| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09595233B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
An object of the invention is to provide a display device and a driving method thereof, in which uniformity of a video image displayed after charge sharing does not deteriorate. In a first horizontal period, a positive voltage and a negative voltage according to a video signal are alternately applied to source signal lines, and then, reset voltages of +5V and −5V are respectively applied to source signal lines. As a result, the voltages of the source signal lines become +5V or −5V. In this state, when the source signal lines to which +5V and −5V are applied are short-circuited in the beginning of a second horizontal period, charge sharing is performed between the source signal lines, and the voltages of these source signal lines become 0V. Subsequently, when the voltage according to the video signal is applied, the liquid crystal display device can display a color video image having reduced display unevenness and high uniformity. |
| US09595229B2 |
Local dimming method and liquid crystal display
A local dimming method and a liquid crystal display using the same are provided. The local dimming method includes segmenting an input image into N×M (where N and M are positive integer greater than n) blocks; determining representative values of the blocks, which define average luminance of the respective blocks; analyzing the input image; setting a spatial filter mask having a size of n×n (where n is a positive integer greater than 3 and equal to or smaller than 10), increasing the number of coefficients greater than 0 in the spatial filter mask when the input image is determined as a dark image, and decreasing the number of coefficients greater than 0 in the spatial filter mask when the input image is determined as a bright image; and multiplying the block representative values by coefficients of the spatial filter mask to determine a dimming value for each block. |
| US09595222B2 |
Image display apparatus
The first and second gate driver circuits each include N shift register units. An M1th (M1 is an integer not less than one and not more than L) stage of each of a first to Nth ones of the shift register units of the first gate driver circuit is connected to a first to Nth ones of the gate signal lines in an M1th one of the effective pixel rows. An M2th (M2 is an integer not less than one and not more than L×a/N) stage of each of a (a+1)th to Nth ones of the shift register circuits of the second gate driver circuit is connected to a first to ath ones of the gate signal lines in one of the L effective pixel rows other than an M2th one of the L effective pixel rows. |
| US09595218B2 |
Partial dynamic false contour detection method based on look-up table and device thereof, and image data compensation method using the same
A method for detecting noise includes determining whether a data value of a candidate pixel in a predetermined region of an image matches a first dynamic false contour (DFC) candidate value, determining whether a data value of at least one pixel adjacent to the candidate pixel matches a second DFC candidate value, and changing the data value of the candidate pixel the prior two determinations. The data value of the candidate pixel may be changed to a value in a lookup table. The first and second DFC candidate values may also be stored in one or more lookup tables. |
| US09595215B2 |
Circuit for testing display panel, method for testing display panel, and display panel
A method for testing a display panel includes: applying a first level signal to a first sub-pixel and a third sub-pixel of a first pixel unit and applying a second level signal to a second sub-pixel of the first pixel unit; applying the second level signal to a first sub-pixel and a third sub-pixel of a second pixel unit and applying the first level signal to a second sub-pixel of the second pixel unit; and detecting a short circuit between adjacent sub-pixels. The first level signal has a voltage polarity opposite to a voltage polarity of the second level signal. Therefore, it is ensured that any two adjacent sub-pixels have opposite voltage polarities when the short circuit between adjacent sub-pixels of the display panel is detected. The method also provides improved testing abilities to detect an open circuit in a sub-pixel. |
| US09595214B2 |
Method of controlling driving voltage of display panel and display apparatus performing the method
A method of controlling a driving voltage of a display apparatus includes transmitting a ready signal from a timing control circuit of the display apparatus to a power management circuit of the display apparatus through a connection area of a connection member of the display apparatus, which is disposed between a display panel and a main circuit board of the display apparatus, and controlling a generation of the driving voltage from the power management circuit based on the ready signal received by the power management circuit, where the display apparatus includes a gate driver circuit disposed on the display panel, and the timing control circuit and the power management circuit are disposed on the main circuit board. |
| US09595211B2 |
Electromagnetic shielding label
Provided is a shielding label comprising: a shield layer; a cover layer disposed on a first side of the shield layer, and a removable adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of a second side of the shield layer, wherein the shield layer provides electro-magnetic shielding characteristics so as to prevent the exchange of data between an RFID article adjacent the shielding label and an external device when the component is located in the read range of the external device. |
| US09595209B2 |
Navigation system with map matching mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving a current position for locating a device; adding a new edge from a road topology map to a topological tree based on the current position; removing an old edge from the topological tree based on the current position; determining a matched edge of the topological tree based on the current position and the topological tree; and calculating an adjusted location based on the matched edge for displaying on the device. |
| US09595203B2 |
Systems and methods of sound recognition
An entertaining and engaging voice system of sound recognition embodying a method for improving a user's vocal performance by comparing the user's voice to that of a famous voice is presented. The voice system may include at least one database and a sound recognition application for storing, accessing, analyzing and processing vocal presentations of the user and recorded music or polyphonic sounds of famous vocalists so as to match and compare the user's vocal presentation thereto for improving their vocal performance. |
| US09595197B2 |
Lateral control apparatus of vehicle and control method of the same
The present invention provides a lateral control apparatus including: an offset measuring unit that measures current lateral offsets of at least two other vehicles at a current time based on a center of a driving lane; a preview offset calculating unit that predicts a lateral offset of the other vehicle based on the center of the driving lane based on a location and a speed of the other vehicle at a time when a predetermined time has elapsed to calculate a preview offset; a priority determining unit that determines a priority of the other vehicles based on a difference between the lateral offset and the preview offset; and a controller that generates a route for lane keeping control of own vehicle based on the lateral offset of the other vehicle to which a top priority is assigned by the priority determining unit. |
| US09595196B1 |
Mine management system and mine managing method
A mine management system for a mine where an unmanned vehicle operates in an operation area of the mine, includes an exit determination unit determining based on position data of a moving body different from the unmanned vehicle whether the moving body exits the operation area, an abnormality monitoring unit ending monitoring abnormality of the moving body based on manipulation on an input device installed in the moving body, an entrance prohibited area setting unit setting an entrance prohibited area where entrance of the unmanned vehicle is prohibited so that the entrance prohibited area includes a position of the moving body and expands the entrance prohibited area when the abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring, and an alarm device control unit activating an alarm device installed in the moving body when it is determined that the moving body exits the operation area and the input device is not manipulated. |
| US09595193B1 |
Building smart traffic control
A computer-implemented method and system for vehicular traffic control and vehicle routing includes receiving a request for a best route, at a central system. The request including a current location and a destination from a requesting vehicle. Travel factors from the current location to the destination are determined. The travel factors include road availability, traffic conditions, and real time feedback, using the central system in response to receiving the request. The best route is determined for the requesting vehicle from the current location to the destination based on the travel factors, and real time feedback of the traffic conditions. The method and system includes initiating a plurality of traffic control actions along the route for the requesting vehicle. The traffic control actions are initiated along the route simultaneously and in concert with the requesting vehicle to clear the best route for the requesting vehicle to travel unobstructed to the destination. |
| US09595185B1 |
User identifying toilet apparatus
A toilet apparatus for providing automatic user identification is provided. The automatic identification uses a combination of an instrumented toilet seat and an instrumented foot scale to provide user specific identification data. User health trends may be saved and reported based on the automatic user identification. User identification also allows preconfigured toilet control settings to be loaded into memory upon user identification. |
| US09595184B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for incident reporting
A system for reporting incidents includes at least one server having circuitry configured to receive incident report information from at least one external device including at least one of a location, environment, suspect information, victim information, and type of incident. A severity level for an incident is determined based on the incident report information, and a reporter trustworthiness score is determined based on at least one of the incident report information and reporter profile data. The circuitry receives corroboration reports from at least one additional external device when the reporter trustworthiness score is less than or equal to a predetermined trustworthiness threshold and detects a false report based on the one or more corroboration reports. Incident trends are determined based on at the incident report information and the corroboration reports, the incident report information is output based on the severity level of the incident and the incident report information. |
| US09595183B2 |
System and method for distribution of sensors for emergency response
A system and method for placement of sensors for sensing hazardous substances released from a plurality of hazard points. A processor identifies a location of a hazard point, a fence line of the plant-site, and a toxic level of concern (LOC) for the hazardous substance. The processor calculates a minimum amount of the hazardous substance (Q) for which a concentration at a centerline of a plume carrying the hazardous substance reaches the toxic LOC at the fenceline, and simulates a release of the hazardous substance in the calculated amount Q from the hazard point. The processor further calculates a pair of sensor locations where the concentration of the plume is equal to the minimum detectable concentration level of sensor based on the simulated release. The pair of sensor locations is then output by the processor. |
| US09595179B2 |
System and method for vibration severity assessment independently of vibration frequency
The method includes receiving a real-time signal containing information pertaining to amplitude and frequency of vibrations of a machine component over a frequency spectrum including a first analysis bandwidth and a second analysis bandwidth, and using the real-time signal to determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the first analysis bandwidth in a first unit of one of displacement, velocity, and acceleration, and determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the second analysis bandwidth in a second unit of one of displacement, velocity and acceleration, the second unit being different from the first unit; and associating the determined values in a common unit representing comparable severity of vibrations in the first analysis bandwidth and the second analysis bandwidth. |
| US09595178B2 |
Water safety monitoring devices, alarm devices and related methods
A monitoring device for monitoring a risk of drowning for users of one or more alarm devices is provided. The alarm devices include one or more detectors configured to detect status data. A controller circuit is configured to receive status data from the alarm device, to detect a triggering event, and, in response to the triggering event, to select one of a plurality of alarm protocols based on the status data. A user interface unit is configured to convey the selected alarm protocol to the user. |
| US09595177B2 |
Noise compensating EAS antenna system
An EAS system employs multiple antennas which are in separate electrical circuits and do not overlap to avoid magnetic coupling. Each antenna is paired with each other antenna. The controls for the system employ multi-function amplifier filters (MAF) to perform a difference operation on the signals in each pair. The results are converted from analog to digital and directed to a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP adjusts digital potentiometers to minimize the differences at the MAFs. The controls then operate at least one antenna to pulse generate an interrogation field. The controls monitor the antenna signals for additional signal at the MAFs. The DSP performs pattern recognition on additional signals at the MAFs to distinguish types of EAS tags. |
| US09595176B2 |
Inventory protection system
An inventory protection system has a plurality of cable segments with connectors on the ends thereof. The connectors permit pairs of cable segments to be releasably mechanically and electrically connectable to one another to form a continuous cable loop. A circuit connected to the cable loop periodically generates a test signal in the cable loop and checks to see if the test signal is able to travel all the way around the cable loop. The circuit generates an alarm signal if the test signal cannot travel all the way around the cable loop. |
| US09595175B1 |
Door alarm
A portable door alarm including a front component connected to a rear component by a connecting component, the connecting component configured to be positioned at an edge of a door such as between a floor and a bottom edge of a door to which the alarm is associated so that the front component is positioned on a first side of the door and the rear component is positioned on an opposite side of the door, the rear component including an optical motion sensor configured to detect movement of the door. In one aspect the alarm is configured to fit upon a bottom edge of the door and to slide with the door as the door is opened or closed. In other aspects the front component includes an indicator and the rear component may include a variety of electrical components for various operational features. Various methods of operation are also provided. |
| US09595169B2 |
Game of chance systems and methods
In various embodiments, players may compete in a gaming context. |
| US09595166B2 |
Electronic gaming device
Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive a video stream from one or more gaming tables. The systems and methods may display the video stream from the one or more gaming tables on the electronic gaming device and generate gaming options based on data relating to the one or more gaming tables. The gaming options may be based on predetermined betting structures relating to future game play results. The systems and methods may display the gaming options. |
| US09595165B2 |
Managing cashless wagering game systems
A gaming system is configured to transfer wagering credits usable for wagering from a first cashless wagering system to a second cashless wagering system, the gaming system including a first and a second gaming machine and controller(s) configured to perform acts including depositing wagering credits associated with the first gaming machine into the first cashless wagering system, accessing, via a first system access technique, the first cashless wagering system and debiting, in a first transaction, the wagering credits from the first cashless wagering system. The controller(s) being further configured to credit, in the first transaction, the wagering credits from the first cashless wagering system to a second, different cashless wagering system, the second cashless wagering system being accessed via a second, different system access technique, wherein the first and second cashless wagering systems are communicably coupled over a network and disburse the wagering credits from the second cashless wagering system for game play on the second gaming machine associated with the second cashless wagering system. |
| US09595164B2 |
Social gaming website and related in-advertisement gaming
A method for persistent casino-style gameplay is described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting, a gaming session to a user, wherein the gaming session includes casino-style games and is associated with a user profile. The operations can also include recording information about the casino-style games during the gaming session. The operations can also include detecting a request for an in-advertisement casino-style game, wherein the in-advertisement casino-style game will appear on a webpage. The operations can also include transmitting for presentation on the webpage as part of the in-advertisement casino-style game, first content configured to receive information identifying the user. The operations can also include receiving the information identifying the user profile. The operations can also include transmitting for presentation on the webpage as part of the in-advertisement casino-style game, second content including data to resume play of the gaming session via the in-advertisement casino-style game. |
| US09595163B2 |
Methods and systems for a bonus round of a game which provides for player influence of volatility
In some embodiments, a player may influence the volatility of a bonus round of a game by placing elements collected during a primary game onto symbol positions of the bonus round. In some embodiments, if a symbol position onto which a player placed one or more bonus round symbols is selected as an active symbol position for an event instance of the bonus round, the player wins a prize. Additionally, a multiplier may be applied to the value of the prize or other benefit may be provided to the player if the player placed more than one bonus round symbol element on the position. Thus, a player having a plurality of bonus round symbols to place may choose to increase the frequency of prizes won (e.g., by distributing the bonus round symbols over more positions) or increase the value of prizes (e.g., by grouping more symbols on fewer positions). |
| US09595158B2 |
Paradise box gaming system
A gaming system, comprising: a main cabinet comprising a mechanism for playing a game other than a slot machine game, and a mechanism for playing a slot machine game; a first screen in a portion of said main cabinet for displaying the game other than the slot machine game; a second screen connected to and integratedly extended from the first screen for displaying the slot machine game, the mechanism for playing the slot machine game is adapted to only receive second bets from while the first user awaits results of first bets placed on the mechanism for playing the game other than the slot machine game and is further adapted to only receive the second bets during a period of inactivity in the game other than the slot machine game; and wherein the results of the first bets are presented independently from the results of the second bets. |
| US09595157B2 |
Wagering game with simulated mechanical reels
A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region. A first image display device for simulating mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region includes a curved surface that approximates the radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The curved surface displays first video images that include a plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. A second image display device displays second video images spatially separated from and overlaying the first video images within the display region. The second video images include indicia related to the wagering game. |
| US09595156B2 |
Prize wheel with gesture-based control
A method and an arrangement for the operation of a prize wheel by a user. The position of the center of gravity and the position of a hand of the user are ascertained using a camera; a height threshold is fixed in relation to the center of gravity; if the position of the hand exceeds the height threshold, a rotation phase is started, the rotation which is carried out by the movement of the hand of the user is continuously ascertained, and a rotational angle is ascertained; the angular speed, i.e. the rate of change over time of the ascertained angle, is determined; the rotation phase is ended, and an angular speed, is fixed as the initial rotational speed; and a free rotation phase is started. The prize wheel is further rotated, and the prize wheel is continuously braked and comes to rest upon a specified end position. |
| US09595154B2 |
Medium processing device and medium transaction device
A medium processing device including: a main tape having one end fixed to a drum, and being wound onto the drum while sandwiching a medium with the drum; a first roller at which the main tape unwound from a main reel is turned back at a distant location from the drum; a second roller at which the main tape, turned back by the first roller and travelled along the drum, is separated from the drum and turned back toward the drum, the medium being sandwiched between portions of the main tape turned back by the first and second rollers and being conveyed between the second roller and the drum; an auxiliary tape having one end fixed to a location of the drum that does not overlap with the main tape, and winding the medium onto the drum at least within a separation range of the main tape from the drum. |
| US09595152B2 |
Magnetic property detection apparatus
A magnetic property detection apparatus that detects magnetic properties of a magnetic material included in a paper sheet transported through a transport path includes a magnet unit that generates a magnetic field that is perpendicular to a direction of transport of the paper sheet in the transport path and parallel to a transport surface of the paper sheet, of which magnetic field intensity decreases as the paper sheet is being transported in the transport direction, and after the magnetic field intensity has reached 0 (zero), the magnetic field intensity increases with the magnetic field being directed in a reverse direction; and a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in the magnetic field generated by the magnet unit at locations at which the magnetic field intensity are mutually different, and that detect the magnetic properties of the paper sheet being transported through the transport path. The magnetic properties of the magnetic material included in the paper sheet are detected based on output signals of the plurality of magnetic sensors acquired when the magnetic material is detected. |
| US09595150B2 |
Coin separation device
A coin separation device comprises a conveying device for conveying coins in a conveying direction out of an input container along a conveying section and a testing device which is arranged on the conveying section for recognizing a coin type of a coin which is conveyed along the conveying section. An accelerating device is provided which is configured to accelerate a coin conveyed along the conveying section in dependence on recognition by the testing device in such a manner that the coin is conveyed from the conveying section into a coin collecting device, wherein the accelerating device is configured, in dependence on the coin type of the coin recognized by the testing device, to act upon the coin for acceleration. |
| US09595148B2 |
Access control communication device, method, computer program and computer program product
It is presented an access control communication device comprising: a short distance radio communication module; a cellular radio communication module; and a controller arranged to communicate access rights associated with a key device, using the cellular radio communication module, with an access control device over a cellular communication network, the communicating comprising sending a request for access management data associated with the lock device, and receiving access management data associated with the lock device; and the controller further being arranged to transmit the access management data to the key device for transfer to the lock device, the communicating and transmitting being arranged to be performed upon the access control device being in communication with the key device using the short distance radio communication module. A corresponding method, computer program and computer program product area also presented. |
| US09595146B2 |
Persistent user identification
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to persistently identifying a user interacting with a computing device. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method comprising receiving biometric data regarding the user, determining a determined identity of the user based on the biometric data, outputting a notification of the determined identity of the user, and providing a mechanism to receive feedback regarding a correctness of the determined identity of from the user. |
| US09595145B2 |
System for assigning a smartphone as a temporary key for a vehicle
A method of providing access to a vehicle, including wirelessly and electronically discovering a personal electronic device disposed outside of the vehicle. A remote central controller is wirelessly instructed to wirelessly transmit a certificate to the personal electronic device. The certificate from the personal electronic device is wirelessly received within the vehicle. Validation from the a remote central controller that the certificate from the personal electronic device was transmitted from the remote central controller to the personal electronic device is wirelessly received within the vehicle. An electronic key to the vehicle is wirelessly transmitted from the vehicle to the personal electronic device. |
| US09595141B2 |
Diagnostic device for motor vehicles and diagnostic method
A diagnostic device for motor vehicles includes at least one first interface for reading out error status information from a memory of a motor vehicle, at least one second interface for receiving and/or transmitting community content and error status information, an operating device for operating the diagnostic device by a user, a display device for displaying the information, and a processing device for processing the information, the processing device being connected to the first and the second interfaces and the processing device being designed to transmit and process the community content and error status information with the aid of the first and/or the second interfaces and to display this information with the aid of a display device. A diagnostic method for motor vehicles, a diagnostic system, as well as a use of a diagnostic device are also described. |
| US09595136B2 |
Creation and use of virtual places
An apparatus, method and system facilitate efficient creation of virtual places and provide tools for using the virtual places. The virtual places include a virtual real estate listing, newsworthy place and a virtual box seat. Tools are provided including an automatic declutter tool and a staging tool. |
| US09595134B2 |
Method for reconstructing 3D scenes from 2D images
A method reconstructs at three-dimensional (3D) real-world scene from a single two-dimensional (2D) image by identifying junctions satisfying geometric constraint of the scene based on intersecting lines, vanishing points, and vanishing lines that are orthogonal to each other. Possible layouts of the scene are generated by sampling the 2D image according to the junctions. Then, an energy function is maximized to select an optimal layout from the possible layouts. The energy function use's a conditional random field (CRF) model to evaluate the possible layouts. |
| US09595131B2 |
Image viewing application and method for orientationally sensitive display devices
A system and method for presenting three-dimensional image volume data utilizing an orientationally-sensitive display device whereby the image volume is navigable simply by tilting, raising and lowering the display device. Doing so presents an image on the screen that relates to the angle and position of the display device such that the user gets the impression that the device itself is useable as a window into the image volume, especially when the device is placed on or near the source of the image data, such as a patient. |
| US09595123B2 |
Methods and devices for displaying trend and variability in a physiological dataset
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and devices for displaying trends and variability in a physiological dataset. The method comprises obtaining the physiological dataset, applying a smoothing algorithm to the physiological dataset to obtain a trend of the physiological dataset, applying a variability algorithm to the physiological dataset to obtain the variability of the physiological dataset, outputting a graph of the trend of the physiological dataset, and outputting a graph of the variability of the physiological dataset. |
| US09595121B2 |
Systems and methods for PET penalized-likelihood image reconstruction with spatially varying smoothing parameters
A computer-implemented method for penalized-likelihood reconstruction of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) image includes generating a regularization function in which a smoothing parameter is modulated by one or more data-independent spatially variable modulation factors to compensate for sensitivity variations in a PET voxel dataset, and reconstructing the PET image from the PET emission dataset using the regularization function. |
| US09595120B2 |
Method and system for medical image synthesis across image domain or modality using iterative sparse representation propagation
A method and apparatus for medical image synthesis across image modalities or domains is disclosed, which synthesizes a target medical image based on a source medical image. A plurality of image patches are cropped from the source medical image. A synthesized target medical image is then generated from the source medical image by jointly performing sparse coding between each image patch of the source medical image and a corresponding image patch of the synthesized target image based on jointly trained source and target dictionaries. |
| US09595117B2 |
Image processing device and method for operating endoscope system
A vessel suppression process is performed on RGB image data. A display of capillary vessels is suppressed by the vessel suppression process. After the vessel suppression process, tone of the RGB image data is reversed. Thereby, a suppressed-and-reversed image is produced. Even after the tone reversal, the capillary vessels do not interfere with observation of a ductal structure in the suppressed-and-reversed image, because the display of the capillary vessels is suppressed. In the suppressed-and-reversed image, the ductal structure is darker than a mucous membrane due to the tone reversal, so that the color of the ductal structure is close to that of an indigo. |
| US09595115B1 |
Visualizing change in augmented reality environments
An architecture is provided to generate an augmented reality environment and visualize or otherwise output information about changes to a physical object within the environment. The changes may include location, quantity, condition of the physical object, and so forth. Users may also use a rendering of a physical object to plan layout of the physical object in the environment. Prompts may be provided to guide placement of the physical object. |
| US09595112B2 |
Incremental principal component pursuit for video background modeling
An incremental Principal Component Pursuit (PCP) algorithm for video background modeling that is able to process one frame at a time while adapting to changes in background, with a computational complexity that allows for real-time processing, having a low memory footprint and is robust to translational and rotational jitter. |
| US09595111B2 |
Region-growing algorithm
A technique for automatically generating a virtual model of a branched structure using as an input a plurality of images taken of the branched structure. The technique employs an algorithm that avoids inaccuracies associated with sub-optimal threshold settings by “patching” holes or leaks created due to the inherent inconsistencies with imaging technology. By “patching” the holes, the algorithm may continue to run using a more sensitive threshold value than was previously possible. |
| US09595107B2 |
Distance measurement apparatus and distance measurement method
A distance measurement apparatus which outputs a plurality of spot beams in a grid-like pattern from a laser device to a target object and measures a distance to the target object based on image data of the plurality of spot beams, the apparatus includes a distance measurement unit configured to obtain the distance to the target object based on positions of the plurality of spot beams in the image data; and a control unit configured to perform, based on the image data, when a size of each of the spot beams is larger than a reference size, either one or both of a first control operation of reducing a diameter of laser light output from the laser device and a second control operation of increasing a shutter speed of an image sensing device which generates the image data. |
| US09595106B2 |
Calibration apparatus, calibration method, and program
A calibration apparatus calibrating a projection apparatus projecting a projection image includes a captured image acquiring unit acquiring a captured image at each change of at least one of a relative position between the projection apparatus and a plane body and a relative posture between the projection apparatus and the plane body, a reflection position estimating unit acquiring reflection positions at each change of at least one of a position of the plane body and a posture of the plane body using a predetermined correspondence relationship between a pixel of the captured image and a position on the plane body, a plane body position posture estimating unit estimating positions and postures of the plane body so as to minimize a degree of misfit of the reflection positions from a straight line of the reflection positions, and a projection light beam identifying unit identifying an equation of the light beam. |
| US09595105B2 |
Independent digital templating software, and methods and systems for using same
Provided are a computer-aided system (medical device), a computer-aided method, and a computer program product useful in digital templating for prosthetic arthroplasty, for example, total hip arthroplasty. The invention includes digital image capture and scaling features that can be used in conjunction with any digital radiographic image stored using picture archiving and communication system (PACS), regardless of PACS provider or PACS format. Patient radiographic images are captured, imported, and scaled, e.g., to actual size, to match the scale of a digital template of any prosthesis selected by the user. The computer program product is a stand-alone product, used independently of any software interface, including software accessed through connection to a network or the internet. The software, method, and system are suitable for use with a stand-alone computer and permit improved and cost-effective selection of prostheses for any particular clinical situation. |
| US09595104B2 |
System and method for estimating a quantity of a blood component in a fluid canister
A variation of a method for estimating a quantity of a blood component in a fluid canister includes: within an image of a canister, identifying a reference marker on the canister; selecting an area of the image based on the reference marker; correlating a portion of the selected area with a fluid level within the canister; estimating a volume of fluid within the canister based on the fluid level; extracting a feature from the selected area; correlating the extracted featured with a concentration of a blood component within the canister; and estimating a quantity of the blood component within the canister based on the estimated volume and the concentration of the blood component within the canister. |
| US09595097B1 |
System and method for monitoring life of automobile oil
The present disclosure discloses a method and a device for monitoring life of automobile oil. The method comprising, receiving, by an oil life indication device, a video from an imaging unit communicatively coupled to the oil life indication device, where the video displays spreading of the automobile oil over a slope surface. The method comprises extracting a plurality of image frames from the video, determining one or more parameter values for at least one quality factors of the automobile oil and comparing the one or more parameter values with predefined threshold values to estimate life of the automobile oil. |
| US09595096B2 |
Composite inspection and structural check of multiple layers
Provided are methods, systems, and computer program products for inspecting composite items. Specifically, a method involves analyzing an image of or, more generally, data characterizing condition of a top layer, which is disposed over a bottom layer. The method also involves performing a structural integrity check based on any anomalies detected in the top layer during this analysis as well as based on any anomalies previously detected in the bottom layer. As such, this structural integrity check accounts for characteristics of multiple layers, in some embodiments, all layers applied up to point of this inspection. In addition to the detected anomalies, the structural integrity check may account for previously performed repairs. The structural integrity check may be performed on individual portions of a composite item while, for example, other portions continue receiving a new composite layer, which may be referred to as an inline inspection. |
| US09595095B2 |
Robot system
A robot system includes a processing apparatus that detects one work from a plurality of works, and a robot that operates the detected one work. The processing apparatus includes a display unit that displays image data containing an image of the plurality of works captured by an imaging apparatus, a selection unit that selects a first image and a second image from the image data, and a processing unit that generates a model based on the first image and the second image and detects the one work using the generated model. |
| US09595090B2 |
Determining quality of an image or video using a distortion classifier
Techniques and structures are disclosed in which one or more distortion categories are identified for an image or video, and a quality of the image or video is determined based on the one or more distortion categories. The image or video may be of a natural scene, and may be of unknown provenance. Identifying a distortion category and/or determining a quality may be performed without any corresponding reference (e.g., undistorted) image or video. Identifying a distortion category may be performed using a distortion classifier. Quality may be determined with respect to a plurality of human opinion scores that correspond to a particular distortion category to which an image or video of unknown provenance is identified as belonging. Various statistical methods may be used in performing said identifying and said determining, including use of generalized Gaussian distribution density models and natural scene statistics. |
| US09595084B2 |
Medical skin examination device and method for enhancing and displaying lesion in photographed image
A medical skin examination device configured to diagnose a skin lesion includes: a first storage unit configured to store an original first skin image related to a dermoscopy structure imaged via a dermoscope; an image conversion unit configured to apply High Dynamic Range (HDR) conversion processing to the first skin image and obtain a second skin image in which the dermoscopy structure is made clear and salient; a second storage unit configured to store the second skin image; and a display control unit configured execute control so as to display at least one of the first skin image and the second skin image. |
| US09595081B2 |
Imaging device with multiple sampling unit and imaging method using multiple sampling
In an imaging device, a multiple sampling unit performs multiple sampling processing on a charge signal of a captured image, and an analog digital conversion unit converts a signal which has undergone multiple sampling processing to a digital signal. In a reconstruction device, an image reconstruction unit performs reconstruction processing on the digital signal transmitted from the imaging device using information regarding multiple sampling processing transmitted from the imaging device, and obtains an image signal. |
| US09595079B2 |
High resolution volumetric image generation based on super resolution post-processing and point spread function
In one aspect, a method for generating higher resolution volumetric image data from lower resolution volumetric image data includes receiving volumetric image data of a scanned subject, wherein the volumetric image data includes data representing a periodically moving structure of interest of the scanned subject, and wherein the volumetric image data covers multiple motion cycles of the periodically moving structure of interest. The method further includes estimating inter-image motion between neighboring images of the received volumetric image data. The method further includes registering the received volumetric image data based at least on the estimated inter-image motion. The method further includes generating the higher resolution volumetric image data based on the registered volumetric image data, a super resolution post-processing algorithm, and a point spread function of an imaging system that generated the volumetric image data. The higher resolution volumetric image data has an image resolution that is greater than the lower resolution volumetric image data. |
| US09595072B2 |
Security social network
A security social network allows registered members to participate in providing security. Persons can register and devices can be registered via a security social media web site. When a security event occurs, a member can notify the security social network, which can notify all registered members and registered devices in the area of the event. Mobile communication devices of members in the area can be controlled to turn on respective cameras, video recorders, audio recorders, microphones, or the like. And, remotely operable devices can be controlled to monitor, record, and/or transmit data. Collaboration of security social network members with private security agencies, law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, or the like, can provide comprehensive, timely, and effective security. |
| US09595071B2 |
Document identification and inspection system, document identification and inspection method, and document identification and inspection program
A document classification and inspection system obtains digital information recorded in plural computers or servers, extracts a document from document information configured by plural documents, included in the obtained digital information, calculates a score indicating the strength of connection between the document and a classification code for the extracted document in a time-series manner, detects a time-series score change from the calculated score, and inspects the degree of relevance between an inspection case and the extracted document from the detected time-series score change. |
| US09595070B2 |
Systems, apparatus and methods for managing demand-response programs and events
Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat acquires various information about the residence, such as a thermal retention characteristic of the residence, a capacity of an HVAC associated with the residence to cool or heat the residence, a likelihood of the residence being occupied, a forecasted weather, a real-time weather, and a real-time occupancy. Such information is used to manage the energy consumption of the structure during a demand-response event. |
| US09595069B2 |
Contextual connection recommendation in a social network
A system and method for contextual connection recommendation includes obtaining, with a processor from a database, contextual data and social graph data related to a pair of members of a social network who are not currently connected on the social network. A connection base score between the pair of members is generated based on the social graph data. A recommendation modifier is generated based on the contextual data. A connection recommendation modified score is determined by applying the recommendation modifier to the base score. A connection recommendation is provided to at least one of the pair of members based, at least in part, on the connection recommendation modified score. |
| US09595063B2 |
Locating products in stores using voice search from a communication device
A user can locate products by dialing a number from any phone and accessing an automatic voice recognition system. Reply is made to the user with information locating the product using a store's product location data converted to automatic voice responses. smart phone and mobile web access to a product database is enabled using voice-to-text and text search. A taxonomy enables product search requests by product descriptions and/or product brand names, and enable synonyms and phonetic enhancements to the system. Search results are related to products and product categories with concise organization. Relevant advertisements, promotional offers and coupons are delivered based upon search and taxonomy elements. Search requests generate dynamic interior maps of a products location inside the shoppers' location, assisting a shopper to efficiently shop the location for listed items. Business intelligence of product categories enable rapid scaling across retail segments. |
| US09595061B1 |
Cloud-based platform integrating point of sale devices of different types and/or formats
A device may receive information regarding a product order via a web portal. The product order may relate to a take-out or delivery of a food product. The device may identify a store location associated with fulfilling the product order. The device may select a store configuration, from a set of store configurations associated with a set of store locations, for the store location associated with fulfilling the product order based on identifying the store location. The device may perform, based on information associated with the particular type of POS device, one or more data conversions on data identifying the product order to generate a converted product order. The converted product order may be associated with a format compatible with the particular type of POS device. The device may store the converted product order in a queue associated with the store location. |
