of the hole, allowing for a cumulative effect. |
| US09273940B2 |
Gun firing method for the simultaneous dispersion of projectiles in square pattern
A gun firing method whereby four projectile segments that are contained in a cartridge case are fired simultaneously which creates a predetermined square pattern on a target to increase the hit probability of the dispersion. Two sets of projectile segments that are contained in the cartridge case, are fired by a gun, spin around the central longitudinal axis of each projectile segment, and provide a powerful square salvo of projectile segments. The dispersion produces a substantial increase in the hit probability when compared to a single shot. |
| US09273937B2 |
Radar reflector operating device for indicating emergency position
A radar reflector operating device for indicating an emergency position, capable of permitting a victim to indicate his location by means of a radar reflector even when he is dropped into seawater without a life jacket, easily actuating the radar reflector by pulling or pressing a switch even when low seawater temperature dulls a victim's consciousness and senses of fingers, arms, etc., maintaining an operation of the radar reflector due to safety means even without sustenance of power by a victim that applies power in a predetermined level to operate the radar reflector, allowing an appropriate reflection section and distant recognition by preventing the radar reflector with hydrodynamic wings from being lowered due to wind, etc., and securing a victim, who cannot swim, against dangerous environments by rendering him to use the radar reflector as a life buoy, holding the wings by hands to float on the sea. |
| US09273934B2 |
Bullet-proof glass pane and associated bullet-resistant apparatus
The present invention relates to a bullet-proof glass pane, in particular for use in a motor vehicle, comprising a ballistic block comprising a plurality of panes of glass, ceramic or plastic material bonded to each other over their surfaces in a layered composite, and interposed bonding interlayers of plastic material, wherein at least one bullet-resistant strip is provided, having, in particular, an essentially rectangular cross-section and covering the ballistic block of the bullet-proof glass pane at its peripheral edge. |
| US09273931B2 |
Amorphous alloys armor
Amorphous alloy armor made of at least one thin layer of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and methods of forming such armor are provided. Forming the armor in accordance with the current invention provides ruggedness, a lightweight structure, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost manufacturing. |
| US09273930B2 |
Single mount for attaching accessories to a Picatinny type rail of a hand gun
A single mount for mounting a group of accessories on a hand gun, comprising: a four sided bracket for slideably engaging the mount with a Picatinny rail of the hand gun and attaching accessories above, below and to the sides of the hand gun. The mount has a pair of V-grooves in a bottom portion for slideably engaging a pair of V-slides of the hand gun and at least one outward extending Picatinny type rail portions for attaching an accessory to the hand gun. An upper portion of the bracket is spaced upwardly away from a barrel of the hand gun by a distance which allows a shooter to view an existing iron sight at the front of the hand gun. The short Picatinny type rail portion has a cross groove which cooperates with a cross-bolt to lock an accessory on the mount. |
| US09273927B2 |
Collapsible pistol
A folding pistol is balanced so that it is held making three points of contact with the user's hand, resulting in more stability when discharged. When held by a user, the invention puts the gun bore axis in close alignment to the center axis of the user's forearm; reducing barrel jump and improving accuracy. A folding rear activation arm when in the closed position mechanically blocks the hammers preventing unintentional discharge. |
| US09273925B1 |
Sensing device of true-simulating bullet magazine
A sensing device of a true-simulating bullet magazine is disclosed. When a bullet driving element forward advance bullets, position of a movable guide bar is controlled so that when the bullets are used up or a bullet magazine get loosened, an activation element arranged at one end of the movable guide bar is triggered to cut off power supply required for a firing operation of a toy gun. As such, without modifying the toy gun and the outside appearance of a true-simulating bullet magazine, a simple structure is provided to prevent firing of the toy gun under a condition of no bullet loaded so as to reduce the potential risk of damaging internal mechanisms of the toy gun and to achieve an effect of simulation of a real gun. |
| US09273917B1 |
Magazine loader
A magazine loader includes a loader housing having a housing interior; an ammo slot in the loader housing, the ammo slot communicating with the housing interior; a clip slot in the loader housing opposite the ammo slot, the clip slot communicating with the housing interior; and an ammo loading plunger carried by the loader housing and extending into the housing interior, the ammo loading plunger positional between an extended ammo preloading position and a retracted ammo loading position in the housing interior. |
| US09273916B1 |
Firearm impingement system having adjustable gas block
A firearm impingement apparatus that is operable to divert a portion of the gas flowing into the gas block of the impingement apparatus so as to reduce the temperature and contamination thereof. The impingement apparatus includes a gas block integrally formed with a barrel-mating sleeve. The gas block includes a gas block port line that is in axial alignment with a gas vent tube located on a barrel of a firearm. The gas block further includes at least one exhaust port fluidly coupled with the gas block port line. Movably secured within the at least one exhaust port is an adjustment screw. The adjustment screw is movable intermediate a first position and a second position so as to facilitate diversion of gas from the gas block at varying volumes. |
| US09273914B2 |
Electronic component mounting package and electronic apparatus using the same
An electronic component mounting package includes a first base including an upper surface and a first through-hole vertically formed; a second base having a second through-hole arranged to be overlapped with the first through-hole in a plan view; a sealing material filling the second through-hole; and a signal terminal that is fixed to the second base to pass through the sealing material and has an upper end portion that protrudes upwardly from the upper surface of the first base. The first base includes a plurality of first metal members and a second metal member, and the second metal member is vertically interposed between the plurality of first metal members. A thermal expansion coefficient of the first metal members is larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the second base. A thermal conductivity of the second metal member is higher than a thermal conductivity of the first metal members. |
| US09273911B2 |
Plate, heat exchanger and method of manufacturing a heat exchanger
Plate (1) intended to form a partition between two fluids circulating inside a welded heat exchanger, the plate (1) having a plurality of undulations (2) characterized in that all or part of the undulations (2) has, on at least one upper crest line (3), at least one preferred contact area (4) that has a height above a nominal height of the undulations (2) of the plate (1), the at least one preferred contact area (4) being intended to come into contact with a lower crest line of an undulation of another plate provided above the plate (1) and to be deformed when the exchanger is manufactured. |
| US09273910B2 |
Fluid circuit heat transfer device for plural heat sources
A heat sink or heat transfer device particularly for integrated circuits, uses a phase change working fluid in a cyclic flow path having at least one evaporator that serves multiple heat sources. The evaporator can be an integral vessel made of thermally conductive material to which the multiple heat sources are coupled, preferably at evaporation points that are placed on opposite sides of a fluid reservoir for the liquid phase of the working fluid that feeds the evaporation points via capillary flow through a wicking material. |
| US09273909B2 |
Heat pipe structure, and thermal module and electronic device using same
An electronic device has a heat source and a thermal module. The thermal module includes a plurality of radiating fins respectively provided with a through hole, and a heat pipe structure having a pipe body. The pipe body has a vaporizing section in contact with the heat source and a condensing section extended through the radiating fins via the through holes thereon. The vaporizing section has a first pipe thickness and is internally provided with a first wick structure to define a first flow channel. The condensing section has a second pipe thickness smaller than the first pipe thickness, and is internally provided along part of its length with at least one second wick structure to define at least one second flow channel communicating with the first flow channel. |
| US09273908B2 |
Method and device for self-acting heat transfer in a direction reverse to natural convection
According to the present invention, the method of heat transfer in a direction, which is reverse to natural convection, includes introduction of an additional pumping substance into the heated area. The pumping substance is incapable to be dissolved in the heat-transfer agent and its boiling temperature is lower than the boiling temperature of the heat-transfer agent. The heat-transfer agent is heated up, the pumping substance evaporates and the vapor pressure of the pumping substance is used to force the hot heat-transfer agent to flow along the branches of the circulating loop. The device for heat transfer in a direction reverse to the natural convection characterized in that its design incorporates technical means intended for vapor condensation of the pumping substance as well as technical means intended for draining that condensate from the condensation area to the evaporation area. |
| US09273906B2 |
Modular pumping unit(s) facilitating cooling of electronic system(s)
Field-replaceable, modular pumping units are provided, configured to facilitate pumping coolant through a cooling apparatus assisting in removal of heat generated by one or more electronic systems. The cooling apparatus includes one or more heat exchange assemblies, and the modular pumping units are coupled in parallel fluid communication to the cooling apparatus. The modular pumping unit includes a housing, a coolant inlet to the housing, a coolant reservoir tank disposed within the housing, a coolant pump, and a coolant outlet of the housing. The coolant reservoir tank and coolant pump are disposed within the housing in fluid communication, and the coolant pump pumps coolant from the coolant reservoir tank to the coolant outlet of the housing. A modular pumping unit controller is associated with the modular pumping unit, and automatically adjusts operation of the coolant pump based upon one or more sensed parameters. |
| US09273904B2 |
Method and device for reprocessing wet waste materials containing organic components
In a method for reprocessing wet waste materials containing organic components, in particular sludges in a cement clinker production plant, in which raw meal is preheated in a preheater (3) in countercurrent flow to the hot exhaust gases of a clinker furnace (2), and calcined in a calciner (4) fired with alternative fuels, the wet waste materials are dried in a drying unit (18) using a hot gas produced from the preheater waste heat and the dried waste materials and the drier exhaust gases are discharged from the drying unit (18), wherein the drier exhaust gases are introduced into the calciner (4). |
| US09273903B2 |
Laundry dryer
A laundry dryer has a casing (1) accommodating therein a drying air circuit and operational devices for carrying out a drying treatment on laundry. The dryer further includes a basement (8, 108) having a condensate draining path (21, 121) for conveying moisture condensed from drying air towards a reservoir (24, 124). At least one condensate retaining region (29A, 29B; 129A, 129B) is provided in the condensate draining path (21, 121) and/or on reservoir (24, 124) thereby forming a liquid trap for preventing drying air dispersing along path (21, 121) from entering reservoir (24, 124). |
| US09273897B2 |
Refrigerator and control method for aging of meat
In a control method of a refrigerator having a storage chamber for aging of meat, an operation to keep the storage chamber at an aging temperature and an operation to cool the storage chamber to a cooling temperature lower than the aging temperature are repeated. This enables optimal aging of meat via an aging time and aging temperature suitable for meat. |
| US09273892B2 |
Ice maker for a refrigerator
Disclosed is an icemaker for a refrigerator, comprising: a tray for containing water to make the water into ice pieces having a predetermined shape; a water supply unit installed at one side of the tray, for supplying water to the tray; a drive unit installed to face the water supply unit with the tray being interposed therebetween; an ice separating lever rotatably assembled between the drive unit and the water supply unit to be rotated by a motor installed in the drive unit; and an ice separating heater for applying heat to the tray so that ice pieces are separated from the tray. The drive unit includes a drive unit housing, a driving motor having a driving gear, a slave gear having a rotary cam and a first magnet and coupled to a rotary shaft of the ice separating lever, a cantilever having a second magnet and rotated by the rotary cam, and first and second Hall elements corresponding to the first and second magnets, respectively. |
| US09273890B2 |
Vertical ice maker producing clear ice pieces
An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing. |
| US09273885B2 |
Roof integrated photovoltaic system
A roof integrated photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic panels each having a right end, a left end, a front edge, and a back edge. A right end coupler is secured to the right ends of at least some of the photovoltaic panels and a left end coupler is secured to the left ends of at least some of the photovoltaic panels. The right end couplers and the left end couplers are configured to interlock and form a seal when two of the plurality of panels are moved into end-to-end engagement with each other. At least one front edge coupler is affixed to at least some of the plurality of photovoltaic panels at the front edges thereof and at least one back edge coupler is affixed to at least some of the plurality of photovoltaic panels at the back edges thereof. The front edge couplers and the back edge couplers configured to interlock when two of the plurality of panels are moved into edge-to-edge engagement and a seal is positioned to prevent water from penetrating at the junction of a front edge of one panel and the back edge of an adjoined panel. Panels are installed on a roof in end-to-end and front edge to back edge relationship to form a photovoltaic array and are electrically interconnected to produce electricity when exposed to sunlight. Flashing and gap filling faux panels are provided as part of the system. |
| US09273883B2 |
Concentrated solar power system
Systems and methods for concentrating and storing solar energy are provided. A solar energy receiver for use with the systems and methods may include a container for holding a solar absorption material, such as a phase change material, and a cooled cover disposed above the container for condensing and collecting vaporized phase change material collected along an underside of the cover. |
| US09273879B2 |
Occupancy-based wireless control of multiple environmental zones via a central controller
An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones. |
| US09273876B2 |
Membrane contactor for dehumidification systems
A contactor configured for use in a dehumidification system is provided including a plurality of contact modules. Each contact module has a porous membrane that defines an internal space through which a hygroscopic material flows. A membrane property of the porous membrane of at least one contact module is substantially different than the other membranes of the plurality of contact modules. |
| US09273857B2 |
Electrical component including tool and battery charger ports
An electrical assembly selectively receives power from an external power supply. The electrical assembly includes a base that at least partially defines a tool port and a battery port and an electrical tool selectively coupled to the tool port. A rechargeable battery pack is selectively coupled to the battery port and a circuit is supported by the base and is operable to direct power to the tool port and the battery port such that the external power provides power to the electrical tool to operate the electrical tool and to recharge the rechargeable battery pack. |
| US09273856B2 |
Opto-mechanically adjustable and expandable light boards
A mounting platform for a light board is described herein. The mounting platform can include a fixture coupling portion having at least one fixture receiving feature, where the at least one fixture receiving feature is configured to couple to a light fixture. The housing can also include a light board coupling portion having at least one light board coupling feature, where the at least one light board coupling feature is configured to couple to at least one light board. The housing can further include an intermediate portion coupled to and positioned between the fixture coupling feature and the light board coupling feature, where the intermediate portion forms a first angle with the fixture coupling feature and a second angle with the light board coupling feature. |
