| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09405313B2 |
Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems including the same
The semiconductor device includes a command generator, an information signal storage unit, a termination signal generator and a code generator. The command generator generates a mode register write command signal, a start command signal and a termination command signal from external command signals. The information signal storage unit extracts information signals from the external command signals to store the information signals and output the information signals. The termination signal generator generates a termination signal in response to the information signals. The code generator generates code signals to control a timing of a control signal. |
| US09405312B2 |
Active control column with manually activated reversion to passive control column
An active control column transitionable to a fully passive state for an aircraft and methods of use are provided. The control column includes a passive feedback arrangement, a stick and a ground lock mechanism is provided. The passive feedback arrangement is moveable relative to a mechanical ground to adjust a feedback profile provided to the stick. The stick is movable relative to the mechanical ground and the passive feedback arrangement. The ground lock mechanism has a locked state in which the passive feedback arrangement is maintained in a fixed position relative to the mechanical ground. This places the control column in a fully passive state. The ground lock mechanism also has a normal state in which the passive feedback arrangement is permitted to move relative to the mechanical ground such that active feedback can be provided to the stick. |
| US09405303B2 |
Power stealing for a wireless-enabled thermostat
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods for power stealing for a wireless-enabled thermostat. In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless-enabled thermostat generally includes a control having a wireless network interface that intermittently connects the thermostat in a wireless network in accordance with a duty cycle, the duty cycle having a connect time in which the thermostat is connected in the wireless network and a sleep time in which the thermostat is not connected in the wireless network. A power stealing circuit of the thermostat steals power through an “on-mode” load of a climate control system to charge a capacitor or other energy storage device to provide the power for the wireless network interface. The control adjusts at least the sleep time in accordance with a time for charging the capacitor or other energy storage device to a threshold voltage. |
| US09405300B2 |
Integrated bio-reactor monitor and control system
Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. The controller receives information related to a condition of the process over a first communication network, determines a control signal based on the received information and the programmed process, and sends the control signal over a second communication network to a benchtop utility tower. In one example, the utility tower can include transmitters for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen that send information related to a condition of the process to the controller over the first communication network, and an agitation system, a gas control system, a temperature control system and a pump control system that perform a control action based on the control signal affecting the process condition. The utility tower can include a computer with a human-machine interface that communicates with the controller over a third communication network. |
| US09405291B2 |
Systems and methods to monitor an asset in an operating process unit
Systems and methods to monitor an asset in an operating process unit are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring one or more equipment parameters associated with an asset in an operating process unit, monitoring one or more process parameters associated with the asset, and determining an asset health value corresponding to the asset based on the one or more monitored equipment parameters, process parameters, and baseline data associated with the one or more equipment parameters. |
| US09405286B2 |
Use of predictors in process control systems with wireless or intermittent process measurements
A control technique that enables the use of slow or intermittently received process variable values in a predictor based control scheme without the need to change the control algorithm includes a controller, such as a PID controller, and a predictor, such as a model based predictor, coupled to receive intermittent feedback in the form of, for example, process variable measurement signals from a process. The predictor, which may be an observer like a Kalman filter, or which may be a Smith predictor, is configured to produce an estimate of the process variable value from the intermittent or slow process feedback signals while providing a new process variable estimate to the controller during each of the controller execution cycles to enable the controller to produce a control signal used to control the process. |
| US09405284B2 |
Implementing engineering unit conversions associated with control devices
A converter component can efficiently manage conversion of data associated with a control system from one engineering unit (EU) type to another EU type, and/or conversion of the data from one language to another language, based at least in part on the user. The converter component can identify a user, or can receive a conversion selection(s) from the user, and can automatically select a specified subset of EU conversions and/or language conversions to employ in relation to the user, convert the data associated with the control system in accordance with the subset, and present the converted data to the user via the interface. The converter component can present a pre-populated table of EU conversions associated with the subset, and can allow a user to add or modify an EU conversion. |
| US09405283B1 |
Sensor sentinel computing device
Technologies pertaining to authenticating data output by sensors in an industrial environment are described herein. A sensor sentinel computing device receives time-series data from a sensor by way of a wireline connection. The sensor sentinel computing device generates a validation signal that is a function of the time-series signal. The sensor sentinel computing device then transmits the validation signal to a programmable logic controller in the industrial environment. |
| US09405278B2 |
Method for operating a safety control device
A safety control device for safely controlling a hazardous installation has a first and a second calculation unit and an output unit for driving at least one actuator. The control device acquires an input signal and determines a floating point value depending on the input signal. The first and second calculation units each determine an input interval as a function of the floating point value. The first and second calculation units each further determine a result interval as a function of the input interval by applying a first calculation algorithm to the input interval. The first calculation algorithm is based on interval arithmetic. The result intervals from the first and second calculation units are compared and an output value is determined as a function of the result intervals. An output signal is determined as a function of the output value. The output signal drives the at least one actuator. |
| US09405271B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cleaning device includes a cleaner, a plurality of cleaning sub-units, a sub-unit holder, a detachable transmission assembly, and a plurality of joint couplers. The cleaner scrapes off adhered material from a surface of a cleaning target while contacting the surface of the cleaning target. The cleaning sub-units each includes a holder to hold the cleaner and a drive-receive rotator to receive a driving force. The sub-unit holder holds the cleaning sub-units. The detachable transmission assembly includes a driving-force receive rotator to receive a driving force from an external unit and a plurality of drive transmission rotators to transmit the driving force received by the driving-force receive rotator to the drive-receive rotators of the cleaning sub-units. The joint couplers mounted on the drive-receive rotators and the drive transmission rotators couple the drive-receive rotators with the drive transmission rotators in a rotation axial direction. |
| US09405262B2 |
Image forming apparatus eliminating static electricity from photoconductor surface
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units that charge a surface of a photoconductor to form an image, a static eliminator that outputs static elimination light to eliminate a charge remaining on the photoconductor after image formation by the image forming unit, and a controller that controls the image forming unit and the static eliminator. The static eliminator includes a light source that emits the static elimination light, a light guide unit that guides the static elimination light from the light source to the photoconductors, and outputs the guided static elimination light to surface of the photoconductors, and a light shield unit provided inside the light guide unit, or between the light guide unit and the photoconductors in an optical path between the light source and the surface of each of the photoconductors, and configured to transmit or block the static elimination light. |
| US09405257B2 |
Printing control apparatus that controls printing order
A printing apparatus includes an input unit, a specifying unit, a storing unit, a printing unit, a receiving unit, and a control unit. The specifying unit specifies a number of sheets for printing image data pieces of a plurality of pages. The receiving unit receives a binding process execution instruction. When the sheets are printed in the reverse order and the printed sheets are bound, the printing unit had started the reverse order printing after all the image data pieces were stored. When (i) the sheets are to be printed in the reverse order and the binding process is set to be executed and (ii) it is determined, while the storing unit is storing the image data pieces, that the specified number of sheets exceeds the number of sheets that can be bound, the printing unit starts printing in the page order before all the image data pieces are stored. |
| US09405256B2 |
Roll sheet image forming apparatus
A roll sheet image forming apparatus includes an introduction opening and a guide plate. Instead of a continuous sheet held in an apparatus main body, a continuous sheet for option feeding provided at an outside is introduced into the apparatus main body through the introduction opening. The guide plate is for splicing a lead sheet and a continuous sheet. When feeding the continuous sheet, a feeding unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body, a lead sheet is set to be conveyable towards an image forming unit, the feeding unit is again accommodated in the apparatus main body, a front end of the continuous sheet is placed on the guide plate, a rear end of the lead sheet is placed on the guide plate through the introduction opening, the rear end and the front end are spliced by a bonding member and then the feeding unit operates. |
| US09405255B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system that perform direct printing process using a cooperation application and direct printing method
Provided is an image forming apparatus that can execute direct printing including authentication when a cooperation platform authenticates with substituting the device. It is connected to an external authentication server via a network. The image forming apparatus has an application and a direct print port. The application works on a specific platform. The direct print port is virtually-provided in the application. The application receives a job of the direct printing in the virtually-provided direct print port from an external terminal via the network. Then, the application instructs to authenticate to the authentication server based on certification information included in data of the job. The application, when authenticated, transmits print data to an actual direct print port. |
| US09405253B2 |
Image forming system and computer-readable recording medium
An image forming system includes an input control part and a display control part. The input control part receives an operation input from a user. The display control part selectively displays a setting screen for mode setting and a job list screen displaying a list of jobs. In more detail, the display control part displays the job list screen on the display part when a first instruction which is a display instruction for the job list screen is received during a setting operation period for mode setting. Further, the display control part hides the job list screen and displays an information display screen relating to an operation which is performed during the setting operation period, on the display part, when a second instruction which is a non-display instruction for the job list screen is received while the job list screen is being displayed. |
| US09405251B2 |
Image forming apparatus with moving mechanism configured to move at least one of heating member and pressing member between first, second, and third relative positions therebetween
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming station; heating and pressing rollers forming a fixing nip therebetween; a mechanism for changing the relative positional relation between the heating and pressing rollers between a contacting position in which they contact each other, a first spacing position in which they are spaced, and the second spacing position in which they are spaced by a shorter distance; and a controller for controlling the changing mechanism such that in a period after the sheet passes through the fixing nip and before a next sheet reaches the fixing nip, the rollers are brought into the first spacing position when the period is longer than a first predetermined period, and that the rollers are brought into the second spacing position when the period is shorter than the first predetermined period and is longer than a second predetermined period. |
| US09405249B2 |
Heat-fixing device
A fixing device includes: a rotatable member including an electroconductive layer; a helical coil having a helical axis direction along a generatrix direction of the rotatable member; a magnetic member not forming a loop outside the electroconductive layer; a frequency setting portion for setting a frequency of an AC current caused to flow through the coil; and a temperature detecting portion for detecting a temperature of the rotatable member, including a first temperature detecting member and a second temperature detecting member. The electroconductive layer generates heat through electromagnetic induction heating by magnetic flux resulting from the AC current, and an image is fixed on a recording material by heat of the rotatable member. The frequency setting portion sets the frequency depending on a value of a difference between a detection temperature of the first temperature detecting member and a detection temperature of the second temperature detecting member. |
| US09405248B2 |
Image heating apparatus having lubricant between film and nip forming member
An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film; a roller contacting the film; a nip forming member contacting an inner surface of the film and cooperating with the roller to form a nip for nipping a sheet carrying an image; an opposing member opposing an inner surface of an end portion of the film along generatrix direction the film. A lubricant is provided between the film and the nip forming member. The film is longer than the roller. At least a part of the curved surface portion is provided in a region outside a contact region of the film and the roller. A portion of the curved surface portion outside the contact region is provided with a groove extending in a rotational moving direction of the film, the groove having a wall effective to remove from the film the lubricant. |
| US09405235B2 |
Resin composition, seamless belt, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a resin composition including at least: polyolefin in an amount of from 50% by mass to 90% by mass; an electro-conductive agent; and a compound represented by General Formula (1) below, In General Formula (1), R is preferably a divalent group having a number overage molecular weight of 1,000 or greater and derived from acrylic polymer. |
| US09405227B2 |
Powder conveying device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A powder conveying device, including: a powder conveying path including a curved portion; and a conveying screw, wherein the conveying screw is disposed in the powder conveying path, and includes: a rotation axis portion having flexibility; and a blade portion, where the blade portion is helically formed on an outer periphery of the rotation axis portion, and is configured to convey a powder, wherein the conveying screw includes a conveying screw curved portion located in the curved portion of the powder conveying path, and wherein at least a surface of the blade portion of the conveying screw curved portion includes a slipping layer containing a silicon-containing compound. |
| US09405225B2 |
Developer accommodating unit, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer includes: a flexible container provided with an opening for permitting discharge of the accommodated developer; a sealing member for sealing the opening and for exposing the opening by being moved in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating unit; an unsealing member, mounted to the sealing member, for moving the sealing member; a frame including a fixing portion for fixing the flexible container; and a bonding portion for bonding an end portion of the sealing member and a periphery of the opening. The bonding portion includes a projected portion or recessed portion in a plane of the bonding portion as at least a part thereof, in an upstream side or a downstream side of the opening with respect to an unsealing direction of the opening. |
| US09405217B2 |
Developer carrying member and image forming apparatus
Provided is a developer carrying member which depends on a sheet-passing speed to a small extent while maintaining satisfactory developability, and can stably suppress a fogging amount with time. The developer carrying member includes: an electro-conductive mandrel; and an electro-conductive elastic layer, in which: the elastic layer contains a resin j, an electro-semiconductive particle p, and an electro-conductive particle c; and when an electroconductivity of the resin j is defined as σj, a dielectric constant of the resin j is defined as ∈j, an electroconductivity of the electro-semiconductive particle p is defined as σp and a dielectric constant of the electro-semiconductive particle p is defined as ∈p, σj, ∈j, σp, and ∈p satisfy relationships represented by the following formulae (1) and (2), σj, ∈j, σp and ∈p being calculated by an AC impedance method. σj<σp<0.05 S/cm (1) ∈p<∈j (2) |
| US09405216B2 |
Tandem type image forming apparatus
To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other. |
| US09405215B2 |
Developer supply member, developing unit, and image forming apparatus
A developer supply member, a developing unit, and an image forming apparatus are provided that maintain high-quality image forming. The developer supply member includes: a rotation shaft; a base material which covers the rotation shaft and has a closed-cell foam structure containing a silicone rubber as a main constituent; and a coating film formed on an outer surface of the base material. The developer supply member satisfies an expression of T≧−0.15×H+9.6, and 54≦H≦69, where T is a thickness of the coating film measured in micrometers and H is Asker F hardness measured in degrees on a surface of the coating film. |
| US09405213B2 |
Optical-writing-head positioner and image forming apparatus incorporating same
An optical-writing-head positioner includes a spacer disposed between a latent image bearer to bear a latent image and an optical writing head to expose the latent image bearer to light to form a latent image on a surface of the latent image bearer. The spacer positions the optical writing head with respect to the latent image bearer. The spacer includes plural contact faces with the latent image bearer in an axial direction of the latent image bearer. The plural contact faces include a contact face having an arc with a radius of curvature equal to or less than a radius of the latent image bearer and one of the a contact face having an arc with a radius of curvature greater than the radius of the latent image bearer and a flat contact face to contact the surface of the latent image bearer. |
| US09405209B2 |
Image forming unit and image forming apparatus provided with same
An image forming unit includes: a photoconductive drum; a charging member extending in a direction along a rotary shaft of the photoconductive drum; and a holding member holding the charging member at a frame member. While held at the frame member with the holding member in between, the charging member is arranged in parallel to the photoconductive drum in contact with a circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum with their rotary shafts in parallel. The holding member and the frame member respectively have interference-preventing-shaped parts provided at a tip part of the holding member in a direction where the holding member is attached and at a position of the frame member receiving the holding member. The interference-preventing-shaped parts are capable of first making contact with each other upon attachment of the charging member to the frame member to thereby prevent interference between the holding member and the photoconductive drum. |
| US09405208B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product
An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive color plane data and white control plane data for specifying a type of a white effect to be applied to a recording medium with a white color material; a determining unit to determine image recording operation for realizing the white effect based on the white control plane data; a first generating unit to generate chromatic color material image data indicating a recording amount of a chromatic color material based on the color plane data; a second generating unit to generate white color material image data indicating a recording amount of a white color material based on the white control plane data; and a control unit to control recording of images corresponding to the chromatic color material image data and the white color material image data on one or both sides of the recording medium according to the image recording operation. |
| US09405204B2 |
Method of overlay in extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of overlay control which utilizes a deformable electrostatic chuck. The method comprises exposing a substrate to radiation which is reflected off of a reticle. The reticle is mounted to a deformable electrostatic chuck by a plurality of raised contacts, where each raised contact is configured to independently vary in height from a surface of the deformable electrostatic chuck. After exposure of the substrate to radiation which is reflected off of the reticle, a displacement between a first alignment shape formed on a first layer disposed on a surface of the substrate and a second alignment shape formed by the exposure is measured. The height of one or more of the plurality of raised contact is changed based upon the displacement to alter a surface topology of the reticle, which negates some effects of clamping topology. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09405202B2 |
Optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
The invention relates to an optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, comprising at least one mirror arrangement having a plurality of mirror elements which are adjustable independently of one another for the purpose of changing an angular distribution of the light reflected by the mirror arrangement, and a polarization-influencing optical element, which generates, for impinging light having a constantly linear or a circular input polarization distribution, an output polarization distribution having a direction of polarization that varies continuously over the light beam cross section. |
| US09405200B2 |
Resist composition and method of forming resist pattern
A method of forming a resist pattern, including: a step (1) in which a resist film is formed by coating a resist composition including a base component (A) that exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution, a photo-base generator component (C) that generates a base upon exposure, an acid supply component (Z) and a compound (F) containing at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom and containing no acid decomposable group which exhibits increased polarity by the action of acid on a substrate; a step (2) in which the resist film is subjected to exposure; a step (3) in which baking is conducted after the step (2); and a step (4) in which the resist film is subjected to an alkali development, thereby forming a negative-tone resist pattern, and a resist composition used in the step (1). |
| US09405191B2 |
Resin, resist composition and method for producing resist pattern
A resist composition includes (A1) a resin which includes a structural unit represented by formula (a4), a structural unit represented by formula (II), the resin has no acid-labile group, (A2) a resin having an acid-labile group, and an acid generator: wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R4 represents a C1 to C24 saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom where a methylene group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group; R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group that may have a halogen atom; ring X1 represents a C2 to C36 heterocyclic group containing a nitrogen atom and a carbonyl group, a hydrogen atom contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1 to C24 hydrocarbon, a C1 to C12 alkoxyl group, a C2 to C4 acyl group, or a C2 to C4 acyloxy group, and a methylene group contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group. |
| US09405186B1 |
Sample plan creation for optical proximity correction with minimal number of clips
Methods, program products, and systems for improving optical proximity correction (OPC) calibration, and automatically determining a minimal number of clips, are disclosed. The method can include using a computing device to perform actions including: calculating a total relevancy score for a projected sample plan including a candidate clip, and wherein the relevancy score is derived from at least one relevancy criterion and a relevancy weight; calculating a relevancy score for the candidate clip, the relevancy score for the candidate clip being a contribution from the candidate clip to the total relevancy score; and adding the candidate clip to a sample plan for the IC layout and removing the candidate clip from the plurality of clips in response a difference in relevancy score between the projected sample plan and one or more previous sample plans substantially fitting a non-linear relevancy score function. |
| US09405180B2 |
Color dependent aperture stop
Optical systems are provided that include illumination sources, micro-mirror array optical modulators, and an optical element. The micro-mirror array optical modulators can selectively modulate light beams, redirect light by diffraction and reflection, and provide an output modulated light beam that exhibits a diffraction handedness dependent on the spectral bandwidth of the light incident thereupon. The optical element has a color dependent aperture that defines portions of output modulated light beams that are transmitted and remaining portions that are blocked. An efficiency and contrast of each the output modulated light beams acquired by the optical element can be independently determined by a narrow spectral bandwidth of each of the light beams, the spectral characteristics of the color dependent aperture, and the diffraction handedness of the micro-mirror array optical modulators for the associated spectral bandwidth. |
| US09405174B2 |
Portable image storage device with integrated projector
A portable device for the storage and display of digital images, using an integrated projector for image display. The device itself might be a camera, smart phone or other portable or handheld electronic device capable of capture or storage of digital images. The integrated projector would allow projection of images at a larger size on an external surface than an internal display would permit. Certain embodiments of the device might also include image capture hardware, in addition to image storage, along with image editing or manipulation software. Method of display of digital images using a portable device with integrated projector is also disclosed. |
| US09405173B1 |
Retractable camera device
A retractable camera device is described which removes a camera from view when not in use. The device may include a tube having two ends, an interior void and an outer surface, a ballscrew shaft positioned within the interior void of the tube, a camera mast assembly movably coupled to the tube and engaging the ballscrew shaft, a camera, having a 360° viewing angle, coupled to an end of the camera mast, and at least one ribbon cable folded in an accordion pattern and encircling the outer surface of the tube. The at least one ribbon cable has an end electrically connected to the camera. The ballscrew shaft engages the camera mast so as to move the camera mast in an upward and downward direction along a length thereof. |
| US09405165B2 |
Controller configured for an electro-optic device and method thereof
A controller system configured to control an electrochromic device and method thereof are provided, wherein the controller system includes an electrochromic device having a first substantially transparent substrate, a second substantially transparent substrate approximately parallel to the first substantially transparent substrate such that a chamber is defined by the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and an electrochromic medium between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and a controller in communication with the electrochromic device, wherein the controller is configured to monitor electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device and adjust the electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device to maintain the electrochromic device in an approximately minimum transmission state. |
| US09405162B2 |
Active matrix display device with auxiliary repair line
An active matrix display device is equipped with: a first auxiliary wiring line (700) that intersects a second common wiring line (230) through an insulation film, and that intersects with any of a plurality of first connecting wiring lines (900) through an insulating film; and a second auxiliary wiring line (710) that intersects, across an insulation film, any of a plurality of redundant portions (101), which are the other end portions of each of a plurality source wiring lines (100) and are located outside of a display region (60), and that, in a plan view, is positioned outside of a plurality of second lead-out wiring lines (250) and a first driver circuit, and is capable of being connected electrically to the second common wiring line (230). On each of the plurality of first connecting wiring lines (900), a plurality of intersections (901), where the first auxiliary wiring line (700) and the plurality of first connecting wiring lines (900) intersect, are located closer to the side of a plurality of source terminals (110, 120) than first obstructing portions. |
| US09405159B2 |
Touch liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal display panel, array substrate and color film substrate
The present disclosure provides a touch liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display panel, an array substrate and a color film substrate, and belongs to the field of liquid crystal display. The touch liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate and a color film substrate, on said array substrate is formed a GOA circuit, and at the outer side of said color film substrate is formed a touch signal transmission line. The touch liquid crystal display panel further comprises a shielding electrode located between said GOA circuit and said touch signal transmission line, said shielding electrode being used for shielding the interference caused by the clock signal of said GOA circuit to the touch sensing signal on said touch signal transmission line. The present disclosure can reduce the interference caused by the clock signal of said GOA circuit to the touch sensing signal on said touch signal transmission line. |
| US09405156B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate, a pixel electrode connected with a terminal of the thin film transistor, a microcavity disposed on the pixel electrode, the microcavity including a liquid crystal injection hole disposed at an edge of the microcavity, a supporting member disposed on the microcavity, a first hydrophobic layer disposed on an edge portion of the supporting member, and a capping layer disposed on the supporting member with the capping layer covering the liquid crystal injection hole. |
| US09405153B2 |
Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device capable of suppressing display unevenness around a seal in the case of performing PS treatment on a horizontal alignment film formed from a photoactive material. The method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes the steps of: forming a horizontal alignment film containing a photoactive material on at least one substrate of a pair of substrates; dropping a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystal material and a monomer on one of the pair of substrates, the monomer being contained in an amount of 1.0% by weight or less in the whole liquid crystal composition; curing a sealing material applied to one substrate of the pair of substrates along an outer edge thereof by irradiating the sealing material with light whose wavelength is 40 nm or more longer than an absorption wavelength edge of the monomer; and forming a polymer layer that controls the alignment of liquid crystal molecules adjacent thereto on the horizontal alignment film by irradiating the liquid crystal composition sealed between the pair of substrates with light to polymerize the monomer. |
| US09405151B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display apparatus includes a display panel and a backlight unit. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and a wavelength transforming member. The wavelength transforming member is formed on a first surface of the first base substrate to change a wavelength of light to emit visible light having a predetermined wavelength. The second substrate includes a second base substrate and a light shutter member. The second base substrate faces the first base substrate. The light shutter member is formed on a first surface of the second base substrate facing the first surface of the first base substrate. The light shutter member controls light transmittance of the light received from the wavelength transforming member. The backlight unit provides the display panel with the light. Thus, color purity of image is increased, thereby improving image display quality. |
| US09405150B2 |
Backlight module fitting platform
The present disclosure relates to a technical field of display, and discloses a backlight module fitting platform. The backlight module fitting platform includes a primary platform and a number of first supporting pads located at a surface of the primary platform for supporting the backlight module. The backlight module fitting module further includes a lifting mechanism connected to the first supporting pad and supporting each of the first supporting pads to rise and fall independently. According to the backlight module fitting platform of the present disclosure, independent rise and fall of each of the first supporting pads is adjusted via the lifting mechanism so that the backlight module fitting platform is adapted for fitting of even-back and uneven-back backlight modules and can stably support and fit the backlight modules. |
| US09405149B2 |
Direct backlight module
The present invention provides a direct backlight module, which includes a backplane, a plurality of LED light bars retained on the backplane, a plurality of light guide plates arranged alternate with respect to the LED light bars, and a diffusion plate mounted on the backplane. The direct backlight module includes the light guide plates that are arranged between the LED light bars to improve utilization rate of light energy of the LED light bars so as to reduce the number of LED lights included in the LED light bars to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost. Further, the arrangement of the light guide plates effectively shortens the light mixing distance and enhances homogeneity of light illumination and also reduces the thickness of backlight module to thereby facilitate thinning of a liquid crystal display device. |
| US09405148B2 |
Light source module, backlight assembly, and display device including the same
A light source module, backlight assembly, and display device including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the light source module includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of light sources arranged over the printed circuit board, and a plurality of optical lenses respectively arranged over the light sources. Each of the optical lenses has upper and lower surfaces opposing each other. The light source module further includes a plurality of reflection patterns respectively formed on the optical lenses. Each of the reflection patterns includes a first reflection pattern formed on the lower surface of the corresponding optical lens and a second reflection pattern formed on the upper surface of the corresponding optical lens. |
| US09405147B2 |
Light emitting device and backlight module including same
A light emitting device includes a light source and a light diverging unit including a first light diverging part and a second light diverging part including a bottom surface and a first light emitting surface connected by a side surface. The bottom surface defines a first receiving space for receiving the light source, the first light emitting surface defines a second receiving space communicating with the first receiving space, and the second receiving space comprises a first connecting surface. The second light diverging part is inserted into the second receiving space, and comprises a second light emitting surface and a second connecting surface. The second connecting surface fully contacts the first connecting surface, the second light emitting surface smoothly connects to the first light emitting surface. A refraction index of the first light diverging part is smaller than that of the second light diverging part. |
| US09405144B2 |
Liquid crystal grating, 3D touch display device and driving method of liquid crystal grating
A liquid crystal grating, a 3D touch display device and a driving method of the liquid crystal grating are provided. The liquid crystal grating including a first substrate; a second substrate, disposed opposite to the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer, filled between the first substrate and the second substrate; a touch electrode layer, located on a side of the first substrate that faces the liquid crystal layer; and a planar electrode, located on a side of the second substrate that faces the liquid crystal layer, wherein the touch electrode layer includes a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes parallel to each other and arranged separately at a set distance, and the strip-shaped electrodes in the touch electrode layer are divided into at least two touch electrode units that are not electrically connected to each other by a set rule of pattern division, for any one of the touch electrode units, when an external conductive object touches different positions of the touch electrode unit by way of single-point touch, variation of capacitance formed between the touch electrode unit and the external conductive object differs from one another. |
| US09405140B2 |
Curved frame and display device including the same
A curved frame for securing a display panel includes two long-side frame parts having a curved shape, each of the two long-side frame parts including a groove member provided through each of edge portions thereof and a first coupling hole defined to penetrate the groove member, and two short-side frame parts having a straight line shape, each of the two short-side frame parts including a protruding member provided in correspondence with the groove member of the two long-side frame parts and a second coupling hole defined to penetrate the protruding member, each of the two short-side frame parts being coupled to the two long-side frame parts to define a rectangular frame shape. |
| US09405138B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is configured to form a three dimensional image on the vertical view by applying a first voltage between a narrow electrode on the first substrate and a wide electrode on the second substrate, and a second voltage lower than the first voltage between the wide electrode on the first substrate and the wide electrode on the second substrate, and to form a three dimensional image on the horizontal view by applying the first voltage between the wide electrode on the first substrate and a narrow electrode on the second substrate, and the second voltage between the wide electrode on the first substrate and the wide electrode on the second substrate so as to reduce generation of domain in the horizontal electric field. |
| US09405137B2 |
Positive coefficient dynamic electro-optical phase shifter
A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include an optical action zone configured to be inserted in an optical waveguide, and a bipolar transistor structure configured so that, in operation, collector current of the bipolar transistor structure crosses the optical action zone perpendicular to the axis of the optical waveguide. |
| US09405136B2 |
Magnetic-free non-reciprocal devices exhibiting non-reciprocity through angular momentum biasing
A non-reciprocal device incorporating metamaterials which exhibit non-reciprocity through angular momentum biasing. The metamaterial, such as a ring resonator, is angular-momentum biased. This is achieved by applying a suitable mechanical or spatio-temporal modulation to resonant inclusions of the metamaterial, thereby producing strong non-reciprocity. In this manner, non-reciprocity can be produced without requiring the use of large and bulky magnets to produce a static magnetic field. The metamaterials of the present invention can be realized by semiconducting and/or metallic materials which are widely used in integrated circuit technology, and therefore, contrary to magneto-optical materials, can be easily integrated into the non-reciprocal devices and large microwave or optical systems. The metamaterials of the present invention can be compact at various frequencies due to the enhanced wave-matter interaction in the constituent resonant inclusions. Additionally, by using the metamaterials of the present invention, the power consumed in the biasing network is drastically reduced. |
| US09405134B2 |
Interchangeable sleeves for eyeglasses
A pair of eyeglasses is accessorized with a different appearance by the purchase of only a single pair of eyeglasses. This is accomplished by having removable and interchangeable sleeves for fitting over the temples of a pair of eyeglasses. Opposite sides of each of the sleeves are of different color, ornamentation or other decoration. |
| US09405133B2 |
Brandable shutter eyewear apparatus
A shutter eyewear apparatus 10, comprises an orbital frame 12, the orbital frame 12 itself comprising a left orbital aspect 12L and a right orbital aspect 12R, multiple strut members 14 within the orbital aspects, a left wing and right wing, the wings 16 having a width of at least 12 mm at any point along a length of the wings 16, a word element 48 lengthwise along at least one wing, and a franchise logo element. Preferably the wings are approximately 23 mm wide at a folding break 34 of the wings, and preferably the franchise logo element is provided about a neck 28 of at least one wing. |
