| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09342500B2 |
Object memory management system
An object memory management system (OMMS) provides a communications link between a plurality of various types of inputs and a plurality of customers who would normally receive one or more of the various types of inputs. Included among the input signal devices are GPS, infrared (IR), photo cell, range finder, and other type sensors, and signal sources such as data bit stream, pulsed digital signals, verbal and visual signals. Included among the customers are artificial intelligence (AI) and software service providers. The system recognizes a received incoming signal, converts it into a signal the designated customer can recognize and sends it to the designated customer. Signals are processed on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis unless a priority designation is received. Complex incoming signals (verbal and visual) require pattern recognition wherein an object database is utilized to understand such incoming signals. |
| US09342489B2 |
Automatic linking of requirements using natural language processing
A method of automatic identifying linking relationships of requirements in a plurality of requirement documents. Terms in the plurality of requirement documents are identified. A part-of-speech tag is assigned to each term. Each identified term is selected as a focal term. Co-occurring terms within a predetermined distance of the selected focal term are determined. A linking relationship probability is calculated for each co-occurring term associated with the selected focal term. The selected focal terms and associated co-occurring terms between the plurality of requirement documents are compared. A degree of linking relationship is identified between two requirements as a function of a comparison between selected focal terms and the associated co-occurring terms between the plurality of requirement documents. An analysis report identifying the degree of linking relationships between two respective requirements is output. |
| US09342488B2 |
Terminal, apparatus and method for optimizing the description of text contents in a fixed layout document
Apparatus for optimizing the description of contents in a layout document is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a parsing unit, for parsing the content of an original layout document to obtain text graphic unit data; an identification unit, for identifying text properties of each character of the text graphic unit data; a text node classification unit, for classifying characters of the text graphic unit data according to the text properties, and saving characters with the same text properties to the same text node along with the same text properties; a text content node classification unit, for, with respect to characters saved in each text node, saving characters on the same line or column. A terminal and a method for optimizing the description of contents in a layout document are disclosed. |
| US09342484B2 |
Variable dose dispensing system
A variable dose dispensing system may include a processor and memory. The processor may receive a request for a variable dose order of a medication, such as from a user. The processor may request an amount of the medication to be administered, and receive, in response to the request, an indication of the amount to be administered. The processor may verify that the amount to be administered is within a range of the variable dose order. The processor may determine an item in a local inventory that contains at least the amount of the medication to be administered, and may dispense the item. If an amount of the dispensed item exceeds the amount to be administered, such as by a waste amount, the processor may display an indication of the waste amount to the user, and may transmit a notification of the waste amount, such as to a management server. |
| US09342482B2 |
On-chip spectral analysis using enhanced recursive discrete Fourier transforms
A computing device uses a recursive discrete Fourier transform (RDFT) engine to reduce time required by a frequency transform module, memory required to hold intermediate products, and/or computing resources used for the testing. In an embodiment the windowing function is integrated and processed simultaneously with the recursive DFT funcions. A frequency-bin power module is configured to determine the frequency bin within the set of frequency bins that has a greatest signal power at various levels of recursion. |
| US09342479B2 |
Systems and methods of data extraction in a vector processor
Systems and methods of data extraction in a vector processor are disclosed. In a particular embodiment a method of data extraction in a vector processor includes copying at least one data element to a source register of a permutation network. The method includes reordering multiple data elements of the source register, populating a destination register of the permutation network with the reordered data elements, and copying the reordered data elements from the destination register to a memory. |
| US09342477B2 |
Multi-core processor, controlling method thereof and computer system with such processor
A multi-core processor includes M cores. If the multi-core processor is operated under a non-multiprocessing support operating system, only a single core is configured as a central processing unit and N cores are configured as co-processors, wherein M and N are positive integers, and N is smaller than M. |
| US09342474B2 |
Switching a computer system from a high performance mode to a low power mode
A computer system includes a first processor, a second processor, and a common memory connected to the second processor. The computer system is switched from a high performance mode, in which at least a portion of the first processor and at least a portion of components on the second processor are active, to a low power mode, in which at least a portion of the first processor is active and the components on the second processor are inactive. All central processing unit (CPU) cores on the second processor are quiesced. Traffic from the second processor to the common memory is quiesced. Paths used by the first processor to access the common memory are switched from a first path across the second processor to a second path across the second processor. |
| US09342471B2 |
High utilization multi-partitioned serial memory
A memory device that includes an input interface that receives instructions and input data on a first plurality of serial links. The instructions and input data are deserialized on the memory device, and are provided to a memory controller. The memory controller initiates accesses to a memory core in response to the received instructions. The memory core includes a plurality of memory partitions, which are accessed in a cyclic and overlapping manner. This allows each memory partition to operate at a slower frequency than the serial links, while properly servicing the received instructions. Accesses to the memory device are performed in a synchronous manner, wherein each access exhibits a known fixed latency. |
| US09342470B2 |
System for enabling software in storage-capable devices
Methods for enabling software from a storage-capable device including the steps of: loading, by a host system operationally connected to the storage-capable device, software from an authenticatable storage area residing in the storage-capable device; validating the software; and installing the validated software, wherein the validated software provides an interface between the host system and the storage-capable device. In some embodiments, the software is enabling software, the method further including the step of loading, by the host system, device-functionality software from the authenticatable storage area. In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of: validating the device-functionality software; and enabling the validated device-functionality software. In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of prior to the step of loading the software, executing a probe command in the host system; and returning, by the probe command, a list of device functional units residing in the storage-capable device. |
| US09342466B2 |
Multiple volume encryption of storage devices using self encrypting drive (SED)
A method for encrypting data on a disk drive using self encrypting drive is provided. The method includes encryption of data chunks of a computing device. The method further includes associating the encrypted data chunks with encryption key indexes of the computing device. Moreover, the method further includes receiving the encryption key indexes for given logical block addresses of the data chunks. The method further includes determining the encryption keys to be used to encrypt the data chunks based on the encryption key indexes of the data chunks to the disk drive. |
| US09342465B1 |
Encrypting data in a flash-based contents-addressable block device
In one aspect, a method includes assigning a base key to a storage array, assigning a volume auxiliary key to each volume in the storage array, for each volume in the storage array that is encrypted, encrypting every block of a backend using the base key and one of a full hash auxiliary key or a short hash handle auxiliary key and for each volume in the storage array that is encrypted, encrypting an address-to-hash table of a volume using the base key and the volume auxiliary key. |
| US09342464B2 |
Social cache
Various embodiments relating to a social cache replacement policy are described. The techniques of the present invention disclosed utilize social network properties to guide a cache replacement policy executed by a social networking platform system. In one embodiment, a method is provided for determining a queue location to cache a data item based on a popularity score computed from social network properties. In one embodiment, a method is provided for computing the popularity score by incorporating a user's social network properties and the user's friends' social network properties. In embodiments, the popularity score may be computed using a plurality of social network properties, which may include social network properties associated with (i) the user, (ii) the consumer(s), and/or (iii) the data item(s). In embodiments, a plurality of popularity scores are maintained in a user-score database, where the plurality of popularity scores are periodically updated using historical data. |
| US09342455B2 |
Cache prefetching based on non-sequential lagging cache affinity
A mechanism is provided in a cache subsystem for cache prefetching based on non-sequential access. The mechanism determines frequently accessed non-sequential cache records in the cache subsystem. The mechanism collects trailing record statistics for the frequently accessed non-sequential cache records. The mechanism determines a caching strategy. The caching strategy comprises prefetching a set of trailing records responsive to a read of a given frequently accessed non-sequential cache record. The mechanism applies the caching strategy to the cache subsystem. |
| US09342454B2 |
Nested rewind only and non rewind only transactions in a data processing system supporting transactional storage accesses
In a multiprocessor data processing system having a distributed shared memory system, first and second nested memory transactions are executed, where the first memory transaction is a rewind-only transaction (ROT) and the second memory transaction is a non-ROT memory transaction. The first memory transaction has a transaction body including the second memory transaction and an additional plurality of transactional memory access instructions. In response to execution of the transactional memory access instructions, memory accesses are performed to the distributed shared memory system. Conflicts between memory accesses not within the first memory transaction and at least a load footprint of any of the transactional memory access instructions preceding the second memory transaction are not tracked. However, conflicts between memory accesses not within the first memory transaction and store and load footprints of any of the transactional memory access instructions that follow initiation the second memory transaction are tracked. |
| US09342453B2 |
Memory channel that supports near memory and far memory access
A semiconductor chip comprising memory controller circuitry having interface circuitry to couple to a memory channel. The memory controller includes first logic circuitry to implement a first memory channel protocol on the memory channel. The first memory channel protocol is specific to a first volatile system memory technology. The interface also includes second logic circuitry to implement a second memory channel protocol on the memory channel. The second memory channel protocol is specific to a second non volatile system memory technology. The second memory channel protocol is a transactional protocol. |
| US09342449B2 |
Metadata redundancy schemes for non-volatile memories
Systems and methods are provided for storing data to or reading data from a non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as flash memory, using a metadata redundancy scheme. In some embodiments, an electronic device, which includes an NVM, may also include a memory interface for controlling access to the NVM. The memory interface may receive requests to write user data to the NVM. The user data from each request may be associated with metadata, such as a logical address, flags, or other data. In response to a write request, the NVM interface may store the user data and its associated metadata in a first memory location (e.g., page), and may store a redundant copy of the metadata in a second memory location. This way, even if the first memory location becomes inaccessible, the memory interface can still recover the metadata from the backup copy stored in the second memory location. |
| US09342448B2 |
Local direct storage class memory access
A queued, byte addressed system and method for accessing flash memory and other non-volatile storage class memory, and potentially other types of non-volatile memory (NVM) storage systems. In a host device, e.g., a standalone or networked computer, having attached NVM device storage integrated into a switching fabric wherein the NVM device appears as an industry standard OFED™ RDMA verbs provider. The verbs provider enables communicating with a ‘local storage peer’ using the existing OpenFabrics RDMA host functionality. User applications issue RDMA Read/Write directives to the ‘local peer (seen as a persistent storage) in NVM enabling NVM memory access at byte granularity. The queued, byte addressed system and method provides for Zero copy NVM access. The methods enables operations that establish application private Queue Pairs to provide asynchronous NVM memory access operations at byte level granularity. |
| US09342447B2 |
Data storage system and method of operating data storage system
A method of operating a data storage device includes providing a memory cell array that includes a first word line, a second word line and a buffer configured to store second data to be programmed into the second word line, reading the second data from the buffer, and programming first data into the first word line. A programming condition of the first data being is changed based on the second data read from the buffer. |
| US09342444B2 |
Log-structured filed system with file branching
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for reading a sequence number from regions of a solid state storage device. A latest region is determined based upon the sequence numbers and a checkpoint file is read within the latest region. A request for a block of data of a first branch is received. A first block of pointers associated with the first branch from the checkpoint file is read. A first pointer from the first block of pointers and a second block of pointers pointed to by the first pointer are read. A second pointer from the second block of pointers and a third block of pointers pointed to by the second pointer are read. A third pointer from the third block of pointers and data pointed to by the third pointer are read. The block of data of the first branch is determined based upon the read data. The block of data is returned. |
| US09342442B2 |
Method of reading and inputting data for testing system and testing system thereof
A method of inputting data for a testing system is disclosed. The method includes coupling an information buffer to a device to be tested, transferring the device to be tested to a plurality of test stations in the testing system in turn, and obtaining the plurality of product identifications stored in the information buffer in each of the plurality of test stations. |
| US09342441B2 |
Methodology and tool support for test organization and migration for embedded software
A method of establishing traceability for embedded software systems. A design code database is provided for an embedded software system. A test suite database including a plurality of test cases is structured for testing design code of the embedded software system. The structuring of the test cases provides a correspondence from a respective test case to a respective portion of the design code. A processor receives a design code modification to the embedded software. An associated test case is identified for testing the modified design code being based on traceability data. The associated test case is revised to accommodate the modified design code. The modified test cases are integrated into the test suite. A traceability database establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the modified design coder and the modified test case is updated. |
| US09342440B2 |
Test coverage analysis
A test coverage analysis method and corresponding apparatus are disclosed, wherein, by executing the program under test using one or more test cases, generating one or more heapdump files containing the call stack information of the program under test, and analyzing the call stack information in the one or more heapdump files, the coverage information of the one or more test cases in terms of functions in the program under test is obtained. |
| US09342434B2 |
Revealing new errors in edited code
Under the present invention, a first (e.g., unedited) set of code will be compiled and analyzed to produce a first set of results that includes a set of errors. A second set of code, which represent an edited version of the first set of code will be compiled and analyzed to produce a set of results that includes another set of errors. Thereafter, the second set of errors will be filters so that errors appearing from the compilation and analysis of the first set of code are excluded. This filtered set of errors can than be presented to the user. The present invention will leverage, among other things, a static code analyzer and a filtering tool to achieve these results. |
| US09342427B2 |
Multi-function device ID with unique identifier
A computer system that recognizes multi-function devices and associates functions with multi-function devices. Each multi-function device may be represented by a multi-function object, allowing tools, applications or other components within the computer to take actions relating to the entire device or relating to a function based on the association of that function with other functions in the same device. These actions include displaying information about devices, instead of or in addition to information about functions. Actions also include selecting functions based on proximity within a device. Functions may be associated with a multi-function device using a unique device identifier provided by the device or generated for the function based on a connection hierarchy between functions and the computer. Devices may be configured to provide the same identifier regardless of the transport over which the device is accessed. |
| US09342426B2 |
Distributed system, server computer, distributed management server, and failure prevention method
A distributed system according to an exemplary embodiment includes first and second servers capable of executing the same application, wherein when a failure occurs in the application in the first server, the first server generates failure information identifying a cause of the failure in the application, and the second server performs failure prevention processing which is determined based on the failure information and intended to prevent a failure in the application. |
| US09342424B2 |
Optimal test flow scheduling within automated test equipment for minimized mean time to detect failure
The present invention describes a method and system for optimizing a test flow within each ATE (Automated Test Equipment) station. The test flow includes a plurality of test blocks. A test block includes a plurality of individual tests. A computing system schedule the test flow based one or more of: a test failure model, test block duration and a yield model. The failure model determines an order or sequence of the test blocks. There are at least two failure models: independent failure model and dependant failure model. The yield model describes whether a semiconductor chip is defective or not. Upon completing the scheduling, the ATE station conducts tests according to the scheduled test flow. The present invention can also be applied to software testing. |
| US09342418B2 |
Storage system, storage control device and data transfer method
When a redundancy failures occurs in sequentiality-guaranteed data transfer, data transfer in a short period of time is resumed such that wherein when a factor by which the second storage device stops processing of the storage system is multiple failures of the two or more redundant control devices during a process of developing data to a storage medium in the second storage device, a session managing unit sets inconsistency as the copy session state, and a buffer managing unit sets the buffer data lost state, and when a data transfer process is resumed between the first storage device and the second storage device, the session managing unit sets consistency as the copy session state when the buffer data lost state is set by the buffer managing unit. |
| US09342413B2 |
SAS RAID head
An SAS RAID head is provided to connect between at least one initiator and at least one storage device. It is a connection head possessed of the RAID function. The SAS RAID head comprises at least one SVC (or a SVC pair), a cooling module, a power supply, and/or an enclosure for accommodating and fixing the above-mentioned components. Wherein, the device-side I/O device interconnect of the SVC (or SVC pair) is the SAS interface. The invention has the flexibility to vary the numbers of initiators and storage devices connected thereto in order to satisfy the topological structures of various systems. |
| US09342410B2 |
Storage module and method for determining whether to back-up a previously-written lower page of data before writing an upper page of data
A storage module and method are disclosed for determining whether to back-up a previously-written lower page of data before writing an upper page of data. In one embodiment, a storage module receives a command to write an upper page of data to memory cells that have already been programmed with a lower page of data. The storage module determines whether a command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module backs-up the lower page of data in another area of the memory before writing the upper page of data to the memory cells only if it is determined that the command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module then writes the upper page of data to the memory cells. |
| US09342406B2 |
Dispersed storage re-dispersion method based on a failure
A method begins by identifying a storage unit of a set of storage units within a dispersed storage system as being likely to fail. The method continues by determining an approach for minimizing rebuilding the encoded data slices that are stored on an identified storage unit in an event of a failure of the identified storage unit. The approach is at least one approach option from a list of approach options that includes fostering new encoded data slices, replicating existing encoded data slices, and re-dispersing existing encoded data slices. The method continues by implementing the approach regarding the identified storage unit and when the identified storage unit fails, retrieving the encoded data slices that were stored on the identified storage unit based on the approach. |
| US09342403B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing a spin transfer torque memory
An apparatus and method for scrubbing spin transfer torque (STT) memory. For example, one embodiment of a apparatus comprises: a memory subsystem including at least one spin transfer torque (STT) memory, the STT memory arranged into one or more entries; and a scrub engine to ensure that the entries of the STT contain valid data, the scrub engine including analysis and processing logic to determine, for each entry, whether a specified scrubbing interval has expired and, if so, then to invalidate the entry or re-fetch data for the entry from a source and, if the scrubbing interval has not expired, then to perform error detection and/or correction on the entry. |
| US09342400B2 |
Dynamic power profiling
Aspects of dynamic power profiling are described herein. In various embodiments, a current sense operating mode is set for a current sense circuit, and the current sense circuit is enabled for operation. The current sense circuit senses an amount of current supplied by at least one of a plurality of power rails based on the current sense operating mode. The current sense circuit also accumulates and stores a value of the amount of current over a period of time. In certain aspects, a system controller averages the value of the amount of current based on the period of time. The current sense circuit may be configured to operate in various modes of operation including single or scan rail modes of operation, and the average of the value of the amount of current may be evaluated based on the modes of operation of the current sense circuit and/or the system. |
| US09342394B2 |
Secure error handling
Various embodiments are described herein. Some embodiments include an Operating System and a platform. The platform includes a processor having an error register. The Operating System can write to the error register only via the platform in a secure manner (for example, using platform firmware). Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09342393B2 |
Early fabric error forwarding
An embodiment includes a processor, included in a first die, detecting a first hardware error (e.g., memory corruption error). The processor formulates a first error message based on the detected first error. The processor may forward the first error message, via a first fabric included on the first die, to a first intellectual property (IP) agent or block, also included in the first die. This may be done using an in-band message, such as one that adheres to the integrated on-chip system fabric (IOSF) specification. The first IP agent may issue an error message that may, for example, alert a user to the error in a manner that is relatively close in time when the error first occurs. This may facilitate better error analysis. The first IP agent may include a processor (e.g., graphics processor), controller (e.g., power management controller), and the like. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US09342389B2 |
Neighbor based and dynamic hot threshold based hot data identification
An address is received. One or more neighbors associated with the received address is/are determined. One or more neighboring hot metrics is/are determined for the one or more neighbors associated with the received address. A hot metric for the received address is determined based at least in part on the neighboring hot metrics. |
| US09342386B1 |
Messaging channel for web pages, extensions, and applications to communicate
A web page itself, unmodified by any injected content script, may communicate with installed extensions or installed packaged applications. A web page initiates a request for a browser extension or a web application via a messaging channel provided by the web browser. A system determines if a URL of the web page matches a pattern specified by a manifest file of the browser extension or the web application, and sends the request to a browser extension or a web application if the URL of the web page matches the pattern. |
| US09342383B2 |
Streaming operations for workflow process models using multiple views on a same buffer
A buffer may be configured to store a plurality of items, and to be accessed by one or more activities of an instance of a process model. A scheduler may be configured to schedule execution of each of a plurality of activities of the process model, and to determine an activation of an activity of the plurality of activities. The scheduler may include an activity manager configured to access an activity profile of the activity upon the determining of the activation, the activity profile including buffer access characteristics according to which the activity is designed to access the buffer. A process execution unit may be configured to execute the activity and may include a buffer access manager configured to access the buffer according to the buffer access characteristics of the activity profile, and to thereby facilitate an exchange of at least one item between the buffer and the activity. |
| US09342380B2 |
System and method for implementing reader-writer locks using hardware transactional memory
Transactional reader-writer locks may leverage available hardware transactional memory (HTM) to simplify the procedures of the reader-writer lock algorithm and to eliminate a requirement for type stable memory An HTM-based reader-writer lock may include an ordered list of client-provided nodes, each of which represents a thread that holds (or desires to acquire) the lock, and a tail pointer. The locking and unlocking procedures invoked by readers and writers may access the tail pointer or particular ones of the nodes in the list using various combinations of transactions and non-transactional accesses to insert nodes into the list or to remove nodes from the list. A reader or writer that owns a node at the head of the list (or a reader whose node is preceded in the list only by other readers' nodes) may access a critical section of code or shared resource. |
| US09342379B2 |
Lock free acquisition and release of a semaphore in a multi-core processor environment
A method for an acquisition of a semaphore for a thread includes decrementing a semaphore count, storing a current thread context of the semaphore when the semaphore count is less than a first predetermined value, determining a release count of a pending queue associated with the semaphore where the pending queue indicates unpended threads of the semaphore, and adding the thread to the pending queue when the release count is less than a second predetermined value. |
| US09342376B2 |
Method, system, and device for dynamic energy efficient job scheduling in a cloud computing environment
A method, system, and device for energy efficient job scheduling in a datacenter computing environment includes a master node. The master node can periodically receive energy data from slave nodes and dynamically assign computing tasks to be executed by the slave nodes based on the energy data. |
| US09342370B2 |
Server migration
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of configuring a migration from a plurality of distributed virtual servers to a system of blades, the method comprising: identifying among the plurality of distributed virtual servers a plurality of candidate virtual servers for inclusion in the migration; collecting performance data for each candidate virtual server; consolidating the performance data for each candidate virtual server into a usage profile; normalizing the usage profile to allow representation of a statistical measure of resource usage by the candidate virtual server; and constructing a configuration for the plurality of candidate virtual servers within the system of blades. |
| US09342367B2 |
System and method for selecting cloud services
A system and process include receiving information relating to a plurality of cloud services from a plurality of cloud service providers. A determination is made, for each of the plurality of cloud services, one or more of a location of a server that hosts a cloud service, an origin of data used in the cloud service, and a destination of data processed by the cloud service. One or more of the plurality of cloud services are selected based on one or more of the determination of the server location, the origin of data, and the destination of data. |
| US09342365B2 |
Multi-core system for balancing tasks by simultaneously comparing at least three core loads in parallel
A multi-core system includes at least three cores, a load comparator and a load migrator. The comparator simultaneously compares at least three loads of the at least three cores to detect a maximum load and a minimum load. The load migrator determines a first core having the maximum load as a source core and a second core having the minimum load as a target core of the at least three cores to migrate tasks from the source core to the target core. |
| US09342356B2 |
Task execution control for generating context information of a user to locate available services
A task execution controller includes a context generating unit that generates context information concerning a user and a surrounding situation of the user; a task managing unit that stores multiple tasks the user attempts to execute, selects a task according to the context information and a predetermined task selection rule, and controls execution of the task; and a service managing unit that confirms services executed by a device used for execution of the task, gives notification of a service corresponding to the execution of the task selected by the task managing unit, to the device and causes the device to perform the service. The task managing unit selects a task by using, as the task selection rule, information of priority levels of tasks and an execution-related dependency relation between tasks preset among the tasks. |
| US09342352B2 |
Guest access to address spaces of adapter
An authorization mechanism allows a host executing a guest operating system to grant permission for the guest to directly access an adapter function's address spaces without host intervention. This access is via instructions implemented based on the architecture of the adapter function. The host also has the capability to intervene in the execution of the instruction, if desired. |
| US09342348B2 |
Transparent high availability for stateful services
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system. The system includes a high availability module and a data transformation module. During operation, the high availability module identifies a modified object belonging to an application in a second system. A modification to the modified object is associated with a transaction identifier. The high availability module also identifies a local object corresponding to the modified object associated with a standby application corresponding to the application in the second system. The data transformation module automatically transforms the value of the modified object to a value assignable to the local object, including pointer conversion to point to equivalent object of the second system. The high availability module updates the current value of the local object with the transformed value. |
| US09342344B2 |
Content-based swap candidate selection
Techniques for building a list of swap candidate pages for host swapping are provided. In one embodiment, a host system can determine a swap target virtual machine (VM) and a target number of swap candidate pages. The host system can further select a memory page from a memory space of the swap target VM and can check whether the memory page is sharable or compressible. If the memory page is sharable or compressible, the host system can add the memory page to the list of swap candidate pages. |
| US09342340B2 |
Virtual module-based ultra-lazy installation for modular systems
A virtual runtime module that omits an internal functional implementation of an associated executable module and that includes a runtime-resolvable public interface of the associated executable module is obtained using a processor within a module-based system. The virtual runtime module within the module-based system is resolved, using the runtime-resolvable public interface of the virtual runtime module, to satisfy dependencies associated with the executable module within the module-based system. At least a portion of the internal functional implementation of the associated executable module within the module-based system is installed during runtime using the resolved virtual runtime module. |
| US09342336B2 |
Memory page de-duplication in a computer system that includes a plurality of virtual machines
Memory page de-duplication in a computer system that includes a plurality of virtual machine partitions managed by a hypervisor, where each virtual machine is assigned a different dedicated memory partition, may include: identifying, by the hypervisor, a plurality of identical memory pages in memory of one or more dedicated memory partitions; assigning, by the hypervisor, one of the identical memory pages as a master page; mapping, for each virtual machine having an identical memory page, each of the identical memory pages to the master page; and directing, by the hypervisor, reads of the memory page to the master page. |
| US09342335B2 |
Systems, methods and computer readable media for managing multiple virtual machines
A system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least two virtual machines running on a hardware platform using either a hosted or a bare metal hypervisor. The virtual machines may communicate with an agent-server resident in the host operating system or in one of the virtual machines to switch control of the hardware component, such as graphics hardware, from one virtual machine to another. |
| US09342334B2 |
Simulating vector execution
A system and method for simulating new instructions without compiler support for the new instructions. A simulator detects a given region in code generated by a compiler. The given region may be a candidate for vectorization or may be a region already vectorized. In response to the detection, the simulator suspends execution of a time-based simulation. The simulator then serially executes the region for at least two iterations using a functional-based simulation and using instructions with operands which correspond to P or less lanes of single-instruction-multiple-data (SIMD) execution. The value P is a maximum number of lanes of SIMD exection supported both by the compiler. The simulator stores checkpoint state during the serial execution. In response to determining no inter-iteration memory dependencies exist, the simulator returns to the time-based simulation and resumes execution using N-wide vector instructions. |
| US09342328B2 |
Model for simulation within infrastructure management software
Systems and methods for simulation within a cloud computing environment. According to one embodiment, the system or method comprises a cloud computing environment with infrastructure management software and a cloud-based managed infrastructure. An interface is identified within infrastructure management software by first identifying a dataflow from the infrastructure management software to the infrastructure, and then, based on the dataflow, identifying a component within the infrastructure management software that is interacting with the infrastructure. A simulation class is then implemented using the identified interface, where the simulation class populates the infrastructure management software with metadata from an infrastructure database such that the infrastructure is simulated. |
| US09342327B1 |
Extensible service execution framework with data mapping architecture
A service description associated with a service is received. An input data mapping rule from a first caller context to a service context associated with the service is automatically determined at least in part by transforming the service description. A service binding data consumer based at least in part on the service description is created. The service and the input data mapping rule between the first caller context and the service context is automatically executed. |
| US09342326B2 |
Allocating identified intermediary tasks for requesting virtual machines within a trust sphere on a processing goal
A system in which a virtual machine manager determines tasks that are to be performed on virtual machines executing on a host computing system. The host computing system further executes an intermediary virtual machine task management module that receives virtual machine tasks from the virtual machine manager. Upon request from the virtual machines, the intermediary module identifies the tasks that are to be performed on the requesting virtual machine to the requesting virtual machine. The virtual machines may perhaps also initiate the performance of such identified tasks. Since the virtual machine itself is initiating contact with the intermediary module, and is not interacting directly with the virtual machine manager, the virtual machine manager need not be in the same sphere of trust as the virtual machine. |
| US09342325B2 |
Synchronizing launch-configuration information between first and second application environments that are operable on a multi-modal device
A method for a multi-modal device for transferring launch information for a panel and first docking bar in a first application environment to a second application environment for a second docking bar in the second application environment includes detecting a docking of the multi-modal device to a hardware module, and displaying a user interface for the second application environment operating on the multi-modal device on the hardware module. The method includes receiving at the second application environment the launch information for launching launchable objects in the first application environment from the second application environment, and parsing, by the second application environment, the launch information to determine a change to the panel or the first docking bar. The change is in the first application environment. The method includes changing the second docking bar to include the change to the panel or the first docking bar based on parsing the launch information. |
| US09342318B2 |
Communication device to be used as a digital sign and a method of configuring the communication device to be used as a digital sign
Technologies are described herein for configuring a communication device to be used as a digital sign. Connection to a remote portal may occur through a transceiver of the communication device. Digital content is received from the remote portal and stored in a memory of the communication device. A digital sign mode of the communication device is activated in response to receiving a first instruction from the remote portal. In the digital sign mode, a ringing function of the communication device may be disabled. A digital content present mode of the communication device is activated in response to receiving a second instruction from the remote portal. In the digital content present mode, the digital content may be presented via at least one of a screen and a speaker of the communication device. |
| US09342317B2 |
Importing profiles for configuring specific system components into a configuration profile for the system
According to a present invention embodiment, a system imports information from a source profile into a target profile. The system maps one or more entities within the source profile to one or more entities of the target profile pertaining to configuring a system including a plurality of system components. Properties of the one or more entities within the source profile are compared to properties of corresponding mapped entities in the target profile. The values of the properties of the one or more entities within the target profile are set to the property values of the corresponding one or more mapped entities within the source profile in response to the comparison indicating the properties correspond. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for importing information from a source profile into a target profile in substantially the same manner described above. |
| US09342316B1 |
Installing digital signage device operating system from flash memory and registering signage device to a global network
Certain aspects direct to a system for installing an operating system to a signage device from a flash memory of the signage device. In certain embodiments, the flash memory has a non-bootable partition, which stores a plurality of operating system images and an installer program. When booting the signage device, a boot program detects that no bootable device exists, and executes the installer program. The installer program receives a user input indicating one of the operating system images as a selected operating system image. Then, the installer program creates a partition in the flash memory, installs a copy of the selected operating system image in the partition as a bootable operating system, and configures the partition as the bootable device. Thus, when the signage device reboots, the boot program may detect the partition as the bootable device, and executes the bootable operating system. |
| US09342313B2 |
Transactional memory that supports a get from one of a set of rings command
A transactional memory (TM) includes a control circuit pipeline and an associated memory unit. The memory unit stores a plurality of rings. The pipeline maintains, for each ring, a head pointer and a tail pointer. A ring operation stage of the pipeline maintains the pointers as values are put onto and are taken off the rings. A put command causes the TM to put a value into a ring, provided the ring is not full. A get command causes the TM to take a value off a ring, provided the ring is not empty. A put with low priority command causes the TM to put a value into a ring, provided the ring has at least a predetermined amount of free buffer space. A get from a set of rings command causes the TM to get a value from the highest priority non-empty ring (of a specified set of rings). |
| US09342310B2 |
MFENCE and LFENCE micro-architectural implementation method and system
A system and method for fencing memory accesses. Memory loads can be fenced, or all memory access can be fenced. The system receives a fencing instruction that separates memory access instructions into older accesses and newer accesses. A buffer within the memory ordering unit is allocated to the instruction. The access instructions newer than the fencing instruction are stalled. The older access instructions are gradually retired. When all older memory accesses are retired, the fencing instruction is dispatched from the buffer. |
