| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09507599B2 |
Instruction set architecture with extensible register addressing
A method and circuit arrangement selectively source and/or write data from/to extended registers of an extended register file based in part on whether an operand address of an instruction references a primary register of primary register file configured to store a pointer to the extended register. Control logic connected to the primary register file and the extended register file determines whether the operand address references a primary register configured to store a pointer, and responsive to the determination, the control logic causes execution logic to selectively source and/or write data from/to the extended register pointed to by the pointer stored in the referenced primary register. |
| US09507598B1 |
Auxiliary branch prediction with usefulness tracking
According to an aspect, management of auxiliary branch prediction in a processing system including a primary branch predictor and an auxiliary branch predictor is provided. A congruence class of the auxiliary branch predictor is located based on receiving a primary branch predictor misprediction indicator corresponding to a mispredicted target address of the primary branch predictor. An entry is identified in the congruence class having an auxiliary usefulness level set to a least useful level with respect to one or more other entries of the congruence class. Auxiliary data corresponding to the mispredicted target address is installed into the entry. The auxiliary usefulness level of the entry is reset to an initial value based on installing the auxiliary data. |
| US09507594B2 |
Method and system of compiling program code into predicated instructions for execution on a processor without a program counter
A predicated instruction compilation system includes a control flow graph generation module to generate a control flow graph of a program code to be compiled into the predicated instructions to be executed on a processor that does not include any program counter. Each of the instructions includes a predicate guard and a predicate update. The compilation system also includes a control flow transformation module to automatically generate the predicate guard and an update to the predicate state on the processor. A computer-implemented method of compiling a program code into predicated instructions is also described. |
| US09507593B2 |
Instruction for element offset calculation in a multi-dimensional array
An apparatus is described having functional unit logic circuitry. The functional unit logic circuitry has a first register to store a first input vector operand having an element for each dimension of a multi-dimensional data structure. Each element of the first vector operand specifying the size of its respective dimension. The functional unit has a second register to store a second input vector operand specifying coordinates of a particular segment of the multi-dimensional structure. The functional unit also has logic circuitry to calculate an address offset for the particular segment relative to an address of an origin segment of the multi-dimensional structure. |
| US09507589B2 |
Search based content inventory comparison
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes receiving a selection of content filters for content data that identifies products, packages, and repositories, and receiving a selection of environment filters. The method includes filtering the content data to identify content items in view of the content filters and the environment filters. The content items include one or more of the repositories, the products, or the packages. The method includes causing presentation of a list of the content items, which organizes the content items in view of release environments that are within the content items and repositories that are within the content items. The method includes receiving a selection of repository-environment combinations from the subset of the release environments and the subset of the repositories and causing presentation of a comparison of ones of the packages for each of the repository-environment combinations. |
| US09507585B2 |
Firmware update apparatus and storage control apparatus
A storage unit stores information on the compatibility between different versions of firmware used for controlling two redundant modules provided in a storage apparatus. Upon updating firmware of the modules from a first version to a second version incompatible with the first version, a computing unit applies, alternately to one of the modules, firmware of a version that is one of versions from the first version to the second version, that is compatible with firmware of a version currently applied to the other one of the modules, and that is more recent than the version currently applied to the other one of the modules, by referring to the information. |
| US09507583B2 |
Modular system including management and deployment of software updates and revisions
A technology/operating system-agnostic and protocol-agnostic modular-based service delivery system that includes a management of enterprise-wide deployment of services and updates to services delivered by the modules of the system. Management includes determination and automatic implementation of an optimal schedule for service deployment, service version updates and service version roll-backs based on (i) predetermined lifecycle levels assigned to networked devices in the enterprise executing the service delivery application, and/or (ii) segments within the enterprise. |
| US09507581B2 |
Systems and methods of device firmware delivery for pre-boot updates
Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to deliver firmware for pre-boot updates of targeted information handling system device/devices using custom update capsules (e.g., such as custom unified extensible firmware interface capsules) and a separately-stored firmware update package that is remotely or locally stored. The custom update capsules may contain instruction payload information that may be used to determine location and desired components of the separately-stored firmware update package, and that also may be used to determine whether existing driver/drivers are to be retained in a firmware module in system memory or to be unloaded and replaced with a new (e.g., upgraded or downgraded) driver version in a firmware module in system memory as part of the firmware update. |
| US09507579B2 |
Interface for translating software commands and hardware commands for a distributed computing system
In one embodiment, a method receives a software command from a software element in a main computer at a management computer via an application programming interface (API) included in the management computer. The management computer manages the main computer, and the main computer controls services for a distributed computing system. The management computer then determines a hardware device associated with the software command where the management computer includes a communication pathway to the hardware device. The management computer translates the software command to a hardware command that the hardware device can process where the hardware device cannot process the software command. Then, the management computer sends the hardware command to the hardware device via the communication pathway where the management computer provides the API to allow the software element to communicate with the hardware element without the software element having to translate the software command to the hardware command. |
| US09507578B2 |
Application instance staging
An application instance staging method comprises installing a runtime environment for an application program pushed to a cloud client; installing dependency of the application program; reading an environment variable of the application program to identify a functional service bound to the application program; modifying the application program based on the functional service bound to the application program; and packaging the modified application program, runtime environment, and dependency into an executable droplet. |
| US09507577B2 |
Automated controlling of host over network
The provisioning of a host computing system by a controller located over a wide area network. The host computing system has power-on code that automatically executes upon powering up, and causes the host to notify the controller of the host address. In a first level of bootstrapping, the controller instructs the host to download a maintenance operating system. The host responds by downloading and installing a maintenance operating system, enabling further bootstrapping. The persistent memory may further have security data, such as a public key, that allows the host computing system to securely identify the source of the download instructions (and subsequent instructions) as originating from the controller. A second level of bootstrapping may accomplish the configuring of the host with a hypervisor and a host agent. A third level of bootstrapping may accomplish the provisioning of virtual machines on the host. |
| US09507572B2 |
Time-based operations via textual code in a technical computing environment
A device may receive a state chart generated via a technical computing environment. The state chart may include a state block with a single section of textual code. The single section of textual code may include a time-based portion and an output portion. The device may initiate execution of the state chart, and may process, during the execution of the state chart, the time-based portion with a graphical engine of the technical computing environment to generate a time-based method. The device may process, during the execution of the state chart, the output portion with a textual engine of the technical computing environment to generate an output method. The device may provide the time-based method and the output method in output code, where the time-based method may be separate from the output method in the output code. |
| US09507571B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating analytics with web services on mobile devices
Embodiments of a system and method are described for generating and distributing programming to mobile devices over a network. Devices are provided with Players specific to each device and Applications that are device independent. Embodiments include a full-featured WYSIWYG authoring environment, including the ability to bind web components to objects. |
| US09507569B2 |
Digital data processing systems
A digital data processing system that is designed to facilitate use of UML activity diagrams. |
| US09507566B2 |
Entropy generation for a distributed computing system
In one embodiment, a method generates first entropy using a true random number generator in a management computer configured to manage a main computer in a computing device. The main computer controls a set of physical nodes including a set of services running in a set of virtual machines. The method then provides the first entropy to the main computer and the first entropy is combined with second entropy generated by the main computer to generate third entropy. The third entropy is provided to the set of physical nodes where the set of virtual machines access the third entropy via a hypervisor. |
| US09507563B2 |
System and method to traverse a non-deterministic finite automata (NFA) graph generated for regular expression patterns with advanced features
In one embodiment, a method of walking a non-deterministic finite automata (NFA) graph representing a pattern includes extracting a node type and an element from a node of the NFA graph. The method further includes matching a segment of a payload for the element by matching the payload for the element at least zero times, the number of times based on the node type. |
| US09507562B2 |
Using voice recognition for recording events
Various implementations described herein are directed to a wearable device used to determine whether audio data corresponds to a fishing event. The wearable device may include at least one microphone. The wearable device may include a computer system with a processor and memory. The memory may have a plurality of executable instructions. When the executable instructions are executed by the processor, the processor may receive audio data from the at least one microphone, determine whether the received audio data corresponds to a fishing event and store a record of the fishing event, and a timestamp corresponding to the fishing event. |
| US09507561B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating use of touchscreen devices
Exemplary embodiments are described wherein an auxiliary sensor attachable to a touchscreen computing device provides an additional form of user input. When used in conjunction with an accessibility process in the touchscreen computing device, wherein the accessibility process generates audible descriptions of user interface features shown on a display of the device, actuation of the auxiliary sensor by a user affects the manner in which concurrent touchscreen input is processed and audible descriptions are presented. |
| US09507555B2 |
System for the network monitoring of 3D printing and method thereof
Monitoring a 3D printer comprises a network information module, a photographic device, a status report module, and a fixed format instruction receiver module. The photographic device is capable of periodically shooting a print status of the 3D printer. The status report module is capable of periodically reporting the print status or instantly reporting a print error of the 3D printer. The fixed format instruction receiver module is capable of receiving a remote fixed format instruction to operate the 3D printer. Thus, the system may not require an operator to monitor the 3D printer for long. Even on the remote end, the system can monitor a print status of a printed object and may execute a corresponding treatment when a print error of the 3D printer has occurred. |
| US09507552B2 |
Printing control apparatus, printing control system, printing control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A printing control apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a location of a delimitation in a print instruction, a buffer unit that buffers image data generated in response to the print instruction, and a transfer unit that transfers the image data buffered on the buffer unit to a printer that prints on a continuous-feed paper sheet. The transfer unit inserts blank sheet data at the location of the delimitation set by the setting unit when an amount of the image data buffered by the buffer unit becomes equal to or below a first threshold value and transfers the image data to the printer. |
| US09507549B2 |
Communication system, communication setup method, and terminal device
A communication system has a printer that connects for a first to a wireless network; and a terminal device that has a second wireless communication unit for communication, and registers connection settings related to connecting to the wireless network in the printer. The terminal communicates with the printer by the second wireless communication unit and configures connection settings in the printer, connects by the second wireless communication unit to the wireless network, and can request the printer to execute a specific operation through the wireless network. |
| US09507548B2 |
Method and apparatus for print job with reduced memory footprint size
A method is described that includes applying a job ticket to a series of pages to produce a next sheet of document to be printed. The method further includes comparing substantive content of the sheet to respective substantive sheet content for a group of one or more previously generated sheets of the document that each contain the respective sheet content. The method further includes referencing the sheet to the group because the substantive content matched the respective substantive sheet content. |
| US09507546B2 |
Method for producing packages of printed materials by generating and executing a job set containing multiple linked sub-jobs
A method for producing packages of printed materials arranged in order based on multiple original digital documents. A user interface is provided to allow the user to specify the order of the original documents to be printed. A print server generates multiple sub-jobs which contain linking information that links them to each other in the specified order to form a job set. The job set can be submitted to a printer in one submission. A printer executes the linked sub-jobs sequentially based on the linking information contained in the sub-jobs to produce the multiple printed documents in the specified order. |
| US09507542B1 |
System and method for deploying virtual servers in a hosting system
Some embodiments provide a method that, at a particular node of a hosting system that includes several nodes for hosting virtual machines, retrieves data representing a particular computer system from a storage. The data includes several sections and checksums for the sections. The method validates the sections by using the checksums. The method copies the sections of data onto a disk volume of the node that is allocated for a virtual machine in order to deploy the particular computer system. The method configures the particular computer system to operate as the virtual machine by configuring information specific to the particular instantiation of the particular computer system. |
| US09507538B2 |
File management system for devices containing solid-state media
A device comprising a file management system that includes a plurality of first entries and second entries. The first entries are configured function as a logical block address mapping table for data searching operations on data files stored in data blocks of the device, and the second entries are configured to organize the plurality of data blocks into separate logical groups. |
| US09507536B2 |
Creating a stable flashcopy map (FCMAPS) for ingest
Dynamically allocates a new target volume and a Flashcopy map (fcmap) for ingest upon one of a mount operation and a clone operation breaking a FlashCopy chain for creating a stable FlashCopy Map (fcmaps) for ingest while a Flashcopy backup is mounted. |
| US09507531B1 |
Method and system for hybrid direct input/output (I/O) with a storage device
A method including intercepting a OFR for a file issued by an application to a FS, forwarding the OFR to the FS, receiving from the FS a FD for the file, issuing a SR for the file to the FS. The further method includes receiving from the FS status information for a target device on which the file is located, where the status information includes an OID for the file, storing a mapping of FD to the OID, intercepting a first FOR for the file, making a determination the that the first FOR is one of a read request and a write request, based on the determination, making another determination that the target device supports the direct I/O protocol, and issuing a DI request to the target device using the OID for the file, where the DI request is not processed by the FS. |
| US09507527B2 |
Efficient cache management of multi-target peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) modified sectors bitmap
For efficient cache management of multi-target peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) modified sectors bitmap in a computing storage environment a multiplicity of PPRC modified sectors bitmaps are dynamically managed by placing the multiplicity of PPRC modified sectors bitmaps into slots of bind segments. |
| US09507525B2 |
Methods and system of pooling storage devices
A system and method are provided for pooling storage devices in a virtual library for performing a storage operation. A storage management device determines a storage characteristic of a plurality of storage devices with respect to performing a storage operation. Based on a storage characteristic relating to performing the storage operation, the storage management device associates at least two storage devices in a virtual library. The storage management device may continuously monitor the virtual library and detect a change in storage characteristics of the storage devices. When changes in storage characteristics are detected, the storage management device may change associations of the storage device in the virtual library. |
| US09507517B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
A broadcast receiver and method for controlling the same are discussed. According to an embodiment, the broadcast receiver includes a display unit, a communication unit configured to establish an Internet access and receive a broadcast, and a control unit. The control unit displays on the display unit a text input box selectively usable for a first search category and a second search category, and displays a current category indicator indicating a current search category of the text input box. When the current category indicator is selected to change the current search category, the current search category of the text input box is changed from the first search category to the second search category, and an appearance of the current category indicator for the text input box is changed to indicate the changed search category. |
| US09507515B2 |
System and method for data selection by means of a touch-sensitive surface
A data selection system and a method for data selection by means of a touch-sensitive surface are disclosed. The method comprises sensing a first touch position on the touch-sensitive surface and tracking a movement from the first touch position to a second touch position. The method additionally comprises calculating at least one geometric parameter from the first touch position, the second touch position and a reference position, and effecting a data selection within a data range in dependence on the geometric parameter. |
| US09507511B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Provided is an information processing apparatus including a position detection unit that detects a position of an operating tool pressing a screen, a pressure intensity detection unit that detects pressure intensity of the operating tool, a movement detection unit that detects a movement of the operating tool based on information on the position detected by the position detection unit, and a function providing unit that provides a specific function corresponding to an increase in the pressure intensity in a case a rest state or a subtly-moving state of the operating tool is detected by the movement detection unit and the pressure intensity detected by the pressure intensity detection unit increases. |
| US09507510B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method of operating electronic apparatus through touch sensor
An electronic apparatus has a touch sensor provided with a first touching zone including at least a second touching zone and a third touching zone, the second and third touching zones being allocated with different functions. The electronic apparatus is controlled to perform a specific function assigned to a specific touching zone that is the second or the third touching zone when there is a first touch input at first through the specific touching zone and continuously perform the specific function even if there is a second touch input that follows the first touch input, through either the second or the third touching zone that is not the specific touching zone, as long as there is a continuous touch input through the first touching zone from the first to the second touch input with no intermission. |
| US09507506B2 |
Automatic target box in methods and systems for editing content-rich layouts in media-based projects
Methods and systems for editing media rich photo projects are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention uses drag and drop features to add a photo to a spread, to remove a photo from the spread, and/or to create a new spread. In another embodiment, drop areas are utilized to facilitate addition and removal of photos at an editor. In another embodiment, drop targets are determined by an animated highlight of a drop target, a time delay allowing a user to wait until a drop target is auto-selected by the pre-set rules of the editor, and pre-set rules of a drop target as determined by the location of a drop. Furthermore, drop targets are determined by location coordinates of a photo over the spread before being dropped, proximity of a dragged photo with a photo slot, or a pre-calculated photo slot based on pre-set rules. |
| US09507503B2 |
Remote access to layer and user interface elements
A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. |
| US09507496B2 |
Filter and sort by format
The present invention comprises methods and user interfaces for organizing data displayed within a data application. Specifically, the present invention provides methods and systems for arranging the display of the data by a format applied to one or more portions of the data. The formats comprise different visual characteristics of the displayed data. In exemplary embodiments, the data application organizes the data by the fill color of the cell, the font color of the data within the cell, or the type of icon inserted into the cell. The organizations comprise any type of rearrangement of the data. In exemplary embodiments, the data application sorts or filters the displayed data according to the format. |
| US09507494B1 |
Merchant controlled platform system and method
A content management system for associating content with user attributes and delivering targeted content to a wireless handset is described. The content management system comprises a database, a wireless handset, and a terminal. The database is configured to store a plurality of user profiles, a plurality of content items, and a plurality of content connections that connect content items to user profile data. The wireless handset presents a first interface that enables the wireless handset user to create and edit a user profile comprising one or more user attributes. The user profile is stored in the database. The terminal presents a second interface to a content administrator. The second interface enables the content administrator to create and edit content items. The content items are stored in the database. Content connections associate one or more user attributes with a content item. |
| US09507491B2 |
Search engine optimization utilizing scrolling fixation
Provided are techniques for utilizing scrolling fixation. An amount of time a user spends on a portion of a page based on scroll bar usage by the user is monitored. The amount of time the user spends on the portion of the page is aggregated with an amount of time at least one other user spent on that portion of the page based on scroll bar usage by the at least one other user. A scroll bar is displayed with at least one indicator, wherein the at least one indicator represents an aggregated amount of time spent on an associated portion of the page. |
| US09507485B2 |
Electronic device, displaying method and file saving method
An electronic device, a displaying method and a file saving method are described. The electronic device is in a first state and has a display area. The displaying method includes obtaining an image; obtaining an information entry; displaying the image in the display area; and displaying a first type information entry from the information entry in a first region of the display area with a first display effect, and displaying a second type information entry from the information entry in a second region of the display area with a second display effect; wherein the first type information entry is different from the second type information entry. |
| US09507484B2 |
Methods and apparatus for configuring a data analyzer
A method for configuring a data analyzer is provided. The method comprises displaying to a user, on a presentation interface coupled to a processor, a graphical representation of at least a portion of the data analyzer. A data analyzer configuration for the data analyzer is then generated using a user input interface, which is coupled to the presentation interface and the processor. The presentation interface then displays to the user a plurality of selectable machine train components. The method also comprises generating, using the user input interface, an interactive graphical representation of a machine train including at least one of the selectable machine train components. Using the processor, a configuration file is generated based on the data analyzer configuration and the graphical representation of the machine train. The configuration file facilitates diagnosing operation of the machine train using the data analyzer. |
| US09507482B2 |
Electronic slide presentation controller
A presentation system provides a for an audience display and a mobile wireless device operates to reserve a portion of the display screen of the mobile wireless device that is not mirrored to the audience display allowing ancillary functions of the mobile wireless device to be accessible during a presentation without visibility to the audience. Image output data from these functions may be dragged into the portion of the display that is mirrored. Those ancillary functions may include presentation specific functions such as pointers, drawing program tools, keyboards and the like, or more generally other tasks executable on the mobile wireless device. |
| US09507478B2 |
Three-dimensional (3D) display device for providing input-output interface using dynamic magnetic field control and method thereof
A three-dimensional (3D) display device for providing an input-output interface using a dynamic magnetic field control is disclosed, the device including a display unit to display a 3D image, a magnetic field generation unit to generate a magnetic field, and a control unit to dynamically control the magnetic field generation unit to generate a 3D magnetic field associated with the 3D image. |
| US09507477B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a light shielding plate having an opening, a protective plate, and a coordinate input device having a transparent substrate, and a first flexible interconnect substrate. The coordinate input device is disposed on the display panel at the side of a display screen, and each of the light shielding plate and the protective plate is arranged on the coordinate input device on the opposite side of the display panel. The coordinate input device has first signal interconnects and a second signal interconnect disposed outside the first signal interconnects but near a peripheral edge of the transparent substrate. The second signal interconnect is formed of a thin conductive film disposed along a peripheral edge portion of the transparent substrate, and is disposed along the peripheral edge of three sides of the transparent substrate. |
| US09507474B2 |
In-cell touch display structure
An in-cell touch display structure includes: an upper substrate, a lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer configured between the upper and lower substrates; a black matrix layer, and a thin film transistor and sensing electrode layer. The thin film transistor and sensing electrode layer includes a gate line sub-layer having a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of connection segments separated by the gate lines, and a source line sub-layer having a plurality of source lines and a plurality of sensing conductor segments separated by the source lines, wherein part of the sensing conductor segments and part of the connection segments are electrically connected together to form a plurality of sensing conductor blocks. |
| US09507471B2 |
Array substrate, color filter substrate, touch control display device and method for driving the same
The disclosure provides an array substrate and a color filter substrate of a capacitive touch control screen, a touch control display device and a method for driving the touch control display device, so as to achieve the self-capacitive multi-point touch. The array substrate of the capacitive touch control screen includes: a peripheral area and a display area; a plurality of pixel units with pixel electrodes arranged in the display area; a plurality of touch control electrodes; and touch control electrode lead wires connected with a module configured to detect a touch control signal, wherein each of the touch control electrodes is connected respectively with one of the touch control electrode lead wires. |
| US09507470B2 |
Method and system for reduced power touch input detection on an electronic device using reduced scanning
Embodiments of the present invention can be configured to recognize and/or track certain types of touch input detected by a touch sensor, such as stylus input, during the performance of standard “full” touch scans in which each drive line of the touch sensor is generally scanned. Upon detection of these input types, “partial” touch scan operations can advantageously be performed which can dynamically reduce the number of lines scanned in a power-saving manner. These partial scans can be configured to intelligently initially scan the area where these input types were last detected so that there is minimal need to return to a previous “full” scan mode. If these specified touch inputs types are not detected during a “partial” scan mode, the touch sensor can be restored to a “full” scan mode until a subsequent detection of the touch input is determined, in which the touch sensor can be returned to a “partial” scan mode. Each time a partial scan is used, power is saved. |
| US09507464B2 |
Acoustic touch apparatus and methods using touch sensitive lamb waves
Systems and related methods providing for touch sensors using high sensitivity Lamb waves are disclosed herein. A touch apparatus may include a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, where the touch region is on the front surface. The touch apparatus may be configured to propagate surface acoustic waves on at least a portion of the back surface and high sensitivity lamb waves, such as near-longitudinal-resonance Lamb waves, in at least a portion of the touch region of the substrate. The touch system may further include circuitry configured to determine a location of a touch on the front surface based on received attenuations in the high sensitivity Lamb waves. Some embodiments may provide for bezel-less touch sensor designs and anti-dispersion techniques that enhance touch sensor reliability. |
| US09507459B2 |
Device, method, and user interface for processing intensity of touch contacts
An electronic device displays a user interface that includes a first display region and a second display region. The device detects a first intensity of a touch input at a first location on a touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region; detects a movement of the touch input to a second location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region; after detecting the movement, detects a second intensity of the touch input at the second location; and, in response, in accordance with a determination that the first intensity does not satisfy a first intensity threshold, processes the second intensity using one or more intensity thresholds associated with the second display region; and, in accordance with a determination that the first intensity satisfies the first intensity threshold, processes the second intensity using one or more intensity thresholds associated with the first display region. |
| US09507456B2 |
Touch panel with pressing-force measuring performance
A touch panel equipped with both a capacitive sensor and a piezoelectric sensor, wherein the touch panel solves the problems of increased panel thickness, changes in the optical properties, and increased manufacturing costs. This touch panel is provided with force measurement using a piezoelectric body and capacitive point detection. The force measurement uses a pair of electrodes arranged with the piezoelectric body sandwiched therebetween. The point detection uses one electrode and another electrode. At least one top electrode is disposed on the side of the top surface of the piezoelectric body, and at least one bottom electrode is disposed on the side of the bottom surface of the piezoelectric body. One electrode among the pair of electrodes used in force measurement is a bottom electrode, and at least one electrode among the two electrodes used in point detection is a top electrode. |
| US09507452B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display device includes a display panel, a source driving part, a gate driving part, a readout part and a pulse generating part. The display panel includes an array substrate on which a source line and a gate line are formed, and an opposite substrate on which a common electrode is formed. The readout part is electrically connected with at least one of the lines of the array substrate and the common electrode of the opposite substrate, and reads out a detection signal during an elimination period of a frame period. The pulse generating part outputs a control pulse for driving the readout part during the elimination period. Accordingly, a detection signal is read out through lines or a common electrode that are/is formed for displaying an image, so that an aperture ratio may be increased, and a manufacturing process thereof may be simplified. |
| US09507449B2 |
Touch-sensitive display device and fabrication method therefor
A touch-sensitive display device includes a substrate, an OLED structure and a cover plate. The OLED structure is disposed on the substrate and includes a first electrode layer, a light-emitting layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is disposed on the substrate, the light-emitting layer is disposed on the first electrode layer, and the second electrode layer is disposed on the light-emitting layer and patterned to form a plurality of touch-sensing electrodes. The cover plate is disposed opposite the substrate and spaced at an interval from the substrate, and the OLED structure is sealed between the substrate and the cover plate. |
| US09507448B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal in which a touch input is possible and a control method thereof. A mobile terminal includes a display unit, a grouping unit and a control unit. The display unit enables a touch input thereon, and allows a plurality of objects to be displayed thereon. When a touch input for at least one of a plurality of objects is sensed, the grouping unit detects attribute information of the sensed touch input, and groups the touched object into a group corresponding to the detected attribute information. The control unit displays, on the display unit, an indicator indicating that the touched object has been grouped into the group corresponding to the detected attribute information, together with the object. |
| US09507447B2 |
Touch sensor with inductive charging
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate, a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a touch sensor, and an inductive-charging element. The FPC is coupled to the substrate. The touch sensor is disposed on the substrate. The touch sensor includes electrodes made of conductive material. The inductive-charging component is disposed on the substrate or the FPC. |
| US09507444B2 |
Method for operating an operating device for a motor vehicle
A method for operates an operator control device for a motor vehicle. The operator control device has a rotary actuator which is rotatably mounted on a holding element, and a coding element, by detecting a first actual sensor value using coding of the coding element in the current rotational position of the rotary actuator. The method involves determining a current rotational angle between the rotary actuator and the holding element on the basis of the detected first actual sensor value, respectively providing at least one setpoint sensor value at predetermined rotational angles between the rotary actuator and the holding element, assigning the detected first actual sensor value to one of the at least one setpoint sensor valves, and adapting the first actual sensor value to the setpoint sensor value, assigned thereto, for the determination of the current rotational angle. |
| US09507441B2 |
Electronic stylus with low skew tip for capacitive touch screens
An electronic stylus to be used with a capacitive touch screen includes a tip portion having an electrically conductive tip and an electrically conductive supporting rod attached to the tip. The tip portion further includes a first electrical shielding tube enclosing and shielding the supporting rod and a second electrical shielding tube enclosing the first electrical shielding tube and the supporting rod. The electrical stylus further includes a circuit coupled to the supporting rod to integrate and amplify a current induced at the tip and an electrical conductive housing to house the circuit therein. The first electrical shielding tube and the second electrical shielding tube are to reduce skew effect between the supporting rod and a surface of a touch screen when the electronic stylus is held against the surface of the touch screen. |
| US09507437B2 |
Algorithms, software and an interaction system that support the operation of an on the fly mouse
Methods and systems for surface-free pointing and/or command input include a computing device operably linked to an imaging device. The imaging device can be any suitable video recording device including a conventional webcam. At least one pointing/input device is provided including a visible point light source emitting light in a wavelength defining a predetermined color. The at least one pointing/input device may be a conventional optoelectronic computer mouse. The imaging device captures one or more sequential image frames each including a view of a scene including the visible point light source. One or more software programs calculate a position and/or a motion of the at least one point light source in the captured image frames by identifying colored areas corresponding to the point light source and mapping those colored areas to a position and/or motion of a visual marker such as a cursor in a graphical user interface. |
| US09507436B2 |
Storage medium having stored thereon information processing program, information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing execution method
An exemplary information processing apparatus performs predetermined information processing in accordance with an attitude of an input member having an imaging device and an attitude sensor. The information processing apparatus calculates a first position according to the attitude of the input member by using imaging information based on an image including a predetermined imaging target captured by the imaging device. Further, the information processing apparatus calculates a second position according to the attitude of the input member, which position is on a predetermined straight line or a predetermined plane, by using a result of detection of the attitude sensor. When the first position is calculable, the predetermined information processing is performed by using a control position based on at least the first position. When the first position is incalculable, the predetermined information processing is performed by using a control position based on at least the second position. |
| US09507434B2 |
Modular modifiable computer keyboard
A computer keyboard is designed to accommodate a variety of security features that may be installed in the keyboard during manufacturing, whereby various combinations of devices that impart selected security features or other functions may be assembled. The keyboard assembly includes a base extension for accommodating the security devices, and a number of interchangeable modular tops supporting various discreet input technologies. This modular design is tooled to accommodate different combinations of technologies, such as biometric fingerprint readers, NFC-RFID receivers, auto locking sonar, game cartridges, and connector-supporting modules. Each interchangeable modular top can hold independent modular technology that can be used to construct an integrated device that meets the customer requirements without any substantial modification of the keyboard base or extension. |
| US09507433B1 |
System and method for discerning complex gestures using an array of optical sensors
A method for gesture determination (e.g., discerning complex gestures) via an electronic system (e.g., a gesture sensing system) including an array of optical sensors is described herein. The method includes detecting a plurality of sub-gestures (e.g., simple gestures provided by a target located proximate to the system) via the array of optical sensors. The sensors generate signals based upon the detected (e.g., received) sub-gestures and transmit the signals to a processor of the gesture sensing system. The processor processes the signals to obtain data associated with the sub-gestures and analyzes the sub-gesture data to determine if the sub-gestures collectively constitute a gesture (e.g., complex gesture). When the analyzing indicates that the sub-gestures collectively constitute a complex gesture, the gesture sensing system detects the complex gesture. |
| US09507431B2 |
Viewing images with tilt-control on a hand-held device
A user interface suitable for use in cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), PC Tablets, as well as laptops, PCs, office equipment, medical equipment, or any other hand-held electronic device, that allows control of the image on the device display by tilting the device to either change the view in perspective, change the magnification, or both, concurrently, by moving the device. Thus, the tilt of the device controls the angle of view of the image, and moving the device perpendicular to the screen controls the magnification. |
| US09507428B2 |
Electronic device, control method, and control program
According to an aspect, an electronic device includes: a display unit for three-dimensionally displaying a first object; a detecting unit for detecting a displacement of a second object in three-dimensional space where the first object is displayed; and a control unit for performing an operation related to the first object according to the displacement of the second object detected by the detecting unit. |
| US09507426B2 |
Using the Z-axis in user interfaces for head mountable displays
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are described herein related to a user interface (UI) for a computing device, such as a head-mountable device (HMD). The computing device can detect a communication event. In response to the communication event, the computing device can display a first item having a current size on a display associated with a display plane. A hand-movement input device associated with the computing device can receive a first input indicative of a gesture toward the display plane. In response to receiving the first input, the computing device can display a first change to the current size of the first item. The hand-movement input device can receive a second input indicative of a gesture away from the display plane. In response to the second input, the computing device can display a second change to the current size of the first item. |