| US09405132B2 |
Eyewear with integrated bottle cap opener
Eyewear and a temple arm for eyewear with an integrated bottle cap opener are disclosed. The temple arm is preferably formed of a unitary rigid material, and has a lens frame interface at a proximal end and a downwardly curved ear bridge at a distal end opposite the proximal end. The temple arm further has a substantially straight top edge and a bottom edge having a cutout defined by a point on a forward end and a hump on a rearward end, the point being directed toward the curved ear bridge for engaging the underside of a bottle cap such that the hump acts as a fulcrum to enable the temple arm to be a second-class lever for removing the bottle cap from a bottle. |
| US09405131B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing variations of a lower-lid contact surface and under-lid support structures of a translating multifocal contact lens
The present invention discloses a translating multifocal contact Lens including one or both of a lower-lid contact surface and an under-lid support structure. More specifically, a translating multifocal contact Lens whereby a lower-lid contact surface may include multiple geometric variations and Blend Zones, and an under-lid support structure that may be designed based upon one or more various techniques including one or more of a function-driven technique, a uniform axial thickness technique, a uniform radial thickness technique, and a MES technique. |
| US09405129B2 |
Structure of eyeglass frame
Provided is an eyeglass frame with a symmetrical structure. The eyeglass frame includes an earpiece frame, a main body, a hinge, and a support frame. The earpiece frame has a bar-shaped structure in which a width and an angle thereof vary according to the length thereof to be placed on the ear of a user. The main body is connected to the earpiece frame through a hinge, serves as a pivot that pivots on the hinge, and has an inner circumference of a closed curve receiving a lens. The hinge allows the earpiece frame to be inwardly folded toward the main body through pivoting of a predetermined angle. The support frame is disposed under the main body along an outer circumference of the main body and is spaced from the main body by a predetermined interval. |
| US09405125B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus capable of ensuring a wide view range is provided. The image display apparatus includes: an image display panel; a backlight located on a back surface side of the image display panel; prisms located between the image display panel and the backlight and configured to deflect incident light; a liquid crystal layer located between the image display panel and the backlight and configured to change a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a position detection section configured to detect a position of a user; and a control section configured to control the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, on the basis of information of the position of the user detected by the position detection section. |
| US09405124B2 |
Methods and apparatus for light field projection
In exemplary implementations of this invention, light from a light field projector is transmitted through an angle-expanding screen to create a glasses-free, 3D display. The display can be horizontal-only parallax or full parallax. In the former case, a vertical diffuser may positioned in the optical stack. The angle-expanding screen may comprise two planar arrays of optical elements (e.g., lenslets or lenticules) separated from each other by the sum of their focal distances. Alternatively, a light field projector may project light rays through a focusing lens onto a diffuse, transmissive screen. In this alternative approach, the light field projector may comprise two spatial light modulators (SLMs). A focused image of the first SLM, and a slightly blurred image of the second SLM, are optically combined on the diffuser, creating a combined image that has a higher spatial resolution and a higher dynamic range than either of two SLMs. |
| US09405122B2 |
Depth-disparity calibration of a binocular optical augmented reality system
The disclosure includes a system and method for calibrating a binocular optical see-through augmented reality display. A calibration application renders a virtual object to overlay and align with a real-world object on the display, receives a depth between the real-world object and the eyes of the user, receives user input to move the virtual object on the display for depth-disparity calibration, and determines a mapping between the depth and the disparity. |
| US09405121B2 |
Image display apparatus and head-mounted display
An image display apparatus includes a plurality of light source sections, a light combining section that combines light fluxes, an optical scan section that swings around a first axis and a second axis to deflect a combined light from the light combining section for scanning, and a controller that controls an amplitude of the optical scan section around the first axis to be greater than that of the optical scan section around the second axis, wherein an optical axis of each of the light fluxes from the plurality of light source sections to the optical scan section and the first axis are present in a first plane, the optical scan section has a light reflection surface configured to be perpendicular to the first plane, and the light reflection surface is irradiated with the combined light and traveling in a direction inclined to a normal to the light reflection surface. |
| US09405119B2 |
Imaging system and method for imaging objects with reduced image blur
An imaging device is presented for use in an imaging system capable of improving the image quality. The imaging device has one or more optical systems defining an effective aperture of the imaging device. The imaging device comprises a lens system having an algebraic representation matrix of a diagonalized form defining a first Condition Number, and a phase encoder utility adapted to effect a second Condition Number of an algebraic representation matrix of the imaging device, smaller than said first Condition Number of the lens system. |
| US09405118B1 |
Optical cloaking system
An optical cloaking system which optically cloaks/hides an object in the visible light spectrum such that the object appears invisible, while permitting a background behind the object to be viewed substantially without distortion. The system includes at least one optical device manufactured using common optical materials in the form of prisms, lenses, mirrors, and the like, which is placed between an observer an the object to be cloaked, and the optical device bends and/or compresses light such that the light passes around a cloaked space in which an object is disposed, and the observer viewing a larger space including the cloaked space will not see the object, but will see a background behind the object in full view substantially undistorted in relation to the rest of the larger space. |
| US09405117B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction. |
| US09405116B2 |
MEMS micro-mirror assembly
A MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400) comprising, a MEMS device (240) which comprises a MEMS die (241) and a magnet (231); a flexible PCB board (205) to which the MEMS device (240) is mechanically, and electrically, connected; wherein the flexible PCB board (205) further comprises a first extension portion (205b) which comprises a least one electrical contact (259a,b) which is useable to electrically connect the MEMS micro-mirro rassembly (250, 300, 270, 400) to another electrical component). There is further provided a projection system comprising such a MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400). |
| US09405115B2 |
Laser beam guidance systems and methods
An automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is described. The automated adaptive optics and laser projection system includes an adaptive optics system and a compact laser projection system with related laser guidance programming used to correct atmospheric distortion induced on light received by a telescope. Control of the automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is designed in a modular manner in order to facilitate replication of the system to be used with a variety of different telescopes. Related methods are also described. |
| US09405114B2 |
Camera module for endoscope
A camera module consists of an image sensor, an objective lens system, and a lens drive mechanism. The objective lens system includes a taking lens and a prism having a reflection surface inclined at an angle of 45° to an optical axis of the taking lens, to reflect incident light toward the image sensor on a circuit board, which is positioned in parallel to the optical axis of the taking lens. The lens drive mechanism includes a motor and a rotary shaft driven by the motor. The motor is positioned behind the prism, and a drive shaft of the motor is coupled to the rotary shaft through a power transmission mechanism. The rotary shaft is positioned on one radial side of the taking lens and is coupled to a movable lens element of the taking lens such that the movable lens element is moved in the axial direction by rotary motion of the rotary shaft. |
| US09405110B2 |
Surface light source device and display apparatus
A surface light source device (100) includes substrate (120), a plurality of light emitting devices (130) disposed at constant intervals on substrate (120), and light diffusion plate (160) disposed substantially parallel to substrate (120) over the plurality of light emitting devices (130). Light emitting device (130) includes light emitting element (140) and light flux controlling member (150). A luminous intensity of light from light emitting device (130) is gradually increased as an angle relative to optical axis (LA) becomes larger in an angular range from a direction along optical axis (LA) of light emitting device (130) to a direction of emission of light with the highest luminous intensity from light emitting device (130). Surface light source device (100) satisfies three Equations of H/P≦0.2, L/P>1, and I1/2/I0>6. |
| US09405109B2 |
Off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces
An off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces includes an aperture, a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The aperture is located on an incident light path. The primary mirror is located on an aperture transmitted light path. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflected light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflected light path. The detector located on a tertiary mirror reflected light path. A primary mirror surface and a tertiary mirror surface have a same freeform surface equation, and the freeform surface equation is a sixth order x′y′ polynomial. A secondary mirror surface is a tenth order aspherical surface. |
| US09405108B2 |
Projection zoom lens and projection type display device
A projection zoom lens essentially consists of a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group through the fourth lens group that move along the optical axis while changing magnification, a fifth lens group that moves while changing magnification, and a positive sixth lens group disposed in this order from the magnification side, wherein the projection zoom lens satisfies conditional formulas (1) and (2) below: 1.9 |
| US09405103B2 |
Photographic lens optical system
A photographic lens optical system having low manufacturing costs and high performance. A lens optical system includes first through fifth lenses, which are sequentially arranged along a light proceeding path between an object and an image sensor where an image of the object is formed, wherein the first lens has positive refractive power and an incident surface convex towards the object, the second lens has negative refractive power and an emitting surface concave with respect to the image sensor, a third lens has positive refractive power and is a meniscus lens convex towards the image sensor, the fourth lens has negative refractive power and is a meniscus lens convex towards the image sensor, and the fifth lens has negative refractive power, wherein at least one of an incident surface and an emitting surface of the fifth lens is aspheric. |
| US09405102B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens consists essentially of six lenses in the following order from the object side: a negative first lens; a positive second lens; a negative third lens; a positive fourth lens; a positive fifth lens; and a negative sixth lens. Conditional expression (1) is satisfied, wherein f is the focal length of the entire system, and f5 is the focal length of the fifth lens: 2.38 |
| US09405099B2 |
Subminiature optical system and portable device including the same
There are provided a subminiature optical system having a miniature size and capable of obtaining a narrow view angle using only five sheets of lenses, and a portable device having the same. The subminiature optical system includes a first lens convex toward the object side and having positive refractive power. a second lens concave toward an image side and having negative refractive power, a third lens convex toward the object side and having positive refractive power, a fourth lens concave toward the image plane and having negative refractive power, and a fifth lens convex toward the image plane and having negative or positive refractive power, sequentially from an object side. |
| US09405098B1 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens may comprise an aperture stop and four lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. By controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and designing parameters satisfying at least two inequalities, the optical imaging lens may exhibit better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens may be shortened. |
| US09405097B2 |
Imaging lens, and electronic apparatus including the same
An imaging lens includes first to fourth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side in the given order. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant lens parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance. |
| US09405093B2 |
In-flight auto focus method and system for tunable liquid crystal optical element
An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search. |
| US09405088B2 |
Lens driving apparatus, camera module, and camera-equipped mobile terminal
A lens driving apparatus includes: a lens holder having an auto-focusing first coil; a lens holder moving section that supports the lens holder in such a manner that the lens holder is movable in a first direction; a driving magnet disposed at four corners of the lens holder moving section and moves the lens holder in the first direction in cooperation with the first coil; a camera-shake correction second coil that moves the lens holder in a second direction and a third direction in cooperation with the driving magnet, the second direction and the third direction corresponding to diagonal directions of the lens holder moving section; and a supporting section that supports the lens holder moving section in such a manner that the lens holder moving section is movable in the second direction and the third direction. |
| US09405087B2 |
Laser head assembly for laser processing system
The present invention relates to a head assembly for a laser processing system, preferably a fiber laser processing system. An assembly system allows a secure and a slidingly focusing displacement of a focusing lens assembly relative to a beam path in a laser processing system. The assembly system provides easy replacement of desired focusing lens assemblies. Adaptive modifications are operative to provide computerized processor control of the focusing displacement and detection of an installed optical assembly and position thereof. |
| US09405085B2 |
Smart tool holder for an optical shape-sensing fiber
A method, system, and program product hold and manipulate tools during an intervention procedure. The device comprises: a holder body in fixed attachment with a shape-sensing fiber optic fiber; one of a plurality of tools being held by the holder body in coupled alignment with the shape-sensing fiber optic fiber. |
| US09405083B2 |
Omnidirectional optical waveguide
In one embodiment, a system includes a scintillator material; a detector coupled to the scintillator material; and an omnidirectional waveguide coupled to the scintillator material, the omnidirectional waveguide comprising: a plurality of first layers comprising one or more materials having a refractive index in a first range; and a plurality of second layers comprising one or more materials having a refractive index in a second range, the second range being lower than the first range, a plurality of interfaces being defined between alternating ones of the first and second layers. In another embodiment, a method includes depositing alternating layers of a material having a relatively high refractive index and a material having a relatively low refractive index on a substrate to form an omnidirectional waveguide; and coupling the omnidirectional waveguide to at least one surface of a scintillator material. |
| US09405080B2 |
Indicating communications components via illumination
A cable connection system (100, 200, 300) includes a coupling housing (110, 210, 310) defining at least a first port (112, 212, 312); a printed circuit board (120, 220, 320) coupled to the coupling housing; and a communications component (130, 230, 330, 360, 400, 500, 550) sized to be received at the first port of the coupling housing. The printed circuit board (120, 220, 320) includes a light source (125, 225, 325). At least an indication section (135, 235, 335, 365, 450, 515) of the communications component (130, 230, 330, 360, 400, 500, 550) includes (e.g., is formed from or is coated with) a light transmissible material. The indication section (135, 235, 335, 365, 450, 515) is aligned with the light source (125, 225, 325) when the communications component (130, 230, 330, 360) is received at the first port of the coupling housing so that light emitted from the light source (125, 225, 325) illuminates the indication section of the communications component (130, 230, 330, 360, 400, 500). |
| US09405079B2 |
Connector with interface protection
An assembly includes a first cable assembly with a first housing having a first mating face and a retention member. A first ferrule has a plurality of first optical fibers positioned therein. A first beam expanding element is generally aligned with each first optical fiber, and each first beam expanding element expands an optical beam generally to a beam diameter. A second cable assembly including a second housing with a second mating face. A second ferrule has a plurality of second optical fibers positioned therein. A second beam expanding element is generally aligned with each second optical fiber, and each second beam expanding element expands an optical beam generally to the beam diameter. A second retention member interacts with the first retention member to retain the first cable assembly to the second cable assembly. |
| US09405073B2 |
Fiber assembly for facet optical coupling
Disclosed are structures and methods for facet optical coupling of optical fibers to photonic integrated circuits. |
| US09405072B2 |
Micromechanically aligned optical assembly
An optical assembly includes a combination of laser sources emitting radiation, focused by a combination of lenses into optical waveguides. The optical waveguide and the laser source are permanently attached to a common carrier, while at least one of the lenses is attached to a holder that is an integral part of the carrier, but is free to move initially. Micromechanical techniques are used to adjust the position of the lens and holder, and then fix the holder it into place permanently using integrated heaters with solder. |
| US09405068B2 |
Strain relieved adapter for a jacketed cable and boot
An adapter for a fiber optic connector has provides strain relief for a jacketed cable connected to the adapter and the connector. The adapter preferably has two portions that act together to engage the jacketed cable and a boot that applies pressure to the adapter to secure the adapter. The two portions of the adapter may also be rotatably connected to one another. The boot has a projection that cooperates with an optical component to seal the adapter and optical component from outside particulates. |
| US09405067B2 |
Micro-truss materials having in-plane material property variations
A micro-truss sheet having material properties varying across the sheet. The sheet may include a plurality of truss members intersecting at nodes. The diameter of the truss members at one point in the sheet may differ from the diameter of the truss members at another point in the sheet. In one embodiment the spacing between adjacent truss members may be different in one part of the sheet from the spacing between adjacent truss members in another part of the sheet. |
| US09405066B2 |
Two-stage adiabatically coupled photonic systems
In an example, a coupled system includes a first waveguide, at least one second waveguide, and an interposer. The first waveguide has a first refractive index n1 and a tapered end. The at least one second waveguide each has a second refractive index n2. The interposer includes a third waveguide having a third refractive index n3 and a coupler portion, where n1>n2>n3. The tapered end of the first waveguide is adiabatically coupled to a coupler portion of one of the at least one second waveguide. A tapered end of one of the at least one second waveguide is adiabatically coupled to the coupler portion of the third waveguide of the interposer. The coupled system is configured to adiabatically couple light between the first waveguide and the at least one second waveguide and between the at least one second waveguide and the third waveguide. |
| US09405065B2 |
Hybrid photonic and electronic integrated circuits
A sequence of processing steps presented herein is used to embed an optical signal path within an array of nanowires, using only one lithography step. Using the techniques disclosed, it is not necessary to mask electrical features while forming optical features, and vice versa. Instead, optical and electrical signal paths can be created substantially simultaneously in the same masking cycle. This is made possible by a disparity in the widths of the respective features, the optical signal paths being significantly wider than the electrical ones. Using a damascene process, the structures of disparate widths are plated with metal that over-fills narrow trenches and under-fills a wide trench. An optical cladding material can then be deposited into the trench so as to surround an optical core for light transmission. |
| US09405059B2 |
Assembling apparatus for a light tunnel
A fabricating apparatus for a light tunnel is provided, which comprises a core rod, a fixing block and a moving block. The light tunnel comprises a plurality of reflecting sheets, and each reflecting sheet leans on both a plurality of first bumps of the fixing block and a plurality of second bumps of the moving block to define a first inner profile and a second inner profile of the light tunnel, respectively. Thereby, the fabricating apparatus defines the inner scope of the light tunnel, and the inner scope of the light tunnel can be easily and stably controlled. Furthermore, a fabricating method for fabricating the light tunnel is also provided. |
| US09405058B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
Disclosed is an LCD apparatus having a reduced size and weight. The LCD apparatus includes a bottom chassis having a bottom surface and first to fourth sidewalls. The sidewall of the bottom chassis includes a supporting member for preventing a light guiding plate from being moved and a fixing boss for fixing an optical sheet. The bottom chassis includes a lamp insertion portion for receiving a lamp unit, which is disposed on the third and fourth sidewalls of the bottom chassis. The bottom chassis receives a reflecting plate, the light guiding plate and the optical sheet. A mold frame is coupled to the bottom chassis to fix the reflecting plate, the light guiding plate and the optical sheet to the bottom chassis. A display unit disposed on the mold frame is fixed to the mold frame by a top chassis coupled to the mold frame. Accordingly, a bottom mold frame for receiving a backlight assembly is removed, so that it is able to reduce a cost of the LCD apparatus and a weight thereof. |
| US09405057B2 |
Display device and television receiver
A liquid crystal display device (10) related to the present invention is provided with an LED (17); a heat-dissipating member (19) mounted with the LED (17); a liquid crystal panel (11) that uses light from the LED (17) to display; a light guide plate (16) that is disposed on a side of the liquid crystal panel (11) opposite to the display surface (11a), the light guide plate being disposed such that an end surface thereof faces the LED (17); a chassis (14) arranged on a side of the light guide plate (16) opposite to the liquid crystal panel (11); a frame (13) that is arranged on the display surface (11a) of the liquid crystal panel (11), the frame holding the liquid crystal panel (11) and the light guide plate (16) by sandwiching the liquid crystal panel (11) and the light guide plate (16) with the chassis (14) while housing the LED (17) and the heat-dissipating member (19) therein, the frame constituting the exterior of the liquid crystal display device (10); and a protruding member (21) that protrudes from the frame (13) to the heat dissipating member (19), the protruding member being provided to attach the heat dissipating member (19) to the frame (13), the protruding member having a heat insulating layer (HIR) interposed between the protruding member and the heat dissipating member (19). |
| US09405054B2 |
Light guide film, backlight unit for ultrathin liquid crystal display device and mobile computer, and method for producing light guide film
The present invention relates to a light guide film for a backlight unit of an ultrathin liquid crystal display device, the light guide film allowing rays of light entering from an end face to exit from a front face side, and including a hard layer (17, 18) having a pencil hardness of at least HB, the hard layer (17, 18) containing a polycarbonate as a principal component, and at least one face of the hard layer being exposed, and the entire light guide film (12) having an average thickness of no less than 100 μm and no greater than 600 μm. |
| US09405053B2 |
LED module
An LED module, includes a heat sink, an LEDs mounted on a side of the heat sink and a light guide plate spaced from the LED light source. A flexible light guiding tube is disposed between the light guide plate and the LED light source. The flexible light guiding tube has an first end. A bore diameter of the outmost end of the first end is larger than or equal to a diameter of a top end of the LED light source. The outmost end covers the top end of the LEDs therein. Compared to the prior art, The LED module of the present disclosure has high luminous efficiency and good thermal performance. |
| US09405052B1 |
Optical fan light coupler
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical device comprising: a transparent foil including a series of ridges and furrows, a first distal portion configured to receive light, and a second distal portion to emit at least a portion of the received light, wherein the series of ridges and furrows diverges in a direction from the first distal portion to the second distal portion. |
| US09405048B2 |
Reflective polarizing film, and optical member for liquid crystal display device, and liquid crystal display device formed from same
A multilayered reflective polarizing film is provided that has high polarization performance comparable to that of an absorption-type polarizing plate, and is preferred as a polarizing plate attached to a liquid crystal cell. An optical member for liquid crystal display devices, and a liquid crystal display device formed from such a multilayered reflective polarizing film are also provided. Specifically, the reflective polarizing film includes a uniaxially stretched multilayered film in which a specific aromatic polyester containing (alkylenedioxy)di-2-naphthoic acid as a part of dicarboxylic acid components is used as a first layer, and an optically isotropic polyester having an average refractive index of 1.50 to 1.60 is used as a second layer, and that has a predetermined refractive index difference between the layers. The reflective polarizing film has an angle of orientation of 2 degrees or less. |
| US09405046B2 |
High solar gain low-e panel and method for forming the same
Embodiments provided herein describe low-e panels and methods for forming low-e panels. A transparent substrate is provided. A reflective layer is formed above the transparent substrate. An over-coating layer is formed above the reflective layer. The over-coating layer includes first, second, and third sub-layers. The second sub-layer is between the first and third sub-layers, and the first and third sub-layers include the same material. |
| US09405045B2 |
Optical apparatus
An optical apparatus such as a varifocal fluidic lens is provided. Optical apparatus includes a spacer frame, optical fluid, an elastic membrane, an actuator, an actuator frame, and a thermally deformable frame. Spacer frame defines an internal space including a lens portion and a driving portion that connect to each other, and the driving portion is disposed to surround the lens portion disposed in the center area of the internal space. Optical fluid is filled in the internal space defined by the spacer frame. The elastic membrane is attached on a surface of the spacer frame, to cover a side of the internal space, and the thermally deformable plate is attached on the other surface of the spacer frame, to cover the other side of the internal space. The thermally deformable plate deforms to increase or decrease a volume of the internal space according to a change in temperature. |
| US09405043B2 |
Mold and process for production of mold
A mold manufacturing method of an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold base; (b) partially anodizing the aluminum layer to form a porous alumina layer, the porous alumina layer having a porous layer which defines a plurality of minute recessed portions and a barrier layer which is provided at a bottom of each of the plurality of minute recessed portions; and (c) after step (b), performing etching, thereby enlarging the plurality of minute recessed portions of the porous alumina layer, wherein in step (c) the etching is performed such that an average depth of the plurality of minute recessed portions increases but does not exceed a 1/7 of an average thickness of the barrier layer before the etching. |
| US09405039B2 |
Ground engaging member accumulation determination
A sensor to be mounted to an implement senses a region proximate a flow by ground engaging member of the implement. A electronics receives signals from the sensor and identifies accumulation on the grounding engaging member based upon the signals. The electronics outputs signals based upon the identified accumulation. |
| US09405034B2 |
Electromagnetic logging in time domain with use of specific current pulses
A method for estimating a property of an earth formation in a zone of investigation, the earth formation having the zone of investigation and another zone, the method including: applying a compound pulse of electromagnetic energy to the earth formation, the compound pulse having a shape to induce a predominately greater amount of current in the zone of investigation than in the another zone, wherein the compound pulse includes a first pulse and a second pulse, the first pulse having an amplitude different from the amplitude of the second pulse; receiving a response of electromagnetic energy from the current induced by the compound pulse; and estimating the property from the response of electromagnetic energy. |
| US09405032B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatuses for sensing and measuring the electric field within the earth
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for measuring an electric potential in the earth, which includes a first sensor are disclosed. The first sensor includes a sensing plate for placement in an environment in close proximity to the earth. The sensing plate has an operative capacitive coupling with the earth and measures the earth's electric potential. The sensor also includes a barrier providing electrochemical segregation between the sensing plate and the earth and an amplifier having at least one stage for receiving and amplifying a first signal carrying the potential measured by the sensing plate. The sensor also includes a first connection carrying the first signal from the sensing plate to the amplifier; and a reference voltage for application to the first stage of the amplifier, the reference voltage providing a reference against which the potential measured by the sensing plate is compared. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09405026B2 |
Estimation of production sweep efficiency utilizing geophysical data
Method for estimating fluid heterogeneity in a subsurface region from seismic wave attenuation or velocity dispersion that is either measured or extracted from geophysical data (210). A rock physics model in the form of a mathematical relationship is selected that relates attenuation or velocity to frequency and to physical properties that are related to fluid heterogeneity (220). The model, or asymptotes (230) representing the model's behavior at frequency extremes, is inverted (240) and that relationship is used to obtain (250) one or more of the physical properties related to fluid heterogeneity, such as characteristic length scale for fluid saturation heterogeneities (270) and relative volume fractions of the fluids saturating the pore space (280). |
| US09405023B2 |
Method and apparatus for interfacing with an array of photodetectors
A multichannel application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for interfacing with an array of photodetectors in a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system includes a front end circuit configured to be coupled to the photodetectors and to receive discrete analog signals therefrom. The ASIC further includes a time discriminating circuit operably coupled to the front end circuit and configured to generate a hit signal based on a combination of the discrete analog signals, and an energy discriminating circuit operably coupled to the front end circuit and configured to generate a summed energy output signal based on each of the discrete analog signals and summed row and column output signals based on each of the discrete analog signals. The summed energy output signal represents an energy level of the detected radiation in the array of photodetectors, and the summed row and column output signals represent a location of the detected radiation. |
| US09405022B2 |
X-ray detector
The invention relates to a matrix device for measuring characteristics of an X-ray beam. The device includes a first set of detection cells of a size different from the cells of at least one second set of detection cells. Each cell corresponds to an ionization chamber including a detection electrode. The detection electrodes of all the cells have the same effective surface for collecting charges. |
| US09405019B2 |
Fluorescent device, irradiation apparatus, and projector apparatus
A fluorescent device includes a fluorescent material. The fluorescent material radiates emission light. The fluorescent material is irradiated with excitation light. The fluorescent material has a convex-concave shape. The convex-concave shape is provided on a surface different from an irradiation surface. The irradiation surface is irradiated with the excitation light. |
| US09405018B2 |
Radiographic apparatus for detecting photons with offset correction
A detection apparatus for detecting photons, such as used in radiographic imaging systems includes a detection unit that generates detection signal pulses having a detection signal pulse height being indicative of the energy of the detected photons, a detection values generation unit that generates energy-resolved detection values depending on the detection signal pulses and a signal pulse generation unit that generates artificial signal pulses having a predefined artificial signal pulse height and a predefined generated rate. The detection values generation unit determines an observed rate of the artificial signal pulses having an artificial signal pulse height being larger than a predefined threshold as observed by the detection values generation unit and determines an offset of the detection signal pulses depending on the determined observed rate. This allows reliably determining the offset of the detection signal pulses, which can be used for correcting the finally generated detection values. |
| US09405013B2 |
Method and system for reducing autonomous time to fix a multi-standard GNSS receiver
A multi-standard GNSS receiver, handle different global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), determines with respect to a current time instant, the earliest broadcast timing based on corresponding satellite broadcast cycles for satellites in the different GNSSs. The multi-standard GNSS receiver acquires broadcast ephemeris at the determined earliest broadcast timing to determine its own first position. A search order is determined based on the corresponding satellite broadcast cycles and the current time instant. The multi-standard GNSS receiver may selectively utilize appropriate satellite receivers such as the GPS receiver and the GLONASS receiver to search for satellite signals based on the determined search order. Channels for different GNSSs are scanned to identify transmitting satellites based on the corresponding satellite broadcast cycles for ephemeris downloading. The satellite search is prioritized by comparing the current time instant with the corresponding satellite broadcast cycles. |
| US09405011B2 |
Navigation system configured to integrate motion sensing device inputs
A navigation system can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, a navigational signal receiver configured to receive a radio signal from at least one external system, a motion sensing device, and a navigation program executable by the microprocessor. The navigational signal receiver can be communicatively coupled to the microprocessor via a communication port. The navigation program can be configured to receive messages from the navigational signal receiver by communicating to the driver of the communication port. The communication port driver can adjust the current position based on the data returned by the motion sensing device. |
| US09405006B2 |
Collision determination device and collision determination method
A collision determination device includes: a radar detection unit that detects an object in front of a vehicle using a radar wave; an image detection unit that captures an image in front of the vehicle and detects the object using the captured image; and a collision determination unit that determines a collision between the vehicle and the object based on a composite target which is generated using a detection result of the radar detection unit and a detection result of the image detection unit. The collision determination unit performs collision determination on the basis of the detection result of the image detection unit, instead of the collision determination based on the composite target, when it is determined that the object cannot be detected by the radar detection unit and can be detected by the image detection unit and the object is stationary in a traveling direction of the vehicle. |
| US09405005B1 |
Automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) system for ownership and traffic situational awareness
The present invention proposes an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) architecture and process, in which priority aircraft and ADS-B IN traffic information are included in the transmission of data through the telemetry communications to a remote ground control station. The present invention further proposes methods for displaying general aviation traffic information in three and/or four dimension trajectories using an industry standard Earth browser for increased situation awareness and enhanced visual acquisition of traffic for conflict detection. The present invention enable the applications of enhanced visual acquisition of traffic, traffic alerts, and en-route and terminal surveillance used to augment pilot situational awareness through ADS-B IN display and information in three or four dimensions for self-separation awareness. |
| US09405003B2 |
Radar apparatus
A transmission signal generating unit generates a transmission signal by multiplying one (selected in prescribed order) of 2N+1 (N: an integer of 1 or more) codes of a Spano code sequence by one code (selected in prescribed order), having a length 1, of one of a first code or a second code each having a code length 2N+1 in every transmission cycle. A transmission RF unit converts the transmission signal into a radio-frequency radar transmission signal and transmits it from a transmission antenna. As for codes used in adjacent two transmission cycles for two times 2N+1 transmission cycles, the sum total of inner products of codes having a length 1 of the first code, inner products of codes having a length 1 of the second code, and inner products of codes of the first code and the second code becomes equal to 0. |
| US09404998B2 |
Computerized device for object locating system and method thereof
A computerized device for use with an object location system and method thereof is provided. The computerized device includes at least one processor in communication with a memory device, the memory device storing a quantity of programmable code having a plurality of processor-executable instructions. A communication element is connected between the processor and at least one monitoring unit. The at least one monitoring unit is positioned remote from the computerized device and a locating circuit substantially secured to an object intermittently communicates an omnidirectional signal to the at least one monitoring unit. A calculator is in communication with the processor. The calculator directs the processor to determine a duration of transmission time of the omnidirectional signal communicated from the locating circuit to the at least one monitoring unit directs the processor to calculate a location of the locating circuit using the determined duration of transmission time of the omnidirectional signal. |
| US09404994B2 |
System and method for object tracking anti-jitter filtering
Object tracking anti-jitter filtering systems and methods. A plurality of raw location points for a tracking tag attached to a tracked object is received. The raw location points are stored within a raw location points buffer. Raw location points within an averaging window are averaged to generate an averaged location point. The averaged location point is stored within an averaged location points buffer for use within the object tracking system. |
| US09404988B2 |
Self-calibrating magnetic field monitor
A self-calibrating magnetic field monitor is disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensor repeatedly generates an electronic signal related to the magnetic field. In addition, a calibration module generates a relative baseline signal based on an average value of the electronic signals for a given time period. A comparator compares the electronic signal with the relative baseline signal and generating an output signal if a difference in the comparing is greater than or equal to a threshold. |
| US09404982B2 |
MRT-RF push pull power modules
A circuit arrangement including a plurality of amplifier stages to amplify an electrical RF signal for a magnetic resonance tomography device is provided. The plurality of amplifier stages is arranged on at least one circuit board. A circuit board of the at least one circuit board surrounds a cooling pipe. |
| US09404977B2 |
Bidirectional DC converter-based battery simulator
