最新美国发明专利第2016-05-24期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US09348427B2	Network control system, control apparatus, controlled apparatus, and apparatus control method A network control system includes a control apparatus and a controlled apparatus. The control apparatus includes: a first execution unit which executes a first application program for operating the controlled apparatus; a display unit which displays an operation screen; an operational command generation unit which generates an operational command in response to an input by a user to the operation screen; and a first communication unit which outputs the operational command. The controlled apparatus includes: a second execution unit which executes a second application program, and identifies an operation type of the controlled apparatus; an operation type information generation unit; and a second communication unit which outputs the operation type information. The first execution unit generates an operation screen corresponding to the operation type, and the display unit displays the generated operation screen.
US09348420B2	Adaptive projected information handling system output devices Projected input and output devices adapt to a desktop environment by sensing objects at the desktop environment and altering projected light in response to the sensed objects. For instance, projection of input and output devices is altered to limit illumination against and end user's hands or other objects disposed at a projection surface. End user hand positions and motions are detected to provide gesture support for adapting a projection work space, and configurations of projected devices are stored so that an end user can rapidly recreate a projected desktop. A projector scan adjusts to limit traces across inactive portions of the display surface and to increase traces at predetermined areas, such as video windows.
US09348419B2	Method for synchronizing operation of systems First and second detection systems coupled to a controller are synchronized, with the first detection system including first emission and detection modules while the second detection system includes a second detection module, for emitting radiation towards and detecting radiation from a region. A pulse of radiation emitted from the first emission module is detected by the first and second detection modules for a first time interval starting at time T1 and for a second time interval starting at time T2, respectively. The radiation received is compared to determine a radiation difference measurement. The starting time T2 is adjusted relative to starting time T1 based at least in part upon the radiation difference measurement to determine a revised starting time T2, thereby aiding the synchronization of starting time T2 with starting time T1.
US09348417B2	Multimodal input system The subject disclosure relates to user input into a computer system, and a technology by which one or more users interact with a computer system via a combination of input modalities. When the input data of two or more input modalities are related, they are combined to interpret an intended meaning of the input. For example, speech when combined with one input gesture has one intended meaning, e.g., convert the speech to verbatim text for consumption by a program, while the exact speech when combined with a different input gesture has a different meaning, e.g., convert the speech to a command that controls the operation of that same program.
US09348414B2	Tactile presentation device A tactile presentation device includes a chassis having a top surface chassis, a bottom surface chassis, and an inner space, a touch panel fixed to the top surface chassis and having an operation surface, an actuator arranged in the inner space, and a vibration transmission member arranged between the actuator and the touch panel. The top surface chassis includes a top surface having a top surface opening exposing the operation surface of the touch panel to outside, and a side surface formed along a peripheral edge of the top surface. The actuator is fixed to the side surface.
US09348413B2	Electronic device The electronic device 100 includes a touch panel 102 to be touched by a user, a vibrating section 203 for vibrating the touch panel 102, a vibration control section 301 for controlling the vibration of the vibrating section 203, and a display section 101 for displaying an image. The vibration control section 301 changes the vibration of the vibrating section 203 in accordance with a speed at which the user performs a swiping operation on the touch panel 102 and a spatial frequency in a swiping direction of an image displayed at a position where the user is performing a swiping operation.
US09348412B2	Method and apparatus for operating notification function in user device A method and an apparatus for operating a reception notification function in a user device are provided. The method includes detecting a face of a user in images collected through a camera, when a notification event is detected, and executing a notification function in either of a silent mode and a vibration mode when the notification event is detected, when a face of a user is detected in images collected through a camera.
US09348411B2	Object display with visual verisimilitude Described herein are technologies relating to display of a representation of an object on a display screen with visual verisimilitude to a viewer. A location of eyes of the viewer relative to a reference point on the display screen is determined. Additionally, a direction of gaze of the eyes of the viewer is determined. Based upon the location and direction of gaze of the eyes of the viewer, the representation of the object can be displayed at a scale and orientation such that it appears with visual verisimilitude to the viewer.
US09348409B2	System, method and apparatus for controlling multiple applications and services on a digital electronic device A services and application controller (“SAC”) is provided for digital electronic devices. The SAC includes four interfaces which respectively interact with four different environments, namely an application interface that interacts with application environments and applications, an extension interface that interacts with engines and enablers, a platform interface that interacts with device platform environments, and a service and network interface that interacts with services and service infrastructures and with networks. The SAC provides a set of core functions and abstracts the environments from each other, which enable interactions between these environments without requiring that the environments be aware of specific aspects of the other environments for the interactions.
US09348407B2	Method and apparatus for atomic frequency and voltage changes A method and apparatus for atomic frequency and voltage changes in the processor. In one embodiment of the invention, the atomic frequency and voltage changes in the processor is feasible due to the enabling technology of fully integrated voltage regulators (FIVR) that are integrated in the processor. FIVR allows independent configuration of each core in the processor and the configuration includes, but is not limited to, voltage setting, frequency setting, clock setting and other parameters that affects the power consumption of each core.
US09348406B2	Apparatus and method for activating and shutting down enhanced modules within an activated pipeline stage based on performance requirements and module priority The present invention discloses a method of processing instructions in a pipeline-based central processing unit, wherein the pipeline is partitioned into base pipeline stages and enhanced pipeline stages according to functions, the base pipeline stages being activated all the while, and the enhanced pipeline stages being activated or shutdown according to requirements for performance of a workload. The present invention further discloses a method of processing instructions in a pipeline-based central processing unit, wherein the pipeline is partitioned into base pipeline stages and enhanced pipeline stages according to functions, each pipeline stage being partitioned into a base module and at least one enhanced module, the base module being activated all the while, and the enhanced module being activated or shutdown according to requirements for performance of a workload.
US09348401B2	Mapping a performance request to an operating frequency in a processor In an embodiment, a processor includes multiple cores each to independently execute instructions and a power control unit (PCU) coupled to the plurality of cores to control power consumption of the processor. The PCU may include a mapping logic to receive a performance scale value from an operating system (OS) and to calculate a dynamic performance-frequency mapping based at least in part on the performance scale value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09348399B2	Heuristics based on backoff for power modes According to one general aspect, a method may include monitoring, by a computing device, a user's current behavior in regards to the computing device. The method may also include determining whether to place the computing device in a reduced power mode based upon the user's monitored current behavior and based on a history of user habits in regards to one or more computing devices. In various implementations, the method may further include, if it is determined to place the computing device in the reduced power mode, placing the computing device in the reduced power mode.
US09348398B2	Method and apparatus for distinguishing momentary loss of battery contact from an undervoltage condition A method and apparatus for distinguishing momentary loss of battery contact from a battery undervoltage condition in a portable device sense the current into the portable device from the battery, and when the current drops to a level indicating that contact with the battery has been lost, the portable device is allowed to operate at a lower voltage than a nominal undervoltage limit of the battery until contact is resumed.
US09348394B2	Managing computational workloads of computing apparatuses powered by renewable resources A method described herein includes an act of receiving data that is indicative of predicted weather conditions for a particular geographic region, wherein the particular geographic region has an energy generation system therein, and wherein the energy generation system utilizes at least one renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. The method also includes the act of scheduling a computational workload for at least one computer in a data center based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the predicted weather conditions for the particular geographic region.
US09348390B2	Dynamically adjusting power disturbance hold up times Power line disturbance hold up times are dynamically adjusted prior to the commencement of the power disturbance failover based on battery capacity of batteries in racks of the storage system as the batteries either fail, are repaired, or are added to the storage system having at least one uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
US09348388B2	Power management systems for accepting adapter and solar power in electronic devices The disclosed embodiments provide a power management system that supplies power to components in an electronic device. The power management system includes a system microcontroller (SMC) and a charger. During operation, the power management system accepts power from at least one of a power adapter and a solar panel. Next, the power management system supplies the power to components in the electronic device without using a converter circuit between the solar panel and the power management system.
US09348382B2	Method and apparatus for providing power to an electronic device In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation a USB power converter for an electronic device includes a USB bus including VBUS power line, a D− data line and a D+ data line, a variable voltage converter, a processor clock, a USB transceiver coupled to the D− data line and the D+ data line, and a processor coupled to processor clock and to the USB transceiver. Preferably, the variable voltage converter has an alternating current (AC) input, a direct current (DC) output coupled to the VBUS power line, and a voltage control input responsive to a voltage control signal to provide a plurality of voltage levels at the DC output. The process is, in this example embodiment, operative to develop the control signal based upon communication from an electronic device connected to the USB bus. In a non-limiting embodiment, the USB power converter further includes a host ID controller having a host ID control input coupled to the processor, the host ID controller selectively coupled to the D− data line and the D+ data line in response to a host ID control signal developed by the processor.
US09348381B2	Methods and apparatuses for charging of electric vehicles A method for managing the charging of an electric vehicle. The method includes receiving a request for a charge transfer for an electric vehicle over a network link between an electric vehicle charging station and a cloud server. The network link has a mobile device disposed between the electrical vehicle charging station and the cloud server for facilitating communication between the charging station and the cloud server.
US09348379B2	Fan A blower fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a centrifugal fan. At least a portion of each of a plurality of blades of an impeller portion is arranged above a stator. A lower plate portion is arranged to define an air channel portion and an air outlet arranged on a lateral side of the impeller portion when a side wall portion arranged to surround an outer circumference of the impeller portion and an upper plate portion arranged above the impeller portion are present. The air channel portion is arranged to extend in a circumferential direction between an outer circumference of the stator and the side wall portion. At least a portion of a circuit board is arranged in the air channel portion and on the lower plate portion. A plurality of lead wires extending from the stator are connected to the circuit board in the air channel portion.
US09348378B2	Computer provided with cooling system The computer having a module board with semiconductor elements mounted on both sides thereof, a motherboard on which a plurality of units of the module board are mounted, and a rack cabinet on which a plurality of units of the motherboard are mounted includes a thermo-siphon that is thermally connected to the semiconductor elements mounted on one side of the module board, a metal plate that is thermally connected to the semiconductor elements mounted on one side of the module board, a thermally-conductive member that transfers the heat of the metal plate to the thermo-siphon in a situation where the heat of the semiconductor elements mounted on one side of the module board is transferred to the metal plate, and a pressing member that presses the thermo-siphon and the metal plate against the semiconductor elements mounted on the module board.
US09348376B2	Tablet information handling system display stand with flexible power connection A tablet information handling system has power contacts disposed on an outer surface of a planar housing to accept power from a power connector without affixing the power connector to the power contacts at the planar housing. For example, the power connector is disposed at a support surface of a stand in a position that aligns with power contacts of the planar housing when the planar housing rests on the support surface. The power connector provides power without a port or similar structure so that the planar housing may be place on and taken off the support surface at a variety of orientations rotated about the axis at which the power connector and power contacts meet.
US09348375B1	Tool-less mounting device for hard disk drive A tool-less mounting device for hard disk drive (HDD) is provided. The mounting device has a tray, at least one flexible member, a backplane, and at least one HDD. The tray has a base and two sidewalls. The flexible member has a fixed portion and an arm. The backplane is disposed on the base between the sidewalls, and has a first connector and a second connector. The HDD is coupled to the first connector of the backplane.
US09348373B2	Electronic apparatus and cooling method thereof An electronic apparatus includes a first unit having a first power switch for turning on/off a data processing part, a hard disk drive device, a power supply part and the electronic apparatus, a second unit that is separated from the first unit, is supplied with the power from the power supply part in the first unit, and has a drive device of a detachable recording media and a second power switch having the same function as that of the first power switch, and a cable for communicating data between the first unit and the second unit and supplying power from the power supply part of the first unit to the second unit.
US09348372B2	Friction hinge with embedded counterbalance An electronic device such as a portable computer including a base and a lid is provided. The electronic device also includes a hinge assembly that facilitates pivoting movement between the lid and the base. The hinge assembly includes a body and a shaft configured to respective engage one of the base and the lid. The hinge assembly also includes a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism may include a friction member that induces friction during movement of the lid to help retain the lid in a user-selected angular position with respect to the base. Further, the clutch mechanism may include a spring that extends through a cavity defined through the shaft. The spring may be affixed to the shaft at one end and affixed to the body at a second end. Thereby, movement of the lid may be assisted or opposed by torsion in the spring, so as to improve a user experience.
US09348365B2	Modular computer units The present invention describes a modular computerized system that includes the ability to magnetically attach to another similar or identical unit, integrates both male and female ports into each unit so that when two or more units are attached side by side the ports become functional and do not require external cables. Other elements of the invention include; the integration of one or more data splitters into the computerized unit and the integration of one or more power splitters into the computerized unit. The present invention also provides the ability to charge more than one computerized unit with only one cable attachment and the ability to share data quickly and easily between more than one computerized unit without the use of cables unless desired.
US09348364B2	Content scrolling and transitioning using touchpad input In one embodiment, a user of a mobile device controls a scrollable application user interface by using touch inputs to the mobile device's side-mounted touchpad.
US09348361B2	Portable interactive electronic apparatus A portable interactive electronic apparatus includes a shell and a touch control panel having a cover plate. The cover plate includes a first surface area and a second surface area, and the touch control panel is positioned on the shell. The first surface area is utilized for sensing a touch of a user's finger, and the second surface area is utilized for leading liquid components out from the cover plate.
US09348358B2	Clock multiplication and distribution A clock multiplication and distribution system includes a first phase-lock-loop circuit, a second phase-lock-loop circuit, and a clock distribution network that electrically couples the first phase-lock-loop circuit and the second phase-lock-loop circuit. The first phase-lock-loop circuit may include a first feedback loop that includes a first integer divider circuit and may be configured to generate a first clock using a reference clock. A frequency of the first clock may be greater than a frequency of the reference clock. The second phase-lock-loop circuit may include a second feedback loop that includes a second integer divider circuit and may be configured to generate a second clock using the first clock. A frequency of the second clock may be greater than the frequency of the first clock.
US09348355B2	Display link clocking method and apparatus An apparatus includes a clock circuit and a plurality of display interface circuits. The clock circuit provides a common clock signal. The display interface circuits each provide a respective display link clock signal in response to the common clock signal. One of the display link clock signals is at a different clock speed that another of the display link clock signals.
US09348354B2	Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.
US09348350B2	Voltage regulator Provided is a voltage regulator including an overcurrent protection circuit in which an output voltage-output current characteristic exhibits an optimal fold-back characteristic even when an overcurrent state is detected. The overcurrent protection circuit includes a control circuit for generating a current in accordance with an output voltage, and controls a gate of an output transistor with use of a current obtained by subtracting the current from a sense current flowing in accordance with an output current.
US09348349B2	Control for voltage regulators A mixed signal approach is applied to detect an output voltage condition as applied to a load. A current mode monitoring approach can be adopted and applied in discrete time using a mixed analog and digital approach. For application to various low drop-out voltage regulator situations, a sensing transistor can be connected in parallel with a feedback loop transistor of the low drop-out voltage regulator circuit to create a sensing current that is proportional to the current passing through the feedback loop transistor and thus the output current provided to the load. This sensing approach can be adapted to sense both overload and light load conditions to allow dynamic power control of the device.
US09348348B2	Active clamps for multi-stage amplifiers in over/under-voltage condition Multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators or linear voltage regulators (e.g. low-dropout regulators) configured to provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients are presented. A multi-stage amplifier, having a differential amplification stage configured to provide a stage output voltage at an output node, based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage is presented. Furthermore, the multi-stage amplifier comprises a second amplification stage comprising an amplifier current source configured to provide an amplifier current; and an amplifier transistor arranged in series with the amplifier current source; wherein a gate of the amplifier transistor is coupled to the output node of the differential amplification stage. In addition, the multi-stage amplifier comprises a detection circuit.
US09348345B2	Fixed frequency DC to DC converter control circuit with improved load transient response Analog pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuits and techniques are presented for improving output voltage load transient response in controlling DC to DC conversion systems in which a transient detector circuit restarts a PWM carrier ramp waveform to initiate asynchronous injection of a pulse between the regular periodic PWM pulses in a fixed frequency pulse stream to mitigate the effect of output inductor energy depletion on output voltage.
US09348343B2	Bulk material blending control A technique is disclosed for controlling a material blending process for blending a plurality of raw material feeds using model predictive control in order to produce a blended product conforming to one or more quality standards. The quality standards may be based upon control variables derived from relationships and/or ratios of certain materials in the composition of the raw material feeds (e.g., moduli). The determined control variables are compared to desired set points and, if a deviation from the desired set points is detected, the proportions of the raw material feeds are adjusted to align the control variables with the desired set points. The technique may further take material cost factors into account, wherein the prediction model determines a proper proportioning of the raw material feeds such that the blended product conforms to the desired specifications and is produced for the lowest cost.
US09348342B1	Water supply assembly for an autoclave A water supply assembly is provided that includes a support cap, an inlet port and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve, an outlet port and a float. The support cap has a shape that is configured to cover a reservoir opening into a reservoir of an autoclave, which reservoir opening has a maximum inner diameter that is between 1.5 and 3.0 inches. The float has a shape that is operative to pass through the reservoir opening and into the reservoir when the support cap is placed on the autoclave and is supported by the autoclave in a position to cover the reservoir opening of the autoclave. When the support cap is placed over the reservoir opening, with the float positioned in the reservoir, the inlet port extends outside the reservoir. The float is operative to move from a first position to a second position responsive to a decrease in a water level in the reservoir which causes the valve to open and enable water provided to the inlet port to pass out of the outlet port and into the reservoir.
US09348341B2	Method for setting the fill level when filling a cavity system and a vehicle seat system A method for setting the fill level when filling a cavity system, in particular a cavity system in vehicle seat that exhibits one or more pressure chambers or bubbles for lumbar adjustments. With the method, a fill level set by the user is measured and a value representative thereof is stored. The value representative for the fill level is determined from a curve line that is characteristic for the respective cavity system.
US09348340B2	Liquid processing apparatus A liquid processing apparatus includes a first line to which a processing liquid pressurized by a pump is sent from a processing liquid supply source; a plurality of second lines into which the pressurized processing liquid flowing through the first line flows; a branch line connected to a branch point on each of the second lines; a liquid processing unit configured to process a substrate with the processing liquid; an orifice provided at an upstream side of the branch point; and a first control valve provided at a downstream side of the branch point. The first control valve changes an amount of the processing liquid flowing to a downstream side of the first control valve to control a pressure of the processing liquid in a section between the orifice of the second line and the first control valve, and to control a flow rate of the processing liquid.
US09348339B2	Method and apparatus for multiple-channel pulse gas delivery system A pulse gas delivery system for delivering a sequence of pulses of prescribed amounts of gases to a process tool, comprises: (a) a plurality of channels, each including (i) a gas delivery chamber; (ii) an inlet valve connected so as to control gas flowing into the corresponding gas delivery chamber; and (iii) an outlet valve connected so as to control the amount of gas flowing out of the corresponding gas delivery chamber; and (b) a dedicated multiple channel controller configured so as to control the inlet and outlet valves of each of the channels so that pulses of gases in prescribed amounts can be provided to the process tool in a predetermined sequence in accordance with a pulse gas delivery process.
US09348338B2	Modular and expandable irrigation controller Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers are modular in that various functional components of the irrigation controller are implemented in removable modules that when inserted into position within the controller, expand the capabilities of the controller. Also described are various different types of expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of these modules in the controller. In some embodiments, a serial communication bus is provided between a control unit of a modular irrigation controller and an expansion module.
US09348335B2	Landing gear force and moment distributor A landing gear force and moment distributor system for an aircraft having a longitudinal axis aligned in a forward-aft direction, a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a landing gear including a pair of bogies arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis, each bogie having an actuator arranged to brake and/or drive one or more wheels. The force distribution system includes a distribution module arranged to: receive an input demand including a longitudinal force input demand corresponding to a desired braking or driving force along the longitudinal axis for the landing gear and a moment input demand corresponding to a desired moment about the vertical axis for the landing gear; and to use the received input demand to calculate an output command including, for each bogie, a longitudinal force output command corresponding to a braking or driving force along the longitudinal axis to be applied to the bogie.
US09348332B2	Abnormality diagnosis device and abnormality diagnosis system for servo control device An abnormality diagnosis device includes a factor-data storage unit that stores therein factor data including a candidate of an alarm-generating factor corresponding to an alarm number; a stored-data storage unit that stores therein, as stored data, statistical data acquired from a statistical data server including the alarm number corresponding to a system configuration number of a servo control device classified based on a system configuration of the servo control device, and a candidate of the alarm-generating factor corresponding to the alarm number, and a generation probability of the candidate; a display unit; and an abnormality-diagnosis processing unit that acquires the alarm number from the servo control device when an alarm is generated, and based on the alarm number, the factor data, and the stored data, adds the generation probability to each candidate and displays, on the display unit, the candidate with the generation probability added.
US09348331B2	Robot apparatus and speed reducer state diagnosing method A robot apparatus includes a multi-joint robot including, in at least one portion, a joint including a motor, a speed reducer connected to the motor, an input angle detecting unit configured to detect a rotational angle of a rotating shaft of the motor, and an output angle detecting unit configured to detect an output rotational angle of the speed reducer, and a controller configured to diagnose a state of the speed reducer from an angle difference between the input rotational angle detected by the input angle detecting unit and the output rotational angle detected by the output angle detecting unit.
US09348330B2	Method of adjusting the position of origin of a machine and a machine having a function for adjusting the position of origin A machine having a function for adjusting the position of mechanical origin of a moving part (10) that is driven by a servo motor equipped with a position detector, comprising a reference counter (16) for counting the value detected by the position detector, a storage unit (17) for storing the capacity of the reference counter of when the moving part is moved in a predetermined direction and is positioned at the position of mechanical origin, a reference counter reading unit (18) for reading the value of the reference counter of when the moving part is positioned, a counter capacity reading unit (19) for reading the counter capacity of the reference counter, and an adjustment amount calculation unit (20) for calculating the amount of adjusting the position of mechanical origin based on the value of the reference counter and on the capacity of the reference counter.
US09348325B2	Systems and methods for detecting a control loop interaction A system for detecting a control loop interaction between two or more control loops. The system includes a processing circuit configured to store a history of detected loop disturbances for a plurality of control loops. The processing circuit is also configured to compute a measure of interaction between control loops using the history of detected loop disturbances. The processing circuit is further configured to determine whether a loop interaction exists based on the computed measure of interaction.
US09348323B2	Device cooperation control system and method based on motion of a mobile device A mobile device and a display apparatus are caused to cooperate. A user is instructed to do a predetermined action and the user holds and moves the mobile device. A motion of the mobile device is detected by the mobile device and the motion of the user is detected by the display apparatus. A pair of the mobile device and the display apparatus that detect the same action at the same time is caused to cooperate.
US09348318B2	Effective life indicator and stopper including the same Provided is an effective life indicator and a stopper including the same, and more particularly, to an effective life indicator and a stopper including the same that are capable of allowing a consumer to easily check a drinkable or usable period after opening a beverage or medicine accommodated in a container by maintaining a state in which a development material receiving section is ruptured by a pressure applied to the container when the stopper is coupled to the container and starting an operation as a development material is leaked to the outside to come in contact with a development medium member when the stopper is initially separated from the container.
US09348315B2	Watch case rotating bezel Rotary bezel device (11L) for a timepiece (110), the device comprising a first rotary ring (B1), a second rotary ring (B2) and a first mechanical-connection element (C1) allowing the first rotary ring and the second rotary ring to be kinematically connected.
US09348305B2	Image forming apparatus with a cartridge that includes and image bearing member An image forming apparatus that can prevent a protection cover from being detached from an apparatus main body when the attaching of a process cartridge is completed, with a simple structure includes a biasing portion that can bias the process cartridge. The biasing portion applies biasing force in such a manner that a distal end portion of the protection cover is sandwiched between the apparatus main body and the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body. This structure can prevent the protection cover from being detached from the apparatus main body at a time when the attaching of the process cartridge is completed.
US09348300B2	Unit retraction device and image forming apparatus including same A unit retraction device has a hook member which engages with an engaged portion provided on a unit, and a retraction force generating mechanism which exerts a retraction force on the unit. The retraction force generating mechanism includes a first rotary member which is rotatably disposed on a first rotation pivot and to a rotating end part of which the hook member is coupled, a biasing member of which one end is hooked to the first rotary member and which biases the first rotary member in such a direction that the hook member retracts the unit into the apparatus body, and a second rotary member to which another end of the biasing member is hooked and which is rotatably disposed on a second rotation pivot. The second rotary member rotates in the same direction as the first rotary member as the latter is rotated by the biasing member.
US09348295B2	Printing apparatus, method for controlling printing apparatus, and storage medium A printing apparatus includes a printer unit a shift unit that shifts the printing apparatus from a first power state to a second power state when a power supply switch is turned off, and an obtaining unit that obtains predetermined time from the printer unit, wherein, when the power supply switch is turned on, switch-off time from turning-off of the power supply switch is compared to turning-on of the power supply switch with the predetermined time to shift the printing apparatus from the second power state to the first power state with executing initialization processing of the printer unit when the switch-off time is longer than the predetermined time, and the printing apparatus shifts from the second power state to the first power state without executing the initialization processing of the printer unit when the switch-off time is shorter than or equal to the predetermined time.
US09348292B2	Fixing apparatus having fixing device with first and second fixing members, feeding device with first and second feeding rollers, and first and second electrical discharging members A fixing device includes a fixing device for nipping and feeding a sheet to fix a toner image on a sheet, said fixing device including a first fixing member contactable with a front surface of the sheet, and a second fixing member provided with an electroconductive surface layer contactable with a back surface of the sheet; a feeder provided downstream of said fixing device with respect to a sheet feeding direction to nip and feed the sheet, a feeder including a first feeding roller contactable with the front surface, and a second feeding roller provided with an electroconductive surface layer contactable with the back surface; a first discharging member contacted with said electroconductive surface layer of said second fixing member to discharge said second fixing member; and a second discharging member contacted with said electroconductive surface layer of said second feeding roller to discharge said second feeding roller.
US09348289B2	Image forming apparatus to control recording material feeding based on when an image is formed on an image bearing member An image forming apparatus, which forms an image at an image forming interval and feeding timing corresponding to a predetermined recording material size, includes a control unit (a controller unit and an engine control unit) for controlling the feeding timing to be earlier, when the size of a recording material detected by a detection unit (the engine control unit and an registration sensor) is smaller than the predetermined recording material size.
US09348283B2	Fixing device having rotatable pressing member with needle-like filler A fixing device includes a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member which are configured to fix a toner image on a recording material in a nip therebetween; and a heating mechanism configured to selectively heat regions of the rotatable heating member depending on sizes of the recording material when the sizes are predetermined ones of all sizes usable in the fixing device. The rotatable pressing member includes a base layer and a porous elastic layer provided on the base layer and containing a needle-like filler. The elastic layer having a thermal conductivity, with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof, which is 6 times to 900 times a thermal conductivity with respect to a thickness direction thereof.
US09348281B2	Electrophotographic fixing member having cured silicone rubber layer with unsaturated aliphatic group and anatase type titanium oxide crystal, fixing apparatus and electrophotographic image forming apparatus An electrophotographic fixing member includes a substrate, a cured silicone rubber layer and a fluorine resin layer bonded onto the cured silicone rubber layer, wherein a micro hardness of a cured silicone rubber constituting the cured silicone rubber layer is designated as Hμ0, and a micro hardness of a rubber obtained by soaking the cured silicone rubber in a methyl hydrogen silicone oil for 24 hours and then further curing the cured silicone rubber, is designated as Hμ1, Hμ1/Hμ0 is 1.5 or more and 5.0 or less, and the cured silicone rubber layer comprises a titanium oxide crystal having an anatase type structure.
US09348280B2	Heating composite, and heating apparatus and fusing apparatus including the same A heating composite, including a polymer matrix; and a carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes continuously connected to each other and integrated with the polymer matrix.
US09348274B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device; a fixing device; a first feeding path configured to discharge the recording material so that a fixed toner image is directed upwardly; a second feeding path, branching from the first feeding path, configured to discharge the recording material so that the fixed toner image is directed downwardly; a first rotatable member pair, provided in the first feeding path, configured to discharge the recording material; a second rotatable member pair, provided in the second feeding path, configured to discharge the recording material; a first air-blowing mechanism configured to blow air so as to cross the second feeding path when the recording material is discharged using the first feeding path; and a second air-blowing mechanism configured to blow air so as to cross the first feeding path when the recording material is discharged using the second feeding path.
US09348272B2	Fixing device including a reinforced heat shield and image forming apparatus A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating the fixing rotary body. An opposed body contacts the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed. A heat shield is movable in a circumferential direction of the fixing rotary body and interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater. A driver is connected to the heat shield to drive and move the heat shield between a shield position where the heat shield is interposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body to shield the fixing rotary body from the heater and a retracted position where the heat shield is retracted from the shield position. A reinforcement is mounted on a long edge of the heat shield.
US09348265B2	Image forming apparatus using at least one screen to form a toner image An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms a toner image using a screen; a first transfer member that transfers the toner image formed by the image forming portion to a rotating transfer belt; a second transfer member that transfers the toner image transferred to the transfer belt by the first transfer member to a recording medium; and a controller that differentiates between, in a transfer area of the transfer belt to which the toner image is transferred by the first transfer member a screen that is used to form a toner image to be transferred to the transfer area in a preceding print cycle and a screen that is used to form a toner image to be transferred to this transfer area for the first time after the transfer belt has been rotated and the toner image has been second-transferred to a recording medium.
US09348262B1	Developing device having developer supply port and developer discharge port, and image forming apparatus therewith A developing device has a developer container, first and second stirring members, a developer carrier, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge port. The developer container has transport chambers including the first and second transport chambers, and communication portions through which the first and second transport chambers mutually communicate. The first stirring member has a rotary shaft and a first helical blade. The second stirring member has a rotary shaft and a second helical blade. The second stirring member has a regulating portion for regulating movement of developer toward the developer discharge port. The regulating portion has two or more turns of regulating blades spiraling in the opposite phase to the second helical blade. The gap between the regulating blades and the inner wall surface of the developer container is gradually small from upstream to downstream with respect to the developer transport direction in the second transport chamber.
US09348261B2	Developer supply container A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, the developer supply container includes an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion from the developer supply container; a developer feeding portion for feeding the developer in the accommodating portion toward the discharge opening; a rotatable drive receiving portion for receiving a rotational force; a drive transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the drive receiving portion to the feeding portion; a portion-to-be-detected for detecting rotation of the drive receiving portion; a contact surface for contacting a rotatable member provided in the developer receiving apparatus; wherein the drive receiving portion, the portion-to-be-detected and the contact are formed integrally.
US09348257B2	Developing device provided with developing roller and thickness regulation blade In a developing device, a developing roller has an outer peripheral surface movable in a moving direction upon rotation of the developing roller to transfer developing agent to a developing region having a width in an axial direction of the developing roller. A thickness regulation blade includes a rubber portion. The rubber portion provides a contact region in contact with the outer peripheral surface to provide a nip region relative to the developing roller. The contact region includes a first region; and a second region. The first region and the second region each extends in the axial direction by a length at least equal to or greater than the width of the developing region. The first region has a first surface roughness. The second region is positioned downstream of the first region in the moving direction and has a second surface roughness finer than the first surface roughness.
US09348253B2	Image-forming method The present invention is an image-forming method in which, when θ(A) is the contact angle relative to water of a surface of a photosensitive member and θ(B) is the contact angle relative to water of a surface of an intermediate transfer member, θ(B) is from 100° to 150°; θ(A) and θ(B) satisfy −70°≦θ(A)−θ(B)<0°; the toner has a toner particle that contains a binder resin; and the contact angle relative to water of a surface of a pellet molding of the toner is from 60° to 80°.
US09348250B2	Charging roller, process cartridge, and manufacturing method of charging roller A charging roller includes a conductive base material, a conductive adhesive layer that has a gel fraction equal to or greater than 50% on an outer circumferential surface of the base material, and a conductive elastic layer on the adhesive layer.
US09348247B2	Toner and method of producing toner An object of the present invention is to provide a toner that produces an excellent bending resistance in the output image and that also exhibits an excellent low-temperature fixability and an excellent storage stability. This toner includes a binder resin and a thermoplastic elastomer having a crystalline part, wherein the binder resin and the thermoplastic elastomer in the toner are compatible with each other and the toner has a crystalline part originating from the thermoplastic elastomer.
US09348246B2	Developing apparatus, developing method, image forming apparatus and image forming method The present invention provides a developing apparatus including a toner, a toner carrying member and a regulating member, wherein the toner is a magnetic toner including a toner particle, a first fine silica particle having a number average primary particle diameter of 5 to 20 nm and a second fine silica particle having a number average primary particle diameter of 40 to 200 nm, the second fine silica particle is a fine silica particle produced by a sol-gel method, the toner has a total energy of 270 to 355 mJ/(g/ml), the toner carrying member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer including a urethane resin, and the urethane resin has a partial structure derived from a reaction of a particular amine type compound with a polyisocyanate.
US09348242B2	Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a charge-generating layer that includes: an amine compound represented by the formula (1) and a gallium phthalocyanine crystal, or a gallium phthalocyanine crystal containing the amine compound represented by the formula (1); and an arene compound, in which the arene compound includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the formula (2) and a compound represented by the formula (3).
US09348241B2	Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method An exposure apparatus comprises an original stage which holds an original, a substrate stage which holds a substrate, and a control unit which controls a measurement process of measuring a relative position between the original and substrate stages, wherein original-side measurement marks including an original-side rough-measurement mark and an original-side fine-measurement mark are formed on the original stage, substrate-side measurement marks including a substrate-side rough-measurement mark and a substrate-side fine-measurement mark are formed on the substrate stage, and the control unit controls the measurement process to perform rough measurement of the relative position between the original and substrate stages using the original-side and the substrate-side rough-measurement marks, correct the relative position between the original and substrate stages based on the result of the rough measurement, and then perform fine measurement of the relative position between the original and substrate stages using the original-side and substrate-side fine-measurement marks.