| US09342305B2 |
Low power execution of a multithreaded program
Technologies for low power execution of one or more threads of a multithreaded program by one or more processing elements are generally disclosed. |
| US09342302B2 |
Information processing systems and methods for determining an output format for requested data
An information processing device includes a receiving unit (54) configured to receive a reading instruction to read a part of a data file, the part containing less data than the data file; a data obtaining unit (60) configured to obtain the part designated by the reading instruction from an external storage device connected via a network; and a data output unit (66) configured to output the part designated by the reading instruction, wherein when the reading instruction is a reading instruction to read the part and the part is stored compressed in the external storage device connected via the network, the data obtaining unit (60) obtains the part, compressed, designated by the reading instruction, and the data output unit (66) outputs data obtained by expanding the compressed part. |
| US09342298B2 |
Application compatibility checking in a distributed computing environment
In various embodiments, methods and systems for maintaining compatibility between applications, based on feature-set constraints are provided. A distributed computing system provides Platform as a service (PaaS) including a software framework in a service model of cloud computing. A known compatibility baseline is established for features of a first application and a second application. The known compatibility baseline inherently includes a baseline set of unenumerated features of the applications. It is determined that the first application is compatible with second application based on comparing an explicit enumeration of added features or removed features in a feature set of the applications. The added features or removed features are tracked after the baseline set of unenumerated features is defined. The determination whether the first application and the second application are compatible is communicated for processing the first application and/or the second application. |
| US09342296B2 |
Navigation between application locations of resources in automation systems
There is described a method and a system allowing the use of at least one resource of a first automation system in at least one second automation system, whereby the resource is made available by the first automation system and an identification characteristic is used for the unique identification of the resource in the at least second automation system. A user is enabled to navigate in a simple manner between the application locations of originator and user of a resource. This is achieved by the fact that the use of the resource of the first automation system in the at least second automation system is mapped as a bilateral reference in each case between the automation systems and is stored in each case in a storage area in the automation systems, whereby the bilateral reference also contains application locations of the resource in the respective automation system. By using this method or system, a rapid identification of the communication partners involved with a resource can be displayed and the declaration location or the application location of this resource can be displayed there. This method is particularly suitable for supporting the navigation between a variable made available and its application locations and the corresponding instances in the case of bilateral programmed function block communication. With regard to unilateral programmed function block communication, it is possible to navigate between the variable reference specified at the block and the actual variable. This navigation is effected with system support and always finds all the application locations. A major source of error is thereby avoided. |
| US09342290B2 |
Information processing apparatus, installation method, and program
An information processing apparatus is configured to install a driver that has not yet been customized, in response to the start of installation of the driver, and modifies the installed driver such that a function setting value settable through the installed driver becomes identical to a function setting value of a customized driver. |
| US09342286B2 |
Mapping and formatting input commands to a third party protocol
A method and apparatus of translating and mapping received commands between operating system languages and/or protocol-based languages. One example method may provide receiving an action initiated by an external source, such as a person or automated action selection operation. The method may also include identifying the action as a predetermined command of a first computer operating language stored in a memory and mapping the predetermined command to a corresponding protocol command of a different computer operating language, and executing the corresponding protocol command after the mapping operation. |
| US09342285B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting code change
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for detecting a code change. The method includes adding a tag to a function to be changed in a source code, and compiling the source code to acquire, according to the tag, position information and relocation information of the function to be changed in the compiled source code. In embodiments of the present invention, a tag is added to a function to be changed, a source code is compiled into a binary file, and position information and relocation information of the function to be changed in the binary file are acquired by using the tag, so that in subsequent operations, a hot patch file modifies, according to the position information and the relocation information, the function to be changed in software. |
| US09342282B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic data configuration
A method and apparatus for configuring dynamic data are provided. A compilation apparatus may select a data format showing an optimum performance when a binary code is executed, from among a plurality of data formats supported by an execution apparatus used to execute a binary code, and may generate a binary code that uses the selected data format. The execution apparatus may execute a binary code provided by the compilation apparatus. |
| US09342280B2 |
Travel log for manipulation of content
Various embodiments provide a travel log for manipulation of content. In at least some embodiments, the travel log can be presented as a visual element of a web browser and can enable a user to navigate through visited content (e.g., web pages) via manipulation of the content using touch-based and/or touchless gestures. Implementations can facilitate navigation through content by representing the travel log as a visual “time line” of visited content that can be scrolled via manipulation through a web browser user interface. For example, a user can navigate the travel log to older content by manipulating the travel log in one direction, and can navigate the travel log to newer content by manipulating the travel log in a different direction. |
| US09342279B2 |
Traceability management for aligning solution artifacts with business goals in a service oriented architecture environment
Traceability management to align IT solution artifacts with business goals in a service oriented architecture environment is provided. A pattern matching framework is provided for generating patterns and transformation enablers for architectural artifacts based on specific business requirements. Patterns that are applicable to a selected set of artifacts or model are provided to an architect, who may then select a particular subset of the patterns to apply to the set of artifacts or model in the SOA solution design to speed up and simplify the design process. Providing applicable or candidate patterns for selection to the architect in the views reduces the possible ambiguity in architectural artifact-pattern matching and selection. These solution patterns may be used as a guide when configuring and linking architectural artifacts and models. |
| US09342278B2 |
Method and program editor for creating and processing a program for an industrial automation arrangement
A method for creating and processing a program includes selecting a new program object of an object type. The new program object is presented as a character string. The program is presented as text and a program object is presented as a character string when the program object is inserted into the program using drag-and-drop. The method also includes moving the selected program object to a target position in the program text. The method further includes examining the target position to determine whether a program object of the same or a compatible object type is present at the target position. If such a target program object is present at the target position, the method also includes replacing the target program object with the selected program object. Otherwise, the method includes inserting the character string representing the selected program object into the text of the program at the target position. |
| US09342275B2 |
System and method for automatically declaring variables
A system and method for declaring variables during coding of a software program. The method includes, for each variable type, defining a unique string representing a variable declaration instruction and adapting a coding module wherein, generating code for the corresponding variable declaration statement for a new variable having the new variable name and the specified variable type, tracking the variable declaration instructions for each new variable name, and presenting a warning if a programmer attempts to use one of the previously used variable names to declare a new variable name of another data type. The method further includes defining a reserved variable declaration area in the software program and placing any code generated by the coding module for the variable declaration statement into the reserved variable declaration area. Each unique string representing a variable declaration instruction may be, for example, a prefix or suffix. |
| US09342273B1 |
Automatic communications graphing for a source application
A communications mapping system is provided. The communications mapping system includes at least one processor and a memory. The at least one processor configured to receive a source application, the source application including a first sub-application and a second sub-application. The processor is also configured to identify a dependency relationship between the first sub-application and the second sub-application based at least in part on an inspection of the first sub-application. The processor is further configured to generate the relational communications graph including the first sub-application, the second sub-application, and the dependency relationship and provide the relational communications graph for use in executing the source application in an execution environment. |
| US09342271B2 |
Processing device and method for multiplying polynomials
According to one embodiment, a processing device for multiplying a first polynomial with a second polynomial is described including a first memory storing a representation of the first polynomial, a controller configured to separate the first polynomial into parts, a second memory storing pre-determined results of the multiplications of the second polynomial with possible forms of the parts of the first polynomial, a third memory for storing the result of the multiplication, an address logic, configured to determine, for each part of the first polynomial, a start address of a memory block of the second memory based on the form of the part and the location of the part within the first polynomial and an adder configured to add, for each determined address of the memory block of the second memory, the content of the memory block of the second memory at least partially to the contents of the third memory, wherein the data element of the third memory to which the content of a data element of the memory block of the second memory is added is the same for a plurality of the parts of the first polynomial. |
| US09342265B2 |
Image forming system, apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with image forming program for management of the amount of resources consumed
An image forming apparatus includes a portion to receive a print job, a portion to generate print data of the print job, a portion to perform prescribed processing on the print data to convert it into processed data, a portion to form an image of the print data or the processed data, a portion to generate first reduction information including a difference in the amount of resources consumed when an image is formed under a print condition included in the print job and when an image is formed under a predetermined print condition, a portion to generate second reduction information including a difference in the amount of resources consumed when an image is formed from the print data and when an image is formed from the processed data, and a portion to store history information which associates the first and second reduction information with the print job. |
| US09342262B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a reader with changeable positions
An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag reader is described. The wireless tag reader is configured to be located in a first position to read wireless tags associated with consumables when the consumables are inserted into, stationary in, or removed from the image forming apparatus, and in a second position to read wireless tags outside of the image forming apparatus. |
| US09342258B2 |
Integrated circuit device and method for providing data access control
An integrated circuit device comprising at least one memory interface module arranged to be operably coupled between at least one data storage device and a plurality of master devices within a data processing system. The at least one memory interface module comprises a plurality of buffers and at least one data access control module. The at least one data access control module being arranged to fetch data from the at least one data storage device in response to a received memory access request comprising a master device identifier, select at least one buffer based at least partly on the master device identifier of the received access request, and load the fetched data into the selected at least one buffer. |
| US09342251B2 |
Data integrity protection in storage volumes
A plurality of logical volumes are stored at a plurality of sites. A command to execute an operation on a logical volume is received. A determination is made as to whether a rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume. In response to determining that the rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume, the operation is executed on the logical volume. |
| US09342244B2 |
Data deduplication in a virtualization environment
Techniques are described herein that are capable of optimizing (i.e., deduplicating) data in a virtualization environment. For example, optimization designations (a.k.a. deduplication designations) may be assigned to respective regions of a virtualized storage file. A virtualized storage file is a file that is configured to be mounted as a disk or a volume to provide a file system interface for accessing hosted files. In accordance with this example, each optimization designation indicates an extent to which the respective region is to be optimized (i.e., deduplicated). In another example, a virtualized storage file is mounted to provide a virtual disk that includes hosted files. In accordance with this example, optimization designations are assigned to the respective hosted files. In further accordance with this example, each optimization designation indicates an extent to which the respective hosted file is to be optimized. |
| US09342239B2 |
Virtual interface devices
A touch screen device configured to implement an auxiliary virtual keyboard on a touch screen, the device having touch/gesture sensing and image display functions, a processor, and memory storing control code and data defining the keyboard comprising a set of keys and a key layout map. The processor is configured to determine a size of a window in which the keyboard is to be displayed as a strip of keys; send instructions to display a partial view of the keyboard within the window so that a subset of keys are displayed, whereby the keyboard is scrollable in response to user input to alter the partial view to display a different subset of keys; receive touch data; map said touch data to a key using the key layout map to identify a touched key; and provide a response dependent on the identified touched key. |
| US09342234B2 |
System and method for mobile information device content display and selection with concurrent pop-up explanatory information
A user screen display control unit displays not only a content selected by the user but also places a plurality of icons, with which to select a content to be displayed, adjacent to each other and displays the plurality of icons. When a drag operation over the plurality of icons is detected by an operation detector, the user screen display control unit displays the caption for a selected icon in a forefront manner and switches the caption for each icon sequentially selected by a drag operation and sequentially displays the caption. When a predetermined operation is detected on an icon located in a position where the drag operation ends, the user screen display control unit switches the content displayed on the display device to a content associated with the icon located in the position where the drag operation ends. |
| US09342231B2 |
Remote control of a presentation
Techniques for remotely controlling a presentation application are disclosed. In accordance with these techniques, a device, such as a handheld device, is linked over a network with a presentation running on a presentation application. In one embodiment, the remote control application allows the presentation to be controlled over the network by direct communication with the presentation application. In certain embodiments, the remote control application displays parts of the presentation, such as a slide being currently presented, and allows navigation of the presentation. In addition, in certain embodiments, the remote control application displays presentation notes, preview slides, or other information useful to a presenter operating the remote control application. |
| US09342230B2 |
Natural user interface scrolling and targeting
A user interface is output to a display device. If an element of a human subject is in a first conformation, the user interface scrolls responsive to movement of the element. If the element is in a second conformation, different than the first conformation, objects of the user interface are targeted responsive to movement of the element without scrolling the user interface. |
| US09342229B2 |
Method for associating media files with additional content
A method for presenting digitally stored information to a user, including providing, from a server to a client device, timeline information having first and second time points, each time point being relative to when a user accesses the timeline information, the first time point being associated with a digital audio or digital video media file, the second time point being associated with additional content, the additional content being a text or a file comprising video, audio, image, text, a webpage, user comment or user rating in a digital format. Accessing the timeline information causes the client device to start a timing procedure, the client device automatically starting playing the media file when timing reaches the first time point of the timeline information and the client device automatically presenting, to the user, the additional content when the timing reaches the second time point of the timeline information. |
| US09342225B2 |
Systems, devices, or methods for accessing information employing a tumbler-style graphical user interface
A tumbler-style graphical user interfaces (TSGUI) facilitates high context rapid selection of content objects from at least a plurality of tumbler components. Selection of content objects can relate to a path for a memory to access a related final information. The TSGUI can be employed in mobile computing devices, including telephonic mobile computing devices. In an embodiment, a TSGUI of a mobile device can facilitate access to content in relation to messaging applications native to the mobile device. |
| US09342219B2 |
Method for adapting the graphic representation on the user interface of a computer user station
Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for adapting graphic representation on a user interface of a computer user station for the graphic representation of data of an industrial processing plant. Input signals received on or at the computer user station result in a size change of the graphic representation by zooming of the predefinable display region on the user interface or the selection of an object field of the graphic representation. The object field being located in the graphic representation at an associated object field position, for display or user interaction. With the selection of an object field for display or user interaction, the size of the object field on the user interface is fixed for display or user interaction, even if zooming of the graphic representation results in other data of the graphic representation not being readable or activatable by a user. |
| US09342216B2 |
Dynamic interactive menu board
This disclosure relates to a system configured to customize a default set of menu items for diners of a food service establishment. The default set of menu items may be customized based on dietary preferences of the diners. The system may be configured such that diners may interact with the menu of the food service establishment. The system may be configured such that the customized set of menu items may be displayed to diners remotely from the food service establishment. In some implementations, the system may replace a traditional physical menu. In some implementations, the system may comprise an application server, one or more client devices, a database server, and/or other components. |
| US09342213B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
Provided is a mobile terminal including a display unit to which first screen information is output, a memory in which content included in the first screen information is selectively stored, and a controller that, when second screen information different from the first screen information is output to the display unit, controls the display unit in such a manner that the content associated with the second screen information among the items of content stored in the memory is output to one region of the display unit. |
| US09342212B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for streaming multiple different media content in a digital container
A user interface is configured to present a plurality of user-selectable icons. Each user-selectable icon of the plurality of user-selectable icons is individually configured to trigger playing of different streaming media content in an area on the user interface of the user-selectable icon upon a cursor-over or hover action on the user-selectable icon or other selection action by the user. The user-selectable icons are presented in a digital container wherein the container is configured to display contents of the container within a defined area on the user interface such as a Web page. The container may include a single user-selectable icon that is individually configured to trigger playing of streaming media content or multiple different user-selectable icons that are each individually configured to trigger playing of different streaming media content based on assigned specifications or selected criteria. |
| US09342210B2 |
Video mixing method and system
A video mixing computer apparatus includes a computing device, a touch interface having multiple selectable tiles, at least some of the tiles each having an associated media viewer capable of playing a visual source in response to selection of the tile. The compositing engine, tiles, media viewers, and compositing engine interoperate such that, when a user selects a first tile, a part of a first visual source will be played by a first media player, and when the user then selects a second tile, a part of a second visual source will be played by a second media player, and concurrent with the playing, information relating to the parts will be captured for use by the compositing engine to create a media file as a sequential mix of the first and second visual sources corresponding to the user's selections' timings and durations. A video mixing method is also described. |
| US09342206B1 |
Fingerprint location indicator
Situational awareness map display information is generated at a location and populated with sensor information accessed via the Internet. The map display information is made available on the Internet. A remote browser-enabled display terminal accesses the map display information via the Internet, and displays the map and sensor information. A memory associated with the remote terminal is preloaded with fade information. At the remote terminal, a location icon is generated at the cursor location under control of a mouse click. The icon is faded at the stored fade rate. The icon may be a segmented circle surrounding the marked location. Fading may be by sequentially deleting one or more segments from the circle. |
| US09342202B2 |
Conductive multi-touch touch panel
A conductive multi-touch touch-sensitive panel includes two intersecting but electrically isolated arrays of linear conductors which can be brought into electrical contact by touching the panel. A display element may be positioned beneath the two arrays of linear conductors to provide a touchscreen panel. A touch to a cover plate or member causes one or more linear conductors in one array to contact one or more linear conductors in the other array. The location of a touch to the panel can be detected by individually or sequentially applying an electrical signal, such as a voltage or current, to each linear conductor in one array while sensing voltage or current on each of the linear conductors in the other array. |
| US09342199B2 |
Touch detection device, display device with touch detection function, and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect, a touch detection device includes a drive unit that supplies an excitation signal having at least variable magnitude to a first electrode at a predetermined period for detecting approach or a touch of an object; a detection unit electrically coupled to a second electrode provided to be opposed to the first electrode to detect approach or a touch of the object according to an output value from the second electrode; and an element that electrically couples the drive unit and the detection unit, receives the excitation signal from the drive unit, and has a predetermined size of electrostatic capacitance. The touch detection device corrects an output value from the second electrode by using an output value from the element and the output value from the second electrode obtained at the same timing. |
| US09342198B2 |
Method for operating electronic device based on touch pressure and the device performing the method
Electronic device operating technology based on touch pressure is provided. A method for operating an electronic device includes determining touch pressure caused by a touch occurring on a display unit, comparing the touch pressure with predefined damage data, and performing a predefined specific process when the touch pressure is determined as abnormal touch pressure as a result of the comparison. |
| US09342196B2 |
Hardware accelerator for touchscreen data processing
A contact's interaction with a sensing array is subject to several external and internal stimuli which may impact a processing unit's confidence in the characteristics of that interaction or the presence of the interaction itself. Fidelity of user action is greatly improved with a step-wise and holistic analysis of a contact on an array of capacitance sensors, which allows for repetition of certain steps of processing or the entire operation if threshold confidence levels are not achieved. |
| US09342194B2 |
Biometric scanner having a protective conductive array
A biometric scanner having a sensor and an array of conductive strands is disclosed. The sensor has at least one sensor electrode, and that sensor electrode may be a capacitance sensor, an electric field sensor, or an electroluminescent sensor. The array may have an electrical insulating material between adjacent ones of the conductive strands. The array serves to protect the sensor, and conduct through the array information about the electrical characteristics of a biometric object. |
| US09342188B2 |
Optical touch control device and coordinate determination method for determining touch coordinate
An optical touch control device includes a touch zone, an optical module, including a light source and a sense module for emitting a light signal to a touch object within the touch zone and obtaining an image data of the touch object via the sense module, and a calculation module coupled to the optical module for determining a touch coordinate of the touch object relative to the touch zone according to a pulse of the image data, wherein the pulse comprises a position parameter and a value parameter. |
| US09342183B2 |
Touch panel equipped display device and driving method for the same
A touch panel includes a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines, a sampling switch connected to the sense lines, and an integral circuit connected to the sense lines through the sampling switch. The sampling switch is arranged to keep an on- or off-state for a certain time from a moment at which a voltage of a source bus line is changed. |
| US09342181B2 |
Touch-screen input/output device touch sensing techniques
A touch-screen input/output device including a touch sensor, a display, a display control module, a touch sensor control module and a synchronizer module. The touch sensor is overlaid on a display. The display control module is communicatively coupled to the display and converts video data into a serial bit stream video display signal including one or more blanking intervals. The touch sensor control module is communicatively coupled to the touch sensor and determines touch events and location of the touch event on the touch sensor during one or more touch sensor scan cycles. The synchronizer module is communicatively coupled between the display control module and the touch sensor control module, and interleaves the one or more touch sensor scan cycles with the one or more blanking intervals of the video display signal. |
| US09342169B2 |
Terminal device
An information processing apparatus that detects, by a touch panel disposed on or formed integrally with a display, a contact input and a contactless input of an object; determines a position corresponding to an input based on an output from the touch panel; detects a change in distance between a top surface of the touch panel and the object based on the output from the touch panel; and controls the display to display a candidate word list on the display based on the determined position and the detected change in distance. |
| US09342163B2 |
Position measuring device and position information input system using same
Disclosed are a position measuring device capable of precisely measuring a position of an electronic pen tip, and a position information inputting system using the same. The position measuring device includes: a position measuring unit configured to measure a position of a tip of an electronic pen using a reference signal and ultrasonic signals, and configured to input position information on the electronic pen tip to an electronic device; a housing where the position measuring unit is installed; and a coupling means having one end connected to the housing, and another end coupled to the electronic device, so as to couple the housing to one side of the electronic device. Under such configuration, the position measuring device can enhance reliability by precisely measuring positions of characters or symbols to be input to an electronic device having a screen, and can enhance a user's convenience by reducing time taken to input characters or symbols by preventing an erroneous operation. |
| US09342162B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a prescribed function of the mobile terminal can be performed through a button manipulation of a stylus pen and a touch input. The present invention includes a short range communication unit configured to receive a plurality of different signals from a stylus pen, a touchscreen, and a controller performing a prescribed function by combining a type of a signal received from the stylus pen among a plurality of the different signals and a touch pattern of the stylus pen recognized on the touchscreen. |
| US09342157B2 |
Video buttons for a stage lighting console
Video buttons controlling stage lights. Each of the buttons includes a video part, which displays either video or an image that previews the function that is carried out by the button when it is pressed. The buttons can be full-color buttons that show full color videos. An array of buttons can be grouped together, so that the array can operate in different modes, one of which in which the array shows an overall display, and another of which in which the array shows a single function per button. Different technologies including analog switches, touch screens, and the like can be used. |
| US09342153B2 |
Terminal device and method for controlling operations
A device includes circuitry configured to acquire detection data from at least one sensor device corresponding to movement of the device. The circuitry is also configured to control at least one sensitivity detection mode of the at least one sensor device and determine a sampling rate for the at least one sensor device based on the at least one sensitivity detection mode. The circuitry is also configured to determine gestures performed by a user based on the detection data from the at least one sensor device and control operation of the device based on the gestures performed by the user. |
| US09342148B2 |
Electronic device for generating vibrations in response to touch operation
The electronic device 10 includes: a display panel 18 for displaying information in a display area 12; a touch panel 11 to be touched by a user; a vibrating section 13 for vibrating the touch panel 11; and a vibration control section 33 for controlling the vibration of the vibrating section 13. While the user keeps touching the touch panel 11, if the touched position is moved between the inside and the outside of the display area 12, the vibration control section 33 changes the vibration. |
| US09342147B2 |
Non-visual feedback of visual change
Examples relating to using non-visual feedback to alert a viewer of a display that a visual change has been triggered are disclosed. One disclosed example provides a method comprising using gaze tracking data from a gaze tracking system to determine that a viewer changes a gaze location. Based on determining that the viewer changes the gaze location, a visual change is triggered and non-visual feedback indicating the triggering of the visual change is provided to the viewer. If a cancel change input is received within a predetermined timeframe, the visual change is not displayed. If a cancel change input is not received within the timeframe, the visual change is displayed via the display. |
| US09342146B2 |
Pointing-based display interaction
A method includes receiving and segmenting a first sequence of three-dimensional (3D) maps over time of at least a part of a body of a user of a computerized system in order to extract 3D coordinates of a first point and a second point of the user, the 3D maps indicating a motion of the second point with respect to a display coupled to the computerized system. A line segment that intersects the first point and the second point is calculated, and a target point is identified where the line segment intersects the display. An interactive item presented on the display in proximity to the target point is engaged. |
| US09342143B1 |
Determining display orientations for portable devices
An electronic device can utilize image information to determine a proper orientation with which to render content. In some embodiments, a camera of a computing device can capture one or more images to attempt to determine a relative location (or direction) of a user by identifying a feature of a user or by using objects in the image to determine a likely direction of a user. Based at least in part on this information, as well as information from position and motion sensors of the device in some embodiments, a device can determine a relative position of a user, and can cause content to be rendered by the device with an orientation that is appropriate for that position, where the orientation can also depend upon the type of content or other such factors. Such an approach can determine proper orientations in situations where conventional sensor-based approaches are not sufficient. |
| US09342140B2 |
Character input apparatus, character input assist method, and character input assist program
Disclosed herein is a character input apparatus including: a display section having a screen capable of displaying at least characters; an operation section configured to allow a user to input at least the characters; a first character input processing section configured to perform a first character input process of causing a character string to be displayed on the screen in accordance with a predetermined notation rule; a second character input processing section configured to perform a second character input process of causing a character string to be displayed on the screen not in accordance with the predetermined notation rule; a scene determination section configured to determine a character input scene; and an input process switch control section configured to switch between the first character input process and the second character input process in accordance with the character input scene. |
| US09342138B2 |
Mobile device and rotating method of image thereon
A rotating method of an image on a mobile device includes detecting a first included angle between a reference direction of the mobile device and a gravity direction, and a first rotational direction that the reference direction of the mobile device has been rotated relative to the gravity direction; selectively generating a first rotating signal according to the first included angle; detecting a second included angle between a reference direction of a user's face and the gravity direction, and a second rotational direction that the reference direction of the user's face has been rotated relative to the gravity direction; selectively generating a second rotating signal according to the second included angle; and rotating the image on the mobile device in a rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction and/or identical to the second rotational direction. |
| US09342136B2 |
Dynamic thermal budget allocation for multi-processor systems
Embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to systems and methods for dynamically allocating and/or redistributing thermal budget to each processor from a total processor thermal budget based on the workload of each processor. In this manner, the processor(s) having a higher workload can receive a higher thermal budget. The allocation can be dynamically adjusted over time. The individual and overall processor performance increases while efficiently allocating the total thermal budget. By dynamically sharing the total thermal budget of the system, the performance of the system as a whole is increased, thereby lowering, for example, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of datacenters. |
| US09342135B2 |
Accelerated thermal mitigation for multi-core processors
A temperature sensor may sense the temperature of a multi-core processor. In response to the temperature of the multi-core processor exceeding a temperature threshold for the multi-core processor, one or more busy processor cores of the multi-core processor may be power collapsed without reducing clock speed of the multi-core processor. |
| US09342131B2 |
USB hub and control method of USB hub
A USB hub capable of reducing power consumption in a USB system. The USB hub includes an upstream USE port, a downstream USB port, a clock pin that supplies an operation clock to a USE peripheral device, and a hub controller that stops clock supply to the USB peripheral device via the clock pin when a connecting between the upstream USB port and a USB host is disconnected or when the hub controller receives a suspend request to the downstream USB port from the USB host. |
| US09342127B2 |
Electronic apparatus, and charging control method
An electronic apparatus that selectively uses as a power source one of a battery and an external power source to be powered therefrom, the electronic apparatus includes: a charging unit that charges the battery through the external power source; a power status determining unit that determines whether the external power source can drive the electronic apparatus; a history storage unit that stores a history of determination results of the power status determining unit; and a charging control unit that sets, to a maximum capacity of the battery, an upper limit of battery remaining power if the history indicates that the external power source can not drive for at least part of a specific past period, or sets the upper limit to a given value lower than the maximum capacity if the history indicates that the external power source can drive throughout the specific past period. |
| US09342125B1 |
Method and system for utilizing a device's user location to monitor and control the device power usage
The invention pertains to a method and system which monitors attached energy device(s) utilization and allows or inhibits power based on the individual device's user or users current location relative to the device's point of use, the device's effective use range and user based rules. This invention is intended to allow end users to automatically control energy using devices based on the user's real time movement relative to the device in household, workplace, or commercial settings. The energy utilizing device may be either a plug-load, switched-load, or sensor controlled device. |
| US09342124B2 |
Programmable and simultaneous load switch control for power sequencing
A power delivery and control device that includes a voltage input line, a voltage output line, a control logic unit coupled to the voltage input and voltage output line to control a voltage being delivered by the voltage output line based on a programmable behavior parameter, a voltage output register accessible to the control logic unit to define the programmable behavior parameter, a control register accessible to the control logic unit to activate and deactivate the voltage output line, and a control line coupled to the control logic unit to receive commands to change content of the voltage output register. |
| US09342121B2 |
Cooling system for electronic components
Embodiments of the present invention provide for non interruptive fluid cooling of an electronic enclosure. One or more electronic component packages may be removable from a circuit card having a fluid flow system. When installed, the electronic component packages are coincident to and in a thermal relationship with the fluid flow system. If a particular electronic component package becomes non-functional, it may be removed from the electronic enclosure without affecting either the fluid flow system or other neighboring electronic component packages. |
| US09342120B2 |
Mounting structure and method for dissipating heat from a computer expansion card
A mounting structure adapted for mounting an expansion card within a computer enclosure and configured to directly absorb and conduct heat from a heat source (such as an IC chip) on the card to the ambient atmosphere surrounding the enclosure. The mounting structure includes a mounting bracket, a heat sink adapted to contact a surface of the heat source on the expansion card, an extension interconnecting the heat sink and the mounting bracket, one or more features for conducting heat from the heat sink to the mounting bracket, and one or more features associated with the mounting bracket for dissipating heat from the mounting structure to the ambient atmosphere surrounding the enclosure. |
| US09342118B2 |
Liquid cooling of multiple components on a circuit board
A method includes securing a primary cold plate to a secondary cold plate, wherein the primary cold plate is biased away from the secondary cold plate. The secondary cold plate is aligned with a circuit board having heat-generating components, wherein the primary cold plate is aligned with a processor. The method secures the aligned secondary cold plate to the circuit board with a first surface in thermal engagement with the heat-generating components, wherein the primary cold plate is pressed against the processor to overcome the bias, move the primary cold plate toward the secondary cold plate, position the primary cold plate in thermal engagement with the processor, and compress a thermal interface material between the primary and secondary cold plates. A cooling liquid is passed through a liquid cooling channel within the primary cold plate to draw heat from the processor and from the secondary cold plate. |
| US09342117B2 |
Externally latching drive tray and drive removal mechanism
A drive-removal mechanism may include, but is not limited to: at least one rotatable member; and at least one drive-engaging member operably coupled to the at least one rotatable member, wherein the drive-removal mechanism is detached from at least one drive to be removed. A drive enclosure may include, but is not limited to: at least one drive-receiving member including at least one drive-receiving channel; and at least one drive-removal mechanism including: at least one rotatable member; and at least one drive-engaging member operably coupled to the at least one rotatable member, wherein the drive-removal mechanism is configured to at least partially remove at least one hot swappable drive from the at least one drive-receiving channel. |
| US09342115B2 |
Mounting apparatus of data storage device