A battery simulator is configured to provide large energy pulses for hot plug testing while maintaining the ability to quickly respond during random order testing. A simulator can comprise a plurality of cell simulators “cellsims” coupled to a DC power supply. Each cellsim can include a bidirectional DC converter, a bulk capacitor on the primary side of the converter, and a switchable discharge capacitor on the secondary side of the converter. The bidirectional DC converter enables the simulator to cooperate with a battery control module (BCM) to perform active cell balancing. Energy received from the BCM can be stored at the bulk capacitor. The discharge capacitor can be coupled to an output link to provide a high energy pulse to the BCM to simulate hot plug conditions, and can be decoupled from the link during random order testing. Output link voltage and current can be monitored for fault detection. |
| US09404974B2 |
Motor drive device including insulation deterioration detection function and insulation resistance detection method of motor
A motor drive device of the present invention includes: a rectification circuit configured to rectify an AC voltage; a power source unit configured to smooth a DC voltage by a capacitor; an inverter unit configured to drive a motor by converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage; a current detection unit configured to measure a current flowing through a resistor which is connected to a coil of the motor and the capacitor; a voltage detection unit configured to measure a value of a voltage across the capacitor; a second switch that grounds the capacitor; and an insulation resistance detection unit configured to detect an insulation resistance value of a motor by using two sets of a current value and a voltage value measured in two states where the second switch is turned off and turned on. |
| US09404973B2 |
Test clock/test mode slect (TCK/TMS), select, data register (DR) connection circuitry between test access port (TAP) and bypass register
An integrated circuit has controller circuitry having coupled to a test clock and a test mode select inputs, and having state a register clock state output, a register capture state output, and a register update state output. Register circuitry has a test data in lead input, control inputs coupled to the state outputs of the controller circuitry, and a control output. Connection circuitry has a control input connected to the control output of the register circuitry and selectively couples one of a first serial data output of first scan circuitry and a second serial data output of second scan circuitry to a test data out lead. Selection circuitry has an input connected to the serial data input lead, an input connected to a test pattern source lead, a control input coupled to the scan circuitry control output leads, and an output connected to the scan input lead. |
| US09404971B2 |
Circuit and method for monolithic stacked integrated circuit testing
A monolithic stacked integrated circuit (IC) is provided with a known-good-layer (KGL) test circuit. The KGL test circuit includes a scan segment, and a plurality of inputs, outputs, and multiplexers coupled to the scan segment. The KGL test circuit further includes a plurality of control elements such that scan testing of the stacked IC may be conducted on a layer-by-layer basis. |
| US09404966B2 |
Performance characteristic monitoring circuit and method
A performance characteristic monitoring circuitry includes a first delay circuitry providing a first delay path, where transmission of a data value over that first delay path incurs a first delay that varies in dependence on the performance characteristic. Reference delay circuitry is also included to provide a reference delay path, where transmission of the data value over the reference delay path incurs a reference delay. The reference delay circuitry includes components configured to provide a capacitive loading on the reference delay path in order to produce a self-compensating effect on the reference delay that causes the reference delay to be less sensitive than the first delay to variation in the performance characteristic. Comparison circuitry is then used to generate the output signal of the monitoring circuitry in dependence on a comparison of the first delay and the reference delay. |
| US09404965B2 |
Radio-frequency test system with tunable test antenna circuitry
A test system is provided for performing radio-frequency tests on an electronic device under test (DUT) having multiple antennas. The test system may include a test unit for generating radio-frequency test signals, a test enclosure, and a test antenna fixture. The test fixture may include tunable antenna circuitry, antenna tuning elements, a test sensor, a microcontroller, a battery, and a solar cell that charges the battery, each of which is mounted on a test fixture within the test enclosure. The test sensor may be used to detect stimuli issued by the DUT. In response to detecting the stimuli, the microcontroller may send control signals to the antenna tuning elements to configure the antenna circuitry in different modes. Each of the different modes may be optimized to test a selected one of the multiple antennas in the DUT when operating using different radio access technologies and at different frequencies. |
| US09404964B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
There are provided: a first buffer circuit which includes buffers being circuits to be measured connected in series, whose output and input are connected to a first input terminal and a second output terminal of a control circuit, respectively; a second buffer circuit which includes buffers being circuits to be measured connected in series whose number is the same as a number of the buffers included in the first buffer circuit, whose output and input are connected to a second input terminal and a first output terminal of the control circuit, respectively; and the control circuit which makes the entire circuit is a negative logic when a first operation is set, and simultaneously outputs signals with different logics from the output terminals at a time of a start of an oscillation operation and makes the entire circuit is a positive logic when a second operation is set. |
| US09404959B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer element chip, probe head, probe, electronic instrument, and ultrasonic diagnostic device
An ultrasonic transducer element chip includes a substrate, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, a wiring part and an additional wiring part. The substrate defines a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern. Each of the ultrasonic transducer elements is provided in each of the openings. The wiring part is connected to the ultrasonic transducer elements. The additional wiring part is disposed in a peripheral region between an outline of the array pattern of the openings and an outer edge of the substrate in a plan view as viewed along a thickness direction of the substrate. The additional wiring part is electrically insulated from the wiring part. The additional wiring part is longer than a shortest distance between the outline of the array pattern and the outer edge of the substrate in the plan view. |
| US09404958B2 |
Dielectric strength voltage testing method for electronics device
A first X capacitor is connected between one of a plurality of hot line sections of a hot line that is located at an output side of a first relay as viewed from a commercial alternating-current power supply, and one of a plurality of neutral line sections of a neutral line that is located at an input side of a second relay as viewed from the commercial alternating-current power supply. A second X capacitor is connected between one of the hot line sections that is located at the output side of the first relay as viewed from the commercial alternating-current power supply, and one of the neutral line sections that is located at an output side of the second relay as viewed from the commercial alternating-current power supply. |
| US09404954B2 |
Foreign object detection in wireless energy transfer systems
The disclosure features apparatus, methods, and systems for wireless power transfer that include a power source featuring at least one resonator, a power receiver featuring at least one resonator, a first detector featuring one or more loops of conductive material and configured to generate an electrical signal based on a magnetic field between the power source and the power receiver, a second detector featuring conductive material, and control electronics coupled to the first and second detectors, where during operation, the control electronics are configured to measure the electrical signal of the first detector and compare the measured electrical signal of the first detector to baseline electrical information for the first detector to determine information about whether debris is positioned between the power source and the power receiver. |
| US09404949B2 |
Shunt resistance-type current sensor
A shunt resistance-type current sensor is provided, in which a voltage detection terminal electrically connects a busbar and a circuit board. The voltage detection terminal may include a first extension piece that extends from a side edge of the busbar away from the circuit board. The voltage detection terminal may include a second extension piece that extends from the first extension piece in a direction toward the circuit board. The circuit board may be electrically connected to the busbar via a connection portion extending from the second extension piece. In one example, the connection portion may extend through the circuit board. Additionally, an intermediate portion may be disposed between and connect the first extension piece and the second extension piece such that a surface of the intermediate portion faces a surface of the circuit board. |
| US09404942B2 |
Coaxial probe structure of elongated electrical conductors projecting from a support structure
Coaxial probe structures include a plurality of discrete insulated elongated electrical conductors projecting from a support surface which are useful as probes for testing of electrical interconnections to electronic devices, such as integrated circuit devices and other electronic components and particularly for testing of integrated circuit devices with rigid interconnection pads and multi-chip module packages with high density interconnection pads. Coaxial probe structures are fabricated by the methods described providing a high density coaxial probe. |
| US09404936B2 |
Water resistant aircraft pitot device
A pitot tube system having a pitot tube containing a porous hydrophobic fabric that blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor. The distance in the pitot tube between the fabric and a front orifice of the tube is less than 2.4 times the height of the orifice, and preferably less than or equal to 0.38 times the height. The section of the tube through which the fabric extends defines an opening characterized by a minimum dimension greater than 0.15 inches, and preferably being at least 0.21 inches. The tube is a removable structure that attaches to a mount that forms a passage for communicating the pressure in the tube. That passage contains a second porous hydrophobic fabric that also blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor. |
| US09404932B2 |
Pathology biomarker assay
Methods of diagnosis or of quantitation of pathological conditions comprise conducting an immunoassay to measure neo-epitope containing protein fragments naturally present in a biofluid sample, and associating an elevation of the measure in the patient above a normal level with the presence or extent of pathology. The immunoassay is conducted by a method comprising: contacting protein fragments naturally present in the sample with an immunological binding partner reactive with a neo-epitope formed by cleavage of a protein by a proteinase and measuring the extent of binding of peptide fragments to the immunological binding partner to measure therein protein fragments comprising the neo-epitope. Neo-epitopes from, collagen type I, collagen type III, collagen type IV, collagen type V, collagen type VI, elastin, biglycan, decorin, lumican, versican, C-reactive protein, ApoE and laminins are described. |
| US09404927B2 |
Systems and methods for diagnosing and treating cancer
Embodiments of the invention provide a method detecting and treating cancer, such as lung cancer. In some aspects, the method may include detecting cancer in a subject, which may comprise assessing the expression of a marker in a sample from the subject. For example, the marker may comprise c-Met and/or Fn14. In some embodiments, if the subject is diagnosed as having cancer, the method may further provide administering a therapeutically effective amount of a substance that reduces the expression level of Fn14 to the subject to reduce the invasive and migratory capabilities of the cancer. |
| US09404924B2 |
Method of performing one-step, single cell RT-PCR
The invention provides methods for detecting virus production, determining frequency and identity of HIV reservoirs, or evaluating gene expression on a single-cell basis using microengraving and RT-PCR. |
| US09404923B2 |
Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific peptides for detection of infection or immunization in non-human primates
The present invention relates to novel peptides that may be used in whole or in combination for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions and methods involving detection of antibodies contained in the blood of non-human primates that arise from an infection from M. tuberculosis or vaccination using an epitope specific inoculation. More particularly, the present invention provides a means to distinguish early, active, and latent M. tuberculosis infection. More particularly, the present invention describes an immunological diagnostic mechanism for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection. |
| US09404921B2 |
Process for detecting cells from a sample
A process for detecting cells involves applying a liquid, cell-containing sample to a porous support so that the cells enter the support pores and are retained by a cell-specific binding molecule on the pore surface and, optionally after the cells are detectably labeled, performing an optical read-out by high density imaging the entire porous support volume using an optical system having an optical axis that runs in the direction of sample flow. |
| US09404920B2 |
Methods and apparatus for detecting molecular interactions using FET arrays
Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. |
| US09404918B2 |
Detection of compounds in a dried fluid spot by direct MALDI/MS
It is provided a method for detection and/or quantification of at least one molecule presents in blood by a MALDI-MS analysis of a dried fluid spot without the presence of any digestion step or liquid extraction step, which permits to further analyze the physical distribution of at least one molecule within a dried fluid spot. |
| US09404912B2 |
Analysis device driving apparatus
A protective cap 2 is engaged with a latch 10 of a diluent container 5 so as to fix the diluent container 5 at a liquid holding position of a diluent container containing section 11. The engagement is released when the protective cap 2 is set to an open position against the engagement so as to expose an inlet 13. When the protective cap 2 is shifted from the open position to a closed position, the protective cap 2 pushes the diluent container 5 into a liquid discharge position. Thus, it is possible to preserve a diluent for a long period of time and to easily open the diluent container 5 without having to complicate the structure of an analysis apparatus. |
| US09404911B2 |
Integrated assay device and housing
A laminated, integrated, analyte assay device and methods of using the device are described. The assay device is useful as an inexpensive, disposable assay device for detecting the presence and/or amount of a particular analyte in a body fluid or other sample. |
| US09404902B2 |
Automated fluid handling system
Automated fluid handling system comprising a housing and two or more fluid handling units arranged as interchangeable modular components with an external fluidics section and an internal non fluidics section, and wherein the housing comprises a liquid handling panel with two or more of component positions for receiving said interchangeable modular components such that the external fluidics section is separated from the non fluidics section by the liquid handling panel. |
| US09404901B2 |
Fluid sample holders with piston valve
Disclosed is a fluid sample holder 20 for delivering or receiving a fluid sample to or from fluid processing equipment such as a chromatography column 5 (FIG. 1). The sample holder 20 comprises a sliding seal 25 within a reservoir. The sliding seal 25 is displaceable within the reservoir 15 by means of a fluid pressure differential and includes a valve 260 operable when the sliding seal reaches or substantially reaches an end of its displacement, said valve including a stem 251 having a tapered portion 259 for cooperating with a tapering aperture 262 having a complementary taper, for substantially preventing fluid flow when so cooperating, said stem 251 being displaceable away from said aperture 262 and out of said cooperation at said end of its displacement, to open the valve 260. |
| US09404893B2 |
Flow and pipe management using velocity profile measurement and/or pipe wall thickness and wear monitoring
The present invention provides new techniques for non-invasive and real-time measurement of the velocity profile of slurry flow in horizontal pipes, as well as the measurement and trending of pipe wear on slurry lines. In the first case, this information can be used to determine the approach and onset of solid deposition on the bottom of the pipe. Having this information in real time can enable operation at lower velocities or higher solids concentration or both while avoiding solids deposition or plugging and their associated operational costs. In the second case, the present invention uses a permanently or semi-permanently installed ring of conformable ultrasonic transducers clamped onto the outside of the pipe. These transducers are used to measure the thickness of the pipe under their respective locations. |
| US09404891B2 |
Apparatus for and method of monitoring condensed water in steam pipes at high temperature
A system and method for monitoring the properties of a fluid, such as water, in a steam pipe without mechanically penetrating the wall of the pipe. The system uses a piezoelectric transducer to launch an ultrasonic probe signal into the pipe. Reflected ultrasonic signals are captured in a transducer, which can be the same transducer that launched the probe signal. The reflected signals are subjected to data processing, which can include filtering, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion and autocorrelation analysis. A result is extracted which is indicative of a property of the fluid, such as a height of the condensed fluid, a cavitation of the condensed fluid, and a surface perturbation of the condensed fluid. The result can be recorded, displayed, and/or transmitted to another location. One embodiment of the system has been constructed and tested based on a general purpose programmable computer using instructions recorded in machine-readable non-volatile memory. |
| US09404890B2 |
Method for noninvasive determination of acoustic properties of fluids inside pipes
A method for determining the composition of fluids flowing through pipes from noninvasive measurements of acoustic properties of the fluid is described. The method includes exciting a first transducer located on the external surface of the pipe through which the fluid under investigation is flowing, to generate an ultrasound chirp signal, as opposed to conventional pulses. The chirp signal is received by a second transducer disposed on the external surface of the pipe opposing the location of the first transducer, from which the transit time through the fluid is determined and the sound speed of the ultrasound in the fluid is calculated. The composition of a fluid is calculated from the sound speed therein. The fluid density may also be derived from measurements of sound attenuation. Several signal processing approaches are described for extracting the transit time information from the data with the effects of the pipe wall having been subtracted. |
| US09404889B2 |
Method and device for detection and identification of gases
Methods and devices identify gases and allow immediate and simultaneous detection of the chemical compounds to be tested. The methods and devices use a function of the electric field strength, for identification the material-specific mobility and simultaneously the change in this mobility, which is achieved in that due to the resulting electric field, each ionized molecule has a drift velocity which is partially increased or decreased, wherein the resulting electric field is a DC field, on which an asymmetric AC field is superimposed. The methods and devices for the detection and identification of gases are used to identify and detect chemical compounds, such as, explosive and/or unhealthy substances or compounds, which may be detected in very small concentrations. |
| US09404888B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for improving accuracy of biosensors using fill time
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, the method includes detecting a presence of a sample in an electrochemical sensor including two electrodes. A fill time of the sample is determined with the two electrodes and a correction factor is calculated in view of at least the fill time. The method also includes reacting an analyte that causes a physical transformation of the analyte between the two electrodes. A concentration of the analyte can then be determined in view of the correction factor with the same two electrodes. Systems and devices that take advantage of the fill time to make analyte concentration determinations are also provided. |
| US09404885B2 |
Amperometric gas sensor
An amperometric gas sensor for determining oxygen content in a gas mixture includes a solid-state electrolyte. A first electrode configured as a cathode and a second electrode configured as an anode are disposed on the solid-state electrolyte and exposed to the gas mixture. The cathode is in contact with the gas mixture without any interposed diffusion barrier and has a design such that a flow of oxygen molecules from the gas mixture to a three-phase boundary between the solid-state electrolyte, the cathode and the gas mixture is limited in a defined manner. A voltage source configured to apply a DC voltage between the electrodes. A measuring device is configured to measure a limiting current flowing between the electrodes as a measure of the oxygen content in the gas mixture. |
| US09404881B2 |
Assay cartridges and methods of using the same
Assay modules, preferably assay cartridges, are described as are reader apparatuses which may be used to control aspects of module operation. The modules preferably comprise a detection chamber with integrated electrodes that may be used for carrying out electrode induced luminescence measurements. Methods are described for immobilizing assay reagents in a controlled fashion on these electrodes and other surfaces. Assay modules and cartridges are also described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, these modules are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick. |
| US09404875B2 |
Method and system for extracting spectroscopic information from images and waveforms
The application discloses systems and methods for determining an atomic number of a material being scanned by generating a predetermined number of transmission data samples, determining a variance of the transmission data samples, and determining the atomic number of the material being scanned by comparing the variance or a derivative of the variance of the transmission data samples to one or more predetermined variances. The application also discloses systems and methods for determining an atomic number of a material being scanned by deriving transmission signal samples of the material being scanned, determining a variance of the signal samples, and determining an atomic number of the material being scanned by comparing the variance of the signal samples, or a derivative of the variance, to one or more predetermined variances. |
| US09404874B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method
An inspection apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention inspects a solar cell that is of a photo device. The inspection apparatus includes: an irradiation part that irradiates the solar cell with pulse light emitted from a femtosecond laser that is of a light source; an electromagnetic wave detection part that detects an electromagnetic wave pulse emitted from the solar cell in response to the irradiation of the solar cell with the pulse light; and a PL light detection part that detects photoluminescence light generated in the solar cell in response to the irradiation of the solar cell with the pulse light. |
| US09404868B2 |
Measuring device, measuring system, measuring method, control program, and recording medium
A measuring device (9) of the present invention includes a detector control module (31) for obtaining, from a scanning mechanism including an excitation light source (4) for emitting excitation light and a detector (8) for receiving fluorescence generated from the measurement target upon irradiation with the excitation light, measurement data of the fluorescence, a position information obtaining module (32) for obtaining, from a driving mechanism for controlling relative positions of the scanning mechanism and the measurement target, information of a position where the measurement target is irradiated with the excitation light when the measurement data is obtained, and a fluorescence characteristic management module (33) for preparing fluorescence characteristic data including the measurement data and the position information. |
| US09404867B2 |
Luminescence microscopy
A luminescence microscopy method includes a sample being used, which comprises a certain substance, wherein the certain substance can be converted repeatedly from a first state, in which it can be excited into emitting luminescence radiation, into a second state, in which it cannot be excited into emitting luminescence radiation. The substance present in the sample can be brought into the first state by irradiating switch radiation. The certain substance can be excited into emitting luminescence radiation by irradiating excitation radiation. The sample emitting luminescence radiation can be displayed. A high-resolution selection of sample regions extending perpendicularly to a sample surface is carried out by irradiating either the switch radiation or the excitation radiation as structured illumination of the sample. A high-resolution selection of the sample surface is carried out by irradiating the switch radiation and/or the excitation radiation as TIRF illumination of the sample. |
| US09404866B2 |
Fluorescent light observation device and fluorescent light observation method
A fluorescence observation device includes a light source supplying excitation light, an interlaced imaging device, a field memory storing an image output from the imaging device, and a difference computing unit generating a difference image. The light source supplies the excitation light such that one of the first and second field image acquiring periods in the imaging device is a fluorescence image acquiring period, and the other is a background image acquiring period. The difference computing unit switches between a first mode of subtracting a background image of the memory from a fluorescence image output from the imaging device, and a second mode of subtracting a background image output from the imaging device from a fluorescence image of the memory, to apply the mode. Accordingly, it is possible to generate images in which fluorescence is extracted in real time. |
| US09404863B2 |
Eyeglass rating with respect to protection against UV hazard
An index value is calculated for rating an eyeglass with respect to protection against UV hazard. The index value is based on an integrated UV transmission value through the eyeglass and an integrated UV reflection value related to a back face of the eyeglass. Thus, the index value takes into account actual wearing conditions where UV eye exposure is due either to transmission through the eyeglass or reflection on the eyeglass back face. Respective index values obtained for a set of eyeglasses allow easy sorting of the eyeglasses with respect to UV protection efficiency. |
| US09404861B2 |
Nanostructure diffraction gratings for integrated spectroscopy and sensing
The present disclosure pertains to metal or dielectric nanostructures of the subwavelength scale within the grating lines of optical diffraction gratings. The nanostructures have surface plasmon resonances or non-plasmon optical resonances. A linear photodetector array is used to capture the resonance spectra from one of the diffraction orders. The combined nanostructure super-grating and photodetector array eliminates the use of external optical spectrometers for measuring surface plasmon or optical resonance frequency shift caused by the presence of chemical and biological agents. The nanostructure super-gratings can be used for building integrated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrometers. The nanostructures within the diffraction grating lines enhance Raman scattering signal light while the diffraction grating pattern of the nanostructures diffracts Raman scattering light to different directions of propagation according to their wavelengths. Therefore, the nanostructure super-gratings allows for the use of a photodetector array to capture the surface enhanced Raman scattering spectra. |
| US09404857B2 |
White light diffraction tomography of unlabeled live cells
Methods for obtaining a tomographic phase image of a specimen, either in transmission or in scatter. A specimen is illuminated by a temporally incoherent source and light collected in transmission or scattering is used to generate a scattered phase image of the specimen in multiple axial planes. The scattered field is solved for in wavevector space, and a derived instrument function is deconvolved to obtain specimen susceptibility in wavevector space. The specimen susceptibility is transformed to obtain a three-dimensional phase tomogram of the specimen. |
| US09404856B2 |
Optical refractive index measuring system based on speckle correlation
An optical detection system for measuring a refractive index of a liquid analyte comprising a light transmitting assembly fiber, which includes a single-mode fiber, an optical fiber sensing module and a multi-mode fiber. The optical detection system is configured to emit a coherent light beam to one end of the assembly fiber; and a detector is configured to capture a specklegram from an exit end of the assembly fiber. When the optical detection system is in operation, the optical fiber sensing module is configured to be submerged into the liquid analyte. By analyzing the correlation between the specklegram corresponding to the liquid analyte and the reference specklegram, the refractive index of the liquid analyte can be obtained. |
| US09404854B2 |
Second and third order simultaneously non-linear optical processes and measurements for surface analysis
Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for interrogating characteristics of a substrate material surface and sub-surface by evaluating Terahertz output signals generated by non-Terahertz, optical source inputs. |
| US09404853B1 |
Terahertz spectrometer with phase modulation
A highly advantageous terahertz spectrometer with phase modulation and associated method are disclosed which utilize a second harmonic for generating an error signal to control a phase modulator to at least reduce nulls of an interference pattern. |
| US09404850B2 |
Microscope system, image processing apparatus, and computer readable recording medium
A microscope system includes: a microscope that generates an observation image of a specimen; an image obtaining unit that obtains an RGB image of the specimen; a spectroscopic information obtaining unit that obtains spectroscopic information of the specimen; an analyzer that analyzes the RGB image; a determining unit that determines a necessity of obtaining the spectroscopic information based on a result of the analysis of the analyzer; and a control unit that controls an operation of the spectroscopic information obtaining unit based on a result of the determination of the determining unit. |
| US09404848B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for testing adhesion of a seal to a surface
One example of the disclosure relates to an apparatus for testing adhesion of a seal to a surface. The apparatus includes a first member and a second member movable relative to the first member. The second member includes a seal-contact member. The apparatus also includes means for biasing the first member and the second member relative to each other with a biasing force and an indicator on one of the first member or the second member. |
| US09404842B2 |
Methodology and apparatus for testing conductive adhesive within antenna assembly
Damage to conductive material that serves as bridging connections between conductive structures within an electronic device may result in deficiencies in radio-frequency (RF) and other wireless communications. A test system for testing device structures under test is provided. Device structures under test may include substrates and a conductive material between the substrates. The test system may include a test fixture for increasing tensile or compressive stress on the device structures under test to evaluate the resilience of the conductive material. The test system may also include a test unit for transmitting RF test signals and receiving test data from the device structures under test. The received test data may include scattered parameter measurements from the device structures under test that may be used to determine if the device structures under test meet desired RF performance criteria. |
| US09404841B2 |
Microelectromechanical transducer and test system
A microelectromechanical transducer and test system is disclosed. One embodiment includes a body, a probe moveable relative to the body, and a micromachined comb drive. The micromachined comb drive includes a plurality of sensing capacitors forming a differential capacitive displacement sensor, each sensing capacitor comprising a plurality of comb capacitors and each configured to provide capacitance levels which, together, are representative of a position of the probe. |
| US09404839B2 |
System and method for testing of micro-sized materials
Apparatus and methods for testing sediment submerged in liquid and manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus and methods of the present embodiment can provide for nano/micro characterization of mechanical properties of materials submerged in liquid, facilitating specimen preparation and installation, and can provide hydrated materials. The apparatus can include cell walls with optical magnifying lenses so that the materials can be viewed without the aid of a microscope. |
| US09404838B2 |
Particle manipulation system with out-of-plane channel and focusing element
A particle manipulation system uses a MEMS-based, microfabricated particle manipulation device which has an inlet channel, output channels, and a movable member formed on a substrate. The movable member moves parallel to the fabrication plane, as does fluid flowing in the inlet channel. The movable member separates a target particle from the rest of the particles, diverting it into an output channel. However, at least one output channel is not parallel to the fabrication plane. The device may be used to separate a target particle from non-target material in a sample stream. The target particle may be, for example, a stem cell, zygote, a cancer cell, a T-cell, a component of blood, bacteria or DNA sample, for example. The particle manipulation system may also include a microfluidic structure which focuses the target particles in a particular portion of the inlet channel. |
| US09404837B2 |
Accelerated wright-giemsa and may-Grünwald staining methods
The present disclosure provides methods for carrying out Romanowsky-type stains, specifically Wright-Giemsa and May-Grünwald stains, quickly and efficiently. The methods greatly reduce the overall amount of time required to complete a Wright-Giemsa stain or a May-Grünwald stain of sufficient quality on a biological sample. The subject methods can be applied to both manual and automated staining procedures. |
| US09404835B2 |
Microfluidic bubble logic devices
Fluid-based no-moving part logic devices are constructed from complex sequences of micro- and nanofluidic channels, on-demand bubble/droplet modulators and generators for programming the devices, and micro- and nanofluidic droplet/bubble memory elements for storage and retrieval of biological or chemical elements. The input sequence of bubbles/droplets encodes information, with the output being another sequence of bubbles/droplets or on-chip chemical synthesis. For performing a set of reactions/tasks or process control, the modulators can be used to program the device by producing a precisely timed sequence of bubbles/droplets, resulting in a cascade of logic operations within the micro- or nanofluidic channel sequence, utilizing the generated droplets/bubbles as a control. The devices are based on the principle of minimum energy interfaces formed between the two fluid phases enclosed inside precise channel geometries. Various devices, including logic gates, non-volatile bistable memory, ring oscillators, bubble synchronizers, analysis chips, sample collectors, and printers have been designed. |
| US09404834B2 |
Active resistance dynamometer for wheel testing
A wheel testing system and method are provided that simulates realistically conditions likely to be encountered during operation of vehicle wheels, especially powered drive wheels and wheel-connected structures. The system may include an integral support frame designed to adjustably mount wheels or wheel-connected structures to be tested, a load motor drivingly connected to an inertial load, and an adjustable mounting sled configured to adjustably mount a test wheel or a wheel-connected structure with an hydraulic system actuatable to adjust the location of the test wheel relative to the inertial load to vary or fix the load on the test wheel desired. Speed of the test wheel can be varied or fixed by controlling the speed of the load motor. System measurement and data collection electronics measure a range of selected wheel parameters and gather data for transmission to a processor or non-transitory storage medium for processing and evaluation. |
| US09404833B2 |
Machine-implemented method for obtaining data from a nonlinear dynamic real system during a test run
A method for obtaining data from a nonlinear dynamic real system during a test run, for instance an internal combustion engine, a drivetrain, or parts thereof, a sequence of dynamic excitation signals is generated according to an initial design and a system output is measured. To enable the quick and precise generation of experimental designs for global measurement, modeling, and optimization of a nonlinear dynamic real system, a sequence of dynamic excitation signals was generated by generating a design with a sequence of excitation signals, obtaining output data by feeding said sequence into a model for the real system, determining a criterion for the information content of the complete design of experiment sequence, varying the sequence, obtaining new output data by feeding said modified sequence into the model, determining again said criterion, iterating until said criterion improves, and using the improved sequence of excitation signals for the real system. |
| US09404831B2 |
Arrayed wave division multiplex to extend range of IOFDR fiber bragg sensing system
An apparatus for performing a measurement of a downhole property includes an optical fiber having a first section that has a first set of fiber Bragg gratings with a first resonant wavelength inscribed therein and a second section that has a second set of fiber Bragg gratings with a second resonant wavelength different from the first resonant wavelength inscribed therein. The second section is in series with the first section. An optical interrogator emits a swept-wavelength frequency domain light signal having varying wavelength amplitude modulation into the optical fiber, receives a frequency domain return light signal, and transforms the frequency domain return signal into a time domain to determine a resonant wavelength shift of each fiber Bragg grating and the corresponding location of each interrogated fiber Bragg grating. A processor converts the resonant wavelength shift of each interrogated fiber Bragg grating into the downhole property measurement. |
| US09404823B1 |
Load transducer and force measurement assembly using the same
A load transducer is disclosed herein. The load transducer includes a plurality of beam portions connected to one another in succession, the plurality of beam portions being arranged in a circumscribing pattern whereby a central one of the plurality of beam portions is at least partially circumscribed by one or more outer ones of the plurality of beam portions; and at least one load cell disposed on one of the plurality of beam portions, the at least one load cell configured to measure at least one force or moment component of a load applied to the load transducer. A force measurement assembly including a plurality of load transducers with beam portions arranged in a circumscribing pattern is also disclosed herein. |
| US09404816B1 |
Multifunctional load test device
A multifunctional load test device includes a drive, a motor to be tested, a load motor and an inverter. The drive is electrically connected to civil power. The motor to be tested is electrically connected to the drive and powered by the drive and controllably drivable by the drive. The load motor is drivable by the motor to be tested to produce counter electromotive force. The inverter is electrically connected to the load motor to rectify the counter electromotive force into power identical to civil power. |
| US09404811B2 |
Motor housing thermal sensing
A motor driven compressor apparatus includes a first stage compressor, a second stage compressor, an electric motor disposed between and coupled to the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor, thermal sensors disposed on the electric motor and configured to externally measure internal temperatures of the electric motor or internal bearings or components, and an external controller coupled to the electric motor and to the thermal sensors, and configured to at least one of slow down a speed of the electric motor and shut down the electric motor in response to at least one of an excess of a predetermined internal temperature and a rate of internal temperature change. |
| US09404809B2 |
Exhaust gas temperature sensor with anti-resonance finned shaft feature
A sensor assembly including a sensing element, a conductor connected to the sensing element, and an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of spaced apart vibration dampers. The inner surface defines a throughbore extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The throughbore is configured to receive the conductor therethrough. The vibration dampers protrude from the outer surface and extend from the proximal end towards the distal end. |
| US09404808B2 |
Temperature and time indicator for confirming high pressure sterilization
Provided is a temperature and time indicator for confirming sterilization, and more particularly, a temperature and time indicator for confirming sterilization including a development material member, a development medium member, a blocking member, and first and second forming sheets, such that whether medicines or milk products pass through a high temperature sterilization process performed under a regulated temperature and pressure condition is indicated through a sterilization confirming mark to the outside. |
| US09404803B2 |
Light measurement device with identifiable detection elements
