| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09588848B2 |
System and method of restoring modified data
Disclosed is a system and method for restoring modified data. An example method includes intercepting, by an activity tracking module, a request from a program to modify data; determining, by an analysis module, parameters of the intercepted request; generating, by the analysis module, a request to generate a backup copy of the data based on at least one of the determined parameters of the intercepted request; and generating and storing, by a backup module, the backup copy of the data in an electronic database. |
| US09588846B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which restoration and backup operations are performed for the mobile terminal. For example, the mobile terminal includes a controller performing a backup operation and a restoration operation on the mobile terminal, the controller including an application module for activating a backup restoration application and at least one or more applications; and a Linux kernel module for managing a basic hardware function of the mobile terminal, the Linux kernel module including a backup restoration service unit having an access authority for accessing a file system of each of the at least one or more applications, wherein the backup restoration application accesses the file system of each of the at least one or more applications and then performs the backup and restoration operations on data of each of the at least one or more applications. |
| US09588839B1 |
Methods and systems for using shared logic at network devices
Methods and systems for network devices is provided. In one aspect, a network device includes a plurality of ports, where the plurality of ports are configured to operate in a first operating mode as a single port at a first speed and in a second operating mode where each of the plurality of ports operate as an independent port at a second operating speed; a shared memory device for staging information received from a network for the plurality of ports operating in the first operating mode and the second operating mode; a receive port selector that selects information from the shared memory device when the plurality of ports are operating in the second operating mode; and a shared error correction code module for decoding and performing error correction on information received via the network for the first operating mode and the second operating mode. |
| US09588838B2 |
String dataflow error detection
An apparatus for comparing strings comprises a first and a second set of input registers, a matrix of comparator circuits wherein rows of the matrix correspond to the first set of input registers and columns of the matrix correspond to the second set of input registers, a set of row control registers wherein each register corresponds to a row of the matrix of the comparator circuits, the matrix of comparator circuits configured to compare data provided by the first set of registers with data provided by the second set of registers according to the row control registers, and an error detection circuit configured to compare results from four comparator circuits corresponding to two adjacent rows and two columns of the matrix of comparator circuits. A method that invokes the above mentioned apparatus is also disclosed herein, along with a computer program product corresponding to the method. |
| US09588834B1 |
Methods and apparatus for improved fault analysis
A method includes receiving a signal indicative of a value of a data point associated with a compute device at a first time. The value of the data point includes a data point category that is correlated with a fault category. The compute device is operatively coupled to a record module having a protected mode and an unprotected mode. A signal is received indicative of a value of the data point at a second time, after the first time. When a characteristic of a change in the value of the data point at the first time to value of the data point at the second time crosses a threshold in a first direction, a signal is sent to the record module indicative of an instruction to record data associated with the compute device in the protected mode to define a protected data set. |
| US09588832B2 |
Data preprocessing device and method associated with a failure risk level of a target system
There are provided a data preprocessing device and a method thereof. A data preprocessing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a risk level analyzing unit configured to calculate a failure risk level of a target system using failure history information of the target system and characteristic information of the target system; a collection period setting unit configured to determine a data collection period from the target system according to the calculated failure risk level; and a preprocessing unit configured to preprocess data collected from the target system according to the data collection period. |
| US09588831B2 |
Preventing recurrence of deterministic failures
Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation comprising receiving, by a management console managing a server, a request to perform an operation on the server, determining that performance of the operation is associated with a deterministic failure in the server, and blocking performance of the operation by the management console, thereby preventing an occurrence of the deterministic failure in the server. |
| US09588829B2 |
Security method and apparatus directed at removable storage devices
A method of protecting a computer against malware infection. The method includes during operation of the computer, reading master boot record code from a removable storage device into the computer and inspecting said code to identify any instructions associated with suspicious behaviour. In the event that suspicious instructions are identified, the master boot record code on the removable storage device is modified and/or the behaviour of the computer adapted in order to prevent said master boot record code installing malware into the computer. Examples of suspicious behaviour include hard disk read or write operations. |
| US09588823B2 |
Adjustment of execution of tasks
A system and method for distributed computing, including executing a job of distributed computing on compute nodes. The speed of parallel tasks of the job executing on the compute nodes are adjusted to increase performance of the job or to lower power consumption of the job, or both, wherein the adjusting is based on imbalances of respective speeds of the parallel tasks. |
| US09588815B1 |
Architecture for data collection and event management supporting automation in service provider cloud environments
An apparatus comprises at least one processing platform implemented using at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing platform comprises virtualization infrastructure, an assurance layer and an analytic layer. The assurance and analytic layers are configured to provide data collection and event management functionality to support automation relating to resources of the virtualization infrastructure and associated workloads. By way of example, the assurance and analytic layers illustratively comprise respective deterministic and indeterministic functional groupings of components. The functional groupings of components of the assurance and analytic layers are utilized to implement closed-loop remediation workflows and other types of automation relating to the virtualization infrastructure resources and their associated workloads. |
| US09588814B2 |
Fast approximate conflict detection
The present disclosure is directed to fast approximate conflict detection. A device may comprise, for example, a memory, a processor and a fast conflict detection module (FCDM) to cause the processor to perform fast conflict detection. The FCDM may cause the processor to read a first and second vector from memory, and to then generate summaries based on the first and second vectors. The summaries may be, for example, shortened versions of write and read addresses in the first and second vectors. The FCDM may then cause the processor to distribute the summaries into first and second summary vectors, and may then determine potential conflicts between the first and second vectors by comparing the first and second summary vectors. The summaries may be distributed into the first and second summary vectors in a manner allowing all of the summaries to be compared to each other in one vector comparison transaction. |
| US09588813B1 |
Determining cost of service call
Computing platforms may enable clients to use services to perform data processing jobs. A given job may utilize several services in a service call pattern. Each of these services consumes resources during execution. Described herein are systems, devices and methods for determining costs associated with performance of a service call pattern. Weight data may be generated for each service using various metrics. As service calls are made in the service call pattern, an accumulated weight value is generated which is indicative of the weight data of the services in the service call pattern. The accumulated weight data may represent metrics such as amounts of resources consumed, latency, and transactions per second. |
| US09588810B2 |
Parallelism-aware memory request scheduling in shared memory controllers
Parallelism-aware scheduling of memory requests of threads in shared memory controllers. Parallel scheduling is achieved by prioritizing threads that already have requests being serviced in the memory banks. A first algorithm prioritizes requests of the last-scheduled thread that is currently being serviced. This is accomplished by tracking the thread that generated the last-scheduled request (if the request is still being serviced), and then scheduling another request from the same thread if there is an outstanding ready request from the same thread. A second algorithm prioritizes the requests of all threads that are currently being serviced. This is accomplished by tracking threads that have at least one request currently being serviced in the banks, and assigning the highest priority to these threads in the scheduling decisions. If there are no outstanding requests from any thread having requests that are being serviced, the algorithm defaults back to a baseline scheduling algorithm. |
| US09588805B2 |
Method and terminal device for controlling background application
The present disclosure provides a method which includes: generating an application list according to applications running in an operating system; traversing the identifiers in the application list; determining whether an application corresponding to a currently traversed identifier is a background application; determining whether a predetermined white list comprises the currently traversed identifier and whether the number of identifiers corresponding to background applications in the application list is greater than a predetermined threshold, if the application corresponding to the currently traversed identifier is a background application; selecting an identifier corresponding to a background application from the application list and closing the background application corresponding to the selected identifier, if the predetermined white list comprises the currently traversed identifier and the number is greater than the predetermined threshold; or closing the application corresponding to the currently traversed identifier if the predetermined white list does not comprise the currently traversed identifier and the number is greater than the predetermined threshold. |
| US09588802B1 |
Asynchronously clearing page frames
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes producing one or more clean frames by clearing a batch of one or more frames for use in backing virtual memory pages. The producing the one or more clean frames may be performed asynchronously from a unit of work being performed by a processor. The one or more clean frames may be added to a clean frame queue, where the clean frame queue includes a plurality of clean frames that have been cleared. A first request may be received, from the processor, for a frame for use in backing a virtual memory page of the unit of work. A clean frame, of the one or more clean frames, may be removed from the clean frame queue, responsive to the first request. The clean frame may be delivered to the processor, responsive to the first request. |
| US09588801B2 |
Apparatus and method for improved lock elision techniques
An apparatus and method for improving the efficiency with which speculative critical sections are executed within a transactional memory architecture. For example, a method in accordance with one embodiment comprises: waiting to execute a speculative critical section of program code until a lock is freed by a current transaction; responsively executing the speculative critical section to completion upon detecting that the lock has been freed, regardless of whether the lock is held by another transaction during the execution of the speculative critical section; once execution of the speculative critical section is complete, determining whether the lock is taken; and if the lock is not taken, then committing the speculative critical section and, if the lock is taken, then aborting the speculative critical section. |
| US09588800B2 |
Method and a system for performing a two-phase commit protocol
The invention provides an enhanced two phase commit process to perform a transaction started by an application program and involving access to one or more resources managed by respective resource managers. The method comprises the steps of: enlisting the resource managers participating in the transaction, said enlisting step including associating a priority rank with each identified resource manager based on predefined priority rules; sending a prepare signal to said enlisted resource managers to begin the process of committing the transaction; and if a ready signal is received from all resource managers in response to the prepare signal, committing the resource managers in the order defined from the priority ranks associated with the resource managers. |
| US09588797B2 |
Returning terminated virtual machines to a pool of available virtual machines to be reused thereby optimizing cloud resource usage and workload deployment time
A method, system and computer program product for optimizing cloud resources in utilizing a pool of virtual machines to service user workloads. A writeable partition is created to store middleware and user activity associated with a virtual machine obtained from a pool of available virtual machines to be deployed. In response to the obtained virtual machine being terminated, the contents of the created writeable partition are erased so that the data generated by the middleware and user activity will not be available for subsequent users. The virtual machine is later returned to the pool of available virtual machines after resetting its password and network address to a default state. In this manner, fewer cloud resources are used since resource intensive activities that were required in provisioning a new virtual machine can be eliminated since previously terminated virtual machines can be utilized in the pool of available virtual machines. |
| US09588796B2 |
Live migration with pre-opened shared disks
Examples perform live migration of virtual machines (VM) from a source host to a destination host. The live migration performs time-consuming operations before the source host is stunned, reducing the downtime apparent to users. Some examples contemplate pre-copying memory from the source VM to the destination VM, and the opening of disks on the destination VM before stunning the source VM. |
| US09588789B2 |
Management apparatus and workload distribution management method
A management apparatus deploys, when loads of one or more first virtual machines deployed on a first system satisfy a first load condition, one or more second virtual machines on a second system, and distributes processing of a business operation across the first and second virtual machines. The management apparatus allows a different second virtual machine to be added to the second system when, after the second virtual machines are deployed, the loads of the first virtual machines satisfy the first load condition and loads of the second virtual machines satisfy a second load condition. The management apparatus restricts the addition of the different second virtual machine to the second system when, after the second virtual machines are deployed, the loads of the first virtual machines satisfy the first load condition but the loads of the second virtual machines do not satisfy the second load condition. |
| US09588784B2 |
System and method for providing selective and visible personalized content for webpages
Methods and systems for providing content for webpages are disclosed. The disclosed method includes providing a plurality of selections to set webpage personalization settings and receiving a user selection chosen from one of the plurality of selections. The plurality of selections is provided for a graphic user interface to be defined on a webpage. After receiving a request for a second webpage made by a user through a user device, the content for the second webpage is selected based on the received user selection. The content selection for the second webpage includes identifying two or more content modules for presenting on the second webpage and at least one of the identified content modules includes an associated content indicator. The selected content for the second webpage is then forwarded to the user device for display. |
| US09588772B2 |
Memory controller and decoding method
According to one embodiment, a memory controller includes a decoder configured to perform approximate maximum likelihood decoding, the decoder including: an initial value generation unit configured to calculate first data on the basis of a received word read from a non-volatile memory; a storage unit configured to store the first data and a predetermined number of second data; an update unit configured to calculate new second data by using the predetermined number of second data stored and update the storage unit; an arithmetic unit configured to output an addition result of the first data and the latest second data as decoded word information; and a selection unit configured to select a decoded word with the maximum likelihood on the basis of a plurality of the decoded word information. |
| US09588766B2 |
Accelerated interlane vector reduction instructions
A vector reduction instruction is executed by a processor to provide efficient reduction operations on an array of data elements. The processor includes vector registers. Each vector register is divided into a plurality of lanes, and each lane stores the same number of data elements. The processor also includes execution circuitry that receives the vector reduction instruction to reduce the array of data elements stored in a source operand into a result in a destination operand using a reduction operator. Each of the source operand and the destination operand is one of the vector registers. Responsive to the vector reduction instruction, the execution circuitry applies the reduction operator to two of the data elements in each lane, and shifts one or more remaining data elements when there is at least one of the data elements remaining in each lane. |
| US09588763B2 |
Vector find element not equal instruction
Processing of character data is facilitated. A Find Element Not Equal instruction is provided that compares data of multiple vectors for inequality and provides an indication of inequality, if inequality exists. An index associated with the unequal element is stored in a target vector register. Further, the same instruction, the Find Element Not Equal instruction, also searches a selected vector for null elements, also referred to as zero elements. A result of the instruction is dependent on whether the null search is provided, or just the compare. |
| US09588761B2 |
Maintenance toolkit for the implementation of computer programs
A maintenance toolkit for the implementation of computer programs is envisaged. The toolkit receives computer programs containing a plurality of modules. These modules contain a plurality of components. On reception of a computer program, the toolkit extracts metadata from the modules and the components present in the computer program, and then stores the metadata it in a local repository. The envisaged toolkit then creates a table identifying the components and modules inter-dependent and intra-dependent on each other and also creates a hierarchy table based on the identified dependencies. This allows the toolkit to create a dependency table which is then stored for future reference along with other corresponding information. When a user has any query related to any module or component present in the computer program, the toolkit accepts the query and creates reports based on the dependency data and user query. These reports are then provided to the user. |
| US09588760B1 |
Software application development feature and defect selection
A method, computer program product, and computer system is provided. A processor receives information indicative of an application. A processor retrieves one or more opinion sources for the application. A processor identifies at least one feature request based on the one or more opinion sources for the application. A processor determines a frequency of the at least one feature mentioned in the one or more opinion sources for the application. A processor generates a feature suggestion list including the at least one feature, where the feature suggestion list is ordered based on the frequency of the at least one feature mentioned in the one or more opinion sources for the application. |
| US09588756B2 |
Updating software components in a program
A method and system for renewing software at the component-level is provided. A client program includes a base component for loading a software component into at least one loadable region of the program to update the program. Code in the software component is for writing state data associating the state of the update in storage, upon execution of the software component, and testing the state data to verify condition of the updated program and disallowing rollback and roll-forward attacks, the state data comprising hash chain values. The state data for verifying the correctness of the updated program is entangled with application data used for the program functionality. A server includes: an update pool having a plurality of software updates deployed in each client, and a policy control for monitoring and controlling at least one of: the length of time the client runs until the software update is invoked, a chain of the updates; and the granularity of the update. |
| US09588755B2 |
Information processing apparatus capable of controlling installation of application, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus capable of performing application installation control while taking into account amounts of resources to be changed by installation of an extension application to be attached to an associated application. When a fragment bundle is installed, total values of amounts of the resources used by installed applications including a host bundle assumed to have been extended in function by the fragment bundle are calculated. It is determined whether the total values are within allowable upper limit values allowed by the apparatus. If it is determined that the total values are within their allowable upper limit values, the fragment bundle is installed. |
| US09588753B2 |
Inter-instance communication in a containered clustered server environment
A method and a system environment are disclosed that allow for installation of an instance of an ensemble application into a container in excess capacity of an existing server and that allows the instance to coexist with a legacy application on the server and communicate with other instances of the ensemble application on other servers. |
| US09588751B2 |
Application virtualization
A virtual application packaged for a specific executing environment may be executed on a processing device having an executing environment different from the specific executing environment. A reference, included in extracted installer metadata, to one or more key paths of a hierarchically-structured data store may be modified according to a set of rules related to the executing environment detected in the processing device. The modified extracted installer metadata may be provided to an installer for installing the virtual application. During execution of the virtual application, a request to read, write, or modify the hierarchically-structured data store may be intercepted and changed, such that a first key path included in the request may be mapped to a second key path, based on the detected executing environment. Similarly, a response to the request, which may include the second key path, may be intercepted and modified, to the first key path. |
| US09588744B2 |
Renaming instances of an entity in a coding environment
Exemplary embodiments provide computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and systems for changing the identifier associated with an entity, such as a variable or function, in a portion of code. During editing, a reference may be maintained that identifies the location of each instance of the entity in the code. When the identifier associated with one instance of the entity is changed, the change in the identifier may be propagated throughout the code to change each instance of the identifier in the code. The identifier may be changed without interrupting the workflow of the user and without the need to change to a separate refactoring mode. In some embodiments, a syntactical analysis may be performed and some or all instances of the identifier may be changed based on one or more rules. |
| US09588742B2 |
Rule-based automatic class generation from a JSON message
A method, system, and computer program product for Java development environments. The method commences upon receiving a set of one or more rules to be applied to one or more JSON messages, then generating of one or more Java classes respective to received JSON messages. The received JSON messages can be retrieved from a repository for JSON message files, or the JSON messages can be received by sniffing a message transmitted over a network link. The rules can be applied according to one or more precedence regimes, and applying the precedence regimes over the two or more rules can be considered in a pre-processing step performed before receiving a JSON message or can be considered after receiving a JSON message. |
| US09588739B2 |
Supporting software application developers to iteratively refine requirements for web application programming interfaces
Web API recommendations for a context of an application are provided. A ranked list of recommended Web APIs and a set of Web API recommendations regarding the context of the application is sent to a client device via a network. In response to determining that a selection of a set of Web APIs in the ranked list of recommended Web APIs was received, the set of Web APIs selected is added to the context of the application to generate a new context of the application. A display of a relationship among the set of Web APIs added to the new context of the application is sent to the client device via the network. |
| US09588738B2 |
Supporting software application developers to iteratively refine requirements for web application programming interfaces
Providing Web API recommendations for a context of an application is provided. A ranked list of recommended Web APIs and a set of Web API recommendations regarding the context of the application is sent to a client device via a network. In response to determining that a selection of a set of Web APIs in the ranked list of recommended Web APIs was received, the selected set of Web APIs is added to the context of the application to generate a new context of the application. A display of a relationship among the set of added Web APIs to the new context of the application is sent to the client device via the network. |
| US09588736B2 |
Modal interval processor
A logic circuit computes various modal interval arithmetic values using a plurality of arithmetic function units. A multiplexer gates the desired arithmetic values to a storage register. |
| US09588734B2 |
Translation layer for controlling bus access
A translation layer includes a plurality of first buffers and a controller to assert one or more ready signals corresponding to one or more of the plurality of first buffers in response to the one or more of the plurality of first buffers being less than full. The one or more of the plurality of first buffers receives data or control information from one or more corresponding components in response to the ready signal being asserted concurrently with one or more valid signals asserted by the one or more corresponding components. |
| US09588731B2 |
Electronic device with channel assignment information superposed over audio level meters for faders
An electronic device with faders. In order to make it easy for a user to ascertain channel information assigned to each track while viewing a level meter image of the track, a level of a channel of each track is displayed as a bar graph on a display of a multitrack recorder, or the like. Further, a name of a channel assigned to each track is displayed, as assignment information about the track, in a superposed manner at a lower end of a corresponding bar graph. |
| US09588730B2 |
Mobile tele-immersive gameplay
Techniques for displaying a multiuser augmented reality world on a first augmented reality device. Embodiments capture a visual scene for display. The visual scene includes a first user and wherein the visual scene is captured using one or more camera devices. Visual scene data for a second user is received from a second augmented reality device. Embodiments rendering a sequence of frames for display which depict the first user and the second user in an augmented reality world, where the depiction of the first user is based on the captured visual scene, and where the depiction of the second user is based on the received visual scene data. |
| US09588725B2 |
Printing system, printing control method in cluster environment, and printing control program
A print job is submitted from a client terminal 100 to two print servers 200-1, 200-2, a print server taking main charge 200-1 instructs a printer 300 to print one page at a time in sequence, and status information indicating the printing state is shared by the two print servers 200-1, 200-2. If a failure occurs in the print server taking main charge 200-1, then, on the basis of the status information shared by the two print servers 200-1, 200-2, a print server taking sub charge 200-2 instructs the printer 300 to print in accordance with the submitted print job from the unprinted page. This makes it possible to immediately continue the print from the page indicated to be completely printed when the failure occurred. |
| US09588724B2 |
Apparatus for printing on a sheet and conveying the printed sheet to a reading unit to read, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
Image data is obtained by reading an image of a sheet by a reading unit, and a location of the sheet to which a predetermined image is to be attached is specified. The sheet that has been read is conveyed to a position of a printing unit, and the predetermined image is caused to be printed at the specified location of the sheet by the printing unit, and then the sheet on which the predetermined image has been printed is caused to be conveyed to a read position of the reading unit and read by the reading unit, and image data of the sheet is output. |
| US09588721B2 |
Print control device, printing system, and control method of a print control device
An interface board 3a used as a print control device has a reception unit 310 that receives print data; and a print control unit 320 that applies redirection control to send the print data to a second printing device different from the first printing device when the first printing device, which is the first print destination of the print data, is unable to print. In redirection control, the print control unit 320 sends the print data and additional information to the second printing device. The additional information includes status information causing the second printing device to print the status of the first printing device. |
| US09588720B2 |
Method and device for printing a scheduled print job
A method and apparatus for printing a scheduled print job by a printing device connected to a client device over a network. The method includes transmitting, by the client device, a request to print the scheduled print job to the printing device. The scheduled print job include print data and schedule data corresponding to a scheduled time the print data is to be printed. The printing device obtains the print job from cloud storage or from local storage depending on a storage selection indicator, and executes the scheduled print job at the scheduled time. A determination is made as to whether the scheduled print job was printed successfully at the scheduled time. Further, a message indicating whether the scheduled print job was printed successfully, based on the determination, is sent to a predetermined device. |
| US09588716B1 |
Method and system for backup operations for shared volumes
Backup operations for shared volumes are described. A shared volume is identified as used by a virtual machine scheduled for a backup operation by a first distributed system node. A second distributed system node is identified that has a responsibility for sending control signals to the shared volume. An association is saved of the second distributed system node to the shared volume. The responsibility for sending control signals to the shared volume is assigned to the first distributed system node. The backup operation is executed for the shared volume by the first distributed system node. The responsibility for sending control signals to the shared volume is assigned to the second distributed system node. |
| US09588705B2 |
Efficient elimination of access to data on a writable storage media
A computer program product for eliminating access to data within a writable storage media cartridge includes a computer readable medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to determine whether a first portion of data on the writable storage media cartridge is encrypted, and determine whether key shredding is enabled. In response to determining that key shredding is not enabled, the processing circuit causes performance of a long erase on at least the encrypted first portion of data, and causes shredding of an encryption key related to said encrypted first portion of data. |
| US09588700B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for programming healing patterns on memory blocks
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory blocks each including a plurality of memory cells, a circuit group performing a program operation, a read operation and an erase operation on a selected memory block, among the plurality of memory blocks, and a control circuit controlling the circuit group to program the memory cells of the selected memory block in a healing pattern. The healing pattern is programmed before a subsequent program operation is performed on the selected memory block. The memory cells of the healing pattern include erased memory cells and programmed memory cells arranged alternately. |
| US09588699B1 |
Scheduling of reactive I/O operations in a storage environment
A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The characteristics of corresponding storage devices are used to schedule I/O requests to the storage devices in order to maintain relatively consistent response times at predicted times. Should a device exhibit an unscheduled behavior which may be indicative of the device being in an unknown state, the scheduler may schedule one or more reactive operations on the device configured to cause the device to enter a known state. |
| US09588697B2 |
Host controller
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for controlling a memory device. One method for controlling a memory device embodiment includes storing device class dependent information and a command in one or more of host system memory and host controller memory, setting a pointer to the command in a register in a host controller, directing access to the one or more of host system memory and host controller memory with the memory device via the host controller; and executing the command with the memory device. |
| US09588693B2 |
Performing discard commands on RAID storage devices
An example method for performing discard commands on Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) devices may comprise receiving a request to free a range of logical sectors that is mapped to a plurality of storage devices organized as RAID. The method may further comprise identifying a first physical sector number corresponding to a first logical sector having a lowest number greater or equal than a starting logical sector number of the range of logical sectors. The method may further comprise identifying a second physical sector number corresponding to a second logical sector having a lowest number greater or equal than an ending logical sector number of the range of logical sectors. The method may further comprise issuing a single command to all of the plurality of storage devices to free a range of sectors identified by the first physical sector number and the second physical sector number. |
| US09588690B2 |
Performance-based grouping of storage devices in a storage system
A computer determines an intrinsic read speed and an intrinsic write speed associated with a first disk and a second disk. The computer receives a request to read a portion of data, wherein the portion of data is stored redundantly on both the first and second disk. The computer identifies a first latency associated with reading the portion of data from the first disk, where the first latency is based on at least the intrinsic read speed and the intrinsic write speed associated with the first disk. The computer identifies a second latency associated with reading the portion of data form the second disk, wherein the second latency is based on at least the intrinsic read speed and the intrinsic write speed associated with the second disk. The computer determines that the first latency exceeds the second latency. The computer selects the second disk to read the portion of data. |
| US09588688B2 |
Selective memory dump using usertokens
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for selectively dumping memory by using usertokens to specify an address range from 64-bit storage to be included or excluded from a memory dump. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to reduce the requirement for programs to manage lists of address ranges which represent pertinent data for applications. |
| US09588687B1 |
Method for achieving sequential I/O performance from a random workload
Methods, computer media encoding instructions, and systems that receive write requests directed to non-sequential logical block addresses and write the write requests to sequential disk block addresses in a storage system include an overprovision of a storage system to include an increment of additional storage space such that it is more likely a large enough sequential block of storage will be available to accommodate incoming write requests. |
| US09588684B2 |
Tactile interface for a computing device
A tactile interface for a computing device includes a tactile layer defining a primary guide and a secondary guide. The primary guide is tactilely distinguishable from an adjacent peripheral region and arranged adjacent a first input region of a touch-sensitive surface. The secondary guide is tactilely distinguishable from the adjacent peripheral region, arranged adjacent a second input region of the touch-sensitive surface, and defines a peripheral boundary of a range of motion of a finger moving between the primary guide and the secondary guide. The first input region is independent from the primary guide, the second input region independent from the secondary guide. |
| US09588683B2 |
Dynamic tactile interface
One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate; a volume of fluid within the tube; and a rotary actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel. |
| US09588681B2 |
Glow touch feedback for virtual input devices
The claimed subject matter is directed to providing feedback in a touch screen device in response to an actuation of a virtual unit in a virtual input device. Specifically, the claimed subject matter provides a method and system for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for providing luminescent feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. User input in a virtual keyboard corresponding to a virtual key is received. The corresponding virtual key is actuated and registered in response to the user input, and a luminescent feedback is displayed to the user as confirmation of the actuation of the virtual key. |
| US09588678B2 |
Method of operating electronic handwriting and electronic device for supporting the same
A method of operating electronic handwriting includes receiving at least two handwriting strokes from a touch screen, determining whether the at least two handwriting strokes overlap each other, selecting at least one of the overlapped handwriting strokes into a group, and recognizing a handwriting stroke belonging to the group. An electronic device for recognizing handwriting includes at least one of a touch device configured to receive a handwriting strokes, a storage configured to store information comprising the at least one handwriting stroke, and a controller configured to determine whether at least two handwriting strokes overlap each other, select at least one of the overlapped handwriting strokes into a group, and perform text recognition on a handwriting strokes belonging to the group. |
| US09588677B2 |
Systems and methods for touch-screen-based remote interaction with a graphical user interface
In an exemplary method, a user interface system receives touch screen input data representative of a touch screen input provided by a user on a touch screen of a remote control device configured to communicate wirelessly with an electronic device that provides a graphical user interface (“GUI”) for display on a display screen, converts the touch screen input to GUI input associated with the GUI provided by the electronic device for display on the display screen, and applies the GUI input to the GUI displayed on the display screen. In certain examples the user interface system converts the touch screen input to GUI input in accordance with a touch-screen-based directional-hop movement mode or a touch-screen-based free-cursor directional movement mode. |
| US09588676B1 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing a tap gesture on a touch sensing device
Methods and apparatus include determine velocity of a detected presence in a first direction relative to a capacitive sensing surface, during a period of time, and determine velocity of the detected presence in a second direction relative to the capacitive sensing surface, during the period of time. Methods and apparatus detect a change in the determined velocity in the first direction at a first time, detect a change in the determined velocity in the second direction at a second time; and recognize a user command based on a difference between the first time and the second time. |
| US09588670B2 |
Information-processing device, storage medium, information-processing method, and information-processing system
An exemplary information-processing device includes: an operation receiving unit that receives an operational input made by a user for moving a display area that has area that overlaps with a predetermined area, a display controlling unit that controls a display unit to display a graphic in the display area, and a movement controlling unit that controls movement of the display area in accordance with values derived from the operational input so that the display area moves with a restriction of movement in a predetermined direction when the display area and the predetermined area are in a predetermined positional relation. |
| US09588665B2 |
Object editing method and electronic device thereof
A method and apparatus for editing an object of an electronic device are provided. The object editing method of the electronic device includes determining whether an area for editing an object overlaps the another area for editing the object, and if the area for editing the object overlaps the another area for editing the object, enlarging the area for editing the object. |
| US09588664B2 |
Continuously changing unlock pattern using moving icons
An approach is provided for displaying moving graphic objects on the display screen of the information handling system that are selected by a user while the objects are moving. The system is unlocked in response to the set of graphic objects selected by the user and the selection order matching an expected set of graphic objects and an expected selection order. Unlocking of the system allows the user to interact with one or more applications of the information handling system and to access data stored on the information handling system. |
| US09588660B2 |
Mobile electronic device, method for controlling mobile electronic device, program, and information storage medium
To provide a mobile electronic device capable of assisting a user so as to readily designate at least a part of a character string displayed on a screen as a selection range. A display unit displays a screen including a character string. A designated position detection unit detects a position in the screen designated by the user. An inclination detection unit detects an inclination of the mobile electronic device. A selection range setting unit sets at least a part of the character string as a selection range. A start position setting unit sets a start position of the selection range, based on the position designated by the user and detected by the designated position detection unit. An end position moving unit moves an end position of the selection range, based on a result of detection by the inclination detection unit, after the start position of the selection range is set. |
| US09588657B1 |
Seamless integration of non-native windows with dynamically scalable resolution into host operating system
A method for integration of dynamically scalable non-native windows into a host operating system (OS), including launching a Virtual Machine (VM) running a guest OS on a computer system with the host OS and a host desktop being displayed to a user; displaying a window of a non-native desktop on the host desktop; and scaling the window in response to user action, so that items displayed in the window are scaled with the same ratio, wherein the VM interfaces to a virtual adapter for its maintenance of the window, and wherein a resolution of the displayed window changes dynamically in response to the user action. |
| US09588655B2 |
Data interface configuration method and terminal device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a data interface configuration method and a terminal device. The configuration method includes: receiving, by a second device, an application program command word sent by a first device; parsing the application program command word, to obtain a type of a function module corresponding to the application program command word according to a preset mapping relationship; and connecting a data interface to a corresponding function module according to a parsing result; where the data interface is a data interface on the second device, and the function module is a function module in the second device. By using solutions provided by the present invention, a terminal device may automatically configure a data interface according to an application program that currently needs to be run on a computer side. |
