| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09411744B1 |
Content-based caching in a managed runtime computing environment
A computer-implemented method of caching data in a managed runtime computing environment can include loading source data and comparing content of the source data with at least one of a plurality of cache entries. Each cache entry can include a representation of previously received source data and a transformation of the previously received source data. A transformation for the source data from a cache entry can be selected or a transformation for the source data can be generated according to the comparison. The transformation for the source data can be output. |
| US09411738B2 |
Efficient processing of cache segment waiters
Various embodiments for cache management in a distributed computing storage environment are provided. In one embodiment, a processor device, for a plurality of input/output (I/O) operations, initiates a process, separate from a process responsible for data segment assembly, for waking a predetermined number of waiting I/O operations. |
| US09411736B2 |
System and method for an accelerator cache based on memory availability and usage
The storage processor of a data storage system such as a storage array automatically configures one or more accelerator caches (“AC”) upon detecting the presence of one or more solid-state storage devices (e.g., SSD drives) installed in the data storage system, such as when a storage device is plugged into a designated slot of the data storage system, without requiring any user configuration of the AC or specification by the user of the type(s) of data to be cached in the AC. The AC therefore provides a zero configuration cache that can be used to cache any of various types of data in the data storage system. The AC cache can be used in any of a wide variety of data storage systems including, without limitation, file servers, storage arrays, computers, etc. Multiple ACs may be created to cache different types of data. |
| US09411734B2 |
Electronic devices having semiconductor memory units and method of fabricating the same
Electronic devices have a semiconductor memory unit including a magnetization compensation layer in a contact plug. One implementation of the semiconductor memory unit includes a variable resistance element having a stacked structure of a first magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a second magnetic layer, and a contact plug arranged in at least one side of the variable resistance element and comprising a magnetization compensation layer. Another implementation includes a variable resistance element having a stacked structure of a first magnetic layer having a variable magnetization, a tunnel barrier layer, and a second magnetic layer having a pinned magnetization; and a contact plug arranged at one side of and separated from the variable resistance element to include a magnetization compensation layer that produces a magnetic field to reduce an influence of a magnetic field of the second magnetic layer on the first magnetic layer. |
| US09411733B2 |
Sharing pattern-based directory coherence for multicore scalability (“SPACE”)
A method and directory system that recognizes and represents the subset of sharing patterns present in an application is provided. As used herein, the term sharing pattern refers to a group of processors accessing a single memory location in an application. The sharing pattern is decoupled from each cache line and held in a separate directory table. The sharing pattern of a cache block is the bit vector representing the processors that share the block. Multiple cache lines that have the same sharing pattern point to a common entry in the directory table. In addition, when the table capacity is exceeded, patterns that are similar to each other are dynamically collated into a single entry. |
| US09411731B2 |
System and method for managing transactions
A method for writing data, the method may include: receiving or generating, by an interfacing module, a data unit coherent write request for performing a coherent write operation of a data unit to a first address; receiving, by the interfacing module and from a circuit that comprises a cache and a cache controller, a cache coherency indicator that indicates that a most updated version of the content stored at the first address is stored in the cache; and instructing, by the interfacing module, the cache controller to invalidate a cache line of the cache that stored the most updated version of the first address without sending the most updated version of the content stored at the first address from the cache to a memory module that differs from the cache if a length of the data unit equals a length of the cache line. |
| US09411728B2 |
Methods and apparatus for efficient communication between caches in hierarchical caching design
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, mechanisms, techniques, and apparatuses for implementing efficient communication between caches in hierarchical caching design. For example, in one embodiment, such means may include an integrated circuit having a data bus; a lower level cache communicably interfaced with the data bus; a higher level cache communicably interfaced with the data bus; one or more data buffers and one or more dataless buffers. The data buffers in such an embodiment being communicably interfaced with the data bus, and each of the one or more data buffers having a buffer memory to buffer a full cache line, one or more control bits to indicate state of the respective data buffer, and an address associated with the full cache line. The dataless buffers in such an embodiment being incapable of storing a full cache line and having one or more control bits to indicate state of the respective dataless buffer and an address for an inter-cache transfer line associated with the respective dataless buffer. In such an embodiment, inter-cache transfer logic is to request the inter-cache transfer line from the higher level cache via the data bus and is to further write the inter-cache transfer line into the lower level cache from the data bus. |
| US09411723B2 |
Data exchange system
A data exchange system including: a microprocessor; a non-volatile memory; a first communication channel linking the microprocessor to the non-volatile memory; a first supply channel configured to supply electrical energy to the microprocessor and to the non-volatile memory; a control device; a second communication channel through which an external device can exchange data with the non-volatile memory; a second supply channel configured to supply the control device and the non-volatile memory. |
| US09411722B2 |
Asynchronous FIFO buffer for memory access
An asynchronous FIFO buffer that provides data in response to requests to read a memory array is disclosed. The asynchronous FIFO buffer provides the data output within a latency tolerance. The asynchronous FIFO has a read clock input and a write clock input. The read clock input receives a read enable signal that defines how data should be clocked out. The write clock input receives a write clock that is asynchronous from the read enable signal. The asynchronous FIFO inputs data from the memory array in accordance with the write clock signal. The asynchronous FIFO outputs data in accordance with the read enable signal. Control logic may pre-fetch data from the memory array into the asynchronous FIFO prior to the read enable signal first being received. |
| US09411720B2 |
Information processing apparatus equipped with overwrite deletion function, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus which is capable of effectively using an overwrite deletion function and a hibernation function. An image forming apparatus as the information processing apparatus that is equipped with an overwrite deletion function for overwriting data stored in a HDD, and a hibernation function for causing data stored in a RAM to be stored in the HDD. In a case where one of the overwrite deletion function and the hibernation function is enabled, a CPU disables the other function. |
| US09411719B2 |
Memory system including nonvolatile and volatile memory and operating method thereof
A memory system having multiple memory layers includes a first memory layer comprising a volatile memory, a second memory layer comprising a first sub-memory and a second sub-memory. In response to a reference failure that occurred in the first memory layer, to which a read reference failed data and a write reference failed data are respectively loaded from a lower level memory layer. |
| US09411713B2 |
Method for supporting product design and product design support apparatus
A computer refers to a first document, second documents related to the first document, test documents related to the respective second documents, and test results associated with the respective test documents. The first document defines a first requirement. The second documents define functions of the first requirement. The computer calculates, on basis of the test results and a total number of test items included in all of the test documents, a degree of difficulty in realizing the first requirement. |
| US09411712B2 |
Generating test data
Generating test data includes: reading values occurring in at least one field of multiple records from a data source; storing profile information including statistics characterizing the values; generating a model of a probability distribution for the field based on the statistics; generating multiple test data values using the generated model such that a frequency at which a given value occurs in the test data values corresponds to a probability assigned to that given value by the model; and storing a collection of test data including the test data values in a data storage system. |
| US09411709B2 |
Collaborative software debugging in a distributed system with client-specific event alerts
In a distributed system including a debug server and debug clients coupled for data communications through a network, where the debug server includes a debug administrator, message router, back-end debugger, and a debuggee, collaborative software debugging includes: presenting a client-specific GUI; detecting user input through the GUI, including user input specifying a location to establish an event; establishing a client-specific event alert to be invoked upon receipt of an event notification for the event; generating application-level messages, including a request to establish the event; sending application-level messages to the debug server, including the request; receiving client-specific debug results, including an event notification for the event; and displaying the client-specific debug results, including invoking the client-specific event alert responsive to the event notification, without invoking an alert by at least one of the other debug clients receiving the event notification. |
| US09411701B2 |
Analog block and test blocks for testing thereof
An apparatus relating generally to a system-on-chip is disclosed. In this apparatus, the system-on-chip has at least one analog block, an input/output interface, a data test block, and a processing unit. The processing unit is coupled to the input/output interface to control access to the at least one analog block. The data test block is coupled to the at least one analog block through the input/output interface. The processing unit is coupled to the data test block and configured to execute test code having at least one test pattern. The data test block under control of the test code executed by the processing unit is configured to test the at least one analog block with the test pattern. |
| US09411700B2 |
Storage tester capable of individual control for a plurality of storage
Disclosed is a storage tester capable of individual control for a plurality of storages, which comprises a host terminal for receiving user's control signal for storage test; a communication interface unit transmitting data among the host terminal, an embedded processor and a data engine unit; a data engine unit for generating pattern data and command data and reading the data from the storage; a sequence control module for controlling respectively a plurality of SATA/SAS/PCIe interface units; and SATA/SAS/PCIe interface unit for connecting to the storage through one among SATA, SAS, PCIe interface according to the signal for interface selection generated from the embedded processor and controlling a plurality of storages according to control of the sequence control module by the embedded processor in order to test respectively connected storage. |
| US09411698B2 |
Determining an availability score based on available resources of different resource types in a distributed computing environment of storage servers to determine whether to perform a failure operation for one of the storage servers
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for a computer program product, system, and method for determining an availability score based on available resources of different resource types in a distributed computing environment of storage servers to determine whether to perform a failure operation for one of the storage servers. A health status monitor program deployed in the storage servers performs: maintaining information indicating availability of a plurality of storage server resources for a plurality of resource types; calculating an availability score as a function of a number of available resources of the resource types; and transmitting information on the availability score to a management program. The management program uses the transmitted information to determine whether to migrate services from the storage server from which the availability score is received to at least one of the other storage servers in the distributed computing environment. |
| US09411696B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having a first group of main blocks, a second group of main blocks and redundancy blocks replacing the first group of main blocks or the second group of main blocks, a repair logic suitable for enabling a replacement signal when one or more of the second group of main blocks are defective, a control logic suitable for generating an address for the second group of main blocks in response to a dedicated command for access to one or more of the second group of main blocks, and an address decoder suitable for selecting one or more of the redundancy blocks based on the address for the second group of main blocks when the replacement signal is enabled. |
| US09411693B2 |
Directory error correction in multi-core processor architectures
Technologies are generally described that relate to processing cache coherence information and processing a request for a data block. In some examples, methods for processing cache coherence information are described that may include storing in a directory a tag identifier effective to identify a data block. The methods may further include storing a state identifier in association with the tag identifier. The state identifier may be effective to identify a coherence state of the data block. The methods may further include storing sharer information in association with the tag identifier. The sharer information may be effective to indicate one or more caches storing the data block. The methods may include storing, by the controller in the directory, replication information in association with the sharer information. The replication information may be effective to indicate a type of replication of the sharer information in the directory, and effective to indicate replicated segments. |
| US09411692B2 |
Applying write elision
A data portion is evicted from a buffer, where the evicted data portion is modified from a corresponding data portion in a persistent storage. Write elision is applied to suppress writing the evicted data portion to the persistent storage. Subsequent to applying the write elision and in response to reading a version of the data portion, a redo of a modification of the read data portion is applied. |
| US09411687B2 |
Methods and apparatus for interface in multi-phase restore
Methods and apparatus to restore resources to a device according to an order of the resources requested by a user are described. The restoration may be interrupted in response to a user request to update an order to restore remaining resources yet to restore. The remaining resources may be restored according to the updated order. |
| US09411686B2 |
Methods for accessing a storage unit of a flash memory and apparatuses using the same
An embodiment of a method for accessing a storage unit of a flash memory, performed by a processing unit, includes at least the following steps. After all messages within a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disk) group are programmed, it is determined whether a vertical ECC (Error Correction Code) within the RAID group has been generated. The processing unit directs a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller to obtain the vertical ECC from a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and store the vertical ECC to a buffer when the vertical ECC within the RAID group has been generated, thereby enabling the vertical ECC to be programmed to the storage unit. |
| US09411685B2 |
Parity chunk operating method and data server apparatus for supporting the same in distributed raid system
The present invention relates to operating a parity chunk, and a parity chunk operating method, in an environment dividing data of a file by a chunk unit, constituting a stripe by calculating a parity for a failure recovery, dispersely storing a data chunk and a parity chunk included in the stripe in multiple data servers, comprising the steps of: storing a data chunk and a parity chunk of a stripe structure in data servers; generating a partial parity using a previous data chunk in the storing step of a update data chunk by the data server storing the data chunk; and transmitting a partial parity to the data server storing the parity chunk, and a data server apparatus for supporting the same are disclosed. |
| US09411684B2 |
Low density parity check circuit
Generally discussed herein are Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) circuit layouts. An example LDPC circuit can include combinational logic and a plurality of memory units. Each of the plurality of memory units can be electrically coupled to each other and the combinational logic, and the plurality of memory units can be situated in a ring-like configuration. |
| US09411681B2 |
Method and apparatus for reading data stored in flash memory by referring to binary digit distribution characteristics of bit sequences read from flash memory
A method for reading data stored in a flash memory includes at least the following steps: controlling the flash memory to perform a plurality of read operations upon a plurality of memory cells included in the flash memory; obtaining a plurality of bit sequences read from the memory cells, respectively, wherein the read operations read bits of a predetermined bit order from the memory cells by utilizing different control gate voltage settings; and determining readout information of the memory cells according to binary digit distribution characteristics of the bit sequences. |
| US09411679B2 |
Code modulation encoder and decoder, memory controller including them, and flash memory system
Disclosed is a bit-state mapping method of a flash memory system which maps m-bit data (m being a natural number more than 2) onto one of 2m states (voltage threshold distributions). The bit-state mapping method includes performing a subset partitioning operation during first to (m−1)th levels under a condition that two adjacent states are processed as one state; and distinguishing between the adjacent states while processing an (m)th level. |
| US09411677B2 |
Method and system for detecting errors in the transfer of data from a transmitter to at least one receiver
A method for detecting errors in a transfer of data from a transmitter to at least one receiver includes coding the data together with address information identifying the receiver in a series of data packets and transferring the data and the address information using the data packets. The method also includes generating, at the transmitter, a check value for each data packet and transferring the check value with/in the data packet to the receiver. The method further includes comparing, at the receiver, the check value with an expectation value, wherein an error is detected in the event of a deviation. For each data packet to be transmitted, the method includes calculating a number sequence value from the address information using a first calculation rule, generating the check value from the sequence value using a second calculation rule and transmitting the data packet with the check value to the receiver. |
| US09411676B2 |
Method and device for transmitting data
Disclosed is a method for data transmission, comprising: generating the parity check matrix on the basis of the generating sequence corresponded to the preserved row generator; encoding the input data by the generated matrix obtained by said parity check matrix, and obtaining the output data comprising the parity check information. Also provided in the present invention is an apparatus for data transmission. The method and apparatus of the present invention could make the parity check matrix take the minimum storage space. |
| US09411674B2 |
Providing hardware resources having different reliabilities for use by an application
Power management functionality is described for implementing an application in an energy-efficient manner, without substantially degrading overall performance of the application. The functionality operates by identifying at least first data and second data associated with the application. The first data is considered to have a greater potential impact on performance of the application compared to the second data. The functionality then instructs a first set of hardware-level resources to handle the first data and a second set of hardware-level resources to handle the second data. The first set of hardware-level resources has a higher reliability compared to the second set of hardware-level resources. In one case, the first and second hardware-level resources comprise DRAM memory units. Here, the first set of hardware-level resources achieves greater reliability than the second set of hardware-level resources by being refreshed at a higher rate than the second set of hardware-level resources. |
| US09411669B2 |
Selective sampling of data stored in nonvolatile memory
Data stored in a nonvolatile memory is selectively sampled based on write-erase cycle counts of blocks. Blocks with the lowest write-erase cycle counts are sampled to determine an error rate which is compared with a limit. If the error rate exceeds the limit then the sample is expanded to include blocks with the next lowest write-erase cycle counts. |
| US09411667B2 |
Recovery after input/ouput error-containment events
Embodiments of apparatus, computer-implemented methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media are described herein for a computing device with a platform entity such as an interrupt handier configured to notify an operating system or virtual machine monitor executing on the computing device of an input/output error-containment event. In various embodiments, the interrupt handler may be configured to facilitate recovery of a link to an input/output device that caused the input/output error-containment event, responsive to a directive from the operating system or virtual machine monitor. |
| US09411666B2 |
Anticipatory protection of critical jobs in a computing system
Anticipatory protection of critical jobs in a computing system, including: identifying, by a system management module, a problem computing component in the computing system; identifying, by the system management modules, all proximate computing components in the computing system, wherein each proximate computing component is within a predetermined physical proximity of the problem computing component; determining, by the system management module, whether the proximate computing components are executing one or more critical jobs; and responsive to determining that the proximate computing components are executing one or more critical jobs migrating, by the system management module, the one or more critical jobs to distant computing components in the computing system, wherein each distant computing component is not within the predetermined physical proximity of the problem computing component. |
| US09411664B1 |
Fingerprint-based processor parameter management
Embodiments relate to fingerprint-based processor parameter management. An aspect includes determining a fingerprint of software that is currently executing on a processor of a computer system, the fingerprint comprising a representation of a sequence of behavior that occurs in the processor while the software is executing. Another aspect includes determining whether the fingerprint is listed in a fingerprint table with an associated operating parameter value. Another aspect includes based on determining that the fingerprint is listed in the fingerprint table, setting an operating parameter in a parameter register of the processor equal to the associated parameter operating parameter value. Another aspect includes based on determining that the fingerprint is not listed in the fingerprint table: determining a value for operating parameter during execution of the software; and setting the operating parameter in the parameter register equal to the determined value. |
| US09411662B2 |
Controlling priority levels of pending threads awaiting processing
A data processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry arranged to process processing threads using resources accessible to the processing circuitry. A pipeline is provided for handling at least two pending threads awaiting processing by the processing circuitry. The pipeline includes at least one resource-requesting pipeline stage for requesting access to resources for the pending threads. A priority controller controls priority levels of the pending threads. The priority levels define a priority with which pending threads are granted access to resources. When a pending thread reaches a final pipeline stage, if the request resources are not yet available then the priority level of that thread is raised selectively and the thread is returned to a first pipeline stage of the pipeline. If the requested resources are available then the thread is forwarded from the pipeline. |
| US09411661B2 |
Deadlock avoidance
A transaction processing system is operated. A first resource is locked as a shared resource by a first task executing on a computing device. The first task attempts to lock a second resource as an exclusive resource. The occurrence of a deadlock is ascertained. A second task that wishes to use the locked first resource is identified. A current position of the first task with respect to the first resource is stored. The lock on the first resource is removed. The second task is prompted to use the first resource. The first task locks the first resource as the shared resource. The first task is repositioned with respect to first resource according to the stored position. The first task locks the second resource as the exclusive resource. The first task is performed. |
| US09411660B2 |
Lock control apparatus and lock control method
A lock control apparatus includes a control unit that controls acquisition of a lock for using a shared resource shared among a plurality of tasks by a task according to first lock information that indicates whether to permit the tasks to acquire the lock, and a determining unit that determines whether there is a conflict of requests for acquisition of the lock by the tasks, wherein when the determining unit determines that there is a conflict of requests for acquisition of the lock, the control unit controls acquisition of the lock by the tasks according to second lock information that indicates whether to permit acquisition of the lock when there is a conflict. |
| US09411658B2 |
Token-based adaptive task management for virtual machines
Embodiments perform adaptive throttling of tasks into a virtual datacenter having dynamically changing resources. Tasks are processed concurrently in batches. The rate of change in throughput at different batch sizes is calculated. With each iteration, the batch size is increased or decreased based on the rate of change to achieve a maximum throughput for given resources and load on the virtual datacenter. |
| US09411655B2 |
System and method for detection and deployment of virtualization capable assets in a managed datacenter
A datacenter management server includes a datacenter operations manager and a datacenter infrastructure manager with an infrastructure viewer and an asset deployment tool. The datacenter operations manager compiles datacenter hierarchy information for a datacenter, including identity information for a virtualized environment and identity information for a virtualization capable system. The virtualization capable system is deployed as a stand-alone system of the datacenter. The datacenter infrastructure manager receives the datacenter hierarchy information, directs the infrastructure viewer to display a hierarchical overview of the datacenter, including depictions of the virtualized environment and the virtualization capable system. The hierarchical overview is based on the identity information. The datacenter infrastructure manager also receives a selection of the depictions from a user and directs the asset deployment tool to deploy the virtualization capable system to the virtualized environment. |
| US09411653B2 |
System and method for provisioning and load balancing user accounts on server clusters
Providers of Internet based services must handle requests from many different customers. However, to make the experience simple and effective, a system for allowing a user to enter a simple Uniform Resource Locator based upon the user's identifier is provided that re-directs the user to a server cluster allocated to that user. The system is capable of periodic load re-balancing and can handle many different types of services for each user. |
| US09411650B2 |
Ledger-based resource tracking
Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for tracking and managing resource usage through a ledger feature that can trigger complex real-time reactions. The resource tracking can be managed through a ledger module and a ledger data structure. The ledger data structure can be updated each time a task requests a resource. Additionally, as part of the update, the ledger module can verify whether a resource has been over consumed. In response to the detection of an over consumption, the ledger module can set a flag. At some later pointer when the thread is in a stable, well-understood point, the ledger module can check if the flag has been set. If the flag has been set, the ledger module can call the appropriate callback function, which can react to the over consumption in a resource specific manner. |
| US09411649B2 |
Resource allocation method
A resource allocation method adapted to a mobile device having a multi-core central processing unit (CPU) is provided. The CPU executes at least one application. The method includes steps as follows. A usage status of each of the at least one application is obtained according to a level of concern of a user for each of the at least one application. A sensitivity of at least one thread of each of the at least one application is determined according to the usage status of each of the at least one application. Resources of the CPU are allocated according to the sensitivity of the at least one thread run by the cores. |
| US09411648B2 |
Flexible resource configuration management for computing clusters
In an embodiment, a method includes maintaining a pool of server resources, maintaining a pool of storage resources, maintaining a pool of network resources, and initializing, via a meta-cluster software manager, a multi-function cluster associated with a first customer of a datacenter including the pools. This multi-function cluster may include first servers of the pool of server resources, first storage devices of the pool of storage resources, and first network devices of the pool of network resources, and may be managed by the meta-cluster manager. |
| US09411646B2 |
Booting secondary processors in multicore system using kernel images stored in private memory segments
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for supporting resource isolation in a multi-core architecture. In the method and system for supporting resource isolation in a multi-core architecture provided by the embodiments of the present invention, manners of inter-core operating system isolation, memory segment isolation, and I/O resource isolation are adopted, so that operating systems that run on different processing cores of the multi-core processor can run independently without affecting each other. Therefore, the present invention fully uses the advantages high integration level and low comprehensive costs of the multi-core processor, it is achieved that a failure domain of the multi-core processor remains in a single hard disk, and the multi-core processor has high reliability. |
| US09411645B1 |
Scheduling MapReduce tasks based on estimated workload distribution
A method for scheduling MapReduce tasks includes receiving a set of task statistics corresponding to task execution within a MapReduce job, estimating a completion time for a set of tasks to be executed to provide an estimated completion time, calculating a soft decision point based on a convergence of a workload distribution corresponding to a set of executed tasks, calculating a hard decision point based on the estimated completion time for the set of tasks to be executed, determining a selected decision point based on the soft decision point and the hard decision point, and scheduling upcoming tasks for execution based on the selected decision point. The method may also include estimating a map task completion time and estimating a shuffle operation completion time. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the method are also disclosed. |
| US09411640B2 |
Method for efficiently managing application and electronic device implementing the method
A method for managing an application is provided. The method includes executing a master application loaded into a first memory, executing a member application of the master application loaded into the first memory, and determining whether there is a shortage of an available space in the first memory, and changing if there is an available space shortage in the first memory, a priority of the master application, the master application not being closed in the first memory. |
| US09411639B2 |
System and method for managing network navigation
A file comprising an application and data corresponding to a status of the application at a particular time is maintained in a first memory of a user device, the first memory comprising a persistent storage. The application may be a software application, for example. In response to a request, the file is transferred to a second memory of the device, the second memory comprising a random-access memory. The file is activated, or set up, as a running application. The user device may be a cell phone, a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a workstation, a mainframe computer, etc. In one embodiment, the file is brought to a foreground of the user device. |
| US09411636B1 |
Multi-tasking real-time kernel threads used in multi-threaded network processing
For multi-threaded network processing, a real-time task is scheduled in a network server by placing the task on a real-time task list, activating the task when an event occurs during operation of the network server, and executing the task when scanning the task list and finding that the task has been activated. For example, an application or kernel process sends to a real-time network thread manager a request to register a task specified by an address of a task service routine. The thread manager places the address in an entry on the task list and returns a cookie identifying the entry. Upon occurrence of the event, an interrupt routine sends to a task activation routine a request to activate the task specified by the cookie. At periodic intervals, if there are any activated tasks on the task list, then a real-time scheduler scans the task list. |
| US09411634B2 |
Action framework in software transactional memory
A software transactional memory system implements a lightweight key-based action framework. The framework includes a set of unified application programming interfaces (APIs) exposed by an STM library that allow clients to implement actions that can be registered, queried, and updated using specific keys by transactions or transaction nests in STM code. Each action includes a key, state information, and a set of one or more callbacks that can be hooked to the validation, commit, abort, and/or re-execution phases of transaction execution. The actions extend the built-in concurrency controls of the STM system with customized control logics, support transaction nesting semantics, and enable integration with garbage collection systems. |
| US09411630B1 |
Reducing virtual machine pre-emption in virtualized environment
A method for reducing virtual machine preemption in a virtualized environment is provided. The method includes dispatching a virtual central processing unit (CPU) to run in an emulation mode on a real CPU until the real CPU exits the emulation mode, determining whether the virtual CPU has loaded a wait state, determining whether a remaining time slice of the virtual CPU as a result of the dispatching is below a predefined threshold in an event that the virtual CPU has loaded the wait state and rescheduling the virtual CPU with a full time slice in an event the remaining time slice of the virtual CPU is below the predefined threshold. |
| US09411628B2 |
Virtual machine cluster backup in a multi-node environment
Embodiments are directed to backing up a virtual machine cluster and to determining virtual machine node ownership prior to backing up a virtual machine cluster. In one scenario, a computer system determines which virtual machines nodes are part of the virtual machine cluster, determines which shared storage resources are part of the virtual machine cluster and determines which virtual machine nodes own the shared storage resources. The computer system then indicates to the virtual machine node owners that at least one specified application is to be quiesced over the nodes of the virtual machine cluster, such that a consistent, cluster-wide checkpoint can be created. The computer system further creates a cluster-wide checkpoint which includes a checkpoint for each virtual machine in the virtual machine cluster. |
| US09411624B2 |
Virtual device interrupt hinting in a virtualization system
A mechanism for virtual device interrupt hinting in virtualization systems is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a virtual device event from a host central processing unit (CPU) of a multi-CPU host machine, the virtual device event directed to a virtual machine (VM) managed by the hypervisor on the host machine, identifying one or more virtual CPUs (VCPUs) of the VM that are running on the host CPU, and providing the identified one or more VCPUs of the VM as a hint to the VM, the hint sent to the VM with the virtual device event, wherein the VM programs a virtual device associated with the event to deliver interrupts to a VCPU of the VM identified in the hint. |
| US09411620B2 |
Virtual storage migration method, virtual storage migration system and virtual machine monitor
A virtual storage migration method is provided, including: starting a data migration process, and copying, from a source storage device to a destination storage device, a data block in a virtual disk to be migrated; when a VM front-end I/O read request is received, directly reading, corresponding data from the source storage device; when a VM front-end I/O write request is received, determining whether a migration data block that corresponds to the write request is being migrated, if yes, executing a write operation that corresponds to the write request after the migration of the migration data block is completed, if no, executing a write operation that corresponds to the write request; and after all the data blocks in the virtual disk to be migrated are copied to the destination storage device, stopping the data migration, and switching the virtual disk from the source storage device to the destination storage device. |
| US09411612B2 |
Techniques for creating and/or maintaining scalable heterogeneous read-only federations of registries
Certain example embodiments described herein relate to techniques for creating and maintaining scalable heterogeneous read-only federations of registries, e.g., for use in service-oriented architectures. Federation of heterogeneous registries can be achieved with any types of registries (e.g., UDDI, ebXML, OSGi, ESB, proprietary, etc.), while at the same time avoiding the need to have target registries implement extra protocols or layers. In certain example embodiments, gateway registries may implement translation layers appropriate for the types of registries thereunder so as to provide a scalable and flexible solution. Optionally, registries may be grouped based on type so that messages may be translated only once per group, while avoiding tight couplings with registries and the services they provide. |
| US09411611B2 |
Colocation and anticolocation in colocation data centers via elastic nets
An application processing system for placing applications and their associated data into a colocation data center, wherein an application placement module is configured to perform the method of steps including: constructing a facility communication node graph; constructing a composite elastic map which represents the compute nodes in the colocation data center; associating a force function between two nodes based on communication bandwidth; constructing an application usage data space; inserting the node graph into the application data space; assigning the applications to the compute nodes; associating a force function between each application and each compute node based on the assignment; determining an elastic map energy (EME) for the elastic map, wherein the EME is the total energy of the system; and assigning the real-world applications to the real-world compute nodes in the data center if the EME is less than a threshold energy. |
| US09411609B2 |
Electronic control apparatus
An electronic control apparatus as one of nodes connected to a communication line includes a microcomputer, a power integrated circuit for controlling power supply to the microcomputer, and a timer adjuster. The power integrated circuit has a timer for measuring a time period during which no data flows through a communication line. The timer is reset, when no data flows through the communication line and then data flows through the communication line. The power integrated circuit starts power supply to the microcomputer, when data flows through the communication line. The power integrated circuit stops the power supply when the timer reaches a threshold value. The timer adjuster prevents the timer from reaching the threshold value until the microcomputer completes a shutdown process. |
| US09411604B2 |
Booting a computing device to have a predefined functionality
In a method for booting a computing device to have a predefined functionality, in which the computing device has stored thereon a limited functionality operating system (OS) having an operating file system, the limited functionality OS is booted and a characteristic file system with a predefined functionality is located. In addition, the characteristic file system is merged into the operating file system and the limited functionality OS is implemented with the merged file system to cause the computing device to have the predefined functionality. |
| US09411602B2 |
Techniques for booting an information processing system
A technique for booting an information processing system includes storing a boot sequence table in a storage unit. The boot sequence table includes a specific boot sequence defining a boot sequence of a setup utility and a bootable subject during booting. The boot sequence table is accessed via the operating system firmware interface. A subject to be booted is determined in accordance with the boot sequence. |
| US09411601B2 |
Flexible bootstrap code architecture
The present disclosure is directed to flexible bootstrap code architecture. A device may comprise equipment for operating the device and an operating system (OS) for operating the equipment. A boot module may also be included in the device to execute boot operations. At least one flexible boot (FB) module in the boot module may interact with the equipment and/or OS during the boot operations to cause the boot operations to become device-specific. An example boot module may comprise a plurality of FB modules. An example FB module may verify a device/chipset identification and may control the boot operations based on the identification. Other example FB modules may select resources to load based on an OS type, may provide a boot configuration table location for use in OS runtime boot configuration or may load variables from a preload variable directory for use in configuring boot operations. |
| US09411598B2 |
Semi-exclusive second-level branch target buffer
Embodiments relate to a semi-exclusive second-level branch target buffer. An aspect includes a computer-implemented method for a semi-exclusive second-level branch target buffer. The method includes performing a search to locate entries in a BTB2 having a memory region corresponding to a search request. Based on locating the entries in the BTB2, a bulk transfer of located entries is performed from the BTB2 to a BTBP. A state associated with the located entries is updated to encourage exclusivity between the BTB1 and the BTB2. Based on transferring a BTBP entry from the BTBP to a BTB1, a BTB1 entry is evicted from the BTB1. The evicted BTB1 entry is transferred from the BTB1 to the BTB2. |
| US09411594B2 |
Clock data recovery circuit and clock data recovery method
A processor includes: an arithmetic unit configured to execute instructions; an instruction decode part configured to decode the instructions executed in the arithmetic unit and to output opcodes; and an interrupt register configured to receive interrupt signals, wherein the instruction decode part includes an instruction code map that stores the opcodes in correspondence to instructions and outputs the opcodes in accordance with the instructions inputted, and the instruction code map stores a plurality of sets of opcodes to be output as switch opcodes corresponding to additional instructions, the additional instructions are a part of the instructions, and switches the sets of the switch opcodes in accordance with the interrupt signal. |
| US09411593B2 |
Processors, methods, systems, and instructions to consolidate unmasked elements of operation masks