| US09507423B2 |
Generating haptic effects while minimizing cascading
A system that generates haptic effects using an actuator sends a haptic effect definition to the actuator to cause a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic effect definition to be played. While the haptic effect is playing, the system processes the haptic effect definition. The processing includes adjusting a force value of the haptic effect definition based on an estimate or measurement of a current state of the actuator. |
| US09507422B2 |
Image processing device, tactile sense control method, and recording medium
An image processing device according to an embodiment of the invention has: a tactile sense generating unit for generating a stimulus which can be perceived by the user who is touching through a portion touched with an input unit, the input unit being provided in correspondence to a display unit for displaying a drawing object; and a control unit for controlling the tactile sense generating unit so as to generate the stimulus when a touch input is performed to a position corresponding to the drawing object of the input unit and an edit process is executed to the drawing object. |
| US09507414B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing device including an acquisition section configured to acquire an operation vector based on a movement of a body part of a user, a correction section configured to correct a direction of the acquired operation vector, and a process execution section configured to execute a process in accordance with the corrected operation vector. |
| US09507412B2 |
Bidirectional display and triggering thereof
The present invention relates to a bidirectional display having a two-dimensional display array comprising a plurality of light-generating pixels and a two-dimensional camera array comprising a plurality of light-detecting elements, wherein the two arrays can each be electrically triggered line by line and are preferably interleaved in at least in some sections, featuring electrical triggering of the display array and of the camera array wherein, during light generation in a line of the display array, light detection with that line of the camera array which is closest to said line is deactivated, i.e. line-sequential electrical triggering of the bidirectional display. |
| US09507409B2 |
Transition rate controlled bus driver circuit with reduced load sensitivity
A bus driver circuit (FIG. 2) is disclosed. The circuit includes a signal lead of a bus (200) and a reference terminal (Vss). A first transistor (MN0) has a first control terminal and has a first current path coupled to the reference terminal. A second transistor (MN1) has a second control terminal coupled to the first control terminal and has a second current path coupled between the signal lead and the reference terminal. A third transistor (MP0) is arranged to provide a first current through the first current path when the signal lead is in a first logic state (high). A fourth transistor (MP1) is arranged to apply a voltage to the second control terminal when the signal lead is in a second logic state (low). |
| US09507408B2 |
Power gating for termination power supplies
Power gating control architectures. A memory device having at least a memory array and input/output (I/O) lines terminated on the memory device with termination circuitry coupled to receive a termination supply voltage (Vtt) with power gating circuitry to selectively gate the termination supply voltage in response to a power gating control signal (VttControl) is coupled with a processing core coupled with the memory device, the processing core to selectively assert and deassert the VttControl signal. |
| US09507407B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving power consumption on a touch device
Lower report rates are desirable in touch devices to minimize power consumption. However, lower report rates lead to inaccurate and untimely depiction of a user's touch inputs on a touch display device. Disclosed are methods and apparatus for using a lower report rate; while maintaining substantially the same or better user experience achieved by using a higher report rate. |
| US09507406B2 |
Configuring power domains of a microcontroller system
A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain in response to event from an event generating module without activating a processor of the microcontroller system. |
| US09507405B2 |
System and method for managing power in a chip multiprocessor using a proportional feedback mechanism
A system includes a power management unit that may monitor the power consumed by a processor including a plurality of processor core. The power management unit may throttle or reduce the operating frequency of the processor cores by applying a number of throttle events in response to determining that the plurality of cores is operating above a predetermined power threshold during a given monitoring cycle. The number of throttle events may be based upon a relative priority of each of the plurality of processor cores to one another and an amount that the processor is operating above the predetermined power threshold. The number of throttle events may correspond to a portion of a total number of throttle events, and which may be dynamically determined during operation based upon a proportionality constant and the difference between the total power consumed by the processor and a predetermined power threshold. |
| US09507404B2 |
Single core wakeup multi-core synchronization mechanism
A microprocessor includes a plurality of cores, a shared cache memory, and a control unit that individually puts each core to sleep by stopping its clock signal. Each core executes a sleep instruction and responsively makes a respective request of the control unit to put the core to sleep, which the control unit responsively does, and detects when all the cores have made the respective request and responsively wakes up only the last requesting cores. The last core writes back and invalidates the shared cache memory and indicates it has been invalidated and makes a request to the control unit to put the last core back to sleep. The control unit puts the last core back to sleep and continuously keeps the other cores asleep while the last core writes back and invalidates the shared cache memory, indicates the shared cache memory was invalidated, and is put back to sleep. |
| US09507400B2 |
Information handling system battery charge management to support quick start
A portable information handling system manages battery charge to maintain a minimum level that supports boot by disconnecting the battery from a battery discharge path so that battery charge is lost substantially only to self-discharge. The battery automatically reconnects to the battery discharge path if external power becomes available to charge the battery. The minimum battery charge level provides adequate power in combination with the external power to support boot of the portable information handling system to an operational state. |
| US09507391B2 |
Heat sink with orientable fins
A heat sink comprises a plurality of fins that may be positioned in a plurality of orientations relative to a heat-generating electronic component to which the heat sink is thermally coupled. A controller may be used to detect an elevated processor temperature and to activate a drive member to automatically adjust the orientation of fins on the heat sink. The fins may be moved and aligned with an air flow made over the heat sink. The adjustable-fin heat sink affords added flexibility in arranging a processor or other heat-generating electronic component on a circuit board. The orientation or position of the heat sink fins may also be automatically changed in response to a change in the air flow direction as manifested by a rise in the temperature of the heat sink or the heat-generating member. |
| US09507388B1 |
Information handling system hinge and flexible cover
A portable information handling system has lid and main portions rotationally coupled to each other with a set of hinges having motion managed by rack and pinion gears. The rack translates motion between pinions by moving outward from the housing portions during rotation of the housing portions. A flexible cover over the rack stretches in response to movement of the rack to contain the hinges within the portable information handling system structure. |
| US09507384B2 |
Folding device
A folding device provides a top case having magnetic elements at a top magnetic section and a bottom case having a groove and magnetic elements around the groove at a bottom magnetic section. As the top magnetic section of the top case is disposed at the bottom magnetic section of the bottom case, the top case is configurable at one of a folded position and at least two opened positions with respect to the bottom case. When the top case is at the first opened position, a first stopper and a first magnetic element at the groove of the bottom magnetic section maintain the top case at the first opened position; when the top case is at the second opened position, a second stopper and a second magnetic element at the groove of the bottom magnetic section maintain the top case at the second opened position. |
| US09507383B2 |
Computing device bonding assemblies
The description relates to computing devices, such as mobile computing devices. One example can include a first portion, a second portion, and an adhesive. The example can also include micro heaters positioned proximate to the adhesive. The micro heaters are configured to be selectively energized to supply sufficient thermal energy to the adhesive to facilitate curing of the adhesive. |
| US09507379B2 |
Display device and method of switching display direction
A portable display device comprises: a tilt detection unit detecting an angle of rotation, measured between a vertical plane component of a tilt vector of a predetermined reference line in the display and a gravitational vector, as a display tilt; a facial orientation specification unit recognizing a face of a person facing the display and specifying an upright orientation of the face; a terminal orientation determination unit establishing a plurality of angle ranges, and determining whether the display tilt newly detected by the tilt detection unit exceeds a given angle range and enters another angle range, the given angle range including the angle detected by the tilt detection unit upon updating a previous display orientation; and a control unit causing the facial orientation specification unit to begin the specification when the terminal orientation determination unit makes an affirmative determination, and updating the display orientation according to the specified upright orientation. |
| US09507378B2 |
Flat panel electronic device, auxiliary heat-dissipating means thereof and assembly of both
An apparatus for dissipating heat is presented. The apparatus comprises a base provided with a recess on a top thereof for containing a portion of a flat panel electronic device. It also comprises a base heat sink disposed in the base. Finally, it comprises a heat-conducting plug with a first end thereof thermally contacting with the base heat sink, and a second end thereof extending upward from a bottom of the recess for plugging into a heat-conducting socket of the flat panel electronic device when the flat panel electronic device is placed on the base. |
| US09507377B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing, a member, and an intervening portion. The housing includes a pair of first hook portions extending in one direction and an opening extending in the one direction and being between the pair of first hook portions. The member includes a pair of second hook portions configured to catch the first hook portions and is movable in the opening in the one direction. The intervening portion is configured to be between the pair of second hook portions. The intervening portion is configured to keep the member to be in a movable state and to come into contact with the second hook portions that elastically approach to each other such that the second hook portions keep catching the first hook portions. |
| US09507370B2 |
Voltage conversion circuit with improved conversion efficiency
A voltage conversion circuit has a plurality of primary capacitors charged by a power supply, a secondary capacitor connected in parallel to the respective plurality of primary capacitors that is charged at a voltage supplied to a load circuit, a plurality of switching circuits provided in association with the respective plurality of primary capacitors that change over a connection state between the primary capacitors and the secondary capacitor, and a connection control circuit that successively connects the respective primary capacitors to the secondary capacitor through the corresponding switching circuits, the respective primary capacitors across which the charging voltages reach a predetermined connection voltage higher than a charging voltage across the secondary capacitor. |
| US09507364B2 |
Methods for reducing solar inverter output volatility, and related nodes and solar inverters
Methods for reducing solar inverter output volatility are provided. A method for reducing solar inverter output volatility may include determining whether an output fluctuation by a solar inverter is likely, using output data of the solar inverter. Moreover, the method may include curtailing an output of the solar inverter in response to determining that the output fluctuation by the solar inverter is likely. Related solar inverters and solar installation nodes are also described. |
| US09507361B2 |
Initialization signal generation circuits and semiconductor devices including the same
The initialization signal generation circuit includes a first driver and a second driver. The first driver includes at least one passive element and drives an initialization signal while a level of an external voltage signal reaches an initial level. The second driver drives the initialization signal in response to a control signal from a point of time that a level of the external voltage signal reaches the initial level. |
| US09507359B2 |
Power supply control method and device
A power supply control method and device and relates to the field of electronics, and can alleviate impact of a power supply input disturbance on an output voltage. A specific solution is as follows: sampling an input voltage to generate a sampled input voltage; performing anti-steady-state-disturbance processing on the sampled input voltage to generate a feed-forward input voltage; sampling an output voltage to generate a sampled output voltage; and combining the sampled output voltage and the feed-forward input voltage that is output by a feed-forward digital control circuit into a stability voltage. The present invention is applied to power supply control. |
| US09507357B2 |
Current limit control with constant accuracy
The present document relates to a current sensing and/or control circuit with reduced sensing errors. A current control circuit for controlling a load current into an electronic device is described. The current control circuit comprises an array of control transistors configured to adjust the load current provided at an output of the array of control transistors. The load current is drawn from a power supply at an input voltage. Furthermore, the power supply is coupled to an input of the array of control transistors. The circuit further comprises a reference transistor coupled to the power supply at an input of the reference transistor and a reference current source configured to draw a reference current at an output of the reference transistor. |
| US09507356B2 |
Adaptive controller for control of a DC-DC power supply
The present application provides a tunable compensator providing a control signal to control a switch in a power supply. A measurement is taken of the level of activity of the control signal. This measurement is used to introduce a bias into a tuner tuning the compensator when the amount of activity in the control signal drops. |
| US09507354B2 |
Hot water supply apparatus and control method thereof
A conversion factor learning unit successively updates a temperature conversion factor by learning a performance ratio of an output heat quantity with respect to an input scale number corresponding to a requested heat quantity generation to a hot water supply apparatus. The temperature conversion factor learned by the conversion factor learning unit is reflected in arithmetic operation of an FF scale number by a feedforward control unit and arithmetic operation of the FB scale number by the feedback control unit. An integral control in the feedback control unit is preferably turned off. |
| US09507352B2 |
Variable orifice type pressure-controlled flow controller
In a variable orifice type pressure-controlled flow controller that includes a pressure control unit and a variable orifice unit, computes a flow rate of a fluid distributed through an orifice of the variable orifice unit as QP1=KP1 (P1 is an orifice upstream side pressure and K is a constant), and switches a flow control range and performs flow control in the flow control range by changing a set flow rate signal Qs for a flow rate arithmetic and control unit of the pressure control unit and an orifice opening degree setting signal Qz for an orifice opening degree arithmetic and control unit of the variable orifice unit, the variable orifice unit includes the orifice opening degree arithmetic and control unit. |
| US09507344B2 |
Index generation and embedded fusion for controller performance monitoring
A system calculates a first ratio of a prediction error variance of a model of a controller error, and the lesser of a variance of a prediction error of a naïve predictor model and a variance of a controller error. The system rates a process controller as a function of the first ratio. The system also calculates a second ratio of a variance of the controller error and a variance of the prediction error of the naïve predictor model. The system rates the process controller a function of the second ratio. The system uses the first ratio, second ratio, other ratios, and discrete indicators in determining an embedded fusion for loop performance monitoring in the process controller and for displaying a value as a measure of the loop performance. |
| US09507342B2 |
Aircraft engine systems and methods for operating same
A device and a method for determining a residual life expectancy of a rotor of a gas turbine. The method includes receiving at a computer operating conditions of the gas turbine, receiving a gas turbine rotor inspection result, updating, based on the operating conditions of the gas turbine and the gas turbine rotor inspection result, a database for a fleet corresponding to the gas turbine, and calculating the residual life expectancy of the rotor of the gas turbine. |
| US09507338B2 |
Motor control device and correction data generation method in same
In-forward-rotation command information is obtained by sampling command signals during one or more rotations of a rotary shaft in a constant speed region while a motor is driven in a forward drive pattern including the constant speed region where the rotary shaft rotates in a forward direction at a constant speed. In-reverse-rotation command information is obtained by sampling the command signals during one or more rotations of the rotary shaft in a constant speed region while the motor is driven in a return drive pattern including the constant speed region where the rotary shaft rotates in a reverse direction at the constant speed. Correction data is generated using the in-forward-rotation command information and the in-reverse-rotation command information. |
| US09507336B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining an aggregate control connection status of a field device in a process control system
A method includes identifying a plurality of elements in a process control system that uses a process value from a field device. The method also includes identifying an aggregate control connection status of the field device by (i) determining whether one or more of the elements can use a manual value in place of the process value, (ii) determining whether one or more other elements in the plurality can use a user configured value, and (iii) evaluating a logic expression based on results of the determining in (i) and (ii). The method further includes determining whether the field device is available to be taken offline based on the aggregate control connection status. In addition, the method includes generating a notification based on the determination of whether the field device is available to be taken offline. |
| US09507334B2 |
Programming template for distributed application programs
The disclosure relates to a programming template for developing an application program that is configured to be executed in a manner distributed over two or more programmable logic controllers. The programming template includes two or more programmable modules configured to be integrated into the application program and executed on a respective associated programmable logic controller. At least one first programmable module has an associated first programmable logic controller, and at least one second programmable module has an associated second programmable logic controller. The programming template comprises a logical communication link between the at least one first and the at least one second programmable module for the purpose of coordination of the at least one first and the at least one second programmable module across control systems. |
| US09507332B2 |
Multi-use active tool assembly
A tool assembly incorporating active tool, whereby the assembly can be operated with a variety of machining apparatus but just as well can be manually operated by a user. The tool assembly in some uses can be used for printing, whereby one or more of a power source and an ink source can be configured as insertable/removable cartridges that can be used with the assembly. Additionally, in such case, an ink management module can be used with the tool assembly to regulate the flow of ink from the ink source to a functional head of the assembly. The tool assembly can also include a user interface, which, along with a communication module, can enable the assembly to be actuated directly or via wireless communication. |
| US09507330B2 |
Function managing device, remote control system, method for controlling function managing device, and recording medium storing control program therein
In a remote control system that causes a controlled appliance to perform a function specified with use of a terminal device, a function managing device manages functions including a first function and a second function associated with the first function. |
| US09507327B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling home and commercial environments including one touch and intuitive functionality
To provide an improved system for home environment control, in one embodiment, a system for controlling a living environment includes a computing device having a touch screen input system, the computing device including an interface. The interface includes a graphical representation of the living environment. The interface provides for control of a plurality of systems distributed in the living environment. The plurality of environmental systems is distributed in a plurality of rooms that make up the living environment. The interface is configured to activate a portion of the plurality of environmental systems upon a single touch command of a user received by the interface via the touch screen input system of the computing device. |
| US09507326B2 |
System and method for using biometrics to predict and select music preferences
Systems and methods for using biometrics to select music preference are provided. A system for using biometrics to select music preferences for a user in a vehicle, comprises a music selection module electrically coupled to at least one biometric sensor in the vehicle, wherein the at least one biometric sensor senses a characteristic of the user and outputs data for the sensed characteristic to the music selection module, and wherein the music selection module selects a music selection for the user based on the sensed characteristic data, and a controller module electrically coupled to the music selection module to control playing of the music selection, wherein the controller module receives an output including the music selection from the music selection module. |
| US09507320B2 |
Method for transferring surface textures, such as interference layers, holograms and other highly refractive optical microstructures
The invention relates to a method for transferring surface structures such as interference layers, holograms, and other highly refractive optical microstructures to substrates. The aim of the invention is to devise a method which is used for transferring surface structures such as interference layers, holograms, and other highly refractive optical microstructures to substrates and can also be used in a high temperature range. The aim is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: a) a flexible intermediate support layer is applied to a support film as a release layer; b) an embossed sol is applied to the intermediate support layer and is provided with a surface structure; c) a stack encompassing a binder layer and the surface structure is produced; d) the support film is removed; e) the workpiece is thermally treated. |
| US09507318B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge includes a force receiving member that is provided movably relative to a developing frame. The force receiving member includes a spacing force receiving portion configured to receive a spacing force for moving a developing roller when the force receiving member is in a projected position, and a retracting force receiving portion configured to receive a retracting force for moving the force receiving member toward a retracted position when the force receiving member is in the projected position. The retracting force receiving portion has a surface slanted with respect to the direction in which the spacing force receiving portion is capable of receiving the spacing force. |
| US09507317B2 |
Image forming apparatus with detachable fixing device, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image forming apparatus with a detachable fixing device that is capable of printing with high quality without printing wastefully. A storage unit stores identification information about a fixing device in association with an attribute of a sheet that is printable with the fixing device concerned. A control unit executes printing when the storage unit does not store an attribute of a sheet corresponding to a fixing device that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus. The control unit determines whether to execute printing according to an attribute of a sheet used in printing and an attribute of a sheet stored in the storage unit when the storage unit stores the attribute of the sheet corresponding to the fixing device that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus. |
| US09507312B2 |
Lubricant application device with a flicking member, cleaning device having the lubricant application device, and image forming apparatus having the lubricant application device
A lubricant application device includes: a lubricant supply unit; a roller-type rotatable lubricant application member that applies a lubricant agent to a lubricant-applied member, the lubricant agent being supplied from the lubricant supply unit; and a flicking member to be brought into contact with the lubricant application member in a position that is on the downstream side of the lubricant supply unit and is on the upstream side of the lubricant-applied member in the rotation direction of the lubricant application member, the flicking member being brought into contact with the lubricant application member so that the amount of the lubricant agent to be applied to either end portion of the lubricant-applied member becomes smaller than the amount of the lubricant agent to be applied to the middle portion of the lubricant-applied member in the axial direction of the lubricant application member. |
| US09507304B2 |
Image forming apparatus having blowing section
An image forming apparatus that performs image formation on continuous paper having a toner image formed thereon by making the continuous paper pass through a nip section to fix the toner image to the continuous paper, the nip section being formed by heating at least one of a pair of fixing members and pressure-contacting the fixing members with each other, the apparatus including: a conveyance section which conveys the continuous paper; a blowing section which blows air to the heated fixing member; a pressure-contact separation section which switches the pair of fixing members between a pressure-contacted state and a separated state; and a control section which, after the image formation is finished, stops heating of the fixing member, separates the pair of fixing members with the pressure-contact separation section and blows the air to the heated fixing member with the blowing section. |
| US09507302B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A fixing apparatus includes a film, a heater contacting an inner surface of the film, a heat conducting member contacting a back surface of the heater, and a supporter supporting the heater, the supporter including a groove accommodating the heater and the heat conducting member. A surface of the groove facing an end surface of the heater on a downstream side includes a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a third protrusion with gaps between each other in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, the third protrusion being disposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion and having a smaller protruding amount than the first protrusion and the second protrusion. a portion of the heat conducting member facing the third protrusion is recessed more than portions of the heat conducting member facing the first protrusion and the second protrusion. |
| US09507299B1 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a heat roller, a heat generating body, and a controller. The heat roller heats a conveyed sheet. The heat generating body generates heat with electric power in the heat roller. The controller applies thinning control to electric energy supplied to the heat generating body in processing for heating the heat roller. |
| US09507298B2 |
Image forming apparatus including cooling mechanism with blowoff port
To provide an image forming apparatus in which the paper is cooled early by blowing air to the paper in the conveying path so as to prevent a sticking phenomenon on a paper output tray while paper turning, paper folding, paper breakage and paper jamming due to influence on paper conveyance by blowing air onto the paper in the conveying path, can be prevented. At the start of paper conveyance, a gate 73 is turned upwards to a first position to thereby close a sixth conveying path 44 and establish communication between a first conveying path 42 and a second conveying path 43 so that the paper having passed through a fixing unit 21 starts to be conveyed from first conveying path 42 to second conveying path 43. At the same time, air is exhausted from an exhausting mechanism 53 arranged upstream of a cooling mechanism 76. When a first paper sensor 74 detects the leading end of the paper, a cooling fan 77 starts to rotate at a predetermined rotational rate to start blowing air at a predetermined volume of cooling airflow. |
| US09507296B2 |
Intermediate transferer and image forming apparatus using the same
An intermediate transferer includes a substrate; and a surface layer overlying the substrate. The surface layer includes a crosslinked material, including a polyrotaxane including a circular molecule; a straight-chain molecule including the circular molecule in a skewering form; and a block group located at both ends of the straight-chain molecule, preventing the circular molecule from releasing, and at least one resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, fluoreresins and silicone resins. |
| US09507294B2 |
Image-forming apparatus capable of forming multi-color full-bleed image
An image-forming apparatus includes multiple image-forming units capable of forming a full-bleed image with no margin around a recording medium in an image-forming region larger than an image-forming surface region of the recording medium using three or more toners having a volume average particle size of about 2 to about 5 μm, an intermediate transfer member, a transfer device, a fixing device, and an image-forming process unit that, at least if an image to be formed in a peripheral region of the recording medium during the formation of the full-bleed image has a toner layer thickness larger than or equal to a predetermined threshold, converts the image to be formed in the peripheral region of the recording medium into an image having a toner layer thickness smaller than or equal to the threshold while maintaining the image density ratio of the individual toners. |
| US09507289B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image processing apparatus that specify pixels to be subjected to correction, and correct exposure amount
An image forming apparatus includes: specifying unit configured to specify, based on image data, a pixel to be subjected to correction from among pixels of an image to be formed from the image data; and a correction unit configured to correct an exposure amount of an exposure unit for the pixel to be subjected to correction from an exposure amount indicated by the image data. The correction unit is further configured to correct the exposure amount applied by the exposure unit to the pixel to be subjected to correction by not exposing at least a portion of a region of the pixel to be subjected to correction according to the a distance between the pixel to be subjected to correction and an edge of the image to be formed from the image data. |
| US09507287B2 |
Image forming apparatus with charging member that electrostatically charges image carrier
An image forming device includes an image carrier on the surface of which a toner image is formed, a cleaning member arranged in contact with, for cleaning, the surface of the image carrier, a charging member for electrostatically charging the image carrier, a bias applying device, and a control portion. The bias applying device applies a charging bias having DC and AC biases superimposed on each other to the charging member. The control portion controls the charging bias applied to the charging member by the bias applying device. As the AC bias applied to the charging member, the control portion uses, in a first period from the start of use of the image carrier to a predetermined time thereafter, a first AC bias and, in a second period subsequent to the first period, a second AC bias higher than the first AC bias. |
| US09507286B2 |
Image forming apparatus having charging member for charging photosensitive member
An image forming apparatus having a photosensitive member, a charging member that charges the photosensitive member to form a charged surface on a surface of the photosensitive member, an applying unit that applies to the charging member a charging bias composed of a direct voltage superimposed with an alternating voltage, and a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image on the charged surface. A current flowing through the charging member when the charging bias is applied to the charging member is detected by a current detection unit, and currents of different predetermined frequency components are respectively extracted from the detected current by extraction units. Based on the extracted currents, the alternating voltage of the charging bias is adjusted by an adjustment unit. |
| US09507285B2 |
Ferrite particles and electrophotographic development carrier using same, electrophotographic developer and method of manufacturing ferrite particles
There are provided ferrite particles in which Mn ferrite is used as the main phase and which contain Sr ferrite, where the degree of projections and recesses in the surface of the particles falls within a range of 2.5 to 4.5 μm, and the standard deviation of the size of grains appearing on the surface of the particles falls within a range of 1.5 to 3.5 μm. In this way, a coating resin is left on the surface of the particles even after long-term use and thus a decrease in the charging property is reduced. |
| US09507284B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, electrophotographic photoreceptor cartridge, image-forming apparatus, and triarylamine compound
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electroconductive support and at least a photosensitive layer formed on the support, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a specific charge transport substance. |
| US09507283B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, method of producing electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, including a charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance, and containing, as resins, a polycarbonate resin A having specific structural units and a resin D having a specific structural unit, in which the charge-transporting layer has, in a matrix containing the charge-transporting substance and the resin D, domains each containing the polycarbonate resin A. |
| US09507282B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor and image forming apparatus provided with the same
The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a multilayered photosensitive layer or a monolayer photosensitive layer, wherein the multilayered photosensitive layer comprises at least a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material that are stacked on a conductive substrate in this order, and the monolayer photosensitive layer contains a charge generation material and a charge transport material that is stacked on a conductive substrate, wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor contains 5 to 17 wt % of fluorine resin fine particles and their aggregates with respect to all photoreceptor components in a surface layer of the photoreceptor, wherein the fluorine resin fine particles are 0.1 to 0.5 μm in average primary particle diameter, the aggregates are 1 to 3 μm in constant direction tangent diameter, the number of the aggregates is 10 to 40% of the number of the fluorine resin fine particles. |
| US09507279B2 |
Method of operating a lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method and associated data processing apparatus and computer program product
A reticle is loaded into a lithographic apparatus. The apparatus performs measurements on the reticle, so as to calculate alignment parameters for transferring the pattern accurately to substrates. Tests are performed to detect possible contamination of the reticle or its support. Either operation proceeds with a warning, or the patterning of substrates is stopped. The test uses may use parameters of the alignment model itself, or different parameters. The integrity parameters may be compared against reference values reflecting historic measurements, so that sudden changes in a parameter are indicative of contamination. Integrity parameters may be calculated from residuals of the alignment model. In an example, height residuals are used to calculate parameters of residual wedge (Rx′) and residual roll (Ryy′). From these, integrity parameters expressed as height deviations are calculated and compared against thresholds. |
| US09507278B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow. |
| US09507277B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; a sensor array positioned and arranged to detect an acoustic wave from a movable part of the lithographic apparatus, a controller, the controller having a controller input connected to the sensor array so as to receive a sensor array output signal, and a controller output connected to at least one actuator arranged to act on the movable part, the controller being arranged to: calculate a movement of the movable part from the sensor array output signal, and drive via the controller output the at least one actuator in response to the calculated movement. |
| US09507275B2 |
Support apparatus, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A support apparatus for a lithographic apparatus has an object holder and an extraction body radially outward of the object holder. The object holder is configured to support an object. The extraction body includes an extraction opening configured to extract fluid from a top surface of the support apparatus. The extraction body is spaced from the object holder such that the extraction body is substantially decoupled from the object holder. The extraction body comprises a projection configured such that it surrounds the object holder and such that, in use, a layer of liquid is retained on the projection and in contact with an object supported on the object holder. |
| US09507273B2 |
Method and apparatus for tensioning a shadow mask for thin film deposition
In a method and apparatus for shadow mask tensioning, a shadow mask frame and an anchor frame are positioned in spaced relation defining a gap therebetween and a shadow mask is positioned on the shadow mask frame and the anchor frame with an interior portion of the shadow mask extending across the gap. An edge of the shadow mask is affixed to the anchor frame and the shadow mask is tensioned by urging the interior portion of the shadow mask into the gap. Once the shadow mask has been tensioned to a desired extent, the shadow mask is affixed to the shadow mask frame. Thereafter, the combination of the shadow mask affixed to the shadow mask frame is separated from the anchor frame. |
| US09507270B2 |
Vacuum system for immersion photolithography
A vacuum system for extracting a stream of a multi-phase fluid from a photo-lithography tool comprises a pumping arrangement for drawing the fluid from the tool, and an extraction tank located upstream from the pumping arrangement for separating the fluid drawn from the tool into gas and liquid phases. The pumping arrangement comprises a first pump for extracting gas from the tank, and a second pump for extracting liquid from the tank. In order to minimize any pressure fluctuations transmitted from the vacuum system back to the fluid within the tool, a pressure control system maintains a substantially constant pressure in the tank by regulating the amounts of liquid and gas within the tank. |
| US09507269B2 |
Illumination optical unit for projection lithography
An illumination optical unit for projection lithography has a first polarization mirror device to reflect and polarize of illumination light. A second mirror device, which is disposed downstream of the polarization mirror device reflects an illumination light beam. At least one drive device is operatively connected to at least one of the two mirror devices. The two mirror devices are displaceable relative to one another via the drive device between a first relative position, which leads to a first beam geometry of the illumination light beam after reflection at the second mirror device, and a second relative position, which leads to a second beam geometry of the illumination light beam after reflection at the second mirror device, which is different from the first beam geometry. This results in a flexible predefinition of different illumination geometries, in particular of different illumination geometries with rotationally symmetrical illumination. |
| US09507267B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus comprises a metrology frame that supports a projection optical system, a first drive system that drives a first stage, a second drive system that drives a second stage, a first encoder system that measures positional information of the first stage, a second encoder system having four heads and measures positional information of the second stage, and a controller. The controller controls the first drive system based on measurement information of the first encoder system and the second drive system based on measurement information of the second encoder system for scanning exposure of a substrate. The controller also controls the second drive system based on correction information for compensating for a measurement error of the second encoder system which occurs due to performing drive control of the second stage and positional information. |
| US09507263B2 |
Underlay film composition for imprints and method of forming pattern and pattern formation method using the same
Provided is the pattern formability and line edge roughness of the resultant substrate.An underlay film composition for imprints comprising a compound (A) and a solvent (B), the compound (A) having at least either one of a group (Ka) capable of covalently bonding and/or interacting with a substrate, and, a group (Kb) capable of covalently bonding and/or interacting with a curable composition for imprints, an Ohnishi parameter (Z) calculated from (equation 1) of 3.8 or larger, and a molecular weight of 400 or larger: the Ohnishi parameter=(total number of atoms)/(number of carbon atoms−number of oxygen atoms). (Equation 1) |
| US09507262B2 |
Resist top-coat composition and patterning process
There are provided a top coat composition and a patterning process using that composition, which reduce the effect of contaminants in the surrounding atmosphere on the resist film in absorbing OOB light and in reducing film loss of the resist pattern and bridging between patterns, and also enhances the sensitivity of the resist film and suppresses the emission of outgas from the resist film. The resist top coat composition of the present invention is formed on a photoresist film formed on a wafer, and is used in a patterning process performed by lithography in which, after exposure, developing is performed. The resist top coat composition contains a polymer as a base resin having a repeating unit p of styrene having a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol group shown by the following general formula (1), a C6-C10 ether compound, and a C7-C12 hydrocarbon compound, and wherein m is 1 or 2, and p is in the range of 0 |
| US09507256B2 |
Imprint method, imprint apparatus, and process for producing chip