| US09588647B1 |
Navigation of a list of content sharing platform media items on a client device via gesture controls and contextual synchronization
A method navigation of a list of content sharing platform media items on a client device via gesture controls and contextual synchronization is disclosed. The method includes providing, by an electronic device, a playlist for playback in a portion of a user interface (UI) of an application executed on the electronic device, wherein the playlist comprises a collection of media items streamed to the application on the electronic device. The method further include receiving an indication of a gesture made by a user of the electronic device with respect to the portion of the UI associated with the playback of the playlist and navigating media items of the playlist based on the received indication. The method also includes updating a viewing state associated with the playlist based on the navigating, the viewing state maintained for the user. |
| US09588646B2 |
Selection and operations on axes of computer-readable files and groups of axes thereof
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of applying a set function on documents in an axis-based interface, the method comprising grouping a plurality of documents in a plurality of axes of documents, the documents from each axis of documents having commonality, grouping a plurality of axes of documents in a group of axes of documents, the documents from the group of axes of documents being disposed along a collation function, wherein at least some of the axes of documents are adapted to be used by a set function adapted to mathematically collectively manipulate documents thereof. Groups of axes of documents are also adapted to be used by a set function adapted to mathematically collectively manipulate documents thereof. |
| US09588645B2 |
Mobile terminal and fan-shaped icon arrangement method thereof
A method of operating an icon display unit of a mobile terminal is provided. The method includes storing registered icons and configuration information, displaying an icon display unit on a screen of the mobile terminal within a movement range of a user's thumb according to the configuration information, the icon display unit having a predetermined shape, displaying one or more of the registered icons on the icon display unit and executing a particular icon on the icon display unit according to a first touch input applied to the particular icon. A mobile terminal is also provided. |
| US09588641B2 |
Method and apparatus for unlocking mobile terminal
A method and apparatus for unlocking a mobile terminal can immediately execute a specific application at a lock screen. The method of unlocking a mobile terminal includes: outputting a lock screen including an icon area in which at least one icon representing an application is displayed and a pattern area that receives a pattern gesture input for unlocking; sensing a touch signal that moves a specific icon displayed in the icon area to the pattern area; determining whether a first pattern gesture for unlocking is input to the pattern area without release of the touch signal; determining, if a first pattern gesture is input, whether the input first pattern gesture corresponds with a preset unlock pattern gesture; and unlocking, if the input first pattern gesture corresponds with a preset unlock pattern gesture, the mobile terminal and executing an application corresponding to the specific icon. |
| US09588639B2 |
Application display method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention provide an application display method and apparatus. A second application that has an association relationship with an application (a first application) that is currently displayed on a terminal is acquired according to a stored association relationship between applications of the terminal, and the second application is displayed after the first application exits. That is, an application that a user expects to use is predicted according to the stored association relationship between the applications, and a large amount of sensor data of the terminal and external data do not need to be collected, thereby improving processing performance of the terminal. |
| US09588637B2 |
Transparent user interface integration between local and remote computing environments
Methods and systems for transparent user interface integration between remote (“published”) applications and their local counterparts are described, providing a seamless, unified user experience, and allowing integration of a start menu, dock, taskbar, desktop shortcuts, windows, window and application switching, system tray elements, client-to-host and host-to-client file type association, URL redirection, browser cookie redirection, token redirection, status message interception and redirection, and other elements. These methods and systems further enhance theme-integration between a client and remote desktop or virtual machine by remoting all UI elements to a recipient for generation, including text controls, buttons, progress bars, radio buttons, list boxes, or other elements; presenting them with the receiver's product and OS-specific UI; and returning status back to the sender. This may achieve a more unified and transparent UI integration. Furthermore, international text may be correctly received in cross-language environments, or translated into the language of the presenting environment. |
| US09588636B1 |
Exit full screen mode of a web browser on content-based event
Aspects of the subject technology relate to exiting a full screen mode of a web browser. A system is configured to provide for display on a screen a web page in a full screen mode of a web browser. The system is further configured to detect a content-based event in the web browser and, in response to the detection, exit the full screen mode of the web browser. |
| US09588631B2 |
Display apparatus, drive circuit, driving method and electronic apparatus
A display apparatus includes: a display device; a touch detection device; and a driver unit driving the display device so as to sequentially display M horizontal lines in each of plural unit drive periods forming one frame period and driving the touch detection device in N touch detection periods provided in each unit drive period, in which N is lower than M. |
| US09588628B2 |
User interface with proximity sensing
An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electric motors. An input to the microchip is connected to a switch or sensing structure that does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The electronic circuit controls various functions in response to user actions including automatic delayed shut-off functions, find-in-the-dark indicator and power source level/product state indications. The microchip allows the user to select specific functions based on the time duration of activation signals, the time duration between activation signals and the number of activation signals at the input. The microchip is further configured to interpret and react to the signals received from a user in a way that enhances ease of use of the product and to use the indicators to provide information to the user that is influenced by the signals received as well as the state of the product. |
| US09588622B2 |
Single layer capacitive touch module backlight module
A single layer capacitive touch module including a sensor dot matrix is provided. The sensor dot matrix has M×N sensor dots formed by M driving lines intersecting N sensing lines. Each one of the sensing lines and M driving lines forming a sensor zone, wherein each sensor zone comprises M sensor dots, M and N are positive integers. A driving unit is coupled to the driving lines. A first soft board has a lead-in area on a first side thereof to be coupled with the driving lines on a first side of the sensor dot matrix. A second soft board has a lead-in area on a first side for being coupled with the driving lines and sensing lines on a second side of the sensor dot matrix opposite the first side of the sensor dot matrix. |
| US09588620B2 |
Method and device for displaying character on touchscreen
Disclosed are a method and device for displaying a character on a touchscreen. The method comprises: when it is detected that a time period during which the user touches an area, where a character is displayed, on the touchscreen exceeds a preset time threshold, a shaded area formed when the user touches the touchscreen is determined; at least one shaded character in the shaded area is acquired, and independently displayed and enlarged on a preset enlargement area excluding the shaded area on the touchscreen; and the touch of the user on the preset enlargement area is detected, and locating and selecting is performed on the at least one character in the shaded area according to the detected touch. |
| US09588619B2 |
Performance monitoring and correction in a touch-sensitive apparatus
Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals, e.g. by TIR, along detection lines across a touch surface. A signal processor operates in a sequence of repetitions to: generate data samples that represent detected signal energy on the actual detection lines; generate based on the data samples, an interpolated sinogram comprising interpolation samples that represent fictitious detection lines which have a desired location on the touch surface; and reconstruct a signal interaction pattern for the touch surface based on the interpolated sinogram. The signal processor implements an error correction to counteract the influence of a change in validity status for a data sample among the data samples, by identifying interpolation samples affected by the change in validity status, and by setting each identified interpolation sample to a value that maintains a relative signal transmission of the fictitious detection line from a former repetition. |
| US09588613B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling motion-based user interface
A method and apparatus for controlling a motion-based user interface are provided. The apparatus includes a touch screen for displaying an image and for receiving input of a user touch on at least one spot of the touch screen, a sensor unit for sensing a motion of the apparatus, a motion calculator for calculating a degree of the motion of the apparatus, when sensing the motion of the apparatus at the sensor unit, and a controller for, when the at least one spot is touched on the touch screen, determining the number of touched spots, for receiving information about the degree of the motion of the apparatus from the motion calculator, and for determining whether to change the size of the image or the position of the image according to the number of touched spots. |
| US09588611B2 |
System and method for guarding emergency and critical touch targets
A touch screen system and method that (1) renders a critical button in a visually distinguishable manner and (2) provides an intuitive multi-step activation process that effectively guards the button from unintentional activation is provided. |
| US09588610B2 |
Display device, display system and control method thereof for achieving synchronized interaction with terminal device
The present disclosure discloses a display device, a display system and a control method. The display device includes a receiving module for receiving an image frame; a first decoder for decoding the image frame; the display module for performing an outputting and displaying process on decoded image data; a touch module for responding to an image display command corresponding to a touch point of a user on a touch screen; a touch point coordinate extracting module for reading a first coordinate data of the touch point of the user on the touch screen; a microcontroller for converting the first coordinate data into a second coordinate data according to a correspondence between a resolution of the display device and a resolution of the terminal device; an encoder for generating a control frame including the second coordinate data; and a transmitting module for transmitting the control frame to the terminal device. |
| US09588609B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes placing the mobile terminal in lock mode; if a multi-touch signal including first and second touch signals is detected from a display module, releasing the mobile terminal from the lock mode, the first and second touch signals being touch signals detected from first and second areas, respectively, on the display module; and entering an operating mode which is set to enter upon the touching of the second area. Therefore, it is possible to unlock the mobile terminal and then readily enter a predefined operating mode in response to a multi-touch input detected from certain areas on the display module. |
| US09588608B2 |
ADA enabled touch screen interface for a beverage dispensing machine
An ADA accessible beverage dispenser having a touch screen for receiving input for controlling the beverage dispenser and a first ADA access panel located within the reach of a user for receiving input from a user and a second ADA access panel displayed in a lower portion of the touchscreen and within the reach of the user for receiving input from the user where the first and second ADA access panels are configured to communicate with the beverage dispenser to control the beverage dispenser. |
| US09588606B2 |
Transparent conductive film and manufacturing method therefor
The present invention is a transparent conductive film having a flexible transparent base and a transparent conductive layer made of a crystalline conductive metal oxide that is formed on one surface of the flexible transparent base, in which the thickness of the flexible transparent base is 80 μm or less, and the difference H1−H2 between the dimensional change rate H1 when the transparent conductive film is heated at 140° C. for 30 minutes and the dimensional change rate H2 when the transparent conductive layer is removed from the transparent conductive film by etching and the transparent conductive film is heated at 140° C. for 30 minutes is −0.02 to 0.043%. Because of that, the level difference at the pattern boundary when the film is assembled into a touch panel, etc. is decreased and the deterioration of the appearance can be also suppressed. |
| US09588605B2 |
Tracking method and optical input device using the same
A tracking method of an optical input device includes: capturing a first image as a reference frame and an input image subsequent to the first image as a compare frame while the optical input device operates; computing correlation between the compare frame and the reference frame for a first correlation window to obtain a first peak correlation value; computing another correlation between the compare frame and the reference frame for a second correlation window when the first peak correlation value identified is located at a corner of the first correlation window; when a second peak correlation value of the second correlation window is determined to be greater than the first peak correlation value, computes a displacement information of the optical input device based on the pixel position associated with the second peak correlation value identified in the compare frame. |
| US09588604B2 |
Shared edge for a display environment
A shared edge for a display environment is described. In one or more implementations, a display environment of a computing device that is implemented using a plurality of display devices is configured to include a shared edge defined through a described arrangement of at least two of the display devices in relation to each other. Responsive to an input that describes movement of a cursor across at least a portion of the shared edge, an element is displayed in the display environment. |
| US09588603B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device includes a memory, a display device that displays information on a screen, a detection device that detects a tip position of an indicator body on the display device in a state in which the information processing device is held, and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to change a display area displayed on the screen of the display device to an operation area whose vertex is the tip position of the indicator body and which is operable by the indicator body in a state in which the information processing device is held. |
| US09588599B2 |
Magnetic vector sensor positioning and communication system
A system is described herein for monitoring the movement of one or more magnet sources located external to a device using the vector data from one or more magnetic vector sensors incorporated in the device to determine a position and/or to communicate information. |
| US09588589B2 |
Method of providing tactile feedback and apparatus
A method includes detecting a query gesture and actuating, in response to the query gesture, an actuator to provide tactile feedback including information associated with the query gesture. The query gesture may be detected on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device. |
| US09588588B2 |
Customized haptic effects
There is provided a system and method for producing a haptic effect. In one implementation, such a system includes a system processor, a system memory, and a haptic engine stored in the system memory. The system processor is configured to execute the haptic engine to receive a media content, to map an event contained in the media content to a predetermined haptic effect, and to display an interface enabling a system user to produce a customized haptic effect based on the predetermined haptic effect. The system processor is further configured to generate an output data for causing one of the predetermined haptic effect and the customized haptic effect to occur. |
| US09588586B2 |
Programmable haptic devices and methods for modifying haptic strength based on perspective and/or proximity
Embodiments hereof relate a system including a host computer configured to generate a virtual environment to a user on a display, a processor, a haptic peripheral, and a proximity sensor. The haptic peripheral includes an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to receive a control signal from the processor and output a haptic effect to the haptic peripheral in response to the control signal from the processor. The processor is configured to vary the control signal for the actuator depending on a virtual distance within the virtual environment between a virtual camera and a virtual object. In addition or alternatively, the processor is configured to vary the control signal for the actuator depending on a perspective of a virtual camera within the virtual environment. |
| US09588580B2 |
System and method for single domain and multi-domain decision aid for product on the web
A system and method for problem solving in multiple domains on the web is provided. Two facets of preference are applied regardless of domain: first, criteria selected by the user which indicates which elements relate to the user, and second, level of importance to the user. For each decision aid that the user saves to his/her member account, a series of methods applied thereto assist the user in making decisions through intelligent agent expertise, as well as through related eCommerce, social networking, guided content search and delivery of context-rich content. Relevancy of results is also calculated. Depending on characteristics inherent in a particular domain, one of two primary methods is employed. The Multi-Product method uses ontology and a neural network engine to reveal the subset of relevant results based on any combination of user inputs, implicitly and explicitly derived. The Single-Product method maps inputs to results using sub-category analysis of fit and then applies user-centric filters and discounting rules to return meaningful coaching and relevancy of results. |
| US09588578B2 |
Method of changing an operating frequency for performing a dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, system on-chip, and mobile device having the same
A method of changing an operating frequency for performing a dynamic voltage and frequency scaling on a central processing unit included in a system on-chip is provided. A previous maximum peak workload of the central processing unit is detected in a history period of the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling when the operating frequency of the central processing unit is determined to be increased, and an increased operating frequency is applied to the central processing unit. The increased operating frequency is calculated based on the previous maximum peak workload of the central processing unit. |
| US09588573B2 |
Reduced-power trace array for a processor
A trace array having features that provide reduced power consumption/power dissipation in processor circuits. The trace array circuit stores processor states during program execution and provides a resulting trace for subsequent analysis. The trace array includes power management features that, responsive to a control signal, reduce the power consumption of the trace array. A first state of the control signal indicates that the trace array circuit is storing states during the execution of the program and a second state of the control signal is set to enable the trace array for reading the collected states. The trace array may have dynamic read bit-lines and static write bit-lines to further reduce power consumption, and the pre-charge circuits that charge the dynamic read bit-lines may be selectively disabled in response to the first state of the control signal. Write-through may also be selectively disabled and optionally bypassed during state collection. |
| US09588572B2 |
Multi-core processor having control unit that generates interrupt requests to all cores in response to synchronization condition
A microprocessor includes a plurality of processing cores, each comprising a respective interrupt request input and a control unit configured to receive a respective synchronization request from each of the plurality of processing cores. The control unit is configured to generate an interrupt request to all of the plurality of processing cores on their respective interrupt request inputs in response to detecting that the control unit has received the respective synchronization request from all of the plurality of processing cores. |
| US09588571B2 |
Dynamic power supply management
In some implementations, a rack management controller can dynamically manage power supply units in a server rack system. For example, the rack management controller can determine how many power supply units should be powered on based on the power requirements of the server rack system. The management controller can configure a power management controller to turn on the determined number of power supply units. The rack management controller can receive status signals from the power supply units in the server rack. The rack management controller can detect when a power supply unit fails based on the status signals. The rack management controller can dynamically reconfigure the power management controller to replace the failed power supply unit by turning on a reserved power supply unit. |
| US09588569B2 |
Power saving method of operating a portable computing device
A portable computing device using power consumption reduction and a method of operating therefor. The method can include the following steps: determining, in a sensor in the portable computing device, orientation changes of the portable computing device; determining, in the portable computing device, a status of a first operation of the portable computing device; determining, in the portable computing device, a status of a second operation of the portable computing device; discontinuing, in the portable computing device, the second operation in response to when the orientation changes of the portable computing device are less than a threshold, and in response to the status of the first operation and the status of the second operation; and outputting, on a display of the portable computing device, an indication to a user that the second operation has been discontinued. |
| US09588565B1 |
Method and apparatus for data protection on embedded flash devices during power loss events
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for providing secondary power to allow shutdown of a device during a power loss. The method includes monitoring an input power attribute for a data storage device. Upon detection of an anomaly in the input power attribute for the data storage device indicative of a power loss, the method includes providing secondary power to the data storage device for temporary operation of the device to power down. |
| US09588564B2 |
Power over ethernet for 10GBase-T ethernet
A power over Ethernet (PoE) interface for 10GBase-T Ethernet includes at least one communication channel Ethernet interface including an autotransformer having a center tap for coupling direct current (DC) power. A combination of the geometry of the toroid core of the autotransformer and in some embodiments of a common mode choke, as well as the wire twisting, the wire distribution and the wire routing allow maximizing bandwidth up to or greater than 500 MHz for 10GBase-T performance by increasing the coupling and reducing capacitance across the wires, and results in return and insertion losses and OCL that meet anticipated standards. |
| US09588563B2 |
Protocol for managing a controllable power adapter accessory
A host device can manage a controllable power adapter accessory using a communication protocol. Based on information provided by the controllable power adapter accessory as to its power capabilities and the power needs and preferences of the host device, the host device can determine a desired power profile and request power from the accessory conforming to the desired profile. The desired power profile can also depend in part on the power-carrying capability of one or more cables connected between the host device and the accessory. In some instances, the host device and controllable power adapter accessory can be connected via an intermediary accessory that can siphon power from the controllable power adapter accessory, and the host device can manage the power siphoning behavior of the intermediary accessory using the communication protocol. |
| US09588560B2 |
Baseband PD communication over USB standard a connector
In some example embodiments, there may be provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first interface including a first voltage terminal and at least one data interface terminal and a second interface including a second voltage terminal and at least one configuration channel terminal, wherein the first voltage terminal is coupled to the at least one configuration channel terminal by at least a pull-up circuitry configured to cause a predetermined voltage at the at least one configuration channel terminal, and wherein the at least one configuration channel terminal is coupled to the at least one data interface terminal to enable communication between the at least one data interface terminal and the at least one configuration channel terminal. Related methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed. |
| US09588558B2 |
On-chip integrated processing and power generation
A self-powered processing device comprises both a processing device and a power generator that are physically, electrically, and thermally coupled to one another. The power generator can be a fuel cell that can be manufactured from materials that can also support processing circuitry, such as silicon-based materials. A thermal coupling between the power generator and the processing device can include a thermoelectric either generating electrical power from the temperature differential or consuming electrical power to generate a temperature differential. A computing device with self-powered processing devices also includes energy storage devices to store excess energy produced by the self-powered processing device and provide it back during times of need. The self-powered processing device comprises either a wireless or wired network connection, the latter being connectable to a slot on a backplane that can aggregate multiple self-powered processing devices and provide fuel delivery paths for them. |
| US09588556B2 |
Temperature control system for transmitter chip
A temperature control system for a transmitter chip in a consist is disclosed. The temperature control system may include a heater configured to provide heat to the transmitter chip, and a sensor configured to detect a consist condition and generate a signal indicative of the detected consist condition. The temperature control system may also include a controller in communication with the heater and the sensor. The controller may be configured to receive the signal indicative of the detected consist condition, compare the detected consist condition with a predetermined consist condition, and selectively control the heater to provide heat to the transmitter chip based on the comparison. |
| US09588553B1 |
Protective shell for tablet personal computer
Disclosed is a protective shell for a tablet personal computer. The protective shell comprises: a protective film, a limiting frame and a protective shell body; wherein the protective film is arranged at an upper portion of the limiting frame, four sides on a frame body inner side surface of the limiting frame being each provided with a limiting bar; a contact portion of the limiting frame and the protective film is in a horizontal plane, the limiting bar being operable to limit the tablet personal computer to prevent the tablet personal computer from moving in the limiting frame; and the limiting frame is fixed in a snap-fit manner to the protective shell body. The technical solution according to the present invention has the advantage of a better protection effect. |
| US09588551B1 |
Fabric electronic device housings
An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit. |
| US09588550B2 |
Apparatus operable to facilitate access to information
The apparatus, in an embodiment, is structured to support a display device and keyboard. The apparatus has one or more members or portions. The one or more members or portions of the apparatus are moveable to facilitate access to information. |
| US09588547B2 |
Mobile device screen protector installation tray and system
A screen protector installation tray can include an alignment tray, a screen protector retained within the alignment tray via a retention adhesive, and a removable cover disposed on an opposing side of the alignment tray. Also, a method for applying a mobile device screen protector to a mobile device, including retaining a screen protector within an alignment tray via a retention adhesive, applying the alignment tray to the mobile device, disengaging the retention adhesive, interfacing the screen protector with a screen of the mobile device, and removing the alignment tray. Additionally, a mobile device screen protector installation kit, including an alignment tray, a screen protector, and instructions for applying a screen protector to a screen of a mobile device. |
| US09588546B2 |
Wireless electronic devices with a metal perimeter including a planar user input component
Wireless electronic devices may include a ground plane and a metal perimeter around the ground plane. The metal perimeter may include a planar user input component including an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of an adjacent portion of the metal perimeter. |
| US09588544B2 |
Time synchronization across computers in a distributed system
Normalizing time across machines in a distributed system. A method includes obtaining one or more points defining differences in time between machines in the distributed system. Using the points, a determination of one or more time measurement drifts between machines is made. The one or more time measurement drifts indicate changing differences in time over time. One or more traces are collected. Each trace includes one or more events. Each event is correlated to a time stamp from one of the machines in the distributed system. Using the one or more determined time measurement drifts, the time stamps are normalized. |
| US09588540B2 |
Supply-side voltage regulator
A voltage regulator generates an output voltage that is a designed voltage level below the supply voltage. A reference voltage generator generates a reference voltage between ground and supply voltages. A voltage divider generates a feedback voltage between the supply and output voltages. An amplifier generates an amplifier output voltage based on a difference between the reference and feedback voltages. A buffer buffers the amplifier output voltage. A pass transistor receives the buffered voltage at its control node to sink an average load current appearing at the output node. A capacitor is connected between the supply and output voltages to provide a peak load current. A load-current-detecting transistor receives the buffered voltage at its control node to sense the load current. A compensation transistor compensates for leakage current. An internal load converts the sensed load current into a voltage control signal applied to the compensation transistor. |
| US09588538B2 |
Reference voltage generation circuit
A reference voltage generation circuit, including a first current source in series with a first bipolar transistor; a second current source in series with a first resistor; a third current source in series with a second bipolar transistor, the third current source being assembled as a current mirror with the first current source; a second resistor between the base of the second bipolar transistor and the junction point between the current source and the first resistor; and a fourth current source in series with a third resistor, the junction point between the fourth current source and the third resistor defining a reference voltage terminal. |
| US09588535B2 |
Resetting a motor controller for power system protection
An apparatus and method for resetting a motor controller. It is determined whether a tripping of the motor controller is accompanied by an undesired condition elsewhere in a power system wherein an alternating current bus receives alternating current power from a generator, a power converter converts the alternating current power on the alternating current bus to direct current power on a direct current bus, and the direct current power on the direct current bus powers the motor controller. In response to a determination that the tripping of the motor controller is accompanied by the undesired condition, it is determined whether the undesired condition is less than a threshold for more than a time delay. The motor controller is reset in response to a determination that the undesired condition is less than the threshold for more than the time delay. |
| US09588530B2 |
Voltage regulator circuit and method therefor
A voltage regulator circuit arranged to receive a voltage supply signal, and to output a regulated voltage signal is described. The voltage regulator circuit comprises at least one switched mode power supply component selectively configurable to perform regulation of the voltage supply signal, at least one linear voltage regulator component selectively configurable to perform regulation of the voltage supply signal, and at least one controller component. The at least one controller component is arranged to receive an indication of a voltage level of the voltage supply signal, and configure a bulk connection for at least one switching device of the at least one linear voltage regulator component such that current flow from an output of the voltage regulator circuit to an input of the voltage regulator circuit through the bulk of the at least one switching device of the at least one linear voltage regulator component is resisted, if the indicated voltage level of the voltage supply signal is less than the threshold voltage level. |
| US09588527B2 |
Method of operating on-load tap changer
The invention relates to an on-load tap changer (1) for controlling voltage, comprising semiconductor switching elements (61, 62, 71, 72), and to a method for controlling voltage for a variable transformer (2). The on-load tap changer (1) has a first load branch (6) and a second load branch (7) arranged parallel thereto. A partial winding (8) is arranged between the first and second load branches (6, 7). In the first load branch (6), a first semiconductor switching element (61) is provided upstream of the partial winding (8) and a second semiconductor switching element (62) is provided downstream of the partial winding (8). In the second load branch (7), a first semiconductor switching element (71) is provided upstream of the partial winding (8) and a second semiconductor switching element (72) is provided downstream of the partial winding (8). The on-load tap changer (1) consists of at least one switching module (5), which comprises the first load branch (6) and the second load branch (7) of the on-load tap changer. |
| US09588526B2 |
Server rack-dedicated vertical vortex airflow server cooling
A vortex-producing fan controller uses a variable-speed vortex-producing fan to create a helical airflow within a server rack that couples with cooled air entering a data center through a floor opening situated near a bottom of the server rack and that draws the cooled air up through the server rack in a helical pattern. An input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan is measured using readings from a fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack. A speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and a flow rate of the cooled air coupled within the helical airflow up through the server rack are adjusted responsive to changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan. |
| US09588524B2 |
Vibration control device and control method therefor
Provided is a vibration control device, which enables the vibrations of a vibrating body, such as a rotary machine, to automatically be suppressed, without installing a vibration detection sensor on the vibration control device or vibrating body, and without controlling the rotational speed or phase of the vibration control device. The vibration control device (1), which is installed on a vibrating body (2) and controls the vibrations of the vibrating body (2), comprises a rotating shaft (11), a mass body (12) that is fixed to the rotating shaft (11), and an activation apparatus (13) that adds the power of a rotational motion, which is centered on the rotating shaft (11), to the mass body (12). |
| US09588516B1 |
Unmanned aerial vehicle visual line of sight control
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle visual line of sight flight operations. A UAV computer system may be configured to ensure the UAV is operating in visual line of sight of one or more ground operators. The UAV may confirm that it has a visual line of sight with the one or more user devices, such as a ground control station, or the UAV may ensure that the UAV does not fly behind or below a structure such that the ground operator would not be able to visually spot the UAV. The UAV computer system may be configured in such a way that UAV operation will maintain the UAV in visual line of sight of a base location. |
| US09588514B2 |
Commissioning field devices in a process control system supported by big data
Techniques for determining device-specific information such as commissioning data, location information, images, and other data descriptive of a process device installed in a plant include obtaining the device-specific information at a local device during the process device's commissioning. Based on this information, the local device determines the relative order of the process device within a process flow, and may determine a process element alignment map indicating the activation order of a plurality of process elements within the flow. A user may modify the map at the local device. The map is transmitted to a process control big data network for use in discovery and learning analytics. The device-specific information and/or the map may be utilized to generate, at the local device, representations/views of the process flow, which may include real-time operational data. A user may zoom in or out on these views for more or less detail. |
| US09588511B2 |
Virtual machine manager
Systems and methods for virtual machine management are disclosed. A virtual machine manager may communicate with a storehouse, which may include one or more virtual machines. The virtual machine manager may select one or more virtual machines, or may create one or more virtual machines, depending on the requirements of an input. |
| US09588508B2 |
Master device that changes data communication speed in accordance with the number of slave devices
A call unit transmits a call signal to verify the presence or absence of slave devices, which correspond to motors, to all of the slave devices after a master device is activated. A response reception unit determines the number of the slave devices, based on the number of response signals to the call signals. A communication speed change determination unit determines whether or not a data communication speed between the master device and the slave devices should be changed from a first speed to a second speed different from the first speed during a period from the time when the number of the slave devices is determined to the time when the drive of the motors is stopped, in accordance with a result of comparison of between the number of the slave devices and a predetermined number. |
| US09588506B1 |
Automation devices, systems, architectures, and methods for energy management and other applications
A building control and management system including an automation controller and a plurality of peripheral devices configured to perform building control-management system functions. The automation controller and peripheral devices communicate wirelessly and the peripheral devices can be enabled and disabled as wireless repeaters in a network formed by the automation controller and the peripheral devices. The automation controller can monitor the communication traffic levels in the wireless network and enable or disable peripheral devices as wireless repeaters to increase or decrease the communication traffic in the network. |
| US09588504B2 |
Modular control system
Embodiments are directed towards automatically identifying, configuring, monitoring, controlling, managing, and maintaining a machine, via collection computers in communication with the machine components. The components include ID Tags that store identification data, such as a component type and a unique identifier. Interrogation of the ID Tags enables the automatic identification and configuration of the machine. Data provided by the sensors, during usage of the machine, enables the remote monitoring and managing of the usage, as well as maintaining of the machine. Machine maintenance includes automatically predicting and scheduling the replacement of various components. Embodiments provide suggestions for suppliers of replacement components, as well as suggestions for alternative components that may be better optimized for the configuration and usage of the machine. Heuristics and crowd-generated data, via machine user social networks, inform predictive analyses employed to automatically identify, configure, manage, operate, and maintain the machine. |
| US09588497B1 |
Differential voltage-controlled oscillator analog-to-digital converter using input-referred offset
A feedback loop includes an oscillator-based analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an analog signal to a first digital value and a second digital value. The oscillator-based analog-to-digital converter includes a first oscillator having a first oscillation frequency configured to generate a first digital value based on a first signal component of the analog signal. The oscillator-based analog-to-digital converter includes a second oscillator having a second oscillation frequency configured to generate a second digital value based on a second signal component of the analog signal. The first and second signal components are complementary signal components. The feedback loop includes a combiner configured to generate a digital value based on the first digital value, the second digital value, and an offset code. The offset code has a value that increases a difference between the first oscillation frequency and the second oscillation frequency. |
| US09588494B2 |
Holding and indexing device for timepieces
A holding and indexing device for integration in a setting device of timepieces, including a fixedly-attached bushing, an axially-displaceable and rotatable shaft mounted within the bushing, a transmission element attached to the shaft end directed into the interior of the timepiece and allowing the drive of a timepiece part in the interior, and a resilient element exerting a preload force in the axial direction of the shaft. The device additionally includes an indexing ring attached to the shaft in an axially-sliding manner and having an indexing toothing. The transmission element, on a side face directed towards the ring, includes a side toothing engaged with the indexing toothing due to the force of the resilient element. In at least one direction of rotation of the shaft, applying force onto the indexing ring causes disengagement of the indexing and side toothings, thus allowing a position indexing of the timepiece part. |
| US09588490B2 |
Neural control holography
Neural control of holograms is provided to facilitate improving the viewing pleasure of a viewer. A holographic processor component can generate holograms representing a multi-dimensional object scene. A sensor component can detect brain waves of the viewer at different frequency bands. The holographic processor component can analyze the brain waves at difference frequency bands to determine respective strengths of the brain waves at different frequency bands. The holographic processor component can determine an adjustment(s) to be made to a parameter(s) of an optical setting associated with the holograms based on the respective strengths of the brain waves at different frequency bands. The holographic processor component can adjust the optical setting for the holograms based on the parameter adjustment(s) to facilitate generating and displaying holograms that have been modified in response to the detected brain waves at different frequency bands to facilitate customizing the holograms for the viewer. |
| US09588489B2 |
Computational highlight holography
A technique for fabricating a highlight hologram based on a digital object performs point sampling on the object and represents each sampled point as a geometric patch. A set of geometric patches corresponding to sampled points from the object are fabricated into a substrate. A paraboloid patch may be used for reflective substrates while a hyperboloid may be used for transmissive substrates. To avoid specifying overlapping patches, which are impractical to fabricate, certain of the sample points may be merged. An output set of grooves is saved and may be used to specify fabrication of a highlight hologram on the physical substrate. |
| US09588487B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus includes the fan motor that cools an FET, and a CPU that predicts temperature of the FET, and controls the rotation speed of the fan motor based on the predicted temperature of the FET, wherein the CPU determines the rotation speed of the fan motor at the start of image forming operation, based on predicated temperature of the FET of the time when the image forming operation starts. |