| US09273850B2 |
Optical element for obtaining a daylight appearance, a lighting system and a luminaire
An optical element for use in front of a light source for obtaining a skylight appearance, a lighting system and a luminaire are provided. The optical element comprises a light transmitting cell which comprises a light transmitting channel, a light input window, a light exit window and a wall. The light transmitting channel collimates a part of light emitted by the light source. The light exit window emits light with the skylight appearance. At least a part of the light exit window is arranged at a second side of the light transmitting channel opposite to the first side. The wall is interposed between the light input window and the part of the light exit window. The wall encloses the light transmitting channel. At least a part of the wall is reflective and/or transmissive in a predefined spectral range to obtain a blue light emission at relatively large light emission angles with respect to a normal to the part of the light exit window. |
| US09273847B2 |
Illumination device and method for producing an illumination device
An illumination device comprising at least one reflector and at least one light generating unit, wherein the at least one reflector is designed and arranged to reflect at least a portion of a light emitted by the at least one light generating unit into a spatial region that cannot be directly irradiated thereby, and the at least one light generating unit comprises at least one illuminating region having a substantially uniform emission characteristic in a circumferential direction of the illumination device. |
| US09273845B2 |
Lighting device
The present invention relates to an lighting device capable of reducing UGR (Unified Glare Rating) characterized by comprising the frame portion formed at the peripheral area in which the printed circuit board mounted with a light source and the light source are arranged, and the inserting portion into which the diffusing plate and the optical plate are inserted at the inside of the frame portion simultaneously. Particularly, an air gap can be formed on the closed adhered surface of the optical plate and the diffusing plate. |
| US09273843B2 |
LED front lighting arrangement
A lighting arrangement for use in automotive front lighting and a method of producing such an arrangement are described. At least one LED lighting element 40 is provided for emitting light. A collimator 10 is provided for forming an emission pattern of the emitted light, which is subsequently projected by a secondary optic arrangement 42. The collimator 10 comprises a cutoff reflector surface 18 with a front edge 30 and a back edge 32. The back edge 32 is located adjacent to the LED lighting element 40. The front edge is spaced from the back edge 32 in a depth direction X, A. The front edge 30 is arranged as a shielding edge for forming a light/dark cutoff in the emission pattern. First and second lateral reflector surfaces 26a, 26b are arranged opposite to each other adjacent to the LED lighting element 40. The front edge 30 of the cutoff reflector surface 18 is arranged within a focal area of the secondary optic arrangement 42. For providing a beam pattern well suited for automotive front lighting, the first and second lateral reflector surfaces 26a, 26b extend further into the depth direction A, X than the cutoff reflector surface 18. |
| US09273842B2 |
Water lamp
The water lamp contains a main member, a base, an upper seat, and an agitation element. The base and the upper seat are joined to a top end and a bottom end of the main member, respectively. The agitation element is housed in the main member. Inside the base, there is an illumination element and a magnetic axle controlled by a control circuit. The agitation element is attracted by the magnetism of the axle and spins along with the axle so as to agitate the fluid inside the main member. The upper seat has an accommodation space for supporting a candle. The agitation element is spun by and along with the axle. The fluid inside the main member is stirred and, through the illumination by the illumination element, interesting and dynamic visual effects are produced. |
| US09273839B2 |
Vibration-absorbing type of street-lighting pole using silicone and mass
A street-lighting pole incorporates a vibration-reducing means on the upper end part of a pole provided standing vertically, wherein: the upper end part of the pole is formed so as to have a silicone receiving part of which the upper part is open in such a way that silicone oil can be stored to a predetermined level on the inside thereof; a removable cap is constituted so as to couple in removable fashion to an upper intake part of the silicone receiving part; a resilient supporting body of a predetermined length is constituted in the center of the removable cap; and a mass of a predetermined weight is constituted at the lower end part of the resilient supporting body. |
| US09273834B2 |
Method for mounting light radiation sources and light source therefor
A method of placing on a mounting substrate light radiation sources arranged in successive sequences wherein each sequence includes light radiation sources from different bins having respective light emission characteristics and wherein the sequential order of recurrence of the light radiation sources of the various bins is repeated over the sequences, may include placing the light radiation sources on the mounting substrate in at least two juxtaposed rows, wherein each row includes light radiation sources arranged in a zigzag pattern to produce an chessboard-like array of light radiation sources. |
| US09273829B2 |
Sorption store for storing gaseous substances
Describes is a sorption store for storing gaseous substances. The sorption store for storing gaseous substances comprises a closed tank and a feeding device, which comprises a passage through the tank wall, through which a gas can flow into the tank. The tank has inside it at least one separating element, which is configured in such a way that the interior of the tank is divided into at least one pair of channels comprising two parallel running channel-shaped compartments, the ends of which are in connection with one another in each case by way of a common space, each channel-shaped compartment being filled at least partially with an adsorption medium. The feeding device is designed in such a way that inflowing gas is diverted almost exclusively into one of the two compartments of each pair of channels. |
| US09273826B2 |
Single point lubricator
The present invention relates to a lubrication device for gas pressure-driven lubrication of a lubrication point. The device comprises a lubricant container provided at a first end with an outlet opening and is covered at a second end by a combination of a collar and an insert received within the collar and wherein the collar and the insert are relatively rotatable. The device further comprises gas generation means housed within one of the collar or the insert. The insert is provided with a groove having a contact surface forming a mechanical interlock with one or more catches of the collar, and the device comprises a release position of the insert relative to the collar, in which a force required to disengage the mechanical interlock is lower than at non-release positions, so that the insert can be removed to gain access to the gas generation means for separate disposal thereof. |
| US09273823B2 |
Latchable clamp hanger
A latchable, clamping hanger for hanging an exercise mat from an external support. The hanger has a clip with a jaw which can be opened by a user pressing with one hand on the clip. When the clip reaches its ‘open’ position it latches in place, freeing the user to use both hands to lift the mat and insert its upper edge between the clip and the base of the hanger. Once the mat is in place the clip latch is released, and the hanger will hold the mat in an unrolled position so that it can dry flat. |
| US09273822B2 |
Support apparatus
A height adjustable support apparatus suitable for notebook computer drop test is provided. The support apparatus includes a frame unit and a plank unit. The frame unit has a plurality of mortises vertically incrementally arranged at a lateral adjoining edge of a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface thereof. The plank unit includes a support portion and a tenon extending from the support portion configured to be insertable into one of the mortises through the first lateral surface. The support portion is configured to protrude from the second lateral surface upon insertion. The support portion incorporates a biased height arrangement that provides higher degree of height adjustment variation through different insertion orientations, and allows two plank units to be arranged in a vertically adjacent configuration to structurally abut against each other, thereby enhancing structural integrity of the support portion and increasing the load carrying capacity. |
| US09273818B2 |
Vehicle jack stand
A jack stand for a vehicle includes a plurality of walls joined together to form a body, the body being hollow. A base is formed by lower edges of the walls and a top surface joins top edges of the walls. One of the walls includes a wall opening and the top includes a top opening, the wall opening and the top opening extending towards one another, meeting proximate the top edge of one of the walls, thereby forming a single, continuous opening extending from the top into one of the walls. |
| US09273817B2 |
Stand
The present invention is directed to a stand 10 to be mounted to an article for example, the foldable-leg table. The stand 10 comprising a base portion 15, and a body portion 20 connected thereto, wherein the base portion 15 comprises a shaft having each end coaxially bent downward defining a leg 30, 30″ forming a semi-rectangle like frame. The body portion 20 perpendicularly connected to the base portion 15 in an off- center manner toward one of the two legs of the base portion. The body portion 20 comprising an outer body 40 telescopically encasing an inner body 45. The inner body 45 being longer and smaller in diameter than the outer body 40 and includes two spaced- apart stopper holes, a first stopper hole 50 and a second stopper hole 55 along its length and having an end connected to the base portion 15. The inner body 45 is able to slide in and out along the length of the outer body 40. The outer body 40 comprising spaced-apart multiple pairs of brackets assembled thereto permitting mounting of the outer body 40 to the underside or backside of the article to be fitted with the stand 10. The stand is able to extend or retracted as needed. |
| US09273816B2 |
Compressible device for freeze mitigation
A system includes an enclosure and a compressible device. The enclosure forms a confined space where water can accumulate in ambient conditions that fluctuate between freezing and non-freezing water temperatures. The enclosure can contain a protected item within at least a portion of the confined space. The compressible device is within at least the portion of the confined space and compresses under pressure from an uncompressed state to a compressed state that increases the available volume for water within the confined space. The compressible device compresses from the uncompressed state to the compressed state under a first pressure force created by the expansion of frozen water within the enclosure. The first pressure force is less than a second pressure force capable of damaging the enclosure or the protected item. |
| US09273813B2 |
In-line water hammer arrester
An in-line water hammer arrester comprises a housing connectable at each end to a piping system, a fluid channel disposed within the housing to permit fluid to flow from the piping system through the housing and back into the piping system, a piston and a pressurized chamber. When a pressure spike occurs, the piston is pushed against the pressurized chamber allowing an expanded area for water flow until the pressure spike is dissipated and the piston returns to its resting position. When used with flexible hoses and tubing typically found with household appliance water supply lines, the in-line arrester is easily installed by a crimping or clamping type connector and takes up little space. |
| US09273812B2 |
Hydraulic line connector
A female member for retrofit to a hydraulic line connector includes a body portion having a body passage that is connected to a hydraulic component. A cylindrical wall portion extends from the body portion and defines a bore that is selectively in fluid communication with the body passage. An opposing pair of slits are formed through the cylindrical wall. A spring clip has a rectangular cross section and includes a first leg featuring a first arcuate portion, a second leg featuring a second arcuate portion and a closed end portion positioned between and attached to the first and second legs. The first and second legs are removably received by the opposing pair of slits of the cylindrical wall. The bore of the cylindrical wall receives a male member having a circumferential or annular shoulder that is engaged by the first and second arcuate portions of the first and second legs when the male member is positioned within the bore. |
| US09273805B2 |
Transfer line exchanger
The present invention provides a transfer line exchanger which is optimized for one or more objective functions of interest such as pressure drop, erosion rate, fouling, coke deposition and operating costs. The transfer line exchanger is designed by computer modeling a transfer line exchanger in which the cross section of flow path is substantially circular and modeling the operation of the transfer line under industrial conditions to validate the model design and its operation. Then iteratively the model design is deformed and the operation of the deformed part is modeled and compared to values obtained with other deformed models until the value of the objective function is optimized (e.g. at an extreme) or the change in the objective function is approaching zero. |
| US09273804B2 |
Vibration-proof clamp
A vibration-proof clamp includes a clamp body made of hard resin having a holding part and a stud engaging part, and a rubber member that covers the holding part. The holding part has a curved wall for holding an elongated element from below and at least one elastic holding member that extends slanting downward towards a holding space. The rubber member has a rubber curved part that covers the curved wall of the clamp body, and a rubber holding member that covers the elastic holding member. When the elongated element is attached, the elastic holding member can bend inside a holding member space. The rubber member has a rubber curved extension part that curves upward along the outside of the elongated element, and connects with the rubber curved part. This arrangement prevents the elongated element from being in direct contact with the clamp body. |
| US09273802B2 |
Fixture and installation method for a pitched pipe system
An apparatus, system and method of installation of a pipe in fixed association with at least one stanchion, said stanchion having a universal pipe mount for fixing the distance from a pipe inserted into the pipe holder to a mounting surface, and when two or more stanchions and associated pipe holders are used to insert a pipe, the distance between the pipe holders and the mounting surface create a pitch of the pipe in the direction of the sink and away from the source of a liquid insures the proper rate of gravitational flow of the liquid therein. |
| US09273799B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling gas flow from cylinders
A device that can be attached to the outlet of a gas cylinder, which can monitor the amount of gas in the cylinder. |
| US09273793B2 |
Magnetic valve and fluid supply system using the same
A magnetic valve and a fluid supply system using the same are provided. The fluid supply system includes a flow channel and the magnetic valve. The magnetic valve penetrates through a pipe wall of the flow channel, and includes a driving unit, a first magnet and a second magnet, a cover plate, a first and second spools. A first leaning portion of the first spool is disposed at one end of a first sheath portion. The first sheath portion has a first outlet opening. The second magnet is disposed on a surface of the first leaning portion facing to the cover plate. The second spool sleeves the first spool and has a second outlet opening. The first spool rotates relative to the second spool through a magnetic force to control an overlapping area of the first and second outlet openings, so as to control a flow rate. |
| US09273790B2 |
Electric driving apparatus
A valve control apparatus is provided with a valve, a shaft supporting the valve, an end-gear of an actuator driving the valve. The shaft is press-inserted into the end-gear. A stopper disposed on the shaft regulates a valve operation range. The end-gear can engage with the middle gear of the reduction-gears mechanism even in out of the gear-operation-angle range. When a rotation angle sensor detects a rotation angle of the end-gear in out of the gear-operation-angle range, it is determined that a malfunction occurs in a rotation-force-transmitting path. |
| US09273789B2 |
Triple offset butterfly pressure relief valve
A pressure relief valve in a triple offset butterfly valve configuration. It has a body, pallet, pallet assembly and closure mechanism with a lever arm providing mechanical advantage upon a cam which aids in the closing of the valve. The valve relies upon a shear pin which can be machined to alter the opening pressure of the valve. The pallet is secured to the pallet assembly by a plurality of adjustment fasteners and retainer fasteners which can be adjusted to provide an effective seal on the valve. A valve seal has one or more layers of graphite and metal. A pallet seal is captured in a groove in the pallet which restricts radial movement of the pallet seal. The valve seal is captured between a retainer and the pallet seal. |