US09348240B2	Mask pattern alignment method and system An alignment method includes dividing a wafer into a plurality of regions including a first region and a second region, and each region contains a plurality chip areas. The method also includes obtaining alignment offset values for the first region, and determining a first alignment compensation equation for the first region. The method also includes obtaining alignment offset values for the second region, and determining a second alignment compensation equation for the second region. Further, the method includes determining whether a chip area to be exposed is in the first region or the second region, when the chip area is in the first region, using the first alignment compensation equation to adjust alignment of the wafer and, when the chip area is in the second region, using the second alignment compensation equation to adjust the alignment of the wafer.
US09348237B2	Mask carrier, mask handling module and method for adjusting a mask Mask carriers and mask alignment in vacuum deposition processes, mask handling modules, and methods for aligning a mask. A mask handling module can include a substrate carrier for carrying at least one substrate; a mask carrier for carrying at least two masks. The mask carrier can include at least two mask carrier sections each being adapted to carry a mask and a mask carrier positioning device for moving the mask carrier relative to the substrate carrier. The mask carrier sections are arranged so that the masks carried on the mask carrier sections can be positioned on the mask carrier in respective planes forming an angle with respect to each other so that only one of the at least two masks can be aligned to one of the at least one substrates.
US09348235B2	Exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing device An exposure apparatus projects an image of a pattern formed on a mask onto a substrate through a projection optical system. The exposure apparatus includes: a prediction unit configured to predict an imaging characteristic fluctuation of the projection optical system which is caused by thermal action due to exposure, by using a model formula modeling the imaging characteristic fluctuation; and a correction unit configured to correct the imaging characteristic based on a prediction result obtained by the prediction unit. The model formula includes a composition of a plurality of functions modeling the imaging characteristic fluctuation and indicating a time dependency, each of the plurality of functions having an exposure-angle-of-view dependency and the exposure-angle-of-view dependencies of the plurality of functions being different from each other.
US09348230B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming an etching mask layer on a semiconductor substrate having an etching target layer, patterning the etching mask layer to form a plurality of etching mask patterns, and forming a subsidiary layer surrounding the etching mask patterns having a uniform critical dimension and gap to form hard mask patterns including the subsidiary layer and the etching mask patterns.
US09348227B2	Chemically amplified resist composition and pattern forming process A resist composition is provided comprising (A) a carboxylic acid sulfonium salt whose anion moiety has a bulky structure of arenecarboxylate in which secondary or tertiary carbon atoms bond at both ortho-positions relative to the carbon atom in bond with carboxylate, as an acid diffusion regulator and (B) a polymer which is decomposed under the action of acid to increase its solubility in alkaline developer. When processed by EB or EUV lithography, the resist composition exhibits a very high resolution and forms a pattern with minimal LER.
US09348225B2	Lithographic printing plate precursors and processes for preparing lithographic printing plates Disclosed is a lithographic printing plate allowing for high running performance of the developer, wide water window and high printing durability. The lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a photosensitive layer on a support, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises (A) a polymerizable compound, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polyvinyl acetal binder containing at least one kind of repeat units represented by general formula (I-c), general formula (I-b) and general formula (I-a), and (D) an acrylic resin binder.
US09348224B2	Photosensitive resin composition There is provided a photosensitive resin composition. A photosensitive resin composition including a component (A), a component (B); and a solvent, wherein the component (A) is a copolymer having a structural unit of Formula (1) and a structural unit of Formula (2): (where R0 is a hydroxy group or a carboxy group; R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 is a single bond or a C1-5 alkylene group; R3 is a thermally cross-linkable monovalent organic group; and in a plurality of structural units of Formula (2), R1 are optionally different from each other), and the component (B) is a photosensitizer.
US09348221B2	Salt and photoresist composition comprising the same A salt represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 independently each represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group where a methylene group can be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group; Ar represents a C6-C36 aromatic hydrocarbon group which can have a substituent or a C6-C36 heteroaromatic hydrocarbon group which can have a substituent; A− represents an organic anion; and “m” and “n” independently each represent an integer of 1 or 2.
US09348219B2	Patterned mask using cured spin-on-glass composition Provided herein are methods for depositing a spin-on-glass composition over an imprinted resist; curing the spin-on-glass composition to form a cured spin-on-glass composition; and forming a patterned mask by etching the cured spin-on-glass composition, the resist, and an underlying mask composition, wherein the patterned mask comprises features of the cured spin-on-glass composition atop the mask composition, and wherein curing the spin-on-glass composition is configured to prevent shifting or toppling of the spin-on glass composition from atop the mask composition while forming the patterned mask.
US09348217B2	Mask blank substrate, substrate with multilayer reflection film, transmissive mask blank, reflective mask blank, transmissive mask, reflective mask, and semiconductor device fabrication method Disclosed is a mask blank substrate for use in lithography, wherein a main surface of the substrate satisfies a relational equation of (BA70−BA30)/(BD70−BD30)≧350 (%/nm), and has a maximum height (Rmax)≦1.2 nm in a relation between a bearing area (%) and a bearing depth (nm) obtained by measuring, with an atomic force microscope, an area of 1 μm×1 μm in the main surface on the side of the substrate where a transfer pattern is formed, wherein BA30 is defined as a bearing area of 30%, BA70 is defined as a bearing area of 70%, and BD70 and BD30 are defined to respectively represent bearing depths for the bearing area of 30% and the bearing area of 70%.
US09348216B2	Test pad structure for reuse of interconnect level masks A test pad structure in a back-end-of-line metal interconnect structure is formed by repeated use of the same mask set, which includes a first line level mask, a first via level mask, a second line level mask, and a second via level mask. The test pad structure includes a two-dimensional array of test pads such that a first row is connected to a device macro structure in the same level, and test pads in another row are electrically connected to another device macro structure of the same design at an underlying level. The lateral shifting of electrical connection among pads located at different levels is enabled by lateral extension portions that protrude from pads and via structures that contact the lateral extension portions. This test pad structure includes more levels of testable metal interconnect structure than the number of used lithographic masks.
US09348214B2	Spectral purity filter and light monitor for an EUV reticle inspection system An extreme ultraviolet (EUM) mask inspection system, comprising a light source to project EUV light along an optical axis, an illumination system to receive the EUV light from the source, the illumination system comprising a spectral purity filter (SPF), the SPF transmits a first portion of the EUV light along the optical axis toward a mask and the SPF comprising a plurality of at least partially reflective elements, said elements reflects a second portion of the EUV light off the optical axis, a projection system adapted to receive the first portion of the EUV light after it has illuminated the mask, a first detector array adapted to receive the image, and a second detector array to receive the second portion of the EUV light. The SPF may comprise one or more multilayer interference-type filters. Alternatively, the SPF comprises a thin film filter disposed on a grazing incidence mirror array.
US09348210B2	Projection apparatus and transparent screen for it There is provided a projection apparatus using an oblique projection optical system, which generates little reflection loss by providing a linear Fresnel lens at an incident surface in the case where the apparatus is used as a linear system, wherein said linear Fresnel lens makes total reflection of image light, and is capable of obtaining total surface property with good brightness in a region with small incident angle onto a screen, by using a total reflection Fresnel lens and a refraction Fresnel lens in combination. In addition, total surface property with further good brightness can be obtained by using a plurality of projection image display apparatuses in the same projection apparatus.
US09348207B2	Illuminating optical system and projection display apparatus An illuminating optical system suppresses deterioration in utilization efficiency of illuminating light and generation of fluctuations in light emission without increasing apparatus size. The illuminating optical system includes a plurality of light sources of different types, a light combining optical system that combines light beams output from each of the light sources such that they converge at a single position, and a rod integrator that uniformizes the light intensity distributions of the light beams which are converged at the single position that enter a first end thereof and outputs the light beams, of which the light intensity distribution has been uniformized, from a second end thereof. The light combining optical system includes relay optical component sets corresponding to each of the light sources, and the relay optical component sets have relay magnification ratios different from each other.
US09348200B2	Light source unit and projector incorporating the same A light source unit emitting a light on an optical axis includes a first light emitter to emit a light in a certain wavelength band, a second light emitter to emit a light in a wavelength band different from that of the first light emitter, a third light emitter to emit a light in a wavelength band different from those of the first and second light emitters, a lighting path through which the lights from the first, second, and third light emitters are guided to propagate on the optical axis and into which the light from the third light emitter is joined at a hindmost position in a traveling direction on the optical axis, and an optical adjuster to exert an optical effect on the light from the third light emitter and not to exert an optical effect on the light rays from the first and second light emitters.
US09348196B1	System including a seamless lens cover and related methods A seamless lens cover, and methods of forming such a seamless lens cover. The cap structure that covers a camera of a rotating panoramic camera system includes a seamless lens cover through which images are obtained by the camera. The cap structure may be injection molded at an initial lens cover thickness, and then a portion of the as molded initial lens cover thickness may be removed (e.g., by machining away) to achieve the final desired thickness. By such a method, the lens cover may be injection molded at thicknesses suitable for injection molding (e.g., about 0.06 to about 0.1 inch), after which most of the thickness may be machined away, to provide a seamless lens cover having a thickness of less than about 0.015 inch, exhibiting at least 60% transmittance to the thermal spectrum, no lensing characteristics, and no curvature effect.
US09348191B2	Liquid crystal element and liquid crystal display apparatus A liquid crystal element achieving both optical control utilizing a memory property and optical control capable of supporting moving image displays is disclosed. The first substrate and the second substrate of the element are set in an orientation process direction that ensures generation of a first orientation state, and a chiral material that generates a second orientation state is included in the liquid crystal layer. The layer transitions from the second orientation state to the first orientation state when an electric field of a layer thickness direction is applied. The layer transitions from the first orientation state to the second orientation state when an electric field of a direction perpendicular to the layer thickness direction is applied. And the layer returns to the second orientation state when an orientation change is generated according to the strength of the electric field when an electric field of the perpendicular direction is applied.
US09348185B2	Pixel structure and manufacturing method thereof A pixel structure and a manufacturing method of the pixel structure are provided. The pixel structure includes a substrate, a transistor, a planarizing layer, a plurality of contact windows, and a pixel electrode layer. The transistor is disposed on the substrate and includes a gate, a source, and a drain. The planarizing layer is disposed on the gate, the source, and a portion of the drain. The contact windows penetrate the planarizing layer and expose another portion of the drain. The pixel electrode layer is disposed on the planarizing layer, on the another portion of the drain, and in the contact windows and is electrically connected to the drain.
US09348184B2	Liquid crystal display device, array substrate and method for manufacturing the same Embodiments of the present invention provide a liquid crystal display device, an array substrate and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display device comprises a color filter substrate and an array substrate which are assemblied together to form a cell, the array substrate comprising gate lines, data lines and a plurality of pixel units defined by intersecting of the gate lines and the date lines, each of which comprises a pixel electrode, wherein barrier structures are disposed on both sides of the data lines and the gate lines.
US09348183B2	Thin film transistor liquid crystal display panel and color filter substrate Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel comprising: a color filter substrate and a thin film transistor array substrate facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; and an electrostatic discharge circuit, wherein the color filter substrate comprises: a base substrate and a color filter film which has a first surface attached to the base substrate; a conductive layer attached to a second surface of the color filter film and electrically connected to the electrostatic discharge circuit to release charges on the conductive layer. The embodiments of the disclosed technology also provide a color filter substrate.
US09348177B2	Optical film, optical compensation film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display An optical film is provided and has retardations satisfying relations (1) to (3): 0≦Re(550)≦10; (1) −25≦Rth(550)≦25; and (2) \|I\|+\|II\|+\|III\|+\|IV\|>0.5 (nm), (3) with definitions: I=Re(450)−Re(550); II=Re(650)−Re(550); III=Rth(450)−Rth(550); and IV=Rth(650)−Rth(550), wherein Re(450), Re(550) and Re(650) are in-plane retardations measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively; and Rth(450), Rth(550) and Rth(650) are retardations in a thickness direction of the optical film, which are measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively.
US09348173B2	Light source module A light source module includes at least one light bar, a reflector, and at least one bar-shaped reflection unit. The light bar includes light-emitting elements arranged along an extension direction. The reflector has at least one accommodation space accommodating the light bar and reflective convex surfaces located on two opposite sides of the light bar. The bar-shaped reflection unit is located above the light bar, extends along the extension direction, and has a reflection surface facing the light bar. A cross-sectional line obtained by cutting the reflection surface along an optical axis of any of the light-emitting elements and along a direction perpendicular to the extension direction includes a convex arc line protruding toward the light-emitting elements and two concave arc lines connected to two opposite sides of the convex arc line.
US09348172B2	Transflective liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus According to an aspect, a transflective liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate on which reflective electrodes are arranged for pixels; a second substrate on which a transparent electrode is provided; a liquid crystal layer between the first and the second substrates; and a color filter that is provided closer to the transparent electrode than the reflective electrodes, and includes filters of a plurality of colors. The first substrate is provided with a first space between reflective electrodes of adjacent pixels and a second space between reflective electrodes of adjacent pixels, the first space extending in a first direction and overlapping a border between filters of different colors, the second space extending in a second direction and having transmittance higher than that of the first space. Transmissive display is performed by using the second space where a light shielding member is not positioned.
US09348168B2	Display device A display device includes a first substrate on which a thin film transistor is formed and which is divided into a display area and a non-display area outside thereof, a second substrate arranged to face an upper surface of the first substrate, a light-shielding film provided in an area between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a circuit provided on an upper surface of the second substrate and in an area facing the display area. The second substrate includes a terminal part of the circuit, which is provided on the upper surface of the second substrate and in an area facing the non-display area. The terminal part is connected with a circuit driving substrate, which drives the circuit, through an anisotropic conductive film covering the terminal part. The light-shielding film is provided to avoid at least part of an area facing the terminal part.
US09348167B2	Enhanced liquid crystal display system and methods Embodiments of methods and systems to generate an enhanced layered display system are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of generating an enhanced layered display system is provided including dispensing an optical bonding liquid onto a first substrate; forming an adhesive preform unit by curing the optical bonding liquid on the first substrate; and laminating the adhesive preform unit to a second substrate to form the enhanced layered display system, where one of the first substrate and the second substrate is a display.
US09348166B2	Liquid crystal display panel The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel comprises an array substrate and a color filter substrate. Liquid crystal is filled between the array substrate and the color filter substrate, the array substrate includes a pixel electrode, and the color filter substrate includes a common electrode corresponding to the pixel electrode. The common electrode stores charges when an external object carrying static electricity touches a display region of the liquid crystal display panel, and thus a potential difference is formed between the pixel electrode of the array substrate and respective touch points, contacting with the external object, in the display region of the liquid crystal display panel, so that the liquid crystal between the touch point and the pixel electrode is deflected according to the formed potential difference. With such liquid crystal display panel, a process for displaying dynamically depicted graphs is simplified.
US09348164B2	Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the thin film transistor; a roof layer facing the pixel electrode; a plurality of microcavities formed between the pixel electrode and the roof layer, each microcavity including liquid crystal materials; a trench formed between the microcavities; and a buffer region formed at an end portion of the trench.
US09348161B2	Array substrate, liquid crystal display panel and display device An array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and a display device are disclosed. The array substrate includes a base substrate, a plurality of pixel units disposed on the base substrate, a drive module providing each of the pixel units with a display signal; a photovoltaic battery component electrically connected to the drive module, which includes a plurality of photovoltaic sub-batteries, each of the photovoltaic sub-batteries including a first transparent electrode, a photovoltaic thin film and a second transparent electrode; the orthographic projection of the photovoltaic thin film on the base substrate lies within the light blocking region. Because the orthographic projection of the photovoltaic thin film on the base substrate lies within the light blocking region, aperture ratio of each pixel unit in the array substrate will not be affected.
US09348157B2	Optical module outputting polarization combined optical beam A transmitter optical module for emitting a polarization polarized combined beam is disclosed. The transmitter optical module includes optical sources each emitting optical beams with substantially the same polarizations, an optical isolator, and a polarization beam combiner. The optical isolator, by receiving the optical beams, outputs the optical beams with polarizations perpendicular to each other to the polarization beam combiner.
US09348156B2	Optical waveguide element and method for manufacturing optical waveguide element A method according to an aspect of the present invention, is a method for manufacturing an optical waveguide element, including: an optical waveguide forming step of forming an optical waveguide extending in a first direction in a substrate by doping the substrate with an impurity for reducing a coercive electric field of the substrate, a ridge forming step of forming a first ridge part including the optical waveguide and a second ridge part intersecting the first ridge part, and a poling step of reversing a polarization direction of a region of the substrate divided by the second ridge part by applying voltage to the region.
US09348155B2	Tunable photonic crystal color filters and color image display devices Tunable photonic crystal color filters, and color image display devices including the same, include a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a medium between the first electrode and the second electrode, nano particles distributed in the medium in a lattice structure and charged, and an ion spread preventing layer over a surface of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09348154B2	Optical resonator apparatus, optical transmitter and controlling method for optical resonator An optical resonator apparatus includes an optical resonator unit wherein ring optical resonators each including a first optical waveguide and a resonance wavelength adjustment electrode are coupled in cascade connection and round-trip lengths of the ring optical waveguides are different from each other and vary in order from an input side to an output side, and a controller that adjusts a resonance wavelength of each ring optical resonator in order beginning with the ring optical resonator provided at the most input side so as to match with an input light wavelength and, when an inter-channel occurs, adjusts the resonance wavelength of the first ring optical resonator from the input side so as to match with a second-matching input light wavelength and adjusts the resonance wavelengths of the second and succeeding ring optical resonators from the input side so as to match with the first-matching input light wavelength.
US09348153B2	Eyeglasses Eyeglasses, in particular for reading, include integrated lighting means and corresponding means for activation and de-activation of the lighting means, which include a tilt sensor provided for fading automatically an intensity of light emitted by the lighting means when the eyeglasses are moved angularly upwards with respect to a reference position.
US09348150B2	Correcting optical device and image pickup apparatus A correcting optical device according to an aspect of the present invention in which, when image shake is not corrected, a restricting member is caused to engage an engaging portion, to restrict translational movement of a movable member, and in which, when the image shake is corrected, the restricting member is caused to disengage the engaging portion, to cause the movable member to be in a state capable of the translational movement, the restricting member being provided at the rotary member, the engaging portion being provided at the movable member. A driving unit drives the movable member in a direction in which the movable member moves translationally with respect to a fixed member in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of a correcting lens, so that the correcting lens corrects the image shake, and drives the rotary member in a direction in which the rotary member rotates around the optical axis.
US09348149B2	Image display module A laser beam (L50) generated by a laser light source (50) is reflected by a light beam scanning device (60) and irradiated onto a hologram recording medium. (45). On the hologram, recording medium (45), an image (35) of a scatter plate is recorded as a hologram by using reference light that converges on a scanning origin (B). The light beam scanning device (60) bends the laser beam (L50) at the scanning origin (B) and irradiates the laser beam onto the hologram recording medium (45). At this time, scanning is carried out by changing a bending mode of the laser beam with time so that an irradiation position of the bent laser beam (L60) on the hologram recording medium (45) changes with time. Regardless of an irradiation position of the beam, diffracted light (L45) from the hologram recording medium (45) produces a reproduction image (35) of the scatter plate.
US09348144B2	Display device and control method thereof A head-mounted display device includes: a display section that outputs an image light to overlap with an outside light and causes an image to be viewed; and an input detecting section that detects an input operation in a case where a predetermined light is determined in a range corresponding to the image.
US09348142B2	Detachable head mount display device and method for controlling the same A micro-head mounted display device that may be detachably affixed to eye-glasses and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a detachable HMD device, detecting that the HMD device is affixed to eye-glasses, acquiring identification information of the eye-glasses, acquiring a look up table related to the identification information, receiving an input signal generated when the eye-glasses to which the HMD device is affixed are touched, from the sensor unit, acquiring a control input related to the input signal from the look up table, and performing a function corresponding to the control input.
US09348136B2	Micromirror apparatus and methods A DMD having an array of micromirror pixels wherein each pixel comprises a right electrode on a first side of the pixel, a left electrode on a second side of the pixel adjacent the first side and a cantilevered beam supporting a mirror. The cantilever beam tilts on two axes of translation: pitch and roll. The mirror has a first landed position (on a first and second spring tip) over the right electrode and a second landed position (on the first and a third spring tip) over the left electrode such that the first landed position and the second landed positions are 90° apart. In transitioning from the first landed position to the second landed position, the mirror maintains contact with the first spring tip while rolling from the second spring tip to the third spring tip.
US09348135B2	Micro movable device and optical switching apparatus A micro movable device includes: a micro movable substrate including a micro movable unit, the micro movable unit including a frame section, a movable section, and a coupling section which couples the frame section and the movable section to each other; a support base; a first spacer and a second spacer which are provided between the frame section of the micro movable substrate and the base, the first and second spacers joining the frame section and the base to each other; and a fixation member provided between the frame section of the micro movable substrate and the base, the fixation member including a spacer portion which joins the frame section and the base to each other and an adhesive portion which covers the spacer portion and joins the frame section and the base to each other, the fixation member being provided between the first and second spacers.
US09348134B2	Optical scanning unit, and apparatus including the optical scanning unit An optical scanning unit includes a light source, an optical deflector that includes a light transmission window disposed on a light path from the light source and a rotatable mirror that includes a reflecting surface to reflect light that goes through the light transmission window into the light transmission window and to deflect the light from the light source toward a surface, and a light shield disposed on a light path of reflected light of the light from the light source reflected by a surface of the light transmission window.
US09348131B2	Image acquisition apparatus High-definition images are acquired at low cost while achieving a reduction in apparatus size and a reduction in the incident light level. Provided is an image acquisition apparatus that includes a light-path setting member for making incident light enter two or more light paths; two or more different-characteristics imaging devices that acquire images of light entering the light paths set by the light-path setting member; and a moving part to which at least one of the two or more imaging devices is attached and that minutely moves the imaging device in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis.
US09348128B2	Microscope for high spatial resolution imaging a structure of interest in a sample A microscope for high spatial resolution imaging a structure of interest in a sample comprising a substance having a first state with first spectral properties and a second state with second spectral properties, the microscope comprising: an objective-lens assembly, a wave front modulating optical device adapted to spatially vary an intensity of a transfer light beam, a probe detector arranged to detect an optical measurement signal from a portion of the substance in the second state and placed in an area of the transfer light beam with an intensity adapted not to transfer the substance between the first and second states said microscope comprising a phase contrast microscopy system which includes an intensity detector arranged to detect an intensity of an illuminating light beam after said illuminating light beam has passed through the sample, the objective-lens assembly and the wave front modulating optical device.
US09348123B2	Image correction using individual manipulation of microlenses in a microlens array A system constructs a composite image using focus assessment information of image regions.
US09348121B2	Magnification optical system A magnification optical system forms an enlarged image of an object. It includes a refractive optical system including a plurality of lens groups; and a mirror train including a curved mirror, arranged in this order from an object side, a first focus structure configured to move the respective lens groups of the refractive optical system by different amounts along a normal line of a conjugate surface on the object side, and a second focus structure configured to move the respective lens groups along the normal line of the conjugate surface on the object side by different amounts from those of the first focus structure.
US09348119B2	Imaging systems An imaging system comprising one or more imaging devices wherein each device comprises a lens or lenses which together form an array of lens wherein the array includes two lenses; the two lenses face in opposing directions; the axes of the two lenses are substantially parallel; and the system is adapted to simultaneously capture and record images from the two lenses.
US09348118B2	Optical system and optical apparatus having the same An optical system includes, in order from an enlargement conjugate side to a reduction conjugate side via a largest air gap, a front unit having a negative power, and a rear unit having positive power. The optical system satisfies 1.75
US09348114B2	Optical image capturing system An optical image capturing system, in order from an object side to an image side, the optical image capturing system comprising a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with a refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second through fifth lens elements have a refractive power, and the object-side surface and the image-side surface of these lens elements are aspheric. The sixth lens element with a negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface, the object-side surface and the image-side surface are aspheric, and at least one of the object-side and the image-side surfaces has an inflection point. When satisfying specific conditions, the compact optical image capturing system receives lights effectively and reduces the height of the optical system, so as to acquire better imaging quality.
US09348112B2	Optical system The present invention relates to an optical system.An optical system of the present invention includes a first lens having a positive refractive power and an object-side surface convex toward an object side; a second lens having a negative refractive power and an image-side surface concave toward an image side; a third lens having a negative refractive power; a fourth lens having a positive refractive power; a fifth lens having a positive refractive power and an image-side surface convex toward the image side; and a six lens having a negative refractive power and an image-side surface concave toward the image side.
US09348111B2	Automatic detection of lens deviations An optical apparatus includes an image sensor, which outputs a signal responsively to an optical image formed on the image sensor. Objective optics focus optical radiation from an object so as to form the optical image on the image sensor, while superimposing a characteristic structure on the optical image. A processor processes the signal so as to generate an electronic image of the object while detecting, responsively to the characteristic structure, a deviation in an alignment of the objective optics relative to the image sensor.
US09348107B2	Tool for opening an extruded profiled body of a power cord assembly device A tool for opening an extruded profiled body of a power cord assembly device includes at least one pair of guides and at least one support, the pair of guides and the support being arranged in a frame, wherein a first guide of the pair of guides is arranged and shaped to releasably connect to the an interconnection area of the profiled body, and wherein a second guide of the pair of guides is arranged and shaped to releasably connect to a second interconnection area of the profiled body, said support being provided with a support member adapted to bear against a portion of the first wall opposite to a slit in the profiled body, the distance of the pair of guides relative to the support being such that the slit is widened in the area of the elongation of the profiled body where the tool is applied, thereby allowing a fiber optic cable to be introduced into the chamber.
US09348104B2	Universal cable management system for telecommunications rack A telecommunications cable management assembly (100) for a distribution frame (10) is disclosed. The cable management assembly (100) includes a front plate (110) extending between first and second ends (110a, 110c) and is provided with apertures (112) for mounting telecommunications components (20). A first side bracket (120) is mounted with the first end (110a) of the front plate (110) to the distribution frame (10). The first side bracket (120) supports cables (26) extending laterally from components (20). A second side bracket (130) is mounted with the second end (110c) of the front plate (110) to the distribution frame (10). The second side bracket (130) can also support cables (28) extending laterally from components (20).
US09348103B2	Low profile fiber distribution hub Certain embodiments of a fiber distribution hub include a swing frame pivotally mounted within an enclosure having a low profile. For example, the enclosure can have a depth of less than about nine inches. Termination modules can be mounted to the swing frame and oriented to slide at least partially in a front-to-rear direction to facilitate access to connectors plugged into the termination modules. Splitter modules and connector storage regions can be provided within the enclosure.
US09348102B2	Pin cadence for high-speed connectors A connector includes pins having a pinout including a functional designation cadence. The functional designation cadence includes a first ground pin, a first signal pin, a no-connect pin, a second signal pin, and a second ground pin, where the first signal pin is positioned between the first ground pin and the no-connect pin, the no-connect pin is positioned between the first and second signal pins, and the second signal pin is positioned between the no-connect pin and the second ground pin. Alternately, the functional designation cadence includes a first ground pin, a first signal pin, a third ground pin, a second signal pin, and a second ground pin, where the first signal pin is positioned between the first and third ground pins, the third ground pin is positioned between the first and second signal pins, and the second signal pin is positioned between the third and second ground pins.
US09348099B2	Optical coupler Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical coupler. In some embodiments, the device may include an optical waveguide to transmit light input from a light source. The optical waveguide may include a semiconductor layer, having a trench with one facet that comprises an edge formed under an approximately 45 degree angle and another facet formed substantially normal to the semiconductor layer. The edge may interface with another medium to form a mirror to receive inputted light and reflect received light substantially perpendicularly to propagate the received light. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09348094B1	Axial alignment of a lensed fiber in a silica v-groove A v-groove assembly is used to edge couple a lensed fiber (e.g., an optical fiber made of silica) with a waveguide in a photonic chip. The v-groove assembly is made from fused silica. Fused silica is used to so that an adhesive (e.g., epoxy resin) used in bonding the lensed fiber to the v-groove assembly and/or bonding the v-groove assembly to the photonic chip can be cured, at least partially, by light.
US09348093B2	Display element for an electronic module and electronic module A display element for an electronic module configured as an optical waveguide arrangement is provided. The display element includes a first optical waveguide part with a first light-receiving surface and a first light-emitting surface. The display element further includes a second optical waveguide part with a second light-receiving surface and a second light-emitting surface. The first optical waveguide part and the second optical waveguide part are arranged opposite one another. A first guide is arranged on an inner side of the first optical waveguide part and a second guide is arranged on an inner side of the second optical waveguide part. The respective inner sides are arranged in relation to one another such that the designation label is configured to be fastened by the first and second guide.
US09348092B1	Mode size converters for reducing a modal profile of incoming light Mode size converter including an overlay waveguide having an input end configured to receive light from an optical element. The overlay waveguide has a first refractive index. The mode size converter also includes a signal waveguide that is embedded within the overlay waveguide and has a second refractive index that is greater than the first refractive index. The signal waveguide includes first and second arm segments and a stem segment that form a Y-junction. The first and second arm segments are configured to reduce a modal profile of the light propagating toward the stem segment from the input end of the overlay waveguide. Each of the first and second arm segments has a distal end and a pair of opposite side edges, wherein the pair of side edges extend parallel to each other between the corresponding distal end and the stem segment.
US09348086B2	Few-mode optical fibers Herein presents a few-mode optical fiber, wherein the core comprising a main core(1) and 2N assistant cores(2), wherein N is positive integer number. All the cores are formed by the same material and embedded in a low-index background (3). The centers of the main core (1) and all the assistant cores (2) are located in a straight line. The assistant cores(2) are denoted based on the distance with the main core(1) as 1 , 2 , . . . N. The center-to-center distance between the main core (1) and the adjacent assistant core(2) is Lma=dm+da1. The center-to-center distance between the assistant core(2) and the adjacent assistant core(2) is Li,i=da,i +da,i+1 wherein i=1˜N−1 and da,i denotes the diameter of assistant core(2) i. That is to say, the boundary of the main core (1) is tangent to the boundary of the adjacent assistant core(2). Also the boundaries of the adjacent assistant cores(2) are tangent.
US09348080B1	Wall wash luminaire with light guide and optical element therefore A light shaping article includes a solid optic having a cross-sectional profile including an input interface; a convex output surface opposite the input interface; a concave first side surface extending between the input interface and the convex output surface; and a second side surface opposite the concave first side surface extending from between input interface to the convex output surface. The concave first side surface and the convex output surface are configured such that, when the solid optic receives input light having an input angular range in a plane of the cross-sectional profile, the solid optic guides the light to and emits the light from the output surface in an output angular range in the plane. A prevalent propagation direction of output light in the output angular range is tilted toward the second side surface relative to a prevalent propagation direction of input light in the input angular range.
US09348060B2	Polymeric triarylmethane dye, blue resin composition including for color filter including the polymeric dye and color filter using the resin composition The present invention relates to a polymeric triarylmethane dye, a blue resin composition for a color filter including the polymeric dye, and a color filter using the resin composition. The blue resin composition of the present invention is highly soluble in solvents and has excellent luminance, contrast, heat resistance, and chemical resistance due to the use of the polymeric triarylmethane dye. Particularly, the blue resin composition exhibits higher luminance and contrast than blue resin compositions using existing pigments. In addition, the blue resin composition of the present invention has greatly improved heat resistance and chemical resistance compared to blue resin compositions using existing triarylmethane dye monomers.
US09348054B2	NMR measurement of engineered flow management structures Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurement apparatus, NMR sensors, NMR measurement methods are disclosed to determine NMR properties of engineered flow management structures, and to estimate engineering properties using determined NMR properties. Example engineered flow management structures include engineered water storage, water management, water production, water sampling structures, and/or structures that serve as conduits or barriers to water movement. Technologies disclosed herein are also applicable to measuring properties relating to other fluid and/or gas flow in engineered flow management structures.
US09348043B2	Multi-coil multi-terminal closed-loop geophone accelerometer An apparatus and a method for detecting vibration are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing, a magnetic structure forming a magnetic field in the housing, and a coil structure in the magnetic field, concentric of the magnetic structure. In response to external vibration, the coil structure and the magnetic structure are movable with respect to each other. The coil structure comprises at least two sets of coils overlapped in space, of which a first coil set is for detecting vibration and a second coil set is for applying control in accordance with a control signal.
US09348041B2	Phase modulation and noise minimization for simultaneous vibroseis acquisition An embodiment of the invention includes simultaneous drive signals whose respective phase angle offset(s) varies over a portion or duration of the simultaneous sweeps. Other embodiments are discussed herein.
US09348038B2	Systems and methods for resetting photoconductive x-ray imaging detectors Systems and methods of resetting a blocking-type photoconductive imaging detector are provided. In one embodiment, after having obtained an image, the imaging detector may be reset by applying a reversed bias potential difference and illuminating the imaging radiation detector with photoexcitation radiation. The photoexcitation radiation has a wavelength selected to excite mobile charges within the photoconductive layer and a spatial intensity profile related to the measured image for neutralizing the trapped charges in a spatially compensated manner. In another embodiment, a photoionizing beam is directed onto an x-ray light valve having a liquid crystal layer in contact with a photoconductive layer. The beam passes through an optically transmissive surface of the x-ray light valve and photoionizes a species within the liquid crystal layer, generating mobile charged entities that at least partially neutralize charges trapped at the interface, improving the performance of the x-ray light valve when performing subsequent x-ray imaging.