A light measurement device comprising an optical sensor that includes a tunable interference filter and a detecting section detecting light passed through the tunable filter, a storing section that stores a first correlation data and a second correlation data, and a CPU that obtains amount of the light by controlling the optical sensor based on the first correlation data and a second correlation data. |
| US09404801B2 |
Room-temperature quantum noise limited spectrometry and methods of the same
In one embodiment, a heterodyne detection system for detecting light includes a first input aperture configured to receive first light from a scene input, a second input aperture configured to receive second light from a local oscillator input, a broadband local oscillator configured to provide the second light to the second input aperture, a dispersive element configured to disperse the first light and the second light, and a final condensing lens coupled to an infrared detector. The final condensing lens is configured to concentrate incident light from a primary condensing lens onto the infrared detector, and the infrared detector is a square-law detector capable of sensing the frequency difference between the first light and the second light. More systems and methods for detecting light are described according to other embodiments. |
| US09404797B2 |
Plasmonic spectroscopic sensor and cuvette therefor
A spectroscopic measurement system, which may utilize multiple plasmonic filters associated with a cuvette to monitor different wavelengths of light. The spectroscopic measurement system may measure absorbance and or fluorescence, and may have built-in low cost CMOS image sensor(s). Reagents and samples may be introduced to the cuvette from a fluidics manifold. Multiple sets of combined cuvettes, image sensors and plasmonic filters may utilize a single fluidics manifold for reagent and sample distribution. |
| US09404790B2 |
Tank weighing transducer
A tank weighing transducer is described. In one embodiment, it comprises: a supporting ring, a cover, a gasket, a locking screw, a weighing sensor, a circuit board, a battery, a base, a supporter nut, a supporter screw, and a detachable supporter. The supporting ring and the cover are connected via the locking screw and the gasket. The weighing sensor and the circuit board are fixed on the base via the locking screw. The battery is put in a battery container on the base. The cover and the base are connected via the locking screw and the detachable supporter is fixed on the base via the supporter nut and the supporter screw. The tank weighing transducer is designed to withstand load for a long period, and has a good impact resistance. In addition, the tank weighing transducer is applicable for weighing the tank automatically for the long period. |
| US09404788B2 |
System of verifying operation of electromagnetic flow meter
A system of verifying an operation of an electromagnetic flow meter, includes a plurality of comparing modules configured to compare a plurality of parameters respectively obtained from modules of the electromagnetic flow meter with threshold values respectively, to output compared results, and a determining module configured to determine in real time an operation state of a block in the electromagnetic flow meter based on at least one of the compared results output from the plurality of comparing modules. |
| US09404787B2 |
Level measuring device with an integratable lens antenna
A level measuring device with an integratable lens has a radar level meter and an angle adjusting assembly. The radar level meter has a horn antenna and a lens antenna assembly mounted on a signal transceiving end of the radar level meter. The lens antenna assembly has a housing and a lens antenna. The housing is hollow and receives the horn antenna therein. One end of the housing is connected to the lens antenna, and the other end of the housing is connected to the signal transceiving end of the radar level meter. The angle adjustment assembly is mounted around the housing. As the lens antenna assembly covers the horn antenna, the horn antenna is less likely to be damaged. Additionally, the housing of the lens antenna assembly is connected with the angle adjusting assembly for angle adjustment of the combined horn antenna and lens antenna assembly. |
| US09404785B2 |
Retractable assembly for immersion-, flow- and attachment-measuring systems
A tool and a retractable assembly for measuring at least one measured variable of a medium in a containment, comprising: an essentially cylindrical housing; an immersion tube, which is movable axially in the housing between a service position run out from the medium and a process position run into the medium; and an engagement apparatus secured on the housing; wherein a movable piston is provided in the engagement apparatus and at least a first position and a second position of the piston are provided. The engagement apparatus holds the immersion tube in the service position when the piston is located in the first position, especially when no energy supply is present, and the engagement apparatus holds the immersion tube in an intermediate position between the service position and the process position and prevents further movement of the immersion tube in the direction of the medium when the piston is located in the second position. |
| US09404784B2 |
Surveillance system with electricity converting module and sensors and method thereof
A surveillance system with electricity converting module and sensors and method thereof are described. The surveillance system with electricity converting module and sensors and method thereof for converting dynamic energy into electrical energy by the electricity converting module, for sensing at least one status of fluid by the sensors, and for determining whether to issue the at least one status, a charging status and a power status to a remote server wherein the surveillance system and method thereof are used in a fluid transferring apparatus, such as water, oil and/or liquid related devices, to implement the interconnections based on the Internet of Things (IOT). Further, the power supply of the surveillance system becomes self-sufficient advantageously and it is not required to exchange the dry battery in the surveillance system. |
| US09404780B2 |
Electromagnetic flow meter, miswiring detection apparatus and miswiring detection method
An electromagnetic flow meter includes a converter including an excitation unit configured to generate and output an excitation signal and a flow rate signal receiving unit configured receive a flow rate signal, a flowtube including a coil connected to the excitation unit through an excitation cable and an electrode connected to the flow rate signal receiving unit through a signal cable, and a miswiring detection unit configured to enable the excitation unit to output an excitation signal of a first frequency and to calculate a first index value relating to the first frequency and a second index value relating to a second frequency from a flow rate signal acquired when the excitation signal of the first frequency is output. The miswiring detection unit determines that a miswiring occurs when the first index value is not large enough to satisfy a predetermined criterion than the second index value. |
| US09404779B2 |
Position detecting device
A position detecting device is equipped with a device main body into which a pressure fluid supplied from a pressure fluid supply source is introduced, and an attaching/detaching mechanism that enables attachment and detachment with respect to the device main body. The attaching/detaching mechanism includes an internal nozzle that delivers, toward the side of a detection nozzle, the pressure fluid supplied to the device main body, and a detection port that supplies, to the detection nozzle, the pressure fluid delivered from the internal nozzle. |
| US09404775B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying faulty sensors
Systems and methods for identifying a faulty sensor are provided. One system includes multiple sensors, each generating a first set of parameters based on detected measurands. The system also includes a fusion module for generating a second set of parameters by fusing the first sets of parameters, and a sensor fault module including multiple fault templates defining sensor faults, an estimation module for generating a third set of parameters based on the first and second sets of parameters, and an evaluation module. The evaluation module is configured to compare the third set of parameters and the fault templates, and determine a sensor fault based on the comparison. A method includes receiving a first set of parameters based on measurands from multiple sensors and a second set of parameters based on a measurand from a sensor, and determining a sensor fault based on the first and second set of parameters. |
| US09404773B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting pipelines
Apparatus and method for inspecting pipeline are provided. The pipeline inspecting apparatus moving along an external circumferential surface of a pipeline to inspect the pipeline, includes: a main frame having an arc shape having an opened portion to surround the pipeline; a main movement unit that is movably installed on the main frame, wherein the main movement unit is movably installed along a length direction of the pipeline while being in contact with the external circumferential surface of the pipeline; an auxiliary frame that has an arc shape having an opened portion to surround the pipeline and is separated from the main frame to face the main frame; an auxiliary frame adjusting unit that movably connects the auxiliary frame to the main movement unit in a circumferential direction of the pipeline; and a sensor adjusting unit that is fixed to the auxiliary frame, wherein a sensor for inspecting a state of the pipeline is installed. |
| US09404772B2 |
Illumination ring in pointer hub
A pointer assembly for a gauge is disclosed and includes a pointer including a pointer arm extending from a pointer base and a crown attached to the pointer body including an illuminatable ring. A cap is mounted over the pointer and the crown and includes a first slot revealing the illuminatable ring and a second slot revealing a portion of the pointer arm. |
| US09404771B2 |
Optical sensor
An optical sensor (10) comprises an optical cavity defined by a dielectric body and responsive to one or more physical environmental conditions, and a waveguide (70) having a terminal end spaced apart from the optical cavity such that light is optically coupled from the terminal end of the waveguide (70) to the optical cavity. The waveguide (70) is arranged such that, in use, it is maintained at a first temperature that would not damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity when the dielectric body is maintained at a second temperature sufficient to damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity. |
| US09404763B2 |
Departure/destination location extraction apparatus and departure/destination location extraction method
A departure/destination location extraction apparatus includes a travel history accumulation unit configured to store a travel history of a vehicle, including a plurality of parking positions of the vehicle; and a position extraction unit configured to extract, among the parking positions stored in the travel history accumulation unit, one or more pairs of the parking positions where a distance between the parking positions in each of the pairs of the parking positions is less than or equal to a predetermined first threshold, each of the pairs being treated as a set of candidate points, and to extract an area including the candidate points that would be connected as a whole if the parking positions in each of the sets were connected with each other, as at least one of a departure location and a destination location. |
| US09404762B2 |
Navigation apparatus and navigation method
A navigation apparatus includes: a current-position information acquisition section obtaining measured current-position information; a camera section obtaining a captured image of a subject; a direction detection section detecting a direction when obtaining the captured image by the camera section; from characteristic-point information related to multiple predetermined characteristic points stored in a storage section, a characteristic-point information extraction section extracting the characteristic-point information related to the characteristic points located in the vicinity of the current position and in a range shown in the direction; and a control section displaying the captured image on a display section, wherein the control section displays a predetermined direction line indicating a distance from the current position on the captured image, obtains a distance and a direction from the current position to the characteristic point, and displays the characteristic-point information at a position corresponding to the distance and the direction on the captured image. |
| US09404751B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing 3D map showing area of interest in real time
An apparatus and a method for providing a three Dimensional (3D) map showing an area of interest in real time are disclosed. The method includes receiving terminal view information of a plurality of terminals, determining an object of interest on a 3D map based on the received terminal view information; and reconfiguring a 3D map including the object of interest. Position information on an area receiving a lot attention from the public, path information by which the user moves to the area, and a preview image of the area in real time may be provided. |
| US09404748B2 |
Electric gradient force drive and sense mechanism for a micro-electro-mechanical-system gyroscope
An apparatus for driving and sensing motion in a gyroscope including a dielectric mass, an anchor, a spring coupled between the anchor and the dielectric mass, a substrate adjacent the dielectric mass, an insulator layer on the substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode on the insulator layer. When an alternating current voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, an electric field gradient is generated in the dielectric mass and causes the dielectric mass to move relative to the anchor. When the dielectric mass has motion relative to the anchor and a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the movement of the dielectric mass generates a current at the first and second electrodes proportional to the motion. |
| US09404747B2 |
Microelectromechanical gyroscope with compensation of quadrature error drift
A microelectromechanical gyroscope, includes: a supporting body; a first movable mass and a second movable mass, which are oscillatable according to a first driving axis and tiltable about respective a first and second sensing axes and are symmetrically arranged with respect to a center of symmetry; first sensing electrodes and a second sensing electrodes associated with the first and second movable masses and arranged on the supporting body symmetrically with respect to the first and second sensing axis, the first and second movable masses being capacitively coupled to the respective first sensing electrode and to the respective second sensing electrode, a bridge element elastically coupled to respective inner ends of the first movable mass and of the second movable mass and coupled to the supporting body so as to be tiltable about an axis transverse to the first driving axis. |
| US09404745B2 |
Measurement jig
A measurement jig is attached to a target member in a form of a blade edge and is used for measuring a position of the target point in combination with a total station. The measurement jig includes a prism mirror that reflects a projected light from the total station, and an attachment member for attaching the prism mirror to the blade edge, in which a mirror center of the prism mirror is aligned with the target point. |
| US09404741B2 |
Color coding for 3D measurement, more particularly for transparent scattering surfaces
A device and a method for determining three dimensional surface coordinates of an object by means of optical color triangulation are proposed, wherein all lines of a color fringe pattern in each case have a width (BR) set in such a way that, in a recorded image of the line, all contrast maxima (CMax), of all spectral components of a line are equal to a minimum contrast value (CMin) is provided. Proceeding from an invariable smallest width of a pattern line with a spectral component of highest contrast, further lines can be correspondingly widened. The invention is particularly advantageously suitable for a 3D measurement for biological tissue. |
| US09404732B2 |
Electronic component thickness measurement method, method for manufacturing a series of electronic components using the measurement method, a series of electronic components manufactured by the manufacturing method, and electronic component inspection apparatus
An electronic component thickness measurement method includes extracting, from a plurality of second reference lines in first image data and a plurality of second reference lines in second image data, only a second reference line at which a difference in intensity peak between respective second reference lines at a same position in the first image data and the second image data is smallest, and forming third image data including a first reference line and the extracted second reference line, and calculating a thickness of the electronic component from a distance between the first reference line and the second reference line in the third image data. |
| US09404729B1 |
System and method for characterizing and correcting the optical response of an optical coherence tomography system
A system and method for correcting the optical response of an OCT system is presented. The system and method characterize the optical response of the OCT system to determine an optical loss of the OCT system as a function of wavelength. The optical loss corresponds to a reduction in the magnitude of electromagnetic radiation leaving an interferometer of the OCT system compared to the electromagnetic radiation entering the interferometer. The optical loss of the OCT system may be determined by generating output signals using the OCT system when the system does not contain a sample or contains an electromagnetic radiation absorbing material. A controller may control the source to pre-emphasize the electromagnetic radiation to correct for the optical response of the OCT system. |
| US09404727B2 |
Inductive position sensing with single channel interface to multiple resonant sensors
An inductive sensing system includes multiple resonant sensors interfaced to an inductance-to-digital conversion (IDC) unit through a single channel interface. IDC establishes an IDC control loop that incorporates resonant sensors as loop filters. The IDC control loop drives resonant sensors to a system resonance state in which each resonant sensor is driven to a resonant frequency state. Each resonant sensor is configured for a nominal resonant frequency state that differentiates it from the other resonant sensors. IDC senses changes in system resonance state representative of target-sensing conditions, and responds by driving a target-sensing system resonance state. IDC converts IDC loop (resonance) control signals resulting from a target-sensing condition into sensor data as representing the corresponding target-sensing resonant frequency state as an indication of target position (proximity or range) relative to a target-sensing resonant sensor. The sensor data can be provided to a data processor for proximity/range processing. |
| US09404726B2 |
Profile gauge
A profile gauge contains: a body, a holding plate, a plurality of slidable measuring members, and a locking assembly. The body is formed in an elongated plate shape and includes an accommodating chamber defined thereon and two ruling portions parallelly arranged on two sides of the accommodating chamber, wherein each ruling portion has a graduation for measuring a distance between two points of a profile curve line of an object. The holding plate is rectangular and includes an insertion extending outwardly from a first end thereof and an extension extending outwardly from a second end thereof. Each slidable measuring member includes a fixed thickness and an elongated aperture defined thereon, wherein a width of the elongated aperture is more than a width between the two sides of the holding plate. The locking assembly is fixed on the extension to limit a slidable movement of each slidable measuring member. |
| US09404725B2 |
System and method for measuring geometry of non-circular twisted strand during stranding process
A system (12) for measuring geometry of a non-circular twisted strand (10) during a stranding process, the system comprising: a pulley (14), for being rotated by linear displacement of the strand (10) induced by the stranding process; a first encoder (16), for measuring the rotation of the pulley (14), thereby measuring the linear displacement of the strand (10); at least one embracing element (36), for embracing a vertex (38) or another zone (48) of the strand (10), for being rotated perpendicular (60) to the longitudinal position (58) of the strand (10), the embracing obtained by the non-circular character of the strand (10) rather than by friction, thereby allowing sliding the at least one embracing element (36) therealong; and a second encoder (20), for measuring the rotation of the at least one embracing element (36), thereby measuring the twist character of the strand (10). |
| US09404723B2 |
Drill pipe measuring system
A drill pipe measuring system for efficiently and safely measuring drill pipe on an oil derrick. The drill pipe measuring system generally includes a main member, a tongue member extending outwardly from the main member, a retaining member having a groove that slidably receives the tongue member to secure a measuring tape adjacent to the tongue member and a securing member that is movably attached to an upper end of the main member to selectively retain a hook piece of the measuring tape. The securing member includes a pivot pin that the securing member pivots about and a locking member. When the locking member is in a released state, the securing member is allowed to move with respect to the main member. When the locking member is in the locked state, the securing member is prevented from moving with respect to the main member. |
| US09404722B2 |
Expandable broadhead with chisel tip
Designs for expandable broadhead arrowheads with chisel tips for attachment to arrow shafts are provided. The chisel tips, when inserted into the ferrules of the expandable broadheads, provide greater durability, improved flight characteristics for the projectile to which the broadheads are attached, and more effective deployment of the cutting blades of the expandable broadheads. |
| US09404721B2 |
Ring airfoil glider with augmented stability
In one embodiment, a less lethal munition including a ring airfoil projectile. The flight trajectory of the projectile has increased accuracy resulting from the aerodynamic stabilization of the projectile. In some embodiments, the projectile is both aerodynamically stabilized and spin stabilized. |
| US09404710B1 |
Holster for a handgun
A holster for carrying a handgun inside a wearer's beltline. In one embodiment, the holster includes a body-interface-surface (BIS) having a body-side (BS) and a gun-side (GS). A rigid mold is interfaced with the BIS. In another embodiment, the BIS may include a gun-lock region. A clip may be interfaced with the rigid mold. Other embodiments include methods of making the holster. |
| US09404708B1 |
Stock for a firearm
A stock for a firearm is disclosed. The stock has a length of pull (LOP) adjustment mechanism. The LOP adjustment mechanism is biased towards an engaged configuration and is movable to a disengaged configuration. A locating member protrudes into a stock mounting space and a first arm is in an engagement position when the LOP adjustment mechanism is in the engaged configuration. The locating member is translated such that the locating member does not protrude into the mounting space and the first arm is pivoted into a disengagement position when the LOP adjustment mechanism is in the disengaged configuration. |
| US09404704B2 |
Muzzle flash suppressor
A muzzle flash suppressor is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed flash suppressor includes a plurality of prongs having inner surfaces which taper along their length, providing angled expansion of the primary bore of the flash suppressor in the direction of projectile travel. The inner prong surfaces located along the gas flow path angle outwardly, a multi-radius surface is formed between each pair of neighboring prongs, and chamfers and radii are provided at the prong ends. Some embodiments provide for balanced and gradual gas expansion axially and/or radially along the projectile path, thereby allowing muzzle gases to expand/bleed off in a substantially laminar pattern. In some cases, this reduces secondary ignition of muzzle gases and the ambient air, thereby reducing muzzle flash. Also, some embodiments provide for easy clearance or correction of muzzle obstructions, thereby protecting against damage to the flash suppressor and host weapon. |
| US09404703B2 |
Bullet feeding and positioning device for toy gun
A feeding and positioning device for toy gun comprises a barrel and a friction cylinder. The barrel has a bore, a convex hole, and a guiding groove. Two groove sides are formed at two sides of the guiding groove with circular cone shape. A width and a depth of the guiding groove are gradually decreased from the first end of the barrel inwardly. The friction cylinder has a hollow and elastic cylinder body covered at the first end of the barrel and a friction portion arranged inside the cylinder portion and inserted into the convex hole inwardly. The bullet is aligned by the groove sides and then cooperated with the friction portion to form three-point guiding position to downwardly press the bullet to be precisely fed. It may prevent the bullet from skewed error and improve the range of firing, effective potential energy, and hit rate. |
| US09404702B2 |
Electromechanical firing mechanism
An electromechanical firing mechanism having a stack of piezoelectric elements arranged to move a firing pin by switching the piezoelectric material from a static state to an electrically charged state. The electromechanical firing mechanism is comprised of a bolt housing a striker and a firing pin. The bolt further includes a base plate and a center axis whereby the firing pin is moveable along that axis. The striker has a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end is fixed to a base plate and the proximal end is coupled to the firing pin. The striker consists of a stack of piezoelectric elements. A control circuit and battery is electrically connected to the piezoelectric materials for switching and powering the piezoelectric material from a static state to an electrically charged state. The stack of piezoelectric elements moves the firing pin into the primer of the cartridge when electrically charged. |
| US09404698B2 |
Methods and systems for enhancing firearm safety through wireless network monitoring
A firearm includes a firing mechanism and a sensor device. The sensor device includes a subscriber identity module configured to communicate with a server over a signaling channel of a wireless communications network. The Sensor device is configured to enable/disable the firing mechanism in accordance with instructions received by the SIM from the server. Movements and/or attempted operations of the firearm may be monitored using an application running on a mobile device, which application receives information concerning the firearm over the signaling channel of the wireless communications network. |
| US09404697B2 |
Bullet loader and method of use
A bullet loader method and apparatus that enables a user to easily load bullets into a gun magazine. The gun magazine is inserted into the apparatus magazine opening. Bullets are individually loaded into the bullet loader with a grooved cam, so that the individual bullets rest in the groove. The cam is rotated so that the bullet travels within the groove(s) of the cam and pushed with a cog attached to the end of the groove into the magazine. The bullet is pushed into the magazine with both a downward and inward force to overcome the spring resistance of the magazine. |
| US09404693B2 |
Handler provided with a temperature control unit
A handler includes first and second cooling channels, and first and second supply channels. The first and second cooling channels correspond to housing pockets that are respectively heated by heaters. A first throttle valve controls the flow of refrigerant such that the amount of refrigerant flowing through the second cooling channel is larger than the amount of the refrigerant flowing through the first cooling channel. Temperature sensors detect the temperature of the respective housing pockets, and a control device controls the valve and the heaters so that a target temperature is maintained. |
| US09404691B2 |
Condensing heat recovery unit for a portable fluid heater
A condensing heat recovery unit for a portable fluid heater has a heat exchanger with a plurality of hollow rectangular heat recovery panels, a flue gas collection hood that funnels flue gas from the portable fluid heater into one side of the heat exchanger, and a condensate collector connected to the opposite side of the heat exchanger that collects flue gas condensate. |
| US09404689B2 |
Heat exchange matrix
A heat exchange matrix includes a plurality of generally planar foils including a water retaining material, arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. Each foil defines a main plane having a flow direction and a transverse direction and the foils include strips that extend a strip length in the transverse direction and are separated from each neighboring strip in the flow direction and each strip is offset from the main plane by a distance that is different from that of its neighbor. The matrix may be provided in a flow channel for air to be humidified and cooled. |
| US09404687B2 |
Magnetic pump installation
A magnetic pump in a pump well in a molten metal furnace with a long, relatively thin side wall that wraps around a significant fraction of the circumference of the pump, which facilitates creation of an eddy current based flow field in the molten material with better magnetic coupling, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the pump. Breach of the well wall will not result in spillage of metal outside the furnace, and the well can be monitored for any such breach or other change so that the pump can be lifted out of the well to protect it from contact with the molten metal in the event of such a breach, or other appropriate action can be taken. |
| US09404686B2 |
Process for dying oil sand mature fine tailings
A process for drying fine tailings is provided. The process, which may use a pipeline reactor system, comprises providing an in-line flow of the fine tailings; continuously introducing a flocculent solution to cause dispersion and commence flocculation of the fine tailings and may comprise rapid turbulent mixing; subjecting the fine tailings to flocculation and water release conditioning in-line to cause formation and rearrangement of floes and increasing the yield shear stress to form flocculated fine tailings while avoiding over-shearing of the flocs; and depositing the fine tailings to allow the release of water, formation of a non-flowing fine tailings deposit and drying of the non-flowing fine tailings deposit. The process enables effective in-line dispersion, flocculation and water release, resulting in reliable deposition and drying of the fine tailings deposit. |
| US09404684B2 |
Vacuum insulation panel and refrigerator including the same
A vacuum insulation panel includes a core material, a first sheathing material disposed outside the core material, and a second sheathing material having different thermal conductivity from the first sheathing material, the second sheathing material being coupled to the first sheathing material to form a space to receive the core material. |
| US09404676B2 |
Vacuum solar thermal panel with pipe housing
The present application relates to a vacuum solar thermal panel with pipe housing (1) for a solar absorber pipe (10) of the type comprising at least a base portion (2) and a retention element (3) for the pipe (10). Advantageously according to the invention, the retention element (3) is in the form of a fork and has an elastic behavior when forced by the pipe (10). The vacuum solar thermal panel with pipe housing (1) according to the invention avoids the risk of a vertical movement of the pipe and then of the solar absorber being associated to the pipe while allowing an easy insertion or mounting of the pipe itself during the assembly or manufacturing of the vacuum solar thermal panel. |
| US09404673B2 |
Building-integrated solar thermal micro-channel absorber and method of manufacturing thereof
A device and method of its production for a micro-channel thermal absorber to be used as a solar thermal collector, heat collector, or heat dissipater, extruded or continuously cast in one piece or in modular segments from a metal, plastic, or glass and assembled into panels of different structures seamlessly integrated into the envelope of a building as covering layers or structural elements. The micro-channel thermal absorber comprises an active plate, a back plate adjacent to the active plate, and a plurality of micro-channel walls arranged substantially perpendicular to the active plate and the back plate to define a plurality of fluid transport micro-channels configured to allow fluid flow there-along, wherein the micro-channel walls constitute supporting elements between the active plate and the back plate to provide structure. |
| US09404672B2 |
Concrete cylinder curing box and method
The present disclosure describes a curing box including a circulation assembly which substantially eliminates temperature stratification of a first fluid within the box. Additionally, the curing box includes an internal temperature sensor and an external temperature sensor which provide data to a control module. The control module permits adjustment of the fluid temperature within the box. The present disclosure additionally provides a method for curing a specimen in the curing box. The method compares the temperature signal from the external sensor to the internal sensor and adjusts the temperature of the fluid in the box to match the temperature reported by the external sensor. Additionally, the method controls the flow of a second fluid into the box thereby circulating the first fluid to substantially eliminate temperature stratification of the first fluid in the box. Thus, the method provides a controlled environment for curing the specimen. |
| US09404663B2 |
High temperature vacuum insulation panel
The present invention relates to a vacuum insulation panel comprising a core material, and a shell material, and more specifically, to a high temperature vacuum insulation panel usable in a high temperature range. The present invention provides a high temperature vacuum insulation panel including: an inorganic core material comprising glass fiber; and a shell material for sealing the inorganic core material in which the shell material comprises a composite film including a thermal deposition layer adhered to the surface of the inorganic core material, a protective layer for absorbing and dispersing external impact, and a barrier layer for blocking the permeation of gas or moisture between the thermal deposition layer and the protective layer. |
| US09404658B2 |
Gas turbine engine fuel air mixer
A gas turbine engine device is disclosed for mixing fuel and air prior to a combustion. The device includes a pilot mixer and a main mixer each having a fuel opening for the delivery of fuel to one or more passages. In one form the main mixer includes an inner passage and an outer passage and in which a fuel opening delivers fuel to the inner passage. The main mixer can include swirlers in the inner and/or outer passages. The pilot mixer can also include a swirler. In one embodiment the main mixer includes a converging flow path and/or a diverging flow path. The pilot mixer can also include a converging and/or diverging flow path and in one form is sheltered from an exit of the device. The main mixer fuel opening can be disposed between an upstream end and a downstream end of the mixer. |
| US09404657B2 |
Combuster with radial fuel injection
A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes an forward fuel injection system in communication with a combustion chamber and a downstream fuel injection system that communicates with the combustion chamber downstream of the forward fuel injection system. |
| US09404653B1 |
Tinder storage container solar powered fire starter
A tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that includes top and lower housings that when coupled together form a water tight tinder storage cavity of which the inside bottom surface is a machined parabolic reflector that when used in conjunction with a tinder holder arm that securely positions the fire starting tinder at the exact focus of the reflective parabolic surface of the lower housing is able to use solar power to ignite combustible materials. The tinder holder arm is stowed in the top housing during non-use and incorporates a series of light through holes, and flex points, that provide maximum efficiency and quick positioning from stow configuration to fire starting configuration. The inside reflective inside surface of the top housing is a signal mirror, a lanyard hole is provided to prevent loss. An hour glass shaped air escape slot provides easy coupling of the top and bottom housings. |
| US09404652B2 |
Mixing of recycle gas with fuel gas to a burner
A burner with a central oxidizer supply tube and an outer concentric fuel supply tube has a recycle gas duct arranged between the central oxidizer supply tube and the outer concentric fuel supply tube. |
| US09404650B2 |
Boiler with improved hot gas passages
The present document describes a boiler for heating a cold fluid with a hot fluid. The boiler comprises a lower drum, an upper drum, a plurality of right tubes for conveying the cold fluid, where each of the right tubes are fluidly connecting the lower drum and the upper drum, where the right tubes form a right wall and where each of the right tubes comprises at least one left inwardly extending portion extending toward a left wall and a plurality of left tubes for conveying the cold fluid, where each of the left tubes fluidly connect the lower drum and the upper drum, and where the left tubes form the left wall facing the right wall, where each of the left tubes comprises at least one right inwardly extending portion, each extending toward the right wall. |
| US09404648B2 |
LED light with cooling system
Technologies related to light fixtures, cooling systems, electronic controllers for light fixtures, methods of manufacture, and methods for operating light fixtures are described herein. Example light fixtures may include Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fixtures equipped with cooling systems. Example cooling systems may comprise liquid cooling systems, duct cooling systems, fan cooling systems, and combinations thereof. Example light fixtures may furthermore include switches and a local controller for controlling the light fixture. |
| US09404647B2 |
Class 1 compliant lens assembly
An optical assembly including a mounting board and an LED coupled to the mounting board. An optic component, for example a lens, is coupled to the mounting board and encloses the LED. A shield member including 5 VA rated material is positioned to have a first surface in contact with the mounting board and a second surface in contact with the optic component. |
| US09404645B1 |
Wiring and connection management system for installation of LED light engines
A wiring and connection management system is disclosed. The system comprises a set of power distribution members that are attached to a substrate and are connected together, forming a power grid to distribute power across the substrate. The members include a number of connectors disposed at regular intervals along their lengths. Corresponding sets of cables and connectors on the substrate convey power from the members to areas on the substrate where power is desired. The substrate may be, for example, a shelving unit. The system provides a robust, flexible source of power that is easily installed with minimal training and is also easily maintained. |
| US09404640B2 |
High efficient and high power LED light source, LED lamp which uses light source and the application of the lamp
A light module includes a plurality of LEDs coupled on a circuit board, a condenser unit including a plurality of condensers integrally coupled with each other and supported on the circuit board, and a plurality of converging lenses supported within the light cavities of said condensers respectively. Each LED is located at a focal point of the condenser and is located at a focal point of the converging lens. A first portion of light from the LED is directly project toward the converging lens and is diverged by the converging lens to parallelly project out of the condenser. A second portion of light from the LED is reflected by a light reflecting wall of the condenser to parallelly project out of the condenser. Therefore, the first and second portions of light form collimated light beams out of a light opening of the condenser. |
| US09404636B1 |
Lighting apparatus with a reflective surface
A high mast lighting apparatus includes a shroud having a reflective surface. The shroud is configured to receive a lighting element therein. The reflective surface includes a reflective cone extending between a top portion of the shroud and the lighting element for directing light generated by the lighting element toward an open end of the shroud. |
| US09404635B2 |
Light directing apparatus
A light directing apparatus includes an optical substrate having first and second sides, a compound lens outer surface (CLOS) on a first portion of the first side, and first and second protrusions on a second portion of the first side. The CLOS is in optical communication with the second side, the CLOS having mirror image symmetry about a medial plane that contains a centerline of the CLOS. The first protrusion is disposed proximate the CLOS, and in optical communication with the second side. The second protrusion is disposed proximate the first protrusion, and in optical communication with the second side. The first protrusion is disposed between the second protrusion and the CLOS. The first and second protrusions each have a curved apex such that first and second planar section cuts through the optical substrate perpendicular to the medial plane cut twice through each curved apex. |
| US09404634B2 |
LED light fixture with facilitated lensing alignment and method of manufacture
LED lighting apparatus including (1) a plurality of primary lenses each over a corresponding one of LED arrays spaced on a circuit board, and (2) a one-piece lensing member over the circuit board and having a plurality of secondary lenses each spaced over one of the primary lenses on the circuit board, the circuit board and lensing member having first and second mating features positioned and configured for inter-engagement for high-precision lens alignment. The circuit board and one-piece lensing member are each joined to a mounting surface of a heat-conductive member, and such assembly, while facilitating high-efficiency assembly, does not interfere with high-precision lens alignment. |
| US09404623B2 |
Modular compressed natural gas system for use at a wellsite
A system and method of receiving field gas from a compressor station pipeline, and compressing the gas at a remote location with a modular compressor. The compressed gas is collected in a container and transported to a wellsite for use at the wellsite. The gas from the pipeline is directed to the container, and diverted to the modular compressor when pressure in the container approaches pressure in the pipeline. The modular compressor discharge is piped to the container, so that the container is filled with additional gas and at the discharge pressure of the modular compressor. |
| US09404617B2 |
Clamp