A mounting apparatus for a data storage device defining mounting holes in opposite first side and second side, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting plate, a first mounting member mounted to the mounting plate, a second mounting member mounted to the mounting plate, a pivoting member pivotably connected to a first side of the data storage device, and a locking member pivotably connected to the pivoting member. The first mounting member includes a supporting piece and two tips. The second mounting member includes a locking piece and a block formed at an end of the locking piece. The locking member includes a locking portion. The tips engage in the mounting holes of a second side of the data storage device. The pivoting member is rotated to be located between the second mounting member and the data storage device, and the locking member is rotated to engage under the block. |
| US09342113B2 |
Movement-triggered action for mobile device
In one embodiment, a method includes, by a computing device, receiving sensor data from a sensor on the computing device indicating physical movement of the computing device. The method also includes determining a motion-trigger signal of the sensor data corresponding to a first characteristic of the physical movement of the computing device and a motion-confirm signal of the sensor data corresponding to a second characteristic of the physical movement of the computing device. The method further includes determining whether the motion-trigger signal includes a transition from within a pre-defined threshold band to outside of the pre-defined threshold band and whether the motion-confirm signal is within the pre-defined threshold band. The method also includes initiating a pre-defined action of the computing device when the motion-trigger signal includes the transition from within the pre-defined threshold band to outside the pre-defined threshold band and the motion-confirm signal is within the pre-defined threshold band. |
| US09342110B2 |
Heat dissipating device
A heat dissipating device includes a supporting part, a plurality of first fins and a plurality of second fins. The first fins are disposed in a vertical array at the supporting part. The second fins are disposed in an inclined array at the supporting part. The first fins and the second fins are staggeredly disposed and adjacent to each other correspondingly. The heat exchange efficiency of the fins is improved so as to increase the heat dissipating efficiency of the heat dissipating device. |
| US09342103B2 |
Hinged bezel having a portable display dock
A bezel includes a dock for a portable display device. The bezel also includes a hinge component that, when coupled to an enclosure, allows the bezel to be rotatably moved with respect to the enclosure. |
| US09342097B2 |
Microcontroller and method of controlling the same
A microcontroller includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a data input unit, and an oscillator that supplies a clock signal in response to operational modes of the microcontroller. The operational modes include a STOP mode, a SNOOZE mode and a RUN mode, in the STOP mode, the oscillator and the CPU are stopped, in the RUN mode, the CPU and the data input unit operate using the clock signal supplied from the oscillator, and in the SNOOZE mode, the oscillator starts and supplies the clock signal to the data input unit when the data input unit receives first data, and the microcontroller switches to the RUN mode after the data input unit receives second data using the clock signal. |
| US09342086B2 |
Current mode control modulator with combined control signals and improved dynamic range
A modulator for controlling a switch circuit of a voltage regulator, including a sense circuit that provides a current sense signal indicative of current through the output inductor, a ramp circuit that develops a ramp voltage on a ramp node using the current sense signal, an error circuit that develops an error signal indicative of output voltage error and that injects the error signal into the ramp node to adjust the ramp voltage, a comparator circuit that compares the ramp voltage with a fixed control voltage to develop a compare signal, and a logic circuit that uses the compare signal to develop a pulse control signal that controls the switch circuit. The output voltage error may be determined by comparing the output voltage with a reference voltage and converting the error voltage to a current applied to the ramp node. |
| US09342082B2 |
Methods for encouraging energy-efficient behaviors based on a network connected thermostat-centric energy efficiency platform
A home energy efficiency platform is described having as its fundamental component a network-connected, multi-sensing learning thermostat that leverages a visually pleasing interactive display associated therewith to encourage energy-saving behavior by a competitive gamesmanship modality, either in terms of self-competition in which a users energy-saving performance is measured against themselves over time, or in terms of community competition in which a users energy-saving behavior is measured against a relevant community. |
| US09342079B2 |
Controlled cooling of an electronic system based on projected conditions
Energy efficient control of a cooling system cooling an electronic system is provided based, in part, on projected conditions. The control includes automatically determining an adjusted control setting(s) for an adjustable cooling component(s) of the cooling system. The automatically determining is based, at least in part, on projected power consumed by the electronic system at a future time and projected temperature at the future time of a heat sink to which heat extracted is rejected. The automatically determining operates to reduce power consumption of the cooling system and/or the electronic system while ensuring that at least one targeted temperature associated with the cooling system or the electronic system is within a desired range. The automatically determining may be based, at least in part, on an experimentally obtained model(s) relating the targeted temperature and power consumption of the adjustable cooling component(s) of the cooling system. |
| US09342078B2 |
Remote control of fluid-handling devices
Provided is a process, including: receiving, via the network interface, from a remote user device, a command to change a state of the fluid-handling device to a target state; translating the received command into a translated command operative to cause a local controller of the fluid-handling device to drive the fluid-handling equipment to the target state, the local controller being responsive to the command and feedback from the fluid-handling device indicative of whether the fluid-handling device is in the target state; and sending the translated command to the local controller. |
| US09342077B2 |
System, method and apparatus for plumbing fitting with removable sampling valve
A plumbing assembly includes a plumbing fitting having a body. The body includes a main body portion having a main bore extending there through. A peripheral body portion extends from the main body portion. The peripheral body portion includes a distal end and a sampling bore extends through the peripheral body such that the sampling bore is in fluid communication with the main bore. The plumbing assembly further includes a sampling valve threadably coupled to the distal end of the peripheral body portion of the plumbing fitting. The sampling valve extends at least partially into the sampling bore without extending into the main bore. As such, the main bore is unimpeded by the sampling valve and use of the sampling valve imparts substantially no pressure drop in a fluid passing through the main bore of the plumbing fitting. |
| US09342075B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer readable media for calculating status, and movable body
A status calculating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes three or more antennas disposed at different positions on a movable body, each antenna receiving positioning signals, correlators for calculating carrier wave phase differences for every antenna based on correlation of the positioning signals with a replica signal, carrier wave phase measurement value calculating modules for calculating carrier wave phase measurement values, a baseline vector calculating module for calculating baseline vectors based on the carrier wave phase measurement values, and an attitude angle calculating module for calculating a yaw angle for every baseline vector and calculating a representative yaw angle based on the plurality of calculated yaw angles. |
| US09342073B2 |
Self propelled device with magnetic coupling
A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system including one or more motors. The internal drive system acts to provide power to an interior surface of the spherical housing, thereby causing the self-propelled device to move. A biasing assembly can be included to enable the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing. An external accessory magnetically interacts with interior magnetic components through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates and maneuvers, the accessory component maintains a positional relationship to a top portion of the self-propelled device. |
| US09342069B2 |
Article processing apparatus, generation method and computer-readable storage medium
An article processing apparatus having a movable member for processing an article, includes an information processor configured to generate a transition order of states of the movable member. The information processor is configured to respectively set a plurality of clusters each including, as a plurality of nodes, a plurality of states that the movable member may take, with respect to a plurality of regions of the article, respectively set a plurality of costs with respect to a plurality of combinations of two nodes respectively belonging to two clusters different from each other of the plurality of clusters, and generate the transition order by obtaining, based on the plurality of clusters and the plurality of costs, as a solution of a traveling salesman problem, an order of traveling a plurality of nodes obtained by selecting one node from each of the plurality of clusters. |
| US09342068B2 |
Motion controller and motor control system
A motion controller includes a controller configured to output a motor driving command based on a motion-and-sequence time chart used for motion control of a motor, to a motor driving apparatus. The controller is configured to receive the motion-and-sequence time chart, which has been created by a general-purpose PC, from the general-purpose PC via a higher-layer network. The controller is configured to receive the motion-and-sequence time chart including a command data sequence included in the motor driving command for the motor driving apparatus. The controller is configured to receive the motion-and-sequence time chart including a sequence time chart that describes a coordinated relationship between the motion control of the motor and a certain two-level input/output signal relating to the motion control of the motor. |
| US09342067B2 |
Robot apparatus, robot control method, program, and recording medium
A robot apparatus includes a rectangular wave generating portion arranged on the output side of a speed reducer, and configured to generate first output pulse signals upon driving of a joint. A control portion includes calculating portions and a motor control portion. The motor control portion estimates an estimated joint angle using input pulse signals, and controls to operate a servo motor so that this estimated joint angle matches a target joint angle. The calculating portions calculate a torsion angle of the joint corresponding to a deviation amount between the first output pulse signals and a pulse waveform of an ideal state. The motor control portion controls to operate the servo motor so as to correct the estimated joint angle by the torsion angle. |
| US09342060B2 |
Adaptive control for a gas turbine engine
A method for controlling a gas turbine engine includes: generating model parameter data as a function of prediction error data, which model parameter data includes at least one model parameter that accounts for off-nominal operation of the engine; at least partially compensating an on-board model for the prediction error data using the model parameter data; generating model term data using the on-board model, wherein the on-board model includes at least one model term that accounts for the off-nominal operation of the engine; respectively updating one or more model parameters and one or more model terms of a model-based control algorithm with the model parameter data and model term data; and generating one or more effector signals using the model-based control algorithm. |
| US09342058B2 |
Communication with lighting units over a power bus
A first entity communicates with a second entity over a shared power bus by switching the bus to a high-impedance state and modifying the voltage on the power bus, in accordance with an outgoing communication, such that the modified voltage is detected by the second entity and the communication is received thereto. |
| US09342055B2 |
Electronic watch
Provided is an electronic watch capable of surely acquiring a movement start position and a stop position of a hand when the hand moves at high speed such as a case of manual correction by a winding stem or the like, while reducing a load on a CPU. The electronic watch includes: a decode circuit for outputting data corresponding to regions acquired by segmenting a movement range of the hand; and a position information circuit for automatically acquiring region data corresponding to the movement start position of the hand and region data corresponding to the stop position thereof and sending a notification to the CPU when acquiring both the data. In this manner, the CPU can stop until the acquisition of both the data, thereby reducing the load on the CPU. |
| US09342052B2 |
System for attaching a wristlet strand to a case
Wristwatch including a case in or on which there is arranged a first open housing, a wristlet provided with one end arranged in the first open housing, and a fastening means for holding the end of the wristlet in the first housing. The fastening means includes a second housing opening onto the first housing and a fastening element arranged in the second housing and occupying one part of the first housing. The wristwatch further contains a means of retaining the fastening element. |
| US09342050B2 |
Illuminated timepiece display device
A watch includes a mechanical timepiece movement that includes at least one timepiece display device including a mobile timepiece component. The component transmits and diffuses light emitted by at least one light energy source included in the display device. The component is formed of a first material which is silica, or quartz, or single crystal quartz, or glass, or sapphire, or ceramic or material partially transparent to visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, or a transparent or translucent at least partially amorphous material, and of at least a second phosphorescent or fluorescent material applied in a thin layer to at least one of surfaces of the component. The light source, which is active or passive, injects light into one portion of the component which conveys and diffuses the light over at least one portion of the component, or throughout an entirety of the component, to make the component visible in the dark. |
| US09342046B2 |
Process cartridge including plate configuration with inner and outer side plates that allow for attachment to image forming apparatus
A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mountable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a first outer side plate which is provided on one side of the photosensitive drums in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a second outer side plate which is provided on the other side of the photosensitive drums in the axial direction, and opposes the first outer side plate with the photosensitive drums interposed therebetween, and a plurality of input parts which are provided on ends of the photosensitive drums at the one side, respectively. An end face of each of the input parts being provided inward with respect to the outer surface of the first outer side plate. |
| US09342045B2 |
Image forming apparatus having fixing unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a main assembly; and a fixing unit. The main assembly includes an advancing-and-retracting member capable of advancing and retracting in a direction substantially perpendicular to a mounting direction of the fixing unit, and includes an urging member configured to urge the advancing-and-retracting member in an advancing direction. The fixing unit includes an engaging member engageable with the advancing-and-retracting member. The engaging member includes i) a retracting portion configured to retract the advancing-and-retracting member against an urging force of the urging member with a mounting operation to the main assembly, and ii) permitting portion configured to a) permit advance of the advancing-and-retracting member by the urging portion with a further mounting operation to the main assembly and b) receive a force for moving the fixing unit in a mounting direction by the advancing-and-retracting member. |
| US09342043B2 |
Unit assembly and image forming apparatus
A unit assembly (10) is provided with an image forming unit (20) and an intermediate transfer unit (40), and is configured to be capable of being inserted into and removed from an apparatus body (110). The image forming unit (20) has first processing units (200A to 200D), developing units (4A to 4D), a positioning portion, and a link member (80). The positioning portion is provided in each of the developing units (4A to 4D) and determines the mutual relative positions of the developing units (4A to 4D). The link member (80) links the developing units (4A to 4D) to each other. The intermediate transfer unit (40) is held by the image forming unit (20). |
| US09342041B2 |
Developing cartridge having drive-force receiving member
In a developing cartridge, a drive-force receiving member includes: a first cylindrical part having a gear part transmitting drive force to a developing roller; a second cylindrical part disposed radially inward of the first cylindrical part and in contact with a support part; and a receiving part receiving drive force from outside of the developing cartridge. The receiving part is disposed outward of the first and second cylindrical parts in an axial direction in which a rotational axis extends. The receiving part has an internal space in communication with a gap between the first and second cylindrical parts. The receiving part is disposed to overlap the gap between the first and second cylindrical parts when the receiving part is viewed in the axial direction. The receiving part has an outward end in the axial direction, at least part of the outward end of the receiving part being closed. |
| US09342036B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a pair of resin and metal frames
An image forming apparatus, including a main body and a driving force transmission, is provided. The main body supports an image forming unit which includes an image carrier. The driving force transmission transmits a driving force to the image carrier. The main body includes a first frame, a second frame, and a connecting member. The first frame is made of resin, disposed on one side of the image carrier with regard to a direction of rotation axis of the image carrier, and supports the driving force transmission disposed thereon. The second frame is made of metal and disposed on the other side of the image carrier with regard to the direction of rotation axis. The connecting member connects the first frame and the second frame with each other. |
| US09342034B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus using same
The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt, a waste toner conveying screw that conveys the removed toner, and a vibrating part with multiple vanes, arranged between the cleaning blade and the waste toner conveying screw, each vane partly coming into contact with the waste toner conveying screw and vibrating in linkage with the motion of the waste toner conveying screw. Each vane has a projected part that is positioned close to, and projects toward, the intermediate transfer belt. |
| US09342032B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a time setting unit that sets a print allowable time according to the amount of advance payment, a usage time count unit that counts a usage time and a print allowance determination unit that determines, from the time setting unit and the usage time count unit, whether printing is allowed or prohibited. Before the time counted by the usage time count unit reaches the print allowable time, the print allowance determination unit allows the printing to be performed whereas after the time counted by the usage time count unit reaches the print allowable time, the print allowance determination unit prohibits the printing from being performed. |
| US09342024B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, a sensor section includes a sheet path through which the sheet passes in a sheet feeding direction. In the sensor section, a light source unit emits light to an irradiation area set in the sheet path. Here, the light is elongated in a main-scanning direction and has quantities of light varying according to positions in the main-scanning direction and according to positions in a height direction perpendicular to a sheet feed surface. In addition, in the sensor section, a light-receiving section receives light diffused in a predetermined diffusing direction among the light emitted from the light source and then irradiated to the sheet passing in the sheet path and outputs information representing quantities of the received light. In the image forming apparatus, a control section extracts a parameter from the information and derives an amount of curl of the sheet. |
| US09342020B2 |
Printing apparatus using technique to handle error in finisher, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus which uses a printing control technique for, even when a third-party finisher whose performance is unknown is connected to the image forming apparatus, realizing a sheet-feeding judgment with consideration given to the performance of the finisher and preventing degradation of working efficiency. When an error notification is received from a post-processing apparatus, a type of a sheet discharged to the post-processing apparatus is identified. The identified type is managed as a type of a prohibited sheet prohibited from being discharged to the post-processing apparatus. |
| US09342015B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an optical detecting device; a movable unit including a rotatable member having a first light-blocking surface and a second light-blocking surface; and a control unit. The movable unit rotates with rotation of the rotatable member so that the second light-blocking surface is movable to a first position where the optical detecting device is light-blocked and a second position where the optical detecting device is not light-blocked, and includes a locking member for locking the second light-blocking surface in the second position. When the first and second light-blocking surfaces pass through a detecting portion of the optical detecting device, the control unit discriminates a state of the movable unit on the basis of a detection result of the optical detecting device. |
| US09342013B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
According to the present disclosure, a fixing device includes a belt member and a heating device. The heating device is configured to heat the belt member. The fixing device further includes two terminal portions. The two terminal portions are electrically connected to a detector configured to detect a resistance value of the belt member, a value of a current that flows when a predetermined voltage is applied to the belt member, or a potential difference that occurs when a predetermined current is made to flow in the belt member. The two terminal portions are also contacted, on a one-to-one basis, by end-portion regions at both ends of an inner circumferential surface of the belt member in a belt-width direction of the belt member. |
| US09342009B2 |
Image fixing device
A fixing device configured to fix an image on a recording material, includes: a rotary member including an electroconductive layer; a coil which has a spiral shaped portion and is disposed in the inside of the rotary member; and a core disposed in the spiral shaped portion; with magnetic resistance of the core being, with an area from one end to the other end of the maximum passage region of the image on the recording material regarding the generatrix direction, equal to or smaller than 30% of combined magnetic resistance made up of magnetic resistance of the electroconductive layer and magnetic resistance of a region between the electroconductive layer and the core. |
| US09342006B2 |
Belt member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus including the same
Provided is a belt member used in a fixing device of an electromagnetic induction heating system. The belt member includes an endless resin base layer, heat layers, and an insulating resin layer. The heat layers are two or more layers including a non-magnetic metal stacked on the resin base layer. The insulating resin layer is an insulating layer stacked between the heating layers. |
| US09342004B1 |
Heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a heating device, including a transparent belt that travels along a determined path, a first transparent member that comes into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the belt to form a nip at a first position in the belt, and an irradiating section that irradiates a beam which reaches a second position which comes into contact with a heating-target member and differs from the first position in a circumferential direction of the belt via the transparent member and the nip. |
| US09341996B1 |
Hub-based drive coupling mechanism for a fuser backup member and methods of using same
A hub-based drive coupling mechanism for a fusing assembly, including a gear operatively coupled to a motor; a hub member; and a backup roll having a shaft rotatably coupled to the gear via the hub member, the gear including an outer cylindrical portion having a plurality of tabs disposed along an inner surface thereof, the hub member including an annular portion having a plurality of protrusions radially extending therefrom, and the backup roll shaft having a pin member. The gear rotates for a first fraction of a revolution without rotating the hub member and the backup roll due to the tabs of the gear not contacting the protrusions of the hub member, and rotates for a second fraction of the revolution with the hub member due to contact between the tabs and protrusions, but without rotating the backup roll. |
| US09341992B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes first and second forming units that form first and second to-be-transferred images and first and second not-to-be-transferred images with first and second toners, respectively, the first toner containing a metal pigment; a transfer body to which the first and second to-be-transferred and not-to-be-transferred images are to be transferred; a transfer member that transfers the first and second to-be-transferred images to a recording medium at a transfer nip between the transfer member and the transfer body; and a removing member that removes, with an electrostatic force, the first and second toners forming the first and second not-to-be-transferred images from the transfer member. In a transfer mode, the first not-to-be-transferred image is transferred to a position that do not overlap the recording medium to be introduced into the transfer nip after the first not-to-be-transferred image when seen in a direction of introduction of the recording medium. |
| US09341991B1 |
Deskewing mechanism for an intermediate transfer belt module and imaging drums in an electrophotographic printer
An electrophotographic printer having an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) module having an endless belt wrapped around a first and second roll and a plurality of imaging drums, all mounted in a frame between a rear panel and an access panel pivotally mounted to the front panel. The first and second rolls lie in an ITB reference plane and the imaging drums lie in an imaging drum reference plane that is mutually planar to the ITB reference plane. A camming device, mounted to one of the front panel and the access panel, rotates the access panel to provide a skewing adjustment to ITB module and plurality of imaging drums to substantially correct a skew error caused by the racking of the front panel with respect to the rear panel with the access panel maintaining mutual planarity between the ITB reference plane and the imaging drum reference plane. |
| US09341986B2 |
Developing device, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A drawing-up magnetic pole and a control magnetic pole of a magnetic field generator that is disposed in a developer carrier are adjacent to each other and a prevention member is provided that secures, between the prevention member and an upper end of a side wall of a developer supply conveyance path, a supply path through which a developer in the developer supply conveyance path passes toward the developer carrier at least over the entire width of a developing area and that prevents a control retained developer, which is prevented by a developer control member from passing through a control gap, from moving toward the surface of the developer carrier along lines of the control magnetic force. The peak of the magnetic flux density of the drawing-up magnetic pole in the normal direction is disposed below the lower end of the supply path. |
| US09341983B2 |
Developer accommodating unit, developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer includes: a flexible container provided with a plurality of openings for permitting discharge of developer. The openings are formed and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating unit. The openings have opening areas such that with respect to the longitudinal direction, the opening area of the opening provided at an end portion is larger than the opening area of the opening provided at a central portion. |
| US09341982B2 |
Component movement mechanism for an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a developing device including a developing roller, pressing members configured to engage with the developing device and springs configured to urge the pressing members. In some examples, each of the pressing members may be configured to contact and move the developing device between various positions based on the urging of the springs. Additionally or alternatively, various ends of a contact surface of the developing roller configured to contact developer may be disposed relative to an axis line of the developing roller and pressing surfaces of the pressing members. |
| US09341979B1 |
Closed loop focusing system
A system for focusing light including a gradient index lens array positioned at a first distance from a surface, and first and second positioning elements arranged to modify the first distance. The first and second positioning elements modify the first distance based on an analysis of an image formed on the surface across substantially a full width of a cross process direction of the surface. |
| US09341969B2 |
Toner for electrostatic development, image forming device using same, and image forming method
Toner for electrostatic development in accordance with one aspect of the present invention contains toner base particles produced by subjecting a toner composition containing binder resin, a coloring agent, and wax to melting and kneading and thereafter pulverization and classification, the toner having a volume median particle diameter (D50) of 5.5 to 7.5 μm, and the toner having particle size distribution in which the toner base particles include 15 to 55% by number of toner base particles of not more than 5 μm in particle diameter, and include not more than 1.5% by number of toner particles of more than 10 μm in particle diameter. |
| US09341964B2 |
Process for producing electrophotographic photosensitive member
In a process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, in particular, a process of forming a charge transporting layer, a production process is provided by which the stability of a charge transporting layer coating fluid even after its storage for a long time is improved so as to form a coat for a charge transporting layer having a high uniformity. In a process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a charge transporting layer on a support, a production process is used in which a coat of (i) a liquid dispersion comprised of particles containing a charge transporting material, particles containing a binder resin, and an aqueous dispersion medium, or (ii) a liquid dispersion comprised of particles containing both a charge transporting material and a binder resin, and an aqueous dispersion medium, is formed on the support and then the coat is heated at a temperature not less than the melting point of the charge transporting material to form the charge transporting layer. |
| US09341961B2 |
Cross technology reticle (CTR) or multi-layer reticle (MLR) CDU, registration, and overlay techniques
Methods for reducing reticle transmission differences and for optimizing layer placement for overlay in MTRs and CTRs are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a reticle having a prime area and a frame area surrounding the prime area; determining RT differences across the prime area; and providing RT adjustment structures on the reticle to decrease the RT differences. Other embodiments include grouping multiple layers of a semiconductor production flow, the layers for each group having an RT difference less than a predetermined value; and placing the layers on plural ordered reticles of a reticle set, each reticle having multiple image fields, by selecting, for each reticle, layers from a single group and optimizing placement of the layers for overlay. Other embodiments include selectively rotating image fields on a reticle having multiple image fields to improve overlay, or optimizing placement of DDLs on CTRs by placing each design orientation on a different reticle. |
| US09341960B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus having a projection system configured to project a plurality of radiation beams onto a target and an image slicer. The image slicer is arranged in an inverted configuration such that, if an input image formed of a plurality of separated image regions were provided to the image slicer, it would output an output image formed from the plurality of image regions, each arranged to adjoin an adjacent image region. The exposure apparatus is configured such that each of the radiation beams is input into the image slicer at a location corresponding to a respective one of the separated image regions. |
| US09341959B2 |
Substrate holding device, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
To provide a substrate holding apparatus which can prevent a liquid from entering into a rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus is provided with a base material, a first holding portion formed on the base material for holding the substrate, and a second holding portion formed on the base material for holding a plate member by surrounding the circumference of a processing substrate held by the first holding portion. The second holding portion holds the plate member so as to form a second space on the side of the rear surface of the plate member. On the rear surface of the plate member, an absorbing member is arranged for absorbing the liquid entered from a gap between the substrate held by the first holding portion and the plate member held by the second holding portion. |
| US09341958B2 |
Deflection mirror and projection exposure apparatus for microlithography comprising such a deflection mirror
A deflection mirror (1, 501, etc.) for a microlithography projection exposure apparatus for illuminating an object field in an object plane of the projection exposure apparatus (1067) using the deflection mirror with grazing incidence. This deflection mirror has a substrate (3, 503, etc.) and at least one layer system (5, 505, etc.), and during operation light impinges on said mirror at a multiplicity of angles of incidence, wherein the layer system is designed such that, for light having a wavelength of less than 30 nm, for an angle of incidence of between 55° and 70°, the variation of the reflectivity is less than 20%, in particular less than 12%. |
| US09341956B2 |
Spatial light modulator unit, illumination optical system, exposure device, and device manufacturing method
According to one embodiment, a spatial light modulator unit is used in the illumination optical system for illuminating an illumination target surface with light from a light source and comprises: a spatial light modulator with a plurality of optical elements arrayed in a predetermined plane and controlled individually; a spatial light modulation element which applies spatial light modulation to the incident light from the light source and which makes rays of intensity levels according to positions of the respective optical elements, incident on the plurality of optical elements; and a control unit which individually controls the plurality of optical elements on the basis of information about the intensity levels of the rays incident on the respective optical elements. |
| US09341953B2 |
Microlithographic illumination system
A microlithographic illumination system can include a light distribution device that can generate a two-dimensional intensity distribution in a first illumination plane. A first raster array of optical raster elements can generates a raster array of secondary light sources. A device with an additional optical effect can be disposed spatially adjacent to the two raster arrays. The device can be configured as an illumination angle variation device. The device can influence the intensity and/or the phase and/or the beam direction of the illumination light. The influence can be such that an intensity contribution of raster elements to the total illumination intensity can vary across the illumination field. This can enable the illumination intensity to be influenced across the illumination field in a defined manner with respect to the total illumination intensity and/or with respect to the intensity contributions from different directions of illumination. |
| US09341951B2 |
Wynn-dyson imaging system with reduced thermal distortion
A Wynn-Dyson imaging system with reduced thermal distortion is disclosed, wherein the reticle and wafer prisms are made of glass material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of no greater than about 100 ppb/° C. The system also includes a first IR-blocking window disposed between the reticle and the reticle prism, and a second matching window disposed between the wafer and the wafer prism to maintain imaging symmetry. The IR-blocking window substantially blocks convective and radiative heat from reaching the reticle prism, thereby reducing the amount of thermally induced image distortion in the reticle image formed on the wafer. |
| US09341947B2 |
Resist composition and method of forming resist pattern
A resist composition including a polymeric compound having a structural unit derived from an acrylate ester containing a lactone-containing cyclic group having a group represented by general formula (a0-r-1) on the side chain and optionally having the hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom on the α-position substituted with a substituent: in formula (a0-r-1), Ra3 and Ra4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a non-aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent, provided that Ra3 and Ra4 are optionally mutually bonded to form a ring with the carbon atom bonded to Ra3 and the nitrogen atom bonded to Ra4; and * represents a valence bond. |
| US09341943B2 |
Pellicle for lithography
There is provided a pellicle having a frame 12, a film 11 and an adhesive 13 for bonding the film 11 to the frame 12, and this adhesive 13 is a silicone compound having a low outgassing tendency and high heat resistance; in a better mode case, it can maintain its adhesive strength at temperatures 100-200 degrees C. and it exhibits results of TML being 1.0% or lower and CVCM being 0.1% or lower when tested in accordance with ASTM E595-93; thus this pellicle is useful for EUV light exposure lithography. |
| US09341942B2 |
Vacuum chamber assembly for supporting a workpiece
A chamber assembly (26) for providing a sealed chamber (40) adjacent to a workpiece (28) to counteract the influence of gravity on the workpiece (28) includes a chamber housing (244), and a seal assembly (33) that expands and/or contracts to better seal against the workpiece (28). Further, the chamber assembly (26) can include one or more transducer assemblies (34) that expand or contract to quickly respond to leaks or injections of fluid in chamber assembly (26) to maintain a constant and stable chamber pressure in the chamber assembly (26). Moreover, the chamber assembly (26) can utilize a pressure source (35) that directs a lager amount of fluid (374) through a fluid passageway (368) to accurately maintain the pressure within the chamber assembly (26). |
| US09341932B2 |
Light emitting device, super-luminescent diode, and projector
A light emitting device includes a laminated body having an active layer, a first cladding layer, and a second cladding layer, the active layer constitutes an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide includes a first portion connecting a first exit section and a first reflecting section to each other, a second portion connecting the first reflecting section and a second reflecting section to each other, and a third portion connecting the second reflecting section and a second exit section to each other, and a current density in the first portion and a current density in the third portion are higher than a current density in the second portion. |
| US09341925B2 |
Rig for multi camera shooting
Disclosed herein is a rig for multi-camera photographing. The rig for multi-camera photographing includes a cover frame, a center base plate fixed and installed in a center line over the cover frame, and a left rotational movement plate and a right rotational movement plate disposed on the left and right sides of the center base plate and disposed in such a way as to rotatably move around rotational movement shafts protruded over the cover frame. |
| US09341920B1 |
Pulsed fiber laser wavelength convertor
A wavelength convertor includes a beam splitter which splits a pulsed laser beam at wavelength λp into a first higher power pulse portion and a second low power pulse portion. A fiber super continuum (SC) generator is coupled to receive the second pulse portion which converts the second pulse portion into a SC pulse having a bandwidth of >100 nm including a narrow spectral portion at wavelength λs. An optical parametric amplifier (OPA) having a periodically poled material is included with domains arranged to provided quasi-phase matching for amplification at λs and pumping at λp. The arrival of the SC pulse portion at λs and the first pulse portion at the OPA is synchronized to overlap in time. The OPA is seeded by the SC pulse portion at λs and pumped by the first pulse portion to provide an amplified OPA seed at λs. |
| US09341918B2 |
Liquid crystal optical device and image display device
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical device includes an optical unit and a control unit. The optical unit includes a first substrate unit, a second substrate unit, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate unit includes a first substrate having a first surface, and first elongated electrodes provided on the first surface. The second substrate unit includes a second substrate having a second surface opposing the first surface, first opposing electrodes provided between the first and second substrates and a second opposing electrode provided between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the first and second substrate units. The control unit is electrically connected to the first elongated electrodes, and the first and second opposing electrodes. The control unit implements a first operation of forming a first voltage distribution and a second operation of forming a second voltage distribution. |
| US09341914B2 |
Variable reflectance mirror reflective element for exterior mirror assembly
A variable reflectance mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a front substrate and a rear substrate, with an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. A mirror reflector is disposed at a third surface of the rear substrate and includes a stack of thin films and has a sheet resistance of less than about 5 ohms per square. Light that reflects off of the mirror reflector and passes through the electrochromic medium and the front substrate exhibits a substantially non-spectrally selective reflectance characteristic to a person viewing the exterior mirror reflective element when no voltage is applied to the electrochromic medium. At least a portion of the mirror reflector extends out under the seal towards a perimeter edge of the rear substrate. An electrical connection, which may include a conductive epoxy, is made to the portion of the mirror reflector outboard of the perimeter seal. |
| US09341913B2 |
Nanostructured transparent conducting oxide electrochromic device
The embodiments described herein provide an electrochromic device. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrochromic device includes (1) a substrate and (2) a film supported by the substrate, where the film includes transparent conducting oxide (TCO) nanostructures. In a further embodiment, the electrochromic device further includes (a) an electrolyte, where the nanostructures are embedded in the electrolyte, resulting in an electrolyte, nanostructure mixture positioned above the substrate and (b) a counter electrode positioned above the mixture. In a further embodiment, the electrochromic device further includes a conductive coating deposited on the substrate between the substrate and the mixture. In a further embodiment, the electrochromic device further includes a second substrate positioned above the mixture. |
| US09341910B2 |
Electrochromic lithium nickel Group 5 mixed metal oxides
Multi-layer electrochromic structures comprising an anodic electrochromic layer comprising a lithium nickel oxide composition on a first substrate, the anodic electrochromic layer comprising lithium, nickel and a Group 5 metal selected from niobium, tantalum and a combination thereof, wherein (i) the atomic ratio of lithium to the combined amount of nickel, niobium and tantalum in the anodic electrochromic layer is at least 0.4:1, respectively, (ii) the atomic ratio of the combined amount of niobium and tantalum to the combined amount of nickel, niobium and tantalum in the anodic electrochromic layer is at least about 0.025:1, respectively, and (iii) the anodic electrochromic layer exhibits an interplanar distance (d-spacing) of at least 2.5 Å as measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD), comprises at least 0.05 wt. % carbon, and/or has a coloration efficiency absolute value of at least 19 cm2/C. |