An imprint method for imprinting an imprint pattern of a mold onto a pattern formation material on a substrate so as to realize a high throughput includes the steps of bringing the imprint pattern and the pattern formation material into contact with each other; applying a first pressure between the mold and the substrate to increase a contact area between the imprint pattern and the pattern formation material; and adjusting a positional relationship between the mold and the substrate at a second pressure lower than the first pressure. |
| US09507254B2 |
Method of manufacturing substrate with a multilayer reflective film, method of manufacturing a reflective mask blank, substrate with a multilayer reflective film, reflective mask blank, reflective mask and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to provide a substrate with a multilayer reflective film that enables the number of detected pseudo defects, to be reduced even when using highly sensitive defect inspection apparatuses using light of various wavelengths, and in particular, is capable of achieving a level of smoothness required of substrates with a multilayer reflective film while reliably detecting critical defects as a result of reducing the number of detected pseudo defects, as well as a method of manufacturing the same.The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a substrate with a multilayer reflective film having a multilayer reflective film, obtained by alternately laminating a high refractive index layer and a low refractive index layer, on the main surface of a mask blank substrate on the side of which a transfer pattern is formed, comprising a step of: depositing the multilayer reflective film on the main surface by ion beam sputtering using targets composed of a high refractive index material and a low refractive index material; wherein, during the ion beam sputtering, sputtered particles of the high refractive index material and the low refractive index material are made to enter at prescribed incident angle relative to the normal of the main surface so that the power spectral density in a prescribed spatial frequency region is a prescribed value. |
| US09507253B2 |
Mask pattern generating method, recording medium, and information processing apparatus
A method for generating a pattern of a mask used for an exposure apparatus through a calculation by a processor includes applying, to a target main pattern, a reference map of a characteristic value of an image of a representative main pattern with respect to a position of a representative auxiliary pattern calculated for each of a plurality of positions while the position of the representative auxiliary pattern with respect to the representative main pattern is changed and calculating a map of the characteristic value of the image of the target main pattern with respect to a position of an auxiliary pattern, and determining the position of the auxiliary pattern by using data of the map of the characteristic value of the image of the target main pattern and generating a pattern of a mask including the target main pattern and the determined auxiliary pattern. |
| US09507252B2 |
Photomask and pattern forming method using photomask
A photomask includes a transparent substrate, and a light shield provided to the transparent substrate. The light shield includes a translucent mask pattern opening, and the mask pattern opening includes a plurality of translucent regions which are provided to a periphery of a region corresponding to a desired pattern, and allow exposure light beams to be transmitted at at least three different phases. Each of the plurality of translucent region spaced apart from the region corresponding to the desired pattern, advances more toward an exposure object spaced a predetermined distance apart compared to a phase plane of an exposure light beam transmitted through a translucent region of the plurality of translucent regions, the translucent region close to the region corresponding to the desired pattern, such that the exposure light beams that are transmitted through the mask pattern opening form a projection image of the desired pattern on the exposure object. |
| US09507251B2 |
Method for manufacturing reflective mask and apparatus for manufacturing reflective mask
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a reflective mask. The method can include forming a reflection layer on a major surface of a substrate. The method can include forming an absorption layer on the reflection layer. The method can include forming a pattern region in the absorption layer. In addition, the method can include forming a light blocking region surrounding the pattern region in the absorption layer and the reflection layer. The forming the light blocking region includes etching-processing the reflection layer using a gas containing chlorine and oxygen. |
| US09507250B2 |
Optical proximity correction for improved electrical characteristics
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for performing an improved optical proximity correction are disclosed, which better respect the electrical properties of the device being manufactured. A preferred embodiment of the present invention performs OPC by first dividing the perimeter of a mask region into a plurality of segments, then grouping the segments into at least two distinct groups, wherein segments in the first of these groups are adjusted in position so as to minimize edge placement error (EPE) when the photolithography using the mask is simulated. Segments in the second group are adjusted in position so as to minimize cumulative error in a dimension spanning the region, wherein the span of such dimension extends from segments in the first group to segments in the second group. Correction so obtained by this process more readily preserves the intended electrical behavior of the original device design. |
| US09507246B2 |
Semiconductor light source driving apparatus and a projection type display apparatus
A semiconductor light source driving apparatus includes a light source unit including plural light source modules connected in series, each light source module including a series circuit including one or more series-connected light source elements and a switching element connected in parallel with the series circuit, a current detection unit for detecting a current flowing into the light source unit, and a controller. The controller identifies a light source module including a light source element which has disconnection failure based on a signal from the current detection unit, and stores information indicating the identified light source module in the memory unit. The controller turns on the switching element of the light source module including the light source element having disconnection failure based on the information stored in the memory unit to solve the disconnection failure. |
| US09507244B2 |
Lightweight telescoping camera crane
A lightweight camera crane has an outer arm pivotally attached to a base. A trim weight tray is rigidly attached to a back end of the outer arm. A moving counterweight carriage is supported on carriage rollers on top of the outer arm. An inner arm is supported on arm rollers within the outer arm. A camera platform is pivotally attached to a front end of the inner arm for tilt axis movement. An electric leveling motor connected to the camera platform via a mechanical linkage keeps the camera platform level regardless of the tilt angle of the camera crane. An electric extension motor drives telescoping extension and retraction movement of the inner arm via chains, belts or cables connected to the counterweight carriage and the inner arm. |
| US09507243B2 |
Underwater camera system and assembly
Disclosed is an underwater camera including a waterproof housing comprising a main body configured to contain a camera and a lens aperture for a lens of the camera. A line attachment system is configured to secure the waterproof housing to a continuous filament, such as a fishing line, such that the underwater camera is capable of sliding along the continuous filament. |
| US09507242B2 |
Imaging device, camera system, and control method for imaging device
An imaging device, comprising an interchangeable lens having a photographing optical system whose focal length can be varied, comprises a zoom position detection section for detecting a zoom position in accordance with focal length of the imaging optical system, and a lens control section for controlling movement of a focus lens contained in the imaging optical system, wherein the lens control section corrects position that the focus lens is moved to in accordance with the zoom position before movement of the focus lens and zoom position during movement of the focus lens. |
| US09507229B2 |
Display device
In the technical field of display, a display device for solving the technical problem of H-block caused by the resistance of the wire on array is provided. The display device comprises a substrate, a gate driver circuit, and at least two chip on films for transmitting the gate driving signal. The display device further comprises at least two wirings, each chip on film being connected to the gate driver circuit through one of the wirings. The wirings each comprise a wire on array, and all or some of the wirings each further comprise a resistor in series connection with the wire on array thereof. The present disclosure can be applied to display devices, such as liquid crystal television, liquid crystal display, cell phone, and tablet PC, and the like. |
| US09507225B2 |
Active matrix substrate and liquid crystal display panel equipped with same
The present invention includes: switching elements (5) in respective sub-pixels (P); an interlayer insulating film covering the switching elements (5); a first transparent electrode (18a) on the interlayer insulating film, the first transparent electrode (18a) having openings (18c) for each sub-pixel (P); an inorganic insulating film covering the first transparent electrode (18a); and a plurality of second transparent electrodes (20a) on the inorganic insulating film, each of the second transparent electrodes (20a) being connected to one of the switching elements (5) through the respective openings (18c) in the first transparent electrode (18a). The respective second transparent electrodes (20a) have a line-and-space pattern (F) constituted of line-shaped line parts (L) and spaces (S), the spaces (S) not overlapping the respective openings (18c) in the first transparent electrode (18a). |
| US09507218B2 |
Display panel and display device
A display panel and a display device are disclosed. Each of pixels in the display panel includes a pixel area; a switch element located near an intersection of a data line and a scan line; a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switch element; and a common electrode located on the first substrate. The common electrode comprises first common electrodes superposing data lines or scan lines and having the same first width; and second common electrodes overlapping with respective pixel areas and having the same second width, the first width is the same as the second width. Alternatively, the common electrode comprises first slits, which have the same first slit width, located above data lines and scan lines, and second slits, which have the same second slit width and are located in respective pixel areas. The first slit width is the same as the second slit width. |
| US09507214B2 |
Array substrate, display panel and method for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a display panel and a method for manufacturing the same. The array substrate includes a display region and a non-display region. The array substrate includes a glass substrate with a sealant region defined at a portion of the glass substrate corresponding to the non-display region. A plurality of light guide points is provided at the portion of the glass substrate corresponding to the non-display region. The light guide points are configured to change a direction of rays incident at a predetermined angle relative to a surface of the glass substrate and transmit the rays toward the sealant region. |
| US09507212B2 |
Photoalignment equipment and photoalignment method
A photoalignment equipment includes a light emitting device, a platform, a pipe assembly, and a blower. The light emitting device has an ultraviolet light source and an accommodating space. The ultraviolet light source is located in the accommodating space. When the ultraviolet light source emits an ultraviolet light, at least a portion of air in the accommodating space is transformed into a plurality of ozone molecules. The platform is under the light-emitting device. The pipe assembly has a first opening and at least one second opening. The first opening is communicated with the accommodating space, and the second opening faces the platform. The blower is communicated with the pipe assembly to draw the ozone molecules in the accommodating space by the first opening of the pipe assembly and exhausts the ozone molecules from the second opening of the pipe assembly. |
| US09507209B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including disposing an alignment solution including an alignment agent, reactive mesogens and a solvent on at least one of a first substrate or a second substrate. The alignment solution is cured to form a main alignment layer. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The main alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer are heated to elute the reactive mesogens into the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is exposed to light to react the reactive mesogens. |
| US09507205B2 |
Display device and television receiver
A display device includes a first cabinet to which a display panel is attached and a second cabinet to which a light source is attached. The first cabinet and the second cabinet are assembled with an optical member, which diffuses light from the light source, held between the cabinets. The optical member includes a first optical member having relatively large weight and a second optical member having relatively small weight. The first optical member is pressed by the top of a projection provided in at least one of the first cabinet and the second cabinet. |
| US09507204B2 |
Baffled micro-optical elements for thin liquid crystal display backlight units
A light-emitting diode (LED) backlight unit includes a housing, an LED array disposed on a bottom surface of the housing, an optical film stack disposed on the LED array, and a baffled micro-optical element (BMOE) disposed between the LED array and the optical film stack. The thickness of the backlight unit is 12 mm or less, a first portion of light emitted from each LED of the LED array is configured to directly contact the optical film stack and a second portion of light emitting from each LED of the LED array is configured to be reflected off of the BMOE and onto the optical film stack, and the first and second portions of light combine to create surface illuminance on the optical film stack having a uniformity greater than 70%. |
| US09507203B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect, a display device includes a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of sub-pixels. Each of the sub-pixels is arranged around center of the corresponding pixel and divided into a plurality of display regions to perform N-bit area coverage modulation by a combination of the display regions. The display regions are arranged in such a manner that: a display region corresponding to a least significant bit of the area coverage modulation is arranged closest to the center of the corresponding pixel; and a display region corresponding to a higher significant bit of the area coverage modulation is arranged around the center of the pixel and further from the center of the corresponding pixel (N is a natural number of 2 or more). |
| US09507199B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A black matrix is formed to an edge of a counter substrate. Then, a BM slit, which is an area where the black matrix is not present, is formed in the periphery of a seal material in order to prevent water or moisture from penetrating from the interface between the counter substrate and the black matrix. Then, a light shielding metal is formed in a layer other than a lead line layer, on the side of a TFT substrate, in order to prevent light from leaking from the BM slit. With this structure, it is possible to prevent the light from leaking from the BM slit around a screen. As a result, the degradation of the contrast can be prevented in the periphery of the screen. |
| US09507193B2 |
Display device and television device
A liquid crystal display device 10 includes an LED unit 30, a liquid crystal panel 11, a light guide plate 16, a chassis 14, and a frame 13. The LED unit 30 includes an LED 17 and an LED board 18. The light guide plate 16 arranged such that a light entrance surface 16b faces the LED 17. The frame 13 is fixed to the chassis 14. The frame 13 and the chassis 14 hold the liquid crystal panel 11 and the light guide plate 16 therebetween. The frame 13 includes a panel holding portion 13a and a sidewall portion 13b. The panel holding portion 13a holds the liquid crystal panel 11 from the display surface 11a side. The sidewall portion 13b continues from the panel holding portion 13a and extends on the light entrance surface 16b side. The frame 13a includes a through hole 40 that runs through the sidewall portion 13a. The LED unit 30 is fitted in the through hole 40 from the outer side such that the LED 17 is positioned more to the inner side than the sidewall portion 13b and at least a portion of the LED unit 30 is held inside the through hole 40. |
| US09507189B2 |
Display panel, display device, and method for manufacturing display panel
The present invention provides a display panel that exhibits increased light use efficiency and decreased occurrence of display anomalies. The display panel includes substrates; a light modulating layer that contains shape-anisotropic members that rotate according to the direction of an electric field and that controls the transmittance of incident light by changing the area projected onto the substrates by the shape-anisotropic members; and supporting members that support the shape-anisotropic members and are rotatably connected thereto. |
| US09507188B2 |
Peep prevention display
Provided is a peep prevention display, wherein a peep prevention film layer is provided on the light exit side of the peep prevention display, and the peep prevention film layer has a mesh structure; meshes of the mesh structure are arranged corresponding to sub-pixel units or pixel units of the display, and the peep prevention film layer comprises a P electrode lead layer, a P type semiconductor layer, an N type semiconductor layer and an N electrode lead layer. Since the peep prevention display has a small display angle of view, it can prevent peep by a person from side angle of view while providing image display for a user viewing from the front, so as to effectively protect personal privacy and business secret. In addition, the light blocked by a peep prevention film layer can be converted to electric energy, thus achieving an effect of self electricity generation. |
| US09507186B2 |
Image display unit with controlled electrode sets
This image display unit includes an image display panel and a barrier liquid crystal panel. The barrier liquid crystal panel appropriately controls a potential applied to one or the plurality of electrodes forming the scan-side transparent electrode (105) and the common-side transparent electrode (104) according to an operation mode that is specified, changes a slit width and a slit pitch of the slits (100S, and switches a function to one of the three functions of the 2D display function that emits image light for 2D display from the pixels, the 3D display function that emits image light for 3D display from each of pixels for left eye and pixels for right eye of the pixels, and the viewing angle control function that controls a viewing angle of the image light from the pixels. |
| US09507185B2 |
Switch element comprising a liquid crystalline medium
The invention relates to a temperature-controlled switching element for the regulation of light transmission. The invention furthermore relates to a mixture comprising at least one liquid-crystalline compound, at least one monomer compound which represents a monofunctional compound, and at least one monomer compound which represents a multifunctional compound. The invention again furthermore relates to the use of the said mixture for the production of the switching element according to the invention. |
| US09507182B2 |
Nanocomposite electro-optic modulator
A nanocomposite optical modulator device comprising an optically transparent electro-optic region. The electro-optic region exhibiting second-order optical nonlinearity properties. The nanocomposite optical modulator further comprises one or more dielectric layers, with at least one of the dielectric in contact with the electro-optic region, one or more electrodes in proximity to the electro-optic region. Wherein at least one of the aforementioned elements is nanocomposite material with nanoparticle loading from about 0.25% to about 70% volume. |
| US09507181B2 |
Positive coefficient dynamic electro-optical phase shifter
A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include an optical action zone configured to be inserted in an optical waveguide, and a bipolar transistor structure configured so that, in operation, collector current of the bipolar transistor structure crosses the optical action zone perpendicular to the axis of the optical waveguide. |
| US09507180B2 |
Patterned poly silicon structure as top electric contact to MOS-type optical modulators
A metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) type semiconductor device, comprising a silicon substrate, a first cathode electrode and a second cathode electrode coupled to the silicon substrate and located on distal ends of the silicon substrate, a poly-silicon (Poly-Si) gate proximally located above the silicon substrate and between the first cathode electrode and the second cathode electrode, wherein the Poly-Si gate comprises a first post extending orthogonally relative to the silicon substrate comprising a first doped silicon slab, a second post extending orthogonally relative to the silicon substrate comprising a second doped silicon slab, wherein the second post is positioned so as to create a width between the first post and the second post, an anode electrode coupled to the first post and the second post and extending laterally from the first post to the second post, and a dielectric layer disposed between the first silicon substrate and the second silicon substrate. |
| US09507177B2 |
Backlight assembly and display including the same
A backlight assembly and a display including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the backlight assembly includes a light source unit, a light guide plate including a light incident surface and a light facing surface formed on opposing ends thereof. The light incident surface receiving light irradiated from the light source surface. The backlight assembly also includes a first reflective member placed on the light facing surface and including a plurality of first color patterns facing the light facing surface. |
| US09507176B2 |
Polarization optical article in which uneven coloring by polarization color has been improved
An object of the present invention is to improve uneven coloring by polarization color due to birefringence of a polarization optical article.Disclosed is a polarization optical article in which uneven coloring by polarization color has been improved, the polarization optical article being a multi-layered polarization optical article including at least a linear polarization functional portion, a retardation functional portion and a back-up resin portion, characterized in that the linear polarization functional portion, the retardation functional portion and the back-up resin portion are arranged in order from an objective side toward an ocular side. The linear polarization functional portion is, for example, a linear polarizer, the retardation functional portion is, for example, a retardation sheet, and the retardation functional portion has, for example, a retardation of 1,000 nm or more. The back-up resin is a polycarbonate resin, a polyamide resin or the like. |
| US09507175B2 |
Methods and devices for evaluating eyewear fit
Methods and tools for evaluating fit of eyewear are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of evaluating coverage provided by an eyewear article on the face of the wearer and evaluating a gap formed between a peripheral edge of the eyewear article and the face of the wearer. |
| US09507173B2 |
Silicone hydrogel lens with a crosslinked hydrophilic coating
The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave. |
| US09507172B2 |
Contact lenses
The invention provides silicone hydrogel contact lenses that exhibit reduced back surface debris and reduced incidence of superior epithelial accurate lesions. |
| US09507170B2 |
Optical apparatus, interchangeable lens, and method for correcting image blurring
An optical apparatus includes a blurring detection unit configured to detect image blurring applied to the optical apparatus; and a motion vector calculation unit configured to calculate a motion vector among a plurality of images shot by the optical apparatus. Image blurring is corrected in accordance with a signal obtained from blurring detected by the blurring detection unit; the motion vector is calculated using a correction result of the image blurring; and the image blurring is further corrected using the calculated motion vector. |
| US09507166B2 |
Illumination system for stereoscopic projection device
An illumination system for a stereoscopic projection device is provided. The illumination system comprises a luminous element and a color wheel module. The luminous element is adapted to generate a plurality of first wave band lights when the color wheel module has a plurality of wave band transmitting transforming areas and a plurality of wave band reflecting transforming areas. When the first wave band lights are projected to the wave band transmitting transforming areas, the first wave band lights are adapted to transmit the wave band transmitting transforming areas to excite a plurality of first selected wave band lights. When the first wave band lights are projected to the wave band reflecting transforming areas, the wave band reflecting transforming areas are adapted to excite and reflect a plurality of second selected wave band lights. |
| US09507164B2 |
Apparatus for projecting space image
An apparatus for projecting a space image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a display unit configured to display an image; and an array of prisms having a plurality of prisms connected with one another to have one lateral planes of the respective prisms form one plane and configured to refract light corresponding to the image through the prisms to a predetermined position at which a user can recognize the image. |
| US09507153B2 |
Night vision devices and methods
Image-intensifying devices (for example, glasses, goggles, etc.) suitable for certain commercial and entertainment applications by virtue of their light weight, small size, and economical production are disclosed. In one embodiment, input light passes through an Amici reflector, which is used to adjust the orientation of the intensified image to register it with the real world. In another embodiment, input light passes through at least two Amici reflectors, which are used to adjust the orientation of the intensified image to register it with the real world. In alternate embodiments, at least one Amici reflector folds the light at a non-perpendicular angle and/or input light is rotated by an angle other than (180°). Other embodiments include a field-flattening lens disposed in front of an image intensifier. The intensified image is then sent through a projective lens assembly to reach the viewer's eye. |
| US09507151B2 |
Optical design of a wide field of view pupil forming HUD
A head up display or HUD system, including methods and apparatus, suitable for use in a flight simulator. According to the present teachings, a flight simulator HUD may be configured to produce a HUD image that appears superimposed on a simulated cockpit field of view image, and which has substantially the same relatively short focal distance from the user as the simulated image. A simulator HUD according to the present teachings does not require any holographic optical elements or an unrealistic cockpit volume, and provides an accurate simulation of conditions in a real aircraft cockpit. |
| US09507148B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device characterized in that a display area can be prevented from appearing darker when the position of light-shielding sections are moved, while the control of voltages applied to electrodes is simplified. In the case where electrodes to which a specific voltage is applied are changed from a first electrode group (e.g., 52a) to a second electrode group (e.g., 52b, 58a, 58b), the voltage applied to the first electrode group is switched from the specific voltage to a reference voltage first, and thereafter, the voltage applied to the second electrode group is switched from the reference voltage to the specific voltage. |
| US09507145B2 |
Condensation inhibiting layer, method of forming the layer, and condensation inhibiting device
A condensation inhibiting layer includes an electrostrictive actuator film, and a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film and including a plurality of channels. |
| US09507144B2 |
Optical deflector and optical scanning device including the same
An optical deflector includes a mirror unit and a support member. The mirror unit includes a vibration mirror part extending in a main scanning direction and a torsion bar part extending in a direction crossing the main scanning direction and supporting the vibration mirror part. The support member supports the mirror unit. The support member has a pair of solid parts. The pair of solid parts are arranged adjacent to the circumferential side surfaces of both end portions of the vibration mirror part in the main scanning direction and suppress a vortex generated when the vibration mirror part vibrates. The optical deflector further includes a positioning mechanism which performs positioning of the mirror unit for the support member so that a clearance distance between each solid part and the circumferential side surfaces of both end portions of the vibration mirror part becomes a preset setting distance. |
| US09507140B2 |
Balanced equatorial mount technique for telescope
A technique for equatorially mounting a telescope includes a right ascension support having a first end coupled to a counterweight assembly and a second end coupled to a declination support. The right ascension support is coupled to a base and extends downwardly and backwardly from the first end to the second end. The resulting arrangement causes the act of balancing the telescope about its right ascension axis also substantially to balance the telescope about its base. |
| US09507139B2 |
Specimen holder, specimen preparation device, and positioning method
A specimen holder is used for an optical microscope, comprising: a specimen support that supports a specimen to enable the specimen to tilt relative to the optical axis of the optical microscope; an adjustment plate that has an observation surface for making observations using the optical microscope; and an adjustment plate support that supports the adjustment plate, so that the angle formed by the optical axis and the observation surface is larger than the angle formed by the optical axis and a specimen surface of the specimen. |
| US09507138B2 |
Microscope system
A microscope system as an optical microscope system for observing a specimen includes: an imaging optical system that forms an image of transmitted light or reflected light from the specimen; an illumination light source that illuminates illumination light on the specimen; an illumination optical system that has a first spatial light modulation element, which changes intensity distribution of the illumination light at a conjugate position of a pupil of the imaging optical system, and illuminates light, which is originated from the illumination light source, on the specimen; an image sensor that detects light through the imaging optical system; and a calculation section that calculates the intensity distribution of the illumination light appropriate for observation of the specimen on the basis of the intensity distribution of the illumination light formed by the first spatial light modulation element and output data detected by the image sensor. |
| US09507132B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, miniature, wide-angle high-zoom-ratio zoom lens that has high imaging performance, and an imaging apparatus equipped with the zoom lens. To achieve the object, a zoom lens including a first lens group having positive refracting power, a second lens group having negative refracting power and a third lens group having positive refracting power in order from an object side in which a lens group P having positive refracting power is arranged closer to an image plane side than the third lens group. |
| US09507118B2 |
Lens module
Disclosed is lens module. The lens module includes a barrel and a lens group disposed in the barrel. The lens group includes a first lens element connecting with the barrel and a second lens element connecting with the first lens element. The first lens element connecting with the barrel makes the lens module have a first matching precision. The first matching precision makes the barrel and the lens group be concentric. The first lens element has a first arc surface and the second lens element has a second arc surface engaging with the first arc surface which makes the lens module have a second matching precision. The second matching precision makes the first lens element and the second lens element be concentric. |
| US09507115B2 |
Method for determining the edges of an overlapping region between a color filter and a black matrix
Disclosed is a method for determining edges of an overlapping region between a color filter and a black matrix, which comprises the following steps. An original gray-scale value curve and a differential gray-scale value curve of the measurement area to be detected are drawn, and extremums of the differential gray-scale value curve are determined. A gray-scale value of the overlapping region between the color filter and the black matrix is obtained. A threshold value is established. Two extremums of the differential gray-scale value curve which are the closest to the two intersections respectively are obtained, and then the edges of the overlapping region between the color filter and the black matrix are determined based on the two extremums. |
| US09507114B2 |
Passive optical LAN interconnect apparatus
A fiber optic cable connectivity assembly for managing fiber optic interconnections includes a cabinet having an outer facing surface and an inner facing surface surrounding an interior cavity: an adapter bracket that is selectively positionable between a raised position and a lowered position, and the adapter bracket being configured for selective connection with at least one adapter component; a first mounting connector and an oppositely disposed second mounting connector each being secured to the inner facing surface of the cabinet, and each of the first and second oppositely disposed mounting connectors including a plurality of protruding components extending therefrom; and a first extension arm and an oppositely disposed second extension arm each being secured to the adapter bracket, and each of the first and second oppositely disposed extension arms defining a plurality of L-shaped cutout sections each being correspondingly aligned for engaged receipt of one of the plurality of protruding components to permit arcuate pivoting motion of the adapter bracket relative to the cabinet. |
| US09507113B2 |
Systems and methods for associating location information with a communication sub-assembly housed within a communication assembly
An exemplary optical distribution frame includes a frame structure defining multiple positions into which multiple chassis can be inserted and a frame controller unit attached to the frame structure. The frame structure includes a frame controller and a switch communicatively coupled to the frame controller, wherein the switch includes a multiple ports. The frame structure including multiple cables, each cable being attached to a respective one of the ports of the switch and routed and attached to the optical distribution frame so that each cable can be attached to a chassis inserted into a predetermined one of the positions in the optical distribution frame, wherein the frame controller is configured to communicate port mapping information to a management entity that is communicatively coupled to the frame controller for use by the management entity in associating location information with a chassis inserted into the optical distribution frame. |
| US09507107B2 |
Arrangement of a substrate with at least one optical waveguide and with an optical coupling location and of an optoelectronic component, and method for manufacturing such an arrangement
An arrangement of a substrate with at least one optical waveguide and with an optical coupling location for coupling in and/or coupling out an optical a radiation into and/or out of the at least one optical waveguide, and of at least one optoelectronic component which is assembled on the substrate and a method for manufacturing such an arrangement is suggested. The optical coupling location is designed in a manner such that the radiation is coupled in and/or coupled out with a coupling-in and/or coupling-out angle of greater than 2° to the perpendicular to the substrate surface. The optoelectronic component is assembled over the coupling location on the substrate in a manner tilted obliquely to the substrate surface, wherein the tilt angle to this surface corresponds to the coupling-in angle and/or coupling out-angle. |
| US09507104B2 |
Apparatus providing simplified alignment of optical fiber in photonic integrated circuits
A structure for optically aligning an optical fiber to a photonic device and method of fabrication of same. The structure optically aligns an optical fiber to the photonic device using a lens between the two which is moveable by actuator heads. The lens is moveable by respective motive sources associated with the actuator heads. |
| US09507103B2 |
Quick unlocking optical fiber plug connector
A quick unlocking optical fiber plug connector has a casing, an optical fiber plug module, a pull lever and a cable assembly. The optical fiber plug module is mounted on a front end of the casing and has a module case and an optical fiber shaft assembly. The module case has a locking arm, a resilient linking tab and a connecting member formed on the module case and connected to one another. The pull lever has a drive member formed on a front end of a lever body. The drive member has a connecting slot and a through slot to accommodate the connecting member and part of the resilient linking tab. The drive member and the connecting member are securely connected to prevent the pull lever from being inadvertently disengaged from the resilient linking tab. The pull lever is straight and strap-like to facilitate pulling action for unlocking. |
| US09507100B2 |
Optical fiber connector
The optical fiber connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes at least two positioning pillars corresponding to the optical fibers. The first connector defines at least two optical fiber holes for receiving and positioning the optical fiber. Each optical fiber hole passes through a distal end of a corresponding positioning pillar. The second connector defines at least two positioning holes corresponding to the positioning pillars. Each positioning hole includes an end surface in the second connector. The second connector includes at least two first lenses corresponding to the optical fibers. Each first lens is positioned on the end surface of a corresponding positioning hole. The optical fibers are respectively aligned with the first lenses by an engagement of the positioning posts and the positioning holes. |
| US09507098B2 |
Multi-fiber connector with ferrule float
A connector comprising: (a) at least one multi-fiber ferrule having a front face presenting a plurality of fiber end faces, and a back face having a first surface and defining a first orifice through which the fibers pass; (b) a retainer for holding the at least one multi-fiber ferrule, the retainer comprising a front face having a second surface and defining a second orifice through which the fibers pass, the second surface contacting the first surface; wherein at least one of the first or second surface is convex along at least one of an x-axis or a y-axis such that the at least one multi-fiber ferrule is able to move relative to the retainer about at least one of the axes. |
| US09507095B2 |
Expanded beam optical connectors and methods for using the same
An expanded beam optical connector including a connector body, an optical element in the form of a waveguide or active device, a beam width altering optical lens, and a transmit/receive window. The optical element, the beam width altering optical lens, and the transmit/receive window are configured such that optical signals propagate between the optical element and the transmit/receive window via the beam width altering optical lens. The transmit/receive window includes an optical medium that forms an interior surface of the transmit/receive window, an optical transition layer between the interior surface formed by the optical medium, and a protective layer forming an exterior surface of the transmit/receive window. The connector body is configured to place the exterior surface of the transmit/receive window in close contact with a mating exterior surface of a mating transmit/receive window of a complementary optical device to define a close contact portion. |
| US09507094B2 |
Optical connector
An optical connector is provided with a first housing, a first optical fiber accommodated in the first housing, a second housing to which the first housing fits, and a second optical fiber accommodated in the second housing. An end face of the first optical fiber abuts on an end face of the second optical fiber due to fitting the first housing to the second housing so that the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are optically connected. |
| US09507090B2 |
Phase and amplitude control for optical fiber output
A method for shaping an output light beam from an optical fiber by controlling the phase and amplitude of the beam by producing beam shaping elements on an exit facet of the optical fiber by direct surface texturing of the exit facet, where a controlled phase difference is achieved across the fiber cross-section over a predefined pattern. The optical fiber can be a single mode fiber or a multi-mode fiber. Either a binary or a complex phase difference can be achieved. Also disclosed is the related system for shaping an output light beam from an optical fiber. |
| US09507089B2 |
Method of manufacturing a photonic integrated circuit optically coupled to a laser of III-V material
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including photonic components on a silicon layer and a laser made of a III-V group material includes providing the silicon layer positioned on a first insulating layer that is positioned on a support. First trenches are etched through the silicon layer and stop on the first insulating layer, and the first trenches are covered with a silicon nitride layer. Second trenches are etched through a portion of the silicon layer, and the first and second trenches are filled with silicon oxide, which are planarized. The method further includes removing the support and the first insulating layer, and bonding a wafer including a III-V group heterostructure on the rear surface of the silicon layer. |
| US09507087B2 |
Wavelength combiner unit and arrayed waveguide grating having the same
Provided is a wavelength combiner including a slab waveguide; an output waveguide extended from the slab waveguide in a first direction; and at least one rib waveguide disposed at an interval horizontally from the output waveguide and extended from the slab waveguide in the first direction, wherein the rib waveguide is tapered in the first direction. |
| US09507086B2 |
Optical I/O system using planar light-wave integrated circuit
Photonic components are placed on the processor package to bring the optical signal close to the processor die. The processor package includes a substrate to which the processor die is coupled, and which allows the processor die to connect to a printed circuit board. The processor package also includes transceiver logic, electrical-optical conversion circuits, and an optical coupler. The electrical-optical conversion circuits can include laser(s), modulator(s), and photodetector(s) to transmit and receive and optical signal. The coupler interfaces to a fiber that extends off the processor package. Multiple fibers can be brought to the processor package allowing for a scalable high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnection to the processor. |
| US09507083B2 |
Optical transmission element
An optical transmission element according to an embodiment comprises a fiber and a covering layer. The fiber includes a core made of glass and a cladding made of glass covering an outer periphery of the core. The covering layer covers an outer periphery of the cladding and includes a plurality of alkyl groups which are not fluorine-substituted wherein each of the alkyl groups is bonded to the cladding via a siloxane bond and wherein the alkyl groups are represented by CH3(CH2)n— wherein m is an integer of 7 or more. |
| US09507077B2 |
Resin composition for light guide article-preform, light guide article-preform, laminated light guide article-preform, light guide article for surface light source device and surface light source device
A resin composition for a light guide article-preform is described, which enables the formation of a foamed layer having a large light scattering effect on the surface of a shaped article by laser irradiation processing at low cost. More specifically, the present invention relates to: a resin composition for a light guide article-preform, which contains a resin having a mass average molecular weight of 60,000 to 150,000, and has a 30% thermal mass reduction temperature of 310° C. or lower and a difference between a 40% thermal mass reduction temperature and a 20% thermal mass reduction temperature of 7° C. or less when a thermal mass measurement is performed with starting from the state at 100° C. under air at a temperature rising rate of 5° C./min. |