Clamp (1, 1′) comprising a main body (3, 3′) adapted to encircle an inner element (101) or to be encircled by an outer element to which the clamp (1) can releasably connect. An axially extending opening extends through the main body (3, 3′). The clamp comprises a locking arm (5) which is connected to said main body (3, 3′) at a base end (7), and which can bend elastically to move its oppositely positioned free end (9) in a substantially radial direction. The locking arm (5) comprises a locking pad (13) at a distance from the base end (7), which in a locking position of the locking arm (5) extends radially beyond an inner (4) or outer (4′) diameter, respectively, of the main body (3, 3′). The locking pad (13) is adapted to engage with a recess (113) in said inner (101) or outer (101′) element. |
| US09404613B2 |
Pipeline isolation for small bore pipe
An isolation tool for isolating small bore pipe has a spigot having a proximal section with diameter and a distal section with smaller diameter. A seal is provided on the tool around the smaller diameter section. In some embodiments, the isolation tool is located through a hole in the wall of the pipe and through a second hole in the opposite wall of the pipe, the tool arranged so that when the tool is located through the second hole the seal fills the bore of the pipe and isolates a section of the pipe. In other embodiments, the tool may be located between severed pipe sections. |
| US09404611B2 |
Quick coupling for pipes/hoses with locking feature
The invention relates to a coupling comprising a first (3, 3′) and a second (5,5′) coupling part being adapted for coupling together and uncoupling along a centre axis (CL) extending through the coupling (1), an outer surface (7) of the first coupling part (3, 3′) comprising at least a recessed helical slot (9), an inner surface (11) of the second coupling part (5, 5′) having at least one projection (13, 13′, 13″) extending inwards for engagement with the said slot (9). The second coupling part (5, 5′) comprises a lock socket arrangement (17, 19) being displaceable relatively to its rear portion (15) along a centre line (CL) and having an inwards projecting portion (23, 23′, 23″), at least one lock body (25, 25′, 25″) arranged in the second coupling part (5, 5) being movably arranged relatively to the lock socket arrangement (17, 19) and by means of retention means (27, 27′) being connected to the rear portion (15), the outer surface (7) comprising a collar (29) for receiving the lock body (25, 25′, 25″) affected by the projecting portion (23, 23′, 23″) at the said coupling together. |
| US09404610B2 |
Lever quick connect intercom fitting
Embodiments of the present invention provide a lever quick connect and disconnect fitting that provides a secure fit for tank-to-tank connections and prevents any leakage from occurring. The fitting provide two separate, independent locking features that can secure tank sleeves to one another. There is provided male and female components that are coupled together by a lever connect and by a safety ring. |
| US09404607B2 |
Aftercooler pipe support assembly
A support assembly for a pipe arrangement includes a bracket, a clamp configured to couple to the pipe arrangement, and linkage assemblies coupled to the bracket and the clamp. The linkage assemblies include a rod, a first connector coupled to the rod at a first end and coupled to the bracket by a first locking assembly at a second end, and a second connector coupled to the rod at a first end and coupled to the clamp by a second locking assembly at a second end. The first connector is configured to rotate relative to the bracket about the first locking assembly and the second connector is configured to rotate relative to the clamp about the second locking assembly to allow movement of the clamp relative to the bracket in a first plane. A tightening assembly is adjustable to move the clamp relative to the bracket in a second plane. |
| US09404604B2 |
Device for laying a pipe in an expanse of water, and related structure and method
A device for laying a pipe in an expanse of water includes a tower (30) intended to protrude along a tower axis (B-B′) in a floating laying structure (10), and assemblies (34A, 34B) for gripping and moving the pipe (12) in order to guide the movement of the pipe (12) towards the expanse of water (11) along a laying axis (C-C′). Each gripping and moving assembly (34A, 34B) is borne by the tower (30). The tower (30) is formed by a barrel (32) extending along the tower axis (B-B′), each gripping assembly transversely protruding from the barrel (32) relative to the tower axis (B-B′). |
| US09404603B2 |
Valve manifold
A valve manifold includes a valve body carrying pairs of laterally spaced piston actuated valves controlled by control modules operative to selectively pressurize and exhaust an outlet port connected to a fluid device and configured in groupings permitting varying valve functionalities. |
| US09404602B2 |
Electromagnetic flexure
An electromagnetic valve comprises a yoke, a magnet having pole pieces defining a gap, a flexure assembly having one end attached to the yoke such that part of the flexure assembly extends into the gap, and a mechanism configured to polarize the magnetizable portion so that the extending part of the flexure assembly is attracted towards a pole piece by a magnetic force, thereby defining a valve state. The flexure assembly has at least one resilient portion and at least one magnetizable portion, wherein the extending part of the flexure assembly is movable between the pole pieces through an intermediate position towards which it is resiliently biased such that a resilient mechanical force is generated by deflecting the resilient portion from an undeflected position. The magnetizable portion and the resilient portion are configured such that the magnetic force defining the valve state is greater than the resilient mechanical force. |
| US09404600B2 |
Three-way solenoid valve
There is provided a very reliable three-way solenoid valve that can reliably switch a refrigerant flow passage while ensuring a refrigerant flow rate even under a large-differential pressure environment without increasing the size of an electromagnetic coil and the like.A valve body includes a conduction hole that communicates with a back pressure chamber formed on a side of a second valve element opposite to a second valve seat, a third valve seat that is positioned between the conduction hole and a second outlet, a third valve element that is movably disposed so as to approach and be separated from the third valve seat, a coil spring that biases the third valve element toward the third valve seat, and actuating rods that are interposed between a first valve element and the third valve element. |
| US09404599B2 |
Dual/variable gain oil pump control valve
A solenoid fluid control valve is disclosed for controlling a variable displacement pump. The solenoid fluid control valve comprises a fixed solenoid component, a movable armature component, a fixed nozzle body, a movable spool within the fixed nozzle body, and a valve member. The valve member regulates fluid pressure in a first and second feedback chamber. Fluid in the second feedback chamber establishes a second feedback pressure that acts on the movable spool with a motive feedback force in a first axial direction. The movable spool moves in the first axial direction in response to the motive feedback force. |
| US09404597B2 |
Gas metering device with spring loading device having serially arranged springs
A gas metering valve (1) having at least one valve seat (2) and at least one closure member (3) which can be pressed against the valve seat, the closure member in a maximum open position is raised at least in regions from the valve seat (2) and in a maximum closed position is pressed against the valve seat. The gas metering valve (1) has an adjusting device (5) which is spring-loaded by a spring loading device (4) of the gas metering valve (1) for adjusting the closure member (3) in a closing direction (6) from the maximum open position into the maximum closed position. The spring loading device (4) of the adjusting device (5), preferably when viewed in the closing direction (6), has at least two spring bodies (7a, 7b) which are connected mechanically in series, the spring bodies (7a, 7b) have elastic characteristics which are different from each other. |
| US09404595B2 |
Fluid circulation valve
The invention relates to a fluid circulation valve comprising a body (2) through which said fluid can pass, and a first and second shutoff means (3, 3′), arranged in series, in the direction of flow of the fluid, in said body and each able, by rotation of said means (3, 3′) with respect to said body (2) to occupy various angular positions, said valve further comprising a drive train allowing said shutoff means (3, 3′) to be driven off one and the same actuating motor, said valve being configured to: —over a first angular range of said first shutoff means (3) allow said fluid to be metered in a first outlet port (40) of said valve, said second shutoff means (3′) being in a position in which said first port (40) is wide open, —over a second angular range of said first shutoff means (3) allow said fluid to be metered in a second outlet port (42) of said valve, said second shutoff means (3′) being in a second position in which said second port (40) is wide open. |
| US09404593B2 |
Vent valve
A vent valve according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sensing sleeve defining a sensing chamber and a vent channel for venting fluid out of the sensing chamber. A sensing piston is moveable within the sensing chamber between an open position and a closed position. The sensing piston allows flow of the fluid into the vent channel during movement of the sensing piston between the open and closed positions. |
| US09404590B2 |
Valve and method for controlling flow in tubular members
A method for controlling fluid flow includes, deforming at least one deformable member disposed between two tubulars that are radially aligned with one another, at least one of the at least one deformable member is positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and regulating flow of fluid by deforming the at least one deformable member positioned between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet sufficiently to achieve a desired flow rate. |
| US09404586B2 |
Valve device and method for transferring a transfer medium
The invention relates to a valve device and to a method for transferring a transfer medium, said valve device and method having an inflow, an outflow and two valve disks which are arranged one behind another in the direction of flow and are pivotable about a common rotational axis for opening and closing the lumen which surrounds them, wherein the inflow and the outflow are formed by two housing sections which are lockable together, the ends of which facing one another receive in each case a valve disk with a fixedly connected half-shaft, wherein, with the housing sections in the locked state, the two half-shafts form one common shaft which is pivotable about the rotational axis and the valve disks abut closely against one another, and wherein, with the housing sections in the non-locked state, the valve disks in each case close the lumen of the housing section receiving them. |
| US09404581B1 |
Joint seal system
An integral multilayer joint seal system. Layers of foam, layered co-planar to the adjacent surface, are interspersed with a barrier layer. The foam layers may be uncompressed or partially compressed at the time of joint formation and may be composed of open or closed, or hybrid, cell foam. The foam may be impregnated with a fire retardant or may be composed of a fire retardant material, if desired. The barrier may have a tensile strength greater than the adjacent foam and may be different in dimensions from the layers of foam. The joint may have an elastomer, such as silicone, at its top and/or bottom, and may even include an elastomer layer within or about the barrier. |
| US09404573B2 |
Hydromechanical power management of fixed displacement boost pumps
A hydraulic apparatus and a method of controlling the hydraulic apparatus are disclosed. The hydraulic apparatus includes a first pump having a first fixed displacement, a second pump having a second fixed displacement, and a diverter. The diverter includes a first diverter inlet port fluidly coupled to a discharge of the second pump, a first diverter outlet port fluidly coupled to a discharge of the first pump, and a second diverter outlet port fluidly coupled to a low pressure system, the low pressure system having a fluid pressure lower than a fluid pressure of the discharge of the first pump. The diverter is operable to selectively vary fluid communication between the first diverter inlet port and either the first diverter outlet port or the second diverter outlet port based on a reference pressure. |
| US09404567B2 |
Oil supply device
The present invention relates to an oil supply device for use in an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle, and is applied to a vehicle in which an idle reduction control or the like is performed. The oil supply device includes an oil pump which is driven by a driving motor of a vehicle and a motor separate from the driving motor, and an engagement and disengagement element which transmits a driving force of the driving motor to the oil pump, and the oil pump is driven by the motor without using a drive system of the driving motor. |
| US09404563B2 |
Power transmitting system of a vehicle
Power system including differential-mechanism, clutch-mechanism, power-mechanism and dog-clutch disposed between an input rotary member to receive drive-force from a drive power source and output rotary-member to transmit drive-force to drive-wheels, the differential-mechanism including an input rotary element, output rotary element and reaction rotary element; the clutch-mechanism connecting two rotary elements of the input, output and reaction rotary elements of the differential-mechanism, to each other, the power-mechanism having predetermined gear ratio, and dog-clutch selectively placing a power path between the output rotary element and output rotary-member, in power transmitting state and power cutoff state; transmitting drive-force to drive-wheels while the clutch-mechanisms and dog-clutch are placed in engaged states. The dog-clutch engagement retainer mechanism holds the dog-clutch in engaged state while the power system turns in parking-lock-position inhibiting output rotary-member motion, and switching the dog-clutch from engaged to released when the power system switches to non-parking-lock position permitting the output rotary-member motion. |
| US09404557B2 |
Flexible protective guide internally holding long members
A protective guide internally holds long members including at least one of flexible cables and ducts. The protective guide includes a flexible curved strip-shaped base and plural flexible sectioning members. The base is made of a synthetic resin, formed into a long plate and has a longitudinal direction. The sectioning members are also made of a synthetic resin, permitted to uprise from both ends of the base and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, the both ends being opposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sectioning members cooperatively define a space for accommodating the long members along the base. The base has a cross section inwardly curved toward the space, as viewed in the longitudinal direction. Each sectioning member has a ceiling opposed to the base, the ceiling being divided into two portions in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. |
| US09404555B2 |
Centrifugal pendulum damping device
A centrifugal pendulum damping device includes a support body provided with a pair of first curved tracks and fixed to a rotating shaft, inertial masses provided with a pair of second curved tracks and supported on an outer peripheral part of the support body, and pins rollably fitted in a section where a first and second curved track intersect each other. Since the shapes of the pair of first curved tracks are different from each other and the shapes of the pair of second curved tracks are different from each other, the inertial mass moves rotationally and translationally in the peripheral direction of the support body, which improves damping low frequency vibration performance. Since the inertial mass moves rotationally, it is less likely to extend outside the region of the support body. |
| US09404554B2 |
Transmission clutch damper
A transmission clutch damper assembly having an outer carrier with at least one spring retainer plate located therein. At least one spring is retained by stops in the spring retainer plate. A hub having radially outwardly extending castles is provided. Upon rotation of the outer carrier in a first direction relative to the hub, the castles are acted upon by a first spring end, and upon rotation of the outer carrier in a second direction relative to the hub, the castles are acted upon a second spring end. Two of the spring retainer plates can be provided with a drive ring therebetween adapted to contact the castles dependent upon a relative rotational position of the hub and the outer carrier, establishing a direct drive connection. |
| US09404553B2 |
Shock absorber
Provided is a shock absorber, which has a cylinder filled with a fluid, a piston valve dividing the cylinder into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber, and a piston rod extending to the outside of the cylinder in a state of being connected to the piston valve. The shock absorber includes: a free piston which divides the compression chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber in such a state that the piston rod vertically passes through the free piston, and forms a vertical passage such that the upper chamber and the lower chamber are connected to each other; and a support which is connected to the piston rod, with a larger diameter, increases a pressure of the upper chamber by locally tightly contacting and ascending the free piston from below during a rebound stroke of the piston rod, and forms a horizontal passage connected to the vertical passage. |
| US09404552B2 |
Hydraulic damping cartridge
Disclosed is a damping cartridge with a rebound stage damping unit and a compression stage damping unit as well as an compensating volume for a damping medium. According to the present invention the compression stage unit is made up of a three-way unit with a high-speed-, a mid-speed- and a low-speed flow path. Furthermore the compensating volume is made up of a tube bladder, which at least partially encompasses the compression stage unit. |
| US09404548B2 |
Adaptable damper
An adjustable damper includes a tube body, a driving rod to be displaced in the tube body and to engage a screw sleeve to drive a screw rod and further a fixed seat for rotation. The fixed seat has a plurality of permanent magnets surrounding for circular rotation and an operation element is driven by a rotating element for repeated linear displacement; a magnetic surface is further arranged on an inner periphery of an annular element of the operation element and an annular gap is arranged between the magnetic surface and the permanent magnets; therefore the displacing annular element is able to adjust a damping force of the driving rod by adjusting an overlapped area of the permanent magnets and a magnetic surface, and further adjust an eddy load formed thereby. The damper overcomes the problem of oil leakage and ensures the durability and quality with its adjustability. |
| US09404546B2 |
Copper free friction material composition
A copper-free friction material composition for a brake lining includes a fibrous form of an aluminum magnesium alloy, and a solid lubricant having a sulfur. The friction material composition can be disposed over at least a region of a backing plate of a brake pad to form a brake lining. The aluminum magnesium alloy contains about 4.5% to about 5.6% magnesium by weight. The friction material composition includes, by weight, about 5% to about 6% of the solid lubricant, about 5% to about 9.75% of the fibrous form of an aluminum magnesium alloy, about 7% to about 10% of an organic filler composition, and about 13% to about 17% of an abrasive composition, and can also include an inorganic filler, and a binder that develops the other components in the friction material composition into a thermosetting matrix. The friction material composition has a dynamic coefficient of friction of about 0.43. |
| US09404540B2 |
Wheel bearing apparatus with sensor
At least one or more sensor for detecting a load acting on a wheel support bearing apparatus is provided in such bearing device, a signal processor for processing an output signal of those sensors to generate a signal vector and a load calculator for calculating the load, which acts on a vehicle wheel, from the signal vector, are provided. The load calculator has a function of determining the presence or absence of a predetermined state of a vehicle, which may affects a result of calculation of the load, and performing two types of calculation process appropriate to the presence or absence. The presence or absence of the predetermined state of the vehicle, which is determined by the load calculator is, for example, ON/OFF of a brake. |
| US09404536B2 |
Underwater sliding member, method for manufacturing underwater sliding member, and hydraulic machine
An underwater sliding member of the present embodiment is an underwater sliding member used under water, and has: a base material 11 made of a first metal material; an intermediate layer 12 of a porous structure joined to the base material 11 and made of a second metal material; a corrosion inhibiting layer 122 a part of which is melted and filled into a hole of the porous structure of the intermediate layer 12; and a sliding layer 13 formed on the corrosion inhibiting layer 122 and made of a resin material. |
| US09404533B2 |
Method for controlling a gas compressor having a magnetic bearing
A method for controlling a gas compressor having a magnetic bearing. The method includes communicating digital feedback data from a magnetic bearing system to a computer via a communication link, processing the feedback data with the computer and issuing a bearing control command in response to the feedback data, communicating the bearing control command from the computer to the magnetic bearing system via a communication link, providing operational processing and control of the gas compressor with the computer, and providing operational processing and control of the compressor driver with the computer. |
| US09404527B2 |
Drive shaft assembly for a downhole motor
A driveshaft assembly for a downhole motor including a driveshaft having a longitudinal axis, first and second ends, and a convex spherical bearing surface disposed at the first end configured to transfer axial loads. The assembly also includes a connection lug disposed at the driveshaft first end, extending circumferentially between first and second ends, and including a recess in the first end of the lug, the recess comprising a concave cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about a pivot axis oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The assembly also includes a torque transfer key disposed within the recess and having a central axis radially spaced from the pivot axis, a convex cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about the pivot axis, and a planar surface. The convex cylindrical surface of the key slidingly engages the concave cylindrical surface of the recess; and the pivot axis intersects the key. |
| US09404512B2 |
System for storing energy by means of compressed air
A plant for storing energy by means of compressed air, in which: a storage volume accommodates air at elevated pressure pH; for energy storage, ambient air is compressed and introduced into the storage volume; for removal from storage, compressed air is extracted from the storage volume and discharged into the environment, performing work; at least one low-pressure turbomachine for alternate compression and expansion respectively compresses ambient air to a medium pressure pM and expands said ambient air from said pressure; at least one high-pressure machine for alternate compression and expansion respectively compresses air from the medium pressure pM to the store pressure pH and expands said air from the latter pressure; and said low-pressure turbomachine and high-pressure machine are connected in series in terms of flow and are mechanically coupled to in each case one, or to one common, electric machine that operates selectively as a motor and generator. |
| US09404511B2 |
Free-tipped axial fan assembly with a thicker blade tip
A free-tipped axial fan assembly includes a fan having a blade tip geometry which minimizes the adverse effect of a tip gap. The maximum blade thickness exhibits a significant increase adjacent the blade tip. In some constructions, the maximum thickness at the blade tip is at least 100 percent greater than the maximum thickness 0.10 R away from the blade tip. In some constructions, the trailing-edge thickness at the blade tip is approximately the same as the trailing-edge thickness 0.10 R away from the blade tip. In some constructions, the increase in blade thickness follows the square of the distance from the position where the increase begins. |
| US09404508B2 |
Suction housing
The invention relates to a suction housing (1) for an internal combustion engine, especially for arranging between a first (2) and a second (3) compressor of an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the suction housing (1) comprises an inner space (8) defined by a bottom element (9), a first (10) and a second (11) opposing lateral wall elements projecting from the bottom element (9), and a first (12) and a second (13) opposing front wall elements projecting from the bottom element. An open end (14) having an inlet (14a) via which charge air can enter the inner space (8) of the suction housing (1) is formed opposite the bottom element (9), and a web element (17) projecting from the bottom element (9) and arranged between the first (10) and the second (11) lateral wall elements is located in the inner chamber, said web element interconnecting the first (12) and the second (13) front wall elements. The first lateral wall element (10) has a first outlet (15) and the second lateral wall element (11) has a second outlet (16) for respective flow towards a compressor inlet (2b, 3b). |
| US09404506B2 |
Impeller and rotary machine
An impeller of a rotary machine, in which the direction of flow changes from an axial direction to a radial direction as it goes from the inside in the radial direction of a fluid flow passage to the outside in the radial direction thereof, includes a hub surface constituting at least a portion of the fluid flow passage. The impeller also includes a blade surface constituting at least a portion of the fluid flow passage, and a bulge that bulges toward the inside of the fluid flow passage at a corner where a pressure surface, which configures the blade surface, comes in contact with the hub surface in the vicinity of an inlet of the fluid flow passage. |
| US09404502B2 |
Centrifugal fan device
A centrifugal fan device includes an impeller supported to rotate about a center axis extending in an up-down direction; a motor arranged to rotate the impeller; and a housing arranged to surround the impeller. The housing includes an intake portion positioned above the impeller and an exhaust portion positioned radially outward of the impeller. The impeller includes a base extending in a direction orthogonal to the center axis, a ring-shaped shroud positioned above the base and having a diameter which decreases as it goes upward, and a plurality of blades arranged between the base and the shroud. The housing further includes a plurality of ribs protruding from an inner surface of the intake portion toward the shroud. |
| US09404497B2 |
Method and apparatus for scroll alignment
A compressor may include a shell, a bearing housing supported within the shell, an orbiting scroll, a non-orbiting scroll meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll, fasteners and a drive shaft. The bearing housing may include a central body defining a bore and arms extending radially outward from a central body and defining circumferentially extending grooves. The circumferentially extending grooves may include inner side walls, outer side walls and base regions extending regionally between the inner and outer side walls and defining fastener receiving apertures. The orbiting scroll may be supported on the bearing housing and a non-orbiting scroll may be meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll and may include flanges defining flange apertures. The fasteners may extend through the flange apertures and the fasteners receiving apertures and secure the non-orbiting scroll to the bearing housing. The drive shaft may extend through the bore and be engaged with the orbiting scroll. |
| US09404496B2 |
Oil return passage structure for oil pump
An oil pump has a pump body, a pump cover, an outer rotor, and an inner rotor. The pump body includes a rotor chamber, a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a first inlet passage, a first outlet passage, a relief valve, a relief chamber formed on a discharge side of the relief valve, and a first oil return passage formed from the relief chamber to the first inlet passage. The pump cover has a second oil return passage. The first oil return passage is formed in an inner circumferential support wall of the rotor chamber as a groove-like recess and opens along an outer circumferential surface of the outer rotor. A support protrusion is formed near a portion where the second oil return passage is formed to support a front surface, in a radial direction, of the outer rotor. |
| US09404494B2 |
Screw pump having an integrated pressure limiting valve
A screw pump includes a pump housing on which a flange section for installing the pump is formed. The screw pump further includes an integrated pressure limiting valve. The pressure limiting valve in the flange section of the pump housing is installed in the pump housing. |
| US09404486B2 |
Cryopump, cryopanel structure, and vacuum evacuation method
A cryopump includes a nested array of cryopanels. A hydrogen molecule incident into a clearance in the nested array of cryopanels is reflected by a cryopanel. The reflected hydrogen molecule is adsorbed by another cryopanel. Each of the cryopanels may have an inverted frustum shape. |
| US09404482B2 |
Operation control device for limiting the amount a positive displacement pump over-or undershoots a target operating parameter value, pump system and method for operating such
An operational control device is disclosed for a positive-displacement pump having a motor, means for actuating the motor, state sensor means for detecting an actual operating parameter (e.g., pressure) of the pump, and operating mode means for controlling an operating mode of the pump. A first actuating mode of the operating mode means is set by the actuating means below a first operating-parameter threshold value (P1). This mode brings about a constantly rising pump pressure in the direction of an operating-parameter setpoint value (Pset) in a variable manner, which is dependent on a detected change in the operating parameter over a predefined time interval. A second actuating mode is set as normal operation to the operating-parameter setpoint value by the actuating means above the first operating-parameter threshold value. P1 is fixed or is calculated as a fraction of the operating-parameter setpoint value and/or a pump parameter correlated therewith. |
| US09404474B2 |
System and method for efficient wind power generation
A system and method for efficient wind power generation is provided. The system includes a shaft that rotates around a vertical axis, a plurality of blades, and a plurality of arms that couple the blades to the shaft. The blades are configured to have a rounded, symmetrical design which minimizes the effects of lift. The blades are also configured to include a notched portion for capturing wind and using it to propel the blades. The blades may also be configured to include winglets, which reduce vortex shedding, drag, and noise, and could also reduce friction on the bearings caused by gravity. |
| US09404472B2 |
Method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade
A method to manufacture a blade, especially to manufacture a blade of a wind turbine is provided. An arrangement including a mold is provided and used to carry layers of blade-components. A dry-powder is applied at least to an inner surface of the mold, before the layers are arranged onto the inner surface of the mold. Thus the mold includes a dry powder-coat as a bottom layer. |
| US09404469B2 |
Ignition timing control device and ignition timing control system
An ignition timing control device (31) has a knocking detection device (41) that detects knocking of internal combustion engine (1) and an ignition timing adjustment device (43) that receives a knocking signal outputted from the knocking detection device (41) and a signal concerning the ignition timing of internal combustion engine (1) outputted from an external electronic control unit (37) and adjusts the ignition timing of internal combustion engine (1) according to the knocking signal and the signal concerning the ignition timing. Further, the knocking detection device (41) and the ignition timing adjustment device (43) are electrically connected and formed integrally with each other. |
| US09404462B2 |
Engine starter designed to minimize mechanical noise at start of engine
An engine starting system for an engine is equipped with a pinion, an electromagnetic actuator, and a controller. When energized, the electromagnetic actuator produces a magnetic attraction to move the pinion straight toward a ring gear coupled to an engine for starting the engine. The controller is designed to selectively provide a small amount of current to the electromagnetic actuator and a large amount of current to the electromagnetic actuator. When it is required to minimize the level of noise arising from mechanical contact of the pinion with the ring gear, the controller provides the small amount of current to the electromagnetic actuator to slow the movement of the pinion toward the ring gear, thereby lessening the impact of the pinion on the ring gear. |
| US09404459B2 |
Pressure compensated fuel injector with solenoid pumping
A method includes: filling a chamber having a recirculating valve, a piston, a cap valve, an injector valve and an injection orifice with a liquid by closing the injector valve and circulating the liquid from a source through the recirculating valve and the cap valve; then isolating the chamber from the source by closing the recirculating valve and the cap valve then allowing pressure within the chamber to follow a cylinder pressure by mechanically coupling the cylinder pressure into the chamber; and energizing an injector coil with electric current that pulls a solenoid assembly in an upward direction opening the injector valve, further motion of the solenoid assembly drawing the piston upward, wherein liquid in the chamber is compressed by the piston to a higher pressure than the cylinder pressure, which has the effect of injecting an electronically controlled stream of liquid out of the chamber through the injection orifice. |
| US09404458B2 |
Fuel injection valve damping insulator
A fuel injection valve damping insulator damps vibration produced in a fuel injection valve (11). A damping insulator (30) is interposed between a shoulder portion (18) of a cylinder head and a tapered surface (24) of the fuel injection valve (11) that faces the shoulder portion. The damping insulator (30) includes an annular tolerance ring (33) that abuts against the tapered surface (24), and an elastic member (36) that is arranged between the tolerance ring (33) and the shoulder portion (18). An annular coil spring (34) and a sleeve (35) are each embedded juxtaposed in the elastic member (36). A height (H2) of the sleeve (35) is formed lower than an outer diameter (H1) of individual small ring portions that form a helix of the coil spring (34), and at least one of a tolerance ring (33) side and a shoulder portion (18) side of the sleeve (35) is buried in the elastic member (36). |
| US09404456B2 |
Fuel injection valve
One passage for swirling is formed in an orifice plate fixed on a nozzle body. Two swirl chambers in which fuel is caused to swirl so that the fuel has swirling force are provided at an end of the one passage for swirling on the downstream side of the flow direction of fuel. Therefore, the collision between the swirling flow in the swirl chamber and the fuel flowing in the passage for swirling is mitigated, and the swirling flow can be smoothly produced to promote pulverization of sprays injected from fuel injection ports. |
| US09404453B2 |
Systems and methods for multiple aspirators for a constant pump rate
Methods and systems are provided for a parallel arrangement of at least two valved aspirators, with a high pressure source such as an intake throttle inlet coupled to a motive inlet of the arrangement and a low pressure sink such as an intake throttle outlet coupled to a mixed flow outlet of the arrangement. Intake throttle position and respective valves arranged in series with each aspirator of the arrangement are controlled based on intake manifold pressure and/or a desired engine air flow rate, for example such that a combined motive flow rate through the arrangement increases as intake manifold pressure increases. An intake throttle with a fully closed default position may be used in conjunction with the arrangement; during a fault condition where the intake throttle is fully closed, the valves of the arrangement may be controlled to achieve a controllable engine air flow rate during the fault condition. |
| US09404452B2 |
Combustion engine powered working machine
A portable, hand-held, combustion engine powered working machine, e.g. a power cutter, chain saw or trimmer, comprising: a tool unit including a working tool; a machine unit (104) including an internal combustion engine (204) with a crankshaft (304); an assembly for supplying cleaned air and fuel to the engine, having an upstream air inlet; a fan housing (404) located in an outer end of said tool unit and having an air inlet for ambient air; a fan wheel (302) arranged in the fan housing (404); the fan wheel (302) driven by the crankshaft (304) to supply cooling air, sucked in through the air inlet to cool the engine (204); a combustion air duct (406) having a combustion air intake opening (408) located radially outside of the fan wheel (302) leads the combustion air to the assembly for supplying cleaned air and fuel to the engine via a possible air filter (402). Special shielding elements (410, 412, 414) are used to steer away air and especially particles in the air from said combustion air intake opening (408) to provide a strong cleaning effect of the combustion air in said combustion air duct (406). |
| US09404449B2 |
Apparatus for treating a mixture of fossil fuel and water prior to combustion in combustion engines
An apparatus for treating a mixture of fossil fuel and water includes a treatment unit for treating the mixture and including an inlet for the mixture, an outlet for discharging a treated mixture of fossil fuel and water, and an assembly of tubes of a non-magnetic material, the tubes having a circular cross-section, and the assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the tubes have different diameters, have substantially equal lengths, are arranged in length alignment, and are arranged concentrically with the tubes defining intermediary spaces, thus providing flow paths for the mixture between the inlet to the outlet, an innermost and outermost tube being electrically connected to an electrical current generator, for supplying a pulsed current with the innermost tube connected to a positive pole and the outermost tube connected to a negative pole to expose the mixture flowing through the intermediary spaces to an electromagnetic field. |
| US09404448B2 |
Systems and methods for an engine
Methods and systems for an engine are provided. In one example, a system for an engine comprises an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas is configured to flow from the engine, a turbocharger with a turbine positioned in the exhaust passage, an exhaust gas treatment system disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of the turbine and including at least one exhaust gas treatment device and a bypass with a bypass valve, the bypass valve configured to be adjusted to reduce exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas treatment system in response to a transient engine operating condition, and an exhaust gas recirculation system coupled between the exhaust passage and an intake passage of the engine, the exhaust gas recirculation system including an exhaust gas recirculation passage and at least one exhaust gas recirculation valve, an inlet of the exhaust gas recirculation system positioned upstream of the exhaust gas treatment system. |
| US09404442B2 |
Fuel bowl for carburetor system and associated methods
A fuel bowl for a carburetor system may include a fuel container and a fuel flow assembly that is removeably couplable thereto. The fuel container may include a base, a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, a rear wall extending upwardly from the base, a top overlying the pair of sidewalls and the rear wall, and a cavity defined by the pair of sidewalls and the rear wall. The fuel flow assembly may include a base, a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base, a rear wall extending upwardly from the base, and a top overlying the pair of sidewalls and the rear wall. |
| US09404439B2 |
Piston with cooling gallery and cooling gallery fins
A piston may include a piston crown including radially inner and outer crown mating surfaces, the crown defining at least in part a cooling gallery extending about a periphery of the crown. The piston may include a piston skirt including a pair of oppositely disposed pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a piston pin bore. The piston skirt may have a radially inner skirt mating surface cooperating along a radially inner interface region with the radially inner crown mating surface, and a radially outer skirt mating surface cooperating along a radially outer interface region with the radially outer crown mating surface such that the cooling gallery is substantially enclosed. The piston may include at least one cooling fin extending from an interior surface of the cooling gallery. |
| US09404437B2 |
Engine control apparatus performing automatic engine restart for ensuring brake booster assistance after automatic engine stop
On a vehicle equipped with a vacuum-assist type of brake booster utilizing the intake air pressure of the vehicle engine, an engine control apparatus automatically stops the engine under certain conditions and subsequently automatically restarts the engine if it is determined that the brake booster pressure has fallen below a predetermined value. The engine control apparatus also effects such automatic restarting if a predetermined maximum time interval has elapsed since the automatic engine stop occurred. This ensures that even when the booster pressure value cannot be reliably obtained after an automatic engine stop has occurred, the engine will be restarted before the booster pressure falls excessively. |
| US09404435B2 |
Methods and systems for adjusting fuel injector operation
Systems and methods for improving fuel injection of an engine that includes a cylinder receiving fuel from two different fuel injectors is disclosed. In one example, a transfer function or gain of a direct fuel injector is adjusted in response to an exhaust lambda value and a fraction of fuel supplied to a cylinder during a cylinder cycle. |
| US09404433B2 |
Control device equipped with multiple grounds
A control device is provided that can obtain high precision sensor outputs by way of a simple configuration without providing additional components. A control device 1 includes: an internal ground 24 and a power circuit 22, in which the internal ground 24 is divided into a high-power internal ground 241 provided inside of a housing 3 on a side of connection part 324, and a low-power internal ground 242 provided inside of the housing 3 at a position having an electrical distance from the connection part 324 that is farther than the ground 241. The ground of the control target 8 and the circuit 22 are connected to the ground 242, the ground of the sensor 6 is connected to a mounting part 325 having an electrical distance from the connection part 324 that is farther than the ground 241. |