An instruction processing apparatus of an aspect includes a plurality of operation mask registers. The apparatus also includes a decode unit to receive an operation mask consolidation instruction. The operation mask consolidation instruction is to indicate a source operation mask register, of the plurality of operation mask registers, and a destination storage location. The source operation mask register is to include a source operation mask that is to include a plurality of masked elements that are to be disposed within a plurality of unmasked elements. An execution unit is coupled with the decode unit. The execution unit, in response to the operation mask consolidation instruction, is to store a consolidated operation mask in the destination storage location. The consolidated operation mask is to include the unmasked elements from the source operation mask consolidated together. Other apparatus, methods, systems, and instructions are also disclosed. |
| US09411589B2 |
Branch-free condition evaluation
A compare instruction of an instruction set architecture (ISA), when executed tests one or more operands for an instruction defined condition. The result of the test is stored as an operand, with leading zeros, in a general register of the ISA. The general register is identified (explicitly or implicitly) by the compare instruction. Thus, the result of the test can be manipulated by standard register operations of the computer system. In a superscalar processor, no special “condition code” renaming is required, as the standard register renaming takes care of out-of-order processing of the conditions. |
| US09411585B2 |
Multi-addressable register files and format conversions associated therewith
A multi-addressable register file is addressed by a plurality of types of instructions, including scalar, vector and vector-scalar extension instructions. It may be determined that data is to be translated from one format to another format. If so determined, a convert machine instruction is executed that obtains a single precision datum in a first representation in a first format from a first register; converts the single precision datum of the first representation in the first format to a converted single precision datum of a second representation in a second format; and places the converted single precision datum in a second register. |
| US09411583B2 |
Vector instruction for presenting complex conjugates of respective complex numbers
An apparatus is described having a semiconductor chip that has an instruction execution pipeline. The instruction execution pipeline has an execution unit with logic circuitry to perform the following for an instruction: accept input vector elements representing real and imaginary parts of a plurality of complex numbers; and, present the complex conjugates of the complex numbers. |
| US09411581B2 |
Code migration systems and methods
A method of converting a precompiled source code. The method comprises receiving a precompiled source code of an application, providing a plurality of AST segment patterns each associated with another of a plurality of replacement code templates, building an abstract syntax tree (AST) of the precompiled source code, matching between a first group of the plurality of AST segment patterns and a plurality of AST segments of the AST to identify a second group of the plurality of replacement code templates, the plurality of AST segments are associated with a plurality of source code segments of the precompiled source code, and performing a code migration process of the precompiled source code to a precompiled migrated code of the application using the second group. |
| US09411580B2 |
Annotating a generator output stream
A code annotating system includes a code wrapper engine, an annotator engine, and a memory device. The code wrapper engine receives an output stream produced by a source code of a generator. The code wrapper engine also wraps the output stream to produce a copy of the output stream. The annotator engine automatically annotates the copy with source information. The source information maps a relationship between data in the output stream and the source code of the generator. The memory device stores the source information. |
| US09411579B2 |
Source code violation matching and attribution
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for matching and attributing code violations. One of the methods includes receiving a snapshot S of a code base of source code and a different snapshot T of the code base. Data representing first violations in the snapshot S and second violations in the snapshot T is received. Pairs of matching violations are determined using performing two or more matching processes, including performing a first matching process, the first matching process determining first pairs of matching violations according to a first matching algorithm and performing a second matching process, the second matching process determining second pairs of matching violations according to a second matching algorithm from violations not matched by the first matching process. The first pairs of matching violations and the second pairs of matching violations are included in the determined pairs of matching violations. |
| US09411578B2 |
Source code violation matching and attribution
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for matching and attributing code violations. One of the methods includes receiving a snapshot S of a code base of source code and a different snapshot T of the code base. Data representing first violations in the snapshot S and second violations in the snapshot T is received. Pairs of matching violations are determined using performing two or more matching processes, including performing a first matching process, the first matching process determining first pairs of matching violations according to a first matching algorithm and performing a second matching process, the second matching process determining second pairs of matching violations according to a second matching algorithm from violations not matched by the first matching process. The first pairs of matching violations and the second pairs of matching violations are included in the determined pairs of matching violations. |
| US09411573B2 |
Testing framework for applications
An application distribution server may be operable to select a plurality of data processing devices which are capable of receiving application updates. One or more experimental versions of an application may be communicated by the application distribution server to each of the selected plurality of data processing devices during an update process of the application. The application distribution server may cause collection of performance information associated with the one or more experimental versions. The application distribution server may then cause communication of the collected performance information to a developer of the application for analysis. When a particular experimental version is uninstalled from a particular data processing device or when feedback and/or rating information on the particular experimental version is communicated from the particular data processing device, the application distribution server may communicate, to the particular data processing device, a message indicating an experiment and options to opt-out of future experiments. |
| US09411571B2 |
Method and apparatus for deploying software as a service
A computer implemented method and apparatus for deploying software as a service. The method comprises defining, in metadata, dependencies between a software product and associated dependency assets that are associated with the software product, wherein the software product comprises a plurality of software product assets; receiving a request for the software product from a computer; and downloading to the computer the software product assets and associated dependency assets identified in the metadata for the computer based on an operating system and one or more capabilities of the computer. |
| US09411570B2 |
Integrating software provisioning and configuration management
A provisioning server can cooperate with configuration management systems to deliver provisioning processes integrated with configuration management services. The provisioning server can associate provisioning objects for the various provisioning processes with management classes supported by the configuration management systems. The management classes can include data for configuring the resources of a target machine (hardware, software, data, etc.). As the provisioning server performs the provisioning process for a particular provisioning object on a target machine, the provisioning server can apply the management class, associated with the particular provisioning object, to the target machine. |
| US09411564B2 |
Extraction of functional semantics and isolated dataflow from imperative object oriented languages
Extraction of functional semantics and isolated dataflow from imperative object oriented languages, in one aspect, may include identifying one or more methods and/or classes associated with one or more of a plurality of property labels in a computer code written in object oriented language to extract functional and isolation characteristics in the computer code. The plurality of property labels supported by one or more checking rules, are used to verify that the one or more methods and/or classes identified with the plurality of property labels have isolation characteristics. An object oriented language compiler is provided for supplying the plurality of property labels and checking rules. The object oriented language compiler further may include capability to transform methods into compute tasks and connect the compute tasks so as to create a dataflow graph. |
| US09411557B1 |
Specifying a model architecture of software elements and generating an aggregated dependency graph therefrom
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generated aggregated dependencies between software elements in a code base. One of the methods includes receiving a user-specified model architecture of software elements in a project, wherein the model architecture is a hierarchy graph having leaf nodes that represent user-selected portions of the project, and one or more non-leaf nodes, wherein each non-leaf node is a parent node of a user-specified group of leaf nodes, non-leaf nodes, or both. An aggregated dependency graph is generated from the user-specified model architecture. A presentation is generated of the aggregated dependency graph for the model architecture, wherein the presentation displays aggregated dependencies between the user-selected nodes of the model architecture. |
| US09411555B2 |
Systems and methods for creating context sensitive graph topologies based on multidimensional context information
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a first user instruction in a controller. The controller stores information about a first plurality of metaquarks and a first graph topology creating expression. The method further includes generating, by the controller, an original graph topology based on the first plurality of metaquarks and the first graph topology creating expression and the first user instruction, and generating first display information based on the original graph topology. The method may further comprise receiving a second user instruction in the controller; generating a second plurality of metaquarks and a second graph topology creating expression based on the second user instruction; generating, by the controller, a modified graph topology based on the first plurality of metaquarks, the second plurality of metaquarks, and the second graph topology creating expression; and generating second display information based on the modified graph topology. |
| US09411550B2 |
Mirroring graphics content to an external display
A data processing system composites graphics content, generated by an application program running on the data processing system, to generate image data. The data processing system stores the image data in a first framebuffer and displays an image generated from the image data in the first framebuffer on an internal display device of the data processing system. A scaler in the data processing system performs scaling operations on the image data in the first framebuffer, stores the scaled image data in a second framebuffer and displays an image generated from the scaled image data in the second framebuffer on an external display device coupled to the data processing system. The scaler performs the scaling operations asynchronously with respect to the compositing of the graphics content. The data processing system automatically mirrors the image on the external display device unless the application program is publishing additional graphics content for display on the external display device. |
| US09411548B2 |
Print processing method and printing system
A server constituted by a plurality of processors which process page description language data receives a print instruction from a client, and decides the number of layers into which a page is to be segmented based on render instructions included in the page description language data. The server decides the number of processors which perform parallel processing of the generation of print data from the page description language data based on the decided number of layers. The server generates print data equal in number to the number of layers based on which the number of processors is decided. An output device requests the server to transmit print data. The server transmits print data in accordance with the request from the output device. Upon receiving the print data from the server, the output device processes the print data and outputs it onto a sheet. |
| US09411546B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method for controlling the same, and storage medium
Provided is a technique for preventing registration regarding event notifications to a communication apparatus from remaining in an information processing apparatus after a communication session using a direct connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus is disconnected. The information processing apparatus (image forming apparatus) performs, upon receiving from the communication apparatus (mobile terminal) a registration request regarding an event to be notified to the mobile terminal in the case where the event occurs in the image forming apparatus, registration regarding the event in accordance with the received registration request. When a WiFi-Direct connection to a specific mobile terminal is disconnected, the image forming apparatus identifies, among registered events, an event in which that specific mobile terminal is registered as a communication destination, and cancels the registration regarding the identified event. |
| US09411539B2 |
Providing access information to a storage controller to determine a storage tier for storing data
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing access information to a storage controller to determine a storage tier for storing data. Access information is maintained for each data record in a data store, wherein the access information indicates a level of access to each data record in the data store. A write request directed to a data record in the data store is received. A command is generated identifying the data record and including the access information for the data record. The command is transmitted to the storage controller, wherein the storage controller uses the access information to determine one of the plurality of storage tiers on which to store the data record. |
| US09411536B2 |
Verifying a record as part of an operation to modify the record
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for verifying a record as part of an operation to modify the record, A search request is received to determine whether a record matches a value. A first component executes the search request to determine if the record matches the value. The first component sends a verify request to a second component that did not execute the search request to execute the search request to determine whether the record matches the value. A result of the first and second components executing the search request is logged. |
| US09411535B1 |
Accessing multiple virtual devices
In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first I/O at a kernel interface using a pseudo data storage system, writing the first I/O to a first virtual device on a datastore, receiving a second I/O at the kernel interface using the pseudo data storage system and writing the second I/O to a second virtual device on the datastore. |
| US09411532B2 |
Methods and systems for transferring data between a processing device and external devices
An array data processor employs a plurality of address generators for communicating between groups of the data processors and external devices. In another aspect, the data processor employs a buffer system having a plurality of pointers that allow for retransmission of data from the buffer upon transfer failure. |
| US09411524B2 |
Accelerator system for use with secure data storage
Data processing and an accelerator system therefore are described. An embodiment relates generally to a data processing system. In such an embodiment, a bus and an accelerator are coupled to one another. The accelerator has an application function block. The application function block is to process data to provide processed data to storage. A network interface is coupled to obtain the processed data from the storage for transmission. |
| US09411522B2 |
High speed input/output performance in solid state devices
A method of transferring data in a flash storage device is provided. A plurality of data segments for transfer between a memory buffer and a plurality of flash memory devices via a plurality of flash memory interfaces is associated with a plurality of respective memory commands. The plurality of memory commands are allocated among the plurality of flash memory interfaces, with each respective memory command being queued at a respective memory interface for transfer of a respective data segment associated with the respective memory command. The plurality of data segments are transferred between the memory buffer and the plurality of flash memory devices based on the plurality of memory commands, with each respective data segment being transferred via the memory interface to which the memory command associated with the respective data segment is queued. The data segments are transferred sequentially in an order corresponding to the queued memory commands. |
| US09411521B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving sequential memory read preformance
The present technology is directed to a method for accessing a memory device in response to read requests is described. The method comprises, in response to a first request, composing a first read sequence using a command protocol of the memory device. The first read sequence includes a command code and a starting physical address. Upon receipt of a second request, the method determines a starting physical address of a second read sequence according to the command protocol of the memory device. If the starting physical address of the second read sequence is sequential to an ending physical address of the first read sequence, then the method composes the second read sequence using the command protocol without a command code, else the method composes the second read sequence using the command protocol with a read command. |
| US09411513B2 |
Sensitive data file attribute
Data on a storage device may be marked as sensitive data and this marked sensitive automatically destroyed (e.g., scrubbed) upon erasure. For example, when sensitive data is erased, new data may be immediately written over the erased sensitive data. To destroy the erased data, random characters and/or a fixed sequence of characters may be written over the erased data. The storage device, the operating system, and/or other software may share tasks related to tracking and scrubbing sensitive data. Scrubbing may include writing a fixed sequence, such as zeroes, or writing random characters of data. |
| US09411508B2 |
Continuous handwriting UI
Some embodiments provide a touch-sensitive device that includes a handwriting area for receiving a handwritten input and a text area for displaying text characters that have been recognized for the handwritten input. As the device receives a subsequent handwritten input, it continuously removes portions of previously handwritten input from the handwriting area in order to allow the user to continue to provide handwritten input without having to clear the handwriting area. Some embodiments apply a fading mechanism for removing the handwritten input from the handwriting area. Different embodiments apply different factors for determining when and how to remove handwritten input from the handwriting area, including character based, word base, location based, and timer based thresholds. |
| US09411507B2 |
Synchronized audio feedback for non-visual touch interface system and method
The disclosed systems and methods are directed to interfaces, and more particularly, to an audio feedback system for touch interface. This touch interface allows a user to interact with a touchscreen without a priori knowledge of where items are located on the touchscreen or even the relative orientation of that touchscreen. For instance, this interface may operate responsive to relative offset between touches. |
| US09411504B2 |
Copy and staple gestures
Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device. |
| US09411503B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program
An information processing device includes: a main unit to be held; a display unit provided on the main unit such that an information display screen is positioned on a front face thereof, to display information on the information display screen; a touch position detection unit to detect a touch position on the information display screen, and generate touch position detection data represented in terms of coordinates based on two axes intersecting at the detected touch position; and a control unit to display predetermined information on the information display screen, in the event of detecting that the touch position on the information display screen is being continually displaced from within a predetermined region on the information display screen in a predetermined first diagonal direction as to two directions following the two axes, based on the touch position detection data generated by the touch position detection unit. |
| US09411502B2 |
Electronic device having touch screen and function controlling method of the same
A method for providing a graphical user interface on a display of a device includes: displaying a photograph image on the display of the device; receiving a touch input made on the display; superimposedly displaying a plurality of control guides at a location corresponding to the touch input over the displayed photograph image in response to the touch input; receiving a drag input corresponding to one of the plurality of control guides displayed on the display; adjusting a display characteristic of the photograph image corresponding to the one of the plurality of control guides, in response to the drag input; and displaying the photograph image having the adjusted display characteristic on the display, wherein the display characteristic is a magnification of the photograph image. |
| US09411501B2 |
Electronic device and touch operation processing method
An electronic device is provided with a touch panel configured to include a display device and a touch pad or is connected to the touch panel. A display control unit displays a list of items on a display device. A first reception unit receives a first touch operation in a selection area of an item. A second reception unit receives a second touch operation for moving the list of items. A selection control unit selects one or more items in accordance with a specified position on a front touch pad specified by the first touch operation and with the movement of the list of items by the display control unit. |
| US09411499B2 |
Jump to top/jump to bottom scroll widgets
Methods and systems for accelerated scrolling and zooming of content. A method may include receiving an indication of a scroll action. The scroll action indicates a direction to scroll and a user's intent to scroll a significant distance. The method further includes evaluating the direction and a length of the scroll action. The method still further includes providing a scroll widget, for example by an operating to an application. The widget is to be presented relative to a location of where the indication was received. The scroll widget then allows a user to jump to a top or an end of a content displayed at the location. |
| US09411498B2 |
Brush, carbon-copy, and fill gestures
Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device. |
| US09411494B2 |
Nuisance alarm reduction method for therapeutic parameters
This disclosure describes systems and methods for reducing nuisance alarms associated with monitoring non-physiological parameters in a ventilatory system. Non-physiological parameters may include, but are not limited to, parameters that are internally monitored by the ventilator based on pre-configured ranges dictated by the manufacturer, by an applicable protocol, or by the clinician. Embodiments described herein seek to mitigate nuisance alarms by basing alarm conditions, at least in part, on an integral threshold such that an alarm is not generated when a monitored parameter briefly falls outside an acceptable range by a slight degree, but such that an alarm is generated when a monitored parameter falls outside an acceptable range by a more significant magnitude and/or duration. |
| US09411486B2 |
System and method for providing secondary content using a colour controller
A method of providing secondary content on a mobile device such that the secondary content is associated with a controller and is a member of one of a plurality of content categories. The method includes displaying primary content on an interface of the mobile device; receiving the secondary content at the mobile device; applying a visual property to the controller, the visual property identifying the content category that the secondary content is a member of. Further, after receiving the secondary content at the mobile device, the controller is displayed on the interface of the mobile device such that the controller does not visually interfere with the displayed primary content. Upon receiving input selecting the controller, the secondary content associated with the controller is displayed on the interface of the mobile device. |
| US09411485B2 |
Method for displaying the geographical situation of an aircraft
The general field of the invention is that of methods for displaying the geographical situation of an aircraft in flight on a visual display device. The geographical situation comprises a cartographic representation of the terrain flown over by the aircraft. Said geographical situation comprises two main display modes, known as “Arc” and “Rose”. The switch from the first mode to the second mode is made at least by means of a first step of selecting a model representing the position of the aircraft at the current time and arranged in the first mode and a second step of moving said model towards the position occupied in the second mode. The movement of the model causes the movement of the cartographic representation of the terrain being flown over, the steps of selection and movement being accomplished using a human-machine interface, which can be a graphic cursor control device or a touch-sensitive interface. |
| US09411484B2 |
Mobile device with memo function and method for controlling the device
A mobile device with a memo function and a method for controlling the device are provided. The mobile device and method allows a user to input a short note to a privacy memo screen, on which the short note is not displayed during the input process, or to a screen in a locked state. The method includes executing a memo application in the background, and if a user's input for creating a memo is detected through a touch screen, creating a memo in the background through the memo application on the basis of the detected user's input. |
| US09411483B2 |
User interface for processing data by utilizing attribute information on data
A data processing technology of high convenience is provided. A data processing apparatus includes: a data file storing section which stores data files; a user interface section which assigns first objects to respective data units, displays the first objects on-screen, and accepts an operation on the data units in the form of an operation on the first objects, the data units each being a data file or a group of a plurality of data files stored in the data file storing section; and a grouping section which accepts an operation for instructing to group a plurality of the data units, groups those data units together, and determines attribute information pertaining to contents of the group and attaches it to the group based on pieces of attribute information attached to the respective data units, pertaining to contents of the data units. |
| US09411482B2 |
Visualizing user interfaces
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for visualizing user interfaces. In one aspect, a method includes presenting a user interface visualization for an application. The application is configured to perform functions and present a graphical user interface including user interface elements to access the functions. Presenting the user interface visualization for the application includes selecting a group of related functions and presenting a graphical representation for each related function. The graphical representations for the related functions are presented in proximity to each other, and the graphical representations are presented differently than the user interface elements for the related functions are presented by the graphical user interface of the application. |
| US09411481B2 |
Hybrid capacitive touch screen element
A capacitive touch sensitive position sensor is provided which has a substrate defining a touch sensitive platform. First and second resistive bus-bars arranged spaced apart on the substrate. A conductive sensing area is formed between the bus bars and is constructed with first and second conductive elements connected to the first and second resistive bus-bars respectively, and spaced apart from each other by non-conducting gaps, so that currents induced in the conductive sensing area flow towards the bus-bars, but are prevented from flowing in a direction parallel to the bus-bars. This design removes pin-cushion distortion and enhances linearization of the output signals. Because the sensing region is not galvanically coupled from one bus bar to the other, the voltage gradients remain uniform and undistorted. Capacitive coupling from one side to the other does not produce a distortion component provided that the capacitance is allowed to fully charge and discharge across all locations in the sensing region. |
| US09411480B2 |
Controlling method and touch panel using the same for reducing resolution requirement of analog-digital converter
The touch panel includes a panel capacitor, a first circuit, a first capacitor, a second circuit and a controlling circuit. The first capacitor is coupled to the panel capacitor. The first circuit transmits a scan signal to the panel capacitor. The second circuit transmits an inverting signal to the first capacitor. The inverting signal is synchronized with the scan signal, a frequency of the inverting signal is identical to a frequency of the scan signal, and the inverting signal is phase-inverted from the scan signal. The controlling circuit outputs a touch signal in response to a voltage at a terminal of the panel capacitor, in which the touch signal is configured to estimate a capacitance of the panel capacitor. |
| US09411477B2 |
Method and apparatus for identification of touch panels
A method for configuring a touchscreen controller may include identifying a model of a touchscreen by measuring a capacitance or resistance of at least one element integrated in the touchscreen, identifying the model of the touchscreen based on the measured capacitance or resistance, and configuring the touchscreen controller based on the identified model of the touchscreen. |
| US09411472B2 |
Touch sensor with adaptive touch detection thresholding
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a controller coupled to a touch sensor, a plurality of signals from a plurality of sense electrodes, the plurality of signals indicative of an amount of capacitance between the touch sensor and an external object. The method further includes accessing a stored threshold value, determining a strength of a charge return path between the touch sensor and a ground, and adjusting the stored threshold value based on the determined strength of the charge return path. The threshold value indicates a threshold magnitude of the signals from the plurality of sense electrodes to process as a touch by the external object. |
| US09411471B2 |
Display device with integrated touch screen panel and fabricating method thereof
A display device with an integrated touch screen panel includes upper and lower substrates each divided into a display area and a non-display area, which is provided outside of the display area and includes a sealing area. Pixels may be formed in the display area between the upper and lower substrates. A black matrix is formed on a bottom surface of the upper substrate and disposed in the display area and the non-display area. The black matrix is open in the sealing area. Sensing patterns may be formed in the display area on a top surface of the upper substrate. Sensing lines may be formed in the non-display area on the top surface of the upper substrate and connected to the sensing patterns along a first or second direction. A light-shielding pattern is formed to cover the sealing area of the non-display area on the top surface of the upper substrate. |
| US09411467B2 |
Actionable-object controller and data-entry device for touchscreen-based electronics
Systems, devices and methods are provided for advancing the control of touchscreen-based electronics beyond the traditional control input of a finger. Wired and/or wireless control modalities are disclosed. |
| US09411454B2 |
Display device
A display device (1) in accordance with the present invention includes a detection section (21) provided along a display panel (11) and detecting an approach or a contact of an object. The detection section (21) detects the approach or the contact of the object in a period which (i) is from a time point when supply of a scanning signal to a gate signal line (G) is started to a time point when supply of the scanning signal to a subsequent gate signal line (G) is started but (ii) excludes a rising period of a source signal supplied to a source signal line (S). |
| US09411451B2 |
Electronic devices with sidewall displays
Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays that are bent to form displays on multiple surfaces of the devices. Bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays. Edge displays may be separated from front side displays or from other edge displays using patterned housing members, printed or painted masks, or by selectively activating and inactivating display pixels associated with the flexible display. Edge displays may alternately function as virtual buttons, virtual switches, or informational displays that are supplemental to front side displays. Virtual buttons may include transparent button members, lenses, haptic feedback components, audio feedback components, or other components for providing feedback to a user when virtual buttons are activated. |
| US09411450B2 |
Display input device, image forming apparatus, and control method of display input device
A display input device includes a display unit, a touch panel unit for accepting an operation on a button displayed on the display unit. When the touch panel unit accepts a predetermined first operation, the display unit performs a list display of a predetermined or smaller number of reduced screens in order from the higher layer screen, each of which is smaller than a screen in the normal mode and is selected so as to move toward a lower layer one by one from a next lower layer screen of the screen on which the first operation is made. |
| US09411449B2 |
Mobile terminal and operation method therefor
Mobile terminal (1) includes touch panels 10a and 10b, one on each surface of housing (2). When touch operations are simultaneously performed on touch panels 10a and 10b, an action corresponding to combination of the touch operations is performed. |
| US09411447B2 |
Using a waveguide to display information on electronic devices
An electronic device includes an instrument panel that includes a display opening, where the instrument panel is located in a first plane; a circuit board located inside the electronic device, where the circuit board includes a display device that includes a display area, and where the display area is located in a second plane that is different from the first plane; and a waveguide that couples the display area to the display opening and guides light, and/or an image displayed in the display area, from the display area to the display opening. |
| US09411445B2 |
Input object classification
A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry coupled to transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes. The sensor module is configured to transmit transmitter signals with the transmitter electrode and receive resulting signals with the receiver electrodes. The determination module is configured to obtain a set of measurements for an input object detected in a sensing region of the input device from a capacitive image, and perform, based on the set of measurements, a multistage classification to obtain a classification result identifying a type of the input object. wherein the capacitive image is generated based on the resulting signals. |
| US09411443B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a function of a mouse using a terminal including a touch screen
A method and an apparatus for providing a function of a mouse, using a terminal that includes a touch screen, are provided. A first touch input is received and the first touch input is set as a first reference touch input. A first function is performed, when a touch input is received in a first direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received. A second function is performed, when the touch input is received in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received. |
| US09411442B2 |
Electronic device having managed input components
There is described an electronic device having a touch-sensitive sensor and a piezoelectric sensor, and a method of operating the device. The electronic device detects an actuation of the touch-sensitive sensor, and a touch-sensitive signal is produced by the touch-sensitive sensor in response to detecting the actuation of the touch-sensitive sensor. Also, the electronic device detects an actuation of the piezoelectric sensor, and a piezoelectric signal is produced by the piezoelectric sensor in response to detecting the actuation of the piezoelectric sensor. Next, the electronic device determines whether the actuation of the touch-sensitive sensor is invalid based on the touch-sensitive signal and the piezoelectric signal. The electronic device then performs, or refrains from performing, an operation in response to determining that the actuation of the touch-sensitive sensor is invalid. |
| US09411441B2 |
Interactive whiteboard for private use
A method of controlling a computer system is disclosed. The computer system is adapted to receive inputs from an interactive display surface and one or more other input devices. The computer system is further adapted to display images on the interactive display surface and a further display surface. The interactive display surface and the further display surface forms a contiguous desktop display for the computer system. The method includes receiving input data from the one or more input devices, where a foreground application is determined in dependence upon the input data from the one or more input devices and receiving input data from the interactive display surface, where the input data from the interactive display surface does not affect the determination of the foreground application. |
| US09411439B2 |
Input device with a customizable contour
Certain embodiments of the invention include an input device (e.g., a computer mouse) including a processor, a housing including a top side, the housing configured to support a user's hand, and a detachable cover plate configured to attach to the top side of the housing and support a user's hand. The cover plate can include a shape memory polymer (SMP) disposed thereon, where the SMP is pliable and operable to conform to the user's hand when a temperature of the SMP is at or above a threshold value. Furthermore, the SMP can be firm and non-conforming when the temperature of the SMP falls below the threshold value. A heating unit controlled by the processor can be configured to control the temperature of the shape memory polymer. The detachable cover plate can include the shape memory polymer disposed in areas configured to contact a user's palm and thumb. |
| US09411437B2 |
Easily deployable interactive direct-pointing system and presentation control system and calibration method therefor
A method for controlling movement of a computer display cursor based on a point-of-aim of a pointing device within an interaction region includes projecting an image of a computer display to create the interaction region. At least one calibration point having a predetermined relation to said interaction region is established. A pointing line is directed to substantially pass through the calibration point while measuring a position of and an orientation of the pointing device. The pointing line has a predetermined relationship to said pointing device. Movement of the cursor is controlled within the interaction region using measurements of the position of and the orientation of the pointing device. |
| US09411431B2 |
Tracking a position in relation to a surface
A tracking device is provided for tracking a position of the tracking device in relation to a surface. The tracking device has a first optical sensor to capture a primary image of the surface. A second optical sensor is provided to capture a secondary image of the surface. A processor evaluates the primary and secondary images to determine a movement of the tracking device in relation to the surface. |
| US09411430B2 |
Optical touch screen using total internal reflection
A method for use by a touch screen in which light transmitted inside the screen is scattered by an object touching the screen from outside the screen, the method including activating emitter-receiver pairs for a plurality of emitters and receivers while an object is touching a screen from outside the screen, wherein light emitted by each emitter is transmitted inside the screen, wherein each emitter is associated with a limited number of receivers that detect significant light from such emitter while no object is touching the screen, and wherein the activated emitter-receiver pairs include pairs for which the receiver is not associated with the emitter in the pair, determining that receivers not associated with emitters detect significant light due to the object scattering the light emitted by the emitters, and deriving the location where the object is touching the screen from the determining. |
| US09411428B2 |
3D pointing devices with keyboards
A 3D pointing device includes a keyboard for character entry. In pointing mode, data from at least one motion sensor is provided, e.g., to be transmitted to a user interface for movement of a cursor. In text entry mode, data from at least one depressed key is provided, e.g., to be transmitted to a user interface for display thereon. |
| US09411427B2 |
Entry device and paper sheets handling device
An entry device is provided with a plural number of operation keys and a temperature changing unit. The operation keys can be operated by pressing by a fingertip of a hand touching respective operation surfaces thereof, and are used for entry of an authentication character string. When the authentication character string is to be entered, the temperature changing unit changes temperatures of the operation surfaces of the plural operation keys to be substantially equal. |
| US09411426B2 |
Evaluating onscreen keyboard
Disclosed are methods and systems for evaluating onscreen keyboards. The method comprises receiving a first set of parameters and a second set of parameter associated with a first onscreen keyboard and a second onscreen keyboard, respectively. The method further comprises determining a first cognitive score for the first onscreen keyboard using the first set of parameters. The method further comprises determining a second cognitive score for the second onscreen keyboard using the second set of parameters. The method further comprises validating the first cognitive score and the second cognitive score using an Electroencephalography (EEG) signal of the user. The EEG signal of the user is captured while the user is using the first onscreen keyboard and the second onscreen keyboard. |
| US09411421B2 |
Display device
To provide a display device including a touch sensor, in which input feeling can be obtained and deterioration of image quality is suppressed. The display device includes a touch sensor portion, a display panel, an elastic member, and a support. The touch sensor portion is provided over the display panel. The support is provided below the display panel. The elastic member is provided between the display panel and the support. The elastic member is provided in part of the periphery of a pixel region included in the display panel or in the entire periphery. |
| US09411418B2 |
Display device, display method, and program
Information-processing device detects a visual line of a user, and displays cursor at the position viewed by the user. If the user touches a display area of an image using his/her finger while cursor is close to an edge of the display area, the position touched by the finger is recorded. When the user moves the finger, a scrolling speed is determined according to a distance the finger is moved and the image is scrolled in the direction of cursor. In a case where the position viewed by the user and a scrolling direction change, and where a line of a scrolling direction before the change crosses a line of a scrolling direction after the change, the scrolling direction changes while the scrolling speed is maintained. |
| US09411414B2 |
Method and system for providing immersive effects
A method of providing immersive effects includes receiving data representative of at least one image. The image data is analyzed to locate at least one object identified within the image. A visual focus of attention of at least one subject able to observe the at least one image is estimated. At least one signal is provided in dependence on at least a position of the visual focus of attention relative to the location of the at least one object in the 5 at least one image to a system (16-19; 31-34) for providing an immersive effect to the at least one subject. |
| US09411406B2 |
SRAM regulating retention scheme with discrete switch control and instant reference voltage generation