| US09507076B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same
A backlight unit and a display device having the same are discussed. According to an embodiment, the backlight unit includes a light source configured to generate light; and a light guide plate configured to distribute the light received from the light source, the light guide plate including: at least one body, each of the at least one body divided into a plurality of blocks, and a plurality of reflective patterns formed on a bottom surface of the body, wherein the plurality of reflective patterns are selectively provided at some of the plurality of blocks. |
| US09507070B2 |
Lighting guide
A lighting guide is disclosed for a lighting apparatus, which comprises an elongate and substantially transparent member having opposed ends. A longitudinal portion of an outer surface of the member is linearly recessed symmetrically about a transversal main axis of the member. A transversal distance of the recessed portion relative to a longitudinal portion of the outer surface opposed to the recessed portion increases progressively in either direction away from the transversal main axis of the member. A lighting apparatus is also disclosed, which comprises the lighting guide and two light sources located adjacent respective and opposed ends of the member. |
| US09507069B2 |
Polarization hyperspectral/multispectral imager and method
A system for obtaining spectral images from polarized light comprising a polarization sensitive filter; the polarization sensitive filter being configured to receive light at at least one predetermined polarization orientation; and an achromatic waveplate operatively associated with the polarization sensitive filter; the achromatic waveplate being rotatable; whereby rotation of the achromatic waveplate enables light to enter the polarization sensitive spectral filter at at least two predetermined polarization orientations. A method comprising providing a polarization sensitive filter; the polarization sensitive filter being configured to receive light at at least one predetermined polarization orientation; providing an achromatic waveplate operatively associated with the polarization sensitive filter; the achromatic waveplate being rotatable; whereby rotation of the achromatic waveplate enables light to enter the polarization sensitive spectral filter at the at least two predetermined polarization orientations. |
| US09507063B2 |
Anti-reflecting covering structure with a diffraction grating using resonant elements
A diffractive device for fitting to a façade of a building, or to any other reflective wall, exposed to electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source located at a distance from the building, the device including a plurality of tubular resonant elements arranged on the façade of the building, where the resonant elements are arranged in a substantially parallel manner on the façade of the building in such a way as to form a diffraction grating and are oriented in a substantially perpendicular direction to the plane defined by the propagation vectors of the incident and reflected electromagnetic waves, each resonant element being configured to form an LC resonator capable of re-radiating a wave corresponding to the incident wave affected by a phase shift; the set of resonant elements being arranged in such a way that the incident wave is diffracted in a preferential direction. |
| US09507059B2 |
Optical films for reducing color shift and organic light-emitting display apparatuses employing the same
Optical films, and organic light-emitting display apparatuses employing the same, include a high refractive index pattern layer including a first surface and a second surface facing each other, wherein the first surface includes a pattern having a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves each have a curved surface and a depth greater than a width thereof. The high refractive index pattern layer is formed of a material having a refractive index greater than 1. The optical films, and the organic light-emitting display apparatuses, further include a low refractive index pattern layer formed of a material having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the material constituting the high refractive index pattern layer. The low refractive index pattern layer includes a filling material for filling the plurality of grooves. |
| US09507058B2 |
View angle-restricting sheet and flat panel display
The view angle-restricting sheet includes an optical function layer which includes: a plurality of first light transmission sections provided to protrude in a multi-stripe fashion; and a second light transmission section disposed around the plurality of first light transmission sections. Both sides of a top portion of the first light transmission section are formed to have a chamfer-like shape, and the first light transmission section exhibits an optical function distinct from an optical function of the second light transmission section. At least the top portion of the first light transmission section preferably has an inverted-U shaped vertical cross section. The first light transmission section preferably contains a resin matrix and a light diffusing agent contained in the matrix. |
| US09507057B2 |
Anti-glare sheet for image display device
An anti-glare sheet that exhibits excellent glossy black textures, blackness in dark locations, and anti-glare properties for dynamic images, and that is suited to the implementation of high quality images. The anti-glare sheet has, on at least one surface of a transparent substrate, an anti-glare layer comprising binder resin, diffusion particles, and binder particulates. The transmission intensities of the anti-glare sheet satisfy specific relational equations. |
| US09507055B2 |
Ionic silicone hydrogels
The present invention relates to a process comprising the steps of reacting a reactive mixture comprising at least one silicone-containing component, at least one hydrophilic component, and at least one diluent to form an ophthalmic device having an advancing contact angle of less than about 80°; and contacting the ophthalmic device with an aqueous extraction solution at an elevated extraction temperature, wherein said at least one diluent has a boiling point at least about 10° higher than said extraction temperature. |
| US09507052B2 |
Automatic recognition method of continental slope foot point based on terrain grid
An automatic recognition method of foot point of continental slope based on topography grid, comprising the steps of cutting a topography grid model through a straight line or a broken line to generate a two-dimensional topography section line, then carrying out first derivation on the two-dimensional topography section to generate a slope section line and a second derivative section line, then obtaining an extreme point of the second derivative section line, using a D-P algorithm to obtain a D-P topography section after second simplification, then carrying out second derivation on the D-P topography section and using a topography and slope judgment method to recognize and eliminate concave hull topography in the D-P section, and finally using judgment methods as slope, water depth, second derivation, concavity and convexity, continuity and segmentation based on the D-P topography, slope and second derivative section to form a recognition method. |
| US09507051B2 |
Photoelectric switch for detection of an object and method for operating the same
A photoelectric switch for detection of an object. The photoelectric switch comprises: a light transmitter unit comprising plural light transmitters configured to emit plural light signals; a light receiver unit comprising plural optical fiber receivers in one-to-one correspondence with the plural light transmitters and configured to receive the plural light signals and to merge plural light signals, wherein an object detection area is defined between the plural light transmitters and the plural optical fiber receivers; a photoelectric conversion unit connected to the optical fiber receivers and configured to perform photoelectric conversions on the merged light signals outputted by the optical fiber receivers so as to generate an electric signal; and a control and processing unit connected to both the light transmitter unit and the photoelectric conversion unit, and configured to control and process the light signals and/or the electric signal. |
| US09507041B2 |
Solid streamer connector apparatus and method of use thereof
Streamers used in mapping strata beneath a marine body are described, such as in a flexible neutrally buoyant towed array. A connector is used to longitudinally join a first and second streamer section and/or to connect a streamer section to a streamer stabilizer. The connector contains at least one of: (1) means for distributing axial stress over a larger volume or along a longer x-axis length of the streamer relative to the absence of the means for distributing; (2) forming an increasing radius of curvature along the length of the connector as a function of distance from the first leading streamer cable section; and (3) co-moving an inner stress bearing element and an outer wall of the connector preventing intermediate streamer elements, such as a wire bundle from picking up noise related to the movement stress. |
| US09507039B2 |
Seismic source, system, and method
A seismic source of the present disclosure includes a first rotation member and a second rotation member having a common axis of rotation and rotated at a same rotational rate in mutually opposite directions. In addition, the seismic source may include a first mass that is eccentrically coupled to the first rotation member and rotates along with the first rotation member. A second mass may be eccentrically coupled to the second rotation member and configured to rotate along with that member. The second mass may be configured such that the center of gravity of the second mass is located radially external to the center of gravity of the first mass relative to the common axis of rotation. The center of gravities of the first and second mass may be located at the same location along a length of the common axis of rotation. |
| US09507038B2 |
Pneumatic control for marine seismic source and method
Method, source and shuttle configured to generate acoustic waves under water. The shuttle includes a firing piston closing a firing chamber and contributing to holding the compressed gas, and a transitional region connected to the firing piston. The firing chamber and the transitional region define a most restrictive area through which the compressed gas is released toward the at least one exhaust port, the most restrictive area is substantially smooth while the movable shuttle moves toward the open position, and a profile of the transitional region is selected to reduce a high-frequency content of the acoustic waves. |
| US09507035B2 |
Tri-material dual-species neutron/gamma spectrometer
A system of the present invention is capable of detecting, imaging and measuring both neutrons and gamma rays. In some cases, the system has a plurality of parallel plates each containing a plurality of detectors. The plates comprise non-PSD organic scintillation detectors, scintillation detectors having pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) properties, and inorganic scintillation detectors. In some other cases, the system has a plurality of scintillation rods radially distributed about a central axis, and the scintillation rods comprise non-PSD organic scintillation detectors, scintillation detectors having pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) properties, and inorganic scintillation detectors. A first plate or rod and a second plate or rod are used in connection to detect, image and measure neutrons and/or gamma rays. |
| US09507032B1 |
Barium iodide and strontium iodide crystals and scintillators implementing the same
In one embodiment, a material comprises a crystal comprising strontium iodide providing at least 50,000 photons per MeV, where the strontium iodide material is characterized by a volume not less than 1 cm3. In another embodiment, a scintillator optic includes europium-doped strontium iodide providing at least 50,000 photons per MeV, where the europium in the crystal is primarily Eu2+, and the europium is present in an amount greater than about 1.6%. A scintillator radiation detector in yet another embodiment includes a scintillator optic comprising SrI2 and BaI2, where a ratio of SrI2 to BaI2 is in a range of between 0:1 and 1.0, the scintillator optic is a crystal that provides at least 50,000 scintillation photons per MeV and energy resolution of less than about 5% at 662 keV, and the crystal has a volume of 1 cm3 or more; the scintillator optic contains more than about 2% europium. |
| US09507020B2 |
Unmanned aircraft systems sense and avoid sensor fusion track initialization
A method to initialize tracks from sensor measurements is provided. The method includes identifying at least one tentative track based on data collected from at least one sensor at three sequential times; initializing a confirm/delete track filter for the identified tentative tracks; and using gates computed from state vector statistics to one of: confirm the at least one tentative track; reprocess the at least one tentative track; or delete the at least one tentative track. |
| US09507018B2 |
Detection and ranging apparatus and ranging method
An apparatus includes a first array including sensors; a second array including sensors that are not collinear with the sensors of the first array except for a sensor that defines the origin of a spatial phase; and a signal processing unit that generates covariance matrices including a first covariance matrix and a second covariance matrix based on reflected waves received by the first and second arrays from targets, estimates first angles of the targets based on the first covariance matrix, reproduces an angle matrix based on the estimated first angles, performs triangular decomposition on the product of a generalized inverse matrix of the angle matrix and the second covariance matrix to obtain a matrix, constructs a similarity transformation problem from submatrices of the obtained matrix, and estimates second angles of the targets based on the estimated first angles and solutions of the similarity transformation problem. |
| US09507014B2 |
Method and device for detecting a rotating wheel
A method is described for detecting a rotating wheel of a vehicle that is travelling on a roadway in a travel direction, the wheels of which are at least partially exposed laterally, the method comprising: emitting an electromagnetic measurement beam having a known temporal progression of its frequency onto a first section above the roadway in a direction in a slant with respect to the vertical and normally or at a slant with respect to the travel direction; receiving a reflected measurement beam and recording the temporal progression of its frequencies, relative to the known progression, as a reception frequency mixture progression; and detecting a frequency band, which is continuously inclining or declining over a period of time, in the reception frequency mixture progression as a wheel. A device for conducting the method is also described. |
| US09507002B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing magnetic resonance image data
In a method, a computer-readable storage medium and a magnetic resonance apparatus for processing image data of the magnetic resonance apparatus, a representation of the degree of image blurring in magnetic resonance data that results from the acquisition of the data with view angle tilting is provided as an input to a processor. The processor calculates a convolution kernel from the input that mathematically relates the degree of blurring to the acquired data. The convolution kernel is applied either to the acquired data before reconstruction of an image therefrom or to the reconstructed image data, so that the resulting image is deblurred. |
| US09506997B2 |
Magnetic-field-angle measurement apparatus and rotational-angle measurement apparatus using same
In a magnetic-field angle detection device and a rotation angle detection device in which the accuracy of the measured angle is not degraded even if the MR ratio of the tunneling magnetoresistance element is increased. In a magnetic-field-angle measurement apparatus including a magnetic-field-angle detection circuit and a magnetic sensor having a tunneling magnetoresistance element with a pinned magnetic layer, the magnetic-field-angle detection circuit has a power-supply unit that outputs a constant voltage as a bias voltage to the tunneling magnetoresistance element of the magnetic sensor and a current-detection unit that detects an output current of the tunneling magnetoresistance element. The accuracy of the measured angle of the magnetic-field angle detection device and the rotation angle detection device is improved by measuring the tunneling magnetoresistance element current while maintaining the terminal voltage of the tunneling magnetoresistance element constant with input impedance of the current-detection unit as zero. |
| US09506995B2 |
Magnetic field analysis programs and magnetic field analysis methods
The present invention provides a magnetic field analysis program and a magnetic field analysis method for calculating inductance related to an AC magnetic field superimposed on a DC magnetic field with a high degree of accuracy at high speed. The magnetic field analysis program is a program for analyzing an AC magnetic field through a frequency response analysis, and causes a computer to carry out: a process of inputting a DC magnetic flux density or a DC magnetic field strength, the amplitude and the frequency of an alternating current, and the initial magnetization curve of the magnetic material of an analysis object, calculating a DC magnetic field strength when a DC magnetic flux density is input, and calculating a DC magnetic flux density when a DC magnetic field strength is input (S100); a process of calculating an AC magnetic flux density and an AC magnetic field strength by carrying out the frequency response analysis using the amplitude and the frequency of the alternating current (S104); and a process of finding such a solution that the sum of the maximum value of the AC magnetic flux density obtained through the frequency response analysis and the DC magnetic flux density becomes equal to the magnetic flux density determined from the sum of the maximum value of the AC magnetic field strength obtained through the frequency response analysis and the DC magnetic field strength, and the initial magnetization curve, with a desired degree of accuracy (S105, S106). |
| US09506993B2 |
Wiring module
A wiring module is attached to an electric cell group that includes a plurality of electric cells, the wiring module having a resin protector that is attached to the electric cell group, connection bus bars and output bus bars that are connected to electrode terminals of the electric cells and that are held on a side of the resin protector that is opposite to a side facing the electric cell group, voltage detection terminals for detecting states of the electric cells, the voltage detection terminals being held by the resin protector, and detection wires that are drawn from the voltage detection terminals. In the resin protector, an output bus bar holding portion that holds the output bus bars is provided, on the surface facing the electric cell group, with a guide portion in which the detection wires are routed. |
| US09506990B2 |
Methodology for charging batteries safely
An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles. |
| US09506983B2 |
Chip authentication using scan chains
Methods and systems for generating a circuit identification number include determining a propagation time delay across a scan chain of known length; comparing the propagation time delay to a threshold associated with the scan chain length; storing an identifier bit based on the result of the comparison; repeating the steps of determining, comparing, and storing until a number of stored identifier bits reaches a threshold number; and outputting the stored identifier bits. |
| US09506982B2 |
Testbench builder, system, device and method including a generic monitor and transporter
A testbench for testing a device under test (DUT), wherein the testbench has a verification environment including a reference model, a scoreboard and a customized agent for each interface that the DUT needs to receive input from and/or transmit output on. The testbench system is able to be generated by a testbench builder that automatically creates a scoreboard, a reference model, a dispatcher and generic agents including generic drivers, loopback ports, sequencers and/or generic monitors for each interface and then automatically customize the generic agents based on their corresponding interface such that the agents meet the requirements of the interface for the DUT. |
| US09506981B2 |
Integrated circuit with distributed clock tampering detectors
A circuit configuration for secure application includes several internal frequency detectors arranged in digital units at critical points of an integrated circuit. The clock detectors are concealed in the digital part of the integrated circuit each as a standard cell (flip-flop unit) in order to prevent any external manipulation and in order to hide its function. The clock detectors are preferably disposed in a clock tree topology, which can be at several levels for distributing the clock signal through the different digital unit tree at critical points. Alarms are generated via a clock detector network if at any level an external clock attack has been monitored. |
| US09506975B2 |
Method for measuring potential induced degradation of at least one solar cell or of a photovoltaic panel as well as the use of same method in the production of solar cells and photovoltaic panels
The invention relates to a method for measuring the high-voltage induced degradation (PID) of at least one solar cell. According to the invention, a conductive plastic material is pressed on the upper side or bottom side of the respective solar cell, in particular on the front side thereof, and a DC voltage greater than 50 V is applied between the plastic material and the respective solar cell. Alternatively, corona discharges may be applied to solar cells or photovoltaic modules. In one embodiment, a characteristic electric parameter of the respective solar cell or of the photovoltaic module is repeatedly measured at time intervals. The method according to the invention can be carried out on individual solar cells, which can be further processed directly after passing the test and without further complex processing, e.g. to a photovoltaic module. In principle, the method is also suitable for measurements on complete photovoltaic modules. |
| US09506972B2 |
System and method for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in a solar generator on a space vehicle
A system and method for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in a solar generator on a spacecraft. The solar generator comprises a plurality of flaps. Each flap bears at least one solar cell that is connected to an electrical distribution network and electrically insulated from the flap. Each flap is connected, by a first load and by a second load, to a first electrical line and a second electrical line, respectively. The ratio of the impedances of the first load and of the second load of a flap being denoted as an impedance ratio of the flap. The solar generator comprises at least two flaps exhibiting different respective impedance ratios. The system comprises a component for evaluating the currents flowing in the first and second electrical lines, and a detector for detecting and locating an insulation flaw in the solar generator based on the evaluations of the currents. |
| US09506964B2 |
Method and device for characterizing or measuring a floating capacitance
The disclosure comprises: linking a first terminal of the capacitance to the mid-point of a first voltage divider bridge, applying a first voltage to a second terminal of the capacitance, maintaining a voltage of a mid-point of the first divider bridge near a reference voltage, and discharging a mid-point of a second divider bridge with a constant current. When a voltage of the mid-point of the second bridge reaches a first voltage threshold, applying a second voltage to the second terminal of the capacitance, and measuring the time for the voltage to reach a second threshold. |
| US09506959B2 |
Operation support system and recording medium
The total electric power that is supplied to a house, the electric power P21 to P24 that is consumed by electrical equipment that is used in the house, and electric power that is generated by an electric power generator 60 are automatically displayed together with weather information WR1 that indicates the weather every hour. As a result, a user is able to check the amount of electric power consumed by the electrical equipment 50 according to the weather, or check the amount of electric power that is generated according to the weather. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently operate the electrical equipment 50 according to the weather. |
| US09506956B2 |
Flow direction detection device, flow direction detection method, and flow direction detection program
A detection apparatus that detects a state of power has a first current transformer that measures a first current on a side of a first power line with respect to a connecting point between the first power line extending from a commercial power supply and a second power line extending from a power generation means that supplies power having the same frequency as the commercial power supply, a second current transformer that measures a second current on a side of the second power line with respect to the connecting point, a first current direction detector that detects a direction of the first current, a second current direction detector that detects a direction of the second current, and an exclusive OR calculator that calculates an exclusive OR between a detected value of the direction of the first current and a detected value of the direction of the second current. |
| US09506953B2 |
High speed high dynamic range high accuracy measurement system
A measuring system includes an input that emulates a bandpass filter with no signal reflections. A directional coupler connected to the input passes the filtered input to electrically isolated measuring circuits. Each of the measuring circuits includes an amplifier that amplifies the signal through logarithmic functions. The output of the measuring system is an accurate high dynamic range measurement. |
| US09506952B2 |
Power meter with automatic configuration
A power monitoring system includes a plurality of current sensors suitable to sense respective changing electrical current within a respective conductor to a respective load and a conductor sensing a respective voltage potential provided to the respective load. A power monitors determines a type of circuit based upon a signal from at least one of the current sensors and a signal from the conductor, wherein the type of circuit includes at least one of a single phase circuit, a two phase circuit, and a three phase circuit. The power meter configures a set of registers corresponding to the determined type of circuit in a manner such that the configuring is different based upon each of the single phase circuit, two phase circuit, and three phase circuit suitable to provide data corresponding to the determined type of circuit. |
| US09506950B2 |
Tampering detection for an electric meter
A tamper detection system for an electricity meter includes an antenna, an RF signal level circuit, and a controller. The antenna is configured to receive an RF signal. The RF signal level circuit is supported within an electricity meter housing and is operatively connected to the antenna. The RF signal level circuit is configured to detect the RF signal received by the antenna and to provide a strength signal corresponding to a magnitude of the RF signal. The controller is supported within the electricity meter housing, and is operatively connected to the RF signal level circuit. The controller is configured to generate an RF signal strength value based at least in part on the strength signal, and to generate a tamper flag responsive at least in part to a determination that the RF signal strength value exceeds a threshold value. |
| US09506947B2 |
System and method for non-contact microscopy for three-dimensional pre-characterization of a sample for fast and non-destructive on sample navigation during nanoprobing
A system for performing sample probing. The system including an topography microscope configured to receive three-dimensional coordinates for a sample based on at least three fiducial marks; receive the sample mounted in a holder; and navigate to at least a location on the sample based on the at least three fiducial marks and the three-dimensional coordinates. |
| US09506946B2 |
Fully differential capacitive architecture for MEMS accelerometer
A fully differential microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer configured to measure Z-axis acceleration is disclosed. This may avoid some of the disadvantages in traditional capacitive sensing architectures—for example, less sensitivity, low noise suppression, and low SNR, due to Brownian noise. In one embodiment, the accelerometer comprises three silicon wafers, fabricated with electrodes forming capacitors in a fully differential capacitive architecture. These electrodes may be isolated on a layer of silicon dioxide. In some embodiments, the accelerometer also includes silicon dioxide layers, piezoelectric structures, getter layers, bonding pads, bonding spacers, and force feedback electrodes, which may apply a force to the proof mass region. Fully differential MEMS accelerometers may be used in geophysical surveys, e.g., for seismic sensing or acoustic positioning. |
| US09506945B2 |
Rotorcraft flight parameter estimation
An aircraft is provided and includes an airframe. The airframe includes first and second rotor apparatuses at upper and tail portions of the aircraft, respectively, to provide for control and navigational drive. The aircraft further includes a stabilizer component disposed at the tail portion in a position displaced from downwash of the first and second rotor apparatuses at airspeed ranges and a control system configured to apply a dither actuation signal to the stabilizer component at the airspeed ranges by which an aircraft response to a stabilizer component input is measurable for airspeed estimation purposes. |
| US09506944B2 |
Velocity determination apparatus
The invention relates to a velocity determination apparatus (1) for determining a velocity of an object (2). A Doppler frequency measuring unit is adapted to measure Doppler frequencies in at least three different frequency directions, wherein a Doppler frequency calculation unit is adapted to calculate a Doppler frequency for a calculation frequency direction being similar to one of the at least three different frequency directions depending on the Doppler frequencies measured for at least two further frequency directions of the at least three different frequency directions. The velocity can then be determined depending on the calculated Doppler frequency and the measured Doppler frequencies. Since in the calculation frequency direction the measured Doppler frequency is not needed for determining the velocity, a reliable velocity can be determined also in the calculation frequency direction, even if the measurement of the Doppler frequency in this calculation frequency direction is disturbed. |
| US09506939B2 |
Stabilization of labile analytes in reference materials
Provided herein are assay control materials comprising stable analytes and lyophilized unstable analytes, and methods of making and using the same. |
| US09506935B2 |
Method and system for estimating the quantity of an analyte contained in a liquid
This method for estimating the quantity of an analyte contained in a liquid includes the following steps: introducing the liquid into a fluid chamber; mixing the liquid with a bi-specific reagent, the bi-specific reagent being configured for grafting on both a particle and an analyte present in the liquid; lighting the fluid chamber using an excitation beam emitted by a light source, the beam extending through the fluid chamber; acquiring at least one image using a matrix photodetector, the image being formed by radiation transmitted by the lighted fluid chamber; and estimating, from at least one acquired image, the quantity of said analyte in the liquid. |
| US09506934B2 |
Polymer test cartridge mixer for cell lysis
A multiple polymer layer test cartridge includes an input to receive a sample containing cells, multiple lysing channel structures on alternate layers of the multiple layer test cartridge coupled to each other to pass the sample in sequence between the lysing channel structures, and a test chamber to receive the sample from the multiple lysing channel structures. |
| US09506932B2 |
Method of detecting at least one mechanism of resistance to cephalosporins by mass spectrometry
The present invention pertains to a method of detection, by mass spectrometry, of at least one marker of at least one mechanism of resistance to at least one antimicrobial, resistance of at least one microorganism contained in a sample, characterized in that the antimicrobial is a cephalosporin, and said resistance markers are proteins or peptides. Preferably, said proteins or peptides are proteins from said microorganism. |
| US09506930B2 |
Monitoring and manipulating cellular transmembrane potentials using nanostructures
The use of nanostructures to monitor or modulate changes in cellular membrane potentials is disclosed. Nanoparticles having phospholipid coatings were found to display improved responses relative to nanoparticles having other coatings that do not promote localization or attraction to membranes. |
| US09506925B2 |
Specific biomarker set for non-invasive diagnosis of liver cancer
Cells within liver tumor mass comprise a unique set of proteins/tumor antigens when compared to the normal liver tissues epithelial cells juxtaposed to the tumor. The presence of tumor antigens couples the production of auto-antibodies against these tumor antigens. The present invention relates to the identification and elucidation of a protein set that can act as a novel marker set for liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Specifically, it relates to a kit that enables diagnostic and prognostic measurement of auto-antibodies in serum of liver cancer patients. The present invention provides a non-invasive, specific, sensitive, and cost effective detection and quantification method by evaluating a set of validated liver cancer proteins/tumor antigens, which includes Bmi-1, VCC1, SUMO-4, RhoA, TXN, ET-1, UBE2C, HDGF2, FGF21, LECT2, SOD1, STMN4, Midkine, IL-17A or IL26, to complement the conventional diagnostic methods. |
| US09506922B2 |
Methods for producing an immune response to tuberculosis
Methods for producing an immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are disclosed herein. In several examples, the immune response is a protective immune response. In additional embodiments, methods are disclosed for inhibiting an infection with Mtb, preventing an infection with Mtb, or treating an infection with Mtb. Pharmaceutical compositions for the inhibition, prevention and/or treatment of tuberculosis are also disclosed. |
| US09506919B2 |
Methods and devices for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample
Sensor assay methods for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample are provided. Aspects of the methods include providing a sensor, e.g., a proximity sensor, in contact with an assay composition that includes a sample and a proximity label. Next, a capture probe configured to bind to the proximity label and the analyte is introduced into the assay composition to produce a labeled analyte. Following capture probe introduction, a signal is obtained from the sensor to detect the presence of the labeled analyte in the sample. Also provided are sensor devices, including hand-held devices, and kits that find use in practicing the subject methods. |
| US09506918B2 |
Methods of specifically releasing a sub-group of objects
The present invention relates to a method of specifically releasing a one or more members of a sub-group of objects from an entity, a method of detecting a subject's disease by detecting one or more members of a sub-group of biological entities indicative of the disease and a method of isolating one or more members of a sub-group of objects from a group of objects. |
| US09506917B2 |
System, device and method for high-throughput multi-plexed detection
The present invention relates to a system, device, and method for the high throughput multiplexed detection of a wide number of compounds. The invention comprises of a microwell array coupled to a capture agent array to form a plurality of interfaces between a microwell and a set of immobilized capture agents. The set of capture agents comprises a plurality of distinguishable features, with each feature corresponding to the detection of a particular compound of interest. In certain embodiments, each microwell is configured to contain a single cell. The invention is therefore capable of performing a high throughput analysis of single cell profiles, including profiles of secreted compounds. |
| US09506914B2 |
Recirculating fluidic network and methods for using the same
A microfluidic device includes a plurality of first flow channels and a plurality of second flow channels, each such second flow channel intersecting multiple of the first flow channels to define intersecting volumes and a plurality of looped flow channels that each include segments of the flow channels between the intersecting volumes to define a closed loop. The microfluidic device also includes a plurality of control valves each such control valve having a control channel and a deformable segment disposed to restrict flow through a respective one of the first and second flow channels in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel to deflect the deformable segment. The microfluidic device further includes a pump operatively disposed to regulate flow through one of the looped flow channels to regulate flow by the recirculating pump. |
| US09506912B2 |
High-throughput platform for in-vivo sub-cellular screens on vertebrate larvae
High throughput system for in vivo screens on vertebrate larvae. The system includes a source of vertebrate larvae in a liquid medium and loading tube means for aspirating a larva. A detector assembly is provided to differentiate passage of a larva from bubbles and/or debris. An imaging means is provided for both confocal imaging and wide-field fluorescence imaging of the larva. A laser is provided for optical manipulation of the larva. |
| US09506909B2 |
Homoarginine as a biomarker for the risk of mortality
The present invention relates to the field of laboratory diagnostics. Specifically, means and methods for determining the risk of mortality in a patient based on homoarginine and to reduce the risk of mortality by administration of homoarginine are disclosed. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of homoarginine for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a patient having an increased risk of mortality caused by stroke or a cardiac cause. Furthermore, the present application relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising homoarginine and a composition for foodstuff supplement comprising homoarginine. |
| US09506908B2 |
System for detection of analytes
Embodiments provide analyte detection systems for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in one or more samples. An exemplary detection system includes at least one channel for accommodating a sample and a sensor compound, the channel having a width and a length that is significantly greater in dimension than the width. An exemplary detection system includes an analyte detection circuit programmed or configured to detect one or more electrical properties along at least a portion of the length of the channel to determine whether the channel contains an analyte of interest. |
| US09506906B2 |
Urine component analysis device and urine component analysis method
A urine component analysis device with a correlation storage section stores data indicating a correlation between a measured concentration of a specific component in human urine and measured concentration of the specific urine component in one day. A data input section inputs data indicating concentration of the specific component in one subject's urine. A concentration of the specific component in total urine of the subject in one day is determined by conversion using the correlation storage section based on the concentration of the specific component in the urine. A total urine amount acquirement section acquires total amount of urine excreted by the subject in one day based on conversion or database. An excretion amount of the specific component in total urine of the subject in one day is calculated by multiplying the concentration of the specific component in total urine in one day, by the acquired total urine amount. |
| US09506904B2 |
Device for measuring the amount of free fluid in a colloid in a horizontal position
A device for testing the amount of free fluid in a colloid comprises: a first container, wherein the first container has a central axis that spans the length of the first container, wherein the length of the first container is greater than the width and height of the first container, and wherein the central axis of the first container is oriented in a substantially horizontal position during the testing. Methods of using the device include: optically determining the height of free fluid in the container after the period of time has elapsed and using a formula to determine the volume of the free fluid; or removing a plug from a plug tube that is operationally connected to the container; and draining the free fluid from the container into a measurement device. |
| US09506898B1 |
Device for controlled vapor generation
A device and method for generating vapor concentrations of a chemical. The device comprises a reservoir including a mixing chamber and a delta tube inlet section attached to the mixing chamber for supplying a first mixture of a carrier gas and a vapor of the chemical to the mixing chamber. A dilution gas inlet section is also attached to the mixing chamber and supplies a stream of dilution gas to the mixing chamber to blend with the first mixture of the carrier gas and the vapor of the chemical resulting in a second mixture of the carrier gas, the vapor of the chemical, and the dilution gas. An exit port section attached to the mixing chamber directs the second mixture of the carrier gas, the vapor of the chemical, and the dilution gas to an analyzer or system after it emerges from the reservoir. |
| US09506897B2 |
Methods and compositions for improved ion-exchange chromatography
The invention generally relates to ion-exchange chromatography. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods that can substantially improve analytical sensitivity and/or selectivity of ion-exchange chromatography as well its efficiency and quality as a purification or preparation tool. |
| US09506896B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting an envelope for ultrasonic signals
A method and apparatus for envelope detection are disclosed. An envelope detection method according to an embodiment of the invention can include: receiving ultrasonic signals reflected off a target object; detecting peaks by using differences in pulses in the received signals; and generating an envelope by connecting the detected peaks with straight or curved lines. |
| US09506892B2 |
Field-effect transistor, single-electron transistor and sensor using the same
A sensor capable of detecting detection targets that are necessary to be detected with high sensitivity is provided.It comprises a field-effect transistor 1A having a substrate 2, a source electrode 4 and a drain electrode 5 provided on said substrate 2, and a channel 6 forming a current path between said source electrode 4 and said drain electrode 5; wherein said field-effect transistor 1A comprises: an interaction-sensing gate 9 for immobilizing thereon a specific substance 10 that is capable of selectively interacting with the detection targets; and a gate 7 applied a voltage thereto so as to detect the interaction by the change of the characteristic of said field-effect transistor 1A. |
| US09506890B2 |
Physical vapor deposited biosensor components
A biosensor component is provided that provides enhanced characteristics for use in biosensors, such as blood glucose sensors. The biosensor component comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coated on the substrate. The conductive layer includes nickel and chromium, such that a combined weight percent of the nickel and chromium in the conductive layer is in the range of 50 to 99 weight percent. |
| US09506888B2 |
Vapor sensor including sensor element with integral heating
A vapor sensor includes a capacitance-related property sensor element (110), a heater circuit element (170), a capacitance-related property measurement circuit element (180), and at least one switch member (190). The capacitance-related property sensor element includes a dielectric substrate (120), a first conductive electrode (130), a second conductive electrode (140), and a layer of dielectric microporous material (150) disposed between and contacting the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode. The at least one switch member is capable of interrupting electrical communication between the first conductive electrode and the heater circuit element, and between the capacitance-related property measurement circuit element and the first conductive electrode. |
| US09506884B2 |
Planar sensor and its manufacturing method
A planar sensor having a conductor pattern for electric field sensing and its manufacturing method, the planar sensor comprising arrays of planar electrically conductive sensor areas (2) arranged to follow each other in a successive manner along the longitudinal direction, and conductors connecting electrically conductive sensor area to at least one connector, wherein the sensor further comprises a first elastic flooring layer (3) and at least one of the following: a second elastic flooring layer (4) or a flexible circuit board, and the electrically conductive sensor areas (2) and the conductors are attached between the first elastic flooring layer (3) and the second elastic flooring layer (4) or between the first elastic flooring layer (3) and the flexible circuit board to form a unitary floor sensor structure. |