| US09341907B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including liquid crystal molecules, a gate line positioned on the first substrate, a data line positioned on the first substrate and crossing the gate line, a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a third thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the second thin film transistor, a reference voltage line connected to the third thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode connected to the first thin film transistor and a second subpixel electrode connected to the second thin film transistor. |
| US09341903B2 |
Active matrix substrate and liquid crystal display panel including the same
An auxiliary capacitor (6) of each of sub-pixels (P) includes a transparent electrode, a pixel electrode, and a capacitor insulating film between the transparent electrode and the pixel electrode. Switching elements (5a) are connected, for every predetermined sub-pixel(s) (P) along a column direction of the sub-pixels (P) arranged in rows and columns, to the source lines (15a) different from each other. A plurality of transparent electrodes are each shared by a pair of the sub-pixels (P) which are adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction and are arranged in a corresponding one of the wide spaces each provided between adjacent two of gate lines (13). The transparent electrodes adjacent to each other in the row direction receive different signals. |
| US09341901B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided that inhibits color mixture between adjacent subpixels and allows for obtaining a high-quality image. The display device includes a display area on which a light-blocking metal layer, a black matrix, and a plurality of subpixels are arranged, wherein the plurality of subpixels are arranged adjacent to one another via a black matrix as seen vertically from above, the black matrix and the light-blocking metal layer are arranged to overlap each other as seen vertically from above, and the light-blocking metal layer 130 is arranged on the bank of an organic flattened film. |
| US09341896B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) including a liquid crystal panel, and a gate driver which applies a gate signal having a driving frequency equal to or greater than 100 Hz to the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel comprises a first display panel, a second display panel facing the first display panel, and a liquid crystal composition disposed between the first display panel and the second display panel and includes liquid crystals. |
| US09341886B2 |
Image display device
An image display device includes a liquid crystal panel section, a light source section divided into a plurality of regions, a light detection section detecting the light intensity of the light source section, and a timing generation section. The timing generation section generates a light emission drive signal which turns on each of the regions of the light source section according to scanning in the liquid crystal panel section, and which turns on all the regions of the light source section in a light detection period, and generates a light detection gate signal allowing the detection of the light detection section to be effective in the light detection period. |
| US09341884B2 |
LCOS device and method of fabricating the same
The present invention provides a LCOS device including a silicon substrate, a first dielectric layer, a first mirror layer, a second dielectric layer, and a second mirror layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the silicon substrate. The first mirror layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is disposed on the first mirror layer. The second mirror layer is disposed on the second dielectric layer. |
| US09341883B2 |
Display module and light guide device
A display module is provided. A light source is configured to provide an illumination beam. A light guide plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and an incident surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. The illumination beam enters the light guide plate through the incident surface. A reflective element is connected to the light guide plate and has a plurality of first reflective surfaces inclined with respect to the second surface. A reflective display unit is capable of modulating a polarization state of the illumination beam to form a modulated beam. The second surface is disposed between the reflective display unit and the first surface. The first surface is disposed between the second surface and a reflective polarizer, and the reflective polarizer filters the modulated beam into an image beam. |
| US09341880B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and driving method thereof, and display device
In a liquid crystal display panel, as the arrangement of the color filters of the sub-pixel units of every two adjacent pixel units in the row direction, from at least one group composed of two adjacent columns of pixel units in the row direction, is changed, the color filters of two adjacent sub-pixel units in the row direction, which belong to different two pixel units, have the same color; position of the data line connected with the sub-pixel units with color filters of the same color is changed, so that the data line is provided at a side of one of the sub-pixel units with color filters of the same color far away from the other one thereof. Therefore, while the color mixing phenomenon is avoided, a part of the black matrix, which should be provided between the two adjacent sub-pixel units in the row direction, may be omitted. |
| US09341873B2 |
Manufacturing method of a flexible display panel comprising a contact hole formed in a buffer layer
A flexible display panel including a buffer layer, an active element, a pad, a display device and a signal transmission circuit is provided. The active element is located on the buffer layer. The pad is located in the buffer layer and is electrically connected to the active element. The display device is located on the active element and is electrically connected to the active element, in which the display device includes a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode and a display medium layer located therebetween. The active element and the signal transmission circuit are respectively located at a first surface and a second surface of the buffer layer, the second surface is opposite to the first surface, and the signal transmission circuit is electrically connected to the active element via the pad. A manufacturing method of a flexible display panel is also provided. |
| US09341868B2 |
Silicon-based electro-optical device
In a region in which silicon semiconductor layers having first and second conductive types are stacked, a concavoconvex structure including a Si1-xGex (x=0.01 to 0.9) layer is formed on a surface of the first silicon semiconductor layer, a relatively thin dielectric is formed on the concavoconvex structure, and a silicon semiconductor layer having the second conductive type is further stacked. |
| US09341865B2 |
Eyewear having magnetic clip-on lenses
Eyewear according to one embodiment includes a primary frame retainer, at least one primary lens and a clip-on lens assembly removably attachable to the front of the primary frame by magnetic forces interacting between two magnets affixed to the primary frame and the clip-on lens assembly, respectively. The clip-on lens assembly includes a connector affixed to a secondary frame of the clip-on lens assembly. The connector has a hook removably engagable with a recess defined in the primary frame for positioning the clip-on lens assembly with respect to the primary frame. |
| US09341864B2 |
Contact lenses having a reinforcing scaffold
Ophthalmic lenses for correcting refractive error of an eye are disclosed. Ophthalmic lenses include an inner optic portion having a scaffold between an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The scaffold is characterized by a substantially uniform thickness formed from a material characterized by a modulus that his higher than the modulus of the peripheral portion. Openings within the scaffold are filled with a low modulus material. When applied to an eye, the lenses are configured to provide one or more lenticular volumes between the posterior surface of the lens and the cornea. The disclosure further relates to methods of correcting refractive errors of an eye such as astigmatism or spherical aberration using the ophthalmic lenses. |
| US09341863B2 |
Eyeglass hinge assembly
The invention relates to a hinge for connecting a temple arm to an eyeglass frame that may be made up of one or more frame parts. Parts of the eyeglasses, including the temple arm and frame, are interchangeable so the colour, shape and style of eyeglasses can be quickly and easily changed. The temple arm is connected to the frame securely, but in a way that the temple arm can easily be disconnected for interchanging. The temple arm needs to be deformed, bent or moved beyond a normal orientation to allow it to be easily disconnected. In a preferred embodiment, the temple arm hinge assembly comprises a hooked member and a pivot shaft, whereby the pivot shaft comprises a notch or truncation positioned such that the hooked member can only be engaged/disengaged if the temple arm is deformed or the like beyond a normal position. |
| US09341861B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which fluctuation of a screen can be reduced. The present invention includes a lens, a lens drive unit configured to move the lens along an x-axis and y-axis which are vertical to an optical axis and a z-axis parallel to the optical axis or to rotate the lens centering on the x-axis and the y-axis, an image pickup unit configured to generate a digital signal by detecting a light having passed through the lens, an image processor configured to create a preview image by applying an image processing to the digital signal, a display unit configured to display the preview image, and a controller, if a distance between the lens and the image pickup unit is shorter than a preset distance, controlling a partial region of the preview image to be outputted through the display unit. |
| US09341859B2 |
3D image based alignment method
An alignment method applied to a barrier-type 3D display includes providing a 3D alignment device at least comprising an image capture tool and an alignment shift analysis software; disposing a display panel with a barrier laminated thereon in the 3D alignment device; presenting a display and a barrier alignment check patterns on the display panel and the barrier; the image capture tool capturing an image of a moiré pattern generated by the display and the barrier alignment check patterns; analyzing the image of the moiré pattern by the alignment shift analysis software, and determining at least three measurement points of the image of the moiré pattern; calculating position shift for each measurement point and rotation angle between display panel and barrier by the alignment shift analysis software; and adjusting corresponding position between display panel and barrier if the calculation results exceed predetermined alignment errors. |
| US09341854B2 |
Slim and compact volumetric 3D display systems based on moving display surface
This invention relates to volumetric 3D display systems based on a rotary reciprocating display surface. Layout of mechanical components and optical path are arranged to provide maximal viewing angle and minimal view-blocking, while keeping the whole system size compact and slim. Motion mechanisms, mechanical relief mechanism and 2-direction dynamic balancing are design to give smooth and quiet motion, while keeping the design simple and cost low. Backing structures and supporting frames for the display surface are designed to minimize deformation and stress in the display surface, while still satisfying requirements in optics and display. Mechanical and optical layout also considers the need for converting among multiple display modes. Image presentation methods for display occlusion effect and black and dark images are devised. |
| US09341851B2 |
Virtual image display apparatus
An observer can observe a video in a state in which the visual line of the observer is caused to overlook the downward side. In particular, in a virtual image display apparatus, even when the positions of the eyes, the nose, and the ears of the observer deviate from standard positions and the observer cannot observe a video in a targeted overlooking direction in a worn state in standard setting, it is possible to change an angle in an overlooking direction with respect to a front direction and cause the observer to perform observation in a suitable visual line by changing, with a nose receiving section functioning as an adjusting section, the posture of the virtual image display apparatus and adjusting an emission state of video light from a light guide member according to individual differences of the observer. |
| US09341843B2 |
See-through near-eye display glasses with a small scale image source
An interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content, wherein the height of the image source is at least 80% of a display active area width of the optical assembly. |
| US09341841B2 |
Optical scanner, image display apparatus, and head-mount display
An optical scanner includes: a base portion; a light reflecting portion that reflects light; a connection portion that connects the base portion and the light reflecting portion; and a shaft portion that supports the base portion in a swingable manner about a swing axis, wherein the light reflecting portion is disposed so that a geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is separated from the swing axis in a plan view seen in a direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up, and wherein a geometrical center of at least one of the base portion and the connection portion is positioned on an opposite side of the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion with respect to the swing axis in the plan view. |
| US09341836B2 |
Digital microscope apparatus, method of searching for in-focus position thereof, and program
A digital microscope apparatus includes a first imaging unit including a first imaging device and a first optical system including an objective lens configured to enlarge first and second images of a preparation that holds a sample, the first image being formed on the first device through the first system, a second imaging unit including a second optical system that is branched from the first system and has a depth of field larger than the first system and a second imaging device on which the second image is formed through the second system, and a controller configured to calculate a provisional in-focus position of the lens based on the second image, determine an area of the first device, from which the first image is read, and search for, based on the read image, an in-focus position of the lens in a predetermined range based on the provisional in-focus position. |
| US09341827B2 |
Anamorphic objective lens
An anamorphic objective lens comprising, along an optical axis and in order from an object space to an image space: at least a negative (−) spherical first lens group; an anamorphic second lens group and a positive (+) spherical third lens group wherein an aperture stop is located before, after or preferably within the spherical third lens group. Both spherical lens groups contain spherical refractive optical surfaces and the anamorphic lens group contains cylindrical and plano optical surfaces with at least one cylindrical surface oriented at substantially 90 degrees about at least one other cylindrical surface. The negative spherical first lens group may provide focusing. |
| US09341824B2 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements to allow the thickness of the second lens element and air gaps between the five lens elements along the optical axis satisfying the relation 1.400≦AG34/AG12≦4.615, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened. |
| US09341823B2 |
Imaging lens
A compact low-cost imaging lens which meets the demand for low-profileness, offers high brightness with an F-value of 2.5 or less and a wide field of view, and corrects aberrations properly. Its elements are arranged in order from an object side to an image side: a positive first lens having a convex object-side surface; a negative second lens having a concave image-side surface; a negative third lens; a negative fourth lens as a meniscus double-sided aspheric lens having a convex image-side surface; and a double-sided aspheric fifth lens having a concave image-side surface. The aspheric image-side surface of the fifth lens has a pole-change point off an optical axis, and the imaging lens satisfies conditional expressions (1) and (2): TTL/2ih≦0.8 (1) 20<νd1−νd2<50 (2) where νd1: Abbe number of the first lens at d-ray νd2: Abbe number of the second lens at d-ray ih: maximum image height TTL: total track length. |
| US09341813B1 |
Imaging lens module and mobile terminal
An imaging lens module includes an imaging lens assembly and a first optical component. The imaging lens assembly has an optical axis and includes a lens element. The lens element includes an effective optical portion, which is non-circular and disposed on a center of the lens element. The first optical component has a non-circular opening hole. The effective optical portion of the lens element of the imaging lens assembly is corresponded to the non-circular opening hole of the first optical component. |
| US09341812B2 |
Autofocus mechanism with a first and second amplification rate
First and second amplifiers amplify a voltage value of a first signal and generate first and second amplified signals. Third and fourth amplifiers amplify the voltage value of a second signal and generate third and fourth amplified signals. A corrector corrects one of the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal based on a first correction function illustrating a relationship between the voltage value of the first amplified signal and the voltage value of the second amplified signal and generates one of a first corrected signal and a second corrected signal, and corrects one of the third amplified signal and the fourth amplified signal based on a second correction function illustrating a relationship between the voltage value of the third amplified signal and the voltage value of the fourth amplified signal and generates one of a third corrected signal and a fourth corrected signal. |
| US09341807B2 |
Gravitation compensation for optical elements in projection exposure apparatuses
A gravitation compensator for mounting optical elements in a projection exposure apparatus and a corresponding projection exposure apparatus are disclosed. The gravitation compensator at least partly compensates for the weight force of a mounted optical element and simultaneously enables a change in the position of the optical element without the compensated weight force being altered in an impermissible manner during the change in position. This applies, in particular, to high weight forces which are to be compensated. Furthermore, the gravitation compensator enables use in different atmospheres and the compensation of corresponding aging effects. |
| US09341806B2 |
Fan-out subassembly
A fan-out subassembly includes furcation modules mounted to a furcation module holder, which is adapted to be connected to a main component. The furcation module holder includes a cable anchoring location. Each of the furcation modules has a furcation tube mounting insert and a plurality of furcation tubes. The furcation tubes are supported by the furcation tube mounting inserts and have free portions that extend outwardly from the furcation tube mounting inserts and from the furcation module holder. The furcation tubes can hold optical fibers of a cable that extends from the subassembly to a cable spool. The subassembly and the free portions of the furcation tubes can be packaged together until installation. |
| US09341804B2 |
Cable strain relief for cables, in particular fiber optic cables
The invention relates to a means of cable strain relief (1) comprising a crimping sleeve (3) for the mechanical operative connection of a cable (5) to a crimping neck (2), wherein the crimping sleeve (3) is used in the crimped state for clamping a textile braid (7) of the cable (5) intended for stain relief between the crimping sleeve (3) and the crimping neck (2). At its cable-side end, the crimping sleeve (3) comprises a deformable plastic sleeve (4) that produces a mechanical operative connection in the crimped state between an exterior jacket (6) of the cable (5) and the crimping sleeve (3). |
| US09341802B2 |
Telecommunications assembly
A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis defining an interior region and a tray assembly disposed in the interior region. The tray assembly includes a tray and a cable spool assembly. The cable spool assembly is engaged to a base panel of the tray. The cable spool assembly is adapted to rotate relative to the tray. The cable spool assembly includes a hub, a flange engaged to the hub and an adapter module. The flange defines a termination area. The adapter module is engaged to the termination module of the flange. The adapter module is adapted to slide relative to the flange in a direction that is generally parallel to the flange between an extended position and a retracted position. |
| US09341800B2 |
Modular optical fiber distribution hub with multi-row splitter module mounting structure
A modular optical fiber distribution housing is provided. The housing includes a first row of splitter modules and a second row of splitter modules both supported from the inner surface of one of the plurality of walls, and each splitter module is receives an input optical fiber and includes a splitting device configured to split a signal carried by the received input optical fiber into a plurality of signals carried by respective output optical fibers. The first row of splitter modules is located between the second row of splitter modules and the inner surface of the wall supporting the first and second rows of splitter modules. |
| US09341793B2 |
Light source device
Provided is a light source device which includes: a LD mounted on a stem; a cap fixed to the stem so as to cover the LD; a light converging lens capable of converging light flux emitted from the LD; an optical fiber connection portion to which an optical fiber is connected, the optical fiber receiving inputting of the light flux converged by the light converging lens; and a holder for holding the optical fiber connection portion, the holder being fixed to the cap. The optical fiber connection portion includes a position adjusting portion which adjusts a position of the optical fiber connection portion with respect to the holder. |
| US09341791B2 |
Optical module, manufacturing method of optical module and optical communication device
An optical module includes: a substrate provided with a through hole for inserting an optical fiber from a second principal surface side of the substrate; an optical device provided on a first principal surface side of the substrate; a first electrode provided in the substrate for connecting an electric fiber from the second principal surface side; a second electrode formed on the first principal surface side of the substrate for connecting to the optical device; and a third electrode provided on a side surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the second electrode. |
| US09341787B2 |
Apparatus providing simplified alignment of optical fiber in photonic integrated circuits
A structure for optically aligning an optical fiber to a photonic device and method of fabrication of same. The structure optically aligns an optical fiber to the photonic device using a lens between the two which is moveable by actuator heads. The lens is moveable by respective motive sources associated with the actuator heads. |
| US09341782B2 |
Methods and systems for delaying optical waves
Coupled-resonator optical waveguides (CROW) can be used to control a speed of an optical signal. In particular, the coupling distance between the resonators can be adjusted to precisely control a group delay of an optical wave. Systems and methods are described to control such coupling distance in a CROW. |
| US09341781B2 |
Laser machining and mechanical control of optical microresonators
An apparatus and technique are used to fabricate optical microresonators. A fabrication chamber contains all fabrication materials and devices. The microresonators are fabricated from a glass preform mounted on a motorized spindle. A laser is focused onto the preform to partly or fully impinge on the preform. The laser's focus position is controlled by changing the positioning of a lens mounted on a translation stage. Piezoelectric control elements may be mounted to finished microresonators to control of nonlinear parametric oscillation and four-wave mixing effects of the microresonator, control of nonlinear optical stimulated Brillouin scattering and Raman effects of said microresonator and wideband tuning of the frequency spacing between the output modes of a nonlinear-Kerr-effect optical frequency comb generated with said microresonator. |
| US09341773B2 |
Stackable optoelectronics chip-to-chip interconnects and method of manufacturing thereof
An optoelectronics chip-to-chip interconnects system is provided, including at least one packaged chip to be connected on the printed-circuit-board with at least one other packaged chip, optical-electrical (O-E) conversion mean, waveguide-board, and (PCB). Single to multiple chips interconnects can be interconnected provided using the technique disclosed in this invention. The packaged chip includes semiconductor die and its package based on the ball-grid array or chip-scale-package. The O-E board includes the optoelectronics components and multiple electrical contacts on both sides of the O-E substrate. The waveguide board includes the electrical conductor transferring the signal from O-E board to PCB and the flex optical waveguide easily stackable onto the PCB to guide optical signal from one chip-to-other chip. Alternatively, the electrode can be directly connected to the PCB instead of including in the waveguide board. The chip-to-chip interconnections system is pin-free and compatible with the PCB. The main advantages of this invention are to use the packaged chip for interconnection and the conventional PCB technology can be used for low speed electrical signal connection. Also, the part of the heat from the packaged chip can be transmitted to the PCB through the conductors, so that complex cooling system can be avoided. |
| US09341768B2 |
Lighting device, display device and television device
A backlight device includes a light guide plate, a first light source, a second light source, and a positioning portion. The light guide plate has at least one end surface as a light entrance surface and one plate surface as a light exit surface. The first light source is opposed to a first light entrance surface that is a first end surface of the light guide plate. The second light source is opposed to a second light entrance surface that is an end surface opposite from the first light entrance surface of the light guide plate. The second light source is arranged to have a distance from the second light entrance surface relatively greater than a distance between the first light source and the first light entrance surface. The positioning portion is configured to position the light guide plate in a direction in which the first light source, the light guide plate, and the second light source are arranged, and to position the light guide plate with respect to the first light source and the second light source. The positioning portion is arranged to have a distance from the second light entrance surface relatively greater than a distance from the first light entrance surface. |
| US09341767B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a backlight unit, a support member, a protection member and a spacing member. The backlight unit includes a printed circuit board on which light emitting blocks are mounted and a light guide. The spacing member presses the printed circuit board against the support member and uniformly maintains spaces between light output surfaces of the light emitting blocks and a light input surface of the light guide. |
| US09341766B2 |
Lighting device, display device and television device
An object of the present invention is to suppress the brightness distribution in the lighting device. The backlight unit 12 according to the present invention includes an LED 17 as a light source with a light intensity distribution in which light having a peak light intensity travels in a direction inclined with respect to a front direction, a chassis 14 having an opening on a light exit side and housing the LED 17, and a light leading member 22 provided to extend from a mounting surface of the LED 17 toward the light exit side. The light leading member 22 is configured to lead light from the LED 17 toward the light exit side. The employment of the LED 17 with the above light intensity distribution enables an irradiation area A irradiated with the light having the peak light intensity to be larger. This reduces the uneven that may occur in the brightness distribution of the outgoing light. |
| US09341765B2 |
Light-source device
A light source device includes: a light-emitting part; a light guide including in its center a columnar part whose central axis direction is a lengthwise direction, that guides light input into an end face from the light-emitting part, and outputs light from a side face of the columnar part; a light guide holder that covers an end of the light guide except for at least part of the end face; and a support part, including a through-hole that penetrates from one face to another face formed therein, that holds an end of the light guide holder on a side of a first opening on the one face of the through-hole so as to allow sliding in the lengthwise direction, and light is input into the light guide via a second opening on the other face of the through-hole. |
| US09341764B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display comprising the same
Provided are a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display including the backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a light emitting package, and a light guide plate disposed at one side of the light emitting package. The light emitting package includes a printed circuit board including first regions that are spaced an interval apart from each other and second regions defined between the first regions, light source units disposed on the first regions of the printed circuit board, dummy wiring patterns disposed on the second regions of the printed circuit board, and wiring patterns disposed on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the light source units. |
| US09341756B2 |
Method for correcting the surface form of a mirror
A method for correcting a surface form of a mirror (1) for reflecting radiation in the wavelength range of 5-30 nm, which includes: applying a correction layer (13) having a layer thickness variation (21) for correcting the mirror's surface form, and applying a first group (19) of layers to the correction layer. The first group (19) of layers includes first (9) and second (11) layers arranged alternately one above another, wherein the first layers have a refractive index at the operating wavelength which is greater than the refractive index of the second layers for that radiation.The correction layer (13) is applied by: introducing the mirror into an atmosphere including a reaction gas (15), applying a correction radiation (17) having a location-dependent radiation energy density, such that a correction layer having a location-dependent layer thickness variation (21) grows on the mirror's irradiated surface. |
| US09341755B2 |
Optical film
An optical film comprises a transparent supporting substrate and a structuralized layer integrally formed on the supporting layer and having a plurality of light-concentrating units including design that varies in height along their length or varies in pitch of prism structure to overcome the optical defects (wet-out) of the optical film and to enhance the optical properties of the optical film. |
| US09341754B2 |
Light diffuser for point light source and direct type point light source backlight device
In a direct type point light source backlight using point light sources, a light diffuser is provided that can achieve coexistence of superior luminance, luminance uniformity (front and oblique views), and a color unevenness characteristic even with a desired backlight thickness and a few number of point light sources without using a number of optical films together.Specifically, provided is a light diffuser for point light sources, the light diffuser having a plurality of convex portions formed on a surface thereof, wherein the convex portion has a substantially triangular pyramid shape whose bottom surface is a triangle, and an inclined angle θ with respect to a bottom surface of a side surface of the substantially triangular pyramid shape and a refractive index A of a material forming the convex portion satisfy the following equations (1) and (2). θ≧−40A°+115.2° (1) θ≦25A°+22.25° (2) |
| US09341753B2 |
Optical device and method of controlling propagation directions of light and surface plasmon by using the optical device
Provided are an optical device and a method of controlling propagation directions of light and a surface plasmon using the optical device. The optical device includes a light source, a substrate, and a metal layer that is disposed on the substrate, the metal layer includes at least two slots, and propagation directions of light and a surface plasmon may be controlled by using the light that is polarized in a direction parallel to a direction of a long length of any one of the at least two slots. |
| US09341747B2 |
Azo compound and salt thereof, and dye-based polarizing film and polarizing plate containing the same
The present invention relates to an azo compound represented by the following formula (1) [wherein, A represents a naphthyl group having a substituent, R1 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 5, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 5, a sulfo group, or an alkoxy group having a sulfo group and a carbon atom number of 1 to 5, and X represents a benzoylamino group having a substituent, a phenylamino group having a substituent, a phenylazo group having a substituent, or a naphthotriazole group having a substituent] and a salt thereof. By using the azo compound or a salt thereof of the present invention, a neutral color polarizing plate and a color polarizing plate for a liquid crystal projector being excellent in polarization performance and durability. |
| US09341745B2 |
3D network-structured silicon-containing prepolymer and method for fabricating the same
A 3D network-structured silicon-containing preploymer and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The method of the present invention undertakes a hydrolytic condensation/polymerization reaction of penta(alkanol)alkoxy disiloxane, a reactive silicon-containing polymer and a reactive hydrophilic monomer to form a silicon-containing preploymer featuring a 3D network structure and having superior mechanical strength. The method further undertakes a copolymerization reaction of the silicon-containing preploymer, a hydrophilic monomer and a silicon-containing hydrophobic monomer to fabricate a silicone hydrogel-containing mixture having high oxygen permeability and high hydrophilicity. The silicone hydrogel-containing mixture can be used to fabricate contact lenses that the users wear comfortably. |
| US09341744B2 |
Amphiphilic polysiloxane prepolymers and uses thereof
The present invention provides an amphiphilic polysiloxane prepolymer which comprises hydrophilic monomeric units derived from at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer, polysiloxane crosslinking units derived from at least one polysiloxane crosslinker having at least two terminal ethylenically-unsaturated groups, dangling polysiloxane chains each of which is terminated with one ethylenically unsaturated group, and chain-transfer units derived from a chain transfer agent other than a RAFT agent. A prepolymer of the invention is suitable for making hydrogel contact lenses. The present invention is also related to hydrogel contact lenses made from an amphiphilic polysiloxane prepolymer of the invention and to processes for preparing an amphiphilic polysiloxane prepolymer of the invention and for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses. |
| US09341743B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition for color filter, and color filter prepared using the same
The present invention relates to a phthalocyanine compound represented by Formula 1, a dye including the same, a photosensitive resin composition including the same, and a color filter prepared using the same. In Formula 1, Z1 to Z16 and M1 are the same as defined in the specification, wherein 1 to 8 of Z1 to Z16 are substituted with one of Formulae 2 to 5, as also defined in the specification. The phthalocyanine compound can have high luminance, high contrast, and excellent heat resistance. |
| US09341740B1 |
Optical ground tracking apparatus, systems, and methods
Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensing buried object locator includes a ground tracking apparatus having input and output light snoot assemblies, light generation and sensing assemblies, and a processing element to receive signals from the light sensor assembly and generate location or tracking information associated with movement of the locator. |
| US09341738B2 |
Systems and methods for neutron detection in nuclear logging tools
A neutron detector includes a hollow shaped lithium-6-containing scintillator configured to produce a light signal in response to a neutron incident on the scintillator, a gamma-absorbing core that at least partially fills the inside of the hollow scintillator, and a device configured to produce an electrical signal in response to the light emitted from the scintillator. |
| US09341737B2 |
Measuring total, epithermal and thermal neutron formation porosities with one single set of neutron detectors and a pulsed neutron generator
An apparatus for estimating porosities of a formation includes: a borehole conveyable pulsed neutron generator to emit a pulse of high energy neutrons; a short spaced neutron detector to provide a count rate as a function of time; a long spaced neutron detector to provide a count rate as a function of time; a timing gate to synchronize a timing of neutrons detected by the detectors with respect to the neutron pulse; and a processor. The processor is configured to determine epithermal count rates and thermal count rates for the detectors based on timing of detection of neutrons with respect to the neutron pulse and calculate a first ratio of short to long spaced detector epithermal count rates and a second ratio of short to long spaced detector thermal count rates. The processor estimates an epithermal porosity using the first ratio and a thermal porosity using the second ratio. |
| US09341736B2 |
Goods inspection apparatus using distributed X-ray source
This invention relates to an X-ray goods inspection apparatus, and in particular to a goods inspection apparatus using distributed X-ray source. |
| US09341735B1 |
Apparatus and method for simultaneously obtaining quantitative measurements of formation resistivity and permittivity in both water and oil based mud
An apparatus and method for simultaneously obtaining quantitative measurements of vertical and horizontal resistivity and permittivity formation parameters by firing, using at least one transmitter in each of a horizontally and vertically polarized array on opposite sides of a drill collar, signals in the direction of a downhole formation, the fired signals from the transmitters in the arrays being fired simultaneously and engaging the downhole formation. The apparatus and method continues by receiving, using at least one receiver in each of the arrays, signals associated with the fired signals after the fired signals have engaged the downhole formation, where the received signals represent apparent formation data. The apparatus and method further involves determining, using the measured apparent formation data, the true formation data including one or more vertical and horizontal formation parameters. |
| US09341732B2 |
Continuously towed seafloor electromagnetic prospecting system
A towed system for underwater electromagnetic prospecting for use with a seaward vessel is provided. The towed system comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a tow cable. The first portion is located on the vessel and includes a controller and a power supply system. The second towed portion is for submersion in the water and transmits an electromagnetic waveform and receives a corresponding electromagnetic signal. The tow cable connects the first portion with the second portion. The tow cable includes at least a pair of suitable conductors for delivering to the second portion a power signal generated by the first portion and at least one optical fiber for carrying data communications between the first portion and the second portion. The transmitted and received signals are digitized and this information is sent digitally to the controller in the first portion. |
| US09341729B2 |
Amplitude contrast seismic attribute
A method for visualizing seismic data of a subterranean formation, including obtaining an estimated dip field of the subterranean formation, wherein the estimated dip field represents a measure of deviation of a stratigraphic layer from flat, extracting a matrix data item surrounding a voxel of the seismic data, wherein the matrix data item is extracted from the seismic data based on a value of the estimated dip field surrounding the voxel, generating modified seismic data by at least applying a matrix operator to the seismic data, wherein the matrix operator calculates a partial derivative of the seismic data using the matrix data item, and displaying the modified seismic data. |
| US09341727B2 |
Geometrical presentation of fracture planes
Systems, methods, and software can be used to analyze microseismic data from a fracture treatment. In some aspects, fracture planes are identified based on microseismic event data from a fracture treatment of a subterranean zone. Each fracture plane is associated with a subset of the microseismic event data. Confidence level groups are identified from the fracture planes. Each confidence level group includes fracture planes that have an accuracy confidence value within a respective range. A graphical representation of the fracture planes is generated. The graphical representation includes a distinct plot for each confidence level group. |
| US09341726B2 |
Processing seismic data
A method of processing seismic data acquired consequent to actuation of a seismic source is described. The method comprises taking the result of the following process into account when processing the seismic data where the process comprises estimating the effect of uncertainty in the position and/or orientation of the seismic source relative to the measuring receiver on processing the seismic data by estimating a source wavefield from data acquired by a near-field measuring receiver and from a first parameter set including at least one parameter indicative of the position and/or orientation of the seismic source relative to the measuring receiver, varying the value of at least one parameter of the first parameter set, estimating the source wavefield from the data acquired by the measuring receiver and from the varied first parameter set and obtaining information about the uncertainty in the estimate of the source wavefield. |
| US09341725B2 |
Piston integrated variable mass load
Embodiments relate to marine vibrators that incorporate one or more piston plates that act on the surrounding water to produce acoustic energy. An example marine vibrator may comprise: a containment housing; a piston plate; a fixture coupled to the containment housing; a mechanical spring element coupled to the piston plate and the fixture; a driver disposed in the marine vibrator, wherein the driver is coupled to the piston plate and the fixture; and a container coupled to the piston plate, wherein the container is configured to hold a variable mass load; wherein the marine vibrator has a resonance frequency selectable based at least in part on the variable mass load. |
| US09341723B2 |
Radiographic image capturing apparatus
A radiographic image capturing apparatus includes: a readout IC equipped with a plurality of readout circuits connected to signal lines, respectively; a power source circuit which supplies a power to the readout IC; and a discharge circuit disposed on a path through which the power source circuit supplies the power to the readout IC, the discharge circuit being is capable of connecting the path and a GND to each other. The discharge circuit connects the path and the GND during a sleep mode. |
| US09341720B2 |
Camera-based position location and navigation based on image processing
An apparatus and method for estimating a position of a mobile device based on one or more images is disclosed. Positioning information is derived from an image containing an SAS (self-addressing source such as a QR code), thereby setting a first vector V1 and an SAS pose. The image is also used to determine a displacement between the mobile device and the self-addressing source, thereby setting a second vector V2. Using the first vector V1, the SAS pose and the second vector V2, the mobile device may estimate its position with high accuracy and may also recalibrate dead-reckoning navigation and a gyrometer. |
| US09341719B2 |
Psuedo maximum likelihood tracking for global navigation satellite systems
GNSS receivers and methods of determining a current receiver state of a GNSS receiver are provided. The method includes receiving positioning signals from a plurality of satellites; generating a plurality of correlation grids from the received positioning signals, where each correlation grid is associated with a respective one of the plurality of satellites; estimating a probability distribution of the current receiver state from the plurality of correlation grids; and determining a maximum likelihood estimate of the current receiver state from the estimated probability distribution. |
| US09341717B2 |
Apparatus for position notification of vehicle, method and computer-readable medium