A system including control logic, a voltage reference, a sense amplifier, and a voltage supply circuit is presented. The sense amplifier may be configured to detect a current state of the voltage supply circuit output compared to the reference voltage. The voltage supply circuit may be configured to capture and preserve the current state to be used as a previous state. The voltage regulator may be configured to compare the current state to one or more previous states and adjust the voltage regulator output based on the comparison. Control logic may be configured to enable the voltage reference output in response to a signal. Control logic may be configured to enable the sense amplifier at a time after the voltage reference is stable. Control logic may be configured to disable the voltage reference output in response to the sense amplifier generating an output. |
| US09411405B2 |
Method for reducing power consumption in solid-state storage device
Apparatus and methods of reducing power consumption in solid-state storage devices such as solid-state disks (SSDs) that can reduce idle power levels in an SSD, while maintaining low resume latency upon exiting a reduced power state. By arranging a storage controller and at least one NAND flash package of the SSD in separate power islands, storing context information for the SSD in at least one page buffer of NAND flash memory within the NAND flash package on one power island upon entering the reduced power state, and, once the context information is stored in the page buffer, allowing the NAND flash memory to enter a standby mode, placing the storage controller on the other power island in a predefined low power mode, and removing power from any unneeded components on the same power island as the storage controller, a scalable approach to reducing idle power levels in the SSD can be achieved. |
| US09411403B2 |
System and method for dynamic DCVS adjustment and workload scheduling in a system on a chip
Various embodiments of methods and systems for dynamically adjusting operating frequency settings of one or more processing components in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. One such method involves receiving a request to adjust an operating frequency setting of a processing component to a required frequency (“F_req”) to process a workload. Factor readings associated with the operating capacity of the processing component may be taken. Based on the readings, performance curves associated with the processing component may be queried. The performance curves are used to determine the optimal operating frequency (“F_opt”) for the processing component. The F_opt is compared to the F_req and, if the F_req is less than F_opt, the operating frequency setting of the processing component is set to F_opt. Advantageously, as compared to F_req, at F_opt workload processing may be more efficient and a low power mode may be entered sooner. |
| US09411400B1 |
Methods and systems for advertsing available credit at memory of network device ports based on temperature
Machine-implemented method for a network device is provided. A temperature (T) of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for the network device is compared with a first threshold value. A receive buffer for the network device is placed in an active state, when T is below the first threshold value, and then increasing available credit to store information at the receive buffer. T is also compared with a second threshold value and when T has reached or exceeded the second threshold value, one or more receive buffers are placed in a reduced power state when one or more receive buffers are not currently storing any information. |
| US09411398B2 |
Electronic device and method to extend battery life
An electronic apparatus is provided that includes a processor, a voltage regulator, a battery controller and an embedded controller. The voltage regulator to receive an input voltage and to provide an output voltage to the processor. The battery controller to store electronic device information and to receive battery information related to a current battery power. The embedded controller to receive the electronic device information and the battery information from the battery controller, and the embedded controller to provide power information to the processor based on the received information. |
| US09411396B2 |
Adaptive data collection practices in a multi-processor device
Adaptive data collection practices in a multi-processor device. The device may include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor may operate in any of a plurality of power states. The first processor may indicate to the second processor when it transitions to a different power state. The second processor may collect information relating to its operation. The second processor may collect the information according to different information collecting modes depending on in which power state the first processor is operating. Less information may be collected in an information collecting mode corresponding to a lower power state of the first processor than in an information collecting mode corresponding to a higher power state of the first processor. |
| US09411392B2 |
Global write driver for memory array structure
A system for storing data in a memory may include circuitry that may receive an address, a command and data. The circuitry may also determine a type of the command and generate a read control or write control signal dependent upon the type. The system may also include a plurality of sub-arrays and sense amplifiers. Each of the sub-arrays may include a plurality of memory cells. Each of the sense amplifiers may be coupled to a respective one of the plurality of sub-arrays and may read data stored in a first memory cell included in the respective sub-array. The system may also include one or more write driver circuits. A first write driver circuit may be coupled to at least two of the plurality of sub-arrays. The first write driver circuit may be configured to store data into a second memory cell in one of the at least two sub-arrays. |
| US09411390B2 |
Integrated circuit device having power domains and partitions based on use case power optimization
A programmable SoC (system on a chip) having optimized power domains and power islands. The SoC is an integrated circuit device including a plurality of power domains, each of the power domains having a respective voltage rail to supply power to the power domain. A plurality of power islands are included within the integrated circuit device, wherein each power domain includes at least one power island. A plurality of functional blocks are included within the integrated circuit device, wherein each power island includes at least one functional block. Each functional block is configured to provide a specific device functionality. The integrated circuit device adjusts power consumption in relation to a requested device functionality by individually turning on or turning off power to a selected one or more power domains, and for each turned on power domain, individually power gating one or more power islands. |
| US09411375B2 |
Bendable electronic device status information system and method
A system includes, but is not limited to: obtaining and one or more physical status sending modules configured to direct sending one or more bendable electronic device physical status related information portions to the bendable electronic device based upon the obtaining of the first information. In addition to the foregoing, other related system/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US09411366B1 |
Mobile device with improved charging capability and casement structure
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method offering an improved approach to charging mobile devices, such as an illustrative specialized compact bar code scanner, without need for cumbersome wires or charging cradles, through an innovative casement having an integrally contained, or recessed (flush-mounted) swing-out USB connector which avoids severing or disconnection of wires between the swing-out USB connector and the mobile device over the course of repeated use. The present invention also relates to an improved casement structure for mobile devices and payment processing module encased therein. |
| US09411365B1 |
360 degree dual pivot variable torque hinge mechanism
In one general aspect, a method of coupling a base to a lid of a computing device using a hinge can include coupling a base hinge flange to the base, the base hinge flange being connected to a base hinge part that includes a knuckle including a toggle pivot, the toggle pivot coupled to and surrounding a first portion of a first shaft, and coupling a lid hinge flange to the lid, the lid hinge flange being connected to a main hinge part that includes a first cam, the lid hinge flange including a first lid main band and a second lid main band surrounding a first portion of a second shaft, the second shaft being parallel to the first shaft. |
| US09411361B2 |
Frequency division clock alignment using pattern selection
Generating a clock signal includes: at a root node of a clock distribution network, receiving a first clock signal generated based on a reference clock signal; at a first leaf node, detecting a reference event associated with the reference clock signal and generating a synchronizing signal; passing the synchronizing signal from the first leaf node to the root node; at the root node, generating a second clock signal from the first clock signal synchronized to the synchronizing signal, and distributing the second clock signal to the leaf nodes. Generating the second clock signal includes selecting a repeating pattern of cycles of the first clock signal including fewer than all of the cycles of the first clock signal, and at least every cycle of the first clock signal that is shifted in time by a propagation delay with respect to a rising edge of the reference clock signal. |
| US09411357B2 |
Charge to voltage conversion circuit for WIM sensor and WIM sensor with same
An electronic circuit that changes a charge signal into a voltage signal within a sensor suitable for direct installation in a roadway can be connected to two single-core cables that need not be highly insulating yet can realize the required power supply of the electronics. The circuit includes an integrated impedance converter (IEPE) at the output to a two-core cable and a charge amplifier with an IC1 that has two inputs. A capacitor Cc is connected in series to the signal output of the sensor at one input of the IC1. A Zener diode D is arranged between the ground output of the sensor and the second input of the IC1 and can be supplied with power by a resistor R1 in conjunction with a power supply arranged on the output side in order to adapt the potential at the second input of the IC1. |
| US09411356B2 |
Apparatus and method for collecting power from distributed power supply resources
An apparatus and method for collecting power from distributed power supply resources are provided. The method includes transmitting a signal for inquiring whether supply of demand-side power supply resources is possible to a providing side that provides demand-side power supply resources, selecting demand-side power supply resources to be utilized, based on power supply resource-related information for each of available demand-side power supply resources, which is received from the providing side, and notifying the selection results to the selected demand-side power supply resources. |
| US09411349B2 |
Overcurrent detection of load circuits with temperature compensation
An improved current limiting circuit including a switch having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first and second terminal configured to connect a power supply to a load. A first resistor connected in series between the first terminal and a first constant current source. A second resistor connected in series between the second terminal and a second constant current source. A control circuit configured to measure a voltage drop across the first resistor and compare the voltage drop to a voltage drop across the switch. |
| US09411346B2 |
Integrated circuit and semiconductor device
An integrated circuit in which a voltage divider circuit is integrated comprises a first resistor, second resistor, control portion, switch, and switching portion. The first resistor and second resistor form a resistive voltage divider element for dividing a voltage obtained by rectifying an alternating-current voltage, or a direct-current voltage, supplied to a control portion. The switch is provided in series with the resistive voltage divider element, and passes or cuts off current passing through the resistive voltage divider element. The switching portion switches the switch so as to pass current during driving of the control portion, and cut off current during standby of the control portion. |
| US09411345B2 |
Voltage regulator
Provided is a voltage regulator capable of controlling an output voltage to a predetermined voltage quickly after an undershoot occurs in the output voltage. The voltage regulator includes: an undershoot detection circuit configured to detect a voltage that is based on an output voltage of the voltage regulator, and output a current corresponding to an undershoot amount of the output voltage; and an I-V converter circuit configured to control a current flowing through an output transistor based on a current controlled by an output of an error amplifier and a current flowing from the undershoot detection circuit. |
| US09411343B2 |
Temperature feedback control system for dynamic voltage frequency scaling
The present invention applies to the field of integrated-circuit control, and provides a temperature feedback control system and method for DVFS (Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling). In the present invention, a main processor sends a control data packet to a microprocessor according to a received temperature feedback trigger signal, and the microprocessor immediately triggers working of a temperature data acquiring module, and after the temperature data acquiring module acquires real-time temperature data of a chip, executes a temperature feedback algorithm on the real-time temperature data according to the control data packet to output a corresponding performance control parameter, so as to enable a DVFS circuit to adjust a working frequency and a working voltage of the chip, and further enable the chip to implement automatic frequency and voltage adjusting at a low voltage and a low temperature and at a high voltage and a high temperature. |
| US09411342B2 |
Electronic control device
An electronic control device has a resin case to which a circuit board having a terminal contact pad is fixed; a hydraulic unit having an electromagnetic solenoid which controls a hydraulic circuit and a pressure sensor which detects a pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a motor post having a current-carrying member which electrically connects a motor and the circuit board and extending from the resin case and inserted in the hydraulic unit; and a fixing member which is provided at the resin case and holds an outer periphery of the pressure sensor. Positioning between the pressure sensor and the terminal contact pad of the circuit board is made by the motor post inserted in the hydraulic unit and fixation of the pressure sensor by the fixing member. |
| US09411340B2 |
Control of a personal transporter based on user position
An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning. |
| US09411336B2 |
Control of a personal transporter based on user position
An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning. |
| US09411334B2 |
Aircraft guidance method and system
A system and method for steering aircraft along a predetermined track is disclosed herein. The system and method relate to steering an aircraft along a lateral path (e.g. a track described by reference to latitude and longitude) by a method comprising: calculating a nominal track correction; providing an upper limit and a lower limit for the nominal track correction; setting a desired track correction as: (i) the nominal track correction if the nominal track is between the upper limit and the lower limit; (ii) the upper limit if the nominal track correction is greater than or equal to the upper limit; or (iii) the lower limit if the nominal track correction is less than or equal to the lower limit; and steering the aircraft using the desired track correction. |
| US09411333B2 |
Method and tool for automatic distribution of control code in a safety system
A method in an industrial safety system for controlling a process or equipment, which industrial safety system includes components with safety devices. The safety system enables signals to be generated as a result of an event or alarm, where the method includes creating an automated link between the event or alarm and an effect or an action to be taken upon receipt of the event or alarm signal due to the event. The method includes configuring one or more links between the event and the input, thus forming a cause and effect matrix, and also generating a control code using the cause and effect matrix for subsequent download of the control code to at least one process controller whereby a control signal is subsequently generated by at least one safety controller to initiate the action or effect. |
| US09411330B2 |
Numerical control device
A numerical control device for a working machine capable of controlling a tool posture relative to a workpiece using rotational driving of a rotary drive axis about a machine control point includes: an interpolation unit that performs an interpolation process on moving data generated from a machining program and outputs a position of the machine control point for each interpolation point; a coordinate transformation unit that transforms a position of the machine control point to a tool tip-point position; a stroke-limit determination unit that determines whether the position of the machine control point and the tool tip-point position fall within a range of a movable region, and selects and outputs a stroke limit signal indicating a stroke limit and a tool-posture changing command for instructing change of the tool posture; and a tool-posture changing unit that changes the tool posture in response to the tool-posture changing command. |
| US09411329B2 |
Hierarchical model communication and control in a managed electrical system
One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. The system includes an upper-level energy-management module, at least one lower-level energy-management module coupled to the upper-level energy-management module, and at least one component coupled to the lower-level energy-management module. The component is configured to provide a performance model associated with the component to the lower-level energy-management module. The lower-level energy-management module is configured to provide an aggregated model to the upper-level energy-management module. |
| US09411324B2 |
Hot strip mill controller
The present invention provides a method of controlling the height of a looper in an inter-stand section of a hot strip mill that overcomes the problem of looper instability due to looper inertia without the need for the controller of upstream rollers to have a reduced gain. The inter-stand section of the hot strip mill comprises a pair of upstream rollers driven by a main motor and a looper driven by a looper motor. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a desired speed trim to be applied by the main motor; estimating the inertia of the looper; calculating a torque necessary to overcome the inertia of the looper from the speed trim, the estimated inertia of the looper and a sensitivity calculated from the geometry of the looper; and controlling the main motor to apply the speed trim to the upstream rollers and controlling the looper motor to apply the calculated torque to the looper. |
| US09411323B2 |
Home energy management system
A home energy management system includes a protocol conversion device configured to provide bi-directional communication between a networking device and one or more energy meters, wherein the protocol conversion device connects to the networking device via a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) and connects to one or more energy meters via one or more communication protocols supported by one or more energy meters. The home energy management system further includes the networking device, connected to the protocol conversion device via the TCP/IP connection, configured to receive, from the protocol conversion device, data packets generated by the one or more energy meters, and transmit the data packets to a remote server. |
| US09411317B2 |
Timepiece
A timepiece includes an exterior case having a protruding section, a case back, a dial receiving ring, a dial, a dial ring, and a casing ring disposed around the outer circumference of the dial receiving ring. The casing ring includes a casing-ring-side contact section that comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the exterior case, a front-surface-side contact section that comes into contact with the protruding section, a casing ring spring section that is formed to be elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the timepiece and comes into contact with the case back, and a support section that protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the casing ring. |
| US09411316B2 |
Tilting coupling device for timepiece
A coupling device for timepieces that includes an entry wheel, a coupling wheel, and a first exit wheel. The coupling wheel is disposed substantially coplanar to the plane of rotation of the entry wheel and of the first exit wheel and is adapted to tilt relative to the plane of rotation to occupy a first coupling position in which the coupling wheel meshes with the first exit wheel and a second coupling position in which the coupling wheel is decoupled from the first exit wheel. The device also includes a movable element to control the change of position between the first and the second position of the coupling wheel. The coupling wheel defines an axis of rotation that can be inclined relative to the normal to the plane of rotation of the entry wheel and of the first exit wheel by being mounted pivotably at each of the ends thereof. |
| US09411313B2 |
Balance spring stud-holder
The present invention concerns an assembly for holding or supporting a timepiece balance spring including a balance spring stud and a stud-holder, wherein said stud-holder includes: a base (30, 300) comprising a first stop member (32, 320) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) of said base; means (7) of attaching said stud-holder to a balance-cock (5), characterized in that said stud-holder further includes elastic means (34, 340) provided with a second stop member (36, 360). |
| US09411307B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus
A process cartridge that can suppress production of a banding image attributed to contact rotation of an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member and output a high-quality image is provided. The charging member includes an electro-conductive substrate and an electroconductive resin layer, the resin layer contains a binder, a conductive fine particle, and a bowl-shaped resin particle having an opening, and the surface of the charging member has a concavity derived from the opening of the bowl-shaped resin particle and a protrusion derived from the edge of the opening thereof. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer, and the surface layer in the photosensitive member contains a specific resin (α), a specific resin (β), and a specific compound (γ). |
| US09411306B2 |
Image forming apparatus and maintenance method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a main body frame, an image forming unit disposed in the main body frame and comprising an image carrier and a developing member, a gap control unit to selectively allow the image carrier to be in contact with or spaced apart from the developing member, a lever member disposed at one end of the gap control unit to operate the gap control unit to be moved between a contact position where the image carrier contacts the developing member and a separation position where the image carrier is spaced apart from the developing member, and a waste developer receptacle detachably disposed in the main body frame and having a lever member receiving groove to receive the lever member, wherein if the waste developer receptacle is removed from the main body frame, the image carrier is spaced apart from the developing member. |
| US09411305B2 |
Image forming apparatus with structural connection function
The present disclosure illustrates an image forming apparatus with structural connection function. The image forming apparatus can be applied to a business machine, to solve the problem of bad quality of image caused by shaking of a developing module. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the groove with the inclined angle is equal to the pressure angle of the gear to constrain the operation direction of the developing module, so as to prevent the developing module from shaking. The present disclosure just modifies the design of the guiding channel to constrain the developing module, so the cost of components can be reduced efficiently. |
| US09411302B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet receiving portion configured to receive a sheet, a drum unit including a photosensitive drum configured to carry a developer image to be transferred onto the sheet, a contact member configured to contact the sheet fed from the sheet receiving portion toward the photosensitive drum, a roller configured to contact the contact member, an elastic member configured to exert an elastic force to press the contact member toward the roller, and a frame supporting the roller, the frame receiving the elastic force from the elastic member via the roller and the contact member when the roller is in contact with the contact member. The drum unit includes a restriction portion configured to restrict the frame from moving in a direction perpendicular to the width direction, the restriction portion being disposed on a side of the frame opposite to the elastic member. |
| US09411298B1 |
Printhead including an assembly for cleaning a lens and a displaceable light-emitting diode assembly and methods thereof
A printhead for a device capable of printing, including: a frame; a light-emitting diode (LED) assembly including a housing engaged with the frame, a plurality of LEDs one the housing and extending in a first transverse direction, and at least one lens parallel to the plurality of LEDs in the first traverse direction and arranged to focus light from the LEDs; and a displacement assembly connected to the frame and engaged with the LED assembly and arranged to displace the LED assembly, with respect to the frame to a first position for an operating mode for the printhead, in which light from the plurality of LEDs illuminates media passing through the printbar in first or second process directions orthogonal to the first transverse direction and to a second position for a cleaning mode for the printhead, in which a cleaning operation for the at least one lens is enabled. |
| US09411286B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer-readable storage medium that change data lengths of first data and second data according to a condition of image formation
An image forming apparatus includes a serial data output unit configured to convert image data into serial data and output the serial data along with first data for detecting unique data in the image data and second data so that the first data is arranged before the image data and the second data is arranged after the image data; a data length change unit configured to change data lengths of the first data and the second data; a parallel data output unit configured to convert the image data of the serial data output from the serial data output unit into parallel data, and output the parallel data; and a data controller configured to control the data length change unit to change the data lengths of the first data and the second data to be arranged before and after the image data according to a condition of image formation. |
| US09411285B2 |
Drive transmission device and image forming apparatus
A drive transmission device includes: a gear, provided with a shaft hole, for transmitting a driving force; a frame to which a fixing shaft for rotatably supporting the gear by engaging with the shaft hole is fixed, wherein during transmission of the driving force, the gear is urged in a radial direction of the shaft hole, and a predetermined region of an outer peripheral surface of the fixing shaft slides on an inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole; and a holding portion, provided in a position closer to a center of the fixing shaft than the predetermined region with respect to a radial direction of the fixing shaft, for holding a lubricant between itself and the shaft hole. The holding portion is disposed only in a position opposite the predetermined region with respect to the center of the fixing shaft. |
| US09411283B2 |
Fixing device and control device
A fixing device includes a fixing unit including a first roller and a second roller which form a nip to fix a toner image on a sheet, the fixing unit being capable of fixing the toner image on a maximum width sheet and a small width sheet; a reciprocating mechanism for reciprocating the fixing unit in a widthwise direction; and an operating device for operating the reciprocating mechanism, wherein the operating device operates the reciprocating mechanism for a fixing operation on the small width sheet, and the operating device does not operate the reciprocating mechanism for the fixing operation on the maximum width sheet. |
| US09411281B2 |
Fixing member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A fixing member, including a releasing layer, wherein the releasing layer contains a fluoropolymer and a polysiloxane having a cross-linked structure, and wherein the fixing member is used in a process for heating a toner image on a recording medium to thereby fix the toner image onto the recording medium. |
| US09411277B1 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus having the same
A fixing device includes a fixing unit configured to fix an image on a sheet with heat when the sheet passes through a nip formed in the fixing unit, a temperature detection unit disposed adjacent to the fixing unit, and a control unit configured to change a maximum amount of power that is suppliable to the fixing unit from a first value to a second value that is smaller than the first value, based on a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. |
| US09411274B2 |
Image forming apparatus switching between first and second air feeding operations with different opening amounts of an opening through which air fed from a fan passes according to the detected temperature
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, including: a heating member and a back-up member forming a nip; and an air feeding portion for feeding air to a non-sheet-passing area of at least one of the heating member and the back-up member, the air feeding portion including a fan for feeding the air, a duct, including an opening, for guiding the air fed from the fan through the opening to the non-sheet-passing area, and an adjusting member for adjusting an opening amount of the opening. The apparatus executes a first air feeding operation with a first opening amount and a first rotational frequency of the fan and a second air feeding operation with a second opening amount and a second rotational frequency, when the fixing portion fixes the images on sheets having the same widths. |
| US09411273B1 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source, a reflecting member, a supporting member and a retaining member. The pressuring member is configured to come into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The heat source is arranged at an inside in a radial direction of the fixing belt and configured to radiate a radiant heat. The reflecting member is configured to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heat source to an inner circumference face of the fixing belt. The supporting member is configured to support the reflecting member from a side of the fixing nip. The retaining member includes a contact part and a holding part. The contact part is configured to come into contact with the reflecting member from a side opposite to the fixing nip. The holding part is configured to hold the heat source. |
| US09411270B1 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a removal member that forms piled bodies of residual objects at a contact location and removes residual objects from a surface of a target cleaning member by contacting with the surface in a linear manner and rubbing against the surface, and a smoothing member that smooths out the piled bodies by moving along the contact location. |
| US09411268B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus with a mechanism to secure the toner container
A toner container and system for mounting and/or securing the toner container includes a toner container having a toner dispensing hole, a shutter, a protrusion. The shutter is movable relative to the toner dispensing hole, and is to selectively close the toner dispensing hole. The protrusion is connected to the shutter and movement of the protrusion causes the shutter to move relative to the toner dispensing hole to cover the toner dispensing hole. There is a receiver including a movable catch, the movable catch being in a first position when the toner container is initially inserted into the receiver, and the movable catch moving to a second position upon insertion of the toner container into the receiver. The movable catch interacts with the protrusion of the toner container when the toner container is being removed from the receiver such that the movable catch in the second position restricts movement of the protrusion of the toner container which closes the shutter as the toner container is withdrawn from the receiver. |
| US09411267B2 |
Developer storing container, and image forming apparatus provided with the same
Provided are a developer storing container, including a movable moving wall, and suppressing a developer from being leaked to a moving direction upstream side of the moving wall, and an image forming apparatus, provided with the same A toner container is provided with a container main body, a moving wall, a toner discharge port, and an inner wall seal. The toner container replenishes toner to a developing apparatus. The moving wall conveys the toner while being moved toward the toner discharge port inside the container main body. The inner wall seal forms an outer peripheral part of the moving wall, and is compressively deformed between an inner peripheral part of the container main body and the moving wall. A cross-sectional area of an internal space of the container main body is set so as to be decreased as a final position of the moving wall is approached. |
| US09411266B2 |
Developer storage container
A developer storage container includes a container body, a discharging member, and a regulating member. The regulating member is disposed in a space formed by the container body and the discharging member, and partitions the space into a storage space to store developer in the container body and a discharging side space to store developer to be discharged from a discharging port. Further, the regulating member forms a passage hole to allow developer to pass through and regulates an amount of developer to be conveyed from the storage space to the discharging side space. |
| US09411265B2 |
Developer conveying mechanism, image forming apparatus
A developer conveying mechanism includes a first lateral conveyance path forming portion and a second lateral conveyance path forming portion. The first lateral conveyance path forming portion includes a first conveyance member that is configured to convey developer in a first lateral direction. The second lateral conveyance path forming portion includes a second conveyance member that is configured to convey, in a second lateral direction, the developer that has fallen down from a lower opening of the first lateral conveyance path forming portion. The lower opening is formed such that its width expands from an upstream side to a downstream side in the first lateral direction. |
| US09411262B1 |
Developer quantity control blade having blade member composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition and image forming apparatus
A developer quantity control blade is provided which can sufficiently impart charge to toner and which allows bleeding of a material from a blade member to be suppressed even in application of a voltage. The developer quantity control blade includes a supporting member and a blade member, wherein the blade member is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer composition including a block copolymer having a polyamide structure and a polyether structure, and an ion conductive agent; in the blade member, a quantity of an extraction component to be extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone as a solvent is 0.5% by mass or more and 2.4% by mass or less; and a quantity of a molecule having a molecular weight of 5000 or less in the extraction component is 70% by mass or more. |
| US09411260B2 |
Image forming apparatus having developing bias and supply bias application units
An image forming operation for forming an image on one recording material includes a developing bias application unit applying a developing bias to a developer bearing member and a supply bias application unit applying a supply bias to a developer supply member. At the start of image formation, an absolute value of the developing bias is greater than an absolute value of the supply bias, and in a center or latter half of the image formation period, the developing bias and the supply bias have equal potential, and then the absolute value of the developing bias becomes smaller than the absolute value of the supply bias, until the end of image formation. |
| US09411256B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and method of producing printed material for generating a parallel line dither pattern of uniform concentration
An image forming apparatus includes: a pseudo-halftone processing unit that processes input image data to output image data of first resolution; a resolution converting unit that converts the image data of the first resolution into image data of second resolution that is higher than the first resolution; a modulation-signal generating unit that generates a modulation signal obtained by modulating the image data of the second resolution according to a clock signal; and a light-source driving unit that drives a light source according to the modulation signal. The pseudo-halftone processing unit converts a region of pixels having the same pixel value into a parallel line pattern that is formed with a plurality of parallel lines oblique relative to a direction of arrangement of pixels. The resolution converting unit generates the image data o in which each edge of the lines forming the parallel line pattern is smoothed. |
| US09411249B2 |
Differential dose and focus monitor
A dose and focus monitor structure includes at least one complementary set of unit dose monitors and at least one complementary set of unit focus monitors. Each complementary set of unit dose monitors generate edges on a photoresist layer such that the edges move in opposite directions as a function of a dose offset. Each complementary set of unit focus monitors generates edges on the photoresist layer such that the edges move in opposite directions as a function of a focus offset. The dose and focus monitor structure generates self-compensating differential measurements of the dose offset and the focus offset such that the dose offset measurement and the focus offset measurement are independent of each other. |
| US09411248B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a last optical element, a first member having a liquid supply port, a second member having a liquid recovery port, and a driving system which electromagnetically moves the first member, the second member, or both of the first and second members. A substrate is moved below and relative to the last optical element, the first member and the second member. A liquid supply from the liquid supply port and a liquid recovery from the liquid recovery port are performed to form a liquid immersion area on a portion of an upper surface of the substrate. The substrate is exposed with a beam through liquid in the liquid immersion area. |
| US09411247B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a nozzle member having a recovery port and an opening via which an exposure beam passes. A projection system includes a first element closest to an image surface and a second element which is second closest to the image surface. The first element has a first surface facing the image surface, a second surface facing a lower surface of the second element, an inclined outer surface extending upwardly and radially outwardly from the first surface and facing an inner surface of the nozzle member, and a flange portion provided above the inclined outer surface. A support member supports the flange portion of the first element. A substrate stage has a holder for holding a substrate to be exposed and moves the substrate below and relative to the nozzle member and the projection system. |
| US09411246B2 |
Full-field maskless lithography projection optics
Projection optics for a lithographic projection system is provided that comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM) from which radiation is reflected and directed to a projection lens that projects the radiation to a substrate. The SLM is illuminated by non telecentric off axis illumination (e.g. from laser radiation that has a spectral bandwidth of the order of 1 picometer, and the projection optics is configured for significant reduction (e.g. at least 10× reduction, 20× reduction, or 50× reduction). |
| US09411245B2 |
Polarization-influencing optical arrangement, in particular in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
The disclosure provides a polarization-influencing optical arrangement that includes a first retardation element and a second retardation element. The optical arrangement is configurable so that a polarization-influencing effect of the first retardation element corresponds to an effect of a first lambda/2 plate having a first fast axis of the birefringence and a polarization-influencing effect of the second retardation element corresponds to an effect of a second lambda/2 plate having a second fast axis of the birefringence. An angle between the first fast axis and the second fast axis is 45°±5°. |
| US09411242B2 |
Exposure apparatus and exposure method thereof
A wafer alignment system is provided for performing a unidirectional scan-exposure. The wafer alignment system includes a plurality of wafer stages successively moving from a first position to a second position of a base cyclically. The wafer alignment method also includes an encoder plate having a first opening and a second opening. Further, the wafer alignment system includes a plurality of encoder plate readers and a plurality of wafer stage fiducials on the wafer stages. Further, the wafer alignment system also includes an alignment detection unit above the first opening of the encoder plate. |
| US09411240B2 |
Method for compensating slit illumination uniformity
A method for compensating a slit illumination uniformity includes executing a first lithography operation and recording an initial slit uniformity profile; executing a slit uniformity optimization process and recording an optimized slit uniformity profile; and offsetting the optimized slit uniformity profile to obtain a working slit uniformity profile such that the working slit uniformity profile has a mean value closest to that of the initial slit uniformity profile. |
| US09411238B2 |
Source-collector device, lithographic apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A source-collector device includes a target unit having a target surface of plasma-forming material and a laser unit to generate a beam of radiation directed onto the target surface to form a plasma from said plasma-forming material. A contaminant trap is provided to reduce propagation of particulate contaminants generated by the plasma. A radiation collector includes a one or more grazing-incidence reflectors arranged to collect radiation emitted by the plasma and form a beam therefrom, and a filter is configured to attenuate at least one wavelength range of the beam. |
| US09411232B2 |
Composition for forming fine resist pattern, and pattern formation method using same
The present invention provides a composition enabling to form a fine negative photoresist pattern less suffering from surface roughness, and also provides a pattern formation method employing that composition. The composition is used for miniaturizing a resist pattern by fattening in a process of forming a positive resist pattern from a chemically amplified positive-working type resist composition, and it contains a polymer comprising a repeating unit having an amino group, a solvent, and an acid. In the pattern formation method, the composition is cast on a positive photoresist pattern beforehand obtained by development and is then heated to form a fine pattern. |
| US09411230B2 |
Pattern forming method, electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet-sensitive composition, resist film, method for manufacturing electronic device using the same, and electronic device
There is provided a pattern forming method comprising (1) a step of forming a film by using an electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet-sensitive resin composition, (2) a step of exposing the film by using an electron beam or an extreme ultraviolet ray, and (3) a step of developing the exposed film by using an organic solvent-containing developer, wherein the electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet-sensitive resin composition contains (A) a resin containing (R) a repeating unit having a structural moiety capable of decomposing upon irradiation with an electron beam or an extreme ultraviolet ray to generate an acid, and (B) a solvent. |
| US09411226B2 |
Chemically amplified resist composition and patterning process
A chemically amplified resist composition comprising a base polymer, an acid generator, and a specific oxime compound has a high contrast of alkaline dissolution rate before and after exposure and high resolution and forms a pattern of satisfactory profile with minimal roughness and wide focus margin. |
| US09411217B2 |
Projector with light control apparatus that adjusts a covered amount of a blowoff port in accordance with an amount of shielded light
A projector includes a light source, a light control apparatus having a light shield portion that shields light emitted from the light source, the light control apparatus adjusting the amount of light that passes therethrough, an optical element that is disposed on the light exiting side of the light shield portion and optically converts light incident on the optical element, a cooling fan that sends cooling air, and a duct that guides the cooling air sent from the cooling fan to the light shield portion and the optical element which are the targets to be cooled, wherein the duct has a blowoff port off which the guided cooling air is blown toward each target to be cooled, and the light shield portion changes the amount of covered blowoff port in accordance with the amount of light that the light shield portion shields. |