| US09273788B2 |
Pressure relief valve
A pressure relief valve for cryogenic service includes: a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a nozzle disposed within the fluid inlet, said nozzle having a nozzle groove radially formed on an exterior cylindrical surface of the nozzle and an outwardly disposed ledge having a lower ledge surface comprising a portion of an exterior surface of the nozzle groove and an upper ledge surface comprising a seat; a substantially cylindrical closure disc with a lower portion including a groove formed on an exterior radial surface of the cylindrical body, an outwardly disposed lip having an upper surface comprising a portion of an interior surface of the groove, said lip of the closure disc having a lower closure surface. The lip of the closure disc being adapted to deflect downward and inward in response to a cryogenic thermal gradient applied across the lip. |
| US09273787B2 |
Control valve
A control valve for controlling liquid flow in a heating and/or cooling installation under command from an actuator within a range defined by a manually preset maximum. The control valve includes differential pressure regulating facilities and flow area regulating facilities. The control valve is provided with means for manually presetting a maximum flow through area and with means for automatically adjusting the flow area through area within the preset maximum. |
| US09273784B2 |
Valve for metering fluid
A valve for metering fluid includes: a piezoelectric actuator for metering control; two electrical connection elements for applying an electrical control voltage; and a discharge resistor integrated into the actuator, which resistor bridges the two connection elements. |
| US09273773B2 |
One-piece inertia ring and method of manufacturing the one-piece inertia ring
A harmonic damper for use in vehicular accessory drive systems. The harmonic damper includes a one-piece inertia ring manufactured from a sheet metal blank using a cold forming process to define a series of interconnected folded ring sections. |
| US09273772B2 |
Pulley apparatus
Construction is achieved by which it is possible definitely prevent the occurrence of creep between a pulley 2b and an outer ring 7f. Trapezoidal shaped concave sections are formed such that the angle of intersection θ between the inside surfaces 23 on both sides of each concave section 17a of knurling 19a of the outer ring 7f is within the range 45°≦θ≦120°. Moreover, the depth h in the radial direction of the concave sections 17a and the diameter D of the circumscribed circle of the tip end surfaces 22 of the convex sections 18a are regulated so as to satisfy the relationship 0.004 D≦h≦0.015 D, and the length L in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 21 of the concave sections 17a is regulated within the range 0.01 D≦L≦0.03 D. |
| US09273770B2 |
Method for producing a functional shaft
A method for producing a functional shaft is provided in which a functional element which is provided with a pocket is inserted into a retaining element, a shaft is inserted into the pocket, and a force applied to the functional element while the shaft is being inserted into the pocket is measured. A device for producing a functional shaft and to a functional shaft produced in accordance with the method is also provided. |
| US09273766B2 |
Electric actuator
An electric actuator has a housing with an electric motor mounted on the housing (2). A ball screw mechanism converts rotational motion of the electric motor to an axial linear motion of a drive shaft. A side-cover (13) is detachably mounted to the housing (2). A guide member (14) is mounted on the inner wall of the side-cover (13). The guide member (14) has a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section and includes a recessed groove (14a) axially extending opposite to the drive shaft (7). A rotation-preventing pin (9), mounted on the outer circumference of the threaded screw shaft (15), engages with the guide member (14) to support the threaded screw shaft (15) so that it can be axially moved relative to the housing (2) but cannot be rotated. |
| US09273765B2 |
Camshaft with an axially displaceable cam pack
A camshaft includes a carrier shaft to be mounted rotatably in a shaft axis and at least one cam pack axially displaceable on the carrier shaft. The cam pack includes at least two cams and at least one adjusting member for axial adjustment of the cam pack. The cams and adjusting member are interconnected in an axially adjacent configuration by an integrally molded body. The body is integrally molded on at least one cam and the adjusting member by an original molding process and a composite structure is formed by the integrally molded body. The composite structure can be mounted in a direct configuration on the carrier shaft to be axially displaceable thereon. The cams and the adjusting member include inner toothing engaging in an axially displaceable manner with outer toothing of the carrier shaft. A cam pack and a method for producing a camshaft are also provided. |
| US09273758B2 |
Power transmission device
A power transmission device has two roller members which are rotatable on their own axes and the outer peripheral portions of which are pressed against a wire member tightly stretched between two pulley members, a rotary gear which is rotatable around a revolution axial center of the roller members integrally with a supporting member which supports the roller members, a spring worm meshed with the rotary gear, and an actuator which controls the rotation amount of the spring worm. |
| US09273757B2 |
Dual-clutch transmission
A countershaft-type dual clutch transmission for a vehicle has two clutches having input sides connected to a driveshaft (AN) and output sides connected respectively to one of two transmission input shafts arranged coaxial to a mainshaft axis. A sub-transmission is associated in each instance with the transmission input shafts, at least two countershafts, a plurality of gear planes to which are assigned gear ratio steps, and at least one output shaft which can be connected to the sub-transmissions via an output gear plane. Only six gear planes with at least nine assigned gear ratio steps can be realized via only four double shift elements and at least one single shift element. Each countershaft can be coupled with four gear ratio steps via double shift elements, and one of the transmission input shafts can be coupled with a gear ratio step via a single shift element. |
| US09273755B2 |
Method and apparatus for balancing a flywheel
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flywheel for energy storage, specifically a method for finely balancing the flywheel during manufacture, the method being especially useful in conjunction with flywheels having a composite construction, and the method also being suitable for simultaneously proving the structural integrity of the flywheel. |
| US09273748B2 |
Magnetorheological damper system
A magnetorheological damper system comprising a reservoir in communication with a damper. The damper comprises a damper cylinder defining a damper chamber, wherein the damper chamber contains a magnetorheological fluid and a movable damper piston. The damper piston comprises at least two coil windings on the outer surface of the damper piston, wherein the damper piston is capable of generating a magnetic field between the damper piston and a wall of the damper cylinder. The reservoir comprises a reservoir cylinder defining a passageway, wherein the reservoir includes a magnetorheological electromagnet capable of generating a magnetic field between the magnetorheological piston and a wall of the passageway. The combination of the MR reservoir and MR damper leads to a damping system capable of damping a wide range of extreme forces. |
| US09273744B2 |
Hydraulically damped mounting device
A hydraulically damped mounting device (10) having a flow limiting element (42), such as a resilient diaphragm, in a switchable auxiliary passageway (36) that is in fluid communication with its working chamber (22). The switchable auxiliary passageway corresponds to an additional fluid mass that can be switched into and out of communication with the working chamber to control the vibration characteristics of the device. |
| US09273739B2 |
Brake system
A brake system of an elevator, an escalator or a moving walkway includes a brake device with at least one brake shoe. The brake shoe has an effective surface which during brake use is pressed against a friction surface, which is moving or movable relative to the effective surface, of a counter-member. The brake system also includes a feed device which is supplied by a fluid source. A fluid can be fed between the effective surface of the brake shoe and the friction surface, which faces it, by means of the feed device. The friction between the effective surface and the friction surface can be influenced by the feed of the fluid. |
| US09273737B2 |
Integrated pinion carrier and overrunning element race
A pinion carrier includes a first disc including ring segments, each ring segment extending angularly about an axis and spaced angularly from the other ring segments, a second disc, spacers secured to the discs and separating the discs axially, and retention elements, each retention element secured to one of the ring segments. |
| US09273734B2 |
Rotating torque transmission buffered shaft
A rotating torque transmission buffered shaft is provided with a casing tube, a shaft tube and a lock mounting member. The casing tube is formed with a receiving space and the inner walls of both ends of the casing tube are formed with a first inner screw thread and a second inner screw thread respectively. The shaft tube is installed within the receiving space and the middle section of the shaft tube is formed with a screw thread portion corresponding to the first inner screw thread. The lock mounting member is engaged and locked on the second inner screw thread. The rotating torque transmission buffered shaft is applicable to ships and vehicles for public transportation. The buffered shaft can absorb and balance intense rotating torque generated instantly, and can reduce the torque difference generated during the operation due to the linkage between the engine and the transmission device. |
| US09273725B2 |
Rolling bearing
A rolling contact bearing assembly includes a cage including two or more arcuate members each having a plurality of pockets defined therein for accommodating a corresponding number of rollers arranged consecutively in a circumferential direction to form a ring shaped assembly. The arcuate members are connected together by a retention ring, having an elasticity, over a circumference of the cage. The arcuate members are displaced radially outwardly against an elastic compressive force of the retention ring such that circumferential gaps are formed at joints between the neighboring arcuate members. The arcuate members are held in a condition movable in the circumferential direction by a distance equal to the size of the circumferential gaps. |
| US09273724B1 |
Thrust bearing pad having metallic substrate
A thrust bearing pad includes a relatively low wear and low friction contact layer disposed on a metallic substrate. The metallic substrate allows a manufacturer to couple the thrust bearing pad to a corresponding metallic thrust bearing in a relatively secure manner while the contact layer extends the operating life of the thrust bearing and minimizes maintenance. |
| US09273723B2 |
Composite magnetic bearing having auxiliary bearing coupled thereto
The present invention relates to a composite magnetic bearing having an auxiliary bearing coupled thereto, which has an improved structure for minimizing a length of a rotor and a system volume. The composite magnetic bearing of a radial type provided around a rotor having an auxiliary bearing coupled thereto for reducing friction, includes a magnetic bearing, and an auxiliary bearing fixed in the empty space in an inside of the stator cores on an inner side of a position the coils and the permanent magnets are provided thereto. |
| US09273722B2 |
Rolling guide device
A rolling guide device is capable of facilitating smooth circulation of rolling elements in an endless circulation path, and enhancing the accuracy of motion of a moving member relative to a track member. The moving member includes: a main body member having load rolling surfaces and return paths for the rolling elements; direction change pipes incorporating inner direction change paths and having inner peripheral guide surfaces of outer direction change paths, respectively; and lid members each being mounted on the main body member and having outer peripheral guide surfaces of the outer direction change paths. The main body member has position reference holes formed therein so as to serve as position references for the direction change pipes, respectively, whereas the direction change pipes have positioning protrusions formed thereon so as to be press-fitted into the position reference holes, respectively. Further, the direction change pipes include rotation restriction protruding portions. |
| US09273721B2 |
Bearing device and solar power plant unit using the same
A bearing device for a solar power plant unit includes at least one support element, at least one first roller and at least one second roller. At least one first roller bearing unit is movably supported on the support element and rotatably supports the at least one first roller and the one second roller. At least one first spherical plain bearing having an outer ring is attached to the at least one first roller. A solar power plant includes at least one mirror movably supported by at least one such bearing device. |
| US09273720B2 |
Foldable table
A foldable table includes a first tabletop panel, a second tabletop panel, a first peripheral edge rim, a second peripheral edge rim, and a foldable frame. The foldable frame includes a reinforcing frame which includes first through fourth elongated reinforcing member spacedly mounted along two longitudinal sides of the first receiving cavity and the second receiving cavity respectively, a first and a second leg frame pivotally mounted on the first receiving cavity and the second receiving cavity respectively, and a hinge arrangement. The hinge arrangement includes a first connecting joint, a second connecting joint, and a first and a second locker device coupled to the first connecting joint and the second connecting joint respectively, wherein the first locker device and the second locker device are arranged to operate between a locked position and an unlock position. |
| US09273717B2 |
Connector for lifelines
A connector that includes a carabiner and an insert is provided. The base of the insert has a length that extends between a first end and a second end and a width that extends between a first side edge and a second side edge. A barrel connector of the insert centrally extends from the first side edge of the base. The barrel connector receives a barrel of a gate of the carabiner. A first ear extends from the second side edge of the base proximate the first end of the base. The first ear includes a first carabiner retaining channel that selectively engages a first portion of the carabiner. A second ear extends from the second side edge of the base proximate the second end of the base. The second ear includes a second carabiner retaining channel that selectively engages a second portion of the carabiner. |
| US09273715B2 |
Outrigger with locking mechanism
A method is for connecting an outrigger to a clamp in an external fixation system. A moveable member and a slide lock are couplied to an elongated member of the outrigger. The elongated member has a length, a distal end, a proximal end and a threaded portion on the distal end. The threaded portion has a keyed portion. The moveable member is moveable along the elongated member. The slide lock has a keyed portion and an engagement surface. The distal end of the elongated member is coupled to an opening of the clamp such that the engagement surface of the slide lock engages a portion of the clamp. The keyed portion of the threaded portion and the keyed portion of the slide lock are operably associated with each other to permit longitudinal movement of the slide lock along the length of the elongated member while preventing rotation. The engagement surface of the slide lock has a non-smooth texture and faces in a direction that is away from the moveable member. |
| US09273713B2 |
Insulated stud for attaching applique to metal body vehicle and methods of making and using the same
One variation may include a product comprising a stud assembly including a stud comprising a first metal and an insulator attached to the stud. Another variation may include a method comprising providing a stud assembly and an appliqué, wherein stud assembly comprises a stud comprising a first metal and an insulator attached to the stud, the appliqué comprising a second metal; attaching the appliqué to the stud assembly so that the insulator isolates the first metal from the second metal of the appliqué. |
| US09273712B2 |
Fastening system with eccentric
Fastening system for a linear machine element (2, 102) for fastening in a machine foundation (4), having a clamping element which has a shank (35) and a head (37), wherein the diameter of the head (37) is greater than the diameter of the shank (35), and having an eccentric (60) which comprises a sleeve (68) with an eccentric bore (66) and a torque-transmitting element (70), wherein the outer diameter of the head (37) is smaller than the inner diameter of the bore (66) or at least substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the bore (66). |
| US09273709B2 |
Furniture connection system