A vehicle position notification apparatus include a main body unit which includes at least a detection unit, an attachment unit and a communication unit; wherein the detection unit detects a body under detection; the attachment unit makes the main body unit adhere to the body under detection detected; and the communication unit transmits position information of the main body unit. |
| US09341716B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for GPS time synchronization using cellular signal bursts
A system, apparatus and corresponding method by which to synchronize to a time reference a main module of a device—a main module such as global positioning system (GPS) receiver—using a cellular communication signal received by a cellular module also included in the device. To synchronize the main module to the reference time, the invention provides a method including the steps of: having the cellular module respond to the cellular communication signal by providing to a clock module of the main module a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing to the main module information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time. The main module is then able to resolve a value for time based on the information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time and the trigger pulse. |
| US09341713B2 |
Sensing circuit for recognizing movement and movement recognizing method thereof
Provided is a sensing circuit for recognizing a movement including: at least one light emitting device outputting light; at least one light receiving device receiving the light reflected by an object on the light emitting device and generating a plurality of current signals proportional to an amount of incident light; a signal conversion unit converting the plurality of current signals into a plurality of digital signals; a recognition unit measuring a synthetic digital signal to determine whether an object moves by receiving the plurality of current signals; and a control unit controlling the recognition unit, wherein the recognition unit generates a clock signal for the synthetic digital signal greater than a critical value and measures a count generated by the clock signal; and the control unit determines whether the object moves through a comparison of the count and a reference value. |
| US09341712B2 |
Variable resolution uncertainty expert system for digital bathymetry database
System and method for estimating uncertainty by obtaining conditional probability densities of bathymetric uncertainty due to navigation error and bottom slope using a Monte Carlo technique, using the Monte Carlo results to train a Bayesian Network to provide the causal relationships of navigation error and bottom slope to bathymetric uncertainty, producing a histogram of bathymetric uncertainty from the Bayesian Network of the uncertainty for an area similar to the training set area, and estimating the uncertainty based on the histogram produced by the Bayesian Network. |
| US09341710B2 |
Sub-carrier successive approximation millimeter wave radar for high-accuracy 3D imaging
A sub-carrier successive approximation (SCSA) radar having a sufficiently high accuracy to capture 3D images of concealed objects. The invention is phase-based, and directly measures round trip time by estimating the phase delay of the carrier. One of its advantages is that the carrier does not need to sweep across a wide frequency range, thereby relaxing RF front-end bandwidth and linearity requirements. SCSA radar accuracy is limited only by the extent of system noise, allowing very high accuracy to be achieved with a sufficient integration period. The SCSA radar can be readily implemented in CMOS, as well as other device technologies, and fabricated within one or more small integrated circuits. |
| US09341709B2 |
Image sensing device and focal plane array device using frequency conversion for real-time terahertz imaging
Provided is an image sensing device that includes a detector configured to detect a terahertz wave signal received by a receiving antenna, a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to output an oscillation frequency according to an output voltage of the detector, and a frequency digital converter configured to convert the oscillation frequency output from the voltage-controlled oscillator to a digital signal. |
| US09341708B2 |
Road surface condition detection device and road surface condition detection method
A radio waves receiving unit receives horizontally polarized waves and vertically polarized waves of radio waves radiated from an object at a radiation angle. An image generation unit generates a horizontally polarized waves image and a vertically polarized waves image based on the horizontally polarized waves and the vertically polarized waves, respectively. A polarization ratio calculation unit calculates, for each radiation angle, a polarization ratio which is a ratio of intensity of the horizontally polarized waves to the vertically polarized waves based on the horizontally polarized waves image and the vertically polarized waves image. A refractive index calculation unit calculates a refractive index of the object based on a change between polarization ratios of two different radiation angles. A road surface condition recognition unit recognizes a condition of a road surface based on the refractive index. |
| US09341704B2 |
Methods and systems for object tracking
Methods and systems for object tracking are disclosed in which the bandwidth of a “slow” tracking system (e.g., an optical tracking system) is augmented with sensor data generated by a “fast” tracking system (e.g., an inertial tracking system). The tracking data generated by the respective systems can be used to estimate and/or predict a position, velocity, and orientation of a tracked object that can be updated at the sample rate of the “fast” tracking system. The methods and systems disclosed herein generally involve an estimation algorithm that operates on raw sensor data (e.g., two-dimensional pixel coordinates in a captured image) as opposed to first processing and/or calculating object position and orientation using a triangulation or “back projection” algorithm. |
| US09341701B2 |
Method for synchronizing time measurements carried out in a radio communication network for geolocation purposes
The invention relates to a system for forming an asynchronous communication network for receiving client transmitters, comprising base stations that are remote from one another, said network enabling the geolocation of the client transmitters. For this purpose, the system comprises a plurality of stationary reference transmitters, the positions of which are known and each of which transmits a specific beacon signal in a frequency band included within the frequency band of the network. The geolocation of a client transmitter is carried out by multilateration by taking pairs of base stations into consideration, each pair consisting of base stations capable of receiving the signals from the client transmitter and the signals from a single reference transmitter, and by calculating the difference between the times the signal from the client transmitter arrived at the base stations, said difference being determined by calculating, for each base station, the difference between the times of arrival of the signal transmitted by the client transmitter and of that transmitted by the reference transmitter. |
| US09341697B2 |
Moving platform orientation tracking system
An orientation tracking system for a moving platform includes a transmitter which generates an beam having a known polarization with respect to a predefined coordinate system. The moving platform includes an ellipsometric detector capable of detecting the polarized beam when within the line-of-sight of the transmitter, and measuring its polarization state. The polarization state indicates the rotational orientation of the moving platform with respect to the predefined coordinate system. The beam could also be used to convey guidance commands to the platform. |
| US09341696B2 |
Method, system, and control apparatus for setting over-current protection point of electronic device
A method, a system, and a control apparatus for setting an over-current protection point of an electronic device are provided. The method comprises: step 1, the parameter auto-test equipment transmitting a starting signal and outputting a target current for over-current protection based on the auto-adjustment control unit; step 2, the first driving signal generator receiving the starting signal and transmitting a driving signal to the over-current protection module; and step 3, the electronic device receiving the target current for over-current protection, and the over-current protection module receiving the driving signal and adjusting a resistance of the resistance adjusting unit to the over-current protection point of the electronic device. The invention attains fully automatic operation on the over-current protection point of the electronic device, improves stability and consistency of setting the over-current protection point, and saves labor cost at the same time. |
| US09341691B2 |
Short TE 3D radial sampling sequence for MRI
A method for magnetic resonance imaging includes providing a radio frequency excitation pulse to a specimen. The pulse has a duration. The method includes, concurrent with providing the radio frequency excitation pulse, applying a first gradient having a first polarity. The method includes applying a readout gradient at a time after the duration. The readout gradient has inverse polarity relative to the first polarity. The method includes, concurrent with applying the readout gradient, acquiring magnetic resonance data from the specimen. The method includes generating an image based on the magnetic resonance data. |
| US09341686B2 |
Single-package power meter
A single-package power meter is disclosed for measuring the power consumed by a load connected to an electrical conductor. The power meter is galvanically isolated from the electrical conductor through the use of magnetic sensors or through the combination of magnetic sensors and capacitors. Instantaneous power consumed at the load and other desired parameters are determined by measuring the voltage of the load and current flowing through the electrical conductor. Current is measured using a magnetic sensor to detect the magnetic field associated with the current flowing through the electrical conductor. Voltage is measured by one of two possible techniques involving magnetic sensors to measure the current flowing through a coil connected in parallel with a load, or through the use of a capacitively coupled voltage divider connected in parallel with the load. An application specific integrated circuit is further disclosed that controls the bias currents of the sensors for autoranging purposes and also for computing desired parameters, such as power consumption. |
| US09341684B2 |
Magnetic field sensing apparatus and methods
Magnetic field sensor designs that provide both increased directionality and proximate coupling desirable for improved directionality and sensitivity and methods for fabricating them. |
| US09341680B2 |
Selectable upper voltage range monitoring circuit
A battery voltage measuring circuit for an implantable cardiac device is presented. Since the usable battery voltage for the device is limited to an upper range of voltages, the need for measuring lower voltages at which the battery is approaching end of life is of no use. The disclosed invention allows for the measurement of a selectable upper range of battery levels that can be chosen without using a level shifting device such as a zener diode. Multiple voltage ranges with associated measurement resolutions can be achieved without using high current zener diode implementations. This allows for a trade-off between measurement range and resolution while resulting in a lower power and more accurate measurement circuit. Conventional zener diode implementations only allow for a single measurement range and are prone to non-linear error as the voltage measurement range increases. |
| US09341679B2 |
Battery voltage monitoring apparatus
A battery voltage monitoring apparatus for monitoring an assembled battery voltage, the assembled battery including a plurality of battery cells, the battery voltage monitoring apparatus including a plurality of input terminals, the plurality of input terminals being respectively coupled to the plurality of battery cells through a potential measurement line, a comparator having a hysteresis characteristic and including a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal receiving a reference voltage, and a current source, one end of the current source being coupled between one of the plurality of the input terminals and the first terminal. |
| US09341677B1 |
System and method for data input alignment
A data alignment method is provided by iteratively increasing the delay of each data input line of a system component until a test signal transmitted on each data input line is received at the system component at substantially a predetermined time. |
| US09341674B2 |
Scan test circuit, test pattern generation control circuit, and scan test control method
A scan test generation method includes dividing a single clock domain into a plurality of regions; incorporating a test pattern generation control circuit in each of the regions; selecting one of a skewed-load mode and a broadside mode as a test pattern generation mode by the test pattern generation control circuit for each region; generating a test pattern determined based on selected one of the test pattern generation mode for each region; and generating a test pattern such that the skewed-load mode and the broadside mode are mixed in a single clock domain. |
| US09341671B2 |
Testing holders for chip unit and die package
A testing holder for a chip unit, a multi site holding frame for plural chip units and a method for testing a die thereof are provided. The proposed multi site holding frame for testing plural chip units simultaneously includes a first holder frame having a plurality of testing holders. Each of the plurality of testing holders includes a holder body containing a specific one of the plural chip units, and a pressure releasing device formed on the holder body to release an insertion pressure when the specific one of the plural chip units is inserted in the holder body. |
| US09341670B2 |
Residual material detection in backdrilled stubs
A stub of a via formed in a printed circuit board is backdrilled to a predetermined depth. A capacitance probe is positioned within the via. Then the capacitance probe is used to obtain a test capacitance measurement. The test capacitance measurement is compared to a predetermined baseline capacitance measurement. Residual conductive plating material in the backdrilled stub causes the test capacitance measurement to exceed the predetermined baseline capacitance measurement. An indication is made that the predetermined baseline capacitance measurement has been exceeded. |
| US09341664B2 |
LED failure detection
A fault detecting circuit in a string of LEDs D1-Dc containing comparing operational amplifiers IC1/IC2 connected to a current source is divided into sections, D1-Da, D2-Db, and D3-Dc, wherein the common between the Da cathode and the D2 anode is connected to the noninverting-input of IC1, while the common between the Db cathode and the D3 anode is connected to the noninverting-input of IC2, and to the string D1-Db is connected in parallel to a divider comprising R1/R2, while the string comprising D2-Dc is connected in parallel to a divider comprising R3/R4, and the common of R1/R2 is connected to the inverting-input of IC1 and the common of R3/R4 is connected to the inverting-input of IC2, while the outputs of IC1/IC2 are connected to the bases of corresponding transistors T1/T2, whose emitters are connected to ground and collectors are connected to the voltage source and also to the output terminal. |
| US09341663B2 |
MEMS device positioning apparatus, test system, and test method
A positioning apparatus includes a support structure, a positioning structure, and a fixture for retaining MEMS devices. A shaft spans between the support structure and the positioning structure, and is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the support structure in order to rotate the positioning structure and the fixture about the first axis. The positioning structure includes a pair of beams spaced apart by a third beam. Another shaft spans between the pair of beams and is configured to rotate about a second axis relative to the positioning structure in order to rotate the fixture about the second axis. Methodology entails installing the positioning apparatus into a chamber, orienting the fixture into various positions, and obtaining output signals from the MEMS devices to determine functionality of the MEMS devices. |
| US09341661B2 |
Tone detector
A tone detector is disclosed that is realizable in digital embodiment on a single integrated circuit die and does not require external components, such as a discrete capacitor. An input connects to a comparator, which in turn connects to one or more edge detectors and a flip flop. The edge detector outputs a pulse responsive to a detected edge. A counter is reset by the pulses from the edge detectors thereby preventing the counter from reaching a maximum value, which would otherwise be output from the counter and provided to a flip flop to clock in the comparator output at the D input to the flip flop. In operation, the comparator generates a rail to rail signal responsive to a received tone, which in turn is clocked through the flip flop as a logic high output indicating presence of a tone. |
| US09341660B2 |
Load impedance estimation and repetitive control method capable of allowing inductance variation for inverter
The present invention provides a load impedance estimation and repetitive control method capable of allowing inductance variation for an inverter, wherein the method is applied for predicting corresponding next-period switching duty cycles for four switching member sets of the inverter by way of sampling three phase voltages and calculating next-period voltage compensations based on the previous line-period voltage compensations. Moreover, during the calculation and prediction, the method also involves the inductance variations of the output inductors of the inverter into the load impedance estimation matrix equation. Therefore, the three phases four wires inverter with the presented load impedance estimation and repetitive control method can provide a steady output voltage to the loads even if the originally-connected loads are replaced with other different loads. Thus, this load impedance estimation and repetitive control method can indeed improve the drawbacks of the inverter controller based on conventional DQ transformation method. |
| US09341659B2 |
User interactive living organisms
Embodiments described herein use capacitive sensing to detect human interaction with living plants. A sensing system may utilize the natural conductive paths found in an organic plant to transmit an electrical signal between the plant and a user interacting with the plant. By directly contacting the plant or coming into proximity of the plant, the user may affect the electrical signal. That is, the electrical properties of the user (e.g., the capacitance of the human body) change a measured impedance curve associated with the electrical signal. Based on this change, the sensing system detects an interaction between the user and the plant and may inform a user interaction device to provide a feedback response to the user. For example, the feedback response may be an audio or video effect that is based on the type of user interaction such as whether the user touched the plant's leaf or stem. |
| US09341658B2 |
Fast on-chip oscillator trimming
Oscillation frequency measurements for trimming oscillators on an integrated circuit device are performed entirely on the device. The oscillation frequency measurements utilize a reference clock. Some measurements count periods of the oscillator signal independently of the reference clock, and some measurements count periods of the reference clock independently of the oscillator signal. After one oscillator on the device has been trimmed, that trimmed oscillator may then be used to make oscillation frequency measurements for trimming another oscillator on the device. |
| US09341657B2 |
Current sensor and printed circuit board for this sensor
A printed circuit includes a hole, a stack, one or more first coils, a magnetic core, and a pad. The hole passes through the vertically through the board to receive a conducting wire. The stack comprises metallization layers vertically stacked and separated mechanically from one another by electrically insulating layers. The first coils fulfill functions of a measurement coil and of an excitation coil. Each first coil has turns wound solely around the magnetic core. The magnetic core forms a first magnetic ring surrounding the hole and extending horizontally between metallization layers. Each turn of each first coil is formed by two conducting tracks produced, respectively, in metallization layers situated above and below the first magnetic ring. The pad passes through an insulating layer and passes through an interior of the magnetic ring, electrically linking the two conducting tracks. |
| US09341656B2 |
Nanosensors including graphene and methods of manufacturing the same
Nanosensors including graphene and methods of manufacturing the same. A nanosensor includes a first insulating layer in which a first nanopore is formed; a graphene layer that is disposed on the first insulating layer and having a second nanopore or a nanogap formed therein adjacent to the first nanopore; and a marker element that is disposed adjacent to the graphene layer and identifies a position of the graphene layer. |
| US09341654B2 |
Mixed current sensor and method for fitting said sensor
The invention relates to a mixed current sensor comprising in a case: a magnetic current sensor; a current measuring device comprising a Rogowski coil arranged in such a way that a primary circuit of the magnetic sensor corresponds to the primary circuit of said current measuring device, electronic means for performing acquisition and measurement of the electric current. Said sensor comprises a linking cassette comprising first fixing means arranged to position and secure said cassette by clip-fastening onto the measuring device; second fixing means arranged to position and secure said cassette and the measuring device by clip-fastening onto the case. |
| US09341648B2 |
Probe card and manufacturing method thereof
The probe card includes a substrate, at least two IC boards, and a plurality of probe pads. The IC boards are located on the substrate, and a predetermined distance is formed between the IC boards. Each of the IC boards has a plurality of lead connection points. The probe pads are plated on the IC boards, and are respectively connected to the lead connection points to cover the lead connection points. A probe area is surrounded by the probe pads on each of the IC boards. The probe pads are used to abut against plural probes. |
| US09341644B2 |
MEMS apparatus with a movable waveguide section
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensing device, including a laser arrangement configured to generate a light beam, a first waveguide configured to receive and output a first portion of the light beam, and a second waveguide having a section that is evanescently coupled to the first waveguide and configured to receive and output a second portion of the light beam. The section of the second waveguide is configured to be movable substantially parallel to the first waveguide, wherein a movement of the section of the second waveguide may be caused by an inertial change applied to the sensing device. The movement of the section may cause a detectable change in light intensity between the first and second portions of the light beam. Based on the detected change, the inertial change may be determined. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09341643B2 |
Vibrator element, method of manufacturing vibrator element, vibrator, electronic device, electronic apparatus and moving body
A vibrator element includes a pair of first and second drive vibrating arms that extend in opposite directions from a base portion; a first weight that is spaced from a tip of at least one of the first and second drive vibrating arms toward the base portion and is provided in a first region of the at least one of the drive vibrating arms; and a second weight that is provided in a second region that is a region between a tip of the first weight and the tip of the at least one of the drive vibrating arms. When an area of the first region is represented as A1, a mass of the first weight is represented as B1, an area of the second region is represented as A2, and a mass of the second weight is represented as B2, B1/A1>B2/A2 is established. |
| US09341638B2 |
Automatic analyzer
An automatic analyzer enables users to perform working steps easily and reliably by switching a display screen irrespective of a skill level of the user. The automatic analyzer, which determines a consistency of a test item, includes a display/input section to display a plurality of working steps relating to necessary work flow for measurement. The display/input section is adapted to selectively present a maximized workflow display and a reduced workflow display. The maximized workflow display shows a series of operations and works, and further shows a plurality of operations and works in an order that the plurality of operations and works are processed. In a reduced display of the work flow, the reduced workflow display shows details of a specific operation or work, and a position of the specific operation or work in a sequence that the entire series of operations and works are processed. |
| US09341630B2 |
Activatable fluorogenic compounds and uses thereof as near infrared probes
Novel fluorogenic compounds designed such that upon a chemical event, compounds capable of emitting NIR light are generated, are disclosed. The compounds comprise two or more acceptor-containing moieties and a cleavable donor-containing moiety, being in complete pi-electrons conjugation and being such that no delocalization of pi-electrons is enabled. Also disclosed are fluorescent compounds generated upon subjecting the fluorogenic compounds to a chemical event (e.g., deprotonation). Also disclosed are uses of the fluorogenic compounds as NIR probed with a Turn-ON mechanism in monitoring presence and/or level of various analytes. |
| US09341627B2 |
Protein structural biomarkers to guide targeted chemotherapies
A rapid, infrared spectroscopic method has been developed to assess the efficacy of targeted chemotherapeutics against the structure of the polypeptide target, based on the effect of natural polymorphic sequence variation on the conformation of the protein. This method has an advantage over the current genomics-based screening, as the new method provides a direct readout of the structural, and hence functional, outcome of polymorphisms to the protein region targeted by drugs. It allows rapid measurement of a protein's susceptibility to therapeutic targeted agents, prior to using the drug as treatment in the patient. This method can be used to identify biomarkers for a response for a protein to a drug which can be readily tested, interpreted, and used in a clinical setting. |
| US09341626B2 |
Selective cytopheresis devices and related methods thereof
The present invention relates to systems and devices to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions within a subject and to related methods. More particularly, the invention relates to systems, devices, and related methods that sequester leukocytes and/or platelets and then inhibit their inflammatory action. |
| US09341624B2 |
Device for detection of target molecules and uses thereof
Devices and methods for the detection of target molecules are disclosed. Devices and methods for detecting food-borne target molecules are also disclosed. |
| US09341623B2 |
Immunodiffusion assay for influenza virus
A method for performing an immunodiffusion assay comprising at least the following steps of: (a) preparing one or more test samples comprising an influenza virus antigen, (b) treating the test samples with at least 5% (w/v) of detergent, (c) applying the treated test samples to a gel comprising an antibody specific to the influenza virus antigen, and (d) allowing the samples to diffuse into the gel. |
| US09341622B2 |
Cellulose derivative fine particle, dispersion liquid thereof, dispersion body thereof and diagnostic reagent
An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrophilic cellulose derivative fine particle having a small particle size, a dispersion liquid thereof and a dispersion body thereof; and provide a diagnostic reagent composed of the hydrophilic particle, which is excellent in storage stability and does not require excess components, such as an emulsifier or surfactant. The cellulose derivative fine particle of the present invention is a cellulose derivative fine particle comprising a cellulose derivative with a part of hydroxyl groups of cellulose being substituted with a substituent, wherein the average particle diameter is from 9 to 1,000 nm; and the diagnostic reagent of the present invention is a diagnostic reagent obtained by loading a substance differentially interacting with a test object substance on the above-described cellulose derivative fine particle. |
| US09341621B2 |
Ultrasensitive detection of biomolecules using immunoseparation and diffractometry
Systems and methods for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of target biomolecules in a sample are presented. The detection of biomolecules is achieved through a synergistic use of immunoseparation and diffractometry, and the formation of antibody-biomolecule-ligand sandwich complexes that form diffraction gratings. Characteristic diffraction patterns are then produced upon illumination of the diffraction gratings with light. The diffraction patterns can be used to detect very low amounts of biomolecules present in the sample. |
| US09341615B2 |
PC-O 40:1 as a biomarker for healthy aging
Using NMR/MS based metabonomics and targeted lipidomics approaches the inventors have explored the metabolic phenotypes of aging and longevity in a cohort including centenarians, elderly and young adults. The inventors have identified biomarkers for a reduced risk of developing ageing related chronic inflammatory disorders and propose a method of diagnosing a lifestyle that allows delaying and/or avoiding ageing related chronic inflammatory disorders using PC-O 40:1 as biomarker. |
| US09341610B1 |
Electrical arc trigger systems, methods, and apparatuses
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for triggering electrical arcs are disclosed. Such arcs are useful for testing combustible fluids and equipment operating near ignition hazards. In some embodiments, arcs are produced with a defined energy at a defined time with little variation in arc energy. Consistent production of arcs is facilitated by one or more of conditioned electrodes, control and/or reduction of parasitic capacitance, avoidance of corona sources, and non-interfering arc triggers. In some embodiments, electrodes are conditioned by repeated application of conditioning arcs. Conditioned electrodes have relatively physically consistent and chemically consistent tips. In some embodiments, arc triggers are charged particle sources such as light sources operating in cooperation with a target to produce free electrons proximate the electrodes. |
| US09341609B2 |
Methods and systems for ultra-trace analysis of liquids
A monitoring assembly (201) with an intake (213) has at least one pump (210) featuring at least one pump channel mounted in the monitoring assembly (201). A plurality of fluid lines are coupled to the at least one pump (210). At least one filter cartridge (315) is also mounted in the assembly. Each filter cartridge (315) is separately coupled by one of the plurality of fluid lines to one of the pump channels, where each filter cartridge (315) contains material for extracting an analyte, and where the at least one pump operates to separately push fluid through the at least one filter cartridge (315). The filter cartridge (315) operates to separate fluid into constituent parts. |
| US09341608B2 |
Method for determining expected shelf life of seafood
A method of determining the expected shelf life of seafood. The method includes a step of placing a test strip against a piece of seafood, wherein the test strip includes an indicating pad having a pH indicator that is configured to change color in the presence of ammonia. The method further includes a step of ascertaining concentration on a parts per million level of ammonia by comparing the color of the pH indicator to a comparative chart, wherein the comparative chart includes a gradient of color intensity that indicates the concentration on a parts per million level of ammonia. Furthermore, the method includes a step of referencing a booklet having a plurality of charts to cross reference the concentration of ammonia detected by the test strip with the storage temperature to determine an expected shelf life for a piece of seafood. |
| US09341606B2 |
Apparatus for and method of gas analysis
An apparatus for preparing a gas sample for analysis includes a separation unit configured to separate the gas sample into one or more component samples. A thermal conductivity detector detects the output of the one or more component sample from the separation unit. At least one component sample is collected in a component sample collection unit having a sample collector. The sample collection unit has an outlet for distributing the at least one component sample from the sample collector for analysis. |
| US09341605B2 |
Chemical profile of detecting bioactive components of quinones, stilbenes, flavones and alkaloids
Disclosed are a method for analyzing chemical profiles of components from a herbal medicine product. Components may include quinone (including rhein, sennoside A and/or aloe-emodin), stilbene containing resveratroloside, flavone including baicalin, and/or alkaloid including berberine and/or palmatine. The method includes steps of: (a) respectively chromatographing a methanol extract of product and standard(s) corresponding to the component(s) using HPLC; (b) comparing HPLC chromatogram of extract and standard(s); and (c) analyzing the chemical profiles of the product from the comparison results. |
| US09341604B2 |
Devices and methods for adaptive micro-gas chromatography
The present disclosure provides adaptive methods for gas chromatography analysis of a gas sample comprising one or more target analytes (such as a micro-gas chromatography) and adaptive gas chromatography devices for carrying out such analytical methods. Broadly, the system can regulate flow into a downstream chromatographic column by detecting one or more upstream conditions. For example, one adaptive chromatography device comprises a first column, a modulator component, and a second column. A first detector or sensor detects the presence of target analytes upstream from the second column, while a second detector detects the presence of target analytes eluted from the second column. The modulator component assembly is responsive to an output generated by the first detector and adaptively regulates fluid flow into the second column. Such adaptive chromatography (micro-GC) systems have higher separation speed, better analyte identification capability, and far greater energy savings. |
| US09341600B2 |
Deflection gauge for floor test apparatus
A deflection gauge configured for use with a floor test apparatus is provided. The gauge includes a housing, a string potentiometer mounted on the housing, and a channel extending from the housing and pivotably supporting a pivot beam. The pivot beam has a contact button at one end and an attachment point on an opposite end configured for receiving a string of the potentiometer. Deflection of the contact button due to floor sample weight stresses causes the attachment point to pivot and cause linear extension of the string, which is measured by the potentiometer. |
| US09341599B2 |
Ultrasonic flaw detection method, ultrasonic flaw detection apparatus, and pipe manufacturing method
An ultrasonic flaw detection method to detect flaws on an inner surface of a metallic pipe using ultrasonic waves includes a waveform hold step that acquires and holds waveform data of an echo signal when an ultrasonic probe that generates ultrasonic signals toward the inner surface and the metallic pipe are moved relative to each other, a signal analyzing step that calculates a path length up to receiving an echo signal from the inner surface and a change rate of the path length based on the waveform data held, and a flaw detecting step that detects flaws on the inner surface based on the path length and the change rate of the path length. |
| US09341597B2 |
Nanoscale spintronic chemical sensor
In general, the present disclosure is directed toward a novel hybrid spintronic device for converting chemical absorption into a change in magnetoresistance. This device uses a novel magnetic material which depends on the attachment of an organic structure to a metallic film for its magnetism. Changes in the chemical environment lead to absorption on the surface of this organometallic bilayer and thus modify its magnetic properties. The change in magnetic properties, in turn, leads to a change in the resistance of a magnetoresistive structure or a spin transistor structure, allowing a standard electrical detection of the chemical change in the sensor surface. |
| US09341596B1 |
Annular gas ionization delta E-E detector
An integrated ΔE-E ionization detector that includes an outer shell having an interior linear axis, a vacuum tube coaxial with the linear axis, and a front cathode, a center anode, and a rear anode disposed within the outer shell and around the vacuum tube. The front cathode, center anode, and rear anode are substantially planar in shape, and a ΔE detection chamber is defined by the front cathode, the center anode, the outer shell, and the vacuum tube, and an E detection chamber is defined by the rear anode, the center anode, the outer shell, and the vacuum tube. All rays defining at least one solid annular angle about the linear axis and originating from a point in front of the front cathode will intersect the front cathode, internally traverse the ΔE detection chamber, intersect the center anode, and traverse at least a portion of the E detection chamber. |
| US09341594B2 |
Manipulation of microfluidic droplets
The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control. |
| US09341591B2 |
Small volume in vitro analyte sensor
A sensor utilizing a non-leachable or diffusible redox mediator is described. The sensor includes a sample chamber to hold a sample in electrolytic contact with a working electrode, and in at least some instances, the sensor also contains a non-leachable or a diffusible second electron transfer agent. The sensor and/or the methods used produce a sensor signal in response to the analyte that can be distinguished from a background signal caused by the mediator. The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry, and potentiometry. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is typically provided as a second electron transfer agent. |
| US09341588B2 |
Sensor element, method of making the same, and sensor device including the same
A sensor element (100) includes a first conductive electrode (120) having a first conductive member (122) electrically coupled thereto; an absorptive dielectric layer (130) comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity; and a second conductive electrode (140) having a second conductive member (142) electrically coupled thereto. The second conductive electrode comprises carbon nanotubes and is permeable to at least one organic vapor. The absorptive dielectric layer is at least partially disposed between the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode. A method of making the sensor element, and sensor device (200) containing it, are also disclosed. |
| US09341586B2 |
Thermographic inspection techniques
A system may include a source of dry ice, a thermal camera, and a computing device. The computing device may be configured to control the source of dry ice to cause dry ice to be introduced into an internal passage of a tested component. The tested component may include debris within the internal passage, and the dry ice may remove at least some of the debris from the internal passage. The computing device also may be configured to receive, from the thermal camera, thermographic image data representative of the thermal response of the tested component and output a representation based on the thermographic image data. |
| US09341585B2 |
X-ray detector including integrated electron detector
An X-ray detector includes a housing and an X-ray sensing device provided within the housing along the axis of the housing, wherein the housing is structured to be coupled to the electron column or sample chamber of a charged particle beam device. The X-ray detector also includes an electron detector structured to detect a plurality of electrons ejected from a sample in response to an electron beam impinging on the sample, the electron detector being coupled to the housing on or near the axis such that a first line of sight to the electron detector from a point at which the electron beam impinges on the sample is similar to a second line of sight to the X-ray sensing device from the point at which the electron beam impinges on the sample such that X-ray and Backscattered electron images will show similar parallax and shadowing effects. |
| US09341581B2 |
Waste water assessment
Waste water assessment apparatus, a method and a computer program are provided. The waste water assessment apparatus comprises: transceiver circuitry configured to transmit a microwave signal and to receive one or more reflections of the microwave signal; and processing circuitry configured to process the one or more reflections of the microwave signal to determine one or more characteristics of waste water flowing through a conduit. |
| US09341578B2 |
LED-based inspection of a painted surface finish
A method of inspecting a painted finish of a component such as a vehicle body or panel includes positioning the component with respect to an array of LED lighting fixtures each having LED tubes and generating light via the array with a predetermined set of lighting characteristics. The set of lighting characteristics includes a striped pattern, a beam angle of at least 120 degrees, and a CRI of at least 85 or at least 90. The method includes inspecting the painted surface for defects while illuminating the component with the light from the array. A control action is executed with respect to the component when the component contains a threshold number and/or a threshold size of the defects. Each array may have two LED tubes and four angled reflectors, and illuminating includes reflecting light from the LED tubes off of the angled reflectors toward the painted surface. |
| US09341577B2 |
Examination element and examination container
The present invention relates to an examination element that includes an antenna; a hygroscopic portion that absorbs a specimen; a reagent portion that reacts with the specimen; and a chip including a semiconductor device capable of wireless communication and a photo sensor that detects a change in a color of the reagent portion. A change in the reagent portion is detected by the photo sensor, the detected data is stored in the semiconductor device capable of wireless communication, and the data is transmitted to an external database. |
| US09341574B2 |
Raman spectrometer, sensor element for a raman spectrometer and a method for obtaining a raman spectrum using the sensor element
A Raman spectrometer includes a light source (12), a sensor element (14) and a detector (10), where the sensor element (14) includes an active surface (24), which active surface (24) is coated with a layer (26) of inert material to be placed in contact with the sample (4). A sensor element (14) includes an active surface (24) which is coated with a layer (26) of inert material. A method for obtaining a Raman spectrum using such a sensor element (14) includes the following steps: a) providing a sensor element (14), comprising an active surface (24) which is coated with a layer (26) of inert material and placing the layer (26) of inert material in contact with a sample to be analysed; b) illuminating the sensor element (14) with monochromatic light; and c) detecting surface enhanced Raman scattering by the sensor element (14). |
| US09341572B2 |
Detecting device and detecting method of a transparent display panel
The present disclosure relates to a detecting device and a detecting method of a transparent display panel. The method comprises: providing a reference pattern sheet having n pairs of first regions with a first color and second regions with a second color alternately arranged in a first direction, and each of the first regions and each of the second regions having a same predetermined width D in the first direction; forming a uniform predetermined illuminance on the reference pattern sheet; detecting directly the reference pattern sheet by a measuring device; detecting the reference pattern sheet through the transparent panel display by the measuring device; and thereby determining a clarity of the transparent display panel. |
| US09341571B2 |
Method of assessing chemicals in produced fluids
A method of monitoring water-soluble treatment chemicals in a fluid that is immiscible with water and which may or may not contain some aqueous fluid, the method using at least one reagent that produces an optically detectable product, the detection step can take place without separation of the aqueous phase containing the treatment chemicals from the fluid immiscible with water. |
| US09341560B2 |
Device and method for monitoring biocide dosing in a machine
Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods to control the quantity of vapor phase corrosion, devices, and the like. |
| US09341553B2 |
Apparatus for assessing durability of stressed fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars
An apparatus for testing a specimen consisting of a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bar in tension while embedded in hardened concrete and subjected to long term environmental exposure. The apparatus includes a steel channel defined by two longitudinally extending parallel steel plates and a pair of unitary plates with one unitary plate at each of the channel. Each of the unitary plates include a U-shaped opening while a forward one of the unitary plates also defines four threaded openings and four bolts passing therethrough for increasing strain on the specimen. A pair of steel tube grips attached to the FRP bar with epoxy are also provided. |
| US09341546B2 |
Apparatus for materials testing of test objects using X-rays