| US09411213B2 |
Cases for portable electronic devices
A case (10) for a portable electronic device (especially for an iPhone (100) and the like) comprises a shell (12), a diffuser (40) mounted within the shell (12), and an optional transparent insert (150) with custom graphics located between a front side (14) of the shell and the diffuser (40). The diffuser (40) comprises a Perspex panel having an etched portion (44) from which light escapes. The diffuser (40) may be slid between a position in which a flash (102) of the device is unobstructed, for normal photographic use, and a position in which light (200) from the flash (102) is received on a first surface (41) of the diffuser (40), whereby it is re-directed internally before being emitted from the etched portion (44) on the opposite, second surface (43) to provide even and bright illumination of that second surface. |
| US09411212B2 |
Illumination apparatus which is arrangeable so as to surround an image capturing lens
The illumination apparatus includes a light collector directing light from a light source, radially inward further than the light source, and a light guider provided radially inside further than the light source so as to circumferentially extend and guiding the light from the light source toward an area extending to a side away from the light source and causing the light from the light source to exit toward a light projecting direction. The light collector includes two reflective surfaces on a light projecting direction side and on an opposite side thereto in the thickness direction, and a light exiting opening between the two reflective surfaces. In a sectional plane along the thickness direction, a direction of a center of a light exit range from the light collector tilts to the opposite side to the light projecting direction side. |
| US09411211B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and imaging method
An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor having focus detection pixels arrayed in pixel lines, and controls a ratio of pixel line addition to signal correlation amount addition in a focus detection region in accordance with subject information to perform focus detection with increased resolution and suppressed noise based on an image signal of a subject slanting in relation to the focus detection region. |
| US09411210B2 |
Image display device
An image display device includes a light source which emits light, a display element which receives the light, from the light source for generating display light, a light guiding plate which causes the display light to propagate therein, an incident element which allows the display light from the display element to be incident into the light guiding plate, and a dynamic output diffraction element provided in the light guiding plate for outputting the display light to the outside of the light guiding plate. The dynamic output diffraction element includes dynamic diffraction segment elements configured such that a diffraction function of diffracting light is invalidated or validated by voltage application. The image display device further includes a control unit which controls the dynamic output diffraction element such that one dynamic diffraction segment element whose diffraction function is validated is selected each at a time from among the dynamic diffraction segment elements. |
| US09411208B2 |
Display device
One object is to provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film which is used for the pixel portion of a display device and has high reliability. A display device has a first gate electrode; a first gate insulating film over the first gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film over the first gate insulating film; a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate insulating film over the source electrode, the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor film; a second gate electrode over the second gate insulating film; an organic resin film having flatness over the second gate insulating film; a pixel electrode over the organic resin film having flatness, wherein the concentration of hydrogen atoms contained in the oxide semiconductor film and measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry is less than 1×1016 cm−3. |
| US09411207B2 |
Nematic liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display element using the same
There is provided a nematic liquid crystal composition that exhibits a negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈), the liquid crystal composition being useful as a liquid crystal display material, and a liquid crystal display element using the same. The liquid crystal composition has a large absolute value of the dielectric anisotropy thereof and a low viscosity. The liquid crystal composition can provide a liquid crystal display element which has a high contrast, high-speed responsiveness, and good display quality in which image sticking and display defects are not generated. The liquid crystal display element using the liquid crystal composition is a useful display element which realizes both high-speed response and suppression of display defects. In particular, the liquid crystal display element is useful as a liquid crystal display element for active-matrix driving, and can be applied to, for example, a VA-type or PSVA-type liquid crystal display element. |
| US09411206B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: first and second gate lines disposed on the first substrate and which respectively transmit first and second gate signals; first, second and third data lines disposed on the first substrate; a first switching element connected to the first gate line and the first data line; a second switching element connected to the first gate line and the second data line; a third switching element connected to the second gate line and the second data line; a fourth switching element connected to the second gate line and the third data line; first and second pixel electrodes respectively connected to the first and second switching and which form a first liquid crystal capacitor; and third and fourth pixel electrodes respectively connected to the third and fourth switching elements and which form a second liquid crystal capacitor. |
| US09411203B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device
An object of the present invention is to decrease the resistance of a power supply line, to suppress a voltage drop in the power supply line, and to prevent defective display. A connection terminal portion includes a plurality of connection terminals. The plurality of connection terminals is provided with a plurality of connection pads which is part of the connection terminal. The plurality of connection pads includes a first connection pad and a second connection pad having a line width different from that of the first connection pad. Pitches between the plurality of connection pads are equal to each other. |
| US09411199B2 |
Array substrate and color filter substrate of display device and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments of the present invention discloses an array substrate of display device and a method for manufacturing the same, which can effectively restrain the interference by the signals over data lines with the modulation conducted by liquid crystal thereon, and improve light transmittance. The array substrate comprises: a pixel region defined by a gate line intersecting a data line. A thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a common electrode, which cooperates with the pixel electrode to form a multi-dimension electric field, are disposed in the pixel region. The pixel electrode is a slit-shaped electrode, and the common electrode is a plate-shaped electrode; or the pixel electrode is a plate-shaped electrode, and the common electrode is a slit-shaped electrode. An end of the plate-shaped electrode covers the data line, and a second insulating layer is disposed between a layer of the plate-shaped electrode and a layer of the data line. |
| US09411196B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
This liquid crystal display device (100) includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer (3); a pixel electrode (11) and a counter electrode (21) arranged on first and second substrates (1, 2), respectively, to front on the liquid crystal layer; and first and second alignment films (12, 22). Each pixel region (10) includes first, second, third and fourth liquid crystal domains (A, B, C, D) in which liquid crystal molecules (3a) are tilted in first, second, third and fourth predetermined directions, respectively, which are defined so that an angle formed between any two of them is approximately equal to an integral multiple of 90 degrees. The first liquid crystal domain is located close to at least a part of edges of the pixel electrode, which includes a first edge portion (EG1) where an azimuthal direction (e1) perpendicular to the part and pointing toward the inside of the pixel electrode defines an angle greater than 90 degrees to the first direction. The first substrate includes a first rib (14) which is arranged in a region corresponding to the first edge portion and under the pixel electrode. |
| US09411194B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a display device and a manufacturing method thereof capable of improving a viewing angle. The display device includes: a substrate; a switching element; a pixel electrode; a common electrode; a roof layer; a liquid crystal layer; and an encapsulation layer. The switching element is on the substrate. The pixel electrode is connected with the switching element. The common electrode is spaced apart from the pixel electrode on the pixel electrode with a plurality of microcavities comprising a microcavity therebetween. The roof layer is on the common electrode. The liquid crystal layer fills the microcavity. The encapsulation layer is on the roof layer to seal the microcavity, in which the common electrode includes a protrusion protruding upwards from a portion contacting an upper surface of the microcavity. |
| US09411190B1 |
Liquid crystal display with separated polarizer device
A liquid crystal display with separated polarizer device comprises a frame; a backlight module, deposited in the frame; a liquid crystal panel, deposited in the frame and separated from the backlight module; a transparent substrate, deposited in the frame and separated from the liquid crystal panel; a first polarizer device, deposited on a surface of the backlight module facing the liquid crystal panel; and a second polarizer device, deposited on a surface of the transparent substrate facing the liquid crystal panel; therefore, reworking of the liquid crystal display is facilitated. |
| US09411186B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device provided with a liquid crystal display panel having a pair of transparent substrates disposed to face with each other via a liquid crystal layer, and a backlight unit disposed on a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel for radiating a backlight ray is configured to have a plate member opposite a side wall surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel and a side wall surfaces of the backlight unit. The plate member is fixed to the side wall surface of the liquid crystal display panel and the side wall surface of the backlight unit. |
| US09411185B2 |
Splicing backplane for backlight module and backlight module employing same
The invention provides a splicing backplane for a backlight module, which is arranged on the backside of the backlight module. The splicing backplane comprises a mounting portion and a supporting portion, wherein the horizontal height of the mounting portion is level with or lower than that of the supporting portion; and a plurality of the splicing backplanes are assembled together by the mutual superposition of various mounting portions. A plurality of the splicing backplanes are superposed with each other and combined into one, and the height differences between the mounting portions and the supporting portions of two adjacent backplanes are unequal, so that one backplane can be accommodated into the other backplane. In addition, after the superposition, the overall thickness of the backplanes is invariable. |
| US09411183B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments of the invention disclose a liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display device comprises: a color filter substrate including a first transparent substrate; and an array substrate including a second transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent substrate has a first transparent magnetic film layer formed thereon, the second transparent substrate has a second transparent magnetic film layer formed thereon, and the first transparent magnetic film layer and the second transparent magnetic film layer have the same magnetism. |
| US09411178B2 |
Apparatus for etching substrate and fabrication line for fabricating liquid crystal display using the same
A substrate etching apparatus includes: a cassette to receive a substrate that has finished a previous process, and transfer the substrate; a first robot to take the substrate out of the cassette; a second robot to receive the substrate from the first robot and move the substrate mounted thereon vertically up and down; an etching cassette comprising a support to support the substrate and a holder to fix the substrate loaded from the second robot; a cassette fixing unit to fix at least one or more etching cassettes and being rotated at a pre-set angle to allow the substrate to be disposed perpendicular to the ground; and an etching unit to etch the substrate disposed perpendicular to the ground by the cassette fixing unit. |
| US09411174B2 |
Electronically switchable optical device with a multi-functional optical control apparatus and methods for operating the same
An electronically controllable optical device is provided which includes a cell maintaining an electro-optically controllable material, a photosensor associated with the cell, wherein the photosensor generates an input signal based on ambient light level, and a control circuit which receives the input signal and generates at least one output signal received by the cell. The device also includes a single switch connected to the control circuit, wherein actuation of the switch in predetermined sequences enables at least two of the following features of the device, a state change of the material, a system change between auto and manual modes, or a threshold value change for generation of the ambient light input signal, a device color change, a device tint change or a reset of the threshold value to the original factory setting. Methods of operation for the device are also provided. A control apparatus for the device is also disclosed. |
| US09411168B2 |
Optical module and optically functional film applied for optical device
An optical module includes a protection layer, an optically functional film, and an optical device. The optically functional film can make an external light transmit through it but cannot allow a reflection of the external light reflected by the optical device transmit through it, and the optically functional film can filter a blue ray of the external light. |
| US09411167B1 |
Auto-multiscopic 3D billboard display system
A billboard display system includes a light source housed in a box-like structure. The light source shines light away from a non-transparent front wall and through a transparent rear wall and thence through a sheet of projection film having an array of images thereon and thence is reflected by a corresponding array of concave mirrors back to corresponding apertures. The apertures are formed at the bottom of indentations, preferably cone-shaped throughout the area of the front wall. The light passes through the apertures and thence out of the indentations to create a 3D image in the eyes of a viewer looking at the front wall. |
| US09411163B2 |
High-efficiency line-forming optical systems and methods
A line-forming optical system and method are disclosed that form a line image with high-efficiency. A method includes forming a laser beam having a first intensity profile with a Gaussian distribution in at least a first direction and passing at least 50% of the laser beam in the first direction to form a first transmitted light. The method also includes: focusing the first transmitted light at an intermediate image plane to define a second intensity profile having a central peak and first side peaks immediately adjacent the central peak; then truncating the second intensity profile within each of first side peaks to define a second transmitted light; and then forming the line image at an image plane from the second transmitted light. |
| US09411160B2 |
Head mounted display, control method for head mounted display, and image display system
A transmission type head mounted display includes an image display unit that forms an image on the basis of image data and allows the formed image to be visually recognized by a user as a virtual image in a state in which the image display unit is mounted on the head of the user, a position specifying unit that specifies a target position which is a position of a specific target object relative to the image display unit; and a control unit that causes the image display unit to form a target position display image indicating the target position and that sets a position of the target position display image in an image formation region which is a region where the image display unit forms an image, on the basis of the target position specified by the position specifying unit. |
| US09411155B2 |
Optical zoom probe
An optical zoom probe is provided. The optical zoom probe includes: an aperture adjuster which adjusts an aperture through which light which is transmitted by a light transmitter propagates; and a focus adjuster which focuses light that propagates through the aperture and which includes first and second liquid lenses for each of which respective curvatures are independently controlled so as to adjust a respective focal length. |
| US09411149B2 |
Microendoscopy with corrective optics
Micro-optical imaging is facilitated. According to an example embodiment, a micro-optical probe arrangement includes a GRIN-type lens probe to direct light to and from a specimen. Compensation optics tailored to the probe and aberrations introduced by the lens are located in a light path through the lens, and compensate for the introduced aberrations. A light detector detects light from the specimen, as facilitated by the compensation optics, and generates data characterizing an image of the specimen. |
| US09411147B2 |
Telescope with mutually connectable modules
A telescope made up of mutually connectable modules, which telescope comprises at least a lens module and an eyepiece module, and the lens module and eyepiece module each have a connection interface for connecting the modules, wherein an optical system for changing the image magnification is integrated in the lens module. |
| US09411146B2 |
Observation device
An observation device is provided with a light source section, a detection section and an arithmetic operation section. The light source section emits light to a moving object from multiple directions. a detection section is disposed on a predetermined plane such that scattered light having an identical scattering angle enters at an identical position, outputs data temporally changing at a frequency corresponding to an amount of Doppler shift of light that reaches at each position on the predetermined plane. An arithmetic operation section performs a one-dimensional Fourier transform with respect to time variables, for data having a position in the first direction on the predetermined plane, a position in the second direction on the predetermined plane, and a time as variables, and extracts data having an identical incident angle relative to the object from the Fourier-transformed data, on the basis of Doppler Effect. |
| US09411144B2 |
Systems for fluorescence illumination using superimposed polarization states
Various superimposing beam controls that can superimpose beams of light with different optical properties are described. In one aspect, a beam control receives a beam of light and outputs one or more beams. Each beam is output in a different polarization state and with different optical properties. Superimposing beam controls can be incorporated in fluorescence microscopy instruments to split a beam of excitation light into one or more beams of excitation light. Each beam of excitation light has a different polarization and is output with different optical properties so that each excitation beam can be used to execute a different microscopy technique. |
| US09411143B2 |
Optical device for microscopic observation
An optical device for microscopic observation 4 comprises: a cold stop 13 having openings 13d, 13e corresponding to a low-magnification microscope optical system 5 and being a stop member arranged in a vacuum vessel 12 to let the light from the sample S pass to the camera 3; a warm stop 10 having an opening 14 corresponding to a high-magnification microscope optical system 5 and being a stop member arranged outside the vacuum vessel 12 to let the light from the sample S pass toward the cold stop 13; and a support member 11 supporting the warm stop 10 so that the warm stop can be inserted to or removed from on the optical axis of the light from the sample S, wherein the warm stop 10 has a reflective surface 15 on the camera 3 side and wherein the opening 14 is smaller than the openings 13d, 13e. |
| US09411142B2 |
Microscope system, method for correcting a spherical aberration, and storage medium
A microscope system includes: an objective; a correction apparatus which corrects a spherical aberration; a controller which obtains a plurality of combinations of a relative position of the objective to a sample and an optimum value, which is a set value of the correction apparatus in a state in which a spherical aberration caused in accordance with the relative position has been corrected, calculates a function expressing the relationship between the relative position and the optimum value on the basis of the obtained plurality of combinations by interpolation, and calculates the optimum value according to an observation target surface of the sample, on the basis of the function and the relative position which is determined from the observation target surface; and a correction apparatus driving apparatus which drives the correction apparatus in accordance with the optimum value, which is calculated by the controller. |
| US09411141B2 |
Microscope and a method for examining a sample using a microscope
A microscope, in particular a confocal microscope, has one or more lasers for generating an illumination light for a sample and has a detection device for detected signals from the sample. The detection device includes multiple adjustable spectral detection channels for the detection of predefinable different wavelength regions, and is configured and refined in the interest of particularly versatile utilization in consideration of a wide variety of phenomena, with particularly good separation of the phenomena in the context of investigation, in such a way that multiple temporal detection windows are respectively settable for the spectral detection channels. |
| US09411140B2 |
Method and system for calibrating a spatial optical modulator in an optical microscope
A method and system for calibrating an optical device having a spatial optical modulator (6) and including: an optical lens (8) of a large numerical aperture, capable of receiving an incident beam and/or collecting an optical beam reflected by a sample; a camera (14) disposed in a plane optically conjugate with the focal plane of the lens (8); and a spatial optical modulator (6) disposed on the optical beam upstream of the camera (14). The method includes the following steps consisting in: acquiring three-dimensional images of the PSF in terms of intensity in a plane conjugate with the focal plane of the lens (8), reconstructing the profile in terms of amplitude and/or phase of the beam using a phase diversity algorithm, and determining the respective influence functions of a plurality of elements P1, . . . , PN of the spatial optical modulator (6) on the profile in terms of the amplitude A and/or phase φ of the beam. |
| US09411139B2 |
Imaging optical system, imaging optical device, and digital apparatus
An imaging optical system includes first to third lens groups, and performs focusing by moving the second lens group, to satisfy the following conditional expressions: 0.8<1Gr_Fl/FL<1.2, 0.6<|2Gr_Fl/FL|<2.5, 0.6<3Gr_Fl/FL<1.8 0.8<1Gr_R_nop/1Gr_Thi<1.1, and −0.6<2Gr_R_nop/2Gr_Thi<1.6 where FL, 1Gr_Fl, 2Gr_Fl, and 3Gr_Fl represent focal lengths of the entire system, and the first to third lens groups, respectively, 1Gr_R_nop represents a distance from the outermost surface of the first lens group on the object side to a rear principal point of the first lens group, 1Gr_Thi represents a total length of the first lens group, 2Gr_R_nop represents a distance from the outermost surface of the second lens group on the object side to a rear principal point of the second lens group, and 2Gr_Thi represents a total length of the second lens group. |
| US09411138B2 |
Telephoto zoom lens system and electronic apparatus including the same
Provided are a telephoto zoom lens system and an electronic apparatus including the telephoto zoom lens system. The telephoto zoom lens system includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power and is fixed when zooming and focusing, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power and performs focusing, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a rear lens group comprising one or more lens groups located between the fourth lens group and an image side. At least one lens group of the rear lens group is fixed while zooming, and a focal length thereof is unchanged while zooming. |
| US09411137B2 |
Ultra compact inverse telephoto optical system for use in the IR spectrum
An infrared imaging optical system for focusing infrared radiation on an infrared detector, including: a front lens group having a negative optical power to receive infrared radiation and including a first front lens and a second front lens each with at least one aspherical surface; an intermediate lens group that receives the infrared radiation from the front lens group and includes a first intermediate lens, a second intermediate lens, and a third intermediate lens each with at least one aspherical surface; and a rear lens group having positive optical power, wherein the rear lens group receives the infrared radiation from the intermediate lens group and includes a first rear lens and a second rear lens each with at least one aspherical surface, and a third rear lens, wherein the imaging optical system has a stop between the rear lens group and a focal plane at said infrared detector. |
| US09411136B2 |
Image capturing module and optical auxiliary unit thereof
An image capturing module includes an image sensing unit and an optical auxiliary unit. The image sensing unit includes a carrier substrate and an image sensing chip disposed on the carrier substrate and electrically connected to the carrier substrate. The optical auxiliary unit includes a housing frame for covering the image sensing chip and a movable lens assembly movably disposed in the housing frame. The movable lens assembly includes a movable casing movably disposed in the housing frame, at least one optical lens group disposed in the movable casing, a microlens array substrate disposed in the movable casing, and a nonconductive photosensitive film layer disposed on the microlens array substrate for increasing the light absorption capability. |
| US09411134B1 |
Optical imaging lens assembly, image capturing unit and electronic device
An optical imaging lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has negative refractive power. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein the image-side surface of the fifth lens element has at least one convex shape in an off-axis region thereof, and both surfaces thereof are aspheric. |
| US09411130B2 |
Photographing lens and electronic apparatus
Provided are photographing optical lens assembly and an electronic apparatus. The photographing optical lens assembly includes a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens; a fourth lens, a fifth lens having a positive refractive power, and a sixth lens having a negative refractive power. The first to sixth lenses are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side, and the sixth lens has a concave image-side surface in a region around an optical axis. |
| US09411126B2 |
Lens barrel having retractable lens, and image pickup apparatus
A lens barrel which is capable of retracting a retractable lens group by a simple construction and realizing stable image quality. The lens barrel has a lens, a first lens holding member that holds the lens, a second lens holding member that holds the first lens holding member and moves in a direction of an optical axis in conjunction with the first lens holding member, a drive mechanism that moves the first lens holding member between a shooting position on the optical axis and a retracted position outside the optical axis, and a first guide bar and a second guide bar. The drive mechanism retracts the first lens holding member from the shooting position to the retracted position while holding the second lens holding member on the optical axis. The first and second guide bars guide the second lens holding member in the direction of the optical axis. |
| US09411124B2 |
Imaging apparatus and controlling method therefor, and lens unit and controlling method therefor, and imaging system
In a camera unit that is mountable to a lens unit having a focus lens, an AF signal processing unit generates an AF evaluation value from an imaging signal obtained by an imaging element, and a camera control unit generates drive information for moving the focus lens to an in-focus point using the AF evaluation value and transmits the drive information to the mounted lens unit. The camera control unit transmits drive information including a focus lens position served as a reference for micro vibration and an amount of movement of the focus lens indicated by shift amount of an image plane with reference to the focus lens position to a lens unit. |
| US09411121B2 |
Port tap cable having in-line furcation for providing live optical connections and tap optical connection in a fiber optic network, and related systems, components, and methods
A port tap cable for supporting live optical connections in a fiber optic network includes one or more fiber optic splitters, which each receive an optical signal from a live input optical fiber of a live input fiber optic cable leg. Each fiber optic splitter splits each optical signal and transmits the signal to a live output optical fiber of a live output fiber optic cable leg and a tap output optical fiber of a tap output fiber optic cable leg. The one or more splitters are enclosed in a furcation, thereby forming a port tap cable that allows for monitoring of optical signals within an active fiber optic network without the need for interrupting network operations. This arrangement also allows for monitoring individual ports in an existing network installation. |
| US09411117B1 |
Cable management device
A cable management device and assembly includes an electrical structure having plurality of connectors for receiving connectors of a plurality of cables. A fixed support bar is spaced from and aligned with the connectors. A plurality of cable retainer members are coupled to the support bar for managing and aligning the bundle of cables coupled to the connectors. The cable retainers have a first open recess at a first end with a central axis extending in first direction, and a second open recess at a second end with a central axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first central axis. The first open recess mates with the support bar to slide along the length of the bar and rotate or pivot around the bar to orient the cables in a selected position and pattern. The second open recess has a dimension for coupling with the respective cable. |
| US09411116B2 |
Chemical composition of filler rods for use in optical fiber cables
The present disclosure provides optical fiber cable having one or more filler rods. The filler rods have higher melting temperature than conventional filler rods. For some embodiments, the filler rods are made from a blend of polyethylene and polypropylene. |
| US09411114B2 |
Loose-tube fiber optic cables
According to one embodiment, loose-tube fiber optic cables may include a cable core and a jacket. The cable core may include a buffer tube and an optical fiber and the optical fiber may be positioned within the buffer tube. At least a portion of the buffer tube by include a first phase that includes a first polymer and a second phase that includes a second polymer, where the first polymer and the second polymer are different chemical compositions. The first phase and second phase may be disposed in at least a partially co-continuous microstructure. |
| US09411113B2 |
Fiber optic connector for laser sources
Connectors for optically coupling radiation accurately from radiation sources into waveguides in medical applications are provided. A preferred embodiment for coupling laser sources into optical fibers provides a connector comprising an outer body for handling connector; a two-part ferrule; an inner body which protects ferrule and holds its two parts together; a collet chuck through which an optical fiber is introduced; a spring; a ferrule interlock; and bending protection with a long fiber protection end. Main features are that the inner body moves within the outer body longitudinally, the spring-loaded ferrules move against a fixed position element in the laser housing via the spring load, and their relative shapes are designed to be assembled in only one possible angle position, thus maintaining alignment of elements to reduce/avoid lost power absorbed by the connector's proximal end due to coupling. The ferrule is mounted inside the connector and does not emerge from it for protecting the ferrule. In another embodiment the connector provides an electronic signature such as an RFID tag for waveguide recognition in a position close enough to the laser source to ensure identification. Additionally, the connector has an optional electric power and signal port. |
| US09411111B2 |
Pluggable optical connector, lock and release mechanism therefor
A pluggable optical connector with a lock and release mechanism having a slider. The slider includes a handle, two spaced apart longitudinal arms extending from the handle and along two opposite sidewalls of a housing of the connector, two wedges formed at two free ends of the two arms respectively for forcing two deflectable locking tabs formed on a cage outwards when the connector is plugged into the cage and locked therein, and a bridge extending between the two arms. A single transverse leaf spring is positioned between the bridge and a transverse vertical wall extending inwardly from the housing of the connector. The leaf spring exerts spring force in a longitudinal direction, and locking of the connector is released with a reverse movement of the connector countering the spring force. |
| US09411106B2 |
Polarization-independent grating coupler for silicon on insulator
A grating structure has a plurality of gratings. In one example, one or more of the gratings are configured: to be non-uniformly spaced with respect to one or more other ones of the gratings; and to optically couple a first light conduit and a second light conduit enabling light having a first polarization and light having a second polarization to pass through the grating structure and propagate in the same direction in the first light conduit or the second light conduit. The non-uniform spacing of the gratings may represent an intersection or a union of a period associated with the light having the first polarization and a period associated with the light having the second polarization. |
| US09411103B2 |
Contact focusing hollow-core fiber microprobes
A focusing microprobe system, comprising: one of a single-mode laser radiation source and a few-mode laser radiation source; a coupler coupled to the laser radiation source; one of a single-mode flexible laser radiation delivery system and a few-mode flexible laser radiation delivery system coupled to the coupler; and one or more focusing microlenses coupled to the flexible laser radiation delivery system and arranged in a focusing tip. The coupler comprises a focusing lens. The flexible laser radiation delivery system comprises one of a hollow-core fiber and a flexible waveguide. Optionally, the one or more focusing microlenses are bonded to seal a hollow internal cavity of the flexible laser radiation delivery system. The one or more focusing microlenses comprise one or more conventional lenses or one or more focusing spheres, hemispheres, or cylinders. |
| US09411102B2 |
Device for emitting and guiding an infrared radiation
Device for emitting and guiding an infrared radiation comprising a waveguide (1) and means (5) for emitting an infrared radiation (R), characterized in that said means (5) for emitting an infrared radiation (R) are formed at the surface or inside the waveguide (1), in such a way that the radiation emitted is transmitted to the waveguide (1) which transports it. |
| US09411101B2 |
Optical fiber connector, optical fiber connector assembling method, optical fiber connector assembling tool, and optical fiber connector assembling set
An optical fiber connector of the present invention includes: a ferrule; an inserted optical fiber of which one end portion is fixed to the ferrule and of which the other end portion protrudes from the ferrule; an external optical fiber of which a front end portion is fusion-spliced to the other end portion of the inserted optical fiber; and one or more reinforcing members configured to reinforce the fusion-spliced portion of the other end portion of the inserted optical fiber and the front end portion of the external optical fiber, wherein the ferrule comprises a lens located on an extension line of the inserted optical fiber. |
| US09411099B2 |
Optical waveguide and manufacturing method of optical waveguide
An optical waveguide of the present invention is an optical waveguide having a first rib and a second rib being provided on a slab layer along one direction from one side to the other side and a barrier layer being connected between said first rib and said second rib, in which: the first rib includes a first taper part having a width widening from a first end in said one side to a second end connected with said barrier layer; and the second rib includes a first layer and a second layer laminated on a face of said slab layer in turn. |
| US09411096B2 |
Multimode optical fiber and methods of use and design thereof
The present invention relates generally to multimode optical fibers (MMFs) and methods for optimizing said MMFs for transmission for at least two optical wavelengths. In an embodiment, the present invention is a multimode optical fiber optimized for multi-wavelength transmission in communication systems utilizing VCSEL transceivers, where the MMF has a bandwidth designed to maximize channel reach for multiple wavelengths, and/or where the MMF minimizes for wavelength dependent optical power penalties at one or more wavelength. |
| US09411095B2 |
Optical-fiber preform and method for manufacturing optical-fiber preform
An optical fiber preform which can be drawn into a low attenuation optical fiber is provided with a core portion and a cladding portion surrounding the core portion. The core portion includes a first core portion and a second core portion surrounding the first core portion. The cladding portion includes a first cladding portion surrounding the second core portion and a second cladding portion surrounding the first cladding portion. The first core portion contains an alkali metal element, the concentration of oxygen molecules contained in glass is 30 mol ppb or more and 200 mol ppb or less in a part of or entire region having an alkali metal atom concentration of 100 atomic ppm or more, and the concentration of oxygen molecules contained in glass is 10 mol ppb or less in a region having an alkali metal atom concentration of 50 atomic ppm or less. |
| US09411094B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display device
A backlight module is disclosed. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source, a back plate, and a positioning component for maintaining a light coupling distance between the light emitting surface of the light source and the light incident surface of the light guide plate. There is a light coupling distance between the light emitting surface of the light source and the light incident surface of the light guide plate. When a temperature change occurs, the positioning component occurs as a first deformation, as well as the light guide plate occurs as a second deformation. The light coupling distance remains unchanged under the influence of the first deformation and the second deformation. The positioning reliability of the light guide plate is improved in the present invention. |
| US09411086B2 |
Optical waveguide assembly and light engine including same
An optical waveguide assembly includes a plurality of separate body sections each having a coupling cavity for receiving an LED element and a light extraction feature spaced from the coupling cavity, and a mounting structure surrounding the plurality of body sections that maintains the plurality of body sections in assembled relationship. The waveguide assembly may be incorporated into a light engine. |
| US09411084B2 |
Method and system of illuminating poured surfaces
A method of illuminating poured surfaces is provided. The method embeds fiber optic strands into poured surfaces during the formation thereof. Each fiber optic strand may be supported by a positioning apparatus prior to and during the pouring and setting of the poured surface, wherein no part of the positioning apparatus is visible above a top surface of the operable poured surface, yet the fiber optic strands are exposed near the top surface so as to form desired patterns of points of light. |
| US09411082B2 |
Polarizing plate, display device including the polarizing plate, and method of manufacturing the polarizing plate
A polarizing plate includes a base film and a polarizer. The polarizer includes a dichroic dye formed on the base film, oriented perpendicular to a plane of the base film, and having a discotic liquid crystal phase. |
| US09411078B2 |
Lens system for redirecting light rays within a field of view toward a focal plane
A system for displaying an anamorphic image on a viewing surface comprises a screen having a viewing surface and an image source configured to display the anamorphic image on the viewing surface such that an image viewed on the viewing surface appears undistorted from a viewing point. In addition, the system may also include a reflective lens having a convex exterior surface and a refractive lens having a plurality of surfaces to redirect light toward an image capture device. Further, the system may include an image conversion module for converting a non-anamorphic image into the anamorphic image suitable for displaying on the viewing surface and a selected portion of the anamorphic image into at least one non-anamorphic image. |
| US09411077B2 |
Lenticular lens sheet, display apparatus and electronic equipment
Provided are a lenticular lens sheet capable of simultaneously achieving an improvement in visibility due to improving bonding accuracy, and low cost due to shape stabilization during processing the lens, a display apparatus and an electronic equipment including the same. The lenticular lens sheet includes a plurality of cylindrical lenses which extend in a direction parallel to each other; and an alignment mark which has two cylindrical lenses among the plurality of cylindrical lenses, a flat part disposed between the two cylindrical lenses, and a structure which is disposed on the flat part and extends between the two cylindrical lenses. |
| US09411076B2 |
Pigmented polymerizable compositions and optical articles prepared therefrom
Provided is a polymerizable composition including: (a) a polymerizable component; and (b) a pigment component the pigment component includes: (i) an ionic or amphoteric dispersant material; and (ii) pigment nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in the dispersant material (i). The nanoparticles have a particle size of up to 500 nanometers. Also provided is a polymerizable composition of: (a) a polymerizable component including: (i) diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate); and (ii) a radical initiator; and (b) a pigment component which includes: (i) an ionic or amphoteric dispersant material derived from polycaprolactone; and (ii) pigment nanoparticles of ultramarine blue having an average particle size of up to 500 nanometers, uniformly dispersed in the dispersant material. |
| US09411074B2 |
Security device
A security device is disclosed having a region of piezochromic material and an integrated relief structure. The security device is arranged such that when a stress is generated in the piezochromic material and relief structure, an optical effect is generated in the piezochromic material. |
| US09411071B2 |
Method of estimating rock mechanical properties
A method of estimating at least one mechanical property value of a rock formation in the geologic past. In one embodiment, a correlation model is generated which correlates at least one mechanical property with a porosity value and a composition value relative to a first rock type. An estimation of a past porosity value and a past composition value is then generated for the rock formation at a point of time in the past. A mechanical property value at the point of time in the past is identified in the correlation model based on the estimated past porosity and past composition values. |
| US09411069B1 |
Wireless radiation sensor
Disclosed is a sensor for detecting radiation. The sensor includes a ferromagnetic metal and a radiation sensitive material coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The radiation sensitive material is operable to change a tensile stress of the ferromagnetic metal upon exposure to radiation. The radiation is detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the changes in the tensile stress. |
| US09411053B2 |
Method for using partially occluded images for navigation and positioning
A system and method for augmenting a GNSS/INS system by using a vision system is provided. The GNSS system generates GNSS location information and the INS system generates inertial location information. The vision system further generates vision system location information that is used as an input to an error correction module. The error correction module outputs inertial location adjustment information that is used to update the inertial system's location information. |
| US09411049B2 |
Proximity sensor having array of geiger mode avalanche photodiodes for estimating distance of an object to the array based on at least one of a dark current and a rate of current spikes generated in dark conditions