| US09588485B1 |
System and method for splitting a printer cartridge
A system for splitting a printer cartridge. The system includes a cartridge holder, a cutting head, and a conveyor. The cartridge holder includes a receiver for receiving the printer cartridge, and a clamp for securing the printer cartridge in the receiver. The cutting head includes an idling cutting wheel configured to split the printer cartridge. The conveyor provides relative movement between the secured printer cartridge and the cutting head to affect splitting of the printer cartridge. |
| US09588482B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a first leg part that supports a housing; a second leg part that supports the housing at a position away from the first leg part; and a third leg part that supports the housing, the third leg part being disposed, so as to be pivotable relative to the housing, at a position where a triangle is formed by connecting the first leg part, the second leg part, and the third leg part. |
| US09588481B2 |
Image-forming device having photosensitive drums, endless belt, and recovering unit
In an image-forming device, photosensitive drums are held by the holding member. Developer material accommodating parts are held by the holding member to form a row of developer material accommodating parts in a prescribed direction. An endless belt extends in the prescribed direction. A recovering unit removes, from the belt, waste developer material and collects the waste developer material. A waste developer material conveying mechanism conveys the waste developer material from the recovering unit to a waste developer material accommodating part. The waste developer material accommodating part is disposed on an upstream side of a most upstream developer material accommodating part in the row of the developer material accommodating parts in the prescribed direction, and accommodates the waste developer material. |
| US09588479B2 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus is provided which includes an image bearer, a charger to charge the image bearer, a latent image forming device to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearer, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a transfer medium, and a cleaning blade to remove residual toner particles remaining on the image bearer. The toner includes a binder resin and a release agent. The release agent has a longest length Lmax in the toner, which is equal to or greater than 1.1 times a maximum Feret diameter Df of the toner. The cleaning blade includes a strip-like elastic body blade having a contact part with the image bearer. The contact part includes a cured product of an ultraviolet curable composition including an acrylate or methacrylate compound having an alicyclic structure. |
| US09588475B2 |
Sheet transport apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet transport apparatus includes a transport guide that is included in a first transport path along which a sheet is to be transported and a flapper that selectively guides the sheet, which is transported by passing through the first transport path, to a second transport path and a third transport path. The transport guide has an air-blowing hole that is positioned further upstream than the flapper in a transport direction of the sheet. The sheet transport apparatus further includes an air-blowing fan that blows air to the flapper from outside the first transport path via the air-blowing hole. |
| US09588473B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus executes control for predicting a toner remaining amount, if the apparatus can acquire a predetermined value as identification information indicating a type or a manufacture of a toner cartridge. |
| US09588472B2 |
Image formation apparatus and image formation method
An image formation apparatus for forming an image and test patterns. The image formation apparatus includes a storage unit that stores dither matrix data used to form the image and the test patterns; and an image formation unit that forms the test patterns based on the dither matrix data. A number of tones of the test patterns to be formed by the image formation unit is changed and the number of tones is determined based on a size of the dither matrix data and a number of bits per pixel within the dither matrix data. |
| US09588465B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a power supply common to primary transfer and secondary transfer
An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt. |
| US09588464B2 |
Digital printing apparatus and printing process
The digital printing apparatus uses a liquid toner comprising toner particles in a carrier liquid for printing an image on a substrate. It includes an imaging member adapted to sustain a pattern of electric charge forming a latent image on its surface; a development member arranged to receive a quantity of the liquid toner dispersion and to develop said latent image; means for transfer of the liquid toner dispersion from the imaging member to the substrate at a transfer location, and a fusing unit. The apparatus further includes a liquid removal unit arranged for removal of carrier liquid from the substrate, and upstream of said fusing unit. |
| US09588459B2 |
Developing device having developing roller and thickness-regulating blade
In a developing device, a developing roller has a circumferential surface and an axial end portion. A thickness-regulating blade includes a pressing part protruding to contact the circumferential surface. A first sealing member is provided between a housing and the axial end portion, and includes a first layer; and a second layer. The first layer has a first layer surface disposed to contact the circumferential surface. The second layer supports the first layer and has a protruding part protruding inward of the first layer in an axial direction of the developing roller and having a second layer surface opposing the circumferential surface. The housing has a wall part disposed between the pressing part and the protruding part in the rotating direction of the developing roller. The wall part has an opposing surface opposing the circumferential surface. A lubricant is applied to the first layer surface and the second layer surface. |
| US09588456B2 |
Scanning optical device and image forming apparatus
At image formation time, when the light amount setting value used in the image formation is equal to or larger than the light amount value Xm affected by the stray light, a corrected signal width Tw corresponding to the light amount setting value used in the image formation is calculated from the increase ratio αn of the signal width tn of a detection signal acquired in a region having a light amount value smaller than the light amount value Xm affected by the stray light; and a synchronization signal is generated on the basis of a center position of the corrected signal width Tw. |
| US09588455B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes exposing units, a photoconductor, developing units, a processor, and a memory storing instructions. Each exposing unit includes light emitting elements arranged in a main scanning direction and divided into blocks each illuminating at a corresponding light emitting time point. The instructions cause the image forming apparatus to: change a light emitting time point for one of two blocks contained in respective two exposing units at the same position in the main scanning direction, to reduce an image distance in a sub-scanning direction between two images each to be formed by illumination of at least one light emitting element contained in a corresponding one of the two blocks; illuminate the light emitting elements of each of the exposing units at light emitting time points including the light emitting time point obtained by the change; and develop electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductor. |
| US09588452B2 |
Toner for developing electrostatic latent image and process for producing the same
The toner according to the present invention comprises a matrix phase composed of a vinyl resin, and domain phases composed of a non-crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the matrix phase, and a number-average domain diameter of the domain phases composed of the non-crystalline polyester resin is 30 to 150 nm. The toner satisfies relation represented by a specific requirement of the total area of the domain phases present in a surface layer area of the toner particle, and the total area of the domain phases present in areas other than the surface layer area, in a given cross-section of the toner particle. |
| US09588451B2 |
Toner, developer, and image forming apparatus
A toner, wherein an amount of Al detected in the toner is 0.7% to 1.3%, where the amount of Al detected is determined based on quantitative analysis of Al by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis (XPS), and wherein [Tg2nd (THF insoluble matter)] is −40° C. to 30° C., where the [Tg2nd (THF insoluble matter)] is a glass transition temperature measured in second heating of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of THF insoluble matter of the toner. |
| US09588445B2 |
Projection objective for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
A projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus contains a plurality of optical elements arranged in N>−2 successive sections A1 to AN of the projection objective which are separated from one another by pupil planes or intermediate image planes. According to the invention, in order to correct a wavefront deformation, at least two optical elements each have an optically active surface locally reprocessed aspherically. A first optical element is in this case arranged in one section Aj, j=1 . . . N and a second optical element is arranged in another section Ak, k=1 . . . N, the magnitude difference |k−j| being an odd number. |
| US09588441B2 |
Method and device for using substrate geometry to determine optimum substrate analysis sampling
A method and apparatus for process control in the processing of a substrate is disclosed in the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a first analysis tool to determine changes in a substrate's geometry. The substrate geometry data is used to generate sampling plan that will be used to check areas of the substrate that are likely to have errors after processing. The sampling plan is fed forwards to a second analysis tool that samples the substrate after it has been processed. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09588438B2 |
Optimization flows of source, mask and projection optics
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for optimizing a lithographic projection apparatus including optimizing projection optics therein. The current embodiments include several flows including optimizing a source, a mask, and the projection optics and various sequential and iterative optimization steps combining any of the projection optics, mask and source. The projection optics is sometimes broadly referred to as “lens”, and therefore the optimization process may be termed source mask lens optimization (SMLO). SMLO may be desirable over existing source mask optimization process (SMO) or other optimization processes that do not include projection optics optimization, partially because including the projection optics in the optimization may lead to a larger process window by introducing a plurality of adjustable characteristics of the projection optics. The projection optics may be used to shape wavefront in the lithographic projection apparatus, enabling aberration control of the overall imaging process. |
| US09588437B2 |
Fluid handling structure, a lithographic apparatus and a device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size. |
| US09588435B2 |
EUV microlithography projection exposure apparatus with a heat light source
The disclosure relates to an EUV microlithography projection exposure apparatus having an exposure light source for producing radiation in a first spectral range from 5 nm-15 nm, and a heat light source for producing radiation in a second spectral range from 1-50 μm. The apparatus also includes an optical system having a first group of mirrors for guiding radiation from the first spectral range along a light path such that each mirror in the first group can have a first associated intensity distribution applied to it in the first spectral range during operation of the exposure light source. The heat light source is arranged such that at least one mirror in the first group can have a second associated intensity distribution in the second spectral range applied to it during operation of the heat light source. The first intensity distribution differs from the second intensity distribution essentially by a position-independent factor. |
| US09588434B2 |
Catoptric illumination system for microlithography tool
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a system that includes an illumination system of a microlithography tool, the illumination system including a first component having a plurality of elements. During operation of the system, the elements direct radiation from a source along an optical path to an arc-shaped object field at an object plane of a projection objective, and at least one of the elements has a curved shape that is different from the arc-shape of the object field. |
| US09588432B2 |
Illumination optical apparatus having deflecting member, lens, polarization member to set polarization in circumference direction, and optical integrator
An illumination optical apparatus illuminates a pattern on a mask with illumination light. The illumination optical apparatus includes an optical integrator arranged in an optical path of the illumination light, a deflecting member arranged in the optical path on an incidence side of the optical integrator, which deflects the illumination light, a lens element arranged in the optical path between the deflecting member and the optical integrator, which distributes the illumination light in a region, on a pupil plane of the illumination optical apparatus, away from an optical axis of the illumination optical apparatus, and a polarization member arranged in the optical path between the lens element and the optical integrator, which changes a polarization state of the illumination light so that a polarization direction of the illumination light in the region is substantially coincident with a circumferential direction about the optical axis. |
| US09588429B1 |
Lithographic developer composition and method of use
Lithographic printing plates are formed by imagewise exposing a single-layer or dual-layer positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor. The precursor has an outermost ink receptive layer containing a phenolic resin. The exposed precursor can be processed using a silicate-free developer composition having a pH of at least 12.5. This composition also includes an alkali metal hydroxide; a coating protecting agent that is a quaternary ammonium salt or phosphonium salt, or a mixture thereof, and a moderator for the coating protecting agent that is represented by the following general formula (I): wherein m is at an integer of at least 1 and up to and including 10 and M represents one or more counterions sufficient to balance the negatively-charged sulfonate groups. |
| US09588428B2 |
Resist removing liquid, resist removal method using same and method for producing photomask
A resist removal method includes removing a resist provided on a photomask substrate by bringing a resist removing liquid into contact with the resist in patterning of a photomask for EUV lithography in which the resist removing liquid contains an alkali compound, a specific nitrogen-containing compound, and water, and a content of the water is more than 50% by mass. |
| US09588427B2 |
Light exposure system comprising a plurality of moving stages and light exposure process
A light exposure system executing a light exposure process to a plurality of assembly cells, each of which includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, comprises: a transmission device; two moving stages disposed on the transmission device and carrying the assembly cells; and a light source module including at least a light emitting element, wherein the transmission device moves at least one of the moving stages carrying the assembly cell or the light source module, and the light emitting element emits the light to the assembly cell, wherein the assembly cells include a first assembly cell and a second assembly cell, the moving stages carry the first assembly cell and the second assembly cell, respectively, wherein when the light exposure process is executed to the first assembly cell, the second assembly cell receives the work of cell replacement and alignment, electrode contact and application of electric field, wherein when the light exposure process is executed to the second assembly cell, the first assembly cell receives the work of cell replacement and alignment, electrode contact and application of electric field. A light exposure process applied to the light exposure system is also disclosed. |
| US09588422B2 |
Imprint lithography
A method of forming an imprint template using a substrate having an inorganic release layer and a layer of imprintable medium is disclosed. The method includes using a master imprint template to imprint a pattern into the imprintable medium, causing the imprintable medium to solidify, and etching the imprintable medium and the inorganic release layer to form a pattern in the inorganic release layer. |
| US09588415B2 |
Electron beam exposure system and methods of performing exposing and patterning processes using the same
An exposure system includes a data processing part that forms an exposure layout and an exposure part that irradiates an electron beam at a photoresist layer according to the exposure layout. The data processing part generates a control parameter for driving the exposure part without a pattern position error and a beam drift error and to prevent a discrepancy between the exposure layout and a mask layout to be formed in the photoresist layer. A controlling part controls the exposure part according to the control parameter. |
| US09588413B2 |
Photomask, method of correcting error thereof, integrated circuit device manufactured by using the photomask, and method of manufacturing the integrated circuit device
Provided are a photomask and a method of correcting errors thereof. The photomask includes a multilayer reflection film covering one side surface of a substrate and an energy receiving layer covering the other side surface of the substrate. The method includes determining a local correction position on a frontside surface of the photomask according to a detected error of the photomask, and locally applying an energy beam to a backside surface region of the photomask aligned with the local correction position in a thickness direction of the photomask. The invention may be applicable to structures other than photomasks that benefit from modification of surface heights or selectively applied stress. |
| US09588411B2 |
Light source apparatus emitting visible light and image display apparatus using the same
A light source apparatus includes: an excitation light source including a laser light source; a first wheel that is controlled to rotate, and includes, in a part of a surface thereof to be illuminated by excitation light emitted from the excitation light source, a phosphor layer to be excited by the excitation light; and a second wheel that is controlled to rotate, and includes a dichroic filter that outputs light having a desired wavelength component of each of fluorescence emitted from the phosphor layer of the first wheel and the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source. |
| US09588410B2 |
Projection type display device and control method thereof
A projector which includes a light source, liquid crystal light valves, a dimming mechanism, an illumination optical system, a control circuit which determines an input light amount which is caused to be input to the liquid crystal light valve on the basis of an input image signal, outputs an output image signal which is decompressed according to the input light amount, and generates a first control signal which designates a first dimming rate of a high pressure mercury lamp and a second control signal which designates a second dimming rate of the dimming mechanism based on the input light amount, an illumination driving circuit which drives the light source on the basis of the first control signal, and a douser driving circuit which drives the douser on the basis of the second control signal. |
| US09588409B2 |
Projector having an illumination unit and a projection unit fixed or shiftably held to a base frame
A projector includes an illumination unit which has an optical system including a light source apparatus, an image formation unit which has an optical system including a light modulator (liquid crystal panels), a projection unit which has an optical system including a projection lens, to which the image formation unit is coupled, and which is coupled to the illumination unit, and a base frame which fixes one of the illumination unit and the projection unit and holds the other shiftably in a direction parallel to a projection direction. In a case where the projection unit is fixed to the base frame, second fixing portions (projection unit fixing portions) of the projection unit are fixed, and first fixing portions (illumination unit fixing portions) of the illumination unit are shiftably held. |
| US09588403B2 |
Strobe device
A strobe device including, a strobe main body including a light emitting surface; a plate-like reflector provided on the strobe main body so as to be movable between a use position in which the reflector protrudes forward from the light emitting surface of the strobe main body and a storing position in which the reflector is retracted backward from the use position; a reflector magnetic member made of ferromagnetic material or permanent magnet and attached to the reflector; and a main body magnetic member made of ferromagnetic material or permanent magnet and attached to the strobe main body, wherein when the reflector approaches at least one of the use position and the storing position, the main body magnetic member magnetically attracts the reflector magnetic member and holds the reflector at the one of the use position and the storing position by magnetic attraction. |
| US09588400B2 |
Photographing apparatus and photographing control system
An optimum low-pass filter effect according to various photographing condition parameters related to photographing conditions is obtained with flexibility without forcing the user to perform a troublesome manual operation in a photographing apparatus which drives an image sensor to obtain an optical low-pass filter effect.The photographing condition parameter setters set parameters related to photographing conditions. The image sensor drive controller changes the drive range of the image sensor and the optical low-pass filter effect, which are defined by the image sensor driver, based on the photographing condition parameters set by the photographing condition parameter setters. |
| US09588399B2 |
All-fiber laser frequency mixer and frequency-mixing fiber laser thereof
The present invention relates to the field of laser frequency-mixing technologies, and in particular, to an all-fiber laser frequency mixer and a frequency-mixing fiber laser thereof. In the all-fiber laser frequency mixer and the frequency-mixing fiber laser thereof, a graded index fiber coupling technology is used to implement an all-fiber laser frequency mixer, and the all-fiber laser frequency mixer is further combined with a fiber laser to implement an all-fiber frequency-mixing fiber laser. The apparatus can implement all-fiber frequency doubling, sum frequency or difference frequency on any one or two of the following linearly polarized narrow linewidth fiber lasers: a 1 μm fiber laser, a 1.5 μm fiber laser, a 1.9 μm thulium-doped fiber laser, a 2 μm thulium holmium co-doped fiber laser, a Raman fiber laser, and a frequency-mixing fiber laser and implement an all-fiber fiber laser covering ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, mid-infrared bands. |
| US09588397B1 |
Self-seeding to enhance, stabilize, and wavelength tune supercontinuum generation
A novel method for enhancing (for improved average power), stabilizing (to reduce rms noise), and wavelength tuning supercontinuum generation is described for numerous applications including but not limited to metrology, spectroscopy, and biomedical imaging. What is described is a way of enhancing only a small bandwidth portion of the optical spectrum by means of self-seeding in the supercontinuum. This cost-effective method allows for wavelength tuning while maintaining the enhancement. |
| US09588394B2 |
Optical apparatus and automobile lighting
An optical apparatus includes first and second substrates disposed to oppose each other, the first substrate having a first electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate nearer to the second substrate, and the second substrate having a second electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate nearer to the first substrate, and an electrolyte layer sandwiched between the first and the second substrates, and containing electro-deposition material including silver, wherein when potential of the first electrode is used as reference, a first voltage of positive polarity is applied in a first period to the second electrode, and a second voltage of positive polarity lower than the first voltage is applied in a second period after the first period to the second electrode. |
| US09588391B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, display device, and process for manufacturing liquid crystal panel
Embodiments of the invention provide a liquid crystal panel, a display device, and a process for manufacturing the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes cell-assembled array substrate and colored substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the array substrate and the colored substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes a dual frequency liquid crystal and a polymer network anchoring the dual frequency liquid crystal, wherein the polymer network is formed by polymerization of liquid crystalline ultraviolet polymerizable monomers. |
| US09588390B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention has an object of providing a liquid crystal display device having a high transmittance or a high viewing angle characteristic. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a pixel electrode (30) including a peripheral portion (36), an island portion (32) and a plurality of branch portions (34). The plurality of branch portions (34) are formed of a plurality of first through fourth branch portions (34A through 34D) respectively extending in first through fourth directions. By these branch portions, first through fourth regions (35A through 35D) in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned in different directions from each other at the time of voltage application are formed. The island portion (32) is surrounded by the first through fourth regions (35A through 35D), and is connected to the peripheral portion (36) by a connection portion (38) but not by any of the plurality of branch portions (34) or connected to the peripheral portion (36) by one of the first through fourth branch portions (34A through 34D). |
| US09588389B2 |
Array substrate and method for manufacturing the same, and display device
The array substrate according to the present disclosure may include a base substrate, gate lines and data lines arranged in a crisscross manner on the base substrate, and a common electrode; wherein the common electrode includes a transparent conductive layer and a first auxiliary conductive layer under the transparent conductive layer; the first auxiliary conductive layer of the common electrode at least partially overlaps the gate lines or the data lines. |
| US09588387B2 |
Fast testing switch device and the corresponding TFT-LCD array substrate
A fast testing switch device arranged on a TFT-LCD array substrate is disclosed. The fast testing switch device switches the testing signals for testing a display area of the TFT-LCD array substrate. The fast testing switch device includes at least a first switch TFT. The gate of the first switch TFT connects to one control chip and a testing block for receiving the switch control signals from the testing block or the turn-off control signals from the control chip. The source of the first switch TFT connects to one data testing line or one gate testing line, and the drain of the first switch TFT connects to the corresponding data line or gate line of the display area. In addition, a corresponding TFT-LCD array substrate is also disclosed. The above configuration not only can achieve the narrow-bezel design but also can enhance the yield rate of the TFT-LCD array substrate. |
| US09588381B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display includes an insulation substrate, a plurality of pixels disposed on the insulation substrate, where each pixel has a shape elongated in a horizontal direction, and includes a thin film transistor formation region and a display area; and a reference voltage line extending in a vertical direction along a center of the display area, where the display area includes a single high-gray subpixel area and two low-gray subpixel areas, and the single high-gray subpixel area is positioned between the two low-gray subpixel areas. |
| US09588380B2 |
Liquid crystal display device including an auxiliary capacitance line with a branch portion
A liquid crystal display device, including: an array substrate including: a first pixel electrode, first and second source lines arranged in a first direction and extending in a second crossing direction, a first gate line, an auxiliary capacitance line, a second gate line arranged in the second direction and extending in the first direction, and a switching element including a semiconductor layer which includes a first portion overlapping the first source line and extending in the second direction and a second portion overlapping the auxiliary capacitance line and extending in the first direction. The auxiliary capacitance line includes a branch portion extending along the first source line toward the second gate line and formed on a layer between the first source line and the semiconductor layer. The array substrate includes first and second shield layers, and the first shield layer formed larger than the second shield layer. |
| US09588378B2 |
Display panel and its manufacturing method and a display
The present invention relates to a display panel having a display region and a non-display region, comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate oppositely provided and a layer of liquid crystal molecule located between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each are provided with an alignment film at a position corresponding to the display region, and each are provided with a sealant region for applying sealant at a position corresponding to the non-display region, wherein: the sealant region on a surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal molecule layer is provided with a first raised layer by which the sealant region of the first substrate is higher than the display region thereof; and the sealant region on a surface of the second substrate facing the liquid crystal molecule layer is provided with a second raised layer by which the sealant region of the second substrate is higher than the display region thereof. The above display panel has improved display quality and has a narrow border at the same time. |
| US09588376B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the first substrate; a common electrode disposed on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, where a first cutout having a cross shape is defined in the common electrode, a second cutout is defined in the pixel electrode to be adjacent to and along an edge of the pixel electrode, and the pixel electrode has a step structure, a boundary line of which is in a rhombus shape. |
| US09588374B2 |
Reflective LC devices including thin film metal grating
A sub-wavelength thin-film metal grating is placed inside a liquid crystal variable optical retarder at a selected distance from a reflective electrode to form a reflective half wave plate, thereby reducing polarization dependence of the optical retardation generated by the variable optical retarder. The approach enables to form within the device the reflective half wave plate that is suitably thin without modifying the reflective electrode of the device. |
| US09588370B2 |
Display Device
A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a display and a diffractive optical element (DOE). The display is used to show an image. When a user looks at the image within a first viewing angle range, he can see a first observed image, and when he looks at the image within a second viewing angle range, he can see a second observed image. The diffractive optical element is disposed in the lighting direction of the display to diffract the light constructing the first observed image to the second viewing angle range, thereby converting the first observed image into a third observed image and converting the second observed image into a fourth observed image at the same time. |
| US09588369B2 |
Liquid crystal cell
The present application relates to a liquid crystal cell, a method for preparing a liquid crystal cell and a display device. An exemplary liquid crystal cell may be applied to various types of display devices so as to control a viewing angle or light transmittance of the display device. |
| US09588358B2 |
Optical filter comprising a variable transmittance layer
An optical filter comprising a variable transmittance layer having a first spectrum in a dark state, and a second spectrum in a faded state; and a color balancing layer having a third spectrum; each of the first, second and third spectra comprising a visible portion; the first and third spectra combining to provide a dark state spectrum approximating a dark state target color, and the second and third spectra combining to provide a faded state spectrum approximating a faded state target color. The optical filter may further comprise a light attenuating layer. The optical filter may further comprise part of a laminated glass. |
| US09588356B2 |
Battery structure for eyewear apparatus
An eyewear apparatus is provided that includes a lens structure having a lens panel, and a battery structure on the lens panel. The battery structure may include an anode, a separator and a cathode, and may also include a solar panel. |
| US09588355B2 |
Pair of glasses with secondary lenses
A construction for eyeglasses provides a frame with a first rim for securing a first fixed lens, a second rim for securing a second fixed lens, a first temple hinge for pivotally joining a first temple arm to the first rim, a second temple hinge for pivotally joining a second temple arm to the second rim, and a pair of double-knuckle hinges for joining pivotally joining a first selectable lens and a second selectable lens to the frame. The double knuckle hinges allow the first selectable lens and the second selectable lens to rotate 270 degrees, switching between a storage configuration and an active configuration. In the active configuration the selectable lenses overlap the fixed lenses in order to provide additional desirable properties. Thus the selectable lenses can be used in combination with the fixed lenses to act as bifocal glasses. |
| US09588352B2 |
Autostereoscopic image display device with a difference image map
A display device includes a light blocking panel; a transparent display panel; a three-dimensional (3D) panel; a mask generating unit that generates a first mask from a difference between a left eye image and a right eye image that indicates whether or not viewpoint disparity is generated in each block of the 3D panel, and a second mask indicating whether each block of the light blocking panel is transparent or opaque; and an image processing unit that generates the display image from the left and right eye images and the first mask, wherein the display image is divided into a first region first region that includes an interlaced image generated by alternately arranging left eye image pixels and right eye image pixels, and a second region that includes a 2D image generated from one or both of the left eye image and the right eye image. |
| US09588349B2 |
Liquid crystal lens comprising first, second, and third lens electrodes and stereoscopic display device including the same
A liquid crystal lens includes a first lens electrode, a second lens electrode, bus lines, and a contact portion. The first lens electrode is disposed in at least a display area of the liquid crystal lens. The second lens electrode is disposed in at least the display area. The bus lines are disposed in a peripheral area of the liquid crystal lens, the peripheral area being disposed outside the display area, the first lens electrode and the second lens electrode being connected to respective ones of the bus lines. The contact portion overlaps the bus lines and electrically connects the respective bus lines to the first lens electrode and the second lens electrode. |
| US09588346B2 |
Light concentrating film and display device
The present disclosure provides a light concentrating film and a display device. The light concentrating film has a planar shape, and includes multiple light concentrating units which are connected to each other so as to concentrate the incident light on a light incoming side of the light concentrating film at the light outgoing side of the light concentrating film. The display device of the present disclosure includes a display panel and the light concentrating film of the present disclosure, and the light outgoing side of the light concentrating film faces a light incoming side of the display panel. |
| US09588344B2 |
Head-mount display with exercise information displayed thereon
A head-mount display with exercise information displayed thereon includes an information box securely mounted on one temple of a frame, at least one wireless receiving unit mounted inside the information box, and a transparent body mounted on one front end of the information box in a visual range of a user. A display screen is mounted on an outer sidewall of the transparent body to display exercise information in the form of icon or text message, which is detected by the at least one wireless receiving unit. A magnifying lens is mounted on an inner sidewall of the transparent body to enlarge information displayed on the display screen as a virtual image for the user to view upon exercising. Accordingly, the head-mount display not only provides convenience in demonstrating information but also enhances space utilization efficiency of the display screen and recognition of exercise information on the display screen. |
| US09588341B2 |
Automatic variable virtual focus for augmented reality displays
The technology provides an augmented reality display system for displaying a virtual object to be in focus when viewed by a user. In one embodiment, the focal region of the user is tracked, and a virtual object within the user focal region is displayed to appear in the focal region. As the user changes focus between virtual objects, they appear to naturally move in and out of focus as real objects in a physical environment would. The change of focus for the virtual object images is caused by changing a focal region of light processing elements in an optical path of a microdisplay assembly of the augmented reality display system. In some embodiments, a range of focal regions are swept through at a sweep rate by adjusting the elements in the optical path of the microdisplay assembly. |
| US09588333B2 |
Wavelength tunable interference filter, method for manufacturing wavelength tunable interference filter, optical module, and electronic apparatus
A wavelength tunable interference filter includes an electrostatic actuator that changes the dimension of a gap between a fixed reflection film and a movable reflection film, a fixed drawn electrode and a movable drawn electrode that are connected to the electrostatic actuator, and a third substrate having a top surface portion and a sidewall portion. An end surface of the sidewall portion is bonded to a first substrate so that a space surrounded by the top surface portion, the sidewall portion, and the first substrate is hermetically sealed. A second substrate and the electrostatic actuator are disposed in the space, and the fixed drawn electrode and the movable drawn electrode are disposed on the first substrate and extend both inside and outside the space. |
| US09588324B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens having a plurality of lens units comprises in order from an object side, a first lens unit G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refractive power, and a rearmost lens unit having a negative refractive power, and the rearmost lens unit is positioned nearest to an image in the plurality of lens units, and at the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, distances between the lens units change, and the first lens unit G1 moves toward the object side, and following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: 0.2<(βlt/βlw)/(ft/fw)<0.7 (1). |
| US09588320B1 |
Optical image capturing system
A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power. At least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09588319B2 |
Optical image capturing system
A five-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, include a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; and a fifth lens with negative refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the five lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras. |
| US09588315B1 |
Method and apparatus for deployment of a communication line onto a surface such as a roadway or pathway
A method and apparatus to quickly deploy a communication line or lines onto a surface (100). After a surface blower (124) blows away debris, a bare communication line (112) is unwound from a spool(s) (116) and guided by a bare communication line guide (114) to the surface (100). Unshaped protectant (108), stored in the protectant container (118), is pumped into the protectant applicator (120). The protectant applicator (120) applies unshaped protectant (108) onto the surface (100) and the bare communication line(s) (112). The unshaped protectant (108) passes through protectant shaping template (110) where it is shaped before being cured by a curing lamp (122). The cured protectant (104) provides a hard protective encasement that firmly adheres to the surface (100). This encasement provides robust protection to the installed communication line (102) from the effects of traffic and weather. Other embodiments are described and shown. |
| US09588308B1 |
Optical element with light-splitting function
An optical element includes a lens component and a reflecting mirror. The lens component includes first, second and third planes disposed to surround and parallel to a reference axis. The first plane is formed with first, second, third, and fourth collimating units. The second plane is formed with fifth and sixth collimating units. The lens component further includes fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh planes cooperatively defining a groove unit extending along and indented toward the reference axis from the third plane. The fourth and sixth planes extend obliquely relative to said first plane. The reflecting mirror is disposed on the third plane to cover the groove unit and has at least one reflecting plane facing the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh planes. |
| US09588300B2 |
Optical input/output device
An optical input/output device includes a phase modulator element and an optical element. The phase modulator element includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and is configured to change an optical phase of signal light by applying a driving signal corresponding to a phase pattern. The optical element is configured to convert a direction of exit of the signal light so as to irradiate each pixel with the signal light from the input port. A pattern generator unit includes superimposing means for superimposing a periodic phase pattern having a predetermined period in at least one direction in a plane of the phase modulator element, and means for controlling an amplitude of the periodic phase pattern. The signal light is diffracted to a position according to the period of the superimposed periodic phase pattern, so that light intensity of the signal light is dispersed. |
| US09588296B2 |
Semiconductor optical waveguide device
A semiconductor waveguide optical device and a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor optical device are disclosed. The semiconductor waveguide optical device may include a gradient index waveguide for mode conversion and/or vertical translation of optical modes of step-index waveguides, which may be disposed on or over a same substrate as the gradient index waveguide. The gradient index waveguide may be epitaxially grown. |
| US09588295B2 |
Directional coupler and design method thereof, optical waveguide element and wavelength filter
There is provided a directional coupler including a first optical waveguide core and a second optical waveguide core that are arranged in separate and parallel to each other and that propagate one of TE polarized waves and TM polarized waves of an m-th order and propagate the other of the TE polarized waves and the TM polarized waves of an n-th order. A separation distance between the first optical waveguide core and the second optical waveguide core and a width of the first optical waveguide core and the second optical waveguide core are set such that a mode coupling coefficient of a p-th mode of one of the polarized waves and a mode coupling coefficient of a q-th mode of the other polarized waves match between the first optical waveguide core and the second optical waveguide core. |
| US09588288B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display device using same
The present invention provides a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight module. The backlight module includes a light collector, a plurality of first optical fibers connected to the light collector, a plurality of first optical fiber splitters connected to the first optical fibers, a plurality of second optic fibers connected to the first optical fiber splitters, and a light guide plate arranged at one side of the second optic fibers. Each of the first optical fiber splitters includes a first light inlet and a plurality of first light outlets. The first light inlets are respectively connected to the first optical fibers and the first light outlets are respectively connected to the second optic fibers. The backlight module uses optic fiber splitters to split received sun light for making dense and uniform distribution of sun light at a light incidence site of a light guide plate. |
| US09588287B2 |
Multimode optical fiber
An embodiment of the invention relates to a BI-MMF with OH group concentrations controlled along a radial direction. In the BI-MMF, an OH group concentration distribution along the radial direction has a shape in which a concentration peak is located in a concentration control interval provided between an outer periphery of a core and a trench part, including an interface between the core and trench part. |
| US09588286B2 |
Optical fiber