US09348032B2	Database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell Embodiments of the present invention relate to a database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell. An embodiment of the present invention provides a database update apparatus for locating a pCell, comprising: a database storing grid cells that are sorted by pCell ID; a DB collection unit collecting log data for a WLAN signal from a mobile communication terminal which performs communication using the WLAN signal; an information extraction unit extracting a WLAN parameter from the log data of the WLAN signal; and a DB update unit updating the grid cells by matching and storing the information based on the extracted WLAN parameter in the corresponding grid cell. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the data-based information for AP locations and its application to the determination of a location can enhance the location performance.
US09348022B1	Identifying obstacles in a landing zone Mechanisms for identifying obstacles in a landing zone are disclosed. A first polarization elevation angle matrix is generated based on reflected radar signals having a first polarization sense. A second polarization elevation angle matrix based on reflected radar signals having a second polarization sense that differs from the first polarization sense is generated. The first polarization elevation angle matrix and the second polarization elevation angle matrix are integrated to form an integrated elevation angle matrix that identifies first scatterers and second scatterers with respect to the landing zone.
US09348015B2	Integrated rainfall estimation method using X-band dual-polarimetric radar measurement data An integrated rainfall calculation method using X-band dual-polarimetric radar measurement data includes a precipitation classification step of classifying hydrometeors into four types of snow, rain/snow, rain and non-meteorological target through a fuzzy logic technique using a correlation coefficient (cross correlation coefficient, ρhv), features of a measured differential propagation phase (Ψdp(r)) or differential propagation phase (φdp) and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as input variables (input feature vector); a specific differential phase calculation step of separately calculating a specific differential phase by applying a specific differential phase using a total difference of differential phase and signal-attenuation corrected reflectivity for the rain among the classified hydrometeors and applying a specific differential phase calculated using a filtering method for the other hydrometeors; and a rainfall calculation step of calculating rainfall by using a relation between the specific differential phase and the rainfall and using the separately calculated specific differential phase.
US09348014B2	Radar apparatus for vehicle A radar apparatus for a vehicle includes a radar unit provided at an inner side of a radiator grill for a vehicle, a multi-layer transmission cover which is fitted into the radar unit and on a front surface of which a plurality of transmission layers through which a radar beam radiated through the radar unit transmits are formed, and a mounting portion in which a connection body formed by connecting the multi-layer transmission cover to the radar unit is connected to a vehicle body.
US09348011B2	Location system for a flying craft A location and guidance system including a flying craft and a reception device. The flying craft includes a plurality of antennas distributed around its fuselage and emitting rearwards with rectilinear polarization, the emitted signals being specific to each antenna, the positions and the dimensions of the antennas being configured such that the body of the flying craft avoids by masking for at least one antenna the reflections of the signal emitted by this antenna off the ground or off lateral obstacles whatever the position of the flying craft. The reception device is placed substantially on a trajectory axis of the flying craft and configured to be oriented to sight the rear thereof and includes at least two single-pulse antennas operating in orthogonal planes determines a position of the flying craft by analyzing the emitted signals received by the antennas of the reception device.
US09348001B2	Method and system for detecting surface features on turbine components A system for locating at least one surface feature, such as a cooling aperture, on a turbine component is provided. The system includes at least one feature marker configured for placement adjacent to the at least one surface feature. The system also includes at least one sensor configured for non-visual detection of the at least one feature marker. The system also includes a control device coupled to the at least one sensor for receiving signals from the at least one sensor, wherein the signals represent data indicative of one of a presence of the at least one feature marker and an absence of the at least one feature marker.
US09347999B2	Methods and systems for warning users of a degraded backup capacity in battery plants A method of warning a user when a reserve time of a battery plant in a system is substantially degraded is disclosed. The method includes determining a baseline capacity for the battery plant by estimating the reserve time of the battery plant while the battery plant is installed in the system, subsequently determining a present capacity of the battery plant by estimating the reserve time of the battery plant while the battery plant is installed in the system, comparing the present capacity with the baseline capacity, and generating a warning when the baseline capacity exceeds the present capacity by more than a defined amount. Example embodiments of systems and control circuits configured to perform the methods are also disclosed herein.
US09347994B2	Boundary scan with coarse and fine delay register clock circuitry A Propagation Test instruction, a Decay Test instruction and a Cycle Test instruction provide testing of DC and AC interconnect circuits between circuits including JTAG boundary scan cells. A few additions to the Test Access Port circuitry, including gating producing a Capture Test Strobe (CTS) signal, and the boundary scan cells are required to implement the additional instructions. The instructions are extensions of the conventional JTAG operating structure.
US09347992B2	IC and core taps with input and linking module circuitry IEEE 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAPs) may be utilized at both IC and intellectual property core design levels. TAPs serve as serial communication ports for accessing a variety of embedded circuitry within ICs and cores including; IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan circuitry, built in test circuitry, internal scan circuitry, IEEE 1149.4 mixed signal test circuitry, IEEE P5001 in-circuit emulation circuitry, and IEEE P1532 in-system programming circuitry. Selectable access to TAPs within ICs is desirable since in many instances being able to access only the desired TAP(s) leads to improvements in the way testing, emulation, and programming may be performed within an IC. A TAP linking module is described that allows TAPs embedded within an IC to be selectively accessed using 1149.1 instruction scan operations.
US09347990B2	Communication device, test system and test method thereof A communication device is provided, which includes: a baseband chip; a target test chip integrated into the baseband chip; an upper-layer processing unit corresponding to the target test chip; and at least one data transport interface and at least one data processing unit corresponding to the at least one data transport interface. The communication device further includes: a first switch, adapted to connect the target test chip with the at least one data transport interface or the upper-layer processing unit; a second switch, adapted to connect the at least one data transport interface with its corresponding data processing unit or the target test chip; and a test control unit, configured to control the first switch and the second switch to connect the data transport interface with the target test chip, so as to enable the communication device to test the target test chip.
US09347987B2	Direct liquid-contact micro-channel heat transfer devices, methods of temperature control for semiconductive devices, and processes of forming same An apparatus to test a semiconductive device includes a base plane that holds at least one heat-transfer fluid unit cell. The at least one heat-transfer fluid unit cell includes a fluid supply structure including a supply-orifice cross section as well as a fluid return structure including a return-orifice cross section. The supply-orifice cross section is greater than the return-orifice cross section. A die interface is also included to be a liquid-impermeable material.
US09347985B2	Via chain testing structure and method A via chain testing structure includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate; a first via chain disposed on dielectric layer; a second via chain, being disposed on the dielectric on both sides of the first via chain and in thermal proximity with the first via chain; a first heating source disposed under the substrate, for providing thermal heat to the first via chain; and an electrical current source for heating the second via chain so the second via chain acts as a second heating source for the first via chain.
US09347983B2	Wiring structure and display device including the same There is provided a wiring structure comprising a board, which includes a connection pattern, and a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs). Each of the flexible printed circuit boards includes test patterns connected to the connection pattern. The test patterns included in each of the FPCBs are connected to each other by the connection pattern.
US09347982B1	Circuit board probe fixture A fixture for probing circuit boards and microcircuits. A guide plate provides indexing for positioning a probe assembly in one or two dimensions. The guide plate has two opposed mounting sides connected by one or two indexing sides and is mounted to the test unit by screws. The indexing sides and, optionally, the mounting sides have column mounting holes and column markings. A bridge mounts to the indexing sides with its column pointer aligned with the desired column marking. The bridge has row mounting holes and row markings. The probe assembly mounts to the bridge with its row pointer aligned with the desired row marking. Optionally, the bridge is part of the probe assembly and without row indexing elements to be used in one dimension. The probe assembly has a terminator platform and connector plate with electrical cable assemblies extending therebetween.
US09347974B2	Method for determining beam parameters of a charge carrier beam, measuring device, and charge carrier beam device The application relates to a method for determining beam parameters of a charge carrier beam, a measuring device, and a charge carrier beam device. The charge carrier beam (4) from a charge carrier beam device (1) is guided, by means of a beam deflection unit (3), over a slit aperture arrangement which is provided in an aperture device (7) and which has one or more slit apertures (8). Measurement plane coordinates of the beam components that penetrate the slit aperture arrangement are determined. On the basis of the measurement plane coordinates, the aperture device automatically moves in such a way that a measuring aperture (9) arranged in the aperture device moves over a predefined measurement reference point. The beam parameter is measured by the measuring aperture. In a measuring device (5) suitable for carrying out said method, the slit aperture arrangement has at least two non-parallel slit aperture sections (12, 13, 15, 16) which can be part of a single continuous slit aperture.
US09347970B2	Probe apparatus A probe apparatus 10 has a movable mounting table 12 that mounts a wafer W on which multiple power devices are formed; a probe card 14 that is provided above the mounting table 12 and has multiple probes 14A; a conductive film electrode 13 formed on a mounting surface of the mounting table 12 and an outer peripheral surface thereof; and a measurement line 16 that electrically connects the conductive film electrode 13 to a tester 17. Further, the probe apparatus measures electrical characteristics of the power devices on the mounting table 12 at a wafer level. Furthermore, the measurement line 16 includes a switch device 18 configured to open and close an electric path of the measurement line 16 between the conductive film electrode 13 and the tester 17.
US09347968B2	Electronic device and input method An electronic device includes a storage unit that stores reference data for executing each of functions, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration of the electronic device in at least two axes perpendicular to each other, a motion detection unit that detects a consecutive motion of the electronic device based on the acceleration of the electronic device and generates data of the detected motion of the electronic device, a correction range determination unit that determines a correction range based on data of a motion in a predetermined section of the data of the motion of the electronic device, a correction unit that corrects the motion of the electronic device to a rectilinear motion when the motion of the electronic device is in the correction range, and an execution control unit that judges each of the functions to be executed based on the motion of the electronic device and the reference data.
US09347967B2	Sensor device and manufacturing method thereof A sensor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided in which no resin seal is used when a sensor is packaged, a change in connection relation according to a change in specifications of the control IC and others is facilitated when a control IC is packaged together with the sensor and high reliability is kept. The sensor device of the present invention includes a substrate containing an organic material and being formed a wiring, a sensor arranged on the substrate and electrically connected to the wiring, and a package cap arranged on the substrate and containing an organic material and covering the sensor, and the inside of the package cap is hollow.
US09347966B2	Automatic analyzer In the field of automatic analyzers, as items to be analyzed are increase, various reagents differing in such properties as liquid viscosity and contact angle are being used more frequently, and this trend is expected to continue. Also, reagents now take various forms (e.g., a concentrated reagent to be diluted by the water of an automatic analyzer), and so does dilution water. Such being the case, the invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of sufficient stirring regardless of items to be analyzed. To sufficiently stir a substance to which a reagent has been added, the automatic analyzer is designed to alter stirring conditions after a given amount of time has passed since the addition of that reagent.
US09347964B2	Apparatus for separating cuvettes An apparatus, system for analyzing, and process for separating cuvettes supplied in bulk form are presented. The apparatus comprises a reservoir with an inlet for supplying cuvettes in bulk form to a reservoir space, a separator with an outlet for outputting separated cuvettes from a separator space communicating with the reservoir space, a reservoir spiral contained in the reservoir space to transport cuvettes to the separator space by rotating the reservoir spiral, and a separator spiral contained in the separator space to transport cuvettes to the outlet by rotating the separator spiral. Adjacent turns of the separator spiral have an inter-distance dimensioned such that a cuvette can be held in a holding position in which projections projecting outwards from a body for receiving liquid rest on adjacent turns, with the body dipping into a spiral groove between the adjacent turns.
US09347963B2	Apparatus and method for transporting sample well trays An apparatus for transporting sample well trays with respect to a heating device is provided. The apparatus includes a sample well tray holder, a rotational actuator, and a biasing mechanism. The sample well tray holder includes a plate in which a sample well tray may be positioned. The sample well tray holder is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis. The rotational actuator is configured to rotate the sample well tray holder about the first rotational axis. The biasing mechanism is configured to urge the sample well tray holder in a generally upward direction along the first rotational axis.
US09347960B2	Ceramides and their use in diagnosing CVD The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of predicting CV complications such as AMI, ACS, stroke, and CV death by determining the concentrations of at least one ceramide of Group A and at least one ceramide of Group B in a biological sample and comparing those concentrations to a control. Finding a decreased concentration of at least one Group A ceramide and an increased concentration of at least one Group B ceramide indicates that the subject has an increased risk of developing one or more CV complications. Also provided are a newly identified subset of ceramide molecules, labelled versions thereof, and kits and compositions comprising the same for use in predicting and/or diagnosing CV complications.
US09347951B2	Fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of a filovirus glycoprotein fused to an immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region This invention provides fusion proteins comprising a Filovirus glycoprotein segment and an immunoglobulin polypeptide segment. The fusion proteins are useful in immunogenic compositions to protect against infections by Filoviruses, such as Ebola virus, in both humans and non-human animals. The fusion proteins are also useful in diagnostic assays to detect Filovirus infections.
US09347947B2	Immunoassays employing non-particulate chemiluminescent reagent Methods and reagents are disclosed for conducting assays. Embodiments of the present methods and reagents are concerned with chemiluminescent reagents for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The reagent is non-particulate and comprises a binding partner for the analyte and a chemiluminescent composition comprising an olefinic compound and a metal chelate. In embodiments of an assay, a combination is provided that comprises a sample suspected of containing the analyte, a chemiluminescent reagent as described above and a sensitizer reagent capable of generating singlet oxygen. The combination is subjected to conditions for binding of the analyte to the binding partner for the analyte. The sensitizer is activated and the amount of luminescence generated by the chemiluminescent composition is detected wherein the amount of luminescence is related to the amount of the analyte in the sample.
US09347946B2	Methods and reagents for signal amplification The present invention provides reagents containing binding moieties conjugated to dextran moieties, methods of making such reagents, and use of such reagents in a variety of molecular and cellular assays.
US09347943B2	Proteins used for the diagnosis of lyme borreliosis Chimera proteins including: (i) at least one sequence of a DbpA protein of a Borrelia species selected from B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B. garinii, and (ii) at least one sequence of an OspC protein of a Borrelia species selected from B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B. garinii. Also, a method and a kit for the in vitro diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis using said proteins.
US09347941B2	Diagnosis kit for rheumatoid arthritis A method for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, based on the detection of citrullinated autoantigens in a test sample is disclosed. The method diagnoses rheumatoid arthritis more accurately and rapidly. Also disclosed is a kit for carrying out the method.
US09347934B2	Assays for identifying compounds that modulate bitter taste The present invention is based on applicants' discovery, disclosed herein, of agonists for the TAS2R receptors TAS2R1, TAS2R4, TAS2R9, TAS2R13, TAS2R14, TAS2R16, TAS2R44, TAS2R46, and TAS2R60. The assignment of agonists to these receptors makes assays for identifying compounds that modulate bitter taste possible. For example, the present invention provides methods of identifying compounds that inhibit the bitter taste due to these agonists. The present invention also provides methods of identifying compounds that selectively inhibit the bitter taste due to these agonists. The present invention further provides methods of identifying compounds that mimic the bitter taste due these agonists. The present invention also provides methods of identifying compounds that enhance the bitter taste due to these agonists.
US09347928B2	Tagged polymers, water treatment compositions, and methods of their use in aqueous systems A method and composition is described for controlling the growth of fouling materials, such as scale, in aqueous systems using a tagged (fluorescent) polymer. The tagged polymer can be a fluorescent polymer which has at least one fluorescent monomeric unit derived from a fluorophore which has at least one terminal end comprising an olefinic group. The method of controlling the growth of at least one fouling material in an aqueous system can include the steps of adding the tagged polymer to the aqueous system to be treated, fluorometrically monitoring the concentration of the tagged polymer, and adjusting, as needed, the concentration of the tagged polymer and proportionally used water treatment compound or compounds effective to control the growth of at least one fouling material. The adjustment of pH before determination of the fluorescence signal can be employed to increase sensitivity of the fluorophore and minimize background interference.
US09347923B1	Colorometric detection of water using MOF-polymer films and composites A method including exposing a mixture of a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer to a predetermined molecular species, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for the predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species; and detecting a color change of the MOF in the presence of the predetermined molecular species. A method including combining a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for a predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species. An article of manufacture including a mixture of a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for a predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species.
US09347917B2	Mass spectrometry systems and methods for analyses on lipid and other ions using a unique workflow The applicants' teachings provide in some aspects methods and apparatus for mass spectrometric analysis that identify the location of carbon-carbon double bonds, if any, in an analyte by (1) obtaining the m/z ratio of the intact analyte ions, (2) subjecting these ions to collision-induced dissociation and (3) determining relationships between masses and/or mass-to-charge ratios of the intact analyte ions and the fragments produced by such collision-induced dissociation. The methods and apparatus selectively subject analyte ions to ozone-induced dissociation based on those relationships and determine location(s) of carbon-carbon double bonds, if any, from reaction products of ozone-induced dissociation.
US09347914B2	Gas sensor A gas sensor includes a metal shell, a gas sensor element held in the metal shell, a metal portion arranged between a flange portion of the gas sensor element and a seat portion of the metal shell and a porous thermal spray layer formed on the gas sensor element. When viewed in cross section along the direction of an axis of the gas sensor, a corner of the metal portion axially overlaps in position with or radially outwardly protrudes from an outer surface of a part of the thermal spray layer located on a side surface of the flange portion and is brought into contact with the seat portion. A rear end-facing surface of the metal portion is brought into contact with an outer surface of the thermal spray layer at a position radially inside the side surface of the flange portion.
US09347910B2	Systems and methods for improved stability of electrochemical sensors Methods for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, and the devices and systems used in conjunction with the same, are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment of a method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, a sample including an analyte is provided in a sample analyzing device having a working and a counter electrode. An electric potential is applied between the electrodes and a measurement of a parameter correlating to changes in a physical property of the sample analyzing device is calculated. A concentration of the analyte in view of the parameter correlating to a change in the physical property can then be determined. Systems and devices that take advantage of the parameter correlating to changes in a physical property to make analyte concentration determinations are also provided.
US09347907B2	Device for providing a means for internal calibration in an electrochemical sensor Internally calibrated pH and other analyte sensors based on redox agents provide more accurate results when the redox active reference agent is in a constant chemical environment, yet separated from the solution being analyzed in such a way as to maintain electrical contact with the sample. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) can be used to achieve these results when used as a salt bridge between the reference material and the sample being analyzed. The RTIL provides the constant chemical environment and ionic strength for the redox active material (RAM) and provides an electrolytic layer that limits or eliminates direct chemical interaction with the sample. A broad range of RAMs can be employed in a variety of configurations in such “Analyte Insensitive Electrode” devices.
US09347905B2	Transparency having moisture sensors A transparency, e.g. an aircraft laminated windshield, includes one or more moisture sensors to monitor moisture penetration to monitor performance of the moisture barrier. The moisture sensor includes a moisture corrodible article or sensor element, e.g. a strip or wire, which changes resistance as a function of corrosion. The sensor element can also include two dissimilar metals, e.g. a bimetal sensor element, or two similar metals having different physical dimensions. With the information provided by the moisture sensors performance of the windshield is available to schedule timely repair or replacement of the windshield that is performing outside of acceptable limits.
US09347904B1	Grain-bin monitoring system A grain-bin monitoring system for monitoring relative humidity and temperature is described. The system includes a cable assembly with a support cable and two pairs of communication wires suspended in a grain bin. A plurality of sensor assemblies is coupled along the cable. The sensor assemblies include a housing that protects a sensor device and enables exposure to air within the bin. The sensor device is in electrical communication with a control unit through fasteners for the housing piercing the cable assembly and contacting the communication wires. Electrically conductive, elastomeric pads are disposed between electrical contacts on the sensor device and the fasteners to eliminate galvanic corrosion therebetween. The cable assembly and sensor assemblies are configured to minimize drag forces applied by grain particulate flowing along the cable assemblies. And the sensor assemblies and/or the sensor devices therein are easily replaceable on the cable assembly while in service.
US09347893B2	Enhanced resolution imaging systems for digital radiography The invention provides methods and apparatus for enhanced PCI and dual-use radiation imaging systems. In one implementation high resolution storage phosphor plate radiation detector (an area detector) is employed for conventional attenuation radiation imaging and/or PCI (including conventional PCI and coded aperture PCI). Slit and slot scan implementations for dual-use systems are introduced. Dedicated single and dual-use slit and slot scan system for conventional attenuation imaging and PCI are described that employ face-on or edge-on detectors. Slit and slot scan systems that employ area detectors are described. Edge-on, structured cell detector designs are described. Applications of edge-on structured cell detectors for CT, Nuclear Medicine, PET, and probe detectors are described.
US09347892B2	Optical inspection apparatus and optical sorting apparatus The invention concerns an apparatus for inspection of products (3′, 3″), provided with a transport mechanism (2) configured to transport a continuous stream of products (3′, 3″) so that, on leaving the transport mechanism, the product stream (3′, 3″) follows a free-fall path along which it is fed in a single product layer through an inspection zone (16), which has a length (L) that at least corresponds to the width of the aforementioned single product layer, a light source (5, 5′) configured to illuminate said inspection zone (16), a detection unit (6), configured to optically scan the illuminated inspection zone (16), an analysis unit (17) and possibly a removal unit (7) and also a background element (10′), which is situated behind the falling product stream, seen from the position of the detection unit, positioned so that:—light beams from the light source impinge on an illumination zone (14) of the background element when these beams do not impinge on a product from the product stream (3′, 3″),—the detection unit can only receive an image of a detection zone (13) of the background element, characterized in that the background element is mounted so that the illumination zone (14) and the detection zone (13) are separated from each other.
US09347889B2	CMOS optical detector with a plurality of optical elements for device for monitoring parameters of a moving yarn on textile machines A CMOS optical detector includes a plurality of optical elements for a device for detecting parameters of moving yarn or another linear textile formation on textile machines by means of a perpendicular projection of yarn onto individual optical elements of a sensor with the aid of one source of radiation. The optical elements are arranged in two parallel rows perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the projection of yarn. Each optical element produces an output analog signal corresponding to the intensity of its irradiation. The individual optical elements of the first row are oriented to have their longer sides in the direction of the movement of the projection of yarn, whereas the optical elements of the second row are oriented to have their longer sides perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the projection of yarn.
US09347888B2	Detection of bacteria exhibiting a resistance to carbapenems Disclosed is a process for detecting and/or identifying, in a biological sample, bacteria exhibiting a resistance to carbapenems, including: a) contacting said sample with a reaction medium including at least one chromogenic agent and faropenem and/or doripenem; b) incubating the whole so as to allow the bacteria to grow; and c) detecting the strains exhibiting a resistance to carbapenems. The medium employed in step a) also contains cloxacillin and/or a combination of cloxacillin and PAbetaN.
US09347884B2	Microfluidic device with direct sample heating via electromagnetic radiation A microfluidic device, for analysis, comprising: a chip (1) comprising a cavity (3); a light emitting diode or a laser which emits a first electromagnetic radiation (4) for heating a sample placed in the cavity in use; and an analytical assembly (7) configured to record a change in the sample arising from an interaction of the sample with the first source of electromagnetic radiation.
US09347882B2	Dynamic signal extension in optical detection systems Systems and methods for measuring a target in a sample, the target being capable of generating an emitted light in response to an excitation light. In an example system, an excitation light source generates the excitation light along an excitation optical path. An attenuation filter arrangement selectively adds an attenuation filter to the excitation optical path. The attenuation filter attenuates the excitation light by a corresponding attenuation factor. The excitation light exits the attenuation filter arrangement along the excitation optical path to illuminate the sample. A light energy detector receives the emitted light generated in response to the excitation light, and outputs a measured signal level corresponding to an emitted light level. If the light energy detector indicates an overflow, signal measurement is repeated with attenuation filters of increasing attenuation factors until the measured signal level does not overflow.
US09347877B2	Laser gas analyzer A laser gas analyzer includes a wavelength-variable laser having a wide wavelength-variable width, a light-split module configured to split an output light of the wavelength-variable laser into a measurement light and a reference light, a first gas cell into which gases to be measured are introduced, and the measurement light is made to be incident, and a data processor configured to obtain an absorption spectrum of each of the gases to be measured based on a reference signal related to the reference light and an absorption signal related to an output light of the first gas cell, and to obtain concentrations of the respective gases to be measured.
US09347869B2	Multiwell plate lid for improved optical measurements A lid for a multiwell plates which allows improved light scattering measurement of liquid samples within the wells of a multiwell plate, and which at the same time mitigates evaporation from said samples is disclosed. A surface element protrudes from the bottom of the lid into the fluid in a well. The protruding element may be hollow or solid, and the beam of light, directed into the element may act to capture or direct the beam while preventing backscatter from reaching the light scattering detector or detectors. The protruding element may thus direct the beam from the well without the beam having to pass through a fluid/air interface. The angle and shape of the lid surfaces may be optimized to minimize or eliminate back-reflection. Light absorbing and/or light blocking colorization may also be employed to minimize or eliminate back reflection. Evaporation is controlled by physically capping the well with the lid, either sealing against the face at the top of the well or the inside surface of the well.
US09347867B2	Rapid measurement of formed blood component sedimentation rate from small sample volumes Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.
US09347866B2	Laser diffraction with inhaler enclosed in positive pressure chamber The present disclosure relates to an improved device and methods for adapting to a laser diffraction apparatus used for measuring particle size distribution and density of the plume of a powder composition emitted from a dry powder inhaler.
US09347865B2	Instrument for gravimetric moisture determination with electrical contact An instrument (10) for gravimetric moisture determination has a housing (20) and a weighing device (40) arranged inside. The weighing device has a load receiver (60) onto which a sample (62) is placed. The housing has stationary (21) and movable (22) housing parts, the movable housing part alternately occupying a measuring and a loading position. wherein in the loading position the stationary housing part and the movable housing part are spaced apart from each other in such a way that a the sample can be put on the load receiver, wherein in the measuring position the respective housing parts form an essentially enclosed testing compartment (30) surrounding the load receiver (60), and wherein a sample-heating means (70) is arranged in the testing compartment to heat the sample on the load receiver. The instrument also has an electrical contact means (85) with first (86) and second parts (87). The first part is connected to the movable housing part and the second part is connected to the stationary housing part. In the measuring position an electrical connection exists by way of the respective parts of the electrical contact means and wherein in the loading position the same electrical connection is interrupted.
US09347859B2	Active fluid sampling from piston top land crevice of piston engine A system and method for sampling fluid from a top land piston crevice of a reciprocating piston engine. Access into the crevice is via a bore through the piston wall. A collector receives sampled fluid from the piston crevice, and has a housing, a valve, and a shuttle. The housing is an elongated hollow shell having a bore through its length, with the bore containing the valve and the shuttle. The valve opens to allow sampled fluid to pass along the bore toward the shuttle, when the valve is in an open position. The shuttle serves two purposes: it moves back and forth within the bore, thereby opening the valve, and also provides passages for storing sampled fluid within the housing.
US09347854B2	Glow plug with pressure sensor A glow plug with a pressure sensor including a heater member (4) having a heating element (9) disposed therein and projecting from a forward end of a metallic shell (2), a center rod (3) having, at its forward end, a connection portion (3A) to which a rear end portion of the heating element (9) is connected, and an annular clearance CR formed between the metallic shell and the heater member in a region located on the forward end side of a junction portion (14A) of a deformable member (14) joined to the heater member. A portion of the heating element located on the forward end side relative to the forward end of the connection portion is at least partially located on the radially inner side of the clearance CR, and the forward end of the connection portion is located on the forward end side relative to the forward end of the junction portion.
US09347847B2	Pressure transmitter with impulse line plugging diagnostic A pressure transmitter includes at least one impulse line for coupling a fluid pipe or tank to a pressure sensor that measures a process pressure of a process fluid, a temperature sensor measuring an ambient temperature, and a processor accessing baseline data for the process pressure and ambient temperature. The processor implements an automatic impulse line plugging diagnostic (ILPD) algorithm stored in memory. The processor runs the ILPD algorithm implementing utilizing process measurements including a process pressure from the pressure sensor and an ambient temperature from the temperature sensor, comparing a magnitude of the process pressure to a baseline pressure predicted from the baseline data corresponding to the ambient temperature, and uses results of the comparing to determine whether the impulse line is plugged. The comparing can involve comparing a process pressure change to a baseline pressure change predicted corresponding to an ambient temperature change.
US09347842B2	Well conductor strain monitoring A well conductor strain monitoring system is provided which includes a plurality of fiber optic Bragg grating sensors written onto a single optical fiber. Cable strands are wound around the optical fiber to form an armored cable protecting the fiber. The armored cable is further integrated into a strength cable to provide robustness. This strength cable is then wrapped around the conductor under tension and anchored at both ends. The cable is wound at a prescribed angle so as to have multiple wraps around the conductor. Once tensioned, the cable remains stationary against the conductor and holds a position. The strain gages are spaced along the optical fiber, such that the strain gages are oriented 90 degrees apart when the cable is wrapped about the conductor. This orientation supports the estimation of bending in any direction.
US09347839B2	Measuring element, measuring body and measuring arrangement for measuring a force, and use of such a measuring body A measuring element formed of a piezoelectric crystal of symmetry class 32 for measuring a force Fz, which acts perpendicularly on the plane x-y and causes a charge accumulation on surfaces of the plane x-y. Applications are measurements in which the transverse forces Fxy orthogonal to the force Fz, which generate an error signal at the measuring element, are expected on the measuring body. The measuring element includes at least four identical measuring element segments having straight edges. In the x-y plane the segments are arranged side by side and spaced apart by narrow gaps at the edges. Together, the segments form the shape of a disc or perforated disc for reducing the interference signals caused by the transverse forces Fxy on the measuring element. The crystal orientations in the x-y plane of all segments are oriented in the same direction or orthogonal to each other.
US09347838B2	Capacitive shear force sensor and method for fabricating thereof A capacitive shear force sensor and a method for fabricating thereof are provided. The capacitive shear force sensor includes a first electric field shielding layer, a second electric field shielding layer, a driving electrode, a first sensing electrode, a second sensing electrode and a dielectric layer. The second electric field shielding layer is disposed under the first electric field shielding layer. The driving electrode is disposed between the first electric field shielding layer and the second electric field shielding layer. The first and the second sensing electrodes are disposed between the driving electrode and the second electric field shielding layer. The dielectric layer is disposed between the driving electrode and the first sensing electrode, and between the driving electrode and the second sensing electrode. The first sensing electrode and the driving electrode form a first capacitor. The second sensing electrode and the driving electrode form a second capacitor.
US09347831B2	Electronic apparatus and control method of electronic apparatus A spectrometry device includes a wavelength variable interference filter, a filter driving unit, an imaging element which obtains color images corresponding to light with a red wavelength, light with a green wavelength, and light with a blue wavelength, respectively, and a composition unit which generates a composite image in which the red image, the green image, and the blue image are composited, the filter driving unit causes the wavelength variable filter to change the red wavelength every time when the red image is obtained, causes the wavelength variable filter to change the green wavelength every time when the green image is obtained, and causes the wavelength variable filter to change the blue wavelength every time when the blue image is obtained.
US09347830B2	Apparatus and method for obtaining spectral image An apparatus for obtaining spectral image includes a variable spectral element capable of changing its spectral characteristics, a transmission wavelength setting unit for setting a wavelength of light to be transmitted by the variable spectral element, a variable spectral element control unit changing a first control of the variable spectral element and a second control of the variable spectral element for controlling spectral characteristics of the variable spectral element to each other, an image capturing unit capturing an image that is formed by light transmitted by the variable spectral element, and an image correction unit acquiring a difference image between a first image captured in the first control and a second image captured in the second control.
US09347828B1	Method for detecting ambient light brightness and apparatus for achieving the method A method for detecting ambient light brightness comprises the following steps: sensing light from a direction of a projection screen; performing preset operations at an occasion free of projection, so that a first preset image and a second preset image are presented on the projection screen; acquiring light sensing values of the first preset image and the second preset image to obtain a reference value and a threshold value of an ambient light brightness change; after acquiring a current ambient light brightness value, obtaining a change direction and magnitude of actual ambient light brightness according to the reference value and the threshold value; and obtaining a current actual ambient light brightness value according to the change direction and magnitude of the actual ambient light brightness and the light sensing value of the second preset image. An apparatus for detecting ambient light brightness is also provided.
US09347827B2	System for field measurement and calibration of photovoltaic reference devices A system for field measurement and calibration of photovoltaic reference devices, including a reference device electronics unit that measures the electrical output of a photovoltaic reference module and provides data to determine the solar irradiance received by the reference module as a function of its electrical output; and a calibrator unit that is used to routinely recalibrate the reference device electronics unit and the reference module, wherein the calibrator unit contains one or more calibrated photovoltaic reference cell(s).
US09347825B2	Vehicle lamps with uniform apparent brightness A Parabolic-Type reflector has a uniform Apparent Brightness over the reflector surface. A model of the reflector is divided into a plurality of elements arrayed radially around the reflector focus. Each element has a length li measured radially from the focus and perpendicular to an optical axis of the reflector, and an initial depth d-initi measured parallel to the optical axis. For each element, a light-angle αi is calculated, the angle of light from the light source subtended by the element. An Apparent Brightness is found for each element, ABi≡αi/li. The element emin with the lowest Apparent Brightness ABmin is identified. For each element other than emin a required light-angle is found, the required light-angle α-corri=ABmin×li. While maintaining li, the initial depth d-initi of the element is reduced to a corrected depth d-corri necessary to achieve α-corri.