A proximity sensor may include an array of Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes, each including an anode contact and a cathode contact. A common cathode contact may be coupled to the cathode contacts of the array to define a first connection lead at a back side of the array. A common anode collecting grid contact may be coupled to the anode contacts of the array to define a second connection lead of the array. Circuitry may be coupled with the first and second connection leads and configured to sense at least one of a dark current and a rate of current spikes generated in dark conditions, and generate an output signal representing an estimated distance of an object from the array upon the sensing. |
| US09411048B2 |
Electronic device with adaptive proximity sensor threshold
An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as a touch screen display. The touch screen display may be controlled based on information from a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits infrared light and a light detector that detects reflected infrared light. When the electronic device is in the vicinity of a user's head, the proximity sensor may produce data indicative of the presence of the user's head. Variations in proximity sensor output due to user hair color and smudges on the proximity sensor can be accommodated by using a dynamically adjustable proximity sensor data threshold in processing proximity sensor data. Proximity sensor data may be analyzed in real time to detect signal strength fluctuations that are indicative of the presence of low-reflectively dark hair on the user's head. Threshold adjustments may be based on the presence of dark hair. |
| US09411046B2 |
Device and method for generating and evaluating ultrasound signals, particularly for determining the distance of a vehicle from an obstacle
In the device and method for generating and evaluating ultrasound signals, particularly for determining the distance of a vehicle from an obstacle, an ultrasound received signal is received by at least one ultrasound receiver subscriber of a data bus, after a burst transmission signal comprising a plurality of ultrasound pulses and having a burst length has been transmitted by at least one ultrasound transmitter subscriber of the data bus. The ultrasound received signal is subdivided into time sections which are substantially equal to half the burst length. The peak value for each time section of the ultrasound received signal is transmitted via the data bus to a central control and evaluation unit. On the basis of the peak values of the received signal for each time section, taking into account threshold value tracking, it is determined in the control and evaluation unit whether the ultrasound received signal has time sections in which the ultrasound received signal is greater than the tracked threshold value or equal to the tracked threshold value. |
| US09411044B1 |
Auto updating of weather cell displays
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media relating to providing weather data generated by a weather radar system of an aircraft are provided. The method includes receiving radar returns from at least one of a horizontal radar scan and a vertical radar scan. The method includes detecting a plurality of weather cells based on at least one of the horizontal radar scan and the vertical radar scan. The method includes providing display data representative of the plurality of weather cells. The method includes automatically providing updated display data representative of the plurality of weather cells based on at least one of an additional horizontal radar scan and an additional vertical radar scan. |
| US09411042B2 |
Multi-sensor compressive imaging
Multi-sensor compressive imaging systems can include an imaging component (such an RF, microwave, or mmW metamaterial surface antenna) and an auxiliary sensing component (such as an EO/IR sensor). In some approaches, the auxiliary sensing component includes a structured light sensor configured to identify the location or posture of an imaging target within a field of view of the imaging component. In some approaches, a reconstructed RF, microwave, or mmW image may be combined with a visual image of a region of interest to provide a multi-spectral representation of the region of interest. |
| US09411037B2 |
Calibration of Wi-Fi localization from video localization
In some implementations, video camera networks can be used to track people or objects and determine their locations. In some implementations, location accuracy better than one meter can be achieved using video cameras. According to some implementations, Wi-Fi localization and video localization systems can be fused together to perform calibration. In some implementations, by using the video network to continuously update the Wi-Fi localization calibration database, Wi-Fi location accuracy can be improved. |
| US09411035B2 |
Method and electronic apparatus for angle estimation verification
A method for angle estimation verification, adapted for verifying an estimated angle calculated by an electronic apparatus having an angle estimator and at least three antennas, is provided. The estimated angle is extracted from the angle estimator. An autocorrelation matrix is generated according to a signal vector formed by a plurality of measurements of a received signal received by each of the antennas so as to obtain a plurality of eigenvalues. Among phase difference data generated by a plurality of antenna groups formed by all different combinations of two of the antennas, a plurality of possible estimated angles corresponding to the phase difference data not caused by a coterminal angle effect are calculated. According to the eigenvalues and the possible estimated angles, whether the received signal corresponds to a single target or multiple targets is determined so as to verify the reliability of the estimated angle. |
| US09411034B2 |
Measuring system for nuclear magnetic measuring devices
A measuring system for nuclear magnetic measuring devices having a controller, a signal generator and a signal processor with signal path having an input stage and a signal conditioner, interfering signals caused by the excitation signals and not occurring simultaneously with the measuring signals being received at an input of the input stage, the measuring signal having signal swing less than that of the interfering signal and the controller determining excitation signal output instants. A switch is located in the signal path between the input stage output and the signal conditioner input, and being switchable between first and second switching states by the controller. The controller switches the switch in the first switching state only in the periods in which there are no interfering signals at the input stage input, and a dynamic range of the signal conditioner input is adapted to the voltage swing of the measuring signals. |
| US09411029B2 |
Magnetic resonance tomography system, receive apparatus and method
A magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system has a receive apparatus disposed in a magnetic field, in which a receive coil is coupled to an input of an analog/digital converter. The analog/digital converter is configured for this purpose. A digital output of the analog/digital converter is coupled via a digital mixer device and a clock-rate-reduction device to a data output of the receive apparatus. The mixer device is configured to mix a predetermined frequency band of the MR signal downwards into an intermediate frequency range and create a digital IF signal. |
| US09411027B2 |
Method for determining if an implantable medical device is magnetic resonance conditional
A method for determining if an implantable medical device (IMD) in a patient is magnetic resonance conditional. Embodiments include a Home Monitoring Service Center (HMSC) that indicates if the IMD is MR conditional and what those conditions are. The IMD includes memory with flags, enabling a physician to set a flag to “MR conditional” if the IMD is MR conditional, if there are no abandoned leads in the patient, and if there are no other hardware in the patient that are not MR conditionally approved. In embodiments, the flags indicate safe for 1.5 T, 3.0 T, 1.5 & 3.0 T, up to 2 W/Kg, up to 4 W/Kg, with/without exclusion zone, and date flags are set. During home monitoring, the HMSC reads out a status of the MR conditional flags and the date last confirmed. If the patient needs an MRI scan, physician queries HMSC to determine MR conditional status. |
| US09411023B2 |
Magnetic field sensing element combining a circular vertical hall magnetic field sensing element with a planar hall element
A magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and at least one planar Hall element. The CVH sensing element has contacts arranged over a common implant region in a substrate. In some embodiments, the at least one planar Hall element is formed as a circular planar Hall (CPH) sensing element also having contacts disposed over the common implant region. A CPH sensing element and a method of fabricating the CPH sensing element are separately described. |
| US09411022B2 |
Calibration correlation for calibration assembly having electromagnetic read head
According to one embodiment a method of performing a calibration correlation test for a calibration assembly includes sweeping a head module having a magnetic read sensor along a y-axis of the calibration assembly. The calibration assembly has at least one calibration trench having at least one nanoparticle at a known y-axis location in the calibration trench and the magnetic properties are known for the at least one nanoparticle. A read response of the at least one nanoparticles is obtained from the magnetic read sensor and a correlation is determined from the read response. The correlation of the read response is compared to a correlation threshold. The read response correlation is stored in memory in response to determining that the correlation of the read response is greater than the correlation threshold. When the correlation of the read response is not greater than the correlation threshold, a correlation test error is indicated. |
| US09411021B2 |
Methods and apparatus for sensing ground leakage and automated self testing thereof
Methods and apparatus provide for: measuring leakage current from a source of AC power, which provides power to at least one load circuit; and comparing the measured leakage current values against one or more predetermined thresholds to establish status therefor; and automatically performing self tests to determine whether the leakage current sensing and comparing operations are operative. |
| US09411020B2 |
Battery pack and method of controlling the same
A battery pack and a method of controlling the battery pack are disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery pack includes a battery, a monitoring unit configured to monitor a voltage of the battery and provide a monitoring result, a memory storing a full-charge capacity (FCC) of the battery, and a controller configured to update the stored FCC when the monitoring result satisfies predetermined conditions during a falling period of the voltage. |
| US09411016B2 |
Testing of a transient voltage protection device
A method of testing a voltage protection device in a circuit is provided. The circuit comprises a source and load and a detector is provided in parallel with the protection device. The method comprises opening a switching device provided in the circuit. The method further comprises detecting a property of a voltage spike caused by the rate of change of current in the circuit inductance produced by the opening of the switching device to determine the condition of the protection device. |
| US09411013B2 |
Instrument for automated testing of displays
A test apparatus includes a display sled having a mount for holding a display under test (“DUT”). The display sled is supported by a frame and moves between a test position and a load position. A lamp source is supported by the frame and positioned to illuminate the DUT when the display sled is in the test position. A measurement camera is supported by the frame and positioned to capture one or more test images output by the DUT when the DUT is illuminated by the lamp source. Driver circuitry generates the one or more test images to drive the DUT. An electrical interconnect establishes an electrical connection between the driver circuitry and the DUT when the display sled is in the test position. An actuator is coupled to physically manipulate the electrical interconnect to engage or disengage the electrical connection between the driver circuitry and the DUT. |
| US09411011B2 |
Test messaging demodulate and modulate on separate power pads
The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for using a device's power and ground terminals as a test and/or debug interface for the device. According to the present disclosure, messages are modulated over DC voltages applied to the power terminals of a device to input test/debug messages to the device and output test/debug messages from the device. The present disclosure advantageously allows a device to be tested and/or debugged without the device having any shared or dedicated test or debug interface terminals. |
| US09411007B2 |
System and method for statistical post-silicon validation
The system and method described herein relate to a bug positioning system for post-silicon validation of a prototype integrated circuit using statistical analysis. Specifically, the bug positioning system samples output and intermediate signals from a prototype chip to generate signatures. Signatures are grouped into passing and failing groups, modeled, and compared to identify patterns of acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior and locate bugs in space and time. |
| US09411003B2 |
Current measurement
The present invention relates to current measurement apparatus. The current measurement apparatus comprises first and second measurement devices with each of the first and second measurement devices being operative to measure current in a respective one of a live conductor and a neutral conductor substantially simultaneously. The current measurement apparatus is operative to make plural different determinations in dependence on the substantially simultaneous current measurements. |
| US09411002B2 |
System and method for gradient thermal analysis by induced stimulus
A thermal gradient is induced in a device-under-test (DUT) and used to determine the location of a defect. In one embodiment, a static thermal gradient is induced across at least a portion of the DUT along a first axis. The thermal gradient is incrementally walked along the first axis until the condition associated with the defect is triggered, thereby defining a first region. The thermal gradient is then induced along a second axis of the DUT and the process is repeated to define a second region. The location of the defect is determined to be the intersection of the first region with the second region. |
| US09411000B2 |
Method and system for measuring capacitance difference between capacitive elements
Methods and systems for measuring capacitance difference are disclosed. In one aspect, first and second capacitive elements are connected between voltage receiving nodes for receiving first and second DC voltages and nodes connectable to a third DC voltage via a first, resp. second switch. Further, in a first phase, a voltage difference is applied to charge the capacitive elements and the switches are alternately closed. First resulting currents are measured. Further, in a second phase, the first and second DC voltages are applied alternatingly and the switches are alternately closed. Second resulting currents are measured. The capacitance difference can be determined from the first and second resulting currents. |
| US09410999B2 |
Contactless capacitive distance sensor
Electrically conductive structures produced on or in a substrate, or produced such that the structures are floating in a substrate undergo simple and reliable capacitive contactless and non-destructive inspection using a capacitive sensor having at least two sensor electrode surfaces which are arranged at different constant distances from one another parallel to a surface of the substrate and are arranged beside one another relative to the surface of the substrate. |
| US09410994B2 |
Refrigerator and operation method thereof
According to the present invention, a refrigerator that may save power rates is provided. The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a door; a communication unit; a sensing unit; a memory unit; an output unit; and a controller configured to sense an opening state of the door, obtain power consumption information consumed as the door is opened from the memory unit considering at least one of the opening state of the door and an attribute of the door and configured to output through the output unit power rates information corresponding to the power consumption information, considering power information received through the communication unit. |
| US09410993B2 |
Circuit that deciphers between AC and DC input signals
Aspects of the present invention provide a module including an electronic circuit that flags the presence of AC or DC input signals. An AC filter receives an input signal and couples it to a first leg. The AC filter permits an AC signal to pass to produce a first output and prevents a DC signal from passing. A DC filter also receives the input signal and couples it to a second leg. The DC filter permits a DC signal to pass to produce a second output and prevents at least part of an AC signal from passing. A lock out circuit in the first leg prevents the second leg from producing the second output when the first leg produces the first output. The output of each leg may be digitized and coupled to a logic controller to flag the presence of AC or DC input signals. |
| US09410988B2 |
Cable with LED connection indicator and methods of using same
An interconnection verification device for sensors and a software implementation of interconnection verification between cabling and sensors in large, multi-channel test configurations are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the sensor assembly comprises a sensor and an indicator electrically connected inline with the sensor. In a preferred embodiment the indicator is an LED. In an even more preferred embodiment, the sensor is an IEPE. |
| US09410987B2 |
Probe card
A probe card includes a board or silicon substrate; a plurality of probes (terminals) at a first surface of the board, the respective probes having a first extending portion extending along the first surface of the board; a plurality of through-holes formed in correspondence to the respective probes and penetrating between the first and second surfaces of the board; through electrodes embedded in the respective through-holes and conductively connected to the probes in the respective through-holes; and a wiring at the second surface of the board conductively connected to the through electrodes, the wiring having a second extending portion extending along the second surface of the board, wherein the first extending portion and the second extending portion extend in different directions from each other, and a space is formed across the entire width of the first extending portion between the first extending portion and the first surface of the board. |
| US09410984B2 |
Surface force measuring method and surface force measuring apparatus
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring a force (which will be referred to as surface force) acting between two material surfaces. A surface force measuring method includes moving an object (1) toward a probe (4) until the probe (4) is adsorbed to the object (1), then applying a load from an electromagnetic-force generator (20) to a supporting member (6) in a direction as to separate the probe (4) from the object (1) while gradually increasing an electric current supplied to the electromagnetic-force generator (20), obtaining a value of the electric current supplied to the electromagnetic-force generator (20) when the probe (4) is separated from the object (1), and converting the value of the electric current into a surface force acting between the probe (4) and the object (1). |
| US09410983B2 |
Scanning probe microscope
A scanning probe microscope includes a stage on which a sample is mounted, a probe configured to measure a characteristic of the sample, and a controller configured to move the probe and the stage relative to each other along a scanning trajectory during measurement of the characteristic of the sample. The scanning trajectory includes a plurality of linear segments, wherein each pair of adjacent linear segments form an angle that is 90 degrees or less. |
| US09410980B2 |
Work monitoring system
A system and methods for monitoring work processes. Once example computer-implemented method includes recording a three-dimensional work trajectory. The work trajectory comprises a representation of the actual motion of one or more markers. The method further includes comparing the work trajectory to a work template. The work template comprises a representation of the desired motion of the one or more markers. The method further includes sending a success indication to a display when the work trajectory is similar to the work template and sending a failure indication to the display when the work trajectory is dissimilar to the work template. |
| US09410975B2 |
Pressure manifold to equalize pressure in integration PCR-CE microfluidic devices
A device is presented that includes a chip having a plurality of wells that are optionally connected by capillary channels, and a manifold member configured to be disposed over the chip for equalizing pressure over the wells and capillary channels. |
| US09410972B2 |
Antibodies to quetiapine and use thereof
Disclosed is an antibody which binds to quetiapine, which can be used to detect quetiapine in a sample such as in a competitive immunoassay method. The antibody can be used in a lateral flow assay device for point-of-care detection of quetiapine, including multiplex detection of aripiprazole, quetiapine, olanzapine, and risperidone in a single lateral flow assay device. |
| US09410971B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis
Provided are devices, systems and methods for evaluation of hemostasis. Also provided are sound focusing assemblies. |
| US09410968B2 |
Biomarkers for acute kidney injury
Disclosed is an animal model that can be used, among other things, to generate biomarkers for the prognosis and/or diagnosis of acute kidney injury, more specifically sepsis-induced acute kidney injury. Disclosed are three such biomarkers. The disclosure specifically relates to human chitinase 3-like protein 1 for use as a biomarker. |
| US09410964B2 |
Analysis of amino acid copolymer compositions
Methods for analyzing, selecting, characterizing or classifying compositions of a co-polymer, e.g., glatiramer acetate are described. The methods entail analysis of pyro-glutamate in the composition, and, in some methods, comparing the amount of pyro-glutamate present in a composition to a reference standard. |
| US09410963B2 |
Hexanoylglycine as biomarker for the predisposition for weight gain and obesity
The present invention relates generally to the field of nutrition and health. In particular, the present invention relates to a new biomarker, its use and a method that allows it to diagnose the likelihood to resist diet induced weight gain, and/or to be susceptible to a diet induced weight gain. For example, the biomarker may be hexanoylglycine. |
| US09410960B2 |
Method of diagnosing galactosemia in neonatal screening
A method of diagnosing galactosemia in blood samples from neonates by determining GAL-1-P concentrations before 5-7 days of life is disclosed. The removal of interfering compounds allows a more specific and therefore more accurate determination of GAL-IP levels in newborn screening for galactosemia using mass spectrometry. This is of major importance when investigating samples from children that have not yet achieved a steady state of GAL-IP (i.e. before 5-7 day of life). |
| US09410955B2 |
Method for predicting the risk of developing a colonic neoplasia
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining whether a patient having hyperplastic polyps is at risk of developing a colonic neoplasia after resection of said hyperplastic polyps, said method comprising the step of determining the level of progastrin expression in a tissue sample of a hyperplastic polyp obtained from said patient. |
| US09410952B2 |
Method and device for the determination of several analytes with simultaneous internal verification in a graphical combination
The invention relates to a device in which molecules capable of reacting with analytes that are to be detected are immobilized on a surface such that said analytes are bound and can be detected in a subsequent reaction or in several reaction steps. According to the invention, at least two such surfaces are combined in a graphically connected manner, one of said surfaces being used for detecting an analyte and the other one being used for verifying or quantifying the analyte. Said surfaces are embodied so as to simultaneously enter into contact with a sample matrix. The inventive device and a corresponding method can be used for all diagnostic areas, especially in medical diagnostics such as diagnoses of allergies, infections, typifications, DNA/RNA diagnoses, pharmacological and toxicological diagnoses, as well as in food diagnostics, veterinary diagnostics, or environmental diagnostics. |
| US09410951B2 |
Method for producing substrate for making microarray
There is disclosed a method for producing a substrate for making a microarray, the method comprising: at least, a step of forming a monomolecular film having orientated oxysilanyl groups toward an outmost surface on the substrate; and a step of forming a monomolecular film having orientated amino groups toward an outmost surface on the substrate by applying a solution containing a diamine compound to the oxysilanyl groups. There can be provided a method for producing a substrate for making a microarray in which density and orientation of amino groups orientated toward an outmost surface are controllable, and in addition, there is no delamination of a monomolecular film formed on the substrate. |
| US09410949B2 |
Label-free detection of renal cancer
Natural and/or synthetic antibodies for specific proteins are adhered to nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are adhered to a substrate and the substrate is exposed to a sample that may contain the specific proteins. The substrates are then tested with surface enhanced Raman scattering techniques and/or localized surface plasmon resonance techniques to quantify the amount of the specific protein in the sample. |
| US09410948B2 |
Manipulation of magnetic particles in a biological sample
A microfluidic device, used with a processing device having a magnetic supplier, including a chamber arranged to receive a biological sample and at least one magnetic particle, and a storage for storing information comprising a magnetic protocol in a form readable by the processing device. The magnetic supplier is configured to generate magnetic forces on the magnetic particle(s) according to this magnetic protocol read from the storage. |
| US09410945B2 |
Brown adipocyte progenitors in human skeletal muscle
Brown adipose tissue (“BAT”) progenitor cells and methods for identifying BAT progenitor cells in a population of cells are provided. Methods are also provided for inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells into differentiated brown adipocytes, inducing expression or increased activity levels of BAT uncoupling protein-1 (“UCP1”), and for identifying agents capable of inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells into brown adipocytes and/or inducing expression or increased activity levels of UCP1. Differentiated brown adipocytes and agents and methods for inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells can be used for treatment of or the making of medicaments for the treatment of metabolic diseases or conditions in a patient such as obesity, overweight, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin-resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and the like. Differentiated brown adipocytes and agents and methods for inducing differentiation of BAT progenitor cells can be used for prevention of hypothermia. |
| US09410941B2 |
Composition for the detection of alcohol vapors in an air sample
The present invention relates to a silica gel-based composition capable of changing color when placed in contact with alcohol vapors. Said composition is particularly useful for preparing devices for the detection of alcohol, for example devices for carrying out an alcohol test on samples of air exhaled by individuals when subjected to checks by the police or competent authorities. |
| US09410937B2 |
Method of operating a small-scale water separometer to pre-treat a filter prior to testing a fuel sample
The safety and proper performance of jet aircraft engines requires that any contamination of jet fuel, for example by water or by improper contaminants, be filtered (removed) before delivery of the fuel, through hoses, to the fuel tanks of the aircraft. Coalescing devices and filters in the fuel delivery system are used to attain this result. A typical problem is that filter materials chemically react with surfactants, and this causes the filter subsequently to “disarm” or fail to perform its function of removing water, which can lead to delivery of fuel containing excessive water. A solution to this problem is to pre-test the fuel for such surfactants by feeding a small fuel sample that has been mixed with “challenge water” through a smaller ‘representative’ test filter and monitor the performance. Using a fluorescent dye in the “challenge water,” the amount of water that passes the test filter is detected, compared with a baseline data and fuel quality determination is made. From the result of the small-scale test, the fuel condition can be inferred and, based thereon; action can be taken to treat the fuel, prior to further distribution, such that it will not disarm field filter-coalescers in a typical fuel distribution system. The use of a fluorescent dye enhances the ability to make this determination of very small representative fuel filters. The fuel evaluation process is fully automated, thereby avoiding human-factor variables and assuring repeatable results. |
| US09410927B2 |
Mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion mobility spectrometer or separator and an ion guide arranged downstream of the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. A plurality of axial potential wells are created in the ion guide so that ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator become confined in separate axial potential wells. The potential wells maintain the fidelity and/or composition of ions received from the ion mobility spectrometer or separator. The potential wells are translated along the length of the ion guide. |
| US09410925B2 |
Capillary tubes for electrophoresis
The present invention relates to a plastic capillary tube for capillary electrophoresis, in which the plastic capillary tube has an inlet opening and an outlet opening and, furthermore, has at least one hole in the capillary tube wall and the diameter of the hole on the inside of the capillary tube wall dL(innen) lies in the range from 0.5 μm to 30 μm. |
| US09410924B2 |
Test chip with plug for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a liquid, housing for test chip and socket for plug
Measurement device (10) for taking a liquid sample, comprising: a measurement portion (15) with a measurement surface (20), for being in use contacted with the liquid surface and a plug portion (40) having a plurality of electrical contacts (50), wherein the plug portion (40) is mountable to a socket (110) of a measurement evaluation apparatus (100). |
| US09410921B2 |
Method for testing a CMOS transistor
A method for testing a CMOS transistor with an electrical testing unit, the CMOS transistor being formed in a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of CMOS transistors are formed on the semiconductor wafer and the electrical testing unit has a support plate and a metal layer formed on the support plate. The CMOS transistor having a first terminal contact, a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, the second terminal contact configured as an electrically open control contact and in a process step the metal layer is positioned above the semiconductor wafer over the control contact and a potential difference between the first terminal contact and a third terminal contact is generated. The control contact is capacitively coupled by applying a drive potential to the metal layer, and the function of the CMOS transistor is tested by measuring an electrical variable dependent on the capacitive coupling. |
| US09410920B2 |
Apparatus and its arrangement with duct to determine flowable medium parameters
An apparatus is mountable to a duct having a cross-section, for determining parameters of a flowable medium flowing through the duct. The apparatus includes a mounting attachment having a conduit member, and at least one combination of multiple sensing members configured to the conduit member. The conduit member may be disposed entirely within the duct such that the multiple sensing members are located within the duct establishing direct contact with the flowable medium. The multiple sensing members include oxygen and temperature sensing elements respectively, to determine parameter such as oxygen level in the flowable medium, and temperature of the flowable medium. Several such apparatus may be mounted in the duct across the cross-section to define a grid to determine said parameter at various locations across the cross-section. |
| US09410909B2 |
Microsensor for mercury
Methods and devices for detecting a concentration of one or more element in hydrocarbon and/or natural gas in an oil and gas field application. The device including a microstructure having a low thermal mass suspended within a channel, the microstructure includes a supporting layer and a insulating layer; a controllable thermal device in communication with the supporting layer of the microstructure, wherein the controllable thermal device is controllably heated to one or more release temperature of the one or more element; a sensing layer arranged on the insulating layer to absorb molecules of the one or more element from hydrocarbon and/or natural gas; a detecting and measuring resistance device in communication with the sensing layer for measuring the resistance changes caused by absorption of molecules of the one or more element onto the sensing layer at a first temperature and a second temperature, and storing the data on a processor. |
| US09410905B2 |
Non-destructive inspection of an article using cross-sections through internal feature
A method of non-destructively inspecting an article includes scanning an article to produce a computerized three-dimensional representation of an internal feature of the article. A measurement characteristic of the internal feature is then generated from a plurality of cross-sections through the computerized three-dimensional representation of the internal feature. The measurement characteristic is then used to determine whether the internal feature meets a design criterion. |
| US09410904B2 |
System and method for determining density of a medium in a tank
A system and method for determining a density of a non-conducting medium in a tank is disclosed where the relationship between a dielectric constant and a density of the medium is known. The system comprises a transceiver, and a waveguide, the waveguide extends towards and into the medium. The system further comprises a first microwave resonator located along the waveguide. The first microwave resonator has a resonance frequency, which depends on a dielectric constant of a medium surrounding the resonator according to a known relationship, and is arranged to reflect a portion in the frequency domain of a signal being guided along the waveguide. The system further comprises processing circuitry connected to the transceiver and configured to determine the resonance frequency based on a received reflected signal, and to determine a density of the medium at the location of the first microwave resonator based on the resonance frequency. |
| US09410903B2 |
Incoherent reflectometry utilizing chaotic excitation of light sources
A method for estimating a parameter includes: transmitting a control signal to a coherent optical source, the control signal configured to chaotically vary an output of the optical source and generate a chaotically excited optical signal; transmitting the optical signal from the optical source into an optical fiber, the optical fiber including at least one sensing location; receiving a reflected signal including light reflected from the at least one sensing location; and estimating a value of the parameter using the reflected signal. |
| US09410900B2 |
Infrared detector device inspection system
Methods and apparatuses for identifying carrier lifetimes are disclosed herein. In a general embodiment, a beam of light is sent to a group of locations on a material for an optical device. Photons emitted from the material are detected at each of the group of locations. A carrier lifetime is identified for each of the group of locations based on the photons detected from each of the group of locations. |
| US09410899B2 |
Illumination apparatus and pattern inspection apparatus
An illumination apparatus according to embodiments includes: a light source generating laser light; a rotational phase plate having a plurality of randomly arranged stepped regions, the rotational phase plate transmitting the laser light to give a phase change to the laser light; and an integrator including a plurality of lenses arranged in an array, the laser light transmitted through the rotational phase plate being incident on the integrator, an allowable angle of incidence for the laser light of the lenses being set at a maximum value of or larger than an angle of diffraction of a first order of the laser light at the rotational phase plate. |
| US09410897B2 |
Film edge detecting method and film edge detecting device
The present invention provides a film edge detecting method and a film edge detecting device. The film edge detecting method is used for detecting a film edge of a film layer formed on a substrate, the film layer comprises a patterned film layer, the method includes: forming at least one scale pattern in the patterned film layer, a film edge of the patterned film layer corresponding to an edge of the scale pattern; obtaining a patterned film edge indication value of the edge of the scale pattern; and obtaining a second distance, which is a distance between the film edge of the non-patterned film layer and a corresponding edge of the substrate, based on the non-patterned film edge indication value and a preset reference value of the corresponding edge of the substrate. |
| US09410896B2 |
Method of measurement of aromatic varnish application
A method of measurement of application of aromatic varnish in offset and rotogravure printing includes adding to the aromatic varnish as a marker, one or more of organic and non-organic pigments that can be seen in visible or UV light in the amount ranging from 40,000 to 500,000 per 1 mm3. The mixture of the aromatic varnish and the marker undergoes dispergation, and clean proofs are made where the aromatic varnish coat corresponds to the coat assumed in the printing process. Using a microscope with magnification ranging from 100× to 500×, the number of pigment grains is measured in the clean proofs and then the proper printing process takes place. Samples printed with the varnish are collected and observed under a microscope in the reflected light, and then the number of visible pigment particles in the collected sample is compared with the number of visible pigments in the clean proof. |
| US09410894B2 |
Microfluidic device for analyzing a pressurized fluid
The invention relates to a microfluidic sensor for analyzing a fluid which is in a pipe and which is under a first pressure. The sensor includes a mixer for mixing amount of fluid from the pipe with at least one amount of a reactant from at least one tank, and an analyzer for analyzing the resulting mixture. The sensor further includes a sampling channel for sampling an amount of the fluid in the pipe, in order to supply the fluid the mixer and to pressurize the at least one tank. According to the invention, an outlet of the analyzer is subjected to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure in the pipe, such that the fluid passively moves from the pipe towards the analyzer via the mixer, as well as towards the tank. |
| US09410887B2 |
Optical sensor for analyte detection
Devices, systems, and methods for detection of an analyte in a sample are disclosed. In some embodiments, an optical sensor can include a metallic layer and a plurality of dielectric pillars extending through the metallic layer. A plurality of regions of concentrated light can be supported in proximity to the ends of the plurality of dielectric pillars when a surface of the metallic layer is illuminated. Concentrated light within one or more of these regions can interact with an analyte molecule, allowing for detection of the analyte. |
| US09410885B2 |
Atomic sensor physics package having optically transparent panes and external wedges
One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber and one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes. The physics package also includes at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wedge is configured to oriented such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane. |
| US09410883B2 |
Cytometry system with interferometric measurement
This disclosure concerns methods and apparatus for interferometric spectroscopic measurements of particles with higher signal to noise ratio utilizing an infrared light beam that is split into two beams. At least one beam may be directed through a measurement volume containing a sample including a medium. The two beams may then be recombined and measured by a detector. The phase differential between the two beams may be selected to provide destructive interference when no particle is present in the measurement volume. A sample including medium with a particle is introduced to the measurement volume and the detected change resulting from at least one of resonant mid-infrared absorption, non-resonant mid-infrared absorption, and scattering by the particle may be used to determine a property of the particle. A wide range of properties of particles may be determined, wherein the particles may include living cells. |
| US09410879B1 |
High definition blood trailing flashlight
A light-emitting device configured to illuminate blood includes a white light source configured to emit white light, and a filter configured to progressively attenuate portions of the white light having wavelengths up to a transition wavelength within a red light spectrum of the white light. The transition wavelength may be in the range of about 610 nm to about 618 nm. |
| US09410875B2 |
Method and arrangement for the weighted monitoring of the wear of a pair of hand pliers used for crimping workpieces
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the wear of a pair of hand pliers with which crimping elements can be pressed onto a workpiece and a particular degree of crimping mp, to be obtained by actuating the pliers, set using a presetting device. An arrangement is described for carrying out this method, as is a pair of hand pliers implementing the method. The method includes: counting each actuation of the hand pliers and linking to the degree of crimping mp that has been set; reading out a wear prognosis value Vt, from a memory, for the degree of crimping that has been set; determining a total wear value V by adding up the wear prognosis value Vt for each actuation; verifying whether the total wear value reaches or exceeds a defined threshold value VG, and issuing a calibration request if necessary. |
| US09410869B2 |
Process for testing a compressor or a combustor of a gas turbine engine using a large compressed air storage reservoir
A process for testing a combustor or a compressor of a gas turbine engine, where a large volume of compressed air is stored in a large reservoir of at least 10,000 m3 such as an underground storage cavern, compressed air from the storage reservoir is passed through an air turbine to drive a compressor to produce high pressure and temperature compressed air, and where the compressed air can be discharged into a combustor and burned with a fuel for testing of the combustor under simulated conditions of a real gas turbine engine. |
| US09410868B2 |
Methods for producing strain sensors on turbine components
Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface, and ablating at least a portion of the ceramic material to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points. |
| US09410866B2 |
Device for monitoring an optical fibre
The present invention relates to a device for monitoring an optical fiber comprising a photo-sensitive device arranged to produce an electric pulse from an optical pulse injected at a first node of the optical fiber, a delay element and a first optical circulator arranged to delay the optical pulse injected at the first node of the optical fiber. Further, the device comprises an optical amplifier arrangement arranged to receive the optical pulse at its input and the produced electric pulse as an operating signal, for producing an amplified optical pulse. Moreover, the device comprises a second optical circulator arranged to receive the amplified optical pulse at a first port and output the amplified optical pulse at a second port connected to a second node of the optical fiber, and to receive an optical signal reflected back from the optical fiber at the second port and outputting the reflected optical signal at a third port. |
| US09410864B2 |
Method and device for determining the static unbalance
Disclosed is a method for determining the static unbalance of a body (30) provided with a locating surface (31) by means of a center-of-gravity weighing scale (10), the method including measuring the position of the locating surface (31) of the body (30) with respect to its mount by means of electric displacement sensors (16), computing from the measurement signals of the displacement sensors (16) the eccentricity of the locating surface (31) of the body (30) with respect to the reference point of the scale (10) by means of an electric evaluating circuit, weighing the body (30) and recording mass and position of the center of gravity of the body (30) with respect to the reference point of the scale (10), and computing the unbalance of the body (30) from the measurement signals of the scale (10) and the eccentricity of the locating surface (31) of the body (30) with respect to the reference point of the scale (10) by means of the evaluating circuit. |
| US09410860B2 |
Washer assembly and joint monitoring system employing the same
A washer assembly is for use with a fastener. The washer assembly includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion. The first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener. A wireless transponder unit includes a control unit electrically connected to the variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to the control unit. The control unit is configured to sense the capacitance of the variable capacitor, to generate information representing the capacitance, and to output the information to a wireless reader unit via the antenna. |