| US09404428B1 |
Variable-expansion-ratio engine
An internal-combustion engine achieves much higher thermodynamic cycle efficiency than it is possible to achieve in other engines of the same type. It achieves this by operating with a much higher expansion ratio, without an increase in effective compression ratio. The engine geometric compression ratio is considerably larger than it is in conventional engines of the same type. It operates unthrottled most of the time, and the control of the volume of the intake air retained in the cylinder is performed by varying the timing of the intake valve closure. Ignition timing is after the top-dead-center most of the time. Suitable coordination of ignition timing control with intake valve timing control insures that the peak combustion pressure and temperature remain within acceptable limits. |
| US09404420B2 |
Device for recovering lubricating oil from an epicyclic reduction gear
An epicyclic reduction gear, including a planetary gear movable in rotation about an axis of rotation, planet pinions driven by the planetary gear and movable in rotation about axes of planet gears carried by a planet carrier, the planet pinions rolling on a fixed ring gear and the planet carrier being axially positioned laterally relative to the ring gear, the gear formed by the planet pinions and the ring gear being formed to axially eject lubricating oil thereof after use. The planet carrier includes a radial extension positioned facing the gear and forming a mechanism for guiding the oil to a radial end thereof to be ejected from there by centrifugation. |
| US09404417B2 |
Noise attenuation compartment with heat exchanger arrangements for engines driving a load
Systems, methods and apparatus for noise attenuation of a generator set are disclosed. The generator set includes an internal combustion engine enclosed within a compartment that substantially isolates the internal combustion from ambient air and a load connected to the internal combustion engine. A heat exchanger is disposed within or coupled to the compartment and is operable to cool air in the compartment without directly exchanging ambient air with compartment air. |
| US09404413B2 |
Internal combustion machine, water craft, and method for operating the power supply system of a ship using an internal combustion engine
The invention relates to an internal combustion machine (10), comprising a combustion engine (1) having an exhaust gas side (AGS) and a charging fluid side (LLS), and having a supercharger system (14) comprising an exhaust gas turbo charger (40) for charging the combustion engine (1), having a condenser array (41) on the charging fluid side (LLS) and a turbine arrangement (42) on the exhaust gas side (AGS), a compressor (3), the primary side (I) of which is connected to the charging fluid side (LLS), and the secondary side (II) of which is connected to the exhaust gas side (AGS). An electric machine (4) configured as a motor/generator is coupled to the combustion engine (1), wherein the electric machine (4) as a generator can be powered by the combustion engine (1), or can power the combustion engine (1) as a motor, wherein the compressor (3) can be powered directly by the electric machine (4) via a mechanical drive coupling (13). |
| US09404411B2 |
Turbocharger system having an air-cooled solenoid valve
A turbocharger system is provided. The turbocharger system includes a turbine positioned downstream of a combustion chamber and a turbine bypass conduit in fluidic communication with a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet. The turbocharger system further includes a wastegate positioned in the turbine bypass conduit, a wastegate actuator coupled to the wastegate adjusting a position of the wastegate, and an air-cooled solenoid valve coupled to wastegate actuator adjusting a position of the wastegate actuator, the air-cooled solenoid valve receiving cooling airflow from an intake conduit positioned upstream of a compressor mechanically coupled to the turbine. |
| US09404410B2 |
Controller for engine cooling system
An internal combustion engine has a cylinder-head-passage through which an engine coolant flows toward a water jacket when a water pump is operated. The water pump is an electric water pump utilizing the electric power charged in the battery. A radiator is provided in the cylinder-head-passage. Even after the engine is shut off, the water pump is kept driven. |
| US09404409B2 |
Exhaust throttling for cabin heating
Embodiments for heating a vehicle cabin are disclosed. In one example, a method for heating a vehicle cabin comprises closing an exhaust throttle while diverting at least a portion of throttled exhaust gas through an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler coupled upstream of the throttle, and transferring heat from the EGR cooler to a heater core configured to provide heat to the vehicle cabin. In this way, exhaust heat may be directly routed to the cabin heating system. |
| US09404407B2 |
Method and system for pre-ignition control
Methods and systems are provided for addressing pre-ignition occurring while operating with blow-though air delivery. A variable cam timing device used to provide positive intake to exhaust valve overlap is adjusted in response to an indication of pre-ignition to transiently reduce valve overlap. Pre-ignition mitigating load limiting and enrichment applied during a blow-through mode is adjusted differently from those applied when blow-through air is not being delivered. |
| US09404402B2 |
Efficient vehicle component heating
Methods for achieving efficient vehicle component heating are provided. One example method for controlling the warming of powertrain lubricants during engine warm-up from a cold start, the engine having an output crankshaft, includes selectively driving a lubricant heating device with the crankshaft during the cold start based on lubricant temperature. The method further includes directing the powertrain lubricants to the lubricant heating device. |
| US09404401B2 |
Method for operating a forced-induction internal combustion engine with variable compression
In a method for operating a forced-induction internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with variable compression, provision is made that the variable compression is pilot-controlled in such a way that a selected compression is established as a function of combustion efficiency and of the mechanical stress on components of the internal combustion engine, such that elevated compression is provided in the naturally aspirated range and/or decreased compression is provided in the forced-induction range. The variable compression is generated by phase shifting of a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, or by cam switching by way of a variable valve train. |
| US09404400B2 |
Cylinder head with valve seat and method for the production thereof
Cylinder head made of cast iron has valve seats provided therein. The valve seats include an annular bore provided in the cast-iron material, a nickel-based intermediate layer which is provided thereon and a contact layer which is provided on said intermediate layer. The contact layer has an air-hardening tool steel, wherein said layers are provided in such a manner that an annularly acting compressive stress is present near the free surface of said contact layer. The invention further includes a method for the production thereof. |
| US09404394B2 |
High efficiency power generation system and system upgrades
A thermal/electrical power converter includes a gas turbine with an input couplable to an output of an inert gas thermal power source, a compressor including an output couplable to an input of the inert gas thermal power source, and a generator coupled to the gas turbine. The thermal/electrical power converter also includes a heat exchanger with an input coupled to an output of the gas turbine and an output coupled to an input of the compressor. The heat exchanger includes a series-coupled super-heater heat exchanger, a boiler heat exchanger and a water preheater heat exchanger. The thermal/electrical power converter also includes a reservoir tank and reservoir tank control valves configured to regulate a power output of the thermal/electrical power converter. |
| US09404390B2 |
Device for installing and removing a component on or in a stationary gas turbine and method for installing and removing a component of a stationary gas turbine
A device for installing and removing a component, preferably a burner or a transition pipe of a gas turbine, on or in a stationary gas turbine, is provided. The device includes a rail system having a frame carriage that can be moved along the rail system, on which frame carriage an insertion unit having a carrier unit for the component that can be moved along a movement axis is arranged. In order to specify an especially space-saving and especially rigid design, by means of which components of a gas turbine can be installed and removed relatively simply and quickly, the rail system is designed as a two-track rail system and the movement axis extends between the two rails transversely to an area that extends between the rails. |
| US09404389B2 |
Passive cooling system for control valve actuators within a negative pressure turbine enclosure using ambient cooling air
The present application provides a passive control valve actuator cooling system to provide a flow of cooling air to a control valve actuator used with a gas turbine engine. The passive control valve actuator cooling system may include a turbine enclosure with a negative pressure therein, a radiation shield with a number of radiation shield outlets and the control valve actuator positioned therein, and a cooling air line extending from outside of the turbine enclosure to the radiation shield such that the negative pressure within the turbine enclosure pulls the flow of cooling air into and through the radiation shield so as to cool the control valve actuator. |
| US09404388B2 |
Article and method for forming an article
An article and a method for forming the article are disclosed. The article comprising a composition, wherein the composition comprises, by weight percent, about 13.7% to about 14.3% chromium (Cr), about 9.0% to about 10.0% cobalt (Co), about 3.5% to about 3.9% aluminum (Al), about 3.4% to about 3.8% titanium (Ti), about 4.0% to about 4.4% tungsten (W), about 1.4% to about 1.7% molybdenum (Mo), about 1.55% to about 1.75% niobium (Nb), about 0.08% to about 0.12% carbon (C), about 0.005% to about 0.040% zirconium (Zr), about 0.010% to about 0.014% boron (B), and balance nickel (Ni) and incidental impurities. The composition is substantially free of tantalum (Ta) and includes a microstructure substantially devoid of Eta phase. |
| US09404384B2 |
Gas turbine engine synchronizing ring with multi-axis joint
An assembly includes a synchronizing ring, a vane arm, and a multi-axis joint. The multi-axis joint connects the synchronizing ring to the vane arm and provides the vane arm with movement about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis. |
| US09404376B2 |
Sealing component for reducing secondary airflow in a turbine system
A sealing component for reducing secondary airflow in a turbine system includes a first end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a first land on a first rotor disk and a first turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the first rotor disk. Also included is a second end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a second land on a second rotor disk and a second turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the second rotor disk. Further included is a main body portion extending axially from the first end segment to the second end segment. |
| US09404372B2 |
Pt-Al-Hf/Zr coating and method
A Pt—Al—Hf/Zr aluminide coating that can be used as a bond coat for TBC and improve TBC spallation life in service at elevated temperatures is provided. The aluminide coating can include a metastable ternary or higher X—Pt/Pd—Ni phase where the phase and other elements in the alloy system are present in a NiAl β phase of the coating. The metastable phase can be present and observable in the as-deposited condition of the bond coating; e.g. in an as-CVD deposited condition of the bond coating. |
| US09404368B2 |
Blade cascade and turbomachine
A blade cascade for a turbomachine having a plurality of blades arranged next to one another in the peripheral direction, at least two blades having a variation for generating an asymmetric outflow in the rear area, as well as a turbomachine having an asymmetric blade cascade, which is connected upstream from another blade cascade, are disclosed. |
| US09404367B2 |
Gas turbine engine compressor rotor assembly and balancing system
A method for balancing a compressor rotor assembly including a forward weldment (211) and an aft weldment (212) includes pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) of the compressor rotor assembly (210) with compressor disks (220) prior to populating the compressor disks (220) with circumferentially installed compressor rotor blades (230). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) includes measuring a rotational balance of the aft weldment (212). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) also includes determining a number of underplatform weights (260) needed and a location for each underplatform weight (260) within a circumferential slot (236) of one the compressor disks (220). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) further includes mounting each underplatform weight (260) in the determined location. |
| US09404362B2 |
Material characteristic estimation using internal reflectance spectroscopy
An apparatus for measuring fluid characteristics includes: a solid transparent body including a plurality of internally reflective surfaces defining a n-sided base having a polygonal shape and having at least three sides, each reflective surface forming a side of the polygonal shape, the plurality of surfaces configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation beam along a path within the solid transparent body from an entry area to an exit area on the solid transparent body; an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the entry area on the solid transparent body; and a detector coupled to the exit area on the solid transparent body and configured to receive at least a fraction of the reflected electromagnetic radiation beam, the detector configured to generate a signal based on the received electromagnetic radiation beam and transmit the signal to a processor for at least one of analysis of material characteristics and data storage. |
| US09404357B2 |
Shock tolerant heat dissipating electronics package
An electronics package of substantially monolithic configuration. The package is particularly adept at enhancing heat dissipation and avoiding secondary shock when placed in harsh application environments. Thus, the package may be particularly well suited for use in conjunction with high shock producing downhole application environments such as bridge plug setting. |
| US09404351B2 |
Apparatus for downhole water production control in an oil well
This invention relates to controlling production fluids downhole in an oil well. More specifically, this invention relates to control of water and pressure downhole. Provided are apparatus for controlling production fluids and pressures and methods of using the apparatus to control production fluids and pressures. |
| US09404349B2 |
Autonomous fluid control system having a fluid diode
Apparatus and methods for autonomously controlling fluid flow in a subterranean well are presented, and in particular for providing a fluid diode to create a relatively high resistance to fluid flow in one direction and a relatively low resistance to fluid flowing in the opposite direction. The diode is positioned in a fluid passageway and has opposing high resistance and low resistance entries. In one embodiment, the high resistance entry has a concave, annular surface surrounding an orifice and the low resistance entry has a substantially conical surface. The concave, annular surface of the high resistance entry preferably extends longitudinally beyond the plane of the orifice. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid will flow in eddies adjacent the concave, annular surface. |
| US09404345B2 |
Subsea sour gas and/or acid gas injection systems and methods
A hydrocarbon processing method, including processing a gaseous hydrocarbon stream to form a first production stream and a first injection stream; and compressing the first injection stream in a compressor placed at a selected location below a surface of a sea; wherein the location of the subsea compressor relative to a nearest inhabited area is determined based on a bubble plume trajectory of a model leak of the first injection stream from the compressor; and wherein the bubble plume trajectory is determined using one or more crossflow momentum parameters is disclosed herein. Also disclosed are hydrocarbon processing facilities having subsea compressors placed at such selected locations, processes for designing such hydrocarbon processing facilities, and a mathematical model useful in such methods, processes, and facilities. |
| US09404341B2 |
Release tool for a drill string inside blowout preventer
Inside blowout preventer release tool body having a one-piece planar upper section and a one-piece tubular lower section. In one embodiment, the upper section includes a pair of longitudinal members defining a central open region, the longitudinal members joined at one end having a formed lifting feature configured to accept a manipulator cable or chain. The lifting feature is positioned such that when the release tool body and an inside blowout preventer connected thereto are lifted by the rig hoist using cables, chains, and the like, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe while minimizing possibility of slipping off the cables or chains. The lower section includes a threaded end mating with a mating end of an inside blowout preventer, a central longitudinal bore to accept a release rod, and an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section. In one embodiment, elongate slots in each longitudinal member define one or more manipulating handles for a rig worker, machine, or tool. In other embodiments a pair of generally horizontal hand holds are defined in each longitudinal member. |
| US09404331B2 |
Extended duration section mill and methods of use
A section mill for removing a portion of a casing in a wellbore. The section mill may include a body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bore formed axially therethrough. A plurality of blades may be coupled to the body. Each of the blades may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of each blade may be coupled to the body via a hinge pin, and the second end portion of each blade may have a cutting surface formed thereon. A seat may be formed within the bore. The blades may be adapted to actuate from an inactive position to an active position in response to an impediment forming a seal against the seat. |
| US09404330B2 |
Method and apparatus for a well employing the use of an activation ball
A system includes a tubular string and a hollow ball. The tubular string is adapted to be deployed downhole in a well and includes a seat. An activation ball adapted to be deployed in the well to lodge in the seat. The ball includes an outer shell that forms a spherical surface. The outer shell forms an enclosed volume therein, and the outer shell is formed from a metallic material. |
| US09404325B2 |
Drill bit driver
The present invention is a drill bit driver including a lower spring support connected at a lower end to a base and including an outer surface, as well as an upper spring support slideably and telescopically mounted over the outer surface e of the lower spring support. The drill bit driver allows for resiliently biasing the upper spring support relative to the lower spring support. The present invention further includes a table rotably connected to the upper end of the upper spring support, so that the table rotates about a longitudinal axis, for receiving a drill bit. This drill bit driver also allows for tilting the table relative to the horizontal. |
| US09404322B2 |
Electronic control system for a tubular handling tool
An electronic control system comprises a first tubular handling tool, a sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to control actuation of the first tubular handling tool in response to an electronic signal received from the sensor that corresponds to an operational characteristic of the first tubular handling tool. The electronic control system functions as an electronic interlock system to prevent mishandling of a tubular. A method of controlling a tubular handling tool comprises measuring an operational characteristic of the tubular handling tool, communicating the operational characteristic to a controller in the form of an electronic signal, and using the controller to control actuation of the tubular handling tool in response to the measured operational characteristic. |
| US09404319B2 |
Wellsite cable support assembly and method of using same
A cable support, cable support assembly, and method of supporting a cable is disclosed. The cable support includes a body having a base portion and a ball portion with a cable channel to receive a cable therethrough. The body includes a plurality of axial segments movable between an open position to access the cable channel and a closed position to enclose the cable in the channel. The base portion has a cavity to receive the ball portion of another cable support whereby the cable is flexibly supported. |
| US09404318B2 |
Top drive counter moment system
Present embodiments are directed to a top drive system comprising a hoisting assembly having an upper link, a lower link, and a first joint coupling the upper link and the lower link. The top drive system also includes a main body coupled to the hoisting assembly by a second joint, wherein the hoisting assembly is configured to support the main body, and the main body is configured to support a tubular. Further, the top drive system includes a frame coupled to the main body and a counter moment system configured to apply a force on the first joint to create a bending moment about the second joint. |
| US09404311B2 |
Fiber-containing diamond-impregnated cutting tools and methods of forming and using same
Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion. |
| US09404302B2 |
Systems and methods for unlocking/locking and opening/closing windows
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for unlocking, opening, closing and locking a vent sash. The system may include a base configured to attach to one or more of a vent stop and a window frame. The system may include a lever pivotably or slidably attached to the base. The lever may be configured to pivotably attach to a locking mechanism interface of the vent sash. The lever may be configured to pivot substantially ninety degrees in a first direction to an unlocked position. The lever may be configured to pivot substantially ninety degrees in a second direction to an opened position. The lever may be configured to pivot substantially ninety degrees in a third direction to a closed position. The lever may be configured to pivot substantially ninety degrees in a fourth direction to a locked position. |
| US09404301B2 |
Tilt-up door
A tilt-up door for a building having an opening and a pair of substantially vertically juxtaposed channel members. The door can be pivotally coupled to carriages arranged for vertical movement along the vertically juxtaposed members. An actuator or actuators can be connected to the carriages to move the carriages along the vertically juxtaposed channel members. When the actuator or actuators are operated to move the carriages vertically along the vertically juxtaposed channel members. |
| US09404293B2 |
Vehicle door handle device
This door handle device is provided with: a handle base; an introduction opening that is opened in a door handle and that supports the handle base; an operation handle that is connected to the handle base; and a gasket that is disposed between the handle base and the operation handle. A handle stopper, of which one end passes through the introduction aperture and is borne by the handle base, and of which the other end contacts the operation handle, is integrally provided to the gasket. |
| US09404291B1 |
Device and method for an alarming strap tag
A security device may include a rotatable cap and an engagement member. The cap may be graspable by an operator during attachment of the security device to at least a first strap extending substantially around a portion of an object. The engagement member may be configured to engage the first strap. The engagement member may also be substantially fixed in relation to the cap during the attachment of the security device to the first strap and the engagement member may be rotatable with the cap. The security device may be transitioned to a locked state responsive to rotational engagement of the engagement member with the first strap. The rotational engagement of the engagement member with the first strap may also increase tension on the first strap. |
| US09404290B2 |
Securable article display
A securable article display having a main base fixedly mounted upon a support and a first elongate hanger projecting therefrom. A blocking system has a U-shaped component with a base portion and spaced first and second legs. The U-shaped component is movable relative to the main base between: a) a first position wherein a portion of the first elongate hanger resides between the first and second legs to prevent separation of an article; and b) a second position wherein an article can be separated. The portion of the first elongate hanger moves through a slot as the U-shaped component is changed between the first and second positions. A locking system includes a blocking assembly that is changeable between: a) a locked state wherein the blocking assembly blocks the slot with the U-shaped component in its first position; and b) an unlocked state wherein the portion of the first elongate hanger is allowed to move through the slot. |
| US09404288B2 |
Window opening control device for horizontal and vertical sliding windows
A sash limiter assembly includes a limiter housing configured for installation in a sash or a window frame of a window. A sash stop is movably coupled with the limiter housing, and the sash stop is movable between engaging and retained positions. A reset is movably coupled with the limiter housing, and the reset is movable into a resetting position. The sash limiter assembly is configured for positioning between a sash limiting configuration and a resetting configuration. In the sash limiting configuration the sash stop is in the engaging position and positioned in a translation path of the sash. In the resetting configuration the sash stop is held in the retained position by the reset in the resetting position. In the retained position the sash stop is out of alignment with the translation path, and in the resetting position the reset is positioned within the translation path. |
| US09404286B2 |
Key trapping device, system, and method of use thereof
Devices, methods, and systems for providing physical retention of a key or keys, such one or more vehicle keys or keys to a safe, and for providing an input feature, such as a breath or blood analysis device, and other features to prevent access to the keys until a suitable input is provided. For example, each key may be physically retained and prevented from being used until a breath, blood, or other sample input has been received that indicates a blood alcohol level is below a pre-determined limit, such as a legal limit for driving a vehicle. Various features then allow release of the key upon the legal limit being met. |
| US09404283B1 |
Fence structure
A fence structure includes a plurality of vertical pickets, at least one connecting strip, a plurality of pivot members, and at least one transverse railing. One end of the pivot member is provided with a stop portion whose outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the pivot hole of the vertical picket. The stop portion may limit the pivot member and prevent the pivot member from slipping axially after passing through the connecting strip and the vertical picket. By the aforesaid arrangement, the pivot member not only allows the angle of the transverse railing and the connecting strip to be adjustable according to needs, but also prevents the connecting strip and the vertical pickets from slipping or disconnecting resulting when being exerted by a pulling or pushing force. |
| US09404278B2 |
Container access control system
A portable container is provided which comprises a passing room(s) allowing entry into a second area into a first area, the passing room having at least two openings with a walkway in-between. Barrier device(s) can be located in the walkway but not connected to the first or second opening. A control room(s) can also be provided, the control room being connected to the passing room(s). |
| US09404274B2 |
Pool stair forms and methods of forming stairs
The disclosure provides for pool step forms and related methods for forming steps in a pool formed by wall panels. The step forms may include a wall panel insert configured for insertion between adjacent pool wall panels. The step forms may include one or more step form brace configured to couple with the wall panel insert and, thereby, the wall panels. The step forms may include riser forms that from riser portions of the stairs when the step forms and riser forms are coupled. The pool stair forms may be filled with filling material to form tread portions of the stairs. The pool stair forms may include liner support members coupled to the step form braces and/or the wall panels that facilitate the coupling of a liner to the stairs formed by the pool stair forms and filling material. |
| US09404268B2 |
Thermoplastic flashing laminate
A flashing laminate includes a non-reinforced thermoplastic sheet having a bottom surface, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge. The flashing laminate also includes an adhesive layer on a longitudinally extending portion of the bottom surface adjacent to one of the longitudinal edges. In one or more embodiments, the laminate also includes a release liner positioned over the adhesive tape. |
| US09404259B2 |
Polymer rubber composite shingles with high solar reflectance
The present invention provides shaped articles comprising one or more composite layer of (i) a vulcanizate encapsulated in a colored or uncolored thermoplastic polymer matrix containing one or more passivating agent, and (ii) a reflective material chosen from colored fluidizable particles of a thermoplastic reflective colorant encapsulated vulcanizate, roofing granules, thermoplastic encapsulated roofing granules, the colored thermoplastic polymer matrix, and combinations thereof. The articles can be laminates of colored or reflective layers on uncolored or other layers, or one or more colored layer having colored fluidizable particles are dispersed within the surface of the uppermost composite layer or having either the colored fluidizable particles or the granules are dispersed on the surface of the composite layer or are adhered thereto with a thermoplastic resin. Roofing shingles are provided. |
| US09404257B2 |
Truss and wall stabilizer
An apparatus for spacing and stabilizing truss members is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated channel member having a middle portion, a first arm portion, and a second arm portion. The first arm portion and second arm portion extend outwardly from the middle portion. A plurality of U-shaped clamp members may be disposed along the length of the elongated channel member. At least one U-shaped clamp member can be attached to a central truss member providing a centered layout for spacing a first truss member in relation to a second truss member. A hinge member may pivotally attach the middle portion of the elongated channel member to the second arm portion, allowing the second arm portion to swing onto an additional third truss member. |
| US09404256B2 |
Stowage and deployment of slit tube booms
A system comprising a boom having a first end, a longitudinal length, and a slit that extends along the longitudinal length of the boom; a drum having an elliptic cross section and a longitudinal length; an attachment mechanism coupled with the first end of the boom and the drum such that the boom and the drum are substantially perpendicular relative to one another; an inner shaft having a longitudinal length, the inner shaft disposed within the drum, the longitudinal length of the inner shaft is aligned substantially parallel with the longitudinal length of the drum, the inner shaft at least partially rotatable relative to the drum, and the inner shaft is at least partially rotatable with the drum; and at least two cords coupled with the inner shaft and portions of the boom near the first end of the boom. |
| US09404254B2 |
Post-tension concrete leave out splicing system and method
Devices, systems, and methods for constructing post-tensioned concrete slabs in a new floor construction that has a reduced gap distance between the slabs. The devices, systems, and methods can improve project construction time by reducing the time delay in accessing the floor underneath the slabs due to safety and/or weather conditions. |
| US09404252B2 |
Tunable acoustic panel
A tunable acoustic panel that functions as an acoustic diffuser and absorber is disclosed. The acoustic properties of the tunable acoustic panel can be quickly and conveniently modified by moving a handle. The tunable acoustic panel is wall-mountable for use as an acoustical room treatment to selectively vary the acoustical response of a room or performance space. |
| US09404251B2 |
Method for providing a fire safe penetration in building element
The invention relates to a method for providing a fire safe penetration in a building element, especially in a ceiling, floor or in a lightweight wall comprising a framework of profile elements and at least one outer covering being fixed to said profile elements. For providing a fire safe penetration in a building element, for example a lightweight building wall, in such a manner that the building element or insert can be easily manufactured and installed while guaranteeing the high requirements of flame and smoke resistance of such a building element or the insert, the invention proposes the following consecutive steps: arranging an insert between the profile elements at a location for a pipe or conduit penetration in a way that the insert is arranged adjacently to the outer covering and is at least partly covered by the outer covering; providing an opening in the outer covering and the insert for a pipe or conduit; arranging the pipe or conduit through the outer covering and the insert and securing fire and/or smoke tightness between the pipe or conduit and the insert and/or outer covering. |
| US09404250B2 |
Combination of a connector for glass elements and such glass elements
A combination of a connector for glass elements and such glass elements to provide a loadbearing glass construction that comprises at least one glass post and at least one glass beam that are arranged adjacent to each other, wherein the connector is arranged to provide a rotationally fixed connection between the post and the beam. |
| US09404244B1 |
Fluid control apparatus, systems and methods
Apparatuses manage the flow of fluids, such as, for example, water, through pipes. Specifically, the apparatuses of the present invention creates a backward pressure in fluid traversing a pipe, wherein the backward pressure within the pipe provides compression to the fluid effectively compressing entrapped gas bubbles within the fluid, allowing more accurate water meter measurements and helps reduce or eliminate the failure to detect and record low fluid flow in water meters. Moreover, the apparatuses of the present invention provide backflow prevention. Systems and methods for managing fluids are further provided. |
| US09404239B2 |
Sub-bin refinement for autonomous machines
A computer-implemented method for determining a cut location for a machine implement is provided. The method may include comparing a target cut volume to a projected cut volume associated with each boundary of a selected bin, designating the cut location as the boundary most closely approximating the target cut volume if both of the projected cut volumes at the boundaries are either greater than or less than the target cut volume, and designating the cut location as an average of the boundaries if the projected cut volumes at the boundaries are greater than and less than the target cut volume. |
| US09404238B1 |
Construction machine
A construction machine comprising an undercarriage designed as a running gear and an upper carriage with a housing having side walls, wherein for access to the housing at least one housing opening with an access wall is provided, which is adjustable into an open position, and in an area in front of the housing opening a horizontal gangway is formed. At least one pull-out element is provided which can be pulled out horizontally between a retracted position and a pulled out position, in which the pull-out element projects horizontally from the housing, and in order to form the gangway a base plate is provided on the pull-out element. |
| US09404237B2 |
Operator assist algorithm for an earth moving machine
A system and method are provided for assisting a machine operator in controlling a work tool of the machine. In an embodiment, the work tool is set at a first height and the machine is travelling at a first machine speed, resulting in a first work tool or machine load. Based on these factors, a first work tool control mode or second work tool control mode is chosen. In the first work tool control mode, the work tool is manually controlled within a load limit and a work tool height limit, whereas in the second work tool control mode, the work tool load is controlled toward the first work tool load. Based on operator inputs and machine state, as well as other factors such as ground surface, the machine may switch between control modes, or out of automatic work tool control entirely. |
| US09404234B2 |
Building block system
A building system includes a foundation block and a wall block. Each block has opposing first and second main surfaces, a first top end and an opposing second bottom end, and opposing first and second side surfaces extending between the first and second main surfaces and between the top and bottom ends. Portions of the first and second main surfaces of the foundation block proximate the top end thereof taper axially inwardly toward each other and toward an interior of the block to form a pair of inwardly tapered surfaces. The bottom end of the wall block includes a pair of outwardly tapered surfaces which extend axially outwardly away from each other and toward an exterior of the wall block. The pair of outwardly tapered surfaces of the wall block engage the pair of inwardly tapered surfaces of the foundation block in an assembled configuration to form a first vertical stack member. |
| US09404232B2 |
Apparatus and method for channelling groundwater
Embodiments described herein are related to water management units for extracting water from moist soil. The units extract water and collect it to be siphoned away as waste water or for later use. A water management unit comprising: an elongate collection portion; and an extraction portion arranged to discharge extracted water into the collection portion, wherein the extraction portion comprises at least one rib extending laterally from the collection portion along a length of the collection portion. Water is collected by capillary action. |
| US09404230B2 |
Modular top shield for support column
A shield is provided on top of a support column that protects liquid or debris from falling onto the support column from the structure above. Additionally, gaskets are provided around the center of the shield to contact components on top of the support column to further provide protection from liquid and debris. The shield is sloped and provides channels to guide liquid or debris and the outer most edge of the shield extends beyond the outer most surface of the support column in the radial direction whether the support column uses a cover or not. The shield may be in a rounded or quadrilateral form and is manufactured in segments to be connected upon installation using a clam shell type design. Mechanical connection schemes including a collar or fastener are provided to secure the shield segments in a connected state. |
| US09404228B1 |
Accessory control system for paving operations machine
A modularly configurable paving operations system includes a modular framework extendible or reducible by the addition or removal of frame inserts. A control system can rotate one or more steerable crawlers via a steering assembly to drive, steer, or reconfigure the system. The control system may also include a tining control system, a grade control system, a spray control system, sensors and sensor arrays, and a user interface. The system may accommodate one or more accessories through an undercarriage mounted to the modular framework, which may further include position and elevation sensors and proximity switches. A height adjuster may be configured to raise or lower accessories to maintain a consistent depth or elevation for transverse or longitudinally oriented texturing. |
| US09404227B2 |
Load-supporting surface with interfacing gap seal members and related apparatus and methods
Apparatus for forming a liquid-tight seal across a gap formed between adjacent, interconnected first and second mats in a load-supporting surface includes first and second liquid impermeable, elongated seal members extending into the gap from the first and second mats, respectively. The seal members abut one another in the gap to form a liquid tight seal therebetween. |
| US09404224B2 |
Soft, absorbent sheets having high absorbency and high caliper, and methods of making soft, absorbent sheets
Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high adjusted planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric, with the contact area ratio and the volume of pockets being calculated on the basis of a non-rectangular, parallelogram unit cell. |
| US09404221B2 |
Compositions that include hydrophobizing agents and stabilizers and methods for making and using same
Compositions that include hydrophobizing agents and stabilizers and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, a composition can include about 40 wt % to about 60 wt % lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof, about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of a hydrophobizing agent, and about 20 wt % to about 59 wt % of a liquid medium, where all weight percents are based on the combined weight of the lignosulfonic acid or salt thereof, the hydrophobizing agent, and the liquid medium. |
| US09404214B2 |
Additive having ultraviolet radiation protection for a laundry detergent
A method for treating a fabric for protection from ultraviolet radiation is disclosed which comprises the steps of dispensing a suspension of zinc oxide particles treated with an acid polymer into a washing machine during a time in which a fabric is being washed in the washing machine and mixing the treated zinc oxide particles and the fabric for the treated zinc oxide particles to bind to the fabric. Other methods for treating a fabric for protection from ultraviolet radiation are also disclosed. |
| US09404210B2 |
Washing machine and washing method
A washing machine and a washing method, comprises an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, and solid particles as a washing medium. The inner cylinder is driven into rotation by a driver unit. A side wall of the inner cylinder is spirally shaped and drives the particles into a spiral movement and flipping within the inner cylinder. When the inner cylinder is spinning, the screw thread drives the particles into flipping in all directions, back-and-forth and up-and-down, within the inner cylinder, thus allowing for increased mixing between clothes and the particles, for simplified washing process while also for improved cleaning rate, and for facilitated recycling of the particles. |