| US09506881B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting a growth rate of deposited contaminants
A lithography system (10) comprising a radiation projection system (20) for projecting radiation onto a substrate, a substrate transport system (30) for loading and positioning the substrate to be processed in the path of the projected radiation, a control system (40) for controlling the substrate transport system to move the substrate, and a resist characterization system (50) arranged for determining whether a specific type of resist is suitable to be exposed by radiation within the lithography system. The resist characterization system (50) may be arranged for exposing the resist on a surface of the substrate with one or more radiation beams, measuring a mass distribution of molecular fragments emitted from the resist, predicting a growth rate of deposited molecular fragments on the basis of a growth rate model and the measured mass distribution, and comparing the expected growth rate with a predetermined threshold growth rate. |
| US09506880B2 |
Diffraction imaging
A method of imaging phases in an inhomogeneous polycrystalline sample having a plurality of crystallites of at least a first crystalline component includes illuminating an illuminated area extending across a surface of a sample with substantially monochromatic X-rays incident at a Bragg-Brentano parafocussing geometry at first angle θ1 to the surface of the sample. X-rays diffracted by the sample at a second angle θ2 pass through a pinhole. The diffraction angle θ1+θ2 fulfils a Bragg condition for the first crystalline component which is imaged by a detector to provide a two-dimensional image of the first crystalline component at the surface of the sample. |
| US09506877B2 |
X-ray photographing apparatus and method of operating the same
An X-ray photographing apparatus and a method of operating the X-ray photographing method are disclosed. The X-ray photographing apparatus includes an X-ray generator configured to generate an X-ray; an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray that is transmitted through an object; and a panel that is provided between the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector and configured to contact the object, wherein a distance between a center axis of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector is maintained to be uniform during a time period, and a radiation angle of the X-ray generated by the X-ray generator with respect to the object changes over the time period. |
| US09506870B2 |
Flow-channel device for detecting light emission
The present invention provides a flow-channel device for detecting light emission, which suppresses a noise originating in unnecessary light emission, and can be simply bonded with the use of an organic material. The flow-channel device having a flow channel is structured by the bonding of at least two substrates, wherein at least any one substrate has a first groove which constitutes the flow channel, and a second groove for arranging an adhesive therein which contains an organic material, and a light-shielding layer is provided on an inner wall of the second groove so as to block a light emitted from the second groove from penetrating into the first groove. |
| US09506868B2 |
Method and system for analyzing particles in cold plasma
The invention relates to a method of analyzing particles, in particular particles of diameter less than 1 μm, the method comprising the following steps: firing laser shots into a cold plasma (45) at low pressure; using an optical spectrometer device (60) to acquire emission spectra of the light emitted by the plasma as a result of the laser shots, in such a manner that for each acquired spectrum, an acquisition period begins no later than 100 ns after firing the laser shot; and analyzing the particles present in the plasma on the basis of the emission spectra. A system for detecting and/or analyzing particles by performing the method. |
| US09506865B2 |
Array optics
An instrument is disclosed with a lens system including an objective lens system. The objective lens system is disposed between a light source and the plurality of reaction regions. The objective lens system includes a field lens array, and a pupil plane, wherein the pupil plane and the light source are located on opposite sides of the field lens array. The field lens array is disposed between the light source and the plurality of reaction regions, the field lens array including a plurality of field lens array elements, wherein the radius of the curvature, the thickness and the position of the center of the curvature of any one field lens array element in the field lens array is variable and is disposed in a light beam path between the light source and the reaction regions such that any one of the field lens array elements is capable of imaging a pupil stop located between the light source and the field lens array to a pupil located on the pupil plane, wherein an array of pupils located on the pupil plane is generated by the field lens array. |
| US09506863B2 |
Automotive fogging analysis by xenon UV exposure
Processes and apparatuses are provided for the liberation of one or more volatile organic compounds from a test sample. The processes include exposing a sample to light of a wavelength less than 400 nm, subjecting the sample to heat, and collecting one or more volatile organic compounds produced from the sample. The volatile organic compounds are detected by any of various methods, and are optionally identified by methods such as FTIR. The processes and apparatus provide for improved detection of relevant volatile organic compounds that are otherwise undetectable by traditional processes. |
| US09506848B2 |
Frequency doubling antenna sensor for wireless strain and crack sensing
A strain and crack sensor senses an amount of strain induced in an object. A receiving planar antenna has a first resonant frequency and is configured to receive a querying signal at the first resonant frequency. A transmitting planar antenna has a second resonant frequency that is twice the first resonant frequency. At least one of the receiving planar antenna and the transmitting planar antenna is bonded to the object so that at least one of strain induced in the object or a crack formed in the object causes a shift in at least one of the first resonant frequency or the second resonant frequency. A matching element is in electrical communication with the first planar antenna and the second planar antenna. The matching element is configured to cause the transmitting planar antenna to radiate a response signal in response to the querying signal. |
| US09506846B2 |
High definition nanomaterials
A microfluidic device for manipulating particles can include a substrate and one or more obstacles, each obstacle comprising a plurality of aligned nanostructures including a plurality of nanoparticles or a plurality of polymer layers, or a combination thereof. The obstacle on a substrate can be forests with intra-carbon nanotube spacing ranging between 5-100 nm for isolation of particles such as very small viruses and proteins. |
| US09506843B2 |
Personal nanoparticle respiratory depositions sampler and methods of using the same
A personally portable nanoparticle respiratory deposition (NRD) sampler configured to collect nanoparticles based upon a sampling criterion. In an aspect, the NRD sampler has an impactor stage, and a diffusion stage. In another aspect, the NRD sampler includes a particle size separator in addition to an impactor stage and a diffusion stage. |
| US09506840B2 |
Marking device for use with a tire testing machine
A marking device of the present invention includes a sequence of two belt conveyers for conveying a tire after undergoing a test by a tire testing machine, a pair of laser sensors each installed in a predetermined position in a conveyance direction of the tire by the belt conveyer, and adapted to detect an edge of the tire, and a controller for controlling a motor for driving the belt conveyer based on an output from the laser sensor. The controller is operable to convey the tire by a conveyance distance calculated based on a distance from an installing position of the laser sensor to a print position, an outer diameter of the tire and a predetermined mark position when the edge of the tire is detected by the laser sensor, and then to stop the tire, whereby the mark position of the tire is aligned with the print position. |
| US09506838B2 |
Bi-directional multi-pulsewidth optical time-domain reflectometer
There is provided a bi-directional optical reflectometric method for characterizing an optical fiber link. The method comprises: performing at least one forward-direction light acquisition from one end of the optical fiber link and performing at least one backward-direction light acquisition from the opposite end, wherein each light acquisition is performed by propagating at least one test light signal corresponding to given spatial resolution and detecting corresponding return light so as to obtain a reflectometric trace representing backscattered and reflected light as a function of a distance on the optical fiber link, and wherein said forward-direction light acquisition and said backward-direction light acquisition are performed with mutually different spatial resolutions; and deriving a value of at least one parameter characterizing an event at a location along said optical fiber link at least using the forward-direction light acquisition and the backward-direction light acquisition performed with mutually different spatial resolutions. |
| US09506837B2 |
Toric intraocular lens measurement apparatus and method
An apparatus for determining the angular error in the placement of fiducial marks on a toric intraocular lens with respect to the true location of a meridional axis of the intraocular lens, the fiducial marks defining an estimate of the angular orientation of the meridional axis of the intraocular is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable intraocular lens holder coupled to drive assembly and an actuator which are mounted into an optical measurement cell receptacle of a wavefront measuring instrument or an angular error measuring instrument. A method for determining the angular error in the placement of fiducial marks on a toric intraocular lens with respect to the true location of a meridional axis of the intraocular lens is also disclosed. |
| US09506828B2 |
Passive pressure sensing
A pressure sensor for sensing pressure of a fluid includes a diaphragm separator and a flexure structure. The diaphragm separator exerts an imparted force on the flexure structure, where the imparted force is proportional to fluid pressure exerted on the flexure structure. The pressure sensor further includes a piezoelectric resonator. A first resonator interface section of the flexure structure is in contact with a first edge of the piezoelectric resonator. A second resonator interface section of the flexure structure is in contact with a second edge of the piezoelectric resonator. The first edge and the second edge are opposite narrow edges of the piezoelectric resonator. The flexure structure exerts a load proportional to the imparted force onto the first edge of the piezoelectric resonator. |
| US09506827B2 |
Pressure sensors and methods of making the same
A pressure sensor assembly comprising: three stacked silicon wafers which form a support, a sensor and a cover wherein the sensor includes a cavity extending from the bottom of the sensor up towards the top of the sensor to form a cavity bottom and a diaphragm; a dielectric layer covering the bottom of the sensor and the cavity and wherein the support is coupled to the dielectric layer along the bottom of the sensor; a plurality of ports located on a top of the support within an area defined by the cavity, the plurality of ports extending through the support to its bottom and wherein the cover is coupled to the top of the sensor covering the diaphragm; and, a second cavity cut into a bottom of the cover wherein the second cavity is sized and positioned to surround the diaphragm. |
| US09506821B1 |
System and method for controlling fan speed
A method and computer program product for determining an internal temperature of a computing device, a power consumption factor for the computing device, and an airflow factor for the computing device. An approximated ambient air temperature is generated based upon the internal temperature, power consumption factor, and the airflow factor. A workload factor is determined for the computing device and a fan speed for the computing device is controlled based at least in part upon the approximated ambient air temperature and the workload factor. |
| US09506820B1 |
Detection of melt adjacent to the exterior of the bushing in an induction channel furnace
Apparatus and method are provided for the detection of melt adjacent to the exterior of a bushing in an induction channel furnace. An electrically conductive mesh is disposed around the exterior surface of the bushing facing a refractory that separates the bushing from a channel in which molten metal (melt) flows. The mesh is connected to a grounded voltage source so that when an electrically conductive melt at ground potential in the channel breaches the refractory and penetrates the electrically conductive mesh an electrical circuit is completed through the melt and the grounded voltage source. |
| US09506819B2 |
Fast response temperature measurement within a gas turbine
A fast response temperature probe which may be used for a method for measuring an instantaneous temperature of a periodically changing fluid flow within a gas turbine is proposed. The temperature probe includes a substrate and a resistive element arranged at a surface of the substrate. Therein, at least at a surface of the substrate contacting the resistive element, the substrate comprises an insulating material having a thermal product of less than 1.5 kJ/(m2K sqrt(s)). The substrate or at least its surface is made from polyamide-imide such as for example fiber-reinforced Torlon© 5030. The temperature probe may allow measurements of instantaneous local temperatures of very fast fluctuations of more than 50 kHz at high spatial resolutions of, e.g., less than 0.5 mm2. The instantaneous temperature of a periodically changing fluid flow may be determined by correlating first and second sets of temperature measurements taking into account the periodicity of the periodically changing fluid flow. |
| US09506814B2 |
Mounting clip for battery temperature sensor
A mounting clip for a battery temperature sensor holds a temperature sensor including a sensor main body and a projection portion, and is mounted to a mounting hole of a battery case. The clip includes a holding portion allowing the temperature sensor to be internally inserted and held; a leg portion hanging from the holding portion, allowing the temperature sensor to pass through, and allowing to be inserted into the mounting hole; and an engagement portion protruding from the leg portion, to be engaged with the case when inserted into the mounting hole. In the clip, an operation portion extending from the engagement portion, and allowing an engagement of the engagement portion with the case to be released, is provided. |
| US09506811B2 |
Method and apparatus for the multi-modal accurate temperature measurement and representation of temperature-controlled stored goods
Methods and systems for determining a temperature of goods in a temperature controlled unit are disclosed. Raw temperature data is received for a first iteration. The raw temperature data indicates an air temperature inside the temperature controlled unit at the first iteration. A property value for a good stored in the temperature controlled unit is obtained. Based on the raw temperature data for the first iteration and the property value for the good, a first adjusted stored goods temperature is determined for the good. The first adjusted stored goods temperature for the good represents a first internal temperature of the good. Additional iterations are performed, where raw temperature data is received for a second iteration. Based on the raw temperature for the second iteration and the property value for the good, a second adjusted stored goods temperature is determined. |
| US09506810B2 |
Measuring transducer having two transmission channels
The inventions herein include a measuring transducer, having a first transmission channel which conditions an analogue measurement input signal in an analogue manner and makes it available as a conditioned measurement signal. In addition, the measuring transducer may have a second transmission channel which conditions the analogue measurement input signal and makes it available as an influencing signal, wherein the conditioned measurement signal and the influencing signal are combined and made available as a measurement output signal. In a further embodiment of the inventions herein, a measuring system has a temperature sensor and a measuring transducer according to the present innovations. |
| US09506808B2 |
Handpiece with integrated optical system for photothermal radiometry and luminescence measurements
An apparatus is provided for performing photothermal measurements on a object. The apparatus, which may be provided as a handpiece, houses optical components including a laser, an infrared detector, a dichroic beamsplitter, and focusing and beam directing optics for the delivery of a laser beam to, and the collection of photothermal radiation from, a measured object. Some of the optical components may be provided on an optical bench that is directly attached to a thermally conductive tip portion for the passive heat sinking of internal optical components. The apparatus may further include a sampling optical element and a photodetector for the detection of luminescence, and a camera for obtaining an image of the object during a diagnostic procedure. The apparatus may be employed for the scanning of a tooth to determine an oral health status of the tooth. |
| US09506806B2 |
Polarization information acquisition unit, image pickup apparatus including the same, polarization information acquisition method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An polarization information acquisition unit includes a phase adjuster configured to adjust phases of two linearly polarized components of incident light, which oscillate in directions orthogonal to each other, a detector configured to transmit a polarized component oscillating in one direction and not to transmit a polarized component oscillating in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, the polarized components being included in light emitted from the phase adjuster, and a photoelectric convertor configured to photoelectrically convert a polarized component transmitted through the detector. The phase adjuster has at least three areas. The at least three areas include at least two areas having phase adjusting amounts different from each other, and at least two areas having an identical phase adjusting amounts and having slow axes whose directions are different from each other by 20 to 90 degrees inclusive. |
| US09506804B2 |
Open path gas detector
In implementations, an open path gas detector is disclosed that can include imaging or non-imaging optical components. The detector can include components that allow for misalignment of radiation received by the detector of about 1 without causing false alarms. In implementations, the detector can include a beam splitter or a wavelength-division multiplexing filter to allow for more of the radiation received by the detector to be detected by the sensors. |
| US09506799B2 |
Liquid level detection device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a liquid level detection device with excellent bonding strength between components. This liquid level detection device is provided with a holder which has a magnet inside and which rotates in response to displacement of a float floating in the liquid the level of which is to be measured, a main body unit which rotatably supports the holder and has a magnetic detection element which detects magnetic pole change accompanying rotational movement of the magnet, and a cover which covers the holder and which is attached by welding to the main body unit to prevent the holder from falling away from the main body unit. The cover is welded to the main body unit by melting protrusions formed on the main body unit. |
| US09506795B2 |
Wireless tank level monitoring
A tank level monitoring system with wireless transmission capability. The monitoring system includes a wireless tank monitor for level sensing and connected to one or more float level switches. The system regularly measures the level of fluid in a tank, but may change the measurement rate based upon the float switch. This system actively monitors conditions of a tank and alerts a user when conditions exceed a predetermined parameter. |
| US09506794B2 |
Flow rate measuring device
A flow rate measuring device includes: a bypass passage; a flow rate detecting element; and a flow rate measuring circuit. The bypass passage includes: an inflow port; an outflow port; and a plurality of bent portions. The plurality of bent portions include first to third bent portions for forming U-shapes, and a fourth bent portion for bending the bypass passage bent at the third bent portion so as to be parallel to a mainstream flowing direction. The flow rate detecting element is arranged inside the bypass passage in a part after bending at the fourth bent portion. A route connecting the inflow port and the flow rate detecting element as a straight line is blocked by an inner wall surface of the bypass passage on an outer peripheral side, which is formed between the first bent portion and the second bent portion. |
| US09506791B2 |
Operating a high accuracy thermal anemometer flow meter in gas stream containing liquid droplets
A method is provided to operate a thermal anemometer flow meter to measure a property of a stream. The method includes measuring a first heat loss to the stream from operating at a first DeltaT above a temperature of the stream, measuring a second heat loss to the stream from operating at a second DeltaT above the temperature of the stream where the second DeltaT being greater than the first DeltaT. The method further includes determining the property of the stream based on the first and the second heat losses. |
| US09506790B2 |
Transducer mini-horn array for ultrasonic flow meter
A monolithic matching structure for use in an ultrasonic transducer. The matching structure includes a mini-horn array. The mini-horn array includes a back plate, a plurality of horns, and a front plate. The plurality of horns extend from the back plate. Each of the horns includes a base and a neck. The base is adjacent the back plate. The neck extends from the base. Transverse area of the base is larger than transverse area of the neck. The front plate is adjacent the neck of each of the horns. |
| US09506785B2 |
Remote flow rate measuring
The methods and systems described herein can be used for remote measuring of flow rate from a multitude of different flow meters without requiring each flow meter to be capable of onboard processing and displaying of flow rate information. A single electronic device can be used to remotely measure the flow rate of a multitude of different flow meters. |
| US09506783B2 |
Robotic heliostat calibration system and method
A robotic controller for autonomous calibration and inspection of two or more solar surfaces wherein the robotic controller includes a drive system to position itself near a solar surface such that onboard sensors may be utilized to gather information about the solar surface. An onboard communication unit relays information to a central processing network, this processor combines new information with stored historical data to calibrate a solar surface and/or to determine its instantaneous health. |
| US09506782B2 |
Apparatus and method for applying a load to a material
A method of controlling a system using a hybrid feedback signal includes providing an input signal with a predetermined waveform to the system and measuring an output of the system with a sensor. An output signal of the sensor is used in a first frequency band as a first portion of a feedback signal. A simulated signal is created in a second frequency band that has one or more of substantially reduced (i) resonances, (ii) phase delay and (iii) noise when compared to the output signal of the sensor in the second frequency band. The simulated signal is used in the second frequency band as a second portion of the feedback signal. |
| US09506781B2 |
Vehicle information display and method
An information display system for a hybrid electric vehicle configured to display one or more reasons an engine is on is provided. The information display system also indicates how close the engine is to turning on due to an engine on reason by displaying a proximity indicator representing a value associated with the engine on reason and a threshold demarcating values which cause the engine to be on. |
| US09506778B2 |
Linear encoder
A linear encoder includes a plate-type scale and a head which moves along the longitudinal direction of the scale. The scale has graduations formed on a surface of the scale and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the scale. The head includes a reading part which detects an amount of a relative movement of the head with respect to the scale by reading graduations formed on the scale. The head includes four bearings each having a rotation axis extending along the transverse direction of the scale. Each of the bearings is situated on the head so as to abut against a surface of the scale, to function as a spacer to maintain a distance between the scale and the head. The scale acts as a plate member interposed between the reading part and the graduations. |
| US09506776B2 |
Adaptive sampling of smart meter data
In an approach for adaptive sampling of smart meter data, a computer retrieves one or more balancing constraints associated with one or more smart meter sensors. The computer retrieves meter sensor data from the one or more smart meter sensors according to the one or more balancing constraints. The computer determines a subsample of the meter sensor data, and then transmits the subsample of the meter sensor data to an optimization engine for use in solving an optimization problem. |
| US09506774B2 |
Method of inputting a path for a vehicle and trailer
A method of inputting a path is provided. The method includes the steps of generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on at least one of image data and satellite image data, displaying the aerial view on a display having a touch screen, and registering a touch event on the touch screen that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer. |
| US09506769B2 |
System and method for familiarity-based navigation
Methods and systems to provide navigational assistance to a traveler. Given a start point and a destination, one or more routes may be generated using routes, or segments thereof, that are familiar to the traveler. This provides a route from the start point to the destination where at least some of the route is familiar to the traveler. Such a route may then be provided to the traveler. A description of the route may be provided in the form of a map and/or verbal or written directions. In alternative embodiments, landmarks may be incorporated into the route description as a way of assisting the traveler. In embodiments, difficult driving maneuvers may be highlighted in the description of the route. The description may point out that a given difficult maneuver is similar to a maneuver that the traveler has previously encountered, and remind the traveler of the location where this maneuver was previously seen. |
| US09506768B2 |
Adaptive route proposals based on prior rides
User input including a start location and an end location of a desired ride may be received. A database may be searched for completed routes matching the user input. The completed routes may include location information and travel time information associated with the completed routes. Upon identifying one or more matched completed routes, a route proposal for the desired ride may be generated based on the one or more matched completed routes. |
| US09506765B2 |
Method and system for calculating an energy efficient route
A method and system for calculating an energy efficient route is disclosed. A route calculation application calculates one or more routes from an origin to a destination. For each of the routes, the route calculation application uses segment cost data associated with each segment in the route. The segment cost is calculated by adjusting an energy consumption value by subtracting a bias term for each segment with known slope data. The bias term causes segment costs associated with segments having a slope that can be traveled with typical efficiency, a zero slope, and an unknown slope to be substantially the same. The bias term also causes the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that can be traveled efficiently to be less than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope, and the segment cost associated with a segment with a slope that causes inefficient travel to be greater than the segment cost associated with a segment with unknown slope. |
| US09506764B2 |
System and method of generating a route across an electronic map
A computerized method of generating a route 1000 from an origin position F1 to a destination position 706 across an electronic map 700 comprising a plurality of vectors representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the electronic map 700, the method comprising: (1) obtaining delay data indicating delays on vectors within the area covered by the electronic map 700; (2) calculating a first portion 1002 of a route from origin position toward the destination position 706 using a first routing method up to a predetermined threshold 1006 from the origin position F1, such that the first routing method uses the delay data so that the first portion 1002 of the route takes into account delays; and (3) calculating a second portion 1004 of the route beyond the predetermined threshold 1006 to the destination position 706 using a second routing method to further calculate the route to the destination position 1006. |
| US09506763B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing aggregated notifications for travel segments
An approach is provided for determining a plurality of notifications associated with one or more curved sections of at least one travel segment. The approach involves causing, at least in part, an aggregation of the plurality of notifications into at least one aggregated notification based, at least in part, on a road distance threshold between the one or more curved sections. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a presentation of the at least one aggregated notification in place of separately presenting the plurality of notifications. |
| US09506761B2 |
Method and apparatus for indoor position tagging
A system and method for position tagging within an environment includes at least one mobile electronic device adapted to be moved within the environment and a pedestrian dead reckoning module. The at least one mobile electronic device includes an inertial measurement unit and at least one of a near field communication chip, barcode scanner, global positioning system, Bluetooth receiver or WiFi receiver. The pedestrian dead reckoning module is adapted to query and record time stamped readings from the inertial measurement unit and the at least one of the near field communication chip, barcode scanner, global positioning system, Bluetooth receiver or WiFi receiver. The system and method may generate one or more spatial maps of the environment through the collection of radio frequency signal data along with the time stamped readings. |
| US09506751B2 |
Solar battery wireless inclinometer
An inclinometer that provides inclination data of a walking beam in a rod pumping system includes a cover including an indented portion external to the inclinometer. The cover is attached to a chassis which together provide an internal area. Magnets are attached to a bottom of the chassis to magnetically attach the inclinometer to the walking beam. A power supply within the internal area includes a power storage and a charger. A solar panel is disposed in the indented portion of the cover and electrically connects to the power supply through a hole in the cover. Beam angle sensor circuitry measures an inclination of the walking beam and transmits corresponding inclination measurement data via an antenna in the internal area. The power supply is configured to supply power to this beam angle sensor circuitry. |
| US09506744B2 |
Triangulation scanner and camera for augmented reality
A method of combining 2D images into a 3D image includes providing a coordinate measurement device and a triangulation scanner having an integral camera associated therewith, the scanner being separate from the coordinate measurement device. In a first instance, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner and the integral camera captures a first 2D image. In a second instance, the scanner is moved, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner, and the integral camera captures a second 2D image. A cardinal point common to the first and second images is found and is used, together with the first and second images and the positions and orientations of the scanner in the first and second instances, to create the 3D image. |
| US09506743B2 |
Position measuring apparatus, position measuring method, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus to measure the position of a mark, the apparatus including an objective lens to direct radiation on a mark using radiation supplied by an illumination arrangement; an optical arrangement to receive radiation diffracted and specularly reflected by the mark, wherein the optical arrangement is configured to provide a first image and a second image, the first image being formed by coherently adding specularly reflected radiation and positive diffraction order radiation and the second image being formed by coherently adding specularly reflected radiation and negative diffraction order radiation; and a detection arrangement to detect variation in an intensity of radiation of the first and second images and to calculate a position of the mark in a direction of measurement therefrom. |
| US09506740B2 |
System and method for calibrated spectral domain optical coherence tomography and low coherence interferometry
Systems and methods for enhancing spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT] are provided. In particular, a system and method for calibration of spectral interference signals using an acquired calibration signal are provided. The calibration signal may be logarithmically amplified to further improve the accuracy of the calibration. From the calibration signal, a series of more accurate calibration data are calculated. An acquired spectral interference signal is calibrated using these calibration data. Moreover, systems that include logarithmic amplification of the spectral interference signal and variable band-pass filtering of the spectral interference signal are provided. Such systems increase the dynamic range and visualization capabilities relative to conventional spectral domain OCT systems. |
| US09506733B2 |
Explosive matrix assembly
The present disclosure is an explosive matrix assembly that has a first single detonating cord formed into a first grid. The grid has a first plurality of detonating cord portions lying in a first plane and a second plurality of detonating cord portions lying in a second plane and the first plurality of detonating cord portions perpendicularly overlay the second plurality of detonating portions. The explosive matrix assembly further has a second single detonating cord formed into a second grid. The second grid has a third plurality of detonating cord portions lying in the first plane and a fourth plurality of detonating cord portions lying in the second plane and the third plurality of detonating cord portions perpendicularly overlay the second plurality of detonating portions. The first grid is coupled to the second grid via a fastener. |
| US09506727B2 |
Armoured window construction
An armored window construction for a window opening of a body of a vehicle includes a bullet resistant pane, an armored inner frame arranged inside of the vehicle and overlapping at least part of a peripheral area of the bullet resistant pane, and a mounting frame for mounting the inner frame on the bullet resistant pane. The mounting frame is arranged within a peripheral step of the bullet resistant pane. The mounting frame includes a first part fixed on an inner surface of an outer glass pane of the bullet resistant pane within the peripheral step, and mounting protrusions protruding from the first part. The inner frame is fixed on the mounting protrusions. The first part of the mounting frame is pressed against a lowered window rabbet on an outside surface of the body of the vehicle. |
| US09506726B2 |
Accessory mounting system for firearms
A firearm having a mounting surface which can include a recess formed on a slide of a pistol. The recess includes mounting posts and a plurality of sights include matching openings and fasteners so that mounting platforms of the plurality of sights can be mounted in the recess in a fixed orientation. The sights of the plurality of sights are movable relative to the platform but the platform is fixed with respect to the recess so that the platform is fixed with respect to the mounting surface. The recess is sized such that optical sights are aligned with original fixed sights. |
| US09506721B2 |
Firearm mount with sight module
A firearm mount for a firearm includes a mounting body, a sight module, and a mounting interface. The mounting body has a first mounting face adapted for detachably coupling with the firearm and an opposed second mounting face. The sight module is supported by the mounting body between the first and second mounting faces thereof. The mounting interface is provided at the second mounting face of the mounting body to define a mounting direction aligning with a barrel axis of the firearm. |
| US09506719B2 |
Velocity aligned throwable object
A VATO comprises a blade, a handle, a stabilizing assembly, and a spherical weight. In a preferred embodiment, the spherical weight makes up a significant portion of the overall weight of the VATO. The spherical weight is positioned between the blade and the handle, and the stabilizing assembly is attached to a rear portion of the handle. When the VATO is thrown, a velocity vector is established in the direction of the trajectory of the VATO. The stabilizing assembly produces aerodynamic drag which assists in keeping the blade oriented in a forward position with respect to the trajectory of the VATO. The spherical weight is permitted to freely rotate thereby enabling the blade, the handle and the stabilizing assembly to independently rotate into alignment with the trajectory of the VATO such that the blade is in a forward position as the VATO strikes a target. |
| US09506715B2 |
Crossbow trigger assembly
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a trigger assembly for use in a crossbow. The trigger assembly includes a floating sear that is able to translate with a cable catch as the cable catch is rotated and also may rotate relative to the cable catch. As the cable catch moves from an uncocked position to a cocked position, the floating sear engages a pivot beam that is engaged with a trigger mechanism. |
| US09506714B1 |
Adjustable pulley assembly for a compound archery bow
A pulley assembly for a compound bow comprises a draw cable pulley and a dual-groove power module attached to the draw cable pulley and adjustable among one or more positions and two orientations. A power cable is taken up into one of the two grooves depending on the power module orientation. Changing the power module orientation the power module position alters one or more of the bow's draw force curve, stored energy, draw length, or draw weight. |
| US09506713B2 |
Firearm cover for attachment to a firearm with a scope mounted thereto
A firearm cover for attachment to a firearm with a scope mounted thereto is disclosed herein. The firearm cover may include a barrel cover, a stock cover attached to the barrel cover, and a rotatable hood attached to the stock cover. The rotatable hood may include a first configuration disposed about the scope and a second configuration rotated away from the scope. |
| US09506703B1 |
Firearm charging handle
A charging handle for a firearm having an elongate member, a bolt engaging element at a forward end, a handle portion at a rearward end, the handle portion including a first projection from the elongate member and a second projection from the elongate member opposing the first projection, the first projection having a first surface defining an elongate opening at least partially therethrough extending substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate member and configured to receive a first end of a lanyard, and the second projection having at least one surface defining a pivot point opening with a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, and a latch having a surface defining a first opening therethrough, where the latch pivots around a pivot pin positioned through the pivot opening and the first opening through the latch. |
| US09506699B2 |
Heat pipe structure
A heat pipe structure includes a main body having a chamber. The chamber has a first side and a second side. A first capillary structure and a second capillary structure are respectively disposed on the first and second sides. A working fluid is filled in the chamber. The first capillary structure has a radial extension range larger than or equal to one half of a circumference of inner wall face of the chamber and larger than a radial extension range of the second capillary structure. The first and second capillary structures are connected with each other. The first and second capillary structures and the inner wall face of the chamber together define at least one vapor passage. By means of the heat pipe structure, the amount of transferred heat is increased and the heat transfer efficiency is greatly enhanced. |
| US09506697B2 |
Methods and systems for cooling buildings with large heat loads using desiccant chillers
A system for providing cooling to a building includes a cooling tower for transferring waste heat from the building to the atmosphere and a liquid desiccant system for dehumidifying an air stream entering the cooling tower to increase cooling efficiency of the cooling tower. The liquid desiccant system includes a conditioner and a regenerator. The conditioner utilizes a liquid desiccant for dehumidifying the air stream entering the cooling tower. The regenerator is connected to the conditioner for receiving dilute liquid desiccant from the conditioner, concentrating the dilute liquid desiccant using waste heat from the building, and returning concentrated liquid desiccant to the conditioner. |
| US09506694B2 |
Turbo drying by air knife
A device for drying a work piece, preferably in the form of a shrink fit chuck, that previously been subjected to an application of a liquid and is essentially rotationally symmetrical around a longitudinal axis of the work piece; the device has at least one air-conducting device that encompasses the work piece in order to convey an air flow in the direction along the longitudinal axis of the work piece and has at least one blower device that directs a radial air flow at the work piece. |
| US09506693B2 |
Grain dryers with selectable ducts for cooling
A grain dryer has a grain column configured to receive grain to be dried and ducts extending from a first wall of the grain column to a second wall of the grain column. The grain dryer is configured so that different numbers of the ducts are selectable for handling cooling air used for cooling the grain. |
| US09506689B2 |
Pivoting mullion for a temperature-controlled storage device
A pivoting mullion for a temperature-controlled storage device is provided. The pivoting mullion includes a mullion body pivotally attached to a display case door of the temperature-controlled storage device. The mullion body is rotatable relative to the display case door between a first position when the display case door is open and a second position when the display case door is closed. The mullion body is configured to provide a support surface against which the display case door rests when the mullion body is in the second position and the display case door is closed. The pivoting mullion further includes a lighting element fixed to the mullion body and configured to activate when the display case door is closed. Activation of the lighting element illuminates items within the temperature-controlled storage device such that the items are visible through the display case door when the display case door is closed. |
| US09506687B2 |
Refrigeration device
Disclosed is a refrigeration device, comprising: a shell (1) having an open top portion; a door body (2) configured to open and close the shell (1) and pivotally connected to the top portion of the shell (1), in which the door body (2) comprises a door liner (21), a groove (211) recessed upwardly is formed on a lower surface of the door liner (21); a door seal (3), in which an upper portion of the door seal (3) is snapped in the groove (211), a lower portion of the door seal (3) is pressed against the top portion of the shell (1) hermetically when the door body (2) is closed, and an air passage (4) is formed between the door seal (3) and the groove (211) when the door body (2) is subjected to an upward external force. |
| US09506682B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a main body that defines a storage space, a door configured to open or close the storage space, and a dispenser located in the door and configured to dispense cooled water and purified water. The refrigerator also includes a purified water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the purified water, a cooled water input part that inputs a command for dispensing the cooled water, and a dispensing amount input part that sets an amount of purified water to be dispensed based on the purified water being selected through the purified water input part. The refrigerator further includes a filter device located within the storage space to purify water supplied from a water supply source, and a water tank storing water that has passed through the filter device in a cooled state. |