| US09595058B2 |
Near-field communication (NFC)-based retail experience using a retail kiosk or mobile device
A customer is provided with a personalized retail experience using a retail kiosk or mobile device that is enabled for near-field communication (NFC). The kiosk is provided with customer identifying information through an NFC-based communication with a customer's user device. The kiosk authenticates the customer based on the identifying information, retrieves retail information associated with the customer from a back-end server, and provides the personalized retail experience using the retrieved information. In one example, the personalized retail experience is provided based on customer-input received through an NFC reader of the kiosk. Also, the mobile device can be provided with a retail store identifier through an NFC-based communication link with an NFC tag for the store. The personalized retail experience can then be provided through the mobile device based on retail information for the retail store that is retrieved by the mobile device based on the identifier obtained through NFC. |
| US09595056B2 |
Method and system to automatically qualify a party to participate within a network-based commerce transaction
A method and system to automatically qualify a party to participate within a network-based commerce transaction is described. The system receives information from a first party. The information relates to an item to be transacted via a network-based commerce system. The system transmits the information that relates to the item to a second party and receives, from the second party, a request to be qualified to transact the item via the network-based commerce system. The system further transmits, to the first party, a communication comprising information that is related to the second party including a credit score related to the second party. The system further receives, from the first party, a response that corresponds to the communication and automatically performs an authorization process based on the response. |
| US09595055B2 |
Feedback service
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing and interacting with a feedback service. A processor such as a computing system or a server computer can execute a feedback service. The feedback service can detect activity associated with an item at a user device. The item can be an item for sale and the activity can relate to a purchase of the item. The feedback service can generate a social networking post relating to the item. The social networking post can include a visual representation of the item and a solicitation for feedback from a social network. The feedback service can provide feedback relating to the social networking post. The feedback can include an opinion relating to the item and demographic information relating to an entity that provided the opinion. The feedback service can provide the feedback to the user device and/or other entities. |
| US09595054B2 |
Resource management for cloud computing platforms
A system for managing allocation of resources based on service level agreements between application owners and cloud operators. Under some service level agreements, the cloud operator may have responsibility for managing allocation of resources to the software application and may manage the allocation such that the software application executes within an agreed performance level. Operating a cloud computing platform according to such a service level agreement may alleviate for the application owners the complexities of managing allocation of resources and may provide greater flexibility to cloud operators in managing their cloud computing platforms. |
| US09595051B2 |
Systems and methods for providing anonymized user profile data
Embodiments facilitate confidential and secure sharing of anonymous user profile data to improve the delivery of customized content. Embodiments of the invention provide a data appliance to an entity such as a business to convert profile data about the business's customers into anonymous identifiers. A similar data appliance is provided to a content provider in one embodiment to generate identifiers for its user profile data. Because the anonymous identifiers are generated with the same anonymization method, identical identifiers are likely generated from profile data of the same users. Therefore, the identifiers can be used to anonymously match the customers of the business to the users of the content provider. Therefore, data can be shared to improve customized content such as advertisements that the business wishes to place with the content provider without requiring the business to disclose customer data in an unencrypted form, and any non-matched data can remain confidential. |
| US09595049B2 |
Cross-device geolocation sensing to geotarget offers
Provided is a process of distributing offers to non-location-sensing devices based on a geolocation sensed by another device, the process comprising: obtaining a geolocation of a user from a mobile device of the user; associating the geolocation of the user with an identifier of the user in an offers engine; receiving a request for an offer from another computing device of the user, the request including or prompting obtaining data from the other computing device sufficient to identify the user; retrieving the geolocation of the user obtained from the mobile device by identifying the user with the data from the other computing device sufficient to identify the user account; selecting, with the offers engine, a responsive offer based on the geolocation of the user obtained from the mobile device; and sending the responsive offer to the other computing device of the user. |
| US09595042B1 |
System and method for testing airline revenue optimization and related tools or products for travel
Systems and methods are provided for testing and measuring user interactions with respect to one or more changes introduced into a travel distribution platform. A testing module associated with the travel distribution platform can receive client request data and transmit to one or more engines or services of travel distribution platform, instructions and/or code such that the travel distribution platform provides a modified response to the client request data. The testing module can measure the effect and impact of the modified response across a plurality of variables by monitoring subsequent interactions with respect to the travel distribution platform. |
| US09595040B2 |
Integration of an advertising unit containing interactive residual areas and digital media content
Described are systems and methods for dynamic integration and presentation of advertising content and media content. The method includes receiving a request for media content from a remote computing device. The method also includes providing an interactive advertising unit, which comprises a first content layer including the requested media content and a media player, a second content layer including the advertising content, wherein the advertising content comprises video content and website content, and an integration module configured to display the video content to match the boundaries of the media player, extend the display area of the video content, reduce the display area of the video content after a period of time, display the website content in an area outside of the boundaries of the media player, and display the requested media content in the media player. The method also includes transmitting the interactive advertising unit for presentation on the remote computing device. |
| US09595035B2 |
Service for exceeding account thresholds via transaction machine
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service for exceeding account thresholds via a transaction machine. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves an account, a transaction machine, and a holder of the account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an exceeded threshold as a result of the transaction; (c) prompting, via the transaction machine, the holder to consent to the exceeded threshold; (d) receiving the holder's consent to the exceeded threshold; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the receiving the holder's consent. |
| US09595025B2 |
Sorting mobile banking functions into authentication buckets
Embodiments are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for sorting mobile banking functions into authentication buckets. Embodiments determine, for each of a plurality of mobile banking functions, a corresponding authentication buckets, where each authentication bucket corresponds with a level of authentication. Some embodiments receive a request, from a user, to access a function; access the plurality of authentication buckets to determine which of the authentication buckets corresponds with the requested function; determine the level of authentication associated with the determined authentication bucket; determine which authentication types are associated with the level of authentication; request authentication credentials corresponding to the authentication types; receive authentication credentials from the user; validate the authentication credentials, thereby resulting in a successful validation of the authentication credentials; and, in response to the successful validation of the authentication credentials, enable access to the function requested by the user. |
| US09595023B1 |
System and method for facilitating programmatic verification of transactions
Systems and methods for programmatic access of a financial institution system. A normalized API request provided by an application system specifies user information corresponding to at least one account endpoint of an external financial institution system. Responsive to the request, at least one application proxy instance associated with the normalized API request is used to collect transaction information from a corresponding financial institution system by providing the financial institution system with a proprietary API request that specifies at least account credentials associated with the user information. The transaction information is included in at least one proprietary API response provided by the financial institution system. A normalized API response is generated based on the collected transaction information and provided to the application system. Each application proxy instance is constructed to simulate an application of the corresponding financial institution system on behalf of a user associated with the application proxy instance. |
| US09595016B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic workforce optimization
A business can use an improved workforce management system which includes capabilities for supporting intraday dynamic staffing. This dynamic staffing can include identifying wages which should be offered to workers to induce them to meet the business' needs, based on, for example, historical information stored in a database. Systems which include dynamic intraday staffing can be run using remote servers and interfaces accessed through various types of devices, such as internet enabled personal computers. |
| US09595014B1 |
System and method for executing workflow instance and modifying same during execution
A system and method according to which a workflow instance is modified during the execution thereof. In several exemplary embodiments, the workflow instance is an automated business process and the modifier of the workflow instance is a client user, such as a business user or analyst. In several exemplary embodiments, the workflow instance may be directed to assigning airline flights for crew members, routing aircraft, generating airline flight numbers, assigning airline flights for equipment, or any combination thereof. |
| US09595012B2 |
Method for improving the environmental impact of formulated products
Disclosed are methods for developing a product having a relatively benign environmental impact. The methods evaluate the environmental hazard of various chemical components in formulated products and identify improvements in environmental safety based on those evaluations. Environmental criteria are in part developed based on three factors including; persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. One method includes obtaining a preliminary formula for a product, wherein the preliminary formula includes a plurality of chemical components, identifying at least one different chemical component that is capable of being substituted for the chemical component in the preliminary formulation and determining an environmental performance score for the chemical component and the different chemical component and determining an environmental performance score of the preliminary formula and a second formula, wherein the second formula utilizes the different chemical component. The formula having the highest environmental performance score is selected as the product. A second method includes tracking the use of chemical components in an existing product portfolio offered or sold by a business unit or a company, in which existing products having the lowest environmental performance scores would be targeted for replacement by reformulated products having higher environmental scores in order to improve the environmental performance of the business unit or company. |
| US09595010B2 |
Graphical travel system for the internet
A graphical user interface for a travel system allows the beginning and end points to be selected, and then displays a line indicating the travel, and calculates fares. |
| US09595009B2 |
Code reviewer selection in a distributed software development environment
Embodiments of the present provide a method, system and computer program product for reviewer selection during distributed software development. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for reviewer selection during distributed software development can include receiving a request to review a module of source code stored in a source code repository and managed by an IDE executing in memory of a computer. The method also can include retrieving meta-data for the module of source code referencing different collaborators previously accessing the module of source code in the IDE. The method yet further can include ranking the collaborators according to at least one user centric characteristic of the module of source code. Finally, the method can include selecting a highest ranked one of the collaborators to review the module of source code. |
| US09595008B1 |
Systems, methods, apparatus for evaluating status of computing device user
Methods, systems and apparatus for assessing the likely user status of a client computing device interacting with a server where the computing device is in bi-directional operative communication with the server, wherein the likely user status is one of a human operator or a computer executable program such as a “bot”. By presenting issued data from the server to the client computing device and monitoring at least some of the data generated at the client computing device in response to the issued data, a comparison can be made between the monitored data and model data relating to human interaction with or in response to the issued data. The results of the comparison can lead to a value that represents the likelihood that the monitored data results from human interaction with or in response to the issued data. Modeled data includes, but is not limited to, data indicative of human interaction with a computing environment, whether active or passive. |
| US09595001B2 |
ROM tag having improved reading capability
A communication device designed to operate on any type of surface, when affixed onto that surface, comprising: a magnet having a flat face, said magnet generating a magnetic field perpendicular to said flat face and a RFID on metal tag having a mounting base fixedly assembled on said flat face of the magnet. |
| US09594999B2 |
Information carrying card comprising crosslinked polymer composition, and method of making the same
The disclosure provides a core layer for an information carrying card, resulting information carrying card, and methods of making the same. A core layer for an information carrying card comprises at least one thermoplastic layer having at least one cavity, an inlay layer, and, and a crosslinked polymer composition. At least one portion of the inlayer layer is disposed inside the at least one cavity of the at least one thermoplastic layer. The crosslinked polymer composition is disposed over the at least one thermoplastic layer and contacting the inlayer layer. |
| US09594998B2 |
Radio frequency identification tag with hardened memory system
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for RFID tags with hardened memory, where the memory comprises a plurality of one time programmable (OTP) non-volatile memory locations for storing data, wherein the plurality of OTP non-volatile memory locations are configured to emulate a hardened memory system that retains data stored in the OTP non-volatile memory locations, wherein the data stored is retained after exposure of the RFID tag to an ionizing radiation exposure with an exposure level greater than 25 kGy. |
| US09594993B2 |
Two dimensional barcode and method of authentication of such barcode
A method is disclosed for creating a 2D barcode. In an embodiment, the method includes: embedding primary information that can be read by a 2D-barcode-reader in a primary information pattern, and embedding secondary information that is made difficult to reproduce without alteration in a visible pattern. In an embodiment, the visible pattern is embedded within the barcode in at least one area that does not contain any primary information. |
| US09594991B2 |
Method, reader and system for finding objects
In an object finding method for finding an object (20) provided with a contactless readable data carrier (2), descriptive data (INF) stored in the data carrier (2) are transmitted to a reading device (1) when the data carrier (2) comes into the effective area of the reading device (1). In the reading device (1) the descriptive data (INF) received from the data carrier (2) are compared with predefined profile data (PRO) in respect of the fulfillment of at least one comparison condition. Upon fulfillment of the comparison condition the reading device (1) subsequently issues a notification (TRIG). |
| US09594989B2 |
Image-processing device determining dot formation state of target pixel by using gradation value of target pixel
In an image-processing device, the controller determines a dot formation state of a target pixel in an image. The determination is performed alternately with a forward process and a reverse process while sequentially selecting each of pixel lines in an order progressing in a first direction. A second pixel density of a second image of a second color is smaller than a first pixel density of a first image of a first color. In the determination, each of the line processes is one of at least two of a first type line process, a second type line process, a third type line process, and a fourth type line process. Line processes are performed for a first unit area in a first pattern. Line processes are performed for a second unit area in a second pattern different from the first pattern. |
| US09594988B2 |
Printing system, printing control apparatus, printing apparatus and method for generating a band compressed image data and print command includes selection of omitting untransmitted data set
The printing control apparatus compares, when printing a bit image, a data set of a transmitted compressed image data to a data set of an untransmitted compressed image data, omits transmission of the data set in the subsequent compressed image data when the data sets coincide with each other, and notifies the printing apparatus that transmission of the data set has been omitted with setting in a printing command. The printing apparatus holds the compressed image data in which the data set has been omitted, and, when it is notified that transmission of the part of the data set has been omitted, generates the bit image by reusing a part of the already existing data set and developing the held compressed image data. |
| US09594986B2 |
Inkjet printer correcting image data based on calculated inkjet head displacement and inter-pixel distances
There is provided a distance calculator configured to calculate an amount of displacement of an inkjet head in the main scanning direction, and an inter-pixel distance between neighboring pixels adjacent in the main scanning direction, based on read-in test pattern image data (test image data) read from an original subjected to printing based on test pattern image data printed by discharging from a plurality of nozzles, and an image processor configured to correct image data included in a received print job so as to increase, in accordance with the amount of displacement, the amount of ink to be discharged from nozzles corresponding to positive correction target pixels whose calculated inter-pixel distance exceeds an inter-pixel threshold value (a predetermined distance). |
| US09594984B2 |
Business discovery from imagery
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method includes training a deep neural network using training images and data identifying one or more business storefront locations in the training images. The deep neural network outputs tight bounding boxes on each image. At the deep neural network, a first image may be received. The first image may be evaluated using the deep neural network. Bounding boxes may then be generated identifying business storefront locations in the first image. |
| US09594980B1 |
Image acquisition user interface for linear panoramic image stitching
A system and method that allows the capture of a series of images to create a single linear panoramic image is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image, dynamically comparing a previously captured image with a preview image on a display of a capture device until a predetermined overlap threshold is satisfied, generating a user interface to provide feedback on the display of the capture device to guide a movement of the capture device, and capturing the preview image with enough overlap with the previously captured image with little to no tilt for creating a linear panorama. |
| US09594978B2 |
Temporally adaptive processing
A method of image processing for finding a target in a scene includes receiving a series of images from a sensor and computing a background relative velocity in the series of images. The method further includes estimating a hypothesized target relative velocity of the target in the series of images. The method further includes computing a target revisit time based on a difference of the target relative velocity and the background relative velocity. The method further includes adjusting one or more of a frame capture rate or a frame processing rate based on the target revisit time. |
| US09594975B2 |
Image processing device and spinal canal evaluation method
To provide an image processing device and a spinal canal evaluation method that can evaluate the spinal canal stenosis in an identified cross-sectional position, the image processing device 100 extracts a vertebral region from a series of tomographic images in which at least a part of the spine was scanned and calculates a length in the anteroposterior direction of an object for each cross section in each vertebral region. Also, a cross section including a spinous process is identified based on the calculated length in the anteroposterior direction of an object in each vertebral region, the spinal canal stenosis is evaluated by setting the identified cross-sectional position to be analyzed, and then the evaluation results are displayed. Hence, stenosis evaluation can be performed for various shapes of the spinal canal region in which a closed space hardly appears on an image due to many gaps. |
| US09594969B1 |
Iris recognition including liveness testing
This disclosure pertains to iris recognition including liveness testing. A device may perform iris recognition with testing to check liveness. Sensing circuitry in the device may comprise an IR sensor and IR emitter to generate a uniform IR emission and a pulsed IR emission. Sensor data based on the uniform IR emission may be used for iris recognition, which may be confirmed by at least one test confirming that real eyes are being analyzed and not spoof data. For example, a determination may be made as to whether a light reflection is visible in images captured by the IR sensor, whether the light reflection is aligned and/or synchronized with an eye center and/or iris center, whether a portion of the iris visible in the captured images changes from image to image, whether the images show that a pupil of the eye is reactive to the pulsed IR emissions, etc. |
| US09594963B2 |
Determination of object presence and motion state
Foreground feature data and motion feature data is determined for frames of video data acquired from an object region of interest. The frames are labeled as “object present” if the determined foreground feature data value meets a threshold value, else as “object absent; and as “motion present” if the motion feature data meets a motion threshold, else as “static.” The labels are used to classify segments of the video data comprising groups of consecutive video frames, namely as within a “no object present” segment for groups with “object absent” and “static” labels; within a “object present and in transition” segment for groups “object present” and “motion present” labels; and within a “object present and stopped” segment for groups with “object present” and “static” labels. The presence or motion state of an object at a time of inquiry is thereby determined from the respective segment classification. |
| US09594962B2 |
Imaging processing system and method and management apparatus
An imaging processing system includes one or more image capturing apparatuses, a reading unit configured to read biometric information from an authentication object person, a similarity calculation unit configured to calculate similarity based on a result of comparing biometric information read by the reading unit with true biometric information of the authentication object person, an authentication unit configured to perform authentication based on a comparison between the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit and a preliminarily set threshold, and a control unit configured to control, if the authentication performed by the authentication unit is successful, imaging processing, which is performed by the image capturing apparatus, based on the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation unit. |
| US09594957B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying a still image contained in moving image contents
Apparatus for identifying one or more still images in one or more moving image contents. An identifying unit is configured to identify one or more still images included in the moving image contents having one or more features that closely resemble particular features. A display controller is configured to cause the display on a timeline associated with the moving image contents of the location of an identified still image in at least one of the moving image contents. |
| US09594954B1 |
System including an automated banking machine and at least one wearable computer device worn by an individual for identifying data on a bill dispensed from the automated banking machine
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a reader configured to read identifying data from currency bills dispensed from the machine. A wearable computer device configured to be worn by an individual, includes at least one wearable reader that reads identifying data from currency bills. The wearable device is configured to read bill indicia from bills received by an individual while wearing the device. The wearable device is operative to cause a bill source comparison to be made concerning whether identifying data read from a received currency bill corresponds to a bill previously dispensed from the machine. The wearable device is also configured to cause a bill genuineness determination to be made responsive to read bill indicia. |
| US09594953B2 |
Approval system and approval method
To provide an approval system associated with an approval workflow that identifies a signature document. A document management server for managing document data is connected with a client terminal (CLT) via an in-house LAN. Also, a seal to be affixed to a paper containing document specification information establishes a communication to the CLT. The seal reads the document specification information and user's fingerprint information and transmits the resulting pieces of information and impression information to the CLT. The document management server receives the document specification information, the fingerprint information and the impression information to confirm a coincidence between the received fingerprint and matching fingerprint and to confirm a coincidence between a set of the received document specification information and the received impression information and a set of matching document specification information and matching impression information, and to notify an approval situation to the CLT. |
| US09594951B2 |
Motor vehicle having a handwriting recognition system
A method operates an input apparatus for an electronic device in a motor vehicle. A sensing device senses a character trace from a user while the latter draws the character trace in order to input a character or a group of characters on an input surface of the sensing device. A first handwriting recognition device performs character recognition for the sensed character trace. A search device searches at least one database for at least one database entry in each case for a recognition result of the character recognition. To allow comprehensible device operation by handwriting recognition in a motor vehicle, the first handwriting recognition device ascertains a plurality of different recognition results for the character trace and the search device searches for at least one database entry in each case for each of the different recognition results. |
| US09594950B2 |
Depth mapping with enhanced resolution
A method for depth mapping includes receiving an image of a pattern of spots that has been projected onto a scene, which includes a feature having dimensions that are less than twice an average distance between the spots in the pattern that is projected onto the feature. The image is processed so as to find a 3D location of the feature by computing three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of points on the feature based on transverse shifts of the spots in the image. The spots appearing on the feature in the 3D location are connected in order to find depth coordinates of the points on the feature with a resolution finer than a depth increment corresponding to a transverse shift equal to the average distance between the spots in the image. |
| US09594949B1 |
Human identity verification via automated analysis of facial action coding system features
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for verifying an identity of an individual based upon facial expressions as exhibited in a query video of the individual are disclosed. The method includes receiving a reference video for each one of a plurality of different individuals, wherein a plurality of facial gesture encoders is extracted from at least one frame of the reference video describing one or more facial expressions of each one of the plurality of different individuals, receiving the query video, calculating a similarity score for the reference video for the each one of the plurality of different individuals based on an analysis that compares the plurality of facial gesture encoders of the at least one frame of the reference video for the each one of the plurality of different individuals to a plurality of facial gesture encoders extracted from at least one frame of the query video. |
| US09594947B1 |
Aspect ratio validation
A technology for aspect ratio validation is provided. An object may be detected in a visual media presentation. The detected object may be compared to a first candidate aspect ratio object of a same class of objects as the object. The detected object may also be compared to a second candidate aspect ratio object, which may also be of a same class of objects as the detected object. A determination may be made as to which of the first and second candidate aspect ratio objects the object corresponds. |
| US09594945B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting eyesight
A method and an apparatus for controlling a display in order to secure an appropriate viewing distance between a digital device and a user who is viewing the digital device is provided. Accordingly, the method determines whether an object exists within a hazardous viewing distance using a 3D camera function provided in the digital device. If it is determined that an object exists within the hazardous viewing distance, the digital device detects a face or eyes from 2D images photographed by the camera. Next, the direction of the face is determined on the basis of the detected results, and it is determined whether a user is viewing a display screen of the digital device based on the determination. If it is determined that a user is viewing a display screen of a digital device, the digital device generates a warning that the user is positioned within a hazardous viewing distance. |
| US09594937B2 |
Optical mark reader
Each data point within a two-dimensional code can be represented by a distribution of spots. Each spot can be made small enough to be invisible to the human eye so that the two-dimensional code can be invisible on or within transparent or nontransparent materials. The spots can be spaced at a large distance to increase the signal-to-noise ratio for an optical code reader. A code reader can be adapted to read the spots and determine the data points. |
| US09594935B2 |
Method for determining a destination call for use by an elevator installation, and an elevator installation
A method for determining a destination call for use by an elevator installation with a control unit and at least one destination call device includes ascertaining several destination calls and making them known to the user by the destination call device. A destination call is selected by a change in position of the user and/or a data communication is activated between the destination call device and a communications unit, which is carried by the user, within a defined range of a radio link section of the destination call device and thereupon a destination call is selected by a change in position of the communications unit inside or outside the radio link section. The selected destination call is communicated to the control unit for serving the destination call. |
| US09594933B2 |
Printable, writeable article for tracking counterfeit and diverted products
A device includes a first reader capable of reading a seed value from an object, a second reader capable of accessing and retrieving an original value from a printed memory attached to the object, a memory in which is stored at least one authentication value, and a processor to generate an authentication value from the seed value, compare the authentication value to the seed value, and determine a status of the object. |
| US09594930B2 |
Extended analog computer apparatus
An extended analog computer includes an electrically conductive material with a plurality of sides. At least one of the sides is isolated from an electrical ground and at least one other side is electrically grounded. A plurality of electrically conductive pins is arranged in the electrical conductor. At least one voltage sensor is arranged in the electrical conductor proximate to the at least one side that is isolated from the electrical ground. |
| US09594922B1 |
Non-persistent shared authentication tokens in a cluster of nodes
Implementations are provided herein for a token to be generated on one node within the cluster of nodes, and then used on any of the nodes to authenticate future client requests that include the token. The basis of the token can be a set of name value pairs that include discriminative information related to the client's user name, access zones, token timestamp, etc. An additional name-value pair or set of pairs can included encryption salt for additional security. The set of name value pairs can then be encrypted, in one implementation, using Advanced Encryption Standard (“AES”) 256 bit key. Each node among the cluster of nodes can have access to the current encryption key. Thus, a single key, or in some implementations, past keys that are still valid, can be used to decrypt received tokens by any node among the cluster of nodes. Once decrypted, the name-value pairs of the decrypted token can be validated. The serialized name-value pairs in the token permit the system to quickly identify and authorize access to the cluster to the token holder. Thus, it can be appreciated that a persistent store of all previously authenticated tokens does not need to be maintained. It can also be appreciated that the process of decrypting and validating the token against can decrease computational costs associated with extensive table lookups. |
| US09594918B1 |
Computer data protection using tunable key derivation function
A computer-implemented method of protecting digital data includes applying a key derivation function to a first value to generate a first derived key, the first value being equal to or derived from a first input password. The first derived key is combined with the digital data to generate a protected record stored in the computer. Subsequently, the key derivation function is applied to a second value to generate a second derived key, the second value being equal to or derived from a second input password. The protected record is processed using the second derived key to permit access to the digital data when the second derived key matches the first derived key. The key derivation function includes iterations of a two-stage hashing operation creating and using an array of memory blocks whose size is specified independently of the number of iterations to decouple processing and memory requirements. |
| US09594914B2 |
Collecting data from processor-based devices
In accordance with some embodiments, information may be collected from processor-based devices after the processor-based devices have already been deployed. Moreover, in some cases, the information that is to be collected, the collection sources, and the handling of the data may be specified after the processor-based devices have already been deployed. |
| US09594913B2 |
System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for analyzing software application modules and provide actionable intelligence on remediation efforts
In different embodiments of the present invention, systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media allow a user to analyze software application modules, during development of the software. The present invention may be used to analyze the software application modules, to identify vulnerabilities and to provide the user with actionable intelligence that may be used to improve the security of the software application modules. The actionable intelligence may include a list or groupings of the vulnerabilities ranked based on severability, type, and/or location. |
| US09594911B1 |
Methods and apparatus for multi-factor authentication risk detection using beacon images
Methods and apparatus are provided for multi-factor authentication of a user using beacon images. Access is provided to a protected resource by receiving a browser request for a beacon image, wherein the beacon image is embedded in an access request page (e.g., a login page) for the protected resource; collecting data in response to the browser request from a device associated with the browser; and providing the data for a risk assessment of the request. The beacon image comprises, for example, a substantially invisible image and can be loaded when the access request page is loaded in the browser or when a user submits credentials in the access request page. |
| US09594905B1 |
Framework for efficient security coverage of mobile software applications using machine learning
For one embodiment, a method is described that involves the instrumenting of an application of a computing system with at least one monitoring function, where the monitoring function is capable of operating in a run-time environment during processing of the instrumented application. The movement of data associated with the application is tracked by one or more monitoring functions. This data is at least partially identified by a storage location. Thereafter, a determination is made whether movement of the data from a first storage location to a second storage location is suspicious, and if so, suspicious movement of the data is reported. |
| US09594902B2 |
Analyzing a password-protected file for malware
A device may receive a password-protected file to be accessed for analysis. The device may identify a contextual term, associated with the password-protected file, to be used as a password to attempt to access the password-protected file. The contextual term may be identified based on at least one of: metadata associated with the password-protected file, metadata associated with a source from which the password-protected file is received, or text associated with the source from which the password-protected file is received. The device may apply the contextual term as the password to attempt to access the password-protected file. |
| US09594901B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for secure access to file system structures
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for securing access to a file system. A directory is established in a hierarchical file structure having access permission defined by a first owner. A subdirectory is established in the directory. A sub-level subdirectory is established in the subdirectory having access permissions defined by a second owner. The subdirectory is publically accessible to anyone satisfying the access permission defined by the first owner, such that a change directory system call is executed for a user in the subdirectory, even though the user has not authenticated the access permission defined by the second owner. |
| US09594900B2 |
Isolating applications hosted by plug-in code
Described is a technology in which one application running in a browser can host another application (e.g., an advertisement) in an isolated manner that prevents the hosted application from accessing browser data, or data of any other hosted application (including the host). The host and/or hosted application may be a browser plug-in (e.g., Microsoft® Silverlight™) application. The host application privately instantiates a hidden plug-in, with that hidden plug-in's access to browser data disabled, and loads the hosted application in the hidden plug-in. A XAML tag element may be used to identify the hosted application, along with a rendering area for the hosted application. Content from the hosted application is composited with content from the host application when rendering. The host application may provide keywords to the hosted application, such as for selecting relevant advertisements, and/or may allow the hosted application to open a browser window to display associated website content. |
| US09594898B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling access to resources and privileges per process
To control privileges and access to resources on a per-process basis, an administrator creates a rule that may be applied to modify a token of a process. The rule may include an application-criterion set and changes to be made to the groups and/or privileges of the token. The rule may be set as a policy within a group policy object (GPO), where a GPO is associated with one or more groups of computers or users. When a GPO containing a rule is applied to a computer, a driver installed on the computer may access the rule(s) anytime a logged-on user executes a process. If the executed process satisfies the criterion set of a rule, the changes contained within the rule are made to the process token, and the user has expanded and/or contracted access and/or privileges for only that process. |
| US09594894B2 |
System and method for enabling a camera used with an electronic device using detection of a unique motion
A biometric recognition system for providing security for an electronic device includes a digital camera for providing a biometric image from a user of the electronic device and a touch screen for entering a user selected screen gesture. A processor is configured for use with the electronic device for comparing the biometric image to biometric image data and the user selected screen gesture with a screen gesture stored in a database. The digital camera can be enabled by providing a definitive movement of the electronic device by the user in a unique motion so to provide secure access to the electronic device when either the biometric image data or screen gesture are authenticated. |
| US09594889B2 |
System and method for remotely assigning and revoking access credentials using a near field communication equipped mobile phone
The present invention is generally directed toward a mobile device that can be used in a secure access system. More specifically, the mobile device can have credential data loaded thereon remotely updated, enabled, disabled, revoked, or otherwise altered with a message sent from, for example, a control panel and/or controller in the system. |
| US09594888B1 |
User authentication device
There is disclosed a user authentication device for issuing authentication information. The user authentication device comprising a photovoltaic panel configured such that the photovoltaic panel can assist in powering the device in response to the device being exposed to the light. |
| US09594887B2 |
Monetized online content systems and methods and computer-readable media for processing requests for the same
One aspect of the invention provides a computer system having processing and memory means operable to provide a monetized online content system. The computer system is coupled to one or more resource modules each having data in the memory means and includes: an interceptor module configured to receive a request from a client for one or more resources available from one or more resource modules, refer the request to one or more of the resource modules configured to fulfill the request, receive one or more responses from one or more of the resource modules, at least one of said one or more responses having one or more events associated therewith, and transform the one or more responses by removing the one or more events associated with the one or more responses prior to presentation of the one or more responses to the client. |
| US09594872B2 |
Method and system for concept-based terminology management
A method for implementing an interface terminology is described, the interface terminology comprising concepts and descriptions, a description being an alternative way to express a concept. The interface terminology also may include a plurality of domains, wherein each concept is unique within a domain. The method may include the steps of: storing a plurality of concepts in a database; storing a plurality of descriptions in a database; linking each description to a respective concept; storing an external code set in a database, the external code set comprising a plurality of external codes; and mapping an external code to a concept. The steps may occur via database table mapping. The method also may include deploying a front-end file, the front-end file comprises a link between the descriptions and the external code set. |