| US09404208B2 |
Mitigation of odor in cleaning machines and cleaning processes
The invention relates to malodor controlling bacteria and related methods and compositions for the control and prevention of malodor. |
| US09404203B2 |
Wrapped yarns for use in ropes having predetermined surface characteristics
A blended yarn comprises a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. A coefficient of friction of the second fibers is greater than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers. Abrasion resistance characteristics of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A gripping ability of the second fibers is greater than a gripping ability of the first fibers. The plurality of second fibers are combined with the plurality of first fibers such that the first fibers extend along the length of the blended yarn and the second fibers do not extend along the length of the blended yarn at least a portion of the second fibers are engaged with and extend from the plurality of first fibers effectively to define surface characteristics of the blended yarn. |
| US09404199B2 |
Polyurethane elastic yarn and method for producing same
ProblemTo provide a polyurethane elastic yarn with excellent elongation, recoverability, and light resistance that is suitable for use in stretchable fabrics and clothing, and to provide a method for manufacture thereof.Resolution MeansInclude a benzotriazole ultraviolet absorber containing one or more unsaturated bond in the molecule when manufacturing elastic yarn made of polyurethane with a polymeric diol and diisocyanate as starting material. |
| US09404198B2 |
Processes and apparatuses for manufacturing wafers
The process for manufacturing wafers includes the steps of mounting an ingot as a work piece in a manner that permits rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation and rotating the ingot about its longitudinal axis of rotation to permit a microwave device that generates an energized beam to penetrate an outer surface layer thereof. Furthermore, the process includes exfoliating the outer surface layer with the energized beam, removing the exfoliated outer surface layer from the ingot as a continuous planar strip and cutting the continuous planar strip into a wafer. |
| US09404194B2 |
Electroplating apparatus and process for wafer level packaging
An apparatus for continuous simultaneous electroplating of two metals having substantially different standard electrodeposition potentials (e.g., for deposition of Sn—Ag alloys) comprises an anode chamber for containing an anolyte comprising ions of a first, less noble metal, (e.g., tin), but not of a second, more noble, metal (e.g., silver) and an active anode; a cathode chamber for containing catholyte including ions of a first metal (e.g., tin), ions of a second, more noble, metal (e.g., silver), and the substrate; a separation structure positioned between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, where the separation structure substantially prevents transfer of more noble metal from catholyte to the anolyte; and fluidic features and an associated controller coupled to the apparatus and configured to perform continuous electroplating, while maintaining substantially constant concentrations of plating bath components for extended periods of use. |
| US09404193B1 |
Reaction products of guanidine compounds or salts thereof, polyepoxides and polyhalogens
Reaction products of guanidine compounds or salts thereof, polyepoxide compounds and polyhalogen compounds may be used as levelers in metal electroplating baths, such as copper electroplating baths, to provide good throwing power. Such reaction products may plate with good surface properties of the metal deposits and good physical reliability. |
| US09404192B2 |
Highly stable electrolytic water with reduced NMR half line width
Electrolytic acid or alkaline water having a NMR half line width using 17O of from about 45 to less than 51 Hz, and an oxide reduction potential of from −1000 to +200 mV, or from +600 to +1300 mV, topical compositions that contain such water, uses for such water to hydrate skin, deliver drugs and treat various skin and mucosal conditions, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing the water. |
| US09404189B2 |
High temperature carbon dioxide corrosion inhibitor
The present application relates to a high temperature carbon dioxide corrosion inhibitor comprising the following components by mass percent: amide compound 15˜50%, organic alkynol 10˜25%, mercaptan acid 5˜15%, piperidine 5˜25%, mercaptopyridine 5˜15%, and solvent 25˜60%. The corrosion inhibitor has excellent corrosion inhibition for CO2 corrosion of oil field water system at a high temperature (150˜250° C.). |
| US09404188B2 |
Corrosion inhibiting composition
This invention relates to novel corrosion inhibitors which are capable of sequestering metal ions such as calcium and magnesium and are derived in part from renewable carbohydrate feedstocks. The corrosion inhibitors are mixtures containing one or more hydroxycarboxylic acid salts and one or more suitable oxoacid anion salts. |
| US09404187B2 |
Coated steel substrate and method for making the same
Steel substrate suitable for forming operations including a corrosion protective coating, wherein the corrosion protective coating includes a nano-layer of oxide nanoparticles and a polyamide-imide layer on the nano-layer. |
| US09404185B2 |
Process for smoothing the surface of a part made of CMC material
A method of smoothing the surface of a ceramic matrix composite material part that presents a surface that is undulating and rough. The method includes depositing a refractory vitreous coating on the surface of the part, the vitreous coating essentially containing silica, alumina, baryte, and lime. |
| US09404182B2 |
Multi-wafer reactor
A solution for manufacturing semiconductors is provided. An embodiment provides a chemical vapor deposition reactor, which includes a chemical vapor deposition chamber. A substrate holder located in the chemical vapor deposition chamber can be rotated about its own axis at a first angular speed, and a gas injection component located in the chemical vapor deposition chamber can be rotated about an axis of the gas injection component at a second angular speed. The angular speeds are independently selectable and can be configured to cause each point on a surface of a substrate wafer to travel in an epicyclical trajectory within a gas flow injected by the gas injection component. An angle between the substrate holder axis and the gas injection component axis and/or a distance between the substrate holder axis and the gas injection component axis can be controlled variables. |
| US09404180B2 |
Deposition device
The disclosed deposition device for forming a thin film using a starter gas comprising an organic metal compound is provided with: a processing container 22; a mounting platform 28 which has a heater 34 for heating the workpiece W; a gas introduction mechanism 80 which introduces the starter gas toward the area more exterior than the outer peripheral end of the workpiece W on the mounting platform 28; an internal partition wall 90 which is disposed such that the lower end of said processing space contacts the mounting platform 28 to form gas outlets 92 between the lower portion of the space and the edges of the mounting platform 28; and a orifice forming member 96 which extends radially inward toward the mounting platform 28 and forms an orifice 98 communicating with the gas outlet 92. |
| US09404176B2 |
Substrate support with radio frequency (RF) return path
Embodiments of substrate supports having a radio frequency (RF) return path are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a dielectric support body having a support surface to support a substrate thereon and an opposing second surface; a chucking electrode disposed within the support body proximate the support surface; and an RF return path electrode disposed on the second surface of the dielectric support body. In some embodiments, a substrate processing system may include a process chamber having an inner volume; a shield to separate the inner volume into a processing volume and a non-processing volume and extending toward a ceiling of the process chamber; and a substrate support disposed below the shield, wherein the substrate support is as described above. |
| US09404175B2 |
Method of forming a target for deposition of doped dielectric films by sputtering
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a selection is made for a first major constituent, a second major constituent and a minor constituent for forming a desired material. The method can include mixing the first major constituent, the second major constituent and the minor constituent in a single mixing step to provide a mixture of constituents. The method can include drying the mixture of constituents to provide a dried mixture of constituents and calcining the dried mixture of constituents to provide a calcinated mixture of constituents. The method can include processing the calcinated mixture of constituents to provide a powder of constituents. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09404173B2 |
Methods of preparing a surface of a cast zirconium alloy substrate for oxidation
Methods of preparing a surface of a cast zirconium alloy substrate for oxidation, the method including hot isostatic pressing a cast substrate of near shape dimensions, heating the cast substrate, machining the cast substrate to desired shape dimensions, and treating the surface of the cast substrate to accept an oxide layer. in some examples, treating the surface of the cast substrate may include polishing the surface, peening the polished surface, and finishing the peened surface. Additional or alternative examples may include heat treating a cast substrate of near shape dimensions to define a homogenized grain structure within the cast substrate, machining the heat treated cast substrate to desired shape dimensions, and surface treating the machined cast substrate to modify its structure to define a recrystallized modified grain structure defining a reduced grain boundary size. |
| US09404169B2 |
Method for recovering scandium
To efficiently and selectively recover scandium from an acid solution containing calcium, magnesium and scandium. In the present invention, an acid solution containing calcium, magnesium and scandium is brought into contact with a scandium recovering resin impregnated with an amide derivative represented by the following general formula for an hour or more. In the formula, R1 and R2 each represent the same or different alkyl groups. The alkyl group can be a straight chain or a branched chain. R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. R4 represents a hydrogen atom or any group other than an amino group, which is bound to the α carbon as an amino acid. The amide derivative is preferably any one or more of glycinamide derivatives, histidinamide derivatives, lysinamide derivatives and aspartic acid amide derivatives. |
| US09404168B2 |
Cyanide-leaching process
A process for recovering a precious metal from ore includes adding process water containing thiocyanates to ore particles to obtain a pulp. The pulp having a basic pH is contacted with an oxidizing gas containing ozone; and the pulp is contacted with cyanide. Contacting the pulp with cyanide can include adding cyanide subsequently to contacting the pulp with the oxidizing gas containing ozone. |
| US09404162B2 |
Feline probiotic bifidobacteria and methods
According to the invention there is provided a strain of lactic acid bacteria of the genus Bifidobacteria obtainable by isolation from resected and washed feline gastrointestinal tract having a probiotic activity in animals. Methods of use and compositions comprising the Bifidobacteria of the present invention are also provided. |
| US09404161B2 |
Method of detecting and quantifying coccidioides species
The present invention provides methods and kits that may be used to detect and quantify the presence of Coccidioides species. The methods include quantification real-time PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes. |
| US09404157B2 |
Noninvasive diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy by sequencing
Disclosed is a method to achieve digital quantification of DNA (i.e., counting differences between identical sequences) using direct shotgun sequencing followed by mapping to the chromosome of origin and enumeration of fragments per chromosome. The preferred method uses massively parallel sequencing, which can produce tens of millions of short sequence tags in a single run and enabling a sampling that can be statistically evaluated. By counting the number of sequence tags mapped to a predefined window in each chromosome, the over- or under-representation of any chromosome in maternal plasma DNA contributed by an aneuploid fetus can be detected. This method does not require the differentiation of fetal versus maternal DNA. The median count of autosomal values is used as a normalization constant to account for differences in total number of sequence tags is used for comparison between samples and between chromosomes. |
| US09404156B2 |
Varietal counting of nucleic acids for obtaining genomic copy number information
A method for obtaining from genomic material genomic copy number information unaffected by amplification distortion, comprising obtaining segments of the genomic material, tagging the segments with substantially unique tags to generate tagged nucleic acid molecules, such that each tagged nucleic acid molecule comprises one segment of the genomic material and a tag, subjecting the tagged nucleic acid molecules to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, generating tag associated sequence reads by sequencing the product of the PCR reaction, assigning each tagged nucleic acid molecule to a location on a genome associated with the genomic material by mapping the subsequence of each tag associated sequence read corresponding to a segment of the genomic material to a location on the genome, and counting the number of tagged nucleic acid molecules assigned to the same location on the genome having a different tag, thereby obtaining genomic copy number information unaffected by amplification distortion. |
| US09404155B2 |
Alternative nucleic acid sequencing methods
Embodiments are provided that provide for parallel sequencing of nucleic acid segments. In some embodiments, a single sequence is sequenced by at least two different sequencing techniques and the results compared, allowing for deficiencies or strengths of one technique to be complemented by the second technique. |
| US09404154B2 |
Universal tags with non-natural nucleobases
The present invention relates to amplification primers with a universal tag and sequencing primers comprising at least one non-natural nucleobase capable of hybridizing to a complementary non-natural nucleobase. The present invention further relates to amplification methods of nucleic acid amplification and sequencing using an amplification primer with a universal tag and sequencing primers, as well as kits and solid supports comprising such primers and tags. |
| US09404150B2 |
Methods and compositions for universal size-specific PCR
Provided herein are products and processes for the amplification, detection and sequencing of short-stranded nucleic acid in the presence of a high background of long-stranded genomic material (e.g., host or maternal nucleic acids). The methods rely on the use of inside and outside primers introduced at varying concentrations, as well as universal amplification reactions that preferentially amplify short, low copy number nucleic acid. |
| US09404141B2 |
Method for detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in a test sample
A method of detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in a test sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a test mixture that includes organic micro particles in a form that promotes the formation of a microbial biofilm, operative amounts of essential vitamins and elements needed to support growth of the target microbe, and a metabolizable substrate which can be metabolized by the target microbe t the extent needed to support continued reproductive growth thereof, and which cannot be metabolized by other viable microbes in the test sample, whereupon a sensible characteristic of the sample is altered when the substrate is metabolized; b) providing a test sample obtained from a biological, environmental, or food source, and combining the test sample in unprocessed form with the test mixture to form an admixture: and c) detecting the presence or absence of target microbes in the sample based on the presence or absence of the detectable characteristic. The micro particles are in a relative amount within the test mixture that is effective to accelerate the formation of microbial biofilms within the admixture of the test sample and the test mixture. |
| US09404131B2 |
Process for the preparation of ingenol-3-angelate
The invention relates to methods for preparing ingenol-3-angelate from ingenol or ingenol derivatives. |
| US09404124B2 |
Method of producing induced pluripotent stem cells using inhibitors of P53
Provided is a method of producing an iPS cell, comprising bringing (a) Oct3/4 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, (b) Klf4 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, and (c) Sox2 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, as well as (d1) L-Myc or a nucleic acid that encodes the same and/or (d2) a functional inhibitor of p53, into contact with a somatic cell. It is preferable that (a) a nucleic acid that encodes Oct3/4, (b) a nucleic acid that encodes Klf4, (c) a nucleic acid that encodes Sox2, (d1) a nucleic acid that encodes L-Myc and (e) a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28 or Lin28b be inserted into an episomal vector having loxP sequences placed in the same orientation on the 5′ and 3′ sides of a vector constituent essential for the replication of the vector, that (d2) a nucleic acid that encodes an shRNA against p53 be inserted into a vector ensuring transient expression (plasmid vector and the like), and that all these nucleic acids be transferred to a somatic cell. |
| US09404121B2 |
Bacillus thuringiensis gene with lepidopteran activity
The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests. |
| US09404119B2 |
Cotton fibers having positively charged oligosaccharides
Methods and means are provided for the modification of the reactivity of plant cell walls, particularly as they can be found in natural fibers of fiber producing plants by inclusion of positively charged oligosaccharides or polysaccharides into the cell wall. This can be conveniently achieved by expressing a chimeric gene encoding an N-acetylglucosamine transferase, particularly an N-acetylglucosamine transferase, capable of being targeted to the membranes of the Golgi apparatus in cells of a plant. |
| US09404118B2 |
Pichia ciferrii cells and use thereof
The invention relates to genetically modified Pichia ciferrii cells, to the use thereof and to a method of producing sphingoid bases and sphingolipids. |
| US09404115B2 |
Coryneform bacterium transformant and process for producing phenol using the same
Provided is a phenol-producing transformant constructed by transferring a gene which encodes an enzyme having chorismate-pyruvate lyase activity and a gene which encodes an enzyme having 4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylase activity into a coryneform bacterium as a host. Also provided is a process for producing phenol, which comprises a step of allowing the transformant to react in a reaction mixture containing a saccharide under reducing conditions, and a step of collecting phenol from the reaction mixture. |
| US09404107B2 |
Integration of genes into the chromosome of Saccharopolyspora spinosa
This invention includes a process for the identification and validation of a neutral polynucleotide integration site within the S. spinosa genome. In addition, the invention includes the use of the neutral site and methods for the integration of a polynucleotide containing a gene expression cassette, which is stably maintained and expressed over subsequent generations. The invention includes neutral integration sites that can be disrupted without negatively impacting spinosyn production, growth or other desired metabolic characteristics. |
| US09404105B2 |
Polyhedral cage-containing mesoporous metal-organic frameworks as platform for biocatalysis, methods of making these frameworks, and methods of using these frameworks
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide compositions including polyhedral mesoporous metal-organic framework including a biomolecule (e.g., enzyme), methods of making these compositions, methods of use, and the like. |
| US09404104B2 |
Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of P38 multi-tRNA synthetase complex
Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications. |
| US09404103B1 |
Beta-lactamases with improved properties for therapy
This invention relates to, in part, compositions of beta-lactamases and methods of using these enzymes in, for example, gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) disorders such as C. difficile infection (CDI). |
| US09404101B2 |
Methods for obtaining positive transformants of a filamentous fungal host cell
The present invention relates to methods for obtaining positive transformants of a filamentous fungal host cell, comprising: transforming a tandem construct into a population of cells of the filamentous fungal host a tandem construct and isolating a transformant of the filamentous fungal host cell comprising the tandem construct. The present invention also relates to such tandem constructs, filamentous fungal host cells comprising such tandem constructs, and methods of producing multiple recombinant proteins. |
| US09404100B2 |
High concentration alpha-glucosidase compositions for the treatment of Pompe disease
The present application provides for compositions comprising high concentrations of acid α-glucosidase in combination with an active site-specific chaperone for the acid α-glucosidase, and methods for treating Pompe disease in a subject in need thereof, that includes a method of administering to the subject such compositions. The present application also provides methods for increasing the in vitro and in vivo stability of an acid α-glucosidase enzyme formulation. |
| US09404099B2 |
Optimized endonucleases and uses thereof
Provided are optimized endonucleases, as well as methods of targeted integration, targeted deletion or targeted mutation of [polynucleotides using optimized endonucleases. |
| US09404095B2 |
Enhanced heterologous production of lipoxygenases
The invention is directed to the enhanced expression and purification of lipoxygenase enzymes. These enzymes are of wide-spread industrial importance, often produced in heterologous microbial systems. Preferably, the lipoxygenase produced by the methods of the invention is a plant-derived enzyme and expressed at high-levels in a microbial system that includes a protease-deficient host and one or more chaperone expression plasmids. The invention is also directed to amino acid and nucleic acid fragments of the lipoxygenase enzyme including fragments in expression constructs encoding all or a portion of one or more lipoxygenase genes. The invention is also directed to methods of manufacturing bread and other food and also non-food products with lipoxygenase manufactured by the methods of the invention. |
| US09404093B2 |
Polypeptides having peroxygenase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenaseactivity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. |
| US09404090B2 |
Adenovirus producing novel cell line and the use thereof
The invention relates to a cell line in which an expression construct is introduced into genomic DNA, the expression construct including: (a) a promoter operable in animal cells and heterologous to adenoviruses; and (b) a modified adenovirus El coding gene sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 operatively linked to the promoter. The cell line of the invention is less likely to produce a replication competent adenovirus (RCA). The adenovirus producing cell line of the invention has a low possibility of producing RCA due to homologous recombination, when compared with conventional cell lines. Therefore, this makes it possible to regulate the required amount of virus during gene therapy using the adenovirus and prevent tissue damage and toxic effects caused by overproduction of the adenovirus. Also, the cell line of the invention shows superior adenovirus producing ability, as compared with an HEK 293 cell which is one of conventional adenovirus producing cell lines. |
| US09404084B2 |
Regulating stem cells
A method is provided, including in vitro stimulating an initiating cell population (ICP) of at least 5 million cells that have a density of less than 1.072 g/ml, and at least 1% of which are CD34+CD45−/dim, to differentiate into a progenitor/precursor cell population (PCP). A method is provided, including in vitro stimulating an initiating cell population (ICP) of at least ten thousand cells that have a density of less than 1.072 g/ml to differentiate into a progenitor/precursor cell population (PCP). A method is provided, including separating lower density cells from higher density cells, the lower density cells defining an initiating cell population (ICP), and in vitro stimulating the ICP to differentiate into a progenitor/precursor cell population (PCP). Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09404078B2 |
Cell expression system
An expression system for expressing a protein comprising: a eukaryotic host cell carrying a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) deficiency; and an expression vector, the expression vector encoding the human growth hormone gene; a expression vector, the expression vector comprising: a eukaryotic selectable marker including a minimal SV 40 early promoter driving expression of a sequence encoding dihydrofolate reductase for complementing the DHFR deficiency in the host cell; a prokaryotic selectable marker conveying Ampicillin resistance to a prokaryotic host cell; a prokaryotic Origin of Replication; a plurality of multiple cloning sites (MCS); and at least one protein expression module comprising: a Simian Vacuolating Virus 40 (SV40) early promoter, inclusive of its 72 bp enhancer repeats; and a rabbit β-globin intron sequence being separable from a SV40 p A sequence by a first multiple cloning site, for receiving a coding sequence and expressing a desired protein therefrom. |
| US09404074B2 |
Incubation apparatus
An incubation apparatus, including a temperature-controlled room adjusted to be a predetermined environment condition, and incubating a sample of an incubation container inside the temperature-controlled room, includes a carrying apparatus, an imaging section, and an image analyzing section. The carrying apparatus carries the incubation container in the temperature-controlled room. The imaging section photographs a whole of the incubation container inside the temperature-controlled room. The image analyzing section analyzes an operation state of the incubation apparatus or an incubating environment state of the sample based on a total observing image of the incubation container photographed at the imaging section, and outputs an error signal notifying an abnormality of the operation state or the incubating environment state in accordance with the analysis result. |
| US09404069B1 |
Systems and methods for cooling tower fill cleaning with a chemical gel
Systems and methods for formulating and utilizing chemical gel formulations, particularly with respect to cooling tower fill cleaning operations. |
| US09404068B2 |
Anti-foam compositions
The present application relates to anti-foam compositions and methods of making and using such compositions as well as consumer products that comprise such compositions and the use of same. Such anti-foam compositions have low viscosities yet are effective antifoamers. |
| US09404066B2 |
Colour protection detergent
The present invention improves dye transfer inhibition in the washing of textiles by the use of urea derivatives comprising sulfonic or carboxylic acid groups. |
| US09404065B2 |
Renewable self-healing capsule system
A renewable material for releasing a self-healing agent includes a renewable polymeric substrate with capsules and a reactant dispersed in the renewable polymeric substrate. The capsules may be formed from a first renewable shell polymer and may enclose the renewable self-healing agent. The reactant may be suitable for reacting with the renewable self-healing agent to form a polymer. |
| US09404063B2 |
System and process for efficient separation of biocrudes and water in a hydrothermal liquefaction system
A system and process are described for clean separation of biocrudes and water by-products from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) product mixtures of organic and biomass-containing feedstocks at elevated temperatures and pressures. Inorganic compound solids are removed prior to separation of biocrude and water by-product fractions to minimize formation of emulsions that impede separation. Separation may be performed at higher temperatures that reduce heat loss and need to cool product mixtures to ambient. The present invention thus achieves separation efficiencies not achieved in conventional HTL processing. |
| US09404059B2 |
Lubricating oil composition for machining tool
A lubricant composition for a machining tool, containing: a lubricating base oil; and based on a total amount of the composition, 0.05 to 5% by mass of a phosphoric acid ester represented by (R1O)3P═O: wherein R1 represents any of an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms and a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and each R1 may be the same or different; 0.01 to 2% by mass of an acidic phosphoric acid ester represented by (R2O)nP(═O)(OH)(3-n): wherein R2 represents an alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, n represents 1 or 2, and R2 may be the same or different; and 0.5% by mass to 5% by mass of a sulfur compound. |
| US09404058B2 |
Method for producing a composite lubricating material
A composite lubricating material including at least a graphite-based carbon material and/or graphene-like graphite exfoliated from the graphite-based carbon material dispersed in a base material. The graphite-based carbon material is characterized by having a rhombohedral graphite layer (3R) and a hexagonal graphite layer (2H), wherein a Rate (3R) of the rhombohedral graphite layer (3R) and the hexagonal graphite layer (2H), based on an X-ray diffraction method, which is defined by following Equation 1 is 31% or more: Rate (3R)=P3/(P3+P4)×100 Equation 1 wherein P3 is a peak intensity of a (101) plane of the rhombohedral graphite layer (3R) based on the X-ray diffraction method, and P4 is a peak intensity of a (101) plane of the hexagonal graphite layer (2H) based on the X-ray diffraction method. |
| US09404052B2 |
Dehydrating and desalting median, heavy and extra-heavy oils using ionic liquids and their formulations
The present invention relates to the application of ionic liquids individually or in formulation to dry and desalt crudes oils having API gravities in the range of 8 to 20 (median, heavy and extra-heavy) when applied at concentrations ranging from 500 and up to 5000 ppm. The ionic liquids have a cation consisting of quaternary ammonium, wherein the substituents R, R1 and R2 are independent radicals represented by alkyl chains including 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and anion selected from the group consisting of ethylsulfate, methylsulfate and chloride. |
| US09404050B2 |
Startup method for fractionator
A startup method for a fractionator that is supplied with, and fractionally distills, a hydrocracked product obtained in a wax fraction hydrocracking step by hydrocracking a wax fraction contained within a Fischer-Tropsch synthetic oil, the method including a preheating step of preheating the fractionator using a hydrocarbon oil that includes at least a portion of the hydrocracked product and is liquid at a normal temperature and normal pressure. |
| US09404046B2 |
Method for converting waste plastic to lower-molecular weight hydrocarbons, particularly hydrocarbon fuel materials, and the hydrocarbon material produced thereby
The method produces a hydrocarbonaceous fluid (a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, or in other words a mixture of hydrocarbons which is liquid at ambient room temperature and atmospheric pressure), which functionally is a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, from a feed of waste plastic. The method can comprise the steps of: (step 1) melting a feed of substantially solid waste plastic in an aerobic atmosphere (for instance, air) whereby a waste-plastic melt is produced; (step 2) distilling at least a portion of the waste-plastic melt whereby a hydrocarbonaceous distillate is produced; and (step 3) collecting the hydrocarbonaceous distillate. That distillate is generally referred to above as a condensate. The method can include the step of comminuting the feed of substantially solid waste plastic into pieces substantially no greater than about 1.5 cm2 prior to step 1. The method can also include the step of adding an effective amount of a cracking catalyst to the waste plastic prior to step 2. |
| US09404045B2 |
Alloyed zeolite catalyst component, method for making and catalytic application thereof
The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) generally relates to a solid catalyst component comprising a zeolite with a modifier and at least one Group VIII metal alloyed with at least one transition metal. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) further relates to a method of making the solid catalyst component and a process of converting mixed waste plastics into low molecular weight organic compounds using the solid catalyst component. |
| US09404035B2 |
Method of producing a fluorescent material containing sealant
A fluorescent material-containing sealing resin (20) production method of the present invention includes: a kneading step of kneading a powder mixture (24), which has been obtained by mixing a powder of silicone resins (21) and a powder of fluorescent materials (22) together, while melting the powder mixture (24) by heat, so that a kneaded mixture (25) is obtained; and an extruding step of extruding the kneaded mixture (25) in a form of a cord from an output port (37b) of a twin screw extruder (37). |
| US09404028B2 |
Heat conducting composite material and light-emitting diode having the same
A heat conducting composite material includes a matrix and a graphene sheet. The graphene sheet has a two-dimensional planar structure, and a basal plane of the graphene sheet has a lateral size between 0.1 nm and 100 nm such that the graphene sheet has a quantum well structure. When radiation energy passes through the heat conducting composite material, the radiation energy is converted into infrared light by the quantum well structure of the graphene sheet to achieve high radiating efficiency. A light-emitting diode (LED) having the heat conducting composite material and capable of achieving a heat dissipation effect is further disclosed. |
| US09404027B2 |
Method of producing lower alcohols from glycerol
A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200° C., at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 250° C. at pressures from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium. |
| US09404026B2 |
Polyurea-based fabric glue
The present invention relates to a polyurea system, the use of such a polyurea system for sealing, linking, gluing, or covering of cellular tissue, and a dosing system having two chambers for a polyurea system such as this. The polyurea system comprises as components: A) an isocyanate-functioning prepolymer, which can be derived by reacting aliphatic isocyanates with polyoles, and B) an amino-functioning ester of aspartic acid. According to the invention, water and/or tertiary amine is added to the system, in order to increase the reacting speed of the prepolymer with the amino-functioning ester of aspartic acid while decreasing the setting time at the same time. |
| US09404025B1 |
Wood adhesive
An adhesive composition for manufacturing a composite wood product comprising an aqueous network of a formaldehyde condensation resin, wheat flour, and wheat gluten, said adhesive composition having a density less than water and is non-thixotropic. The composition is prepared by subjecting an aqueous formaldehyde condensation resin, wheat flour and wheat gluten to an intense high shear. |
| US09404022B2 |
Composition for vulcanizing adhesion
A composition for vulcanizing adhesion, comprises a rubber (a), at least one compound (b) selected from the group consisting of salts of 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0) undecene-7, salts of 1,5-diazabicyclo(4.3.0)-nonene-5, 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0) undecene-7, and 1,5-diazabicyclo(4.3.0)-nonene-5, and at least one water-carrying substance (c) selected from water-absorbed substances and hydrated substances. |
| US09404021B2 |
Pressure sensitive adhesive waxed cloth tape method of manufacture and use
A method of manufacturing a pressure sensitive adhesive waxed cloth tape comprising a fabric substrate having an adhesive layer infused on one surface and a wax layer infused on an opposing second surface, the wax layer including a tackifier resin. The pressure sensitive adhesive waxed cloth tape may be used to prevent buildup of snow and ice on a hockey stick blade during exposure to moisture, cold temperatures, snow, ice, and other harsh conditions. The tape will easily adhere to itself when in a rolled position prior to use or when overlapped on the stick blade while in use. |
| US09404019B2 |
Aqueous polyurethane-polyurea dispersions
The invention relates to a method for producing aqueous polyurethane-polyurea dispersions, where A) first a polyurethane prepolymer containing NCO groups is produced by reacting A1) polyisocyanates with A2) polymeric polyols and/or polyamines having number-average molecular weights of more than 400 to 8,000 g/mol, A3) possibly low-molecular-weight compounds having number-average molecular weights of 17-400 g/mol selected from the group comprising mono- and polyalcohols, mono- and polyamines, and amino alcohols, A4) isocyanate-reactive, ionically or potentially ionically hydrophilic compounds and/or isocyanate-reactive non-ionically hydrophilic compounds, A5) isocyanate-reactive compounds, which contain at least one C7 to C24 alkyl group or C7 to C24 alkenyl group, and A6) isocyanate-reactive compounds, which contain at least one polysiloxane group, and B); the NCO groups of the prepolymer that are not yet free are reacted with isocyanate-reactive monoamines, polyamines, hydrazine, and/or hydrazides, dimensioned in such a way that a calculated ratio of the isocyanate-reactive NH groups to the NCO groups of 0.7 to 1.2 is achieved. |
| US09404018B2 |
Solvent-free, self-polishing polyurethane matrix for use in solvent-free antifoulings
A polyol having the formula Si(O—R1—OH)m(O—R2)nR3. Each R1 is a divalent radical derived from diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or tripropylene glycol, each R2 is an aliphatic group, and R3 is an alkyl group or aromatic group. The value m is 2 or 3 and n is 0 or 1. A process of making the above polyol by: providing a reactant having the formula Si(O—R2)3R3, and reacting the reactant with a diol having the formula HO—R1—OH. An antifouling coating comprising a thermoset formed by reacting a polyisocyanate with the above polyol. The coating is not a foam. |
| US09404013B2 |
Composite coating film
The object of the present invention is to provide a coating composition which can provide a coating film having excellent adhesion to a chromium thin film under various conditions, and sufficient scratch resistance, and the present invention provides a coating composition for a chromium thin film formed on a substrate, wherein the coating composition includes: an acrylic copolymer (A) having a phosphate group and a hydroxyl group other than a hydroxyl group in the phosphate group; isocyanate (B); and a metal chelate (C). |
| US09404005B2 |
Recyclable thermoplastic insulation with improved breakdown strength
The disclosure provides a process for producing a material with improved breakdown strength. The process includes heating a polymeric composition composed of a low density polyethylene (LDPE) and a minority amount of a high density polyethylene (HDPE). The polymeric composition is heated to at least the melting temperature of the HDPE. The process includes control-cooling the heated polymeric composition at a cooling rate from 0.1° C./min to 20° C./min, and forming a polymeric composition. The control-cooled polymeric composition has a unique morphology which improves breakdown strength. Also provided is a coated conductor with an insulating layer composed of the polymeric composition with the unique morphology. The insulating layer exhibits improved breakdown strength. |
| US09404004B2 |
High performance hotmelt window sealant
A hot applied, non-crosslinking, non-butyl, sealant. These sealants are composed of olefin polymers, styrenic block copolymers, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, tackifying resins, plasticizers, and preferably inorganic fillers, and organosilane adhesion promoters. Optionally, the sealant may include UV absorbers, antioxidants, pigments, and the like. The sealants are suitable for use as edge sealants for insulated glass (IG) window units. |
| US09404002B2 |
Molecular precursor compounds for indium gallium zinc oxide materials
Molecular precursor compounds, compositions, inks and processes for making IGZO materials. Inks made from molecular precursor compounds having the empirical formula InbGacZn(OROR)3(b+c)+2 can be printed or deposited on a substrate. The printed or deposited film can be treated to convert the molecular precursor compounds to an IGZO material. |
| US09404000B2 |
Flexographic printing process with wet on wet capability
The invention refers to a flexographic printing process with wet on wet capability based on controlled polymer or polymer segment precipitation that leads to gel formation of ink compounds by controlling the solubility parameter of the ink system. The mechanism to obtain a desirable wet on wet color trapping is the formation and/or presence of a gel in the applied ink film due to a controlled physicochemical mechanism of resin precipitation. This is accomplished either by controlling a change in the Hansen Solubility Parameter of the liquid in the ink through evaporation of some or all of a non-reactive and volatile solvent, or alternatively by use of a polymer comprised of two distinct and separate segments one of which is soluble in the monomer/oligomer mix and the other of which is not. The insoluble segments form a reversible gel that is broken to a liquid by shear in the application process, allowing application of a liquid ink, and is reestablished in the applied ink film in such a manner and with such strength as to allow overprinting in the wet on wet flexographic printing process. |
| US09403999B2 |
Oxazoline compounds as open-time extenders for latex paints
An aqueous coating composition containing a compound of formula (I) wherein R1 is a C2-C20 hydrocarbyl group; and R2 and R3 independently are C1-C10 alkyl or HO(CH2CH2O)xCH2—, wherein x represents an integer from 0-5. |
| US09403998B2 |
Composite structure, product using same, and method for producing composite structure
A composite structure disclosed includes a base (X) and a layer (Y) stacked on the base (X). The layer (Y) includes a reaction product (R). The reaction product (R) is a reaction product formed by a reaction at least between a metal oxide (A) and a phosphorus compound (B). A peak for a binding energy of an oxygen-atom 1s orbital observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the layer (Y) is located at 532.0 eV or higher, and the peak has a half width of less than 2.0 eV. |
| US09403996B2 |
Pigments