| US09506680B2 |
Ice making apparatus and refrigerator having the same
Disclosed is an ice making apparatus and a refrigerator having the same. The refrigerator includes an ice making tray in which ice cubes are made, an ejector to discharge the ice cubes from the ice making tray, an ice bin to store the ice cubes discharged by the ejector, an auger to move the ice cubes in the ice bin, a first drive unit to provide the ejector with rotational force, a second drive unit to provide the auger with rotational force, an emitter to output optical signals so as to sense whether or not the ice cubes in the ice bin are at a full ice level, and a receiver to receive the optical signals output from the emitter, wherein any one of the emitter and the receiver is installed at the first drive unit, and the other one is installed at the second drive unit. |
| US09506678B2 |
Active refrigerant charge compensation for refrigeration and air conditioning systems
A variable refrigerant charge refrigeration/air conditioner system is described that allows the refrigerant charge for the system to be altered based on operating or environmental factors. The system includes a main refrigerant loop holding a volume of refrigerant corresponding to a first level of refrigerant charge, a compressor in the main refrigerant loop, a condenser in the main refrigerant loop, and an evaporator in the main refrigerant loop. A branch refrigerant loop allows the alteration of the refrigerant charge using a control valve in the branch refrigerant loop and a receiver in the branch refrigerant loop. The receiver acts to hold a volume of refrigerant when the control valve is open, thereby removing the volume of refrigerant from the main refrigerant loop. A return path from the receiver to the main refrigerant loop allows refrigerant to flow back into the main loop from the receiver. |
| US09506672B2 |
Fastening system, in particular for components of photovoltaic systems
A fastening system, in particular for components of photovoltaic systems, preferably on roof surfaces of buildings, includes providing a support surface (1) and at least one fastening component (7, 19) of loops and/or other interlocking elements on the support surface. After applying the fastening component (7, 19) in the mounted state of the support surface (1), at least one other corresponding fastening component (7, 19) provided with other interlocking elements can be detachably connected to the fastening components (7, 19) on the support surface. |
| US09506664B2 |
Humidifier
A humidifier may be provided that includes a main body having a discharge part, a base on which the main body is seated, a tray seated on the base to store water, a disk assembly seated on the tray to humidify air, a filter assembly disposed in the main body to filter the humidified air, and a fan disposed at a downstream side of the filter assembly. |
| US09506659B2 |
Hyper-condensate recycler
A system for heating a facility is provided. The system includes a first inlet from a district heating system. A heating system is arranged having a condensate outlet. A hyper-condensate recycler is provided having a second inlet coupled to the condensate outlet and a third inlet coupled to the first inlet. The hyper-condensate recycler includes a first outlet. A separator having a fourth inlet is coupled to the first outlet, the separator further having a second outlet fluidly coupled to the first inlet. |
| US09506657B2 |
Oven preheat boost using cooktop lockout
An oven range appliance is provided with features for locking out one or more cooktop elements of the oven range to boost preheat performance and thereby decrease the time required to preheat the cooking chamber of the oven range. A method for operating an oven range appliance also is provided. The method includes features for locking out one or more cooktop elements of the oven range to boost preheat performance and thereby decrease the time required to preheat the cooking chamber of the oven range. |
| US09506645B1 |
70 CFM bath fan with recessed can and telescoping side suspension brackets
Apparatus, systems and methods of 70 (seventy) CFM (cubic feet per minute) ventilation fans for bathrooms with recessed can with light and having the motor partially inside and beneath the blower wheel. A housing for the bath fan can be attached to joists in the ceiling by a long telescoping mounting brackets. The motor and blower wheel can be attached to a mounting plate inside of the housing, which can be removed as a single unit to allow the motor to be easily replaced or repaired, and also to allow for the inside of the housing to be inspected during and after installation of the exhaust fan. A ring about the light can have vents that receive incoming air into the fan, which is exhausted therefrom by the blower. Seals such as elastomeric rings can seal the bottom of the can to the light, and the top end of the can to the decorative ring shaped pan. A vertical panel can separate a first compartment having the motor and blower from a second adjacent compartment having the light. |
| US09506644B2 |
Ceiling fan lighting system
A ceiling fan lighting system includes a fan assembly, a light assembly and a lift mechanism. The fan assembly includes a motor and a plurality of fan blades being operationally coupled to the motor to permit rotation of the fan blades when the motor is supplied with power. The light assembly is coupled to the fan assembly and has at least one light source and a lamp shade enclosing the light source. Moreover, the lift mechanism is configured to move the light assembly in a vertical plane with respect to the fan assembly in order to have the lamp shade of the light assembly enclose or disclose the fan blades of the fan assembly. |
| US09506642B2 |
LED light module and LED chip
An LED light module and an LED chip are provided. LED wafers (1) are provided on one side of a heat spreading plate (3) made of copper, aluminum or copper-aluminum composite material with a thickness of more than 0.4 mm and with an area of 5 times of the sum area of the LED wafers larger to reduce the heat-flux density. A high-voltage insulation plate (2) made of a ceramic wafer with a thickness of more than 0.15 mm is provided on the other side of the heat spreading plate (3). The heat spreading plate (3) is separated and insulated by an outer layer insulator (4) with the high-voltage insulation plate (2). This kind design can effectively reduce the internal conduction thermal resistance and raise the insulation strength, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced effectively also. |
| US09506632B2 |
Light-emitting module, and illumination light source and illumination device using same
A light-emitting module includes a substrate, and elongated light-emitting units arranged in rows on the substrate. Each light-emitting unit includes an element array of light-emitting elements arranged on the substrate and a sealing member sealing the element array. The sealing member contains a wavelength converting material. When the light-emitting units are viewed from a direction that is parallel to a surface on which the plurality of light-emitting units are arranged and coincides with a row direction being a direction along which the light-emitting units are arranged in rows, two of the light-emitting units are arranged such that portions of one of the two light-emitting units nearer to the center in the row direction are visible without being obstructed by the other light-emitting unit. |
| US09506629B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing holes through portions of a housing of an electronic device
Electronic devices are provided with housing components that have improved aesthetics. One or more holes may be formed through an extruded portion of the housing. |
| US09506626B2 |
White light illumination device
An illumination device for generating white light is provided. The device includes a converter and a filter. The converter has a Ce:YAG ceramic, which converts blue excitation light into yellow light of a color location near the white point in the chromaticity diagram. The filter attenuates a light fraction below 530 nm so as to obtain the white light. |
| US09506624B2 |
Lamp having lens element for distributing light
Embodiments of a lamp that distributes light from one or more light emitting diode (LED) devices with an intensity distribution having a batwing appearance. These embodiments can comprise a lens having a lens body with different types of optics to achieve the preferred distribution. In one example, the lens body has a first section with optics that embody a plurality of prismatic facets and a second section with optics that form a convex shape, curving outward relative to the LED device. |
| US09506619B2 |
Signaling lamps for motor vehicle
An optical device is incorporated into an external part of a motor vehicle and comprises at least one sub-assembly including a light curtain or light curtain plus light guide and, on either side thereof, transparent plates each of which has at least one part being transparent and at least one other part being semi-transparent. At least one light source is connected to an electric source and emits rays of light that spread in a thickness of the light curtain or light curtain plus light guide. The sub-assembly and light source are incorporated into a housing, and the optical device collaborates with at least one lamp incorporated into a body-shell of the vehicle or LED on a suitable plate included in a sub-housing incorporated into the housing and emits rays of light through at least a portion of the light curtain or light curtain plus light guide that is transparent. |
| US09506616B2 |
Vehicle headlamp
A vehicle headlamp is provided with: a reflector having reflecting surfaces made of a parabola-based free curved face; and semiconductor-type light sources having a light emitting chip shaped like a planar rectangle. The reflecting surfaces 2U, 2D are made up of: a first reflecting surface forming a high luminous intensity zone; a second reflecting surface forming a middle luminous intensity zone; and a third reflecting surface forming a low luminous intensity zone. As a result, the vehicle headlamp allows downsizing, weight reduction, and cost reduction. In addition, precision of assembling optical elements can be improved. |
| US09506615B2 |
Motor vehicle headlamp having a multi-function projection module
A motor vehicle headlamp (10) including a multi-function projection module (14), which is designed to convert light from a first light source (16) into a first light distribution (34) by means of a first primary lens system (18) in a first beam path bounded by an aperture edge (26), and to focus light from a second light source (20) into a beam waist (44) and convert the light into a second light distribution by means of a second primary lens system (22) in a second beam path. The second light distribution has a predetermined central point (56). The projection module includes a mirror (30), which is arranged in the second beam path between the beam waist (44) and the projection lens (28) in such a way that the mirror produces a virtual mirror image of the beam waist (44) at the focal point of the projection lens. |
| US09506610B2 |
Single-line string lamp
The present invention relates to a single-line string lamp, comprising a plurality of lamp bodies connected in series and a plurality of lead wire segments used for connecting two adjacent lamp bodies or connecting the lamp bodies with power connectors, wherein a conductive element is fixed at the end, which is connected with the corresponding lamp body, of each lead wire segment, and each lamp body comprises a lamp bulb, a lamp holder and a hollow connecting base. The anti-tensile strength of each lead wire segment is enhanced by mixing a plastic wire or a metal wire different from a copper material in a conductive copper wire strand of each lead wire segment, thickening each lead wire segment, or adding a plastic coating and the like, and a fixed part is fixed at a position on each lead wire segment close to the conductive element, therefore, when the lead wire segment is subjected to an outward tensile force relative to the connecting base, the relative positional stability between the conductive element and the inner wall of the connecting base can be maintained by the fixed part and each lead wire segment, so that the conductive element cannot be disengaged from an opening in the bottom of the connecting base, and the normal operation of the string lamp can be ensured. Thus, only one lead wire segment is required to connect the lamp bodies, thereby eliminating the need for a false line to bear most of a lateral tensile force. |
| US09506609B1 |
Light system and method of installing
A lighting system includes a first elongate channel configured for mounting to a structure, a second elongate channel configured for being temporarily coupled to the first elongate channel and forming a substantially enclosed elongate space between the first and second elongate channels. A plurality of led lights, each having a translucent watertight housing, at least one led and a integrated circuit within the translucent housing, are coupled to the second elongate channel with each of the translucent watertight housings exposed through the second elongate channel. A controller is electrically connected to a plurality of segments of wire to communicate with each of the plurality of integrated circuits and has a plurality of programmable functions, each function providing at least one of a desired light color for each of the plurality of led lights, duration of illumination and timing of illumination. |
| US09506608B2 |
Phosphor layer containing transparent features over blue LED
LED dies are suspended in an ink and printed on a first support substrate to form a light emitting layer having a light emitting surface emitting primary light, such as blue light. A mixture of a transparent binder, phosphor powder, and transparent glass beads is formed as an ink and printed over the light emitting surface. The mixture forms a wavelength conversion layer when cured. The beads are preferably sized so that the tops of the beads protrude completely through the conversion layer. Some of the primary light passes through the beads with virtually no attenuation or backscattering, and some of the primary light is converted by the phosphor to secondary light. The combination of the secondary light and the primary light passing though the beads may form white light. The overall color is highly controllable by controlling the percentage weight of the beads. |
| US09506605B2 |
Process for producing biomethane for injection into a gas network from a plurality of production sites and set of devices for the implementation thereof
The present invention relates to the production of biomethane intended for supplying a natural gas network from n biogas production plants Ii, with i varying from 1 to n, in which each of the plants produces and stores the biogas which is collected at each of the plants via a mobile collection device and the collected biogas is purified so as to produce biomethane which is subsequently injected into a natural gas network. The invention also makes provision for storing the biogas, partially purified biogas, or biomethane in order to ensure the continuity of the supply of biomethane to the network during the collection round. |
| US09506604B2 |
Device and method for unfreezing frozen brake lines of tractor trailers
A device is provided to facilitate introduction of a fluid agent (such as a deicing agent) into the air line of a trailer of a tractor trailer. The device comprises a canister defining an upwardly opening chamber, a lid removably securable to the canister to close the chamber, an inlet tube extending from the canister and having a connector at an end of the inlet tube, a valve in said inlet tube; and an outlet tube extending from the canister and having a connector at an end of the inlet tube. The outlet tube is shaped and sized such that the canister chamber can be filled with the liquid agent from the ground and without the need to climb on the chassis of the trailer tractor. |
| US09506598B1 |
Mounting system to display an object and method of use
A support system includes a stand having a first vertical member and a second adjacent vertical member; a first horizontal member and a second adjacent horizontal member; a first pole and a second pole extending from the second horizontal member; a first leg and a second leg extending from the first vertical member and the second vertical member; a first hook and a second hook extending from the second horizontal member; a sign removably attached to the first hook and the second hook; and an object, having a body; a first locking member configured to extend within the body and configured to engage with the first pole; and a second locking member configured to extend within the body and configured to engage with the second pole. |
| US09506593B2 |
Rapid release emergency disconnect system utilizing a linear clamping mechanism
In various embodiments, fluid conduits such as high pressure hoses deployed in-between two sea-fairing vessels may be released during an emergency by using a rapid release emergency disconnect system as described herein, where the rapid release emergency disconnect system may engage with a hanger such as an industry standard frac hanger and be used in-line with fluid conduits such as high-pressure lines. Various skid embodiments are described which can be configured to interface with one or more of the described rapid release emergency disconnect systems. |
| US09506592B2 |
Supply stop with connection verification
An apparatus for assembling or disassembling a pipe in a pipe holder, includes: a washer having a body having an annular portion and an extended portion having central bore passing therethrough, the body made of a memory material; a compression fitting for insertion into the pipe holder, the extended portion fitting in the compression fitting; and, a lock for insertion into the pipe holder. The lock is for moving the compression fitting to deform the annular portion against the holder if inserted to form a seal between the pipe, the compression fitting and the holder. The lock also is for allowing the annular portion to reform and move against the holder if the lock is removed such that the compression fitting may be removed if the lock is removed. |
| US09506590B2 |
Coupling for fluid bladder
A coupler for a fluid system includes: a coupling device made of an inflexible polymeric material, the coupling device including a body defining a fluid passage therethrough that is connected to an aperture sized to receive a mating coupling device, the coupling device including a latch configured to move between an uncoupled state and a coupled state to couple the mating coupling device thereto; and a base made of a flexible polymeric material, the base including a flange member sized to be coupled to a bladder of the fluid hydration system, and the base including a receiving member sized to receive at least a portion of the coupling device. The base is overmolded over the coupling device to form the coupler, the coupler being fluid-tight. |
| US09506586B2 |
Pipe connection guide arrangement
A pipe connection guide arrangement is adapted to align a first pipe section having a first flange with a second pipe section having a second flange. The arrangement includes a guide bar to be attached to the first pipe section in a manner in which the guide bar projects longitudinally beyond the first flange. Similarly, a guide funnel is to be attached to a second pipe section, wherein the guide funnel is adapted to receive and locate the guide bar to laterally align the first pipe section to the second pipe section. A stopper bar is provided on the guide bar forward of the first flange, wherein the stopper bar is adapted to abut against the guide funnel to longitudinally align the first pipe section. |
| US09506585B2 |
Flexible pipe body and method
A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes a layer comprising a tape element formed from at least a first sub-layer sandwiched between two further sub-layers, wherein the first sub-layer has a lower density than at least one of the two further sub-layers. |
| US09506582B2 |
Drop in loop hanger
A drop-in loop hanger includes a U-shape portion or saddle for receiving an object to be supported, such as a pipe run, and an arm that guides the object to be supported into the U-shape portion. The hanger may include a moving portion that pivots at a hinge to allow entry of the object, then closes off the entryway to help retain the object within the hanger. The hanger may include a threaded portion for receiving a threaded rod, for example to mount the hanger from a ceiling or other structure or objects. The object may be placed in a series of already-installed hangers, for example placing a run of pipe in a series of hangers that support the pipe at different axial locations along the pipe. |
| US09506581B2 |
Method and system of retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables
Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston. |
| US09506579B2 |
Height adjustable drain fitting for a toilet flush tank
A height-adjustable drain fitting for a flushing tank comprises a drain valve housing, a valve body that can be lifted along an actuating axis so as to initiate flushing, an actuating unit that acts on the valve body and controls the movement of the valve body, an actuating member which acts on the actuating unit, an actuating element that acts on the actuating member and by element of which the actuating member can be actuated by the user, and a mounting element having a receptacle for mounting the actuating member. The mounting element is displaceable relative to the drain valve housing and is connected thereto for adjusting the height. The actuating member has the shape of an actuating rod and is designed so as to be height-adjustable. |
| US09506577B2 |
Safety valve device
A safety valve device as for use with a compressed gas cylinder and/or a control valve comprising a housing unit, a plug with controlled bleed off channels bored into the plug, an actuator, and an actuating rod, which is designed to engage in the event that a control valve is severed from a compressed gas cylinder, at least partially sealing the opening formed in the compressed gas cylinder from the severing of the control valve, and achieving a safer, controlled bleed off of the compressed gas contained therein. |
| US09506575B2 |
Check valve disc
Disclosed is a check valve disc including a disc flapper, the disc flapper formed with urethane, a flexing portion formed by the disc flapper, and a rigid portion including a sealing surface. Also disclosed is a check valve including a valve body, the valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an inner surface defining an inlet cavity proximate the inlet end and an outlet cavity proximate the outlet end, and a check valve disc, the check valve disc including a disc flapper, the disc flapper formed with urethane. |
| US09506574B2 |
Pressure regulator and hydraulic brake system for vehicle equipped with the same
A pressure regulator configured to regulate a working fluid by a pilot pressure, including: a spool valve mechanism having a spool; a biasing mechanism having a pilot-pressure chamber and a pilot piston, the biasing mechanism being configured to bias the spool toward the other end of the pressure regulator in its axial direction by a pressure of the working fluid in the pilot-pressure chamber; a counter biasing mechanism having a regulated-pressure chamber and a counter biasing piston, the counter biasing mechanism being configured to bias the spool toward one end of the pressure regulator in the axial direction by a pressure of the working fluid in the regulated-pressure chamber; and at least one of a first damping mechanism configured to damp a movement of the pilot piston and a second damping mechanism configured to damp a movement of the counter biasing piston. |
| US09506571B1 |
Cryogenic cam butterfly valve
A cryogenic cam butterfly valve has a body that includes an axially extending fluid conduit formed there through. A disc lug is connected to a back side of a valve disc and has a circular bore that receives and is larger than a cam of a cam shaft. The valve disc is rotatable for a quarter turn within the body about a lug axis that is offset from the shaft axis. Actuating the cam shaft in the closing rotational direction first causes the camming side of the cam of the cam shaft to rotate the disc lug and the valve disc a quarter turn from the open position to the closed position. Further actuating causes the camming side of the cam shaft to translate the valve disc into sealed contact with the valve seat. Opening rotational direction of the cam shaft reverses these motions. |
| US09506569B2 |
Needle valve
Disclosed herein is an improved needle valve, where, in some preferred embodiments, the needle valve includes a stem having a ball linkage and a seat having a ball linkage housing. The ball linkage can be snap-fit to the seat, and the ball linkage and ball linkage housing cooperate to form a ball-and-socket joint. In some embodiments, an axis is formed at least in part by the stem, and the ball-and-socket joint allows rotation of the seat about the axis and inhibits rotation of the seat about another axis. A gap may be provided between the seat and the stem to accommodate deformation of the seat. Also disclosed herein is an improved needle valve, where, in some preferred embodiments, a stem and a handle are provided with mating geometry and a biased snap-fit mechanism to facilitate ease of assembly. |
| US09506567B2 |
Shaft seal
A thickness dimension of a peripheral edge of a seal element held by an inner brim wall portion of an outer case and an inner brim wall portion of an inner case is set to be larger than a thickness dimension of a remaining portion of the seal element, and a ring concave groove is formed on the peripheral edge of the seal element. |
| US09506563B2 |
Parking brake system for vehicle
The vehicle can include a power transmission system for transmitting power of an internal combustion engine to drive wheels through transmissions and a parking brake system for restraining rotation of the drive wheels by engaging with a part of the power transmission system. The parking brake system for the vehicle can also include a parking drive mechanism which operates a restraining member, by turning of an input shaft of a shift drive mechanism for changing the shift position in the transmission, so as to restrain rotation of transmission gear shafts, and thereby establish a parking brake state. In the parking brake system, a shift cable connected to the input shaft is connected to a parking operation lever. |
| US09506561B1 |
Flow divider assembly
A flow divider assembly for use with a hydraulic pump provides flow to separate drive motors for use in a vehicle or other application. A pair of flow divider motors may be mounted on a block and have a common axis of rotation. The ratio between the two may be controlled by adjustment of the angles of the respective thrust bearings of the flow divider motors. A valve may connect the outlet of one of the flow divider motors or the outlet of the other flow divider motor. passage to the second outlet passage. Additional bypass valves may be provided to permit direct connection between the hydraulic pump and the separate drive motors. |
| US09506550B2 |
Gear for a spur gear stage without play
A gear is described for a spur gear stage without play having a hub (1) and a sprocket (2), which is divided along its axis-normal division plane into two partial sprockets, namely into a hub-fixed sprocket part (3) and a sprocket ring (4) which is mounted so it is coaxially rotatable in relation thereto, and which forms springs (6) sectionally enclosing the hub (1) in the circumferential direction, which are integrally connected at their bases (11) to the sprocket ring (4) and which are supported with their free ends (7) protruding toward the hub (1) on stops (8) of the hub (1). To ensure advantageous spring loads, it is proposed that the sprocket ring (4), which is mounted so it is rotatable on the hub (1), form at least three springs (6), which are arranged rotationally-symmetrically with respect to the sprocket axis, and the stops (8) of the hub (1), which are also arranged rotationally-symmetrically, have approach surfaces (10) for the free ends (7) of the springs (6), which rise radially outward in the circumferential direction toward the bases (11) of the associated springs (6). |
| US09506547B2 |
Lock-up device for fluid type power transmission device
It is intended to inhibit variation in output-side rotation in a wide rotational speed range even when a lock-up rotational speed is set to be low. The present lock-up device includes: a piston configured to be pressed onto a front cover; an output-side unit disposed to be unitarily rotatable with a turbine; and a first torsion spring elastically coupling the piston and the output-side unit. The output-side unit includes: an output member fixed to the turbine; an inertia member disposed to be rotatable relatively to the output member; a second torsion spring elastically coupling the inertia member and the output member; and a hysteresis torque generating mechanism. The hysteresis torque generating mechanism is configured to generate variable hysteresis torque while being disposed between the inertia member and the output member. |
| US09506546B2 |
Nozzle arrangement and motor vehicle drive train
Nozzle arrangement for fluid applications, in particular for a hydraulic circuit of a motor vehicle drive train. A nozzle body has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. The nozzle body has a first longitudinal section having a cylindrical outer circumference, which has a first outside diameter. The nozzle body has a blind hole starting from the first longitudinal end. In the region of the second longitudinal end, the nozzle body has a second longitudinal section having a second outside diameter, which is smaller than the first outside diameter. A third longitudinal section is formed between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section. A substantially radially aligned nozzle bore connects the outer circumference of the third longitudinal section to the blind hole. The outer circumference of the first longitudinal section is designed as a press-fitting surface, allowing the nozzle body to be pressed into a bore and allowing the second longitudinal section to form an annular gap with an inner circumference of the bore. |
| US09506543B2 |
Electromechanically controlled decoupling device for actuators
An aircraft includes an electromechanical actuator and a decoupling device. A form-fit between a drive element and a linkage point outside of the actuator element can be reversibly decoupled and recoupled. The decoupling device allows the actuator element to run freely in the event of a malfunction, which effectively prevents a jam. |
| US09506542B2 |
Linear actuator and buffer mechanism thereof
A linear actuator includes a gearbox, a motor structure, a lead screw, a telescopic tube, a quick release mechanism and a buffer mechanism. The motor structure is connected to the gearbox. The lead screw has a part inside the gearbox and the other part outside. The telescopic tube has a nut screwed with the lead screw. The quick release mechanism inside the gearbox is coupled to a cylindrical coupling member and a worm gear. The cylindrical coupling member is rotated with the lead screw, and the worm gear is driven by the motor structure to clutch the cylindrical coupling member. The buffer mechanism is installed at the external periphery of the lead screw and between the nut and gearbox for absorbing impact forces. |
| US09506541B2 |
Eccentric bearing
An eccentric bearing for an electrohydraulic piston-pump assembly of a vehicle brake system includes a shaft configured to be driven rotationally about its axis, a bearing ring eccentric relative to the shaft, and, in a gap between the bearing ring and shaft, rolling bodies with different diameters according to a differing width of the gap. When the shaft is rotationally driven, an eccentricity of the bearing ring circulates the shaft more slowly than the rotational speed of the shaft and drives a reciprocating movement of pump pistons which bear against the bearing ring. To ensure that the rolling bodies roll on and circulate the shaft, a radial elasticity loads the rolling bodies with prestress against the shaft and bearing ring. The prestress is caused by an undersize of the bearing ring or by an elastic ring on the shaft, on at least one rolling body or in the bearing ring. |
| US09506540B1 |
Pedal apparatus
There is provided a pedal apparatus in which connection bracket is prevented from falling off from a pedal arm even if there is a welding defect. A pedal apparatus includes a pedal arm provided with an inclined portion, an upper retaining hole, and a lower retaining hole passing therethrough. A connection bracket, having a connecting face, an upper attachment face, a lower attachment face, an upper retaining projection and a lower retaining projection, is coupled with the pedal arm, with the upper retaining projection and the lower retaining projection respectively passing through the upper retaining hole and the lower retaining hole. Each edge of the upper attachment face and the lower attachment face is welded to the inclined portion of the pedal arm. |
| US09506537B2 |
Chain transmission
A chain transmission is provided which is capable of reducing friction loss in the transmission of power without the risk of compromising the durability of a chain guide mechanism and the chain. The chain transmission includes a chain and a chain guide mechanism. The chain guide mechanism includes a first guide and a second guide having a smaller radius of curvature than that of the first guide. The plurality of plates include a first plate and a second plate. The first plate has a backside height set such that the first plate does not contact the first guide when the first plate is guided by the first guide and such that the first plate contacts the second guide when the first plate is guided by the second guide. |
| US09506533B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a compound planetary gear set formed by combining third and fourth planetary gear sets and including seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth rotation elements, a fifth planetary gear set including eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth rotation elements, and six friction elements disposed between at least one rotation element among thirteen rotation elements and another rotation element or the input shaft, or between at least one rotation element among the thirteen rotation elements and a transmission housing. |
| US09506531B2 |
Multi-stage power-shift transmission
A power-shiftable multi-stage transmission in planetary design, between a drive shaft and an output shaft, in particular an automatic transmission for a vehicle. The multi-stage transmission has two parallel shaft sections, six shift elements, at least two spur-gear stages and three planetary gear sets, each of which has one sun gear, one ring gear, and one planet carrier having a plurality of planetary gears. The planet carrier is united in a carrier, and the two shaft sections can be connected to one another via the at least two spur-gear stages. Different transmission ratios between the drive shaft and the output shaft can be implemented by selective engagement of the six shift elements such that a plurality of forward gears, in particular nine forward gears, and at least one reverse gear, can be implemented. |
| US09506529B2 |
Helical slotted cable retainer for lifting assembly and method of assembling
The lifting assembly includes a cable end housing defining an inner cavity. The lifting assembly also includes a retainer ring disposed in the inner cavity at an end thereof. The lifting assembly further includes a cable retainer disposed in the inner cavity of the cable end housing and operative to retain a cable end fitting of a cable, the cable retainer extending from a first end to a second end and defining a helical slot extending from the first end to the second end to provide installation and removal access of the cable end fitting. |
| US09506527B2 |
Power transmission belt
A power transmission belt comprising a body comprising a first elastomeric material and having tensile members running in a longitudinal direction, the body having a pulley engaging region having a profile; characterized in that the pulley engaging region comprises a surface region and a subsurface region; the subsurface region comprising a second elastomeric material having a friction modifying agent; and the surface region comprising a nonwoven fabric material co-mingled with the second elastomeric material. |
| US09506519B2 |
Tripod head
A tripod head, in particular to hold a film or television camera, includes a first body and a second body, wherein the first body can be pivoted about at least one pivot axis relative to the second body, and a damping device to damp the pivoting movement of the first body relative to the second body, with a first damping element fixed to the first body and a second damping element, wherein the damping elements each have a plurality of concentrically arranged annular ribs which engage in cavities formed between the ribs of the respective other damping element and a damping medium is provided between the ribs of the damping element, wherein the second damping element is formed of at least two separate parts which are fixable independently of each other to the second body. |
| US09506518B2 |
Centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber
A centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber (CPVA) absorbs vibration and transmits a torque between an output of an engine and an input of a transmission of a vehicle. The CPVA includes a plate with at least one retaining member and a first set of vibration absorbers with at least one mass supported by the at least one retaining member. The at least one mass has a predefined movement path with respect to the plate. The CPVA further includes a first torsion vibration damper assembly that connects the CPVA to a turbine of a torque converter that is selectively engaged with engine, and a second torsion vibration damper assembly that connects the CPVA to the transmission. The at least one mass absorbs a vibration of a harmonic order generated by the engine. |
| US09506517B2 |
Hybrid inner core assembly of honeycomb structure and manufacturing method thereof
A hybrid assembly of a honeycomb structure is provided. The assembly includes a steel plate capable of being mounted on a vehicle body, a steel core into which the steel plate is inserted in order for both ends of the steel plate along the longitudinal direction thereof to be protruded through the steel core, and a plastic core having an inner portion formed with a honeycomb shape into which the steel core is inserted at a central axis along a longitudinal direction thereof. |
| US09506516B2 |
Electronic wear pin-active measurement: threaded wear pin to ring gear
A brake monitoring system comprises a wear pin that is operatively connected to a brake to be monitored, wherein the wear pin can translate along a longitudinal axis of the wear pin and not rotate about the longitudinal axis; a wear gear rotationally affixed to the wear pin to enable the wear gear to rotate as the wear pin translates; and a counting device operatively adjacent the wear gear, wherein the counting device measures one of an amount of rotation of the wear gear and a rate of rotation of the wear gear. |
| US09506514B1 |
Wedge spring clip
A system and method are provided for mounting, removing and retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles. A preferred embodiment includes a brake pad carrier having features to fixedly receive spring retaining elements, such as bushings, which in turn retain spring elements, such as spring clips, having features that cooperate with corresponding brake pad surfaces to resist radially-outward motion of the brake pad. |
| US09506513B2 |
Steel back two-way synchronous broaching device and use method thereof
The invention relates to a steel back two-way synchronous drawloom and a use method thereof. The drawloom comprises an upper die base, an upper die board, a lower die base and a lower die board, and further comprises a molded upper die and a working positioning lower die. With the adoption of a two-way synchronous broaching gear method, a gear of a product in the invention has the advantages of high density, high strength, as well as uniform and neat arrangement; furthermore, a brake pad of the product in the invention has the advantage of high shear strength. In addition, the drawloom has high production efficiency, stable whole production process, a firm gear root, and non easy falling, as well as is adaptable to be produced in mass. |
| US09506512B2 |
Brake carrier mounting arrangement
A mounting arrangement for a disc brake is provided, in which a torque plate affixed to a vehicle axle and a brake caliper mounting frame affixed to the torque plate have corresponding opposing projections and recesses provided to laterally and circumferentially limit relative motion between the torque plate and the mounting frame. A wedge element with at least one angled face is located between correspondingly-angled faces of the mounting frame and/or the torque plate to generate lateral and/or circumferential loading in response to tightening of vertically-oriented fasteners. The use of the angled components substantially reduces the amount of loading required to be applied by the vertical fasteners to resist relative motion between the torque plate and the mounting frame. |
| US09506509B1 |
Clutch control using dither
During state transitions, a clutch actuator position command includes an oscillating component called a dither. This dithering helps avoid jumps in the actuator position due to friction when the commanded position is changed gradually. Also, dither during a transition from fully released to slipping causes the natural frequency of the system to change gradually rather than abruptly. This permits use of another slipping clutch for active damping based on a measured oscillation. |
| US09506502B2 |
Elastic shaft coupling
An elastic shaft coupling including a first circular cylindrical shaft hub including first claws distributed over an outer circumference of the first shaft hub and offset from one another; and a second circular cylindrical shaft hub including second claws distributed over an outer circumference of the second shaft hub and offset from one another, wherein the first claws and the second claws engage one another through protruding into respective intermediary spaces, wherein an elastic coupling element is respectively arranged between adjacent first claws and second claws, wherein at least an outer circular cylindrical circumferential surface of a shaft hub is provided with mounting surfaces for the claws, wherein the outer circumferential surface is configured in a portion of the mounting surfaces so that it differs from the circular cylindrical contour and the claws supported by the hub contact the hub side mounting surfaces in a form locking manner. |
| US09506500B2 |
Wear-indicating bearing and method
A wear-indicating bearing and method of detecting wear in a bearing are disclosed. The bearing includes a bearing stack having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal axis defined between the first and second ends. The bearing stack includes a plurality of elastomeric layers sandwiched between non-elastomeric shim layers, where each layer is concentric about the longitudinal axis. At least one elastomeric layer is a marker layer configured to indicate wear of the bearing. The marker layer is made up of a first elastomeric composition and a second elastomeric composition, wherein the first and second elastomeric compositions have optically different characteristics. Upon fatigue of the bearing, the first elastomeric composition is detectable through a fracture extending from an exterior surface of the bearing stack. |
| US09506499B2 |
Sliding member and manufacturing method therefor
A thrust bearing is equipped with a resin coating applied to the surface of a base material. Lattice-shaped discharge grooves are formed in the surface of the thrust bearing, and planer protrusions having a square shape or the like are formed at the adjacent positions thereof. Each corner part of each planer protrusion form a sliding surface that slides with respect to a counterpart member. Contaminants such as wear particles that have infiltrated between the counterpart member and the sliding surface fail into the discharge grooves and then are discharged outside of the sliding surface. The chamfering of each corner part to a rounded shape prevents the contaminants from accumulating in the discharge grooves, thus preventing the contaminants from biting into the planer protrusions. |
| US09506498B2 |
Gap sensing method for fluid film bearings
A method for adjusting a fluid gap in fluid film bearings comprising the steps of applying a load to the bearing, measuring fluid pressure of the fluid film, determining the fluid gap using a known relationship between the bearing load applied versus gap and corresponding fluid pressure and adjusting the gap to a desired width using the known relationship between the bearing load applied versus gap and corresponding fluid pressure. Predetermined measurements of film gage pressure, supply gage pressure and gap distance can be used to determine the ratio of absolute film pressure to absolute input pressure which, in turn, can be used to determine a formula for calculating unknown gap distances. |
| US09506494B2 |
Expanding fastener
Fasteners are generally described. In some examples, a fastener can be secured to a first member or it can secure a second (or further) member to the first member. The example fastener can include a body for location with respect to the first member. The example fastener can also include at least one latch which can be located with respect to the body. The latch can move laterally with respect to the body from a non-latching position to a latching position. The example fastener can also include an actuator. The actuator can protrude from the body as the actuator moves from an inactive position to an active position. When the actuator is in the inactive position and the at least one latch is in the non-latching position, the body can be located with respect to the first member. When the actuator is moved to the active position, a part of the actuator which protrudes from the body can cause the at least one latch to move laterally to the latching position such that it is able to latch behind the first member (or behind second or further members) to facilitate securement of the fastener thereto. |