| US09594870B2 |
Time-warped background signal for sequencing-by-synthesis operations
Methods for analyzing signal data generated by sequencing of a polynucleotide strand using a pH-based method of detecting nucleotide incorporation(s). In an embodiment, the method comprises formulating a function that models the output signal of a representative empty well of a reactor array. A time transformation is applied to the empty well function to obtain a time-warped empty well function. The time-warped empty well function is fitted to an output signal from the loaded well representative of a flow that results in a non-incorporation event in the loaded well. The fitted time-warped empty well function can then be used to analyze output signals from the loaded well for other flows. |
| US09594869B2 |
Genetically engineered microbes and uses thereof
This invention concerns methods of identifying genetic alterations with which a microbe can be used to produce fatty acids at a large amount for making biofuels. Also disclosed are microbes with such genetic alterations and uses thereof. |
| US09594865B2 |
Distribution of power vias in a multi-layer circuit board
One aspect is a method that includes identifying, by a power via placement tool executing on a processor of a circuit design system, a source and a sink of a voltage domain of a multi-layer circuit board based on a design file defining a layout of the multi-layer circuit board. A number of power vias to support a maximum current demand from the source to the sink is determined. Positions of a plurality of the power vias are determined at locations of the multi-layer circuit board forming paths through the power vias between the source and the sink and having a substantially equal total path length through each total path defined between the source and the sink through at least one of the power vias. The design file is modified to include the power vias at the positions. |
| US09594856B2 |
System and method to embed behavior in a CAD-based physical simulation
A system, method, and computer readable medium. A method includes receiving a geometric object and corresponding physical object for a CAD model. The method includes executing function code in a behavior object to determine required references of the behavior object. The method includes receiving and storing an assignment of at least one of the required references of the behavior object to the physical object, and storing the geometric object, physical object, and behavior object in the data processing system as associated with the CAD model. The method includes simulating operation of at least part of the CAD model, including executing the behavior object to modify the state of the physical object. |
| US09594847B2 |
Cache longevity detection and refresh
A web server cache performs verification of cached computational results by storing a computed function result as a cached value in a cache, and upon receiving a subsequent invocation of the function, examining a duration of the value in the cache. The web server compares, if the duration exceeds a staleness detection threshold, a result of a subsequent execution of the function to the cached value in response to the subsequent invocation by recomputing, a result from execution of the function for validating the cached value, and flags an error if the duration exceeds the staleness detection threshold and the result differs from the cached value. Alternatively, the method returns, if the duration of the cache value is within the staleness detection threshold, the cache value as the result of the subsequent invocation. |
| US09594845B2 |
Automating web tasks based on web browsing histories and user actions
Embodiments of the invention relate to the automated processing of web tasks to provide information relevant to user tasks based on past user actions and web histories. An aspect of the invention includes a system for automating the processing of web tasks in response to user requests. The system may include a transport router that receives a user task from a transport such as a short messaging system (SMS), an email system, or a telephone system. The system may further include a web task synthesizer that generates a sequence of actions to accomplish the task, typically in the form of a script for execution by a browser automation server. The script is based on past user actions, logs, and web browsing histories. The system compiles the most relevant information from the visited web pages and returns the results to the user. |
| US09594840B2 |
System and method for managing information flow between members of an online social network
An online social network is provided in which members of the online social network control who may view their personal information and who may communicate with them. The members control who may view their personal information by setting a visibility preference. A member may not view another member's full personal profile if the measure of relatedness between the two is greater than the visibility preference of the other member. The members also control who may communicate with them by setting a contactability preference. A member may not communicate with another member if the measure of relatedness between the two is greater than the contactability preference of the other member. |
| US09594829B2 |
Identifying possible contexts for a source of unstructured data
Potential clues are identified from an unstructured data source. The potential clues are each associated with one or more contexts. A first set of potential contexts for the unstructured data source are determined based on the potential clues. A confidence value for each potential context in the set of the potential contexts is calculated based on the potential clues. A second set of potential contexts is returned from the first set of potential contexts. |
| US09594828B2 |
Executing structured queries on text records of unstructured data
Technologies are described herein for executing queries expressed with reference to a structured query language against unstructured data. A user issues a structured query through a traditional structured data management (“SDM”) application. Upon receiving the structured query, an SDM driver analyzes the structured query and extracts a data structure from the unstructured data, if necessary. The structured query is then converted to an unstructured query based on the extracted data structure. The converted unstructured query may then be executed against the unstructured data. Results from the query are reorganized into structured data utilizing the extracted data structure and are then presented to the user through the SDM application. |
| US09594827B2 |
System and method of dynamic, encrypted searching
This disclosure relates to personalized and dynamic server-side searching techniques for encrypted data. Current so-called ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems (i.e., systems where the server has ‘zero-knowledge’ about the client data that it is storing) utilize servers that hold encrypted data without the decryption keys necessary to decrypt, index, and/or re-encrypt the data. As such, the servers are not able to perform any kind of meaningful server-side search process, as it would require access to the underlying decrypted data. Therefore, such prior art ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems provide a limited ability for a user to search through a large dataset of encrypted documents to find critical information. Disclosed herein are communications systems that offer the increased security and privacy of client-side encryption to content owners, while still providing for highly relevant server-side search-based results via the use of content correlation, predictive analysis, and augmented semantic tag clouds for the indexing of encrypted data. |
| US09594823B2 |
Data relationships storage platform
A data relationships storage platform for analysis of one or more data sources is described herein. A data processing system may be communicatively coupled to one or more data sources and one or more big-data databases. One or more collectors may collect data pieces from the one or more data sources. One or more analyzer may analyze the collected data pieces to determine whether one or more relationships exist between the collected data pieces. The analysis results in one or more data globs that include one or more of the data pieces and relationship information, such as tags. The tagged data globs may be communicated to and stored in one or more big-data databases. |
| US09594821B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing how data is stored in different data stores
A method (and corresponding equipment and computer programs) by which a first and second device (11 12) synchronize how data is organized as folders in respective first and second data stores (11c 12c) maintained by the devices (11 12) based on exchanging messages (21) including data identification elements (28 29) that refer to the folders, with the data identification elements (28 29) provided in the message external to any reference to data units; or, more generally, based on the first device sending a message to the other and including in the message information about data in the first data store and also information about a change in the data structure of the first device, wherein the information about the data in the first data store is placed in the message in an element different from the element where the information about a change in the data structure is placed. |
| US09594820B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for synchronizing a group of data objects
An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates synchronization of a group of data objects. Batches of data objects are iteratively processed. When a synchronization response indicates that the data of the request is unsynchronizable, data associated with the synchronization request is marked. A retry procedure is subsequently utilized to attempt synchronization of the marked data objects and to determine the individual data objects that cannot be synchronized. |
| US09594813B2 |
Strategies for result set processing and presentation in search applications
In searching electronic documents, prior to executing a query, a reviewer indicates whether a result set of the query will be dynamic or static. The query is then executed on the electronic documents to obtain an original result set, which is provided to the reviewer through a user interface. Upon determining that one or more changes to one or more of the electronic documents have occurred, and if the result set is static, then the original result set continues to be provided to the reviewer without re-executing the query. If the result set is dynamic, then the query is re-executed on the electronic documents to obtain an updated result set, and the updated result set is provided to the reviewer through the user interface. The original result set may be associated with a search session and/or may be a random sample of the electronic documents for an overview query. |
| US09594811B2 |
Method and system for limiting database access results
A method includes generating a request for data sets in a database via a user interface, modifying the request as a function of a number, n, of data sets visible in the user interface, sending the modified request to the database for execution, and receiving n data sets from the database responsive to the modified request to display on the user interface. |
| US09594805B2 |
System and method for aggregating and integrating structured content
The present invention provides a centralized system and method for accessing, organizing, personalizing, and managing structured content located in disparate structured content systems. Structured content embedded within a particular system may be organized with structured content from other structured content systems. A processing module accesses the structured content located in the structured content systems using a conduit application programming interface. The processing module uses a display application programming interface to communicate with requesting systems. Metadata regarding the structured content is stored in a repository and the structured content may be used and viewed on a plurality of requesting systems. |
| US09594803B2 |
Parallel processing database tree structure
Database system comprising nodes configured in a tree structure is disclosed. The system includes a shared metadata store on the root node. Child nodes may request metadata from their ancestors. Parents will forward the request upward until the metadata is found or the root node is reached. |
| US09594801B2 |
Systems and methods for allocating work for various types of services among nodes in a distributed computing system
In a distributed computing system, the allocation of workers to tasks can be challenging. In embodiments described herein, nodes in such a system can execute takeover algorithms that provide efficient, automated, and stable allocation of workers to tasks. |
| US09594797B2 |
Data quality assessment
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system assesses the quality of column data. The system assigns a pre-defined domain to one or more columns of the data based on a validity condition for the domain, applies the validity condition for the domain assigned to a column to data values in the column to compute a data quality metric for the column, and computes and displays a metric for a group of columns based on the computed data quality metric of at least one column in the group. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for assessing the quality of column data in substantially the same manners described above. |
| US09594796B2 |
Storage apparatus and data management method
A storage apparatus and data management method capable of utilizing storage resources effectively is proposed. A storage apparatus storing primary data and analysis data obtained based on the primary data as a result of the execution of specified analysis processing by an external computing system is designed so that metadata of the analysis data includes regeneratable attribute information indicating whether or not the corresponding analysis data can be regenerated by means of the analysis processing by the external computing system; and a control unit regularly or irregularly selects the analysis data, which satisfies a specified condition and can be regenerated, based on the metadata for each piece of the analysis data and deletes the selected analysis data from one or more storage devices. |
| US09594794B2 |
Restoring records using a change transaction log
In one embodiment of the method, a first transaction is generated for deleting a record from a table of a database. In response the record is deleted from the table. Further in response to the generation of the first transaction, a copy of data of the record is stored in an entry of a transaction log before the record is deleted from the table. An instruction is then generated, and in response the record is restored to the table after the record is deleted, wherein the record is restored in the table using the copy of the data in the transaction log entry. |
| US09594793B2 |
Supporting linked multi-user decision making in environments with constrained shared resources
Embodiments of the present invention manage multiple requests to allocate real world resources in a multi-user environment. A request for interacting with a database environment comprising records of allocations of a plurality of resources is received from a user in a plurality of users. The database environment is shared between the plurality of users. A set of action choices available for the request is provided to the user via the user interface. A set of resources required by each action choice is identified. The set of resources is associated with a decision context. The decision context exists for a period of time. The set of resources are allocated to the user for a duration of the decision context. The allocating prevents the set of resources from being allocated to other users for the duration of the decision context irrespective of a set of actions performed by the other users. |
| US09594791B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for analyzing movements of target entities
The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for providing a location information analytics mechanism. The location information analytics mechanism is configured to analyze location information to extract contextual information (e.g., profile) about a mobile device or a user of a mobile device, collectively referred to as a target entity. The location information analytics mechanism can include analyzing location data points associated with a target entity to determine features associated with the target entity, and using the features to predict attributes associated with the target entity. The set of predicted attributes can form a profile of the target entity. |
| US09594790B2 |
System and method for evaluating claims to update a record from conflicting data sources
A system and method for evaluating claims from sources to update database records. A trust score is developed for each source. If a source submits a claim, the trust score for that source and the value of the claim are evaluated against prior conflicting claims. If the current claim is deemed the most likely, then it is adopted as provisional “truth”. If not, the current claim is rejected. |
| US09594783B2 |
Index selection for XML database systems
A method, computer-implemented system, and computer program product for creating indexes over XML data managed by a database system are provided. The method, computer-implemented system, and computer program product provide for receiving a workload for the XML data, the workload including one or more database statements, utilizing an optimizer of the database system to enumerate a set of one or more path expressions by creating a virtual universal index based on the workload received and matching a path expression to the virtual universal index, and recommending one or more path expressions from the set of one or more candidate path expressions to create the indexes over the XML data. |
| US09594781B2 |
Estimation of query input/output (I/O) cost in database
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for calibrating and using a stable storage model. An embodiment operates by generating, by a central computer, an access request for a stable storage, wherein the access request comprises a plurality of page accesses; measuring a cost to execute the access request on the stable storage; amortizing the cost over the plurality of page accesses; and calibrating, by the central computer, a stable storage model based on the amortized cost. |
| US09594778B1 |
Dynamic content systems and methods
A dynamic content system integrates dynamic and static content through entry of physical table and field structures and creating metadata describing the physical structures. A formula engine with a cascading formula detection engine calculates fields, and a dynamic meta-assembly engine dynamically generates code for the dynamic content. A dynamic meta-reporting engine with a dynamic meta-query engine reports content. An access control engine and workflow engine integrate into the dynamic content system to provide content permissions and routing. |
| US09594774B2 |
Estimating depth from a single image
During a training phase, a machine accesses reference images with corresponding depth information. The machine calculates visual descriptors and corresponding depth descriptors from this information. The machine then generates a mapping that correlates these visual descriptors with their corresponding depth descriptors. After the training phase, the machine may perform depth estimation based on a single query image devoid of depth information. The machine may calculate one or more visual descriptors from the single query image and obtain a corresponding depth descriptor for each visual descriptor from the generated mapping. Based on obtained depth descriptors, the machine creates depth information that corresponds to the submitted single query image. |
| US09594772B2 |
Multi-modal journey planner
A method, system, computer program product and computer program for generating a multi-modal journey itinerary comprising: receiving, from a user, a desired destination; determining the user's current location; determining the user's current mode of transport; accessing a multi-modal route graph; determining, in response to determining the user's current location and of determining the user's current mode of transport, a user's position in the multi-modal route graph; and calculating, in response to determining the user's position in the multi-modal route graph, a multi-modal journey itinerary from the user's position in the multi-modal route graph to the desired destination. |
| US09594771B2 |
System for analysis and geospatial visualization
A system for analysis and geospatial visualization includes a database of human geography data, a social media data engine, a network of information concerning disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and a database of research, software code and academic publications. The system also includes an analysis engine using the data generated by the database of human geography data, the social media data engine, the network of information concerning disaster relief and humanitarian assistance and the database of research, software code and academic publications to identify information. A graphical user interface displays the information identified by the analysis engine, the graphical user interface providing a mapping centric focus applying the information identified by the analysis engine within the context of a geospatial environment. |
| US09594767B2 |
Providing access to documents of friends in an online document sharing community based on whether the friends' documents are public or private
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for providing access to documents of friends in an online document sharing community based on whether the friends' documents are public or private. A request is received from a requesting participant computer for a page. A determination is made, from participant information for the requesting participant, friends of the requesting participant and participant information in the database for the determined friends. A further determination is made of documents owned by the friends. A further determination is made as to whether document information for the determined documents owned by the friends indicates the documents as public or private. The page includes information on the friends and access elements to provide access to the content of the determined documents of the friends that are indicated as public. |
| US09594762B2 |
Intelligent file management
In one example, an indication is detected that an application has performed a file operation on a file and a computing system determines whether a datastore includes an association between an application identifier that identifies the application and a file identifier that identifies the file. If not, the association between the application identifier and the file identifier is stored. A computing system also determines whether execution behavior of the application changes when the file is not accessible to the application. Responsive to a change in execution behavior of the application, a status indicator is associated with the file identifier to indicate that the execution behavior of the application changes when the file is not accessible to the application. |
| US09594760B1 |
Systems and methods for archiving email messages
A computer-implemented method for archiving email messages may include 1) identifying a first email message that is subject to archival, 2) determining that the first email message is related to a second email message due to incorporating content that quotes a body of the second email message, and 3) archiving the first email message by (i) creating a data object storing the content that quotes the body of the second email message and (ii) replacing the content that quotes the body of the second email message within the first email message with a reference to the data object. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09594749B2 |
Visually differentiating strings for testing
In one embodiment, a data string test system may use a color-coding system, or other visual marker, to indicate which data strings are ready for testing. The data string test system may calculate a localization test status of a data string. The data string test system may apply a visual marker of the localization test status of the data string to the data string. The data string test system may present the visual marker and the data string to a user. |
| US09594747B2 |
Generation of a semantic model from textual listings
A corpus of textual listings is received and main concept words and attribute words therein are identified via an iterative process of parsing listings and expanding a semantic model. During the parsing phase, the corpus of textual listings is parsed to tag one or more head noun words and/or one or more identifier words in each listing based on previously identified main concept words or using a head noun identification rule. Once substantially each listing in the corpus has been parsed in this manner, the expansion phase assigns head noun words as main concept words and modifier words as attribute words, where possible. During the next iteration, the newly identified main concept words and/or attribute words are used to further parse the listings. These iterations are repeated until a termination condition is reached. Remaining words in the corpus are clustered based on the main concept words and attribute words. |
| US09594746B2 |
Identifying word-senses based on linguistic variations
One or more words are received. A set of frequency of occurrence values of the received word(s) within a set of domain tables is determined. A domain table in the set of domain tables is associated to the received word(s), based on the set of frequency of occurrence values meeting a threshold value. A word-sense of the received word(s) is determined based on a corresponding word-sense in the associated domain table and/or corresponding domain dictionary. |
| US09594743B2 |
Hybrid machine-user learning system and process for identifying, accurately selecting and storing scientific data
A process for identifying, accurately selecting, and storing scientific data that is present in textual formats. The process includes providing scientific data located in a text document and searching the text document using a computer and selecting a plurality of key words and phrases using an algorithm. The selected key words and phrases are matched with a plurality of semantic definitions and a plurality of semantic definition-key words and phrase pairs are created. The created plurality of semantic definition-key words and phrase pairs are displayed to a user via a computer user interface and the user selects which of the created plurality of semantic definition-key words and phrase pairs are accurate. The process also includes storing the selected and accurate semantic definition-key words and phrase pairs in computer memory. |
| US09594740B1 |
Forms processing system
A forms processing system involves at least one processor, storage, an intelligent character, and/or intelligent word, recognition program, multiple selectable forms-scanning templates, an intelligent analysis module, and first and second field-specific dictionaries. The intelligent analysis module will, when analysis of particular content in a first or second field indicates that the particular content may be misspelled or improper or is absent from the respective field-specific dictionary, will attempt to identify a closest fit between the particular content and contents of the respective field-specific dictionary and either: a) automatically replace the particular content with an entry from the respective field-specific dictionary corresponding to the closest fit when a discrepancy is not likely, or b) if there is no closest fit or the particular content is absent, provide an error indication to an operator for operator correction, and store the correction as a new entry within the respective field-specific dictionary. |
| US09594738B2 |
Displaying changes related to pages located before and after a currently displayed page
An information processing apparatus making it possible for a user to easily realize changes in the whole electronic book accompanying an editing operation performed by the user. Changes in the edited electronic book are extracted and displayed on the display unit. The extracted changes are classified into first changes related to pages before a displayed page and second changes related to pages after the displayed page. The changes are caused to be displayed on the page displayed on the display unit such that the changes can be discriminated as any of the first changes or the second changes. |
| US09594737B2 |
Natural language-aided hypertext document authoring
Natural language (NL) processing of NL commands is performed to determine one or more of (i) content to be included in a hypertext document, (ii) a layout for the hypertext document, or (iii) parameters corresponding to behavior of the hypertext document. Performing the NL processing includes: determining assumptions concerning one or both of (a) ambiguities associated with the NL commands or (b) information necessary for creating the hypertext document not specified by the NL commands. The assumptions correspond to the one or more of (i) content to be included in the hypertext document, (ii) the layout for the hypertext document, or (iii) the parameters corresponding to behavior of the hypertext document. Hypertext document code or data for displaying the hypertext document is generated based on the NL processing of the NL commands including the determined assumptions. |
| US09594736B2 |
Display and selection of bidirectional text
Techniques are disclosed for editing bidirectional text, including techniques for creating, selecting, inserting, and copying bidirectional text. The disclosed techniques include a method of inserting a character in bidirectional text. The method includes receiving the character, identifying a caret location at which a visual text insertion caret is positioned in displayed bidirectional text, the caret location separating a left character and a right character having opposite text directions, determining a logical insertion location at which the character is to be stored in a data store, wherein the logical insertion location is based on logical locations of the left and right characters in the data store, a text direction of the received character, and text directions of the left and right characters, and inserting the character into the data store at the logical insertion location. |
| US09594733B2 |
Progress bars showing download progress of objects of a web page and thumbnails indicating where on the web page the objects is going to be displayed
Methods of receiving and displaying a server page and information thereof in an electronic device, particularly a wireless device operating in a slow communication channel. Data representing portions of a plurality of objects included in the page are initially received. Progress bars individually showing reception progress states of the received objects are generated and displayed. User inputs may be receivable for either canceling reception of a particular object, or allowing reception of an object while automatically canceling reception of other objects. The methods thus speed up the process of receiving desired information, particularly during a slow communication channel. |
| US09594731B2 |
WYSIWYG, browser-based XML editor
Computer-implemented methods and computer-readable storage media are disclosed for facilitating browser-based, what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editing of an extensible markup language (XML) file. A browser executing on a local computing system is used to access a hypertext markup language (HTML) representation of an extensible markup language (XML) file. The HTML representation includes a plurality of elements of the XML file formatted in accordance with an extensible stylesheet language (XSL) transform associated with the XML file. A plurality of editing handlers is inserted within the HTML representation to facilitate modifying the HTML representation and applying the changes to the XML file. A user is permitted to modify the HTML representation for purposes of applying the modifications to the XML file. |
| US09594726B2 |
Systems and methods for solving computational problems
Solving computational problems may include generating a logic circuit representation of the computational problem, encoding the logic circuit representation as a discrete optimization problem, and solving the discrete optimization problem using a quantum processor. Output(s) of the logic circuit representation may be clamped such that the solving involves effectively executing the logic circuit representation in reverse to determine input(s) that corresponds to the clamped output(s). The representation may be of a Boolean logic circuit. The discrete optimization problem may be composed of a set of miniature optimization problems, where each miniature optimization problem encodes a respective logic gate from the logic circuit representation. A quantum processor may include multiple sets of qubits, each set coupled to respective annealing signal lines such that dynamic evolution of each set of qubits is controlled independently from the dynamic evolutions of the other sets of qubits. |
| US09594723B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for configuration of adaptive integrated circuitry having fixed, application specific computational elements
An adaptive computing engine (ACE) IC includes a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements coupled to an interconnection network. The plurality of heterogeneous computational elements include corresponding computational elements having fixed and differing architectures, such as fixed architectures for different functions such as memory, addition, multiplication, complex multiplication, subtraction, configuration, reconfiguration, control, input, output, and field programmability. In response to configuration information, the interconnection network is operative to configure and reconfigure the plurality of heterogeneous computational elements for a plurality of different functional modes, including linear algorithmic operations, non-linear algorithmic operations, finite state machine operations, controller operations, memory operations, and bit-level manipulations. The preferred system embodiment includes an ACE integrated circuit coupled with the configuration information needed to provide an operating mode. Preferred methodologies include various means to generate and provide configuration information for various operating modes. |
| US09594721B1 |
Datacenter event handling
Systems and methods for handling resources in a computer system differently in certain situations, such as catastrophic events, based upon an assigned layer of the resource to the system. The layer can be based, for example, on criticality of the resource to the system. Services or computing device resources can be physically segregated in accordance with layers and can be managed in accordance with the segregation. In response to receiving information about an event, the different layers can be handled in accordance with their criticality, for example by shutting some of the resources down and/or slowing some of the resources down. |
| US09594714B2 |
Multi-channel storage system supporting a multi-command protocol
Techniques are generally described related to a multi-channel storage system. One example multi-channel storage system may include a plurality of memory-controllers, each memory-controller configured to control one or more storage units. The multi-channel storage system may further include a multi-channel interface having a plurality of input-output (IO) channels; and a channel-controller switch configured to support data communications between any one of the plurality of IO channels and any one of the plurality of memory-controllers. Upon receiving a request instructing using at least two of the plurality of IO channels and at least two of the plurality of memory-controllers, the multi-channel interface of the multi-channel storage system is configured to utilize the channel-controller switch to concurrently transfer data via the at least two of the plurality of IO channels or the at least two of the plurality of memory-controllers. |
| US09594710B2 |
Implementing extent granularity authorization command flow processing in CAPI adapters
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing block extent granularity authorization command flow processing for a Coherent Accelerator Processor Interface (CAPI) adapter. An Application Client builds a command including start LBA and number of LBAs and Child Authorization Handle. The Application Client sends the command directly to the CAPI Adapter via the Application Clients CAPI Server Registers assigned to the specific Application Client. The CAPI adapter validate that the requesting Client is authorized to perform the command using the Authorization Handle and the receiving CAPI Server Register address. The CAPI Adapter executes the validated command and sends completion back to the Application Client. |
| US09594709B2 |
Time and event based message transmission
A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus. |
| US09594698B2 |
Local keying for self-encrypting drives (SED)
A method and system self encrypts a disk storage device. Given a plurality of data storage devices, the system establishes an encryption key for the plurality of data storage devices. The system locally stores the encryption key in a piecewise manner throughout the plurality of data storage devices such that the encryption key is rendered undeterminable with less than a threshold subset of the plurality of data storage devices. This results in the plurality of data storage devices being self encrypting. Upon an increase or decrease in the plurality, the system resplits the encryption key and locally stores the resulting pieces throughout the changed (increased/decreased) plurality of data storage devices. This renders the encryption key undeterminable with less than a new or revised threshold each time the plurality is changed. |
| US09594692B2 |
Sharing data structures between processes by semi-invasive hybrid approach
Techniques herein are for sharing data structures between processes. A method involves obtaining a current memory segment that begins at a current base address within a current address space. The current memory segment comprises a directed object graph and a base pointer. The graph comprises object pointers and objects. For each particular object, determine whether a different memory segment contains an equivalent object that is equivalent to the particular object. If the equivalent object exists, for each object pointer having the particular object as its target object, replace the memory address of the object pointer with a memory address of the equivalent object that does not reside in the current memory segment. Otherwise, for each object pointer having the particular object as its target object, increment the memory address of the object pointer by an amount that is a difference between the current base address and the original base address. |
| US09594690B2 |
Multi-core microprocessor power gating cache restoral programming mechanism
An apparatus includes a device programmer and a stores. The device programmer programs a semiconductor fuse array with compressed configuration data for a plurality of cores disposed on a die. The stores includes a plurality of sub-stores that each correspond to each of the plurality of cores, where one of the plurality of cores is configured to access the semiconductor fuse array upon power-up/reset to read and decompress the compressed configuration data, and to store a plurality of decompressed configuration data sets for one or more cache memories within the each of the plurality of cores in the plurality of sub-stores, and where, following a power gating event, one of the each of the plurality of cores subsequently accesses a corresponding one of the each of the plurality of sub-stores to retrieve and employ the decompressed configuration data sets to initialize the one or more caches. |
| US09594689B2 |
Designated cache data backup during system operation
In an approach for backing up designated data located in a cache, data stored within an index of a cache is identified, wherein the data has an associated designation indicating that the data is applicable to be backed up to a higher level memory. It is determined that the data stored to the cache has been updated. A status associated with the data is adjusted, such that the adjusted status indicates that the data stored to the cache has not been changed. A copy of the data is created. The copy of the data is stored to the higher level memory. |
| US09594688B1 |
Systems and methods for executing actions using cached data
Described herein are systems and methods to execute efficiently a plurality of actions, in which multiple actions require the use of a single data set. The data set is fetched from a data source, across a switching network, to a memory associated with a first compute element. This is the only fetching of the data set from the data source, and the only fetching across a switching network, thereby minimizing fetching across the switching network, reducing the load on the switching network, decreasing the time by which the data set will be accessed in second and subsequent processes, and enhancing the efficiency of the system. In some embodiments, processes are migrated from second and subsequent compute elements to the compute element in which the data set is stored. In some embodiments, second and subsequent compute elements access the data set stored in the memory associated with the first compute element. |
| US09594676B2 |
Configuring and reconfiguring blocks of memory cells to store user data and ECC data
A memory device has a plurality of individually erasable blocks of memory cells and a controller configured to configure a first block of memory cells in a first configuration comprising one or more groups of overhead data memory cells, and to configure a second block of memory cells in a second configuration comprising one or more groups of user data memory cells and at least one group of overhead data memory cells. The first configuration is different than the second configuration. At least one group of overhead data memory cells of the second block of memory cells comprises a different storage capacity than at least one group of overhead data memory cells of the first block of memory cells. |
| US09594675B2 |
Virtualization of chip enables
Virtual chip enable techniques perform memory access operations on virtual chip enables rather than physical chip enables. Each virtual chip enable is a construct that includes attributes that correspond to a unique physical or logical memory device. |
| US09594674B1 |
Method and system for garbage collection of data storage systems using live segment records
Containers of a storage system are scanned, each container containing segments of files, where each file is represented by a file tree having segments in a hierarchical structure. The container live segment records (LSRs) corresponding to one of the containers are created, each of the container LSRs including segment LSRs corresponding to segments contained therein. After the segment LSRs of the container LSRs have been created for all segments of the containers, the segment LSRs of the container LSRs are sequentially traversed based on levels of segments specified in the corresponding segment LSRs to determine and indicate in the corresponding segment LSRs whether the segments are live segments. After all of the segment LSRs of the container LSRs have been traversed, a garbage collection operation is performed to reclaim storage space of segments that are not live segments indicated in the segment LSRs of the container LSRs. |
| US09594671B2 |
System and method for resource modeling and simulation in test planning
A method includes generating a test model based on at least one of test group dependencies and test group constraints and generating a resource base. The method includes generating a cost model and generating a resource allocation plan based on the test model, the resource base, and the cost model. |
| US09594667B2 |
Enhancing weak consistency
Methods to discover weak consistency errors in an application, by executing, by a debugger, a first thread of the application, by, determining that a first instruction in the first thread specifies to store a first value at a first memory address, setting a current value stored in the first memory address as an old value for the first memory address in a container for the first thread, executing the first instruction to store the first value at the first memory address, and setting the first value as a new value for the first memory address in the container for the first thread. The debugger then executes a second thread of the application, by restoring old values in the containers for all other threads and restoring a new value for each memory address specified in a container for the second thread to its respective memory address. |
| US09594666B2 |
Enhancing weak consistency
Systems, methods, and computer program products to discover weak consistency errors in an application, by executing, by a debugger, a first thread of the application, by, determining that a first instruction in the first thread specifies to store a first value at a first memory address, setting a current value stored in the first memory address as an old value for the first memory address in a container for the first thread, executing the first instruction to store the first value at the first memory address, and setting the first value as a new value for the first memory address in the container for the first thread. The debugger then executes a second thread of the application, by restoring old values in the containers for all other threads and restoring a new value for each memory address specified in a container for the second thread to its respective memory address. |
| US09594664B2 |
Correlating multiple disjoint events via an operation identifier
A system and method for correlating asynchronous operations via an operation identifier comprises receiving an originating operation from a first system that indicates a change in the first system and generating a first message with respect to the originating operation. The first message is associated with the operation identifier. The system and method further propagates the first message to a second system, which causes a subsequent operation being associated with the operation identifier to be performed by the second system, and correlates the originating operation and the subsequent operation via the operation identifier. |
| US09594662B2 |
Automated instrumentation of applications
Methods for automatically identifying and instrumenting application classes and methods for a particular application are described. In some embodiments, application code (e.g., bytecode or source code) associated with the particular application may be parsed to identify classes and methods within the application code and to identify terminal components (e.g., methods or function calls) and non-terminal components (e.g., control flow statements). Once the terminal components and non-terminal components have been identified, a complexity model and a corresponding score for each of the classes and methods within the application code may be determined. The complexity model may be used to estimate the number of computations that may be required if a particular class or method is used by the particular application. Application classes and methods corresponding with a score that is greater than a threshold may be instrumented by inserting probes into the identified classes and methods. |