The present invention relates to semiconducting pigments based on flake-form substrates which have a doped tin dioxide layer on the surface and to the use of the pigments in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics, security applications, floorcoverings, films, formulations, ceramic materials, glasses, paper, for laser marking, in thermal protection, in dry preparations, in pigment preparations and in particular as varistor pigment. |
| US09403994B2 |
Anti-corrosive particles
The present invention relates to anti-corrosive particles based on inorganic oxide products such as silica or alumina modified with polyvalent metal cations optionally comprising anions of weak acids which may be inorganic or organic in nature and their conjugate species. In particular, the present invention is concerned with anti-corrosive pigment particles comprising inorganic oxides or mixtures of inorganic oxides displaying mesoporosity and/or macroporosity such that the average pore size, averaged over the mixture of inorganic oxides where more than one oxide is involved is greater than 2 nm and the average pore volume is greater than 0.2 ml/g. The present invention is also related to methods of making such particles and to anti-corrosive compositions made with them. The present invention further relates to articles to which the anti-corrosive compositions have been applied. |
| US09403990B2 |
Curing-type coating-agent composition
A curing-type coating-agent composition according to the present invention contains: Component (A) (e.g., an isocyanuric ring-containing urethane (meth)acrylate compound) in an amount of from 20 to 80 parts by mass; Component (B) (e.g., an isocyanuric ring-containing tri(meth)acrylate compound free from any urethane bond) in an amount of from 10 to 70 parts by mass; Component (C-1) (e.g., a reaction compound between a colloidal silica and an alkoxysilane compound having a maleimide group) in amount of from 1 to 35 parts by mass, or Component (C-2) (e.g., a specific organosilicon compound) in an amount of from 5 to 35 parts by mass; a radical-polymerization initiator serving as Component (D) in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 parts by mass; an ultraviolet absorber serving as Component (E) in an amount of from 1 to 12 parts by mass; and an organic solvent serving as Component (F) in an amount of from 10 to 1,000 parts by mass; with respect to a sum of the Component (A), the Component (B), and the Component (C-1) or the Component (C-2) being taken as 100 parts by mass. The aforementioned composition demonstrates excellent wear resistance and weatherability as a coating agent for plastic substrate, or the like, which is employed outside. |
| US09403988B2 |
Process for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate and its use
The present invention relates to an economic process for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate. The present invention further relates to a surface-reacted calcium carbonate having an increased specific BET surface area, and the use of a process for adjusting the specific BET surface area. |
| US09403986B2 |
Graft copolymer pigment dispersant
A pigment dispersant comprising a graft copolymer is described. The graft copolymer comprises a backbone having polymerized vinyl imidazole groups and side chains from macromonomers. The vinyl imidazole comprises 2 percent to 20 percent by weight of the graft copolymer and the macromonomer comprises 55 percent to 85 percent by weight of the graft copolymer. The pigment dispersant is useful for forming pigment dispersions that can be used in solvent borne coating compositions. |
| US09403984B2 |
Water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing zirconium salt and phosphorus compound, method for producing the same, and fiber bundle for hair containing the same
The present invention relates to a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber, and the method includes treating a regenerated collagen fiber with a zirconium salt to incorporate the zirconium salt into the regenerated collagen fiber, and then treating the regenerated collagen fiber with a phosphorus compound to incorporate the phosphorus compound into the regenerated collagen fiber, thereby obtaining a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a fiber bundle for hair including 30 to 100 wt % of the water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber and 0 to 70 wt % of polyester-based fiber. |
| US09403982B2 |
Curable silicone composition and cured product thereof
A curable silicone composition comprises at least (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups in a molecule, (B) an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, (C) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst, (D) an approximately spherical silica fine powder having an average particle diameter of 50 μm or less and (E) glass fibers having an average fiber length of 1,000 μm or less and an average fiber diameter of 30 μm or less. A cured product produced by curing the curable silicone composition is also disclosed. |
| US09403981B2 |
Low dielectric resin composition, and resin film, prepreg, printed circuit board made thereby
A resin composition, including (A) a polyimide resin; (B) a pre-polymerized maleimide resin; (C) a thermosetting resin; and (D) a flame retardant. The reactants for use in synthesizing the polyimide resin include an acid anhydride and a diamine, with the diamine including 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane and its analogous compounds and polyetherdiamines. The resin composition has the following advantages, a resin film or a prepreg is manufactured from the resin composition comprises a polyimide resin synthesized from a diamine of a specific structure and a pre-polymerized maleimide resin, so as to achieve satisfactory characteristics of circuit laminates, such as a low dielectric constant, a low dissipation factor, high heat resistance, and high adhesiveness, so as to be for use in the manufacturing of metal clad laminates and printed circuit boards. |
| US09403978B2 |
Thermoplastic resin composition and molded article using the same
A thermoplastic resin composition comprises (A) about 30 to about 98 wt % of a polycarbonate resin, (B) about 1 to about 50 wt % of a rubber modified acrylic-based graft copolymer, and (C) about 1 to about 69 wt % of a branched copolymer including silicon-based compound. A molded article can be made using the same. |
| US09403977B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition and photosensitive film using same
The present invention relates to a positive-type photosensitive resin composition comprising (A) a modified novolac-type phenol resin having an unsaturated hydrocarbon group, (B) a novolac-type phenol resin obtained from metacresol and paracresol, (C) a novolac-type phenol resin obtained from orthocresol, (D) a compound generating an acid by light, and (E) a polybasic acid or a polybasic acid anhydride, wherein the content of the (E) component is lower than 40 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the total amount of the (A) component, the (B) component, the (C) component and the (D) component. |
| US09403973B2 |
Composition, thermoplastic vulcanizates made therefrom and articles formed from the same
A composition comprising at least the following (A) an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer; (B) an olefin-based polymer; (C) a crosslinking agent; and (D) a multifunctional acrylate coagent; wherein the ethylene/α-olefin copolymer of component A) has the following properties: (i) has a density from 0.855 to 0.875 g/cc; and (ii) a Mooney Viscosity (ML 1+4, 121° C.) from 10 to 100 is provided. |
| US09403972B2 |
Polaymine curable, highly saturated nitrile rubber composition
Disclosed is a polyamine curable, highly saturated nitrile rubber composition having excellent cold resistance in the presence of a polycyclic aromatic compound; the composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyamine curable, highly saturated nitrile rubber having an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer unit, a diene-based monomer unit, an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monoester monomer unit, and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer unit other than the α,β-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monoester monomer unit, and having an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer unit content of 21.0 to 23.0 wt. %, preferably 21.0 to 22.5 wt. %, more preferably 21.0 to 22.0 wt. %, and an iodine value of 120 or less, and 4 to 31 parts by weight of an aliphatic carboxylic acid diester compound of polyalkylene glycol. The polyamine curable, highly saturated nitrile rubber composition is used as a cure molding material of a sealing material that can be suitably used in an environment in which the sealing material is immersed in polycyclic aromatic compound-containing fuel oil. |
| US09403971B2 |
Rubber composition for tread, and pneumatic tire
Rubber composition for a tread, which enables not only improving handling stability, abrasion resistance, and fuel economy in a balanced manner, but also improving wet grip performance and processability in a balanced manner, in a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises a terminally-modified solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, a butadiene rubber synthesized in the presence of a rare earth catalyst, and a particular type of reinforcing agent. |
| US09403967B2 |
Curable resin composition, cured product thereof and photosemiconductor apparatus
The invention provides a curable resin composition which comprising: 100 parts by mass of a main component (X) (a refractive index: RIX) containing at least one of a silicone resin, a modified silicone resin, an epoxy resin and a modified epoxy resin, and exceeding 0 part by mass and 100 parts by mass or less of an additive (Y) (a refractive index: RIY) containing at least one of a silicone resin, a modified silicone resin, an epoxy resin and a modified epoxy resin, and having a different refractive index as that of the main component (X) being added and dispersed therein, wherein the difference of the refractive indexes of the main component (X) and the additive (Y) being |RIX−RIY|≧0.0050 in an uncured state. |
| US09403966B2 |
Addition-fragmentation agents
Addition-fragmentation agents of the formula are disclosed: wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently Z-Q-, a (hetero)alkyl group or a (hetero)aryl group with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is Zm-Q-, Q is a linking group have a valence of m+1; Z is an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, m is 1 to 6; each X1 is independently —O— or —NR4—, where R4 is H or C1-C4 alkyl, and n is 0 or 1. |
| US09403963B2 |
Particle-comprising polyether alcohols
The invention relates to particle-comprising polyether alcohols which can be prepared by in-situ polymerization of olefinically unsaturated monomers in a polyether alcohol, wherein the polymerization is carried out in the presence of at least one compound (A) comprising a polysiloxane chain to which at least one polyether chain comprising at least one reactive hydrogen atom and a polyether chain comprising at least one olefinic double bond are bonded. |
| US09403962B2 |
Elastomer compositions with silane functionalized silica as reinforcing fillers
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to silane functionalized fillers that may be, for example, covalently coupled to a polymer. In some examples, devices that include the filler reinforced polymer compositions are also described. |
| US09403960B2 |
Irradiated fluoropolymer articles having low leachable fluoride ions
The invention relates to fluoropolymer articles that have been irradiated with at least 5 Kilo Gray of radiation, where the resulting articles have low levels of leachable or extractable fluoride ion. The low fluoride ion migration from the irradiated article is due to the presence of low levels of metallic salts or oxides in the fluoropolymer composition. The invention is especially useful for fluoropolymer articles in which the fluoropolymer layer contacts a biological or pharmaceutical fluid, and that are subjected to sterilization by irradiation. |
| US09403959B2 |
Antiozonant for polymers
Provided are an antiozonant for polymers capable of providing excellent ozone resistance, and an ozone resistant rubber composition and an ozone resistant tire formed using the antiozonant. The present invention relates to an antiozonant for polymers, including alumina. |
| US09403956B2 |
Incipient wetness method to enhance productivity of supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts
Processes for producing impact copolymers are provided. Ethylene and at least one comonomer can be polymerized in the presence of one or more catalysts, polypropylene particles, and an inert solvent to produce an impact copolymer. The polypropylene particles can have a weight average particle size along the longest cross-sectional length thereof of about 0.05 mm to about 5 mm and a pore volume of less than 80%. The inert solvent can be present in a volume amount of about 0.1 to about 2 times the pore volume of the polypropylene particles. |
| US09403955B2 |
Poly lactic acid-containing film or sheet, and method for manufacturing thereof
Provided are a film or sheet composed of a resin composition that includes a poly lactic acid (A), an acidic functional group-modified olefinic polymer (B) including an acidic functional group and having an acid value of 10 to 70 mg KOH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 80,000, a tetrafluoroethylene polymer (C), and a dicarboxylic acid ester-containing plasticizer (D) containing a compound of General Formula (1) and in which the dicarboxylic acid ester-containing plasticizer (D) is included in an amount of 8 parts by weight or more and less than 40 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the poly lactic acid (A), and a method for manufacturing the film or sheet by melt film formation. Each sign in Formula is as described in the specification. |
| US09403954B2 |
Fluororubber composition and method for producing same
The invention provides a fluororubber composition able to produce a crosslinked fluororubber article that exhibits not only heat resistance, but also excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures, and a method for producing same. The fluororubber composition contains: a fluororubber (A); and carbon black (B), wherein when the aforementioned fluororubber composition is immersed for 160 hours in an extraction solvent of acetone and hexane at an acetone:hexane mass ratio of 42.29:57.71 at 40° C. and an extraction residue that is not extracted and remains as a solid is separated from the aforementioned extraction solvent and dried and then the dry weight of the extraction residue is measured, the quantity of a solvent-insoluble polymer is not lower than 5%. |
| US09403953B2 |
Cosmetic sponge and method for providing a cosmetic sponge
This invention relates to a cosmetic sponge and a method of providing a cosmetic sponge incorporating a non-denatured collagen and other additives for skin care, cleaning, and cosmetic application. |
| US09403952B2 |
Duromer, production method, use and compositions
A duromer, a method for producing the duromer, a use of the duromer as well as a flame retardant containing the duromer and plastics compositions thereof are disclosed. A phosphorous-containing polymer which is based on multi-functional esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids is three-dimensionally cross-linked and forms the claimed duromer as described. The duromer is suitable as a flame retardant and suitable for use in flame retardants for plastics. |
| US09403949B2 |
Acetoacetyl-functional silicon-based resin and process for preparing the same
An acetoacetyl-functional silicon-based resin includes at least a fraction with a branched molecular skeleton containing silicon atoms and acetoacetyl functional groups chemically bonded to the branched molecular skeleton. The acetoacetyl functional silicon-based resin can be used to formulate coating compositions. |
| US09403946B2 |
Thermoplastic copolyimides
The present invention relates to semiaromatic and semicrystalline thermoplastic polyimides obtained by polymerization of at least one aromatic compound comprising two anhydride functions and/or carboxylic acid and/or ester derivatives thereof and a diamine comprising between 13 and 22 carbon atoms. These polyimides may be converted into plastic articles by various methods, such as injection-molding. |
| US09403937B2 |
Polyester polyols and methods of making and using the same
Polyester polyols are generally disclosed, including methods of making and using them. In some embodiments, the polyester polyols are incorporated into a block copolymer, such as a polyurethane block copolymer. In some embodiments, the polyurethane block copolymers can be used as compatibilizing agents, which can be used, for example, in polymer blends, polymer alloys, solutions, emulsions, as well as in extruded and injection molded articles. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the polyurethane block copolymer is derived from a renewable source. |
| US09403936B2 |
Method for preparing a pitch for carbon fibers and a pitch for carbon fibers prepared by the same
A method for preparing a pitch for carbon fibers and a pitch for carbon fibers prepared by the same are disclosed. The method includes introducing a peroxide compound and ozone into a petroleum-process residual oil, followed by heat treatment for reaction. By the method, the pitch for carbon fibers, which exhibits excellent oxidative stabilization and oxidative incompatibility while having a high softening point and high strength, can be obtained at high yield at a relatively low temperature. |
| US09403934B2 |
Polymeric coating mixture, process for application of this coating mixture to a metallic substrate for protection of an edge or an area, covering, substrate coated in this manner and use thereof
A process for protecting an edge area, a soldered point, a weld seam or a repair point or for sealing a seam of one or more optionally interjoined strips, metal sheets or shaped parts, containing the steps of applying a coating mixture to at least a part of a surface of a metallic substrate, applying actinic radiation, and forming a firmly adhering, ductile, corrosion-preventing coating on the substrate. |
| US09403929B2 |
Process for preparing acrylic polymer beads
The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of acrylic polymer beads, said process encompassing the step of washing the acrylic polymer beads with purified water. |
| US09403926B2 |
Process for producing copolymers of propylene
The present invention is directed to a process of polymerizing propylene in at least three stages. In the first, and optionally in the second, polymerization stage propylene, ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms are introduced into the polymerization reactors as fresh monomer feeds. In the third polymerization stage propylene and optionally ethylene is introduced as fresh monomer feed. |
| US09403920B2 |
Modified catalyst supports
A supported catalyst system includes a coprecipitated silica- and titania-containing support, alumoxane, and a metallocene. The supported catalyst system has a Ti content of at least 0.1 wt %. |
| US09403913B2 |
Anti-VASA antibodies, and methods of production and use thereof
Anti-VASA antibodies (mAbs), particularly humanized mAbs that specifically bind to VASA with high affinity, are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the CDRs of the light chains and the heavy chains, as well as consensus sequences for these CDRs, of these anti-VASA mAbs are provided. The disclosure also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the anti-VASA mAbs, expression vectors, host cells, methods for making the anti-VASA mAbs, and methods for expressing the anti-VASA mAbs. Finally, methods of using the anti-VASA mAbs to isolate and/or purify cells expressing VASA are disclosed. |
| US09403911B2 |
Compositions and methods for detection and treatment of cancer
Novel antibodies for the detection and/or treatment of a cancer (e.g., a pancreatic cancer or an ovarian cancer) are provided. In certain embodiments the antibodies bind a region of the MUC4 protein that does not comprise the central tandem repeat (TR) domain of MUC4. Certain antibodies bind to the MUC4 peptide fragment MUC4-α-N-Ter and/or to the MUC4 peptide fragment MUC4-α-C-Ter. Chimeric constructs comprising such antibodies are also provided. |
| US09403906B2 |
Method of treatment of a solid tumor with interleukin-1 accessory protein antibody
The present invention provides agents comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) for use in inducing cell death and/or inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of cells associated with a solid tumour, wherein the cells express IL1RAP. A related aspect of the invention provides agents comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) for use in detecting pathological cells associated with a solid tumor, wherein the cells express IL1RAP. Further provided are pharmacological compositions comprising the agents of the invention and methods of using the same. |
| US09403905B2 |
Vascular endothelial growth factor 2
Disclosed are human VEGF-2 antibodies, antibody fragments, or variants thereof. Also provided are processes for producing such antibodies. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder comprising administering to an animal, preferably a human, an effective amount of one or more VEGF-2 antibodies or fragments or variants thereof. |
| US09403902B2 |
Methods of treating ocular disease associated with amyloid-beta-related pathology using an anti-amyloid-beta antibody
The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising highly specific and highly effective antibodies that specifically recognize and bind to specific epitopes from a range of amyloid-beta proteins. The antibodies of the present invention are particularly useful for the treatment of ocular diseases associated with pathological abnormalities/changes in the tissues of the visual system, particularly those ocular diseases associated with amyloid-beta-related pathological abnormalities/changes in the tissues of the visual system. |
| US09403901B2 |
Anti-pseudomonas Psl binding molecules and uses thereof
The disclosure relates to an anti-Pseudomonas PSL binding molecule and uses thereof, in particular, in prevention and treatment of Pseudomonas infection. Furthermore, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for preventing and treating Pseudomonas infection. |
| US09403900B2 |
Anti-human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antibodies and methods of use
Provided herein are antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to the fusion (F) protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Also provided are methods for of prevention, treatment and diagnosis of viral infection and/or the treatment of one more symptoms of RSV-mediated disease. Methods of generating antibodies that immunospecifically bind RSV F protein also are provided. |
| US09403899B2 |
Method for reducing the thromboembolic potential of a plasma-derived immunoglobulin composition
The present invention provides methods for reducing the amidolytic and anti-complement activity (ACA) content of an immunoglobulin composition through the use of cation exchange chromatography. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides methods for reducing the Factor XI and/or Factor XIa and/or ACA content of an immunoglobulin composition by collecting the leading portion of a cation exchange eluate. The present invention also provides immunoglobulin composition having reduced levels of amidolytic activity, Factor XI, and/or Factor XIa, and/or ACA content. |
| US09403898B2 |
Method for purifying albumin
An improved method for purifying albumin, a variant or fragment thereof, a fusion protein comprising albumin, a variant or fragment thereof, or a conjugate comprising albumin, a variant or fragment thereof is disclosed. |
| US09403897B2 |
Proteinaceous protease inhibitor and protein solution and detergent composition containing it
An object of the present invention is to provide proteinaceous protease inhibitors with moderate inhibitory activity. A proteinaceous protease inhibitor of the present invention includes an amino acid sequence (Y) or an amino acid sequence (Y′), the amino acid sequence (Y) being different from the amino acid sequence (A) of a proteinaceous protease inhibitor (BC), represented by SEQ ID NO:1, by one to eight amino acid replacements with amino acids different from replaced amino acids, the amino acid sequence (Y′) having at least 80% homology to the amino acid sequence (Y), wherein the proteinaceous protease inhibitor satisfies at least one of the following conditions (1) to (8): (1) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 12 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X1) defined below; (2) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 38 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X2) defined below; (3) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 48 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X3) defined below; (4) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 50 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X4) defined below; (5) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 51 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X5) defined below; (6) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 52 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X6) defined below; (7) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 53 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X7) defined below; (8) the amino acid residue at a position corresponding to residue 70 of the amino acid sequence (A) in the amino acid sequence (Y) or (Y′) is an amino acid (X8) defined below: (X1): any of amino acids (X0) other than Glu (X2): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Val and Ile (X3): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Met (X4): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Tyr (X5): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Arg (X6): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Ile (X7): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Asp (X8): any of the amino acids (X0) other than Arg; and (X0): Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gly, Gln, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val. |
| US09403896B2 |
Serpin-finger fusion polypeptide
The current invention comprises a fusion polypeptide comprising a serpin-finger polypeptide conjugated to a biologically active polypeptide optionally via a peptidic linker polypeptide. Another aspect is a protein complex of the serpin-finger fusion polypeptide and a serpin, wherein the fusion polypeptide is incorporated in the serpin into the middle of beta-sheet A as strand 4a. Also an aspect of the current invention is the in vitro preparation of the protein complex. The serpin-finger polypeptide targets and anchors the biologically active polypeptide with high affinity and functional spatial orientation. |
| US09403895B2 |
Production and delivery of a stable collagen
Improved methods are provided for the recombinant synthesis of collagen, particularly collagen VII, in host cell, and for therapeutic delivery of the same. The recombinant collagen is produced in a host cell that has increased levels of prolyl-4-hydroxylase, relative to basal cell levels. The collagen produced by the methods of the invention has increased numbers of modified proline residues, relative to a recombinant collagen produced in a host cell having basal levels of prolyl-4-hydroxylase. The increased proline modification provides for a collagen having increased stability, including increased in vivo stability. |
| US09403894B2 |
Glucagon analogues
The invention provides materials and methods for promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain without affecting glycemic control. In particular, the invention provides novel glucagon analog peptides effective in such methods. The peptides may mediate their effect by having increased selectivity for the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor as compared to human glucagon. |
| US09403893B2 |
Avian colony stimulating factor 1 receptor binding proteins
The present invention provides avian CSF1 genes encoding proteins which bind avian colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) and which exhibit immunomodulatory properties. |
| US09403891B2 |
Methods and compositions for modulating TNF/TNFR signaling
The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for modulating TNF and TNFR signaling. In particular, the disclosure describes methods and compositions for inhibiting TNFα signaling, such as in the prevention or treatment of TNFα-related diseases. |
| US09403888B2 |
Compositions and methods for purifying Bax
Disclosed are compositions and methods for purifying a Bax protein. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. |
| US09403886B2 |
Tumor antigen based on products of the tumor suppressor gene WT1
A tumor antigen that comprises, as an active ingredient, a product of the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene WT1 or a peptide composed of 7-30 contiguous amino acids containing an anchor amino acid for binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I in said amino acid sequence, and a vaccine comprising said antigen. |
| US09403880B2 |
Identification of a human gyrovirus and applications
The present invention relates to HGyV, a human gyrovirus related to the chicken anemia virus (CAV). The present invention also relates to a new proteins encoded by HGyV, which proteins display some homology to CAV proteins. Among these new proteins, H-apoptin is of particular interest as it is herein found for the first time in a human virus and can be used for treating cancer. Also provided are methods for detecting the HGyV virus in a subject. |
| US09403879B2 |
Nucleic acid molecule encoding hepatitis B virus core protein and vaccine comprising the same
Provided herein are nucleic acid sequences that encode novel consensus amino acid sequence of HBV core protein, as well as genetic constructs/vectors and vaccines that express said protein sequences. Also provided herein are methods for generating an immune response against HBV using the nucleic acid sequences that are provided. |
| US09403870B2 |
Methods of phosvitin extraction and phosphopeptide preparation from egg yolk
The invention is directed to methods for extracting phosvitin from egg yolk involving contacting the egg yolk or egg yolk protein granules with a solution having a salt concentration of about 10% to form a mixture; optionally, heating the mixture; adjusting the pH of the mixture to separate phosvitin from other proteins; recovering the phosvitin. The phosvitin extract may be dephosphorylated and hydrolyzed to produce phosvitin phosphopeptides. |
| US09403869B2 |
α5β1 integrin binding RGD-lipopeptides with gene transfer activities
The present invention provides synthesis of a novel series of cationic lipopeptides with integrin-binding RGD functionalities. The invention also provides high L27 (transformed S1 80, mouse sarcoma cells) cell tropic gene transfer properties of these novel RGD-lipopeptides. Since L27 cell surface contains over expressed integrins, the present class of lipopeptides with integrin-binding RGD ligands are likely to find future applications in targeting anti-cancer genes/drugs to the endothelial cells of tumor vasculatures (possessing over expressed integrins). |
| US09403865B2 |
Method of preparing oligomeric compounds using modified capping protocols
Provided herein are methods for the solid phase synthesis of oligomeric compounds wherein at least one of the capping steps has been modified. More particularly, methods are provided wherein one or more of the capping steps is omitted or performed using reduced equivalents of acetic anhydride. In certain embodiments, the methods provide an enhanced purity profile. In certain embodiments, the methods provide an increased yield. The methods provided herein also provide at least an economic advantage over currently used methods in that reduced amounts of the mixture of capping reagents are required. |
| US09403864B2 |
Process for the synthesis of carbonucleoside and intermediates for use therein
Disclosed is a process for preparing a carbonucleoside of formula (1) and intermediates for use therein. The process involves the step of reacting a compound of formula (2) with a compound of formula (3) under Mitsunobu-type reaction conditions to obtain a compound of formula (4), wherein PG1, PG2, PG3 and PG4 are protecting groups. The compound of formula (4) is deprotected to form the compound of formula (1), as shown below. |
| US09403860B2 |
Metathesis catalysts containing onium groups
Disclosed herein is a general method for the preparation of complexes containing a quaternary onium group in an inert ligand. Some of these complexes may be represented by formula 1: Methods for the preparation of complexes of formula 1, the preparation of intermediates and the use of complexes of formula 1 in metathesis reactions and a method for conducting an olefin metathesis reaction are also described. |
| US09403857B2 |
Compositions and methods for the treatment of metabolic syndrome
The invention relates to the compounds of formula I and formula II or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I or formula II, and methods for treating or preventing or modulating metabolic syndrome may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. such compositions may be used to treatment of fasting hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus type 2, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or insulin resistance, high blood pressure, central obesity (also known as visceral, male-pattern or apple-shaped adiposity), overweight with fat deposits mainly around the waist, decreased HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, hyperuricemia, fatty liver (especially in concurrent obesity) progressing to NAFLD, polycystic ovarian syndrome (in women), hypophosphatemia, renal diseases, albuminuria, end stage renal disease, and acanthosis nigricans. |
| US09403845B2 |
Pesticidally active pyridyl- and pyrimidyl- substituted pyrazole derivatives
Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts and all stereoisomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula I can be used as insecticides and can be prepared in a manner known per se. |
| US09403841B2 |
Phragamalin limonoids for the treatment of sexual dysfunction
The present invention relates to novel chemical compounds, to methods for synthesis of such compounds, and to the use of these novel compounds in the synthesis of other chemical compounds that, inter alia, may be used in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, and for eliciting enhancing effects on sexual behavior. The invention also relates to remarkable biological properties of the novel compounds in their capacity of inducing aggressive behavior. |
| US09403838B2 |
Process for reducing contaminating Michael acceptor levels in oxycodone and other compositions
The present invention relates to processes for removal of Michael acceptors from certain compositions wherein the composition is treated with a thiol-containing compound under conditions sufficient to remove Michael acceptors and the resulting thiol-Michael adducts. Certain embodiments of the present invention enable quantification and/or removal of Michael acceptors and/or Michael acceptor precursors. |
| US09403836B2 |
Organic compounds
1- or 2-substituted (6aR,9aS)-3-(phenylamino)-5-6a,7,8,9,9a-hexahydro-5-methyl-cyclopent[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyrimidin-4(1H or, 2H)-one compounds of Formula (I), processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. |
| US09403830B2 |
Inhibitors of leukotriene production
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A1, A2, L1 and B are as defined herein. The compounds of formula (I) are useful as inhibitors of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) and treating LTA4H related disorders. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I), methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, and processes for preparing these compounds. |
| US09403828B2 |
Small-molecule Hsp90 inhibitors
Purine scaffold Hsp90 inhibitors are useful in therapeutic applications and as radioimaging ligands. |
| US09403826B2 |
Compositions and methods for the treatment of inflammatory disorders
The invention relates to the compounds of formula I or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I, and methods for treating or preventing inflammatory disorders may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. Such compositions may be used to treatment of intermittent claudication resulting from obstructed arteries in the limbs, and vascular dementia, improves blood flow through peripheral blood vessels and therefore helps with blood circulation in the arms and legs (e.g. intermittent claudication), and the brain (hence its use in vascular dementia), venous disease, Peyronie's disease, neuropathic injuries, strokes, sickle cell disease, nausea and headaches in the mountains (altitude sickness), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcoholic liver disease, fibrotic lesions induced by radiation therapy for breast cancer, cytokine release syndrome, cancer, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, asthma, bronchodilation, kidney diseases, renal protection, vascular ischemia, neuroprotection, vasodilation, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke, and treatment of endometriosis. |
| US09403824B2 |
Pyridonemorphinan analogs and biological activity on opioid receptors
The application is directed to compounds of Formula I-A and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein , R1a-R3a, R4, Y and Za are defined as set forth in the specification. The invention is also directed to use of compounds of Formula I-A to treat disorders responsive to the modulation of one or more opioid receptors, or as synthetic intermediates. Certain compounds of the present invention are especially useful for treating pain. |
| US09403823B2 |
Protein kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to compounds of the following formula (I) and/or the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, solvates, enantiomers, diastereoisomers thereof, as well as mixtures thereof. The subject matter of the present invention thus also includes the preparation of compounds of formula (I), their uses, in particular in the inhibition of protein kinases which are implicated for example in numerous diseases such as cancers or immune system disorders. |
| US09403820B2 |
Kinase inhibitor polymorphs
Polymorphs of chemical compounds that modulate kinase activity, including PI3K activity, and chemical compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment of diseases and conditions associated with kinase activity, including PI3K activity, are described herein. |
| US09403816B2 |
Phenyl linked quinolinyl modulators of RORγt
The present invention comprises compounds of Formula I. wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are defined in the specification. The invention also comprises a method of treating or ameliorating a syndrome, disorder or disease, wherein said syndrome, disorder or disease is rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. The invention also comprises a method of modulating RORγt activity in a mammal by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of claim 1. |
| US09403815B2 |
Compounds and uses thereof in modulating levels of various amyloid beta peptide alloforms
The invention provides a novel compound having a structure corresponding to Formula (I): (A)-(B)-(C)-(D) (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof and methods for using them. |
| US09403810B2 |
Carboxamide derivatives
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition. |
| US09403805B2 |
Antiviral compounds
The present invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection. |
| US09403802B2 |
Heterocyclic compound and use therefor
The present invention provides a compound having a cholinergic muscarinic M1 receptor positive allosteric modulator activity, and useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain, a sleep disorder and the like. The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted cyclic amino group, R2 and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent, X is —CH═ or —N═, and ring A is an optionally substituted 5- to 10-membered ring, or a salt thereof. |
| US09403801B2 |
Substituted heteroaryl compounds and methods of use
The present invention provides novel heteroaryl compounds, pharmaceutical acceptable salts and formulations thereof useful in preventing, treating or lessening the severity of a protein kinase-mediated disease. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of protein kinase-mediated disease. |
| US09403794B2 |
Imaging beta-amyloid peptides and inhibition of beta-amyloid peptide aggregation
The present invention is in the field of pharmaceuticals and chemical industries. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for labeling, imaging and detecting the beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, oligomers, and fibrils in vitro by using carbazole-based fluorophores. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing and preventing aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides for Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as of treating and/or preventing Alzheimer's disease by using carbazole-based fluorophores. |
| US09403788B2 |
Process for the production of acid anhydrides from epoxides
A method of making acid anhydrides from epoxide and carbon monoxide feedstocks is presented. In various aspects, the method includes steps of reacting the contents of a feed stream comprising an epoxide, a solvent, a carbonylation catalyst and carbon monoxide to produce a first carbonylation product stream comprising a beta-lactone, then reacting the contents of the first carbonylation product stream with additional carbon monoxide to produce a second carbonylation product stream comprising an acid anhydride, and separating at least a portion of the acid anhydride from the second carbonylation product stream to produce: i) an acid anhydride product stream comprising the separated portion of acid anhydride; and ii) a recycling stream comprising the carbonylation catalyst, and finally adding the recycling stream to the feed stream. |
| US09403787B2 |
Method for producing 2-furaldehyde
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing the corrosion of a reactor and reducing waste in the production of 2-furaldehyde from a sugar raw material containing a hexose as a constituent component, and another object of the invention is to provide an industrially advantageous method for producing 2-furaldehyde, which suppresses a decrease in the activity of a catalyst in a case of using an acid catalyst and provides a higher yield. The present invention relates to a method for producing 2-furaldehyde comprising heating a sugar raw material containing a hexose as a constituent component in an aprotic polar solvent in the presence of a solid acid catalyst. |
| US09403785B2 |
Process for preparing amorphous cabazitaxel
The present invention provides a non-solvated amorphous form of (2α,5β,7β,10β,13α)-4-acetoxy-13-({(2R,3S)-3[ (tert-butoxy carbonyl) amino]-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoyl}oxy)-1-hydroxy-7,10-dimethoxy-9-oxo-5,20-epoxytax-11-en-2-yl benzoate or Cabazitaxel (I), and process for preparation thereof. The present application also provides a non-solvated amorphous form of (2α,5β,7β,10β,13α)-4-acetoxy-13-({(2R,3S)-3[ (tert-butoxy carbonyl) amino]-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoyl}oxy)-1-hydroxy-7,10-dimethoxy-9-oxo-5,20-epoxytax-11-en-2-yl benzoate or Cabazitaxel (I) having an XRPD pattern as per FIG. 1, and IR spectrum as per FIG. 3 and is useful as an active pharmaceutical in a pharmaceutical composition comprising thereof and has anti-cancer activity. |
| US09403784B1 |
Fumarate compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use
Fumarate compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the fumarate compounds, and methods of using fumarate compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for treating neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, irritable bowel disorder, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are disclosed. |