| US09410858B2 |
Optical scale having wires, method for manufacturing optical scale having wires,and optical encode
An optical scale, a method for manufacturing an optical scale, and an optical encoder. The optical scale includes a plurality of wires provided thereon so that the wires do not intersect each other and each of the tangential directions of the respective wires changes continuously. The optical encoder includes the optical scale, a light source, an optical sensor, and a computing unit. The optical sensor includes a first polarizing layer that splits incident light that is light source light from the light source passed through or reflected on the optical scale and being incident on the first polarizing layer to a first polarization direction, a second polarizing layer that splits the incident light to a second polarization direction, a first photoreceiver that receives first polarized light split by the first polarizing layer, and a second photoreceiver that receives second polarized light split by the second polarizing layer. |
| US09410856B2 |
Sensor device, sensor module, force detection device, and robot
A package having a recessed section, a sensor element arranged in the recessed section and having a piezoelectric material, a lid joined to the package and sealing the recessed section of the package are provided. The package has a first hollow portion which a part of the sensor element fits with, on an inner bottom surface of the recessed section. The lid has a second hollow portion which a part of the sensor element fits with. |
| US09410855B2 |
Method for press forming analysis
A method for press forming analysis includes (1) performing a coordinate transformation to calculate a distribution of stress (a) before a release from the press die in a local coordinate system; (2) performing a springback analysis which includes (i) calculating a distribution of residual stress after the release and performing the coordinate transformation to calculate a distribution of residual stress (b) in the local coordinate system, and (ii) calculating shape data (d) after the release; (3) calculating a difference (a-b) as SB effective stress, performing a coordinate transformation to calculate a distribution of SB effective stress in a global coordinate system, changing or removing the SB effective stress in an analysis target region and performing the springback analysis to calculate a shape data (c) after the release; and (4) calculating a difference (c-d) to determine a degree of influence of the analysis target region. |
| US09410854B2 |
Methods and devices for measuring core body temperature
A core body temperature measurement device includes a plurality of electronic temperature sensors (12, 12f, 12b, 132) operatively coupled with or near a surface (STA, PAA, BTT) having a surface temperature approximating the core body temperature, and a readout controller (10, 48, 68, 90, 124) including a maximum temperature reading selector (14). The readout controller is configured to acquire temperature readings using the plurality of temperature sensors and to output a core body temperature based on a highest usable temperature reading of the acquired temperature readings as determined by the maximum temperature reading selector. A core body temperature measurement method includes: acquiring a plurality of temperature readings at and near a surface (STA, PAA, BTT) having a surface temperature approximating the core body temperature; generating a highest usable temperature reading from the acquired temperature readings; and outputting a core body temperature based on the highest usable temperature. |
| US09410853B2 |
Guided wave thermography methods and systems for inspecting a structure
Methods and systems (10) based on guided wave thermography for non-destructively inspecting structural flaws that may be present in a structure (15). For example, such systems and methods may provide the ability to selectively deliver sonic or ultrasonic energy to provide focusing and/or beam steering throughout the structure from a fixed transducer location (12, 14, 16). Moreover, such systems and methods may provide the ability to selectively apply sonic or ultrasonic energy having excitation characteristics (FIGS. 11 and 12) which may be uniquely tailored to enhance the thermal response (FIGS. 5 and 7) of a particular flaw geometry and/or flaw location. |
| US09410852B2 |
Freeze indicator
Provided is a freeze indicator, and more particularly, to a freeze indicator capable of easily confirming whether products are exposed to a freezing temperature or less using a development medium member containing a development material having hydrophobic property and moisture, and using diffusion characteristics of the development material into a development medium only when the moisture is frozen at a freezing temperature or less of the moisture. |
| US09410849B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods controlling testing optical fire detectors
A testing device for testing infrared OFDs is provided. The testing device may comprise a body, an infrared source, a controller and a user input. The infrared source may be housed with the body. The controller may be operatively coupled to the infrared source. The controller may also be integral to the infrared source. The user input may be operatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the infrared source. The testing device may be configured to produce infrared emissions to simulate flaming fire. |
| US09410846B2 |
Multi-channel up-conversion infrared spectrometer and method of detecting a spectral distribution of light
A multi-channel infrared spectrometer for detecting an infrared spectrum of light received from an object. The spectrometer comprises a wavelength converter system comprising a nonlinear material and having an input side and an output side. The wavelength converter system comprises at least a first up-conversion channel and a second up-conversion channel, and is arranged such that light traversing the wavelength converter system at different angles in the nonlinear material is imaged into different positions in an image plane. The first up-conversion channel is configurable for phase-matching infrared light in a first input wavelength range incident on the first side and light in a first output wavelength range output on the second side, and correspondingly, the second up-conversion channel is configurable for phase-matching infrared light in a second input wavelength range incident on the first side into light in a second output wavelength range output on the second side. The spectrometer further comprises a demultiplexer configured for demultiplexing light in the first up-conversion channel and light in the second up-conversion channel. The demultiplexer is located on the first side or the second side of the wavelength converter system. Finally, the spectrometer comprises a spatially resolved detector arranged in the image plane to detect light in the first output wavelength range and second output wavelength range output of the wavelength converter system. |
| US09410844B2 |
Optical sensor
To provide an optical sensor that can ensure accuracy of positions of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit in a case. The optical sensor includes a case, an integrated light projecting module that includes a light emitting unit and a light projecting lens, a light receiving unit configured to receive reflected light of light projected from the light projecting module, and a light receiving lens unit configured to form an image of the reflected light on the light receiving unit. The light projecting module, the light receiving unit, and the light receiving lens unit are each independently and directly fixed to the case. |
| US09410837B2 |
Dispenser
A dispenser for dispensing at least two components simultaneously uses ramp shaped wedge members to adjust the ratio of the components being dispensed. The components to be dispensed are disposed in separate containers each forming or connected to a pump. The ramp of the wedge members controls the stroke of the pump. |
| US09410835B2 |
Measuring transducer of vibration-type with four curved measuring tubes
The measuring transducer comprises: a transducer housing (71), of which an inlet-side, housing end is formed by means of an inlet-side, flow divider (201) having four flow openings (201A, 201B, 201C, 201D) and an outlet-side, housing end is formed by means of an outlet-side, flow divider (202) having four flow openings (202A, 202B, 202C, 202D); as well as a tube arrangement having four, curved, or bent, measuring tubes (181, 182, 183, 184) connected to the flow dividers (201, 202) for guiding flowing medium along flow paths connected in parallel, wherein each of the four measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the flow divider (201) and with an outlet-side, measuring tube end into one the flow openings of the flow divider (202). The transducer further comprises an exciter mechanism for exciting oscillations of said measuring tube. The tube arrangement exhibits a natural bending oscillation mode, called V-Mode, and the exciter mechanism is adapted to excite bending oscillation in said V-mode. |
| US09410828B2 |
Servomotor and encoder
An encoder includes a first multiple rotation counter that generates first multiple rotation data using a rotation signal indicating one rotation of a rotational shaft of a motor, a second multiple rotation counter that generates second multiple rotation data using the rotation signal, a first cumulative-number calculation unit that calculates first accumulated multiple rotation data using an angle signal indicating a rotational angle of the rotational shaft, a second cumulative-number calculation unit that calculates second accumulated multiple rotation data using the angle signal, and a first comparative diagnosis unit that diagnoses whether the encoder has a fault by performing a comparison to determine whether the first multiple rotation data, the second multiple rotation data, the first accumulated multiple rotation data, and the second accumulated multiple rotation data are a same value. |
| US09410827B2 |
Measurement using a calibration pattern
An image is captured. The image includes a calibration pattern. The calibration pattern includes displayed information about the calibration pattern. The displayed information and the calibration pattern are used to make a calibrated measurement. |
| US09410826B2 |
Apparatus for interrogating distributed stimulated Brillouin scattering optical fibre sensors using a quickly tuneable Brillouin ring laser
Device for measuring the distribution of strain and/or temperature along an optical fiber through the analysis of the stimulated Brillouin scattering, characterized by the fact that both the “optical pump” light from which the scattered energy is derived, and the “stimulus” or “probe” light that stimulates the scattering process are both derived by the same ring-type tuneable optical circuit that at the same type amplifies the amplitude of the “optical pump” light and generates, through a controlled Brillouin amplified scattering, the “probe” light having the spectrum linewidth required for the measurement needs and a wavelength shift with respect to the “optical pump” light that is accurately and quickly tuneable and fully adjustable within the range that is needed for interrogating a distributed optical fiber sensor. |
| US09410822B2 |
System and method for providing universal additional functionality for power meters
A system and method for providing an additional option function to existing functionality of a meter device configured for measuring parameters of energy is provided. The meter device is coupled with an option device for exchanging data between the meter and the option devices along at least one data path, including exchanging initialization data provided by the option device between the meter device and the option device, wherein the initialization data is useable by the meter device for configuring the meter device to be in condition to operate with the option device. The data exchanged between the meter device and the option devices are processed by at least one processor. Upon the coupling of the devices and the exchanging of the initialization data, the meter device is operated with the option device for adding the option function to existing functionality of the meter device. |
| US09410819B2 |
Management system for aeronautical information
A method and apparatus for displaying navigation objects for managing operations of a vehicle. A number of navigation objects for managing the operations of the vehicle is displayed in a graphical user interface to form a display of the number of navigation objects. Responsive to a user input to the number of navigation objects, the display of the number of navigation objects in the graphical user interface is changed to include one or more navigation objects identified based on the user input. The navigation objects in the number of navigation objects have a number of associations with each other. The display of the number of navigation objects includes a number of graphical indicators providing a visualization of the number of associations for the number of navigation objects. |
| US09410818B2 |
Navigation device
According to a navigation device of the invention, at the time of performing turning guidance for a user who drives a vehicle, it is possible to perform the guidance in a way easy-to-understand for the user. Namely, a presentation of a preceding vehicle is made using an actual image or a graphic image of a vehicle that is the same as the actually seen vehicle, so that the user who drives the vehicle in traveling will understand that he/she only has to follow the preceding vehicle actually traveling ahead. This results in such route guidance that does not cause misunderstanding of a turning point and is very easy-to-understand. |
| US09410817B2 |
Method and apparatus for pushing track information
The embodiments of the present invention provide a method for pushing track information, comprising: receiving a key word sent by a client; obtaining, according to historical track information, recommended track information which matches the key word, wherein the historical track information comprises historical track information about a terminal where the client is located and historical track information about terminal(s) other than the terminal where the client is located; and pushing the recommended track information to the client. The embodiments of the present invention also provide an apparatus for pushing track information. According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the reliability of pushed track information can be ensured. |
| US09410816B2 |
System and method for recommending pleasant routes from the sentiment of geo-tagged photographs
A system and method generates and recommends a short and pleasant path between a source s and destination d in a geo-location such as a city or city center. The routes are not only short but emotionally pleasant, offering an engaging user experience, going beyond just showing paths on a map. |
| US09410814B2 |
Passive crowd-sourced map updates and alternate route recommendations
The claimed subject matter is directed to systems and methods for providing passive crowd-sourced alternate route recommendations. In one embodiment, locations of users of a number of mobile location-aware devices are tracked over time. Upon receiving a request, users of mobile location-aware devices that have traveled from a desired start location to a desired stop location are identified. At least one of the different routes taken by one or more users from the desired start location to the desired stop location is provided to the requestor as at least one recommended alternate route. The different routes taken by the one or more users from the desired start location to the desired stop location include routes taken that begin before the desired start location and go through the start location and routes taken that stop beyond the desired stop location and go through the desired stop location. |
| US09410810B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing service using a sensor and image recognition in a portable terminal
A method and an apparatus provides a service using a sensor and image recognition in a portable terminal that supports Augmented Reality (AR). The method includes determining whether the portable terminal is parallel to ground using an acceleration sensor. When the portable terminal is parallel to the ground, either a map including nearby Point Of Interest (POI) information or constellation information is displayed. |
| US09410809B2 |
Applying a correct factor derivative method for determining an orientation of a portable electronic device based on sense gravitation component linear accelerate filter data obtained
A method for determining an orientation of a portable or mobile electronic device includes determining an orientation of the device using at least a first inertial motion sensor (e.g., a gyroscope) with which the portable electronic device is equipped. A correction factor is provided to the orientation of the electronic device using a feedback control signal based on motion data obtained from at least a second inertial motion sensor (e.g. an accelerometer) to reduce drift in motion data obtained from the first inertial sensor. Responsive to a loss of valid motion data from the first inertial motion sensor, a rate at which the correction factor is provided to the orientation of the portable electronic device is increased. |
| US09410807B2 |
Method for determining an offset lateral trajectory for an aircraft
In the field of the definition of a flight plan for an aircraft, a method is provided for determining an offset lateral trajectory from an initial lateral trajectory comprising a set of initial waypoints. The initial lateral trajectory and the offset lateral trajectory have two junction points in common, namely a point of entry and a point of exit. At least one of the junction points is distinct from the initial waypoints and from the current position of the aircraft. This first junction point can notably be defined so that the flight duration or the flight distance between the first and second junction points corresponds to a defined value. |
| US09410806B2 |
System and method for gyroscope zero-rate-offset drift reduction through demodulation phase error correction
A circuit for processing signals from a gyroscope includes a first that generates an in-phase demodulated signal and a second demodulator that generates a quadrature-phase demodulated signal with reference to in-phase and quadrature-phase modulated signals, respectively, from the gyroscope. The circuit includes a digital processor that receives the demodulated in-phase and quadrature phase signals from the demodulators and generates an output signal corresponding to a rotation of the gyroscope along a predetermined axis with reference to the in-phase demodulated signal and the quadrature-phase demodulated signal to remove a portion of the quadrature-phase signal from the in-phase signal. |
| US09410802B2 |
Method for checking position data of a medical instrument, and corresponding medical instrument
A method for checking situation and position data of an instrument with at least a first section having at least a first sensor and at least a second sensor. The method encompasses the metrological determination of the situation or position, or its change, of the first sensor and the second sensor, determining a variable feature of the spatial reference between the situation or position of the first sensor and the situation or position of the second sensor at least at a first point in time, at a second point in time and at a third point in time. The method further encompasses determining, by means of a criterion, whether a difference of the variable feature between a first expression at a first point in time and a second expression at a second point in time still exists at a third point in time. |
| US09410799B2 |
Device package and methods for the fabrication and testing thereof
Provided are methods of forming sealed via structures. One method involves: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; (b) forming a layer on the first surface of the substrate; (c) etching a via hole through the substrate from the second surface to the layer, the via hole having a first perimeter at the first surface; (d) forming an aperture in the layer, wherein the aperture has a second perimeter within the first perimeter; and (e) providing a conductive structure for sealing the via structure. Also provided are sealed via structures, methods of detecting leakage in a sealed device package, sealed device packages, device packages having cooling structures, and methods of bonding a first component to a second component. |
| US09410798B2 |
Strain measurement apparatus, linear expansion coefficient measurement method, and correction coefficient measurement method for temperature distribution detector
A strain measurement apparatus includes: a stereo camera device that produces a first stereo image and a second stereo image of a measurement object; an actual strain calculation portion configured to find a three-dimensional configuration of the measurement object from the first stereo image and the second stereo image to find actual strain of the measurement object; a temperature distribution detector that detects a temperature distribution of the measurement object; a free thermal strain calculation portion configured to find free thermal strain of the measurement object from the temperature distribution detected by the temperature distribution detector; and a constraint strain calculation portion configured to find as constraint strain of the measurement object a difference obtained by subtracting the free thermal strain found by the free thermal strain calculation portion from the actual strain found by the actual strain calculation portion. |
| US09410795B2 |
Inner diameter measuring device
An inner diameter measuring device, comprising an image pickup unit (2) provided at a base end of a frame unit (6) and for picking up an image of a forward end side, a centering unit (4) provided at a forward end of the frame unit, a laser beam diffusing unit (5) provided on the centering unit and at a forward end side of the centering unit via a light transmitting window, a laser beam emitting unit (3) provided on a base end side of the centering unit, and a cone mirror (51) provided on the laser beam diffusing unit and having a conical reflection surface at a forward end, wherein a center line of the cone mirror coincides with an optical axis of the image pickup unit, and the centering unit is adapted to adjust a posture of the image pickup unit so that a laser beam (17) projected from the laser beam emitting unit enters a vertex of the cone mirror. |
| US09410794B2 |
Light microscope and microscopy method for examining a microscopic specimen
Examination of a microscopic specimen is described. Height information for a respective plurality of lateral regions of the specimen is obtained from each of multiple specimen recordings, in which the height information of each specimen recording is limited to a respective height measurement range and the height measurement ranges of different specimen recordings are different. An overall image is calculated from the specimen recordings, in which overall image height information of the different specimen recordings is combined. Specimen recordings are recorded at such heights that: the height measurement ranges of different specimen recordings overlap each other, common lateral regions are identified in two respective specimen recordings for which lateral regions height information could be obtained in both specimen recordings, and a link of the height information of different specimen recordings is determined on the basis of the height information of different specimen recordings for at least one common lateral region. |
| US09410793B2 |
Virtual laser projection system and method
A virtual laser projection system and method includes one or more measuring laser projectors, one or more non-measuring laser projectors, an array of reference targets, and a computing system. The one or more measuring laser projectors and one or more non-measuring laser projectors operate under common control of the computing system to register their respective locations using the array of reference targets, detect and locate features of a work object to be illuminated, convert all location information into a common coordinate system, and illuminate the work object with laser light beams using the common coordinate system. |
| US09410791B2 |
Position sensing transducer
Position sensors to inductively sense a position of a target relative to a number of sensor coils are described. In one embodiment, the target comprises first, second, and third portions positioned on either side of an axis of rotation, such that lateral misalignment between the target and the sensors is compensated between the interaction of the different portions and the sensor coils. In another embodiment, the target comprises first and second portions that are separated along the measurement path such that in a first range of relative positions, the first portion is adjacent to the sensor coils and in a second range of relative positions, the second portion is adjacent to the sensor coils. The first and second portions are asymmetrically arranged relative to the sensor coils such that when each portion is adjacent the same portion of the sensor coils, different signals are induced in the sensor coils. |
| US09410784B1 |
Initiator assembly with gas and/or fragment containment capabilities
An initiator assembly that includes an initiator and a containment shell. The initiator has an initiator housing, an initiator device mounted inside the initiator housing, and an input charge that is formed of an energetic material. The initiator device is configured to initiate at least one of a combustion event, a deflagration event and a detonation event in the input charge. The containment shell is coupled to the initiator housing and defines a space into which gas and/or particles are ejected from the initiator housing if the initiator device is not activated and the input charge is cooked off. |
| US09410783B1 |
Universal smart fuze for unmanned aerial vehicle or other remote armament systems
An unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped to carry a payload of explosives for remote delivery upon a target. The vehicle includes a small TV camera, global positioning system, and auto pilot homing target software. The modified vehicle is capable of being detonated upon an impact or selectively while still in flight. Vehicle flight is monitored by an operation person at a ground control station. The vehicle includes universal smart fuze circuitry for enabling the multiple functions for the vehicle and for enabling communications/commands from the operator at the ground control station. The fuze continuously communicates aspects of fuze status back to the ground control station; measures flight velocity by sensing air speed of the UAV; arms/disarms an explosives warhead package in the vehicle; in flight fires the explosives or else detonates the explosives warhead package upon impact with a select target. The camera images are communicated back to the operator who can make a decision on completing/aborting a mission. The wind speed indications, also fed back to the operator, can further aid in verifying a successful launch/good flight for decision of completing/aborting a mission. |
| US09410780B2 |
Structural component that will fragment into particles of selected geometry and reactivity
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for creating and consolidating fragments and a useable structure formed from said consolidated fragments. The method includes swaging a metal powder into a first consolidated structure. The consolidated structure is ground to form particles and the particles are sifted to select those with a predetermined diameter. The particles having the predetermined diameter can then be swaged into a second consolidated structure. The resultant second consolidated structure is therefore configured to fragment controllably. The second consolidated structure can also be formed from reactive metal laminates such that the structure also has chemical energy. |
| US09410779B1 |
Breakaway fin ring for projectile
A frangible fin ring for a low velocity, gun-launched projectile includes a circular base with a plurality of trunnions extending radially outward from the circular base. Fins are mounted to the trunnions. A line of frangibility between adjacent trunnions includes a rear notch, a circular opening and a front notch, preferably all axially aligned. Upon impact of the projectile with a target, the fin ring breaks apart at the lines of frangibility and separates from the projectile. |
| US09410778B2 |
Expandable broadhead having tip formed as an integral portion of a steel or stainless steel ferrule
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a broadhead assembly that includes a ferrule having a shaft engaging end, an opposed tip end, and an axially extending elongate body. The tip end is formed as an integral part of the ferrule and includes a plurality of facets circumferentially arranged about the axially extending elongate body. The facets are tapered rearwardly and outwardly relative to the tip end and form a tip base that is positioned at a forward portion of the elongate body. |
| US09410777B2 |
Systems and apparatuses for a ballistic arrow
Applicants have created improved systems and apparatuses for a ballistic arrow used to penetrate the surface of a target. The apparatus includes an arrow tip, a support feature, and a collar partially disposed about the support feature. The apparatus further includes a plurality of primary blades disposed radially about the support feature and a plurality of secondary blades partially disposed between the primary blades. The system includes an arrowhead and arrow shaft coupled to the arrowhead. The arrowhead includes an arrow tip, a support feature, and a collar partially disposed about the support feature. The arrowhead includes a plurality of arrow blades adapted to expand radially outward from the support feature upon impact of the arrow tip with a target. The apparatuses and systems described throughout this disclosure can improve the both the reliability and lethality of a ballistic arrow used to hunt game and other wildlife. |
| US09410773B2 |
Adjustable archery arrow insert
The Adjustable Archery Arrow Insert is a three-piece arrow tip attached to an arrow shaft and includes an arrow tip insert, an arrow tip collar, and an arrow tip. The arrow tip insert is threadably received by the arrow tip collar and is attached to the arrow shaft, where the arrow tip is inserted within, and the arrow tip collar overlaps, the arrow shaft. The arrow tip is inserted through the arrow tip collar and attached directly to the arrow tip insert without protruding into the arrow shaft. Sections of the arrow tip insert may be removed to adjust the overall weight of the arrow. The Adjustable Archery Arrow Insert transfers the impact forces of the arrow tip to the arrow tip insert and arrow tip collar, where the forces are transferred over a larger area thereby minimizing the forces on front edge of the arrow shaft. |
| US09410764B2 |
Buttstock assembly
A modular firearm comprising an adjustable modular buttstock assembly. The buttstock assembly can include a frame with a central opening. A comb assembly having a cheek piece and a butt plate assembly having a recoil pad each can be mounted to the frame by an adjustment apparatus. Each adjustment apparatus can include of a guide post and/or a threaded adjustment post each received in respective bores in the frame to adjust the positions of the cheek piece and recoil pad. The adjustment apparatus also can include a locking or engagement feature that can selectively increase the friction between the frame and the guide post and/or adjustment post, to help prevent the translation of the guide post and/or adjustment post in the bore in the frame to fix the comb assembly and butt plate assembly in desired positions with respect to the frame. |
| US09410762B2 |
Firearm stock with folding bipod
The firearm stock has a body including a forend. The bottom of the forend has an elongate slot. A bipod having a plurality of legs is pivotally attached at one end of the legs to the bottom of the forend. The bipod has an unfolded position in which an opposing end of the legs extends downwards beyond the exterior contour of the forend. The bipod has a folded position in which the opposing end of the legs is received within the elongate slot with the legs substantially within the exterior contour of the forend. The opposing end of the legs may each have a notch. There may be a latch having a cam surface that is spring biased to protrude into the slot. The notches may receive the cam surface when the bipod is in the folded position, thereby releasably securing the opposing end of the legs within the slot. |
| US09410757B2 |
Coiled cover for firearm gas tube
A heat dissipating and strength enhancing cover for a firearm gas tube includes a wire helix formed of closely adjacent coils having an inner diameter sized to closely fit over and in contact with an exterior surface of a gas tube. The wire of the gas tube cover may be made of a Beryllium-Copper alloy and have sufficient flexibility to accommodate at least one bend in the gas tube. The ends of the gas tube cover may be formed to a substantially flat surface that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the helix and may include caps covering first and second ends of the gas tube cover. The caps may prevent rotation of the cover when installed. The cover may extend substantially between a gas block and means for mounting a barrel when installed. |
| US09410755B2 |
Locking front sight for a firearm and firearm with locking front sight
A front sight for a weapon, the front sight having: a mounting block; a tower pivotally mounted to the mounting block for movement between a first position and a second position; a first locking mechanism comprising a plurality of spring biased members for retaining the tower in the first position and the second position, the plurality of spring biased members being configured to allow movement of the tower between the first position and the second position in response to a force applied to the tower; and a second locking mechanism configured to lock the tower in the second position, wherein the second locking mechanism must be manually released before the tower can be moved from the second position to the first position. |
| US09410752B2 |
Hydronic building systems control
Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure. |
| US09410748B2 |
High-temperature heat store for solar-thermal power plants
Proposed is a cheap and durable high-temperature heat store which utilizes ambient air as a heat carrier medium and which is at least partially filled with a granular and/or porous storage medium (6). |
| US09410746B2 |
Temperature-regulating element
The present invention provides a temperature-regulating element (1) having a thermally conductive surface (3) and a thermally insulating surface (5), said temperature-regulating element comprising a metallic plate (7) having elevations (9), a main body (11) composed of plastic and two connection components (17a, 17b) comprised of plastic. At least one continuous channel (13) for receiving a temperature-regulating medium is formed between the metallic plate (7) and the main body (11), said at least one continuous channel extending from one end face (15a) to an opposite end face (15b) of the main body (11) and being connected to a temperature-regulating medium circuit by the connection components (17a, 17b). The temperature-regulating element (1) is designed such that the main body (11) at least partly surrounds the metallic plate (7). A method for producing a temperature-regulating element, a use of the temperature-regulating element (1) in a lithium-ion battery (101), and a lithium-ion battery (101) comprising the temperature-regulating element (1) are furthermore specified. |
| US09410738B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing carbon monoxide by cryogenic distillation
A method and an apparatus for producing carbon dioxide by cryogenic distillation is provided. |
| US09410734B2 |
Refrigerator
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body, a door, a shelf, a light source unit, and a light-guiding member. The main body includes a storage compartment. The door opens and closes the storage compartment. The shelf is detachably coupled to the storage compartment to partition the storage compartment into a plurality of spaces. The light source unit illuminates the storage compartment. The light-guiding member is disposed on at least one end of the shelf. Here, the light source unit is disposed such that a portion of light generated in the light source unit enters the light-guiding member. |
| US09410730B1 |
Freezer thaw indicator
A container has a porous support member affixed thereinside defining upper and lower chambers and a liquid partly filling the container. The liquid is frozen in the upper chamber. The container is oriented so that the upper chamber is gravitationally above the lower chamber, wherein the frozen liquid remains in the upper chamber. The container is placed in a cold zone of a freezer. Thereafter, the presence of the liquid in the lower chamber is indicative that a thaw episode has occurred. The presence of the liquid frozen in the lower chamber is indicative that the thaw episode has been followed by a refreeze event. |
| US09410729B2 |
Reagent refrigerator
The present invention relates to a reagent refrigerator which comprises a reagent refrigerator compartment including reagent storing trays; an upper housing a cooling equipment compartment and a cooling purification compartment; a side duct defined by a side partition having a through hole at the side of the reagent refrigerator; one each of a second side duct, separately defined by a side partition having a through hole at the other side thereof, and a rear duct, separately defined by a rear partition having a through hole at the rear side thereof; and an upper duct having one end communication with the upper portion of the second side or rear side, and the other end communicating with the cooling purification compartment. Accordingly, refrigeration temperature of the reagent refrigerator can be controlled, and circulation flow in the reagent refrigerator is improved, to thereby purify the air therein and minimize deviations from refrigerator temperature values. In addition, since the reagent refrigerator is based on a closed circulation type structure, impurities are prevented from being introduced to the reagent refrigerator to thereby increase the service life of the filter and reduce energy consumption. Moreover, even when the door of the reagent refrigerator is opened, negative pressure distribution in the reagent refrigerator is relatively even, thereby preventing the emission of noxious gas and an offensive smell from the reagent refrigerator compartment to the indoor space. More particularly, the reagent refrigerator may be modified to have a partial opening circulation structure without a heater to thereby prevent explosions and to perform a defrosting/dehumidifying operation so that safety and economic feasibility can be improved. In addition, the reagent refrigerator can be automatically controlled and the internal condition of the reagent refrigerator compartment can be monitored in real time. Furthermore, not only can on-site/real-time control be executed, but remote control as well. |
| US09410725B2 |
Refrigerator installing structure
A disclosed refrigerator installing structure that enables a refrigerator including a cylinder and a displacer to be installed in a vacuum vessel in which an object to be cooled is accommodated, the displacer being removed from the cylinder during maintenance, the cylinder being movable inside a sleeve between a position at which the cylinder thermally contacts the sleeve and another position at which the cylinder does not thermally contact the sleeve includes a discharge mechanism configured to discharge a gas inside a space formed between the sleeve and the cylinder if a pressure inside the space becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure. |
| US09410724B2 |
On-demand beverage cooler
A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can be fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20). |
| US09410722B2 |
Water heater panel
A solar energy collector comprises a solid body having a substantially planar solar energy absorbing collecting surface. The solid body has a first thickness at a center portion tapering to a second thickness at each of a pair opposing edge portions defining a width of the body. A bore extends completely through the body along its length and is aligned along an axis at the center portion. A window transparent at most solar radiation in the visible spectrum and near UV to infrared-red solar energy wavelengths is disposed at a distance from the collecting surface, the window sealed around a periphery of the collecting surface to define a sealed air gap or nitrogen gas filled gap between the collecting surface and the bottom surface of the window. The solar energy collector is a major component of a solar water heating system. |
| US09410719B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling gas powered appliances
A control system for a gas powered appliance includes a power source to provide electrical power to control at least one electrically actuated gas valve, a valve control system to selectively couple electrical power from the power source to the electrically actuated gas valve, and a controller. The valve control system includes a first switch and a second switch. The first switch and the second switch are electrically connected in series between the power source and the electrically actuated gas valve. The controller is operatively connected to the first switch and the second switch and configured to control the first switch and the second switch to selectively couple power from the power source to the electrically actuated gas valve. |
| US09410716B2 |
Ventilation apparatus
A ventilation apparatus is provided. The ventilation apparatus may include a base, frames positioned on the base, a rear panel positioned behind the frames and having an interior air discharge port and exterior air suction port formed therein, a top cover positioned on top of the frame and having exterior air discharge port formed therein, and a front panel positioned in front of the frames and having an interior air discharge port formed therein. Heat exchangers disposed in the frames may include interior and exterior air passages. An exhaust fan and air supply fans provide for air flow through the apparatus, guide by the frames. Use of the frames to guide air flow simplify structures and may enhance efficiency by simplifying the passages of the exterior and interior air through the apparatus. |
| US09410714B2 |
Controller and air conditioner
A controller configured so that pieces of information relating to each outlet and each flap which are currently set can be collectively visible on the controller. A controller for an indoor unit provided with flaps having substantially the same shape, the flap being respectively disposed at the outlets and capable of individually changing the discharge directions of air-conditioning air. The controller is provided with a display section for simultaneously displaying information relating to an outlet selected out of the outlets and/or information relating to a flap selected out of the flaps. |
| US09410712B2 |
Data management profile for a fabric network
Method and systems for controlling data remotely that includes connecting to a remote device within a fabric of smart devices. The remote device stores data locally. Controlling the data includes remotely controlling the data stored in the remote device from another device connected to the fabric by transmitting a message to the remote device. Moreover, the transmitted message includes a profile identifier that causes a data management entity of the remote device to perform an indicated data management action. Furthermore, the profile identifier identifies a data management profile, and the message includes a command tag that indicates the data management action to be performed. |
| US09410704B2 |
Annular strip micro-mixers for turbomachine combustor
A turbomachine combustor is provided. The turbomachine includes a combustion chamber and multiple micro-mixer nozzles arranged concentrically within a radial combustion liner and configured to receive fuel from one or more fuel supply pipes affixed to each of the plurality of micro-mixer nozzles at an upstream face. The multiple micro-mixer nozzle are also configured to receive air from a flow sleeve surrounding the radial combustion liner. Each of the micro-mixer nozzles include an annular strip having a multiple tubes or passages extending axially from the upstream face to a downstream face of each of the micro-mixer nozzles. |
| US09410700B2 |
Burner and a furnace comprising such a burner
Burner for a furnace comprising at least one supply channel for supplying an oxidizing medium and a plurality of peripheral fuel supply channels, wherein the channels have exit openings arranged adjacent each other at a burner end surface for forming during use upon reaction of supplied fuel with supplied oxidizing medium a flame front, wherein the exit openings are asymmetrically arranged with respect to any plane arranged transverse to the end surface of the burner and extending through a burner central axis whereby the distribution of the fuel exit openings and/or the dimension of the fuel exit openings and/or the exit angle of the fuel exit openings and/or the shape of the fuel exit openings are arranged asymmetrically to said any plane, such that during use a flame front is created that is asymmetrical with respect to said any plane. |
| US09410697B2 |
Mixing device for mixing combustion air and gas, and firing device
The invention relates to a mixing device for premixing combustion air and gas, having a gas regulating device and a gas outlet and a nozzle, wherein a gas inlet is provided on the nozzle or on a bridging element disposed on the nozzle, and the gas path from the gas outlet to the gas inlet is sealed off by a gasket extending from the gas outlet to the gas inlet. |
| US09410695B2 |
Aroma-diffusing heating device
An aroma-diffusing heating device using an aroma capsule is provided, including a hollow housing, a heat conduction unit and a heating element. The heat conduction unit is disposed in the hollow housing. The heating element is disposed on a bottom side of the heat conduction unit. The heat conduction unit has an aroma capsule placed thereon. The hollow housing has a funnel-shaped space formed between a slanting slide portion and the aroma capsule to define an operation space. A user is allowed to grab the protruding edge of the aroma capsule with his fingers and place the aroma capsule in the heat conduction unit, and his fingers can slide through the slanting slide portion into the operation space. Therefore, the fingers can enter into and leave from the operation space easily. |