The optical fiber includes a core, the first cladding, and second cladding. The core is made of silica based glass containing Cl. The first cladding and the second cladding are made of silica based glass containing fluorine. The refractive index of the first cladding is lower than that of the core. The refractive index of the second cladding is lower than that of the core and higher than that of the first cladding. The second cladding is divided into an outer region having a uniform refractive index and an inner region having a refractive index higher than that of the outer region. The difference ΔP between the maximum refractive index of the inner region and the refractive index of the outer region is 0.02% to 0.10% in terms of relative refractive index with respect to pure silica based glass. The radial thickness R of the inner region is 10 μm to 25 μm. |
| US09588283B2 |
Light source device and display apparatus
Provided are a light source device which includes a light guide plate configured to emit light made incident thereon through one surface thereof, a reflection sheet which has one surface facing the other surface of the light guide plate and is configured to reflect the light made incident on the light guide plate to one surface side of the light guide plate, and an opposite member oppositely disposed to the other surface of the reflection sheet, such that an occurrence of wrinkles and deflection in the reflection sheet may be prevented with a simple configuration, while surely fixing the position of the reflection sheet, and a display apparatus including the light source device.The reflection sheet includes a first reflection sheet piece and a second reflection sheet piece, wherein the first reflection sheet piece is pinched by the light guide plate and the back cover, and the second reflection sheet piece is held by the first reflection sheet piece. |
| US09588282B2 |
Liquid crystal module and LCD
A liquid crystal module includes a back bezel (1), a side-in backlight source (3), a light guide plate (2) having a light-in side opposite to the side-in backlight source (3), a quantum bar (5) between the side-in backlight source (3) and the light guide plate (2), a first support (6) having first windows (60) on top, and a second support (7) having second windows (70) on top. The quantum bar (5) is placed in a room formed by the first support (6) and the second support (7). The present invention also proposes a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal module is assembled easily and reduces breakage risk for the quantum bar glass tubes. |
| US09588278B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus is provided. The liquid crystal display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a backlight; a liquid crystal display panel; and a light collecting layer. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first scan line and a second scan line crossing the first scan line. The light collecting layer is configured to collect lights from the backlight and guide the lights toward the liquid crystal display panel. Further, the light collecting layer includes: a first light collecting sheet having a plurality of light collecting structures extended in a first direction; and a second light collecting sheet disposed on the first light collecting sheet and having a plurality of light collecting structures extended in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Herein, the first direction is inclined with respect to an extension direction of the scan line. |
| US09588277B2 |
Optical waveguide sheet, backlight unit, and portable terminal
An optical waveguide sheet for use in an edge-lit backlight unit is provided, that allows rays of light to enter the end face and emits the rays of light from the front face substantially uniformly. The optical waveguide sheet includes on the back side thereof: a sticking preventive means; and a plurality of recessed portions falling toward the front face side. The sticking preventive means: a plurality of annular raised portions each provided around each of the plurality of recessed portions and projecting toward the back face side; and a plurality of protruding portions provided scatteredly in a region which does not include the annular raised portions. The optical waveguide sheet is preferably for use as a light guide film having an average thickness of no less than 100 μm and no greater than 600 μm. |
| US09588276B2 |
Light guide device for illumination
A light guide device, comprising a light entrance part for receiving luminous radiation from a light source placed in front of it, and a light exit part configured for emitting the luminous radiation according to a distributed illumination pattern. The device includes: a first light guide member comprising a central light transmitting portion, on an end of which the light entrance part is formed, and a support portion connected to the central light transmitting portion and arranged concentrically therewith, and—a second light guide member comprising a shaft portion removably coupled to an end of the central light transmitting portion of the first light guide member, opposite to the light entrance part, and a light distributing portion connected to the shaft portion, on which the light exit part is formed. |
| US09588269B2 |
Optical filter and sensor system
An optical filter having a passband at least partially overlapping with a wavelength range of 800 nm to 1100 nm is provided. The optical filter includes a filter stack formed of hydrogenated silicon layers and lower-refractive index layers stacked in alternation. The hydrogenated silicon layers each have a refractive index of greater than 3 over the wavelength range of 800 nm to 1100 nm and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.0005 over the wavelength range of 800 nm to 1100 nm. |
| US09588267B2 |
Optical element and method for producing the same
An optical element is provided includes an optical layer having a flat incident surface on which light is incident and a wavelength-selective reflective layer disposed in the optical layer. Of light incident on the incident surface at an incident angle (θ, φ), the optical element selectively directionally reflects light in at least one specific wavelength range in at least one direction other than a specular reflection direction (−θ, φ+180°) while transmitting light in at least one wavelength range other than the specific wavelength range, and is transparent to light in at least one wavelength range other than the specific wavelength range. |
| US09588264B2 |
Bezel-concealing display covers and display devices
Bezel-concealing display covers and display devices are disclosed. In one example, a bezel-concealing display cover includes a bezel and a display panel includes a perimeter portion having a first surface and a second surface such that the perimeter portion is configured to be offset from the bezel of the display device by a gap GA. The bezel-concealing display cover further includes a first array of prisms on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the perimeter portion that extend from an edge of the perimeter portion to a distance L. Each prism of the first array of prisms has a prism angle θ, and the first array of prisms is configured to shift a portion of an image proximate the bezel produced by the display panel such that the shifted portion of the image appears over the bezel to an observer. |
| US09588262B2 |
Optically diffuse low refractive index element
An optical article includes an optical element and a low refractive index layer disposed on the optical element. The low refractive index layer having an effective refractive index of 1.3 or less and including a binder, a plurality of metal oxide particles dispersed in the binder and a plurality of interconnected voids. The low refractive index layer has a haze value of at least 30%. |
| US09588259B2 |
Optical element including primary and secondary structures arranged in a plurality of tracks
An optical element includes a base, and primary structures and secondary structures disposed on a surface of the base, each of the primary structures and secondary structures being a projection or a depression. The primary structures constitute a plurality of rows of tracks on the surface of the base and are periodically repeatedly arranged at a fine pitch equal to or smaller than a wavelength of visible light. The secondary structures are smaller in size than the primary structures, and are provided between the primary structures, in the gaps in the arrangement of the primary structures, or on the surfaces of the primary structures. |
| US09588258B2 |
Silicone hydrogels formed from zero diluent reactive mixtures
The present invention relates to silicone hydrogels having a desirable balance of properties which can be formed without diluents. The silicone hydrogels are formed from reactive mixtures comprising at least one hydroxyl substituted, monofunctional polydialkylsiloxane monomer having between 2 and 120 dialkylsiloxane repeating units, at least one slow reacting hydrophilic monomer and at least one hydroxyl containing hydrophilic monomer. |
| US09588253B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote siphon drainage type rainfall measurement with self-compensation function
A siphon drainage type rainfall remote measurement device with self-compensation function is provided. The bottom existence of a rain collection barrel (2) is connected via a flexible tube (14) to the bottom of a rainfall measuring tube (13) to which a siphon (5) is attached. The tube (13) and a measurement instrument (6) are installed on a holding frame (9). The instrument (6) is connected to a pressure sensor (12) and an accumulator (11) at the bottom of the tube (13). The whole device is fixed in an outer barrel (1). According to the pressure of the bottom of the tube (13), the sensor (12) measures the height of the water level in the tube (13) which is directly proportional to the rainfall. The sensor (12) signal processed by the instrument (6) is transformed into the rainfall, processed by a compensation algorithm and sent by GSM or GPRS. |
| US09588252B2 |
Laser alignment and calibration system for scanning lasers
A two dimensional scanning laser system may automatically detect a laser, then align and calibrate itself to scan over the sensor area. The system may have a laser with a controller that may cause the laser to be directed over two dimensions, as well as a sensor apparatus. The laser may be controlled with a mirror system that may pivot in two directions, thus allowing the laser to be scanned over a two dimensional area. The sensor may be a point sensor, where the laser may be positioned in a constant direction, as well as a larger area sensor where the laser may be moved across the sensor area to detect objects in a two or three dimensional space. An alignment and calibration sequence may cause the laser to scan across its operational area and detect the location of one or more sensors. |
| US09588248B2 |
Earth surveying for improved drilling applications
Methods and apparatuses for geophysical surveying are disclosed. In one embodiment, a marine vehicle may obtain magnetic measurements in a location around a drilling site. The magnetic measurements may be used to calculate a localized disturbance magnetic field resulting from, for example, solar flares. The localized disturbance magnetic field may be used to calculate a declination value and, thus, a wellbore position with improved accuracy. |
| US09588245B2 |
Efficient wavefield extrapolation in anisotropic media
Various examples are provided for wavefield extrapolation in anisotropic media. In one example, among others, a method includes determining an effective isotropic velocity model and extrapolating an equivalent propagation of an anisotropic, poroelastic or viscoelastic wavefield. The effective isotropic velocity model can be based upon a kinematic geometrical representation of an anisotropic, poroelastic or viscoelastic wavefield. Extrapolating the equivalent propagation can use isotopic, acoustic or elastic operators based upon the determined effective isotropic velocity model. In another example, non-transitory computer readable medium stores an application that, when executed by processing circuitry, causes the processing circuitry to determine the effective isotropic velocity model and extrapolate the equivalent propagation of an anisotropic, poroelastic or viscoelastic wavefield. In another example, a system includes processing circuitry and an application configured to cause the system to determine the effective isotropic velocity model and extrapolate the equivalent propagation of an anisotropic, poroelastic or viscoelastic wavefield. |
| US09588243B2 |
Land seismic devices, systems and methods
Devices, systems and methods for land seismic. The devices include an above-ground storage tank in which an acoustic energy source is immersed in liquid. The above-ground storage tank may be portable, reusable, self-supporting and may lay flat when empty of liquid and rise on its own when being filled with liquid. The systems include the seismic source-storage tank device, one or more sensors for recording signals that are generated when the source is activated, and a processor for analyzing the recorded signals for geophysical information. The methods involve methods of inducing seismic waves using the seismic source-storage tank devices, and methods of conducting seismic surveys using the seismic source-storage tank devices. |
| US09588239B2 |
Data acquisition system of photon counting detector array
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for generating an output of a detector cell of a photon counting detector array. A counter block generates integration data and photon counting data associated with the photon counting detector array. Responsive to a number of detection events counted during a measurement interval (e.g., a view) not exceeding a first detection event count threshold, a first output may be generated based upon the photon counting data. Responsive to the number of detection events exceeding a second detection event count threshold, a second output may be generated based upon the integration data. Responsive to the number of detection events being between the first detection event count threshold and the second detection event count threshold, a blended output may be generated based upon the photon counting data and the integration data. |
| US09588237B2 |
Digital X-ray detector and method for manufacturing the X-ray detector
Provided herein is a digital x-ray detector wherein a plurality of sensing pixels are formed in a matrix structure, and wherein a pin structure positioned in an odd number line and a pin structure positioned in an even number line are not formed in the same process, thereby preventing a line detect by a particle. |
| US09588236B2 |
Radioactivity analyzing apparatus
A radioactivity analyzing apparatus for analyzing a radionuclide contained in a sample material. The apparatus includes a radiation detector that detects a radiation to be detected emitted from the sample material and a radiation analyzer configured to analyze the radiation based on an output from the radiation detector. The radiation analyzer includes a pulse-height analyzer configured to extract a pulse-height distribution from a pulse signal being output from the radiation detector and depending on the radiation, an inverse-problem operator configured to perform an inverse-problem solution of the pulse-height distribution to extract an energy spectrum of the radiation, and a deterioration detector configured to determine a deterioration state of the radiation detector based on the extracted energy spectrum. |
| US09588234B2 |
Miniature, mobile X-ray computed radiography system
A miniature, portable x-ray system may be configured to scan images stored on a phosphor. A flash circuit may be configured to project red light onto a phosphor and receive blue light from the phosphor. A digital monochrome camera may be configured to receive the blue light to capture an article near the phosphor. |
| US09588233B2 |
X-ray radiation detector with automatic exposure control
A radiation detection system comprises a scintillator for converting radiation to visible light; two buttable CMOS wafers; an adjacent acquisition board, for acquiring pixel values; and a processing board for detecting image edge is described. The butt of each adjacent CMOS wafers pair is made such that the total width of two peripheral pixel lines and the spacing between them sums to a whole number of pixel pitch. |
| US09588229B2 |
Enhanced multifunctional paint for detection of radiation
An enhanced multifunctional paint apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting radiation on a surface include providing scintillation particles; providing an enhance neutron absorptive material; providing a binder; combining the scintillation particles, the enhance neutron absorptive material, and the binder creating a multifunctional paint; applying the multifunctional paint to the surface; and monitoring the surface for detecting radiation. |
| US09588226B2 |
System and method for providing position correction data
System and method for providing position correction data over a data communications network. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a mobile device over a data communications network, wherein the request includes a user identification. The method may further include receiving geographic position of the mobile device, selecting a mountpoint based, at least in part, on one or more of the user identification and the geographic location of the mobile device, and transmitting the position correction data to the mobile device over the data communications network. |
| US09588224B2 |
Proximity-sensing device
A proximity sensing device having an emitter die, a receiver die, a body is disclosed. The proximity sensor has an optical structure provided on the body. The optical structure may provide an optical path to allow radiation reflected by a near object that may be otherwise blocked by the body to be transmitted towards the receiver die. In addition to the proximity-sensing device, a sensing device having at least two trenches that allow close proximity sensing is disclosed. A method for sensing an object that involve determining whether the object correspond to a near object or a far object is presented. |
| US09588222B2 |
Preceding vehicle selection apparatus
A preceding vehicle selection apparatus estimates a curvature of a road on which an own vehicle is traveling, detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position in relation to the own vehicle. Based on the curvature and the relative position, an own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value is determined. This instantaneous value is a probability of the object ahead being present in the same vehicle lane as the own vehicle. By a filter calculation on the instantaneous value, an own vehicle lane probability is determined. Based on the own vehicle lane probability, a preceding vehicle is selected. An inter-vehicle time required for the own vehicle to reach a detection position of the object ahead is calculated. Based on the inter-vehicle time, characteristics of the filter calculation are changed such that an effect of the own vehicle lane instantaneous value increases as the inter-vehicle time decreases. |
| US09588220B2 |
Lidar comprising optical means for deicing or preventing icing
The general field of the invention is that of optical lidars comprising an optical porthole and operating at a first wavelength. The optical porthole of the lidar according to the invention comprises a layer or a sheet made of an optical material. The lidar comprises means for illuminating said layer or said sheet at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, said material being transparent at the first wavelength and absorbent at the second wavelength, said second wavelength being located in the visible spectrum. |
| US09588218B2 |
System and method for robust navigation and geolocation using measurements of opportunity
A system and method to opportunistically capture and use measurements on a priori unknown radio signals, not intended for radio navigation or geolocation, to improve navigation/geolocation position estimation yield and accuracy. |
| US09588217B2 |
Locating a mobile device
Identifying a location of a mobile device is disclosed (e.g., presuming user consent to the same). One or more received signal strengths (RSSs), comprising a first RSS, may be received by a first access point (AP) from the mobile device. The RSSs may be used to identify a grid area, comprising a first grid space. A signal distance between the first grid space and the first AP may be identified using the first RSS, and combined with a first grid space distance, comprising a known distance between the first grid space and the first AP, to determine a first grid space likelihood score for the first grid space. A second grid space likelihood score may be determined for a second grid space (e.g., and a third, etc.), and the grid space comprising a desired grid space likelihood score (e.g., highest) may be selected as the mobile device location. |
| US09588216B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering assistance data from a server to a device identifying virtual access points
Methods and apparatus for processing positioning assistance data are provided. An exemplary method includes receiving, from a positioning server, virtual access point (VAP) data including a list of unique identifiers, and determining a location of a mobile device by using the VAP. The VAP data indicates that the unique identifiers included on the list identify signals originating from the same physical access point. The unique identifiers can be MAC addresses. In an example, the location determining the can include actively scanning a signal identified by a unique identifier on the list and not actively scanning a different signal identified by a different unique identifier also on the list. Not scanning the other MAC addresses that are on the access point's list and assigned to the mobile device keeps the mobile device from performing duplicative scanning that wastes time, processor cycles, and energy. |
| US09588215B1 |
Object tracking and data aggregation in panoramic video
Methods and systems for real-time object tracking and data aggregation in panoramic video are disclosed. An example method provides receiving, at a first device, panoramic video data of at least one asset derived from at least one panoramic video camera; receiving tracking data related to the at least one asset from a tracking system; augmenting the panoramic video data by embedding it with the tracking data; and streaming the augmented panoramic video data over a network connection to at least one other device. Other methods and systems are disclosed. |
| US09588214B2 |
Sensing direction and distance
Technology described in this document can be embodied in an optical sensor that includes a rectangular array of at least four photodetector cells of substantially equal size. An opaque mask is affixed over the rectangular array. The opaque mask defines a substantially rectangular aperture for admitting light onto only a portion of the surface of each of the at least four photodetector cells, where the aperture can be centrally positioned over the rectangular array. |
| US09588212B1 |
Method of calibrating a measurement instrument for determining direction and distance to a source of passive intermodulation (PIM)
A method of calibrating a passive intermodulation (PIM) measurement device configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals and receive PIM signals using a directional antenna includes arranging the PIM measurement device connected to the directional antenna so that the directional antenna is configured to transmit an RF signal having a substantially unobstructed boresight axis, transmitting the RF signal, and obtaining a PIM measurement using the PIM measurement device. The PIM measurement device can then be calibrated based on the obtained PIM measurement. |
| US09588209B2 |
Method of multislice MR elastography with multiband acquisition
A method for performing multi-slice MR Elastography on an anatomical region of interest associated with a patient includes inducing shear waves at a shear wave frequency value (e.g., between 25-500 Hz) in the anatomical region of interest using an external driver. Next, the anatomical region of interest is imaged during a single patient breath-hold using an MRI acquisition process. Following the MRI acquisition process(es), phase images of the anatomical region of interest are generated based on an acquired RF signal. These phase images may then be processed (e.g., using an inversion algorithm) to generate one or more quantitative images depicting stiffness of the anatomical region of interest. In some embodiments, a wave image is also generated showing propagation of the plurality of shear waves through the anatomical region of interest based on the phase images. |
| US09588208B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatuses for rapid segmented, accelerated, and simultaneous multi-slice echo planar imaging
A method for accelerated segmented magnetic resonance (MR) image data acquisition includes using a plurality of RF pulses to excite one or more slices of an anatomical area of interest according to a predetermined slice acceleration factor. Next, a collapsed image comprising the slices is acquired using a consecutive segment acquisition process. Then, a parallel image reconstruction method is applied to the collapsed image to separate the collapsed image into a plurality of slice images. |
| US09588206B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and high-frequency magnetic field dertermination method
According to this invention, in order to obtain high-quality images even when the slice selective gradient magnetic fields waveform is distorted by eddy currents and vibration, high-frequency magnetic field information is calculated on the basis of an output gradient magnetic field waveform applied in accordance with the input gradient magnetic field waveform that is set in a pulse sequence, and the calculated high-frequency magnetic field information is set in the pulse sequence. Then, the set input gradient magnetic field, and the excitation RF pulses of the calculated high-frequency magnetic field information are used during imaging. The output gradient magnetic field waveform used in determining the excitation RF pulses is found by measurement and calculation, for example, by using the input gradient magnetic field waveform. |
| US09588204B2 |
Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging volume of interest positioning
A MRSI system (100) includes a structure of interest identifier (206) that identifies a predetermined segmented structure in segmented MRI image data, a positioning rules bank (210) which stores rules for positioning a volume of interest with respect to the identified predetermined segmented structure of the segmented MRI image data, and a volume of interest generator (208) that positions the volume of interest with respect to the identified predetermined segmented structure based on one or more of the rules for positioning the volume of interest with respect to the identified predetermined segmented structure and generates a signal indicative thereof, wherein the signal is analyzed to determine a biochemical composition of a predetermined region of the structure of interest. |
| US09588203B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer-accessible medium for determination of electrical properties of tissues and materials using multiple radio frequency measurements
An assembly for determining at least one electrical property of an object. The assembly includes at least one transmitter that can generate a plurality of electromagnetic field distribution patterns directed at an object. The assembly also includes a data apparatus with an MRI apparatus and a data processor. The MRI apparatus can produce at least one image of the object using a magnitude or a phase modulated by the electromagnetic field distribution patterns. The processor can then process data associated with the object to determine the at least one electrical property the object. |
| US09588201B1 |
Detection using microwave assisted NQR
A system and method for detecting at least one compound in a material under test (MUT) is presented. The system includes a Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) frequency generator that generates an NQR frequency (fNQR) and propagates the fNQR frequency toward the MUT. A microwave frequency generator generates a microwave frequency (fmw) and propagates the fmw frequency toward the MUT. A RF output probe detects radio frequency (RF) emissions returned from the MUT. A detector detects the at least one compound based, at least in part, on whether the RF emissions returned from the MUT include any frequencies corresponding to fmw+/−(n×fNQR), where n is an integer of 2 or greater. In the preferred embodiment, n=2. |
| US09588199B2 |
Detecting unplugged local coils in a nuclear magnetic resonance tomograph
The present embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for detecting unplugged local coils in a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) device. The MRT device includes a local coil that has a RFID tag configured to detect transmitted RFID signals. When at least one transmitted RFID signal is detected, at least one unplugged local coil is detected in the MRT device. |
| US09588198B2 |
Open-type nuclear magnetic resonance magnet system having an iron ring member
An open type nuclear magnetic resonance magnet system having an iron ring member. A superconducting coil and a superconducting switch form a closed-loop current circuit to generate a magnetic field. The generated magnetic field gains a magnetic flux circuit and executes magnetic field shielding through upper and lower iron yokes and a lateral iron yoke. The magnet system generates a desired magnetic field in a magnet imaging central area via the superconducting coil. To balance the extremely high electromagnetic force between the superconducting coil and the upper and lower iron yokes, an annular iron ring is mounted in a space defined by an inner perimeter wall of in a cryogenic container. The magnetic field distribution between the superconducting coil and the upper and lower iron yokes is changed via the iron ring, so that the electromagnetic interaction force therebetween is reduced. |
| US09588196B2 |
Multi-channel transmit MR imaging
The invention relates to a multi-channel (e.g. quadrature) MRI transmit system in which RF power amplifiers having different power capabilities are used in different transmit channels. This results in reduced system costs, due to the avoidance of an unused excess of RF power capability when the power demand for obtaining a homogeneous B1-field (RF shimming) is asymmetric and the asymmetry is qualitatively the same for different imaging applications. The multi-channel transmit unit may also comprise a commutator which enables to selectively connect each RF power amplifier to each drive port of transmit coil arrangement (e.g. a birdcage coil). |
| US09588194B2 |
Method and device for magnetoresistive sensor
A method and structure for operating a magnetoresistive sensor system includes applying a set-reset process wherein the set-reset signal is phased through the magnetoresistive element in such a way that the set-reset field of each region is not released until the adjacent field is aligned. Starting at one end of the magnetoresistive element, the set-reset signal is activated. This aligns the domains directly underneath the first of the set-reset elements. Before this field is released, the adjacent set-reset is activated, which aligned the domains in the adjacent field. Once the adjacent field has been realigned, the set-reset field in the first region can be released, and the set-reset field in the next region can be activated. In this way, no more than two set-reset elements must be active at any one time. |
| US09588185B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting cell deterioration in an electrochemical cell or battery
A testing device contains measuring circuitry adapted to apply time-varying electrical excitation to a cell or battery, to sense a time-varying electrical response, and to thus determine components of complex immittance at n+m discrete frequencies, where n is an integer equal to or greater than two and m is an integer equal to or greater than one. Computation circuitry utilizes measured complex immittance components at the n discrete frequencies to evaluate the elements of a 2n-element equivalent circuit model. It then calculates the complex immittance of this model at the m discrete frequencies and mathematically compares components of the calculated immittances with components of the measured immittances at the m discrete frequencies. The results of this comparison establish the degree of cell deterioration without regard to the battery's manufacturer, group size, or its electrical ratings. |
| US09588179B2 |
Scheme for masking output of scan chains in test circuit
A method for masking scan chains in a test circuit of an integrated circuit is disclosed. A test pattern to be fed into the test circuit of the integrated circuit is generated. The generated test pattern can be used for detecting a primary fault, one or more secondary faults, and one or more tertiary faults. A mask to mask the output of the scan chains of the test circuit is generated. If a condition is not met, a mask that increases the total number of detectable faults is generated. If the condition is met, a mask that protects the primary fault of the test pattern is generated. |
| US09588177B1 |
Optimizing generation of test configurations for built-in self-testing
Technical solutions are described for optimizing a set of test configurations used for testing an electronic circuit that includes latches. An example method includes receiving a test configuration that includes settings that initiate a set of predetermined input values and corresponding expected output values. The method also includes evaluating the test configuration by executing the electronic circuit according to the test configuration and recording parametric data during the execution, where the parametric data is representative of switching activity of the latches in the electronic circuit. The evaluation includes analyzing the parametric data to identify presence of a predetermined pattern in the switching activity and selecting the test configuration based on the predetermined pattern being absent/present in the switching activity. |
| US09588176B1 |
Techniques for using scan storage circuits
An integrated circuit may include user storage circuits and scan storage circuits. The scan storage circuits may store data from the user storage circuits and provide the data to a user interface during a read-back operation. The user storage circuits may store data from the scan storage circuits, which the scan storage circuits may have received from the user interface during a write-back operation. The scan storage circuits may be arranged in a scan chain and controlled by a local control circuit. The integrated circuit may include multiple local control circuits that each control a sector of the integrated circuit. The local control circuits may communicate with a global control circuit over a communication network, and the global control circuit may communicate with the user interface. |
| US09588175B2 |
Semiconductor device inspection device and semiconductor device inspection method
A semiconductor device inspection system (1) includes a laser beam source (2), for emitting light, an optical sensor (12) for detecting the light reflected by the semiconductor device (10) from the light and outputting a detection signal, a frequency band setting unit (16) for setting a measurement frequency band and a reference frequency band with respect to the detection signal, a spectrum analyzer (15) for generating a measurement signal and a reference signal from the detection signals in the measurement frequency band and the reference frequency band, and a signal acquisition unit (17) for calculating a difference between the measurement signal and the reference signal to acquire an analysis signal. The frequency band setting unit (16) sets the reference frequency band to a frequency domain in which a level of the detection signal is lower than a level obtained by adding 3 decibels to a white noise level serving as a reference. |
| US09588174B1 |
Method for testing through silicon vias in 3D integrated circuits
A design-for-test (DFT) architecture for testing a three dimensional (3D) integrated circuit, may comprise a two dimensional (2D) silicon layer n−1 and a 2D silicon layer n connected together with a through silicon via (TSV) having a first side and a second side; scannable latch circuits on said first side and said second side of said TSV, wherein said scannable latch circuits: control flow of data between said layer n−1 and said layer n and allow said TSV to be verified; allow launch and capture clocks to be applied with variable delay in order to perform an alternating current delay fault test between said layer n−1 and said layer n; and have a quiescent state supply current (IDDq) test function built in which allows selection of an input load for a unidirectional signal connection between said layer n−1 and said layer n. |
| US09588172B2 |
Device including test circuit
Provided is a device capable of generating test patterns even after the design stage. The area of a circuit which is included in the device and unnecessary during normal operation can be reduced. The device includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The second circuit includes a plurality of third circuits, a plurality of fourth circuits, and a fifth circuit and has a function of generating a signal for testing operation of the first circuit and a function of operating as part of the first circuit. The fourth circuit has a function of storing a first data and a function of storing a second data. The fifth circuit has a function of writing the first data to the plurality of fourth circuits, a function of writing the second data to the plurality of fourth circuits, and a function of reading the second data from the plurality of fourth circuits. |
| US09588171B2 |
System and method for testing an integrated circuit
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of testing an integrated circuit, includes receiving a supply voltage on the integrated circuit via a first input pin, providing power to circuits disposed on the integrated circuit via the first input pin, comparing the supply voltage to an internally generated voltage, generating a digital output value based on the comparing, and applying the digital output value to a pin of the integrated circuit. |
| US09588166B2 |
Ground quality check systems and methods
A ground check system for checking a ground conductor of a power supply comprising at least one line conductor comprises a pulse generator and a compare circuit. The pulse generator applies a test signal to a test circuit formed at least in part by the ground conductor and the at least one line conductor when an AC voltage on the at least one line conductor is approximately zero volts. The compare circuit compares the test signal passing through the test circuit with at least one test criteria indicative of an unacceptable ground. |
| US09588164B2 |
Method and device for monitoring a high-voltage arrangement
Devices and methods for monitoring a high-voltage arrangement wherein a current loop runs through elements of the high-voltage arrangement that are monitored. Voltages are sensed on at least three points of the current loop. On the basis of the sensed voltages, an interruption of the current loop is detected and, in response, a high-voltage supply is interrupted. The interruption is localized on the basis of the sensed voltages. |
| US09588162B2 |
Capacitive positioning device
A positioning device for capacitively detecting an object enclosed in a medium includes a measuring electrode, a reference electrode, and a receiving electrode. The measuring electrode with the receiving electrode forms a measuring capacitance, which can be influenced by the object. The reference electrode with the receiving electrode forms a reference capacitance, which cannot be influenced by the object. The positioning device further includes an oscillator configured to supply the measuring capacitance and the reference capacitance with phase-shifted AC voltages and a control device configured to control amplitudes of at least one of the AC voltages, in order to adapt effects of electrical fields of the measuring electrode or of the reference electrode on the receiving electrode to one another. The measuring, reference, and receiving electrodes are planarly formed. The measuring electrode has a larger surface area than the reference electrode. |
| US09588155B2 |
Current detection circuit with over-current protection
Threshold detection for load current on a bus involves generating an output current representative of the load current using a transconductance circuit, sampling the output current during a quiescent phase of the bus to produce a sample current, generating a compensation current that is proportional to the transconductance gain associated with the transconductance circuit, where the compensation current is a function of the sample current, combining the output current, the sample current, the compensation current, and a reference current representative of a threshold value for the load current to produce a combined current, and using a discriminator during an active phase of the bus to output a first value when the sum current exceeds the threshold value and a second value when the combined current is less than the threshold value. |
| US09588153B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for detecting over voltage and/or under voltage
An apparatus for detecting over voltage and/or under voltage can include: a reference voltage receiving unit configured to receive a reference voltage; a gradient measuring unit configured to measure a gradient value of a voltage waveform of the reference voltage; and a pulse conversion unit configured to convert the gradient value into a first pulse width and store it. Further, the apparatus can include: an electrical power receiving unit configured to receive an input voltage from an external power source; and a voltage detection unit configured to compare the first pulse width with a second pulse width to detect an over voltage condition or an under voltage condition. |
| US09588152B2 |
Digital signal processing method for measurement of AC voltage with power converters at light load operation
An observation is made that the peak voltage value for a rectified AC voltage signal is substantially the same from cycle to cycle. Using this observation, a method of measuring an AC voltage is used to determine a more accurate RMS voltage value under light load conditions. The method includes rectifying the AC voltage signal to form a rectified signal, sampling the rectified signal to obtain a set of sampled values for each half-cycle of the AC voltage signal, searching the sampled values for each half-cycle to determine a local minimum value for each half-cycle, searching the sampled values following the local minimum value to determine a local maximum value for each half-cycle, and calculating a root mean square value from the local maximum value for each half-cycle thereby determining the root mean square value for each half-cycle of the AC voltage signal. |
| US09588140B2 |
Inspection probe and an IC socket with the same
An inspection probe 16Ai is formed by subjecting a thin sheet material made of a copper alloy to press working. The inspection probe 16Ai includes: a device side plunger 16A having a contact point which selectively comes into contact with an electrode portion DVb of a semiconductor device DV; a board side plunger 16B having a contact point which selectively comes into contact with a contact pad of a printed wiring board 18; a spring portion 16D which biases the device side plunger 16A and the board side plunger 16B in a direction away from each other; and a cylindrical support stem 16C being disposed inside the spring portion 16D, making the spring portion 16D slidable thereon, and being configured to retain straight advancing property of the spring portion 16D. |
| US09588138B2 |
Electric base, electric gateway, and electric gateway body
An electric base, an electric gateway, and an electric gateway body are presented. The electric base includes: an electric base body, where two guide holes for passing cables in an electric grid are arranged in the electric base body, an output end for outputting a voltage of the cables is arranged on the electric base body and protrudes from the electric base body, and a conductor structure is nested in the electric base body to connect the cables and the output end. The foregoing electric base can be electrically connected to an input end of the electric gateway body and output power to enable the electric gateway body to operate. |
| US09588135B1 |
Method and system for fall detection of a user
A method and system for fall detection of a user are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises determining whether first or second magnitude thresholds are satisfied. If the first or second magnitude thresholds are satisfied, the method includes determining whether an acceleration vector of the user is at a predetermined angle to a calibration vector or whether the user is at a stooped posture. If the acceleration vector of the user is at the predetermined angle to the calibration vector or if the user is at the stooped posture, the method includes determining whether an activity metric is satisfied. |
| US09588133B2 |
Analytical system with tip rack assembly configured to prevent contamination
A method is provided for disposing of a liquid within an automated analytical system for processing a fluid biological sample, wherein a contamination prevention shield including channels for pipets or pipet tips is reversibly docked to a container for liquid waste in order to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. A tip rack assembly is provided for processing a fluid sample, the assembly including a rack for pipet tips and the contamination prevention shield. An analytical system is provided using the tip rack assembly, wherein cross-contamination is avoided. |
| US09588130B2 |
Methods for quantifying polypeptides using mass spectrometry
A method for identifying a polypeptide a specimen can include (i) treating a specimen suspected of including an insulin with a base; (ii) extracting a first fraction of the treated specimen by solid phase extraction using a mixed mode or polymeric reversed-phase media and a first solvent including an acid; (iii) separating a component of the first fraction by liquid chromatography using a chromatographic surface including a hydrophobic surface group and one or more ionizable modifiers, and a second solvent including an acid; and (iv) analyzing the component of the first fraction by mass spectroscopy, thereby identifying the polypeptide, if present, using a signal corresponding to a sequence fragment ion from the polypeptide. The signal can correspond to an intact multiply charged precursor fragment selected in a first quadrupole and its corresponding sequence fragment ion selected in a final quadrupole. |
| US09588127B2 |
Compositions, methods and kits for diagnosis of lung cancer
Methods are provided for identifying biomarker proteins that exhibit differential expression in subjects with a first lung condition versus healthy subjects or subjects with a second lung condition. Also provided are compositions comprising these biomarker proteins and methods of using these biomarker proteins or panels thereof to diagnose, classify, and monitor various lung conditions. The methods and compositions provided herein may be used to diagnose or classify a subject as having lung cancer or a non-cancerous condition, and to distinguish between different types of cancer (e.g., malignant versus benign, SCLC versus NSCLC). |