An apparatus for materials testing of test objects using X-rays, the apparatus comprising an X-ray device, comprising: an X-ray source for irradiating a test object held in a test position; an X-ray linear diode array detector comprising at least two detection sections and configured to acquire a complete radial cross-section of the test object; and an electronic control device configured to control the X-ray device, wherein during X-ray testing the test object and the X-ray device are rotatable relative to each other only around an essentially vertical axis of rotation. |
| US09341544B2 |
Abnormality detecting device of internal combustion engine
An abnormality detecting device of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a sensor nick abnormality detecting unit configured to detect a nick abnormality in a detecting element of a downstream side sensor which is provided in a downstream side of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst in an exhaust passage and generates an output corresponding to an oxygen concentration in exhaust gas, on the basis of a matter that a distribution of an output of the downstream side sensor is biased to an area in which the air-fuel ratio is leaner than a theoretical air-fuel ratio, and an inhibiting unit configured to inhibit detection of the nick abnormality of the detecting element by the sensor nick abnormality detecting unit in the case that an intake air amount exceeds a predetermined amount. |
| US09341541B2 |
Apparatus and method for evaluation of optical elements
An apparatus for measuring the optical performance characteristics and dimensions of an optical element comprising a low coherence interferometer and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor comprising a light source, a plurality of lenslets, and a sensor array is disclosed. The low coherence interferometer is configured to direct a measurement beam along a central axis of the optical element, and to measure the thickness of the center of the optical element. The light source of the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is configured to emit a waveform directed parallel to and surrounding the measurement beam of the interferometer, through the plurality of lenslets, and to the sensor array. A method for measuring the optical performance characteristics and dimensions of a lens using the apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US09341540B2 |
Leak detection and location system, method, and software product
Systems, a software product, and a method for leak detection and location where there are multiple distinct layers of waterproofing or roofing membranes separated by insulation or other building materials to create a sealed roofing envelope and in which the system monitors leakage from the primary and secondary membranes and also monitors leakage from the edges of the roofing or waterproofing envelope formed by the membranes. |
| US09341536B2 |
Pressure sensor having a front seal
This disclosure provides example methods, devices, and systems for a sensor having a front seal. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a sensing element; a header coupled to the sensing element; a housing coupled to the header; an adaptor coupled to the housing, wherein a first gap separates the adapter and the sensing element and a second gap separates the adapter and the header; and wherein a stress applied at a front surface of the adapter is transferred to the housing, and the first gap is used to isolate the sensing element from the stress and the second gap is used to isolate the header from the stress. |
| US09341535B2 |
Pressure belt comprising replaceable sensing elements
A pressure belt comprising a flexible belt, and a flat pack assembly removably attached to the flexible belt, wherein each flat pack assembly comprises at least one sensing element. Further, each flat pack assembly also comprises a memory component associated with the sensing element thereon, wherein the memory component houses data specific to the corresponding sensing element. Unlike prior art structures, each flat pack assembly is individually removable. Therefore, if one sensing element malfunctions, it may be replaced by removing the flat pack assembly comprising the malfunctioning sensing element and swapping it out for a flat pack assembly comprising an operable sensing element. This is an improvement over the prior art as it eliminates the need for replacing and recalibrating the entire pressure belt when one sensing element malfunctions, which can be both time consuming and costly. |
| US09341534B2 |
Enhanced static-dynamic pressure transducer suitable for use in gas turbines and other compressor applications
This disclosure provides example methods, devices and systems associated with filter structures employed with sensors. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, at a first filter having a plurality of pores, a pressure, wherein the pressure includes a static pressure component and a dynamic pressure component; filtering, by the first filter, at least a portion of the dynamic pressure component of the pressure; outputting, from the first filter, a filtered pressure; and wherein the filtered pressure is used to determine the dynamic pressure component. |
| US09341533B2 |
Air data probes
An air data probe includes a probe head defining a longitudinal axis with a forward tip, and a turbulence inducing surface defined in the probe head aft of the forward tip. The turbulence inducing surface is configured and adapted to trip a fluid boundary layer passing over the probe head to transition from laminar to turbulent to control or reduce boundary layer separation resulting in consistent readings at high altitudes. |
| US09341528B2 |
Torque detector and steering system including the torque detector
A torque detector includes: a magnetic flux collecting unit including a magnetic flux collecting holder formed in an annular shape by resin molding and a magnetic shield formed by bending a metal plate and attached to an outer peripheral face of the magnetic flux collecting holder; and a sensor housing formed integrally with the magnetic flux collecting unit. The magnetic shield has a shield body, a shield end portion, and a bent portion. A second angle formed between an outer side face of the shield end portion and a radial direction is smaller than a first angle formed between an outer peripheral face of the shield body and the radial direction. |
| US09341527B2 |
Impact deflection, absorption and sensing device and system
The present invention is directed to an impact absorption and detection system, including: one or more deflectable arch springs, having at least one leg with proximal and distal ends; and one or more bases, each of the proximal and distal ends attached to a base. Some embodiments may include: a plurality of arch spring assemblies, including: a deflectable arch spring having at least one leg with proximal and distal ends; one or more bases, each of the proximal and distal ends attached to a base; at least one sensor attached to the arch spring assembly; wherein the plurality of arch spring assemblies is configured in a chainmail arrangement and a base of one arch spring assembly is connected with a base of another arch spring assembly; a processor electrically connected to the sensors attached to the plurality of arch spring assemblies; and a data store in communication with the processor. |
| US09341525B2 |
Torque transducer, method for manufacturing torque transducer and transmission for vehicle using torque transducer
Provided are a torque transducer, a method for manufacturing the torque transducer, and a transmission for a vehicle using the torque transducer. The torque transducer includes a mechano-luminescent (ML) part disposed on a torque measuring object and an illumination sensor disposed to be spaced apart from the ML part. |
| US09341524B2 |
Stress detection device for light-transmissive structure and stress detection method for the same
A stress detection device and a detection method for a light-transmissive structure are disclosed. The stress detection device for a light-transmissive structure comprises: a light source, a first polarizer, a light intensity distribution state detection unit and a stress distribution state analysis unit; wherein the light source emits uniform polarized light; during detection, the first polarizer and the light sources are located at opposite sides of the light-transmissive structure, respectively; the light intensity distribution state detection unit is configured to obtain a light intensity distribution state of the polarized light emitted from the first polarizer; the stress distribution state analysis unit is configured to obtain a stress distribution state of the light-transmissive structure according to the light intensity distribution state. |
| US09341521B2 |
Composite material for temperature measurement, temperature sensor comprising the composite material, and method for producing the composite material and the temperature sensor
A composite material 1 for temperature measurement is specified, as is a temperature sensor 10 formed from the composite material 1. Additionally specified are processes for producing the composite material 1 and for producing the temperature sensor 10. |
| US09341520B2 |
System and method for estimating ambient temperature of a portable computing device using a voice coil
Various embodiments of methods and systems for estimating environmental ambient temperature of a portable computing device (“PCD”) from electrical resistance measurements taken voice coils in a speaker or microphone component are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, it may be recognized that the PCD is in an idle state, thus producing little or no thermal energy. Electrical resistance measurements are taken from a voice coil and used to estimate the environmental ambient temperature to which the PCD is exposed. Certain embodiments may simply render the estimated ambient temperature for the benefit of the user or use the estimated ambient temperature as an input to a program or application running on the PCD. It is envisioned that certain embodiments of the systems and methods may use the estimated ambient temperature to adjust temperature thresholds in the PCD against which thermal management policies govern thermally aggressive processing components. |
| US09341518B2 |
Method and apparatus for remotely monitoring liquid food products
A device for monitoring the temperature and level of liquid food in a container is provided. The device includes an upper base and a lower elongate housing member. A plurality of temperature sensors are located along the length of the elongate housing member. The device may include a retaining lip which allows the device to be hung over the edge of a food container, with the elongate housing member extending down into the liquid food. Signals received from the individual sensors can be used to determine both the temperature of the liquid and the level or volume of the liquid in the container, using the known distances between the individual sensors. Information regarding the liquid temperature and level can then be transmitted from the monitoring device to an external receiver. The device may also comprise an energy harvesting device which converts heat energy from the liquid into electrical energy. |
| US09341515B2 |
Optical absorbance measurement apparatus, method, and applications
Apparatus and method to measure optical absorption spectra with spatial resolution on the micron scale. An exemplary setup combines a continuous white light excitation beam in transmission geometry with a confocal microscope. Spatial resolution better than 1.4 μm in the lateral and 3.6 μm in the axial, directions was obtained. The detection and measurement of the absorption spectrum of hemoglobin in a single red blood cell under physiological conditions on the timescale of seconds was realized. The apparatus and method enables the investigation of spatial variations in the optical density of small samples on the micron scale and the study of biological assemblies at the single cell level, leading to applications in optical diagnostics, microfluidics, and other areas. |
| US09341511B2 |
Timing analysis
A method is provided for identifying resonant frequency vibration events in an assembly of rotating blades mounted on a rotor. A plurality of circumferentially spaced stationary timing probes associated with the blades detect the times at which the blades pass the respective probes. The method includes the steps of: obtaining blade timings detected by the probes, determining, for successive rotations of the assembly, respective correlation factors for one or more of the blades, each correlation factor quantifying the degree of correlation between the blade timings detected by the probes for a particular blade on a particular rotation and the blade timings detected by the probes for that blade on the previous rotation and identifying a resonant vibration event when the one or more correlation factors cross a predetermined threshold. |
| US09341506B2 |
Method for controlling excitation energy in a coil arrangement of a flow measuring device embodied as a two-conductor field device
A method for controlling excitation energy in a coil arrangement of a flow measuring device having an energy buffer system for storing energy and embodied as a two-conductor field device is provided for producing a magnetic field B passing through a medium as a function of the excitation energy. The wherein the flow measuring device has a plurality of operating states, between which it transfers and which describe an excitation current pulsed in a time interval. At least a first operating state is operated with a first power, in which the coil arrangement in a first period is excited with an excitation current with a first maximum electrical current level, wherein the period additionally has a first pulse pause, wherein the method is characterized by steps as follows: storing a fed-in excess power, which is beyond a minimum power for operating the device, for operating the coil arrangement during a period as a function of the supplied power in an energy buffer system; wherein an at least partial charging of the energy buffer system occurs in the first pulse pause and an at least partial discharging of the energy buffer system occurs during the excitation of the electrical current level; and changing into a second operating state, in which the coil arrangement is excited in a second period with an excitation current, wherein the second period has a second pulse pause, which is shorter than the first pulse pause. |
| US09341505B2 |
Anomaly fluid detection
A flowmeter includes a process sensor assembly providing a sensor signal and a filter stage comprising a low pass filter and a high pass filter and providing a filtered signal from the sensor signal. A processor determines that a filtered signal is indicative of a low flow condition for a first fluid, alters at least one parameter of the low pass filter and at least one parameter of the high pass filter in response to the low flow condition such that the filter stage provides a new filtered signal, determines that the new filtered signal is not indicative of a low flow condition for a second fluid and generates an alarm in response to the new filtered signal not being indicative of a low flow condition for the second fluid. |
| US09341504B2 |
Fluidic assay cartridge with controlled passive flow
A fluidic cartridge (110) with passively driven fluid flow is disclosed. The disclosed device and method solve problems associated with passive-flow fluidics by using a wicking pad (510) and/or a tilting means to prevent channel draining and backflow. The disclosure further provides means for adding liquid to the cartridge in multiple steps, without requiring liquid aspiration or removal. |
| US09341502B2 |
Analysis tool member
A detachable member and a processing member for an analysis tool, the detachable member including a housing for a probe member, the probe member capable of obtaining one or more characteristics information; and a circuitry component for co-operating with the member, the circuitry component including one or more electrical connections for transmitting one or more characteristics information to a separate processing member such that one or more characteristics information is capable of being used by the separate processing member for analysis. |
| US09341492B2 |
Navigation device, navigation method, and navigation program
Because a navigation device or method according to the present invention extracts only route guidance expressions which a speaking person, such as a fellow passenger, provides for the driver, interprets the abstract route guidance expressions to determine a concrete route guidance expression, and outputs information to be presented corresponding to the concrete route guidance expression, the navigation device enables the driver to understand the content intuitively and can prevent the driver from mishearing the speaking person's utterance and from driving the vehicle toward a direction which the speaking person does not intend. |
| US09341491B2 |
Technique for determining points of interest
The disclosure relates to a technique for searching points of interest, or POIs, along a calculated route to be travelled. A method implementation thereof comprises the steps of providing an initial search corridor of predetermined size, wherein the corridor is indicative of a geographic area covering at least portions of the route to be travelled, performing a POI search within the provided search corridor, and adjusting the corridor size for a subsequent POI search based on a number of POI hits found during the POI search in the currently provided search corridor. |
| US09341490B1 |
Navigation system with spelling error detection mechanism and method of operation thereof
A navigation system includes a control unit configured to identify map data for a geographic region; generate an n-gram frequency set based on the map data and the geographic region; calculate a target occurrence rate for detecting one or more potential spelling errors in the map data based on the n-gram frequency set; and a communication interface, coupled to the control unit, and configured to communicate the target occurrence rate. |
| US09341488B2 |
Time and/or accuracy dependent weights for network generation in a digital map
A method for improving and extending an existing digital road network and generating new networks from statistically relevant amounts of probe data recorded by GPS-enabled navigation devices. New probe data is matched to the existing digital map, then the data merged into the existing network using a time-dependent weight and/or accuracy-dependent weight. A recalculation date is established, and the weight value of a line segment and/or trace is adjusted as a function of the time span relative to the recalculation. The function may include setting a maximal time period divided into bins each having a respective weight reduction factor, or applying decay function. Through this technique, digital maps can be updated and extended without undue influence exerted by old trace data. |
| US09341481B2 |
Method and system for providing tourist assistance and guided navigation by metadata transmission
The application provides a method and system for providing tourist assistance and guided navigation of a tourist spot by transmitting metadata across a communication network. The application provides a method and system for utilizing a beyond audible frequency signal for metadata transmission across a communication network. The application provides a method and system for emitting an encoded metadata over the beyond audible frequency signal, receiving and parsing the said received encoded metadata, extracting and decoding barcode received along with encoded metadata and retrieving the tourist information by accessing a web link received along with encoded metadata for plurality of web based services. |
| US09341478B1 |
Surface information display inhibiting system, device, and method
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for inhibiting surface information to a operator are disclosed. An image generator receives navigation data; retrieves surface data; generates and modifies an image data set as a function of the navigation data and the surface data; and provides the modified image data set to a display system. The image data set could be representative of a three-dimensional, egocentric perspective of a scene outside the vehicle comprised of a current surface and corresponding markings, and at least one intersecting surface and corresponding markings; the intersecting surface may be a surface intersecting the current surface. The image data set may be modified by inhibiting the visibility of the intersecting surface markings for each intersecting surface falling within the image modification area. An intersecting surface may fall within the image modification area if the intersecting surface overlaps a boundary of the image modification area. |
| US09341477B2 |
Vibrator element, method of manufacturing vibrator element, angular velocity sensor, electronic device, and moving body
A vibrator element including: a base portion; vibrating arms which extend from the base portion; a first drive section and a second drive section, and a first detecting section and a second detecting sensor which are respectively provided in the vibrating arms; adjusting arms which extend from the base portion in parallel to the vibrating arms; and a first adjusting section and a second adjusting section which are respectively provided on a principal surface of the adjusting arms, wherein, in the first adjusting section and the second adjusting section, a first electrode, piezoelectric layers, and adjustment electrodes are laminated on the first principal surface to be formed, and output signals of the first adjusting section and the second adjusting section are in antiphase to charges generated by the first detecting section and the second detecting section when no angular velocity is added to the vibrating arms. |
| US09341476B2 |
Rate sensor with quadrature rejection
An inertial sensor is described that has means for improving quadrature rejection The sensor is of a ring type, driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The primary pickoff signal amplitude is controlled via an automatic gain control, the primary phase lock loop and VCO locks to the resonant frequency to provide the clocks for the synchronous detectors, the primary pickoff signals via the primary phase shift circuit is provided to the primary driver, the secondary pickoff signal being input into a detector circuit capable of detecting motion in the sensor. The secondary channel comprises a series of circuits that when operable in series significantly improve the quadrature rejection ability of the sensor. The circuits include a synchronous detector, passive and active filters and a decimator. |
| US09341470B2 |
Light section sensor
A light section sensor for providing an output of a digital output coordinate has an illuminating device for projecting a light line onto a measured object and an electronic camera for detecting the projected light line on the measured object. A processing device determines at least one measured coordinate in a measured coordinate system on the basis of the light line detected. A coordinate transformation device transforms the measured coordinates from the measured coordinate system into the output coordinates in an output coordinate system by a coordinate transformation. A slope angle determination device determines the slope angle of the light section sensor in relation to a flat surface of the measured object. |
| US09341468B2 |
Measuring apparatus
A measuring apparatus includes a light projecting and receiving device configured to project and receive light, and measures an object based on the projected and received light. The measuring apparatus comprises a chamber configured to enclose a first space for accommodating the object; a partition configured to separate the first space from a second space which accommodates the light projecting and receiving device, and configured to transmit the light; a first regulator configured to regulate temperature of the first space to a first temperature by flowing a gas through the first space; and a second regulator configured to regulate temperature of the second space to a second temperature different from the first temperature by flowing a gas through the second space. The partition includes a plurality of partition walls disposed with a gap. |
| US09341467B2 |
Energy beam position verification
A method for verifying a position of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of: providing a calibrated energy beam having a first focus in a at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said first focus, providing said calibrated energy beam having a second focus in said at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said second focus, comparing said at least two positions created with said first and second focus, wherein said position of the energy beam is verified if said positions created with said first focus are deviating less than a predetermined distance from said positions created with said second focus. |
| US09341466B1 |
Sheet height sensor using movable and stationary mirrors
Apparatuses include a conveyor moving in a processing direction, a print head positioned adjacent the conveyor, a light source positioned adjacent a first side of the conveyor, a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of the conveyor, that is across the conveyor from the first side of the conveyor, a fixed mirror positioned adjacent the first side of the conveyor (the fixed mirror is between the light source and the print head), and a light sensor position adjacent the second side of the conveyor. The light sensor is between the movable mirror and the print head. The light source outputs light to the movable mirror across the conveyor, the movable mirror directs the light back across the conveyor to the fixed mirror, and the fixed mirror directs the light again across the conveyor to the light sensor. |
| US09341462B2 |
Sensor for measuring blade tip clearance in gas turbines
Determining a distance between stationary and moving portions of a turbo machine including generating, by a fixed gap capacitive probe, a first output signal based on a characteristic of a gas in a gas flow path of the turbo machine, wherein the fixed gap capacitive probe is located in the stationary portion and is configured to sense a characteristic of a gas flowing through the gas flow path. Also, a variable gap capacitive probe, located adjacent the fixed gap capacitive probe, is used to generate a second output signal based on a distance between the variable gap capacitive probe and the moving portion, wherein the variable gap probe is configured to capacitively couple to the moving portion of the turbo machine. Afterwards, the value of the second output signal can be adjusted based on the first output signal to produce an adjusted output signal. |
| US09341460B2 |
Double cone stylus, touch probe, and method of calibrating double cone stylus
A double cone stylus includes a shank and a double cone-shaped tip attached to the tip end of the shank, the double cone-shaped tip being a rotationally symmetric body obtained by rotating a triangle having a base extending along the shank around the shank as the symmetric rotation axis. The double cone stylus allows the shape of an inner wall surface of a measurement object with the inner wall surface retracted from an upper reference plane to be measured from above. |
| US09341459B2 |
Form measuring apparatus and measuring method for V groove center
Controller executes a first scanning control, causing a driver to move a probe such that a tip scans along an inclined surface of a V groove to approach a center of the V groove, and a second scanning control, causing the driver to move the probe such that the tip scans along the inclined surface of the V groove to approach the center of the V groove from a side opposite that of the first scanning control. Angle calculator calculates an angle created between a direction of a deflection vector of the probe and a predetermined direction. Threshold value-correspondent coordinate obtainer obtains coordinates of the tip where the angle has changed to exceed a first threshold value during execution of the first scanning control and obtains coordinates of the tip where the angle has changed to exceed a second threshold value during execution of the second scanning control. |
| US09341457B2 |
Combined submersible vessel and unmanned aerial vehicle
A combined submersible vessel and unmanned aerial vehicle preferably includes a body structure, at least one wing structure, at least one vertical stabilizer structure, and at least one horizontal stabilizer structure. A propulsion system is coupled to the body structure and is configured to propel the flying submarine in both airborne flight and underwater operation. Preferably, the propulsion system includes a motor, a gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to receive power generated by the motor and provide variable output power, a drive shaft coupled to the gearbox and configured to transfer the variable output power provided by the gearbox, and a propeller coupled to the drive shaft and configured to accept power transferred to it from the drive shaft. The propeller is further configured to rotate and propel the flying submarine in both an airborne environment and in an underwater environment. |
| US09341456B2 |
Self-propelled projectile having a fuel-rich propellant that reacts with water
A system for initiating and controlling a reaction between a metal and water is provided for use in propelling a rocket, torpedo, or other munition. A thermite charge having a quantity of reducing metal in excess of that required to react with the metal oxide is utilized to melt and/or vaporize the excess reducing metal. Water may be added to the munition immediately before use, or in the case of a torpedo, may be taken in from the surrounding water. The principles embodied by Bernoulli's equation may be used to regulate the intake of water for the reaction with the reducing metal. |
| US09341450B1 |
Hunting broadhead
A hunting broadhead having a tip, a first stem, a middle pin, a first blade, a second blade and a rubber band; a rear end of the tip is riveted to a front end of the first stem; the first stem is provided with a blade slot which accommodates the first blade and the second blade; a stem side flat surface is provided with a middle pin movement slot; a rear end of the middle pin movement slot is provided with a middle pin insertion hole; the first blade and the second blade are removably connected with the first stem via the middle pin; the first blade and the second blade engage with the rubber band provided on a rubber band fixation slot (60) via their respective blade notches (50); a rear end of the first stem (22) is provided with screw threads (67). |
| US09341449B2 |
Broadhead collars
Collars are provided to facilitate retaining the blades of a broadhead in their in-flight position during flight. Collars can be used in situations where the preexisting use of an O-ring is used to help facilitate maintaining the blades of a broadhead in their in-flight position during flight. Collars can also be used in situations where the preexisting use of an O-ring is not used to help facilitate maintaining the blades of a broadhead in their in-flight position during flight. |
| US09341445B2 |
Antiballistic panel with first and second laminates having fibers of different tensile modulus
An antiballistic panel includes at least a first stack and a second stack. The first stack has a plurality of first laminates made of a first kind of fibers, and the second stack has a plurality of second laminates made of a second kind of fibers. Either the first kind of fibers or the second kind of fibers has a tensile modulus in the range of 40-85 GPa measured according to ASTM D7269. The other of the first kind of fibers or the second kind of fibers has a tensile modulus in the range of 86-140 GPa measured according to ASTM D7269. |
| US09341444B2 |
Thermal electric images
This disclosure relates to thermal electric images which may form Informational Images such as landing zone markers, drop zone markers, vehicle markers, road markers, covert signs, notices, directions and the like, and may also be used to form thermal targets which may be used as training aides for weapons and other devices that are equipped with thermal imaging equipment. |
| US09341439B2 |
Firearm fore end covers and grips
Firearm fore end grips and grip assemblies have a generally planar and flexible heat resistant grip which is configured for attachment or securement to a fore end of a fire arm or to a barrel cover and engaged with a Picatinny rail of the firearm or barrel cover. |
| US09341438B2 |
Handguard for firearm
A handguard or other cover for a firearm includes a shell or body with a hollow interior cavity and a retaining structure configured to engage the forearm and retain the shell in place on the forearm, where the retaining structure is releasable to permit removal of the shell from the forearm. The shell may have a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending between the first and second edges. The concave inner surface may include at least one tab extending outwardly from the inner surface which is configured to be connected to a slot or opening formed in the forearm for the firearm. |
| US09341427B2 |
Portable shooting bench and utility table
A portable shooting bench and utility table. In the shooting-bench embodiment, a tabletop is isosceles-triangle-shaped for ambidextrous functionality. In the utility-table embodiment, the tabletop is preferably round but can be any shape suitable for general use. The shooting-bench embodiment preferably includes a height-adjustable seat. A plurality of ratcheting leg couplers are rotatably attached to a support base and radiate outward from the support base. A proximate end of a leg attaches in ratcheting fashion to each ratcheting leg coupler, allowing adjustment of an angle of declination of each leg. The ratcheting leg couplers rotate about the support base, allowing radial positioning of the legs for optimum stability under various terrain conditions. The shooting bench or utility table can be converted from a deployed mode to a folded mode, in which shoulder straps can be affixed to the tabletop allowing transport of the shooting bench or utility table backpack-style. |
| US09341422B2 |
Archery bow
An archery bow for selectively firing multiple projectiles one at a time and having riser with first and second ends and limb arrangements fixed relative thereto with a bow string is joined therebetween, the bow having a drum housing and a selectively rotatable drum rotatably secured relative to the housing, the drum being rotatable about a drum axis and having a projectile openings circumferentially spaced about the drum axis, each of the projectile openings shaped to receive a projectile wherein a plurality of projectiles can be secured in the drum at one time, one of the projectile openings being in a firing position and supporting a projectile to be fired by the bow, the remaining projectile openings being spaced from the firing position to reduce interference with the projectile to be fired, the drum having a rotation mechanism to rotate each of openings into the firing position individually, the bow further including a shooting force mechanism to selectively propel the projectiles. |
| US09341421B2 |
Rifle having a fixed magazine
A fixed magazine for a rifle has a projecting boss that engages a cavity within the magazine well of the rifle. Once the magazine is inserted and the boss engages the cavity, the magazine is fixed and may not be removed from the rifle. The magazine is loaded by separating the upper receiver from the lower receiver and exposing the magazine opening, allowing it to receive rounds of ammunition. |
| US09341419B2 |
Corrosion-resistant bimetallic tube and its use in tube bundle equipment
A bimetallic tube consisting of at least one tubular element in a first metal resistant to the corrosive and/or erosive action of a process fluid with which it is put in contact, having at least one end, or an area close to an end, externally coated with a layer of a second metal, different from the first and more suitable, with respect to this, for being seal-welded to a support.Tube bundle equipment to be used for thermal exchange operations at high temperatures and pressures, under conditions of high aggressiveness of the process fluids, wherein the tube bundle comprises at least one tube having the above characteristics.Said equipment is particularly used as a heat exchanger and decomposer, for example as a stripper, in the cycle of urea synthesis processes where there are conditions of high pressure, high temperatures, high aggressiveness of the process fluids, and in which the tube bundle consists of at least one tube having the above characteristics. |
| US09341418B2 |
Thermal transfer structure with in-plane tube lengths and out-of-plane tube bend(s)
Cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic assemblies are provided which include a thermal transfer structure configured to couple to and cool one or more electronic components. The thermal transfer structure includes a thermal spreader, and at least one coolant-carrying tube coupled to the thermal spreader. The coolant-carrying tube(s) includes multiple tube lengths disposed substantially in a common plane, and an out-of-plane tube bend. The out-of-plane tube bend is couples in fluid communication first and second tube lengths of the multiple tube lengths, and extends out-of-plane from the multiple tube lengths disposed in the common plane. The first and second tube lengths may be spaced apart, with a third tube length disposed between them, and the coolant-carrying tube(s) further includes an in-plane tube bend which couples in fluid communication the third tube length and a fourth tube length of the multiple tube lengths. |
| US09341416B2 |
Heat-dissipation unit with heat-dissipation microstructure and method of manufacturing same
A heat-dissipation unit with heat-dissipation microstructure and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The heat-dissipation unit with heat-dissipation microstructure includes a main body internally defining a chamber; a wick structure formed on an inner surface of the chamber; and at least a SiO2 nano thin film coated on the wick structure. The SiO2 nano thin film is formed of a plurality of SiO2 nanograins, and is coated on the wick structure of the heat-dissipation unit through the sol-gel process. With the at least one layer of SiO2 nano thin film coated on the wick structure, it is able to upgrade the heat dissipation performance of the heat-dissipation unit. |
| US09341414B1 |
Swamp cooler assembly
An evaporative cooler assembly utilizes available water runoff and a filtration mechanism to increase efficiency and maintain an existing evaporative cooler. The assembly includes a main housing and a first intake vent coupled to and extending through the main housing. A first evaporative pad positioned in the main housing adjacent to the first intake vent. A blower is positioned in the main housing for urging the ambient air through the intake vent and out of an output duct. A reservoir is provided extrinsic to the main housing. A delivery line is in fluid communication between the reservoir and the evaporative pad. A pump is operationally coupled to the delivery line urging water through the delivery line. A return line is coupled to the main housing and the reservoir wherein, the return line returns unevaporated fluid to the reservoir. |
| US09341410B1 |
Apparatus for removing liquid from a suspension
An apparatus for removing liquid from a suspension comprises: one or more drying chambers; a conveyor system for transporting the suspension through the drying chambers at a substantially continuous speed, including a semi-permeable conveyor belt; a blower for injecting air into the drying chambers; a vacuum pipe and one or more vacuum pipe segments that extend from the vacuum pipe into each of the drying chambers for drawing saturated air out of each of the drying chambers, and wherein the vacuum pipe is operably connected to an intake of the blower. The apparatus may further comprise a condenser receiving the saturated air from the vacuum pipe, cooling the saturated air, and collecting liquid from the saturated air before returning it to the blower. The apparatus may further comprise a preheating arrangement in which cooled air exiting the condenser is passed through the drying chambers before returning it to the blower. |
| US09341407B2 |
Apparatus for storing ice and method for controlling same
An apparatus for storing ice that includes a housing with heat insulation characteristics and a storage space; an ice maker in the housing, which includes an ice tray; an ice bin arranged below the ice maker; a transfer member arranged within the ice bin to discharge ice to the outside of the ice bin; a refrigerating cycle that extends into the housing, and which includes an evaporation unit attached to the outer surface of the ice tray; and a control unit which controls the operation of the refrigerating cycle and of the transfer member. Air in the storage space is cooled by being in contact with the evaporation unit and/or the ice tray, and the control unit operates the refrigerating cycle to cool the storage space when the temperature of the ice tray and/or of the evaporation unit is higher than a preset temperature. |
| US09341403B2 |
Cooler
A cooler includes a bottom portion and a top portion. The bottom portion includes a body defining an insulated first compartment. The top portion includes a bottom cover and a top cover. The bottom cover is operable to enclose the first compartment and includes a bottom cover body defining a second compartment. The bottom cover body includes a speaker, a power input, and an auxiliary input, and a top cover operable to enclose the second compartment. The top cover is operable to enclose the second compartment. |
| US09341398B2 |
Air conditioning system provided with an electronic expansion valve
An air conditioning device is used in a motor vehicle. The air conditioning device includes air conditioning circuit, which includes a compressor (14), a condenser (11), and/or an internal exchanger, an electric expansion valve (12) which opening ratio is changed according to a control signal, and an evaporator (13), which are traversed in this order by a refrigerant fluid and a control unit (40) capable of controlling a control signal of the expansion valve so as to regulate a control variable relating to the superheating of the evaporator or to the sub-cooling of the condenser (11) according to a chosen regulation rule. |
| US09341396B2 |
Retro-fit energy exchange system for transparent incorporation into a plurality of existing energy transfer systems
A retrofit energy exchange system including a first set of valves for connecting to a first energy transfer sub-system. The system further includes a second set of valves for connecting to a second energy transfer sub-system. In addition, the system includes an energy exchange unit configured to supply excess energy from to the first energy transfer sub-system to the second energy transfer sub-system. |
| US09341395B2 |
Room air conditioner having a liquid-to-air heat exchanging device with peltier elements
A room air conditioner with a liquid-to-air heat exchanging device for the exchange of heat between a liquid and air has a first flow channel for the air and a second flow channel for the liquid, and at least one Peltier element. The heat exchanging device is subdivided into a first stage in which a heat exchange occurs in a passive manner between the liquid and air, and a subsequent second stage in which heat is pumped from the liquid to the air or from the air to the liquid by supplying an electrical current to the at least one Peltier element. |
| US09341391B2 |
Automatically controlled flow-through water heater system
This invention relates primarily to an electric heater based tankless water heater, though some aspects may also apply to a natural gas or other fuel based tankless water heater. In particular aspects relating to “smart” communication and coordination of the tankless water heater with other devices, which may be electrically powered or powered by other fuels, may also apply to non-electric flow through fluid heating systems. The subject tankless water heater invention incorporates several aspects relating to energy and construction efficiency which will be detailed further. These include both physical aspects, such as coatings, tubing and heater element design, and electrical aspects, such as power control for individual heater elements, which can make the tankless water heater more compact and more efficient in operation, with reduced instantaneous and long term load on electrical supply systems. |
| US09341389B2 |
Coil tube heat exchanger for a tankless hot water system
A heat exchanger having a helix coil incorporated into a stainless steel elongated variable diameter cylindrical housing and a radial direct-firing burner and a blower-driven hot flue gas to heat water. A buffer tank is incorporated within the lumen of the helix coil. At least one rope seal is disposed between adjacent coil loops of a portion of the helix coil for enhancing heat transfer to the helix coil. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger further comprises a Stirling engine comprised of a free piston having hot and cold ends that is disposed within the cavity taken up the buffer tank, wherein the hot end receives heat from the burner and the cold end is cooled by the incoming cold water line to form an electric power generator. |
| US09341382B2 |
Cooking apparatus
A cooking apparatus includes a cavity unit having a cooking chamber therein; a door on the cavity unit, opening and closing an opening of the cavity unit; a heater in at least one of upper, rear and lower parts of the cavity unit, generating hot air to be supplied to the cooking chamber; a cooking container including a housing unit which has an entrance through which hot air enters, and a support unit on the housing unit and on which one or more cooking objects to be cooked by the hot air are placed; and an agitation unit configured to directly contact the cooking object(s) placed on the cooking container, and mix or turn the cooking object. |
| US09341381B2 |
Home appliance with supplemental primary air supply
A home appliance, particularly a gas range including an appliance body, a cooktop on the appliance body, an oven cavity in the body, a gas-operable heating element in the cavity for heating the cavity to a cooking temperature and including a gas mixing pipe having an inlet open to the cavity for intake of gas and air for combustion. A ventilation channel extends through the appliance body intermediate the cooktop and the oven cavity. A fan is in the appliance body, the fan being in fluid communication with the ventilation channel for creating an airstream within the ventilation channel. An air conduit extends between the ventilation channel and the gas mixing pipe, with an air conduit inlet in the airstream and an air conduit outlet adjacent the gas mixing pipe to direct air from the airstream to the gas mixing pipe for combustion with the gas and air. |