| US09594661B2 |
Method for executing a query instruction for idle time accumulation among cores in a multithreading computer system
Embodiments relate to idle time accumulation in a multithreading computer system. According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method for idle time accumulation in a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a configuration having a plurality of cores and an operating system (OS)-image configurable between single thread (ST) mode and a multithreading (MT) mode in a logical partition. The MT mode supports multiple threads on shared resources per core simultaneously. The method includes executing a query instruction on an initiating core of the plurality of cores. The executing includes obtaining, by the OS-image, a maximum thread identification value indicating a current maximum thread identifier of the cores within the logical partition. The initiating core also obtains a multithreading idle time value for each of the cores indicating an aggregate amount of idle time of all threads enabled on each of the cores in the MT mode. |
| US09594659B2 |
CPU utilization metering on systems that include multiple hardware threads per core
Indicating usage in a system includes implementing a performance counter associated with one or more hardware threads; counting events associated with the one or more hardware threads to determine an event count; deriving an initial measure of usage of a processor core associated with the one or more hardware threads based at least in part on the event count; applying a corrective function to modify the initial measure of usage and determine a modified measure of usage, wherein the modified measure of usage has a value that is different from and not equivalent to the initial measure of usage; and outputting an indication of a processor usage, the indication being based at least in part on the modified measure of usage. |
| US09594657B2 |
Method of analysing memory usage and user terminal performing the same
This application relates to a method of analyzing the memory usage being performed on a user terminal, the user terminal executing a plurality of application objects and the method includes (a) measuring an active virtual memory (AVM) usage being used in the plurality of application objects, (b) determining a physical memory usage from the active virtual memory when measuring the active virtual memory usage and (c) subtracting the physical memory usage from the measured active virtual memory usage to determine a swap unique memory usage. Therefore, it may be possible to efficiently measure the memory usage used only in the swap memory from the active virtual memory. |
| US09594650B2 |
Storage system and a method used by the storage system
Performing failover processing between a production host and a backup host, a storage system is connected to the production host and the backup host. In response to a failure of the production host, metadata is obtained of data blocks that have been cached from an elastic space located in a fast disk of the storage system. A storage capacity of the elastic space is expanded. Data blocks are obtained to which the metadata corresponds according to the metadata and the storage capacity of the expanded elastic space, and storing the same in the expanded elastic space. In response the backup host requesting the data blocks to which the metadata corresponds, and the data blocks to which the metadata corresponds have already been stored in the expanded elastic space, data blocks are obtained to which the metadata corresponds from the expanded elastic space and transmitting the same to the backup host. |
| US09594645B2 |
Protecting data segments in a computing environment
Various embodiments for protecting data segments by a processor device in a computing environment, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, if an error occurs during a replication operation from a source location to a destination location causing at least one of a plurality of data segments to be deleted in the source location, performing: executing a failback operation by a reverse replication process from the destination location to the source location, and regaining ownership of the data segments by the source location; and pursuant to the failback operation, performing: enabling the reverse replication process if an owner of the data segments is a designated one of the destination location, and adding an invalid owner notification in a history table, wherein the failback operation is identified for the designated one of the at least one destination location. |
| US09594644B2 |
Converting a serial transaction schedule to a parallel transaction schedule
A method and system for transforming a serial schedule of transactions into a parallel schedule of transaction is disclosed. In one example, a computer system stores a list of data transactions in a transaction log. The computer system then reads a respective data transaction from the transaction log. The computer system determines whether the respective data transaction is dependent on any other currently pending data transaction. In accordance with a determination that the respective data transaction is not dependent on any other currently pending data transaction, the computer system applies the data changes to a reconstructed data set. In accordance with a determination that the respective data transaction is dependent on a currently pending second data transaction, the computer system delays commitment of the respective data transaction until the second data transaction has been applied to the reconstructed data set. |
| US09594641B2 |
Techniques for updating memory of a chassis management module
A technique for data roll-back includes in response to a first external static memory device being coupled to a first chassis management module and the first chassis management module being coupled to a middle plane board, determining whether the first external static memory device operates normally. In response to the first external static memory device operating normally, a controller of the first chassis management module writes data in the first external static memory device into a non-volatile memory of the first chassis management module to perform data roll-back. |
| US09594640B1 |
Backup/recovery system and method for a computing environment
A backup/recovery system for a computing environment includes a computing device that executes an agent to obtain a recovery plan (RP) comprising one or more provisioning steps to be performed for provisioning a plurality of resources associated with a source computing environment. The RP including configuration information associated with a hardware configuration and a software configuration of a source computing environment functioning at a first operational level in which the configuration information being sufficient to restore a target computing environment to at least a portion of the first operational level of the source computing environment. From this obtained information, the agent translates the configuration information into a specified format, and outputs the translated configuration information to a computer-readable file. |
| US09594636B2 |
Management of data replication and storage apparatuses, methods and systems
The MANAGEMENT OF DATA REPLICATION AND STORAGE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“BDR”) transform machine datasets using BDR components into replications over a network distributing redundant ready-to-use backup files. In some implementations, the disclosure provides a processor-implemented method for managing the replication and storage of data sets. |
| US09594634B2 |
Techniques to efficiently compute erasure codes having positive and negative coefficient exponents to permit data recovery from more than two failed storage units
Erasure code syndrome computation based on Reed Solomon (RS) operations in a Galois field to permit reconstruction of data of more than 2 failed storage units. Syndrome computation may be performed with coefficient exponents that consist of −1, 0, and 1. A product xD of a syndrome is computed as a left-shift of data byte D, and selective compensation based on the most significant bit of D. A product x−1D of a syndrome is computed as a right-shift of data byte D, and selective compensation based on the most significant bit of D. Compensation may include bit-wise XORing shift results with a constant derived from an irreducible polynomial associated with the Galois field. A set of erasure code syndromes may be computed for each of multiple nested arrays of independent storage units. Data reconstruction includes solving coefficients of the syndromes as a Vandermonde matrix. |
| US09594631B2 |
Method and controller for processing data multiplication in RAID system
The invention discloses a method and controller for processing data multiplication in a RAID system. Map tables are generated for all values in a field, respectively. The length of an XOR operation unit is chosen to be appropriate w bits (e.g., 32 bits or 64 bits). One or several XOR operation units form a multiplication unit of a data sector. When computing on-line, data in a disk drive of a disk array are performed with XOR operations in accordance with one of the map tables using an XOR operation unit as one unit while computing on the multiplication unit to obtain a product of multiplication.Making use of the RAID system established according to the disclosed method, only XOR operations are required to compute parity data or recover damaged user data. Moreover, several calculations can be performed simultaneously. Therefore, the efficiency of the RAID system can be effectively improved. |
| US09594626B2 |
Method and device for increasing the data transmission capacity in a serial bus system
A method is described for serial data transmission in a bus system having at least two subscribed data processing units that exchange messages via the bus, the transmitted messages having a logical structure in accordance with CAN standard ISO 11898-1, the logical structure including a start-of-frame bit, an arbitration field, a control field, a data field, a CRC field, an acknowledge field and an end-of-frame sequence, the control field including a data length code, which contains information regarding the length of the data field. When a first switchover condition is satisfied, the data field of the messages, in contrast to CAN standard ISO 11898-1, may comprise more than eight bytes, the values of the four bits of the data length code being interpreted at least partially in deviation from CAN standard ISO 11898-1 for determining the size of the data field when the first switchover condition is satisfied. |
| US09594617B2 |
Method and apparatus for positioning crash
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for positioning crash, for solving the problem of the prior art that the positioning of the cause of the crash cannot be ensured. The method includes: setting monitoring points in a terminal and a test target in advance; monitoring the operation of the test target, and when the test target crashes, acquiring parameters of the monitoring points and parameter values thereof to generate a mirror file, the parameters of the monitoring points including the parameters of the monitoring points in the test target and in the terminal; acquiring the mirror file and viewing the parameters of the monitoring points in the mirror file and the parameter values thereof; analyzing the parameters of the monitoring points and the parameter values thereof and positioning the cause of the crash of the test target. |
| US09594616B2 |
Method for implementing counting control of counter, and network chip
Provided are a method for implementing counting control of a counter in a network chip, and a network chip. The method includes: periodically generating a counting value scanning message; reading a counting value of a corresponding counter item according to the generated counting value scanning message; analyzing and judging whether the read counting value is less than a preset overflow threshold; and informing the processor to handle counting abnormality of the counter when the read counting value is not less than the preset overflow threshold. The system can realize the periodic diagnosis on the counting state of the counter in the network chip by using a packet generator and a message processing engine, so as to prevent the processor from constantly sampling the counter to check the state of the counter, and ensure the calculation performance of the processor. |
| US09594605B2 |
Client-server version control system for software applications
A software version control system manages versioned applications in a client-server computing system environment. Thereby this is a management system for computer application (software) distribution where a number of client devices coupled to a server may be executing different versions of a particular computing application. The system manages updates to the applications and enforces rules or policies to use the most recent version whenever possible. |
| US09594603B2 |
Application-to-application launch windowing
A window management system manages the placement of a window of a target application within a user interface. A source application launches the target application. The window management system arbitrates placement of a window of a target application within the user interface based on a target application placement preference parameter and a source application placement preference parameter. The window management system displays the window of the target application within the user interface according to the arbitrated placement. The window management system can also display a window of the source application within the user interface according to the arbitrated placement. |
| US09594602B1 |
Active folders
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for storing information in folders is disclosed. In some embodiment, this comprises performing a setup process, determining an application and a trigger event based on the results of the setup process, and assigning the determination to a folder stored in a storage device. In some embodiments, a setup process includes gathering information from an email service provider, or other web services provider. In some embodiments, the setup process may gather information on a local application. |
| US09594601B2 |
Planner for cluster management system
A processing device receives a starting cluster layout for a first cluster, a target cluster layout for the first cluster, and a cluster management operation for creating or modifying the first cluster. The processing device determines a plurality of node level tasks to transition the first cluster from the starting cluster layout to the target cluster layout, determines dependencies between the plurality of node level tasks, and determines an order for the plurality of node level tasks based on the cluster management operation and the dependencies. The processing device then creates an execution plan that divides the cluster management operation into the plurality of node level tasks in the determined order. |
| US09594600B2 |
System and method for topology-aware job scheduling and backfilling in an HPC environment
A method for job management in an HPC environment includes determining an unallocated subset from a plurality of HPC nodes, with each of the unallocated HPC nodes comprising an integrated fabric. An HPC job is selected from a job queue and executed using at least a portion of the unallocated subset of nodes. |
| US09594596B2 |
Dynamically tuning server placement
An input is received relative to a user objective. An application placement consideration is established based upon, at least in part, the user objective. A best-fit application placement is dynamically determined for a plurality of applications relative to a plurality of servers based upon, at least in part, the application placement consideration. |
| US09594592B2 |
Dynamic sharing of unused bandwidth capacity of virtualized input/output adapters
An apparatus and program product utilize priority-based bandwidth allocation to reallocate unused bandwidth capacity of a virtualized IO resource such as a self-virtualizing IO resource to one or more virtual functions in an allocation pool based upon priorities assigned to such virtual functions. |
| US09594591B2 |
Dynamic relocation of applications in a cloud application service model
Software that performs the following steps: (i) running a first customer application on a first set of virtual machine(s), with the first customer application including a first plurality of independently migratable elements, including a first independently migratable element and a second independently migratable element; (ii) dynamically checking a status of the first set of virtual machine(s) to determine whether a first migration condition exists; and (iii) on condition that the first migration condition exists, migrating the first independently migratable element to a second set of virtual machine(s) without migrating the second independently migratable element to the second set of virtual machine(s). |
| US09594590B2 |
Application migration with dynamic operating system containers
Methods and systems of migrating applications (105-1 to 105-3) with dynamic operating system containers (205-1, 205-2) are disclosed, in which a number of applications (105-1 to 105-3) currently executed within a first operating system environment are identified for migration to a second operating system environment; a new operating system container (205-1, 205-2) is created within the first operating system environment; the number of identified applications (105-1 to 105-3) are transferred into the operating system container (205-1, 205-2); and the operating system container (205-1, 205-2) is migrated to the second operating system environment. |
| US09594589B2 |
Suspending transactional-memory transactions without stack corruption
A technique for suspending transactional memory transactions without stack corruption. A first function that begins a transactional memory transaction is allocated a stack frame on a default program stack, then returns. Prior to suspending the transaction, or after suspending the transaction but prior to allocating any suspended mode stack frames, either of the following operations is performed: (1) switch from the default program stack to an alternative program stack, or (2) switch from a default region of the default program stack where the first function's stack frame was allocated to an alternative region of the default program stack. Prior to resuming the transaction, or after resuming the transaction but prior to allocating any transaction mode stack frames, either of the following operations is performed: (1) switch from the alternative program stack to the default program stack, or (2) switch from the alternative stack region to the default stack region. |
| US09594587B2 |
Workflow decision management with workflow administration capacities
Methods, systems, and products are provided for workflow decision management. Embodiments include maintaining a device state history; identifying a plurality of device usage patterns in dependence upon the device state history; identifying a plurality of workflow scenarios in dependence upon the device usage patterns; determining a workflow administration capacity in dependence upon the plurality of workflow scenarios; identifying a plurality of workflows in dependence upon the workflow scenario; executing the plurality of workflows in dependence upon the workflow administration capacity. |
| US09594586B2 |
Scale-out method and system
A scale-out method includes: upon detecting that a processing load of a first virtual machine among one or plural virtual machines exceeds a threshold, deploying a second virtual machine that is a new virtual machine; selecting a process that satisfies a predetermined condition based on processing loads of plural processes operating in the first virtual machine; first specifying first information for identifying first software related to selected process; and setting up the first software on the second virtual machine based on the first information. |
| US09594584B2 |
Apparatus and method for mapping of tenant based dynamic processor
An apparatus and a method for mapping of a tenant based dynamic processor, which classify virtual machine multi queues and processors processing the corresponding multi queues for each tenant that one or more virtual machines are belonged to, dynamically map the virtual machine multi queues that belong to the corresponding tenant to multi processors that belong to the corresponding tenant based on total usages of a network and a processor for each tenant to provide network virtualization to assure network traffic processing of virtual machines that belong to the same tenant not to be influenced by congestion of network traffic that belongs to another tenant. |
| US09594581B2 |
Modular virtual machine server
A simple to customize IT infrastructure architecture. The IT infrastructure architecture includes a general-purpose virtualized architecture platform. The IT infrastructure architecture is well suited for delivering simple pre-packaged software solutions to the small business segment as plug and play type appliances. In certain preferred embodiments, the IT infrastructure architecture includes a virtual appliance memory device such as a virtual appliance universal serial bus (USB) key. The IT infrastructure architecture uses embedded server virtualization technology to host business applications as a virtual appliance. |
| US09594578B2 |
Hardware implementation of a virtual machine interpreter
Methods and systems for implementing “virtual machine” interpreters in a hardware component. The virtual machine interpreter may be implemented in the hardware component (e.g., a processor) by configuring the hardware component to include programming language interpreter logic. The hardware component is configured to include multiple logic gates and arrays representing a hardware-based implementation of a virtual machine interpreter. |
| US09594574B2 |
Selecting output destinations for kernel messages
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention to, within a distributed computing environment, identify, in a given kernel source code file for the operating system kernel, a given PRINTK function call having a corresponding message text, the given kernel source code file having a kernel source code file name, calculate a configuration checksum, to assign, add, and store the respective destination and a key comprising the configuration checksum, to load, receive, and identify the name of a given source code file, and to determine, based on the identified name and the text string, a computed destination for the system message by calculating, using the identified name and the text string, a message checksum, and identifying, in the configuration table, an entry having a key equal to the message checksum, and wherein the determined destination comprises the respective destination in the identified entry. |
| US09594573B2 |
Systems and methods of block computation
Systems and methods of block computation are disclosed. An example of a method includes buffering a plurality of tuples in a build phase. The method also includes, after buffering a last of the plurality of tuples, applying a computation to all of the buffered tuples in a compute phase. The method also includes returning results of the computation one tuple at a time to a query processing pipeline in a stream-out phase. |
| US09594569B2 |
Apparatus and method for booting
A method and device for a booting that can reduce a booting time is provided. The method includes loading a snapshot image from a non-volatile memory, setting an initialization of a device, decompressing the loaded snapshot image while the device is initialized, and loading another snapshot image from the non-volatile memory while decompressing the loaded snapshot image. |
| US09594565B2 |
Hardware acceleration of a write-buffering software transactional memory
A method and apparatus for accelerating a software transactional memory (STM) system is described herein. Annotation field are associated with lines of a transactional memory. An annotation field associated with a line of the transaction memory is initialized to a first value upon starting a transaction. In response to encountering a read operation in the transaction, then annotation field is checked. If the annotation field includes a first value, the read is serviced from the line of the transaction memory without having to search an additional write space. A second and third value in the annotation field potentially indicates whether a read operation missed the transactional memory or a tentative value is stored in a write space. Additionally, an additional bit in the annotation field, may be utilized to indicate whether previous read operations have been logged, allowing for subsequent redundant read logging to be reduced. |
| US09594563B2 |
CPU archtecture with highly flexible allocation of execution resources to threads
A CPU architecture is proposed which flexibly allocates chip resources among threads. Execution units (microcores) are arranged in a ring. Instruction fetch units (front-ends) deposit instructions sequentially into storage elements within the microcores. Multiple front-ends can each feed segments of the ring; each such segment is a “smart queue”. If, due to a sustained higher execution rate, a thread catches up to the next thread ahead of it, the slower thread steps aside and lets the faster thread play through. Other circumstances may lead to a thread consuming more than its usual share of resources, possibly even all of the microcores, for a time. The architecture has no instruction set dependencies; it is applicable to existing instruction set architectures and will speed up execution of them significantly as compared to conventional architectures. |
| US09594562B2 |
Extensible execution unit interface architecture with multiple decode logic and multiple execution units
Various circuit arrangements tightly couple together decode logic associated with multiple types of execution units and having varying priorities to enable instructions that are decoded as valid instructions for multiple types of execution units to be forwarded to a highest priority type of execution unit among the multiple types of execution units. Among other benefits, when an auxiliary execution unit is coupled to a general purpose processing core with the decode logic for the auxiliary execution unit tightly coupled with the decode logic for the general purpose processing core, the auxiliary execution unit may be used to effectively overlay new functionality for an existing instruction that is normally executed by the general purpose processing core, e.g., to patch a design flaw in the general purpose processing core or to provide improved performance for specialized applications. |
| US09594560B2 |
Estimating scalability value for a specific domain of a multicore processor based on active state residency of the domain, stall duration of the domain, memory bandwidth of the domain, and a plurality of coefficients based on a workload to execute on the domain
In an embodiment, a processor includes a first logic to calculate a scalability value for a processor domain based at least in part on an active state residency, a stall duration, and a memory bandwidth of the domain, and to determine an operating frequency update for the domain based at least in part on a current operating frequency of the domain and the scalability value. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09594559B2 |
Binary file for computer program having multiple executable code variants for a function that are executable on a same processor architecture
Source code for a function of a computer program is compiled by compilers to generate executable code variants for the function according to different optimization approaches. Each executable code variant is executable on a same processor architecture. A binary file for the computer program is constructed that includes each executable code variant. At runtime of the binary file, one of the executable code variants is selected for the function. The selected executable code variant is used during execution of the computer program, until execution is halted. |
| US09594553B2 |
Identifying semantic differences between source code versions
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for identifying a semantic difference between source code versions. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for identifying a semantic difference between source code versions, comprising: obtaining first debugging information of a first source code version and second debugging information of a second source code version respectively; determining, by comparing the first debugging information with the second debugging information, whether in the second source code version there exists a second function matching a first function in the first source code version; and identifying the semantic difference on the basis of a result of the determining. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for identifying a semantic difference between source code versions. By means of the present disclosure, a semantic difference between various source code versions can be identified rapidly and accurately. |
| US09594546B1 |
Governed application deployment on trusted infrastructure
Techniques are disclosed for governed or constrained deployment of one or more applications on trusted infrastructure of a cloud infrastructure environment. For example, a repository of metadata (e.g., metadata lake) is maintained. The metadata repository includes metadata associated with applications, metadata associated with content associated with the applications, and metadata associated with a cloud infrastructure environment in which the applications are deployable. A deployment is determined for a given application on a trusted infrastructure within the cloud infrastructure environment based on at least a subset of the metadata maintained in the metadata repository. The determination of the deployment of the given application based on the subset of the metadata includes mapping trust-based criteria associated with the given application with a portion of infrastructure of the cloud infrastructure environment that satisfies the trust-based criteria. |
| US09594533B2 |
System and method for processing multiple mailing services orders of varying quantities and address lists
Methods and systems for processing multiple mailing services orders for print items of varying quantities include filling 3-dimensional gangs configured to receive print-ready items with print-ready items in a stack-wise manner. Individual stacks can be submitted to the system for reprint without holding up remaining items in an order. |
| US09594530B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is connected to a plurality of computers via a network, and the image forming apparatus which spools and sequentially processes each of jobs received from the plurality of computers includes: a job management section receiving and managing the jobs transmitted from the computers; and a control section, upon reception of a new job from the computer by the job management section, calculating a scheduled end time of the new job based on a number of prints required for executing the new job, a print speed of the image forming apparatus, and a scheduled end time of the job on standby, and notifying the calculated scheduled end time to the computer which has transmitted the new job. |
| US09594521B2 |
Scheduling of data migration
In one form, scheduling data migration comprises determining whether the data is likely to be used by an input/output (I/O) device, the data being at a location remote to the I/O device; and scheduling the data for migration from the remote location to a location local to the I/O device in response to determining that the data is likely to be used by the I/O device. |
| US09594518B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for controlling quality of service of storage system
The present invention provides a method, an apparatus, and a system for controlling quality of service of a storage system. The method includes: identifying a target data object; acquiring a storage address of the target data object stored in a storage device by searching a file system of the host, wherein the file system contains data mapping the data object to the storage address of the target data object; and sending the storage address to the storage device to instruct the storage device to perform quality of service control on access to the target data object at the storage address. The present invention solves the problems of resource waste and lower quality of service in a QoS control manner, and can satisfy user requirements more accurately. |
| US09594508B2 |
Computer system having tiered block storage device, storage controller, file arrangement method and storage medium
According to one embodiment, a storage controller includes a mode switching unit, a data input/output controller and a data arrangement controller. The mode switching unit switches a first mode to a second mode in accordance with a mode switching request from a host device based on a tier arrangement rule. The data input/output controller accesses a first sequence of blocks constituting a first file indicated by a tier arrangement rule, when the host device requests access to a logical address range storing the first sequence of blocks. The data arrangement controller transfers, to a storage area of a tier designated by the tier arrangement rule, data in an extent including a sequence of blocks located in a logical address range accessed in the second mode. |
| US09594505B1 |
Prediction completion gesture
In one example, a method includes detecting, by a computing device, at least one user contact with a presence-sensitive screen of the computing device to input one or more characters of an input string. The method also includes detecting, by the computing device, a subsequent user contact with the presence-sensitive screen. The method also includes detecting, by the computing device, a gesture at a region of the presence-sensitive screen that is associated with a terminator symbol while the subsequent user contact is maintained with the presence-sensitive screen. The method also includes adding, by the computing device, the terminator symbol to the input string when the gesture comprises a virtual key press gesture. The method also includes replacing, by the computing device, the input string with a predicted completed string for the input string when the gesture comprises a prediction completion gesture. |
| US09594503B2 |
Graphical user interface
A graphical user interface is provided for navigating and/or manipulating content simply via touch of a touch-sensitive surface. The content may include discrete content items (e.g., songs, video clips, documents, web pages) and/or actions (e.g., place a call, read a message, play a game), and may or may not be hierarchical in nature. The interface may be presented on a touch-screen display, such that a user may navigate to a content item or action via a single touch on the display (e.g., with a finger or other tool), followed by gliding through any number of levels or clusters of nodes (representing content items, content compilations/categories and/or actions). The desired content item or action may be initiated automatically (e.g., opened, performed) simply by touching it, by lifting the gliding finger or by performing some other input (e.g., tapping a node, speaking a command, touching with a second finger). |
| US09594501B2 |
Method for changing display range and electronic device thereof
Provided are methods for changing a display range in an electronic device having a touchscreen. The method for changing a display range in an electronic device includes: detecting a plurality of touches; determining a plurality of regions in consideration of a plurality of touch points; and changing a display range of at least one region of the plurality of regions in consideration of change in a distance between the plurality of touch points. |
| US09594497B2 |
Method for scroll bar control on a touchpad and touchpad with a scroll bar control function
A touchpad includes a controller connected to a touch sensor. The controller detects the fingers touching on the touch sensor to determine to start up and terminate a scroll bar control function. In the scroll bar control function, the movement of the finger or fingers touching on the touch sensor is detected for scrolling on a window, and the vertical distance and the horizontal distance of the movement are evaluated for determining the scrolling amount of a vertical scroll bar or a horizontal scroll bar of the window. |
| US09594493B2 |
Graphical user interface with dial control for a parameter
A graphical user interface for a computer includes a dial control. The control can be implemented, for example, as a touch-based, pointer-based, pen-based and/or keyboard-based mechanism. The dial control is intended for manipulating a large range of values, such as a menu of items from which a user makes a selection, or a range of continuous or discrete values. A dial control can replace other control types such as a slider, drop down menu or text field. The graphical elements of the dial control include one or more displayed rings and a handle for each ring. Inside the ring, or in another area adjacent the ring, a value can be displayed. The ring can be manipulated by the user to change the value selected by the dial control. In the case of multiple rings, each ring can be manipulated independently. |
| US09594492B1 |
Macro/micro control user interface element
A user interface element includes a display area configured to display a value, an increment button configured to increment the displayed value, a decrement button configured to decrement the displayed value, and a slider configured to allow a user to rapidly increase or decrease the displayed value by sliding a finger across the slider. |
| US09594489B2 |
Hover-based interaction with rendered content
Disclosed are techniques and systems for enabling “hover-based” interaction with content that is rendered on a display of a viewing device. A process may include rendering content on a display, detecting an object hovering in front of a front surface of the display, and in response to detecting the object, determining a location on the front surface of the display corresponding to a position of the object. The determined location on the front surface of the display may then be used to determine a portion of the content that is rendered at the location or within a threshold distance from the location, and a magnified window of the portion of the content may then be displayed in a region of the display. The portion of the content within the magnified window may be actionable by responding to user input when the user input is provided within the magnified window. |
| US09594484B2 |
Method and systems for navigating to a sub-resource of an internet resource
The present relates to a method and system for navigating to a sub-resource of an Internet resource. The method and system comprises receiving information regarding a particularly determined sub-resource of the Internet resource. The particularly determined sub-resource is defined independently of the publisher of the Internet resource. The method and system comprises displaying, contemporaneously with the display of the Internet resource, a user-selectable object. The user-selectable object has an associated indication of the sub-resource of the Internet resource. And the method and system comprises, upon selection of the user-selectable object, displaying the sub-resource. |
| US09594483B2 |
Method and system of plotting correlated data
Plotting correlated data. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: displaying on a display system of a computer system a two-dimensional plot of output data related to an earth formation, the output data estimated from a model of the earth formation, and the volume plotted relative to modeled time; placing a cursor shown on the display system over a first portion of the two-dimensional plot, the first portion corresponding to a first modeled time; and displaying on the display system a three-dimensional plot of respective values of a parameter from a plurality of cells of the model of the earth formation, the respective values at the first modeled time. |
| US09594482B2 |
Method and system for transferring the display of content from a first device to a second device
A system and method for moving displayed content between a first device and a second device includes a first display displaying video content having a first content identifier. A first device forms a transfer signal by a gesture or a user interface. The first device communicates a query command signal comprising the first content identifier to a separate web service. The first device receives an asset data signal comprising at least a second content identifier from the web service in response to the query command signal. The second content identifier relates to the first content identifier. One of the first device and the second device requests the video content based on the second identifier and a resume point. The resume point corresponds to a playback position of the video content being displayed at about a time of generating the transfer signal and a second display displays the video content. |
| US09594472B2 |
Method and array for providing a graphical user interface, in particular in a vehicle
A method and an array for providing a user interface, in particular in a vehicle. In the method, at least one graphical object designated for interaction is depicted in a display area out of reach for the user. In a detection area that is spatially separated from the display area, a gesture of a user is captured and the graphical object interaction is selected. An interaction assigned to the gesture is carried out by the selected graphical object, wherein the position(s) of the selected graphical object during the interaction is/are out of reach for the user. |
| US09594460B2 |
Optical signal output apparatus, signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, imaging apparatus, and projector
An optical signal output apparatus includes: a switch having a first state or a second state in accordance with user's operation; and an optical signal output section that outputs a low-level optical signal when the switch is in the first state, whereas outputting a high-level optical signal when the switch is in the second state. |
| US09594451B2 |
Capacitive in-cell touch screen panel and display device having capacitive in-cell touch screen panel
In a capacitive in-cell touch screen panel and a display device, touch driving signal lines are disposed between adjacent rows of pixel units in a TFT array substrate; at least one data signal lines in the TFT array substrate acts as a touch reading signal line as well; touch electrodes and touch switching units are disposed in regions defined at overlapping positions between the touch reading signal lines and the touch driving signal lines. The touch screen panel can be manufactured without adding a further process which saves production costs and improves production efficiency. |
| US09594450B2 |
Controlling audio volume using touch input force
Controlling an audio volume is disclosed. An indicator identifying a force intensity of a touch input provided on a touch input surface is received. It is determined that the touch input is associated with an audio volume control. The audio volume is controlled based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input. |
| US09594444B2 |
Haptic feedback method and apparatus and machine-readable storage medium
A haptic feedback method includes providing a user with an image that is updated based on a collision event, generating collision data including a type of the collision event and an impulse amount, generating a haptic pattern based on the collision data, and generating a vibration based on the haptic pattern. |
| US09594440B2 |
Touch sensing system and method for driving the same
A touch sensing system includes a pen including at least one resonant circuit embedded therein, XY electrodes including X electrodes and Y electrodes perpendicular to the X electrodes, an antenna surrounding the XY electrodes, and a first touch driving circuit which supplies a resonant inductive signal to the XY electrodes, decides a location of the pen based on a resonance magnitude of a resonance signal received through the antenna, and decides a pen pressure of the pen based on a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and an adjacent frequency of the resonant frequency measured while varying a frequency of the resonant inductive signal. |
| US09594438B2 |
Systems and methods relating to design of mobile applications for display ads on a larger screen space
Techniques are provided which facilitate mobile applications displaying advertisements on a larger screen space without worrying about screen clutter or interference with application functionality. Motion events are triggered once a computerized device detects a threshold magnitude of tilt along a first, second, and/or third coordinate axis. A graphical display is presented to the user which includes at least one advertisement. Several embodiments of the graphical display include a three-dimensional object and full-screen display which are maintained so long as a magnitude of tilt of the computerized device is detected. |
| US09594437B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver controlled by screen remote controller and space remote controller and controlling method thereof
A method is described for controlling a television. While receiving and displaying a broadcast signal on a screen of the television, the television receives a first signal from a remote controller and displays a control icon corresponding to the remote controller on the screen. The screen is partitioned into a first and second partition, the first partition being a broadcast signal display region continuing to display the broadcast signal, and the second partition being a television control region that includes television control icons and/or subregions. A second signal is wirelessly received from the remote controller, the second signal representing a movement of the remote controller. The control icon is moved across the screen of the television in response to the movement of the remote controller. A channel list is displayed based on whether the second sign is recognized within or out of the second partition. |
| US09594432B2 |
Electronic device, control setting method and program
An electronic device includes a touch position receiving unit which receives from a touch panel, touch position information indicating each of touch positions of a first object and at least one of second objects with respect to the touch panel for each object, the second object being different from the first object, a change type setting unit which calculates a movement direction of each of the first object and the second object based on the touch position information, and determines a change type of a display of the touch panel based on the movement direction, and a change amount setting unit which recognizes the number of the second objects based on the touch position information, and determines a change amount of the display based on the number. |
| US09594431B2 |
Qualified command
A method for executing a qualified command including detecting a hand gesture input for identifying a command, detecting one or more non-hand gesture inputs to qualify the command, and configuring a processor to execute the qualified command on a machine in response to the hand gesture input and one or more non-hand gesture inputs. |
| US09594430B2 |