US09347824B2	Light collection optics for measuring flux and spectrum from light-emitting devices Systems and methods for accurately measuring the luminous flux and color (spectra) from light-emitting devices are disclosed. An integrating sphere may be utilized to directly receive a first portion of light emitted by a light-emitting device through an opening defined on the integrating sphere. A light collector may be utilized to collect a second portion of light emitted by the light-emitting device and direct the second portion of light into the integrating sphere through the opening defined on the integrating sphere. A spectrometer may be utilized to measure at least one property of the first portion and the second portion of light received by the integrating sphere.
US09347819B2	Systems and methods for reducing weighing errors associated with partially off-scale items Systems and methods are provided for reducing erroneous weighing of items by detecting items extending beyond a peripheral edge of a weigh platter associated with a data reader. For example, in response to a weigh request a scale guard module acquires data indicative of whether an item extends between the weigh platter and another surface, compares the acquired data to reference data, and based on the comparison, determines whether an item extends off the weigh platter and thus on to another surface. The scale guard module may utilize non-electromagnetic compression waves, radio waves, a portion of a data reader's scan field to scan a set of patterns extending along at least one edge of the weigh platter, an imaging based scanner to capture an image of at least one edge of the weigh platter, light beams extending along at least one edge of the weigh platter, or any combination thereof.
US09347818B2	Automated collection and scale system The disclosure describes a novel approach of utilizing a collection bin for a side loading waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes a weighing system with a processor for measuring the weight of material collected from each waste container and associating this weight with appropriate data, such as the owner of the waste container.
US09347810B2	Method and apparatus for measuring a pulsatingly fluctuating flow rate A method and apparatus for measuring a pulsatingly fluctuating flow rate under a general condition, without needing electrical conductivity for a fluid, and without allowing a phase lag corresponding to a calculation time or attenuation, or resulting from a relation between pressure difference and flow rate, to occur. Ultrasonic waves are repeatedly transmitted with respect to a pulsatingly fluctuating fluid, while the ultrasonic wave is being received, and a signal indicative of the transmission and receipt, and a signal indicative of a timing of the transmission and receipt are recorded. Alternatively, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received based on a preliminarily set timing signal, and the signal indicative of the transmission and receipt is recorded. These signals are used to determine flow rates and transmission and receipt timings to plot a pulsating fluctuation. In one or more implementations, the timing signal may be phase-synchronized with a pulsation reference signal.
US09347808B2	Flush mounted ultrasonic transducer arrays for flow measurement A flow meter system includes a first ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to a pipe. The system also includes a second ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to the pipe. The system further includes a controller coupled to the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays and configured to cause bidirectional beam steering between the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays.
US09347806B2	Sensor having an embedded electrode, and method for manufacturing same Disclosed is a sensor having an embedded electrode, which can be manufactured at a reduced cost and applied to many different fields. The sensor comprises: a sensing stack in which a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are stacked and layered with a separation layer interposed therebetween; and an electrode terminal arranged at a side surface of the sensing stack and electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers. The first and second conductive layers are exposed on at least one side surface of the sensing stack except for the side surface on which the electrode terminal is arranged, to thereby form a sensing surface.
US09347802B2	Scale, vernier encoder and apparatus using the same The scale for a vernier encoder including a sensor relatively movable with the scale in a first direction and configured to read periodic patterns provided in the scale. The scale includes first and second scale tracks each including multiple periodic patterns having mutually different periods in the first direction and being arranged parallel in a second direction. The multiple periodic patterns form, between the first and second scale tracks, multiple pairs of periodic patterns to be used for producing multiple periodic signals, each periodic signal being produced by vernier operation. In at least one of the first and second scale tracks, a first periodic pattern, which is used for producing a shortest period periodic signal among the multiple periodic signals, is provided closest to a boundary between the first and second scale tracks among the multiple periodic patterns.
US09347801B2	Motor driving system for electric vehicle To provide a motor driving system for an electrically powered automotive vehicle, in which the drive motor is rotationally controlled to increase the reliability, the use is made of an angle sensor for detecting the relative rotational angle between a stator and a rotor of a drive motor for driving the electric vehicle and a controller for controlling the rotation of the drive motor on the basis of the relative rotational angle detected by the angle sensor. The angle sensor is provided in a plural number. The controller includes an angle sensor switching unit operable to select and activate one of the plurality of the angle sensors and then to switch over to an activation of another one of the angle sensors in the event that the one of the angle sensors is determined abnormal.
US09347799B2	Magnetic field sensor system with a magnetic wheel rotatable around a wheel axis and with magnetic sensor elements being arranged within a plane perpendicular to the wheel axis It is described a magnetic field differential sensor system for measuring rotational movements of a shaft. The described magnetic field sensor system (200) comprises (a) a biasing magnet (210, 510) configured for generating a biasing magnetic field; (b) a magnetic wheel (230) having a wheel axis and a circumferential surface which comprises a regular structure of teeth (231) and gaps (232) arranged in an alternating manner, wherein (i) the magnetic wheel (230) is attachable to the shaft and (ii) the magnetic wheel (230) can be magnetized by the biasing magnetic field; and (c) a magnetic sensor arrangement (220) comprising four magnetic sensor elements (221, 222, 223, 224) being connected with each other in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Respectively two of the magnetic sensor elements (221, 222, 223, 224) are assigned to one half bridge of the Wheatstone bridge. Further, the four magnetic sensor elements (221, 222, 223, 224) are arranged within an y-z plane, wherein an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis define an orthogonal Cartesian coordinate system in which (i) the x-axis is oriented parallel with the wheel axis of the magnetic wheel (230), (ii) the y-axis is oriented tangential to the circumferential surface of the magnetic wheel (230), and (iii) the z-axis is the symmetry line through the center of the biasing magnet (210, 510) and the center of the magnetic wheel (230). The magnetic sensor elements can be hall sensor elements or magnetoresistive sensor elements (221, 222, 223, 224).
US09347798B1	Metal detector with hermetic housing A hermetically sealed metal detector includes a plastic housing with an integrally formed diaphragm having a predetermined area and a thickness that enables vibration thereof by an internal acoustic transducer. An alert signal audibly drives the transducer in response to a metal detector circuit. The acoustic transducer is positioned to align the transducer output port adjacent to the interior surface of the diaphragm, which enables coupling of the acoustic signal through an air gap to vibrate the diaphragm. A cover is disposed about the diaphragm on the exterior of the housing. The cover has a vent formed therethrough for enabling passage of the acoustic energy to the exterior of the housing. Light and battery hermetic sealing are also presented.
US09347797B2	Shape memory sensor The invention relates to a sensor for measuring an environmental effect, comprising a sensor material having an internal stress, which sensor material is designed to at least partially relax under the influence of the environmental effect. The sensor further comprising a detection unit for indirectly or directly detecting said relaxation. The invention also relates to a waveguide, comprising a grating in at least a portion of the waveguide, which waveguide comprises a coating, the coating comprising a polymer that contains reversible crosslinks that can be broken by the environmental effect in such a way that the polymer changes shape. The invention further relates to a sensor system comprising a waveguide, a light source, and a photo-detector.
US09347794B1	Image data combining systems and methods of multiple vision systems Present novel and non-trivial systems and methods for combining image data received from two or more vision systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an image generator receives navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest (e.g., runway of intended landing) and aircraft position, retrieves navigation reference data representative of surface information, creates zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest, receives first image data from a first source and second image data from a second source, identifies third image data from the first image data and the zone data, generates fourth image data from the second and third image data, and provides the fourth image data to a display system, thereby increasing situational awareness by enhancing the pilot's ability to detect or recognize the runway environment.
US09347793B2	Synthetic vision systems and methods for displaying detached objects A display system is provided for a vehicle. The display system includes a data source configured to provide terrain data with detached objects that are detached from ground terrain and attached objects that are attached to ground terrain; a processing unit coupled to the data source configured to receive the terrain data and to distinguish the detached objects from the attached objects to generate display commands for a three-dimensional view that comprises graphical elements representing both the detached objects and the attached objects; and a display device coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render the common three-dimensional view to thereby allow viewing of the detached objects and the attached objects.
US09347792B2	Systems and methods for displaying images with multi-resolution integration A display system is provided for a vehicle. The system includes a first data source configured to provide low resolution terrain data; a second data source configured to provide high resolution terrain data; a processing unit coupled to the first data source and the second data source, the processing unit configured to receive the low resolution terrain data and high resolution terrain data, to integrate the low resolution terrain data and the high resolution terrain data into a common three-dimensional view that includes graphical elements representing both the low and the high resolution terrain data, and to supply display commands associated with the low and the high resolution terrain data; and a display device coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render the common three-dimensional view to thereby allow simultaneous viewing of the low and the high resolution terrain data.
US09347785B2	Navigation device for displaying name of guidance intersection A navigation device includes: an intersection attribute determination unit 731 that determines a direction of a left/right turn at a guidance target intersection on a guidance route on the basis of route information on the guidance route; a display position decision unit 732 that decides a display position for a name of the guidance target intersection on a side opposite to the direction of the right/left turn determined by the intersection attribute determination unit 731 when viewed from an entrance link to the guidance target intersection; a drawing data generation unit 733 that generates drawing data on the name of the guidance target intersection; and an image data output unit 9 that causes a display device 10 to display the drawing data generated by the drawing data generation unit 733 at the display position decided by the display position decision unit 732.
US09347784B2	Vehicle information providing device A vehicle information providing device provides route information to vehicles. The vehicle information providing device has a history information accumulation unit that sequentially acquires at least one of driving location information, power consumption information and charging location information from vehicle-mounted devices of a plurality of vehicle, and accumulates this as driving history information. The vehicle information providing device has a presentation information provision unit that provides information regarding a presentation route in which the information regarding the presentation route is presented in a form such that routes in a vicinity of the private location cannot be identified, when the presentation route is determined to include at least one private location.
US09347775B2	Method and apparatus for self-calibration of gyroscopes A gyroscope having a resonant body utilizes a self-calibration mechanism that does not require physical rotation of the resonant body. Instead, interface circuitry applies a rotating electrostatic field to first and second drive electrodes simultaneously to excite both the drive and sense resonance modes of the gyroscope. When drive electrodes associated with both the drive and sense resonance modes of the gyroscope are excited by forces of equal amplitude but 90° phase difference, respectively, the phase shift in the gyroscope response, as measured by the current output of the sense electrodes for each resonance mode, is proportional to an equivalent gyroscope rotation rate.
US09347773B2	Highly accurate distance measurement device Highly accurate electro-optical time of flight distance measuring device for determining a distance to a target, including a transmitter for sending out a pulse shaped optical radiation to the target as well as a receiver for an optical signal built for turning the optical signal to an electrical signal, and a filter with a transfer function for filtering the electrical signal whereby the filter is built in such a way that its transfer-function is of at least 4th order, in particular 5th or 7th or higher order, so that aliasing is suppressed. Further a waveform-sampler, as an analog-to-digital-converter, for digitalizing the pulse shape from the filtered electrical signal as time- and value-quantized digital data, and a computation means for a numerical evaluation of the distance according to the pulse shape or a pulse shape representing numerical signature from the digital data.
US09347772B2	Apparatus for measurement of three-dimensional shape An apparatus for measurement of a three-dimensional (3D) shape includes a lens unit transmitting slit beams to a plurality of measurement objects, a light source unit irradiating the plurality of slit beams to the lens unit at different angles, an imaging unit obtaining images of the plurality of measurement objects formed by the slit beams irradiated on the plurality of measurement objects, and a calculation processing unit generating information regarding a 3D shape of the plurality of measurement objects from the images obtained by the imaging unit.
US09347770B2	Energy beam size verification A method for verifying a size of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of providing a first beam spot having a predetermined size and power at a first position on a work piece, varying a focus and/or astigmatism lens setting for said first beam spot until max intensity for the beam spot is detected, comparing the detected settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens for said maximum intensity of the beam spot with stored settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens for the beam spot with said predetermined size and power, repeating step a-c for different predetermined beam powers, repeating step a-d for different positions on said work piece, wherein said beam spot size is verified if each detected settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens are deviating less than a predetermined value from corresponding stored settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens.
US09347769B2	Method for aligning a phase retardation plate with a display panel An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for aligning a phase retardation plate with a display panel comprising the following steps: S1: determining the positions of a first reference line on the phase retardation plate and a second reference line on the display panel, wherein the first reference line is the central line between the first and second ends of the phase retardation area, and the second reference line is the central line between the third and fourth ends of the display area; S2: obtaining a positional deviation between the first reference line and the second reference line by calculation; S3: adjusting the relative position between the phase retardation plate and the display panel according to the positional deviation.
US09347762B2	Near-surface object sensing device and sensing method Disclosed is a near-surface object sensing device, including a printed circuit board, a plurality of magnetic sensors arrayed on the printed circuit board to sense the magnetic field of an external magnetic object and generate a magnetic sensing signal, a multiplexer connected to the magnetic sensors for selecting and outputting the magnetic sensing signal, and a microprocessor connected to the multiplexer for receiving the magnetic sensing signal, wherein the microprocessor includes a sampling algorithm module for converting the magnetic sensing signal into a magnetic field distribution image, and a six-dimensional coordinate-calculating module for calculating six-dimensional coordinates of the external magnetic object. The sensing device of the invention is compact, low energy consuming and can accurately provide users with a convenient and intuitive user interface with three dimensional locations and position information in a near-surface space.
US09347761B2	Two-way roundness device A two way roundness device can be configured as a device in which a tool, such as an indicator rotates or as a device in which the part to be measured or cut rotates. This ability to alternate between these two configurations is enabled by a combination of a rotating spindle assembly and a two-axis stage that can be oriented, in use, with the two-axis stage under the spindle assembly or with the two-axis stage on top of the spindle assembly.
US09347757B2	Wheel assembly for moving caliper jaw with repeatable force A compliant wheel assembly is provided for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar. The wheel assembly includes a rotary bearing member, a rotary actuation member and a compliant coupling element. The rotary bearing member is coupled to the caliper jaw and may engage the caliper spar. The rotary actuation member is actuated by a user to apply a measuring force. The compliant coupling element is configured to compliantly couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member. Using the compliant wheel assembly, a user is able to apply a more consistent amount of measurement force than could typically be achieved with a conventional rigid thumb wheel in caliper. In one implementation, a displacement indicator may also be provided that is responsive to the rotational displacement between the rotary bearing and actuation members for indicating an amount of measurement force that is being applied.
US09347756B2	Non explosive process and device for triggering an avalanche The invention comprises a device and method of using said device(s) including but not limited to; Long Range Acoustical Devices (LRAD), Hyper Sonic Sound (HSS), Cascaded Linear Array Systems (Clas and BClas) and or HyperSpike devices currently and typically used for sonar, acoustic hailing, crowd control, mass notification, and sonic boom simulation—to initiate avalanche release in or in proximity to avalanche corridors and starting zone(s) as a non-explosive control alternative. The invention is an integration of technologies incorporating an infrasound generator, on board power supply and amplification, inverter, digital signal processor, GPS, and RF receiver all housed in a rugged weather resistant enclosure with necessary gantry and rigging. The combination of these technologies allows control personnel to safely operate the equipment from a remote location. The invention is deployed remotely via a cable or network of cables to predetermined avalanche starting zone(s). The device can be rotated, panned the full length or range of the cable(s), and tilted offering users comprehensive coverage of any topography. The invention can readily be integrated with equipment and infrastructures already in use such as bomb trams, cable and pylon networks, helicopters, chairlifts, and sensing and notification systems. New infrastructures can be built to tailor fit any and all topographies and avalanche control programs for ski resorts, Departments of Transportation, transportation entities, and national parks.
US09347755B2	Non-energetics based detonator A detonator system is provided for use with explosives that utilizes two subsystems. A first subsystem functions as a non-explosives based detonator, which does not contain any explosives. The second subsystem is an initiating subsystem, which includes an initiating pellet. To set off an explosive event, the non-energetics based detonator is coupled to the initiating subsystem and the non-energetics based detonator is commanded to provide a suitable signal to the initiating subsystem that is sufficient to function the initiating pellet. Further, the initiating subsystem can be integrated directly into an associated explosive such as a booster that has been configured to receive the initiator subsystem without changing the hazard class of the booster.
US09347750B2	Determination of angle of incidence The invention relates to a method for determining angle of incidence for a projectile in the path of the projectile from launcher to target, which projectile is guidable and substantially or partially roll-stable and comprises a control system and at least two actuators with associated control members, in which the following steps are included: determination of applied force for pitch control by evaluation of the moment upon the actuators of the projectile, determination of applied force for yaw control by evaluation of the moment upon the actuators of the projectile, calculation of the pitch component a of the angle of incidence and of the yaw component β of the angle of incidence, based on comparison between the evaluated moments and reference data for moments. The invention also relates to a GNC system.
US09347749B2	Fashionable, compact, wearable, instant use pepper spray self-defense accessory The present invention includes self-defense apparatus comprising a wristband, an upper compartment with a circular recess attached to the wristband, and a clasp system. The upper compartment holds a small cylindrical canister containing a self-defense spray, the nozzle of the canister aligns with the circular recess. The wristband is comprised of an inner end and an outer end. The clasp system is comprised of an outer portion and an inner portion, wherein the outer portion is located on the outer end of the wristband, and the inner portion located on the inner end of the wristband. The outer portion of the clasp system attaches to the inner portion of the clasp system.
US09347745B2	Dehydratable panels A multilayer armored panel comprising: (I) at least one layer that is non moldable when dry but moldable when wet; (II) at least one hydrogel based layer in contact with layer (I) which, when wet enables the molding of layer (I) but which is capable of drying out to leave a non moldable layer (I).
US09347743B2	Offset aperture dual-gimbaled optical system An offset aperture two-axis gimbaled optical system comprises a two-axis gimbal and an optics assembly that is mounted on the inner gimbal and offset radially from the rotation axis of the outer gimbal. The optics assembly is suitably offset so that its optical aperture does not overlap the rotation axis of the outer gimbal and its optical aperture is symmetric about the rotation axis of the inner gimbal. In different applications, the offset aperture provides for reduced optical aberrations and improved utilization of the available packaging volume to accommodate multiple offset aperture optics assemblies.
US09347733B2	Rotary auger bow stand A rotary auger bow mounting stand for removably holding a bow upright on the ground. The stand includes an upright rod with a helical coil or flights forming an auger base having a point at the lower distal end to be fixedly and removably screwed into the ground to support the stand in an upright position. The top end of the rod forming the stand body defines an S-shaped loop configured, sized and shaped and disposed at a selected angle to support a the arm of a bow holding the bow in a substantially vertical position above the ground. The integral loop which supports the is bow forms a handle for the purpose of rotating the auger into the ground.
US09347731B1	Crossbow device A crossbow device at least comprises a stock with a body portion, a track, and a aiming position member. A lower bow portion is arranged at the front of the body portion which includes a connection portion and a first screw hole is arranged thereinside. A bow frame is fastened in the track and assembled with the aiming position member. A second screw hole is formed at the front of each rod. A bow string set is assembled with the bow frame. Tow positioning blocks are protruded in the limit groove and a third screw hole is arranged at each positioning block and corresponding to the second screw hole. A fourth screw hole is arranged at a hook portion and corresponding to the first screw hole. The screw members are screwed in the third screw hole, the second screw hole, and the fourth screw hole of the hook portion.
US09347722B1	Magazine loader A magazine loader for a firearm is provided. The magazine loader includes a base having a lip that is configured to removably engage a magazine in an upstanding position thereon. The base further includes a hydraulic shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is affixed to the base. The second end includes a depressible platform and a projection configured to load an unloaded cartridge placed above an opening of a magazine. The depressible platform is configured to be hand actuated in relation to the hydraulic shaft to apply downward pressure on the unloaded cartridge with the projection. In this way, the cartridge can be forced downwardly and loaded into the magazine. The depressible platform and projection automatically return to the resting position to allow for additional cartridges to be loaded.
US09347716B2	Indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus is provided, in which an air-conditioning condition changed based on a gesture corresponds to an air-conditioning condition displayed on a display device of a remote controller. With an indoor unit 100, when a user U1 performs a predetermined motion (S1-1), a controller 70 determines the motion of the user U1 (S1-2), recognizes that a gesture instruction condition is instructed (S1-3), controls a heat exchanger 4 and other devices based on the gesture instruction signal (S1-4), and causes the gesture instruction signal to be sent to a remote-controller communication device 85 (S1-5). When a remote controller 80 receives the gesture instruction signal (S1-6), the gesture instruction condition is displayed on a remote-controller display device 82 (S1-7), and buzzer sound (electronic beeper sound) is output from a remote-controller sound output device 83 (S1-8).
US09347713B2	Vapour only cycling of heat transfer fluid for the thermal storage of solar energy Heat transfer fluid in vapor only state is cycled through solar collector(s) (12) and a sensible heat storage medium (14) to transfer heat from the solar collector(s) (12) to the sensible heat storage medium (14). The heat transfer fluid is a liquid at ambient temperature, but substantially in the vapor state throughout the entire cycle when in operation.
US09347712B2	Heat dissipating device A heat dissipating device includes a heat dissipating fin module, a second base, a third base, a heat pipe, a first sleeve and a fourth base. The heat dissipating fin module includes a first base and a plurality of first heat dissipating fins. A recess is formed on the second base. The third base is disposed in the recess. The heat pipe includes a heat dissipating segment, a heat absorbing segment and a connecting segment connecting the heat dissipating segment and the heat absorbing segment. The heat dissipating segment is disposed in the first base. The heat absorbing segment is disposed in the second and third bases and contacts the third base directly. The first sleeve at least covers the connecting segment. The fourth base is formed by a die casting process and covers peripheries of the first and second bases and the first sleeve.
US09347710B2	Method for controlling thermal balance of a suspension smelting furnace and suspension smelting furnace The invention relates to a method for controlling the thermal balance of a suspension smelting and to a suspension smelting furnace. The suspension smelting furnace, comprising a reaction shaft (1), a lower furnace (2), and an uptake (3), wherein the reaction shaft (1) having a shaft structure (4) that is provided with a surrounding wall structure (5) and a roof structure (6) and that limits a reaction chamber (7), and wherein the reaction shaft (1) is provided with a concentrate burner (14) for feeding pulverous solid matter and reaction gas into the reaction chamber (7). The shaft structure (4) of the reaction shaft (1) is provided with cooling means (8) for feeding endothermic material into the reaction chamber (7) of the reaction shaft (1).
US09347703B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
US09347701B2	Refrigerator module mounting system An elongated spine extends vertically within a refrigerated cabinet, freezer cabinet, or doors and includes ductwork for the transmission of fluids within the spine as well as operating power and/or electrical control or data signals. The spine includes a mounting channel having inwardly extending edges. Modules mate with the spine for the physical mounting of the modules at any desired location within the continuously extending channel and are provided with a flange which fits within the spine and mounts the module in a cantilevered fashion to the refrigerator. Such construction facilitates the distribution of fluids, such as hot or cold air within the refrigerator, and the manufacturing of a refrigerator by providing a readily attached spine and allowing modular construction of a refrigerator with infinite adjustability for the user.
US09347699B2	Air discharge structure for packaged air conditioner An air discharge structure for a packaged air conditioner includes a front air outlet (7) disposed on the mid-upper part of a body (1), and an upper panel (9) mounted on the front air outlet (7) and slidable up and down along the body (1). An upper decorative panel (10), height of which is matched with the stroke of the upper panel (9), is mounted above the front air outlet (7) and slidable back and forth along the body (1). An upper and lower limit mechanism for the upper decorative panel is disposed between the upper decorative panel (10) and the body (1). The application can facilitate increasing the range of air supply in the air conditioner and maintain stable air supply.
US09347697B2	Air conditioner and control method thereof Provided is an air conditioner. The air conditioner including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and an expansion device includes a supercooling device for supercooling a refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger or the indoor heat exchanger, an injection passage through which the refrigerant passing through the supercooling device is introduced into an injection inflow part of the compressor, a bypass passage extending from the injection passage to a suction part of the compressor to bypass the refrigerant, and a passage opening/closing part disposed in at least one of the injection passage and the bypass passage to selectively block a flow of the refrigerant.
US09347692B2	Low profile solar tracking systems and methods A solar energy collection system comprises a frame for mounting the system on a suitable substrate and a plurality of solar panels disposed adjacent to one another on the frame. A first set of the solar panels are movable relative to a second set of the solar panels, for tracking movement of the sun during the day. Solar panels of the first set are arranged in alternating fashion with solar panels of the second set. In some embodiments of the invention, the panels in the second set of solar panels are stationary. The second set of solar panels, in some embodiments, are disposed substantially flat, relative to the frame and the substrate on which the frame is mounted. In some embodiments, differing from those in which the second set of solar panels are stationary, the second set of solar panels may be arranged to be movable relative to the first set of solar panels.
US09347690B2	Methods and systems for concentrated solar power Embodiments described herein relate to a method of producing energy from concentrated solar flux. The method includes dropping granular solid particles through a solar flux receiver configured to transfer energy from concentrated solar flux incident on the solar flux receiver to the granular solid particles as heat. The method also includes fluidizing the granular solid particles from the solar flux receiver to produce a gas-solid fluid. The gas-solid fluid is passed through a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the solid particles in the gas-solid fluid to a working fluid. The granular solid particles are extracted from the gas-solid fluid such that the granular solid particles can be dropped through the solar flux receiver again.
US09347688B2	Tracking solar mirror system A concentrating solar collector that includes a target, a plurality of mirror assemblies, and a master tracking assembly that controls the mirror assemblies is disclosed. The mirror assemblies are fixed at a plurality of distinct locations with respect to the target, each mirror assembly includes a moveable mirror and a tracking assembly. Each tracking assembly includes a target member, a sun member, and a tracking actuator. The target member is fixed relative to the target such that the target member points at the target. The sun member is moveable relative to the target such that when the sun member points to the sun, light from the sun is reflected onto the target. The master tracking assembly moves each of the sun members such that the sun members simultaneously point at the sun. The tracking actuators are mechanical devices that are coupled to the master tracking assembly by a mechanical linkage.
US09347684B2	Prevention or reduction of scaling on a heater element of a water heater The invention provides a method of using a water heater arranged for heating an aqueous liquid wherein the water heater comprises a heating element to heat aqueous liquid in the water heater. The method comprising (a) heating aqueous liquid in the water heater with the heating element, wherein the heating element is in contact with the aqueous liquid; and (b) applying a first AC voltage between the heating element and a counter electrode and applying a second AC voltage between the heating element and the counter electrode, wherein the second AC voltage has a second AC frequency selected from the range of 0.02 Hz-5 Hz and wherein the ratio between the first AC frequency and the second AC frequency is 2 or more.
US09347682B2	Dynamic double-circuit in-line heater A dynamic double-circuit in-Line heater is disclosed, as well as a machine containing the heater and a method of operating the machine.
US09347681B2	Cleanroom The present invention provides a cleanroom for storing glass substrates, and which comprises an exhaust is disposed on a bottom floor of the cleanroom. A first filtering device is arranged on a ceiling of the cleanroom to provide purified airflow to the cleanroom. A second filtering device is arranged on the bottom floor of the cleanroom jointly to create a vertical airflow with the first filtering device so as to reduce the turbulence within the cleanroom. The present invention can readily resolve the prior art issue in which the airborne particles stirred by turbulence within the cleanroom cannot be effectively eliminated.
US09347678B2	Distributed indoor air quality control module and method An indoor air quality (IAQ) control module may be provided for sensing and controlling the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a zone in a building. The IAQ control module may receive a supply air sample from a supply vent and a return air sample from a return vent, where the air samples are taken using the pressure created by a blower within the HVAC system. The IAQ control module may then compute a differential value for each of the sensed one or more air parameters and generate a control signal or command based on at least the differential value(s). The IAQ control module may then communicate the control signal to an airflow control device to control the airflow to and/or from the zone.
US09347673B1	Universal convection manipulation device and methods A universal convection manipulation device for insertion into a conventional oven and a method of use are provided. The universal convection manipulation device includes a substantially rectangular flexible sheet of material including an intermediate body portion. The intermediate body portion includes a first flange arranged along an end of the intermediate body portion and a second flange arranged along an opposite end of the intermediate body portion. The flexible sheet of material is capable of being flexed into an arched shape and sized to be insertable into various sized conventional ovens depending on the amount of flexure of the sheet of material. The first flange and the second flange are shaped so that they are capable of being inserted and held with a tension against a sidewall support structure of a conventional oven when the flexible sheet of material is flexed into the arched shape and released during installation within the conventional oven. The flexible sheet of material lies substantially flat in a relaxed, unflexed condition.
US09347670B2	Burner assembly for an appliance A burner assembly for an appliance is provided. The appliance includes a top panel constructed of a non-conducting material. A gas burner is removably mounted to the top panel at an opening of the top panel. A conducting contact extends between the gas burner and a mounting assembly positioned at the opening of the top panel. The conducting contact can be used to ground the gas burner.
US09347666B2	Combustor with fuel injector pegs for reducing combustion pressure oscillations A combustor includes a combustor external cylinder, a tubular combustor basket installed in the combustor external cylinder, a compressed air channel defined between the combustor external cylinder and the combustor basket, and a plurality of fuel nozzles installed in the combustor basket. Compressed air flowing along the compressed air channel is approximately reversed in the flow direction at an end of the combustor basket, and is introduced into the plurality of fuel nozzles. Fuel injection pegs made up of an upstream side fuel injection peg injecting upstream side fuel and a downstream side fuel injection peg injecting downstream side fuel, are installed in the compressed air channel. Concentration fluctuation of the upstream side fuel caused by pressure fluctuation in the combustor is configured so as to reduce a peak of concentration fluctuation of the downstream side fuel at a combustion start position of the combustor.
US09347663B2	Swirler having vanes provided with at least two lobes in opposite transverse directions with reference to a vane central plane A swirler including an annular housing with limiting walls. At least two vanes are arranged in the annular housing including the sidewalls of the swirler. The leading edge area of each vane has a profile, which is oriented parallel to a main flow direction prevailing at the leading edge position, wherein the profiles of the vanes turn from the main flow direction prevailing at the leading edge position to impose a swirl on the flow, and wherein, with reference to a central plane of the vanes the trailing edges are provided with at least two lobes in opposite transverse directions. A burner for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine including such a swirler and at least one nozzle having its outlet orifice at or in a trailing edge of the vane and to a method of operation of such a burner.
US09347662B2	Tube support system for nuclear steam generators An apparatus in a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell. The tube support plates are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the shroud. The tube support plates are aligned during fabrication with minimal clearances between components. Using a tube support displacement system, a controlled misalignment is imposed on one or more tube support plates as the steam generator heats up. The tube support plate displacement system has only two parts, a spring bar and a push rod, that are internal to the steam generator shell and threadably engaged, thereby minimizing the potential of loose parts. The tube support plate displacement system can be used to provide controlled misalignments on one or more tube support plates, with one or more apparatus being provided for any individual tube support plate.
US09347656B2	Portable light having a light source on a flexible stalk A portable light may comprise: a light body; a source of electrical power in the light body; a light head on a flexible bendable stalk supported by the light body, the light head including a light source; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; and an electronic circuit in the light body for controlling operation of the light source responsive to the electrical switch. Optionally, a USB connector may be provided on the light body for connecting to an external source of electrical power, wherein the electronic circuit is further for coupling electrical power received at the USB connector to the source of electrical power.
US09347654B2	Lighting device having a movable housing A lighting device may include an electrical base, a stabilizer adapted to be matingly connected to the electrical base, a body member, and an optic connected to the body member and defining an optical chamber. A light source may be positioned within the optical chamber and in electrical communication with the electrical base. The stabilizer may be transitionable from an engaged position with the electrical base and a disengaged position with the electrical base. The disengaged position allows for the stabilizer to be translated longitudinally with respect to the base member. The engaged position slidably fixes the stabilizer with respect to the heat sink by reducing space between the electrical base, the enclosure and the heat sink.
US09347652B2	Lighting device and lighting device set A lighting device includes a body section; a cover section provided on an end surface of the body section; and a light emitting module provided between the body section and the cover section, having a light emitting element. A position of the end section of the light emitting module is equal to a position of the end section of the body section, or is nearer to the side of the cover section than the position of the end section of the body section. The position of the end section on the side of the body section in a portion in which the cover section comes into contact with the body section is nearer to the side of the body section than the position of the end section of the light emitting module on the side of the cover section.
US09347650B2	Light emitting apparatus using medium layer between wavelength conversion layer and transparent layer A light emitting apparatus includes a first light source to generate light having a first main wavelength band, a second light source to generate light having a second main wavelength band, a first transparent layer surrounding the first and second light sources, a wavelength conversion layer disposed on the first transparent layer to convert at least one of the light having the first main wavelength band and the light having the second main wavelength band into light having a third main wavelength band, and a medium layer between the wavelength conversion layer and the first transparent layer. At least of the first or second light sources has a first refractive index, the first transparent layer has a second refractive index, the medium layer has a third refractive index, the wavelength conversion layer has a fourth refractive index, and the first to fourth refractive indexes are different from each other.
US09347639B2	Optical module of an illuminating and/or signalling device of a motor vehicle An optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle In one embodiment, the optical module comprises a support that supports an optical lens and a heat exchanger, with the support connecting the optical lens to the heat exchanger.
US09347637B2	Vehicle lamp socket assembly A vehicle lamp socket assembly includes a housing, a body, a sealant, and a terminal blade. The housing has a cavity and has a connector with a socket. The housing also has a pass-through spanning between the cavity and the socket. In assembly, the body is received in the housing and has a retainer that holds a vehicle lamp. The sealant is located at the pass-through and fills a section or more of the pass-through. And the terminal blade extends through the pass-through and through the sealant.