| US09588125B2 |
Method and system for analyzing protein or peptide
A peptide is cleaved at various bonding sites into oligopeptides or similar fragments by digestion using proteinase K (S3). The obtained fragments are separated according to their kinds by reversed-phase chromatography and fractionated (S4), and each fragment is subjected to mass spectrometry to determine its mass (S6). For each peptide fragment, an amino-acid composition is calculated from the measured mass, and amino-acid sequence candidates are deduced from that composition. The amino-acid sequence candidates of the other peptide fragments are searched for a fragment having an overlapping portion available for combining two peptide fragments to obtain amino-acid sequence candidates of the original peptide (S7). The masses of the amino-acid sequence candidates are compared with a measured mass derived from a result of mass spectrometry of the original peptide to select a correct sequence (S6 and S8). |
| US09588121B2 |
Method for early detection of cancer
The present inventors have demonstrated that circulating auto-antibodies to cancer antigens hold promise as specific and sensitive biomarkers for the early detection of cancer. The present invention thus relates to methods of detecting cancer in a sample, comprising utilizing a glycopeptide bait derived from human mucins with different cancer-associated O-glycans. Detected antibodies were demonstrated as glycopeptide specific, and it could be discriminated between e.g. colorectal cancer patients and healthy individuals. The inventors have also developed monoclonal antibodies based on the identified glycopeptides epitope baits, and demonstrated differential expression of the relevant target antigens. The invention thus, in a lock and key-based manner includes both glycopeptides and antibody tools for early detection of cancer, as well as methods of using the same for in situ visualization and treatment of specific cancer types. |
| US09588119B2 |
In vitro method of inhibiting the growth of radioresistant laryngeal cancer cells
Disclosed are increased expression of ERp57, ERp57-STAT3 complex, and ERp57-STAT3-Mcl-1 in laryngeal cancer, especially in radioresistant laryngeal cancer and their regulations on radioresistance of laryngeal cancer. As such, the efficacy of radiotherapy can be enhanced by diagnosing prognosis in laryngeal cancer and radioresistance of laryngeal cancer. Furthermore, provided are a method of screening a therapeutic agent for laryngeal cancer including selecting a candidate drug that inhibits the expression of ERp57 or inactivates ERp57, and a therapeutic method for inhibiting or treating laryngeal cancer or radioresistant laryngeal cancer, thereby being useful in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. |
| US09588114B2 |
Flow through testing system with pressure indicator
A device for performing immunoassays on analytes is provided. The device includes an immunosorbent membrane, an absorbent material, a piston component located below said absorbent material to draw analytes in a sample through the immunosorbent membrane into the absorbent material, and discrete groups of pressure-sensitive microcapsules located on the immunosorbent membrane. |
| US09588111B2 |
Membrane biosensor having multi-hole film attached thereto and method for measuring immunological reaction or enzymatic reaction using the same
The present invention relates to a membrane sensor having a multi-hole film attached thereto and a method for measuring immunological reactions or enzymatic reactions using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a membrane sensor in which a multi-hole film is joined to the top of a membrane on which receptors are immobilized, and a method for measuring immunological reactions or enzymatic reactions using the same. The present invention makes it possible to adjust the sensitivity of membrane biosensors by adjusting the hole size in the multi-hole film and so makes it possible to measure analytes with a high degree of sensitivity using just a small amount of sample, and makes it possible to simultaneously measure diverse types of analyte by attaching various types of receptor on the membrane sensor. |
| US09588109B2 |
Modular point-of-care devices, systems, and uses thereof
The present invention provides devices and systems for use at the point of care. The methods devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device are modular to allow for flexibility and robustness of use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical applications. |
| US09588107B2 |
Tool for studying endothelial haematopoietic transition (EHT) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) associated events
The present invention relates to the field of endothelial haematopoietic transition (EHT) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and more particularly relates to the use of fish embryo or larva as a model for the study of EHT and EMT. |
| US09588106B2 |
Methods and compositions for measuring cell permeability
Embodiments of the present invention provide an in vitro assay that measures cell monolayer permeability. The assay utilizes detection of a binding pair initially separated by the cell monolayer as a qualitative and quantitative measure of the permeability of the monolayer. In certain embodiments, the assay is performed in the presence of a test substance that may or may not affect cell permeability. In particular aspects, the assay is performed on a substrate that is elastic. One can also assay spatial resolution of local changes by visualizing regional variations of the cell monolayers. |
| US09588105B1 |
Portable in vitro multi-well chamber for exposing airborne nanomaterials at the air-liquid interface using electrostatic deposition
A single- or multi-well chamber assembly comprising nanoparticle exposure chambers with a plurality of wells designed to hold porous membrane inserts, with cell culture media being maintained on the basal (lower) surface to generate the air-liquid interface. The wells may accommodate a variety of sizes of cell culture inserts and may be arranged radially. The chamber assembly comprises an integrated heating-humidifying mechanism so that the internal chamber environment may be heated to 37° C. and maintained at humid conditions to allow for maintenance of cell cultures. The presently disclosed apparatus may be used to investigate the toxicity of airborne nanoparticles to cells or tissue models grown at the air-liquid interface. Aerosolized nanomaterials are drawn into a multi-well chamber assembly and deposited via electrostatic deposition onto cells grown at the air-liquid interface. |
| US09588104B2 |
Device, a system and a method for monitoring and/or culturing of microscopic objects
The present invention relates to a device, a system and a method for performing monitoring and/or cultivation of microscopic objects. Microscopic objects are in particular microscopic organisms like bacteria and cell cultures, such as cultivation objects like tissue samples and embryos, providing optimal and safe cultivation conditions for incubation during embryo development and for facilitating the selection of optimal embryos to be used in vitro fertilization (IVF) by facilitating embryo handling for automated digital imaging and time-lapse microscopy. |
| US09588102B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining white blood cell counts
Embodiments of the present invention encompass automated systems and methods for analyzing white blood cell parameters in an individual based on a biological sample obtained from blood of the individual. Exemplary techniques involve correlating aspects of direct current (DC) impedance, radiofrequency (RF) conductivity, and/or light measurement data obtained from the biological sample with an evaluation of white blood cell conditions in the individual. |
| US09588100B2 |
Microfluidic system and method with focused energy apparatus
An apparatus and method of identifying objects includes: a microfluidic chip in which are disposed a plurality of channels, the microfluidic chip including: a main fluid channel into which a sample fluid mixture of objects to be identified is introduced; a plurality of sheath fluid channels into which sheath fluids are introduced, the sheath fluids which orient the objects in the main fluid channel in a predetermined direction while still maintaining laminar flow in the main fluid channel; an interrogation apparatus which detects and interrogates the oriented objects in the main fluid channel; and a focused energy apparatus which performs an action on the objects. |
| US09588099B2 |
Spectral imaging
Apparatus and methods are provided for the imaging of structures in deep tissue within biological specimens, using spectral imaging to provide highly sensitive detection. By acquiring data that provides a plurality of images of the sample with different spectral weightings, and subsequent spectral analysis, light emission from a target compound is separated from autofluorescence in the sample. With the autofluorescence reduced or eliminated, an improved measurement of the target compound is obtained. |
| US09588098B2 |
Optical method and apparatus for identifying wood species of a raw wooden log
An optical apparatus and a method for identifying wood species of a raw wooden log involve directing light onto a representative portion of a peripheral surface of the wooden log, sensing light reflected on the illuminated representative log portion to generate reflection intensity image data including color image data, subdividing the reflection intensity image data into a plurality of image data regions each containing a preset number of image pixels, analyzing the image data regions to generate associated texture data, analyzing the color and texture data associated with each image data region to assign thereto a probable one of a plurality of species indications, and selecting a majority species indication for the inspected wooden log. |
| US09588095B2 |
Reagents for oxidizer-based chemical detection
Reagents and methods are disclosed for detection of oxidizers and inorganic salts and other analytes of interest. The reagents can interact with their target analytes, especially oxidizer compositions or oxidizer-based explosives, to selectively enhance their ionization yield, interacting by chemical reaction or by forming an associative adduct which facilitates their detection. For example, the reagents can adduct with the counter-ion of the intended analyte for improved direct detection and/or react chemically via acid-base reactions to produce a new product for detection. In another aspect of the invention, reactive reagents and methods are also disclosed that facilitate indirect detection of the analyte at lower temperatures based on reduction-oxidation (redox) chemistry. These reagents are particularly useful in detecting oxidizer analytes. |
| US09588093B2 |
Device for determining the H2 content of H2/natural gas mixtures
A device for determination of the H2 content of H2/natural gas mixtures comprises an input interface configured to read in a calorific value of a first H2/natural gas mixture from a delivery station of a gas grid, an input interface configured to introduce a second H2/natural gas mixture into the device; a proton-conducting layer fluidically connected to the input interface of the second H2/natural gas mixture and configured to permit determination of a current-voltage characteristic, a volumetric flow rate sensor configured to determine a volumetric flow rate of the second H2/natural gas mixture into the proton-conducting layer, and a control apparatus connected to the proton-conducting layer, the input interface of the second H2/natural gas mixture, and the volumetric flow sensor. The control apparatus is configured to determine whether there is a hydrogen depletion of the proton-conducting layer, and output the current calorific value of the second H2/natural gas mixture. |
| US09588089B2 |
Method for analyzing a cork stopper for the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and device for performing the same
A non-destructive method for analyzing a cork stopper for the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. The stopper is introduced into a hermetically closed container. The container containing the stopper is heated under conditions vaporizing any 2,4,6-trichloroanisole present in the stopper. A gaseous sample of the atmosphere surrounding the stopper in the container is collected and analyzed for the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. This method allows the selection, in a batch of cork stoppers, of the stoppers that are substantially free of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, in a non-destructive manner. |
| US09588086B2 |
Sensor positioning with non-dispersive guided waves for pipeline corrosion monitoring
An ultrasonic sensor assembly for testing a pipe includes a first and second transducer rings attached to the pipe and spaced apart along a length of the pipe. The first transducer ring includes a plurality of transmitters for transmitting a wave, such as a non-dispersive guided wave. The first transducer ring transmits the wave along the pipe. The second transducer ring includes a plurality of receivers for receiving the wave. A relative position of the first transducer ring with respect to a circumferential position of the second transducer ring is determined based on characteristics of the wave received by the second transducer ring. A method of positioning the ultrasonic sensor assembly on the pipe is also provided. |
| US09588084B2 |
Device for detecting gases and/or volatile organic compounds (VOC)
The present invention concerns a device for detecting gases or volatile organic compounds (VOC) comprising an electrically conducting or semiconducting zone functionalized with an organic film resulting from the polymerization of aromatic diazonium salt derived monomer. |
| US09588081B2 |
Interdigitated electrode configuration for ion filter
An ion filter and a method of manufacturing an ion filter. The method including providing a monolithic structure; selectively removing regions of the structure, to form a pair of electrodes defining at least one ion channel therebetween. The electrodes are preferably mechanically connected at one or more locations by a portion of the structure; wherein the connecting portion of the structure provides a higher electrical impedance than the filter would provide without such a mechanical connection, to thereby electrically separate the electrodes. |
| US09588079B2 |
Analyte sequencing with nanopores
Provided herein are methods and systems pertaining to sequencing units of analytes using nanopores. In general, arresting constructs are used to modify an analyte such that the modified analyte pauses in the opening of a nanopore. During such a pause, an ion current level is obtained that corresponds to a unit of the analyte. After altering the modified analyte such that the modified analyte advances through the opening, another arresting construct again pauses the analyte, allowing for a second ion current level to be obtained that represents a second unit of the analyte. This process may be repeated until each unit of the analyte is sequenced. Systems for performing such methods are also disclosed. |
| US09588075B2 |
Sensor for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution
The present disclosure relates to a sensor for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution comprising a support, a reference electrode, a working electrode and a counter electrode supported by said support, the reference electrode being made of a material comprising silver and silver chloride, the counter electrode being made of a conductive material. The working electrode comprises a substrate and a layer made of an inherently electrically conductive polymer of the polythiophene or polyaniline (PANI) or polypyrrole class. |
| US09588073B2 |
Resistive MEMS humidity sensor
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an insulating film provided on a surface of the substrate, and a sensing film formed of a conductive material deposited on top of the insulating film. The sensing film defines at least one conductive path between a first position and a second position on the insulating film. A first circuit connection is electrically connected to the sensing film at the first position on the insulating layer, and a second circuit connection is electrically connected to the sensing film at the second position. A control circuit is operatively connected to the first circuit connection and the second circuit connection for measuring an electrical resistance of the sensing film. The sensing film has a thickness that enables a resistivity of the sensing film to be altered predictably in a manner that is dependent on ambient moisture content. |
| US09588067B2 |
Examining porous samples
Apparatus for examining a fluid-containing porous sample, by a combination of centrifuging to move fluid into, out of, and/or within the sample and NMR to monitor the amount of fluid present at locations within the sample has a magnet system to provide a magnetic field; and a centrifuge rotor comprising a holder (18) for the sample and mounted to move the sample within the magnetic field. The apparatus preferably includes gradient coils (16, 116) superimposing a magnetic field gradient onto a field provided by magnets (11, 12, 111, 112). At least one radio-frequency coil (20) is located on the centrifuge rotor in a position 10 which surrounds the sample in the holder. The coil axis is transverse to the magnetic field and field gradient when measurement is made. Consequently NMR measurement of the distribution of fluid in the sample can be made while the centrifuge is in motion. |
| US09588054B2 |
Defect inspection method, low light detecting method and low light detector
A defect inspection method includes an illumination light adjustment step of adjusting light emitted from a light source, an illumination intensity distribution control step of forming light flux obtained in the illumination light adjustment step into desired illumination intensity distribution, a sample scanning step of displacing a sample in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the illumination intensity distribution, a scattered light detection step of counting the number of photons of scattered light emitted from plural small areas in an area irradiated with illumination light to produce plural scattered light detection signals corresponding to the plural small areas, a defect judgment step of processing the plural scattered light detection signals to judge presence of a defect, a defect dimension judgment step of judging dimensions of the defect in each place in which the defect is judged to be present and a display step of displaying a position on sample surface and the dimensions of the defect in each place in which the defect is judged to be present. |
| US09588050B2 |
Total nitrogen measurement apparatus
A total nitrogen measurement apparatus comprising an ultraviolet lamp comprising: a light emission section and a holding section for holding the light emission section, the holding section being formed of a material not including iron; a reaction vessel having a space where the light emission section is to be inserted and a sample water is to be contained around the light emission section for converting nitrogen compounds in the sample water contained in the reaction vessel into nitrate ions by oxidative decomposition using ultraviolet rays from the light emission section; and a measurement section configured to perform absorbance measurement on the sample water including the nitrate ions. |
| US09588048B2 |
Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy sensor, system and method of sensing
A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor, system and method employ nanorods and independent nanoparticles that interact. The sensor includes at least two spaced apart nanorods attached at first ends to a substrate and an independent nanoparticle. Second ends of the nanorods are movable into close proximity to one another and include a Raman active surface. The nanoparticle has a functionalized surface that includes a Raman signal generator. An interaction between the nanoparticle and the nanorod second ends in close proximity is detectable. The system includes the SERS sensor, an illumination source and a Raman signal detector. The method includes illuminating the interaction of the nanoparticle and the nanorods with an analyte, and detecting an effect on a Raman signal caused by the analyte. |
| US09588046B2 |
Fluorescence observation apparatus
Provided is a fluorescence observation apparatus including: a fluorescence image acquisition section and a reference image acquisition section that acquire a fluorescence image and a reference image of a subject, respectively; a division image generation section that generates a division image by dividing an image based on the fluorescence image by an image based on the reference image; a display section that displays a corrected fluorescence image based on the division image; a correction processing section that applies correction processing to at least one of the reference image and the fluorescence image and/or to the division image prior to the generation of the division image or prior to the display of the corrected fluorescence image; an observation condition determination section that determines observation conditions of the subject; and a correction condition setting section that sets parameters regarding the correction processing according to the observation conditions. |
| US09588045B2 |
Method for generating a microscope image and microscope
The invention relates to a method and a microscope for generating a microscopic image, wherein a) the sample is illuminated in each case by the microscope lens using the TIRF method; and b) the sample is illuminated in a structured fashion in different displacement positions of the structure. The sample light of the method according to a) and b) is detected in each case for generating an image of at least once sample region, wherein the sample images generated according to a) and b) are set off against one another, preferably multiplied, and the result is stored for generating a new sample image. |
| US09588044B2 |
Inline buried metal void detection by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)
A method and apparatus are provided for using SPR to detect buried voids in a semiconductor wafer inline post metal deposition. Embodiments include forming a first, a second, and a third metal structure in a first, a second, and a third adjacent die of a wafer; performing a SPR on the first, second, and third metal structures inline; detecting a first, a second, and a third SPR wavelength corresponding to the first, second, and third metal structures, respectively; comparing a difference between the first SPR wavelength and the second SPR wavelength and a difference between the third SPR wavelength and the first SPR wavelength against a threshold value; and determining a presence or an absence of a buried void in the first metal structure based on the comparison. |
| US09588040B2 |
Systems and methods of infrared detection of coal mine polar gas
An infrared detection device can be used to detect coal mine polar gas. The detection device can include a central processor and a gas pool assembly having a moveable optical window. The moveable optical window can include a stationary pool body and a moveable pool body inserted into the stationary pool body. |
| US09588039B2 |
Optical measuring device
A device for measuring a periodic signal is disclosed. The device includes a light source for generating an optical input signal directed at an object being measured from an electrical input signal generated by a driver device on the basis of a first clock pulse, an optical receiver for detecting and converting the signal received, a central control and measuring device is designed to generate the first clock pulse for the driver device and to receive and process the electrical measuring signal, and a voltage-supply apparatus for supplying the driver device. The central control and measuring device are preferably designed to generate a second clock pulse for the voltage-supply apparatus and to filter the electrical measuring signal on the basis of the first and/or second clock pulse. The frequency of the second clock pulse is an even multiple of the frequency of the first clock pulse. |
| US09588038B2 |
Analytical system with capillary transport
An analytical system is disclosed. The analytical system includes a storage container configured to store a plurality of capillaries. It also includes a gripper configured to receive at least one of the plurality of capillaries, and move the at least one capillary so that an end of the capillary contacts a sample in a sample container and draws the sample in the capillary. The system also includes a reader configured to detect a signal from the sample in the capillary. |
| US09588036B2 |
Microchip for sorting micro particles and cartridge including same
A microchip is provided that includes a flow path through which a liquid containing a micro particle flows, an orifice through which the liquid flowing through the flow path is discharged into a space outside the microchip, and a light-irradiated portion provided at a predetermined location of the flow path and configured to be irradiated with light. A width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the orifice are set to be smaller than a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the light-irradiated portion, and the flow path is configured to gradually decrease from upstream of the orifice in a cross-section area perpendicular to a liquid-delivering direction between the light-irradiated portion and the orifice. A cartridge including the microchip is also provided. |
| US09588035B2 |
System and method for fetal and maternal red blood cell counting
A system for counting fetal and maternal red blood cells (RBCs) including a microscope and image capturing device to capture at least one image from a slide holding the fetal and maternal RBCs; a computer readable medium for storing the at least one image; a processor for executing computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium; wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions for: indentifying red blood cells from the at least one image; distinguishing between fetal and maternal red blood cells; and counting the fetal and maternal red blood cells. |
| US09588033B2 |
Measuring volume and constituents of cells
A method for determining a mean cell volume for a blood sample includes: illuminating the sample with incident light at a plurality of illumination wavelengths and obtaining a two-dimensional image of the sample at each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; identifying a plurality of cells that appear in each of the images; for each one of the plurality of cells, determining an integrated optical density corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; for each one of the plurality of cells, determining a cell volume based on the integrated optical densities corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; and determining the mean cell volume for the blood sample from the cell volumes for each one of the plurality of cells. |
| US09588031B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the size of aerosol particles
A method and an apparatus for determining an aerosol particle size distribution that includes the steps of modulating an aerosol particle beam with an aerosol particle gate which is controlled by a modulation function for generating a modulated aerosol particle beam, guiding the modulated aerosol particle beam through a drifting region, measuring a signal of the modulated aerosol particle beam after the modulated aerosol particle beam has passed the drifting region and calculating a correlation of the modulation function and the signal in order to determine the size distribution of the aerosol particles. |
| US09588026B2 |
Fluid sample preparation systems and methods
Sample application systems can include an extraction mechanism to remove a sample from sample containers, a sample vessel disposed on a deployment mechanism, where the deployment mechanism is arranged to move the sample vessel to receive a sample, an extraction mechanism washing station to wash the extraction mechanism, a sample applicator to remove a portion of the sample in the sample vessel and apply it onto a sample carrier, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to a sample application position, a sample vessel washing station to wash the sample vessel, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to the sample vessel washing station, a sample applicator washing station to wash the sample applicator after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample carrier, and a fluid control system to control flow of a fluid provided to the extraction mechanism and the sample applicator. |
| US09588025B2 |
Manipulation of fluids, fluid components and reactions in microfluidic systems
Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply. |
| US09588024B1 |
Stacked modular conditioning system and method
A system for sampling and/or conditioning a process gas such as natural gas or the like utilizing two or more modular components, each having unique conditioning or monitoring features or the like, which components are formed to be slidingly received in a receiver so as to be stacked one upon the other for sealed engagement, forming a serial flow-through passage to provide conditioning, monitoring, or other features as the gas flows therethrough. An embodiment of the present invention is designed to receive multiple conditioning components, each of which may have diverse functionality such as, for example, one or more stages of pressure reduction, monitoring, particulate and/or liquid droplet filtering, etc. The invention is designed for easy configuration customization so as to provide a readily customizable solution for each application, with an embodiment which may be incorporated into a probe or the like or at its tip, and thereby operate at the prevailing pressure and temperature of the process gas. |
| US09588022B2 |
Sampling device
A sampling device including a closed sample container with a flexible wall and with an interior, a coupling member for releasable coupling to a sample outlet connector, a communicating passage between the coupling member and the interior of the sample container, at least the interior of the sample container being sterile, and a sterility protection device for ensuring the sterility of the interior of the sample container in the form of a three-way valve between the coupling member and the sample container, the three-way valve having a connection to the coupling member, a connection to the sample container and an outlet, and the three-way valve being, before use, in a closed position in which it bars access to the interior of the sample container. |
| US09588020B2 |
Test method
A method of testing a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated device includes cyclically operating the device. The method further includes determining a number of cycles in a functional life of the device based on observations of the device during the cyclical operation. The functional life is a range of consecutive cycles of operation of the device beginning with a first cycle during which the device performs within a specified limit. The functional life is immediately followed by a cycle during which the device performs outside of the specified limit. The method still further includes applying a progressive substitution sub-process to identify an opportunity to increase the number of cycles in the functional life of the device. |
| US09588019B2 |
Tire deformation sensor and tire inflation system
A tire deformation sensing and tire inflation system for tires that makes use of ultrasonic sensors embedded in the bead lock of the tire to measure time intervals between transmitted ultrasonic signals and the echo received signals to and uses the information obtained to adjust the tire pressure through a central tire inflation system. |
| US09588018B2 |
Customizable initiation of data recordings
A diagnostic system for a vehicle, includes a computer storing software on a computer readable media, configurable for setting up recording of vehicle operations, selecting from a plurality of customizable triggering operations according to Boolean logic, and a vehicle communication interface detachably connected to the computer, being setup by the computer for recording of vehicle operation while the vehicle is operating and recorded information stored in a computer readable media of the vehicle communication interface being reviewed by the computer, and detachably connected to the vehicle for recording of the vehicle operations. |
| US09588017B2 |
Apparatus for detecting variation abnormality in air-fuel ratio between cylinders
An apparatus for detecting a variation abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders according to the present invention is configured to calculate a value representing a change in an air-fuel ratio based on an output of an air-fuel ratio sensor that is provided in an exhaust passage in a predetermined operating state in which fuel is injected from a fuel injection valve, perform, to the calculated value, sensitivity correction in accordance with a sensitivity of the sensor based on the output of the sensor during fuel-cut operation and outside atmospheric pressure correction based on outside atmospheric pressure, and determine the presence or absence of a variation abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders by comparing the corrected value with a predetermined value. |
| US09588016B2 |
Fuel injection device and adjustment method thereof
A fuel injection device (fuel supply system) of a common rail type fuel injection system for an engine includes a pressure sensor disposed in a fuel inlet of an injector for measuring a fuel pressure at a position where the sensor is disposed and an ECU for sensing various kinds of pressure fluctuations associated with the injection including a pressure leak due to an injection operation of the injector and waving characteristics due to actual injection thereof based on sensor outputs from the pressure sensor. The ECU serially obtains the sensor outputs from the pressure sensor at intervals of 20 μsec. |
| US09588015B2 |
Diagnostic method and diagnostic device for a slide bearing
A sign of a minor rubbing abnormality of a slide bearing in a diesel engine is accurately detected. In order to realize the accurate detection, the following is performed: detecting waveform data which represents an acceleration of a vibration which occurs when a slide bearing is in operation; transforming acceleration waveform data into an acceleration spectrum of a frequency domain by applying a Fourier transform to the acceleration waveform data; quantifying a plurality of peak information which occurs at a rotational frequency interval of a shaft to be measured in the acceleration spectrum by performing a predetermined signal process combined with rotational frequency information of the shaft; obtaining a characteristic value; monitoring whether the obtained characteristic value has exceeded a predetermined threshold value; and when the characteristic value has exceeded the threshold value, determining that an abnormality has occurred in the slide bearing. |
| US09588012B2 |
Method for calculating the surface area of optical lenses and projection lenses manufactured according to the method for use in a light module in a motor vehicle headlamp
A method for calculating the surfaces of optical lenses including the steps of: providing a desired light distribution to be generated with light passing through the lens; deforming a first surface of the lens to generate light source images of different sizes; deforming a second surface of the lens to displace the light source images such that they lie at their highest point directly at or on a light/dark border in a resulting light distribution; determining a quality of the resulting light distribution by a comparison with the predefined light distribution; if the quality lies above a predefined limit value, storing the calculated surfaces for the lens; otherwise, renewed deformation of the first surface; renewed deformation of the second surface; repeating the previous two steps until the quality of the resulting light distribution lies above the limit value; and storing the calculated surfaces for the lens. |
| US09588011B1 |
Ship resistance prediction using a turbulent spot inducer in model testing
Exemplary practice of the present invention provides and implements a superior small-scale test model of a full-scale vessel hull describing a smooth axisymmetric body. The boundary layer of a smooth axisymmetric body moving in water is characterized, in succession from front axial-longitudinal end to back axial-longitudinal end, by a laminar region, an unstable region, an intermittent region, and a turbulent region. The smooth axisymmetric body's intermittent region is characterized by generation of turbulent spots, which bring about the turbulent region. According to exemplary inventive practice, a “turbulent spot inducer” (ring-shaped structure or structural arrangement) is strategically sized and placed to increase generation of turbulent spots, thereby reducing (axially-longitudinally shortening) the intermittent region and enlarging (axially-longitudinally lengthening) the turbulent region. The turbulent spot inducer is circumferentially coupled with the smooth axisymmetric body at a location coinciding with the smooth axisymmetric body's delimitation between its unstable region and its intermittent region. |
| US09588008B2 |
Automobile turbocharger examination device
An automobile turbocharger examination device is provided. A connection tube set connects an outlet tube of a turbocharger and an inlet tube of an engine to define a detection channel which includes a hard tube portion and a flexible tube portion which is provided for being connected among the hard tube portion, the outlet tube and the inlet tube. The examination device is for being connected between the hard and flexible tube portions. A first connection end of a connection tubular body includes at least one connection tube. One of the at least one connection tube of the first connection end is for being communicably connected with the flexible tube portion, and a second connection end of the connection tubular body is for being communicably connected with the hard tube portion. A pressure-detecting channel is for detecting pressure. |
| US09588006B2 |
Systems and methods for pressure sensor calibration
Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating a pressure sensor associated with a mobile device. Location information may be determined for the mobile device and used to obtain reference pressure information. The reference pressure information may then be used to calibrate the pressure sensor. Additionally, when the pressure sensor of the mobile device has been calibrated, output from the pressure sensor may be used as reference pressure information by another device. |
| US09588005B2 |
Component part and method for testing such a component part
Measures are described which simplify the functional testing of a component having an MEMS element provided with a pressure-sensitive sensor diaphragm, and which allow a self-calibration of the component even after it is already in place, i.e., following the end of the production process. The component has a housing, in which are situated at least one MEMS element having a pressure-sensitive sensor diaphragm and a switching arrangement for detecting the diaphragm deflections as measuring signals; an arrangement for analyzing the measuring signals; and an arrangement for the defined excitation of the sensor diaphragm. The housing has at least one pressure connection port. The arrangement for exciting the sensor diaphragm includes at least one selectively actuable actuator component for generating defined pressure pulses that act on the sensor diaphragm. |
| US09588004B2 |
Long lifetime cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge design
A Long Lifetime Cold Cathode Ionization Vacuum Gauge Design with an extended anode electrode having an axially directed tip, a cathode electrode, and a baffle structure. The axially directed tip of the anode electrode can have a rounded exterior with a diameter at least 10% greater than the diameter of the anode electrode. |
| US09588002B2 |
Measurement sensor
This invention is directed to a measurement sensor comprising a radio frequency identification circuit for measuring a parameter. The circuit comprises at least of one component in which a characteristic of that component can be changed to reflect a change in a measured parameter, such that the frequency of the sensor varies according to changes in the measured parameter. The invention extends to a system for measuring a variable parameter that incorporates such a sensor. |
| US09587999B2 |
Device for measuring state of contact of support roller of conveyor belt
A device for measuring the state of contact of a measuring roller of a conveyor belt includes a pressure sensor provided on a rotating surface of the measuring roller, which rotates in contact with an inner peripheral surface of a conveyor belt stretched between pulleys. The pressure sensor detects resistance force acting when the conveyor belt rides over the measuring roller. A rotational position sensor detects the circumferential position, on the rotating surface, of the pressure sensor. The data detected are sequentially wirelessly transmitted to the outside of the measuring roller by a transmission unit installed on the measuring roller, and the transmitted detection data are received by a receiver. |
| US09587998B2 |
Impact indicator
An impact indicator includes a first member having a reservoir for holding an indicator fluid; a second member couplable to the first member; and a third member disposed between an opening of the reservoir and the second member. Responsive to receiving a predetermined level of impact, at least a portion of the indicator fluid exits the reservoir, and wherein the third member causes the portion of the indicator fluid to be distributed across a surface of the first member adjacent the opening and facing the third member, the portion of the indicator fluid located on the surface of the first member providing a visual indication of the received predetermined level of impact. |
| US09587990B2 |
Mounting arrangement for a temperature sensor in an electric machine
An arrangement for sensing temperature in an electric machine comprises a plate member including a first side, a second side, a perimeter portion, and at least one hole extending through the plate member from the first side to the second side. A mount is coupled to the plate member. The mount includes a retention surface, at least one first arm, and at least one second arm. The retention surface is removed from the first side of the plate member. The at least one first arm extends from the retention surface and engages the perimeter portion of the plate member. The at least one second arm extends from the retention surface and through the at least one hole of the plate member. A temperature sensor is positioned between the first side of the plate member and the retention surface of the mount. |
| US09587988B1 |
Temperature sensing system
A temperature sensing system includes a vehicle that has a seat. An alarm is removably attached to the seat and the alarm is in thermal communication with an interior of the vehicle. The alarm issues a visual alert when a temperature of within the vehicle exceeds a trigger temperature. Thus, the alarm alerts an observer that the temperature within the vehicle exceeds the trigger temperature. |
| US09587986B2 |
Apparatus for sensing
An apparatus comprising: a sensor (1) configured to sense electromagnetic radiation (15) wherein the sensor (1) comprises a sensing portion (3) comprising a pyroelectric material (4) configured to be responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation (15) and a transducing portion (7) configured to convert the response of the pyroelectric material (4) into an output signal; and at least one antenna (21) configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation (15) onto the sensor (1). |
| US09587983B1 |
Thermally compensated optical probe
Systems and methods are provided herein. An exemplary system may include a laser source, the laser source having a laser center wavelength; at least one narrowband optical element receiving light emitted by the laser, the narrowband optical element having a filter center wavelength, the narrowband optical element being arranged such that the filter center wavelength is initially spectrally aligned with the laser center wavelength, the filter center wavelength changing in response to a temperature change such that the filter center wavelength is not substantially aligned with the laser center wavelength; and a passive adjustment mechanism coupled to the narrowband optical element, the passive adjustment mechanism including an actuator, the actuator moving in response to the temperature change, the actuator motion rotating the narrowband optical element, the rotation compensating for the temperature change such that the filter center wavelength and laser center wavelength remain spectrally aligned. |
| US09587982B2 |
Low-cost spectrometry system for end-user food analysis
A compact spectrometer is disclosed that is suitable for use in mobile devices such as cellular telephones. In preferred embodiments, the spectrometer comprises a filter, at least one Fourier transform focusing element, a micro-lens array, and a detector, but does not use any dispersive elements. Methods for using the spectrometer as an end-user device for performing on site determinations of food quality, in particular, by comparison with an updatable database accessible by all users of the device, are also disclosed. |
| US09587981B2 |
Spectrometers comprising spatial light modulators
A spectrometer may include: an input configured to receive optical radiation; a dispersion element configured to disperse by wavelength the optical radiation passing from the input; an output; and/or a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to receive a wavelength region of the optical radiation dispersed by the dispersion element, and configured to selectively direct wavelength portions of the received wavelength region to the output. The input may be configured to provide a plurality of entrance field stops by which the dispersion element is, in use, illuminated. Each of the plurality of entrance field stops may cooperate with the dispersion element to generate a different dispersed wavelength region at the SLM. |
| US09587978B2 |
Infrared sensor
An infrared sensor includes: an infrared detecting device; a lens disposed above the infrared detecting device; an member that is disposed at a side of an upper surface of the lens and includes an opening; and a gap that intervenes between the member and the lens and has a wider range than the opening. |
| US09587977B2 |
Boresight error monitor for laser radar integrated optical assembly
Boresight and other pointing errors are detected based on a monitor beam formed by diverting a portion of a probe beam. The monitor beam is directed to a position sensitive photodetector, and the optical power received at the position sensitive photodetector is used to estimate or correct such pointing errors. |
| US09587976B2 |
Photoacoustic probe