Disclosed herein are furniture connection systems for connecting modular furniture components while disguising the connections between components. In some embodiments, a first furniture component is coupled to a second furniture component via a removable bracket, the bracket being secured to the second furniture component via a fastener extending through an opening in the bracket into an attachment hole in the second furniture components. In these embodiments, the furniture connection system further includes a button element having a head and a shank. When the bracket and fastener are removed, the shank of the button element is inserted into the attachment hole causing the head of the button element to cover the attachment hole, thereby disguising the presence of the attachment hole in the second furniture component. |
| US09273704B2 |
Door actuator comprising means for setting to atmospheric pressure in a rapid manner at the end of opening the door
An aircraft door actuator, including: a pneumatic cylinder for the opening of the door including a chamber into which a pressurized gas is injected via a first port, means for supplying the chamber of the cylinder with pressurized gas, via a supply pipe and said first port, means for setting the chamber to atmospheric pressure when the piston is in the position for opening the door, so as to allow said door to be moved into the closing position, including: a pressurized gas exhaust pipe a gate-valve means for guiding the opening of the gate-valve via the pressurized fluid located in the chamber when the door is in the opening position, so as to open the exhaust pipe in order to set said chamber of the cylinder to atmospheric pressure in a rapid manner once the door is open. |
| US09273703B2 |
Universal orientation electro-hydraulic actuator
An orientation-independent electro-hydraulic actuator that includes a housing having an interior space forming a fluid reservoir, a pump connected to the housing, an electric motor drivingly coupled to the pump; and a piston-cylinder assembly having a piston axially movable within a cylinder. The cylinder is in fluid communication with the pump to effect movement of the piston in response to fluid flow between the cylinder and the fluid reservoir. The pump has one or more inlet/outlet ports communicating with a volumetric centroid region of the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir includes a volume of hydraulic fluid such that when the piston is fully extended, the volume of fluid in the reservoir is at a minimum and at least one of the inlet/outlet ports is submerged in hydraulic fluid. |
| US09273699B2 |
Helico-axial pump, a rotor for a helico-axial pump, method for the hydrodynamic journalling of a rotor of a helico-axial pump, as well as a hybrid pump with a rotor for a helico-axial pump
The invention relates to a helico-axial pump (1) for pumping a multi-phase mixture (M), said helico-axial pump (1) including a rotor (2) rotatably journalled in a pump housing (6) about a longitudinal axis (A), wherein the rotor (2) includes a compression stage (K) with a helico-axial impeller (3) and a stator (4) for the compression of the multi-phase mixture (M). In accordance with the invention a hydrodynamic stabilization element (7, 71, 72, 73) having a stabilization surface (700) is provided in the pump housing (6) and designed such that a stabilization gap (8) is formed upstream of the stabilization medium, so that in the operating state a hydrodynamic stabilization layer (S) can be formed from a stabilization medium in the stabilization gap (S). The invention further relates to a rotor (2) for a helico-axial pump (1), a method for the hydrodynamic journaling of a rotor (2) of a helico-axial pump (1) as well as to a hybrid pump with a rotor (2) for a helico-axial pump 1. |
| US09273696B2 |
Axial fan, fan rotor and method of manufacturing a rotor for an axial fan
An axial fan and a fan rotor are provided as well as a method of manufacturing same, wherein the rotor hub includes an outer shell having on its outside a hub surface which is essentially rotational-symmetrical about the center axis of the rotor hub; and wherein the rotor hub has a front end and a rear end and a diverging section there between, where the radius of the hub surface in the diverging section is increased by the distance to the front end on the hub; and wherein the rotor hub and the blades are made as separate metal parts; and wherein the rotor blades are securely mounted to the diverging section on the hub surface. |
| US09273691B2 |
Rotor and motor
A rotor includes a first rotor core, a second rotor core, a field magnet, and an auxiliary magnet. The first rotor core includes a first core base and a plurality of first hook-shaped poles. The second rotor core includes a second core base and a plurality of second hook-shaped poles. The first and second hook-shaped poles are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotor. The field magnet is arranged between the first and second core bases in an axial direction. The field magnet cause the first hook-shaped poles to function as first poles and the second hook-shaped poles to function as second poles. The auxiliary magnet includes at least two interpolar magnet portions, which are integrally formed. Each interpolar magnet portion is arranged in a void between the first hook-shaped pole and the second hook-shaped pole and magnetized in the circumferential direction. |
| US09273689B2 |
Valve arrangement, connection plate for a hydrostatic piston machine, and hydrostatic piston machine
A valve arrangement is configured to rectify a volumetric flow supplied by a hydraulic pump to a first pump connection or second pump connection. The valve arrangement includes a first suction valve arranged between a suction-side connection of the valve arrangement and the first pump connection. The valve arrangement also includes a second suction valve arranged between the suction-side connection and the second pump connection. The valve arrangement also includes a first pressure valve arranged between a pumping-side connection of the valve arrangement and the second pump connection. The valve arrangement also includes a second pressure valve arranged between the pump-side connection and the first pump connection. The first suction valve is acted on by the pressure of the second pump connection in the opening direction. The second suction valve is acted on by the pressure of the first pump connection in the opening direction. |
| US09273688B2 |
Pump rotor and internal gear pump using the same
A tooth profile of an inner rotor 2 is formed by an envelope of a group of circular arcs of a locus circle C having a center on a trochoidal curve TC. The envelope of the group of circular arcs is formed by rolling a rolling circle having a predetermined diameter along a base circle without slipping and drawing the trochoidal curve TC based on a point distant from the center of the rolling circle by a distance equivalent to an amount of eccentricity between the two rotors. A diameter d2 of the locus circle C is constant until one point between an addendum point and a dedendum point of the inner rotor and changes from the one point such that a diameter d2B at the dedendum point becomes larger than a diameter d2T at the addendum point of the inner rotor. |
| US09273687B2 |
Method for producing the tooth shape of the inner and outer ring of an annular gear machine and toothed ring produced by means of said method
In producing tooth shapes of two toothed rings of an annular gear machine, a starting geometry of a first toothed ring, at least one quality criterion of the annular gear machine, and a desired eccentricity between rotational axes of the two toothed rings are defined. A motion is performed with the starting geometry that performs a rotational motion about its rotational axis and a revolving motion about the rotational axis of the second toothed ring. The rotational and revolving motions are coupled so the rotational angle of the eccentricity equals the product of the rotational angle and tooth count of the first toothed ring. A tooth shape contour of the second toothed ring is generated by recording the path described by the envelope of the starting geometry. If the defined quality criterion is not met, the previously used starting geometry and/or the defined eccentricity is changed and steps are repeated. |
| US09273686B2 |
Pre-charging pump chamber by preemptively opening a valve
A reciprocating pump with chamber-charging mechanism is provided. In an example diaphragm pump, a discharge valve can be opened by the pressure of fluid leaving the pump and can also be opened by an intermittent mechanical linkage actuated by the reciprocating member powering the pump. The discharge valve is mechanically opened to allow pressure backflow into the pumping chamber, thereby charging compressible fluid mixtures and gases with an increase in pressure. The increased pressure enables the compressible fluids to open the discharge valve on the next compression stroke and exit the pump. In an implementation, the discharge valve is pushed open by the reciprocating power source in a configuration that seals the valve mechanism from well fluid. In another implementation, the discharge valve is pulled open to pre-charge the pumping chamber. |
| US09273682B2 |
Method for making a pump system with enhanced dynamic seal reliability
A pressure pump may include a reciprocating assembly including a dynamic seal configured to be in sliding contact with a surface. The surface may be implanted with positive ions such as hydrogen ions/protons to provided reduced wear and/or greater service life of the dynamic seal. According to embodiments, a pump may include an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene dynamic seal may substantially fixed relative to a cylinder wall, and a proton impregnated reciprocating plunger may pump high pressure water or a water based fluid in a system. The pump may exhibit increased dynamic seal life. |
| US09273679B2 |
Variable displacement swash plate compressor
A variable displacement swash plate compressor includes a housing, drive shaft, first and second radial bearings, swash plate, and actuator. The actuator includes a movable body and fixed body. The movable body includes a main portion and circumferential wall. The main portion includes an insertion hole. The housing includes an accommodation wall. A first clearance exists between the circumferential wall and fixed body. A second clearance exists between the drive shaft and wall of the insertion hole. A third clearance exists between the circumferential wall and accommodation wall. A fourth clearance exists between the drive shaft and first radial bearing. A fifth clearance exists between the drive shaft and second radial bearing. The first and second clearances differ in size. The sum of the third clearance and the smaller one of the first and second clearances is larger than the fourth and fifth clearances. |
| US09273677B2 |
Universal wet/dry transfer pump
The present invention is a universal wet/dry transfer pump having an intake hose and a t-joint. The intake hose is fluidly connected to the t-joint. A first check valve is positioned within the intake hose. A bellowed pump handle is fluidly connected to the t-joint. A separator hose is provided and fluidly connected to the t-joint. A second check valve is positioned within the t-joint. A terminal catchment vessel is fluidly connected to the separator hose. Upon pulling of the pump handle in a generally upward direction, intake pumping action is initiated drawing water and solid materials into the intake hose, opening the first check valve and closing the second check valve. Upon pushing of the pump handle in a generally downward direction, discharge pumping action is initiated, closing the first check valve and opening the second check valve transferring any water and chambered solids into the catchment vessel. |
| US09273673B2 |
Device for throttling a fluid flow, and corresponding piston pump for delivering fluids
A device for throttling a fluid flow includes a basic body which has at least one throttle point with a predefinable opening cross section. The basic body has a resilient configuration at least in a region of the at least one throttle point. Accordingly, the opening cross section of the at least one throttle point is configured to be set in a variable manner as a function of a pressure difference. |
| US09273667B2 |
Wind turbine blade
A wind turbine blade is provided. The wind turbine blade has multiple vortex generators, each projecting from a surface of the blade and having a predetermined length. The vortex generators are arranged on a strip. The width of the strip is several times larger than the length of a vortex generator. |
| US09273666B2 |
Magnus type wind power generator
A Magnus type wind power generator (A) comprising a horizontal rotary shaft (3) for transmitting torque to a power generating mechanism (2), rotary columns (5), flow directing plane (7) installed at main shaft (3), driving motors (15) for rotatively driving the respective rotary columns (5) around the axes thereof, which the relative action between rotation of each rotary column (5) and wind produces Magnus lift, which rotates the horizontal rotary shaft (3) so as to drive the power generating mechanism (2). Firstly, air flow directing plane (7), installed to direct flow to the low pressure area so as to cause another delay and eventually increase the Magnus lift. Secondly, the crossed spiral on the surface of the cylinder (6) provided to generate more air flow in three directions upon the rotary cylinder (5) increases the Magnus force. |
| US09273665B1 |
Dual wind energy power enhancer system
A dual inlet flow wind power generating system is disclosed having two inflow chambers directing air flow into a common turbine. In one embodiment, a second phase of air flow directly impinges on the air blades of the turbine to provide multi-phased air flow with enhanced power generation. Two inflow chambers may be configured on either side of the common impingement chamber and the system may be configured around a vertical axis. Additionally, air deflectors in one or more chambers may direct flow into a flow tube and may be configured as a positive flow vortex inducer. A negative flow vortex inducer is also described, whereby air is directed by air deflectors to reduce the pressure at the outlet end of a flow tube. In another embodiment, a dual outlet flow system is described having a single inflow chamber and two impingement chambers for second phase air flow. |
| US09273662B2 |
Glow plug control device
The invention relates to a glow plug control device comprising a power transistor for switching the heating current on and off, a control unit for controlling the power transistor, a measuring resistor connected in series with the power transistor for measuring the intensity of a heating current, and a circuit board, which carries the power transistor, the control unit and the measuring resistor. The measuring resistor is connected to the circuit board via pins which are pressed into circuit board holes and which are made of an alloy that has a copper content of at least 80% by weight and a nickel content from 4 to 12% by weight. This disclosure also relates to the use of an alloy having a copper content of at least 80% by weight and a nickel content from 4 to 12% by weight for a pin of a press-in connection in a glow plug control device. |
| US09273659B2 |
Starting device for an internal combustion engine
A rope-pull starting device for an internal combustion engine including a hub, rope pulley, rope and torsion damper spring. The hub configured to drivingly engage an engine when the hub is rotated in a first direction. The rope pulley interconnects with the hub by a torsion damper spring. The torsion damper spring coupled at a first end to the hub and at a second end to the rope pulley, wherein the torsion damper spring is coiled from the first end connected to the hub, toward the rope pulley, in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and whereby the rope pulley is rotated in the first direction when the rope is unwound therefrom and the torsion damper spring responsively urges the hub to rotate in the first direction. |
| US09273658B2 |
Handheld work apparatus and suction head for connection to a fuel line in a handheld work apparatus
A handheld work apparatus includes a fuel tank, into which a flexible fuel line projects. A suction head is arranged at the free end of the fuel line. The suction head is connected via the fuel line to a fuel supply device of an internal combustion engine of the work apparatus. The suction head has at least one weight member. The weight member is formed at least partially as a magnet to achieve good cleaning of the fuel without a substantial increase in the weight of the work apparatus. |
| US09273656B2 |
Method and control unit for controlling an internal combustion engine
A method and a control unit are disclosed for controlling a single-cylinder or multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one fuel injector per cylinder, at least one camshaft for actuating inlet valves and/or outlet valves, and having a control unit which controls the fuel injectors in such a way that they inject in each case one fuel pre-injection per cylinder during a starting phase of the internal combustion engine. In order to make an improved pre-injection strategy possible during the starting phase, according to the invention at least one cylinder pressure signal which is supplied by a cylinder pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in a cylinder is evaluated with regard to interference signals, and the evaluation result is taken into consideration at least during the starting phase in a determination of the camshaft angle. |
| US09273654B2 |
Fuel system for a multi-fuel engine
Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine fuel system including fuels of different fuel types. A first fuel type is delivered for port injection upon circulation through a high pressure pump when direct injection of a fuel is not requested to cool and/or lubricate the high pressure pump. |