| US09341380B2 |
Attachment system for an igniter electrode for a gas burner
System for attaching the flame igniter electrode to a burner for gas hobs, boilers or the like. The system comprises a deformable seal of substantially annular shape mounted in a groove in the electrode which makes it possible to attach the electrode reversibly to a seat attached to the body of the burner. Attachment takes place through the application of an axial force inserting the electrode into the seat. |
| US09341378B2 |
Multi-gas appliance
Cooking appliance having an external control panel equipped with one or more regulating valves, where the rotary regulator organ is equipped with various peripheral openings for supplying a flow Q. For the supply of one or another type of gas, NG or LPG, either the control knob or a bezel disk in the external panel are interchangeable on the appliance, being chosen between two different available units, one and the other permitting two different angular position limits A2, A3 of the regulator organ or the supply of a constant flow Qmin through one or another opening with calibrated sections, respectively for NG or LP gas. An appendix in the control knob guided in a slide groove on the control panel of the appliance, or a tongue on the bezel disk stopping the rotation of the control knob, determines the travel limit A2 for the supply of Qmin of NG. |
| US09341377B2 |
Spherical collet for mounting a gas turbine engine liner
A liner and attachment structure has an exhaust liner for use in a gas turbine engine. At least one hanger has feet secured to the liner. The hanger has an aperture extending at a central web. A flanged washer is received within the opening in the hanger. The flanged washer allows adjustment relative to the hanger. The flanged washer has a spherical recess. A collet has a plurality of part-spherical fingers separated by slots, and are received in the spherical recess of the flanged washer. A member extends into the collet to hold the part-spherical fingers radially outwardly. The member is also utilized to secure static structure, and to secure the liner to the static structure. |
| US09341375B2 |
System for damping oscillations in a turbine combustor
Certain embodiments include a resonator for the head end of a turbine combustor. The resonator is partially defined by first and second plates disposed about a fuel nozzle in the head end of the turbine combustor. The resonator is further configured to receive an air flow which extends through the resonator and into the fuel nozzle. |
| US09341374B2 |
Fuel nozzle assembly with removable components
A fuel nozzle assembly (10) is presented for a gas turbine engine (12). The fuel nozzle assembly (10) includes a rocket unit (14) and a swirler (16) with an aft end (18) in threaded engagement with a forward end (20) of the rocket unit (14). The fuel nozzle assembly (10) may include an oil tip (36) including a clocking feature with a mechanical constraint to orient the oil tip (36) at a predetermined angular orientation (42) relative to the swirler (16). The fuel nozzle assembly (10) may include one or more gas stage inlets (13, 15), one or more oil stage inlets (17, 19), and a flexible hose (26) to direct the oil to a plurality of rocket units (14). |
| US09341368B2 |
Method of installing exhaust tube
A method of installing an exhaust tube is implemented by inserting an exhaust tube into an exhaust pipe that leads from inside of a building to outside thereof. A support portion of an insertion jig is introduced into a through hole from a side of one end portion of the exhaust tube, and a projection of the support portion is engaged with a recess of the exhaust tube, so that the insertion jig is fixed to the exhaust tube. An end of the exhaust tube on the side of the one end portion having the insertion jig fixed thereto is inserted into the exhaust pipe, and the exhaust tube is pushed from inside of the building to outside thereof. |
| US09341366B2 |
Water-chamber working apparatus and water-chamber working method
A water-chamber working apparatus according to the present invention includes a base that holds heat transfer tubes on a tube plate surface and is fixed to the tube plate surface, and a manipulator that is coupled with the base and is suspended in a water chamber. The base includes a base body that is coupled with a manipulator, a wing capable of being displaced forward and backward with respect to the base body, and clamper that are arranged on the wing and are inserted into the heat transfer tube to clamp and hold the heat transfer tube. |
| US09341364B2 |
Toilet installation tool
A toilet installation tool for assisting an installer in aligning a toilet mounting hole in a base of a toilet with a closet bolt projecting upward from a bathroom floor includes a sleeve configured to removably mount on the closet bolt in alignment with a vertical axis of the closet bolt, and a light source attached to a top end of the sleeve. The sleeve and the light source are sized to pass through the toilet mounting hole and are removable from the closet bolt after a toilet has been lowered onto the bathroom floor. The invention may be embodied as a kit having two light sources and two or more interchangeable sleeves of different lengths. A method of mounting a toilet on a pair of closet bolts using the toilet installation tool is also disclosed. |
| US09341363B2 |
Digital reading device with cosmetic function
A digital reading device with cosmetic function includes a base plate, a lighting panel, a driving unit and a transparent touch panel. The base plate includes a plurality of black units. The lighting panel is disposed on the base plate and includes as plurality of lighting units for emitting a green light. The driving unit is electrically connected to the lighting panel and the base plate, wherein the driving unit is for turning on or turning off each of the lighting units respectively. The transparent touch panel is disposed on the lighting panel for displaying a message composed of the black units. The message may also be white-colored on a green background color with various saturation levels whenever the lighting panel includes a plurality of displaying units, and each of the displaying units consists of two lighting units with complimentary colors. |
| US09341362B2 |
LED venue lighting system with first and second housing having an air passage therebetween
An outdoor area LED lighting system including: a housing containing a large array of LEDs mounted to an aluminum direct thermal path printed circuit board and a single lens. The large array of LEDs are capable of producing light rays directed through the single lens to produce a beam of light to illuminate the outdoor area. The single lens is preferably a Fresnel lens. The housing is preferably capable of being sealed in a weather-tight manner. A second housing may at least partially surround the first housing such that at least one air passage is provided between the first housing and the second housing. A heat sink including a heat block in thermal communication with a plurality of heat tubes and fin assemblies may be in partial thermal contact with the LED module and in fluid communication with the at least one air passage. At least one fan may be provided in or in fluid communication with said at least one air passage to cool the heat sink. A digital interface may connect the LED module to a host computer to monitor and track information and trending for statistical process control. |
| US09341361B2 |
Light-emitting means and use
A light emitter with a radiation exit surface including a housing part with a receptacle, at least one organic optoelectronic device, arranged in the receptacle, and at least one cover part joined to the housing part, wherein the device is mounted between the cover part and the housing part. |
| US09341357B2 |
Throwable light source and network for operating the same
A light source suitable for being thrown or projected into an airborne trajectory for the purpose of illuminating a subject or environment; and a system of light sources on a wireless network for the purpose of operating in collaboration to illuminate a subject or environment; and accessory devices on the wireless network including cameras and remote control devices; and a throwable light source streamlined to reduce drag when projected into a long-range trajectory. |
| US09341350B2 |
Fastening device for LED light string of backlight module and liquid crystal display
Disclosed is a fastening device for a LED light string of a backlight module, including a LED light string and a frame, the LED light string being configured with a substrate and a plurality of LEDs mounted onto the substrate, wherein at least a retainer is incorporated on the substrate, and the frame being provided with a notch matchable with the retainer such that the LED light string can be securely attached to the frame. The retainer can be made individually and a then attached to the backside of the LED light string. In addition, with the retainer readily snapped into the notch of the frame, a distance between to the LED light emitting surface to the frame is also reduced, and this helps to realize the design of narrow-boarder of the liquid crystal display. |
| US09341348B2 |
Lighting assembly and socket
A lighting assembly (100) configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to a socket (150), the lighting assembly comprising a lighting module (102) comprising a light source (106), electrical contacting means (108) electrically connected to the light source and a heat spreader (110) in thermal contact with the light source; and a connector (104) being rotatable in relation to the lighting module (102). The connector comprises connector locking means (119) for locking the lighting assembly to a socket through interaction with receiving locking means comprised in the socket when the lighting module is axially inserted into the socket and the connector is rotated relative to the lighting module and the socket, thereby bringing the electrical contacting means (108) into contact with corresponding receiving contacting means (122) comprised in the socket. Hereby, the space required for electrical contacting means in the lighting assembly and in the socket may be reduced as no space is reserved in the socket for rotation of the electrical connecting means. |
| US09341341B1 |
Lens for an illuminating device
A lens includes a lens portion, an outer periphery and a prism portion. The lens portion is disposed at a middle portion of the lens, has an outline that is non-circular, and includes at least one curved surface. The outer periphery surrounds the lens portion. The prism portion is disposed between the lens portion and the outer periphery, and includes an undulated section that has at least one undulated surface and that has a center disposed at the middle portion of the lens. |
| US09341340B2 |
Light source unit
A light source unit includes a light source, a light source support to hold the light source, a fixing member which is attached to the light source support and includes a through-hole through which beams of light emitted from the light source pass, a lens holder inserted into the through-hole and attached to the fixing member by an adhesive; and a collimating lens to collimate the beams of light from the light source, wherein attachment surfaces of the adhesive for the lens holder has a tilted attachment surface tilted relative to the optical axis of the collimating lens. |
| US09341339B2 |
Lightng device having a ventilated reflector housing for motor vehicle lamp
A reflector housing that includes a reflective inner surface, a neck portion defining a substantially cylindrical cavity with a rear opening in which a light source can be fitted to the housing, and a ventilation duct extending radially from the cavity and having a ventilation hole opening into the rear opening of the housing. |
| US09341330B2 |
Wide-angle lighting display device
A wide-angle lighting display device with the features of its original patent application displays an unlimited extension of an inward serial arrangement from the middle, and further displays an extended visual effect at an oblique angle, enlarging the display area thereof; also, the structure thereof is easier to be maintained and renovated. |
| US09341326B2 |
Lighting device
A portable, battery-operated flashlight having improved pivoting, switching and focusing features is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, the flashlight takes the form of an attachment to a head gear for hands free use. In another aspect of the invention, the flashlight takes the form of a head lamp held in place on a user's head by an elastic band. The pivot connection between the body and the base, as well as the serrations on an exterior surface of the body, allows a user to adjust any angular direction of the light as desired. In another aspect of the invention, the flashlight takes the form of a long-handled flashlight having improved switching and focusing capabilities, such that axial movement of the switching assembly turns the flashlight “on” or “off,” as well as causing a position of the lamp to vary in order to focus or defocus the light. |
| US09341323B1 |
Light-mixing flashlight
A light-mixing flashlight has a body, three light-emitting diodes, three first reflectors, and three second reflectors. The body has a mounting surface formed in the body, a body opening opposite to the mounting surface, and three light recesses formed in an interior of the body. The light-emitting diodes are mounted in the light recesses, and are respectively a red light, a green light, and a blue light light-emitting diode. The first reflectors are formed as parabolic mirrors and are respectively mounted in the light recesses via a working angle. An opening of each first reflector faces toward the corresponding light-emitting diode. The second reflectors are formed as spherical mirrors, are mounted on the mounting surface, and respectively correspond in position to the first reflectors. Therefore, the light-mixing flashlight has an improved emitting efficiency. |
| US09341322B2 |
Color-mixing light-emitting diode module
The present invention provides a color-mixing light-emitting diode module. According to the present invention, a first light-emitting chip and two second light-emitting chips are disposed on a holder. The first light-emitting chip emits red light and the plurality of second light-emitting chips emit white light. The red light and the white light are mixed, giving mixed light with high color rendering and brightness. Objects illuminated by the mixed light will exhibit colors closest to their original colors as perceived by eyes. Furthermore, by arranging the first and second light-emitting chips in matrix, the color rendering of the light-emitting diode module can be adjusted and improved. |
| US09341321B2 |
Lens having light transmissive portion and optic shield portion
A lighting assembly includes a light source and a lens. The lens includes a light transmissive portion and an optic shield portion for blocking or redirecting at least a portion of light generated by the light source. The light source can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The optic shield can be painted on or otherwise applied to a portion of the lens. Alternatively, it can be integrally formed with the lens. The optic shield can be an opaque material for blocking light generated by the light source or can be a reflective material for reflecting light generated by the light source through the light transmissive portion of the lens. Methods for making an optic shield are also described. |
| US09341317B2 |
LED bulb emitting light ray in a downward direction and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a LED bulb emitting light ray in a downward direction and a manufacturing method thereof. The LED bulb emitting light ray in a downward direction comprises a screw head, a base, a lamp body, and a lampshade integrally connected in order, wherein a PCB board longitudinally arranged within the base is fixedly connected with a PCB board transversely arranged on the top of the lamp body, the bottom of a LED aluminum substrate component is fixed by a base buckle, the LED aluminum substrate component is longitudinally fixed on the lamp body by fastening a hook buckle to a buckle hole of the base, the top of the LED aluminum substrate component is fixedly connected with the PCB board on the top of the lamp body, the PCB board on the top of the lamp body is connected with the lamp body by fastening element. |
| US09341310B2 |
Pump for conveying a medium and lubricating system containing the same
A pump for conveying a medium comprises a pump chamber having an intake opening and an outlet opening. A movable component is movably disposed in the pump chamber in order to convey a batch of the medium, which is located in the pump chamber, from the intake opening to the outlet opening. A ventilation device has a ventilation opening in fluid communication with the pump chamber. The ventilation opening is different from the intake opening and the outlet opening. The ventilation device is configured to reduce or at least substantially prevent, at least temporarily, the formation of a partial vacuum or a negative pressure in the pump chamber. |
| US09341306B2 |
Accessory mounting apparatus
An apparatus for mounting accessories includes a base that has a mounting surface and at least one aperture. The apparatus further includes a mounting mechanism coupled to the mounting surface of the base, with the mounting mechanism being connectable with a mountable accessory. Further, the apparatus includes at least one resiliently bendable support coupled to the base via retractable engagement with the at least one aperture. |
| US09341302B2 |
Means and method for lining a pipe
A method and means for repairing the junction of a main and lateral pipe are provided. A repair assembly includes a launcher device, a bladder assembly surrounding the launcher device, and a liner assembly surrounding the bladder assembly. The bladder assembly is frangibly connected to the launcher device to maintain the position of the bladder assembly relative to the launcher device during transport and positioning of the assembly. Likewise, the liner assembly, which includes main and lateral liner members, is frangibly connected to the bladder assembly. The frangible connections allow the position of the repair assembly to be maintained. The frangible connections can be broken, such as by inflation and/or tearing or pulling apart of the components of the repair assembly. Thus, the invention provides a way to mitigate the movement of components of the repair assembly during transport and positioning of the repair assembly. |
| US09341301B2 |
Fill pipe repair collar and method of use
A device and method of use for the repair of a leaking fuel tank fill pipe are provided. The device and method of use are designed to create a durable repair of a leaking tank fill pipe without the cost, time, and difficulty associated with replacing an entire diesel fuel tank on a semi-truck tractor. The device is a collar which threads onto damaged threads on a fill pipe neck and creates a leak-resistant seal with the fill pipe neck. A tank fill cap can then be screwed onto the collar, which forms a leak-resistant seal with the fill cap. The device may have one or more mechanisms to retain the collar on the tank fill pipe neck. The method of use may include re-cutting damaged threads on the fill pipe neck with the collar device. |
| US09341297B2 |
Closure element for pipe ends
A closure element for closing the ends of pipes, in particular steel pipes, having a circular base cover whose outer diameter corresponds at most to the outer diameter of the pipe, having a side which faces towards the pipe interior and comprises at least two elastic clamping elements which in the assembled condition are supported on the inner surface of the pipe and clamp the base cover therewith. In order to permit universal usage, the closure element comprises means for selectively adjusting/changing the radial position of the clamping elements on the base cover. |
| US09341290B2 |
Lugged wafer alignment ring
Systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed for coupling a wafer style primary element of a process measurement system between process pipes in a manner which aligns the primary element with the process pipes, while maintaining alignment and preventing leaking in the event of a dynamic shock to the process pipes. |
| US09341285B2 |
Cable clip
A cable clip is provided for mounting cables onto solar modules. The cable clip is a one piece assembly that is comprised of two main sections: a first recess for clipping onto a solar module and a second recess for receiving a cable from a solar module. The cable clip may be designed in either a parallel or perpendicular configuration which gives installers of solar modules maximum flexibility when mounting cables onto modules. A multi-level clip is also described for cases when a multitude of cables are required to be mounted onto a solar module. |
| US09341283B2 |
Self setting and stabilized switch target
Apparatus includes a spindle having an outer surface configured with a surface finish that has openings/grooves, the outer surface also having an outer diameter; and also includes a switch target arrangement having a switch target in combination a target ring configured to be installed in the switch target so as to form the at least one switch target arrangement, and is also configured with an aperture having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the surface finish of the spindle, so that when the at least one switch target arrangement is installed over the spindle, interference causes at least a portion of the target ring to deflect into a groove/space of the surface finish of the spindle so as to energize the target ring to grip the surface finish of the spindle to secure the switch target when the spindle moves. |
| US09341282B2 |
Off-axis position monitoring and control system and related methods
A flow control valve and a valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to the rotary position of the valve member. The system has an array of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement and in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve's housing. A magnetic-field source is fixed to and rotates with the valve member as a unit. The magnetic-field source includes magnetic members adjacent to and out of physical engagement with the transducers. The magnetic member moves along an arcuate path parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions. The magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine the rotational position of the magnetic-field source and/or the valve member, and the fluid flow rate through the control valve. |
| US09341277B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for automatic calibration of a needle valve device in a pressurized flow system
Exemplary embodiments are directed to apparatus, systems and methods used in connection with a needle valve device operating in a pressurized flow system. The apparatus, systems and methods provide for automatic positioning of a needle relative to a seat in the needle valve device to provide consistent calibration with minimal user interaction after a maintenance event or upon a start-up of the pressurized flow system. The apparatus, systems and methods utilize a calibration collar secured to a shaft of an actuator within the needle valve device. The calibration collar includes one or more locking mechanism and a spring. |
| US09341276B2 |
Valve assembly
A valve assembly including a valve body having a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, the pressure of the first pressure chamber being lower than that of the second pressure chamber. The pressure of the second pressure chamber is discharged to the first pressure chamber in response to the change of the pressure of the first pressure chamber. A blocking device is arranged between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. A valve stem is arranged in the valve body with one end movably contacting the blocking device. A diaphragm is connected to the valve stem and is arranged adjacent to or above the first pressure chamber. When the pressure of the first pressure chamber is changed, the diaphragm forces the valve stem to move by sensing the pressure change of the first pressure chamber. |
| US09341273B2 |
Composite dynamic valve seal assembly for high temperature control valves
A sliding stem control valve includes a valve body, a seat ring located within the valve body and a valve plug slidably mounted within the valve body, the valve plug and the valve seat cooperating to control fluid flow through the control valve. A composite seal assembly is located between the valve plug and the valve seat, the composite seal assembly includes a composite seal ring located between a first backup ring and a second backup ring. A biasing element is located adjacent the second backup ring and a retainer ring is located adjacent the biasing element to maintain the biasing element adjacent the second backup ring. |
| US09341272B2 |
Gate-coating process
An apparatus that includes a body of a gate configured to seal a gate valve. In certain embodiments, the body has a first face with a first coating disposed thereon, and a second face opposite the first face and having a second coating disposed thereon. The body also may include a flow bore that extends from the first face, through the body of the gate, to the second face and a reference structure that does not have either the first coating or the second coating disposed thereon. In some embodiments, the reference structure is configured to define a plane on the first face, the second face, or both during a planarization process. |
| US09341271B2 |
Drive device of a regulation valve for casting liquid metal
A device for driving a regulation valve for casting liquid metal contains a main rod controlling the opening and closing of the valve, and a coupler linking the main rod and the valve. The device also contains a coupler controller able to activate and deactivate the coupler, enabling linkage and detachment of the main rod and the valve. |
| US09341268B2 |
Watertight apparatus of exterior component for vehicle
A watertight apparatus of exterior component for a vehicle may include a coupling member coupling an exterior component and a vehicle body panel, and having a coupling groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of a part of the coupling member which passes through a vehicle body panel, and a watertight pad which is arranged to be in close contact with a bottom of the exterior component, a first side of which is coupled to a part of the vehicle body panel through which the coupling member passes and a second side of which is inserted into the coupling groove. |
| US09341266B1 |
Position sensing hydraulic cylinder
A hydraulic cylinder has an internal shaft that rotates in response to extension or contraction of an output rod. A magnet is affixed to the shaft, the position of which is detected by a sensor internal to the hydraulic cylinder for determining the position of the output rod. |
| US09341265B2 |
Primary plastic piston with functional insert for a penetration-type master cylinder and a master cylinder equipped with such a piston
A primary piston is described of molded plastic and equipped with a functional metallic insert and at least one groove. The primary piston is installed in a master cylinder comprising at least the primary piston and a secondary piston, these being mounted in the bore hole of a master cylinder. These pistons can create pressure in a primary pressure chamber and a secondary pressure chamber, respectively, due to the action of a push rod on the primary piston. |
| US09341260B2 |
Shift control method for DCT vehicle
A shift control method for a dual clutch transmission (DCT) vehicle may include, performed by a controller of the DCT, an actual shift determining step, a cooperation control termination determining step, a flare determining step, an engine torque reducing step, a torque adding step, an engine torque raising step, and a shift finishing step of reducing an amount of reduction of the engine torque until synchronization is completed in proportion to a synchronization prediction time in which it takes an engine speed to reach a synchronization speed when the synchronization prediction time is smaller than a reference time during which the torque adding step and the engine torque raising step are performed, and having slip control over an engagement-side clutch. |
| US09341257B2 |
Shift actuator
A shift actuator of the present invention includes a first and a second fluid pressure chamber for providing fluid pressure to each of a first and a second piston defined in a cylinder and a shift operating member inserted and disposed between the first piston and the second piston to move back and forth along the axial direction. On a side surface to the axial direction of the cylinder, an opening portion to which the shift operating member is inserted is formed. The opening portion is provided opening only to a part of the circumferential direction of the cylinder, and a lower end of the opening portion in a circumferential direction of the cylinder reaches a just under position in the vertical direction of the cylinder. This enables to discharge foreign matters included in hydraulic oil in the cylinder according to a stroke of the piston, with a simple configuration. |
| US09341253B2 |
Scissors gear
A variety of scissors gear assemblies are disclosed that utilize integral parts or common tools to align teeth of the scissors gear assembly. Methods of use are also disclosed. |
| US09341252B2 |
Wave generator and strain wave gearing
A wave generator (5) for a flat-type strain wave gearing (1) has a first elliptical outer circumferential surface (6S) of a first wave generator portion (5S) defined by a first elliptical curve (C1), and a second elliptical outer circumferential surface (6D) of a second wave generator section (5D) defined by a second elliptical curve (C2). Compared to using a wave generator for which the contour is defined by a single elliptical curve, differences between the ball load distribution of the first wave generator portion (5S) and the ball load distribution of the second wave generator portion (5D) can be suppressed, both ball load distributions can be equalized, and the equivalent ball load can be reduced; therefore, an increase in the lifespan of the wave generator bearing can be achieved. |
| US09341247B2 |
Power transmission device
Disclosed is a power transmission device. A power transmission device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a rack having a plurality of rack tooth profiles; a plurality of pin gears, which have a plurality of power transmission pins that rotate relative to the rack tooth profiles for power transmission, and are provided at a distance from each other along the lengthwise direction of the rack; and input gears which are disposed between the pin gears and rotatively connect the plurality of pin gears such that the pin gears rotate at the same speed as each other. |
| US09341246B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
Traction planets and traction rings can be operationally coupled to a planetary gearset to provide a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT can be used in a bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on the frame of the bicycle at a location forward of the rear wheel hub of the bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on and supported by members of the bicycle frame such that the CVT is coaxial with the crankshaft of the bicycle. The crankshaft is configured to drive elements of the planetary gearset, which are configured to operationally drive the traction rings and the traction planets. Inventive component and subassemblies for such a CVT are disclosed. A shifting mechanism includes a plurality of pivot arms arranged to pivot about the centers of the traction planets as a shift pin hub moves axially. |
| US09341245B2 |
Friction roller planetary gearing and speed-changing and differential gearing
A friction roller planetary gearing includes a first and a second sun which are axially displaceable with respect to one another and at least one of the suns is connected for conjoint rotation to a sun shaft. Stepped planets roll on the suns, on a first annulus and on a second annulus. The suns, the annuluses and the stepped planets are configured as friction rings. The second annulus is axially displaceable relative to the first annulus. A first torque-dependent axial displacement device controls a contact pressure between the suns and contact surfaces of the planets by using a torque-dependent axial displacement of at least one of the suns. A second torque-dependent axial displacement device controls a contact pressure between the annuluses and contact surfaces of the planets by using a torque-dependent axial displacement of at least one of the annuluses. |
| US09341244B2 |
Diagnostic device for shift control actuator
A diagnostic device for a shift control actuator of a CVT includes: a variator; a chamber that is filled with and discharges hydraulic fluid for an upshift and a downshift, respectively; an upshift control valve for filling hydraulic fluid into the chamber; a downshift control valve for discharging hydraulic fluid from the chamber; a fail-safe valve for suspending the discharge of hydraulic fluid from the chamber when the upshift control valve is in a filling state; actuators for driving the upshift and downshift control valves; and a shift controller for controlling the actuators so that an actual shift ratio approaches a target ratio. The shift controller determines the state of the actuators with the information on the actual shift ratio when the controller instructs a downshift or an upshift. |
| US09341236B2 |
Chain capture assembly for chain tensioners
Aspects of the invention are directed to an apparatus that may be used as a chain tensioner. The apparatus comprises a release handle, which is limited in motion by an elongate member that rides in a shaped guide slot. As a result of this configuration, two distinct forces must be applied to the release handle before a chain is released from the apparatus. Such a configuration reduces the chances of inadvertent releases of a chain. |
| US09341232B2 |
Two-component cord and method for molded power transmission belts
A belt having a tensile cord embedded in the belt, extending in a longitudinal direction and made up of two components: a tensile component and a sacrificed component. The sacrificed component may be broken into a plurality of discontinuous segments. The tensile component provides most of the reinforcement of the belt. The sacrificial component of the precursor cord protects the tensile component from excessive stretching during cord treating and winding, but breaks, melts, or yields during mandrel expansion during the belt molding process, thus preserving the stretchability of the tensile component. |
| US09341231B2 |
Overmolded wheel-balancing weight with wheel-securing clip
A polymer overmolded wheel-balancing weight adapted to be removably secured to a wheel to correct an unbalanced wheel to prevent undesired vibrations when the wheel is rotating, the polymer overmolded wheel-balancing weight with a wheel-securing clip sized and designed to be secured to a wheel, and a weight assembled to the wheel-securing clip and at least partially covered with overmolding polymer material that is sized and designed to abuts the wheel-securing clip on a wheel side at a first location thereof, and abuts the wheel-securing clip on a side opposed to the wheel side at a second location thereof, the first location being distinct from the second location. A kit of wheel-balancing weight and a wheel with an overmolded wheel-balancing weight are also encompassed by the present application. |
| US09341230B2 |
Tunnel-style crankshaft with counterweights of increased radial profile
A tunnel-style crankshaft assembly is provided having counterweights that serve the purposes of retaining the axial motion of bearings and improving the balance of the crankshaft assembly as a result of having a structure of an increased radial profile. The counterweights can include a mass section and a bearing retaining section. When the counterweight is secured to a crank web, the mass section of the counterweight is axially spaced from a bearing assembly disposed around the web. Therefore, the mass section of the counterweight may extend radially beyond an inner race of the bearing assembly without contacting the bearing assembly's cage. The mass section of the counterweight does not extend radially beyond a radial envelope of a crankshaft support surface thereby permitting the crankshaft assembly to be slidingly inserted into the crankcase. |
| US09341226B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing pressurized gas in fluid dampers
A method and apparatus for a shock absorber having a damping fluid compensation chamber with a gas charge. In one aspect, a partition separates a first chamber portion from a second chamber portion, wherein the first portion of the chamber is at a first initial gas pressure and the second portion of the chamber is at a second initial pressure. A valve separates the first and second chamber portions and opening the valve comingles the first and second chamber portions so that the combined chamber portions are at a third pressure. In another aspect, a piston disposed through a wall is in pressure communication with the gas charge and is biased inwardly toward a pressure of the charge, whereby an indicator is movable by the piston in response to the pressure. |
| US09341225B2 |
Device for isolating an object from external motions
There is disclosed a device comprising two wire rope isolators for isolating an object from external motions.The wire rope isolators are arranged such that, if one of the two wire rope isolators is loaded in compression, then the other wire rope isolator is loaded in tension. |
| US09341224B2 |
Systems for absorbing an impact force
A system is provided that includes a mounting module configured to be coupled to a support frame and an object-support module configured to support an object. The mounting module comprises an area configured to allow at least a portion of an object supported by the object-support module to pass through the area. The system further includes a motion-guiding module coupled to the object-support module and the mounting module. The motion-guiding module is configured to guide motion of the object-support module along a first axis of the system toward the mounting module in response to a threshold force applied to the object-support module along the first axis. The motion-guiding module is configured to resist motion of the object-support module along a second axis of the system that is perpendicular to the first axis of the system. |
| US09341220B2 |
Brake pad retention device and method
A brake pad retaining device is provided for holding a brake pad within a brake caliper of an air disc brake system. The device may be formed as a spring which provides at least four retention forces at longitudinal ends of the brake pad in order to suppress brake pad kick motion and vibration, while applying a biasing force that pre-loads a caliper to its mounting pins. The device may include a mounting section that is coupled to a brake carrier, a first projection and a second projection. The first projection extends from one region of the mounting section to a region near a longitudinal end of the brake pad to thereby exert a radially inward force against the brake pad. The second projection extends from another region of the mounting section to an inner surface of the brake caliper to thereby exert a biasing force against the brake caliper. |
| US09341217B2 |
Bearing raceway heat distribution using heat pipes
A system and method to cool a bearing. The system includes a heat pipe extending through a thickness of an inner ring of the bearing from a first surface to an opposing second surface and a cooling lubricant in fluid communication with the first surface. The method includes exposing the first surface of the roller bearing to lubricant and transferring heat energy through the heat pipes. |
| US09341216B2 |
Rolling bearing assembly device for steering column
The invention relates to a rolling bearing assembly device having an inner race, an outer race, at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race, and a sleeve mounted in the bore of the inner race. The sleeve provides a radial bearing flange, the lower edge of which has a portion that is inclined towards the interior of the device, the inclined portion in contact with a locking washer. The sleeve also provides at least one slot extending axially towards the inner race from the lower edge of the radial bearing flange, the lower edge being disposed on the opposite side from the inner race. |
| US09341215B2 |
Bearing cage with a peripheral vibration damping ring
An annular bearing cage for a roller bearing of a turbine machine rotating shaft is provided. The bearing cage includes a vibration damping ring corresponding to deformation modes of the bearing cage, and at least one external rim. The external rim includes an at least partially annular housing that extends around a central axis of the bearing cage. The damping ring is located in the housing. |
| US09341212B2 |
Locking arm system for a retention ramp of a lift gate
The present invention provides a locking assembly for a ramp of a lift gate. The locking assembly comprises an elongated locking arm and a spring for spring loading the locking arm. The locking arm is pivotably disposed on a pivot point relative to the ramp. A biasing tension in the spring urges a proximal end of the locking arm to engage with a cam portion of the ramp to maintain the ramp in a selected position. The cam portion has multiple engagement surfaces for individually engaging with the locking arm, wherein selectively engaging the locking arm with each engagement surface of the cam portion maintains the ramp in a corresponding selected position. |
| US09341210B2 |
Fastener
In a fastener (10), a pin (14) is pressed into a grommet (12), so that a guide portion (56) formed in an end side of the pin (14) contacts with a guided portion (42) of the grommet (12), and a leg piece (34) of a leg portion (28) of the grommet bends and is expanded. Then, the guided portion (42) of the leg piece (34) in the leg portion (28) of the grommet (12) is engaged with an upper end edge (56A) of the guide portion (56) of the pin (14). Also, the guide portion (56) of the pin (14) is a curved surface having a tangent angle (θ) changing relative to a shaft line (14B) at a contact point (P1) with the guided portion (42) from an outer circumferential portion of an end (14A) of the pin (14) toward an upper end edge (56A), and an insertion force (S) into the grommet (12) of the pin (14) at each contact point (P1) is held approximately constant. |
| US09341208B2 |
Lower corner connector for modular sports goal
A lower corner connector for a modular sports goal comprises a first tube having a generally circular inner surface and a second tube extending substantially perpendicularly to the first tube. The first tube has an open end for receiving an upright and a base opposite the open end for resting on a surface. A retainer projects inwardly from the inner surface of the first tube for engaging and retaining the upright and permitting the upright to rock toward and away from the second tube within the first tube to assist in absorbing impact forces. |
| US09341207B2 |
Web component and method of making a web component
A web component suitable for use with a snap-fit assembly is disclosed herein. The web component includes, but is not limited to, a sheet metal member that has a periphery and a first side and a second side. The sheet metal member also includes a plurality of protrusions that extend from a first surface of the first side and from a second surface of the second side. The plurality of protrusions are disposed proximate a portion of the periphery and are configured to engage a female receiver associated with the snap-fit assembly. |
| US09341205B2 |
Family of fixation devices with variable taper
A family of devices attach elements previously bored in a cylindrical manner, wherein each device has a in extending along an axis and a tapered shaft and a head, and a bushing intended for accommodating the shaft of the pin, the bushing extending along the same axis having an outer cylindrical surface and an inner tapered surface. The family has at least two devices with bushings presenting, before installation by interference, an identical outer diameter and a different rate of taper of the inner surface. |
| US09341201B2 |
Self-adjusting end clamp
Self-adjusting end clamps are disclosed. The clamps may include a top member and a bottom member having vertically arranged holes. As a bolt placed in the vertically arranged holes is tightened, the top and bottom members move toward one another to grip an object therebetween. |
| US09341199B2 |
Torque converter hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission
A torque converter hydraulic control subsystem for a transmission is provided. The torque converter hydraulic control subsystem includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with a torque converter clutch (TCC) regulation valve, a TCC control valve, and a lubrication boost valve. The torque converter hydraulic control subsystem is configured to provide cooling and lubrication fluid flow to a torque converter in all modes of operation. |
| US09341197B2 |
Modular switching valve arrangement and switch cabinet with such switching valve arrangement
A modular switching valve arrangement (12) having a plurality of switching valves (20) which are arranged adjacent to one another is characterized in that each switching valve (20) includes at least one media connection (34) which has a connecting piece (26) mounted thereto, and in that the connecting piece (26) braces the corresponding switching valve (20) with a shared carrier plate (24). |
| US09341195B2 |
Centrifugal fan module and electronic device using the centrifugal fan module
A centrifugal fan module comprising a fan housing and an impeller is provided. The fan housing includes an air inlet and a sidewall. The sidewall is pivotally disposed in the fan housing to rotate in the rotational direction relative to the fan housing. A tongue portion is formed between the sidewall and the impeller, a pressurized region is formed from the tongue portion along the rotational direction to the air outlet, the pressurized region includes a strong airflow region and the dust-discharging hole is in the strong airflow region. |