A photoacoustic transducer, such as a photoacoustic probe includes an optical fiber, diaphragm, at the optical fiber, whereby the optical fiber and diaphragm define a cavity, and an energy absorption film at the optical fiber, whereby an activating laser directed through the optical fiber can excite the energy absorption film to thereby generate an acoustic wave that, upon reflection upon a remote surface, can deflect the diaphragm and modify reflection of a detecting laser also directed through the optical fiber. A method of detecting an acoustic wave includes directing an activating laser through an optical fiber to an energy absorption film at the optical fiber, directing a detecting laser through the optical fiber and cavity to the diaphragm at the optical fiber, and measuring an interference pattern generated at least in part by reflection of the detecting laser from a surface of the diaphragm. |
| US09587975B2 |
Self charging door sensor system
A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a deployable system. An apparatus comprises a sensor device. The sensor device comprises a sensor configured to detect at least one of first vibrations from a deployable system in a first position or second vibrations from the deployable system in a second position in which the first vibrations are different from the second vibrations. The sensor is further configured to generate information from detecting at least one of the first vibrations or the second vibrations. |
| US09587972B2 |
Multi portion controlled dry food dispenser
There is provided a dry food dispensing apparatus for connecting to a storage receptacle, for the purpose of controlling the portion size and accuracy of the dispensed food, the apparatus having a base providing a housing defining a hollow circumferential interior with a centrally disposed hub, an extraction element disposed in the housing for extracting a first pre-determined portion of the dry food, a rotatable cell holder having a centrally disposed socket for engaging the hub of the base from above, having at least one open-bottomed cell for receiving and temporarily storing the extracted first pre-determined portion; and a dispensing aperture formed in a bottom of the base for releasing the first temporarily stored portion when the extraction element is operated to extract a second pre-determined portion, and the extraction element is operated in a cyclical fashion to obtain from the extracted portions a desired quantity of the dry food. |
| US09587970B2 |
Airflow measuring apparatus including a ventilation hole between a connector part and a circuit chamber
An airflow measuring apparatus includes a sub-passage that takes in part of flow of fluid flowing through an intake pipe, a sensor element disposed in the sub-passage to measure the flow of fluid, a circuit part converting the flow of fluid detected by the sensor element into an electric signal, a connector part connected to the circuit part to output a signal externally, and a casing supporting the sensor element and the circuit part. The sensor element is disposed in the intake pipe, and includes a cavity disposed at a semiconductor substrate and a diaphragm including a thin film part that covers the cavity. The sensor element on a lead frame has surfaces that are mold-packaged with resin so that the diaphragm and part of the lead frame are exposed. One hole is disposed at the lead frame for communication between the cavity and exterior. |
| US09587966B2 |
Method for determining stress in flexible joints by use of leveling means
The invention relates to a method for determining if a flexible joint means is out of alignment, i.e., if excess torque or pressure has caused malformation or malpositioning of the joint means. This is accomplished by incorporating a flexible leveling means onto a visible surface of the joint means. The leveling means has horizontal and vertical markings which permit simple visible inspection of the joint and a simple determination of the position and condition of the joint. |
| US09587963B2 |
Brushless linear rotary transformer
A brushless linear rotary transformer apparatus for determining angular position and velocity of a rotor includes a rotor, a stator, a primary coil winding, pairs of secondary coil windings, bearings, an excitation power supply, and a signal receiving and processing system. The primary coil winding is wrapped around a hollow cylinder body on one end of the stator. One end of the rotor shaft is arranged in the hollow cylinder body. Another ends of the rotor shaft and the stator are connected by a bearing. Pairs of secondary coil windings are embedded in the stator and on the inner side of the stator. An alternating magnetic field is generated by the excitation power supply through the primary coil winding. The amplitudes of the induced electromotive force at the ends of the secondary coil windings are linearly proportional to the angular position of the rotor. The signal receiving and processing system samples and processes the signals of the electromotive forces from the secondary coil winding, and outputs the parameters concerning the angular position, the angular velocity, and the rotation number of the rotor. The brushless linear rotary transformer has advantages of simple and reliable structure, which can be applied to measure the angular displacement and the angular velocity in multiple turns. |
| US09587957B2 |
Vehicle position display controller and vehicle position specifying method
A vehicle position display controller performs a branch determination processing of determining whether a vehicle has entered a branch road. In addition, in a case where a connecting road through which a currently traveled road is connected to a road extending in parallel with the currently traveled road lies ahead of a position of the vehicle, the vehicle position display controller performs a road shape conversion processing of subjecting the road extending in parallel to the branch determination processing on the assumption that the road extending in parallel is the branch road by making a correction of an angle between the currently traveled road and the connecting road. However, in a case where the vehicle travels at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined speed, the vehicle position display controller does not perform the road shape conversion processing. |
| US09587955B1 |
Adaptive audio guidance navigation
In a method for providing adaptive audio guidance, determining, by one or more processors, a route of a computing device, wherein the route is from an initial location of the computing device to a destination. Determining, by one or more processors, an estimated time of arrival at which the computing device would arrive at the destination. Prompting, by one or more processors, a user to input a desired arrival time. Determining, by one or more processors, whether to provide audio guidance based on a determination of whether the estimated time of arrival is within a pre-determined time period before the desired arrival time. |
| US09587951B1 |
Map matching methods and system for tracking and determining improved position of reference assets
Disclosed are map matching methods and system for tracking and determining an improved position of a reference asset. The method comprising: receiving at least one global navigation satellite system (GNSS) current position probe from the reference asset; requesting and receiving information from a geographical information system (GIS) unit on a plurality of probable road network segments on which the at least one GNSS current position probe is capable of being snapped; computing a weighted cost function for each of the probable road network segments; and snapping and information fusing the current position of the reference asset with a selected road network segment having the minimum weighted cost function out of the probable road network segments. |
| US09587950B2 |
Carrier
In a carrier in which its position is obtained by detecting reflected light using a distance measuring sensor, the position of the carrier is able to be accurately identified in all circumstances. A distance measuring sensor of the carrier is provided in a carrier main body, and measures an intensity of reflected light a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of pieces of measured data. A map database stores map data in which columns provided on a pathway are recorded. A position calculator calculates center points based on a set of measured data having a light intensity greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold among the plurality of pieces of measured data, and then calculates a position of the carrier main body by matching a straight line connecting a plurality of the sets to a straight line of the map data using the center points. |
| US09587947B2 |
Presenting information for a current location or time
A computing system is described that obtains, based at least in part on information included in at least one previous communication associated with a user of a computing device, an indication of a future location and a future time and event information associated with the future location and the future time. The computing system obtains a duration of time for the user to travel from a current location of the computing device to the future location, and, based at least in part on the duration of time, obtains a departure time at which the user is predicted to need to depart from the current location in order to arrive at the future location by an arrival time based on the event. The computing system outputs, for transmission to the computing device, an indication associated with the event and including information indicative of the departure time. |
| US09587946B2 |
Navigation system, terminal apparatus, navigation server, navigation apparatus, navigation method, and computer program product
A navigation device presenting guide information based on a photographed image of a boarding guide display item, such as a station name signboard, a roll sign, or a route map, that can be photographed in a station yard. The device acquires a photographed image of a boarding guide display item by controlling the photographing unit, identifies display content from the photographed image of the boarding guide display item of a transportation device acquired and specifying a route, station name, and traveling direction of a current position based on the identified display content and traffic network data stored in the storage unit, extracts station names present in the traveling direction from the traffic network data based on the route, station name, and traveling direction of the current position, and generates guide information including at least part of the extracted station names, and outputs at least part of the generated guide information. |
| US09587942B2 |
Vehicle compass system with heated windshield compensation
A compass system for a vehicle includes a compass sensor and compass circuitry. The compass sensor is disposed at or near an interior heated surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the compass system. The compass circuitry, responsive to an output of the compass sensor indicative of sensed magnetic signals or fields, is operable to determine a directional heading of the vehicle. The compass circuitry is operable to determine a magnetic signature generated by a heating element that heats the interior heated surface of the windshield when the heating element is powered. The compass circuitry, responsive to a determination that the heating element is powered, is operable to compensate the sensed magnetic signals to determine the vehicle directional heading. The compensation is derived from the determined magnetic signature. The compass circuitry may compensate the sensed magnetic signals by applying an offset derived from the determined magnetic signature. |
| US09587940B2 |
Precision hydrostatic level and flatness measuring device, system and method
A hydrostatic level-measuring system and related apparatus and method for measuring with precision, a level normal to gravitation of a physical surface, comprising: a plurality of N water-holding cups containing water and fluidically interconnected with one another and resting upon the physical surface, where N is greater than or equal to 2; each of the water-holding cups of comprising a cup height hn thereof from a bottom to a top of the cup which cup height hn is known a priori within acceptable measurement errors; and a micrometer system for measuring on an absolute or relative scale, a distance dn between the top of each the cup and the top surface of the water wherein a meniscus visible to a user is formed when the contact occurs and the meniscus is used to guide the measurement precision. |
| US09587939B2 |
Method and system for measuring content of a bin
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and a system that includes a confidence level module arranged to calculate, in response to detection signals, estimated upper surface points and to associate a non-binary confidence level with each estimated upper surface point; wherein the detection signals are generated by a receiver in response to an irradiation of at least a portion of the upper surface of the content with radiation pulses transmitted by a transmitter; and an estimator that is arranged to calculate an estimate of the upper surface based upon the estimated upper surface points and the non-binary confidence level associated with each estimated upper surface point. |
| US09587936B2 |
Scanning inspection system with angular correction
A wafer is moved under an inspection spot by a rotary inspection system. The system rotates the wafer about an axis of rotation and translates the wafer along a linear trajectory. When the inspection spot is not aligned with the trajectory of the axis of rotation, an angular error is introduced in the representation of the position of the inspection spot with respect to the wafer by the rotary encoder. The angular error is corrected based on an angular error correction value. The angular error correction value is determined based on the distance between the inspection spot and the trajectory of the axis of rotation, the radial distance between the axis of rotation and the inspection spot at a first instance of a particular angular position, and a second radial distance between the axis of rotation and the inspection location at a second instance of the angular position. |
| US09587931B2 |
Position compensation device using visible light communication and method thereof
The present invention relates to a position compensation device using visible light communication and a method thereof. To this end, the present invention receives a visible light signal which includes lighting position information from a lighting device to extract the lighting position information from the received visible light signal, and calculates a compensated position of a position compensation device by using the extracted lighting position information if a request for position compensation exists, thereby providing an exact position of a user indoors. |
| US09587930B2 |
Method and assembly for determining the thickness of a layer in a sample stack
A method for determining the thickness of a layer in a sample stack of at least two layers with an assembly comprising a light source for illuminating a stack of layers and a detector for detecting light reflected by the stack of layers in a defined first wavelength range, the method comprises a first step of obtaining a calibration curve by the calibrating steps of providing two or more reference stacks of layers, where each layer of the reference stacks has a known thickness, the same material as the sample stack and the layers occur in the same order as in the sample stack; illuminating the reference stacks with light from the light source; and detecting the intensity of light reflected by the reference stacks with the detector in the first wavelength range. Further steps of the method comprise illuminating the sample stack of layers with light from the light source; detecting the intensity of the light reflected by the sample stack of layers with the detector in the first wavelength range; and determining the thickness of the layer comprised in the sample stack of layers from the intensity detected by the detector by means of the calibration curve. The method is characterized in that further calibration curves are obtained of reference stacks, where the thickness of another, different layer is known also, thereby providing a first series of calibration curves in the first wavelength range; a second plurality of calibration curves is obtained in the same way as the first series of calibration curves for a further wavelength range; and the thickness of the layer of the sample stack is determined from the intensity detected by the detector by means of the first and second series of calibration curves. |
| US09587923B2 |
Low cost guiding device for projectile and method of operation
A guiding assembly is adapted to be connected to a projectile and comprising a rear main unit adapted to be connected to the front end of the projectile, and a front main unit rotatably connected at its rear end to the front end of the rear main unit. The front main unit is adapted to rotate about a central longitudinal axis. A relative speed control unit is operable between the rear main unit and the front main unit and capable of providing spin braking force to slow the relative speed of rotation of the front main unit. An at least one guiding fin radially extends from the front main unit. The pitch angle of the fin is controllable by a return spring connected to the fin so that the pitch angle of the fin is growing as the aerodynamic pressure on the fin lowers and it is growing smaller as the aerodynamic pressure on the fin gets bigger. |
| US09587921B2 |
Warhead casings and methods of manufacture
A warhead casing includes a nose region, a tail region, a tubular body region, and a central cavity extending along a lengthwise axis and having a first axial end and a second axial end. An aft wall is formed integrally with the tail region and extends radially toward the lengthwise axis to define the second end of the central cavity, and includes an aperture configured to receive a fuse device. A method of manufacturing a warhead casing includes forming a nose portion, a body portion, and a tail portion. The tail portion includes a circumferential outer wall defining an inner cavity, and an aft wall integrally formed with the circumferential outer wall and extending radially inward to define an axial end of the inner cavity. At least one of the nose portion or the tail portion is joined to the body portion. |
| US09587919B2 |
Neckless cartridge
A cartridge with a composite cartridge case includes a projectile with an ogee-shaped tip and a bottom end ending in a base, a flangeless tubular case delimiting a chamber accommodating a propulsive powder, closed at a first longitudinal end by a base with a primer and at the second end opposite to the first, by the base of the projectile, a part of the flangeless tubular case fitting snugly around part of the projectile and having itself, at least in part, a frustoconical external shape, the cartridge being characterized in that: —the chamber accommodating the propulsive powder includes, at the projectile end, a reduction in its diameter over all or part of the periphery thereof down to the diameter of the base of the projectile, —the ratio between the length of the tip of the projectile and the maximum diameter thereof is greater than or equal to 2.9. |
| US09587918B1 |
Ammunition having a projectile made by metal injection molding
The present invention provides ammunition having a metal injection molded projectile and a metal cartridge case comprising a metal ammunition cartridge comprising a unitary body that enclose a propellant chamber, a primer recess in a bottom portion of the unitary body, a primer flash hole that connects the primer recess and the propellant chamber, and a projectile aperture in communication with the propellant chamber; a primer inserted into the primer flash hole aperture; a propellant at least partially filling the propellant chamber; and a metal injection molded projectile frictionally fitted in the projectile aperture, wherein the metal injection molded projectile comprises a nose extending essentially symmetrically to a shoulder, and an essentially cylindrical bearing surface extending from the shoulder to a base. |
| US09587916B2 |
Mechanism for raising and lowering a weaponry target
A weaponry target mechanism has a base, an arm pivotally connected to the base to pivot about a lower arm axis, a platform pivotally connected to the arm to pivot about a target axis, an elongated target attached to the platform, a drive mechanism connected to the base at a first connection location and the platform at a second connection location, wherein the platform is movable with respect to the base such that the target assumes an upright position in which the target is in a first pivotal orientation and a dropped position in which the target is in a second pivotal orientation pivotally offset from the first pivotal orientation; and wherein the platform is rotationally moveable with respect to the base such that the platform is parallel to the base in the upright position and the platform is not parallel to the base in the dropped position. |
| US09587915B2 |
Airborne laser weapon system
An airborne laser weapon system is divided into a ground-based unit and an airborne unit. The relatively heavy components of the laser weapon system, such as the generator, cooling elements with cooling fluid, accumulators, pump diodes, beam couplers and the control station for an operator, are concentrated and/or arranged in the ground-based part. The relatively lightweight components and/or those that ultimately determine the quality of the laser beam, such as active laser element(s), in particular the output stage(s) thereof, the focusing drive, the telescope and the necessary sensors, may be provided on the airborne platform and may be connected by means of a relatively long, e.g. multiple kilometers, optical waveguide to the ground-based part. |
| US09587914B2 |
Armor coupler
A coupler for the attachment of an armor panel to a structure to be protected, the coupler having a first end unit configured for attachment to the armor panel and a second end unit configured for attachment to the structure, the units being axially spaced from one another by an elongated plate member having, in cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction, an asymmetric shape allowing the plate to be differently susceptible to bending forces in at least two different directions. |
| US09587913B2 |
Incised composite material for selective, multispectral reflection
Geometrically incised fabrics that control reflectance and transmission in the visible, thermal, nIR, SWIR, and microwave/millimeter bands of the electromagnetic spectrum are provided. The incised fabrics include incised flaps that move about a hinged attachment portion into open and closed configurations. The incised flaps may be oriented in patterns containing overlapping, inverted incised flaps, overlapping inverted and non-inverted incised flaps, or in block patterns of incised flaps. Selective transmission of electromagnetic waves can be modulated by the geometry of the incised flaps and the amount of tension applied to the incised fabric. The incised fabric includes a composite material including an asymmetric ePTFE laminate, a metalized layer, an ePTFE membrane layer, and a textile. A second ePTFE asymmetric laminate and a metal layer may be attached to the composite material to form a reversible composite. Incised fabrics may be used to form selective, multispectral reflective covers and garments. |
| US09587904B2 |
Muzzle loading ramrod
A ramrod for a muzzleloader is provided. The ramrod includes a shaft having a knob releasably coupled to one end thereof, the knob having a rounded end and a tapered end that oppose one another. The knob may have a central bore therein, and the shaft may be inserted into the central bore. The tapered end of the knob is configured with respect to the shaft to allow any object that contacts the shaft and slides along the shaft to also slide along and eventually off of the tapered end of the knob without snagging or catching the knob. The rounded end of the knob is positioned at a distal end of the shaft and is configured with respect to the shaft to allow a user of the ramrod to place his/her palm against the rounded end while operating the ramrod to load a muzzleloader. |
| US09587903B2 |
Pneumatic launcher system and method
Improvements in a projectile launcher is disclosed. The launcher converts an airsoft gun to fire paintballs to handle feeding either airsoft projectiles or paintball projectiles depending upon the installed kit. The launcher includes a hydraulic damper allows the fire and reload to operate in a controlled motion that allows a projectile to be fires and the next projectile to the loaded in a rapid succession. An improved magazine allows multiple different types of projectiles to be installed in the magazine. An interchangeable trigger mechanism and interchangeable barrel to launch different diameters of projectiles. Different types of firing mechanisms can be removed and interchanged in the launcher. In addition to the barrel can also be changes as the projectile is changed. |
| US09587894B2 |
Heat exchanger effluent collector
A gas to gas heat exchanger 110 is equipped with a heat transfer element cleaning system 160, effluent collector hopper 162 and effluent collector hopper cleaning system 164. The heat transfer element cleaning system 160 is useful to remove accumulated substances from the heat exchanger 110 heat transfer elements 134. The effluent collector hopper 162 is useful to capture a cleaning fluid used to remove accumulated substances from the heat exchanger 110 heat transfer elements 134. The effluent collector hopper cleaning system 164 is useful to remove accumulated substances captured with the cleaning fluid from the effluent collector hopper 162 to prevent clogging thereof. |
| US09587893B2 |
Air introduction system and method for cooling towers
A system and a method for promoting improved air flow through a cooling tower and reduced inner air pressure losses caused by rain in the rain zone of a cooling tower. Aerodynamic modules are mounted on the lower edge of the cooling tower shell in order to deflect the downward-flowing air about the lower edge of the tower shell and into the rain zone. The aerodynamic modules can be modularly mounted, can be replaced, and do not affect the statics of the tower shell. Aerodynamic modules can also be built on the base area to deflect the incoming air over any obstacles. Troughs or dripping elements can also promote flow by reducing the rain falling in an outer area. |
| US09587887B2 |
Plate cooler for fluids
A plate cooler for fluids, such as hydraulic oil, having a parallelepiped-shaped package of plate bodies forming spaced-apart fluid channels and air channels interposed between adjacent plate bodies. The plate bodies communicate on their ends with a fluid channel in a distributor box and a collection box. The distributor and collection boxes have an extruded aluminum profile, a continuous fluid channel, and a ribbed body having lateral ribs with continuous guide grooves for mounting elements and receiving slots for the extruded plate body profile. The fluid channels discharge into a collection chamber, communicating with the continuous fluid channel of the ribbed body. The continuous receiving slots for the plate bodies in the distributor box and in the collection box are configured in circular and conical form, and the inserted plate bodies are connected thereto in fluid-tight fashion in a low-temperature adhesive bonding process. |
| US09587886B2 |
Outdoor unit and refrigeration cycle device
An outdoor unit includes an outdoor air heat exchanger formed of an air heat exchanger that includes multiple aligned fins and a heat transfer tube intersecting the fins at multiple positions and transferring heat of a refrigerant flowing in the tube and that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air; and a blower fan forming a flow of the air flowing through the outdoor air heat exchanger. In the outdoor air heat exchanger, the heat transfer tube intersects the fins at intervals based on a flow rate of the air flowing into the outdoor air heat exchanger according to a positional relationship with the blower fan. |
| US09587885B2 |
Cooling tower with indirect heat exchanger
A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section. The indirect evaporative heat exchange section is comprised of a series of serpentine tubes, and an evaporative liquid is passed downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid is collected in a sump and then pumped upwardly to be distributed again across the indirect heat exchange section. An improved heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section consisting of a series of serpentine tubes comprised of tube runs both of normal and increased height between tube runs. A direct heat exchange section may be provided in the increased vertical spacing between tube runs. |
| US09587878B2 |
Medication dispensing cart
Embodiments of the invention provide medication dispensing carts and methods. The medication dispensing carts may include a base having wheels that allow the carts to be transported within a facility, a computing device configured to receive input from a user, a display device communicatively coupled with the computing device for displaying information to the user, a post that couples the display device with the base, and a plurality of cassettes that have one or more bins within which medical supplies are stored. The plurality of cassettes may be coupled with the post and the post may include a plurality of communication ports that communicatively couple one or more of the cassettes with the computing device to perform or provide various functions. |
| US09587875B2 |
Rear door inflatable device for an integrated refrigerated container
A method for reducing air leakage from a refrigerated container includes positioning at least one inflatable device about a rear end of the refrigerated container; coupling the at least one inflatable device to one end of an elongated duct located within an interior space of the refrigerated container; coupling a second end of the elongated duct to an outlet port of the evaporator fan; circulating, via the evaporator fan, air through the interior space; and extracting the circulated air through the elongated duct and into the at least one inflatable device. |
| US09587873B2 |
Energy efficient biological freezer with vial management system
An automated, ultra-low temperature freezer having multiple structural features that reduce heat transfer into the freezer, protect its internal mechanical devices against low temperature mechanical binding of their movements, allow defrosting and autoclaving as a result of only minimal changes to the conventional CO2 emergency backup system. A group of freezers are arranged so they can simultaneously provide an HVAC function. A vial management system allows biological samples or vials to be automatically placed in and recovered from the freezer and associates the temperature history with each sample or vial that it was subjected to during its storage. |
| US09587871B2 |
Heater-less ice maker assembly with a twistable tray
An ice maker assembly is provided that includes a tray having a plurality of ice-phobic recesses. The recesses may possess a total water volume of 70 cc or greater. The tray comprises metal material and can be formed with a substantially uniform strain distribution. The ice maker further includes a frame body coupled to the tray, a driving body that is rotatably coupled to the ice-forming tray, and a processor that is operatively coupled to the driving body. The processor controls the driving body to rotate the tray in a manner that flexes the tray to dislodge ice pieces formed in the recesses. |
| US09587870B2 |
Ice maker with heatless ice removal and method for heatless removal of ice
An ice making module for an appliance includes a conductive ice tray having an ice forming cavity. An electrical circuit is in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray and includes a power source in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray and a switch. The switch releases an electromagnetic pulse through the conductive ice tray. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the ice forming cavity and a cooling apparatus cools the water to form at least one ice piece that is in electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electromagnetic pulse released through the conductive ice tray generates an induced electrical current through the ice piece and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the ice piece, wherein the repelling force biases the ice piece away from the conductive ice tray, thereby ejecting the ice piece from the ice forming cavity. |
| US09587865B2 |
Air conditioner and method for controlling the same
An air conditioner and a method for controlling the same include a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a receiver for storing at least one portion of a refrigerant passing through the condenser and a gas/liquid separator for filtering a liquid refrigerant of the refrigerant introduced from the receiver to supply a gaseous refrigerant into the compressor includes a first flow rate regulator for controlling the amount of refrigerant supplied into the receiver, a second flow rate regulator for controlling the amount of refrigerant introduced from the receiver into the gas/liquid separator, a first detection unit for detecting the amount of refrigerant stored in the receiver, and a control unit for controlling an opening degree of the first or second flow rate regulator, based on information of at least one of the amount of refrigerant detected by the first detection unit and the amount of refrigerant circulating in the air conditioner. |
| US09587863B2 |
Refrigeration apparatus
A refrigeration apparatus uses R32 as refrigerant, and includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, an evaporator, a branch flow channel branching from a main refrigerant channel joining the condenser and the evaporator, a first opening adjustable valve disposed along the branch flow channel, an injection heat exchanger, a first injection channel, a refrigerant storage tank disposed along the main refrigerant channel, and a second injection channel. The injection heat exchanger exchanges heat between refrigerant in the main refrigerant channel and refrigerant passing through the first opening adjustable valve. The first injection channel guides refrigerant that flows in the branch flow channel and that exits from the injection heat exchanger to the compressor or the suction passage. The second injection channel guides a gas component of refrigerant accumulated inside the refrigerant storage tank to the compressor or the suction passage. |
| US09587857B2 |
Polymeric solar concentrator and solar thermal device incorporating same
Polymeric sheets suitable for use as solar concentrators in solar thermal devices are provided. Also provided are solar thermal devices incorporating the polymeric sheets. The polymeric sheets have two oppositely facing surfaces. A first pattern is defined in the first surface and a second pattern is defined in the second surface. The first pattern is designed to reduce the reflectance of light incident upon the first surface relative to the first surface in the absence of the first pattern and to channel incident light through the sheet onto the second surface. It does so by redirecting photons incident upon the first surface over a broad range of incident angles into transmittance angles that are more closely aligned with the surface normal of the polymeric sheet. The second pattern is designed to focus the photons transmitted to the second surface of the sheet onto a focal surface, such as a receptacle containing a heat-transfer medium. |
| US09587853B2 |
Liquid heater with temperature control
A liquid heater such as a direct electrical resistance liquid heater having multiple flow channels is provided with a temperature-sensing element in the form of a wire extending across numerous channels, preferably all of the channels, near the downstream ends of the channels. The resistance of the wire represents the average temperature of the liquid passing through all of the channels, and hence the temperature of the mixed liquid exiting from the heater. A bubble suppressing structure is provided in the vicinity of the wire. |
| US09587849B2 |
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
A high-efficiency HVAC system and method of operation, for use in a house or building, having a plurality of components, including flexible, plastic duct tubing forming supply pipes that connect an air handler and a plurality of zones to deliver supply air to the zones and return pipes that connect the air handler and the zones to re-circulate return air; the air handler having a fan assembly powered by a variable blower motor to blow supply air to the zones; a heat pump having a variable compressor powered by a variable compressor motor to direct a working fluid to and from the air handler and a variable fan motor that rotates a fan blade within the heat pump; and a circuit control system for adjusting the variable compressor motor and the variable fan motor in the heat pump and the variable blower motor in the air handler. |
| US09587848B2 |
Building automation controller with rear projecting light
An HVAC controller may include a housing that is mountable on a vertical surface and a printed circuit board that is disposed within the housing. The printed circuit board may include a light source operably secured to the printed circuit board. A light guide may be secured relative to the printed circuit board such that light from the light source enters the light guide and propagates along the light guide. The light guide includes a light input pocket configured to receive light from the light source, a bifurcated inlet section optically coupled to the light input pocket, a light guide body extending from the bifurcated inlet section, and an output surface extending along a rear facing surface of the light guide body such that light exiting the output surface is projected onto the vertical surface to which the housing is mountable. |
| US09587846B2 |
Ductless fume hood gas monitoring and detection system
A ductless fume hood suitable for the removal of various chemical materials including toxic and non-toxic gases, vapors, particles, dust and unpleasant odors from a fluid stream. The ductless fume hood uses electronic devices and software to enable real time monitoring of gas levels in parts per million. |
| US09587844B2 |
Humidifier and a method of monitoring the water level in the humidifier
The present invention relates to a humidifier and a method of monitoring the water level in the humidifier, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the temperature at the air outlet of the humidifier and generating temperature signals indicating the temperature thereof (310, 410); determining the water level in the humidifier according to the generated temperature signals (330, 430). The water level in the humidifier can be monitored using a rather simple structure yielding a high accuracy. |
| US09587841B2 |
Turbo fan and ceiling type air conditioner using the same
Provided are a turbo fan and an air conditioner using the same. The turbo fan includes a main plate rotating by power provided from a fan motor, a blade having one end connected to the main plate to rotate, a shroud connected to the other end of the blade, and an orifice guiding a flow of indoor air in a direction of the shroud. The shroud includes a guide surface defining one surface of the shroud, the guide surface having a predetermined curvature and an air guide connected to a side of the shroud, the air guide being disposed in a direction of the orifice from the shroud. |
| US09587839B2 |
Autonomous ventilation system
An autonomous ventilation system includes a variable-speed exhaust fan, a controller, an exhaust hood, and an infrared radiation (“IR”) sensor. The exhaust fan removes air contaminants from an area. The controller is coupled to the exhaust fan and adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan. The exhaust hood is coupled to the exhaust fan and directs air contaminants to the exhaust fan. The IR sensor is coupled to the controller, detects changes in IR index in a zone below the exhaust hood, and communicates information relating to detected changes in IR index to the controller. The controller adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan in response to information relating to detected changes in IR index. The autonomous ventilation system also includes an alignment laser to indicate a point at which the IR sensor is aimed and a field-of-view (“FOV”) indicator to illuminate the zone in which the IR sensor detects changes in IR index. |
| US09587837B2 |
Door lock device
A door-lock device for retaining a door of a household appliance in a closed position. The door-lock device including a mobile module that slides relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking unit housed within the mobile module. The blocking unit has a blocking member that moves between an unlocking position and a locking position. In the locking position, the blocking member holds the door of the household appliance in the closed position. A detecting slider slides the mobile module relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking slider prevents the blocking member from moving from the locking position to the unlocking position. A pawl connected to the blocking slider engages one of a plurality of adjustment slots to block the door. |
| US09587829B1 |
Pre-start indicator for portable heater
A portable heater provided with one or more pre-start indicator elements. The pre-start indicator element may emit an attention identifier indicative of the imminent start of heat production of the portable heater. The indicator element may be an audible and/or visual indicator element. The pre-start indicator element may alert during one or both of a manual and thermostat operation mode of a portable heater. |
| US09587826B2 |
Gas burner
A gas burner 10 intended to point downwardly in use. The gas burner comprises a flame strip 24 in the form of a sheet material with a plurality of openings 38 therein to define ports for combustion gas. The outer side of the flame strip 24 provides a combustion surface in use. The gas burner also comprises a body member 22 with an inlet 18 thereinto for combustion gas. The body member 22 and flame strip 24 together define a combustion chamber 50, with a space between the flame strip 24 and an outer wall 32 of the body member. The body member 22 and/or flame strip 24 are profiled such that said space varies across the chamber 50 to provide a required flow of combustion gas across the chamber 50. |
| US09587825B2 |
Submerged burner with multiple injectors
A submerged burner for a glass- or rock-melting furnace, including a plurality of in-line injectors, each injector including a cylinder-shaped mixing chamber, with an ejection orifice, a fuel-supply duct and an oxidant-supply duct opening into the mixing chamber at the cylinder jacket in a direction causing a tangential flow of the fuel and of the oxidant relative to the cylinder jacket, and a duct system making it possible for a coolant to flow inside the burner, and, preferably on either side of the alignment of injectors, placed parallel to and all along the latter, solid metal sides rising from the injectors, and protective partitions situated on the top of the solid metal sides. |
| US09587813B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device includes a substrate and a planar light source portion including a plurality of LED chips arrayed on the substrate. The planar light source portion faces an illumination space (space to be illuminated) by a predetermined opening area. The plurality of LED chips are arrayed on the substrate such that the mounting density with respect to the opening area is not less than 3/cm2, and accordingly, a planar light source is formed. |
| US09587812B2 |
Construction element with at least one electronic component and associated method
The present invention relates construction element comprising: a sandwich structure comprising an electrically insulating layer and an electrically conducting front layer and an electrically conducting rear layer which are spaced apart by the electrically insulating layer. A circuit board is carrying an electronic component and is positioned between the electronic component and the electrically conducting rear layer. The electronic component comprising a first and a second electrical terminal, wherein the first electrical terminal is in electrical connection with the electrically conducting front layer, and the second electrical terminal is in electrical connection with the electrically conducting rear layer. |
| US09587809B2 |
Light replacing apparatus for replacing bulbs in street lamps
A method for changing a light bulb in a parking light pole, comprising disposing a housing on the top of a light pole for holding a lamp holder having a lamp disposed therein, holding the lamp holder in the housing by urging the lamp holder downward, removing the lamp holder by urging a removal apparatus up through an annulus in the center of the light pole to urge a plurality of pivoting members outward and away from the bottom surface of the lamp holder to allow the lamp holder to fall and be captured by the removal apparatus, replacing the lamp holder by disposing the lamp holder in an installation device, urging the installation device upward such that the lamp holder causes the pivoting members to urge outward, urging the installation device down in the annulus to allow the lamp holder to be urged downward, and removing the installation device. |
| US09587807B2 |
Lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus which provides an heat dissipation effect, high output and large light emitting area including: housing having rectangular cylindrical shape obtained by forming belt-like body including plurality of holding bodies in rectangular cylindrical shape and connecting end portions of belt-like body formed in rectangular cylindrical shape; and circuit board mounted on inner surface of the housing and including a light source. The circuit board includes: mounting portion mounted on inner surface of the housing and having a surface provided with the light source; and connecting portion which connects mounting portions adjacent to each other in peripheral direction of the housing and is bendable at a corner of adjacent inner surfaces of the housing, and rear surface of mounting portion contacts inner surface of the holding body. Therefore, it is possible to provide lighting apparatus which provides an excellent heat dissipation effect, high output and large light emitting area. |
| US09587803B1 |
High voltage lighting fixture
A lighting fixture includes an elongated lens having an inner surface and an outer surface. The lighting fixture further includes a phosphor layer coupled to the inner surface of the elongated lens. The lighting fixture also includes a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector is attached to a first side surface of the elongated lens. The first side surface of the elongated lens is between the inner surface and the outer surface on a first elongated side of the lens. The second reflector is attached to a second side surface of the elongated lens. The second side surface of the elongated lens is between the inner surface and the outer surface on a second elongated side of the lens. The elongated lens, the phosphor layer, the first reflector, and the second reflector are extruded or molded as a single piece. |