| US09273653B2 |
Intake manifold
A bolt-on replacement intake manifold has an asymmetrical plenum with a first end including an inlet, a closed terminal end, a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface; a flange; and a plurality of runners extending from the bottom surface of the plenum and terminating at the flange. The plenum defines an interior space in flow communication with the runners. The bottom surface of the plenum is wider than the top surface. The plenum initially widens from the inlet to the first runner and then begins to narrow from the first runner toward the last runner adjacent to the closed terminal end. The runners are tapered, curved, and vary in length. The intake manifold causes air to exit each of the plurality of runners at substantially the same angle. The manifold balances airflow across each runner and increases swirl inside the cylinders enhancing fuel economy, power output, and torque. |
| US09273652B2 |
Air intake device for internal combustion engine
Provided is an air intake device for an internal combustion engine, the air intake device being configured so that a reduction in the amount of intake air is minimized. An air intake device for an internal combustion engine has: an intake air path for supplying air from a surge tank to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and an exhaust gas path for supplying exhaust gas from an exhaust gas distribution header to the combustion chamber. The length of the exhaust gas path measured along the centerline of the exhaust gas path is set to be in the range from 75% to 125%, inclusive, of the length of the intake air path measured along the centerline of the intake air path. |
| US09273648B2 |
Air intake system for a work vehicle
An air intake system for a work vehicle may include a filter assembly having a pre-cleaner and an air filter. The filter assembly may define at least one outlet port. The air intake system may also include an air valve movable between an opened position and a closed position and a blower coupled to the outlet port via a conduit. The blower may be configured to create a vacuum within the conduit such that particulates are removed from the filter assembly through the outlet port. When the air valve is in the opened position, an airflow may be directed through the filter assembly in an intake direction from the pre-cleaner through the air filter and, when the air valve is in the closed position, the airflow may be directed through the air filter in a reverse direction. |
| US09273645B2 |
Fluid heating device and vehicle fuel system using the same
A fluid heating device of a vehicle fuel system includes: a case having a fluid inlet for letting in fluid, a fluid outlet for letting out the fluid, and an inner space that communicates with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; upper and lower power-supply and heat-radiation plates that are arranged in the inner space to be vertically spaced apart from each other, and supply external power; and one or more PTC elements that are interposed between the upper and lower power-supply and heat-radiation plates to receive the external power, and spaced apart from each other to form one or more fluid flow holes. Accordingly, the combustion of the fuel and the cold start performance of the vehicle can be improved. |
| US09273640B2 |
Exhaust gas control apparatus for internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas control apparatus (100) of an internal combustion engine (200) of a vehicle, which is provided with: the internal combustion engine which can use fuel containing methane in exhaust gas; an exhaust gas purifying apparatus (300) disposed in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; an EGR passage (400) which can recirculate the exhaust gas to an intake passage of the internal combustion engine, in a HPL path which does not include the exhaust gas purifying apparatus; and an adjusting device (407) which can adjust an exhaust gas recirculation amount in the EGR passage, is provided with: a first specifying device for specifying a methane concentration in the exhaust gas; and a first controlling device for controlling the adjusting device to increase an exhaust gas recirculation amount in the HPL path if the specified methane concentration is greater than or equal to a reference value. |
| US09273639B2 |
System and method for storing and dispensing fuel and ballast fluid
A system for storing and dispensing fuel and a ballast fluid is disclosed. The system may be employed in a vehicle or facility having a power plant. Fuel and ballast fluid may be stored cryogenically in a liquid phase and dispensed to the vapor phase. The system may employ a thermal and volumetric compensatory arrangement wherein fuel dispensed from storage for use in a power plant is used as a heat exchange medium (refrigerant) for ballast fluid received for storage; during refueling, ballast fluid stored in the vehicle or facility may be dispensed and used as a refrigerant for fuel being stored in the vehicle in space made available by the dispensed ballast fluid. The fuel may be natural gas with a main component of methane; the ballast fluid may be a fluid obtainable from ambient environmental air, such as nitrogen or oxygen. The fuel and ballast fluid may be conditioned so that the respective boiling points are approximately equal. The system may employ a heat transfer system with a microchannel heat exchanger. |
| US09273631B2 |
Seamless acoustic liner
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a composite acoustic panel employed in an inlet passage of a gas turbine engine (1). The acoustic panel comprises a permeable face-layer (8), an impermeable backing sheet (9) and a sound absorbing layer (10) disposed therebetween. The method comprises a double polymerisation process for the face-layer and the remainder of the acoustic panel and finally a perforation step to perforate the face-layer according to a pre-determined perforation distribution (11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5). |
| US09273613B2 |
Method and a device for monitoring a servo-control loop of an actuator system for actuating variable-geometry components of a turbojet
A method monitoring a servo-control loop, including: estimating monitoring parameters from operating data of the servo-control loop; obtaining indicators from the monitoring parameters; determining at least one signature from values of at least some of the indicators; and detecting and locating a degradation affecting the servo-control loop as a function of the at least one determined signature. |
| US09273611B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved turbine bellyband rotor seal machining, installation and life
A method and apparatus for improved turbine bellyband rotor seal machining, installation and life are disclosed. A fixture is provided which can be temporarily attached to the turbine disks in a position straddling the gap between the disks, without destacking the turbine rotor. The fixture accepts power tools including a drill and a mill, and positions the power tools to drill and grind a rectangular slot into the disks, where the slot has the exact size and shape needed to receive an anti-rotation block which is integral to the replacement bellyband. Measuring tools are also provided which enable precise location of each of the four slots which must be machined in the disks. The resulting slots have a uniform size and shape, and are equally spaced around the circumference of the disk, thereby facilitating installation of the service bellyband from four identical segments. |
| US09273605B2 |
Variable compression ratio engine
According to the present invention, a variable compression ratio engine includes a cylinder head and crankcase directly joined by a control shaft, thereby eliminating use of a link between the control shaft and cylinder head. The present invention has a low manufacturing cost and a small size ideal for mass production applications. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control shaft includes a primary set of bearings and an eccentric set of bearings. The primary control shaft set of bearings are mounted directly in the crankcase assembly, and the eccentric control shaft bearings are mounted directly in the cylinder head assembly. There is only one control shaft per cylinder head, and there is no link between the control shaft and cylinder head assembly. The variable compression ratio mechanism also includes moment retaining means to prevent the cylinder head assembly from rotating out of alignment when the engine is running. The moment retaining means is a bushing that is mounted around the engine cylinder. The bushing provides the moment retaining means needed for holding the cylinder head assembly in alignment when the engine is running, and also provides displacement means, where the cylinder head assembly can slide on the bushing. The displacement means is needed to allow the cylinder head assembly to move relative to the crankcase when compression ratio is adjusted. |
| US09273597B2 |
Method and system for operating an engine turbocharger waste gate
A system and method for operating an engine turbocharger is described. In one example, the turbocharger includes an electrically actuated waste gate. A controller adjusts a position of the electrically actuated waste gate. |
| US09273596B2 |
Boost extraction method of secondary air injection for internal combustion engine emission control
A secondary air injection system to aid in the warm-up of a catalyst employed as part of an emissions control system of a vehicle to obtain efficient reduction in engine emissions. A compressor utilized to compress or boost air for increased engine performance is additionally used as a secondary air injection source, eliminating the need for external air pumps. The compressor is configured to transmit boosted air to the engine of the vehicle or to the catalyst to aid in the warm-up of the catalyst. A valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration controls the passage of the boosted air to the engine or to the catalyst. The valve may be controlled by a controller based upon airflow, temperature, pressure, or time. A control map relating engine speed to airflow may be used for obtaining airflow values for controlling the configuration of the valve. |
| US09273593B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
An ECU alternatively changes a target air-fuel ratio At to a rich side and a lean side by active air-fuel ratio control. The ECU measures an oxygen storage capacity OSC of an exhaust purification catalyst based on an oscillation period of the target air-fuel ratio At and the target aft-fuel ratio At, and executes a deterioration determination with respect to the exhaust purification catalyst based on the measurement value. When executing the deterioration determination, the ECU closes a waste gate valve to prevent a decrease in the accuracy of the deterioration determination that is caused by two kinds of exhaust gas whose flow paths are different from each other arriving at the area surrounding an air-fuel ratio sensor. |
| US09273586B2 |
Contact-type infrared temperature sensor for high temperature measurement, thermal apparatus, and exhaust system
A contact-type infrared temperature sensor 1 for high temperature measurement is provided with: a heat-resistant cylindrical member 2, having a cylindrical shape with one end as a closed section 21 and the other end as an open section 22; an infrared temperature detecting member 4, disposed facing and spaced from the closed section 21, and including no infrared filter; and an optical function section 33, having an infrared light inlet 31 disposed facing and spaced from the closed section 21 by a predetermined dimension, restricting infrared light radiated from the region spaced between the temperature-sensitive section and the infrared light inlet by the predetermined dimension to a range of the region by the infrared light inlet 31 and guiding the infrared light to the infrared temperature detecting member 4. |
| US09273584B2 |
Urea tank and base plate with an integrated heating element
Urea tank and base plate with an integrated heating element in which the heating element comprising at least one resistive track affixed to one flexible film and/or placed between two flexible films. |
| US09273580B2 |
Metering system for injecting a reducing agent into the exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine
The invention relates to a reducing agent metering system, and to a method for controlling the injection of a reducing agent into the exhaust gas flow (9) of a turbocharged internal combustion engine for selective catalytic reduction, wherein the metering system can be connected to a reducing agent tank (1), from which reducing agent can be removed, wherein the metering system comprises at least one nozzle (5) through which the reducing agent can be injected by means of compressed air into the exhaust gas flow (9), wherein at least one part of the compressed air is taken from a charger of the internal combustion engine, wherein the compressed air supply (6) comprises an electric air pump (7) for generating compressed air, and comprises a bypass (19) in parallel with the air pump (7), so that the charge air of the turbocharger flows over or can flow over the air pump (7). |
| US09273578B2 |
Catalytic converter for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of diesel engines
The present invention relates to a catalytic converter which comprises a molecular sieve and a mixed oxide, and to a method for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases of diesel engines. |
| US09273574B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying filter
According to the present invention, there is provided an exhaust gas purifying filter capable of effectively removing collected particulate matter. An exhaust gas purifying filter of the present invention includes an inflow surface into which exhaust gas including particulate matter flows, an exhaust surface which exhausts purified gas, and a filter substrate which is constructed of a porous body, wherein the filter substrate includes porous partitions and gas passages which are enclosed by the partitions, and a porous film, which includes silicon carbide and pores having a smaller pore diameter than the pores of the partitions, is provided on the surface of the partitions, and a silicon dioxide layer is formed on at least an outer surface portion of the porous film. |
| US09273571B2 |
Camshaft having adjustable cams that can be oiled by means of pressure oil
The invention relates to an adjustable camshaft for the valve gear of an internal combustion engine, comprising an outer shaft, on which at least one first cam is arranged and connected to the outer shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, and an inner shaft extending through the outer shaft, to which inner shaft at least one second cam is connected in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the second cam connected to the inner shaft in a rotationally fixed manner has a cam hole and is rotatably supported on a seating point on the outer shaft. According to the invention, at least one oil groove is introduced at the seating point in the outer shaft and/or in the inner wall of the cam hole, into which oil groove oil is guided from a gap between the outer shaft and the inner shaft through at least one passage extending through the outer shaft. |
| US09273565B2 |
Vane assembly for a gas turbine engine
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure includes, among other possible features, a first platform, a second platform spaced from the first platform, and a first variable airfoil that extends radially across an annulus between the first platform and the second platform. One of a radial outer portion and a radial inner portion of the variable airfoil includes a rotational shaft and the other of the radial outer portion and the radial inner portion includes a ball and socket joint that rotationally connect the first variable airfoil relative to the first platform and the second platform. |
| US09273563B2 |
Integrally bladed rotor with slotted outer rim
An integrally bladed rotor has an outer rim with a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly of the outer rim. A plurality of channels are formed radially inwardly of the outer rim. A discontinuity formed at a radially outer surface of the outer rim includes a first thin slot at a radially outer face of the outer rim with an enlarged seal holding area. A second thin slot is positioned radially inwardly of the seal holding. The first and second thin slots are thinner circumferentially than the enlarged seal holding area. A seal is inserted into the seal holding area. The seal does not extend into the first and second thin slots, nor into the channels. |
| US09273559B2 |
Turbine blade cooling channel formation
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to turbine blades and, more particularly, to the formation of cooling channels on a surface of a turbine blade and turbine blades including such cooling channels. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of forming a cooling channel along a surface of a turbine blade, the method comprising: applying a first mask material to a first portion of a surface of a turbine blade; forming a first barrier layer atop the first mask material and atop a second portion of the surface of the turbine blade; removing the first mask material and the barrier layer atop the first mask material to expose the first portion of the surface of the turbine blade; and etching the first portion of the surface of the turbine blade to form a cooling channel along the surface of the turbine blade. |
| US09273558B2 |
Saw teeth turbulator for turbine airfoil cooling passage