| US09341194B2 |
Gas turbine engine compressor with a biased inner ring
An inner bushing assembly (280) to provide a biasing force between a guide vane (260) and an inner ring half (261) of a gas turbine engine compressor (200) is disclosed. The inner bushing assembly (280) includes a first bushing (281), a second bushing (282), and a biasing element (283). The first bushing (281) is configured to be installed about an inner vane shaft (267) of the guide vane (260) adjacent to an airfoil (265) of the guide vane (260). The second bushing (282) is configured to be installed about the inner vane shaft (267) distal to the airfoil (265). The biasing element (283) is configured to be installed about the inner vane shaft (267) between the first bushing (281) and the second bushing (282). |
| US09341193B2 |
Cabin air compressor diffuser vane drive ring
A cabin air compressor drive ring includes an outer ring defining an axis, an inner ring co-axial with the outer ring, a plurality of webbings connecting the inner ring to the outer ring, and a plurality of vane engagement pins axially protruding from the outer ring. The vane engagement pins are spaced circumferentially about the outer ring, and the inner ring includes a drive ring bearing interface. |
| US09341182B2 |
Electromagnetic pump
An electromagnetic pump includes a coil configured to conduct an alternating current, a cylinder, and a piston assembly. The piston includes a cavity configured to receive fluid and an aperture defined in a first end thereof The piston is arranged within the cylinder to define an interface between the piston and the cylinder, and the piston is configured to move linearly between a first position and a second position within the cylinder. The piston is positioned in the electromagnetic pump such that it is within a magnetic field which is generated by the coil when the coil conducts a current. |
| US09341177B2 |
Air compressor system and method of operation
Air compressor systems, upgrade kits, computer readable medium, and methods for controlling an air compressor for improved performance. The methods may include receiving a working air requirement; determining an estimated air pressure of the air compressor to deliver the working air requirement; measuring a pressure of the air compressor; comparing the measured pressure with the calculated estimated air pressure; if the measured pressure of the air compressor is greater than the determined estimated air pressure by a predetermined greater amount, then decreasing an output control of the air compressor; and if the measured pressure of the air compressor is less than the calculated estimated air pressure by a predetermined lesser amount then increasing the output control of the air compressor. The air compressor may be controlled based on a measured pressure of delivered working air. An oil control system may shut off oil to parts of the air compressor. |
| US09341164B2 |
Fixation of a heating mat to a blade of a wind turbine
A blade for a wind turbine includes at least one heating mat for generating heat, wherein the heating mat is mounted at an outer surface of the blade. The blade further includes at least one through-hole running from an inner space of the blade to the outer surface of the blade. The blade further has at least one conductive element, wherein the conductive element is electrically coupled to the heating mat. The conductive element is inserted in the through-hole for generating an electric connection between the inner space and the outer surface. |
| US09341157B2 |
Catalytic fuel igniter
A catalytic fuel igniter is compatible with internal combustion engines and other chemical fuel operated systems. The catalytic fuel igniter does not require electrical components typically required for such systems, thus reducing complexity. The catalytic fuel igniter includes a catalyst in a controlled environment which ignites the fuel and air at the proper time for engine operation. In one embodiment the fuel is a hydrogen fuel and the catalytic fuel igniter is a hydrogen fuel igniter. |
| US09341153B2 |
System and method for internal cooling of a fuel injector
A fuel injector includes an injector body forming an actuator portion. An actuator bore is formed in the actuator portion and is at least partially defined by an inner surface and by an end surface. An actuator disposed in the actuator bore and has an outer surface such that a flow channel can be defined between the inner surface of the actuator bore and the outer surface of the actuator. A cooling flow passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore, and is adapted to supply cooling fluid to the actuator bore. A drain passage is formed in the injector body, in fluid communication with the actuator bore. An internal cooling fluid flow path extends from the cooling flow passage, through the flow channel, and from the flow channel through the drain passage. |
| US09341147B2 |
Engine-off refueling detection method
A method for an engine fuel system comprises, during an engine-off condition, indicating a refueling event based on a rate of change in fuel tank pressure, and aborting a diagnostic leak detection test based on the refueling event indication. Indicating a refueling event further comprises indicating a refueling event based on the rate of change in fuel tank pressure being greater than a first threshold when the canister vent valve is open, and greater than a second threshold when the canister vent valve is closed, the first threshold being less than the second threshold. |
| US09341146B2 |
Exhaust-gas recirculation module for an internal combustion engine
An exhaust-gas recirculation module for an internal combustion engine includes an outer housing, an exhaust-gas cooler comprising an inner housing arranged within the outer housing, an exhaust-gas recirculation valve arranged upstream of the exhaust-gas cooler, an exhaust-gas duct formed in the outer housing arranged upstream of the exhaust-gas recirculation valve, and a coolant channel arranged between the inner housing and the exhaust-gas duct. |
| US09341145B2 |
Supercharged turbocompound hybrid engine apparatus
The present invention is relative to a engine apparatus comprising a combustion engine, a low pressure compressor connected to a high pressure turbine. The apparatus also comprises a low pressure turbine and a high pressure compressor. The engine apparatus according to the invention comprises an electrical torque converter comprising at least an electric generator connected so as to be driven by said low pressure turbine and a first electric motor connected so as to drive said high pressure compressor. The torque converter also comprises electronic conversion means suitable to convert the electric energy produce by said electric generator and to power supply and control at least said first electric motor. |
| US09341144B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine and method therefor
An apparatus controls an internal combustion engine provided with an EGR device having an EGR passage and an EGR valve that is provided in the EGR passage and can adjust an EGR amount. This apparatus includes a controller that estimates state parameters of the internal combustion engine that affect the behavior of the EGR gas within a predetermined period of time; sets constraints on the EGR amount within the predetermined period on the basis of an approximated dynamics obtained by approximating a true dynamics, which is a transition of the EGR amount within the predetermined period, so that approximated values do not exceed the true dynamics; determines a target value of the EGR amount according to the estimated state parameters within a range of the EGR amount on which the constraints that have been set; and controls the EGR valve so that the EGR amount becomes the determined target value. |
| US09341142B2 |
Beam for a cascade thrust reverser
The present disclosure relates to a beam, in particular for a cascade thrust reverser, including a skin made of a composite material and defining a closed section, wherein said beam is filled with a core material. |
| US09341140B2 |
Variable area mechanism with angular trailing edges
A variable area mechanism and methods are disclosed. A movable surface comprising a contoured interface surface is operable to rotate about an off-body axis-of-rotation such that the movable surface expands from and retracts into an angle notched surface. |
| US09341138B2 |
Engine assembly for a motor vehicle in general and particularly for an urban motor vehicle
An engine assembly (6) of the type running on liquid air or another gas that is substantially inert in liquefied state, for a vehicle in general and for an urban motor vehicle in particular, such as a bus (1) or a taxi, comprises a Stirling engine (9), in which the gasification of the liquid air takes place, with transformation into kinetic mechanical energy of the latent heat relative to the change in state of the air from liquid state to compressed gas state, as well as a volumetric or flow motor (11), in which the air in compressed state expands up to a pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure, with transformation of the mechanical pressure energy into kinetic mechanical energy. |
| US09341137B2 |
Piston for an internal combustion engine
The present invention relates to a piston (10) for an internal combustion engine, comprising a piston head (11) and a piston skirt (16), with a cooling channel (15) arranged in the piston head (11) and with at least one bore (17) opening into the cooling channel (15), a conduit (18) for a cooling oil jet (A) being housed in the bore. According to the invention, a jet divider (19) is arranged at the first free end (18a) of the conduit (18) and, in the area of the second free end (18b) of the conduit (18), the outer lateral surface of conduit (18) has a contact surface (24) that lies, secured against torsion, against an inner surface (25) of the piston (10). |
| US09341136B2 |
Engine having composite cylinder block
An engine is provided. The engine includes a thermal set composite cylinder block including a front engine cover attachment interface and a transmission attachment interface and a cylinder liner integrally molded with the composite cylinder block, the cylinder liner defining a portion of a boundary of a cylinder. The engine further includes a bulkhead insert extending through the thermal set composite cylinder block and is directly coupled to a cylinder head. |
| US09341134B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection valve having a nozzle body that includes a fuel receiving part provided at a downstream side of a seat part with which a seat contact part comes into contact, and a plurality of nozzle holes. The control apparatus executes one or a plurality of small injections during one cycle in addition to main injection. Further, the control apparatus increases fuel injection amount of a first small injection at the current cycle at the time of low load operation while decreases the fuel injection amount of the first small injection at the time of high load operation, when post injection has not been executed in the last cycle and the small injection is executed first at the current cycle in a case in which a variation in the learned value for fuel injection amount is present. |
| US09341132B2 |
System for controlling an after-treatment system (ATS) temperature of a combustion engine
System for controlling an after-treatment system (ATS) temperature of a combustion engine, comprising means for carrying out an after-treatment warm up procedure, the system providing the interruption/inhibition of such warm-up means after a time period from the warm up procedure starting. |
| US09341130B2 |
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device for controlling an engine and an electric pump includes a relay having a contact part for connecting and disconnecting a power source to the electric pump, an engine stop instruction switch provided between the power source and a coil part of the relay for connecting and disconnecting the power source to and from the coil part. A control unit for controlling the engine and the relay and determining whether or not operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made. The control unit includes a port to which the coil part and a drive part are connected for switching current application of the coil part, a detection part for detecting a current flowing to the port, and a determiner for determining whether or not the operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made based on a detection result of the detection part. |
| US09341127B2 |
Multivariable low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation control
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a LP-EGR valve and an LP intake throttle to provide a desired LP-EGR flow rate while maintaining a minimum differential pressure. In one example, a method for a turbocharged engine method comprises: responsive to a differential between intake and exhaust pressure below a threshold, adjusting a LP-EGR valve while adjusting a LP intake throttle to regulate a LP-EGR flow rate and the differential to respective setpoints; and responsive to the differential above the threshold, saturating the LP-EGR valve to minimize the differential while actuating the throttle to regulate the flow rate to its setpoint. In this way, control of the LP-EGR system may be more robust to disturbances at very low differential pressures, require less actuator movement, and increase fuel economy. |
| US09341126B2 |
Adjustments for engine spark using remote data
External data from a second computer external to a vehicle is received in an in-vehicle computer comprising a processor and a memory. At least one derived datum is generated from at least some of the external data. The at least one derived datum is used to make an adjustment to engine performance. |
| US09341120B2 |
Channeled spring seal for sealing an air gap between moving plates
A sealed joint may include a first plate with a seal land, a second plate that moves relative to the seal land, and a seal connected to the second plate. The seal may extend laterally between a first seal end and a second seal end. The seal may include a plurality of seal elements that extend longitudinally between a first seal side and a second seal side. A first of the seal elements may extend laterally from the first seal end towards a first seal segment, which is separated from the second plate by an airflow channel. The second of the seal elements may extend laterally from the second seal end towards a second seal segment, which is located between and engaged with the first seal segment and the seal land. |
| US09341117B2 |
Combined sump service
A combined sump structure in an engine, the combined sump structure comprises a sump area comprising one or more sumps, a single oil supply provided for all sumps, and a combined sump drain. |
| US09341116B2 |
Gas turbine engine comprising means for axially retaining a fan of the engine
A gas turbine engine including: a casing in which is mounted at least one shaft for driving a fan solidly connected to a driving drum including blades to compress an airflow moving from upstream to downstream in the engine; and an axial retention mechanism, on standby, solidly connected to the casing and arranged to come into contact with the driving drum such as to prevent axial movement of the drum in event of breakage of the driving shaft. |
| US09341106B2 |
Cooling apparatus for engine system and control method therefor
A cooling system for an engine system includes an engine coolant path inside an internal combustion engine and a turbine coolant path inside a turbocharger. A switching section is selectively switched to one of a first operation mode, in which coolant in the cooling system is permitted to flow through the engine coolant path and the turbine coolant path, and a second operation mode, in which the coolant in the cooling system is permitted to flow only through the engine coolant path, while not being permitted to flow through the turbine coolant path. When the switching section is in the first operation mode and a basic flow rate calculated based on an engine operating state is larger than an actual flow rate detected by a flow rate sensor by at least a determination amount, the switching section is switched to the second operation mode. |
| US09341105B2 |
Engine cooling system control
Methods and systems are provided for expediting engine system heating by stagnating coolant in one of a plurality of loops in an engine cooling system. Degradation of the various valves and thermostats of the cooling system can be diagnosed by adjusting the valve and monitoring changes in one or more of coolant temperature, transmission temperature and cabin temperature. Based on engine operating conditions, the various valves may be adjusted to vary coolant temperature in different regions of the cooling system, thereby providing fuel economy benefits. |
| US09341104B2 |
Impingement cooling of cylinders in opposed-piston engines
A cylinder cooling construction includes a cylinder liner with a sidewall, exhaust and intake ports opening through the sidewall, a bore, and a plurality of feed channels that are formed with and extend along the sidewall from a central band of the cylinder toward the exhaust and intake ports. A sleeve covering the sidewall includes a plurality of impingement jet ports that are arranged in at least one sequence extending around the central band and that are in liquid communication with the plurality of feed channels. An annular member disposed between the liner and the sleeve reinforces the central band. The sleeve further includes an inside surface with spaced-apart annular recesses that with the sidewall define liquid coolant reservoirs in the vicinity of the ports that are in liquid communication with the feed channels. Channels through bridges of exhaust port have first ends in liquid communication with the coolant reservoir in the vicinity of the exhaust port and second ends that open through a portion of an exhaust end of the cylinder. |
| US09341099B2 |
Emissions cleaning module
An emissions cleaning module includes a flow conduit having an upstream end fluidly connected to a source of exhaust fluid and a downstream end fluidly connected to a mixer module. An injector module has an outlet orientated to inject injection fluid into the flow conduit upstream the mixer module. A low pressure cavity downstream the injector module outlet is fluidly connected to the flow conduit or the mixer module by an open mouth orientated such that a flow of exhaust fluid along the flow conduit flows over the open mouth creating a pressure reduction within the low pressure cavity. |
| US09341098B2 |
Automotive catalytic aftertreatment system
A catalytic aftertreatment system for a diesel engine exhaust gas is described. The system comprises a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and an aftertreatment device located downstream of the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), which aftertreatment device requires periodic heat treatment, and means to generate a temperature increase within the aftertreatment device, said diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) comprising an upstream zone of length from 0.5 to 2 inches (12.7-50.81 mm) of higher oxidation activity for hydrocarbons (HC) than the remainder of the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). |
| US09341097B2 |
Reductant material deposit reduction in exhaust aftertreatment systems
In one non-limiting embodiment, an apparatus for treating exhaust includes a reductant injector, an aftertreatment component including a NOx reduction catalyst, and a pathway for directing exhaust to the aftertreatment component. The pathway includes a constriction zone within which is positioned a mixing member. The constriction zone begins downstream of the reductant injector and upstream from the aftertreatment component. However, other embodiments, forms and applications are also envisioned. |
| US09341092B2 |
Exhaust valve assembly for a two-stroke internal combustion engine
An exhaust valve assembly for a two-stroke internal combustion engine has a valve actuator having a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, and a valve operatively connected to the valve actuator. The first and second pressure chambers are adapted for selectively receiving one of a first pressure and a second pressure. The first pressure is higher than the second pressure. The valve actuator moves the valve between at least a first valve position and a second valve position. The valve actuator moves the valve to the first valve position when the first pressure is supplied to the first pressure chamber and the second pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber. The valve actuator moves the valve to the second valve position when the second pressure is supplied to the first pressure chamber and the first pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber. |
| US09341090B2 |
Oscillating-motor camshaft adjuster having a hydraulic valve
An oscillating-motor camshaft adjuster which provides that, through software, camshaft alternating torque is utilized only in conditions where the torque is adequate and/or it is important to reduce flow consumption. If there is two step lift and the camshaft alternating torque is not adequate in low lift, software can position the spool to utilize some camshaft alternating torque while also tanking oil to speed up the phasing. |
| US09341089B2 |
Camshaft phaser
A camshaft phaser that includes a rotor and a sprocket. A plurality of lobes of the sprocket are spaced to receive a plurality of vanes of the rotor, thereby defining retard and advance pressure chambers when the rotor rotates with respect to the sprocket between retard and advance positions. When the rotor rotates between the retard and advance positions, gap surfaces of the lobes cooperate with gap surfaces of the vanes to form fluid gaps therebetween, wings of the lobes fit into receiving surfaces of the vanes, and stop surfaces of the vanes abut the sides of the lobes. |
| US09341088B2 |
Camshaft phaser control systems and methods
A control system for a vehicle includes a motor driver module, a correlation triggering module, a target phase angle module, and a correlation control module. The motor driver module controls an electric camshaft phaser of an engine based on a desired phase angle between a position of a crankshaft and a position of a camshaft. The correlation triggering module selectively generates a signal based on the position of the camshaft. The target phase angle module adjusts the desired phase angle to a predetermined phase angle in response to the generation of the signal. The correlation control module, in response to the generation of the signal: determines the position of the crankshaft when the camshaft is in a predetermined position; and selectively outputs a fault indicator based on a comparison of the position of the crankshaft and a predetermined crankshaft position range corresponding to the predetermined position. |
| US09341084B2 |
Supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle for waste heat recovery
Aspects of the invention disclosed herein generally provide heat engine systems and methods for recovering energy, such as by generating electricity from thermal energy. In one configuration, a heat engine system contains a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) within a working fluid circuit, two heat exchangers configured to be thermally coupled to a heat source (e.g., waste heat), two expanders, two recuperators, two pumps, a condenser, and a plurality of valves configured to switch the system between single/dual-cycle modes. In another aspect, a method for recovering energy may include monitoring a temperature of the heat source, operating the heat engine system in the dual-cycle mode when the temperature is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and subsequently, operating the heat engine system in the single-cycle mode when the temperature is less than the threshold value. |
| US09341080B2 |
Gas turbine engine with geared turbofan and oil thermal management system
A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. A fan drive gear system is configured for driving the fan at a speed different than the turbine section. A lubricant system includes a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line splits into at least a hot line and into a cool line. The hot line is directed primarily to locations in the gas turbine engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant. The cool line is directed through one or more heat exchangers at which the lubricant is cooled, and the cool line then is routed to the fan drive gear system. At least one of the one or more heat exchangers is a fuel/oil cooler at which lubricant will be cooled by fuel leading to the combustion section. The fuel/oil cooler is downstream of a point where the outlet line splits into the at least the hot line and the cool line, such that the hot line is not directed through the fuel/oil cooler. A method is also disclosed. |
| US09341079B2 |
Rolling bearing for aircraft turbojet fitted with improved means of axial retention of its outer ring
A structure for an aircraft turbojet including a rolling bearing including an outer ring, a bearing bracket, a retaining ring interposed between the ring and the bracket, a mechanism to connect the ring onto the bracket incorporating an attaching flange installed on the bearing bracket, a flexible connection attached to the ring and to the flange, and a mechanism enabling axial retention of the ring, in event the flexible connection fractures. The mechanism enabling axial retention includes a first stop securely attached to the retaining ring and capable of axially retaining this retaining ring relative to the bracket, and a second stop securely attached to the retaining ring, and capable of axially retaining the ring relative to the retaining ring. |
| US09341078B2 |
Blade for a turbo machine having labyrinth seal cooling passage
A blade for a turbomachine, for example a gas turbine, is provided. The blade is arranged on a turbine rotor of the gas turbine. The blade includes a root portion having two narrow sides and two broad sides, a cooling air supply passage in the root portion, and a cooling air bleed which is arranged in the root portion and is in fluid connection with the cooling air supply passage. The cooling air bleed includes a nozzle on one of the narrow sides of the root portion, wherein the nozzle is formed by a hole and wherein an axial direction of the hole is inclined upward between 92° and 135° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the blade. |
| US09341077B2 |
Assembly comprising a shaft seal
A shaft seal includes more than one sealing module, at least one fluid supply and a fluid discharge, and a main seal which is subject to a greatest partial pressure difference. A second main seal is a radial double seal, which includes two gas seals, each gas seal having a rotating sealing surface and a stationary sealing surface, wherein the two sealing surface pairs are located opposite each other in a sealing plan, and wherein the two sealing planes have substantially radial extension to the shaft. |
| US09341076B2 |
Surge margin control
A gas turbine engine control system comprising a variable stator vane schedule for normal operation of the gas turbine engine. The system is configured to generate an arm signal indicating potential shaft break. Then the system is configured to alter the variable stator vane schedule to slew each variable stator vane to decrease the available surge margin in response to the arm signal. Or the system is configured to limit a response rate of a variable stator vane actuator in response to the arm signal. Or the system is configured to alter the variable stator vane schedule and limit the response rate of the actuator. |
| US09341070B2 |
Shield slot on side of load slot in gas turbine engine rotor
A rotor body rotates about an axis of rotation. A ledge provides a holding structure for holding blades. A plurality of blades are positioned beneath the ledge. A load slot is sized to allow a mount portion of the blades to be moved radially inwardly of the ledge. The blades are moved circumferentially to have the mounted structure radially inwardly of the ledge. A lock slot is positioned on one circumferential side of the load slot. The lock slot is formed to receive a lock, and the lock is partially received within a portion of at least one of the blades, to lock the blades within the rotor, and a shield slot on a second circumferential side of the load slot. The shield slot is sized to be different from the lock slot such that a lock cannot be inadvertently positioned within the shield slot. |
| US09341067B2 |
Blade arrangement and associated gas turbine
A blade arrangement with a rotor and a plurality of blades which are distributed in a ring along the circumference of the rotor is provided. Two immediately adjacent blades of the ring form a blade pair, between the blades of which a damping element is arranged, and wherein the respective damping element comes into contact with the two blades of the blade pair assigned to them during a rotation of the rotor about a rotor axis as a result of a centrifugal force which acts in the radial direction. In order to bring about frequency detuning of the oscillation properties of blades, as a result of which machining of the turbine blade becomes unnecessary, it is proposed that the blade ring has at least two blade pairs with different damping elements. |
| US09341063B2 |
Fluid device with roll pockets alternatingly pressurized at different pressures
A method for pressurizing a roll pocket of a displacement assembly of a fluid device includes providing a fluid device having a displacement assembly. The displacement assembly includes a ring defining a central bore and roll pockets disposed about the central bore. Rolls are disposed in the roll pockets. A rotor is disposed in the central bore. The ring, the rolls and the rotor define a plurality of expanding and contracting volume chambers. Fluid is communicated from a first port of the fluid device and a second port of the fluid device to each of the roll pockets so that when the volume chamber immediately before one of the roll pockets and the volume chamber immediately after that roll pocket are both in fluid communication with one of the first and second ports, that roll pocket is in fluid communication with the other of the first and second ports. |
| US09341062B2 |
Electropneumatic field device
In an electropneumatic field device for controlling a pneumatic actuator, an energy transducer is provided which converts pneumatic energy into electrical energy. The energy transducer has a working chamber with a pneumatic compressed air inlet via which a compressed air impulse is introduced, a reset chamber, a coil, an armature separating the working chamber and the reset chamber and guided for translational back and forth movement, and a permanent magnet so that electric energy is induced in the coil. The pneumatic compressed air inlet is configured such that the compressed air impulse leaving the compressed air inlet has an inflow direction angle into the working chamber which has an axial angular direction component which is parallel to a translational axial movement direction of the armature. |
| US09341060B2 |
Method and system for permeability calculation using production logs for horizontal wells
A method for permeability calculation includes determining fluid properties associated with a horizontal well, relative permeability to oil and relative permeability to water, for the horizontal well, and an approximate upper boundary and an approximate lower boundary of the horizontal well. In accordance with a particular embodiment, the horizontal well may be divided into a plurality of well segments. Actual production logging data associated with the horizontal well may be received at an interface. For each respective well segment, a horizontal permeability is calculated using the fluid properties, relative permeability to oil, relative permeability to water and actual production logging data. |
| US09341057B2 |
Apparatus and method of distributed pressure sensing
Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to measure pressure using an optical fiber. The optical fiber can be structured with fiber Bragg gratings arranged along the optical fiber. Optical signals can be transmitted through the optical fiber, where the optical signals have a wavelength of a slow-light peak of a respective one of the fiber Bragg gratings. Signals resulting from the optical signals transmitted through the optical fiber can be detected and a value of pressure from the detected signals can be determined. |
| US09341056B2 |
Discharge pressure monitoring system
A pressure monitoring method comprising providing wellbore servicing equipment comprising a pump, a discharge flow path configured to discharge fluid from the pump, a discharge pressure monitoring system comprising a transducer in pressure communication with the discharge flow path, and an electronic circuit in electrical communication with the transducer and a monitoring system, collecting an electrical signal indicative of the pressure within the discharge flow path, processing the electrical signal to generate an upper pressure envelope signal, wherein the upper pressure envelope signal is representative of a high pressure within the discharge flow path over a predetermined duration of time, and comparing the upper pressure envelope signal to a predetermined upper threshold. |
| US09341054B2 |
System for monitoring linearity of down-hole pumping systems during deployment and related methods
Systems, program product, and methods for monitoring linearity of a down-hole pumping system assembly during deployment within a bore of a casing of a well positioned to extract hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir and selecting an optimal operational position for the down-hole pumping system assembly within the bore of the casing, are provided. Various embodiments of the systems allow an operator to ensure that a motor and pump of a down-hole pumping system assembly are installed in an optimal position in a well by ensuring alignment across the pump stages casing and motor casing. The system includes a groove extending along an outer surface of a housing of the pumping system assembly, and an optical sensing fiber mounted in the groove. |
| US09341053B2 |
Multi-layer sensors for downhole inspection
An example downhole tool includes a tool body and a multi-layer sensor coupled to the tool body. The multi-layer sensor may include a first transmitter coupled to a first conformable element and a first receiver coupled to a second conformable element. One of the first conformable element and the second conformable element may overlay the other of the first conformable element and the second conformable element. |
| US09341051B2 |
Methods for enhancing efficiency of bitumen extraction from oil sands using lipids and lipid by-products as process additives
In a method for enhancing the efficiency of separation of bitumen from oil sands ore, lipids, lipid by-products, and lipid derivatives are used as process additives for ore-water slurry-based bitumen extraction processes or in situ bitumen recovery processes. These additives act as surfactants reducing surface and interfacial tensions, thus promoting breakdown the oil sands ore structure and resultant liberation of bitumen from the ore. Lipid treatment does not deleteriously affect release water chemistry in bitumen recovery processes, and it does not appreciably affect the fuel value of recovered bitumen. Lipids which may be effectively used as additives include biodiesel, tall oil fatty acids, monoglycerides, vegetable oil, and soap water, and combinations thereof. Lipids may also be used as process additives to enhance the efficiency of clean-up of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, in the production of bitumen-water or oil-water emulsions, and to enhance the transportability of emulsions such as in pipelines. |
| US09341049B2 |
Controlled production and injection
A well production and injection string includes a plurality of spaced apart packers each adapted to seal with a wall of the wellbore. A plurality of flow control devices are provided in the string, distributed between pairs of adjacent packers. The flow control devices are adapted to communicate flow between an interior and an exterior of the string with less restriction to flow from the interior to the exterior of the string than to flow from the exterior to the interior of the string. |
| US09341045B1 |
Configurable subsea tree master valve block
A pre-machined forging for use with a subsea hydrocarbon assembly includes a common master valve block. The common master valve block has an upper cylindrical portion with a main central axis. A lower cylindrical portion of the common master valve block includes a lower axis that is parallel to, and offset from, the main central axis. A valve portion of the common master valve block is located axially between the upper cylindrical portion and the lower cylindrical portion. A main bore extends axially through the common master valve block from a bottom end of the common master valve block to a top end of the common master valve block along the main central axis. |
| US09341044B2 |
Self-energized seal or centralizer and associated setting and retraction mechanism
A self energizing structure can function as a centralizer or as a seal when allowed to spring out after a retainer is moved away from an overlying position for run in to protect the structure. Segments extend from a common base ring and are radially offset during run in. Alternating segments have landing surfaces on opposed ends such that on release of the structure the intervening segments land on such surfaces to form a cohesive single layer with all segments circumferentially aligned and against a surrounding tubular or the borehole wall. The structure is held retracted with a bi-directionally movable sleeve operable in a variety of ways from the surface. Internally the sleeve has splines to push the segments with the landing surfaces back so that the structure can collapse back into the sleeve for removal. Structures can be stacked and used as centralizers with alternating segments removed. |
| US09341041B2 |
Cutting device, safety valve, method and uses for severing a pipe-string-related object in a safety valve for a well
A cutting device, safety valve and method are for severing an object in the safety valve for a well, wherein the cutting device is structured for incorporation in the safety valve. The cutting device and the safety valve comprise a housing having a through bore structured for passing the object therethrough.The cutting device/safety valve comprises at least one induction coil device disposed in the housing, and around at least a portion of the bore of the housing.The induction coil device is directed inwards in the direction of the bore and is structured for optional, cutting-promoting heating, hence thermal structural weakening, of the object when located vis-à-vis the induction coil device.The induction coil device is structured in a manner allowing it to be connected to at least one electric power source for supply of electric power for heating.The housing comprises a heat-insulating portion disposed between the induction coil device and the housing. |
| US09341037B2 |
Autochoke system
Back pressure control devices used to control fluid pressure in a wellbore require various utilities for operation, such as an air supply. With the use of an air supply, the continued operation of one or more back pressure control devices may be achieved when supply of utilities for operation of the back pressure control devices are intentionally or unintentionally interrupted. |
| US09341034B2 |
Method for assembly of well heaters
A method for assembly of a well heater including injecting a length of coiled tubing into a well, supporting the coiled tubing in the well and cutting the coiled tubing above the well head; injecting one or more resistive heating cables into the into the coiled tubing; constructing a cable support structure at the cut end of the coiled tubing for supporting the weight of the cables against the inner sidewall of the coiled tubing; cutting the cables and configuring the cut ends of the cables for connection to an electrical source, thereby defining the structure of the well heater; and withdrawing the well heater from the well. |
| US09341032B2 |
Centralizer with collaborative spring force
A centralizer for centralizing a pipe is provided which collaborates the spring force of its bow springs. The centralizer includes a pair of end collars, and at least one center collar. Each of the collars has a center hole for coaxially receiving a pipe. In addition, the centralizer includes a plurality of longitudinally extending and arcuate bow springs having ends which affix to the end collars. The centralizer includes linkage arms which connect the center collar to the bow springs. The linkage arms may provide additional outward spring force against the bow springs. Preferably, the centralizer includes a mechanism for forcing the bow springs radially inward from their at rest position. |
| US09341028B2 |
Counterweight assembly for a self-propelled derrick rig assembly
Improvements to base beams and self-propelled derrick rigs are described. The base beam can have two or more stabilizer arms which can be deployed. The base beam is also designed to support the derrick rig. An optional counterweight assembly can be connected to the front of the rig. The self-propelled derrick rig can be easily and quickly mounted to the base beam, and when mounted, the assembly will be able to withstand high hook loads and wind loading without the danger of the rig coming off of its wheels or falling over. |
| US09341020B1 |
Single pull-cord controller of roman shade
A single pull-cord controller of roman shade comprises: a main control unit, a winding member, a first shaft member, a second shaft member, an inner bushing, an outer bushing, and a coupling unit. By the single pull-cord controller of the present invention, the up-down operation of the roman shade can be controlled by the pulling or releasing of a single pull-cord, and the pull-cord after manipulation can be wound within the controller by the recovery of the clock spring. Therefore, dangerous state of strangulation by wrapping around children's neck can be effectively avoided to achieve the object of safety precaution. |
| US09341018B2 |
Combined flood proof door and window
A flood proof door and window unit includes a sealing flange around at least a portion of the perimeter of the door. A flood proof window is positioned within a cut out formed in the door. The window assembly is water tight so that the unit may be used in applications where it is desirable to provide a transparent window in a flood proof door. |
| US09341014B2 |
Information communication method using change in luminance
An information communication method that enables communication between various devices is an information communication method of transmitting a signal using a change in luminance, and includes: determining a pattern of the change in luminance, by modulating the signal to be transmitted; and transmitting the signal, by a plurality of light emitters changing in luminance according to the determined pattern of the change in luminance, wherein the plurality of light emitters are arranged on a surface so that a non-luminance change area does not extend across the surface between the plurality of light emitters along at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the surface, the non-luminance change area being an area in the surface outside the plurality of light emitters and not changing in luminance. |
| US09341011B2 |
Adjustable mounting device for a sliding element and sliding device
Mounting device includes a connecting bolt, plate-shaped sliding element connectable to a carriage held displaceable in a running rail. Mounting device includes holding rail, mountable in recess at upper side of the sliding element, and holding device held releasably in the holding rail, includes bearing device, adjustment screw is rotatably held, adjustment screw includes a screw shaft, aligned along screw axis, engages in threaded member of track body, movable along screw axis and includes two track walls aligned parallel to one another and include each a track element, which guide elements are engaged that are connected to connecting bolt, held in guide member displaceable along guide axis. Track sledge is equipped on opposite sides with guide elements engaged in track element of track body and connecting bolt includes first connecting part held in track sledge, second connecting part held in guide member and third connecting part connectable to carriage. |
| US09341004B2 |
Cycle accessory
The invention relates to a dual use cycle accessory which may adopt a first folded configuration in which it forms a mudguard and a second unfolded configuration in which is comprises tow free ends (101, 201) which may be locked together to form a locked loop suitable for locking a cycle, preferably a bicycle, to a stationary object. Thus in accordance with one aspect, of the invention there is provided a dual use cycle accessory device comprising a plurality of elongate rigid members (1, 2, 3, 4) that are articulated one to another so that the rigid members (1, 2, 3, 4) may be arranged in a first folded configuration in which at least some of the members are arranged side by side to define an elongate mudguard and a second extended configuration in which at least some of the members are arranged in series so that a free end region of one member 1, 10) and a free end region of another distal member (4, 404) may be looped together, and wherein said free end regions (19,404) are adapted to be lockable together to form an elongate looped cycle lock (8). The rigid elongate members preferably have a generally planar configuration with a greater width than depth. |
| US09340995B2 |
Eave structure for a foldable tent
A retractable eave structure of a foldable tent includes a pole assembly having a first end and an opposing second end. The pole assembly first end is pivotally coupled to a hub for pivotal movement between an open state and a folded state of the foldable tent. The pole assembly is retractable such that a length between the first and second ends is adjustable between the open and folded states of the foldable tent. An eave portion of the foldable tent is constructed of tent fabric and fixedly attached to and extends from a main portion of the foldable tent. The eave portion includes an outer perimeter having a housing portion. The outer end of the pole assembly is fixed within the housing portion such that in the open state the pole assembly is extended and the eave portion is substantially taut. |