US09347636B2	Vehicle lighting unit A vehicle lighting unit forming low-beam and high-beam light distribution patterns can include: a light source having a substrate, and a first light-emitting section and a second light-emitting section arranged in two rows on a surface of the substrate; a first optical system configured to control light emitted from the first light-emitting section to form at least part of the low-beam light distribution pattern; a second optical system configured to control light emitted from the second light-emitting section to form at least part of the high-beam light distribution pattern; a light-shielding section disposed between the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section, the light-shielding section configured to shield part of the light from the first light-emitting section so as not to enter the second optical system; and a control unit configured to control to form the low-beam light distribution pattern or the high-beam light distribution pattern.
US09347634B2	Illuminating floor mat with wireless power transfer An illuminable mat adapted for use in a variety of settings is provided. The illuminable mat includes an illuminable region and a light source that illuminates the illuminable region. The light source is powered by a receiver that is wirelessly supplied by a transmitter.
US09347633B1	Cordless decorative lamp A decorative cordless lamp has a replaceable rechargeable energy storage device for powering an LED lighting element. The LED lighting element may be controlled by a variety of switches, timers, and sensors to enable the user to selectively tailor the operation of the decorative cordless lamp. The cordless lamp utilizes wireless charging to improve the user's experience and a series of interchangeable bases to facilitate decorating.
US09347632B2	Light fixture The lighting fixture comprises a receptacle having a first sidewall and a second sidewall disposed in opposed relationship and a first end wall and a second end wall disposed in opposed relationship. A back wall extends from the first and second sidewalls from the first and second end walls. The sidewalls, end walls and back wall define a chamber. The u-shaped channel having a base and opposed legs extends from the first end wall to the second end wall. The base of the channel extends into the chamber. At least one Edison screw type base socket is positioned on at least one leg of the channel. The Edison screw type base socket is designed to accept a screw type light producing lamp.
US09347631B2	Modular LED strip lighting apparatus A LED based lighting apparatus is disclosed. The light engine used in the lighting apparatus may use a multi-layer metal core printed circuit board and have a plurality of LED groups that are independently controllable by a control unit. The power supply input and return paths connected to each LED group may be implemented on different layers to allow a compact footprint that may be used with traditional fluorescent encasements with relatively little modification.
US09347622B2	LED white light source with remote photoluminescent converter The proposed illuminator relates to white-light lamps based on LEDs with remote phosphor converters. The illuminator comprises a heat removing base with a radiation output opening, and the LEDs secured near the periphery of the opening, with, arranged in series at a distance from the LEDs, a concave phosphor converter layer, wherein the layer's concavity is oriented towards the LED's and the opening. White light formed as mix of reflected LED's radiation and phosphor's radiation exits via the opening, while white light formed as mix of LED's radiation passing through the layer and phosphor's radiation exits through the layer. The layer may have the form of a truncated ellipsoid of revolution, in particular a sphere, or a paraboloid, with a main axis perpendicular to the plane of the opening, or a cylinder truncated by the plane of the opening.
US09347620B2	Semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a board, a controller chip, a semiconductor chip, a sealing portion, and a component. The board includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface comprising a terminal. The controller chip is on the second surface of the board. The semiconductor chip is on the second surface of the board. The sealing portion integrally covers the controller chip and the semiconductor chip and does not cover a region of the second surface of the board. The component is on the region of the second surface of the board to perform an operation with respect to the outside of the semiconductor device.
US09347618B2	LED lighting apparatus with first and second cover portions An LED lamp includes a plurality of LED modules arranged in direction x, a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules that is open at ends spaced from each other in direction x, and end caps respectively closing the ends of the tubular enclosure in direction x. Each of the end caps is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light, and includes an emission surface for emitting light in a direction z perpendicular to direction x. This arrangement ensures that the LED lamp has a good appearance even when it is made long.
US09347616B2	Refillable ampoule with purge capability A fluid delivery system adapted to isolate an ampoule and/or process line during purge, including an inlet control valve connecting a source of pressurized gas to a refillable ampoule, an outlet control valve connecting the refillable ampoule to a location of use, a process control valve connecting a process line to the refillable ampoule, a process isolation valve, and a purge supply valve, e.g., a three-way purge supply valve, arranged between the process isolation valve and the process control valve. A method of purging a fluid delivery system is also disclosed, including closing a process isolation valve, connecting a process line to a refillable ampoule, supplying a purge gas through a purge supply valve, e.g., a three-way purge supply valve, and cycling open and close at least once a process control valve coupled to the process line. A manifold for use in refilling an ampoule and purging a fluid supply system is also described.
US09347614B2	Method and system for tank refilling using active fueling speed control Disclosed is an improved analytical method that can be utilized by hydrogen filling stations for directly and accurately calculating the end-of-fill temperature in a hydrogen tank that, in turn, allows for improvements in the fill quantity while tending to reduce refueling time. The calculations involve calculation of a composite heat capacity value, MC, from a set of thermodynamic parameters drawn from both the tank system receiving the gas and the station supplying the gas. These thermodynamic parameters are utilized in a series of simple analytical equations to define a multi-step process by which target fill times, final temperatures and final pressures can be determined. The parameters can be communicated to the station directly from the vehicle or retrieved from a database accessible by the station. Because the method is based on direct measurements of actual thermodynamic conditions and quantified thermodynamic behavior, significantly improved tank filling results can be achieved.
US09347612B2	Method and system for tank refilling using active fueling speed control Disclosed is an improved analytical method that can be utilized by hydrogen filling stations for directly and accurately calculating the end-of-fill temperature in a hydrogen tank that, in turn, allows for improvements in the fill quantity while tending to reduce refueling time. The calculations involve calculation of a composite heat capacity value, MC, from a set of thermodynamic parameters drawn from both the tank system receiving the gas and the station supplying the gas. These thermodynamic parameters are utilized in a series of simple analytical equations to define a multi-step process by which target fill times, final temperatures and final pressures can be determined. The parameters can be communicated to the station directly from the vehicle or retrieved from a database accessible by the station. Because the method is based on direct measurements of actual thermodynamic conditions and quantified thermodynamic behavior, significantly improved tank filling results can be achieved.
US09347608B2	Supporting mechanism and related electronic device capable of applying to rotation of a signal transmission holder A supporting mechanism and a related electronic device can be adapted to apply to rotation of a signal transmission holder. The rotary supporting mechanism includes a base, a bracket, a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, a third connecting rod and a actuating component. The signal transmission holder is disposed on the bracket . Two end of the first connecting rod respectively pivot between the base and the bracket. A first end of the second connecting rod pivots to the bracket . Two ends of the third connecting rod respectively pivot to the base and a second end of the second connecting rod. The actuating component is rotatably disposed on the second connecting rod. A contacting portion of the actuating component is movably shifted between a first blocker and a second blocker of the third connecting rod since the second connecting rod rotates relative to the third connecting rod.
US09347603B2	Counterweight hoisting apparatus A hoisting apparatus includes at least one pair of substantially vertical columns defining a frame. A tie bar and a carriage are selectively securable to the at least one pair of columns and oriented substantially perpendicular to the columns. A lifting device connected to the tie bar at a first end and to the carriage at a second end. The lifting device is operable to cause movement of the tie bar relative to the at least one pair of columns when the carriage is secured to the at least one pair of columns and to cause movement of the carriage relative to the at least one pair of columns when the tie bar is secured to the at least one pair of columns. The hoisting apparatus is connectable to a counterweight of a belt conveyor for raising or lowering the conveyor in a series of incremental hoisting steps.
US09347599B2	Support system for an equipment item on a concrete slab A support system for an equipment item on a concrete slab includes at least one raised block relative to the slab and of a single piece with the slab. The block includes a metal belt delimiting the vertical walls of the block and a metal support fastened to the belt and capping the block to receive a foot of the equipment item.
US09347598B1	Pipeline sleeve attachment method and apparatus The present application includes a device and method for securing a sleeve around a pipeline in order to thicken an area of the pipe. The device includes a plurality of leg assemblies configured to pivot relative to one another in a scissor motion. Wheels are located at the bottom end of the leg assemblies and contact a surface of the upper sleeve half. A strap device is wrapped around the top and bottom sleeve halves and coupled to the device. A ratcheting device is used to controllably tighten the strap around the sleeve and pipeline. As the device tightens, the scissor motion causes the wheels to roll along the sleeve. Tightening the strap device generates a radial compressive force around the sleeve and holds it in place until the sleeve is permanently secured to the pipeline.
US09347591B2	Static dissipation in composite structural components A method to prevent the accumulation of static electricity in a pipe system for containing corrosive petroleum products is provided, for a total resistance of less than 1 MEG ohms to ground from all points. The pipe system has at least two pipe sections, each comprising a structural layer and a corrosion resistant layer. The corrosion resistant layer has at least a conductive surface area in contact with the fluid, with the conductive surface area defining an electrical pathway extending a length of the pipe section. Each pipe section has a tapered end exposing a portion of the corrosion resistant layer. The method comprises joining the two pipe sections at the tapered ends by a conductive adhesive overlay, and electrically connecting the conductive adhesive overlay to a grounding device, wherein the grounding device helps dissipate build-up of electrostatic charge in the pipe system carrying the fluid.
US09347589B1	Strut clamp A method for applying a clamp for a construction strut that allows a pipe to be clamped to the construction strut in which the clamp has a fastener that is not exposed above the clamp curvature and in which the fastener head is easily accessible. Also the clamp has a retaining tab and a neck portion such that it can be installed by straight-in insertion at the top of a construction strut. Also, the method has an embodiment in that the clamp can be installed either on the open side of the construction strut or on the closed side using slots in the closed side by straight-in passing the retaining tab past the inturned flanges on the top of the construction strut and by a rotation at the bottom of the construction strut.
US09347588B1	Cable holding assembly A cable holding assembly for preventing an amplifier jack from being damaged while coupled to an instrument cable includes a base coupled to an instrument amplifier. A retainer is coupled to said base. The retainer may engage the instrument cable when the instrument cable is coupled to the amplifier jack to prevent damaging the amplifier jack.
US09347586B2	Automated pipetting apparatus having a combined liquid pump and pipette head system The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The technology still more particularly relates to automated devices for carrying out pipetting operations, particularly on samples in parallel, consistent with sample preparation and delivery of PCR-ready nucleotide extracts to a cartridge wherein PCR is run.
US09347585B2	Dual seal fire safe stem packing orientation A valve with a packing assembly includes a valve body assembly with a bore, a valve member moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a valve stem coupled to the valve member. A first stem packing circumscribes a portion of the valve stem, and is located in an upper bore portion of the bore. A first packing retainer has a collar that limits axial movement of the first stem packing, and also has a first retainer body defining an inner cavity. A second stem packing circumscribes a portion of the valve stem and is located in the inner cavity of the first packing retainer. A second packing retainer has a neck compressingly engaging the second stem packing, and a retainer shoulder that engages the first packing retainer. A retaining assembly is coupled with the valve body assembly for applying axial force to the second packing retainer.
US09347580B2	Valve device A valve device of the present invention includes: a main valve body interposed between a first pressure chamber of a main passage and a second pressure chamber; and a pilot valve body provided in the second pressure chamber. A first pilot passage including a first restrictor extends from an outside of a housing or a primary passage to the second pressure chamber, and a second pilot passage including a second restrictor is formed at the main valve body. The pilot valve body is maintained at a first operation position by a pilot valve body biasing member and is caused to move to a second operation position by a valve body driving unit. When the pilot valve body is located at the second operation position, the main valve body is caused to move to an open position by a pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.
US09347578B2	Check valve assembly Provided is a check valve assembly including a check valve having a body and a stem having at least one radially inwardly deflectable member having an end with a radially outwardly projecting catch, and a valve shield retained on the stem between the body and the end of the at least one radially inwardly deflectable member by the radially outwardly projecting catch. In this way, a mechanical bond is provided between the check valve and the valve shield, thereby eliminating the need to clean the body of the check valve to remove contaminants to allow an adhesive to hold the check valve to the valve shield.
US09347569B2	Gate valve A gate valve including a housing with two seat rings and two slide valve plates arranged on a plate holder and located between the seat rings. Each slide plate has a depression in which a respective pressure piece is received. The pressure pieces face one another with one pressure piece having a projection that fits in a bore of the other pressure piece. Within at least a portion of the bore a plurality of spring elements are co-axially located on the projection between the pressure pieces biasing the pressure pieces and their respective valve plates apart. The plurality of spring elements may be cup plate springs, with a first group having a spring force that is less than a spring force of a second group, and a spring deflection that is greater than a plate spring deflection of the second group.
US09347567B2	Valve for vehicle A valve apparatus for the vehicle that may be disposed in a vehicle to exhaust operating fluid, which flows therein, to the outside, may include a main body that has at least one exhaust port and input port and the operating fluid flows there in through the input port, and an opening/closing unit that may be disposed in the main body, wherein the opening/closing unit selectively fluid-connects one of the at least a exhaust port with the input port according to a temperature of the operating fluid such that the inflow operating fluid may be exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port.
US09347564B2	Protective device for piston rod-cylinder apparatus A debris wiping device (15) for a piston rod-cylinder assembly (10) includes a wiper ring (16), which surrounds a central opening (19). The wiper ring (16) includes a flexible element (17) that surrounds the central opening (19). A retaining cap (21) includes a tubular segment (22, 23) that transitions at one end into an end wall (24), which has a through opening (25).
US09347563B2	Gas lock, and coating apparatus comprising a gas lock The present invention relates to a gas lock for separating two gas chambers, which while taking up minimal space makes it possible to achieve the separation of gases without contact with the product/educt/transporting system. The gas lock according to the invention is distinguished in that at least one means for manipulation of the flow is present in a flow passage of the gas lock. Also, the present invention relates to a coating device which comprises a gas lock according to the invention. Also provided are possibilities for using the gas lock according to the invention.
US09347562B2	Cylindrical gasket, method for manufacturing the same, and insertion-type exhaust pipe joint using the cylindrical gasket A cylindrical gasket 27 includes a reinforcing member 70 made from a compressed belt-shaped metal wire net 5, a heat-resistant material 71 filled in meshes of the belt-shaped metal wire net 5 of the reinforcing member 70, and pores which are dispersedly distributed in the reinforcing member 70 and the heat-resistant material 71. An inner peripheral surface 23, an outer peripheral surface 24, and annular end faces 25 and 26 of the cylindrical gasket 27 are each formed by a smooth surface in which the heat-resistant material 71 and the reinforcing member 70 are present in mixed form. In the cylindrical gasket 27, the volume contents of the reinforcing member 70, the heat-resistant material 71, and the pores are 32 to 60%, 5 to 58%, and 10 to 35%, respectively.
US09347556B2	Dual shift fork A dual shift fork includes a sliding fork and a rotary fork rotatably connected to the sliding fork. A pair of pad members are disposed on an inner side of both ends of the sliding fork. A sleeve disposed at an inner side of the sliding fork and contacting the pad members. The pad members are simultaneously engaged with the sliding fork and the rotary fork at an inner side of both ends of the rotary fork. The rotary fork rotates at a predetermined angle with respect to the sliding fork as the sleeve moves independently from the sliding fork.
US09347553B2	Control device of automatic transmission and method of controlling automatic transmission A control device of an automatic transmission that controls the automatic transmission including a friction engagement element capable of continuously changing a transmission torque includes: a first heat load estimation unit configured to estimate a heat load state in the friction engagement element based on an indication value of the transmission torque; and an estimation stop unit configured to stop the estimation of the heat load state based on a state where the indication value of the transmission torque differs from an actual value of the transmission torque actually transmitted by the friction engagement element.
US09347552B2	Method for operating a transmission device A method for operating a transmission device, which is transferable into different operating states through the actuation of shifting elements, is described. At least one of the shifting elements is designed as a positive-locking shifting element, which is supplied with operating pressure for presenting a defined operating state of the transmission device. Through a sensor device upstream of a valve device, which is connected to a transmission area essentially featuring ambient pressure, a value of a pressure signal corresponding to the operating pressure can be determined. Upon exceeding a threshold value of the pressure signal, currently in the area of the positive-locking shifting element, a change in operating state is determined, and, upon falling short of an additional threshold value of the pressure signal, the reaching of the requested operating state is established. In a non-actuated operating state of the positive-locking shifting element, the pressure in the transmission area is established by the sensor device. Upon the presence of a request for a change in operating state in the area of the positive-locking shifting element, the threshold value and the additional threshold value are determined from the sum of the pressure calculated in the transmission area prior to the presence of the request for the change in operating state and a pressure offset value.
US09347551B2	Device for controlling automatic transmission A device for controlling an automatic transmission including a first frictional engagement element that is engaged at a first gear shift stage and is released at a second gear shift stage, the device including a piston stroke return determination means for determining a released state of a piston that is actuated to press friction discs of the first frictional engagement element, and a gear shift start determination means for restricting execution of a gear shift from the second gear shift stage to the first gear shift stage until it is determined that the piston is in a predetermined released state after a gear shift from the first gear shift stage to the second gear shift stage is finished.
US09347547B2	Transmission A transmission which includes a housing, a planetary gear mechanism, an input shaft, an output shaft, a brake including a friction member, a piston member pressing the friction member, and an actuator portion applying a pressing force to the piston member, the brake braking a rotation of one of a sun gear, a ring gear, and a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism, an external output gear positioned between the friction member and the actuator portion in a direction of a rotation axis, the external output gear provided at a member integrally rotating with the input shaft, and the piston member including an opening portion formed over a predetermined angular range about the rotation axis and within a range in the direction of the rotation axis in which the external output gear is disposed.
US09347546B2	Planet wheel carrier for a planetary gear A planet wheel carrier comprises first and second end-sections for supporting shafts of planet wheels (113-114) of a planetary gear so that geometrical rotation axes of the planet wheels are pithed at substantially uniform intervals on a periphery of a circle. The planet wheel carrier comprises a support structure connected to outer rims of the first and second end-sections and located between the first and second end-sections in the axial direction and between the planet wheels in the circumferential direction. The support structure is so far from the geometrical rotational symmetry axis of a sun shaft (111) of the planetary gear and the geometrical rotation axes of the planet wheels are so near to the rotational symmetry axis of the sun shaft that the diameter (D) of the planet wheels is capable of being at least 90% of a distance (d) between the geometrical rotation axes of adjacent planet wheels.
US09347545B2	Transmission vent cap A vent cap for a transmission is provided. The vent cap includes an insertion part for attaching the vent cap to the transmission. The insertion part has portions forming a first channel through the insertion part. The vent cap also has a vent part for attaching the vent cap to a hose. The vent part is attached to the insertion part. The vent part may have a vent base and a hose attachment portion extending from the vent base, wherein the hose attachment portion defines a second channel therethrough. The second channel is in communication with the first channel. The second channel may be orientated substantially perpendicular to the first channel. The insertion part may have at least one insertion attachment feature that mates with at least one vent attachment features of the vent part.
US09347542B2	Parallel-axis helical differential assembly A differential assembly with a case assembly, a plurality of first and second shoes, a plurality of first and second helical pinions, and first and second side gears. The case assembly defines first and second apertures and includes a case body and a case cap. The first and second shoes are integrally formed with the case body and the case cover, respectively. The first pinions are meshingly engaged to the first side gear and have pin portions that are received into the first apertures. The second pinions are meshingly engaged to the second side gear and have pin portions that are received into the second apertures. The first and second helical pinions frictionally engage an interior wall surface of the case body in response to a reaction force generated by meshing engagement with the first and second side gears, respectively, to limit differential motion between the first and second side gears.
US09347534B2	Ball screw device and electric power steering system including the same A ball screw nut of a ball screw device is fastened to a motor shaft by engaging a male thread portion thereof with a female thread portion of the motor shaft. In a case where, in a movement pathway for balls, an area where the balls roll under load from a rack shaft and the ball screw nut is set as a load area, an area that does not receive the load is set as a no-load area, and areas for transition from the load area to the no-load area are set as transition areas, the male thread portion is formed such that the transition area on the nut-side joint portion-side closest to a seating surface does not overlap phase ranges of cut portions in a state where the ball screw nut is fastened to the motor shaft.
US09347533B2	Rotational drive system for a biopsy member A drive system is provided for rotating a biopsy member. The drive system includes a pinion connected to the biopsy member and a rack that drives the pinion during a drive stroke. During the return stroke, the rack rotates away from the pinion so that the rack is not engaged with the pinion during the return stroke. Thus, the pinion is only driven during the drive stroke but not during the return stroke. As a result, the biopsy member rotates in a single direction as a trigger is repeatedly pressed and released.
US09347531B2	Belt-type continuously variable transmission A belt type CVT, which has a variable drive pulley controlling a transmission gear ratio by varying a diameter and a variable driven pulley connected to the variable drive pulley by a belt and controlling a tension of the belt by varying a diameter in a manner opposite to that of the variable drive pulley, in which each of the variable drive and driven pulleys includes belt supports movably installed between a pair of pulley plates, and transmission plates mounted to outside surfaces of respective pulley plates and rotated in opposite directions, thereby moving the plurality of belt supports in the radial directions, and the inner surface of the belt is provided with ratchet gear parts engaged with the belt holding ratchet gear parts of the belt supports, so that the diameters of the variable drive pulley and the variable driven pulley can be more easily and efficiently varied.
US09347530B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of three to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and at least one reverse gear ratio.
US09347529B1	Multi-stage transmission for vehicle A multi-stage transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft and an output shaft, a first planetary gear device, a second planetary gear device, a third planetary gear device, and a fourth planetary gear device provided between the input shaft and the output shaft to transfer a torque and each including three rotating elements, and at least six shifting elements connected to the rotating elements of the first to fourth planetary gear devices.
US09347528B1	Two-speed epicyclic gear arrangement A power transmitting that includes an epicyclic multi-speed transmission that employs friction to torsionally ground one or more elements of the transmission to either inhibit their rotation or to couple the elements together for common rotation. The epicyclic multi-speed transmission avoids clutch configurations that employ stationary clutch packs that are configured to exert force on a rotatable element of the transmission through a thrust bearing, as well as clutch configurations that employ a hydraulically operated piston that rotates with a clutch pack, to reduce drag force and eliminate the need for rotary seals.
US09347523B2	Chain To provide a chain which makes it possible to reduce friction loss during operation. [Means of Resolution] An endless silent chain 1 which comprises a plurality of links 2 having respective pairs of pin holes 22, which are linked in such a way as to be able to flex about one another by means of linking pins 3 that are inserted into the pin holes 22, wherein one or more projections 25, 26 is/are provided on one of the main surfaces 2A of the links 2 so that a specific gap C is formed between adjacent links 2 in the width direction of the chain, and these projections 25, 26 come into contact with the main surface 2B of the link 2 which is adjacent to that link 2 in the width direction of the chain.
US09347522B2	Fastener for garment drawstrings, laces, and the like A fastener connects two strings together, such as the drawstring of sweatpants or the two shoe lace strings ends of respective shoe lace strings in a pair of sneakers. The body of the fastener is made out of a material, such as highly dense polyurethane foam, that is strong, yet flexible, or of a rigid plastic, that is strong, yet flexible. The two strings to be fastened pass through one or more gripping and/or locking holes in the fastener body. When the shoelace is passed through the gripping and/or locking holes, the dense polyurethane foam grips the lace tightly. The free ends are pulled through one or more peripheral slits extending towards, but not all the way to, the gripping and/or locking holes and then bent against the upper outer surface of the disk and locked in place in the respective one or more peripheral locking slits.
US09347520B2	Flat belt clamping system and method A belt clamping system including an open-ended, flat belt with an end portion having a number of teeth projecting therefrom and a clamping plate with matching tooth profile for use in connecting the belt end to another structure. The flat belt may be reinforced with longitudinally extending cords. The toothed profile may be a standard timing belt profile and may be unreinforced. A length of timing belt profile material may be welded to the flat surface of the open-ended flat belt at or near an end. The length of timing belt profile may include at least 7 tooth pitches. The end portion may be clamped between a flat surface of a flat plate and a grooved surface of a grooved plate having grooves complementary to the timing belt teeth.
US09347517B2	Torque rod Provided is a torque rod which has a first annular part of resin adapted to connect to a power unit; a second annular part of resin adapted to connect to a vehicle body; a connecting portion of resin that connects the first and second annular parts while arranging these parts at mutually twisted positions, the connecting portion having, at a surface including an outer cylindrical surface of the first annular part, a recess; a first elastic member provided in an inner cylindrical surface of the first annular part; a first metal collar member of which outer peripheral portion is supported by the first elastic member; a second elastic member provided in an inner cylindrical surface of the second annular part; a second metal collar member of which outer peripheral portion is supported by the second elastic member; a first rib structure formed on the surface including the outer cylindrical surface of the first annular part, the first rib structure having an end portion placed in the recess of the connecting portion; and a second rib structure formed on a surface including an outer cylindrical surface of the second annular part, the second rib structure having an end portion between the first and second annular parts at a position nearer to the first annular part than the end portion of the first rib structure.
US09347510B2	Overtravel pressure relief for a gas spring A piston rod housing assembly for a gas spring includes a piston rod housing having an interior end, an exterior end axially spaced from the interior end, and an overtravel pressure relief passage extending axially through the piston rod housing and intersecting the exterior end. The assembly also includes an overtravel pressure relief member carried in the overtravel pressure relief passage and having an exterior end that projects axially beyond the piston rod housing.
US09347508B2	Electronic disc brake Disclosed is an electronic disc brake. The electronic disc brake includes a caliper housing at which a piston is installed, a carrier coupled with the caliper housing, a pair of pad plates installed at the carrier to be slidable toward a disc, an adjuster to prevent the pad plates from moving away from the disc and maintain the pad plates at a certain distance from the disc, a push rod screw-coupled to the adjuster, a spindle unit coupled to the push rod and installed at a cylinder of the caliper housing, a spring case forming an accommodation space between the cylinder and the push rod, a low-pressure spring and a high-pressure spring arranged in parallel in the spring case, and a support plate slidably installed in the cylinder so that a gap is formed between the low-pressure spring and the high-pressure spring in the longitudinal direction.
US09347506B2	Disc brake Disclosed herein is a disc brake. The disc brake which has a carrier in which a pair of pad plates are installed retractably and a caliper housing having a cylinder that is slidably installed in the carrier and in which a piston is installed retractably by a braking hydraulic pressure includes an adjuster that is installed inside the piston to prevent the pad plate from being away from the disc and maintain a predetermined running clearance between the disc and the pad plate, a push rod whose front portion is screwed to the adjuster and whose rear portion extends toward an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder so that rotation is prevented, and that includes a flange portion installed inside the cylinder, a ramp that is disposed on a front side of the flange portion, and in which a first elastic member for providing an elastic force to the push rod is integrally provided, a spring case whose one end is fixed to the cylinder, and that forms a predetermined accommodating space between the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and the push rod, and a second elastic member that is provided in the accommodating space of the spring case to provide an elastic force to the ramp and the push rod. Here, the first and second elastic members are arranged in series, and the first elastic member is bent so that a part of the ramp is elastically deformed.
US09347503B2	Actuator for a driveline component An actuator with an indexing guide, first and second indexing rings, an actuator output, a spring and a motor. The indexing guide has a first cam. The first indexing ring is slidably mounted to the indexing guide and includes a second cam. The second indexing ring is slidably and rotatably disposed on the indexing guide and has spline teeth, which engage the first cam, and a third cam that engages the second cam. The spring exerts a force onto the second indexing ring that drives the second indexing ring toward the first indexing ring. The motor is configured to reciprocate the first indexing ring so that cooperation between the second and third cams and between the spline teeth and the first cam causes axial and rotational movement of the second indexing ring about an actuation axis.
US09347500B2	Vehicle control device A first clutch CL1 is disposed between engine Eng and left and right rear wheels RL, RR, and control of disengaging first clutch CL1 is performed by setting line pressure PL as an original pressure and executing F/B control of a piston stroke position. In this FR hybrid vehicle, when disengaging first clutch CL1, line pressure increase control to increase line pressure PL to a value higher than a reference line pressure in advance is started at least before a piston pressure reaches the reference line pressure, and line pressure PL is returned to the reference line pressure when the piston pressure is reduced during this disengagement operation.
US09347499B2	Shift device with synchronizer A shift device has lever members arranged between a sleeve, a hub, and synchronizer rings to amplify and transmit pressing force of the sleeve to one of the synchronizer ring. The lever members include a top portion and arm portions at the both sides of the top portion. The lever members are provided with a torque receiving surface capable of receiving friction torque from projections of the synchronizer rings on an intermediate portion of each arm portion between the top portion and a second slide surface provided on each end of the arm portions.
US09347497B2	Coupling with coupling ring on two coupling parts, and associated coupling ring A coupling (30, 49, 61; 40, 60) with a coupling ring (1) on two coupling parts (8, 9), wherein the coupling parts (8, 9) each constitutes a star (2, 3) with star arms (26, 27) and star arm end regions (4, 5) situated thereon, wherein the two stars (2, 3) are arranged opposite and axialy relative to one another with an angular offset, and the star arm end regions (4, 5) are provided with in each case at least one threaded bore (14) for screw connections (20), wherein the coupling ring (1) includes plurality of fastening elements (10, 11).
US09347494B2	Guiding element for actuator Provided is a washdown bearing for an actuator, comprising: a housing having an annular wall surface extending in a longitudinal direction; a bore extending through an interior of the housing in the longitudinal direction; a plurality of irrigation channels in the housing extending through the annular wall surface of the housing to the bore that provide a fluid path between the wall surface to the bore; first and second cylindrical plane bearings positioned at ends of the housing, each having a low-friction surface permitting the absence of an externally applied lubricant; and an opening extending along a longitudinal axis through the plane bearings and the housing for receiving a rotatable or translatable shaft element.
US09347485B2	Device for rotatably coupling two coaxial connecting elements The invention is directed to a device for rotatably coupling two coaxial connecting elements, at least one of which is configured as a circular ring, and each of which has at least one annular surface that faces the corresponding surface of the respective other connecting element but is spaced apart therefrom by a gap, such that they are rotatable in opposite directions about an imaginary axis (axis of rotation) at the center of the annular connecting element and approximately perpendicular to the ring plane, wherein disposed in the gap between the two connecting elements is a rotary joint, configured as a single- or multi-row rolling bearing, for absorbing axial and radial loads and tilting moments, wherein at least one annular connecting element comprises, on its surface facing the gap, a continuously circumferential, planar shoulder having an oblong or elongated cross section and extending away from the gap to a freely terminating, peripheral circumferential edge.
US09347483B2	Fall-off preventing structure of propeller shaft A fall-off preventing structure of a propeller shaft does not allow a companion flange to be completely pulled off and dropped from a spline shaft when a nut loosens and comes off. In the propeller shaft, a round shaft part is provided on a front end of the spline shaft, a length of a threaded part of the spline shaft front end side on which the nut is screwed and the round shaft part is set longer than a length from a front end portion of the companion flange to a seat surface of the nut, and a total length of the length of the threaded part and the round shaft part and a length from the front end portion of the companion flange to the seat surface of the nut is set longer than the tolerable slide amount.
US09347482B2	Method and system for tensioning park brake cables A method of tensioning a park brake system of a vehicle includes providing an adjustment mechanism having a nut in threaded engagement with a rod that defines a signal to noise ratio therebetween. The nut is advanced on the rod to remove slack until torque applied to the nut indicates that the park cables include a tension equal to an offset tension level. The nut is then retracted on the rod to introduce slack into the park cables and reduce the tension in the park cables to a target slack tension level. A signal to noise ratio between the nut and the rod is improved so that the cable tension may be predicted by the torque required to turn the nut on the rod, thereby allowing a torque indicating tool to measure the tension in the park cables my measuring the torque required to turn the nut on the rod.
US09347481B2	Method of attaching a nut to a panel A method of attaching a nut to a panel includes forming an aperture in a sheet metal panel by lancing a tab from the sheet metal panel. A root of the tab remains attached to the panel. The method further includes pressing a self-attaching nut into the aperture to attach the self-attaching nut to the sheet metal panel. The tab is bent to substantially prevent material from entering a bore of the nut from a blind side of the panel.
US09347476B2	Method and apparatus for suspending duct by inserted corner members An air transport duct, and sections of such duct, capable of connection to a support by support members and attachment members formed from two mating members. Each section has two terminal open ends and a flange disposed around each open end for connection to a flange of an adjacent section. Each flange includes two relatively transverse receiving channels adjacent to a corner of the flange, and an insertable corner member positioned into the channels. The corner member is attached to the flange by a load-bearing connection, and can support a predetermined portion of a weight of the duct by connection of the corner member to a first mating member connectable to a second mating member secured to a corresponding support member. A method of connecting a duct to a support by forming a load-bearing connection between a corner member and a flange.
US09347473B2	Apparatus for joining members and assembly thereof An apparatus for joining a first member and a second member includes fasteners for joining the first member and the second member, a shear transfer layer for transferring shear loads between the first member and the second member separate from the fasteners for joining the first member and the second member. An assembly includes a first member, a second member, and fasteners for joining the first member and the second member. The assembly further includes a shear transfer layer for transferring shear loads between the first member and the second member separate from the fasteners for joining the first member and the second.
US09347470B2	Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element Composed element including at least two panel-shaped elements, which each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in the form of a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, as well as each including an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone, wherein said profiled parts allow coupling the panel-shaped elements together in an interlocking manner, wherein at least one of the panel-shaped elements includes an arrangement which hides from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the pertaining edge zone at the location of the end face.