| US09410692B2 |
Furniture with LED light arrangement
An article of furniture includes a furniture body having a utilizing surface and a non-utilizing surface, and a light arrangement which includes a plurality of LEDs embedded in the non-utilizing surface of the furniture body for adding decorating and illuminating functions of the furniture body. The installation of the light arrangement is simple without disassembling the furniture body. |
| US09410690B2 |
LED light fixture
An LED light fixture is provided and includes a housing with a circular main body portion with a rear wall. A plurality of fins integrally extends from an outer surface of the rear wall of the main body portion. A spindle with an internal bore integrally extends from the outer surface of the rear wall of the main body portion wherein the spindle is positioned among the fins. A light engine assembly is positioned within the main body portion and includes a plurality of LED light modules mounted to a printed circuit board. Each module comprises a LED and a lens extending from the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board resides against an inner surface of the rear wall. An external enclosure configured to enclose power management components is connected to a rear portion of the housing proximate the fins. The enclosure includes a housing wall arrangement and leads that extend through both an opening in the housing wall and the internal bore of the spindle, past the rear wall of the main body portion and to the printed circuit board. |
| US09410688B1 |
Heat dissipating assembly
An assembly for the dissipation of heat from an illumination structure of the type which includes one or more LEDs and a driver assembly operatively connected to the one or more LEDs. A primary heat sink is disposed in heat transferring relation to the components of a remainder of the illumination structure. A mount, also formed of a heat conductive material, is disposed in supporting or connected relation to the driver and in heat transferring relation to the primary heat sink. A compartment structure includes a hollow interior chamber, having heat insulating fluid disposed therein, and disposed in adjacent and/or aligned relation with the one LED so as to insulate it from heat generated by the driver assembly and other components of the light structure. The mount, primary heat sink and compartment structure are cooperatively disposed so as to define a flow path of heat away from the one or more LEDs to an area where it is dissipated exteriorly of the illumination structure. |
| US09410684B2 |
Bidirectional lighting apparatus with light emitting diodes
An exemplary printable composition of a liquid or gel suspension of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes, a first solvent and/or a viscosity modifier. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a plurality of diodes; at least a trace amount of a first solvent; and a polymeric or resin film at least partially surrounding each diode of the plurality of diodes. Various exemplary diodes have a lateral dimension between about 10 to 50 microns and about 5 to 25 microns in height. Other embodiments may also include a plurality of substantially chemically inert particles having a range of sizes between about 10 to about 50 microns. |
| US09410681B2 |
Double-head lamp holder and lamp provided with same
A double-head lamp holder and a lamp provided with same. The lamp comprises a junction box and the double-head lamp holder. The lamp holder comprises a housing, a mounting seat is arranged in the housing, a first contact sheet and a second contact sheet that is attached to a binding post of a lamp source to be mounted are arranged on the mounting seat, a turnover flip cover is arranged on the housing, a third contact sheet is arranged on the flip cover, and the cover has an opened first position, and a second position which allows the third contact sheet to communicate the first contact sheet with the second contact sheet when the flip cover is closed. |
| US09410680B2 |
Illumination devices with adjustable optical elements
Illumination devices with adjustable optical elements configured to provide a variable illumination pattern of an area are described. The adjustable optical elements of the illumination devices can be traversed relative to a surface (e.g., a ceiling of a room) to vary the light distribution and/or intensity to the surface. |
| US09410678B2 |
Illumination apparatus light source apparatus using illumination apparatus and image display apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes a wavelength conversion element to convert light emitted from a light source into converted light and to emit the converted light and unconverted light, a first optical element including a first region guiding the light emitted from the light source to the wavelength conversion element and a second region preventing the unconverted light from traveling to the light source, and a second optical element to guide the converted light in a direction different from a direction of the light source while guiding the light emitted from the light source to the wavelength conversion element. The second optical element is disposed in an optical path between the first optical element and the wavelength conversion element. The light emitted from the light source is incident on the first region, and the unconverted light is incident on both the first region and second region of the first optical element. |
| US09410677B2 |
Light source and display system incorporating same
Light sources are disclosed. A disclosed light source includes an optically reflective cavity that includes an input port for receiving light and an output port for transmitting light, a lamp that is disposed at the input port, and an optical stack that is disposed at the output port. The optical stack includes a forward scattering optical diffuser that is disposed at the output port and has an optical haze that is not less than about 20%, and an optical film that is disposed on the optical diffuser. The optical film enhance total internal reflection at the interface between the optical film and the optical diffuser. The optical film has an index of refraction that is not greater than about 1.3 and an optical haze that is not greater than about 5%. The optical stack also includes a reflective polarizer layer that is disposed on the optical film. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the optical stack are in physical contact with each other. |
| US09410676B1 |
LED light bulb
An LED lightbulb is disclosed. The LED lightbulb includes an LED array mounted to a circuit board having at least two different sets of LEDs that emit correspondingly different spectra when energized. The LED lightbulb also include a interior reflective surfaces and a dome shaped diffuser lens that eclipses a portion of the LED array. The LED array, the interior reflective surfaces and the dome shaped diffuser lens are position within a cavity formed by a housing with cooling fins and an outside diffuser lens. The LED lightbulb also include a base portion for electrically coupling to a power source of a light fixture that is either an incandescent light fixture or a fluorescent light fixture. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention the LED lightbulb include a driver circuit for providing output power to the LED array from a power source having a ballast or a power source without a ballast. |
| US09410675B1 |
Elongated beam light emitting diode lighting device
A lighting device includes one or more lighting assemblies, each having a light emitting diode (LED) emitting a light and a lens. Each lens has an impinging light surface refracting a first segment of the light to emerge from an exterior surface of the lens and a second segment of the light intersecting a side mirror whereat it is reflected to emerge from the lens. The lens collecting a large portion of the light emitted by the LED projects an evenly illuminating elongated light beam and appears evenly illuminating when viewed from an exterior location. |
| US09410674B2 |
LED lens
A lens for primarily forward distribution of light from a light emitter which has an emitter axis in a front-to-back centerplane. The lens has a base surface which is adjacent the emitter and forms a light-entrance opening, an inner surface which defines a light-receiving cavity and includes front and back regions extending from the light-entrance opening, and an outer surface which has front and back regions adjoined by a middle region. The back region includes a back portion configured for forward total internal reflection (TIR) of rearward light received from the inner surface. The back portion extends transverse to the front-to-back centerplane away from the base surface from positions which are closer to the base surface than the innermost cavity region and terminates with a distal end which is closer to the base surface than outermost positions of the front region. The back portion terminates laterally at positions closer to the front-to-back centerplane than lateral edges of the light-entrance opening and, in the front-to-back centerplane, the emitter axis is no farther from the back portion of the outer surface than from a back edge of the light-entrance opening. |
| US09410673B2 |
Luminaire
According to one embodiment, a luminaire includes a board provided in a main body part, a light-emitting element provided on a surface of the board, a surrounding wall member provided to surround the light-emitting element, and a joining part including a first portion which is provided between the board and the surrounding wall member and a second portion which is provided outside the surrounding wall member and covers at least a part of an outer wall of the surrounding wall member. |
| US09410672B2 |
Lens, light emitting device and backlight module
A lens includes a light incident surface and a light output surface. The light incident surface includes a first region having points equidistant from the central point of a light emission surface of the light emitting element. The first region satisfies θa≦θ1≦θb, wherein θ1 is a first incident angle of any light emitting from the light emitting element. In a second region with 0°<θ1≦θb+20°, the first incident angle of light having a minimum value of θ2/θ1 is between θa and θb, and θ2/θ1>0.9. In a third region with 0°<θ1≦θb+10°, the first incident angle of light having a minimum value of θ3/θ1 is between θa and θb, and θ3/θ1>0.9. θ2 is a second incident angle of the light of θ1 when traveling in the lens, and θ3 is a third incident angle of the light of θ1 when emitting out of the lens. |
| US09410671B2 |
Head lamp for vehicle
A head lamp for a vehicle may include a reflector coupled to a light source, and reflecting light emitted from the light source, a body coupled to the reflector, and disposed in front of the reflector, a lens coupled to the body, and disposed in front of the light source, a shield formed integrally with the body, positioned between the reflector and the lens, and shutting off a part of the light emitted from the light source which is reflected by the reflector, and a signal reflective surface formed integrally with an inner circumferential surface of the reflector, and reflecting the light emitted from the light source to an upper end portion of the lens. |
| US09410667B2 |
Flashlight with rotatable battery cartridge
The present invention relates to a flashlight having a rotary switch for switching different brightness levels and/or luminous colors, which rotary switch has a battery cartridge arranged rotatably in a flashlight housing and having spring-mounted electrical contacts arranged at the end, which electrical contacts are each connected to an electrical contact face or an electrical contact zone of a contact plate. In order to provide a switchover option for a flashlight with different switching steps that has a simple design, is light and can be operated reliably, the invention proposes that the battery cartridge is held securely in the flashlight housing by a fixing sleeve and that the battery cartridge is rotated in the flashlight housing by a rotary button that passes longitudinally axially through the fixing sleeve. |
| US09410662B2 |
Arrangement for mounting an optical element, in particular in an EUV projection exposure apparatus
The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting an optical element, in particular in an EUV projection exposure apparatus, comprising at least one actuator which exerts a controllable force on the optical element; wherein between the actuator and the optical element a mechanical coupling in the form of a pin is embodied in such a way that, relative to the drive axis of the actuator, the ratio of the stiffness of the mechanical coupling in an axial direction to the stiffness in a lateral direction is at least 100; and at least one damping element which brings about a damping of a natural vibration form of the pin in a lateral direction. |
| US09410656B2 |
Reinforced plug
A method includes providing a die having a cylindrical body terminating in a rounded end, wrapping a fibrous material around the die while the fibrous material is tensioned, wherein the fibrous material is placed to extend in a continuous manner across the width of the rounded end of the body and to opposite sides of the cylindrical body, applying a curable resin on the die, curing the resin, and removing a reinforced cured resin plug from the die. |
| US09410653B2 |
Hydraulic flow-rate regulating device
The regulating device (1) comprises a body (2) including a hub (3) which has a first end (3a) connected to a surrounding ring (4), such as to define therebetween at least one passage (6) for the fluid, between the upstream and downstream regions, and the other or second end (3b) of which protrudes with respect to the ring (4). The ring (4) has, on a surface thereof, an annular distribution of projections (7). On the second end (3b) of the hub (3) there is mounted a flexible, ring-shaped, regulating member (8) facing and spaced from the tops of said projections (7) and capable during use of resiliently flexing towards them as a result of and depending on the difference in pressure between the upstream and downstream regions. The ring (4) is further provided with a plurality of restricted holes (10) having a fluid flow parallel to the at least one passage (6). These restricted holes (10) are formed essentially in the same radial portion (C) of the ring (4) in which the projections (7) are provided such that the holes (10) are circumferentially and radially comprised each between a pair of projections (7). |
| US09410651B2 |
Collection of oil floating on a water surface by contact with a cold surface
A crude oil removal device that is attached to a tethered umbilical line which feeds coolant thru the coolant coils. The refrigerated device creates an atmosphere to which crude oil will attach itself to, either floating or submerged for easy removal. The unit consists of two housings that contain the cooling coils which is sealed with rubber to maintain an air tight seal. The unit does not collect water while collecting the crude oil and can be used in virtually any weather condition. |
| US09410650B2 |
Receiving part of a coupling for a fluid line
An electric resonant circuit is provided in a receiving part of a coupling for a fluid line, the resonant circuit interacting with a tuning device in a contactless manner. In an intermediate position of an insert part, which differs from a closed position, the resonant circuit has a resonant frequency that differs from the characteristic closure frequency, and in the closed position the resonant circuit has the characteristic closure frequency. The tuning device acts on the inductance of the electric resonant circuit. An acting part is provided that mechanically acts on the coil when the insert part is inserted into the receiving part such that the shape of the coil in the closed position differs from the shape of the coil in the intermediate position. |
| US09410648B2 |
Remote cam-lock coupling actuator and discharge containment device
This invention relates to a means of remotely coupling and decoupling various devices connected to: 1) Municipal drinking (potable), reuse (non-potable), industry process water, and wastewater treatment systems; and, 2) Industrial fluid distribution systems by means of a remotely actuated cam-lock coupling actuator and discharge containment device capable of remotely locking and unlocking the locking handles found on conventional female cam-lock couplings while simultaneously containing the forceful spray discharge ordinarily encountered when decoupling occurs. |
| US09410647B2 |
Anti-rotation system for box and pin connection
An anti-rotation system for use in retaining a threaded connection between a pin and a box. The anti-rotation system includes a key that sets in a recess formed in one of the box or pin. The key is selectively in contact with one of the other of the box or pin, and is activated when the threaded connection begins to decouple. The key is profiled and operates in a cam like fashion to wedge itself between the box and pin when these members begin to decouple and prevents further relative rotation. |
| US09410645B2 |
Multilayer tube for transportation
There is provided a multilayer tube for transporting a fuel, a chemical liquid or a gas, which is based on a thermoplastic resin, in particular a polyamide resin, wherein its inner layer comprises an electroconductive thermoplastic resin in which a fine carbon fiber has been blended as an agent imparting an electroconductivity, and it excels in a molding processability, a fuel oil resistance and an antistatic property. This multilayer tube comprises at least two layers of (a) an outer layer comprising a thermoplastic resin, and (b) an inner layer comprising an electroconductive thermoplastic resin so that a surface resistivity is not more than 108 Ω; the electroconductive thermoplastic resin comprising a fine carbon fiber, wherein a graphite-net plane consisting solely of carbon atoms forms a temple-bell-shaped structural unit comprising closed head-top part and body-part with open lower-end, 2 to 30 of the temple-bell-shaped structural units are stacked sharing a common central axis to form an aggregate, and the aggregates are connected in head-to-tail style with a distance to form the fiber. |
| US09410642B2 |
Method and apparatus for plastic duct bank manufacture
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a duct bank comprising the steps of loading a frame with a series of templates, positioning the frame adjacent a pipe extruder, aligning a set of a plurality of holes with a die of the pipe extruder, extruding a pipe of a first length into the set of holes, repeating the steps of aligning and extruding for each set of holes, thereby forming the duct bank, banding the duct bank, and removing the duct bank from the frame. |
| US09410634B2 |
Anti-shake flow-limiting cutoff valve
The present invention relates to an anti-shake flow-limiting cutoff valve, comprising a flow stop valve, a cutoff valve and a check structure. Said flow stop valve comprises a valve body, a valve seat, a piston and a biasing component. The check structure is arranged downstream said flow stop valve to prevent fluid from flowing back. In case of a sudden excessive water flow, the flow stop valve is closed under impact of excessive water pressure to block the water flow. At this time, since the liquid flow in the pipeline is suddenly blocked, the liquid flow remaining in a pipeline downstream the flow stop valve tends to form a reverse flow to impact the flow stop valve, thus shaking the flow stop valve, which may further lead to insufficient close or damage of the flow stop valve. |
| US09410630B1 |
Sealing member for use in non-simmering clean service relief valve
Apparatus for forming a fluidic seal such as in a clean service relief valve. In accordance with some embodiments, a ring-shaped sealing member has an annular main body portion with an innermost surface at an innermost diameter, an outermost surface at an outermost diameter and opposing top and bottom flat surfaces which respectively extend between the innermost surface and the outermost surface. An annular first projection extends away from the top flat surface in a first direction, and an annular second projection extends away from the bottom flat surface in an opposing second direction. |
| US09410621B2 |
Method for operating an automatic transmission in a limp mode
The present subject matter provides a method for operating an automatic transmission in a limp mode. The method includes actuating a first non-positive shifting element to an engaged configuration and actuating a second non-positive shifting element to the engaged configuration. A positive shifting element is substantially synchronized after actuating the second non-positive shifting element. The method also includes commanding the positive shifting element to actuate from a disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration. |
| US09410619B2 |
Control of operation of an automobile gear shift system
A gear shift system for a motor vehicle with a steering wheel. The gear shift system includes gear shift devices rotationally integral with the steering wheel and an electronic control device. Each of the gear shift devices is operable by a driver of the motor vehicle to carry out at least one respective gear shift function associated with the respective gear shift device. The electronic control unit is configured to receive a magnitude indicative of a current steering wheel angle, determine, on the basis of the received magnitude, whether the current steering wheel angle satisfies predefined conditions, and, if it determines that the current steering wheel angle satisfies the predefined conditions, reconfigure the gear shift functions associated with the gear shift devices. |
| US09410618B2 |
Adaptive shift scheduling system
A method of generating shift schedules for a vehicle having a transmission with a plurality of gears includes providing a plurality of a transmission operational modes categorized by ratios of available traction power after a transmission gear shift compared to available traction power before the transmission gear shift. Based on the list of available traction power the available traction power is determined for each of the plurality of gears over a range of engine speeds. This includes adjusting for parasitic losses and dynamic de-rate conditions at each engine speed datum point. Shift schedules are generated for shifts between gears of the transmission for at least a first transmission operational mode in terms of ratios of available traction power before and after gear shifts. |
| US09410617B2 |
Method for detection and enabling of an evasive manoeuver in a vehicle with an automated manual transmission
A method of detecting and enabling an evasive maneuver in a vehicle with an automated transmission, in which initially the method checks whether the reverse (R) drive is engaged, and checks whether the steering-wheel angle and the steering-wheel angular velocity are valid and in excess of threshold values. If so, a first timer is started and then the method checks to see if the yaw rate and the transverse acceleration of the vehicle exceed threshold values while the first timer is running, and when the yaw rate and the transverse acceleration of the vehicle exceed threshold values while the first timer is running, a driver's wish to carry out an escape turn is recognized and a second timer is started, and both timers have not yet run their course, the speed threshold for permitting engagement of the forward drive (D) is increased to exceed the normal threshold value for permitting engagement of forward drive (D) is a is a set is positioned. |
| US09410616B2 |
Shift lever position determination device for vehicle
A shift lever position determination device is for a vehicle and includes an electronic control device. The electronic control device is configured to perform a majority determination in a case where more than half of the signals from the plurality of position sensors correspond to the same operating position, and configured to determine whether the operating position of the shift lever is on a M operating position side or a N operating position side in a select direction based on the magnitude relationship of the signals in a case where the majority determination is not satisfied. The electronic control device is configured to determine, in the majority determination, that the operating position corresponding to more than half of the signals is the operating position of the shift lever. |
| US09410613B2 |
On-screen gear selector for automatic transmission
An on-screen gear selector for an automatic transmission, which provides an interface between the driver and the automatic transmission. The gear selector provides the current selection by the driver to the transmission control unit. The virtual on-screen gear selector provides safety and security features, and is incorporated into the software of the gear selector, such as not allowing the transmission to change from park until the brake pedal is depressed, or not allowing the transmission to change from drive to a lower gear or reverse if the speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined value, thereby avoiding damage to the transmission. The use of the on-screen gear selector also provides the benefit of reducing space and weight of the vehicle, by having less mechanical parts. |
| US09410611B2 |
Carrier shaft set
A carrier shaft set includes an input carrier shaft portion and a carrier shaft portion. The input carrier shaft portion has an input carrier shaft portion axis defined between a planetary gear set end and an input shaft end having an outer surface. The input carrier shaft portion includes a wedge-shaped member having an outer edge. A ratio of a length defined between the input carrier shaft portion axis and the outer edge to the outer surface is between 1.23 and 1.30. The carrier shaft portion has a carrier shaft portion axis defined between a planetary gear set end and a shaft end. The carrier shaft portion includes a shaft portion having an outer surface and a wedge-shaped member having an outer edge. A ratio of a length defined between the carrier shaft portion axis and the outer edge to the shaft portion outer surface is between 1.23 and 1.30. |
| US09410610B1 |
Eco mode E-assist
A product may include a differential unit, and an electrical machine may be interconnected with the differential unit. The differential unit and the electrical machine may be lubricated by a fluid. A reservoir may be defined above the electrical machine. The reservoir may receive the fluid during operation of the differential unit and may selectively store and release the fluid. |
| US09410608B2 |
Flexible support structure for a geared architecture gas turbine engine
A geared architecture for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan shaft, a frame which supports the fan shaft, the frame defines a frame stiffness and a plurality of gears which drives the fan shaft. A flexible support defines a flexible support stiffness that is less than the frame stiffness. The plurality of gears are supported by at least one of a carrier and the flexible support and an input coupling to the plurality of gears, the input coupling defines an input coupling stiffness with respect to the frame stiffness. |
| US09410604B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
Disclosed is a continuously variable transmission including: a pair of pressing units; a pair of first support units that support the pressing units by using one end side as a fulcrum, and generate a force for clamping and pressing both the disks using the pressing unit by virtue of a clamping force applied to the other end side; a pair of second support units that extend along a connecting line in parallel with the shaft center connecting line and are configured to clamp and support both the disks such that the other end side of the pair of first support units can move along the connecting line to generate the clamping force; and a clamping force adjustment unit connected to an end of the pair of second support units opposite to the pivot shaft side to adjust the clamping force of the second support units. |
| US09410592B2 |
Apparatus for absorbing shocks
Apparatus for absorbing shock, particularly repetitive shocks, comprises a frame and a shock-absorbing component comprising a shape memory alloy (SMA). In one type of apparatus, one or more SMA rings (65) are mounted on brackets (64) on a frame (62, 63) so that shock received by the frame from one direction changes the shape of the rings into ellipses with major chords in a first direction, and shock received by the frame from the opposite direction changes the shape of the rings into ellipses with major chords in a second direction which is at right angles to the first direction. In other types of apparatus, SMA shock-absorbing components (16, 27, 37, 46, 89) are mounted in a frame (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17; 21, 22, 24, 25, 26; 31, 32, 34, 35; 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47) so that the way in which the shock-absorbing component is deformed is independent of the direction of the shock received by the frame. The shock-absorbing components preferably include a superelastic SMA, optionally in combination with a martensitic SMA. The apparatus is useful for a wide variety of purposes, including the protection from shock of medical devices, electronic assemblies, vehicles, bridges and buildings. |
| US09410591B2 |
Friction material composition, friction material using the same, and friction member
Provided is a friction material composition comprising: a binder; a fibrous base material; an abrasive material; an inorganic filler; and an organic filler, wherein the friction material composition further comprises: at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc, a cellulose fiber as the fibrous base materials and a flame retardant fiber as the fibrous base materials; an iron-based fiber as the fibrous base material in an specified amount; and an inorganic abrasive material having a Mohs hardness of 8 or higher and a particle size of 1 μm or larger as the abrasive material in an amount of 1 wt % or less. The present invention can provide a friction material composition which is less destructive to facing materials compared to conventional products, which has a high friction coefficient upon braking when used in repeated braking during high-speed traveling, and which is capable of suppressing pad wear and uneven pad wear, in the case that the friction material composition is formed into a brake pad for passenger cars. The present invention can also provide a friction material and a friction member using this friction material composition. |
| US09410588B2 |
Braking device
A braking device capable of generating a larger braking force is provided. The present invention provides a braking device including a housing (10) having a peripheral wall (11), a coil holding unit (20) provided inside the housing (10), a coil (30) held by the coil holding unit (20), a first activation chamber (40) formed between an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (11) of the housing (10) and an outer peripheral surface of the coil holding unit (20)arranged in parallel with the inner peripheral surface, a rotor (60) provided inside of the first activation chamber (40), and a magnetorheological fluid (80) filling an inside of the first activation chamber (40), wherein the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (11) of the housing (10) is at a position farthest from the center of rotation of the rotor (60) in a radial direction in the inside of the housing (10), wherein the rotor (60) is in a cylindrical shape including an outer peripheral surface having a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (60) and the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall (11) of the housing (10) and an inner peripheral surface having a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the rotor (60) and the outer peripheral surface of the coil holding unit (20), and wherein a shearing stress of the magnetorheological fluid (80) acts on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (60). |
| US09410586B2 |
Machine tool braking apparatus
A machine tool braking apparatus, in particular a hand-held machine tool braking apparatus, of a portable machine tool, includes at least one mechanical braking unit that has at least one movably mounted braking element and includes at least one output unit that has at least one output element. The braking unit includes at least one actuating element that is intended to move the braking element, at least in one operating state, at least substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the output element. |
| US09410585B2 |
Method and system for learning operation of engine clutch of hybrid vehicle
A method and a system of learning an operation of an engine clutch using a hydraulic pressure sensor and a motor of a vehicle. The method includes determining, by a controller, whether power transmission of a transmission that transmits output from the engine and the motor has been interrupted and increasing, by the controller, pressure of the engine clutch to a target pressure with a predetermined ratio when the power transmission has been interrupted. In addition, measuring, by the controller, actual pressure of the engine clutch using a hydraulic pressure sensor when pressure of the engine is increased with the predetermined ratio to the target pressure and calculating, by the controller, a difference value between the measured actual pressure and target pressure. Furthermore, adjusting, by the controller, pressure of the engine clutch to correlate the actual pressure of the engine clutch to the target pressure based on the difference value. |
| US09410583B2 |
Method for producing a friction element
The invention relates to a method for producing a friction element (3) comprising the steps: providing a metal main body (10), hardening the main body (10) on at least part of its surface (11, 12) in a salt bath, wherein the salt bath hardening is the final method step, and no further processing of the hardened surface (11, 12) is performed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a friction element produced according to this method and a friction component comprising the latter. |
| US09410582B2 |
Protective device for universal joint transmissions
A protective device for universal joint transmissions has at least two coaxial tubular protective elements, with the two tubular protective elements each having, at their opposite ends, a protective hood, The two tubular protective elements each having a locator flange associated rigidly with the tubular protective element. The protective hood has a coupling flange that is coaxial to the locator flange and is adapted to abut against the locator flange. The protective hood has a cylindrical accordion portion supported by the coupling flange. The protective hood also has at least one fastening element adapted to fasten the coupling flange on the locator flange. The protective device has at least one supporting ring, which has engagement elements for the engagement of the supporting ring with the locator flange, which is accommodatable rotatably in an annular seat provided at the outer surface of the hub of the fork of the joint. |
| US09410580B2 |
Mechanical system equipped with active microcapsules for condition monitoring
A mechanical system comprising at least one moving component and a lubricant. The mechanical system also comprises a plurality of at least one type of microcapsule consisting of a shell, which, under the effect of a variation of a given characteristic physical parameter of the mechanical system, is capable of releasing particles. The dispersion of the particles is identifiable by a system located external to the mechanical system. |
| US09410579B2 |
Cage with parallel pockets for rolling bearing
A cage for a rolling bearing including a plurality of cage segments is provided. Each segment has a first set of pockets for a first set of rollers, and a second set of pockets for a second set of rollers. The axes of the pockets of the first set of pockets are parallel with each other and the axes of the pockets of the second set of pockets are parallel with each other. |
| US09410577B2 |
Bearing arrangement
A bearing arrangement may include at least one sliding bearing having a polymer coating. The bearing arrangement may bear a camshaft, and at least one of the polymer coating is applied to the camshaft, and the polymer coating is arranged in a bearing ring. An oil trough for collecting oil may be provided on at least one of the bearing ring and a cylinder head which receives the bearing ring. |
| US09410576B2 |
Compact bearing assemblies including superhard bearing surfaces, bearing apparatuses, and methods of use
Embodiments of the invention are directed to compact bearing assemblies configured to operate in small spaces and/or in harsh environments, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and method of operating such bearing assemblies and apparatuses. For instance, one or more compact bearing assemblies may at least partially rotatably secure a shaft of a power generation unit to a housing thereof. Also, a first compact bearing assembly may connect or couple to the shaft and may rotatably engage a second compact bearing assembly, which may be connected or otherwise secured to the housing. |
| US09410573B1 |
Bearing assemblies
Embodiments of the invention relate a bearing assembly, which may be operated at least partially hydrodynamically, and includes a support ring having reduced-thickness portions configured to elastically flex for promoting hydrodynamic fluid flow between opposing bearings of the bearing apparatus incorporated in a bearing apparatus. The disclosed bearing assemblies and apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. |
| US09410572B2 |
Five-axial groove cylindrical journal bearing with pressure dams for bi-directional rotation
A five-axial groove cylindrical journal bearing assembly with pressure dams designed for bi-directional rotation for rotatably supporting a rotating body provided with a babbitted inner surface. The journal bearing assembly has two pressure dams that are substantially mirror images of each other along a centerline between the pressure dams and has two pressure dams each located substantially opposite the direction of two vector loads of the journal bearing assembly. |
| US09410570B2 |
Clamp
A clamp holds two members together. The first member includes a recess into which a fastener is located. A bore is provided to the recess to allow a tool to be used to operate the fastener. The second member is arranged to accept the fastener and so join the members. The recess and bore are sized to prevent release of the fastener through the bore. In this way, the fastener cannot easily be removed or lost when the clamp is in use and is tamperproof. The clamp is used to hold portions of a sleeve around a body of the tool, and to hold scraper blades and/or brushes to the body. |
| US09410565B2 |
Orifice plates
Implementations of an orifice plate used to regulate flow through a conduit are provided. In some implementations, a balanced restriction orifice (BRO) plate configured to maximize pressure loss is provided. In some implementations, the BRO plate may be configured to limit pipe and plate noise, erosion, cavitation, shear stress, etc. while maximizing pressure loss, and limiting flow to required values. In some implementations, openings through a BRO plate may be configured to satisfy the Velocity-Head Pressure-Loss equation: ΔP=kρVn/2Gc. |
| US09410563B2 |
Pneumatic motor and pneumatic valve for the same
A pneumatic motor includes a housing, a rotor, an air flowing unit and an air-supply unit. The housing has an inside space formed along an axis and divided sequentially into a rotor chamber, a valve chamber and an inlet chamber. The rotor is rotatably mounted in the rotor chamber. The pneumatic valve is mounted in the rotor chamber and the valve chamber and includes an air flowing unit and an adjusting gate. The air-supply unit is mounted in the inlet chamber and is connected to a source of compressed air, so the compressed air can flow from the inlet chamber into the valve chamber and then flow through the pneumatic valve to drive the rotor. |
| US09410561B2 |
Control device of power transmission device
By a control processing of the sliding-mode control using a switching function configured from a first variable component, which is a deviation between an observed value and a desired value of a secondary power imparted to a secondary element (3) from a primary element (2) via an elastic deformation member (4), and a second variable component which is a temporal change rate of the deviation, so as to sequentially determine a control input to control an actuator (5) to converge the first variable component to zero on a switching hyperplane. A gradient of the switching hyperplane is set such that a time constant corresponding to the gradient of the switching hyperplane is equal to or larger than a given specific time constant. |
| US09410554B2 |
Controlling a gas compressor having multiple magnetic bearings
A method for controlling a gas compressor is disclosed. The method includes communicating feedback data about two magnetic bearings to a computer including a multi-core processor via a communication link. The method also includes processing the feedback data about the two magnetic bearings where the feedback data for each of the two magnetic bearings is processed on separate cores of the multi-core processor in parallel and issuing a bearing control command to each of the two magnetic bearings in response to the feedback data. The method further includes communicating the bearing control commands to the two magnetic bearings from the computer via the communication link. |
| US09410553B2 |
Rotor assembly for a turbomachine
A rotor assembly having a first component and a second component. The second component is secured within a bore of the first component by a first adhesive and a second adhesive. The first adhesive forms an annular seal between the first component and the second component, and the second adhesive extends from the first adhesive and has a lower viscosity than that of the first adhesive. |
| US09410547B2 |
Compressor with oil separator and refrigeration device including the same
A compressor includes a casing configured to store lubricating oil in a bottom part, and a compression mechanism accommodated in an interior of the casing. Lubricating oil is separated out from high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism. Lubricating oil separated out by the oil separator flows from a high-pressure space formed in the interior of the casing and into which the high-pressure refrigerant flows. An ejector mechanism is disposed in the interior of the casing, preferably in the high-pressure space. The ejector mechanism includes a refrigerant-accelerating flow path in which the high-pressure refrigerant flows via a narrowed part in order to increase a flow rate of the high-pressure refrigerant, and an oil suction flow path merging with the refrigerant-accelerating flow path. |
| US09410545B2 |
Solid state bilge pump switch
A switch for a bilge pump of a boat includes a pair of probes for providing a probe signal indicating the presence of fluid at the probes, a current sensor for providing a sensor signal indicating electric current of the pump; and a controller programmed to energize the pump when a threshold level of the probe signal indicates the presence of fluid and to de-energize the pump when a threshold level of the sensor signal indicates that the pump is not pumping fluid. The controller can also be programmed to dynamically change the threshold level of the probe signal based on a prior probe signal that indicates changing probe conditions. |
| US09410544B2 |
Charged hydraulic system
In open-circuit hydraulic systems (1), the cross-sections of the supply lines (6) and input valves of the hydraulic pump (3) have to be large, so that sufficient flow flux can be provided. This hinders a reduction of the size of the pump and the whole hydraulic system. It is suggested that the supply flow (7) of a hydraulic pump (3) is charged by a second, charging pump (2), to a mid-pressure level (7). The cross-sections of the supply flow areas can thus be decreased. |
| US09410541B2 |
Liquid sample pump with integral self-cleaning filter element
In combination, a liquid sample pump and an integral self-cleaning filter element will elongate the maintenance interval for the pump which saves on time and labor costs. The filter element itself is small, economical to make and forms an integral part of the liquid sample pump. A flow passageway continuously directs turbulent liquid to the underside of the filter element to sweep debris from the filter element and return such debris to the pipeline. When it is necessary to service the liquid sample pump, it is quick and easy to remove and replace the filter element, which also saves on time and labor costs. A bleed valve assembly allows air to be bled from the sample pump prior to operation, enhancing seal life. An optional muffler assembly excludes insects from the inside of the sample pump, again elongating maintenance intervals. An optional return valve assembly allows unused sample to be returned to the pipeline, thus benefitting the environment. The filter element may be formed from a metal screen or a sintered metal disk. |
| US09410535B2 |
Binary power generation system
A binary power generation system includes: a first pressure reducing steam-liquid separator which reduces the pressure of geothermal heat source water to separate the geothermal heat source water into water steam and hot liquid water; a steam turbine which is driven by geothermal water steam; a medium turbine which is driven by medium vapor obtained by evaporating a medium liquid with the geothermal heat source water as a heat source; a condenser/evaporator which is configured to transfer the heat of the water steam discharged from the steam turbine to the medium liquid so that the water steam is condensed and the medium liquid is evaporated; and a gas cooler which leads a working medium discharged from the medium turbine to thereby cool condensed water obtained by the condenser/evaporator and separate and discharge noncondensable gas contained in the condensed water. |
| US09410534B2 |
Wind powered electrical generator having a variable speed clutch arrangement
The invention provides an apparatus configured to convert kinetic energy of wind flow into electric energy. The apparatus includes a mast, a primary electric generator mounted on the mast, a secondary electric generator mounted on the mast in a tandem arrangement with the primary electric generator, blades affixed to a rotor shaft of the primary electric generator, a driving clutch affixed to the rotor shaft of the primary electric generator, a driven clutch affixed to a rotor shaft of the secondary electric generator, and endless elongated member connecting the driving clutch with the driven clutch. The apparatus is configured to convert a kinetic energy of a wind flow into an electric energy at one or both of the primary and secondary electric generators. |