Three-dimensional foreground selection for vision system
A method for controlling a computer system includes acquiring video of a subject, and obtaining from the video a time-resolved sequence of depth maps. An area targeting motion is selected from each depth map in the sequence. Then, a section of the depth map bounded by the area and lying in front of a plane is selected. This section of the depth map is used for fitting a geometric model of the subject. |
| US09594427B2 |
Finger tracking
The description relates to smart rings. One example can include a finger band configured to accommodate a user's finger. This example can also include a set of pressure sensors positioned on an inner surface of the finger band and configured to sense changes to tendons of the user's finger as pressure differentials and to output associated signals. The example can further include a gesture component configured to interpret the signals from the set of pressure sensors to identify individual actions performed by the user's finger. |
| US09594426B2 |
Rate-of-change switches and controllable apparatus
A method includes user actuating X and Y transducers (16, 17, 38A, 39A, 66, 422A, 704A) to selective X and Y positions; producing x and y electrical signals as functions of the positions; moving a cursor (388) of a display (390) at velocities that are functions of the x and y electrical signals; clicking the cursor (388); correcting initialization errors in one of the transducers; providing a deadband (288A, 288B) in which the moving step is obviated; selectively adjusting the deadband (288A, 288B); delaying transmission of one of the electrical signals to the cursor (388); and stopping the moving step irrespective of the delaying step. The clicking step comprises user actuating one of the transducers (16, 17, 38A, 39B, 66, 422A, 704A) more rapidly; user actuating a manual switch (372, 550, 551); user actuating a sound pressure switch (432); user actuating a voice recognition IC (394), or user actuating an another switching device (384). |
| US09594425B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and providing medium
The invention enables users to virtually attach information to situations in the real world, and also enables users to quickly and easily find out desired information. An IR sensor receives an IR signal transmitted from an IR beacon, and supplies the received signal to a sub-notebook PC. A CCD video camera takes in a visual ID from an object, and supplies the inputted visual ID to the sub-notebook PC. A user inputs, through a microphone, a voice to be attached to situations in the real world. The sub-notebook PC transmits position data, object data and voice data, which have been supplied to it, to a server through a communication unit. The transmitted data is received by the server via a wireless LAN. The server stores the received voice data in a database in correspondence to the position data and the object data. |
| US09594423B1 |
Apparatus, system, and method for improving the energy efficiency of routers
The disclosed apparatus may include a set of router components that are consuming electrical power in connection with a router that facilitates network traffic within a network. The apparatus may also include a power-optimization unit communicatively coupled to the set of router components. The power-optimization unit may detect at least one router component included in the set of router components that is not currently being used by the router to facilitate the network traffic within the network. In response to detecting the router component that is not currently being used by the router, the power-optimization unit may shut off the router component such that the router component no longer consumes electrical power in connection with the router. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09594421B2 |
Power management in a multi-device storage array
There is provided a method and apparatus for power management in a storage resource. The storage resource comprises at least one RAID array including a plurality of physical drives. The method comprises: determining a reduced number of physical drives within a RAID array upon which data is to be concentrated; moving data stored on said RAID array and/or targeting data written to said RAID array to one or more of said reduced number of physical drives such that said data is concentrated on said reduced number of physical drives in said RAID array; and selectively applying power management logic to enable, based on at least one power management criterion, one or more physical drives in said RAID array to be powered down or to be supplied with reduced power. |
| US09594420B2 |
Touch panel and controlling method thereof
The controlling method for a touch panel is disclosed. The controlling methods includes: executing a waking-up procedure to output a waking-up signal; comparing a measured value of the waking-up signal with a pre-determined threshold value; the touch panel staying in a power-saving mode if the measured value of the waking-up signal is smaller than the positive pre-determined threshold value or larger than the negative pre-determined threshold value; and the touch panel starting a detection procedure if the measured value of the waking-up signal is larger than the positive pre-determined threshold value or smaller than the negative default threshold. |
| US09594419B2 |
Method and device for prolonging sleeping time of CPU
This application discloses a method for prolonging sleeping time of CPU. After CPU enters sleeping state, interrupt controller delays reporting deferrable external interrupts to the CPU, with the delay time set or as default. This application also provides a device corresponding to the method. This application can prolong the sleeping time of CPU in all kinds of intelligent electronic devices, and make the CPU enter a deep sleeping mode, thereby reducing power consumption substantially without affecting system performance. |
| US09594408B2 |
Method and transmitter for securement to a panel
A transmitter and a method for mounting a transmitter on a panel, wherein the panel is a door or wall of an electrical cabinet, a display panel, a control panel or a diaphragm, wherein the transmitter includes a display module and a computer module, wherein the display module includes at least a first securement means and a cable, and the display module is connectable via the cable with the computer module. The method comprises the steps of: drilling at least a first hole in the panel, wherein the first hole is less than the area of the display module lying against the panel bringing the cable from a first side of the panel through the first hole to a second side of the panel securing the display module to the panel using a second securement means complementary to the first securement means securing the computer module to the second side, and connecting the computer module with the display module via the cable. |
| US09594402B2 |
Electronic device
A structure suitable for a portable information terminal or a wearable device is provided. In addition, an electronic device having a novel structure that can have various forms is provided. It is preferable that a buffer layer which absorbs a difference in the amount of change in form be provided between adjacent film substrates which overlap with each other. As the buffer layer, a gelled resin material, a rubber resin material, a liquid material, an air layer, or the like can be used. Furthermore, an optical film such as a polarizing film or a color filter may be used as the buffer layer. A plurality of buffer layers may be provided in an electronic device. |
| US09594400B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a main body and an input body. The main body has a display unit and a first contact portion rotatably connected to the display unit. The first contact portion has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and at least one part of the first contact portion has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the display unit. The input body includes a second contact portion with a contact surface. When the input body is detachably connected to the main body, the display unit is operable to rotate with respect to the input body, and the contact surface of the second contact portion is operable to engage with the first or second surfaces of the first contact portion by surface-to-surface contacting. |
| US09594398B2 |
Portable electronic device
Provided is a portable electronic device, including a case and a movable magnetic part. The case has a top plate, an engagement surface, and an accommodating space. The accommodating space is located below the engagement surface. And the engagement surface further has at least one through hole, and the through hole communicates with the accommodating space. The movable magnetic part is capable of be attracted by a magnetic force to perform axial motion displacement relative to the through hole, so as to be selectively exposed out of the through hole or retracted into the through hole. Therefore, the movable magnetic part in the case is capable of being attracted out of the through hole in order to position the another case, and improve magnetic absorption strength and binding stability between the case and the another case. |
| US09594397B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes panels, and a connection member that connects the panels. Relative positions of the panels can be changed to a first state, a second state, and a third state. The connection member includes end portions and a connection region between the end portions. The connection region is superimposed on a different one of the panels in the first state and the second state. |
| US09594396B2 |
Synchronizing data transfer between a first clock domain and second clock domain
A data processing system comprises a first clock domain having a first clock rate, a second clock domain having a second clock rate, and a data path operable to transfer data items from the first clock domain to the second clock domain. The data path comprises a buffer having an input for receiving data items from the first clock domain, and an output port for transmitting data items to the second clock domain in a first-in first-out manner. The buffer has a first pointer for indication of a current first location of the buffer, and a second pointer for indication of a current second location of the buffer. The system further includes a read controller operable to define a read pattern for the buffer, to control output from the buffer in dependence upon such a read pattern, and to adjust such a read pattern in dependence upon a value of such a first pointer for the buffer. |
| US09594395B2 |
Clock routing techniques
Techniques are disclosed relating to clock routing techniques in processors with both pipelined and non-pipelined circuitry. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes execution units that are non-pipelined and configured to perform instructions without receiving a clock signal. In these embodiments, one or more clock lines routed throughout the apparatus do not extend into the one or more execution units in each pipeline, reducing the length of the clock lines. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes multiple such pipelines arranged in an array, with the execution units located on an outer portion of the array and clocked control circuitry located on an inner portion of the array. In some embodiments, clock lines do not extend into the outer portion of the array. In some embodiments, the array includes one or more rows of execution units. These arrangements may further reduce the length of clock lines. |
| US09594394B2 |
Reconfigurable optical processing system
An optical processing system comprises an optical input; one or more spatial light modulator arrays; and a detector array; wherein at least of said spatial light modulator arrays incorporates a plurality of data elements focusing elements; said data elements and/or said focussing elements having multiple degrees of freedom. |
| US09594393B2 |
Bicycle operating device
A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a base member, a first operating member, a second operating member and an electric control unit. The base member is configured to be attached to a bicycle handlebar having a handlebar axis. The first operating member is supported on the base member such that the first operating member is configured to rotate about the handlebar axis while the base member is attached to the bicycle handlebar. The second operating member is supported on the base member such that the second operating member is configured to rotate about the handlebar axis while the base member is attached to the bicycle handlebar. The electric control unit generates a first signal and a second signal as the first operating member and the second operating member are operated respectively. |
| US09594392B2 |
Device for distributed maximum power tracking for solar arrays
A system for providing power from solar cells whereby each cell or cell array is allowed to produce its maximum available power and converted by an operatively connected DC/DC converter. Each cell or cell array has its own DC/DC converter. In one form the system for providing power from solar cells includes one or more solar generators wherein each of said solar generators has one to nine solar cells; a maximum power tracker operatively associated with each solar generator, each of said maximum power tracker includes a buck type DC/DC converter without an output inductor, each of said maximum power trackers are operatively connected in series with each other; an inductor operatively connected to the series connected maximum power trackers; and means for providing electrical power from the inductor to load means, wherein each of said maximum power trackers is controlled so that the operatively associated solar generator operates at its maximum power point to extract maximum available power. |
| US09594391B2 |
High-voltage to low-voltage low dropout regulator with self contained voltage reference
A circuit and method for providing a temperature compensated voltage comprising a voltage regulator circuit configured to provide a regulator voltage, a voltage reference circuit configured to provide a reference voltage, VREF, a comparison circuit configured to provide a control voltage VCTL, and an operational amplifier configured to provide amplification and coupling to said comparison circuit, wherein the voltage can be a high voltage greater than 1.2 V. |
| US09594390B2 |
Voltage reference circuit
A voltage reference circuit is provided. In some embodiments, the voltage reference circuit includes a MOS stack that includes two or more MOS transistors having a substantially same voltage threshold. The voltage reference circuit is configured to generate, via the MOS stack, a first voltage waveform having a first temperature co-efficient and a second voltage waveform having a second temperature co-efficient. In some embodiments, the first temperature co-efficient has a polarity that is opposite a polarity of the second temperature co-efficient. In some embodiments, the first voltage waveform and the second voltage waveform are used to generate a reference voltage waveform, where the reference voltage waveform is substantially temperature independent due to the opposite polarities of the first temperature co-efficient and the second temperature co-efficient. |
| US09594388B2 |
Digital shunt regulator for NFC devices
A digital shunt regulator receives a radio frequency (RF) signal at an antenna which generates a differential output signal over a differential path. A peak detector is coupled to the antenna and receives the differential output signal over the differential path. A first comparator receives a voltage output of the peak detector and a first voltage. A second comparator receives the voltage output of the peak detector and a second voltage. A digital state machine receives an output of the first comparator and an output of the second comparator. A plurality of shunt NMOS transistors receives an output of the digital state machine. The digital state machine is configured to control the number of shunt NMOS transistors that are activated to maintain the voltage output of the peak detector between the first voltage and the second voltage. |
| US09594385B2 |
System and method of rack management
A rack management method and system is disclosed. The method includes detecting the presence of a computing device releasably mounted in a frame, the detecting based on an electrical connection established between a configuration bar disposed in a rear portion of the frame and the computing device, and determining a physical location of the computing device within the frame based on the electrical connection. The method also includes retrieving management information about the computing device from a profile storage disposed within the computing device via the electrical connection and storing the management information in a management table, the management table associating the computing device with the physical location within the frame. |
| US09594384B2 |
Method of associating an HVAC controller with an external web service
A wireless thermostat may be associated with a user account of an external web service that may facilitate remote access and/or control of the wireless thermostat. A remote device may be used to access a user's account hosted by the external web service. The wireless thermostat may be identified to the external web service and associated with the user's account by one or more unique identifiers previously delivered to the remote device from the wireless thermostat. |
| US09594382B2 |
Volumetric metering unit
Method and device for metering a medium from at least one storage tank by a metering device, which has a piston pump, which defines a working chamber with a cylinder and a piston, wherein in a first method step a determined filling quantity of a medium is conveyed via an inlet valve into the working chamber and the determined filling quantity is greater than the quantity to be metered and, in a second method step, the piston reduces the working chamber in size enough that only the quantity to be metered remains, wherein the excess medium flows out of the working chamber, wherein the excess medium flows via the inlet valve back into a ring line, which is connected in a medium-conducting manner to the storage tank and is arranged outside the working chamber. |
| US09594373B2 |
Apparatus and method for continuously establishing a boundary for autonomous driving availability and an automotive vehicle comprising such an apparatus
Provided are a method and apparatus for continuously establishing a boundary for autonomous driving availability, in a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities and comprising at least one remote sensor for acquiring vehicle surrounding information and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor for determining vehicle dynamics parameters. The method and apparatus include at least one of a positioning arrangement that provides map data with associated information, a route planning arrangement that enables route planning, a vehicle driver monitoring arrangement that provides driver monitoring information, and a real time information acquiring arrangement that acquires at least one of traffic information and weather information. The boundary is calculated based on a planned route and at least one of vehicle surrounding information, vehicle dynamics parameters, driver monitoring information, map data, traffic information and weather information, for the planned route. Changes in the calculated boundary are output to a human machine interface in the vehicle. |
| US09594372B1 |
Methods and systems for providing feedback based on information received from an aerial vehicle
Described herein is a control system that facilitates assistance mode(s). In particular, the control system may determine a particular assistance mode associated with an account. This particular assistance mode may specify (i) operations for an aerial vehicle to carry out in order to obtain sensor data providing environment information corresponding to a location associated with the account and (ii) feedback processes to provide feedback, via a feedback system associated with the account, that corresponds to respective environment information. The control system may transmit to the aerial vehicle an indication of the particular operations corresponding to the particular assistance mode and may then receive environment information for the location associated with the account. Based on the received environment information, the control system may apply the specified feedback processes to initiate feedback in accordance with the particular assistance mode via the associated feedback system. |
| US09594369B2 |
Selective industrial power-over-network configuration and operation
An industrial process environment uses selective power-over-network (PoN) techniques to facilitate configuration, operation, communication, and other operations for the industrial nodes in the environment. The network may be an Ethernet network, and the environment may selectively deliver power-over-Ethernet as well as command, configuration, or other data over the network connection. The environment may perform the techniques over other types of networks or combinations of networks in addition to or instead of Ethernet networks. |
| US09594367B2 |
Systems and methods for process control including process-initiated workflow
A process controller a procedure module that includes instructions for executing a procedure, and a plurality of supplemental procedure modules, each of which includes instructions for executing one of a plurality of supplemental procedures. The process controller also includes a process monitor processor configured to receive an input electronic signal indicative of a status of a process feature, apply logic based on the input electronic signal, and generate an output electronic signal in response to the input electronic signal. The process controller also includes a sequence engine processor configured to execute the procedure, receive the output electronic signal, apply logic based on the output electronic signal, select one or more of the plurality of supplemental procedures based on the received output electronic signal, and execute the selected one or more of the plurality of supplemental procedures. |
| US09594364B2 |
Method and device for distributing electricity flows and electrical system comprising such a device
A method for distributing, during a given time period, electricity flows in a system having at least one production and one consumption element, and provides for measuring the state of charge of each storage element and electrical powers produced and consumed. Initialization steps include defining physical modeling parameters, defining a model, in the form of state representation using the physical parameters, defining optimization parameters, and predefining an optimization problem, over the given time period, for the distribution of the electricity flows using the model. Iterative steps, at successive updating times of the given time period, include measuring a state of charge of each storage element and the electricity production and consumption powers, updating a preview of the behavior of the production and consumption elements for another given time period, defining the formulation of the optimization problem for the other time period, solving the problem, and applying electricity distribution controls. |
| US09594360B2 |
Motor starter with communication module responsive to magnetic contactor status
A motor starter comprising a manual motor starter (MMS) is provided. The MMS comprises an MMS status input unit to receive a status of the MMS, a magnetic contactor (MC) status input unit to receive a status of a magnetic contactor, a communication unit connected via a wired cable to communicate data with a monitoring control console, and a controller to transmit MMS information received from the MMS status input unit and MC information received from the MC status input unit to the monitoring control console and to control the magnetic contactor based on a control signal received from the monitoring control console and the MC information. |
| US09594351B2 |
Moon phase display mechanism for timepieces
Moon phase display mechanism including a control wheel driven by a movement, which control wheel drives a moon phase disc behind an aperture in a dial, and this mechanism includes: coaxial, superposed and permanently driven in opposite directions, a first phase indicator wheel carrying a first heart cam, and a second phase indicator wheel carrying a second heart cam, and this control wheel includes means for guiding a double lever comprising two arms, only one of which arms is arranged, at any time, to cooperate in contact with one of these second and first heart cams, each to display the moon phase visible in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, and to allow the moon phase disc to pivot in the appropriate direction for this hemisphere. |
| US09594349B2 |
Flexible constant-force pallet lever
A pallet lever including a head arranged to cooperate with an escape wheel and a fork arranged to cooperate with a balance. The angular position of the fork is variable relative to the head. A flexible strip provides the only permanent, mechanical connection between the head and the fork. An escape mechanism includes a plate, an escape wheel and a balance, cooperating with the pallet lever. The flexible strip is mounted pre-stressed buckled between the head and the fork, the pallet lever forming a bi-stable system including at least two stable states and two metastable states. |
| US09594345B2 |
Hybrid reflection hologram
Hybrid white-light viewable holograms and methods for making them. The holograms are hybrid reflection holograms made using the diffractive structures or gratings of a holographic object such as a transmission hologram or holographic optical element (HOE). The wavefronts of the diffractive structures are converted into a reflection hologram by scanning them with a coherent light source having a profiled narrow beam. The hybrid reflection hologram can exhibit display parameters including the multiple colors, solidity, and color stability of white light reflection holograms, the diffractive color shifting of a white light transmission hologram, three dimensional imaging and a wide variety of dynamic changes. Different areas or images with each of these effects can be combined in a single hologram. These hybrid reflection holograms are ideal for security and forgery prevention applications. |
| US09594337B2 |
Image forming apparatus for detecting misregistration amount and density
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to detect a misregistration amount and densities of the toner images by detecting first and second detection patterns. The first detection pattern includes black and color portions, and the control unit is further configured to set a light-emitting amount of a detection unit, a threshold, or a sensitivity of a detection unit so that a received light amount of diffuse reflection light from the black portion is less than the threshold and a received light amount of diffuse reflection light from the color portion exceeds the threshold, and to set the light-emitting amount or the sensitivity so that the received light amount of the diffuse reflection light from the color portion is less than an upper limit of the detection unit. |
| US09594335B2 |
Heat sensing device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A heat sensing device includes a heat sensing element that contacts an inner surface of a surface heater extending in an arc shape, the inner surface having the arc shape, and that senses that a temperature of the surface heater exceeds a predetermined temperature; a spring member one end of which is fixed to the heat sensing element and that presses the heat sensing element against the inner surface of the surface heater; and a supporting body that supports the other end of the spring member, the other end being away from the heat sensing element, in such a way that the other end is movable in a direction in which the surface heater extends in the arc shape. |
| US09594332B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus and process cartridge incorporating same
A developing device includes a casing to contain developer and a developer bearer disposed in the casing to bear developer, and a rough face repellent to developer is disposed inside the casing. |
| US09594329B2 |
Cartridge
A cartridge including a housing configured to accommodate developer, a driving receiving part configured to receive a driving force, a rotary member configured to rotate by being transmitted the driving force from the driving receiving part, a detected member including a detected part and configured to move in an axis direction parallel with a rotational axis of the rotary member by being transmitted the driving force from the rotary member, a support part rotatably supporting the rotary member and moveably supporting the detected member in the axis direction, and a guide part provided at a position different from the support part and configured to guide movement of the detected member in the axis direction by contacting the detected member. |
| US09594328B2 |
Image forming apparatus having cartridge detachably mounted therein
In an image forming apparatus, a sensing body is disposed at a first position when a cartridge has been removed from an apparatus body, is disposed at a second position when a first part of the sensing body contacts a housing of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body, and is disposed at a third position when a second part of the sensing body contacts a movable member of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body. A judging unit determines that the cartridge has been removed from the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the first position, determines that the cartridge has been mounted in the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the second position, and determines that the cartridge is a new product if the sensing body is at the third position. |
| US09594326B2 |
Photoconductive layer refresh
In one implementation, an image forming apparatus may include a photoconductive unit and a refresh unit. The photoconductive unit may include a photoconductive layer. The photoconductive layer may have a first polarity during a print routine. The refresh unit may apply a voltage to the photoconductive layer to electrically bias the photoconductive layer to have a second polarity during a refresh routine. |
| US09594324B2 |
Electrostatic latent image developing toner
An electrostatic latent image developing toner contains a plurality of toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner mother particle and an external additive. The toner mother particle includes a toner core and a shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core. The shell layer contains a thermosetting resin and a thermoplastic resin. The toner mother particles have a surface roughness of no less than 10 nm and no greater than 15 nm. The toner mother particles have a surface adsorbability of no less than 10 nN and no greater than 20 nN. |
| US09594312B2 |
Processing apparatus, processing method, and device manufacturing method
A processing apparatus that performs processing to a wafer is provided, the processing apparatus comprising a wafer chuck disposed on a stage and that holds the wafer; three pins that attract the wafer and move the wafer from the wafer chuck; and a control unit that is configured to stop or decrease the attraction of the three pins based on information about a through hole of the wafer when the wafer is moved from the wafer chuck by the three pins. |
| US09594309B2 |
Method and apparatus to characterize photolithography lens quality
Provided is a method of characterizing photolithography lens quality. The method includes selecting an overlay pattern having a first feature with a first pitch and a second feature with a second pitch different than the first pitch, performing a photolithography simulation to determine a sensitivity coefficient associated with the overlay pattern, and providing a photomask having the overlay pattern thereon. The method also includes exposing, with a photolithography tool, a wafer with the photomask to form the overlay pattern on the wafer, measuring a relative pattern placement error of the overlay pattern formed on the wafer, and calculating a quality indicator for a lens in the photolithography tool using the relative pattern placement error and the sensitivity coefficient. |
| US09594308B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
In a lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supply system maintains liquid in a space between a projection system of the lithographic projection apparatus and a substrate. A sensor positioned on a substrate table, which holds the substrate, is configured to be exposed to radiation when immersed in liquid (e.g., under the same conditions as the substrate will be exposed to radiation). By having a surface of an absorption element of the sensor, that is to be in contact with liquid, formed of no more than one metal type, long life of the sensor may be obtained. |
| US09594303B2 |
Resist pattern-forming method and photoresist composition
A resist pattern-forming method includes forming a resist film using a photoresist composition. The resist film is exposed. The exposed resist film is developed. The photoresist composition includes an acid generator and a polymer. The acid generator generates a protonic acid upon application of exposure light. The protonic acid generates a proton. The polymer includes a first structural unit which includes a first group. The first group and the proton form a cationic group. The polymer substantially does not include a structural unit which includes an acid-labile group. |
| US09594301B2 |
Imprint apparatus and article manufacturing method using same
An imprint apparatus that transfers a pattern formed on a mold onto a resin on a substrate. A light irradiation unit irradiates the resin with light to cure the resin. A shape correction mechanism applies a force to the mold to deform a pattern region formed on the mold. A heating mechanism heats a substrate-side pattern region formed on the substrate to deform the substrate-side pattern region. A control unit obtains information regarding a difference between shapes of the pattern region formed on the mold and the substrate-side pattern region and controls the shape correction mechanism and the heating mechanism so as to reduce the difference between the shapes of the pattern region formed on the mold and the substrate-side pattern region based on the obtained information. The control unit controls a temperature distribution in the substrate-side pattern region by using the heating mechanism. |
| US09594298B2 |
Polarization conversion systems for stereoscopic projection
A polarization conversion system (PCS) is located in the output light path of a projector. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a polarization rotating element, a reflecting element, and a polarization switch. Typically, a projector outputs randomly-polarized light. This light is input to the PCS, in which the PCS separates p-polarized light and s-polarized light at the polarizing beam splitter. P-polarized light is directed toward the polarization switch on a first path. The s-polarized light is passed on a second path through the polarization rotating element (e.g., a half-wave plate), thereby transforming it to p-polarized light. A reflecting element directs the transformed polarized light (now p-polarized) along the second path toward the polarization switch. The first and second light paths are ultimately directed toward a projection screen to collectively form a brighter screen image in cinematic applications utilizing polarized light for three-dimensional viewing. |
| US09594297B2 |
Lighting display device having surface light source and display unit
A lighting display device is disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The lighting display device includes a surface light source type display lamp having a backlight source, a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate laminated in sequence in a direction away from the backlight source, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, a polarizer disposed on a side of the first transparent substrate facing the backlight source, and pixel units disposed on one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, the pixel units being arranged in a matrix and being configured to control rotation of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, and a display unit spaced from the surface light source type display lamp by a set distance, wherein the display unit has a polarization and reflection structure which is configured to cooperate with the polarizer, and is configured to reflect light emitted by the surface light source type display lamp to display. |
| US09594295B2 |
Projector with a light modulator controlled based on a viewing angle characteristic of the light modulator
A projector includes a plurality of light sources, a light modulator that modulates light fluxes emitted from the plurality of light sources based on input information, a projection system that projects modulated light fluxes from the light modulator, a light guiding system that has different areas on which the plurality of light fluxes emitted from the plurality of light sources are incident and guides the plurality of incident light fluxes to the light modulator, a lighting state detector that detects lighting states of the plurality of light sources, and a controller that corrects the input information with correction information based on a viewing angle characteristic of the light modulator in accordance with the lighting states of the plurality of light sources detected by the lighting state detector. |
| US09594291B2 |
Lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus including the same
A lens apparatus includes a focus lens, a focus detector, an automatic focusing unit configured to drive the focus lens based on a focus detection result obtained from the focus detector, a focus information output unit configured to output focus information to a display unit capable of displaying the focus information superimposed on a picked up image obtained by picking up an image with use of a light beam from an object, which passes through the lens apparatus, and a display determination unit configured to determine whether or not to display the focus information on the display unit, in which the focus information output unit is configured to output a signal for displaying the focus information to the display unit based on a determination result obtained from the display determination unit. |
| US09594288B2 |
Tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens and system
A tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction (TAG) lens and system are provided that permit, in one aspect, dynamic selection of the lens output, including dynamic focusing and imaging. The system may include a TAG lens and at least one of a source and a detector of electromagnetic radiation. A controller may be provided in electrical communication with the lens and at least one of the source and detector and may be configured to provide a driving signal to control the index of refraction and to provide a synchronizing signal to time at least one of the source and the detector relative to the driving signal. Thus, the controller is able to specify that the source irradiates the lens (or detector detects the lens output) when a desired refractive index distribution is present within the lens, e.g. when a desired lens output is present. |
| US09594286B2 |
Transparent display apparatus with adjustable transmissive area and a method for controlling the same
There are provided a transparent display apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The transparent display apparatus includes a transparent display unit that includes a plurality of first pixels having an emissive area on which an image is displayed and a transmissive area on which a background is projected; a light control unit that includes a plurality of second pixels disposed on one surface of the transparent display unit; and a transmittance control device that extracts at least one object from an image displayed by the transparent display unit and controls transmittance of an area, which corresponds to the light control unit and the extracted object. |
| US09594284B2 |
Complimentary polymer electrochromic device
A complimentary polymer or “dual-polymer” electrochromic device and methods of preparing the same are provided. |
| US09594283B2 |
Polymerizable compounds and the use thereof in liquid-crystal displays
The present invention relates to polymerizable compounds, to processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof, to liquid-crystal (LC) media comprising them, and to the use of the polymerizable compounds and LC media for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in LC displays, especially in LC displays of the polymer sustained alignment type. |
| US09594281B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device preventing flicker. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels each having a transistor, a liquid crystal element to which a first signal and a second signal having opposite polarities are alternately applied through the transistor, and a capacitor including a first electrode and a second electrode. The liquid crystal element includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode partly overlapping with each other with an insulating film interposed therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer over the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The first electrode of the capacitor is electrically connected to the pixel electrode. The potential of the second electrode changes between a first potential and a second potential having different levels after the first signal is applied until the second signal is applied, whereby a change in the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is reduced. |
| US09594279B2 |
Liquid crystal display
Provided is a liquid crystal display, including: a first substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second substrate facing 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, the liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, in which the common electrode includes a cross-shaped cutout, the cross-shaped cutout overlapping the pixel electrode and dividing the pixel electrode into a plurality of subregions, and the pixel electrode includes a direction controller extend in a direction parallel to a line connecting an intersecting point of the cross-shaped cutout and a pixel corner edge opposing the intersecting point. |
| US09594278B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A provided is a liquid crystal display device with a high definition screen and less color mixture. On an array substrate, a pixel is formed between the adjacent video signal lines, a color filter is formed within the pixel, a flattening film is formed on the color filter, a lower layer is formed on the flattening film, and an upper layer having a slit is formed on the lower layer with an interlayer insulating film interposed therebetween; and on the array substrate, an opposite substrate is arranged with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. When a distance from the top of the video signal line working as a light shielding film to the bottom of the liquid crystal layer is defined as d and a space between the centers of the video signal lines separating the pixel is defined as w, a relation of d≦0.3 w is satisfied. |
| US09594276B2 |
Optical diffraction element, optical pickup, and optical diffraction element manufacturing method
Provided is an optical diffraction element that restricts overall thickness of the element while maintaining strength. The optical diffraction element comprises a substrate; an orientation layer that is formed on one surface of the substrate and includes anisotropic polymers that are oriented perpendicular to or inclined relative to a surface of the substrate in at least a partial region of the orientation layer; and a liquid crystal layer formed on the orientation layer. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of orientation patterns that are formed periodically and include liquid crystal molecules having different orientation directions, and the orientation direction for at least some of the orientation patterns is perpendicular to or inclined relative to the surface of the substrate, as a result of aligning with the orientation of the orientation layer formed on a bottom surface of the orientation patterns. |
| US09594275B2 |
Retardation element, liquid crystal display device, and projection display device
The present application provides a retardation element, having a first birefringent layer; and a second birefringent layer which has approximately the same average thickness as that of the first birefringent layer and contacts the first birefringent layer such that an angle formed between a first line segment representing the principal axis of refractive index anisotropy of the first birefringent layer and a second line segment representing the principal axis of refractive index anisotropy of the second birefringent layer is neither 0° nor 180° when the first line segment and the second line segment are projected on the transparent substrate such that an end A of the first line segment at a side of the transparent substrate and an end B of the second line segment at a side of the transparent substrate coincide with each other. |
| US09594273B2 |
Illumination device, dedicated glasses, analyzer and illumination system
An illumination device, dedicated glasses thereof, an analyzer thereof and an illumination system are provided. The illumination device includes a support member and a liquid crystal display panel mounted on the support member. The liquid crystal display panel includes a display area and a light emitting area, the liquid crystal display panel is provided with a first polarization sheet at its light incoming side in areas corresponding to the display area and the light emitting area, and is provided with a second polarization sheet at its light outgoing side only in area corresponding to the display area. The illumination device emits white light and can be used as an ordinary lamp because its light emitting area cannot be observed in the naked eye state, and when observed through the dedicated glasses or the analyzer, the content of the secret information displayed by the liquid crystal display panel can be seen. |
| US09594269B2 |
Lift device and lift system for substrate loading platform
A lift device and a lift system are provided, which comprises: a carrying mechanism including a guiding hole; a lift pin passing through inside the guiding hole; a carrying base, which is connected to the lift pin, wherein when the carrying base is moved upward, the lift pin is moved upward and inside the guiding hole; and a magnetic control device, which is used to send a magnetic control signal, so as to move the lift pin downward. By the lift pin being moved downward and magnetically sucked, a bad process problem and a break risk can be avoided. |
| US09594265B2 |
Optical absorber
The invention relates to an optical absorber comprising a semiconductor micro or nano scale structured array configured for transmission of electromagnetic (EM) radiation when in a passive state and for absorption and/or reflection of electromagnetic (EM) radiation when in an active state. The absorber also includes an activator arranged to inject free carriers into the structured array to activate said array on demand. |
| US09594263B2 |
Electrically controlled optical elements and method
The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light. |
| US09594259B2 |
Mask lens design and method for preventing and/or slowing myopia progression