| US09587802B2 |
LED assembly having a refractor that provides improved light control
An LED assembly that includes optics and optical arrangements for light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, a reflector is provided within a void between the lens and the LED. This reflector can reflect light emitted by the LED in a non-preferred direction back toward the preferred direction. In other embodiments, an optical element is formed or otherwise provided in the lens cavity and shaped so that, when the lens is positioned above the LED, the refractor bends the emitted light in a preferred direction. In some embodiments, both a reflector and optical element are provided in the LED assembly to control the directionality of the emitted light. Such embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the efficiency of an LED by ensuring that generated light is being directed to the target area of choice. |
| US09587801B2 |
Zoom unit, a light engine having the zoom unit and an illuminating apparatus
A zoom unit (1) of a light engine (5), comprising at least one lens (2), at least one first reflector (3) and at least one second reflector (4), other at least one lens (2) receives a collimated beam (LI) from a light source unit (6) of the light engine (5), the collimated beam (LI) being incident on the first reflector (3) after being converged by the lens (2), and being incident on the second reflector (4) after being reflected by the first reflector (3), to produce an output beam (L4) with its beam angle changed. |
| US09587800B2 |
Luminescent vehicle molding
A molding of a vehicle is provided herein. The molding includes a cover panel portion mounted to a body panel of the vehicle. A carrier is disposed between the cover panel portion and the body panel, the carrier having an exposed portion configured to luminesce in response to light excitation. At least one light source is disposed inside the carrier and is configured to emit light for exciting the exposed portion. |
| US09587794B2 |
Headlamp assembly with multiple high aspect ratio lenses
A headlight assembly including a plurality of low-beam modules and a plurality of high-beam modules are enclosed in a housing. The low-beam modules include a top reflector disposed above a low-beam LED light source that projects a height limited first beam of light through the low-beam lens. The high-beam modules include a bottom reflector disposed below a high-beam LED light source that projects a second beam of light through a high-beam lens above the first beam of light. Each module has an aspect ratio of 2:1 with the height of the lens being twice the width of the lens. |
| US09587790B2 |
Remote lumiphor solid state lighting devices with enhanced light extraction
Solid state light emitting devices include lumiphor elements that are spatially segregated from electrically activated solid state emitters with an intermediately arranged optical element (including but not limited to a dichroic filter). Curved or faceted optical elements, and curved or faceted reflectors, may be employed. Multiple solid state emitters may be arranged in multiple reflector cups or recesses. Characteristics of optical elements and/or lumiphor elements of such devices may be varied with respect to angular position. |
| US09587788B2 |
Suspensions for enhanced oil recovery
Embodiments of the present disclosure include suspensions for use in enhanced oil recovery, and methods of using the suspensions for recovering oil. Suspensions of the present disclosure include a nonionic surfactant that can dissolve in supercritical carbon dioxide, and a metal salt having a concentration of 200 to 1 parts-per-million. |
| US09587785B2 |
Motor vehicle lock with automatic relubrication
A lock which operates reliably and quietly has a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and at least one ratchet pawl for latching the rotary latch. The lock comprises two faces which at least partially bear one against the other and which are at least recurrently displaced relative to one another, with the result that that the displacement causes frictional forces to occur between the faces. At least one frictional face is part of a rotatable component of the lock. A lubricant reservoir is assigned to this rotatable component. There is a feeding means from the lubricant reservoir to the frictional face, which means is configured in such a way that the lubricant is transported from the lubricant reservoir to the frictional face of the rotatable component. |
| US09587776B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating self rotating fluid jet
A nozzle assembly for generating fluid jets, such as self-spinning fluid jets. A nozzle body includes a cylindrical nozzle cavity, an inlet, an outlet, and a tubular nozzle rotor assembly positioned with respect to the nozzle cavity. The nozzle rotor assembly can have a ball end and a tubular end and a central fluid passage routed through the nozzle rotor assembly. A fluid swirl enhancer forms communication with the inlet. A replaceable nozzle seat forms communication with the ball end of the nozzle rotor assembly and with the outlet. The ball end of the nozzle rotor assembly pivots, oscillates and rotates against the nozzle seat when pressurized fluid flows through the nozzle assembly. |
| US09587767B2 |
Fitting for trapeze hanger
A fitting for hanging a piece of channel framing includes a coupling component having opposite longitudinal ends, a length extending between the opposite longitudinal ends, a coupling longitudinal portion configured to be secured in the external fitting groove of the channel framing body, and an exposed longitudinal portion configured to extend outward from one of the open groove ends of an external fitting groove for connection to a rod to hang the piece of channel framing from an elevated structure when the coupling longitudinal portion of the coupling component is received in the external fitting groove. |
| US09587765B2 |
Sound treatment assembly for a fluid transmission line
A sound treatment assembly includes an outlet member having a bore extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first flange portion is adapted to be coupled to portion of a valve body of a regulator valve. The first flange portion includes a contoured mating surface adapted to mate with a corresponding contoured portion of an exterior surface of the valve body. The outlet member also includes a second flange portion disposed at the second end. A diffuser assembly includes diffuser housing extending along the longitudinal axis, and a first flange portion is disposed at the first end of the diffuser housing and is adjacent to the second flange portion of the outlet member. One or more diffuser elements are disposed within an interior of the diffuser housing to reduce noise levels in the fluid exiting the outlet member. |
| US09587763B2 |
Device for securing a fire hydrant valve using a moveable element
A magnetic valve security device prevents unauthorized opening of fire hydrant valves. The magnetic valve security device includes an inner cylindrical member having a lower end with a recess to receive the valve nut in a non-rotational relationship and an upper end with a first coupling element. The magnetic valve security device also includes an outer rotational member mounted over the inner cylindrical member for rotation with respect to the inner cylindrical member. The outer rotational member includes a second coupling element. The magnetic valve security device also includes a movable element having a non-magnetic body configured to receive a fitted magnetizable piece. The movable element is urged to a first position to decouple the first and second coupling elements. The movable element is movable to a second position to couple the first and second elements in a non-rotational relationship. The rotation of the outer rotational member rotates the inner cylindrical member to rotate the valve stem and operate the valve with the movable element in the second position. |
| US09587762B2 |
Torque support for a valve lock
The invention relates to a torque support for a valve lock (5) in order to prevent a rotation of the lock with respect to the valve (1), wherein a connection housing (8) adjoins the valve lock and at least one boom (9, 9a) carried by the connection housing rests against the valve housing in the pivoted-out end position. Similarly, the torque support can also be connected to the valve housing and the boom can rest against the connection housing, or the connection housing is integrated in the valve lock. |
| US09587759B2 |
Quick release valve compressor
Apparatus is provided featuring a spindle having extending spindle portions configured with spindle glands; a compressor having extending compressor portions configured with compressor glands, and a snap ring configured to engage the spindle glands and the compressor glands in order to attach the spindle and compressor together, so that the compressor may be quickly released from the spindle by releasing an engagement between the snap ring, the spindle glands and/or the compressor glands. |
| US09587758B2 |
Valve arrangement
Valve arrangement for ensuring different amount of medium flow-through comprising at least two chambers (6,7) separated by a limiting wall (3) provided with a through-opening (1). An insertion piece (2) in the through-opening (1) is able to move transversally and the cross-section of its elongated middle portion (4) corresponds to that of the through-opening (1). At least at one end of the insertion piece (2) a closing head (5) is provided. A form-fitting (8) between the closing head (5) and the limiting wall (3) ensures a first closed state thereby a first amount of flow-through from a chamber (6) being on one side of the through-opening (1) to the chamber (7) being on the other side of it when the longitudinal movement of the insertion piece (2) is limited as the closing head (5) abuts against the limiting wall (3) at the through-opening (1). |
| US09587752B2 |
Backflow preventer valve
An insertable backflow preventer is presented. The backflow preventer is provided with a cylindrical housing. The housing has a flow transition zone, a proximal orifice/ball seat, a ball with a specific weight that equals or is close to the specific weight of the surrounding fluid, and a distal retaining screen. The housing can have a flange provided on the outside of the housing at one end to facilitate securing the valve in a pipe. The valve is self-cleaning, can be placed in any orientation in a pipe and has low hydraulic head-loss. The valve's unique cost-effective design provides for easy and relative quick installation, eliminates the need to reconfigure existing plumbing, and can be performance tested remotely. Properly installed, it can dramatically improve the security of, for example, potable water sources in a building or other context, and inasmuch as when installed it is not visible, it is tamper proof. The valve can be scaled to any size pipe or tube, and due to its internal flow dynamics is self cleaning. Multiple valves can be installed in series, and balls of varying specific weight can be used in each valve in such a series to allow for contexts where a range of fluids are sent through the same line, or to provide fail-safe operation in the event that contaminants change the specific gravity of the fluid. |
| US09587747B2 |
Flexible seals for process control valves
Flexible seals for process control valves are disclosed. An example disclosed seal includes a seal for use with a butterfly valve. The example seal includes a substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier configured to be moveably fixed within the butterfly valve and to surround a flow control aperture therein. The example seal includes a seal stiffener adjacent the substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier to increase the stiffness of the substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier in a first flow direction. The example seal includes a substantially rigid seal ring to engage an opposing surface. |
| US09587746B2 |
Film riding seals for rotary machines
A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple sealing device segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor. Each of the segments includes a shoe plate with a forward-shoe section and an aft-shoe section having one or more labyrinth teeth therebetween facing the rotor. The sealing device includes a stator interface element having a groove or slot for allowing disposal of a spline seal for preventing segment leakages. The sealing device segment also includes multiple bellow springs or flexures connected to the shoe plate and to the stator interface element. Further, the sealing device segments include a secondary seal integrated with the stator interface element at one end and positioned about the multiple bellow springs or flexures and the shoe plate at the other end. |
| US09587740B2 |
Repaired pistons and collection thereof
A repaired piston includes a crown composed of base and welding filler materials, and having an annular rim extending around a combustion bowl. A finite number of repaired defects are within the annular rim, and have a spatial distribution limited by a multidirectional spacing parameter, and a size distribution limited by a unidirectional sizing parameter. |
| US09587738B2 |
Automatic shift control system
In the event of a failure to detect an operation position Psh, a shift command to a forward gear position (in this embodiment, the second-speed gear position “2nd” and the eight-speed gear position “8th”) established in association with an engagement device (in this embodiment, a brake B1) that causes locking of drive wheels when engaged with a one-way clutch F1, out of given forward gear positions formed when the operation position is a forward traveling operation position D, is not generated. |
| US09587730B2 |
Differential device
A differential device includes: an input member inputted with driving force; a differential gear supported in the input member and capable of rotating relative to the input member and revolving around rotation center of the input member with rotation of the input member; paired output gears each including a tooth portion meshing with the differential gear and a shaft portion located radially inward of the tooth portion; a washer interposed between the input member and back surface of the tooth portion; and an oil groove provided in a recess shape in surface of the input member facing back surface of each output gear and extending from periphery of the shaft portion to back surface of the washer. The oil groove is arranged offset in peripheral direction of the output gear from a meshing portion between the tooth portion and the differential gear. |
| US09587729B2 |
Press connection with a sleeve-like component of sheet metal
A press connection which includes a carrier and at least one sleeve-shaped structural component of sheet metal seated at least with a press seat on the carrier. At least one indentation is formed on the surface of the carrier and the indentation is at least covered by at least one wall section of the sleeve-shaped structural component. |
| US09587726B2 |
Power transmission unit for vehicle
A power transmission unit for a vehicle including a first clutch device that selectively allows a torque transmitting route from an input shaft to an output shaft via a first gear train to transmit torque therethrough, a dog clutch that switches the torque transmitting route from the input shaft to the output shaft between a continuously variable speed change route in which the torque is transmitted through a continuously variable transmission and a reverse route in which the torque is transmitted through a second gear train, and a second clutch device that connects and disconnects both of the continuously variable speed change route and the reverse route to/from at least any one of the input shaft and the output shaft. |
| US09587724B2 |
Sliding device for vehicle door
A sliding device for a vehicle door includes a lower rail extending straightly and mounted on an exterior of a vehicle. A lower slider is coupled to the lower rail to move along the lower rail. A gear device is mounted on the lower slider to move with the lower slider. A linkage has one end connected to the gear device to transmit a torque and another end rotatably engaged with a lower portion of the vehicle door. |
| US09587704B2 |
System and method for managing noise and vibration in a vehicle using electro-dynamic regenerative force and vehicle having same
A system for managing noise and vibration in a vehicle includes a housing defining an internal cavity. A compliant member is attached to the housing and further defines the internal cavity. A magnet is operatively fixed to the housing in the cavity and has a magnetic field. A coil is positioned in the cavity and is configured so that there is relative movement between the coil and the magnet in the magnetic field in response to movement of the compliant member relative to the housing. A resistor is in electrical communication with the coil to form an electrical circuit. Relative movement of the coil in the magnetic field induces a current in the circuit that creates an opposing magnetic field, thereby reducing transmitted dynamic forces. |
| US09587702B2 |
Vibration isolator using externally pressurized sealing bellows and an external shaft
An apparatus is provided for vibration damping and isolation. The apparatus includes a housing having an inner surface defining a passage therethrough, a first bellows disposed within the housing passage, the first bellows having an outer surface and spaced apart from the housing inner surface to define a first chamber having a volume, and a second bellows disposed within the housing passage, the second bellows having an outer surface and spaced apart from the housing inner surface to define a second chamber having a volume. The apparatus further includes a restrictive flow passage in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, fluid disposed within the first chamber, the second chamber, and the restrictive flow passage, and a shaft positioned externally to the housing and coupled with the first bellows and the second bellows. The shaft is configured to selectively receive a force to thereby move the fluid through the restrictive flow passage to increase the first chamber volume and decrease the second chamber volume or to decrease the first chamber volume and increase the second chamber volume. |
| US09587701B2 |
Negative stiffness apparatus
A negative stiffness apparatus includes a fluid filled bellows interposed between a first surface and a second surface wherein the bellows and the first and second surfaces have an orientation of substantial equilibrium between the first and second surfaces. The bellows and the first and second surfaces include other orientations wherein the first and second surfaces are displaced from the orientation of substantial equilibrium and the bellows exerts a displacement force to urge the first and second surfaces further away from the orientation of substantial equilibrium. |
| US09587700B2 |
Roll-off piston for an air spring rolling-lobe flexible member
A roll-off piston is made of plastic for an air spring rolling-lobe flexible member. The roll-off piston and the air spring rolling-lobe flexible member are arranged between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass. The roll-off piston includes a first piston part; a second piston part connected to the first piston part; and, the first and second piston parts being made of a layered composite material of alternating layers of plastic and elastomeric material. |
| US09587699B1 |
Self-tuning tunable mass dampers
A tunable mass damper incorporates a frame and a voice coil supported in the frame. A magnet concentric with the voice coil is movable relative to the housing via the voice coil. A plurality of flexures having a first end extending from the magnet and an arm releasably coupled to the frame are adjustable to an effective length for a desired frequency of reciprocation of the magnet. |
| US09587696B2 |
Dry friction material and method for manufacturing the same
In a dry friction material and a method for manufacturing the same, to maintain a content of glass fibers low on a whole dry friction material to apply a hole boring for caulking assembly with high strength and high stiffness at a part to be subjected to the hole boring.A part (glass-rich part 30) to be subjected to the hole boring is pressed at a higher pressure than a part not to be subjected to the hole boring in a press-shaping step by providing a rib 21 protruding toward a shaped body side on a part of press dies 20A, 20B corresponding to the part to be subjected to the hole boring. Thereby, only a compounded rubber 4 is pushed outward and only the glass-rich part 30 has an increase in a content of glass fibers 3. Thereby, strength that can withstand the hole boring is obtained. Accordingly, a dry friction material 1 with a bored hole 2 bored without generating a failure in the hole boring can be manufactured. |
| US09587692B2 |
Differential for a parking brake assembly
The present teachings relate to a brake assembly, and more particularly to a differential for a brake assembly that is unlocked or open in one configuration and locked or closed in another configuration. The brake assembly comprises a differential and one or more output shafts. During rotation of at least one of the one or more output shafts a brake apply is created or released. During creation of the brake apply, the differential distributes a rotational force to each of the one or more output shafts until at least one of the one or more output shafts experiences higher resistance and then the differential re-distributes the rotational force to at least one of the one or more output shafts with lower resistance. During release of the brake apply, the differential distributes an opposing rotational force equally to each of the one or more output shafts. |
| US09587691B2 |
Friction disks with floating wear linings
Friction disks, such as rotors and stators, including floating wear liners are disclosed. The friction disks may include a core and a floating wear liner configured to contact a contact surface of the core. The cores may include a retention ring that is substantially concentric with the core and extends axially beyond the plane of the contact surface. The retention ring may radially constrain the floating wear liner in a position aligned with the contact surface to provide frictional contact with the core during braking. |
| US09587687B2 |
Viscous rotational speed control device
A rotational speed control device maintains a shaft rotation speed. The device includes a housing containing a viscous fluid and a shaft disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the housing. A rotor is coupled with the shaft for rotation in the viscous fluid. In one arrangement, the rotor is axially displaceable along the shaft between a low-shear position and a high-shear position. A spring mechanism is disposed in the housing and biases the rotor toward the low-shear position. In another arrangement, the rotor may be designed to cooperate with the housing or other nonrotating features within the housing to vary a shear gap according to radially expanding components of the rotor. The rotor, housing and spring mechanism can be designed to cooperate to create large changes in braking torque in response to small changes in shaft rotational speed. This allows the rotation speed to be controlled within a relatively narrow range. |
| US09587683B2 |
Viscous clutch drive with electromagnetic activation and wiper on clutch disk
Viscous fan drive systems with wiper members positioned on the OD of the clutch disks, and which rotate at high speed. The fluid reservoir also rotates at input speed. The wiper member directs viscous fluid radially back to the fluid reservoir. The valves in the viscous fan drive systems can be activated by an electromagnetic mechanism. |
| US09587679B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing rolling-element bearing
A rolling-element bearing in which a rolling element is retained in each of retaining openings formed in a retainer and method for manufacturing the bearing are provided. Each retaining opening is defined by a pair of inner side faces facing each other, and a pair of inner end faces facing each other. In the manufacturing method, with a support die being brought into contact with one of the inner side faces and the inner end faces of one of the retaining openings, the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the retainer are pressed by an outer punch and an inner punch. Accordingly, on at least one of the inner side faces and the inner end faces, a first retaining piece and a second retaining piece for preventing the rolling element from falling off are formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the retainer, respectively. |
| US09587678B2 |
Non-contacting fiber laminate bearing seal
A rolling bearing assembly including an elastomeric seal arranged at least partially within a circumferentially extending groove of a bearing ring is provided. The elastomeric seal is arranged between the radially inner ring and the radially outer ring. The elastomeric seal includes a radially outer end engaged within a first circumferentially extending groove of the radially outer ring, and a radially inner end extending radially inwardly towards the radially inner ring and arranged at least partially within the second circumferentially extending groove of the radially inner ring. Clearance is provided between the radially inner end of the elastomeric seal and the second circumferentially extending groove of the radially inner ring. |
| US09587677B2 |
Rolling bearing, and rotary device with rolling bearing
The present invention relates to a rolling bearing comprising a first and a second bearing body which are arranged to be rotatable relative to one another about an axis, wherein the bearing bodies comprise first and second bearing rings having running surfaces which face one another and are designed and adapted to receive a plurality of rolling bodies, wherein the rolling bodies are arranged between the running surfaces of the bearing rings, which rolling bearing is characterized in that the bearing rings are designed in multipart form by means of bearing ring segments which are detachable from one another. The invention relates further to a rotary device comprising a fixed axis and a carousel which is arranged to be rotatable about the fixed axis and is to receive items for processing in the fish and meat processing industry, which rotary device is characterized in that the carousel is rotatably arranged on the fixed axis by means of at least one rolling bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 13. |
| US09587676B2 |
Self-aligning roller bearing
A self-aligning roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, spherical rollers, a cage having a plurality of pockets that contain the spherical rollers, and a guide ring. Each spherical roller may be rotated on an imaginary line passing through a contact point at which the spherical roller contacts an outer raceway surface and a contact point at which the spherical roller contacts an inner raceway surface. Each pocket has a clearance between the pocket and a corresponding spherical roller, and the size of the pocket is set so that the rotation of the corresponding spherical roller is limited. The guide ring has such a side-surface shape that a small clearance is ensured between the spherical roller and the guide ring even when the spherical roller is rotated, in the pocket, on the imaginary line by a maximum amount at which the rotation of the spherical roller is limited. |
| US09587675B2 |
Bearing shell with alignment projecting feature
A bearing shell for a sliding bearing may include a body having a convex outer surface and an alignment feature projecting from the outer surface. The alignment feature may be arranged at an end face of the body. The alignment feature may include a first tapered portion having an axial width that reduces in a direction away from the end face. The first tapered portion may include at least two axial sides extending circumferentially and angled away from parallel with respect to a corresponding axial end face of the body by an angle of 2° to 10°. |
| US09587672B1 |
Adjustable offset pivot journal pad
Improved bearing systems and methods for adjusting pivot offsets of bearing systems. The improved bearing systems and methods provide offset pivot adjustability. When an adjustable offset pad insert is installed one way, one pivot offset is set. The pivot offset may be adjusted and set another way by removing the adjustable offset pad insert, rotating it 180 degrees and installing the adjustable offset pad insert back in the journal pad. |
| US09587670B2 |
Fitting for an aircraft bracing device
A fitting for an aircraft bracing device including anchor points, wherein the fitting includes a face able to press against the aircraft and at least one guide hole for a connecting element able to collaborate with an anchor point, a slider able to move in a translational movement parallel to a first direction parallel to the face of the fitting and a connection between the slider and the connecting element which allows a movement in a second direction different from the first direction and parallel to the face of the fitting so as to align the connecting element with an anchor point. |
| US09587666B2 |
Protectant-injectable nut
A grease nipple is installed in a modified dome nut to allow corrosion-retardant fluid to be squeezed into the spaces within the dome nut around the lug and exposed thread surfaces using a grease gun. |
| US09587665B2 |
Screw fastener
Provided is a screw fastener provided with the function of a torque limiter which allows a high limit value to be set for the fastening torque without increasing the size thereof or the spring force of the spring member, and is easy to assemble and service. A multiple plate torque limiter is formed by a plurality of drive disk members (50) and a plurality of driven disk members (52) between a first member (10) and a second member (30), and the first member (10) and the second member (30) are detachably joined to each other by a retaining screw (22). |
| US09587658B2 |
Hydraulic cylinder system
A hydraulic cylinder system 1 is provided with a plurality of cylinders 3a and 3b, valves 4a and 4b provided at each of the cylinders 3a and 3b for adjusting amounts of operating fluid into and out of the cylinders 3a and 3b, driving systems 5a and 5b having motors 6a and 6b provided at each of the valves 4a and 4b for driving the valves 4a and 4b, and a connecting member 8 for connecting the motors 6a and 6b of the driving systems 5a and 5b in a manner capable of interlocking with each other. |
| US09587657B2 |
Sensor arrangement for a rotatable element
A sensor arrangement for a rotatable element comprises two coils capable of being driven by oscillatory drive signals to generate electromagnetic fields. The coils are in different positions overlying a cylindrical portion of the rotatable element that has a target feature configured to interact with the generated electromagnetic fields when the target feature is aligned with the coils. Alignment between the target feature and the coils occurs at angular positions of the rotatable element that are offset for respective coils. Thus, by detecting a characteristic of the signals developed across the coils allowing derivation of an angular velocity signal representative of angular velocity. Also, the degree of interaction between the target feature and the electromagnetic fields varies with the axial position of the rotatable element, differentially between the coils, allowing derivation of an axial position signal representative of the axial position of the rotatable element. |
| US09587652B2 |
Hydrostatic drive, in particular hydrostatic fan drive
A hydrostatic fan drive is operated with a closed circuit and includes a variable-displacement pump with a swept volume that is configured to be adjusted by an adjustment device. The variable-displacement pump is connected by two working lines to a motor that is coupled fixedly in terms of torque to a fan impeller. The fan drive further includes a feed pressure pump and an adjustment pressure line by which the adjustment device is supplied with adjustment pressure medium. A pressure cut-off valve is connected to the adjustment pressure line. The pressure cut-off valve is configured to limit an adjustment pressure, as a function of a high pressure in the working line acting as high-pressure line, to a value such that a certain value of high pressure is not exceeded. The pressure cut-off valve is configured to exhibit pilot control to regulate a working pressure of the variable-displacement pump. |
| US09587646B2 |
Centrifugal compressor diffuser vanelet
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser including a flow path having a first surface and a second surface defining opposite axial sides of the flow path. The centrifugal compressor diffuser also includes multiple vanes extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flow path. A first profile of each vane varies along an axial direction. The centrifugal compressor diffuser further includes multiple vanelets extending from the first surface toward the second surface in the axial direction. A first axial extent of each vanelet is less than a second axial extent of the flow path. In addition, a second profile of each vanelet varies along the axial direction and/or the vanelets form a non-periodic pattern around a circumference of the flow path. |
| US09587637B2 |
Pump, pump system and method for pumping a medium
The invention relates to a pump, a pump system and a method for pumping a medium. The pump for pumping medium comprises an inlet, an outlet, a drivable spindle and at least two follower spindles, wherein the drivable spindle and the at least two follower spindles are provided at a mutual angle to each other. |
| US09587631B2 |
Vertial axis wind/solar turbine
A combined vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and vertical axis solar turbine (VAST) is disclosed. The apparatus has a plurality of counter rotating solar/wind collection panels which are mounted on respective counter rotating collars. The orientation of the panels is controlled by servo motors. Torque from the counter rotating collars is combined by a set of gears with the combined torque driving rotation of a power collecting column. Torque from the power collecting column is transmitted to a power transfer column through gears in a gearbox and then to a flywheel which has an armature as part of a motor generator whereby mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy with the motor generator. Solar energy from the PV panels is routed to a power conditioning unit which is also connected to the motor generator. |
| US09587627B2 |
Control system and method for mitigating rotor imbalance on a wind turbine
A wind turbine includes multiple blades, multiple Micro Inertial Measurement Units (MIMUs) for sensing parameter signals of the blades, and a control system. The control system includes a blade bending moment calculation unit, a blade bending moment error signal calculation unit, and a pitch angle compensation command calculation unit. The blade bending moment calculation unit is used for calculating blade bending moment values of the blades based at least on the sensed parameters. The blade bending moment error signal calculation unit is used for calculating blade bending moment error signals of the blades based on the calculated blade bending moment values of the blades and multiple blade bending moment commands. The pitch angle compensation command calculation unit is used for calculating pitch angle compensation commands of the blades based on the calculated blade bending moment error signals to adjust pitch angles of the blades respectively. |
| US09587625B2 |
Remote sensing system for wind turbines
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to using remote sensing equipment such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device to detect wind characteristics for use by wind turbines of a wind park. A wind park controller may received raw wind data from the remote sensing device and determine one or more turbines that can use the raw wind data. The raw wind data may be converted to customized data for each of the one or more wind turbines. Upon being provided the customized wind data, the one or more wind turbines may adjust one or more operational characteristics to improve power production or avoid damage to turbine components. |
| US09587622B2 |
Lifting tool for servicing of wind turbine gearbox components and method of servicing using such a tool
A lifting tool (2) for use in lifting components (1,5) from a wind turbine gearbox during service or repair comprises a frame-like structure comprising interconnected beams (4,6,8,8,10,12,20,22,24,26,28) for securing to the gearbox housing once an upper housing part has been removed to provide an opening to the gearbox interior, the tool being secured to the gearbox at a periphery of the opening, and further comprising one or more pulleys (36) mounted on the frame-like structure, a lifting chain, cable, wire or rope extending over the pulley or pulleys attachable to a component (1) within the gearbox, the frame-like structure comprising a number of inter-connectable modules. |
| US09587621B2 |
Water wheel impeller blade type electric power generating apparatus
A water wheel impeller blade type electric power generating apparatus including a floating body, which buoys an attached electric power generating apparatus body while floating under water and allowing inflow and outflow of a water stream, an anchorage unit anchoring the electric power generating apparatus body at a fixed position in the water stream, a rotor pivotally supported within the electric power generating apparatus body enabling rotation, the rotor orthogonally disposed to the water stream, an impeller blade group including a plurality of impeller blades attached on an outer periphery of the rotor for automatically opening at a lower side of the rotor and closing at an upper side of the rotor, the impeller blade group receiving force by the water stream flowing in the electric power generating apparatus body with open impeller blades to rotate the rotor, an inclined plate for guiding the water stream, having one end attached at an upper end of the electric power generating apparatus body at a water inflow side with a projecting tip approaching a vicinity of an impeller blade attached to the rotor, and a power generator generating electric power by transmission of rotating force generated by rotation of the rotor, and an inclined plate set between 20° and 45° having a projecting tip set within a range of ±30% of a diameter of the rotor above or below a position corresponding to a shaft center of the rotor. |
| US09587620B2 |
Method and system for wave energy conversion
An apparatus and method for converting wave energy using the relative rotational movement between two interconnected float assemblies and the relative rotational movement between each of the float assemblies and a spar which extends from a buoyant nacelle having a central longitudinal axis wherein the floats are nestable behind the buoyant nacelle. |
| US09587617B2 |
Method of spark timing adjustment for an internal combustion engine
Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the spark timing of an internal combustion engine. According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the system includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for recirculating exhaust gas flow from at least one primary EGR cylinder of an engine into an intake system prior to combustion. According to at least one other aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes estimating a dynamic EGR fraction of exhaust gas directed into the intake system via the EGR system, estimating a steady-state EGR fraction of exhaust gas directed into the intake system at the changed mass air flow rate, computing a difference between the dynamic fraction and steady-state fraction to determine a change in EGR fraction, and applying a gain factor to the change in EGR fraction to determine a desired spark timing adjustment. |
| US09587615B2 |
Engine starter attachment for battery operated drill/driver gun
A device designed to be a fixture for a commercially available battery operated drill/driver gun to start an internal combustion engine such as a model airplane engine by pressing the device onto the nose cone of the engine. The portion of the device which comes into contact with the nose cone of the engine is a cylinder connected to a shaft with a one way clutch. A rubber or silicone adapter is inserted into the cylinder attached to the shaft; the adaptor cone of the engine fits into the rubber or silicone adapter on the device. |
| US09587610B2 |
Method for monitoring the condition of a piezo injector of a fuel injection system
A method for monitoring the condition of a piezoinjector of a fuel injection system is disclosed. The fuel injection is carried out in injection cycles, each of which comprises a filling phase, a holding phase, and an emptying phase. The discharge resistance is ascertained during the holding phase of the piezoinjector. Conclusions about the working order of the piezoinjector are drawn using the ascertained discharge resistance. |
| US09587609B2 |
Thermally volume-neutral stroke transmitter, in particular for metering valve without hydraulic compensator
In addition to liquid in a thermal volume-neutral stroke transmitter, first and/or second displacement body(ies) is/are positioned in the stroke transmitter, for displacing the liquid. These three materials in the closed system are designed so that the stroke transmitter remains pressure-free during temperature changes. |
| US09587608B2 |
Valve for a flowing fluid
A metering valve or an injector includes: a valve-seat member which closes a valve chamber and has a central valve opening, and a spray orifice disk downstream from the valve-seat member in the flow direction of the fluid, which has at least one spray orifice. The spray orifice disk has a swirl chamber concentric with the spray orifice and at least one swirl duct leading from the swirl chamber to beneath the valve opening, and the swirl chamber and swirl duct are integrally formed as recesses into the disk surface of the spray orifice disk facing the valve body. The swirl duct has a duct cross section and the spray orifice has an orifice cross section such that the ratio of the duct cross section to the orifice cross section is equal to or greater than 1.5. |
| US09587605B2 |
Holding fixture for an injection device for injecting a medium into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine
A holding fixture for an injection device for the injection of a medium into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided, the injection device including an injector provided with at least one spray-discharge orifice, from which the medium is spray-discharged; the holding fixture has a first region disposed near the spray-discharge orifice of the injector, and a second region which faces away from the spray-discharge orifice of the injector, the holding fixture having at least one tubular heat conduction device, which extends at least between the first region and the second region. |
| US09587602B2 |
Fuel high-pressure pipe
In order to constitute a fuel high-pressure pipe that is compact and easy to connect to injectors, one of both the end sections of a fuel high-pressure pipe is formed as a first connecting section connected to a fuel supply port of one injector, and the other one of the end sections of the fuel high-pressure pipe is formed as a second connecting section connected to a fuel discharge port of another injector. The first connecting section and the second connecting section are linearly formed parallel to each other, and head sections of the first connecting section and the second connecting section, said head sections being on the connecting side to respective injectors, are formed in the directions opposite to each other. |
| US09587600B2 |
Air intake device for motorcycle
In an air intake device for motorcycle, an air cleaner having a front end formed with a main intake port is disposed between a pair of left and right main frame pieces forming a main frame. An introducing passage is formed within the main frame for capturing an incoming wind. An intake air introducing port of the introducing passage is provided at a location rearwardly of the main intake port in the main frame piece. An intake air discharge port is defined in an intermediate portion of a front portion of the main frame with respect to a motorcycle widthwise direction so as to open rearwardly and to be fluid connected with the main intake port. A sub intake port is provided in communication with the main intake port so as to introduce an intake air into the main intake port. |
| US09587599B2 |
Outboard motor
An outboard motor includes: an engine cover having an upper cover and a lower cover which form an engine room and which can be separated from each other vertically; a ventilation fan for ventilating the engine room; and a fan cover which covers the ventilation fan, the engine cover is configured so that the upper cover is able to be attached to and detached from the lower cover and the lower cover is fixed to an outboard motor main body including an engine, the lower cover has an external air inlet through which to take air into the engine room and a discharge outlet through which to discharge air from the engine room, the fan cover has an air outlet through which to cause air that is sent from the ventilation fan to flow out, and the discharge outlet is connected to the air outlet. |
| US09587596B2 |
Asymmetric exhaust gas recirculation system
Systems and methods for a twin turbocharged engine with a single exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system are disclosed. In one example approach a system is provided comprising a first turbocharger in a first intake passage with a low-pressure EGR system fluidically coupling exhaust exiting the first turbocharger to intake air entering the first turbocharger, and a second turbocharger in a second intake passage without a low-pressure EGR system fluidically coupling exhaust exiting the second turbocharger to intake air entering the second turbocharger. |
| US09587590B2 |
Coordinating variable valve actuation and turbocharger operation in an internal combustion engine
An engine control system coordinates control of a pressure regulating mechanism associated with a turbocharger turbine and control of a variable valve actuating (VVA) mechanism for expanding the range of possible exhaust gas recirculation rates over a large portion of an engine operating map to provide EGR rates which are greater than typical present-day levels while mitigating engine pumping losses by causing the turbocharger to operate with better efficiency in some regions of the map where it otherwise would not. Turbocharger efficiency is improved by controlling the VVA mechanism to set the timing of operation of its respective cylinder valves in accordance with a predetermined correlation of operating efficiencies of a compressor to timing of operation of respective engine cylinder valves, causing the compressor to operate at points of better efficiency than it otherwise would without use of VVA. |
| US09587584B2 |
Thrust-reversal device for an aircraft including at least two thrust reversers