US09347468B2	Panel hook A panel hook (1) designed for hooking a panel to be connected to the panel hock to a carrier, such as a rail, the panel hock comprising a strip (2) provided with a part (5) of I-shaped cross-section that is integral therewith, which part comprises a first flange (6), which races the strip, and a second flange (7), which forms a guide for a slide, wherein the slide engages round the second flange and comprises a hook-shaped element (15), wherein the l-shaped part comprises a profile between the flanges, and wherein the slide comprises at least, one projection (11) which engages the profile of the l-shaped part so as to prevent the slide from being moved in a first direction (13) along the second flange, whilst movement of the slide in an opposite, second direction (12) along the second flange is possible, a special feature being the fact that the panel hook further comprises a second slide (3) provided with a hook-shaped element (14), which second slide engages around the second flange, wherein the second slide comprises a projection that engages the profile of the 1-shaped part so as to prevent movement of the second slice in the second direction along the second flange, whilst on the other hand movement of the second slide in the first direction along a second flange is possible.
US09347465B2	Fan guard for air conditioning machine A fan guard for a condenser unit of an air conditioner which supports the fan motor made of wire formed into a plurality of concentric rings or rectangles, or a spiral, secured to a spaced plurality of first radially-oriented elements each having at its peripherally-positioned end an orifice for fastening the guard to the unit and to an interspaced plurality of second radially-oriented elements each having at its end, closest to the fan guard's center, an orifice for fastening the motor to the guard, a third element extending all across the guard, and a sturdy ring affixed to at least the first and second elements proximate to the center. The guard preferably is convex whose wire elements have an elongated cross-sectional shape with lower airflow resistance. The fan guard has low fabrication and materials costs and allows use of motors with lower energy consumption for the same airflow efficiency.
US09347463B2	Turbo-molecular pump A turbo-molecular pump includes a case member, a rotor accommodated in the case member, the rotor having rotor blades arranged in multiple steps, a rotor shaft provided coaxially with the rotor, a plurality of stator blades provided on an inner surface of the case member and arranged between the rotor blades, and a plurality of spacers for supporting the stator blades. One of the plurality of spacers has a cooling thick portion for covering an outer peripheral side surface of at least one adjacent upper or lower spacer, and a cooling pipe through which a cooling medium is circulated is provided in the cooling thick portion.
US09347460B2	Rotary machine A rotary machine includes: a shaft that rotates; a disc that has a substantially cylindrical hub fitted into the shaft and is provided so as to widen outward in a radial direction from a front end to a rear end of the substantially cylindrical hub; and an impeller having a plurality of blades provided on a surface of the disc. The substantially cylindrical hub has a tight fit section having an internal radius that is smaller than a radius of the shaft, and a loose fit section having an internal radius that is greater than the internal radius of the tight fit section. The loose fit section is provided on a front end side of the substantially cylindrical hub with respect to the tight fit section.
US09347458B2	Pressure compensating wet seal chamber Some embodiments of the invention provide a pump including a pump chamber, a shaft at least partially positioned in the pump chamber, an impeller coupled to the shaft, and a seal coupled to the shaft. The pump also includes a wet seal chamber with a first fluid. The wet seal chamber can include a bladder that compresses to compensate for volumetric expansion of the first fluid. The wet seal chamber substantially prevents fluid from contacting the seal in order to prolong a life of the seal.
US09347456B2	Non-metallic vertical turbine pump A non-metallic vertical turbine pump and a method of manufacturing same are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, the vertical turbine pump can include a motor, and a drive shaft coupled to the motor for rotation, a casing with a mixed flow diffuser including a diffuser hub and diffuser vanes that project out from the diffuser hub, and a mixed flow impeller configured to rotatably fit inside the casing, having an impeller hub, impeller vanes, extending from the hub, and a front and a back shroud connected to opposing ends of the impeller vanes. At least one of the mixed flow impeller and the mixed flow diffuser can be made of a non-metallic material and is a singular homogenous component.
US09347454B2	Method for controlling a turbocompressor Method for controlling a turbocompressor, whereby a compressed air line (5) is connected to this turbocompressor (1) with a non-return valve (6) provided therein, characterised in that, when one or several process parameters exceed a predetermined limit, the rotational speed of the turbocompressor (1) will be reduced very suddenly to a predetermined minimum rotational speed and the above-mentioned non-return valve (6) will be closed and in that, after the above-mentioned reduction of the rotational speed, when one or several gear-down conditions are fulfilled, the rotational speed of the compressor (1) will be increased again and the non-return valve (6) will be opened.
US09347449B2	Submersible pump apparatus with multiple mechanical seals and multiple reservoirs to protect the motor from infiltration of undesired fluid A submersible pump apparatus comprising a motor assembly, a pump assembly, and a plastic motor base. The motor assembly is either a canned motor assembly or a four inch motor assembly. The canned motor assembly is designed to prevent the immediate destruction of the submersible pump apparatus upon the occurrence of the breaching or leaking of the seals. The pump assembly is designed with either a single stage pump or double stage pump that utilizes a unique combination of propellers and intermediate flow straighteners, and driving mechanisms for the same. The plastic motor base is designed to accommodate attachment of either the canned motor assembly or the four inch motor assembly to the same pump assembly.
US09347446B2	Refrigerant compressor including a polymerization inhibitor contained therein A refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and refrigerator oil configured to be supplied to the sliding component so as to lubricate the sliding portion, wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in the refrigerator oil.
US09347445B2	Lubrication apparatus of high pressure pump for common rail system A lubrication apparatus of a high pressure pump for a common rail system is configured such that a sufficient amount of lubrication fuel can be supplied from a low pressure pump to the frictional junction between a roller and a shoe within a short period of time, thereby efficiently improving the lubrication performance of the frictional junction.
US09347443B2	Discharge valve for reciprocating compressor having inner and outer flow areas A compressor may include a compressor body and a discharge valve assembly coupled to the compressor body. The discharge valve assembly directs discharge gas from the compressor body and between a valve plate and a valve retainer. The discharge valve assembly may include at least one reed valve assembly including a first support guide member, a second support guide member, and a reed assembly. The reed assembly may include a reed and a spring washer disposed between the first and the second support guide members.
US09347441B2	Compressors including polymeric components Improvements in compressor manufacture are achieved by utilizing polymeric components which retain at least 90% of their dimensions after being exposed to a mixture of refrigerants and/or lubricants for 30 days at 60° C. Polymeric materials include (i) polyetherimides, (ii) polyphenylene sulfides, (iii) polyketones, (iv) polysulfones, (v) liquid crystal polymers, and (vi) combinations thereof. Metal coatings on the polymers are the preferred embodiments for housings.
US09347439B2	Electronically controlled linear pump drive Electronically controlled linear pump drive actuator for a dispensing pump has a servo motor unit having a stator with front and rear faces and a central hollow cavity, a rotor coaxially in the hollow cavity with a front portion having a front end with an open central bore and a shaft with a stepped diameter forming a rear extension, front and rear support members respectively for the front and rear faces, a support bearing in the rear member, a front bearing, and a position sensor; a ball screw drive mechanism having a nut connected with the rotor and a screw shaft having a front end section; a hollow cylinder attached to the front member's front end; an actuator member axially moveable in the hollow cylinder with a central rear part fixed to the front end section, and a hollow front part; and a pump plunger adaptor.
US09347436B2	Method and system for renewable energy store in temperature-pressure tank of energy and conversion to electrical energy One exemplary method of renewable energy storage includes converting a part of the electrical energy, from a generator, in accordance with an electrical grid; and using a control system to steer another part of the electrical energy, from the generator, to a heating module, to heat a substance in a tank, thereby increasing a pressure in the tank. The method also includes using the control system to introduce a transmission agent into a heat exchanger in the tank, and using the heated transmission agent to drive a turbine. A sensor provides information, about a renewable energy stream, to the control system. The control system, responsive to the information, acts to control a valve coupled between the heat exchanger and the turbine, thereby enabling a constant transfer of energy to the electrical grid.
US09347434B2	Wind turbine and a method of operating thereof A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator, an energy dissipating unit and a controller. The power converter comprises a generator-side converter, a grid-side converter and a DC (direct current) link there between. The energy dissipating unit is operatively coupled to the DC-link. The controller is adapted to activate the energy dissipating unit to dissipate energy from the DC-link in response to a shutdown request.
US09347432B2	System and method for enhanced operation of wind parks A computer-implemented method of operating a wind turbine park including operating wind turbines includes recording a plurality of sound pressure measurements of the wind turbine park, thereby generating a sound recording. The method also includes calculating values for a plurality of acoustic features associated with the sound recording. The method further includes determining a relationship between the calculated values for the plurality of acoustic features and modeled acoustic features values resident within a probabilistic auditory model of the wind turbine park. The method also includes distinguishing a first contribution to the sound recording originating from the at least one operating wind turbine from a second contribution to the sound recording originating from non-wind turbine sources based on the determined relationship.
US09347430B2	Adaptive pitch control system for wind generators The adaptive pitch control system for wind generators is utilized in variable speed doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) systems. An adaptive neural network generates optimized controller gains for pitch control. The pitch controller parameters are generated using intelligent differential evolution, a type of genetic algorithm. A back propagation neural network is trained using the generated pitch controller parameters, thereby tuning the weights of the network according to the system states in a variable wind speed environment.
US09347428B2	Wind energy electricity generator for low wind velocity According to the present invention, use is made of a drag-type blade in which the blade is constituted vertically and in multiple blocks while the inside thereof is formed so as to have an overlapping region, thereby achieving an aerodynamic characteristic whereby there is a large initial torque for rotating the blade of the wind energy electricity generator from the stationary state such that the rotational moment is increased. On the outside thereof, use is made of airfoil-type blades, thereby obtaining rapid rotational acceleration with tip-speed ratio no less than 1.0 and effecting wind energy electricity generation even with a low wind velocity regardless of the wind direction, and thus the present invention is economic and can be installed at low cost unaffected by place or position and is environmentally friendly while nevertheless being able to effect highly efficient wind energy electricity generation.
US09347422B2	Plasma generation device In an plasma generation device 30 that generates electromagnetic wave plasma by emitting electromagnetic waves to a combustion chamber 21 of an internal combustion engine 20, combustion is promoted by increasing the amount of gas to be brought into contact with the electromagnetic wave plasma in the combustion chamber 21. An antenna 36 extends along a ceiling surface of the combustion chamber 21. The antenna 36 is provided with an adjustment unit 37 that changes the location of a strong electric field on the antenna 36, which is supplied with the electromagnetic wave. During a generation period of the electromagnetic wave plasma, a control device 10 controls the adjustment unit 37 based on a condition of the combustion chamber 21 and changes the location of the electromagnetic wave plasma.
US09347421B2	Laser ignition device for an internal combustion engine A laser ignition device for an internal combustion engine, encompassing an ignition laser having a combustion chamber window, such that until startup of the laser ignition device, the combustion chamber window is equipped with a protective layer.
US09347419B2	Electric field generating apparatus for combustion chamber An electric field generating apparatus for a combustion chamber, may include an electric field generator located within a space of the combustion chamber where combustion flames may be produced to create electric fields within the space of the combustion chamber through an applied predetermined voltage, a lead-in wire connected to the electric field generator to flow the predetermined voltage to the electric field generator, and a high voltage providing unit connected to the lead-in wire for selectively applying the predetermined voltage to the lead-in wire in accordance with an output signal of a controller generated depending on an operation condition of an engine.
US09347417B2	Engine start control system In the process of starting by a recoil starter, a maximum value detection section of an ECM detects a maximum value of pressure (basic atmospheric pressure) in an intake pipe detected by a pressure sensor, within a predetermined range of crank angle after activation of the ECM. An idling control unit gives feedback control on an ISC valve based on engine speed detected by an engine speed sensor, to thereby keep idling engine speed at a specified value. A correction unit corrects a basic atmospheric pressure detected by the maximum value detection section based on the duty ratio of the ISC valve in idling, and uses the result as the atmospheric pressure. A storage unit 9d stores a map in which the duty ratio of the ISC valve in idling is correlated with the amount of correction to be made on the basic atmospheric pressure.
US09347409B2	Method for controlling and regulating an internal combustion engine Proposed is a method for controlling and regulating an internal combustion engine (1) having a common rail system and having a passive pressure limiting valve (11) for discharging fuel out of a rail (6) into the fuel tank (2), in which method, in a first stage, the pressure limiting valve (11) is set as open when the rail pressure, proceeding from a steady-state rail pressure, exceeds a first threshold value and subsequently falls below a second threshold value within a first critical time, wherein the first threshold value characterizes a higher pressure level than the steady-state rail pressure and the second threshold value characterizes a lower pressure level than the first threshold value, and in which method the opening duration of the opened pressure limiting valve (11) is monitored.
US09347405B2	Environmentally friendly fuel activation device The present invention relates to an environmentally friendly fuel activation device in which the fuel and water are atomized into atomized fuel particles, following attenuation of their cohesive force, to allow smooth mixing with oxygen, which improves combustion efficiency and reduces fuel costs, and more specifically comprises a water-supply tube joined to a first valve and a fuel-supply tube joined to a second valve which are coupled to a supply tube; a first case and a second case as well as a coupling piece coupling the first and second cases; and the inside of the first case is provided with a first rotating atomizing piece, an accelerating piece and a second rotating atomizing piece, while the inside of the second case is provided with a first rotating atomizing tube, a first non-rotating atomizing tube, a second rotating atomizing tube, a second non-rotating atomizing tube, a third rotating atomizing tube and a third non-rotating atomizing tube. Fuel and water are supplied simultaneously while oxygen and hydrogen resulting from broken down water activate the fuel, which improves combustion efficiency and reduces fuel costs.
US09347399B1	Laser ignition for liquid propellant rocket engine injectors A laser beam is utilized to ignite the fuel and oxidizer injected into a combustion chamber. An injector has a plurality of injector elements each injecting fuel and oxidizer into a flame holding zone adjacent the injector face plate where fuel and oxidizer are mixing at a rate to sustain flammability. The laser beam is introduced parallel to the injector face plate passing through the fuel and oxidizer mixing zones igniting the propellants. The propellants are ignited by having a laser beam tuned to a frequency to excite the oxidizer such that it will chemically combine with the fuel to form an ignition kernel in the flame holding zone. When a plurality of injector elements are ignited in this manner a controlled ignition process in the combustion chamber is achieved.
US09347395B2	Method for improving closely-spaced multiple-injection performance from solenoid actuated fuel injectors A method for controlling an electromagnetically-activated fuel injector includes, when a plurality of fuel injection events are close-spaced during an engine cycle, monitoring a respective desired injected fuel mass for each of the plurality of fuel injection events. A desired current wave form is selected from a plurality of current waveforms whereat each respective desired injected fuel mass is achieved based on at least one of the fuel injection events. The fuel injector is controlled using the desired current waveform.
US09347390B2	Engine de-choking in response to an engine flood event A method may comprise automatically de-choking an engine and cranking the engine in response to an engine flood event, wherein automatically de-choking the engine comprises automatically cutting fuel to the engine while opening an air intake throttle.
US09347386B2	Alcohol reforming system for internal combustion engine An alcohol reforming system for an internal combustion engine includes a reformer in selective fluid communication with a fuel line via a reformer inlet line for receiving liquid fuel from the fuel line. The reformer reforms the alcohol in the alcohol-gasoline mixture of the fuel into a reformate mixture comprising hydrogen gas and gasoline. A buffer tank in fluid communication with the reformer receives the reformate mixture and disengages the hydrogen gas from the gasoline in the reformate mixture. The buffer tank includes a liquid fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fuel line for re-introducing the gasoline as a liquid into the fuel line, and a reformate gas outlet for delivering the reformate gas to a reformate line through which the reformate gas is delivered to the engine.
US09347380B2	System and method for expanding a compressor bleed flow A system includes a bleed system configured to direct a bleed flow from a high pressure region to a low pressure region. The bleed system includes a valve configured to control the bleed flow through the bleed system and a staged bleed conduit configured to incrementally depressurize the bleed flow. The staged bleed conduit includes an inlet coupled to the valve, a first stage configured to depressurize the bleed flow that is coupled to the inlet, a second stage configured to depressurize the bleed flow that is coupled to the first stage, and an outlet coupled to the second stage. The outlet is configured to direct the bleed flow to the low pressure region. The inlet, the first stage, the second stage, and the outlet are disposed along parallel axes.
US09347379B2	Relighting a turbofan engine The method and apparatus for in-flight relighting of a turbofan engine involve in one aspect selectively controlling an accessory drag load on one or more windmilling rotors to permit control of the windmill speed to an optimum value for relight conditions.
US09347378B2	Outer premix barrel vent air sweep A gas turbine engine outer premix barrel is disclosed. The outer premix barrel includes a body portion, a barrel portion, and a plurality of vanes. The body portion includes vent air inlets. The barrel portion extends axially aft from the body portion. The plurality of vanes extends axially forward from the body portion. Each vane includes an inward surface located at a radially inner end of the vane, and a plurality of vent passages exiting the vane at the inward surface. Each vent passage is in flow communication with at least one vent air inlet.
US09347376B2	Liquified fuel backup fuel supply for a gas turbine A system for supplying a gaseous fuel to a gas turbine includes a liquefied fuel source for supplying a liquefied fuel to a liquid fuel pump that is disposed downstream from the liquefied fuel source. The liquid fuel pump is sufficient to raise the pressure of the liquefied fuel to a substantially supercritical pressure. A supercritical liquefied fuel vaporizer is disposed downstream from the liquid fuel pump. A heat recovery system is in thermal communication with the liquefied fuel. The heat recovery system is positioned between the liquid fuel source and the supercritical liquefied fuel vaporizer.
US09347374B2	Gas turbine engine buffer cooling system A gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger, a mid-turbine frame, a passageway that extends through at least a portion of the mid-turbine frame and a first nozzle assembly. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The mid-turbine frame is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The conditioned airflow is communicated through the passageway and is received by the first nozzle assembly to condition gas turbine engine hardware.
US09347373B2	Gas turbine engine with transmission A gas turbine engine with a transmission having a variable ratio is discussed. A first gear train is in driving engagement with the low pressure spool and has a first output gear. A second gear train is in driving engagement with the high pressure spool and has a second output gear spaced apart from the first output gear. A third gear train defines a driving engagement between the low pressure spool and the low pressure compressor rotor with a variable transmission ratio. A fourth gear train is in driving engagement with the first and second output gears, and in driving engagement with the third gear train to determine the transmission ratio. A method of adjusting a speed of a low pressure compressor rotor of a gas turbine engine is also discussed.
US09347372B2	Method for determining belt life A control module-implemented method for estimating an end of life a belt transferring torque between at least two rotating members of a belt drive system includes monitoring a plurality of belt parameters during a life cycle of the belt and determining an instantaneous damage factor of the belt based on the plurality of belt parameters. The end of life of the belt is estimated based on the instantaneous damage factor.
US09347368B2	Method and system for fuel vapor management Methods and systems are provided for shared handling of fuel vapor purge and crankcase ventilation in an engine system. Fuel vapors from each of a canister and a crankcase are drawn into an intake manifold in a common direction during both boosted and non-boosted engine operating conditions using vacuum drawn at various aspirators. Compressor bypass flow through a first aspirator is used to enhance vacuum produced during boosted conditions while throttle bypass flow through a second aspirator is used to enhance vacuum produced during non-boosted conditions.
US09347366B2	Two-stroke engine and four-stroke engine An exhaust gas exhausted from a combustion chamber of a two-stroke engine is fed to a turbine of a supercharger. Part of the exhaust gas that has passed through the turbine is extracted as an EGR gas by an exhaust gas recirculation part. The EGR gas is cooled by the heat of vaporization of liquid ammonia ejected from an ammonia ejection part, circulated into a suction gas in a suction path, pressurized by a compressor, and supplied as a scavenging gas into the combustion chamber. This recirculation of the exhaust gas can reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide exhausted from the two-stroke engine into the ambient air. Ejecting the liquid ammonia toward the EGR gas in a recirculation path facilitates cooling of the EGR gas, which is required for circulating the EGR gas into the suction gas.
US09347364B2	Temperature control arrangement for transmission oil in a motor vehicle and method for controlling the temperature of transmission oil in a motor vehicle A temperature control arrangement for transmission oil in a motor vehicle comprises a coolant circuit which fluidly connects an internal combustion engine and a cooler. The coolant circuit includes a thermostat configured to direct at least a fraction of a coolant leaving the internal combustion engine back to the internal combustion engine, either directly or through the cooler. The temperature control arrangement is configured to direct some of the coolant, flowing back through the cooler or directly, first through the heat exchanger and then to the internal combustion engine. The thermostat is fluidly connected to an interior heater, to the cooler, and to a bypass configured to direct a fraction of the coolant directly back to the internal combustion engine, bypassing the cooler. A suitable method for controlling the temperature of transmission oil in a motor vehicle using a temperature control arrangement of this kind is furthermore indicated.
US09347363B2	Fluid pump assembly An engine system that includes a timing drive cavity defined by at least one of an engine block, front cover, and timing drive cover, a timing drive positioned within the timing drive cavity, and a fluid pump assembly. The fluid pump assembly includes an impeller housing, a fluid inlet port coupled to the impeller housing, and a fluid outlet port coupled to the impeller housing. At least one of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet ports is positioned at least partially within the timing drive cavity.
US09347360B2	Structure for preventing heat of muffler for construction machine from being diffused Disclosed is a structure for preventing the heat of a muffler from being diffused, which prevents the heat generated by the muffler from being diffused into the peripheral components in the engine room and discharges the heat through the engine hood to the outside. The structure for preventing the heat of the muffler for a construction machine includes a plurality of frames mounted on the bottom of the engine room outside the muffler, a shield supported by the frames so as to surround the outside of the muffler to form a shielding area, and a detachment means formed on one side of the shield.
US09347358B1	Silencer for mid-bed air injection mixing A system includes an exhaust aftertreatment system configured to treat emissions from a combustion engine. The exhaust aftertreatment system includes a first catalyst assembly having an outlet. The exhaust aftertreatment system also includes an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) assembly configured to receive a fluid from the first catalyst assembly and to convert ammonia (NH3) within the fluid into nitrogen (N2), wherein the ASC assembly has an inlet. The exhaust aftertreatment system further includes a silencer disposed between the outlet of the first catalyst assembly and the inlet of the ASC assembly, wherein the silencer is configured to receive the fluid and an oxidant for mixing with the fluid provide sufficient oxygen in the fluid flowing into the inlet of the ASC assembly to enable the catalytic activity in the ASC assembly that coverts NH3 into N2, and the silencer is configured to mix the fluid and the oxidant.
US09347356B2	Exhaust gas processing system independent to engine controls A multi-functional apparatus and method for diagnosing issues in an engine system with a SCR exhaust gas processing system and controlling reductant delivery to the SCR system. The apparatus includes a Venturi exhaust passage device with a reductant injector positioned on a transition from a low pressure passage to a downstream high pressure passage. Temperature and pressures in the Venturi exhaust passage device are measured, and an exhaust flow rate value is calculated. The exhaust flow rate value can be used in controlling reductant delivery, and with a downstream lambda sensing value, the exhaust flow rate value, and a temperature sensing value, a variety of issues in the engine system and the SCR system can be detected. No engine operating parameter is required in the SCR controls and diagnostic algorithms, and less reductant deposit is introduced due to the elimination of stagnant area in the exhaust passage device.
US09347351B2	Exhaust treatment device for diesel engine A diesel engine exhaust treatment device includes an exhaust flow divider in an exhaust path. The flow divider causes exhaust to flow EGR gas with PM unevenly distributed and remaining discharged gas in a divided manner. EGR gas is recirculated to a combustion chamber, and the discharged gas is atmospherically discharged. First and second corona discharge passages are provided at the exhaust flow divider. Corona discharge in the first discharge passage causes the PM, water vapor, and oxygen in the exhaust to generate electron attachment. Electrostatic force causes the exhaust to flow the EGR gas with the electron-attached PM, water vapor, and oxygen unevenly distributed and the remaining discharged gas in a divided manner. The discharged gas is guided to the second discharge passage. Corona discharge in the second discharge passage causes gas molecules in the discharged gas to dissociate, and NOx in the discharged gas is reduced to nitrogen.
US09347350B2	Engine unit An engine unit includes an engine, an exhaust gas treatment device and a connecting pipe. The engine has an exhaust gas port. The exhaust gas treatment device is arranged above the engine. The connecting pipe connects the exhaust gas port and the exhaust gas treatment device. The connecting pipe has an expandable-contractible bellows portion. The bellows portion has a linear form following the upward-downward direction. The lower end portion of the bellows portion is positioned lower than at least a part of the exhaust gas port.
US09347347B2	Exhaust gas after-treatment device for diesel engine An exhaust gas after-treatment device for a diesel engine is provided. The exhaust gas after-treatment device comprises an oxidation treatment unit having a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), an adsorption treatment unit having a diesel particulate filter (DPF), and a discharge unit for discharging exhaust gas that is filtration-treated through the oxidation treatment unit and the adsorption treatment unit, wherein the DOC of the oxidation treatment unit is provided with a baffle on the front thereof for even diffusion-introduction of exhaust gas.
US09347345B2	Internal combustion engines and oil containment systems thereof An internal combustion engine includes an engine assembly and an oil containment system attachable to the assembly. The oil containment system includes a cover component including an oil fill apparatus configured for conducting an oil to the internal combustion engine. The apparatus has a first end sealable with a cap, a second end spaced apart from the first end along a central longitudinal axis, and an annular wall concentric with and extending along the central longitudinal axis. The annular wall defines a first passage therethrough and a channel extending through the cover component along the central longitudinal axis. The oil containment system also includes a baffle component abutting the second end and defining a second passage therethrough such that the second passage is spaced apart from the channel.
US09347344B2	Variable-capacity oil pump and oil supply system using same Provided is a variable-capacity oil pump capable of stably securing a required pump discharge volume and discharge pressure even with a clogged oil filter and/or an electromagnetic valve failed. The oil pump is provided with a first control chamber for applying a force under oil pressure from a main oil gallery in a direction for decreasing of the eccentricity of a cam ring, a second control chamber for applying a force under oil pressure from the oil gallery in cooperation with a spring force in a direction for increasing of the cam-ring eccentricity, a first branch flow path that connects the oil gallery and the first control chamber, and a second branch flow path branched from the first branch flow path and communicating with the second control chamber via the electromagnetic valve. Two oil filters are disposed in the oil gallery and the first branch flow path, respectively.
US09347343B2	Gasket for a valve of an internal-combustion engine Described herein is a gasket for a valve of an internal-combustion engine; the valve comprises at guide element defining a through seat, find a stein slidably mobile in said seat; the gasket comprises an annular sealing element, which is elastically deformable and is designed to be set externally on the valve to co-operate both with the guide element and with the stem, and an annular supporting member, which is set coaxially on at least part of the sealing element in such a way that the latter is radially pressed between the supporting member and the valve; the supporting member comprises a first portion for interaction with the sealing element and a second portion for positioning in use the gasket on the engine; the first and second portions of the supporting member form part of a first component and a second component respectively, that are distinct from one another and are mounted coaxially by snap-action coupling means.
US09347342B2	Valve gear of engine A cam element portion comprises a slant portion (reverse-rotation return slope portion), which is positioned on a rotary-delay side from a maximum-lift portion (lift ending point) of an end-face cam and slants inward toward the rotary-delay side from an outer peripheral face of the end-face cam. Accordingly, in a valve gear of an engine in which cams operative to control opening/closing of a valve are switchable, it can be properly prevented that the cam element portion is switched unexpectedly and improperly or an operational member breaks down which are possibly caused by an engine's reverse rotation.
US09347331B2	Electrodynamic control of blade clearance leakage loss in turbomachinery applications Electrodynamic control of fluid leakage loss is provided. Embodiments utilize electrohydrodynamic (EHD) principles to control and/or reduce leakage flow in turbomachinery. Electrodes can be used to provide a flow actuation mechanism inside the clearance gap for generating discharge. The electrodes can be positioned to have geometric asymmetry. Embodiments provide the electrodes on a turbine blade. The blade can have a DC power that can function as a square pulsed DC wave with the duty cycle equal to the blade passing frequency and the stator can be grounded. In an embodiment, the stator can have the actuator of the electrode-insulator assembly attached to the inside. In one embodiment, the actuators can be arranged just on the stator or casing. The phase and power supply to individual electrodes can be adapted as needed. In one embodiment, the phase can be lagged for accurate control of leakage flow. The control of the power supply to the electrodes can involve a closed control loop that monitors tip gap size.
US09347329B2	Rotary machines and methods of assembling A nozzle assembly is provided. The nozzle assembly includes at least one stationary nozzle. An outer ring having a predefined shape includes at least one groove defined therein and the groove is configured to receive at least a portion of the stationary nozzle therein. A coupling portion is formed integrally with the stationary nozzle or the outer ring such that the coupling portion extends outwardly therefrom. An attachment member is coupled to the coupling portion to facilitate substantially restricting movement of the stationary nozzle when the outer ring is substantially distorted.
US09347327B2	F-class gas turbine compressor exit guide vane repair A system and method for repairing a turbine. The method includes applying a coating on an outer surface of a tenon that extends from a stator vane. The tenon may be inserted at least partially into an opening defined by an inner shroud segment of the turbine. A bushing may be inserted at least partially into the opening in the inner shroud segment of the turbine such that the tenon becomes at least partially disposed within an opening defined by the bushing. A bolt may be inserted through the opening in the bushing and at least partially into an opening defined by the tenon. The bolt may be threadably engaged with the tenon.
US09347325B2	Damper for a turbine rotor assembly A damper for a turbine rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine may include a forward plate with a forward face and an aft face, and an aft plate with a forward face and an aft face. The aft face of the forward plate may be connected to the forward face of the aft plate with a longitudinal structure. An area of the aft plate in a plane transverse to the longitudinal structure may be greater than an area of the forward plate in the plane transverse to the longitudinal structure. The damper may also include a pocket on the forward face of the forward plate.
US09347321B2	Methods for optimized engine balancing based on flight data Methods for balancing rotating machinery, such as gas turbine engines, to minimize vibrations. An optimal engine balance solution is obtained using a hybrid optimization technique based on vibration data from one or more vibration sensors and corresponding influence coefficients which quantify the change in vibration level at the vibration sensors due to a unit increase in unbalance level at unbalance source locations. More specifically, balance weight and angular position are determined based on multiple optimization methods which concurrently process the vibration data, the multiple optimization methods comprising local and global optimization algorithms.
US09347319B2	Dental handpiece structure Disclosed is a dental handpiece structure including a head having a turbine chamber, a rotor installed in the turbine chamber and having a transmission shaft, and a transmission element composed of a plurality of turbine vanes. A high-pressure air entering into the turbine chamber can push each turbine vane to drive and rotate the rotor, and a breach is upwardly formed between two adjacent turbine vanes. A head cap is covered onto the turbine chamber, and a circular groove is formed at the head cap and between an end surface facing the turbine chamber and the transmission element, and the circular groove and each breach are arranged opposite to each other for collecting the high-pressure air guided out from each breach to enhance the cutting force of the dental handpiece.
US09347317B2	Shaft rotating double-stator multi-speed motor with curves of constant width Embodiments of double-stator multi-speed motor are described. In embodiments, a motor may include a rotor. The motor may further include an inner stator having a first count of oil distributing ports opened in a surface of the inner stator. The motor may further include an outer stator having a second count of oil distributing ports opened in an inner surface of the outer stator. In some embodiments, the first count is equal to the second count. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09347311B2	Systems and methods for ground fault immune data measurement systems for electronic submersible pumps Provided are systems and methods for ground fault immune data measurement system for electric submersible pumps. A data measurement system coupled to the ESP includes a surface unit coupled to a 3-phase power cable for providing power to a 3-phase motor of the ESP and a downhole unit coupled to the motor of the ESP and located downhole in a well. The downhole unit includes sensor and is configured to generate frequency modulated carrier signals for carrying the sensor data to the surface unit. Each of the frequency modulated carrier signals carries identical sensor data and is modulated to a different frequency. The carrier signals are shunted across the motor windings of the ESP motor and onto the 3-phase power cable via a capacitive coupling. Additionally, another carrier signal carrying control data may be transmitted from the surface unit to the downhole unit.
US09347310B2	Multiphase flowmeter for subsea applications Multiphase flow measurement in extreme environments such as subsea or in-well is a difficult task for many reasons including reliability, survivability, and longevity issues; accessibility to the equipment; and complexity of the varying flow field as a function of position and time. Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and apparatus for performing subsea multiphase flow measurement by combining two technologies. One is based on infrared water-cut measurement technology which is capable of measuring water and oil concentrations in multiphase flow with up to 99.5% gas volume fractions. The second technology is based on in-well fiber-optic flow measurement capable of resolving gas and total liquid flow through the measurements of flow velocity, fluid mixture speed of sound, and absolute pressure and temperature at meter location. This hybrid system represents an approach to subsea multiphase metering that may offer advantages compared to traditional systems for some applications.
US09347309B2	Cement plug location The disclosure describes a system and a method for locating a cement plug within a wellbore. The system includes a signal transmitter mounted to the cement plug, a receiver at the opening to the wellbore, one clock positioned on the cement plug and in communication with the transmitter, a second clock which is synchronized to the first clock and in communication with the receiver, and a controller for triggering the transmittal of the signal.
US09347308B2	System and method for determining incremental progression between survey points while drilling A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the system receives toolface information for a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and non-survey sensor information corresponding to a location of the BHA in a borehole. The system calculates an amount of incremental progress made by the BHA based on the non-survey sensor information and calculates an estimate of the location based on the toolface information and the amount of incremental progress. The system repeats the steps of receiving toolface information and non-survey sensor information and calculating an amount of incremental progress to calculate an estimate of a plurality of locations representing a path of the BHA from a first survey point towards a second sequential survey point.