Contact lenses incorporate mask lens designs that at least one of slow, retard or preventing myopia progression. The lens includes a first zone at a center of the lens; at least one peripheral zone surrounding the center and having a dioptric power that is different than that at the center; and an opaque mask beginning at a radial distance from the center, thereby providing a lens power profile having substantially equivalent foveal vision correction to a single vision lens, and having a depth of focus and reduced retinal image quality sensitivity that slows, retards, or prevents myopia progression. |
| US09594256B2 |
Thermoplastic laminate, decorative part for eyewear and process of preparation thereof
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic laminate for an eyewear, a decorative part comprising the thermoplastic laminate and a preparation process therefore. In particular, during the preparation of the laminate, a high frequency welding machine is used for bonding thermoplastic layers. The present invention uses a high frequency welding machine for the instant welding of the thermoplastic layers. Good bonding strength exists between different layers. Further, the patterns of the core layer are intact, and have high-definition images. The patterns are located in the core layer, not affected by external environmental factors, and not easily abraded. Further, multiple surfaces of the part for an eyewear have patterns, increasing the beautiful appearance of the part for an eyewear, and meeting the requirements of customers to the largest extent. |
| US09594255B2 |
Stereoscopic 3D projection system with improved level of optical light efficiency
A time-multiplexed stereoscopic 3d projection system including a beam-splitting element to split the randomly polarized image-beam generated by a single-lens projector into one primary image-beam, possessing a first state of linear polarization, and two secondary image-beams, both possessing a second state of linear polarization. The polarization states are mutually orthogonal. The primary and secondary image-beams recombine to form a complete image on the surface of a polarization-preserving projection-screen. There are polarization modulators that modulate the first and second states of linear polarization between a left and right circular polarization state. There is a contrast enhancement film in the optical-path of the primary or secondary image-beams located between the polarization modulator and the projection-screen. The contrast enhancement film comprises a stack of at least three uniaxially stretched retardation-films which perturb the circular polarization state of said image-beams and which possess an in-plane retardation value substantially equal to 140 nm, 270 nm, or 540 nm. |
| US09594254B2 |
Parallax barrier based stereoscopic display device and method
A parallax barrier device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a polarizer, and a controller. The first electrode includes a plurality of first sub-electrodes, and the second electrode includes a plurality of second sub-electrodes arranged intersecting the plurality of first sub-electrodes. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrode, and the liquid crystal layer forms respective display windows corresponding to regions formed by the intersections of the first sub-electrodes and the second sub-electrodes. The polarizer is disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode on a side away from the liquid crystal layer. Further, the controller is coupled to the first electrodes and the second electrode and configured to control voltages on the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes to form a parallax barrier. |
| US09594242B2 |
Light source device for endoscope system
A light source device for an endoscope system comprises a light source unit, which collects light with a lens and allows the collected light to enter a light guide provided to an endoscope. The light source device comprises a receiving unit and a lens barrel (movable unit). The receiving unit receives insertion of the light guide. The receiving unit is attached to the lens barrel. The lens barrel moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the insertion of the light guide, in accordance with a force received by the receiving unit from the light guide. The light source unit applies collimated light to the lens. The lens is attached to the lens barrel and moves together with the receiving unit and the lens barrel, and makes at least a part of the collimated light enter the light guide. |
| US09594237B2 |
Method for varying the scanning field of a laser scanning microscope
Disclosed is a method for varying the size of the scanning field of a multifocal laser scanning microscope, said scanning field being scanned in X columns and Y lines, and n laser spots being arranged at a distance d from one another in the scanning field along the slow scanning axis in the sample plane, the distance between the scanned lines in the sample plane being a=d/K, where KεN, the size of the scanning field being varied by varying K. After scanning K lines, a vertical skip is made, e.g. a skip of (n−1)×K+1 lines in the scanning direction or (n+1)×K−1 lines against the scanning direction until at least Y lines have been scanned. |
| US09594235B2 |
Zoom lens system
Provided is a zoom lens system, sequentially arranged in an order from an object side to an image side, including: a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; an aperture stop; a third lens group having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein each of the second lens group, the third lens group, and the fourth lens group has an anomalous dispersion ΔPct of −0.1 or less. |
| US09594232B2 |
Optical lens
This invention provides an optical lens, in order from an object side to an image-forming side, comprises a first lens with positive refraction power; a second lens with negative refraction power; a third lens with positive refraction power; a fourth lens with negative refraction power; a fifth lens with positive refraction power and a sixth lens with negative refraction power. The optical lens satisfies the following conditions: 0.50≦EFL/TTL, EFL/TTL≦1.00, 0.65≦F123/EFL, and/or F123/EFL≦1.00. |
| US09594230B2 |
On-axis focus sensor and method
A focus height sensor in an optical system for inspection of semiconductor devices includes a sensor beam source that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. A reflector receives the beam of electromagnetic radiation from the sensor beam source and directs the beam toward a surface of a semiconductor device positioned within a field of view of the optical system. The reflector is positioned to receive at least a portion of the beam back from the surface of the semiconductor device to direct the returned beam to a sensor. The sensor receives the returned beam and outputs a signal correlating to a position of the surface within the field of view along an optical axis of the optical system. |
| US09594225B2 |
Methods for creating a demarcation location in a structure and associated assemblies
Disclosed are methods for creating a demarcation of at least one optical fiber in a structure along with a fiber optic cable. The method may include the steps of providing at least one optical fiber having a covering, heating a portion of the covering, and deforming the covering about the at least one optical fiber at a first location to inhibit movement of the at least one optical fiber with respect to the covering. The method may be applied to one or more optical fibers within a covering such as bare loose fibers, ribbonized fibers, buffered fibers or the like. |
| US09594223B2 |
Opto-electrical connection systems including opto-electrical cables providing configurable connectivity between electrical devices having electrical interfaces, and related assemblies and methods
Opto-electrical connection systems including opto-electrical cables providing configurable connectivity between electrical devices having electrical interfaces are disclosed. Related assemblies and methods are also disclosed. By using configurable connection assemblies having at least one configurable connection device adapted to accept optical connectors of optical fibers of opto-electrical cables, many electrical devices having electrical interfaces may be configurably connected. For example, the configurable opto-electrical connection system may be configured to provide more bandwidth and/or connect electrical devices with less power consumption than would be associated with conventional copper cabling solutions. In this manner, the high bandwidth, lower power consumption, and long distance signal capability of optical fibers may be provided to connect electronic devices which were originally designed with electrical interfaces meant to be connected with copper cables. |
| US09594220B1 |
Optical interface device having a curved waveguide using laser writing and methods of forming
An optical interface device for optically connecting photonic devices to optical device along with methods of making. The method includes providing a glass support member that is either monolithic or laminated. A laser beam is used to write cores in the body of the support member. The support member includes a bend section and the cores generally follow the bend section and serve to define curved optical waveguides. The cores provide strong out-of-plane optical confinement, thereby allowing for strong bends and therefore a compact design for the optical interface device. |
| US09594219B2 |
Hermetically sealed telecommunications enclosure with adapter assembly
A fiber optic adapter assembly is provided that sealingly mounts to a telecommunications enclosure. The adapter assembly mounts to a communications enclosure such that one of two fiber optic connectors is received into the adapter assembly outside of the enclosure and the other fiber optic connector is engaged into the adapter assembly inside of the enclosure. The enclosure is pressurized at a predetermined level, and the adapter assembly is configured to maintain the pressure within the enclosure when the adapter assembly mounts to the enclosure. |
| US09594217B2 |
Fiber optic splicing assembly
A fiber optic splicing assembly is disclosed having an assembly housing and a fiber storing device. The assembly housing has a mounting side and an opposite outer facing side. The fiber storing device is removably mounted to the assembly housing, and is at least partially received in an assembly receiving passageway of a mounting wall. |
| US09594214B1 |
Optical fiber devices
Fiber optic connectors and splices that are contamination tolerant and can be used in cramped and constrained environments. |
| US09594210B2 |
Optical fiber with large effective area and low bending loss
An optical fiber with large effective area, low bending loss and low attenuation. The optical fiber includes a core, an inner cladding region, and an outer cladding region. The core region includes a spatially uniform updopant to minimize low Rayleigh scattering and a relative refractive index and radius configured to provide large effective area. The inner cladding region features a large trench volume to minimize bending loss. The core may be doped with Cl and the inner cladding region may be doped with F. |
| US09594208B2 |
Backlight module and display device
A backlight module includes a mold frame, a light guide plate, a light bar light source, and an optic film. The light guide plate, the light source, and the optic film are disposed in the mold frame. The light source is arranged between the light guide plate and the mold frame. The optic film and the light guide plate are stacked on each other. The backlight module includes a heat dissipation frame that includes first, second, and third heat dissipation walls. The third heat dissipation wall is opposite to the first heat dissipation wall and the second heat dissipation wall is connected to the first and third heat dissipation walls. An end of the mold frame at which the light source is arranged is received between the first and third heat dissipation walls and the mold frame is in tight engagement with the second heat dissipation wall. |
| US09594207B2 |
LED package and a backlight unit comprising said LED package
A light emitting diode (LED) package includes: a main body mounted on a substrate; a light emitting diode that is mounted in the main body and emits light; and a lead frame exposed to allow the main body to be selectively top-mounted or side-mounted. A backlight unit includes: a light guide plate configured to allow a light source to proceed to a liquid crystal panel; a light emitting diode (LED) mounted in a main body mounted on a substrate and generating a light source; and an LED package having a lead frame exposed to allow the main body to be selectively top-mounted or side-mounted, and being mounted on the light guide plate. |
| US09594198B2 |
Optical focusing device
An optical reflection focusing device, including a grating including an alternation of first and second regions having different refraction indexes, the grating including a plurality of sub-gratings, each including a plurality of first regions aligned along a plane parallel to the mean plane of the grating, said device including structures such that, for a collimated incident coherent light beam orthogonal to the mean plane of the grating, the rays of the beam reach with a non-zero phase shift different sub-gratings of the device. |
| US09594197B2 |
Optical element, and method for producing same
An optical element includes a base having a curved depression formed in a front surface thereof and a formed layer arranged on the base. The formed layer includes a main part in the depression as viewed from a depth direction of the depression and an overhang on the front surface of the base while connecting to the main part. An opposite surface of the main part to a surface thereof on a side of an inner surface of the depression is formed like a concave curve that is concave in a same direction as the inner surface of the depression. A predetermined surface of the main part that is opposed to the inner surface of the depression is provided with an optical function part. |
| US09594195B2 |
Dielectric mirror
A dielectric mirror includes a coating having alternating high and low index layers. The mirror coating has no metallic reflective layer of Al or Ag in certain example embodiments, and may have film side and/or glass side visible reflection of from about 50-90% (more preferably from about 60-80% and most preferably from about 65-75%) and visible transmission of from about 10-50% (more preferably from about 10-40% or 20-40%) in certain example embodiments. |
| US09594192B2 |
Optical element, optical system, and method of manufacturing optical element
Provided is an optical element, including optical glass as a base material and having an optical surface and a non-optical surface. In the optical element, the optical glass has a Knoop hardness of 600 N/mm2 or more, and the non-optical surface has a coating film layer formed thereon, the coating film layer containing a pigment as a color material and having a refractive index of 1.65 or more. |
| US09594190B2 |
Anti-scratch film for flexible display
An anti-scratch film, including a film base and an anti-scratch layer on one side of the film base. The anti-scratch layer includes a plurality of protrusions. |
| US09594184B2 |
Scintillation detectors and methods for enhanced light gathering
An embodiment of an apparatus for measuring properties of an earth formation includes: a carrier configured to be disposed in a borehole in an earth formation; a scintillation material configured to emit light flashes in response to exposure to radiation, the scintillation material having a surface configured to be directed toward a region of the formation; an array of solid-state photodetectors that extends along at least one surface of the scintillation material, wherein the scintillation material has a shape configured to concentrate the light flashes and direct the light flashes toward the array; and a processor configured to detect signals generated by photo detectors in the array and estimate energy levels and positions of the light flashes within the scintillation material. |
| US09594183B2 |
Method for buried service detection using a mains socket
The invention concerns a method for detecting buried services by electromagnetic means with introducing an artificially generated electrical detection signal indirectly via soil to the buried service, detecting an electromagnetic field originating from the introduced underground detection signal, which is preferably following along the buried services, by a mobile detection unit above ground, and determining the proximity of the structure to the detection unit according to the detected electromagnetic field of the detection signal. Therein, the soil conducted detection signal is supplied via a mains socket. |
| US09594176B1 |
Fast beam migration using plane-wave destructor (PWD) beam forming
In some embodiments, input seismic data is decomposed into Gaussian beams using plane wave destructor (PWD) filters. The beams are used in a fast beam migration method to generate a seismic image of a subsurface volume of interest. PWD filters are applied to groups of neighboring traces to generate a field of dips/curvatures that fit the input trace data. Beam wavelets are then formed according to the dip/curvature field. Multiple dips (PWD slopes) may be determined at each location in time/space in order to handle intersecting reflection events. Exemplary methods allow an improvement in processing speed by more than an order of magnitude as compared to standard industry techniques such as Kirchhoff migration. |
| US09594175B2 |
Multimode seismic survey system
A multimode seismic survey system is disclosed where seismic information for a given seismic survey is read out by different seismic units using different modes. Such multimode systems encompass hybrid arrays where information is read out via different output modes for a single seismic event, and other multimode arrays where seismic information is read out via different modes for different seismic events. The modes utilized in such arrays may include wireless, nodal and/or cable modes. The multimode arrays can be implemented using multimode seismic units or single mode seismic units. In any event, the multimode arrays can be utilized to achieve a combination of advantages associated with the different readout modes or to address any of various multimode mode contexts in relation to seismic surveys. |
| US09594173B2 |
Method and system for augmenting frequency range of conventional marine seismic source with low-frequency
A resonant source element configured to generate seismic waves. The resonant source element includes a housing; a high-pressure system configured to be discharged inside the housing; and a first conduit attached to an opening of the housing, wherein a distal end of the first conduit freely communicates with an ambient. |
| US09594171B2 |
Detector for radiation, particularly high energy electromagnetic radiation
A detector for radiation, particularly high energy electromagnetic radiation is provided. The detector includes a converting section including a cathode for converting the radiation incident on the converting section in electrons by the photoelectric effect. The detector further includes a gas electron multiplier for generating an electron avalanche from electrons which are generated by the converting section and enter the gas electron multiplier, the gas electron multiplier including a first electrode, a dielectric layer and a second electrode, the first electrode being disposed at a first side of the dielectric layer adjacent to the converting section and the second electrode being disposed at a second side of the dielectric layer opposite to the first side. The gas electron multiplier includes a number of holes filled with gas, the holes extending through the first electrode, the dielectric layer and the second electrode. |
| US09594168B2 |
GNSS signal processing with synthesized base station data
Methods and apparatus are described for determining position of a rover antenna, comprising: obtaining rover GNSS data derived from code observations and carrier phase observations of GNSS signals of multiple satellites over multiple epochs, obtaining precise satellite data for the satellites, determining a virtual base station location, generating epochs of synthesized base station data using at least the precise satellite data and the virtual base station location, and applying a differential process to at least the rover GNSS data and the synthesized base station data to determine at least rover antenna positions. |
| US09594164B2 |
Method and apparatus for an acoustic-electric channel mounting
Method and apparatus for rotational alignment and attachment of ultrasonic transducers to a barrier with one submerged surface uses a temporary transducer assembly to position mounting rings on opposite surfaces of the barrier. Plural permanent transducers are then mounted to each mounting ring and are aligned with each other across the barrier by virtue of the alignment of their mounting rings. The submerged mounting ring is used like a cylinder in combination with a mounting plate for the transducers on the submerged side of the barrier or each submerged side transducer has a suction cup fitting for use to exclude water from between each transducer and the submerged barrier surface to facilitate bonding of the submerged side transducers to the barrier. |
| US09594160B2 |
Track associator
Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments for track association. An embodiment operates by receiving a first set of track identification data from a first tracking system. The first set of track identification data is associated with a global track identifier (GID). The first set of track identification data associated with the GID is broadcasted to the first tracking system and a second tracking system. A second set of track identification data is received from the second tracking system. The second set of track identification data identifies any tracks of the second tracking system that match the first set of track identification data. The GID is associated with the second set of track identification data. |
| US09594152B2 |
System and method for estimating the position and orientation of a mobile communications device in a beacon-based positioning system
An example of a lighting device including a light source, a modulator and a processor. The processor is configured to control the light source to emit light for general illumination and control the modulator to modulate the intensity of the emitted light to superimpose at least two sinusoids. Frequencies of the at least two sinusoids enable a mobile device to infer the physical location of the lighting device. |
| US09594151B1 |
System and method for locating objects
A plurality of location beacons is deployed within a site that is divided into zones. A plurality of assets is distributed within the site, each asset having an asset beacon attached to it. A tag occasionally moving within the site continually locates its current zone by detecting short-range signals received from location beacons, and when detecting an asset beacon, the tag locates the respective asset within the current zone of the tag. |
| US09594147B2 |
Wireless electronic device with calibrated reflectometer
An electronic device may have control circuitry that uses a reflectometer to measure antenna impedance during operation. The reflectometer may have a directional coupler that is coupled between radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and an antenna. A calibration circuit may be coupled between the directional coupler and the antenna. The calibration circuit may have a first port coupled to the antenna, a second port coupled to the directional coupler, and a third port that is coupled to a calibration resistance. The reflectometer may have terminations of identical impedance that are coupled to ground. Switching circuitry in the reflectometer may be used to route signals from the directional coupler to a feedback receiver for measurement by the control circuitry or to ground through the terminations. Calibrated antenna reflection coefficient measurements may be used in dynamically adjusting the antenna. |
| US09594142B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and echo signal measurement method
In order to improve contrast in non-orthogonal measurement without sacrificing speed, in imaging which combines a fast imaging sequence for acquiring a plurality of echo signals in one shot with non-orthogonal system measurement, the shape of a blade in which an echo train of each shot is arranged is a fan shape having the radius and the arc of a circle centered on the origin of a k space. At this time, echo signal arrangement is controlled such that an echo signal for desired TE of each fan-shaped blade is arranged in a low spatial frequency region of the k space. |
| US09594139B2 |
Systems and methods for magnetic resonance bone depiction
Systems and methods of classifying component tissues of magnetic resonance images, where the method includes performing a proton density weighted, short echo-time magnetic resonance imaging measurement over a first volume field-of-view region of interest (ROI), repeating a series refining the first volume field-of-view ROI into a plurality of subsequent smaller ROI volumes having respective smaller resolutions, reconstructing a complex image from the plurality of magnetic resonance imaging measurements, performing a bias correction on at least one of the plurality of subsequent smaller ROI volumes, and classifying the ROI volumes by tissue type based on the bias-corrected image signal, wherein at least one tissue type is bone. A non-transitory medium containing processor instructions and a system are disclosed. |
| US09594138B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a calculation unit and an imaging unit. The calculation unit calculates an inversion time for imaging by analyzing frames of image data or magnetic resonance signals acquired from an object. The frames of the image data or the magnetic resonance signals are acquired in response to inversion times which are different with each other and set based on a inversion recovery method. The imaging unit performs the imaging under the inversion recovery method using the inversion time calculated for the imaging. |
| US09594137B2 |
Controlling magnetic resonance systems
Methods for controlling magnetic resonance systems having a plurality of high frequency transmission channels through which HF pulse trains are emitted in parallel during operation are described. The methods involves specifying a joint reference pulse train for a plurality of the high frequency transmission channels, and determining a transmission scaling factor for each of the high frequency transmission channels in an HF pulse-optimization method by taking into consideration a specified target magnetization to calculate the HF pulse trains for the transmission channels on the basis of the reference pulse train. During calculation of the transmission scaling factors, a target function is created independently of a target magnetization difference in at least a first optimization mode of the HF pulse-optimization method. The target magnetization difference is considered in the HF pulse-optimization method by way of a boundary condition function instead. Pulse optimization devices and magnetic resonance systems are described. |
| US09594136B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and RF pulse control method
Disclosed are a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and an RF pulse control method wherein an RF pulse sequence in a start-up sequence is set as a monotonically increasing flip angle with offset, in order to reduce ghosts, blurring, and other artifacts during measurement in a transient state. For example, the sum of two adjacent consecutive terms in a monotonically increasing sequence is set as the flip angle. Specifically, the number of RF pulses in the RF pulse sequence and the flip angle for the RF pulses in an SSFP sequence are set, and the monotonically increasing flip angle with offset is found, based on the set number of RF pulses in the RF pulse sequence and the flip angle for the RF pulses in the SSFP sequence, and used as the RF pulse sequence. |
| US09594135B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method for adjusting excitation region
In imaging using 2-dimensional selective excitation pulses, regardless of applications thereof, a technique for obtaining a high quality image is provided.In the technique, a 2-dimensional selective excitation sequence is carried out while changing a coefficient for determining the cylinder diameter of a region excited by the 2-dimensional selective excitation sequence and a time difference for determining an offset position.The obtained excitation region and a desired region are compared with each other, and the coefficient and time difference with which the obtained excitation region and the desired region match each other are determined to be the optimum ones.The determination processing may be performed as an initial adjustment, may be performed according to need in each imaging, or may be performed on a per-application basis. |
| US09594134B2 |
System and method for fully phase-encoded magnetic resonance imaging using multiband radio frequency excitation
Systems and methods for simultaneously acquiring three-dimensional data from multiple different frequency bins with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system, and without frequency-encoding gradients, are provided. A multiband radio frequency (“RF”) pulse is used to excite spins associated with multiple different resonance frequency offsets, and a fully phase-encoded acquisition is used to acquire data, which may be spectrally-resolved data, from magnetic resonance signals formed in response to the multiband RF pulse. |
| US09594132B2 |
Reduction of peak electrical power consumption in magnetic resonance imaging systems
A magnetic resonance imaging system (402, 500) includes magnetic field gradient coils (516), a gradient coil power supply (320, 424, 518), a processor (540), and a chiller (308, 526) for providing the coolant to the gradient coils. The magnetic resonance imaging system further includes a memory (546) for storing machine executable instructions (580, 582, 584, 586, 588, 590, 592). The instructions cause the processor to receive (100, 200) a pulse sequence (550), to generate (102, 202) the chiller control signals using the pulse sequence and a chiller thermal model (582) of the gradient coils and the coolant reservoir, and to send (104, 206) the chiller control signals to the chiller. The chiller control signals cause the chiller to halt chilling at least a portion of the time when the gradient coil power supply supplies current to the magnetic field gradient coils. |
| US09594127B2 |
Hall sensor device and a manufacture method thereof
The present invention refers to a Hall sensor device and a manufacturing method thereof. The Hall sensor device includes: two sensor chips each including two pins; a shell, in which four conductive terminals electrically connected with four pins respectively are arranged; three output pins electrically connected to three of the conductive terminals respectively; and a bridge suitable for electrically connecting the rest conductive terminal with the congeneric conductive terminal in the three conductive terminals. The manufacturing method includes: integrally molding the shell and four output pins electrically connected with the four conductive terminals respectively, and cutting off the output pin electrically connected with said rest conductive terminal and providing the bridge. By adopting the present invention, the manufacturing cost of the sensor device is reduced and the production efficiency is improved. |
| US09594125B1 |
Rack receptacle testing
A rack receptacle loadbank testing system is disclosed for testing a power supply system in a data center from receptacles through a corresponding power distribution unit during both primary and secondary power source conditions. The testing system can include a portable loadbank cart and optionally one or more manual power source switches. The cart can include plural power cords that plug into plural rack receptacles at the same time, and includes a loadbank, a switch for coupling the loadbank to individual power cords, a power analyzer to detect high frequency voltage transients in the power circuitry, and a user interface to control the testing equipment. The power source switch is operable to switch between a first power source feeding the power distribution unit coupled to the rack receptacles, and a second power source feeding the power distribution unit. |
| US09594124B2 |
Battery charge meter testing
A circuit includes a first analog to digital converter configured to convert an analog voltage sample of a rechargeable power source into a digital voltage value, a second analog to digital converter configured to convert an analog current sample of the rechargeable power source into a digital current value, a charge state controller configured to determine a charge state of the rechargeable power source based on the digital voltage value and the digital current value, and a communication interface configured to output a computer-readable indication of the charge state. The charge state controller is further configured to receive pregenerated voltage values and pregenerated current values, and determine a simulated charge state of the rechargeable power source based on the pregenerated voltage values and the pregenerated current values. The communication interface is further configured to output a computer-readable indication of the simulated charge state. |
| US09594114B2 |
Structure for transmitting signals in an application space between a device under test and test electronics
An example structure for transmitting signals in an application space between a device under test (DUT) and test electronics includes: a circuit board that is part of an application space between test electronics and a device under test (DUT); and a coaxial structure to pass signals along electrical pathways between the test electronics and the DUT. The coaxial structure includes a signal line at least partially surrounded by a return line. |
| US09594113B2 |
Package on package thermal forcing device
Methods and apparatus for a package on package (POP) thermal forcing device. A thermal interposer includes a test probe guide and insulator top, a thermal conductor, the test probe guide and insulator top affixed to a top surface of the thermal conductor, a test probe, and a test probe guide and insulator bottom affixed to a bottom surface of the thermal conductor, the test probe guide and insulator bottom configured in a ring-like shape to enable the thermal conductor to pass through and make contact with a bottom of a package on package (PoP) integrated circuit (IC). |
| US09594109B2 |
Monitoring system for electrical equipment failure and method
A computerized monitoring system and method for detecting electrical equipment failure. The system includes a sensor that detects a sound level representative of ultrasonic emissions radiating from electrical equipment to be monitored. A computer system in communication with the sensor is programmed to determine whether the electrical equipment is experiencing one or more of arcing, tracking, or corona based on the sound level detected by the sensor. In some embodiments, the computer system continuously monitors for these conditions based on the sound level detected by the sensor. |
| US09594106B2 |
Test arrangement
A test arrangement for use in determining the location of a fault in an installation 10 comprising at least first and second conductors 22, 24 providing electrical connections between a surface located device 12 and a subsea located device 20, the test arrangement comprising a first module 26 operable to apply a common test signal between ground and the first and second conductors 22, 24, and a second module 28 operable to monitor the total current flowing through the first and second conductors 22, 24 at a subsea location. |
| US09594098B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring electrical power usage in a structure and systems and methods of calibrating the same
A magnetic field sensing device can include two or more magnetic field sensors configured to detect a magnetic field in a current carrying conductor. The magnetic field sensing device also can include a phase detector electrically coupled to outputs of the two or more magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field sensing device further can include a phase indicator electrically coupled to the phase detector. The phase indictor can include a display that indicates when the two or more magnetic field sensors are in a position in relation to the current carrying conductor. Other embodiments are provided. |
| US09594097B2 |
DC decoupled current measurement
A circuit arrangement for measuring a load current provided to a load via a first load terminal of a load transistor is disclosed. In accordance with one example of the invention, the circuit arrangement includes a sense transistor coupled to the load transistor to provide a sense current representing the load current at a first load terminal of the sense transistor. The first load terminals of the load and the sense transistors are at respective floating electric potentials. A floating sense circuit coupled between the load terminals of sense transistor and load transistor, at least in one mode of operation the sense circuit receives the sense current and provides a floating signal representing the sense current. A non-floating measurement circuit is coupled to the sense circuit via a DC decoupling capacitor for transferring the floating signal representing the sense current to the non-floating measurement circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to provide an output signal representing the floating signal and thus the sense current. |
| US09594095B2 |
Single point offset calibration for inertial sensors
A hand-held processor system for processing data from an integrated MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) device disposed within a hand-held computer system and methods therefor. The Single Point Offset Correction (SPOC) process computes offset values to calibrate MEMS sensors using a single set of data measurements at an orientation without dynamic perturbation, and without requiring advance knowledge of orientation of the device. Arbitrary output biases, which are known to be dominant on a single axis, can be corrected to ensure consistent performance. The SPOC process provides a simple method to effectively calibrate a MEMS sensor without requiring extensive system resources. This process can be enhanced by additional estimations of sensor offsets using the set of data measurements or by use of rule-based empirical gain factors. |
| US09594086B2 |
Biomarkers for aggressive prostate cancer
The present invention relates to the field of biomarkers and, more specifically, to biomarkers useful in diagnosing aggressive prostate cancer. In specific embodiments, a method for diagnosing aggressive prostate cancer in a patient comprises (a) measuring the levels of one or more biomarkers in a sample collected from the patient; and (b) comparing the levels of the one or more biomarkers with predefined levels of the same biomarkers that correlate to a patient having aggressive prostate cancer and predefined levels of the same biomarkers that correlate to a patient not having aggressive prostate cancer, wherein a correlation to one of the predefined levels provides the diagnosis. In a specific embodiment, the one or more biomarkers may comprise cathepsin-L (CTSL), periostin, microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4), collagen XII, neprilysin, clusterin, neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), epithelial cell activating molecule (EpCAM), prostate specific antigen (PSA), membrane metallo-endopeptidase (MME) and asporin (ASPN). |
| US09594085B2 |
Integrated quantification method for protein measurements in clinical proteomics
Methods are provided for determining the expression level of target proteins in a subject. A plurality of respective peptide transitions are generated from a plurality of proteins obtained from a biological sample from the subject, wherein the plurality of proteins comprises both target and normalizing proteins. A mass spectroscopy (MS) signal intensity is measured from the plurality of respective peptide transitions and a plurality of corresponding stable isotope-labeled internal standard (SIS) peptide transitions. For each of the plurality of proteins, a response ratio is calculated between the MS signal intensity of the respective peptide transition and the corresponding SIS peptide transition. The response ratio for each target protein is normalized by a sample-dependent normalization factor calculated from the response ratio for each normalizing protein, wherein the normalized response ratios provide a determination of the expression level of the target proteins. |
| US09594082B2 |
Apparatus and method for detection of an analyte in a sample
There is provided mechanisms for the detection of an analyte in a sample. The mechanisms utilize at least a first measurement channel comprising a detection reactant corresponding to the analyte to be detected, and at least a microstructure associated with the first measurement channel. When the mechanisms are in use, the sample is introduced into the first measurement channel and propagated by way of the first measurement channel towards the microstructure. If the analyte is present in the sample, the analyte interacts with the detection reactant to form a networked product, and the microstructure is configured to filter the networked product. |
| US09594079B2 |
Protein specific optical detection
This invention relates to a system and method for detecting target molecules using an optical sensor element including a photonic crystal constituted by a membrane of a chosen transparent material, being provided with a number of defined openings in a chosen pattern, a chosen number of the openings providing capture molecules having a high affinity to target molecules, the pattern being adapted to provide resonance at a chosen wavelength, or range of wavelengths. The system and method also moving a first fluid flow containing target molecules through the openings and after this conducting a second fluid flow containing a second reactant being different from the capture molecules but having a high affinity for the target molecules but a low affinity for other possible molecules in the first flow. By illuminating the sensor element at a chosen wavelength thus obtaining a resonance and imaging means for providing an image of the sensor element it is possible to detect tight leaking from the resonator. Analyzing means may then detect the captured molecules as well as the reactant having reacted with them based on the amount of light leaking from the resonator. |
| US09594078B2 |
Chromatographic assay system
The present application discloses an analyte detection apparatus having at least one reservoir area and a wicking membrane, wherein a labeled specific binding partner is impregnated on the reservoir area; and a region on the wicking membrane where at least one chemical component is immobilized. |
| US09594075B2 |
Diagnostic methods for neural disorders
The invention generally relates to optical methods for the diagnosis of neuronal condition by converting a cell from a patient into a neuron and optically evaluating action potentials of that cell in vitro. The cell is transformed with an optical reporter and exhibits an optical signature in response to neural stimulation. Using genome-editing, a control cell can be made that is isogenic but-for a known mutation and a control signature obtained from the control cell. Thus, methods of the invention reveal potential neurodegenerative effects of a mutation as manifested in a patient's genetic context. The optical signature of the cell, or the difference between the signature and the control signature, is correlated to a diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disease. |
| US09594073B2 |
Test solvent for evaluating the compatibility of biologically active substances and graft copolymers
A liquid mixture, comprising a) at least one compound selected from polyols, polyol ethers wherein at least one hydroxyl group is unetherified, or polyalkylene ethers wherein at least one terminal hydroxyl group is unetherified, b) 1,3-bis(caprolactam-1-yl) butane, and c) diacetoxybutane mimics the solubility properties of a graft copolymer comprising a poly(alkylene glycol) backbone and a vinyl acetate/N-vinylcaprolactam copolymer grafted onto the backbone. In a method for evaluating the compatibility of a biologically active substance with the graft copolymer i) the biologically active sub-stance is brought into contact with the liquid mixture, and ii) the phase behavior of the test system and/or the solubility of the biologically active substance in the mixture is determined. |
| US09594066B2 |
Particle detector, system and method
The invention provides use of one or more emitted beams of radiation (16), for example, laser beam(s), in combination with an image capturing means (14), for example, one or more video cameras and/or optical elements to detect particles (30), for example, smoke particles, located in an open space (12). |
| US09594058B2 |
Implementing steep delta wave technique to inspect joints
One aspect of a process of inspecting a joint that connects two parts includes directing an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic beam transmitter at a joint that connects two parts, the ultrasonic beam forming an angle between at least 14 degrees and at most 21 degrees with a joint axis of the joint, wherein the ultrasonic beam passes through a joint thickness of the joint. The process also includes determining a quality of the joint based, in part, on a difference between a strength of the ultrasonic beam directed at the joint and a strength of a portion of the ultrasonic beam that passed through the joint thickness. |
| US09594056B2 |
Printed digital microfluidic devices methods of use and manufacture thereof
Embodiments of the present disclosure digital microfluidic arrays that may be fabricated by a printing method, whereby digital microfluidic electrodes arrays are printed, via a printing method such as inkjet printing, onto a suitable substrate. In some embodiments, a substrate and/or ink is prepared or modified to support the printing of electrode arrays, such as via changes to the surface energy. In some embodiments, porous and/or fibrous substrates are prepared by the addition of a barrier layer, or, for example, by the addition or infiltration of a suitable material to render the surface capable of supporting printed electrodes. Various example embodiments involving hybrid devices formed by the printing of digital microfluidic arrays onto a substrate having a hydrophilic layer are disclosed. |
| US09594055B2 |
Sensing apparatus using a radio frequency signal, and manufacturing method thereof
A sensing apparatus using a radio frequency and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. A sensing apparatus using a radio frequency includes a protecting layer configured to protect a substrate from migration of electrons occurring as the radio frequency is applied to a first electrode and a second electrode, a channel forming layer configured to form a channel based on a field between the first electrode and the second electrode, the channel forming layer using a polarized carbon-based nano material to form the channel, and a sensing layer configured to sense glucose using a medium material that is attached on the carbon-based nano material. |
| US09594050B2 |
A/F sensor element and method of manufacturing the same