| US09506491B1 |
Securing apparatus and system
An apparatus that may be used to facilitate securing or mounting of an assembly. The device may be constructed of a shaft and a torque managing device, where the shaft has two ends, the first end having an engagement portion. The torque managing device is coupled to the second end of the shaft having a portion of the torque managing device enabled to rotate independently from the shaft when a predetermined force used on the torque managing device has been met. |
| US09506490B2 |
Anti-burr fastener
A fastener includes a cylindrical shaft located between a head and a tapered point, threads integrally extending from the shaft and extending along a portion of a length thereof, and a burr cutoff area near the tapered point and including flank surfaces therein forming an angle greater than 90° therebetween. A flattened area can be located between the flank surfaces. |
| US09506485B2 |
Hierarchical functional digital materials
A hierarchical digital material comprises a set of self-similar digital voxels and connectors. Each voxel is connectable to other self-similar digital voxels by means of the connectors and each voxel is configured to accept connectors of differing sizes. Voxels and connectors may be of differing sizes. Voxels and connectors of the same or differing sizes are connectable to each other in order to assemble two- and three-dimensional structures. The voxels within a structure may be made of differing materials, as may the connectors. |
| US09506482B2 |
Electropneumatic control device and electropneumatic subassembly
In a electropneumatic field device, an electrical field input and a pneumatic supply input are provided. At least one field output is provided at which a field output signal is output based on a field control signal received via the electrical field input. A group comprising at least two modular components of different functionality is provided and at least one modular slot for occupation with either of said modular components from said group. The at least two modular components of the group and the at least one slot are modularly adapted to one another such that interfaces of the slot and interfaces of either of said modular components in the seat merge into one another when the slot is occupied with either of said modular components so that the modular component which is in the slot is connected to the electrical field input and to the at least one field output. |
| US09506480B2 |
Apparatus for driving work machine
Provided is a driving device for a working machine, which can drive one or more hydraulic pumps in a large capacity range of as high efficiency as possible. In a driving device for a hydraulic excavator, a controller (41) is provided with a first target delivery-flow-rate setting unit (41a) that computes a first target delivery flow rate of pressure oil, which is to be delivered from at least one of variable displacement hydraulic pumps (2a-2f) to a hydraulic actuator, according to a lever stroke from one of control devices 40a,40b and corresponding one of preset efficiency values set beforehand for the hydraulic pumps. |
| US09506479B1 |
Accumulator method and apparatus
An in-line hydraulic accumulator system has a substantially rigid elongated accumulator member that at least in part forms a longitudinal liquid channel having first and second liquid interfaces. The first liquid interface is longitudinally spaced from the second liquid interface to transport liquid therebetween. The accumulator system also has a compressible member that longitudinally extends within elongated member and at least in part forms the longitudinal liquid channel. The compressible member is configured to compress, expand, or both expand and compress in response to varying liquid pressures within the longitudinal liquid channel. |
| US09506474B2 |
Methods and systems for real-time compressor surge line adaptation
Methods and systems are provided for adapting a compressor surge line in real-time. In one example, a method may include retarding a surge line in response to a number of surge events greater than a threshold number of surge events, and advancing the surge line in response to a number of aggressive tip-out events, that do not result in surge, greater than a threshold number of tip-out events. |
| US09506471B2 |
Radial bearing assembly for centrifugal pump
A radial bearing assembly for a centrifugal pump can include a first component that has a longitudinal axis and that includes discrete radial surfaces separated by undercuts, the discrete radial surfaces disposed at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis; a second component that has a longitudinal axis and that includes a radial surface disposed at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis; and, formed by concentric alignment of the longitudinal axis of the first component and the longitudinal axis of the second component, a journal and bearing clearance, defined by the difference between the radial distance of the radial surfaces of the first component and the radial distance of the radial surface of the second component, and axially deviant particle passages defined by the undercuts and the radial surface of the second component. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US09506470B2 |
Scroll refrigeration compressor
The scroll refrigeration compressor according to the invention includes a sealed enclosure at least partially defining a discharge chamber designed to be connected to a discharge line, and a discharge valve attached on the sealed enclosure and fluidly connected to the discharge chamber. The discharge valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a discharge check valve movable between a covering position and a released position. The discharge valve includes deflection means positioned in the valve body and arranged to orient the flow of refrigerant coming from the discharge line at least partially toward the periphery of the discharge check valve. |
| US09506468B2 |
Progressive cavity pump with uncoupled natural frequency
A progressive cavity pump comprising a casing, a helical stator including a helical cylinder and a helical rotor capable of rotating inside said helical cylinder. The helical stator also comprises at least one compensator arranged in said casing, between the casing and said helical cylinder; said helical cylinder and said compensator being deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing. |
| US09506466B2 |
Gear pump
In a gear pump, an outer rotor and an inner rotor are disposed in a rotor installation chamber defined by a pump body and a pump cover. A suction port groove and a discharge port groove are formed in at least one of the pump body and the pump cover. A narrowing portion is formed at a portion of a radially outer side wall portion of the suction port groove, the portion being close to a terminal end wall portion of the suction port groove. The narrowing portion narrows the groove width in the radial direction. A pressurizing region that pressurizes oil in the gear chamber is formed between the narrowing portion and the terminal end wall portion. |
| US09506462B2 |
Compression apparatus and cooler unit with support structure for cooler unit
The present invention provides a compression apparatus capable of improving assembling workability, and the compression apparatus includes: a compressor that compresses a gas; a cooler that cools a gas discharged from the compressor in a compressed state; and a support base that supports the compressor and the cooler, wherein the support base includes a main support base having the compressor disposed thereon and an auxiliary support table connectable to the main support base, and wherein the auxiliary support table includes a base plate supporting the cooler and a plurality of leg portions supporting the base plate and stands by itself by the plurality of leg portions. |
| US09506459B2 |
Variable displacement swash plate type compressor
A variable displacement swash plate type compressor includes a control valve having a valve body and a solenoid portion A refrigerant circuit has first and second pressure monitoring points. A load based on a point-to-point differential pressure, which is a differential pressure between the pressure at the first and second pressure monitoring points, is applied to the valve body. At least one of a load based on a DS differential pressure, which is a differential pressure between the pressure in a discharge pressure zone and the pressure in a suction pressure zone, and a load based on a CS differential pressure, which is a differential pressure between the pressure in the control pressure chamber and the pressure in the suction pressure zone, acts on the valve body in the same direction as the direction of the load applied to the valve body based on the point-to-point differential pressure. |
| US09506455B2 |
Flexible robotic actuators
Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter includes a laminated robotic actuator. The laminated robotic actuator includes a strain-limiting layer comprising a flexible, non-extensible material in the form of a sheet or thin film, a flexible inflatable layer in the form of a thin film or sheet in facing relationship with the strain-limiting layer, wherein the inflatable layer is selectively adhered to the strain-limiting layer, and wherein a portion of an un-adhered region between the strain-limiting layer and the inflatable layer defines a pressurizable channel, and at least one fluid inlet in fluid communication with the pressurizable channel. The first flexible non-extensible material has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the second flexible elastomeric material and the flexible elastomer is non-extensible under actuation conditions. |
| US09506452B2 |
Method for installing a shear web insert within a segmented rotor blade assembly
A method for installing a shear web insert between a blade segment and a blade insert of a rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The blade segment may include a first shear web and the blade insert may include a second shear web. The method may generally include coupling a first positioning device along an inner surface of a first side of the rotor blade assembly, inserting the shear web insert horizontally between the first and second shear webs until a first side face of the shear web insert engages the first positioning device and coupling a first retention device along the inner surface of the first side of the rotor blade assembly so that the first retention device is positioned adjacent to a second side face of the shear web insert, wherein the second side face is opposite the first side face. |
| US09506451B2 |
Floating, yawing spar current/tidal turbine
The present invention describes a floating yawing spar buoy current/tidal turbine. The spar includes a spreader above the rotor(s) with the spreader tips connected to fore and aft cable yokes that transition to opposing mooring lines connected to anchors on the seabed. The spreader comprises a yaw motor, which drives gears that engage with a ring gear fixed to the outer perimeter of the spar. Flow direction sensors activate the yaw motor for automatic yaw adjustments of the spar turbine. As tidal direction changes, the entire spar and turbine are yawed to maintain the rotor plane facing the tidal flow. The bottom end of the spar extends to approximately the bottom sweep of the rotor plane and contains a winched vertical mooring line, extending to the seabed and attached to a gravity or suction pile anchor. The turbine drive train can be accessed for servicing from the surface via hatches and ladders within the spar to enter the drive train and generating system vessel. The spar turbine is deployed by towing it in a horizontal position. At the operating site, the yokes are connected to the forward and aft mooring lines and the winch line is connected to the gravity anchor. The winch inside the keel draws the bottom end of the spar down and may be assisted by flooding the keel to reach a vertical position for the spar. The winch is then locked to retain required operating depth, or can actively control operating depth in areas of wide tide level range. |
| US09506449B2 |
Submersible power generator
A submersible power generator with an inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism provided with an outer rotational armature and an opposing inner rotational armature to rotate opposite to the outer rotational armature, and a pair of propellers, where one of the propellers is connected to one of the inner and outer rotational armatures and the other of the propellers is connected to the other armatures, and a casing for accommodating the inner/outer double rotational armatures-type power generation mechanism and shielding it from an external environment. The submersible power generator is installed under water to operate in a water current with a gravity W that is larger than buoyancy F acting thereon during operation of the submersible power generator, and makes a rotational moment center that a sum total of rotational moments generated by gravity W, buoyancy F, and drag D in a water current becomes zero. |
| US09506446B2 |
Mobile power bank
An apparatus for providing power, the apparatus having a housing; a battery module positioned inside of the housing, the battery module having: a battery, a battery circuit board coupled to the battery and an ignition output port coupled to the battery circuit board; a circuit board positioned inside of the housing and coupled to the battery module, the circuit board having: a charge module, a discharge module, a lighting module and a control module coupled to the charge module, the discharge module and the lighting module; a light source coupled to the circuit board; and wherein the apparatus is configured to provide sufficient power to jump start a vehicle. |
| US09506444B2 |
Method of controlling engine of ISG vehicle
Provided is a method of controlling an engine of an idle-stop and go (ISG) vehicle. The method includes allowing, when an engine stop condition is satisfied, the engine to idle-stop and maintaining, when an engine stop signal is transmitted from an outside, an idle-stop state of the engine although an engine restarting condition is satisfied. |
| US09506443B2 |
Vehicle engine-starting device
An engine-starting device for a vehicle having an engine, a parking lock mechanism and an automatic transmission, the engine-starting device being provided with a drive plate connected to a crankshaft of said engine, an electric motor having a pinion selectively engageable with the drive plate, and an actuator device configured to move said pinion to an engaging position for engagement with said drive plate to start said engine, comprises: said parking lock mechanism having a manual shaft selectively switchable between a rotation permitting position for permitting a rotary motion of an output shaft of said automatic transmission, and a parking lock position for inhibiting the rotary motion of the output shaft; and said actuator device being configured to move said pinion between said engaging position and a non-engaging position for disengagement from said drive plate, said electric motor being connected to said manual shaft to rotate the manual shaft from one of said rotation permitting position and said parking lock position to the other, when said pinion is located at said non-engaging position by said actuator device. |
| US09506441B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring a fluid vapour in a pumping chamber
The present invention provides, with reference to FIG. 1, an internal combustion engine (10) having a fuel injector which comprises a sprung piston (55) or a resilient diaphragm piston (8155) and an electrical coil (57, 8158) for displacing the piston (55, 8155). The piston draws fuel into and expels fuel from a pumping chamber (52, 8152). The number of operations of the injector per engine cycle is controlled by an electronic controller (23, 8159) to control the quality of fuel delivered per cycle to a combustion chamber. A voltage measured in the coil (52, 8158) by movement of the piston under action of the spring or due to its own resilience is used to give an indication of vapor pressure of the fuel. A device akin to the injector can be used to draw fuel from a pipeline to measure the vapor pressure of the fluid. |
| US09506438B2 |
Support structure for fuel injection valve
In a fuel injection valve support structure, a pair of contact surfaces are formed on an intermediate portion of the valve so as to be opposite to each other with a plane therebetween, the plane including a center axis of the valve and a center line of a coupler, the elastic support member includes a base plate placed on a second load receiving portion, an elastic piece extending from the base plate, coming into pressure contact with a fuel supply cap elastically, and biasing the valve against an engine by a reaction force resulting from the contact, and a pair of rotation locking pieces extending from the base plate and coming into contact with the respective contact surfaces to restrict rotation of the valve about the axis, and at least one of the contact surfaces has a positioning groove for elastically engaging corresponding one of the rotation locking pieces. |
| US09506437B2 |
Injection valve
A fuel injection valve includes: a magnetic coil; an armature; and a valve needle connected to the armature for actuating a valve closing body which forms, together with a valve seat surface, a seal seat. Formed downstream from the valve seat surface is a spray opening that has, at the transition from a first to a second spray opening segment, a tear-off edge such that the complete opening angle of the spray opening at the tear-off edge is greater than 270° over the entire circumferential tear-off edge, so that, going out from the tear-off edge, on the floor of the second spray opening segment of the spray opening, there extends a circumferential floor region that is recessed behind the transition plane in which the tear-off edge is situated. |
| US09506436B2 |
Pipe connector and fuel injection system
A pipe connector comprising a connector body, a first fitting connectable to a first double wall pipe, the first fitting comprising a first portion connectable to an inner flow space and a second portion connectable to an outer flow space of the first double wall pipe, a second fitting connectable to a second pipe, a third fitting comprising a first portion and a second portion, which first portion is connectable to the third pipe, and a flow channel arranged in the connector body for interconnecting the first portion of the first fitting, the second fitting and the first portion of the third fitting. The pipe connector comprises a leak channel arranged in flow connection with the second portion of the first fitting, a leakage outlet for discharging fluid from the leak channel, a discharge channel extending from the second portion of the third fitting to the leakage outlet and providing a continuous flow connection therebetween, and a closure member having a first position, in which fluid flow from the leak channel to the leakage outlet is prevented, and a second position, in which fluid flow from the leak channel to the leakage outlet is allowed. The closure member is arranged to move from the first position to the second position when fluid pressure in the leak channel rises above a certain limit. |
| US09506435B2 |
Solenoid actuator and fuel injector using same
In one aspect, a fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet. A direct operated check valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a needle valve member with an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a nozzle supply passage, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber. The needle valve member is movable between a first position at which the nozzle supply passage is blocked to the nozzle outlet, and a second position at which the nozzle supply passage is open to the nozzle outlet. A needle control valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a control valve member movable between a first position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet, and a second position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly blocked to the drain outlet. A solenoid actuator is positioned in the injector body and includes a stator assembly and an armature assembly coupled to the control valve member. One of the stator assembly and the armature assembly includes a non-magnetic insert that moves into and out of contact with another of the stator assembly and the armature assembly at an energized position and a de-energized position, respectively. |
| US09506432B2 |
Sealing device
A sealing device that is capable of suppressing the generation of unusual noise by guiding a gas flow and suppressing the generation of unusual noise caused by resonance between the gas flow and a pipe. An intake noise reduction portion (20) includes a flow-guiding net portion (21) for guiding a gas flowing in an intake pipe, an annular frame body portion (22) for supporting the flow-guiding net portion (21), a cylindrical portion (23) that extends from the frame body portion (22) in a direction in which the pipe extends, and is fitted into an inner circumferential surface of a second pipe (220) and a flange portion (24) that extends from an end portion of the cylindrical portion (23) toward an outer circumferential surface side, and is disposed in a space between an end surface of a first pipe (210) and an end surface of the second pipe (220). A gasket portion (10) is provided on both surfaces of the flange portion (24). |
| US09506428B2 |
Turbo bypass switch valve mounting on air box
A system which includes a turbo bypass switching valve (BSV) positioned at a beneficial location as a direct mount on an air box to achieve compliance to OBD hose-off requirement via electronic actuation of the BSV and monitoring of the fuel tank pressure sensor for pressure change. When the turbocharger unit is generating pressurized air, the turbo BSV is open, and vapor is passing through the purge valve, some level of vacuum in the fuel tank is sensed. By closing the BSV, flow through the venturi is reduced, producing both less vacuum and a change in fuel tank pressure. The pressure change does not occur if any of the hoses become disconnected. This results in a simple OBD “venture hose off” check without additional components. |
| US09506426B2 |
Methods and systems for recycling engine feedgas cold-start emissions
Systems and methods are provided for recycling internal combustion engine feedgas exhaust emissions during cold-start conditions. By adjusting a restriction valve provided in an exhaust passage upstream of a catalytic converter, an amount of engine exhaust flowing through the catalytic converter prior to the catalytic converter reaching its operational temperature may be reduced. |
| US09506423B2 |
Flow control device for a three stream turbofan engine
A gas turbine engine includes a core engine, a first bypass passage disposed about the core engine and a second bypass passage disposed about the first bypass passage. A flow control is disposed within the second bypass for controlling bypass airflow through the second bypass. The flow control translates axially between an open position and a closed position to vary and control airflow through the second bypass passage. |
| US09506421B2 |
Cylinder liner and cast iron alloy
A cylinder liner for an internal combustion engine may include a cast iron alloy having a pearlitic structure with at least 70% of graphitization with spheroidal graphite morphology. The cast iron alloy may include at least 2.8% to 4.0% in weight of carbon; 1.8% to 3.5% in weight of silicon; 0.2% to 1.0% in weight of manganese; a maximum of 0.5% in weight of phosphorus; a maximum of 0.05% in weight of sulfur; a maximum of 0.5% in weight of vanadium; a maximum of 0.5% in weight of molybdenum; 0.2% to 1.5% in weight of nickel; a maximum of 0.3% in weight of tin; 0.005% to 0.06% in weight of magnesium. |
| US09506420B2 |
External EGR rate feedback
An engine control system for a vehicle includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate-estimation module and a control module. The EGR rate-estimation module receives a first signal indicating a first relative humidity of a flow of air and a second signal indicating a second relative humidity of a mixed flow of air and exhaust gas. The EGR rate-estimation module determines an estimated EGR rate based on the first relative humidity and the second relative humidity, wherein the estimated EGR rate corresponds to a flow rate of a flow of exhaust gas to an engine. The control module selectively adjusts an engine operating parameter based on the estimated EGR rate. |
| US09506418B2 |
System and method for compensating cetane
Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are moved between fuel injections in response to combustion phase. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons and/or carbonaceous particulate matter may be reduced when cetane of combusted fuel changes. |
| US09506417B2 |
Methods for detecting high pressure pump bore wear
Methods are provided for detecting high pressure pump bore wear, wherein wear between a piston and bore of a pump may cause an excessive amount of fuel to leak out of a compression chamber of the pump. A reliable method is needed that involves a pump performance model that incorporates a number of physical effects and is verified by real high pressure pump test data. A method is proposed that involves comparing a target pump rate based on the pump performance model to a real fuel injection rate in order to determine if an abnormal amount of fuel may be leaking from the high pressure pump. |
| US09506416B2 |
Inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio variation abnormality detection apparatus for multicylinder internal combustion engine
A first parameter correlated with a degree of a variation in the output from the air-fuel ratio sensor is calculated. A possible range of a second parameter representing a degree of a variation in air-fuel ratio among the cylinders is determined based on the first parameter. The first parameter is calculated with an air-fuel ratio of a predetermined cylinder forcibly changed. A difference between the unchanged first parameter and the forcibly changed first parameter is determined. A first characteristic representing a relation between the second parameter and the difference is determined based on the possible range of the second parameter and the difference. One of the determination value and the first parameter calculated before the forced change is corrected based on inclination of the determined first characteristic. |
| US09506413B2 |
Method and system for engine starting
A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on intake valve closing time. The method also describes selecting the first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on an end of fuel injection time. |
| US09506412B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
It is an object of this invention to restrain blow-by gas from reaching a catalyst during fuel cutoff, and protect the catalyst while coping with an increase in oil dilution amount resulting from the use of alcohol fuel, in an internal combustion engine that uses the alcohol fuel. An engine is equipped with a PCV mechanism that introduces blow-by gas in a crankcase into an intake system. Besides, when fuel cutoff is executed with the PCV mechanism in operation, an opening degree of a throttle valve during fuel cutoff is set on the basis of an oil dilution amount in lubricating oil. Thus, the throttle opening degree during fuel cutoff is adjusted in accordance with a generation amount of blow-by gas, so that an intake negative pressure can be appropriately reduced. Accordingly, during fuel cutoff, the amount of blow-by gas that is sucked out from the crankcase due to the intake negative pressure and introduced into the intake system can be held small. |
| US09506406B2 |
Throttle control device
A throttle control device includes a throttle lever fixed to a throttle shaft which is arranged to open or close a valve of a carburetor, an elastically deformable tube having a first end connected to a connection point on the throttle lever, the connection point being spaced from a rotating center of the throttle lever, and an intermediary section fixed at a first fixing position spaced from the connection point by a predetermined distance, and a throttle wire slidably accommodated in the tube and having a first end fixed at a second fixing position, the second fixing position being disposed outside the tube and at a distance from the first end of the tube, and a second end arranged to be manipulated by means of a throttle control lever so that the throttle wire moves relative to the tube, wherein the tube has a curved portion between the connection point and the first fixing position, the curvature radius of which changes due to the movement of the throttle wire relative to the tube. |
| US09506404B2 |
Assembly comprising a protection device and a turbine machine element for protecting
An assembly including a protection device and an element of a turbine engine for protecting, for example, an oil tank including a magnetic particle detector, the protection device including a flexible protection blanket placed on and closed around the element for protecting and including eyelets that are engaged on fastener studs provided on the blanket or on the element for protecting. The protection device further includes at least one cable carrying an attachment mechanism for attaching to the fastener studs to prevent the studs being withdrawn from the eyelets in the blanket. |
| US09506403B2 |
Fastener
The present invention provides a fastener for securing two pipe adapters within a casing such as a gas turbine casing. The fastener comprises a fastener body having a central bore for receiving the pipe adapters and having a first engagement portion, e.g. a radial projection extending into said central bore, for engagement with a first pipe adapter. The central bore has a second engagement portion, e.g. a threaded portion, for engagement with a second pipe adapter. The fastener further comprises an outer wall at least partly surrounding and spaced from the fastener body in a concentric arrangement. The outer wall comprises a fastener flange extending radially in a direction away from the fastener body for overlaying the casing. At least a portion of the outer wall is deformable (e.g. formed as bellows) so that, in use, axial and/or radial movement of the pipe adapters is dampened. |
| US09506401B2 |
Method of detecting shaft break
A method of detecting shaft break in a gas turbine engine having a shaft system. The shaft system including a shaft that couples a compressor and a turbine. First construct a frequency model of the shaft system. Then determine a notch frequency and a first torsional frequency for the shaft system from the model. Then in real time measure a rotational speed of the shaft; detect the presence or absence of a feature at least one of the notch frequency and the first torsional frequency in the measured speed; and generate a shaft break signal in response to the absence of at least one of the features. |
| US09506391B2 |
Honeycomb structure
A honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure body and a pair of electrode members, an electrical resistivity of the honeycomb structure body is from 1 to 200 Ωcm, each of the pair of electrode members is formed into a band-like shape extending in a cell extending direction of the honeycomb structure body, one electrode member is disposed on a side opposite to the other electrode member via a center of the honeycomb structure body, there are formed one or more electrode member slits as slits opened in an electrode member region, there are formed one or more honeycomb structure body slits as slits opened in a honeycomb structure body region, and a depth of at least one of the electrode member slits is deeper than a depth of at least one of the honeycomb structure body slits. |
| US09506388B2 |
Device, method, and system for emissions control
Various embodiments for an exhaust gas treatment device for a vehicle system are provided. In one example, the vehicle system includes an engine with a longitudinal axis, where a crankshaft of the engine is parallel to the longitudinal axis and an exhaust gas treatment device mounted on the engine, vertically above the engine such that a longitudinal axis of the exhaust gas treatment device is aligned in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the engine, the exhaust gas treatment device configured to receive exhaust gas from an exhaust manifold of the engine. |
| US09506383B2 |
Blow-by gas refluxing device
A blow-by gas refluxing device is provided for an engine system including an engine and an intake air passage communicating with the engine for supplying intake air into the engine. The blow-by gas refluxing device includes a plurality of blow-by gas refluxing passages each having an inlet communicating with the engine and an outlet communicating with the intake air passage. The outlets of the blow-by gas passages communicate with the intake air passage at different positions along the length of the intake air passage and each of the blow-by gas passages has a backflow preventing device disposed therein, so that blow-by gas produced in the engine can flow into the intake air passage via at least one of the blow-by gas refluxing passages throughout the entire operational range of the engine. |
| US09506382B2 |
Variable valve actuator
A valve actuation system is provided. A fluid actuator is configured to selectively prevent a valve from moving to a particular position. A source of fluid is in fluid communication with the fluid actuator. A bi-directional control valve is configured to control a flow of fluid between the source of fluid and the fluid actuator. A fluid passageway connects the bi-directional control valve with the fluid actuator. A relief valve is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and moveable between a closed position to prevent a flow of fluid therethrough to create a high pressure circuit in the valve actuation system and an open position to allow a flow of fluid therethrough to create a low pressure circuit in the valve actuation system. |
| US09506380B2 |
Camshaft phaser
A camshaft phaser has a central-position locking device for locking the rotor in a central locking position relative to the stator. One or more of the vanes altogether have at least two pressure medium conduits each fluidically connect two working chambers of different directions of action. The pressure medium conduits have check valves of different directions of action which allow the pressure medium to be transferred in one direction and prevent it from being transferred in the respective opposite direction, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. A valve device is provided in the rotor hub, the at least one switchable valve device in one operating position allowing the working chambers between which transfer of pressure medium is prevented by the check valve or between which no check valve is provided to be fluidically connected to each other. |
| US09506377B2 |
Method and configuration for the recovery of thermal energy in the heat treatment of cold-rolled steel strip in a hood-type annealing furnace
A method and a configuration recover thermal energy in a thermal treatment of cold-rolled steel strip in an annealing furnace. The steel strip is heated up in a protective gas atmosphere to a temperature above the recrystallization temperature, and is subjected in a first, slow cooling phase and a second, fast cooling phase to a protective gas. The temperature of the protective gas is reduced during the first phase down to an intermediate temperature and in the second phase from the intermediate temperature to a final temperature. A first heat exchanger transfers the thermal energy of the protective gas by an oil circuit and a second heat exchanger to a working medium, and which evaporates and is fed to a steam motor, which converts the thermal energy contained in the working medium into energy. |
| US09506371B2 |
Turbocharger
A turbocharger (1) with variable turbine geometry (VTG) having a guide grate (18) which surrounds a turbine wheel (4) radially at the outside, which has an adjusting ring (5) operatively connected to the guide blades (7) via associated blade levers (20) which are fastened to blade shafts (8) at one of the ends thereof. Each blade lever (20) has a lever head (23) which can be placed in engagement with an associated engagement recess (24), which has a base wall (26), of the adjusting ring (5), and which has a stop (25) at least for setting the minimum throughflow through the nozzle cross sections formed by the guide blades (7). The stop is a first support point (25) on the base wall (26), wherein, in the minimum throughflow position, the lever head (23) makes contact, via a wall surface (27) facing toward the base wall (26), with said first support point. |
| US09506370B1 |
Generator system
A generator system fluidly connected between a first preexisting pipe and a second preexisting pipe comprising a generator with a first preexisting pipe flange and a second preexisting pipe flange, without forming any holes in the first and second preexisting pipes. A first and second generator flange for engaging a non-magnetic section of pipe and the preexisting pipes and a plurality of coils secured to the non-magnetic section of pipe. A plurality of rare earth magnets secured to an outer surface of a rotating drum or a propeller and configured to energize the plurality of coils. At least one radial bearing, a thrust bearing and a junction box electrically connected to the plurality of coils for receiving energy produced by the plurality of coils and for transmitting a current. |
| US09506367B2 |
Blade outer air seal having inward pointing extension
A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a seal land that extends from the seal body and includes an inward pointing extension that extends radially inwardly from the radially inner face. |
| US09506366B2 |
Helical seal system for a turbomachine
A helical seal system includes a first component, and a second component rotatable relative to the first component. The second component extends from a high pressure portion to a low pressure portion through an intermediate portion. A helical seal is provided on the intermediate portion of the second component. The helical seal includes at least one thread component having a pitch that is configured and disposed to draw fluids from the low pressure portion toward the high pressure portion when the second component is rotated. |
| US09506365B2 |
Gas turbine engine components having sealed stress relief slots and methods for the fabrication thereof
Embodiments of a gas turbine engine component having sealed stress relief slots are provided, as are embodiments of a gas turbine engine containing such a component and embodiments of a method for fabricating such a component. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes a core gas flow path, a secondary cooling flow path, and a turbine nozzle or other gas turbine engine component. The component includes, in turn, a component body through which the core gas flow path extends, a radially-extending wall projecting from the component body and into the secondary cooling flow path, and one or more stress relief slots formed in the radially-extending wall. The stress relief slots are filled with a high temperature sealing material, which impedes leakage between the second cooling and core gas flow paths and which fractures to alleviate thermomechanical stress within the radially-extending wall during operation of the gas turbine engine. |
| US09506364B2 |
Sealing arrangement and gas turbine engine with the sealing arrangement
At least one sealing arrangement is provided for a connecting mechanism between an inner annular member or an outer annular member and an associated segment to connect between the annular members and the segments. The sealing arrangement includes an elastic sealing member provided between the sealing surfaces, disposed linearly along a side of polygon defined around a central axis. |
| US09506358B2 |
Feathering propeller with blade dampening at forward and backward motion and blades pitch control during backward motion
Disclosed is a variable pitch propeller having a blade pivoted rotatably to a cylindrical propeller casing, a drive shaft, coupled to a propulsor and positioned coaxially inside the propeller casing, a kinematic mechanism coupled to the drive shaft, or to the propeller casing, and to the blade, for adjusting the rotary motion of the blade about its axis of pivoting to the propeller casing, and means for coupling in rotation the drive shaft to the propeller casing. The propeller provides a non-null angular range of relative rotation of the blade about its axis of pivoting, with respect to the propeller casing, or vice versa. The means for coupling in rotation the drive shaft to the cylindrical propeller casing include an elastic element interposed between the drive shaft and the cylindrical casing. |
| US09506357B1 |
Turbomachine staking tool
A staking tool includes an assembly having two substantially parallel punch members. The punch members are located partially in a punch body, and the punch body is located adjacent to a lower shaft. The lower shaft has an angled face configured to contact the punch body so that an angle is formed between the punch body and lower shaft. A main shaft is connected to the lower shaft. A cap is connected to the main shaft. A blow applied to the cap transfers force to the punch body, and the angled face redirects the direction of the force by the angle. |
| US09506353B2 |
Lightweight shrouded fan blade
A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan with a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis. Each of the plurality of fan blades includes a mid-span shroud and a speed change device in communication with the fan. |
| US09506352B2 |
Turbine blade of a gas turbine with swirl-generating element and method for its manufacture
The present invention relates to a turbine blade of a gas turbine with an airfoil arranged on a blade root and having at least one cooling air duct running in the longitudinal direction of the turbine blade, arranged inside the turbine blade and extending through the blade root, characterized in that at least one swirl-generating element is arranged in the transitional area between blade root and airfoil in the cooling air duct, with the swirl-generating element including an outer ring and several swirl-generating stator vanes arranged thereon, which are connected to a centric area, as well as to a method for its manufacture. |
| US09506350B1 |
Turbine rotor blade of the spar and shell construction
A turbine rotor blade of the spar and shell construction, where a one piece shell is secured to a hollow spar using a plurality of chordwise extending shear ties that are cast into a space formed between the shell interior and the spar exterior. A fill pipe is inserted into the hollow spar and is used to deliver the liquid retainer material to the hard to reach slots formed in which the shear ties solidify. |
| US09506347B2 |
Compressor blade for gas turbine engine
A compressor blade for a gas turbine engine includes a root configured to engage a hub of the gas turbine engine, and an airfoil radially extending a distance from the root to a tip. The airfoil includes a suction side, a pressure side, a leading edge connecting the suction and pressure sides, and a trailing edge connecting the suction and pressure sides opposite the leading edge. The distance that the airfoil extends from the root to the tip may be divided into a plurality of radially adjacent regions. At least one, but not all, of the plurality of radially adjacent regions may have a substantially constant thickness. |
| US09506343B2 |
Pan pitch control in a longwall shearing system
A system and corresponding method of monitoring a longwall shearing mining machine in a longwall mining system, where the shearing mining machine includes a shearer having a cutter drum, the method includes obtaining, by a processor, desired pitch angle information, and receiving, by the processor, a pitch angle indicative of a current pitch position of the shearer. The method also includes determining, by the processor, whether the pitch angle is within a desired pitch angle range, and controlling, by the processor, a position of the cutter drum based on whether the pitch angle is within the desired pitch angle range. The desired pitch angle range is based on the desired pitch angle information. |
| US09506342B2 |
Downhole communications arrangement and downhole system
A downhole communications arrangement including one or more electromagnetic (EM) devices; and a shield disposed relative to the one or more devices. The shield preventing or reducing passage of one or more EM frequencies and being alterable by one or more selected conditions to allow passage of the one or more frequencies. A method for communicating in a downhole environment. |
| US09506341B2 |
Transmitting power through a wellhead using at least one toroid
An impressed current cathodic protection arrangement includes an elongate metallic structure to be protected and cathodic protection apparatus which comprises a DC power supply and an anode. One terminal of the power supply is connected to the structure at a connection point and another terminal of the power supply is connected to the anode. The arrangement includes monitoring apparatus for monitoring effectiveness of cathodic protection provided by the cathodic protection apparatus by determining the electrical potential of the structure relative to surroundings at at least one location which is spaced from the connection point. |
| US09506337B2 |
System and method for improved cuttings measurements
A method and system for improving cuttings measurements in drilling operations includes rotating a helical screw in a trough at a first speed, measuring a first weight of a cuttings mixture within the trough, measuring a first torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through the cuttings mixture, and calculating a difference between the first torque and a second torque required to maintain rotation of the helical screw at the first speed through a second weight of natural cuttings equal to the first weight. |
| US09506335B1 |
Multi-directionally rotating downhole drilling assembly and method