A trip strip having a saw-tooth configuration that has application for cooling flow channels in a blade of a gas turbine engine. The saw-tooth configuration is defined by trip strip sections positioned end-to-end, where a leading edge of a trip strip section has a lower height than a trailing end of the trip strip section, and where the next trip strip section having the lower height leading edge disrupts the vortex created by the preceding trip strip section so that its size is reduced. |
| US09273557B2 |
Motor device
Provided is a motor device capable of suppressing undesired vibrations occurring at the time of starting a motor, by canceling a torque in a motor device system so as to reduce a reaction torque acting on a motor base. The motor device is equipped with a dual axis motor having first and second rotating shafts and projecting at either end, a rotational direction converter having an input shaft to which the torque of the dual axis motor is inputted and an output shaft that outputs the torque by rotating in a direction opposite to that of the input shaft, and a flywheel provided at an end portion of the first rotating shaft, for balancing out the reaction torque acting on the input shaft and the output shaft of the rotational direction converter when the dual axis motor rotates. |
| US09273552B2 |
Feed system for an underground winning machine, rack bar and drive sprocket therefor
A feed system, rack bar and drive sprocket for moving an underground winning machine having a travel drive with drive sprocket having symmetrically profiled teeth, and rack bars with a plurality of rack teeth being arranged between a supporting strip and a guide strip of the rack bar. The tooth flanks of the teeth are inclined in the direction of movement and diverge towards the tooth tip for the interaction with tooth surfaces of teeth of drive sprocket. In order to improve the interaction between the teeth and produce less wear, the two tooth flanks of each rack tooth are concavely arched and form a trough between guide strip and supporting strip transversely to the direction of movement, with the trough rising towards the tooth tip, and the two tooth surfaces of each drive sprocket tooth is convexly arched and forms a crown transversely to the direction of movement. |
| US09273551B2 |
Apparatus and method for representative fluid sampling
Apparatus and method for collecting and preserving in representative condition a fluid sample from a reservoir which comprises: positioning a sample container including a sampler in the vicinity of a subterranean zone to be sampled, and wherein the step of collecting and preserving the sample comprises allowing or causing the sample to first flow into the sample receptacle, wherein the movement of the sample into the sample receptacle is restricted by the movement of a sampling piston, and wherein the movement of the sampling piston is further controlled by the rotation of an electrical motor connected to the sample piston by mechanical linkage such that the rotation of the electric motor in either direction translates to lateral movement of the sample piston, the lateral movement of the sample piston in turn allowing sample to enter the sample receptacle, and wherein once an adequate volume of sample has been collected, reversing the direction of the electrical motor will serve to cause the sample piston to exert pressure on the collected sample and thus preserve the integrity of the sample from the deleterious effects of shrinkage as the sample is recovered to the surface. |
| US09273550B2 |
System and method for determining fault location
Apparatus and methods for locating faults in inductively coupled wired drill pipe while drilling. In one embodiment, apparatus includes a drill string and a wired drill pipe fault monitor. The drill string includes a plurality of wired drill pipes. Each wired drill pipe includes an inductive coupler at each terminal end. The wired drill pipe fault monitor is coupled to the wired drill pipes. The fault monitor includes an impedance measuring system and a fault locator. The impedance measuring system is configured to measure, while drilling the borehole, an input impedance of the wired drill pipes. The fault locator is configured to determine a propagation constant for the wired drill pipes, and to analyze the measured input impedance and determine, as a function of the measured input impedance and the propagation constant, a location of a fault in the wired drill pipes. |
| US09273534B2 |
Tool with pressure-activated sliding sleeve
A downhole tool and system for actuation of the tool. The tool includes a sliding sleeve assembly that is urged toward an opening position due to an interior pressure in the tool. A shear pin assembly hold the tool in the closed position. As pressure is increased to above a predetermined locking set point, a locking mechanism on the sliding sleeve radial engages the housing of the tool to lock the sliding sleeve to the housing. As pressure is further increased to a predetermined an activation set point, the shear pin assembly shears, but the sliding sleeve is maintained in the closed position by the locking mechanism. Only after the interior pressure is subsequently lowered to below a predetermined opening set point will the sliding sleeve shift to an open position. |
| US09273533B2 |
Well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling
A well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling. A well tool includes a swellable material and a reservoir for containing a fluid of a type which causes the swellable material to swell. A method of swelling a swellable material included in a well tool includes the steps of: positioning the well tool in a well; and then activating a fluid to cause swelling of the swellable material. A method of swelling a swellable material includes the steps of: providing the swellable material which is capable of swelling when contacted by a fluid; positioning the swellable material in an environment in which the swellable material is contacted by another fluid which does not cause the material to swell; and swelling the swellable material by contacting the swellable material with the first fluid while the swellable material remains in contact with the other fluid. |
| US09273531B2 |
Orientation adapter for use with a tubing hanger
A subsea wellhead assembly includes a production tree and a tubing hanger assembly having a tubing hanger and an orientation adapter. A passage is formed through a side wall of the orientation adapter for porting communication from within a main bore of the wellhead assembly. When the tubing hanger assembly lands in the wellhead, a key on the orientation adapter engages a helical profile on an inner surface of the main bore and rotates the orientation adapter so that the passage registers with a passage in the tree. Fluid and electricity communicates through the registered passages. Examples of connectors between the respective passages include spheriseal connectors and electrical wet connects. |
| US09273530B2 |
Angled-penetrator device and system
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a tubing hanger having an angled auxiliary bore is provided. The auxiliary bore may receive a penetrator for a cabling system that powers a submersible pump. The auxiliary bore is angled with respect to the production bore of the tubing hanger. As a result, the penetrator exits the lower end of the tubing hanger at a location relatively close to the production tubing. This facilitates the use of a smaller-diameter production casing or casing hanger, in turn helping to reduce potential costs, for instance. |
| US09273528B2 |
Flexible sinker bar with electrically conductive wires
An assembly including a flexible sinker bar (24) including an electrically conductive wire (30) for use in the well drilling industry, particularly oil wells, and more particularly for use in assisting introduction into the wellbore, through the drill pipe or tubing, various types of logging tools and other completion assemblies securable to a tool connector (T), such as chemical cutters, string shots, free point indicators, jet cutters, metal severing tools, split shot cutters, radial cutting torches, pipe recovery logs, temperature logs, noise logs, and perforating guns. Conductive wire 30 is used to send electric power to operate or trigger the various logging tools. |
| US09273526B2 |
Downhole anchoring systems and methods of using same
Anchoring systems for disposition in wellbores and tubular devices comprise a tubular member defined by two or more radially expandable slip members. The upper ends of the slip members are shaped such that when the slip members are in their respective run-in positions and in their respective set positions, a portion of an upper end of one slip member overlaps a portion of an upper end of another slip member so that the longitudinal space between each slip member that is created when the slip members are in their set position are blocked by the upper end of at least one of the slip members. Thus, in their set position, the upper end of at least one of the slip members provides a back-up to a sealing element that can be disposed adjacent to and in contact with the upper ends of the slip members when in their set positions. |
| US09273522B2 |
Steering head with integrated drilling dynamics control
A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for reducing a vibration of a drill string in a borehole. A sensor of the drill string obtains one or more measurements of a parameter of the vibration. A processor determines at least one force for controlling the measured vibration from the measured parameter. At least one actuator applies the determined at least one force against the borehole wall to control the vibration of the drill string. |
| US09273519B2 |
Downhole dual cutting reamer
A downhole dual cutting reamer for bidirectional reaming of a wellbore with a tubular body with two cutting sections between end segments. Each cutting section has a plurality of helical blades separated by a flute, and wherein the helical blades are formed from at least two spiral angled sections connected together, with cutting components on the spiral angled sections. The cutting components can be polydiamond cutter nodes, high strength carbide cutting nodes, and tungsten carbide facing coating. The outer diameter of each cutting section is larger than the outer diameter of each of the end segments. |
| US09273515B2 |
Roofing ladder with a modular angularly adjustable platform
A roofing ladder with a modular angularly adjustable platform facilitates roofing work by providing a platform assembly which can be adjusted angularly to provide a desired slope for sitting or standing on or for storing tools or supplies. A beam provides structural support. A roof anchor hook connected to the beam contacts the opposing roofing surface to hold the ladder in place. A wheel assembly allows a user to easily mount the ladder on a roof. A plurality of step rods laterally connected to the beam provides steps for climbing the ladder as well as attachment locations for the platform assembly. A plurality of beam lifters provides a means to lift the beam off the roof surface for performing work on the roof surface underneath the beam. An extension slot allows the ladder to be extended for longer roofs or more easily manipulated into place using an extension pole. |
| US09273503B2 |
Locking hinge assembly
A locking hinge including barrel members with a cylindrical female recess and a multi-sided center bore. A medial barrel member has a center bore and first and second cylindrical male portions rotatably inserted into one of the female recesses, and a multi-sided center bore, such that the bores are in axial alignment. First and second hinge pins have a cylindrical portion and a multi-sided portion slidably inserted through the aligned multi-sided center bores. A spring disposed in the medial barrel member urges the hinge pins apart. When in a fully locked configuration, the multi-sided portions of the hinge pins engage the multi-sided center bore of a male portion and a barrel member; when in an unlocked configuration, at least one or both of the hinge pins is depressed such that its multi-sided portion is disengaged from the multi-sided center bore of the barrel member through which it is slidably inserted. |
| US09273495B2 |
Panic exit door lock with an indication of a locking state
A panic exit door lock includes an outer operational device mounted to an outer side of a door, an inner operational device mounted to an inner door of the door, a lock mounted in the door, and a locking mechanism mounted between the inner and outer operational devices and the lock. The locking mechanism includes an outer cylinder mounted to the outer operational device and an inner cylinder mounted to the inner operational device. An indicator member is operably connected to the inner cylinder and a setting member. The setting member is connected to a transmission block. When a key is used to set a locking function of the inner or outer cylinder, the transmission block and the indicator member pivot jointly. A user can see whether the locking function is set by observing the position of the indicator member via a window of an inner cylinder seat. |
| US09273494B2 |
Fastening and unfastening system of stackable elements
The present invention relates to a fastening or unfastening system (1, 10) including: an actuating device (2, 20), which has a plurality of actuating elements (22, 220) made of magnetic, magneto-sensitive or magnetically inert material; and a device to unlock or lock (3, 30, 3′), which includes a first element (4, 40, 4′), a second element (5, 50, 5′) and a first plane (7, 70), between said first element (4, 40, 4′) and said second element (5, 50), and a second plane (8, 80=between the second element (5, 50, 5′) and the third element (6, 60, 6′). Said first element (40, 4, 4′) and said second element (5, 5′ 50) present a plurality of housing couples (41, 51, 410, 510) corresponding to said plurality of actuating elements (22, 220) of said actuating device (2, 20), provided with centering means (9, 90) said centering means (9, 90) being made of magnetic, magneto-sensitive or magnetically inert material, able to lock or unlock the movement in respect to said first plane (7, 70).Said device (3, 30, 3′) has a single housing (400, 4000) comprised of a first further housing (42, 420), a second further housing (52, 520) and a third further housing (62, 620), respectively obtained in said first, second and third elements.Said single housing (400, 4000) provides, inside, at least at least two prevent and release means (91, 92, 910, 920) each sliding mutually, and a thrust element (63, 630) acting on said prevent and release means (91, 92, 910, 920). Further, said system (1, 10) can take a first configuration, wherein said prevent and release means (91, 92, 910, 920), block the movement of said elements (4, 40, 4′, 5, 50, 5′, 6, 60, 6′) in respect to said planes (7, 70, 8, 80), and a second configuration wherein said prevent and release means (91, 92, 910, 920) and said thrust element (63, 630), in a compressed form, allow the movement of said first (4, 40, 4′) and second (5, 50, 5′) element in respect to said planes (7, 70, 8, 80).Finally, coupling and movement of actuation device (2, 20) allows the movement from said first to said second configuration. |
| US09273491B2 |
Lock having an indicatory lock core
A lock includes a housing and a key-operated lock core mounted on the housing. The key-operated lock core has a spindle with a keyhole defined therein. The spindle is movable between an original position where the spindle is allowed to be rotated with respect to the housing to put the lock in a locked or unlocked state, and an indicative position where the spindle is also allowed to be rotated to put the lock in the locked or unlocked state. |
| US09273484B2 |
Collapsible enclosure with outer shell
A collapsible enclosure includes a frame assembly and an outer shell. The frame assembly includes frame sections. The outer shell is removably attachable to the frame assembly so that the frame assembly and outer shell cooperatively define an interior space. The outer shell includes at least one shell segment removably attachable to a corresponding frame section. |
| US09273483B2 |
Composition fiber glass utility pole
A fiber glass utility pole comprising: (a) a center section that comprises from 5% to 15% of the total diameter of the utility pole; (b) a mid-section surrounding the center section, the mid-section comprising from 70% to 90% of the total diameter of the utility pole; and (c) an outer section surrounding the mid-section, the outer section comprising from 5% to 15% of the total diameter of the utility pole, wherein the center section comprises fiber glass oriented at a 30 to 60 degree angle to a center axis, and wherein the mid-section comprises fiber glass oriented parallel to the center axis, and wherein the outer section comprises fiber glass oriented at a 30 to 60 degree angle to a center axis. |
| US09273482B2 |
Assembly process for a vehicle and assembly equipment that implements such a process
An assembly process for a vehicle of substantial height, process in which at least one pit is implemented that is able to accommodate the vehicle, the latter being positioned on at least one removable floor platform able to raise the vehicle with respect to the bottom of the pit, the floor platform being positioned at the required height by means of positioning means. |
| US09273473B2 |
Mounting apparatus for an audio/video system and related methods and systems
An audio-video (AV) system in one embodiment includes a mounting apparatus for mounting the system to a wall support located behind a wall surface and within an in-wall space. The mounting apparatus includes a support member for supporting at least one component in a support space within the in-wall space, a display mounting member 30 for mounting a display device, and a removable wall opening cover for concealing at least a portion of the in-wall space that would otherwise be visible through a wall opening to a viewer. Various multimedia-supportive devices, including loudspeakers and a subwoofer, may be concealed behind the cover in the in-wall space. |