An A/F sensor element includes a substrate made of an insulating ceramic having a bottomed cylindrical shape, an electrolyte part made of a solid electrolyte, and a pair of electrode portions. The electrolyte part is embedded in at least a portion of the side wall of the substrate. The A/F sensor element is used by inserting a rod-like heater in the substrate having the bottomed cylindrical shape. The substrate is formed of the insulating ceramic at a contact position to the heater within the substrate. In a manufacturing of the substrate, a molded body having a space for a forming position of the electrolyte part is formed by using substrate-forming clay, and then the molded body is molded by filling electrolyte-forming clay into the space. |
| US09594046B2 |
Methods and devices for determining sensing device usability
Methods and devices for determining sensing device usability, e.g., for self-monitoring and point of care devices. In one embodiment, the invention is to a method of determining device usability, comprising the steps of providing a device comprising a first electrical pad; a second electrical pad; and a humidity-responsive polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the first and second electrical pads; applying a potential across the first and second electrical pads; measuring an electrical property associated with the humidity-responsive polymer layer; and determining whether the measured electrical property associated with the humidity-responsive polymer layer has exceeded a humidity threshold level associated with the device usability. |
| US09594045B2 |
Methods of detecting high antioxidant levels during electrochemical measurements and failsafing an analyte concentration therefrom
Methods are disclosed for measuring an analyte concentration in a fluidic sample. Such methods further allow one to provide an error code or correct and/or compensate for interferents such as an antioxidant before providing an analyte concentration. The measurement methods utilize information obtained from test sequences having at least one DC block, such as a slow-ramped bi-polar waveform, where a closed circuit condition is maintained during the DC block. The methods use information relating to status of a redox mediator feature during the electrochemical analysis to provide an antioxidant failsafe if the antioxidant is interfering with the analyte concentration. Also disclosed are devices, apparatuses and systems incorporating the various measurement methods. |
| US09594044B2 |
Reagent composition, sensor, sensor system, and sensor manufacture process
The present invention provides: a reagent composition having higher storage stability; a sensor involving the reagent composition; and others. According to the present invention, a specific heterocyclic compound is added to a reagent composition to improve the storage stability of the reagent composition and reduce the degree of fluctuation in current values in a sensor that utilizes reagent composition. |
| US09594043B2 |
Systems and methods for high accuracy analyte measurement
Methods for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, and the devices and systems used in conjunction with the same, are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment of a method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, a sample including an analyte is provided in a sample analyzing device having a working and a counter electrode. An electric potential is applied between the electrodes and a first analyte concentration is determined. A second analyte concentration value is calculated from the first analyte concentration value and corrected for temperature effects, fill time and capacitance to provide for a final analyte concentration value. |
| US09594042B2 |
Electrochemical determination of factor XA inhibitors
Methods and devices for determining factor Xa inhibitors, in particular heparins and fractionated or low-molecular-weight heparins, as well as direct factor Xa inhibitors in blood samples. The methods include contacting a blood sample with a detection reagent that contains at least one thrombin substrate having a peptide residue that can be cleaved by thrombin and is amidically bound via the carboxyl end to an electrogenic substance, and with a known amount of factor X reagent and an activator reagent which induces the conversion of factor X into factor Xa. Subsequently, in a second step, the amount or activity of the electrogenic substance that is cleaved from the thrombin substrate by the factor Xa-mediated thrombin activation and/or the time course thereof is determined as the measurement signal using electrochemical methods. In a third step, the amount of the factor Xa inhibitor in the sample of the blood to be analyzed or a measured quantity that correlates therewith, in particular a clotting time that correlates therewith, is determined on the basis of this measurement signal. |
| US09594038B1 |
Device and method for measuring supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid throttling coefficient under different viscosities
The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid throttling coefficient under different viscosities. The device for measuring supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid throttling coefficient under different viscosities comprises a supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid throttling coefficient measurement system and a supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid viscosity adjustment apparatus; the supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid throttling coefficient measurement system determines throttling coefficient of a high temperature and high pressure supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid, and the supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid viscosity adjustment apparatus determines viscosity of the high temperature and high pressure supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing fluid. |
| US09594030B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus and a method to detect a defect or particle on a surface that involves combining an object radiation beam redirected by the surface with a reference radiation beam having a plurality of intensities lower than the object radiation beam, to produce a plurality of patterns detected by a detector in order to detect the defect or particle on the surface from the patterns. |
| US09594029B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measuring a property of a substrate
In the measurement of properties of a wafer substrate, such as Critical Dimension or overlay a sampling plan is produced (2506) defined for measuring a property of a substrate, wherein the sampling plan comprises a plurality of sub-sampling plans. The sampling plan may be constrained to a predetermined fixed number of measurement points and is used (2508) to control an inspection apparatus to perform a plurality of measurements of the property of a plurality of substrates using different sub-sampling plans for respective substrates, optionally, the results are stacked (2510) to at least partially recompose the measurement results according to the sample plan. |
| US09594028B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining coplanarity in integrated circuit packages
A method and apparatus for determining coplanarity of three-dimensional features on a substrate comprises a support for an object to be inspected in an object plane, a light source for illuminating the object, a first image capturing device having a first sensor and a first tiltable lens, a second image capturing device having a second sensor and a second tiltable lens, and an image processor to determine the coplanarity. Each tiltable lens is movable from a first variable angle to a second variable angle, with respect to its sensor, so that the respective lens plane and its sensor plane substantially intersect at the object plane in accordance with the Scheimpflug principle and the respective image is in focus across the whole field of view and of uniform light intensity. |
| US09594026B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring concentration of hemoglobin using photothermal effect
The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring concentration of hemoglobin in blood using a photothermal effect, the apparatus including: a reference light source unit for radiating a reference beam; a photothermal light source unit for radiating a photothermal beam from which the photothermal effect is generated; a cuvette unit for accommodating a collected blood sample thereinto and having first and second reflection layers; and a concentration operation unit for calculating the concentration of hemoglobin by using the phase changes of interference signals generated from the incidence of the reference beam radiated from the reference light source unit onto the first and second reflection layers of the cuvette unit as the photothermal beam radiated from the photothermal light source unit is incident onto the cuvette unit and absorbed by hemoglobin to generate the photothermal effect through the emission of heat. |
| US09594022B2 |
Chemical-analysis device integrated with metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing
A chemical-analysis device integrated with a metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing. The chemical-analysis device includes a metallic-nanofinger device, and a platform. The metallic-nanofinger device includes a substrate, and a plurality of nanofingers coupled with the substrate. A nanofinger of the plurality includes a flexible column, and a metallic cap coupled to an apex of the flexible column. At least the nanofinger and a second nanofinger of the plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with at least one analyte molecule. A morphology of the metallic cap is to generate a shifted plasmonic-resonance peak associated with amplified luminescence from the analyte molecule. A method for using, and a chemical-analysis apparatus including the chemical-analysis device are also provided. |
| US09594019B1 |
Optical tomography for microscopy, cell cytometry, microplate array instrumentation, crystallography, and other applications
An optical tomography system including a light emitting array having one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), a sample holding module and a light sensing array comprising one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein the light sensing array is configured to sense light emitted from the light emitting array, which has passed through the sample holding module. |
| US09594018B2 |
Chemical sensors based on plasmon resonance in graphene
Techniques for forming nanoribbon or bulk graphene-based SPR sensors are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a graphene-based SPR sensor is provided which includes the steps of: depositing graphene onto a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a dielectric layer on a conductive layer, and wherein the graphene is deposited onto the dielectric layer; and patterning the graphene into multiple, evenly spaced graphene strips, wherein each of the graphene strips has a width of from about 50 nanometers to about 5 micrometers, and ranges therebetween, and wherein the graphene strips are separated from one another by a distance of from about 5 nanometers to about 50 micrometers, and ranges therebetween. Alternatively, bulk graphene may be employed and the dielectric layer is used to form periodic regions of differing permittivity. A testing apparatus and method of analyzing a sample using the present SPR sensors are also provided. |
| US09594016B2 |
Photometric device and method
Disclosed are methods and devices for photometric measurements of a liquid sample. The methods and devices use one or more diffractive reflective surfaces to enable a light beam incident on a measurement chamber to be steered so as to be reflected inside the measurement chamber to achieve relatively long optical paths in the measurement chamber. The liquid sample may be blood or blood serum. The measurement chamber may be provided in a microfluidic device, for example a centrifugal microfluidic device. Some embodiments enable multiplexing of different wavelengths or path lengths. Some embodiments make use of multiple returned beams to determine the position and/or orientation of the measurement chamber. |
| US09594010B1 |
Apparatus and method for measuring permeation of contaminants through protective materials
An apparatus and method for measuring the permeation of chemicals through protective materials is described. The testing apparatus and method includes a PTFE layer; placing a sorbent pad on the PTFE layer; applying contaminants to a protective material; placing the protective material adjacent to the sorbent pad with the side having contaminants opposite the sorbent pad; applying a weight to the protective material causing the protective material to contact the sorbent pad, and determining any permeation of contaminants through said protective material causing exposure on the sorbent pad to the contaminants; and measuring a level of contamination of the sorbent pad upon exposure to any contaminants which permeated the protective material. A second PTFE layer may be placed in between the weight and the protective material. An o-ring gasket may also be used to further confine the contaminant on the protective material being tested. Additionally, another PTFE layer may be placed in between the protective material and the sorbent pad. The protective material may include any of air impermeable materials, air permeable materials, and semi-permeable materials. |
| US09594009B2 |
Cement testing
Devices and methods for testing cement include: a pressure vessel with a sample container inside an interior working volume of the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel configured to supply a first pressurized fluid to control a pore pressure of a cement sample and to supply a second pressurized fluid to lateral exterior surfaces of the sample container to provide a confining pressure that can be different than the pore pressure. |
| US09594004B2 |
Vacuum platen tissue planing apparatus
Devices and methods for processing animal or human tissue are provided. The devices may include a vacuum surface to secure the tissue in place and an apparatus for removing fat or other material from the tissue. The apparatus can include one or more blades and/or a fluid jet system. |
| US09594002B2 |
Conduit monitoring
The present invention relates to a method of monitoring a fluid carrying conduit, comprising interrogating an optic fiber positioned along the path of the conduit to provide distributed acoustic sensing, measuring by distributed acoustic sensing the acoustic signal at each of a plurality of discrete longitudinal sensing portions along the length of the optic fiber, to monitor the optic fiber for the presence of a first characteristic signal, the first characteristic signal being indicative of ground heave the vicinity of the optic fiber, and determining that a failure has occurred in the conduit when a first characteristic signal is measured in the distributed acoustic sensing. |
| US09593996B2 |
Ionization gauge for high pressure operation
An ionization gauge to measure pressure, while controlling the location of deposits resulting from sputtering when operating at high pressure, includes at least one electron source that emits electrons, and an anode that defines an ionization volume. The ionization gauge also includes a collector electrode that collects ions formed by collisions between the electrons and gas molecules and atoms in the ionization volume, to provide a gas pressure output. The electron source can be positioned at an end of the ionization volume, such that the exposure of the electron source to atom flux sputtered off the collector electrode and envelope surface is minimized. Alternatively, the ionization gauge can include a first shade outside of the ionization volume, the first shade being located between the electron source and the collector electrode, and, optionally, a second shade between the envelope and the electron source, such that atoms sputtered off the envelope are inhibited from depositing on the electron source. |
| US09593984B2 |
Sensor probe
A sensor probe may include an elongated body and a temperature sensor. The elongated body may include at least one first aperture, a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway may be in communication with the first aperture and may extend along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The second passageway may be in communication with and may extend from the first passageway. The temperature sensor may be disposed within the first passageway and may include a wire extending through a portion of the first passageway and the second passageway. The wire may include a diameter that is less than a diameter of the first passageway such that the first passageway defines a pressure path around the wire. |
| US09593982B2 |
Sensor-synchronized spectrally-structured-light imaging
A smartphone is adapted for use as an imaging spectrometer, by synchronized pulsing of different LED light sources as different image frames are captured by the phone's CMOS image sensor. A particular implementation employs the CIE color matching functions, and/or their orthogonally transformed functions, to enable direct chromaticity capture. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09593978B2 |
Device and method for measuring mass flow rate of fluids
In a device and method for measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid, a housing has two hollow pipes communicating with one another and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, an electromagnetic excitation unit excites vibrations in the hollow pipes, two electromagnetic adapters are associated correspondingly with the two pipes and provides signals which are proportional to a speed of vibrations of the pipes of said housing, and an electronic block connected with the electromagnetic excitation unit and with the electromagnetic adapters determines a mass flow rate of a fluid, a correction associated with inclusions in the fluid and constituted by a ratio of a voltage amplitude of the adapters and a voltage amplitude of excitation of vibrations by the electromagnetic excitation unit, and a corrected mass flow rate of the fluid based on the determined mass flow and the determined correction. |
| US09593977B2 |
Water tank notifier
A system including a float ball, a pole, a sleeve, an indicator disk, and a dynamo circuit provides information regarding the water level in a tank, and whether fluid is flowing into the tank. The pole slides within the sleeve, through a slab above the tank. A first end of the pole is supported by the float ball, which floats within the tank, while the second end of the pole is located above the slab and supports the indicator disk. A user can detect the water level in the tank based on the height of the indicator disk. A user can also detect whether water is flowing into the tank. The dynamo circuit activates an LED located on the indicator disk when water is flowing into the tank. |
| US09593975B2 |
Method for determining the liquid level in a boiler
A method for determining a liquid level in a boiler of an apparatus having a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature which is indicative of a temperature of the liquid inside the boiler, includes inducing a temporary deflection of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor; determining an evaluation temperature sensed by the temperature sensor after inducing the deflection; and determining the liquid level from at least the evaluation temperature. The evaluation temperature is determined by monitoring the deflection and by defining an extreme value of the deflection as the evaluation temperature. |
| US09593973B2 |
Measuring transducer of vibration-type as well as measuring system formed therwith
The measuring transducer comprises a measuring tube having an inlet-side tube end and an outlet-side tube end, a tube wall having a predetermined wall thickness and a lumen surrounded by the tube wall and extending between the first and second tube end, a support element, which with a support end is mechanically connected with the tube end and with a support end is mechanically connected with the tube end, as well as, laterally spaced from the measuring tube, a support element, which with a support end is mechanically connected with the support end and with a support end is mechanically connected with the support end. The measuring tube of the measuring transducer is adapted to guide a flowing medium in its lumen and during that to be caused to oscillate about a static resting position for producing Coriolis forces. The measuring transducer comprises an oscillation exciter as well as at least one oscillation sensor. The measuring transducer has a wanted mode having a resonant frequency, in which the measuring tube can execute wanted oscillations around its static resting position suitable for producing Coriolis forces and having a wanted frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of the wanted mode. The oscillation exciter is, furthermore, adapted to excite the wanted oscillations of the measuring tube, and the oscillation sensor, of which one sensor component is placed externally on the measuring tube and one sensor component is placed on the support element, is adapted to register movements of the measuring tube relative to the support element and to convert such into an oscillatory signal representing oscillations of the measuring tube. |
| US09593972B2 |
Flow meter assembly, gate assemblies and methods of flow measurement
The present invention provides an acoustic flow meter assembly (2) for pipes or open channels, said assembly including a frame (24) with a predetermined geometry. The frame has at least one user accessible port (36-42) with the at least one user accessible port (36-42) adapted to receive an interchangeable cartridge (44) which contains at least one acoustic transducer (46) to measure fluid velocity through said frame (24). |
| US09593971B2 |
Counter module adaptor assembly for rotary gas meters
An apparatus for use with a backup counter module, the apparatus having: a housing having a first end for coupling the housing to a gas meter body, and a second end for coupling an electronic counter module to the housing; and the second end having an inner surface with at least two sets of backup counter module engagement features for securing an output end of a backup counter module in one of at least two backup counter module positions. The housing may be coupled to a first gas meter body with a backup counter module positioned within the housing in one of the at least two backup counter module positions. The housing may alternatively be coupled to a second gas meter body with the backup counter module positioned within the housing in another of the at least two backup counter module positions. |
| US09593969B2 |
Concealed electrical connectors
An electronic device with a rigid housing includes multiple apertures which each define a portion of a symbol used to identify the device. Conducting inserts may be positioned within the apertures to provide externally-accessible electrical connectors. The electrical connector may be used as a portion of a sensor or a charging circuit. |
| US09593965B2 |
Non-contact adjustable hysteretic magnetic encoder
A non-contact adjustable hysteretic magnetic encoder includes a bipolar magnetic block, two magnetic sensing components, a storage, and a controller. After retrieving the current rotation angle by accessing a rotation angle table, the controller determines, by an encoding rule, digital logical values of a first phase signal (A-phase signal) and digital logical values of a second phase signal (B-phase signal) and outputs the digital logical values. The phase difference between a first phase signal and a second phase signal is adjusted, and a hysteresis range, also known as hysteresis angle, is adjusted, according to the grids attributed to the predetermined number of grids before the turning point and the grids attributed to the predetermined number of grids after the turning point. Hence, the non-contact adjustable hysteretic magnetic encoder features enhanced potential of expansion and marked industrial practicability. |
| US09593962B2 |
Systems and methods for attitude fault detection based on integrated GNSS/inertial hybrid filter residuals
Systems and methods for attitude fault detection based on integrated GNSS/inertial hybrid filter residuals are provided. In one embodiment, a fault detection system for aircraft attitude measurement system comprises: a sensor monitor coupled to a first inertial measurement unit, the sensor monitor comprising: a navigation error model for the first inertial measurement unit, the model configured to model a plurality of error states including at least an attitude error state vector, an velocity error state vector, and a position error state vector determined from data generated by the first inertial measurement unit; and a propagator-estimator configured to propagate and update error states based on GNSS data; and a residual evaluator configured to input measurement error residual values generated by the propagator-estimator, wherein the residual evaluator outputs an alert signal when the measurement error residual values exceed a threshold. |
| US09593956B2 |
Method and system for automatically detecting control section
A method and system for automatically detecting a control section using traffic information is disclosed. The automatic control section detection system may include an analyzer configured to analyze a primary control section that is a control section included in traffic control information; and a detector configured to detect an additional control section associated with the primary control section based on connectivity and directivity of roads connected to the primary control section. |
| US09593952B2 |
System and method for intelligent tuning of Kalman filters for INS/GPS navigation applications
Disclosed is a reinforcement learning technique for online tuning of integration filters of navigation systems needing a priori tuning parameters, such as Kalman Filters and the like. The method includes receiving GNSS measurements from the GNSS unit of the navigation system; and IMU measurements from IMU of the navigation system. The method further includes providing a priori tuning parameters to tune the integration filter of the navigation system. The method further includes processing the GNSS and IMU measurements using the tuned integration filter to compute a position estimate and updating the a priori tuning parameters based on the computer position estimate. |
| US09593951B2 |
Method for increasing the reliability of sensor systems
A method for increasing the reliability of sensor systems for determining the position of flying objects. Since the position determination is very decisive for the execution of planned missions, it is especially important to increase the reliability of such systems. The star sensors of the star systems are preferably structured identically and connected to each other by a bidirectional bus system. Due to the presence of several identical modules in the sensor system, there is an inner redundancy that can be utilized via the bus system. The bus system allows the transmission of signals of different data processing levels, so that the transmission of the data of the data processing levels can be adapted to modules that may have failed. |
| US09593947B2 |
Method for the measurement of turbulence by using reciprocating ocean microstructure profiler
The method for the measurement of turbulence by using reciprocating ocean microstructure profiler includes the following procedures: 1) system startup; 2) detection of the profile data of ocean dynamic environment information: a. temperature detection; b. shear detection; c. depth detection; and d. current and temperature & conductivity detection; e. gesture sensing; 3) control of ascending and descending operations of the profiler: a. uprising control; b. redirection operation; and c. sinking control; and 4) sleep mode. The method doesn't consume labor several times and the equipment is capable of providing long-time continuous profile measurement at a fixed area along a steel cable; and the entire system can ascend and descend steadily after hydrodynamic optimized layout, eliminating the measurement errors contributable to water flow fluctuation during detection, thus obtaining accurate ocean microstructure observation in vertical with higher precision. |
| US09593935B2 |
Optical image measuring apparatus
A clear image of a measurement target in optical coherence tomography (OCT) is obtained while suppressing influence of reflected light from a specific portion. Included are a laser beam source, a beam splitter that splits a laser beam into a signal beam and reference beam; an objective lens that focuses the signal beam onto a measurement target in a container, a unit that moves the signal beam focus position, an objective lens that focuses the reference beam, a reflecting mirror, a flat plate arranged between the objective lens and reflecting mirror, and interference optics that combine the signal beam reflected by the measurement target with the reference beam reflected by the reflecting mirror and having passed through the objective lens. Three or more interference beams with different phases, and photodetectors that detect the interference beams are generated, and two of the objective lenses are the same lenses. |
| US09593932B2 |
Capacitive sensor device with associated evaluation circuit
A capacitive sensor device includes a sensor electrode coupled to a first switch and coupleable either to a sensor operating voltage or to an evaluation circuit, configured as a power source circuit. A first current path is coupleable to the sensor electrode at an input end and to ground via a collector and emitter of a first transistor by an auxiliary resistor. A second current path is coupled to a reference potential at one end. A capacitor is coupled between the reference potential and a second transistor. A second auxiliary resistor is arranged in the second current path. The first transistor's base and collector are coupled to the base of the second transistor. A compensation capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the first current path and a second terminal couplable to a compensation voltage, to ground, or in a floating manner via a second switch. |
| US09593927B2 |
Dynamical monitoring and modelling of a coordinate measuring machine
A method for providing dynamic state information for a coordinate measuring machine that includes a base, a probe head, a machine structure linking the probe head to the base and a drive mechanism that moves the probe head. A dynamic model with first state variables represents an actual state of physical properties of the coordinate measuring machine. The first state variables are provided in a database and the actual state of the coordinate measuring machine is determined using the dynamic model. The state variables are monitored and, based thereon, the change of the state variables is determined. Updated, second state variables are set regarding the determined change of the first state variables. The dynamic model is updated using the second state variables in place of the first state variables, wherein the actual state of the coordinate measuring machine is calculated based on the second state variables. |
| US09593926B2 |
System and method for verifying screw threads
A thread gauge inspection apparatus includes a receiving member to hold a reference thread gauge and a motor to bi-directionally rotate the reference thread gauge. A counter counts a number of turns the reference thread gauge is rotated by the motor, and a torque monitoring device monitors the torque produced by the motor as the reference thread gauge is rotated. A controller, when the monitored torque exceeds a predetermined value, causes the motor to stop rotating the reference thread gauge and causes the counter to stop counting the number of turns the reference thread gauge is rotated. The controller compares the count produced by the counter with an inputted specific turn count and indicates the thread quality of threaded hole or a threaded stud passed inspection when the count produced by the counter is equal to the inputted specific turn count. |
| US09593921B1 |
Large caliber frangible projectile
A large caliber, frangible, training projectile imitates, for training purposes, the corresponding tactical projectile. To enable fragmentation of the training projectile at impact, some embodiments of the frangible projectile are partially or entirely made of a material with a lower yield strength than the material used in the counterpart tactical projectile. Some embodiments of the frangible projectile may include portions that are sectioned, welded, or provided with stress risers. Some embodiments of the frangible projectile may include high density particles suspended in a weaker medium. The fragmentation methods may be applied to the overall mass of the projectile, or to a portion of the projectile. |
| US09593920B2 |
Arrow shaft with straightness marking thereon
An arrow shaft includes a straightness marking that indicates a position of straightness of an arrow shaft. Accordingly, a user can shoot in consideration of the error in the straightness, thereby facilitating the adjustment of a zero point and formation of a shot group, and also improving the flight stability of the arrow. |
| US09593918B2 |
Tear gas enhanced fluidized bed security system and method
A tear gas-based enhancement to a fluid bed security system implemented for the purpose of inhibiting unauthorized entry or access and to provide additional time for threatened individuals to evacuate or escape a hostile assembly at the perimeter of a secured area. The system provides for the reliable and controlled application of a specified concentration of tear gas emitted in conjunction with fluidizing gas distributed through a fluid bed configuration comprising a gas distribution piping array and a plurality of fluidizable granular solids in a surrounding relationship to the gas distribution piping array. |
| US09593914B2 |
Method for acquiring the coordinates of a trigger point of a projectile and fire-control system implementing the method
The invention relates to a method for acquiring the coordinates of a trigger point (P) of a projectile (4) above a field part (1) on which a target (5a, 5b, 5c) is located. The method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: emission of at least one laser pulse having a pre-determined duration and directed towards the target (5a, 5b, 5c); reception of the images reflected with a receiver equipped with means for the synchronous visualization of the laser pulses originating from a piece of observation of the field part (1); recovery of the coordinates of a desired trigger point (P) when the operator has chosen a location after the piece of observation was moved. The invention also relates to a fire-control system using such a method. |
| US09593913B1 |
Digital positioning system and associated method for optically and automatically stabilizing and realigning a portable weapon through and after a firing shock
A digital positioning system that interfaces with a portable weapon to automatically realign the weapon through and after a firing shock that saturates electronic components of the portable weapon. The digital positioning system includes a digital fire control device that receives target destination data. The digital fire control device transmits the target destination data to an automatic calibration and pointing device, which, in turn, generates a reference orientation from the target destination data. In response to the firing shock, the automatic calibration and pointing device acquires a current orientation of the portable weapon, independently of the saturated electronic components, and compares the current orientation to the stored reference orientation for causing a mechanical alignment and orientation mechanism to reposition the portable weapon. |
| US09593910B1 |
Firearm sight tool
Firearm sight tools for removing and installing firearm sights are presented, the firearm sight tools including: a clamping assembly for clamping a firearm slide: a dovetail sight removal and installation assembly removably coupled with the clamping assembly for removing and installing a dovetail sight for the firearm slide; and a front sight staking assembly removably coupled with the clamping assembly for staking a front sight for the firearm slide. In some embodiments, the clamping assembly further includes: a pair of side plates for providing clamping surface, where the pair of side plates are substantially parallel with one another; a number of clamping bolts for providing a clamping force for the pair of side plates; and a cutout positioned along a top edge of each of the pair of side plates, the cutout provided for locating the dovetail sight removal and installation assembly. |
| US09593908B2 |
Supplementary sight aid adaptable to existing and new scope
A sight aid including a supplementary sight alignment indicator having a projection plane and a projection device adapted to project a supplementary sight alignment indicator and at least one reference point on the projection plane, the supplementary sight alignment indicator is axially-centered with respect to the sight alignment indicator and spaced apart therefrom on the optical axis for forming a composite image with the image of the sight alignment indicator, the target image being viewable together by the user by means of the ocular lens and the projection plane is disposed at a distance from the sight alignment indicator. An adaptor secures the supplementary sight alignment indicator to a portion of the projectile device or the housing. |
| US09593907B2 |
Micro-pixelated LED reticle display for optical aiming devices
A sighting device, such as a riflescope, a reflex sight, or a spotting scope, having a display device including an addressable, emissive collection of micro display elements for generating a finely pixelated, high-resolution aiming mark. The sighting device includes a controller coupled to the display device to selectively power one or more of the display elements to generate the aiming mark. The micro display elements may be inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) having a pixel size of 25 μm or less, and the display elements may be arranged at a pixel pitch of 30 μm or less. |
| US09593906B1 |
Electro-optical optic sight
An optic sight assembly for installation on a riffle is disclosed, comprising an electro-optical optic sight unit which comprises a controller unit, a remote control receiver, and an electro-optical unit to project a reticle image; and a corresponding remote control unit to control operational parameters of the electro-optical optic sight. The remote control unit comprises a remote control controller to produce control signals for transmitting to the remote control receiver, and a keypad unit to enable entering control commands to the remote control unit, wherein the electro-optical optic sight is adapted to receive control signals from the remote control unit to control operational parameters of the reticle. |
| US09593903B1 |
Bow and arrow hunting accessory device
A bow and arrow hunting accessory device having a mounting post assembly with a sidewall, and mounting screws that insert into a tree. Further having a swivel bar assembly, and a mounting arm assembly with an accessory support arm to support a hunting bow. The mounting post assembly further has a shaft. The swivel bar assembly has a housing with a hole. The hole receives the shaft when the swivel bar assembly mounts onto the mounting post assembly. The swivel bar assembly has an elongated housing with extension holes. The mounting arm assembly has a mounting arm having an actuating pin. The elongated housing receives the mounting arm, and any of the extension holes receives the actuating pin. The mounting arm assembly has a wind vane. Further having a clamp assembly that secures an umbrella. |
| US09593897B2 |
Firearm with magazine release lever
An AR-style firearm includes a specially designed lower receiver, a specially designed upper receiver mounted to the lower receiver, a hand grip mounted to the lower receiver, a handguard mounted around a barrel, a specially designed magazine well formed in the lower receiver that is configured to receive an AK-47 magazine or similar magazine, and a specially designed, ambidextrous magazine release that holds and selectively releases the magazine from the magazine well. |
| US09593896B2 |
Bolt rifle assembly
An expandable linear explosive shape charge positioner for severing tubular members whereby a plurality of arc-shaped charge chambers are positioned along the same plane and adjacent to the interior walls of the tubular members and detonated to sever the tubular members. The invention is placed within a tubular member and includes a remotely extendible framework having remotely detonable linear explosive shape charges enclosed therein. When in the collapsed position, the apparatus passes through constrictions within the tubular members. When extended, the framework is positioned transversely to the axis of the tubular member with the shape charges positioned adjacent the interior walls thereof. Shape charge chambers with angled ends are presented to provide overlap when the device is fully extended to better ensure complete separation of the tubular member at the discontinuities of the shape charges about the plane of severance. |
| US09593895B2 |
Cleaning brush device for condenser
A dust cleaning device for condenser of cooler is provided. Since the dust from outside is attached to the condenser due to ventilation and they become one of reasons for compressor failure, the device is configured to clean the heat exchange fin of the condenser periodically, in which a wire winch and a cleaning brush is connected to a driving axle of a driving motor such that the cleaning brush performs up-and-down motion and rotation with a power of the driving motor and cleans the heat exchange fin. In other structure, pinion and rack can be connected to the driving axle to perform the up-and-down motion. The cleaning brush is made of textile or unwoven fabric. Furthermore, the cleaning brush further includes a plurality of long brush portions protruding above the cleaning brush. |
| US09593881B2 |
Superconducting system for enhanced natural gas production
Provided is a natural gas processing facility for the liquefaction or regasification of natural gas. The facility includes a primary processing unit, e.g., refrigeration unit, for warming natural gas or chilling natural gas to at least a temperature of liquefaction. The facility also has superconducting electrical components integrated into the facility. The superconducting electrical components incorporate superconducting material so as to improve electrical efficiency of the facility by at least one percent over what would be experienced through the use of conventional electrical components. The superconducting electrical components may be one or more motors, one or more generators, one or more transformers, switch gears, one or more electrical transmission conductors, variable speed drives, or combinations thereof. |
| US09593880B2 |
Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a first guide hole located at a first inner wall of a storage compartment, a second guide hole located at a second inner wall of the storage compartment, a first rotating bar that includes a first rotating shaft fitted in the first guide hole, and a second rotating bar that includes a second rotating shaft fitted in the second guide hole. A shelf is rotatably supported by the first rotating bar and the second rotating bar and is adjustable in height based on rotation of the first rotating bar and the second rotating bar. Also, the first guide hole has a first space that extends in a forward and rearward direction and that allows the first rotating shaft to slide and the second guide hole has a second space that extends in the forward and rearward direction and that allows the second rotating shaft to slide. |
| US09593877B2 |
Refrigerator having locking device for ice bucket and method for installation of locking device of ice bucket
There is provided a refrigerator having a locking device for an ice bucket and a method for installing a locking device for an ice bucket. A refrigerator having a locking device for an ice bucket, comprising: a main body; a storage space within the main body; an ice space configured to be disposed inside the main body, and partitioned from the storage space, and having a front opening; an ice bucket comprising an ice storage portion which stores ice generated within the ice space; and a cover member which is disposed in front of the ice storage portion to cover a front of the ice space and configured to be slidably installed in the ice space; and a locking device configured to lock the ice bucket within the ice space to prevent the ice bucket from being drawn out of the ice space by itself. |
| US09593875B2 |
Refrigerator with intermediate temperature icemaking compartment
An icemaking compartment is provided in the refrigerator compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. An icemaker is within the icemaking compartment. A cold air duct supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaker. The cold air duct is formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator. A fan controls the flow of air through the cold air duct. A return air duct is provided to direct a portion of the air from the icemaker back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaker directs another portion of air into the refrigerator compartment. |
| US09593874B2 |
Ice mold for bottleneck
An ice making assembly includes an ice tray extending along a longitudinal axis. The ice tray includes a first section disposed at a longitudinal first end of the ice tray, the first section including a plurality of first cavities projecting into the ice tray. The ice tray further includes a second section disposed at a longitudinal second end of the ice tray that is opposite from the longitudinal first end. The second section includes an elongated second cavity extending in a direction that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ice tray. The second cavity has a shape that is longer in length than a length of each of the first cavities. |
| US09593873B2 |
Manifold for a refrigerant recovery device and method
A manifold assembly includes a solenoid valve, a manifold, and a check valve. The manifold has an inlet bore and an outlet bore. The check valve has a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to directly mate with the solenoid valve. The second end is configured to directly mate to the manifold. The second end has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the inlet bore. The outlet is in fluid communication with the outlet bore. |
| US09593870B2 |
Refrigerator with thermoelectric device for ice making
An apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator. |
| US09593867B2 |
Large scale ground mounting system for photovoltaics
A mounting system for mounting photovoltaic panels, which provides for a quick and easy assembly. The ground mount system for photovoltaic panels includes at least two vertical supports, wherein attached to each vertical support are a T plate connected to a vertical support, a post frame connected to the T plate, and a kicker brace connected between the vertical support and the post frame. The ground mount system may further include a first C-Purlin connected to a first end of the post frame, to a second C-Purlin connected to a second end of the post frame, a purlin tie connected between the first C-Purlin and the second C-Purlin. Panel clamps secure a photovoltaic panel assembly to the mounting system. |
| US09593864B2 |
Airflow direction control device for air conditioning indoor unit