A thrust reverser device for an aircraft includes at least two thrust reversers, and each of them includes a movable cowl movably actuated by an actuator driven by an electric motor. The electric motor is powered by a single power-conversion module including at least one autotransformer which is supplied with an alternating electric voltage and connected to at least one rectifier stage converting the alternating electric voltage into a direct voltage. The rectifier stage is connected to a current balancing stage and a current smoothing stage, supplying with the direct voltage the electric motor of the electric actuator of the movable cowl. |
| US09587581B2 |
Wideband diesel fuel rail control using active pressure control valve
A method and system for actively controlling the fuel pressure in the fuel rails of a fuel injection system is disclosed for providing wideband fuel rail control. An active pressure control circuit controls the pressure control valve over the entire range of engine operating conditions and in the frequency domain. Implementation of a closed-loop feedback control is effective for attenuating fuel pressure fluctuations in the fuel rail assembly. |
| US09587580B2 |
Controlling the fuel pressure in an injection system
A method for controlling a pressure (32, 34) in an injection system (14) for an engine (12) of a vehicle (10) comprises the following steps: determining whether the vehicle (10) is decelerating; reducing the delivery rate of a high-pressure pump (16) that supplies fuel to the injection system (14); reducing the pressure in the injection system (14) to a standstill pressure (ps) by means of idle operation of the engine (12); estimating a standstill time (t1) at which the vehicle (10) comes to a standstill; and reducing the delivery rate of the high-pressure pump (16) before the standstill time (t1) is reached, such that the standstill pressure (ps) is attained in the injection system (14) at the standstill time (t1). |
| US09587578B2 |
Adaptive learning of duty cycle for a high pressure fuel pump
Methods and systems are provided for closed loop operation of a high pressure fuel pump connected to the direct injectors of an internal combustion engine. During operation of the high pressure pump a dead zone may exist where a substantial change in the pump duty cycle does not correspond to a substantial change in the fuel rail pressure. To operate outside the dead zone, a relationship between the pump duty cycle and fuel rail pressure is learned upon completion of several pump and engine conditions, thereby improving high pressure pump operation and reducing pump degradation. |
| US09587576B2 |
Methods and system for improving vehicle operation
A method and system improving vehicle operation is presented. In one example, the vehicle data is transmitted between a vehicle and a cloud computer. The cloud computer adjusts engine control parameters and the vehicle is operated based on the adjusted engine control parameters. |
| US09587572B2 |
Systems and methods to reduce torsional conditions in an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes a number of cylinders and a controller operably connected to interpret operating parameters related to the operation of the number of cylinders. A cylinder torque adjustment for each cylinder is determined from the operating parameters to provide a torque balancing response that reduces noise, vibration and/or harshness in engine operation. |
| US09587570B2 |
System and method for control of a transition between SI and HCCI combustion modes
In one embodiment an engine system includes a cylinder, an inlet valve configured to control the flow of gases into the cylinder, an outlet valve configured to control the flow of gases out of the cylinder, a throttle configured to control the flow of fuel into the cylinder, a memory including program instructions stored therein, and a processor operably connected to the inlet valve, the outlet valve, the throttle, and the memory, and configured to execute the program instructions to control the inlet valve and the outlet valve in accordance with an HCCI valve lift profile and an SI valve open/close profile, and activate a first spark in the cylinder while controlling the inlet valve and the outlet valve in accordance with the HCCI valve lift profile and the SI valve open/close profile. |
| US09587569B2 |
Control device for spark-ignition engine
If an engine body is under a load greater than a predetermined load, a controller selects a first fuel feeding mode in which more fuel is fed during a compression stroke than during an intake stroke if the engine body has a temperature equal to or below a predetermined temperature, and selects a second fuel feeding mode in which more fuel is fed during the intake stroke than during the compression stroke if the temperature of the engine body is higher than the predetermined temperature. Immediately after a switch from the first fuel feeding mode to the second fuel feeding mode as the temperature of the engine body rises, the controller sets a correction factor for making an augmenting correction to a fuel amount to be greater than that before the switch. |
| US09587565B2 |
Valve stop for engine with exhaust gas recirculation
A butterfly valve includes a body with a bore through which exhaust gas may flow and a valve member rotatably mounted within the bore for restricting flow through the bore. A stop extends into the bore to limit movement of the valve member and prevent the valve member from rotating to a closed position. The stop defines a restricted flow position at which the valve member is positioned between an open position and the closed position. An internal combustion engine utilizing the butterfly valve is also provided. |
| US09587563B2 |
Sound attenuation apparatus and method
An aircraft auxiliary power unit sound attenuation apparatus includes a perforated body having a center aperture through which exhaust fluid passes, a backing member outwardly offset from the perforated body, a plurality of connecting members coupling the perforated body to the backing member to form a locally reacting sound attenuation member having a plurality of channels spanning outwardly from the perforated body to the backing member, and a bulk absorber disposed in each of the plurality of channels where the bulk absorber is in fluid communication with the exhaust fluid, where the locally reacting sound attenuation member is in fluid communication with an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft so that the plurality of channels are oriented in a direction crossing a pressure drop direction of an exhaust fluid flow passing through the center aperture and each channel circumscribes the center aperture. |
| US09587560B2 |
Jet engine with at least one oil separator
A jet engine includes at least one oil separator, through which an air-oil volume flow can be guided out of several areas supplied with oil for separating the oil, where a device for spraying oil into the air-oil volume flow is provided. Oil can be sprayed in using the device in the area of each connection between an area supplied with oil and the oil separator and/or downstream of a combining area between at least two air-oil volume flows from two or more areas supplied with oil. |
| US09587558B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine comprising an engine block comprised of a main cavity, an intake plenum, and an exhaust plenum; a crankshaft supported within the main cavity of the engine block; a rotating piston assembly contained within the main cavity of the engine block and comprised of a rotatable cylinder housing having a housing axis of rotation and comprised of a plurality of pistons contained in combustion cylinders; and a rotating valve ring contained within the engine block and surrounding the rotating piston assembly, and comprised of intake ports, ignition energy ports, and exhaust ports corresponding to each of the plurality of combustion cylinders. The rotatable cylinder housing has an axis of rotation that is parallel to and offset from the crankshaft axis of rotation. |
| US09587555B2 |
Transmission system and exhaust gas turbocharger
A transmission system for an adjusting device, of a waste gate of an exhaust gas turbocharger, including a four bar coupling mechanism, a driver arm operatively connected to a drive via a transmission, an output arm and a coupler, operatively connecting the driver and output arms, the transmission having a driving gear, assigned to the drive, and a driven gear, assigned to the driver arm and interacting with the driving gear having a rolling curve radius, which changes over the circumference, the driven gear having a rolling curve radius running complementary to the former. The rolling curve radii is selected in an angle of rotation range about the extended position of the coupling to form at least in regions a first transmission ratio and outside the angle of rotation range to form at least a second transmission ratio larger than the first ratio. Also described is an exhaust gas turbocharger. |
| US09587553B2 |
Volume-controlled four-stroke reciprocating internal combustion engine and method for operating the four-stroke reciprocating internal combustion engine
The invention relates to a volume-controlled four-stroke reciprocating internal combustion engine comprising a first cylinder, in which a first piston that is operationally connected to a crankshaft via a first connecting rod, is arranged so as to be displaceable in a reciprocating motion, and at least one second cylinder, in which a second piston that is operationally connected to the crankshaft via a second connecting rod is arranged so as to be displaceable in a reciprocating motion. The engine further includes a fresh air tract for the second cylinder, in which an expansion/compression machine is arranged in the direction of flow of fresh air before a gas exchange inlet valve of the second cylinder, wherein the expansion/compression machine is the first cylinder. The volume-controlled internal combustion engine as per the invention has great potential for saving fuel and thereby for reducing CO2. |
| US09587551B2 |
Coolant passage structure for internal combustion engine
A coolant passage structure for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant communication member. The coolant communication member includes a centrifugal water pump, a housing portion, a scroll portion, a second coolant passage portion, a first coolant passage portion, a direction of a center line of the second coolant passage portion, and a rib. The first coolant passage portion includes a downstream region connected to an upstream region of the second coolant passage portion. A direction of a center line of the first coolant passage portion is parallel to a direction of a rotation shaft of the centrifugal water pump. The direction of the center line of the second coolant passage portion is orthogonal to the direction of the center line of the first coolant passage portion. The rib is disposed on an internal circumferential surface of the first coolant passage portion. |
| US09587548B2 |
Oxygen sensor cooling duct
Methods, systems, and vehicles that control the temperature of a device included in the vehicle are presented herein. The temperature of the device is controlled by ventilating the device with drivetrain air, such as transmission cooling air. In some embodiments, the device is at a greater temperature than the drivetrain air, which cools the device. In other embodiments, the device is at a lesser temperature than the drivetrain air, which heats the device. The drivetrain air is provided to the device through an exhaust duct coupled to the vehicle's transmission. The drivetrain exhaust air is preferably circulated by the transmission. The transmission may be a continuously variable transmission. The device may be an oxygen sensor that is coupled to an engine exhaust pipe. The oxygen sensor is thermally coupled to the engine exhaust and the engine exhaust pipe, which are at greater temperatures than the transmission exhaust air. |
| US09587546B2 |
Methods and systems for hybrid vehicle waste heat recovery
Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery system are described. The system may selectively or contemporaneously supply energy from engine exhaust gas to generate electricity or warm the engine. In one example, exhaust gas energy raises a temperature of a heat transfer medium and the heat transfer medium is routed to an engine coolant heat exchanger or an expander via a bypass valve. |
| US09587543B2 |
Apparatus for the aftertreatment of the exhaust gases of diesel engines
An exhaust gas aftertreatment device, including a bent exhaust pipe, a mixing pipe having a closed end at the exhaust pipe bend and a bell-shaped widened portion in at least partial contact with the exhaust pipe at its opposite end, and a nozzle connected to a receptacle in the mixing pipe closed end for injecting an additive into the exhaust gases, with a mixing one in the exhaust pipe between the urea nozzle and the exhaust pipe outlet in which the exhaust gases flow around the mixing pipe symmetrically and form a double eddy in the mixing pipe. |
| US09587541B2 |
Multifunctional exhaust gas purifying filter, and exhaust gas purifying apparatus using the same
The present invention relates to a configuration method of a multifunctional particulate filter (MFPF), capable of reducing the content of particulate material (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC), and increasing the content of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The MFPF may coat zeolite and an oxidation catalyst on both exhaust gas intake/discharge sides simultaneously, so as to minimize the slippage of HC and generate high-concentration NO2. |
| US09587537B2 |
Triple baffled muffler
A triple-baffled muffler enables an engine sound that changes from very quiet when idling to louder as the throttle is pressed. The muffler provides three baffles which are hinged over the center of the muffler. The exhaust pressure travels through the muffler and pushes the baffles until they open to release the pressure. The angle of incidence of the baffles on their hinges governs the loudness of the sound. |
| US09587535B2 |
Drone elimination muffler
An apparatus and method are provided for a drone elimination muffler to attenuate drone exhibited by engine exhaust systems. The drone elimination muffler comprises a hollow canister having a length and a diameter, and a tuned port comprising a first end connected to the canister and a second end connected to the exhaust system. The canister operates in concert with the tuned port as a dampener configured to substantially attenuate exhaust drone, or resonance, at one or more frequencies of engine operation. A valve is configured to switch the drone elimination muffler between a closed state in which the exhaust system operates without acoustic influence due to the drone elimination muffler, and an open state in which the drone elimination muffler directly influences the acoustic properties of the exhaust system. |
| US09587531B2 |
Variable valve lift apparatus
A variable valve lift apparatus may include: an outer body selectively making a lever motion according to rotation of a cam, a first inner body disposed in the any one inside space of the outer body and adapted, a second inner body disposed in the other one inside space of the outer body, a connecting shaft disposed to penetrate the one end of the outer body, the one end of the first inner body, and the one end of the second inner body and connect the outer body with the first and second inner bodies, a first lost motion spring to return the first inner body relatively rotated with the outer body around the connecting shaft, and a second lost motion spring to return the second inner body relatively rotated with the outer body around the connecting shaft. |
| US09587530B2 |
Switchable finger follower with normally unlocked coupling element
A switchable finger follower having two lift modes for a valve train of an internal combustion engine. The follower includes a primary lever with a valve stem support at the first end and a support recess at the second end. A secondary lever is pivotably mounted to the primary lever at the first end, including a coupling surface. A coupling device is located on the primary lever having a coupling pin moveable between a first locking position, in which the secondary lever is locked to the inner lever, and an unlocked position, in which the secondary lever is pivotable relative to the primary lever. The coupling pin includes a ramp surface that engages the coupling surface, and a locking arrangement locks the coupling pin in the first locking position. |
| US09587527B2 |
Camshaft phaser
A camshaft phaser includes an input member; an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber with the input member; a valve spool moveable between an advance position and a retard position. The valve spool has a phasing volume and a venting volume defined therein such that the phasing volume is fluidly segregated from the venting volume. The valve spool also has a passage providing fluid communication between the phasing volume and the exterior of the valve spool. Oil is supplied to the advance chamber from the phasing volume through the passage in order to retard the timing of a camshaft and oil is supplied to the retard chamber from the phasing volume through the passage in order to advance the timing of the camshaft. |
| US09587526B2 |
Camshaft phaser
A camshaft phaser includes an input member; an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber with the input member; a valve spool moveable between an advance position and a retard position and having a valve spool bore with a phasing volume and a venting volume defined therein such that the phasing volume is fluidly segregated from the venting volume; and a phasing check valve within the valve spool. The advance position allows oil to flow through the phasing check valve and through the phasing volume from the advance chamber to the retard chamber while preventing oil from flowing from the retard chamber to the advance chamber and the retard position allows oil to flow through the check valve and through the phasing volume from the retard chamber to the advance chamber while preventing oil from flowing from the advance chamber to the retard chamber. |
| US09587525B2 |
Method and system for variable cam timing device
Methods and systems are described for an engine with a cam torque actuated variable cam timing phaser. Phaser positioning control is improved by reducing inaccuracies resulting from inadvertent spool valve and/or phaser movement when the spool valve is commanded between regions. In addition, improved spool valve mapping is used to render phaser commands more consistent and robust. |
| US09587523B2 |
Oil control valve
An oil control valve has a housing and a spool valve that is arranged in the housing and is movable in the axial direction. The movement range of the spool valve includes a first area and a second area. In the first area, a port that is connected to a lock mechanism opens to prevent the movement of a variable valve timing mechanism through drainage of oil from the lock mechanism. In the second area, oil is supplied and drained to and from the variable valve timing mechanism through a passage inside the spool valve. The first area exists at a position separated from the second area in the movement range. |
| US09587518B2 |
Ball and socket fan mount
A fan mounting assembly has a mount, a ball member, and a support. The support is disposed within a vertical opening of the ball member and is coupled to the ball member. The mounting assembly may further comprise a wedge driven between an interior surface of the ball member and an exterior surface of the support in order to prevent movement of the support within the ball member. The mount has a mounting portion and a socket portion. The socket portion has a tapered interior surface. The tapered surface may have a constant angle. The ball member and support are disposed within the socket portion such that an outer surface of the ball member rests upon the tapered surface of the socket portion. The tapered surface may have features configured to prevent rotation of the ball member within the socket portion. |
| US09587515B2 |
Bearing device for turbocharger
It is intended, with respect to a first floating bush bearing disposed on a compressor housing side and a second floating bush bearing disposed on a turbine housing side, to improve oscillation stability when a turbine rotor revolves at a high speed, reduce the number of parts, and facilitate processing and assemblability. Provided are a bearing housing (13) for a turbocharger (1), a rotor shaft (16) passing through the bearing housing (13), a first floating bush bearing (17) interposed between the bearing housing (13) and the rotor shaft (16) and disposed on a compressor housing (12) side and comprising a first floating bush, and a second floating bush bearing (18) that has the same shape as the first floating bush bearing (17) and is disposed on a turbine housing (11) side and comprises a second floating bush (20). The inner bearing width (Li) of the first and second floating bushes is formed to be smaller than the outer bearing width (Lo) by the same proportion in both bushes. |
| US09587509B2 |
Assembly for a fluid flow machine
A structural assembly for a fluid-flow machine includes a main flow path boundary, a row of relatively rotating blades with a gap existing between the blade ends and the main flow path boundary. A secondary flow duct is connected to the main flow path via the two openings spaced apart in the flow direction. A structural assembly has at least one support component and at least one replaceable plug connected directly or indirectly to the support component. The replaceable plug includes a part-section of a secondary flow duct, where the part-section complements at least one further part-section of the secondary flow duct extending outside the plug in the structural assembly to form a secondary flow duct which is continuous between its openings. |
| US09587506B2 |
Segment of an abradable ring seal for a turbomachine, and process for the manufacture of such a piece
A segment of an abradable ring seal for a turbomachine, includes: a reinforcing support; a composite fabric including fibers impregnated with polymerized resin, and a track of abradable material. The composite fabric is interposed between the reinforcing support 71 and the track of abradable material and is bonded to the reinforcing support, on the one side, and to the track of abradable material, on the other side. The segment of an abradable ring seal has a resistance to tearing in a direction perpendicular to the interface between the track of abradable material and the composite fabric, on the one hand, and between the composite fabric and the reinforcing support, on the other hand, greater than 5.106 newtons per square meter. A process for the manufacture of such a segment is also described. |
| US09587504B2 |
Carrier interlock
A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an engine case, a rotor stage including a plurality of rotor blades, a plurality of carriers for supporting a plurality of blade outer air seals and an interlock formed between circumferential ends of a first adjacent carrier and a second adjacent carrier of the plurality of carriers. |
| US09587503B2 |
Hinged seal
The present disclosure relates generally to a seal between two components. The seal includes a first substantially frustoconical seal section including a first seal section radially outer end and a first seal section radially inner end. The seal also includes a second substantially frustoconical seal section including a second seal section radially outer end and a second seal section radially inner end, wherein the second seal section radially inner end is supported by the first seal section radially inner end to create a hinge joint allowing an angle defined between the first and second seal sections to change. |
| US09587500B2 |
Fluid sealing device for rotating machines
A fluid sealing device for rotating machines having a rotor part including at least one disk carried by a rotating shaft rotating in and relatively to a stator part in the presence of a fluid is disclosed. The rotating shaft has a sealing system defining a first environment at a first pressure. The stator part has a wall in front of the disk of the stator part defining a second environment therewith containing a fluid at a second pressure. The device includes a movable ring placed between the wall of the stator part and the disk of the rotor part and has a front sealing gasket facing towards the disk. The movable ring is moved in the active position when the rotating machine is stopped to prevent the fluid passage from one environment to the other. |
| US09587489B2 |
Fluid control in reservoir fluid sampling tools
A pumping system includes a probe to suction a fluid from a fluid reservoir, a pump in fluid communication with the probe, and a sensor for detecting phase changes in said pumping system. The sensor is in fluid communication with the probe or pump and is operable to generate a sensor signal. The pumping system also includes a fluid exit from the pumping system that is in fluid communication with said pump, and a variable force check valve that is located between the probe and fluid exit. |
| US09587488B2 |
Methods of evaluating rock properties while drilling using downhole acoustic sensors and telemetry system
Methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of method includes connecting a downhole sensor subassembly between a drill bit and a drill string, operably coupling acoustic sensors to a downhole processor, operably coupling a borehole telemetry system, downhole and surface data transmitting interfaces, and a surface computer to the downhole data transmitting interface. The method also includes receiving raw acoustic sensor data resulting from rotational contact of the drill bit with rock by the downhole processor, transforming the raw acoustic sensor data into the frequency domain, filtering the transformed data, and deriving acoustic characteristics from the filtered data. The method also includes the surface computer receiving the acoustic characteristics and deriving petrophysical properties from the acoustic characteristics directly or by utilizing a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm. |
| US09587486B2 |
Method and apparatus for magnetic pulse signature actuation
A wellbore servicing tool comprising a housing comprising one or more ports and generally defining a flow passage, an actuator disposed within the housing, a magnetic signature system (MSS) comprising a magnetic sensor in signal communication with an electronic circuit disposed within the housing and coupled to the actuator, and a sleeve slidably positioned within the housing and transitional from a first position to a second position, wherein, the sleeve is allowed to transition from the first position to the second position upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the actuator is actuated upon recognition of a predetermined quantity of predetermined magnetic pulse signatures via the MSS. |
| US09587478B2 |
Optimization of dynamically changing downhole tool settings
A computer-assisted method for optimizing a drilling tool assembly, the method comprising defining a desired drilling plan; determining current drilling conditions; determining current drilling tool parameters of at least two drilling tool assembly components; analyzing the current drilling conditions and the current drilling tool parameters to define a base drilling condition; comparing the base drilling condition to the desired drilling plan; determining a drilling tool parameter to adjust to achieve the desired drilling plan; and adjusting at least one drilling tool parameter of at least one of the two drilling tool assembly components based on the comparing the base drilling condition to the desired drilling plan. |
| US09587473B2 |
Stabilizing unconsolidated formation for fines control
A method for treating a zone of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method including the steps of: (A) introducing a treatment fluid through the wellbore into the zone of the subterranean formation, wherein the treatment fluid comprises an alkoxysilane having at least two alkoxy groups; (B) shutting in the zone to allow the alkoxysilane to hydrolyze in the formation under the design conditions; and (C) before or after introducing the treatment fluid into the zone, installing a mechanical sand control device in the wellbore of the zone. |
| US09587472B2 |
Process for producing natural gas and natural gas condensate from underground gas condensate deposits
A process for producing natural gas or natural gas condensate from an underground gas condensate deposit comprising a gas mixture having retrograde condensation characteristics, comprises at least the process steps of: sinking at least one production well into the underground gas condensate deposit and producing natural gas or natural gas condensate from the underground production well through the at least one production well; injecting a free-flowing composition comprising water, urea and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium and aluminum through the at least one production well into the underground gas condensate deposit; waiting for a rest phase in which the urea present in the free-flowing composition is hydrolyzed and the at least one metal is oxidized; and producing natural gas or natural gas condensate from the underground gas condensate deposit through the at least one production well. |
| US09587471B2 |
Controlling bioavailability of nutrient additions in subsurface formations
Controlling microbial growth and activity during Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery processes is disclosed. Specific control of microbial growth and activity in this process results in prevention of nutrient loss in transit and allows better targeting of microbial activity to the desired subsurface location(s). |
| US09587467B2 |
Containment system and a method for using said containment system
A containment system for recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a leaking device comprising a wall extending from a base level to a first level for surrounding the leaking device, and a dome situated above the wall and forming a cavity for accumulating hydrocarbon fluid. The dome comprises an upper output opening for extracting the hydrocarbon fluid. The containment system further comprises a lower output opening extending up to a dome level. The wall and the dome are independent members so as the wall can be landed on the seafloor before the dome is installed. |
| US09587464B2 |
Multi-stage liner with cluster valves and method of use
A multi stage liner with cluster valves for completing and performing multiple fracture stimulations along a length of wellbore. Groups of cluster valves, with isolation between such groups of cluster valves, and a method of using same, are provided to achieve increased oil and gas flow to a wellbore in openhole or cased hole applications for oil and gas wells. |
| US09587462B2 |
Safety valve system for cable deployed electric submersible pump
A safety valve system for downhole use in a wellbore comprises a safety valve comprising a sealable flow path; an annulus safety valve configured to provide fluid communication between a central flow path and an annular flow path; a landing nipple, wherein the landing nipple comprises ports configured to provide fluid communication between the annular flow path and the central flow path; and a cable passing through the sealable flow path, wherein the cable comprises a sealing mechanism and latch mechanism configured to engage the landing nipple. |
| US09587460B2 |
System and method for deploying a casing patch
Disclosed are systems and methods for deploying a casing patch in a wellbore. One casing patch assembly includes a setting kit arranged at an uphole end, an upper wedge portion operatively coupled to the setting kit and defining an upper ramp portion, a lower wedge portion arranged at a downhole end and defining a lower ramp portion, and a casing patch axially interposing the upper and lower wedge portions and having a proximal end configured to radially expand upon slidably engaging the upper ramp portion and a distal end configured to radially expand upon slidably engaging the lower ramp portion. |
| US09587459B2 |
Downhole isolation methods and apparatus therefor
The invention provides a method and apparatus for use in a wellbore gravel pack operation. The method comprises providing an apparatus in a downhole annulus. The apparatus comprises a mandrel and a swellable element formed from a material selected to increase in volume when exposed to a downhole stimulus. The method comprises placing a gravel pack below the apparatus via the downhole annulus in which the apparatus is located, and placing a gravel pack above the apparatus. Subsequent to placing the gravel packs, the swellable element is increased in volume to create an annular barrier in the wellbore. The invention allows isolation of multiple intervals of a well in a single gravel pack operation using swellable elastomers, and does not rely on the use of shunt tube alternate path systems. |
| US09587457B2 |
System and method for enhancing packer operation and longevity
A technique improves the formation of dependable seals along wellbores. A packer is constructed with a plurality of elastomeric layers and an internal mechanical layer that extend between mechanical extremities. One or more of a variety of features can be added to, or used in conjunction with, the packer to reduce wear and the potential for detrimental damage during use of the packer. |
| US09587456B2 |
Packer setting method using disintegrating plug
Some examples of a packet setting method using disintegrating plug can be implemented as a method for setting a packer in a wellbore. A disintegrating plug is installed in a tubing. The disintegrating plug blocks flow through the tubing in response to pressure. A packer is installed above the disintegrating plug in the tubing. The tubing including the packer and the disintegrating plug is run into a wellbore. The packer is positioned at a wellbore location to create an annular area between the packer and the wellbore wall. Downhole pressure is applied in the tubing to set the packer. |
| US09587454B1 |
Modular actuator and hydraulic valve assemblies and control apparatus for oil well blow-out preventers
A modular apparatus for controlling flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to and from opening and closing hydraulic actuator cylinders of oil and gas well blow-out preventers (BOP's), utilizes novel rotary hydraulic valve/actuator assemblies, each of which uses a pair of integral double-acting pneumatic actuator cylinders that drive a rack gear coupled to a spur gear located inside the actuator housing which is fixed to a valve rotor shaft that protrudes forward from the valve housing and protrudes through an outer wall of the housing and has a manually operable handle attached thereto, thus enabling multiple valve/actuator assemblies to be mounted in a close side-by-side arrangement to an hydraulic manifold. An air control manifold panel for remotely energizing the pneumatic actuator cylinders includes opening and closing push button control valves on an air manifold connected through air hoses to the actuator cylinders. |
| US09587449B2 |
Dual rack mast for a well servicing vehicle
Example workover vehicles for removing and installing sucker rods and tubing of completed wells include a mast having a distinctive spatial relationship with various equipment of the vehicle. The mast has a series of vertical corner posts or weight bearing derrick legs that define the mast's horizontal footprint. In some examples, a tubing storage rack is situated mostly within the footprint while a rod storage rack is mostly beyond the footprint. A robot traveling vertically along the mast transfers rods and tubing between the well and the appropriate storage rack. In some examples, the rod storage rack pivots between an extended operative position and a retracted transport position. In some examples, a robotic jib transfers rods or tubing to and from a lay-down storage area. Some example robot jibs are movable to a fully deployed position for normal operation and a stored position within the mast's footprint for vehicle transport. |
| US09587446B2 |
Subsea removable flex joint laydown tool
A subsea removable flex joint laydown tool is described herein. The tool can include a body having a first portion and a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion. The tool can also include a flex joint coupling feature disposed on an inner surface of the first portion and the second portion toward a proximal end of the body, where the flex joint coupling feature is configured to couple with a first laydown tool coupling feature of a flex joint. The tool can further include a riser coupling feature disposed on the inner surface of the first portion and the second portion toward a distal end of the body, where the riser coupling feature is configured to couple with a second laydown tool coupling feature of a riser. The tool can also include at least one laydown tool coupling feature movably coupled to the first portion. |
| US09587443B2 |
Resonance enhanced rotary drilling module
Provided is apparatus for use in resonance enhanced rotary drilling, which apparatus comprises: (i) an upper load-cell for measuring static and dynamic axial loading; (ii) a vibration isolation unit; (iii) optionally an oscillator back mass; (iv) an oscillator for applying axial oscillatory loading to the rotary drill-bit; (v) a vibration transmission unit; (vi) a lower load-cell for measuring static and dynamic axial loading; (vii) a drill-bit connector; and (viii) a drill-bit, wherein the upper load-cell is positioned above the vibration isolation unit and the lower load-cell is positioned between the vibration transmission unit and the drill-bit, and wherein the upper and lower load-cells are connected to a controller in order to provide down-hole closed loop real time control of the oscillator. Further provided is an apparatus for use in resonance enhanced rotary drilling, which apparatus comprises: (i) an upper load-cell for measuring static loading; (ii) a vibration isolation unit; (iii) an oscillator for applying axial oscillatory loading to the rotary drill-bit; (iv) a lower load-cell for measuring dynamic axial loading; (v) a drill-bit connector; and (vi) a drill-bit, wherein the upper load-cell positioned above the vibration isolation unit and the lower load-cell is positioned between the oscillator and the drill-bit wherein the upper and lower load-cells are connected to a controller in order to provide down-hole closed loop real time control of the oscillator. |
| US09587442B2 |
Automated locking joint in a welbore tool string
An automated locking joint can include a first member, a second member, a joint, a locking structure, and a positioning device. The joint can connect the first member with the second member. The second member can be pivotable about the joint relative to the first member. The locking structure can be positionable between a lock position that prevents pivoting of the second member about the joint and an unlock position that allows pivoting of the second member about the joint. The positioning device can automatically move the locking structure from the lock position to the unlock position or from the unlock position to the lock position. |
| US09587441B2 |
Apparatus and method for coaxially joining components to resist relative rotational and longitudinal movement
A method and apparatus for joining first and second bodies coaxially together to resist relative axial and rotational movement between the bodies. A male portion of the first body is received in a complementary female portion of the second body, and the male and female portions are aligned axially on a common axis such that respective cooperating grooves in opposing cylindrical or tapered complementary surfaces of the male and female portions are aligned to form a plurality of passageways or a passageway having a plurality of passageway portions, between the opposing cylindrical or tapered complementary surfaces. At least two of the passageways or at least two of the passageway portions are disposed at different angles to the common axis. Solid mechanical coupling elements are loaded into each passageway or into the passageway having the plurality of passageway portions, such that each passageway or the passageway having the plurality of passageway portions is substantially full of the solid mechanical coupling elements. |
| US09587438B2 |
Multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tool
Various downhole drilling tools designed and manufactured at least in part on evaluating respective forces acting on respective groups and sets of cutting elements during simulated engagement with the downhole end of a wellbore and drilling from a first downhole formation into a second downhole formation. Simulating forces acting on each cutting element as the cutting element contacts a downhole formation may be used to force balance downhole drilling tools during transition drilling or non-uniform downhole drilling conditions. Multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools may be designed using five respective simulations, cutter group level, neighbor cutter group level, cutter set level, group of N (N=3 or N=4) consecutive cutters level and all cutters level. Various cutter layout procedures and algorithms may also be used to design multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools which may drill faster with higher lateral stability, especially during downhole transiting drilling conditions. |
| US09587431B2 |
Motorized window covering assembly
Various embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods of attractive, low cost, controllable, or other featured motorized window covering assemblies. The use of a motor assembly with an integrated WiFi interface enables eliminating a setup box, resulting in lower cost. Eliminating the setup box and any associated wires further eliminates the eye sore that they may pose. These eliminations, along with an elongated motor assembly used in some embodiments, further enable the motor to be made less noticeable by, for example, making it easier to hide or camouflage. As one example, an elongated motor assembly, comprising an elongated casing surrounding the motor and the control board, is hidden inside a window covering holder. An IP address can be assigned to each motor, which enables addressing and controlling each motor individually from any remote device located anywhere with access to the internet. |
| US09587414B2 |
Fully welded fence panel and method of making same
A fully welded fence panel comprises a plurality of vertical pickets and a pair of horizontal metal rails. The top and bottom portions of the pickets are pressed in a mechanical or hydraulic press to create flattened surfaces and welded to the rails. The flattened surfaces may either be oriented parallel or perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the metal rails to facilitate welding or to enable the fence panel to be racked when used as a railing. Indentations are pressed into opposite sides of the flattened surfaces at the same location and are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the picket to further enable the fence panel to be racked. The railing is therefore adjustable at a customer's site to change the angle between the pickets and rails and avoid the need for perfect angle measurements prior to manufacture. |
| US09587407B2 |
Envelope system for solar, structural insulated panel, modular, prefabricated, emergency and other structures
A method for assembling tiles onto a substrate relating to permanent and temporary envelopes for building construction, roads, emergency constructions, and civilian, military, air, naval and space vehicles, based on the integration of a foldable flexible backer member with tessellations, resulting in a stackable, portable, installable assembly. |
| US09587405B1 |
Portable folding ramp
The portable folding ramp facilitates transfer of large, heavy objects that cannot be conveniently hand carried up and down inclines (steps, etc.). The portable folding ramp includes one or more ramp members (preferably two, and perhaps three) that attach removably to a folding crossmember. The crossmember includes an elongate slot with a series of short positioning slots extending transversely therefrom. Each ramp member includes a pin at its upper end, with the pin installing removably in the elongate slot. The pin (and its ramp member) is then positioned along the elongate slot to the desired positioning slot to set the lateral spacing between ramps. The apparatus is folded for storage by (a) retracting the telescoping ramp(s), (b) folding the crossmember back upon itself, (c) positioning the ramp(s) attachment(s) at the extreme ends of the crossmember, and (d) pivoting the ramp(s) to align with the crossmember. A storage container is provided. |
| US09587403B2 |
Fixture support for membrane roof
A method for mounting an appliance to a membrane-covered roof involves (a) mounting two or more rails or appendages to the appliance, the rails or appendages placed to lie flat on the membrane-covered roof, supporting the appliance, and to extend away from the appliance, (b) installing two reinforced attachments, each incorporating a metal plate fastened into decking below the membrane of the membrane-covered roof, and covered by transition membrane heat welded to the membrane of the membrane-covered roof, one attachment installed on each side of each rail to be secured to the roof; and (c) fastening a bridge between the two attachments and over the rail at each rail point to be secured to the roof. |
| US09587401B1 |
Bar joist reinforcement apparatus
A bar joist reinforcement apparatus may include a base assembly adapted to be connected to a lower portion of a bar joist, a top assembly adapted to be connected to a top portion of the bar joist, and an adjustable coupling assembly connected between the base assembly and the top assembly for adjusting the distance separating the base and top assemblies. The apparatus may be used to reinforce a bar joist by inserting the apparatus in between upper and lower portions of a bar joist, adjusting the apparatus so the top and base assemblies come into contact with, press against, and/or brace the upper and lower portions of the bar joist, and connecting the apparatus to the bar joist using bolts and conventional tools instead of welding. |
| US09587400B2 |
Method and system for interconnecting structural panels
Building or structural panels may be joined, such as to form walls or floors. The panels may be connected in various orientations via one or more connectors. The connectors may mount to anchors associated with the panels. The panels may have outer skins located over an expanded core comprising a matrix of supporting elongate members and voids or openings, with the anchors located at edges of the panels. |
| US09587399B2 |
Insulating wall, a column assembly therefore and a method of constructing such an insulating wall
The present invention concerns a columns assembly for an insulating wall of a building structure, said column having a side surfaces adapted to receive and retain insulation panels of the insulating wall, said column assembly comprising an inner spacer element made of mineral wool fibers, a central element made of mineral wool fibers, an outer spacer element made of mineral wool fibers, wherein the spacer elements are assembled with first and second intermediate profiles between the spacer elements, and wherein the density of the mineral wool in the central element is higher than the density in the inner and outer spacer elements. The invention also concerns an insulating wall assembly of a building structure with such a column assembly and a method of constructing such insulating wall. |