US09347305B2	Method and system for controlling a power source at a rock drilling apparatus and rock drilling apparatus The present invention relates to a method for controlling a power source (9) at a rock drilling apparatus, said power source (9) being arranged to drive at least a first load (8, 10, 15) at the rock drilling apparatus, wherein said first load (8, 10, 15), in operation, provides power to a first consumer (11, 21), and where the power that can be delivered by- said first load (8, 10, 15) depends on the rotation speed of the power source. The method includes, by means of a representation of said first consumer (11, 21), determining a power demand of said first consumer (11, 21), and based on said determined power demand, determine a rotation speed demand of said first load (8, 10, 15). The rotation speed of said power source is then controlled based at least on said determined rotation speed demand of said first load (8, 10, 15 ). The invention also relates to a system and a rock drilling apparatus.
US09347304B2	System and method for high speed hydraulic actuation There is provided a device and method for high speed hydraulic actuation. The method includes adjusting a position of an actuator using a hydraulic pressure regulator. Adjusting the position of the actuator includes increasing pressure on the hydraulic pressure regulator to open the actuator using a first solenoid, or decreasing pressure on the hydraulic pressure regulator to close the actuator using a second solenoid.
US09347300B2	Method and thermal-electrical generating apparatus to transport subterranean oil to the surface A method to extract oil for a pool of oil in the ground utilizes an interconnected series of rotating helical blades extending from the surface of the ground through a canted bore to the pool of oil. The blades can be staggered and interconnected with a gear arrangement that moves oil from pool to pool and up to the surface of the ground.
US09347297B2	Downhole casing expansion tool and method of expanding casings using the same A downhole casing expansion tool and a method of expanding casings using the same. The expansion tool includes an expansion module for expanding casings and a drive module for driving the expansion module. The diameter of the openhole can be kept consistent by the expansion tool, so that monohole well drilling and completion operations can be carried out. The expansion tool is particularly suitable for constructions in deep, ultra-deep and complex wells.
US09347294B2	Method and arrangement for establishing and operating a riser less coiled tubing A method and system are for establishing and operating a riser less coiled tubing intervention arrangement from a surface vessel, the vessel having a deck and a coiled tubing reel holding a coiled tubing, and where a subsea injector is connectable to a head of a subsea borehole. The method includes: arranging; the coiled tubing in a surface injector and the subsea injector, attaching, the surface injector to a lifting tackle of the vessel; after connecting a tool string to the coiled tubing, lowering the coiled tubing tool string and the subsea injector through the sea to the head by running the surface injector while paying out coiled tubing from the coiled tubing reel; and inserting, the tool string in the head and connecting the subsea injector to the head.
US09347293B2	Method and system of displaying data associated with drilling a borehole Displaying data associated with drilling a borehole. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: reading data associated with drilling of a first borehole, at least one datum of the data based on a controllable parameter; calculating an operational value related to drilling the first borehole, the calculating in real-time with reading the data and the operational value based on the data; determining a target value of the operational value, the determining in real-time with reading the data and the target value at least in part based on the data; displaying a first borehole trajectory on a display device; superimposing a first coordinate system over the first borehole trajectory on the display device, the superimposing proximate to a distal end of the first borehole trajectory; and plotting, within the first coordinate system, an indication of the operational value and an indication of the target value.
US09347291B2	Wellhead seal assembly lockdown system A seal assembly (30) and a running tool (20) are provided for sealing a casing annulus in a wellhead (14). A casing hanger (12) includes a radially external groove therein, and wellhead has a radially internal groove therein. A locking ring (36) may be actuated by the running tool to move into the internal recess in the wellhead and thereby axially connect the seal assembly and the wellhead. Another locking ring (40) is radially movable to connect the seal assembly to the casing hanger. The seal assembly seals the casing annulus while being interconnected with the wellhead and the casing hanger.
US09347290B2	Fluid-saving pump down tool A fluid saver tool for deploying in a wireline string comprises a main shaft having a concentric seat attached to a lower end of the main shaft and a variable-diameter piston assembly concentrically disposed on the main shaft and seated against the concentric seat. A concentric thrust bushing is installed on the main shaft in contact with an upper end of variable diameter piston opposite from the concentric seat. The tool enables the deployment operation to be accomplished with much less water, lower pump pressures and energy losses, and substantially less time required to complete the operation.
US09347281B2	Triple activity drilling ship A triple activity drilling ship may be provided with two separate drilling centers, each including drilling apparatus. In addition, a trolley that is capable of supporting tubulars may be positioned between a first position within one of said drilling centers and a second position outside that drilling center. As a result, the trolley may be used to hold assembled tubulars while other activities are ongoing in one or more of the drilling centers.
US09347279B2	Torque control device for a downhole drilling assembly This invention relates to a torque control device for a downhole drilling assembly. The torque control device is adapted for connection to a drill bit, and has an outer sleeve and an inner shaft, the outer sleeve being movable longitudinally relative to the inner shaft. The torque control device also has a cylinder, a piston located within the cylinder, and a controller to control the volume of the cylinder. Changing the volume of the cylinder causes relative longitudinal movement between the outer sleeve and the inner shaft. The controller can receive inputs from a torque sensor and/or an accelerometer in order to determine if a threshold torque has been exceeded. Alternatively the controller can comprise a rotary valve which automatically responds to torque in the assembly.
US09347274B2	Earth-boring tools and methods of forming earth-boring tools Methods of fabricating earth-boring tools include forming an outer portion of an earth-boring tool from a powder mixture comprising hard particles and matrix particles comprising a metal matrix material, disposing a molten material at least partially within the outer portion of the earth-boring tool, and forming the molten material into another portion of the earth-boring tool. Methods of fabricating a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include forming an outer portion comprising a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of matrix particles comprising a metal matrix material and casting a molten material at least partially within the outer portion of the bit body to form another portion of the bit body. Earth-boring tools include a body for engaging a subterranean borehole having an outer portion and an inner portion comprising at least one material solidified within a cavity formed within the outer portion.
US09347273B2	Method of orienting a cutting element A method of orienting a cutting element includes, configuring the cutting element so that gravitational forces acting thereon against a support surface bias the cutting element toward a specific orientation relative to the support surface. The specific orientation is such that at least one support and at least one edge of a gilmoid formed by intersections of surfaces of the gilmoid contact the support surface.
US09347271B2	Optical fiber cable for transmission of high power laser energy over great distances There is provided a system and apparatus for the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances without substantial power loss and without the presence of stimulated Raman scattering. There is further provided systems and optical fiber cable configurations and optical fiber structures for the delivering high power laser energy over great distances to a tool or surface to perform an operation or work with the tool or upon the surface.
US09347268B2	System and method to facilitate the drilling of a deviated borehole A system and method for facilitating the drilling of a deviated borehole. The system and method employ a flexible conveyance. A hydraulic actuation assembly is coupled to the flexible conveyance and a whipstock is releasably coupled to the hydraulic actuation assembly. The whipstock and hydraulic actuation assembly are conveyed downhole in the wellbore. The hydraulic actuation assembly provides a hydraulic fluid under pressure to anchor the whipstock.
US09347266B2	Stator inserts, methods of fabricating the same, and downhole motors incorporating the same The present invention recites a downhole motor and method of manufacture wherein a mandrel having an outer geometry that is complimentary to a desired inner geometry for the stator is provided. A flexible sleeve is provided over the mandrel and the flexible sleeve and the mandrel are provided into a mold. Additionally, a reinforcing material is introduced into the mold to fill space between the flexible sleeve and the mold. Said material is then solidified to bond the reinforcing material and the flexible sleeve. The solidified reinforcing material and flexible sleeve are then removed from the mold such that a stator insert is fabricated.
US09347259B2	Portable privacy arrangement for users of public restrooms A portable arrangement is provided for ensuring privacy during use of a public toilet. The arrangement includes a screen in the form of a generally rectangular or square piece of sheet material with an embedded suction cup or other attachment means at each corner. Secured to the screen is a smaller pouch into which the screen can be folded for transport.
US09347258B2	Retractable curtain panel with track guide According to some aspects, provided are curtain assemblies comprising two or more curtains selectably moveable between an open position and a closed position. Some embodiments include a track guide for at least one of the curtains having a first track and second track insert coupled to respective sides of the track guide and the curtain, wherein the curtain is moveably coupled to the first and second track inserts, and moveable along the channel of operation during transition between the open and the closed position. The curtains can be configured to define an air pocket that improved the energy efficiency of the curtain assembly (e.g., improving heat and/or noise properties). Some embodiments include a roller guide to maintain spacing between the curtains and can define a boundary of the air pocket.
US09347256B2	Method for producing an insulating glass pane The invention relates to a method for producing an insulating glass pane comprising a plastic spacer, wherein two glass panels (25, 49) arranged parallel to each other have a target distance from each other, by □forming a composite strand (26) by the temporal and spatial overlapping extrusion of at least two plastic partial strands (23, 24), wherein a first partial strand (23) is made of an adhesive first sealing compound (3), in which a moisture-binding substance is embedded, and a second partial strand (24) made of an adhesive and binding second sealing compound (4), a first glass panel (25) along the edge of the glass panel (25), specifically such that the beginning and end of the composite strand (26) abut and form a frame in that the first partial strand (23) is extruded with a predetermined first target thickness, which is greater than the target distance, and the second partial strand (24) is extruded with a predetermined second target thickness, which is greater than the target distance, on the glass panel (25), the partial strands (23, 24) are located next to each other in the composite strand (26) and thus immediately adjoin each other, and the first partial strand (23) is located within the frame formed by the second partial strand (24), □joining the first glass panel (25) to the second glass panel (49) such that the composite strand (26) is located between both glass panels (25, 49), connects them to each other, and keeps them at a distance from each other and □setting the target distance by pressing the joined glass panels (25, 49).
US09347253B2	Vehicle door opening/closing device A vehicle door opening/closing device, which enhances the operation feeling during opening and closing of a vehicle door, includes: an outside door handle provided to a power sliding door for opening and closing a door opening, the outside door handle being supported to move between an initial position and a maximum movement position relative to the power sliding door, and being operated to open and close the power sliding door; a spring unit urging the outside door handle to move from the maximum movement position to the initial position; an opening/closing operation detection unit for detecting movement of the outside door handle from the maximum movement position to the initial position; a door drive mechanism for driving the opening and closing of the power sliding door; and a control unit for actuating the door drive mechanism on the basis of a detection signal outputted from the opening/closing operation detection unit.
US09347251B1	Stay-open universal automobile door jam The invention is a simple, low-cost, mechanical device to be inserted in the hinge area of an open door of a parked vehicle to keep the door open while people or equipment are added to or removed from the automobile. A particular use of the invention is as a safety mechanism to hold the passenger-side door open while a disabled passenger is assisted in exiting the vehicle without the care-giving individual having to hold the door open or having the door slam shut on the disabled person. After this use, the device may be removed and stored in the glove compartment for easy access.
US09347250B1	Universal hinge alignment fixture A universal hinge alignment fixture for mounting different types of hinges to a cabinet have a cabinet box opening is disclosed comprising a fixture plate and a grip for holding the fixture plate during use. A detachable hinge plate mount is carried by the fixture plate for affixing different types of hinge plates to the fixture plate to operate with different types of hinges. A face plate is carried by the fixture plate for engaging a face of the cabinet surrounding the cabinet box opening and spacing the door and cabinet for alignment and attachment.
US09347247B2	Latch assembly A latch assembly with a first magnet and a second magnet is provided. The first and second magnets engage each other when the latch assembly is in a closed position. The latch assembly also includes features for determining when the latch assembly is in the closed position. Knowledge of when the latch assembly is in the closed position can assist with operation of an associated appliance.
US09347243B2	Electrical locking device with fail-safe emergency release The invention relates to an electrically operable locking device for locking a gate. The electrical lock has a frame for mounting the locking device to the gate, and a housing slidably movable with respect to the frame between an upper position and a lower position and comprising a drop bolt arranged to move between an extended drop bolt position and an retracted drop bolt position and a mechanical locking mechanism arranged to lock and unlock the housing to the frame and comprising a key-operated cylinder lock to unlock the housing to the frame. The gate is locked if said housing is in the lower position and said drop bolt is in the extended position. The locking device further has a resilient element positioned between the frame and the housing and arranged to lift the housing relative to the frame when the housing is unlocked from the frame by operation of the key-operated cylinder lock.
US09347241B1	Pushbutton-type easy-code-change handle lock A pushbutton type easy-code-change handle lock includes an outdoor assembly, a latch bolt arresting member, a latch bolt, and an indoor assembly. The outdoor assembly is mounted to an outside surface of a door panel and is coupled to an end of the latch bolt arresting member. The latch bolt arresting member drives the latch bolt to move. The indoor assembly is coupled to an opposite end of the latch bolt arresting member. The outdoor assembly includes a mechanical combination lock. When a user enters a correct combination of codes, the mechanical combination lock is operated and the external door handle and the latch bolt are operated synchronously to open the door; and if no code is provided, a key may be used to open the door; and if both codes and key are not provided, the external door handle and the latch bolt cannot be operated synchronously.
US09347237B2	Portable hunting blind and attachment A cord assembly is disclosed for use in connection with a variety of purposes including with a portable hunting blind. In one embodiment of the invention, the cord assembly has a plurality of resilient cord members forming a main panel and additional resilient cord members extending outward from the main panel.
US09347233B2	Data centre A data center comprises a plurality of sections (15a-15h) assembled together to define a unitary structure (10) such that there exists at least one personnel area that spans at least two sections; wherein the sections comprise a first section with which there is associated a first service—carrying chassis (40, 50, 60, 70) and a second section with which there is associated a second service—carrying chassis 40, 50, 60, 70), each of the first and second service—carrying chassis comprising a frame (41, 51, 61, 71) onto which is mounted components of at least two different services (42-44, 46); the first and second chassis are connected to each other by means of a junction (47) between the first and second chassis; and the first and second sections each include a ceiling (22) and the first service carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the first section and the second service carrying chassis is mounted on the ceiling of the second section.
US09347227B2	Floating floor system, floor panel, and installation method for the same A floating floor system and a floor panel and method for use with the same that includes a snap-fit locking assembly that provides vertical locking between adjacent floor panels to minimize and/or prevent ledging therebetween. In one embodiment, a protuberance and a recess are also provide on the floor panels to provide horizontal locking. The snap-fit locking assembly comprises: a locking member protruding from a first flange and comprising an undercut surface; and a locking slot formed in a second flange. The snap-fit locking assembly is configured so that when the locking member of a first one of the panels is disposed within the locking slot of a second one of the panels, the first and second panels are vertically locked together via mechanical interaction between the undercut surface of the locking member of the first panel and a locking surface of the second flange of the second panel.
US09347225B2	Building panel connector A system for securing plank panels together includes at least one connector clip to secure a pair of plank panels with one another. The at least one connector clip receives the retaining mechanism of each plank panel. The at least connector clip has a body with first and second retaining pockets. The retaining pockets couple with the retention mechanisms. A locator hump is coupled with the body. The locator hump positions the connector clip in place with respect to at least one of the pair of plank panels to secure the connector clip as well as the plank panels with a framing structure.
US09347224B1	Step-block precast stair A precast step-wall block including a step portion projecting perpendicularly out of a wall system and a wall block portion, is disclosed. Wall blocks used in constructing the wall system are T-shaped in plan view with exemplary dimensions of 400 mm×200 mm×200 mm. These wall blocks are arranged in Flemish bond courses to facilitate the projection of the precast steps from the wall system. A mold designed for preparation of the precast steps of different lengths is also described.
US09347223B1	Gutter cleaning device The gutter cleaning device removes wet or dry debris in the gutter after being attached to a leaf blower, and is designed to be used while standing on the ground to reach gutters at the first, second and even third story levels without the need for a ladder. The gutter cleaning device includes a nozzle arranged at an angle to the gutter so that the flow of air drives debris in a direction away from the operator, and a fluid-driven agitation device powered simply by air pressure to mechanically stir up heavy debris in the gutter or to prevent the debris from clogging the nozzle. In addition, the gutter cleaning device includes a plough that protrudes forward relative to the nozzle and mechanically lifts compacted debris from the gutter to be blown away by the same flow of air that is used to drive the agitation device.
US09347219B2	Convertible roof element and structure with method of operation A convertible roof element includes a peripheral structure with an opening to be at least partially closed by a membrane, an edge rope and at least one guide rope forming a rope band tensioned against each other. The convertible roof element has a parking position and at least one shading position, the parking position running along the peripheral structure and the at least one shading position running across the opening of the peripheral structure. The edge rope is fixed at its ends via a first tensioning device to the peripheral structure. The at least one guide rope is secured to the edge rope at one end and at the other end to the peripheral structure by means of a further tensioning device. The tensile force of the further tensioning device is variable so that the edge rope is moveable from the parking position into the at least one shading position.
US09347215B2	Flashing and waterproofing membrane A laminate tape that has a bottom layer of aggressive adhesive formulated to have sufficient adhesion to construction materials to as low as 20 degrees F. The adhesive is applied in a layer of about 2 to 5 mils. A second layer that is about 10 to 60 mils thick is made of rubberized asphalt, which provides self-sealing capabilities. In one embodiment, the first layer has strips of adhesive and sections of rubberized asphalt. The third layer is a film, which can be a thin, contiguous polymer, fabric or particulate. The laminate can be used where a strong adhesive is needed that will adhere to construction materials at or near 20 degrees Fahrenheit, while still retaining self-sealing characteristics.
US09347206B2	Variable bypass pipeline heater A fluid heating system for heating fluid flowing in a pipe to prevent freezing and ice build up. A controllable variable flow heat exchanger is utilized within the pipe to provide thermal transfer to the fluid flow.
US09347205B2	Estimation of the relative attitude and position between a vehicle body and an implement operably coupled to the vehicle body An implement having an implement acceleration is operably coupled to a vehicle body having a body acceleration. An attitude of the implement is estimated by receiving acceleration measurements from an accelerometer mounted on the vehicle body and an accelerometer mounted on the implement. A state vector estimate is calculated based at least in part on the body acceleration measurement and the implement acceleration measurement. The state vector estimate includes a representation of the attitude of the implement relative to the vehicle body. In addition to the accelerometer measurements, angular velocity measurements can be received from a gyro mounted on the vehicle body and a gyro mounted on the implement. The state vector estimate is then calculated based at least in part on the body acceleration measurement, the implement acceleration measurement, the body angular velocity measurement, and the implement angular velocity measurement.
US09347201B2	Emergency egress system for a construction machine An emergency egress system with an access panel assembly, a latch assembly, a handle assembly, a fixed ladder portion, and a slidable ladder portion, is disclosed. The access panel assembly includes a door panel. The latch assembly and the handle assembly are attached to the door panel. The handle assembly has a holding portion that works in conjunction with the latch assembly that has a wing portion. The holding portion is manipulable to rotate the latch assembly in the locked position to hold the fixed ladder portion and the slidable ladder portion together via the wing portion, which is to maintain the door panel in the closed position. The holding portion is manipulable to rotate the latch assembly to the unlocked position to allow the wing portion to rotate and release the slidable ladder portion for exit.
US09347198B2	Device and method for repairing a verge The invention relates to a device for repairing a verge. The device includes: a base frame for attaching the device to a mobile tool, such as a crane; a subframe arranged on the base frame; and a flexible sleeve which is arranged on the subframe and revolves so as to be movable with respect to the base frame. In addition, the invention relates to a method for repairing a verge.
US09347197B2	Foundation with slab, pedestal and ribs for columns and towers A fatigue resistant gravity based spread footing under heavy multi-axial cyclical loading of a wind tower. The foundation having a central vertical pedestal, a substantially horizontal continuous bottom support slab, a plurality of radial reinforcing ribs extending radially outward from the pedestal. The pedestal, ribs and slab forming a continuous monolithic structure. The foundation having a three-dimensional network of post-tensioning elements that keep the structural elements under heavy multi-axial post compression with a specific eccentricity intended to reduce stress amplitudes and deflections and allows the foundation to have a desirable combination of high stiffness and superior fatigue resistance. The foundation design reduces the weight and volume of materials used, reduces cost, and improves heat dissipation conditions during construction by having a small ratio of concrete mass to surface area thus eliminating the risk of thermal cracking due to heat of hydration.
US09347196B2	Post-frame footing assembly and vertical post A footing assembly for a vertical post in post-frame construction is provided that supports three-axis loading and facilitates proper locating of the vertical post within a drilled hole. The footing assembly comprises post rail assembly that is slidably disposed within an elongated bridge plate member. A vertical post is furthermore slidably received within the post rail assembly along the vertical post lower end. The slidable connections of the post rail assembly and the vertical post facilitate two-axis position of the vertical post within an excavated hole once placed therein, while the telescoping construction of the vertical post facilitates a vertical positioning of a post bracket secured to the upper portion of the vertical post. The present invention allows for proper locating of a vertical post within a footing hole, while also providing a footing assembly that supports three-axis loading once installed.
US09347194B2	Lighweight concrete composition for soil stabilization, especially in shoreline and waterbottom areas A lightweight concrete composition is mixed from cement, sand, water, and organic material, and placed on an area of soil, proximal a body of water, to protect the soil from erosion and the like due to water action. Preferably, the organic material comes from the area in which the soil is being stabilized, and may include soil, leafy matter, and ground up wood, forming a particulate organic material. Preferably, the final density of the resulting lightweight concrete composition is greater than the density of the water in the body of water, and less than the density of the soil being stabilized. A representative density range is between 62.43 pounds per cubic foot and 100.00 pounds per cubic foot.
US09347190B2	Safety cone and method of making the same A safety cone is configured to reflect light in any orientation. The safety cone has a base attached to an upper portion. The base further comprises a base top side and a base bottom side. Reflective material attached in a plurality of locations on the base top side and the base bottom side. The reflective material is configured to reflect the light in any orientation.
US09347187B2	Pavement repair system A pavement repair system utilizes solid phase auto regenerative cohesion and homogenization by liquid asphalt oligopolymerization technologies. The system is suitable for use in repairing asphalt pavement, including pavement exhibiting a high degree of deterioration (as manifested in the presence of potholes, cracks, ruts, or the like) as well as pavement that has been subject to previous repair and may comprise a substantial amount of dirt and other debris (e.g., chipped road paint or other damaged or disturbed surfacing materials). A system utilizing homogenization by liquid asphalt oligopolymerization is suitable for rejuvenating or repairing aged asphalt, thereby improving properties of the paving material.
US09347182B2	Methods and apparatus for forming fluff pulp sheets An improved processes for making fluff pulp sheets mechanically eliminates many of the unwanted fiber-to-fiber bonding (fiber bundles) which may be contained in the sheet to produce consistent and uniform quality fluff pulp. Pulp slurry is deposited on a moving bottom forming wire to form a stock web. Pulp slurry is brought into contact with a moving top forming wire. The stock web is subjected to up and down dewatering creating separately formed layers to reduce fiber-to-fiber bonding. The stock web can be subjected to strong pulsating shear forces as it is being advanced along the bottom forming wire to break a majority of fiber bundles contained in the web. The pulp slurry can be deposited on the bottom forming wire utilizing a headbox with dilution control to selectively adjust the concentration of the pulp slurry. A shoe press can be used to dewater the web after it is subjected to the pulsating shear forces. The web can be dried utilizing conventional drying equipment, such as cylindrical driers.
US09347179B2	Methods of preserving starch in pulp and controlling calcium precipitation and/or scaling Methods to preserve starch present in pulp are provided and also methods to control calcium precipitation and/or scaling in digesters or BOD systems. The methods can be performed as part of a papermaking process. Process water containing pulp can be treated with a chloramine. Process water containing pulp with native starch can receive a double treatment with at least one biocide, such as chloramine, and at least one oxidant, such as sodium hypochlorite. The treatment can be performed in any suitable manner. The treatment can be performed at one or more stages or locations in a papermaking system. A target residual chloramine value or range can be achieved by the treatment. Packaging sheets/boards and other paper products manufactured using the methods provided exhibit superior strength and other desirable characteristics.
US09347177B2	Method of producing a softwood lignin derivative The present invention relates to softwood lignin derivatives having an aliphatic hydroxyl content of from about 2.5 mmol/g to about 7 mmol/g lignin, and the preparation method thereof. The preparation method comprises: pulping a fibrous biomass, heating the biomass, maintaining the elevated temperature for 1 minute or longer, separating the cellulosic pulp to form a lignin-rich material, and recovering derivatives of native lignin. The lignin derivatives have a desired antioxidant activity characterized by radical scavenging index (RSI). Another aspect of the invention relates to compositions comprising the softwood lignin derivative. Another aspect of the invention relates to a use of the softwood lignin derivatives comprising incorporating the softwood lignin derivatives into polymer compositions.
US09347174B2	Aqueous silsesquioxane dispersions having low concentrations of reaction byproducts Methods of making a composition are disclosed, which comprises: i) forming a dispersion of particles comprising: a) silica, b) a non-volatile cation, and c) water, wherein the non-volatile cation is not ammonium; ii) adding at least one organosilyl coupling agent of formula R1—(R2—O)3—Si where R1 is selected from the group consisting of a substituted alkyl and unsubstituted alkyl, and R2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl, wherein the substituted alkyl of R1 is not aminoalkyl; iii) reacting the organosilyl coupling agent with the dispersion of particles to form a mixture comprising a silsesquioxane and an alcohol; and iv) removing the alcohol from the mixture by vacuum distillation, wherein final concentration of the alcohol is about 1% by weight or less of the total mixture. Further disclosed are compositions comprising an aqueous dispersion comprising silsesquioxane, a non-volatile cation and an alcohol, and methods of using the composition.
US09347172B2	Method of folding items of laundry In apparatuses for automatically folding items of laundry, items of laundry of different lengths usually are folded in an irregular sequence, resulting in idling and/or delays in particular in the longitudinal-folding station (13). The invention provides for determining the length of each item of laundry (10) upstream of the longitudinal-folding station (13) and for accelerating short items of laundry as they are transported through the longitudinal-folding station (13), whereas larger items of laundry are slowed down in the longitudinal-folding station (13). Following completion of the longitudinal-folding operation, the respectively folded item of laundry is located at the end of the longitudinal-folding station (13) and, immediately following completion of the longitudinal folding, is transported away out of the longitudinal-folding station (13). This avoids unnecessary idling times, and for relatively long items of laundry to be folded longitudinally during continuous, relatively slow onward transportation through the longitudinal-folding station (13).
US09347162B1	Fabric seam alignment tool A fabric seam alignment tool has an upper plate and a lower plate. Each plate has interior and exterior surfaces, parallel side edges, and forward and rearward ends. A swivel plate couples the upper and lower plates. A central plane is created through the tool midway between the upper and lower plates. A forward opening is located between the upper and lower plates forwardly of the swivel plate. A rearward opening is between the upper and lower plates rearwardly of the swivel plate. The tool is formed of a transparent plastic having limited resilience.
US09347161B2	Side curtain airbag and method and apparatus for manufacturing a side curtain airbag An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion having a first portion of material; a second portion of material, the first portion of material being secured to the second portion of material to define the inflatable cushion; wherein at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the inflatable cushion is defined by a seam wherein an inner surface of the first portion is secured to an inner surface of the second portion only by a plurality of stitches; and wherein a strip of a third portion of material is applied to the seam of an outer surface of either the first portion or the second portion when the plurality of stitches are applied.
US09347160B2	Sewing machine and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing sewing machine control program A sewing machine includes a cloth thickness detection device, a storage device, and a control device. The cloth thickness detection device detects a cloth thickness of a work cloth. The storage device stores cut data that include a plurality of needle drop points for a cutting needle. The control device modifies a distance between adjacent ones of the needle drop points in the cut data in accordance with the cloth thickness that has been detected by the cloth thickness detection device. Then control device performs cut work on the work cloth using the cutting needle, in accordance with the cut data in which the distance between the adjacent needle drop points has been modified.
US09347158B2	Elongate self-closing sleeve for protecting elongate members The present invention concerns an elongate self-closing sleeve for protecting elongated members, said sleeve having internal and external opposite faces. Said sleeve comprises a warp knitted textile 1 having first 2 and second 3 longitudinal opposite free edges biased toward each other in order to define an internal space wherein said elongate members could be placed therein. Said warp knitted textile 1 comprises a first monofilament yarn 4 and a second monofilament yarn 5 both forming laying-in stitches extending in the same direction between said free edges on at least two wales 6 and a third yarn 12 forming chain stitches or tricot stitches, said first 4 and second 5 yarns being in plastic material(s).
US09347155B2	Process for manufacturing to a tape with specific pattern interval In a process for manufacturing to a tape with specific pattern interval, there are utilized at least two kinds of ultraviolet-fluorescent yarns with different chromophore, which is spun out of dope kneaded with a fluorescent material. When ultraviolet-fluorescent yarns and colorless yarns are wound around a warp beam or drum with or without infrared-fluorescent yarns, the ultraviolet-fluorescent yarns are arranged repeatedly in specific color order in the traverse direction during the warping operation. In the process, these yarns as the warp are also woven into a double-wide textile with a wide loom.
US09347154B2	Drawn poly(ethyleneterephthalate) fiber, poly(ethyleneterephthalate) tire-cord, their preparation method and tire comprising the same The present invention relates to a drawn PET fiber which has good dimensional stability, thereby increases the high speed driving performance of a tire, a PET tire cord, their preparation methods, and a tire including the same. The drawn PET fiber may includes 90 mol % or more of PET and may be a fiber of which a creep rate is 5.5% or less when the drawn PET fiber is fixed under the initial load of 0.01 g/d and is kept for 24 hours under the load of 0.791 g/d and the temperature of 100° C. Furthermore, the PET tire cord may be a cord of which a creep rate is 4.0% or less when the PET tire cord is fixed under the initial load of 0.01 g/d and is kept for 24 hours under the load of 0.791 g/d and the temperature of 100° C.
US09347153B2	Wear-resistant clamping plate device for stuffer box crimper A cheek plate device for a stuffer box crimper, comprising a bracket, adjusting mechanisms, cheek plates, a base, a pair of nip rollers and thrust devices. The adjusting mechanisms, which can slide relative to the bracket, are arranged on the bracket, the cheek plates are installed on the inner sides of the adjusting mechanisms, a pair of identical brackets, adjusting mechanisms and cheek plates are symmetrically installed on each side of the pair of nip rollers and affixed on the base. The adjusting mechanisms have adjusting blocks and elastic devices, the elastic devices are installed at the ends of the adjusting blocks and push against the thrust devices, the thrust devices push the adjusting blocks via the elastic devices, and the adjusting blocks push the two cheek plates moving towards the sides of the pair of nip rollers.
US09347151B2	Compaction device for a spinning machine A compacting unit for compacting a fiber composite supplied by a drafting unit of a spinning machine has a beam on which at least one suction drum equipped with a suction zone is rotatably mounted on an axle. A clamping roller mounted on the beam is in contact with the suction drum to form a clamping line at the end of the suction zone under the action of a pressure element mounted on the beam. The clamping roller is mounted so it is rotationally movable on a pressure arm that is equipped with a spring element and is mounted on the beam so it can pivot over a pivot axis.
US09347149B2	Method for growing epitaxial diamond A method for growing epitaxial diamond is provided here. A metallic layer is deposited on a diamond substrate and is followed by an epitaxial diamond film deposited on top of the metallic layer. As a buffer layer, the metallic layer relieves stress accumulated in the thin film of the epitaxial diamond to prevent cracks. In consequence, diamond epitaxial layers with desired thickness and good quality can be obtained.
US09347148B2	Vitreous silica crucible with specific ratio of transparent layer and bubble-containing layer thicknesses Provided is a vitreous silica crucible, which is resistant to deformation and corrosion even when heated at high temperature for a long time. There is provided a vitreous silica crucible of the present invention including a substantially cylindrical straight body portion, a curved bottom portion, and a corner portion smoothly connecting the straight body portion and the bottom portion, wherein a wall of the vitreous silica crucible includes, from an inner surface side, a transparent layer and a bubble-containing layer, and a ratio of a thickness of the bubble-containing layer with respect to a thickness of the transparent layer at an intermediate position between an upper end and a lower end of the straight body portion is 0.7 to 1.4.
US09347142B1	Feedback circuit for a hydrogen generation system A hydrogen generation system includes a signal generation system configured to generate a driver signal. A signal processing system is configured to process the driver signal and generate a chamber excitation signal. A hydrogen generation chamber is configured to receive the chamber excitation signal and generate hydrogen from a feedstock contained within the hydrogen generation chamber. The signal processing system includes a feedback circuit that is configured to couple a cathode of the hydrogen generation chamber to an anode of the hydrogen generation chamber.
US09347138B2	In-situ composite formation of damage tolerant coatings utilizing laser A coating steel component with a pattern of an iron based matrix with crystalline particles metallurgically bound to the surface of a steel substrate for use as disc cutters or other components with one or more abrading surfaces that can experience significant abrasive wear, high point loads, and large shear stresses during use. The coated component contains a pattern of features in the shape of freckles or stripes that are laser formed and fused to the steel substrate. The features can display an inner core that is harder than the steel substrate but generally softer than the matrix surrounding the core, providing toughness and wear resistance to the features. The features result from processing an amorphous alloy where the resulting matrix can be amorphous, partially devitrified or fully devitrified.
US09347135B2	Method for rust-proofing mold A method for rust-proofing a mold, which is capable of reducing the time and the cost required for rust-proofing the mold. The method includes an iron hydroxide-forming step for forming iron hydroxide on a predetermined part of the surface of the mold, and a surface-treating step for forming a film covering the molding surface of the mold, and for changing the iron hydroxide formed on the mold into black rust, by heating the mold, under an oxygen-deficiency atmosphere, on which the iron hydroxide is formed in the iron hydroxide-forming step.