An air-conditioning indoor unit causes a flow of air blown out from a blow-out port to be diverted in a predetermined direction due to the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect. The air-conditioning indoor unit includes an airflow direction adjustment vane varying a blowout angle of blown air relative to a horizontal plane, a Coand{hacek over (a)} vane turning the blown air into a Coand{hacek over (a)} airflow along a bottom surface, and a control unit. The Coand{hacek over (a)} vane is provided in proximity to the blow-out port. The control unit executes an airflow direction automatic switching mode automatically switching between a Coand{hacek over (a)} effect use state in which the blown air is turned into a Coand{hacek over (a)} airflow along a predetermined surface and diverted in the predetermined direction, and a normal state in which the Coand{hacek over (a)} airflow is not created. The airflow direction adjustment vane and the Coand{hacek over (a)} vane having incline angles relative to a horizontal plane that are variable. |
| US09593863B2 |
Vent apparatus for electrical enclosure
An improved vent apparatus that is usable with an electrical enclosure includes a vent flap that is movable between a closed position overlying an opening formed in a wall of the electrical enclosure and an open position wherein at least a portion of the vent flap is spaced from the wall. The vent flap may be held in place in the closed position via gravity or through the use of a retainer such as a spring or a frangible structure. The vent flap is a part of a flap apparatus that is formed as a unitary single piece element that may be stamped from sheet metal, for example, and the flap apparatus includes a number of hinge elements that are rollably disposed on an edge of the wall adjacent the opening. |
| US09593861B1 |
Controlling and monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) devices
Systems and methods for controlling and monitoring Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) devices are described. In some embodiments, a system may include an IAQ component configured to alter the quality of the air entering, leaving, or circulating within a building, a sensor coupled to the IAQ component, the sensor configured to determine a status of the IAQ component, and a transmitter coupled to the sensor, the transmitter configured to transmit an indication of the status to a controller. In other embodiments, a method may include receiving, at a Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) thermostat, data from a sensor coupled to an IAQ component configured to alter the quality of the air entering, leaving, or circulating within a building, and determining, by the HVAC thermostat, a status of the IAQ component based upon the data. |
| US09593860B1 |
Water recycler for a humidifier
A water recycler is designed to recycle waste water from a drip-type humidifying system. A water reservoir is provided with an opening to accept a drain line from the existing humidifier system. Additional fresh water is added into the reservoir to maintain a preset level via a float valve. The system is further provided with an internal pump which is activated by an existing furnace switch. The pump draws water from the reservoir and supplies it to the humidifier for reuse. As water is consumed by the humidifier, it is replenished by the fresh water system to ensure an adequate supply of water at all times. |
| US09593859B2 |
Clean zone HVAC system
A single-pass HVAC systems to isolate zones and to maintain a required clean air quality standard is provided that operates by producing a positive pressure in all zones, while exhausting on a minimal quantity of air required by law. The zones are kept clean by a recirculating fan filter in each zone. The exhaust air is used to exchange heat with incoming air to conserve energy further. |
| US09593857B2 |
Heating system
This invention materially enhances the quality of the environment and mankind by contributing to the restoration or maintenance of the basic life-sustaining natural elements, by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide introduced to the atmosphere from a combustion system, achieved by furnishing a system's approach to optimize the amount of oxygen to be chemically combined with fuel upon ignition of both allowing the correct amount of carbon to combine with the correct amount of oxygen thus fully release the thermal energy stored therein. |
| US09593856B2 |
Oven appliance with directed vent openings
An oven appliance with one or more vents in the bottom wall of the cooking chamber is provided. One or more features are provided for directing the flow of heated air from the vents towards the center of the cooking chamber. In certain embodiments, one or more slots or openings provide heated air that is directed towards the front or door of the cooking chamber of the appliance. |
| US09593852B2 |
Cooling unit cooling swirler vane of combustion burner
A combustion burner including a fuel nozzle, a burner tube that surrounds the fuel nozzle to form an air passage between the burner tube and the fuel nozzle, swirler vanes that are arranged in a plurality of positions in a circumferential direction on an external circumferential surface of the fuel nozzle, each of which extends along an axial direction of the fuel nozzle, and gradually curves from upstream to downstream, a liquid fuel injecting hole that is formed on the fuel nozzle, and from which a liquid fuel is injected to a vane pressure surface of each of the swirler vanes, and a cooling unit that cools a part of the vane pressure surface on which the liquid fuel hits. The cooling unit injects a mixed fuel prepared by mixing water and the liquid fuel evenly from the liquid fuel injecting hole to the vane pressure surface of the swirler vane. |
| US09593850B2 |
Bottom ash dewatering system using a remote submerged scraper conveyor
Remote submerged scraper conveyor (SSC) consists of a conventional SSC modified to include a slurry processing system, which allows it to be located remotely from associated boilers at or slightly above grade level rather than directly under a boiler like a conventional SSC. The slurry processing system includes a pair of overflow troughs 34 and associated weirs located exterior to and along the top edge of each side of the horizontal section of the SSC and an underflow baffle, which extends from a position above the water line down into the horizontal section of the SSC below the water line. The slurry processing system allows the Remote SSC to receive a high volume wet ash slurry discharge via a slurry discharge pipe conventionally sent to an ash pond or a tall dewatering bin system. |
| US09593840B2 |
Flap mechanism with a light element
A flap mechanism (2) has a housing (10), a flap aperture (21) formed on the housing (10), and a flap element (20) that at least partially closes the flap aperture (21) in a closed position and can be transferred from the closed position to an open position for at least partially freeing the flap aperture. The flap element (20), in the open position, protrudes at least with an end portion (200) from the housing (10). At least one light element (22) is arranged on the flap element (20) and generates a gleam of light on the end portion (200) of the flap element (20) at least in the open position of the flap element (20). |
| US09593836B2 |
Device for fastening a fan
A device for fastening a fan in a housing of a lighting device, wherein the lighting device has a pot-shaped housing in which a number of lighting units are arranged, such that the fan can be fastened on a carrier frame at several fastening points by means of fasteners, wherein the carrier frame can be fastened on the housing by means of additional fasteners, wherein the fan is connected to the carrier frame at each fastening point by a plug-in connection as a fastener. |
| US09593834B2 |
Head lamp device
A head lamp device for wearing on a head and emitting lights outwardly is disclosed and comprises a cover member, a main control member, a sensing member, and at least two lamps. The main control member is mounted on the cover member. A receiving unit and a control unit are embedded in the main control member and electrically connected with each other wirelessly or wiredly. The sensing member is electrically connected with the main control member and installed in the cover member. The sensing member is detecting an inclined angle of the head and generating a signal for being transmitted to the main control member and received by the receiving unit. The lamps are electrically connected with the control unit. The lamps are controlled to turn on/off, adjust brightness, and change light-on/off priority by the control unit. The sensing member detects the change of the angle via moving the head. |
| US09593832B2 |
Low voltage security lighting systems for perimeter fences
A security lighting system includes a transformer for transforming high voltage current to low voltage current, and a wiring run having electrically conductive wiring for connecting a plurality of security lights to the transformer. Each security light includes a light module having a low voltage LED light, a hat covering the LED light, and a junction box coupled with the light module. The junction box has an interior compartment containing electrical components including a microprocessor connected with the LED light for controlling operation of the LED light, whereby the electrical components within the junction box are electrically connected with the wiring run. A clamping assembly is coupled with the junction box for securing the security light to a fixed element. Each security light includes a light module having the LED light and the hat overlies the LED light to block the escape of direct light from the light module while allowing reflected light to escape from the light module. |
| US09593831B2 |
Artificial LED lighted Christmas tree
Disclosed are various embodiments of an artificial tree that is lit by LEDs. Individual trunk modules are provided on trunk sections that provide individual control of LED strings disposed on branches on each of the trunk sections. Remote control devices and smart devices connected to the Internet can control the trunk modules. Spring-loaded flat connectors between the trunk sections, and also between the branches in the trunks, provide a solid electrical connection, which has a low susceptibility to failure. Plastic injection molded branches having injected molded sockets are provided for connecting LEDs that can be plugged directly into sockets on the trunk sections. The LEDs can be driven with an AC or DC electrical power supply. |
| US09593829B2 |
Hinge-mounted rotating base spotlight
This disclosure includes adjustable light fixtures and methods for using the same. Some light fixtures use or include a base having a stationary portion with first and second ends, where the first end defines an opening and the second end is configured to secure the fixture to a structure, and a rotatable portion having a mounting surface, where the rotatable portion is configured to be disposed within the opening and to rotate relative to the stationary portion in the plane of the first end, an emitter housing having a first end and a second end, where the first end defines an aperture and the emitter housing defines an interior volume configured to receive a light source, and a hinge coupled to the mounting surface and the second end of the emitter housing, where the hinge is configured to permit angular displacement of the emitter housing relative to the rotatable portion. |
| US09593827B2 |
Light source module, lighting device, and lighting system
A are provided a light source module. The light source module including a light emitting device configured to emit light in a light emitting direction; and an optical device including a first surface disposed over the light emitting device and having a groove recessed in the light emitting direction in a central portion through which an optical axis of the optical device passes, and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface and configured to refract light incident through the groove to be emitted to the outside. The optical device includes a plurality of ridges disposed on the second surface and periodically arranged in a direction from the optical axis to an edge of the optical device connected to the first surface. |
| US09593823B2 |
Optoelectronic module with improved optical system
The invention relates to an optoelectronic module (112), more particularly to an optoelectronic chip-on-board module (114). The optoelectronic module (112) comprises a substrate (116), wherein the substrate (116) has a planar design. Furthermore, the optoelectronic module (112) comprises a plurality of optoelectronic components (118) that are arranged on the substrate (116). The optoelectronic module (110) further comprises at least one optical system (120) applied onto the substrate (114), more particularly a microoptical system having a plurality of microoptical elements. The optical system (120) comprises at least one primary optical system (124) that is adjacent to the optoelectronic components (116) and at least one secondary optical system (138). |
| US09593821B2 |
Optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle
Optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle, comprising a reflector associated with a light source, in particular comprising an LED, in order to reflect the light coming from this light source, this reflector being formed on a part, in particular a monolithic part, namely produced in one piece, provided with a cooling opening for a circulation of cooling air. |
| US09593820B1 |
Vehicle illumination system
A vehicle is provided which includes a first panel defining a vent and a second panel positioned proximate the first panel. A lighting assembly is positioned within the vent including a first plurality and a second plurality of light sources. A heat sink is thermally coupled with the first and second plurality of light sources. An optical member is optically coupled to the first and second plurality of light sources. A photoluminescent structure is positioned on the second panel. |
| US09593814B2 |
Solar or wind powered assembly device
An assembly comprising at least one energy consuming device; the at least one energy consuming device being mounted to a support; at least one solar element for creating electric power from solar power; at least one energy storage device for storing electricity generated by the solar element; at least one wind vane or propeller-operatively associated with the support; at least one energy converter for generating electric power from the wind; and at least one shaft operatively connected to the at least one energy converter and the support. Optionally, the energy converter comprises at least one motor which operates to rotate the support; the at least one motor being operatively connected to the at least one battery for storing electric power therein. |
| US09593812B2 |
High CRI solid state lighting devices with enhanced vividness
Solid state lighting devices including multiple solid state light emitters are arranged to produce a mixture of light having a color rendering index (CRI Ra) value of at least 80, having a gamut area index (GAI) value in a range of from 80 to 100, and x, y coordinates within a predefined region of a 1931 CIE Chromaticity diagram, e.g. including x, y coordinates defining point on or within a first polygon bounded by the following x, y coordinates: (0.38, 0.34), (0.38, 0.36), (0.40, 0.38), (0.42, 0.38), (0.44, 0.36), (0.46, 0.36), and (0.46, 0.34). In certain embodiments, a lighting device includes a primary emitter having a dominant wavelength in a range of from 430 to 480 nm, a lumiphor having a dominant wavelength in a range of from 535 to 585 nm, and a supplemental emitter having a dominant wavelength in a range of from 590 to 650 nm. |
| US09593804B2 |
Positive locking grease plug
A plug assembly configured for installation in a hammer assembly, the plug assembly comprising a cylindrical plug and an anti-rotation component. The cylindrical plug may include a plug head and a plug body. The plug head may include a first hole and a second hole opposite the first hole, each hole extending from the outer surface of the plug head. The anti-rotation component may include a first linear portion and a second linear portion. The first linear portion and second linear portion may both be configured to fixably engage with the hammer assembly. |
| US09593802B2 |
Article of manufacture for hanging an object
An article of manufacture is configured for hanging signs and other objects to poles, fences, trees and other structures. The article generally includes a gripping base and a pair of elongated coiled filaments each extending from opposing sides of the base, the filaments each comprising a coiled length and a straightened tip disposed at a terminal end of the respective tip. The article is wrapped around a support structure and each of the tips is inserted through a respective aperture of a sign to be hanged and pulled through the aperture to secure the sign to the structure. |
| US09593801B2 |
Water jug attachment
The water jug attachment is an essentially rectangular support device wherein the rectangular device is supported by three legs, wherein the single rear leg is mounted in the center of the back of the rectangular device and operates as a jack in order to lift and support the rear of the jug and tilt it toward the spout or spigot as the volume in the jug declines due to use allowing the water in the jug to pour out of the spigot. |
| US09593799B2 |
Generator set mount
A system and apparatus for a slip joint mount is disclosed to accommodate thermal expansion of a generator set on a base. One embodiment includes an electric generator driven by a prime mover and an equipment mount coupled to the prime mover. A base includes a mounting aperture and means for retaining the equipment mount to the mounting aperture. Also disclosed is means for allowing for movement of the equipment mount with respect to the mounting aperture due to thermal expansion of a portion of the prime mover. |
| US09593798B2 |
Pipe cover, pipe structure and vehicle
A novel pipe cover is disclosed that can suppress thermal deterioration in a member that is positioned opposite to the pipe, and can control the temperature inside the pipe within a given range, even when a high-temperature fluid circulates through the pipe. The pipe cover is used to cover the outer periphery of a pipe, and includes a base that is formed of a tubular heat insulator, and a surface member that covers the outer surface of the base, a heat radiation section and a heat radiation-suppressing section being provided on the outer surface of the surface member, and the emissivity of the heat radiation section at a wavelength of 2 to 15 μm being higher than the emissivity of the heat radiation-suppressing section at a wavelength of 2 to 15 μm. |
| US09593796B2 |
Hot-dip galvanized steel pipe and method of manufacturing the same
There are provided a hot-dip galvanized steel pipe in which the plating layer thereof is less liable to peel off even if the steel pipe is worked, and a method of manufacturing the hot-dip galvanized steel pipe. The hot-dip galvanized steel pipe includes a steel pipe and the plating layer formed on the surface of the steel pipe. Throughout the entire depth of plating layer, the fn defined by the following formula is at least 99.9: fn=Fe+Al+Zn where, the symbol of an element in the formula represents the content (mass %) of that element in the plating layer. |
| US09593795B2 |
Fuel head assembly with replaceable wear components
A fuel head assembly (120) for a pulverized coal nozzle includes removeable back cover (123) that may be removed substantially horizontally to allow access to liners (141,143,145) inside of the fuel head assembly (120) for servicing. This may be used in places where there access from above the fuel head assembly (120) is restricted. The liners (141,143,145) are constructed of a wear-resistant material and include curved vanes (131,133) for more evenly distributing pulverized solid fuel particles, and for reducing erosion of the fuel head assembly (120). |
| US09593787B2 |
Secured in place gasket for sealing plastic pipelines, method of manufacture and method of installation
A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a raceway provided within a socket end of a female bell plastic pipe end which is assembled with a mating male pipe end to form a plastic pipe joint. The raceway is preformed about the gasket during the pipe belling operation. The gasket has a rubber body portion which is reinforced by a hard plastic band formed as a series of integral, spaced wedges which are interconnected by a flexible ribbon. The hard plastic band acts to prevent extrusion of the gasket during a variety of pressure conditions as well as preventing displacement during field assembly. |
| US09593785B2 |
Connection method for a braided hose
A method is provided for connecting a tubular structural element to a braided hose. The method includes placing the braided hose in the tubular structural element, placing a blow hose in the braided hose and applying internal pressure to expand the braided hose into contact with the tubular structural member. Heat then is applied to cure an adhesion promoter to achieve a positive materially integral connection of the braided profile to the tubular structural member. |
| US09593784B2 |
Knit fabric and an article comprising same
A knit fabric suitable as a reinforcement for elastomeric articles comprises a plurality of reinforcement yarns wherein each course of the fabric comprises either a first or second yarn, the modulus of the first yarn being different from the modulus of the second yarn, and the courses comprising the first and second yarns are arranged in one of the following sequences, (a) alternating courses comprise first and second yarns respectively, (b) the courses form a repeat pattern of, in order, a course comprising a first yarn, two courses comprising a second yarn and a course comprising a first yarn or (c) the courses form a repeat pattern of, in order, a course comprising a second yarn, two courses comprising a first yarn and a course comprising a second yarn. |
| US09593782B2 |
Fluid regulator with field convertible slam-shut device
A fluid regulator includes an actuator assembly and a body secured to the actuator assembly. The body defines an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid passage disposed between the inlet and the outlet and includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is dimensioned to receive a portion of a slam-shut device and is formed through a first side of the body between the inlet and the outlet. The second opening is dimensioned to receive a portion of the slam-shut device and is formed through a second side of the body, opposite the first side, between the inlet and the outlet. A slam-shut device is positioned at least partially within the first opening, extends into the body, and is secured to the body and a plate is positioned over the second opening and secured to the body. |
| US09593777B2 |
Mechanical seal
A mechanical seal is disclosed having a rotatable sealing face and a stationary sealing face that are in opposed relation and arranged to be urged, into contact to form a seal. One of the sealing faces is mounted on a support assembly that includes a biasing device operative to move that sealing face into contact with the other sealing face. In one form of the invention, the biasing device comprises one or more resilient members that in use are deformed to provide the biasing force. In a second form of the invention, the support assembly forms part of a fluid barrier of the seal and the biasing device is fluid impervious and forms part of the barrier. In a third form of the invention, the biasing device is exposed to fluid pressure in the chamber and the biasing force increases on increasing the fluid pressure in the chamber. |
| US09593776B2 |
Sealing device
The invention provides a sealing device which can inhibit an external dust in an atmospheric side from intruding into a lip end, thereby inhibiting a sealing fluid leakage by trapped dust. In a sealing device inhibiting leakage of a sealing fluid in an inboard side to an atmospheric side, coming into contact with a shaft by a seal lip end and circumferentially having in an atmospheric side inclined surface of the seal lip with a plurality of screws exerting a pumping action to the sealing fluid, a three-dimensional shape for preventing the dust intrusion is provided between the screws so as to inhibit the external dust intrusion in the atmospheric side toward the lip end. The three-dimensional shape is constructed by a projection or a groove extending in a parallel direction to the lip end. The projection or the groove is connected to the screws longitudinally in both end portions. |
| US09593771B2 |
Method for operating an automatic transmission
A method for operating an automatic transmission is provided. The method includes disengaging a shifting element of the automatic transmission and measuring an input speed of the automatic transmission while the shifting element is disengaging. A command pressure of the shifting element is adjusted to a target command pressure based at least in part on the input speed of the automatic transmission while the shifting element is disengaging. |
| US09593768B2 |
Power transmission apparatus for hybrid electric vehicle
A power transmitting apparatus may include a first input shaft to selectively receive torque of an engine, a second input shaft having at least one input gear fixedly disposed thereon, a third input shaft having at least one input gear fixedly disposed thereon, a motor/generator operated as a motor or a generator, a planetary gear set including a first rotation element directly connected to the motor/generator, a second rotation element directly connected to the third input shaft, and a third rotation element directly connected to the first input shaft, a first speed output unit to convert torque input from the second input shaft or the third input shaft and output the converted torque, and a second speed output unit to convert torque input from the second input shaft or the third input shaft and output the converted torque. |
| US09593767B2 |
Shift control device for electrically driven vehicle
A shift control device for an electrically driven vehicle, which is installed in the electrically driven vehicle including a motor as a drive source and an automatic transmission coupled to an output shaft of the motor, has a shift controller that performs shifting of the automatic transmission using a previously set shift line. The shift controller has, as the shift line, an electricity consumption prioritized shift line with priority placed to improve electricity consumption rate, and a driving force prioritized shift line with priority placed to suppress the frequency of shifting. The driving force prioritized shift line is used for a predetermined time after completion of the shift control using the electricity consumption prioritized shift line. |
| US09593765B2 |
Smart touch type electronic auto shift lever
An electronic auto shift lever, and more particularly, a smart touch type electronic auto shift lever configures a shift operating unit of the auto shift lever. The auto shift lever includes a touch screen and provides a predetermined shift pattern to a user to perform a shift operation by an input through the touch screen, in which the user is allowed to arbitrarily change the shift pattern to provide various shift patterns corresponding to a user's taste, in an auto shift lever of an automatic transmission vehicle. |
| US09593764B2 |
Bicycle component operating apparatus
A bicycle component operating apparatus is basically provided with a controller. The controller is configured to electrically adjust an input position of at least one operating member for starting operation of at least one bicycle component. |
| US09593763B2 |
Gearing assembly having a planetary stage
A gearing arrangement, comprising a planetary stage comprising a planet carrier arranged to rotate around a transmission shaft, a plurality of planet pins each planet pin comprising respective first and second end regions, planet gears arranged on the planet carrier and seated on the plurality of planet pins, and at least one sun gear, and a spur gear arranged to direct torque into the planet carrier, wherein the planet carrier comprises a cage element axially arranged on the spur gear, and the plurality of planet pins are arranged within the spur gear and radially supported in the cage element with the respective first end regions arranged to face the spur gear and the respective second end regions arranged to face away from the spur gear. |
| US09593761B2 |
Pneumatic venting of modular hybrid electric vehicle
A system for venting a hybrid electric powertrain includes a module defining a first volume containing a clutch and an electric machine, a housing defining a second volume containing an automatic transmission, and lines producing mutual pneumatic connections among the first volume, the second volume and ambient atmosphere. |
| US09593760B2 |
Reverse idler support
A reverse idler support article includes a reverse idler support body that has a disk member, a plateau and a hollow cylinder. The disk member is connected to and in facial contact with the plateau that projects from a first disk member surface and the hollow cylinder that projects from a second disk member surface to define an interior space. The disk member and the plateau have an offset hole formed therethrough that is in communication with the interior space. The offset hole is oriented offset from a central axis of the reverse idler support body which extends generally centrally through the disk member and the interior space of the hollow cylinder. |
| US09593758B2 |
Gear device
A gear of a gear device includes a plurality of teeth having tooth surfaces. The tooth surfaces are shaped such that contact length ratios of three or more of the teeth are outside a predetermined range centered on an average value of the contact length ratios of all of the teeth, where the contact length ratio is obtained by dividing a contact length of a tooth contact face by a diagonal length of a plane of action. |
| US09593757B2 |
Axle assembly
An axle assembly with a housing, a pinion, a ring gear, a bearing and a pair of shafts. The pinon is mounted to the housing for rotation about a first axis. The ring gear is received in the housing and meshingly engaged with the pinion. The bearing supports the ring gear for rotation relative to the housing about a second axis and also handles thrust loads between the housing and the ring gear that are directed (in both directions) along the second axis. The bearing has a plurality of bearing elements and is abutted against a shoulder formed on the housing that is positioned along the second axis between the first axis and the bearing elements. The differential assembly has a differential case, which is coupled to the ring gear for rotation therewith, and a pair of output members that are coupled to the shafts for common rotation. |
| US09593754B2 |
Axle assembly with torque distribution drive mechanism
An axle assembly with a motor, a differential assembly, a housing, a transmission and a reduction gearset. The transmission has a first and second planetary gearsets that have associated (i.e., first and second) ring gears, planet carriers and sun gears. The first planet carrier is coupled to a differential carrier of the differential assembly for common rotation. The second ring gear is non-rotatably coupled to the housing. The second planet carrier is coupled to the second differential output for common rotation. The second sun gear is coupled to the first sun gear for common rotation. The reduction gearset is disposed between an output shaft of the motor and the first ring gear and includes a first gear, which is coupled to the output shaft for rotation therewith, and a second gear that is coupled to the first ring gear for rotation therewith. |
| US09593747B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include: an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting changed torque; a first planetary gear set including a first rotation element, a second rotation element, and a third rotation element; a second planetary gear set including a fourth rotation element, a fifth rotation element, and a sixth rotation element; a third planetary gear set including a seventh rotation element, an eighth rotation element, and a ninth rotation element; and a fourth planetary gear set including a tenth rotation element, an eleventh rotation element, and a twelfth rotation element. |
| US09593745B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving power from an engine, an output shaft outputting power changed in speed, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear, a first rotating shaft selectively connected with a transmission housing, a second rotating shaft, a third rotating shaft selectively connected with the transmission housing, a fourth rotating shaft directly connected with the input shaft so as to be continuously operated as an input element, a fifth rotating shaft, a sixth rotating shaft selectively connected with the first, second, and fifth rotating shafts, a seventh rotating shaft, an eighth rotating shaft selectively connected with the seventh rotating shaft and simultaneously directly connected with the output shaft, and six friction elements. |
| US09593742B2 |
Silent chain
A silent chain is provided, which can avoid impinging contact between guide plates and sprocket teeth and prevent wear loss and noise. A guide plate includes a main guide part formed on a side that engages with a sprocket, and an additional guide part formed on at least one of front and rear edges in the longitudinal direction of the chain. The additional guide part protrudes more in the longitudinal direction of the chain than an outer flank of a middle plate arranged in the same guide row and has a size that allows the additional guide part to overlap a sprocket tooth in the chain width direction when engaged with the sprocket S. |
| US09593741B2 |
Transmission with torsional damper
The present teachings provide for a torsional damper and a transmission having a torsional damper. The torsional damper can include first and second members. The first member can include a first hub, a first outer portion, and a plurality of first spokes. The first hub can be non-rotatably coupled to an input member of the transmission. The first spokes can extend radially between the first hub and the first outer portion. The first spokes can couple the first outer portion to the first hub. The second member can include a second hub and a second outer portion. The second hub can be non-rotatably coupled to an output member of the transmission. The second outer portion can be radially outward of the second hub and can be fixedly coupled to the second hub and to the first outer portion. |
| US09593740B2 |
Energy-absorbing composite tension-shear fitting
An energy absorbing fitting is constructed to absorb tension, shear and compression loads at a joint between two composite material beams of a composite material frame. The fitting is constructed with a band of composite material having an inverted U-shape, a panel of composite material having a U-shaped cross-section configuration that is assembled into the inverted U-shaped configuration of the band, and a sheet of composite material having an inverted L-shape configuration that is secured to the band and to the panel. The fitting is positioned at the intersection of the beams and is secured to the joint between the beams, thereby reinforcing the joint against tension, shear and compression loads. |
| US09593737B2 |
Pressure valve for gas spring
A pneumatic spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder wall defining an interior volume having a working end and a boosting chamber adjacent to the working end, the working end including a first volume of gas and the boosting chamber including a second volume of gas, a piston assembly disposed for reciprocation in the working end of the interior volume, a piston rod having a proximal end secured to the piston and a distal end projecting out of the interior volume, a temperature control valve assembly disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and including an engineered portion that is configured to prevent fluid flow between the working end and the boosting chamber while the first volume of gas is present in the working end and to permit fluid flow between the working end and the boosting chamber should the working end be evacuated of the first volume of gas. |
| US09593733B2 |
Damping arrangement for dissipating oscillating energy of an element in a system, more particularly in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
The invention relates to a damping arrangement for dissipating oscillation energy of an element in a system, more particularly in a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, comprising an absorber mass, which is mounted via a stable mounting with respect to the element, wherein the absorber mass is arranged in a cavity present within the element and is at least partly surrounded by a fluid situated in the cavity, wherein a mass-spring system is formed by the absorber mass, the system damping a translational movement component of an oscillation of the element that exists at the linking point of the absorber mass, and wherein the stable mounting is formed by a rheological fluid that is electrically controllable or controllable via electric or magnetic fields. |
| US09593732B2 |
Anti-vibration device
An anti-vibration device comprising first and second strength members interlinked by an elastomer body adapted to work in compression mode along a main vibration axis is disclosed. The first strength member is fitted in a slider of a support, in a direction of fitting perpendicular to the main vibration axis. The first strength member is blocked in the slider by snap-fitting. |
| US09593727B1 |
Bicycle disc brake rotor
A bicycle disc brake rotor having a rotational center axis is provided including an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion includes a first member having a first thermal conductivity and a second member having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity. The second member is attached to the first member. The inner portion is disposed radially inwardly from the outer portion with respect to the rotational center axis. The inner portion is a separate member from the first and second members. The inner portion is attached to or contacts the second member of the outer portion. |
| US09593725B2 |
Self-adjusting clutch reaction plate
A self-adjusting clutch (10) can include an automatic adjustment mechanism (20) for decreasing an axial dimension within a clutch pack (14). The adjustment can compensate for wear of the facing surfaces of interposed members located within the clutch pack (14), resulting from repeated engaging and disengaging under a clutch apply load within the clutch (10). The adjustment mechanism (20) can include a reaction plate (12) normally biased toward the clutch pack (14) by a plurality of first springs (22). The adjustment mechanism (20) can further include a plurality of pawls (24) supported for rotation by the reaction plate (12) and biased by a plurality of second springs (26) toward a locking position with respect to a ring member (36). The plurality of pawls (24) can lock the reaction plate (12) against axial movement in a direction of the clutch apply load during clutch actuation. |
| US09593715B2 |
Movement-guiding device
A movement-guiding device that includes a moving rail having a rolling element rolling surface; a first block that engages with the rolling element rolling surface of the moving rail via a plurality of rolling elements; a fixed rail including a rolling element rolling surface; a second block that engages with the rolling element rolling surface of the fixed rail via a plurality of rolling elements; and a joint member. The joint member is formed in a plank shape and connects the moving rail and the fixed rail by having the first block mounted on one surface and having the second block mounted on the other surface. The joint member is formed having a height difference. |
| US09593712B2 |
Detangling device, method of making and using the same
Described herein are axially and radially swivelable detangling connector devices that are suitable for preventing entanglement, or detangling, of a device or means that is used to secure one or more mobile objects or subjects to one or more objects or subjects. Methods of making and using the disclosed devices are also provided herein. |
| US09593706B2 |
Structural blind fastener and method of installation
A two-piece, one-sided-installation fastener system may have an internally-threaded sleeve having a shank and a sleeve head. The fastener system may include an externally-threaded core bolt having a frangible driving provision and a core bolt head. |
| US09593702B2 |
Manufacture and method for forming structures and the structures resulting therefrom
A clip for assembling corners of hollow members such as the rails and stiles of an extruded aluminum door. The clip has an L shape and may feature a double L shape. A portion inserts into the hollow of a first member and is attached thereto. Another portion extends into the other hollow member for attachment thereto to form a sturdy joint without welding. Pairs of clips may be used at each corner. |
| US09593700B2 |
Self-locking plug
A compact, highly-reusable, self-locking includes a body component, a flexible beam finger component with a plurality of axially-oriented flexible beam fingers, a tab sleeve component including one or more downward extending tabs, an annular detent ring component including a plurality of detents in radial alignment with the plurality of flexible beam fingers, and a wave spring disposed between the tab sleeve component and the annular detent ring component for providing a biasing force to urge the tab sleeve component in a direction of a central, longitudinal axis of the self-locking plug. The flexible beam finger component moves relative to the annular detent ring component when the body component is rotated about the central, longitudinal axis, A, of the self-locking plug, thereby causing the plurality of flexible beam fingers to travel across the plurality of detents and cause elastic deformation of the flexible beam fingers. |
| US09593697B2 |
Vibration damper with a hydraulic end stop
The vibration damper including a hydraulic end stop that has a sealing ring which is arranged between the end stop ring and the closure element, is supported axially on one side at the end stop ring, engages radially around the piston rod, is mounted in a sliding manner at the piston rod, and with its outer circumferential surface radially contacts the inner wall of the control space, wherein the sealing ring has at least one radial throttle groove which takes effect when the end stop with the sealing ring moves into the control space and ensures a defined flow of damping medium between the control chamber and the first working space, and wherein the sealing ring has a plurality of spring tongues which are supported at a supporting surface on the piston rod side. |
| US09593696B2 |
Rotary piston type actuator with hydraulic supply
A rotary actuator includes a housing defining a first arcuate chamber comprising a cavity, a fluid port in fluid communication with the cavity, and an open end. A rotor assembly in the housing includes an output shaft and a rotor arm extending radially outward from the output shaft. An arcuate-shaped piston is disposed in the housing for movement in the arcuate chamber. The rotary actuator includes a fluid line is coupled to the fluid port, a high pressure fluid line, a low pressure fluid line, and a central pressure source coupled to the high pressure fluid line. A servo valve is positioned between the central pressure source and the hydraulic actuator and is controllable to selectively connect the fluid line to the high pressure fluid line and the low pressure fluid line to control movement of the hydraulic actuator. |
| US09593691B2 |
Systems and methods for directing a flow within a shroud cavity of a compressor
A compressor is disclosed herein. The compressor may include a shroud cavity. The compressor also may include a flow directing device positioned within the shroud cavity. The flow directing device may be configured to direct a flow within the shroud cavity. |
| US09593689B2 |
Fan control circuit
The present invention is to provide a fan control circuit, which includes a filter circuit for converting a pulse-width modulation (PWM) voltage signal into a DC voltage signal; an amplifier circuit having an input end for receiving the DC voltage signal and a static voltage signal and generating an amplified voltage signal at an output end thereof; a current expansion circuit configured to perform current expansion on the amplified voltage signal and thereby generate a driving voltage signal for a fan; and a feedback circuit connected between another input end of the amplifier circuit and an output end of the current expansion circuit so that magnitude of the driving voltage signal is in direct proportion to the duty cycle of the PWM voltage signal and is greater than or equal to a lowest driving voltage value of the fan when the duty cycle of the PWM voltage signal approaches zero. |
| US09593685B2 |
Method for collecting condensate inside an apparatus, apparatus equipped with a condensate collection system and motor-pump assembly intended for a condensate collection system
A method for collecting condensate inside an apparatus, including: providing a condensate collection system with bottom and top collection tanks; a condensate discharge pump to displace liquid from the bottom collection tank to the top collection tank; and an overflow system which displaces the liquid contained in the top collection tank that exceeds an overflow level into the bottom collection tank; collecting a condensed liquid in the bottom collection tank; actuating the condensate discharge pump to displace the condensed liquid from the bottom collection tank into the top collection tank; detecting a low load condition of the condensate discharge pump, actuation of the condensate discharge pump being interrupted upon detection of the low load condition; the actuating time (T2) of the condensate discharge pump, with signalling of a full condition of the condensate collection system when this actuating time (T2) is equal or larger than a maximum time (T2lim). |
| US09593680B2 |
Method of controlling vacuum pump for vehicle brake booster
An electric brake booster vacuum pump of a vehicle has a deactivation level determined according to a percentage of maximum available vacuum at the instant altitude of the vehicle. The activation level may be determined in the same way. The invention provides for earlier on-switching of a vacuum pump at altitude, while ensuring that the off-switching value is achievable at low atmospheric pressure. |
| US09593679B2 |
Fluid pumping apparatus for use with a removable fluid pumping cartridge
The present invention involves, in some embodiments apparatus, such as dialysis apparatus, and methods for pumping fluid. Certain embodiments comprise a housing enclosing a pump drive assembly for actuating at least one pump on a removable fluid pumping cassette. The housing may comprise a door connected to the housing for enclosing an installed cassette in the housing upon closure of the door. The pump drive assembly may comprise a mating block configured for operative association with an installed cassette and may be configured to permit a sealing engagement with an installed cassette upon closure of the door. To facilitate sealing, certain embodiments of the door include a movable compression plate configured to exert a compressive force on an installed cassette against the mating block when the door is in a closed position. |