| US09273472B2 |
Laminate panel without counteracting paper
The present invention relates to a laminate panel (40; 40′; 40″; 40″′) with a carrier layer (41; 41′; 41″; 41″′) of wood or wood-based material, in which at least the upper side has a decoration and a layer of a cured resin (46; 46′; 46″; 46″′). The rear side of the laminate panel (40; 40′; 40″; 40″′) is provided with a paperless counteracting layer of a cured counteracting material (45; 45′; 45″; 45″′). |
| US09273470B2 |
Connector for supporting veneer members
A connector for coupling a veneer panel to a back-up comprises a support member comprising a mounting flange adapted for securing the support member to said back-up wall, and first and second support member side walls extending outwardly from the mounting flange. The first and second support member side walls define at least one generally horizontal slot when the support member is secured to the back-up wall. The connector further comprises a veneer connector configured for non-rotational sliding receipt in the generally horizontal slot and adapted to support a generally horizontal edge of said veneer panel when the veneer connector is received in the generally horizontal slot and when the support member is secured to the back-up wall. |
| US09273446B2 |
Steerable underwater trenching apparatus
An underwater trenching apparatus comprises at least one trenching tool; a lifting attachment point configured for attachment of a lifting means for lowering the trenching apparatus to, or raising the trenching apparatus from, its location of operation; at least two steerable endless track units for transmitting tractive effort to move the underwater trenching apparatus in use; and for each steerable endless track unit, a first mounting arrangement permitting rotation of the track unit about a vertical axis, and a first actuator configured to move the track unit about the vertical axis, and control means configured to control the action of the actuator. In alternative forms, in addition to, or alternative to the steerable endless track units, the apparatus includes height adjustment means for adjusting the vertical spacing between the main body portion and the respective endless tracks; and control means configured to control the action of the height adjustment means. |
| US09273444B2 |
Variable retaining wall system
A variable retaining wall system may include a block having a top, a bottom, and a hollow core area. At least one set of setback knobs may attach to the block. The at least one set of setback knobs may include a primary set of setback knobs and a secondary set of setback knobs of a different angle than the primary set of setback knobs. The at least one set of setback knobs may be removable. |
| US09273438B2 |
Leak sealant for dams and other structures
An environmentally acceptable leak sealant comprising lava rock aggregate (scoria) for sealing leaks in dams, holding ponds or other water-containing structures. The aggregate is selected and graded for particle size and density. Particles of different sizes cooperate to engage walls of the leak and interlock with each other to form a seal within a leak opening. The particles must sink at a suitable rate, and become entrained in water flow through the leak. Beneficially larger particles have a generally higher sink rate than smaller particles, and so arrive first at the leak to staunch a major part of the flow; intermediate and smaller particles follow to form an effective seal. Applications include sealing sluice gates, stop logs at hydroelectric dams to reduce water wastage for increased electricity productivity, for maintenance requiring de-watering of the turbine; or for sealing leaks in cracks in bedrock or concrete structures associated with dams. |
| US09273434B2 |
Pre-fabricated modular boat dock assembly
An assembly for budding a pre-fabricated modular boat dock structure is disclosed. The assembly is designed to be modular so it can be fabricated in a shop environment and then installed by assembling it on site. The assembly is further designed to enable the individual component modules to be powder coated prior to installation so that the pre-fabricated modular boat dock will be rust resistant and have a much longer expected lifespan than a custom boat dock which is built on site would have. The pre-fabricated modular boat dock structure has a pleasing aesthetic appearance after having been powder coated and is useful in extending the life of a boat dock structure used to shelter boats stored immediately adjacent to a body of water. |
| US09273433B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling dust emissions with temperature control
A working machine for use in milling the surface of a road includes a drive engine that produces engine exhaust gases. The working machine also includes a milling drum that is mounted for rotation against the surface of the road so as to generate milled material including dust from the road surface. The milling drum is contained within a milling chamber, and a spray assembly directs water into the milling chamber in such a manner that, during a period of rotation of the milling drum against the surface of the road, at least a portion of the water is converted to a vapor. A conduit is provided for conducting at least a portion of the engine exhaust gases into an enclosed space in communication with the milling chamber to raise the temperature of a gas stream therein containing vapor and dust from the milled material. |
| US09273429B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing lignocellulosic materials with improved properties
A method and apparatus for treating a wet or moist lignocellulosic material at a moisture content which is in a range from above the Xfsp value of the material down to about 0.1 kg water/kg dry below the Xfsp value, where Xfsp is the fiber saturation point value, with rapid warming of the wet or moist lignocellulosic material to a level that natural polymers in the lignocellulosic material soften, which changes the microstructure and results in improved properties of the lignocellulosic material. |
| US09273428B2 |
Method for producing particles electrostatically
The invention refers to a method for forming particles or droplets of at least one substance comprising the steps of providing a foamed medium, which foamed medium comprises said substance, and forming particles or droplets of said substance at least partly by electrostatic processing. The use of foamed medium in electrostatic processing enables higher production speeds and increases the evenness of a coating layer formed by electrospinning or electrospraying the particles or droplets on a substrate. |
| US09273420B2 |
Method for actuating a needle bar in a needling machine
A method for actuating a needle bar in a needling machine includes the actuation of a first oscillating drive at a first frequency, the first oscillating drive having a main conrod connected directly or indirectly to the needle bar, and simultaneously the actuation of a second oscillating drive at a second frequency, the second oscillating drive having a secondary conrod connected directly or indirectly to the needle bar, the movements of the needle bar produced by the first and second oscillating drives being superimposed on each other and the second frequency being higher than the first frequency. |
| US09273419B2 |
Fluid acquisition layer
A liquid acquisition material for use in an absorbent article. The liquid acquisition material having first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are chemically cross-linked cellulose fibers and the second fibers are selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, rayon, lyocell, and mixtures thereof. The liquid acquisition material has a total dry weight, the first fibers have a first dry weight, and the second fibers have a second dry weight. The first dry weight is from 30 to 95 percent of the total dry weight and the second dry weight is from 5 to 70 percent of the total dry weight. |
| US09273417B2 |
Wet-Laid process to produce a bound nonwoven article
A versatile binder comprising at least one or more sulfopolyesters is provided. These sulfopolyester binders can enhance the dry tensile strength, wet tensile strength, tear force, and burst strength of the nonwoven articles in which they are incorporated. Additionally, the water permeability of these binders can be modified as desired by blending different types of sulfopolyesters to produce the binder. Therefore, the binder can be used in a wide array of nonwoven end products and can be modified accordingly based on the desired properties sought in the nonwoven products. |
| US09273416B2 |
Composite yarn, fabric, and automotive interior material made from paper
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of paper, e.g., traditional Korean paper, and a composite yarn manufactured thereby, a method for manufacturing a fabric using the same and an automotive interior material manufactured thereby. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of traditional Korean paper by using a traditional Korean paper yarn and a synthetic yarn, in which the composite yarn can be used in weaving and knitting, and a method for manufacturing a fabric as an automotive interior material using the same. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of paper, comprising twisting a tape-type paper yarn, and covering the twisted paper yarn as a ground yarn at least two strands of synthetic yarn as an effect yarn to manufacture a composite yarn of paper of 160˜700 denier. |
| US09273414B2 |
Epitaxial growth apparatus and epitaxial growth method
An object of the present invention is to provide an epitaxial growth apparatus and an epitaxial growth method that can suppress variation in in-face temperature of a semiconductor wafer caused by deflection of a susceptor and manufacture an epitaxial wafers of high quality. Specifically, the present invention provides an epitaxial growth apparatus for forming an epitaxial film on a semiconductor wafer placed in a chamber having a supply port and an exhaust port for a treatment gas, the apparatus comprising: a susceptor for placing the semiconductor wafer thereon within the chamber; and a susceptor support shaft for supporting the susceptor at an underneath portion of the susceptor, wherein the susceptor support shaft has a support column located substantially coaxial with the center of the susceptor, and at least four support arms extending radially from the top end of the support column with equal intervals therebetween. |
| US09273411B2 |
Growth determination in the solidification of a crystalline material
A method for producing a crystalline material in a crucible in a crystal growth apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises, in part, the step of determining the amount of solidified material present in a partially solidified melt produced during the growth phase using at least one laser positioned at a height above the crucible. A crystal growth apparatus comprising the laser is also disclosed. |
| US09273410B2 |
Low-temperature synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals
Low-temperature organometallic nucleation and crystallization-based synthesis methods for the fabrication of semiconductor and metal colloidal nanocrystals with narrow size distributions and tunable, size- and shape-dependent electronic and optical properties. Methods include (1) forming a reaction mixture in a reaction vessel under an inert atmosphere that includes at least one solvent, a cationic precursor, an anionic precursor, and at least a first surface stabilizing ligand while stirring at a temperature in a range from about 50° C. to about 130° C. and (2) growing nanocrystals in the reaction mixture for a period of time while maintaining the temperature, the stirring, and the inert-gas atmosphere. |
| US09273409B2 |
Electroplated metallic conductors
One embodiment is a method for producing void-free electroplated metallic conductors, the method including steps of: (a) providing a substrate having an insulating mask formed over a metallic seed layer, said insulating mask having at least one opening formed therein, wherein inside the at least one opening only the bottom surface includes exposed metallic seed layer; (b) immersing the substrate in an electrolyte contained in an electrochemical deposition (ECD) cell, the ECD cell including at least one anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode includes at least the exposed metallic seed layer at the bottom of the at least one opening, and wherein the electrolyte includes plating metallic ions and at least one inhibitor additive, said metallic ions and said at least one inhibitor additive having concentrations; (c) providing agitation of the electrolyte across the surface of the substrate; (d) electroplating inside the at least one opening wherein (i) the agitation and the concentrations of the plating metallic ions and the at least one inhibitor additive produce void-free electroplated metal or alloy inside the at least one opening when applying to the substrate an average electroplating current density between 45-250 mA/cm2, and (ii) said electroplated metal or alloy is a material selected from a group consisting of Cu, Ag, Cu alloys, and Ag alloys; and (e) removing the insulating mask, and then removing the metallic seed layer which was covered by the insulating mask during step (d). |
| US09273408B2 |
Direct injection molded solder process for forming solder bumps on wafers
Solder bumps are provided on round wafers through the use of injection molded solder. Copper pillars or ball limiting metallurgy are formed over I/O pads within the channels of a patterned mask layer. Solder is injected over the pillars or BLM, filling the channels. Molten solder can be injected in cavities formed in round wafers without leakage using a carrier assembly that accommodates wafers that have been previously subjected to mask layer deposition and patterning. One such carrier assembly includes an elastomeric body portion having a round recess, the walls of the recess forming a tight seal with the round wafer. Other carrier assemblies employ adhesives applied around the peripheral edges of the wafers to ensure sealing between the carrier assemblies and wafers. |
| US09273406B2 |
Electrolytic cell having a laminated core of laminations which are stacked one on top of the other with recesses, and method for manufacturing and operating same
An electrolytic cell, a method for manufacturing the cell, and a method of operating same. The electrolytic cell has at least two bipolar plates, at least one fluid inflow and outflow, as well as at least one laminated core arranged between the at least two bipolar plates. The laminated core is constructed from laminations which are stacked one on top of the other. At least two laminations have recesses which are designed to extend through the entire thickness of the respective lamination. The at least two laminations are arranged one on top of the other in such a way that recesses in adjacent laminations overlap partially, but not completely, as a result of which ducts, which are continuous in the direction of the plane of the lamination, are formed. |
| US09273404B2 |
Process for electrolysis of alkali metal chlorides with oxygen-consuming electrodes
Processes for electrolysis of alkali metal chlorides with oxygen-consuming electrodes having startup and shutdown conditions which prevent damage to the constituents of the electrolysis cell. |
| US09273398B2 |
Metallized nanotubes
A process for metallizing nanomaterial including subjecting nanomaterial in a metallizing solution to microwave radiation; nanomaterial made by such a process; and density gradient separation of such material. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). |
| US09273396B2 |
Vapor deposition apparatus and method associated
A vapor deposition apparatus includes a deposition chamber for carrying out a deposition of a film on a substrate, source gas tubes for supplying a source gas, a transfer unit for transferring the substrate in the interior of the deposition chamber so that the substrate is alternately situated in a state where the substrate is located in a deposition region that faces the gas discharge port for supplying the source gas and in a state where the substrate is located in other region except the deposition region, while the source gas is supplied from a gas discharge port of any one of the source gas tubes, and a supply tube for supplying a gas containing group-V element to the substrate S located in the other region. |
| US09273394B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and diagnosis method thereof
A plasma processing apparatus includes at least three gas supply lines connected to a process chamber in parallel to allow a gas to flow therethrough, and at least three flow-rate controllers provided on the gas supply lines to detect the flow rate of the gas flowing through each of the flow-rate controllers to control the flow rate to a set value and a diagnosis method. The apparatus has a function of splitting and supplying a gas controlled to a predetermined flow rate by the third flow-rate controller, to a first flow-rate controller for the smallest detectable range of the three flow-rate controllers and to a second flow-rate controller, in order to test the operation of the control of the flow rate of the first flow-rate controller, based on the value obtained from the flow rate of the gas flowing through the second flow-rate controller and the predetermined flow rate. |
| US09273393B2 |
Torch system for depositing protective coatings on interior walls and recesses present on the flat surface of an object