Embodiments of a downhole drilling assembly generally include a rotatable lower drilling assembly, a rotatable upper drilling assembly, and a drill bit, wherein the upper drilling assembly contains a mud motor adapted for clockwise rotation of its stator and counter-clockwise rotation of its rotor, whereby the lower drilling assembly is rotatable in the opposite direction of the upper drilling assembly or maintainable in a non-rotating state. The apparatus further includes sensors adapted to continuously measure physical properties and/or drilling parameters and a mechanism for continuously transmitting information relating thereto to the surface.Embodiments of a method for operating a downhole drilling assembly generally include continuously measuring physical properties and/or drilling parameters proximate the drill bit, continuously transmitting information relating thereto to the surface, and controlling rotation of a lower drilling assembly in a non-rotating state or in the opposite direction of an upper drilling assembly by varying drill string rotation. |
| US09506333B2 |
One trip multi-interval plugging, perforating and fracking method
A one trip system for perforating and fracking multiple intervals uses a releasable barrier. The barrier can be an inflatable. A pressure booster system is associated with the BHA so that the existing hydrostatic pressure is boosted when the gun or portions thereof are fired. After firing in one interval, the BHA is raised and the barrier is redeployed and the pattern repeats. Instruments allow sensing the conditions in the interval for optimal placement of the gun therein and for monitoring flow, pressure and formation conditions during the fracturing. Circulation between gun firings cleans up the hole. If run in on wireline a water saving tool can be associated with the BHA to rapidly position it where desired. A multitude of perforation charges mounted in the BHA can be selectively fired by selected corresponding detonator based on a predetermined sequence or surface telemetry command. |
| US09506329B2 |
Rotating hanger
A casing hanger assembly is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a casing hanger and a landing shoulder for receiving the casing hanger and supporting the casing hanger within a wellhead. The casing hanger and the landing shoulder have complementary features that cooperate to inhibit rotation of the casing hanger with respect to the landing shoulder. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09506328B2 |
Production filtering system and methods
Systems and methods for filtering a production stream downhole that involves creating a basepipe annulus and a casing annulus and forcing the production stream through a filter between the casing annulus and the basepipe annulus before combining the production stream with a previously filtered production stream. Other systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US09506324B2 |
Well tools selectively responsive to magnetic patterns
A system for use with a subterranean well can include a magnetic sensor, a magnetic device which propagates a magnetic field to the magnetic sensor, and a barrier positioned between the magnetic sensor and the magnetic device. The barrier can comprise a relatively low magnetic permeability material. A method of isolating a magnetic sensor from a magnetic device in a subterranean well can include separating the magnetic sensor from the magnetic device with a barrier interposed between the magnetic sensor and the magnetic device, the barrier comprising a relatively low magnetic permeability material. A well tool can include a housing having a flow passage formed through the housing, a magnetic sensor in the housing, and a barrier which separates the magnetic sensor from the flow passage, the barrier having a lower magnetic permeability as compared to the housing. |
| US09506323B2 |
Downhole system having chemical injection valve assembly and method of chemical injection
A downhole system having a chemical injection valve assembly configured to inject at least one chemical from a chemical injection line into a downhole tubing. The chemical injection valve assembly includes a passive access control mechanism configured to reveal a first port to the tubing in a first condition and block the first port in a second condition. The passive access control mechanism including a movable piston, wherein in the first condition the piston is exposed to a first pressure source on a first side of the piston and to a second pressure source on a second side of the piston. The first pressure source is from within the tubing and the second pressure source is from outside of the chemical injection line and the tubing. Also included is a method of chemical injection in a downhole system. |
| US09506322B2 |
Downhole tool with expandable annular plug seat assembly having circumferentially overlapping seat segment joints
A tubular downhole tool, representatively a sliding sleeve valve, coaxially supports within its interior an annular plug ball seat formed from a series of rigid, arcuate segments that circumferentially overlap one another in various representatively disclosed manners. The seat is expandable from a diametrically compressed orientation, toward which it is resiliently biased, to a diametrically expanded orientation by a plug ball pumped through the seat. Due to the circumferential segment-to-segment overlap, each segment is blocked by its two circumferentially adjacent segments from being axially separated from the overall seat assembly by operational pressure forces. |
| US09506321B2 |
Sliding sleeve having ramped, contracting, segmented ball seat
A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port. |
| US09506320B2 |
Variable flow resistance for use with a subterranean well
A variable flow resistance system for use with a subterranean well can include a structure which displaces in response to a flow of a fluid composition, whereby a resistance to the flow of the fluid composition changes in response to a change in a ratio of desired to undesired fluid in the fluid composition. Another system can include a structure which rotates in response to flow of a fluid composition, and a fluid switch which deflects the fluid composition relative to at least two flow paths. A method of variably resisting flow in a subterranean well can include a structure displacing in response to a flow of a fluid composition, and a resistance to the flow of the fluid composition changing in response to a ratio of desired to undesired fluid in the fluid composition changing. Swellable materials and airfoils may be used in variable flow resistance systems. |
| US09506317B2 |
Method of improving cleanout of a wellbore
A barrier onto the surface of a subterranean formation may be formed by pumping into a wellbore within a well hydrophobically modified polysaccharides. A pressure differential is created between the reservoir pressure and formation pressure within the well. The micellular hydrophobically modified polysaccharides self-align onto the face of the formation to form the barrier. Flow of fluids into the subterranean formation is thereby prohibited. |
| US09506316B2 |
Composite slips for a frac plug
A composite frac plug (12) is formed of composite polymer materials, except for shear pins (52) and anchor cleats (96, 112) which are formed of metal. The frac plug (12) has an elastomeric ball seat (44) which sealing engages with a frac ball (18). A ratchet lock assembly (26) has a split ratchet ring (82) which moves over the mandrel (22) in a downward direction only, and prevents movement of the mandrel (22) downward within the ratchet ring (92). An anchor assembly (28) has slip bodies (92, 108) which are segmented and separately urge anchor cleats (96, 112) into the interior surface of a well casing (136). |
| US09506312B2 |
Blowout preventer test joint assembly, for testing variable bore rams, shear rams, and annulars
The invention discloses a test joint assembly for testing subsea BOP stack valves and annulars in one trip. The test joint assembly has an outer mandrel and a telescopically extendable inner mandrel. The inner mandrel seals against a bottom sub member using a bullnose sealing member. |
| US09506311B2 |
Coupling for a cement head
Disclosed is an improved coupling for cement heads. One exemplary cement head includes a first module comprising a first end, a first outer surface, and a plurality of first protrusions extending radially outward from the first outer surface, each of the plurality of first protrusions comprising a first profile in which (i) a first engagement surface faces axially away from the first end and (ii) a first support surface forms a first oblique angle relative to an axis; and a bridge configured to engage the plurality of first protrusions. |
| US09506310B2 |
Flow block
A method of manufacturing a flow block for use as a T-Block, tree block, manifold block or valve block, the method including: machining a main bore in a body; forming an opening in the body in a side wall of the main bore; providing an insert including a first bore intersecting with a second bore and being in fluid communication with each other; forming a substantially curved surface on at least part of the intersection between the first bore and the second bore; and inserting the insert into the opening, such that the first bore is substantially aligned with the main bore in order to provide a fluid flow path between the main bore and the second bore. |
| US09506307B2 |
High pressure coring assembly and method
A wireline or drill pipe retrievable coring tool with an inner barrel to receive a core, a bottom coring tool valve operable to seal off a bottom of the inner barrel and at least one pressure canister operable to receive fluid from the core in the inner barrel. The pressure canister is operable to significantly reduce the pressure inside the inner barrel utilizing an expandable chamber to receive fluid from the core as the tool is removed from the wellbore. In one embodiment, a bottom valve mechanism moves the cored formation materials out of the way of the bottom valve before the bottom valve is closed. |
| US09506304B2 |
Apparatus and method for connecting tubulars of a wellsite
A rotational driver for driving a connector through adjacent tubulars is provided. The adjacent tubulars are positionable in a wellbore of a wellsite for passing fluid therethrough. The rotational driver includes a gearbox housing positionable about the connector, a socket carried by the gearbox housing to receivingly engage the connector, and a plurality of gears driven by at least one motor. The gears are operatively connectable to the socket to transfer torque from the motor thereto, and have interlocking teeth defining a plurality of contacts therebetween whereby load on the gears is distributable therebetween. |
| US09506301B2 |
Underwater connection assembly and connection method
A connection assembly allowing a pipe (12) extending from the seabed (14) to be connected to a flexible pipe (26) leading to the sea surface (22). The assembly includes a turret (32) having an upper end (42) connected to a float (20) and a lower end (40) connected to the pipe (12). The turret (32) has a duct (50) extending towards the upper end (42) and having a free end (66) provided with an end fitting (68). The turret includes retaining members (70, 72, 74, 76) that keep the connector (30) between the turret and the end fitting, facing the end fitting (68). The connector (30) is in a fixed position in relation to the retaining members (70, 72, 74, 76) and a drive device (112) drives the end fitting (68) toward the connector (30). |
| US09506299B2 |
Hydro-mechanical downhole tool
A downhole tool includes a body supported from a running string; and a releasing assembly for releasing from set liner hanger portions of the tool to be retrieved to the surface. The releasing assembly includes a connecting member for engaging the tool with a liner hanger, a piston hydraulically moveable in response to fluid pressure within the tool body from a lock position to a release position for releasing the connecting member, and a clutch for rotationally releasing the tool body from the liner hanger. Rotation of the running string moves a nut upward along the body so that the running string may then be picked up to disengage the tool from the liner hanger. |
| US09506298B2 |
Drill bits having blind-hole flushing and systems for using same
A drill bit for forming a hole in a formation. The drill bit has a shank and a full face crown that cooperate to define an interior space that receives water or other drilling fluid. The full face crown defines a plurality of bores that extend from a cutting face of the full face crown to the interior space. The full face crown completely circumferentially encloses the interior space of the drill bit. |
| US09506282B2 |
Tumble-home extending sliding door system
A support arm for a sliding door of a mobile platform may include a first housing slidably attached to the mobile platform proximate to an opening of the mobile platform and a second housing attached to the sliding door of the mobile platform and to the first housing. The second housing may be moveable relative to the first housing between a retracted state and an extended state. |
| US09506281B1 |
Compact bipositional lateral edge locking load bearing rotation lock mechanism
A load bearing rotation lock mechanism including disks or cylinders with teeth or a combination of both that interlock radially between their inner and outer surface areas, or frontal areas, or both, where one of the disks or cylinders is attached to a fixed surface area and the other disk or cylinder is attached to a pivoting arm, plate, or other kind of load bearing support element, and where one of the disks or cylinders is able to mesh (lock) and un-mesh (unlock) from the other disk or cylinder by protruding, retracting, or sliding laterally over a common, continuous or divided axis, shaft, or channel thereby freezing the angular position of the pivoting arm, plate, or other kind of load bearing support element with respect to the fixed surface area at the time the disks, cylinders, or a combination of both, mesh (lock) with each other and unfreezing the pivoting arm, plate, or other kind of load bearing support element to pivot freely with respect to the fixed surface area when the disks, cylinders, or combination of both un-mesh (unlock) from one another. |
| US09506277B2 |
Door locking device for truck
A device is capable of preventing a door and a user from being damaged by automatically locking the door during a cab tilting of a truck. An automatic door locking device having a new shape in which a locked state of the door can be forcibly maintained in a cab tilted state by an associated operation between a weight and a key lever when the cab is tilted, is implemented so that door unlocking when the cab is tilted cannot be performed and thus damage of the cab caused by opening of the door and user injury can be prevented. |
| US09506272B2 |
Two-piece key assembly
A key assembly is disclosed. The key assembly may have a blade with a head portion, a shank, and a transition region connecting the head portion to the shank. The key assembly may also have a head configured to receive the blade. The head may have a shoulder located at the transition region to limit engagement of the head with the blade, and at least one tang located at an end of the head opposite the shoulder. The at least one tang may be configured to engage a recess located within a side of the head portion and inhibit removal of the head from the blade. |
| US09506264B1 |
Ramped garage drainage system
A ramped garage draining system is provided having a parking area that is designed to receive a vehicle or other moveable object that may drip liquids. The draining system is designed to reside inside a garage or other structure and direct the liquid outside of the structure. The parking area is bordered on three sides with walls that extend above the parking area to contain the fluids. The ramp slopes toward a draining portion to direct the liquid towards a seal in the door to the structure. Seal interrupters extend under the seal and displace the seal upwards, creating a gap for the liquid to drain. |
| US09506263B1 |
Swimming pool cleaner appendages
A pool cleaner for cleaning a pool surface includes a wing having an inner edge, a lower outer edge, and an underside extending between the inner edge and lower outer edge. The inner edge and lower outer edge depend from the underside. Engagement holes formed through the inner edge are configured to and capable of non-rigidly engaging the wing to a pool cleaner. Projections are carried on the underside of the wing, and the projections extend beyond both the inner edge and the lower outer edge. |
| US09506260B2 |
Continuous inflatable tube for canvas pools
Continuous inflatable tube for canvas pools comprising an inflatable perimeter ring or tube that defines the upper edge of the swimming pool, wherein the ring or tube is a continuous and whole strip, without seams or seals, and comprising a lower longitudinal flange of about 3 or 4 cm which is used to weld said tube to the edge of the canvas pool.Said continuous inflatable tube consists in a strip of flexible material, preferably PVC, which forms a continuous cylindrical ring welded by radio frequency to the upper end edge of the sidewalls of the canvas pool, comprising at least one inflating valve, whereby the user will inflate the tube to the desired volume. |
| US09506259B2 |
Method and apparatus for dampening waves in a wave pool
A wave pool for producing waves having a first wave forming portion with an inclined section oriented obliquely relative to the travel direction of the waves and a second wave dampening portion having a raised perforated floor above a bottom chamber floor wherein the raised floor is preferably extended substantially horizontally at a predetermined depth in the water or at a slight incline, and wherein the raised floor preferably has a predetermined porosity (γ) within the range of 0<γ≦0.5, such that as the waves travel across the wave dampening chamber, a boundary layer of energy absorbing vortices and eddies are generated above and below the raised floor resulting from water flowing up and down through the perforations, which helps to dampen the waves. |
| US09506252B2 |
Extruded profile for a fitted panel and fitted panel comprising said extruded profile
An extruded connection profile for connecting to each other an upper portion and a lower portion of a fitted panel adapted to be hung to a wall and comprising a panel slot for receiving and hooking an object hung on said panel, a coupling portion which extends transversely from said abutment surface, and an anchoring rib (20) for hanging the panel (1) to a wall. The invention also relates to a fitted panel comprising such an extruded profile. |
| US09506250B2 |
Assembly for connecting rebar segments
An assembly for connecting a first rebar segment and a second rebar segment. The assembly includes a first wedge and second wedge, each defining a hollow for receiving the first and second rebar segments, respectively. A first barrel and a second barrel each define a passage for receiving the first and second wedges, respectively. The passages are tapered for mating engagement with the wedges for driving the wedges radially inwardly in response to the wedges being in the passages and axially engaged by the barrels to tighten the wedges about the rebar segments. A cap defines an opening, a stopping surface, and a channel that extends axially between the opening and the stopping surface, receiving the first and second barrels in axial alignment with one another. A coupling connects the cap and one of the barrels, inhibiting axial movement of the barrels out of the channel of the cap. |
| US09506247B2 |
Transparent panel system for partitions
A window assembly for partition walls. The window assembly includes a plurality of connector assemblies that are configured to be connected to a partition frame around an opening through the partition frame. Each connector assembly includes a base structure and at least one movable retainer that is biased towards an engaged position. The window assembly also includes a subframe including two pairs of elongated subframe members having opposite ends that are rigidly interconnected to define a generally rectangular central opening. The subframe further defines oppositely facing inner and outer side faces. The subframe includes a connecting portion protruding away from the inner side face and engaging the movable retainer to connect the subframe to the connector assemblies. The window assembly further includes at least one sheet of light-transmitting material secured to the subframe and extending across the central opening. |
| US09506245B2 |
Modular fire prevention flooring
A modular fire prevention flooring system includes a plurality of fire prevention flooring planks. Each plank is generally tubular and forms a drain channel. Fluids spilled onto the upper surface of the flooring system may drain through a plurality of drain holes formed in the upper surface of the planks. The planks may further include a metal filler positioned within the drain channels to stop combustion of burning fluids spilled into the drain channels. The metal filler may break up burning liquids and remove heat therefrom. In some embodiments, a purging fluid may be flowed through the planks to purge any spilled fluids therefrom. |
| US09506244B2 |
High-performance heat-insulating materials
The present invention relates to a heat-insulating material, in particular in the form of a solid foam, based on mineral particles of submicron porosity, this material incorporating two different ranges of porosities, advantageously including a first range consisting of (macro)pores with diameters of between 10 microns and 3 mm, and a second range consisting of submicron pores with diameters greater than 4 nm and less than 1 μm, the pore volume of said submicron pores being at least 0.5 cm3/g and the mass per unit volume of said insulating material being less than 300 kg/m3. |
| US09506243B1 |
Thermally-responsive film
The present invention relates to a thermally-responsive film that may, for example, be affixed to an exterior surface of a building to help control its temperature as it is exposed to the sun. The thermally-responsive film has a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. The discontinuous phase comprises a plurality of droplets, each of which comprises the light-absorbing suspending fluid and the light-reflecting particles. The light-reflecting particles are dispersed in a vehicle that is either a second fluid that is immiscible with the suspending fluid and has a higher volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion than the suspending fluid, or a combination of materials that together have a higher volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion than the suspending fluid that together with the light-reflecting particles form composite particles. At temperatures lower than a threshold temperature, the vehicle containing the light-reflecting particles has a higher density than the suspending fluid and sinks towards the rear surface of the film, so that incident light is absorbed. At temperatures higher than the threshold temperature, the vehicle containing the light-reflecting particles has a lower density than the suspending fluid and moves towards the front surface of the film, enabling the light-reflecting particles to reflect incident light. |
| US09506242B2 |
Structural engineered wood rim board corner system and method for light frame construction
A structural engineered wood rim board corner system for light frame construction involves two intersecting structural engineered wood rim boards each having a cavity on an exterior angle side of the intersection and an auxiliary corner support having two arms, each within a respective one of the cavities, is disclosed. A corresponding light frame construction corner forming method is also disclosed. |
| US09506241B1 |
Building with rotating housings
A building with rotating housings has a main structure and multiple housing units. The main structure has a structure body, a housing track extending spirally upward outside of the structure body, and a temporary track moveably mounted in the structure body. When changing positions of the housing units, braking devices of all the housing units are released temporarily to make the housing units slide down by gravity along the housing track for a distance of one housing unit, and the housing unit at the lowest position slides to the temporary track. Then the temporary track and said housing unit are moved upward. Finally the braking device of said housing unit is released temporarily to make said housing unit slide down to the housing track to be the highest housing unit. The housing units can change their positions, heights, and angles at regular or predetermined timeline. |
| US09506238B2 |
Device for fixing a rail
A device for affixing a rail which has a fastening flange. The device includes a retaining plate having a notch and a clamping device. The notch has a front opening, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion. The second edge portion and the third edge portion face each other. When the rail is inserted into the notch via the fastening flange, the rail penetrates and crosses the retaining plate and protrudes out of the notch through the front opening, the fastening flange is supported on the first edge portion, the clamping device jams between the fastening flange and the second edge portion and presses the fastening flange against the first edge portion, and the third edge portion acts as a stop so as to block the rail from escaping from the notch in a direction parallel to the first edge portion. |
| US09506233B2 |
Stormwater treatment system with gutter pan flow diverter
The invention provides structures, methods, and assemblies for processing fluid entering a treatment area. The invention also provides methods, apparatuses, and additional structures that are useful for managing storm water flow and inhibiting the flow of pollutants, debris, and other contaminants into drainage systems. One or more flow diverter pans are installed at one or more inlets of a treatment area, such as a bioretention treatment area or a storm water retention and detention system. The apparatus comprises a structural framework that can include a pan placed adjacent to an inlet of the treatment area, and internal walls extending upward from the floor of the pan and at least partially framing a bypass opening adjacent to the floor. Inlet and outlet openings of the pan define a primary flow route for fluid passing through the pan and to the surface of the treatment area. Inlet and bypass openings of the pan comprise a secondary flow route for fluid passing through the tray. |
| US09506232B2 |
Lid-actuated toilet flushing apparatus
A toilet bowl lid actuated linkage toilet flushing system wherein a conventional toilet-flushing flapper is actuated by a drain pull chain controlled relative to the positioning of the toilet bowl lid to the toilet. The toilet bowl lid must be moved from an upward position to a downward position to flush the toilet, which a magnetic plastic ribbon actuator mechanism is provided for completion of the toilet flush even when the toilet bowl lid remains in the downward position. Movement of the lid actuates a magnetic flush pull of a plastic ribbon that is linked to a drain pull chain connected to the flapper. An alternate version of the toilet bowl lid actuated linkage toilet flushing system is compatible with flushometer toilets and enables an opening and closing of a valve controlling outflow of a pressurized water source. |
| US09506227B2 |
Plumbing fixture with user interface
A plumbing fixture includes a touchscreen user interface on a surface of a plumbing fixture. The touchscreen user interface is configured to allow a user to control at least one of the temperature or flow rate of a fluid exiting the plumbing fixture by controlling a mixing valve located within a body of the plumbing fixture. |
| US09506226B2 |
Water collection tank and filtering system
A water collection structure comprises within it first and second sub-chambers and at least one water collection chamber. The first sub-chamber is at least partially bounded by a wall and has extending from it a water input guide configured and arranged to direct water toward a portion of the wall of the first sub-chamber. The second sub-chamber is open to the first sub-chamber and configured to accept a filter. The second sub-chamber is open to a conduit configured for the carriage of water from the second sub-chamber to an output port of the water collection tank. In use a filter disposed in the second sub-chamber preferentially filters water from the first sub-chamber such filtered water being deflected by the wall of the second sub-chamber to fall into the water collection chamber while the debris laden waste water falls out the lower part of the filter into the conduit. |
| US09506224B2 |
Grade control cleanup pass using splines
A computer-implemented method for determining a cleanup pass profile is provided. The method may include identifying a pass target extending from a first end to a second end along a work surface, generating a plurality of primitives between the first end and the second end such that each primitive has endpoints configured to approximate at least one of the pass target, the work surface, and an endpoint of an adjoining primitive, and adjoining the primitives at the endpoints to form a substantially continuous cleanup pass profile. |
| US09506221B2 |
System and method of vector drive control for a mining machine
A method of controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine, the industrial machine including a dipper and an actuator. The method including determining a force associated with the actuator; determining a dig force vector for the dipper based on the force associated with the actuator, the dig force vector including a dig force angle and a dig force magnitude; determining a characteristic of the industrial machine; and controlling, using a processor, the dig force vector based on the characteristic of the industrial machine, the dig force vector being controlled by controlling at least one of the force associated with the actuator and an angle of the dipper. |
| US09506218B2 |
Underwater trenching apparatus
An underwater trenching apparatus comprising a soil cutting arrangement having a forwardly disposed cutting portion and a rearwardly disposed non-cutting portion, a soil removal device configured to remove soil from a location forward of the soil cutting arrangement and barrier device located and configured substantially to prevent passage of soil to the non-cutting portion of the soil cutting arrangement. The soil cutting arrangement is typically a rockwheel or chain cutter. The soil removal device is typically a dredge pump or eductor. |
| US09506214B1 |
Interlocking, self-aligning and torque transmitting coupler assembly
A self-aligning and torque transmitting coupler assembly includes an outer coupler coupled to a first shaft of and an inner coupler coupled to a second shaft. The outer coupler comprises an inner surface having primary and secondary alignment and torque transmitting features, and the inner coupler comprises an outer surface having primary and secondary alignment features. The primary and secondary alignment features are configured to interlock and facilitate alignment of the first and second shafts along a common axis in an exemplary application of a foundation support system. |
| US09506212B2 |
Universal connecting element for sheet pile wall components
A universal connecting element which is capable of connecting sheet pile wall components, such as sheet piles, beam piles and other sheet pile connectors, that have various types of interlocks such as Larssen locks, cold formed hooks and knob and claw locks. The connecting element includes a reverse “S” shaped profile to which has been added either a neck and head strip, for connection with a claw strip, or a claw strip, for connection with a head strip, or both. |
| US09506208B2 |
Pet waste disposal apparatus
A waste disposal apparatus having a handle, an elongated shaft, a base, and a disposable cartridge. The handle includes a cutout for manual gripping and a ring for attachment to a belt loop or other support. The cartridge provides a first side with a nub thereon and a second side with a plurality of tines disposed thereon and extending therefrom. The base provides a plate having a well with an open end and interior volume in which the nub of the cartridge engages therewith for removable securement. In operation, the user can place a bag over the base and push the nub into the open end of the well of the base for attachment thereto and impale animal waste using the tines. The user can then fold the bag over the cartridge and detach the bag from the plate enclosing the cartridge therein for disposal. |
| US09506205B1 |
Rotary mixer with a front-mounted additive distributor
A rotary mixer has a mixing chamber with a rotor to reclaim the work surface. The rotary mixer has a supply container located on the frame adjacent to the front end thereof. The supply container contains an additive for mixing with the reclaimed work surface. A transport assembly connects the supply container to a distribution assembly. The distribution assembly is located in front of the mixing chamber and receives the additive from the transport assembly and deposits the additive on the work surface. |
| US09506194B2 |
Dispersion of carbon enhanced reinforcement fibers in aqueous or non-aqueous media
The general inventive concepts relate generally to carbon enhanced reinforcement (CER) fibers, and more particularly, to the controlled dispersion of CER fibers within aqueous or non-aqueous media. The general inventive concepts particularly relate to the controlled dispersion of CER fibers within aqueous or non-aqueous media for forming a nonwoven chopped CER fiber mat. The general inventive concepts also relate to the controlled dispersion of CNSs harvested from CER fibers within aqueous or non-aqueous media for forming a nonwoven CNS mat. Methods for dispersing the CNSs or the CER fibers in aqueous or non-aqueous media are also provided. |
| US09506187B2 |
Textile dyeing using nanocellulosic fibers
Disclosed are various embodiments for dyeing a material using a dyed nanocellulose dispersion, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for water in dyeing materials, such as fabrics and textiles. A dyed nanocellulose dispersion or gel may be prepared from wood pulp fibers using a homogenizer and a dye, wherein the dyed nanocellulose dispersion comprises nanosized cellulose fibrils. The dyed nanocellulose gel may comprise an approximate concentration of 0.5% to 6%. The dyed nanocellulose dispersion may be applied to a material, such as a fabric or textile material. The fabric or textile material can be dried resulting in a dyed material. |
| US09506183B2 |
Laundry washing appliance with dosing dispenser
A laundry washing appliance includes a cabinet (105) accommodating a laundry washing tub and a dispensing arrangement for dispensing laundry washing treatment products to be used during laundry washing. The dispensing arrangement includes a drawer (125) slidable within a seat (227) provided in the cabinet (105). The drawer defines at least one container (201a, 201b) for laundry washing treatment products. At least one suction pump (265a, 265b) is associated with the at least one container and is fluidly connected to the laundry washing tub for delivering thereto dosed amounts of the treatment products. At least one valve (235a, 235b; 310, 343a, 343b; 310a, 310b, 343a, 343b) is provided for fluidly connecting the at least one container to the at least one suction pump. The valve is realized so as to automatically close and cut off the fluid connection between the at least one container and the at least one suction pump when the drawer is even partially extracted from the seat, and to automatically open and establish the fluid connection between the at least one container and the at least one suction pump when the drawer is pushed into the seat. |
| US09506182B2 |
Clothes treating apparatus with steam generator
A clothes treating apparatus includes a laundry keeping unit including at least one tray with a plurality of through holes formed thereon. A steam generator is detachably installed in the laundry keeping unit and configured to jet steam to the at least one tray. When the laundry is partially contaminated, steam may be concentratively jetted to the contaminated portion. |
| US09506176B2 |
Thread coloring apparatus
An apparatus is provided for coloring threaded material. A payout support member of the apparatus is configured to support a payout spool. A drive member is configured to rotate a takeup spool. A coloring assembly comprises a colorant applicator holding portion that is configured to receive a colorant applicator. The coloring assembly also includes a passage configured to receive a thread and to dispose the thread against the colorant applicator as the thread is wound onto the takeup spool. The coloring assembly is positioned to direct the thread drawn through the passage toward a portion of the takeup spool. |
| US09506175B2 |
Floor coverings with universal backing and methods of making, installing, and recycling
A dimensionally stable floor covering comprises a tufted textile substrate and a reinforcement layer attached to the textile substrate. The reinforcement layer includes an adhesive backing compound and reinforcement fibers surrounded by the adhesive backing. The fibers may form a continuous layer on the back side of the floor covering or may be dispersed within the adhesive backing compound. The adhesive backing compound may be hot water-soluble to facilitate recycling of the floor covering. The floor covering may optionally include additional backing layers (including cushions) and may be used as a broadloom carpet, a carpet tile, or other modular floor covering products. Methods of manufacturing, installing, and recycling the present floor coverings are also provided. |
| US09506170B2 |
Method and means for producing textile materials comprising tape in two oblique orientations
A novel method and means for directly producing a variety of textile materials comprising tapes oriented in two opposite oblique orientations relative to the textile's length and width directions, called Oblique Fiber Textile (OFT), are disclosed. The described method and means for producing OFT provide secondary structural integrity/stability to OFTs, in addition to primary structural integrity/stability. The process is especially advantageous for producing OFTs comprising tapes, including Spread Fiber and Highly Drawn Polymeric types. Such OFTs are needed in a number of applications such as ballistic mitigation, composite materials, safety products etc. for their improved performance, functions and aesthetics. Several different types of OFTs are producible by the novel OFT forming process which is technically unlike weaving and braiding processes. |
| US09506164B2 |
Device and method for metalizing wafers
A device for metalizing wafers, in particular microchip wafers, in an electrolyte, contains a plurality of holder arrangements. Each holder arrangement has a chamber for the electrolyte which is separate from the electrolyte-receiving chambers in other holder devices, a ring acting as cathode, and an anode system as the anode being associated with each wafer. |
| US09506161B2 |
Surface treatment of a magnesium alloy
A surface treatment of a magnesium alloy includes preparing a substrate of magnesium alloy, micro-arc oxidizing the substrate of magnesium alloy, forming an oxide layer with a hydroxyl group on the substrate of magnesium alloy, silylizing the oxide layer of the substrate of magnesium alloy with the oxide layer, by soaking the substrate of magnesium alloy in a processing solution with a silyl group-containing compound for 1-300 minutes, and placing the substrate of magnesium alloy with the silylized oxide layer at 70-200° C. for 1-300 minutes, allowing a condensation reaction to occur. The manufactured surface-treated magnesium alloy shows a decreased degradation rate in vivo. |
| US09506154B2 |
Plasma processing method
A plasma processing method is provided for reducing dimensions of a film to be etched from patterned dimensions, and is capable of reducing dimensions without causing deformation or collapse of the film to be etched. A plasma processing method for trimming a tantalum film by plasma etching using a resist, an antireflective film disposed under the resist, and a mask film disposed under the antireflective film, includes the steps of trimming the antireflective film and the mask film by plasma etching with the resist as a mask; removing the resist and the antireflective film subjected to the trimming, by plasma; and trimming the tantalum film by plasma etching with a mask film obtained after the resist and the antireflective film subjected to the trimming are removed by plasma, as a mask. |
| US09506151B2 |
Method for applying manganese phosphate layers
The invention relates to a method for applying manages phosphate layers to iron or steel surfaces using phosphating solutions containing manganese, phosphate, iron (II) ions as well as nitroguinidine, as well as its application to workpieces that are subject to sliding friction. |
| US09506146B2 |
Thin film vapor deposition method and thin film vapor deposition apparatus
Provided is a thin film vapor deposition method capable of implementing ALD or cyclic CVD without the need for operating a valve and vapor depositing a thin film with higher productivity over the conventional method. A thin film vapor deposition apparatus includes a substrate supporting portion having a plurality of substrate mounting portions; and a gas jetting portion comprising a source gas supplier, a reaction gas supplier, and a mixture gas supplier, provided at the upper portion of the substrate supporting portion in which the source gas supplier, the reaction gas supplier and the mixture gas supplier are radially placed, wherein the substrate supporting portion and the gas jetting portion are provided so as to be able to relatively rotate. |
| US09506138B2 |
Piston ring
The second compression ring is formed such that the outer peripheral surface shape has a tapered face, and the radial cross-sectional shape is a rectangular ring, a scraper ring, or a Napier ring, and has a piston ring base and a hard film provided at least on an outer peripheral sliding surface thereof. The piston ring base is composed of a low-alloy steel or carbon steel having a Vickers hardness of Hv 350 Hv 550. The outer peripheral sliding surface is formed so that the axial length is from 0.01 to 0.30 mm between the outer edge end part of the tapered outer peripheral sliding surface and an imaginary line contacting with a lower end surface where a curved surface having a diameter that decreases gradually inward from the outer edge end part toward the lower end in the axial direction is parallel to a ring underside. |
| US09506137B2 |
Gas-carburized steel part excellent in surface fatigue strength, steel product for gas carburizing, and manufacturing method of gas-carburized steel part
The present invention provides a steel product for gas carburizing used for manufacturing a carburized steel part. In the above steel product for gas carburizing, a composition of a base metal contains, in mass %, C: 0.1 to 0.4%, Si: exceeding 1.2 to 4.0%, Mn: 0.2 to 3.0%, Cr: 0.5 to 5.0%, Al: 0.005 to 0.1%, S: 0.001 to 0.3%, N: 0.003 to 0.03%, and O: limited to 0.0050% or less, and P: limited to 0.025% or less, and when the contents of Si, Mn, and Cr (mass %) are set to [Si %], [Mn %], and [Cr %], Expression (1) below is satisfied, and an alloy shortage layer satisfying Expression (2) below exists in a range from its surface to 2 to 50 μm in depth. 32≧3.5[Si %]+[Mn %]+3[Cr %]>9 (1) 3.5[Si %]+[Mn %]+3[Cr %]≦9 (2) |
| US09506126B2 |
Austenitic stainless steel and method for producing austenitic stainless steel material
Austenitic stainless steel having high temperature strength and excellent nitric acid corrosion resistance is provided. The austenitic stainless steel according to the present embodiment including, in mass percent, C: at most 0.050%, Si: 0.01 to 1.00%, Mn: 1.75 to 2.50%, P: at most 0.050%, S: at most 0.0100%, Ni: 20.00 to 24.00%, Cr: 23.00 to 27.00%, Mo: 1.80 to 3.20%, and N: 0.110 to 0.180%, the balance being Fe and impurities, a grain size number of crystal grains based on JIS G0551 (2005) is at least 6.0, and an area fraction of a σ phase is at most 0.1%. |
| US09506124B2 |
Tilting oxygen converter
A converter comprising a container (2) defining a first axis X; a support ring (3), coaxial to the container and spaced therefrom, provided with two diametrically opposed supporting pins (6), defining a second axis Y orthogonal to the first axis X, adapted to allow a rotation of the converter about the axis Y; suspension elements, connecting said container to said support ring, clamped at a first end to the container and at a second end to the support ring so as to not require any maintenance as compared to traditional systems which use spherical joints and pins which are subject to wear, thus saving hours of maintenance and plant standstill. |
| US09506119B2 |
Method of sequence determination using sequence tags
The invention is directed to the use of sequence tags to improve sequence determination of amplicons of related sequences, particularly large and complex amplicons, such as those comprising recombined nucleic acids encoding immune receptor molecules. In one aspect, sequence reads having the same sequence tags are aligned after which final base calls are determined from a (possibly weighted) average base call from sequence read base calls at each position. Similarly, in another aspect, sequence reads comprising series of incorporation signals are aligned by common sequence tags and base calls in homopolymer regions are made as a function incorporation signal values at each “flow” position. |
| US09506117B2 |
Methods and biomarkers for detection and prognosis of cervical cancer
The present invention relates to methods and biomarkers for detection of cervical cancer in biological samples, and in particular to markers associated with hypoxia related to the cervical cancer. |
| US09506114B2 |
Identifying genetic variation in affected tissues
Methods for the determination of tissue-specific genetic variation are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for using iPS cell-derived specific cell types for differential molecular analysis of tissue-specific genetic variation are described. |