US09347130B2	Lanthanum target for sputtering Provided are a lanthanum target for sputtering which has a Vickers hardness of 60 or more and no spotty macro patterns on the surface, and a method of producing a lanthanum target for sputtering, wherein lanthanum is melted and cast to produce an ingot, the ingot is subject to knead forging at a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subsequently subject to upset forging at 300 to 500° C. to form the shape into a rough target shape, and this is additionally subject to machining to obtain a target. This invention aims to offer technology for efficiently and stably providing a lanthanum target for sputtering that has no spotty macro patterns on the surface, and a method of producing the same.
US09347128B2	Method for forming dielectric thin film A method for forming a dielectric thin film that forms a PZT thin film having a (100)/(001) orientation. After a seed layer is formed by adhering PbO gas to a surface of a substrate, a voltage is applied to a target of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and perform sputtering, while the substrate is heated inside of an evacuated vacuum chamber. Then, a PZT thin film is formed on the surface of the substrate. Because Pb and O are supplied from the seed layer, a PZT film having a (001)/(100) orientation can be formed without lack of Pb.
US09347122B2	Manufacturing method of a high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet having excellent local deformability This high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet contains, in mass %, C: 0.02% to 0.20%; Si: 0.001% to 2.5%; Mn: 0.01% to 4.0%; P: 0.001% to 0.15%; S: 0.0005% to 0.03%; Al: 0.001% to 2.0%; N: 0.0005% to 0.01%; and O: 0.0005% to 0.01%; in which Si+Al is limited to less than 1.0%, and a balance being composed of iron and inevitable impurities, in which an area ratio of bainite in a metal structure is 95% or more, at a sheet thickness center portion being a range of ⅝ to ⅜ in sheet thickness from the surface of the steel sheet, an average value of pole densities of the {100}<011> to {223}<110> orientation group is 4.0 or less, and a pole density of the {332}<113> crystal orientation is 5.0 or less, and a mean volume diameter of crystal grains in the metal structure is 7 μm or less.
US09347119B2	Degradable high shock impedance material A selectively corrodible powder compact that may be used to make the components of a selectively corrodible perforating system is disclosed. The selectively corrodible powder compact includes a cellular nanomatrix comprising a nanomatrix material. The selectively corrodible powder compact also includes a plurality of dispersed particles comprising a particle core material having a density of about 7.5 g/cm3 or more, dispersed in the cellular nanomatrix. The selectively corrodible powder compact further includes a bond layer extending throughout the cellular nanomatrix between the dispersed particles.
US09347118B2	Alloy composition A molybdenum based alloy composition including between 15% and 20% niobium and 0.05% and 0.25% carbon.
US09347115B2	Method for recovering rare earth element The object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering a rare earth element, which is capable of efficiently recovering a rare earth element with high recovery rate without using any expensive chemicals, solvents or the like. In the present invention, a water-soluble salt other than sulfate ions is allowed to coexist with an aqueous solution that contains a rare earth element, and then an alkali metal sulfate is added to the aqueous solution, thereby producing a precipitate of a double sulfate of the rare earth element.
US09347111B2	Making mineral salts from various sources Hydrometallurgical systems, methods, and compositions are described in which organic amine-based lixiviants are utilized in the selective recovery of alkaline earth elements. The lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled for use in subsequent iterations of the process. Multiple alkaline earth elements can be recovered from a sample in parallel or in serial applications of the disclosed methods.
US09347103B2	Screening method This invention relates to a novel screening method that identifies simple molecular markers that are predictive of whether a particular disease condition is responsive to a specific treatment. Also, a method of diagnosing the susceptibility of an individual suffering from a disease to treatment with an HDAC inhibitor is provided. Also provided is a method of treating a proliferative disease or a condition which involves a change in cell differentiation or growth rate in a patient.
US09347101B2	Methods of diagnosing or treating prostate cancer using the ERG gene, alone or in combination with other over or under expressed genes in prostate cancer The present invention relates to oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, as well as other genes, involved in prostate cancer and their expression products, as well as derivatives and analogs thereof. Provided are therapeutic compositions and methods of detecting and treating cancer, including prostate and other related cancers. Also provided are methods of diagnosing and/or prognosing prostate cancer by determining the expression level of at least one prostate cancer-cell-specific gene, including, for example, the ERG gene or the LTF gene alone, or in combination with at least one of the AMACR gene and the DD3 gene.
US09347100B2	Rare cell analysis using sample splitting and DNA tags The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.
US09347099B2	Single cell analysis by polymerase cycling assembly The invention provides a method of making measurements on individual cells of a population, particularly cells that have identifying nucleic acid sequences, such as lymphoid cells. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of making multiparameter measurements on individual cells of such a population by carrying out a polymerase cycling assembly (PCA) reaction to link their identifying nucleic acid sequences to other cellular nucleic acids of interest. The fusion products of such PCA reaction are then sequenced and tabulated to generate multiparameter data for cells of the population.
US09347096B2	Genetic analyzer A nucleic acid analysis apparatus capable of selecting an optimal analysis method for every user and improving throughput is provided. In a genetic analyzer for measuring and analyzing amplification reaction of a nucleic acid in real time, an amplification curve is analyzed and a user can select conditions for terminating the amplification reaction upon detection of amplification. Further, a user can select conditions for selecting next processing after termination of the amplification reaction. A user can select, in situ, conditions for terminating the amplification reaction and conditions for selecting next processing upon detection of amplification and after the termination of amplification reaction. Alternatively, conditions for terminating the amplification reaction and conditions for selecting the next processing are registered previously and processing is performed automatically upon detection of amplification and after termination of the amplification reaction.
US09347095B2	Digital assays for mutation detection Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for detecting alleles using a single probe or a single primer set. Also, provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for detecting allelic variants using a single probe or a single primer set. Also, provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for determining a polymerization error rate.
US09347093B2	Nucleic acid production and sequence analysis A method for producing a nucleic acid molecule from a template nucleic acid sequence and a linking unit attached to a primer, which method comprises a step of contacting the template nucleic acid sequence with a nucleic acid polymerase under conditions which allow the nucleic acid polymerase to produce the nucleic acid molecule from the primer based on the template nucleic acid sequence, wherein the linking unit is attached to a target site in the template nucleic acid sequence with a covalent linkage.
US09347091B2	Set of oligonucleotide probes as well as methods and uses thereto The present disclosure relates to a set of at least 100 single-stranded oligonucleotide probes directed against (or complementary to) portions of a genomic target sequence of interest. The present disclosure also relates to a method of detecting a genomic target sequence of interest using the set of oligonucleotide probes and a method of generating the set of oligonucleotide probes. Further, the present disclosure relates to a kit comprising the set of oligonucleotide probes and at least one further component.
US09347090B2	Method for determining severity and progression of periodontal disease An improved method and kit of determining whether a patient is predisposed to having severe periodontal disease and/or having high risk of progression of periodontal disease, comprising the steps of (i) taking a biological sample from said patient; (ii) genotyping said biological sample for genetic polymorphism pattern comprising IL 1B (rs16944), IL 1B (rs1143623) and IL 1B (rs4848306); and (iii) comparing said genetic polymorphism patterns to a reference composite genotype pattern; wherein the similarity of said genetic polymorphism patterns to said reference pattern indicate said patient's predisposition to having severe periodontal disease and/or having high risk of progression of periodontal disease.
US09347089B2	Therapeutic and diagnostic strategies The present invention encompasses the finding that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate certain key proteins involved in DNA repair. In some embodiments, a miRNA suppresses levels and/or activity of one or more DNA repair proteins. In some such embodiments, such suppression renders cells hypersensitive to certain DNA damage agents (e.g., γ-irradiation and genotoxic drugs, among others). The present invention provides various reagents and methods associated with these findings including, among other things, strategies for treating cell proliferative disorders, certain diagnostic systems, etc.
US09347082B2	Automated cell growth/migration detection system and associated methods An automated cell growth/migration detection system includes: a container for containing a cell growth/migration matrix/medium into which deposited cells form a cell surface; an image sensor for capturing images; an actuator for incrementally varying distance between the image sensor lens and the cell surface such that the images correspond to varying imaging depths; and an image data processor for processing the images to determine cell growth/migration. An automated cell growth/migration detection method includes: capturing a first image series of a cell surface within a first imaging cycle corresponding to a sequence of imaging depths between the cell surface and an image sensor; capturing an additional image series of the cell surface within each of at least one additional imaging cycle and corresponding to the same sequence of imaging depths; processing each image series for each imaging cycle to determine a clearest-looking image; and determining cell growth/migration from the clearest-looking image.
US09347080B2	Use of browned glucose as a feed substrate A method for fermenting a microorganism, producing a compound of interest, in a culture medium comprising: adding a browned glucose solution to the culture medium, wherein the browned glucose solution is a glucose solution that has been acid treated and heated to a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius, and wherein the glucose solution has a concentration of at least 500 g/l.
US09347077B2	Over-expression of a putative oxidoreductase (UcpA) for increasing furfural or 5-hydroxymethylfurfural tolerance The subject invention pertains to overexpression of a putative oxidoreductase (ucpA) for increasing furfural tolerance in genetically modified microorganisms. Genetically modified microorganisms capable of overexpressing UcpA are also provided. Increased expression of ucpA was shown to increase furfural tolerance by 50%, and to permit the fermentation of sugars to products in the presence of 15 mM furfural.
US09347076B2	Recombinant microorganisms that make biodiesel A carboxydotrophic acetogenic recombinant microorganism is modified so that it produces biodiesel and optionally one or more other products by fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. Biodiesel is produced by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. The recombinant microorganism is modified to express one or more exogenous enzymes in the biodiesel biosynthesis pathway not present in a parental microorganism from which the recombinant microorganism is derived. The one or more enzymes comprise a nonspecific acyltransferase.
US09347072B2	VIP3 toxins and methods of use Nucleic acid molecules encoding novel Vip3 toxins that are highly active against a wide range of lepidopteran insect pests are disclosed. The nucleic acid molecules can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the Vip3 toxins. These recombinant organisms can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.
US09347068B2	Manipulation of ammonium transporters (AMTs) to improve NUE in higher plants The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the protein AMT. The invention provides genomic sequence for the AMT gene. AMT is responsible for controlling nitrogen utilization efficiency in plants.
US09347066B2	Plants and seeds with altered storage compound levels, related constructs and methods involving genes encoding proteins with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic acid class II-like aldolase proteins This invention is in the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention pertains to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding proteins with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic acid class II-like aldolase proteins in plants and seeds and the use of such fragments to modulate expression of a gene encoding proteins with similarity to bacterial 2,4-dihydroxy-hept-2-ene-1,7-dioic acid class II-like aldolase proteins in a transformed host cell.
US09347062B2	Interfering RNA delivery system and uses thereof The invention provides a delivery system comprising a cell penetrating peptide, 10 histidines, and an interfering RNA molecule. The system can be used for delivering interfering RNA molecules into a cell in vivo or in vitro. Therapeutic uses for the delivery system are also provided.
US09347061B2	Administering antisense oligonucleotides complementary to human apolipoprotein B Methods for long-term lowering of lipid levels in human subjects and for the treatment of conditions associated with elevated LDL-cholesterol and elevated ApoB are provided.
US09347059B2	Methods and compositions for nucleic acid analysis Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for assays, many of which involve amplification reactions such as digital PCR or droplet digital PCR. The assays may be used for such applications as sequencing, copy number variation analysis, and others. In some cases, the assays involve subdividing a sample into multiple partitions (e.g., droplets) and merging the partitions with other partitions that comprise adaptors with barcodes.
US09347058B2	Methods for the selection of binding proteins This application provides an improved screening method for the selection of target-binding proteins having desirable biophysical properties. The method combines mRNA display and yeast surface display in a way that takes advantage of the desirable attributes of both processes.
US09347056B2	Nucleic acid extraction device, and nucleic acid extraction method, nucleic acid extraction kit, and nucleic acid extraction apparatus, each using the same A nucleic acid extraction device includes a tube that is internally provided with, in the following order, a first plug composed of a first oil, a second plug composed of a first washing liquid, which is phase-separated from an oil and is used for washing a nucleic acid-binding solid-phase carrier having nucleic acids bound thereto, a third plug composed of a second oil, a fourth plug composed of a reverse transcription reaction solution, which is phase-separated from an oil and is used for performing a reverse transcription reaction, a fifth plug composed of a third oil, a sixth plug composed of an eluent, which is phase-separated from an oil and is used for eluting the nucleic acids from the nucleic acid-binding solid-phase carrier having nucleic acids bound thereto, and a seventh plug composed of a fourth oil.
US09347054B2	Polymer factor IX moiety conjugates Conjugates of a Factor IX moiety and one or more water-soluble polymers are provided. Typically, the water-soluble polymer is polyethylene glycol) or a derivative thereof. Also provided (among other things) are compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of making the conjugates, and methods of administering to a patient compositions comprising the conjugates.
US09347047B2	Modified leucine dehydrogenase The present invention provides a means and method useful for measurement of a total branched-chain amino acid concentration. Specifically, the present invention provides a modified enzyme in which at least one amino acid residue is mutated so as to improve a property of a leucine dehydrogenase which is associated with the measurement of the total branched-chain amino acids, such as, for example, substrate specificities of leucine dehydrogenase for total branched-chain amino acids, activity of leucine dehydrogenase for any branched-chain amino acids, and thermal stability of leucine dehydrogenase; and a method of analyzing the total branched-chain amino acids, comprising measuring the total branched-chain amino acids contained in a test sample using the modified enzyme.
US09347037B2	Methods and apparatus for building complex 3D scaffolds and biomimetic scaffolds built therefrom A novel method for building complex three-dimensional scaffolds for biomimetic applications such as in vitro organ growth, using a gelatin/sugar/water gel, ultraviolet radiation, and heat or enzyme is described. The method produces gelatin-sugar hydrogels demonstrating greater thermal stability, mechanical strength, and resistance to enzymatic degradation. The invention also provides a means to assemble the gelatin sugar hydrogel films into complex three-dimensional structures (scaffolds). To account for the native biochemical factors present in natural scaffolds, methods of conjugating such factors to the gelatin-sugar hydrogel are described. These scaffolds can then be applied for tissue culturing and organ growth. The present invention also describes a system and apparatus for constructing these complex three-dimensional scaffolds by taking advantage of the physical and chemical properties of the gelatin-sugar hydrogel.
US09347036B2	Modified gram positive bacteria and uses thereof The present invention relates to gram positive bacteria with increased stress resistance and/or improved storage characteristics. In particular, the invention relates to gram positive bacterium which accumulate intracellular trehalose. The gram positive bacterium according to the invention lack cellobiose-specific PTS system IIC component (PtcC) activity. The gram positive bacterium may further lack trehalose 6-phosphate phosphorylase (TrePP) activity. The gram positive bacterium may further overexpress trehalose transporters. The invention further relates to compositions comprising such gram positive bacterium as well as methods and uses thereof.
US09347031B2	Container for forming a cell aggregate and a method for forming a cell aggregate A container for forming a cell aggregate is provided in which a group represented by a general formula of: (in the formula, each of R1, R2, and R3 is independently a an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 or more and 6 or less and m is an integer of 2 or more and 6 or less.) and at least one of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a hydroxyl group are present near a surface thereof.
US09347029B2	Multi-sensor based automatic brewing mass overturn machine A multi-sensor based automatic brewing mass overturn machine comprising a moving module, a vinegar brewing mass information monitoring module, a system control module and a brewing mass overturn execution module is provided. The moving module comprises a moving motor, and the vinegar brewing mass information monitoring module comprises a vinegar brewing mass temperature and acidity information monitoring unit, a vinegar brewing mass smell information monitoring unit, and an overturned brewing mass appearance information monitoring unit. The system control module comprises a computer and a programmable controller, the computer being connected with a temperature sensor, an acidity sensor, a gas sensor array, a color camera and the programmable controller, respectively. The brewing mass overturn execution module comprises an overturn motor and brewing mass overturn motors.
US09347025B2	Ware washing system containing cationic starch The present invention discloses a method of washing ware, in particular in an automatic domestic or institutional ware washing machine, using a detergent composition containing a cationic starch. This eliminates the need for a surfactant in the rinse step. The cationic starch provides a layer of cationic starch on the ware so as to afford a sheeting action in an aqueous rinse step without any added rinse agent.
US09347020B2	Heated chromatographic separation process The present invention provides a chromatographic separation process for recovering a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product from a feed mixture, which process comprises passing the feed mixture through one or more chromatographic columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, wherein the temperature of at least one of the chromatographic columns through which the feed mixture is passed is greater than room temperature.
US09347016B2	Industrial gear lubricating oil composition used for resisting micro-pitting Provided is a micropitting corrosion resistant industrial gear lubricant composition, comprising: (A) at least a highly refined mineral oil, or synthetic oil or any combination of the above components; (B) at least a micropitting corrosion resistant additive; (C) at least an anti-wear additive; (D) at least a metal passivation additive; and (E) at least an anti-oxidation additive.The lubricant composition has excellent high and low temperature performance and meets 68, 100, 150, 220, 320, 460 and 680 industrial gear oil viscosity level requirement. The lubricant composition has excellent micropitting corrosion resistance, anti-wear performance and anti-oxidation performance, passes FVA 54 micropitting corrosion resistant test, FAG FE-8 bearing wear test and SKF EMCOR bearing corrosion test, and is suitable for many large-scale industrial transmission gears and some automobile transmission gears, especially suitable for a gear transmission system for wind power generation.
US09347015B2	Functionalized olefin copolymers with monoamine terminated polyether lubricating oil compositions A reaction product, useful as a viscosity index improver in a lubricating oil, reacting: a) an oil soluble ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer comprising from 10 to less than 80 weight % ethylene and greater than 20 up to 90 weight % of at least one C3 to C28 alpha olefin, having a number average molecular weight from 5,000 to 120,000 and grafted with 0.5 to 5 weight % of an ethylenically unsaturated acylating agent, with b) a hydrocarbyl substituted poly(oxyalkylene) monoamine of the formula: R1—(O—CHR2—CHR3)x-A wherein: R1 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 35 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl and each R2 and R3 are independently selected in each —O—CHR2—CHR3— unit; A is amino, —CH2amino or N-alkyl amino having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and x is an integer from 2 to 45.
US09347013B2	Natural oil derivative based thickener components used in grease compositions and processes for making such compositions A grease composition is disclosed, having from 75 to 85 weight percent of a lubricating base oil, from 15 to 25 weight percent of a thickener component including one or more of (i) one or more natural oil derivatives comprising octadecanedioic acid dimethyl esters, (ii) one or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, comprising 12-hydroxystearic acid, and (iii) one or more of a metal base compound comprising lithium hydroxide, and from 1 to 15 weight percent of one or more optional additives. Processes for making grease compositions are also disclosed.
US09347009B2	Processes and systems for characterizing and blending refinery feedstocks A method for characterizing and optimizing refinery feedstock blends according to their corrosivity is provided. Refinery feedstocks can be characterized based on any of: dissociation of acids in the crude, breakup of naphthenic acid molecular associations, mass changes of carbon steel samples, and/or dissociation of sulfur compounds in the feedstocks. The characterization is performed as a function of temperature via any of electrical resistivity measurement, vibrational spectroscopic analysis, voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, crystal microbalance measurements of weight changes, and combinations thereof. The method employs models and/or hardware to optimize the usage of refinery feedstocks in the blending and valuation of the feedstocks.
US09347002B2	Liquid-crystalline medium The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium which comprises at least one compound of the formula I, in which R1, R1*, L1, L2 and L3 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, PSA, PS-VA, PA-VA, PALC, FFS, PS-FFS, IPS or PS-IPS effect. The invention furthermore also relates to compounds of the formula I.
US09346996B1	Oil well cementing products with synthetic gypsum and methods An oil well cementing product comprising DTPA-coated synthetic calcined gypsum, at least one accelerator, at least one retarder, at least one plasticizer and limestone is provided. Also provided are methods for cementing oil wells with mixtures comprising DTPA-coated synthetic calcined gypsum, at least one accelerator, at least one retarder, at least one plasticizer and limestone.
US09346994B2	Heat-protection material A heat protection material for a surface, made of a mixture comprising a resin, cork granules and refractory fibers; the proportion of cork granules in the mixture is 50 to 80% by mass, wherein the corresponding proportion of refractory fibers in the mixture is 1 to 11% by mass.
US09346993B2	Heat dissipating coating composition and heat dissipating coating film The present invention provides a heat dissipating coating composition in a liquid or paste form for application to a heat generating article, comprising an infrared absorbing binder resin (A), infrared absorbing inorganic particles (B), and an organic solvent, having such proportions of the component (A) and the component (B) that the component (A) is 10 to 70 vol % and the component (B) is 90 to 30 vol % based on the total of both components being 100 vol %, and satisfying conditions 1, 2, and 3 specified herein, and also provides a heat dissipating coating film obtained by applying the heat dissipating coating composition to a heat dissipating article and then thermally curing the composition.
US09346990B2	Temporary adhesive material for wafer processing, wafer processing laminate, and method for manufacturing thin wafer using same The invention is adhesive material for a wafer processing used for temporarily bonding a supporting substrate to wafer having a front surface includes circuit formed thereon and a back surface to be processed, including first temporary adhesive layer composed of a layer of a silicone-modified styrene base thermoplastic elastomer, and second temporary adhesive layer composed of a thermosetting polymer layer on first temporary adhesive layer, wherein layer is capable of releasably adhering to front surface of wafer, and layer is capable of releasably adhering to the supporting substrate. Thereby, it provides a temporary adhesive material for wafer processing, wafer processing lamination, and method for manufacturing thin wafer using same, which facilitates temporary adhesion between supporting substrate and wafer having a circuit, is highly compatible with steps of forming TSV and forming wiring on back surface of wafer, allows easy delamination, and is capable of increasing productivity of thin wafers.
US09346989B2	Paintable diffusing agent composition A diffusing agent composition of an aspect of the invention contains: a condensation product (A) made from a starting material that is an alkoxysilane represented by the following general formula (1):[Chemical Formula 1] R1mSi(OR2)4-m (1) where R1 and R2 are an organic group, a plurality of R1s and R2s included in condensation product are identical or different, and m is 0, 1 or 2,the condensation product including an alkoxysilane where m=0 also including at least one alkoxysilane where m is 1 or 2; an impurity diffusion component (C); and an organic solvent (D).
US09346982B2	Amphiphilic pressure sensitive adhesives for human skin adhesion The present invention relates to amphiphilic pressure sensitive adhesives, specifically, pressure sensitive adhesives with amphiphilic copolymers which improve adhesion under moist environment. The amphiphilic copolymers comprise at least one hydrophobic acrylic monomer or oligomer and at least one hydrophilic or amphiphilic monomer or oligomer. The present invention also relates to the use of such adhesives in securing medical devices to human skin.
US09346980B2	Adhesive tape for a flying roll change The invention relates to an adhesive tape for a flying roll change, including: a carrier material (1) with an upper side, an underside and two longitudinal edges (1a, 1b), wherein the upper side of the carrier material (1) is coated with an adhesive (4) and the underside of the carrier material (1) is formed non-adhesive; and a double-sided adhesive tape (2) with an upper side, an underside and two longitudinal edges (2a, 2b), which includes a cleavable carrier material (21) which on both sides is coated with an adhesive (22, 23). The double-sided adhesive tape (2) is arranged on the underside of the carrier material (1). It is provided that the double-sided adhesive tape (2) is arranged on the underside of the carrier material (1) such that a partial region (B) of the double-sided adhesive tape (2) protrudes from the one longitudinal edge (1a) of the carrier material (1). The invention furthermore relates to the use of such adhesive tape for a flying roll change.
US09346974B2	Flexible visor having anti-fogging properties and anti-fogging coating compositions The present disclosure is directed to transparent composites having anti-fogging properties and anti-fog coating compositions for providing anti-fogging properties. The anti-fogging layers can contain an adhesive polymer, a hard polymer, and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the adhesive polymer, hard polymer, and hydrophilic polymers are different. In further embodiments, composites are described including a substrate layer; a first adhesive layer; a first transparent layer; a second adhesive layer; a second transparent layer; and an anti-fog layer.
US09346973B2	Elastomeric coatings having hydrophobic and/or oleophobic properties This disclosure deals with novel formulations to create highly durable hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic surfaces that can be nearly transparent. The formulations of this invention can be applied by -dip, spray and painting processes.
US09346968B2	Ink composition, ink set, and image forming method An ink composition, including: water; a polymerizable compound; a polymerization initiator; and a β-alkoxypropionamide compound represented by the following Formula (A): wherein, in Formula (A), R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each of R2 and R3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R2 and R3 may be the same or different.
US09346964B2	Paint comprising hydrophobized minerals and related methods A water-based paint composition may include at least one mineral treated with at least one hydrophobizing agent. The at least one mineral may include at least one of clay, kaolin, mica, titanium dioxide, talc, natural or synthetic silica or silicates, feldspars, nepheline syenite, talc, wollastonite, diatomite, barite, glass, and calcium carbonate. The at least one hydrophobizing agent may include at least one of fatty acids, fatty amines, and silanes. A method of making water-based paint may include treating at least one mineral with a hydrophobizing agent, and combining the at least one treated mineral with a binder.
US09346961B2	Polymerizable composition and antireflective film, polarizing plate and image display device using the same The invention is directed to a polymerizable composition containing: a compound containing a repeating unit having a polyether structure having a fluorine atom and four or more polymerizable groups and being represented by the formula (I) as defined herein; a photopolymerization initiator; and an organic solvent, or a polymerizable composition containing: a compound containing a repeating unit having a polyether structure having a fluorine atom and four or more polymerizable groups and being represented by one of the formulae (I-1) to (I-5) as defined herein; a photopolymerization initiator; and an organic solvent.
US09346958B2	Reactive dyes, their preparation and their use Reactive dyes of, for example, formula (101) especially suitable for dyeing synthetic polyamide fibre materials and which yield dyeings or prints having good wet-fastness properties, and a process for their preparation.
US09346957B2	Cell permeable, fluorescent dye The invention pertains to a near-infrared fluorescent dye that is cell permeable and can be attached to selected proteins in living cells. The dye has the general formula or its corresponding spirolactone wherein Y is chosen from the group consisting of Si, Ge and Sn; R0 is —COO− or COOH; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15 and R16 are substituents, including hydrogen, independently from each other. The dye (i) absorbs and emits light at wavelengths above 600 nm; (ii) possesses high photostability; (iii) has high extinction coefficients and high quantum yields; (iv) can be derivatized with different molecules; and (v) is membrane-permeable and shows minimal background binding to biomolecules and biomolecular structures.
US09346956B2	Foamed sulfur asphalts for pavement recycling and soil stabilization Methods for manufacturing a foamed sulfur asphalt stabilized soil and a foamed sulfur asphalt are provided. The foamed sulfur asphalt stabilized soil includes an foamed sulfur asphalt, an air-dried aggregate, moisturizing water, and Portland cement. The foamed sulfur asphalt includes an asphalt binder, elemental sulfur, foaming air, and foaming water. The foamed sulfur asphalt has a foam half-life equal to or greater than about 6 seconds and a foam expansion ratio equal to or greater than 8. The foamed sulfur asphalt also has an amount of elemental sulfur in a range of from about 10% to about 50% by weight of the combined amounts of elemental sulfur and the asphalt binder in the foamed sulfur asphalt.
US09346955B2	Multifunctional biocomposite additive compositions and methods Biocomposite compositions and compositions, which include dried distillers solubles, and which can be used in making biocomposite compositions are described. Methods for preparing the compositions are also described.
US09346954B2	Curable resin composition The object of the present invention is to provide a curable resin composition having excellent adhesion. This curable resin composition contains: a straight-chain organopolysiloxane (A) having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms and at least one aryl group in each molecule, the degree of polymerization being greater than 10; a branched-chain organopolysiloxane (B) having at least three alkenyl groups and at least one aryl group in each molecule; and a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst (C).
US09346953B2	Semi-aromatic-polyamide-based flexible composition, process for preparing same and uses thereof The present invention relates to a composition comprising: from 33 to 40% by weight of at least one crosslinked polyolefin obtained from at least one product (A) comprising an unsaturated epoxide and from at least one product (B) comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride, from 3 to 10% by weight of at least one plasticizer, the rest being made up of at least one semi-aromatic polyamide, wherein the weight contents of (A) and (B), denoted respectively [A] and [B], are such that the [B]/[A] ratio is between 3 and 14. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing such a composition and also to the uses thereof.
US09346949B2	High reflectance polycarbonate In an embodiment, a reflector comprises a polycarbonate composition, the polycarbonate composition comprises: polycarbonate; 10 wt % to 20 wt % titanium dioxide, based upon a total weight of the polycarbonate composition; an optional flame retardant; and an optional UV stabilizer. A plaque formed from the polycarbonate composition has a reflectance of greater than or equal to 95%, as determined by reflectance measurements using a Gretag Macbeth Coloreye spectrophotometer (D65 light source, 10 degree observer, UV included) made at a wavelength of 680 nm. A molded article of the polycarbonate has transmission level greater than or equal to 90.0% at 2.5 mm thickness as measured by ASTM D1003-00 and a yellow index (YI) less than or equal to 1.5 as measured by ASTM D1925.
US09346948B2	Toughened polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions Toughened polyhydroxyalkanoate resin compositions are disclosed, comprising thermoplastic polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions and a toughener comprising a vinyl acetate homopolymer or copolymer and optionally polyvinyl alcohol.
US09346946B2	Composite materials and shaped articles A process for the preparation of a composite material from a particulate binder material having an average particle size (D9 0) of from 15 to 850 pm and a fibrous material having a density of from 150 to 550 kg/m3, comprising the steps of: a) blending the particulate binder material and the fibrous material, preferably in a weight ratio of 60:40 to 10:90, and b) subjecting the blended material obtained in a) to a curing step under increased temperature and pressure to obtain a composite material. The invention further relates to the composite material thus obtained, and to its use as building materials or as panelling.
US09346945B2	Filled silicone composition, in situ preparation and use thereof Filled silicone composition, in situ preparation and use thereof are provided. The composition comprises a mixture of (A) an in situ-prepared treated silica, (B) an in situ-prepared (siloxane-alkylene)-endblocked polydiorganosiloxane, (c) a cure catalyst and (D) a crosslinker. Moreover, the composition can be used as adhesive, coating and sealant.
US09346938B1	Poly(acrylic acid)-glycerol blends Poly(acrylic acid) polymer blends comprising poly(acrylic acid) and glycerol, the glycerol content being 25-75% by weight based on the weight of the poly(acrylic acid). The polymer blends are miscible; they retain the ability to absorb large volumes of liquids and also exhibit rubber viscoelasticity. The incorporation of glycerol reduces the glass transition temperature of the blends dramatically. The process of preparing the poly(acrylic acid) polymer blends by solution casting is described. Methods of measuring the glass transition temperature and the tensile strength of the polymer blends are also provided.
US09346937B2	PBS- and silica-based composites The present invention relates to PBS- and silica-based composites, said composites having a high swelling ability. It also relates to a method of preparing said composites, a method of swelling said composites and films obtained by swelling said composites.
US09346936B2	Fluororesin composition and its molded product Disclosed are injection-moldable fluororesin compositions of melt flowable fluororesin and mesoporous silica. The fluororesin compositions are melt flowable and have a melt flow rate of from 2 to 60 g/10 min. The mesoporous silica has an average pore diameter of from 2 to 50 nm, and the pores of the mesoporous silica are filled with the melt flowable fluororesin. The fluororesin compositions have excellent melt moldability for manufacturing molded products from the fluororesin composition that demonstrate high hardness.
US09346934B2	Method for producing nanometer lithopone from electrolytic zinc acid leaching residue Disclosed is a method for producing nanometer lithopone from electrolytic zinc acid leaching residue. The method comprises specific steps of: leaching, purifying, carrying out a metathetical reaction, washing, smashing and the like. Through these steps, zinc is selectively leached out by an ammonia-ammonium sulfate process; and iron and arsenic are removed by ammonium persulfate, heavy metal elements such as nickel, copper, lead, cadmium and the like are removed by sulfurization method and zinc powder replacement method; and a metathetical reaction is carried out to obtain an nZnS—BaSO4 crystalline filter cake, the crystalline filter cake is dried and smashed to obtain a nanometer lithopone product. The zinc in the acid leaching residue can be recycled effectively by this method. The ammonia leaching method is used as the technical means of effectively treating the acid leaching residue, the obtained lithopone product is good in quality, and sulfate radicals needed in the production are provided by the acid leaching residue itself, so that the resource utilization of the acid leaching residue is implemented; and in addition, the production cost is low, and the operation is simple.
US09346933B2	Reflectors for light-emitting diode assemblies containing a white pigment Polymer compositions are described containing a white pigment for increasing the reflectance properties of the resulting material. In this regard, the material is well suited for being used as a reflector, such as a reflector for light-emitting diode assemblies. In accordance with the present disclosure, the white pigment comprises chalk resistance particles. The particles can also display a basic pH when placed in distilled water.
US09346929B2	Hybrid foam The invention relates to highly elastic polyurethane foams which are suitable as functional materials having thermally insulating properties.
US09346924B2	Dandelion processes, compositions and products Dandelion processes, compositions and products are provided. One process is a method of preparing dandelion that utilizes a species of a Taraxacum genus, the process including the steps of extracting and recovering a rubber and a carbohydrate from a dandelion root substantially simultaneously. The process employs a dandelion species that is selected from the group consisting of: Taraxacum officianale, Taraxacum kok-saghyz, a rubber-bearing species of the genus Taraxacum, and a combination of two or more thereof. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

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