A torch system for deposition of protective coatings on the walls of holes and recesses on the surface of showerheads includes a capacitive coupling plasma processing apparatuses. The system comprises an atmospheric-pressure inductively coupled plasma reactor for the formation of a plasma torch, a showerhead holder for moving the showerhead relative to the tip of the torch during deposition of the protective coating, and a plasma torch focusing device for squeezing and focusing the tip of the torch to cross-sectional dimensions comparable with the diameters of the gas holes of the showerhead which may be as small as 0.5 mm. The focusing device is moveable relative to the plasma reactor and the treated object in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the object. The movements of the showerhead and of the focusing device relative to the treated surface are automatically adjusted through feedbacks for maintaining the torch tip at optimal parameters. |
| US09273390B2 |
Apparatus and method for coating organic film
An apparatus and method for coating an organic film are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an evaporation device, an electron emission device and a spray device; wherein the evaporation device comprises an evaporation container, the evaporation container is a linear evaporation container, in which a uniform organic gas is generated; the electron emission device is horizontally arranged over the evaporation container such that the organic gas evaporated in the evaporation container is uniformly charged and becomes charged organic gas; the spray device is provided with an electric field, under which the charged organic gas is moved toward a substrate so as to deposit the organic film on the substrate. |
| US09273384B2 |
High speed tool steel, material for blade edge, cutting tool, and manufacturing method of material for blade edge
A high speed tool steel containing, by mass percent, 0.5-1.5% of C; 1.0% or less of Si; 1.0% or less of Mn; 3.0-5.0% of Cr; 15.0-25.0% of one or two kinds of W and Mo according to a formula (W+2Mo); 1.0-less than 1.5% of V; 5.0-10.0% of Co; and a remainder including Fe and impurities, the high speed tool steel further containing 0.0005-0.004% of Ca and 0.005-0.015% of N. Also, a material for a blade edge that is made of the high speed tool steel and a cutting tool made by welding the material for the blade edge to a body material. Further, a manufacturing method of the material for the blade edge. |
| US09273380B2 |
Aluminum-carbon compositions
An aluminum-carbon composition including aluminum and carbon, wherein the aluminum and the carbon form a single phase material, characterized in that the carbon does not phase separate from the aluminum when the single phase material is heated to a melting temperature. |
| US09273378B2 |
Fine solid solution alloy particles and method for producing same
The alloy fine particles of the present invention are fine particles of a solid solution alloy, in which a plurality of metal elements are mixed at the atomic level. The production method of the present invention is a method for producing alloy fine particles composed of a plurality of metal elements. This production method includes the steps of: (i) preparing a solution containing ions of the plurality of metal elements and a liquid containing a reducing agent; and (ii) mixing the solution with the liquid that has been heated. |
| US09273375B2 |
Nanomaterial-based methods and apparatuses
Nanomaterials are incorporated within a material, such as within a metal-based material. As may be implemented in accordance with various embodiments, nanomaterials are introduced to a metal-based material in a liquid state, and the metal-based material and nanomaterials are cooled from the liquid state to a viscous state. The metal-based material is stirred in the viscous state to disperse the nanomaterials therein, and the metal-based material is used in the viscous state to maintain dispersion of the nanomaterials as the metal-based material cools. |
| US09273368B2 |
Process for direct reduction of iron oxide
A process for direct reduction of iron oxide in a shaft furnace. The process includes feeding iron oxide to the furnace, passing the iron oxide successively downwardly through a pre-reduction zone, a transition zone, a metallization zone, and a cooling zone while passing rich fuel gas produced by external partial combustion with a sub-stoichiometric volume of air upwardly through the pre-reduction zone in counter-current flow so as to partially reduce the iron oxide, and passing reducing gas downwardly through the metallization zone in co-current flow so as to substantially complete the reduction of the iron oxide to metallic iron. The reducing gas is first pre-heated in a gas heater and then subjected to partial combustion with oxygen to further increase its temperature. The process includes removing a metallized iron product from the cooling zone. |
| US09273360B2 |
Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
The present invention provides improved tests for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The tests are particularly useful for eliminating false positive results due to the presence of a mixed bacterial population in patient samples. |
| US09273359B2 |
Extracellular vesicles derived from Gram-positive bacteria, and use thereof
The present disclosure relates to a method of assessing a subject's susceptibility to a vascular disease. The method may comprise providing a concentrated population of extracellular vesicles contained in a biological material obtained from a subject, processing the concentrated population to determine if the concentrated population contains a 16S rRNA sequence of Staphylococcus, and upon determining that the concentrated population contains a 16S rRNA sequence of Staphylococcus, further determining that the subject is potentially susceptible to a vascular disease. |
| US09273357B2 |
Pharmacogenetic test anti-resorptive therapy-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for testing individuals to determine whether they are at increased risk of developing anti-resorptive therapy-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw. |
| US09273353B2 |
Instrument for monitoring polymerase chain reaction of DNA
An optical instrument monitors PCR replication of DNA in a reaction apparatus having a temperature cycled block with vials of reaction ingredients including dye that fluoresces in presence of double-stranded DNA. A beam splitter passes an excitation beam to the vials to fluoresce the dye. An emission beam from the dye is passed by the beam splitter to a CCD detector from which a processor computes DNA concentration. A reference strip with a plurality of reference emitters emit reference beams of different intensity, from which the processor selects an optimum emitter for compensating for drift. Exposure time is automatically adjusted for keeping within optimum dynamic ranges of the CCD and processor. A module of the beam splitter and associated optical filters is associated with selected dye, and is replaceable for different dyes. |
| US09273346B2 |
Systems and methods for automated melting curve analysis
An experimental melting curve is modeled as a sum of a true melting curve and background fluorescence. A deviation function may be generated based upon the experimental melting curve data and a model of a background signal. The deviation function may be generated by segmenting a range of the experimental curve into a plurality of windows. Within each window, a fit between the model of the background signal and the experimental melting curve data may be calculated. The deviation function may be formed from the resulting fit parameters. The deviation function may include background signal compensation and, as such, may be used in various melting curve analysis operations, such as data visualization, clustering, genotyping, scanning, negative sample removal, and the like. The deviation function may be used to seed an automated background correction process. A background-corrected melting curve may be further processed to remove an aggregation signal. |
| US09273345B2 |
Methods and compositions for processes of rapid selection and production of nucleic acid aptamers
Embodiments herein relate to compositions and methods for making and using aptamers, for example, DNA aptamers (DCEs) and/or RNA aptamers. In some embodiments, methods relate to making and amplifying target DCEs. In certain embodiments, methods for making capture elements or aptamers concern using a reporter moiety and signal reducing moiety prior to amplifying a target-specific capture element. In some embodiments, methods disclosed herein may be used to rapidly generate large quantities of aptamers such as DCEs directed to a particular target agent. Some embodiments relate to systems for performing automated generation of aptamers. |
| US09273344B2 |
Instrument for cassette for sample preparation
A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system. |
| US09273340B2 |
Method for detecting a target microorganism using two indicator systems in a culture device
A method of detecting a target microorganism is disclosed. The method comprises providing a culture device with a selective culture medium and a detection article comprising a first indicator system. The selective culture medium facilitates the growth of an indicator microorganism. When an indicator microorganism is detected in a sample contacted with the culture medium, the detection article is contacted with the culture medium to detect the target microorganism. |
| US09273337B2 |
Method for improving measurement accuracy and devices and systems related thereto
The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for providing accurate measurement of a property of a sample. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of independent measurements of the property. The plurality of values of the property of the sample obtained by the plurality of independent measurements is compared to determine whether one or more of the values is an outlier. |
| US09273334B2 |
Methods of producing protoporphyrin IX and bacterial mutants therefor
The presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed in certain embodiments to a method of producing protoporphyrin IX by (1) cultivating a strain of Shewanella bacteria in a culture medium under conditions suitable for growth thereof, and (2) recovering the protoporphyrin IX from the culture medium. The strain of Shewanella bacteria comprises at least one mutant hemH gene which is incapable of normal expression, thereby causing an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX. In certain embodiments of the method, the strain of Shewanella bacteria is a strain of S. loihica, and more specifically may be S. loihica PV-4. In certain embodiments, the mutant hemH gene of the strain of Shewanella bacteria may be a mutant of shew_2229 and/or of shew_1140. In other embodiments, the presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed to mutant strains of Shewanella bacteria having at least one mutant hemH gene which is incapable of normal expression, thereby causing an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX during cultivation of the bacteria. In certain embodiments the strain of Shewanella bacteria is a strain of S. loihica, and more specifically may be S. loihica PV-4. In certain embodiments, the mutant hemH gene of the strain of Shewanella bacteria may be a mutant of shew_2229 and/or shew_1140. |
| US09273330B2 |
Butanol tolerance in microorganisms
Provided herein are recombinant yeast host cells and methods for their use for production of fermentation products from a pyruvate utilizing pathway. Yeast host cells provided herein comprise reduced pyruvate decarboxylase activity and modified adenylate cyclase activity. In embodiments, yeast host cells provided herein comprise resistance to butanol and increased biomass production. |
| US09273329B2 |
Method for producing ethanol using cellulosic biomass as raw material
In the present disclosure, after a volatile organic acid is added as a catalyst to a slurry and the hydrolytic saccharification reaction of hemicellulose is performed, the volatile organic acid (including one added to the slurry and one produced as a by-product) contained in a C5 saccharified solution can be easily recovered by adding a small amount of sulfuric acid to the C5 saccharified solution and subjecting the C5 saccharified solution to air stripping treatment. The efficiency of hydrolytic saccharification of hemicellulose into C5 sugars using a volatile organic acid can also be continuously improved by adding the recovered volatile organic acid as a catalyst to another slurry of cellulosic biomass. |
| US09273324B2 |
Recombinant gene expression
Genes are expressed by culturing cells comprising a host chromosome comprising an integrated artificial chromosome comprising recombinant genes, under conditions whereby each recombinant gene is expressed copy number dependently and position independently. Deletions increase expression from recombinant gene(s) inserted into the artificial chromosome. |
| US09273322B2 |
Root-preferred promoter and methods of use
The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter for the gene encoding Sorghum bicolor pLTP. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention. |
| US09273321B2 |
In vitro plant bioassay methods
The present invention provides assays and methods for efficiently testing a polynucleotide of interest for a phenotype in a root. In some embodiments, the assays and methods include regenerating green tissue that is transgenic for at least one polynucleotide of interest into one or more transgenic plantlets that have at least one transgenic root. Further provided are methods of making a root assay by contacting green tissue with a first rooting medium to produce a plantlet and a plurality of roots. Additionally provided are methods of assaying for insecticidal activity on a live root. Accordingly provided herein is a substantially contamination-free, root bioassay. Further provided are methods of identifying a promoter having activity in a root. |
| US09273315B2 |
Modulation of huntingtin expression
Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of huntingtin mRNA and protein in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate Huntington's disease, or a symptom thereof. |
| US09273309B2 |
Mapping of genomic interactions
The present invention relates to genomic analysis. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for mapping genomic interactions. |
| US09273304B2 |
Inactivation method
The present invention relates to the field of thermostable enzymes, methods for their inactivation, and related uses, kits and reagents. In particular, the invention relates to a method for reversible inactivation of thermophilic enzymes by chemical modification under aqueous or non-aqueous conditions. |
| US09273303B2 |
Dried and stabilized ready-to-use composition containing nucleic acid polymerization enzymes for molecular biology applications
The present invention relates to a exsiccated or lyophilized composition comprising: a nucleic acid polymerization enzyme and cellobiose, in which the enzyme is stable for a period of time, even at a temperature of up to 55° C. The composition of the invention can also comprise further reagents, such as salts, primers specific for a template DNA present in a sample, probes, etc. The invention relates to a method for preparing an exsiccated or lyophilized composition comprising a nucleic acid polymerization enzyme and cellobiose, possibly in containers, in which the enzyme is lyophilized and ready for use in molecular biology applications upon addition of the sample. |
| US09273301B2 |
Thermostable blunt-end ligase and methods of use
Fusion proteins having thermostable blunt-end ligase activity are provided. Blunt-end ligases are useful for DNA amplification, sequencing, production of recombinant DNA and recombinant fusion proteins, and other purposes. These thermostable blunt-end DNA ligases are useful in ligation schemes which include, e.g., an incubation at about 60-65° C. or higher, or as high as about 94° C., or at other temperatures. The ligases disclosed herein may enable high temperature blunt-end ligation without need for molecular crowding agents, and so may be useful for many nucleic acid ligation-amplification schemes, e.g., ones which operate at a uniform temperature (e.g., at about 60° C. or higher), including ones which require temperature cycling, e.g., from about 94° C. to about 60° C. (or higher) for one, two, three, or more cycles. The thermostable blunt-end DNA ligases disclosed herein enable higher specificity target amplification, for example, by permitting temperature denaturation of double-stranded DNA templates as well as specific primer binding. |
| US09273293B2 |
DNA polymerases with increased 3′-mismatch discrimination
Disclosed are mutant DNA polymerases having increased 3′-mismatch discrimination relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The mutant polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the mutant DNA polymerases. |
| US09273285B1 |
Shorter colony-forming cell assay
The present disclosure provides a method of determining the frequency and proliferative potential of progenitor cells in a starting cell preparation comprising (a) culturing the cell preparation for 5-10 days in a culture medium comprising FLT-3 Ligand (FL) and Thrombopoietin (TPO); (b) detecting and enumerating the colonies; and (c) assessing the frequency and proliferative potential of progenitor cells in the starting cell preparation based on the number of colonies in step (b). The number of colonies in step (b) correlates to the number of colonies in a standard 14-day colony-forming cell assay. The method is particularly useful for predicting and evaluating the suitability of grafts for transplantation. |
| US09273282B2 |
Methods for the isolation and expansion of cord blood derived T regulatory cells
The present invention encompasses methods, and kits for the isolation and expansion of T regulatory cells having the CD45RA+ phenotype, including such cells from human umbilical cord blood. |