| US09410524B2 |
Method and device for automatically shutting off an internal combustion engine
A method is provided for automatically shutting off an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle by way of a start-stop device, which automatically shuts off the internal combustion engine as soon as the predefined operating conditions are met. An automatic shut-off of the internal combustion engine is prevented when an actuation of a garage door opener for the electric displacement of the garage door is detected. A correspondingly designed start-stop device is provided for automatically shutting off the internal combustion engine, wherein a control unit is designed such that signals of the garage door opener and/or of a detection unit, which detects an electric opening of the garage door, can be received and the automatic shut-off of the internal combustion engine is permitted or prevented depending on the signals. |
| US09410522B2 |
Pressure control valve
A pressure control valve for a high-pressure accumulator of an injection device of an internal combustion engine, includes a magnetic actuator. The magnetic actuator has a magnetic core with contacting pins and a magnetic armature with an armature plate. The contacting pins pass through feedthroughs formed in the armature plate. The armature plate is hydraulically connected by a pressure equalization channel to a valve chamber connected to low pressure. The pressure equalization channel has an opening on the magnetic core end face which opens into the armature space. At least one of the feedthroughs forms a passage for the fuel through the armature plate for the pressure equalization. A residual air gap disk is arranged between the magnetic core and the armature plate. The residual air gap disk forms an additional feedthrough with a radial extension that extends in the direction of the opening. |
| US09410519B2 |
High-pressure fuel pump assembly mechanism
A high-pressure fuel pump includes a pump housing formed with a recess, a cylinder combined with the pump housing to define the recess as a pressurizing chamber, a holder securing the cylinder to the pump housing, and a plunger sliding against the cylinder to pressurize fluid in the pressurizing chamber. The holder includes an outer cylindrical surface portion fitted to an attachment fitting hole of an engine block of an internal combustion engine, and a cylindrical fitting portion fitted to an outer circumference of the cylinder. The outer cylindrical surface portion and the cylindrical fitting portion are formed in a single piece resulting from machining one and the same member. |
| US09410517B2 |
Fuel line
A fuel line, in particular a fuel line for a gasoline direct injection line system, having an inner steel tube and an outer steel tube, wherein the inner steel tube is accommodated in the outer steel tube in a force-locking manner. The inner steel tube is made of a corrosion resistant steel and the outer steel tube is made of an outer steel tube alloy, wherein a wall thickness of the inner steel tube is smaller than a wall thickness of the outer steel tube. A maximum carbon content of the outer steel tube alloy is higher than a maximum carbon content of the corrosion resistant steel. A thickness of the fuel line amounts to between 5% and 60% of an inner diameter of the motor vehicle fluid line. |
| US09410516B2 |
Method for operating a fuel system for an internal combustion engine
A method for operating a fuel system for an internal combustion engine having a metering device, an electrical actuating device, and a valve element includes: activating the electrical actuating device in at least one first cycle in such a way that the valve element switches into a second position corresponding to an open metering device; activating the electrical actuating device in at least one second cycle in such a way that the electrical actuating device is activated from activation to activation, with activation energy which decreases gradually, until a limiting case is reached in which the valve element only just or just no longer switches into the second position; ascertaining a first activation energy, which corresponds to the limiting case; and subsequently activating the actuating device, taking the first activation energy into account. |
| US09410514B2 |
Variable displacement oil pump
In a variable displacement oil pump employing a return spring for forcing a cam ring in a clockwise direction, and a control chamber configured to displace the cam ring in a counterclockwise direction with a discharge pressure introduced thereto, a pilot valve is provided to selectively switch between an oil-discharge from the control chamber and an oil-introduction to the control chamber by moving a spool in one direction by a biasing force of a valve spring or by moving the spool in the other direction against the biasing force by the discharge pressure and applied at an oil introduction port of the pilot valve. Also provided is an electromagnetic valve configured to variably control timing at which switching between the oil-discharge and the oil-introduction occurs, with respect to the discharge pressure applied at the oil introduction port, by appropriately changing the preload setting of the valve spring. |
| US09410513B2 |
Engine configured to drive a diaphragm fuel pump using pressure fluctuation in a crank chamber of the engine
An engine includes a crank chamber in which pressure fluctuation occurs and a carburetor including a diaphragm fuel pump. The diaphragm fuel pump includes a pump chamber configured to suck in and eject fuel and a diaphragm chamber to which a pressure that drives the pump chamber is supplied. The diaphragm chamber and the crank chamber communicate with one another in a state in which a negative pressure is created in the crank chamber. |
| US09410512B2 |
Air intake apparatus for four wheeled utility vehicle
An air intake apparatus is provided for a utility vehicle having a front seat, a rear seat, a cargo bed, an engine arranged below the rear seat and/or the cargo bed, and a V-belt type continuously variable transmission arranged sideward of the engine. The apparatus includes an air cleaner connected to an air intake portion of the engine via a intake manifold, a cooling duct connected to an air intake portion for cooling the V-belt type continuously variable transmission, and a space in which front, rear, right, left, and lower sides thereof are surrounded by surrounding members arranged below the front seat or the rear seat. The air cleaner, an air intake opening thereof, and an air intake opening at an end of the cooling duct are arranged in the space. |
| US09410511B2 |
Variable intake system for vehicle
A variable intake system for a vehicle to regulate an amount of intake air according to driving conditions of an engine may include an air cleaner connected to an intake duct which draws in intake air and forms a flow path for the intake air inside the air cleaner, a battery assembly installed in the flow path inside the air cleaner, which includes a plurality of cooling paths that allow the intake air to flow through the plurality of cooling paths, and a valve body installed in the air cleaner and selectively varying the flow path of the intake air. |
| US09410508B2 |
Controlling apparatus for an engine
A controlling apparatus for an engine includes a purge path connected to a sealing-type fuel tank and an intake system of an engine and is configured to allow purge gas containing evaporated fuel from the fuel tank to flow therethrough. A purge valve placed in the purge path is configured to adjust a flow rate of the purge gas. A calculation unit calculates a degree of opening of the purge valve based on a target introduction ratio of the purge gas, and a controlling unit controls the purge valve so as to establish the degree of opening calculated by the calculation unit. The calculation unit corrects, in high-pressure purge performed when a pressure in the fuel tank increases exceeding a predetermined pressure, the degree of opening using a tank pressure flow velocity correction coefficient K2 corresponding to an upstream pressure of the purge valve. |
| US09410500B2 |
Movable cascade turbojet thrust reverser having translatable reverser cowl causing variation in jet nozzle
The thrust reverser includes a reverser cowl of which a downstream part of the reverser cowl forms a jet nozzle, cascade vanes fixed upstream from the reverser cowl, thrust reverser flaps, and an actuator. The thrust reverser is translatable under an effect of the actuator between a folded position of the thrust reverser flaps for operation of the nacelle in a direct jet mode, and a deployed position of the thrust reverser flaps for operation of the nacelle in a reverse jet mode. In particular, the stretching of the actuator results in causing a variation in a nozzle section of the jet nozzle as long as the stretching is below a predetermined value, and exposing the cascade vanes and deploying the thrust reverser flaps so as to perform the reverse jet mode beyond the predetermined value. |
| US09410491B2 |
Method and device for vehicle stop and starting and position-lamps display
A simple and effective control method is disclosed for starting and stopping the engine of a vehicle during an idling stop of the vehicle, wherein an integration controller can be used to achieve those purposes. In particular, a useful control method is disclosed for stopping and restarting engine while vehicles wait for stoplight. It is using equipment, such as two brake levers, to interact with a start-button, wherein electrical signals generated from the operation of the equipment are divided into two different groups of control signals to achieve the operation control of the engine starting or stopping when the start button is pressed. By using the method of present invention, a vehicle driver driving on the road can have a simple and secure operation method to stop or start the engine of the vehicle during an idling stop of the vehicle. |
| US09410489B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine equipped with: a cylinder block in the interior of which pistons are arranged; a cylinder head containing recessed parts; cylinder liners affixed to the surfaces of hole parts of the cylinder block; and a variable compression ratio mechanism that changes the mechanical compression ratio. The variable compression ratio mechanism is formed such that the size of the combustion chamber can be changed by moving the cylinder head relative to the cylinder block. The cylinder liners extend such that the end parts facing the cylinder head are arranged within the recessed parts of the cylinder head within the range of relative movement of the cylinder head with respect to the cylinder block. |
| US09410482B2 |
Gas turbine engine heat exchanger
A gas turbine engine having a heat exchanger is disclosed. In one form the gas turbine engine includes a particle separator that can be used to separate particles or foreign objects and create a dirty flow and a clean flow. A blower can be used to discharge the particles or foreign objects from the separator. The heat exchanger includes a relatively warm flow path from a downstream region of a compressor and a relatively cool flow path from an upstream region of the compressor. The relatively cool flow path is merged with the dirty flow. In another embodiment, the gas turbine engine is a turbofan and the relatively cool flow path is merged with a bypass flow. In one embodiment of the engine the relatively warm flow path, after having exchanged heat with the relatively cool flow path is delivered to a working component without passing through a turbomachinery component. |
| US09410479B2 |
Method for adjusting the operation of a turbomachine receiving a recirculated exhaust gas
A method for adjusting the operation of a turbomachine integrated with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is provided. The method may utilize the composition of an inlet fluid entering the turbomachine. The method may also utilize a variety of turbomachine operating data. |
| US09410476B2 |
Internal combustion engine-reformer installation
A method of operating an internal combustion engine-reformer installation having an internal combustion engine and a reformer, includes predetermining at least one parameter of the internal combustion engine, calculating a desired amount of fuel for the reformer on the basis of the at least one parameter, feeding the desired amount of fuel to the reformer, reforming fuel to give a synthesis gas in the reformer, and feeding the synthesis gas to the internal combustion engine. A synthesis gas pressure of the synthesis gas downstream of the reformer is measured, and the synthesis gas pressure is taken into consideration when calculating the desired amount of fuel. |
| US09410475B2 |
System and method for determining turbine degradation and mitigating turbine degradation in a variable geometry turbocharger
A method for operating a vehicle system is described herein. The method includes indicating a variable geometry turbine degradation based on a comparison of a modeled set of turbine pressure values and a sensed set of turbine pressure values, each set of turbine pressure values including a pressure value upstream of the turbine and a pressure value downstream of the turbine and the variable geometry turbine positioned downstream of an engine cylinder. |
| US09410474B2 |
Integrated fuel injector igniters configured to inject multiple fuels and/or coolants and associated methods of use and manufacture
Embodiments of injectors configured for adaptively injecting multiple different fuels and coolants into a combustion chamber, and for igniting the different fuels, are disclosed herein. An injector according to one embodiment includes a body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The injector further includes a first flow channel extending through the body, and a second flow channel extending through the body that is separate from the first flow channel and electrically isolated from the first flow channel. The first flow channel is configured to receive a first fuel, and the second flow channel is configured to receive at least one of a second fuel and a coolant. The injector further comprises a valve carried by the body that is movable between a closed position and an open position to introduce at least one of the second fuel and the coolant into a combustion chamber. |
| US09410471B2 |
Exhaust system component
An exhaust system component (1), for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, includes a metallic first part (3), which is inserted into a metallic second part (2), such that an inner jacket section (7) of the first part (3) is arranged coaxially in an outer jacket section (5) of the second part (2), as well as at least one weld joint (10), which permanently connects the outer jacket section (5) to the inner jacket section (7). To simplify the assembly of the parts (2, 3) with one another, a plurality of centering contours (11, 12) are formed integrally on the outer jacket section (5), projecting inwardly, and/or are formed integrally on the outer jacket section (7), projecting outwardly, and are located at spaced locations from one another in the circumferential direction (6). The centering contours center the inner jacket section (7) in the outer jacket section (5). |
| US09410466B2 |
Exhaust humidity sensor
Embodiments for adjusting engine operating parameters based on output from an exhaust humidity sensor are provided. One example method for an engine comprises based on a dew point of exhaust gas, adjusting an exhaust gas sensor heater configured to heat an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust passage of the engine, the dew point based on output from a humidity sensor disposed in the exhaust passage. |
| US09410465B2 |
Adhesive particle filter/trap for pressurized heat engines
A filter assembly includes an adhesive layer disposed, coated or otherwise mounted on interior surfaces of a pressurized heat engine, and located in a gas flow path through the engine. |
| US09410460B2 |
Exhaust system of an internal combustion engine
An exhaust system (1) of an internal combustion engine includes an oxidation catalytic converter (2), a particle filter (3), an injector (4) for injecting a reducing agent, a static mixer-evaporator (5), an SCR catalytic converter (6) and a housing (8). The oxidation catalytic converter is upstream of the particle filter and upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. The injector is upstream of the mixer-evaporator and the mixer-evaporator is upstream of the SCR catalytic converter. The housing has a centrally inner channel (9), a ring channel (10) concentrically around the inner channel, an eccentrically outer channel (11), a first deflecting chamber (12) connecting the outer channel with the ring channel and a second deflecting chamber (13) connecting the inner channel with the ring channel. The mixer-evaporator is in the inner channel and the oxidation catalytic converter or particle filter or SCR catalytic converter is ring-shaped and in the ring channel. |
| US09410457B2 |
Flow control valves
A flow control valve may include a case and a valve body axially movably disposed within a fluid passage defined in the case. The valve body may have an outer circumferential surface with a flow control surface. The valve body may further include a flange portion positioned on an upstream side of the flow control surface. The flange portion may include a sliding surface and a reference surface. The sliding surface may slidably contact a passage wall surface of the fluid passage. The reference surface may serve as a reference when performing configuration measurement of the flow control surface. The reference surface may extend within a first circumferential range about the axis of the valve body, and the flow control surface may extend within a second circumferential range about the axis of the valve body. The first circumferential range and the second circumferential range may at least partly overlap with each other. |
| US09410456B2 |
Filter element with a bypass duct as well as filter assembly with a filter element
A filter element for filtering a liquid medium has end plates and a filter material arranged between the end plates and flowed through by the liquid medium in a flow direction radial to a longitudinal axis of the filter element. A clean chamber is arranged in the flow direction downstream of the filter material and connected with an outlet of the filter element. A bypass duct for the liquid medium is provided that is fluidically connected by a bypass valve with the clean chamber. The bypass duct has an inlet in the first end plate. A support device is integrally formed on the first end plate and extends along the longitudinal axis away from the first end plate into the filter element interior. A sieve in the bypass duct separates solid materials from the liquid medium passing through the bypass duct. The sieve is attached to the support device. |
| US09410454B2 |
Valve opening/closing timing control device
A valve opening/closing timing control device includes an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber between driving and driven rotating bodies, an intermediate locking mechanism performing switching between a locked state and an unlocked state, an advancing channel connected to the advancing chamber, a retarding channel connected to the retarding chamber, and at least one electromagnetic valve supplying/discharging working fluid to/from the advancing chamber, retarding chamber, and intermediate lock mechanism due to an electricity supply amount being changed. When working fluid is discharged from the intermediate lock mechanism, and working fluid is supplied to the advancing chamber and is discharged from the retarding chamber, the maximum working fluid flow amount through the advancing and retarding channels is greater than the maximum working fluid flow amount through the advancing and retarding channels when the electromagnetic valve is controlled such that the working fluid is supplied to the intermediate lock mechanism. |
| US09410453B2 |
Method and system for variable cam timing device
Methods and systems are described for an engine with a cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser. Phaser positioning control is improved by reducing inaccuracies resulting from inadvertent spool valve and/or phaser movement when the spool valve is commanded between regions. In addition, improved spool valve mapping is used to render phaser commands more consistent and robust. |
| US09410452B2 |
Fuel generation using high-voltage electric fields methods
Methods of making fuel are described herein. A method may include providing a first working fluid, a second working fluid, and a third working fluid. The method may further include exposing the first working fluid to a first high-voltage electric field to produce a first plasma, exposing the second working fluid to a second high-voltage electric field to produce a second plasma, and exposing the third working fluid to a third high-voltage electric field to produce a third plasma. The method may also include contacting the third plasma, the second plasma, and the first plasma to form a plasma mixture, cooling the plasma mixture using a heat exchange device to form a cooled plasma mixture, and contacting the cooled plasma mixture with a catalyst to form a fuel fluid. |
| US09410450B2 |
Process and system for recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer
The invention concerns a method for the recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer 2 with a closed circulation 2.1 that produces excess steam SS characterized in that the excess steam SS is condensed to an unclean condensate UC in a steam regeneration unit 3 and in that thermal energy in the unclean condensate UC is recovered by being transferred to a district heating medium HW in a heat exchanger 4 for district heating. The invention concerns also a system for the recovery of thermal energy from a steam dryer 2 with a closed circulation 2.1. |
| US09410446B2 |
Dynamic stability and mid axial preload control for a tie shaft coupled axial high pressure rotor
A middle support member is used to provide axial support and control to the tie shaft. The middle support member includes a high pressure compressor coupling nut that applies a preload that allows the high pressure compressor stack to be installed separately from the high pressure turbine rotor through a kickstand. |
| US09410445B2 |
Castable high temperature aluminum alloy
A turbine engine includes an airfoil made of an aluminum-rare earth element alloy. |
| US09410439B2 |
CMC blade attachment shim relief
A blade root shim comprises a base, a suction side shim wall, a pressure side shim wall, and a contact relief region. The base extends longitudinally between a leading shim end and a trailing shim end. The suction side shim wall extends along the base and corresponds to a suction side blade root bearing surface. The pressure side shim wall, spaced circumferentially apart from the suction shim wall, corresponds to a pressure side blade bearing surface. The contact relief region is formed into an upper wall portion of either the suction side shim wall or the pressure side shim wall. |
| US09410438B2 |
Dual rotor blades having a metal leading airfoil and a trailing airfoil of a composite material for gas turbine engines
A rotor dual-blade for a gas turbine engine that has a first blade component extending radially between a root and a tip and a second blade component, separate from the first component, extending radially between a root and a tip, wherein the second blade component is downstream, in series, of the first blade component and at least the first blade component is made of metal while the second blade component is a light weight composite material. |
| US09410433B2 |
Inter-blade sealing for a turbine or compressor wheel of a turbine engine
An inter-blade sealing for a turbine or compressor wheel of a turbine engine includes inserts engaged in longitudinal cavities in side edges of platforms of blades and bearing, in operation, against facing side edges of platforms of adjacent blades. Each insert has a cylindrical elongate shape and includes in its outer cylindrical surface at least one annular groove for passing platform cooling air. |
| US09410426B2 |
Boundary layer disk turbine systems for hydrocarbon recovery
Provided are various devices and processes that harness the inherent kinetic energy of a flowing pressurized fluid to drive a compressor to compress a fluid without any need for electrical or chemical energy. The flowing fluid flows over a boundary layer disk turbine, or Tesla turbine, which is mechanically coupled to a compressor that compresses a fluid. The flowing fluid may be a natural gas from a hydrocarbon recovery operation. The compressed fluid may be a vapor gas from a hydrocarbon production, processing, or storage facility. Harnessing the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid increases economic efficiency of the process, while also avoiding unwanted emissions adverse to the environment and public health. |
| US09410425B2 |
Method of collecting sample using multi-packer and apparatus thereof
A method of collecting samples that are not polluted at the outside of a borehole at a predetermined depth by using a multi-packer and an apparatus therefore. Contaminated water in the borehole between first and second packers of the multi-packer is selectively discharged into a contaminated water discharging vessel installed on a lower end of a sample collecting container by opening or closing an electronic switching valve in the contaminated water discharging vessel. |
| US09410422B2 |
Alternative gauging system for production well testing and related methods
A method for measuring a well fluid parameter includes diverting a fluid through a first loop comprising one or more fluid parameter measurement components, determining a gross flow rate of the fluid, recirculating the fluid through a second loop upon determining the gross flow rate is below a threshold amount, and measuring the fluid parameter upon the gross flow rate reaching or exceeding the threshold amount. |
| US09410421B2 |
System and method for microseismic analysis
This invention provides a method for characterizing natural fracture networks or other textural networks in an Earth formation when using microseismic monitoring of a hydraulic fracturing job. The method comprises receiving (120) microseismic data from a hydraulic fracturing event, identifying a data subset (153) comprising components of the microseismic data associated with the one or more hydraulic fractures; and obtaining a remainder dataset (156) of the microseismic data by removing the subset from the microseismic data. One approach for identifying the data subset, after removing high uncertainty microseismic events, is to create a Voronoi diagram of a plurality of cells each associated with one of the microseismic events, determine a density for each cell, create a connectivity matrix of the high density cells and identify event clusters in the connectivity matrix which are aligned with a main growing direction of the hydraulic fracture. |
| US09410415B2 |
Method of fracturing subterranean formations with crosslinked fluid
Subterranean formations are subjected to hydraulic fracturing with an aqueous fracturing fluid having guar or a derivative thereof, a borate crosslinking agent and proppant. The fracturing fluid is prepared in a blender and then pumped into the wellbore through an entrance site. The apparent viscosity of the fluid decreases distally from the entrance site such that (i) the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid 100 feet from the entrance site is less than 10 percent of the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid at the entrance site; (ii) the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid 15 minutes after introduction into the entrance site is less than 15% of the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid at the entrance site; or (iii) the apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid is less than 10 cP within 15 minutes after being introduced through the entrance site. |
| US09410413B2 |
Well system with annular space around casing for a treatment operation
In one aspect, a method for completing a wellbore in a formation is disclosed, that in one non-limiting embodiment includes placing a casing in the wellbore, cementing an annulus between the casing and the wellbore, and forming an annular cavity of a selected length in the cement between the casing and the wellbore. In one aspect, the forming the annular space includes placing a dissolvable material on an outside of the casing before placing the casing in the wellbore, and dissolving the dissolvable material after cementing to form the annular space. |
| US09410412B2 |
Multizone frac system
An array of plugging devices are pumped sequentially from the surface through a liner that typically becomes horizontal in nature, where each plugging device is anchorable at a specific position along the length of the line. Perforations are generated above the plugging device. The plugging device may be a cup plug and when pump pressure is applied to the cup the cup moves through the liner. When anchored, the cup directs frac fluids through the perforations to treat the well formation. The plug may be of the type where a full bore is maintained through the liner and allows the cup plug to travel back to the surface due to flow from the well thus eliminating any need for milling obstructions from the well bore. The use of multiple plugging devices allows multizone stage fracing. |
| US09410411B2 |
Method for inducing and further propagating formation fractures
Fractures are induced from lobe shaped inflatable members disposed at different axial locations along a string with frac ports in the circumferential gaps between the lobes. The lobes are inflated by landing a ball on a seat on a sleeve that is initially shifted enough to expose a fill port on each lobe. The lobes are inflated to a pressure that initiates fractures in the formation as the lobes extend. Further raising the pressure induces the sleeve to move a second time to open frac ports. The annulus can be cemented and fracturing can penetrate the cement to further propagate the initiated fractures from lobe inflation. The process is repeated at different levels until the zone of interest is completed. Sensors can relay information by telemetry techniques as to the onset of fractures or other well conditions. The sleeve for the frac ports can be moved in a variety of ways without intervention tools. |
| US09410409B1 |
Thermal vapor stream apparatus and method
A low-emission and environmentally-friendly apparatus and method is used to generate a high-pressure stream of thermal vapor. The thermal vapor stream may be injected into a subsurface petroleum-bearing formation for recovery of highly viscous petroleum or used to turn a steam turbine for driving an electrical generator. In one implementation, the high-pressure stream of thermal vapor is generated by burning a high-temperature fuel, including any short or long chain hydrocarbon products from methane to coal, in an enclosed vessel to produce combustion gases. Various cooling techniques, including regenerative cooling, may be employed to maintain the internal temperature of the vessel below a predefined safe level. The high-pressure thermal vapor stream may then be used to enhance recovery of highly viscous petroleum. |
| US09410404B2 |
Artificial simultaneous production and maintenance system assisted by mechanical pumping with flexible tubing for fluid extraction
A pumping system for the simultaneous extraction of fluids and maintenance of a well. The pumping system includes a hollow production tubing secured at the surface and extending down into a well, and a flexible hollow tubing also secured to a surface structure and extending downward into the production tubing. A pump assembly connected to a lower end of the flexible tubing includes an upper section through which well maintenance fluids may be pumped, and a lower section that includes a mechanical pump. An impermeable barrier separates the upper and lower sections of the pump assembly. Holes formed on the upper and lower sections of the pumping assembly allow for the simultaneous maintenance of well and extraction of fluids. |
| US09410401B2 |
Method and apparatus for actuation of downhole sleeves and other devices
A downhole equalization assembly permits selective and remote opening of at least one downhole port or pathway to allow communication of pressure and/or fluid flow from inside a pressure containing system (such as, for example, a tubular pipe or other pressure containment system) to the outside of the containment system, or vice versa. A control device generating a magnetic field is inserted into a well and conveyed to a downhole equalization assembly. When the control device passes through an equalization assembly, an electrical current is generated that triggers an electronic counter. When a predetermined counter number is reached, a sliding sleeve is shifted, thereby exposing ports and/or pathways extending between the inside and outside of the equalization assembly. No physical contact or mechanical interference is required between the control device and any other components in order to actuate the equalization assembly. |
| US09410392B2 |
Wireless measurement of the position of a piston in an accumulator of a blowout preventer system
A measurement system including a container including an element moveable within an internal volume of the container. A sensor wirelessly measures the position of the element within the container and transmits the measured position information. Also included is an information system capable of reading the position information from the sensor. |
| US09410391B2 |
Valve system
A system and methodology facilitates utilization of a valve of a type which may be used as a subsea test tree. The valve comprises a valve element pivotably mounted in a housing having a passageway therethrough. The valve element may be actuated between an open position and a closed position blocking the passageway. A cutter is disposed along a first surface of the valve element and a seal system is positioned for engagement with a second surface of the valve element to provide separate cutting and sealing surfaces. Actuating the valve element from the open position to the closed position enables cutting of a conveyance, that may be positioned through the passageway, while simultaneously forming a seal along a separate surface to sealingly block the passageway. |
| US09410388B2 |
Acoustic generator and associated methods and well systems
A well system and associated method can include an acoustic generator which can be used to excite a formation with acoustic waves transmitted from the acoustic generator. Another well system and associated method can include an acoustic generator which can transmit acoustic waves into cement surrounding a casing. Another well system and associated method can include an acoustic generator which can be used to transmit acoustic waves into an annulus surrounding a well screen during or after a gravel packing operation. Another well system and associated method can include an acoustic generator which can be connected in a drill string in close proximity to a drill bit, with the acoustic generator transmitting acoustic waves into a formation ahead of the bit. |
| US09410387B1 |
Automatic rock debris catching and washing apparatus
The present invention provides an automatic rock debris catching and washing apparatus comprising an acquisition device, a filtration device, a collection device and a controlling device. The automatic rock debris catching and washing apparatus has a fully automatic operation, and during use, it is not necessary to real-time monitor the working condition of the catching and washing apparatus by manpower, and collecting regularly the rock debris gathered within the sand storing cylinders is enough. It is highly adaptable to harsh environment due to using the mechanized processing, and the interval, rate and so on of collecting the rock debris can be set with high accuracy, making the analysis on the geological conditions more accurate. |
| US09410386B2 |
Process for conversion of intractable oil-bearing, drill cutting wastes from deep gas exploration wells to engineering construction materials
A process is disclosed which converts intractable, semi-solid drill cuttings into a free-flowing granular, soil-like SDC material, which, after appropriate compaction, can be beneficially used for a variety of engineering construction applications, thereby removing the need for disposal with its associated costs and environmental impact, and as a result improving the overall economics for gas well development, together with improving corporate sustainability and reducing liability. |
| US09410385B2 |
Simultaneous tubular handling system
A system and method for building and handling oilfield tubular stands while drilling operations are simultaneously and independently occurring with one drilling deck, one derrick, and one rotary system. An offline guided path horizontal to vertical arm lifts and moves in the same plane tubulars stored horizontally on the catwalk and positions the tubulars vertically directly into a preparation hole for assembling and disassembling tubular stands while online drilling operations are simultaneously being conducted. A stand arm lifts and lowers the tubulars into and out of the adjustable preparation hole, and transports the tubulars for storage to an auxiliary tubular racking station in the upper part of the derrick. A bridge racker crane moves tubular stands from the auxiliary tubular racking station to the top drive or another tubular racking station. |
| US09410382B2 |
Drilling rig carriage movable along racks and including pinions driven by electric motors
According to one aspect, a drilling rig carriage is adapted to move along a drilling mast, and includes a body structure, electric motors coupled to the body structure, and pinions operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively. The pinions are adapted to engage racks, respectively. According to another aspect, a drilling mast includes a longitudinally-extending frame having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced therefrom. Racks are coupled to the frame at the first side portion thereof. According to yet another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling mast or tower extending longitudinally along an axis, the tower including racks spaced in a parallel relation. A top drive is movable along the axis and relative to the tower. Electric motors are coupled to the top drive and movable therewith. Pinions are operably coupled to the electric motors, respectively, and engage the racks, respectively, to move the top drive. |
| US09410380B2 |
Systems and methods for providing fiber optics in downhole equipment
Systems and methods for installing an optical fiber in a downhole equipment system having multiple components that are installed in the field. Components such as sections of an ESP motor are assembled, forming a continuous sealed conduit that extends through the components. The conduit is sealed to prevent potentially damaging fluids from leaking into the conduit. After the conduit through the components is formed, an optical fiber is inserted into the conduit so that the fiber spans the connections between the components. The optical fiber may incorporate multiple sensors (e.g., fiber Bragg gratings) that can sense parameters such as temperature at multiple points in the different components. The passageways through the different components may have different diameters or tapered/chamfered edges to facilitate insertion of the optical fiber in the conduit. |
| US09410362B1 |
Thermal break system
A thermal window system is provided where a cap is placed over an existing window frame. A top groove and a bottom groove are attached, along with side stops. A thermal window pane has a sash that surrounds another window pane. The sash fits into the top and bottom groove and overlays the side stops. The sash is held tightly to the side stops using magnetic attraction. |
| US09410356B2 |
Curved door
A curved bypass door suitable for a shower or bath comprising a first door, a second door set back from the first door, and an upper track made of aluminum. In one aspect, the upper track has a lower rail adapted to receive a first roller for the first door and an upper rail adapted to receive a second roller for the second door. In another aspect, the upper rail is adapted to receive the roller of the second door and the lower rail is adapted to receive and fixedly hold the first door. Each door curvature such that both doors together form the curved bypass door. The upper track is curved to match the shape of the curved bypass door. |
| US09410355B2 |
Safes and related locking enclosures
Safes and related locking enclosures. In some embodiments, the locking enclosures may comprise a crank shaft that may be coupled with a handle. A crank plate may also be coupled with the crank shaft. A clutch mechanism may be coupled with the crank plate and configured to have an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. In the engaged configuration, the clutch mechanism may be configured to transfer torque from the crank shaft to the crank plate. In the disengaged configuration, the clutch mechanism may be configured to allow the crank shaft to rotate with respect to the crank plate such that no (or at least reduced) torque from the crank shaft is not transferred to the crank plate. |
| US09410351B2 |
Slide-glide privacy blind barrier system
A convertible slide-glide panel privacy (or blind barrier section) system is provided for deck railings or fences. The system may consist of identical panel sections. A first panel section may consist of a stationary panel. Additional identical panel sections may be in an opposite facing orientation with respect to the first panel section and may be configured to slide in-between the most outer stationary structural supports (i.e., an upper railing, a lower railing and posts) of a deck railing or fence in order to either cover or open an existing space or gap between stationary balusters. The stationary panel may be attached directly under an upper railing and attached slide pieces. The sliding path of the additional panel sections may be linear or curvilinear. The sliding panel sections in the system may be constructed from a combination of or individually from composites, wood, metals, glass, lattice, PVC and transparent thermoplastics. |
| US09410348B1 |
Latch apparatus
A wire crate latch apparatus having, in a first embodiment, a pivoting member that is continually drawn to a closed position by gravity and that is deflected into a catch when the door having the pivoting member is swung closed. The latch apparatus further includes upper and lower stops to contain a distal end of the pivoting member and to hold the distal end in the position to hit an oblique portion of the catch when the door is closed. In a second embodiment, a sliding latch apparatus is deflected by a catch and is relatively inaccessible from inside of the wire crate by back plates on the latch and catch. |
| US09410345B2 |
Vehicle door lock device
A switching mechanism of vehicle door lock device includes a pivotable first lever and a second lever that pivotably acts on a pawl. An inertial lever is provided on the first lever and is pivotable about an axis (X3) from an initial position when an inertial force is applied thereto. A transmitting portion is provided on the second lever and transmits the pivotal movement of the first lever to the second lever when the inertial lever is disposed in its initial position. In contrast, the transmitting portion does not transmit the pivotal movement of the first lever to the second lever when the inertial lever has been pivoted away from its initial position. A first axial center of pivotal movement of the first lever and a second axial center of pivotal movement of the second lever are coaxial axial centers of pivotal movement (X1). |
| US09410344B2 |
Protective case for physically securing a portable electronic device
In some embodiments of the invention, a security apparatus for a portable electronic device is provided. The security apparatus may include a plurality of interlocking shell portions, wherein the interlocking shell portions are shaped to, when interlocked, wrap around at least part of a perimeter of the portable electronic device, and wherein at least two shell portions comprise an aperture. The security apparatus may also include an attachment device configured to be at least partly inserted into the apertures of the at least two shell portions. |
| US09410343B2 |
Collapsible frame for a portable shelter
In a portable shelter frame, a frame support is selectively articulable between an erected state and a collapsed state. The frame support includes a central frame member; a pair of upper arcuate frame members rotatably coupled to the ends of the central frame member, each pair of frame upper frame members being selectively moveable between a first, fixed position when the frame support is in the erected state and a second, fixed position when the frame support is in the collapsed state; and a pair of lower arcuate frame members rotatably coupled to the other ends of the upper arcuate frame members, each pair of frame lower frame members being selectively moveable between a first, fixed position when the frame support is in the erected state and a second, fixed position when the frame support is in the collapsed state. A frame assembly may include two more of the frame supports, purlin assemblies interconnecting the frame supports, respectively, each purlin assembly including first and second purlin members rotatably coupled about a purlin mid-joint, a first end of the purlin assembly being pivotally coupled to one of the frame supports, and a second end of the purlin assembly being pivotally coupled to another frame support, the purlin assembly being selectively lockable in an extended position when the frame is in the erected state, the purlin members being rotatable to a folded position when the frame is in the collapsed state. |
| US09410342B2 |
Climate controlled portable dwelling and method of use
The present invention relates generally to climate control systems directed to regulating the ambient temperature within a portable dwelling, and more particularly to manufactured tents, after-market tent adapter kits and methods for utilizing these tents and adapter kits to regulate temperature preferably in the outdoors. |
| US09410341B1 |
Canopy and table frame assembly
A canopy and table frame assembly includes a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members. A canopy is connected to an upper portion of the frame members. A portion of the frame members and the canopy are positioned over at least a portion of an above ground pool. The frame includes a pool side bar connected between frame members. |
| US09410339B2 |
Expandable data center with movable wall
A data center includes a floor that supports rack computing systems and walls that enclose a computing room. The computing room holds the rack computing systems. One of the walls is a movable wall. The movable wall translates relative to the other walls to increase or decrease the size of the computing room. |